Analyzing Interaction for Automated Adaptation – First Steps in the IAAA Project

Because of an aging society and the relevance of computer-based systems in a variety of fields of our life, personalization of software systems is becoming more important by the day in order to prevent usage errors and create a good user experience. However, personalization typically is a time-consuming and costly process if it is done through manual configuration. Automated adaptation to specific users’ needs is, therefore, a useful way to reduce the efforts necessary. The IAAA project focuses on the analysis of user interaction capabilities and the implementation of automated adaptations based on them. However, the success of these endeavors is strongly reliant on a careful selection of interaction modalities as well as profound knowledge of the target group’s general interaction behavior. Therefore, as a first step in the project, an extensive task-based user observation with thorough involvement of the actual target group was conducted in order to determine input devices and modalities that would in a second step become subject of the first prototypic implementations. This paper discusses the general objectives of the IAAA project, describes the methodology and aims behind the user observation and presents its results

Ökobilanzen und Biodiversitätsbewertung österreichischer Milchviehbetriebe

This contribution provides insights in methods and results from seven Austrian organic, alpine and grassland-based dairy farms, which were analysed concerning their ecological sustainability. The milk yield per area unit was found as an appropriate parameter to differentiate extensive from intensive dairy farms, which also allows for a rough estimation of LCA results. Two farms which were characterised as ‘alpine-extensive’ generally show advantages if they are related to units of area and also in terms of the biodiversity potential. Two farms in hilly regions (transition from alpine to lowland area) produce relatively high amounts of milk per hectare farmland and hence show good results for LCA indicators, if related to product units. Three alpine farms with a greater input of imported concentrates are in between the two previously mentioned or show an even lower performance concerning LCA results. As a consequence, they neither completely fulfil the required preservation of cultural landscapes against succession by woodlands and shrubs nor do they meet the demand for high productivity from the limited land resource, which are satisfied to a greater degree in ‘alpine-extensive’ and ‘hilly’ production systems, respectively

Sentinel surveillance of imported dengue via travellers to Europe 2012 to 2014: TropNet data from the DengueTools Research Initiative.

We describe the epidemiological pattern and genetic characteristics of 242 acute dengue infections imported to Europe by returning travellers from 2012 to 2014. The overall geographical pattern of imported dengue (South-east Asia > Americas > western Pacific region > Africa) remained stable compared with 1999 to 2010. We isolated the majority of dengue virus genotypes and epidemic lineages causing outbreaks and epidemics in Asia, America and Africa during the study period. Travellers acted as sentinels for four unusual dengue outbreaks (Madeira, 2012-13; Luanda, 2013; Dar es Salaam, 2014; Tokyo, 2014). We were able to characterise dengue viruses imported from regions where currently no virological surveillance data are available. Up to 36% of travellers infected with dengue while travelling returned during the acute phase of the infection (up to 7 days after symptom onset) or became symptomatic after returning to Europe, and 58% of the patients with acute dengue infection were viraemic when seeking medical care. Epidemiological and virological data from dengue-infected international travellers can add an important layer to global surveillance efforts. A considerable number of dengue-infected travellers are viraemic after arrival back home, which poses a risk for dengue introduction and autochthonous transmission in European regions where suitable mosquito vectors are prevalent

Cardiac Biomarker Release After Exercise in Healthy Children and Adolescents: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

PURPOSE: The authors evaluated the impact of acute exercise and 24-hour recovery on serum concentration of cardiac troponins T and I (cTnT and cTnI) and N-terminal fragment of the prohormone brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) in healthy children and adolescents. The authors also determined the proportion of participants exceeding the upper reference limits and acute myocardial infarction cutoff for each assay. METHOD: Web of Science, SPORTDiscus, MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, and Scopus databases were systematically searched up to November 2017. Studies were screened and quality-assessed; the data was systematically extracted and analyzed. RESULTS: From 751 studies initially identified, 14 met the inclusion criteria for data extraction. All 3 biomarkers were increased significantly after exercise. A decrease from postexercise to 24 hours was noted in cTnT and cTnI, although this decrease was only statistically significant for cTnT. The upper reference limit was exceeded by 76% of participants for cTnT, a 51% for cTnI, and a 13% for NT-proBNP. Furthermore, the cutoff value for acute myocardial infarction was exceeded by 39% for cTnT and a 11% for cTnI. Postexercise peak values of cTnT were associated with duration and intensity (Q(3) = 28.3, P < .001) while NT-proBNP peak values were associated with duration (Q(2) = 11.9, P = .003). CONCLUSION: Exercise results in the appearance of elevated levels of cTnT, cTnI, and NT-proBNP in children and adolescents. Postexercise elevations of cTnT and NT-proBNP are associated with exercise duration and intensity

Nutritional behavior of cyclists during a 24-hour team relay race: a field study report

Background Information about behavior of energy intake in ultra-endurance cyclists during a 24-hour team relay race is scarce. The nutritional strategy during such an event is an important factor which athletes should plan carefully before the race. The purpose of this study was to examine and compare the nutritional intake of ultra-endurance cyclists during a 24-hour team relay race with the current nutritional guidelines for endurance events. Additionally, we analyzed the relationship among the nutritional and performance variables. Methods Using a observational design, nutritional intake of eight males (mean ± SD: 36.7 ± 4.7 years; 71.6 ± 4.9 kg; 174.6 ± 7.3 cm; BMI 23.5 ± 0.5 kg/m2) participating in a 24-hour team relay cycling race was assessed. All food and fluid intake by athletes were weighed and recorded. Additionally, distance and speed performed by each rider were also recorded. Furthermore, before to the race, all subjects carried out an incremental exercise test to determine two heart rate-VO2 regression equations which were used to estimate the energy expenditure. Results The mean ingestion of macronutrients during the event was 943 ± 245 g (13.1 ± 4.0 g/kg) of carbohydrates, 174 ± 146 g (2.4 ± 1.9 g/kg) of proteins and 107 ± 56 g (1.5 ± 0.7 g/kg) of lipids, respectively. This amount of nutrients reported an average nutrient intake of 22.8 ± 8.9 MJ which were significantly lower compared with energy expenditure 42.9 ± 6.8 MJ (P = 0.012). Average fluid consumption corresponded to 10497 ± 2654 mL. Mean caffeine ingestion was 142 ± 76 mg. Additionally, there was no relationship between the main nutritional variables (i.e. energy intake, carbohydrates, proteins, fluids and caffeine ingestion) and the main performance variables (i.e. distance and speed). Conclusions A 24-hour hours cycling competition in a team relay format elicited high energy demands which were not compensated by energy intake of the athletes despite that dietary consumption of macronutrients did not differ to the nutritional guidelines for longer events

Macro-invertébrés du Cénomanien du Djebel Metrassi (Batna, NE Algérie): Systématique et biostratigraphie

A rich paleontological assemblage was collected in the Cenomanian deposits of the Djebel Metrassi (Batna, NE Algeria). It consists of 327 specimens assigned respectively to a single coral, 24 bivalve, 14 gastropod, 3 ammonite, and 7 echinoid species. This macrofaunal association leads us to establish an original taxonomical reference list along with several species new for the Cenomanian of this area, and supports the lithostratigraphic framework herein proposed.[fr] Un assemblage paléontologique a été récolté dans le Cénomanien du Djebel Metrassi (Batna, NE Algérie). Constitué de 327 spécimens, il comporte un corail, 24 espèces de bivalves, 14 espèces de gastéropodes, 3 espèces d’ammonites et 7 espèces d’échinides. Cet assemblage permet d’établir une liste systématique originale, avec des espèces inédites, pour le Cénomanien de ce Djebel et vient soutenir le découpage lithostratigraphique proposé

Severe malaria in Europe: an 8-year multi-centre observational study

Background: Malaria remains one of the most serious infections for travellers to tropical countries. Due to the lack of harmonized guidelines a large variety of treatment regimens is used in Europe to treat severe malaria. Methods: The European Network for Tropical Medicine and Travel Health (TropNet) conducted an 8-year, multicentre, observational study to analyse epidemiology, treatment practices and outcomes of severe malaria in its member sites across Europe. Physicians at participating TropNet centres were asked to report pseudonymized retrospective data from all patients treated at their centre for microscopically confirmed severe Plasmodium falciparum malaria according to the 2006 WHO criteria. Results: From 2006 to 2014 a total of 185 patients with severe malaria treated in 12 European countries were included. Three patients died, resulting in a 28-day survival rate of 98.4%. The majority of infections were acquired in West Africa (109/185, 59%). The proportion of patients treated with intravenous artesunate increased from 27% in 2006 to 60% in 2013. Altogether, 56 different combinations of intravenous and oral drugs were used across 28 study centres. The risk of acute renal failure (36 vs 17% p = 0.04) or cerebral malaria (54 vs 20%, p = 0.001) was significantly higher in patients ≥60 years than in younger patients. Respiratory distress with the need for mechanical ventilation was significantly associated with the risk of death in the study population (13 vs 0%, p = 0.001). Post-artemisinin delayed haemolysis was reported in 19/70 (27%) patients treated with intravenous artesunate. Conclusion: The majority of patients with severe malaria in this study were tourists or migrants acquiring the infection in West Africa. Intravenous artesunate is increasingly used for treatment of severe malaria in many European treatment centres and can be given safely to European patients with severe malaria. Patients treated with intravenous artesunate should be followed up to detect and manage late haemolytic events

Exercise at the Extremes: The Amount of Exercise to Reduce Cardiovascular Events.

Habitual physical activity and regular exercise training improve cardiovascular health and longevity. A physically active lifestyle is, therefore, a key aspect of primary and secondary prevention strategies. An appropriate volume and intensity are essential to maximally benefit from exercise interventions. This document summarizes available evidence on the relationship between the exercise volume and risk reductions in cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Furthermore, the risks and benefits of moderate- versus high-intensity exercise interventions are compared. Findings are presented for the general population and cardiac patients eligible for cardiac rehabilitation. Finally, the controversy of excessive volumes of exercise in the athletic population is discussed