Peter C. Meyer

Radiometric corrections of topographically induced effects on Landsat TM data in an alpine environment

Abstract Four radiometric correction methods for the reduction of slope-aspect effects in a Landsat TM data set are tested in a mountainous test site with regard to their physical soundness and their influence on forest classification, as well as on the visual appearance of the scene. Excellent ground reference information and fine-resolution DEM allowed precise assessment of the applicability of the methods under investigation. The results of the study presented here demonstrate the weakness of the classical cosine correction method for radiometric correction in rugged terrain. The statistical, Minnaert and C-correction approaches, however, yielded an improvement of the forest classification and an impressive reduction of the visual topography effect.

Occupation, social support and quality of life in persons with schizophrenic or affective disorders

Abstract.Background:Most people suffering from severe mental illness (SMI) lack paid employment. This study investigates the relationship between work status and objective as well as subjective quality of life (QoL) in people with SMI.Methods:The sample consists of 261 subjects (102 women, 159 men) aged 35 (men) and 38 (women) years on average, of whom 158 suffer from a schizophrenic disorder (ICD-10: F2) and 103 were diagnosed as having an affective disorder (ICD-10: F3). Subjective QoL was assessed with the WHOQOL-BREF scale.Results:Subjects with an occupation in general have a larger social network at their disposal and receive more social support. With regard to income, few (12%) of the subjects with a job on the open labour market live below the poverty level, but many (28–38%) of those engaged in sheltered or other work-like activities do. Occupation ameliorates satisfaction with life domains referring to social integration (social relationships, environment), whereas the individual’s well-being (psychological, physical) is hardly affected. Social support is an important mediator of the relationship between occupation and subjective QoL. Income is weakly and negatively related to subjective QoL.Conclusion:Supportive relationships to colleagues at the workplace mainly explain the better subjective QoL of SMI people with an occupation.When designing specific employment possibilities for people with SMI, we should take notice of the social support dimension at the workplace. Mentally ill people have a substantial poverty risk, even when they are working. In particular, payment for sheltered work should be ameliorated.

Perceived stigmatization of mentally ill people and its consequences for the quality of life in a Swiss population.

The awareness of social conceptions of mental illness is essential in understanding the social realities of people with mental illness. Labeling due to psychiatric hospitalization can have a powerful influence on people’s life chances. Little is known about subjective perceptions of stigmatization and discrimination and the influence of these beliefs on the quality of life of mentally ill people. We used a psychiatric inpatient sample and a community sample to analyze and compare perception of stigmatization and discrimination. Both patients and community members believed that most people rejected former mental patients. Thus, attitudes toward mental illness have their source in the socialization of the individual and his or her cultural context rather than in the currently pathological state of those affected. In a multiple regression analysis, we showed that even if controlled for demographic and clinical factors, perceived devaluation and discrimination had a significant negative effect on the quality of life of the mentally ill people. For planning and implementing psychiatric treatment programs, it is important to be aware of social conceptions of mental disorder.

Effects of cost sharing on seeking outpatient care: a propensity‐matched study in Germany and Switzerland

BACKGROUND Several studies have assessed the effect of cost sharing on health service utilization (HSU), mostly in the USA. Results are heterogeneous, showing different effects. Whereas previous studies compared insurants within one health care system but different modes of insurance, we aimed at comparing two different health care systems in Europe: Germany and Switzerland. Furthermore, we assessed the impact of cost sharing depending on socio-demographic factors as well as health status. METHODS Two representative samples of 5197 Swiss insurants with and 5197 German insurants without cost sharing were used to assess the independent association between cost sharing and the use of outpatient care. To minimize confounding, we performed cross-sectional analyses between propensity score matched Swiss and German insurants. We investigated subgroups according to health and socio-economic status to assess a potential social gradient in HSU. RESULTS We found a significant association between health insurance scheme and the use of outpatient services. German insurants without cost sharing (visit rate: 4.8 per year) consulted a general practitioner or specialist more frequently than Swiss insurants with cost sharing (visit rate: 3.0 per year; P < 0.01). Subgroup analyses showed that vulnerable populations were differently affected by cost sharing. In the group of respondents with poor health and low socio-economic status, the cost-sharing effect was strongest. CONCLUSION Cost-sharing models reduce HSU. The challenge is to create cost-sharing models which do not preclude vulnerable populations from seeking essential health care.

Grundlagen des Sozialverhaltens

Die Psychosoziale Medizin geht vom Menschen ab einem Beziehungswesen aus, das in sozialen Bezugen gezeugt geboren und aufgezogen wird, einem Wesen, das aus den Interaktionen mit der mitmenschlichen Umwelt die wichtigsten Anstose fur die Entfaltung seiner Personlichkeit und fur deren Fortentwicklung uber die Lebensspanne hinweg erhalt. Krankheit entsteht meist in sozialen Bezugen und wird in sozialen Bezugen behandelt.

A shortwave radiation model for radiometric correction of optical satellite data in rugged terrain

An accurate land-use classification in rugged terrain requires precise correction of atmospheric and slope-aspect effects. This study evaluates the potential of a physical-based correction approach in the mountainous test site Beckenried in Central Switzerland. A Landsat-5 Thematic Mapper (TM) image, a fine-resolution digital elevation model (DEM) and precise ground reference data for several land-use classes serve as the database. Atmospheric correction procedures are based on the CCRS-version of the radiative transfer code 5S. Predefined model data in 5S for atmospheric profiles are compared with actual radiosonde measurements. The approach for the retrieval of atmospherically corrected reflectances is evaluated also in regard to topographic illumination correction. The impact of slope and aspect are taken into account by modifying the irradiance components calculated by 5S for flat terrain to those of inclined terrain using the DEM.<<ETX>>

Empirical Quality Assessment: Effect of Resampling on Geometric and Radiometric Data Quality Using a Regionbased Approach

Registration and geocoding of remote sensing data and ground truth is necessary in numerous applications. An often applied technique consists in a resampling procedure regardless of well known disadavantages. Here quantitative results are presented to show the influence of geometric transformation and radiometric interpolation on the data with emphasis on the influence on a single object. The study was carried out with data from a DAEDALUS AADS 1268 ATM airborne multispectral scanner. Test measurements are based on morphologic and internal descriptors. It can be shown, that even for the nearest neighbor algorithm, the changes of the radiometric properties of an object in such a dataset are not negligible. The geometric reliability does not seem to be satisfying, even for the case of a cubic convolution algorithm.

Interprofessional education and practice in Sweden / Interprofessionelle Bildung und Praxis in Schweden

Abstract There are some significant differences between the health systems in German speaking Europe and Sweden: In Sweden, the number of hospitals is small, caregiving services in the hospital and ambulatory sector are integrated, health professionals with university degrees are granted extended competencies and rights incl. first line consultation and limited prescription. Education is designed to prepare for these functions and responsibilities. It started more than 30 years ago when Linköping implemented the OECD-model of Health Universities. Interprofessional teaching, common learning of the various tracks and training on real patients are constitutive elements of this novel approach. Karolinska University in Stockholm adopted the model in 1998 and gave way to a nationwide reform. A recommendation of the German Science Council regarding training of health professionals, published 2012, drew the attention of educators to this approach. The paper explains the circumstances of the consolidation of this concept. It is important to realize that overarching governance principles and measures deriving from health and education policy are of crucial importance. They evolve from evaluations of needs carried out by the regional health agencies which lead to conditional mandates and financial incentives to the education sector. Moreover, decisions taken by the national board for accreditation and quality assurance take also in account the goals set and the outcomes in education and caregiving. Outside Sweden they would be considered an inappropriate limitation of academic freedom.The paper ends with a reflection of impressions collected during a study trip and shows some lessons to be learnt from the Swedish education and practice.

Sex Differences in the Relationship between Social Support and Mental Health

Numerous investigations have demonstrated the significance of social networks and social support for the maintenance and restoration of mental health and for coping with social stress (Aneshensel, 1992; Cohen & Syme, 1985; Gottlieb, 1981, 1983; House, Umberson, & Landis, 1988; Lin, Dean, & Ensel, 1986; Meyer & Suter, 1993). To date research has focused predominantly on the positive effects of networks, namely on social support. In many studies preventive, stress-buffering, and rehabilitative effects were demonstrated. According to the “stress-buffer hypothesis,” social support is primarily of importance in maintaining the health of those who are under a great deal of stress (Lin et al., 1986).

Mapping of swiss forests with noaa-avhrr using a gis approach

The objective is a digital mapping of forested and non-forested areas of Switzerland by means of NOAA-AVHRR data. The method utilized should also be generally applicable to areas in temperate zones. Several approaches to radiometric corrections are examined. For the geocoding of AVHRR scenes, two methods are tested. Best classification results are achieved using AVHRR channel 1 and 2 and a parallel-epiped algorithm. A comparison between the classification and the foresdnon-forest ground truth shows a 80.6% congruity (pixel correctly classified and in the right position), and a surface area accuracy of 95.5% on overall Switzerland.