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The concept of influencing changes in transport behavior towards sustainable mobility, which is gaining popularity in the 21st century, is free public transport (FFPT). It is estimated that the number of cities in which attempts were made to introduce FFPT exceeds 100. Most of them are located in Europe, especially in France and Poland. FFPT has mostly been restricted to specific city areas or market segments in the hope of increasing demand for public transport services. Because of this, a number of publications on free fare results refer to specific cases in cities. The main aim of this article is to examine the impact of free fares on the behavior and transport preferences of pupils in Gdynia, Poland. On the basis of the study of preferences and transport behavior of the inhabitants of Gdynia, carried out earlier by the team in 2010, 2012, 2015, and 2018, a preliminary description of the behavior and transport preferences of students was prepared. The research of the pupils was conducted twice: before and after the introduction of free travel entitlements. The results of the research carried out, and the data analysis, confirmed that FFPT had no impact on demand for public transport services or the travel behavior of pupils. According to the authors, the lack of positive effects of FFPT on travel behavior in the segment of students, or even more broadly, for achieving the purposes of sustainable mobility, results from the interaction of the following factors: specificity of students' travel behavior determined by the schedule of school activities, pupils' positive attitude to cars as urban transport means, not covering all means of public transport services of FFPT in Gdynia (the city rail is not covered by FFPT), short period of time since FFPT has been introduced. The results of the presented studies could not be verified due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The authors emphasize that before introducing FFPT, politicians should rely on the analysis of anticipated changes in the behavior of residents and the impact of FFPT on the economy of public transport, sustainable mobility goals and political and social results. This article complements the current knowledge on the results related to the introduction of FFPT for a selected group of residents.

IntroductionTreating major depressive disorder (MDD) with transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) devices at home has various logistic advantages compared to tDCS treatment in the clinic. However, preliminary (controlled) studies showed side effects such as skin lesions and difficulties in the implementation of home-based tDCS. Thus, more data are needed regarding the feasibility and possible disadvantages of home-based tDCS.MethodsTen outpatients (23–69 years) with an acute depressive episode were included for this one-arm feasibility study testing home-based tDCS. All patients self-administered prefrontal tDCS (2 mA, 20 min, anodal left, cathodal right) at home on 30 consecutive working days supported by video consultations. Correct implementation of the home-based treatment was analyzed with tDCS recordings. Feasibility was examined by treatment compliance. For additional analyses of effectiveness, three depression scores were used: Hamilton depression rating scale (HDRS-21), Major Depression Inventory (MDI), and the subscale depression of the Depression-Anxiety-Stress Scale (DASS). Furthermore, usability was measured with the user experience questionnaire (UEQ). Tolerability was analyzed by the number of reported adverse events (AEs).ResultsEight patients did not stick to the protocol. AEs were minimal. Four patients responded to the home treatment according to the MDI. Usability was judged positive by the patients.ConclusionsRegular video consultations or other safety concepts are recommended regardless of the number of video sessions actually conducted. Home-based tDCS seems to be safe and handy in our feasibility study, warranting further investigation.

Abstract This study was conducted to evaluate the properties of lightweight sandwich panels made from low diameter bamboo particles, Phyllostachys Bambusides collected from Gilan province, Iran, as core layer, combined with thin wall bamboo strips as faces. The effects of three individual variables such as density of core layer (350–550 kg/m3), resin consumption in core layer (7.5–9.5%) and resin consumption in faces (175–275 g/m2) on some important physical, mechanical and thermos-acoustic properties of the panels were investigated. Response surface methodology was used to statistically analyse the results and optimization process. The average values for the mechanical properties of the sandwich panels were obtained as 17.16 MPa, 5669 MPa, 0.02 MPa, 17.60 MPa, 1.83 MPa, 0.03 MPa, and 913.3 MPA for modulus of rupture, modulus of elasticity, internal bonding, compression strength parallel to face grain, compression strength perpendicular to face grain, shear strength, and screw holding, respectively. Finally, thermal conductivity and noise reduction coefficient of the panels were respectively gained as 0.01 W/mk and 0.31. The results of technical and thermo- acoustic properties of the panels showed that the light weight sandwich panels from bamboo residues would be a suitable and sustainable alternative as an insulation material for sustainable and green construction.

Background:. Dynamic facial reanimation is the gold standard treatment for a paralyzed face. The use of the cross-face nerve graft (CFNG) in combination with the masseteric nerve to innervate the free gracilis muscle has been reported to provide both spontaneity and strong neural input. We report a case series of dual innervation, using a novel method where the branch to masseter is coapted to the side of the CFNG. Methods:. Eight patients received free gracilis muscle transfer using the new dual innervation method between September 2014 and December 2017. The CFNG, which was performed nine months prior, was sutured in an end-to-end fashion to the obturator nerve. A nerve graft was coapted to the ipsilateral masseteric nerve and then sutured in an end-to-side fashion to the CFNG proximal to its coaptation to the obturator nerve. Results:. All patients recovered smile function with and without teeth clenching around the same time period. Smiles without teeth clenching appeared later in two of eight patients and earlier in one of eight patients, being noted at an average of 8.25 months of follow-up versus 7.6 months. The estimate of true attainment is limited by the spacing of follow-up dates. Average follow-up time was 36.07 months (range: 10–71.5). FACE-Gram software smile analysis with and without biting demonstrated similar excursion on average (7.64 mm versus 8.6 mm respectively, P = 0.93), both of which are significantly improved from preoperation. Conclusion:. This novel method of a dual-innervated free gracilis muscle transfer offers a viable technique that achieves a symmetric, strong, and emotional smile.

The protein folding reaction is one of the most important chemical reactions in the human body. Yet, despite its importance, it is sometimes omitted from undergraduate courses due to the challenging nature of some of the underlying concepts. To help make key concepts of the protein folding reaction accessible to our undergraduate students, we implemented three, simplified 2D lattice models of various amino acid chains, and we used these models to generate sound-enhanced animations that allow students to see and hear the dynamics of protein folding in action. In spring of 2021, we used these videos in remote learning biophysics and music courses to introduce four key concepts of the folding reaction: solvation and hydrophobicity; energy and conformational entropy; funneled energy landscape; and frustration and traps. Our lattice model animations and sonifications helped provide insight into protein folding dynamics for undergraduate and graduate biophysical chemistry students, undergraduate musicians, and even authors who are experts in this field. We plan to incorporate these and additional animations, along with enhancements to the 2D lattice models, in our future courses.

Emotional availability in parent-child interactions fosters children's socioemotional development. Little is known about the emotional availability of parents and children with profound motor disabilities and complex communication needs or the contributions of augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) to emotional availability. To begin addressing these gaps, this pilot study focused on three mothers and their children with spinal muscular atrophy Type 1 who could not speak and required AAC. The study used a mixed-methods design. Mother-child interactions were rated using the Emotional Availability Scales. Semi-structured in-depth interviews with the mothers were qualitatively analyzed. Emotional availability in mother-child dyads was adequate. In the interviews, mothers addressed significant challenges but described mainly typical parent-child relationships and adaptive child and mother coping attributable to the use of AAC. Results suggest that emotional availability is possible and can be facilitated by AAC, even with children with profound motor disabilities and limited ability to communicate needs and desires. The findings highlight the importance of targeting children's socioemotional needs and parent-child emotional availability in AAC interventions with families of children with profound motor disabilities.

Background:. This study considers observers’ reflexive responses to the rejuvenated face, and how instinctive responses relate to subjective judgment. We investigated observers’ reflexive perception of faces both pre and post surgical intervention during the early stages of visual processing. Subjective character attribution for all test images was also assessed by the same observers. Method:. Forty frontal facial images of 20 patients portraying the pre- and postoperative high superficial musculoaponeurotic system facelift along with variable concomitant procedures were studied. Nineteen lookzone regions were mapped post hoc onto each image. Forty observers examined the images, whereas an eye-tracking camera recorded their eye movements. Visual fixation data were recorded and analyzed. Observers also rated each image on the basis of five elemental positive character attributes. Results:. A statistically coherent but nonsignificant (P > 0.05) trend was identified with the surgical intervention resulting in greater attention being paid to the central triangle region of the face with reduction in attention to the facial periphery. Facial rejuvenation significantly increased the subjective character ratings of all five positively valenced attributes tested. Average age estimate of the photos decreased significantly from 54 to 48.6 years (true average age of 57.4 years). Conclusions:. We provide data illustrating both reflexive and subjective responses to facial rejuvenation. Observers reported a more favorable impression of the treated faces and evaluated them as being younger than their true age. A trend was detected for increased visual fixation of the central facial region following rejuvenation. Interpretation of these findings and indication for further research is provided.

IntroductionObsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) affects 2–3% of the global population, causing distress in many functioning levels. Standard treatments only lead to a partial recovery, and about 10% of the patients remain treatment-resistant. Deep brain stimulation offers a treatment option for severe, therapy-refractory OCD, with a reported response of about 60%. We report a comprehensive clinical, demographic, and treatment data for patients who were treated with DBS in our institution.MethodsWe offered DBS to patients with severe chronic treatment resistant OCD. Severity was defined as marked impairment in functioning and treatment resistance was defined as non-response to adequate trials of medications and psychotherapy. Between 2020 and 2022, 11 patients were implanted bilaterally in the bed nucleus of stria terminalis (BNST). Patients were evaluated with YBOCS, MADRS, GAF, CGI, and WHOQOL-BREF. We performed the ratings at baseline (before surgery), after implantation before the start of the stimulation, after reaching satisfactory stimulation parameters, and at follow-up visits 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after optimized stimulation.ResultsOne patient has retracted his consent to publish the results of his treatment, thus we are reporting the results of 10 patients (5 males, 5 females, mean age: 37 years). Out of our 10 patients, 6 have shown a clear response indicated by a YBOCS-reduction between 42 and 100 percent at last follow-up. One further patient experienced a subjectively dramatic effect on OCD symptoms, but opted afterwards to stop the stimulation. The other 3 patients showed a slight, non-significant improvement of YBOCS between 8.8 and 21.9%. The overall mean YBOCS decreased from 28.3 at baseline to 13.3 (53% reduction) at the last follow-up. The improvement of the OCD symptoms was also accompanied by an improvement of depressive symptoms, global functioning, and quality of life.ConclusionOur results suggest that BNST-DBS can be effective for treatment-resistant OCD patients, as indicated by a reduction in symptoms and an overall improvement in functioning. Despite the need for additional research to define the patients’ selection criteria, the most appropriate anatomical target, and the most effective stimulation parameters, improved patient access for this therapy should be established.

Broad-spectrum antivirals are powerful weapons against dangerous viruses where no specific therapy exists, as in the case of the ongoing SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. We discovered that a lysine- and arginine-specific supramolecular ligand (CLR01) destroys enveloped viruses, including HIV, Ebola, and Zika virus, and remodels amyloid fibrils in semen that promote viral infection. Yet, it is unknown how CLR01 exerts these two distinct therapeutic activities. Here, we delineate a novel mechanism of antiviral activity by studying the activity of tweezer variants: the "phosphate tweezer" CLR01, a "carboxylate tweezer" CLR05, and a "phosphate clip" PC. Lysine complexation inside the tweezer cavity is needed to antagonize amyloidogenesis and is only achieved by CLR01. Importantly, CLR01 and CLR05 but not PC form closed inclusion complexes with lipid head groups of viral membranes, thereby altering lipid orientation and increasing surface tension. This process disrupts viral envelopes and diminishes infectivity but leaves cellular membranes intact. Consequently, CLR01 and CLR05 display broad antiviral activity against all enveloped viruses tested, including herpesviruses, Measles virus, influenza, and SARS-CoV-2. Based on our mechanistic insights, we potentiated the antiviral, membrane-disrupting activity of CLR01 by introducing aliphatic ester arms into each phosphate group to act as lipid anchors that promote membrane targeting. The most potent ester modifications harbored unbranched C4 units, which engendered tweezers that were approximately one order of magnitude more effective than CLR01 and nontoxic. Thus, we establish the mechanistic basis of viral envelope disruption by specific tweezers and establish a new class of potential broad-spectrum antivirals with enhanced activity.

This music score was submitted for the Kaleidoscope 2020 Call for Scores, an open access collaboration with the UCLA Music Library.

This music score was submitted for the Kaleidoscope 2020 Call for Scores, an open access collaboration with the UCLA Music Library.

This music score was submitted for the Kaleidoscope 2020 Call for Scores, an open access collaboration with the UCLA Music Library.

Abstract Background Low frequency repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is commonly used to inhibit pathological hyperactivity of the auditory cortex in tinnitus. Novel and supposedly superior and faster inhibitory protocols such as continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) were examined as well, but so far there is not sufficient evidence for a treatment application in chronic tinnitus. rTMS effects in general are dependent on the brain state immediate before stimulation. This feasibility study was designed based on the concept to shift the pathological intrinsic brain state of tinnitus patients via acoustic stimulation (“activate”) and induce inhibitory effects via cTBS (“fire”). Methods Seven tinnitus patients with response in residual inhibition received 10 consecutive daily sessions of a combinatory treatment comprised of 3-minute acoustic stimulation with white noise followed by 600 pulses of cTBS over the left temporo-parietal cortex (activate & fire). A control group of 5 patients was treated parallel to the activate & fire data collection with 10 sessions á 3000 pulses of 1 Hz rTMS over the left temporo-parietal cortex. Results The activate & fire protocol was well tolerated except in one patient with tinnitus loudness increase. This patient was excluded from analyses. No statistical superiority of the activate & fire treatment approach in alleviating tinnitus-related symptoms was evident. Power calculations showed an effect size of 0.706 and a needed sample size of 66 for statistical significant group differences. On a descriptive level the activate & fire group demonstrated a stronger decrease in tinnitus-related symptoms. Conclusion The present feasibility study showed that combining acoustic stimulation with magnetic brain stimulation may be well-tolerable in the majority of patients and represents a promising treatment approach for tinnitus by hypothetically alter the intrinsic state prior to brain stimulation.

Abstract Mycelium-bound composites (MBCs) are materials obtained by growing fungi on a ligno-cellulosic substrate which have various applications in packaging, furniture, and construction industries. MBCs are particularly interesting as they are sustainable materials that can integrate into a circular economy model. Indeed, they can be subsequently grown, used, degraded, and re-grown. Integrating in a meaningful biocycle for our society therefore demands that MBCs fulfil antagonistic qualities which are to be at the same time durable and biodegradable. In this study, we conduct experiments using MBCs made from the fungus species Pleurotus ostreatus grown on bamboo microfibers substrate. By measuring the variations of the mechanical properties with time, we provide an experimental demonstration of a biocycle for such composites for in-door applications. We found that the biocycle can be as short as 5 months and that the use of sustainable coatings is critical to increase the durability of the composites while maintaining biodegradability. Although there are many scenarios of biocycles possible, this study shows a tangible proof-of-concept example and paves the way for optimization of the duration of each phase in the biocycle depending on the intended application and resource availability.

In recent years, the importance of the bicycle for everyday mobility has increased significantly in Germany. In order to increase the attractiveness of cycle traffic, the provision of safe cycle paths in a good structural condition is necessary in addition to the expansion and new construction of cycling infrastructure. Against this background, the Federal Ministry of Digital and Transport has been funding the research project “Recording and Assessment of the Structural Condition of Urban Cycle Paths” since September 2021. In cooperation with Schniering GmbH and the engineering office Feiler und Hänsel GbR, the University of Applied Sciences Aachen is working on the development of a suitable measurement and assessment procedure. The methods used so far in Germany to record and assess the condition of cycle paths are very much based on the established methods for road condition monitoring and assessment. However, the damage characteristics on cycle paths as well as their effects on road safety aspects, riding comfort and structural value preservation can only be compared with roads to a somewhat limited extent. For this reason, extensive structural assessments of cycle paths were carried out in the research project and a damage catalogue was developed for the recording and assessment of the condition of urban cycle paths. The relevant types of damage are assigned to the following characteristics groups: unevenness, rolling resistance, substance characteristics and vegetation. Based on the results, requirements for the measurement technology and its accuracy could be defined. The conceptual design of a measuring vehicle by the project partner Schniering GmbH will be completed this year and its use tested on various urban cycle paths.

Current technologies used to generate CRISPR/Cas gene perturbation reagents are labor intense and require multiple ligation and cloning steps. Furthermore, increasing gRNA sequence diversity negatively affects gRNA distribution, leading to libraries of heterogeneous quality. Here, we present a rapid and cloning-free mutagenesis technology that can efficiently generate covalently-closed-circular-synthesized (3Cs) CRISPR/Cas gRNA reagents and that uncouples sequence diversity from sequence distribution. We demonstrate the fidelity and performance of 3Cs reagents by tailored targeting of all human deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) and identify their essentiality for cell fitness. To explore high-content screening, we aimed to generate the largest up-to-date gRNA library that can be used to interrogate the coding and noncoding human genome and simultaneously to identify genes, predicted promoter flanking regions, transcription factors and CTCF binding sites that are linked to doxorubicin resistance. Our 3Cs technology enables fast and robust generation of bias-free gene perturbation libraries with yet unmatched diversities and should be considered an alternative to established technologies.

Abstract Background To examine the pathological effect of a mesial temporal seizure onset zone (SOZ) on local and inter-regional response to faces in the amygdala and other structures of the temporal lobe. Methods Intracranial EEG data was obtained from the amygdala, hippocampus, fusiform gyrus and parahippocampal gyrus of nine patients with drug-refractory epilepsy during visual stimulation with faces and mosaics. We analyzed event-related potentials (ERP), gamma frequency power, phase-amplitude coupling and phase-slope-index and compared the results between patients with versus without a mesial temporal SOZ. Results In the amygdala and fusiform gyrus, faces triggered higher ERP amplitudes compared to mosaics in both patient groups and higher gamma power in patients without a mesial temporal SOZ. In the hippocampus, famous faces triggered higher gamma power for both groups combined but did not affect ERPs in either group. The differentiated ERP response to famous faces in the parahippocampal gyrus was more pronounced in patients without a mesial temporal SOZ. Phase-amplitude coupling and phase-slope-index results yielded bidirectional modulation between amygdala and fusiform gyrus, and predominately unidirectional modulation between parahippocampal gyrus and hippocampus. Conclusions A mesial temporal SOZ was associated with an impaired response to faces in the amygdala, fusiform gyrus and parahippocampal gyrus in our patients. Compared to this, the response to faces in the hippocampus was impaired in patients with, as well as without, a mesial temporal SOZ. Our results support existing evidence for face processing deficits in patients with a mesial temporal SOZ and suggest the pathological effect of a mesial temporal SOZ on the amygdala to play a pivotal role in this matter in particular.

Abstract BackgroundAesthetic facial surgeries historically rely on subjective analysis in determining success; this limits objective comparison of surgical outcomes. ObjectivesThis case study exemplifies the use of an artificial intelligence software on objectively analyzing facial rejuvenation techniques with the aim of reducing subjective bias. MethodsRetrospectively, all patients who underwent facial rejuvenation surgery with concomitant procedures from 2015 to 2017 were included (nnnn ResultsPostoperatively, Group A experienced a decrease in happiness by 0.84% and a decrease in anger by 6.87% (PPPP ConclusionsThis study provides the first proof of concept for the use of a machine learning software application to objectively assess various aesthetic surgical outcomes in facial rejuvenation. Due to limitations in patient heterogeneity, this study does not claim one technique's superiority but serves as a conceptual foundation for future investigation. Level of Evidence: 4

Implementing inclusive education is one of the major challenges facing the educational system. One of the main difficulties in implementing inclusive education is that general education teachers receive insufficient training to work in complex teaching contexts and to respond to the unique needs of all the pupils in their classroom. The objective of this research was to assess the components of an innovative integrative training program, developed in a teacher education college in Israel, that integrates special education studies with elementary/secondary general school studies (curriculum and field experience), thus contributing to graduates' sense of self-efficacy in integrating and including pupils with special educational needs and disabilities and helping them develop teaching methods that promote inclusive education. On the practical level, the findings can help training program designers adapt and/or improve existing training programs. On the conceptual level, this study can contribute to research in the field of inclusive education from the perspective of teacher education.

Abstract Mycelium, as the root of fungi, is composed of filamentous strands of fine hyphae that bind discrete substrate particles into a block material. With advanced processing, dense mycelium-bound composites (DMCs) resembling commercial particleboards can be formed. However, their mechanical properties and performance under the working conditions of particleboards are unknown. Here, we show how weathering conditions affect the DMC stress and elastic modulus. DMC was made using Ganoderma lucidum mycelium grown on a substrate of sawdust and empty fruit bunch. The DMC was then subjected to weathering under tropical conditions over 35 days and tested under flexural, tensile, and compressive loading with reference to international standards. After exposure to specified weathering conditions, the maximum stress in flexure, tension, and compression decreased substantially. The addition of a protective coating improved the resistance of DMC to weathering conditions; however, the difference between coated and uncoated samples was only found to be statistically significant in tensile strength.

Abstract Background Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) is effective in a selected critically ill patient population with promising results in refractory hypoxemia related to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19). However, it requires specialized clinicians and resources in advanced technology. Moreover, the COVID-19 remains an ongoing global emergency, and there is no evidence-based practice in preparedness. This article proposes an innovative and optimized nursing care protocol, the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP), that regulates safety and efficiency in using personal protective equipment (PPE) during ECMO-relevant procedures while providing ECMO therapy for patients with COVID-19. Methods After performing a narrative literature search, we developed a high-fidelity translational simulation scenario. It included practicing appropriate donning and doffing PPE during work organization, ECMO-related procedures, and routine daily nursing care and management of ECMO over nine hours. In addition, we held supplementary constructive debrief meetings to consult international expert in the field. Results A proposal for nursing standardized operating procedures was created, divided into categories. They included work organization, workload references, competences, infrastructural conditions, cannulation equipment, daily routine nursing care, and procedures during ECMO. Conclusions High-fidelity medical simulation can play an important role in staff training, improvement in previously gained proficiency, and development of optimal SOP for nursing care and management during ECMO in patients with COVID-19. Optimal SOPs may further guide multidisciplinary teams, including intensive care units and interventional departments.

Abstract Background Canine elbow dysplasia (CED) is a complex developmental skeletal disorder associated with a number of pathological conditions within the cubital joint. Because CED is a heritable disease, it is important to identify and remove the affected animals from breeding. The first objective of this study was to describe the prevalence of medial coronoid process disease (MCPD) without (MCD) or with (FMCP) fragmented medial coronoid process, osteochondrosis (OC) and/or osteochondritis dissecans (OCD), ununited anconeal process (UAP), radio-ulnar incongruence (INC R-U) and humero-ulnar incongruence (INC H-U) in dogs with the use of CT imaging. The second aim was to determine the influence of demographics on the prevalence of investigated pathologies in dogs with clinical evidence of elbow dysplasia. Results In this retrospective study, CT data records of 169 dogs of different breeds presented to the small animal veterinary clinic from 2012 to 2018 were included. 69.23% of dogs diagnosed with CED were young (≤ 2 years old). The mean age of dogs presented with INC R-U was 1.68 ± 1.82 years, while in dogs without INC R-U the mean age was 2.64 ± 2.59 years. The mean age of dogs with INC H-U was 1.94 ± 2.06 years, while without INC H-U 3.29 ± 2.09 years. Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherd and Bernese Mountain dogs were most frequently presented with CED-associated lameness. In 122 dogs OA of varying severity was found. Conclusion INC H-U, FMCP and MCD were among the most frequently found components of CED found in the present study. OCD and UAP were the least frequently diagnosed. Dogs presented with INC R-U and INC H-U were significantly younger than dogs without these CED components. Boxers, Dog de Bordeaux, American Staffordshire terriers and mixed-breed dogs were diagnosed later in life than the other breeds. OA of varying severity was found in 72.18% of dogs. Males accounted for more than 75% of the study population.

This paper presents an approach which combines LiDAR sensors and cameras of a mobile multi-sensor system to obtain information about pedestrians in the vicinity of the sensor platform. Such information can be used, for example, in the context of driver assistance systems. In the first step, our approach starts by using LiDAR sensor data to detect and track pedestrians, benefiting from LiDAR’s capability to directly provide accurate 3D data. After LiDAR-based detection, the approach leverages the typically higher data density provided by 2D cameras to determine the body pose of the detected pedestrians. The approach combines several state-of-the-art machine learning techniques: it uses a neural network and a subsequent voting process to detect pedestrians in LiDAR sensor data. Based on the known geometric constellation of the different sensors and the knowledge of the intrinsic parameters of the cameras, image sections are generated with the respective regions of interest showing only the detected pedestrians. These image sections are then processed with a method for image-based human pose estimation to determine keypoints for different body parts. These keypoints are finally projected from 2D image coordinates to 3D world coordinates using the assignment of the original LiDAR points to a particular pedestrian.

Path planning for a measuring vehicle requires solving two popular problems from computer science, namely the search for the optimal tour and the search for the optimal viewpoint. Combining both problems results in a new variation of the Traveling Salesman Problem, which we refer to as the Explorational Traveling Salesman Problem. The solution to this problem is the optimal tour with a minimum of observations. In this paper, we formulate the basic problem, discuss it in context of the existing literature and present an iterative solution algorithm. We demonstrate how the method can be applied directly to LiDAR data using an occupancy grid. The ability of our algorithm to generate suitably efficient tours is verified based on two synthetic benchmark datasets, utilizing a ground truth determined by an exhaustive search.

Automated change detection based on urban mobile laser scanning data is the foundation for a whole range of applications such as building model updates, map generation for autonomous driving and natural disaster assessment. The challenge with mobile LiDAR data is that various sources of error, such as localization errors, lead to uncertainties and contradictions in the derived information. This paper presents an approach to automatic change detection using a new category of generic evidence grids that addresses the above problems. Said technique, referred to as fuzzy spatial reasoning, solves common problems of state-of-the-art evidence grids and also provides a method of inference utilizing fuzzy Boolean reasoning. Based on this, logical operations are used to determine changes and combine them with semantic information. A quantitative evaluation based on a hand-annotated version of the TUM-MLS data set shows that the proposed method is able to identify confirmed and changed elements of the environment with F1-scores of 0.93 and 0.89.

The purpose of this study is to investigate the environmental attitudes (EA) in the population of 15-year-old French students and, to check if the French student population presents similar EA categorization as described in the different models in the literature (e.g. the Model of Ecological Values, Wiseman & Bogner 2003). The second aim of this study is to identify the different factors influencing students' EA. We analyse the results of the questionnaire-based Relevance of Science Education Project carried out in France in 2008 as a part of a wider international comparative study ROSE (Relevance Of Science Education). The hierarchical ascendant classification of data from 2124 French students led to three main classes reflecting three different environmental attitudes showing a high resonance with the 2-MEV scale (Wiseman & Bogner 2003). The Model of Ecological Values (2-MEV) is defined with two orthogonal dimensions, Preservation and Utilization. Ecological Values are determined according to an individual's position on two orthogonal dimensions, one dimension reflecting conservation and protection of the environment (Preservation) and another dimension reflecting the utilization of natural resources (Utilization). Our results show links between students environmental attitudes and students' level of interest in learning about specific environmental topics, their practice of extra-curricular activities linked to nature and students' value priorities in different dimensions of their future work. We discuss the implications of these results for the teaching of environmental issues, and for instance, we argue that EA concept could be explained to fifteen-year-old students to encourage them to take into account the diversity of views towards the environment of others, and to position themselves in this diversity of attitudes. They could be aware that for instance, individuals can support environmental issues for different reasons, and consequently may respond to different appeals.

The purpose of this qualitative phenomenological study is to achieve an understanding of the perceptions and experiences of Israeli parents of students with severe disabilities about their involvement in the Individual Education Program (IEP) process. Data collection in this study involved interviewing 20 parents whose children study in special education schools in the Tel Aviv area in Israel. Through analysis of parents' responses, two main themes related to the involvement of parents in the IEP process become apparent: A child-centered focus and parents' self-efficacy. Positive parent teacher collaboration enhanced the sense of parents' efficacy with respect to the IEP process and resulted in plans that were individualized to students' needs. The main conclusion of the research is parental involvement and the collaboration of parents with teachers is a process that teachers and parents must nourish daily. Parental involvement and effective parent-teacher collaboration in the IEPs of students with severe disabilities is founded on relationships of trust and positive communication between families and schools

Objective: To investigate whether a four-week course of neuronavigated intermittent theta burst stimulation (iTBS) of the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is superior to the non-neuronavigated F3-EEG method of positioning. Methods: We conducted a single-center, two-arm, randomized and double-blinded study (clinicaltrials.gov NCT03953521). 37 inpatients with an at least moderate depressive episode were randomized to receive either neuronavigated or 10-20-EEG-system based F3 guided iTBS. Both groups received twenty week daily sessions of iTBS while continuing to receive standard-of-care treatment by their ward physicians. For navigated iTBS, we used magnetic resonance imaging to target the border between the anterior and middle third of the middle frontal gyrus considered to represent the left dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (lDLPFC).Differences in the treatment arms were blinded by completely mimicking the procedures of the respective other treatment group. Rating physicians were not involved in the treatment procedure.Primary outcome was defined as the change of the 21-item version of the Hamilton Depression Score (HAMD) from baseline to end of treatment at week 4. Secondary outcomes included HAMD score during the treatment, Patient Health Questionnaire-9, WHO Quality of Life-BREF and Clinical Global Impression. For primary outcome, we used a planned group comparison for the absolute change in the HAMD. For secondary outcome measures we calculated analyses of variance (ANOVAs) with the within-subjects factor time (primary: baseline vs. week 4; secondary: all visits) and the between-subjects factor group (navigated vs. F3 guided group). We also did planned contrasts between both groups for all variables and all treatment and follow-up visits with the aim not to oversee any group differences. For group contrasts we used Student T-tests for metric and chi-square tests for categorial variables. Significance threshold was set to 5% uncorrected for multiple comparisons. Results: Enrolment of 80 patients with interim analysis was planned. Interim analysis was performed after 37 patients (intention to treat). 6 patients dropped out, leaving 31 for analysis. With respect to primary outcome criteria, absolute change in the HAMD did not differ significantly between groups. In accordance, relative change and number of responders and remitters were not significantly different. Overall number of responders was 53% and of remitters was 60%. On a descriptive level, the results favor the clinical effects of the F3 group for the absolute and relative change in the HAMD and the number of responders. Number of remitters were exactly the same for both groups. Therefore, we decided to stop the trial due to the added burden of magnetic resonance imaging and neuronavigated treatment in relation to the effect. Secondary outcomes did also not differ significantly between groups. Patients did not differ in their baseline characteristics nor with respect to intake of medication during the trial period and all had access to the same therapeutic interventions. Conclusion: We noticed a high antidepressive effect of add-on iTBS treatment to standard inpatient treatment but failed to demonstrate a clinical superiority of neuronavigated localization. The non-navigated, F3 guided iTBS treatment used as a control group may be sophisticated enough to dilute potential added benefits, and the difference between the localization approaches is either negligible or too small to justify the additional efforts of navigation. The effects of concomitant treatment may mask effects, but our patient population reflects clinical reality in an inpatient setting. Further prospective studies are warranted to compare neuronavigated with surface-based approaches.

This study focuses on the teachers' predictions of the students' performances -- in particular the middle-low achievers -- while solving tasks testing inquiry competencies. The tasks come from PISA science. More specifically we study science teachers' predictions for several aspects: levels of difficulty of the tasks, the potential sources of difficulty and the potential difficulty in solving it for medium-low achievers. We also study what assessed competencies are identified by science teachers in the tasks. Our approach is a questionnaire-based study. A sample of French teachers in science and technology (125) responded to the questionnaire. The teachers show a rather good ability to predict inquiry task levels of difficulty for medium-low achievers and are able to identify relevant potential sources of difficulty or easiness in the items. However, they are not aware of some essential difficulties that medium-low students encounter while solving science inquiry tasks. Moreover, the teachers have difficulty identifying the competencies that are tested by an item.