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The article discusses the importance of heat exchangers in industrial and commercial processes and the negative impact of fouling on their efficiency. It highlights the significance of the Heat Exchanger Fouling and Cleaning Conference, which brings together experts from around the world to share research and advancements in fouling science, mitigation strategies, and cleaning technologies. The 14th conference took place in Wagrain, Austria, in 2022, after a hiatus due to the global pandemic. The conference covered various topics related to fouling and cleaning, and nine papers were selected for inclusion in a special issue of Heat Transfer Engineering. The upcoming conference is scheduled to be held in Portugal in April 2024. [Extracted from the article]

Strategic flood risk management of river catchments involves significant increases in the complexity both of the contents (e.g. the aims and measures) of a given strategy and also its social, spatial, and temporal scales. Conceptually, flood risk management research to date has underestimated the importance of time and temporality. This paper, which is based on ‘historical Institutionalism,’ introduces a temporal lens to focus on strategic flood risk management; it highlights issues of duration and timing as well as tempo and change in tempo with respect to the implementation of measures to reduce flood risk at catchment level. The application of a temporal lens is illustrated through empirical research into strategic flood risk management for the medium-sized Aist river catchment in Austria. The paper uses a longitudinal qualitative research design to analyze the changes in strategic flood risk management in the catchment. The analysis shows that strategy efforts in reaction to an extreme flood event in the catchment in August 2002 can be differentiated into three phases. Phase 1 is characterized by the design of ambitious catchment-wide management; Phase 2 by struggles to implement the strategy due to institutional conditions and protests by citizens; and Phase 3 by redesign of the initial strategic plan to make it less ambitious and by changes to the actor constellation supporting the plan. The present paper offers a process-oriented institutional explanation for this pattern of phases, and it highlights issues of timing and tempo. It concludes with general suggestions for enhancing the temporal dimension in flood risk management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the role of municipal and provincial public social spending for local income inequality after taxes and transfers in Austria. We utilize a spatial multi‐level model, which allows us to analyze the contribution of three spatial scales (municipal, district, and provincial level) to municipal income inequality. Our analysis shows that the effect of public social spending on local Gini indices does not only differ across provinces but also across municipalities which indicates that the potential cushioning effect of social expenditure is highly localized. Further splitting total public social expenditure into three distinct categories (education, health, social protection) reveals that spending on social protection has the highest effect on local inequality across all provinces, while health spending does not exert a discernible influence in any province. The method and results presented in this paper are of international interest for policymakers and researchers who aim to investigate whether the same patterns hold true in other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Health authorities worldwide address older adults as a risk group for more serious illness and health complications associated with COVID-19, while social gerontologists have warned that addressing older adults as a risk group of COVID-19 bears the risk of reinforcing ageism. This paper empirically explores to what extent older adults perceive themselves as part of a COVID-19 risk group and how these perceptions influence their everyday lives and experiences of age and ageing. This paper draws upon data from a mixed-methods study on older adults' risk perceptions during COVID-19 in Lower Austria, including a representative survey on 521 adults (60+ years) and data from 20 semi-structured interviews. Approximately two-thirds of the respondents consider themselves at risk of COVID-19 and name age, in addition to pre-existing illness, as a contributing factor in this risk perception. Older adults with health constraints, and especially older men, have a higher probability of perceiving risk due to COVID-19. Additionally, older adults report that they experience being 'suddenly seen as old' or 'being put into a box' during the pandemic, which influenced their experiences and images of ageing. Our study provides insights into how perceived COVID-19 risk affects the everyday lives of older adults. Age-based categorisations of risk contribute to a shift in images of age and ageing, drawing on insecurity and risk, rather than successful and active ageing, to conceptualise later life. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The main purpose of the paper is to offer a personal view on the development of documentation/information and documentation (IuD) in Germany, while pointing out the need to further investigate the specific features of its development paths. The methodology is based on critical review of the available literature sources in the German language. Design/methodology/approach: The paper uses the method of critical review of published documents in journals (especially in Nachrichten für Dokumentation), books and reports of state and provincial administrations that are directly related to monitoring and/or encouraging the development of the young field of documentation. Findings: The paper offers a review and interpretation of the most significant development phases, the contributions of individuals and the influence of the official state and information policy based on the consulted sources. Research limitations/implications: This research is limited to the literature written in German language. Practical implications: The paper could be of interest to researchers and professionals who are interested in the development of documentation. Social implications: The paper covers the period after the World War II until the end of 1980s that is especially interesting from the social point of view in divided Germany. Originality/value: To the author's knowledge, there is no comprehensive history of documentation in German-speaking countries written in English. This paper is the result of a research project started three years ago with colleagues from Germany, Austria and Switzerland, that aims to cover all phases of the appearance and development of information science in German-speaking countries and could be understood as a kind of introduction to papers planned to follow. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Covid-19 pandemic and the intensified digitalization of life-worlds has especially affected younger generations, also in Austria. In this paper, we approach digital practices of 43 young adults between 16 and 18 years in a frame-analytical perspective to understand forms of politicization during the Covid-19 pandemic. We analyze memes in order to make sense of youth's life-worlds during the pandemic. The memes were created by youth as a result of a workshop series with the researchers. Our research shows that memes have provided a means for engaging and dealing digitally and emotionally with Covid-19-related problems. We show that the respective youth address educational, social and democratic issues by problematizing 'homeschooling as overburdening', a 'lack of planning' and 'social divisions'. Moreover, meme-creation offers a perspective on how youth express and create a 'sense of community' through digital practices. During the pandemic youth have increasingly come to understand and represent themselves as a group with shared experiences in digital space, going along with a positioning as 'younger generation' vis-à-vis older generations. We argue that the fact that the pandemic has affected youth heavily and the fact that they do not see their issues and needs represented by political representatives or media shows the potential and limits of digital spaces for younger generations to connect (politically). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quality of life has become a central value in the provision of healthcare for patients with chronic conditions. This has engendered debates in critical medical sociology on the non-neutral effects that valuing health and illness, medical interventions, and health care delivery in terms of quality of life yields. Focusing on the case of nephrology, this paper presents qualitative data collected in Austria of two dialysis units in which nephrologists initiated projects aimed towards 'the improvement of patients' quality of life'. Whereas the first involved nurses supporting patients in the administration of peritoneal dialysis at home, the second implied the provision of treatment and care exclusively focused on a well-being 'in the here and now' to patients. By conceptualising physicians as actors within networks of relations and values enacted in practices, it analyses how in both dialysis units reference to quality of life enabled nephrologists to problematise the provision of standard haemodialysis treatment to multi-morbid, elderly patients, to develop a new treatment protocol, and to interest and enrol others in the provision of healthcare according this new protocol. Valuing medical interventions in terms of quality of life not only leads to a governmentalization of living and an economisation of health. It also allows physicians to articulate a socio-medico-ethical problem – the availability of life-prolonging technologies for a growing population of elderly, multi-morbid patients – and develop solutions locally. What the solutions consist in may fundamentally differ, however. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examines the early incorporation of reinforced concrete in the architecture of Historicism in Austria–Hungary. Spanning the late 19th to early 20th centuries, the research illuminates the period's stylistic pluralism and the transformative impact of reinforced concrete. The paper examines the integration of reinforced concrete into traditional forms, providing detailed case studies and architectural examples. It navigates through various aspects, including the evolution of reinforced concrete during the historicist period, its adoption in notable structures, and its documentation in contemporary literature. Case studies, such as the Lutheran Church in Battyánd (now Puconci, Slovenia), the Roman Catholic Church in Topolya (now Bačka Topola, Serbia), and the former Synagogue in Český Krumlov, Czechia, showcase the innovative ways reinforced concrete addressed structural challenges while adhering to historicist aesthetics. The research concludes by reflecting on the transformative role of reinforced concrete in challenging the conventions of Historicism, paving the way for modern architectural expressions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent years have seen increased interest in school-based whole-child development in the Austrian education system. Engaging with this context, the paper provides insights from a quantitative phase of analysis within a broader mixed-methods project that sought to ascertain teachers’ beliefs around character education in schools. An emphatic majority of respondents (94.6%) working in lower secondary schools believe that character education is more important for 10- to 14-year-olds in schools than good exam results. This confidence of educators in character education notwithstanding, the current education system in Austria presents numerous obstacles to the realization of holistic approaches to education which incorporate character development. In the Austrian context, a paradigm shift in education commencing in 2008 entailed a greater emphasis on evidence-based monitoring of learning outcomes, which many of our surveyed teachers see as detrimental to a holistic form of schooling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: A healthy diet is a critical factor in maintaining long-term health. In addition to a health-promoting food environment, the nutrition health literacy (NHL) and food literacy (FL) of the population are important in this context. This paper describes the development and validation of two short instruments to measure the nutrition literacy of the population, used in the Austrian Nutrition Literacy Survey 2021. Methods: An instrument to measure NHL (Nutrition Health Literacy Scale; NHLS) has been adapted and further developed. To measure FL, the Self-perceived Food Literacy Scale by Poelman et al. has been modified and shortened (SPFL-SF). Validation of the instruments was based on data from a web survey conducted in Austria in 2021 with almost 3,000 participants aged 18 years and older. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses were performed to assess the factorial validity/dimensionality of the instruments. Additionally, internal consistency was assessed using Cronbach's alpha, ordinal alpha, and McDonald's omega. Results: Both instruments demonstrate excellent data-model fit. The NHLS also shows excellent internal consistency (α = 0.91), while the SPFL-SF displays a sufficient internal consistency for all (α between 0.70 and 0.89) but one sub-dimension (resisting temptation α = 0.61). Furthermore, the distribution of the items indicates that the measures are understandable and suitable, as evidenced by the absence of missing values in the sample. In addition, the items of both instruments differ in their level of difficulty or agreement. Conclusions: The NHLS and SPFL-SF are reliable and valid instruments for measuring NHL and FL in the general adult population. The brief instruments measuring the different aspects of nutrition literacy can be easily used in nutritional or evaluation studies. Further work is required to investigate other aspects of validity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The supply of social housing has been marked by erosion and decline in most Western Europe countries since the 1990s, albeit with considerable variation in timing, speed and degree. Recently, it has been suggested that the sector has kept a more prominent position at the local level, at least in some cities. This paper scrutinizes this claim by comparing the development of social housing in two cities in two distinct national housing systems that have traditionally had a strong commitment to social housing: Vienna and Helsinki. To do so, we build a multi-dimensional framework that encompasses sector size, stock privatization, new housing production, and residualization. We empirically demonstrate a remarkable stability along these dimensions in both cases, albeit with some differences in degree. A number of factors need to be considered to explain this stability. They relate to aspects of institutional design of the social housing systems, as well as to continuity in policies at national and local levels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The emerging energy transition is particularly described as a move towards a cleaner, lower-carbon system. In the context of the global shift towards sustainable energy sources, this paper reviews the potential and roadmap for hydrogen energy as a crucial component of the clean energy landscape. The primary objective is to present a comprehensive literature overview, illuminating key themes, trends, and research gaps in the scientific discourse concerning hydrogen production and energy policy. This review focuses particularly on specified geographic contexts, with an emphasis on understanding the unique energy policies related to renewable energy in Brazil, Austria, and Germany. Given their distinct social systems and developmental stages, this paper aims to delineate the nuanced approaches these countries adopt in their pursuit of renewable energy and the integration of hydrogen within their energy frameworks. Brazil exhibits vast renewable energy potential, particularly in wind and solar energy sectors, positioning itself for substantial growth in the coming years. Germany showcases a regulatory framework that promotes innovation and technological expansion, reflecting its highly developed social system and commitment to transitioning away from fossil fuels. Austria demonstrates dedication to decarbonization, particularly through the exploration of biomethane for residential heating and cooling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper addresses the issue, largely unexplored in comparative law, of the enforcement of constitutional court decisions. Through the study of four constitutional justice systems (Austria, Germany, Spain, and Italy), the paper attempts to answer numerous questions that arise when dealing with such an unusual topic in the study of constitutional justice: is there a general demand for the enforcement of the decisions of constitutional courts? If there are rules on the matter, how do they differ? What are the reasons for the differences in the regulations? Does the enforcement in constitutional proceedings differ from the model established by common procedural law? In an attempt to answer to these questions, the article analyzes the bodies involved in constitutional enforcement, the different ways in which enforcement is regulated and, finally, by systematizing the analysis carried out for each legal system, it identifies models of enforcement in the European constitutional procedural law. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

AbstractTenants all over the globe face the challenges of increasing rents and even forced evictions, particularly in the private urban rental sector. Affordable housing shortage and displacement have become severe societal problems for the lower- and middle-income segments. Certain legal institutions, including tenancy law, provide a decommodifying capacity for more tenure security and stability. This paper studies this capacity of tenancy law by comparatively examining the tenants’ and landlords’ rights in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland through the lens of decommodification. The focus is (1) on the rules of access to housing for new residents entering the housing market and (2) the rules of exit that govern the ability of the occupants to continue living in their apartments. Findings show that while tenants’ rights in Switzerland are weakly protected by law, tenants in Austria and Germany receive robust protection. Austrian and German tenants cannot be evicted at short notice, nor are landlords allowed to dismiss them unless they declare legitimate self-usage. Also, tenants remain protected from arbitrary rent increases in case of rental upgrading. Conclusions help practitioners to consider tenancy law as an influential way to counteract the market-driven dynamics in housing and to enhance the protective capacity within renting property. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Agile approaches are increasingly being used in the public sector. What is driving the adoption of agile ways of working, however, remains unclear. In this paper we ask the following two questions: Which agile approaches are being used in public sector organizations? Under which circumstances do public sector organizations use which agile practices? To analyze these questions, we conducted a standardized survey among over 450 civil servants in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. Results from the logistic regression analyses indicate that various forms of agile practices are used in the public sector in all three countries. PSOs operating in constantly changing, uncertain environments are more likely to adopt agile. Political and managerial leadership is vital if the aim is to become more agile as a government. Finally, the results show that tasks that require constant internal and external stakeholder involvement and those that require radically new ideas and ways of working lead PSOs to introduce more comprehensive forms of agile working. This work advances the state of literature by providing the first quantitative analysis of the state of agile in the three countries, developing an analytical framework and measurement of agile government, and analyzing the external circumstances under which agile is being used in the public sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Transnational European identities influence public debates and electoral dynamics across Europe, with sociodemographic factors strongly associated with these identities. Meanwhile, little attention has been paid to how people's perceptions of a political group's sociodemographic profile relate to their identification with Europe. I argue that such perceptions, in combination with social identities, are significantly associated with the strength of individuals' identification with political groups. An individual is more likely to have a robust European identity if they perceive that social groups they like share the same pro-European opinion. In contrast, if they perceive that groups they like align with the anti-European camp, they are likely to have a weaker European identity. By employing novel survey data from Italy and Austria, I find empirical support for my argument. This paper contributes to the debate on the mechanisms that connect social and political identities and explains how cleavages emerge in the mass public. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main concern of this paper is providing a flexible discrete model that captures every kind of dispersion (equi-, over- and under-dispersion). Based on the balanced discretization method, a new discrete version of Burr–Hatke distribution is introduced with the partial moment-preserving property. Some statistical properties of the new distribution are introduced, and the applicability of proposed model is evaluated by considering counting series. A new integer-valued autoregressive (INAR) process based on the mixing Pegram and binomial thinning operators with discrete Burr–Hatke innovations is introduced, which can model contagious data properly. The different estimation approaches of parameters of the new process are provided and compared through the Monte Carlo simulation scheme. The performance of the proposed process is evaluated by four data sets of the daily death counts of the COVID-19 in Austria, Switzerland, Nigeria and Slovenia in comparison with some competitor INAR(1) models, along with the Pearson residual analysis of the assessing model. The goodness of fit measures affirm the adequacy of the proposed process in modeling all COVID-19 data sets. The fundamental prediction procedures are considered for new process by classic, modified Sieve bootstrap and Bayesian forecasting methods for all COVID-19 data sets, which is concluded that the Bayesian forecasting approach provides more reliable results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Person-centred healthcare focuses on placing the beliefs and values of service users at the centre of decision-making and creating the context for practitioners to do this effectively. Measuring the outcomes arising from person-centred practices is complex and challenging and often adopts multiple perspectives and approaches. Few measurement frameworks are grounded in an explicit person-centred theoretical framework. Aims: In the study reported in this paper, the aim was to develop a valid and reliable instrument to measure the experience of person-centred care by service users (patients)–The Person-centred Practice Inventory-Care (PCPI-C). Methods: Based on the 'person-centred processes' construct of an established Person-centred Practice Framework (PCPF), a service user instrument was developed to complement existing instruments informed by the same theoretical framework–the PCPF. An exploratory sequential mixed methods design was used to construct and test the instrument, working with international partners and service users in Scotland, Northern Ireland, Australia and Austria. A three-phase approach was adopted to the development and testing of the PCPI-C: Phase 1 –Item Selection: following an iterative process a list of 20 items were agreed upon by the research team for use in phase 2 of the project; Phase 2 –Instrument Development and Refinement: Development of the PCPI-C was undertaken through two stages. Stage 1 involved three sequential rounds of data collection using focus groups in Scotland, Australia and Northern Ireland; Stage 2 involved distributing the instrument to members of a global community of practice for person-centred practice for review and feedback, as well as refinement and translation through one: one interviews in Austria. Phase 3: Testing Structural Validity of the PCPI-C: A sample of 452 participants participated in this phase of the study. Service users participating in existing cancer research in the UK, Malta, Poland and Portugal, as well as care homes research in Austria completed the draft PCPI-C. Data were collected over a 14month period (January 2021-March 2022). Descriptive and measures of dispersion statistics were generated for all items to help inform subsequent analysis. Confirmatory factor analysis was conducted using maximum likelihood robust extraction testing of the 5-factor model of the PCPI-C. Results: The testing of the PCPI-C resulted in a final 18 item instrument. The results demonstrate that the PCPI-C is a psychometrically sound instrument, supporting a five-factor model that examines the service user's perspective of what constitutes person-centred care. Conclusion and implications: This new instrument is generic in nature and so can be used to evaluate how person-centredness is perceived by service users in different healthcare contexts and at different levels of an organisation. Thus, it brings a service user perspective to an organisation-wide evaluation framework. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives In the Global North, the number of older people living alone who have little or no support from family members is increasing. However, little is known about older people living alone who have basic needs for support but do not have kin living nearby or a sustainable relationship to a relative they can rely on. Thus, this paper focuses on the role of nonkin carers and their contribution to the support arrangements of older people living alone. Methods We conducted semistructured interviews with 32 older people living alone aged between 67 and 99 (Ø 84.2 years) in Austria, 23 women, and 9 men. The interviews were analyzed by applying a coding strategy based on grounded theory. In addition, sociograms were created to illustrate relevant relations in each support arrangement. Results We identified and characterized 3 groups of nonkins involved in the support arrangements of older people living alone based on the origins of the relationships: (1) friends, (2) neighbors, and (3) acquaintances like members of various communities. The arrangements were classified according to the amount and quality of involvement of nonkin carers, namely manifold, scattered, and little nonkin involvement. Discussion Our study highlights the diversity of nonkin support in the support arrangements of older people living alone. This heterogeneity should be considered by policy-makers when promoting informal care and designing policy measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• Waste from public spaces is currently predominantly collected as mixed waste. • The composition of public waste differs from household waste. • High proportions of recyclable materials and packaging waste were identified. • The case city's annual public waste generation is around 100 tonnes. Waste from public places like parks, pedestrian zones or sidewalks is a visible yet unexploited waste stream. Publications and information on the amounts and makeup of this waste flow are very scarce. To evaluate the resource potential and enable waste management planning, this study aims to assess the quality and quantity of public waste in a detailed waste characterisation campaign. For the first time, an analysis at this level of detail was conducted in a medium-sized town (25,000 inhabitants) in Austria. The sampling campaign included the whole town area. In total, almost 1000 kg of waste was sorted in up to 88 different fractions, which allows the detailed composition of, for example, packaging waste and single-use plastics to be delineated. We found that the amount of waste collected in public street bins is approximately 2.6 % of the total mixed municipal solid waste, resulting in 4.1 kg of public waste per inhabitant annually. The vast majority of this waste is currently collected as mixed waste. The results indicate a high share (52 %) of recyclable materials (glass, metal, paper and lightweight packaging) in mixed public waste, most of which is packaging (44 % of total waste). Other large shares include dog feces (18 % of total waste) and biogenic waste (17 % of total waste). The results lay the foundation for further investigations into, for example, exploiting recycling potential or evaluating possible improvements in separate waste collection in public spaces. Further, the collected data serve as an essential knowledge basis for policymakers and local authorities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present paper aims to study the Wachau Valley in Austria as a representative Cultural Landscape under threat from extreme hydrometeorological hazards linked to climate change. The primary objective is to investigate the impacts and assess the vulnerability associated with the events of heavy rain and flooding. The methodology employed consists of an investigation of recorded past events impacting the Wachau; a vulnerability ranking system; a climate time series analysis based on earth observation products; and future hazard maps at territorial level, developed with outputs from regional and global climate models. The investigation we carried out provides a vulnerability assessment of two terraced areas with a surface of about 10,000 m2 in total, characterized by the presence of dry stone walls, with different state of conservation in the Municipality of Krems (Wachau). In addition, climate projections at territorial level for the extreme climate indices R20mm, R95pTOT, and R×5day—selected for investigating the likelihood of increases/decreases in events of heavy rain and large basin flooding—are provided, with a spatial resolution of ~12 km for the near and far future (2021–2050; 2071–2100) under stabilizing (RCP 4.5) and pessimistic (RCP 8.5) scenarios. The results indicate a general increase for the three indices in the studied areas during the far future under the pessimistic scenario, suggesting a heightened risk of heavy rain and flooding. These findings aim to inform policymakers and decision-makers in their development of strategies for safeguarding cultural heritage. Furthermore, they serve to assist local stakeholders in enhancing their understanding of prioritizing interventions related to preparedness, emergency response, and recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this exploratory paper, we discuss local cultural political tensions in Austria's three largest cities (Vienna, Graz, and Linz). Against the backdrop of COVID-19, which hampered, yet also created new opportunities to host cultural events in public space, we analyze large-scale cultural events (Vienna and Graz), and a newly emerging cultural policy theme (Linz). Drawing on 30 qualitative interviews with cultural politicians, administrators, cultural producers, and artists (2020–2022), situational mapping, and the analysis of media coverage, we unpack (1) agential conflicts that manifest in unequal access to funding and decision-making; (2) symbolic conflicts that variously instrumentalize culture; (3) procedural conflicts that problematize lack of transparency and collaboration; and (4) spatial conflicts that materialize in diverging views about safety, cleanliness, and ownership of public space between state and self-organized cultural actors. Ultimately, we argue for a conflict-oriented approach to cultural policy to grasp the interrelations between power, agency, and space in cultural politics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To investigate determinants of willingness to adopt telerehabilitation, willingness of technology use, core affect regarding using telerehabilitation, and digital competencies in rehabilitation professionals in Austria and Germany before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. A cross-sectional paper-based and online survey was conducted before and during COVID-19, respectively, with three cohorts of rehabilitation professionals. Outcomes were the willingness to adopt telerehabilitation evaluated using the extended Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology; willingness of technology use using the short scale for assessing the willingness of technology use; digital competencies and core affect using the Digital Competence Framework and semantic differential, respectively. Multivariate ordinal regression analysis was performed to determine predictors. Included were 603 rehabilitation professionals. Analysis revealed differences between Austria and Germany and before and during the pandemic for most outcomes. German residency, the pandemic, and a higher educational level were most important predictors of higher willingness to adopt telerehabilitation, willingness of technology use, digital competencies, and positive core affect. The pandemic increased most aspects of willingness to adopt telerehabilitation, willingness of technology use, digital competencies, and positive core affect. Results confirm that rehabilitation professionals with higher degrees are more prone to adopt innovations in healthcare.Registration: German Clinical Trials Register (DRKS00021464) The willingness to adopt telerehabilitation is associated with external factors increasing the need for alternative rehabilitation delivery, such as COVID-19, and with financial facilitators, such as reimbursement. As the willingness to adopt telerehabilitation is higher among speech and language therapists and dietitians, efforts are necessary to enhance its use in physiotherapists and occupational therapists. As a higher willingness to adopt telerehabilitation was observed in younger rehabilitation professionals and those with higher education, increasing the importance of telerehabilitation in education curricula and further knowledge transfer into practice for those already working in the field seems necessary. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crafts sector, traditionally characterized by its adherence to heritage and small-scale familial enterprises, confronts an array of unprecedented challenges stemming from rapid technological advancement, globalization, climate change, and shifting demographics. This article presents a pioneering investigation into the profound and transformative effects of digitalization on the crafts sector, offering novel insights into the future trajectory of this industry. Through an explorative approach, we critically examine and interrogate the social imaginary underpinning the crafts sector, shedding light on the intricate interplay between tradition and innovation. Leveraging an inter- and transdisciplinary framework, our research brings together academics, experts, and practitioners from diverse regions in Italy and Austria to explore the nexus of digitalization and craft futures. We introduce three future scenarios for the crafts sector, each delineating varying degrees of digitalization and their potential implications. Employing a mixed-method approach encompassing expert interviews, a Delphi survey, focus groups, and scenario development, our study offers a comprehensive exploration of the multifaceted landscape of craft futures. Furthermore, through the visualization of these scenarios, we provide a tangible platform for envisioning and engaging with the myriad possibilities that lie ahead. By synthesizing innovative methodologies from future studies and social imaginaries with a specific focus on the crafts sector, our research offers a robust analytical framework for navigating the complex dynamics of digitalization and envisioning transformative futures. This paper not only illuminates the disruptive forces unleashed by digitalization but also provides strategic insights to inform future decision-making processes within the crafts sector and beyond. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Volunteer firefighters are an established institution in many rural areas across Europe. In spite of this ubiquity, many volunteer brigades have been increasingly facing challenges in discharging their functions. Issues such as undertaking necessary investments, and ensuring daytime availability have become particularly critical against the backdrop of an increase in the number of interventions. Many of the measures intended to futureproof volunteer firefighting are based on transferring responsibility to different actors. To this end developing and expanding the reach of fire safety education functions to enhance the public's prevention and self-protection skills. The aim of this paper is to explore the process of institutional change induced by innovative initiatives, which aim to advance fire safety education. For the study, we draw on empirical research, which follows the development and mainstreaming of two projects in Austria and Germany. These initiatives aim to standardise disparate approaches and are underpinned by new forms of multi-level cooperation. Our inductive analysis identifies five key steps which define the successful long-term implementation of projects in coproduced services of general interest. We conclude with observations on the redistribution of responsibility for fire services and hazard prevention in contemporary societies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Intergovernmental Committee for European Migration (ICEM) played a key role in handling the Hungarian refugee crisis of 1956. It was this body, established in 1951, that organised the registration and transport of some 200,000 Hungarian refugees in Austria and Yugoslavia. This paper examines this international migration organisation in the 1950s based on the archives of the ICEM and the UN Secretariat, as well as on US, British and French foreign policy documents. It focuses on the workings of the ICEM concerning the Hungarian refugee crisis and its influence upon the subsequent history of the organisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the implementation of a reading program designed for third grade elementary school classrooms in Austria. Using a mixed-methods approach, lesson types were identified, respective class compositions analyzed, and the effects on students' reading gains examined. The results show that the lesson types seem to reflect learner group needs as students in the different lesson types profited similarly from the reading program. This supports the hypothesis that reading is a highly individualized process and leads to the conclusion that the instructional approach of the reading program investigated supports teachers in conducting reading lessons tailored to their students' needs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

During the reign of Süleiman the Magnificent, the Ottoman conquests were directed toward the west. The conquest of central Hungary by the Ottomans in particular was the beginning of a long struggle. It was both difficult and costly for the Ottomans to hold the region and a significant part of the region, which remained under Ottoman rule for about 150 years, was lost in the "Holy League" wars. With the Treaty of Karlowitz, the last piece of land to the north of the Danube in Hungary was the province of Temeşvar. As the province of Temeşvar was by that time a frontier region, Ottomans made some military, financial and administrative arrangements there in order to keep Temeşvar because they predicted that this place would one day be the target of Austria. Indeed, after Damad Ali Pasha’s defeat in Varadin in 1716, the Austrian forces chose the Temeşvar castle as their first target and Prince Eugene besieged the castle with a large army. The Ottoman military administration could not send sufficient military aid here due to the recent defeat. The castle commander, Mustafa Pasha, continued his resistance for 57 days with a small number of soldiers. But the castle was handed over to the Austrian forces when no help came as a result of the long defense. After the castle was surrendered, Mustafa Pasha came to Belgrade and sent a letter to the sultan about the defense and delivery process of the castle. This paper, in the submission letter (arz) of the Castellan of Temesvar, Mustafa Pasha, attempts to analyze the siege of the castle by the Habsburg forces, the defense of the fortress, the situation of the people of the castle, the military aid that did not come despite the distress call, the surrender process and the issues that emerged afterward. The information in the Pasha’s submission letter has been evaluated based on other sources belonging to the period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to contribute to the ongoing discussions on authoritarian populism and the media, from the lens of the political economy of ownership. In contrast to studies that consider the link between media and authoritarian populism by focusing on the discursive structures of populist communication, this study analyses changes in the structure of news media ownership in four European countries that have been subject to authoritarian populism. By employing social network analysis, a methodology rarely used in media ownership research, we reveal how news media ownership concentration as well as changes in ownership structures have provided favorable conditions for the rise and endurance of authoritarian populism. Our study covers ownership developments during the period 2000 to 2020, in Austria, Hungary, Slovenia, and Turkey where authoritarian populist tendencies have been evident, albeit to varying degrees. Conclusions are drawn to illustrate how authoritarian populist actors in the sample countries not only capitalize on prevailing news media ownership structures, but also proactively intervene in ownership relations in order to increase influence over the diffusion of information. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic has led to a discursive change in the representation of urban-rural mobilities in the Austrian public media. Before the pandemic, a narrative of 'rural decline' had dominated the media discourse. Media have since changed this narrative to one of counterurbanisation as a result of the (perceived) effects of the Covid-19 pandemic on residential location choices. However, in contrast to media perceptions, scientific debates were more reluctant to identify a Covid-induced counterurban movement. In this paper, we take the opposition between the media representation and the scientific evidence as a starting point for a critical investigation of the media representation of counterurbanisation in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic. Following the approach of discourse coalitions, we investigated the actors and the coalitions they had formed to promote a Covid-induced 'counterurbanisation story'. We could identify two coalitions that created two variations of the Covid-induced 'counterurbanisation story': a prudent and an idealised discourse. These two discourses were promoted by different actors with different interests. Through our findings, the paper adds another layer to study of the construction of a 'counterurbanisation story'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electricity market transitions from a market clearing in which flexible generation meets inflexible demand to one in which inflexible generation meets flexible demand. Consequently, new types of flexibility are needed to balance generation and demand. This paper mainly aims to analyse competition and synergy between various flexibility options in the electricity market. The developed European electricity market model maximises the joint socio-economic welfare of the electricity and the hydrogen market. Transmission grid,- storage expansion, electric vehicle demand side flexibility and hydrogen sector coupling are flexibility options. This work examines the implementation of different flexibility options in the bidding zones Austria and Germany. Austria, with a very high storage capacity in the alpine arc and Germany, with massive wind turbine capacities serve as representative case study. Results show that the storage location heavily influences the corresponding socio-economic welfare increase. Hence, location-dependent synergy and competition between storage and transmission line expansion can occur. In contrast, sector coupled hydrogen production and storage expansion compete with each other as both will reduce very low electricity prices. Demand-side flexibility primarily benefits end-users while producer surplus reduces. In combination with storage expansion, further positive synergistic effects for end-users occur. The combination of storage expansion and demand-side flexibility can replace transmission line expansion and vice versa if used comprehensively. Further efforts could address the evaluation of these effects if the individual flexibility providers aim for something other than a system-wide but individual optimum. • Implementation of several flexibility options into the European electricity market. • Storage location and transmission capacity have a huge influence on the results. • Consumers benefit from combined storage and demand-side flexibility use. • Additional electricity demand by sector coupling increases renewable energy revenue. • Storage and sector coupling compete with each other as both reduce price volatility. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PV hosting capacity quantification is currently of importance for distribution system operators to manage upcoming PV installation requests, especially within low-voltage grids. The violation-mitigation-based (VMB) method presented a novel downward approach to quantify the PV hosting capacity in low-voltage grids, having the advantage of also quantifying possible expansions in the hosting capacity. The VMB method, however, requires typically hundreds of power flow simulations to quantify the hosting capacity in a low-voltage grid. In this paper, we address this issue by introducing sensitivity matrices to optimize the downward process of quantification. Evaluated in 79 low-voltage feeders from Austria, the enhanced VMB method reduces the number of iterations required from a median of 1764 to 7 while obtaining the same or higher hosting capacity values. The reduced computational effort permits the application of the method proposed at a large-scale. The application of the method proposed on the standard CIGRE residential low-voltage grid is also presented for possible comparison with other methods. • A heuristic method to quantify the hosting capacity in low voltage grids. • The use of voltage and current sensitivities to reduce the computational effort. • Evaluation of the method proposed on real low voltage grids from Austria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The operation of energy systems has changed significantly with the increase of intermittent renewable energy sources. New market players that produce, consume, and store electricity- prosumages, along with the different global factors, influence price spreads in the electricity market. This paper gives a comprehensive analysis of the economic viability of two of the currently most cost-effective electricity storage technologies: pumped hydro storage (PHS) and lithium-ion (Li-ion) when used for price arbitrage. The analysis is conducted using a price-taker approach for electricity market prices from 2011.-2019. in which the market has changed. The mixed-integer optimization model is applied with the subtraction of the total storage costs. Arbitrage opportunities for two different energy systems- one with a high generation of renewables and one with high shares of fossil generation are analyzed. Results indicate that pumped hydro storage with a total cost of 0.032 €/kWh is economically justified contrary to Li-ion batteries with a total cost of 0.217 €/kWh. The average yearly profit of PHS, for a study case with 83% of electricity generation from renewables, is 65% lower compared to the case highly dependent on fossil generation. Comparison between study cases indicates that profits of price arbitrage are dependent on full load hours, electricity price spreads, and flexibility options available, rather than on installed shares of renewables. • Storage economic viability depends on the full load hours, electricity market prices and total costs of the technology. • Average yearly arbitraging profit of PHS in Austria is 65% lower compared to the Bosnia and Herzegovina case. • Total costs for 2000 full load hours are: Li-ion 0.217 €/kWh and PHS 0.032 €/kWh. • Energy arbitrage of Li-ion storage is unprofitable. • Increase of energy storage profits isn't proportional to higher shares of renewable generation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As a response to the increasing threat to sport events from climate change and expectations around climate change mitigation, sport event managers increasingly engage in environmentally-related initiatives that aim to reduce GHG emissions. One of the major contributors to GHG emissions at large sport events is spectators' travel and, thus, their associated modal choices. Building on the Sport Logistics Framework (SLF) and using the case study of Rapid Vienna, the largest football club in Austria, this study investigates spectators' modal choice to systematically assess the total GHGs emitted by spectators at a professional football home game. Data was obtained from two sources: a) an extensive data set collected on Rapid Vienna season ticket holders, and b) three surveys at home games which, together, constituted 3317 valid responses. The calculation of the GHG emissions resulted in 99,548 kg GHG emissions per home game or 6.0 kg GHG emissions per spectator. It was also found that 42.4 per cent spectators arriving by car emit 71.6 per cent of GHG emissions, while in contrast, 52.8 per cent of spectators using public transport emit 27.1 per cent of GHG emissions. The results also indicate that the possession of an annual public transport ticket seems to determine travel behavior, i.e. the majority of spectators with an annual ticket are using it, while spectators without a ticket are using a car. As such, this paper not only provides an opportunity for academics and managers to benchmark the data in order to identify initiatives to reduce the impact of GHG emissions, but also allows for the systematic measuring of the environmental impact of fan and spectator travel. • Fan travel to professional football games is a major contributor to GHG emissions. • We assess fans' modal choices and their carbon footprint at a football home game. • The home game emits a total 99,548 kg GHG emissions or 6.0 kg GHG emissions per fan. • We found that 42.4% fans arriving by car emit 71.6% of GHG emissions. • The study allows for benchmarking and systematic measuring of fan travel behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is a special edition of the Heat and Mass Transfer Journal dedicated to the 14th Heat Exchanger Fouling and Cleaning Conference. The conference took place in Wagrain, Austria from June 5-10, 2022, and brought together researchers and engineers from various industries and academic institutions worldwide to discuss the importance of heat exchanger fouling research. The conference covered a wide range of topics, including fouling in hydrocarbon systems, food processing fouling, biofouling, fouling mitigation, CFD modeling, and industrial cleaning methods. This special edition of the journal includes fifteen papers focusing on fundamental research. The next conference is scheduled to be held in Portugal in April 2024. [Extracted from the article]

Serpentinite-derived fluids play a crucial role in mass exchange between the Earth's crust and mantle. However, there is currently a limited understanding of how serpentinite-derived fluids influence the Si isotope composition of mantle and subducted crustal materials. Whiteschists in the Dora-Maira Massif of the Western Alps and leucophyllites in Austria of the Eastern Alps were formed through serpentinite-derived fluid metasomatism of metagranite protoliths. Thus, they can provide valuable insights into the geochemical diversity of such rocks resulting from fluid–rock interactions. A special focus is on Si isotope compositions, which were analyzed in whiteschists, leucophyllites, and their corresponding country rocks. The aim of this paper is to investigate the impact of serpentinite-derived metasomatic fluids on the Si isotope compositions of subducted continental crust. With the exception of one whiteschist sample, which contains high amounts of pyrope, and one pyrope megablast, all other whiteschists and leucophyllites exhibit Si isotope compositions similar to those of their country rocks. This observation suggests that the Si isotopes of whiteschists and leucophyllites were inherited from their respective country rocks; fluid metasomatism did not significantly modify the Si isotope compositions of whiteschists and leucophyllites. Because pyrope has much lower δ30Si values than quartz and phengite as further major mineral constituents of the studied whiteschists, the samples with high pyrope contents reveal lighter Si isotopes than those containing lower amounts of pyrope. Interestingly, the metagranites and the majority of whiteschists and leucophyllites exhibit Si isotope compositions below the igneous array, implying that their protoliths are S-type granites. These granites commonly contain sedimentary components derived from their sources. Our results document that Si behaves immobile during serpentinite-derived fluid metasomatism of the subducted continental crust. Combined with previous results, we were able to show that slab derived fluids, including serpentinite-derived fluids, produce only a minimal influence on the Si isotope composition of the overlying mantle wedge and its derived magmas. Thus, the Si isotope compositions of rocks, even if highly affected by metasomatizing fluids, can be used as significant fingerprints that refer to their unaltered precursors. • Whiteschist and leucophyllite are formed by serpentinite-derived fluid metasomatism. • The δ30Si values of most whiteschists and leucophyllites are same to country rocks. • Serpentinite-derived fluids did not affect Si isotopes of metagranites and mantle. • Pyrope has much lower δ30Si values than quartz and phengite. • The samples with high pyrope contents have lighter Si isotopes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Previous research on the voting behavior of lesbian, gay, and bisexual (LGB) in Europe showed that LGB people favor left-wing or progressive parties (Turnbull-Dugarte 2020; Hunklinger 2021; Wurthmann 2023). Furthermore, Turnbull-Dugarte (2021) showed that LGB voters are, possibly due to their socialization, supportive of social liberalism and progressive issues. As we know from classic voting theory, there are different explanations for voting behavior, e.g. issue orientation, candidate and party preferences. This paper explores why LGB persons vote for left-wing parties in Austria. We use a sample among LGB persons conducted upfront the 2019 national elections in Austria. We test to what extent issue and candidate orientations (including LGB issues) as well as group identity affect LGB persons' intended voting behavior for left-wing parties in Austria. Our results show that instead of group-specific issue orientations, a general issue orientation, and socio-cultural attitudes are crucial for LGB persons to vote for left-wing parties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Energy Communities (ECs) have been introduced as a solution to address energy system development from a multidisciplinary perspective, with energy-related, environmental, and social targets as main pillars. While some countries still struggle with implementing basic rules for ECs, others, such as Austria, already go one step further and address the topic of allowing to participate in multiple ECs at the same time. The scientific literature to date lacks of studies that investigate whether it is profitable for a new participant to join multiple ECs instead of joining only one, and, which effect this would have on the existing ECs. Thus, this paper introduces a mathematical framework to optimally allocate a new participant within an existing set of ECs. The proposed economic-based decision making problem is formulated as a Mixed Integer Linear Programming (MILP) problem. While the model determines the economically optimal solution for a new participant, it is ensured that the initial situation of the existing ECs does not worsen. Results are provided for a set of ECs with different availability of resources and located in different settlement patterns, applying current Austrian legislation. Result shows that having multiple possibilities to share energy surplus and to satisfy energy demand can result in additional revenues of 6%, making multiple participation a valuable option to be considered by policy makers. • Mathematical framework for the allocation of a new participant in multiple ECs. • Ensuring to not worsen past ECs' energy exchanges with the supplier. • Introduction of participation shares for energy purchased and sold from/to each EC. • Economic benefits for a new participant considered as both a consumer and a prosumer. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]