Non-parametric estimation of the reaction term in semi-linear SPDEs with spatial ergodicity

This paper discusses the non-parametric estimation of a non-linear reaction term in a semi-linear parabolic stochastic partial differential equation (SPDE). The estimator's consistency is due to the spatial ergodicity of the SPDE while the time horizon remains fixed. The analysis of the estimation error requires the concentration of spatial averages of non-linear transformations of the SPDE. The method developed in this paper combines the Clark-Ocone formula from Malliavin calculus with the Markovianity of the SPDE and density estimates. The resulting variance bound utilises the averaging effect of the conditional expectation in the Clark-Ocone formula. The method is applied to two realistic asymptotic regimes. The focus is on a coupling between the diffusivity and the noise level, where both tend to zero. Secondly, the observation of a fixed SPDE on a growing spatial observation window is considered. Furthermore, we prove the concentration of the occupation time around the occupation measure.Comment: 46 page

Differential desiring practice- A path into a Deleuze inspired literary discourse

Drawing on Deleuze’s and Deleuze-Guattari’s differential and A path into a Deleuze inspired literary discourse in Difference and repetition and The logic of sense; Anti-Oedipus and A thousand plateaus and their engagement with literary texts in Kafka: Toward a minor literature; Proust and signs and Masochism: Coldness and cruelty, I unfold the following problematic in this thesis: What Deleuze (and Deleuze-Guattari) inspired critical practice can be theorized which allows the reading of works that resist interpretative representational practices? Proposing the differential, the libidinal, the schizoanalytic, the symptomatological and the simulacral as schizoid processes of discursive dissociation, this thesis theorizes and develops such a practice. More specifically I unravel and explore, theoretically and practically, the strands of what I term a differential desiring practice. Further I demonstrate the usefulness and power of this differential desiring practice, engaging first with Duras’ work as schizoid and liminal processes of event and becoming; and second with Carter’s work as schizoanalytic and parodic processes. Overall this thesis presents differential desiring practice as a reading and writing practice marked by thematic and stylistic schizodicity and discursive dissociation. Such a presentation not only opens a new path into a Deleuze inspired literary discourse by reappraising Deleuze’s and Deleuze-Guattari’s differential and schizoanalytic project, but puts forward a productive model for working with recalcitrant literary texts.Doctor of Philosoph

On the Stability and Accuracy of the BGK, MRT and RLB Boltzmann Schemes for the Simulation of Turbulent Flows

This paper presents an analysis of the stability and accuracy of different Lattice Boltzmann schemes when employed for direct numerical simulations of turbulent flows. The Single-Relaxation-Time scheme of Bhatnagar, Gross and Krook (BGK), the Multi-Relaxation-Time scheme (MRT) and the Regularized Lattice Boltzmann scheme (RLB) are considered. The stability and accuracy properties of these schemes are investigated by computing three-dimensional Taylor-Green vortices representing homogeneous isotropic turbulent flows. Varying Reynolds numbers and grid resolutions were considered. As expected, the BGK scheme requires sufficiently high grid resolutions for stable and accurate simulations. Surprisingly, the MRT scheme when used without any turbulencemodel fails to obtain mesh convergence for the type of flow considered here. The RLB scheme allows for stable simulations but exhibits a strong dissipative behavior. A similar behaviorwas foundwhen employing thementioned LBMschemes for numerical simulations of turbulent channel flows at varying Reynolds numbers and resolutions. The obtained insights on accuracy and stability of the considered Lattice Boltzmann methods can become useful especially for the design of effective turbulence models to be used for high Reynolds number flows

Reduced Sensitivity to Non-Fear-Related Stimulus Changes in Panic Disorder

Panic disorder (PD) is associated with increased body vigilance and reduced cognitive resources directed at non-fear-related stimuli, particularly in the absence of stimulus-rich environments. To date, only few studies have investigated whether this deficit in PD is reflected in reduced mismatch negativity (MMN), an event-related potential indexing preattentive sensitivity to unexpected stimulus changes. We tested 35 patients affected by PD and 42 matched healthy controls in an oddball paradigm, using frequency and duration deviant stimuli to measure auditory MMN. PD patients displayed reduced duration MMN amplitudes in comparison to healthy controls. No group differences were detected for duration MMN latency, as well as frequency MMN indices. Results support the notion of reduced larly with regard to the preattentive processing of sound duration deviants. Additionally, our findings are in line with clinical studies reporting divergent deficits in preattentive processing of frequency and duration deviants

P50, N100, and P200 Sensory Gating in Panic Disorder

Panic disorder (PD) has been linked to abnormalities in information processing. However, only little evidence has been published for sensory gating in PD. Sensory gating describes the brain’s ability to exclude stimuli of low relevance from higher level information processing, thereby sustaining efficient cognitive processing. Deficits in sensory gating have been associated with various psychiatric conditions, most prominently schizophrenia. In this case-control event-related potential study, we tested 32 patients with PD and 39 healthy controls in a double click paradigm. Both groups were compared with regard to pre-attentive (P50), early-attentive (N100), and late-attentive (P200) sensory gating indices. Contrary to a hypothesized deficit, PD patients and healthy controls showed no differences in P50, N100 and P200 values. These results suggest that sensory gating seems to be functional across the pre-attentive, early-attentive, and late-attentive time span in this clinical population. Given this consistency across auditory sensory gating indices, further research aiming to clarify information processing deficits in PD should focus on other neurophysiological markers to investigate information processing deficits in PD (eg, P300, error-related negativity or mismatch negativity).Peer Reviewe

Acceptance of Enhanced Robotic Assistance Systems in People With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis–Associated Motor Impairment: Observational Online Study

Background: Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by a progressive paresis of the extremities and the loss of manual functioning. Due to the severe functional impairment that the disease entails, ALS requires the provision of comprehensive nursing care and a complex set of assistive technology devices. To relieve caregivers and promote autonomy of people with ALS, robotic assistance systems are being developed. This trial aims to evaluate the acceptance of technology, in general, and of robotic arm assistance among people with ALS in order to lay the groundwork for the development of a semiautomatic robotic arm that can be controlled by humans via a multimodal user interface and that will allow users to handle objects and attend to their own bodies. Objective: The aim of this study was to perform a systematic analysis of technology commitment and acceptance of robotic assistance systems from the perspective of physically limited people living with ALS. Methods: The investigation was conducted as a study of a prospective cohort. Participants were only included if they had received a medical diagnosis of ALS. Data collection took place via an online questionnaire on the Ambulanzpartner Soziotechnologie internet platform. Technological commitment was measured using the Neyer short scale. Furthermore, a multidimensional questionnaire was specially developed to analyze participant acceptance of robotic arm assistance: the Acceptance Measure of Robotic Arm Assistance (AMRAA). This questionnaire was accompanied by a video introducing the robot arm. ALS severity was ascertained using the ALS Functional Rating Scale–Extended (ALSFRS-EX). Results: A total of 268 people with ALS participated in the survey. Two-thirds of the participants were male. The overall mean ALS severity score was 42.9 (SD 11.7) points out of 60 on the ALSFRS-EX, with the most relevant restrictions on arms and legs (<60% of normal functioning). Technological commitment ranked high, with the top third scoring 47.2 points out of 60. Younger participants and males showed significantly higher values. The AMRAA score was, again, significantly higher among younger participants. However, the gender difference within the overall cohort was not significant. The more limited the arm functioning of participants according to the ALSFRS-EX subscale, the higher the acceptance rate of robotic assistance. This relationship proved significant. Conclusions: People with ALS display high technological commitment and feel positive about using technological assistance systems. In our study, younger participants were more open to technology use, in general, and robotic assistance, in particular. Self-appraisal of technology acceptance, competence, and control conviction were generally higher among men. However, any presumed gender difference vanished when users were asked to rate the anticipated usefulness of the technology, in particular the robotic arm. The acceptance was also reflected in users’ increased willingness to use a robotic arm as the functionality of their own arms decreased. From the perspective of people with ALS, robotic assistance systems are critical to promoting individual autonomy. Another key consideration in the development of future assistive technologies should be the reduction of caregiver burden. Trial Registration: German Clinical Trials Register DRKS00012803; https://tinyurl.com/w9yzduh

Use and subjective experience of the impact of motor-assisted movement exercisers in people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a multicenter observational study

Motor-assisted movement exercisers (MME) are devices that assist with physical therapy in domestic settings for people living with ALS. This observational cross-sectional study assesses the subjective experience of the therapy and analyzes users' likelihood of recommending treatment with MME. The study was implemented in ten ALS centers between February 2019 and October 2020, and was coordinated by the research platform Ambulanzpartner. Participants assessed symptom severity, documented frequency of MME use and rated the subjective benefits of therapy on a numerical scale (NRS, 0 to 10 points, with 10 being the highest). The Net Promotor Score (NPS) determined the likelihood of a participant recommending MME. Data for 144 participants were analyzed. Weekly MME use ranged from 1 to 4 times for 41% of participants, 5 to 7 times for 42%, and over 7 times for 17%. Particularly positive results were recorded in the following domains: amplification of a sense of achievement (67%), diminution of the feeling of having rigid limbs (63%), diminution of the feeling of being immobile (61%), improvement of general wellbeing (55%) and reduction of muscle stiffness (52%). Participants with more pronounced self-reported muscle weakness were more likely to note a beneficial effect on the preservation and improvement of muscle strength during MME treatment (p < 0.05). Overall, the NPS for MME was high (+ 61). High-frequency MME-assisted treatment (defined as a minimum of five sessions a week) was administered in the majority of participants (59%) in addition to physical therapy. Most patients reported having achieved their individual therapeutic objectives, as evidenced by a high level of satisfaction with MME therapy. The results bolster the justification for extended MME treatment as part of a holistic approach to ALS care

Treatment expectations and perception of therapy in adult patients with spinal muscular atrophy receiving nusinersen

Background and purpose: This was an investigation of treatment expectations and of the perception of therapy in adult patients with 5q-associated spinal muscular atrophy (5q-SMA) receiving nusinersen. Methods: A prospective, non-interventional observational study of nusinersen treatment in adult 5q-SMA patients was conducted at nine SMA centers in Germany. The functional status, treatment expectations and perceived outcomes were assessed using the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Functional Rating Scale-extended (ALS-FRS-ex), the Measure Yourself Medical Outcome Profile (MYMOP2), the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM-9) and the Net Promoter Score (NPS). Results: In all, 151 patients were included with a median age of 36 years (15-69 years). SMA type 3 (n = 90, 59.6%) prevailed, followed by type 2 (33.8%) and type 1 (6.6%). In SMA types 1-3, median ALS-FRS-ex scores were 25, 33 and 46 (of 60 scale points), respectively. MYMOP2 identified distinct treatment expectations: head verticalization (n = 13), bulbar function (n = 16), arm function (n = 65), respiration (n = 15), trunk function (n = 34), leg function (n = 76) and generalized symptoms (n = 77). Median symptom severity decreased during nusinersen treatment (median observational period 6.1 months, 0.5-16 months) from 3.7 to 3.3 MYMOP2 score points (p < 0.001). The convenience of drug administration was critical (49.7 of 100 TSQM-9 points, SD 22); however, the overall treatment satisfaction was high (74.3, SD 18) and the recommendation rating very positive (NPS +66). Conclusions: Nusinersen was administered across a broad range of ages, disease durations and motor function deficits. Treatment expectations were highly differentiated and related to SMA type and functional status. Patient-reported outcomes demonstrated a positive perception of nusinersen therapy in adult patients with 5q-SMA

The fear of being laughed at as additional diagnostic criterion in social anxiety disorder and avoidant personality disorder?

Social anxiety disorder (SAD) is the most common anxiety disorder and has considerable negative impact on social functioning, quality of life, and career progression of those affected. Gelotophobia (the fear of being laughed at) shares many similarities and has therefore been proposed as a subtype of SAD. This hypothesis has, however, never been tested in a clinical sample. Thus, the relationship between gelotophobia, SAD and avoidant personality disorder (APD) was investigated by examining a sample of 133 participants (64 psychiatric patients and 69 healthy controls matched for age and sex) using the Structured Clinical Interview for the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th edition) and an established rating instrument for gelotophobia (GELOPH). As expected, gelotophobia scores and the number of gelotophobic individuals were significantly higher among patients with SAD (n = 22) and APD (n = 12) compared to healthy controls and other psychiatric patients. Furthermore, gelotophobia scores were highest in patients suffering from both SAD and APD. In fact, all patients suffering from both disorders were also suffering from gelotophobia. As explained in the discussion, the observed data did not suggest that gelotophobia is a subtype of SAD. The findings rather imply that the fear of being laughed at is a symptom characteristic for both SAD and APD. Based on that, gelotophobia may prove to be a valuable additional diagnostic criterion for SAD and APD and the present results also contribute to the ongoing debate on the relationship between SAD and APD