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The dynamics of societal material stocks such as buildings and infrastructures and their spatial patterns drive surging resource use and emissions. Two main types of data are currently used to map stocks, night-time lights (NTL) from Earth-observing (EO) satellites and cadastral information. We present an alternative approach for broad-scale material stock mapping based on freely available high-resolution EO imagery and OpenStreetMap data. Maps of built-up surface area, building height, and building types were derived from optical Sentinel-2 and radar Sentinel-1 satellite data to map patterns of material stocks for Austria and Germany. Using material intensity factors, we calculated the mass of different types of buildings and infrastructures, distinguishing eight types of materials, at 10 m spatial resolution. The total mass of buildings and infrastructures in 2018 amounted to ∼5 Gt in Austria and ∼38 Gt in Germany (AT: ∼540 t/cap, DE: ∼450 t/cap). Cross-checks with independent data sources at various scales suggested that the method may yield more complete results than other data sources but could not rule out possible overestimations. The method yields thematic differentiations not possible with NTL, avoids the use of costly cadastral data, and is suitable for mapping larger areas and tracing trends over time.

ABSTRACTThis paper presents the analysis of Earth Observation data records collected between 1975 and 2014 for assessing the extent and temporal evolution of the built-up surface in the frame of the Global Human Settlement Layer project. The scale of the information produced by the study enables the assessment of the whole continuum of human settlements from rural hamlets to megacities. The study applies enhanced processing methods as compared to the first production of the GHSL baseline data. The major improvements include the use of a more refined learning set on built-up areas derived from Sentinel-1 data which allowed testing the added-value of incremental learning in big data analytics. Herein, the new features of the GHSL built-up grids and the methods are described and compared with the previous ones using a reference set of building footprints for 277 areas of interest. The results show a gradual improvement in the accuracy measures with a gain of 3.6% in the balanced accuracy, between the first production of the GHSL baseline and the latest GHSL multitemporal built-up grids. A validation of the multitemporal component is also conducted at the global scale establishing the reliability of the built-up layer across time.

AbstractContinuous global-scale mapping of human settlements in the service of international agreements calls for massive volume of multi-source, multi-temporal, and multi-scale earth observation data. In this paper, the latest developments in terms of processing big earth observation data for the purpose of improving the Global Human Settlement Layer (GHSL) data are presented. Two experiments with Sentinel-1 and Landsat data collections were run leveraging on the Joint Research Centre Earth Observation Data and Processing Platform. A comparative analysis of the results of built-up areas extraction from different remote sensing data and processing workflows shows how the information production supported by data-intensive computing infrastructure for optimization and multiple testing can improve the output information reliability and consistency within the GHSL scope. The paper presents the processing workflows and the results of the two main experiments, giving insights into the enhanced mapping capabilities gained by analyzing Sentinel-1 and Landsat data-sets, and the lessons learnt in terms of handling and processing big earth observation data.

Increased brain volume in autism appears to be driven mainly by an unexplained white matter enlargement, and we have reported a similar phenomenon in developmental language disorder (DLD). Localization of this enlargement would strongly guide research into its cause, tissue basis, and functional implications. We utilized a white matter parcellation technique that divides cerebral white matter into an outer zone containing the radiate compartment and an inner zone containing sagittal and bridging system compartments. In both high‐functioning autism and DLD, enlargement localized to the radiate white matter (all lobes in autism, all but parietal in DLD), whereas inner zone white matter compartments showed no volume differences from controls. Furthermore, in both autism and DLD, later or longer‐myelinating regions showed greater volume increases over controls. Neither group showed cerebral cortex, corpus callosum, or internal capsule volume differences from control. Radiate white matter myelinates later than deep white matter; this pattern of enlargement thus is consistent with striking postnatal head circumference percentile increases reported in autism. These findings suggest an ongoing postnatal process in both autism and DLD that is probably intrinsic to white matter, that primarily affects intrahemispheric and corticocortical connections, and that places these two disorders on the same spectrum.

The regional expression of immune-mediated and neurotoxic events in the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected brain in relationship to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) dementia complex (ADC) and brain pathology remains uncertain. The extent of gp41, inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS), and HLA-DR expression was examined in the frontal lobe and basal ganglia of 25 patients at varying stages of ADC. The expression of gp41 and iNOS was present predominantly in perivascular cells and most often in the basal ganglia. Staining for gp41 correlated significantly with iNOS in the basal ganglia, whereas the severity of staining for gp41 and iNOS in the basal ganglia and white matter was significantly greater in subjects with moderate to severe dementia compared with those with milder impairment. The degree of macrophage staining in the white matter and basal ganglia also correlated significantly with ADC severity and was more abundant than gp41 or iNOS staining, particularly in the white matter. Logistic regression analysis revealed that staining for iNOS and gp41 increased linearly with ADC severity and was significantly more abundant in the basal ganglia compared with the white matter. Double-immunolabeling studies colocalized iNOS predominantly to macrophage/microglia and to gp41-positive cells. The expression of iNOS and gp41 in the basal ganglia combined with immune activation contributes to the development and progression of the clinical syndrome. Ann Neurol 1999;46:207–216

Microgyria (polygria, polymicrogyria) has stimulated continued interest since its first description by Meschede [28]. Based on analysis of case material, available staining techniques, and known principles of human cortical development, subsequent investigators have proposed numerous theories to explain its pathogenesis. We have studied a case which cannot be fully explained by these previously proposed theories. In this case, four-layered microgyria is present bilaterally in middle cerebral artery distribution, but in one hemisphere, in the center of the malformed area, the deep acellular and cellular layers are replaced by radially aligned neurons extending ectopically into prospective white matter. Analysis of the findings in this case provide evidence that the recently described pathogenetic mechanism observed in a rat model of this malformation [15, 16] is applicable to its formation in man.

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of prenatal protein deprivation on area CA1 hippocampal pyramidal cells on postnatal (P) days 15, 30, 90 and 220 using Golgi techniques. Age related changes in both groups and diet related changes between groups were assessed. There were significant diet effects at all four ages, with one of 12 different measurements showing a significant diet effect on P15, five on P30, one on P90, and seven on P220. The most marked effect of the diet was on pyramidal cell dendrite spine density in the stratum moleculare and stratum radiatum, with a different pattern of diet effects in the two strata. In pyramidal cell dendrites in the stratum moleculare, there was a deficit in spine density that was significant at three of the four ages and there were similar age-related changes in the two diet groups. Spines on pyramidal cell dendrites in the stratum radiatum showed a lack of synchrony of age-related changes in the two diet groups, with an increased spine density in the malnourished rats on P30 and a widening deficit in this parameter on P90 and P220. The bimodal distribution to these changes, with most marked deficits occurring on P30 and P220, with an intervening period of apparent “catch-up” on P90, is of interest and may be a significant brain adaptation to malnutrition. The present study is the final of three morphometric studies on the effect of prenatal protein restriction on three key neurons in the hippocampal trisynaptic circuit. When compared to our previous studies on the dentate granule cell and the CA3 pyramidal cell, it is noted that there is an effect of the low protein diet on all these neurons, with the most marked effect on the predominantly postnatally generated dentate granule cells. Hippocampus 7:192–203, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

The present study was undertaken to investigate the effect of prenatal protein deprivation on the postnatal development of the mossy fiber plexus of the hippocampal formation on postnatal (P) days 15, 30, 90, and 220. Although there is extensive information about the effects of malnutrition on cell body and dendrite morphology, little attention has been paid to axons or axon plexuses. The mossy fiber plexus represents the dentate gyrus granule cell axonal projection to areas CA4 and CA3 of the hippocampal formation and is readily demonstrated with Timm's heavy metal stain. With the use of this stain, the plexus was measured at 13 levels throughout the hippocampal complex. There was no effect of the diet on the anatomical distribution of the plexus. The current study, however, does show significant effects of prenatal protein malnutrition on postnatal development of the mossy fiber plexus that are age dependent. The prenatally malnourished rats show significant deficits in the total rostro-caudal extent and volume of the plexus on P15, P90, and P220, with the most marked dietary effect on P220. There was no significant diet effect on P30 in either extent or volume. Hippocampus 7:184–191, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Although gross abnormalities have been described in the brains of patients with Down's syndrome (DS), microscopic studies have revealed only minor and inconsistent findings. We compared two DS brains, in whole-brain serial sections, with similarly prepared age- and sex-matched normal controls. Architectonic abnormalities were noted, and cell counts revealed a significant poverty of granular cells in the DS brains, particularly in granular fields such as areas 3,17, and 41. Golgi studies demonstrated all major cell types. A striking feature of the brain morphology in DS may be the curtailment of a specific cell type, most likely the aspinous stellate.

• We describe a case of an adult-onset progressive dystonia with external ophthalmoplegia, occurring in a black man without a family history of neurologic disorders. Neuropathologic examination demonstrated neuronal loss and gliosis in the anterior horn and Clarke's column in the spinal cord, nuclei of cranial nerves III, VI, X, and XII, vestibular complex, lateral cuneate nucleus, lower pontine tegmentum, red nucleus, substantia nigra, and dentate nucleus. The cerebral cortex, corpus striatum, basis pontis, inferior olives, and cerebellum were spared. The clinical and pathologic findings closely resemble autosomal-dominant motor system degeneration or "Azorean disease," without, however, demonstrable familial transmission. In addition to the absence of a family history, unique features of the case include the presence of Alzheimer type II glial cells in the red nucleus and an unexplained persistent elevated concentration of serum amylase.

Early infantile autism is a behaviorally defined syndrome that is often associated with abnormalities on neurologic examination and seizures. We report on the brain of a 29-year-old autistic man as compared with that of an age- and sex-matched normal control, using gapless sections of whole brain. Abnormalities were found in the hippocampus, subiculum, entorhinal cortex, septal nuclei, mamillary body, selected nuclei of the amygdala, neocerebellar cortex, roof nuclei of the cerebellum, and inferior olivary nucleus.

• A quantitative and clinically correlated investigation was carried out to determine the divisional distribution of volumetric and cell-packing density changes in the amygdala in patients with advanced aging and senile dementia. Normal controls show relatively little, but nevertheless significant, age-related change. In contrast, the amygdala undergoes very marked degeneration in patients with senile dementia, which preferentially affects the morphologically, developmentally, and connectionally older medial, medial central, and cortical nuclei. These findings strengthen the possibility that the amygdala participates in the behavioral changes that occur in senile dementia.

• We studied the neuropathologic features of a patient with Coffin-Siris syndrome. Two previously reported cases showed Dandy-Walker (D-W) mlaformations. In the present case there was no evidence of D-W malformation; instead there were hindbrain abnormalities of inferior and medial accessory olives, large arcuate nuclei, heterotopic olivary nuclei, and heterotopic nuclei in the white matter of the cerebellum. Although the hindbrain abnormalities in this case are different from those previously reported, they all have in common an intimate developmental relationship with the same embryological areas. This study suggests that the Coffin-Siris syndrome is a neurocutaneous disorder with hindbrain abnormalities in cerebellum and brain stem.

Paul Ivan Yakovlev (Fig 1) died on June 16,1983, at the age of 88 years. Those who knew him will cherish their memories of the kind, sensitive, gentle man, who was a trusted and loyal friend, advisor, mentor, confidant, and constant source of inspiration. His numerous publications on the organization and development of the human brain and their relationship to clinical neurology, and his monumental collection of whole-brain sections are his legacy, built by a man of uncompromising integrity, wisdom, and devotion, a scholar who had knowledge beyond the narrow confines of neurology, and an open, keen, and incisive mind.Honors included the presidency of the American Association of Neuro-R pathologists in 1951, and the first vice-presidency of the American Neurological Association from 1958 to 1959. In 1955 he received the Max Weinstein Award for outstanding scientific achievements in cerebral palsy from the United Cerebral Palsy Association.Dr Yakovlev was

A full-term male infant exhibited rigidity of all extremities with hyperreflexia beginning soon after birth and lasting until his death at age 6 months. Head circumference remained at the 25th to 50th percentile. Distinct sleep-wake cycles and responsiveness to visual, auditory, and tactile stimuli developed. Metabolic studies, skin biopsy, electroencephalography, and electromyography produced normal results. Head computed tomographic and magnetic resonance imaging scans revealed mineralization of the basal ganglia and thalamus. Muscle and nerve biopsy results were consistent with axonal dystrophy. Autopsy showed widespread neuronal loss, with reactive gliosis, marked in the globus pallidus and brainstem reticulate core; spheroids in globus pallidus, nucleus cuneatus, and upper cervical cord; and mineralized neurons in the inner division of globus pallidus and thalamus. Neonatal hypertonia, rapid progression, and mineralization of the basal ganglia are unusual features of neuroaxonal dystrophy exhibited in this case. (J Child Neurol1994;9:74-76).

Abstract: Autism is a behaviorally defined syndrome in which neuropathological abnormalities have been identified in the limbic system and cerebellum. The morphology of hippocampal neurons in two cases of infantile autism was studied and compared to age-matched controls. CA4 neurons in autistic children were smaller in perikaryon area and dendritic branching of both CA4 and CA1 neurons was less than in controls. These findings are consistent with previous studies and suggest a curtailment in maturation in the pathogenesis of autism.

The author reflects on the article "Churches Shelve Theology for Disaster Relief Efforts" in the Tennessee newspaper, which reports the 2010 flood. He disproves of strong theological themes being absent. He addresses the efforts of church members who volunteer for rebuilding after natural disasters like tornado in Moore, Oklahoma on May 20, 2013. He also informs that the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) provides emergency medical care along with the harrowing process of clean up.

The author discusses the mission initiatives of the General Board of Global Ministries along with the United Methodist Church in organizing worship communities with the four mission goals of renewing Christian congregations, alleviate human suffering, and seeking justice, freedom and peace.

This paper presents the results for the estimation of dwellings structures in Al Salam IDP Camp, Southern Darfur, based on Very High Resolution multispectral satellite images obtained by implementation of Mathematical Morphology analysis. A series of image processing procedures, feature extraction methods and textural analysis have been applied in order to provide reliable information about dwellings structures. One of the issues in this context is related to similarity of the spectral response of thatched dwellings' roofs and the surroundings in the IDP camps, where the exploitation of multispectral information is crucial. This study shows the advantage of automatic extraction approach and highlights the importance of detailed spatial and spectral information analysis based on multi-temporal dataset. The additional data fusion of high-resolution panchromatic band with lower resolution multispectral bands of WorldView-2 satellite has positive influence on results and thereby can be useful for humanitarian aid agency, providing support of decisions and estimations of population especially in situations when frequent revisits by space imaging system are the only possibility of continued monitoring.

This study was undertaken to document the effect of age on the volume, number, and size of neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc), the paranigral (VTApn), and the parabrachial pigmentosus (VTApbp) nuclei of the VTA in behaviorally well-characterized rhesus monkeys. Using a point counting technique and unbiased stereological methods, we found no significant effects of age on the volume of these dopaminergic brain stem nuclei, but there was significant age-related loss of total number of neurons in the SNpc and VTApn. The loss of neurons in the SNpc was found to be greater for neurons measuring less than 200 |xm2 in cross sectional area, a size corresponding to the small GABAergic neurons in this nucleus. Age-related loss of total number of neurons in the SNpc and VTApn showed significant correlations with impairment on the delay phase of the delayed non match to sample test (DNMS), in the VTApn with impaired performance on the delayed recognition span test (DRST), and in the SNpc with impaired performance on the spatial component of reversal tasks. These correlations suggest that the loss of neurons in the SNpc and VTApn in these old monkeys may contribute to these behavioral deficits.

Responds to the editorial `Earth Day thoughts' published in the April 23-29, 1999 issue in Dallas, Texas. Impact of commercial enterprise activities on the environment; Economic vitality in using environmentally responsible business practices; Context of the clean air policies in the Kyoto Agreement.