We study the limiting behaviour of a generalized Polya urn, motivated by adaptive data-dependent allocation designs, which are used in Phase III clinical trials in order to allocate a larger number of patients to the better treatment. We establish rigorous limiting results for the model, including the Central Limit Theorem, thus providing the theoretical background for using the odds ratio-based a

BackgroundIron deficiency is a common and undertreated problem in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). AimTo develop an online tool to support treatment choice at the patient-specific level. MethodsUsing the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method (RUAM), a European expert panel assessed the appropriateness of treatment regimens for a variety of clinical scenarios in patients with non-anaemic iron deficienc

Background Interleukin (IL)-15 levels are increased in serum, synovium and bone marrow of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). IL-15 influences both the innate and the adaptive immune response; its major role is activation and proliferation of T cells. There are also emerging data that IL-15 affects osteoclastogenesis. The authors investigated the association of genetic variants in IL15 with t

Accurate and internationally comparable Human Papillomavirus (HPV) DNA genotyping is essential both for evaluation of HPV vaccines and for effective monitoring and implementation of vaccination programs. World Health Organisation (WHO) HPV Laboratory Network (LabNet) regularly issues international proficiency studies. The 2010 HPV genotyping proficiency panel for HPV vaccinology contained 43 coded

In rheumatoid arthritis (RA), predictive biomarkers for subsequent radiographic progression (RP) could improve therapeutic choices for individual patients. We previously showed that the multibiomarker disease activity (MBDA) score in patients with newly diagnosed RA identified patients at risk for RP. We evaluated the MBDA score at multiple time-points as a predictor of RP during 2 years of follow

Phosphatidylinositol-5-phosphate (PtdIns5P) 4-kinase beta (PIP4K2B) directly regulates the levels of two important phosphoinositide second messengers, PtdIns5P and phosphatidylinositol-(4,5)-bisphosphate [PtdIns(4,5)P-2]. PIP4K2B has been linked to the regulation of gene transcription, to TP53 and AKT activation, and to the regulation of cellular reactive oxygen accumulation. However, its role in

This paper describes the development and performance of a new rapid amperometric biosensor for fructose monitoring in food analysis. The biosensor is based on the activity of fructose dehydrogenase (FDH) immobilised into a carbon nanotube paste electrode according to two different procedures. The direct wiring of the FDH in a highly original osmium-polymer hydrogel was found to offer a better enzy

Here we present the characteristic signatures in X-ray absorption and photoemission spectroscopy for molecular damage in adsorbed monolayers of bi-isonicotinic acid on a rutile TiO2(110) surface. Bi-isonicotinic acid is the anchor ligand through which many important inorganic complexes are bound to the surface of TiO2 in dye-sensitized solar cells. The nature of the damage caused by excessive heat

The present essay focuses on the figure of Maurice Bucaille and on his contribution to the discourse on Islam and science. Its purpose is twofold. First of all, it aims to provide the reader with a concise map of the ideas of the French author, reconstructing their core and their interrelations. Furthermore, it aims to question what I define as the apparent naivety of Bucaille's work, a reason why

Crystallisation of barium carbonate from alkaline silica solutions results in the formation of extraordinary micron-scale architectures exhibiting non-crystallographic curved shapes, such as helical filaments and worm-like braids. These so-called "silica biomorphs" consist of a textured assembly of uniform elongated witherite nanocrystallites, which is occasionally sheathed by a skin of amorphous

We report 3 cases of disease - leptospirosis, tropical malaria and fulminant meningococcaemia - associated with high serum concentrations of heparin-binding protein (HBP) and haemodynamic instability. Furthermore, HBP kinetics were observed for the first 3 days in survivors and were correlated with improvement in clinical condition.

The administration of hydroxocobalamin (OHCob), alone or with sodium thiosulfate, is a standard therapy for cyanide poisoning. OHCob is a red chromophore, and its interference with co-oximetric and colorimetric laboratory measurements has been evaluated in a few conflicting reports. The interference of OHCob was investigated in samples spiked with 10 different concentrations of OHCob (0-1500 mg/L)

The radiation exposure of fingers, thyroid and eyes of workers handling radiopharmaceuticals during various nuclear medicine procedures was measured using thermoluminescent dosemeters. Dosemeters were placed on the finger tips of 19 workers on several different occasions for various procedures. Additionally, the routinely determined whole-body doses to various groups of workers were analysed. The

Xylose fermentation in yeast has been a target of research for years, yet not all the factors that may affect xylose fermentation perfomance of yeast strains are known. In this study, the mutant S. cerevisiae strain TMB 3400, which has good xylose fermentation properties, was compared with its parental strain to examine the factors behind the improved xylose utilization at protein level. The prote

Background Previous Studies have shown increased familial risk for chronic lymphocytic leukemia. In the most comprehensive study to date, we evaluated risk of chronic lymphocytic leukemia and lymphoproliferative disorders among First-degree relatives of chronic lymphocytic leukemia cases compared to first-degree relatives of controls. Design and Methods Population-based registry data from Sweden w

We provide certain unusual generalizations of Clausen's and Orr's theorems for solutions of fourth-order and fifth-order generalized hypergeometric equations. As an application, we present several examples of algebraic transformations of Calabi-Yau differential equations.