Detection Rates for Kaluza-Klein Dark Matter

We consider the lightest Kaluza-Klein particle at N=1 mode (LKP) of universal extra dimension to be the candidate for Dark Matter and predict the detection rates for such particles for Germenium and NaI detectors. We have also calculated the nature of annual modulation for the signals in these two types of detectors for LKP Dark Matter. The rates with different values of speed of solar system in the Galactic rest frame are also evaluated.Comment: Submitted to Phys. Rev.

Virtual Reality for Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder: Past and the Future

The use of computers, especially for virtual reality (VR), to understand, assess, and treat various mental health problems has been developed for the last decade, including application for phobia, post-traumatic stress disorder, attention deficits, and schizophrenia. However, the number of VR tools addressing obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is still lacking due to the heterogeneous symptoms of OCD and poor understanding of the relationship between VR and OCD. This article reviews the empirical literatures for VR tools in the future, which involve applications for both clinical work and experimental research in this area, including examining symptoms using VR according to OCD patients' individual symptoms, extending OCD research in the VR setting to also study behavioral and physiological correlations of the symptoms, and expanding the use of VR for OCD to cognitive-behavioral intervention

Extending the DAMA annual-modulation region by inclusion of the uncertainties in the astrophysical velocities

The original annual-modulation region, singled out by the DAMA/NaI experiment for direct detection of WIMPs, is extended by taking into account the uncertainties in the galactic astrophysical velocities. Also the effect due to a possible bulk rotation for the dark matter halo is considered. We find that the range for the WIMP mass becomes 30 GeV < m_chi < 130 GeV at 1-sigma C.L. with a further extension in the upper bound, when a possible bulk rotation of the dark matter halo is taken into account. We show that the DAMA results, when interpreted in the framework of the Minimal Supersymmetric extension of the Standard Model, are consistent with a relic neutralino as a dominant component of cold dark matter (on the average in our universe and in our galactic halo). It is also discussed the discovery potential for the relevant supersymmetric configurations at accelerators of present generation.Comment: ReVTeX, 12 pages, 1 table, 7 figure

Obsessive–compulsive disorder with and without tics in a clinical sample of children and adolescents

The purpose of this study was to discriminate subtypes of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in a clinical sample of children and adolescents. Sixty OCD patients were assessed in two outpatient psychiatric clinics; 15 patients had a lifetime history of tics and 45 patients had no tic history. Interviews were conducted with the patients and their parents by a child psychiatrist using the Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale (CY-BOCS). The symptom checklist of the CY-BOCS was used to categorize obsessions and compulsions. Discriminant function analysis was used to compare the two groups in their symptomatology. There was no difference between the two groups in seven obsession categories. However, there was a significant difference between the two groups in seven compulsion categories. Ordering, hoarding, and washing compulsions were more common in those with no tic history. The results indicate that tic-related OCD may be differentiated from non-tic-related OCD early in life by the presence or absence of certain compulsive symptoms. Depression and Anxiety 16:59–63, 2002. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/35221/1/10058_ftp.pd

Who are 'informal health providers' and what do they do? : perspectives from medical anthropology

This paper explores gaps and limitations in the conceptualisation, methodology and policy implications of debates about informal health care providers by examining a cross section of empirical studies. Drawing on a tradition of critical medical anthropology, we argue that existing debates hinge on a particular understanding of what constitutes appropriate knowledge and on particular expectations of how economic actors in the medical marketplace will behave. Keywords: informal providers; markets; medicine vendors; access; quality; expertise

Group behavioral therapy for adolescents with tic-related and non-tic–related obsessive–compulsive disorder

Prior research supports the distinction between tic-related and non-tic–related obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD) based on phenomenologic, etiologic, and neurobehavioral data. The present study examines whether response to psychosocial treatment differs in adolescents, depending on the presence of comorbid tics. Nineteen adolescents, 12–17 years of age, participated in 7-week, uncontrolled trial of group cognitive–behavioral treatment (CBT) for OCD. Eight of the patients had tic-related and eleven had non-tic–related OCD. The group CBT program included psycho-education, exposure and response prevention, cognitive strategies, and family involvement. Significant improvement was observed for all subjects on the Yale-Brown Obsessive Compulsive Scale ratings of obsessions, compulsions, and total OCD symptoms. Outcomes were similar for subjects with tic-related and non-tic–related OCD. These preliminary results suggest that the presence of comorbid tic disorders may not attenuate response to behavioral group treatment among adolescents. Depression and Anxiety 17: 73–77, 2003. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/35222/1/10088_ftp.pd

Surface Generated Acoustic Wave Biosensors for the Detection of Pathogens: A Review

This review presents a deep insight into the Surface Generated Acoustic Wave (SGAW) technology for biosensing applications, based on more than 40 years of technological and scientific developments. In the last 20 years, SGAWs have been attracting the attention of the biochemical scientific community, due to the fact that some of these devices - Shear Horizontal Surface Acoustic Wave (SH-SAW), Surface Transverse Wave (STW), Love Wave (LW), Flexural Plate Wave (FPW), Shear Horizontal Acoustic Plate Mode (SH-APM) and Layered Guided Acoustic Plate Mode (LG-APM) - have demonstrated a high sensitivity in the detection of biorelevant molecules in liquid media. In addition, complementary efforts to improve the sensing films have been done during these years. All these developments have been made with the aim of achieving, in a future, a highly sensitive, low cost, small size, multi-channel, portable, reliable and commercially established SGAW biosensor. A setup with these features could significantly contribute to future developments in the health, food and environmental industries. The second purpose of this work is to describe the state-of-the-art of SGAW biosensors for the detection of pathogens, being this topic an issue of extremely importance for the human health. Finally, the review discuses the commercial availability, trends and future challenges of the SGAW biosensors for such applications