Processing speed is impaired in patients with psychosis, and deteriorates as a function of normal aging. These observations, in combination with other lines of research, suggest that psychosis may be ...a syndrome of accelerated aging. But do patients with psychosis perform poorly on tasks of processing speed for the same reasons as older adults? Fifty-one patients with psychotic illnesses and 90 controls with similar mean IQ (aged 19-69 years, all African American) completed a computerized processing-speed task, reminiscent of the classic digit-symbol coding task. The data were analyzed using the drift-diffusion model (DDM), and Bayesian inference was used to determine whether psychosis and aging had similar or divergent effects on the DDM parameters. Psychosis and aging were both associated with poor performance, but had divergent effects on the DDM parameters. Patients had lower information-processing efficiency ("drift rate") and longer nondecision time than controls, and psychosis per se did not influence response caution. By contrast, the primary effect of aging was to increase response caution, and had inconsistent effects on drift rate and nondecision time across patients and controls. The results reveal that psychosis and aging influenced performance in different ways, suggesting that the processing-speed impairment in psychosis is more than just accelerated aging. This study also demonstrates the potential utility of computational models and Bayesian inference for finely mapping the contributions of cognitive functions on simple neurocognitive tests.
On average, patients with psychosis perform worse than controls on visual change-detection tasks, implying that psychosis is associated with reduced capacity of visual working memory (WM). In the ...present study, 79 patients diagnosed with various psychotic disorders and 166 controls, all African Americans, completed a change-detection task and several other neurocognitive measures. The aims of the study were to (1) determine whether we could observe a between-group difference in performance on the change-detection task in this sample; (2) establish whether such a difference could be specifically attributed to reduced WM capacity (k); and (3) estimate k in the context of the general cognitive deficit in psychosis. Consistent with previous studies, patients performed worse than controls on the change-detection task, on average. Bayesian hierarchical cognitive modeling of the data suggested that this between-group difference was driven by reduced k in patients, rather than differences in other psychologically meaningful model parameters (guessing behavior and lapse rate). Using the same modeling framework, we estimated the effect of psychosis on k while controlling for general intellectual ability (g, obtained from the other neurocognitive measures). The results suggested that reduced k in patients was stronger than predicted by the between-group difference in g. Moreover, a mediation analysis suggested that the relationship between psychosis and g (i.e., the general cognitive deficit) was mediated by k. The results were consistent with the idea that reduced k is a specific deficit in psychosis, which contributes to the general cognitive deficit.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZRSKP
Unveiling the processes driving exotic plant invasion represent a central issue in taking decisions aimed at constraining the loss of biodiversity and related ecosystem services. The invasion success ...is often linked to anthropogenic land uses and warming due to climate change. We studied the responses of native versus casual and naturalised exotic species richness to land uses and climate at the landscape level, relying on a large floristic survey undertaken in North - Eastern Italy. Both climate and land use drove exotic species richness. Our results suggest that the success of plant invasion at this scale is mainly due to warm climatic conditions and the extent of urban and agricultural land, but with different effects on casual and naturalized exotic species. The occurrence of non-linear trends showed that a small percentage of extensive agricultural land in the landscape may concurrently reduce the number of exotic plant while sustaining native plant diversity. Plant invasion could be potentially limited by land management, mainly focusing on areas with extensive agricultural land use. A more consciousness land management is more and more commonly required by local administrations. According to our results, a shift of intensive to extensive agricultural land, by implementing green infrastructures, seems to be a win-win solution favouring native species while controlling the oversimplification of the flora due to plant invasion.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
The CUORE experiment, a ton-scale cryogenic bolometer array, recently began operation at the Laboratori Nazionali del Gran Sasso in Italy. The array represents a significant advancement in this ...technology, and in this work we apply it for the first time to a high-sensitivity search for a lepton-number-violating process: ^{130}Te neutrinoless double-beta decay. Examining a total TeO_{2} exposure of 86.3 kg yr, characterized by an effective energy resolution of (7.7±0.5) keV FWHM and a background in the region of interest of (0.014±0.002) counts/(keV kg yr), we find no evidence for neutrinoless double-beta decay. Including systematic uncertainties, we place a lower limit on the decay half-life of T_{1/2}^{0ν}(^{130}Te)>1.3×10^{25} yr (90% C.L.); the median statistical sensitivity of this search is 7.0×10^{24} yr. Combining this result with those of two earlier experiments, Cuoricino and CUORE-0, we find T_{1/2}^{0ν}(^{130}Te)>1.5×10^{25} yr (90% C.L.), which is the most stringent limit to date on this decay. Interpreting this result as a limit on the effective Majorana neutrino mass, we find m_{ββ}<(110-520) meV, where the range reflects the nuclear matrix element estimates employed.
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CMK, CTK, FMFMET, IJS, NUK, PNG, UL, UM
Apesar do desenvolvimento de estratégias terapêuticas para a leucemia linfocítica crônica (LLC), a maioria dos pacientes permanece limitadas. Ezrina (EZR) é um oncogene conhecido em tumores sólidos, ...mas seu papel em neoplasias hematológicas ainda é pouco explorado. Há evidências de que EZR desempenha uma função chave na sobrevivência celular e na ativação da sinalização mediada por BCR em linfomas de células B. Nesse estudo o papel da EZR foi investigado no contexto da LLC. Para estudos de expressão gênica, os dados de expressão de EZR mRNA de doadores saudáveis (n = 11) e pacientes com LLC (n = 103) foram derivados do banco de dados AmaZonia! (coorte de descoberta). Células CD19+ de sangue periférico foram coletadas de 56 pacientes com LLC e 10 doadores saudáveis pareados por idade do Hospital Universitário da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (coorte de validação). Para os ensaios funcionais e moleculares, amostras de sangue periférico de 24 pacientes com LLC do Instituto do Câncer do Estado de São Paulo. Todas as amostras foram obtidas após consentimento informado e protocolo aprovado pelo Comitê de Ética. Os dados de RNA-seq foram obtidos do cBioPortal e os transcritos foram pré-classificados de acordo com sua expressão diferencial (alta versus baixa expressão de EZR) usando o pacote limma-voom no Galaxy. A análise de enriquecimento de conjunto de genes (GSEA) foi realizado com os conjuntos de genes Hallmark. A linhagem celular MEC-1 (derivada de LLC) foi cultivada seguindo as recomendações do DSMZ. As células mononucleares de sangue periférico de pacientes com LLC foram cultivadas em RPMI e 10% soro autólogo. NSC305787 foi usado para inibição farmacológica de EZR. A viabilidade celular foi determinada por um ensaio de MTT, as taxas de apoptose foram determinadas por marcação com anexina V/PI e citometria de fluxo (CF), o conteúdo de DNA foi realizado por marcação com PI e CF, a expressão proteica foi determinada por Western Blot. As análises estatísticas foram realizadas usando teste de Mann-Whitney, teste t de Student ou ANOVA e pós-teste de Bonferroni. Um valor de p < 0,05 foi considerado estatisticamente significativo. O gene EZR é altamente expresso em linfócitos derivados de pacientes com LLC (todos p < 0.05) e essa alta expressão está positivamente associada a vias de sinalização e processos celulares que contribuem para a malignidade desta doença. A GSEA indicou que a alta expressão de EZR foi positivamente associada a vias de sinalização relevantes associadas ao desenvolvimento e progressão da LLC, incluindo p53, PI3K/AKT/mTOR, NFkB e MAPK. Além disso, demonstramos que a inibição farmacológica do EZR tem efeitos antineoplásicos em células primárias derivadas de pacientes com LLC. Em células MEC-1, a inibição de EZR reduziu a viabilidade, clonogenicidade, progressão do ciclo celular e induziu apoptose. A inibição de EZR também reduz a ativação do ERK, S6RP e NFkB, indicando que EZR não apenas se associa, mas participa da ativação dessas vias de sinalização na LLC. Em conclusão, nossos resultados indicam que EZR é altamente expresso na LLC e associado a assinaturas moleculares relevantes para o desenvolvimento e manutenção da doença. A inibição farmacológica de EZR atenua diversos comportamentos celulares e moleculares associados ao alto risco na LLC e podem apresentar uma nova classe de medicamentos para ampliar o repertório de tratamento desta doença. Financiamento: FAPESP, CNPq e CAPES.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Conclusions. The absence of recurrences after final nasal reconstruction demonstrates the reliability of our three-stage strategy and the necessity to delay nasal reconstruction, focusing attention ...on oncological safety for nasal non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) with mucosal invasion. Objectives. To validate a therapeutic strategy aimed at oncological safety and minimization of possible recurrences after full-thickness excision of nasal NMSC with mucosal invasion. The strategy was divided into three stages: surgical excision with clinically safe perilesional skin margins and extemporary frozen section histological control; 8-15 months follow-up leaving the nasal defect unreconstructed with a 'wait and see' strategy; new extemporary histological control of defect margins and, if negative, definitive reconstruction. Patients and methods. Twenty patients affected by nasal NMSC with mucosal invasion were treated and followed up. Results. Basal cell carcinoma was the most common lesion (75%), followed by squamous cell carcinoma (25%). Ultrasonography excluded lymphatic involvement for SCC. Before final reconstruction, extemporary histological examination revealed the presence of tumour cells in three patients. After tumour extirpation, these patients were resubmitted to a new follow-up period before reconstruction. No recurrences were observed after definitive nasal reconstruction in all patients during the 5-year follow-up.
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DOBA, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VSZLJ
Anodic titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanotubes were found to be highly active photocatalysts which can be used as templates for further modification in order to tailor their photocatalytic activity for a ...specific application. These photocatalysts possess a high surface area despite being supported, making them suitable candidates for water treatment as no post process recovery is required.
In this work, three different electrolyte compositions together with different process parameters were used to synthesise nanotube arrays having different morphologies. The mechanical and chemical stability together with their photocatalytic activity was studied following a twelve-week aging regimen. The nanotubular surfaces were exposed to flowing greywater under UV-VIS irradiation to simulate daylight. The mechanical and phase stability of the materials were found to be excellent with no degradation and change in crystalline structure being observed. The different morphologies provided different levels of resistance towards fouling with the nanotubes synthesised in the organic electrolyte being the most resistant surface. This resistance to fouling also resulted in the photocatalytic activity being sustained despite the forceful aging conditions. Overall, all the nanotube morphologies were stable making anodizing a suitable synthetic strategy to produce surfaces for real-life applications.
•Anodic nanotubes have been found to be extremely resistant to aging and deactivation following a 12-week aging.•High photocatalytic activities were retained despite the fouling of the surfaces.•Sustained antibacterial activities at the end of the aging experiment.•The inter-tube spaces act as catchment areas where debris can accumulate.•Nanotube layers obtained by anodic oxidation show promise for long term use in greywater treatment reactors.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
10.
A Trick for Dressing After Liposuction Buccheri, E. M.; Gullo, P.; Pozzi, M. ...
Aesthetic plastic surgery,
02/2011, Volume:
35, Issue:
1
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
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