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Selected AbstractsRelationship between mean blood glucose and glycated haemoglobin in Type 2 diabetic patientsDIABETIC MEDICINE, Issue 2 2008K. Makris Abstract Aims To correlate the values of MBG to HbA1c in Greek patients with Type 2 diabetes and/or metabolic syndrome. Methods We followed up 140 Greek adult patients: 92 patients with Type 2 diabetes treated with insulin or oral glucose-lowering medication, and 48 patients with newly diagnosed Type 2 diabetes or metabolic syndrome not receiving any treatment. MBG was calculated for each patient from self-measurements of blood glucose using a portable glucometer, made six times a day (before eating and 2 h after a meal), three times a week for 1 month. HbA1c was determined by HPLC at 0 and 12 weeks. Results, HbA1c at 0 (x) and 12 weeks (y) correlated strongly (y = 0.790x + 1.115, r = 0.92), confirming that the patient's glycaemic status remained stable during the whole period of follow-up. Linear regression was performed on MBG values; HbA1c at 12 weeks, sex, age, body mass index (BMI) and patient status (Type 2 diabetes treated or not) were used as independent variables. None of the independent variables reached statistical significance in the model, with the exception of HbA1c at 12 weeks. The final model was: MBG (mg/dl) = (34.74 × HbA1c) , 79.21, r = 0.93; or MBG (mmol/l) = 1.91 × HbA1c , 4.36, r = 0.93. Conclusions Our results establish for the first time a strong correlation between MBG and HbA1c in Type 2 diabetic patients and support the idea of expressing HbA1c results as MBG. This will help patients to gain a clearer interpretation of the result, with less confusion. This simplification will allow every person with diabetes using home glucose-monitoring to understand his or her own target level. [source] A 6-year follow-up of dosing, coagulation factor levels and bleedings in relation to joint status in the prophylactic treatment of haemophiliaHAEMOPHILIA, Issue 6 2004J. Ahnström Summary., The primary aim of this study was to investigate the possible relationship between coagulation factor level and bleeding frequency during prophylactic treatment of haemophilia after stratification of the patients according to joint scores. The secondary aim was to obtain a systematic overview of the doses of coagulation factors prescribed for prophylaxis at the Malmö haemophilia treatment centre during a 6-year period. A retrospective survey of medical records for the years 1997,2002 and pharmacokinetic study results from the 1990s was complemented by collection of blood samples for coagulation factor assay when needed. Information on the dosing and plasma levels of factor VIII or factor IX, joint scores and incidence of bleedings (joint bleeds and ,other bleeds') was compiled. The patients were stratified by age (0,6, 7,12, 13,18, 19,36 and >36 years) and joint score (0, 1,6 and >6). Individual pharmacokinetic parameters of plasma coagulation factor activities (FVIII:C and FIX:C) were estimated. Trough levels during the treatment were calculated, as well as the number of hours per week of treatment during which plasma FVIII:C/FIX:C fell below a 1, 2 or 3% target level. Fifty-one patients with haemophilia A (two moderate, 49 severe) and 13 with haemophilia B (all severe) were included, yielding data for 364 patient-years of treatment. There was a wide range of dosing schedules, the most common ones being three times a week or every other day for FVIII and twice a week or every third day for FIX. The overall relationship between FVIII:C/FIX:C levels and incidence of joint bleeding was very weak, even after stratification of the patients according to joint score. There was no relationship between coagulation factor level and incidence of other bleeds. In this cohort of patients on high-dose prophylactic treatment, dosing was based more on clinical outcome in terms of bleeding frequency than on the aim to maintain a 1% target level of FVIII:C/FIX:C. Some patients did not bleed in spite of a trough level of <1% and others did in spite of trough levels >3%. The practical implication of our findings is that dosing in prophylactic treatment of haemophilia should be individualized. Thus, proposed standard regimens should be implemented only after careful clinical consideration, with a high readiness for re-assessment and individual dose tailoring. [source] Modelling & Controlling Monetary and Economic Identities with Constrained State Space ModelsINTERNATIONAL STATISTICAL REVIEW, Issue 2 2007Gurupdesh S. Pandher Summary The paper presents a method for modelling and controlling time series with identity structures. The approach is presented in the context of monetary targeting where the monetary identity (e.g. reserve money equals net foreign assets plus domestic credit) is modelled using a constrained state space model and next-period changes in domestic credit (policy variable) are estimated to reach the target level of reserve money. The constrained modelling ensures that aggregation and identity relations among items are dynamically satisfied during estimation, leading to more accurate forecasting and targeting. Applications to Germany, UK and USA show that the constrained state space model provides significant improvements in targeting and forecasting performance over the AR(1) benchmark and the unconstrained model. Reduction in the mean square error of targeting over AR(1) is in the range of 76,95% for the three countries while the gain in targeting efficiency over unconstrained modelling is between 21% and 55%. Beyond monetary targeting, the method has wide application to the dynamic modelling and control of economic and financial time series with identity and aggregation constraints (e.g. balance of payment, national income, purchasing power parity, company balance sheet). Résumé L'article présente une méthode de modélisation et de contrôle des séries temporelles avec des structures d'identité. L'approche est présentée dans le contexte de ciblage monétaire où l'identité monétaire (c. à d. monnaie de réserve égale avoirs étrangers plus crédit intérieur) est modélisée en utilisant un modèle spatial sous contrainte et où les variations du crédit intérieur à la période suivante (variable de politique) sont estimés pour atteindre le niveau visé de monnaie de réserve. La modélisation sous contrainte assure que les relations d'agrégation et d'identité entre items sont satisfaites en dynamique dans l'estimation, ce qui conduit à des prévisions et ciblages plus précis. L'application à l'Allemagne, le Royaume-Uni et les USA montrent que le modèle contraint apporte des améliorations importantes dans la performance de ciblage et de prévision par rapport à l'étalonnage auto-régressif (1) et au modèle sans contrainte. La réduction d'erreur du moindre carré par rapport à l'AR est comprise entre 76 et 95% pour les trois pays tandis que le gain en efficacité de ciblage sur le modèle sans contrainte se situe entre 21 et 55%. Par delà le ciblage monétaire, la méthode a une large application à la modélisation dynamique et au contrôle des séries temporelles économiques et financières avec des contraintes d'identité et d'agrégation (par ex. la balance des paiements, le revenu national, la parité de pouvoir d'achat, le bilan d'une compagnie). [source] The Time Series Properties of Financial Ratios: Lev RevisitedJOURNAL OF BUSINESS FINANCE & ACCOUNTING, Issue 5-6 2003Christos Ioannidis This paper re-evaluates the time series properties of financial ratios. It presents new empirical analysis which explicitly allows for the possibility that financial ratios can be characterized as non-linear mean-reverting processes. Financial ratios are widely employed as explanatory variables in accounting and finance research with applications ranging from the determinants of auditors' compensation to explaining firms' investment decisions. An implicit assumption in this empirical work is that the ratios are stationary so that the postulated models can be estimated by classical regression methods. However, recent empirical work on the time series properties of corporate financial ratios has reported that the level of the majority of ratios is described by non-stationary, I(1), integrated processes and that the ratio differences are parsimoniously described by random walks. We hypothesize that financial ratios may follow a random walk near their target level, but that the more distant a ratio is from target, the more likely the firm is to take remedial action to bring it back towards target. This behavior will result in a significant size distortion of the conventional stationarity tests and lead to frequent non-rejection of the null hypothesis of non-stationarity, a finding which undermines the use of these ratios as reliable conditioning variables for the explanation of firms' decisions. [source] Debt Stabilizing Fiscal RulesJOURNAL OF PUBLIC ECONOMIC THEORY, Issue 5 2010PHILIPPE MICHEL Unstable government debt dynamics can typically be stabilized around a certain target level of debt by adjustments in various fiscal instruments, like government spending, transfers, or taxes. This paper investigates properties of debt stabilizing rules which link the needed budgetary adjustments to the state of the economy. The paper establishes that the magnitude of the target level of long-run debt is a key determinant of whether it is possible to find a rule of this type that can be implemented under all available fiscal instruments. Specifically, considering linear feedback rules, the paper demonstrates that there may well exist a critical target level of debt beyond which this is no longer possible. From an applied perspective, this finding is of particular relevance in the context of a monetary union with decentralized fiscal policies. Depending on the target level of debt, there might be a conflict between a common fiscal framework that tracks deficit developments as a function of the state of the economy and the unrestricted choice of fiscal policy instruments at the national level. [source] Co-composting of pharmaceutical wastes in soilLETTERS IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 4 2001T.F. Guerin Aims:,Soils at a commercial facility had become contaminated with the pharmaceutical chemical residues, Probenecid and Methaqualone, and required remediation. Methods and Results:,Soil composting was investigated as an alternative to incineration for treatment. In laboratory trials, a factorial experimental design was used to evaluate organic matter amendment type and concentration, and incubation temperature. In pilot scale trials, Probenecid was reduced from 5100 mg kg,1 to < 10 mg kg,1 within 20 weeks in mesophilic treatments. An 8 tonne pilot scale treatment confirmed that thermophilic composting was effective under field conditions. In the full-scale treatment, 180 tonnes of soil were composted. Initial concentrations of the major contaminants in the full-scale compost treatment were 1160 mg kg,1 and 210 mg kg,1, for Probenecid and Methaqualone, respectively. Probenecid concentration reached the target level of 100 mg kg,1 in 6 weeks, and removal of Methaqualone to < 100 mg kg,1 was achieved after 14 weeks. Conclusions:,Co-composting was effective in reducing soil concentrations of Probenecid and Methaqualone residues to acceptable values. Significance and Impact of the Study:,Co-composting is a technology that has application in the remediation of pharmaceutical contaminants in soil. [source] Favorable response of pediatric stem cell recipients to human protein C concentrate substitution for veno-occlusive diseasePEDIATRIC TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 1 2007S. W. Eber Abstract:, Plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 is known to be elevated in patients with hepatic VOD after intensive chemotherapy. To re-establish endogenous fibrinolysis and to inhibit thrombin formation, we used non-APC (zymogen) to normalize PAI-1 levels. As a consequence of thrombin formation inhibition and the consecutive inhibition of the coagulation cascade, this treatment is expected to reduce the elevated D-dimer level. Six pediatric stem cell recipients with moderate or severe VOD after busulfan or total body irradiation conditioning regimen are reported here who were therapy-refractory to defibrotide or rt-PA therapy. All patients had low levels of PC activity (16,39%). The administration of PC (60,240 IU/kg) led to a rapid and sustained rise in PC activity (target level >80%) with near normalization of prothrombin and partial thromboplastin time in all patients. Elevated PAI-1 levels declined. Five of the six patients showed a good clinical response with prompt resolution of clinical, sonographic, and laboratory signs of hepatic blood flow obstruction, while one patient with severe VOD, as well as concomitant liver GVHD and CMV disease, had a slow but detectable response to PC therapy. All patients survived. [source] Association of parental pretransplant psychosocial assessment with post-transplant morbidity in pediatric heart transplant recipients,PEDIATRIC TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 5 2006David Stone Abstract:, Because parents assume the primary responsibility for providing ambulatory post-transplant care to pediatric patients, pretransplant psychosocial evaluation in these recipients is usually focused on parents rather than on patients themselves. We sought to determine whether pretransplant parental psychosocial evaluation predicts post-transplant medical outcome at current levels of psychosocial support. We compared relative risk (RR) of rejection and hospitalizations (days of all-cause hospitalization) following initial discharge in patients in ,risk' and ,control' groups defined by their pretransplant parental psychosocial evaluation. We also compared the two groups of patients for the proportion of all outpatient trough cyclosporine A (CSA) or tacrolimus (FK) levels that were <50% of the target level (defined as the mid-therapeutic range level). There were seven patients in the ,risk' group with a median age 0.25 yr (range 0.19,14.7 yr) and total follow up 20.5 patient-yr. There were 21 patients in the ,control' groups with a median age of 2.1 yr (range 0.05,16.2 yr) and total follow up of 71.3 patient-yr. There was no significant difference between the groups in rejection-risk or days of all-cause hospitalization early after transplant (first six months). During the late period (after the first six months), there were 11 rejection episodes in the ,risk' group over 17.4 patient-yr and four rejection episodes in control group over 61.8 patient-yr of follow up. After adjustment for age and race, patients in the ,risk' category had a RR of 3.4 for developing a rejection episode (p = 0.06) and 3.1 for being inpatient (p < 0.001) during the late period. Patients in the risk group were 2.9 times more likely to have subtherapeutic trough levels (<50% target level) of calcineurin inhibitor (CSA or FK) during both early and late periods (p < 0.01 for both periods) after adjustment for patient age and race. We conclude that pretransplant parental psychosocial risk assessment is associated with post-transplant morbidity in children after cardiac transplantation. These patients may benefit from closer outpatient monitoring and a higher level of psychosocial support. [source] A Production Function with an Inferior Input: CommentTHE MANCHESTER SCHOOL, Issue 6 2001Christian E. Weber Epstein and Spiegel (The Manchester School, Vol. 68 (2000), No. 5, pp. 503,515) have discussed a production function in which one input is inferior: an increase in the target level of output reduces the quantity of the input demanded. This paper provides a more straightforward proof that the input in question is inferior. This proof has the added advantage that, unlike the proof of Epstein and Spiegel, it is based on the firm's cost minimization problem. It thus emphasizes the connection between the firm's cost minimization problem and the issue of input inferiority. It is also shown that, if we treat the Epstein,Spiegel functional form as a utility function rather than a production function, then the inferior good can exhibit Giffen behavior. [source] Obstacles to disinflation: what is the role of fiscal expectations?ECONOMIC POLICY, Issue 40 2004Oya Celasun SUMMARY Disinflation deficits Persistently high expected inflation often makes it difficult for policy-makers to recover from inflationary episodes without substantial output losses. Using survey data from eleven disinflation episodes, we can assess whether the more or less sluggish decline of inflation rates towards lower target levels is related to backward-looking pricing behavior or to imperfect credibility of the stabilization efforts. We find that expectations of future inflation play a much more important role than past inflation in shaping the inflation process. Second, we find that an improvement in various measures of fiscal balances significantly reduces inflation expectations. This evidence suggests that, when attempting to stabilize inflation, priority should be given to building fiscal credibility. , Oya Celasun, R. Gaston Gelos and Alessandro Prati [source] Adaptive control for edge alignment in polyester film processingADVANCES IN POLYMER TECHNOLOGY, Issue 3 2007Chang-Chiun Huang Abstract Edge alignment of polyester (PET) films is important for achieving product quality and processing speed in winding, coating, drying, and other processes. The edge alignment can be achieved by lateral deflection control, provided that the film tension and transport speed are even at desired values. This article aims to correct the lateral deflection of films by designing robust controllers to swivel the guiding rollers and to maintain even tension and speed at target levels. The self-tuning neuro-proportional integral derivative controller and adaptive high-gain output feedback controller are adopted to guide the lateral deflection so that the film aligns at the desired position. A control scheme, neuron controller by associative learning, is used for maintaining tension and speed control. These strategies are applied to a simplified PET film processing system. The experimental results demonstrate that in our setup, the control schemes can effectively alleviate not only the lateral deflection but also the tension and speed fluctuation at target levels. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Adv Polym Techn 26:153,162, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/adv.20096 [source] Economic determinants of biodiversity change over a 400-year period in the Scottish uplandsJOURNAL OF APPLIED ECOLOGY, Issue 6 2008Nick Hanley Summary 1Economic forces are recognized as an important driving factor behind current biodiversity losses. This study investigates whether such factors have been important in determining one measure of biodiversity change over the ,long run', in our case, 400 years , for upland sites in Scotland. 2A combination of palaeoecological, historical and economic methods is used to construct and then analyse a database of factors contributing to changes in plant diversity over time for 11 upland sites. 3Using an instrumental variables panel model, we find livestock prices, our proxy for grazing pressure, to be a statistically significant determinant of diversity change, with higher grazing pressures resulting in lower diversity values on average, although site abandonment is also found to result in a fall in plant diversity. Technological change, such as the introduction of new animal breeds, was not found to be a statistically significant determinant. 4Using later period data (post 1860) on livestock numbers at the parish (local) level, we were able to confirm the main result noted above (3) in terms of the effects of higher grazing pressures on plant diversity. 5Synthesis and applications. This study shows how data from very different disciplines can be combined to address questions relevant to contemporary conservation and understanding. This novel, interdisciplinary approach provides new insights into the role of economic factors as a driver of biodiversity loss in the uplands. Biodiversity levels have varied considerably over 400 years, partly as a function of land management, suggesting that establishing baselines or ,natural' target levels for biodiversity is likely to be problematic. Changes in livestock grazing pressures brought about by changes in prices had statistically significant effects on estimated plant diversity, as did land abandonment. This suggests that long-term management of upland areas for the conservation of diversity should focus on grazing pressures as a key policy attribute. Another policy implication is that drastic cuts in grazing pressures , such as might occur under current reforms of the Common Agricultural Policy , can have adverse biodiversity consequences. [source] A Polymorphism of the ,-Opioid Receptor Gene (OPRM1) and Sensitivity to the Effects of Alcohol in HumansALCOHOLISM, Issue 12 2004Lara A. Ray Background: Recent research has implicated the endogenous opioid system in the development of alcohol use disorders. The A118G polymorphism of the OPRM1 gene has been shown to confer functional differences to ,-opioid receptors, such that the G variant binds ,-endorphin three times more strongly than the A variant. The goal of this study was to test whether the A118G polymorphism is associated with sensitivity to the effects of alcohol. Methods: Participants who were either homozygous for the A allele (n= 23) or heterozygous (n= 15) received intravenous doses of alcohol designed to reach three target levels of breath alcohol concentration: 0.02, 0.04, and 0.06. The testing procedure consisted of measures of subjective intoxication, stimulation, sedation, and mood states at baseline and at each of the three target breath alcohol concentrations. Results: The results suggested that individuals with the G allele reported higher subjective feelings of intoxication, stimulation, sedation, and happiness across trials as compared with participants with the A allele. Furthermore, participants with the G allele were almost three times more likely to report a positive family history of alcohol use disorders than participants with the A allele. Conclusions: These findings may help to explain previous research suggesting that naltrexone is more effective among individuals with the G allele. A medication that reduces feelings of euphoria after alcohol consumption may be more successful among individuals with a genetic predisposition to greater feelings of euphoria after consuming alcohol. [source] Cardiovascular risk factors after liver transplantationLIVER TRANSPLANTATION, Issue S2 2005Santiago J. Muñoz Key Points 1Yearly screening of liver recipients with serum cholesterol, triglycerides, and lipoproteins, and assessment for risk factors for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, is an important component of comprehensive post transplant care. 2Revised guidelines and target levels of LDL-cholesterol levels specific for moderate and high cardiovascular risk patients have been recently revised. 3Transplant physicians should be aware of advances in the management of post transplant arterial hypertension, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and nicotine dependence. (Liver Transpl 2005;11:S52,S56.) [source] An integrated inventory model with controllable lead time and distribution-free demandAPPLIED STOCHASTIC MODELS IN BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY, Issue 4 2010Shu-Lu Hsu Abstract The impact of lead time reduction on an integrated periodic review inventory system comprising a single vendor and multiple buyers with a step crashing cost function and service-level constraints is studied. The probability distribution of demand during the protection period for each buyer is unknown, but the mean and the variance are given. Each production lot of the vendor can be delivered in a number of shipments to all buyers. A minimax distribution-free procedure with Lagrange multipliers is applied to determining the lead time, the common shipment cycle time, the target levels of replenishments and the number of shipments per production cycle so that the expected total system cost is minimized. Numerical experiments along with sensitivity analysis were performed to illustrate the effects of parameters on the decision and the total system cost. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Distribution of ,-tocopherol in fillets of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) and Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus), following dietary ,-tocopheryl acetate supplementationAQUACULTURE NUTRITION, Issue 2 2004N. Ruff Abstract The present study investigated the distribution of , -tocopherol (vitamin E) in fillets of turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) and Atlantic halibut (Hippoglossus hippoglossus). Turbot and Atlantic halibut were fed commercial diets, supplemented with different levels of , -tocopheryl acetate at the dietary target levels of 100, 500 and 1000 mg , -tocopheryl acetate kg,1 diet. The actual levels were 72, 547 and 969 for turbot, while halibut received 189, 613 and 875 mg , -tocopheryl acetate kg,1 diet. Turbot were fed the diets for 24 weeks, while Atlantic halibut were fed for 20 weeks prior to slaughter. At the end of the feeding periods fish had reached a final weight of around 1 kg. Fish were slaughtered and filleted. From the four fillets obtained per fish, 22 samples were taken from designated areas and analysed for their , -tocopherol content. The average concentrations of , -tocopherol incorporated in turbot and Atlantic halibut increased with increasing levels of , -tocopheryl acetate in the diet. Atlantic halibut had significantly (P < 0.05) more , -tocopherol in positions 2/II and 1/I than in position 9/IX. Turbot had significantly (P < 0.05) more , -tocopherol in position 2/II than in positions 1/I, 4/IV and 11/XI. By mapping , -tocopherol concentrations in fish fillets, a high degree of quality prediction may be established. Moreover, this study may help scientists in their choice of sampling position, when investigating if , -tocopheryl acetate supplementation resulted in successful , -tocopherol incorporation. [source] Linear Mixed Model Selection for False Discovery Rate Control in Microarray Data AnalysisBIOMETRICS, Issue 2 2010Cumhur Yusuf Demirkale Summary In a microarray experiment, one experimental design is used to obtain expression measures for all genes. One popular analysis method involves fitting the same linear mixed model for each gene, obtaining gene-specific,p -values for tests of interest involving fixed effects, and then choosing a threshold for significance that is intended to control false discovery rate (FDR) at a desired level. When one or more random factors have zero variance components for some genes, the standard practice of fitting the same full linear mixed model for all genes can result in failure to control FDR. We propose a new method that combines results from the fit of full and selected linear mixed models to identify differentially expressed genes and provide FDR control at target levels when the true underlying random effects structure varies across genes. [source] Subcutaneous administration of hepatitis B immune globulin in combination with lamivudine following orthotopic liver transplantation: effective prophylaxis against recurrenceCLINICAL TRANSPLANTATION, Issue 4 2006James J. Powell Abstract:, Prophylaxis against recurrent hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection with hepatitis B immune globulin (HBIG), in combination with antiviral agents such as lamivudine, has allowed transplantation for this condition to become feasible and accepted. Current protocols allow for HBIG administration either intravenously or intramuscularly. To date, there has been no reported experience with the subcutaneous route of post-transplant HBIG delivery. We report our experience of a 60-yr-old man for whom liver transplantation was performed for chronic HBV. HBIG was administered intramuscularly during the anhepatic phase of surgery. The finding of a portal vein thrombosis requiring repeated thrombectomy necessitated chronic anticoagulation. Post-operatively, HBIG was administered subcutaneously, in four separate injections, for a daily dose of 2170 IU along with continued lamivudine dosing. Hepatitis B surface antibody (anti-HBs) titres reached a serum concentration of >500 IU/L by seven d post-transplant and approximately 1000 IU/L by nine d post-transplant. Five months post-transplant, with continued combination of subcutaneous HBIG and lamivudine, there has been no recurrent HBV infection and anti-HBs titres have been at target levels. Our experience suggests that subcutaneous delivery of HBIG may be a feasible consideration when intramuscular/intravenous dosing is not possible. [source] | ||||||||||||||||||||||