Prevalence and incidence of epilepsy associated with convulsive seizures in rural Bolivia. A global campaign against epilepsy project

we performed a three-stages door-to-door survey to estimate incidence and prevalence of epilepsy associated with convulsive seizures (EACS) in a rural area of Bolivia.the study was carried out in the Cordillera Province, southern-eastern Bolivia. One hundred fourteen rural communities with a total population of 18,907 inhabitants were included in the survey. In order to identify subjects with EACS, trained fieldworkers administered a validated single screening question to the householders (stage I). A second face-to-face questionnaire was administered to each positive subject (stage II) that, in case of positive answer, underwent a complete neurological examination to confirm the diagnosis (stage III). We estimated age and sex specific life-time and active EACS prevalence at the prevalence day (30th June 2010). Incidence risk was evaluated for the 10-year period between January 2000 and December 2010.on prevalence day we identified 136 subjects with EACS, 124 of whom had active epilepsy. The life-time prevalence of EACS was 7.2/1,000 (7.6/1,000 age-adjusted to the world standard population) while the prevalence of active EACS was 6.6/1,000 (6.7/1,000 age-adjusted to the world standard population). Both life-time and active prevalence showed a peak (10.3/1,000) in the 15-24 years age group and, overall, were higher among women. During the incidence study period, 105 patients living in the study area had the onset of EACS. The crude incidence risk was 55.4/100,000 (49.5/100,000 age-adjusted to the world standard population). Incidence was slightly but not significantly higher among women (58.9/100,000 versus 51.9/100,000).the present study demonstrated a considerable burden of EACS in the Bolivian Chaco, showing prevalence and incidence estimates close to those reported for low and middle- income countries and underlying the need of treatment programs

Broadband excitation spectrum of bulk crystals and thin layers of PtTe2_2

We explore the broadband excitation spectrum of bulk PtTe$_2$ using electron energy loss spectroscopy and density functional theory. In addition to infrared modes related to intraband 3D Dirac plasmon and interband transitions between the 3D Dirac bands, we observe modes at 3.9, 7.5 and 19.0 eV in the ultraviolet region. The comparison of the excitation spectrum with the calculated orbital-resolved density of states allows us to ascribe spectral features to transitions between specific electronic states. Additionally, we study the thickness dependence of the high-energy plasmon in the PtTe2 thin films. We show that, unlike graphene, the high-energy plasmon in PtTe2 thin film gets red-shifted by 2.5 eV with increasing thickness.Comment: 9 pages with 7 figure

Epilepsy-associated stigma in Bolivia: A community-based study among the Guarani population An International League Against Epilepsy/International Bureau for Epilepsy/World Health Organization Global Campaign Against Epilepsy Regional Project

n/

Assessment of on-road emissions of refuse collection vehicles

One of the most challenging issues for building sustainable cities is the improvement of municipal solid waste (MSW) management, which requires a substantial effort to reduce its production and improve its collection, transport and treatment systems. Modern (Euro VI) heavy-duty vehicles have significantly lower emissions compared to older vehicles. However, there are still concerns regarding the emissions of refuse collection vehicles in cities, because they use engines designed for long haulage trucks and consequently not optimised for low speed stop and start driving. The very low average speeds and the frequent stops represent difficult conditions to cope with from the emission reduction perspective. In fact, for short periods, where the exhaust gas temperature is low for the aftertreatment devices (cold start, some city conditions), the emissions are relatively high. In an effort to provide insight on the optimal future planning and renewal of the Milan waste collection vehicle fleet, the Joint Research Centre (JRC) of the European Commission (EC), in collaboration with the Azienda Milanese Servizi Ambientali (AMSA), initiated an on-road emission testing campaign. The aim of this extensive experimental study, performed both under real and laboratory controlled operating conditions was to identify the actual emission levels of the waste collection vehicles, comparing two different engine technologies (diesel and natural gas fuelled engines) and assess the environmental efficiency of the different engines solutions. For this purpose, we tested a Diesel Euro VI step C and a Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Euro VI step C refuse collection heavy-duty vehicle both in the laboratory and on the road using a cycle similar to the in-service conformity (ISC) trips for this type of vehicles (N3). The vehicles were also tested using actual refuse collection cycles. The idea was to directly compared the two vehicles’ engine technology to evaluate the performance and the pollutant emissions under realistic and controlled operating conditions in order to support a fleet renewal initiative in the city of Milan. Particle and gaseous pollutants were measured using a Portable Emissions Measurement System (PEMS). Additionally, in the laboratory we used laboratory grade gaseous, particle number and FTIR (Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy) systems to measure the emissions and check the proper operation of the PEMS. The present work summarizes the results of the aforementioned experimental activity lead on two vehicles (one Diesel and one Compressed Natural Gas), which were tested in three different phases using a portable emission measurement system. The first phase included a similar In-Service Conformity test (ISC_LIKE) and a city simulation cycle (CITY_SIM), the second part involved real world operation in the city of Milan, whilst a third phase was dedicated to the comparison lab test in confined conditions. This report will address only the road comparison, while the laboratory tests and the relative comparison together with the real world findings will be object of a future report. Focusing on CITY_MILAN cycle, which is the most representative of the real in-use conditions, THC calculated emission factors were two orders of magnitude lower in Diesel engine (0.79 mg/kWh) than in CNG (73.49 mg/kWh), even if we have to consider a different limit for CNG engines. Continuing with the analysis of “Urban” routes, CNG truck showed NOX emission nearly 4 times higher than the Diesel (755.31 mg/kWh vs 157.10 mg/kWh), exceeding the reference limits. The CNG engine PN levels were 3 times higher than in Diesel one. Including also the regeneration events in the Diesel vehicle, the emissions increased the PN significantly, but it still remained below the limit of 6×10^11 particle/kWh. In the metropolitan cycle (CITY_MILAN) CNG truck has a CO emission reduction of -85 % compared to the Diesel one, with respectively 40.92 and 320.30 mg/kWh. Nevertheless, CO emissions of both tested vehicles appear to be at very low levels, abundantly below the reference limits (4000 mg/kWh). This trends did not vary significantly among the different routes. In general, Diesel technology presented important advantages with regards to the NOX, PN, CO2 emissions as compared to the CNG engine, while the CNG vehicle provided a better CO emission behaviour. This trade off needs to be carefully analysed prior to decide if a fleet should be shifted towards either technology, mainly because is based only to a limited comparison between the two considered vehicles. Therefore, the conclusions drawn in this report are only valid for the tested vehicles and they cannot be extrapolated or generalised for a larger fleet of vehicles.JRC.C.4 - Sustainable Transpor

Quantitative experiments to explain the change of seasons

The science education literature shows that students have difficulty understanding what causes the seasons. Incorrect explanations are often due to a lack of knowledge about the physical mechanisms underlying this phenomenon. To address this, we present a module in which the students engage in quantitative measurements with a photovoltaic panel to explain changes to the sunray flow on Earth’s surface over the year. The activities also provide examples of energy transfers between the incoming radiation and the environment to introduce basic features of Earth’s climate. The module was evaluated with 45 secondary school students (aged 17–18) and a pre-/posttest research design. Analysis of students’ learning outcomes supports the effectiveness of the proposed activities

Opinion, knowledge, and clinical experience with functional neurological disorders among Italian neurologists: results from an online survey

Background: Functional neurological disorders (FND) are disabling medical conditions commonly seen in neurological practice. Neurologists play an essential role in managing FND, from establishing a diagnosis to coordination of multidisciplinary team-based treatment for patients. With this study, we investigated the knowledge and the clinical experience of Italian neurologists in managing patients with FND. Methods: Members of the Italian Society of Neurology were invited via e-mail to participate in this ad hoc online survey; 492 questionnaires were returned completed. Results: The term "Functional neurological disorders" in reference to FND was used more frequently than other psychological (e.g., psychogenic or conversion), or descriptive terms (e.g., non-organic or stress-related). When speaking with patients, the respondents stated that they preferred explaining symptoms based on abnormal functioning of the nervous system than discussing mental illness and that they would refer their patient to a psychologist rather than to a psychiatrist. Few considered that physiotherapy and psychiatric interventions are useful approaches to treating FND. Some believed that patients simulate their symptoms. Conclusions: Overall, the responses suggest that knowledge about scientific advances in FND is somewhat sparse. A psychiatric-centered view of FND opens the way to an approach in which neurobiological and psychological aspects constitute essential factors of the condition. In this context, professional education could improve understanding of FND and optimize patient management

Lesion load may predict long-term cognitive dysfunction in multiple sclerosis patients.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) techniques provided evidences into the understanding of cognitive impairment (CIm) in Multiple Sclerosis (MS).To investigate the role of white matter (WM) and gray matter (GM) in predicting long-term CIm in a cohort of MS patients.303 out of 597 patients participating in a previous multicenter clinical-MRI study were enrolled (49.4% were lost at follow-up). The following MRI parameters, expressed as fraction (f) of intracranial volume, were evaluated: cerebrospinal fluid (CSF-f), WM-f, GM-f and abnormal WM (AWM-f), a measure of lesion load. Nine years later, cognitive status was assessed in 241 patients using the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), the Semantically Related Word List Test (SRWL), the Modified Card Sorting Test (MCST), and the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT). In particular, being SRWL a memory test, both immediate recall and delayed recall were evaluated. MCST scoring was calculated based on the number of categories, number of perseverative and non-perseverative errors.AWM-f was predictive of an impaired performance 9 years ahead in SDMT (OR 1.49, CI 1.12–1.97 p = 0.006), PASAT (OR 1.43, CI 1.14–1.80 p = 0.002), SRWL-immediate recall (OR 1.72 CI 1.35–2.20 p<0.001), SRWL-delayed recall (OR 1.61 CI 1.28–2.03 p<0.001), MCST-category (OR 1.52, CI 1.2–1.9 p<0.001), MCST-perseverative error(OR 1.51 CI 1.2–1.9 p = 0.001), MCST-non perseverative error (OR 1.26 CI 1.02–1.55 p = 0.032).In our large MS cohort, focal WM damage appeared to be the most relevant predictor of the long-term cognitive outcome

Family History in Parkinson's Disease: A National Cross-Sectional Study

Background: Family history of Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common finding in PD patients. However, a few studies have systematically examined this aspect. Objectives: We investigated the family history of PD patients, comparing demographic and clinical features between familial PD (fPD) and sporadic PD (sPD). Methods: A cross-sectional study enrolling 2035 PD patients was conducted in 28 Italian centers. Clinical data and family history up to the third degree of kinship were collected. Results: Family history of PD was determined in 21.9% of patients. fPD patients had earlier age at onset than sporadic patients. No relevant differences in the prevalence of motor and nonmotor symptoms were detected. Family history of mood disorders resulted more prevalently in the fPD group. Conclusions: fPD was found to recur more frequently than previously reported. Family history collection beyond the core family is essential to discover disease clusters and identify novel risk factors for PD