The first use of olives in Africa around 100,000 years ago.

The olive tree was an iconic plant for most of the past Mediterranean civilizations, for which it had important economic value. Here we report the earliest use of fruits and wood from olive trees in Africa so far, around 100,000 years ago. These findings suggest the presence of olive trees on the Atlantic coast of Morocco during most of the last glacial period, and the use of olives by the early Homo sapiens for fuel management and most probably for consumption.

[Adaptation to dosed hypoxia-hyperoxia as a factor in improving the quality of life of elderly patients with cardiac pathology.]

In order to substantiate new approaches to maintain the quality of life of elderly patients with cardiac pathology, the current study is made to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of technology, based on the principles of adaptive medicine, the method of interval hypoxic-hyperoxic training (IHHT). It was proved the use of IHHT technology in elderly people with HIBS in the prescribed regime leads to a substantial increase in the subjective perception of the quality of life, their psycho-emotional status, the number of attacks of angina pectoris, which was accompanied by an increase in the level of physical working capacity, exercise tolerance, normalization of lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. Treatments by interval hypoxic-hyperoxic training are well tolerated, do not cause side effects; when developing optimal individualized regimens' principles IHHT can be used in the complex rehabilitation of elderly patients with cardiac and co-morbid pathology.

[Adaptation to intermittent hypoxia-hyperoxia improves cognitive performance and exercise tolerance in elderly].

For improvements in exercise tolerance and cognitive function in geriatric patients Multimodal training programs (MTP) are used as combination of physiotherapy, occupational therapy and cardiovascular training. Intermittent Hypoxic-Hyperoxic Training (IHHT), a modified type of intermittent hypoxic training (IHT) is proposed to be included in MTP to elicit more pronounced beneficial effects in exercise tolerance and cognitive functions of geriatric patients likely by an additional pathway than a single MTP. Thirty four patients of the Geriatric Day Clinic aged between 64 and 92 years participated in the placebo controlled clinical trial. They were randomly assigned to receive MTP plus IHHT (experimental group - EG) or MTP plus placebo-breathing through a machine face mask (control group - CG) in a double blind fashion. Before and after the interventions course cognitive performance was assessed by the Dementia-Detection-Test (DemTect) and the Clock-Drawing-Test (CDT), and functional exercise capacity - by the total distance of 6-Minute-Walk-Test (6MWT). After IHHT combined with MTP cognitive performance (DemTect) increased significantly when compared to NG (+16,7 % vs. +0,39 %, p<0,001). The CDT indicated similar results with a significant increase in the EG while the score of the CG even decreased (+10,7 % vs. -8%, p=0,031). Concerning the functional exercise capacity, both groups improved the total distance in the 6MWT but with a significantly larger increase in the EG compared to the CG (+24,1 % vs. +10,8 %, p=0,021). In addition, there was a significant relationship between the changes of the 6MWT and the DemTect Scores and the CDT. IHHT contributed significantly to improvements in cognitive performance and exercise capacity in elderly performing MTP. IHHT sessions are considered to be easily applicable to and well tolerated by geriatric patients up to 92 years.

Cell morphology, ultrastructure, and calcification pattern of Oocardium stratum, a peculiar lotic desmid.

Cell morphology and ultrastructure of the desmid Oocardium stratum and its habitat conditions in two limestone-precipitating spring habitats in the Alps were studied. In spite of specific cell geometry, we found ultrastructural features (nucleus with nucleolus, Golgi apparatus, chloroplast structure, lipid bodies, cell wall texture) closely related to other desmids. The type of the mucilage pore apparatus perforating in high densities extended areas of the cell wall of Oocardium is of the Cosmarium type. Oocardium contrasts to Cosmarium by a peculiar bilateral cell geometry (lateral sphenoid shape) which is combined with a dislocated nucleus. Although the cell features of Oocardium did not differ between the two habitats, different calcification types (rhombohedral calcite versus fascicular-fibrous calcite) and calcification intensities were recorded. The spatial positioning and extension of the Oocardium niches differed considerably between the two springs in spite of high CO(2) oversaturation at both sites.

Ambient neighbourhood noise and children's mental health.

OBJECTIVES: To investigate the relation between typical ambient noise levels (highway, rail, road) and multiple mental health indices of school children considering psychosocial and biological risk factors as potential moderators. METHODS: With a two stage design strategy (representative sample and extreme sample) two cross sectional samples (n=1280; n=123) of primary school children (age 8-11) were studied. Individual exposure to noise at home was linked with two indices of mental health (self reporting by the child on a standard scale and rating by the teacher of classroom adjustment on a standard scale). Noise exposure was modelled firstly according to Austrian guidelines with the aid of a geographical information system and then calibrated and corrected against measurements from 31 locations. Information on potential confounders and risk factors was collected by mothers and controlled in regression modelling through a hierarchical forward stepping procedure. Interaction terms were also analysed to examine subgroups of children at risk-for example, low birth weight and preterm birth. RESULTS: Noise exposure was significantly associated in both samples with classroom adjustment ratings. Child self reported mental health was significantly linked to ambient noise only in children with a history of early biological risk (low birth weight and preterm birth). CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to ambient noise was associated with small decrements in children's mental health and poorer classroom behaviour. The correlation between mental health and ambient noise is larger in children with early biological risk.

Community noise exposure and stress in children.

Although accumulating evidence over the past two decades points towards noise as an ambient stressor for children, all of the data emanate from studies in high-intensity, noise impact zones around airports or major roads. Extremely little is known about the nonauditory consequences of typical, day-to-day noise exposure among young children. The present study examined multimethodological indices of stress among children living under 50 dB or above 60 dB (A-weighted, day-night average sound levels) in small towns and villages in Austria. The major noise sources were local road and rail traffic. The two samples were comparable in parental education, housing characteristics, family size, marital status, and body mass index, and index of body fat. All of the children were prescreened for normal hearing acuity. Children in the noisier areas had elevated resting systolic blood pressure and 8-h, overnight urinary cortisol. The children from noisier neighborhoods also evidenced elevated heart rate reactivity to a discrete stressor (reading test) in the laboratory and rated themselves higher in perceived stress symptoms on a standardized index. Furthermore girls, but not boys, evidenced diminished motivation in a standardized behavioral protocol. All data except for the overnight urinary neuroendocrine indices were collected in the laboratory. The results are discussed in the context of prior airport noise and nonauditory health studies. More behavioral and health research is needed on children with typical, day-to-day noise exposure.

The principle of toxicopy and its integration into the administrative proceedings in Austria.

Toxicopy can be understood as an analogon to placebo but within any setting. Placebo is state-of-the-art since decades with relevant consequences: Only those effects may be considered as being pharmacon-specific, that go beyond non-pharmacological ("Placebo") effects. Placebo--theory is a limitation for the applicability of Morgans Canon (4), which is/was accepted within medicine like an axiom: When searching for the causes of disease physiological causes need to be ruled out, before other especially psychological etiologies can be taken into consideration. Toxicopy principle could be confirmed in different settings all over the world, in old and young, male and female, rich and poor and in different cultures. Therefore Morgans Cannon is falsified. Toxicopy principle is accepted as state-of-the-art and part of stand court rulings of the Austrian administrative tribunal. The plant law in Austria--and in Germany--provides for the protection of citizens against health hazards caused by plants, regardless of their etiologies. Therefore, non-toxicological threats must also be considered in plant approval proceedings in future.

Perceived traffic air pollution, associated behavior and health in an alpine area.

The relationship of traffic air pollution, perception of exhaust fumes/soot and behavioral impact or symptoms/illnesses was investigated in two surveys (adults: aged 25-65, N = 1989, 62% participation; children: aged 8-12, N = 796, 85% participation) in 13 small alpine communities (Tyrol/Austria) by means of questionnaire responses and air pollution measurements. Although pollutant levels complied with current WHO guidelines, adult respondents felt annoyed by odourous traffic fumes (39.7%) or visible dust/soot (26.9%). Logistic regression analysis revealed that accompanying noise annoyance, rated impairment of life quality, protesting behaviour, noise- and odour-sensitivity was directly associated with perceived air quality, while age above 45 years, smoking, and social support was inversely associated with perceived air quality. Among the symptoms, feelings of fatigue/exhaustion/low mood/nervousness and irritation of the eyes and stomach aches showed a significant association with rated air quality. Children in the traffic exposed areas spend less time outdoors and reported perception of car fumes was significantly associated with recurrent colds, chronic bronchitis and an index of hyperreactive airways. Measured indices of pollution (traffic counts, NO2) were not associated with any of the children's reported illnesses.

Work noise annoyance and blood pressure: combined effects with stressful working conditions.

In a community-based cross-sectional study (n = 174, 68% participation), we examined the effect on blood pressure of occupational noise annoyance and its combined effect with social support at work, nightshift work, and work satisfaction. In a multivariate analysis the effect of noise annoyance alone (mean difference, 95% CI) was 2.1 (-3.0, 7.3) mmHg for systolic and 3.5 (0.3, 7.4) mmHg for diastolic blood pressure (n = 44). The combined effect with low work satisfaction was 7.5 (0.0, 15.0) mmHg systolic and 6.3 (0.6, 12.4) mmHg diastolic (n = 18). With nightshift work the effect was 5.0 (-2.4, 12.4) mmHg on systolic and 8.1 (2.5, 13.7) mmHg on diastolic blood pressure (n = 15). The findings for social support were inconsistent. The results suggest that analysis of main effects only may underestimate the true public health impact and underline the necessity of searching for combined effects of environmental stressors.

[On the integral determination of the fluoride immission by means of the lead dioxid cylinder method (author's transl)]. / Zur Integralen Bestimmung der Fluoridbelastung der Luft mit Hilfe der Bleikerzenmethode.

The observation that PbO2 absorbs besides SO2 other, gaseous pollutants such as HF suggested to extend the lead dioxid cylinder method by means of the fluoride electrode on the determination of the fluoride immission. The results of 656 measurements were used to establish "fluoride-maps" of the federal countries Salzburg and Kärnten.

[The determination of resort and stress-areas by air pollution 2. communication: the evaluation of air pollution in spreadout areas, classification into stress-categories (authors transl)]. / Die Abgrenzung von Erholungsgebieten und Belastungszentren auf Grund ihrer Luftverunreinigung. 2. Mitteilung: Die Beurteilung der Luftveruneinigung bei gross-flächiger Belastung, Einordnung in Belastungskategorien

To qualify the air pollution by SO2 and particulate matter in wide spreaded areas a method for complex terrain was used in the Austrian Alps. The working model which was chosen is described in report 1. It is possible to classify the investigated area according to stress-categories by adjusting the data. For the qualification of results of measurements for dust fall the criterias were used according to KOFLER and BENGER. Two different situations were considered for the separation of limits for the stress-categories for SO2: areas which are polluted in first line by area sources, and areas which are polluted in first line by point sources.--The limits which were used in the study of Salzburg are introduced and discussed.--According to the method which is described above all municipalities of Tyrol and Salzburg were classified in stress-categories during to their air quality. The results are introduced.

[The determination of resort and stress-areas by air pollution 1. Communication: health effects, methods, emission inventories (author's transl)]. / Die Abgrenzung von Erholungsgebieten und Belastungszentren auf Grund ihrer Luftverunreinigung. 1. Mitteilung: Gesundheitliche Aspekte, Methodik, Emissionserhebung

The Alps and other mountainous areas are air-hygene problem zones: By distadvantageous geographical and meteorological conditions relativ small emissions can be the reason of high concentration of air pollutants in the ambient air. Therefore the separation of different stress zones by the air quality is an important data for land use planning with regards on health. Different methods which are internationally usual can not be used in mountainous areas (e.g., dispersion models, calculation according to the TAL). A method is introduced for determination and separation of the level of SO2 and particulate matter in a spreadout area which can be used also in complex terrain. This method was proved in air pollution studies in areas with more than 30000 km2 over four years. The investigations were based on a combination of emissions studies, measurements of immissions by continous working SO2 monitoring instruments, lead dioxide candles and Bergerhoff-instruments, and--if possible--meteorological investigations. Report 1 describes the health effects of SO2 and particulate matter, the used tentative methods (analysis for dustfall, the sulfation rate by lead dioxide candles, analysis for sulfur dioxide content by conductimetric and coulometric methods), the emission inventories and the net works.

[Proposal for the introduction of microbial test material in compost windrows for field test (author's transl)]. / Vorschlag zur Einbringung von Testkeimen in Rottemieten bei grosstechnischen Versuchen

The introduction and taking of microbial test material for field tests in compost windrows for e.g. the determination of the death rates of patogenic microbes cause various problems in practical use whereby the results of such investigations may be influenced. A device is suggested which allows unlimited microbes taking with the greatest reservation of the windrows and guarantees that during the experiment the introduced microbial test material is actually exposed to the same influences as its neighbouring windrow parts. Comparisons with other methods used are being made.

[Exposed lead dioxide candles analyzed by a volumetric method, carried out as laboratory and field tests in Innsbruck (author's transl)]. / Zur Frage der titrimetrischen Sulfatbestimmung exponierter Bleikerzen am Beispiel Innsbrucker Labor-und Feldversuche

Working up a great number of "lead-Dioxide-Candles" it took much less time to determine sulphate by a method of volumetric analysis with Ba(ClO4)2 and thoron or methylsulfonazo III as indicators compared with the so far used gravimetric determination of sulphate. With some training everybody will be able to make out the exact endpoint of the titration using thoron as indicator. The limits of error and the results gained from field-trials are shown. The possibilities of making statements of hygienically regional planning are discussed.

[Basic concept for the judgement of the results of dustfall measuring in the Alps (author's transl)]. / Grundsätzliches zur Beurteilung von Staubniederschlagsmessergebnissen im Alpenraum

At the time extensive measurements are made in the Austrian part of the Alps to find out the elevation of the fundamental load of dustfall according to the methode of BERGERHOFF. Thereby the authors had to solve the fundamental question to find a system for estimation. In Austria the results of measurements of dustfall were classified usually according to the "Technische Anleitung zur Reinhaltung der Luft 1964." It appeared that the introduction did not achieve the problem because of the special geografical, meteorological and economical data of the researched part of the Alps which at that time has about 30 000 km2. Similar applies to the new standards of the TAL 1974 and that recommendations of the "Deutscher Bäderverband" to estimate health resorts, recreation areas and mineral springs. Therefore a special model for estimating was developed which differentiate among the average of a year and the maximum of the average of a month, the general housing-areas, recreation areas and standards for industrial areas. The suggested limits are under the limits which are used today in Germany. The results of measurements of dustfall are discussed.