Nachhaltige Bioenergie – Instrumente zur Vermeidung negativer indirekter Landnutzungseffekte

Indirekte Landnutzungs?nderungen beim Anbau von Energiepflanzen k?nnen die Treibhausgasminderungsbilanz von Energie aus Biomasse herabsetzen und Biodiversit?t sowie Boden- und Wasserressourcen beeintr?chtigen. Um derartige Effekte in rechtliche Regelungen über die Nachhaltigkeit von Bioenergie einzubeziehen, wurden verschiedene Ans?tze vorgeschlagen. Eine überzeugende Methodologie steht bis heute jedoch noch nicht zur Verfügung. Der Beitrag gibt einen überblick über die diskutierten Methoden, bietet eine vergleichende Bewertung und leitet hieraus rechtspolitische Empfehlungen ab.     

Variability in cancer death certificate accuracy by characteristics of death certifiers

Death certificates are the source for mortality statistics and are used to set public health goals. Accurate death certificates are vital in tracking outcomes of cancer. Deaths may be certified by physicians or other medical professionals, coroners, or medical examiners. Idaho is one of 3 states that participated in a Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-funded study to assess the concordance between cancer-specific causes of death and primary cancer site among linked cancer registry/death certificate data. We investigated variability in the accuracy of cancer death certificates by characteristics of death certifiers, including certifier type (physician vs coroner), physician specialty, years of experience as death certifier, and number of deaths certified. This study showed significant differences by certifier type/physician specialty in the accuracy of cancer mortality measured by death certificates. Nonphysician coroners had lower accuracy rates compared with physicians. Although nonphysician coroners certified less than 5% of cancer deaths in Idaho, they were significantly less likely to match the primary site from the cancer registry. Results from this study may be useful in the future training of death certifiers to improve the accuracy of death certificates and cancer mortality statistics.     

The organized subdural blood clot in forensic case work - a case report

The medico-legal assessment of a subdural haematoma (recent or organized) usually requires some information regarding its cause. Quite often, especially in the absence of a known history of trauma, minor head injuries, which are no longer verifiable, are simply assumed to be the most likely causes. Considering the fact that a subdural haematoma could also be non-traumatic, e.g. in haemorrhagic disorders, cardiac conditions with persistent passive hyperaemia, true inflammatory and degenerative processes of the dura, etc., the medico-legal implication of a possible head injury would require the exclusion of such non-traumatic conditions capable of causing subdural bleeding. In this respect, the case of a 92-year-old man, who suffered from cerebral sclerosis with occasional episodes of confusion and agitation, is briefly discussed. He was reported to have fallen from his bed, was hospitalized and died 2 days later. A head injury was suspected. At autopsy, no skull fractures and no obvious bruises were discovered. Fresh bilateral temporal subdural haematomas were found. These appeared consistent with a suspected head injury sustained as a result of a fall. Fairly large partly organized adherent subdural clots in the parieto-occipital region completely remote from and unconnected with the fresh bitemporal haematomas were also found. Based on the gross pathology and the histology, an attempt is made to assess the possible cause of the organized clots. Some of the findings indicated a possible non-traumatic origin, a consideration which is likely to affect the forensic implications.     

More politicians,more corruption: evidence from Swedish municipalities

In the literature on political economy and public choice, it is typically assumed that government size correlates positively with public corruption. The empirical literature, however, is inconclusive, owing to both measurement problems and endogeneity. This paper creates a corruption index based on original data from a survey covering top politicians and civil servants in all Swedish municipalities. The effect of more politicians on corruption problems is analyzed using discontinuities in the required minimum size of local councils. Despite the fact that Sweden consistently has been ranked among the least corrupt countries in the world, the survey suggest that non-trivial corruption problems are present in Sweden. Municipalities with more local council seats have more reported corruption problems, and the regression discontinuity design suggests that the effect is causal.     

Natur hat Recht: 30 Jahre Bundesnaturschutzgesetz als Säule eines neuen Umweltgesetzbuches

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