Emissions-weighted carbon price: sources and methods.

This note describes the sources and methods used to calculate the emissions-weighted carbon price (ECP), the average price applied to CO emissions across all sources of emissions within a territorial jurisdiction by all carbon pricing mechanisms in force. It provides a transparent summary of the stringency of carbon pricing mechanisms in force within a given jurisdiction and allows for a straightforward comparison of that stringency across jurisdictions. It also describes the methodology behind two closely connected calculations: (i) sector-level carbon prices (by IPCC categories of emissions by sources and by categories of economic activity, respectively), (ii) industry- and country-level carbon costs.

Opportunities, Risks, Strengths and Weaknesses of Robotic Systems in Early Neurological Rehabilitation.

Given the conference's focus on innovative healthcare solutions, our investigation into robotic assistance systems highlights crucial advancements in early motor rehabilitation, aligning closely with emerging healthcare priorities. In combination with conventional therapy, the assistance systems offer new possible therapy programs. They can be used to mobilize and move patients as early as possible.

C-reactive protein flare predicts response to checkpoint inhibitor treatment in melanoma.

Background: The treatment of melanoma has been revolutionized by the use of immune checkpoint inhibition (ICI), but many patients do not benefit. Furthermore, immune-related adverse events may occur during therapy. A predictive biomarker is needed to reliably identify patients benefitting.

Physical Activity, Depression and Quality of Life in COPD - Results from the CLARA II Study.

Background: Symptoms of depression, pain and limitations in physical activity may affect quality of life in COPD patients independent from their respiratory burden. We aimed to analyze the associations of these factors in outpatients with COPD in Austria in a stable phase of disease.

Methods: We conducted a national, cross-sectional study among patients with COPD.

Favorable rates of return to activity and work following lateral closing wedge distal femoral osteotomy for femoral-based symptomatic varus malalignment: an analysis at a mean 6-year follow-up.

Purpose: To evaluate return to sport (RTS), work (RTW) and clinical outcomes following lateral closing wedge distal femoral osteotomy (LCW-DFO) for symptomatic femoral varus malalignment.

Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent LCW-DFO for symptomatic varus malalignment between 12/2007 and 03/2018 were included. The International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Score, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Lysholm score, Tegner Activity Scale, and visual analogue scale (VAS) for pain were collected preoperatively and at a minimum of 24 months postoperatively.

How different COVID-19 recovery paths affect human health, environmental sustainability, and food affordability: a modelling study.

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic arrived at a time of faltering global poverty reduction and increasing levels of diet-related diseases, both of which have a strong link to poor outcomes for those with COVID-19. Governments responded to the pandemic by placing unprecedented restrictions on internal and external movements, which have resulted in an economic contraction. In response to the economic shock, G20 governments have committed to providing US$14 trillion stimuli to support economic recovery.

Combined posterolateral knee reconstruction: ACL-based injuries perform better compared to PCL-based injuries.

Purpose: To compare post-operative physical activity and return to work after combined posterolateral corner (PLC) reconstruction (PLC-R) in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL)- or posterior cruciate ligament (PCL)-based injuries.

Methods: Patients aged > 18 years undergoing PLC-R using the Larson technique combined with either ACL or PCL reconstruction were included. Outcome was evaluated retrospectively after a minimum follow-up of 24 months using Tegner Activity Scale, Activity Rating Scale (ARS), Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), work intensity according to REFA classification, and a questionnaire about type of occupation and time to return to work.

Quality of Life and Limitations in Daily Life of Stable COPD Outpatients in a Real-World Setting in Austria - Results from the CLARA Project.

Background: COPD patients suffer from respiratory symptoms and limitations in daily life. We aimed to characterize the impact of disease on overall health, daily life, and perceived well-being in COPD outpatients.

Methods: We conducted a national, cross-sectional study among pulmonologists and general practitioners (GPs).

Double-stranded DNA induces a prothrombotic phenotype in the vascular endothelium.

Double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) constitutes a potent activator of innate immunity, given its ability to bind intracellular pattern recognition receptors during viral infections or sterile tissue damage. While effects of dsDNA in immune cells have been extensively studied, dsDNA signalling and its pathophysiological implications in non-immune cells, such as the vascular endothelium, remain poorly understood. The aim of this study was to characterize prothrombotic effects of dsDNA in vascular endothelial cells.

Arterial thrombosis in the context of HCV-associated vascular disease can be prevented by protein C.

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a major problem worldwide. HCV is not limited to liver disease but is frequently complicated by immune-mediated extrahepatic manifestations such as glomerulonephritis or vasculitis. A fatal complication of HCV-associated vascular disease is thrombosis.

The Quantity and Quality of Illegally Imported Products of Animal Origin in Personal Consignments into the European Union Seized at Two German Airports between 2010 And 2014.

The import of products of animal origin (POAO) in travellers' personal consignments presents a considerable risk of introducing animal diseases and emerging zoonoses into the European Union. The current regulation (EU) 206/2009 implements strict measures for illegally imported POAO, whereupon non-complying products have to be seized and destroyed regardless. Especially airports serve as global bottlenecks for illegally imported POAO where passenger controls of non-European flights are performed by customs and veterinary services in collaboration.

The value of dynamic radiographic myelography in addition to magnetic resonance imaging in detection lumbar spinal canal stenosis: A prospective study.

Objective: MRI is regarded as the study of choice in the diagnosis of lumbar spinal stenosis. In some cases, the supine MRI leads to a misdiagnosis in the extent of lumbar spinal stenosis. Dynamic myelography can detect lumbar spinal stenosis in these cases of where the MRI may not be as sensitive.

BK virus infection activates the TNFα/TNF receptor system in Polyomavirus-associated nephropathy.

Polyomavirus-associated nephropathy due to BK virus infection (BKVAN) is recognized as an important cause of significant kidney transplant dysfunction often leading to renal graft loss. The activation of innate immune defense mechanisms during BKVAN is still poorly understood and an altered regulation of inflammatory mediators by resident kidney cells upon viral infection can be expected to contribute to the onset and progression of disease. TNFα interacting with its receptors, TNF receptor 1 (TNFR1) and TNF receptor 2 (TNFR2), is largely accepted to be involved in viral responses, exhibiting both proinflammatory and immunosuppressive effects.

LL37 inhibits the inflammatory endothelial response induced by viral or endogenous DNA.

In viral infection, morbidity and mortality often result from extrahepatic disease manifestations such as vasculitis. We hereby show that human microvascular endothelial cells express viral receptors of the innate immune system which are induced upon ligand engagement. Furthermore, stimulation of endothelial cells with the synthetic analog of viral DNA, poly (dA:dT), human DNA and hepatitis B virus-containing immunoprecipitates from a patient with polyarteritis nodosa induces an inflammatory response including the upregulation of adhesion molecules, which is mediated exclusively by TLR9 and involves an IRF3-dependent pathway.

Hepatitis C virus induced endothelial inflammatory response depends on the functional expression of TNFα receptor subtype 2.

In hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, morbidity and mortality often result from extrahepatic disease manifestations. We provide evidence for a role of receptors of the innate immune system in virally induced inflammation of the endothelium in vitro and in vivo. Corresponding to the in vitro finding of an HCV-dependent induction of proinflammatory mediators in endothelial cells, mice treated with poly (I:C) exhibit a significant reduction in leukocyte rolling velocity, an increase in leukocyte adhesion to the vessel wall and an increased extravasation of leukocytes.

Morphometric subaxial lateral mass evaluation allows for preoperative optimal screw trajectory planning.

Purpose: Lateral mass (LM) fixation has become a standard in cervical spine instability treatment; however, maximal biomechanical stability combined with low morbidity remains a challenge. We evaluated our own patient cohort for bicortical screw placement and complication rates and investigated optimal screw trajectories with preoperative multiplanar computed tomography (CT) scans.

Methods: Fifty-five patients were retrospectively evaluated after LM fixation at various subaxial cervical spine levels with a modified Magerl technique.

Prothrombotic effects of tumor necrosis factor alpha in vivo are amplified by the absence of TNF-alpha receptor subtype 1 and require TNF-alpha receptor subtype 2.

Introduction: Elevated serum levels of the proinflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) correlate with an increased risk for atherothrombotic events and TNFα is known to induce prothrombotic molecules in endothelial cells. Based on the preexisting evidence for the impact of TNFα in the pathogenesis of autoimmune disorders and their known association with an acquired hypercoagulability, we investigated the effects of TNFα and the role of the TNF receptor subtypes TNFR1 and TNFR2 for arteriolar thrombosis in vivo.

Methods: Arteriolar thrombosis and platelet-rolling in vivo were investigated in wildtype, TNFR1-/-, TNFR2-/- and TNFR1-/R2-/- C57BL/6 mice using intravital microscopy in the dorsal skinfold chamber microcirculation model.

TNFα enhances TLR3-dependent effects on MMP-9 expression in human mesangial cells.

The role of MMPs (matrix metalloproteinases) in kidney diseases has been widely accepted, where they can regulate inflammatory response because of their effects on both recruitment and survival of inflammatory cells. TNFα (tumour necrosis factor α) has also been implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory kidney diseases, including forms of glomerulonephritis associated with viral diseases. Previously, we established the functional linkage between viral receptors of the innate immune system, the TLRs (Toll-like receptors) and control of MMP activity in human MC (mesangial cells).

Response of VEGF to activation of viral receptors and TNFα in human mesangial cells.

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) plays an important role in glomerular homeostasis as well as in the pathogenesis of kidney diseases as glomerulonephritis (GN) and diabetic nephropathy. Mesangial cells (MC), which are an integral part of the functional glomerular filtration barrier in that providing structural support, can behave like inflammatory cells and produce mediators as chemokines and growth factors; they are known to express viral receptors, with TLR3 having been attributed relevance in viral disease-associated GN. Experiments were performed on human MC in cell culture.

Sclerosing peritonitis: a rare but fatal complication of peritoneal inflammation.

Sclerosing peritonitis is a rare form of peritoneal inflammation with an often fatal outcome. The major risk factor of sclerosing peritonitis is peritoneal dialysis treatment but it can also occur following renal or liver transplantation or be associated with certain drug treatment. This article gives an overview of reasons and treatment options for sclerosing peritonitis and shows a summery of current literature about sclerosing peritonitis.

TLR3-dependent immune regulatory functions of human mesangial cells.

In glomerulonephritis, the migration of inflammatory cells into the glomerulus is an important step in disease initiation and progression. The viral receptor Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) is known to play a role in virus-associated glomerulonephritis. Based on this knowledge, this study aimed to define the effects of the TLR3 ligand polyriboinosinic:polyribocytidylic acid (poly(I:C)) on the expression of adhesion molecules and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) on resident glomerular cells.

Inhibition of TLR3-mediated proinflammatory effects by Alkylphosphocholines in human retinal pigment epithelial cells.

PURPOSE. To elucidate the role of Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) in the pathogenesis of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and to investigate the effect of alkylphosphocholines (APCs) on the TLR3-mediated expression of cytokines and growth factors in human retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells. METHODS.

TLR3-dependent regulation of cytokines in human mesangial cells: a novel role for IP-10 and TNF-alpha in hepatitis C-associated glomerulonephritis.

In viral infections, disease manifestations and tissue damage often result primarily from immune cells infiltrating target organs on the basis of an ineffectual viral clearance with persistent antigenemia or an inappropriate immune response. Cell types and mediators defining these inflammatory processes are still inadequately understood. In hepatitis C virus-associated glomerulonephritis, analysis of interferon-γ-inducible protein (IP-10) as a chemokine centrally involved in early antiviral response and TNF-α known to balance proinflammatory and immunosuppressive effects in inflammation shows a significant upregulation of both IP-10 and TNF-α mediated specifically by the viral receptor Toll-like receptor 3 expressed on mesangial cells.

Lumbar spinal stenosis in elderly patients: is a unilateral microsurgical approach sufficient for decompression?

Object: For the treatment of lumbar spinal stenosis, less invasive procedures, which preserve maximal bony and ligamentous structures, have been recommended to reduce associated morbidity. The authors examined the outcome after decompression of spinal stenosis in the elderly by comparing 3 different surgical approaches. Their focus was whether a unilateral microsurgical decompression provided sufficient outcomes in the elderly population.