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The exploratory spatial data analysis (ESDA) process refers to the use of various functions to gain an initial understanding of a spatial dataset. These include measures of spatial heterogeneity and spatial autocorrelation. Currently, the ESDA process is repetitive and time-consuming. Additionally, while different results arise for different datasets, how these results are generated does not change significantly. Results are also generated individually for each variable which means that they cannot be easily compared or shared.The automation of the ESDA process would therefore have multiple benefits as it would not only save time, but it would also allow the data analyst to keep up with the rapid rate at which we generate data. This paper aims to introduce the first iteration of autoESDA – a Python library capable of automating the ESDA process by summarising the results into a single report.In this paper, we present the defined high-level requirements for the implementation of autoESDA. Various dependency libraries are discussed and a high-level overview of the workflow of autoESDA is described. The library is then evaluated against the requirements laid out earlier in the study. Semi-structured interviews were carried out, which yielded a wealth of feedback and suggestions from the participants, describing how the output report could be improved. Finally, a roadmap of proposed further developments and improvements is discussed.The first version demonstrates that the automation of ESDA is possible and lays the foundation for further development in this regard. This is an important contribution to understanding spatial data as it enables the data analyst to keep up with the magnitude of data that is generated on a daily basis.

Objective\ud \ud We aimed to characterize the demographics of adults with dissociative (nonepileptic) seizures, placing emphasis on distribution of age at onset, male:female ratio, levels of deprivation, and dissociative seizure semiology.\ud Methods\ud \ud We collected demographic and clinical data from 698 adults with dissociative seizures recruited to the screening phase of the CODES (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy vs Standardised Medical Care for Adults With Dissociative Non‐Epileptic Seizures) trial from 27 neurology/specialist epilepsy clinics in the UK. We described the cohort in terms of age, age at onset of dissociative seizures, duration of seizure disorder, level of socioeconomic deprivation, and other social and clinical demographic characteristics and their associations.\ud Results\ud \ud In what is, to date, the largest study of adults with dissociative seizures, the overall modal age at dissociative seizure onset was 19 years; median age at onset was 28 years. Although 74% of the sample was female, importantly the male:female ratio varied with age at onset, with 77% of female but only 59% of male participants developing dissociative seizures by the age of 40 years. The frequency of self‐reported previous epilepsy was 27%; nearly half of these epilepsy diagnoses were retrospectively considered erroneous by clinicians. Patients with predominantly hyperkinetic dissociative seizures had a shorter disorder duration prior to diagnosis in this study than patients with hypokinetic seizures (P < .001); dissociative seizure type was not associated with gender. Predominantly hyperkinetic seizures were most commonly seen in patients with symptom onset in their late teens. Thirty percent of the sample reported taking antiepileptic drugs; this was more common in men. More than 50% of the sample lived in areas characterized by the highest levels of deprivation, and more than two‐thirds were unemployed.\ud Significance\ud \ud Females with dissociative seizures were more common at all ages, whereas the proportion of males increased with age at onset. This disorder was associated with socioeconomic deprivation. Those with hypokinetic dissociative seizures may be at risk for delayed diagnosis and treatment.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE There are only few investigations on supervision of medical dissertations that allow a comparison between different universities. This article discusses how the medical dissertation can be incorporated into a new medical curriculum. METHODS A questionnaire was sent to all medical students in Lubeck who wrote dissertations in 1998. It contained 28 questions on duration, supervision, impact on medical studies and possible changes in the dissertation process. The data were compared statistically to previous studies. RESULTS 70 questionnaires could be evaluated (63%) which allowed a comparison with studies in Hannover and Erlangen-Nurnberg. The Lubeck students assessed their supervision to be significantly better, they worked more frequently on experimental topics and data of their research were published more often than was the case in the other two institutions. The students regularly needed one extra semester for their dissertation, especially those working on experimental topics. Those who wrote dissertations expressed criticism of the dissertation process: only one third were in favour of making no change in the process. When asked to suggest possible improvements they proposed having a central facility for the announcement of dissertation subjects and one free semester to work solely on the dissertation. CONCLUSION In order to evaluate and compare supervision of dissertations, a comparable questionnaire should be used by all medical universities. If the medical curriculum is changed, the dissertation either has to be firmly integrated in the curriculum or it should be undertaken after completion of the studies.

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Recessively inherited early-onset parkinsonism (EOP) has been associated with mutations in the Parkin, DJ-1, and PINK1 genes. We studied the prevalence of mutations in all three genes in 65 Italian patients (mean age of onset: 43.2+/-5.4 years, 62 sporadic, three familial), selected by age at onset equal or younger than 51 years. Clinical features were compatible with idiopathic Parkinson's disease in all cases. To detect small sequence alterations in Parkin, DJ-1, and PINK1, we performed a conventional mutational analysis (SSCP/dHPLC/sequencing) of all coding exons of these genes. To test for the presence of exon rearrangements in PINK1, we established a new quantitative duplex PCR assay. Gene dosage alterations in Parkin and DJ-1 were excluded using previously reported protocols. Five patients (8%; one woman/four men; mean age at onset: 38.2+/-9.7 (range 25-49) years) carried mutations in one of the genes studied: three cases had novel PINK1 mutations, one of which occurred twice (homozygous c.1602_1603insCAA; heterozygous c.1602_1603insCAA; heterozygous c.836G>A), and two patients had known Parkin mutations (heterozygous c.734A>T and c.924C>T; heterozygous c.924C>T). Family history was negative for all mutation carriers, but one with a history of tremor. Additionally, we detected one novel polymorphism (c.344A>T) and four novel PINK1 changes of unknown pathogenic significance (-21G/A; IVS1+97A/G; IVS3+38_40delTTT; c.852C>T), but no exon rearrangements. No mutations were found in the DJ-1 gene. The number of mutation carriers in both the Parkin and the PINK1 gene in our cohort is low but comparable, suggesting that PINK1 has to be considered in EOP.