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.

Nonlinear conjugate gradient methods in micromagnetics

Abstract: Conjugate gradient methods for energy minimization in micromagnetics are compared. The comparison of analytic results with numerical simulation shows that standard conjugate gradient method may fail to produce correct results. A method that restricts the step length in the line search is introduced, in order to avoid this problem. When the step length in the line search is controlled, conjugate gradient techniques are a fast and reliable way to compute the hysteresis properties of permanent magnets. The method is applied to investigate demagnetizing effects in NdFe12 based permanent magnets. The reduction of the coercive field by demagnetizing effects is μ0ΔH = 1.4 T at 450 K.

Losses and use efficiencies along the phosphorus cycle. Part 1: Dilemmata and losses in the mines and other nodes of the supply chain

Abstract: This contribution provides a set of definitions and relates the concepts of losses, efficiencies, efficacy, and effectiveness (which is conceived as a kind of overall utility) in general and for the case of phosphorus. We show how the material—technical and economic value-related definitions are linked and can be utilized for sustainable phosphorus and resource management. Part 1 provides an overview of global anthropogenic and natural phosphorus flows and identifies major losses from the current phosphorus supply–demand chain. We discuss in what way the concepts of efficacy, efficiency, and effectiveness are related and how they may be used for assessing aspects of sustainable management. We discuss losses in mining and consider how management of the mining rate, cut-off grade, and stripping ratio might affect losses today and in the future. Although we identify critical losses of the supply–demand chain, the back sections of the paper focuses on losses in mining and beneficiation. When introducing different types of losses, we illuminate whether the residues in mining should be perceived as losses and whether mining companies can increase the total resource efficiency by decreasing the cut-off grade (i.e., by decreasing the concentration of phosphate ore that becomes subject to mining and beneficiation). This is discussed from an intergenerational justice and external costs perspective of losses. We introduce a classification system for (i) highly probable or definite absolute losses, (ii) losses from the supply–demand chain that become deferred losses, and (iii) uncertain losses that may become subject to sustainable resource management. This classification may be applied to all nodes of the supply–demand chain. We elaborate on how these types of losses can become subject to sustainable resource management. Part 2 of the paper discusses various operationalizations, fallacies, and challenges related to applying different efficiency terms.

Pore size--a key property for selective toxin removal in blood purification.

Abstract: Purpose: Extracorporeal blood purification systems based on combined membrane/adsorption technologies are used in acute liver failure to replace detoxification as well as to remove inflammatory mediators in sepsis patients. In addition to coating and chemical modification of the surface, pore size significantly controls the selectivity of adsorption materials. Methods: This study addresses the adsorption of albumin bound liver toxins, cytokines, and representative plasma compounds on three adsorbents which differ only in pore size distribution. All three adsorbents are based on hydrophobic poly(styrene-divinylbenzene) copolymer matrices and have mean pore sizes of 15, 30, and 100 nm. Results: The pores of adsorbents act as molecular sieves and prevent the entry of molecules that are larger than their molecular cut-off. The results of this study reveal that adsorbents based on styrenedivinylbenzene polymers with 15 nm pores are suitable for cytokine removal, and the same adsorbents with 30-40 nm pores are the best choice for the removal of albumin-bound toxins in the case of liver failure. Adsorbents with very large pores lack selectivity which leads to uncontrolled adsorption of all plasma proteins. Therefore, hydrophobic adsorbents with large pores offer inadequate plasma compatibility and do not fulfill the requirements for blood purification. Conclusions: Biocompatibility and efficiency of adsorbents used for blood purification can improved by fine tuning of adsorbent surface pore distributions.

Taxation of unprocessed sugar or sugar‐added foods for reducing their consumption and preventing obesity or other adverse health outcomes

Abstract: Background Global prevalence of overweight and obesity are alarming. For tackling this public health problem, preventive public health and policy actions are urgently needed. Some countries implemented food taxes in the past and some were subsequently abolished. Some countries, such as Norway, Hungary, Denmark, Bermuda, Dominica, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, and the Navajo Nation (USA), specifically implemented taxes on unprocessed sugar and sugar-added foods. These taxes on unprocessed sugar and sugar-added foods are fiscal policy interventions, implemented to decrease their consumption and in turn reduce adverse health-related, economic and social effects associated with these food products. Objectives To assess the effects of taxation of unprocessed sugar or sugar-added foods in the general population on the consumption of unprocessed sugar or sugar-added foods, the prevalence and incidence of overweight and obesity, and the prevalence and incidence of other diet-related health outcomes. Search methods We searched CENTRAL, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, MEDLINE, Embase and 15 other databases and trials registers on 12 September 2019. We handsearched the reference list of all records of included studies, searched websites of international organisations and institutions, and contacted review advisory group members to identify planned, ongoing or unpublished studies. Selection criteria We included studies with the following populations: children (0 to 17 years) and adults (18 years or older) from any country and setting. Exclusion applied to studies with specific subgroups, such as people with any disease who were overweight or obese as a side-effect of the disease. The review included studies with taxes on or artificial increases of selling prices for unprocessed sugar or food products that contain added sugar (e.g. sweets, ice cream, confectionery, and bakery products), or both, as intervention, regardless of the taxation level or price increase. In line with Cochrane Effective Practice and Organisation of Care (EPOC) criteria, we included randomised controlled trials (RCTs), cluster-randomised controlled trials (cRCTs), non-randomised controlled trials (nRCTs), controlled before-after (CBA) studies, and interrupted time series (ITS) studies. We included controlled studies with more than one intervention or control site and ITS studies with a clearly defined intervention time and at least three data points before and three after the intervention. Our primary outcomes were consumption of unprocessed sugar or sugar-added foods, energy intake, overweight, and obesity. Our secondary outcomes were substitution and diet, expenditure, demand, and other health outcomes. Data collection and analysis Two review authors independently screened all eligible records for inclusion, assessed the risk of bias, and performed data extraction.Two review authors independently assessed the certainty of the evidence using the GRADE approach. Main results We retrieved a total of 24,454 records. After deduplicating records, 18,767 records remained for title and abstract screening. Of 11 potentially relevant studies, we included one ITS study with 40,210 household-level observations from the Hungarian Household Budget and Living Conditions Survey. The baseline ranged from January 2008 to August 2011, the intervention was implemented on September 2011, and follow-up was until December 2012 (16 months). The intervention was a tax - the so-called 'Hungarian public health product tax' - on sugar-added foods, including selected foods exceeding a specific sugar threshold value. The intervention includes co-interventions: the taxation of sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) and of foods high in salt or caffeine. The study provides evidence on the effect of taxing foods exceeding a specific sugar threshold value on the consumption of sugar-added foods. After implementation of the Hungarian public health product tax, the mean consumption of taxed sugar-added foods (measured in units of kg) decreased by 4.0% (standardised mean difference (SMD) -0.040, 95% confidence interval (CI) -0.07 to -0.01; very low-certainty evidence). The study was at low risk of bias in terms of performance bias, detection bias and reporting bias, with the shape of effect pre-specified and the intervention unlikely to have any effect on data collection. The study was at unclear risk of attrition bias and at high risk in terms of other bias and the independence of the intervention. We rated the certainty of the evidence as very low for the primary and secondary outcomes. The Hungarian public health product tax included a tax on sugar-added foods but did not include a tax on unprocessed sugar. We did not find eligible studies reporting on the taxation of unprocessed sugar. No studies reported on the primary outcomes of consumption of unprocessed sugar, energy intake, overweight, and obesity. No studies reported on the secondary outcomes of substitution and diet, demand, and other health outcomes. No studies reported on differential effects across population subgroups. We could not perform meta-analyses or pool study results. Authors' conclusions There was very limited evidence and the certainty of the evidence was very low. Despite the reported reduction in consumption of taxed sugar-added foods, we are uncertain whether taxing unprocessed sugar or sugar-added foods has an effect on reducing their consumption and preventing obesity or other adverse health outcomes. Further robustly conducted studies are required to draw concrete conclusions on the effectiveness of taxing unprocessed sugar or sugar-added foods for reducing their consumption and preventing obesity or other adverse health outcomes.