2,527 research outputs found
The Influence of Social Contagion and Technology on Epidemic Non-Suicidal Self-Injury
Non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is the deliberate damaging of oneâs body without the intention of suicide (Nock & Favazza, 2009). NSSI can cause serious medical consequences and is associated with psychological impairment or distress in day-to-day functioning. When this type of pathological behavior occurs in inpatient settings, the behavior has been known to spread from patient to patient (Taiminen, Kallio-Soukainen, Nokso-Koivisto, Kaljonen, & Helenius, 1998). Recent internet-based research has shown that online forums have become a place for people to find social connections based on pathology (Whitlock, Powers, & Eckenrode, 2006). Christakis and Fowler (2009) showed that thoughts, actions, and feelings spread in epidemic-like-patterns through social networks and have determined the patterns and properties of this type of social influence. Because of the nature of the NSSI pathology, it seems to be the case that these rules will also govern the spread of NSSI contagion and therefore, these findings can be used to intervene by predicting who is most at risk and providing them with âinoculatingâ resources
Damage to the right insula disrupts the perception of affective touch
© 2020 Kirsch et al. This article is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use and redistribution provided that the original author and source are credited.Specific, peripheral C-tactile afferents contribute to the perception of tactile pleasure, but the brain areas involved in their processing remain debated. We report the first human lesion study on the perception of C-tactile touch in right hemisphere stroke patients (N = 59), revealing that right posterior and anterior insula lesions reduce tactile, contralateral and ipsilateral pleasantness sensitivity, respectively. These findings corroborate previous imaging studies regarding the role of the posterior insula in the perception of affective touch. However, our findings about the crucial role of the anterior insula for ipsilateral affective touch perception open new avenues of enquiry regarding the cortical organization of this tactile system.Peer reviewe
XMM-Newton observations of the Galactic Supernova Remnant CTB 109 (G109.1-1.0)
We present the analysis of the X-ray Multi-Mirror Mission (XMM-Newton)
European Photon Imaging Camera (EPIC) data of the Galactic supernova remnant
(SNR) CTB 109 (G109.1-1.0). CTB 109 is associated with the anomalous X-ray
pulsar (AXP) 1E 2259+586 and has an unusual semi-circular morphology in both
the X-ray and the radio, and an extended X-ray bright interior region known as
the `Lobe'. The deep EPIC mosaic image of the remnant shows no emission towards
the west where a giant molecular cloud complex is located. No morphological
connection between the Lobe and the AXP is found. We find remarkably little
spectral variation across the remnant given the large intensity variations. All
spectra of the shell and the Lobe are well fitted by a single-temperature
non-equilibrium ionization model for a collisional plasma with solar abundances
(kT = 0.5 - 0.7 keV, tau = n_e t = 1 - 4 x 10^11 s cm^-3, N_H = 5 - 7 x 10^21
cm^-2). There is no indication of nonthermal emission in the Lobe or the shell.
We conclude that the Lobe originated from an interaction of the SNR shock wave
with an interstellar cloud. Applying the Sedov solution for the undisturbed
eastern part of the SNR, and assuming full equilibration between the electrons
and ions behind the shock front, the SNR shock velocity is derived as v_s = 720
+/- 60 km s^-1, the remnant age as t = (8.8 +/- 0.9) x 10^3 d_3 yr, the initial
energy as E_0 = (7.4 +/- 2.9) x 10^50 d_3^2.5 ergs, and the pre-shock density
of the nuclei in the ambient medium as n_0 = (0.16 +/- 0.02) d_3^-0.5 cm^-3, at
an assumed distance of D = 3.0 d_3 kpc. Assuming CTB 109 and 1E 2259+586 are
associated, these values constrain the age and the environment of the
progenitor of the SNR and the pulsar.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ. 9 figures. Figs. 1 + 2 are in color
(fig1.jpg, fig2.jpg
Dark Matter Time Projection Chamber : Recent R&D Results
The Dark Matter Time Projection Chamber collaboration recently reported a dark matter limit obtained with a 10 liter time projection chamber filled with CF[subscript 4] gas. The 10 liter detector was capable of 2D tracking (perpendicular to the drift direction) and 2D fiducialization, and only used information from two CCD cameras when identifying tracks and rejecting backgrounds. Since that time, the collaboration has explored the potential benefits of photomultiplier tube and electronic charge readout to achieve 3D tracking, and particle identification for background rejection. The latest results of this effort is described here
Proposal of an extended t-J Hamiltonian for high-Tc cuprates from ab initio calculations on embedded clusters
A series of accurate ab initio calculations on Cu_pO-q finite clusters,
properly embedded on the Madelung potential of the infinite lattice, have been
performed in order to determine the local effective interactions in the CuO_2
planes of La_{2-x}Sr_xCuO_4 compounds. The values of the first-neighbor
interactions, magnetic coupling (J_{NN}=125 meV) and hopping integral
(t_{NN}=-555 meV), have been confirmed. Important additional effects are
evidenced, concerning essentially the second-neighbor hopping integral
t_{NNN}=+110meV, the displacement of a singlet toward an adjacent colinear
hole, h_{SD}^{abc}=-80 meV, a non-negligible hole-hole repulsion
V_{NN}-V_{NNN}=0.8 eV and a strong anisotropic effect of the presence of an
adjacent hole on the values of the first-neighbor interactions. The dependence
of J_{NN} and t_{NN} on the position of neighbor hole(s) has been rationalized
from the two-band model and checked from a series of additional ab initio
calculations. An extended t-J model Hamiltonian has been proposed on the basis
of these results. It is argued that the here-proposed three-body effects may
play a role in the charge/spin separation observed in these compounds, that is,
in the formation and dynamic of stripes.Comment: 24 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.
Niagara, County of and Niagara County White Collar Employee Unit, CSEA Local 1000, AFSCME, AFL-CIO, Local 832 (2012) (MOA)
Liquid chromatographyâtandem mass spectrometry
(LCâMS/MS)
and multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry (MRM-MS) proteomics
analyses were performed on eccrine sweat of healthy controls, and
the results were compared with those from individuals diagnosed with
schizophrenia (SZ). This is the first large scale study of the sweat
proteome. First, we performed LCâMS/MS on pooled SZ samples
and pooled control samples for global proteomics analysis. Results
revealed a high abundance of diverse proteins and peptides in eccrine
sweat. Most of the proteins identified from sweat samples were found
to be different than the most abundant proteins from serum, which
indicates that eccrine sweat is not simply a plasma transudate and
may thereby be a source of unique disease-associated biomolecules.
A second independent set of patient and control sweat samples were
analyzed by LCâMS/MS and spectral counting to determine qualitative
protein differential abundances between the control and disease groups.
Differential abundances of selected proteins, initially determined
by spectral counting, were verified by MRM-MS analyses. Seventeen
proteins showed a differential abundance of approximately 2-fold or
greater between the SZ pooled sample and the control pooled sample.
This study demonstrates the utility of LCâMS/MS and MRM-MS
as a viable strategy for the discovery and verification of potential
sweat protein disease biomarkers
Novel study designs to investigate the placebo response
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Investigating the size and mechanisms of the placebo response in clinical trials have relied on experimental procedures that simulate the double-blind randomized placebo-controlled design. However, as the conventional design is thought to elucidate drug rather than placebo actions, different methodological procedures are needed for the placebo response.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We reviewed the respective literature for trials designs that may be used to elucidate the size of the placebo response and the mechanisms associated with it.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In general, this can be done by either manipulation the information provided to the subjects, or by manipulation the timing of the drug applied. Two examples of each strategy are discussed: the "balanced placebo design" (BDP) and the "balanced cross-over design" (BCD) and their variants are based on false information, while the "hidden treatment" (HT) and the ""delayed response test" (DRT) are based on manipulating the time of drug action. Since most such approaches include deception or incomplete information of the subjects they are suitable for patient only with authorized deception.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Both manipulating the information provided to subjects (BDP, DCD) or manipulating the timing of drug application (HT, DRT) allows overcoming some of the restrictions of conventional drug trials in the assessment of the placebo response, but they are feasible mostly in healthy subjects for ethical reasons.</p
Truss geometry and topology optimization with global stability constraints
In this paper, we introduce geometry optimization into an existing topology optimization workflow for truss structures with global stability constraints, assuming a linear buckling analysis. The design variables are the cross-sectional areas of the bars and the coordinates of the joints. This makes the optimization problem formulations highly nonlinear and yields nonconvex semidefinite programming problems, for which there are limited available numerical solvers compared with other classes of optimization problems. We present problem instances of truss geometry and topology optimization with global stability constraints solved using a standard primal-dual interior point implementation. During the solution process, both the cross-sectional areas of the bars and the coordinates of the joints are concurrently optimized. Additionally, we apply adaptive optimization techniques to allow the joints to navigate larger move limits and to improve the quality of the optimal designs
Design, construction, and characterization of a compact DD neutron generator designed for 40Ar/39Ar geochronology
A next-generation, high-flux DD neutron generator has been designed,
commissioned, and characterized, and is now operational in a new facility at
the University of California Berkeley. The generator, originally designed for
40Ar/39Ar dating of geological materials, has since served numerous additional
applications, including medical isotope production studies, with others planned
for the near future. In this work, we present an overview of the High Flux
Neutron Generator (HFNG) which includes a variety of simulations, analytical
models, and experimental validation of results. Extensive analysis was
performed in order to characterize the neutron yield, flux, and energy
distribution at specific locations where samples may be loaded for irradiation.
A notable design feature of the HFNG is the possibility for sample irradiation
internal to the cathode, just 8 mm away from the neutron production site, thus
maximizing the neutron flux (n/cm2/s). The generator's maximum neutron flux at
this irradiation position is 2.58e7 n/cm2/s +/- 5% (approximately 3e8 n/s total
yield) as measured via activation of small natural indium foils. However,
future development is aimed at achieving an order of magnitude increase in
flux. Additionally, the deuterium ion beam optics were optimized by simulations
for various extraction configurations in order to achieve a uniform neutron
flux distribution and an acceptable heat load. Finally, experiments were
performed in order to benchmark the modeling and characterization of the HFNG.Comment: 31 pages, 20 figure
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