bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Comparison of four contingent valuation methods to estimate the economic value of a pneumococcal vaccine in Bangladesh
Authors: Heinzen Rebekah R. , Bridges John F. P. 
Published: October 2008

Objectives:To compare four contingent valuation elicitation methods as a means to estimate the value of a pneumococcal vaccine in Bangladesh and to test if the elicitation methods are subject to bias and if they produce valid responses.Methods:Three hundred sixty-one households with at least one child under 5 years of age were recruited in Dhaka, Bangladesh. Subjects were cluster-randomized to various elicitation methods: open-ended, dichotomous choice (at one of two asking prices), payment card (one of two cards with differing ranges). The dichotomous choice method was then followed up with a bidding game methodology, with the dichotomous choice price acting as the starting price for the bidding game. Analysis focused on summary statistics, demand curve estimation and multivariate regression analysis to test for validity and bias.Results:Thirty-one households refused to participate, leaving a total of 330 participating households (a 91.4 percent response rate). Willingness to pay estimates varied significantly across the methods (p&lt; .001), with average estimates varying between $2.34 and $18 (US). The open-ended elicitation method was found to produce highly inflated values that were insensitive to construct validity tests. The dichotomous choice method produced quantity (demand) estimates rather than value estimates, and there was some evidence of yea saying. The payment card elicitation method was found to be affected by range bias. The bidding game elicitation method was found to be less sensitive to starting point bias and yea-saying.Conclusions:Different elicitation format do give rise to different demand curves; however, this may be partially due to the fact that they do not measure the same outcome. For example, the dichotomous choice format produces a demand curve, while the payment card, open-ended and bidding game produce inverse demand curves. All formats are prone to multiple biases. When choosing an elicitation format, it is important to first consider the purpose and use of the data. Each elicitation method has strengths and weaknesses and can be used for different purposes in technology assessment.
Do individuals consider expected income when valuing health states?
Authors: Davidson Thomas , Levin Lars-Åke 
Published: October 2008

Objectives:The purpose of this study was to empirically explore whether individuals take their expected income into consideration when directly valuing predefined health states. This was intended to help determine how to handle productivity costs due to morbidity in a cost-effectiveness analysis.Methods:Two hundred students each valued four hypothetical health states by using time trade-off (TTO) and a visual analogue scale (VAS). The students were randomly assigned to two groups. One group was simply asked, without mentioning income, to value the different health states (the non-income group). The other group was explicitly asked to consider their expected income in relation to the health states in their valuations (the income group).Results:For health states that are usually assumed to have a large effect on income, the valuations made by the income group seemed to be lower than the valuations made by the non-income group. Among the students in the non-income group, 96 percent stated that they had not thought about their expected income when they valued the health states. In the income group, 40 percent believed that their expected income had affected their valuations of the health states.Conclusion:The results show that, as long as income is not mentioned, most individuals do not seem to consider their expected income when they value health states. This indicates that productivity costs due to morbidity are not captured within individuals' health state valuations. These findings, therefore, suggest that productivity costs due to morbidity should be included as a cost in cost-effectiveness analyses.
Estimating the implicit value of statistical life based on public interventions implemented in The Netherlands
Authors: Goebbels Adrienne F. G. , Ament André J. H. A. , Novák Annoesjka , Veraart Christiaan P. W. M. , Severens Johan L. 
Published: October 2008

Objectives:In the Netherlands, allocation decisions have not yet been explicitly based on the Value of Statistical Life. However, when policy makers decide whether or not to implement life saving interventions this trade-off is made implicitly. This study aimed to gain insights into this trade-off, hereafter referred to as Implicit Value of Statistical Life (IVSL), by means of a retrospective investment analysis of life saving interventions implemented in the Netherlands.Methods:A literature search was conducted to find life saving intervention cases meeting the requirements for IVSL calculation. A final sample of ten cases was included in the study concerning interventions implemented in different societal sectors. For each case, an IVSL estimate was calculated according to a uniform method.Results:IVSL estimates derived from the intervention cases differed considerably and ranged from €1 to almost €11 million. Differences were most extreme when comparing IVSL estimates concerning interventions implemented in different societal sectors. However, IVSL estimates also varied greatly between interventions in the same sector and even within the same interventions when critical assumptions were altered.Conclusion:Our findings suggest that there are great imbalances between societal investments for preventing a statistical death. This highlights the need for further deliberation about how to improve transparency of policy decisions. An approach ex ante determining the Value of Statistical Life by means of empirical methods and based on societal preferences might circumvent the problems associated with the IVSL and needs further exploration.
Budgeting and health technology assessment: First evidence obtained from proposal forms used to submit the adoption of new technology
Authors: Lettieri Emanuele , Masella Cristina , Nocco Umberto 
Published: October 2008

Objectives:The aim of this study was to benchmark the proposal forms used by a sample of Italian hospitals to inform the budget process for the adoption of new technology to understand the relationship with the guidelines provided by the Health Technology Assessment (HTA) literature.Methods:A literature review was first undertaken to identify the frameworks developed to support decision making regarding new technology at a hospital level. A checklist of criteria drawn up according to five main perspectives (technology, patient, organization, economics, and level of evidence) has been formalized to review and compare the collected proposal forms.Results:The “technology” perspective appears to have been broadly covered. The “patient” perspective has focused to clinical issues and partially neglects other dimensions such as patient satisfaction and potential adverse events. The “organization” dimension has paid little attention to change management. The “economics” dimension has been broadly covered, even though a sensitivity analysis has not been considered. The “level of evidence” that is required for submitting the proposal form is little.Conclusions:The proposal forms used to inform the budget process regarding the adoption of new technology are accountable for a limited set of dimensions from among those proposed in literature. Further research is required to understand how to render technology assessment multidimensional, multidisciplinary, evidence-based, and accountable at a hospital level.
Early identification and assessment of new and emerging health technologies: Actions, progress, and the future direction of an international collaboration—EuroScan
Authors: Simpson Sue , Packer Claire , Carlsson Per , Sanders Jill M. , Ibarluzea Iñaki Gutiérrez , Fay Anne-Florence , Norderhaug Inger 
Published: October 2008

Objectives:To report on a workshop, and subsequent discussions, that reviewed the achievements and progress of the EuroScan collaboration since its establishment in 1999 to share information on the methods and results of early identification and assessment of new and emerging health technologies; considered challenges to the collaboration; and discussed its possible future direction.Methods:A workshop was held in Stockholm in September 2006, with thirty-two participants from ten countries and representatives from EuroScan member agencies, policy makers involved in policy or decision making relating to new technologies, and invited external commentators from international HTA networks. The workshop used a mix of presentations, panel and audience discussions, and small group work to consider the achievements and challenges put forward.Results:EuroScan has developed as a sustainable network, and has made progress on all tasks in its initial action plan, with the EuroScan information sharing database on new and emerging technologies being one of the collaboration's key achievements. Identified immediate concerns for the network included consideration of the impact of its current name and membership model; acknowledgement and publication of the full range of benefits of membership; contribution to and development of the database to encourage increased information sharing; and EuroScan's ongoing interaction with the wider HTA world.Conclusions:The workshop was a useful mechanism for reviewing the work of EuroScan and for creating a platform to take the collaboration forward. The workshop affirmed the benefits of the network to individual members; posed some significant challenges to the network to consider; and acted as a stimulus for an interim name change to better represent the global membership, and a major review of the EuroScan database of identified and assessed emerging health technologies.
What discount rate should be used to value a cash-flow linked to final salary?
Authors: KHORASANEE ZAKI 
Published: October 2008

AbstractEvidence is presented for a model in which wage growth is positively correlated with equity returns after a time lag of 1–3 years. This model is used to derive the risk premium on an asset which provides a cash flow linked to final salary. Using historic UK data, it is estimated that this risk premium is 0.5% per annum, a much smaller figure than that normally assumed for the equity market. This result has implications for the discount rate that should be used to derive the fair value of final salary pension liabilities.
Development of an EST-SSR marker in Panax ginseng
Authors: Cheng-Jun Yang , Jun Wang , Li-Qiang Mu , Shao-Chen Li , Guan-Jun Liu , Chang-Qun Hu 
Published: October 2008

AbstractA total of 791 microsatellites (SSRs) were isolated from 7055 Panax ginseng expressed sequence tags (ESTs). According to primer design criteria, 68 primer pairs for EST-SSR were designed. Under an appropriate polymerase chain reaction (PCR) system, all EST-SSR primer pairs were screened against genomic DNA of Ji'anchangbo and Fusong'ermaya from Panax ginseng, and 43 EST-SSR primer pairs out of the above 68 resulted in PCR products. Then, all 43 pairs were detected in nine P. ginseng, two Panax quinquefolius and two Acanthopanax senticosus cultivars for polymorphisms, and 26 pairs (60.47%) were found to be polymorphic, accounting for 38.23% of the total number of designed primer pairs. These results demonstrate the possibility of developing EST-SSR markers using P. ginseng ESTs.
Direct adventitious shoot regeneration system of Euonymus fortunei var. radicans and its genetic transformation mediated by Agrobacterium tumefaciens
Authors: Ai-Qin Shang , Ying Chen , Liang-Jun Zhao , Ying-Chuan Tian 
Published: October 2008

AbstractUsing hypocotyls as explants, the adventitious shoots of Euonymus fortunei var. radicans were differentiated directly from basal Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with different plant growth regulators. The highest regeneration frequency was obtained with MS medium containing 0.5 mg/l 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) and 0.01 mg/l α-naphthalene acetic acid (NAA). A regeneration frequency of 92% and 4.2 shoots per explant were obtained after 30 days of culture. The binary vector pBCGm, containing Galanthus nivalis agglutinin (GNA) gene, was introduced into Agrobacterium tumefaciens LBA4404. Hypocotyl segments of E. fortunei var. radicans were infected through A. tumefaciens-mediated transformation. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and PCR–Southern blot analysis results confirmed that the GNA gene was integrated into the genome of transgenic plants. The highest transformation frequency was obtained with un-precultured explants infected for 30 min with OD600=0.6 Agrobacterium tumefaciens, and co-cultivated for 3 days.
RNAi effects on regulation of endogenous acid invertase activity in potato (Solanum tuberosumL.) tubers
Authors: Chi Zhang , Cong-Hua Xie , Bo-Tao Song , Xun Liu , Jun Liu 
Published: October 2008

AbstractIn plants, acid invertases are known to be the key enzymes cleaving sucrose into reducing sugars (RS) (glucose and fructose). To improve the quality of potato (Solanum tuberosumL.) chips, which is largely influenced by RS accumulation in tubers stored at low temperature, a part of acid invertase cDNA with hairpin RNA (hpRNA) structure was transformed into potato cv. N2. Detection of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification and Northern blotting suggested that the RNA interference (RNAi) vector was successfully transformed into cv. N2. The analysis of acid invertase activity in the plantlets and microtubers of RNAi transgenic lines indicated that the expression of the acid invertase was significantly repressed by the activity of RNAi of plantlets by an average 69.8% (with the exception of line Ni-1) with a maximal decrease of 78% (line Ni-4), and the highest decrease of activity in microtubers of 68%. Compared with that of well-inhibited antisenseinvtransgenic plants, the comparative downregulation of RNAi suggests a distinct alteration of endogenous acid invertase activity and a potential strategy for post-transcriptional gene silencing (PTGS) in modulation of cold-sweetening in potato.
Genetic analysis of plant height and diameter at ground level of silver birch (Betula platyphylla) seedlings
Authors: Fu-Ling Gao , Shao-Chen Li , Ting-Bo Jiang 
Published: October 2008

AbstractSix silver birch (Betula platyphylla) parents of diverse provenances were crossed according to Griffing 4 diallel design, and the plant height and diameter at ground level (DGL) of their F1 progeny were observed. The analysis of general combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) showed that two phenotypes were simultaneously controlled by additive and non-additive effects. The GCA between two phenotypes in a parent, and GCA of the same phenotype among different parents displayed significant differences: Q2 from Qingyuan was the best of the parents, followed by M2 from Maoer-mountain. On the other hand, the SCA of two phenotypes in a cross and the SCA of a phenotype among different crosses also varied considerably: the cross between E8 from Finland and Q1 from Qingyuan showed the highest SCA of plant height and DGL. The heritability of plant height and diameter at ground level was strong (over 60%), suggesting that these phenotypes can be used for early selection.
Establishment of regeneration system and transformation of Zm401 gene in Lilium longiflorum×L. formosanum
Authors: Qiu-Hua Li , Bo Hong , Zheng Tong , Chao Ma , Ai-Nong Guan , Jing-Juan Yu , Jun-Ping Gao 
Published: October 2008

AbstractIn vitro bulb scales of Lilium longiflorum×L. formosanum were used as explants to develop a highly efficient regeneration system. A high regeneration rate (100%) was reached through organogenesis on basal Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium supplemented with 1.0 mg/l 6-benzylaminopurine (6-BA) and 1.0 mg/l naphthaleneacetic acid (NAA). A genetic transformation system for the lily was developed using an Agrobacterium tumefaciens-mediated method. An improved genetic transformation rate (12‰) was obtained when the explants were pre-cultured for 3 days, immersed in bacterial suspension (OD600≈0.8) for 5 min, and co-cultivated for 5 days. The binary vector pBI121 containing Zm401, a maize pollen-specific gene, was introduced into the Agrobacterium strain LBA4404 and transformed into the explants using the genetic transformation system. Gene integration into the lily genome was confirmed by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and PCR–Southern analysis. These results could lead to the production of new pollenless lily plants.
Effects of dietary energy levels on ovarian and uterine expression of IGF-1R and EGFR mRNA in prepubertal gilts
Authors: Bo Li , He Zhang , Jing Zhang , Bo-Xing Sun , Lu Chen , Yan-Ling Sun , Xu Zhou 
Published: October 2008

AbstractNine prepubertal gilts (JunMu No. 1) were randomly allocated into three groups (n=3) and fed with a high-energy diet (Group H), a low-energy diet (Group L), or a moderate-energy diet (Group M) for 14 days. Free access to water was provided throughout the research period. Ovaries and uteri were collected after the energy treatments, and processed for determination of the absolute quantities of insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-1R) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mRNA, using real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR). The expression of IGF-1R and EGFR mRNA in ovaries and uteri was significantly ranked as: Group H>Group M>Group L (P<0.05). This result suggests that high energy intake markedly enhanced the ovarian and uterine expression of IGF-1R and EGFR in prepubertal gilts, whereas insufficient energy intake markedly inhibited such expression. IGF-1R and EGFR may be involved in mediating the effects of energy intake on the development of the reproductive system in prepubertal gilts.
Isolation and primary function detection of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) β-actinpromoter
Authors: Er-Meng Yu , Xing Ye , Hai-Ying Wang , Jun-Jie Bai , Shi-Ling Xia , Hai-Hua Lao , Mai-Xin Lu 
Published: October 2008

AbstractA 5′-flanking region and partial open reading frame (ORF) of the β-actingene (GenBank accession No. EF026001) of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) was cloned by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. The segment included a 1643 bp regulatory sequence and a 90 bp partial ORF which encoded a 30-amino-acid peptide. The regulatory sequence comprised a 108 bp 5′ proximal promoter, the first untranslated exon and the first intron of the β-actingene. The proximal promoter region contained elements that were critical for transcription activity, including a CCAAT, TATA and CArG box located at –92, –29 and –62 bp upstream of the transcription initiation site, respectively. The regulatory sequence was inserted into the promoterless pDsRed2-1 vector to construct the expressing vector pNA-DsRed. The linearized pNA-DsRedwas microinjected into the fertilized eggs ofTanichthys albonubes. The expression of theDsRed2gene in transgenic fish could be observed under the microfluoroscope and anatomical lens. The results showed that the β-actingene promoter possessed effective transcription activity.
Cloning and characteristics of a novel geneHbUEPfrom latex inHevea brasiliensis
Authors: Yun Yang , Zhi-Li Zhang , Kuan-Can Liu , Wei-Guo Li , Huo-Sheng Su 
Published: October 2008

AbstractHbUEP, an ubiquitin extension protein gene from latex of the rubber tree (Hevea brasiliensis) was cloned and sequenced using a differentially ethphon-induced expressed cDNA subtraction library. The cDNA had 771 bp nucleotides, comprising a 226 bp 3′ untranslated region (UTR), 77 bp 5′UTR and a 468 bp open reading frame encoding a 156 amino acid peptide. Southern blotting analysis showed that this gene was a low copy number gene in theH. brasiliensisgenome. Within 24 h after application of ethphon, the gene was expressed weakly in both control and latex sampled at 6 h, and strongly in latex sampled at 12 h, showing that this gene expression could be regulated by ethphon. Ethphon could increase the latex yield inH. brasiliensis. It is suggested that theHbUEPgene may be involved in the regulation of ethphon-induced high latex yield inH. brasiliensis.
Mutation breeding of Aspergillus niger strain LW-1 for high-yield β-mannanase production
Authors: Shu-Fei Zhang , Jia-Huan Song , Min-Chen Wu , Jin-Ping Sheng , Jian-Fang Li 
Published: October 2008

AbstractA parent strain of Aspergillus niger LW-1 producing β-mannanase, preserved in our laboratory, was isolated. A strain, N-9, was screened out and further treated with vacuum microwave irradiation and ethyl methane sulphonate (EMS). A mutant strain, E-30, producing a high and stable yield of β-mannanase was obtained through screening by solid-state cultivation on the basic fermentation medium and several generations of bevel subculture. Its enzyme activity (36 675 U/g) was increased by 2.15 times compared to that of A. niger LW-1 (17 048 U/g). The production of high-yield β-mannanase by E-30 remained stable when maintained at 4°C for 2 months.
Cultural Uses and Impacts of Fire: Past, Present, and Future: Analysis, Integration and Modeling of the Earth System (AIMES), Fourth Young Scholar's Network (YSN) Workshop; Boulder, Colorado, 14–18 July 2008
Authors: Magi Brian , Coughlan Michael , Edwards Andrew , Hurteau Matthew , Petty Aaron , Seijo Francisco , Wiedimyer Christine 
Published: October 2008

Fire is a global phenomenon transcending social, economic, and political boundaries. Effective decision making regarding fire policies requires integrating knowledge of human, ecological, and climatic components of fire research over a range of spatial and temporal scales.The Analysis, Integration and Modeling of the Earth System (AIMES) fourth Young Scholar's Network workshop brought together early‐career researchers representing anthropology, archaeology, atmospheric science, climate modeling, ecology, fire management, geography, paleoclimate, political science, and remote sensing. Goals of the workshop were to explore the drivers, impacts, and feedbacks of human use of fires and to contextualize the management of fires.
Treatment approaches for dual diagnosis clients in England
Authors: SCHULTE SABRINA J. , MEIER PETRA S. , STIRLING JOHN , BERRY MIKE 
Published: October 2008

AbstractIntroduction. Dual diagnosis (DD, co‐occurrence of substance use and mental health problems) prevalence data in England are limited to specific regions and reported rates vary widely. Reliable information on actual service provision for dual diagnosis clients has not been collated. Thus a national survey was carried out to estimate dual diagnosis prevalence in treatment populations and describe the service provision available for this client population in drug/alcohol (DAS) and mental health services (MHS). Design. A questionnaire was sent to managers of 706 DAS and 2374 MHS. Overall, 249 (39%) DAS and 493 (23%) MHS participated in the survey. Results. In both DAS and MHS, around 32% of clients were estimated to have dual diagnosis problems. However, fewer than 50% of services reported assessing clients for both problem areas. Regarding specific treatment approaches, most services (DAS: 88%, MHS: 87%) indicated working jointly with other agencies. Significantly fewer services used joint protocols (DAS: 55%, MHS: 48%) or shared care arrangements, including access to external drug/alcohol or mental health teams (DAS: 47%, MHS: 54%). Only 25% of DAS and 17% of MHS employed dual diagnosis specialists. Conclusions. Dual diagnosis clients constitute a substantial proportion of clients in both DAS and MHS in England. Despite recent policy initiatives, joint working approaches tend to remain unstructured.