Optimization of Sustainable Urban Energy Systems: Model Development and Application

Digital Appendix: Optimization of Sustainable Urban Energy Systems: Model Development and Applicatio

Game mechanics and technological mediation: an ethical perspective on the effects of MMORPG’s

<p>In the past decades, video games have grown from a niche market to one of the major entertainment media, enticing millions of players worldwide. When ethical aspects of video games are being debated, the discussion oftentimes revolves around effects of their content, such as violence. This paper argues that effects of game mechanics, such as reward mechanisms, should be considered as well, as these are at the core of the appeal of games. We analyze the ethical dimension of behavioral game design present in Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Games (MMORPG’s). Using the framework of technological mediation, we show how opaque and seductive game mechanics can invite problematic usage patterns, such as excessive use with negative effects on well-being, and how designers can take responsibility for morally acceptable impact of their games. Having a practical focus, the paper concludes with several proposals for better design.</p

Archaeometallurgical studies on the slags of the Middle Bronze Age copper smelting site S1, Styria, Austria

The copper smelting site S1 in the Eisenerzer Ramsau Valley, Styria, is the largest Bronze Age copper smelting site excavated in the Eastern Alps. The site was almost completely excavated from 1992 to 2006 and ten roasting hearths, six double furnaces, a number of pits of variable size, form and function, and three separate slag dumps have been recorded. The use of this smelting site covers the whole period of the Middle Bronze Age from the 16th to the 13th century BC and might extend as far as the 11th century BC. The aim of this archaeometallurgical study is the reconstruction of the smelting process at this site and the discovery of possible diachronic changes or developments in the technology of smelting during the different phases of use. Therefore slags of the different archaeological phases were analysed for their chemical and mineralogical composition. A few slags were analysed with M&ouml;ssbauer spectroscopy to obtain further information about the conditions during the smelting process. The results of the analyses show that nearly all slags belong to one particular step of the smelting process which was the production of raw copper or copper matte under reducing conditions at temperatures around 1250 &deg;C

Vom Ein-Euro-Jobber zum ‘regulären‘ Mitarbeiter? : eine Mixed-Methods-Evaluation zu innerbetrieblichen Übergängen aus öffentlich geförderter in sozialversicherungspflichtige Beschäftigung

"This paper investigates in-firm transitions from so-called 'one-euro-jobs' to regular employment. One-euro-jobs are an important workfare instrument of German labour market policy and are meant to increase employability of long-term unemployed persons, enabling them to apply for regular jobs after a long time off the labour market. By using qualitative methods, hypotheses are developed to explain why those transitions occur at all. Then we will check those hypotheses with quantitative methods using a special survey of the IAB-Establishment Panel. The main finding is that those in-firm transitions do less seem to result from increasing employability of the participants, but more from the indirect funding of regular jobs in the respective companies." (Author's abstract, IAB-Doku) ((en))Arbeitsgelegenheit, Sozialgesetzbuch II, Beschäftigerverhalten - Auswirkungen, Wirtschaftszweige, Mitnahmeeffekte, Substitutionseffekte, betriebliche Integration, sozialversicherungspflichtige Arbeitnehmer, IAB-Betriebspanel

Multiple Doses of Erythropoietin Impair Liver Regeneration by Increasing TNF-α, the Bax to Bcl-xL Ratio and Apoptotic Cell Death

BACKGROUND: Liver resection and the use of small-for-size grafts are restricted by the necessity to provide a sufficient amount of functional liver mass. Only few promising strategies to maximize liver regeneration are available. Apart from its erythropoiesis-stimulating effect, erythropoietin (EPO) has meanwhile been recognized as mitogenic, tissue-protective, and anti-apoptotic pleiotropic cytokine. Thus, EPO may support regeneration of hepatic tissue. METHODOLOGY: Rats undergoing 68% hepatectomy received daily either high dose (5000 IU/kg bw i.v.) or low dose (500 IU/kg bw i.v.) recombinant human EPO or equal amounts of physiologic saline. Parameters of liver regeneration and hepatocellular apoptosis were assessed at 24 h, 48 h and 5 d after resection. In addition, red blood cell count, hematocrit and serum EPO levels as well as plasma concentrations of TNF-alpha and IL-6 were evaluated. Further, hepatic Bcl-x(L) and Bax protein expression were analyzed by Western blot. PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Administration of EPO significantly reduced the expression of PCNA at 24 h followed by a significant decrease in restitution of liver mass at day 5 after partial hepatectomy. EPO increased TNF-alpha levels and shifted the Bcl-x(L) to Bax ratio towards the pro-apoptotic Bax resulting in significantly increased hepatocellular apoptosis. CONCLUSIONS: Multiple doses of EPO after partial hepatectomy increase hepatocellular apoptosis and impair liver regeneration in rats. Thus, careful consideration should be made in pre- and post-operative recombinant human EPO administration in the setting of liver resection and transplantation

Impairment of cognitive function in different domains early after lung transplantation

In this prospective observational pilot study patients with the diagnosis of end-stage lung disease and listed for lung transplantation underwent a cognitive function test battery before and after lung transplantation to investigate postoperative cognitive function in three domains (visual and verbal memory, executive functioning, concentration/speed of processing). Additionally we investigated intraoperative risk factors for postoperative cognitive dysfunction. In total, 24 patients were included in this pilot study. The incidence of postoperative cognitive dysfunction was 58.3%. In the cognitive dysfunction group, the domains executive functioning and concentration/attention were significantly impaired whereas memory was not affected. Patients with cognitive impairment had a significantly longer ICU stay. The strongest independent risk factor for the development of cognitive dysfunction was operation time. No influence of cerebral oxygen desaturations on cognitive dysfunction was found. This might have important implications for early psychological rehabilitation strategies in this high-risk patient collective