bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of Picloram Application on Community Dominants Vary With Initial Levels of Spotted Knapweed (Centaurea stoebe) Invasion
Authors: Ortega Yvette K. , Pearson Dean E. 
Published: March 2010

AbstractBroadleaf herbicides are commonly used to suppress exotic weeds with the intent of releasing native species from negative impacts of invasion. However, weed control measures can also have unintended consequences that should be considered along with intended effects. We conducted a controlled field experiment within bunchgrass communities of western Montana to examine if broadcast application of the broadleaf herbicide, picloram, may mitigate impacts of the exotic forb, spotted knapweed, on the dominant native grass, bluebunch wheatgrass, and forb, arrowleaf balsamroot. Local-scale relationships between native species and spotted knapweed cover served as a baseline for evaluating treatment effects at differing spotted knapweed invasion levels. To examine secondary invasion, we also measured treatment effects on the exotic grass, downy brome, relative to initial levels of spotted knapweed cover. Picloram application suppressed spotted knapweed cover by 70 to 80%. Treatment appeared to release cover and seed production of bluebunch wheatgrass, causing increases that varied positively with initial spotted knapweed cover. Bluebunch wheatgrass measures were elevated by as much as fourfold in treated vs. control plots, exceeding baseline levels in noninvaded plots. For arrowleaf balsamroot, negative effects of treatment prevailed, particularly where initial spotted knapweed cover was low. Arrowleaf balsamroot cover and fecundity variables were reduced by as much as 60% in treated vs. control plots, to levels typifying baseline conditions in highly invaded plots. In addition, treatment released downy brome, with cover increases from 2- to 20-fold. A controlled experiment selectively removing spotted knapweed showed similar release of downy brome. Our results show that picloram effects can depend on initial levels of weed invasion and may include substantial side effects, particularly when broadcast applications are used. Integrated approaches that include seeding of desirable species may be needed to enhance plant community resistance to secondary invaders and reinvasion by the target weed.
Effectiveness of Two-Stage Control Strategies for Japanese Barberry (Berberis thunbergii) Varies by Initial Clump Size
Authors: Ward Jeffrey S. , Williams Scott C. , Worthley Thomas E. 
Published: March 2010

AbstractJapanese barberry is listed as an invasive shrub in 20 states and four Canadian provinces. Control of Japanese barberry was evaluated using several two-step processes over 16 mo using a total of 1,100 clumps at six study areas. Initial treatments in spring (prescribed burning, mechanical mowing with a brush saw or rotary wood shredder) reduced the size of established barberry clumps. Follow-up treatments in midsummer to kill new ramets that developed from surviving root crowns were foliar applications of triclopyr or glyphosate, directed heating with a propane torch, and untreated controls. Mortality was defined as the absence of ramets from a root crown and not the mortality of individual ramets of a given clump. Clump mortality and size of new ramets did not differ among initial treatments. However, larger clumps had higher survival and larger sprouts than smaller clumps 16 mo after initial treatment. Effectiveness of follow-up treatments varied by clump size. Two follow-up treatments of directed heating using propane torches were as effective as herbicides for clumps that were initially smaller than 120 cm. For clumps with pretreatment sizes of 120 cm and larger, clump mortality following herbicide treatments (90%) and directed heating (65%) was greater than for clumps that had no follow-up treatments (35%). Although clump sizes did not differ between follow-up methods 1 yr after treatment, both follow-up treatments resulted in smaller clumps than untreated controls. Effective control of Japanese barberry can be achieved in a single growing season by integrating an early-season initial treatment (prescribed fire or mechanical) that kills the aboveground tissues with a midseason follow-up treatment such as directed heating or targeted herbicide application.
The Role of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Review Process: Clinical Trial Endpoints in Oncology
Authors: McKee Amy E. , Farrell Ann T. , Pazdur Richard , Woodcock Janet 
Published: March 2010

Abstract
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration grants marketing approval for drug products based on a comprehensive review of safety and efficacy data. The clinical trial endpoints that have been used to support approval in the oncology setting have evolved over the last 30 years commensurate with an improved understanding of the natural history of cancers and the mechanisms of action of drugs. Overall survival is the gold standard for a registration trial designed to gain marketing approval; however, additional endpoints have been used in the approval of oncology drugs. Advantages of specific endpoints are discussed, including the accuracy of an endpoint's measurement and its relation to clinical benefit. Surrogate endpoints may be acceptable for “accelerated” approval, with a sponsor commitment to provide evidence of clinical benefit in a subsequent trial.
Beyond Costs and Benefits: Understanding How Patients Make Health Care Decisions
Authors: Ubel Peter A. 
Published: March 2010

AbstractMany medical decisions are “preference sensitive,” where the best choice depends on the values a specific patient places on relevant outcomes. For example, a decision may require a patient to make a trade-off between a small increase in chance for survival and a large out-of-pocket expense. In such situations, patients need to understand the costs and benefits of the health care alternative, in order to decide the best course of action. However, findings from decision science research have demonstrated that people's decisions are often influenced not only by their perceptions of these costs and benefits, but also by subtle contextual factors that trigger intuitive and emotional decision processes. In this article, I describe some of these contextual factors, and lay out the challenges these factors raise for clinicians' efforts to help their patients make informed decisions.
Concrete Options and Ideas for Increasing Value in Oncology Care: The View from One Trench
Authors: Smith Thomas J. , Hillner Bruce E. 
Published: March 2010

Abstract
In the U.S., medical oncology as a profession is wrestling with conflicting and often unrealistic clinical and financial expectations. Office-based practitioners face an environment of low reimbursement for cognitive care, high but declining reimbursement for chemotherapy and supportive care, and high income expectations of oncology professionals. As a field, there has been little incentive to assess or improve the quality of cancer care. Current incentives are often misaligned to reward doing the most aggressive and expensive actions, as long as patients are satisfied, because this leads to the highest return to the practice. Some consequences include U.S. cancer treatment costs that are twice that of any other nation with no or minimal differences in survival, late referrals (if at all) to hospice, and 14%–20% of patients receiving chemotherapy within 14 days of their death when it is highly likely to harm and cause complications. This pattern of care may lead to a significant risk for stress and burnout, as well as being economically unsustainable.
Systematic change to reward value requires realignment of incentives to provide episode-based care free from incentives to give expensive chemotherapy or supportive care drugs without good evidence, and an external board to determine appropriate patterns of care. The only ways to reduce the cost of care are to reduce either the amount of care or the cost of care, and either has dramatic consequences in a field that has been built on high expectations. These actions will likely control costs, but in the short term will cause significant distress among patients, families, and health care practitioners.
Of Value: A Discussion of Cost, Communication, and Evidence to Improve Cancer Care
Authors: Schickedanz Adam 
Published: March 2010

Abstract
The U.S. spends far more per person than any other country in the world in treating cancer, without demonstrably superior results. Though the pursuit and pace of innovation in oncology are perhaps unmatched and promise great benefit for cancer patients, this explosion of innovation has been accompanied by dramatic increases in cost, often without significant increases in patient survival. These trends have led to a growing interest in addressing value—understood as treatment benefits or quality weighed against economic cost—in cancer care. In February 2009, the Institute of Medicine convened a group of experts with diverse perspectives, including those of clinical oncology, patient advocacy, the insurance industry, pharmaceutical manufacturing, health economics, and bioethics, to identify challenges to value in cancer care, suggest potential solutions, and discuss what value entails in oncology. This article presents many of the ideas that emerged from this symposium, including ways to correct misaligned economic incentives, improve clinical communication, and generate evidence to promote value in cancer care.
Defect entropies and enthalpies in BaF2
Authors: Katsika-Tsigourakou Vassiliki , Skordas Efthimios 
Published: March 2010

AbstractVarious experimental techniques have revealed that the predominant intrinsic point defects in BaF2 are anion Frenkel defects. Their formation, enthalpy and entropy, as well as the corresponding parameters for the fluorine vacancy and fluorine interstitial motion have been determined. In addition, low temperature dielectric relaxation measurements in BaF2doped with uranium leads to the parameters τ0, E in the Arrhenius relation τ = τ0 exp(E/k B T) for the relaxation time τ. For the relaxation peak associated with a single tetravalent uranium, the migration entropy deduced from the pre-exponential factor τ0 is smaller than the anion Frenkel defect formation entropy by almost two orders of magnitude. We show that, despite their great variation, the defect entropies and enthalpies are interconnected through a model based on anharmonic properties of the bulk material which have been recently studied by employing density-functional theory and density-functional perturbation theory.
Anal HPV infection in Slovenian men who have sex with men
Authors: Milošević Miloš , Poljak Mario , Mlakar Boštjan 
Published: March 2010

Abstract
Anal human papillomavirus (HPV) infection commonly affects men who have sex with men (MSM) and is associated with the development of anal cancer, with the highest prevalence in MSM who are positive for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of anal HPV infection and genotype distribution in Slovenian MSM and its correlation with behavioral patterns in order to predict the possible impact of quadrivalent HPV vaccine in this population. To our knowledge, this is the first study of prevalence and genotype distribution of anal HPV infection in MSM from any of the Eastern European countries. The study included 136 MSM who visited two outpatient offices from January 2007 through December 2008. All participants were clinically examined and tested for HIV, and anal swabs were taken for HPV testing. The results showed a high prevalence of anal HPV infection in both HIV-negative (75%) and HIV-positive (95%) MSM. Promiscuity and use of “poppers” (alkyl nitrites taken for recreational purposes through direct inhalation) were clearly associated with a higher prevalence of anal HPV infection. The four most common HPV genotypes were 6, 11, 16, and 18. The prevalence of anal HPV infection in Slovenian MSM is higher in comparison with other studies. Quadrivalent HPV vaccine could have great potential in this population.
Diagnostic validity of the care dependency scale as a screening tool for pressure ulcer and fall risks in Dutch and German hospitals
Authors: Mertens Elke , Dassen Theo , Scheufele Ramona , Halfens Ruud , Tannen Antje 
Published: March 2010

Abstract
Pressure ulcers and falls are frequent adverse events with negative impacts for hospital patients. Guidelines recommend risk assessment as the first step in prevention. Care dependency correlates with falls and pressure ulcers and the Care Dependency Scale showed a diagnostic validity comparable to that of specific risk assessment tools. The aim of this study was to establish a simple and valid screening index for the risk of falls and pressure ulcers in hospitals by using the Care Dependency Scale and to evaluate this index within two validation samples from different countries. Quantitative, cross-sectional data from two German surveys and one Dutch survey were analysed. A total of 305 Dutch and German hospitals with 21,880 patients took part. The diagnostic validity of the Care Dependency Scale was evaluated by computing receiver operator characteristics curves, the areas under the curves, sensitivity, specificity and positive and negative predictive values.The Scale demonstrated a good diagnostic validity for pressure ulcer risk screening in Dutch and German hospitals. The diagnostic validity regarding the risk for falls was satisfying in Germany and moderate in the Netherlands. Using the Care Dependency Scale for risk screening could reduce the necessity of further assessment by more than a half.
Sonographic criteria for fine-needle aspiration cytology in a korean female population undergoing thyroid ultrasound screening
Authors: Kim Seung Ja , Moon Woo Kyung , Cho Nariya 
Published: March 2010

Background: Thyroid sonography is commonly used as a screening procedure resulting in finding of innumerable benign nodules. It would be necessary to apply strict sonographic criteria for incidentally detected thyroid nodules to avoid unnecessary invasive procedures or further examinations. Purpose: To prospectively evaluate the incidence of diverse thyroid lesions including thyroid cancer detected during thyroid ultrasound (US), and to establish the diagnostic value of sonographic criteria for thyroid nodules. Material and Methods: During 2 years, 2250 patients visited the breast clinic for a breast US examination. In 2079 of these women (mean age 42.6 years, age range 15–77 years) without a history of previous thyroid surgery or thyroid abnormalities, thyroid screening with US was performed as well. The overall findings of all thyroid lesions detected during thyroid US were recorded. Fine-needle aspiration (FNA) was performed for all suspicious thyroid lesions and some with probably benign findings. The sonographic features of 113 aspirated nodules were analyzed and classified as either positive or negative findings. Sonographic classifications were correlated with the histological findings. The diagnostic index was calculated for individual sonographic criteria. Results: Of the 2079 patients, 1209 patients (58%) had normal findings. Abnormal findings (42%) included thyroid cancer ( n=53, 2.5%), solid nodules except for thyroid cancer ( n=300, 14.4%), mixed echoic nodules ( n=112, 5.4%), cysts ( n=294, 14%), thyroiditis features without thyroid nodules ( n=106, 5.1%), and parenchymal calcifications ( n=5, 0.2%). Of 113 aspirated nodules, 80 nodules were classified as positive and 33 nodules as negative according to the sonographic criteria in a retrospective analysis. Of 80 lesions classified as positive, 51 lesions were malignant. Of 33 lesions classified as negative, 2 lesions were malignant. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy were 96.2%, 51.7%, 63.8%, 93.9%, and 72.6%, respectively. Conclusion: Thyroid abnormalities were detected in 42% of all screened women. The use of the sonographic criteria showed excellent diagnostic performance for FNA and could be useful to provide practitioners with an objective tool to decide whether to perform a biopsy or not.
The canopy effect in AEM revisited: investigations using laser and radar altimetry
Authors: Beamish David , Leväniemi Hanna 
Published: March 2010

ABSTRACTThis study considers a specific issue, often termed the canopy effect that relates to our ability to provide accurate conductivity models from airborne electromagnetic (AEM) data. The central issue is one of the correct determination of sensor height(s) above the ground surface (terrain clearance) to the appropriate accuracy. The present study uses the radar and laser systems installed on a fixed‐wing AEM system to further investigate the effect. The canopy effect can arise due to a variety of elevated features below and in the vicinity of, the flight line. The most obvious features are well‐defined forest and copse zones together with domestic, commercial and agricultural buildings. Such features may cause the terrain clearance to be underestimated and this has the potential to introduce resistive artefacts and incorrect interface depths into conductivity models. Correct determination of terrain clearance is also important for the accurate processing of the other geophysical data sets acquired by airborne surveys. Radar and laser altimetry offer two very different physical measurements of height above ground. Airborne radars detect the range to the nearest reflecting object. They do this over a cone of influence that may have a radius (at the ground surface) of ~55 m (assuming a survey height of 60 m). Reflections from objects that are off‐line are thus a distinct possibility. In direct contrast, a laser ranging device with low beam divergence provides a highly focused measurement. Laser accuracies (typically <2 cm) are far greater than those of radars (typically ~0.5 m). In addition, the rapid sampling of laser ranging devices (e.g., up to 2 kHz) allows both real‐time and post‐processing algorithms to be applied to estimate the maximum range recorded across appropriate time/spatial windows. In our case a 2 kHz (maximum) dual‐pulse laser when sampled at 200 Hz provides a ×50 oversampling in relation to the 4 Hz sampling of the EM components. Our studies from recent surveys indicate that the radar altimeter often provides significantly underestimated values of terrain clearance. Such estimates may be in error by up to 10 m or 15 m across dense woodland. The issues of accuracy and reliability raised by the routine application of laser altimetry to AEM surveys and conductivity models are evaluated. It is demonstrated that it is now possible to obtain reliable laser estimates of true height above ground surface across: a) most forms of canopy encountered, b) built structures of limited spatial scale and c) bodies of water.
Comparative study of local versus global methods for 1D joint inversion of direct current resistivity and time‐domain electromagnetic data
Authors: Santos Monteiro Fernando A. , El‐Kaliouby Hesham M. 
Published: March 2010

ABSTRACTDirect current resistivity and time‐domain electromagnetic (TDEM) surveys are often used in environmental, hydrological and mining evaluation. The interpretation of the data acquired with each of these geophysical methods, assuming one‐dimensional models, frequently produces ambiguous results. The joint inversion of TDEM and direct current resistivity data is considered by several authors as an efficient method to reduce the ambiguity inherent to each of these methods. This paper presents the results of a comparative study on the use of a local optimization method, iteratively reweighted least squares and global optimization methods of simulated annealing and particle swarm optimization in the joint inversion of TDEM and direct current resistivity data. The models obtained from joint inversion of synthetic data (H‐ and K‐type) and of experimental data using the three methods yield similar results. The iteratively reweighted least squares method is the fastest while the simulated annealing is the most time‐consuming. Simulated annealing and particle swarm optimization are the most efficient methods when studying equivalence problems.
The structure of Upper Mesopotamian cities: Insight from fluxgate gradiometer survey at Kazane Höyük, southeastern Turkey
Authors: Creekmore Andy 
Published: March 2010

AbstractThis paper presents the results of fluxgate gradiometer survey of the Bronze Age city at the site of Kazane Höyük, southeastern Turkey. We undertook this work to test the applicability of magnetometry to the study of the organization of urban space at this site within the context of urbanization in Upper Mesopotamia. Gradiometry collection covered a total of 37 520 m2 in five parts of the site. Results from each area were mixed but the most revealing data, from Area 1, show a roughly 2 ha area in the outer town that contains monumental, elite and administrative architecture as well as a main street. Low negative values indicate that most identified architecture is built with limestone foundations, and high positive values reveal that some of the buildings burned before their collapse. These interpretations are supported by excavations that reveal much about the use of the identified spaces and features. Although the structure of Area 1 is rectilinear, evidence for strict rules of city planning is lacking. Instead, the third millennium city at Kazane has a structure seen at other Upper Mesopotamian cities: dense, semi‐orthogonal architecture built along well‐maintained avenues. Combined with previous research, it is clear that Kazane contained multiple elite or administrative areas, which may indicate a degree of power‐sharing or heterarchy in the development and management of this city. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Interaction of eight HIV protease inhibitors with the canalicular efflux transporter ABCC2 (MRP2) in sandwich‐cultured rat and human hepatocytes
Authors: Ye Zhi‐wei , Camus Sandrine , Augustijns Patrick , Annaert Pieter 
Published: March 2010

AbstractHepatotoxicity has been reported as a side‐effect in some patients on HIV protease inhibitors (PI). Since transporter interaction has been implicated as a mechanism underlying drug‐mediated hepatotoxicity and drug–drug interactions, the interaction of PI with the hepatic canalicular efflux transporter ABCC2 (MRP2; multidrug resistance associated protein‐2) was studied. Interaction with ABCC2/Abcc2 was evaluated in human and rat sandwich‐cultured hepatocytes using 5(6)‐carboxy‐2′,7′‐dichlorofluorescein (CDF) as substrate. In rat hepatocytes, interaction with estradiol‐17‐β‐D‐glucuronide (E17G) efflux was also studied. In human hepatocytes, saquinavir, ritonavir and atazanavir were the most efficient inhibitors of ABCC2‐mediated biliary excretion of CDF, whereas in rat hepatocytes indinavir, lopinavir and nelfinavir were the most efficient. No species‐similarity was found for ABCC2/Abcc2 inhibition. In rat hepatocytes, the effects on Abcc2 were substrate‐dependent as inhibition of biliary excretion of E17G was most pronounced for saquinavir (completely blocked), amprenavir (82% inhibition) and indinavir (68% inhibition). In conclusion, several HIV PI showed substantial ABCC2 inhibition, which, combined with the effects of PI on other hepatobiliary disposition mechanisms, will determine the clinical relevance of thesein vitrointeraction data. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.