Psychic phenomena and the mind-body problem: historical notes on a neglected conceptual tradition

Embora exista uma longa tradição de discussões filosóficas e históricas sobre o problema mente-corpo, a maioria delas não menciona os fenômenos psíquicos como tendo implicações para esse tópico. Este artigo é uma revisão de escritos selecionados publicados na literatura dos séculos XIX e XX sobre o mesmerismo, o espiritualismo e a pesquisa psíquica cujos os autores discutiram sobre aparições, telepatia, clarividência, experiências fora do corpo e outros fenômenos parapsicológicos como evidência para a existência de um princípio separado do corpo e responsável pela consciência. Os autores discutidos são de diferentes períodos de tempo. Entre eles estão John Beloff, J. C. Colquhoun, Camille Flammarion, J. H. Jung-Stilling, Frederic W. H. Myers e J. B. Rhine. Mais do que defender a validade de sua posição, minha proposta é documentar a existência de uma tradição intelectual e conceitual que tem sido negligenciada por filósofos, entre outros, nas discussões sobre o problema mente-corpo e aspectos de sua história.Although there is a long tradition of philosophical and historical discussions of the mind-body problem most of them make no mention of psychic phenomena as having implications for such an issue. This article is an overview of selected writings published in the XIX and XX centuries literatures of mesmerism, spiritualism, and psychical research whose authors have discussed apparitions, telepathy, clairvoyance, out-of-body experiences and other parapsychological phenomena as evidence for the existence of a principle separate from the body and responsible for consciousness. Some writers discussed here include individuals from different time periods. Among them are John Beloff, J. C. Colquhoun, Camille Flammarion, J. H. Jung-Stilling, Frederic W. H. Myers, and J. B. Rhine. Rather than defend the validity of their position, my purpose is to document the existence of an intellectual and conceptual tradition that has been neglected by philosophers and others in their discussions of the mind-body problem and aspects of its history

Perspectivas históricas da influência da mediunidade na construção de idéias psicológicas e psiquiátricas

BACKGROUND: Psychology and psychiatry have long been influenced by the phenomena their practitioners study. A variety of ideas about the mind and its pathology were developed in the context of studies of hysteria, double and multiple personality and hypnotic phenomena. OBJECTIVES: In this study we argue that mediumship influenced both psychology and psychiatry in different ways. The study of mediumistic phenomena such as trances and written or verbal messages claimed to come from deceased spirits contributed to the development of several important concepts during the nineteenth century and later on. METHODS: We have reviewed the historical psychiatric and psychological literature relating to mediumship to identify discussions about mediumship. RESULTS: Mediumship was used to defend a variety of ideas about the subconscious mind by figures such as William B. Carpenter, Frederic W.H. Myers, and Joseph Grasset. Both Pierre Janet and Théodore Flournoy used mediumship to illustrate forms of dissociation. Similarly, psychopathology was related in different ways to the practice of mediumship, as discussed by Jean-Martin Charcot, Pierre Janet and Gilbert Ballet. CONCLUSIONS: While mediumship was just only one factor affecting concepts of the subconscious, dissociation and psychopathology, its influence needs to be more recognized than it is currently done in the historiography of psychology and psychiatry.CONTEXTO: A psicologia e a psiquiatria têm sido, ao longo do tempo, influenciadas pelos fenômenos estudados pelos pesquisadores dessas áreas. Diversas idéias sobre a mente e suas patologias foram desenvolvidas no contexto dos estudos de histeria, de dupla e de múltipla personalidades e dos fenômenos hipnóticos. OBJETIVOS: Neste estudo, propomos que a mediunidade tenha influenciado tanto a psicologia quanto a psiquiatria de diferentes modos. Os fenômenos mediúnicos, tais como os transes e as mensagens verbais ou escritas atribuídos a espíritos de mortos, contribuíram para o desenvolvimento de vários importantes conceitos durante o século XIX e daí por diante. MÉTODOS: Revisamos a literatura histórica da psiquiatria e da psicologia relacionada à mediunidade para identificar discussões sobre a mediunidade. RESULTADOS: A mediunidade foi usada para defender ampla variedade de idéias sobre a mente subconsciente por pesquisadores como William B. Carpenter, Frederic W. H. Myers e Joseph Grasset. Tanto Pierre Janet quanto Théodore Flournoy se serviram da mediunidade para ilustrar formas de dissociação. Da mesma forma, a psicopatologia foi relacionada de diferentes modos à prática mediúnica, como foi discutido por Jean-Martin Charcot, Pierre Janet e Gilbert Ballet. CONCLUSÕES: Apesar de a mediunidade ser apenas um dos fatores que afetou a construção de conceitos como o de subconsciente, dissociação e psicopatologia, é necessário que sua influência seja mais reconhecida do que o é atualmente na historiografia da psicologia e da psiquiatria

Exome-Sequencing Confirms DNAJC5 Mutations as Cause of Adult Neuronal Ceroid-Lipofuscinosis

We performed whole-exome sequencing in two autopsy-confirmed cases and an elderly unaffected control from a multigenerational family with autosomal dominant neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis (ANCL). A novel single-nucleotide variation (c.344T>G) in the DNAJC5 gene was identified. Mutational screening in an independent family with autosomal dominant ANCL found an in-frame single codon deletion (c.346_348 delCTC) resulting in a deletion of p.Leu116del. These variants fulfill all genetic criteria for disease-causing mutations: they are found in unrelated families with the same disease, exhibit complete segregation between the mutation and the disease, and are absent in healthy controls. In addition, the associated amino acid substitutions are located in evolutionarily highly conserved residues and are predicted to functionally affect the encoded protein (CSPα). The mutations are located in a cysteine-string domain, which is required for membrane targeting/binding, palmitoylation, and oligomerization of CSPα. We performed a comprehensive in silico analysis of the functional and structural impact of both mutations on CSPα. We found that these mutations dramatically decrease the affinity of CSPα for the membrane. We did not identify any significant effect on palmitoylation status of CSPα. However, a reduction of CSPα membrane affinity may change its palmitoylation and affect proper intracellular sorting. We confirm that CSPα has a strong intrinsic aggregation propensity; however, it is not modified by the mutations. A complementary disease-network analysis suggests a potential interaction with other NCLs genes/pathways. This is the first replication study of the identification of DNAJC5 as the disease-causing gene for autosomal dominant ANCL. The identification of the novel gene in ANCL will allow us to gain a better understanding of the pathological mechanism of ANCLs and constitutes a great advance toward the development of new molecular diagnostic tests and may lead to the development of potential therapies

Particle Swarm Optimization for Optimal Frequency Response with High Penetration of Photovoltaic and Wind Generation

As the installation of solar-photovoltaic and wind-generation systems continue to grow, the location must be strategically selected to maintain a reliable grid. However, such strategies are commonly subject to system adequacy constraints, while system security constraints (e.g., frequency stability, voltage limits) are vaguely explored. This may lead to inaccuracies in the optimal placement of the renewables, and thus maximum benefits may not be achieved. In this context, this paper proposes an optimization-based mathematical framework to design a robust distributed generation system, able to keep system stability in a desired range under system perturbance. The optimum placement of wind and solar renewable energies that minimizes the impact on system stability in terms of the standard frequency deviation is obtained through particle swarm optimization, which is developed in Python and executed in PowerFactory-DIgSILENT. The results reveal that the proposed approach has the potential to reduce the influence of disturbances, enhancing critical clearance time before frequency collapse and supporting secure power system operation

Factors associated with producing a scientific publication during medical training: evidence from a cross-sectional study of 40 medical schools in Latin America [version 2; peer review: 2 approved]

"Background: Scientific publication during medical training is key to promoting enduring cutting-edge knowledge. The promotion of science among medical students in Latin America is a multisectoral issue that is hampered by the lack of governmental knowledge to invest in national research, as well as by the lack of support from local universities. This study aims to determine the factors associated with the production of a scientific publication during medical training among Latin American medical students of local scientific societies. Methods: This is a secondary data analysis of a cross-sectional study conducted in 2016 that assessed the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs) among medical students from 40 local scientific societies of medical students affiliated with FELSOCEM. Teams from each local scientific society surveyed self-reported scientific publications and explored their association with socioeconomic, academic, and research training conditions. We applied nested models to identify the covariates associated with selfreported scientific publication, obtaining a parsimonious mixedeffects multilevel model grouped by medical scientific society. Results: Of 11,587 participants, the prevalence of scientific publications increased in 36% among medical students affiliated to a Scientific Society of Medical Students [parsimonious prevalence ratio (pPR)=1.36, 95%CI=1.16–1.59], 51% among medical students with advanced English proficiency [pPR=1.51, 95%CI=1.21 – 1.87], 85% among medical students who attended a scientific writing skills course [pPR=1.85, 95%CI=1.59–2.15], 81% among medical students who use Sci-Hub [pPR=1.81, 95%CI=1.50–2.20], and 108% among medical students who have access to a pirated academic account [pPR=2.08, 95%CI=1.83–2.36]. Conclusions: Producing a scientific publication among medical students is associated with being affiliated to a scientific society of medical students, English proficiency, training in scientific writing, use of Sci-Hub, and pirated academic accounts. The results will help clinical educators and medical programs improve resources for training students in high-quality research

ECONOMIC IMPACT OF INFECTIOUS LARYNGOTRACHEITIS IN A COMMERCIAL LAYER FARM IN LIMA, PERU

El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar el impacto económico causado por la laringotraqueitis infecciosa aviar (LT) en una granja de ponedoras comerciales, ubicada en el distrito de Chilca, Lima, con una población de 14 415 gallinas, que fue afectada por la LT entre agosto de 2008 hasta marzo de 2009. Se elaboró una encuesta y se recolectaron datos sobre bioseguridad, producción y costos de producción del lote afectado con LT así como de la campaña previa sin LT. El impacto económico causado por LT fue evaluado comparando ambas campañas. Se utilizó un modelo de distribución estocástica con el programa para análisis de riesgo @RISK 5.1®. El costo por kilogramo de huevos producido en el lote afectado con LT se incrementó en 34% comparado con el lote libre de la enfermedad; asimismo, la producción de huevos disminuyó en 16% y la mortalidad se incrementó en 18%.The aim of this study was to evaluate the economic impact caused by avian infectious laryngotracheitis (ILT) in a commercial layer farm located in the district of Chilca, Lima, with a population of 14 415 hens that was affected by the ILT from August 2008 to March 2010. A survey was conducted and visits to the farm were done to collect biosafety and production data, and production costs of the campaign with ILT and the previous campaign without ILT. The economic impact was evaluated by comparing data from both campaigns using a stochastic distribution model with the risk analysis program @ RISK 5.1®. The cost per kilogram of eggs increased by 34%, egg production declined by 16%, and mortality increased by 18% in the campaign with ILT

Complicaciones hemorrágicas y trombóticas del embarazo: diagnóstico, prevención y tratamiento

Bleeding and venous thromboembolism (VTE) are among the five most common causes of morbidity and mortality in pregnant women worldwide. This review describes the current evaluation and management of the obstetric causes of postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) – the leading cause of maternal mortality in our country in recent years prior to the pandemic, as well as the diagnosis and management of hematologic conditions which can cause or worsen PPH, such as autoimmune thrombocytopenia, von Willebrand disease, and thrombotic microangiopathies. It also describes the role of the antiphospholipid syndrome and inherited thrombophilias as predisposing factors of recurrent pregnancy loses and VTE, and the current recommendations for the prevention of both complications. One of the objectives of this Review is to emphasize the importance of a collaborative multidisciplinary approach for the successful management of the obstetric and hematologic complications herein described.Las hemorragias y la enfermedad tromboembólica venosa (ETEV) figuran entre las cinco causas más frecuentes de morbilidad y mortalidad materna en el mundo. Revisamos la evaluación y el manejo actualizado de las causas obstétricas de la hemorragia posparto (HPP), así como el diagnóstico y manejo de condiciones hematológicas que pueden causar o agravar la HPP, por ejemplo: coagulación intravascular diseminada, enfermedad de von Willebrand, trombocitopenia autoinmune y las microangiopatías trombóticas. Revisamos el rol del síndrome antifosfolípido y las trombofilias hereditarias como factores predisponentes a pérdidas fetales recurrentes y la ETEV en el embarazo y las recomendaciones actuales para la prevención de ambas complicaciones. Asimismo, repasamos el abordaje diagnóstico y líneas de manejo de la ETEV. Un objetivo adicional fue enfatizar la importancia del trabajo colaborativo multidisciplinario para lograr el manejo exitoso de las gestantes con las complicaciones obstétricas y hematológicas descritas