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.

A two-step load-deflection procedure applicable to extract the Young's modulus and the residual tensile stress of circularly shaped thin-film diaphragms

Abstract: We report on a novel two-step load-deflection (LD) formula and technique that enables an accurate extraction of the Young's modulus and the residual tensile stress from LD measurements on circularly shaped thin-film diaphragms. This LD relationship is derived from an adaptation of Timoshenko's plate bending theory, where the in-plane and out-of-plane deflections are approximated by series expansions. Utilizing the minimum total potential energy principle yields an infinite-dimensional system of equations which is solved analytically resulting in a compact closed-form solution. In the appendant measurement procedure, the whole transverse bending characteristic of the diaphragm as a function of the radial coordinate is recorded for different pressure loads and introduced into the novel LD equation in order to determine the elastomechanical parameters of interest. The flexibility of this approach is demonstrated by ascertaining the Young's modulus and the residual tensile stress of two disparate diaphragm materials made of either micromachined silicon or microfiltered buckypapers composed of carbon nanotube compounds.

Investigation and Modeling of an Acoustoelectric Sensor Setup for the Determination of the Longitudinal Viscosity

Abstract: We present a two transducer setup suited for the determination of the second coefficient of viscosity, sometimes also termed acoustic viscosity. We present the basic sensor setup and according models in frequency and time domain allowing to extract the acoustic viscosity from the measurement data. We illustrate the approach using experimental data obtained with a demonstrator device. The setup, which has potential for further miniaturization, is operated in the time domain. Unwanted spurious effects and imperfections, such as diffraction, acoustic matching losses, and transducer losses, are discussed and according calibration and correction strategies are presented.

Depression According to ICD-10 Clinical Interview vs. Depression According to the Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale to Predict Pain Therapy Outcomes.

Abstract: Purpose: Pain and depression have been shown to have a bidirectional interaction. Although several outcome studies have been conducted, it is still unclear if and how depression influences pain outcome. The current study aims to further clarify this relationship by comparing the predicting value of an interview- and a questionnaire-based assessment of depression. Patients and methods: This retrospective study analyzed data of N=496 chronic pain patients who received a multimodal pain management program. Multilevel models were performed with depression as predictor, pain measures as dependent variables, and the respective pain score at baseline as covariate. Depression was measured at baseline with (1) a semi-structured psychiatric interview corresponding to the ICD 10 and (2) the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D). Pain outcomes were pain intensity assessed with the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS), pain disability measured with the Pain Disability Index (PDI), and affective as well as sensory pain perception assessed with the Pain Perception Scale (PPS-A / PPS-S). Results: At post-treatment, pain intensity (NRS) was higher in patients with depression. This result emerged for interview- (ICD-10) and questionnaire- (CES-D) based depression. These results were significant after correction for multiple testing as well. Moreover, affective pain perception (PSS-A) at post-treatment was higher in patients with depression. Again, this result emerged for interview- (ICD-10) and questionnaire- (CES-D) based depression but it was not significant anymore after correction for multiple testing. Furthermore, pain disability (PDI) was higher at post-treatment in patients with depression according to the CES-D than in those without CES-D depression and this difference in the PDI did not emerge for interview-based depression. Yet, this difference on the PDI between the CES-D depression group and the CES-D no depression group was not significant anymore after correction for multiple testing. Conclusion: The hypothesis that how depression is assessed – interview-based corresponding to the ICD 10 or with the CES-D – contributes to the association between depression and pain treatment outcome could not be confirmed. Future research should use more than one interview and questionnaire to assess depression, since our results are limited to the clinical ICD-10 interview and the CES-D.

E-Inclusion in Public Transport: The Role of Self-efficacy

Abstract: Many subgroups in today's society are not skilled in using novel technologies. Even everyday technologies pose a barrier to technically non-skilled people and --- if they fail to use them --- exclude them from important parts of daily life. In this paper we discuss the relevance of self-efficacy for the use of one specific kind of everyday technology: the ticket vending machine. Results from observations and interviews within the research project InnoMat are presented to answer the question how self-efficacy influences the ticket buying behavior and show that this motivational factor leads to an active avoidance of ticket machines. Negative experiences seem to be one of the strongest influences, which indicate that the group of technically non-skilled users should be given special attention when developing a new generation of ticket vending machines.

Modern portfolio theory with sharia: a comparative analysis

Abstract: Despite Muslims comprising a quarter of the world’s population, almost none of the $100 trillion in professionally managed global assets are sharia compliant. Constraints such as ESG and SRI are common among pension funds, endowments and sovereign wealth funds. Typical constraints include alcohol, tobacco, weapons and environmentally damaging activities. Such securities are excluded from morally constrained portfolios. Sharia applies the same, but adds one more key constraint: securities with debt-related features. Otherwise, sharia is identical to most ethical constraints. This study shows the results of constructing optimized, multi-asset, globally allocated portfolios while respecting sharia. The construction of these portfolios follows contemporary regulatory standards and professional best practices that evolved from investment theory. Results indicate multi-asset sharia portfolios have at least equal return and risk characteristics to conventional peers, or are perhaps in some ways superior. Many Muslims profess to care about sharia, including with their savings. This study provides insight for professional asset managers in applying sharia with modern portfolio theory, which could substantially enhance wealth and asset managers seeking business in this sector.