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This study seeks to reveal the heterogeneity in occupation-specific wage returns among graduates of the German vocational education and training (VET) system. We distinguish between VET graduates with and without a higher education entrance certificate (i.e. an Abitur). To implement our hierarchical multi-level analyses, we exploit the latest wave of the BIBB/BAuA Employment Survey from 2018. By estimating occupation-specific wage returns, we reveal gaps between VET graduates with and without an Abitur. Additionally, we analyse several occupational characteristics to show how they contribute to the gaps in wage returns between our study groups. Our results show that employees combining an Abitur with a VET degree achieve higher wage returns than those VET graduates without an Abitur across all occupations. Employees holding a VET degree without an Abitur display greater inequality of occupation-specific wage returns. Among the occupational characteristics, task composition is the main driver of the differences in wage returns.

PurposeThe aim of this study is to examine the characteristics of firms that influence their hiring decisions regarding the share of newly hired apprentices with Abitur and maximum lower secondary certificates.Design/methodology/approachThe study uses 2,004 training firms of the BIBB Qualification Panel data from 2013 to 2018 to estimate fixed-effects regressions analysing the effect of firms’ qualification structures and recruitment problems on the share of newly hired apprentices with Abitur (highest German secondary school-leaving certificate) and maximum lower secondary certificates (in German maximal Hauptschulabschluss).FindingsThe results indicate that firms with a higher qualification structure hire a higher share of apprentices with Abitur. However, the effect gets insignificant once controlling for the share of applicants with Abitur. Further, the study suggests that firms reduce their requirements on the school-leaving certificate of VET applicants when they suffer from unfilled training positions. Moreover, the share of applicants with Abitur and maximum lower secondary certificate has high explanatory power for the share of newly hired apprentices with these certificates.Originality/valueThe study highlights the role of firms in facilitating the transition of young people entering dual VET in Germany, whereas most studies so far have focused on the individual level. Further, the study contributes to the understanding of firms’ hiring processes of apprentices beyond the question of whether a firm provides VET at all and could be used for designing labour market policy programs for youth.

The BIBB Establishment Panel on Qualification and Competence Development is the second largest annual panel survey of firms in Germany. In this article, we present the harmonised longitudinal data set from the first wave in 2011 to the 2019 wave, comprising 32,135 observations from 15,918 firms. We present information on the sample, study design and data collection and describe the characteristics of the survey. We explain the structure of the long data set designed for facilitating panel analyses. The data provides comprehensive information on firms’ human resources management, particularly in respect of vocational education and training and continuing training. Since 2016, the survey has also followed technological change and the training and employment of refugees. We present previous findings using the data, based on which we give an outline of the survey’s potential for future research. The Research Data Centre at the Federal Institute for Vocational Education and Training provides and regularly updates the data set. Das BIBB-Betriebspanel zur Qualifizierung und Kompetenzentwicklung ist die zweitgrößte jährliche Panelbefragung von Betrieben in Deutschland. In diesem Beitrag stellen wir den harmonisierten Längsschnittdatensatz von der ersten Welle im Jahr 2011 bis zur Welle 2019 vor, der 32.135 Beobachtungen von 15.918 Betrieben umfasst. Wir informieren über die Stichprobe, das Studiendesign und die Datenerhebung sowie die Merkmale der Erhebung. Weiterhin erläutern wir die Struktur des long Datensatzes, der für Panelanalysen konzipiert ist. Die Daten liefern umfassende Informationen zum Personalmanagement der Unternehmen, insbesondere zu beruflicher Bildung und Weiterbildung. Seit 2016 verfolgt die Erhebung auch den technologischen Wandel sowie die Ausbildung und Beschäftigung von Geflüchteten. Wir stellen bisherige Ergebnisse anhand der Daten vor und skizzieren auf dieser Basis das Potenzial der Erhebung für die zukünftige Forschung. Das Forschungsdatenzentrum am Bundesinstitut für Berufsbildung stellt den Datensatz zur Verfügung und aktualisiert ihn regelmäßig.

Microencapsulation is an up-and-coming technology for maintaining the viability of probiotics. However, the effect of core-to-wall ratios and ratios of polysaccharides on the protection of the Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 299v strain has not been deeply discussed. Lyophilization of the Lp. plantarum 299v strain was conducted, and different core-to-wall ratios and ratios of maltodextrin (MD) and resistant starch (RS) were applied. Results demonstrated that the content of MD and RS had an influence on the yield and bulk density in both core-to-wall ratios (1:1 and 1:1.5). In addition, samples coated with a core-to-wall ratio of 1:1.5 had significantly higher viability than those coated with a core-to-wall ratio of 1:1. Moreover, samples coated with core-to-wall ratios of 1:1 and MD:RS 1:1, as well as core-to-wall ratios of 1:1.5 and MD:RS 3:1, had the highest cell number after simulated gastric fluid and simulated intestinal fluid testing, respectively. Furthermore, the optimal formulation for the application of microencapsulated Lp. plantarum 299v in apple juice (serving as a functional beverage) is listed as follows: core-to-wall ratios of 1:1 and MD:RS 1:1, with the fortification method, and stored at 4 °C. After 11 weeks of storage, the cell count was 8.28 log (CFU/mL). This study provided a strategy for Lp. plantarum 299v to achieve high viability in long-term storage and provides an application in functional apple beverages.

Background Frailty is expressed by a reduction in physical capacity, mobility, muscle strength, and endurance. (Pre-)frailty is present in up to 42% of the older surgical population, with an increased risk for peri- and postoperative complications. Consequently, these patients often suffer from a delayed or limited recovery, loss of autonomy and quality of life, and a decrease in functional and cognitive capacities. Since frailty is modifiable, prehabilitation may improve the physiological reserves of patients and reduce the care dependency 12 months after surgery. Methods Patients ≥ 70 years old scheduled for elective surgery or intervention will be recruited in this multicenter, randomized controlled study, with a target of 1400 participants with an allocation ratio of 1:1. The intervention consists of (1) a shared decision-making process with the patient, relatives, and an interdisciplinary and interprofessional team and (2) a 3-week multimodal, individualized prehabilitation program including exercise therapy, nutritional intervention, mobility or balance training, and psychosocial interventions and medical assessment. The frequency of the supervised prehabilitation is 5 times/week for 3 weeks. The primary endpoint is defined as the level of care dependency 12 months after surgery or intervention. Discussion Prehabilitation has been proven to be effective for different populations, including colorectal, transplant, and cardiac surgery patients. In contrast, evidence for prehabilitation in older, frail patients has not been clearly established. To the best of our knowledge, this is currently the largest prehabilitation study on older people with frailty undergoing general elective surgery. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04418271 . Registered on 5 June 2020. Universal Trial Number (UTN): U1111-1253-4820

This paper reports on an Austrian research project that deals with the question how the Austrian society could cope with long-lasting low economic growth. Various causes of low-growth that are relevant for Austria (a deteriorating balance of trade, increasing resource prices, consumer restraint of households and less immigration) have been identified, leading to an only moderate gross domestic product growth of 0.55 % per year. The resulting impact on the economy is substantial: the labour market suffers from a shortage of labour supply (due to reduced migration) and from a reduced demand for labour (due to reduced demand in consumption, investments and exports). Subsequently, less employment decreases the development of the disposable income of private households (tax rates and social security contributions held constant). Related to this, public debt is higher due to reduced tax incomes and slightly growing public expenditures. From an ecological perspective, resource consumption increases at a slower rate, however, no absolute reduction can be reached. CO 2 emissions also slightly increase. Therefore, it cannot be assumed that low growth necessarily leads to the achievement of energy and environmental policy goals. Based on these results, a policy scenario was used to analyze whether and how policy measures are able to cope with the negative consequences of persistent low growth. The results reveal that the selected measures are suitable to reduce negative economic effects: The implementation of reduced working time and an eco-social reform of levies might improve the labour market situation. The negative effects on the national budget can be diminished by a reduction of environmentally harmful subsidies. Induced behaviour changes of private households can reduce energy and resource-intensive consumption.

Acute and chronic inflammatory disorders are characterized by detrimental cytokine and chemokine expression. Frequently, the chemotactic activity of cytokines depends on a modified N‐terminus of the polypeptide. Among those, the N‐terminus of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (CCL2 and MCP‐1) is modified to a pyroglutamate (pE‐) residue protecting against degradation in vivo . Here, we show that the N‐terminal pE‐formation depends on glutaminyl cyclase activity. The pE‐residue increases stability against N‐terminal degradation by aminopeptidases and improves receptor activation and signal transduction in vitro . Genetic ablation of the glutaminyl cyclase iso‐enzymes QC ( QPCT ) or isoQC ( QPCTL ) revealed a major role of isoQC for pE 1 ‐CCL2 formation and monocyte infiltration. Consistently, administration of QC‐inhibitors in inflammatory models, such as thioglycollate‐induced peritonitis reduced monocyte infiltration. The pharmacologic efficacy of QC/isoQC‐inhibition was assessed in accelerated atherosclerosis in ApoE3*Leiden mice, showing attenuated atherosclerotic pathology following chronic oral treatment. Current strategies targeting CCL2 are mainly based on antibodies or spiegelmers. The application of small, orally available inhibitors of glutaminyl cyclases represents an alternative therapeutic strategy to treat CCL2‐driven disorders such as atherosclerosis/restenosis and fibrosis. →See accompanying article http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/emmm.201100161