The Renormalization Effects in the Microstrip-SQUID Amplifier

The peculiarities of the microstrip-DC SQUID amplifier caused by the resonant structure of the input circuit are analyzed. It is shown that the mutual inductance, that couples the input circuit and the SQUID loop, depends on the frequency of electromagnetic field. The renormalization of the SQUID parameters due to the screening effect of the input circuit vanishes when the Josephson frequency is much greater than the signal frequency.Comment: 11 pages, 2 figure

The hypocretin neurotransmission system in myotonic dystrophy type 1

BACKGROUND: Patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1) frequently have symptoms of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS). Some patients with DM1 show sleep-onset REM, similar to that observed in narcolepsy. Narcolepsy is characterized by impaired hypocretin (Hcrt) neurotransmission. OBJECTIVE: To test for dysregulation of Hcrt neurotransmission in a prospective cohort of patients with DM1. METHODS: Hcrt levels in CSF were measured by radioimmunoassay. Sleep physiology was assessed by overnight polysomnography (PSG) and a multiple sleep latency test (MSLT). Splicing of Hcrt receptor 1 and 2 (HcrtR1 and HcrtR2) mRNA was examined in postmortem samples of temporal cortex. RESULTS: Seventeen of 38 patients with DM1 reported symptoms of EDS. Among patients with DM1 with EDS who underwent PSG/MSLT, 7 of 13 showed reduced sleep latency, sleep-onset REM, or both. However, CSF Hcrt levels in DM1 (mean 277 pg/mL, n = 38) were not different from controls (mean 277 pg/mL, n = 33). Also, splicing of HcrtR1 and HcrtR2 mRNA in patients with DM1 was similar to controls. CONCLUSIONS: Excessive daytime sleepiness and dysregulation of REM sleep occur frequently in patients with myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1). However, the pathophysiologic basis is distinct from narcolepsy, as patients with DM1 do not have a consistent defect of Hcrt release or receptor splicing

The scientific potential of space-based gravitational wave detectors

The millihertz gravitational wave band can only be accessed with a space-based interferometer, but it is one of the richest in potential sources. Observations in this band have amazing scientific potential. The mergers between massive black holes with mass in the range 10 thousand to 10 million solar masses, which are expected to occur following the mergers of their host galaxies, produce strong millihertz gravitational radiation. Observations of these systems will trace the hierarchical assembly of structure in the Universe in a mass range that is very difficult to probe electromagnetically. Stellar mass compact objects falling into such black holes in the centres of galaxies generate detectable gravitational radiation for several years prior to the final plunge and merger with the central black hole. Measurements of these systems offer an unprecedented opportunity to probe the predictions of general relativity in the strong-field and dynamical regime. Millihertz gravitational waves are also generated by millions of ultra-compact binaries in the Milky Way, providing a new way to probe galactic stellar populations. ESA has recognised this great scientific potential by selecting The Gravitational Universe as its theme for the L3 large satellite mission, scheduled for launch in ~2034. In this article we will review the likely sources for millihertz gravitational wave detectors and describe the wide applications that observations of these sources could have for astrophysics, cosmology and fundamental physics.Comment: 18 pages, 2 figures, contribution to Gravitational Wave Astrophysics, the proceedings of the 2014 Sant Cugat Forum on Astrophysics; v2 includes one additional referenc

Astronomical Distance Determination in the Space Age: Secondary Distance Indicators

The formal division of the distance indicators into primary and secondary leads to difficulties in description of methods which can actually be used in two ways: with, and without the support of the other methods for scaling. Thus instead of concentrating on the scaling requirement we concentrate on all methods of distance determination to extragalactic sources which are designated, at least formally, to use for individual sources. Among those, the Supernovae Ia is clearly the leader due to its enormous success in determination of the expansion rate of the Universe. However, new methods are rapidly developing, and there is also a progress in more traditional methods. We give a general overview of the methods but we mostly concentrate on the most recent developments in each field, and future expectations. © 2018, The Author(s)

ENIGMA and global neuroscience: A decade of large-scale studies of the brain in health and disease across more than 40 countries

This review summarizes the last decade of work by the ENIGMA (Enhancing NeuroImaging Genetics through Meta Analysis) Consortium, a global alliance of over 1400 scientists across 43 countries, studying the human brain in health and disease. Building on large-scale genetic studies that discovered the first robustly replicated genetic loci associated with brain metrics, ENIGMA has diversified into over 50 working groups (WGs), pooling worldwide data and expertise to answer fundamental questions in neuroscience, psychiatry, neurology, and genetics. Most ENIGMA WGs focus on specific psychiatric and neurological conditions, other WGs study normal variation due to sex and gender differences, or development and aging; still other WGs develop methodological pipelines and tools to facilitate harmonized analyses of "big data" (i.e., genetic and epigenetic data, multimodal MRI, and electroencephalography data). These international efforts have yielded the largest neuroimaging studies to date in schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder, substance use disorders, obsessive-compulsive disorder, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorders, epilepsy, and 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. More recent ENIGMA WGs have formed to study anxiety disorders, suicidal thoughts and behavior, sleep and insomnia, eating disorders, irritability, brain injury, antisocial personality and conduct disorder, and dissociative identity disorder. Here, we summarize the first decade of ENIGMA's activities and ongoing projects, and describe the successes and challenges encountered along the way. We highlight the advantages of collaborative large-scale coordinated data analyses for testing reproducibility and robustness of findings, offering the opportunity to identify brain systems involved in clinical syndromes across diverse samples and associated genetic, environmental, demographic, cognitive, and psychosocial factors

Supplementary Material for: Psychosocial Factors and 30-Day Hospital Readmission among Individuals Receiving Maintenance Dialysis: A Prospective Study

<p><b><i>Background:</i></b> Thirty-day hospital readmissions are common among maintenance dialysis patients. Prior studies have evaluated easily measurable readmission risk factors such as comorbid conditions, laboratory results, and hospital discharge day. We undertook this prospective study to investigate the associations between hospital-assessed depression, health literacy, social support, and self-rated health (separately) and 30-day hospital readmission among dialysis patients. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Participants were recruited from the University of North Carolina Hospitals, 2014-2016. Validated depression, health literacy, social support, and self-rated health screening instruments were administered during index hospitalizations. Multivariable logistic regression models with 30-day readmission as the dependent outcome were used to examine readmission risk factors. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Of the 154 participants, 58 (37.7%) had a 30-day hospital readmission. In unadjusted analyses, individuals with positive screening for depression, lower health literacy, and poorer social support were more likely to have a 30-day readmission (vs. negative screening). Positive depression screening and poorer social support remained significantly associated with 30-day readmission in models adjusted for race, heart failure, admitting service, weekend discharge day, and serum albumin: adjusted OR (95% CI) 2.33 (1.02-5.15) for positive depressive symptoms and 2.57 (1.10-5.91) for poorer social support. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of the multivariable model adjusted for social support status was significantly greater than the AUC of the multivariable model without social support status (test for equality; <i>p</i> value = 0.04). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Poor social support and depressive symptoms identified during hospitalizations may represent targetable readmission risk factors among dialysis patients. Our findings suggest that hospital-based assessments of select psychosocial factors may improve readmission risk prediction.</p

PowerPoint Slides for: Psychosocial Factors and 30-Day Hospital Readmission among Individuals Receiving Maintenance Dialysis: A Prospective Study

<p><b><i>Background:</i></b> Thirty-day hospital readmissions are common among maintenance dialysis patients. Prior studies have evaluated easily measurable readmission risk factors such as comorbid conditions, laboratory results, and hospital discharge day. We undertook this prospective study to investigate the associations between hospital-assessed depression, health literacy, social support, and self-rated health (separately) and 30-day hospital readmission among dialysis patients. <b><i>Methods:</i></b> Participants were recruited from the University of North Carolina Hospitals, 2014-2016. Validated depression, health literacy, social support, and self-rated health screening instruments were administered during index hospitalizations. Multivariable logistic regression models with 30-day readmission as the dependent outcome were used to examine readmission risk factors. <b><i>Results:</i></b> Of the 154 participants, 58 (37.7%) had a 30-day hospital readmission. In unadjusted analyses, individuals with positive screening for depression, lower health literacy, and poorer social support were more likely to have a 30-day readmission (vs. negative screening). Positive depression screening and poorer social support remained significantly associated with 30-day readmission in models adjusted for race, heart failure, admitting service, weekend discharge day, and serum albumin: adjusted OR (95% CI) 2.33 (1.02-5.15) for positive depressive symptoms and 2.57 (1.10-5.91) for poorer social support. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of the multivariable model adjusted for social support status was significantly greater than the AUC of the multivariable model without social support status (test for equality; <i>p</i> value = 0.04). <b><i>Conclusion:</i></b> Poor social support and depressive symptoms identified during hospitalizations may represent targetable readmission risk factors among dialysis patients. Our findings suggest that hospital-based assessments of select psychosocial factors may improve readmission risk prediction.</p