A retrospective comparative study of three data modelling techniques in anticoagulation therapy.

Three types of data modelling technique are applied retrospectively to individual patients’ anticoagulation therapy data to predict their future levels of anticoagulation. The results of the different models are compared and discussed relative to each other and previous similar studies. The conclusions of earlier papers are reinforced here using an extensive data set and continuously-updating neural network models are shown to predict future INR measurements best of the models presented here

Trading efficiency in water quality markets

A crucial factor in the success of any water quality trading market is its ability to cost-effectively reallocate nutrient allowances from initial holders to those users who find them most valuable; the market's trading efficiency. We explore causes of and solutions to trading inefficiency by assessing the impact on participant transaction costs and the tradeoffs that occur as a result of policy design decisions. Differing impacts of baseline-credit and cap-and-trade markets, the impact of trading rules and monitoring regimes are discussed in this endeavour. Possible solutions of increased information flows and regulatory certainty are also discussed. We then apply this framework to three existing water quality trading schemes; two from the US, and one from New Zealand. We use this experience to extract general recommendations for policy makers looking to maximise trading efficiency when designing future water quality trading markets.Nutrient trading, trading efficiency, water quality markets, transaction costs, Community/Rural/Urban Development, Environmental Economics and Policy, Health Economics and Policy, International Relations/Trade,

User's guide to the Venezuelan macrofinancial model

This paper presents a user's guide and documentation for a macrofinancial model of Venezuela. This model was developed under a DOE International Affairs Division grant (contract no. EX-76-A-01-2295) for the project, "A Financial Model of Oil Supply for an Oil-Producing Country." Also, this work was partially supported by the M.I.T. Center for Energy Policy Research. The theoretical development and results of the model are found in Dailami (1979).1 The reader is referred to that paper for an in-depth discussion of the model. This present working paper concerns only the technical aspects of the simulation model and the data developed to support the model. The model is described in Section 2 which includes all of the equations of the model, possible uses of the simulation structure, and detailed instructions on how to actually run the model on TROLL.2 Section 3 concerns the time series data developed for this study. Both the derivation of the data and a guide to their datafile storage on TROLL are included

Designing a Fusion Power Plant with Superconducting Training Magnets

Fusion power has the potential to revolutionise global energy production with a reliable, low CO2 (not zero due to the use of steel, concrete etc. that typically produce CO2 during manufacture), low radioactivity power supply, that is readily available at the point of need. The ITER and SPARC reactors are already under construction, with plans to begin full-power (Qfus ≥ 10) operation in the early 2030s; proving that fusion is a viable energy source. To see wide adoption however, reactors must be made as commercially attractive as possible. Here we present superconducting pilot reactor designs that have been optimised for minimum capital cost using the PROCESS systems code. Key design choices were made using technologies that are either available now or already in development; with concentrated effort these reactors could be built on 2030-2040 timescales. We focus primarily on the reactor from this set with the lowest overall capital cost, our “preferred” reactor: a 100 MW net electricity producing tokamak with REBCO superconducting toroidal field coils and central solenoid and Nb-Ti superconducting poloidal field coils. In addition, we have investigated using ductile, remountable Nb-Ti training coils (named after the training wheels of children’s bicycles) during the commissioning phase of a reactor to remove the risk of brittle failure of the full-power magnets during this stage. Such magnets would operate at lower field, but would enable thorough machine testing. Finally, we investigate and predict how advances in magnet technologies could effect our preferred reactor design and cost, and conclude that the effects of such advances do not justify waiting yet longer before beginning detailed reactor design and construction

Differential dependencies of monocytes and neutrophils on dectin-1, dectin-2 and complement for the recognition of fungal particles in inflammation

Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Methylation status of the Runx2 p2 promoter in a family with ectopic maxillary canines

Genetic factors contribute to the aetiology of the ectopic canine (EC) (OMIM 189490), the inheritance pattern being autosomal dominant with variable expression and incomplete penetrance. However there is also evidence for an epigenetic component. The Runx2 gene is intimately involved in the mechanism of tooth eruption. It controls differentiation and maturation of osteoblasts and is expressed in the dental follicle and alveolar bone at all stages of development [2,3]. Mutations of this gene result in delayed and ectopic eruption of teeth. There is a large CpG island spanning its proximal promoter, first exon and part of the first intron. Similarities between the inheritance patterns of EC and other methylation disorders raises the hypothesis that differential methylation of the Runx2 promoter may contribute to EC. This study investigates the methylation status of the Runx2 P2 promoter in ectopic canine subjects and unaffected controls. There was no evidence of differential methylation between the groups.peer-reviewe

Ipratropium/Salbutamol Comparator Versus Originator for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Exacerbations : USA Observational Cohort Study Using the Clinformatics™ Health Claims Database

Acknowledgements The authors wish to thank Priyanka Raju Konduru of Observational and Pragmatic Research Institute Pte Ltd (OPRI) for assistance with data extraction. This study was sponsored and funded by Teva Branded Pharmaceutical Products, R&D, Inc. Lynanne McGuire, PhD, of MedVal Scientific Information Services, LLC (Princeton, NJ, USA) provided medical writing and editorial assistance. This manuscript was prepared according to the International Society for Medical Publication Professionals’ ‘Good Publication Practice for Communicating Company-Sponsored Medical Research: the GPP3 Guidelines.’ Funding to support medical writing assistance was provided to MedVal by Teva Branded Pharmaceutical Products R&D, Inc., Frazer, PA, USA. Teva provided a full review of the article and provided funding of the journal’s article processing charges. All named authors meet the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE) criteria for authorship for this manuscript, take responsibility for the integrity of the work as a whole, and have given final approval to the version to be published. All authors had full access to all of the data in this study and take complete responsibility for the integrity of the data and accuracy of the data analysis.Peer reviewedPublisher PD