Holocene coastal stratigraphy, coastal changes and potential palaeoseismological implications inferred from geo-archives in Central Chile (29–32° S)

Coastal geomorphology and the stratigraphy of coastal geoarchives record past coastal and fluctuations of coastal environments. In addition, these archives potentially store traces of past extreme events such as earthquakes and tsunamis, severe storms, and major flfl oodings of the coastal hinterland, e.g. due to El Niño conditions. Studying their characteristics may thus improve the knowledge of past frequency and magnitude patterns of such extreme events. For instance, large scaled spatial information about past earthquakes is needed for the understanding and estimation of seismo-tectonic processes. Misinterpretations in the size of preceding earthquakes may lead to incorrect strain balance estimations along megathrusts. Thus, fundamental research on the occurrence of past earthquakes is needed, which can be reflected in sudden or long-term coastal changes. Using sedimentological, geomorphological and microfaunal evidence, coeval geomorphodynamic and palaeoenvironmental changes at four different locations between 29° 50′ and 32° 20′ S in Central Chile were identififi ed in estuary systems, coastal swamps and coastal plains. The results may represent possible indirect evidence for palaeoseismicity, affecting the coastal system by vertical tectonic movements. Changes of coastline elevation, morphodynamic activity and/or coastal environments, as well as the formation of a liquefaction layer took place during the last c. 400 years. Moreover, major flfl ooding events related to strong El Niño conditions are assumed to have influenced the coastal stratigraphy by depositing high energy fluvial deposits. Our results suggest that the coastal environment, geomorphology and stratigraphy are considerably inflfl uenced by tectonic processes in the study area; a relation of the presented fifi ndings to the 1730 Great Valparaíso Earthquake is assumed. In general, the findings may encourage the implementation of comparable detailed studies, which may ultimately contribute to a better understanding of the Holocene coastal evolution and its relation to palaeoseismicity in Central Chile

Budesonide orodispersible tablets maintain remission in a randomized, placebo-controlled trial of patients with eosinophilic esophagitis

Background & Aims: Eosinophilic esophagitis (EoE) is a chronic inflammatory disorder. Swallowed topical-acting corticosteroids are effective in bringing active EoE into remission. However, it is not clear whether these drugs are effective for long-term maintenance of remission. Methods: We performed a double-blind trial to compare the efficacy and safety of 2 dosages of a budesonide orodispersible tablet (BOT) vs placebo in maintaining remission of EoE. Maintenance of remission was defined as absence of clinical and histologic relapse and no premature withdrawal for any reason. Two hundred and four adults with EoE in clinical and histologic remission, from 29 European study sites, were randomly assigned to groups given BOT 0.5 mg twice daily (n = 68), BOT 1.0 mg twice daily (n = 68), or placebo twice daily (n = 68) for up to 48 weeks. Results: At end of treatment, 73.5% of patients receiving BOT 0.5 mg twice daily and 75% receiving BOT 1.0 mg twice daily were in persistent remission compared with 4.4% of patients in the placebo group (P < .001 for both comparisons of BOT with placebo). Median time to relapse in the placebo group was 87 days. The frequency of adverse events was similar in the BOT and placebo groups. Morning serum levels of cortisol were in the normal range at baseline and did not significantly change during treatment. Four patients receiving BOT developed asymptomatic, low serum levels of cortisol. Clinically manifested candidiasis was suspected in 16.2% of patients in the BOT 0.5 mg group and in 11.8% of patients in the BOT 1.0 mg group; all infections resolved with treatment. Conclusions: In a phase 3 trial, up to 48 weeks of treatment with BOT (0.5 mg or 1.0 mg twice daily) was superior to placebo in maintaining remission of EoE. Both dosages were equally effective and well tolerated. EudraCT number; 2014-001485-99; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT02434029

On the Nature of the Bicyclo [3.2.1]octa-3,6-dien-2-yl Anion: A ¹³C NMR spectroscopic study

No abstract availabl

Safety and Tolerability of Acarbose in the Treatment of Type 1 and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Objective: To assess the safety profile of acarbose treatment over a 1-year period at a dose range of 50–300mg three times daily in patients with type 1 or type 2 diabetes mellitus. Study design and patients: In this 56-week, double-blind, parallel-group, multicentre comparison, patients were randomised to acarbose or placebo in a 2: 1 ratio. An 8-week forced titration phase (from 50–300mg three times daily) was followed by a 48-week maintenance phase during which patients received the highest dose tolerated during titration. Patients were assessed at 13 visits with respect to adverse events/intercurrent illnesses, abnormal laboratory values (serum chemistry, urinalysis, complete blood and reticulocyte count, serum iron and total iron binding capacity, and serum vitamin B6, B12, D and folate levels), discontinuation rates, ECG findings, vital signs and evaluation of the patients’ diaries with regard to gastrointestinal events. A total of 359 patients (acarbose 240, placebo 119) were valid for analysis; 21% had type 1 diabetes. Most patients received concomitant insulin or sulfonylurea treatment. Results: Study withdrawal was reported for 35% of acarbose and 24% of placebo recipients (p = 0.053); adverse events were the main reason for withdrawal in acarbose recipients (20%; placebo group 5%; p < 0.01). The most common adverse events for acarbose recipients were gastrointestinal (abdominal pain, flatulence and diarrhoea), which were more frequent than in placebo patients (p < 0.01). These events occurred more often early in the study and attenuated over time. Conclusion: Acarbose was safe and well tolerated by the majority of diabetic patients over a 1-year treatment period

Applying Case Retrieval Nets to Diagnostic Tasks in Technical Domains

. This paper presents Objectdirected Case Retrieval Nets, a memory model developed for an application of Case-Based Reasoning to the task of technical diagnosis. The key idea is to store cases, i.e. observed symptoms and diagnoses, in a network and to enhance this network with an object model encoding knowledge about the devices in the application domain. Keywords: Technical diagnosis, case retrieval, memory structures 1 Introduction In the area of Case-Based Reasoning (CBR), a major focus of research in recent years has been on the development of techniques allowing for an efficient retrieval of relevant cases in a given problem situation. This has led to a number of sophisticated techniques for this subtask, as for example indexing techniques ([11]); kd--trees ([14, 15]); the &quot;Fish--and--Sink&quot; approach ([12]); the Crash memory model ([3]); and Knowledge-directed Spreading Activation (KDSA, [16]). As an alternative memory model we have developed the model of Case Retrieval Nets (CRNs..

Boulder transport by waves: progress in physical modelling

This paper presents apparent shortfalls in calculations pertaining to boulder transport by storm and/or tsunami waves identified from previously published work. These shortfalls have been addressed by analyzing the momentum forces required to shift single boulders from their pre-transport environments. Original formulae have been recalculated using a reduced mathematical approach in combination with simplified assumptions. Differences in boulder size and geometry as well as fluid flow dynamics and transport movement between storm and tsunami waves have been scrutinized in an attempt to clarify the potential size of the wave and the magnitude of force(s) required to cause movement of boulders