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Zusammenfassung Operationsziel Der Pararectus-Zugang wurde vor einigen Jahren für die Beckenchirurgie neu entdeckt und als alternativer Zugang insbesondere für die Behandlung von Acetabulumfrakturen des vorderen Pfeilers mit Beteiligung der quadrilateralen Fläche beschrieben. Indikationen Zur optimalen Darstellung von Acetabulumfrakturen mit Beteiligung der quadrilateralen Fläche, Frakturen der vorderen Wand und des vorderen Pfeilers, vorderen Pfeiler/hinteren Hemiquerfrakturen und Frakturen mit zentraler Impression von Domfragmenten hat sich der Pararectus-Zugang bewährt. Kontraindikationen Bei Frakturen des hinteren Pfeilers, der hinteren Wand, kombinierten Frakturen der hinteren Wand und des hinteren Pfeilers, Querfrakturen mit Dislokation des hinteren Pfeilers oder in Kombination mit Frakturen der hinteren Wand und bei T‑Frakturen mit Dislokation des hinteren Pfeilers oder in Kombination mit Frakturen der hinteren Wand findet der Pararectus-Zugang keine Anwendung, ebenso nicht bei Patienten mit Ileus. Operationstechnik Über den Pararectus-Zugang kann der gesamte Beckenring einschließlich der quadrilateralen Fläche erreicht werden. Die Auswahl der chirurgischen Fenster richtet sich nach der Frakturlokalisation und den Erfordernissen der Frakturreposition. Weiterbehandlung Grundsätzlich sollte eine Teilbelastung für 6 Wochen eingehalten werden, wobei Fraktur- und Osteosynthese-abhängig ggf. eine frühere Belastungsfreigabe möglich ist. Insbesondere von geriatrischen Patienten kann häufig keine Teilbelastung eingehalten werden, sodass hier die frühzeitige und oft relativ unkontrollierte Vollbelastung akzeptiert werden muss. Ergebnisse In einer vergleichenden instrumentellen Bewegungsanalyse zwischen Patienten nach operativer Stabilisierung einer isolierten unilateralen Acetabulumfraktur über den Pararectus-Zugang und gesunden Probanden zeichnete sich schon in der frühen postoperativen Phase eine suffiziente Stabilität und Bewegungsfunktion des Beckens und der Hüfte während des Gehens ab.

Purpose: Although treatment strategies of knee joint dislocations have evolved, there is still no consensus on the best method and timing. New therapeutic concepts suggest that early one-stage treatment, including suturing and bracing of the cruciate ligaments in acute knee joint dislocation, are leading to improved functional results. This study aimed to evaluate the midterm functional outcome following traumatic knee joint dislocation and to determine whether the outcome is influenced by the surgical management, patient habitus or concomitant injuries. Methods: In this retrospective single center study, 38 patients with acute Schenck type II to IV knee dislocations were treated over an eight-year period in a level I trauma center. At follow-up, various clinical scores, such as the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Score, Lysholm Score, and Tegner Activity Scale (TAS), and individual questions about rehabilitation and activity levels of 38 patients were evaluated. Results: Mean follow-up was 5.5 ± 2.7 years. The mean IKDC Score was 65.6 ± 15.7 points, the average Lysholm Score was 70.5 ± 16.4 points and the median TAS was 4 (0–7), resulting in a loss of activity of 2 (range 0–6) points. There was no significant difference between a one-stage treatment compared to a two-stage approach. Ligament reconstruction of the ACL in a two-stage approach was required in only 33.3%. Further operations (early and late) were performed in 37% of cases. Being overweight was associated with more complications and worse outcomes, and external fixation with arthrofibrosis. Conclusions: Knee dislocation is a severe trauma that often leads to a prolonged loss of function and increased knee pain over years, affecting the patient’s activity. Clinical outcome is influenced significantly by concomitant injuries. Severe cases with initial external fixation are associated with a higher risk of knee stiffness and should be considered during rehabilitation. Obese patients present a challenge due to higher complication rates and lower postoperative knee function. Level of evidence: Retrospective single center study, level III.

During decommissioning of nuclear facilities, possibly contaminated asbestos containing materials (ACM) emerge. In this work, we propose an analytical method to characterize ACM contaminated with alpha and beta nuclides by microscopic (light and electron microscopy) and radioanalytical techniques. For this purpose, a chromatographic separation is applied after decomposition of ACM by a lithium borate fusion at 1065 degrees C. The subsequent separation is performed with UTEVA-TRU-Sr chromatographic resins. Recovery rates for analyzed radionuclides were on an average of 80-90% for Am, Cm, Pu isotopes, and Sr-90. Compared to sample pre-treatment with hydrofluoric acid, the lithium borate fusion proves more suitable, while providing higher working safety., Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 331 (12), ISSN:0236-5731, ISSN:1588-2780

Simulation is essential for a comprehensive analysis of the performance of solar cells. The rear contact pitch of passivated emitter and rear cells (PERC cells) is a crucial device parameter that influences not only the electrical performance but also the optical performance of these cells. This article investigates the applicability of the analytical light trapping model by Basore to account for the optical influence of the rear contact pitch as a simpler alternative to ray tracing. First, we manufacture three different groups of cells with different rear contact pitches, where the metallization fraction f met varies between 0 and 54%. Second, the reflectance of the cells is measured. Subsequently, we fit the model parameters R f and R b (internal reflection on the front and back surface, respectively) to the measured reflectance. While we confirm a nonlinear relation between f met and the measurable spectra found in previous works, our results reveal linear relations between f met and R b with the adjusted coefficients of determination of R adj² > 0.97, as well as between f met and the charge carrier generation rates with R adj² > 0.94. These relations allow a simple and rapid optical simulation of f met variation for PERC cells. The same approach is likely applicable to any local contacts also in other cell concepts.

In this study, we introduce a temperature screening image analysis to investigate the temperature dependence of boron-oxygen-related defect regeneration achieved by using one sample. For that purpose, we induce a temperature gradient in a single sample over a broad temperature range in our laser-based rapid thermal processing furnace, while other influencing factors are kept constant. Spatially resolved measurements of the temperature during the regeneration process (thermographic images) and photoluminescence (PL) images at different boron-oxygen-related defect states are recorded. By a pixelwise assignment of the PL images to the temperature image, the effectiveness of the regeneration process in terms of regeneration completeness is evaluated for each pixel. In this experiment, we investigate the temperature dependence of a boron-oxygen-related defect regeneration in a temperature range of 100-500 °C for different treatment times of 2-30 s at an illumination intensity of 100 kW/m². Thereby, we determine the temperature regimes that allow for efficient regeneration for the respective regeneration parameter set with a single sample. The results can be used for industrial optimization of a boron-oxygen-related defect regeneration process. Furthermore, this technique can also be applied to other temperature-dependent process optimizations and even fundamental research.

Purpose Aim of this study was to investigate whether limited open auxiliary angle stable plate fixation has an effect on functional and radiologic outcomes one year after revision intramedullary nailing in aseptic trochanteric and subtrochanteric fracture nonunion. Methods In a retrospective analysis, surgically revised aseptic trochanteric and subtrochanteric nonunion was evaluated in a total of 190 consecutive patients ranging from 18 to 94 years between 12/2005 and 10/2018. Results One year after revision intramedullary nailing, nonunion healing was assessed in 129 out of 136 patients (95%) in group 1 without auxiliary plate fixation and in 51 out of 54 patients (94%) in group 2 with auxiliary plating (p = 0.23). In group 1, range of motion (ROM) was unrestricted in 88 patients and still restricted in 48 patients. In group 2, ROM was free in 34 patients and restricted in 20 patients (p = 0.25). The mean Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) was 56 points in group 1 and 55 points in group 2 (p = 0.55). Conclusion This study did not demonstrate significant differences in functional and radiologic outcomes following revision intramedullary nailing of aseptic trochanteric and subtrochanteric fracture nonunion. Limited open auxiliary plate fixation might be a reasonable option especially in cases of relevant varus axis deviation and comminuted or atypical fracture configurations, regardless of patients’ age. Retrospectively registered with the German Clinical Trials Register (01/25/2021; ID: DRKS00024112).

Metallization induced recombination losses are one dominant loss mechanism for current industrial solar cells. A precise determination of these losses is important for contacting technology optimization, as well as precise solar cell modeling. Usually, for state-of-the-art approaches to determine j 0,met, it is assumed that the samples itself exhibit spatially uniform properties (e.g., carrier lifetime or sheet resistance) or that the used reference samples are identical to the metallized samples. Finally, in most cases, only one global j 0,met-value for the entire sample is given, neglecting possible spatial inhomogeneities. In this article, we mostly eliminate the necessity for the assumptions of perfect sample homogeneity by means of an interpolation scheme of the photoluminescence (PL) signal. Thereby, we can predict the PL signal of a virtually nonmetallized test field with a relative standard deviation of about σ a 0.7%. Additionally, we determine j 0,met for specific test fields at different positions on the sample and correlate the results to the local emitter sheet resistance R sh, the local peak firing temperature of the sample during the fast firing process T peak, and the test field finger spacing d . For our samples, a reduction of d from d = 1000 μm to d = 200 μm leads to a reduction of j 0,met by up to 18%. This strong effect is physically unexpected and so far not considered by the state-of-the-art approach, frequently performed in the photovoltaic community. Further, we perform a sensitivity and error analysis which reveals that we are able to determine j 0,met within an estimated accuracy between 15% and 18%.

PurposeThe aim of this study was to assess functional and radiological results following cephalomedullary nailing with and without use of auxiliary cable cerclages in a large series of trochanteric and subtrochanteric femoral fractures.MethodsIn a retrospective study of prospectively collected data between January 2014 and March 2019, a total of 260 consecutive patients (155 women and 105 men) with the diagnosis of AO/OTA A1 to A3 fractures were included. The mean age of patients was 76.4 ± 15.6 years. According to the AO/OTA classification, 72 A1 fractures, 124 A2 fractures, and 64 A3 fractures were found. In 72 patients with auxiliary cerclage wiring three A1 fractures, 27 A2 fractures and 42 A3 fractures were assessed. In the patient group with auxiliary cerclages, fracture healing according to the Radiographic Union Score for Hip (RUSH) within one year after surgery was assessed in 68 out of 72 patients (healing rate 94%). The mean RUSH in the group with cerclages was 28.7 ± 2.2 points and was 28.5 ± 2.2 points in the group without cerclages (p = 0.72). In 91 patients available for a complete follow-up, mean functional outcome according to the Lower Extremity Functional Scale (LEFS) was 65.3 ± 17.2 points in the group with cerclages versus 58.4 ± 21 points in the group without cerclages (p = 0.04).ConclusionThe additional use of cerclages provides intrinsic stability and enables axial alignment and medial cortical support during anatomical fracture reduction and cephalomedullary nail insertion. In the current study, this technique resulted in significantly better functional long-term outcomes than without cerclages. Therefore, it can be recommended as a useful supportive tool especially in comminuted trochanteric and subtrochanteric fractures. Trial registration number DRKS00020550, 01/30/2020, retrospectively registered.

In this work, we present scanning spreading resistance microscopy (SSRM) measurements of a phosphorous emitter formed via tube furnace diffusion and a laser-doped selective emitter (LDSE) processed by additionally doping the tube furnace diffused emitter. The nonlaser-doped emitter is found to be widely homogeneous along the alkaline textured silicon surface. In contrast, the LDSE features large fluctuations in doping depth, almost constant doping concentration along the (laser-modified) surface within a depth of

Electroencephalogram microstates are recurrent scalp potential configurations that remain stable for around 90 ms. The dynamics of two of the four canonical classes of microstates, commonly labeled as C and D, have been suggested as a potential endophenotype for schizophrenia. For endophenotypes, unaffected relatives of patients must show abnormalities compared to controls. Here, we examined microstate dynamics in resting-state recordings of unaffected siblings of patients with schizophrenia, patients with schizophrenia, healthy controls, and patients with first episodes of psychosis (FEP). Patients with schizophrenia and their siblings showed increased presence of microstate class C and decreased presence of microstate class D compared to controls. No difference was found between FEP and chronic patients. Our findings suggest that the dynamics of microstate classes C and D are a candidate endophenotype for schizophrenia., EEG microstate abnormalities have been reported in patients with schizophrenia. Here the authors demonstrate that patients and their siblings show similar microstate abnormalities compared to healthy controls.

Movement or gait analysis has become a viable assessment tool not only used in sports science or basic biomechanical research, but has also expanded to be a very valuable instrument in clinical diagnostics, monitoring functional recovery and musculoskeletal rehabilitation. In this context, this method has long been an integral part solely in neurological disorders such as cerebral palsy. However, in the meantime the benefits have also become apparent in other medical areas, such as foot surgery, orthopaedic technology, or in patients after lower limb amputation. These procedures proved to better understand, objectify and quantify the individual causes of gait and movement disorders in order to optimize patient-specific therapy. Currently we are able to rely on a multitude of available measurement systems. These can either be used in everyday life for simple monitoring of one's own activity or to complement therapeutic approaches in the clinical and scientific environment. The following review highlights the various fields of movement analysis, including markerless motion capture, marker-based analysis, pedobarography and wearable sensors. Each of these areas presents its own field of application and potential usage as well as the advantages and disadvantages arising in this context. The following article will give an overview of the type of measurement technology used, the respective fields of application, and the selected parameters and their interpretation possibilities for each of the areas mentioned.

Lakes and reservoirs contribute substantially to atmospheric concentrations of the potent greenhouse gas methane. Lake sediments produce large amounts of methane, which accumulate in the oxygen-depleted bottom waters of stratified lakes. Climate change and eutrophication may increase the number of lakes with methane storage in the future. Whether stored methane escapes to the atmosphere during annual lake overturn is a matter of controversy and depends critically on the response of the methanotroph assemblage. Here we show, by combining 16S rRNA gene and pmoA mRNA amplicon sequencing, qPCR, CARD-FISH and potential methane-oxidation rate measurements, that the methanotroph assemblage in a mixing lake underwent both a substantial bloom and ecological succession. As a result, methane oxidation kept pace with the methane supplied from methane-rich bottom water and most methane was oxidized. This aspect of freshwater methanotroph ecology represents an effective mechanism limiting methane transfer from lakes to the atmosphere., Mayr et al. show that the methanotroph assemblage grows fast enough to limit methane outgassing to the atmosphere during lake overturn when methane from the bottom water is transferred to the surface layer in lake Rotsee. The study suggests that an expanding and changing methanotroph assemblage is responsible for the increasing methane oxidation capacity during autumn overturn.

Supplemental Digital Content is Available in the Text., Objectives: To evaluate radiological fracture reduction and clinical results using the pararectus approach in complex acetabular fractures involving the anterior column. Design: Retrospective database analysis of prospectively collected data. Setting: Level 1 trauma center. Patients/Participants: 61 patients (48 male and 13 female) with a median age of 55 (range 17–91) years were included. According to the chosen surgical approach, they were divided into 2 groups. The P-group included 43 patients, among them 32 male and 11 female patients with a median age of 55 (range 17–90) years. Eighteen patients [16 male, 2 female; median age: 53 (range 23–91) years] were treated through the ilioinguinal approach (I-group). Intervention: Anterior surgical procedures through the pararectus or the ilioinguinal approach. Main Outcome Measured: Reduction results were rated according to the modified Matta criteria using a measurement protocol of hip joint gaps and steps in computed tomography scans. Operation time, complications, and clinical outcomes median one year postoperatively were compared. Results: In the pararectus group reduction was anatomical in 21 out of 40 analyzed patients (52.5%), imperfect in 11 patients (27.5%), and poor in 8 patients (20%). The mean joint step reduction was 3.7 mm, and the mean joint gap reduction was 12.1 mm. In the ilioinguinal group reduction was anatomical in 9 out of 18 patients (50%), imperfect in 4 patients (22%), and poor in 5 patients (28%). The mean joint step reduction was 1 mm, and the mean joint gap reduction was 7 mm. Operation time was significantly shorter in the P-group (mean: 49 minutes; P < 0.001). Conclusions: This study indicates that acetabular fracture reduction using the pararectus approach is at least comparable with the ilioinguinal approach independent of patients' age. A relevant advantage of the pararectus approach was seen in a significantly shorter operation time. Level of Evidence: Therapeutic Level III. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Visual backward masking (VBM) deficits are candidate endophenotypes of schizophrenia indexing genetic liability of the disorder. In VBM, a target is followed by a mask that deteriorates target perception. Schizophrenia patients and, to a lesser extent, their unaffected relatives show strong and reproducible VBM deficits. In patients, VBM deficits are associated with strongly decreased amplitudes in the evoked-related potentials (ERPs). Here, to unveil the neural mechanisms of VBM in schizophrenia, circumventing illness-specific confounds, we investigated the electroencephalogram correlates of VBM in unaffected siblings of schizophrenia patients. We tested 110 schizophrenia patients, 60 siblings, and 83 healthy controls. As in previous studies, patients showed strong behavioral deficits and decreased ERP amplitudes compared to controls. Surprisingly, the ERP amplitudes of siblings were even higher than the ones of controls, while their performances were similar. ERP amplitudes in siblings were found to correlate with performance. These results suggest that VBM is deteriorated in patients and siblings. However, siblings, unlike patients, can partially compensate for the deficits by over-activating a network of brain regions.

We present the design, implementation and optimization of laser metal bonding (LMB), a new approach for joining thin aluminum foils and back surfaces of solar cells with a focus on low impact on the semiconductor and good adhesion. After gaining deep insights into laser-material interaction using finite difference simulations, we succeeded in establishing an expulsion free laser process that can be tuned from non-ablative bonding, which leaves the substrate largely intact, to welding, which produces highly adhesive joints. Experiments were conducted on a number of substrates, showing the correlation between damage and adhesion at different process parameters.

Adherence to partial weight bearing (PWB) plays a crucial role in early rehabilitation and motor control. Dynamic biofeedback insole systems provide a supportive function on immediate PWB adherence, while important long-term retention effects and potential advantages to a conventional static training remain unknown.Is acoustic insole feedback training effective for the retention of prescribed PWB adherence and is there any advantage relative to static training using a conventional bathroom scale? Methods Twenty-four volunteers were randomized into two groups receiving biofeedback training (N = 12) via a mobile insole system (Loadsol®) or conventional training using a bathroom scale (N = 12). After initial PWB training (20 kg) of one randomized leg, the immediate and one-week retention effects were analysed using mean and maximum load (N) and overload rate (%). Statistical analysis was performed using a two-way repeated measures ANOVA with post-hoc pairwise comparisons (p 0.05).A significantly (p 0.001) improved immediate and long-term PWB adherence was found for the insole feedback group during walking. A significant (p 0.001) reduction of the overload rate by 86% was found for the insole feedback group when compared to the conventional training group after one week. Significant (p 0.01) reductions by 51% and 46% was also found for the mean and maximum load in the insole feedback group when compared to the conventional training group.The use of insole feedback systems can serve as a viable tool to become familiar with PWB and to provide optimal retention of specified loads. Therefore, such systems serve as an advantageous training intervention to maintain a prescribed PWB during locomotion.

Visual deficits are core deficits of schizophrenia. Classically, deficits are determined with demanding psychophysical tasks requiring fine-grained spatial or temporal resolution. Less is known about holistic processing. Here, we employed the Leuven Embedded Figures Test (L-EFT) measuring classic aspects of Gestalt processing. A target shape is embedded in a context and observers have to detect as quickly as possible in which display the target is embedded. Targets vary in closure, symmetry, complexity, and good continuation. In all conditions, schizophrenia patients had longer RTs compared to controls and depressive patients and to a lesser extent compared to their siblings. There was no interaction suggesting that, once the main deficit of schizophrenia patients is discarded, there are no further deficits in Gestalt perception between the groups. This result is in line with a growing line of research showing that when schizophrenia patients are given sufficient time to accomplish the task, they perform as well as controls. ispartof: SCHIZOPHRENIA RESEARCH-COGNITION vol:28 ispartof: location:United States status: published

One major loss mechanism for currently relevant solar cells [e.g., passivated emitter and rear cells (PERC)] is locally enhanced recombination at the interface between semiconductor and metalization. For investigating these losses in detail, a reliable detection technique is crucial. The photovoltaics community frequently applies an area-weighted model to extract the local dark saturation current density in the metalized area of the emitter j 0,met—e.g., from photoluminescence imaging (PLI) data. However, this model does not account for the nonuniformity of the excess carrier density Δ n within the sample during the measurement. Therefore, we compare numerical PLI simulations using Quokka3 to PLI measurements, to quantitatively reveal the impact of the nonuniformity of Δ n . Test structures with locally laser-ablated passivation on one side—serving as ideal test structures—are used for the experimental verification. Additionally, we show results on metalized samples. We find that the results ( j 0,met*) using the simulative approach for the laser-ablated samples exceed the results using the conventional area-weighted approach by more than 20%. For the metalized samples, we see a similar trend where the area-weighted approach again underestimates the results ( j 0,met), in this case by up to 20%. Based on our investigations, we show that the deviation between the results arises due to the assumption of uniform Δ n applied by the area-weighted approach.

Lakes are a significant source of atmospheric methane, although methane-oxidizing bacteria consume most methane diffusing upward from anoxic sediments. Diverse methane-oxidizing bacteria form an effective methane filter in the water column of stratified lakes, yet, niche partitioning of different methane-oxidizing bacteria along the oxygen–methane counter gradient remains poorly understood. In our study, we reveal vertical distribution patterns of active methane-oxidizing bacteria along the oxygen–methane counter gradient of four lakes, based on amplicon sequencing analysis of 16S rRNA and pmoA genes, and 16S rRNA and pmoA transcripts, and potential methane oxidation rates. Differential distribution patterns indicated that ecologically different methane-oxidizing bacteria occupied the methane-deficient and oxygen-deficient part above and below the oxygen–methane interface. The interface sometimes harbored additional taxa. Within the dominant Methylococcales, an uncultivated taxon (CABC2E06) occurred mainly under methane-deficient conditions, whereas Crenothrix-related taxa preferred oxygen-deficient conditions. Candidatus Methylomirabilis limnetica (NC10 phylum) abundantly populated the oxygen-deficient part in two of four lakes. We reason that the methane filter in lakes is structured and that methane-oxidizing bacteria may rely on niche-specific adaptations for methane oxidation along the oxygen–methane counter gradient. Niche partitioning of methane-oxidizing bacteria might support greater overall resource consumption, contributing to the high effectivity of the lacustrine methane filter.

Gait variability is often associated with reduced coordination and increased instability during walking. Especially for patients with musculoskeletal conditions, variability in gait might be associated with the level of daily activity. Therefore, this study examines kinematic variability during walking and the association with daily activity in patients with transfemoral amputation. Therefore, 15 transfemoral amputees, using the C-leg prosthesis of Otto Bock, between 18 and 65 years were recruited during their hospital stay. All patients were able to walk without crutches in everyday life and were familiar with walking using the C-leg system. Gait parameters and data of variability were captured during walking in a gait laboratory by eight infrared cameras (Vicon). Daily activity was assessed using a three-dimensional acceleration sensor of VitaMove. Patients showed variability from 0.84° up to 1.96° in frontal pelvis motion and from 0.9° up to 4.02° in trunk obliquity. The results show a significant correlation between activity and variability in trunk (r = -0.58; P ≤ 0.05) and pelvis (r = -0.63; P ≤ 0.01) as well as gait velocity (r = 0.6; P ≤ 0.05). However, kinematic variability and gait velocity are not related to each other. In conclusion, the results show that kinematic gait variability is associated with the extent of activity and therefore presents an important parameter for assessing amputees' gait quality and daily activity.

Calcaneal fractures result in severe functional impairments and walking restrictions. Postoperative evaluation mainly focusses on the restoration of calcaneal anatomy while ankle plantar flexor insufficiency remains largely neglected. This study aims to investigate biomechanical and morphologic adaptions of elastic and contractile components of the gastrocnemius medialis after unilateral calcaneal fracture.20 Patients (BMI: 27.6 ± 3.1 kgmWithin patients, a significant (p 0.05) increase in fascicle length (by 67%) during single support and a decrease of serial elastic element shortening (by 20%) during push off was found between three and twelve months follow-up comparisons. Patients showed differences for fascicle lengthening and pennation angle increase during single support after three and six months compared to healthy controls. A smaller shortening of the serial-elastic element (by 29%) and muscle-tendon unit (by 16%) persisted even for the twelve month comparisons.Patients with calcaneal fracture showed an incomplete restoration of the medial gastrocnemius dynamic morphological behavior. While muscle fascicle contraction almost recovered, the serial elastic component still showed restrictions regarding its shortening behavior. Limited foot mobility and plantarflexor strength as well as lowered responsiveness of elastic tissues to mechanical loading are regarded as key mechanisms.

There seems to be no common factor for visual perception, i.e., performance in visual tasks correlates only weakly with each other. Similar results were found with visual illusions. One may expect common visual factors for individuals suffering from pathologies that alter brain functioning, such as schizophrenia. For example, patients who are more severely affected by the disease, e.g., stronger positive symptoms, may show increased illusion magnitudes. Here, in the first experiment, we used a battery of seven visual illusions and a mental imagery questionnaire. Illusion magnitudes for the seven illusions did not differ significantly between the patients and controls. In addition, correlations between the different illusions and mental imagery were low. In the second experiment, we tested 59 patients (mostly outpatients) with ten visual illusions. As for the first experiment, patients and controls showed similar susceptibility to all but one visual illusion. Moreover, there were no significant correlations between different illusions, symptoms, or medication type. Thus, it seems that perception of visual illusions is mostly intact in schizophrenia.

Background Tibial shaft fractures require surgical stabilization preferably by intramedullary nailing. Recovery is often unsatisfactory due to limited knee function and pain, resulting in reduced quality of life. The extent of these functional limitations with respect to gait deficits has not been sufficiently recognized. Research question Are there functional limitations during gait and squat performance during the first six months after surgically treated tibial shaft fractures? Methods Twenty-three patients (BMI: 24 ± 3, Age:39 ± 15) with tibial shaft fractures and 23 healthy, matched controls (BMI: 24 ± 3, Age: 40 ± 14) were assessed using instrumented motion analysis two, three and six months after surgery. Kinematic and kinetic data of the lower extremities were collected during level walking and squat performance. Data were compared among follow-up time intervals and between groups. Results Significant improvements were found for all spatiotemporal parameters and most kinetic parameters. Even six months after surgery functional deficits persisted when compared to healthy controls. There were only slight improvements in sagittal knee and ankle kinematics as well as knee moments and power within the follow-up period. A significant difference compared to the healthy controls can still be observed in these parameters. Significance Although patients with tibia fractures demonstrated functional improvements over the early course of healing, some residual deficits in lower extremity movement biomechanics were identified at six months post surgery. In particular knee kinematics in squatting as well as knee kinematics and kinetics during walking only recovered incompletely. This result can help explain the often-reported functional limitations. Clinical Trial Registration number: German register for clinical trials (DRKS00023790).

Research on schizophrenia typically focuses on one paradigm, for which clear-cut abnormalities between patients and controls are established. Great care is taken to understand the underlying genetical, neurophysiological, and cognitive mechanisms, which eventually may explain the clinical outcome. This approach has led to many important hypotheses about the causes of schizophrenia. One tacit assumption of these deep rooting approaches is that paradigms tap into common and representative characteristics of the disease. Here, we analyzed resting-state electroencephalogram (EEG) of 121 schizophrenia patients and 75 age-matched controls, from which we extracted 194 features. Sixty-nine of these features showed significant group differences with medium to large effect sizes, indicating important abnormalities. To understand to what extent these features tap into the same aspects of the disorder, we computed both Pearson and partial least squares correlations. Surprisingly, correlations were very low, except for very similar features, where correlations were high, suggesting that most features are sensitive to different abnormalities. Using partial least squares regression, we show that combining the 69 features increases predictability of clinical outcomes by more than a factor of 5. We propose that complementing deep with shallow rooting approaches, where many roughly independent features are extracted from one paradigm (or several paradigms), will strongly improve diagnosis and potential treatment of schizophrenia.

Purpose Patients with surgically treated acetabular fractures using extensive dissection of hip muscles demonstrate an incomplete biomechanical recovery and limited joint mobility during movement. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the early biomechanical outcome in a series of patients with acetabular fractures treated using the less invasive anatomical pararectus approach. Methods Eight patients (48 ± 14 years, BMI 25.8 ± 3 kg/m2) were investigated 3.8 ± 1.3 months after surgery and compared to matched controls (49 ± 13 years, BMI 26 ± 2.8 kg/m2). Trunk and lower extremity kinematics and kinetics during gait and stair climb were calculated. SF-12 and the Merle d’Aubigné score were used for functional evaluation. Statistical analysis was conducted using Mann–Whitney test and Student’s t test. Effect sizes were calculated using Cohen’s d. Results No group differences for lower extremity kinematics during walking and stair climbing were found. During walking, patients showed significant reductions (p Conclusion Patients showed some biomechanical restrictions that can be related to residual deficits in weight bearing capacity and strength of the hip muscles. In contrast, an immediate recovery of mobility was achieved by preserving lower extremity and pelvic movement. Therefore, the pararectus approach can serve as a viable strategy in the surgical treatment of acetabular fractures. Clinical trial Trial registration number DRKS00011308, 11/14/2016, prospectively registered.

Schizophrenia is a severe psychiatric disorder determined by a complex mixture of genetic and environmental factors. To better understand the contributions of human genetic variations to schizophrenia, we performed a genome-wide association study (GWAS) of a highly sensitive endophenotype. In this visual masking endophenotype, two vertical bars, slightly shifted in the horizontal direction, are briefly presented (vernier offset). Participants are asked to indicate the offset direction of the bars (either left or right). The bars are followed by a grating mask, which makes the task both spatially and temporally challenging. The inter-stimulus interval (ISI) between the vernier and the mask was determined in 206 patients with schizophrenia, 109 first-order relatives, and 143 controls. Usually, in GWAS studies, patients are compared to controls (i.e., a binary task) without considering the large differences in performance between patients and controls, as it occurs in many paradigms. The masking task allows for a particularly powerful analysis because the differences in ISI within the patient population are large. We genotyped all participants and searched for associations between human polymorphisms and the masking endophenotype using a linear mixed model. We did not identify any genome-wide significant associations (p −8), indicating that common variants with strong effects are unlikely to contribute to the large inter-group differences in visual masking. However, we found significant differences in polygenetic risk scores (PRS) between patients and controls, and relatives and controls.

A comprehensive approach towards metallization of TOPCon cells is undertaken. Conventional screen printing, standard lasered Ni-Cu plated contacts and combination of laser with screen printing approaches are compared and evaluated in terms of increase of recombination current ($\Delta\mathrm{j}_{0}$) and contact resistivity ($\rho_{\mathrm{c}}$). Screen printed contact's resistivity, both with and without laser ablation, fired at 840 °C stabilize between $2-4\ \mathrm{m}\Omega$ cm2. In comparison, the electroplated contacts reach resistivity levels as low as .2\pm 0.1\ \mathrm{m}\Omega$ cm2. Non-lasered contacts display minimal to nil increase in recombination, where as the lasered contacts exhibit an increased recombination current in range of 10–20 fA/ cm2 .