@article{InfantinoPaulssenMostaccietal.2016, author = {Infantino, Angelo and Paulßen, Elisabeth and Mostacci, Domiziano and Schaffer, Paul and Trinczek, Michael and Hoehr, Cornelia}, title = {Assessment of the production of medical isotopes using the Monte Carlo code FLUKA: Simulations against experimental measurements}, series = {Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms}, volume = {366}, journal = {Nuclear Instruments and Methods in Physics Research Section B: Beam Interactions with Materials and Atoms}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {1872-9584}, doi = {10.1016/j.nimb.2015.10.067}, pages = {117 -- 123}, year = {2016}, abstract = {The Monte Carlo code FLUKA is used to simulate the production of a number of positron emitting radionuclides, ¹⁸F, ¹³N, ⁹⁴Tc, ⁴⁴Sc, ⁶⁸Ga, ⁸⁶Y, ⁸⁹Zr, ⁵²Mn, ⁶¹Cu and ⁵⁵Co, on a small medical cyclotron with a proton beam energy of 13 MeV. Experimental data collected at the TR13 cyclotron at TRIUMF agree within a factor of 0.6 ± 0.4 with the directly simulated data, except for the production of ⁵⁵Co, where the simulation underestimates the experiment by a factor of 3.4 ± 0.4. The experimental data also agree within a factor of 0.8 ± 0.6 with the convolution of simulated proton fluence and cross sections from literature. Overall, this confirms the applicability of FLUKA to simulate radionuclide production at 13 MeV proton beam energy.}, language = {en} } @article{NgamgaBialonskiMarwanetal.2016, author = {Ngamga, Eulalie Joelle and Bialonski, Stephan and Marwan, Norbert and Kurths, J{\"u}rgen and Geier, Christian and Lehnertz, Klaus}, title = {Evaluation of selected recurrence measures in discriminating pre-ictal and inter-ictal periods from epileptic EEG data}, series = {Physics Letters A}, volume = {380}, journal = {Physics Letters A}, number = {16}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0375-9601}, doi = {10.1016/j.physleta.2016.02.024}, pages = {1419 -- 1425}, year = {2016}, abstract = {We investigate the suitability of selected measures of complexity based on recurrence quantification analysis and recurrence networks for an identification of pre-seizure states in multi-day, multi-channel, invasive electroencephalographic recordings from five epilepsy patients. We employ several statistical techniques to avoid spurious findings due to various influencing factors and due to multiple comparisons and observe precursory structures in three patients. Our findings indicate a high congruence among measures in identifying seizure precursors and emphasize the current notion of seizure generation in large-scale epileptic networks. A final judgment of the suitability for field studies, however, requires evaluation on a larger database.}, language = {en} } @article{ZhangHeimbachScheeretal.2016, author = {Zhang, Jin and Heimbach, Tycho and Scheer, Nico and Barve, Avantika and Li, Wenkui and Lin, Wen and He, Handan}, title = {Clinical Exposure Boost Predictions by Integrating Cytochrome P450 3A4-Humanized Mouse Studies With PBPK Modeling}, series = {Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences}, volume = {Volume 105}, journal = {Journal of Pharmaceutical Sciences}, number = {Issue 4}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0022-3549}, doi = {doi.org/10.1016/j.xphs.2016.01.021}, pages = {1398 -- 1404}, year = {2016}, abstract = {NVS123 is a poorly water-soluble protease 56 inhibitor in clinical development. Data from in vitro hepatocyte studies suggested that NVS123 is mainly metabolized by CYP3A4. As a consequence of limited solubility, NVS123 therapeutic plasma exposures could not be achieved even with high doses and optimized formulations. One approach to overcome NVS123 developability issues was to increase plasma exposure by coadministrating it with an inhibitor of CYP3A4 such as ritonavir. A clinical boost effect was predicted by using physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) modeling. However, initial boost predictions lacked sufficient confidence because a key parameter, fraction of drug metabolized by CYP3A4 (ƒₘCYP3A4), could not be estimated with accuracy on account of disconnects between in vitro and in vivo preclinical data. To accurately estimate ƒₘCYP3A4 in human, an in vivo boost effect study was conducted using CYP3A4-humanized mouse model which showed a 33- to 56-fold exposure boost effect. Using a top-down approach, human ƒₘCYP3A4 for NVS123 was estimated to be very high and included in the human PBPK modeling to support subsequent clinical study design. The combined use of the in vivo boost study in CYP3A4-humanized mouse model mice along with PBPK modeling accurately predicted the clinical outcome and identified a significant NVS123 exposure boost (∼42-fold increase) with ritonavir.}, language = {en} } @article{Bernecker2016, author = {Bernecker, Andreas}, title = {Divided we reform? Evidence from US welfare policies}, series = {Journal of Public Economics}, volume = {142}, journal = {Journal of Public Economics}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0047-2727}, doi = {10.1016/j.jpubeco.2016.08.003}, pages = {24 -- 38}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Divided government is often thought of as causing legislative deadlock. I investigate the link between divided government and economic reforms using a novel data set on welfare reforms in US states between 1978 and 2010. Panel data regressions show that, under divided government, a US state is around 25\% more likely to adopt a welfare reform than under unified government. Several robustness checks confirm this counter-intuitive finding. Case study evidence suggests an explanation based on policy competition between governor, senate, and house.}, language = {en} } @article{ScheerWilson2016, author = {Scheer, Nico and Wilson, Ian D.}, title = {A comparison between genetically humanized and chimeric liver humanized mouse models for studies in drug metabolism and toxicity}, series = {Drug Discovery Today}, volume = {21}, journal = {Drug Discovery Today}, number = {2}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {1359-6446}, doi = {10.1016/j.drudis.2015.09.002}, pages = {250 -- 263}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Mice that have been genetically humanized for proteins involved in drug metabolism and toxicity and mice engrafted with human hepatocytes are emerging and promising in vivo models for an improved prediction of the pharmacokinetic, drug-drug interaction and safety characteristics of compounds in humans. The specific advantages and disadvantages of these models should be carefully considered when using them for studies in drug discovery and development. Here, an overview on the corresponding genetically humanized and chimeric liver humanized mouse models described to date is provided and illustrated with examples of their utility in drug metabolism and toxicity studies. We compare the strength and weaknesses of the two different approaches, give guidance for the selection of the appropriate model for various applications and discuss future trends and perspectives.}, language = {en} } @article{WeberArentMuenchetal.2016, author = {Weber, Tobias and Arent, Jan-Christoph and M{\"u}nch, Lukas and Duhovic, Miro and Balvers, Johannes M.}, title = {A fast method for the generation of boundary conditions for thermal autoclave simulation}, series = {Composites Part A}, volume = {88}, journal = {Composites Part A}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {1359-835X}, doi = {10.1016/j.compositesa.2016.05.036}, pages = {216 -- 225}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Manufacturing process simulation enables the evaluation and improvement of autoclave mold concepts early in the design phase. To achieve a high part quality at low cycle times, the thermal behavior of the autoclave mold can be investigated by means of simulations. Most challenging for such a simulation is the generation of necessary boundary conditions. Heat-up and temperature distribution in an autoclave mold are governed by flow phenomena, tooling material and shape, position within the autoclave, and the chosen autoclave cycle. This paper identifies and summarizes the most important factors influencing mold heat-up and how they can be introduced into a thermal simulation. Thermal measurements are used to quantify the impact of the various parameters. Finally, the gained knowledge is applied to develop a semi-empirical approach for boundary condition estimation that enables a simple and fast thermal simulation of the autoclave curing process with reasonably high accuracy for tooling optimization.}, language = {en} } @article{KolditzAlbinAbeletal.2016, author = {Kolditz, Melanie and Albin, Thivaharan and Abel, Dirk and Fasse, Alessandro and Br{\"u}ggemann, Gert-Peter and Albracht, Kirsten}, title = {Evaluation of foot position and orientation as manipulated variables to control external knee adduction moments in leg extension training}, series = {Computer methods and programs in biomedicine}, volume = {171}, journal = {Computer methods and programs in biomedicine}, publisher = {Elsevier}, address = {Amsterdam}, issn = {0169-2607}, doi = {10.1016/j.cmpb.2016.09.005}, pages = {81 -- 86}, year = {2016}, abstract = {Background and Objective Effective leg extension training at a leg press requires high forces, which need to be controlled to avoid training-induced damage. In order to avoid high external knee adduction moments, which are one reason for unphysiological loadings on knee joint structures, both training movements and the whole reaction force vector need to be observed. In this study, the applicability of lateral and medial changes in foot orientation and position as possible manipulated variables to control external knee adduction moments is investigated. As secondary parameters both the medio-lateral position of the center of pressure and the frontal-plane orientation of the reaction force vector are analyzed. Methods Knee adduction moments are estimated using a dynamic model of the musculoskeletal system together with the measured reaction force vector and the motion of the subject by solving the inverse kinematic and dynamic problem. Six different foot conditions with varying positions and orientations of the foot in a static leg press are evaluated and compared to a neutral foot position. Results Both lateral and medial wedges under the foot and medial and lateral shifts of the foot can influence external knee adduction moments in the presented study with six healthy subjects. Different effects are observed with the varying conditions: the pose of the leg is changed and the direction and center of pressure of the reaction force vector is influenced. Each effect results in a different direction or center of pressure of the reaction force vector. Conclusions The results allow the conclusion that foot position and orientation can be used as manipulated variables in a control loop to actively control knee adduction moments in leg extension training.}, language = {en} }