COVID-19 pandemic and global carbon dioxide emissions: A first assessment

Anthropogenic carbon dioxide emissions are the main cause of global climate change. The COVID-19 pandemic has been one of the worst of its kind in the last century with regard to global deaths and, in the absence of any effective treatment, it led to governments worldwide mandating lock-down measures, as well as citizens voluntarily reducing non-essential trips and activities. In this study, the influence of decreased activity on CO2 emissions and on the economy was assessed. The US, EU-28, China and India, representing almost 60% of anthropogenic carbon emissions, were considered as reference entities and the trends were extrapolated to estimate the global impact. This study aimed to deduce initial estimates of anthropogenic CO2 emissions based on the available economic and industrial outputs and activity data, as they could not be directly measured. Sector-wise variations in emissions were modeled by assuming proportionality of the outputs/activities and the resulting emissions. A decline in road traffic was seen up to March 2020 and then a steady growth was observed, with the exception of China where road traffic started to recover by the end of January. The vast majority of passenger flights were grounded and, therefore, global air traffic plummeted by 43.7% from January to May 2020. A considerable drop in coal power production and the annual industrial growth rate was also observed. The overall economic decline led to a drop of 4.9% in annual global gross domestic product (GDP) for Q2 2020. The total global CO2 emissions reduction for January through April 2020 compared to the year before was estimated to be 1749 Mt. CO2 (14.3%) with a maximum contribution from the transportation sector (58.3% among total emissions by sector). Like other previous crises, if the economy rebounds as expected the reductions will be temporary. Long-term impacts can be minimized considering the business as well as lifestyle changes for travel, utilizing virtual structures created during this crisis, and switching to sustainable transportation

Postoperative Delirium after Reconstructive Surgery in the Head and Neck Region

Postoperative delirium (POD) is an acute and serious complication following extended surgery. The aim of this study was to identify possible risk factors and scores associated with POD in patients undergoing reconstructive head and neck surgery. A collective of 225 patients was retrospectively evaluated after receiving reconstructive surgery in the head and neck region, between 2013 to 2018. The incidence of POD was examined with regards to distinct patient-specific clinical as well as perioperative parameters. Uni- and multivariate statistics were performed for data analysis. POD occurred in 49 patients (21.8%) and was strongly associated with an increased age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index (ACCI) and a prolonged stay in the ICU (p = 0.009 and p = 0.000, respectively). Analogous, binary logistic regression analysis revealed time in the ICU (p < 0.001), an increased ACCI (p = 0.022) and a Nutritional Risk Screening (NRS) score ≠ 0 (p = 0.005) as significant predictors for a diagnosis of POD. In contrast, the extent of reconstructive surgery in terms of parameters such as type of transplant or duration of surgery did not correlate with the occurrence of POD. The extension of reconstructive interventions in the head and neck region is not decisive for the development of postoperative delirium, whereas patient-specific parameters such as age and comorbidities, as well as nutritional parameters, represent predictors of POD occurrence

Measuring self-regulation in everyday life: reliability and validity of smartphone-based experiments in alcohol use disorder

Self-regulation, the ability to guide behavior according to one’s goals, plays an integral role in understanding loss of control over unwanted behaviors, for example in alcohol use disorder (AUD). Yet, experimental tasks that measure processes underlying self-regulation are not easy to deploy in contexts where such behaviors usually occur, namely outside the laboratory, and in clinical populations such as people with AUD. Moreover, lab-based tasks have been criticized for poor test–retest reliability and lack of construct validity. Smartphones can be used to deploy tasks in the field, but often require shorter versions of tasks, which may further decrease reliability. Here, we show that combining smartphone-based tasks with joint hierarchical modeling of longitudinal data can overcome at least some of these shortcomings. We test four short smartphone-based tasks outside the laboratory in a large sample (N = 488) of participants with AUD. Although task measures indeed have low reliability when data are analyzed traditionally by modeling each session separately, joint modeling of longitudinal data increases reliability to good and oftentimes excellent levels. We next test the measures’ construct validity and show that extracted latent factors are indeed in line with theoretical accounts of cognitive control and decision-making. Finally, we demonstrate that a resulting cognitive control factor relates to a real-life measure of drinking behavior and yields stronger correlations than single measures based on traditional analyses. Our findings demonstrate how short, smartphone-based task measures, when analyzed with joint hierarchical modeling and latent factor analysis, can overcome frequently reported shortcomings of experimental tasks

Measuring self-regulation in everyday life: Reliability and validity of smartphone-based experiments in alcohol use disorder

Self-regulation, the ability to guide behavior according to one's goals, plays an integral role in understanding loss of control over unwanted behaviors, for example in alcohol use disorder (AUD). Yet, experimental tasks that measure processes underlying self-regulation are not easy to deploy in contexts where such behaviors usually occur, namely outside the laboratory, and in clinical populations such as people with AUD. Moreover, lab-based tasks have been criticized for poor test-retest reliability and lack of construct validity. Smartphones can be used to deploy tasks in the field, but often require shorter versions of tasks, which may further decrease reliability. Here, we show that combining smartphone-based tasks with joint hierarchical modeling of longitudinal data can overcome at least some of these shortcomings. We test four short smartphone-based tasks outside the laboratory in a large sample (N = 488) of participants with AUD. Although task measures indeed have low reliability when data are analyzed traditionally by modeling each session separately, joint modeling of longitudinal data increases reliability to good and oftentimes excellent levels. We next test the measures' construct validity and show that extracted latent factors are indeed in line with theoretical accounts of cognitive control and decision-making. Finally, we demonstrate that a resulting cognitive control factor relates to a real-life measure of drinking behavior and yields stronger correlations than single measures based on traditional analyses. Our findings demonstrate how short, smartphone-based task measures, when analyzed with joint hierarchical modeling and latent factor analysis, can overcome frequently reported shortcomings of experimental tasks

Liver Phenotypes of European Adults Heterozygous or Homozygous for Pi∗Z Variant of AAT (Pi∗MZ vs Pi∗ZZ genotype) and Noncarriers

Homozygosity for the Pi∗Z variant of the gene that encodes the alpha-1 antitrypsin peptide (AAT), called the Pi∗ZZ genotype, causes a liver and lung disease called alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency. Heterozygosity (the Pi∗MZ genotype) is a risk factor for cirrhosis in individuals with liver disease. Up to 4% of Europeans have the Pi∗MZ genotype; we compared features of adults with and without Pi∗MZ genotype among persons without preexisting liver disease.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Patterns of Alcohol Consumption Among Individuals With Alcohol Use Disorder During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Lockdowns in Germany

Importance Alcohol consumption (AC) leads to death and disability worldwide. Ongoing discussions on potential negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on AC need to be informed by real-world evidence. Objective To examine whether lockdown measures are associated with AC and consumption-related temporal and psychological within-person mechanisms. Design, Setting, and Participants This quantitative, intensive, longitudinal cohort study recruited 1743 participants from 3 sites from February 20, 2020, to February 28, 2021. Data were provided before and within the second lockdown of the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany: before lockdown (October 2 to November 1, 2020); light lockdown (November 2 to December 15, 2020); and hard lockdown (December 16, 2020, to February 28, 2021). Main Outcomes and Measures Daily ratings of AC (main outcome) captured during 3 lockdown phases (main variable) and temporal (weekends and holidays) and psychological (social isolation and drinking intention) correlates. Results Of the 1743 screened participants, 189 (119 [63.0%] male; median [IQR] age, 37 [27.5-52.0] years) with at least 2 alcohol use disorder (AUD) criteria according to the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (Fifth Edition) yet without the need for medically supervised alcohol withdrawal were included. These individuals provided 14 694 smartphone ratings from October 2020 through February 2021. Multilevel modeling revealed significantly higher AC (grams of alcohol per day) on weekend days vs weekdays (β = 11.39; 95% CI, 10.00-12.77; P < .001). Alcohol consumption was above the overall average on Christmas (β = 26.82; 95% CI, 21.87-31.77; P < .001) and New Year’s Eve (β = 66.88; 95% CI, 59.22-74.54; P < .001). During the hard lockdown, perceived social isolation was significantly higher (β = 0.12; 95% CI, 0.06-0.15; P < .001), but AC was significantly lower (β = −5.45; 95% CI, −8.00 to −2.90; P = .001). Independent of lockdown, intention to drink less alcohol was associated with lower AC (β = −11.10; 95% CI, −13.63 to −8.58; P < .001). Notably, differences in AC between weekend and weekdays decreased both during the hard lockdown (β = −6.14; 95% CI, −9.96 to −2.31; P = .002) and in participants with severe AUD (β = −6.26; 95% CI, −10.18 to −2.34; P = .002). Conclusions and Relevance This 5-month cohort study found no immediate negative associations of lockdown measures with overall AC. Rather, weekend-weekday and holiday AC patterns exceeded lockdown effects. Differences in AC between weekend days and weekdays evinced that weekend drinking cycles decreased as a function of AUD severity and lockdown measures, indicating a potential mechanism of losing and regaining control. This finding suggests that temporal patterns and drinking intention constitute promising targets for prevention and intervention, even in high-risk individuals

Einsatz und Möglichkeiten des Social Webs in Profisportvereinen amBeispiel des Fußballs

Die vorliegende Bachelorarbeit soll durch eine Analyse der Chancen und Risiken im Einsatz von Social Media in Profifußballvereinen Hinweise und Empfehlungen für ein weiteres Vorgehen im Web 2.0 geben. Zu Beginn werden, nach einer Einführung in die Thematik des Social Media, verschiedene Angebote dargestellt. Um einen Einblick in die Bedeutung des Wirtschaftsfaktors Profifußball zu gewinnen, wird eine kurze geschichtliche Einführung, sowie ein Abriss der Bedeutung des Profifußballs in Deutschland angeführt. Die anschließende Bilanz der Präsenz der Vereine im Social Web zeigt, dass einige Auftritte in den sozialen Netzwerken nicht für ein erfolgreiches Social Media Marketing reichen. Darauffolgend zeigt die Analyse der Chancen und Risiken der Einsatzmöglichkeiten vielfältige Wege für Vereine bei einer Erweiterung ihrer bisherigen Auftritte. Die dargestellten Risiken raten zur Vorsicht bei gewissen Vorgehensweisen im Web 2.0. Bei der abschließenden Handlungsempfehlung wird anhand eines Best Practice Beispiels des Bundesliga Vereins VfB Stuttgart gezeigt, welche Verbesserungen vorgenommen werden sollten, um die bereits bekannten Mängel zu beseitigen. Ein Vergleich mit dem Ausland verdeutlicht noch einmal den Rückstand der deutschen Vereine und beleuchtet die Wichtigkeit des Social Webs für den Profifußball in der heutigen Zeit. Daraufhin wird eine kurze Beschreibung der jetzigen Werbepolitik der Bundesligisten aufgezeigt, und schlussendlich eine alternative Möglichkeit zum Social Media Marketing empfohlen.The Bachelor Thesis at hand should give advices and recommendations for a further proceeding in the Web 2.0, by an analysis of opportunities and risks using social media in a professional football club. At the beginning, after introducing the Social Media topic, I will illustrate different proposals. To get an insight into the economically importance of professional football I instance a short historical introduction as well as a brief outline of the importance of professional football in Germany. In the following balance the Social Web presence of the clubs shows, that several appearances in social networks do not meet the criteria for a successful Social Media Marketing. After that the analysis of opportunities and risks of application possibilities quotes various ways for clubs by an extension of their present appearances. The listed risks recommend caution in a certain strategy in the web 2.0. In the closing guidance a best practice example of the Bundesliga Club VfB Stuttgart helps to show which improvements should be done, to resolve the known lacks. A comparison with the foreign countries clarifies again the backlog of the German clubs and examines the importance of the social web in the present time for the professional football. Subsequently I point out a short description of today’s advertising policy of the Bundesliga and illustrate finally an alternative opportunity to the social media marketing

Equilibrium modeling of thermal plasma assisted co-valorization of difficult waste streams for syngas production

The rising quantities of difficult waste streams are a global concern. Prudent utilization of difficult wastes such as sewage sludge (SS) or refuse derived fuel (RDF) can be a small but crucial step to answer the challenges of waste management coupled with the fulfillment of global energy requirements. Lately, thermal plasma is employed globally to process difficult waste streams because of its several inherent advantages including the potential to produce H-2-rich syngas. In this investigation, an equilibrium model was developed with the H2O-Ar stabilized DC arc plasma employing RDF and SS with an objective to assess the optimal process parameters, gas yield, distribution of syngas components and reactor efficiency. The influence of reactor temperature (800 to 1600 degrees C at SS 30 wt%) and sludge content (0 to 100 wt% at 1200 degrees C) on syngas constituents, gas yield, LHV, residual carbon and ash was evaluated. The maximum gas yield was noticed as 0.83 kg gas per kg fuel at 1200, 1400 and 1600 degrees C with a LHV of 11 MJ N-1 m(-3). Maximum H-2 and CO volume fractions of 62 and 34 respectively were also observed at 1200, 1400 and 1600 degrees C. The maximum H-2 was obtained as 67 vol% at 0 wt% SS whereas the minimum (43 vol%) was achieved at 100 wt% SS. Highest amounts of residual carbon (0.20 kg kg(-1) fuel and 0.35 kg kg(-1) fuel) were observed at 800 degrees C and 0 wt% SS, respectively. The highest reactor efficiency of 53% was realized at 100 wt% RDF (the comparison was performed at 1200 degrees C). The results of the investigation are encouraging to employ thermal plasma as potentially sustainable and environmentally friendly technology to co-valorize difficult waste streams