scholarly journals Atypical processing of uncertainty in individuals at risk for psychosis

2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
David M. Cole ◽  
Andreea O. Diaconescu ◽  
Ulrich J. Pfeiffer ◽  
Kay H. Brodersen ◽  
Christoph D. Mathys ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Computational Modelling ◽  
Cortical Activation ◽  
Fmri Data ◽  
Prediction Errors ◽  
Global Functioning ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Prefrontal Cortical ◽  
Insula Cortex ◽  
And Control

AbstractBackgroundCurrent theories of psychosis highlight the role of abnormal learning signals, i.e., prediction errors (PEs) and uncertainty, in the formation of delusional beliefs. We employed computational analyses of behaviour and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to examine whether such abnormalities are evident in at-risk mental state (ARMS) individuals.MethodsNon-medicated ARMS individuals (n=13) and control participants (n=13) performed a probabilistic learning paradigm during fMRI data acquisition. We used a hierarchical Bayesian model to infer subject-specific computations from behaviour – with a focus on PEs and uncertainty (or its inverse, precision) at different levels, including environmental ‘volatility’ – and used these computational quantities for analyses of fMRI data.ResultsComputational modelling of ARMS individuals’ behaviour indicated volatility estimates converged to significantly higher levels than in controls. Model-based fMRI demonstrated increased activity in prefrontal and insular regions of ARMS individuals in response to precision-weighted low-level outcome PEs, while activations of prefrontal, orbitofrontal and anterior insula cortex by higher-level PEs (that serve to update volatility estimates) were reduced. Additionally, prefrontal cortical activity in response to outcome PEs in ARMS was negatively associated with clinical measures of global functioning.ConclusionsOur results suggest a multi-faceted learning abnormality in ARMS individuals under conditions of environmental uncertainty, comprising higher levels of volatility estimates combined with reduced cortical activation, and abnormally high activations in prefrontal and insular areas by precision-weighted outcome PEs. This atypical representation of high- and low-level learning signals might reflect a predisposition to delusion formation.

Nature and Origin of Micropollutants

1982 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. 5-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
D Mackay
Keyword(s):  
Adverse Effects ◽  
Toxicity Data ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Environmental Models ◽  
Toxic Event ◽  
And Control

The origins of “micropollutants” are discussed and classified. It is suggested that assessing the risk and ensuring an acceptably low level of adverse effects from these substances requires information or control of three factors (exposure, toxicity and characteristics of the victim or organism) which combine to generate the toxic event. Methods of estimating exposure are discussed, especially environmental models. Ultimately, it should be possible to couple these models to toxicity data in a rational, rigorous manner to elucidate the extent of risk and control it to acceptable levels.

scholarly journals Epidemiological aspects of human and canine visceral leishmaniasis in Montes Claros, State of Minas Gerais, Brazil, between 2007 and 2009

2011 ◽  
Vol 44 (5) ◽  
pp. 561-566 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patrícia Fernandes do Prado ◽  
Marília Fonseca Rocha ◽  
Joel Fontes de Sousa ◽  
Dênio Iuri Caldeira ◽  
Gustavo Fontes Paz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽  
Minas Gerais ◽  
Age Group ◽  
Canine Visceral Leishmaniasis ◽  
Disease Notification ◽  
Epidemiological Features ◽  
Male Patients ◽  
And Control ◽  
The City

INTRODUCTION: Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) is an expanding zoonosis in Brazil and is becoming urbanized in several Brazilian regions. This study aims to describe the epidemiological features of human and canine VL in the municipality of Montes Claros, State of Minas Gerais, by focusing on their spatial distribution. METHODS: Data concerning human cases and reactive dogs for VL from 2007 to 2009 were obtained from the Information System for Disease Notification (SINAN) and from reports of the local Centro de Controle de Zoonoses (CCZ), respectively. The addresses of human and canine cases have been georeferenced and localized in thematic maps, allowing their spatial visualization as well as the identification of areas at risk of VL transmission. RESULTS: Ninety-five cases of human VL were reported in the period. The 0-9-year-old age group (48.4%) was the most affected, within which the majority consisted of male patients (64%). Of the samples collected for the canine serological survey, 2,919 (6.3%) were reactive to VL. The spatial localization of these cases shows that the disease was scattered in the urban area of the municipality. Areas showing a higher dissemination risk were concentrated in the central, northwestern, and southern regions of the city. CONCLUSIONS: Identifying the areas most at risk in urban Montes Claros may help guide actions toward local epidemiological vigilance and control.

scholarly journals Gremmeniella abietina (Lagerb.) Morelet: Distribution in Serbia and Montenegro, significance and control

2008 ◽  
pp. 107-116 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dragan Karadzic ◽  
Slobodan Milanovic
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Scots Pine ◽  
Pathogenic Fungi ◽  
Infection Process ◽  
Serbia And Montenegro ◽  
Copper Fungicides ◽  
Mountainous Regions ◽  
Dead Trees ◽  
Conifer Plantations ◽  
And Control

Fungus G. abietina is one of the most dangerous pathogenic fungi occurring in conifer plantations and Pinus species are especially at risk. Among pines, the most susceptible species is Austrian pine, and particularly endangered plantations are between 8 and 25 years of age. This fungus was found in Serbia and Montenegro on Austrian pine, Scots pine and spruce, but it was only in mountainous regions (Kopaonik, Vlasina, Goc, Durmitor). G. abietina forms both stages (anamorph and teleomorph) in its development. The imperfect form is far more significant for the infection process, i.e. the pycnidial stage and generally all infections are caused by conidia (pycnospores). Apothecia will be formed on the bark only two years after tree dying. In the severely infected plantations, all dead trees should be felled and removed, and the remaining trees should be treated with copper fungicides.

Response to William E. Connolly's review of Peripheral Visions: Publics, Power and Performance in Yemen

2010 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 298-300
Author(s):  
Lisa Wedeen
Keyword(s):  
At Risk ◽  
Social Control ◽  
Political Power ◽  
Colonial Rule ◽  
Multiple Points ◽  
Political Experience ◽  
Power And Resistance ◽  
And Performance ◽  
And Control ◽  
Points Of Resistance

William E. Connolly's review of Peripheral Visions is what any author should want, a thoughtful, appreciative account of the book's merits and an invitation to push aspects of the argument further than the book currently does. One point of clarification: I did not mean to suggest that Foucault's work should be read only in terms of its emphasis on coherence and control, or that my own is intended as a blanket critique of his. My understanding of political power and resistance is beholden to Foucault's insofar as he shows how power depends on multiple points of resistance. He thus describes how existing mechanisms of social control get reproduced and yet are also vulnerable to creativity, innovation, and surprise. My point was to challenge Foucault-inspired scholars of colonialism, in particular, who tend to exaggerate the capacities of colonial administrations and to neglect not only outright challenges to colonial rule, but also the ways in which colonial rule could, at times, be irrelevant to inhabitants' political experience. The goal was to distinguish between the stated claims of colonial rulers and colonialism's actual effects. At stake is not simply a reading of Foucault, of course, but a sense of what matters politically—whether scholars emphasize the reproductive power of institutions and ideas or whether they focus on how reproduction places those very ideas and institutions at risk. I want to chart a middle course here, neither exaggerating coherence nor romanticizing resistance.

scholarly journals A Vigilance Explanation of Musical Chills? Effects of Loudness and Brightness Manipulations

2020 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 205920432091565
Author(s):  
Scott Bannister
Keyword(s):  
Emotional Experience ◽  
Spectral Brightness ◽  
Musical Structure ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Complex Interactions ◽  
Musical Structures ◽  
Study Participants ◽  
And Control ◽  
Auditory Looming ◽  
Control Piece

Recent research has suggested that low-level psychoacoustic parameters such as loudness and spectral brightness are correlated with musical chills, a subjective emotional experience accompanied by goosebumps, shivers, and tingling sensations. These relationships may be explained by a vigilance theory of chills, through the process of auditory looming; however, these correlations or theories have never been causally tested. In the current study, participants ( N = 40) listened to five variations (original, low loudness, high loudness, low brightness, high brightness) of an experimental and control piece of chills music, characterized by a crescendo and guitar solo respectively; this qualitative distinction was made based on whether the underlying musical structure of the pieces was or was not capable of engaging auditory looming processes. It was predicted that increases in loudness would result in increased chills frequency across participants, indicated by button presses; brightness was included as an exploratory parameter. Results show that for the experimental piece, increases in loudness resulted in significantly more frequent chills experiences, and increases in brightness significantly reduced the frequency of chills, whereas no effects were found for the control piece. Findings are discussed in terms of vigilance and social bonding theories of chills, and the complex interactions between low-level psychoacoustic properties and higher-level musical structures.

scholarly journals Gender differences of patients at-risk for psychosis regarding symptomatology, drug use, comorbidity and functioning – Results from the EU-GEI study

2019 ◽  
Vol 59 ◽  
pp. 52-59 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie Menghini-Müller ◽  
Erich Studerus ◽  
Sarah Ittig ◽  
Ulrike Heitz ◽  
Laura Egloff ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Gender Differences ◽  
At Risk ◽  
Drug Use ◽  
Anxiety Disorders ◽  
Statistical Power ◽  
Negative Symptoms ◽  
Psychotic Disorders ◽  
Cannabis Use ◽  
First Episode ◽  
Global Functioning

AbstractBackground:Gender differences in symptomatology in chronic schizophrenia and first episode psychosis patients have often been reported. However, little is known about gender differences in those at risk of psychotic disorders. This study investigated gender differences in symptomatology, drug use, comorbidity (i.e. substance use, affective and anxiety disorders) and global functioning in patients with an at-risk mental state (ARMS) for psychosis.Methods:The sample consisted of 336 ARMS patients (159 women) from the prodromal work package of the EUropean network of national schizophrenia networks studying Gene-Environment Interactions (EU-GEI; 11 centers). Clinical symptoms, drug use, comorbidity and functioning were assessed at first presentation to an early detection center using structured interviews.Results:In unadjusted analyses, men were found to have significantly higher rates of negative symptoms and current cannabis use while women showed higher rates of general psychopathology and more often displayed comorbid affective and anxiety disorders. No gender differences were found for global functioning. The results generally did not change when corrected for possible cofounders (e.g. cannabis use). However, most differences did not withstand correction for multiple testing.Conclusions:Findings indicate that gender differences in symptomatology and comorbidity in ARMS are similar to those seen in overt psychosis and in healthy controls. However, observed differences are small and would only be reliably detected in studies with high statistical power. Moreover, such small effects would likely not be clinically meaningful.

scholarly journals Prevalence, awareness and control of hypertension among Tunisian adults, 2016

2020 ◽  
Vol 30 (Supplement_5) ◽  
Author(s):  
I Cherif ◽  
N Ben Mansour ◽  
S Rejaibi ◽  
N Zoghlami ◽  
O Saidi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
Healthy Lifestyle ◽  
Health Examination ◽  
Control Input ◽  
Hypertension Control ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Lifestyle Measures ◽  
Hypertension Screening ◽  
And Control

Abstract Background Hypertension is becoming increasingly frequent mainly in low and middle income countries. We aimed to assess the prevalence, awareness and control of hypertension among Tunisian adults and identify associated factors with hypertension control. Methods Data were obtained from the 2016 Tunisian Health Examination Survey, a household survey stratified at three degrees. Adults (age≥18 years old) were interviewed using an individual questionnaire, then three blood pressure measurement were performed. Participants were considered hypertensive if they were previously diagnosed or had a systolic blood pressure (SBP) ≥140mmhg and/or a diastolic blood pressure (DBP) ≥ 90mmhg during the survey. Were considered under control, treated persons with SBP<140 mmhg and a DBP<90 mmhg. A weighted binary logistic regression was used to assess associated factors with hypertension control. Input model variables were: sociodemographic variables, comorbidities and lifestyle factors. Results In this study, 8908 adults were enrolled with a mean age of 42.8±0.2 years old and a sex ratio (M/F) equal to 0.96. Among respondents, 29.3% (95% CI: 28.2-30.5) had hypertension, 60.7% (95% CI: 58.7-62.6) of them were unaware of their disease and only (29.5%, 95% CI: 28.2-30.5) of treated patients had a controlled hypertension. In multivariate analysis, eating more than five fruits and vegetables per day was independently associated with a better hypertension control (AOR=1.7, 95% CI: 1.1-2.5). In addition, participants living in northern Tunisia were more likely to have a controlled hypertension than those living in the south (AOR=1.9, 95% CI: 1.2-2.9). Conclusions Almost third of Tunisian adults were hypertensive. Low level of awareness and control of hypertension were found in this study. This highlights the urge to reinforce hypertension screening interventions and to strengthen educational programs on this disease with a focus on blood pressure monitoring and healthy lifestyle measures. Key messages Tunisian adults had a low level of awareness and control of hypertension. Reinforcing hypertension screening interventions and increasing awareness about healthy lifestyle measures are recommended.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document