14,240 research outputs found
Differentiated effects of the multimodal antidepressant vortioxetine on sleep architecture: Part 1, a pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic comparison with paroxetine in healthy men
We compared the effect of vortioxetine, paroxetine and placebo after three days of dosing on sleep architecture. This was a randomised, double-blind, four-way crossover, placebo-controlled, multiple-dose study in 24 healthy young men. Subjects received 20mg vortioxetine, 40mg vortioxetine, 20mg paroxetine or placebo for three consecutive days in four different periods with at least three weeks between them. Polysomnography and blood sampling for pharmacokinetic analysis were performed on the pre-dose night and nights 1 and 3 of dosing in each period. Plasma concentrations of vortioxetine and paroxetine during the polysomnography measurement were used to estimate SERT occupancies using published relationships in healthy subjects. All three active treatments significantly increased REM onset latency and decreased time spent in REM sleep. In the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamics analysis significant relationships were found between REM onset latency and time spent in REM sleep and vortioxetine/paroxetine exposure. The relation between REM suppression parameters and SERT occupancy was significantly different between vortioxetine and paroxetine, despite the same SERT occupancy. This indicates that vortioxetine has a different clinical pharmacological profile from paroxetine, which may explain the differences in adverse effect profile of the two drugs, for instance the lower incidence of nausea, weight gain and sexual dysfunction with vortioxetine
Heavy metal bioaccumulation by the important food plant, olea europaea L., in an ancient metalliferous polluted area of Cyprus
Aspects of the bioaccumulation of heavy metals are reviewed and possible evidence of homeostasis is highlighted. Examination and analysis of olive (Olea europaea L.) trees growing in close proximity to a copper dominated spoil tip dating from at least 2000 years BP, on the island of Cyprus, revealed both bioaccumulation and partitioning of copper, lead and zinc in various parts of the tree. A factor to quantify the degree of accumulation is illustrated and a possible seed protective mechanism suggested
The problem of measuring trait-preference correlations without disrupting them
This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Oxford University Press via the DOI in this record.A key element at the heart of the Fisher-Lande-Kirkpatrick model of the sexual selection process is the genetic correlation between (male) trait and (female) preference. The strength of this association is critical in determining a population’s evolutionary trajectory, which is why estimating its magnitude is so important. In the Lande model, the trait-preference correlation is solely established and maintained by mate choice, and although it is unclear how exclusively mate choice does this in nature, the experimental designs typically employed to measure trait-preference genetic correlations could be systematically weakening estimates by not allowing free mate-choice (similarly with husbandry practices). The precise impact of the problem is unknown, and possibly unknowable, but simple solutions can be applied to ensure the accuracy of trait-preference correlation estimates is maximized
Assessment of the performance of alternative aviation fuel in a modern air-spray combustor (MAC)
Recent concerns over energy security and environmental considerations have highlighted the importance of finding alternative aviation fuels. It is expected that coal and biomass derived fuels will fulfil a substantial part of these energy requirements. However, because of the physical and chemical difference in the composition of these fuels, there are potential problems associated with the efficiency and the emissions of the combustion process. Over the past 25 years Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) has become increasingly popular with the gas turbine industry as a design tool for establishing and optimising key parameters of systems prior to starting expensive trials. In this paper the performance of a typical aviation fuel, kerosene, an alternative aviation fuel, biofuel and a blend have been examined using CFD modelling. A good knowledge of the kinetics of the reaction of bio aviation fuels at both high and low temperature is necessary to perform reliable simulations of ignition, combustion and emissions in aero-engine. A novel detailed reaction mechanism was used to represent aviation fuel oxidation mechanism. The fuel combustion is calculated using a 3D commercial solver using a mixture fraction/pdf approach. Firstly, the study demonstrates that CFD predictions compare favourably with experimental data obtained by QinetiQ for a Modern Airspray Combustor (MAC) when used with traditional jet fuel (kerosene). Furthermore, the 3D CFD model has been refined to use the laminar flamelet model (LFM) approach that incorporates recently developed chemical reaction mechanisms for the bio-aviation fuel. This has enabled predictions for the bio-aviation fuel to be made. The impact of using the blended fuel has been shown to be very similar in performance to that of the 100% kerosene, confirming that aircraft running on 20% blended fuel should have no significant reduction in performance. It was also found that for the given operating conditions there is a significant reduction in performance when 100% biofuel if used. Additionally, interesting predictions were obtained, related to NOx emissions for the blend and 100% biofuel
A systematic review of commercial cognitive training devices: Implications for use in sport
 This is the final version. Available from Frontiers Media via the DOI in this record.Background: Cognitive training (CT) aims to develop a range of skills, like attention and decision-making, through targeted training of core cognitive functions. While CT can target context specific skills, like movement anticipation, much CT is domain general, focusing on core abilities (e.g., selective attention) for transfer to a range of real-world tasks, such as spotting opponents. Commercial CT (CCT) devices are highly appealing for athletes and coaches due to their ease of use and eye-catching marketing claims. The extent to which this training transfers to performance in the sporting arena is, however, unclear. Therefore, this paper sought to provide a systematic review of evidence for beneficial training effects of CCT devices and evaluate their application to sport. Methods: An extensive search of electronic databases (PubMed, PsychInfo, GoogleScholar, and SportDiscus) was conducted to identify peer-reviewed evidence of training interventions with commercially available CT devices. Forty-three studies met the inclusion criteria and were retained for quality assessment and synthesis of results. Seventeen studies assessed transfer effects beyond laboratory cognitive tests, but only 1 directly assessed transfer to a sporting task. Results: The review of evidence showed limited support for far transfer benefits from CCT devices to sporting tasks, mainly because studies did not target the sporting environment. Additionally, a number of methodological issues with the CCT literature were identified, including small sample sizes, lack of retention tests, and limited replication of findings by researchers independent of the commercial product. Therefore, evidence for sporting benefits is currently limited by the paucity of representative transfer tests and a focus on populations with health conditions. Conclusions: Currently there is little direct evidence that the use of CCT devices can transfer to benefits for sporting performance. This conclusion, however, stems more from a lack of experimental studies in the sporting field and a lack of experimental rigor, rather than convincing null effects. Subsequently, there is an opportunity for researchers to develop more reliable findings in this area through systematic assessment in athletic populations and major methodological improvements.Defence Human Capability Science and Technology Centre, U
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Efficient solution of the multichannel Lüscher determinant condition through eigenvalue decomposition
We present a method for efficiently finding solutions of L\"uscher's
quantisation condition, the equation which relates two-particle scattering
amplitudes to the discrete spectrum of states in a periodic spatial volume of
finite extent such as that present in lattice QCD. The approach proposed is
based on an eigenvalue decomposition in the space of coupled-channels and
partial-waves, which proves to have several desirable and simplifying features
that are of great benefit when considering problems beyond simple elastic
scattering of spinless particles. We illustrate the method with a toy model of
vector-vector scattering featuring a high density of solutions, and with an
application to explicit lattice QCD energy level data describing and
scattering in several coupled channels
An external focus of attention promotes flow experience during simulated driving
This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Taylor & Francis via the DOI in this record.Achieving a state of flow is associated with positive experiences and improved sporting performance (Jackson & Csikszentmihalyi, 1999). Focused attention is a fundamental component of the flow experience, but to date there has been little investigation of whether attention plays a causal role in creating flow, or is a product of it. Consequently, this study aimed to test the effect of an attentional focus manipulation on flow and performance in a simulated driving task. It was predicted that an external focus would lead to improved visuomotor control, greater flow experience and improved performance. Thirty-three participants from a student population completed the driving task under both internal and external focus instructions. Eye movements and steering wheel movements were recorded during each race. Participants reported greater flow experience (p 0.28). These findings suggest that adopting an external focus of attention may contribute to positive performance states such as flow
Letter by Werring et al Regarding Article, "Embolic Stroke, Atrial Fibrillation, and Microbleeds: Is There a Role for Anticoagulation?"
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Resonances in coupled πk,ηK scattering from lattice QCD
Coupled-channel and scattering amplitudes are determined by
studying the finite-volume energy spectra obtained from dynamical lattice QCD
calculations. Using a large basis of interpolating operators, including both
those resembling a construction and those resembling a pair of
mesons with relative momentum, a reliable excited-state spectrum can be
obtained. Working at , we find a gradual increase in
the phase-shift which may be identified with a broad scalar
resonance that couples strongly to and weakly to . The
low-energy behavior of this amplitude suggests a virtual bound-state that may
be related to the resonance. A bound state with is found
very close to the threshold energy, whose coupling to the
channel is compatible with that of the experimental . Evidence is
found for a narrow resonance in . Isospin--3/2 scattering is
also studied and non-resonant phase-shifts spanning the whole elastic
scattering region are obtained.We thank our colleagues within the Hadron Spectrum
Collaboration. We also thank R. Briceno, M.R. Pennington,
C.J.Shultz and A.P. Szczepaniak for fruitful discussions.
Chroma [63] and QUDA [64, 65] were used to perform
this work on clusters at Jefferson Laboratory under the
USQCD Initiative and the LQCD ARRA project. Gauge
configurations were generated using resources awarded
from the U.S. Department of Energy INCITE program
at Oak Ridge National Lab, the NSF Teragrid at the
Texas Advanced Computer Center and the Pittsburgh
Supercomputer Center, as well as at Jefferson Lab. RGE
and JJD acknowledge support from U.S. Department of
Energy contract DE-AC05-06OR23177, under which Jefferson
Science Associates, LLC, manages and operates
Jefferson Laboratory. JJD acknowledges support from
the U.S. Department of Energy Early Career award contract
DE-SC0006765. CET acknowledges partial support
from the Science and Technology Facilities Council
(U.K.) [grant number ST/L000385/1].This is the accepted manuscript. The final version is available at http://journals.aps.org/prd/abstract/10.1103/PhysRevD.91.054008
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