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This paper describes the instability of river channel systems in alpine rockslide deposits using the Fernpass Rockslide and the river Loisach in the Tyrolian Außerfern District (Austria) as an example of paleoenvironmental developments. This is the first investigation of this kind of the Fernpass, one of the most important Alpine north–south transport connections since the bronze age. It uses geomorphological, sedimentological, onomastic and hydrogeological investigations to reconstruct the course of a late Holocene river in this area and a probabilistic simulation for dating. Tracer tests assisted in investigating the potential groundwater connections of the river systems. The findings show that the Palaeoloisach runs on the orographically right side in a marginal valley of the Fernpass furrow and changes to the orographically left side of the furrow within the Rauth suburb in the village of Biberwier. A probabilistic simulation of the Narrenbichl slip event, which changed the course of the Palaeoloisach, dates the event to an age of 664 ± 116 BC. This investigation is an important contribution to understanding Quaternary postrockslide developments, how groundwater contributes to forming postrockslide channel systems and archaeological findings occurring in populated areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Implantable collamer lens implantation (ICL) represents a safe and effective treatment for myopia and myopic astigmatism. To compare the outcomes of a bilateral one-stage same day approach to a two-stage approach, the databases of the University Eye Hospital Munich, Ludwig Maximilians-University and Smile Eyes Linz, Austria were screened for eyes that had undergone ICL implantation. Two-stage surgery was performed at an interval of 1 day (17 patients), 2 days (19 patients) and 1 week (2 patients). Variables analyzed were preoperative, 1-day and last follow-up uncorrected distance (UDVA) and corrected distance visual acuity (CDVA), manifest refraction, refractive spherical equivalent (SEQ), astigmatism, age, endothelial cell count (ECD), intraocular pressure (IOP) and ICL vaulting. In total, 178 eyes (100 eyes one-stage, 78 eyes two-stage) of 89 patients were included in this study. Mean follow-up was 1.1 ± 0.8 and 1.3 ± 0.5 years. Mean preoperative SEQ was − 7.9 ± 2.6 diopters (D) in the one-stage and − 8.0 ± 1.7 D in the two-stage group (p = 0.63) and improved to 0.00 ± 0.40 and − 0.20 ± 0.40 D at end of follow-up, showing slightly better stability in the one-stage group (p = 0.004). There was no difference in the efficacy (1.1 vs. 1.2, p = 0.06) and the safety index (1.2 vs. 1.2, p = 0.60) between the two groups. No eye (0%) in either group lost 2 lines or more of UDVA (p > 0.99). Refraction within ± 0.50 D and ± 1.00 D around target was achieved comparably often (89 vs. 86%, p = 0.65; 99 vs. 99%, p > 0.99). Endothelial cell loss was slightly higher in the two-stage group (1.3 vs. 4.3%). Vaulting at the final follow up was higher in the one-stage group (373.8 ± 205.4 µm vs. 260.3 ± 153.5 µm, p = 0.00007). There were no serious intraoperative complications in either group. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that both the one- and two-stage approaches are equally effective, predictable and safe. Regarding endothelial cell loss, vaulting and SEQ stability, the one-stage group showed slightly better outcomes, but these results are clinically questionable because they are so small. Larger studies are needed to quantitatively evaluate a potential benefit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Global monthly mean temperature continuously broke records in the year 2023 since June till October. This also happened widespread at September and October in Austria, but monthly temperature records on a local scale, such as in the mid latitudes like Austria, show less persistence than global or continental averages. This makes the autumn temperature extremes in Vienna (Austria) even more striking. Considering the compound occurrence of such an event at actual climate results in a return period of 324 years, which makes it extraordinary itself. Considering climate change, the compound event of two consecutive extreme high temperature records in autumn 2023 yields return periods of about 10,000 years until the second half of the twentieth century, which partly exceeds the length of the Holocene. Focusing on moderate compound extremes of the last 10 years (2014–2023), these reach return periods of 100 years up to 1960, but are now likely to happen every 15 years. Compound extremes in summer (July and August) present a higher decrease of the return period in Vienna over the last 250 years, possible leading to even more severe impacts on ecosystems and society. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether (preoperative) plasma levels of fibrinogen, an essential clotting and acute phase protein, are associated with the prognosis of patients with a liposarcoma, a subtype of sarcoma derived from adipose tissue. We performed a retrospective cohort study of 158 patients with liposarcoma treated at the Department of Orthopaedics of the Medical University of Vienna in Austria from May 1994 to October 2021. Kaplan–Meier curves as well as uni- and multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were performed to evaluate the association between fibrinogen levels and overall survival. Elevated fibrinogen was associated with adverse overall survival in cause specific hazards analysis of mortality (hazard ratio [HR] per 10 mg/dL increase: 1.04; 95% CI 1.02–1.06; p < 0.001). This association prevailed in multivariable analysis after adjustment for AJCC tumor stage (HR 1.03; 95% CI 1.01–1.05; p = 0.013). Increasing levels of fibrinogen, a routinely available and inexpensive parameter, predicts the risk of mortality in patients with liposarcoma. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of our study was to assess whether a well-established federal state-wide Stroke Care Pathway delivering high quality stroke care can cope with the COVID-19 pandemic and associated measures to contain the virus spread. The retrospective analysis is based on a prospective, quality-controlled, population-based registry of all stroke patients in the Tyrol, a federal state of Austria and one of the early hot-spots of COVID-19 in Europe. Patient characteristics, pre-hospital management, intra-hospital management and post-hospital were analysed. All residents of the Tyrol suffering ischemic stroke in 2020 (n = 1160) and four pre-COVID-19 years (n = 4321) were evaluated. In 2020, the annual number of stroke patients was the highest in this population-based registry. When local hospitals were overwhelmed with SARS-CoV-2-patients, stroke subjects were temporarily allocated to the comprehensive stroke centre. Stroke severity, quality metrics of stroke management, serious complications, and post-stroke mortality did not differ between 2020 and the four comparator years. Notably, iv. thrombolysis-rate was similar (19.9% versus 17.4%, P = 0.25) and endovascular stroke treatment even better (5.9% versus 3.9%, P = 0.003) but resources for in-patient rehabilitation were limited (25.8% versus 29.8%, P = 0.009). Concluding, a well-established Stroke Care Pathway was able to maintain high-quality acute stroke care even when challenged by a global pandemic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The number of vegans is increasing and was estimated at 2.0% of the Austrian population. Austrian vegans were found to have lower intakes and levels of vitamin B12 compared to vegetarians and omnivores. Vegans are advised to consume reliable sources of vitamin B12, e.g., in the form of dietary supplements or fortified foods. This study aimed to investigate health and supplementation behavior, with special emphasis on the supplementation of vitamin B12, and to demographically characterize the community of Austrian adult vegans. A nonrandom, voluntary sample of adult vegans with a principal residence in Austria was recruited with an online cross-sectional survey via social media and messenger platforms. Associations between respondent characteristics (gender, education, nutritional advice by a dietitian or nutritionist) and health/supplementation behaviors were examined by cross-tabulation. The questionnaire was completed by 1565 vegans (completion rate 88%), of whom 86% were female, the median age was 29 years, 6% were obese, and 49% had completed an academic education. Ninety-two percent consumed vitamin B12 through supplements and/or fortified foods, and 76% had their vitamin B12 status checked. The prevalence of vitamin B12 intake through supplements and/or fortified foods was slightly (not statistically significant) higher among women vs. men (93% vs. 89%), those who were academically educated vs. those who were not (93% vs. 91%), and those who had taken nutritional advice vs. those who had not (97% vs. 92%). Professional nutritional advice had been taken by only 9.5% of female and 8.4% of male respondents. Those who had taken advice reported a lower smoking prevalence (p = 0.05, φ = 0.05), higher prevalence of checking vitamin B12 status (p < 0.01, φ = 0.10), vit B12 intake through supplements and/or fortified foods (p = 0.03, φ = 0.05), and taking supplements of omega-3 (p < 0.01, φ = 0.14), selenium (p = 0.02, φ = 0.06), and iodine (p = 0.02, φ = 0.06). Austrian vegans can be characterized as predominantly young, female, urban, highly educated, and nonobese. The rate of vitamin B12 intake through supplements and/or fortified foods is fairly high (92%), but should be further improved e.g., by increasing the share of vegans who follow professional nutritional advice (requiring a diploma in dietetics, nutritional science, or medicine in Austria). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Seismic hazard maps are crucial for earthquake mitigation and mostly rely on probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA). However, the practise and value of PSHA are under debate because objective testing procedures for seismic hazard maps are scarce. We present a lacustrine turbidite record revealing 44 earthquakes over the last ~ 14 ka and use it to test seismic hazard curves in southern Austria. We derive local seismic intensities for paleo-earthquakes by applying scaling relationships between the sedimentary imprint and seismic intensity of well-documented historical earthquakes. The last ~ 2.8 ka of the record agree with a Poissonian recurrence behaviour and therefore a constant hazard rate, which is the modelling choice for standard PSHA. The lacustrine data are consistent with the intensity-frequency relationship of the local seismic hazard curve, confirming the current PSHA approach for this part of Austria. On longer timescales, distinct phases of enhanced regional seismicity occurred, indicating a potential increase of seismic hazard after large earthquakes—a factor hitherto disregarded in the PSHA of the Eastern Alps. Our new method forms an independent procedure to test hazard maps in any setting where suitable lake systems are available. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Covid-19 is the first digitally documented pandemic in history, presenting a unique opportunity to learn how to best deal with similar crises in the future. In this study we have carried out a model-based evaluation of the effectiveness of social distancing, using Austria and Slovenia as examples. Whereas the majority of comparable studies have postulated a negative relationship between the stringency of social distancing (reduction in social contacts) and the scale of the epidemic, our model has suggested a varying relationship, with turning points at which the system changes its predominant regime from 'less social distancing—more cumulative deaths and infections' to 'less social distancing—fewer cumulative deaths and infections'. This relationship was found to persist in scenarios with distinct seasonal variation in transmission and limited national intensive care capabilities. In such situations, relaxing social distancing during low transmission seasons (spring and summer) was found to relieve pressure from high transmission seasons (fall and winter) thus reducing the total number of infections and fatalities. Strategies that take into account this relationship could be particularly beneficial in situations where long-term containment is not feasible. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Austrian government imposed multiple major lockdowns during the COVID-19 pandemic, but the relevant measures and their perceptions varied over time. The aim of this study was to compare the over-time impacts of the three COVID-19 lockdowns between March 2020 and December 2021 for (capability) wellbeing and mental health in Austria. Adult Austrian residents (n = 87) completed an online survey about their experiences during three COVID-19 lockdowns, including capabilities (OxCAP-MH), depression and anxiety (HADS), and general wellbeing (WHO-5). Differences across the baseline and follow-up scores of these instruments were summarised by demographic/socioeconomic characteristics. Longitudinal comparisons of the impacts of the lockdowns were conducted using random effect models on panel data for overall instrument scores and individual capability items. The levels of (capability) wellbeing and mental health decreased for most respondents across the three lockdowns: average 2.4% reduction in OxCAP-MH scores, 18.8% and 9% increases in HADS depression and anxiety subscale scores respectively, and 19.7% reduction in WHO-5 score between the first and third lockdowns. Mental health treatment prior to the pandemic, social support and satisfaction with government measures were the most influential characteristics that determine the association with impacts of the chain of lockdowns. Our study is the first to assess the differential capability limiting aspects of lockdowns over time alongside their impacts on mental health and general wellbeing and calls for special attention for mental health patients, isolation and satisfaction with government measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We study the impact on the epidemiological dynamics of a class of restrictive measures that are aimed at reducing the number of contacts of individuals who have a higher risk of being infected with a transmittable disease. Such measures are currently either implemented or at least discussed in numerous countries worldwide to ward off a potential new wave of COVID-19. They come in the form of Health Passes (HP), which grant full access to public life only to individuals with a certificate that proves that they have either been fully vaccinated, have recovered from a previous infection or have recently tested negative to SARS-Cov-2. We develop both a compartmental model as well as an epidemic Renormalisation Group approach, which is capable of describing the dynamics over a longer period of time, notably an entire epidemiological wave. Introducing different versions of HPs in this model, we are capable of providing quantitative estimates on the effectiveness of the underlying measures as a function of the fraction of the population that is vaccinated and the vaccination rate. We apply our models to the latest COVID-19 wave in several European countries, notably Germany and Austria, which validate our theoretical findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an auto-immune disease in which the body's immune system attacks the central nervous system. The demyelination of the nerve fibers can lead to physical, emotional, and cognitive impairments. We wanted to learn about challenges of living with the illness and how people deal with stress. 128 individuals with MS from Austria and the US participated in the qualitative interviews. We interviewed participants and coded their answers using inductive grounded theory. We asked three open-ended questions to inquire about life since being diagnosed with MS as well as about dealing with stress. Life shifts since diagnosis involved 'experiencing limitations' and could be categorized in 'emotional changes', 'changes with work', 'changes in social interaction', 'physical changes', 'changes in the medical context'. For dealing with stress active (strategies and activities) and passive coping strategies (avoid/ignore) were employed. General stress reactions were expressed in areas of emotional, physical and /or lifestyle. We recommend developing interventions in three core areas for the MS population: (1) dealing with life changes and significant experiences with MS, (2) focusing on the areas where life shifts took place, (3) focusing on active coping with stress and discussing consequences of passive coping strategies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Staphylococcus aureus can be a harmless coloniser, but it can also cause severe infections in humans, livestock and wildlife. Regarding the latter, only few studies have been performed and knowledge on virulence factors is insufficient. The aim of the present study was to study S. aureus isolates from deceased wild beavers (Castor fiber). Seventeen isolates from eleven beavers, found in Germany and Austria, were investigated. Antimicrobial and biocide susceptibility tests were performed. Isolates were characterised using S. aureus-specific DNA microarrays, spa typing and whole-genome sequencing. From two isolates, prophages were induced by mitomycin C and studied by transmission electron microscopy. Four isolates belonged to clonal complex (CC) 8, CC12, and CC398. Twelve isolates belonged to CC1956 and one isolate was CC49. The CC49 and CC1956 isolates carried distinct lukF/S genes related to the Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) from human isolates of S. aureus. These genes were located on related, but not identical, Siphovirus prophages. The beavers, from which those isolates originated, suffered from abscesses, purulent organ lesions and necrotising pneumonia, i.e., clinical manifestations resembling symptoms of severe PVL-associated disease in humans. It might thus be assumed that the "Beaver Leukocidin (BVL, lukF/S-BV)"-positive strains are beaver-specific pathogens, and further studies on their clinical role as well as on a possible transmissibility to other species, including humans, are warranted. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Behavioral gender differences have been found for a wide range of human activities including the way people communicate, move, provision themselves, or organize leisure activities. Using mobile phone data from 1.2 million devices in Austria (15% of the population) across the first phase of the COVID-19 crisis, we quantify gender-specific patterns of communication intensity, mobility, and circadian rhythms. We show the resilience of behavioral patterns with respect to the shock imposed by a strict nation-wide lock-down that Austria experienced in the beginning of the crisis with severe implications on public and private life. We find drastic differences in gender-specific responses during the different phases of the pandemic. After the lock-down gender differences in mobility and communication patterns increased massively, while circadian rhythms tended to synchronize. In particular, women had fewer but longer phone calls than men during the lock-down. Mobility declined massively for both genders, however, women tended to restrict their movement stronger than men. Women showed a stronger tendency to avoid shopping centers and more men frequented recreational areas. After the lock-down, males returned back to normal quicker than women; young age-cohorts return much quicker. Differences are driven by the young and adolescent population. An age stratification highlights the role of retirement on behavioral differences. We find that the length of a day of men and women is reduced by 1 h. We interpret and discuss these findings as signals for underlying social, biological and psychological gender differences when coping with crisis and taking risks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Batrachosauroididae are an enigmatic group of salamanders known from the Cretaceous and Tertiary of North America and Europe. In Europe, the family is known only by two species of the genus Palaeoproteus. The genus has limited distribution in Western and Central Europe. In the present paper, we describe a new species, Palaeoproteus miocenicus, from the early late Miocene (11-9 Ma) of Austria and Ukraine, representing the youngest record of the family Batrachosauroididae from the Neogene of Europe. The new species differs from the Paleogene representatives of the genus by 12 characters, including large body size, the long anterior extension of the Meckelian groove and the size and shape of the odontoid process on the dentary. The µCT scanning of bones of the new species revealed novel features (e.g. anterior extension of Meckelian groove, interconnected network of canals and small cavities in atlas) observable only in this species. P. miocenicus inhabited aquatic environments, which existed under wet climatic conditions with mean annual precipitation higher than 900 mm. The new species expands the temporal range of the genus by at least 30 million years and enlarges the palaeogeographic distribution of the genus into Eastern Europe.

We aimed to determine the prevalence of drug and polydrug use in people living with HIV in Austria for the first time for which a two center cross-sectional study was performed. Participants were recruited from consecutive patients during their regularly scheduled visits. In total 438 participants were included in the analysis. For this study we used paper-pencil and online-based questionnaires. The prevalence of illicit drug use was 60.5%; with cannabis use at 31.5%, nitrates at 31.5%, sildenafil/tadalafil at 24% and cocaine at 14%, being the most used substances. Use of more than one substance (polydrug) in drug users was 69.4% or 42.0% in the total study population. Younger age, male gender, and living in an urban area were associated with drug use. Moreover, drug use during clubbing and sex, HIV therapy non-adherence and younger age were associated with polydrug use. Drug users reported condomless sex in 42.4% and performing sexual acts they would not do sober in 44.1%. Results indicate a high prevalence of illicit drug use in PLWHIV in Austria. New research focusing on illicit drug use in PLWHIV should focus on the use of substances during sex and surrounding practices.