Effects of electronic correlation on X-Ray absorption and dichroic spectra at L2,3_{2,3} edge

We present a new theoretical approach to describe X-Ray absorption and Magnetic Circular Dichroism spectra in the presence of e-e correlation. Our approach provides an unified picture to include correlations in both charged and neutral excitations, namely in direct / inversion photoemission where electrons are removed/added, and photo absorption where electrons are promoted from core levels to empty states. We apply this approach to the prototypical case of L$_{2,3}$ edge of 3$d$ transition metals and we show that the inclusion of many body effects in the core level excitations is essential to reproduce, together with satellite structures in core level photoemission, the observed asymmetric line shapes in X-ray absorption and dichroic spectra.Comment: 3 figures, 5 pages, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Late childhood interpersonal callousness and conduct problem trajectories interact to predict adult psychopathy

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/135659/1/jcpp12598_am.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/135659/2/jcpp12598.pd

Long-term cognitive and behavioral therapies, combined with augmentative communication, are related to uncinate fasciculus integrity in autism

Recent evidence points to white-matter abnormalities as a key factor in autism physiopathology. Using Diffusion Tensor Imaging, we studied white-matter structural properties in a convenience sample of twenty-two subjects with low-functioning autism exposed to long-term augmentative and alternative communication, combined with sessions of cognitive and behavioral therapy. Uncinate fasciculus structural properties correlated significantly with therapy length and early onset, as well as to clinical outcome, independently from IQ, age or symptoms severity at therapy onset. Moreover, adherence to therapy was linked with better clinical outcome and uncinate fasciculus structural integrity. The results point to the capability of a long-term rehabilitation of subjects with low-functioning autism to produce white-matter structural modifications, which could thus play a role in the rehabilitative outcome

Total Synthesis of Asparenydiol by Two Sonogashira Cross-Coupling Reactions Promoted by Supported Pd and Cu Catalysts

Asparenydiol, which is an important natural compound with potential pharmacological activities, was synthesized through two Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions catalyzed by supported Pd and Cu catalysts and by a Mitsunobu etherification. The optimization of the Sonogashira couplings allowed the use of catalysts supported on different matrices with good results in terms of catalytic efficiency and yields

Brain activity pattern changes after adaptive working memory training in multiple sclerosis

Cognitive impairment and related abnormal brain activity are common in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS). Adaptive training based on working memory (WM) has been shown to ameliorate cognitive symptoms, although the effects at a neural level are unclear. The aim of this study was to expand the existing research on the effects of an adaptive WM rehabilitative intervention on brain functional activity in PwMS. A sample of eighteen PwMS performed an 8-week home-based cognitive rehabilitation treatment based on adaptive WM training. PwMS were assessed before and after treatment using a validated neuropsychological battery and undergoing an fMRI session while carrying out a cognitive task (i.e., Paced Visual Serial Addition Test - PVSAT). fMRI activations were compared to the activation pattern elicited by eighteen matched healthy subjects performing the same task. At baseline, we found abnormal brain activity during PVSAT in PwMS when compared to healthy subjects, with a pattern including several bilateral activation clusters. Following rehabilitation, PwMS improved cognitive performance, as evaluated by the neuropsychological battery, and showed a different activation map with clusters mainly located in the right cerebellum and in the left hemisphere. The only significant cluster in the right hemisphere was located in the inferior parietal lobule, and the BOLD signal extracted in this area significantly correlated with cognitive performance both before and after the treatment. We suggest that WM training can improve the cognitive performance and reduce the abnormal activation of PwMS by partially maintaining or even restoring brain cognitive function