2,018 research outputs found
an experimental approach with a trauma film paradigm
Background Intrusive memories of traumatic events are a core feature of post-
traumatic stress disorder but little is known about the neurobiological
formation of intrusions. The aim of this study was to determine whether the
activity of the noradrenergic system during an intrusion-inducing stressor
would influence subsequent intrusive memories. Method We conducted an
experimental, double-blind, placebo-controlled study in 118 healthy women.
Participants received a single dose of either 10 mg yohimbine, stimulating
noradrenergic activity, or 0.15 mg clonidine, inhibiting noradrenergic
activity, or placebo. Subsequently, they watched an established trauma film
which induced intrusions. The number of consecutive intrusions resulting from
the trauma film, the vividness of the intrusions, and the degree of distress
evoked by the intrusions were assessed during the following 4 days. Salivary
cortisol and α-amylase were collected before and after the trauma film.
Results A significant time × treatment interaction for the number of
intrusions and the vividness of intrusions indicated a different time course
of intrusions depending on treatment. Post-hoc tests revealed a delayed
decrease of intrusions and a delayed decrease of intrusion vividness after the
trauma film in the yohimbine group compared with the clonidine and placebo
groups. Furthermore, after yohimbine administration, a significant increase in
salivary cortisol levels was observed during the trauma film. Conclusions Our
findings indicate that pharmacological activation of the noradrenergic system
during an emotionally negative event makes an impact on consecutive intrusive
memories and their vividness in healthy women. The noradrenergic system seems
to be involved in the formation of intrusive memories
Using perceptive computing in multiple sclerosis - the Short Maximum Speed Walk test
BACKGROUND: We investigated the applicability and feasibility of perceptive computing assisted gait analysis in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients using Microsoft Kinect. To detect the maximum walking speed and the degree of spatial sway, we established a computerized and observer-independent measure, which we named Short Maximum Speed Walk (SMSW), and compared it to established clinical measures of gait disability in MS, namely the Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) and the Timed 25-Foot Walk (T25FW). METHODS: Cross-sectional study of 22 MS patients (age mean +/- SD 43 +/- 9 years, 13 female) and 22 age and gender matched healthy control subjects (HC) (age 37 +/- 11 years, 13 female). The disability level of each MS patient was graded using the EDSS (median 3.0, range 0.0-6.0). All subjects then performed the SMSW and the Timed 25-Foot Walk (T25FW). The SMSW comprised five gait parameters, which together assessed average walking speed and gait stability in different dimensions (left/right, up/down and 3D deviation). RESULTS: SMSW average walking speed was slower in MS patients (1.6 +/- 0.3 m/sec) than in HC (1.8 +/- 0.4 m/sec) (p = 0.005) and correlated well with EDSS (Spearman's Rho 0.676, p < 0.001). Furthermore, SMSW revealed higher left/right deviation in MS patients compared to HC. SMSW showed high recognition quality and retest-reliability (covariance 0.13 m/sec, ICC 0.965, p < 0.001). There was a significant correlation between SMSW average walking speed and T25FW (Pearson's R = -0.447, p = 0.042). CONCLUSION: Our data suggest that ambulation tests using Microsoft Kinect are feasible, well tolerated and can detect clinical gait disturbances in patients with MS. The retest-reliability was on par with the T25FW
Diffuse Ionized Gas in the Dwarf Irregular Galaxy DDO 53
The spectral characteristics throughout the dwarf irregular galaxy DDO 53 are
studied. The results are very similar to those for other irregular galaxies:
high excitation and low values of the [SII]/Halpha ratio. The most likely
ionization source is photon leakage from the classical HII regions, without any
other source, although the interstellar medium of the galaxy is quite
perturbed. Moreover, the physical conditions throughout the galaxy do not
change very much because both the photon leakage percentage and the ionization
temperature are very similar. In addition, the determined metal content for two
HII regions indicates that DDO 53 is a low-metallicity galaxy.Comment: 32 pages, 9 figures, 7 tables. AJ, in pres
General Practitioners' Attitudes towards Essential Competencies in End-of-Life Care: A Cross-Sectional Survey.
Identifying essential competencies in end-of-life care, as well as general practitioners' (GPs) confidence in these competencies, is essential to guide training and quality improvement efforts in this domain.
To determine which competencies in end-of-life care are considered important by GPs, to assess GPs' confidence in these competencies in a European context and their reasons to refer terminally ill patients to a specialist.
Cross-sectional postal survey involving a stratified random sample of 2000 GPs in Switzerland in 2014.
Survey development was informed by a previous qualitative exploration of relevant end-of-life GP competencies. Main outcome measures were GPs' assessment of the importance of and confidence in 18 attributes of end-of-life care competencies, and reasons for transferring care of terminally-ill patients to a specialist. GP characteristics associated with main outcome measures were tested using multivariate regression models.
The response rate was 31%. Ninety-nine percent of GPs considered the recognition and treatment of pain as important, 86% felt confident about it. Few GPs felt confident in cultural (16%), spiritual (38%) and legal end-of-life competencies such as responding to patients seeking assisted suicide (35%) although more than half of the respondents regarded these competencies as important. Most frequent reasons to refer terminally ill patients to a specialist were lack of time (30%), better training of specialists (23%) and end-of-life care being incompatible with other duties (19%). In multiple regression analyses, confidence in end-of-life care was positively associated with GPs' age, practice size, home visits and palliative training.
GPs considered non-somatic competencies (such as spiritual, cultural, ethical and legal aspects) nearly as important as pain and symptom control. Yet, few GPs felt confident in these non-somatic competencies. These findings should inform training and quality improvement efforts in this domain, in particular for younger, less experienced GPs
Development of a SiPM Camera for a Schwarzschild-Couder Cherenkov Telescope for the Cherenkov Telescope Array
We present the development of a novel 11328 pixel silicon photomultiplier
(SiPM) camera for use with a ground-based Cherenkov telescope with
Schwarzschild-Couder optics as a possible medium-sized telescope for the
Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA). The finely pixelated camera samples air-shower
images with more than twice the optical resolution of cameras that are used in
current Cherenkov telescopes. Advantages of the higher resolution will be a
better event reconstruction yielding improved background suppression and
angular resolution of the reconstructed gamma-ray events, which is crucial in
morphology studies of, for example, Galactic particle accelerators and the
search for gamma-ray halos around extragalactic sources. Packing such a large
number of pixels into an area of only half a square meter and having a fast
readout directly attached to the back of the sensors is a challenging task. For
the prototype camera development, SiPMs from Hamamatsu with through silicon via
(TSV) technology are used. We give a status report of the camera design and
highlight a number of technological advancements that made this development
possible.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, In Proceedings of the 34th International Cosmic
Ray Conference (ICRC2015), The Hague, The Netherlands. All CTA contributions
at arXiv:1508.0589
Analysis of divertor island properties at Wendelstein 7-X using Alkali Beam Emission Spectroscopy
Critical Crossover Between Yosida-Kondo Dominant Regime and Magnetic Frustration Dominant Regime in the System of a Magnetic Trimer on a Metal Surface
Quantum Monte Carlo simulations were carried out for the system of a magnetic
trimer on a metal surface. The magnetic trimer is arranged in two geometric
configurations, viz., isosceles and equilateral triangles. The calculated
spectral density and magnetic susceptibility show the existence of two phases:
Yosida-Kondo dominant phase and magnetic frustration dominant phase.
Furthermore, a critical transition between these two phases can be induced by
changing the configuration of the magnetic trimers from isosceles to
equilateral triangle.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures; accepted for publication in J. Phys. Soc. Jp
Effect of pellet shots on edge plasma density fluctuations in the Wendelstein 7-X stellarator
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