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The results of integrated human and veterinary surveillance for West Nile virus (WNV) infections in Austria during the transmission seasons 2015 and 2016 are shown. Altogether WNV nucleic acid was detected in 21 humans, horses, wild birds and mosquito pools. In detail: in four human clinical cases [two cases of West Nile fever (WNF) and two cases of West Nile neuroinvasive disease (WNND)]; eight blood donors [among 145,541 tested donations], of which three remained asymptomatic and five subsequently developed mild WNF; two horses with WNND, of which one recovered and one had to be euthanized; two wild birds [one goshawk and one falcon, both succumbed to WNND]; and five Culex pipiens mosquito pools. Compared to previous years the number of infections increased remarkably. All infections were recorded in the city of Vienna and neighboring regions of Lower Austria. Sixteen coding-complete WNV sequences were established which were closely related to each other and to other Austrian, Czech and Italian viruses, all belonging to the Central/Southern European cluster of WNV sublineage 2d. However, several genetically slightly different WNV strains seem to co-circulate in the same area, as demonstrated by phylogenetic analysis. Based on detailed sequence analysis, all newly discovered Austrian WNV strains had the potential to cause neurological disease, but no correlation was found between severity of disease and the analyzed genetic virulence/neuroinvasiveness markers. Results of integrated human-animal-vector surveillance presented in this paper provide a comprehensive description of WNV activity in the region and will facilitate proactive public health measures to prevent or mitigate potential outbreaks.

Schmallenberg virus (SBV) has emerged in summer-autumn 2011 in north-western Europe. Since then, SBV has been continuously spreading over Europe, including Austria, where antibodies to SBV, as well as SBV genome, were first detected in autumn 2012. This study was performed to demonstrate the dynamics of SBV spread within Austria, after its probable first introduction in summer 2012. True seroprevalence estimates for cattle and small ruminates were calculated to demonstrate temporal and regional differences of infection. Furthermore, the probability of SBV genome detection in foetal tissues of aborted or stillborn cattle and small ruminants as well as in allantoic fluid samples from cows with early foetal losses was retrospectively assessed. SBV first reached Austria most likely in July-August 2012, as indicated by retrospective detection of SBV antibodies and SBV genome in archived samples. From August to October 2012, a rapid increase in seroprevalence to over 98% in cattle and a contemporaneous peak in the detection of SBV genome in foetal tissues and allantoic fluid samples was noted, indicating widespread acute infections. Notably, foetal malformations were absent in RT-qPCR positive foetuses at this time of the epidemic. SBV spread within Austrian cattle reached a plateau phase as early as October 2012, without significant regional differences in SBV seroprevalence (98.4-100%). Estimated true seroprevalences among small ruminates were comparatively lower than in cattle and regionally different (58.3-95.6% in October 2012), potentially indicating an eastward spread of the infection, as well as different infection dynamics between cattle and small ruminants. Additionally, the probability of SBV genome detection over time differed significantly between small ruminant and cattle samples subjected to RT-qPCR testing.

In this study serological investigations were performed to determine the prevalence of pestiviral infections in sheep in one Federal State of Austria, namely Carinthia. 1527 blood samples from sheep in 147 flocks were collected and tested by Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and virus-neutralisation tests for antibodies to ruminant pestiviruses. The estimated flock prevalence was 47.6%, the individual prevalence 16.3%. Significant geographical variations in the flock as well in the individual prevalence were found. The highest prevalence in sheep and in sheep flocks was established in the region Spittal/Drau with 25.9% and 69.7%.The individual and the flock prevalence was significantly higher on farms where cattle or sheep from other farms were present than on farms with no cattle (p0.017). All Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay positive sera were tested for Bovine viral diarrhea virus-1 (strain NADL), Bovine viral diarrhea virus-2 (strain 125) and for Border disease virus (strain MOREDUN) by virus neutralisation tests. Seventy out of 249 positive samples revealed the highest titres (or = two-fold) to Bovine viral diarrhea virus-1 and 25 to Border disease virus. The remaining positive samples did not show clear results because of cross reactions.

Der Management Buy Out ist in der Net Economy immer haufiger zu beobachten. Aufgrund der kritischen Situation der Kapitalmarkte und des Nachfrageverhaltens stellt er in vielen Fallen den einzigen Weg fur einen Exit und Erzeugung von Liquiditat fur den Verkaufer dar. Fur das Management von Unternehmen in der Net Economy ergibt sich daraus eine einmalige Situation und starke Verhandlungsposition, die jedoch erst nach einer grundlichen und selbstkritischen Analyse zum Kauf des eigenen Unternehmens genutzt werden sollte. Die zu prufende Tragfahigkeit von Geschaftsmodellen, insbesondere die Erzeugung von ausreichender Liquiditat, stellt in der Net Economy nach wie vor die groste Herausforderung dar.

A modified frame memory, the Picture Processing RAM (PPRAM), is proposed for motion estimation. Due to the high input data flow of compression algorithms the PPRAM has been enabled to perform the necessary calculations besides the frame memory cells on the same device. Therefore a small number of logic circuits, less than 5% of the total number of transistors, has to be added to a regular frame memory. This reduces the number of transistors for the compression algorithm and the input data rate significantly.© (1992) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

Using bromocresol green as a visual endpoint indicator solutions of the cryptands [2.2.1] and [2.2.2] can be determined by titration with HCl in the concentration range of 10−1–10−3 M with relative standard deviations of 0.2–0.4 %. If both cryptand and cryptate are present in one solution, then the sum of them can be determined titrimetrically in the same way. It is also possible to determine the contents of [2.2.1] and [2.2.2] by using a calcium or barium standard solution and the unknown cryptand solution as a titrant. By evaluation of the pH-curve thus obtained, the endpoint of the titration can be determined. In the concentration range of 10−1–10−2 M relative standard deviations of about 0.5% are obtained. [2.2.1] cryptand solutions are determined by using the standard addition technique of Gran with a calcium chloride solution. An ion-selective electrode is used as a probe for calcium ions. If this method is applied, the relative standard deviation in the range of 10−2–10−4 M solutions is approximately 3%. With this technique cryptand can be analysed even when cryptate is present in the solution.

The calcium isotope separation in the liquid-liquid extraction system H2O/CHCl3 is investigated using [2.2.1] and [2.2.2] cryptands for complex formation as well as without complexing agent. An extraction procedure is used which allows the transfer of larger amounts of calcium into the CHCl3 phase although the high distribution coefficient favours calcium in the H2O phase. Without complexing agent in the extraction system, enrichment of the lighter calcium isotopes is already evident in the CHCl3 phase which is just the same as when using [2.2.1] cryptand. In the case of [2.2.2] cryptand as a complexing agent, the isotope separation is higher. The separation factor is calculated to be α = 1 + ε = 1.011 for 40Ca/ 48Ca without complexing agent or with [2.2.1] cryptand and α = 1.015 in the system with [2.2.2] cryptand. For 40Ca/44Ca the ε-value is smaller by nearly a factor of two. These separation factors are the highest which are determined in chemical systems for calcium isotopes