Resting-state EEG microstates predict mentalizing ability as assessed by the Reading the Mind in the Eyes test.

Microstates analysis of electroencephalography (EEG) has gained increasing attention among researchers and clinicians as a valid tool for investigating temporal dynamics of large-scale brain networks with a millisecond time resolution. Although microstates analysis has been widely applied to elucidate the neurophysiological basis of various cognitive functions in both clinical and non-clinical samples, its application in relation to socio-affective processing has been relatively under-researched. Therefore, the main aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship between EEG microstates and mentalizing (i.

Childhood Trauma, Mentalization and Obsessive Compulsive Symptoms in a Non-Clinical Sample: A Mediation Analysis Study.

Objective: Obsessive and compulsive symptoms (OCS) are cross-cutting psychopathological manifestations frequently detected in a variety of clinical and non-clinical samples. It has been suggested that impaired mentalization abilities and traumatic experiences during childhood may be relevant etiopathogenetic factors in the development of OCS. The purpose of the current study was to cross-sectionally assess these variables in a non-clinical sample, testing the mediational role of mentalization abilities in the association between childhood trauma (CT) and OCS.

Is parental overcontrol a specific form of child maltreatment? Insights from a resting state EEG connectivity study.

Introduction: Recent studies suggest that parental overcontrol could be considered a specific form of childhood trauma (CT). Although previous research has shown that CT alters the functional and structural architecture of large-scale networks in the brain, the neural basis associated with parental overcontrol has not been sufficiently explored. Therefore, the main aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship between parental overcontrol and electroencephalography (EEG) triple network (TN) functional connectivity during the resting state (RS) condition in a non-clinical sample (N = 71; 39 females, mean age 23.

Pelvic bone marrow dose-volume predictors of late lymphopenia following pelvic lymph node radiation therapy for prostate cancer.

Background And Purpose: Given the substantial lack of knowledge, we aimed to assess clinical/dosimetry predictors of late hematological toxicity on patients undergoing pelvic-nodes irradiation (PNI) for prostate cancer (PCa) within a prospective multi-institute study.

Materials And Methods: Clinical/dosimetry/blood test data were prospectively collected including lymphocytes count (ALC) at baseline, mid/end-PNI, 3/6 months and every 6 months up to 5-year after PNI. DVHs of the Body, ileum (BMILEUM), lumbosacral spine (BMLS), lower pelvis (BMPELVIS), and whole pelvis (BMTOT) were extracted.

The latest freshwater giants: a new (Pleurodira: Podocnemididae) turtle from the Late Pleistocene of the Brazilian Amazon.

Overkill of large mammals is recognized as a key driver of Pleistocene megafaunal extinctions in the Americas and Australia. While this phenomenon primarily affected mega-mammals, its impact on large Quaternary reptiles has been debated. Freshwater turtles, due to the scarcity of giant forms in the Quaternary record, have been largely neglected in such discussions.

Psychometric Properties of the Detachment and Compartmentalization Inventory (DCI) in an Italian Community Sample.

The Detachment and Compartmentalization Inventory (DCI) is a valid and reliable self-report instrument that assesses these two distinct forms of dissociative symptoms. However, there is limited research on the cross-cultural validation of the DCI. Therefore, this study aimed to develop an Italian translation of the DCI and examine its internal structure and psychometric properties (including internal consistency, convergent validity, and test-retest reliability) within an Italian-speaking community sample.

Altered EEG Patterns in Individuals with Disorganized Attachment: An EEG Microstates Study.

Over the past years, different studies provided preliminary evidence that Disorganized Attachment (DA) may have dysregulatory and disintegrative effects on both autonomic arousal regulation and brain connectivity. However, despite the clinical relevance of this construct, few studies have investigated the specific alterations underlying DA using electroencephalography (EEG). Thus, the main aim of the current study was to investigate EEG microstate parameters of DA in a non-clinical sample (N = 50) before (pre) and after (post) the administration of the Adult Attachment Interview (AAI).

Quality of Life Longitudinal Evaluation in Prostate Cancer Patients from Radiotherapy Start to 5 Years after IMRT-IGRT.

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to study the evolution of quality of life (QoL) in the first 5 years following Intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) for prostate cancer (PCa) and to determine possible associations with clinical/treatment data.

Material And Methods: Patients were enrolled in a prospective multicentre observational trial in 2010-2014 and treated with conventional (74-80 Gy, 1.8-2 Gy/fr) or moderately hypofractionated IMRT (65-75.

Altered connectivity between the central executive network and the salience network in delusion-prone individuals: A resting state eLORETA report.

Although the Triple Network (TN) model has been proposed as a valid neurophysiological framework for conceptualizing delusion-like experiences, the neurodynamics of TN in relation to delusion proneness have been relatively understudied in nonclinical samples so far. Therefore, the main aim of the current study was to investigate the functional connectivity of resting state electroencephalography (EEG) in subjects with high levels of delusion proneness. Twenty-one delusion-prone (DP) individuals and thirty-seven non-delusion prone (N-DP) individuals were included in the study.

Are Traumatic Disintegration, Detachment, and Dissociation Separate Pathogenic Processes Related to Attachment Trauma? A Working Hypothesis for Clinicians and Researchers.

Background: Despite its high prevalence in all psychiatric disorders and its widely demonstrated clinical relevance as a marker of both clinical severity and poorer treatment response, a scientifically validated definition of dissociation remains controversial, and the understanding of its pathogenesis is still somewhat lacking. Furthermore, although most clinicians commonly refer to dissociation as a single unitary concept, the empirical evidence strongly supports the paucity of a one-dimensional approach to dissociation.

Summary: Resonating with the clinical and neuroscientific data on this topic, this article aimed to provide a working hypothesis, suggesting that the wide variety of psychopathological phenomena that are currently improperly lumped into the category of dissociation are in fact produced by at least three different pathogenic processes involved in developmental trauma, namely, traumatic disintegration, detachment responses, and dissociation.

Cooperation within the therapeutic relationship improves metacognitive functioning: preliminary findings.

Both clinical observations and empirical data suggest that metacognitive functioning is a factor strongly associated with a good psychotherapeutic outcome. It has been suggested that some interpersonal social motivations (i.e.

Parental overcontrol is associated with dysmorphic concern severity: A cross-sectional study.

Background: Dysmorphic concern (DC) is a symptom affecting both clinical and non-clinical populations, with a severe impact on individuals' physical and psychological well-being. While Childhood Trauma (CT) has been identified as a risk factor for DC, there is a lack of research on a specific form of CT, that is, parental overcontrol. Therefore, the current study aimed to investigate the association between DC and parental overcontrol in a community sample of adults, controlling for other forms of CT and potential confounding variables.

Dollo meets Bergmann: morphological evolution in secondary aquatic mammals.

Secondary transitions to aquatic environments are common among vertebrates, and aquatic lineages display several adaptations to this realm, some of which might make these transitions irreversible. At the same time, discussions about secondary transitions often focus only on the marine realm, comparing fully terrestrial with fully aquatic species. This, however, captures only a fraction of land-to-water transitions, and freshwater and semi-aquatic groups are often neglected in macroevolutionary studies.

Turtle body size evolution is determined by lineage-specific specializations rather than global trends.

Organisms display a considerable variety of body sizes and shapes, and macroevolutionary investigations help to understand the evolutionary dynamics behind such variations. Turtles (Testudinata) show great body size disparity, especially when their rich fossil record is accounted for. We explored body size evolution in turtles, testing which factors might influence the observed patterns and evaluating the existence of long-term directional trends.

Child Maltreatment, Abuse, and Neglect: An Umbrella Review of Their Prevalence and Definitions.

Objective: Child maltreatment (CM) is a recognized public health problem, and epidemiologic data suggest that it is a widespread phenomenon, albeit with widely varying estimates. Indeed, CM as well as child abuse (CA) and neglect (CN) are complex phenomena that are difficult to study for several reasons, including terminological and definitional problems that pose a hurdle to estimating epidemiological rates. Therefore, the main aim of this umbrella review is to revise recent review data on the epidemiology of CM, CA, and CN.

Improving Mobile Robot Maneuver Performance Using Fractional-Order Controller.

In this paper, the low-level velocity controller of an autonomous vehicle is studied. The performance of the traditional controller used in this kind of system, a PID, is analyzed. This kind of controller cannot follow ramp references without error, so when the reference implies a change in the speed, the vehicle cannot follow the proposed reference, and there is a significant difference between the actual and desired vehicle behaviors.

Integration of longitudinal deep-radiomics and clinical data improves the prediction of durable benefits to anti-PD-1/PD-L1 immunotherapy in advanced NSCLC patients.

Background: Identifying predictive non-invasive biomarkers of immunotherapy response is crucial to avoid premature treatment interruptions or ineffective prolongation. Our aim was to develop a non-invasive biomarker for predicting immunotherapy clinical durable benefit, based on the integration of radiomics and clinical data monitored through early anti-PD-1/PD-L1 monoclonal antibodies treatment in patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).

Methods: In this study, 264 patients with pathologically confirmed stage IV NSCLC treated with immunotherapy were retrospectively collected from two institutions.

Dissociative experiences of compartmentalization are associated with food addiction symptoms: results from a cross-sectional report.

Purpose: Studies have shown significant associations of dissociative symptoms with both eating and addictive disorders; however, the different forms of dissociation have been relatively understudied in relation to food addiction (FA). The main aim of this study was to investigate the association of certain forms of dissociative experiences (i.e.

The Relationship Between Childhood Trauma, Pathological Dissociation, and Behavioral Addictions in Young Adults: Findings from a Cross-Sectional Study.

Interactions between childhood trauma (CT) and dissociation can contribute to psychiatric disturbances. We explored this phenomenon in relation to behavioral addictions (BAs) in a sample ( = 633) of young adults (age: 18-34 years). Self-report measures investigating CT, dissociation, and symptoms related to gambling disorder, internet gaming disorder, problematic social media use, exercise dependence and compulsive buying were used.

Low Cost Magnetic Field Control for Disabled People.

Our research presents a cost-effective navigation system for electric wheelchairs that utilizes the tongue as a human-machine interface (HMI) for disabled individuals. The user controls the movement of the wheelchair by wearing a small neodymium magnet on their tongue, which is held in place by a suction pad. The system uses low-cost electronics and sensors, including two electronic compasses, to detect the position of the magnet in the mouth.

Improving Odometric Model Performance Based on LSTM Networks.

This paper presents a localization system for an autonomous wheelchair that includes several sensors, such as odometers, LIDARs, and an IMU. It focuses on improving the odometric localization accuracy using an LSTM neural network. Improved odometry will improve the result of the localization algorithm, obtaining a more accurate pose.

High-Resolution Conformational Analysis of RGDechi-Derived Peptides Based on a Combination of NMR Spectroscopy and MD Simulations.

The crucial role of integrin in pathological processes such as tumor progression and metastasis formation has inspired intense efforts to design novel pharmaceutical agents modulating integrin functions in order to provide new tools for potential therapies. In the past decade, we have investigated the biological proprieties of the chimeric peptide RGDechi, containing a cyclic RGD motif linked to an echistatin C-terminal fragment, able to specifically recognize αvβ3 without cross reacting with αvβ5 and αIIbβ3 integrin. Additionally, we have demonstrated using two RGDechi-derived peptides, called RGDechi1-14 and ψRGDechi, that chemical modifications introduced in the C-terminal part of the peptide alter or abolish the binding to the αvβ3 integrin.

Respiratory Tract Infections and Laboratory Diagnostic Methods: A Review with A Focus on Syndromic Panel-Based Assays.

Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are the focus of developments in public health, given their widespread distribution and the high morbidity and mortality rates reported worldwide. The clinical spectrum ranges from asymptomatic or mild infection to severe or fatal disease. Rapidity is required in diagnostics to provide adequate and prompt management of patients.

Cranial ecomorphology of turtles and neck retraction as a possible trigger of ecological diversification.

Turtles have a highly modified body plan, including a rigid shell that constrains postcranial anatomy. Skull morphology and neck mobility may therefore be key to ecological specialization in turtles. However, the ecological signal of turtle skull morphologies has not been rigorously evaluated, leaving uncertainties about the roles of ecological adaptation and convergence.