The free energy of a box-version of the interacting Bose gas

The interacting quantum Bose gas is a random ensemble of many Brownian bridges (cycles) of various lengths with interactions between any pair of legs of the cycles. It is one of the standard mathematical models in which a proof for the famous Bose--Einstein condensation phase transition is sought for. We introduce a simplified version of the model with an organisation of the particles in deterministic boxes instead of Brownian cycles as the marks of a reference Poisson point process (for simplicity, in Z d, instead of R d). We derive an explicit and interpretable variational formula in the thermodynamic limit for the limiting free energy of the canonical ensemble for any value of the particle density. This formula features all relevant physical quantities of the model, like the microscopic and the macroscopic particle densities, together with their mutual and self-energies and their entropies. The proof method comprises a two-step large-deviation approach for marked Poisson point processes and an explicit distinction into small and large marks. In the characteristic formula, each of the microscopic particles and the statistics of the macroscopic part of the configuration are seen explicitly; the latter receives the interpretation of the condensate. The formula enables us to prove a number of properties of the limiting free energy as a function of the particle density, like differentiability and explicit upper and lower bounds, and a qualitative picture below and above the critical threshold (if it is finite). This proves a modified saturation nature of the phase transition. However, we have not yet succeeded in proving the existence of this phase transition

Vision and hearing problems and psychosocial outcomes: longitudinal evidence from the German Ageing Survey

To examine whether changes in vision and hearing problems are associated with changes in psychosocial outcomes (in terms of depressive symptoms, loneliness, and perceived social isolation). We used longitudinal data from the nationally representative German Ageing Survey, which covers individuals aged 43 years and over (wave 6 and wave 7, with 7108 observations and mean age of 67.5 years, SD 10.2 years). The 6-item De Jong Gierveld tool was used to quantify loneliness, the Bude and Lantermann tool was used to quantify perceived social isolation, and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (15-item version) was used to quantify depressive symptoms. Self-rated problems reading the newspaper due to vision problems and self-rated difficulties recognizing known people on the street due to vision problems were used to quantify vision problems. In addition, self-rated hearing problems on the telephone and self-rated hearing problems in groups of more than four people were used to quantify hearing problems. Adjusting for various confounders, longitudinal regressions showed that the onset of major vision problems referring to difficulties recognizing people one knows on the street was associated with increases in loneliness (β = 0.17, p < .01) and depressive symptoms (β = 1.90, p < 0.05). Moreover, the onset of some vision problems referring to difficulties reading the newspaper was associated with increases in perceived social isolation (β = 0.06, p < 0.01). Additionally, the onset of some hearing problems in groups of more than four people was associated with increases in depressive symptoms (β = 0.43, p < 0.05). Our longitudinal study showed that vision and hearing problems can contribute differently to psychosocial factors. Delaying sensory impairment may result in favorable psychosocial factors in later life

Neighbourhood cohesion, loneliness and perceived social isolation prior and during the COVID-19 pandemic: Longitudinal evidence from the German Ageing Survey

To investigate the longitudinal association between neighbourhood cohesion and loneliness as well as perceived social isolation prior and during the COVID-19 pandemic (stratified by sex). Methods: Longitudinal data were taken from a nationally representative sample (German Ageing Survey) of inhabitants aged 40 years and over in Germany prior (wave 6: year 2017) and during the COVID-19 pandemic (wave 8: November 2020 until February 2021; n = 6688 observations, mean age was 67.4 years). The De Jong Gierveld tool was used to measure loneliness and the Bude and Lantermann tool was used to measure perceived social isolation. Neighbourhood cohesion was assessed based on different items.Results: FE regressions showed that decreases in closeness of contact with neighbours were associated with increases in loneliness and perceived social isolation levels among men, but not women. In contrast, decreases in different indicators of involvement in neighbourhood activities were associated with increases in loneliness and perceived social isolation levels among women, but not men.Conclusions: Changes in neighbourhood factors are differently associated with loneliness and perceived social isolation among middle-aged and older women and men. Gender-specific efforts to avoid loneliness and social isolation are, therefore, needed

The Social Situation Affects How We Process Feedback About Our Actions

Humans achieve their goals in joint action tasks either by cooperation or competition. In the present study, we investigated the neural processes underpinning error and monetary rewards processing in such cooperative and competitive situations. We used electroencephalography (EEG) and analyzed event-related potentials (ERPs) triggered by feedback in both social situations. 26 dyads performed a joint four-alternative forced choice (4AFC) visual task either cooperatively or competitively. At the end of each trial, participants received performance feedback about their individual and joint errors and accompanying monetary rewards. Furthermore, the outcome, i.e., resulting positive, negative, or neutral rewards, was dependent on the pay-off matrix, defining the social situation either as cooperative or competitive. We used linear mixed effects models to analyze the feedback-related-negativity (FRN) and used the Threshold-free cluster enhancement (TFCE) method to explore activations of all electrodes and times. We found main effects of the outcome and social situation, but no interaction at mid-line frontal electrodes. The FRN was more negative for losses than wins in both social situations. However, the FRN amplitudes differed between social situations. Moreover, we compared monetary with neutral outcomes in both social situations. Our exploratory TFCE analysis revealed that processing of feedback differs between cooperative and competitive situations at right temporo-parietal electrodes where the cooperative situation elicited more positive amplitudes. Further, the differences induced by the social situations were stronger in participants with higher scores on a perspective taking test. In sum, our results replicate previous studies about the FRN and extend them by comparing neurophysiological responses to positive and negative outcomes in a task that simultaneously engages two participants in competitive and cooperative situations

Big data simulations for capacity improvement in a general ophthalmology clinic

PURPOSE Long total waiting times (TWT) experienced by patients during a clinic visit have a significant adverse effect on patient's satisfaction. Our aim was to use big data simulations of a patient scheduling calendar and its effect on TWT in a general ophthalmology clinic. Based on the simulation, we implemented changes to the calendar and verified their effect on TWT in clinical practice. DESIGN AND METHODS For this retrospective simulation study, we generated a discrete event simulation (DES) model based on clinical timepoints of 4.401 visits to our clinic. All data points were exported from our clinical warehouse for further processing. If not available from the electronic health record, manual time measurements of the process were used. Various patient scheduling models were simulated and evaluated based on their reduction of TWT. The most promising model was implemented into clinical practice in 2017. RESULTS During validation of our simulation model, we achieved a high agreement of mean TWT between the real data (229 ± 100 min) and the corresponding simulated data (225 ± 112 min). This indicates a high quality of the simulation model. Following the simulations, a patient scheduling calendar was introduced, which, compared with the old calendar, provided block intervals and extended time windows for patients. The simulated TWT of this model was 153 min. After implementation in clinical practice, TWT per patient in our general ophthalmology clinic has been reduced from 229 ± 100 to 183 ± 89 min. CONCLUSION By implementing a big data simulation model, we have achieved a cost-neutral reduction of the mean TWT by 21%. Big data simulation enables users to evaluate variations to an existing system before implementation into clinical practice. Various models for improving patient flow or reducing capacity loads can be evaluated cost-effectively

Long-term care need, loneliness, and perceived social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic: evidence from the German Ageing Survey

There is a complete lack of studies focusing on the association between care degree (reflecting the long-term care need) and loneliness or social isolation in Germany. Aims: To investigate the association between care degree and loneliness as well as perceived social isolation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods: We used data from the nationally representative German Ageing Survey, which covers community-dwelling middle-aged and older individuals aged 40 years or over. We used wave 8 of the German Ageing Survey (analytical sample: n = 4334 individuals, mean age was 68.9 years, SD: 10.2 years; range 46–100 years). To assess loneliness, the De Jong Gierveld instrument was used. To assess perceived social isolation, the Bude and Lantermann instrument was used. Moreover, the level of care was used as a key independent variable (absence of care degree (0); care degree 1–5). Results: After adjusting for various covariates, regressions showed that there were no significant differences between individuals without a care degree and individuals with a care degree of 1 or 2 in terms of loneliness and perceived social isolation. In contrast, individuals with a care degree of 3 or 4 had higher loneliness (β = 0.23, p = 0.034) and higher perceived social isolation scores (β = 0.38, p < 0.01) compared to individuals without a care degree. Discussion/conclusions: Care degrees of 3 or 4 are associated with higher levels of both loneliness and perceived social isolation. Longitudinal studies are required to confirm this association

Eye movements as a window to cognitive processes

Eye movement research is a highly active and productive research field. Here we focus on how the embodied nature of eye movements can act as a window to the brain and the mind. In particular, we discuss how conscious perception depends on the trajectory of fixated locations and consequently address how fixation locations are selected. Specifically, we argue that the selection of fixation points during visual exploration can be understood to a large degree based on retinotopically structured models. Yet, these models largely ignore spatiotemporal structure in eye-movement sequences. Explaining spatiotemporal structure in eye-movement trajectories requires an understanding of spatiotemporal properties of the visual sampling process. With this in mind, we discuss the availability of external information to internal inference about causes in the world. We demonstrate that visual foraging is a dynamic process that can be systematically modulated either towards exploration or exploitation. For an analysis at high temporal resolution, we suggest a new method: The renewal density allows the investigation of precise temporal relation of eye movements and other actions like a button press. We conclude with an outlook and propose that eye movement research has reached an appropriate stage and can easily be combined with other research methods to utilize this window to the brain and mind to its fullest

Advancing Intraoperative Assessment of Urethral Stricture Anatomic Variation: a Prospective Proof-of-concept Study

INTRODUCTION Urethral strictures, particularly those refractory to endoscopic interventions, are commonly treated through open urethroplasty. However, predicting recurrence in homogeneous patient populations remains challenging. METHODS To address this, we developed an intraoperative urethral stricture assessment tool aiming to identify comprehensive risk predictors. The assessment includes detailed parameters on stricture location, length, urethral bed width, spongiosum thickness, obliteration grade, and spongiofibrosis extension. The tool was prospectively implemented in 106 men with anterior one-stage augmentation urethroplasty 04/2020 to 10/2021. RESULTS An intraoperative granular assessment of intricate stricture characteristics is feasible. Comparative analyses revealed significant differences between bulbar and penile strictures. Bulbar strictures exhibited wider urethral beds and thicker spongiosum compared to penile strictures (all P<0.001). The assessment showed marked variations in the degree of obliteration and spongiofibrosis extension. CONCLUSION Our tool aligns with efforts to standardize urethral surgery, providing insights into subtle disease intricacies and enabling comparisons between institutions. Notably, intraoperative assessment may surpass the limitations of preoperative imaging, emphasizing the necessity of intraoperative evaluation. While limitations include a single-institution study and limited sample size, future research aims to refine this tool and determine its impact on treatment strategies, potentially improving long-term outcomes for urethral strictures

WildLab : a naturalistic free viewing experiment reveals previously unknown electroencephalography signatures of face processing

Neural mechanisms of face perception are predominantly studied in well‐controlled experimental settings that involve random stimulus sequences and fixed eye positions. Although powerful, the employed paradigms are far from what constitutes natural vision. Here, we demonstrate the feasibility of ecologically more valid experimental paradigms using natural viewing behaviour, by combining a free viewing paradigm on natural scenes, free of photographer bias, with advanced data processing techniques that correct for overlap effects and co‐varying non‐linear dependencies of multiple eye movement parameters. We validate this approach by replicating classic N170 effects in neural responses, triggered by fixation onsets (fixation event‐related potentials [fERPs]). Importantly, besides finding a strong correlation between both experiments, our more natural stimulus paradigm yielded smaller variability between subjects than the classic setup. Moving beyond classic temporal and spatial effect locations, our experiment furthermore revealed previously unknown signatures of face processing: This includes category‐specific modulation of the event‐related potential (ERP)'s amplitude even before fixation onset, as well as adaptation effects across subsequent fixations depending on their history.Deutsche ForschungsgemeinschaftH2020 Future and Emerging TechnologiesProjekt DEA