Patient-reported aesthetic outcomes of upper blepharoplasty:a randomized controlled trial comparing two surgical techniques

It is not yet established whether additional orbicularis oculi muscle excision leads to better patient-reported aesthetic outcomes (PRO) compared to a skin-only resection blepharoplasty. A double-blind randomized controlled trial of upper blepharoplasty, with or without muscle excision, was performed on 54 White European patients who assessed the procedure via PRO. FACE-Q questionnaires covering eyes in general, upper eyelids, forehead and eyebrows, overall face, age appearance appraisal, age appraisal, social functioning, satisfaction with the outcome, and adverse effects were completed preoperatively and at 6 and 12 months after upper blepharoplasty. The Patient and Observer Scar Assessment Scale was used to assess scarring. The FACE-Q scores for skin-only and skin/muscle upper blepharoplasty were similar regarding the upper eyelids, forehead and eyebrows, overall face, patient perceived aging and age, social functioning, and satisfaction with the results, and also increased for both procedures with time. The FACE-Q score regarding the eyes in general was higher in the skin-only group at the 12-month follow-up. Scarring and adverse effects did not differ between the groups. Additional muscle resection does not seem to influence patient satisfaction. Thus, when performing an upper blepharoplasty, there is no need for additional muscle resection as a routine procedure to improve patient satisfaction

The Potential of Restarts for ProbSAT

This work analyses the potential of restarts for probSAT, a quite successful algorithm for k-SAT, by estimating its runtime distributions on random 3-SAT instances that are close to the phase transition. We estimate an optimal restart time from empirical data, reaching a potential speedup factor of 1.39. Calculating restart times from fitted probability distributions reduces this factor to a maximum of 1.30. A spin-off result is that the Weibull distribution approximates the runtime distribution for over 93% of the used instances well. A machine learning pipeline is presented to compute a restart time for a fixed-cutoff strategy to exploit this potential. The main components of the pipeline are a random forest for determining the distribution type and a neural network for the distribution's parameters. ProbSAT performs statistically significantly better than Luby's restart strategy and the policy without restarts when using the presented approach. The structure is particularly advantageous on hard problems.Comment: Eurocast 201

Geometric and dynamic perspectives on phase-coherent and noncoherent chaos

Statistically distinguishing between phase-coherent and noncoherent chaotic dynamics from time series is a contemporary problem in nonlinear sciences. In this work, we propose different measures based on recurrence properties of recorded trajectories, which characterize the underlying systems from both geometric and dynamic viewpoints. The potentials of the individual measures for discriminating phase-coherent and noncoherent chaotic oscillations are discussed. A detailed numerical analysis is performed for the chaotic R\"ossler system, which displays both types of chaos as one control parameter is varied, and the Mackey-Glass system as an example of a time-delay system with noncoherent chaos. Our results demonstrate that especially geometric measures from recurrence network analysis are well suited for tracing transitions between spiral- and screw-type chaos, a common route from phase-coherent to noncoherent chaos also found in other nonlinear oscillators. A detailed explanation of the observed behavior in terms of attractor geometry is given.Comment: 12 pages, 13 figure

The target problem with evanescent subdiffusive traps

We calculate the survival probability of a stationary target in one dimension surrounded by diffusive or subdiffusive traps of time-dependent density. The survival probability of a target in the presence of traps of constant density is known to go to zero as a stretched exponential whose specific power is determined by the exponent that characterizes the motion of the traps. A density of traps that grows in time always leads to an asymptotically vanishing survival probability. Trap evanescence leads to a survival probability of the target that may be go to zero or to a finite value indicating a probability of eternal survival, depending on the way in which the traps disappear with time

Diffusion with random distribution of static traps

The random walk problem is studied in two and three dimensions in the presence of a random distribution of static traps. An efficient Monte Carlo method, based on a mapping onto a polymer model, is used to measure the survival probability P(c,t) as a function of the trap concentration c and the time t. Theoretical arguments are presented, based on earlier work of Donsker and Varadhan and of Rosenstock, why in two dimensions one expects a data collapse if -ln[P(c,t)]/ln(t) is plotted as a function of (lambda t)^{1/2}/ln(t) (with lambda=-ln(1-c)), whereas in three dimensions one expects a data collapse if -t^{-1/3}ln[P(c,t)] is plotted as a function of t^{2/3}lambda. These arguments are supported by the Monte Carlo results. Both data collapses show a clear crossover from the early-time Rosenstock behavior to Donsker-Varadhan behavior at long times.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figure

Reproducibility of 3D scanning in the periorbital region

The reproducibility of scanning in the periorbital region with 3D technology to enable objective evaluations of surgical treatment in the periorbital region was assessed. Facial 3D-scans of 15 volunteers were captured at different time points with a handheld Artec Space Spider structured light scanner. Two scans were made with a one minute interval and repeated after 1 year; for both a natural head position and with the head in a fixation-device. On assessing the area between the eyelashes and eyebrows, the medians of the average deviations between the various cross-sections of the one minute interval 3D-scans ranged from 0.17 to 0.21 mm at baseline, and from 0.10 to 0.11 mm when the minute-interval scanning was repeated one year later. The systematic differences when scanning in a natural head position and fixated position were comparable. The reproducibility of the 3D processing was excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient > 0.9). The repeated scanning deviations (baseline versus one year data) were well within the accepted clinical threshold of 1 mm. Scanning with a hand-held 3D-scanning device (Artec Space Spider) is a promising tool to assess changes in the periorbital region following surgical treatment since the median deviations are well below the clinically accepted 1 mm measuring error, for both the natural head and fixated positions

Phase transitions and configuration space topology

Equilibrium phase transitions may be defined as nonanalytic points of thermodynamic functions, e.g., of the canonical free energy. Given a certain physical system, it is of interest to understand which properties of the system account for the presence of a phase transition, and an understanding of these properties may lead to a deeper understanding of the physical phenomenon. One possible approach of this issue, reviewed and discussed in the present paper, is the study of topology changes in configuration space which, remarkably, are found to be related to equilibrium phase transitions in classical statistical mechanical systems. For the study of configuration space topology, one considers the subsets M_v, consisting of all points from configuration space with a potential energy per particle equal to or less than a given v. For finite systems, topology changes of M_v are intimately related to nonanalytic points of the microcanonical entropy (which, as a surprise to many, do exist). In the thermodynamic limit, a more complex relation between nonanalytic points of thermodynamic functions (i.e., phase transitions) and topology changes is observed. For some class of short-range systems, a topology change of the M_v at v=v_t was proved to be necessary for a phase transition to take place at a potential energy v_t. In contrast, phase transitions in systems with long-range interactions or in systems with non-confining potentials need not be accompanied by such a topology change. Instead, for such systems the nonanalytic point in a thermodynamic function is found to have some maximization procedure at its origin. These results may foster insight into the mechanisms which lead to the occurrence of a phase transition, and thus may help to explore the origin of this physical phenomenon.Comment: 22 pages, 6 figure

Manifesto for a European research network into Problematic Usage of the Internet

Copyright © 2018 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.The Internet is now all-pervasive across much of the globe. While it has positive uses (e.g. prompt access to information, rapid news dissemination), many individuals develop Problematic Use of the Internet (PUI), an umbrella term incorporating a range of repetitive impairing behaviours. The Internet can act as a conduit for, and may contribute to, functionally impairing behaviours including excessive and compulsive video gaming, compulsive sexual behaviour, buying, gambling, streaming or social networks use. There is growing public and National health authority concern about the health and societal costs of PUI across the lifespan. Gaming Disorder is being considered for inclusion as a mental disorder in diagnostic classification systems, and was listed in the ICD-11 version released for consideration by Member States (http://www.who.int/classifications/icd/revision/timeline/en/). More research is needed into disorder definitions, validation of clinical tools, prevalence, clinical parameters, brain-based biology, socio-health-economic impact, and empirically validated intervention and policy approaches. Potential cultural differences in the magnitudes and natures of types and patterns of PUI need to be better understood, to inform optimal health policy and service development. To this end, the EU under Horizon 2020 has launched a new four-year European Cooperation in Science and Technology (COST) Action Programme (CA 16207), bringing together scientists and clinicians from across the fields of impulsive, compulsive, and addictive disorders, to advance networked interdisciplinary research into PUI across Europe and beyond, ultimately seeking to inform regulatory policies and clinical practice. This paper describes nine critical and achievable research priorities identified by the Network, needed in order to advance understanding of PUI, with a view towards identifying vulnerable individuals for early intervention. The network shall enable collaborative research networks, shared multinational databases, multicentre studies and joint publications.Peer reviewe

Decreased exposure to sunitinib due to concomitant administration of ifosfamide: results of a phase I and pharmacokinetic study on the combination of sunitinib and ifosfamide in patients with advanced solid malignancies

Background:This study aimed to define the maximally tolerated dose (MTD) of sunitinib combined with two different infusion schedules of ifosfamide. Methods:Patients with advanced solid tumours, good performance score, good organ function, and no standard therapy available were eligible. Continuous once daily sunitinib, in escalating doses per cohort, was combined with ifosfamide, 9 g m-2 for 3 days or 6 g m-2 for 5 days, administered every 3 weeks. Pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) assessments were performed. Results:With growth-factor support, the MTD of sunitinib combined with either ifosfamide schedule was 12.5 mg in 32 patients enrolled. Neutropenia-related adverse events were dose-limiting toxicities. Sunitinib did not affect ifosfamide PK. Ifosfamide significantly decreased exposure to sunitinib and increased exposure to its metabolite, SU12662. No consistent changes in PD parameters were observed. Conclusion:With growth-factor support, the MTD of sunitinib with both ifosfamide schedules was 12.5 mg. Ifosfamide produced decreased sunitinib blood levels because of CYP3A induction. As PK interactions cannot explain the relatively low sunitinib doses that can be combined with ifosfamide, synergy in toxicity is likely. Whether this also holds true for anti-tumour activity needs to be further explored.British Journal of Cancer advance online publication, 18 May 2010; doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6605696 www.bjcancer.com

Simulations for trapping reactions with subdiffusive traps and subdiffusive particles

While there are many well-known and extensively tested results involving diffusion-limited binary reactions, reactions involving subdiffusive reactant species are far less understood. Subdiffusive motion is characterized by a mean square displacement $\sim t^\gamma$ with $0<\gamma<1$. Recently we calculated the asymptotic survival probability $P(t)$ of a (sub)diffusive particle ($\gamma^\prime$) surrounded by (sub)diffusive traps ($\gamma$) in one dimension. These are among the few known results for reactions involving species characterized by different anomalous exponents. Our results were obtained by bounding, above and below, the exact survival probability by two other probabilities that are asymptotically identical (except when $\gamma^\prime=1$ and $0<\gamma<2/3$). Using this approach, we were not able to estimate the time of validity of the asymptotic result, nor the way in which the survival probability approaches this regime. Toward this goal, here we present a detailed comparison of the asymptotic results with numerical simulations. In some parameter ranges the asymptotic theory describes the simulation results very well even for relatively short times. However, in other regimes more time is required for the simulation results to approach asymptotic behavior, and we arrive at situations where we are not able to reach asymptotia within our computational means. This is regrettably the case for $\gamma^\prime=1$ and $0<\gamma<2/3$, where we are therefore not able to prove or disprove even conjectures about the asymptotic survival probability of the particle.Comment: 15 pages, 10 figures, submitted to Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter; special issue on Chemical Kinetics Beyond the Textbook: Fluctuations, Many-Particle Effects and Anomalous Dynamics, eds. K.Lindenberg, G.Oshanin and M.Tachiy