Ask Assistant Professor of Psychology Joshua Buckholtz to explain his research into mental disorders, and he’ll likely start with a question that’s got more to do with basic medicine: When is the flu appendicitis?The answer, of course, is never. Each is associated with a very specific — and nonoverlapping — set of biological causes and effects. Understanding what these are, Buckholtz explained, allows doctors to discriminate between the two with near-perfect accuracy.Unfortunately, Buckholtz said, the same cannot be said for mental disorders.“We have very well worked-out classification criteria for physical disorders like the flu and appendicitis,” Buckholtz said. “There is an assumption that we have equally well worked-out and valid classification criteria for mental disorders, but in recent years people have come to realize that this model of strict categorical separation of mental disorders simply doesn’t reflect what we see in the clinic.” According to Buckholtz, meeting the diagnostic criteria for multiple psychiatric disorders is the rule, rather the exception. In medicine, this would be akin to having many patients who develop appendicitis and the flu simultaneously. “This tells us that there are either a lot of people who are unlucky enough to be afflicted with multiple distinct, unique disorders at the same time, or that something is very wrong with our method for classifying psychological disorders.”In a June 21 paper published in Neuron, Buckholtz and co-author Andreas Meyer-Lindenberg, a researcher from the Central Institute of Mental Health and the University of Heidelberg in Germany, identify a biological reason for that disconnect. Extrapolating from what we know about the genetic causes of mental illness and their effects on the brain, they propose that many mental disorders appear to share symptoms because genes for mental illness cause changes in key brain circuits that affect a wide range of cognitive processes.“Our goal with this paper was to determine at a biologically plausible basis for what we see in the clinic — that there are a core set of symptoms that overlap diagnostic boundaries,” Buckholtz said. “Looking at the genetic causes of mental illness, it becomes clear that, for lack of a better word, genes are agnostic when it comes to diagnostic criteria.“Individual genetic differences cause variability in the way that brain circuits function,” he continued. “These differences in brain circuit function lead to the wide range of variation in cognitive, emotional, motivation, and social function that we see in people all around us. The specific genes that are involved, and the way that these genes interact with the environments to which we are exposed, determine how specific brain circuits behave. When those circuits don’t function well, this is expressed as a deficit in whatever domain of cognition is supported by the ‘sick’ circuit. When these deficits cause dysfunction in everyday life, we call it a symptom. When those symptoms become impairing enough, someone comes to the clinic and receives a diagnosis.”The findings are the result of a review of hundreds of papers that examined patterns of brain circuit dysfunction in many different disorders, and how variability in genes responsible for neurotransmitter signaling or neuron growth give rise to this dysfunction. Based on that review, Buckholtz said, researchers were able to identify four brain circuits that are associated with cognitive, emotional, motivational, and social symptoms that span a wide range of disorders.“What we can say is that genetic and environmental risk factors for mental illness produce graded changes in the function of one or more brain circuits, producing graded changes in cognitive processes supported by those circuits,” Buckholtz said. “The changes in those cognitive processes will produce varying expression of symptoms that are shared across multiple disorders.”One possible impact of the paper’s findings, Buckholtz said, could come as researchers work to design a new way to classify mental disorders.Currently, he said, the “bible” of psychiatric diagnosis is the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, otherwise known as the DSM. Although initially created as a way to standardize diagnosis for psychological disorders among clinicians, the categorical separation of disorders described in the DSM doesn’t seem to match the reality of how people develop mental illness. According to Buckholtz, “While the symptoms that people experience are absolutely real, the disorders themselves — as unique, independent, ontologically valid entities — are not.” In other words, the difference between the flu and appendicitis is not the same as the difference between schizophrenia and major depression.“The initial focus of the DSM was on reliability — the ability of independent clinicians to arrive at the same answer,” Buckholtz said. “The categories described in the DSM have come to take on a life of their own, and people now believe that they are as [former Harvard University Provost] Steven Hyman has phrased it, natural kinds.”The paper’s findings, however, hint at the possibility of turning the current system on its head, and basing the classification of disorders not on their outward symptoms, but on their common causes.“The field is starting to try to move toward a classification of mental illness that is grounded in neurobiology. Here, we argue that circuits are a meaningful level of analysis for this endeavor,” Buckholtz explained. “In trying to clarify the links between risk factors, brain circuits, cognitive processes, and symptoms, I think we will be able to arrive at a more accurate classification of the dimensions of psychopathology.” read more
“Mayor Menino has been a powerful advocate for the role that education and research play in fueling innovation and prosperity, as well as expanding horizons and enriching lives. He has made an indelible impression on the city to which he’s given his heart and soul, always staying focused on how to help its people and its neighborhoods thrive. Discoveries and degree holders are as much a part of his legacy as buildings and businesses, and his efforts to promote education will pay dividends for generations to come. I am personally grateful for his friendship, guidance, and advice, and regard myself as one of this extraordinary leader’s grateful students. I hope to have many more opportunities to work with him and to benefit from his counsel and friendship in the months and years ahead.” read more
In light of the spread of COVID-19, commencement for Holy Cross’ class of 2020 has been postponed to the beginning of the upcoming fall semester, College President Fr. David Tyson said in an email to seniors Monday evening. Current students, along with graduating seniors, faculty, staff and administration will gather to celebrate the class of 2020 during a “Welcome Home Celebration” Sept. 4-6.“It would be a first in that all of the student body will be present along with the faculty, staff and administration,” Tyson said in the email.The ‘Welcome Home Celebration’ will include a baccalaureate mass on Sept. 4, with commencement itself to be held on Sept. 5 at 2 p.m., Tyson said.“It would be a great symbol for our newest students to see the culmination of hard work and growth in the academic ritual of commencement,” Tyson said. Tags: Commencement, coronavirus, COVID-19, Holy Cross College read more
Gifford Healthcare,Gifford Medical Center in Randolph has received two national honors.The Randolph medical center has been honored for excellence in marketing with a 2010 Aster Award and named among the nation s 100 Best Places to Work in Health Care by Becker s ASC Review/Becker s Hospital Review.Aster AwardThe Aster Award came for Gifford s 2009 Annual Report. The report, reflecting on the Randolph hospital s decade of financial growth, was a bronze winner in the category for hospitals with fewer than 75 beds.The Aster Awards, one of the largest national competitions of its kind, is hosted by Marketing Healthcare Today Magazine and Creative Images, Inc. This elite program recognizes outstanding health care professionals for excellence in their marketing efforts for the calendar year 2009.The 2010 Aster Awards received approximately 3,000 entries from across the United States as well as Canada and South America, including 45 in Gifford s category. Entries must score at least in the top 85 percent to receive an award. Judging criteria includes creativity, layout and design, functionality, message effectiveness, production quality and overall appeal. It was an honor to have Gifford Medical Center participate in the 2010 Aster Awards Competition. It placed in the top 16 percent of the nation. The quality of this year s entries went well beyond the judges expectations, said Melinda R. Lucas, Aster Awards program coordinator.Gifford is a 25-bed critical access hospital. Its annual report was written and designed in-house on a conservative budget. It s such a privilege to be recognized, said Gifford marketing specialist, Tammy Hooker, who designed the report. Gifford s Annual Reports have historically been of high-quality. Competing in the Aster Awards was something we decided to try for the first time this year. It was exciting to compete against hospitals up to three times our size and certainly thrilling to be among the winners.All winners are posted on the Aster Awards Web site, www.AsterAwards.com(link is external), as well as published in Marketing Healthcare Today, a national health care marketing magazine. Gifford s report is also available online at www.giffordmed.org(link is external) or by calling (802) 728-2284.100 best places to workGifford has additionally been named among the nation s 100 Best Places to Work in Health Care by Becker s, bimonthly publications reaching the nation s hospital CEOs, medical directors, surgeons and others.Recognized among such major institutions as Brigham and Women s Hospital and Duke University Hospital, Gifford was honored for its wide range of employee benefits, including its Gifford Gift Certificates. Each year prior to the Christmas holiday, Gifford employees are given Gifford Gift Certificates good at local businesses a program that both supports employees and encourages local spending. In 2009, the program invested approximately $40,000 in the community.Employees are also awarded holiday turkeys or fruit they can keep or donate to food shelves. The hospital also has a policy that allows employees to donate earned vacation hours to disabled employees so they can continue to receive pay as though they were still full-time rather than waiting for disability pay, Becker s noted.Unbeknownst to the hospital, a physician s spouse, Gary DeMara, nominated Gifford for the award following his wife s battle with breast cancer. My wife, Dr. Ellamarie Russo-DeMara, ¦ was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2007. Because of this policy, she was able to receive her regular salary for the entire six-month waiting period before her (long-term) disability policy took over, a grateful DeMara told Becker s.Hospital Chief Executive Officer and President Joseph Woodin thanked DeMara for nominating Gifford and called the surprise recognition an honor. I m surprised and very touched that someone would take it upon themselves to do this for Gifford, Woodin said. Part of the culture at Gifford is providing quality care by encouraging and supporting a quality workforce. Creatively rewarding employees, while also supporting the economic vitality of the area, is part of that unique, family culture, Woodin said. I thank Becker s for recognizing Gifford as a quality workplace.Source: Gifford Medical Center. 5.13.2010 read more
By Dialogo September 14, 2012 Members of the Barrio 18 gang affirmed from the jail in Cojutepeque, about 22 miles east of San Salvador, on September 12, that a ceasefire that began on March 9 turned into a process of social “pacification” in El Salvador. “This is not a truce, it is the beginning of a peace process,” declared the Barrio 18 gang leader, Carlos Mójica Lechuga, better known as “el Viejo Lin” (Old Lin). After participating in a religious ceremony in the overcrowded prison in Cojutepeque, with capacity for 350 inmates, housing 1,039, Mójica ordered all members of his gang to maintain the peace process that the Organization of American States (OAS) is overseeing. “Our colleagues nationwide asked us to stay firm,” emphasized Mójica. The negotiation process began on March 9 among gangs Mara Salvatrucha (MS-13) and Barrio 18, under the mediation of bishop Fabio Colindres and former guerrilla commander Raúl Mijango. Since the beginning of the truce, the daily average homicides dropped from 14 to 5 per day. Colindres, who held a religious ceremony in the Cojutepeque prison, on the anniversary of the first six months of the cessation of hostilities, said that gang members are part of “an area of society that was brutally marginalized”. “On March 9, you took an important step to lower the murder rate; six months later you maintained it, so that is why I have come to encourage you, I have come to tell you that there is a future for you,” emphasized the vicar. Meanwhile, Mijango commented that in the 189 days of truce, 1,624 Salvadoran lives have been “spared from death.” During a speech, “el Viejo Lin” said that Barrio 18 “reaffirms confidence” in Colindres and Mijango, whom he described as “true patriots” to encourage a process that has “many critics”. “What is sought is to achieve a definitive peace; if our actions in the past led to death, today it is different,” stressed the gang leader. In El Salvador, according to official data, about 10,000 gang members are serving prison sentences and 50,000 are still on the streets. read more
Fabregas spent five successful years at Chelsea (Picture: Getty Images)Cesc Fabregas has revealed that he was snubbed by Arsenal and how Jose Mourinho convinced him to join Chelsea.The Gunners failed to exercise the World Cup winner’s buy-back clause when he left Barcelona in 2014, leading to his move to Stamford Bridge. Fabregas went on to win two Premier League titles, one FA Cup and a League Cup during his a five-year spell in west London, but it wasn’t originally the move he had hoped for.The 32-year-old told the Arsecast podcast: ‘My agent Darren Dein spoke to Arsene, he didn’t give him an answer to be honest, then we had to wait one full week to see if Arsenal responded. Definitely this was my first option, in my mind I’m telling everyone I’m going to Arsenal, this is what I want. AdvertisementAdvertisementADVERTISEMENT‘Arsene, [Ivan] Gazidis and everyone or nobody basically said anything for a week. I didn’t want to be a beggar. We told them once, they know the situation, if in one week they hadn’t said anything… straightaway I knew that probably they didn’t want me back. ‘They could have said after three hours they didn’t want me back so I could have spoken to other teams. They waited the whole week without giving me a response and still since then, no response ever.’Read the latest updates: Coronavirus news live Metro Sport ReporterTuesday 24 Mar 2020 4:23 pmShare this article via facebookShare this article via twitterShare this article via messengerShare this with Share this article via emailShare this article via flipboardCopy link9.6kShares Mourinho brought Fabregas back to the Premier League in 2014 (Picture: Getty Images)Fabregas admitted he had talks with Manchester City and Manchester United, but Chelsea’s boss at the time, Jose Mourinho, was the most convincing.He added: ‘I spoke to Mourinho, which I didn’t think it would ever happen to be honest and he knows that, because of what happened when I was at Arsenal and Chelsea, Barcelona and Real Madrid, many many things. ‘But after I left the room with Mourinho I said to Darren “that’s it, I’m going to Chelsea”. There was no money involved. What he told me, the team he wanted to make, what he thought of me, how he wanted me to play absolutely every game.’More: Arsenal FCArsenal flop Denis Suarez delivers verdict on Thomas Partey and Lucas Torreira movesThomas Partey debut? Ian Wright picks his Arsenal starting XI vs Manchester CityArsene Wenger explains why Mikel Arteta is ‘lucky’ to be managing ArsenalThe Spaniard doesn’t have any regrets over his move to west London, despite the decision angering large sections of the Arsenal fanbase.He said: ‘I just felt for many things that Chelsea was the right solution at that time. To be honest, thank God I took that decision. I know it can be controversial with the Arsenal fans but these five years I’ve been very happy there. ‘We won everything in England. The most winning team in English football in the time I’ve been there, playing some great football at times. With the fans there’s been a connection, we always had a great understanding. I’ve been so happy there. ‘The reality is that I went there, won two Premier Leagues, which was my dream, FA Cup, League Cups, Europa League. In the end it was meant to be and I’m very happy with the choice I made.’MORE: Former Arsenal and Chelsea hero Cesc Fabregas slams Boris Johnson’s lockdown planAdvertisementAdvertisementMORE: Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta provides coronavirus update: ‘I have recovered’Follow Metro Sport across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.For more stories like this, check our sport page. Advertisement Cesc Fabregas opens up on Arsenal snub and Jose Mourinho chat that led to Chelsea move Comment Advertisement read more
Comment Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang breaks Arsenal record held by Thierry Henry during Norwich City thrashing Advertisement Aubameyang has been handed a gift! ð5ï¸â£0ï¸â£ goals in the Premier League for the Arsenal forward! ð¯ pic.twitter.com/G8mlLgsYDI— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) July 1, 2020‘He was pressing really high and was putting Norwich under pressure. Arsenal need players like him who can play without the ball.‘It’s great play from Aubameyang who showed great determination to win the ball and got his reward.’Despite his influence at Arsenal, Aubameyang has been strongly linked with a move away from north London ahead of the summer transfer window.Follow Metro Sport across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.For more stories like this, check our sport page.MORE: Eddie Nketiah reveals inspirational advice from Arsenal legend Ian WrightMORE: Bukayo Saka thanks Unai Emery after signing new Arsenal contract Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang starred during Arsenal’s Premier League thrashing over Norwich City (Picture: Getty)Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang set an Arsenal record as the Gunners thrashed Premier League relegation-battlers Norwich City on Wednesday evening.The Gabon international has enjoyed another prolific campaign despite a turbulent season for the north London club and is in contention to land a second successive Golden Boot.Aubameyang, who joined the Gunners in what was then a club record £56million transfer from Borussia Dortmund in January 2018, brought up a half century of Premier League goals for the Gunners in just his 75th appearance, eclipsing Thierry Henry’s record.The legendary Frenchman took 83 matches to reach his half century, but Aubameyang reached the milestone when he took advantage of a huge blunder from Norwich goalkeeper Tim Krul and slotted into an empty net at the Emirates.ADVERTISEMENT50 – Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has scored his 50th Premier League goal in fewer appearances (79) than any other @Arsenal player, and is the 6th fastest to this total among all Premier League players. Clinical. pic.twitter.com/YWjDZJzFsP— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) July 1, 2020The goal was Aubameyang’s 21st of the season and saw Arsenal stamp their authority on their match against doomed relegation-battlers Norwich.AdvertisementAdvertisementAubameyang turned from goalscorer to provider shortly after as Granit Xhaka doubled Arsenal’s lead before half-time.The 31-year-old added his second and Arsenal’s third of the evening after the break before Cedric Soares scored his first goal for the club to round off an emphatic 4-0 victory.Speaking at the interval, Gunners legend Martin Keown told BT Sport: ‘Aubameyang was really sharp right from the off tonight. Advertisement Metro Sport ReporterWednesday 1 Jul 2020 6:51 pmShare this article via facebookShare this article via twitterShare this article via messengerShare this with Share this article via emailShare this article via flipboardCopy link727Shares read more
Economy, Press Release Harrisburg, PA – This week, the Department of Revenue announced that April revenues exceeded estimate, continuing a trend that has occurred over the Fiscal Year. With stronger revenue growth, Governor Tom Wolf remained committed to work with legislative leaders to build up budget reserves, and expressed an eagerness to discuss using all excess revenue to grow Pennsylvania’s Rainy Day Fund, which is among the smallest in the country.“Last year, we made the first Rainy Day Fund deposit in more than a decade, and with strong revenue growth, along with legislative leaders I remain committed to saving for our future,” said Governor Wolf. “After taking care of our mandatory expenses and investments in schools and other critical services, I believe we should even consider putting all surplus revenue in the Rainy Day Fund. We have the opportunity to protect the commonwealth and taxpayers from future economic downturns and I look forward to engaging with the General Assembly on achieving this shared goal.”After last year’s deposit, Pennsylvania’s Rainy Day Fund stands at $22 million. In 2009 the Rainy Day Fund was $755 million before the funds were used to make up for revenue shortfalls during the recession. Pennsylvania’s current Rainy Day Fund can sustain commonwealth operations for only a few hours while the average state Rainy Day Fund operations for more than 20 days. Governor Wolf Agrees: We Must Continue to Shore Up the Commonwealth’s Rainy Day Fund May 03, 2019 SHARE Email Facebook Twitter read more
He warned that the current returns could be seen as factor that would reduce future returns, particularly for bonds.“It is important that the sector remain vigilant,” he said.“Persistently low interest rates will bring about lower returns in the future. Seeking more profitable asset classes must go hand-in-hand with better risk management.”In Belgium, changes are in the offing concerning a distinguishing feature of the workplace-based pension system.This is the present application of legal provisions, under the Loi relative aux pensions complémentaires (law on occupational pensions).Neyt has described this law as making Belgian occupational schemes a “compromise” between defined benefit and defined contribution. The law, dating from 2003, obliges employers to achieve a nominal return of 3.25%, not taking into account inflation. This means employers may have to top-up funding to reach the target.Neyt pointed out that this burden on employers was set during the 2003-04 period, when inflation, at 2%, reduced the effective cost to employers.But now inflation is slightly negative, which is resulting in political pressure to relax the law, which could well be realised.Neyt also called for a reform of the guaranteed legal minimum return on pension fund contributions, which he said should be fair, transparent and easy to manage.As of the end of December 2014, the average asset allocation for a pension fund in the BAPI sample was 47% in bonds, 34% in equities, 13% in ‘other’ investments (mainly insurance, infrastructure, private equity and convertible bonds), 5% in real estate and 2% in cash. Belgian pension funds nearly doubled their investment returns last year over the year before, with average gains of 11.86% compared with 6.73% for 2013, according to the Belgian Association of Pension Institutions (BAPI).BAPI said the continued low level of interest rates boosted overall returns for the 52 pension funds surveyed.The 11.86% return figure is provisional, based on reports from individual funds with a capital value of approximately €14bn (the total under management is around €20bn).Yet BAPI president Philip Neyt said he did not expect to see, when the final figures are consolidated in April, any serious change in the present figures for 2014. read more
“At the same time, we can discuss the individual company’s climate strategy with management and how they can reduce the climate impact, so that they can, for example, be at the forefront of the stricter climate regulation to come in the future, and the increasing demand for green solutions,” he said.It still made sense from a return perspective to invest in companies with a small climate footprint within their specific industry, Kobberup said, adding that Danica Pension would focus on reducing CO2 emissions further in the next few years.The pension fund, which had DKK450bn in total assets at the end of the first quarter, attributed its relatively low carbon emissions to having fewer investments in sectors with high emissions, such as energy production and supply.In addition, it said, it invested in shares in the automotive and energy industries whose carbon footprints were smaller than the sector average.Looking for IPE’s latest magazine? Read the digital edition here. The CIO of Denmark’s Danica Pension has warned it could be harder to produce investment returns from companies that do not have a climate-friendly business plan, as the Danske Bank subsidiary pledged to reduce carbon footprint of its portfolio.Publishing its first climate report, Copenhagen-based Danica Pension reported CO2 emissions related to its equity and corporate bond investments were 33 tons per DKK1m (€134,000) invested at the end of 2019 — which it said was 21% less CO2 than the global benchmark for these asset classes.Poul Kobberup, Danica Pension CIO, said: “If the companies do not set a climate-friendly course, there may be an increased risk that they just don’t have a relevant long-term business model, which could harm our ability to generate returns.”Kobberup said gathering the CO2 data gave the fund a precise overview of how investments were performing in climate terms, and allowed it to compare them. read more