Kinetics of deposition of oriented superdisks.

We use numerical Monte Carlo simulation to study the kinetics of the deposition of oriented superdisks, bounded by the Lame curves of the form |x|(2p)+|y|(2p)=1 on a regular planar substrate. Recently, it was shown that the maximum packing density as well as jamming density ρ(J) exhibit a discontinuous derivative at p=0.5 when the shape changes from convex to concave form.

Risk architecture of schizophrenia: the role of epigenetics.

Purpose Of Review: To systematize existing data and review new findings on the cause of schizophrenia and outline an improved mixed model of schizophrenia risk.

Recent Findings: Multiple and variable genetic and environmental factors interact to influence the risk of schizophrenia. Both rare variants with large effect and common variants with small effect contribute to genetic risk of schizophrenia, with no indication for differential impact on its clinical features.

Ammonia inhibits long-term potentiation via neurosteroid synthesis in hippocampal pyramidal neurons.

Neurosteroids are a class of endogenous steroids synthesized in the brain that are believed to be involved in the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric disorders and memory impairment. Ammonia impairs long-term potentiation (LTP), a synaptic model of learning, in the hippocampus, a brain region involved in memory acquisition. Although mechanisms underlying ammonia-mediated LTP inhibition are not fully understood, we previously found that the activation of N-methyl-d-aspartate receptors (NMDARs) is important.

Temperament and character modify risk of drug addiction and influence choice of drugs.

Background: Drug addiction and alcoholism involve a complex etiopathogenesis with a variable degree of risk contributions from the host (person), environment, and addictive substances. In this work, temperament and character features of individuals addicted to opiates or alcohol are compared with normal controls to study personality factors in the overall risk for drug addiction.

Methods: The study was done in a permissive environment, with easy access to alcohol and heroin, which facilitated analyses of personality factors in drug choice.