'Round the Clock Observations of the Q0957+561 A,B Gravitationally Lensed Quasar

An observing campaign with 10 participating observatories has undertaken to monitor the optical brightness of the Q0957 gravitationally lensed quasar for 10 consecutive nights in January 2000. The resulting A image brightness curve has significant brightness fluctuations and makes a photometric prediction for the B image light curve for a second campaign planned for 12-21 March 2001. The ultimate purpose is to determine the gravitational lens time delay to a fraction of an hour, and to seek evidence for rapid microlensing.Comment: 8 pages, AASTeX 4.0, accepted by the Astrophysical Journa

Association between C-reactive protein levels and antipsychotic treatment during 12 months follow-up period after acute psychosis

Background A potential role of inflammatory pathways in the pathology of schizophrenia has been suggested for at least a subgroup of patients. Elevated levels of the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP) have been observed, with associations to pathogenesis and symptoms. The current evidence regarding effects of antipsychotics on CRP levels is ambiguous. Objectives To examine and compare the influence on CRP levels of three pharmacologically diverse new generation antipsychotics during a one-year follow-up in schizophrenia spectrum disorder. Methods In a multicenter, pragmatic and rater-blinded randomized trial, the effects of amisulpride, aripiprazole and olanzapine were compared in 128 patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder. All had positive symptoms of psychosis at study entry. Clinical and laboratory assessments including the measurement of CRP levels were conducted at baseline, and 1, 3, 6, 12, 26, 39, and 52 weeks thereafter. Results For all antipsychotic drugs analysed together, there was an increase in CRP levels during the one-year follow-up. Aripiprazole, as opposed to amisulpride and olanzapine, was associated with a reduced CRP level after one week, after which the CRP level caught up with the other drugs. Compared to those previously exposed to antipsychotic drugs, antipsychotic-naïve patients had lower CRP levels at all follow-up time points, but with the same temporal patterns of change. Conclusion Treatment with amisulpride, aripiprazole and olanzapine showed different effects on CRP levels in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, modified by previous antipsychotics exposure status. This finding suggests that antipsychotic drugs may vary with respect to their influence on pro-inflammatory pathways.publishedVersio

Around the Clock Observations of the Q0957+561 A,B Gravitationally Lensed Quasar II: Results for the second observing season

We report on an observing campaign in March 2001 to monitor the brightness of the later arriving Q0957+561 B image in order to compare with the previously published brightness observations of the (first arriving) A image. The 12 participating observatories provided 3543 image frames which we have analyzed for brightness fluctuations. From our classical methods for time delay determination, we find a 417.09 +/- 0.07 day time delay which should be free of effects due to incomplete sampling. During the campaign period, the quasar brightness was relatively constant and only small fluctuations were found; we compare the structure function for the new data with structure function estimates for the 1995--6 epoch, and show that the structure function is statistically non-stationary. We also examine the data for any evidence of correlated fluctuations at zero lag. We discuss the limits to our ability to measure the cosmological time delay if the quasar's emitting surface is time resolved, as seems likely.Comment: AAS LaTeX, 5 PostScript figure

Clinical insight among persons with schizophrenia spectrum disorders treated with amisulpride, aripiprazole or olanzapine: a semi-randomised trial

Background Antipsychotic treatment may improve clinical insight. However, previous studies have reported inconclusive findings on whether antipsychotics improve insight over and above the reduction in symptoms of psychosis. These studies assessed homogeneous samples in terms of stage of illness. Randomised studies investigating a mixed population of first- and multiepisode schizophrenia spectrum disorders might clarify this disagreement. Methods Our data were derived from a pragmatic, rater-blinded, semi-randomised trial that compared the effectiveness of amisulpride, aripiprazole and olanzapine. A sample of 144 patients with first- or multiepisode schizophrenia spectrum disorders underwent eight assessments during a 1-year follow-up. Clinical insight was assessed by item General 12 from the Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale (PANSS). We analysed latent growth curve models to test if the medications had a direct effect on insight that was over and above the reduction in total psychosis symptoms. Furthermore, we investigated whether there were differences between the study drugs in terms of insight. Results Based on allocation analysis, all three drugs were associated with a reduction in total psychosis symptoms in the initial phase (weeks 0–6). Amisulpride and olanzapine were associated with improved insight over and above what was related to the reduction in total psychosis symptoms in the long-term phase (weeks 6–52). However, these differential effects were lost when only including the participants that chose the first drug in the randomisation sequence. We found no differential effect on insight among those who were antipsychotic-naïve and those who were previously medicated with antipsychotics. Conclusions Our results suggest that antipsychotic treatment improves insight, but whether the effect on insight surpasses the effect of reduced total psychosis symptoms is more uncertain.publishedVersio

Varia 79 E18 Brunlanesprosjektet. Bind 1. Forutsetninger og kulturhistorisk sammenstilling.

E18 Brunlanesprosjektets undersøkelser er publisert i tre bind. Dette bind (Bind I) inne­holder bakgrunnen for undersøkelsene, naturhistoriske forutsetninger og kulturhistorisk sammenstilling. Bind lI og Bind Ill inneholder beskrivelser av de enkelte lokalitetene. E 18 Brunlanesprosjektet ble etablert 1. mai 2007 og avsluttet 31. juli 2011. I 2007 og 2008 undersøkte prosjektet ti tidligmesolittiske boplasser, en senneolittisk boplass og en jorbruks­lokalitet fra eldre jernalder. Undersøkelsene foregikk i to delparseller for nye E 18 gjennom Vestfold og Telemark, der tiltakshaver var Statens vegvesen, Region sør

Association between C-reactive protein levels and antipsychotic treatment during 12 months follow-up period after acute psychosis

Background A potential role of inflammatory pathways in the pathology of schizophrenia has been suggested for at least a subgroup of patients. Elevated levels of the inflammatory marker C-reactive protein (CRP) have been observed, with associations to pathogenesis and symptoms. The current evidence regarding effects of antipsychotics on CRP levels is ambiguous. Objectives To examine and compare the influence on CRP levels of three pharmacologically diverse new generation antipsychotics during a one-year follow-up in schizophrenia spectrum disorder. Methods In a multicenter, pragmatic and rater-blinded randomized trial, the effects of amisulpride, aripiprazole and olanzapine were compared in 128 patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorder. All had positive symptoms of psychosis at study entry. Clinical and laboratory assessments including the measurement of CRP levels were conducted at baseline, and 1, 3, 6, 12, 26, 39, and 52 weeks thereafter. Results For all antipsychotic drugs analysed together, there was an increase in CRP levels during the one-year follow-up. Aripiprazole, as opposed to amisulpride and olanzapine, was associated with a reduced CRP level after one week, after which the CRP level caught up with the other drugs. Compared to those previously exposed to antipsychotic drugs, antipsychotic-naïve patients had lower CRP levels at all follow-up time points, but with the same temporal patterns of change. Conclusion Treatment with amisulpride, aripiprazole and olanzapine showed different effects on CRP levels in patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders, modified by previous antipsychotics exposure status. This finding suggests that antipsychotic drugs may vary with respect to their influence on pro-inflammatory pathways

Kaupang in Skiringssal

In this, the first of six volumes, the main results of the excavations which the University of Oslo carried out at Kaupang 1998–2003 are presented. A completely new picture is put forward of the port that Ohthere (Óttarr) visited in c. 890 AD. It is argued that Kaupang was one of three towns that were founded in south-west Scandinavia around the year 800. Kaupang was founded in the power centre Skiringssal, which for decades had been ruled by the Ynglings – the legendary Norwegian royal lineage. The founding was probably initiated by the King of the Danes – the dominant political actor in south-west Scandinavia at the time. Kaupang is shown to have had several of the features revealed in Birka, Hedeby and Ribe – i.e., a compact permanent settlement, divided into small plots, each with a dwelling. The town could have had 400-800 inhabitants. Substantial traces of trade and craftwork are proof of the main areas of occupation. Advanced geo- and environmental-archaeological analyses, published here, have played an important role in interpreting the finds. Documentary sources indicate that Skiringssal was an important royal seat in the 700s and 800s. These sources are put together with the archaeological and toponymical sources which, united, show a centre of power with a clear likeness to similar places in Denmark and Sweden, so called “central places”. A hall or sal building, presumably the Skirings-sal itself, has been excavated at Huseby, near Kaupang. Nearby, a thing site was situated by a holy lake. In this, the Yngling kings’ centre of power, to which many people came to attend thing meetings and sacrificial feasts, the town Kaupang was founded. The transition to Christian religious practices in Viken in the middle of the 10th century and the consequent demise of pagan cult activities in Skiringssal was probably a key factor in the abandonment of Kaupang at that time. In nine of the book’s 20 chapters, the excavations’ finds, analyses and results are presented. In three chapters, 200 years of research on Kaupang and Skiringssal are summarised, while in the remaining eight chapters an endeavour is made to re-establish the holistic approach to Skiringssal which dominated research in the 19th and early 20th century