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BACKGROUND: Morphology of the human cerebral cortex differs across psychiatric disorders, with neurobiology and developmental origins mostly undetermined. Deviations in the tangential growth of the cerebral cortex during pre/perinatal periods may be reflected in individual variations in cortical surface area later in life. METHODS: Interregional profiles of group differences in surface area between cases and controls were generated using T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging from 27,359 individuals including those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, and high general psychopathology (through the Child Behavior Checklist). Similarity of interregional profiles of group differences in surface area and prenatal cell-specific gene expression was assessed. RESULTS: Across the 11 cortical regions, group differences in cortical area for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, schizophrenia, and Child Behavior Checklist were dominant in multimodal association cortices. The same interregional profiles were also associated with interregional profiles of (prenatal) gene expression specific to proliferative cells, namely radial glia and intermediate progenitor cells (greater expression, larger difference), as well as differentiated cells, namely excitatory neurons and endothelial and mural cells (greater expression, smaller difference). Finally, these cell types were implicated in known pre/perinatal risk factors for psychosis. Genes coexpressed with radial glia were enriched with genes implicated in congenital abnormalities, birth weight, hypoxia, and starvation. Genes coexpressed with endothelial and mural genes were enriched with genes associated with maternal hypertension and preterm birth. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings support a neurodevelopmental model of vulnerability to mental illness whereby prenatal risk factors acting through cell-specific processes lead to deviations from t

The COVID-19 pandemic has confronted families, and especially children, with significant social and psychological challenges. The lockdown was accompanied by a substantial expansion of digital and social media use and an increased probability of coming into contact with different kinds of online risks. Focusing on cyberbullying, we report on findings from an online survey to investigate the extent to which children aged 10-18 (n = 1.541) experienced cyberbullying and cybervictimization during the first lockdown in Italy and Germany. Looking at the role of different variables through two binary logistic regressions, results indicate that the most consistent predictor in both forms of bullying experiences was children’s emotional distress. No statistically significant country differences emerged. Finally, the implications and limitations of this work are discussed.

Background: Morphology of the human cerebral cortex differs across psychiatric disorders, with neurobiology and developmental origins mostly undetermined. Deviations in the tangential growth of the cerebral cortex during pre/perinatal periods may be reflected in individual variations in cortical surface area later in life. Methods: Interregional profiles of group differences in surface area between cases and controls were generated using T1-weighted magnetic resonance imaging from 27,359 individuals including those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, autism spectrum disorder, bipolar disorder, major depressive disorder, schizophrenia, and high general psychopathology (through the Child Behavior Checklist). Similarity of interregional profiles of group differences in surface area and prenatal cell-specific gene expression was assessed. Results: Across the 11 cortical regions, group differences in cortical area for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, schizophrenia, and Child Behavior Checklist were dominant in multimodal association cortices. The same interregional profiles were also associated with interregional profiles of (prenatal) gene expression specific to proliferative cells, namely radial glia and intermediate progenitor cells (greater expression, larger difference), as well as differentiated cells, namely excitatory neurons and endothelial and mural cells (greater expression, smaller difference). Finally, these cell types were implicated in known pre/perinatal risk factors for psychosis. Genes coexpressed with radial glia were enriched with genes implicated in congenital abnormalities, birth weight, hypoxia, and starvation. Genes coexpressed with endothelial and mural genes were enriched with genes associated with maternal hypertension and preterm birth. Conclusions: Our findings support a neurodevelopmental model of vulnerability to mental illness whereby prenatal risk factors acting through cell-specific processes lead to deviations from t

The accelerometers of the SESAME/CASSE instrument aboard Rosetta's lander Philae recorded surface waves produced during the MUPUS hammering phase. After presenting evidence that all feet of Philae were in contact with the ground, we analyze group arrival time differences between the three feet of Philae and obtain a Rayleigh wave velocity between 79 m s(-1) and 400 m s(-1) ', which translate into a shear modulus mu 3.6 MPa <=mu <= 346 MPa, and a Young's modulus E of 7.2 MPa <= E <= 980 MPa (with the lower bounds being better constrained than the upper bounds). Mixture models of snow and regolith suggest a porosity below 0.74. From the frequency-dependent dispersion of the average signal we conclude that the above values are valid for a surface layer of 10 cm to 50 cm thickness, while rigidity is significantly reduced underneath this layer. Our findings are consistent with the concept of a thin consolidated shell around a less rigid interior. (C) 2017 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Inc.

This contribution corrects a table given in a previous contribution. (C) 2016 Published by Elsevier Ltd. on behalf of IAA.

Introduction: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is more prevalent in women. Our goal is to determine the effects of 17β-estradiol (E2) on the development of fibrosis and to compare circulating levels of estrogens in SSc patients and healthy controls.Methods: Using primary human dermal fibroblasts, we evaluated the effect of E2 on fibronectin (FN) expression with and without the estrogen receptor (ER) antagonist ICI 182,780, inhibitors of signaling, propyl-pyrazole-triol, an ERα specific ligand, and genistein, an ERβ selective ligand, to identify the signaling pathways mediating E2's effect. We confirmed the fibrotic effect of E2 in human skin using an ex vivo organ culture model. Lastly, we measured levels of E2 and estrone in serum samples from SSc patients with diffuse cutaneous involvement and healthy controls using mass spectrometry.Results: E2 increased expression of FN in dermal fibroblasts. ICI 182,780, inositol-1,4,5-triphosphate inhibitor, and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase inhibitor blocked the effects of E2 on FN. Propyl-pyrazole-triol, but not genistein, significantly increased FN expression. Ex vivo, E2 induced fibrosis of human skin. The effects of E2 were abrogated by ICI 182,780. Circulating levels of E2 and estrone were significantly increased in sera of patients with diffuse cutaneous SSc.Conclusion: Our findings implicate estrogens in the fibrotic process and may explain the preponderance of SSc in women. ICI 182,780 or other ER signaling antagonists may be effective agents for the treatment of fibrosis. © 2013 Aida-Yasuoka et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

The test phase of the Global Positioning System has demonstrated its outstanding performance. With the differential method the relative accuracies achieve values that open its use even for the precision approach of a/c landing. The development of new techniques allows the 3-dimensional attitude measurement and angular rate determination. Diverse civilian groups will use GPS in the future; in particular motor car drivers, geodesists, civil engineers etc. This review paper describes the present state of development and discusses the various practical applications., This article is from 'Efficient Conduct of Individual Flights and Air Traffic or Optimum Utilization of Modern Technology for the Overall Benefit of Civil and Military Airspace Users. Conference Proceedings of the Symposium of the Guidance and Control Panel (42nd) Held in Brussels, Belgium on 10-13 June 1986,' AD-A182 150, p21-1-21-18.

In the U and Au bearing pyritic quartz pebble conglomerates of the Proterozoic Witwatersrand sediments, U occurs both as detrital phases, generally uraninite, and finely disseminated as low concentrations within the matrix 235U-fission track autoradiography in mica detectors was employed to ivestigate the spatial distribution of the disseminated U in the matrix. Results were compared with those of similar material from the Uitkyk Formation of the Archaean Pietersburg Greenstone Belt. In the samples from the Uitkyk Formation only the disseminated form of U was detected. The U-micromapping revealed that U was repeatedly redistributed during and/or after regional metamorphism. A very recent redistribution caused by weathering was also observed in the Uitkyk conglomerate samples. No support was found for a synsedimentary introduction of the non-detrital uranium into basins of deposition, and event which would require a prevailing oxidising environment during the early Precambrian., In the U and Au bearing pyritic quartz pebble conglomerates of the Proterozoic Witwatersrand sediments, U occurs both as detrital phases, generally uraninite, and finely disseminated as low concentrations within the matrix 235U-fission track autoradiography in mica detectors was employed to ivestigate the spatial distribution of the disseminated U in the matrix. Results were compared with those of similar material from the Uitkyk Formation of the Archaean Pietersburg Greenstone Belt. In the samples from the Uitkyk Formation only the disseminated form of U was detected. The U-micromapping revealed that U was repeatedly redistributed during and/or after regional metamorphism. A very recent redistribution caused by weathering was also observed in the Uitkyk conglomerate samples. No support was found for a synsedimentary introduction of the non-detrital uranium into basins of deposition, and event which would require a prevailing oxidising environment during the early Precambrian.

Two tunnels, up to 55 m below the surface, have been excavated inside the slope of a river valley during reservoir construction in the Carpathian Mountains in southern Poland. They were constructed through strong and hard sandstone beds interbedded with weak and soft clay shales and intersected by two systems of joints. Systematic measurements of roof settlements, convergence and surface settlement were collected during tunnelling and used as the basis for modelling deformation processes and the relationships between tunnel roof and ground surface settlements., Two tunnels, up to 55 m below the surface, have been excavated inside the slope of a river valley during reservoir construction in the Carpathian Mountains in southern Poland. They were constructed through strong and hard sandstone beds interbedded with weak and soft clay shales and intersected by two systems of joints. Systematic measurements of roof settlements, convergence and surface settlement were collected during tunnelling and used as the basis for modelling deformation processes and the relationships between tunnel roof and ground surface settlements.

A description is presented of the 1988 discovery and subsequent evaluation (to 1991) of diamond bearing kimberlites in the Fort a la Corne area, Saskatchewan, by Uranerz Exploration and Mining Limited. Cameco Corporation began participating as a joint venture partner (50%) in mid-1989. The first indicators that kimberlite-type intrusions might exist in the area came from Geological Survey of Canada aeromagnetic maps. Because of the overburden thickness (over 100 m), magnetometer surveys continue to be the main exploration tool in defining pipe locations and sizes. Magnetometer surveys in varying levels of detail have outlined one main cluster and two sub-clusters. In excess of 70 individual targets have been interpreted from the magnetics as probably representing kimberlites. The size range of the individual magnetically-defined bodies is between 1 ha and 74 ha. Proof that the magnetic anomalies were kimberlite intrusions came in 1989 when each of seven test holes, all drilled on different targets, intersected the potential diamond host rock. The majority of the targets tested were diamond bearing, with the indicator mineral chemistries suggesting that both peridotitic and eclogitic diamond parageneses could be expected. In all, 18 individual kimberlite bodies have been drill tested. A total of 39 bulk samples, amounting to 186 t were processed in 1990 and 1991. 160 diamond were recovered, averaging 0.04 carats in weight, the largest being 0.6 carats. The diamonds are predominantly gem-quality stones., A description is presented of the 1988 discovery and subsequent evaluation (to 1991) of diamond bearing kimberlites in the Fort a la Corne area, Saskatchewan, by Uranerz Exploration and Mining Limited. Cameco Corporation began participating as a joint venture partner (50%) in mid-1989. The first indicators that kimberlite-type intrusions might exist in the area came from Geological Survey of Canada aeromagnetic maps. Because of the overburden thickness (over 100 m), magnetometer surveys continue to be the main exploration tool in defining pipe locations and sizes. Magnetometer surveys in varying levels of detail have outlined one main cluster and two sub-clusters. In excess of 70 individual targets have been interpreted from the magnetics as probably representing kimberlites. The size range of the individual magnetically-defined bodies is between 1 ha and 74 ha. Proof that the magnetic anomalies were kimberlite intrusions came in 1989 when each of seven test holes, all drilled on different targets, intersected the potential diamond host rock. The majority of the targets tested were diamond bearing, with the indicator mineral chemistries suggesting that both peridotitic and eclogitic diamond parageneses could be expected. In all, 18 individual kimberlite bodies have been drill tested. A total of 39 bulk samples, amounting to 186 t were processed in 1990 and 1991. 160 diamond were recovered, averaging 0.04 carats in weight, the largest being 0.6 carats. The diamonds are predominantly gem-quality stones.

Diamond exploration by the Uranerz company in Saskatchewan is discussed., Diamond exploration by the Uranerz company in Saskatchewan is discussed.