Climate reconstruction based on archaeological bivalve shells

Several years of biogeochemical research on bivalve shells yielded in clear proxyrecords carrying potential for reconstruction of paleoseasonal trends in coastal environments. However, the interpretation of the proxy signals is still often problematic. Proxy concentrations can be influenced by several environmental parameters and by physiological processes. With more complex models these problems can be tackled. Two strategies are followed; (1) a statistical black-box model is being developed in parallel with (2) a physiological white-box model.The statistical black-box model can be described as a non-linear multi-proxy model. It is based on chemical measurements in modern bivalve shells and consists of the construction of a curve in a multi-dimensional space. The model describes the variations in the chemical signature of the shell during a full year cycle. The shortest distance from any other data point (e.g. a fossil shell) to the model will give a time point estimation in the annual cycle, which can further be linked to environmental parameters. At present our model approach achieves quite accurate SST reconstructions.A white box model is crucial for understanding the physiological processes and for an unambiguous interpretation of the proxy records. We investigated, in a first phase, in situ the influences of environmental parameters and physiology on the incorporation of proxies in Mytilus edulis at a well documented wave breaker site. In a second phase, in vitro culturing experiments under controlled laboratory conditions were carried out. Experiments were carried out at 8°C and 16°C and at salinities of 18‰ and 28‰. During these experiments mussels were fed under high and low supply regimes. By combining these in situ and in vitro approaches a white box multi-proxy model is generated for the reconstruction of SST and SSS

Fatigue in low-grade glioma

Contains fulltext : 80675.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access)The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence and severity of fatigue in long-term survivors with a low-grade glioma (LGG), and to analyze the relationship between fatigue and demographic variables, disease duration, tumor characteristics, former tumor treatment modalities, antiepileptic drug (AED) use, self-reported concentration, motivation, and activity. Fifty-four patients with stable disease (age range, 25-73 years) who were diagnosed and treated more than 8 years ago were included in this study. Fatigue was analyzed with the Checklist Individual Strength (CIS). Thirty-nine percent of the LGG patients were severely fatigued, with older patients being most affected. Severe fatigue was associated with AED use, and with reduced self-reported concentration, motivation, and activity. No relation was found between fatigue and gender, histology, tumor laterality, disease duration, type of neurosurgical intervention and radiation treatment. Fatigue is a severe problem in a large proportion of long-term surviving LGG patients

Target company cross-border effects in acquisitions into the UK

We analyse the abnormal returns to target shareholders in crossborder and domestic acquisitions of UK companies. The crossborder effect during the bid month is small (0.84%), although crossborder targets gain significantly more than domestic targets during the months surrounding the bid. We find no evidence for the level of abnormal returns in crossborder acquisitions to be associated with market access or exchange rate effects, and only limited support for an international diversification effect. However, the crossborder effect appears to be associated with significant payment effects, and there is no significant residual crossborder effect once various bid characteristics are controlled for

The economics of prepackaged bankruptcy

A new kind of bankruptcy has emerged in the last few years. It can be thought of as a “hybrid” form—one that attempts to combine the advantages (and exclude the disadvantages) of the two customary methods of reorganizing troubled companies: workouts and bankruptcy

The Bright Side of Fire Sales

Firms that buy assets in fire sales earn excess returns that are two percentage points higher than in regular acquisitions. The mechanism behind this result is the reduced bargaining power of the seller. We find no difference in real effects or in the combined returns for buyers and sellers between fire sales and regular acquisitions, suggesting that the quality of the match is similar in both types of transactions. The externalities of fire sales for other stakeholders are limited. These results indicate that the welfare losses associated with fire sales are smaller than previously thought

Redirecting research efforts on the diversification-performance linkage: The search for synergy

We review the literature on the diversification-performance (D-P) relationship to a) propose that the time is ripe for a renewed attack on understanding the relationship between diversification and firm performance, and b) outline a new approach to attacking the question. Our paper makes four main contributions. First, through a review of the literature we establish the inherent complexities in the D-P relationship and the methodological challenges confronted by the literature in reaching its current conclusion of a non-linear relationship between diversification and performance. Second, we argue that to better guide managers the literature needs to develop along a complementary path – whereas past research has often focused on answering the big question of does diversification affect firm performance, this second path would focus more on identifying the precise micro-mechanisms through which diversification adds or subtracts value. Third, we outline a new approach to the investigation of this topic, based on (a) identifying the precise underlying mechanisms through which diversification affects performance; (b) identifying performance outcomes that are “proximate” to the mechanism that the researcher is studying, and (c) identifying an appropriate research design that can enable a causal claim. Finally, we outline a set of directions for future research

Antiinflammatory Therapy with Canakinumab for Atherosclerotic Disease

Background: Experimental and clinical data suggest that reducing inflammation without affecting lipid levels may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. Yet, the inflammatory hypothesis of atherothrombosis has remained unproved. Methods: We conducted a randomized, double-blind trial of canakinumab, a therapeutic monoclonal antibody targeting interleukin-1β, involving 10,061 patients with previous myocardial infarction and a high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level of 2 mg or more per liter. The trial compared three doses of canakinumab (50 mg, 150 mg, and 300 mg, administered subcutaneously every 3 months) with placebo. The primary efficacy end point was nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or cardiovascular death. RESULTS: At 48 months, the median reduction from baseline in the high-sensitivity C-reactive protein level was 26 percentage points greater in the group that received the 50-mg dose of canakinumab, 37 percentage points greater in the 150-mg group, and 41 percentage points greater in the 300-mg group than in the placebo group. Canakinumab did not reduce lipid levels from baseline. At a median follow-up of 3.7 years, the incidence rate for the primary end point was 4.50 events per 100 person-years in the placebo group, 4.11 events per 100 person-years in the 50-mg group, 3.86 events per 100 person-years in the 150-mg group, and 3.90 events per 100 person-years in the 300-mg group. The hazard ratios as compared with placebo were as follows: in the 50-mg group, 0.93 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.80 to 1.07; P = 0.30); in the 150-mg group, 0.85 (95% CI, 0.74 to 0.98; P = 0.021); and in the 300-mg group, 0.86 (95% CI, 0.75 to 0.99; P = 0.031). The 150-mg dose, but not the other doses, met the prespecified multiplicity-adjusted threshold for statistical significance for the primary end point and the secondary end point that additionally included hospitalization for unstable angina that led to urgent revascularization (hazard ratio vs. placebo, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.73 to 0.95; P = 0.005). Canakinumab was associated with a higher incidence of fatal infection than was placebo. There was no significant difference in all-cause mortality (hazard ratio for all canakinumab doses vs. placebo, 0.94; 95% CI, 0.83 to 1.06; P = 0.31). Conclusions: Antiinflammatory therapy targeting the interleukin-1β innate immunity pathway with canakinumab at a dose of 150 mg every 3 months led to a significantly lower rate of recurrent cardiovascular events than placebo, independent of lipid-level lowering. (Funded by Novartis; CANTOS ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01327846.

Differences in the experience of fatigue in patients and healthy controls: patients' descriptions

Contains fulltext : 51764.pdf ( ) (Open Access)BACKGROUND: The primary objective was to develop an adjective checklist, the Fatigue Quality List (FQL), aimed at assessing different perceptions of fatigue. METHODS: 961 participants filled out the FQL (28 adjectives). A component and confirmatory factor analyses were performed and psychometric properties were evaluated. Differences on factor scores between different patients' groups were investigated and pre- and post treatment scores were compared in demonstrating change of perceptions after treatment of fatigue. RESULTS: Four independent factors were found with adequate psychometric properties. Different perceptions were found between the patients' groups. Patients who were recovered after treatment for fatigue showed similar scores on the factors as healthy controls. CONCLUSION: The FQL appears to be a promising tool in measuring different perceptions of fatigue, which can be especially interesting for clinical practice

Plasma and CSF concentrations of N-terminal tau fragments associate with in vivo neurofibrillary tangle burden

INTRODUCTION: Fluid biomarkers capable of specifically tracking tau tangle pathology in vivo are greatly needed. METHODS: We measured cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma concentrations of N-terminal tau fragments (NTA-tau), using a novel immunoassay (NTA) in the TRIAD cohort, consisting of 272 individuals assessed with amyloid beta (Aβ) positron emission tomography (PET), tau PET, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and cognitive assessments. RESULTS: CSF and plasma NTA-tau concentrations were specifically increased in cognitively impaired Aβ-positive groups. CSF and plasma NTA-tau concentrations displayed stronger correlations with tau PET than with Aβ PET and MRI, both in global uptake and at the voxel level. Regression models demonstrated that both CSF and plasma NTA-tau are preferentially associated with tau pathology. Moreover, plasma NTA-tau was associated with longitudinal tau PET accumulation across the aging and Alzheimer's disease (AD) spectrum. DISCUSSION: NTA-tau is a biomarker closely associated with in vivo tau deposition in the AD continuum and has potential as a tau tangle biomarker in clinical settings and trials. HIGHLIGHTS: An assay for detecting N-terminal tau fragments (NTA-tau) in plasma and CSF was evaluated. NTA-tau is more closely associated with tau PET than amyloid PET or neurodegeneration. NTA-tau can successfully track in vivo tau deposition across the AD continuum. Plasma NTA-tau increased over time only in cognitively impaired amyloid-β positive individuals