Hygiene perception changes during the influenza A H1N1 pandemic in Germany: incorporating the results of two cross-sectional telephone surveys 2008–2009

Background: The federal campaign Wir gegen Viren [Us against viruses] promoted hygiene in Germany during the influenza A H1N1 pandemic in 2009. The intervention aimed to encourage people to protect themselves against respiratory infections by simple means of hygiene behaviour. Quantitative research was carried out to outline changes in hygiene perception of the population over time, and to find out whether the potential hygiene perception changes were consistent to the federal campaign about hygiene or not. Methods: To determine changes in the hygiene perception of the population, two cross-sectional telephone surveys were held, each one with n = 2006 participants. The initial survey was carried out before the influenza A H1N1 pandemic in calendar week 49–51 in 2008 and the second in week 48 in 2009 directly after the peak of the pandemic in Germany. The questionnaire contained indicators about perceived hand hygiene efficacy, preference for coughing into the sleeve, propensity for presenteeism while showing symptoms of a cold and acceptance of hygiene masks. Results: The proportion of people who perceive the efficacy of hand washing as “very good” increased significantly from 50.9% in 2008 to 61.1% in 2009. The proportion of people who perceive coughing into the sleeve as the best way to cough increased even more dramatically from 4.8% in 2008 to 38.3% in 2009. In contrast the propensity for presenteeism decreased significantly: The proportion of people who state that they always report to work while they show symptoms of a cold decreased from 50.8% in 2008 to 40.9% in 2009. Acceptance of hygiene masks has not changed significantly from 2008 to 2009. Conclusions: The results revealed changes in hygiene perception during influenza A H1N1 pandemic in Germany. The changes we found are in accordance with the hygiene recommendations given by the federal campaign Wir gegen Viren [Us against viruses]. Results can constitute a practical benchmark for future research about hygiene perception and hygiene promotion for adults. A pivotal question is: does the increase in hygiene perception persist after the pandemic has ceased

Vorbereitung auf eine biologische Großschadenlage: Der Pockenrahmenplan

Nach den Ereignissen des 11. September 2001, den Anthrax-Anschlägen in den USA und der sich anschließenden weltweiten Serie von Anthrax-Drohbriefen wurde auch in Deutschland eine im Hinblick auf mögliche bioterroristische Anschläge vorhandene Bedrohungslage in Betracht gezogen. In diesem Zusammenhang wurden an erster Stelle das bereits erwähnte Anthrax sowie Pocken als mögliche Erreger mit dem höchsten Gefährdungspotential genannt. Auf Wunsch der Länder wurde das Robert Koch-Institut (RKI) durch das Bundesministerium für Gesundheit (BMG) beauftragt, zusammen mit Vertretern der Länder und Fachgesellschaften koordinierend ein Rahmenkonzept zu erarbeiten, das die notwendigen fachlichen Vorbereitungen und Maßnahmen zur Seuchenbekämpfung nach bioterroristischen Anschlägen mit Pocken beschreiben sollte. Das Rahmenkonzept zeigt die für das seuchenhygienische Management notwendigen Handlungsschritte auf und stellt den organisatorischen, personellen und materiellen Bedarf dar. Es gibt Empfehlungen mit dem Ziel einer möglichst bundeseinheitlichen Praxis, über die die Bundesländer zu entscheiden und dabei insbesondere die unterschiedlichen Rahmenbedingungen auf Landes- und kommunaler Ebene zu berücksichtigen haben. Folgende thematische Schwerpunkte werden umfassend abgedeckt: Diagnostik, seuchenhygienische Maßnahmen, Organisation von Schutzimpfungen und Behandlung. Das Rahmenkonzept wird ergänzt durch einen umfangreichen Anhang, der neben praxisrelevanten Hilfsmitteln wie Impflisten, Fragebögen usw. Informationen zum Umgang mit Erkrankten und Kontaktpersonen sowie zum Probenversand und zur Diagnostik enthält

Modeling of H_2/O_2 Single-Element Rocket Thrust Chamber Combustion at Sub- and Supercritical Pressures with Different CFD Tools

This paper derives from the cooperation between DLR and Airbus DS within the work package "CFD Modelling of Combustion Chamber Processes" conducted in the frame of the Propulsion 2020 project. In a joint strategy, DLR Göttingen and Airbus DS Ottobrunn have identified a number of test cases with gradually growing complexity where adequate test data are available for proper successive validation of the CFD tools to be used in an industrial environment. This work highlights the simulation results for the Mascotte A-10 and A-60 test cases as presented at the 2nd International Workshop on Rocket Combustion Modeling in Lampoldshausen 2001 by ONERA and SNECMA [1]. These two test cases are characterized by different chamber pressures (10 bar and 60 bar) and consequently by oxygen injection conditions which are subcritical in one case and transcritical in the other case. Both test cases are treated with three different CFD codes: the DLR TAU Code, the Airbus DS in-house tool Rocflam3 and the commercial CFD tool ANSYS CFX incorporating several modeling extensions by Airbus DS. To the knowledge of the authors, this paper is the first one which covers both the A-10 and the A-60 test cases

Investigation of different modeling approaches for CFD simulation of high pressure rocket combustors

This paper summarizes the main topics and first highlights of the cooperation between DLR and ASTRIUM within the work package “CFD Modelling of Combustion Chamber Processes” conducted in the frame of the Propulsion 2020 Project. Within the addressed work package, DLR Göttingen and ASTRIUM Ottobrunn have defined several test cases where adequate test data are available and which can be used for proper validation of the CFD tools. In this paper the first test case, the Penn State chamber (RCM-1), is discussed. The achieved simulation results reproduce important validation parameters like the measured wall heat flux very well but also reveal some inconsistencies in the test data

Radiologic complete response (rCR) in contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (CE-MRI) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy for early breast cancer predicts recurrence-free survival but not pathologic complete response (pCR)

Abstract Background Patients with early breast cancer (EBC) achieving pathologic complete response (pCR) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) have a favorable prognosis. Breast surgery might be avoided in patients in whom the presence of residual tumor can be ruled out with high confidence. Here, we investigated the diagnostic accuracy of contrast-enhanced MRI (CE-MRI) in predicting pCR and long-term outcome after NACT. Methods Patients with EBC, including patients with locally advanced disease, who had undergone CE-MRI after NACT, were retrospectively analyzed (n = 246). Three radiologists, blinded to clinicopathologic data, reevaluated all MRI scans regarding to the absence (radiologic complete remission; rCR) or presence (no-rCR) of residual contrast enhancement. Clinical and pathologic responses were compared categorically using Cohen’s kappa statistic. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate recurrence-free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS). Results Overall rCR and pCR (no invasive tumor in the breast and axilla (ypT0/is N0)) rates were 45% (111/246) and 29% (71/246), respectively. Only 48% (53/111; 95% CI 38–57%) of rCR corresponded to a pCR (= positive predictive value - PPV). Conversely, in 87% (117/135; 95% CI 79–92%) of patients, residual tumor observed on MRI was pathologically confirmed (= negative predictive value - NPV). Sensitivity to detect a pCR was 75% (53/71; 95% CI 63–84%), while specificity to detect residual tumor and accuracy were 67% (117/175; 95% CI 59–74%) and 69% (170/246; 95% CI 63–75%), respectively. The PPV was significantly lower in hormone-receptor (HR)-positive compared to HR-negative tumors (17/52 = 33% vs. 36/59 = 61%; P = 0.004). The concordance between rCR and pCR was low (Cohen’s kappa − 0.1), however in multivariate analysis both assessments were significantly associated with RFS (rCR P = 0.037; pCR P = 0.033) and OS (rCR P = 0.033; pCR P = 0.043). Conclusion Preoperative CE-MRI did not accurately predict pCR after NACT for EBC, especially not in HR-positive tumors. However, rCR was strongly associated with favorable RFS and OS