bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Involvement of Epithelial Cell Transforming Sequence-2 Oncoantigen in Lung and Esophageal Cancer Progression
Authors: Hirata Daizaburo , Yamabuki Takumi , Miki Daiki , Ito Tomoo , Tsuchiya Eiju , Fujita Masahiro , Hosokawa Masao , Chayama Kazuaki , Nakamura Yusuke , Daigo Yataro
Published: December 2008

Purpose: This study aims to isolate potential molecular targets for diagnosis, treatment, and/or prevention of lung and esophageal carcinomas.

Experimental Design: We screened for genes that were frequently overexpressed in the tumors through gene expression profile analyses of 101 lung cancers and 19 esophageal squamous cell carcinomas (ESCC) by cDNA microarray consisting of 27,648 genes or expressed sequence tags. In this process, we identified epithelial cell transforming sequence 2 (ECT2) as a candidate. Tumor tissue microarray was applied to examine the expression of ECT2 protein in 242 archived non–small-cell lung cancers (NSCLC) and 240 ESCC specimens and to investigate its prognostic value. A role of ECT2 in lung and esophageal cancer cell growth and/or survival was examined by small interfering RNA experiments. Cellular invasive activity of ECT2 in mammalian cells was examined using Matrigel assays.

Results: Northern blot and immunohistochemical analyses detected expression of ECT2 only in testis among 23 normal tissues. Immunohistochemical staining showed that a high level of ECT2 expression was associated with poor prognosis for patients with NSCLC (P = 0.0004) as well as ESCC (P = 0.0088). Multivariate analysis indicated it to be an independent prognostic factor for NSCLC (P = 0.0005). Knockdown of ECT2 expression by small interfering RNAs effectively suppressed lung and esophageal cancer cell growth. In addition, induction of exogenous expression of ECT2 in mammalian cells promoted cellular invasive activity.

Conclusions: ECT2 cancer-testis antigen is likely to be a prognostic biomarker in clinic and a potential therapeutic target for the development of anticancer drugs and cancer vaccines for lung and esophageal cancers.
Intratumoral Delivery of β-Lapachone via Polymer Implants for Prostate Cancer Therapy
Authors: Dong Ying , Chin Shook-Fong , Blanco Elvin , Bey Erik A. , Kabbani Wareef , Xie Xian-Jin , Bornmann William G. , Boothman David A. , Gao Jinming
Published: December 2008

Purpose: β-Lapachone (ARQ 501, a formulation of β-lapachone complexed with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin) is a novel anticancer agent with selectivity against prostate cancer cells overexpressing the NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase-1 enzyme. Lack of solubility and an efficient drug delivery strategy limits this compound in clinical applications. In this study, we aimed to develop β-lapachone–containing polymer implants (millirods) for direct implantation into prostate tumors to test the hypothesis that the combination of a tumor-specific anticancer agent with site-specific release of the agent will lead to significant antitumor efficacy.

Experimental Design: Survival assays in vitro were used to test the killing effect of β-lapachone in different prostate cancer cells. β-Lapachone release kinetics from millirods was determined in vitro and in vivo. PC-3 prostate tumor xenografts in athymic nude mice were used for antitumor efficacy studies in vivo.

Results: β-Lapachone killed three different prostate cancer cell lines in an NAD(P)H:quinone oxidoreductase-1–dependent manner. Upon incorporation of solid-state inclusion complexes of β-lapachone with hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin into poly(d,l-lactide-co-glycolide) millirods, β-lapachone release kinetics in vivo showed a burst release of ∼0.5 mg within 12 hours and a subsequently sustained release of the drug (∼0.4 mg/kg/d) comparable with that observed in vitro. Antitumor efficacy studies showed significant tumor growth inhibition by β-lapachone millirods compared with controls (P < 0.0001; n = 10 per group). Kaplan-Meier survival curves showed that tumor-bearing mice treated with β-lapachone millirods survived nearly 2-fold longer than controls, without observable systemic toxicity.

Conclusions: Intratumoral delivery of β-lapachone using polymer millirods showed the promising therapeutic potential for human prostate tumors.
Preferential Killing of Breast Tumor Initiating Cells by N,N-Diethyl-2-[4-(Phenylmethyl)Phenoxy]Ethanamine/Tesmilifene
Authors: Deng Tao , Liu Jeff C. , Pritchard Kathleen I. , Eisen Andrea , Zacksenhaus Eldad
Published: December 2008

Purpose: N,N-Diethyl-2-[4-(phenylmethyl)phenoxy]ethanamine (DPPE; tesmilifene) is thought to potentiate the antineoplastic effect of cytotoxic drugs. In a phase III randomized trial for metastatic breast cancer using doxorubicin with or without DPPE, addition of the latter resulted in a significant improvement in overall survival and a trend toward a difference in progression-free survival but, paradoxically, no difference in objective tumor response. Here we tested the hypothesis that DPPE targets breast tumor-initiating cells (TICs).

Experimental Design: Human breast TICs from pleural effusions were identified as CD44+:CD24−/low cells by flow cytometry and functionally by their ability to form nonadherent spheres in culture. Mouse mammary TICs from two different models of breast cancer were identified as cells capable of initiating spheres in culture and secondary tumors following transplantation into the mammary gland of syngeneic mice.

Results: We show that at physiologically attainable concentrations, treatment with DPPE alone reduced tumorsphere formation and viability of CD44+:CD24−/low breast cancer cells. The kinetics of killing varied for the different breast tumor cells and required continuous exposure to the drug. Whereas doxorubicin killed CD44+:CD24−/low and CD44−:CD24+ cells equally well, DPPE induced apoptosis preferentially in CD44+:CD24−/low cells. Treatment of Her2/Neu+ mammary tumor cells with DPPE in vitro efficiently killed TICs, as determined by flow cytometry and transplantation assays; DPPE further cooperated with doxorubicin to completely eradicate tumorigenic cells.

Conclusions: Our results show that continuous treatment with DPPE alone directly targets breast TICs, and provide rationale to test for cooperation between DPPE and known drugs with efficacy toward breast cancer subtypes.
A Phase I Trial of a Human Papillomavirus DNA Vaccine for HPV16+ Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia 2/3
Authors: Trimble Cornelia L. , Peng Shiwen , Kos Ferdynand , Gravitt Patti , Viscidi Raphael , Sugar Elizabeth , Pardoll Drew , Wu T.C.
Published: December 2008

Purpose: To evaluate the safety and immunogenicity of a therapeutic human papillomavirus (HPV)16 DNA vaccine administered to women with HPV16+cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN)2/3.

Experimental Design: This phase I trial incorporated the standard ′3+3″ dose-escalation design with an additional 6 patients allocated to the maximally tolerated dose. Healthy adult women with colposcopically directed, biopsy-proven HPV16+ CIN2/3 received 3 i.m. vaccinations (0.5, 1, or 3 mg) of a plasmid expressing a Sig-E7(detox)-heat shock protein 70 fusion protein on days 0, 28, and 56, and underwent standard therapeutic resection of the cervical squamocolumnar junction at day 105 (week 15). The safety and immunogenicity of the vaccine and histologic outcome based on resection at week 15 were assessed.

Results: Fifteen patients were evaluable (3 each at 0.5 and 1mg, 9 at 3 mg). The vaccine was well tolerated: most adverse events were mild, transient injection-site discomfort; no dose-limiting toxicities were observed. Although HPVE7-specific T-cell responses to E7 detected by enzyme-linked immunospot assays (IFN-γ) were of low frequency and magnitude, detectable increases in response subsequent to vaccination were identified in subjects in the second and third cohorts. Complete histologic regression occurred in 3 of 9 (33%; 7-70% confidence interval) individuals in the highest-dose cohort. Although the difference is not significant, it is slightly higher than would be expected in an unvaccinated cohort (25%).

Conclusions: This HPV16 DNA vaccine was safe and well tolerated. Whereas it seems possible to elicit HPV-specific T-cell responses in patients with established dysplastic lesions, other factors are likely to play a role in lesion regression.
Intracellular MUC1 Peptides Inhibit Cancer Progression
Authors: Bitler Benjamin G. , Menzl Ina , Huerta Carmen L. , Sands Barbara , Knowlton Wendy , Chang Andrew , Schroeder Joyce A.
Published: December 2008

Purpose: During cancer progression, the oncoprotein MUC1 binds β-catenin while simultaneously inhibiting the degradation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), resulting in enhanced transformation and metastasis. The purpose of this study was to design a peptide-based therapy that would block these intracellular protein-protein interactions as a treatment for metastatic breast cancer.

Experimental Design: The amino acid residues responsible for these interactions lie in tandem in the cytoplasmic domain of MUC1, and we have targeted this sequence to produce a MUC1 peptide that blocks the protumorigenic functions of MUC1. We designed the MUC1 inhibitory peptide (MIP) to block the intracellular interactions between MUC1/β-catenin and MUC1/EGFR. To allow for cellular uptake we synthesized MIP adjacent to the protein transduction domain, PTD4 (PMIP).

Results: We have found that PMIP acts in a dominant-negative fashion, blocking both MUC1/β-catenin and MUC1/EGFR interactions. In addition, PMIP induces ligand-dependent reduction of EGFR levels. These effects correspond to a significant reduction in proliferation, migration, and invasion of metastatic breast cancer cells in vitro, and inhibition of tumor growth and recurrence in an established MDA-MB-231 immunocompromised (SCID) mouse model. Importantly, PMIP also inhibits genetically driven breast cancer progression, as injection of tumor-bearing MMTV-pyV mT transgenic mice with PMIP results in tumor regression and a significant inhibition of tumor growth rate.

Conclusions: These data show that intracellular MUC1 peptides possess significant antitumor activity and have important clinical applications in the treatment of cancer.
Array Comparative Genomic Hybridization Analysis of PTCL-U Reveals a Distinct Subgroup with Genetic Alterations Similar to Lymphoma-Type Adult T-Cell Leukemia/Lymphoma
Authors: Nakagawa Masao , Nakagawa-Oshiro Aya , Karnan Sivasundaram , Tagawa Hiroyuki , Utsunomiya Atae , Nakamura Shigeo , Takeuchi Ichiro , Ohshima Koichi , Seto Masao
Published: December 2008

Purpose: Peripheral T-cell lymphoma, unspecified (PTCL-U) comprises histopathologically and clinically heterogeneous groups. The purpose of this study was to identify subgroups with distinct genetic, histopathologic, and prognostic features.

Experimental Design: We used array comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) for high-resolution analysis of 51 PTCL-U patients and the array data for examining possible correlations of histopathologic and clinical features. Moreover, we compared the genetic, histopathologic, and prognostic features of the PTCL-U cases with those of 59 cases of lymphoma-type adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATLL).

Results: We identified 32 regions with frequent genomic imbalance, 1 region with high copy number gain at 14q32.2, and 1 region with homozygous loss at 9p21.3. Gains of 7p and 7q and loss of 9p21.3 showed a significant association with poor prognosis. PTCL-U cases with genomic imbalance showed distinct histopathologic and prognostic features compared with such cases without alteration and a marked genetic, histopathologic, and prognostic resemblance to lymphoma-type ATLL.

Conclusions: The array CGH enabled us to identify the frequently altered genomic regions with strong prognostic power among PTCL-U cases. A correlative analysis using the array CGH data disclosed a subgroup in PTCL-U with genomic alterations and with histopathologic and clinical relevance. In addition to histopathologic similarity, the strong genetic and prognostic resemblance between PTCL-U cases with genomic imbalance detected by array CGH and lymphoma-type ATLL seems to support the notion that the former may constitute a distinct PTCL-U subgroup.
Interactions of IL-12A and IL-12B Polymorphisms on the Risk of Cervical Cancer in Chinese Women
Authors: Chen Xiaojun , Han Suping , Wang Sumin , Zhou Xiaoyi , Zhang Mingfeng , Dong Jing , Shi Xiaoyan , Qian Nianfeng , Wang Xinru , Wei Qingyi , Shen Hongbing , Hu Zhibin
Published: December 2008

Purpose: Accumulative evidence suggests that interleukin-12 (IL-12) plays a central role in the Th1 responses and thus participates in the carcinogenesis of human papillomavirus–related cervical cancer. We hypothesized that potentially functional polymorphisms in IL12A and IL12B may individually and jointly contribute to cervical cancer risk.

Experimental Design: We genotyped IL12A rs568408 [3′ untranslated region (UTR) G>A] and rs2243115 (5′UTR T>G) and IL12B rs3212227 (3′UTR A>C) in a hospital-based study of 404 cervical cancer cases and 404 cancer-free controls.

Results: The IL12A rs568408 GA/AA and IL12B rs3212227 AC/CC variant genotypes were associated with a significantly increased risk of cervical cancer [adjusted odds ratio, 1.43; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.06-1.93; and adjusted odds ratio, 1.30; 95% CI, 0.97-1.75, respectively], compared with their corresponding wild-type homozygotes. Moreover, a significant gene-gene interaction of these 2 loci were evident in the risk of cervical cancer, and subjects carrying variant genotypes of both loci had a 1.82-fold (95% CI, 1.28-2.57) increased risk of cervical cancer. In the stratified analyses, the combined genetic effect was more pronounced in patients who had early-stage tumors or more parities. Subjects carrying rs568408 AG/AA and rs3212227 AC/CC genotypes and having >2 parities showed a 6.00-fold (95% CI, 2.86-12.56) elevated cervical cancer risk (P for multiplicative interaction = 0.046).

Conclusion: These findings suggest that IL12A rs568408 and IL12B rs3212227 may individually and jointly contribute to the risk of cervical cancer and may modify cervical cancer risk associated with parity, but these data need further validation.
Role of the N-Acetyltransferase 2 Detoxification System in Thyroid Cancer Susceptibility
Authors: Guilhen Ana C.T. , Bufalo Natassia E. , Morari Elaine C. , Leite Janaina L. , Assumpcao Ligia V.M. , Tincani Alfio J.A. , Ward Laura S.
Published: December 2008

Purpose: Genetic polymorphisms in genes encoding for enzymes involved in the biotransformation of carcinogens have been shown to be relevant as risk for cancer and may be of considerable importance from a public health point of view. Considering that N-acetyltransferase 2 (NAT2) polymorphisms modulate the response to ionizing radiation, the strongest risk factor recognized to cause differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) thus far, we sought to determine the influence of NAT2 detoxification system on thyroid cancer susceptibility.

Experimental Design: We conducted a prospective case-control study, comparing 195 patients presenting with DTC that were previously genotyped for GSTT1, GSTM1, GSTP1, and CYP1A1, comprising 164 papillary carcinomas and 31 follicular carcinomas, with 196 control individuals paired for gender, age, ethnicity, diet routine, lifetime occupational history, smoking history, general health conditions, and previous diseases. We used PCR-RFLP assays and the combination of 6 variant alleles to define 18 NAT2 haplotypes that characterized slow, intermediate, or rapid phenotypes.

Results: A multivariate logistic regression analysis identified the presence of *12A and the absence of *12B, *13, *14B, *14D, *6A, and *7A NAT2 haplotypes as risk factors for DTC. The inheritance of a rapid acetylation phenotype doubled the risk for a papillary carcinoma (odds ratio, 2.024; 95% confidence interval, 1.252-3.272). We found no relationship between genotypes and clinical, pathologic, or laboratory features of patients or between genotypes and outcome.

Conclusions: We showed that NAT2 genotypes and the NAT2 rapid acetylation phenotype are important susceptibility factors for DTC, suggesting that NAT2 detoxification system is involved in this tumor pathogenesis.
A Master Equation Formalism for Macroscopic Modeling of Asynchronous Irregular Activity States
Authors: El Boustani Sami , Destexhe Alain
Published: December 2008

Many efforts have been devoted to modeling asynchronous irregular (AI) activity states, which resemble the complex activity states seen in the cerebral cortex of awake animals. Most of models have considered balanced networks of excitatory and inhibitory spiking neurons in which AI states are sustained through recurrent sparse connectivity, with or without external input. In this letter we propose a mesoscopic description of such AI states. Using master equation formalism, we derive a second-order mean-field set of ordinary differential equations describing the temporal evolution of randomly connected balanced networks. This formalism takes into account finite size effects and is applicable to any neuron model as long as its transfer function can be characterized. We compare the predictions of this approach with numerical simulations for different network configurations and parameter spaces. Considering the randomly connected network as a unit, this approach could be used to build large-scale networks of such connected units, with an aim to model activity states constrained by macroscopic measurements, such as voltage-sensitive dye imaging.
Getting to Know Your Neighbors: Unsupervised Learning of Topography from Real-World, Event-Based Input
Authors: Boerlin Martin , Delbruck Tobi , Eng Kynan
Published: December 2008

Biological neural systems must grow their own connections and maintain topological relations between elements that are related to the sensory input surface. Artificial systems have traditionally prewired such maps, but the sensor arrangement is not always known and can be expensive to specify before run time. Here we present a method for learning and updating topographic maps in systems comprising modular, event-based elements. Using an unsupervised neural spike-timing-based learning rule combined with Hebbian learning, our algorithm uses the spatiotemporal coherence of the external world to train its network. It improves on existing algorithms by not assuming a known topography of the target map and includes a novel method for automatically detecting edge elements. We show how, for stimuli that are small relative to the sensor resolution, the temporal learning window parameters can be determined without using any user-specified constants. For stimuli that are larger relative to the sensor resolution, we provide a parameter extraction method that generally outperforms the small-stimulus method but requires one user-specified constant. The algorithm was tested on real data from a 64 × 64-pixel section of an event-based temporal contrast silicon retina and a 360-tile tactile luminous floor. It learned 95.8% of the correct neighborhood relations for the silicon retina within about 400 seconds of real-world input from a driving scene and 98.1% correct for the sensory floor after about 160 minutes of human pedestrian traffic. Residual errors occurred in regions receiving little or ambiguous input, and the learned topological representations were able to update automatically in response to simulated damage. Our algorithm has applications in the design of modular autonomous systems in which the interfaces between components are learned during operation rather than at design time.
Spike-Timing Error Backpropagation in Theta Neuron Networks
Authors: McKennoch Sam , Voegtlin Thomas , Bushnell Linda
Published: December 2008

The main contribution of this letter is the derivation of a steepest gradient descent learning rule for a multilayer network of theta neurons, a one-dimensional nonlinear neuron model. Central to our model is the assumption that the intrinsic neuron dynamics are sufficient to achieve consistent time coding, with no need to involve the precise shape of postsynaptic currents; this assumption departs from other related models such as SpikeProp and Tempotron learning. Our results clearly show that it is possible to perform complex computations by applying supervised learning techniques to the spike times and time response properties of nonlinear integrate and fire neurons. Networks trained with our multilayer training rule are shown to have similar generalization abilities for spike latency pattern classification as Tempotron learning. The rule is also able to train networks to perform complex regression tasks that neither SpikeProp or Tempotron learning appears to be capable of.
Long-Range Out-of-Sample Properties of Autoregressive Neural Networks
Authors: Leoni Patrick
Published: December 2008

We consider already-trained discrete autoregressive neural networks in their most general representations, with the exclusion of time-varying input though, and we provide tight sufficient conditions and elementary proofs for the existence of an attractor, uniqueness, and global convergence. Those conditions can be used as easy-to-check criteria when convergence (or not) of long-range predictions is desirable.
Decision-Theoretic Saliency: Computational Principles, Biological Plausibility, and Implications for Neurophysiology and Psychophysics
Authors: Gao Dashan , Vasconcelos Nuno
Published: December 2008

A decision-theoretic formulation of visual saliency, first proposed for top-down processing (object recognition) (Gao & Vasconcelos, 2005a ), is extended to the problem of bottom-up saliency. Under this formulation, optimality is defined in the minimum probability of error sense, under a constraint of computational parsimony. The saliency of the visual features at a given location of the visual field is defined as the power of those features to discriminate between the stimulus at the location and a null hypothesis. For bottom-up saliency, this is the set of visual features that surround the location under consideration. Discrimination is defined in an information-theoretic sense and the optimal saliency detector derived for a class of stimuli that complies with known statistical properties of natural images. It is shown that under the assumption that saliency is driven by linear filtering, the optimal detector consists of what is usually referred to as the standard architecture of V1: a cascade of linear filtering, divisive normalization, rectification, and spatial pooling. The optimal detector is also shown to replicate the fundamental properties of the psychophysics of saliency: stimulus pop-out, saliency asymmetries for stimulus presence versus absence, disregard of feature conjunctions, and Weber's law. Finally, it is shown that the optimal saliency architecture can be applied to the solution of generic inference problems. In particular, for the class of stimuli studied, it performs the three fundamental operations of statistical inference: assessment of probabilities, implementation of Bayes decision rule, and feature selection.
The Near-Death of Democracy
Authors: Barber Benjamin R.
Published: December 2008

Back in 1992, I argued that two seemingly antithetical developments—the globalization and centralization of the market economy under the aegis of the American consumer monolith (“McWorld”), and the fracturing and re-tribalizing of nation states in favor of anti-modern religious and cultural insurgents (“Jihad”) —were actually closely connected to one another. Centripetal forces driven by the consumer economy and centrifugal forces driven by antipathy to the consumer economy manifested the same destructive logic.
Von einem Subjekt ausgesagt werden und an einem Subjekt vorliegen: zur Semantik genereller Terme in der aristotelischen Kategorienschrift
Authors: Strobel Benedikt
Published: December 2008

According to the Greek Commentators in late antiquity, Aristotle's Categories is primarily concerned with simple expressions in so far as they signify things. But what is it for a simple expression to signify a thing? As for (non-empty) singular terms, it is safe to say that they denote things. But what about general terms? How do they signify things? The question is crucial to the theory of the Categories, since, as is argued in the first section of this paper, there is some truth in the Commentators' thesis that (part of) the Categories aims to elucidate the signification of simple expressions, including general terms. Of course, various prima facie plausible accounts of how general terms signify things are available; the second section discusses the basic assumptions which underlie them. A detailed analysis of Cat. 2a19-34 in the third section shows that the Categories' account is two-fold: On the one hand some general terms denote things (among the latter, the most prominent are τα κα' υπoκειμενoυ λεγoμενα). What is denoted by a given general term does not stand in any relation to the objects falling under the term but is something that they are. Some general terms, on the other hand, connote things. What is connoted by a general term is a property which the objects falling under the term are related to by virtue of having it (τα εν υπoκειμενω oντα are such properties).
Perceived efficacy and citizens' attitudes toward welfare state reform
Authors: Calzada Inés , del Pino Eloísa
Published: December 2008

Perceived efficacy of welfare services has never been studied among the variables that determine attitudes toward welfare state reform. Are citizens more prone to accept social expenditure cuts, tax cuts or privatization reforms in welfare programmes when they perceive those programmes as ineffective? With the aim of answering this question, the Spanish case is explored using a 2005 survey carried out by the Spanish Centre for Sociological Research (CIS) and the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC). The article analyses citizen attitudes toward four welfare policy areas: health, education, pensions and unemployment protection, and toward the reforms that could be made in them. The results question the usual contention of politicians and practitioners who often suggest that citizens who perceive public services as ineffective would prefer lower public expenditure and taxes to purchase some welfare services in a more effective private sector.

Points for practitioners The findings of the article have implications for decision-makers committed to public service reforms. Our results contradict the contention that in recent years western citizens' attitudes in support of a powerful welfare state are less enthusiastic than they were in the past. At least in some countries, it can be said that the poor performance of welfare programmes perceived by citizens does not necessarily lead them to espouse privatization. Most citizens think that the inefficacy of welfare services is due to their lack of resources and they seem to be inclined to support the improvement and increase of investment in the public services instead of other existing alternatives. Public managers may utilize these findings as a basis for demanding additional resources, but this strategy should not lead them to neglect their striving for more efficient provision of services, since citizens' attitudes may change if inefficacy is prolonged.
Citizen perceptions of road smoothness: evidence from New York with implications for comparative performance measurement
Authors: Van Ryzin Gregg G.
Published: December 2008

Citizen surveys have many advantages for comparative performance measurement, particularly across cities, regions or countries that often employ quite different performance indicators and reporting systems. But much debate and skepticism exists about the validity and therefore meaning of subjective ratings of government performance. A recent study of street cleanliness in New York, however, found that citizen perceptions do strongly correlate with objective ratings by trained observers. The present study uses the same New York survey data and analytical approach to test the validity of citizen perceptions of another basic city service, the condition of road surfaces, in comparison to a sophisticated, objective measure of road smoothness conducted by the Fund for the City of New York. In contrast to the street cleanliness findings, the present study finds almost no correlation at all between objective and subjective measures of road smoothness. These results suggest that the validity of citizen surveys depends a great deal on the service or condition being measured. More empirical research on the specific aspects of government performance that citizens can, or cannot, judge well is needed.

Points for practitioners Practitioners often rely on citizen surveys to measure service quality, but they remain uncertain if survey results tell them much about actual government performance. Do citizens perceive government performance as it really is? Or do they view it through a largely subjective lens? Interestingly, it may be a bit of both. This article builds on a prior study that showed how citizens of New York can be quite good judges of the cleanliness of city streets. But using the same data and method, this new study finds that citizens do a decidedly worse job at judging the smoothness of road surfaces. Some guidance is offered about which kinds of services citizens can judge best and how to interpret various service quality ratings captured in a citizen survey.
The training of civil servants in the Slovene state administration: issues in introducing training evaluation
Authors: Vukovic Goran , Zavrsnik Bruno , Rodic Blaz , Miglic Gozdana
Published: December 2008

The state administration in Slovenia is undergoing its biggest reform since the country's secession from Yugoslavia in 1991. The civil servants need to adjust to a large number of changes in a very short time. They face a continually changing regulatory framework that they need to implement and enforce, as well as new demands from the growing private sector and citizens at large. These challenges can only be met by highly qualified civil servants who are constantly updating their qualifications. Therefore systematic in-service training is crucial to keep the civil servants competent in a rapidly changing environment.

This article examines the practices of training evaluation in a branch of Slovene state administration. The article compares the attitudes of employees towards evaluation with the assumption that significant differences may exist among the attitudes of employees of different demographic characteristics.

After having identified a conceptual framework that examines the notion of training evaluation among civil servants, the research questions related to determinants and consequences of evaluation were explored. Research assessing the influence of respondents' demographic characteristics was conducted among a population of civil servants, and 414 responses were gathered. The results obtained indicate that the influence of hierarchical position prevailed, although the managers (leading civil servants) are less involved in evaluation than expected. Empirical data also demonstrate that the majority of employees are willing to participate in permanent and transparent training evaluation.

Points for practitioners This article may be of interest to researchers and managers involved in the planning and evaluation of civil servant training. Evaluation of the results of training presents feedback information to the training managers and is a key component in the systematic approach to training. The article sheds light on the relationship between demographic characteristics of training participants and their attitude towards training evaluation, and may help managers develop a systematic training model that will be better tailored to the demographic characteristics of their target group.
Profiling Family Communication Standards
Authors: Matsunaga Masaki , Imahori Tadasu Todd
Published: December 2008

The current research undertook a U.S.-Japan cross-cultural comparison to explore the underlying structure of family communication standards (FCS), or beliefs about the “ideal” ways of family interactions. The main study (U.S. n = 311, Japanese n = 192), utilizing latent profile analysis, revealed that (a) there are three “FCS profiles” (laissezfaire, high-context, and open-affectionate), each of which represents distinct FCS endorsement patterns; (b) individuals with different FCS profiles have different levels of subjective well-being and family satisfaction, and moreover, such profile-level dynamics operate independently of the effects of individual FCS dimensions; and (c) FCS profile endorsement is undergirded by individualism-collectivism and horizontal-vertical orientation. A follow-up study found that FCS profiles entail unique family conflict strategies. These findings are discussed in terms of the hierarchical structure of human cognition and impact of standards on psychological, relational, and communicative phenomena. Limitations and future directions for the research on FCS are also discussed.
Community Health Program Evaluation Using Accreditation as a Framework
Authors: Hahn Severance Janet
Published: December 2008

Increasingly, health system leaders seek to determine whether community health interventions make a difference to individuals in the community. However, community health improvement is difficult to measure, and health system staff may not be familiar with evaluation research methods. Health care organizations can improve their evaluation efforts relatively easily by building on what they already know: the Joint Commission accreditation process. By using accreditation as a framework, community health evaluation may be seen as more approachable when viewed through that lens. This article provides a framework for practical approaches to program planning, evaluation, and sustainability. Joint Commission accreditation functions (chapters) are similar to health program goals. Standards are similar to program objectives. Elements of performance are similar to activities or methods. Scoring comparisons are similar to measures.
Providing Optimal Opportunities
Authors: Macy Marisa , Squires Jane K. , Barton Erin E.
Published: December 2008

An approach to designing field-based practicum opportunities for preservice students is described. First, the importance of quality field experiences is presented, together with a conceptual framework. Second, foundational and philosophical perspectives in early childhood and early intervention (EI) and early childhood special education (ECSE) that create a “linked system” are described. Third, a continuum of potential practicum activities is presented, followed by illustrations from an EI and ECSE preservice master's degree program.
Finding Kirk's Words: An Infant Mental Health Approach to Preschool Intervention
Authors: Marsili Amy , Hughes Mary-alayne
Published: December 2008

Three-year-old Kirk arrived for his 1st day of preschool in November. Initially reluctant to let his parents leave, Kirk suddenly accepted their goodbyes and assumed a space near the library area. Staring past everyone, Kirk's eyes appeared vacant and fixed straight ahead. Occasionally his gaze would shift in response to a loud noise or someone's sudden movement. However, Kirk maintained the same blank expression and a rigid posture. As these early days turned to weeks, Kirk sustained the same blank gaze, flat facial expression, and rigid posture throughout the 4-hour preschool day. When he was calm enough to engage in an activity, it was almost exclusively solitary play, and Kirk had begun to growl at children who approached him directly. In addition, none of the staff had heard Kirk speak. There were grunts and growls, pointing and gesturing, but never a word spoken to his classmates or teachers. Interestingly, early conversations with Kirk's parents revealed that unlike the preschool environment, home was a place where Kirk spoke freely.
Utopias of the New Right in J. G. Ballard's Fiction
Authors: Ostrowidzki Eric A.
Published: December 2008

The colonization of social space by capitalism has engendered a New World Disorder, which has translated into a fear of Otherness. One response to this fear has been the withdrawal of the economic elites into gated communities that might evolve into fortified outposts of neo-imperialism predicated on the social, political, cultural, and economic exclusion of the Other. It is within this geopolitical terrain that J. G. Ballard's imaginative geography in Super-Cannes (2000)—Eden-Olympia—emerges as a commentary on such “Utopias of the New Right.” Driven by a geopolitical imaginary based on neoliberalism and neofascism, Eden-Olympia is a Utopia existing in a predacious relation to local Arab residents. Specifically, this article demonstrates that Utopias of the New Right threaten to extirpate public space, the global commons, and democratic civil society. Generally, this article argues that neofascist and neo-imperial geopolitical imaginaries threaten our ability to imagine alternative geopolitical imaginaries.
Using Theory and Technology to Design a Practical and Generalizable Smoking Reduction Intervention
Authors: Gaglio Bridget , Smith Tammy L. , Estabrooks Paul A. , Ritzwoller Debra P. , Ferro Erica F. , Glasgow Russell E.
Published: December 2008

The aim of this article is to describe the process of using theory to form strategies for a generalizable smoking reduction intervention delivered through multiple intervention modalities. This report describes the process of integrating theory, data from diverse sources, staff from three different organizations, and different intervention modalities into an efficient, large-scale smoking reduction program featuring automated data from electronic medical records, computer-assisted telephone interviews, and tailored newsletters. The authors successfully developed a program that was consistently implemented as planned for 320 smokers in a managed care organization. The mapping of theory to intervention, data transfer and security procedures, and processes and strategies used to overcome challenges to intervention implementation should provide lessons learned for similar health promotion projects. Few intervention studies discuss details of how they translate theory into practice or how they integrate different modalities and collaborating institutions, but such integration is critical for project success.
Listening to Youth: Reflections on the Effect of a Youth Development Program
Authors: Kalish Robin E. , Voigt Bridget , Rahimian Afsaneh , DiCara Joseph , Sheehan Karen
Published: December 2008

To identify key elements that contribute to the effectiveness of a youth development program, interviews were conducted with 35 former Chicago Youth Programs (CYP) participants who remained in the program until age 18 years and went on to attend college, and 25 participants who left the program (and are currently older than age 18). Of the college participants who remained in CYP until age 18, 97% reported that the program had helped them by providing tutoring, mentoring, and financial support. In comparison, only 56% of the CYP dropouts had completed some college, and nearly 50% reported being involved in illegal activities. Many of the CYP dropouts were drawn to illegal activities for financial reasons or because they felt there was inadequate adolescent programming. All reported benefiting from their CYP participation. Incorporating financial incentives or specific adolescent programming may lead to longer youth program participation and, perhaps, more positive outcomes.
Developing a Cross-Site Evaluation Tool for Diverse Health Interventions
Authors: Kruger Daniel J. , Morrel-Samuels Susan , Davis-Satterla Loretta , Harris-Ellis Barbara J. , Slonim Amy
Published: December 2008

The Prevention Research Center of Michigan provided technical assistance for the evaluation of 10 projects funded by the Michigan Department of Community Health’s (MDCH) Health Disparities Reduction Program. These projects varied considerably in focus, methodology, geographical coverage, and populations served. The authors developed a cross-site evaluation tool to complement the internal evaluations of the projects. The tool contains four sections based on priorities identified by MDCH: evidence-based practice, research-based learning/evaluation (including process, impact, and outcomes indicators), cultural competence, and sustainability. Recognizing the diversity of programmatic efforts and organizational evaluation capacity, the authors sought to enable each project to create the best evaluation possible given the resources and data available. Each section contains a range of components from basic questions to more advanced evaluation techniques. The instrument attempts to use the highest quality of information available for each project. This evaluation tool can be used by programs with diverse goals and methodology.
Dissemination of a Breast and Cervical Cancer Early Detection Program Through a Network of Community-Based Organizations
Authors: Fernández María E. , DeBor Marydale , Candreia Myrna , Flores Belinda
Published: December 2008

ENCOREplus , a breast and cervical cancer outreach, education, and screening referral program, was implemented by the YWCA of the United States and funded by Avon’s Breast Cancer Awareness Crusade. ENCOREplus was designed to address the educational and access needs of low socioeconomic status and minority women who experience substantial barriers to breast and cervical cancer screening. This article describes the dissemination of ENCOREplus to 78 YWCAs in 30 states. It illustrates the application of social cognitive theory and diffusion theory to increase program adoption, implementation, and maintenance among community organizations that have not traditionally provided public health related services. The article highlights elements of the program that enhanced its adoption and implementation and describes procedures for accelerating the diffusion of the program across the country.
A Qualitative Examination of Perceptions of Physical Activity Guidelines and Preferences for Format
Authors: Berry Tanya R. , Witcher Chad , Holt Nicholas L. , Plotnikoff Ronald C.
Published: December 2008

A descriptive exploratory study was conducted to gain an understanding of public perceptions of physical activity guidelines and to discover what formats appeal to participants. Canada’s Physical Activity Guide (CPAG) was used as an example of such guidelines. Data were collected from 22 participants in five focus groups (composed of female undergraduate students, female office workers, male office workers, participants in a Type II diabetes rehabilitation program, and participants in a cardiovascular rehabilitation program). Cross-case qualitative analyses were conducted. Six themes emerged under the general categories of familiarity and preferences for PA promotional materials. In terms of familiarity, participants lacked awareness of CPAG and criticized its format. In terms of preferences, participants encouraged the use of stylistically similar messaging to those used by commercial advertisers, wanted personal stories, Internet-based media, and the use of celebrities’ success stories. There was little awareness of CPAG and the current format was unappealing.
Strategies to Increase Health Literacy in The Infant Feeding Series (TIFS): A Six-Lesson Curriculum for Low-Income Mothers
Authors: Silk Kami J. , Horodynski Mildred A. , Rienzo Marie , Mercer Laura , Olson Beth , Aldrich Rosalie
Published: December 2008

Low literacy can be a serious barrier to educating audiences about important health issues. This article explicates strategies used to increase health literacy in The Infant Feeding Series, a six-lesson curriculum on infant feeding practices. The curriculum was developed by a multidisciplinary team of researchers, health educators, and community stakeholders with the primary goal of increasing low-income mothers’ knowledge and self-efficacy to delay the introduction of solid foods into infants’ diets. Strategies used to develop the low literate accessible materials include (a) incorporation of formative research and theory, (b) media components, (c) reading level assessment of materials, (d) review of materials by multiple stakeholders, (e) one-on-one home delivery, (f) pilot evaluation of lessons, and (g) a workbook incentive designed to integrate knowledge and motivate participants to complete the curriculum through scrapbook activities. These strategies are discussed as they relate to lesson content and curriculum effectiveness.
Textbook Writing: A Form of Professional Development
Authors: McKenzie James F. , Seabert Denise M. , Hayden Joanna , Cottrell Randall R.
Published: December 2008

Health educators have an ethical obligation to participate in professional development. Such professional development can take many different forms including writing textbooks. This article provides a rationale why textbook writing is professional development, why professionals might take on the task of writing a textbook, how the process evolves, and how professionals who are not quite ready to write a book can prepare to do so in the future.
Reviews: Current Concepts in Alzheimer's Disease: A Multidisciplinary Review
Authors: Minati Ludovico , Edginton Trudi , Grazia Bruzzone Maria , Giaccone Giorgio
Published: December 2008

This comprehensive, pedagogically-oriented review is aimed at a heterogeneous audience representative of the allied disciplines involved in research and patient care. After a foreword on epidemiology, genetics, and risk factors, the amyloid cascade model is introduced and the main neuropathological hallmarks are discussed. The progression of memory, language, visual processing, executive, attentional, and praxis deficits, and of behavioral symptoms is presented. After a summary on neuropsychological assessment, emerging biomarkers from cerebrospinal fluid assays, magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear medicine, and electrophysiology are discussed. Existing treatments are briefly reviewed, followed by an introduction to emerging disease-modifying therapies such as secretase modulators, inhibitors of Abeta aggregation, immunotherapy, inhibitors of tau protein phosphorylation, and delivery of nerve growth factor.
Nutrition and the Prevention and Treatment of Cancer: Association of Cytochrome P450 CYP1B1 With the Role of Fruit and Fruit Extracts
Authors: Ware William R.
Published: December 2008

Recommendations for a healthy or prudent diet include a large number of daily servings of fruits and vegetables, and these 2 classes of food are widely believed to assist in cancer prevention. One potential mechanism that is rarely mentioned in nutritional studies involves the cytochrome P450 enzyme CYP1B1, which appears to have the unique properties of being a universal cancer marker overexpressed in cancer cells and having the capability of converting various phytochemicals and synthetic chemicals into substances cytotoxic to these cells. Although these particular features of CYP1B1 have not gone unnoticed, there has been relatively little research aimed at exploiting them. Furthermore, therapeutic and preventive strategies currently being considered based on vaccines against the enzyme or inhibition without the generation of cytotoxins can be questioned because they do not take advantage of the unique properties of this enzyme. In addition, a few relevant case histories have been published that use specially designed fruit extracts containing substrates with demonstrated cytotoxic metabolic products, and these reports provide an initial confirmation of the potential of exploiting the unusual properties of this enzyme for cancer therapy.