Nonlinear Schr{\"o}dinger equation: concentration on circles driven by an external magnetic field

In this paper, we study the semiclassical limit for the stationary magnetic nonlinear Schr\"odinger equation \begin{align}\label{eq:initialabstract}\left( i \hbar \nabla + A(x) \right)^2 u + V(x) u = |u|^{p-2} u, \quad x\in \mathbb{R}^{3},\end{align}where p\textgreater{}2, $A$ is a vector potential associated to a given magnetic field $B$, i.e $\nabla \times A =B$ and $V$ is a nonnegative, scalar (electric) potential which can be singular at the origin and vanish at infinity or outside a compact set.We assume that $A$ and $V$ satisfy a cylindrical symmetry. By a refined penalization argument, we prove the existence of semiclassical cylindrically symmetric solutions of upper equation whose moduli concentrate, as $\hbar \to 0$, around a circle. We emphasize that the concentration is driven by the magnetic and the electric potentials. Our result thus shows that in the semiclassical limit, the magnetic field also influences the location of the solutions of (\ref{eq:initialabstract}) if their concentration occurs around a locus, not a single point

DEPRESSION, GENDER AND CELLULAR IMMUNITY: INFLUENCE OF GENDER AND SEVERITY OF DEPRESSION ON THE CELLULAR IMMUNITY

Background: Exposure to stress modifies the humoral and cellular immunity by the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenal axis. On one hand, this psycho-immunological theory allows the analyse of links between immunity and depression. On the other hand, the correlation between the immune response, the clinical expression in major depressive disorder (MDD) and the gender was proven. Our analysis evaluates the influence of the gender and the level of depression severity on the cellular immune response associated with it. Subjects and method: 549 patients with MDD were enrolled in an open-ended survey. In addition to a socio-demographic questionnaire, they completed the Beck Depression Scale (BDS). Flow cytometry was used to assess lymphocyte subsets. Results: On average, the intensity of the depression (ID) among women is higher by 2.9 points (t=2.379*). In terms of immunity, there are correlations between this ID and absolute values of CD3 (r=-0.127***), CD4 (r=-0.189***), CD8 (r=0.089*) and CD16 and 56 (r=0.129*). In terms of gender, there are significant differences for the percentage of total lymphocytes (m=37.84, w=35.59; t=2.646***), CD3 (m=2.08, w=1.9; t=2.676*), CD4 (m=1.44, w=1.3; t =2.522*), CD8 (m=0.62, w=0.57; t=2.182*). A linear regression model including both variables supports the existence of these differences in the percentage of total lymphocytes (Adjusted R2=0.025***) and CD8 (Adjusted R2=0.012*). Conclusions: If the link between depression and the cellular immune response is a known fact, our study proves that women have a stronger immune response than men in terms of percentage of total lymphocytes mobilized and cytotoxic lymphocytes. The volume of natural killer lymphocytes is independent of the gender but connected to the ID. Based on those results, psycho-immunological theories could potentially be rethought in the light of immunity being at least partially dependent of the gender

DEPRESSION, GENDER AND CELLULAR IMMUNITY: INFLUENCE OF GENDER AND SEVERITY OF DEPRESSION ON THE CELLULAR IMMUNITY

Background: Exposure to stress modifies the humoral and cellular immunity by the activation of the hypothalamic-pituitaryadrenal axis. On one hand, this psycho-immunological theory allows the analyse of links between immunity and depression. On the other hand, the correlation between the immune response, the clinical expression in major depressive disorder (MDD) and the gender was proven. Our analysis evaluates the influence of the gender and the level of depression severity on the cellular immune response associated with it. Subjects and method: 549 patients with MDD were enrolled in an open-ended survey. In addition to a socio-demographic questionnaire, they completed the Beck Depression Scale (BDS). Flow cytometry was used to assess lymphocyte subsets. Results: On average, the intensity of the depression (ID) among women is higher by 2.9 points (t=2.379*). In terms of immunity, there are correlations between this ID and absolute values of CD3 (r=-0.127***), CD4 (r=-0.189***), CD8 (r=0.089*) and CD16 and 56 (r=0.129*). In terms of gender, there are significant differences for the percentage of total lymphocytes (m=37.84, w=35.59; t=2.646***), CD3 (m=2.08, w=1.9; t=2.676*), CD4 (m=1.44, w=1.3; t =2.522*), CD8 (m=0.62, w=0.57; t=2.182*). A linear regression model including both variables supports the existence of these differences in the percentage of total lymphocytes (Adjusted R2=0.025***) and CD8 (Adjusted R2=0.012*). Conclusions: If the link between depression and the cellular immune response is a known fact, our study proves that women have a stronger immune response than men in terms of percentage of total lymphocytes mobilized and cytotoxic lymphocytes. The volume of natural killer lymphocytes is independent of the gender but connected to the ID. Based on those results, psycho-immunological theories could potentially be rethought in the light of immunity being at least partially dependent of the gender

Sustainable control of grassland small mammals

International audienceSmall mammals such as the European rabbits, the plateau pikas, the prairie dogs have been traditionally perceived as pests and targeted for control on a large scale despite their importance as key-stone species in their native ecosystem. This is also the case for the fossorial form of the water vole (Arvicola terrestris). This species can reach large population densities and causes heavy damage to grassland with subsequent economic losses for farmers (9,000 to 25,000 € for a 70 ha farm during an outbreak year in Franche-Comté, France). However, higher population densities of A. terrestris and also of Microtus arvalis, help maintaining a large and rich community of vole predators. Such non-target species (red kite, common buzzard, wild boar, red fox, etc.) are impacted, some of them heavily, by the unconditional use of rodenticides (e.g. bromadiolone). In order to minimize the use of rodenticides in controlling A. terrestris populations, a long term research program has been undertaken since the late 80s, aiming at identifying the key-parameters of such regional systems. Based on a systems approach, this collaborative research network involves academic researchers, farmer, game, conservationist organizations and governmental and local administrations together. On a regional scale (area of about 2500 km2), Delattre et al. (1992), Giraudoux et al. (1997), Fichet et al. (2000) provided evidence that M. arvalis and A. terrestris population dynamic patterns correlate with land composition. On a sectorial scale (area of about 25 km2), Delattre et al. (1996), Delattre et al. (1999) showed for M. arvalis that landscape heterogeneity dampen population fluctuations and may modulate prey/predator relationships; Duhamel et al. (2000) that A. terrestris outbreak epicentres occur in homogeneous grassland and Foltete et al. (2008) that hedgerow networks slow down the propagation of travelling waves. On a local scale (area of about 0.01 km2), Delattre et al. (2006), Morilhat et al. (2007, 2008) showed that A. terrestris population growth was enhanced by larger gallery networks of Talpa europea, was slowed down by ploughing and cattle tramping and was modified by neighbouring landscape (10 - 100 ha). This led to a number of recommendations, now implemented for a more sustainable control of A. terrestris (Delattre and Giraudoux 2009) with substantial decrease in rodenticide utilization and lesser impact on non-target species. Poster downloadable at: http://pagesperso-orange.fr/giraudoux/PosterSETAC_120416_1200.pd

Just how much does it cost? A cost study of chronic pain following cardiac surgery

Objective: The study objective was to determine use of pain-related health care resources and associated direct and indirect costs over a two-year period in cardiac surgery patients who developed chronic post-surgical pain (CPSP). Methods: This multicentric observational prospective study recruited patients prior to cardiac surgery; these patients completed research assistant-administered questionnaires on pain and psychological characteristics at 6, 12 and 24 months post-operatively. Patients reporting CPSP also completed a one-month pain care record (PCR) (self-report diary) at each follow-up. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, multivariable logistic regression models, and generalized linear models with log link and gamma family adjusting for sociodemographic and pain intensity. Results: Out of 1,247 patients, 18%, 13%, and 9% reported experiencing CPSP at 6, 12, and 24 months, respectively. Between 16% and 28% of CPSP patients reported utilizing health care resources for their pain over the follow-up period. Among all CPSP patients, mean monthly pain-related costs were CAN$207 at 6 months and significantly decreased thereafter. More severe pain and greater levels of pain catastrophizing were the most consistent predictors of health care utilization and costs. Discussion: Health care costs associated with early management of CPSP after cardiac surgery seem attributable to a minority of patients and decrease over time for most of them. Results are novel in that they document for the first time the economic burden of CPSP in this population of patients. Longer follow-up time that would capture severe cases of CPSP as well as examination of costs associated with other surgical populations are warranted. Summary: Economic burden of chronic post-surgical pain may be substantial but few patients utilize resources. Health utilization and costs are associated with pain and psychological characteristics

S’outiller pour mieux participer à la rétroaction : Un nouveau modèle cognitivo-comportemental destiné aux apprenants en médecine

Sharing formative feedback is inherent in the supervision process and the acceptance of feedback by learners is an essential step in learning. However, receiving feedback from the supervisor evokes emotions and accepting it is not easy. Several recommendations guide preceptors on how to share feedback with learners and all emphasize the importance of encouraging the learner to actively interact in the feedback process. Although studies point to the positive effect of informing and training learners about feedback, few focus on their responsiveness to feedback. Under the rubric of developing a personal skill to better accept feedback, we propose a new behavioral model, called H.O.S.T., which aims to guide learners to approach feedback with a personal growth mindset associated with the learning position. Specifically, the model presents an interdependent set of attitudes and behaviors that aim to facilitate emotional management and engagement in the feedback process, in order to initiate the reflective process necessary for learning and to enable the acquisition of targeted skills. The acronym H.O.S.T. reminds students of the four essential elements of the behavioral model: humility, openness, shared explicitness and tenacity. Based on the positive psychology movement, each element is defined and justified by known theoretical concepts. In order to better assimilate the components of the model, the use of internal dialogue is adopted to facilitate the training and adoption of behaviors. The essence of the model is discussed in light of the feedback literacy dedicated to learners. Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)Le partage de commentaires formatifs est inhérent au processus de supervision et l'acceptation de la rétroaction par les apprenants est une étape essentielle à l'apprentissage. Cependant, recevoir des commentaires du superviseur suscite des émotions et les accepter n'est pas facile. Plusieurs recommandations guident les superviseurs sur la façon de partager leurs observations aux apprenants et toutes soulignent l’importance d’encourager l'apprenant à interagir de façon active au processus de rétroaction. Bien que des études dénotent l’effet positif d’informer et de former les apprenants sur la rétroaction, peu s’attardent à les outiller à mieux réagir à la rétroaction. Fondés sur les observations de superviseurs expérimentés, nous proposons un modèle cognitivo-comportemental qui vise à guider les apprenants à aborder la rétroaction avec un état d'esprit de croissance personnelle associé à la position d’apprentissage. Sous le registre de l’acquisition d’une compétence personnelle destinée à mieux accepter les commentaires, le modèle présente un ensemble interdépendant d’attitudes et de comportements destiné à faciliter la gestion des émotions, l’auto-réflexion et l’engagement dans le processus de rétroaction nécessaires à l’apprentissage et à l’acquisition de compétences. L’acronyme H.O.T.E. rappelle aux étudiants les quatre éléments essentiels du modèle : l'humilité, l'ouverture d'esprit, la ténacité et l'explicitation. S’inspirant du courant de la psychologie positive, chaque élément est défini et justifié par des concepts théoriques connus. Pour mieux assimiler les composantes du modèle, l’utilisation de dialogue intérieur est retenue pour faciliter l’entrainement et l’adoption des comportements. L’essence du modèle est discutée à la lumière de la littéracie en rétroaction dédiée aux apprenants