bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Multiple criteria decision analysis for medicine reimbursement in the Lebanese context
Authors: Nasser Soumana C. , Aderian Sandrine Sarine , Khoury Hanane , Samaha Dima 
Published: June 2021

Abstract

Objective
The objective of this exploratory analysis is to reflect and discuss which criteria of multiple criteria decision analysis (MCDA) would be relevant as part of value determination when appraising healthcare interventions in the Lebanese context.

Methods
A workshop was conducted as part of the International Society for Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research (ISPOR) Lebanon Chapter and included the two frameworks: Evidence and Value: Impact on Decision Making (EVIDEM) and Advance Value Framework. Thirty-seven participants expressed their individual preferences through a qualitative and a quantitative exercise.

Results
In the qualitative analysis of both frameworks, participants unanimously agreed on the relevance of comparative efficacy, safety, and impact of medical costs. In EVIDEM, disease severity and unmet needs were also considered to be important criteria by more than 90 percent of the participants. In the quantitative analysis of both frameworks, disease severity ranked first (a mean normalized weight of .1 in EVIDEM and .27 in Advance Value Framework), followed by the size of the population (.09), the type of therapeutic benefit at the patient level (.09) and population level (.08), and the efficacy (.07) in EVIDEM. In the Advance Value Framework, the combined unmet need/disease severity criteria were followed by direct and meaningful end points (.15), safety (.12), contraindications (.08), and indirect surrogate end points (.07).

Conclusions
The results were concordant with those reported in countries that have conducted similar surveys such as France, Italy, and Spain. The MCDA methodology could be used as a cornerstone to enhance evidence-based discussions among Lebanese stakeholders involved in evaluation and decision-making purposes.
Teacher pension enhancements and staffing in an urban school district
Authors: Ni Shawn , Podgursky Michael , Wang Xiqian 
Published: June 2021

AbstractMany states enhanced benefits in teacher retirement plans during the 1990s. This paper examines the school staffing effects of one such enhancement in a major urban school district with mostly high poverty schools. Pension rule changes in 1999 for St. Louis public school teachers resulted in large increases in pension wealth for active teachers, as well as a powerful increase in ‘push’ incentives for earlier retirement. Simple descriptive statistics on retirement patterns before and after the enhancements suggest much earlier retirement resulted. Shorter teaching spells imply a steady state with more teacher turnover and a larger share of novice teachers in classrooms. To better understand the long-run effects of these changes and alternative policies, the authors estimate a structural model of teacher retirement. Simulations of retirement behavior for representative senior teachers point to shorter completed teaching spells and earlier retirement age as a result of the enhancements. By contrast, moving from the post-1999 to a DC-type plan would extend the teaching career of a representative senior teacher by roughly two years.
Control of acetolactate synthase inhibitor/glyphosate-resistant Palmer amaranth (Amaranthus palmeri) in isoxaflutole/glufosinate/glyphosate-resistant soybean
Authors: Mausbach Jasmine , Irmak Suat , Sarangi Debalin , Lindquist John , Jhala Amit J. 
Published: June 2021

AbstractPalmer amaranth is the most problematic and troublesome weed in agronomic cropping systems in the United States. Acetolactate synthase (ALS) inhibitor and glyphosate-resistant (GR) Palmer amaranth has been confirmed in Nebraska and it is widespread in several counties. Soybean resistant to isoxaflutole/glufosinate/glyphosate has been developed that provides additional herbicide site of action for control of herbicide-resistant weeds. The objectives of this study were to evaluate herbicide programs for control of ALS inhibitor/GR Palmer amaranth and their effect on Palmer amaranth density and biomass, as well as soybean injury and yield in isoxaflutole/glufosinate/glyphosate–resistant soybean. Field experiments were conducted in a grower’s field infested with ALS inhibitor and GR Palmer amaranth near Carleton, Nebraska, in 2018 and 2019. Isoxaflutole applied alone or mixed with sulfentrazone/pyroxasulfone, flumioxazin/pyroxasulfone, or imazethapyr/saflufenacil/pyroxasulfone provided similar control (86%–99%) of Palmer amaranth 21 d after PRE (DAPRE). At 14 d after early-POST (DAEPOST), isoxaflutole applied PRE and PRE followed by (fb) POST controlled Palmer amaranth by 10% to 63% compared to 75% to 96% control with glufosinate applied EPOST in both years. A PRE herbicide fb glufosinate controlled Palmer amaranth 80% to 99% 21 d after late-POST (DALPOST) in 2018, and reduced density 89% to 100% in 2018 and 58% to 100% in 2019 at 14 DAEPOST. No soybean injury was observed from any of the herbicide programs tested in this study. Soybean yield in 2019 was relatively higher due to higher precipitation compared with 2018 with generally no differences between herbicide programs. This research indicates that herbicide programs are available for effective control of ALS inhibitor/GR Palmer amaranth in isoxaflutole/glufosinate/glyphosate-resistant soybean.
The Segmented Campo Felice Normal Faults: Seismic Potential Appraisal by Application of Empirical Relationships Between Rupture Length and Earthquake Magnitude in the Central Apennines, Italy
Authors: Schirripa Spagnolo Giulia , Mercuri Marco , Billi Andrea , Carminati Eugenio , Galli Paolo 
Published: June 2021

AbstractDuring earthquakes, fault rupture can involve multiple segments in synchronous or cascade mechanisms, leading to an increasing magnitude of the mainshock or rate of aftershocks. Since the seismogenic portions of faults are inaccessible, studying the geometrical and mechanical interaction between exhumed fault segments can contribute to the understanding of multisegment and cascade earthquake scenarios at depth. We investigated a segmented active normal fault system in the Campo Felice area (central Italian Apennines), where fault scarps are well exposed. In this area, there are no instrumental‐historical records of intermediate‐strong earthquakes, although paleoseismology provided evidence for ancientMw > 5 earthquakes. Geometry and kinematics of the studied faults as well as their physical linkage and mechanical interaction were assessed. Results of field surveys and geological‐structural mapping, serial cross‐sections, and throw versus distance diagrams highlight different stages of mechanical interaction between the Campo Felice faults. The suitability of three empirical equations relating earthquake rupture length and magnitude was tested in comparison to a new equation that we developed considering the last sevenMw > 5.5 earthquakes (1997–2016) from the central Apennines. Results show that the Campo Felice faults can produce earthquakes with maximumMwof ∼5.8 and 6.2 with single or synchronous ruptures, respectively. In turn, Coulomb stress change modeling shows that the seismic hazard can increase considering a quasi‐synchronous or cascade activation of the Campo Felice faults together with nearby faults.
Epoxy/alumina composite coating on welded steel 316L with excellent wear and anticorrosion properties
Authors: Hammi Maryama , Ziat Younes , Zarhri Zakaryaa , Laghlimi Charaf , Moutcine Abdelaziz 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThe main purpose of this study is to elaborate anticorrosive coatings for the welded steel 316L, since this later is widely used in industrial field. Hence, within this work we have studied the electrochemical behaviour of different zones of the welded steel 316 in 1 M HCl media. The macrography study of the welded steel has revealed the different areas with a good contrast. We have stated three different zones, namely; melted zone (MZ), heat affected zone (HAZ) and base metal zone (BM). Impedance studies on welded steel 316L were conducted in 1 M HCl solution, coating of Epoxy/Alumina composite was applied on different zones, in order to reveal the anti-corrosion efficiency in each zone. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis was undertaken in order to check how far the used coating in such aggressive media protects the studied zones and these findings were assessed by water contact angle measurements. The choice of this coating is based on the cost and the safety. We concluded that the Epoxy/Alumina composite has a good protecting effect regarding welded steel in aggressive media.
Manipulation of parity and polarization through structural distortion in light-emitting halide double perovskites
Authors: Appadurai Tamilselvan , Kashikar Ravi , Sikarwar Poonam , Antharjanam Sudhadevi , Nanda Birabar Ranjit Kumar , Chandiran Aravind Kumar 
Published: June 2021

AbstractHalide perovskite materials recently attracted wide attention for light-emitting applications. The intense white light emission and excited state lifetimes greater than 1 μs are the hallmarks of a good light-emitting material. Here, we provide a clear design strategy to achieve both of these aforementioned properties in a single material via the introduction of octahedral asymmetry in halide double perovskites Cs2AgMCl6 through iso-trivalent substitution at the M site. In the substituted Cs2AgMCl6, the presence of mixed M3+ sites distorts the [AgCl6]5- octahedra, affecting the parity of the valence and conduction band edges and thereby altering the optical transitions. The distortion also creates a local polarization that leads to an effective photogenerated carrier separation. Considering perovskite series with three M3+ cations, namely Bi3+, In3+ and Sb3+, the mixed trivalent cationic compounds with specific ratios of In3+ and Bi3+ show white light emission with intensity nearly 150 times larger than that of the parent compounds, and are characterised by excited state lifetimes nearing 1 μs. Using single crystal X-ray diffraction, far-infrared absorption, steady-state and time-resolved photoluminescence, bias-dependent photoluminescence, P-E loop traces and density-functional theory calculations, we hence demonstrate the role of octahedral distortion in enhancing white light emission and excited state lifetimes of halide double perovskites.
Maternal Use of Decontextualized and Contextualized Talk: An In-Depth Investigation of Early Parent–Child Interactions in Down Syndrome
Authors: Hilvert Elizabeth , Lorang Emily , Sterling Audra 
Published: June 2021

PurposeThe goal of this study was to characterize and quantify maternal use of decontextualized and contextualized input during mother–child interactions including young children with Down syndrome (DS).MethodParticipants included 22 mother–child dyads with DS (Mage= 42.8 months) and 22 mother–child dyads with typical development (Mage= 44.0 months). Parent–child language samples were collected during free-play, book reading, and snack time, and coded for maternal decontextualized (i.e., pretend, explanatory, and narrative talk) and contextualized input (i.e., descriptions, conversation, praise, questions, and directives).ResultsMothers of children with DS used a larger proportion of pretend talk compared to other types of decontextualized input and also used a larger proportion of questions, conversation, and descriptions compared to other types of contextualized language. Mothers of children with DS generally used a smaller proportion of decontextualized input compared to mothers of children with typical development, with the exception of pretend talk. Maternal decontextualized input was not related to children's age or language ability in DS.ConclusionsFindings shed new light on the early language environments of children with DS, providing important insight into the ways that mothers of children with DS are incorporating decontextualized and contextualized talk into early mother–child conversations. Additional implications and future directions are discussed.
An Efficient and Practical Chemoenzymatic Route to (3R,3aR,6R,6aR)-Hexahydrofuro[3,2-b]furan-6-amino-3-ol (6-Aminoisomannide) from Renewable Sources
Authors: Zullo Valerio , Iuliano Anna , Petri Antonella 
Published: June 2021

AbstractThe synthesis of 6-aminoisomannide is easily achieved starting from the renewable, inexpensive, and commercially available isosorbide in 66% overall yield. A biocatalyzed highly regioselective acetylation of the 3-endo hydroxyl group of isosorbide was followed by the stereospecific interconversion of the 6-exo hydroxyl group into an azido group, through reaction with trifluoromethanesulfonic anhydride, followed by nucleophilic displacement of the triflate group by sodium azide. Finally, reduction of the azido group and deacetylation of the 3-hydroxy group were performed in one pot using LiAlH4.
Time-domain spectroscopy of methane excited by resonant high-energy mid-IR pulses
Authors: Crippa G , Faccialà D , Prasannan Geetha P , Pusala A , Musheghyan M , Assion A , Bonanomi M , Cinquanta E , Ciriolo A G , Devetta M , Fazzi D , Gatto L , De Silvestri S , Vozzi C , Stagira S 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
We describe the implementation of nonlinear time-domain spectroscopy of rotovibrational IR-active modes in methane through broadband Four-Wave Mixing driven by resonant high-energy mid infrared laser pulses. At high driving pulse intensities we observe an efficient vibrational ladder climbing triggered in the molecules. This study opens the possibility to impulsively and selectively excite molecules of biological interest to high-lying vibrational states and to characterize their dynamics.
Breathing New Life into the German Utility Model System in the Industry 4.0 Era
Authors: Takenaka Toshiko 
Published: June 2021

Abstract
Key players of Industry 4.0, high-tech firms and individual inventors, do not use patents to exclude others due to the open source philosophy and the risk of a counter-infringement assertion. These key players have developed new uses of patents: (1) defensive use to avoid litigation and (2) proactive use to promote open innovation. They want to be rewarded with the freedom to operate instead of monopoly profits through exclusivity. To better serve the key players in light of these new uses, the German utility model system should be reformed by incorporating a statutory license to implement the open source philosophy and adopting a simplified claiming and disclosure format. The current German translation requirement should be removed to globalize the system.
Alpha‐synuclein binds to neuron‐specific glycans
Authors: Rhoades Elizabeth , Birol Melissa 
Published: June 2021

Fibrillar deposits of the intrinsically disordered protein α‐Synuclein (αS) are the defining pathological feature of Parkinson's disease, the second most common neurodegenerative disorder. αS is abundant in the brain, where its localization to presynaptic termini and ability to stabilize curved membranes support a role in synaptic vesicle exocytosis/endocytosis, although its precise function is not known. N‐terminal acetylation is universally present on αS in vivo, in samples derived from both healthy persons and Parkinson's disease patients. Prior work from our group and others have demonstrated that N‐terminal acetylation (αSacetyl) impacts the fundamental biophysical properties of αS. Here, using cell‐derived proteolipid vesicles, we find that αSacetyl binds specifically to neuronal‐lineage cell membranes. Cleavage of complex N‐linked glycans dramatically decreases binding by αSacetyl while having a negligible impact on binding by the unmodified protein, αSunmod. αSacetyl selectively binds to glycans cleaved from cultured neuronal cells and removal of cell‐surface glycans dramatically reduces its cellular uptake. Based on these findings we propose that N‐terminal acetylation confers glycan recognition and binding to αS and that it is a critical modification for functional interactions with cellular protein binding partners. Moreover, understanding the basis of this interaction may have critical implications in obtaining a clearer understanding in the function of αSacetyl.Support or Funding InformationNIH NINDS NS079955This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Using lipidomics pathway analysis to identify potential therapeutic targets
Authors: Wakelam Michael , Nguyen An , Zhang Qifeng 
Published: June 2021

Advances in LC‐MS/MS methodologies have resulted in an appreciation of the complexity of the lipid composition of cells and tissues. Theoretically mammalian cells can contain many thousands of individual lipid molecular species and whilst it is unlikely that all are present in a single cell, lipidomic experiments have demonstrated the presence of more than a thousand species. The breadth of this species diversity is a particular consequence of the range of fatty acid species and this emphasises the importance of fatty acid synthases, desaturases and elongases in regulating cell function. The integrated regulation of changes in lipid species that occur during and that can regulate cell functions, including signalling and metabolism, highlights the need for bioinformatics analysis to fully interpret lipidomics data.We have adopted two experimental systems: colorectal tumour tissue and rhinovirus‐infected human bronchial epithelial cells, to develop this analysis. Lipidomic analysis that compared colorectal tumour tissue of defined stage with matched normal tissue showed changes in more than 700 lipid species, this also demonstrated considerable changes in acyl chain saturation and chain length accompanying tumour progression. In the rhinovirus‐infected cells there was considerable temporal‐associated changes in a number of lipids including PIP, cardiolipin, PC and DG, there were also clear changes in the acyl chains of a number of neutral and phospholipids.Pathway analysis highlighted key changes in sphingolipid metabolising enzymes in both experimental systems including sphingosine kinase and ceramide synthase activities. Further, adopting the network optimising Prize‐collecting Steiner tree problem methodology, we were able to identify fatty acid synthases, acyl transferases and ceramidases as potential therapeutic targets. The importance of a number of these activities in viral infection was confirmed by observing inhibitory effects of selective inhibitors upon infection of human bronchial epithelial cells by rhinoviruses.The lipidomics‐determined changes also point to important roles for remodelling of membrane lipid acyl chains suggesting that changes in membrane fluidity, protein binding or curvature may have important roles in infection and disease progression.Support or Funding InformationSupported by grants from the Medical Research Council (MR/M004821/1) and the Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBS/E/B/000C0432; BB/P013384/1).This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
A systems‐level understanding of glycosylation signaling networks
Authors: Hsieh‐Wilson Linda C. 
Published: June 2021

The dynamic posttranslational modification of proteins by O‐linked‐β‐N‐acetylglucosamine (O‐GlcNAc glycosylation or O‐GlcNAcylation) plays many diverse roles in cellular physiology and disease. We will describe a systems‐level approach for studying the function, specificity, and dynamic regulation of O‐GlcNAcylation. Elucidation of the signaling networks associated with the O‐GlcNAc modification provides new insights into its central functions and may reveal new therapeutic approaches to enable its selective modulation.Support or Funding InformationNIH (R01 GM084724)This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Transcriptomics profiling of breast cancer cells, MDA‐MB‐231, exposed to TNF‐α: focus on pro‐survival and pro‐inflammatory regulated pathways.
Authors: Bauer David F. , Mazzio Elizabeth A. , Soliman Karam F. 
Published: June 2021

Triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) is characterized by the absence of estrogen, progesterone and HER2 receptors. TNBC is considered to have a poor prognosis due to the limited treatment options with the exclusion of hormone receptor‐based chemotherapies. Aggressive TNBC growth is accompanied by infiltration of tumor‐associated macrophages which can establish a perpetual state of inflammation rendering sustained release of proinflammatory cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, which can lead to immunological evasion. In this work, we evaluated the effects of TNF‐α on the changes to the whole transcriptome: including mRNAs, long intergenic non‐coding RNA transcripts (lincRNA) in MDA‐MB‐231 cells. The data show enormous upregulation (60‐fold change FC, p<.0001) in CXCL8 chemokine (C‐X‐C motif) ligand 8, with a statistically significant elevation of other transcripts including IL‐6 (+10.47), TNFRSF9 (9.58), TNFAIP3 (+7.52) and CCL2 (+3.5). On the other side, there was a reduction in numerous non‐coding microRNA including MIR29A (−8.8), MIRLET7A2 (−8.7), MIR222 (−4.91), MIR100 (−4.91), MIR27B (−4.68) and MIR181B1 (−7.95) in addition to Glutathione S – transferase (GSTT2) (−5.59). Pathway analysis shows that the most relevant effects of TNF‐α are on driving NF‐kB related survival, cytokines, and inflammatory pathway elements and TNF‐α related pathways.Support or Funding InformationSupported by grants from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparities RCMI grant G12MD007582 and COE grant P20 MD006738.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.
Excessive UBE3A dosage impairs retinoic acid signaling and synaptic plasticity in autism spectrum disorders
Authors: Hu Ronggui 
Published: June 2021

The autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) are a collection of human neurological disorders with heterogeneous etiologies. Hyperactivity of E3 ubiquitin (Ub) ligase UBE3A, stemming from 15q11‐q13 copy number variations, accounts for 1%–3% of ASD cases worldwide, but the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely characterized. Here we report that the functionality of ALDH1A2, the rate‐limiting enzyme of retinoic acid (RA) synthesis, is negatively regulated by UBE3A in a ubiquitylation‐dependent manner. Excessive UBE3A dosage was found to impair RA‐mediated neuronal homeostatic synaptic plasticity. ASD‐like symptoms were recapitulated in mice by overexpressing UBE3A in the prefrontal cortex or by administration of an ALDH1A antagonist, whereas RA supplements significantly alleviated excessive UBE3A dosage‐induced ASD‐like phenotypes. By identifying reduced RA signaling as an underlying mechanism in ASD phenotypes linked to UBE3A hyperactivities, our findings introduce a new vista of ASD etiology and facilitate a mode of therapeutic development against this increasingly prevalent disease.Support or Funding InformationThis work was founded by the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDB19000000 and XDA12040323), the Natural Science Foundation of China (31470770 and 81525019 to RH), the Ministry of Science and Technology of China (2013CB910900 to RH).This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.