Modelling large motion events in fMRI studies of patients with epilepsy

EEG-correlated fMRI can provide localisation information on the generators of epileptiform discharges in patients with focal epilepsy. To increase the technique's clinical potential, it is important to consider ways of optimising the yield of each experiment while minimizing the risk of false-positive activation. Head motion can lead to severe image degradation and result in false-positive activation and is usually worse in patients than in healthy subjects. We performed general linear model fMRI data analysis on simultaneous EEG–fMRI data acquired in 34 cases with focal epilepsy. Signal changes associated with large inter-scan motion events (head jerks) were modelled using modified design matrices that include ‘scan nulling’ regressors. We evaluated the efficacy of this approach by mapping the proportion of the brain for which F-tests across the additional regressors were significant. In 95% of cases, there was a significant effect of motion in 50% of the brain or greater; for the scan nulling effect, the proportion was 36%; this effect was predominantly in the neocortex. We conclude that careful consideration of the motion-related effects in fMRI studies of patients with epilepsy is essential and that the proposed approach can be effective

Comment on "Critique of the foundations of time-dependent density functional theory" [Phys. Rev.A. 75, 022513 (2007)]

A recent paper (Phys. Rev A. 75, 022513 (2007), arXiv:cond-mat/0602020) challenges exact time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT) on several grounds. We explain why these criticisms are either irrelevant or incorrect, and that TDDFT is both formally exact and predictive.Comment: 4 pages; This is a Comment on the paper cited above, also at arXiv:cond-mat/060202

A major electronics upgrade for the H.E.S.S. Cherenkov telescopes 1-4

The High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.) is an array of imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes (IACTs) located in the Khomas Highland in Namibia. It consists of four 12-m telescopes (CT1-4), which started operations in 2003, and a 28-m diameter one (CT5), which was brought online in 2012. It is the only IACT system featuring telescopes of different sizes, which provides sensitivity for gamma rays across a very wide energy range, from ~30 GeV up to ~100 TeV. Since the camera electronics of CT1-4 are much older than the one of CT5, an upgrade is being carried out; first deployment was in 2015, full operation is planned for 2016. The goals of this upgrade are threefold: reducing the dead time of the cameras, improving the overall performance of the array and reducing the system failure rate related to aging. Upon completion, the upgrade will assure the continuous operation of H.E.S.S. at its full sensitivity until and possibly beyond the advent of CTA. In the design of the new components, several CTA concepts and technologies were used and are thus being evaluated in the field: The upgraded read-out electronics is based on the NECTAR readout chips; the new camera front- and back-end control subsystems are based on an FPGA and an embedded ARM computer; the communication between subsystems is based on standard Ethernet technologies. These hardware solutions offer good performance, robustness and flexibility. The design of the new cameras is reported here.Comment: Proceedings of the 34th International Cosmic Ray Conference, 30 July- 6 August, 2015, The Hague, The Netherland

The impact of hyperhidrosis on patients' daily life and quality of life : A qualitative investigation

Background: An understanding of the daily life impacts of hyperhidrosis and how patients deal with them, based on qualitative research, is lacking. This study investigated the impact of hyperhidrosis on the daily life of patients using a mix of qualitative research methods. Methods: Participants were recruited through hyperhidrosis patient support groups such as the Hyperhidrosis Support Group UK. Data were collected using focus groups, interviews and online surveys. A grounded theory approach was used in the analysis of data transcripts. Data were collected from 71 participants, out of an initial 100 individuals recruited. Results: Seventeen major themes capturing the impacts of hyperhidrosis were identified; these covered all areas of life including daily life, psychological well-being, social life, professional /school life, dealing with hyperhidrosis, unmet health care needs and physical impact. Conclusions: Psychosocial impacts are central to the overall impacts of hyperhidrosis, cutting across and underlying the limitations experienced in other areas of life.Peer reviewe

Ethnic Association in Primary Systemic Vasculitis: A Systematic Review

Background: Literature described wide disparities in incidence and prevalence between different types of vasculitis. There were no comprehensive studies on ethnic or racial associations in all types of primary systemic vasculitis (PSV) in any published article, until this review commenced in 2020. The purpose of the review is to synthesize the evidence regarding the relation of ethnicity and the incidence and/or prevalence of different types of PSV. Methods: A total of 52 selected articles which include Clinical trials, cohorts, cross-sectional studies, case series, and case studies and have been published within the last 10 years in the human population, were reviewed by searching The Medline, PubMed, and Google Scholars databases using predefined keywords. The PRISMA diagrams were followed to identify relevant articles. The methodological qualities of the studies were assessed using the EPHPP tool. Finally, a summary of the evidence on the association between ethnic origin and PSV was painstakingly compiled. Results: The connection between ethnicity and different types of PSV has been found to be significantly diverse in this research such as vasculitis is more common in Asians and Scandinavians, Kawasaki disease and periarteritis nodules are more prevalent in Japanese and Alaska-natives, ANCA-associated vasculitis is more frequent in Caucasians, whereas Henoch-Schonlein purpura and Cogan syndrome more usual in Caucasians and Asians. Furthermore, Behçet's disease more commonly occurs on the "Silk Road", especially in Turkey. Conclusion: Genetic susceptibility and environmental elements could be the contributing factors to the global variation in the incidence and prevalence of primary systemic vasculitis

Numerical study of engine performance and emissions for port injection of ammonia into a gasoline\ethanol dual-fuel spark ignition engine

This study aims to investigate the effect of the port injection of ammonia on performance, knock and NOx emission across a range of engine speeds in a gasoline/ethanol dual-fuel engine. An experimentally validated numerical model of a naturally aspirated spark-ignition (SI) engine was developed in AVL BOOST for the purpose of this investigation. The vibe two zone combustion model, which is widely used for the mathematical modeling of spark-ignition engines is employed for the numerical analysis of the combustion process. A significant reduction of ~50% in NOx emissions was observed across the engine speed range. However, the port injection of ammonia imposed some negative impacts on engine equivalent BSFC, CO and HC emissions, increasing these parameters by 3%, 30% and 21%, respectively, at the 10% ammonia injection ratio. Additionally, the minimum octane number of primary fuel required to prevent knock was reduced by up to 3.6% by adding ammonia between 5 and 10%. All in all, the injection of ammonia inside a bio-fueled engine could make it robust and produce less NOx, while having some undesirable effects on BSFC, CO and HC emissions