34711 research outputs found
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Assessing tick attachments to humans with citizen science data : spatio-temporal mapping in Switzerland from 2015 to 2021 using spatialMaxent
No full textBackground: Ticks are the primary vectors of numerous zoonotic pathogens, transmitting more pathogens than any other blood-feeding arthropod. In the northern hemisphere, tick-borne disease cases in humans, such as Lyme borreliosis and tick-borne encephalitis, have risen in recent years, and are a significant burden on public healthcare systems. The spread of these diseases is further reinforced by climate change, which leads to expanding tick habitats. Switzerland is among the countries in which tick-borne diseases are a major public health concern, with increasing incidence rates reported in recent years.
Methods: In response to these challenges, the “Tick Prevention” app was developed by the Zurich University of Applied Sciences and operated by A&K Strategy Ltd. in Switzerland. The app allows for the collection of large amounts of data on tick attachment to humans through a citizen science approach. In this study, citizen science data were utilized to map tick attachment to humans in Switzerland at a 100 m spatial resolution, on a monthly basis, for the years 2015 to 2021. The maps were created using a state-of-the-art modeling approach with the software extension spatialMaxent, which accounts for spatial autocorrelation when creating Maxent models.
Results: Our results consist of 84 maps displaying the risk of tick attachments to humans in Switzerland, with the model showing good overall performance, with median
values ranging from 0.82 in 2018 to 0.92 in 2017 and 2021 and convincing spatial distribution, verified by tick experts for Switzerland. Our study reveals that tick attachment to humans is particularly high at the edges of settlement areas, especially in sparsely built-up suburban regions with green spaces, while it is lower in densely urbanized areas. Additionally, forested areas near cities also show increased risk levels.
Conclusions: This mapping aims to guide public health interventions to reduce human exposure to ticks and to inform the resource planning of healthcare facilities. Our findings suggest that citizen science data can be valuable for modeling and mapping tick attachment risk, indicating the potential of citizen science data for use in epidemiological surveillance and public healthcare planning
A comprehensive model of LGBTQ+ youth suicide attempts to advance LGBTQ+-specific and -sensitive suicide prevention
No full textBackground: The LGBTQ+ population, especially youth, is particularly vulnerable to suicide attempts. Existing models and theories – as well as suicide prevention strategies – are either LGBTQ+-specific but lack consideration of the broader living situations not directly related to SOGI (sexual orientation and gender identity), or they are general and fail to account for the specificities of LGBTQ+ youth suicide attempts. Therefore, our study investigated the processual dynamics, background, and subjective meaning of suicide attempts among LGBTQ+ youth, experiences with care and support, and the role of SOGI in these processes.
Methods: Qualitative problem-centred interviews were conducted with LGBTQ+ youth in Switzerland who had attempted suicide one to three times between the ages of 14 and 25. Applying a multi-perspective approach, persons from their social environment were also interviewed if possible. Data collection and analysis followed Grounded Theory methodology, including 'theoretical sampling'. The final sample comprised 41 individuals: Seven bisexual/lesbian cisgender women, four bisexual/gay cisgender men, 15 transgender/nonbinary persons with various sexual orientations, three heterosexual cisgender persons, and 12 persons from their respective social environments.
Results: The role of SOGI-related factors in the suicide attempt process of LGBTQ+ youth can be described along three types: a) SOGI-related factors, such as SOGI-related bullying or impeded access to gender-affirming care, being the main drivers of the suicide attempt process. b) Other, general factors, such as unsafe familial conditions, school performance pressure and sexualised violence, being the primary reasons for the suicide attempt, but SOGI-related factors exacerbating suicidality in the background. c) SOGI-related and non-SOGI-related factors being similarly important in the suicide attempt process and interplaying to lead to the suicide attempt. In all three types, experiences with access to care and support were found to be a crucial dimension for the suicide attempt process.
Discussion: The processual model developed offers a comprehensive understanding of LGBTQ+ youth suicide attempts, aligning SOGI-related and non-SOGI-related factors, along with access to care and support. This study provides a foundation for the development and advancement of LGBTQ+-specific and -sensitive suicide prevention strategies, as well as their coordination with and acknowledgement by general suicide prevention strategies and public health policy
Lieferketten-Compliance in der Schweiz und in der EU : Herausforderungen für Unternehmen
No full textIn den vergangenen Jahren wurde Nachhaltigkeit in der Schweiz durch den Gegenvorschlag zur Konzernverantwortungsinitiative, in der EU durch die Corporate Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD) und die Corporate Sustainability Due Diligence Directive (CSDDD) regulatorisch verankert. Dieser Beitrag untersucht die neuen regulatorischen Anforderungen sowie die damit verbundenen Herausforderungen für Unternehmen. Dabei wird analysiert, inwieweit sich die Massnahmen des Gegenvorschlags mit den Bestimmungen der CSRD und der CSDDD überschneiden oder differenzieren. Zudem wird eine praktische Anwendungshilfe zur Umsetzung einer Lieferketten-Compliance für Schweizer Unternehmen bereitgestellt
Exploring citizen-centered digital reporting in Swiss municipalities
No full textThis paper explores citizen-centered digital financial reporting in selected Swiss municipalities, focusing on local public sector managers’ perceptions of the challenges and opportunities involved in making financial information more accessible, understandable, and usable for citizens. Based on nine semi-structured interviews with officials from small, medium, and large municipalities, the study addresses two research questions: (1) What are the characteristics of citizen-centered digital reporting initiatives? (2) What institutional, legal, and practical challenges and opportunities accompany their implementation? Anchored in transparency and accountability theory, the analysis applies a three-dimensional framework – accessibility, understandability, and usability – to assess digital reporting practices. While certain tools have improved access to financial data, most municipalities struggle to enhance the comprehensibility and relevance of this information for non-expert users. In addition to the often-cited knowledge gap between citizens and public administration, the findings reveal a communication gap shaped by bureaucratic cultures, legal constraints, and resource limitations. Despite these barriers, innovative cases illustrate how digital strategies, visualizations, and storytelling can promote meaningful engagement and local democratic legitimacy. By shifting the analytical lens from citizen expectations to administrative perspectives, the study contributes to the literature on local public finance and offers practical insights for enhancing participatory governance through inclusive digital reporting practices
Who gets to decide when children participate? : considering the complexities of consent and gatekeeping in violence research
No full textResearch assessing children's experiences of violence with child participants is essential to understand the burden of violence against children, to identify children most at risk and, consequently, enhance prevention. Yet many ethical review boards hesitate to allow violence research with children, and most will require active parental consent for child participation. However, this gatekeeping often results in refusal of parental consent and in children's voices remaining unheard, which is particularly risky in violence research where parents are most commonly inflicting specific types of violence or protecting perpetrators. When to demand parental consent should be carefully informed by scientific evidence, legal requirements and ethical principles. We provide (1) an overview of issues surrounding parental consent including child capacity and present a new analysis of country data with differing consent types and their implications on participation, disclosure and non-response, (2) summarise ethical issues in relation to consent, and (3) discuss opportunities for consent regulations in violence against children research. Our analysis demonstrates that type of consent affects rates of participation and violence disclosure and that fully-informed consent is more than a one-time agreement to participate. Considering the ethical and legal obligation of ensuring children's safety in violence research, and children's ability to understand the consequences of participation, children aged 13 years and older should be able to make informed decisions about participation independent of their legal caregivers providing necessary ethical and safeguarding requirements are met; alternatively, passive parental consent should be considered
Klimabildung mit Wirkung : effektive Klimabildungsangebote für Unternehmen
No full textAngesichts der zentralen Rolle von Unternehmen im Klimaschutz analysiert diese Masterarbeit die Wirksamkeit von Klimabildungsangeboten für Fach- und Führungskräfte. Dazu wurden fünf qualitative Interviews mit deutschsprachigen Organisationen geführt, die im Bereich der Klimabildung für Unternehmen aktiv sind. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass bislang keine der Organisationen eine formale Wirkungsorientierung etabliert hat. Obwohl eine ungefähre Vorstellung der «gewünschten Wirkung» besteht, fehlen explizit formulierte Wirkungsziele sowie konsistente Mess- oder Monitoringinstrumente. Hauptursachen hierfür sind zum einen die geringen internen Ressourcen bei den Klimabildungsanbietenden und zum anderen die mangelnde finanzielle Bereitschaft sowie die bislang schwache Nachfrage nach Evaluationen seitens der Auftraggebenden. Diese Befunde decken sich mit der Literatur, wonach es bislang wenig empirische Erkenntnisse zur Effektivität von Klimabildungsangeboten im Unternehmenskontext gibt.
Aufbauend auf dieser Untersuchung wurde eine Wirkungsorientierung für das myclimate- Bildungsportfolio entwickelt. Basierend auf der Input-Output-Outcome-Impact (IOOI)-Logik konnte ein Wirkungsmodell entwickelt werden, das sowohl auf den theoretischen Empfehlungen zum Wirkungsprozess als auch auf den praktischen Erkenntnissen aus der Bedarfsanalyse hervorgeht. Dabei zeigen die Resultate der Bedarfsanalyse jedoch, dass Unternehmen sensibel in Bezug auf Ressourcen und Kosten bei Klimabildungsangeboten für Fach- und Führungskräfte reagieren und niederschwellige sowie kostengünstige Angebote bevorzugen. Damit entsteht ein Spannungsfeld zwischen ökonomischen Faktoren und den in der Fachliteratur empfohlenen Massnahmen für eine wirksame Klimabildung, die auf Partizipation und gezieltem affektivem Einbezug beruht.
Diese Studie bietet nicht nur Einblicke in den aktuellen Stand der Wirkungsorientierung bei bestehenden Klimabildungsanbietenden, sondern liefert mit der Entwicklung des myclimate- Wirkungsmodells eine Grundlage dafür, wie eine solche Herangehensweise im privatwirtschaftlichen Kontext realisiert werden kann.Given companies' pivotal role in climate protection, this master’s thesis examines the effectiveness of climate education offerings for professionals and executives. To this end, five qualitative interviews were conducted with German-speaking organizations active in providing climate education for businesses. The results show that none of these organizations have yet established a formal impact orientation. Although there is a general notion of the “desired impact”, explicitly defined impact goals and consistent measurement or monitoring tools are lacking. The main reasons for this are, on the one hand, the limited internal resources of climate education providers and, on the other hand, the insufficient financial commitment as well as the low demand for evaluations on the part of commissioning companies. These findings align with the literature, which indicates that there is little empirical evidence to date on the effectiveness of climate education offerings in a corporate context.
Building on these findings, an impact-oriented framework was developed for the myclimate education portfolio. Based on the Input-Output-Outcome-Impact (IOOI) logic, a corresponding impact model was devised, drawing on both theoretical recommendations for the impact process and practical insights gained from the needs analysis. However, the needs analysis results also demonstrate that companies are sensitive to resource and cost considerations when it comes to climate education programs for professionals and executives, tending to favor low-threshold and cost-effective formats. This creates tensions between economic factors and the recommendations in the literature for effective climate education, which rely on participatory elements and targeted affective approaches.
This study not only provides insights into the current state of impact orientation among existing climate education providers but, through the development of the myclimate impact model, also offers a foundation for implementing such an approach in the private sector
Eigenheim : Wohntraum oder Vorsorgefalle?
No full textDas «Volk von Mietern» träumt von den eigenen vier Wänden: Fast 60 Prozent der Personen, die kein Eigenheim besitzen, wünschen sich eines. Doch die Finanzierung von Wohneigentum ist anspruchsvoll.Das Immobilienangebot ist knapp, die Preise sind hoch. Ohne zusätzliche Mittel ist der Haus- oder Wohnungskauf oft nicht mehr bezahlbar. Viele nutzen für die Finanzierung daher Gelder aus der 2. und 3. Säule – ihre Altersvorsorge.Welche Folgen hat das für Eigentümerinnen und Eigentümer? Ist Wohneigentum immer eine kluge Investition? Oder entsteht durch das bezogene Vorsorgegeld eine finanzielle Lücke im Alter? Unsere Umfrage liefert Antworten auf diese und weitere Fragen
A discourse on the use of machine learning (ML) in personality psychology : can we expect ML to predict questionnaire scores from idiographic text-based data?
No full textThis paper explores Machine Learning’s (ML) potential to predict motives and personality dispositions from text-based data, aligning with McAdams’ framework on layers of personality. ML-predicted scores demonstrated no significant advantage over a baseline model that consistently predicted the median of the motives or personality dispositions. Possible factors discussed include unmet ML algorithm requirements, unsuitability of collected texts for predicting motives and dispositions, and ML’s limitations in capturing contextualized and implicit aspects of personality. We discuss life narrative research and practice in relation to the nomothetic-idiographic debate and advocate for personality research to incorporate context-specificity and idiosyncrasy. From a social constructionist perspective, we envision future research – though not yet practice – on counselling processes delivered or supported by Generative AI (GenAI)
Consumption‑based responsibility for global warming and the distribution of impacts of swiss climate policy
No full textDifferent consumption patterns have been linked to different levels of responsibility for current greenhouse gas (ghg) emissions, and it is well established that the affluent are responsible for higher levels of global ghg emission than are the poor. Here I couple a life cycle assessment of consumer goods with household survey data about consumption patterns to arrive at household level responsibility for global ghg emissions by consumption category. This allows me to provide a detailed analysis of how different consumption categories contribute to this responsibility. From this, I offer insights into how this information can be used for designing policies that create equitable outcomes. I conclude that the distributional impacts of ghg pricing with revenue recycling will remain unproblematic as climate policy continues to cover more ghgs from more regions. If it is desired that high-income households make a bigger contribution to the emissions reduction effort than others, focusing climate policy on transport (high confidence), eating out, and clothing (both with lower confidence) may provide avenues for achieving that. This is the case, since responsibility for ghg emissions from these consumption categories increases faster with income than it does for other goods