Robotic Complete ALPPS (rALPPS)-First German Experiences.

Background: ALPPS leads to fast and effective liver hypertrophy. This enables the resection of extended tumors. Conventional ALPPS is associated with high morbidity and mortality.

Toward Sound Localization Testing in Virtual Reality to Aid in the Screening of Auditory Processing Disorders.

Sound localization testing is key for comprehensive hearing evaluations, particularly in cases of suspected auditory processing disorders. However, sound localization is not commonly assessed in clinical practice, likely due to the complexity and size of conventional measurement systems, which require semicircular loudspeaker arrays in large and acoustically treated rooms. To address this issue, we investigated the feasibility of testing sound localization in virtual reality (VR).

Phoneme dependence of horizontal asymmetries in voice directivity.

Human voice directivity shows horizontal asymmetries caused by the shape of the lips or the position of the tooth and tongue during vocalization. This study presents and analyzes the asymmetries of voice directivity datasets of 23 different phonemes. The asymmetries were determined from datasets obtained in previous measurements with 13 subjects in a surrounding spherical microphone array.

Investigating phoneme-dependencies of spherical voice directivity patterns II: Various groups of phonemes.

The substantial variation between articulated phonemes is a fundamental feature of human voice production. However, while the spectral and temporal aspects of the phonemes have been extensively studied, few have investigated the spatial aspects and analyzed phoneme-dependent differences in voice directivity. This paper extends our previous research focusing on the directivity patterns of selected vowels and fricatives [Pörschmann and Arend, J.

Effects of hand postures on voice directivity.

While speaking, hand postures, such as holding a hand in front of the mouth or cupping the hands around the mouth, influence human voice directivity. This study presents and analyzes spherical voice directivity datasets of an articulated [a] with and without hand postures. The datasets were determined from measurements with 13 subjects in a surrounding spherical microphone array with 32 microphones and then upsampled to a higher spatial resolution.

Does Robotic Liver Surgery Enhance R0 Results in Liver Malignancies during Minimally Invasive Liver Surgery?-A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Background: Robotic procedures are an integral part of modern liver surgery. However, the advantages of a robotic approach in comparison to the conventional laparoscopic approach are the subject of controversial debate. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to compare robotic and laparoscopic liver resection with particular attention to the resection margin status in malignant cases.

The LiMAx Test as Selection Criteria in Minimally Invasive Liver Surgery.

Background: Liver failure is a crucial predictor for relevant morbidity and mortality after hepatic surgery. Hence, a good patient selection is mandatory. We use the LiMAx test for patient selection for major or minor liver resections in robotic and laparoscopic liver surgery and share our experience here.

Advanced Brain-Age in Psychotic Psychopathology: Evidence for Transdiagnostic Neurodevelopmental Origins.

Schizophrenia is characterized by abnormal brain structure such as global reductions in gray matter volume. Machine learning models trained to estimate the age of brains from structural neuroimaging data consistently show advanced brain-age to be associated with schizophrenia. Yet, it is unclear whether advanced brain-age is specific to schizophrenia compared to other psychotic disorders, and whether evidence that brain structure is "older" than chronological age actually reflects neurodevelopmental rather than atrophic processes.

Binaural reproduction of dummy head and spherical microphone array data-A perceptual study on the minimum required spatial resolution.

Dynamic binaural synthesis requires binaural room impulse responses (BRIRs) for each head orientation of the listener. Such BRIRs can either be measured with a dummy head or calculated from the spherical microphone array (SMA) data. Because the dense dummy head measurements require enormous effort, alternatively sparse measurements can be performed and then interpolated in the spherical harmonics domain.

Three-Device (3D) Technique for Liver Parenchyma Dissection in Robotic Liver Surgery.

Background: The implementation of robotics in liver surgery offers several advantages compared to conventional open and laparoscopic techniques. One major advantage is the enhanced degree of freedom at the tip of the robotic tools compared to laparoscopic instruments. This enables excellent vessel control during inflow and outflow dissection of the liver.

Tumor visualization and fluorescence angiography with indocyanine green (ICG) in laparoscopic and robotic hepatobiliary surgery - valuation of early adopters from Germany.

Objectives: Indocyanine green (ICG) is a fluorescent dye which was initially used for liver functional assessment. Moreover, it is of value for intraoperative visualization of liver segments and bile ducts or primary and secondary liver tumors. Especially in minimally invasive liver surgery, this is essential to enhance the precision of anatomical guided surgery and oncological quality.

Investigating phoneme-dependencies of spherical voice directivity patterns.

Dynamic directivity is a specific characteristic of the human voice, showing time-dependent variations while speaking or singing. To study and model the human voice's articulation-dependencies and provide datasets that can be applied in virtual acoustic environments, full-spherical voice directivity measurements were carried out for 13 persons while articulating eight phonemes. Since it is nearly impossible for subjects to repeat exactly the same articulation numerous times, the sound radiation was captured simultaneously using a surrounding spherical microphone array with 32 microphones and then subsequently spatially upsampled to a dense sampling grid.

Robotic and laparoscopic liver resection-comparative experiences at a high-volume German academic center.

Purpose: Minimally invasive liver surgery (MILS) is a feasible and safe procedure for benign and malignant tumors. There has been an ongoing debate on whether conventional laparoscopic liver resection (LLR) or robotic liver resection (RLR) is superior and if one approach should be favored over the other. We started using LLR in 2010, and introduced RLR in 2013.

Relationship between seizure type, metabolic profile, and inflammatory markers in blood samples of patients with epilepsy.

We investigated the metabolic profile, reactive species production, and inflammatory parameters in patients with epilepsy. Furthermore, we investigated whether there is any relationship between these parameters and seizure type. Patients with epilepsy (n=43) and healthy subjects (control group; n=41) were recruited to participate in the study.

Impact of face masks on voice radiation.

With the COVID-19 pandemic, the wearing of face masks covering mouth and nose has become ubiquitous all around the world. This study investigates the impact of typical face masks on voice radiation. To analyze the transmission loss caused by masks and the influence of masks on directivity, this study measured the full-spherical voice directivity of a dummy head with a mouth simulator covered with six masks of different types, i.

Robotic and laparoscopic liver surgery for colorectal liver metastases: an experience from a German Academic Center.

Background: Minimally invasive liver surgery (MILS) in the treatment of colorectal liver metastases (CRLM) is increasing in incidence. The aim of this work was to present our experience by reporting short-term and long-term outcomes after MILS for CRLM with comparative analysis of laparoscopic (LLS) and robotic liver surgery (RLS).

Methods: Twenty-five patients with CRLM, who underwent MILS between May 2012 and March 2020, were selected from our retrospective registry of minimally invasive liver surgery (MD-MILS).

Characteristics of Post-Ictal Headaches in Patients with Epilepsy: a Longitudinal Study.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the clinical predictors of post-ictal headache (PIH) in patients with epilepsy in a tertiary center in Brazil.

Methods: 302 individuals with adult-onset epilepsy were followed for 9.8 years in our Hospital.

MnSOD Ala16Val polymorphism in cognitive dysfunction in patients with epilepsy: A relationship with oxidative and inflammatory markers.

Objective: The objective of the study was to evaluate the neurocognitive profile and its relation with Ala16ValMnSOD polymorphism in epilepsy and if these clinical parameters are linked to oxidative stress and inflammatory markers.

Methods: Patients with epilepsy (n = 31) and healthy subjects (n = 42) were recruited. A neuropsychological evaluation was performed in both groups through a battery of cognitive tests.

Fluorescence Microscopy of Superplasticizers in Cementitious Systems: Applications and Challenges.

In addition to the desired plasticizing effect, superplasticizers used in high and ultra-high performance concretes (UHPC) influence the chemical system of the pastes and for example retardation of the cement hydration occurs. Thus, superplasticizers have to be chosen wisely for every material composition and application. To investigate the essential adsorption of these polymers to particle surfaces in-situ to overcome several practical challenges of superplasticizer research, fluorescence microscopy is useful.

A falciform ligament flap surface sealing technique for laparoscopic and robotic-assisted liver surgery.

Whether sealing the hepatic resection surface after liver surgery decreases morbidity is still unclear. Nevertheless, various methods and materials are currently in use for this procedure. Here, we describe our experience with a simple technique using a mobilized falciform ligament flap in minimally invasive liver surgery (MILS).