Open-World Games' Affordance of Cognitive Escapism, Relaxation, and Mental Well-Being Among Postgraduate Students: Mixed Methods Study.

Background: Open-world games, characterized by their expansive and interactive environments, may offer unique cognitive escapism opportunities, potentially leading to relaxation and enhanced well-being. These games, such as "The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild" and "The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom," allow players to experience a sense of freedom and autonomy, which can reduce stress and improve mental health. While previous research has examined the general impact of video games on mental well-being, specific studies on the effects of open-world games among postgraduate students are limited.

Early warning signals from the periphery: A model suggestion for the study of critical transitions.

Studies on the possibility of predicting critical transitions with statistical methods known as early warning signals (EWS) are often conducted on data generated with equation-based models (EBMs). These models base on difference or differential equations, which aggregate a system's components in a mathematical term and therefore do not allow for a detailed analysis of interactions on micro-level. As an alternative, we suggest a simple, but highly flexible agent-based model (ABM), which, when applying EWS-analysis, gives reason to (a) consider social interaction, in particular negative feedback effects, as an essential trigger of critical transitions, and (b) to differentiate social interactions, for example in network representations, into a core and a periphery of agents and focus attention on the periphery.

Prevention of parastomal hernias with 3D funnel meshes in intraperitoneal onlay position by placement during initial stoma formation.

Purpose: In patients with terminal ostomies, parastomal hernias (PSHs) occur on a frequent basis. They are commonly associated with various degrees of complaints and occasionally lead to life-threatening complications. Various strategies and measures have been tested and evaluated, but to date there is a lack of published evidence with regard to the best surgical technique for the prevention of PSH development.

Treatment algorithm for dens fractures: non-halo immobilization, anterior screw fixation, or posterior transarticular C1-C2 fixation.

Background: The appropriate treatment of dens fractures is unclear. We established a staged treatment protocol for dens fractures and conducted a prospective study to evaluate the outcome of treatment based on this protocol.

Methods: We prospectively evaluated sixty-nine consecutive patients who presented to our institution with a dens fracture.

Numerical simulation and nasal air-conditioning.

Heating and humidification of the respiratory air are the main functions of the nasal airways in addition to cleansing and olfaction. Optimal nasal air conditioning is mandatory for an ideal pulmonary gas exchange in order to avoid desiccation and adhesion of the alveolar capillary bed. The complex three-dimensional anatomical structure of the nose makes it impossible to perform detailed in vivo studies on intranasal heating and humidification within the entire nasal airways applying various technical set-ups.

Anatomical variations of the flexor hallucis longus muscle and the consequences for tendon transfer. A cadaver study.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the occurrence of anatomical variations of the musculotendinous junction of the flexor hallucis longus muscle. Eighty cadaver specimens preserved according to Thiel's method were assessed. Following careful dissection, the distance between the musculotendinous junction and the bone-cartilage border of the distal tibia was determined.

Stimulation of the immune system by different TBE-virus vaccines.

Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is one of the most frequent arthropod-transmitted viral diseases in Europe. Different vaccines against TBE-virus have been developed; a thimerosal-free and also albumin-free vaccine [Ticovac (Baxter Hyland Immuno, Vienna)] was approved in 2000. Contrary to previous experience, 779 cases of fever occurred following the first vaccination of children under 15 years of age and in 62 children febrile convulsions were even observed.

A novel 6 bp insertion in exon 7 associated with an unusual phenotype in a family with Fabry disease.

A male patient presented with oligosymptomatic Fabry disease (end stage renal failure and non-obstructive cardiomyopathy) at around 30 years of age. His leukocyte alpha-galactosidase activity (alpha-gal) was 2.6% of controls.

The effect of heavy metals on the immune system at low concentrations.

The present study describes the effect of cadmium on lymphokines that cannot be directly traced to an allergen, or antigen in order to be able to explain various immunological processes. Exposure to various environmental pollutants is known to induce epithelial and inflammatory changes, characterized by a release of cytokines and other soluble mediators. Heavy metals like CdCl2 can induce, or inhibit the synthesis and expression of the inflammatory cytokines IL-1beta, IL-4, IL-6, TNF-alpha, IFN-gamma and ICAM-1.

Albumin is a necessary stabilizer of TBE-vaccine to avoid fever in children after vaccination.

A thiomersal-free and also an albumin-free tick-borne encephalitis-vaccine (TBE-vaccine) was developed. This vaccine was approved by the Austrian health authorities in the year 2000. Contrary to previous experience, 779 cases of fever attacks occurred following the first vaccination of children under 15 years of age.

Influence of cadmium on the immune system. Description of stimulating reactions.

Allergic diseases, atopy, bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive bronchitis are diseases which can directly or indirectly be traced to changes in the function of the immune system. Epidemiological studies have shown that these allergic diseases have increased in the course of time and that the incidence of obstruction of the respiratory system is clearly higher in polluted regions than in comparable control areas. These diseases are mainly the result of a comprehensive influence on the immune system.

Booster policy for adults.

A little over 100 years ago the first vaccines were manufactured. Since this time of success no vaccines have been developed for the great scourges of our time i.e.

Percutaneous transluminal laser angioplasty with contact probes.

Percutaneous transluminal laser angioplasty (PTLA) with a metal contact probe and a sapphire contact probe was performed under experimental conditions and in 88 patients with femoropopliteal artery occlusions. The experiment revealed that more ablation was caused by the sapphire probe than by the metal probe. Because of heat accumulation in subsurface tissue layers the metal probe caused a three to four times larger zone of thermal necrosis surrounding the tissue defect.

Resistance to antibiotics in humans and animals on the Cape Verde Islands.

From the Cape Verde Islands no studies are known about an efficient treatment with antibiotics and chemotherapeutics. Because of this human samples and samples of domestic animals were collected, the different bacterias were isolated and the antibiograms were analyzed by agar-diffusions-test. The human samples consisted of wound-, eye-, anal-, vaginal- and throat-smears, the animal samples consisted of jaw-, anal- and wound-smears.

Serological examinations of HIV-I in Iran.

544 human blood samples from 2 hospitals in Teheran, Iran, were tested for HIV-virus antibodies. 35 samples were positive in 2 different ELISA tests; however, these samples were negative in the Western Blot test. Further studies are underway.

Serological investigations for the cause of diarrhoea among patients and personnel in the Minna and Abeokuta Hospitals/Nigeria.

188 blood samples were investigated for antibodies against bacteria causing diarrhoea in two hospitals in Minna and Abeokuta in Nigeria. Antibodies were found against Entamoeba histolytica, Yersinia enterocolitica, Campylobacter jejuni, Salmonella typhi, Salmonella paratyphi C, Shigella dysenteriae, Shigella sonnei, Shigella boydii, Shigella flexneri and Rotavirus.

Serological investigations in Nigeria for anthropozoonoses in human sera: brucellosis, echinococcosis, toxoplasmosis, chlamydial diseases, listeriosis, rickettsiosis (Coxiella burneti and Rickettsia conori).

176 blood sera taken from patients in the hospital of Minna and Abeokuta (Nigeria) were examined for anthropozoonoses. The following positive reactions could be found: Brucella abortus 9%, Brucella melitensis 11.7%, Echinococcosis 0.

Serological testing of human blood samples for infectious diseases in the Abeokuta and the Minna Hospitals/Nigeria.

In serological investigations undertaken in two hospitals in Nigeria a total of 188 blood samples were examined and the following positive reactions for various diseases found: malaria 100%, leishmaniasis 9.5%, biharziasis 2.1%, yersinia 16.

Investigations in the problem of diarrhoea in the Melut district, South Sudan (1981-1982).

Studies of diseases associated with diarrhoea in the Melut district of South Sudan in the years 1981-1982 showed amoebic dysentery and Rota-virus to be predominate, whereby according to our previous results Yersinia, Campylobacter, Shigella and Salmonella infections also play a role. In addition other parasitological bacterial and viral-infections are presumed.

Investigations of wild animals as Leishmania reservoir in South Sudan.

In 1982-1983, 628 small mammals from around the so-called "kala-azar villages" in the Melut district and Paloich (Upper Nile region) were studied. A massive leishmania infection was found only in 1 jakal. All other attempts at isolation of an infectious agent were negative.

Serological investigations on syphilis in the District of Santa Cruz/Santiago (Cape Verde Islands--West Africa).

In the region of Santa Cruz on the Santiago Island 316 sera samples were examined for syphilis antibodies using the TPHA and VDRL tests. 3.8% of the samples showed positive reactions.

Serological investigations on the cause of diarrhoea on the Cape Verde Islands.

In the serological tests 45.9% of all samples reacted positive against rota virus. 20.

Research on a possible Q-fever infection in humans and animals on the Cape Verde Islands (Santa Cruz/Santiago, West Africa).

We tested 243 domestic-animal serum samples and 316 human serum samples from the St. Cruz region on Santiago Island for antibodies against Coxiella burneti. 145 (59.