Exercises to develop the ability to classify words and to outline paragraphs grade IV.

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit

The hitchhiker's guide to avian malaria

The ecological mechanisms underlying the dispersal of parasites are poorly understood, which is of particular concern in view of currently emerging infectious diseases. In a new study, Pérez-Tris and Bensch examined the distribution and prevalence of avian malaria in a migratory bird across Western Europe. They concluded that repeated independent evolution of year-round transmission has enabled some avian malaria lineages to become more widespread, and more prevalent, than lineages that are transmitted only during the summer. This study blurs the boundaries of evolutionary ecology, epidemiology and macroecology with great potential for cross-disciplinary research

Characterisation of the transmissivity field of a fractured and karstic aquifer, Southern France

International audienceGeological and hydrological data collected at the Terrieu experimental site north of Montpellier, in a confined carbonate aquifer indicates that both fracture clusters and a major bedding plane form the main flow paths of this highly heterogeneous karst aquifer. However, characterising the geometry and spatial location of the main flow channels and estimating their flow properties remain difficult. These challenges can be addressed by solving an inverse problem using the available hydraulic head data recorded during a set of interference pumping tests.We first constructed a 2D equivalent porous medium model to represent the test site domain and then employed regular zoning parameterisation, on which the inverse modelling was performed. Because we aim to resolve the fine-scale characteristics of the transmissivity field, the problem undertaken is essentially a large-scale inverse model, i.e. the dimension of the unknown parameters is high. In order to deal with the high computational demands in such a large-scale inverse problem, a gradient-based, non-linear algorithm (SNOPT) was used to estimate the transmissivity field on the experimental site scale through the inversion of steady-state, hydraulic head measurements recorded at 22 boreholes during 8 sequential cross-hole pumping tests. We used the data from outcrops, borehole fracture measurements and interpretations of inter-well connectivities from interference test responses as initial models to trigger the inversion. Constraints for hydraulic conductivities, based on analytical interpretations of pumping tests, were also added to the inversion models. In addition, the efficiency of the adopted inverse algorithm enables us to increase dramatically the number of unknown parameters to investigate the influence of elementary discretisation on the reconstruction of the transmissivity fields in both synthetic and field studies.By following the above approach, transmissivity fields that produce similar hydrodynamic behaviours to the real head measurements were obtained. The inverted transmissivity fields show complex, spatial heterogeneities with highly conductive channels embedded in a low transmissivity matrix region. The spatial trend of the main flow channels is in a good agreement with that of the main fracture sets mapped on outcrops in the vicinity of the Terrieu site suggesting that the hydraulic anisotropy is consistent with the structural anisotropy. These results from the inverse modelling enable the main flow paths to be located and their hydrodynamic properties to be estimated

Late Cretaceous to Recent Deformation Related to Inherited Structures and Subsequent Compression within the Persian Gulf: A 2D Seismic Case Study

The Persian Gulf is part of an asymmetric foreland basin related to the Zagros Orogen. Few published studies of this basin and associated onshore areas include seismic reflection data. We present a seismic-stratigraphic interpretation based on marine 2D seismic data, which reveals the presence of two types of compressional structures within the basin: (1) faulted domes related to salt movement and the offshore trace of a NNE–SSW-trending dextral basement fault (the Kazerun Fault); (2) long-wavelength (16 km), low-amplitude (60 ms two-way travel time) folds relating to the advancing deformation front associated with the orogen. Thinning of age-constrained stratal units across structures related to the offshore trace of the Kazerun Fault implies a distinct pulse of uplift on this fault during the Maastrichtian. The geometry of growth strata across other intra-basin structures suggests a second, later stage of deformation, which began in the Middle Miocene. Thickening and folding of post-Middle Miocene stratal units towards the NE (i.e. towards the Zagros Orogen) is interpreted to reflect rapid loading, subsidence and compression related to southwestwards advance of the orogen. The results of this study have implications for the interaction between pre-existing structures and later compressional events both within the Persian Gulf and elsewhere

Late Cretaceous to Recent Deformation Related to Inherited Structures and Subsequent Compression within the Persian Gulf: A 2D Seismic Case Study

The Persian Gulf is part of an asymmetric foreland basin related to the Zagros Orogen. Few published studies of this basin and associated onshore areas include seismic reflection data. We present a seismic-stratigraphic interpretation based on marine 2D seismic data, which reveals the presence of two types of compressional structures within the basin: (1) faulted domes related to salt movement and the offshore trace of a NNE–SSW-trending dextral basement fault (the Kazerun Fault); (2) long-wavelength (16 km), low-amplitude (60 ms two-way travel time) folds relating to the advancing deformation front associated with the orogen. Thinning of age-constrained stratal units across structures related to the offshore trace of the Kazerun Fault implies a distinct pulse of uplift on this fault during the Maastrichtian. The geometry of growth strata across other intra-basin structures suggests a second, later stage of deformation, which began in the Middle Miocene. Thickening and folding of post-Middle Miocene stratal units towards the NE (i.e. towards the Zagros Orogen) is interpreted to reflect rapid loading, subsidence and compression related to southwestwards advance of the orogen. The results of this study have implications for the interaction between pre-existing structures and later compressional events both within the Persian Gulf and elsewhere

Investigation of a lattice Boltzmann model with a variable speed of sound

A lattice Boltzmann model is considered in which the speed of sound can be varied independently of the other parameters. The range over which the speed of sound can be varied is investigated and good agreement is found between simulations and theory. The onset of nonlinear effects due to variations in the speed of sound is also investigated and good agreement is again found with theory. It is also shown that the fluid viscosity is not altered by changing the speed of sound

Constructing Integrable Third Order Systems:The Gambier Approach

We present a systematic construction of integrable third order systems based on the coupling of an integrable second order equation and a Riccati equation. This approach is the extension of the Gambier method that led to the equation that bears his name. Our study is carried through for both continuous and discrete systems. In both cases the investigation is based on the study of the singularities of the system (the Painlev\'e method for ODE's and the singularity confinement method for mappings).Comment: 14 pages, TEX FIL

Protocol for a randomized controlled trial examining multilevel prediction of response to behavioral activation and exposure-based therapy for generalized anxiety disorder.

BACKGROUND:Only 40-60% of patients with generalized anxiety disorder experience long-lasting improvement with gold standard psychosocial interventions. Identifying neurobehavioral factors that predict treatment success might provide specific targets for more individualized interventions, fostering more optimal outcomes and bringing us closer to the goal of "personalized medicine." Research suggests that reward and threat processing (approach/avoidance behavior) and cognitive control may be important for understanding anxiety and comorbid depressive disorders and may have relevance to treatment outcomes. This study was designed to determine whether approach-avoidance behaviors and associated neural responses moderate treatment response to exposure-based versus behavioral activation therapy for generalized anxiety disorder. METHODS/DESIGN:We are conducting a randomized controlled trial involving two 10-week group-based interventions: exposure-based therapy or behavioral activation therapy. These interventions focus on specific and unique aspects of threat and reward processing, respectively. Prior to and after treatment, participants are interviewed and undergo behavioral, biomarker, and neuroimaging assessments, with a focus on approach and avoidance processing and decision-making. Primary analyses will use mixed models to examine whether hypothesized approach, avoidance, and conflict arbitration behaviors and associated neural responses at baseline moderate symptom change with treatment, as assessed using the Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 item scale. Exploratory analyses will examine additional potential treatment moderators and use data reduction and machine learning methods. DISCUSSION:This protocol provides a framework for how studies may be designed to move the field toward neuroscience-informed and personalized psychosocial treatments. The results of this trial will have implications for approach-avoidance processing in generalized anxiety disorder, relationships between levels of analysis (i.e., behavioral, neural), and predictors of behavioral therapy outcome. TRIAL REGISTRATION:The study was retrospectively registered within 21 days of first participant enrollment in accordance with FDAAA 801 with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT02807480. Registered on June 21, 2016, before results

A Comparison of DSM-IV and DSM-5 Panel Members' Financial Associations with Industry: A Pernicious Problem Persists

Lisa Cosgrove and Sheldon Krimsky examine the new competing interest disclosure policy of the American Psychiatric Association (APA) and report that DSM panel members still have considerable financial conflicts of interest