134 research outputs found
State-of-the-art in product service-systems
A Product Service-System (PSS) is an integrated combination of products and services.
This western concept embraces a service-led competitive strategy, environmental sustainability,
and the basis to differentiate from competitors who simply offer lower priced products. This
paper aims to report the state-of-the-art of PSS research by presenting a clinical review of
literature currently available on this topic. The literature is classified and the major outcomes
of each study are addressed and analysed. On this basis, this paper defines the PSS concept,
reports on its origin and features, gives examples of applications along with potential benefits
and barriers to adoption, summarises available tools and methodologies, and identifies future
research challenges
Pollen season is reflected on symptom load for grass and birch pollen-induced allergic rhinitis in different geographic areas—An EAACI Task Force Report
Background: The effectiveness of allergen immunotherapy (AIT) in seasonal allergic rhinitis (AR) depends on the definition of pollen exposure intensity or time period. We recently evaluated pollen and symptom data from Germany to examine the new definitions of the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology (EAACI) on pollen season and peak pollen period start and end. Now, we aim to confirm the feasibility of these definitions to properly mirror symptom loads for grass and birch pollen-induced allergic rhinitis in other European geographical areas such as Austria, Finland and France, and therefore their suitability for AIT and clinical practice support. Methods: Data from twenty-three pollen monitoring stations from three countries in Europe and for 3 years (2014-2016) were used to investigate the correlation between birch and grass pollen concentrations during the birch and grass pollen season defined via the EAACI criteria, and total nasal symptom and medication scores as reported with the aid of the patient's hay-fever diary (PHD). In addition, we conducted a statistical analysis, together with a graphical investigation, to reveal correlations and dependencies between the studied parameters. Results: The analysis demonstrated that the definitions of pollen season as well as peak pollen period start and end as proposed by the EAACI are correlated to pollen-induced symptom loads reported by PHD users during birch and grass pollen season. A statistically significant correlation (slightly higher for birch) has been found between the Total Nasal Symptom and Medication Score (TNSMS) and the pollen concentration levels. Moreover, the maximum symptom levels occurred mostly within the peak pollen periods (PPP) following the EAACI criteria. Conclusions: Based on our analyses, we confirm the validity of the EAACI definitions on pollen season for both birch and grass and for a variety of geographical locations for the four European countrie
An integrative environmental pollen diversity assessment and its importance for the Sustainable Development Goals
Pollen is at once intimately part of the reproductive cycle of seed plants and simultaneously highly relevant for the environment (pollinators, vector for nutrients, or organisms), people (food safety and health), and climate (cloud condensation nuclei and climate reconstruction). We provide an interdisciplinary perspective on the many and connected roles of pollen to foster a better integration of the currently disparate fields of pollen research, which would benefit from the sharing of general knowledge, technical advancements, or data processing solutions. We propose a more interdisciplinary and holistic research approach that encompasses total environmental pollen diversity (ePD) (wind and animal and occasionally water distributed pollen) at multiple levels of diversity (genotypic, phenotypic, physiological, chemical, and functional) across space and time. This interdisciplinary approach holds the potential to contribute to pressing human issues, including addressing United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, fostering social and political awareness of these tiny yet important and fascinating particles
Pollen season is reflected on symptom load for grass and birch pollen‐induced allergic rhinitis in different geographic areas ‐ an EAACI Task Force Report
Real-world data using mHealth apps in rhinitis, rhinosinusitis and their multimorbidities
Digital health is an umbrella term which encompasses eHealth and benefits from areas such as advanced computer sciences. eHealth includes mHealth apps, which offer the potential to redesign aspects of healthcare delivery. The capacity of apps to collect large amounts of longitudinal, real-time, real-world data enables the progression of biomedical knowledge. Apps for rhinitis and rhinosinusitis were searched for in the Google Play and Apple App stores, via an automatic market research tool recently developed using JavaScript. Over 1500 apps for allergic rhinitis and rhinosinusitis were identified, some dealing with multimorbidity. However, only six apps for rhinitis (AirRater, AllergyMonitor, AllerSearch, Husteblume, MASK-air and Pollen App) and one for rhinosinusitis (Galenus Health) have so far published results in the scientific literature. These apps were reviewed for their validation, discovery of novel allergy phenotypes, optimisation of identifying the pollen season, novel approaches in diagnosis and management (pharmacotherapy and allergen immunotherapy) as well as adherence to treatment. Published evidence demonstrates the potential of mobile health apps to advance in the characterisation, diagnosis and management of rhinitis and rhinosinusitis patients.Peer reviewe
Impacts of soil conditions and light availability on natural regeneration of Norway spruce Picea abies (L.) H. Karst. in low-elevation mountain forests
& Key message Natural regeneration of P. abies (L.) H. Karst. may reach high densities in lower mountain elevations. The
highest densities were found in sites with moderate light availability, with low pH, and not near the riverbank. However,
age-height classes differed in the predicted magnitude of response, but were consistent in response directions. Mosses and
understory species typical of coniferous forests were positively correlated with regeneration density.
& Context Norway spruce Picea abies (L.) H. Karst. in Central Europe is at risk under climate change scenarios, particularly in
mountain regions. Little is known about the impact of environmental factors on the natural regeneration of P. abies in lowelevation mountain forests.
& Aims We aimed to assess impacts of distance from the riverbank, soil pH, and light availability on natural P. abies regeneration.
We hypothesized that (1) natural P. abiesregeneration would depend on light availability and soil pH and (2) there are understory
plant species which may indicate the microsites suitable for natural regeneration of P. abies.
& Methods The study was conducted in the Stołowe Mountains National Park (SW Poland, 600–800 m a.s.l.). We established 160
study plots (25 m2
) for natural regeneration, light availability, soil pH, and understory vegetation assessment
- …