A mesoscale network model is proposed for the development of spike and wave discharges (SWDs) in the cortico-thalamo-cortical (C-T-C) circuit. It is based on experimental findings in two genetic ...models of childhood absence epilepsy-rats of WAG/Rij and GAERS strains. The model is organized hierarchically into two levels (brain structures and individual neurons) and composed of compartments for representation of somatosensory cortex, reticular and ventroposteriomedial thalamic nuclei. The cortex and the two thalamic compartments contain excitatory and inhibitory connections between four populations of neurons. Two connected subnetworks both including relevant parts of a C-T-C network responsible for SWD generation are modelled: a smaller subnetwork for the focal area in which the SWD generation can take place, and a larger subnetwork for surrounding areas which can be only passively involved into SWDs, but which is mostly responsible for normal brain activity. This assumption allows modeling of both normal and SWD activity as a dynamical system (no noise is necessary), providing reproducibility of results and allowing future analysis by means of theory of dynamical system theories. The model is able to reproduce most time-frequency changes in EEG activity accompanying the transition from normal to epileptiform activity and back. Three different mechanisms of SWD initiation reported previously in experimental studies were successfully reproduced in the model. The model incorporates also a separate mechanism for the maintenance of SWDs based on coupling analysis from experimental data. Finally, the model reproduces the possibility to stop ongoing SWDs with high frequency electrical stimulation, as described in the literature.
Introduction
Psychological distress during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic can manifest itself in interpretations of what is happening.
Objectives
To analyze response to COVID-19 pandemic in people with high ...level of esoteric thinking.
Methods
Internet survey 23.03.20-29.01.21 (N=621); Constructive Thinking Inventory(CTI); SCL-90R. It was proposed to assess statements: “The authorities are hiding the true scale of the coronavirus pandemic”, “Coronavirus is the result of biological weapons development”, “Coronavirus is a punishment or a sign sent to people from above”, “The emergence of the coronavirus is the Earth’s response to its pollution”. It was offered to express an opinion about pandemic. The answers were coded on the basis of qualitative semantic analysis.
Results
The growth of “esoteric thinking” was revealed (Std.J-T, p=.025). With a high level of esoteric thinking, emotional statements (“fear, anxiety, panic”) are more common (27.8% versus 16.9% for group with high and low level of «esoteric thinking»). Correlations of the level of «esoteric thinking» with level of depression (Spearman’s correlation ,085*), anxiety (,097*), GSI (,130**), «fears for the life» (23.4% versus 14.5%) show high emotional distress. With an increase in the level of «esoteric thinking», belief in various conspiracy theories increases; Spearman’s correlation ,370** with the belief is biological weapons, punishment for sins (,355**), belief in concealing information about the pandemic (,167**).
Conclusions
A high level of esoteric thinking is associated with an increased emotional response to the pandemic and with belief in conspiracy theories, and can increase emotional instability by itself also making constructive decisions difficult in situations related to protecting personal health and safety.
Disclosure
No significant relationships.
Introduction
The COVID-19 pandemic may bear serious consequences for mental health, such as the increase in psychopathological symptoms.
Objectives
Analysis of changes in depressive suicidal ideation ...symptoms and during the COVID-19. Depressive symptoms and suicidality were considered separately.
Methods
Internet survey 22.03.20–22.06.20 (908 responses), included SCL-90R, COPE, question about suicidal ideation.
Results
The analysis showed a positive correlation between suicidal thoughts and depression (Spearman .45; p<.001), a growing trend in the depressive symptoms (Std.J-T=2.51, p=.012), and the increase in severity of suicidal thoughts (Fisher’s Exact Test, 5.92, p=.046). Severity of depression positively correlates with the emergence of the virus in the city, contraction of disease among friends (Spearman .165; p<.001), sick and die fears, an also is linked to more expressed seeking «emotional, social and instrumental help» (COPE). The intensity of suicidal ideation was not associated with these factors, but negatively correlated with «acceptance» and «planning».
Conclusions
The increase in depressive symptoms and suicidal thoughts is determined by different factors. Depressive symptoms is associated with various fears and mediated by non-constructive ways of coping, but there are also constructive coping-strategies as the search for help. The intensity of suicidal thoughts is associated with higher levels of stress, which cannot be explained by the «objective» threat of contagion and fears, but is experienced as an «indefinite» anxiety, supposedly linked to the measures to counter the pandemic, such as restrictions on social interactions, loneliness and uncertainty. The increase in depressive symptoms is linked with an orientation to another person, but the suicidal ideation is not.
Disclosure
No significant relationships.
Introduction
COVID-19 pandemic leads to high levels of stress. Individuals who have previously sought psychiatric assistance are more sensitive.
Objectives
Analysis of the perception of the pandemic ...by people who have previously sought psychiatric care.
Methods
An internet-survey (20.03.2020 - 13.01.2021) (N=659; 152 – previously sought psychiatric assistance); included SCL-90-R; questions about the levels of anxiety, depression, and fear (assessed on 0-10 scale); question about opinion on COVID-19 pandemic (coded further on the basis of meaning); question about epidemiological situation of COVID-19 in respondents’ places of residence and their social circles.
Results
Individuals who had previously sought psychiatric assistance demonstrated higher levels of anxiety (5,533±2,489 versus 4,774±2,590), depression (4,945±2,926 versus 3,861±2,988), and fear (0,195±0,397 versus 0,278±0,448). They showed roughly equivalent reactions to both anticipated and real danger (z-score GSI of SCL-90-R 0,90 versus 0,90 for anticipated and real danger respectively), the same indicator of the control group (0,53 and 0,65). In statements about the pandemic, they are more often referred to the topic of “positive effects” of pandemic (3,30% versus 0,99%), expressed “curiosity” (5,92% versus 2,37%). They were less drawn to conspiracy (9,87% versus 16,17%), and exploited more readily the topic “about myself” (20,39% versus 13,21%), negative images of “the present” (3,64% versus с 1,58%) and “the future” (15,79% versus 9, 47%), vocabulary of “anger” (5,92% versus 2,17%).
Conclusions
Individuals who had previously sought psychiatric assistance were ambivalent in their attitudes towards pandemic, and tended to concentrate more on feelings and the negative vision of the future. They perceived anticipated danger roughly equivalent to real danger.
Disclosure
No significant relationships.
Introduction
Timely detection of suicidal thoughts is one of the ways to prevent suicide. Use the psychiatric interview only for this purpose in adolescents is often insufficient due to poor ...compliance. Thus, the search for objective neurophysiological markers of suicidal ideation in adolescents seems to be actual.
Objectives
The aim of the study was to reveal the relationships between pre-treatment EEG parameters and intensity of suicidal ideation in depressive female adolescents.
Methods
72 female depressive patients (all right-handed, age 16–25, mean 18,2±2.6 years old) were enrolled in the study. Pre-treatment total HDRS-17 scores varied from 13 to 43 (mean 26,9±7.5). Multichannel eyes closed EEG was recorded, and absolute spectral power was calculated in 8 narrow frequency sub-bands. All patients answered the inventory on intensity of suicidal thoughts. Spearman’s correlations between pre-treatment EEG parameters and suicidal ideation scores were analyzed.
Results
Scores of intensity of suicidal ideation correlated positively (p<0.05÷0.01) with values of EEG alpha2 (9-11 Hz) spectral power in F7, F8, F4, C3, C4, T4, P4 and O2 EEG leads, as well as with values of EEG delta (2-4 Hz) spectral power in F7, F3 and C3 EEG leads (p<0.05).
Conclusions
The intensity of suicidal ideation in depressive female adolescents associates with wide propagation of EEG alpha2, especially over the right hemisphere, and with EEG signs of decreased functional state of anterior regions of the left hemisphere. The study supported by RBRF grant No.20-013-00129a.
Disclosure
No significant relationships.
Introduction
Emotional regulation appears to be a key factor in self-injury. But body image also may play an important role in self-harming.
Objectives
Analysis of the relationship between ...non-suicidal self-injurious behavior and various aspects of body representation and body perception in adolescents and young women suffering from depression.
Methods
The study involved 85 women with endogenous depression. The answer to the question “Sometimes I purposely injure myself” was used as an indicator of self-harm. The methods include: SCL-90-R, Body Investment Scale (BIS), Physical Appearance Comparison Scale-Revised (PACS-R), Body Satisfaction Scale (BSS), Cambridge Depersonalization Scale (CDS).
Results
The relationship between self-injurious behavior and emotional, cognitive and behavioral characteristics of the self-body perception was revealed: more negative body image - dissatisfaction with its parts and the whole body (correlation with BSS_head ,238*, BSS_body ,472**, BSS_total_score ,453**), which is accompanied by behavioral manifestations - reduced “Protection” (correlation with BIS -,281**), higher rates of self-surveillance and comparisons of the self-body with others (PACS-R ,323**), depersonalization (CDS ,301**), body dissociation (CDS ABE ,346**), somatization (SCL-90-R ,226*).
Conclusions
For young women with depression, it has been shown that when self-harming, the self-body is “devalued”, perceived as “bad,” and the need to protect it is ignored. The severity of self-harm directly correlates with the phenomena of somatopsychic depersonalization. The results obtained may indicate that rejection of the self-body, “alienated” attitude and deprivation of the body of “subjectivity” can contribute to its use as a tool for solving psychological problems, which is a risk factor for the development, consolidation and aggravation of self-injurious behavior.
Disclosure
No significant relationships.
Introduction
One of the negative consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic may be an increase in somatization.
Objectives
identification of implicit characteristics of texts indicating the peculiarities ...of the opinion about the pandemic by people with high somatization level.
Methods
Survey (03/23/2020–01/29/2021, N=1188). Used: SCL-90-R, COPE, Constructive Thinking Inventory (CTI). It was offered to express an opinion on the pandemic. The statements were divided into the two text arrays - “high somatization” and “low somatization” (based on the parameter “somatization” SCL-90R). The frequency of words in these text arrays was estimated (LIWC).
Results
The analysis showed an increase in somatization as the pandemic developed (Std.J-T Statistic=4,327). The relationship between somatization and anxiety, sleep disturbances, and depression was revealed. Higher rates of somatization are associated with a decrease in emotional coping, «global constructive thinking» and «personal superstitious thinking», an increase in «categorical thinking». The connection between somatization and a number of non-constructive copings is shown. Texts associated with high somatization demonstrate higher number of pronouns of the first person (30.77%, 17.19%), a decrease in the tonality of words, a vocabulary (LIWC) of suffering, negative sthenic emotions (1,53%, 0,93%), a decrease in the vocabulary of motivation and resistance (0,93%, 1,49%), a decrease in vocabulary associated with the body (0,20%, 0,32%).
Conclusions
The connection between somatization and high emotional distress, which manifests itself in negative emotional vocabulary and is associated with a low level of emotional coping, is shown. The “representation” of the pandemic, presented in the text, is “divorced” from somatic manifestations, fear of illness and death.
Disclosure
No significant relationships.
Introduction
Vaccination is an effective way to control the infection. COVID-19 is a new disease, and so is the vaccine against it.
Objectives
The aim of the study was to investigate psychological ...characteristics associated with attitude towards vaccination.
Methods
An online survey was used (N=1336) (31.03.2020–9.02.2021). Respondents completed COPE, «Moral dilemmas» (30 Green’s Dilemmas, 10 of each type) and decided which strategy to stop the pandemic they found the effective (vaccination, herb immunity, innovative treatment or simply waiting until it fades away on its own). The study analyzed groups of those who see the benefits of vaccination and those who do not consider vaccination as a way to solve the problem of coronavirus.
Results
«Vaccination» attitude is more typical for men, for younger people and is also associated with assessment of COVID-19 as a dangerous disease (61% versus 21% for «vaccination» and «no vaccination» groups respectively), more diligent compliance with anti-epidemic rules (3,7 and 2,9 mean number of protection methods used), at the same time, the “vaccination” group responds about the less inconvenience associated with restrictions during the pandemic. This social attitude is associated with «need for creativity» and constructive coping: «planning», «concentration on emotions», the use of instrumental and emotional social support. There is a difference in personal moral choices (3,6 versus 2,9 for «vaccination» and «no vaccination» groups respectively), that demonstrated that positive attitude towards vaccination signifies an active personal position.
Conclusions
Positive attitude towards vaccination is associated with a proactive personal position and involvement in social interaction using interpersonal coping strategies.
Disclosure
No significant relationships.
Abstract
Manufacturing process management is a complex problem characterized by decision-making throughout the entire production process and is reduced to finding the best set of possible ...(alternative) in terms of some criterion or criteria for the use of available resources. The goal of the production process optimization is to analyze a set of alternative production options in complex systems and to determine the most rational possible state depending on the selected management strategies. The system contains many connections between elements and is influenced by random factors. It is not possible to create a real model for the system that is described analytically, but it can be investigated by using simulation modeling. In the mathematical modeling of the production process cluster analysis methods are used which allow to process a large amount of data from all possible states of the system and divide them into similar aggregates according to several characteristics. The analysis of the formed groups is carried out and the regularities that have the most significant impact on the occurrence of states into clusters are revealed.
Abstract
In this paper, the problem of phishing site detection using machine learning is discussed. The main goal is to study the effectiveness of various binary classification models when extracting ...only lexical features from a URL. Special attention has been given to the analysis of features obtained from the domain by calculating the similarity index using the whitelist. After training and testing the models, accuracy metrics were calculated and the results were compared. The lexical features that have the greatest weight for the classification of URLs are highlighted, and the advantages and disadvantages of this approach are described.
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