Preface to the Princeton Landmarks in Biology Edition vii Preface xi Symbols Used xiii 1. The Importance of Islands 3 2. Area and Number of Speicies 8 3. Further Explanations of the Area-Diversity Pattern 19 4. The Strategy of Colonization 68 5. Invasibility and the Variable Niche 94 6. Stepping Stones and Biotic Exchange 123 7. Evolutionary Changes Following Colonization 145 8. Prospect 181 Glossary 185 References 193 Index 201

The Theory of Island Biogeography

New evidence and consensus has led to further revision of the McDonald Criteria for diagnosis of multiple sclerosis. The use of imaging for demonstration of dissemination of central nervous system lesions in space and time has been simplified, and in some circumstances dissemination in space and time can be established by a single scan. These revisions simplify the Criteria, preserve their diagnostic sensitivity and specificity, address their applicability across populations, and may allow earlier diagnosis and more uniform and widespread use.

/pdf/diagnostic-criteria-for-multiple-sclerosis-2010-revisions-to-24iph50480.pdf

Diagnostic criteria for multiple sclerosis: 2010 Revisions to the McDonald criteria

计量经济分析 = Econometric analysis

1. Introduction and Overview. 2. Detecting Influential Observations and Outliers. 3. Detecting and Assessing Collinearity. 4. Applications and Remedies. 5. Research Issues and Directions for Extensions. Bibliography. Author Index. Subject Index.

Regression Diagnostics: Identifying Influential Data and Sources of Collinearity

The 2010 McDonald criteria for the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis are widely used in research and clinical practice. Scientific advances in the past 7 years suggest that they might no longer provide the most up-to-date guidance for clinicians and researchers. The International Panel on Diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis reviewed the 2010 McDonald criteria and recommended revisions. The 2017 McDonald criteria continue to apply primarily to patients experiencing a typical clinically isolated syndrome, define what is needed to fulfil dissemination in time and space of lesions in the CNS, and stress the need for no better explanation for the presentation. The following changes were made: in patients with a typical clinically isolated syndrome and clinical or MRI demonstration of dissemination in space, the presence of CSF-specific oligoclonal bands allows a diagnosis of multiple sclerosis; symptomatic lesions can be used to demonstrate dissemination in space or time in patients with supratentorial, infratentorial, or spinal cord syndrome; and cortical lesions can be used to demonstrate dissemination in space. Research to further refine the criteria should focus on optic nerve involvement, validation in diverse populations, and incorporation of advanced imaging, neurophysiological, and body fluid markers.

/pdf/diagnosis-of-multiple-sclerosis-2017-revisions-of-the-55ct02l5o1.pdf

Diagnosis of multiple sclerosis: 2017 revisions of the McDonald criteria

https://crawford.anu.edu.au/pdf/staff/jeff_bennett/china_land_use/research_report_5.pdf

Sustainable Land Use Change in the North West Provinces of China Research Reports

Since the early 1990s, the air pollution level in the Jakarta Metropolitan Area (JMA) has arguably been one of the highest among mega cities in developing countries. This paper utilises the self-reporting data on illnesses available in the 2004 National Socio-Economic Household Survey (Survei Sosial Ekonomi Nasional, or SUSENAS) to test the hypothesis that air pollution impacts human health, particularly among children, in JMA. Test results confirm that air pollution, represented by the PM10 level in a sub-district, does significantly correlate with the level of human health problems, represented by the number of restricted activity days (RAD) in the previous month. The results also show that a given level of PM10 concentration is more hazardous for children.

The Consequences of Urban Air Pollution for Child Health: What does Self Reporting Data in the Jakarta Metropolitan Area Reveal?

Book Review: Water and Development in China: The Political Economy of Shanghai Water Policy

OBJECTIVE: To assess the safety, tolerability and efficacy of rituximab treatment in multiple sclerosis (MS) in a clinical setting.
BACKGROUND: Phase II studies suggest a therapeutic effect of drugs targeting CD20+ B-cells such as rituximab in MS. The safety and efficacy of these medications beyond one year has not been described in MS.
METHODS: Retrospective chart review of MS patients at the University of Colorado Denver MS Center who have received treatment with rituximab. Clinical information was collected including demographic information, laboratory data, clinical relapses, MRI lesions, and infusion reactions.
RESULTS: 285 patients were treated with rituximab, including 200 patients treated with 蠅2 courses with a median duration of 18 months (range from 6-72 months). The median age was 45.8 years (15-79 years); 67.5[percnt] were women; 83.2[percnt] were Caucasian. Patients had a mean duration of disease of 11 years and had been previously treated with a median of 2 disease modifying treatments. 66.2[percnt], 20.3[percnt], and 13.5[percnt], were diagnosed with relapsing remitting, secondary progressive, and primary progressive MS, respectively. The majority of patients were treated with 1gram initially with subsequent courses of 500mg every 6 months. 18 of 185(9.7[percnt]) patients reconstituted their CD20+ cells (>1[percnt]) prior to their next infusion. 19[percnt] of patients reported minor first dose infusion-related reactions (7[percnt] with follow up courses). 81.6[percnt] had positive JC serology prior to infusion with no cases of progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy. Two patients experienced 3 clinical relapses. Seven of 140 patients(5[percnt]) with subsequent MRIs demonstrated new T2 lesions with no enhancing lesions seen. Three patients had neutropenic fevers attributable to rituximab.
CONCLUSIONS: Rituximab was well tolerated and safe for the treatment of MS in our single center clinical setting. Although this is a retrospective study, rituximab was extremely effective at reducing relapses in MS with minimal clinical relapses or new MRI activity. Disclosure: Dr. Seibert has nothing to disclose. Dr. Blackburn has nothing to disclose. Dr. Vollmer has nothing to disclose. Dr. Bennett has received personal compensation for activities with Teva Neuroscience, EMD Serono, and Biogen Idec as a speaker and/or consultant. Dr. Corboy has received personal compensation for activities with ProCE, Celgene, Teva, Novartis, and Biogen Idec. Dr. Miravalle has nothing to disclose. Dr. Schreiner stands to receive personal compensation for activities with Teva Neuroscience. Dr. Vollmer has received personal compensation for activities with Acorda Therapeutics, Biogen Idec, Genentech, Inc., Novartis, Ono Pharmaceutical, Teva Neuroscience, and XenoPort as a consultant. Dr. Alvarez has received personal compensation for activities with Teva Neuroscience.

Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of Rituximab in the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis: 285 Patients Treated in a Single Center. (P3.262)

The numerical certainty scale (NCS) and polychotomous choice (PC) methods are two widely used techniques for measuring preference uncertainty in contingent valuation (CV) studies The NCS follows a numerical scale and the PC is based on a verbal scale This report presents results of two experiments that use these preference uncertainty measurement techniques The first experiment was designed to compare and contrast the uncertainty scores obtained from the NCS and the PC method The second experiment was conducted to test a preference uncertainty measurement scale that combines verbal expressions with numerical and graphical interpretations: a composite certainty scale (CCS) The construct validity of the certainty scores obtained from these three techniques was tested by estimating three separate ordered probit regression models The results of the study can be summarised in three key findings First, the PC method generates a higher proportion of ‘yes’ responses than the conventional dichotomous choice elicitation format Second, the CCS method generates a significantly higher proportion of certain responses than the NCS and the PC methods Finally, the NCS method performs poorly in terms of construct validity Overall, the verbal measures perform better than the numerical measure The CCS is a promising method to measure preference uncertainty in CV studies To better understand its strengths and weaknesses however, further empirical applications are needed

/pdf/testing-construct-validity-of-verbal-versus-numerical-5ecze06sfl.pdf

Jeffrey Bennett

Papers

Sustainable Land Use Change in the North West Provinces of China Research Reports

The Consequences of Urban Air Pollution for Child Health: What does Self Reporting Data in the Jakarta Metropolitan Area Reveal?

Book Review: Water and Development in China: The Political Economy of Shanghai Water Policy

Safety, Tolerability, and Efficacy of Rituximab in the Treatment of Multiple Sclerosis: 285 Patients Treated in a Single Center. (P3.262)

Testing construct validity of verbal versus numerical measures of preference uncertainty in contingent valuation