bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
White Sweetclover (Melilotus albus) and Narrowleaf Hawksbeard (Crepis tectorum) Seed Germination after Passing through Moose
Authors: Seefeldt Steven S. , Collins William B. , Kuhl Joseph C. , Clauss Marcus 
Published: March 2010

AbstractWhite sweetclover and narrowleaf hawksbeard are nonindigenous invasive plant species in Alaska that are rapidly spreading, including into areas that are otherwise free of nonindigenous plants. There has been concern that native moose could be dispersing germinable seed from these plants after ingestion. To address this concern, a study was conducted involving tame moose at the University of Alaska Fairbanks Agriculture and Forestry Experiment Station, Matanuska Experiment Farm, Palmer, AK. Objectives were to determine if seeds from these two plant species could survive mastication and digestive passage through moose, whether this passage impacted seed germination, and whether seed passage rates were the same as similar sized Cr-mordanted fiber. In this study, narrowleaf hawksbeard seed rarely survived mastication and digestion with only five seedlings recovered from 42,000 germinable seed fed to the moose. About 16% of germinable white sweetclover seed (3,595 of 22,000) fed to the moose produced seedlings. Most of the sweetclover seedlings came from feces produced 2 and 3 d after feeding. In two moose, sweetclover seedlings were grown from fecal material that was passed 11 d after feeding, raising the possibility that seeds could be transported long distances after ingestion. Cr-mordanted fiber passage did not closely follow seedling producing seed, possibly because time in the rumen might reduce seed germination. Once roadsides in Alaska become infested with white sweetclover, moose can then serve as a transport vector of these weeds into river channels and floodplains, which are distant from roads. This information will impact white sweetclover management programs and alert land managers to the potential for other instances of wildlife-mediated seed dispersal.
Population Biology of Garlic Mustard (Alliaria petiolata) in Minnesota Hardwood Forests
Authors: Van Riper Laura C. , Becker Roger L. , Skinner Luke C. 
Published: March 2010

AbstractGarlic mustard, a biennial forb native to Europe, has invaded native ecosystems in forested regions in the United States. In anticipation of a biological control program being implemented in the United States for this plant, a garlic mustard monitoring program was initiated. The objective of this study was to characterize garlic mustard populations and the associated plant communities and their response to environmental conditions in Minnesota hardwood forest ecosystems. Additionally, we developed a baseline for long-term studies to determine future benefits and impacts of biological control agents on plant communities infested with garlic mustard, should they be released. To monitor garlic mustard populations, we used a nationally standardized protocol in which data were collected on garlic mustard population density and cover, garlic mustard plant heights and silique production, insect damage to garlic mustard, cover of the associated plant community, and litter cover. We also collected data on available photosynthetically active radiation in the understory. The results underscore the variability in garlic mustard population dynamics. At only 6 of 12 sites did garlic mustard densities follow the predicted two-point cycles due to their biennial life cycle, with the first- or second-year life stage dominating in any given year. Available light did not differ strongly among sites, but shading by adult plants is implicated in keeping the populations of first-year plants low. Sites with greater garlic mustard cover had lower native species richness and cover than sites with lower garlic mustard cover. Absent biological control agents, garlic mustard is currently experiencing very little herbivory in Minnesota with an average of 2% of leaf area removed by herbivores. Our work shows the importance of pre-release monitoring at multiple sites over multiple years to adequately characterize populations. Without control, garlic mustard will likely continue to have negative impacts on northern forests.
Drug Pricing and Value in Oncology
Authors: Danzon Patricia M. , Taylor Erin 
Published: March 2010

Abstract
This paper examines the issue of prices, relative to value, for cancer drugs. The analysis focuses on the effects on manufacturer pricing incentives of insurance coverage, specifically, the effectiveness of patient cost sharing, incentives created by reimbursement rules for physician-dispensed drugs, and payer ability and incentives to negotiate discounts. For pharmacy-dispensed cancer drugs, both Medicare Part D prescription drug plans (PDPs) and private payers' pharmacy benefit managers are increasingly placing these drugs on specialty tiers that offer no leverage for negotiating discounts and imply often unaffordable cost sharing for patients who lack catastrophic coverage. Simulation analysis of financial risks faced by PDPs confirms their incentives to place costly drugs on specialty tiers if more preferred formulary placement would increase use, possibly because of adverse selection risk. Faced with largely price-insensitive consumers and payers, manufacturers would rationally charge high prices. This situation is exacerbated for physician-dispensed cancer drugs, where Medicare's average selling price plus 6% reimbursement rule favors high-priced drugs. Because U.S. payers do not require evidence on prices relative to value, U.S. data are unavailable to test whether prices are higher, relative to value, for cancer drugs than for other drugs. Evidence from the Canadian Common Drug Review on cost-utility values suggests that cancer drugs are relatively high priced, although conclusions are tentative because of very small samples and non-U.S. data. Making such outcomes-adjusted prices available in the U.S. would be helpful to physicians, payers, and patients and indirectly constrain pricing to align with value.
Ethical and Value Issues in Insurance Coverage for Cancer Treatment
Authors: Brock Dan W. 
Published: March 2010

AbstractMany new cancer drugs provide only limited benefits, but at very great cost, for example, $200,000–$300,000 per quality-adjusted life year produced. By most standards of value or cost-effectiveness, this does not represent good value. I first review several of the causes of this value failure, including monopoly patents, prohibitions on Medicare's negotiating on drug prices, health insurance protecting patients from costs, and financial incentives of physicians to use these drugs. Besides value or cost-effectiveness, the other principal aim in health care resource allocation should be equity among the population served. I examine several equity considerations—priority to the worse off, aggregation and special priority to life extension, and the rule of rescue—and argue that none justifies greater priority for cancer treatment on the grounds of equity. Finally, I conclude by noting two recent policy changes that are in the wrong direction for achieving value in cancer care, and suggesting some small steps that could take us in the right direction.
Bicameral Winning Coalitions and Equilibrium Federal Legislatures
Authors: KALANDRAKIS TASOS 
Published: March 2010

I analyze the legislative interaction between representatives from big and small states in a bicameral legislature that decides on the allocation of a fixed resource among the states. I assume that the two houses are malapportioned and that the big states are underrepresented in the upper house. By studying the effect of this and other institutional features on the relative welfare of big and small states and on equilibrium coalitions, I find that, contrary to common belief, an increase in the representation of small states may reduce those states' expected payoff, ceteris paribus. Also, contrary to interpretations of minimum‐winning‐coalition theorems, I demonstrate that excess majorities may occur in one of the two houses. When proposal making tends to be dominated by big (small) states, excess majorities occur in the upper (lower) house. I also find that higher proposal power increases the payoff of a group of states. Changes in the majority requirements in the two houses and expansion to encompass more small (big) states have non‐monotonic effects on the relative welfare of the two groups. I conclude my analysis with an empirical application using calibrations results for the 103d U.S. Congress and the legislative institutions of the European Union before and after the Treaty of Nice.“The equality of representation in the senate is another point, which, being evidently the result of compromise between the opposite pretensions of the large and the small states, does not call for much discussion.” James Madison (1788)Time: “Did the battle over the relative weight of big and small countries overshadow more important matters at Nice?”Verhofstadt: “It was absolutely necessary. What they tried to do in Nice was make a directorate of the big countries. The European Union can't survive like that.”Interview of Guy Verhofstadt, Prime Minister of Belgium TIME (2000)
Elected Bodies: The Gender Quota Law for Legislative Candidates in Mexico
Authors: BALDEZ LISA 
Published: March 2010

In the past decade, 21 countries have adopted gender quota laws that require between 20% and 50% of all legislative candidates to be women. What explains the adoption of these laws? I argue that three factors make politicians more likely to adopt gender quota laws. First, electoral uncertainty creates an opportunity for internal party reform that factions within a party can exploit to their advantage. Second, the courts play an important role because of the centrality of the issue of equal protection under the law to gender quotas. Finally, cross‐partisan mobilization among female legislators raises the costs of opposing such legislation by drawing public attention to it. I examine these three claims with regard to Mexico, where the federal congress passed a 30% gender quota law in 2002.I'd give up my seat for you if it wasn't for the fact that I'm sitting in it myself.—Groucho Marx(quoted in Abdela 2001)[Many Latin American countries] have ‘homosexual’ political systems, that is, the power of the political parties and the state is in the hands of only one of the sexes.…—Line Bareiro, Paraguayan feminist(Bareiro and Soto 1992, 11)
Complete vs Culprit-Only Revascularization in Older Patients With Myocardial Infarction and High Bleeding Risk
Authors: Erriquez Andrea , Campo Gianluca , Guiducci Vincenzo , Escaned Javier , Moreno Raul , Casella Gianni , Menozzi Mila , Cerrato Enrico , Sacchetta Giorgio , Menozzi Alberto , Santos Ignacio Amat , Ibañes Enrique Gutiérrez , Scarsini Roberto , Vadalà Giuseppe , Andò Giuseppe , Díez-Gil José Luis , d’Amore Sergio Musto , Capecchi Alessandro , Colaiori Iginio , Gallo Francesco , Pavasini Rita , Marrone Andrea , Pompei Graziella , Lanzilotti Valerio , Dudek Dariusz , Barbato Emanuele , Tebaldi Matteo , Biscaglia Simone 
Published: May 2024

ImportancePatients with high bleeding risk (HBR) have a poor prognosis, and it is not known if they may benefit from complete revascularization after myocardial infarction (MI).ObjectiveTo investigate the benefit of physiology-guided complete revascularization vs a culprit-only strategy in patients with HBR, MI, and multivessel disease.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis was a prespecified analysis of the Functional Assessment in Elderly MI Patients With Multivessel Disease (FIRE) randomized clinical trial data. FIRE was an investigator-initiated, open-label, multicenter trial. Patients 75 years or older with MI and multivessel disease were enrolled at 34 European centers from July 2019 through October 2021. Physiology treatment was performed either by angiography- or wire-based assessment. Patients were divided into HBR or non-HBR categories in accordance with the Academic Research Consortium HBR document.InterventionsPatients were randomized to either physiology-guided complete revascularization or culprit-only strategy.Main Outcomes and MeasuresThe primary outcome comprised a composite of death, MI, stroke, or revascularization at 1 year. Secondary outcomes included a composite of cardiovascular death or MI and Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) types 3 to 5.ResultsAmong 1445 patients (mean [SD] age, 81 [5] years; 917 male [63%]), 1025 (71%) met HBR criteria. Patients with HBR were at higher risk for the primary end point (hazard ratio [HR], 2.01; 95% CI, 1.47-2.76), cardiovascular death or MI (HR, 1.89; 95% CI, 1.26-2.83), and BARC types 3 to 5 (HR, 3.28; 95% CI, 1.40-7.64). The primary end point was significantly reduced with physiology-guided complete revascularization as compared with culprit-only strategy in patients with HBR (HR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.55-0.96). No indication of interaction was noted between revascularization strategy and HBR status for primary and secondary end points.Conclusions and RelevanceHBR status is prevalent among older patients with MI, significantly increasing the likelihood of adverse events. Physiology-guided complete revascularization emerges as an effective strategy, in comparison with culprit-only revascularization, for mitigating ischemic adverse events, including cardiovascular death and MI.Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03772743
Role of Inflammation in Short Sleep Duration Across Childhood and Psychosis in Young Adulthood
Authors: Morales-Muñoz Isabel , Marwaha Steven , Upthegrove Rachel , Cropley Vanessa 
Published: May 2024

ImportanceShort sleep duration over a prolonged period in childhood could have a detrimental impact on long-term mental health, including the development of psychosis. Further, potential underlying mechanisms of these associations remain unknown.ObjectiveTo examine the association between persistent shorter nighttime sleep duration throughout childhood with psychotic experiences (PEs) and/or psychotic disorder (PD) at age 24 years and whether inflammatory markers (C-reactive protein [CRP] and interleukin 6 [IL-6]) potentially mediate any association.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsThis cohort study used data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children. Data analysis was conducted from January 30 to August 1, 2023.ExposuresNighttime sleep duration was collected at 6, 18, and 30 months and at 3.5, 4 to 5, 5 to 6, and 6 to 7 years.Main Outcomes and MeasuresPEs and PD were assessed at age 24 years from the Psychosislike Symptoms Interview. CRP level at ages 9 and 15 years and IL-6 level at 9 years were used as mediators. Latent class growth analyses (LCGAs) were applied to detect trajectories of nighttime sleep duration, and logistic regressions were applied for the longitudinal associations between trajectories of nighttime sleep duration and psychotic outcomes at 24 years. Path analyses were applied to test CRP and IL-6 as potential mediators.ResultsData were available on 12 394 children (6254 female [50.5%]) for the LCGA and on 3962 young adults (2429 female [61.3%]) for the logistic regression and path analyses. The LCGA identified a group of individuals with persistent shorter nighttime sleep duration across childhood. These individuals were more likely to develop PD (odds ratio [OR], 2.50; 95% CI, 1.51-4.15; P &amp;lt; .001) and PEs (OR, 3.64; 95% CI, 2.23-5.95; P &amp;lt; .001) at age 24 years. Increased levels of IL-6 at 9 years, but not CRP at 9 or 15 years, partially mediated the associations between persistent shorter sleep duration and PD (bias-corrected estimate = 0.003; 95% CI, 0.002-0.005; P = .007) and PEs (bias-corrected estimate = 0.002; 95% CI, 0-0.003; P = .03) in young adulthood.Conclusions and RelevanceFindings of this cohort study highlight the necessity of addressing short sleep duration in children, as persistence of this sleep problem was associated with subsequent psychosis. This study also provides preliminary evidence for future targeted interventions in children addressing both sleep and inflammatory responses.
Aseptic meningitis and Fabry disease
Authors: Montardi Camille , Gaudemer Augustin , Zuber Mathieu , Vuillemet Francis , Alexandra Jean‐François , Lidove Olivier , Mauhin Wladimir 
Published: May 2024

AbstractObjectiveFabry disease is caused by enzymatic defects in alpha‐galactosidase A that leads to the accumulation of glycosphingolipids throughout the body, resulting in a multisystemic disorder. The most common neurological manifestations are neuropathic pain, autonomic nervous system dysfunction and strokes, but some rarer neurological manifestations exist. Among these, aseptic meningitis is a possible complication. Our objectives were to measure the prevalence of this complication in a cohort of patients with Fabry disease, and to describe its clinical features.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective review of Fabry disease patients followed at our tertiary referral center between 1995 and September 2023 with at least one episode of meningitis, and performed a systematic review to identify similar published cases.ResultsFour patients out of 107 (3.7%) had at least one episode of aseptic meningitis. Our systematic review identified 25 other observations. The median age of these 29 patients was 29.0 years, the median cerebrospinal fluid leukocyte count was 24 cells/mm3 with a predominance of lymphocytes in 64.7% of cases. In 82.8% of the patients, the diagnosis of Fabry disease was unknown before the meningitis. Large artery stenosis was present in 17.2% of patients and 57.1% of patients had a recent stroke concomitant with the meningitis. Several differential diagnoses were evoked, such as multiple sclerosis or central nervous system vasculitis.InterpretationOur study suggests that Fabry disease should be considered as a cause of aseptic meningitis. The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying meningeal inflammation remain largely unknown but may reflect the dysregulation of pro‐inflammatory signaling pathways.
Competition to Explain Stable Prevalence of Seasonal Viral Respiratory Infections in Temperate Climates
Authors: Pfäfflin Albrecht 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe prevalence of seasonal viral respiratory infections in temperate climates is relatively stable, but individual viruses vary. This phenomenon is not explained via the conventional view of influenza seasonality which is still incomplete. The viral‐flow theory, an outsider theory about the seasonality of influenza, where insects buffer viruses, is able to explain the stable prevalence of viral respiratory infections. Alternative hypotheses to explain this phenomenon are discussed.
3D Conjugated Hole Transporting Materials for Efficient and Stable Perovskite Solar Cells and Modules
Authors: Zhang Xianfu , Liu Xuepeng , Ding Yunxuan , Ding Bin , Shi Pengju , Syzgantseva Olga A. , Syzgantseva Maria A. , Fei Zhaofu , Chen Jianlin , Rahim Ghadari , Han Mingyuan , Zhang Kai , Zhou Ying , Brooks Keith G. , Wang Rui , Sun Licheng , Dyson Paul J. , Dai Songyuan , Nazeeruddin Mohammad Kahaj Khaja , Ding Yong 
Published: May 2024

AbstractThe orthogonal structure of the widely used hole transporting material (HTM) 2,2′,7,7′‐tetrakis(N, N‐di‐p‐methoxyphenylamino)−9,9′‐spirobifluorene (Spiro‐OMeTAD) imparts isotropic conductivity and excellent film‐forming capability. However, inherently weak intra‐ and inter‐molecular π–π interactions result in low intrinsic hole mobility. Herein, a novel HTM, termed FTPE‐ST, with a twist conjugated dibenzo(g,p)chrysene core and coplanar 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) as extended donor units, is designed to enhance π–π interactions, without compromising on solubility. The three‐dimensional (3D) configuration provides the material multi‐direction charge transport as well as excellent solubility even in 2‐methylanisole, and its large conjugated backbone endows the HTM with a high hole mobility. Moreover, the sulfur donors in EDOT units coordinate with lead ions on the perovskite surface, leading to stronger interfacial interactions and the suppression of defects at the perovskite/HTM interface. As a result, perovskite solar cells (PSCs) employing FTPE‐ST achieve a champion power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 25.21% with excellent long‐time stability, one of the highest PCEs for non‐spiro HTMs in n‐i‐p PSCs. In addition, the excellent film‐forming capacity of the HTM enables the fabrication of FTPE‐ST‐based large‐scale PSCs (1.0 cm2) and modules (29.0 cm2), which achieve PCEs of 24.21% (certificated 24.17%) and 21.27%, respectively.
Peptide‐AIE Nanofibers Functionalized Sutures with Antimicrobial Activity and Subcutaneous Traceability
Authors: Cai Junyi , Zhang Meng , Peng Jingqi , Wei Yingqi , Zhu Wenchao , Guo Kunzhong , Gao Meng , Wang Hui , Wang Huaiming , Wang Lin 
Published: May 2024

AbstractAs one of the most widely used medical devices, sutures face challenges related to surgical site infections (SSIs) and lack of subcutaneous traceability. In the present study, a facile and effective approach using peptide‐AIE nanofibers (NFs‐K18) to create fluorescent‐traceable antimicrobial sutures, which have been applied to four commercially available sutures is developed. The functionalized sutures of PGAS‐NFs‐K18 and PGLAS‐NFs‐K18 exhibit fluorescence with excellent penetration from 4 mm chicken breasts. They also demonstrate remarkable stability after 24 h of white light illumination and threading through chicken breasts 10 times. These sutures efficiently generate ROS, resulting in significant suppression of four clinical bacteria, with the highest antimicrobial rate of ≈100%. Moreover, the sutures exhibit favorable hemocompatibility and biocompatibility. In vivo experiments demonstrate that the optimized PGLAS‐NFs‐K18 suture displays potent antimicrobial activity against MRSA, effectively inhibiting inflammation and promoting tissue healing in both skin wound and abdominal wall wound models, outperforming the commercially available Coated VICRYL Plus Antibacterial suture. Importantly, PGLAS‐NFs‐K18 exhibits sensitive subcutaneous traceability, allowing for accurate in situ monitoring of its degradation. It is believed that this straightforward strategy offers a new pathway for inhibiting SSIs and monitoring the status of sutures.
A Synergistic Chemoimmunotherapy System Leveraging PD‐L1 Blocking and Bioorthogonal Prodrug Activation
Authors: Wang Kewei , Jiang Maolin , Li Tao , Liu Ye , Zong Qingyu , Xu Qing , Ullah Ihsan , Chen Yahui , Xue Wei , Yuan Youyong 
Published: May 2024

AbstractNovel strategies to facilitate tumor‐specific drug delivery and restore immune attacks remain challenging in overcoming the current limitations of chemoimmunotherapy. An antitumor chemoimmunotherapy system comprising bioorthogonal reaction‐ready group tetrazine (TZ) modified with an anti‐PD‐L1 antibody (αPD‐L1TZ) and TZ‐activatable prodrug vinyl ether‐doxorubicin (DOX‐VE) for self‐reinforced anti‐tumor chemoimmunotherapy is proposed. The αPD‐L1TZ effectively disrupts the PD‐L1/PD‐1 interaction and activates the DOX prodrug in situ through the bioorthogonal click reaction of TZ and VE. Conversely, the activated DOX upregulates PD‐L1 on the surface of tumor cells, facilitating tumor accumulation of αPD‐L1TZ and enhancing DOX‐VE activation. Furthermore, the activated DOX‐induced immunogenic cell death of tumor cells, substantially improving the response efficiency of αPD‐L1 in an immune‐suppressive tumor microenvironment. Thus, PD‐L1 blocking and bioorthogonal in situ prodrug activation synergistically enhance the antitumor efficacy of the chemoimmunotherapy system. Therefore, the system significantly enhances αPD‐L1 tumor accumulation and prodrug activation and induces a robust immunological memory effect to prevent tumor recurrence and metastasis. Thus, a feasible chemoimmunotherapy combination regimen is presented.