Swiss public health measures associated with reduced SARS-CoV-2 transmission using genome data

Genome sequences from evolving infectious pathogens allow quantification of case introductions and local transmission dynamics. We sequenced 11,357 severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genomes from Switzerland in 2020 - the sixth largest effort globally. Using a representative subset of these data, we estimated viral introductions to Switzerland and their persistence over the course of 2020. We contrasted these estimates with simple null models representing the absence of certain public health measures. We show that Switzerland's border closures de-coupled case introductions from incidence in neighboring countries. Under a simple model, we estimate an 86-98% reduction in introductions during Switzerland's strictest border closures. Furthermore, the Swiss 2020 partial lockdown roughly halved the time for sampled introductions to die out. Last, we quantified local transmission dynamics once introductions into Switzerland occurred, using a phylodynamic model. We found that transmission slowed 35-63% upon outbreak detection in summer 2020, but not in fall. This finding may indicate successful contact tracing over summer before overburdening in fall. The study highlights the added value of genome sequencing data for understanding transmission dynamics

Geographical and temporal distribution of SARS-CoV-2 clades in the WHO European Region, January to June 2020

We show the distribution of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) genetic clades over time and between countries and outline potential genomic surveillance objectives. We applied three genomic nomenclature systems to all sequence data from the World Health Organization European Region available until 10 July 2020. We highlight the importance of real-time sequencing and data dissemination in a pandemic situation, compare the nomenclatures and lay a foundation for future European genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2

Expercience-oriented Event Marketing based on Product Marketing in Sports Goods Industry

Die vorliegende Bachelorarbeit befasst sich mit erlebnisorientiertem Eventmarketing auf Basis einer Produktvermarktung in der Sportartikelindustrie. Der wesentliche Forschungsbeitrag des theoretischen Teils befasst sich mit der wissenschaftlichen Einordnung der Komponenten Event und Kommunikation im Marketing-Mix. Auf Basis einschlägiger Fachliteratur werden schließlich die Komponenten gegenübergestellt und analysiert, sowie Ziele, Chancen und Risiken aufgezeigt. Ein praktischer Bezug erfolgt durch Darstellung und Auswertung der Wilson Spin Demo Tour 2014 in Deutschland. Dabei stellt sich heraus, dass ein Großteil der Kampagnenziele aufgrund des erlebnisorientierten Eventmarketing erreicht werden konnte

Analyse, Simulation und Strukturoptimierung für große 3D-Netzwerke aus Timoshenko-Balken

This thesis is concerned with the efficient and accurate simulation and optimization of linear Timoshenko beam networks subjected to external loads. For this we develop a solution scheme, which is based on so-called analytic ansatz-functions known to provide analytic solutions for the unknowns of a single beam subjected to given boundary data. In the present work we prove that this concept can be extended to a network of beams which enables the analytic calculation of the unique deformation of the whole network. Moreover, we show that this approach is equivalent to a finite element method where only one finite element with a particular shape function per beam is required. With this we can provide the analytic solution on each node of the network, from which the state of the whole network can be uniquely determined - no further spatial discretization is needed. Based on this analytic solution scheme for the simulation problem, we investigate a number of problems from structural optimization, more precisely topology optimization, material and multi-material optimization, cross section optimization, geometry optimization and simultaneous versions of the before mentioned. Hereby we provide the problem formulation, analytic formulae for first order derivatives, an implementation and numerical examples for each type of optimization model. In the next part of this thesis we develop a novel approach for geometry, cross section and material optimization for a system of high-pressure steam pipes in a power plant. This industrial application is efficiently modeled by including a special parametrization for the geometry of pipes. Then we formulate an optimization problem with an objective function considering monetary costs and a large number of constraints. Moreover, we derive analytic expressions for the first order derivatives of the problem and provide an implementation. We demonstrate the capabilities of our program with numerical tests for a real-world instance.Die vorliegende Arbeit beschäftigt sich mit der effizienten und akkuraten Simulation und Optimierung von Netzwerken linearer Timoshenko-Balken unter externen Lasten. Für die Realisierung entwickeln wir ein Lösungsschema, das auf sogenannten analytischen Ansatzfunktionen basiert, welche dafür bekannt sind, analytische Lösungen für die Unbekannten eines einzelnen Balkens unter gegebenen Randdaten zu liefern. In dieser Arbeit beweisen wir, dass dieses Konzept auf Balkennetzwerke erweitert werden kann, was die analytische Berechnung der eindeutigen Verschiebungen des gesamten Netzwerkes ermöglicht. Weiterhin beweisen wir, dass dieser Ansatz äquivalent zu einer Finite-Elemente Methode ist, bei der nur ein Element mit einer speziellen Ansatzfunktion pro Balken benötigt wird. Damit können wir die analytische Lösung an jedem Knoten des Netzwerkes liefern, aus der dann der gesamte Zustand des Balkennetzwerkes eindeutig bestimmt werden kann - ganz ohne weitere räumliche Diskretisierung. Basierend auf diesem analytischen Lösungsschema für das Simulationsmodell untersuchen wir etliche Probleme der Strukturoptimierung, genauer gesagt Topologieoptimierung, Material- und Multimaterialoptimierung, Optimierung der Querschnitte, Geometrieoptimierung und simultane Versionen der genannten Modelle. Dabei zeigen wir für jedes Optimierungsmodell die Problemformulierung, analytische Formeln für die Ableitungen erster Ordnung, eine Implementierung am Computer und numerische Beispiele. Im nächsten Teil dieser Arbeit entwickeln wir einen neuartigen Ansatz für die Geo- metrie-, Querschnitts- und Materialoptimierung für ein System von Hochdruckdampfrohrleitungen in einem Kraftwerk. Für diese Industrieanwendung präsentieren wir zunächst die Modellierung, welche eine spezielle Parametrisierung für die Geometrie von Rohrleitungen beinhaltet. Dann formulieren wir ein Optimierungsproblem mit einer Zielfunktion für die monetären Kosten sowie einer großen Anzahl von Nebenbedingungen. Weiterhin leiten wir analytische Formulierungen für die Ableitungen erster Ordnung her und bieten eine Implementierung. Wir demonstrieren die Leistugsfähigkeit unseres Programms anhand eines realen Rohrleitungssystems

Simulation and structural optimization of 3d Timoshenko beam networks based on fully analytic network solutions

This article is concerned with the efficient and accurate simulation and optimization of linear Timoshenko beam networks subjected to external loads. A solution scheme based on analytic ansatz-functions known to provide analytic solutions for the deformation and rotation of a single beam with given boundary data is extended to the full network. It is demonstrated that the analytic approach is equivalent to a finite element (FE) method where only one element with a suitably chosen shape function per beam is required. The solution of the FE-type system provides analytic solutions at the nodes, from which the solutions along the beams can be reconstructed. Consequently analytic solutions for the network can be computed by a numerical scheme without applying a spacial discretization. While the assembly of the local stiffness matrices is slightly more expensive compared to an FE model using, e.g., linear ansatz-functions, the complexity of the solution of the FE-system is not. This is particularly interesting for topology and material optimization problems formulated on the network. In order to demonstrate the efficiency of the approach a numerical comparison to the case of linear ansatz-functions is provided followed by a series of studies with topology and multi-material optimization problems on networks

Ten-year clinical outcomes of polymer-free versus durable polymer new-generation drug-eluting stent in patients with coronary artery disease with and without diabetes mellitus

Background!#!Very long-term outcomes according to diabetic status of patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) with new-generation drug-eluting stents (DES) are scant. Both, the durable polymer zotarolimus-eluting stent (DP-ZES), the first DES to gain FDA-approval for specific use in patients with diabetes mellitus, and the polymer-free sirolimus- and probucol-eluting stent (PF-SES), with a unique design that enables effective drug release without the need of a polymer offer the potential to enhance clinical long-term outcomes especially in patients with diabetes mellitus.!##!Methods!#!We investigate 10-year clinical outcomes of the prespecified subgroups of patients with and without diabetes mellitus, randomly assigned to treatment with PF-SES versus DP-ZES in the ISAR-TEST 5 trial. The primary endpoint of interest was major adverse cardiac events (MACE), defined as the composite of all-cause death, any myocardial infarction or any revascularization. Further endpoints of interest were cardiac death, myocardial infarction related to the target vessel and target lesion revascularization as well as the individual components of the primary composite endpoint and the incidence of definite or probable stent thrombosis at 10 years.!##!Results!#!This analysis includes a total of 3002 patients randomly assigned to PF-SES (n = 2002) or DP-ZES (n = 1000). Prevalence of diabetes mellitus was high and comparable, 575 Patients (28.7%) in PF-SES group and 295 patients (29.5%) in DP-ZES group (P = 0.66). At 10 years 53.5% of patients with diabetes mellitus and 68.5% of patients without diabetes mellitus were alive. Regarding major adverse cardiac events, PF-SES as compared to DP-ZES showed comparable event rates in patients with diabetes mellitus (74.8% vs. 79.6%; hazard ratio 0.86; 95% CI 0.73-1.02; P = 0.08) and in patients without diabetes (PF-SES 62.5% vs. DP-ZES 62.2%; hazard ratio 0.99; 95% CI 0.88-1.11; P = 0.88).!##!Conclusion!#!At 10 years, both new-generation DES show comparable clinical outcome irrespective of diabetic status or polymer strategy. Event rates after PCI in patients with diabetes mellitus are considerable higher than in patients without diabetes mellitus and continue to accrue over time.!##!Trial registration!#!ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT00598533, Registered 10 January 2008, https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT00598533?term=NCT00598533 Kaplan-Meier estimates of endpoints of interest for patients with vs. without diabetes mellitus treated with PF-SES vs. DP-ZES. Bar graphs: Kaplan-Meier estimates as percentages. PF-SES: polymer-free sirolimus-eluting stent; DP-ZES: durable polymer zotarolimus-eluting stent; DM: diabetes mellitus. Comparison of event rates of individual endpoints in patients with and without diabetes mellitus treated with PF-SES vs. DP-ZES all without statistically significant differences. Comparison of event rates of individual endpoints in overall patients with vs. without diabetes mellitus significantly different (P ≤ 0.01 for all comparisons)

Angiographic performance of everolimus-eluting stents for the treatment of coronary in-stent restenosis in daily practice

Objectives: The present study aims to analyze the angiographic anti-restenotic performance of durable polymer everolimus-eluting stents (EES) for the treatment of in-stent restenosis (ISR) in daily practice.Background: Randomized data is available supporting the use of drug-coated balloons and drug-eluting stents for the treatment of ISR; however, additional real-world data including angiographic follow-up is needed.Methods: Patients who underwent EES-implantation for the treatment of drug-eluting stent ISR and attended for a 6–8 months angiographic surveillance were analyzed. Off-line assessment of the angiograms was conducted at a central quantitative coronary angiographic core laboratory. Results: A total of 426 patients with ISR were treated with EES and had undergone angiographic follow-up. The mean age was 66.8 ± 9.9 years and 27.5% suffered from diabetes. A total of 459 lesions were treated. The diameter stenosis decreased from 64.3 ± 19.1% (preprocedural) to 12.0 ± 6.4% (postprocedural). At 6–8 months angiographic follow-up, the in-segment diameter stenosis was 38.3 ± 21.7% and the in-stent late luminal loss was 0.54 ± 0.74 mm in the treated area analysis. The rate of recurrent binary restenosis was 25.7%.Conclusions: In the setting of ISR, the angiographic anti-restenotic efficacy of stenting with EES is comparable to that observed in randomized clinical trials and less favorable than its performance in patients undergoing stenting for de novo disease.</div