Gamma knife surgery for facial nerve schwannomas.

Radical resection of facial nerve schwannomas classically implies a high risk of severe facial palsy. Owing to the rarity of facial palsy after gamma knife surgery (GKS) of vestibular schwannomas, functional evaluation after GKS seems rational in this specific group of patients. To our knowledge, no previous similar evaluation exists in the literature

Nanoindentation hardness and macroscopic mechanical behaviors in filled elastomeric nanocomposites

Carbon black (CB) filled semi-crystalline ethylene butyl acrylate (EBA) copolymer networks are investigated to probe for the CB particles dependence of the deformation behavior from nano-to micrometers length scales of samples which are submitted to nanoindentation characterization. With respect to this purpose, the phenomenology for hardness (H) response in these materials indicates a typical increase of the hardness by decreasing the indentation depth (h) similar to the observed behavior in elastomeric materials. This behavior can be related to the change of the mesostructure, formed by the heterogeneous three-dimensional interconnected network of polymer and of aggregates of CB particles. Furthermore, The CB amount is found to increase the resistance of composite under the action of a mechanical stress. The H-h curves were then compared to some analytical models and correlated to a tensile macroscopic behavior in order to highlight the involved deformation mechanisms with length scale. A complementary set of characterizations such as profilometry and atomic force microscopy probes were also employed to best understand of those mechanisms

Influence of processing conditions on nanoindentation properties of spark plasma sintered ptfe

The Spark Plasma Sintering (SPS) is considered as fast sintering route using self-heating action from inside the powder similar to microwave sintering and self-propagating high temperature. High sintering rate, low temperature processing, ease of operation and accurate control of sintering energy are the major advantages of this non-melting technique with regard to classical methods. The aim of this investigation is to take benefit from the advantages offered by the SPS process in order to sinter the polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) polymer materials from PTFE powder particles. The effect of the process’s parameters, namely the sintering temperature and heating rate, on the nanoindentation deformation is explored at room temperature. Empirical data on depth-dependent hardness are confronted to some theoretical models with a special focus on the apparent surface stress changes with the indentation depth. Furthermore, the obtained results are compared to the macro-behavior deduced from tensile and bending properties in order to assess the change in both surface and bulk deformations of the SPSed samples and according to the processing parameters

Nanoindentation hardness and macroscopic mechanical behaviors in filled elastomeric nanocomposites

Carbon black (CB) filled semi-crystalline ethylene butyl acrylate (EBA) copolymer networks are investigated to probe for the CB particles dependence of the deformation behavior from nano-to micrometers length scales of samples which are submitted to nanoindentation characterization. With respect to this purpose, the phenomenology for hardness (H) response in these materials indicates a typical increase of the hardness by decreasing the indentation depth (h) similar to the observed behavior in elastomeric materials. This behavior can be related to the change of the mesostructure, formed by the heterogeneous three-dimensional interconnected network of polymer and of aggregates of CB particles. Furthermore, The CB amount is found to increase the resistance of composite under the action of a mechanical stress. The H-h curves were then compared to some analytical models and correlated to a tensile macroscopic behavior in order to highlight the involved deformation mechanisms with length scale. A complementary set of characterizations such as profilometry and atomic force microscopy probes were also employed to best understand of those mechanisms

Predicting attitudinal and behavioral responses to COVID-19 pandemic using machine learning

At the beginning of 2020, COVID-19 became a global problem. Despite all the efforts to emphasize the relevance of preventive measures, not everyone adhered to them. Thus, learning more about the characteristics determining attitudinal and behavioral responses to the pandemic is crucial to improving future interventions. In this study, we applied machine learning on the multi-national data collected by the International Collaboration on the Social and Moral Psychology of COVID-19 (N = 51,404) to test the predictive efficacy of constructs from social, moral, cognitive, and personality psychology, as well as socio-demographic factors, in the attitudinal and behavioral responses to the pandemic. The results point to several valuable insights. Internalized moral identity provided the most consistent predictive contribution—individuals perceiving moral traits as central to their self-concept reported higher adherence to preventive measures. Similar was found for morality as cooperation, symbolized moral identity, self-control, open-mindedness, collective narcissism, while the inverse relationship was evident for the endorsement of conspiracy theories. However, we also found a non-negligible variability in the explained variance and predictive contributions with respect to macro-level factors such as the pandemic stage or cultural region. Overall, the results underscore the importance of morality-related and contextual factors in understanding adherence to public health recommendations during the pandemic

Author Correction: National identity predicts public health support during a global pandemic

Correction to: Nature Communications https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-27668-9, published online 26 January 2022

National identity predicts public health support during a global pandemic

Changing collective behaviour and supporting non-pharmaceutical interventions is an important component in mitigating virus transmission during a pandemic. In a large international collaboration (Study 1, N = 49,968 across 67 countries), we investigated self-reported factors associated with public health behaviours (e.g., spatial distancing and stricter hygiene) and endorsed public policy interventions (e.g., closing bars and restaurants) during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic (April-May 2020). Respondents who reported identifying more strongly with their nation consistently reported greater engagement in public health behaviours and support for public health policies. Results were similar for representative and non-representative national samples. Study 2 (N = 42 countries) conceptually replicated the central finding using aggregate indices of national identity (obtained using the World Values Survey) and a measure of actual behaviour change during the pandemic (obtained from Google mobility reports). Higher levels of national identification prior to the pandemic predicted lower mobility during the early stage of the pandemic (r = −0.40). We discuss the potential implications of links between national identity, leadership, and public health for managing COVID-19 and future pandemics

Social and moral psychology of COVID-19 across 69 countries

The COVID-19 pandemic has affected all domains of human life, including the economic and social fabric of societies. One of the central strategies for managing public health throughout the pandemic has been through persuasive messaging and collective behaviour change. To help scholars better understand the social and moral psychology behind public health behaviour, we present a dataset comprising of 51,404 individuals from 69 countries. This dataset was collected for the International Collaboration on Social & Moral Psychology of COVID-19 project (ICSMP COVID-19). This social science survey invited participants around the world to complete a series of moral and psychological measures and public health attitudes about COVID-19 during an early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic (between April and June 2020). The survey included seven broad categories of questions: COVID-19 beliefs and compliance behaviours; identity and social attitudes; ideology; health and well-being; moral beliefs and motivation; personality traits; and demographic variables. We report both raw and cleaned data, along with all survey materials, data visualisations, and psychometric evaluations of key variables

National identity predicts public health support during a global pandemic

Changing collective behaviour and supporting non-pharmaceutical interventions is an important component in mitigating virus transmission during a pandemic. In a large international collaboration (Study 1, N = 49,968 across 67 countries), we investigated self-reported factors associated with public health behaviours (e.g., spatial distancing and stricter hygiene) and endorsed public policy interventions (e.g., closing bars and restaurants) during the early stage of the COVID-19 pandemic (April-May 2020). Respondents who reported identifying more strongly with their nation consistently reported greater engagement in public health behaviours and support for public health policies. Results were similar for representative and non-representative national samples. Study 2 (N = 42 countries) conceptually replicated the central finding using aggregate indices of national identity (obtained using the World Values Survey) and a measure of actual behaviour change during the pandemic (obtained from Google mobility reports). Higher levels of national identification prior to the pandemic predicted lower mobility during the early stage of the pandemic (r = −0.40). We discuss the potential implications of links between national identity, leadership, and public health for managing COVID-19 and future pandemics.publishedVersio