Moving particle simulation with solid-solid contact

Problems of fluid-structure interaction with free surface flow and multi-body interactions are highly nonlinear and complex phenomena, which is challenging for computational modeling and simulation. In the presence of contact or collision between solids, numerical modeling to detect collision and prevent penetration between bodies is required. The objective of this work is to study a numerical model for solid-solid contact and/or collision, based on contact mechanics theories, to reproduce the macroscopic properties of the multi-body interactions in Moving Particle Simulation (MPS) method. MPS is a fully Lagrangian meshfree particle-based approach that is suitable for the modeling complex geometries with large displacements and deformation, including free surface flow with fragmentation and merging and interaction of fluid with multi-bodies. Analytical results are used to perform the calibration of the numerical friction coefficient. The model is applied to a case of free solid transport in free surface flow, modeled as a 3D experimental dam breaking event, in which free solids interact each other and fixed walls. The numerical results from MPS are compared with numerical and experimental results

The Effect of Nicotine Dependence on Psychopathology in Patients with Schizophrenia

Introduction. Our study aims to determine the prevalence of nicotine dependence and investigate the effect of nicotine dependence on psychopathology among schizophrenia patients. Methods. A cross-sectional study was carried out in an outpatient psychiatric clinic at a general hospital in Malaysia. 180 recruited subjects were administered the Malay version of Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI), the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (PANSS), and the Malay version of Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND-M) questionnaires. Results. The prevalence of nicotine dependence among the subjects was 38.1% () and they were mainly composed of male gender, Malay ethnicity, being treated with atypical antipsychotics, and taking other illicit drugs or alcohol. Subjects with severe nicotine dependence scored less in the negative subscale of PANSS compared with the nonsmokers (). On performing the hierarchy multiple regressions, dependence status still significantly predicted negative scores after adjusting the confounders (, ). Conclusion. The rate of nicotine use disorder among schizophrenia patients in this study is higher than that of the general population in Malaysia. The significant association between nicotine dependence and negative psychopathology symptoms will help the healthcare practitioners in their management of nicotine dependence among schizophrenia patients

Consumer choice and revealed bounded rationality

We study two boundedly rational procedures in consumer behavior. We show that these procedures can be detected by conditions on observable demand data of the same type as standard revealed preference axioms. This provides the basis for a non-parametric analysis of boundedly rational consumer behavior mirroring the classical one for utility maximization

Genetic variants in CPA6 and PRPF31 are associated with variation in response to metformin in individuals with type 2 diabetes

Metformin is the first-line treatment for type 2 diabetes (T2D). Although widely prescribed, the glucose-lowering mechanism for metformin is incompletely understood. Here, we used a genome-wide association approach in a diverse group of individuals with T2D from the Action to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) clinical trial to identify common and rare variants associated with HbA 1c response to metformin treatment and followed up these findings in four replication cohorts. Common variants in PRPF31 and CPA6 were associated with worse and better metformin response, respectively (P < 5 3 10 26 ), and meta-analysis in independent cohorts displayed similar associations with metformin response (P = 1.2 3 10 2 8 and P = 0.005, respectively). Previous studies have shown that PRPF31(+/2) knockout mice have increased total body fat (P = 1.78 3 10 26 ) and increased fasted circulating glucose (P = 5.73 3 10 26 ). Furthermore, rare variants in STAT3 associated with worse metformin response (q <0.1). STAT3 is a ubiquitously expressed pleiotropic transcriptional activator that participates in the regulation of metabolism and feeding behavior. Here, we provide novel evidence for associations of common and rare variants in PRPF31, CPA6, and STAT3 with metformin response that may provide insight into mechanisms important for metformin efficacy in T2D

Age at first birth in women is genetically associated with increased risk of schizophrenia

Prof. Paunio on PGC:n jäsenPrevious studies have shown an increased risk for mental health problems in children born to both younger and older parents compared to children of average-aged parents. We previously used a novel design to reveal a latent mechanism of genetic association between schizophrenia and age at first birth in women (AFB). Here, we use independent data from the UK Biobank (N = 38,892) to replicate the finding of an association between predicted genetic risk of schizophrenia and AFB in women, and to estimate the genetic correlation between schizophrenia and AFB in women stratified into younger and older groups. We find evidence for an association between predicted genetic risk of schizophrenia and AFB in women (P-value = 1.12E-05), and we show genetic heterogeneity between younger and older AFB groups (P-value = 3.45E-03). The genetic correlation between schizophrenia and AFB in the younger AFB group is -0.16 (SE = 0.04) while that between schizophrenia and AFB in the older AFB group is 0.14 (SE = 0.08). Our results suggest that early, and perhaps also late, age at first birth in women is associated with increased genetic risk for schizophrenia in the UK Biobank sample. These findings contribute new insights into factors contributing to the complex bio-social risk architecture underpinning the association between parental age and offspring mental health.Peer reviewe

New state and island records of Coccinellidae (Coleoptera) in Hawai‘i, USA

Three new records of Coccinellidae (Coleoptera) are recorded within the state of Hawai‘i, USA. Diomus roseicollis (Mulsant, 1853) is newly recorded from the state based on four specimens collected on the island of O‘ahu. Cycloneda sanguinea sanguinea (Linnaeus, 1763) and Brumoides suturalis (Fabricius, 1789), both already established in the state, are newly recorded from the island of Hawai‘i. Additional sampling is recommended to determine the distribution of D. roseicollis within the island of O‘ahu. Further surveys are warranted to determine particular habitats and prey for D. roseicollis, C. sanguinea sanguinea, and B. suturalis in Hawai‘i, as well as their impact on the insect fauna there

Pharmacotherapy for methadone-induced erectile dysfunction: A meta-analysis

Summary Background: Methadone is recognized as an effective maintenance therapy for opioid dependence. Of the many adverse events reported, sexual dysfunction is the most common. To date, however, no standard treatments have been made available to this subgroup of patients. Aim: We conducted a meta-analysis to assess 2 therapeutic options – adjunctive medication or switching to buprenorphine – for treating sexual dysfunction among male patients on methadone maintenance therapy. Methods: Pertinent English-language studies published from inception until January 2016 were identified by searching through PubMed, OVID, Embase, PsycArticles EBSCO, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar databases. Studies were selected using previously defined criteria. Heterogeneity, publication bias, odds ratios, and effect size were all assessed thoroughly. Results: In all, 826 male participants selected from 11 eligible studies were identified in this meta-analysis. The effect size of treatment with adjunctive medication was at least 3.8 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.5–5.2, p < 0.0001) times greater than that before the intervention. The odds of erectile dysfunction occurring in men treated with methadone were 5.6 times greater (95% CI = 0.06–0.6, p < 0.01) than that in men treated with buprenorphine. Similarly, the odds of sexual desire being lost in men receiving methadone were 14.3 times greater (95% CI = 0.04–0.2, p < 0.01) than those in men receiving buprenorphine. Conclusions: Evidence shows that switching to buprenorphine or using adjunctive treatment reduces sexual dysfunction among male patients on methadone

Methadone maintenance therapy users’ knowledge of, and attitudes towards methadone maintenance therapy: A meta-analysis

Background: Methadone maintenance treatment is effective against opioid dependence. Despite its efficacy, its onemonth dropout rate had been reported to be as high as 24%. Studies have associated poor treatment compliance with poor knowledge of and attitude towards treatment. Aim: Our meta-analysis aims to examine the topics of knowledge of and attitude to MMT. Methods: A total of 3,979 participants were recruited from 16 eligible studies, published from inception till August 2015, identified by searching through the PubMed, OVID, EMBASE and EBSCO databases. Results: Our study showed that participants generally had poor knowledge and experience of MMT, and poor attitudes to it. In 7 papers, associated factors of poor attitude to and knowledge of MMT were reported to include: no history of prior or current use of methadone, failure to provide sufficient information, excessive youth, including those who are still too young to qualify when initiating opioid use, depression or stress, admission to detoxification centres, and incarceration. Conclusions: Despite its methodological limitations, this meta-analysis may offer insight to clinicians about poor knowledge, attitudes and perceptions as factors contributing to poor treatment compliance and failure to provide solutions