530 research outputs found
Consistency Conditions for Branes at Orbifold Singularities
We discuss consistency conditions for branes at orbifold singularities. The
conditions have a world-sheet interpretation in terms of tadpole cancellation
and a space-time interpretation in terms of anomalies. As examples, we consider
type II and type I branes on orbifolds. We give orientifold
constructions of phases of type I or heterotic string theory, involving
branches with extra tensor multiplets, which arise when small SO(32) instantons
sit on orbifold singularities.Comment: harvmac, 14 pages, added reference
Hints of a Therapeutic Vaccine for Alzheimer's?
AbstractIn this issue of Neuron, Hock et al. report the cognitive functions of a small number of Alzheimer's disease patients that participated in a clinical trial of immunization with β-amyloid. Patients with serum antibodies against β-amyloid plaques showed a diminished cognitive decline and slowed disease progression. Dangerous meningoencephalitis was present in some patients, as has been previously reported
New Phases of String Theory and 6d RG Fixed Points via Branes at Orbifold Singularities
We discuss type II and type I branes at general ADE type orbifold
singularities. We show that there are new phases of type I or heterotic string
theory in six dimensions, involving extra tensor multiplets, which arise when
small instantons sit on orbifold singularities. The theories with extra tensor
multiplets are explicitly constructed via orientifolds. The world-volume
theories in type IIB or type I five-branes at orbifold singularities lead to
the existence of several infinite classes of six dimensional, interacting,
renormalization group fixed point theories.Comment: Harvmac, 28 pages, small typo correcte
The DAMES Metadata Approach
The DAMES project will provide high quality data management activities services to the social science research community based on an e-social science infrastructure. The infrastructure is supported by the collection and use of metadata to describe datasets and other social science resources. This report reviews the metadata requirements of the DAMES services, reviews a number of metadata standards, and discusses how the selected standards can be used to support the DAMES services. The kinds of metadata focussed upon in this report include metadata for describing social science microdatasets and other resources such as data analysis processing instruction files, metadata for grouping and linking datasets, and metadata for describing the provenance of data as it is transformed through analytical procedures. The social science metadata standards reviewed include: • The Common Warehouse Metamodel (CWM) • The Data Documentation Initiative (DDI) versions 2 and 3 • Dublin Core • Encoded Archival Description (EAD) • e-Government Metadata Standard (e-GMS) • ELSST and HASSET • MAchine-Readable Cataloging (MARC) • Metadata Encoding and Transmission Standard (METS) • MetaDater • Open Archives Initiative (OAI) • Open Archival Information System (OAIS) • Statistical Data and Metadata Exchange (SDMX) • Text Encoding Initiative (TEI) The review concludes that the DDI standard version 3.0 is the most appropriate one to be used in the DAMES project and explains how best to integrate the standard into the project. This includes a description of how to capture metadata upon resource registration, upgrade the metadata from accessible resources available throughthe GEODE project, use the metadata for resource discovery, and generate provenance metadata during data transformation procedures. In addition, a “metadata wizard” is described to help with data management activities
Genetic addiction risk and psychological profiling analyses for preaddiction severity index
Since 1990, when our laboratory published the association of th
Statistical validation of risk alleles in Genetic Addiction Risk Severity (GARS) test: Early identification of risk for Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) in 74,566 case-control subjects
Since 1990, when our laboratory published the association of the DRD2 Taq A1 allele and severe alcoholism i
Neurogenetic interactions and aberrant behavioral co-morbidity of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD): dispelling myths
BACKGROUND: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder, commonly referred to as ADHD, is a common, complex, predominately genetic but highly treatable disorder, which in its more severe form has such a profound effect on brain function that every aspect of the life of an affected individual may be permanently compromised. Despite the broad base of scientific investigation over the past 50 years supporting this statement, there are still many misconceptions about ADHD. These include believing the disorder does not exist, that all children have symptoms of ADHD, that if it does exist it is grossly over-diagnosed and over-treated, and that the treatment is dangerous and leads to a propensity to drug addiction. Since most misconceptions contain elements of truth, where does the reality lie? RESULTS: We have reviewed the literature to evaluate some of the claims and counter-claims. The evidence suggests that ADHD is primarily a polygenic disorder involving at least 50 genes, including those encoding enzymes of neurotransmitter metabolism, neurotransmitter transporters and receptors. Because of its polygenic nature, ADHD is often accompanied by other behavioral abnormalities. It is present in adults as well as children, but in itself it does not necessarily impair function in adult life; associated disorders, however, may do so. A range of treatment options is reviewed and the mechanisms responsible for the efficacy of standard drug treatments are considered. CONCLUSION: The genes so far implicated in ADHD account for only part of the total picture. Identification of the remaining genes and characterization of their interactions is likely to establish ADHD firmly as a biological disorder and to lead to better methods of diagnosis and treatment
Genetic Addiction Risk Score (GARS): Molecular Neurogenetic Evidence for Predisposition to Reward Deficiency Syndrome (RDS)
We have published extensively on the neuro-
genetics of brain reward systems with reference to the genes
related to dopaminergic function in particular. In 1996,
we coined
“
Reward Deficiency Syndrome
”
(RDS), to portray
behaviors found to have gene-based association with
hypodopaminergic function. RDS as a useful concept has
been embraced in many subsequent studies, to increase our
understanding of Substance Use Disorder (SUD), addictions,
and other obsessive, compulsive, and impulsive behaviors.
Interestingly, albeit others, in one published study, we were
able to describe lifetime RDS behaviors in a recovering addict
(17 years sober) blindly by assessing resultant Genetic Addic-
tion Risk Score (GARS
™
) data only. We hypothesize that
genetic testing at an early age may be an effective preventive
strategy to reduce or eliminate pathological substance and
behavioral seeking activity. Here, we consider a select number
of genes, their polymorphisms, and associated risks for RDS
whereby, utilizing GWAS, there is evidence for convergence
to reward candidate genes. The evidence presented serves as a
plausible brain-print providing relevant genetic information
that will reinforce targeted therapies, to improve recovery and
prevent relapse on an individualized basis. The primary driver
of RDS is a hypodopaminergic trait (genes) as well as epige-
netic states (methylation and
deacetylation on chromatin
structure). We now have entered a new era in addiction med-
icine that embraces the neuroscience of addiction and RDS as
a pathological condition in brain reward circuitry that calls for
appropriate evidence-based therapy and early genetic diagno-
sis and that requires further intensive investigation
Neurophysiological Measures and Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD): Hypothesizing Links between Clinical Severity Index and Molecular Neurobiological Patterns
In 1987, Cloninger proposed a clinical description and classification of different personality traits genetically defined and independent from each other. Moreover, he elaborated a specific test the TCI to investigate these traits/states. The study of craving in Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD) assumed a greater significance, since ever more data seems to suggest a direct correlation between high levels of craving and a higher risk of relapse in alcoholics. Thus, our study aim is to explore the possible correlations among TCI linked molecular neurobiological pattern (s), craving and alcohol addiction severity measures in a sample of Italian alcoholics
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