A computational model of Parkinsonian handwriting that highlights the role of the indirect pathway in the basal ganglia

Parkinsonian handwriting is typically characterized by micrographia, jagged line contour, and unusual fluctuations in pen velocity. In this paper we present a computational model of handwriting generation that highlights the role of the basal ganglia, particularly the indirect pathway. Whereas reduced dopamine levels resulted in reduced letter size, transition of STN–GPe dynamics from desynchronized (normal) to synchronized (PD) condition resulted in increased fluctuations in velocity in the model. We also present handwriting data from PD patients (n = 34) who are at various stages of disease and had taken medication various lengths of time before the handwriting sessions. The patient data are compared with those of age-matched controls. PD handwriting statistically exhibited smaller size and larger velocity fluctuation compared to normal handwriting.     

Immigration and Psychosis: an Exploratory Study

This qualitative study aimed to explore views (and related experiences) of healthcare providers regarding immigration and its relation to psychosis, such as schizophrenia, particularly to identify support needs and challenges of immigrants with psychosis and related challenges and enablers of their mental health service providers. The objectives of this study were to identify (1) barriers and enablers of mental health and other services for Canadian immigrants with psychosis and (2) barriers and enablers for their mental health service providers. The study used a phenomenological approach to elicit views of 12 mental healthcare providers with experience in providing mental healthcare to immigrants with psychosis. Semi-structured individual interview data obtained were coded and thematically analyzed. Six themes in relation to the experience of service provision to immigrants with psychosis were found: the immigration process, service availability and accessibility, social determinants of health, cultural context, psychosocial stressors, and enablers and facilitators of recovery. The most prominent challenges/barriers were related to cultural context, language, social and health services, and support. Most mental healthcare providers believed that immigration process precipitates the first episode of psychosis in a majority of immigrants and that psychosis was undetected/non-present when in the country of origin. This study demonstrated system challenges and related opportunities for service provision for immigrants with psychosis. We identified important areas for intervention to reduce disparities for immigrants with psychosis in their use of social and health services. Future directions for research in relation to immigration of people with psychosis are discussed.     

Relative deprivation and educational aspirations of 15-year-old adolescents in Japan

Social Psychology of Education - Higher education increases the likelihood of a healthy and successful life. This study investigated the association between relative deprivation and aspiration for...     

Dielectric relaxation in ternary systems of alcohols and nitriles in benzene at microwave frequency

The permittivity and the dielectric loss of ternary mixtures of equimolar concentrations of m-cresol, o-cresol with acetonitrile, acrylonitrile and benzonitrile in benzene have been measured at 8.33 GHz and 308 K. The distribution parameter α, the most probable relaxation time τ, the relaxation time for overall rotation of the molecule τ(1), the relaxation time for group rotation τ(2), and the excess dipole moment for various systems have been calculated by the Cole-Cole and Higasi methods. Data has been analyzed in terms of two-relaxation processes: overall rotation and group rotation.     

Effects of situational demand upon social enjoyment and preference in schizotypy

The socioemotional functioning of schizophrenic and schizotypic individuals is marked by withdrawal, poor organization, and limited emotional displays. Such behavioral tendencies and lack of social enjoyment in schizotypy could be linked to the relative situational demands or role ambiguity inherent in specific social activities. To determine whether high-schizotypy individuals prefer more clearly role-defined social activities (e.g., visiting relatives) to more ambiguous, novel situations (e.g., going alone to a party), the authors gathered reports from 52 high-schizotypy and 60 low-schizotypy individuals on their enjoyment and frequency of engaging in social situations varying in relative situational demand. Parallel reports were obtained from knowledgeable others. Group x Situational Demand interactions revealed the hypothesized pattern of reduced frequency and enjoyment ratings for ambiguous or novel situations by the high-schizotypy participants in both self and others' reports. Groups were more comparable in their reported frequency and enjoyment of less ambiguous situations. Results suggest the importance of situational demands in the socioemotional experience and behavioral withdrawal in schizotypy.     

Pressure-induced structural transition in UGa2

High-pressure X-ray diffraction has been performed on UGa₂ up to 20?GPa using a diamond anvil cell. UGa₂ exhibits the AlB₂-type structure with space group P6/mmm at room temperature and atmospheric pressure. At about 16?GPa a reversible structural transformation to a tetragonal phase was observed. The bulk modulus of the AlB₂-type phase has been determined to be ～100?GPa, which is comparable to rare earth digallides like TmGa₂ and HoGa₂.     

Hardiness and Personality as Predictors of Military Enlistment Intention among the Indian Youths

The present study examines the role of hardiness and personality factors in predicting youth’s enlistment intention towards Indian defence services. The participants were (n?=?2500) higher secondary school students from the four states (TamilNadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh). The youth with high intention to join army scored higher on the measures of hardiness construct and two personality dimensions i.e. Extraversion and Conscientiousness. Furthermore, results of logistic analysis confirmed that the hardiness and personality factors significantly predicted the enlistment intentions of youth. The implications for recruitment of youths for the Defence Services are discussed.