The Ring of Invariants for Smooth Completions of Kac-Moody Lie Algebras

It is proved that the ring of invariants of the standard smooth completion of a Kac-Moody Lie algebra is functionally generated by two elements: the coefficient of the center and the Killing form.Comment: needs amsTe

Reconciling competing priorities in commissioning: the future of bone densitometry service for North Wales

BACKGROUND: Osteoporosis creates brittle bones susceptible to fracture, with resulting high levels of morbidity and mortality. Poor access to bone densitometry services for the residents of North Wales led to the Welsh Assembly Government offering capital to purchase a dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scanner, used to diagnose osteoporosis, for the region. The commissioning question for the six Local Health Boards across North Wales was where to site the new scanner. This decision needed to reflect current inequalities in access to services and concerns over inappropriate prescribing relative to Welsh norms. METHODS: Epidemiological, corporate and comparative healthcare needs assessments were performed. In addition, two cross-sectional surveys were conducted to determine the views of general practices and users of bone densitometry services resident in North Wales. An option appraisal and sensitivity analysis of 13 costed options for DXA scanning was conducted. RESULTS: We estimated that only 31% of the people in North Wales who met national guidelines were receiving DXA scans. There was definite inequity of access to the current service provided by area of residence. There was also evidence of inequity of access by age and sex. The most suitable option identified in the option appraisal was a bone densitometry service based in the central location of Llandudno. CONCLUSION: The assessment identified significant unmet need for DXA scanning. A recommendation was made to improve access through the introduction of a new bone densitometry service based at Llandudno. This would double scanning provision provided and reduce travel costs and time for many North Wales residents. This recommendation was adopted by a joint commissioning group established by the six Local Health Boards in North Wales at the end of 2004 – evidence based commissioning in practice

Toward the total synthesis of patellazole B: synthesis of an advanced C1-C25 fragment corresponding to the macrocyclic skeleton.

The patellazoles are a family of complex marine macrolides that exhibit potent cytotoxicity against cancer cell lines. However, despite extensive characterisation efforts, their full stereochemical assignment has remained elusive. We report our approach towards the synthesis-enabled structural elucidation of patellazole B (4), a 24-membered macrolide with 16 stereocentres and a signature thiazole-containing side chain. Our plan hinges upon isolating the unknown stereocentres into a single C20-C25 fragment to facilitate the flexible assembly of various possible diastereomers of an advanced C1-C25 fragment. Towards this end, a highly convergent and modular synthesis of one candidate diastereomer 37, corresponding to the patellazole B macrocyclic skeleton, has been achieved based on the strategic application of stereocontrolled aldol methodology, combined with Suzuki and Heck cross-coupling reactions

Energy dependence of {\rm K}S0^0_{\rm S} and hyperon production at CERN SPS

Recent results on K$^0_{\rm S}$ and hyperon production in Pb-Pb collisions at 40 and 158 $A$ GeV/$c$ beam momentum from the NA57 experiment at CERN SPS are presented. Yields and ratios are compared with those measured by the NA49 experiment, where available. The centrality dependence of the yields and a comparison with the higher collision energy data from RHIC are discussed.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, proceedings of QM2004 conferenc

Best step-up treatments for children with uncontrolled asthma: A systematic review and network meta-analysis of individual participant data

Introduction: There is uncertainty about the best treatment option for children/adolescents with uncontrolled asthma despite inhaled corticosteroids, and international guidelines make different recommendations.Objectives: We evaluated the pharmacological treatments to reduce asthma exacerbations and symptoms in uncontrolled patients Methods: We searched MEDLINE, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Embase, the Web of Science platform, NICE Technology Appraisals, the NIHR HTA series, the WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, conference abstracts and internal clinical trial registers (1 July 2014 to 5 May 2023) for randomised controlled trials of participants screening. Studies before July 2014 were retrieved from previous systematic reviews/contact with authors. Patients had to be randomised to any dose of ICS alone or combined with long-acting β2-agonists (LABAs) or combined with leukotriene receptor antagonists (LTRAs); LTRAs alone; theophylline; placebo. Primary outcomes were exacerbation and asthma control. The interventions evaluated were ICS (Low/Medium/High dose); ICS+LABA; ICS+LTRA; LTRA alone; theophylline; placebo.Results: Of the 4708 publications identified, 144 trials were eligible. Individual participant data were obtained from 29 trials, and aggregate data from 19 trials. Compared to ICS Low, ICS Medium+LABA was associated with the lowest odds of exacerbation (OR 0.44 [95% CrI 0.19–0.90]) and with an increased FEV1 (MD 0.71 [95% CrI 0.35–1.06]). Treatment with LTRA was the least preferred. No apparent differences were found for asthma control.Conclusion: Uncontrolled children/adolescents on low-dose ICS should be recommended a change to medium-dose ICS+LABA to reduce the risk for exacerbation and improve lung function

Legal Uncertainty and Aberrant Contracts: The Choice of Law Clause

Legal uncertainty about the applicability of local consumer protection can destroy a consumer’s claim or defense within the consumer arbitration environment. What is worse, because the consumer arbitration system cannot accommodate either legal complexity or legal uncertainty, the tendency will be to resolve cases in the way the consumer’s form contract dictates, that is, in favor of the drafter. To demonstrate this effect and advocate statutory change, this article focuses on fee-shifting statutes in California and several other states. These statutes convert very common one-way fee-shifting terms (consumer pays business’s attorneys fees if business wins but not the other way around) into two-way fee-shifting provisions (loser pays winner’s fees in all cases). As written, these statutes level the lopsided playing field created by the drafter and, indeed, may give consumers access to lawyers in cases where their claims or defenses are strong. But choice of law provisions, found in the same consumer forms, introduce near-impenetrable uncertainty into the applicability of those same statutes, thereby reducing or eliminating the intended statutory benefits. Statutory change is needed to restore the intended benefits of the otherwise applicable fee-shifting statutes (and of other local consumer protection similarly degraded by drafters’ choice of law clauses); the article concludes by presenting a roadmap for state statutory reform