Heart Rate Variability in a Vocal Stress Test with Special Consideration of the Objective Voice Function.

Objective: Many employees, especially in voice-intensive professions, are under psychological stress at work, which is very difficult to objectify. The aim of the study was to analyze correlations between heart rate variability (HRV) parameters and objective voice function using weighted voice parameters (Dysphonia Severity Index [DSI]) in order to determine whether subjects with impaired vocal function show a predominance of sympathetic control during a vocal stress test.

Study Design: Prospective.

Does outcome expectancy predict outcomes in online depression prevention? Secondary analysis of randomised-controlled trials.

Background: Evidence shows that online interventions could prevent depression. However, to improve the effectiveness of preventive online interventions in individuals with subthreshold depression, it is worthwhile to study factors influencing intervention outcomes. Outcome expectancy has been shown to predict treatment outcomes in psychotherapy for depression.

Optimizing particle size segregation in vacuum drum-based capsule filling machines: A stirrer design approach.

This study investigates particle size segregation within the powder chamber of a vacuum drum-based capsule filling machine using various stirrer types and proposing novel designs to mitigate segregation. The stirrer is essential to the process, ensuring uniform density during volume-based filling. Three lactose grades, comprising 10% fine, 80% medium, and 10% coarse particles, were used, with tracer particles replacing fine or coarse particles, respectively.

Fully Automated MRI-based Analysis of the Locus Coeruleus in Aging and Alzheimer's Disease Dementia using ELSI-Net.

Introduction: The Locus Coeruleus (LC) is linked to the development and pathophysiology of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's Disease (AD). Magnetic Resonance Imaging based LC features have shown potential to assess LC integrity in vivo.

Methods: We present a Deep Learning based LC segmentation and feature extraction method: ELSI-Net and apply it to healthy aging and AD dementia datasets.

Rotational and translational motions in a homogeneously cooling granular gas.

A granular gas composed of monodisperse spherical particles was studied in microgravity experiments in a drop tower. Translations and rotations of the particles were extracted from optical video data. Equipartition is violated, the rotational degrees of freedom were excited only to roughly 2/3 of the translational ones.

Why should the Next Generation of Youth Guidelines Prioritize Vigorous Physical Activity?

The health benefits of regular physical activity (PA) in youth are well-documented. Yet the adherence rate to PA guidelines among youth worldwide is alarmingly deficient with only 19% of youth worldwide adhering to the World Health Organization guidelines. This is reflective of a global proliferation of a physical inactivity pandemic among youth.

Prediction of nocturnal ventilation by pulmonary function testing in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.

Background: In amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) prognosis is poor due to progressive weakening of the respiratory muscles. Survival and quality of life can be improved by noninvasive ventilation (NIV), which is initially applied while sleeping. The indication for NIV is based on pulmonary function testing (PFT) and polysomnography (PSG) with capnography (tCO).

The Effects of Volume-Matched 1- and 2-Day Repeated Backward Sprint Training Formats on Physical Performance in Youth Male Soccer Players.

Bouguezzi, R, Negra, Y, Sammoud, S, Uthoff, A, Moran, J, Behrens, M, and Chaabene, H. The effects of volume-matched 1- and 2-day repeated backward sprint training formats on physical performance in youth male soccer players. J Strength Cond Res XX(X): 000-000, 2024-This study examined the effects of a 6-week, 1 vs.

Sociodemographic influences on private and professional contact behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic in Germany: cross-sectional analysis based on a Regional Blood Donor Cohort.

Objective: The COVID-19 pandemic has had significant health and socioeconomic impacts worldwide. Extensive measures, including contact restrictions, were implemented to control the spread of the virus. This study aims to examine the factors that influenced private and professional contact behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic.

3D-Printed Hydrogels as Photothermal Actuators.

Thermoresponsive hydrogels were 3D-printed with embedded gold nanorods (GNRs), which enable shape change through photothermal heating. GNRs were functionalized with bovine serum albumin and mixed with a photosensitizer and poly(-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAAm) macromer, forming an ink for 3D printing by direct ink writing. A macromer-based approach was chosen to provide good microstructural homogeneity and optical transparency of the unloaded hydrogel in its swollen state.

Is an Elevated Preoperative CRP Level a Predictive Factor for Wound Healing Disorders following Lumbar Spine Surgery?

Unlabelled: Postoperative wound infections are a prevalent concern among the hospital-associated infections in Europe, leading to prolonged hospital stays, increased morbidity and mortality, and substantial patient burdens. Addressing the root causes of this complication is crucial, especially given the rising number of spine surgeries due to aging populations.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on a cohort of 3019 patients who underwent lumbar spine surgery over a decade in our department.

Induction of cell death by sodium hexachloroplatinate (IV) in the HEI-OC1 cell line, primary rat spiral ganglion cells and rat organ of Corti explants.

Although cochlear implants have become a well-established method for patients with sensory neural hearing loss, clinical results indicate that in some cases, corrosion of electrode contacts leads to high impedance that interferes with successful stimulation of the auditory nerve. As it is unclear whether corrosion products induce cell damage, we focused on cell culture models of the organ of Corti cell line (HEI-OC1), rat spiral ganglion cells (SGC) and rat organ of Corti explant (OCex) cultivated from neonatal rat cochleae to characterize the cytotoxicity of sodium hexachloroplatinate (IV) (Na2(PtCl6)). The oxidative activity in HEI-OC1 cells decreased with increasing Na2(PtCl6) concentrations between 8 and 16 ng/μl, and live cell staining with Calcein acetoxymethyl/Ethidium homodimer III revealed an increasing number of cells with disrupted membranes.

Assessment of frequency response techniques in diagnosing polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells.

In this study, we evaluated the effectiveness of various frequency response analysis (FRA) techniques for identifying fault states in the diagnosis of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). To this end, an identifiability analysis was conducted to determine the reliability of parameters obtained by fitting a previously validated PEMFC model to the spectra from different methods. Specifically, we focused on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and the newly introduced concentration frequency response analysis (CFRA).

Predicting Outcomes after Transplantation of Deceased Donor Kidneys of Marginal Quality within the Eurotransplant Service Area.

Introduction: Kidneys of marginal quality are increasingly being used to overcome the shortage of donor organs. However, accurate prediction of outcome is needed to optimize the use of these kidneys. We aimed to test the performance of a recently proposed score consisting of delayed graft function (DGF), renal function recovery (RFR), and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) <30 mL/min per 1.

Effect of nystagmus on VEP-based objective visual acuity estimates.

In order to determine the effect of nystagmus on objective visual acuity (VA) estimates, we compared subjective (VA) and objective (VEP, VA) VA estimates in participants with nystagmus. For this purpose, 20 participants with nystagmus (NY) caused by idiopathic infantile nystagmus, albinism, achiasma or acquired nystagmus were recruited in this study. Estimates of BCVA (best corrected visual acuity) were determined psychophysically (VA; FrACT, Freiburg visual acuity test) and electrophysiologically (VA; EP2000) according to ISCEV (International Society of Clinical Electrophysiology of Vision) guidelines.

Leaders' mental health and leader-member exchange: Exploring relations on different levels of analysis.

Introduction: Research on leader-member exchange (LMX) has shown that the relation between leaders and followers may be considered from different angles. Leaders may form individual relationships with followers (LMX quality), may agree with their followers on these relationships (LMX agreement), and may form different relationships within their work group (LMX variability). We posit that leaders' mental health may function as an antecedent for these different forms of LMX.

Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing of Aluminum Foams Using TiH-Laced Welding Wires.

Composite materials made from aluminum foam are increasingly used in aerospace and automotive industries due to their low density, high energy absorption capacity, and corrosion resistance. Additive manufacturing processes offer several advantages over conventional manufacturing methods, such as the ability to produce significantly more geometrically complex components without the need for expensive tooling. Direct Energy Deposition processes like Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) enable the additive production of near-net-shape components at high build rates.