Search

We sought to determine the test characteristics of biliary point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) and to assess the usefulness of obtaining radiology ultrasound (RUS) or cholescintigraphy (HIDA) after biliary POCUS.We conducted a retrospective review of emergency department patients who underwent biliary POCUS between May 4, 2018 and November 28, 2021. To be included, patients had to have at least one of the following confirmatory evaluations (considered in this order): surgery, HIDA, RUS, or abdominal CT scan. When a discrepancy existed between the POCUS and the RUS or HIDA, they were compared to a higher criterion standard (if available).Using 348 patients who had a confirmatory evaluation after biliary POCUS, we found the sensitivity and specificity of biliary POCUS for gallstones to be 97.0% (95% CI 92.6 to 99.2%) and 99.5% (95% CI 97.3 to 100%), respectively. For cholecystitis, the sensitivity and specificity were 83.8% (95% CI 72.9 to 91.6%) and 98.6% (95% CI 96.4 to 99.6%), respectively. RUS and POCUS were concordant in 72 (81.8%) of 88 cases in which the patient had both studies while HIDA and POCUS were concordant in 24 (70.6%) of 34 cases. POCUS was deemed correct in at least 50% of discrepant cases with RUS and at least 30% of discrepant cases with HIDA.Biliary POCUS has excellent sensitivity and specificity for cholelithiasis; it has lower sensitivity for cholecystitis, but the specificity remains high. Performing a confirmatory RUS or cholescintigraphy after a positive biliary POCUS adds little value, but additional imaging may be useful when POCUS is negative for cholecystitis.

Analytical ecogeochemistry is an emerging transdisciplinary field of science dealing with the development and application of analytical methods for the advanced and reliable measurement of compounds, elements and isotopes at trace levels in abiotic and biological media. The aim is to answer fundamental questions in different research fields, such as ecology, biology, ecosystem research and environmental science as well as climatology and geology. Evidently, a link to other disciplines can be established as well. Therefore, analytical ecogeochemistry conceptually ties analytical chemistry to the holistic view of the The Total Human Ecosystem according to Naveh [1] (Fig. 1). That is why its research objects also include the human sphere with its technologies and products, environmental effects created and the environmental services needed. Whereas ecogeochemistry can be defined as an approach applying ecogeochemical methods to ecological questions [2], analytical ecogeochemistry has an additional and strong focus on the analytical method that is necessary to produce reliable data. This includes the development of new procedures and methods for challenging and emerging research questions as well as the estimation of appropriate uncertainties and a final judgement of the validity of the data produced for the intended use. It usually requires close collaboration between analytical chemists and domain-specific experts in the related scientific disciplines to ensure the sound analytical science and profound domain knowledge needed to solve the problem being investigated. As a consequence, analytical ecogeochemistry can be described as a real transdisciplinary field of research. Transdisciplinarity itself can be seen as a research strategy bridging the gaps between disciplines and transcending disciplinary boundaries [3]. It becomes active wherever it is impossible to define or attempt to solve problems within the boundaries of subjects or disciplines—or where one goes beyond such definitions [4]. By its nature, transdisciplinary work is characterized by a mutual stimulation and enrichment of the individual disciplines involved leading to changes in their methodological and theoretical perspectives. That is why it has a l so been ca l l ed Bt he sus t a i nab l e fo rm of interdisciplinarity^ [4]. In particular, analytical sciences (or Banalytics^) have been recognized as driving forces of transdisciplinary research [5]. One of the analytical methods which has gained increasing importance to answer a large variety of different new and challenging questions in different fields of science is the development and application of isotope research. Since the 1960s the so-called traditional light isotopic systems (C, H, Published in the topical collection Applications of Isotopes in Analytical Ecogeochemistry with guest editors Thomas Prohaska, Andreas Zitek, and Johanna Irrgeher.

Das wissenschaftliche Verstandnis von Prozessen in Flusslandschaften stellt eine wichtige Basis fur die Einbindung der Bevolkerung in ein wirkungsvolles und nachhaltiges Flussgebietsmanagement dar. Durch Vermittlung von Systemwissen an SchulerInnen sollen diese als zukunftige BewohnerInnen und NutzerInnen von Flusslandschaften Zusammenhange erkennen, Projektentscheidungen und Masnahmen verstehen und nachhaltige Planungen unterstutzen. Im Oktober 2012 startete aus diesem Grunde im Rahmen des Forschungsprogrammes „Sparkling Science“ des Bundesministeriums fur Wissenschaft und Forschung das Projekt „FlussAu:WOW!“. Im Rahmen dieses Projektes arbeiten WissenschaftlerInnen gemeinsam mit SchulerInnen zweier BG/BRG-Oberstufenklassen uber einen Zeitraum von zwei Jahren zu Forschungsfragen des Flusslandschaftsmanagements. Fachliches Ziel des Projektes ist die Erarbeitung eines Indikatorensets, um die Funktionalitat des Fluss-Auen-Niveaus abzubilden. Gemeinsam mit den SchulerInnen wurden im ersten Schuljahr Forschungsfragen in Workshops bearbeitet, Freilandkartierungen durchgefuhrt und die Ergebnisse der Feldarbeit analysiert. In den Bearbeitungen und Diskussionen wurden von Seiten der WissenschaftlerInnen immer wieder die komplexen Zusammenhange in Fluss-Auensystemen aufgezeigt. Die Wissensevaluierung der im Projekt beteiligten SchulerInnen erfolgte mittels Pra- und Post-Tests. Die Analyse der Pra-Tests zeigte grose Wissenslucken zu Fragen des Flusslandschaftsmanagements u. a. uber signifikante Belastungen von Flusslandschaften. Der Vergleich der Pra- und Post-Tests dokumentierte einen signifikanten Anstieg des Faktenwissens der Jugendlichen nach dem ersten Schuljahr. Eine Vernetzung des Wissens und das Erkennen von Ursache-Wirkungs-Beziehungen waren aber nur in Einzelfallen im Post-Test erkennbar. Neben Faktenwissen stellt vor allem das Wissen um die Vernetzung einzelner Systemelemente eine wesentliche Basis der wissenschaftlichen Bildung dar. Interaktive, moderne Ansatze haben bei der Vermittlung von Systemwissen eine grose Bedeutung. Im Rahmen des „FlussAu:WOW!“-Projektes wird das systembasierende Lernen im zweiten Schuljahr mithilfe einer neuartigen Modellierungs- und Simulationssoftware umgesetzt. Die Befragung der SchulerInnen nach deren Interessen zeigte sowohl im Pra- als auch im Post-Test eine hohe Motivation an der Forschungsmitarbeit und groses Interesse an Fragen zu Umwelt und Natur. Bereits nach dem ersten Schuljahr konnte die Zusammenarbeit WissenschaftlerInnen/ PadagogInnen/ SchulerInnen damit einen wertvollen Beitrag zu einem nachhaltigen Flussgebietsmanagement liefern.

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a serious condition that is difficult to diagnose clinically. Venography has long been held as the gold standard for diagnosis of DVT. Ultrasonography has a sensitivity and specificity that approaches that of venography, and has nearly replaced venography for the diagnosis of DVT. Traditionally DVT ultrasounds have been performed by technologists and interpreted by radiologists. These tests generally consist of full leg compression and Doppler studies, which may take over 15 min to perform. However, several recent studies have demonstrated that simplified versions of these ultrasound protocols, such as two-point compression or three-point compression, can be performed at the bedside with sensitivities and specificities that are comparable to those of the more comprehensive formal studies. These studies allow emergency medicine and critical care physicians to rapidly diagnose DVT at the bedside, and some studies suggest that these bedside studies are as accurate as formal studies.

The effect of restoring connectivity for fish by the construction of 11 fish ladders in the Pielach and Melk rivers, both tributaries to the Danube in Austria, was monitored using electric fishing and fish traps between 1999 and 2004. In order to assess the efficiency of connectivity rehabilitation measures pre- and post-project data combining electric fishing and trap catch data were analyzed by means of three fish-based assessment methods: a MUlti-Level concept for a Fish-based, river-type-specific Assessment of ecological integrity (MULFA), the Fish Index Austria (FIA) and the European Fish Index (EFI). The effect of adding qualitative trap catch data to electric fishing data on metrics and indices was also tested and the magnitude of the effect was related to the distance of the sites from the river mouth. The results clearly demonstrated the significant contribution of connectivity rehabilitation measures to the ecological integrity of rivers like the River Pielach where morphological conditions are good, whereas remaining channelization still limits the success of connectivity measures in the River Melk. Trap catch data were found to represent an essential source of additional information to assess the efficiency of connectivity measures shortly after their implementation. The negative correlations of the magnitude of the effect of different indices and metrics with the distance of assessment sites from river mouths obviously underline the importance of the river Danube as a source for the re-colonization process. While the indices tested were found to have limited ability to reflect short-term response of fish assemblages to continuum rehabilitation, guild metrics were able to detect improvements of the ecological status shortly after the implementation of connectivity measures. Six metrics showed significant differences between pre and post-project data reflecting the expected increase of the ecological integrity: (1) Fish Region Index (FRI; FIA, MULFA), (2) number of subdominant species and (3) number of flow-guilds (FIA), (4) number of type specific species (MULFA), (5) number of benthic species and (6) number of potamodromous species (EFI); the FRI differences were only significant when trap catch data were added. The EFI indicated a decline of ecological integrity through increases in the density of omnivorous species and the relative number of tolerant species as well as a decrease in the relative number of intolerant species. Significantly decreasing responses with the distance from the river mouth were documented by the EFI and MULFA-index, the FRI (FIA, MULFA), total biomass and for the number of type specific species (MULFA).

Die Fliesgewasser Osterreichs sind vielfaltigen anthropogenen Beeintrachtigungen ausgesetzt. Wahrend die Gewassergute nicht mehr zu den prioritaren Problemen zahlt, weisen die meisten Gewasser hydromorphologische Veranderungen auf. Zur Wiederherstellung des "guten okologischen Zustandes" bzw. des "guten okologischen Potentials" im Sinne der Wasserrahmenrichtlinie sind daher fur diese Gewasser geeignete Sanierungsmasnahmen festzulegen. Aus einer Vielzahl fallspezifischer Einzeluntersuchungen ist bekannt, dass Fische sehr gut hydromorphologische Belastungen anzeigen. Bislang wurde jedoch in Osterreich noch kein Versuch unternommen, anhand eines groseren Datensatzes die Wirkungszusammenhange zwischen hydromorphologischen Belastungen und Fischen systematisch zu untersuchen und die daraus abgeleiteten Erkenntnisse zur Formulierung von Sanierungsstrategien und Restaurationsmasnahmen heranzuziehen. Das Bundesministerium fur Land- und Forstwirtschaft, Umwelt und Wasserwirtschaft (Sektion Wasser, Ref. VII 1 b – Gewasserokologie und VII-5 – Schutzwasserwirtschaft) sowie die Niederosterreichische Landesregierung (Gruppe Wasser) beauftragten daher das Institut fur Hydrobiologie und Gewassermanagement der Universitat fur Bodenkultur Wien mit der Erstellung der MIRR-Studie zur Entwicklung eines strategischen Instruments zur Restauration von Fliesgewassern (Model-based Instrument for River Restoraion) (Schmutz et al. 2007, http://mirr.boku.ac.at ). Da bislang erst wenige Restaurationsmasnahmen in Osterreich umgesetzt wurden und daher fur statistische Analysen noch nicht ausreichend Datenmaterial zur Verfugung stand, wurde das Instrument anhand eines Analogieschlusses entwickelt. Die zugrunde liegende Hypothese ist, dass der okologische Zustand der Gewasser sich bei Restauration in ahnlicher Weise verbessert, wie er sich durch die Belastungen verschlechterte. Das heist, die Wegnahme der Belastung fuhrt im Sinne einer Umkehrung des Degradationsprozesses uber vergleichbare Mechanismen wieder zum unbelasteten Zustand (Abbildung 1). Dieser Ansatz besitzt naturlich eingeschrankte Gultigkeit, da der Restaurationsprozess aufgrund mehrerer Ursachen anders als der Degradationsprozess verlaufen kann. Trotzdem entspricht dieser Ansatz dem belastungsorientiertem Konzept der Wasserrahmenrichtlinie und stellt aus unserer Sicht unter den gegebenen Rahmenbedingungen den einzigen moglichen Weg einer adaquaten methodischen Herangehensweise dar.

Support excitation of a small spring-mass system, consisting of a massm and two thin wafers in shear, is used as a simple and reliable method to determine the dynamic properties (storage-modulus and complex-modulus loss factor) of elastomeric materials over a fairly broad frequency range. No special equipment or instrumentation is required since ordinary vibration equipment is used. Microminiature accelerometers are used to monitor the support and mass accelerations which eliminates the measurement of small forces and displacements. The frequency range of interest over which experimental data can be obtained fromone specimen can be varied by the thicknessh of the elastomeric waters and/or the size of the massm. The method discussed has been used to determine the dynamic properties of a wide variety of elastomers with frequencies as high as 6000 Hz. Typical results demonstrating repeatability of the method are shown for a carboxyl-terminated butadiene acrylonitrile (CTBN) specimen over the frequency range of 500–3000 Hz. The small test setup is easily adaptable for use in small temprature-controlled chambers for temperature/frequency studies of elastomers. The mathematical model developed for reduction of experimental data is based on the complex shear modulus for the damping model of the elastomer where the spring-mass system is subjected to support excitation.

Mit quecksilbergebeiztem Getreide wurden am Kaninchen, Huhn und Meerschweinchen Futterungsversuche durchgefuhrt, welche zu dem Ergebnis fuhrten, das erst die langdauernde regelmasige Verfutterung von verhaltnismasig grosen Mengen gesundheitszerstorend wirkten. Kleine Dosen, welche etwa den hundertsten Teil der todlich erkannten Menge betrugen, riefen grosere Schadigungen auch im Fortpflanzungsversuch nicht hervor.