Didactic Software for Autistic Children

In this paper we describe the aims and requirements of a project devoted to designing and developing Open Source didactic Software (SW) for children in the autism disorder spectrum, conforming to the Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) learning technique. In this context, participatory design with therapists and child?s parents is necessary to ensure a usable product that responds to these children?s special needs and respects education principles and constraints of the ABA methodology

Sensitivity analysis of circadian entrainment in the space of phase response curves

Sensitivity analysis is a classical and fundamental tool to evaluate the role of a given parameter in a given system characteristic. Because the phase response curve is a fundamental input--output characteristic of oscillators, we developed a sensitivity analysis for oscillator models in the space of phase response curves. The proposed tool can be applied to high-dimensional oscillator models without facing the curse of dimensionality obstacle associated with numerical exploration of the parameter space. Application of this tool to a state-of-the-art model of circadian rhythms suggests that it can be useful and instrumental to biological investigations.Comment: 22 pages, 8 figures. Correction of a mistake in Definition 2.1. arXiv admin note: text overlap with arXiv:1206.414

The evolution of the low-density H i intergalactic medium from z = 3.6 to 0: Data, transmitted flux, and H i column density

We present a new, uniform analysis of the H i transmitted flux (F) and H i column density (N_{mathrm{H,{small I}}}) distribution in the low-density IGM as a function of redshift z for 0 < z < 3.6 using 55 HST/COS FUV (Δz = 7.2 at z < 0.5), five HST/STIS + COS NUV (Δz = 1.3 at z ∼1) and 24 VLT/UVES, and Keck/HIRES (Δz = 11.6 at 1.7 < z < 3.6) AGN spectra. We performed a consistent, uniform Voigt profile analysis to combine spectra taken with different instruments, to reduce systematics and to remove metal-line contamination. We confirm previously known conclusions on firmer quantitative grounds in particular by improving the measurements at z ∼1. Two flux statistics at 0 < F < 1, the mean H i flux and the flux probability distribution function (PDF), show that considerable evolution occurs from z = 3.6 to z = 1.5, after which it slows down to become effectively stable for z < 0.5. However, there are large sightline variations. For the H i column density distribution function (CDDF, f ∝ N_{ m H,{small I}}^{-eta }) at log (N_{mathrm{H,{small I}}}/1, {mathrm{cm}^{-2}}) [13.5, 16.0], β increases as z decreases from β = 1.60 at z ∼3.4 to β = 1.82 at z ∼0.1. The CDDF shape at lower redshifts can be reproduced by a small amount of clockwise rotation of a higher-z CDDF with a slightly larger CDDF normalization. The absorption line number per z (dn/dz) shows a similar evolutionary break at z ∼1.5 as seen in the flux statistics. High-N_{mathrm{H,{small I}}} absorbers evolve more rapidly than low-N_{mathrm{H,{small I}}} absorbers to decrease in number or cross-section with time. The individual dn/dz shows a large scatter at a given z. The scatter increases towards lower z, possibly caused by a stronger clustering at lower z

Understanding the strong intervening O VI absorber at z_abs 0.93 towards PG1206+459

Large scale structure and cosmolog

Practical allergy (PRACTALL) report: risk assessment in anaphylaxis

Effector mechanisms in anaphylaxis were reviewed. Current approaches to confirmation of the clinical diagnosis were discussed. Improved methods for distinguishing between allergen sensitization (which is common in the general population) and clinical risk of anaphylaxis (which is uncommon) were deliberated. Innovative techniques that will improve risk assessment in anaphylaxis in the future were described

Requirements for physician competencies in allergy: key clinical competencies appropriate for the care of patients with allergic or immunologic diseases

Egypt J Pediatr Allergy Immunol 2009; 7(1): 33-3

Treatment of Patients with the Hypereosinophilic Syndrome with Mepolizumab

BACKGROUND The hypereosinophilic syndrome is a group of diseases characterized by persistent blood eosinophilia, defined as more than 1500 cells per microliter with end-organ involvement and no recognized secondary cause. Although most patients have a response to corticosteroids, side effects are common and can lead to considerable morbidity. METHODS We conducted an international, randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial evaluating the safety and efficacy of an anti–interleukin-5 monoclonal antibody, mepolizumab, in patients with the hypereosinophilic syndrome. Patients were negative for the FIP1L1–PDGFRA fusion gene and required prednisone monotherapy, 20 to 60 mg per day, to maintain a stable clinical status and a blood eosinophil count of less than 1000 per microliter. Patients received either intravenous mepolizumab or placebo while the prednisone dose was tapered. The primary end point was the reduction of the prednisone dose to 10 mg or less per day for 8 or more consecutive weeks. RESULTS The primary end point was reached in 84% of patients in the mepolizumab group, as compared with 43% of patients in the placebo group (hazard ratio, 2.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.59 to 5.26; P CONCLUSIONS Our study shows that treatment with mepolizumab, an agent designed to target eosinophils, can result in corticosteroid-sparing for patients negative for FIP1L1– PDGFRA who have the hypereosinophilic syndrome. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00086658.