cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Medical market performance and health maintenance organizations

Few sectors of our economy have experienced the growth of public attention during the past decade than has our health care system. And for understandable reasons: Expenditures for health care are now soaring well above $130 billion annually, absorbing about 8.3 percent of the gross national product. In effect, we are spending the equivalent of one month's earnings in the purchase of health. We spend more on health than we do for food, or for public defense, or for higher education. The massive infusion of funds reflects the popular conviction that good health must be a right, rather than a privilege, that we are now sufficiently affluent that we can legislate protection for all. The poor need no longer be dependent on the charitable impulses of the physician. The major social advance of the nineteenth century was the decision to make available opportunities for education for all. The major advance of the twentieth century, yet to be realized, is to provide adequate health care for all. The government has wrestled with the problem of defining an appropriate form of medical market intervention to "deliver" on this popular political expectation. With characteristic opportunism and pragmatism, it concluded that a phased program towards national insurance must begin with attention to the most needy. Thus, in 1965, the Medicare and Medicaid programs provided for reimbursements to health care providers who were serving the aged and the indigent. It seemed reasonable enough at the time for those versed in Keynesian orthodoxy that "demand would generate supply," that health care providers would reasonably discriminate in determining who should qualify for medical services, that government subsidies for hospital construction and the education of medical personnel *Southern Illinois University-Edwardsville.
Personality traits in women with anorexia nervosa: Evidence for a treatment‐seeking bias?

Objective Several personality traits have been associated with anorexia nervosa (AN) in treatment-seeking samples of patients. The current study used a population-based sample to compare the personality characteristics of women with AN who sought treatment versus those who did not. Method Participants included 27 (14 treatment-seekers, 13 non-treatment-seekers) women with threshold or subthreshold AN and 273 (64 treatment seekers, 209 non-treatment seekers) comparison women from the Minnesota Twin Family Study. Personality was assessed with the higher-order factors and primary scales of the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire (MPQ). Results Non–treatment-seeking women showed lower levels of negative emotionality, stress reaction, and alienation than treatment-seeking women. Discussion These results suggest that personality deviations may be overestimated in treatment-seeking samples. © 2004 by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Antibodies specific for the pancreatic islet amyloid polypeptide associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Abstract Antibodies raised to a lysine solubilized peptide composed of residues 20–29 of the pancreatic islet amyloid polypeptide react selectively and specifically with this polypeptide and with islet amyloid deposits in Type 2 diabetes mellitus. These antibodies may prove useful in studies employing radioimmunoassay of body fluids and islet cell cultures in order to define if a pathogenic relationship exists between the islet amyloid polypeptide and Type 2 diabetes mellitus.
EFFECT OF AGGRESSIVE STORY CONTENT ON NONVERBAL PLAY BEHAVIOR

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of aggressive story content on children's play behavior in a laboratory situation. This research most closely resembles the work done with aggressive films by Lovaas ( 1961). Fifteen 4-yr.-olds from the Gatzert Institute of Child Development Nursery School played with three toys. The "aggressive toy," was a striking doll apparatus in which a 6-in. boy doll hit another doll when a lever was depressed. The "nonaggressive toy" was a dog which came from behind swinging doors when a lever was depressed. Both were connected to electrical counters. Also, there was a puppet, dressed in bright cowboy clothing, with a movable jaw. A tape recorder was hidden behind it. Two original stories using a nursery school theme were tape-recorded in a pleasant, permissive voice. One had a continual narration of aggressive events, the other had none. E asked S to "come and play with some toys in the playroom." E pointed to the dog and said, "When you press this bar (point) , this will happen (pointed to the dog coming out ) . Now you t ry ~ t . " S was allowed one bar press. The instruction was repented for the doll and S was allowed one bar press. H e was then told he could sit and play with either toy. E withdrew to a position behind a screen to record the number of responses, operate the tape recorder, and operate the puppet's jaw. Two min. of continual reinforcement, e.g., one doll strike for one bar press, preceded S's hearing one of the stories. Then S played with the toys in a 4-min. post-trial. The ratio of aggressive responses to aggressive plus nonaggressive responses -was found for each S in each test period. The differences in responding for the rwo periods were determined and tested for the rwo story groups (MannWhitney U, P = .05, two-tailed test). Inspection showed that the aggressive story group tended to increase in aggressive responding to the dolls, while the nonaggressive story group tended to decrease or increase only slightly. On the pretest, boys made a greater proportion of aggressive responses than did girls ( p = .02, two-tailed test). Theoretically, the aggressive story content provided discriminative stimuli marking an occasion when aggression in the form of action which produced one doll's striking another could occur and be reinforced or at least not punished.
Increased Molecular Weight of a Cross-Linkable Polyimide for Spinning Plasticization Resistant Hollow Fiber Membranes

A propanediol monoester cross-linkable (PDMC) polyimide was synthesized for high-speed hollow fiber membrane spinning. The membranes were plasticization resistant and asymmetric, useful for natural gas purification. In fabricating the membrane material, it was found that significant chain scissioning could occur during the monoesterification reaction, which caused problems in subsequent membrane formation processes. Using NMR, GPC, and FTIR, it was observed that hydrolytic degradation occurs at the imide rings from the small amount of water produced during monoesterification. Workable synthesis conditions were found that enabled the cross-linkable polyimide to be synthesized with high conversions and without loss in the polymer molecular weight. The preservation of a high molecular weight (Mw >100 000) was shown to be favorable for hollow fiber membrane formation.
The Loss of Idealism Throughout Internship

The purpose of this project was to understand how resident attitudes to specific types of patients change throughout their internship. Over a 3-year period all 1st-year internal medicine residents were asked to complete a 15-item survey regarding their attitudes toward certain patient types and the profession. The survey was administered the 1st day of the internship, again in mid-November, and in June in the last month of internship. Sixty-one of 80 interns (76% response) completed all three administrations of the survey. In general, there were statistically significant differences in attitudes from the first administration to the second in all categories (all changes reflecting less idealism), with attitudes remaining the same for the second to third administration. For example, interns believed significantly more patients requesting narcotics were drug seekers (19% vs. 33%/37%, p < .0001) and a lesser percentage of the elderly could care for themselves independently (62% vs. 50%/48%, p < .0001). We conclude interns become less idealistic toward patients and the profession throughout internship, with the greatest change within the first 5 months.
Induction of tumor necrosis factor-α and inducible nitric oxide synthase fails to prevent toxoplasmic encephalitis in the absence of interferon-γ in genetically resistant BALB/c mice.

Following infection with Toxoplasma gondii, certain strains of mice, such as BALB/c, are genetically resistant to development of toxoplasmic encephalitis (TE) and establish a latent chronic infection as do humans. Thus, these animals appear to be a suitable model to analyze the mechanism of resistance to TE. Since the mechanism for their genetic resistance is unknown, we examined the role of interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) in the resistance using BALB/c-background IFN-gamma-deficient (IFN-gamma(-/-)) mice. IFN-gamma(-/-) and control mice were infected with the ME49 strain of T. gondii and treated with sulfadiazine to establish chronic infection. After discontinuing sulfadiazine, the IFN-gamma(-/-) mice all died, whereas the control mice all survived. Histological studies revealed remarkable inflammatory changes associated with large numbers of tachyzoites in brains of the IFN-gamma(-/-) mice but not in the control mice after discontinuation of sulfadiazine. Large amounts of mRNA for tachyzoite-specific SAG1 were detected in brains of only the IFN-gamma(-/-) mice. IFN-gamma mRNA was detected in brains of only the control mice, whereas mRNA for TNF-alpha and iNOS were detected in brains of both strains of mice. The amounts of the mRNA for TNF-alpha and iNOS did not differ between these mice. Treatment of IFN-gamma(-/-) mice with recombinant IFN-gamma prevented development of TE. These results demonstrate that IFN-gamma is crucial for genetic resistance of BALB/c mice against TE and that TNF-alpha and iNOS are insufficient to prevent TE in the absence of IFN-gamma.
Technical Note: Bioluminescence Measurements of the Antilisterial Activity of Nisin: Comparison with Ampicillin and Streptomycin

The influence of nisin on intracellular ATP and cell numbers of Listeria monocytogenes strain Scott A was determined and compared with the effect of amplicillin and streptomycin under similar conditions. In the presence of nisin (3-12 micrograms/ml), intracellular ATP and cell numbers decreased rapidly during the first hour at 35 degrees C and extracellular ATP increased. Cell numbers and intracellular ATP increased after 3 h of incubation. No effect was observed in cells treated with ampicillin (3-12 micrograms/ml) and streptomycin (15-60 micrograms/ml) during the first hour. However, concentrations of > or = 3 micrograms/ml ampicillin and > or = 30 micrograms/ml streptomycin were listeriostatic after 3 h of incubation. Progressive loss of viability and reduction of intracellular ATP were observed in resting cells in PBS (pH 7.2) containing increasing concentrations of the antimicrobials. Rapid accumulation of extracellular ATP, observed immediately after treatment with nisin but not with the antibiotics, supports the reported collapse of proton motive force in L. monocytogenes by nisin.
Examining Psychotherapy Processes in a Services Research Context

Interdisciplinary research efforts integrating services and interventions research methodologies are needed to improve the “real-world” clinical utility and impact of youth mental health research. “Hybrid” services and interventions research efforts can capitalize on the methodologic strengths of each research tradition in order to more rigorously examine and affect therapy processes in usual care youth mental health service settings. The goals of this article are to (a) identify the need for hybrid practice research on youth mental health care; (b) present a “case example” of a hybrid study, where child and family therapy processes are being examined in a usual care, practice-based context by a team of services researchers; (c) address the potential advantages and challenges of hybrid research; and (d) suggest promising areas for future hybrid research in youth mental health care.
Minimization and maximization techniques: assessing the perceived consequences of confessing and confession diagnosticity

Identifying interrogation strategies that minimize the likelihood of obtaining false information, without compromising the ability to elicit true information, is a challenge faced by both law enfor...
Effect of grain boundary sliding on anelasticity of polycrystals

Abstract By using the finite element method and a self-consistent theory, the effect of grain boundary sliding on anelasticity of polycrystalline materials is analyzed. In the finite element calculations grains are modeled by a two-dimensional array of regular hexagons in plane strain. A Newtonian viscous relation is assigned to the grain boundaries. The ratio of the relaxed to the unrelaxed shear modulus, Ḡ/G and the relaxation time associated with grain boundary relaxation are calculated as a function of Poisson's ratio and the complex viscoelastic modulus is computed as a function of frequency. It is shown heuristically that the two-dimensional plane strain results may reasonably approximate the corresponding three-dimensional solution. In the self-consistent calculations it is assumed that the grains are spherical. The relation of this theory with that of Zener[4] is established.
Effect of chelating agents on the preferred orientation of ZnO films by sol-gel process

The effect of chelating agents of ZnO precursor solutions on crystallization behavior was investigated. Two different additives, monoethanolamine (MEA) and diethanolamine (DEA), and crystalline Pt (111)/Si and amorphous SiN x /Si substrates, were used for this study. ZnO film grown on SiN x /Si from a DEA-chelated precursor solution shows a poorly oriented microstructure with weak crystallization peaks, while ZnO film grown on Pt(111)/Si shows a c-axis preferred orientation. In the case of ZnO films prepared with a MEA-chelated precursor solution, all films show a strong preferred orientation irrespective of substrate type. This result clearly demonstrates the role of the chelating agent on the crystallographic orientation and crystallization behavior of sol-gel processed ZnO films.
A Passive Mechanism that Improves Robotic Positioning through Compliance and Constraint

Abstract This paper presents the design of a passive robotic wrist that is capable of establishing and maintaining an accurate position relative to a workpart edge through compliance and constraint (force guidance). In previous work, we have shown that, through proper selection of a manipulator's impedance, a manipulator's end-effector can be guided to its desired relative position despite errors in its commanded position. The selected proper impedance is attained here through the design of a passive micromanipulator that is mounted on the end-effector of a conventional manipulator. The micromanipulator consists of three linkages connected by revolute joints and torsional springs. The outermost linkage contacts the workpart at multiple locations providing multidirectional unilateral kinematic constraint. This kinematic constraint in conjunction with the compliance provided by the torsional springs causes the linkage to be re-positioned so that any existing misalignment (that inevitably occurs) is eliminated and a unique planar position/orientation with respect to the workpart edge is attained. Here, we present the procedure used in the parametric design of this mechanism. The desired compliant properties identified in task space (using Cartesian variables ( x , y , and θ ) for force and motion) are extended here to joint space (using joint variables ( θ 1 , θ 2 ), and θ 3 ) for torque and motion). The appropriate micromanipulator link lengths, initial linkage angles, and the appropriate torsional spring constants are selected using an optimization procedure. Computer simulation of the constrained manipulator/workpart interaction demonstrates that the desired force guidance behavior is attained.
Tolerance of lespedeza Bradyrhizobium to acidity, aluminum, and manganese in culture media containing glutamate or ammonium

Abstract Lespedeza juncea (sericea lespedeza) is a perennial forb-legume often planted on acid disturbed lands to fix N 2 . The abilities of 14 lespedeza Bradyrhizobium strains (cowpea classification group) to grow in a defined medium (glutamate as the N source) were determined at different pH values with varied amounts of Al and Mn. Growth response times were determined based on days required for strains to achieve a detectable amount of turbidity. Growth was not significantly affected at pH 4.5 or by 500 μM Mn compared to pH 6.7. Addition of 50 μM Al at pH 4.5 significantly ( P ⩽ 0.05) decreased growth of half of the strains in comparison to controls at pH 4.5. A pH of 4.3 significantly ( P ⩽ 0.05) decreased growth of 93% of the strains. Addition of 50 and 80 μM Al at pH 4.3 significantly decreased growth of most strains compared to pH 4.3 controls. Most strains did not become turbid at pH 4.1, the most inhibitory treatment. Based on growth response times, bacterial growth may be sufficient in soils at or above pH 4.5 to insure adequate nodulation. Strains isolated from acid disturbed lands were generally more tolerant of inhibitory treatments than other strains, including commercial strains. Plate count experiments indicated that differences in growth response times were the result of sustained decreased growth rates although initial lag time periods for biological adjustment also occurred. These results agreed with those obtained by a new method using a less pH-buffered growth medium (ammonium as the N source) in which the bacteria decreased the pH as they multiplied, theoretically to a stable inhibitory value (i.e. tolerance value).
Pest status of filbert (hazelnut) insects: a 10-year study.

Two blocks (one .36, other .48 ha) of filbert (hazelnut), Corylus avellana L., trees were left unsprayed for 10 years and the pest status of different species determined by periodic field examination and damage counts. The omission of all pesticides resulted in excessive build-up of the filbertworm, Melissopus latiferreanus (Wals.) (Lepidoptera: Olethreutidae) populations resulting in an average of over 20% nut damage. Filbert leafroller, Archips rosanus (L.) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), and filbert aphid, Myzocallis coryli (Goeze) (Hemiptera: Aphididae), populations declined and no apparent economic damage was caused by these two pests. No damage was observed from other recorded arthropod pests.An economic analysis of standard filbert pest control programs in the Willamette Valley of Oregon indicated that during the study years, the total insecticide spray expenditures in commercial orchards ranged from 6.5% to 18.3% of the yearly returns in U.S. dollars/ha. Damage in unsprayed study orchards during this 10-year period suggests that the sprays applied for the control of aphid and leafroller yielded no return, while the sprays applied for control of the filbertworm returned an average of $3.80 for every dollar spent.
Analysis of unanchored liquid storage tanks under lateral loads

Etude du comportement d'un reservoir cylindrique sous charge sysmique, avec soulevement local de la paroi; utilisation d'une methode energetique par differences finies, en conditions non lineaires. Comparaison avec des essais et avec une methode simplifiee, decrite dans un autre article
RENIN REQUIRES A STRUCTURAL ALTERATION PRIOR TO ACTIVATION BY RENAL KALLIKREIN

Renal kallikrein may be the physiologic protease which activates renin. In vitro activation of plasma inactive renin by renal kallikrein, however, requires prior dialysis of plasma to pH 3.3, which is thought to destroy endogenous plasma kallikrein inhibitors. We present evidence that low pH directly alters renin to facilitate its activation by renal kallikrein. Untreated normal plasma was combined with pH 3.3 dialyzed and neutralized plasma and incubated with semipurified human renal kallikrein 2.3 × 10−2 to 4.6 IU/ml, pH 7.5, 25°C for lh. All concentrations activated renin in acid-treated plasma; whereas, in untreated plasma 4.6 IU/ml renal kallikrein was ineffective. In combinations of untreated and acid-treated plasma, the percent renin activated by renal kallikrein was equal to the percsnt acid-dialyzed plasma present. When acid-treated plasma was combined with buffer, activation was complete and quantitatively the same as in the untreated and acid-treated plasma combinations. The data suggest inacti...
Delineation of a Particulate Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone-Degrading Enzyme in Rat Brain by the Use of Specific Inhibitors of Prolyl Endopeptidase and Pyroglutamyl Peptide Hydrolase

: The degradation of thyrotropin-releasing hormone in rat brain homogenates was studied in the presence of N-benzyloxycarbonyl-prolyl-prolinal and pyroglutamyl diazomethyl ketone, specific and potent active-site-directed inhibitors of prolyl endopeptidase and pyroglutamyl peptide hydrolase, respectively. Substantial TRH degradation was observed, suggesting the presence of another thyrotropin-releasing hormone-degrading enzyme(s). Reports of a thyrotropin-releasing hormone-degrading enzyme with narrow specificity that cleaves the pGlu-His bond of this tripeptide led us to develop a coupled assay using pGlu-His-Pro-2NA as the substrate to measure this activity. Cleavage of the pGlu-His bond of this substrate under conditions in which pyroglutamyl peptide hydrolase is not expressed occurred in the particulate fraction of a rat brain homogenate. This particulate pyroglutamyl-peptide cleaving enzyme was not inhibited by pyroglutamyl diazomethyl ketone but was inhibited by metal chelators such as EDTA and o-phenanthroline. The particulate pyroglutamyl-peptide cleaving enzyme was found predominantly in the brain. Activity in brain regions varied widely with highest levels present in cortex and hippocampus and very low levels in pituitary. The data suggest that degradation of thyrotropin-releasing hormone by the particulate fraction of a brain homogenate is catalyzed mainly by an enzyme that cleaves the pGlu-His bond of thyrotropin-releasing hormone but is distinct from pyroglutamyl peptide hydrolase.
Modeling cat cracker catalyst demetallization

Vanadium and nickel have been identified as the major poisons that lead to the deactivation of cracking catalysts. These metals can be demetallized by a multistage process involving gas solid non-catalytic reactions in porous particles. Mathematical models for predicting the removal rate of vanadium when diffusion, reaction, and reaction and diffusion are controlling have been developed. It is generally accepted that vanadium is deposited on specific sites in the interior of the catalyst. This is verified since a diffusion controlled model for the removal of vanadium is in close agreement with experimental results. The parameters of the diffusion controlled model were estimated by constrained nonlinear regression. A total of five lumped mass transfer parameters for vanadium removal were determined using data from a laboratory demetallization unit. These parameters were then used to predict vanadium removal and compared with experiment. Le vanadium et le nickel ont ete designes comme etant des poisons majeurs qui conduisent a la desactivation de catalyseurs de craquage. Ces metaux peuvent ětre demetallises par un processus multiphasique faisant intervenir des reactions gaz-solides non catalytiques dans des particules poreuses. On a developpe des modeles mathematiques pour la prediction de la vitesse de retrait du vanadium lorsque la diffusion, la reaction, et la reaction et la diffusion conjointement contrǒlent le processus, il est generalement admis que le vanadium est depose sur les sites specifiques a l'interieur du catalyseur. Cela est verifie par un modele contrǒle par la diffusion pour le retrait du vanadium qui montre un bon accord avec les resultats experimentaux. Les parametres du modele contrǒle par la diffusion ont ete estimes par regression non lineaire contrainte. En tout, cinq parametres de transfert de matiere globaux pour le retrait du vanadium ont ete determines a l'aide de donnees d'une unite de demetallisation de laboratoire. Ces parametres ont ete ensuite utilises pour la prediction du retrait de vanadium puis compares a l'experience.
Thermal neutron fission cross-section of 229Th

Abstract The fission cross-section of 229 Th for thermal neutrons has been determined by counting samples placed in the thermal column of the Argonne heterogeneous heavy-water reactor, CP-5 Comparison of the fission counting rates of 229 Th samples with those of 235 U and 239 Pu standards gave a cross-section value of 30·5 ± 3 barns.
Regulation of transcription in the segment of the bacteriophage T4 genome containing three of the head protein genes: plasmid-specific and phage chromosome-specific effects.

Abstract The activity of the phage T4 late promoters, P22, P23, and P24, is regulated by the gene 33, 45, and 55 products and, through the gene 43 product, by DNA replication. The accumulation of RNA of opposing polarity, with 5′ ends mapping to Q22 and Q23, as described by T. Elliott, G. A. Kassavetis, and E. P. Geiduschek (Virology, 1984 , 000-000), is subject to the same regulation. When located on a plasmid, the P23 promoter escapes the gene 43 product dependence.
Influenza vaccine in children with asthma: why no progress?

In an average year, 20% to 30% of chil- dren will be infected with influenza; this attack rate may be substantially higher during epidemic years and among certain populations, such as children in day care. Although most regard influenza as a self-limited ill- ness in children, it may cause substan- tial morbidity in children with and fluenza-associated excess hospitaliza- tion rates of 3 per 1000 high-risk chil- dren younger than 4 years. 2 For the vast majority of these children, the high-risk condition was asthma. Simi- larly, we conducted a study of children with asthma enrolled in Tennessee Medicaid and demonstrated excess hospitalization rates of 5.6 per 1000 children with asthma aged 1 to 3 years. 3 The hospitalization rates in both of these studies are comparable to rates in adult high-risk populations for whom influenza vaccine is recom- mended. In addition, in the Tennessee Medicaid study, an estimated 10% to 20% of children with asthma younger than 15 years had an additional outpa- tient visit during an average influenza season, and approximately 14% of such children received an additional antibiotic prescription. 3
Towards a theory of confidence intervals for system reliability

Abstract Consider a binary coherent system of nonrepairable components, the lifelength distributions of which lie in the single parameter exponential family of distributions. Given observations of the lifelengths of the constituent components, it is shown how inversion of the likelihood ratio test can be used to calculate strongly consistent approximate confidence intervals for the survivor function of the system lifelength and for the mean time to system failure.
Turbulent Flow Separation Control Over a Backward-Facing Ramp Via Transverse and Swept Grooves

Separation control experiments were conducted in a 51-71-cm shear-flow control tunnel using a backward-facing ramp to investigate the performance of transverse and swept grooves for controlling a two-dimensional turbulent separated flow at low speeds and moderate Reynolds numbers. In the experiments, transverse grooves, located in the maximum +dP/dx region, with a height-to-width ratio greater than 2.5, reduced the reattachment distance by 20 percent over the baseline configuration. Unlike transverse and longitudinal grooves of equivalent size, the 45-degree swept-groove configurations tested enhanced separation.
Postcolonial cinema studies

This timely edited volume addresses how the shifting terrain of ‘the postcolonial’ and ‘cinema’ may be examined from an array of political, historical and theoretical perspectives through the analy...
Genres of high-stakes writing assessments and the construct of writing competence

Abstract High-stakes writing assessments currently exert a strong influence on the writing curriculum and instruction in schools across the United States. Under these circumstances it is important to examine the construct of writing competence on which these assessments are based, as well as the extent to which this construct supports the goals of secondary education. In this paper we conduct an exploratory analysis of the genre demands of high-stakes writing assessments from three states – California, Texas, and New York – with the aim of discerning, comparing, and evaluating the role that genre knowledge plays in the construct of writing competence measured by these assessments. Our method of inquiry includes both task analysis of the prompts and genre analysis of high-scoring benchmark papers written in response to these prompts. For the analysis of benchmark papers we employed both structural analysis and quantitative counts of key linguistic features to characterize the genres represented in these assessment tasks. Our results suggest a lack of alignment between the genres of the benchmark papers designated as exemplary and the genre demands of the prompts to which they were written. Exceptions to this pattern were most common on the New York assessments, which contextualize writing tasks in tests of subject–matter knowledge. Findings from our exploratory analysis lead us to argue for greater consistency and clarity of expectations in the design of high-stakes writing exams, and for the design of writing tasks that adequately represent the demands of discipline-specific forms of written discourse.
Immunohistochemical analysis identifies two cyclin D1+ subsets of plasma cell myeloma, each associated with favorable survival

The significance of cyclin D1 expression in plasma cell myeloma was examined by immunohistochemical analysis using a newly available rabbit monoclonal antibody with superior staining properties. Two patterns of positive staining were observed, each associated with distinct pathologic features. Strong cyclin D1 staining was associated with increased plasma cells at diagnosis (P=.026), lymphoplasmacytic morphologic features (P=.029), CD20 expression (P=.040), and t(11;14)(q13;q32) as detected by interphase fluorescence in situ hybridization with simultaneous CD138 immunofluorescence (P<.001). In contrast, weak staining was associated with hyperdiploidy (P=.02) and gains of the CCND1 locus (P=.01). Overall survival was longer in the cyclin D1+ cases than in cyclin D1- cases (estimated 3-year survival, 73% vs 27%; P=.005). Improved survival was seen in the strongly positive and weakly positive groups compared with cyclin D1- cases (P=.005). This report shows for the first time that cyclin D1 immunohistochemical analysis can provide prognostic information in plasma cell myeloma.
Limit price entry prevention when complete information is lacking

Abstract This paper extends an earlier paper by the author in which there were two economic agents, an established firm and a potential entrant, operating under complete information. Each agent being assumed to know the profit functions of both firms. The present paper extends some of the results of the earlier work to a model in which it is not known with certainty to either agent what the profit functions would be after the entrant would come into the market.
Emergent Metacognition: A Study of Preschoolers' Literate Behavior

Abstract This study examined young children's self-management (i.e., executive control) during the construction of meaning. Its task, expectations, and operationalized definition of emergent literacy-related metacognition were based on Vygotsky's (1962, 1978) cognitive and developmental theory, which links speaking to thinking through the regulatory function of language and internalization of others' speech. Participants were 44 preschoolers from a midwestern city in the United States. Each child was asked to engage in a literacy task of constructing an “autonomous” text for others to read. These autonomous texts were analyzed for their holistic quality, using Hasan's (1984) discourse model of cohesive harmony. The metacognitive utterances surrounding the texts were identified and quantified (Cox, 1994). Statistical analysis revealed that 1) these preschoolers were already developing emergent metacognition, 2) there was a significant emergent reading level effect on both metacognition and textual quality,...
Medication Persistence of HIV-infected Drug Users on Directly Administered Antiretroviral Therapy

Patient and regimen persistence in HIV-infected drug users are largely unknown. We evaluated patterns of medication non-persistence among HIV-infected drug users enrolled in a prospective, 6-month randomized controlled trial of directly administered antiretroviral therapy (DAART). Medication-taking behavior was assessed via direct observation and MEMS data. Of 74 participants who initiated DAART, 59 (80%) subjects were non-persistent with medication for 3 or more consecutive days. Thirty-one participants (42%) had 2 or more episodes of non-persistence. Higher depressive symptoms were strongly associated with non-persistence episodes of ≥ 3 days (AOR: 17.4, P = 0.02) and ≥ 7 days AOR: 5.4, P = 0.04). High addiction severity (AOR 3.2, P = 0.03) was correlated with non-persistence ≥ 7 days, and injection drug use (AOR: 15.2, P = 0.02) with recurrence of non-persistence ≥ 3 days. Time to regimen change was shorter for NNRTI-based regimens compared to PI-based ones (HR: 3.0, P = 0.03). There was no significant association between patterns of patient non-persistence and virological outcomes.
Evaluation of ABR traffic management under various system time scales

In this paper, the effects of various time scales on the management of ABR (Available Bit Rate) traffic using feedback based control is studied. Since delay tolerable, the ABR applications can be allocated the remaining resources after CBR (Constant Bit Rate) and VBR (Variable Bit Rate) applications have been accommodated. To avoid excessive losses the transmission rate of the ABR applications should be modulated by the amount of remaining resources. That is, the ABR rate should be controlled through a feedback based rate control mechanism. In this paper, a network link shared by remote ABR and VBR applications is considered and the impact of various system time scales on the effectiveness of the feedback based flow control scheme is investigated by formulating and studying a tractable analytical model. These time scales are expressed in terms of the network transmission speed, the minimum tolerable ABR rate and the rate of change of the VBR source rate. While the negative impact of a decreased network time scale on the effectiveness of this control scheme is well established, the impact of the ABR and VBR time scales has not been investigated in the past. It turns out that for a given network time scale, the induced cell losses can be significantly reduced for increased ABR and/or VBR time scales and thus, the latter time scales should be taken into consideration while evaluating the effectiveness of an adaptive feedback based flow control mechanism. This study also suggests that higher efficiency can be achieved by enforcing large ABR time scales, leading to the introduction of a new class of transmission policies.
Collective memory support and cognitive-conflict group decision-making: an experimental investigation

Collective memory is an active research area and researchers have focused on several social psychological perspective of collective memory. A form of collective memory is organizational memory that has emerged as a topic of considerable importance in recent years. Significant work has been appearing about how information technology (IT) can enable and support organizational memory systems to be developed that, in turn, facilitate organizational learning. However, much of the existing work on this area is conceptual or theoretical with very little empirical examination. In this research we discuss how a hypermedia-based prototype of collective memory, was used in a controlled experiment to investigate empirical validity of the consequential effects of using memory support on cognitive-conflict type of decisions. The results indicate that the use of collective memory information provides the study participants focused attention on the cognitive-conflict task domain and leads to faster decision-making. The results also indicate that there may be a potential for collective memory support to lead to encased learning. However, the results do not manifest any effect of collective memory on the perceived decision quality. Implications for research and practice and directions for future research are discussed. A revised, more robust but also more complex model derived from the results of the study is proposed for future research and validation.
Comparative hospital cost-analysis of open and robotic-assisted radical prostatectomy.

Objective To perform a contemporary comparative cost-analysis of robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RARP) and open radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP). Methods All patients undergoing RARP (n = 115) or RRP (n = 358) by 1 of 4 surgeons at a single institution during a 15-month period were retrospectively reviewed. The hospital length of stay (LOS), operative time, hospital charges, reimbursement, and direct and indirect hospital costs were analyzed and compared. Results The mean LOS between patients undergoing RARP (1.2 ± 0.6 days) and RRP (1.4 ± 0.8 days) was not significantly different. The operating room supply costs per case were almost 7 times greater for RARP ($2852 ± $528) than for RRP ($417 ± $59; P Conclusion In the present single-institution analysis, the total actual costs associated with RARP were significantly greater than those for RRP and were attributable to the robotic equipment and supplies.
Isolation and partial characterization of rat urinary esterase A2.

Abstract An enzyme, esterase A2, which hydrolyzes tosyl-arginine methyl ester was isolated from the urine of female, inbred, Dahl-salt-resistant rats using DEAE-Sephadex ion-exchange, aprotinin-agarose affinity and molecular sieve column chromatography. The purest preparation obtained showed four closely migrating bands on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. All four bands of the esterase A2 preparation had enzyme activity since all were stainable on zymograms using N- acetyl - l - methionine α-naphthyl ester as substrate. Three of these four bands showed decreased electrophoretic mobility following treatment with neuraminidase, indicating that variable sialic acid content accounts for part of the microheterogeneity. The preparation of esterase A2 used was free of rat urinary kallikrein as shown by radioimmunoassay, electrophoretic and isoelectric focusing experiments. The relative kinin-generating ability of rat urinary kallikrein and esterase A2 was highly dependent on the assay used. Using canine plasma as a source of kininogen and the rat uterus to bioassay kinins, esterase A2 was 47% as active as kallikrein; using pure bovine low-molecular-weight kininogen and a radioimmunoassay to measure generated kinins, esterase A2 was only 6% as active as kallikrein. Esterase activity of A2 was activated non-specifically by proteins and detergents. Esterase A2 was 50% inhibited by an 8-fold molar excess of aprotinin and by a 26.5-fold molar excess of soybean trypsin inhibitor, but ovomucoid inhibitor was not inhibitory.
Periodic oxide cracking on fe2.25Cr1 Mo produced by high-temperature fatigue tests with a compression hold

Long, straight cracks perpendicular to the stress axis are seen on the oxidized surface of specimens of Fe2.25Cr1Mo cycled with a compressive hold at high temperatures. The cracks in the oxide are periodically spaced. They resemble cracks observed in a brittle film on a ductile substrate after a tension test of the substrate. They also resemble the parallel multiple fractures that occur in a brittle matrix of a composite with ductile fibers undergoing tension. We apply both the model of a brittle film on a ductile substrate and of the brittle matrix composite to explain the observed intercrack spacing. Cracks in the oxide film lead to localized oxidation of the metal in the region around their intersection with the oxide-metal interface. These cracks are seen to penetrate the metal. Stress concentrations from deep grooves that form during compression hold fatigue, together with crack initiation from the oxide, lead to a shortened cycle life.
Reduction of chronic aggressive behaviour 10 years after brain injury

This study demonstrates the successful management of aggressive behaviour with a client 10 years post-injury in a small, residential neurorehabilitation unit. The case presented is unusual for two main reasons. First, it proved possible to significantly modify previously chronic challenging behaviour many years after brain injury had been sustained. Secondly, the rehabilitation environment in which treatment was conducted did not comprise a highly specialized neurobehavioural service, Instead, staff were specifically trained regarding the administration of the treatment programme, which was based on principles derived from behaviour modification and applied neuropsychology. Specific interventions used included those of differential reinforcement and graduated increase of expectations. Recordings made over the course of 85 weeks demonstrate a significant decrease in the frequency and severity of aggression. Successful inhibition of challenging behaviour attained a level which facilitated transfer of the client to a non-institutionalized community home. Reasons underlying the success of the intervention, and the limitations inherent in attempting to manage aggression within neurorehabilitation environments will be discussed.
SELF-RESPECT AND CIVIC CULTURE: TOWARDS INDICATORS

In this essay the concept of self-respect is defined as “deference among equals.” In exploring the application of the concept in modern cities, it is considered in the light of differentiation and inequalities, as well as the process of maintaining social order. From this ensues an examination of the situations in which respect is tendered or denied, by what are predictably public actions; from another point of view, they are Everyman's engagements with institutional structures and organizational rules. From these are developed possible indicators of (1) the degree to which self-respect exists for citizens and agents in terms of a common moral order and (2) the degree to which the social and physical environment are conducive to self-respect. Thus a rudimentary theory of self-respect, derived from the social psychology of Cooley and Meade, may be applied to compare American cities. Which cities have created a civic culture conducive to citizen self-respect?
Effects of Δ1-tetrahydrocannabinol on schedule-induced aggression in pigeons

Abstract The effects of Δ1-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ1-THC) on key-pecking maintained by a response-initiated fixed interval (FI) schedule of food presentation and schedule-induced aggression in the pigeon were studied. The rate of attack responses was suppressed more than the rate of key-pecking, relative to their vehicle control rates, following the administration of Δ1-THC (Experiment 1). In order to determine if the relatively selective effect of Δ1-THC on attack rate was the result of a rate-dependent drug effect, the rates of key-pecking and attack responding were equated prior to drug administration in Experiment 2. Again a selective decrease in the rate of attack responses by Δ1-THC, compared to its effects on key-pecking, was observed when the rate of the two behaviors was comparable. The suppressing effect of Δ1-THC on attack responses cannot be attributed to a generalized motor impairment, since doses of Δ1-THC (0.125 and 0.25 mg/kg) which had little or no effect on the rate of key-pecking resulted in substantial decreases in the rate of attack responses.
Excitotoxic death of a subset of embryonic rat motor neurons in vitro

Abstract : We have used cultures of purified embryonic rat spinal cord motor neurons to study the neurotoxic effects of prolonged ionotropic glutamate receptor activation. NMDA and non-NMDA glutamate receptor agonists kill a maximum of 40% of the motor neurons in a concentration- and time-dependent manner, which can be blocked by receptor subtype-specific antagonists. subunit-specific antibodies stain all of the motor neurons with approximately the same intensity and for the same repertoire of subunits, suggesting that the survival of the nonvulnerable population is unlikely to be due to the lack of glutamate receptor expression. Extracellular Ca2+ is required for excitotoxicity, and the route of entry initiated by activation of non-NMDA, but not NMDA, receptors is L-type Ca2+ channels. Ca2+ imaging of motor neurons after application of specific glutamate receptor agonists reveals a sustained rise in intracellular Ca2+ that is present to a similar degree in most motor neurons, and can be blocked by appropriate receptor/channel antagonists. Although the lethal effects of glutamate receptor agonists are seen in only a subset of cultured motor neurons, the basis of this selectivity is unlikely to be simply the glutamate receptor phenotype or the level/pattern of rise in agonist-evoked intracellular Ca2+.
The effect of D2O and chlortetracycline on ADP-induced platelet shape change and aggregation.

Abstract The role of intracellular Ca 2+ in platelet shape change (SC) and aggregation was investigated by exchanging platelet H 2 O for D 2 O. Human platelets were isolated by D 2 O-albumin density gradient centrifugation and resuspended in D 2 O Tyrode's (37°C). Such treatment inhibited SC and aggregation in response to 10 −4 or 10 −5 M ADP, but did not inhibit the extent of aggregation induced by 10 −5 or 10 −6 M epinephrine. When platelets were incubated (37°C) with 500 μM chlortetracycline (CT), a divalent cation chelator, SC and aggregation in response to 10 −5 M ADP were inhibited. This inhibition could not be reversed by the addition of 5 mM CaCl 2 . CT incubation also resulted in inhibition of 10 −5 M epinephrine-induced aggregation, but, in this case, addition of CaCl 2 (5 mM) completely restored the epinephrine response to control levels. The above results are consistent with the contention that ADP initiates SC and aggregation by triggering an increase in cytoplasmic Ca 2+ .
Delayed graft function: Immediate and late impact

Delayed graft function remains a frequent problem after renal transplantation, which is often associated with subsequent graft failure. The major risks for delayed graft function are incurred during organ procurement, preservation, and transplantation, and are predominated by ischemic injury. The cofactors associated with delayed graft function that lead to subsequent poor outcome include early acute rejection as well as immunologic risk factors for rejection, such as presensitization, human leukocyte antigen mismatch, and previous loss of graft. Numerous diagnostic and therapeutic approaches have been assessed in recent years, but predicting or modifying adverse outcomes associated with delayed graft function in a given patient remains unreliable.
The Value of Household Services

. A family, in appraising the value of a housewife's services, does not necessarily consider the services of the housewife to be free even though there is no explicit money payment for her services. When the housewife devotes time to housekeeping, either she sacrifices leisure or the family sacrifices labor market income which the wife could earn. Empirical evidence supports the notion that families do not consider the supply price of housekeeping services to be zero. Traditional methods of assessing the aggregate value of household services load to underestimates. The actual market wage rate is a good measure of the value of the marginal housekeeping services of a housewife who also spends time in the labor market. But the potential market wage rate of a full-time housewife understates the value of her marginal product in the home.