bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparative Effectiveness Research in Ontario, Canada: Producing Relevant and Timely Information for Health Care Decision Makers
Authors: WHICHER DANIELLE M. , CHALKIDOU KALIPSO , DHALLA IRFAN A. , LEVIN LESLIE , TUNIS SEAN 
Published: September 2009

Context: Comparative effectiveness research is increasingly being recognized as a method to link research with the information needs of decision makers. As the United States begins to invest in comparative effectiveness, it would be wise to look at other functioning research networks to understand the infrastructure and funding required to support them. Methods: This case study looks at the comparative effectiveness research network in Ontario, Canada, for which a neutral coordinating committee is responsible for prioritizing topics, assessing evidence, providing recommendations on coverage decisions, and determining pertinent research questions for further evaluation. This committee is supported by the Medical Advisory Secretariat and several large research institutions. This article analyzes the infrastructure and cost needed to support this network and offers recommendations for developing policies and methodologies to support comparative effectiveness research in the United States. Findings: The research network in place in Ontario explicitly links decision making with evidence generation, in a transparent, timely, and efficient way. Funding is provided by the Ontario government through a reliable and stable funding mechanism that helps ensure that the studies it supports are relevant to decision makers. Conclusions: With the recent allocation of funds to support comparative effectiveness research from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, the United States should begin to construct an infrastructure that applies these features to make sure that evidence generated from this effort positively affects the quality of health care delivered to patients.
The Revolution in Health Care Antitrust: New Methods and Provocative Implications
Authors: DRANOVE DAVID , SFEKAS ANDREW 
Published: September 2009

Context: In recent years, federal courts have permitted hospital consolidations and other potentially anticompetitive actions by accepting hospitals’ claims that they compete in expansive geographic markets. Recent events, including two actions by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission, suggest that antitrust is undergoing a sea change, thanks in part to new methods for defining geographic markets. This article reviews the recent history of hospital antitrust, describes the methods used to define markets, and illustrates the new methods by considering two consolidations recently proposed by a New York regulatory agency. Methods: The new methods for defining geographic markets rely on estimates from conditional choice models using patient‐level hospitalization data. These estimates are the raw material for computations of price effects derived from a theoretical model of hospital pricing in a managed care environment. Findings: Applying these methods to two proposed consolidations in New York shows that one of the mergers would likely raise prices by a substantial amount without the promise of offsetting efficiencies but that the other would not have this effect. Conclusions: New methods for geographic market definition may fundamentally alter how courts will evaluate antitrust challenges. Although additional research is necessary to refine the predictions of these new methods, consolidating hospitals, as well as any other hospitals engaging in potentially anticompetitive conduct, can no longer anticipate a friendly reception in the courtroom.
Columbia University's Axel Patents: Technology Transfer and Implications for the Bayh‐Dole Act
Authors: COLAIANNI ALESSANDRA , COOK‐DEEGAN ROBERT 
Published: September 2009

Context: The Bayh‐Dole Act of 1980, which gave federal grantees and contractors the right to patent and license inventions stemming from federally funded research, was intended to encourage commercial dissemination of research that would otherwise languish for want of a patent incentive. The case of Columbia University's Axel patents, which claimed a scientific method to introduce foreign proteins into nucleated cells, illustrates a secondary outcome of the Bayh‐Dole Act: the incentive for federal grantees and contractors to pursue royalty revenues from patented research, even for inventions for which commercial use did not require patents. Methods: This article describes oral interviews with two of the three inventors and a former high‐ranking administrator at Columbia; correspondence with several faculty members at Columbia to obtain key royalty figures and information about Columbia's licensing strategy; patent searches; examinations of legal records of court proceedings; and analysis of citation trends for the seminal papers disclosing the invention of cotransformation. Findings: Columbia University and the inventors profited handsomely from the Axel patents, earning $790 million in revenues through licensing arrangements that tapped profits from end products made by biotechnology and pharmaceutical companies. Columbia's aggressive effort to extend the patent duration also led to considerable legal expenditures and fierce controversy. In particular, obtaining and enforcing a 2002 patent proved costly, politically difficult, and financially fruitless and attracted intense criticism for behavior unbecoming a nonprofit academic institution. Conclusions: This case study raises several important questions about the logic and future revisions of the Bayh‐Dole Act: Are revenue generation and financial rewards for inventing valuable technologies legitimate goals for this act? If so, does the federal government need credible mechanisms for oversight of, or checks and balances on, the rights conferred?
Determinants of home range and activity in two semi‐aquatic lizards
Authors: Smith J. G. , Griffiths A. D. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractBy living in close proximity to waterbodies, semi‐aquatic varanids may be able to sustain activity and maintain relatively smaller home ranges than their terrestrial counterparts because of access to important resources (food and water) that are less abundant in terrestrial systems during dry seasons. The factors influencing home range and movement were examined in two semi‐aquatic Australian varanids, Varanus mertensi and Varanus indicus. We used radio‐telemetry and mark–recapture techniques to examine differences in space use between sexes, seasons and body sizes in the top end of the Northern Territory of Australia. Both V. mertensi and V. indicus were active throughout the year, unlike terrestrial varanids in this region. Varanus indicus had small home ranges when compared with other similar sized varanids, whereas the home ranges of V. mertensi varied substantially. Body size influenced the home range of V. indicus, with larger animals having larger home ranges, but not for V. mertensi. An interaction between body size and gender influenced the distance V. indicus moved, whereas interactions between body size, gender and seasonality all influenced the distance that V. mertensi moved.
The plural of ‘anecdote’ can be ‘data’: statistical analysis of viewing distances in reports of unidentified large marine animals 1758–2000
Authors: Paxton C. G. M. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractAnalysis of the nearest reported distance in accounts of seemingly unknown, large, marine animals (sea monsters) by boat‐ or water‐based eyewitnesses, revealed that, contrary to expectation, the majority of sightings were at close distance (<200 m). This suggests that misidentification of inanimate objects or known animal species due to great distance was unlikely. Assuming a uniform distribution of objects around the boat, the reported sightings were far closer than expected, implying a bias in the sighting or reporting process. The distribution of reported distances from boat‐ or water‐based eyewitnesses was almost identical to that of shore‐based witnesses. Unidentified large marine animals were more likely to be reported to be closer if the report was anonymous or secondhand. The gap of time between recollection/reporting and the actual sighting did not influence reported distance. There was no relation between reported distance and reported length. There was some equivocal evidence that the absence of a stated distance in a report might be an indicator of a hoax.
Congenital anomalies in children with cerebral palsy: a population‐based record linkage study
Authors: RANKIN JUDITH , CANS CHRISTINE , GARNE ESTER , COLVER ALLAN , DOLK HELEN , ULDALL PETER , AMAR EMMANUELLE , KRAGELOH‐MANN INGEBORGE 
Published: September 2009

Aim Our aim was to determine the proportion of children with cerebral palsy (CP) who have a congenital anomaly (CA) in three regions (Isère Region, French Alps; Funen County, Denmark; Northern Region, England) where population‐based CP and CA registries exist, and to classify the children according to CA subtype.Method Data for children born between 1991 and 1999 were linked using electronic matching of cases. All potential matches were checked manually by each centre and verified as true matches.Results A total of 1104 children with CP were born during the study period (663 males, 441 females). Of these, 166 (15%; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 13.0–17.3) children with CP had a CA: 8.8% had a cerebral anomaly, 4.8% had a non‐cerebral anomaly, and 1.4% had a non‐cerebral‐related syndrome or a chromosomal/genetic anomaly.Interpretation The prevalence of cerebral anomaly was highest in children with ataxic CP (41.7%) and lowest in those with dyskinetic CP (2.1%). Cerebral anomalies were found in 8.4% and 7% of children with bilateral and unilateral spastic CP respectively. The most frequent cerebral anomalies were primary microcephaly (26.5%) and congenital hydrocephalus (17.3%). The most common non‐cerebral anomalies recorded were cardiac (12.6% of children with CP and CA), urinary (5.4%), and musculoskeletal (5.4%). The prevalence of cerebral anomalies was higher among children born at term (13%) than among those born preterm (3.8%). Associated sensorineural or intellectual impairments occurred more often in children with CP and cerebral anomalies. We concluded that cerebral and non‐cerebral CA prevalence was higher among the CP population than in the general population of live births.
Secreted phospholipase A2‐IIA modulates key regulators of proliferation on astrocytoma cells
Authors: Martín Rubén , Hernández Marita , Ibeas Elvira , Fuentes Lucia , Salicio Veronica , Arnés Mercedes , Nieto María Luisa 
Published: September 2009

AbstractHuman group IIA secreted phospholipase A2 (sPLA2‐IIA) has been characterized in numerous inflammatory and neoplastic conditions. sPLA2‐IIA can either promote or inhibit cell growth depending on the cellular type and the specific injury. We have previously demonstrated that exogenous sPLA2‐IIA, by engagement to a membrane structure, induces proliferation and activation of mitogen‐activated protein kinases cascade in human astrocytoma cells. In this study, we used human astrocytoma 1321N1 cells to investigate the key molecules mediating sPLA2‐IIA‐induced cell proliferation. We found that sPLA2‐IIA promoted reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation, which was abrogated in the presence of allopurinol and DPI, but not by rotenone, discarding mitochondria as a ROS source. In addition, sPLA2‐IIA triggered Ras and Raf‐1 activation, with kinetics that paralleled ERK phosphorylation, and co‐immunoprecipitation assays indicated an association between Ras, Raf‐1 and ERK. Additionally, Akt, p70 ribosomal protein S6 kinase, and S6 ribosomal protein were also phosphorylated upon sPLA2‐IIA treatment, effect that was abrogated by N‐acetylcysteine or LY294002 treatment indicating that ROS and phosphatidylinositol 3 kinase are upstream signaling regulators. As the inhibitors N‐acetylcysteine, PD98059, LY294002 or rapamycin blocked sPLA2‐IIA‐induced proliferation without activation of the apoptotic program, we suggest that inhibition of these intracellular signal transduction elements may represent a mechanism of growth arrest. Our results reveal new potential targets for therapeutic intervention in neuroinflammatory disorders and brain cancer in particular.
Peroxynitrite induces tyrosine residue modifications in synaptophysin C‐terminal domain, affecting its interaction with src
Authors: Mallozzi Cinzia , Ceccarini Marina , Camerini Serena , Macchia Gianfranco , Crescenzi Marco , Petrucci Tamara Corinna , Di Stasi Anna Maria Michela 
Published: September 2009

AbstractPeroxynitrite is a potent oxidant that contributes to tissue damage in neurodegenerative disorders. We have previously reported that treatment of rat brain synaptosomes with peroxynitrite induced post‐translational modifications in pre‐ and post‐synaptic proteins and stimulated soluble N‐ethylmaleimide sensitive fusion proteins attachment receptor complex formation and endogenous glutamate release. In this study we show that, following peroxynitrite treatment, the synaptic vesicle protein synaptophysin (SYP) can be both phosphorylated and nitrated in a dose‐dependent manner. We found that tyrosine‐phosphorylated, but not tyrosine‐nitrated, SYP bound to the src tyrosine kinase and enhanced its catalytic activity. These effects were mediated by direct and specific binding of the SYP cytoplasmic C‐terminal tail with the src homology 2 domain. Using mass spectrometry analysis, we mapped the SYP C‐terminal tail tyrosine residues modified by peroxynitrite and found one nitration site at Tyr250 and two phosphorylation sites at Tyr263 and Tyr273. We suggest that peroxynitrite‐mediated modifications of SYP may be relevant in modulating src signalling of synaptic terminal in pathophysiological conditions.
Idebenone: a new antioxidant – Part I. Relative assessment of oxidative stress protection capacity compared to commonly known antioxidants
Authors: McDaniel D H , Neudecker B A , DiNardo J C , Lewis J A , Maibach H I 
Published: September 2009

SummaryTopical applications of skin care products containing antioxidants have become increasingly popular. Numerous studies have elucidated the biological effects of these substances. General antiaging effects, anti‐inflammatory properties, photoprotective properties, and prevention of ultraviolet (UV) immunosuppression have been documented. However, a standardized method to characterize and compare the properties and oxidative stress protection capacity of antioxidants was lacking. A multistep in vitro process utilizing a variety of biochemical and cell biological methods combined with in vivo studies was designed to compare the oxidative stress protective capacity of commonly used antioxidants. Data were presented for L‐ascorbic acid, dl‐alpha‐tocopherol, kinetin, dl‐alpha lipoic acid, ubiquinone, and idebenone. Methods included using UV‐induced radical trapping/scavenging capacity measured by photochemiluminescence, pro‐oxidative systems (LDL‐CuSO4, microsome‐NADPH/ADP/Fe3+) with measurement of primary and secondary oxidation products, UVB irradiation of human keratinocytes, and in vivo evaluation, using the human sunburn cell (SBC) assay. Correlation and trends between in vitro and in vivo results were established, and the standardized test protocol was used to quantify oxidative stress protection capacity of antioxidants. Summarizing and totaling the data equally weighted for each oxidative stress study, the overall oxidative protection capacity scores of 95, 80, 68, 55, 52, and 41 were obtained for idebenone, dl‐alpha tocopherol, kinetin, ubiquinone, L‐ascorbic acid, and dl‐alpha lipoic acid, respectively. The higher the score, the more effective the overall oxidative stress protection capacity of the antioxidant became. This multistep protocol may serve as a standard in investigating and comparing new putative antioxidants for topical use as well as a valuable tool to assess the anti‐inflammatory properties, photoprotective properties, and prevention of UV immunosuppression of topical antioxidants.
Use of intense pulsed light in the treatment of scars
Authors: Cartier H 
Published: September 2009

SummaryBackground  Reducing erythema and infiltration of inflamed, hypertrophic, and colloidal scars have been a challenge for healthcare providers. Peer‐reviewed scientific data for intense pulsed light systems are lacking.Objective  A chronicle of three patients who have participated in the treatment of inflamed, hypertrophic, and colloidal scars, using intense pulsed light.Methods  Intense pulsed light with a selection of wavelengths, pulse durations, and energy densities was used on patients with inflamed, hypertrophic, and colloidal scars.Results  A definite improvement in scar tissue was observed and achieved in all the cases.Conclusion  Intense pulsed light source with the correct outputs is an effective tool for the treatment and improvement of inflamed, hypertrophic, and colloidal scars.
Measurement of physical work capacity in patients with chronic aortic regurgitation: a potential improvement in patient management
Authors: Tamás Éva , Nielsen Niels Erik , Vanhanen Ingemar , Nylander Eva 
Published: September 2009

SummaryBackground: Timing of surgery in aortic regurgitation (AR) is important. Exercise testing is recommended upon uncertainty about functional limitations but reports on cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in populations with pure chronic AR are scarce.Method: Twenty‐eight patients referred for surgery because of chronic AR (13 in NYHA I, 10 in NYHA II and five in NYHA III) were tested by CPET pre‐ and 6 months postoperatively. Echocardiography, with measurement of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), diameters (LVED, LVES) and volumes (LVEDV, LVESV) was also performed.Results: The patients had normal LVEF pre‐ and postoperatively. LV diameters and volumes diminished significantly postoperatively (LVED from 67 to 57, LVES from 49 to 41 mm;P < 0·001). The majority of the patients had a ‘low’ physical work capacity, none of them performed better than ‘average’ according to Åstrand’s classification preoperatively and there was no significant postoperative improvement. The mean peak oxygen uptake () was 25 ml kg−1 min−1both pre‐ and postoperatively, and six of the 28 patients had aof less than 20 ml kg−1 min−1.was not significantly related to NYHA class.Conclusion: LVEF, diameters and volumes at rest did not fulfil the criteria for surgery in most of our AR patients, of whom 46% were asymptomatic. However, many had a remarkably low work capacity, which was neither improved 6 months postoperatively nor correlated to echocardiographic LV dimensions. CPET predicted the postoperative work capacity and may, therefore, be a useful complement for timing of surgery in patients with chronic AR.
Cardiac vagal activity following three intensities of exercise in humans
Authors: Gladwell V. F. , Sandercock G. R. H. , Birch S. L. 
Published: September 2009

SummaryCardioprotective benefits of exercising at vigorous intensities are known, but reservations remain in prescribing such activity to the untrained population, due to a perceived risk of cardiac events. Few studies have investigated the recovery of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) after a single exercise bout, especially following vigorous exercise in healthy, young but untrained individuals. In this study, the recovery of the ANS, in particular indices of vagal activity were measured postexercise, at three intensities similar to current international recommendations for health. Thirteen individuals (six females, 22·2 ± 3·1 years) performed three 20‐min constant load tests lying supine on a modified bicycle ergometer at the following intensities: moderate (2 mmol l−1 blood lactate concentration, BLC); hard (3 mmol l−1BLC); and vigorous (4 mmol l−1BLC) as derived from a maximal test. ECG data were collected during 5‐min epochs at baseline then at: 5, 15, 30, 45 and 65‐min postexercise. Heart rate variability (HRV) analysis was performed to obtain R–R interval, standard time [root mean square of successive differences (RMSSD)] and frequency measures [natural logarithm of high (lnHF) and low frequency (lnHF)]. RMSSD, lnHF, lnLF and total power were reduced 5‐min postexercise following all three intensities (P<0·01). Decreases persisted up to 15‐min postexercise following hard and vigorous exercise only (P<0·01). In untrained young adults, parasympathetic reactivation is reduced up to 5‐min postexercise regardless of intensity, returning to baseline by 30 min even after vigorous exercise. In this population, the benefits of exercise outweigh any risks of cardiac events that may be evoked by a reduction in the influence of vagal activity.
TRADER EXPLOITATION OF ORDER FLOW INFORMATION DURING THE LTCM CRISIS
Authors: Cai Fang 
Published: September 2009

AbstractBy using a unique data set of audit trail transactions, I examine the trading behavior of market makers in the Treasury‐bond futures market during the Long‐Term Capital Management (LTCM) crisis in 1998. I find strong evidence that during the crisis market makers in the aggregate engaged in anticipatory trading against customer orders from a particular clearing firm (coded PI7) that closely match various features of LTCM's trades through Bear Stearns. I also show that a significant percentage of market makers made abnormal profits during the crisis. Their aggregate abnormal profits, however, were more than offset by abnormal losses following the recapitalization of LTCM.
INTERNALIZATION AND MARKET QUALITY: AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION
Authors: Larrymore Norris L. , Murphy Albert J. 
Published: September 2009

AbstractWe explore the relation between market quality and internalization through a pre‐ and postenactment analysis of the implementation of the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSE) Price Improvement Rule on October 26, 1998. We find that the rule revision is accompanied by falls in the bid–ask spread and the variance of the pricing error and by rising internalization rates. This study informs proponents of market concentration, brokers, dealers, exchange administrators, and market regulators that a judicious regime of regulated internalization may be associated with superior market effectiveness.
“Universal Precautions”: Perinatal Touch and Examination after Childhood Sexual Abuse
Authors: Coles Jan , Jones Kay 
Published: September 2009

ABSTRACT: Background:
Childhood sexual abuse is a common experience of Australian women with 1 woman in 3 reporting unwanted sexual activity, and 1 in 10 reporting attempted or penetrative sexual abuse before 16 years of age. The objective of this study was to explore women's responses to perinatal professional touch and examination of themselves and their babies.
Methods:
Eighteen women were interviewed using an in‐depth semistructured qualitative method. Interviews were recorded and transcribed. The interviews were coded and thematically analyzed, using NVivo to assist with data management. To ensure rigor, four initial interviews were coded by a second researcher and discrepancies resolved.
Results:
Two key themes were identified by childhood sexual abuse survivors as important in improving service provision: safety issues for survivors and their babies in the clinical encounter and ways of making service provision safer.
Conclusions:
Childhood sexual abuse survivors experienced pain, dissociation, fear, blame, helplessness, and guilt in their encounters with health care practitioners. These experiences led to the development of a set of “Universal Precautions” for perinatal professionals responding to women and their children.