Physiologic and therapeutic roles of somatotropin effects in adult animals

12/94.Includes bibliographical references (pages 11-12)

Limited role of fungal diversity in maintaining soil processes in grassland soil under concurrent fungicide stress

Background Fungicides are an effective tool for protecting crops and maintaining a steady food supply. However, as pathogens continue to evolve, it is crucial to prolong the effectiveness of fungicides by delaying resistance development. A key strategy to achieving this is to combine or rotate fungicides with different modes of action. As fungicides lack specificity, they inevitably affect both pathogenic and non-pathogenic fungi when surrounding environments are unintentionally contaminated. Our study aims to investigate the effects of recommended application methods to prevent resistance development, specifically repeated-single fungicide, simultaneous mixture, and sequential applications on non-target soil fungi, and the subsequent impacts on important soil processes. We used fungicides with different modes of action on soil microcosms inoculated with fungi at varying levels of diversity (3, 5, and 8 species) isolated from a protected grassland. Results We found that repeated treatments of individual isopyrazam and prothioconazole differentially inhibited fungal activity. Although mixture applications are considered more protectant against crop pathogen resistance than repeated application, our study revealed stronger negative effects of simultaneous application on saprobic fungi and consequently on soil processes. However, contrary to expectations, higher fungal diversity did not translate to improved soil function under these conditions. Conclusions The simultaneous application of fungicides with different modes of action (MoA) has more pronounced non-target effects on soil compared to the individual or sequential application of fungicides. These non-target effects extend beyond the intended control of pathogenic fungi, impacting saprobic and beneficial soil microbes and the critical processes they drive. When fungicides are applied concurrently, microbial activities in the soil are significantly altered, even in soils with high microbial diversity. Our study emphasizes the importance of carefully considering the unintended consequences of fungicide use in agriculture. As we strive for a secure food supply, it is crucial to investigate the broader environmental impacts of these chemical interventions, including their effects on non-pathogenic fungi and overall soil health

Is it possible to improve the breaking bad news skills of residents when a relative is present? A randomised study.

peer reviewe

Experimental demonstration of a free space cylindrical cloak without superluminal propagation

We experimentally demonstrated an alternative approach of invisibility cloaking that can combine technical advantages of all current major cloaking strategies in a unified manner and thus can solve bottlenecks of individual strategies. A broadband cylindrical invisibility cloak in free space is designed based on scattering cancellation (the approach of previous plasmonic cloaking), and implemented with anisotropic metamaterials (a fundamental property of singular-transformation cloaks). Particularly, non-superluminal propagation of electromagnetic waves, a superior advantage of non-Euclidian-transformation cloaks constructed with complex branch cuts, is inherited in this design, and thus is the reason of its relatively broad bandwidth. This demonstration provides the possibility for future practical implementation of cloaking devices at large scales in free space.Comment: 16 pages, 3 figures, accepted by Physical Review Letter

Modelling the propagation of adult male muscle dysmorphia in Spain: economic, emotional and social drivers

This is an author's accepted manuscript of an article published in: “Applied Economics"; Volume 47, Issue 12, 2015; copyright Taylor & Francis; available online at: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/00036846.2013.870657Males aged over 40 do more gym practice to improve their body image as a way of reinforcing their personal self-esteem and sexual appeal. Cases when self-image becomes an obsession may result in a body dysmorphic disorder named ‘muscle dysmorphia’ (MD). The combination of psychological, environmental and biological drivers determines the appearance and development of this disorder. In this article, we developed a discrete population mathematical model to forecast the rate of prevalence of males who are noncompetitive bodybuilders at risk of suffering MD in Spain in forthcoming years. Economic, emotional, sociological and psychological motivations were taken into account to quantify the dynamic behaviour of Spanish noncompetitive bodybuilders. The impact of the unemployment is reflected in the construction of two coefficients, αu and α21, which explain subpopulation transits due to the economy. Sociological influences, such as human herding and social propagation, were also considered. Our results predict an increase in Spanish noncompetitive bodybuilders suffering MD from 1% in 2011 to around 11% in 2015. Our model can be applied to any other western country where data are available and to another study period when the hypotheses are applicable.De La Poza, E.; Jódar Sánchez, LA.; Alkasadi, M. (2015). Modelling the propagation of adult male muscle dysmorphia in Spain: economic, emotional and social drivers. Applied Economics. 47(12):1159-1169. https://doi.org/10.1080/00036846.2013.870657S115911694712Blashfield, R. K., Sprock, J., & Fuller, A. K. (1990). Suggested guidelines for including or excluding categories in the DSM-IV. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 31(1), 15-19. doi:10.1016/0010-440x(90)90049-xBoyda, D., & Shevlin, M. (2011). Childhood victimisation as a predictor of muscle dysmorphia in adult male bodybuilders. The Irish Journal of Psychology, 32(3-4), 105-115. doi:10.1080/03033910.2011.616289Brown, J., & Graham, D. (2008). Body Satisfaction in Gym-active Males: An Exploration of Sexuality, Gender, and Narcissism. Sex Roles, 59(1-2), 94-106. doi:10.1007/s11199-008-9416-4Brown, J. T. (2005). Anabolic Steroids: What Should the Emergency Physician Know? Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America, 23(3), 815-826. doi:10.1016/j.emc.2005.03.012Chaney, M. P. (2008). Muscle Dysmorphia, Self-esteem, and Loneliness among Gay and Bisexual Men. International Journal of Men’s Health, 7(2), 157-170. doi:10.3149/jmh.0702.157Choi, P. Y. L. (2002). Muscle dysmorphia: a new syndrome in weightlifters * Commentary. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 36(5), 375-376. doi:10.1136/bjsm.36.5.375Christakis, N. A., & Fowler, J. H. (2007). The Spread of Obesity in a Large Social Network over 32 Years. New England Journal of Medicine, 357(4), 370-379. doi:10.1056/nejmsa066082Cohane, G. H., & Pope, H. G. (2001). Body image in boys: A review of the literature. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 29(4), 373-379. doi:10.1002/eat.1033Duato, R., & Jódar, L. (2013). Mathematical modeling of the spread of divorce in Spain. Mathematical and Computer Modelling, 57(7-8), 1732-1737. doi:10.1016/j.mcm.2011.11.020Eide, E. R., & Ronan, N. (2001). Is participation in high school athletics an investment or a consumption good? Economics of Education Review, 20(5), 431-442. doi:10.1016/s0272-7757(00)00033-9Farrell, L., & Shields, M. A. (2002). Investigating the economic and demographic determinants of sporting participation in England. Journal of the Royal Statistical Society: Series A (Statistics in Society), 165(2), 335-348. doi:10.1111/1467-985x.00626French, S. A., Story, M., Downes, B., Resnick, M. D., & Blum, R. W. (1995). Frequent dieting among adolescents: psychosocial and health behavior correlates. American Journal of Public Health, 85(5), 695-701. doi:10.2105/ajph.85.5.695García, I., Jódar, L., Merello, P., & Santonja, F.-J. (2011). A discrete mathematical model for addictive buying: Predicting the affected population evolution. Mathematical and Computer Modelling, 54(7-8), 1634-1637. doi:10.1016/j.mcm.2010.12.012González-Martí, I., Bustos, J. G. F., Jordán, O. R. C., & Mayville, S. B. (2012). Validation of a Spanish version of the Muscle Appearance Satisfaction Scale: Escala de Satisfacción Muscular. Body Image, 9(4), 517-523. doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2012.05.002Greenberg, J. L., Markowitz, S., Petronko, M. R., Taylor, C. E., Wilhelm, S., & Wilson, G. T. (2010). Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy for Adolescent Body Dysmorphic Disorder. Cognitive and Behavioral Practice, 17(3), 248-258. doi:10.1016/j.cbpra.2010.02.002Hildebrandt, T., Schlundt, D., Langenbucher, J., & Chung, T. (2006). Presence of muscle dysmorphia symptomology among male weightlifters. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 47(2), 127-135. doi:10.1016/j.comppsych.2005.06.001Hitzeroth, V., Wessels, C., Zungu-Dirwayi, N., Oosthuizen, P., & Stein, D. J. (2001). Muscle dysmorphia: A South African sample. Psychiatry and Clinical Neurosciences, 55(5), 521-523. doi:10.1046/j.1440-1819.2001.00899.xHONEKOPP, J., RUDOLPH, U., BEIER, L., LIEBERT, A., & MULLER, C. (2007). Physical attractiveness of face and body as indicators of physical fitness in men. Evolution and Human Behavior, 28(2), 106-111. doi:10.1016/j.evolhumbehav.2006.09.001Humphreys, B. R., & Ruseski, J. E. (2011). An Economic Analysis of Participation and Time Spent in Physical Activity. The B.E. Journal of Economic Analysis & Policy, 11(1). doi:10.2202/1935-1682.2522Kanayama, G. (2006). Body Image and Attitudes Toward Male Roles in Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Users. American Journal of Psychiatry, 163(4), 697. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.163.4.697Keery, H., van den Berg, P., & Thompson, J. K. (2004). An evaluation of the Tripartite Influence Model of body dissatisfaction and eating disturbance with adolescent girls. Body Image, 1(3), 237-251. doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2004.03.001Mosley, P. E. (2009). Bigorexia: bodybuilding and muscle dysmorphia. European Eating Disorders Review, 17(3), 191-198. doi:10.1002/erv.897Murray, S. B., Rieger, E., Touyz, S. W., & De la Garza García Lic, Y. (2010). Muscle dysmorphia and the DSM-V conundrum: Where does it belong? A review paper. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 43(6), 483-491. doi:10.1002/eat.20828Nieuwoudt, J. E., Zhou, S., Coutts, R. A., & Booker, R. (2012). Muscle dysmorphia: Current research and potential classification as a disorder. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 13(5), 569-577. doi:10.1016/j.psychsport.2012.03.006Olivardia, R. (2001). Mirror, Mirror on the Wall, Who’s the Largest of Them All? The Features and Phenomenology of Muscle Dysmorphia. Harvard Review of Psychiatry, 9(5), 254-259. doi:10.1080/hrp.9.5.254.259Olivardia, R., Pope, H. G., & Hudson, J. I. (2000). Muscle Dysmorphia in Male Weightlifters: A Case-Control Study. American Journal of Psychiatry, 157(8), 1291-1296. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.157.8.1291Phillips, K. A. (2009)Understanding Body Dysmorphic Disorder an Essential Guide, 49, Oxford University Press, New York, NY.Phillips, K. A., Wilhelm, S., Koran, L. M., Didie, E. R., Fallon, B. A., Feusner, J., & Stein, D. J. (2010). Body dysmorphic disorder: some key issues for DSM-V. Depression and Anxiety, 27(6), 573-591. doi:10.1002/da.20709Pompper, D. (2010). Masculinities, the Metrosexual, and Media Images: Across Dimensions of Age and Ethnicity. Sex Roles, 63(9-10), 682-696. doi:10.1007/s11199-010-9870-7Pope, H. G., Gruber, A. J., Choi, P., Olivardia, R., & Phillips, K. A. (1997). Muscle Dysmorphia: An Underrecognized Form of Body Dysmorphic Disorder. Psychosomatics, 38(6), 548-557. doi:10.1016/s0033-3182(97)71400-2Pope, H. G., Gruber, A. J., Mangweth, B., Bureau, B., deCol, C., Jouvent, R., & Hudson, J. I. (2000). Body Image Perception Among Men in Three Countries. American Journal of Psychiatry, 157(8), 1297-1301. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.157.8.1297Kanayama, G., Brower, K. J., Wood, R. I., Hudson, J. I., & Pope, H. G. (2009). Issues for DSM-V: Clarifying the Diagnostic Criteria for Anabolic-Androgenic Steroid Dependence. American Journal of Psychiatry, 166(6), 642-645. doi:10.1176/appi.ajp.2009.08111699Pope, H. G., Katz, D. L., & Hudson, J. I. (1993). Anorexia nervosa and «reverse anorexia» among 108 male bodybuilders. Comprehensive Psychiatry, 34(6), 406-409. doi:10.1016/0010-440x(93)90066-dPopkin, B. M. (2003). The Nutrition Transition in the Developing World. Development Policy Review, 21(5-6), 581-597. doi:10.1111/j.1467-8659.2003.00225.xRaafat, R. M., Chater, N., & Frith, C. (2009). Herding in humans. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 13(10), 420-428. doi:10.1016/j.tics.2009.08.002RICCIARDELLI, L. A., & McCABE, M. P. (2003). Sociocultural and individual influences on muscle gain and weight loss strategies among adolescent boys and girls. Psychology in the Schools, 40(2), 209-224. doi:10.1002/pits.10075Silver, M. D. (2001). Use of Ergogenic Aids by Athletes. Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, 9(1), 61-70. doi:10.5435/00124635-200101000-00007Smolak, L., Levine, M. P., & Schermer, F. (1999). Parental input and weight concerns among elementary school children. International Journal of Eating Disorders, 25(3), 263-271. doi:10.1002/(sici)1098-108x(199904)25:33.0.co;2-vVarangis, E., Lanzieri, N., Hildebrandt, T., & Feldman, M. (2012). Gay male attraction toward muscular men: Does mating context matter? Body Image, 9(2), 270-278. doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2012.01.003Catherine Walker, D., Anderson, D. A., & Hildebrandt, T. (2009). Body checking behaviors in men. Body Image, 6(3), 164-170. doi:10.1016/j.bodyim.2009.05.001Wolke, D., & Sapouna, M. (2008). Big men feeling small: Childhood bullying experience, muscle dysmorphia and other mental health problems in bodybuilders. Psychology of Sport and Exercise, 9(5), 595-604. doi:10.1016/j.psychsport.2007.10.00

Controlling Cherenkov angles with resonance transition radiation

Cherenkov radiation provides a valuable way to identify high energy particles in a wide momentum range, through the relation between the particle velocity and the Cherenkov angle. However, since the Cherenkov angle depends only on material's permittivity, the material unavoidably sets a fundamental limit to the momentum coverage and sensitivity of Cherenkov detectors. For example, Ring Imaging Cherenkov detectors must employ materials transparent to the frequency of interest as well as possessing permittivities close to unity to identify particles in the multi GeV range, and thus are often limited to large gas chambers. It would be extremely important albeit challenging to lift this fundamental limit and control Cherenkov angles as preferred. Here we propose a new mechanism that uses constructive interference of resonance transition radiation from photonic crystals to generate both forward and backward Cherenkov radiation. This mechanism can control Cherenkov angles in a flexible way with high sensitivity to any desired range of velocities. Photonic crystals thus overcome the severe material limit for Cherenkov detectors, enabling the use of transparent materials with arbitrary values of permittivity, and provide a promising option suited for identification of particles at high energy with enhanced sensitivity.Comment: There are 16 pages and 4 figures for the manuscript. Supplementary information with 18 pages and 5 figures, appended at the end of the file with the manuscript. Source files in Word format converted to PDF. Submitted to Nature Physic

Counting function fluctuations and extreme value threshold in multifractal patterns: the case study of an ideal 1/f1/f noise

To understand the sample-to-sample fluctuations in disorder-generated multifractal patterns we investigate analytically as well as numerically the statistics of high values of the simplest model - the ideal periodic $1/f$ Gaussian noise. By employing the thermodynamic formalism we predict the characteristic scale and the precise scaling form of the distribution of number of points above a given level. We demonstrate that the powerlaw forward tail of the probability density, with exponent controlled by the level, results in an important difference between the mean and the typical values of the counting function. This can be further used to determine the typical threshold $x_m$ of extreme values in the pattern which turns out to be given by $x_m^{(typ)}=2-c\ln{\ln{M}}/\ln{M}$ with $c=3/2$. Such observation provides a rather compelling explanation of the mechanism behind universality of $c$. Revealed mechanisms are conjectured to retain their qualitative validity for a broad class of disorder-generated multifractal fields. In particular, we predict that the typical value of the maximum $p_{max}$ of intensity is to be given by $-\ln{p_{max}} = \alpha_{-}\ln{M} + \frac{3}{2f'(\alpha_{-})}\ln{\ln{M}} + O(1)$, where $f(\alpha)$ is the corresponding singularity spectrum vanishing at $\alpha=\alpha_{-}>0$. For the $1/f$ noise we also derive exact as well as well-controlled approximate formulas for the mean and the variance of the counting function without recourse to the thermodynamic formalism.Comment: 28 pages; 7 figures, published version with a few misprints corrected, editing done and references adde

Here Comes the Bad News: Doctor Robot Taking Over

To test in how far the Media Equation and Computers Are Social Actors (CASA) validly explain user responses to social robots, we manipulated how a bad health message was framed and the language that was used. In the wake of Experiment 2 of Burgers et al. (Patient Educ Couns 89(2):267–273, 2012. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2012.08.008), a human versus robot doctor delivered health messages framed positively or negatively, using affirmations or negations. In using frequentist (robots are different from humans) and Bayesian (robots are the same) analyses, we found that participants liked the robot doctor and the robot’s message better than the human’s. The robot also compelled more compliance to the medical treatment. For the level of expected quality of life, the human and robot doctor tied. The robot was not seen as affectively distant but rather involving, ethical, skilled, and people wanted to consult her again. Note that doctor robot was not a seriously looking physician but a little girl with the voice of a young woman. We conclude that both Media Equation and CASA need to be altered when it comes to robot communication. We argue that if certain negative qualities are filtered out (e.g., strong emotion expression), credibility will increase, which lowers affective distance to the messenger. Robots sometimes outperform humans on emotional tasks, which may relieve physicians from a most demanding duty of disclosing unfavorable information to a patient

Is it possible to improve residents breaking bad news skills? A randomised study assessing the efficacy of a communication skills training program

info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe