3,090 research outputs found
Variability and predictors of response to continuous theta burst stimulation: a TMS-EEG study
Continuous theta-burst stimulation (cTBS) is a repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation paradigm reported to decrease the excitability of the stimulated cortical area and which is thought to reflect a form of inhibitory synaptic plasticity. However, since its introduction, the effect of cTBS has shown a remarkable variability in its effects, which are often quantified by measuring the amplitude of motor evoked potentials (MEPs). Part of this inconsistency in experimental results might be due to an intrinsic variability of TMS effects caused by genetic or neurophysiologic factors. However, it is also possible that MEP only reflect the excitability of a sub-population of output neurons; resting EEG power and measures combining TMS and electroencephalography (TMS-EEG) might represent a more thorough reflection of cortical excitability. The aim of the present study was to verify the robustness of several predictors of cTBS response, such as I wave recruitment and baseline MEP amplitude, and to test cTBS after-effects on multiple neurophysiologic measurements such as MEP, resting EEG power, local mean field power (LMFP), TMS-related spectral perturbation (TRSP), and inter-trial phase clustering (ITPC). As a result, we were not able to confirm either the expected decrease of MEP amplitude after cTBS or the ability of I wave recruitment and MEP amplitude to predict the response to cTBS. Resting EEG power, LMFP, TRSP, and ITPC showed a more consistent trend toward a decrease after cTBS. Overall, our data suggest that the effect of cTBS on corticospinal excitability is variable and difficult to predict with common electrophysiologic markers, while its effect might be clearer when probed with combined TMS and EEG
EBT2 Dosimetry of X-rays produced by the electron beam from PFMA-3, a Plasma Focus for medical applications
The electron beam emitted from the back of Plasma Focus devices is being
studied as a radiation source for IORT (IntraOperative Radiation Therapy)
applications. A Plasma Focus device is being developed to this aim, to be
utilized as an X-ray source. The electron beam is driven to impinge on 50
{\mu}m brass foil, where conversion X-rays are generated. Measurements with
gafchromic film are performed to analyse the attenuation of the X-rays beam and
to predict the dose given to the culture cell in radiobiological experiments to
follow.Comment: 10 pages, 14 figure
Analysis of 3 years of data from the gravitational wave detectors EXPLORER and NAUTILUS
We performed a search for short gravitational wave bursts using about 3 years
of data of the resonant bar detectors Nautilus and Explorer. Two types of
analysis were performed: a search for coincidences with a low background of
accidentals (0.1 over the entire period), and the calculation of upper limits
on the rate of gravitational wave bursts. Here we give a detailed account of
the methodology and we report the results: a null search for coincident events
and an upper limit that improves over all previous limits from resonant
antennas, and is competitive, in the range h_rss ~1E-19, with limits from
interferometric detectors. Some new methodological features are introduced that
have proven successful in the upper limits evaluation.Comment: 12 pages, 12 figure
Margin Call: What if John Tuld were Christian? Thomistic Practical Wisdom in Financial Decision-Making
Margin Call is a film depicting the high-tension 32 hours of an investment bank that discovers that its financial holdings are essentially worthless because it has become highly overexposed in the risky trading of mortgage-backed securities and the entire market is set to implode, triggering what the bank leaders know will be a global financial crisis. In a ten-minute overnight meeting, the CEO, John Tuld, must make a difficult choice for the firm and for himself. This paper aims at analyzing Tuld’s behavior in the light of the virtue of prudence as described by Thomas Aquinas, and reflects on how the problem might have been handled differently if John Tuld had been guided by Christian moral teachings. It also examines whether Christian ethics, with its ancient heritage, has sufficient specificity and transformative capacity to serve as a guide in contemporary financial decision-making
State-of-the-art in product service-systems
A Product Service-System (PSS) is an integrated combination of products and services.
This western concept embraces a service-led competitive strategy, environmental sustainability,
and the basis to differentiate from competitors who simply offer lower priced products. This
paper aims to report the state-of-the-art of PSS research by presenting a clinical review of
literature currently available on this topic. The literature is classified and the major outcomes
of each study are addressed and analysed. On this basis, this paper defines the PSS concept,
reports on its origin and features, gives examples of applications along with potential benefits
and barriers to adoption, summarises available tools and methodologies, and identifies future
research challenges
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