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Background and purpose: The 2014 International League Against Epilepsy clinical definition of epilepsy allows diagnosis after a single unprovoked seizure if the 10‐year recurrence risk exceeds 60%. Multiple sclerosis (MS) carries an increased risk of epilepsy, but the risk after a first seizure is unknown. We aimed to investigate the risk of epilepsy in patients with MS who had suffered a first seizure. Methods: We cross‐referenced data from the Swedish MS register with the national patient register for 15 810 patients with MS and 43 635 controls and included 289 patients with MS and 222 controls with a first diagnosis of seizure or status epilepticus (SE) without prior epilepsy or presumed symptomatic aetiology. Kaplan–Meier curves were used to estimate the risk of epilepsy. Results: The 10‐year risk of epilepsy was 51.4% [95% confidence interval (CI), 44.0–58.9] for patients with MS and 41.3% (95% CI, 33.5–49.1) for controls. The risk was 46.1% (95% CI, 35.3–56.9) for patients with relapsing‐remitting MS and 60.7% (95% CI, 46.6–74.8) for patients with secondary progressive MS. For patients with MS with SE, the 10‐year risk of epilepsy was 85.9% (95% CI, 67.9–100). Conclusions: Our data indicate that patients with relapsing‐remitting MS have a similar risk as controls of developing epilepsy after a single seizure. Patients with secondary progressive MS could run a greater risk of subsequent epilepsy, but our data do not indicate a risk that, with certainty, exceeds the threshold specified by the International League Against Epilepsy. Patients with SE have a high risk of epilepsy, possibly motivating diagnosis and treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives Magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI) of the brain and spinal cord is the gold standard for assessing disease activity in multiple sclerosis ( MS). MRI is an excellent instrument for determination of accumulated damage to the brain and spinal cord, but tells us little about ongoing tissue damage. In this study, biomarkers of oligodendrocyte, axonal and astrocyte injury were related to MRI and clinical findings and used to assess tissue damage in MS. Materials and methods Cerebrospinal fluid from 44 patients with relapsing-remitting MS, 20 with secondary progressive MS and 15 controls were investigated with ELISA to determine levels of myelin basic protein ( MBP), neurofilament light ( NFL) and glial fibrillary acidic protein ( GFAp). Patients underwent MRI of the brain and spinal cord, and gadolinium enhancing lesions, T1 lesions and T2 lesions were counted. Results Patients in clinical relapse and patients with nonsymptomatic gadolinium enhancing lesions had high levels of MBP and NFL, indicating ongoing damage to oligodendrocytes and axons. The level of MBP dropped quickly within a week from the onset of a relapse, whereas NFL remained elevated for several weeks and GFAp slowly rose during the course of a relapse. Relapsing-remitting MS patients without gadolinium enhancing lesions had values of MBP, NFL and GFAp similar to controls, while patients with secondary progressive disease had moderately increased values of all biomarkers. Conclusions Analysis of MBP, NFL and GFAp provides direct means to measure tissue damage and is a useful addition to our methods for evaluation of MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper details the construction of a weather vane for the measurement of wind direction in field situations. The purpose of its construction was to analyse how wind direction affected the attractiveness of an insect pheromone in a dynamic outdoor environment, where wind could be a significant contributor to odour movement. The apparatus described provides a cheap and easy-to-construct alternative to commercial wind vanes, and was shown to provide accurate and continuous measurement of wind direction. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Burman J, Raininko R, Fagius J. Bilateral and recurrent optic neuritis in multiple sclerosis. Acta Neurol Scand: 2011: 123: 207-210. © 2010 John Wiley & Sons A/S. To assess the frequency of bilateral and recurrent optic neuritis (ON) in multiple sclerosis (MS) and to compare these results with epidemiological data of ON in neuromyelitis optica (NMO) and recurrent ON without other signs of disease. We identified 472 patients with diagnosis of MS from the Swedish Multiple Sclerosis Register. These patients were evaluated for the presence of ON and whether the ON was the presenting symptom of MS; unilateral or bilateral; monophasic or recurrent. Twenty-one percent presented with ON as their first manifestation of MS. The proportion of patients developing a second attack of ON before demonstration of other manifestations of MS was 5.5% and the frequency of recurrent bilateral ON as the presenting symptom was 3.8%. Only two patients presented with simultaneously appearing bilateral ON corresponding to 0.42%. Recurrent ON, whether unilateral or bilateral, is a common presentation of MS. As MS is a much more common disease than NMO, care must be taken when evaluating the work-up of patients with recurrent ON. In some cases repeated MRI and lumbar punctures are warranted to improve diagnostic accuracy, even in the presence of the serological marker NMO-IgG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropologists with a hangover of colonialist past have mainly emphasized on the cultures and kinship systems in the name of the holistic study. Their treatment meted out to the tribes of northeast has not been any different. Consequently the major political-economic issues and the dynamics of identity crisis and state formation with international ramifications have been not understood. The too much emphasis on micro studies and primary field data is perhaps at the root of the problem. This article briefly looks into the work of four Naga scholars who have written about their own communities. Their studies help making policy formulations regarding state formation and autogenous development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are many forms of governments in the world at present. Of them the democratic form is most cherished, though ironically China, the most populated nation in the world does not follow a parliamentary form of democracy, in the ideal sense. Democracy in the United States too is somewhat skewed. India too is virtually surrounded by dictatorial regimes both on the east and the west. Indian democracy is also not devoid of blemishes. In this paper we try to portray some of the most glaring drawbacks, which affect the lives of the people living on the margins in India. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The topic of Social Justice initially emanated in the West in order to curb ethnic inequalities in the artificially formed nation-states. It also stressed mainly on the means to redress the problems of the physically challenged and destitute, and also the migrant labourers. In India, however, the issue of Social Justice is more viewed more from political consideration mainly looking into the interests of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and the Other Backward classes. This paper briefly takes up the contemporary issues related to the tribes, but not just confining to the reservation factor. It has been shown that despite the Constitutional provisions, the Scheduled Tribes (ST) are getting marginalized In various ways. This may be mainly due to the fact that while the tribal society is community - oriented in its cosmic outlook, the provisions of Social Justice are mainly individualistic in orientation - an anathema to tribal existence. Besides, the measures of Social Justice are welfare oriented keeping away the major concerns that affect the lives of the disadvantaged. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kala Azar is a deadly disease which created terror in the minds of people in Assam and the North East in early part of twentieth century. The disease was a silent killer which was mostly prevalent among the tea plantation labourers. However, the situation was thoroughly controlled through regular DDT sprays. But the disease could not be eliminated in the country and it has been attaining epidemic proportions in North Bihar and to a lesser extent in West Bengal. The sickness surprisingly strikes most among the Scheduled Castes. Scheduled Tribes and the Muslims as per the recent surveys. The situation is getting worse and the state governments are in quandary and fully dependent on the central government largesse which again is susceptible to pressures from the international financial institutions and pharmaceutical companies. The article briefly looks into them through a study in Bihar and West Bengal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overwhelming number of tribesmen inhabit the forest zones and invariably they are linked up with forestry activities. There is no doubt that the tribes have had a symbiotic relation with the forests, but there were many of them who survived on the quit money and earned substantial amount of cash income. Besides many of the nomadic tribes and transhumance population barely lived on forests. There have been many long distance traders also among them. In the present times due to rapid industrialization, urbanization and commercialization forests have depleted fast and the tribals too have been roped into the process of felling. Many activists and academies are trying to re-establish the forest and land rights of the tribes. But, apart from all, the tribals are today demanding their territorial rights (Which they ceded to the British) and the right to self determination. If this be accepted, it is the prerogative of the tribes to maintain their forests or not. The onus of maintaining the forests and environment should not be left only on the tribals. The image of tribes being 'Junglee' - barbarians must immediately go. The article briefly touches upon these issues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

'Sustainable Development' has become a buzz word in the realms of growth and progress. This is mainly due to the fear that the natural resources will deplete very fast as a result of wanton consumerism and rapid population explosion. In many quarters it is believed that as the governments have failed to perform the Non Governmental Organisations can manage things better due to their closer links with the grass roots. But there is also skepticism about this as many of the NGOs are funded internationally and they function as catalysts of Western hegemonic forces. Some NGOs, particularly in the Third World are, however, aware about this and they are networking to oppose the trends of neo-colonialism, But more than them there are thousands of Community Based Organisations which have emerged indigenously and are involved many development activities. It is these bodies which must be given credence for ensuring autogenous systems of sustainable development. A modest attempt is being made here to project these in brief. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study of tribal religion has drawn the interest of anthropologists for quite a long time so as to locate their place in the context of Indian civilization. The matter has drawn keen interest even among the laity of late as tribals in many areas of the country surprisingly have been involved in the anti Muslim carnages. Even in the Christian pockets or North-East tribals have been found allying with the Hindu parties like the BJP. A closer look, however, shows that tribals have by and large evolved syncretic religions and in spite of assimilating elements of Hinduism and Christianity, have retained their distinct tribal identities. Their clan totems indicate a cosmic orientation to life in contrast to the anthropomorphic world view of the caste-Hindus. In spite of the spread of Hindutva elements in tribal areas, signs of religious revivalism are eminent as corroborated by the census figures. These trends have been briefly discussed here. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Research is lacking on the process of identification and assessment of environmental aspects in an environmental management system (EMS) context. The aim of this paper is to contribute knowledge by identifying factors of importance for the process that can be used as a basis when developing existing methods for identification and assessment of environmental aspects. The empirical base is quantitative and qualitative data from 46 ISO 14001-certified or EMAS-registered organizations from three counties in Sweden. Problem areas are also identified through a review of the concept literature in the EMS area. Six important areas where the identification and assessment process can be improved are identified: the definition of environmental aspects, the procedures for update of aspects, the aggregation of aspects, the exclusion of business considerations in the assessment, employee and stakeholder participation, and the competence levels of people involved in the process. Since the empirical data is taken from Swedish organizations, the results of this study are valid for Swedish conditions and may not be valid for other countries. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The state of Arunachal Pradesh is one of the greenest states of India. The forests there are mostly managed by the tribal communities. Many of the tribal villages have forest management committees who regularly keep vigil over their surrounding forests. While some of the tribals have committees to directly manage the forests, many of them also have cultural means to morally lay a control over the forest and other natural resources. In spite, of having so effective systems the state on the other hand has been evolving ways to lay a claim over the forests directly and indirectly. JFM and Apna Van programmes are two main methods to get entry into the community forests. No doubt a tussle is one between the people's will and the state and the international monetary order. A modest attempt is being made here unravel some of the participatory systems of forest management prevalent among some of the tribes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Summary We evaluated the effectiveness, ease of use and safety of five machines for blood salvage during coronary artery surgery. All were equally effective in concentrating red cells. We measured haemoglobin, packed cell volume, free haemoglobin, white cells, neutrophil elastase, platelets, thrombin–antithrombin complex (TAT), prothrombin activation peptide F1·2 , fibrin degradation product (d-dimers), tissue plasminogen activator (tPA) and heparin in wound blood, in washed cell suspensions and in a unit of bank blood prepared for each patient. All machines were equally safe and easy to use and were equally effective in removing heparin and the physiological components measured. There were no adverse effects on patients. Clotting factors are severely depleted both in salvaged blood, even before washing, and in bank blood. Cell savers are a valuable adjunct to coronary artery surgery, but careful monitoring of coagulation is required when the volumes of either bank blood or salvaged blood are large. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Treatment of multiple sclerosis ( MS) with natalizumab during pregnancy is not recommended due to potential risks for the foetus. Despite strong advice accidental pregnancies occur. Case A 32-year old woman with MS since the age of 26 was treated with natalizumab since January 2008. Treatment was stopped April 2011 due to pregnancy plans, but was restarted following an MS relapse. The patient was thoroughly informed about potential foetal risks, but nevertheless she one year later disclosed that she was pregnant in gestational week 15. Treatment was continued, since the first trimester had passed. The pregnancy course was normal and a healthy daughter was born at full gestational term. Conclusions This is the second known case where natalizumab treatment continued throughout the whole gestational period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The author comments on the article "Social Exclusion: A Sceptical View," by Abhijit Guha which appeared in the November 2007 issue. In the author's opinion, the article by Guha was well written. He expresses his agreement with Guha with regard to the concept of social exclusion in which the latter regarded such as a Western construct that holds little radical component of interest to third world nations. He discusses the different social status of the dalits in India.

Background: Autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) is an effective treatment for patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) who have highly active disease, despite the use of standard disease-modifying therapies (DMTs). However, the optimal time for offering AHSCT to patients with 'aggressive' MS is yet to be established. Objectives: The objective was to explore the safety and efficacy of AHSCT as a first-line DMT in patients with 'aggressive' MS. Methods: All patients with 'aggressive' MS who received AHSCT as a first-line DMT in five European and North American centres were retrospectively evaluated. Results: Twenty patients were identified. The median interval between diagnosis and AHSCT was 5 (1–20) months. All had multiple poor prognostic markers with a median pre-transplant Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score of 5.0 (1.5–9.5). After a median follow-up of 30 (12–118) months, the median EDSS score improved to 2.0 (0–6.5, p < 0.0001). No patient had further relapses. Three had residual magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) disease activities in the first 6 months post-transplant, but no further new or enhancing lesions were observed in subsequent scans. Conclusion: AHSCT is safe and effective as a first-line DMT in inducing rapid and sustained remission in patients with 'aggressive' MS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses a study which suggests that arachis hypogaea allergen 2 (Ara h 2) immunoglobulin E levels could predict severity of peanut allergies. The study found that the food-specifc immunoglobulin (IgE) concentrations could be used to predict the peanut exposure threshold dose among children with suspected peanut allergies.

Abstract: Population protocols are a communication model for large sensor networks with resource-limited anonymous mobile agents. The agents move asynchronously and communicate via pairwise interactions. The original fairness assumption of this model involves a high level of asynchrony and prevents evaluation of the convergence time of a protocol (via deterministic means). The introduction of some “partial synchrony” in the model, under the form of cover times, is an extension that allows evaluating the time complexities. In this paper, we take advantage of this extension and study a data collection protocol used in the ZebraNet project for the wild-life tracking of zebras in a reserve in central Kenya. In ZebraNet, sensors are attached to zebras. The sensed data can be exchanged between the sensors and is collected regularly by a mobile base station crossing the area. The data collection protocol of ZebraNet has been analyzed through simulations. Here, we present a purely analytical study using the model of population protocols with cover times. Our first result states that, in the original protocol, some data may never be delivered to the base station. Motivated by this drawback, we propose two modified and correct protocols which are then used as the paper case studies. We prove their correctness and we compute their tight worst-case time complexities. This analysis introduces several techniques that may prove useful in future studies of time in population protocols. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Chemical plants, refineries, transportation of hazardous materials are some of the most attractive facilities for external attacks aimed at the release of toxic substances. Dispersion of these substances into the atmosphere forms a concentration distribution of airborne pollutants with severe consequences for exposed individuals. For emergency preparedness and management, the availability of assessed/validated dispersion models, which can be able to predict concentration distribution and thus dangerous zones for exposed individuals, is of primary importance. Air quality models, integral models and analytical models predict the transport and the turbulent dispersion of gases or aerosols after their release without taking into account in detail the presence of obstacles. Obstacles can modify the velocity field and in turn the concentration field. The Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) models on the other hand are able to describe such phenomena, but they need to be correctly set up, tested and validated in order to obtain reliable results. Within the project Europa-ERG1 TA 113.034 "NBC Modelling and Simulation" several different approaches in CFD modelling of turbulent dispersion in closed, semi-confined and urban-like environment were adopted and compared with experimental data and with operational models. In this paper the results of a comparison between models describing the dispersion of a neutral gas in an idealized urban-like environment are presented and discussed. Experimental data available in the literature have been used as a benchmark for assessing statistical performance for each model. Selected experimental trials include some water channel tests, that were performed by Coanda at 1:205 scale, and one full-scale case that was tested in the fall of 2001 at the Dugway Proving Grounds in Utah, using an array of shipping containers. The paper also suggests the adoption of improved statistical parameters in order to better address differences between models, and to have a more straightforward method for comparing models suitable for emergency preparedness aims. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objectives: Off‐label use of rituximab to treat MS patients in Sweden is high, and the need for long‐term safety data may not be met. Our objectives were to assess the rate of rituximab prescription in patients with multiple sclerosis in Sweden and, in addition, to evaluate the safety of rituximab in a single centre for patients with multiple sclerosis. Material and Methods: Review of the Swedish MS register was performed to study the number of MS patients treated with rituximab during the last 6 years. Investigation also included a retrospective review of medical files in search for possible side effects/adverse events in all adult patients with MS treated with rituximab at Uppsala University Hospital. Results: Presently, in Sweden the rate of rituximab prescriptions in relation to other annually started of disease‐ modifying drugs in MS is 53.5%. Conclusions: The share of MS patients in Sweden who are treated with rituximab is very high, and also rapidly increasing. Taken into account the off‐label use, cases with adverse medical conditions that could possibly be related to rituximab use should be reported thoroughly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Multiple sclerosis ( MS) is associated with inflammatory lesions in the brain and spinal cord. The detection of such inflammatory lesions using magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI) is important in the consideration of the diagnosis and differential diagnoses of MS, as well as in the monitoring of disease activity and predicting treatment efficacy. Although there is strong evidence supporting the use of MRI for both the diagnosis and monitoring of disease activity, there is a lack of evidence regarding which MRI protocols to use, the frequency of examinations, and in what clinical situations to consider MRI examination. A national workshop to discuss these issues was held in Stockholm, Sweden, in August 2015, which resulted in a Swedish consensus statement regarding the use of MRI in the care of individuals with MS. The aim of this consensus statement is to provide practical advice for the use of MRI in this setting. The recommendations are based on a review of relevant literature and the clinical experience of workshop attendees. It is our hope that these recommendations will benefit individuals with MS and guide healthcare professionals responsible for their care. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Autologous haematopoietic SCT (AHSCT) is increasingly used to control severe and refractory autoimmune diseases (AD). Many patients are women of reproductive age with a potential desire for children. We present a multicentre retrospective analysis of pregnancy and childbirth in patients who underwent AHSCT for AD. The databases of the European Blood and Marrow Transplantation and University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, Brazil were searched for female patients aged 18-50 years who had received AHSCT for AD between 1994-2011. In 324 adult female patients, 22 pregnancies were reported in 15 patients between 1997-2011. Indications for AHSCT included multiple sclerosis (n=7), systemic sclerosis (n=5), rheumatoid arthritis (n=1), juvenile idiopathic arthritis (n=1) and Takayasu disease (n=1). Of the 22 reported pregnancies, 20 followed natural conception. 15 pregnancies (68%) resulted in healthy life births, whereas 7 (32%) failed. Exacerbations of AD occurred in two patients during second pregnancies. No maternal mortality was associated with pregnancy or postpartum. There were no reports of congenital, developmental or any other disease in the children. This retrospective analysis confirms the possibility of pregnancy and childbirth following AHSCT for severe AD. The outcome of pregnancy is generally good and most led to the birth of a healthy child. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Identification and assessment of environmental aspects are crucial to an environmental management system, since significant aspects are decisive for other parts of the system. Stringency and transparency in identification and assessment are necessary if this process is to be reproducible. Reproducibility is in turn important for the credibility of the entire management system. A survey of the identification and assessment processes within the integrated forest product company Stora Enso has shown inadequacies regarding the reproducibility. Positive features and areas of improvement have been identified. The results of the survey are the basis for the development of a new, more reproducible method. This paper includes an approach for this new method that focuses on the identification process. The method is based on life cycle assessment methodology according to the international standards ISO 14040-42 and the documentation format in ISO 14048. The environmental aspects are aggregated in a classification and characterisation into impact categories. The categories are then used as operations environmental performance indicators. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]