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.

Peak minerals: What can we learn from the history of mineral economics and the cases of gold and phosphorus?

Abstract: The objective of this paper is to provide a conceptual and empirical historic analysis of applications, misunderstandings, and fallacies surrounding the Hubbert curve, the U-shaped production curve of a commodity, and peak minerals. We show that the ultimate recoverable resources (URR) cannot be predicted by fitting a symmetric curve to the data of past (historic) production for any commodity on a global scale. Without knowledge of the URR, it is not possible to determine the peak production time. For well-confined areas, in the case of a supply market, it might be possible today to construct a satisfactory Hubbert curve and to determine peak production. For phosphate, the case of Nauru Island is a good example, but so far, it is not possible for any commodity worldwide. URR comprise past production, presently known reserves, and future reserves developed from resources (known, but uneconomic at present) and parts of the geopotential (not yet known, but by geological reasoning and technological innovations, reserves can be expected to be discovered). The concept of reserves is a dynamic one, determined by economic conditions, technological developments, etc. The reserves of today can be the resources of tomorrow and vice versa. These factors also influence production curves. Therefore, it is not justified to interpret every peak as caused by geological constraints. In most cases so far, peak curves are demand driven and not at all influenced by geological availability. In only a very few cases (like the curve for the lower 48 states of the USA for oil by Hubbert in 1956 or gold production in South Africa), they are supply driven, i.e., true Hubbert curves. Gold showed four peaks in the twentieth century. Since gold mining is “money mining,” there is always a demand for gold. Therefore, the causes for the peak development must be economic ones with no influence of physical-production demand factors, purely supply factors—a model case to study. We also show how the kind of commodity, government regulations, technologies, and commodity prices influence U-shaped production curves. For phosphate, we show that a peak cannot be predicted with the present base of knowledge. We face a reserve-to-consumption ratio of higher than 300, which is higher than for every major commodity and at least 10 times the length of innovation cycles in the mineral industry. If we take the dynamic nature of reserves into account, we doubt that it is very meaningful to discuss the reliability of reserve and resource data. Instead, under the aspect of long-term future supply and a postulated right to know based on the universal right to feed oneself in dignity, the geopotential of phosphorus as the source of future reserves and resources should be regularly examined by an international scientific body.

Health Effects of Cow's Milk Consumption in Infants Up to 3 Years of Age: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Abstract: Objective To summarize the best available evidence regarding the short- and long-term health effects of cow's milk intake in healthy, full-term infants up to 3 years of age. Design We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis. Setting We searched MEDLINE (via PubMed), EMBASE and the Cochrane Library between 1960 and July 2013 and manually reviewed reference lists of pertinent articles. Two researchers independently reviewed abstracts and full-text articles and extracted relevant data. Subjects We included (randomized/non-randomized) controlled trials and observational studies. Results We included data from twenty-three studies (one randomized controlled trial, four non-randomized controlled trials, eight case-control studies and ten cohort studies) for the evidence synthesis. Pooled results of four studies revealed a higher risk of Fe-deficiency anaemia for infants consuming cow's milk compared with those consuming follow-on formula (relative risk=3·76; 95 % CI 2·73, 5·19). For type 1 diabetes mellitus, six out of seven case-control studies did not show a difference in the risk of developing this disease based on the age of introduction of cow's milk. We did not find negative associations for other health effects. Conclusions Cow's milk consumption in infancy is associated with an increased risk of developing Fe-deficiency anaemia. Limiting cow's milk consumption may be important to ensure an adequate Fe intake for infants and toddlers. High-quality patient information for caregivers is needed on how infants' Fe requirements can be met.

Culturally adapting the prevention of diabetes and obesity in South Asians (PODOSA) trial

Abstract: Type 2 diabetes is extremely common in South Asians e.g. in men from Pakistani and Indian populations it is about three times as likely as in the general population in England, despite similarities in body mass index (BMI). Lifestyle interventions reduce the incidence of diabetes. Trials in Europe and North America have not, however, reported on the impact on South Asian populations separately or provided the details of their cross-cultural adaptation processes. PODOSA (Prevention of diabetes and obesity in South Asians) is a randomised, controlled trial in Scotland of an adapted, lifestyle intervention aimed at reducing weight and increasing physical activity to reduce type 2 diabetes in Indians and Pakistanis. The trial was adapted from the Finnish Diabetes Prevention Study. We describe, reflect on and discuss the following key issues: a) The core adaptations to the trial design, particularly the delivery of the intervention in homes by dietitians rather than in clinics b) The use of both a multilingual panel and professional translators, to help translate and/or develop materials c) The processes and challenges of phonetic translation d) How intervention resources were adapted, modified, newly developed, and translated into Urdu and Gurmukhi (written Punjabi). The insights gained in PODOSA (including time pressures on investigators, imperfections in the adaptation process, the power of verbal rather than written information, the utilisation of English and mother-tongue languages simultaneously by participants, and the costs) might help the research community, given the challenge of health promotion in multi-ethnic, urban societies.

Acute stroke treatment in Europe: a questionnaire-based survey on behalf of the EFNS Task Force on acute neurological stroke care.

Abstract: In 1997 the EFNS Task Force on Acute Neurological Stroke Care published its recommendations for acute stroke care (Brainin et al., 1997), which, in 1999, was followed by a stroke care inventory (Brainin et al., 2000) assessing the development of acute stroke care. In 2000 all 33 members of the EFNS Stroke Scientist Panel were asked to complete a questionnaire on the treatment of acute stroke in their country as of 2000. Data were based either on national surveys or a personal estimate of national practice, together with data from the personal practice of the panel member. Data from 22 countries were received. One of the principal findings is the lack of systematic evidence about practice in a significant number of European countries. Results illustrate that neurologists have a leading role in implementing acute stroke treatment guidelines and in adopting new therapeutic methods in most countries, but there is a wide variation in the application of different therapeutic procedures.

Cytokine Removal in Extracorporeal Blood Purification: An in vitro Study

Abstract: Background/Aims: Cytokines are among the main target substances that have to be removed effectively in order to improve the patient’s health status in the treatment of sepsis, septic shock, and liver diseases. Although there are various medical devices commercially available, the success of their clinical use is limited. The aim of this in vitro study was to compare 3 different medical devices with respect to their clearance for the cytokines interleukin-6 (IL-6), IL-8, IL-1β, and tumor necrosis factor alpha. The medical devices that were tested are the whole blood adsorbent CytoSorb, the high cutoff filter EMiC2, and the hemofilter HemofeelCH 1.8. Methods: The study was carried out on the multiFiltrate machine with 1 L human plasma for 8 h. Samples for cytokine quantification were taken at defined time points from the plasma pool. Each experiment was conducted in triplicates, and clearance was calculated for all tested cytokines. Results: All 3 medical devices showed good cytokine removal. The highest clearance for all cytokines was achieved by hemoperfusion with Cytosorb. IL-8 and IL-6 clearance were higher with Hemofeel (continuous venovenous hemodiafiltration) than with EMiC2 (continuous venovenous hemodialysis) because the polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)-based membrane Hemofeel is able to remove these 2 cytokines by adsorption. Protein and albumin loss was highest withCytosorb and lowest with EMiC2. Conclusion: The mechanisms of cytokine removal by blood purification include convection, diffusion, and adsorption. PMMA-based filters are able to combine all 3 mechanisms for certain cytokines. Cytosorb showed the best adsorption kinetics, while dialysis with polystyrene-based membranes offers the best biocompatibility because they do not show any unspecific adsorption of other plasma components.