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Effect of decompressive craniectomy according to location of deep intracerebral hemorrhage: a SWITCH trial analysis
No full textAccelerometry-assessed sleep and liver health in adolescents and adults: links to liver enzymes, MASLD, and MRI-derived liver fat
No full textBackgroundTo investigate associations of accelerometry-assessed sleep characteristics with liver enzymes and liver fat in adolescents and adults.MethodsWe analyzed data from four German cohorts: GINIplus and LISA (n = 1132, 14–16 years), KORA-Fit (n = 1318, 53–74 years), and KORA-MRI (n = 108, 48–67 years). Eleven accelerometry-assessed sleep characteristics captured sleep quantity, efficiency, fragmentation, latency, and timing. Liver enzymes included alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT). Adult liver fat markers were steatotic liver disease (SLD) and metabolic dysfunction-associated SLD (MASLD, plus ≥1 cardiometabolic risk factor and without excessive alcohol intake), defined by fatty liver index (FLI, ≥60) or 3T-Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) derived proton density fat fraction (PDFF, ≥5 %). Linear and logistic regression models were evaluated.ResultsTime awake per hour after sleep onset (WASO/h) was associated with higher ALT both in adolescents (percentage change [95 % confidence interval, CI] per interquartile range [IQR]: 3.82 [0.86, 6.87]) and adults (3.05 [0.38, 5.78]). In adults, WASO/h was associated with increased odds of SLD-FLI (odds ratio [95 %CI] per IQR: 1.47 [1.26, 1.71]), MASLD-FLI (1.61 [1.34, 1.94]), SLD-PDFF (2.10 [1.16, 3.78]), and MASLD-PDFF (3.32 [1.47, 7.52]). Similar results were observed for poor sleep efficiency and sleep fragmentation index. However, these associations lost significance after body mass index (BMI) adjustment. Significant interactions between WASO/h and BMI groups were observed for ALT, GGT, and SLD-FLI.ConclusionsObjectively measured sleep fragmentation was associated with increased liver enzymes in adolescents and hepatic steatosis in adults, with BMI potentially mediating or modifying these associations
Why do cyclists violate traffic rules? Evidence for situationally and personally motivated violations, slips, and mistakes from a crowdsourcing project
No full textAlmost all cyclists violate some traffic rules with varying frequencies; however, there are few direct assessments of their reasons and motivations for these infringements. If we want to tackle traffic rule violations by cyclists as a source of conflict and contra-cycling attitudes, a more complete understanding of the reasons underlying these violations is required.This research is based on a non-representative, web-based inquiry consisting of about 5,800 contributions from road users about traffic situations described as dangerous, confusing, or a nuisance. Contributions were manually coded for the transportation modes of perpetrator(s), victim(s), and the violated rule. Regarding the described or assumed reasons, the classification system of human errors by Reasons was used to differentiate between mistakes, slips and lapses, and routine as well as situational violations.A total of 717 violations committed by cyclists and 1,795 violations committed against cyclists were identified. About half of the contributions expressed or assumed reasons for the described rule violation, only a fraction of which was attributed to recklessness. A noticeable proportion of rule violations by cyclists were attributed to situational factors, suggesting that rule infringements occur because cyclists feel that (i) they have no other choice, (ii) observing the rule is too dangerous, or (iii) traffic regulations are unclear or absent. In order to reduce the rule violations by cyclists as well as their conflicts with other road users, the traffic systems need to be designed such that cyclists do not feel that their most reasonable option is to commit these rule violations
Engineering intervertebral disc replacements using 3D-printed open Gyroid architectures
No full textDegenerative disc disease is a leading cause of chronic back pain, and current surgical treatments such as fusion and disc arthroplasty remain limited by implant wear, stress shielding, and mechanical mismatch with the native intervertebral disc (IVD). This study investigates three-dimensional (3D) printed thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) Gyroid structures as biomimetic disc replacements. Using filaments of varying stiffness, 3D-printed constructs demonstrated high geometric fidelity and mechanical performance within physiological load and deformation ranges. Dynamic compression testing revealed damping coefficients of approximately 16%, closely matching native IVD behavior. Stiffness scaled predictably with structural density, allowing mechanical tuning toward physiological properties. These findings highlight the potential of Gyroid-structured TPU implants to replicate the natural damping and load distribution of human discs, offering a pathway toward customizable, patient-specific disc replacements. Future work will focus on medically approved TPU, biological responses, and multiaxial loading
Überzeugungskräfte : Über das Vertrauen in Wissenschaft (und Pseudowissenschaft)
No full textWas macht neue Theorien so überzeugend, dass sie sich im Wissenschaftsbetrieb etablieren können? Durch welche Überzeugungskräfte wird eine Heterodoxie zur Orthodoxie? Und was führt überhaupt dazu, dass Wissenschaften überzeugend wirken? Diese Fragen sind so vieldiskutiert wie offen. Es scheint unbestritten zu sein, dass weder allein logische und empirische Rechtfertigungen eine Rolle für den Verlauf des wissenschaftlichen Wandels spielen, noch dieser allein von Machtfragen und Gruppenpsychologie bestimmt ist. Und schließlich steht die Frage im Raum, ob und wie die Wissenschaften überhaupt überzeugend auftreten und ihren Platz in der Gesellschaft behaupten können. Überzeugungs- und Legitimierungsarbeit wird auf den unterschiedlichsten Wegen geleistet. Auf das breite Spektrum von Überzeugungskräften in den Wissenschaften geht dieser Band aus unterschiedlichen disziplinären Perspektiven ein und nimmt sie zum Anlass, darüber nachzudenken, wie gute Überzeugungsarbeit für die Wissenschaften aussehen könnte
Water, land, materials, and emissions for providing decent living standards around the world
No full textThe safe and just space for humanity is a vision for a sustainable economy, where all people have decent access to services so that social requirements are met (floor), and the use of natural resources does not drive critical Earth system processes beyond Holocene conditions (ceiling). Using the concept of decent living standards (DLS) to quantify the resource implications of social requirements (floor) globally, we estimate the average in-use stocks, as well as associated annual natural resource use and related greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) that are required to provide a DLS in 176 countries. Our results suggest that the per capita resources and emissions associated with a DLS differ considerably between countries, depending on their socioeconomic and technological context. With renewable energies, a reduction in meat consumption and active mobility (efficient scenario), the following average per capita DLS impacts results: materials: 2–5 t/(cap*yr), GHG emissions: 1–4 t CO2 eq./(cap*yr), land occupation: 1424–6615 m2/cap, and water use: 98–328 m3 /(cap*yr). The in-use stocks in the form of materials required to provide a DLS range from 26 to 29 t/cap. Closing the current DLS gap globally in the most efficient form requires resources equivalent to 7 % of global materials use, 1 % of GHG emissions, 2 % of land occupation, and 2 % of water consumption in 2015
Reading between the lines: an exploratory study on how graph distortions shape perceptions and use of performance information
No full textThis study examines how graph distortion affects politicians and their staff. Using an experimental design with crime rate graphs, the authors investigated the impact on trend assessment, perceived informational value, and intentions to use performance information. Graph distortion was found to significantly affect politicians’ trend evaluations and the latter correlated with increased intentions to use performance information for citizen communication. This was, however, not true for staff. Individual characteristics, for example indicator attitude and opposition status, proved to be more influential than visual manipulations
The efficacy of flap debulking after facial reanimation surgery to enhance facial symmetry
No full textConstructed growth charts and nutrition for pontocerebellar hypoplasia type 2A
No full textAimTo calculate growth charts for pontocerebellar hypoplasia (PCH) type 2A (PCH2A) and compare them to German reference charts, especially with regard to nutritional aspects.MethodData were gathered from a cohort of patients with genetically confirmed PCH2A, who were predominantly recruited through the German PCH patient network (65 patients [33 female, 32 male] at a mean age of 8 years 7 months). We collected data retrospectively using a parent questionnaire, and from medical records (December 2020–September 2022). Disease-specific growth charts were prepared from predominantly longitudinal data using the gamlss package implemented in R. Sex-disaggregated growth charts for PCH2A were compared to German reference data from the Kinder- und Jugendgesundheitssurvey (German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents).ResultsThe height and weight of participants with PCH2A were within the reference range at birth. Mean height was significantly lower at 6 months of age, weight at 3 months, and body mass index at 4 months. These deviations were also mostly significant later on. Head circumference in individuals with PCH2A was significantly below average at birth; all participants showed severe and progressive microcephaly in the further course. Caloric intake was within or above reference values.InterpretationParticipants with PCH2A exhibited progressive microcephaly and frequently failed to thrive. Disease-specific growth charts are a helpful tool to monitor those with PCH2A
A robust transient gas network simulation for predicting the dynamics before, during, and after extensive disruptions
No full textComputer-aided hydraulic calculations allowing to predict the physical states of modeled gas networks are an important tool for the planning, design and operation of resilient gas infrastructures. Insecure gas supply situations, due to, e.g., acts of sabotage or political sanctions, raise the demand for simulation tools able to predict network behavior under non-design conditions. While transient modeling of the gas dynamics is mandatory to gain a comprehensive understanding of immediate ramifications, robust algorithms are needed for gas-network simulation far from design-point operation in case of severe changes to the system. This work presents a gas network simulation implementation for analyses of transient responses to extensive contingencies. This upgrade of a previously established, highly robust gas network simulation approach by transient simulation capabilities enables robust simulation of the gas dynamics for network layouts and parameter spaces for which conventional gas grid simulation tools fail to produce meaningful converged solutions. This new robust numerical transient approach uniquely allows to, e.g., predict system behavior and settling times after disruptive events, survival times in case of networks which get completely detached from any gas source or recovery times after repairs