Automobile Prices, Gasoline Prices, and Consumer Demand for Fuel Economy

The relationship between gasoline prices and the demand for vehicle fuel efficiency is important for environmental policy but poorly understood in the academic literature. We provide empirical evidence that automobile manufacturers price as if consumers respond to gasoline prices. We derive a reduced-form regression equation from theoretical micro-foundations and estimate the equation with nearly 300,000 vehicle-week-region observations over the period 2003-2006. We find that vehicle prices generally decline in the gasoline price. The decline is larger for inefficient vehicles, and the prices of particularly efficient vehicles actually rise. Structural estimation that ignores these effects underestimates consumer preferences for fuel efficiency

Wetland vegetation of inland Australia

Wetlands fed by rainwater, surface flows and groundwater occur throughout Australia, even in arid areas. This chapter focuses on temporary wetlands and permanently wet systems that are dominated by non-woody macrophytes. We use nine case studies that span Australia to illustrate their biogeography, dynamics and key threats of Australian Wetlands. The type and distribution of wetland vegetation, from the annually flooded wetlands of northern Australia, to saline lakes of arid and semi-arid Australia, to groundwater-dependent systems of the southwest, to bogs and fens of the Alps and Tasmania, reflects hydrology, climate and geomorphology. Wetland plants have developed a range of adaptations and life histories to tolerate the dynamic water regimes characteristic of Australian wetlands, and can be grouped into seven categories that reflect these adaptations. Waterbirds and water can connect spatially isolated systems, and seedbanks that last for decades allow species to disperse through time. The water regime is a strong driver of species composition and abundance, thus hydrological modification through water extraction, flow regulation or reductions in rainfall is a significant threat to wetland flora, and arguably the principal threat for Australian wetland vegetation. The displacement of native macrophytes by exotic and terrestrial species is both a symptom and cause of ecological change, with exotic plants often being better adapted to modified flooding and fire regimes, livestock grazing and eutrophication than natives. Introduced livestock and feral fauna eat, trample and uproot native plants, and degrade their habitat. These types of threats are expected to intensify, increasing the challenge for wetland management and policy.No Full Tex

Percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale in migraine with aura, a randomized controlled trial

AIMS Migraine with aura and patent foramen ovale (PFO) are associated. The Percutaneous Closure of PFO in Migraine with Aura (PRIMA) trial is a multicentre, randomized trial to investigate the effect of percutaneous PFO closure in patients refractory to medical treatment. METHODS Migraine with aura patients and PFO who were unresponsive to preventive medications were randomized to PFO closure or medical treatment. Both groups were given acetylsalicylic acid 75-100 mg/day for 6 months and clopidogrel 75 mg/day for 3 months. The primary endpoint was reduction in monthly migraine days during months 9-12 after randomization compared with a 3-month baseline phase before randomization. The committee reviewing the headache diaries were blinded to treatment assignment. RESULTS One hundred and seven patients were randomly allocated to treatment with an Amplatzer PFO Occluder (N = 53) or control with medical management (N = 54). The trial was terminated prematurely because of slow enrolment. Eighty-three patients (40 occluder, 43 control) completed 12-month follow-up. Mean migraine days at baseline were 8 (±4.7 SD) in the closure group and 8.3 (±2.4) in controls. The primary endpoint was negative with -2.9 days after PFO closure vs. -1.7 days in control group (P = 0.17). Patent foramen ovale closure caused five adverse events without permanent sequelae. CONCLUSION In patients with refractory migraine with aura and PFO, PFO closure did not reduce overall monthly migraine days

Percutaneous closure of patent foramen ovale in migraine with aura, a randomized controlled trial.

AIMS Migraine with aura and patent foramen ovale (PFO) are associated. The Percutaneous Closure of PFO in Migraine with Aura (PRIMA) trial is a multicentre, randomized trial to investigate the effect of percutaneous PFO closure in patients refractory to medical treatment. METHODS Migraine with aura patients and PFO who were unresponsive to preventive medications were randomized to PFO closure or medical treatment. Both groups were given acetylsalicylic acid 75-100 mg/day for 6 months and clopidogrel 75 mg/day for 3 months. The primary endpoint was reduction in monthly migraine days during months 9-12 after randomization compared with a 3-month baseline phase before randomization. The committee reviewing the headache diaries were blinded to treatment assignment. RESULTS One hundred and seven patients were randomly allocated to treatment with an Amplatzer PFO Occluder (N = 53) or control with medical management (N = 54). The trial was terminated prematurely because of slow enrolment. Eighty-three patients (40 occluder, 43 control) completed 12-month follow-up. Mean migraine days at baseline were 8 (±4.7 SD) in the closure group and 8.3 (±2.4) in controls. The primary endpoint was negative with -2.9 days after PFO closure vs. -1.7 days in control group (P = 0.17). Patent foramen ovale closure caused five adverse events without permanent sequelae. CONCLUSION In patients with refractory migraine with aura and PFO, PFO closure did not reduce overall monthly migraine days

New prospects for PCSK9 inhibition?

Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author(s) 2018.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio