University of Graz

About: University of Graz is a education organization based out in Graz, Steiermark, Austria. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Context (language use). The organization has 17934 authors who have published 37489 publications receiving 1110980 citations. The organization is also known as: Carolo Franciscea Graecensis & Karl Franzens Universität.

On the Use of Neurophysiological Tools in IS Research: Developing a Research Agenda for NeuroIS

Abstract: This article aims to discuss the use of common neurophysiological tools, such as psychophysiological tools (e.g., EKG, eye tracking) and neuroimaging tools (e.g., fMRI, EEG) in Information Systems (IS) research. There is much interest in the social sciences in capturing objective data directly from the human body, and this interest has also been gaining momentum in IS research (termed NeuroIS). This article first introduces several commonly-used neurophysiological tools, and it then discusses several application areas and research questions where IS researchers can benefit from neurophysiological data toward developing a research agenda for NeuroIS. The proposed research areas are presented within four fundamental levels of analysis - individuals, groups, organizations, and markets - that are typically used to examine the use of IT.The article concludes with a set of recommendations on how to use neurophysiological tools in IS research along with practical suggestions for establishing NeuroIS as a viable sub-field in the IS literature.

Efficient Polythiophene/Polyfluorene Copolymer Bulk Heterojunction Photovoltaic Devices: Device Physics and Annealing Effects†

Abstract: Here the influence of annealing on the operational efficiency of all-polymer solar cells based on blends of the polymers poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and poly((9,9-dioctylfluorene)-2,7-diyl-alt-[4,7-bis(3-hexylthiophen-5-yl)-2,1,3-benzothiadiazole]-2′,2″-diyl) (F8TBT) is investigated. Annealing of completed devices is found to result in an increase in power conversion efficiency from 0.14 to 1.20%, while annealing of films prior to top electrode deposition increases device efficiency to only 0.19% due to a lowering of the open-circuit voltage and short-circuit current. By studying the dependence of photocurrent on intensity and effective applied bias, annealing is found to increase charge generation efficiency through an increase in the efficiency of the separation of bound electron-hole pairs following charge transfer. However, unlike many other all-polymer blends, this increase in charge separation efficiency is not only due to an increase in the degree of phase separation that assists in the spatial separation of electron-hole pairs, but also due to an order of magnitude increase in the hole mobility of the P3HT phase. The increase in hole mobility with annealing is attributed to the ordering of P3HT chains evidenced by the red-shifting of P3HT optical absorption in the blend. We also use X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) to study the influence of annealing protocol on film interface composition. Surprisingly both top and bottom electrode/blend interfaces are enriched with P3HT, with the blend/top electrode interface consisting of more than 95% P3HT for as-spun films and films annealed without a top electrode. Films annealed following top electrode deposition, however, show an increase in F8TBT composition to ∼15%. The implications of interfacial composition and the origin of open-circuit voltage in these devices are also discussed.

Variants at APOE Influence Risk of Deep and Lobar Intracerebral Hemorrhage

Abstract: Objective: Prior studies investigating the association between APOE alleles epsilon 2/epsilon 4 and risk of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) have been inconsistent and limited to small sample sizes, and did not account for confounding by population stratification or determine which genetic risk model was best applied. Methods: We performed a large-scale genetic association study of 2189 ICH cases and 4041 controls from 7 cohorts, which were analyzed using additive models for epsilon 2 and epsilon 4. Results were subsequently meta-analyzed using a random effects model. A proportion of the individuals (322 cases, 357 controls) had available genome-wide data to adjust for population stratification. Results: Alleles epsilon 2 and epsilon 4 were associated with lobar ICH at genome-wide significance levels (odds ratio [OR] = 1.82, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.50-2.23, p = 6.6 x 10(-10); and OR = 2.20, 95%CI = 1.85-2.63, p = 2.4 x 10(-11), respectively). Restriction of analysis to definite/probable cerebral amyloid angiopathy ICH uncovered a stronger effect. Allele epsilon 4 was also associated with increased risk for deep ICH (OR = 1.21, 95% CI = 1.08-1.36, p = 2.6 x 10(-4)). Risk prediction evaluation identified the additive model as best for describing the effect of APOE genotypes. Interpretation: APOE epsilon 2 and epsilon 4 are independent risk factors for lobar ICH, consistent with their known associations with amyloid biology. In addition, we present preliminary findings on a novel association between APOE epsilon 4 and deep ICH. Finally, we demonstrate that an additive model for these APOE variants is superior to other forms of genetic risk modeling previously applied. ANN NEUROL 2010;68:934-943

Effect of home-based telemonitoring using mobile phone technology on the outcome of heart failure patients after an episode of acute decompensation: randomized controlled trial.

Abstract: Background: Telemonitoring of patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) is an emerging concept to detect early warning signs of impending acute decompensation in order to prevent hospitalization. Objective: The goal of the MOBIle TELemonitoring in Heart Failure Patients Study (MOBITEL) was to evaluate the impact of home-based telemonitoring using Internet and mobile phone technology on the outcome of heart failure patients after an episode of acute decompensation. Methods: Patients were randomly allocated to pharmacological treatment (control group) or to pharmacological treatment with telemedical surveillance for 6 months (tele group). Patients randomized into the tele group were equipped with mobile phone–based patient terminals for data acquisition and data transmission to the monitoring center. Study physicians had continuous access to the data via a secure Web portal. If transmitted values went outside individually adjustable borders, study physicians were sent an email alert. Primary endpoint was hospitalization for worsening CHF or death from cardiovascular cause. Results: The study was stopped after randomization of 120 patients (85 male, 35 female); median age was 66 years (IQR 62-72). The control group comprised 54 patients (39 male, 15 female) with a median age of 67 years (IQR 61-72), and the tele group included 54 patients (40 male, 14 female) with a median age of 65 years (IQR 62-72). There was no significant difference between groups with regard to baseline characteristics. Twelve tele group patients were unable to begin data transmission due to the inability of these patients to properly operate the mobile phone (“never beginners”). Four patients did not finish the study due to personal reasons. Intention-to-treat analysis at study end indicated that 18 control group patients (33%) reached the primary endpoint (1 death, 17 hospitalizations), compared with 11 tele group patients (17%, 0 deaths, 11 hospitalizations; relative risk reduction 50%, 95% CI 3-74%, P = .06). Per-protocol analysis revealed that 15% of tele group patients (0 deaths, 8 hospitalizations) reached the primary endpoint (relative risk reduction 54%, 95% CI 7-79%, P= .04). NYHA class improved by one class in tele group patients only (P< .001). Tele group patients who were hospitalized for worsening heart failure during the study had a significantly shorter length of stay (median 6.5 days, IQR 5.5-8.3) compared with control group patients (median 10.0 days, IQR 7.0-13.0; P= .04). The event rate of never beginners was not higher than the event rate of control group patients. Conclusions: Telemonitoring using mobile phones as patient terminals has the potential to reduce frequency and duration of heart failure hospitalizations. Providing elderly patients with an adequate user interface for daily data acquisition remains a challenging component of such a concept. [J Med Internet Res 2009;11(3):e34]