Interoceptive Functioning in Schizophrenia and Schizotypy

Though bodily self-disturbances are well documented in schizophrenia, interoceptive functioning (i.e., the perception of the internal state of the body) remains poorly understood in this population. In fact, only two studies to date have empirically measured interoceptive ability in schizophrenia. Both studies documented a deficit in interoceptive accuracy (i.e., objective performance on a heartbeat detection task), and one noted differences in interoceptive sensibility (i.e., subjective experience of interoception) in this population. To our knowledge, interoceptive awareness (i.e., metacognitive awareness of one’s interoceptive ability) has never been measured in schizophrenia and the link between interoceptive functioning and schizotypy remains unexplored. The present study addresses this gap by investigating the three dimensions of interoception in individuals with schizophrenia and matched controls (Experiment 1, N=58) and across the schizotypy spectrum (Experiment 2, N=109). Consistent with the literature, Experiment 1 documented a deficit in interoceptive accuracy and differences in interoceptive sensibility in individuals with schizophrenia. For the first time, our study revealed intact interoceptive awareness in individuals with schizophrenia. Against our expectations, we found no link between schizotypy and interoceptive functioning in Experiment 2. Our novel findings bear important clinical implications as insight into one’s interoceptive limitations (i.e., intact interoceptive awareness) might promote treatment seeking behavior in schizophrenia. The lack of association between interoceptive ability and schizotypy in non-help-seeking youths suggests that changes in interoception may only arise with the onset of psychosis.

Application of the EGPT methodology in the analysis of small-sample reactivity worth experiments

In the current paper, we investigate the application of the Equivalent Generalized Perturbation Theory (EGPT) to derive trends and associated covariances on the neutron capture cross section of one major fission product for both light water reactors and sodium-cooled fast reactors which is Rhodium-103. To do so, we have considered the ERMINE-V/ZONA1 & ZONA3 fast spectrum experiment and the MAESTRO thermal-spectrum experiment, where samples of these materials were oscillated in the MINERVE facility. In the paper, the theoretical formulation of EPGT is described and its derivation in the special case of the close loop oscillation technique where the reactivity worth is determined thanks to a power control system. A numerical benchmark is presented to assess the relevance of sensitivity coefficients provided by EGPT against direct perturbations where the microscopic cross sections are manually changed before calculating the adjoint and forward flux. The breakdown between direct and indirect contributions in the sensitivity analysis of the sample reactivity worth is presented and discussed, with the impact of using a calibration reference sample to normalize the measured reactivity worth. Finally, the assimilation of integral trends is done with the CONRAD code, using C/E comparisons between TRIPOLI4/JEFF3.2 calculations and experimental results and the sensitivity coefficients provided by the EGPT. Preliminary results of this study are showing that the JEFF3.2 evaluation of 103Rh gives satisfactory agreements in both thermal and fast spectrum experiments and that the combination of them can lead to a significant uncertainty reduction on the capture cross section, from ±5% to ±3% in the resolved resonance range (1 eV–10 keV) and from ±8% to ±5% in the unresolved resonance range (10 keV–1 MeV).

Stator and Rotor Faults Diagnosis of Squirrel Cage Motor Based on Fundamental Component Extraction Method

Nowadays, stator current analysis used for detecting the incipient fault in squirrel cage motor has received much attention. However, in the case of interturn short circuit in stator, the traditional symmetrical component method has lost the precondition due to the harmonics and noise; the negative sequence component (NSC) is hard to be obtained accurately. For broken rotor bars, the new added fault feature blanked by fundamental component is also difficult to be discriminated in the current spectrum. To solve the above problems, a fundamental component extraction (FCE) method is proposed in this paper. On one hand, via the antisynchronous speed coordinate (ASC) transformation, NSC of extracted signals is transformed into the DC value. The amplitude of synthetic vector of NSC is used to evaluate the severity of stator fault. On the other hand, the extracted fundamental component can be filtered out to make the rotor fault feature emerge from the stator current spectrum. Experiment results indicate that this method is feasible and effective in both interturn short circuit and broken rotor bars fault diagnosis. Furthermore, only stator currents and voltage frequency are needed to be recorded, and this method is easy to implement.

A discussion on the performance of seven existing models proposed to describe induced polarization

Many types of classical models of the induced polarization (IP) effects of rock ore have been introduced in previous studies. Our focus is on determining the most effective model for describing the rock ore IP effects based on a numerical simulation calculation and a rock mineral spectrum experiment. We have constructed a Delphi 7 program for seven models to calculate the complex resistivity spectrum of phase. We have also evaluated the influences of the parameters on the spectrum and the spectral scope. More than 50 pieces of various natural rock ore samples from 16 regions were selected, and the frequency sweep measurements were completed using an SI-1260 Solartron spectrometer. Another program of seven models was developed using a differential evolution algorithm and least-squares for fitting the experimental spectral data. The purpose was to evaluate the ability of these models for fitting the IP effects. The results found that the influence laws on the spectrum of the different parameters, as well as the spectral scope of the models, were different. The natural samples measured revealed unimodal and bimodal phase spectra. Dias and multi-Cole-Cole models were optimal for characterizing the unimodal and bimodal phase spectra of the selected metal minerals, with the highest fitting precision root-mean-square (rms) error of 2.5% and 1.16%, respectively. Warburg, Cole-Cole, and generalized Cole-Cole models were suitable for the unimodal phase spectra, with the highest fitting precision of 3.67%, 3.01%, and 3.27%, respectively. Madden and Cantwell model was suitable for characterizing the silver-ore- and gold-bearing pyrite, but the rms was [Formula: see text] for other samples. The Debye model had an rms [Formula: see text] for characterizing all our experimental samples.

Boron nitride nanoplates supported zero-valent iron nanocomposites for enhanced decolorization of methyl orange with the assistance of ultrasonic irradiation

In this work, boron nitride nanoplates (BNNPs) supported nanoscale zero-valent iron (nZVI) was prepared through facile liquid-phase chemical reduction of ferric ion by borohydride under ambient conditions in the presence of BNNPs. The nZVI@BNNPs hybrids were characterized by scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction and magnetic properties measurement. The hybrid material was evaluated for decolorization of a common azo dye, methyl orange (MO), with the assistance of ultrasonic irradiation. Results exhibited that a complete decolorization of 100 mg/L MO was achieved within 6 min using nZVI@BNNPs as the active material. Compared with bare nZVI and BNNPs, nZVI@BNNPs provided a faster reaction process for MO decolorization. The kinetic rate constants of MO decolorization reached 0.8175 min−1 under ultrasound-assisted condition due to the synergistic effect of ultrasonic irradiation. Fluorescence spectrum experiment confirmed that hydroxyl radicals could be generated in the system combined nZVI with ultrasonic irradiation, and as a result, hydroxyl radicals would contribute to the decolorization process of MO.