The Second Step In The Construction Of A Stigma Scale Of Epilepsy

Rationale: The issue of stigmatization is one of the most common psychosocial problems faced by people with epilepsy. Purpose: A second step towards the development of a scale to measure epilepsy stigma. Method: We applied a closed questionnaire to 12 patients and 32 relatives from the Epilepsy Outpatient Clinic at the University Hospital of Campinas. Results: The results are grouped in three main domains: medical, social and personal areas. Medical: the subjects did not know exactly what epilepsy is or how it is caused; nonetheless they know how to treat it. Social: the most important areas that people with epilepsy are discriminated are at work and social relationships. Patients also complained about their lack of freedom and limits on recreation activities. Personal Area: subjects apparently have the same feelings and thoughts about epilepsy and seizures. Conclusion: This study analyzed the most common aspects presented in the questionnaire to assess epilepsy stigma for the Brazilian culture which are the base to the elaboration of a stigma scale of epilepsy.632 B395398Fernandes, P.T., Souza, E.A., Identification of family variables in parents' groups of children with epilepsy (2001) Arq Neuropsiquiatr, 59, pp. 854-858Li, L.M., Sander, J.W., National demonstration project on epilepsy in Brazil (2003) Arq Neuropsiquiatr, 61, pp. 153-156Leidy, N.K., Rentz, A.M., Grace, E.M., Evaluating health-related quality of life outcomes in clinical trials of antiepileptic drug therapy (2004) Epilepsia, 39, pp. 965-977Baker, G.A., Brooks, J., Buck, D., Jacoby, A., The stigma of epilepsy: A European perspective (2000) Epilepsia, 41, pp. 98-104Baker, G.A., Nashef, L., Van Hout, B.A., Current issues in the management of epilepsy: The impact of frequent seizures on cost of illness, quality of life, and mortality (1997) Epilepsia, 38 (SUPPL. 1), pp. S1-S8Baker, G.A., Jacoby, A., Chadwick, D.W., The associations of psychopathology in epilepsy: A community study (1996) Epilepsy Res, 25, pp. 29-39Jacoby, A., Felt versus enacted stigma: A concept revisited. Evidence from a study of people with epilepsy in remission (1994) Soc Sci Med, 38, pp. 269-274Placencia, M., Farmer, P.J., Jumbo, L., Sander, J.W., Shorvon, S.D., Levels of stigmatization of patients with previously untreated epilepsy in northern Ecuador (1995) Neuroepidemiology, 14, pp. 147-154Ratsepp, M., Oun, A., Haldre, S., Kaasik, A.E., Felt stigma and impact of epilepsy on employment status among Estonian people: Exploratory study (2000) Seizure, 9, pp. 394-401Scambler, G., Hopkins, A., Generating a model of epileptic stigma: The role of qualitative analysis (1990) Soc Sci Med, 30, pp. 1187-1194Ryan, R., Kempner, K., Emlen, A.C., The stigma of epilepsy as a self-concept (1980) Epilepsia, 21, pp. 433-444Fernandes, P.T., Salgado, P.C., Ala, N., Barbosa, F.D., Souza, E.A., Li, L.M., Stigma Scale of Epilepsy: Conceptual issues (2004) J Epilep Clin Neuropshysiology, 10, pp. 213-218McLin, W.M., De Boer, H.M., Public perceptions about epilepsy (1995) Epilepsia, 36, pp. 957-95

Colossal dielectric permittivity of BaTiO3-based nanocrystalline ceramics sintered by spark plasma sintering

In pursuit of high permittivity materials for electronic application, there has been a considerable interest recently in the dielectric properties of various perovskite oxides like calcium copper titanate or lanthanum doped barium titanate. When processed in a particular way, this later material present at ambient temperature and at f=1 kHz unusual interesting dielectric properties, a so called “colossal” permittivity value up to several 106 with relatively low dielectric losses. Moreover and contrary to what is classically expected and evidenced for this type of materials, no temperature dependence is observed. This behavior is observed in nanopowders based ceramics. An assumption to explain the observed properties is proposed. These results have important technological applications, since these nanoceramics open a new route to the fabrication of very thin dielectric films

Near-threshold K+K^{+} Production in Heavy-ion Collisions

Within a hadronic transport model we study in detail contributions to kaon yields and momentum spectra from various baryon (resonance)-baryon (resonance) and $\pi N$ interactions in heavy-ion collisions at beam energies near the free-space kaon production threshold. It is found that the finite lifetime of baryon resonances affects significantly the shape of kaon spectra, and the high energy parts of the kaon spectra are dominated by kaons from $\pi N\rightarrow \Lambda K^{+}$ processes. $N^{*}(1440)$ resonances are found to contribute about 10\% to the kaon yield. Effects of boosting the Fermi momentum distributions of the two colliding nuclei into their center of mass frame, centrality of the reaction as well as the nuclear equation of state on kaon yields and spectra are also discussed. Model calculations on $K^{+}$, $\pi^{+}$ and $\pi^{-}$ spectra for the reaction of Au+Au at $E_{beam}/A= 1.0$ GeV are compared with the experimental data from the KaoS collaboration.Comment: 18 pages, 11 figures available upon request. TAMU preprint #940403

Large-amplitude electric fields in the inner magnetosphere: Van Allen Probes observations of subauroral polarization streams

The subauroral polarization stream (SAPS) is an important magnetosphere-ionosphere (MI) coupling phenomenon that impacts a range of particle populations in the inner magnetosphere. SAPS studies often emphasize ionospheric signatures of fast westward flows, but the equatorial magnetosphere is also affected through strong radial electric fields in the dusk sector. This study focuses on a period of steady southward interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) during the 29 June 2013 geomagnetic storm where the Van Allen Probes observe a region of intense electric fields near the plasmapause over multiple consecutive outbound duskside passes. We show that the large-amplitude electric fields near the equatorial plane are consistent with SAPS by investigating the relationship between plasma sheet ion and electron boundaries, associated field-aligned currents, and the spatial location of the electric fields. By incorporating high-inclination DMSP data we demonstrate the spatial and temporal variability of the SAPS region, and we suggest that discrete, earthward propagating injections are driving the observed strong electric fields at low L shells in the equatorial magnetosphere. We also show the relationship between SAPS and plasmasphere erosion, as well as a possible correlation with flux enhancements for 100s keV electrons

Quantum algebra in the mixed light pseudoscalar meson states

In this paper, we investigate the entanglement degrees of pseudoscalar meson states via quantum algebra Y(su(3)). By making use of transition effect of generators J of Y(su(3)), we construct various transition operators in terms of J of Y(su(3)), and act them on eta-pion-eta mixing meson state. The entanglement degrees of both the initial state and final state are calculated with the help of entropy theory. The diagrams of entanglement degrees are presented. Our result shows that a state with desired entanglement degree can be achieved by acting proper chosen transition operator on an initial state. This sheds new light on the connect among quantum information, particle physics and Yangian algebra.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figure

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

Gold nanowires and the effect of impurities

Metal nanowires and in particular gold nanowires have received a great deal of attention in the past few years. Experiments on gold nanowires have prompted theory and simulation to help answer questions posed by these studies. Here we present results of computer simulations for the formation, evolution and breaking of very thin Au nanowires. We also discuss the influence of contaminants, such as atoms and small molecules, and their effect on the structural and mechanical properties of these nanowires

Three-body non-additive forces between spin-polarized alkali atoms

Three-body non-additive forces in systems of three spin-polarized alkali atoms (Li, Na, K, Rb and Cs) are investigated using high-level ab initio calculations. The non-additive forces are found to be large, especially near the equilateral equilibrium geometries. For Li, they increase the three-atom potential well depth by a factor of 4 and reduce the equilibrium interatomic distance by 0.9 A. The non-additive forces originate principally from chemical bonding arising from sp mixing effects.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures (in 5 files

Control algorithms based on the active and non-active currents for a UPQC without series transformers

This study presents control algorithms for a new unified power quality conditioner (UPQC) without the series transformers that are frequently used to make the insertion of the series converter of the UPQC between the power supply and the load. The behaviour of the proposed UPQC is evaluated in presence of voltage imbalances, as well as under non-sinusoidal voltage-and current conditions. The presented algorithms derive from the concepts involving the active and non-active currents, together with a phase-locked-loop circuit. Based on these real-time algorithms, and considering the proposed hardware topology, the UPQC is able to compensate the harmonic components of the voltages and currents, correct the power factor, and keep the load voltages regulated, all of this in a dynamic way, responding instantaneously to changes in the loads or in the electrical power system. The control algorithms were distributed in a two-DSP digital control architecture, without any communication between them. Consequently, can be increased the sampling frequency of the acquired voltages and currents and improve the UPQC performance. Furthermore, some constraints of the proposed UPQC are evidenced, particularly when the main voltages are imbalanced. Simulation and experimental results are presented to verify the UPQC performance under transient and steady state conditions.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio