German Studies Research Articles

Serum soluble isoform of receptor for advanced glycation end product is a predictive biomarker for acute exacerbation of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: a German and Japanese cohort study

Abstract Background The receptor for advanced glycation end product (RAGE) is a transmembrane receptor accelerating a pro-inflammatory signal. RAGE signalling is promoted by decreased soluble isoform of RAGE (sRAGE), which is a decoy receptor for RAGE ligands, and RAGE SNP rs2070600 minor allele. In Caucasian and Japanese cohorts, low circulatory sRAGE levels and presence of the minor allele are associated with poor survival of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and increased disease susceptibility to interstitial lung disease, respectively. However, whether sRAGE and RAGE SNP rs2070600 are associated with acute exacerbation of IPF (AE-IPF) is unclear. Methods This retrospective cohort study evaluated the association between the onset of AE-IPF and serum sRAGE levels in 69 German and 102 Japanese patients with IPF. The association of AE-IPF with RAGE SNP rs2070600 in 51 German and 84 Japanese patients, whose DNA samples were stored, was also investigated. Results In each cohort, the incidence of AE-IPF was significantly and reproducibly higher in the patients with sRAGE < 467.1 pg/mL. In a pooled exploratory analysis, the incidence of AE-IPF was lowest in the patients with higher sRAGE levels and rs2070600 minor allele, although no significant difference in the incidence was observed between the patients with and without the rs2070600 minor allele. Conclusions Low sRAGE levels were associated with increased incidence of AE-IPF in two independent cohorts of different ethnicities. The combination of rs2070600 and sRAGE levels may stratify patients with IPF for the risk of AE.

Evidence use in higher education decision-making and policy: a scoping review of empirical studies from 2010 to 2022

In this article, we review empirical studies on the use of evidence in higher education decision-making and policy from 2010 to 2022. In our scoping review, we identify 77 studies in English or German, of which 69 meet minimum quality standards. We map the current state of knowledge on the use of data and research evidence in higher education and research institutions, and higher education and research policy, using qualitative coding. The results depict a growing, US-dominated, research field characterised by a large variety of methodological approaches, influenced by heterogeneous sets of paradigms and shaped by professional publications. We compare studies on evidence use in higher education and research institutions, and higher education and research policy, and find conceptual and empirical differences regarding the studied dimensions of evidence use, the types of evidence taken into account, and factors influencing evidence use. Our review highlights the need for comparative organisational research on evidence use, further research on mechanisms and pathways of evidence uses and a closer linkage between concepts and empirical findings.

Genetic Variants Affecting Iron Metabolism in Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review to Support Personalized Nutrition Strategies

Background/Objectives: Increased interest in personalized nutrition has led to a growing focus on exploring genetic variants and their impact on nutritional uptake (nutrigenomics). Nevertheless, no systematic review to date has compiled scientific evidence on genetic variants (such as single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs)) affecting mineral metabolism in humans. This review aims to fill this gap and enable optimized personalized nutrition recommendations in health care. Methods: Cochrane, Embase and MEDLINE databases were systematically searched for English and German studies published between 2007 and 2023, focusing on genetic variants linked to nutrition. Studies on overweight, diseased, or underage individuals were excluded. Papers with verified findings were assessed for methodological quality using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tool. Results: Twenty-one scientific papers on SNPs associated with mineral metabolism were included. The majority were observational studies (n = 19) conducted on Caucasian populations. Women outnumbered men (37.4%) women, 18.9% men, 43.7% sex not reported. All identified SNPs linked to minerals influenced iron parameters, with the TMPRSS6 gene showing the strongest correlation. Two HFE SNPs (rs1800562 and rs1799945) and one TF SNP (rs1799852) exhibited protective effects, while the other 11 SNPs were linked to increased risk of iron deficiency, suggesting potential benefits from iron supplementation for individuals with those genetic variants. Conclusions: This review provides comprehensive insights into the association between genetic variants and mineral metabolism, and the findings highlight the relevance of genetic makeup in optimizing health through nutritional interventions. The generalizability of the findings may be limited to Caucasians, warranting future research with diverse populations. This review was registered with the International Platform of Registered Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Protocols (INPLASY) on 12 July 2022, under INPLASY202270068 and funded by the University Centre for Prevention and Sports Medicine at Balgrist University Hospital Zurich and the Swiss Innovation Agency Innosuisse, Switzerland.

Unveiling her perspective: Exploring women's multi-local living arrangements in German cities

Multi-local lifestyles are increasingly shaping current living realities. Earlier German studies identified (work-related) multi-locality as a “male phenomenon” influenced by traditional gender relations. Women, especially during the family phase, are less likely to choose multi-local arrangements, while multi-local women are often childless. As tendencies towards individualization and pluralization have increased in the last years, coupled with the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, the question is whether (and to what extent) differences between men and woman in multi-local lifestyles persist. Using a representative survey and qualitative interviews with multi-local residents in Frankfurt am Main and Leipzig, the study investigates the quantitative dimension of multi-locality, as well as differences in how this lifestyle is perceived. In this paper, we contribute to a better understanding of the specific multi-local living realities of women and men, as well as the differences in how they are realized and perceived.

Who flourishes in school? The interplay of academic self-concept and personality and its role for academic performance in middle adolescence.

Why are some students more successful than others? We combined motivational and personality predictors and jointly examined the relevance of subject-specific academic self-concepts and Big Five personality traits for academic performance. Based on data from two independent studies of German 9th graders (Study 1: N = 1,508, Mage = 14.98 years, 51% female, 38% immigrant background; Study 2: N = 19,783, Mage = 15.10 years, 50% female, 36% immigrant background), we, first, estimated latent bivariate correlations to investigate the nomological net between these socioemotional characteristics. Second, using latent moderated regression models, we examined the role of the main and interaction effects of both characteristics for academic performance levels and changes assessed by grades and test scores. Finally, we tested whether the relevance of socioemotional characteristics for academic performance differed across sociodemographic characteristics. Five findings stand out: First, we established widely consistent nomological nets between the academic self-concepts and Big Five traits, especially regarding the German self-concept. Second, the domain-specific self-concepts were consistent predictors of different academic performance measures in the respective subject. Third, beyond the established main effects of openness and conscientiousness, all Big Five traits contributed to performance in some way. Fourth, despite some inconsistencies, socioemotional characteristics formed only synergistic interaction effects. Fifth, students' sociodemographic background was likewise important illustrating main effects on performance and foremost synergistic interaction effects with socioemotional predictors. Our results highlight the complex interplay between motivation, personality, and sociodemographic variables in predicting academic achievement and underline the need to be mindful of this interactive nature. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved).

Gradual behaviour change towards meat reduction revisited: Applying the decisional balance scale in a Dutch study

Meat moderation is needed to mitigate climate change and to address issues related to animal welfare and public health. Yet little is known on the process that consumers go through towards meat-reduced diets. Strässner and Hartmann (2023) recently developed the decisional balance scale (DB scale) for meat reduction, in order to get a better understanding of the trade-offs that consumers encounter in this dietary shift. The current study sets out to replicate their German study in the Dutch context. A survey has been conducted among a representative sample of Dutch adults (N = 1982). Overall, the present study corroborated Strässner and Hartmann's findings. Similar to the German situation, Legitimation is the most important barrier, and the Downsides of factory farming is the most important motivator for meat reduction in the Netherlands. The present study extends the German study by comparing the DB scale with other established scales in research on meat reduction. Although several motivational elements related to the legitimacy of eating meat, health impact and production of meat appear in different instruments, the DB scale sets itself apart in adding practical elements (feasibility). Finally, the insights in the decision balance of population subgroups at different stages of behaviour change (no intention, intention, performing) showed that the further in the meat reduction process, the more the pros outweigh the cons. With this, the current study provides valuable insights in bolstering consumers in meat moderation. Our findings support the idea of a gradual shift and reveal that there is potential for acceleration in behaviour change towards meat reduction to be found in adjusting the self-evidence of high-intensity livestock farming systems and the meat-centric food consumption culture.

Counselling sessions for patients in contact isolation due to multi-drug-resistant organisms improve informedness and reduce dissatisfaction

The spread of multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs) is a critical health issue. Isolation measures imposed to prevent transmission may result in adverse psychological effects among affected patients. This emphasises the need for better communication and information to improve their hospital experience and mental well-being as well as to prevent inadequate treatment. The present study examines whether tailored counselling sessions during contact isolation can enhance patients' understanding of their situation concerning the significance of their MDRO status and enhance their well-being. A pre-post-intervention study was conducted in a German tertiary care hospital in which N = 64 patients who were isolated due to MDROs received tailored counselling. The counselling included information about MDROs, the reason for hospital isolation measures, and appropriate behaviour during and after hospitalisation. Participants completed questionnaires before and after the counselling sessions to assess its impact on their informedness, patient (dis)satisfaction and well-being measures. Prior to the counselling session, patient dissatisfaction was associated with anxiety and inadequate informedness about MDROs. After the counselling, patients reported a significantly improved comprehension of their MDROs-related situation and a notable decrease in dissatisfaction with their hospital situation, primarily attributed to the acquired information. This is the first German study to show how improved information about MDROs impacts patient satisfaction in hospitals. The findings stress the crucial need for improving healthcare workers' interaction and communication with patients affected by MDROs.

РЕПРЕЗЕНТАЦИЯ ЗДОРОВОГО ЧЕЛОВЕКА В НЕМЕЦКОЙ И АНГЛИЙСКОЙ ФРАЗЕОЛОГИИ

The article provides a comparative study of German and English phraseological units with a zoonymic or phytonymic component representing a healthy person. The analysis is given according to the following two types of cultural codes: 1) zoonymic and 2) phytomorphic. Consideration of comparative phraseological units containing zoonyms and phytonyms in the context of culture allows us to determine the general and the specific in the imaginative thinking of the Germans and the British about health, to explain the peculiarity of their functioning. Studying phraseological units within the framework of the linguistic and cultural paradigm is considered relevant since the zoomorphic and phytomorphic images underlying the formation of phraseological units are the conductors of culture. They transmit valuable information about the geographical and climatic living conditions of a particular ethnic group that helps to identify ethnocultural stereotypes and standards reflecting the collective view of the most valuable human being that is health. Moreover, the very trope (tropeic) essence of a phraseological unit is born from a combination of cultural codes, which are the structure-forming elements of cultural space and are present in the cognitive base of any linguistic and cultural community.

„An der Themse wächst man sich anders aus als am Stechlin“. Theodor Fontane und England

What has become a recognised component of German studies today in various varieties and theoretical concepts of “intercultural literature” is not as “new” as people often like to pretend. Goethe’s concept of “world literature” and Heine’s Franco-German writings are still without the theoretical concept, but in practice they are already in many ways what constitutes intercultural literature today. One author who has not yet received much attention in this respect is Theodor Fontane with his travelogues from England and Scotland, in which he attempts to convey to Germans images of a nation whose image was not exactly the best.

Internal exposure to heat-induced food contaminants in omnivores, vegans and strict raw food eaters: biomarkers of exposure to 2- and 3-monochloropropanediol (urinary excretion) and glycidol (hemoglobin adduct N-2,3-dihydroxypropyl-Val).

Fatty acid esters of 2/3-monochloropropanediol (2/3-MCPD) and glycidol are formed mainly during heat processing (deodorization) of vegetable oils, and are hydrolyzed by lipases in the gastrointestinal tract leading to the absorption of 2/3-MCPD and glycidol. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified 3-MCPD as possibly and glycidol as probably carcinogenic to humans. The aims of the current work were to clarify the exposure to 2/3-MCPD and glycidol associated with different dietary habits (omnivore, vegan, raw-food eating), and the exposure development between 2017 and 2021 in German study participants. The questions were addressed using the daily urinary excretion of 2/3-MCPD and the hemoglobin adduct N-(2,3-dihydroxypropyl)-Val (DHP-Val) formed from glycidol as biomarkers of exposure, which were determined in two dietary studies including 36 omnivores, 36 vegans and 16 strict raw food eaters (abstaining from any heated food for at least four months). The median urinary excretion of 2- and 3-MCPD in non-smoking omnivores and vegans was 0.87 and 1.35µg/day (2-MCPD), respectively, and 0.79 and 1.03µg/day (3-MCPD), respectively. The 2/3-MCPD concentrations in urine samples of raw food eaters were usually below the limit of detection. The median DHP-Val levels in non-smoking vegans and omnivores were 3.9pmol/g Hb each, and 1.9pmol/g Hb in raw food eaters. Between 2017 and 2021, the exposure to 3-MCPD and glycidol did not change, however, the median 2-MCPD excretion decreased (p = 0.02, omnivores and vegans combined). The correlation between daily excretions of 2/3-MCPD determined 4years apart was weak, whereas a moderate correlation was observed for DHP-Val (rS = 0.66) in this timeframe. In conclusion, the exposure to glycidol in omnivores and vegans was alike, whereas the 2/3-MCPD exposure was somewhat (albeit not significantly) higher in vegans. While 2/3-MCPD were hardly detectable in urine samples of raw food eaters, the median DHP-Val level (about 50% of those in omnivores) indicates a glycidol source independent of the dietary exposure.

Regulation of Artificial Intelligence in the German Works Council Act - Focusing on the Final Report of the German Study Commission on Artificial Intelligence–Social Responsibility and Economic, Social and Ecological Potential and Works Council Modernization Act -

Regulation of Artificial Intelligence in the German Works Council Act - Focusing on the Final Report of the German Study Commission on Artificial Intelligence–Social Responsibility and Economic, Social and Ecological Potential and Works Council Modernization Act -

Does living close to allergenic street trees affect lung function in German adults?

IntroductionStudies on greenspace and lung function in adults produced divergent results. Some of the adverse findings could be due to long-term exposure to allergenic tree pollen. We investigated whether having more birch trees or more allergenic trees around home is related to worse lung function and whether these exposures confound the association between greenspace and lung function. MethodsThe analytic sample consisted of 874 adults aged 20–44 years at baseline from the German study centers, Erfurt and Hamburg, of the ECRHS cohort study. Spirometric lung function was measured in 1991/92, 2000/01, and 2011/12. We counted trees based on tree registries and classified them into allergenic and non-allergenic. We assessed exposure to greenspace with the normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), tree cover density, and total number of trees in a 300 m buffer around home. Linear mixed models were used. ResultsThe forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) and the forced vital capacity (FVC) were decreased in the presence of more birch trees after adjusting for confounders and co-exposures. For every 10 additional birch trees in a 300 m buffer around home, the average change in FEV1 was −27.6 mL (95% confidence interval (CI): [-58.7, 3.5]). For FVC the average change was −28.2 mL (95% CI: [-62.0, 5.6]). No consistent associations were found for allergenic trees, total trees, tree cover density, or NDVI. Unlike other associations, those of birch trees with FEV1 and FVC were not moderated by allergic sensitization to birch pollen, history of asthma symptoms or nasal allergies including hay fever, ozone, NO2, or age. DiscussionLiving close to birch trees had an adverse long-term association with lung function. That tree registries were limited to street trees prevented us from answering the question of a potential confounding of greenspace effects by allergenic neighborhood trees.

‘Learning German is like … ’: how learner representations, motivational beliefs, and perceptions of public views relate to motivation for continuing German study

ABSTRACT In England, motivation for language learning is low, especially for learning German at high school, with potentially negative educational and societal implications. Previous research has tended to overlook the relevance for low motivation of social factors such as negative messages in public discourse (Krüsemann, H. 2018. Language learning motivation and the discursive representations of German, the Germans, and Germany in UK school settings and the press. PhD diss., University of Reading.). This study therefore aimed to provide deeper insights through an investigation of 391 adolescent learners. They completed a questionnaire exploring not only their representations of German and the Germans (German*), their motivational beliefs about learning German, and whether they intended to continue studying it, but also how they perceived public views about German*. Whether all these factors, together with gender and socio-economic status (SES), predicted future German study intentions was also investigated. Findings showed that the negative public views highlighted by previous research were only partly mirrored in learner representations. Learners were more likely to continue German study if they believed others viewed German positively, if they had higher expectations for success, saw German as personally meaningful, and were female and of higher SES. The study thus presents new insights into motivation for learning German, providing empirical evidence for previously unsubstantiated claims of links between public discourse messages and learner motivation for German study.

Venetoclax-based salvage therapy as a bridge to transplant is feasible and effective in patients with relapsed/refractory AML

AbstractThe B-cell lymphoma 2 inhibitor venetoclax (VEN) in combination with hypomethylating agents has been approved for first-line treatment of patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML) ineligible for intensive treatment. Emerging data suggest that VEN-containing treatment strategies may also be effective in relapsed/refractory (R/R) AML; however, comparative studies with conventional treatment strategies for medically fit patients as a bridge-to-transplant strategy are limited. Using propensity score matching (PSM) analysis, we compared 37 patients with R/R AML, who received VEN-based salvage therapy as bridge to allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (allo-HCT), with 90 patients from the German Study Alliance Leukemia AML registry, who were treated with non–VEN-containing salvage therapy according to their treating physician’s choice (TPC), including intensive and nonintensive protocols. The overall response rate (complete remission [CR] + CR with incomplete hematologic recovery) among all VEN patients was significantly higher than the TPC control cohort (62% vs 42%; P = .049). Overall, 73% of VEN-treated patients vs 63% of TPC patients were successfully bridged to allo-HCT (P = .41). After a median follow-up of 34.3 months for the VEN cohort and 21.0 months for the TPC cohort, the median overall survival (OS) were 15.8 months (95% confidence interval [CI], 10.6 to NE) and 10.5 months (95% CI, 6.8-19.6; P = .15), respectively. PSM revealed a trend toward improved OS for VEN patients (HR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.41-1.22; P = .20). Median event-free survival was significantly longer in the VEN cohort (8.0 months) than the TPC cohort (3.7 months; P = .006). In summary, our data suggest that VEN-based salvage therapy is a safe and effective bridge to allo-HCT for this difficult-to-treat AML patient population.

Regional socioeconomic characteristics and density of general practitioners in Germany: A nationwide cross-sectional and longitudinal spatial analysis

ObjectivesLimited healthcare availability impacts population health. Regional disparities in GP density across Germany raise questions about their association with regional socioeconomic characteristics. Study designThis longitudinal nationwide ecological German study used regional data at the county level (n = 401) from 2015 to 2019 provided by the Federal Institute for Research on Building, Urban Affairs and Spatial Development (BBSR). The outcome was general practitioners (GPs) density, defined as the number of GPs per 10,000 inhabitants. MethodsUnivariate Moran's I, cluster analysis (LISA), and spatial lag of X (SLX) models were employed to analyse the spatial distribution of GP density and its correlation with various regional socioeconomic characteristics from a cross-sectional and longitudinal perspective. ResultsIn contrast to the univariate analysis, rural counties showed the highest GP density the multivariate model. Several counties were identified as embedded in low- or high-GP-density clusters. In 2015 and 2019, larger household size (2015: std. β = −2.31, p = 0.021; 2019: std. β = −4.14, p < 0.001) and higher unemployment rate (2015: std. β = −2.84, p = 0.005; 2019: std. β = −5.47, p < 0.001) were associated with lower GP density. In the longitudinal model, a greater increase in the unemployment rate was related to a greater decrease in GP density (std. β = −2.17, p = 0.030). ConclusionA higher regional unemployment rate is linked to lower GP availability in Germany, and a greater increase in the unemployment rate was related to a greater decrease in GP availability over time. This necessitates policy intervention to avoid socioeconomic disparities in GP care.

Perceptions of impure innovation: Health professionals’ experiences and management of stigmatization when working as digital innovators

The healthcare sector has increasingly adopted digital innovations. Nonetheless, medical professionals have also resisted a variety of digital innovations. While the range of factors driving such resistance to innovation are well documented, less clear is how such resistance is experienced and managed by professionals attempting to innovate. We conducted a qualitative study of English and German ‘dual-role’ professionals, who worked both as clinical practitioners and digital innovators. Inductively theorizing from our interview data, we explain how individual professionals experience different intensities of stigmatization from colleagues when working with digital innovations. We theorize that the more central a dual-role professional is within an organization and the more their innovation deviates from standard professional duties, the more likely the innovation is to be viewed as impure within a professional group and be the target of stigmatization. We identify a range of professional, social, and personal strategies employed by dual-role innovators to manage their experiences of stigmatization and consider the implications for healthcare innovation.

An analysis of reviews related to grammar teaching and learning in Die Unterrichtspraxis/Teaching German (2000–2023)

AbstractTeaching and learning grammar has been a cornerstone of many German language courses. This article analyzes reviews of teaching and learning materials related to grammar, which were published in Die Unterrichtspraxis/Teaching German between 2000 and 2023, discussing general trajectories and highlighting works that remain relevant today. The article contributes to the journal's special issue on Form by providing an opportunity to reflect on and discuss the relevance of grammar‐related resources in German studies. It also reminds readers of instructional materials that focus on the grammatical form of language and that continue to be useful due to their theoretical insight, pedagogical advice, and/or practical classroom examples.

Radical Climate Movements: Associations Between Government Response and Public Support

Numerous movements protest for more restrictive climate policies, sometimes with radical actions, such as road blockades or paint attacks. A German study with 1,132 participants investigated the impact of government responses on public support for such movements using the Last Generation as a case study. Contrary to expectations, highlighting strict government responses did not increase support, particularly among those who felt existing climate policies were inadequate. This may be explained by widespread resentment against the Last Generation; further analyses showed that donations were indeed high when participants perceived the government response as strict and inappropriate but that this perception was rare. The results suggest that radical protests are less suitable for driving policy change when public support for the movement is low, as they may trigger harsh government responses that damage the movement while not contributing to its mobilization.

Role and benefits of infectious diseases specialists in the COVID-19 pandemic: Multilevel analysis of care provision in German hospitals using data from the Lean European Open Survey on SARS-CoV-2 infected patients (LEOSS) cohort.

This study investigates the care provision and the role of infectious disease (ID) specialists during the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. A survey was conducted at German study sites participating in the Lean European Open Survey on SARS-CoV-2 infected patients (LEOSS). Hospitals certified by the German Society of Infectious diseases (DGI) were identified as ID centers. We compared care provision and the involvement of ID specialists between ID and non-ID hospitals. Then we applied a multivariable regression model to analyse how clinical ID care influenced the mortality of COVID-19 patients in the LEOSS cohort. Of the 40 participating hospitals in the study, 35% (14/40) were identified as ID centers. Among those, clinical ID care structures were more commonly established, and ID specialists were always involved in pandemic management and the care of COVID-19 patients. Overall, 68% (27/40) of the hospitals involved ID specialists in the crisis management team, 78% (31/40) in normal inpatient care, and 80% (28/35) in intensive care. Multivariable analysis revealed that COVID-19 patients in ID centers had a lower mortality risk compared to those in non-ID centers (odds ratio: 0.61 (95% CI 0.40-0.93), p = 0.021). ID specialists played a crucial role in pandemic management and inpatient care.

Concentration units used to report blood- and breath-alcohol concentration for legal purposes are important to consider when blood-breath ratios of alcohol are calculated and compared between countries: re-evaluation of a German study with Alcotest 9510 DE evidential instrument

This article re-evaluates the results of a controlled drinking study done in Germany to determine inter-subject variation in the blood-to-breath ratio (BBR) of alcohol. Statutory blood-alcohol concentration (BAC) limits for driving in Germany are 0.50 g/kg (administrative offence) and 1.1 g/kg (criminal offence). Mass/mass concentration units (g/kg) are 6 % lower than mass/volume (g/L) units, because the density of blood is 1.06 kg/L on average. The corresponding statutory breath-alcohol concentration (BrAC) limits for driving in Germany are 0.25 mg/L and 0.55 mg/L, respectively. BAC in road traffic cases is determined indirectly by the analysis of serum and dividing by 1.236, which underestimates the true BAC. Using Alcotest 9510 DE evidential breath analyzer, the mean ± SD, median and range of BBRs of alcohol were 2047 ± 150, 2053, and 1571-2394 and 61% were less than 2100:1. After re-calculating BAC assuming a serum/blood distribution ratio of ethanol of 1.14:1 and reporting results in mass/volume units, the corresponding BBRs were 2220 ± 162, 2226, and 1703-2595 and 21% were less than 2100. Care is needed when the results of German studies of the BBR of alcohol are compared and contrasted with studies done in other countries.