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In this work we perform a Bayesian statistical fit to estimate the mass-to-distance ratio and the recessional redshift of 10 different black holes hosted at the centre of active galactic nuclei, namely the galaxies NGC 5765b, NGC 6323, UGC 3789, CGCG 074-064, ESO 558-G009, NGC 2960, NGC 6264, NGC 4388, J0437+2456 and NGC 2273. Our general relativistic method makes use of the positions in the sky and frequency shift observations of water megamasers circularly orbiting the central black hole on their accretion disks. This approach also allows us to quantify the gravitational redshift which is not considered in a Newtonian analysis. The gravitational redshift of the megamasers closest to the black hole is found to be within the range 1-6 km/s. The order of the fitted black hole masses corresponds to supermassive black holes and lies on the range $10^6 - 10^7$ M_{sun}, Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure, 3 tables

Contains fulltext : 152616.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access), BACKGROUND: Patients with primary membranous nephropathy (MN) and persistent nephrotic syndrome have a high risk of progression to end-stage renal disease. The Ponticelli protocol (steroids with alkylating agents) is the most effective immunosuppressive therapy for this condition, but it has severe adverse effects. Tacrolimus and rituximab have demonstrated efficacy for remission of nephrotic syndrome in MN with a safer profile. However, the published evidence is largely based on small or short-term observational studies, historical cohorts, comparisons with conservative therapy or clinical trials without appropriate control groups, and there is no head-to-head comparison with the Ponticelli protocol. METHODS: The STARMEN randomized clinical trial will compare the efficacy of sequential tacrolimus-rituximab therapy with a modified Ponticelli protocol (steroids plus cyclophosphamide). The trial will also evaluate the role of antibodies against the M-type phospholipase A2 receptor (anti-PLA2R) and other antibodies as markers of response to treatment and long-term prognosis. RESULTS: The trial has already started with 23 patients having been enrolled as of 1 April 2015, an estimated 21.7% of the estimated sample.

Contains fulltext : 152616.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access), BACKGROUND: Patients with primary membranous nephropathy (MN) and persistent nephrotic syndrome have a high risk of progression to end-stage renal disease. The Ponticelli protocol (steroids with alkylating agents) is the most effective immunosuppressive therapy for this condition, but it has severe adverse effects. Tacrolimus and rituximab have demonstrated efficacy for remission of nephrotic syndrome in MN with a safer profile. However, the published evidence is largely based on small or short-term observational studies, historical cohorts, comparisons with conservative therapy or clinical trials without appropriate control groups, and there is no head-to-head comparison with the Ponticelli protocol. METHODS: The STARMEN randomized clinical trial will compare the efficacy of sequential tacrolimus-rituximab therapy with a modified Ponticelli protocol (steroids plus cyclophosphamide). The trial will also evaluate the role of antibodies against the M-type phospholipase A2 receptor (anti-PLA2R) and other antibodies as markers of response to treatment and long-term prognosis. RESULTS: The trial has already started with 23 patients having been enrolled as of 1 April 2015, an estimated 21.7% of the estimated sample.

Contains fulltext : 152616.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access), BACKGROUND: Patients with primary membranous nephropathy (MN) and persistent nephrotic syndrome have a high risk of progression to end-stage renal disease. The Ponticelli protocol (steroids with alkylating agents) is the most effective immunosuppressive therapy for this condition, but it has severe adverse effects. Tacrolimus and rituximab have demonstrated efficacy for remission of nephrotic syndrome in MN with a safer profile. However, the published evidence is largely based on small or short-term observational studies, historical cohorts, comparisons with conservative therapy or clinical trials without appropriate control groups, and there is no head-to-head comparison with the Ponticelli protocol. METHODS: The STARMEN randomized clinical trial will compare the efficacy of sequential tacrolimus-rituximab therapy with a modified Ponticelli protocol (steroids plus cyclophosphamide). The trial will also evaluate the role of antibodies against the M-type phospholipase A2 receptor (anti-PLA2R) and other antibodies as markers of response to treatment and long-term prognosis. RESULTS: The trial has already started with 23 patients having been enrolled as of 1 April 2015, an estimated 21.7% of the estimated sample.

A new algorithm, and its implementation in the DeepMine software, is presented which can simultaneously generate a strategic mine plan and its related set of phases. It takes account of four progressive stages in the strategic mine planning process: ultimate pit limit and optimal pit shells, phase design, phase-bench scheduling, and evaluation and risk analysis. The basic inputs are the block model, mining/processing options, a set of nested pits, commodity market prices, and operational parameters; the basic outputs are a strategic mine plan for the life of the mine, and the set of blocks to be extracted each year. The algorithm uses an approximate dynamic programming approach to create different development possibilities for a mine; these are used to form an expansion tree of possible development states for the mine each year. The path which leads from the initial mine site topography to the node of maximum NPV can then be chosen as the strategic mine plan. The algorithm was tested using data for the Cobra theoretical copper-molybdenum deposit., A new algorithm, and its implementation in the DeepMine software, is presented which can simultaneously generate a strategic mine plan and its related set of phases. It takes account of four progressive stages in the strategic mine planning process: ultimate pit limit and optimal pit shells, phase design, phase-bench scheduling, and evaluation and risk analysis. The basic inputs are the block model, mining/processing options, a set of nested pits, commodity market prices, and operational parameters; the basic outputs are a strategic mine plan for the life of the mine, and the set of blocks to be extracted each year. The algorithm uses an approximate dynamic programming approach to create different development possibilities for a mine; these are used to form an expansion tree of possible development states for the mine each year. The path which leads from the initial mine site topography to the node of maximum NPV can then be chosen as the strategic mine plan. The algorithm was tested using data for the Cobra theoretical copper-molybdenum deposit.