Carinthian Economic Promotion Fund

In geotechnical engineering, various material models are available for numerical calculations, differing in formulation, applicability, and complexity. Selecting the right one is crucial for accurate results and high‐quality predictions. Therefore, understanding the interactions between the material model's mathematical structure, input parameters, and the modelling process is essential. This paper investigates the impact and sensitivity of input parameters for the linear‐elastic, ideal plastic Mohr‐Coulomb Model, the elasto‐plastic Hardening Soil Model, and the Soft Soil Model, focusing on tunnel cross‐section deformations in challenging soft soils.Using the Finite Element Method Plaxis2D, a model accounting for relevant tunnelling boundary conditions is created. The three material models are calibrated based on simulated oedometric and triaxial tests to ensure comparable soil behaviour. The results demonstrate that the cross‐sectional deformations determined from the two non‐linear material models exhibit minimal discrepancy. For both, the heave of the invert, a consequence of tunnel excavation‐induced unloading, represents the most significant deformation. The linear one proves to be inappropriate for modelling the given context due to an unrealistically large heave. The subsequent sensitivity analysis highlights the relevance of the soil unit weight γ, the stiffness in the HSM and the swelling coefficient κ* and the Poisson's ratio νur in the SSM.

Smart energy technologies are considered to expedite our energy system transition, which is required to meet the zero-carbon emission goals by 2050. These technologies offer new possibilities to manage energy demand and supply, especially considering the increasing share of renewable energy sources and the ongoing emergence of decentralized energy concepts. Whilst previous studies have predominantly investigated drivers for and barriers to individuals' intention to adopt smart energy technologies, the present study was carried out to investigate drivers and barriers that influence the individuals’ actual decision to adopt these technologies and explores the role of co-adoption of related technologies (renewable energy technologies and electric vehicles). Therefore, an extended version of Technology Acceptance model (i.e. encompassing the perceived risk and the adoption of renewable energy technologies and electric vehicles) was included in an online survey with a national quota-representative sample (n = 521). A binary logistic regression analysis of data collected in this survey shows that the adoption of renewable energy technologies and electric vehicles, as well as perceived ease of use and attitude, encourage individuals to adopt smart energy technologies, whereby the adoption of electric vehicles has the strongest effect on their decision to adopt smart energy technologies. Our results indicate that the process of co-adopting energy-related technologies is ongoing, increasing the enabling potential to support an energy system transition.

BackgroundPrevotella histicola is a facultative oral pathogen that under certain conditions causes pathologies such as caries and periodontitis in humans. Prevotella spp. also colonize the oral cavity of horses and can cause disease, but P. histicola has not yet been identified.Case presentationA 12-year-old Tinker mare was referred to the clinic for persistent, malodorous purulent nasal discharge and quidding. Conservative antibiotic (penicillin), antiphlogistic (meloxicam), and mucolytic (dembrexine-hydrochloride) treatment prior to referral was unsuccessful and symptoms worsened. Oral examination, radiography, sino-/ rhinoscopy, and standing computed tomography revealed severe apical/ periapical infection of the upper cheek tooth 209 with accompanying unilateral sinonasal inflammation and conchal necrosis. The tooth exhibited extensive subocclusal mesial infundibular cemental hypoplasia and caries, and an occlusal fissure fracture. After mechanical debridement and thermoplastic resin filling of the spacious subocclusal carious infundibular lesion, the tooth was extracted intraorally. The sinusitis and conchal necrosis were treated transendoscopically. Selective bacteriological swab cultures of affected tooth roots and subsequent matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry showed an infection with the obligate anaerobic, Gram-negative bacterium P. histicola. Surgical intervention and adapted antibiotic therapy led to normal healing without complications.ConclusionsThis study provides the first documented case of dental infection in a horse caused by P. histicola at once indicating necessity of more sufficient microbiological diagnostics and targeted antibiotic treatment in equine dental practice. This finding is also conducive to understand species-specific Prevotella diversity and cross-species distribution.

Illegal animal trade (pet, wildlife, animal products, etc.) is an example of transnational organized crime (T.O.C.) that generates a large business with huge profit margins. This criminal activity causes several negative effects on human health (zoonoses), animal health and welfare, market protection, consumer fraud and may be used as tool of agro/bio-terrorism. Illegal animal trade can facilitate the spread of zoonoses that are defined as diseases and infections that are transmitted by vertebrate animals to man. Humans are affected by more than 1,700 known pathogens: 60% of existing human infectious diseases are zoonotic and at least 75% of emerging infectious diseases of humans have an animal origin and 72% of zoonoses originate from wildlife or exotic animals. The Bio-Crime Project was developed in 2017 by Friuli Venezia Giulia Region (Italy) and Land Carinthia (Austria) together with other public institutions to combat illegal animal trade and to reduce the risk of disease transmission from animals to humans. Project partners agreed that a multi-agency approach was required to tackle the illegal animal trade that was high value, easy to undertake and transnational crime. The Bio-crime model of cross-border cooperation introduces the novel approach of replicating the cooperative framework given by the triad of Veterinary Public Health, Justice and Law Enforcements/Customs across borders using the International Police and Custom Cooperation Centres (IPCCCs) as a connection link among public entities of the neighbor countries. This model has been recognized as a best practice at European level because it can be easily replicated and scaled up without any supplementary cost for Member States.

To study the impact of periarterial papaverine application on the postoperative glomerular filtration rate (GFR) after retroperitoneoscopic partial nephrectomy (PN). A consecutive series of patients underwent retroperitoneoscopic PN with intraoperative, periarterial application of 50 mg of papaverine. These patients were compared with a group of patients who underwent retroperitoneoscopic PN at this institution prior to this protocol. Patients were matched for preoperative GFR, tumor size, ischemia time, and operative time. In total, 37 patients who received periarterial papaverine (P) and 37 patients without periarterial papaverine, who served as controls (C), were included in this analysis and matched according to preoperative GFR (P: 98.2, C: 97.8 ml/min/1.72 m(2)), tumor size (P: 2.5 cm, C: 2.5 cm), ischemia time (P: 22 min, C: 23 min), and operative time (P: 86 min, C: 85 min). Postoperative GFR was 86.4 ml/min/1.72 m(2) in controls (C) and 91.8 ml/min/1.72 m(2) in the papaverine group. The pre- to postoperative decrease in GFR was reduced by 56.9% in the papaverine group compared with controls (relative decrease in GFR: P: 5.3% vs. C: 12.5%; P = 0.02). Intra- and postoperative complications were pneumothorax (P: n = 2, C: n = 3), urinary fistula (P: n = 0, C: n = 2), and one suture-fixed drainage (P: n = 1, C: n = 0). No papaverine-related side effects were observed, and the surgical procedure was not hampered by the periarterial application of papaverine. As with laparoscopic donor nephrectomy, periarterial papaverine seems to improve postoperative renal function after retroperitoneoscopic partial nephrectomy. This nephroprotective effect might be particularly advantageous for patients with an impaired renal function preoperatively.

We hypothesised that increasing winter affluence and summer temperatures, anticipated in southern Europe with climate change, will deteriorate the ecological status of lakes, especially in those with shorter retention time. We tested these hypotheses analysing weekly phytoplankton and chemistry data collected over 2 years of contrasting weather from two adjacent stratified lakes in North Italy, differing from each other by trophic state and water retention time. Dissolved oxygen concentrations were higher in colder hypolimnia of both lakes in the second year following the cold winter, despite the second summer was warmer and the lakes more strongly stratified. Higher loading during the rainy winter and spring increased nutrient (N, P, Si) concentrations, and a phytoplankton based trophic state index, whilst the N/P ratio decreased in both lakes. The weakened Si limitation in the second year enabled an increase of diatom biovolumes in spring in both lakes. Chlorophyll a concentration increased in the oligo-mesotrophic lake, but dropped markedly in the eutrophic lake where the series of commonly occurring cyanobacteria blooms was interrupted. The projected increase of winter precipitation in southern Europe is likely to increase the nutrient loadings to lakes and contribute to their eutrophication. The impact is proportional to the runoff/in-lake concentration ratio of nutrients rather than to the retention time, and is more pronounced in lakes with lower trophy.

Die KELAG-Karntner Elektrizitats-Aktiengesellschaft betreibt uber 60 Kraftwerke, eine grose Anzahl davon sind Kleinwasserkraftwerke. Die altesten sind uber 100 Jahre in Betrieb. In den vergangenen 20 Jahren wurden umfangreiche Sanierungen, Revitalisierungen und Modernisierungen an diesen Kraftwerken durchgefuhrt, wobei diesen Tatigkeiten unterschiedlichste Zielsetzungen voraus gingen. Neben baulichen Ertuchtigungen und Anpassungen an okologische Erfordernisse wurden vielfach Modernisierungen durch Automatisierung, Fernuberwachung/Fernsteuerung und Leittechnikverbesserung sowie sicherheitstechnische Anpassungen an den Stand der Technik umgesetzt. In einigen Fallen konnten nennenswerte Wirkungsgradverbesserungen erzielt werden. Im Folgenden werden ausgewahlte Beispiele im Detail beschrieben.