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Limiting the impact of climate change on agriculture is a major goal of the European Union. This requires the evaluation of farm‐level adaptation measures, available within the Common Agricultural Policy. We investigate how the adoption of soil conservation measures by farms in Austrian arable regions affects their economic performance. By applying an endogenous switching regression model to panel data, we find that climatic conditions significantly influence the decision on whether to adopt soil conservation measures. The net revenue of adopters is less sensitive to long‐term temperature and precipitation changes than for non‐adopters. The measures are profitable for a majority of farms. However, profitability is linked to baseline climatic conditions, with negative effects in cool, wet regions and significantly greater positive effects in warm, dry regions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper investigates the role of municipal and provincial public social spending for local income inequality after taxes and transfers in Austria. We utilize a spatial multi‐level model, which allows us to analyze the contribution of three spatial scales (municipal, district, and provincial level) to municipal income inequality. Our analysis shows that the effect of public social spending on local Gini indices does not only differ across provinces but also across municipalities which indicates that the potential cushioning effect of social expenditure is highly localized. Further splitting total public social expenditure into three distinct categories (education, health, social protection) reveals that spending on social protection has the highest effect on local inequality across all provinces, while health spending does not exert a discernible influence in any province. The method and results presented in this paper are of international interest for policymakers and researchers who aim to investigate whether the same patterns hold true in other countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Several quantitative studies have shown a negative relationship between fitspiration content (appearance‐idealized pictures related to a fit and healthy lifestyle) in social media and mental health. The current study aimed to gain a deeper understanding of fitspiration users by qualitatively assessing their perception of fitspiration content and how it affects their health‐related behaviour and well‐being. A further research question was whether fitspiration as a form of public pedagogy was addressed in participants' physical education (PE) in schools. Thirteen female students from Austria who follow fitspiration content (14–19 years) were interviewed using semi‐structured interviews. Positive effects in health behaviour, such as a higher reported physical activity, exercise motivation and conscious eating (e.g., reducing junk food) were reported. However, participants further described potentially negative consequences on mental and physical health resulting from social comparisons with influencers. As none of the students reported addressing social media fitness content in PE, including or adapting a critical media pedagogy in PE should be considered to enhance awareness of the negative effects of social media but use the positive influence on health behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper examines the evolving discussions on directors' duties in the insolvency context within the EU, particularly in light of recent harmonisation initiatives such as the 2019 Directive on Restructuring and Insolvency and the 2022 Proposal mandating a duty to file for insolvency. Using empirical data from Austria—a jurisdiction with a duty to file—and the Netherlands, which lacks this duty, the study investigates the potential impact and practicality of such requirements. Findings reveal that while Austria and the Netherlands have different frameworks, similar issues in enforcement and compliance emerge in both. These results suggest that imposing stricter or more explicit norms on directors across the EU may not effectively achieve policy goals, especially if financial constraints on enforcement remain unaddressed. We advocate for a policy approach that focuses on practical outcomes and enforcement capacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Post‐dural puncture headache (PDPH) is a frequent complication following lumbar puncture, epidural analgesia, or neuraxial anesthesia. The International Classification of Headache Disorders, third edition categorizes PDPH as a self‐limiting condition; however, emerging evidence, including our findings, suggests that PDPH can have a prolonged course, challenging this traditional view. Objectives: To elucidate the diagnostic characteristics and treatment outcomes of persistent PDPH (pPDPH), offering insights into its demographic profiles and diagnostic features. Methods: We executed an anonymous, web‐based survey targeting individuals aged ≥18 years diagnosed with or suspected of having pPDPH. Recruitment occurred through self‐help groups on Facebook. The survey comprised questions regarding diagnostic procedures, treatment regimens, outcomes, and healthcare consultation. Results: The survey achieved a response rate of 179/347 (51.6%) individuals completing the questionnaire. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks were confirmed in nine of 179 (5.0%) cases. Signs of intracranial hypotension without a CSF leak were observed in 70/179 (39.1%) individuals. All participants underwent magnetic resonance imaging scans of the brain and spine, with computed tomography myelography performed in 113/179 (63.1%) cases. Medications, including analgesics, theophylline, and gabapentin, provided minimal short‐term relief. Epidural blood patch treatments resulted in slight‐to‐moderate short‐term improvement in 136/179 (76.0%), significant improvement in 22/179 (12.3%), and complete effectiveness in eight of 179 (4.5%) individuals. For long‐term outcomes, slight‐to‐moderate improvement was reported by 118/179 (66.0%) individuals. Surgical interventions were carried out in 42/179 (23.5%) patients, revealing pseudomeningoceles intraoperatively in 20/42 (47.6%) individuals. After surgery, 21/42 (50.0%) of the participants experienced slight‐to‐moderate improvement, 12/42 (28.6%) showed more pronounced improvement, and five of the 42 (11.9%) achieved complete effectiveness. Conclusion: This study underscores the complexities of managing pPDPH. The delay in diagnosis can impact the effectiveness of treatments, including epidural blood patch and surgical interventions, resulting in ongoing symptoms. This underscores the importance of tailored and adaptable treatment strategies. The findings advocate for additional research to deepen the understanding of pPDPH and improve long‐term patient outcomes. Plain Language Summary: Headaches after procedures like spinal taps or epidural anesthesia are common. They are usually short‐lived, but our research shows they can last longer and become ongoing problems for some people. We found that standard treatments do not always work, highlighting the need for tailored treatments and better ways to diagnose these headaches to improve patients' lives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overall, income inequality in Austria is moderate and has been stable in recent years. However, a look at employment statistics reveals important inequality trends in the labour market. This paper highlights five important shifts in the composition of the labour force: (i) a massive increase in female labour force participation; (ii) large shifts in the distribution of education; (iii) trends towards part‐time work among women as well as men; (iv) persistent gender gaps in market and non‐market work of parents; and (v) an increase in labour migration with a substantial share of cross‐border commuters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The impact of therapists' and patients' gender on therapy processes and outcomes remains a subject of intense debate in psychotherapy research. Aims: This article explores the role of gender in psychotherapy from the patients' perspective. Method: By conducting semi‐structured interviews with 20 patients undergoing individual psychotherapy in private practices in Austria, the influence of the therapist's gender was investigated. The data collected were subjected to qualitative thematic analysis. Findings: The authors adopted a Bourdieusian feminist perspective to interpret the results, revealing that patients perceived female psychotherapists as possessing unique resources not found in male therapists. These resources encompassed knowledge, skills, traits perceived as 'female', and shared body and life experiences. Referred to as 'female gender capital', these resources influenced the preferences of most female and one male patient, leading them to favour female psychotherapists. Conclusion: Given the strong perceptions and preferences around gender observed in this study, gender identity and gendered practices should be critically reflected on by individual therapists as well as in psychotherapy training programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examines the early incorporation of reinforced concrete in the architecture of Historicism in Austria–Hungary. Spanning the late 19th to early 20th centuries, the research illuminates the period's stylistic pluralism and the transformative impact of reinforced concrete. The paper examines the integration of reinforced concrete into traditional forms, providing detailed case studies and architectural examples. It navigates through various aspects, including the evolution of reinforced concrete during the historicist period, its adoption in notable structures, and its documentation in contemporary literature. Case studies, such as the Lutheran Church in Battyánd (now Puconci, Slovenia), the Roman Catholic Church in Topolya (now Bačka Topola, Serbia), and the former Synagogue in Český Krumlov, Czechia, showcase the innovative ways reinforced concrete addressed structural challenges while adhering to historicist aesthetics. The research concludes by reflecting on the transformative role of reinforced concrete in challenging the conventions of Historicism, paving the way for modern architectural expressions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To evaluate change in retinal layers 18 months after femtosecond laser‐assisted cataract surgery (LCS) and manual cataract surgery (MCS) in a representative age‐related cataract population using artificial intelligence (AI)‐based automated retinal layer segmentation. Methods: This was a prospective, randomized and intraindividual‐controlled study including 60 patients at the Medical University of Vienna, Austria. Bilateral same‐day LCS and MCS were performed in a randomized sequence. To provide insight into the development of cystoid macular oedema (CME), retinal layer thickness was measured pre‐operatively and up to 18 months post‐operatively in the central 1 mm, 3 mm and 6 mm. Results: Fifty‐six patients completed all follow‐up visits. LCS compared to MCS did not impact any of the investigated retinal layers at any follow‐up visit (p > 0.05). For the central 1 mm, a significant increase in total retinal thickness (TRT) was seen after 1 week followed by an elevated plateau thereafter. For the 3 mm and 6 mm, TRT increased only after 3 weeks and 6 weeks and decreased again until 18 months. TRT remained significantly increased compared to pre‐operative thickness (p < 0.001). Visual acuity remained unaffected by the macular thickening and no case of CME was observed. Inner nuclear layer (INL) and outer nuclear layer (ONL) were the main causative layers for the total TRT increase. Photoreceptors (PR) declined 1 week after surgery but regained pre‐operative values 18 months after surgery. Conclusion: Low‐energy femtosecond laser pre‐treatment did not influence thickness of the retinal layers in any topographic zone compared to manual high fluidic phacoemulsification. TRT did not return to pre‐operative values 18 months after surgery. The causative layers for subclinical development of CME were successfully identified. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Seasonal migrations, such as those of ungulates, are particularly threatened by habitat transformations and fragmentation, climate and other environmental changes caused by anthropogenic activities. Mountain ungulate migrations are neglected because they are relatively short, although traversing heterogeneous altitudinal gradients particularly exposed to anthropogenic threats. Detecting migration routes of these species and understanding their drivers are therefore of primary importance to predict connectivity and preserve ecosystem functions and services. The populations of Alpine ibex Capra ibex have all been reintroduced from the last remnant source population. Despite a general increase in abundance and overall distribution range, ibex populations are mostly disconnected but display intra‐population migrations. Therefore, its conservation is strictly linked to the interplay between external threats and related behavioural responses, including space use and migration. Location: Austria, France, Italy and Switzerland. Methods: By using 337 migratory tracks from 425 GPS‐collared individuals from 15 Alpine ibex populations distributed across their entire range, we (i) identified the environmental drivers of movement corridors in both spring and autumn and (ii) compared the ability of a connectivity modelling algorithm to predict migratory movements between seasonal ranges of the 15 populations, using either population‐specific or multipopulation datasets, and three validation procedures. Results: Steep, south‐facing, snow‐free slopes were selected while high elevation changes were avoided. This revealed the importance of favourable resources and an attempt to limit energy expenditures and perceived predation risk. The abilities of the modelling methods we compared to predict migratory connectivity from the results of those movement analyses were similar. Main Conclusions: The trade‐off between energy expenditure, food and cover was the major driver of migration routes and was overall consistent among populations. Based on these findings, we provided useful connectivity models to inform conservation of Alpine ibex and its habitats, and a framework for future research investigating connectivity in migratory species. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A new aphid species infesting apricots (Prunus armeniaca L.) was identified for the first time in 2016 in Europe. The invasive aphid was assigned to the species Myzus mumecola (Matsumura, 1917). The species is native to India and East Asia, and it was found to be highly invasive and is currently spreading throughout Europe. Records were confirmed for Italy, Hungary, Serbia, and Germany. For a phylogenetic analysis, wingless (apterae) adults were sampled in spring 2022 in Italy, as well as in Austria and Germany in spring 2023. Our study reports the first record of M. mumecola for Austria. In all three countries, the new pest caused heavy infestations overall in organically managed apricot orchards. Aphids were identified morphologically based on external characteristics, and damages were compared to those reported in the literature. COI and 12S barcoding analyses for aphid samples from Italy, Germany, and Austria were performed to attain a molecular characterization of sampled specimens and to confirm the morphological identification. Only a few COI sequences of M. mumecola were present in NCBI GenBank or BOLD Systems, and no sequences were available for 12S. Therefore, the results provide a deeper insight into the phylogeny of this spreading pest insect. The results of the COI barcoding showed no differences between the sampled populations and other M. mumecola populations from Europe and Japan, while reports from China showed significant differences. All 12S sequences showed no variability between populations from Austria, Germany, and Italy. A phylogenetic analysis of COI and 12S sequences with sequences from other aphid species from NCBI GenBank or sampled in Italy revealed a close relationship of this species with the damson‐hope aphid, Phorodon humuli. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many voters support the inclusion of technocrats in government. Yet we know very little about why technocrats are considered more appealing than traditional party representatives. In particular, it is unclear which advantages and disadvantages voters attach to the defining traits of technocratic ministers: party independence and expertise. We engage with this question drawing on a pre‐registered survey experiment in Austria. We examine how manipulating ministers' party affiliation and expertise affects voters' perceptions of their issue competence and bargaining competence. Findings indicate that voters ascribe lower levels of issue competence to partisan ministers than to non‐partisan ministers, notwithstanding their actual expertise, and that ministers' partisanship shrinks the positive effect of expertise on perceived issue competence. However, this ‘partisanship penalty’ disappears for supporters of the minister's party. Moreover, voters perceive partisanship as an advantageous trait with regard to a minister's bargaining competence. While voters like technocrats for their expertise and independence from party politics, our findings reveal nuanced perceptions, with voters still recognizing distinct advantages in being represented by party politicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Programmed cell death‐ligand 1 (PD‐L1) expression is a well‐established biomarker for predicting responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors and certain targeted therapies. As a result, treatment strategies for patients vary based on their PD‐L1 expression status. Understanding the clinical features of patients with distinct PD‐L1 levels is crucial for personalized treatment approaches. Methods: Demographic and clinicopathological characteristics of 227 patients (54% male, mean age 67 ± 9.9 years) newly diagnosed with non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC) between April 2020 and December 2022 were retrospectively compared among three groups based on the PD‐L1 expression: PD‐L1 Tumor Proportion Score (TPS) negative, 1–50%, and ≥50%. Logistic regression analysis was performed to evaluate predictors for high PD‐L1 expression ≥50%. Results: PD‐L1 expression levels were distributed as follows: negative in 29% of patients, between 1% and 50% in 41%, and greater than 50% (high) in 29%. In comparison to negative PD‐L1 expression, low and high PD‐L1 expression was associated with female sex (32.9% vs. 52.7% vs. 50.7%, p = 0.031), with the absence of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations (83.6% vs. 91.1% vs. 98.1% p = 0.029), and with the absence of ERBB2 (HER2) tyrosine kinase mutations (90.9% vs. 100% vs. 98.1% p = 0.007), respectively. Age, smoking status, histological subtype, and disease stage showed no significant differences among the three patient groups. In the univariate logistic regression, EGFR mutation appeared to be the only predictor for PD‐L1 expression, although it did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.06). Conclusion: Although sex and genomic alterations are associated with PD‐L1 expression in patients with NSCLC, no clinical characteristics seem to predict PD‐L1 expression significantly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Restoring the heterogeneity of farmland mosaics can help mitigate the ongoing global decline of biodiversity. It has been shown that semi‐natural habitats in viticultural landscapes influence biodiversity in vineyards. However, less attention has been paid to the influence of the extent of vineyard fields and their arrangement in the landscape.Using previously published data, we investigated the influence of both semi‐natural habitats and vineyard fields on arthropod diversity in vineyards in 35 viticultural landscapes located in South Africa and Austria. Effects on several arthropod groups were assessed using standardised landscape predictors that integrate compositional (total area) and configurational (shape and spatial arrangement) heterogeneity of semi‐natural habitats and vineyards. In addition, we assessed the influence of within‐vineyard vegetation cover and farming system (organic or non‐organic) to explore local‐scale effects.Within‐vineyard vegetation and flower cover had a consistent positive influence on most arthropod taxa, whereas farming system had little effect. In addition, configurational heterogeneity of semi‐natural vegetation and vineyards influenced several taxa. However, different taxa showed contrasting relationships with configurational heterogeneity, hindering general recommendations for optimal configuration of semi‐natural elements and vineyards in the landscape. The only significant response to compositional heterogeneity was bug abundance in South Africa, which increased with increasing proportion of semi‐natural elements.We found that increasing vegetation cover in vineyards is an effective and easily implementable measure to improve biodiversity in vineyards. In addition, the spatial arrangement of vineyards influences within‐vineyard arthropod diversity as much as the spatial arrangement of semi‐natural vegetation in the landscape, which expands the possibilities for planning viticultural landscapes with high overall biodiversity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The greenhouse effect is a complex scientific phenomenon that plays a crucial role in understanding climate change. Grasping students' understanding of this phenomenon on the content‐specific level but also how students' conceptions are organized is vital for effective climate change education. This study addresses both levels and delves into the relationship between students' frameworks and knowledge pieces of the greenhouse effect through the analysis of multiple‐choice questions, employing Bayesian correlations and multiple logistic regression. We thereby focus on specific types of conceptualizations of the greenhouse effect that have been identified in previous research and furthermore investigate the coherency of them. To do so, we analyzed answers of N = 604 grade 11 students in Austria and Germany and interpreted them from different theoretical perspectives. The findings showed that students hold various ideas about the greenhouse effect that are only seldom coherent, in particular when it comes to adequate ideas about the greenhouse effect. However, especially for a reflection‐based framework of the greenhouse effect, our results demonstrate that students' conceptions show some form of coherency. We argue that our results can inform the development of effective teaching strategies that address students' existing knowledge and alternative conceptions. In terms of practical implications, the findings suggest that teaching strategies should provide opportunities for students to integrate their knowledge pieces into a more coherent understanding of the greenhouse effect. The study highlights the need for further investigation into the relationship between knowledge pieces and frameworks not only for the greenhouse effect, but for science education in general. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Habitat degradation and fragmentation are two of the main drivers for biodiversity loss. To mitigate the negative impact of fragmentation in forests, conservation targets are increasingly addressing connectivity to facilitate the independent movement of species between habitat fragments to ensure genetic diversity and adaptation to climate change. In this article, we present a novel approach to identifying and prioritizing stepping stones for preserving connectivity based on national and regional biodiversity data for Austrian forest ecosystems. Our study identified forest areas where conservation measures should be taken to ensure future habitat connectivity by combining four indicator values with different requirements of a stepping stone habitat into a prioritization value. The four compounded indicators are: (i) the Protect Value, which includes distances to patches of protected areas with restricted management for the undisturbed development of retention areas, (ii) the Connect Value, which combines datasets of designated habitat corridors and connectivity areas in Austria based on landscape models and expert validation, (iii) the Species Value identifying species‐rich areas, and (iv) the Habitat Value identifying biotopes of high ecological value, key biodiversity areas, and sites of favorable protection status. Nonparametric tests revealed significant differences in prioritization value among the ecoregions of Austria and therefore encourage the consideration of stepping stone prioritization at local and regional context. Building upon the insights from this case study on Austrian forest ecosystems, we developed a robust framework derived from our methodology. This framework is designed to facilitate future implementations in diverse study regions, accounting for factors beyond connectivity crucial for identifying high value stepping stone habitats. We encourage adaptation of this framework to local data availability, species requirements, and local conditions. The compiled framework provides decision support for managers and conservationists for prioritizing areas to conserve and improve connectivity of forest habitats. However, it does not substitute on‐the‐ground field assessments of habitat quality and measures of functional connectivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: "Supporting Carers of Children and Adolescents with Eating Disorders in Austria" (SUCCEAT), a skills training for parents, delivered via workshops (WS) or online modules (ONL), has been proven to be effective in terms of parental distress, caregiver skills, and adolescents' outcome. This study examined the adherence to and the acceptability and feasibility of SUCCEAT. Method: One‐hundred parents (86% mothers) of adolescents with anorexia nervosa participated in the 8‐week training. Parents were assigned to the WS (n = 50) or ONL (n = 50) format using a quasi‐randomised design. Adherence, acceptability, and feasibility were assessed using self‐report questionnaires. Results: Adherence to the sessions was high (66%–98%) for both groups. The usage of the material was comparable between the groups. However, in the WS group, participants actively approached the coaches (71.8% vs. 48.9% often/very often) or other parents (63% vs. 4.4% often/very often) more often. Perceived helpfulness was high in both groups, overall satisfaction and practicability were higher in the WS group. Conclusions: Good adherence, acceptability, and feasibility were confirmed for both formats of SUCCEAT, with minimal advantages of the WS regarding satisfaction and contact with other parents and coaches. Thus, both formats can be recommended for implementation in clinical routine. Highlights: Adherence, acceptability, and feasibility were high for both SUCCEAT formats (workshop or online).Although SUCCEAT was perceived as similar helpful in both formats, satisfaction was slightly higher in the workshop group.Both formats can be recommended for implementation into clinical routine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The discovery of the Ischgl meteorite unfolded in a captivating manner. In June 1976, a pristine meteorite stone weighing approximately 1 kg, fully covered with a fresh black fusion crust, was collected on a mountain road in the high‐altitude Alpine environment. The recovery took place while clearing the remnants of a snow avalanche, 2 km northwest of the town of Ischgl in Austria. Subsequent to its retrieval, the specimen remained tucked away in the finder's private residence without undergoing any scientific examination or identification until 2008, when it was brought to the University of Innsbruck. Upon evaluation, the sample was classified as a well‐preserved LL6 chondrite, with a W0 weathering grade, implying a relatively short time between the meteorite fall and its retrieval. To investigate the potential connection between the Ischgl meteorite and a recorded fireball event, we have reviewed all documented fireballs ever photographed by German fireball camera stations. This examination led us to identify the fireball EN241170 observed in Germany by 10 different European Network stations on the night of November 23/24, 1970, as the most likely candidate. We employed state‐of‐the‐art techniques to reconstruct the fireball's trajectory and to reproduce both its luminous and dark flight phases in detail. We find that the determined strewn field and the generated heat map closely align with the recovery location of the Ischgl meteorite. Furthermore, the measured radionuclide data reported here indicate that the pre‐atmospheric size of the Ischgl meteoroid is consistent with the mass estimate inferred from our deceleration analysis along the trajectory. Our findings strongly support the conclusion that the Ischgl meteorite originated from the EN241170 fireball, effectively establishing it as a confirmed meteorite fall. This discovery enables to determine, along with the physical properties, also the heliocentric orbit and cosmic history of the Ischgl meteorite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reductions in greenhouse gas emissions are necessary to slow global warming and decrease the likelihood of irreversible climate scenarios. There is thus an urgent need for low‐emissions fuels. This study conducted a techno‐economic analysis of two different industrial plant concepts for producing hydrogen from woody biomass. One was a large‐scale centralized 60 MWH2 option using dual fluidized bed gasification with CO2 removal. The other was a small‐scale decentralized 1 MWH2 option using fixed‐bed gasification without CO2 removal. Mass and energy balances were calculated by the process simulation software IPSEpro. Key performance indicators, including technical, economic, and environmental parameters, were derived. Overall energy efficiencies of 64.2 and 59.5% and hydrogen yields of 87 and 68 gH2 kg−1BM.db were determined for hydrogen production by dual fluidized bed and fixed‐bed gasification, respectively. The levelized costs of hydrogen amounted to 5.6 and 15.0 €2022 kg−1H2 and agreed quite well with values from the literature. Flexible and decentralized heat, electricity, and hydrogen production based on fixed‐bed gasification within a multiproduct plant were also evaluated. The results show that the multiproduct plant could be economically feasible if at least 63% of the annual operating hours were dedicated to hydrogen production, and assuming a hydrogen selling price of 17.5 €2022 kg−1H2 in Austria. In conclusion, both of the processes that were evaluated are conceivable technologies for the transition of the energy system towards renewable energy sources from a technical and economic point of view, although small‐scale hydrogen production is considerably more expensive. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Extreme precipitation events in small alpine catchments trigger hazardous hydro‐geomorphic processes that cause considerable damage to settlements and infrastructure. In summer 2011 and 2017, two flood events mobilizing large amounts of sediments struck the town of Oberwölz (Styria, Austria) located at the outlet of the Schöttlbach catchment. We used data from local weather stations and precipitation radar to analyse the meteorological settings that caused the flooding. We compiled a consistent sediment budget for the 2017 event by combining geomorphic mapping, connectivity analysis, high‐resolution airborne LiDAR (ALS) and uncrewed aerial vehicle (UAV)‐borne LiDAR (ULS), data from other authors for the 2011 event and external information (e.g., event analysis and excavation data). The 2017 event mobilized higher sediment volumes than the 2011 event (131 000 m3 vs 90 000 m3) even though 24‐h precipitation and peak discharges were lower in 2017. First assumptions that the larger sediment output was caused by the reworking of the 2011 flood deposits proved to be incorrect. The impacts of the 2011 event affected the resilience of the geomorphic system resulting in a significantly higher hillslope sediment supply. We conclude that sediment transport in alpine catchments can increase disproportionately when recurrence intervals fall below a critical level. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Major environmental, climate and sealevel changes occurred in the Western Tethyan Realm during the late Sinemurian to early Pliensbachian time interval. Here, we examine how these changes affected the taxonomic composition of radiolarian fauna. Radiolarian assemblages were collected on Mount Rettenstein (Northern Calcareous Alps) from a siliceous limestone and marl succession, deposited in a well‐oxygenated basin a few hundred metres in depth on the continental shelf at the western edge of the Neotethys Ocean. Radiolarian research was complemented with elemental and isotope geochemistry on bulk carbonate samples. The siliceous microfaunas below and above the stage boundary consist of more than 80% sponge spicules and less than 20% radiolarians, with a strong predominance of the Order Spumellaria. The Nassellaria to Spumellaria abundance ratio ranges from 1:5 to 1:3. At the Sinemurian–Pliensbachian transition, a significant drop in diversity occurred, accompanied by a substantial change in relative abundances of radiolarian taxa. The most severely affected groups were surface‐dwelling radiolarians (Angulobrachiidae, Hagiastridae, Pantanelliidae; mostly Gorgansium, Poulpidae and Ultranaporidae), which almost or completely disappeared. In contrast, Archaeocenosphaera, Praeconocaryomma, Zhamoidellum and Lantus became abundant and were apparently the most resistant to environmental stress. The changes in radiolarian assemblages were local and probably induced by the end‐Sinemurian sealevel drop that transformed the area into a semi‐enclosed basin with restricted ocean circulation. The exchange of water masses and thus radiolarian faunas with the open sea was reduced and their productivity may have been lowered by the lower inflow of fertile waters from the ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Suggesting a curious comparison between the Victorian séance and the contemporary world of immersive virtual environments, Mike Phillips, Professor of Interdisciplinary Arts at the University of Plymouth, and Director of Research at i‐DAT.org, describes the new capabilities of the fulldome, which uses notions of the automatic movements of the planchette, the wooden token that traverses the alphanumeric surface of the notorious Ouija board, as a model for the development of a quasi‐participatory audience interface he dubs the 'phage'. Clusters of phage can be manipulated by the viewer‐occupiers of the dome to instigate all manner of formal, scalar and conceptual transpositionings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To enable a real‐time applicator guidance for brachytherapy, we used for the first time infra‐red tracking cameras (OptiTrack, USA) integrated into a mobile cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT) scanner (medPhoton, Austria). We provide the first description of this prototype and its performance evaluation. Methods: We performed assessments of camera calibration and camera‐CBCT registration using a geometric calibration phantom. For this purpose, we first evaluated the effects of intrinsic parameters such as camera temperature or gantry rotations on the tracked marker positions. Afterward, calibrations with various settings (sample number, field of view coverage, calibration directions, calibration distances, and lighting conditions) were performed to identify the requirements for achieving maximum tracking accuracy based on an in‐house phantom. The corresponding effects on camera‐CBCT registration were determined as well by comparing tracked marker positions to the positions determined via CBCT. Long‐term stability was assessed by comparing tracking and a ground‐truth on a weekly basis for 6 weeks. Results: Robust tracking with positional drifts of 0.02 ± 0.01 mm was feasible using the system after a warm‐up period of 90 min. However, gantry rotations affected the tracking and led to inaccuracies of up to 0.70 mm. We identified that 4000 samples and full coverage were required to ensure a robust determination of marker positions and camera‐CBCT registration with geometric deviations of 0.18 ± 0.03 mm and 0.42 ± 0.07 mm, respectively. Long‐term stability showed deviations of more than two standard deviations from the initial calibration after 3 weeks. Conclusion: We implemented for the first time a standalone combined camera‐CBCT system for tracking in brachytherapy. The system showed high potential for establishing corresponding workflows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Life cycle assessments of building materials for load‐bearing structures depending on the assessment systems in the DACH region Due to the complexity of the results of life cycle assessments, efforts are being made to summarise the wealth of indicators into a single meaningful value as the result of a life cycle assessment. Such fully aggregated assessment methods characterise and weight individual indicators and their effects and convert them into point systems. The ecological indicators used for the calculation are based on building material‐related data sets which, acc. to the standard, should at least declare the production, disposal and reuse or recycling phases. However, databases used in practice currently only fulfil these requirements to a limited extent. The database used in Austria, for example, only considers production, in Switzerland production and disposal are used and in Germany all three phases are included, but not always completely. A comparison at building material level shows that, depending on the data basis and assessment method, findings and guidelines for action vary to a great extent. The results of life cycle assessments should therefore always be considered in relation to the data source used. The work shows that KBOB and ÖKOBAUDAT databases, which include the production and disposal of building materials, and the ecological scarcity method are recommended. The baubook database and the Oekoindex OI3 currently provide only limited usable results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The LT‐bridge construction method for the material‐saving and fast construction of post‐tensioned concrete bridges Owners of infrastructure buildings will face enormous challenges in the coming years. Many engineering structures, especially bridges, need to be renovated or rebuilt. They are either no longer able to withstand the current loads or have developed durability problems. Discussions with owners have shown that rapid construction progress is crucial for bridge replacements. The construction sites should disrupt the normal flow of traffic as little as possible. As a result, a new, resource‐saving, and fast construction method for bridges has been developed. Innovative prefabricated elements for the longitudinal girders and the deck slab were developed to fulfill these requirements. The prefabricated elements are connected by reinforcement and an in‐situ concrete layer at the construction site. A comparison of the environmental impact based on the construction materials (life cycle phases A1–A3) between a construction section of an LT‐bridge and a typical German motorway bridge shows a lower global warming potential for the new bridge construction method due to the savings in construction materials. The feasibility of this new construction method was demonstrated by a pilot project in Austria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Objective: Observational real‐world study to analyze the clinical effects of alemtuzumab (ALEM) and subsequent disease‐modifying therapy (DMT) usage in multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods: Data retrieved from the Austrian MS treatment registry (AMSTR) included baseline (BL) characteristics (at ALEM start), annualized relapse rate (ARR), 6‐month confirmed progression independent of relapse activity (PIRA; ≥ 0.5‐point Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score increase), 6‐month confirmed disability improvement (CDI; ≥ 0.5‐point EDSS decrease), and safety outcomes until initiation of a subsequent DMT. The EDSS was re‐baselined at 30 days from ALEM start (BL EDSS). Results: Eighty‐seven ALEM‐treated patients (median age: 32 years, 72% female, 14% treatment‐naïve) were followed for a median of 55 (interquartile range 31–68) months. We found significant reductions in the ARR from 1.16 before ALEM to 0.15 throughout Years 1–9 (p < 0.001). Subsequent DMTs were initiated in 19 patients (22%, 74% anti‐CD20 monoclonal antibodies). At Year 5 (n = 53), more patients achieved CDI (58%, 95% confidence interval (CI) 45%–71%) than had experienced PIRA (14%, CI 7.5%–24%), and 58% remained relapse‐free. Shorter MS duration (p < 0.001, hazard ratio (HR) 0.86 (CI 0.80–0.93)) and no previous high‐efficacy treatment (p < 0.001, HR 5.16 (CI 2.66–10.0)) were the best predictors of CDI, while PIRA was associated with a higher number of previous DMTs (p = 0.04, HR 3.06, CI 1.05–8.89). We found no new safety signals. Interpretation: ALEM had long‐lasting beneficial effects on the ARR and disability improvement, especially when initiated early in the course of the disease. Only a subset of patients received subsequent DMTs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Genetic influences on cerebral activity have been described previously, but data are scarce in preterms. We aimed to investigate whether a genetic influence causes amplitude-integrated electroencephalography (aEEG) signals to differ between singletons and twin preterm newborns. Methods: This was a retrospective single-centre study conducted at Innsbruck Medical University Hospital, Austria. Preterm infants born before 32 weeks of gestation between 6 November 2010 and 6 December 2022 were eligible for the study. The aEEG was analysed for the total maturation score, its component scores and the number of sleep--wake cycles per hour. Results: We enrolled 240 preterm twin infants (57.5% male) with a mean gestational age of 30 (range: 24-32) weeks and a mean birth weight of 1324 (range: 600--2116) grams. We compared 240 singleton matched preterms. No differences were found between preterm singletons and twin preterm infants regarding the total maturation and component scores, or the number of sleep--wake cycles. aEEG showed no difference between monozygotic and dizygotic twins. Conclusion: Compared to singletons, twin infants born preterm showed no differences in aEEG signals in the first 4 weeks of life. Future studies should include more complex non-invasive functional neuroimaging methods to gain more insight into this important topic. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: The current study determined the neurodevelopmental outcome of extremely preterm infants at 2 years of age. Methods: All live-born infants 23-27 weeks of gestation born between 2011 and 2020 in Austria were included in a prospective registry. Neurodevelopmental outcome at 2 years of corrected age was assessed using Bayley Scales of Infant Development for both motor and cognitive scores, along with a neurological examination and an assessment of neurosensory function. Results: 2378 out of 2905 (81.9%) live-born infants survived to 2 years of corrected age. Follow-up data were available for 1488 children (62.6%). Overall, 43.0% had no, 35.0% mild and 22.0% moderate-to-severe impairment. The percentage of children with moderate-to-severe neurodevelopmental impairment decreased with increasing gestational age and was 31.4%, 30.5%, 23.3%, 19.0% and 16.5% at 23, 24, 25, 26 and 27 weeks gestational age (p < 0.001). Results did not change over the 10-year period. In multivariate analysis, neonatal complications as well as male sex were significantly associated with an increased risk of neurodevelopmental impairment. Conclusion: In this cohort study, a 22.0% rate of moderate-to-severe neurodevelopmental impairment was observed among children born extremely preterm. This national data is important for both counselling parents and guiding the allocation of health resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rivers in Europe have been heavily modified over the last 200 years, with a significant impact on their ecology and environment. This also applies to rivers like the Wien River, Austria, which are designed as overwide concrete channels for the benefit of flood protection. To achieve a good ecological potential in such heavily modified water bodies, one key element is fish passability. This requires an increase in the water level at low flow conditions and a reduction of the flow velocity. The aim of this study is to assess whether groynes are suitable for this application. A design study was conducted to examine the effect of individual groyne parameters on water depths and velocities. Physical experiments were carried out in a laboratory flume at a scale of 1:8. In addition, a 2D numerical model was used. It was found that the groynes had to be submerged and the alignment had to be repelling to achieve both requirements. The configuration of the groyne height, distance and degree of obstruction parameters were crucial. The groyne angle and shape had a minor effect and can be used for fine‐tuning. The best groyne design created a passable section for fish. Thereby, and through sedimentation, the best design contributed to an ecological improvement. However, it did not create habitats and did not constitute a fullfledged restoration. In general, submerged groynes can fulfil the hydraulic requirements for fish passage in heavily modified water bodies with a fixed bed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research on lecturers' achievement goals and their impact on professional learning in higher education is a topic that has assumed importance in recent years. However, previous studies have neglected the multidimensionality of informal workplace learning and ignored the differences between self‐based and social‐based informal learning. Based on the Achievement Goal Theory, we propose positive links between learning approach goals and self‐based informal learning, as well as positive links between normative goals and social‐based informal learning. Findings from a first cross‐sectional study with 317 lecturers from higher education institutions in Germany show associations that are largely consistent with our hypotheses. While learning approach goals are moderately related to self‐based informal learning, normative avoidance goals are slightly related to social‐based informal learning. In a second study, 185 lecturers from higher education institutions in Austria received three text‐based vignettes and answered a survey about which teaching‐related informal learning activities they would use in specific situations (i.e., before, during, and after the teaching phase). The results replicate most of the findings from the first study; however, the results are not stable when various control variables are included. Moreover, the associations between achievement goals and informal learning are largely consistent across the simulated semester, although lecturers with strong learning approach goals engage in self‐based informal learning particularly before and during the teaching phase. Our findings provide support for the notion that personal motivational characteristics, in the form of achievement goals, are associated with informal learning in the workplace. We conclude by discussing practical implications for those teaching in higher education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Estimating the sex of cremated human remains is difficult. The petrous bone frequently survives the cremation due to its density. Wahl observed the lateral angle to be sexually dimorphic in the 1980s. Previous studies showed various cut‐off points to separate females from males, which are hardly replicable and difficult to apply. We want to test the Wahl method and compare it to a new landmark‐based version. Materials and Methods: In this study, we measured the lateral angle of 35 cremated petrous bones from late bronze age Austria using micro‐CT scans. Technical errors of measurement were calculated for two different methods to intersect the internal acoustic meatus virtually in the midline (manual or landmark‐based intersection). Furthermore, sex was estimated based on morphological features and metric measurements. This information was used in logistic regression modeling to define a cut‐off point in our sample. Results: The technical errors of measurement suggested that a landmark‐based method was more precise in comparison to a manual intersection which was much more intuitive. Inter‐ and intra‐observer errors were low which improved reliability. The logistic regression model produced good results in our sample (p = 0.02, R2 = 0.38, accuracy = 0.8). The mean lateral angle was similar to studies which focused on prehistoric cremated petrous bones. Discussion: The proposed landmark‐based method was precise, quick, and could be easily applied, even by unexperienced researchers. The size of the lateral angle seemed to be population‐specific but also dependent on the method applied. We recommend to use the proposed landmark‐based method which is more precise. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cold‐adapted species at high elevations may be especially impacted by global warming since they may be limited in their capacity to adapt to changing conditions or may be prevented from shifting their distributions upwards if no suitable habitats are available.The latter may be true for Erebia nivalis, a high‐elevation specialist that mainly occurs in the Austrian Alps and on few mountaintops in Switzerland, where its taxonomic and conservation status remains unclear.We aimed to clarify the relationships among geographically isolated populations of E. nivalis using whole‐genome resequencing data to reconstruct population connectivity and phylogenetic relationships. We inferred current and historical effective population sizes and combined these with tests for ecological differentiation based on available occurrence data to re‐evaluate the conservation status of E. nivalis.Our results confirm that Swiss and Austrian E. nivalis should be considered different evolutionarily significant units for conservation purposes, as they are marked by moderate genomic differentiation, distinct demographic histories and a difference in the abiotic conditions of their habitats.In both Austria and Switzerland, we found rapid uphill range shifts over the last decades, little population connectivity, low current effective population sizes and low genetic diversity. The above, combined with the low dispersal capacity of this 2‐year lifecycle species and its need to overwinter under snow, which is rapidly retreating from several regions of the Alps, leads us to suggest that the status of E. nivalis should be updated to 'Vulnerable' or 'Endangered' in the European, Swiss and Austrian Red Lists. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and purpose: Rituximab (RTX) is frequently used off‐label in multiple sclerosis. However, studies on the risk–benefit profile of RTX in pediatric‐onset multiple sclerosis are scarce. Methods: In this multicenter retrospective cohort study, patients with pediatric‐onset multiple sclerosis from Sweden, Austria and Germany, who received RTX treatment were identified by chart review. Annualized relapse rates, Expanded Disability Status Scale scores and magnetic resonance imaging parameters (new T2 lesions and contrast‐enhancing lesions) were assessed before and during RTX treatment. The proportion of patients who remained free from clinical and disease activity (NEDA‐3) during RTX treatment was calculated. Side effects such as infusion‐related reactions, infections and laboratory abnormalities were assessed. Results: Sixty‐one patients received RTX during a median (interquartile range) follow‐up period of 20.9 (35.6) months. The annualized relapse rate decreased from 0.6 (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.38–0.92) to 0.03 (95% CI 0.02–0.14). The annual rate of new T2 lesions decreased from 1.25 (95% CI 0.70–2.48) to 0.08 (95% CI 0.03–0.25) and annual rates of new contrast‐enhancing lesions decreased from 0.86 (95% CI 0.30–3.96) to 0. Overall, 70% of patients displayed no evidence of disease activity (NEDA‐3). Adverse events were observed in 67% of patients. Six patients discontinued treatment due to ongoing disease activity or adverse events. Conclusion: Our study provides class IV evidence that RTX reduces clinical and radiological activity in pediatric‐onset multiple sclerosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary: Excessive fragmentary myoclonus (EFM) is a frequent finding during routine video‐polysomnography (VPSG). We aimed to automatically measure the prevalence of EFM according to current American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM) criteria, and the fragmentary myoclonus index (FMI) in sleep stage N1, N2, N3, rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and wake in a large patient population. A total of 500 VPSG recordings of patients admitted to the Sleep Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Austria, between May 1, 2022 and February 28, 2023, were included. EFM according to AASM criteria and FMI were computed by applying a previously validated algorithm. EFM was automatically detected in 121 of the 500 Sleep Laboratory patients (24.2%, 95% confidence interval 20.1%–28.9%). FMI increased with age, male gender, apnea–hypopnea‐index (AHI), oxygen desaturation index (ODI), and periodic leg movements of sleep (PLMS) index. FMI was highest in REM sleep behaviour disorder (RBD), followed by neurodegenerative and internal medicine diseases, but the increase in the FMI was not explained by the disease itself but rather by the age and sex of the patients. Almost a quarter of our patient population had EFM. However, the prevalence of EFM does not allow the drawing of any conclusions about the pathophysiology of EFM or even the determination of a pathological FMI cut‐off value. Associations of the FMI with age, sex, AHI, ODI and PLMS are in line with previous studies, but the FMI needs to be evaluated in different disease entities to learn more about its pathophysiology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Existing patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) for chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) use a variety of recall periods and response scales to assess CRS symptom burden. Global perspectives of CRS patients regarding optimal recall periods and response scales for CRS PROMs are unknown. Methods: This was a multi-center, cross-sectional study recruiting 461 CRS patients from sites across the United States, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, and Austria. Participants chose which CRS symptom recall period (1 day, 2 weeks, 1 month, >1 month) was most reflective of their current disease state and upon which to best base treatment recommendations (including surgery). Participants also chose which of six response scales (one visual analogue scale and five Likert scales ranging from four to eight items) was easiest to use, understand, and preferred. Results: A plurality of participants (40.0%) felt their CRS symptoms' current state was best reflected by a 1-month recall period. However, most patients (56.9%) preferred treatment recommendations to be determined by symptoms experienced over a >1 month period. The four- and five-item Likert scales were the easiest to understand (26.0% and 25.4%, respectively) and use (23.4% and 26.7%, respectively). The five-item (26.4% rating it most preferred and 70.9% rating it preferred) and four-item Likert (22.3% rating it most preferred and 56.4% rating it preferred) response scales were most preferred. Conclusion: Future PROMs for CRS should consider assessment of symptoms over a 1-month period and use a four- or five-itemLikert response scale to reflect global patient preferences. These findings also inform interpretation of current CRS PROMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: We investigated the influence of physiological‐based cord clamping (PBCC) on cardiorespiratory stability in very low birth weight (VLBW) infants during the first 72 h of life. Methods: This retrospective study comprised VLBW infants born at <32 + 0 weeks of gestation and admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit of the Medical University of Graz, Austria, from December 2014 to April 2021. VLBW infants delivered with PBCC were matched by gestational age and birth weight to delayed cord clamping controls. The PBCC group was stabilised after birth with an intact cord. Routine monitoring parameters were compared between the groups. Results: We included 54 VLBW infants. The mean gestational ages of the PBCC group and controls were 27.4 ± 1.9 versus 27.4 ± 1.8 weeks (p = 0.87), and the mean birth weights were 912 ± 288 versus 915 ± 285 g (p = 0.96), respectively. The mean cord clamping time was 191 ± 78 s in the PBCC group. Heart rate was lower in the PBCC group during the first 3 days after birth, reaching significance by 10 h. Other monitoring parameters did not reveal any differences between the two groups. Conclusion: PBCC stabilised cardiorespiratory parameters in VLBW infants. The lower heart rate in the PBCC group suggested higher blood volume following intact cord resuscitation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public sector professions are highly gender‐dominant (e.g., police officers, teachers) and determined not only by professionals but also by gender roles. According to the role congruity theory, these social roles result in perceived (in)congruities between the jobholders' gender and gender‐dominant professions. This research investigates this intersection for several professions. Throughout three large‐scale surveys (conducted in Austria), we first document the gender dominance of various public sector professions, and further analyze the effects from (in)congruities in gender‐dominant professions. The findings are two‐fold: First, for police officers, firefighters, politicians, nurses, and teachers, (in)congruities of job‐holder's gender with gender dominance of the profession result in positive (negative) ascriptions of job‐related traits. However, (in)congruity effects are not confirmed for other gender‐dominant professions outside the public sector. Second, no (in)congruity effects are found for perceived professionalism. Findings are important for policy makers, as well as recruiters and employers who aim to reduce gender‐related disadvantages within public sector employment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The application of Mott–Schottky (M−S) analysis of impedance data to sub–micro samples extracted from the corrosion patina of copper, bronze, and brass archaeological artifacts attached to graphite electrodes is described. The corresponding theoretical approach is developed to account for the contribution of the composition and structure of the corrosion patina and the effect of the bare graphite substrate. Experimental data in contact with 0.10 M Na2SO4 aqueous solution at pH 6.28 are consistent with the p‐type semiconducting nature of the main copper corrosion products, cuprite, and tenorite. The values of the apparent flat band potential and the slope of the M−S plots allow archaeological samples to be grouped according to their M−S parameters (slopes and intercepts). Assuming equivalent conditions of corrosion, the resulting grouping is judged to be dependent on the composition, and/or method of manufacture, and/or age. Studied samples include Renaissance statues from the Hofkirche in Innsbruck and a variety of objects from museums and Archaeological Heritage Office (soprintendenza) in Austria (Bad Aussee, Johanneum Graz, and the Tyrolean State Museums), and Italy (Genoa and San Remo), dating from the Bronze Age to the 18th century. Complementary data are provided by voltammetry of immobilized particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Authigenic Mg‐calcite and dolomite are frequently observed in restricted, evaporative environments, such as lagoon or lake systems, but their formation is difficult to capture due to slow growth rates. Lake Neusiedl, an alkaline and subhaline lake with a mean water depth of 0.7 m in Austria, offers a natural system to study the precipitation of Ca‐Mg‐carbonate phases, which occur as fine‐grained, unconsolidated and largely homogenized mud. To elucidate the timing and formation mechanisms of these authigenic carbonate phases, the mineralogical and isotopic composition and radiocarbon age of different sediment grain‐size fractions from <0.2 to >3.0 μm were analysed. X‐ray diffraction analyses show two broad peaks of Mg‐calcite and protodolomite (lacking ordering peaks), suggesting that the carbonates are authigenic rather than detrital in origin. Calibrated carbon‐14 ages range between 200 cal yr bp and 3700 cal yr bp. The linear correlation of age and grain size suggests a very slow growth rate of single crystals of 0.23 to 0.60 μm/ka. These rates suggest an extremely slow sedimentation rate in a shallow lake that existed during most of the Holocene. The higher abundance of protodolomite in older grain fractions, in contrast to the presence of high‐Mg calcite in the youngest fractions, suggests a growth succession where high‐Mg calcite develops first and subsequently transforms into protodolomite. Much higher ages of 6 cal ka bp to 15 cal ka bp are measured in carbonates of lake deposits exposed on land, in a section north‐west of the recent lake, suggesting a growth rate of those carbonate minerals of 0.13 μm/ka. These time constraints further suggest that some carbonate grains could already have nucleated from lake water before or during the last glacial maximum, although under slightly different hydrochemical conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

How much, and in what ways, do cultural ideas contribute to understanding cross‐national differences in the extent of long‐term care (LTC) policy marketisation? We argue that differences in cultural ideas in the political sphere about 'ideal' ways of organising the provision of care shed light on these differences, relatively independently of the governing parties' positions on the left/right spectrum. Our comparative case study of two conservative welfare states, Germany and Austria, supports this argument. LTC policy marketisation in the mid‐1990s was, in both cases, based on left‐libertarian ideas. While these ideas gained strong political support from parties across the left/right spectrum in Austria, they were combined with etatist ideas in Germany, resulting in a substantially lower potential for marketisation in Germany's LTC policy. Our study also shows that, by contrast with neo‐liberal ideas, left‐libertarian ideas address care recipients' self‐determination and divert attention away from social problems associated with LTC marketisation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A field campaign in a valley near Seefeld, Austria, well known for the frequent occurrence of cold‐air pools, was conducted to identify the processes leading to the formation and erosion of the cold‐air pool. Here, we focus on a case study in January 2020 that featured cold‐air pool formation interrupted by a wind disturbance. Simulations with the Weather Research and Forecasting model were performed at a horizontal grid spacing of 40 m and compared with measurement results. The model was able to reproduce the intense cooling in the beginning of the night and the cold‐air pool erosion in the middle of the night caused by the wind disturbance, but stronger winds than observed prevented the cold‐air pool from fully re‐establishing in the model after the disturbance. The dominant cooling processes were long‐wave radiative heat loss and turbulent exchange, both of which are parametrized and cool the air locally. Advection was the most important warming contribution during the cold‐air pool disturbances, especially its cross‐valley and vertical components. Owing to numerical constraints and the shallow nature of the cold‐air pool, its extent was limited to the lowest model level. Further improvements to the cold‐air pool's representation in the model would require a finer grid resolution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

DNA metabarcoding has developed into a commonly used tool for biodiversity assessment and monitoring. How results from DNA metabarcoding are compared with studies based on 'classic', in most cases morphological species identification, is still unclear. Studies investigating species detection against a known baseline are virtually non‐existent.In this study, we used light trap samples collected in eastern Austria to investigate the concordance between morphological species lists and results obtained from COI metabarcoding using the Illumina MiSeq platform. Two primer combinations of different lengths (313 and 205 bp) were compared to assess the influence of amplicon length.Species detection rates ranged between 0.38 and 0.69; the shorter amplicon had on average higher species detection rates compared with the longer amplicon. Singleton species were less likely to be detected through metabarcoding.The major determinant for a species to be detected was its biomass, viz. smaller species had a lower chance to be detected. However, there is also evidence of taxonomic bias on the level of superfamilies. While the influence of biomass is to be expected, the presence of taxonomic bias gives reason for concern and requires further studies. Such a bias can be of significance when metabarcoding is used to determine conservation measures. Ordination analyses of all sampling sites showed that as far as community ecology is concerned, the overall pattern obtained from the full species list was mostly preserved in our metabarcoding results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While mountain family farmers rely on cultural, financial and material resources passed on from previous generations, new entrants typically lack such intergenerational amenities. Applying the concept of ‘generativity’ to agriculture prove valuable in examining start-up motives, obstacles, opportunities and impacts regarding generational renewal via newcomers without a family farming background. Following a multilevel approach, we interviewed new entrants, long-established family farmers and members of agricultural organisations in three Alpine regions of Austria and Italy. We illustrate that family farmers primarily care for their farm’s continued existence, while new entrants seek autonomy from the agricultural industry, thus transmitting the relevance of agriculture beyond their offspring. At first sight, land access is a major hurdle for new entrants, as agricultural land is reserved for family farmers. By taking over abandoned farms, new entrants escape constraints imposed by previous farming generations, thus facilitating the introduction of novel operating concepts and the regeneration of traditional practices. Consequently, newcomer farms are transforming from previously exclusive production sites into open spaces of exchange that include non-agricultural communities, reconnecting land, production and consumption. We conclude that a lack of family farming ties may foster extra-familial renewal and sustainability in mountain agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To compare implant survival and complication rates between shorter and standard‐length implants with sinus augmentation and restored with single crowns, at 10 years of loading. Materials and Methods: One‐hundred and one patients (137 implants) with a ridge height of 5–7 mm in the posterior maxilla were randomly assigned to two treatment modalities: shorter implants (6 mm) (group short [GS]) or standard‐length implants (11–15 mm) with sinus grafting (group graft [GG]). Following the insertion of final restorations, patients were regularly recalled for up to 10 years. Assessed outcomes encompassed implant survival, marginal bone levels (MBLs), biological and technical parameters and patient‐reported outcome measures (OHIP‐49 = Oral Health Impact Profile). Non‐parametric statistical analysis was used to analyse the data. Results: For the 5‐ to 10‐year follow‐up period, 77 patients with 105 implants (GS: 36 patients/48 implants; GG: 41/57) were available for re‐examination (drop‐out rate 21%). Implant survival rates at the patient level were 96.0% (GS; 2 failures) and 100% (GG) (inter‐group p =.24). Median MBLs amounted to 0.00 mm (min 0.00; max 3.25; GS) and 0.00 mm (min 0.00; max 4.55; GG) (inter‐group p =.73). Technical complications predominantly occurred within the first 5 years (inter‐group p >.05). Peri‐implantitis rates were 4.2% (GS) and 13.3% (GG) (intergroup p =.37). Median OHIP‐49 scores were 7.00 (0.00; 39.00; GS) and 9.00 (0.00; 196; GG) (inter‐group p =.61) at 10 years. Conclusions: Based on similar 10‐year implant survival rates, reduced patient morbidity and lower costs, the use of shorter dental implants might well serve as an alternative treatment concept to longer implants placed in conjunction with sinus grafting for patients with a limited ridge height in the posterior maxilla. Study register: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01030523. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mountain communities in Alpine areas are prone to natural hazard events and sensitive to climate change. In these areas, where communities are complex human‐environmental entanglements, strong community resilience is essential. Community resilience is shaped by a set of interacting domains that provide insights into a community's resilience level and highlights the proactive human agency the domains contain. The relevance of human agency for the natural, economic, social, cultural, and political domains has not yet been revealed. This study explores the interdependencies of the community resilience domains, particularly the natural domain, through the lens of social representation theory. Qualitative data from two remote mountain villages in the Upper Ötztal Valley in Tyrol, Austria, were analyzed. The research reveals that the natural domain is shaped through its social representation. Understanding this social representation contributes to a broader understanding of community resilience and can empower communities to harness the capacities that enhance it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development of better, more reliable and more efficient susceptibility assessments for shallow landslides is becoming increasingly important. Physically based models are well‐suited for this, due to their high predictive capability. However, their demands for large, high‐resolution and detailed input datasets make them very time‐consuming and costly methods. This study investigates if a spatially transferable model calibration can be created with the use of parameter ensembles and with this alleviate the time‐consuming calibration process of these methods. To investigate this, the study compares the calibration of the model TRIGRS in two different study areas. The first study area was taken from a previous study where the dynamic physically based model TRIGRS was calibrated for the Laternser valley in Vorarlberg, Austria. The calibrated parameter ensemble and its performance from this previous study are compared with a calibrated parameter ensemble of the model TRIGRS for the Passeier valley in South Tyrol, Italy. The comparison showed very similar model performance and large similarities in the calibrated geotechnical parameter values of the best model runs in both study areas. There is a subset of calibrated geotechnical parameter values that can be used successfully in both study areas and potentially other study areas with similar lithological characteristics. For the hydraulic parameters, the study did not find a transferable parameter subset. These parameters seem to be more sensitive to different soil types. Additionally, the results of the study also showed the importance of the inclusion of detailed information on the timing of landslide initiation in the calibration of the model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many countries, large families with three or more children have high income poverty rates. In this article, we aim to understand why this is the case by examining the relevance of family structure, socio‐economic characteristics, and welfare state transfers targeted at this family form. For our analyses, we use cross‐sectional data from three waves (2017–2019) of the Austrian European Union Statistics on Income and Living Conditions dataset. Our results, based on descriptive statistics, logistic regressions, and decomposition analyses, confirm the higher poverty risk of large families compared with smaller families. However, when differentiating between poor and non‐poor families, it is not the family type that seems to be relevant in explaining the poverty risk, but rather the parental work intensity, the age of the youngest child, the place of residence, being a single‐parent household, and the parental migration background. Moreover, cash transfers from the welfare state, in particular family benefits, contribute to reducing poverty for a significant number of large families. Policy makers are therefore well advised to either further increase the cash transfers targeted at large families, and/or to improve the employability and ultimately the work intensity of parents in large families in order to reduce their income poverty risk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The participation of people with intellectual disabilities in Special Olympics sports and training opportunities offers numerous benefits for health and inclusion. However, little is known about the impact of such training on physical activity behaviour. Here, we evaluate the differences in physical activity volume and intensity of Special Olympics athletes between Unified and non‐Unified football training. Method: Accelerometer data of 12 male athletes from eight standardised training sessions (four Unified, four non‐Unified) were analysed. Results: While there was no statistically significant difference for the main part of the training, athletes showed higher levels of physical activity intensity (MVPA: Mdiff = 11.74%; 95% CI = 5.50–17.97) and volume (average acceleration ENMO: Mdiff = 112.82 mg; 95% CI = 24.73–200.90) in a Unified compared to non‐Unified endurance‐related exercise task. Conclusion: Understanding physical activity participation in different training types can help to design and implement future training programmes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: Cost containment and quality of care considerations have increased research interest in the potential preventability of early re‐hospitalisations. Various registry‐based retrospective cohort studies on psychiatric re‐hospitalisation have focused on the role of early post‐discharge service contacts, but either did not consider their time‐dependent nature ('immortal time bias') or evaded the issue by analysing late re‐hospitalisations. The present study takes care of the immortal time bias in studying early psychiatric re‐hospitalisations. Methods: In a retrospective cohort study using nationwide electronic claims data in Austria, 10,689 adults discharged from acute psychiatric inpatient wards were followed up for 30 days. Cox regression analyses were performed with post‐discharge psychiatric and general practitioner contacts as time‐dependent covariates and time to first psychiatric re‐hospitalisation as outcome. Results: Post‐discharge ambulatory physician contacts were significantly associated with a decreased psychiatric re‐hospitalisation rate (hazard ratio 0.77 [95% CI 0.69; 0.87], p < 0.0001), with similarly strong contributions to this association by general practitioners and psychiatrists. Conclusions: Despite avoiding the immortal time bias and controlling for several confounders, we suggest to be cautious with a causal interpretation of the identified association, since potentially relevant confounders, such as disease severity, were unavailable in our claims data base. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]