Oxytocin has been investigated as a potential medication for psychiatric disorders.
This study prospectively investigates correlations between oxytocin and other neuropeptides plasma levels in ...patients with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) according to severity and treatment, as compared to controls.
Thirty-one children (6 neurotypical as control) participated in this study. The patients were classified into mildly and severely-affected, according to Autism Diagnostic Observation Schedule (ADOS) scores. Oxytocin, orexin A and B, α-MSH, β-endorphins, neurotensin and substance P were investigated using a quantitative multiplex assay or a competitive-ELISA method.
Plasma oxytocin levels differed between the groups (F (2, 24) =6.48, p=0.006, η2=0.35, observed power=86%): patients with the mild ASD had higher values of plasma oxytocin than those with the severe form (average difference=74.56±20.74pg/mL, p=0.004).
These results show a negative correlation between plasma levels of oxytocin and the severity of ASD and support the involvement of oxytocinergic mechanisms in ASD.
This paper presents the design and the simulation of a modified Ku broadband double ridged guide horn antenna (DRGH) feed by a coaxial input. On board the satellites, the horn antennas play an ...important role in the wider bandwidth services. Telecommunication satellite horn antennas are need due to the additional necessary bandwidth. Advantages of using this type of antenna are: a wide bandwidth to operate over, adequate directivity, high power and its simple construction. Traditionally, the most desired electromagnetic characteristics of this antenna are achieved by empirically finding sizes for different parameters. The optimized shape and dimensions of the antenna are determined in order to meet the specifications of a satellite communications scenario. For this a suitable taper for the ridges in the horn was designed and its impedance variations along the horn were shown. A step by step method is presented for the design of the DRGH antenna. In order to have a clear view regarding the effects of different parameters, Ansoft HFSS was used for the simulations of the DRGH in the range of operating frequencies. The antenna performance is evaluated in terms of gain, directivity, polarization, radiation patterns, voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) and field in plane E. The new design brings a higher gain and a good VSWR for the frequency range of Ku band. For a better matching of the feeder's characteristic impedance, the impedance bandwidth efficiency was broadened. The results show that the parameters near feeding point (the initial distance between ridges, the distance between the center of the probe and the cavity, the radius of inserted probe) play a significant role in controlling VSWR, gain, and in shaping the radiation pattern for high frequencies. By comparing it with the conventional version, the proposed antenna comes with a considerably better performance, smaller physical dimensions and less weight.
In this paper, the possibility to accurately reconstruct the energy and direction of high-energy cosmic rays using a network of 192 radio detectors, assembled on an area of about 20 km 2 , is ...investigated. Measurements are influenced by the properties of the detecting equipment; therefore, its behavior and limiting effects are discussed. The responses of the detection chain to radio pulses generated by cosmic particles with different characteristics are analyzed, and it is concluded that individual stations can serve as first estimators for the types of cosmic particles. The proposed radio network can resolve events (with energies higher than 10 18 eV) coming from N-NW direction, with zenith angles higher than 44°. Simulations have also shown that lighter particles that interact closer to the Earth are more likely to be detected.
In this paper, a semiempirical model is presented to characterize the transfer function and scattering parameters of a vertical dipole antenna in the 164-174 MHz bandwidth. The antenna is either ...radiating in free space or it is inserted in an air-filled borehole in a salt mine. The model uses the signal flow graph for modeling of the antenna coupling with the environment and the effects of radio wave propagation in the layered medium. Analytical results are fit to measurements performed with a vector network analyzer, and the transfer functions are obtained by applying a least mean square algorithm. Experimental data acquired in free space allow also the determination of the intrinsic parameters of the antennas, providing a stand-alone method.
Diabetes is one of the most prevalent chronic disorders, associating numerous somatic and behavioral modifications. Oxytocin has been widely studied for its involvement in social behavior and ...psychiatric disorders. This pilot study presents a series of 3 patients with type 1 diabetes and diabetic neuropathy in which the values of plasma oxytocin, neurotensin, β-endorphins, α-MSH, substance P and orexin A were measured in comparison to 3 healthy controls with matching ages. In the diabetic patients group, there was a strong negative correlation between the value of plasma glucose and oxytocin (r=-0.99, p=0.04), respectively neurotensin (r=-0.99, p=0.03). These values did not correlate in the control group. The results suggest that oxytocin, in conjunction with neurotensin, could be investigated as a potential early detection marker of diabetic neuropathy and, to our knowledge, this is the first report focusing on plasma oxytocin levels in patients with diabetic neuropathy.
Depression occurrence is two to three times higher in people with diabetes mellitus, the majority of the cases remaining under-diagnosed. The purpose of this review was to show the links between ...depression and diabetes, point out the importance of identifying depression in diabetic patients and identify the possible ways to address both diseases. Possible common pathophysiological mechanisms as stress and inflammation were explained, while emphasis was made on screening for depression in diabetic patients. An important aspect for the diabetic specialist would be the understanding of the common origins of diabetes and depression and the awareness of this quite common comorbidity, in order to improve the outcomes of both diseases.
DALYS = disability adjusted life years, DSM-5 = American Psychiatric Association Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, DM1 = Type 1 diabetes mellitus, DM2 = Type 2 diabetes mellitus, HPA-axis = hypothalamus - pituitary - adrenal axis, SNS = sympathetic nervous system, BDI = Beck Depression Inventory, CES-D = Centre for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, HADS = Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, PHQ = Patient Health Questionnaire.
Option pricing based on GARCH models is typically obtained under the assumption that the random innovations are standard normal (normal GARCH models). However, these models fail to capture the ...skewness and the leptokurtosis in financial data. We propose a new method to compute option prices using a nonparametric density estimator for the distribution of the driving noise. We investigate the pricing performances of this approach using two different risk neutral measures: the Esscher transform pioneered by Gerber and Shiu Gerber, H.U., Shiu, E.S.W., 1994a. Option pricing by Esscher transforms (with discussions). Trans. Soc. Actuar. 46, 99–91, and the extended Girsanov principle introduced by Elliot and Madan Elliot, R.J., Madan, D.G., 1998. A discrete time equivalent martingale 9 measure. Math. Finance 8, 127–152. Both measures are justified by economic arguments and are consistent with Duan’s Duan, J.-C., 1995. The GARCH option pricing model. Math. Finance 5, 13–32 local risk neutral valuation relationship (LRNVR) for normal GARCH models. The main advantage of the two measures is that one can price derivatives using skewed or heavier tailed innovations distributions to model the returns. An empirical study regarding the European Call option valuation on S&P500 Index shows: (i) under both risk neutral measures our semiparametric algorithm performs better than the existing normal GARCH models if we allow for a leverage effect and (ii) the pricing errors when using the Esscher transform are quite small even though our estimation procedure is based only on historical return data.
In this paper a one-dimensional surplus process is considered with a certain Sparre Andersen type dependence structure under general interclaim times distribution and correlated phase-type claim ...sizes. The Laplace transform of the time to ruin under such a model is obtained as the solution of a fixed-point problem, under both the zero-delayed and the delayed cases. An efficient algorithm for solving the fixed-point problem is derived together with bounds that illustrate the quality of the approximation. A two-dimensional risk model is analyzed under a bailout type strategy with both fixed and variable costs and a dependence structure of the proposed type. Numerical examples and ideas for future research are presented at the end of the paper.
The role of TIR1 in ubiquitination and regulated degradation of Aux/IAA transcription factors has been recognized for some years, but recent results have shown that TIR1 itself is also the binding ...site for auxin. The affinity and specificity of TIR1 match properties anticipated of a nuclear auxin receptor and we look at how they compare with the properties of ABP1. We also consider the mechanism of auxin action via TIR1 and the likelihood that the TIR1 family could account for all auxin responses. It seems likely that the TIR1 system can account for a large part of the repertoire of auxin-mediated responses, but maybe not all.
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