Structure of generations in Austrian parliaments 1919-1979

Der Artikel ist Teil einer Gesamtbiographie der 1053 Mitglieder des österreichischen Parlaments von 1919 bis 1979. Dabei wird die Generation als Basis genommen, wobei von der Hypothese ausgegangen wird, daß Mitglieder sozialer Organisationen nicht einem Zustand ständiger Veränderungen unterworfen sind, sondern daß sich diese Veränderungen vielmehr generationsweise vollziehen. Dies wird mit der Vermutung gleichgesetzt, daß innerhalb einer Generationsgruppe wenigstens drei Viertel aller Parlamentsmitglieder jeder Periode zu dieser Generation gehören sollten. Vor diesem Hintergrund werden die folgenden Generationen im österreichischen Parlament unterschieden: (1) 1919 - 1934 die Generation zwischen den beiden Kriegen; (2) 1945 - 1966 die Generation der Koalitionsregierung; (3) 1966 - 1981 die Generation einer Ein-Parteien-Regierung. Der Forschungsansatz aufgrund der Generationen ist die Grundlage für die Studie und Interpretationsmethode für Entwicklungen, die sonst als rein zufällig erscheinen. (KWübers.)'This article is part of a collective biography of the 1053 Members of the Austrian Parliament from 1919 to 1979. We took generation as a basis proceeding on the hypothesis, that members of social organizations are not in a state of continuous change, but proceed rather in generations. This can be identified by our assumption, that within a generation block at least 3/4 of all MPs of each period should belong to that generation. Thereby we distinguish the following generations in Austrian Parliament: 1919 - 1934, the generation between the two wars, 1945 - 1966, the generation of coalition government, 1966 - up to the present, the generation of one party government. The generation approach is the basis for our study and a method of interpretation of developments which otherwise appear purely accidental.' (author's abstract

A Photoreceptor Contributes to the Natural Variation of Diapause Induction in Daphnia magna

Diapause is an adaptation that allows organisms to survive harsh environmental conditions. In species occurring over broad habitat ranges, both the timing and the intensity of diapause induction can vary across populations, revealing patterns of local adaptation. Understanding the genetic architecture of this fitness-related trait would help clarify how populations adapt to their local environments. In the cyclical parthenogenetic crustacean Daphnia magna, diapause induction is a phenotypic plastic life history trait linked to sexual reproduction, as asexual females have the ability to switch to sexual reproduction and produce resting stages, their sole strategy for surviving habitat deterioration. We have previously shown that the induction of resting stage production correlates with changes in photoperiod that indicate the imminence of habitat deterioration and have identified a Quantitative Trait Locus (QTL) responsible for some of the variation in the induction of resting stages. Here, new data allows us to anchor the QTL to a large scaffold and then, using a combination of a new mapping panel, targeted association mapping and selection analysis in natural populations, to identify candidate genes within the QTL. Our results show that variation in a rhodopsin photoreceptor gene plays a significant role in the variation observed in resting stage induction. This finding provides a mechanistic explanation for the link between diapause and day-length perception that has been suggested in diverse arthropod taxa

Plasma Dynamics

Contains research objectives and summary of research on eighteen research projects split into seven sections and reports on four research projects.U.S. Atomic Energy Commission (Contract AT(l1-1)-3070)National Science Foundation (Grant GK-37979X1

Antimicrobial use in pediatric oncology and hematology in Germany and Austria, 2020/2021: a cross-sectional, multi-center point-prevalence study with a multi-step qualitative adjudication process

Background Due to the high risk of severe infection among pediatric hematology and oncology patients, antimicrobial use is particularly high. With our study, we quantitatively and qualitatively evaluated, based on institutional standards and national guidelines, antimicrobial usage by employing a point-prevalence survey with a multi-step, expert panel approach. We analyzed reasons for inappropriate antimicrobial usage. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted at 30 pediatric hematology and oncology centers in 2020 and 2021. Centers affiliated to the German Society for Pediatric Oncology and Hematology were invited to join, and an existing institutional standard was a prerequisite to participate. We included hematologic/oncologic inpatients under 19 years old, who had a systemic antimicrobial treatment on the day of the point prevalence survey. In addition to a one-day, point-prevalence survey, external experts individually assessed the appropriateness of each therapy. This step was followed by an expert panel adjudication based upon the participating centers’ institutional standards, as well as upon national guidelines. We analyzed antimicrobial prevalence rate, along with the rate of appropriate, inappropriate, and indeterminate antimicrobial therapies with regard to institutional and national guidelines. We compared the results of academic and non-academic centers, and performed a multinomial logistic regression using center- and patient-related data to identify variables that predict inappropriate therapy. Findings At the time of the study, a total of 342 patients were hospitalized at 30 hospitals, of whom 320 were included for the calculation of the antimicrobial prevalence rate. The overall antimicrobial prevalence rate was 44.4% (142/320; range 11.1–78.6%) with a median antimicrobial prevalence rate per center of 44.5% (95% confidence interval [CI] 35.9–49.9). Antimicrobial prevalence rate was significantly higher (p < 0.001) at academic centers (median 50.0%; 95% CI 41.2–55.2) compared to non-academic centers (median 20.0%; 95% CI 11.0–32.4). After expert panel adjudication, 33.8% (48/142) of all therapies were labelled inappropriate based upon institutional standards, with a higher rate (47.9% [68/142]) when national guidelines were taken into consideration. The most frequent reasons for inappropriate therapy were incorrect dosage (26.2% [37/141]) and (de-)escalation/spectrum-related errors (20.6% [29/141]). Multinomial, logistic regression yielded the number of antimicrobial drugs (odds ratio, OR, 3.13, 95% CI 1.76–5.54, p < 0.001), the diagnosis febrile neutropenia (OR 0.18, 95% CI 0.06–0.51, p = 0.0015), and an existing pediatric antimicrobial stewardship program (OR 0.35, 95% CI 0.15–0.84, p = 0.019) as predictors of inappropriate therapy. Our analysis revealed no evidence of a difference between academic and non-academic centers regarding appropriate usage. Interpretation Our study revealed there to be high levels of antimicrobial usage at German and Austrian pediatric oncology and hematology centers with a significant higher number at academic centers. Incorrect dosing was shown to be the most frequent reason for inappropriate usage. Diagnosis of febrile neutropenia and antimicrobial stewardship programs were associated with a lower likelihood of inappropriate therapy. These findings suggest the importance of febrile neutropenia guidelines and guidelines compliance, as well as the need for regular antibiotic stewardship counselling at pediatric oncology and hematology centers. Funding European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Pädiatrische Infektiologie, Deutsche Gesellschaft für Krankenhaushygiene, Stiftung Kreissparkasse Saarbrücken

konjunkturelle entwicklung und struktureller wandel der oesterreichischen wirtschaft in der zwischenkriegszeit

summary: this paper offers an empirical study of the economic development in austria from 1918 to 1938. making use of monthly data for the whole period it has been possible to achieve a very detailed and exact analysis. moreover, it has been my effort to draw a lively picture of economic views and hopes of that time by making use of contemporary newspaper comments and political statements. up to the present the traditional view of the austrian economic development 1918-1938 has been too much determined by the worldwide economic trend or by the situation in germany. thus the specific economic trend in austria has been paid too little attention to. the focus of my interest has been to find a better description of the courses of business cycle in the time under discussion. structural conditions and change have also been taken into consideration. the following phases can be distinguished: 1918: a new economic structure; 1919: the post-war crises; 1920 - 1922: the period of inflation; 1923- 1924: the crises of stabilisation; 1925 - 1929: the period of adaptation; 1929 - 1933: the great depression; 1934 - 1938: stagnation and armament boom. this study is meant to be a new and more exact presentation of economic development and business cycle in austria in the time between the two wars and is intended to have value for further investigations of economic, historical, political or sociological nature.