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Purpose Anxiety in the perioperative period is not only an unpleasant emotional state, but can also negatively affect the outcomes and quality of life of surgical patients. The present study investigated anxiety in patients with gastrointestinal cancer scheduled for primary surgery. Methods A total of 101 patients in four non-university surgical departments were included. Anxiety (GAD-7), depression (PHQ-9), distress (Distress thermometer), and illness perception (Brief IPQ) were assessed at four time points: first outpatient contact before surgery (t1), preoperative inpatient contact (t2), postoperative inpatient contact before hospital discharge (t3), and postoperative outpatient follow-up contact after 30 days (t4). Results 56% of patients had an episode of mild or moderate anxiety and 5% had an episode of severe anxiety and/or depression. Subjectively perceived anxiety and depression were highest at t1, followed by t3. 30% of patients had elevated anxiety and depression scores at t1. Regression analyses showed that high subjectively perceived mental distress at t1 was associated with higher anxiety scores at t3 and t4. Women, and younger women in particular, were significantly more likely to experience stress than men. Higher levels of subjectively perceived stress at t1 were associated with higher levels of anxiety at t3 and t4. Sociodemographic factors were not relevant predictors of anxiety. Conclusion Anxiety and depression appear to be a persistent problem during the perioperative course in patients with gastrointestinal tumors. Identifying patients at risk for clinically relevant anxiety and depression remains a particular challenge. The results confirm the relevance of repeated screening for mental distress.

Drucker: Sie können heutzutage vielseitig eingesetzt werden, etwa für den Druck von Etiketten über Flyer bis zum Poster – wie diese Geräte beweisen. Von Thomas Jungbluth

Drucker: Auf das Besondere kommt es an, egal ob im Heimbüro oder im kleinen Unternehmen – die Drucker und Multifunktionsgeräte in dieser Übersicht bieten für jeden Anwendungszweck das gewisse Extra. Von Thomas Jungbluth

The concept of pressurized two-stage anaerobic digestion integrates biogas production, purification and pressure boosting within one process. The produced methane-rich biogas can be fed into gas grids with considerably less purification effort. To investigate biogas production under high pressures up to 50 bar, a lab scale two-stage anaerobic digestion system was constructed including one continuously operated pressurized methane reactor. This investigation examined the effects of different operating pressures in methane reactor (10, 25, 50 bar) on biogas quantity and quality, pH value and process stability. By increasing operating pressures in methane reactor, the pH value decreased from 6.65 at 10 bar to 6.55 at 50 bar. Simultaneously, methane content increased from 79.08% at 10 bar to 90.45% at 50 bar. The results show that methane reactors can be operated up to 50 bar pressure continuously representing a viable alternative to commonly used gas upgrading methods because of reduced purification effort.

Drucker: Multifunktionsgeräte und Drucker für das heimische Büro enthalten immer öfter große Tintentanks. Hohe Reichweite ist das Credo. Wer will auch schon ständig daran denken müssen, neue Tinte zu kaufen! Von Thomas Jungbluth

Haus und Hof: Informationstechnik soll uns alltäglich ein Stückchen weiterhelfen. Beispiele dafür finden Sie in unserer Produktübersicht. Von Thomas Jungbluth

The studies were conducted on groups of fattening pigs aged 3 to 5.5 months, which were kept in four sectors with different air cooling systems. For observation we used the animals assessment technique presented in a Welfare assessment protocol for pigs. It is revealed that the indoor air cooling method at temperatures in the control sector ranged from 19 to 26.6oC does not have a decisive influence on the suite of welfare parameters of fattening pigs (Fatting young pigs. in spring and summer periods closing parenthesis. Cooling method based on air inflow through underground tunnels provides a good level of ventilation, reduces the concentration of harmful gases, and ensures lower humidity as compared to control. At that, it reduces the incidence of cannibalism in pigs (P

This study investigates methane production kinetics from individual volatile fatty acids (VFA) in an Upflow Anaerobic Filter (AF). 1gCOD in the form of acetic (HAc), propionic (HPr) or butyric acid (HBu) was injected into the AF while operating at an organic loading rate (OLRCOD) of 3.5gL(-1)d(-1). A new method is introduced to separate gas production of the baseload from the product formation of VFA degradation after the injection. The lag phase, fractional rate of gas production and half-life has been determined for the methane production of the three VFAs. The half-lives were in the order HAc

Drucken: Moderne Drucker gibt es für die unterschiedlichsten Einsatzgebiete. Bestimmte Fähigkeiten, wie die Netzwerkfähigkeit oder die Ansprechmöglichkeit auch via Smartphone oder Tablet, sind inzwischen bei fast allen Geräten Standard. Von Thomas Jungbluth

Background Historical data indicate that surgical resection may benefit select patients with metastatic gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancer. However, randomized clinical trials are lacking. The current RENAISSANCE trial addresses the potential benefits of surgical intervention in gastric and gastroesophageal junction cancer with limited metastases. Methods This is a prospective, multicenter, randomized, investigator-initiated phase III trial. Previously untreated patients with limited metastatic stage (retroperitoneal lymph node metastases only or a maximum of one incurable organ site that is potentially resectable or locally controllable with or without retroperitoneal lymph nodes) receive 4 cycles of FLOT chemotherapy alone or with trastuzumab if Her2+. Patients without disease progression after 4 cycles are randomized 1:1 to receive additional chemotherapy cycles or surgical resection of primary and metastases followed by subsequent chemotherapy. 271 patients are to be allocated to the trial, of which at least 176 patients will proceed to randomization. The primary endpoint is overall survival; main secondary endpoints are quality of life assessed by EORTC-QLQ-C30 questionnaire, progression free survival and surgical morbidity and mortality. Recruitment has already started; currently (Feb 2017) 22 patients have been enrolled. Discussion If the RENAISSANCE concept proves to be effective, this could potentially lead to a new standard of therapy. On the contrary, if the outcome is negative, patients with gastric or GEJ cancer and metastases will no longer be considered candidates for surgical intervention. Trial registration The article reports of a health care intervention on human participants and is registered on October 12, 2015 under ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT02578368 ; EudraCT: 2014–002665-30.

The discussion about alternatives for tobacco cultivation is a very conflicting issue as it strikes into the heart of the tobacco industry which is the tobacco leaf. The aim of the paper is to contribute to this discussion and support the policy makers. To this end, the paper provides an evidence based approach for modeling the phasing-out of tobacco which describes the possible effects on farm income, labor demand and environmental impacts. In the context of the EU Research Project DIVTOB a model was developed to study the impacts of tobacco phasing-out on a specific region approach. The methodological approach can support the policy makers to overcome constraints related with the future implementation of alternative livelihoods to tobacco cultivation on the basis of evidence. In the broader context of tobacco control, the paper presents a method for an effective implementation of articles 17 and 18 of the WHO Framework Convention of Tobacco Control (FCTC). The paper also shows a transparent approach to overcome in an effective way the uncertainties spread by the tobacco industry and their allies about phasing-out of tobacco especially in low-income and middle-income countries. The application of the proposed model to four case studies in Greece and Spain achieves, under different scenarios, important results useful for policy makers and policy implications.

Dynamic test bench.UHF transponders comparison.UHF cattle/pig ear tag development. The electronic identification of sheep and goats has been obligatory in the European Union since 2010 by means of low-frequency radio-frequency identification systems. The identification of pigs and cattle is currently based on a visual ear tag, but electronic animal identification is gaining in importance. The European Union already offers the additional use of electronic identification systems for cattle in their council regulation. Besides the low-frequency radio-frequency identification, an ultra-high-frequency ear tag is a possibility for electronic animal identification. The benefits of the latter frequency band are the high range, the possibility of quasi-simultaneous reading and a high data transmission rate. First systematic laboratory tests were carried out before testing the ear tags in practice. Therefore, a dynamic test bench was built. The aim of the experiments presented in this study was to compare different ear tags under standardised conditions and select the most suitable for practical use. The influence of different parameters was tested and a standard test procedure to evaluate the quality of the transponder ear tag was developed.The experiments showed that neither the transponder holder material (polyvinyl chloride vs. extruded polystyrene) nor the reader settings examined (triggered read vs. presence sensing) had a significant influence on the average of readings of the different transponder types. The parameter 'number of rounds' (10 vs. 15 vs. 20) did not show a significant effect either. However, significant differences between speed (1.5ms-1,3.0ms-1), transponder orientation and the fourteen transponder types were found. The two most suitable transponder ear tags for cattle and pigs have been determined by comparison.

Basiswissen für das Grundstudium in den Agrarwissenschaften Der Inhalt des Buches umfasst den Lehrstoff für das Grundstudium in den Agrarwissenschaften. Es vermittelt das Basiswissen für diejenigen, die in ihren später gewählten Vertiefungs- oder Fachrichtungen keine weiteren Lehrveranstaltungen zum Thema Verfahrenstechnik in der Nutztierhaltung wählen. Sie sollen in die Lage versetzt werden, bekannte oder neue Produktionsverfahren in groben Zügen zu beschreiben und zu bewerten. Es werden die Haltungsverfahren für Rinder und Schweine mit den dazugehörigen Futterkonservierungsverfahren und der Entmistung behandelt. Einen besonderen Schwerpunkt setzt das Buch auch in den Bereichen Stallklima und Emissionen sowie Standort und Genehmigung. Die zunehmende Verwendung von Elektronik in der Landwirtschaft - Precision Livestock Farming - wird aufgegriffen. Die Grundlagen der Arbeitswissenschaften werden an Beispielen aus der Nutztierhaltung erläutert.

Adequate lying times and feed consumption are essential for the welfare and performance of dairy cows. The time budget of cows housed in barns with an automatic milking system (AMS) might be constrained in several ways. Cows with a high milking frequency might also have to visit the AMS at night, possibly interfering with their night-time lying behavior. Moreover, competition for access to the AMS might cause some cows to spend more time waiting in front of the milking unit, resulting in a lower milking frequency. In the present study, the individual total duration of stay and time spent per visit in the feeding, lying and waiting area, as well as lying behavior, was therefore investigated in the daytime and throughout the night in relation to milking frequency. A total of 138 focal cows (day of lactation: 1–200) housed on 4 Swiss working farms with an AMS were automatically tracked for 48 h. Individual lying times were recorded over 7 days with data loggers. The daily milking frequency was calculated from the AMS records and included as a continuous explanatory variable in linear mixed-effects models. Time spent in the waiting area at night increased with increasing milking frequency. In addition, cows with a relatively high milking frequency had shorter daytime lying bouts, and spent less time in the lying area per visit during the daytime as well as at night. The same individuals also visited the feeding area for shorter times during the day, and on average remained longer per visit in the waiting area at night. The daily time budget of cows with a relatively low milking frequency was not adversely affected. Cows with a relatively high milking frequency may face some trade-offs in their time-budget allocation, since the increased time spent by them in the waiting area at night as well as their shorter lying bouts might affect their welfare, health and performance. Nevertheless, the overall daily time budget for lying and feeding, and hence the welfare of cows with both a relatively high or low milking frequency, suffered no obvious adverse effects.

Re-anastomosis after a Hartmann procedure is associated with a higher morbidity and mortality than other elective colorectal operations. The goal of this comparative study was to evaluate whether laparoscopic reversal is a justified operative approach, although the initial operation is most often an emergency laparotomy. A retrospective analysis was conducted on data collected on all 70 patients who underwent laparoscopic and open reversal of a Hartmann procedure at the Department of Surgery, University of Schleswig–Holstein, Campus Lubeck, between January 1999 and December 2011. Together with general demographic data, the analysis included the indication for the initial Hartmann procedure, time to reversal, intraoperative findings, the choice of operative method, operating time, postoperative pain control, return of normal bowel function, length of hospital stay, and peri- and postoperative morbidity and mortality. In most patients, the Hartmann procedure was performed after a perforated sigmoid diverticulitis. We were not able to find any statistically significant differences with respect to gender, body mass index (BMI) and American Society of Anesthesiologists classification between the laparoscopic group (LG) (N = 24 patients) and the open group (OG) (N = 46). In the LG, patients were significantly younger (p = 0.019). The median operating time was 210 min (75–245) in the LG, which was significantly longer than in the OG (166 min; 66–230). The statistical analysis of the duration of postoperative analgesic therapy (LG 7 days [6–10]; OG 12 days [6–30] ), return to normal diet (LG 3 days [2–6]; OG 4 days [2–10] ), return of normal bowel function (LG 3 days [2–4]; OG 4 days [2–9] ) and length of hospital stay (LOS) (LG 10 days [8–13]; OG 15 days [8–163]) detected significant differences in advantage for the LG. Unplanned return to theatre during index admission was only necessary in the OG (N = 7, 15.2 %). With a median follow-up of 8 months (range 1–20), we observed a comparable number of minor complications in both groups but a significantly higher number of major complications in the OG (N = 27, 58.7 %) (p = 0.001). Conversion occurred in three cases (12.5 %). There was no mortality in either of the two groups. This study was able to demonstrate the feasibility of the laparoscopic approach. In terms of postoperative results it should be seen as equivalent to the open procedure. However, the laparoscopic approach requires profound surgical expertise. The indication should be made after a careful risk/benefit analysis for each individual patient.

Biochemical methane potential assays, usually run in batch mode, are performed by numerous laboratories to characterize the anaerobic degradability of biogas substrates such as energy crops, agricultural residues, and organic wastes. Unfortunately, the data obtained from these assays lacks common, universal bases for comparison, because standard protocols did not diffuse to the entire scientific community. Results are usually provided as final values of the methane yields of substrates. However, methane production curves generated in these assays also provide useful information about substrate degradation kinetics, which is rarely exploited. A basic understanding of the kinetics of the biogas process may be a first step towards a convergence of the assay methodologies on an international level. Following this assumption, a modeling toolbox containing an exponential model adjusted with a simple data-fitting method has been developed. This model should allow (a) quality control of the assays according to the goodness of fit of the model onto data series generated from the digestion of standard substrates, (b) interpretation of substrate degradation kinetics, and (c) estimate of the ultimate methane yield at infinite time. The exponential model is based on two assumptions: (a) the biogas process is a two-step reaction yielding VFA as intermediate products, and methane as the final product, and (b) the digestible substrate can be divided into a rapidly degradable and a slowly degradable fraction.

The uptake of essential trace elements by methanogenic bacteria can be obstructed by precipitation in the presence of sulfides and carbonates. The objective of this study was to investigate whether the bioavailability of trace elements, and therefore the methane yield, can be improved through the use of complexing agents. Research showed that the use of EDTA as a complexing agent in the biogas process increases the solubility of essential metals and enhances their bioavailability. If the substrate of a biogas digester has a low content of trace elements, solutions of elements essential for the methanogenic bacteria have to be added to the process. If these metals are complexed with EDTA prior to their supply, the necessary amount can be reduced by up to 75% compared to the non-complexed metals. Therefore, it would be advantageous for environmental and economic reasons to complex trace elements prior to their addition to the biogas process.