PrAGMATiC: a Probabilistic and Generative Model of Areas Tiling the Cortex

Much of the human cortex seems to be organized into topographic cortical maps. Yet few quantitative methods exist for characterizing these maps. To address this issue we developed a modeling framework that can reveal group-level cortical maps based on neuroimaging data. PrAGMATiC, a probabilistic and generative model of areas tiling the cortex, is a hierarchical Bayesian generative model of cortical maps. This model assumes that the cortical map in each individual subject is a sample from a single underlying probability distribution. Learning the parameters of this distribution reveals the properties of a cortical map that are common across a group of subjects while avoiding the potentially lossy step of co-registering each subject into a group anatomical space. In this report we give a mathematical description of PrAGMATiC, describe approximations that make it practical to use, show preliminary results from its application to a real dataset, and describe a number of possible future extensions

Multiple Thresholds in a Model System of Noisy Ion Channels

Voltage-activated ion channels vary randomly between open and closed states, influenced by the membrane potential and other factors. Signal transduction is enhanced by noise in a simple ion channel model. The enhancement occurs in a finite range of signals; the range can be extended using populations of channels. The range increases more rapidly in multiple-threshold channel populations than in single-threshold populations. The diversity of ion channels may thus be present as a strategy to reduce the metabolic costs of handling a broad class of electrochemical signals.Comment: REVTeX 4, 5 pages, 4 figures; added paragrap

Semiquantitative activity-based detection of JWH-018, a synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist, in oral fluid after vaping

The rapid proliferation of new synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists (SCRAs) has initiated considerable interest in the development of so-called “untargeted” screening strategies. One of these new screening technologies involves the activity-based detection of SCRAs. In this study, we evaluated whether (synthetic) cannabinoid activity can be detected in oral fluid (OF) and, if so, whether it correlates with SCRA concentrations. OF was collected at several time points in a placebo-controlled JWH-018 administration study. The outcome of the cell-based cannabinoid reporter system, which monitored the cannabinoid receptor activation, was compared to the quantitative data for JWH-018, obtained via a validated liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS) method. A total of 175 OF samples were collected and analyzed via both methods. The cannabinoid reporter assay correctly classified the vast majority of the samples as either negative (<0.25 ng/mL; 74/75 = 99%) or having low (0.25−1.5 ng/mL; 16/16 = 100% and 1.5−10 ng/mL; 37/41 = 90%), mid (10−100 ng/mL; 23/25 = 92%) or high (>100 ng/mL; 16/18 = 89%) JWH-018 concentrations. Passing−Bablok regression analysis yielded a good linear correlation, with no proportional difference between both methods (slope 0.97; 95% confidence interval 0.86−1.14) and only a small systematic difference. This is the first study to demonstrate the applicability of an untargeted, activity-based approach for SCRA detection in OF. Additionally, the outcome of the cannabinoid reporter assay was compared to the gold standard (LC-MS/MS), showing a good correlation between both methods, indicating that the cannabinoid reporter assay can be used for an estimation of drug concentrations

The Value of Humanity

My dissertation is on foundational questions about the value of human beings. This is a Kantian topic but I develop a proposal in a non-Kantian framework. I argue that to be a Kantian in ethics is to be committed to rationalism, but that the foundations of ethics should take account of the nature of human beings and our circumstances in the world. I develop a non-Kantian theory in which the value of human beings is no different, metaphysically speaking, from the value of other valuable things. Human beings have value, just as anything of value has value: because we are capable of being good-for something or someone. Most fundamentally, I argue that we are capable of being good-for ourselves. I propose that human beings have value in virtue of a capacity for having final ends, and that the capacity for having final ends makes us valuable because it makes us capable of living a good life, a life that is valuable because it is good-for the person who leads it. I show how the value of human beings gives everyone reason to treat human beings in certain ways. In particular, I show how everyone has reason not to destroy the capacity of human beings to have final ends, and, more positively, to help others realise their ends

Emergency care provision for, and psychological distress in, survivors of domestic violence

Background This study aimed (i) to ascertain the number of treatment referrals and information about protection orders given to survivors of domestic violence presenting for emergency trauma care, as reported at the one-month visit, (ii) to obtain a profile of violent incidents and injuries, and (iii) to assess self-esteem and posttraumatic and depressive symptomatology in the aftermath of injury. Methods A survey of 62 participants presenting in the acute aftermath of domestic violence (as defined by the Domestic Violence Act of 1998) was conducted over 12 weeks at the Trauma and Resuscitation Unit of a Level One trauma centre in an urban public hospital in South Africa.1 Following informed consent, face-to-face structured interviews were conducted during admission and a month later. The following instruments were administered at baseline: a Demographic and Injury Questionnaire, the Beck Depression and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Inventories, and the Davidson Trauma Scale. A psychosocial questionnaire was administered at the one-month follow-up. Results Fifty-eight per cent of the participants were female and 42% were male. Seventy-four per cent of the perpetrators were male. Ninety-five per cent of the participants said that no health professional had informed them about where or how they could find help. Although all were seriously injured, 76% of the participants said only the researcher had asked about their experience. Sixty-six per cent of the cases of domestic violence were related to intimate partner violence. Overall, subjects displayed high levels of depressive and post-traumatic stress symptomatology that had neither been treated nor adequately referred. Conclusion Even though domestic violence poses significant health threats and costs to the health system, it appears to be a neglected area of South African health care. Health professionals should at least be able to identify and intervene within the "open window" period when psychosocial opportunities are pivotal. South African Family Practice Vol. 49 (3) 2007: pp. 1

Anti-inflammatory and combined antiinflammatory/ analgesic medication in the early management of iliotibial band friction syndrome A clinical trial

Forty-three athletes presenting with unilateral iliotibial band friction syndrome (ITBFS) were randomly divided into three groups for the first 7 days of treatment (placebo-controlled, double-blind): 1 - placebo (N = 13); 2 - anti-inflammatory medication (N = 14) (Voharen; Geigy); and 3 - analgesicl anti-inflammatory combined medication (N =. 16) (Myprodol; Rio Ethicals). All subjects rested from day 0 to day 7 and all groups received the same physiotherapy outpatient treatment programme from day 3 to day 7. On days 0, 3 and 7 the subjects performed a functional treadmill running test (maximum 30 minutes) during which they reported pain (scale 0-10; 0 = no pain, 10 = unbearable pain) each minute. Total running distance, total running time and the area under the pain v. time curve was calculated. Daily 24-hour recall pain scores were also recorded. The 24-hour recall pain scores decreased significantly for all the groups over the treatment period. This method of assessing efficacy of treatment therefore failed to show differences between groups. In contrast, during the running test only group 3 improved their total running time and distance from day 0 to day 7, whereas in all the groups the area under the pain v. time curve decreased from day 0 to day 7. All the other groups improved total running time and running distance from day 3 to day 7. All three treatment modalities are effective in the early. treatment of ITBFS but physiotherapy in combination with analgesicl anti-inflammatory medication is superior. A functional running test, which is more sensitive than conventional pain-recall· methods in assessing efficacy of treatment in this type of clinical trial, is described

A not so isolated fringe:Dutch later prehistoric (c. 2200 BCE-AD 0) bronze alloy networks from compositional analyses on metals and corrosion layers

Using a corpus of over 370 compositional analyses of Dutch Bronze Age and Iron Age (c. 2000 BCE AD 0) copper alloy artefacts, long-term patterns in the types of alloys used for specific bronze objects are identified. As the Low Countries are devoid of copper ores and alloying elements, a combination of typo(chrono) logical and compositional analysis is used to identify through which European contact networks (such as Atlantic, Central European or Nordic exchange networks) these alloys were obtained. We employ a methodology that (following Bray et al., 2015) defines alloy groups by presence of As, Sb, Ag and Ni over 0.1 %wt, but expanded this classification to include Pb and to track high-impurity (>1%wt) alloys. Due to interfering soil-derived iron hydroxides, and preferent dissolution of copper from the objects’ surface, the determination of tin is in most cases overestimated when using p-XRF, so Sn was not systematically reviewed. Objects were assigned a calendar age in years BCE to facilitate chronological sorting. Using this classification, we could show how different alloys (using different base ores) were used in different periods, and in different combinations. Moreover, particular alloys were used for different groups of functional types of objects. Also, we show diachronic differences in the influx of new (or less frequently mixed) alloys and chronological trends in the substitution of As by Sn as main alloying element in the Early Bronze Age as well as the rise of leaded alloys at the close of the Bronze Age. Combining information on the composition of the objects with their typological traits, allowed us to reconstruct the scales and geographic scopes of the European contact networks in which the copper alloys used throughout later prehistory were obtained

The Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire Parent Form:Dutch norms and validity

OBJECTIVE: This study provides Dutch national norms for the parent-reported Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) for children aged 3-14 years, and assesses the test performance of the SDQ Total Difficulties Scale (TDS) and impairment Scale. We further compared Dutch SDQ norms with those of the United Kingdom (UK), to determine potential variation in country-specific norms. STUDY DESIGN: We analyzed data of 3384 children aged 3 to 14 years. The data were obtained in schools, and in the context of Preventive Child Healthcare. Parents completed the SDQ parent form and the Child Behavior Checklist (CBCL). We determined clinical (10% elevated scores) and borderline (20% elevated scores) SDQ TDS norms. We assessed the test performance (validity) of the SDQ TDS and Impairment Score using the CBCL as criterion. RESULTS: The clinical SDQ TDS norms varied between > 10 and > 14 depending on the age group. The SDQ TDS discriminated between children with and without problems, as measured by the CBCL, for all age groups (AUCs varied from 0.92 to 0.96). The SDQ Impairment Score had added value (beyond the SDQ TDS) only for the age group 12-14 years. For the Netherlands we found lower clinical SDQ TDS norms than those previously reported for the UK (i.e. > 16). CONCLUSION: The clinical SDQ TDS norms varied between > 10 and > 14 depending on the age groups. We found good test performance at these proposed norms. Dutch norms differed somewhat from UK norms. In the Netherlands, the SDQ performed better with Dutch-specific norms than with UK-specific norms

Incommensuration Effects and Dynamics in Vortex Chains

We examine the motion of one-dimensional (1D) vortex matter embedded in a 2D vortex system with weak pinning using numerical simulations. We confirm the conjecture of Matsuda et al. [Science 294, 2136 (2001)] that the onset of the temperature induced motion of the chain is due to an incommensuration effect of the chain with the periodic potential created by the bulk vortices. In addition, under an applied driving force we find a two stage depinning transition, where the initial depinning of the vortex chain occurs through soliton like pulses. When an ac drive is added to the dc drive, we observe phase locking of the moving vortex chain.Comment: 4 pages, 4 postscript figure