Search results for "Adverse conditions"
showing 7 items of 7 documents
Gene-environment interaction as a predictor of early adjustment in first episode psychosis.
2017
Abstract Background This study aims to explore the gene-environment interaction hypothesis applied to pre-symptomatic neurodevelopmental phenotypes of first episode psychosis (FEP), that is, genetic factors might increase vulnerability to the effects of environmental adverse conditions occurring at later stages of development. Methods We constructed a schematic ‘two-hit’ model, with Val/Val homozygosity for the catechol- O -methyltransferase ( COMT ) Val158Met polymorphism as the ‘first hit’ and history of obstetric complications and parental socioeconomic status as ‘second hits’. Early adjustment, measured using the Premorbid Adjustment Scale, was considered the main outcome. The study pop…
Educational systems efficiency in European Union countries
2011
Abstract We use the PISA 2006 results to analyse students’ proficiency in EU countries with regard to two indexes that represent the home background, viz the educational resources available at home and the family background of students. However, many factors affect proficiency and therefore, using a DEA-bootstrap, we intend to measure the efficiency of the European educational systems as capability to ensure high students’ competencies despite adverse conditions about the educational resources available at home and the family background. Results show an unexpected differentiation among EU countries. In particular, the most developed countries often show disappointing students’ proficiency d…
Effects of confinement on insulin amyloid fibrils formation.
2006
Insulin, a 51-residue protein universally used in diabetes treatment, is known to produce amyloid fibrils at high temperature and acidic conditions. As for other amyloidogenic proteins, the mechanisms leading to nucleation and growth of insulin fibrils are still poorly understood. We here report a study of the fibrillation process for insulin confined in a suitable polymeric hydrogel, with the aim of ascertain the effects of a reduced protein mobility on the various phases of the process. The results indicate that, with respect to standard aqueous solutions, the fibrillation process is considerably slowed down at moderately high concentrations and entirely suppressed at low concentration. M…
Online Black-Markets: An Investigation of a Digital Infrastructure in the Dark
2021
AbstractThis paper investigates the functioning of Online Black-Markets (OBMs), i.e. a digital infrastructure operating in the Dark Net that enables the exchange of illegal goods such as drugs, weapons and fake digital identities. OBMs exist notwithstanding adverse conditions such as police interventions, scams and market breakdowns. Relying on a longitudinal case study, we focus on the dynamics of interactions among actors and marketplace technologies and we identify three mechanisms explaining OBMs operations. In particular, we show that OBMs infrastructure is the result of commoditization, platformization and resilience processes. Our contribution relies on the identification of communit…
Managing a brand with a vision to marketing 5.0
2021
Marketing strives to add value to the company by aiming to attract customers, convincing them to develop a buying intention and eventually become consumers. The importance of marketing also lies in the famous quote from Steve Jobs: “Customers do not know what they want until we offer them.” Over time, marketing has gone through several stages and produced the step with the evolution of technological innovation that is essential for the future of any successful business. The rapid development of technology and the fact that it is now increasingly accessible in terms of learning and costs have led to its popularization among marketers and consumers. The complete paper proposes to present a fo…
Glial Swelling and Damage by Arachidonic Acid
1994
Arachidonic acid (AA) is a major constituent of membrane phospholipids in brain tissue. Normally, the free fatty acid is present only in small amounts, but it accumulates under adverse conditions such as ischemia (Kinouchi et al. 1990). The release of free fatty acids involves activation of phospholipases and breakdown of membrane phospholipids. A A in particular is considered to mediate pathological processes. It is a polyunsaturated compound and precursor of prostaglandins, leukotrienes, and oxygen-derived free radicals (Wolfe 1982). In cerebral ischemia concentrations of free AA of up to 0.5mM/kg were found (Kinouchi et al. 1990). But also brain injury and seizures cause increased levels…
Cyclists' Perception of Maintenance and Operation of Cycling Infrastructure—Results From a Norwegian Survey
2021
Aasvik O and Bjørnskau T (2021) Cyclists’ Perception of Maintenance and Operation of Cycling Infrastructure—Results From a Norwegian Survey. Front. Psychol. 12:696317. doi: 10.3389/fpsyg.2021.696317 The Norwegian authorities want to limit the extent of car use in city areas to existing levels. Such a limitation would help combat climate change, improve health of citizens, and alleviate congestion. This implies that any further increase in transport needs will have to be met by walking, cycling and use of public transport. Reaching this ambitious goal requires knowledge about cyclists' preferences concerning operation and maintenance (M&O) of roads and foot/cycle paths. Previous research sug…