The Evolution of Non-Market Valuation of U.S. Coastal and Marine Resources

At the federal level, particularly within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), regulatory and programmatic needs have driven the continued development and application of non-market valuation approaches to marine and coastal resources. The evolution of these valuation approaches not only entails adopting the recommendations of the 1993 NOAA blue ribbon panel on contingent valuation, but also an expansion of stated preference approaches with increased use of stated preference choice experiments. Revealed preference approaches have also advanced with more sophisticated random utility models. We provide an overview of this evolution in the areas of natural resources damage assessment, protected resources, recreational fisheries, and coastal management. With the broad adoption of an ecosystem services approach to marine and coastal resource management, the demand for valuation of ecosystem services has grown and will continue to provide the impetus for more studies similar to those presented. Similar to what occurred initially as a result of the blue ribbon study, greater adoption of valuation estimates, particularly for non-use value, may be facilitated by guidance and standards from a high-level or highly respected authority. La evolución de la valoración no basada en el mercado de recursos marinos y costeros de Estados Unidos Lea el abstracto en español 请点击此处阅读中文摘

The migraine postdrome:An electronic diary study

OBJECTIVE: To report migraine postdrome symptoms in patients who report nonheadache symptoms as part of their attacks. METHODS: A prospective daily electronic diary study was conducted over 3 months in 120 patients with migraine. Nonheadache symptoms before, during, and after headache were collected on a daily basis. Visual analogue scales were used to capture the overall level of functioning and the severity of the headache. The postdrome was defined as the time from resolution of troublesome headache to return to normal. RESULTS: Of 120 evaluable patients, 97 (81%) reported at least one nonheadache symptom in the postdrome. Postdrome symptoms, in order of frequency, included feeling tired/weary and having difficulty concentrating and stiff neck. Many patients also reported a mild residual head discomfort. In most attacks (93%), there was return to normal within 24 hours after spontaneous pain resolved. There was no relationship between medication taken for the headache and the duration of the postdrome. The severity of the migraine was not associated with the duration of the postdrome. Overall state of health scores remained low during the postdrome. CONCLUSION: Nonheadache symptoms in the postdrome were common and may contribute to the distress and disability in the patients studied. Postdrome symptoms merit larger observational studies and careful recording in clinical trials of acute and preventive migraine treatments

Rates of Response to Atogepant for Migraine Prophylaxis Among Adults: A Secondary Analysis of a Randomized Clinical Trial

Migraine; Atogepant; AdultsMigraña; Atogepant; AdultosMigranya; Atogepant; AdultsImportance Some patients with migraine, particularly those in primary care, require effective, well-tolerated, migraine-specific oral preventive treatments. Objective To examine the efficacy of atogepant, an oral, small-molecule, calcitonin gene–related peptide receptor antagonist, using 4 levels of mean monthly migraine-day (MMD) responder rates. Design, Setting, and Participants This secondary analysis of a phase 3, double-blind, placebo-controlled randomized clinical trial evaluated the efficacy and safety of atogepant for the preventive treatment of migraine from December 14, 2018, to June 19, 2020, in adults with 4 to 14 migraine-days per month at 128 sites in the US. Interventions Patients were administered 10 mg of atogepant (n = 222), 30 mg of atogepant (n = 230), 60 mg of atogepant (n = 235), or placebo (n = 223) once daily in a 1:1:1:1 ratio for 12 weeks. Main Outcomes and Measures These analyses evaluated treatment responder rates, defined as participants achieving 50% or greater (α-controlled, secondary end point) and 25% or greater, 75% or greater, and 100% (prespecified additional end points) reductions in mean MMDs during the 12-week blinded treatment period. Results Of 902 participants (mean [SD] age, 41.6 [12.3] years; 801 [88.8%] female; 752 [83.4%] White; 825 [91.5%] non-Hispanic), 873 were included in the modified intention-to-treat population (placebo, 214; 10 mg of atogepant, 214; 30 mg of atogepant, 223; and 60 mg of atogepant, 222). For the secondary end point, a 50% or greater reduction in the 12-week mean of MMDs was achieved by 119 of 214 participants (55.6%) treated with 10 mg of atogepant (odds ratio, 3.1; 95% CI, 2.1-4.6), 131 of 223 participants (58.7%) treated with 30 mg atogepant (odds ratio, 3.5; 95% CI, 2.4-5.3), 135 of 222 participants (60.8%) treated with 60 mg of atogepant (odds ratio, 3.8; 95% CI, 2.6-5.7), and 62 of 214 participants (29.0%) given placebo (P < .001). The numbers of participants who reported a 25% or greater reduction in the 12-week mean of MMDs were 157 of 214 (73.4%) for 10 mg of atogepant, 172 of 223 (77.1%) for 30 mg of atogepant, and 180 of 222 (81.1%) for 60 mg of atogepant vs 126 of 214 (58.9%) for placebo (P < .002). The numbers of participants who reported a 75% or greater reduction in mean MMDs were 65 of 214 (30.4%) for 10 mg of atogepant, 66 of 223 (29.6%) for 30 mg of atogepant, and 84 of 222 (37.8%) for 60 mg of atogepant compared with 23 of 214 (10.7%) for placebo (P < .001). The numbers of participants reporting 100% reduction in mean MMDs were 17 of 214 (7.9%) for 10 mg of atogepant (P = .004), 11 of 223 (4.9%) for 30 mg of atogepant (P = .02), and 17 of 222 (7.7%) for 60 mg of atogepant (P = .003) compared with 2 of 214 (0.9%) for placebo. Conclusions and Relevance At all doses, atogepant was effective during the 12-week double-blind treatment period beginning in the first 4 weeks, as evidenced by significant reductions in mean MMDs at every responder threshold level. Higher atogepant doses appeared to produce the greatest responder rates, which can guide clinicians in individualizing starting doses

Defining Refractory Migraine: Results of the RHSIS Survey of American Headache Society Members

To gauge consensus regarding a proposed definition for refractory migraine proposed by Refractory Headache Special Interest Section, and where its use would be most appropriate. Background.— Headache experts have long recognized that a subgroup of headache sufferers remains refractory to treatment. Although different groups have proposed criteria to define refractory migraine, the definition remains controversial. The Refractory Headache Special Interest Section of the American Headache Society developed a definition through a consensus process, assisted by a literature review and initial membership survey. Design.— A 12-item questionnaire was distributed at the American Headache Society meeting in 2007 during a platform session and at the Refractory Headache Special Interest Section symposium. The same questionnaire was subsequently sent to all American Headache Society members via e-mail. A total of 151 responses from AHS members form the basis of this report. The survey instrument was designed using Survey Monkey. Frequencies and percentages of the survey were used to describe survey responses. Results.— American Headache Society members agreed that a definition for refractory migraine is needed (91%) that it should be added to the International Classification of Headache Disorders-2 (86%), and that refractory forms of non-migraine headache disorders should be defined (87%). Responders believed a refractory migraine definition would be of greatest value in selecting patients for clinical drug trials. The current refractory migraine definition requires a diagnosis of migraine, interference with function or quality of life despite modification of lifestyle factors, and adequate trials of acute and preventive medicines with established efficacy. The proposed criteria for the refractory migraine definition require failing 2 preventive medications to meet the threshold for failure. Although 42% of respondents agreed with the working definition of refractory migraine, 43% favored increasing the number to 3 (50%) or 4 (26%) preventive treatment failures. When respondents were asked if they felt that the proposed definition was appropriate to select patients for invasive procedures (patent foramen ovale repair or stimulators) only 44% agreed. Conclusions.— There is a consensus for a need for a definition for refractory migraine and that it should be added to the International Classification of Headache Disorder-2. There was also general agreement by the responders that refractory forms of non-migraine headache disorders should be defined.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/72860/1/j.1526-4610.2009.01370.x.pd

Guidelines of the International Headache Society for controlled trials of preventive treatment of chronic migraine in adults

Background Quality clinical trials form an essential part of the evidence base for the treatment of headache disorders. In 1991, the International Headache Society Clinical Trials Standing Committee developed and published the first edition of the Guidelines for Controlled Trials of Drugs in Migraine. In 2008, the Committee published the first specific guidelines on chronic migraine. Subsequent advances in drug, device, and biologicals development, as well as novel trial designs, have created a need for a revision of the chronic migraine guidelines. Objective The present update is intended to optimize the design of controlled trials of preventive treatment of chronic migraine in adults, and its recommendations do not apply to trials in children or adolescents

Experimental determination of translational starts using peptide mass mapping and tandem mass spectrometry within the proteome of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Identification of protein translation start sites is largely a bioinformatics exercise, with relatively few confirmed by N-terminal sequencing. Translation start site determination is critical for defining both the protein sequence and the upstream DNA which may contain regulatory motifs. It is demonstrated here that translation start sites can be determined during routine protein identification, using MALDI-MS and MS/MS data to select the correct N-terminal sequence from a list of alternatives generated in silico. Applying the method to 13 proteins from Mycobacterium tuberculosis, 11 predicted translational start sites were confirmed, and two reassigned. The authors suggest that these data (be they confirmation or reassignments) are important for the annotation of both this genome and those of organisms with related genes. It was also shown that N-acetylation, reported to be rare in prokaryotes, was present in three of the 13 proteins (23 %), suggesting that in the mycobacteria this modification may be common, and an important regulator of protein function, although more proteins need to be analysed. This method can be performed with little or no additional experimental work during proteomics investigations

R&D Paths of Pixel Detectors for Vertex Tracking and Radiation Imaging

This report reviews current trends in the R&D of semiconductor pixellated sensors for vertex tracking and radiation imaging. It identifies requirements of future HEP experiments at colliders, needed technological breakthroughs and highlights the relation to radiation detection and imaging applications in other fields of science.Comment: 17 pages, 2 figures, submitted to the European Strategy Preparatory Grou

Colonies of the fungus Aspergillus niger are highly differentiated to adapt to local carbon source variation

Saprobic fungi, such as Aspergillus niger, grow as colonies consisting of a network of branching and fusing hyphae that are often considered to be relatively uniform entities in which nutrients can freely move through the hyphae. In nature, different parts of a colony are often exposed to different nutrients. We have investigated, using a multi-omics approach, adaptation of A. niger colonies to spatially separated and compositionally different plant biomass substrates. This demonstrated a high level of intra-colony differentiation, which closely matched the locally available substrate. The part of the colony exposed to pectin-rich sugar beet pulp and to xylan-rich wheat bran showed high pectinolytic and high xylanolytic transcript and protein levels respectively. This study therefore exemplifies the high ability of fungal colonies to differentiate and adapt to local conditions, ensuring efficient use of the available nutrients, rather than maintaining a uniform physiology throughout the colony.Peer reviewe

Dendritic growth velocities in an undercooled melt of pure nickel under static magnetic fields: A test of theory with convection

Dendritic growth velocities in an undercooled melt of pure nickel under static magnetic fields up to 6 T were measured using a high-speed camera. The growth velocities for undercoolings below 120 K are depressed under low magnetic fields, but are recovered progressively under high magnetic fields. This retrograde behavior arises from two competing kinds of magnetohydrodynamics in the melt and becomes indistinguishable for higher undercoolings. The measured data is used for testing of a recent theory of dendritic growth with convection. A reasonable agreement is attained by assuming magnetic field-dependent flow velocities. As is shown, the theory can also account for previous data of dendritic growth kinetics in pure succinonitrile under normal gravity and microgravity conditions. These tests demonstrate the efficiency of the theory which provides a realistic description of dendritic growth kinetics of pure substances with convection