University of Duisburg-Essen

Properties and Proximal Point Type Methods for Strongly Quasiconvex Functions in Hilbert Spaces

We study strongly quasiconvex functions defined on Hilbert spaces and taking extended real values from both theoretical and algorithmic points of view. To this end, we verify the existence of (global) minimizers and the properties of the proximal operator for such functions, prev...

Moving beyond treatment: pulmonary function, autonomous motivation, and physical activity enjoyment in adults with cystic fibrosis

Abstract Background Physical activity (PA) and structured exercise are established cornerstones of cystic fibrosis (CF) management. While CFTR modulators have transformed treatment, the psychological factors affecting sustained PA adherence, particularly motivational regulation a...

The Influence of C–O–C and C–H Functionalities on Competitive Adsorption of Dimethyl Ether and Propane on FAU-Type X Zeolites

Abstract This study investigates the influence of ether (C–O–C) and aliphatic (C–H) functionalities on competitive adsorption in porous materials. Therefore, comparative isothermal adsorption experiments with dimethyl ether (DME) and propane (C3H8) were performed on FAU-type X ze...

Automated literature screening using large language models in headache research: a comparative performance evaluation of seven models using zero-shot and iterative prompt refinement

Abstract Background Large language models (LLMs) show promise for automating literature screening, although their performance varies across clinical domains and further evaluation is required for broader implementation. This study aimed to assess the accuracy, reliability and fea...

Zwitterionic Copolymer-Modified Mesoporous Silica Material: A Promising Adsorbent for Both Anionic and Cationic Dye Removal and an Efficient Stationary Phase for Liquid Chromatography

Abstract The creation of innovative single materials with a variety of applications is a major need for materials in the future. The decolorization of both anionic and cationic dye-contaminated water with high adsorption capacities is one of the most challenging problems for the...

Periodic reassessment or permanent approval? A critical analysis of the EU Commission’s proposal to reform pesticide and biocide authorisation in Europe

Abstract On 16 December 2025, the European Commission published proposal COM(2025) 1030 within the Food and Feed Safety Simplification Omnibus, aiming to amend Regulation (EC) No 1107/2009 on plant protection products and Regulation (EU) No 528/2012 on biocidal products. The prop...

Interferometric Vector Piezoresponse Force Microscopy for Simultaneous Ferroelectric Domain and Crystallographic Orientation Mapping in Uniaxial Ferroelectric Polycrystals

ABSTRACT Ongoing advances in scanning probe microscopy techniques are continually expanding the possibilities for nanoscale characterization and correlated studies of functional materials. Here, we demonstrate how a recent extension of piezoresponse force microscopy (PFM), known...

EXPRESS: Risk factors and predictive model for non-aspiration stroke-associated infections in patients with acute ischemic stroke followed by intravenous thrombolysis

OBJECTIVE: To analyze clinical characteristics, risk factors, and a predictive model for non-aspiration stroke-associated infections (NASAI) in acute ischemic stroke (AIS) patients receiving intravenous alteplase thrombolysis. METHODS: This prospective cohort study included AIS p...

Identifying optimal dose head CT acquisition techniques through cluster analysis from 904,209 scans

Abstract Objectives To identify clinically established and frequently utilized routine head computed tomography (CT) acquisition techniques in children and adults that achieve lower radiation. Materials and methods The level of the analysis is at the CT scan (series) level. CT ac...

Multimodal large language model–assisted workflow for image-dependent very short answer question generation and response grading in neurosurgical residency assessment: development and validation study

Very short answer questions (VSAQs) reduce cueing but require substantial specialist effort to develop and grade, particularly when they involve neuroimaging. We evaluated an expert-supervised workflow using multimodal large language models (LLMs) to generate image-dependent neur...

Surface structural evolution of α-Al2O3(11-20) from UHV to ambient conditions probed by vibrational sum frequency spectroscopy

Water can restructure oxide surfaces and thereby alter interfacial chemistry, yet determining the operative termination under realistic conditions remains challenging when multiple terminations are close in stability and when interfacial OH-stretch spectra are congested by physis...

Eco-Evolutionary Dynamics of Proliferation Heterogeneity: A Phenotype-Structured Model for Tumor Growth and Treatment Response

Abstract Intra-tumor heterogeneity in proliferation rates fundamentally influences cancer progression and treatment resistance. To investigate how continuous phenotypic variation shapes eco-evolutionary dynamics, we develop a phenotype-structured partial differential equation fra...

Real-world short-term effectiveness of erenumab after single versus multiple prior preventive treatment failures

BACKGROUND: Erenumab, a monoclonal antibody targeting calcitonin gene-related peptide receptor, has been approved in Germany since 2018 for migraine prophylaxis. Initially, reimbursement regulations restricted its use to drug-resistant patients who had failed or were unsuitable f...

Strong solution for polymeric fluid–structure interaction with small initial acceleration

Abstract We consider the problem of a 3D–3D–2D mutually coupled solute–solvent-structure three-states system. This describes the interaction of a flexible structure with a polymeric fluid of classical Oldroyd-B type without centre-of-mass diffusion. We construct a unique higher-o...

Same variable, different values? A multilevel Latent Transition Analysis of students’ thinking about values of variables

Abstract Understanding the values that variables can take is a central challenge in students’ early encounters with algebra. While previous research has documented a range of numerical preconceptions related to variable values, much less is known about how they co-occur and devel...

Pediatric intensive care follow-up in Germany is rarely established and highly heterogeneous: a nationwide survey of 20 PICUs

BACKGROUND: Survival after pediatric critical illness has improved substantially, but many survivors and their families experience long-term physical, neurocognitive, psychological and social sequelae, summarized as post-intensive care syndrome in pediatrics and in families. Stru...

A machine learning–derived sarcopenia index is associated with survival and nonrelapse mortality in DLBCL

Abstract Body composition analysis (BCA) provides an objective assessment of metabolic states, but its prognostic value in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) remains unclear. We applied machine learning–supported BCA to computed tomography imaging from patients with newly diag...

The Costs of Parkinson's Disease in Europe: Results of the Costs of Illness in Neurology Initiative

Abstract Background Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease. It imposes substantial and growing burden on patients, families, and caregivers and reduces quality of life. The disability and care needs associated with PD carry economic ramificat...

Clinical Variability and Genotype‐Driven Outcomes in CHRND ‐Related Congenital Myasthenic Syndrome

BACKGROUND: Congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS) caused by pathogenic variants in CHRND, encoding the δ-subunit of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR), are rare, and data on genotype-phenotype correlations and long-term outcomes are limited. METHODS: We performed a retro...

Perovskite‐Based Catalysts for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction: Synthesis, Device Relevant Performance, and Scale‐Up Strategies

ABSTRACT Perovskite‐based oxides are promising electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction due to their flexible composition, tunable electronic structure, and robust nature. However, their activity and durability in proton exchange membrane (PEM)–relevant acidic condition...