bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
DYNAMICS OF DEVICE INNOVATION: IMPLICATIONS FOR ASSESSING VALUE
Authors: Gelijns Annetine C. , Russo Mark J. , Hong Kimberly N. , Brown Lawrence D. , Ascheim Deborah D. , Moskowitz Alan J. 
Published: December 2013

Background: In recent years, there has been growing interest in evaluating the health and economic impact of medical devices. Payers increasingly rely on cost-effectiveness analyses in making their coverage decisions, and are adopting value-based purchasing initiatives. These analytic approaches, however, have been shaped heavily by their use in the pharmaceutical realm, and are ill-adapted to the medical device context.Methods: This study focuses on the development and evaluation of left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) to highlight the unique challenges involved in the design and conduct of device trials compared with pharmaceuticals.Results: Devices are moving targets characterized by a much higher degree of post-introduction innovation and “learning by using” than pharmaceuticals. The cost effectiveness ratio of left ventricular assist devices for destination therapy, for example, decreased from around $600,000 per life year saved based on results from the pivotal trial to around $100,000 within a relatively short time period.Conclusions: These dynamics pose fundamental challenges to the evaluation enterprise as well as the policy-making world, which this paper addresses.
WHICH CRITERIA ARE CONSIDERED IN HEALTHCARE DECISIONS? INSIGHTS FROM AN INTERNATIONAL SURVEY OF POLICY AND CLINICAL DECISION MAKERS
Authors: Tanios Nataly , Wagner Monika , Tony Michèle , Baltussen Rob , van Til Janine , Rindress Donna , Kind Paul , Goetghebeur Mireille M. ,   the International Task Force on Decision Criteria
Published: December 2013

Objectives: The aim of this study was to gather qualitative and quantitative data on criteria considered by healthcare decision makers.Methods: Using snowball sampling and an online questionnaire with forty-three criteria organized into ten clusters, decision makers were invited by an international task force to report which criteria they consider when making decisions on healthcare interventions in their context. Respondents reported whether each criterion is “currently considered,” “should be considered,” and its relative weight (scale 0–5). Differences in proportions of respondents were explored with inferential statistics across levels of decision (micro, meso, macro), decision maker perspectives, and world regions.Results: A total of 140 decision makers (1/3 clinical, 2/3 policy) from 23 countries in five continents completed the survey. The most relevant criteria (top ranked for “Currently considered,” “Should be considered,” and weights) were Clinical efficacy/effectiveness, Safety, Quality of evidence, Disease severity, and Impact on healthcare costs. Organizational and skill requirements were frequently considered but had relatively low weights. For almost all criteria, a higher proportion of decision makers reported that they “Should be considered” than that they are “Currently considered” (p < .05). For more than 74 percent of criteria, there were no statistical differences in proportions across levels of decision, perspectives and world regions. Statistically significant differences across several comparisons were found for: Population priorities, Stakeholder pressure/interests, Capacity to stimulate research, Impact on partnership and collaboration, and Environmental impact.Conclusions: Results suggest convergence among decision makers on the relevance of a core set of criteria and on the need to consider a wider range of criteria. Areas of divergence appear to be principally related to contextual factors.
Large scale spatio-temporal patterns of road development in the Amazon rainforest
Authors: AHMED SADIA E. , EWERS ROBERT M. , SMITH MATTHEW J. 
Published: December 2013

SUMMARYThere is burgeoning interest in predicting road development because of the wide ranging important socioeconomic and environmental issues that roads present, including the close links between road development, deforestation and biodiversity loss. This is especially the case in developing nations, which are high in natural resources, where road development is rapid and often not centrally managed. Characterization of large scale spatio-temporal patterns in road network development has been greatly overlooked to date. This paper examines the spatio-temporal dynamics of road density across the Brazilian Amazon and assesses the relative contributions of local versus neighbourhood effects for temporal changes in road density at regional scales. To achieve this, a combination of statistical analyses and model-data fusion techniques inspired by studies of spatio-temporal dynamics of populations in ecology and epidemiology were used. The emergent development may be approximated by local growth that is logistic through time and directional dispersal. The current rates and dominant direction of development may be inferred, by assuming that roads develop at a rate of 55 km per year. Large areas of the Amazon will be subject to extensive anthropogenic change should the observed patterns of road development continue.
Risk factors for pneumonic and ulceroglandular tularaemia in Finland: a population-based case-control study
Authors: ROSSOW H. , OLLGREN J. , KLEMETS P. , PIETARINEN I. , SAIKKU J. , PEKKANEN E. , NIKKARI S. , SYRJÄLÄ H. , KUUSI M. , NUORTI J. P. 
Published: December 2013

SUMMARYFew population-based data are available on factors associated with pneumonic and ulceroglandular type B tularaemia. We conducted a case-control study during a large epidemic in 2000. Laboratory-confirmed case patients were identified through active surveillance and matched control subjects (age, sex, residency) from the national population information system. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. A conditional logistic regression model addressing missing data with Bayesian full-likelihood modelling included 227 case patients and 415 control subjects; reported mosquito bites [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 9·2, 95% confidence interval (CI) 4·4–22, population-attributable risk (PAR) 82%] and farming activities (aOR 4·3, 95% CI 2·5–7·2, PAR 32%) were independently associated with ulceroglandular tularaemia, whereas exposure to hay dust (aOR 6·6, 95% CI 1·9–25·4, PAR 48%) was associated with pneumonic tularaemia. Although the bulk of tularaemia type B disease burden is attributable to mosquito bites, risk factors for ulceroglandular and pneumonic forms of tularaemia are different, enabling targeting of prevention efforts accordingly.
Superconducting fluctuations in organic molecular metals enhanced by Mott criticality
Authors: Nam Moon-Sun , Mézière Cécile , Batail Patrick , Zorina Leokadiya , Simonov Sergey , Ardavan Arzhang 
Published: December 2013

AbstractUnconventional superconductivity typically occurs in materials in which a small change of a parameter such as bandwidth or doping leads to antiferromagnetic or Mott insulating phases. As such competing phases are approached, the properties of the superconductor often become increasingly exotic. For example, in organic superconductors and underdoped high-Tc cuprate superconductors a fluctuating superconducting state persists to temperatures significantly above Tc. By studying alloys of quasi-two-dimensional organic molecular metals in the κ-(BEDT-TTF)2X family, we reveal how the Nernst effect, a sensitive probe of superconducting phase fluctuations, evolves in the regime of extreme Mott criticality. We find strong evidence that, as the phase diagram is traversed through superconductivity towards the Mott state, the temperature scale for superconducting fluctuations increases dramatically, eventually approaching the temperature at which quasiparticles become identifiable at all.
Smooth bark surfaces can defend trees against insect attack: resurrecting a ‘slippery’ hypothesis
Authors: Ferrenberg Scott , Mitton Jeffry B. 
Published: December 2013

SummarySmooth bark on trees and shrubs was historically hypothesized to be an anatomical defence against epiphytic vegetation and phytophagous insects. This hypothesis has fallen from favour, yet no clear tests of bark texture as a defence against insects have been published.We tested the smooth bark defence hypothesis using bark beetles specialized in attacking pine trees as model insects, andPinus flexilis(limber pine) – a widespread tree that can have both smooth and rough bark surfaces on the same stem – as the model tree. We investigated the effects of bark texture on the locations of bark beetle attacks on trees with a combination of field surveys and experiments in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, USA.Bark beetle attacks were overwhelmingly located on rough bark surfaces and virtually absent from smooth bark. Increasing proportional coverage by smooth bark was negatively related to bark beetle attacks per square metre of bark surface. Experimental tests of bark beetles' ability to grip smooth versus rough bark revealed that bark beetles have difficulty gripping and quickly fell from smooth bark but not from rough bark.Smooth bark was negatively related to increasing tree size, but our models indicated that even partial coverage by smooth bark on a tree's trunk can significantly reduce total bark beetle attacks – this reduction likely improves tree fitness as bark beetles must aggregate to overcome tree defences.Synthesis. Our results indicate that smooth bark on trees can act as an anatomical defence against insects by reducing their ability to grip a tree's surface – even for insects specialized in attacking tree stems. Similar to other forms of anti‐insect defence (i.e. secondary chemistry, leaf toughness), smooth bark appears to be influenced by plant ontogeny whereby younger trees have greater defences than older trees. Understanding the adaptive significance of bark texture will require continued field and genetic study. Nevertheless, our results revealed that smooth bark texture increases tree resistance to phytophagous insects calling for the resurrection and vetting of the smooth bark defence hypothesis.
Supermax Prisons
Authors: Mears Daniel P. 
Published: December 2013

Research SummarySupermaximum‐security prisons—or “supermaxes”—symbolize the “get tough” criminal justice policies that have developed over the past three decades in the United States and in other countries. Proponents believe that they effectively address critical prison system problems; opponents believe that they do not and that they create substantial harm. This essay examines the available evidence about supermaxes.Policy ImplicationsA range of considerations are relevant to determining whether supermaxes constitute effective policy. These include (a) definitional problems in discussing supermax incarceration; (b) five critical dimensions along which evidence for policies is desirable and along which supermaxes fall short, including demonstration of policy need, credible policy theory, high‐quality implementation, impact, and benefits that exceed costs and do so more than other policies; (c) the challenge of assessing causal claims related to supermaxes; (d) legal and ethical issues; (e) policy and political challenges confronting states; (f) policy options other than supermaxes; and (g) research gaps that remain to be addressed. The essay argues that causal uncertainty about supermax incarceration makes it difficult at present to claim credibly that it achieves intended goals. Policy implications and recommendations are discussed.
Public Private Partnership and Development from the Bottom Up–From Failing to Scaling
Authors: Simon John , Schellekens Onno , de Groot Arie 
Published: December 2013

AbstractThe aid model for development is broken. It has failed to deliver meaningful progress in developing countries across a wide range of development indicators. Moreover, the model is now constrained by the fiscal realities of the major donors. Its failure is a function of ignoring the institutions, formal and informal, and incentives that often work at cross purposes to donors when the state is not functioning properly. A model that recognizes and builds on the existing, often local, institutional relationships in poor countries through public private partnerships (PPPs) offers renewed possibilities for success. PPPs can create trust through enforcing existing and newly created local institutions from the bottom up and lower investment risks by using donor money as a lever to mobilize private loans and investments. These mechanisms will support economic exchange, the source of development. This paper discusses the origins of this model, the different forms it can take, and the challenges it faces.
Four Models of Interest Mediation in Global Environmental Governance
Authors: Gale Fred 
Published: December 2013

AbstractNegotiating global environmental agreements involves aggregating and mediating divergent interests. In multiparty electoral systems, the process begins at the subnational level where interests aggregated by business associations, trade unions and civil society organizations are represented to political parties and governments in an effort to secure better (from their perspective) policy outcomes. How domestic political systems aggregate, represent and mediate diverse competing interests is a key question within comparative politics with some analysts favouring pluralism and others defending corporatist and policy network arrangements. This rich domestic literature has no global equivalent, due to the dominance until recently of intergovernmental forms of interest mediation at the global level. The rise of sector‐specific global governance organizations such as the Forest Stewardship Council suggests it is timely to investigate the different arrangements being used to mediate global interests and derive some hypotheses about how these shape global politics and policy. Using a grounded theory approach, this article compares and contrasts four different global interest mediation arrangements: intergovernmental (UNForum on Forests (UNFF)), single‐interest (Responsible Care (RC)), multistakeholder (Marine Stewardship Council (MSC)) and corporatist (Forest Stewardship Council (FSC)).
Genome‐wide DNA methylation changes with age in disease‐free human skeletal muscle
Authors: Zykovich Artem , Hubbard Alan , Flynn James M. , Tarnopolsky Mark , Fraga Mario F. , Kerksick Chad , Ogborn Dan , MacNeil Lauren , Mooney Sean D. , Melov Simon 
Published: December 2013

SummaryA decline in skeletal muscle mass and function with aging is well recognized, but remains poorly characterized at the molecular level. Here, we report for the first time a genome‐wide study of DNA methylation dynamics in skeletal muscle of healthy male individuals during normal human aging. We predominantly observed hypermethylation throughout the genome within the aged group as compared to the young subjects. Differentially methylated CpG (dmCpG) nucleotides tend to arise intragenically and are underrepresented in promoters and are overrepresented in the middle and 3′ end of genes. The intragenic methylation changes are overrepresented in genes that guide the formation of the junction of the motor neuron and myofibers. We report a low level of correlation of gene expression from previous studies of aged muscle with our current analysis of DNA methylation status. For those genes that had both changes in methylation and gene expression with age, we observed a reverse correlation, with the exception of intragenic hypermethylated genes that were correlated with an increased gene expression. We suggest that a minimal number of dmCpG sites or select sites are required to be altered in order to correlate with gene expression changes. Finally, we identified 500 dmCpG sites that perform well in discriminating young from old samples. Our findings highlight epigenetic links between aging postmitotic skeletal muscle and DNA methylation.
Downregulation of the Werner syndrome protein induces a metabolic shift that compromises redox homeostasis and limits proliferation of cancer cells
Authors: Li Baomin , Iglesias‐Pedraz Juan Manuel , Chen Leng‐Ying , Yin Fei , Cadenas Enrique , Reddy Sita , Comai Lucio 
Published: December 2013

SummaryThe Werner syndrome protein (WRN) is a nuclear protein required for cell growth and proliferation. Loss‐of‐function mutations in the Werner syndrome gene are associated with the premature onset of age‐related diseases. How loss of WRN limits cell proliferation and induces replicative senescence is poorly understood. Here, we show that WRN depletion leads to a striking metabolic shift that coordinately weakens the pathways that generate reducing equivalents for detoxification of reactive oxygen species and increases mitochondrial respiration. In cancer cells, this metabolic shift counteracts the Warburg effect, a defining characteristic of many malignant cells, resulting in altered redox balance and accumulation of oxidative DNA damage that inhibits cell proliferation and induces a senescence‐like phenotype. Consistent with these findings, supplementation with antioxidant rescues at least in part cell proliferation and decreases senescence in WRN‐knockdown cancer cells. These results demonstrate that WRN plays a critical role in cancer cell proliferation by contributing to the Warburg effect and preventing metabolic stress.
Pathological risk factors in upper urinary tract cancer
Authors: Shimamoto Tsutomu , Inoue Keiji , Kamata Masayuki , Kuno Takahira , Karashima Takashi , Shuin Taro 
Published: December 2013

AbstractAimsTo evaluate pathological factors for prognosis, intravesical recurrence and distant metastasis of upper urinary tract cancer.MethodsThis clinical study included 105 patients with renal pelvic and ureteral cancer who were treated at the Kochi Medical School Hospital between 1982 and 2008. Of these patients, 90 who underwent nephroureterectomy were analyzed for pathological risk factors using uni‐ and multivariate analysis.ResultsThe mean follow‐up period of the 105 patients was 53 months. The disease‐specific survival rates were 70% and 62% at 3 and 5 years. Twenty‐three patients (23%) developed intravesical recurrence, and the mean and median times to recurrence were 18.8 and 9.2 months, respectively. Seventeen patients (19%) had distant metastasis, and the mean and median times to distant metastasis were 25.2 and 25.3 months, respectively. Multivariate analysis identified the pathological grade as an independent risk factor for prognosis (P = 0.031), age (≥67 years) and tumor diameter (≥3 cm) as independent risk factors for intravesical recurrence (P = 0.007 and 0.003, respectively), and the pathological grade (G1,2 vs G3) and lymphatic invasion as independent risk factors for distant metastasis (P = 0.006 and 0.003, respectively).ConclusionPatients with higher‐grade upper urinary tract cancer show a poor prognosis, and often develop distant metastasis, suggesting the need for careful postoperative follow‐up. Those with lymphatic invasion or tumors of 3 cm or more in diameter frequently develop intravesical recurrence and distant metastasis, respectively, indicating the need for strict follow‐up.
The prognosis of patients with lung cancer admitted to the medical intensive care unit
Authors: Hwang Ki‐Eun , Seol Chang‐Hwan , Hwang Yu‐Ri , Jo Hoon‐Gil , Park Seong‐Hoon , Yoon Kwon‐Ha , Park Do‐Sim , Jeong Eun‐Taik , Kim Hak‐Ryul 
Published: December 2013

AbstractAimsLung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide. Despite their poor prognosis, patients with lung cancer are increasingly being admitted to the medical intensive care unit (MICU) for treatment of critical illnesses. The aim of this study was to assess the outcome of patients with lung cancer who are admitted to an MICU and to identify the measurable predictors of their MICU outcome.MethodsWe conducted retrospective analysis on 97 patients with lung cancer admitted to the MICU between 2007 and 2011.ResultsThe mean age ± standard deviation was 71.8 ± 6.8 years. Of the 97 patients (82 male), 73 patients (75%) had non‐small cell lung cancer stage IIIB, IV and 24 patients (25%) had small cell lung cancer. The intensive care unit mortality and in‐hospital mortality rates were 53.6 and 61.8%. The main reasons for MICU admission were pneumonia (n = 51) and complication of cancer management (n = 45). The predictors of poor MICU outcome were history of diabetes mellitus (P = 0.028), Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II score (P = 0.018), need for mechanical ventilation (P = 0.014), use of vasoactive agents (P < 0.0001), the presence of acute renal failure (P < 0.0001) and presence of multiorgan failure (P < 0.0001).ConclusionsWe found that in‐hospital mortality was not influenced by age, sex or performance status score of patients with lung cancer but increased with the severity of organ failure at MICU admission.
Surgical resection and long‐term survival outcome for non‐small cell lung cancer: A comparison of Victorian population‐based studies spanning a decade
Authors: Wright Gavin M , Thursfield Vicky J , Ball David L , Richardson Gary E , Irving Louis , Giles Graham G , Mitchell Paul 
Published: December 2013

AbstractAimA survey of management of lung cancer diagnosed in Victoria in 2003 was commissioned by the Victorian Cooperative Oncology Group to identify gaps in the management of this disease. Results from a similar survey in 1993 were available to identify differences in the disease, management and outcomes. This paper details results of the surgically managed subset within the larger study.MethodsAll patients diagnosed with lung cancer in the first 6 months of 2003 were identified from the Victorian Cancer Registry. Registry research staff completed a detailed questionnaire using primary source documents from hospitals and consulting rooms. The survey data were then de‐identified with respect to patient and treating clinician prior to statistical analysis by the investigators.ResultsFrom eligible cases identified, non‐small cell lung cancer was confirmed in 655 cases with a minimum of 6 years of follow‐up. Thoracotomy was performed in 145 cases (22%), but only 130 received the intended resection. Compared with 1993, significant differences were increased use of preoperative positron emission tomography (PET) scanning (79% vs 0%), relatively fewer resections (20% vs 25%), lower pneumonectomy rate (14% vs 25%) and higher sub‐lobar resection rate (22% vs 11%). The 30‐day mortality remained below 2%. Positive resection margin (21%) and abandoned resection rates (10%) were much higher than expected. Overall 5‐year survival was 42%, unchanged from 1993.ConclusionIrrespective of widespread introduction of PET scanning, thoracotomy without resection was common. While operative mortality and overall survival were well within benchmark standards, futile thoracotomy and positive resection margin rates were unacceptably high.