150 research outputs found
Does size really matter? A multisite study assessing the latent structure of the proposed ICD-11 and DSM-5 diagnostic criteria for PTSD
Background: Researchers and clinicians within the field of trauma have to choose between different diagnostic descriptions of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in the DSM-5 and the proposed ICD-11. Several studies support different competing models of the PTSD structure according to both diagnostic systems; however, findings show that the choice of diagnostic systems can affect the estimated prevalence rates. Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate the potential impact of using a large (i.e. the DSM-5) compared to a small (i.e. the ICD-11) diagnostic description of PTSD. In other words, does the size of PTSD really matter? Methods: The aim was investigated by examining differences in diagnostic rates between the two diagnostic systems and independently examining the model fit of the competing DSM-5 and ICD-11 models of PTSD across three trauma samples: university students (N = 4213), chronic pain patients (N = 573), and military personnel (N = 118). Results: Diagnostic rates of PTSD were significantly lower according to the proposed ICD-11 criteria in the university sample, but no significant differences were found for chronic pain patients and military personnel. The proposed ICD-11 three-factor model provided the best fit of the tested ICD-11 models across all samples, whereas the DSM-5 seven-factor Hybrid model provided the best fit in the university and pain samples, and the DSM-5 six-factor Anhedonia model provided the best fit in the military sample of the tested DSM-5 models. Conclusions: The advantages and disadvantages of using a broad or narrow set of symptoms for PTSD can be debated, however, this study demonstrated that choice of diagnostic system may influence the estimated PTSD rates both qualitatively and quantitatively. In the current described diagnostic criteria only the ICD-11 model can reflect the configuration of symptoms satisfactorily. Thus, size does matter when assessing PTSD
On initial conditions for the Hot Big Bang
We analyse the process of reheating the Universe in the electroweak theory
where the Higgs field plays a role of the inflaton. We estimate the maximal
temperature of the Universe and fix the initial conditions for
radiation-dominated phase of the Universe expansion in the framework of the
Standard Model (SM) and of the nuMSM -- the minimal extension of the SM by
three right-handed singlet fermions. We show that the inflationary epoch is
followed by a matter dominated stage related to the Higgs field oscillations.
We investigate the energy transfer from Higgs-inflaton to the SM particles and
show that the radiation dominated phase of the Universe expansion starts at
temperature T_r~(3-15)*10^{13} GeV, where the upper bound depends on the Higgs
boson mass. We estimate the production rate of singlet fermions at preheating
and find that their concentrations at T_r are negligibly small. This suggests
that the sterile neutrino Dark Matter (DM) production and baryogenesis in the
nuMSM with Higgs-driven inflation are low energy phenomena, having nothing to
do with inflation. We study then a modification of the nuMSM, adding to its
Lagrangian higher dimensional operators suppressed by the Planck scale. The
role of these operators in Higgs-driven inflation is clarified. We find that
these operators do not contribute to the production of Warm Dark Matter (WDM)
and to baryogenesis. We also demonstrate that the sterile neutrino with mass
exceeding 100 keV (a Cold Dark Matter (CDM) candidate) can be created during
the reheating stage of the Universe in necessary amounts. We argue that the
mass of DM sterile neutrino should not exceed few MeV in order not to overclose
the Universe.Comment: 41 pages, 5 figures. Journal version accepted in JCA
Bisimilarity congruences for open terms and term graphs via tile logic
The definition of sos formats ensuring that bisimilarity on closed terms is a congruence has received much attention in the last two decades. For dealing with open terms, the congruence is usually lifted from closed terms by instantiating the free variables in all possible ways; the only alternatives considered in the literature are Larsen and Xinxin’s context systems and Rensink’s conditional transition systems. We propose an approach based on tile logic, where closed and open terms are managed uniformly, and study the ‘bisimilarity as congruence’ property for several tile formats, accomplishing different concepts of open system
The CMB and the measure of the multiverse
In the context of eternal inflation, cosmological predictions depend on the
choice of measure to regulate the diverging spacetime volume. The spectrum of
inflationary perturbations is no exception, as we demonstrate by comparing the
predictions of the fat geodesic and causal patch measures. To highlight the
effect of the measure---as opposed to any effects related to a possible
landscape of vacua---we take the cosmological model, including the model of
inflation, to be fixed. We also condition on the average CMB temperature
accompanying the measurement. Both measures predict a 1-point expectation value
for the gauge-invariant Newtonian potential, which takes the form of a
(scale-dependent) monopole, in addition to a related contribution to the
3-point correlation function, with the detailed form of these quantities
differing between the measures. However, for both measures both effects are
well within cosmic variance. Our results make clear the theoretical relevance
of the measure, and at the same time validate the standard inflationary
predictions in the context of eternal inflation.Comment: 28 pages; v2: reference added, some clarification
Unitarity bounds on low scale quantum gravity
We study the unitarity of models with low scale quantum gravity both in four
dimensions and in models with a large extra-dimensional volume. We find that
models with low scale quantum gravity have problems with unitarity below the
scale at which gravity becomes strong. An important consequence of our work is
that their first signal at the Large Hadron Collider would not be of a
gravitational nature such as graviton emission or small black holes, but rather
linked to the mechanism which fixes the unitarity problem. We also study models
with scalar fields with non minimal couplings to the Ricci scalar. We consider
the strength of gravity in these models and study the consequences for
inflation models with non-minimally coupled scalar fields. We show that a
single scalar field with a large non-minimal coupling can lower the Planck mass
in the TeV region. In that model, it is possible to lower the scale at which
gravity becomes strong down to 14 TeV without violating unitarity below that
scale.Comment: 15 page
Lysates of Methylococcus capsulatus Bath induce a lean-like microbiota, intestinal FoxP3+RORγt+IL-17+ Tregs and improve metabolism
Interactions between host and gut microbial communities are modulated by diets and play pivotal roles in immunological homeostasis and health. We show that exchanging the protein source in a high fat, high sugar, westernized diet from casein to whole-cell lysates of the non-commensal bacterium Methylococcus capsulatus Bath is sufficient to reverse western diet-induced changes in the gut microbiota to a state resembling that of lean, low fat diet-fed mice, both under mild thermal stress (T22 °C) and at thermoneutrality (T30 °C). Concomitant with microbiota changes, mice fed the Methylococcus-based western diet exhibit improved glucose regulation, reduced body and liver fat, and diminished hepatic immune infiltration. Intake of the Methylococcu-based diet markedly boosts Parabacteroides abundances in a manner depending on adaptive immunity, and upregulates triple positive (Foxp3+RORγt+IL-17+) regulatory T cells in the small and large intestine. Collectively, these data point to the potential for leveraging the use of McB lysates to improve immunometabolic homeostasis.publishedVersio
Mitochondria interaction networks show altered topological patterns in Parkinson's disease.
Mitochondrial dysfunction is linked to pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). However, individual mitochondria-based analyses do not show a uniform feature in PD patients. Since mitochondria interact with each other, we hypothesize that PD-related features might exist in topological patterns of mitochondria interaction networks (MINs). Here we show that MINs formed nonclassical scale-free supernetworks in colonic ganglia both from healthy controls and PD patients; however, altered network topological patterns were observed in PD patients. These patterns were highly correlated with PD clinical scores and a machine-learning approach based on the MIN features alone accurately distinguished between patients and controls with an area-under-curve value of 0.989. The MINs of midbrain dopaminergic neurons (mDANs) derived from several genetic PD patients also displayed specific changes. CRISPR/CAS9-based genome correction of alpha-synuclein point mutations reversed the changes in MINs of mDANs. Our organelle-interaction network analysis opens another critical dimension for a deeper characterization of various complex diseases with mitochondrial dysregulation
Determination of Conformational Equilibria in Proteins Using Residual Dipolar Couplings
In order to carry out their functions, proteins often undergo significant conformational fluctuations that enable them to interact with their partners. The accurate characterization of these motions is key in order to understand the mechanisms by which macromolecular recognition events take place. Nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy offers a variety of powerful methods to achieve this result. We discuss a method of using residual dipolar couplings as replica-averaged restraints in molecular dynamics simulations to determine large amplitude motions of proteins, including those involved in the conformational equilibria that are established through interconversions between different states. By applying this method to ribonuclease A, we show that it enables one to characterize the ample fluctuations in interdomain orientations expected to play an important functional role
Pieces of the puzzle: Ancient substructure in the Galactic disk
We search for signatures of past accretion events in the Milky Way in the
recently published catalogue by Nordstrom et al.(2004), containing accurate
spatial and kinematic information as well as metallicities for 13240 nearby
stars. To optimize our strategy, we use numerical simulations to characterize
the properties of the debris from disrupted satellites. We find that stars with
a common progenitor should show distinct correlations between their orbital
parameters; in particular, between the apocentre A and pericentre P, as well as
their z-angular momentum (L_z). In the APL-space, such stars are expected to
cluster around regions of roughly constant eccentricity.
The APL space for the Nordstrom catalogue exhibits a wealth of substructure,
much of which can be linked to dynamical perturbations induced by spiral arms
and the Galactic bar. However, our analysis also reveals a statistically
significant excess of stars on orbits of common (moderate) eccentricity,
analogous to the pattern expected for merger debris. Besides being dynamically
peculiar, the 274 stars in these substructures have very distinct metallicity
and age distributions, providing further evidence of their extra-Galactic
provenance. It is possible to identify among these stars, three coherent Groups
with characteristic ages and metallicities, that, in all likelihood, correspond
to the remains of disrupted satellites. [abridged]Comment: 18 pages, 21 figures, MNRAS in press. Accepted version with
high-resolution figures available from
http://www.astro.rug.nl/~ahelmi/research/puzzle.htm
Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis
BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London
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