Robert Mann

Ghost properties of algebraically extended theories of gravitation

Recently a technique for extending general relativity called algebraic extension was shown to yield only five classes of gravitational theories (general relativity plus four extensions). The particle spectra of these theories are analysed and it is shown that only one of these extensions is ghost free. Two inequivalent theories are shown to result from this extension at the linearised level. One of these is the linearised version of Moffats theory of gravitation (1979) the other is a new theory which possesses an additional gauge invariance which has been associated with a closed string.

Cycling-related Crash Risk and the Role of Cannabis and Alcohol: A Case-crossover Study

OBJECTIVE To examine whether alcohol and cannabis consumption increase crash risk among non-fatally injured bicyclists (N=393) seen in three Canadian emergency departments, between April 2009 and July 2011. METHOD Employing a case-crossover design, cannabis and alcohol were identified through blood sample or by self-report. All cyclists involved in a crash and exposure status (cannabis and alcohol) were compared between case period (current crash) and two control periods: prior to the last time the victim cycled around the same time of day; and the typical use prior to bicycling. Crash risk was assessed through conditional fixed effects logistic regression models. RESULTS Approximately 15% of cyclists reported using cannabis just prior to the crash, and 14.5% reported using alcohol. Cannabis use identified by blood testing or self-report in the case period and by self-report in the control period yielded a crash risk of 2.38 (1.04-5.43); however, when self-report was used for both the case and control periods the estimate was 0.40 (0.12-1.27). Alcohol use, as measure either in blood or self-report, was associated with an odds ratio of 4.00 (95% CI: 1.64-9.78); results were similar when alcohol was measured by self-report only. CONCLUSION Cannabis and alcohol use each appear to increase the risk of a non-fatal injury-related crash among bicyclists, and point to the need for improved efforts to deter substance use prior to cycling, with the help of regulation, increased education, and greater public awareness. However, cannabis results should be interpreted with caution, as the observed association with crash risk was contingent on how consumption was measured.

Linear approximation in the nonsymmetric Kaluza-Klein theory

The authors discuss a linear approximation of the nonsymmetric Kaluza-Klein theory. They find the electromagnetic and Yang-Mills field Lagrangians up to the second order of approximation in hmu nu =gmu nu - eta mu nu . They prove that in the electromagnetic case there is no skewon-photon interaction up to the first order of approximation.

Estudo de comorbidade: sofrimento psíquico e abuso de drogas em pessoas em centros de tratamento, Macaé - Brasil

Study of prevalence and psychological distress among people attending a public day care service and two private in patientsservicesinthecityofMacae,�RiodeJaneiro,�Brazil.�Cross-sectionalstudy.�AquestionnaireadaptedbytheformEULAC-CICAD� was applied to characterize the participants. The scale of Kessler-10 was used as a screening tool for psychological distress. The sample was 60 people: 88.3% men and 51.5% between 24-39 years old. Depression was referred as the most important previous diagnosis in 35%, followed by anxiety in 33.33%. During the current treatment this relationship changed: anxiety was the main diagnosis in 38.3%, followed by depression in 28.3%. The 34% of the sample had severe psychological distress and 27.2% very severe psychological distress. The levels of psychological distress severe and very severe in 61.2% screened by K-10, a scale especially sensitive to anxiety and depression, are similar to international studies on this population. dEsCriptors: Comorbidity. Substance use-related disorders. Psychological distress. Mental health assistance.Study of prevalence and psychological distress among people attending a public day care service and two private in patients services in the city of Macae, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Cross-sectional study. A questionnaire adapted by the form EULAC-CICAD was applied to characterize the participants. The scale of Kessler-10 was used as a screening tool for psychological distress. The sample was 60 people: 88.3% men and 51.5% between 24-39 years old. Depression was referred as the most important previous diagnosis in 35%, followed by anxiety in 33.33%. During the current treatment this relationship changed: anxiety was the main diagnosis in 38.3%, followed by depression in 28.3%. The 34% of the sample had severe psychological distress and 27.2% very severe psychological distress. The levels of psychological distress severe and very severe in 61.2% screened by K-10, a scale especially sensitive to anxiety and depression, are similar to international studies on this population. dEsCriptors: Comorbidity. Substance use-related disorders. Psychological distress. Mental health assistance. Estudio dE la Comorbilidad: distrEs psiColOgiCo Y abuso dE drogas En pErsonas En CEntros dE tratamiEnto, maCae – brasil rEsumEn: Estudio de prevalencia de distres psicologicos entre personas que acuden a los servicios publicos de atencion de dia y dos centros de hospitalizacion privada en la ciudad de Macae, Rio de Janeiro, Brasil. Estudio transversal. Se aplico un cuestionario adaptado de lo formulario de la EULAC-CICAD para caracterizar a los participantes. Para la deteccion de los distres psicologicos se utilizo la escala de Kessler-10. Participaron 60 personas, y los hombres eran 88.3%. De la muestra total, el 51.5% tenian entre 24 a 39 anos de edad. La depresion fue el principal diagnostico relatado en 35%, seguido de la ansiedad en 33.33%. Durante el tratamiento actual la ansiedad fue el diagnostico principal en 38.3%, seguido de depresion en 28.3%. De los encuestados el 34% tenian niveles graves de distres psicologicos y el 27.2% niveles muy graves. Las conclusiones de que los niveles de distres psicologico grave y muy grave en 61.2% identificados pela escala K-10, especialmente sensibles a la ansiedad y la depresion, son similares a los estudios internacionales de esta poblacion. dEsCriptorEs: Comorbilidad. Distres psicologico. Trastornos relacionados con sustancias. Atencion en salud mental.

Estudio de la prevalencia de la comorbilidad entre el distrés psicológico y el abuso de drogas en usuarios del Portal Amarillo, Montevideo - Uruguay

Comorbidity psychiatric disorder in people with alcohol and other drugs has a high prevalence, impact on individual and family health and generates higher costs. This descriptive, multicenter and cross-sectional epidemiological study, estimates the prevalence of co-morbidity of psychological distress in 134 patients over 18 years treated at the Portal Amarillo, Montevideo Uruguay. Describes demographic and drug use characteristics, family functioning and satisfaction of the user population. For data collection, EULAC-CICAD, K-10 and Apgar family questionnaires were used. The prevalence of severe and very severe distress was 71%; 90.6% reported being satisfied with the care and 48% perceived that her family had no dysfunction. It is therefore necessary to consider the presence of psychiatric co-morbidity in addressing users with substance use disorder treatment centers. DESCRIPTORS: Comorbidity. Substance use-related disorders. Psychological distress. Mental health assistance. ESTUDO DA PREVALENCIA DE COMORBIDADE ENTRE SOFRIMENTO PSIQUICO E ABUSO DE DROGAS EM USUARIOS DE DROGAS DO PORTAL AMARILLO, MONTEVIDEU – URUGUAI RESUMO: A comorbidade do sofrimento psiquico em pessoas com alcool e outras drogas tem uma alta prevalencia e impacta na saude individual e familiar, gerando custos mais elevados. Neste estudo descritivo-epidemiologico, multicentrico, transversal, foram avaliadas estimativas da prevalencia de comorbidade de sofrimento psiquico em 134 pacientes, com idade acima de 18 anos, tratados no Portal Amarillo, Montevideu Uruguai. Os resultados descrevem as caracteristicas demograficas, uso de drogas, o funcionamento familiar e a satisfacao da populacao usuaria. Questionarios para coleta de dados, EULAC-CICAD, K-10 e Apgar familiar, foram usados. A prevalencia de sofrimento grave e muito grave foi de 71,6%; 90,6% relataram estar satisfeitos com o atendimento e 48% perceberam que sua familia nao tinha disfuncao. Portanto, e necessario considerar a presenca de comorbidade psiquiatrica na abordagem aos usuarios com transtorno pelo uso de substâncias nos centros de tratamento de desordem. DESCRITORES: Comorbidade. Sofrimento psiquico. Transtornos relacionados ao uso de substancias. Assistencia em saude mental.

Spacetime metric and Yang–Mills fields unified in a Galilean subspace structure

A novel approach to the unification of spacetime metric and Yang–Mills fields is presented. The spacetime metric field appears naturally as part of a first order G‐structure, a Galilean subspace structure on a world manifold of higher dimension. There is an a priori distinction between internal space dimensions and spacetime dimensions. The prolongation of the first order Galilean subspace structure to second order is a principal bundle of second order coframes which has additional degrees of freedom in the second order part of its gauge group. The Yang–Mills fields are defined in a natural way as second order gauge fields by a reduction of the second order Galilean subspace structure. The Yang–Mills fields appear as part of a connection on the world manifold rather than on the spacetime manifold. The kinematic foundations of the new model are analyzed using the theory of G‐structures and their prolongations. Kaluza–Klein models are also discussed from the G‐structure viewpoint and compared with the Galil...

Adolescent Problem Video Gaming in Urban and Non-urban Regions

The purpose of this paper is to explore the differences in adolescent problem video gaming in a large urban area (Toronto) compared to a non-urban region of Ontario (Northern Ontario). The results of this study showed that 76.6% of adolescents in the urban region and 80.3% of adolescents in the non-urban region played video games in the past year (n = 2175). Adolescents in the urban region were significantly more likely than adolescents in the non-urban region to experience problem video gaming (16.7 and 8.8%, respectively). Males and those reporting poorer mental health were more likely to experience problem video gaming. Those who engaged in delinquent behaviors were more likely to experience problem video gaming in both regions, while problem gamblers were more likely to experience problem gaming in urban regions. Lower scholastic achievement was correlated with problem video gaming in the non-urban region.

The relation between sexual abuse in childhood and use of illicit drugs: in students of a public university in Nicaragua

Las drogas ilicitas junto con el abuso sexual durante la infancia son responsables de una considerable morbilidad en el mundo. Los resultados del presente estudio muestran que el abuso sexual fue reportada por el 8.9% [IC95% (6.1%, 11.8%)] de los encuestados. La prevalencia del consumo de drogas ilicitas (Cannabis, Cocaina, Extasis o Heroina) en el ultimo ano fue del 15.5% [IC95% (11.8%, 19.2%)]. Despues de haber ajustado los Modelos Lineales Generalizados por sexo, edad y procedencia de los estudiantes, se determino que estudiantes del sexo femenino que fueron victima de abuso sexual durante la infancia tienen 2.3 [p=0.01; IC95%; (1.2, 4.5)] mas posibilidades de consumir drogas ilicitas en comparacion con estudiantes del sexo femenino que no sufrieron de este tipo de abusos. Estos resultados ponen de manifiesto la magnitud del abuso sexual durante la infancia y su relacion, a largo plazo, en el consumo de drogas ilicitas.Illicit drugs with sexual abuse during childhood are responsible for considerable morbidity in the world. The results show that sexual abuse was reported by 8.9% [95% CI (6.1%, 11.8%)] of respondents. The prevalence of illicit drugs (Cannabis, Cocaine, Heroin or Ecstasy) in the last year was 15.5 % [95% CI (11.8%, 19.2%)]. After controlloling for sex, age and origin of the students, the Generalized Linear Models determined that female students who were sexually abused during childhood are 2.3 [p=0.01, 95% (1.21, 4.55)] more likely to using illicit drugs compared to women who did not suffer from this kind of abuse. These results highlight the extent of sexual abuse in childhood and its relationship, long-term consumption of illicit drugs, and develop preventive actions that aim to minimize these problems. DESCRIPTORS: Child abuse, sexual. Street drug. students.

Relación entre el abuso sexual en la infancia y el uso de drogas ilícitas en estudiantes de una universidad pública en Nicaragua

Las drogas ilicitas junto con el abuso sexual durante la infancia son responsables de una considerable morbilidad en el mundo. Los resultados del presente estudio muestran que el abuso sexual fue reportada por el 8.9% [IC95% (6.1%, 11.8%)] de los encuestados. La prevalencia del consumo de drogas ilicitas (Cannabis, Cocaina, Extasis o Heroina) en el ultimo ano fue del 15.5% [IC95% (11.8%, 19.2%)]. Despues de haber ajustado los Modelos Lineales Generalizados por sexo, edad y procedencia de los estudiantes, se determino que estudiantes del sexo femenino que fueron victima de abuso sexual durante la infancia tienen 2.3 [p=0.01; IC95%; (1.2, 4.5)] mas posibilidades de consumir drogas ilicitas en comparacion con estudiantes del sexo femenino que no sufrieron de este tipo de abusos. Estos resultados ponen de manifiesto la magnitud del abuso sexual durante la infancia y su relacion, a largo plazo, en el consumo de drogas ilicitas.Illicit drugs with sexual abuse during childhood are responsible for considerable morbidity in the world. The results show that sexual abuse was reported by 8.9% [95% CI (6.1%, 11.8%)] of respondents. The prevalence of illicit drugs (Cannabis, Cocaine, Heroin or Ecstasy) in the last year was 15.5 % [95% CI (11.8%, 19.2%)]. After controlloling for sex, age and origin of the students, the Generalized Linear Models determined that female students who were sexually abused during childhood are 2.3 [p=0.01, 95% (1.21, 4.55)] more likely to using illicit drugs compared to women who did not suffer from this kind of abuse. These results highlight the extent of sexual abuse in childhood and its relationship, long-term consumption of illicit drugs, and develop preventive actions that aim to minimize these problems. DESCRIPTORS: Child abuse, sexual. Street drug. students.

International research capacity building program for health related professionals to study the drug phenomenon in Latin America and the Caribbean

La mayoria de los paises miembros de la Organizacion de los Estados Americanos no tienen un grupo de profesionales con experiencia en investigacion y conocimiento cientifico en drogas y problemas relacionados. Asi, la Organizacion de los Estados Americanos empezo, una asociacion, primero con la Universidad de Alberta/Canada y despues con el Centro de Adicion y Salud Mental en Toronto/Canada para capacitar profesionales de areas relacionadas a la salud para desarrollaren investigaciones sobre el problema de drogas. El programa tiene el objetivo de crear un grupo de profesionales de areas relacionadas de la salud con conocimiento cientifico y tecnico en investigacion para favorecer los avances cientificos en el area de reduccion de la demanda de drogas. El programa requiere el desarrollo e implementacion de una propuesta multicentrica de investigacion sobre drogas. El programa tiene producido los siguientes resultados: nueve estudios multicentricos de investigacion sobre drogas desarrollados en 22 paises de America Latina y Caribe; 91 participantes de 22 paises de America Latina y Caribe. Este es el unico programa en las Americas que oferta continuamente el entrenamiento en investigacion avanzada para profesores universitarios y contribuye para fortalecer los curriculos de los cursos de pregrado y post grado en cuestiones sobre drogas y la capacidad de investigacion en America Latina y Caribe.Most Organization of American States member states do not have a cadre of professionals with scientific knowledge and research experience on drugs and related problems. Therefore, the Organization of American States started a partnership, first with the University of Alberta/Canada and then with the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto/Canada to train health related professionals to address this problem. The objective is to create a cadre of health and related professionals with scientific and technical research knowledge to enable scientific advances in the area of drug demand reduction. The program requires the development and implementation of a multicentric drug research proposal. The program has produced the following results: nine multicentric drug research studies implemented in 22 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean; 91 participants from 22 countries of Latin America and the Caribbean. This is the only program in the Americas offering continued advanced research training to university faculty and contributing to strengthen the undergraduate and graduates curriculum on drug issues and research capability in Latin America and the Caribbean. DESCRIPTORS: Narcotics. Research. Capacity building. Latin America. Caribbean. PROGRAMA INTERNACIONAL DE CAPACITAÇÃO EM PESQUISA PARA PROFISSIONAIS DE SAÚDE SOBRE O ESTUDO DO FENÔMENO DAS DROGAS NA AMÉRICA LATINA E CARIBE RESUMO: A maioria dos países membros da Organização dos Estados Americanos não possui um conjunto de profissionais com experiência em pesquisa e conhecimento científico sobre drogas e problemas relacionados. Assim, a Organização dos Estados Americanos iniciou uma parceria, primeiro com a Universidade de Alberta/Canada, e depois, com o Centro de Adição e Saúde Mental em Toronto/ Canada, para capacitar profissionais das áreas relacionadas a saúde para desenvolverem pesquisas sobre o problema das drogas. O programa tem o objetivo de criar um grupo de profissionais de áreas relacionadas à saúde, com conhecimento científico e técnico em pesquisa, para favorecer avanços científicos na área de redução da demanda de drogas. O programa exige o desenvolvimento e implementação de uma proposta multicêntrica de pesquisa sobre drogas. O programa tem produzido os seguintes resultados: nove estudos multicêntricos de pesquisa sobre drogas desenvolvidos em 22 países da América Latina e Caribe e 91 participantes de 22 países de América Latina y Caribe. Este é o único programa das Américas que oferece contínuo treinamento em pesquisa avançada para professores de universidades, além de contribuir para fortalecer os currículos dos cursos de graduação e pós-graduação em questões relacionadas às drogas e a capacidade de pesquisa na America Latina e Caribe. DESCRITORES: Entorpecentes. Pesquisa. Fortalecimento institucional. América Latina. Caribe. 17 Http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/0104-07072015001010014