Danube University Krems

About: Danube University Krems is a education organization based out in Krems, Niederösterreich, Austria. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Stroke & Population. The organization has 498 authors who have published 1572 publications receiving 68797 citations.

Innovation Systems in Conceptual Evolution: Mode 3 Knowledge Production in Quadruple and Quintuple Helix Innovation Systems

Abstract: Universities, or higher education institutions (HEIs) in more general, have three main functions: teaching and education, research (research and experimental development, RD thus also arts universities can express competences in teaching and in carrying out research in the sciences. The other major challenge of arts universities is to engage in “artistic research” and “arts-based innovation.” By this, arts universities (and other higher education institutions in the arts) are also being linked to and are being interlinked with national innovation systems and multilevel innovation systems. This widens the whole interdisciplinary and transdisciplinary spectrum of higher education systems. “Artistic research” furthermore complements the “teaching of arts” at arts universities (see also the propositions formulated by Bast, 2013). Hybrid and innovative combinations of universities of arts and universities of the sciences are possible and indicate organizational opportunities for promoting creativity (Campbell, 2013b).

Mixed Treatment Comparison of the Treatment Discontinuations of Biologic Disease-Modifying Antirheumatic Drugs in Adults with Rheumatoid Arthritis:

Abstract: BACKGROUND:Introduction of biologic disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs) has considerably changed treatment options for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) over the past decade. Very little information is available on comparative discontinuation rates of the biologics.OBJECTIVE:To compare treatment discontinuations for 9 biologic DMARDs in adults with RA.METHODS:We searched electronic databases through May 2012 to retrieve randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of patients with RA that compared biologic DMARDs with placebo or another biologic DMARD. The primary outcome was treatment discontinuation during the blinded phase of the trials, measured as overall withdrawals, withdrawals resulting from lack of efficacy, and withdrawals resulting from adverse events. Random-effects meta-analysis estimated the effect size for individual agents, and adjusted indirect comparisons were made between biologics using mixed treatment comparisons (MTC) meta-analysis.RESULTS:Forty-four trials were included in the analysis. I...

Symmetric mechanical plate resonators for fluid sensing

Abstract: In this contribution, we present a symmetric arrangement of electromagnetically actuated, resonating plates for viscosity and density measurement. Regarding the oscillation mode, the design resembles a tuning fork and is based on previously introduced resonating plate designs. It exhibits similar sensitivity to viscosity as previously characterized single plate resonators, while having two shear modes at different frequencies, that can be both actuated with the same setup allowing a multi-frequency analysis of viscoelastic liquids. We introduce the new design and present the results of FE simulations in order to determine the associated eigenmodes. We investigate the effects of the actuation method on the sensors performance by actuating with two different magnetic field configurations and by trying different configurations of the actuation and readout circuit, from which we show that with a particular configuration, Q-factors of up to 5000 can be reached for the symmetric shear mode. From these results we then proceed to suggesting a simplified lumped mechanical oscillator model explaining the dependence of the resonator’s Q-factor while operated in air on induced eddy currents damping. Measurement results are presented which show the general dependence of the new design’s actuated modes, the anti-symmetric and symmetric mode, on viscosity and density. We apply two different models to our data: a newly developed generalized model and a simplified version of that model which better describes the observed relation of our measurements to the square root of the product viscosity density. We then proceed to perform an estimated error analysis on viscosity, density, and the square root of their products based on the above mentioned applied models. From this error analysis several conclusions are drawn, mainly that the symmetric mode is more accurate than the anti-symmetric one, the sensor is generally more accurate for lower viscosity liquids, and lastly that the square root of the viscosity density product is a more suited value for the description of the sensor's behavior than the viscosity or the density alone.

The Effects of Hyperacute Serum on the Elements of the Human Subchondral Bone Marrow Niche

Abstract: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are widely used in laboratory experiments as well as in human cell therapy. Their culture requires animal sera like fetal calf serum (FCS) as essential supplementation; however, animal sera pose a risk for clinical applications. Human blood derivatives, for example, platelet-rich plasma (PRP) releasates, are potential replacements of FCS; however, it is unclear which serum variant has the best effect on the given cell or tissue type. Additionally, blood derivatives are commonly used in musculoskeletal diseases like osteoarthritis (OA) or osteonecrosis as "proliferative agents" for the topical MSC pool. Hyperacute serum (HAS), a new serum derivative, has been designed to approximate the natural coagulation cascade with a single-step, additive-free preparation method. We investigated the effects of HAS on monolayer MSC cultures and in their natural niche, in 3D subchondral bone and marrow explants. Viability measurements, RT-qPCR evaluation for gene expression and flow cytometry for cell surface marker analysis were performed to compare the effects of FCS-, PRP-, or HAS-supplemented culture media. Monolayer MSCs showed significantly higher metabolic activity following 5 days' incubation in HAS, and osteoblast-specific mRNA expression was markedly increased, while cells also retained their MSC-specific cell surface markers. A similar effect was observed on bone and marrow explants, which was further confirmed with confocal microscopy analysis. Moreover, markedly higher bone marrow preservation was observed with histology in case of HAS supplementation compared to FCS. These findings indicate possible application of HAS in regenerative solutions of skeletal diseases like OA or osteonecrosis.