92 research outputs found
Strangeness production at finite temperature and baryon density in an effective relativistic mean field model
We study the strangeness production in hot and dense nuclear medium, by
requiring the conservation of the baryon density, electric charge fraction and
zero net strangeness. The hadronic equation of state is investigated by means
of an effective relativistic mean field model, with the inclusion of the full
octet of baryons and kaon mesons. Kaons are considered taking into account of
an effective chemical potential depending on the self-consistent interaction
between baryons. The obtained results are compared with a minimal coupling
scheme, calculated for different values of the anti-kaon optical potential and
with non-interacting kaon particles. In this context, we also consider the
possible onset of the kaon condensation for a wide range of temperatures and
baryon densities.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figure
Reinforced optimal control
Least squares Monte Carlo methods are a popular numerical approximation method for solving stochastic control problems. Based on dynamic programming, their key feature is the approximation of the conditional expectation of future rewards by linear least squares regression. Hence, the choice of basis functions is crucial for the accuracy of the method. Earlier work by some of us [Belomestny, Schoenmakers, Spokoiny, Zharkynbay, Commun. Math. Sci., 18(1):109?121, 2020] proposes to reinforce the basis functions in the case of optimal stopping problems by already computed value functions for later times, thereby considerably improving the accuracy with limited additional computational cost. We extend the reinforced regression method to a general class of stochastic control problems, while considerably improving the method?s efficiency, as demonstrated by substantial numerical examples as well as theoretical analysis
Nonlinear statistical effects in relativistic mean field theory
We investigate the relativistic mean field theory of nuclear matter at finite
temperature and baryon density taking into account of nonlinear statistical
effects, characterized by power-law quantum distributions. The analysis is
performed by requiring the Gibbs conditions on the global conservation of
baryon number and electric charge fraction. We show that such nonlinear
statistical effects play a crucial role in the equation of state and in the
formation of mixed phase also for small deviations from the standard
Boltzmann-Gibbs statistics.Comment: 9 pages, 5 figures. arXiv admin note: substantial text overlap with
arXiv:1005.4643 and arXiv:0912.460
How can we improve antidepressant adherence in the management of depression? A targeted review and 10 clinical recommendations.
Adherence to antidepressants is crucial for optimal treatment outcomes when treating depressive disorders. However, poor adherence is common among patients prescribed antidepressants. This targeted review summarizes the main factors associated with poor adherence, interventions that promote antidepressant adherence, pharmacological aspects related to antidepressant adherence, and formulates 10 clinical recommendations to optimize antidepressant adherence. Patient-related factors associated with antidepressant non-adherence include younger age, psychiatric and medical comorbidities, cognitive impairment, and substance use disorders. Prescriber behavior-related factors include neglecting medical and family histories, selecting poorly tolerated antidepressants, or complex antidepressant regimens. Multi-disciplinary interventions targeting both patient and prescriber, aimed at improving antidepressant adherence, include psychoeducation and providing the patient with clear behavioral interventions to prevent/minimize poor adherence. Regarding antidepressant choice, agents with individually tailored tolerability profile should be chosen. Ten clinical recommendations include four points focusing on the patient (therapeutic alliance, adequate history taking, measurement of depressive symptoms, and adverse effects improved access to clinical care), three focusing on prescribing practice (psychoeducation, individually tailored antidepressant choice, simplified regimen), two focusing on mental health services (improved access to mental health care, incentivized adherence promotion and monitoring), and one relating to adherence measurement (adherence measurement with scales and/or therapeutic drug monitoring)
Nonextensive statistical effects in the hadron to quark-gluon phase transition
We investigate the relativistic equation of state of hadronic matter and
quark-gluon plasma at finite temperature and baryon density in the framework of
the nonextensive statistical mechanics, characterized by power-law quantum
distributions. We study the phase transition from hadronic matter to
quark-gluon plasma by requiring the Gibbs conditions on the global conservation
of baryon number and electric charge fraction. We show that nonextensive
statistical effects play a crucial role in the equation of state and in the
formation of mixed phase also for small deviations from the standard
Boltzmann-Gibbs statistics.Comment: 13 pages, 10 figure
Olfactory neuroepithelium alterations and cognitive correlates in schizophrenia
BACKGROUND:
Few studies have investigated alterations of olfactory neuroepithelium (ONE) as a biomarker of schizophrenia, and none its association with cognitive functioning.
METHOD:
Fresh ONE cells from twelve patients with schizophrenia and thirteen healthy controls were collected by nasal brushing, cultured in proper media and passed twelve times. Markers of cell proliferation (BrdU incorporation, Cyclin-D1 and p21 protein level) were quantified.Cognitive function was measured using Brief Neuropsychological Examination-2.
PRIMARY OUTCOME:
proliferation of ONE cells from schizophrenic patients at passage 3. Secondary outcome: association between alteration of cell proliferation and cognitive function.
RESULTS:
Fresh ONE cells from patients showed a faster cell proliferation than those from healthy controls at passage 3. An opposite trend was observed at passage 9, ONE cells of patients with schizophrenia showing slower cell proliferation as compared to healthy controls. In schizophrenia, overall cognitive function (Spearman's rho -0.657, p\u202f<\u202f0.01), verbal memory - immediate recall, with interference at 10\u202fs and 30\u202fs (Spearman's rho from -0.676 to 0.697, all p\u202f<\u202f0.01) were inversely associated with cell proliferation at passage 3.
CONCLUSION:
Fresh ONE cells collected by nasal brushing might eventually represent a tool for diagnosing schizophrenia based upon markers of cell proliferation, which can be easily implemented as single-layer culture. Cell proliferation at passage 3 can be regarded as a promising proxy of cognitive functioning in schizophrenia. Future studies should replicate these findings, and may assess whether ONE alterations are there before onset of psychosis, serving as an early sign in patients with at risk mental state
Nonextensive statistical effects in protoneutron stars
We investigate the bulk properties of protoneutron stars in the framework of
a relativistic mean field theory based on nonextensive statistical mechanics,
characterized by power-law quantum distributions. We study the relevance of
nonextensive statistical effects on the beta-stable equation of state at fixed
entropy per baryon, in presence and in absence of trapped neutrinos, for
nucleonic and hyperonic matter. We show that nonextensive statistical effects
could play a crucial role in the structure and in the evolution of the
protoneutron stars also for small deviations from the standard Boltzmann-Gibbs
statistics.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figure
"Delirium Day": A nationwide point prevalence study of delirium in older hospitalized patients using an easy standardized diagnostic tool
Background: To date, delirium prevalence in adult acute hospital populations has been estimated generally from pooled findings of single-center studies and/or among specific patient populations. Furthermore, the number of participants in these studies has not exceeded a few hundred. To overcome these limitations, we have determined, in a multicenter study, the prevalence of delirium over a single day among a large population of patients admitted to acute and rehabilitation hospital wards in Italy. Methods: This is a point prevalence study (called "Delirium Day") including 1867 older patients (aged 65 years or more) across 108 acute and 12 rehabilitation wards in Italian hospitals. Delirium was assessed on the same day in all patients using the 4AT, a validated and briefly administered tool which does not require training. We also collected data regarding motoric subtypes of delirium, functional and nutritional status, dementia, comorbidity, medications, feeding tubes, peripheral venous and urinary catheters, and physical restraints. Results: The mean sample age was 82.0 \ub1 7.5 years (58 % female). Overall, 429 patients (22.9 %) had delirium. Hypoactive was the commonest subtype (132/344 patients, 38.5 %), followed by mixed, hyperactive, and nonmotoric delirium. The prevalence was highest in Neurology (28.5 %) and Geriatrics (24.7 %), lowest in Rehabilitation (14.0 %), and intermediate in Orthopedic (20.6 %) and Internal Medicine wards (21.4 %). In a multivariable logistic regression, age (odds ratio [OR] 1.03, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.01-1.05), Activities of Daily Living dependence (OR 1.19, 95 % CI 1.12-1.27), dementia (OR 3.25, 95 % CI 2.41-4.38), malnutrition (OR 2.01, 95 % CI 1.29-3.14), and use of antipsychotics (OR 2.03, 95 % CI 1.45-2.82), feeding tubes (OR 2.51, 95 % CI 1.11-5.66), peripheral venous catheters (OR 1.41, 95 % CI 1.06-1.87), urinary catheters (OR 1.73, 95 % CI 1.30-2.29), and physical restraints (OR 1.84, 95 % CI 1.40-2.40) were associated with delirium. Admission to Neurology wards was also associated with delirium (OR 2.00, 95 % CI 1.29-3.14), while admission to other settings was not. Conclusions: Delirium occurred in more than one out of five patients in acute and rehabilitation hospital wards. Prevalence was highest in Neurology and lowest in Rehabilitation divisions. The "Delirium Day" project might become a useful method to assess delirium across hospital settings and a benchmarking platform for future surveys
Understanding Factors Associated With Psychomotor Subtypes of Delirium in Older Inpatients With Dementia
- …