A framework for interpreting functional networks in schizophrenia

Some promising genetic correlates of schizophrenia have emerged in recent years but none explain more than a small fraction of cases. The challenge of our time is to characterize the neuronal networks underlying schizophrenia and other neuropsychiatric illnesses. Early models of schizophrenia have been limited by the ability to readily evaluate large-scale networks in living patients. With the development of resting state and advanced structural magnetic resonance imaging, it has become possible to do this. While we are at an early stage, a number of models of intrinsic brain networks have been developed to account for schizophrenia and other neuropsychiatric disorders. This paper reviews the recent voxel-based morphometry (VBM), diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), and resting functional magnetic resonance imaging literature in light of the proposed networks underlying these disorders. It is suggested that there is support for recently proposed models that suggest a pivotal role for the salience network. However, the interactions of this network with the default mode network and executive control networks are not sufficient to explain schizophrenic symptoms or distinguish them from other neuropsychiatric disorders. Alternatively, it is proposed that schizophrenia arises from a uniquely human brain network associated with directed effort including the dorsal anterior and posterior cingulate cortex (PCC), auditory cortex, and hippocampus while mood disorders arise from a different brain network associated with emotional encoding including the ventral anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), orbital frontal cortex, and amygdala. Both interact with the dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and a representation network including the frontal and temporal poles and the fronto-insular cortex, allowing the representation of the thoughts, feelings, and actions of self and others across time

Quench-induced spontaneous currents in rings of ultracold fermionic atoms

We have measured the rate of spontaneous current formation in ring-shaped ensembles of fermionic $^6$Li atoms, following a thermal quench through the BCS superfluid phase transition. For the fastest quenches, the mean square winding number follows a scaling law with exponent $\sigma$ = 0.24(2), in line with predictions of the Kibble-Zurek (KZ) model for mean-field BCS theory. We use a hybrid quench protocol involving simultaneous evaporation and interaction ramps, with a long system lifetime allowing characterization of a different rate of spontaneous current formation in the slow-quench regime, where finite-size effects are important. Comparing our observations to a quasi-1D stochastic Ginzburg-Landau model, we find quantitative agreement for fast quenches, but only qualitative agreement for slow quenches.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure

The Weight of Time: Time influences on overweight and obesity in women

We know that adults’ weight increases with age, at least until around the age of 55 years or older. Recent National Australian surveys show that men and women of all age groups were heavier in 2000 than in 1995 or 1990. These studies also found that a greater proportion of people of all ages were overweight or obese in 2000 than in the previous surveys. These studies also suggested that different generations, also known as ‘birth cohorts’, had different patterns of weight gain. These birth cohort influences mean that the year a person is born and the unique set of experiences people born at that time experience, have an effect on weight gain patterns. People born at other times experience different conditions and have different weight gain patterns. Some birth cohorts or ‘generations’ are well-known, such as the ‘baby boomer’ generation, or pre-war generation. For example, Australians born in the first three decades of the twentieth century experienced World War I and II and the Great Depression during their childhood and early adult life. During these times food was scarce and everyday life required high levels of physical activity. This group overall had lower body weights than more recent generations, meaning they were less at risk of becoming obese. Australians born after 1980 were born into an advanced technological society with greater availability of food, a vastly increased range of food products and increasing serving sizes. At the same time, levels of physical activity in everyday life have been decreasing. Together these factors produce an obesogenic environment. The three National Health surveys, conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics for the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare in 1990, 1995 and 2000, produced data which the NSW Centre for Overweight and Obesity has analyzed to find out what effects three time factors -- ageing, the time of the surveys and birth cohort, have on body mass index (BMI) and the prevalence of overweight and obesity. [Note – BMI used as the indicator of weight status, where BMI = weight (kg)/height2 (M2)] This report provides an overview of key findings of the analyses of the effects of these three time factors on female weight patterns. The complete findings have been published in a comprehensive technical report. The results from the analysis of the effect of birth cohorts have been used to predict the mean body mass index of women in NSW in 2010. The graphs in this report show the results for women, and the results for men are available in a separate document. The overall patterns and implications for men are generally similar to those for women. NS

The Weight of Time: Time influences on overweight and obesity in men

We know that adults’ weight increases with age, at least until around the age of 55 years or older. Recent National Australian surveys show that men and women of all age groups were heavier in 2000 than in 1995 or 1990. These studies also found that a greater proportion of people of all ages were overweight or obese in 2000 than in the previous surveys. These studies also suggested that different generations, also known as ‘birth cohorts’, had different patterns of weight gain. These birth cohort influences mean that the year a person is born and the unique set of experiences people born at that time experience, have an effect on weight gain patterns. People born at other times experience different conditions and have different weight gain patterns. Some birth cohorts or ‘generations’ are well-known, such as the ‘baby boomer’ generation, or pre-war generation. For example, Australians born in the first three decades of the twentieth century experienced World War I and II and the Great Depression during their childhood and early adult life. During these times food was scarce and everyday life required high levels of physical activity. This group overall had lower body weights than more recent generations, meaning they were less at risk of becoming obese. Australians born after 1980 were born into an advanced technological society with greater availability of food, a vastly increased range of food products and increasing serving sizes. At the same time, levels of physical activity in everyday life have been decreasing. Together these factors produce an obesogenic environment. The three National Health surveys, conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics for the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare in 1990, 1995 and 2000, produced data which the NSW Centre for Overweight and Obesity has analyzed to find out what effects three time factors -- ageing, the time of the surveys and birth cohort -- have on body mass index (BMI) and the prevalence of overweight and obesity. [Note – BMI used as the indicator of weight status, where BMI = weight (kg)/height2 (M2)] This report provides an overview of key findings of the analyses of the effects of these three time factors on male weight patterns. The complete findings have been published in a comprehensive technical report. The results from the analysis of the effect of birth cohorts have been used to predict the mean body mass index of men in NSW in 2010. The graphs in this report show the results for men but the results for women are available. The overall patterns and implications for women are generally similar to those for men

Scintigraphic features of Morquio's syndrome: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>To the best of our knowledge, we present for the first time the bone scintigraphy findings of a patient with Morquio's syndrome.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 46-year-old Caucasian man with Morquio's syndrome presented with lower back pain six weeks after a left total hip replacement. A whole body bone scan demonstrated an anthropomorphic skeletal pattern consistent with a mucopolysaccharide storage disease, thereby showing the cause of the patient's pain.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>To the best of our knowledge, the bone scintigraphy findings of a case of Morquio's syndrome have never before been published. We present our case report to add to the knowledge we have of this rare disease.</p