7,370 research outputs found
Drug-Induced Psychosis: How to Avoid Star Gazing in Schizophrenia Research by Looking at More Obvious Sources of Light
The prevalent view today is that schizophrenia is a syndrome rather than a specific disease. Liability to schizophrenia is highly heritable. It appears that multiple genetic and environmental factors operate together to push individuals over a threshold into expressing the characteristic clinical picture. One environmental factor which has been curiously neglected is the evidence that certain drugs can induce schizophrenia-like psychosis. In the last 60 years, improved understanding of the relationship between drug abuse and psychosis has contributed substantially to our modern view of the disorder suggesting that liability to psychosis in general, and to schizophrenia in particular, is distributed trough the general population in a similar continuous way to liability to medical disorders such as hypertension and diabetes. In this review we examine the main hypotheses resulting from the link observed between the most common psychotomimetic drugs (lysergic acid diethylamide, amphetamines, cannabis, phencyclidine) and schizophrenia
INCIDENCE OF PSYCHOTIC DISORDERS IN PALERMO: PRELIMINARY DATA
Background: The incidence of psychotic disorders varies in different geographical
areas (McGrath 2004). Recent data suggest that the incidence is
higher in males, migrant minorities and in urban areas. There aren\u2019t many
available epidemiological data on the incidence of psychotic disorders in
Italy. This is the first incidence study on psychotic disorders carried out in
Palermo, the capital of Sicily.
Methods: we screened all patients presenting with their first episode of
psychosis to the mental health services of our catchment area (5 inpatient,
5 outpatient units and 3 private psychiatric hospitals) over a period of
three years (2008-2011). The diagnosis of psychosis was defined using the
Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry (SCAN Wing, J. K., et
al., 1990).The main socio-demographic data were collected using the MRC
Social Data Schedule. When subjects were not available (did not consent)
for interview, information was collected from clinical notes. The population
at risk referred to the people aged from 18-65 who were resident in
the same catchment area (Palermo Municipality) in the period considered,
according to the data of the Statistic Office of Palermo Municipality).
Results: we identified 216 patients affected by a first episode of psychosis
(FEP): 135 M (62.5%) and 81 F (37.5%), mean age 31.42 years (SD: 11.44).
77.1% of FEP had a diagnosis of non affective psychosis, 12.8% of affective
psychosis and 10.1% received a diagnosis of other psychosis. 204 subjects
were Caucasian, 12 non Caucasian belonging to various ethnicities and they
were all first generation migrants (4 Indian, 3 African, 2 Bangladeshi, and
3 Mixed). Population at risk is 425.194 people. The mean age of onset
was lower in men than women M: 29.98 years (SD: 10.41) vs. F: 34.28
(SD:12.64) (p=0.013)The incidence of psychotic disorders in our catchment
area is 16,9 per 100.000 person years. It was higher in men 21,9 per 100.000
than women 12,2 per 100.000.
Discussion: Our study is the first epidemiological study in Sicily investigating
the incidence of psychotic disorders. In our population men have a higher
incidence of psychotic disorders than women and an earlier age of onset
Effect of eye lateralization on contralateral suppression of transient evoked otoacoustic emissions
Several studies have previously demonstrated that postural changes modify evoked otoacoustic emission. In order to evaluate a possible interaction between eye muscles and ciliated cells in the inner ear, we studied the effects of eye lateralization on the contralateral suppression of transient evoked otoacoustic emissions (TEOAEs). Thirty-eight normal hearing subjects with TEOAEs were recruited. Their TEAOEs at threshold level were recorded with contralateral suppression (white noise) via straight ahead fixation and right or left lateral fixation. Eye lateralization in the same direction of the white noise significantly decreased the suppression at 4 kHz (p = 0.003). The signal-to-noise ratio in the suppression condition with straight ahead was 1.54 (± 4.610) dB, while the ratio was 3.48 (± 4.631) dB in the suppression condition with gaze toward the white noise. Eye lateralization seems to reduce the contralateral suppression effect of TEOAEs at 4 kHz. However, further studies are necessary to investigate the possible mechanisms of this phenomenon
The MAGIC Experiment and Its First Results
With its diameter of 17m, the MAGIC telescope is the largest Cherenkov
detector for gamma ray astrophysics. It is sensitive to photons above an energy
of 30 GeV. MAGIC started operations in October 2003 and is currently taking
data. This report summarizes its main characteristics, its rst results and its
potential for physics.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures, to be published in the Proceedings of the 6th
International Symposium ''Frontiers of Fundamental and Computational
Physics'' (FFP6), Udine (Italy), Sep. 26-29, 200
Soil carbon investigation in three pedoclimatic and agronomic settings of northern Italy
Sustainable agricultural management is needed to promote carbon (C) sequestration in soil, prevent loss of soil fertility, and reduce the release of greenhouse gases. However, the influence of agronomic practices on soil C sequestration depends on the existing pedoclimatic features. We characterized the soils of three farms far away each other in the Emilia-Romagna region (Northern Italy): an organic farm in the Northern Apennines, a biodynamic farm, and a conventional farm on the Po Plain. The total, inorganic, and organic carbon in soil, as well as the distinct humic fractions were investigated, analyzing both the elemental and isotopic (13C/12C) composition. In soils, organic matter appears to be variously affected by mineralization processes induced by microorganisms that consume organic carbon. In particular, organic carbon declined in farms located in the plain (e.g., organic carbon down to 0.75 wt%; carbon stock0-30 cm down to 33 Mg/ha), because of the warmer climate and moderately alkaline environment that enhance soil microbial activity. On the other hand, at the mountain farm, the minimum soil disturbance, the cold climate, and the neutral conditions favored soil C sequestration (organic carbon up to 4.42 wt%; carbon stock0-30 cm up to 160 Mg/ha) in humified organic compounds with long turnover, which can limit greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. This work shows the need for thorough soil investigations, to propose tailored best-practices that can reconcile productivity and soil sustainability
SuperB: a linear high-luminosity B Factory
This paper is based on the outcome of the activity that has taken place
during the recent workshop on "SuperB in Italy" held in Frascati on November
11-12, 2005. The workshop was opened by a theoretical introduction of Marco
Ciuchini and was structured in two working groups. One focused on the machine
and the other on the detector and experimental issues.
The present status on CP is mainly based on the results achieved by BaBar and
Belle. Estabilishment of the indirect CP violation in B sector in 2001 and of
the direct CP violation in 2004 thanks to the success of PEP-II and KEKB e+e-
asymmetric B Factories operating at the center of mass energy corresponding to
the mass of the Y(4s). With the two B Factories taking data, the Unitarity
Triangle is now beginning to be overconstrained by improving the measurements
of the sides and now also of the angles alpha, and gamma. We are also in
presence of the very intriguing results about the measurements of sin(2 beta)
in the time dependent analysis of decay channels via penguin loops, where b -->
s sbar s and b --> s dbar d. Tau physics, in particular LFV search, as well as
charm and ISR physics are important parts of the scientific program of a SuperB
Factory. The physics case together with possible scenarios for the high
luminosity SuperB Factory based on the concepts of the Linear Collider and the
related experimental issues are discussed.Comment: 22 pages, 22 figures, INFN Roadmap Repor
Maximizing team synergy in AI-related interdisciplinary groups: an interdisciplinary-by-design iterative methodology
In this paper, we propose a methodology to maximize the benefits of interdisciplinary cooperation in AI research groups. Firstly, we build the case for the importance of interdisciplinarity in research groups as the best means to tackle the social implications brought about by AI systems, against the backdrop of the EU Commission proposal for an Artificial Intelligence Act. As we are an interdisciplinary group, we address the multi-faceted implications of the mass-scale diffusion of AI-driven technologies. The result of our exercise lead us to postulate the necessity of a behavioural theory that standardizes the interaction process of interdisciplinary groups. In light of this, we conduct a review of the existing approaches to interdisciplinary research on AI appliances, leading to the development of methodologies like ethics-by-design and value-sensitive design, evaluating their strengths and weaknesses. We then put forth an iterative process theory hinging on a narrative approach consisting of four phases: (i) definition of the hypothesis space, (ii) building-up of a common lexicon, (iii) scenario-building, (iv) interdisciplinary self-assessment. Finally, we identify the most relevant fields of application for such a methodology and discuss possible case studies
- …