The complex interactions between obesity, metabolism and the brain

Obesity is increasing at unprecedented levels globally, and the overall impact ofobesity on the various organ systems of the body is only beginning to be fullyappreciated. Because of the myriad of direct and indirect effects of obesity causingdysfunction of multiple tissues and organs, it is likely that there will be heterogeneityin the presentation of obesity effects in any given population. Taken together, theserealities make it increasingly difficult to understand the complex interplay betweenobesity effects on different organs, including the brain. The focus of this review isto provide a comprehensive view of metabolic disturbances present in obesity, theirdirect and indirect effects on the different organ systems of the body, and to discussthe interaction of these effects in the context of brain aging and the development ofneurodegenerative diseases.Fil: Uranga, Romina Maria. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Departamento de Biología, Bioquímica y Farmacia; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Bahía Blanca. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca. Universidad Nacional del Sur. Instituto de Investigaciones Bioquímicas de Bahía Blanca; ArgentinaFil: Keller, Jeffrey Neil. Louisiana State University System; Estados Unido

Indirect Network Effects and Adoption Externalities

The conventional wisdom is that indirect network effects, unlike direct network effects, do not give rise to externalities. In this paper we show that under very general conditions, indirect network effects lead to adoption externalities. In particular we show that in markets where consumption benefits arise from hardware/software systems, adoption externalities will occur when there are (i) increasing returns to scale in the production of software, (ii) free-entry in software, and (iii) consumers have a preference for software variety. The private benefit of the marginal hardware purchaser is less than the social benefit since the marginal hardware purchaser does not internalize the welfare improving response of the software industry, particularly the increase in software variety, on inframarginal purchasers when the market for hardware expands.Network Externalities, Network Effects

A framework for documenting and analyzing life-cycle costs using a simple network based representation

The introduction of high reliability systems combined with new ways of operating complex systems, particularly in aircraft design and operation has received much attention in recent years. Some systems are now being introduced into service, however, justifying such systems on a financial basis is difficult and may act to limit the rate of introduction on new products. Conventional life cycle costing based on a hierarchical cost breakdown structure is poor at recording and analysing the cost implications of introducing new technologies that have effects that span more than one phase in the life cycle. There is a risk that too much emphasis is put on ‘faith’ that a candidate technology will reduce cost because the cost analysis methods lack descriptive and analytical power. We describe an approach to representing the costs associated with introducing new technologies and evaluating their total cost. Our aim was to facilitate the comparison of different technological choices in new product development, with a particular interest in how the perceived benefits of enhanced reliability systems can be shown in a way that is inclusive, objective and easy to understand

Life stories: an examination of some narratives of four men serving a life sentence

In 1976, the death sentence was abolished and replaced with mandatory life sentences with specified minimum periods for parole eligibility for those charged with murder. Although many lifers (those serving a life sentence) are released upon reaching their parole eligibility date they spend the rest of their lives under supervision and they face the prospect of being returned to prison for a violation of parole conditions. The notion of ‘serving time’ takes on a different dimension for lifers than it does for other offenders. In this study I interviewed four lifers and applied a grounded-theory research approach to the analysis of their transcripts. The systemic violence they endured contributed to a sense of hyper-vigilance which became inscribed in their persons and persisted in their post-prison demeanour. Their prison experience was tantamount to a limit-experience (a type of action or experience with approaches the edge of living in terms of its intensity and its seeming impossibility) and it is the difference derived from this experience that is one thing that sets lifers apart from others in the community. Inside, the prisoner learns to self-regulate his conduct in order to avoid punishment or have his behaviour read as normal but he also engages in overt and covert forms of resistance. Outside, the panoptic gaze has a powerful effect and self-regulation has become ingrained into the lifer’s being. Nonetheless all four of the iv participants talked with pride about their acts of resistance, even if the act was relatively insignificant. All the participants talked insightfully about the meaning of time. Penal time becomes ‘time served’ and an instrument of disempowerment. The mind numbing, repetitious routines of institutional life eventually become ingrained into their being to the extent that they can hardly conceive of any other manner of existence. Consequently reintegration for lifers is fraught with effects of time served and even the most successful of the participants reported he could never shake the ravages of ‘time in’. Ricoeurian theory and the use of narratives firmly anchors this thesis in the disciplines of the humanities. Narrative is a way of understanding life as it is lived. The use of narratives provides a means of gaining an in depth understanding of the lives of these participants and how the various dimensions of the life sentence have shaped their identities over time, while serving time.Master of Arts (MA) Interdisciplinary Humanitie

Relationships among therapists\u27 family background, personality traits, and therapeutic approach

This study investigated whether therapists\u27 health of family of origin, marital adjustment, and personality traits influence their approach to therapy in systematic and measurable ways. Approach to therapy referred to: (1) relative emphasis on clients\u27 family of origin versus current presenting problems, and (2) preference for doing individual versus conjoint marital therapy.;This study employed a survey design. Questionnaires were mailed to a national random sample of 200 counselors from the membership of the National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC). One hundred-six were returned, for a return rate of 53%. The following instruments were used to measure the variables in the study: the Family of Origin Scale; the Locke-Wallace Marital Adjustment Test; The Adjective Check List; and the Therapeutic Focus Scale, an instrument created by the author for this study.;The results were not statistically significant for any of the hypotheses in the study. However, the relationship between therapists\u27 family of origin and approach to therapy approached significance. That is, there was a trend for therapists from healthier families of origin to focus more on clients\u27 current presenting problems, and for therapists from less healthy families of origin to focus more on clients\u27 families of origin. An unexpected finding was that therapists who held a doctoral degree were relatively more likely to focus on clients\u27 current presenting problems, whereas holders of masters degrees were more likely to focus on clients\u27 families of origin. The overarching conclusion of this study, however, is that the influence of therapists\u27 family background and personality traits on their therapeutic approach appears to be too complex and subtle to be easily categorized and measured