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.

Participants' expectations and experiences with periodic health examinations in Austria - a qualitative study.

Abstract: The engagement of citizens in the development of evidence-based screening programs is internationally supported. The aim of our research was to explore the motivations and reasons of adult citizens in Austria for attending periodic health examinations (PHE) as well as their satisfaction with the way PHE are organized. We conducted three focus groups with a random sample of previous attenders of PHE. Participants were stratified by age, gender, and education. The discussions were recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Main motivations of attenders (n = 30) were to detect diseases early, to prevent suffering, and to live a long, healthy life. They believed that PHE work as an incentive of health behavior change. As possible reasons not to attend PHE, participants mentioned lack of awareness, time constraints, unpleasant prior experiences, and fear of harm or negative consequences. They wanted the range of examinations to be selected based on individual risks and to be more comprehensive. Some participants expressed frustration with the lack of time doctors dedicated to the examination or discussion of the results. Throughout the discussion, participants realized there is a great diversity among doctors in the quality of health examinations and how content is delivered. The study showed that attenders of PHE have high expectations concerning the beneficial outcomes of PHE. They requested a comprehensive and individualized program that does not reflect the scientific evidence from effectiveness studies of PHE. These findings indicate serious shortcomings in the communication of benefits and harms of screening interventions and highlight the need for a more proactive communication about aims and content of the program.

Blockchain Technologies and Games: A Proper Match?

Abstract: Not only have virtual currencies in digital games from the pre-Blockchain era helped to understand digital currency systems, but the idea that digital objects can have monetary value is a question of faith that has been expressed primarily through the gaming industry. In the world of business this is now called the ’token economy’. Blockchain as a technology can do much more, besides payment processing with cryptocurrencies, utility tokens can be created to secure in-game currencies and items, gamification systems can be made more transparent while strengthening the privacy of the players and even whole game ecosystems can be secured by Blockchain. However, this is still a very young technology and that there is a certain technological war of faith as well as a big area of scams around and with Blockchain-based systems and tokens. In this paper we will present a bird’s eye view, based on results of the expert interviews, of how Blockchain as technology is connected to the different aspects of games and play.

Thermal flow sensors based on printed circuit board technology

Abstract: Measurement of air flows is an important task in many process monitoring systems. In applications like control of ventilation and air conditioning systems, robustness, ease of use, and cost are important issues calling for simple and effective sensor design. This paper investigates the use of commercial-off-the-shelf printed circuit board technologies for the fabrication of calorimetric flow sensors. Such sensors are known to be sensitive when being implemented using thin-film technology. The paper reviews the operation principle of thermal flow sensors and their performance in micromachined silicon technology for comparison. Subsequently, a similar design is introduced where heating and temperature sensing elements are made from standard copper traces on a flexible PCB substrate. Simulation studies demonstrate the basic viability of this approach, even if it might entail some performance penalties. First experimental data of sensor prototypes show that the repeatability of the PCB manufacturing processes is basically sufficient for using copper traces as sensors, but leaves also room for future improvement in both technology and sensor design.

Patients' interpersonal problems as moderators of depression outcomes in a randomized controlled trial comparing mindfulness-based cognitive therapy and a group version of the cognitive-behavioral analysis system of psychotherapy in chronic depression.

Abstract: OBJECTIVES Interpersonal problems were examined as moderators of depression outcomes between mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) and cognitive behavioral analysis system of psychotherapy (CBASP) in patients with chronic depression. METHODS Patients received treatment-as-usual and, in addition, were randomized to 8-weeks of MBCT (n = 34) or 8-weeks of CBASP (n = 34). MBCT and CBASP were given in a group format. The Hamilton depression rating scale (HAM-D) was the primary and the Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II) the secondary outcome. The subscales of the Inventory of interpersonal problems (IIP-32) were moderators. Multilevel models were performed. RESULTS Higher scores on the "vindictive/self-centered" subscale were associated with a better outcome in MBCT than in CBASP (HAM-D: p < .01; BDI-II: p < .01). Higher scores on the "nonassertive" subscale were associated with a better outcome in CBASP than in MBCT (HAM-D: p < .01; BDI-II: p < .01). CONCLUSIONS If these results can be replicated in larger trials, MBCT should be preferred to CBASP in chronically depressed patients being vindictive/self-centered, whereas CBASP should be preferred to MBCT in chronically depressed patients being nonassertive.

Open Data: Growing Up and Getting Specific

Abstract: Open data has been given a lot of attention in the public. In some situation ‘open by default’ has become established as a core principle, whereas others argue about the limited results and the lack of robust studies demonstrating the value, and point to the risk that open data might turn out to be a short lived policy fad. This special issue contains a variety of research papers addressing this topic from different views and providing recent research results on open data. The papers in this issue deepen the understanding of open data and show that the subject of open data is moving from the general to the study of specifics. The special issue also includes invited papers presented at the first public meeting of the SharePSI project. Share-PSI 2.0 is the European network for the exchange of experience and ideas around implementing open data policies in the public sector.