SIEC-ISBE: Quo vadis? Strategy suggestions for the SIEC-ISBE

In order to escape the danger of stagnation, the SIEC-ISBE needs fresh perspectives. A strategy to increase membership numbers will be introduced in this paper, based on a study instigated from the Austrian chapter. After a short introduction of the status quo of the SIEC-ISBE, the paper will focus on the USP (Unique Selling Proposition) and the benefits of SIEC-ISBE membership. Some selected recommendations (for instance lowering the threshold for attending conferences or increased targeting of students) form the completion of this thesis

Evaluation of the Handshake Turing Test for anthropomorphic Robots

Handshakes are fundamental and common greeting and parting gestures among humans. They are important in shaping first impressions as people tend to associate character traits with a person's handshake. To widen the social acceptability of robots and make a lasting first impression, a good handshaking ability is an important skill for social robots. Therefore, to test the human-likeness of a robot handshake, we propose an initial Turing-like test, primarily for the hardware interface to future AI agents. We evaluate the test on an android robot's hand to determine if it can pass for a human hand. This is an important aspect of Turing tests for motor intelligence where humans have to interact with a physical device rather than a virtual one. We also propose some modifications to the definition of a Turing test for such scenarios taking into account that a human needs to interact with a physical medium.Comment: Accepted as a Late Breaking Report in The 15th Annual ACM/IEEE International Conference on Human Robot Interaction (HRI) 202

Bottling Liquid-Like Minerals for Advanced Materials Synthesis

Materials synthesis via liquid-like mineral precursors has been studied since their discovery almost 25 years ago, because their properties offer several advantages, for example, the ability to infiltrate small pores, the production of non-equilibrium crystal morphologies or mimicking textures from biominerals, resulting in a vast range of possible applications. However, the potential of liquid-like precursors has never been fully tapped, and they have received limited attention in the materials chemistry community, largely due to the lack of efficient and scalable synthesis protocols. Herein, the “scalable controlled synthesis and utilization of liquid-like precursors for technological applications” (SCULPT) method is presented, allowing the isolation of the precursor phase on a gram scale, and its advantage in the synthesis of crystalline calcium carbonate materials and respective applications is demonstrated. The effects of different organic and inorganic additives, such as magnesium ions and concrete superplasticizers, on the stability of the precursor are investigated and allow optimizing the process for specific demands. The presented method is easily scalable and therefore allows synthesizing and utilizing the precursor on large scales. Thus, it can be employed for mineral formation during restoration and conservation applications but can also open up pathways toward calcium carbonate-based, CO2-neutral cements

Hock Lesions in Dairy Cows in Cubicle Housing Systems in Germany: Prevalence and Risk Factors

Hock lesions in dairy cows are an important indicator of animal welfare, in particular housing conditions. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of hock lesions in dairy cows kept in cubicle housing systems in three structurally different regions of Germany and to derive recommendations from risk factor analyses. Lactating and dry cows kept in cubicle housing systems were assessed for hock lesions (north: 206 farms with 20,792 cows; south: 156 farms with 8050 cows; east: 192 farms with 37,839 cows). Risk factor analyses were conducted using multi-factorial logistic regression models. The median prevalence of hock lesions (hairless patches, wounds, and/or swelling) at farm level was 79.8% (SD: 25.0; north), 66.2% (SD: 31.0; south), and 78.5% (SD: 26.3; east). The mean prevalence of severe hock lesions (wounds and/or swelling) at farm level was 12.5% (SD: 11.3; north), 8.0% (SD: 13.5; south), and 14.4% (SD: 17.9; east). Cows kept in pens with rubber mats or mattresses (with or without a small amount of litter) had a particularly higher chance of hock lesions compared with cows kept in pens with deep-bedded cubicles (OR: north: 3.1 [2.3–4.2]; south: 8.7 [5.9–13.0], east: 2.0 [1.7–2.4]). The study showed that hock lesions are a widespread problem on German dairy farms with cubicle housing systems. Deep-bedded cubicles are likely to reduce hock lesions and increase cows’ comfort

Clinical experience with medical hypnosis as an adjunctive therapy in heart surgery

Heart surgery patients are at high risk for psychological trauma and comorbid psychological disorders. Depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorders in this patient group are predictors of outcomes after cardiac surgery. Medical hypnosis is effective for non-pharmacologic prevention and treatment of psychological disorders and has been associated with improved health-related quality of life and better cardiovascular outcomes. This contribution makes note of evidence of the effectiveness of medical hypnosis in a discussion of the clinical experience with specific hypnotherapeutic tools and interventions from the perspective of the mental health team in one large cardiac center in Germany. Based on our experience, we encourage heart centers to educate their heart surgery care teams about the core concepts of medical hypnosis and to make hypnotherapeutic techniques available as an adjunctive therapy

Report and preliminary results of R/V POSEIDON cruise POS539, Varna (Bulgaria) - Varna (Bulgaria) November 6 - November 21, 2019

The R/V POSEIDON cruise POS539 took place in the northwestern basin of the Black Sea (42°30’N to 44°N and 29°E to 31°E). The overarching aim of the campaign was to obtain sediment and water samples, including suspended particle material, from the various redox zones of the Black Sea. The campaign lasted between November 6th and November 21st 2019 and the collected samples were taken in order to investigate the activity and physiology of microorganisms involved in the conversion of nitrogen compounds and degradation of organic carbon under various oxygen conditions. The main topics of the cruise were: (a) to quantify the contribution of archaeal nitrifiers to the nitrogen and carbon cycles, b) to measure the production and consumption of the powerful greenhouse gases CH4 and N2O, c) to record palaeoenvironmental changes in high resolution, and d) to describe the complexity and identity of biopolymers. For this, water and sediment samples were retrieved from 10 discrete shelf and slope stations. First, ‘deep water’ transect was conducted, which included three stations with water depths over 2000 m. The second perpendicular transect encompassed stations that gradually transitioned from the deep parts of the slope towards the shelf (ca. 80 m depth). Additionally, two stations were setup north and south of the shelf transect, respectively, for paleoceanographic studies. Throughout the cruise the weather conditions were overwhelmingly good, only towards the end of the campaign gusty winds of 7 Bft were recorded. The recorded oceanographic conditions were in agreement with the expected water properties at all stations. Station activities were completed on November 20th at 14:00 local board time. On November 21st at 10:30 local time, R/V POSEIDON reached the port of Varna, Bulgaria, thus concluding the POS539 expedition. Analyses and results from the samples and experiments will provide a basis for our understanding of the microbial control on the carbon and nitrogen cycle of the Black Sea.13032

Ultrasound-based "CEUS-Bosniak"classification for cystic renal lesions: an 8-year clinical experience

Purpose Renal cysts comprise benign and malignant entities. Risk assessment profts from CT/MRI imaging using the Bosniak classifcation. While Bosniak-IIF, -III, and -IV cover complex cyst variants, Bosniak-IIF and -III stand out due to notorious overestimation. Contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) is promising to overcome this defcit but warrants standardization. This study addresses the benefts of a combined CEUS and CT/MRI evaluation of renal cysts. The study provides a realistic account of kidney tumor boards' intricacies in trying to validate renal cysts. Methods 247 patients were examined over 8 years. CEUS lesions were graded according to CEUS-Bosniak (IIF, III, IV). 55 lesions were resected, CEUS-Bosniak- and CT/MRI-Bosniak-classifcation were correlated with histopathological diagnosis. Interobserver agreement between the classifcations was evaluated statistically. 105 lesions were followed by ultrasound, and change in CEUS-Bosniak-types and lesion size were documented. Results 146 patients (156 lesions) were included. CEUS classifed 67 lesions as CEUS-Bosniak-IIF, 44 as CEUS-BosniakIII, and 45 as CEUS-Bosniak-IV. Histopathology of 55 resected lesions revealed benign cysts in all CEUS-Bosniak-IIF lesions (2/2), 40% of CEUS-Bosniak-III and 8% of CEUS-Bosniak-IV, whereas malignancy was uncovered in 60% of CEUS-Bosniak-III and 92% of CEUS-Bosniak-IV. Overall, CEUS-Bosniak-types matched CT/MRI-Bosniak types in 58% (fair agreement, κ=0.28). CEUS-Bosniak resulted in higher stages than CT/MRI-Bosniak (40%). Ultrasound follow-up of 105 lesions detected no relevant diferences between CEUS-Bosniak-types concerning cysts size. 99% of lesions showed the same CEUS-Bosniak-type. Conclusion The CEUS-Bosniak classifcation is an essential tool in clinical practice to diferentiate and monitor renal cystic lesions and empowers diagnostic work-up and patient care

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London

Plasma homocysteine levels and associated factors in community-dwelling adolescents: the EVA-TYROL study

BackgroundHomocysteine (Hcy) has been associated with an adverse cardiovascular risk profile in adolescents. Assessment of the association between plasma Hcy levels and clinical/laboratory factors might improve our understanding of the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease.MethodsHcy was measured in 1,900 14- to 19-year-old participants of prospective population-based EVA-TYROL Study (44.3% males, mean age 16.4 years) between 2015 and 2018. Factors associated with Hcy were assessed by physical examination, standardized interviews, and fasting blood analysis.ResultsMean plasma Hcy was 11.3 ± 4.5 µmol/L. Distribution of Hcy was characterized by extreme right skew. Males exhibited higher Hcy and sex differences increased with increasing age. Univariate associations with Hcy emerged for age, sex, body mass index, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and for factors pertaining to blood pressure, glucose metabolism, renal function, and diet quality, whereas the most important multivariate predictors of Hcy were sex and creatinine.DiscussionClinical and laboratory factors associated with Hcy in adolescents were manifold, with sex and high creatinine identified as strongest independent determinants. These results may aid when interpreting future studies investigating the vascular risk of homocysteine