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Kinds of Austria Selected AbstractsTHE RESPONSE OF PARTIALLY DEBRIS-COVERED VALLEY GLACIERS TO CLIMATE CHANGE: THE EXAMPLE OF THE PASTERZE GLACIER (AUSTRIA) IN THE PERIOD 1964 TO 2006GEOGRAFISKA ANNALER SERIES A: PHYSICAL GEOGRAPHY, Issue 4 2008ANDREAS KELLERER-PIRKLBAUER ABSTRACT. Long-term observations of partly debris-covered glaciers have allowed us to assess the impact of supra-glacial debris on volumetric changes. In this paper, the behaviour of the partially debris-covered, 3.6 km2 tongue of Pasterze Glacier (47°05,N, 12°44,E) was studied in the context of ongoing climate changes. The right part of the glacier tongue is covered by a continuous supra-glacial debris mantle with variable thicknesses (a few centimetres to about 1 m). For the period 1964,2000 three digital elevation models (1964, 1981, 2000) and related debris-cover distributions were analysed. These datasets were compared with long-term series of glaciological field data (displacement, elevation change, glacier terminus behaviour) from the 1960s to 2006. Differences between the debriscovered and the clean ice parts were emphasised. Results show that volumetric losses increased by 2.3 times between the periods 1964,1981 and 1981,2000 with significant regional variations at the glacier tongue. Such variations are controlled by the glacier emergence velocity pattern, existence and thickness of supra-glacial debris, direct solar radiation, counter-radiation from the valley sides and their changes over time. The downward-increasing debris thickness is counteracting to a compensational stage against the common decrease of ablation with elevation. A continuous debris cover not less than 15 cm in thickness reduces ablation rates by 30,35%. No relationship exists between glacier retreat rates and summer air temperatures. Substantial and varying differences of the two different terminus parts occurred. Our findings clearly underline the importance of supra-glacial debris on mass balance and glacier tongue morphology. [source] 2nd EG workshop on Natural Phenomena September 5th, 2007 Vienna (Austria)COMPUTER GRAPHICS FORUM, Issue 1 2007Norishige Chiba No abstract is available for this article. [source] Haiderism East of Austria:Reaction, Impact and ParallelsCONSTELLATIONS: AN INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CRITICAL AND DEMOCRATIC THEORY, Issue 3 2000Miklós Haraszti First page of article [source] When business associations and a federal ministry jointly consult civil society: a CSR policy case study on the development of the CSR Austria Guiding VisionCORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY AND ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT, Issue 5 2008Astrid Konrad Abstract In 2002, Austrian business organizations and the Austrian Federal Ministry of Economics and Labour decided to raise the awareness of CSR in Austria by formulating a CSR guiding vision for Austrian businesses after consulting a broad variety of stakeholders. This paper describes the development of the ,CSR Austria Guiding Vision' from 2003, and it gives a brief overview of other public CSR initiatives launched in Austria since then. Since the authors were involved drafting the CSR Austria Guiding Vision as consultants, the paper describes success factors, lessons learned and recommendations relevant for other large-scale stakeholder dialogues on CSR from an insider perspective. Overall, we conclude that a clear idea about the structure, the type and the rules of the stakeholder involvement (conceptual issues), in combination with a timely, honest and empathic approach towards stakeholders (procedural issues), are important success factors for any stakeholder dialogue. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [source] Consistency of immigrant and country-of-birth suicide rates: a meta-analysisACTA PSYCHIATRICA SCANDINAVICA, Issue 4 2008M. Voracek Objective:, Multifaceted evidence (family, twin, adoption, molecular genetic, geographic and surname studies of suicide) suggests genetic risk factors for suicide. Migrant studies are also informative in this context, but underused. In particular, a meta-analysis of the associations of immigrant (IMM) and country-of-birth (COB) suicide rates is unavailable. Method:, Thirty-three studies, reporting IMM suicide rates for nearly 50 nationalities in seven host countries (Australia, Austria, Canada, England, the Netherlands, Sweden and the USA), were retrieved. Results:, Total-population IMM and COB suicide rates were strongly positively associated (combined rank-order correlation across 20 eligible studies: 0.65, 95% CI: 0.56,0.73, P < 10,9). The effect generalized across both sexes, host countries and study periods. Conclusion:, Following the logic of the migrant study design of genetic epidemiology, the correspondence of IMM and COB suicide rates is consistent with the assumption of population differences in the prevalence of genetic risk factors for suicide. [source] Entities and frequency of neonatal diabetes: data from the diabetes documentation and quality management system (DPV)DIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 6 2010J. Grulich-Henn Diabet. Med. 27, 709,712 (2010) Abstract Aims, The aim of this study was to elucidate the entities and the frequency of neonatal diabetes mellitus (NDM) in a large representative database for paediatric diabetes patients in Germany and Austria. Methods, Based on the continuous diabetes data acquisition system for prospective surveillance (DPV), which includes 51 587 patients with onset of diabetes before the age of 18 years from 299 centres in Germany and Austria, we searched for patients with onset of diabetes mellitus in the first 6 months of life. Results, Ninety patients were identified, comprising 0.17% of all paediatric cases in the DPV registry. This represented an incidence of approximately one case in 89 000 live births in Germany. A monogenic basis for NDM was established in 30 subjects (seven UPD6, 10 KCNJ11, seven ABCC8, two FOXP3, two PDX1, one INS, one EIF2AK3). Pancreatic hypoplasia or agenesis was reported in 10 patients and seven subjects were classified as having Type 1 diabetes by their centres. Transient neonatal diabetes (TNDM) accounted for approximately 10% of all cases with NDM. No aetiology was defined in 41 subjects, which may reflect incomplete genetic testing or novel genetic aetiologies. Conclusion, Based on a large database, we identified a higher rate of NDM in Germany than has been reported previously. Full molecular genetic testing should be performed in all patients diagnosed before 6 months of age. [source] Direction of movements in Hungarian Barn Owls (Tyto alba): gene flow and barriersDIVERSITY AND DISTRIBUTIONS, Issue 4 2003Róbert Mátics Abstract. An analysis of dispersal directions of the barn owl showed that all individuals immigrating to Hungary came from W-NW-N. It was shown that immigrating owls breed in Hungary. There is no prevailing direction in emigration from Hungary. The time of fledging does not influence the direction of movement and there is no difference between sexes concerning dispersal direction. The percentages of emigrating owls is greater than that of immigrating ones. These percentages did not differ in relation to most of the analysed countries (Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Poland and countries of the former Yugoslavia and Czechoslovakia) but it differed in relation to Austria. The degree and direction of introgression into and from the transition zone and the recent distribution of the phenotypes are discussed based on the comparative analysis of published European data. These suggest that the subspecies Tyto alba alba and Tyto alba guttata disappear by introgression, to form a phenotypically very variable species. [source] Comparative evaluation of quality of doxycycline formulations registered in Estonia to those registered in the Russian FederationDRUG DEVELOPMENT RESEARCH, Issue 2 2008A. Meos Abstract The in vitro properties of four Estonian drug market (manufactured in Austria, Germany, and Finland) and four Russian Federation drug market (manufactured in Belarussia and Russian Federation) doxycycline formulations were evaluated using the estimation of the quantitative content and purity of the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and the dissolution test. Tolerance limits were set according to the European Pharmacopoeia (for the content and purity of the API) and USP (for the dissolution test) doxycycline monographs. All Estonian drug market doxycycline formulations complied with the tolerance limits in all tests and assays. Most of the Russian Federation drug market doxycycline formulations also passed the tolerance limits, with two minor exceptions: one formulation contained quantitatively API below the USP limit (83.7% instead of the 90%), but all the API was readily released in the dissolution test, the other formulation (capsules) released 80% of API in 39,min instead of 30,min. The general conclusion of the study is that despite some deviations, the Russian Federation drug market doxycycline formulations are comparable with those purchased from the Estonian drug market. Drug Dev Res 69: 58,68, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Murder by poisoning: successful analytical investigations of spectacular cases in AustriaDRUG TESTING AND ANALYSIS, Issue 4 2009Walter Vycudilik Abstract To prove murder by poisoning requires the application of analytical toxicology to detect the fatal substance and clear up the cause of death. Improvements in the development of mass spectrometry in combination with high-resolution chromatographic methods are steadily enhancing detection and identification power but making use of these advances relies on proper sample preparation as well as on knowledge about the chemical nature of the substances and their bio-transformation products. This review gives examples of case reports with successful analytical investigations of murder by poisoning in spectacular Austrian cases involving low molecular weight. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Empirical prediction of debris-flow mobility and deposition on fansEARTH SURFACE PROCESSES AND LANDFORMS, Issue 2 2010Christian Scheidl Abstract A new method to predict the runout of debris flows is presented. A data base of documented sediment-transporting events in torrent catchments of Austria, Switzerland and northern Italy has been compiled, using common classification techniques. With this data we test an empirical approach between planimetric deposition area and event volume, and compare it with results from other studies. We introduce a new empirical relation to determine the mobility coefficient as a function of geomorphologic catchment parameters. The mobility coefficient is thought to reflect some of the flow properties during the depositional part of the debris-flow event. The empirical equations are implemented in a geographical information system (GIS) based simulation program and combined with a simple flow routing algorithm, to determine the potential runout area covered by debris-flow deposits. For a given volume and starting point of the deposits, a Monte-Carlo technique is used to produce flow paths that simulate the spreading effect of a debris flow. The runout zone is delineated by confining the simulated potential spreading area in the down slope direction with the empirically determined planimetric deposition area. The debris-flow volume is then distributed over the predicted area according to the calculated outflow probability of each cell. The simulation uses the ARC-Objects environment of ESRI© and is adapted to run with high resolution (2·5,m × 2·5,m) digital elevation models, generated for example from LiDAR data. The simulation program called TopRunDF is tested with debris-flow events of 1987 and 2005 in Switzerland. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Cyclic tests on large-scale models of existing bridge piers with rectangular hollow cross-sectionEARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING AND STRUCTURAL DYNAMICS, Issue 13 2003A. V. Pinto Abstract Cyclic tests on two large-scale models of existing bridge piers with rectangular hollow cross-section were performed in the ELSA laboratory. The prototype structure is an existing reinforced concrete highway bridge constructed in Austria in 1975. The piers presented several seismic deficiencies and consequently they showed poor hysteretic behaviour and limited deformation capacity as well as undesirable failure modes that do not comply with the requirements of modern codes for seismic-resistant structures. Experimental data are compared to numerical and empirical predictions. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Wars and Markets: How Bond Values Reflect the Second World WarECONOMICA, Issue 271 2001Bruno Frey Historical events are reflected in asset prices. Based on a unique data-set, we analyse government bond prices of Germany and Austria traded on the Swiss bourse during the Second World War. Some war events generally considered crucial are clearly reflected in government bond prices; this holds, in particular, for the official outbreak of the war and the loss and gain of national sovereignty. Other events to which historians attach great importance are not reflected in bond prices, most prominently Germany's capitulation in 1945. The analysis of financial markets provides a fruitful method for evaluating the importance contemporaries attached to historical events. [source] A double-blind, randomized, parallel group study to compare the efficacy, safety and tolerability of slow-release oral morphine versus methadone in opioid-dependent in-patients willing to undergo detoxificationADDICTION, Issue 9 2009Ekkehard Madlung-Kratzer ABSTRACT Aims Evaluation of the efficacy and safety of slow-release oral morphine (SROM) compared with methadone for detoxification from methadone and SROM maintenance treatment. Design Randomized, double-blind, double-dummy, comparative multi-centre study with parallel groups. Setting Three psychiatric hospitals in Austria specializing in in-patient detoxification. Participants Male and female opioid dependents (age > 18 years) willing to undergo detoxification from maintenance therapy in order to reach abstinence. Interventions Abstinence was reached from maintenance treatment by tapered dose reduction of either SROM or methadone over a period of 16 days. Measurements Efficacy analyses were based on the number of patients per treatment group completing the study, as well as on the control of signs and symptoms of withdrawal [measured using Short Opioid Withdrawal Scale (SOWS)] and suppression of opiate craving. In addition, self-reported somatic and psychic symptoms (measured using Symptom Checklist SCL-90-R) were monitored. Findings Of the 208 patients enrolled into the study, 202 were eligible for analysis (SROM: n = 102, methadone: n = 100). Completion rates were 51% in the SROM group and 49% in the methadone group [difference between groups: 2%; 95% confidence interval (CI): ,12% to 16%]. The rate of discontinuation in the study was high mainly because of patients voluntarily withdrawing from treatment. No statistically significant differences between treatment groups were found in terms of signs and symptoms of opiate withdrawal, craving for opiates or self-reported symptoms. SROM and methadone were both well tolerated. Conclusions Detoxification from maintenance treatment with tapered dose reduction of SROM is non-inferior to methadone. [source] Multiplex primer extension analysis for rapid detection of major European mitochondrial haplogroupsELECTROPHORESIS, Issue 19 2006Martina Wiesbauer Abstract The evolution of the human mitochondrial genome is reflected in the existence of ethnically distinct lineages or haplogroups. Alterations of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) have been instrumental in studies of human phylogeny, in population genetics, and in molecular medicine to link pathological mutations to a variety of human diseases of complex etiology. For each of these applications, rapid and cost effective assays for mtDNA haplogrouping are invaluable. Here we describe a hierarchical system for mtDNA haplogrouping that combines multiplex PCR amplifications, multiplex single-base primer extensions, and CE for analyzing ten haplogroup-diagnostic mitochondrial single nucleotide polymorphisms. Using this rapid and cost-effective mtDNA genotyping method, we were able to show that within a large, randomly selected cohort of healthy Austrians (n,=,1172), mtDNAs could be assigned to all nine major European haplogroups. Forty-four percent belonged to haplogroup H, the most frequent haplogroup in European Caucasian populations. The other major haplogroups identified were U (15.4%), J (11.8%), T (8.2%) and K (5.1%). The frequencies of haplogroups in Austria is within the range observed for other European countries. Our method may be suitable for mitochondrial genotyping of samples from large-scale epidemiology studies and for identifying markers of genetic susceptibility. [source] Strategies of family farms to strengthen their resilienceENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND GOVERNANCE, Issue 4 2010Ika Darnhofer Abstract Resilience thinking offers a framework to emphasize dynamics and interdependencies across time, space and domains. It is based on understanding social,ecological systems as complex, and future developments as unpredictable, thus emphasizing adaptive approaches to management. In this paper the four clusters of factors that have been identified as building resilience in large-scale social,ecological systems are applied at the farm level. Suggestions on how these factors could be operationalized at the farm level are derived from workshops held with family farmers in Austria. The results show that farmers understand change as unpredictable and unfolding, have a number of strategies to ensure the flexibility and adaptability of their farm and build extensive networks to diversify information and income sources. However, these strategies, while ensuring adaptability and transformability, compete for scarce resources. The farmers thus face trade-offs between strategies that ensure the adaptive capacity of their farm over the long term and those ensuring profitability over the short term. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [source] Participation and/or/versus sustainability?ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND GOVERNANCE, Issue 4 2005Austria, Tensions between procedural, substantive goals in Two Local Agenda 21 processes in Sweden Abstract Local Agenda 21 (LA21) is committed to two types of goal: procedural goals substantiated primarily in the requirement to encourage greater participation in local decision making and substantive goals predominantly attached to the call for a sustainable development. In this article, we report on the LA21 processes of two communities, Helsingborg, Sweden, and Vienna, Austria. We analyse what kind of normative tension the two communities have experienced by concurrently striving for democracy and sustainability. We also discuss what impact the two LA21 processes have on local governance structures and what potentials for more fundamental system changes they hold. Our analysis shows that the challenge of actually reconciling possibly conflicting goals is far from easy. In Helsingborg, the apparent harmony of goals has been achieved partly by falling back on political rhetoric, partly by interpreting the two goals in a narrow way, i.e. sustainability policy has been reduced to environmental issues and citizen participation has been equated with ,paternalistic' consultation. The Viennese LA21 process has managed to implement the two goals in a more comprehensive way, but this has come at the cost of being marginalized by the central political actors. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [source] EMAS and regulatory relief in Europe: lessons from national experienceENVIRONMENTAL POLICY AND GOVERNANCE, Issue 1 2001Frank Wätzold Apart from in Germany and Austria, corporate participation in the European Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS) has remained sluggish and far behind involvement in ISO14001. Given the lack of response in most EU member states, the key issue for the current EMAS revision is to increase incentives for companies to join the scheme. One of the proposals in this respect is to encourage member states to consider a lighter regulatory touch for EMAS participants. The aim of this article is to assess the extent to which encouraging regulatory relief may contribute to an increase in the number of EMAS registered companies. For this purpose the regulatory relief already offered to EMAS registered (and ISO14001 certified) companies in France, Germany, The Netherlands and the United Kingdom is described and analysed. Based on this experience, the central conclusion of the article is that regulatory relief can increase participation in EMAS, but that to do so it must be granted exclusively to EMAS registered companies, and that ideally such relief should be substantial and integrated into a comprehensive voluntary policy approach aimed at altering the traditional relationship between government and industry. However, given that some countries treat EMAS registration and ISO14001 certification as equivalent, with respect to regulatory relief, even those deregulation measures that fulfil the above conditions may lead to an increase in ISO14001 certifications rather than EMAS registrations. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment. [source] Isoform-specific quantification of metallothionein in the terrestrial gastropod Helix pomatia.ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY & CHEMISTRY, Issue 4 2004Abstract The two function-specific metallothionein (MT) isoforms characterized from the midgut gland and mantle tissue of Helix pomatia differ substantially in their metal-binding preferences, as well as molecular and biochemical features. These differences make them potential candidates for biomarker studies based on a differential, isoform-specific approach. To prove this hypothesis, induction experiments with two metals (Cd and Cu) that are normally bound by the two isoforms were compared with a range of organic chemicals and physical stressors under laboratory conditions to test the responsiveness of the two isoforms to the stressors applied. In addition, field studies were conducted with Roman snails and substrate samples collected from different metal-contaminated sites in Austria to test the suitability of the two isoforms as biomarkers under field conditions. The results of these combined laboratory and field studies confirmed the validity of the biomarker approach with the two metal- and tissue-specific isoforms. It is demonstrated that the Cd-binding MT specifically and exclusively responds to Cd exposure by increasing concentrations, whereas the Cu-binding MT isoform decreases in its concentration upon exposure to physical stress (X-ray irradiation and cold). This suggests researchers should adopt, under certain preconditions, a dual biomarker approach by combining the simultaneous quantification of Cd-MT concentrations in the midgut gland as a biomarker for Cd pollution and of Cu-MT concentration in the mantle as a biomarker for the impairment of snails by additional physical stressors. [source] DNA variants in coding region of EFHC1: SNPs do not associate with juvenile myoclonic epilepsyEPILEPSIA, Issue 5 2009Dongsheng Bai Summary Purpose:, Juvenile myoclonic epilepsy (JME) accounts for 3 to 12% of all epilepsies. In 2004, we identified a mutation-harboring Mendelian gene that encodes a protein with one EF-hand motif (EFHC1) in chromosome 6p12. We observed one doubly heterozygous and three heterozygous missense mutations in EFHC1 segregating as an autosomal dominant gene with 21 affected members of six Hispanic JME families from California and Mexico. In 2006, similar and three novel missense mutations were reported in sporadic and familial Caucasian JME from Italy and Austria. In this study, we asked if coding single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of EFHC1 also contribute as susceptibility alleles to JME with complex genetics. Methods:, We screened using denaturing high-performance liquid chromatography (DHPLC) and then directly sequenced the 11 exons of EFHC1 in 130 unrelated JME probands, their 352 family members, and seven exons of EFHC1 in 400,614 ethnically matched controls. We carried out case-control association studies between 124 unrelated Hispanic JME probands and 552,614 ethnically matched controls using four SNPs, rs3804506, rs3804505, rs1266787, and rs17851770. We also performed family-based association on SNPs rs3804506 and rs3804505 in 84 complete JME families using the Family-Based Association Test (FBAT) program. Results:, We found no statistically significant differences between JME probands and controls in case-control association and no genetic transmission disequilibria in family-based association for the tested SNPs. In addition, we identified four new DNA variants in the coding region of EFHC1. Conclusion:, The four coding SNPs, rs3804506, rs3804505, rs1266787, and rs17851770, of EFHC1 may not be susceptibility alleles for JME. [source] Variability of IgE reactivity profiles among European mite allergic patientsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION, Issue 12 2008M. Weghofer Abstract Background, House dust mites (HDM) Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus are a frequent indoor allergen source. Our aim was to determine the frequencies of IgE reactivity to purified HDM allergen molecules in mite allergic patients from different parts of Europe in order to establish an allergen panel for diagnosis of HDM allergy. Materials and methods, Populations of D. pteronyssinus -allergic patients from Austria (n = 56), France (n = 55), Italy (n = 67) and Sweden (n = 65) and storage mite allergic patients from Sweden (n = 31) were analysed for IgE reactivity to eight purified natural (n) and recombinant (r) D. pteronyssinus allergens (nDer p 1, rDer p 2, nDer p 4, rDer p 5, rDer p 7, rDer p 8, rDer p 10 and rDer p 14) in RAST-based dot blot assays. Results, Using a combination of Der p 1 and Der p 2, at least 97% of the D. pteronyssinus -allergic patients could be diagnosed in each of the HDM allergic populations. However, more than 50% of the patients also reacted with other allergens and significant variabilities regarding the frequencies of IgE reactivity to individual allergen molecules were found. Patients with a predominant storage mite allergy showed none or only very weak IgE reactivity to purified D. pteronyssinus allergens. Conclusions, Purified Der p 1 and Der p 2 are sufficient for the diagnosis of , 97% of D. pteronyssinus allergic patients in Europe, but other allergens may also play an important role for the diagnosis and treatment of HDM allergy. [source] Free fatty acids exert a greater effect on ocular and skin blood flow than triglycerides in healthy subjectsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION, Issue 8 2004M. Bayerle-Eder Abstract Background, Free fatty acids (FFAs) and triglycerides (TGs) can cause vascular dysfunction and arteriosclerosis. Acute elevation of plasma FFA and TG concentration strongly increase ocular and skin blood flow. This study was designed to discriminate whether FFA or TG independently induce hyperperfusion by measuring regional and systemic haemodynamics. Methods, In a balanced, randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind, three-way, crossover study nine healthy subjects received either Intralipid® (Pharmacia and Upjohn, Vienna, Austria) with heparin, Intralipid® alone or placebo control. Pulsatile choroidal blood flow was measured with laser interferometry, retinal blood flow and retinal red blood cell velocity with laser Doppler velocimetry, and skin blood flow with laser Doppler flowmetry during an euglycaemic insulin clamp. Results, A sevenfold increase of FFA during Intralipid®/heparin infusion was paralleled by enhanced choriodal, retinal, and skin blood flow by 17 ± 4%, 26 ± 5% (P < 0·001), and 47 ± 19% (P = 0·03) from baseline, respectively. In contrast, a mere threefold increase of FFA by infusion of Intralipid® alone did not affect outcome parameters, despite the presence of plasma TG levels of 250,700 mg dL,1; similar to those obtained during combined Intralipid®/heparin infusion. Systemic haemodynamics were not affected by drug infusion. Conclusions, Present findings demonstrate a concentration-dependent increase in ocular and skin blood flow by FFA independently of elevated TG plasma concentrations. As vasodilation of resistance vessels occur rapidly, FFA may play a role in the development of continued regional hyperperfusion and deteriorate microvascular function. [source] Normative data of bone mineral density in an unselected adult Austrian populationEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION, Issue 4 2003S. Kudlacek Abstract Background There is increasing evidence that correct interpretation of bone mineral density (BMD) measurements by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) requires a population-specific reference range. We therefore collected data on age-related BMD in a random sample of the normal adult Austrian population to establish an appropriate normative database. Methods We measured BMD by DEXA at five different skeletal sites in 1089 subjects, i.e. 654 females and 435 males, aged between 21,76 years, who had been recruited by 17 centres across Austria. Results Age-related bone loss was observed until age 65 years with significant changes at the lumbar spine (r = ,0·23), total hip (r = ,0·07), trochanter (r = ,0·10), femoral neck (r = ,0·30) and Ward's triangle (r = ,0·40) in the women but only at the femoral neck (r = ,0·23) and at Ward's triangle (r = ,0·40) in the men. When we calculated T scores from the BMD data of the young normal adult study population and used the T score set points according to the WHO classification of osteopenia and osteoporosis, we found that, depending on the skeletal site measured, 7·6,27·4% of the women and 16,41% of the men in our study group had low bone mass, whereas 0·6,2·7% of the female and 0·2,1·0% of the male study population were osteoporotic. However, osteoporosis was indicated in 4,9-fold more females and 5,15-fold more males when we based our estimates on the normative data provided by the manufacturers of the DEXA systems. Conclusion Our data underscore the importance of using a population-specific reference range for DEXA measurements to avoid overdiagnosis of osteoporosis. [source] Higher Education and Graduate Employment in AustriaEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF EDUCATION, Issue 2 2000Paul Kellermann First page of article [source] Mortality from multiple sclerosis in Austria 1970,2001: dynamics, trends, and prospectsEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, Issue 8 2004E. Ekestern A divergence in earlier multiple sclerosis (MS) mortality rates observed within Europe, prompted us to determine the MS mortality rate in Austria and several European countries. Our aim was to examine the temporal and geographical variations within Austria and to determine future MS mortality rates based on a projection model. MS mortality data set, differentiated by age groups, sex, and region at death for the period 1970,2001 were obtained. Prognostic MS mortality trends for the period 2002,2020 were estimated using the simultaneous multiple cause,delay (SIMCAD) method. Our findings indicate a decline (47%) in the MS mortality rate from 1.41 (1970,79) to 0.96 (1980,89) and 0.70 (1990,2001) per 100 000 in Austria during the 32-year period observed. Conversely, the scenarios of our projection for the period 2002,2020, reveal an increasing MS mortality rate. The median age at death because of MS increased with 0.7 years for men and 2.9 years for women during the observed period (1970,2001). Austria, like many other European countries, has experienced a decreasing MS mortality rate over the last three decades. An increased MS mortality rate is however expected over the next decades in Austria. This increase will be most prominent in the elderly population cohorts because of demographic shifts. [source] Immigration sceptics, xenophobes or racists?EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF POLITICAL RESEARCH, Issue 6 2008Radical right-wing voting in six West European countries Given how central the immigration issue has been for the new radical right-wing parties in Western Europe, many have turned to immigration-related factors in trying to explain their emergence and electoral mobilisation. This research has convincingly shown that immigration scepticism (i.e., wanting to reduce immigration) is among the principal factors for predicting who will vote for a radical right-wing party. However, earlier studies have often uncritically equated immigration scepticism with xenophobia or even racism. By using data from the first round of the European Social Survey (2003) involving six West European countries (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, France, the Netherlands and Norway), this article differentiates between immigration scepticism and xenophobic attitudes. The analyses strongly indicate that xenophobic attitudes are a far less significant factor than immigration scepticism for predicting who will vote for the new radical right. Moreover, this article analyses the extent to which anti-immigration frames employed by radical right-wing parties resonate with attitudes held by supporting voters, and to what extent they make a difference for people's decision to vote for the radical right. The analyses indicate that frames linking immigration to criminality and social unrest are particularly effective for mobilising voter support for the radical right. Finally, the article criticises earlier research that explained radical right-wing voting with reference to ethnic competition theory. In contrast to much of the earlier research that used macro-level measures and comparisons, this study uses (self-reported) individual-level data on the degree of ethnic heterogeneity of people's area of residence. Hypotheses derived from ethnic competition theory receive less support than expected, which indicates that earlier research may have overestimated the significance of these factors. [source] Globalization and the transformation of the national political space: Six European countries comparedEUROPEAN JOURNAL OF POLITICAL RESEARCH, Issue 6 2006HANSPETER KRIESI The structural opposition between globalization ,winners' and ,losers' is expected to constitute potentials for political mobilization within national political contexts, the mobilization of which is expected to give rise to two intimately related dynamics: the transformation of the basic structure of the national political space and the strategic repositioning of the political parties within the transforming space. The article presents several hypotheses with regard to these two dynamics and tests them empirically on the basis of new data concerning the supply side of electoral politics from six Western European countries (Austria, Britain, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Switzerland). The results indicate that in all the countries, the new cleavage has become embedded into existing two-dimensional national political spaces, that the meaning of the original dimensions has been transformed, and that the configuration of the main parties has become triangular even in a country like France. [source] Chenopodium probstii and Chenopodium missouriense: two North American plant species in the Czech Republic, Slovak Republic and neighbouring countriesFEDDES REPERTORIUM, Issue 5-6 2004J. Dostálek Ing. This paper presents the results of a floristic-taxonomic survey of two North American invasive species, Chenopodium probstiiAellen and Ch. missourienseAellen, in the Czech Republic, Slovak Republic and neighbouring countries. It is based mainly on the results of a re-analysis of the authors' herbarium material collected from 1957 to 2003, deposited mainly in the PRA Herbarium (herbarium of the Institute of Botany of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic in Pr,honice near Prague). Also, the chorology and ecology of both species in Czechian and Slovakian are discussed. In addition, a summary of data on the occurrence of both species throughout their distribution is presented, with emphasis on European records. On the basis of this analysis, the hypothetical origin of Ch. probstii in North America is confirmed. First-time records of this species are presented for Egypt, North Korea, Poland, Slovenia, Croatia and Romania. The second species, Ch. missouriense, is reported for the first time from Slovakia and Austria. Sources of further dissemination of both species in their secondary European area of distribution are described. In Europe, both these invasive species are in the pro- cess of naturalisation (ephemerophyte , epoecophyte), approximately in the resting-phase lag; significant range expansion can be expected in the near future, especially for Ch. probstii. Chenopodium probstii und Chenopodium missouriense, zwei nordamerikanische Arten in der Tschechischen Republik, der Slowakischen Republik und benachbarten Ländern Diese Arbeit präsentiert Ergebnisse einer floristisch-taxonomischen Untersuchung von zwei nordamerikanischen Invasionsarten, und zwar Chenopodium probstiiAellen und Ch. missourienseAellen in der Tschechischen Republik, in der Slowakischen Republik und in benachbarten Ländern. Sie stützt sich vorwiegend auf Resultate des eigenen Herbarmaterials der Jahre 1957,2003, das vorwiegend im Herbarium PRA (= Herbarsammlung des Botanischen Instituts der Akademie der Wissenschaften der Tschechischen Republik in Pr,honice bei Praha) deponiert ist. Auch wurden Chorologie und Ökologie beider Arten in Tschechien und in der Slowakei analysiert. Gleichzeitig wurden die Angaben über das Vorkommen beider Arten im gesamten Areal unter besonderer Berücksichtigung der Geschichte ihrer Ausbreitung im sekundären Teil ihrer Areale, vor allem in Europa zusammengefasst. Durch diese Analyse wurde der Ursprung von Ch. probstii in Nordamerika bestätigt. Chenopodium probstii wurde als neue adventive Art auch in Ägypten und Nordkorea, in Europa zum ersten Mal in Polen, Slowenien, Kroatien und Rumänien beobachtet. Eine weitere Art, Ch. missouriense, wurde zum ersten Mal in der Slowakei und in Österreich erwähnt. Diasporenquellen beider Arten im sekundären europäischen Areal werden ebenfalls angeführt. In Europa sind beide invasive Arten im Prozess der Einbürgerung (Ephemerophyt , Epoökophyt), die vermutlich in der Ruhephase abläuft. Eine expansive Ausbreitung können wir in der nächsten Zeit vor allem von Ch. probstii erwarten. Bisher gehören beide Arten zu den potentiellen Unkräutern. [source] Piceoxylon pseudotsugae GOTHAN emend.FEDDES REPERTORIUM, Issue 1 2001Deutschland, VAN DER BURGH aus dem Obermiozän von Ottendorf-Okrilla bei Dresden 1987 konnte im Westteil der Kiesgrube Ottendorf-Okrilla (höheres Obermiozän) aus Tonen mit kohligen Schmitzen ein 1,14 m langer Stammrest geborgen werden. Er wird als Piceoxylon pseudotsugae Gothan 1906 emend, van der Burgh (1973) bestimmt. Das fossile Holz zeigt große Ähnlichkeit mit der heute noch im pazifischen Nordamerika beheimateten Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco. Xylotomische Nachweise dieser Art sind bis heute nur wenige bekannt. Sie stammen aus Nordamerika, Deutschland (Rheinland), Österreich und Slask (Schlesien/Polen). Zu der anatomischen Beschreibung des Holzes wird die Ökologie der rezenten und die Paläookologie der fossilen Pseudotsuga diskutiert. Piceoxylon pseudotsugae Gothan emend. Van der Burgh from the Upper Miocene from Ottendorf-Okrilla near Dresden, Germany. A fossil wood, collected in Ottendorf-Okrilla by H. Kubasch, Kamenz, is described in this paper. It is identified by the first author as Piceoxylon pseudotsugae Gothan 1906 emend, van der Burgh 1973 because of its clear spiral thickenings in the tracheids (early and late wood) together with vertical and horizontal resin ducts. Tertiary wood assigned to this species is up till now only known from a few localities in North America and Europe (Rheinland/Germany, Austria, Silesia/Poland). The recent comparable species, Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco, is known from a wide variety of localities in North America, with a very variable range concerning temperature. It is a tree of well drained, slightly acidic soils, preferably on sedimentary rocks with a volcanic or glacial origin. In the Tertiary of Europe this tree is also known from brown coal deposits. Therefore, for the Tertiary species a habitat in swamp environment must be added. [source] Hyperparasitic Stagonospora sp. on Botryosphaeria stevensiiFOREST PATHOLOGY, Issue 6 2003L. Vajna Summary An unknown fungus, Stagonospora sp., has been found on and in stromata of Botryosphaeria stevensii Shoemaker anamorph (Diplodia mutila Fr. & Mont.) and Diatrypella quercina (Persoon) Nitschke. Microscopic investigations indicated that the fungus might be a hyperparasite of some ascomycetous fungi, necrotrophs or weak parasites on sessile oak [Quercus petraea] and turkey oak (Quercus cerris). Dual culture studies carried out with monoconidial isolates of Stagonospora sp. and B. stevensii have demonstrated that Stagonospora sp. is a necrotrophic mycoparasite which might suppress, to some extent, the natural population of B. stevensii. Botryosphaeria stevensii is one of the biotic factors causing oak decline. Morphology of the fungus and symptoms of mycoparasitic interaction are described. Stagonospora sp. found in Hungary is assumed to be identical with hyperparasitic Stagonospora sp. reported from Germany and Austria as parasite of Ascodichaena rugosa and Ascodichaena mexicana in Mexico. This is the first record of hyperparasitic Stagonospora sp. of B. stevensii and D. quercina. Résumé Un champignon inconnu, Stagonospora sp, a été trouvé sur et dans les stromas de Botryosphaeria stevensii Shoemaker (anamorphe Diplodia mutila Fr. & Mont.) et Diatrypella quercina (Persoon) Nitschke. D'après les études microscopiques, le champignon pourrait être un hyperparasite de champignons ascomycètes, nécrotrophes ou parasites de faiblesse du chêne sessile [Q. petraea] et du chêne chevelu (Quercus cerris L.). Des confrontations en culture d'isolats monoconidiens de Stagonospora sp. et Botryosphaeria stevensii montrent que Stagonospora sp. est un mycoparasite nécrotrophe qui pourrait limiter dans une certaine mesure les populations naturelles de Botryosphaeria stevensii. Botryosphaeria stevensii est un des facteurs biotiques associés au dépérissement des chênes. La morphologie du champignon et les symptômes de l'interaction mycoparasitaire sont décrits. L'espèce de Stagonospora trouvée en Hongrie est supposée identique au Stagonospora décrit en Allemagne et Autriche comme parasite de Ascodichaena rugosa et au Mexique sur Ascodichaena mexicana. Cette étude constitue la première mention de Stagonospora sp. hyperparasite de B. stevensii et D. quercina. Zusammenfassung Eine bisher unbekannte Art von Stagonospora wurde in und auf Stromata von Diatrypella quercina (Persoon) Nitschke sowie der Anamorphe (Diplodia mutila Fr. & Mont.) von Botryosphaeria stevensii Shoemaker nachgewiesen. Mikroskopische Beobachtungen legen eine hyperparasitische Lebensweise auf zu den Ascomyceten gehörenden, nekrotrophen Parasiten und Schwächeparasiten von Trauben- (Q. petraea) und Zerreiche (Quercus cerris) nahe. Dualkulturen von Monokonidien-Isolaten von Stagonospora sp. und B. stevensii zeigten, dass es sich bei der Stagonospora -Art um einen nekrotrophen Mycoparasiten handelt, der möglicherweise unter gewissen Umständen die Entwicklung natürlicher Populationen von B. stevensii zu hemmen vermag. B. stevensii ist einer der biotischen Faktoren des ,,Eichensterbens". Die in Ungarn nachgewiesene Art dürfte mit derjenigen Stagonospora -Art identisch sein, welche Ascodichaena rugosa in Deutschland und Österreich sowie Ascodichaena mexicana in Mexico parasitiert. Bei der vorliegenden Arbeit handelt es sich um den ersten Nachweis einer hyperparasitischen Stagonospora -Art auf B. stevensii und D. quercina. [source] Incidence of Phytophthora species in oak forests in Austria and their possible involvement in oak declineFOREST PATHOLOGY, Issue 3 2003Y. Balci Summary A survey on the occurrence of Phytophthora species in oak ecosystems in Austria was conducted from April to May 1999 and in June 2000. The investigations were carried out at 35 study sites distributed throughout the zone of oak forests in eastern Austria. Four oak species, including Quercus robur, Q. petraea, Q. cerris and Q. pubescens were considered in the survey. Rhizosphere soil samples were taken from sample trees, which consisted of healthy and declining trees as indicated by their crown transparency. Young oak leaflets were used as baits to recover Phytophthora species. The assemblage of Phytophthora spp. detected in Austrian oak forests consisted of five species, including Phytophthora quercina, P. citricola, P. gonapodyides, P. europaea and P. syringae. P. quercina and P. citricola were isolated from 11 and seven sites, respectively, and were thus the most common and most widely distributed species. The three other species were recovered only sporadically. P. citricola could be separated into two morphologically and genetically well-characterized types (A and B). Phytophthora species, in particular the common P. quercina and P. citricola occurred on sites showing a wide variety of soil types, soil textures and moisture classes. There was mild evidence for connection between deteriorating crown status and the presence of Phytophthora spp. Furthermore, significant differences in contents of magnesium, as well as calcium, aluminium, nitrogen and carbon at different soil depths (0,10, 10,20 and 20,40 cm) were detected between Phytophthora -infested and Phytophthora -free sites. The results of the present study provide circumstantial evidence that Phytophthora species are involved in oak decline at certain sites in Austria. Résumé Une prospection des espèces de Phytophthora dans les écosystèmes de chênaie a été réalisée en Autriche en avril-mai 1999 et en juin 2000. Les recherches ont été conduites dans 35 sites répartis dans l'ensemble des chênaies de l'est de l'Autriche. Quatre espèces de chênes ont été prises en considération: Quercus robur, Q. petraea, Q. cerris et Q. pubescens. Des échantillons de sol rhizosphérique ont été prélevés au pied d'arbres sains ou dépérissants, jugés d'après la transparence de leur houppier. De jeunes feuilles de chênes ont été utilisées comme piège. Les Phytophthora spp. détectés dans les chênaies autrichiennes appartenaient à cinq espèces : P. quercina, P. citricola, P. gonapodyides, P. europaea et P. syringae. Phytophthora quercina et P. citricola ont été isolés dans 11 et 7 sites respectivement; ils étaient les plus fréquents et les plus largement répandus. Les trois autres espèces n'ont été trouvées que sporadiquement. Chez P. citricola, deux types (A et B) ont pu être distingués, morphologiquement et génétiquement différents. Les espèces de Phytophthora, en particulier P. quercina et P. citricola,étaient présents dans des sites très variés pour les types de sol, leur texture et l'humidité. Phythophthora spp. tendaient àêtre plus fréquemment présents en lien avec la détérioration des houppiers. Par ailleurs, des différences significatives ont été trouvées entre les sites avec ou sans Phytophthora, pour les teneurs en magnésium ainsi qu'en calcium, aluminium, azote et carbone à différentes profondeurs du sol (0,10, 10,20 et 20,40 cm). Les résultats montrent que des espèces de Phytophthora sont impliquées dans le dépérissement des chênes dans certains sites en Autriche. Zusammenfassung Im Rahmen einer breit angelegten Erhebung wurde im April und Mai 1999 sowie im Juni 2000 das Auftreten von Phytophthora -Arten in Eichenwaldökosystemen in Österreich untersucht. Die Erhebungen wurden an 35 Standorten durchgeführt, die über das gesamte natürliche Eichenwaldvorkommen in Ostösterreich verteilt waren. In die Untersuchung wurden die vier Eichenarten Quercus robur, Q. petraea, Q. cerris und Q. pubescens einbezogen. Von jeder , anhand ihres Kronenzustands als gesund bzw. krank eingestuften , Eiche wurden Bodenproben entnommen und aus diesen mittels ,Eichenblatt'-Ködermethode die Phytophthora -Arten isoliert. Das Spektrum der in Österreich isolierten Phytophthora -Arten umfasste die 5 Arten Phytophthora quercina, P. citricola, P. gonapodyides, P. europaea und P. syringae. P. quercina und P. citricola wurden von 11 bzw. 7 der untersuchten Standorte isoliert und waren somit die häufigsten und am weitesten verbreiteten Arten. Die drei anderen Phytophthora -Arten traten hingegen nur sporadisch auf. Innerhalb von P. citricola konnten anhand morphologischer und genetischer Merkmale 2 Typen (Typ A und Typ B) unterschieden werden. Phytophthora -Arten, insbesondere die häufig nachgewiesenen Arten P. quercina und P. citricola wurden an Standorten mit den unterschiedlichsten Bodentypen, -textur und -feuchteklassen nachgewissen. Es wurde ein schwach signifikanter Zusammenhang zwischen dem sich verschlechternden Kronenzustand und dem Vorhandensein von Phytophthora nachgewissen. Darüber hinaus unterschieden sich Phytophthora -infizierte und Phytophthora -freie Standorte in verschiedenen Bodentiefen (0,10, 10,20 und 20,40 cm) signifikant in ihren Magnesium, Kalzium, Aluminium, Stickstoff und Kohlenstoff-Gehalten. Die Ergebnisse der vorliegenden Studie lassen den Schluss zu, dass Phytophthora -Arten an einigen Untersuchungsstandorten in Österreich am Eichensterben beteiligt sind. [source] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||