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Objectives This open comparative study aimed to analyze the effects of a one-week vacation with various activity programs on well-being, heart rate variability (HRV) and sleep quality in healthy vacationers. Methods Fifty-two healthy untrained vacationers spent a one-week vacation with regular exercise in East Tyrol. Exercise was performed on six of seven days. The study participants were divided into a) Group 1, playing golf (G), and b) Group 2 performing Nordic walking or e-biking (NW&EB). Well-being was measured with the WHO-5 well-being-index; stress and recovery status was obtained with the EBF-24-questionnaire (recovery-stress questionnaire). HRV parameters in the time and frequency domain (SDNN, pNN50, r-MSSD, log LF/HF and total power) were measured with a 24-h-ECG (electrocardiogram). Sleep quality was derived from the EBF-24 questionnaire and sleep architecture from HRV-analysis. Examinations were performed one day before and after the vacation. Results Well-being significantly improved in the G group (+ 40%, p p = 0.019). The stress and recovery profile also improved significantly in both groups (stress-decrease: -43.7% G group; -44.7% NW&EB group; recovery-increase: + 23.6% G group; + 21.5% NW&EB group). Except for the SDNN (standard deviation of the NN interval), no significant change was noted in HRV-parameters. SDNN improved significantly only in the NW&EB group (+ 9%, p p = 0.029; + 19% NW&EB group, p = 0.007) and architecture (-10% G group, p = 0.034; -23% NW&EB group, p = 0.012) significantly improved in both groups. Conclusion A short-term vacation with regular exercise was well tolerated by the study participants and improved well-being, sleep quality, HRV and autonomic regulation. Trial registration Registry and the registration no. of the study/trial: Approval was received from the ethics committee of the Leopold Franzens University of Innsbruck (AN2013-0059 332/4.8).

Der Zustand des unbewehrten Schwarza-Witznau-Stollens der Schluchseewerk AG aus den Jahren 1929 bis 1943 wurde im Rahmen eines Pilotprojekts mit zerstörungsfreien Erkundungsverfahren wie Orthofotos und Stollenradar in interdisziplinärer Zusammenarbeit von Bauingenieuren, Geophysikern und Vermessungsingenieuren erfasst, dokumentiert und bewertet. Als Basis für die Entwicklung und Planung eines Sanierungskonzepts erfolgte die Kontrolle der ausgeführten Probeinjektionen mit Stollenradar in einem ausgewählten Abschnitt. Durch identische Vorher-Nachher-Messungen konnten signifikante Veränderungen in den Datensätzen des Stollenradars, abgestuft über verschiedene Bauteiltiefen, analysiert und bewertet werden. Es ist naheliegend, dass diese auf die Injektion zurückzuführen sind. Das betrifft zum einen Injektionen innerhalb der Betonschale und den Grenzbereich Beton ? Fels und zum anderen Veränderungen der anstehenden Wasserfront in der Stollenlängsrichtung und Stollenwandtiefe. Mittels gezielter kalibrierender Bohrungen wurden die physikalischen Messwerte des Stollenradars verifiziert. Diese Metadaten wurden zur Verfügung gestellt von der Literaturdatenbank RSWB®plus

The necessity of increasingly addressing aspects of pelvic floor protection, i.e., prevention of the most frequent female pelvic floor disorders, such as urinary incontinence, faecal incontinence and pelvic organ prolapse, is the result of the steadily improving understanding of the association of pregnancy and delivery with the prevalence of these disorders. About a quarter of all women experience one or more such symptoms during their life. Apart from age and weight, pregnancies and births play an important part. While initial discussion of pelvic floor protection often focused very rapidly on the mode of delivery and elective caesarean section as a possible protective intervention, it has become apparent in the last few decades how varied and wide-ranging the options are that can be used to protect against pelvic floor disorders. The mode of delivery as such is “only” one element among numerous other considerations and has diminished markedly in importance. Interprofessionality and interdisciplinarity undoubtedly represent an important development as resulting recommendations must always be incorporated in an overall context that considers mother and child at the same time. Considering the pelvic floor only certainly does not make sense. This review article will analyze in greater detail important pre-, intra- and postpartum aspects that in their entirety can provide insight into the various aspects of pelvic floor protection. The authors regard the following article as an additional basis for discussion on achieving a sustained reduction in the incidence and prevalence of female pelvic floor disorders.

Der Beckenboden bestimmt in seiner komplexen Funktionalitat als zentraler Aspekt Schwangerschaft und Geburt und steht gleichzeitig bei Erkrankungen im Fokus der Urogynakologie. Somit ist es erforderlich, dass die beiden Subdisziplinen Geburtshilfe und Urogynakologie die Distanz zueinander verlieren, um vom jeweiligen Anderen lernen zu konnen. Auf diese Art und Weise kann die Qualitat der Versorgung unserer Patientinnen nachhaltig verbessert werden.

Summary Intracellular bacteria of the genus Caedibacter limit the reproduction of their host, the freshwater ciliate Paramecium. Reproduction rates of infected strains of paramecia were significantly lower than those of genetically identical strains that had lost their parasites after treatment with an antibiotic. Interference competition occurs when infected paramecia release a toxic form of the parasitic bacterium that kills uninfected paramecia. In mixed cultures of infected and uninfected strains of either P. tetraurelia or of P. novaurelia, the infected strains outcompeted the uninfected strains. Infection of new host paramecia seems to be rare. Infection of new hosts was not observed in either mixtures of infected with uninfected strains, or after incubation of paramecia with isolated parasites. The competitive advantages of the host paramecia, in combination with their vegetative reproduction, makes infection of new hosts by the bacterial parasites unnecessary, and could be responsible for the continued existence of “killer paramecia” in nature. Caedibacter parasites are not a defensive adaptation. Feeding rates and reproduction of the predators Didinium nasutum (Ciliophora) and Amoeba proteus (Amoebozoa, Gymnamoebia) were not influenced by whether or not their paramecia prey were infected. Infection of the predators frequently occurred when they preyed on infected paramecia. Caedibacter-infected predators may influence competition between Paramecium strains by release of toxic parasites into the environment that are harmful to uninfected strains.

Secant pile walls are used as permanent or temporary elements in foundations, excavations, slope stabilization, retaining walls or hydraulic barriers. In contrast to single piles, reliable non-destructive testing methods are not available so far. The reinforced secondary piles can be checked by standard crosshole sonic logging, but there is no access to the unreinforced primary piles. Experiments at construction sites using ray paths across several piles have shown encouraging results, but there have been several open questions. To evaluate the potential of cross-pile sonic logging, a real scale test model with built in flaws on two primary piles was constructed at the BAM test site. Measurements with two different instruments have been performed. In one primary pile relevant flaws could be detected. At the other one the signals showed anomalous damping, probably due to unintended delamination. The results can be used to interpret real site data.