What are the characteristics of an application (or team) which are associated with success or failure of an application to the NIHR HTA programme for research funding?

This article is part of the supplement: Clinical Trials Methodology Conference 2011. <br/

Chaotic zone boundary for low free eccentricity particles near an eccentric planet

We consider particles with low free or proper eccentricity that are orbiting near planets on eccentric orbits. Via collisionless particle integration we numerically find the location of the boundary of the chaotic zone in the planet's corotation region. We find that the distance in semi-major axis between the planet and boundary depends on the planet mass to the 2/7 power and is independent of the planet eccentricity, at least for planet eccentricities below 0.3. Our integrations reveal a similarity between the dynamics of particles at zero eccentricity near a planet in a circular orbit and with zero free eccentricity particles near an eccentric planet. The 2/7 law has been previously explained by estimating the semi-major at which the first order mean motion resonances are large enough to overlap. Orbital dynamics near an eccentric planet could differ due to first order corotation resonances that have strength proportional to the planet's eccentricity. However, we find the corotation resonance width at low free eccentricity is small. Also the first order resonance width at zero free eccentricity is the same as that for a zero eccentricity particle near a planet in a circular orbit. This accounts for insensitivity of the chaotic zone width to planet eccentricity. Particles at zero free eccentricity near an eccentric planet have similar dynamics to those at zero eccentricity near a planet in a circular orbit.Comment: accepted for publication in MNRA

Systematic review and network meta-analysis on the efficacy of evolocumab and other therapies for the management of lipid levels in hyperlipidemia

Background: The proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors evolocumab and alirocumab substantially reduce low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) when added to statin therapy in patients who need additional LDL‐C reduction. Methods and Results: We conducted a systematic review and network meta‐analysis of randomized trials of lipid‐lowering therapies from database inception through August 2016 (45 058 records retrieved). We found 69 trials of lipid‐lowering therapies that enrolled patients requiring further LDL‐C reduction while on maximally tolerated medium‐ or high‐intensity statin, of which 15 could be relevant for inclusion in LDL‐C reduction networks with evolocumab, alirocumab, ezetimibe, and placebo as treatment arms. PCSK9 inhibitors significantly reduced LDL‐C by 54% to 74% versus placebo and 26% to 46% versus ezetimibe. There were significant treatment differences for evolocumab 140 mg every 2 weeks at the mean of weeks 10 and 12 versus placebo (−74.1%; 95% credible interval −79.81% to −68.58%), alirocumab 75 mg (−20.03%; 95% credible interval −27.32% to −12.96%), and alirocumab 150 mg (−13.63%; 95% credible interval −22.43% to −5.33%) at ≥12 weeks. Treatment differences were similar in direction and magnitude for PCSK9 inhibitor monthly dosing. Adverse events were similar between PCSK9 inhibitors and control. Rates of adverse events were similar between PCSK9 inhibitors versus placebo or ezetimibe. Conclusions: PCSK9 inhibitors added to medium‐ to high‐intensity statin therapy significantly reduce LDL‐C in patients requiring further LDL‐C reduction. The network meta‐analysis showed a significant treatment difference in LDL‐C reduction for evolocumab versus alirocumab

Modelling the impact of wind farms on house prices in the UK

This paper discusses the findings from a UK study to determine the likely impact of a wind farm on house prices using a hedonic pricing model. The Government's commitment to wind power has resulted in a massive increase in the number of wind farms sited in the UK. This has led to concerns that their visual and aural presence could have a negative impact on proximate house prices. This paper presents an analysis of 201sales transactions from houses situated within half a mile of a 16 turbine wind farm in Cornwall, UK. Whilst no causal link was established between the presence of the wind farm and house price, there was some evidence to suggest that both noise and flicker from the turbine blades could blight certain property and that the view of countryside enjoyed by the occupier had some value which may be affected by a wind farm. Santrauka Šiame darbe aptariami JK atlikto tyrimo rezultatai, kuriuo, taikant hedonistinį kainų modelį, siekta nustatyti galimą vėjo jėgainių poveikį namų kainoms. Vyriausybės parama vėjo energijai paskatino naujo elemento, vėjo jėgainės, atsiradimą aplinkoje; susirūpinta, ar vėjo jėgainių vaizdas ir garsas galėtų neigiamai paveikti namų kainas. Šiame darbe nagrinėjamas 201 prekybinis sandoris, susijęs su namais, pusę mylios nutolusiais nuo Bears Down, Kornvalyje (JK), esančio 16 vėjo jėgainių ūkio. Nors priežastinis ryšys tarp vėjo jėgainių ir namų kainos nepastebėtas, yra įrodymų, kad jėgainės keliamas triukšmas ir menčių mirgėjimas kai kuriems nekilnojamojo turto objektams galėtų pakenkti ir kad gyventojui patikęs kaimo vaizdas gali tapti nebepatrauklus. First published online: 18 Oct 201

A polymerase chain reaction/ligase detection reaction fluorescent microsphere assay to determine Plasmodium falciparum MSP-119 haplotypes

The merozoite surface protein-1 (MSP-1) is a blood stage antigen currently being tested as a vaccine against Plasmodium falciparum malaria. Determining the MSP-1(19) haplotype(s) present during infection is essential for assessments of MSP-1 vaccine efficacy and studies of protective immunity in human populations. The C-terminal fragment (MSP-1(19)) has four predominant haplotypes based on point mutations resulting in non-synonymous amino acid changes: E-TSR (PNG-MAD20 type), E-KNG (Uganda-PA type), Q-KNG (Wellcome type), and Q-TSR (Indo type). Current techniques using direct DNA sequencing are laborious and expensive. We present an MSP-1(19) allele-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR)/ligase detection reaction-fluorescent microsphere assay (LDR-FMA) that allows simultaneous detection of the four predominant MSP-1(19) haplotypes with a sensitivity and specificity comparable with other molecular methods and a semi-quantitative determination of haplotype contribution in mixed infections. Application of this method is an inexpensive, accurate, and high-throughput alternative to distinguish the predominant MSP-1(19) haplotypes in epidemiologic studies