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.

Direct versus indirect comparisons : A summary of the evidence

Abstract: Objectives The aim of this study was to provide a comprehensive summary and interpretation of the current evidence on the use and validity of statistical methods to conduct indirect comparisons of treatment effects. Methods A narrative review was conducted. Results Well-conducted methodological studies provide good evidence that adjusted indirect comparisons can lead to results similar to those from direct comparisons. The internal validity of several statistical methods to conduct indirect comparisons, therefore, has been established. Meta-regression, logistic regression, or adjusted indirect comparisons should be the methods of first choice. Unadjusted indirect comparisons are always unacceptable. Deciding whether to combine direct and indirect evidence will be a matter of informed judgment based on the similarities and dissimilarities of populations and interventions. Unverifiable assumptions with respect to the similarity of compared studies and low power are serious limitations of indirect comparisons. Conclusions In the absence of sufficient head-to-head evidence, adjusted indirect comparisons can be viewed as additional analytical tools to determine the comparative efficacy and effectiveness of competing interventions. Researchers who use indirect comparisons need to keep the limitations in mind.

Efficiency performance of the world's leading corporations in phosphate rock mining

Abstract: The prominence of phosphorus (P) is represented by three major aspects: first and most important, P is essential for all life on Earth; second, no other element or substance can act as a substitute for P; and third, P is considered a non-renewable resource and thus finite. In regard to global food security and P as one of the three major macronutrients, the world faces an extensive challenge to utilize this finite and unsubstitutable commodity in the most effective as well as the most efficient way. Efficiency in general has increasingly become of major importance over the last several decades, especially within competitive commodities. Practically all PR used for chemical fertilizers originates from exploitable deposits that are concentrated in a rather small number of countries and mined vastly by only a limited number of global enterprises. Whereas these enterprises differ in factors such as size, vertical and horizontal integration, legal form, or type of ownership, their overall goal as corporations remains the same-the optimization of their operations. Consequently, firms can strive to (a) minimize their inputs at constant output levels; (b) maximize their outputs at constant input levels; or (c) increase their efficiency ratio by adjusting inputs and outputs at the same time. In contrast to the oil industry, the PR market is demand driven, which means that not everything that could be produced is immediately consumed. This study attempts to measure, compare, and analyze the technical efficiency performance of the major global corporations involved in PR mining by using the BCC (Banker, Charnes, and Cooper) and CCR (Charnes, Cooper, and Rhodes) models of data envelopment analysis. The analysis includes total technical efficiency as well as the disaggregated pure technical and scale efficiency and a breakdown of the factors accounting for inefficiency. The 24 firms included in the analysis account for 67.3% of the global phosphate rock ore capacity and 61.4% of phosphate rock concentrate capacity. Based on the BCC and CCR modeling a higher percentage (36% vs. 20% – Model 1; 36% vs. 10% – Model 2) of publicly quoted companies (such as PotashCorp) are classified as efficient compared to state-owned companies (such as OCP). However, the frequencies of efficiency performance do not differ in such a way that a Fisher Exact Test would suggest statistical significance for these data. This indicates that general assumptions regarding the different strategies of state-owned and publicly quoted firms are not necessarily valid.

Changes in Provision of Psychotherapy in the Early Weeks of the COVID-19 Lockdown in Austria.

Abstract: Reducing personal contacts is a central measure against the spreading of the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). This troubles mental health, but also mental health care as treatments usually take place in personal contact and switching to remote treatments might be necessary in times of COVID-19. The present study investigated the question how the provision of psychotherapy changed in the early weeks of the COVID-19 lockdown in Austria and whether there were differences between the four therapeutic orientations eligible in Austria (psychodynamic, humanistic, systemic, behavioral). Psychotherapists (N = 1547) completed an online survey. They entered their number of patients treated on average per week (in personal contact, via telephone, via Internet) in the early weeks of the COVID-19 lockdown in Austria as well as (retrospectively) in the months before. The number of patients treated on average per week in personal contact decreased (on average 81%; p < 0.001), whereas the number of patients treated on average per week via telephone and via Internet increased (on average 979% and 1561%; both p < 0.001). Yet, the decrease of psychotherapies through personal contact was not compensated for by increases of remote psychotherapies (p < 0.001). No differences between the four therapeutic orientations emerged. Results imply an undersupply of psychotherapy in the COVID-19 lockdown and that further changes are necessary to cover the increased need for timely psychotherapy in times of COVID-19.

Development of the standards of reporting of neurological disorders (STROND) checklist: a guideline for the reporting of incidence and prevalence studies in neuroepidemiology

Abstract: Incidence and prevalence studies of neurological disorders play an important role in assessing the burden of disease and planning services. However, the assessment of disease estimates is hindered by problems in reporting for such studies. Despite a growth in published reports, existing guidelines relate to analytical rather than descriptive epidemiological studies. There are also no user-friendly tools (e.g., checklists) available for authors, editors and peer-reviewers to facilitate best practice in reporting of descriptive epidemiological studies for most neurological disorders. The Standards of Reporting of Neurological Disorders (STROND) is a guideline that consists of recommendations and a checklist to facilitate better reporting of published incidence and prevalence studies of neurological disorders. A review of previously developed guidance was used to produce a list of items required for incidence and prevalence studies in neurology. A three-round Delphi technique was used to identify the 'basic minimum items' important for reporting, as well as some additional 'ideal reporting items'. An e-consultation process was then used in order to gauge opinion by external neuroepidemiological experts on the appropriateness of the items included in the checklist. Of 38 candidate items, 15 items and accompanying recommendations were developed along with a user-friendly checklist. The introduction and use of the STROND checklist should lead to more consistent, transparent and contextualised reporting of descriptive neuroepidemiological studies resulting in more applicable and comparable findings and ultimately support better healthcare decisions.

Multidomain Lifestyle Interventions for the Prevention of Cognitive Decline After Ischemic Stroke Randomized Trial

Abstract: Background and Purpose—Cognitive impairment occurs in ≤30% of all stroke survivors. However, effective therapies aimed at preventing poststroke cognitive decline are lacking. We assessed the efficacy of a multidomain intervention on preventing cognitive decline after stroke. Methods—In this randomized, observer-blind trial patients were recruited within 3 months after an acute stroke in 5 Austrian neurological centers. Patients were assigned to a 24-month lifestyle-based multidomain intervention or standard stroke care. Primary outcomes were the cognitive subscale of the Alzheimer Disease Assessment Scale (ADAS-cog) and occurrence of cognitive decline in the composite scores of at least 2 of 5 cognitive domains at 24 months. Results—A total of 101 patients were randomized into multi-intervention and 101 into standard care during June 2010 and November 2012. Of them, 76 patients in the intervention group and 83 in the control group were included in the final intention-to-treat analysis. At 24 months, 8 of ...