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BACKGROUND: Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) is a method for monitoring hemoglobin responses using optical probes placed on the scalp. fNIRS spatial resolution is limited by the distance between channels defined as a pair of source and detector, and channel positions are often inconsistent across subjects. These challenges can lead to less accurate estimate of group level effects from channel-specific measurements. NEW METHOD: This paper addresses this shortcoming by applying random-effects analysis using summary statistics to interpolated fNIRS topographic images. Specifically, we generate individual contrast images containing the experimental effects of interest in a canonical scalp surface. Random-effects analysis then allows for making inference about the regionally specific effects induced by (potentially) multiple experimental factors in a population. RESULTS: We illustrate the approach using experimental data acquired during a colour-word matching Stroop task, and show that left frontopolar regions are significantly activated in a population during Stroop effects. This result agrees with previous neuroimaging findings. COMPARED WITH EXISTING METHODS: The proposed methods (i) address potential misalignment of sensor locations between subjects using spatial interpolation; (ii) produce experimental effects of interest either on a 2D regular grid or on a 3D triangular mesh, both representations of a canonical scalp surface; and (iii) enables one to infer population effects from fNIRS data using a computationally efficient summary statistic approach (random-effects analysis). Significance of regional effects is assessed using random field theory. CONCLUSIONS: In this paper, we have shown how fNIRS data from multiple subjects can be analysed in sensor space using random-effects analysis.

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AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: We analysed the association between humoral autoreactivity to zinc transporter-8 (ZnT8) and the SLC30A8 rs13266634 polymorphism (Arg325Trp), which is located at the most distal loop in the ZnT8 protein. METHODS: Autoantibodies to ZnT8 were determined by RIA in 270 patients with type 1 diabetes using ZnT8 carboxy-terminal constructs (amino acids 268-369) carrying 325Trp(CW) and 325Arg(CR) and a hybrid construct (CW-CR). Forty-four ZnT8 autoantibody-positive sera with genomic DNA were used to examine the association between reactivity to ZnT8 constructs and the rs13266634 genotype. RESULTS: Seventy-five patients reacted to the CW-CR hybrid construct, whereas 37 and 36 patients reacted to the CW and CR constructs, respectively. All sera positive for either CW or CR autoantibodies were positive for CW-CR autoantibodies. Among 19 patients with a 325Arg(CC) genotype, 5% had CW-specific autoantibodies, 42% had CR-specific autoantibodies and 32% had dual reactivity. Conversely, 73% of 15 patients with the 325Trp(TT) genotype had CW-specific autoantibodies, no patients had CR-specific autoantibodies and 13% had dual reactivity. Nine of the ten patients (90%) with the CT genotype reacted with either CR or CW constructs. The titre of CR autoantibodies in patients carrying the C allele was significantly higher than that in TT homozygotes (p < 0.0001). In contrast, the titre of CW autoantibodies in patients carrying a T allele was significantly higher than that in CC homozygotes (p < 0.005). No evidence of an association between rs13266634 and type 1 diabetes was observed. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: These results indicate that variant residue at amino acid 325 is a key determinant of humoral autoreactivity to ZnT8 and that the SLC30A8 genotype is an important determinant of autoantibody specificity.

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Health care in Brazil is financed from many sources-taxes on income, real property, sales of goods and services, and financial transactions; private insurance purchased by households and firms; and out-of-pocket payments by households. Data onhousehold budgets and tax revenues allow the burden of each source except firms’ insurance purchases for their employees to be allocated across deciles of adjusted per capita household income, indicating the progressivity or regressivity of each kind of payment.Overall, financing is approximately neutral, with progressive public finance offsetting regressive payments. This last form of finance pushes some households into poverty.

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The temperature-dependence of the mechanical properties of a new esthetic orthodontic wire with fiber-reinforced plastic (FRP) structure was investigated. The new FRP wire, fabricated by a hot drawing method, is 0.5 mm in diameter and has a multiple fiber structure composed of biocompatible CaO-P2O5-SiO2-Al2O3 glass fibers of 20 microns in diameter and a polymethyl methacrylate matrix. The flexural load at a deflection of 1 mm and Young's modulus at 24, 37, and 50 degrees C under wet conditions showed similar fiber fraction dependence to those under dry conditions for a fiber fraction of 40-51%. The flexural load and Young's modulus tended to decrease slightly with increases in temperature. This tendency was larger for the lower fiber fraction. However, the difference in flexural load for a temperature difference of between 24 degrees C and 50 degrees C was at most 10 gf. This is negligibly small, and a constant orthodontic force regarding temperature change would be advantageous from a clinical point of view.

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PIP: An investigation was done to estimate the cost per immunization contact for routinely available vaccination services in Colombia, and to compare these figures with the incremental costs for the additional immunization contacts resulting from the 1984 National Vaccination Campaign. Some 636,000 doses of DPT were given to infants during the campaign's 3 vaccination days. Nearly 190,000 infants received a 3rd dose of DPT on those days. Approximately 98,000 infants began and completed their DPT immunization schedules on the vaccination days. % of infants covered, however, remains uncertain. Infant coverage in 1983 was around 42-44%. The coverage survey showed 66.7% of the infant population covered with DPT by the time of the survey (November/December 1984) but only 50% covered on the actual vaccination days. Infant coverage for polio was 44%, and for measles, 43%. Having national immunization days increased routine immunization program costs by 120%, a substantial amount. In terms of program cost and impact, the national prerequisites for success are probably more related to general development of the necessary communication than to the health sector's physical infrastructure. The national campaign could conceivably eclipse the continuous multipurpose routine services--detracting not only from their immunization efforts but from other preventive and promotional activities.^ieng

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