cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Immune complexes in serum of rats during infection with Plasmodium berghei.

Large amounts of immune complexes were present in the serum of infected rats early in infection when parasitemias were low. As the infection progressed and parasitemia increased and then decreased, the amounts of immune complexes in the serum also fell. This result suggests that increased efficiency of complex clearance was an important factor in determining the levels of immune complexes in the serum. In high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), the complexes in the serum migrated as a peak with material of 350 kDa and greater in mass. They sedimented in a sucrose gradient as a band with a sedimentation coefficient of 22s, which was calculated to yield a mass of approximately 1100 kDa. Immunoelectrophoresis and radial immunodiffusion showed that IgG was the major immunoglobulin in the complexes. As the IgG content of the complexes increased, the levels of complexes in the serum generally decreased. HPLC analysis of precipitated complexes suggested that they contained loosely bound albumin. Serum proteins were affected by the infection. A depletion of free immunoglobulin was observed during the initial period of immune complex formation.
A Lexical Semantic Explanation for ‘Quirky’ Case Marking in Hindi

The case canonically assigned to subjects across languages is nominative or ergative case. In a number of languages including Tamil, Russian, Finnish, Icelandic, Malayalam and Hindi, subjects can receive dative case marking. This phenomenon, labelled ‘quirky’ or ‘lexical’ case-marking, is generally accounted for in terms of the association of dative case with an argument bearing a particular thematic role in the lexical entries of individual verbs (Zaenen, Maling & Thrainsson, 1985). Such an account does not account for all the data, neither does it explain why certain thematic roles should get dative case marking. In this paper, I show that the case-marking patterns in Hindi can be accounted for in a principled manner in terms of the interaction of the aspectual characteristics of the construction, its adicity, and the relative prominence of the arguments of the verb on the Thematic Hierarchy. My account of this phenomenon is formulated within the framework of Role and Reference Grammar (Foley & Van Valin 1984; Van Valin 1991, 1993).
Calcium-binding to non-ionic lipids: crystal structure of a calcium chloride complex of geraniol.

Abstract X-ray diffraction data were used to determine the crystal structure of a calcium chloride complex of geraniol. The geraniol molecules assume a bilayer arrangement, with channels of calcium and chloride ions separating the bilayers. Each calcium ion is coordinated to the hydroxyl groups of two symmetry-related geraniol molecules and to four chloride ions. Our results demonstrate that hydrophobic interactions within a lipid bilayer can lead to an arrangement of hydroxyl groups suitable for binding calcium ions. Similar interactions may be involved in the calcium-binding sites on membrane surfaces.
Metal ionophores - an emerging class of anticancer drugs.

Summary Compounds that bind metals such as copper and zinc have many biological activities, including the ability to induce apoptosis in cancer cells. Although some of these compounds have been considered to act as chelators of metals, decreasing their bioavailability, others increase intracellular metal concentrations. We review recent work regarding the recognition of the biological effects of metal ionophores with different structures, particularly with regard to their actions upon cancer cells focusing on dithiocarbamates, pyrithione, and the 8-hydroxyquinoline derivative, clioquinol. We provide a biologically based classification of metal-binding compounds that allows an experimental distinction between chelators and ionophores that can be readily used by biologists, which may lead to further study and classification of metal-binding drugs. Metal ionophores may kill cancer cells by a number of mechanisms, including lysosomal disruption and proteasome inhibition, and likely others. Because some of these compounds have been safely administered to animals and humans, they have the potential to become clinically useful anticancer agents. 2009 IUBMB IUBMB Life, 61(11): 1013–1018, 2009
A BIPED WITH A MOVING TORSO

The moving torso plays an important role in the dynamics of bipeds like human beings, the exploitation of which is the essential focus of this paper. A design is presented where the torso is actuated to make the biped walk with the required step-length while allowing the legs to move passively. A periodic response excitation is achieved and the motion of the torso is optimized with respect to the external energy input. A working model of the biped is designed and built in which only the torso is actuated and the legs are passive. This laboratory model is used to test and validate the analytical solutions.
Solubility of boron in Mo5+ySi3−y

Abstract Using X-ray analysis, optical microscopy, chemical analysis, and electron probe microanalysis (EPMA) it has been determined that the level of boron solubility in Mo5+ySi3−y at 1800°C reaches a maximum value of approximately 2 at% in a narrow region within the homogeneity range of −0.08⩽y⩽0.04. Both the B doped and undoped Mo5+ySi3−y (T1) have the tetragonal W5Si3 crystal structure, which corresponds to the I4/mcm space group. Within the single phase Mo5+ySi3−yBx (T1) region there is a contraction in the lattice volume with increasing boron concentration while there is an increase in cell volume with an increase in Mo:Si ratio.
Natural networks: Help‐giving and help‐seeking in two rural communities

A group of 213 respondents in rural communities were interviewed about their help-giving and help-seeking behaviors related to 11 problems of living. Respondents were asked whom they had talked to within their natural community networks, who was most helpful, and how effective they rated the helping. The results indicate that over 80% of the respondents saw themselves as active help-givers and receivers in exchanges with spouses, friends, relatives, and others. A wide range of helping activities were reported, led by attempts to understand another person's situation and feelings and just listening. Differences in help-giving and help-seeking were noted. Respondents indicated a general willingness to tackle problems, a preference for help from people within their networks, and that this type of help is effective.
The Dynamic Construction of Culture, Self and Social Relations:

Selves emerge in development through intersystemic co-action. To illustrate this position the case of pride, a self-evaluative emotion, is used. It is argued that language and other semi otic vehicles of culture are instrumental in the social mediation of the shared meaning systems that frame the development of self-evaluative emotions. Illustrations from interviews with participants from India and the US suggest similarities as well as differences in the kinds of ideologies, values and myths that are employed to talk about and structure pride experiences. The American individual endorses a system of pride relevant cultural values that is organised around low interdependent themes, which are prominent among Indians. However there are commonalities between the American and the Indian participants too. The themes such as "helping others", "taking care of one's children and family'; "helping those who are in need" and "working hard" were common to both. It is suggested that it might be useful to think of the...
Ground state properties of alpha matter

Abstract The ground state of a uniform, extended system of alpha particles at zero temperature is studied by a variational method. The alpha particles are treated as elementary bosons and are assumed to interact through two-body potentials fitting the alpha-alpha elastic scattering data. A cluster development is used to evaluate the expectation value of the energy for a trial ground state wave function of Jastrow form. The conventional Bose cluster expansion is modified to cope with the rather strong angular-momentum dependence of the best phenomenological alpha-alpha potentials. Numerical calculations of the two- and three-body cluster contributions to the energy have been performed over a wide range of densities and variational parameters. Some estimates of the four-body terms have also been made. The convergence of the cluster expansions, for the optimally determined variational parameters, appears quite satisfactory. The resulting equations of state for zero-temperature alpha-matter are of interest in relation to the theory of low-density nuclear matter and, more specifically, the problems of nucleon clustering in the nuclear surface.
Recent Results from CLAS on Baryon Structure and Interactions

The understanding of baryon structure and interactions from Quantum Chromodynamics is one of the main objectives of modern hadron physics. Of particular interest is the regime of confinement where perturbative methods are not applicable to derive testable predictions. Understanding the transition from hadronic to partonic degrees of freedom, the hyperon-nucleon interaction, and nuclei in terms of quarks and gluons are some of the key problems. Here we present results of photoproduction experiments on light nuclear targets from Jefferson Lab Hall B. Our observation of onset of dimensional scaling in the cross section of two-body photodisintegration of 3He at energy and momentum transfer well below 1 GeV suggests that quarks and gluons may be relevant degrees of freedom for the description of nuclear dynamics at energies lower than previously considered. Our program to study lambda-nucleon scattering via a large set of polarization observables for final-state interactions in exclusive hyperon photoproduction off the deuteron has produced preliminary results for single-polarization observables. The beam-spin asymmetry shows interesting features at large lambda polar angles and large kaon momenta.
Genetically Engineered Crops and Rural Society

This paper seeks to contribute to the genetically engineered crop debates by exploring some social dimensions of new agricultural technologies. After assessing the social dimensions of current GE crops as they relate to agricultural research and development, we examine issues related to farmer adoption of GE crops. We conclude with a discussion on obstacles to socially equitable agricultural innovation and potential policy solutions. We contend that failing to consider these social dimensions of technology development and diffusion are likely to generate unforeseen problems and unsustainable technological developments.
On generating birth rates from skeletal populations.

Sattenspiel and Harpending (1983, American Antiquity 48(3): 489–498) have stated that the life expectancy at birth (e) which paleodemographers calculate from skeletal population data is actually the mean age at death (ād) of the population. Yet, only when a population is neither growing or declining (i.e., is stationary) are these two statistics equivalent. They further assert, that the mean age at the death (ād) is more accurately interpreted as a measure of the fertility of the population. While we support their statement that since paleodemographic calculations use skeletal evidence of death, these do not a priori produce life expectancy values, we disagree that the inverse of the birth rate is a substitute for the average age at death (ād). The following pages demonstrate that: 1) An exact expression for the relationship between ād and 1/b can be derived using standard stable population theory, wherein ād = 1/b is shown to be a special case. 2) There are only two cases when ād = 1/b is an identity. 3) Whereas empirically ād and 1/b appear to correspond closely, this is an artifact of heavy mortality at early ages, which is a characteristic of the populations being considered. 4) Without insights into the behavioral dynamics of the situation any assessment of the demographics of the population is questionable.
Ciliary body thickness increases with increasing axial myopia.

Purpose To assess the relationship between ciliary body thickness and refractive error. Design Prospective observational case series. Methods We enrolled 75 eyes of 75 patients with no history of intraocular surgery or use of anti-glaucoma medication. Axial length was measured by A-scan ultrasonography. Ciliary body thickness (CBT) was measured by two masked observers on radial-section images of the temporal corneoscleral limbus, acquired with ultrasound biomicroscopy (UBM) at 2 and 3 mm posterior to the scleral spur (CBT2 and CBT3, respectively). Results Refractive error was inversely correlated with CBT2 and CBT3 ( r = −.64 and r = −.52, P r = .66 and r = .57, P Conclusion CBT increases with increasing myopia and axial length.
An assessment of behavioural syndromes in rangeland-raised beef cattle

Abstract Individuals in most animal groups exhibit consistent behavioural differences across situations or over time known as behavioural syndromes. We conducted a study with a herd of young rangeland-raised cows to determine whether animals exhibited consistent differences in foraging behaviours across contexts (confinement vs. rangeland pasture) and could be clustered into behavioural type groups on the basis of a suite of correlated behaviours. We also investigated whether cows with different behavioural types performed differently in this environment. Supplement consumption rate (SCR) in confinement was used to select two groups of cows ( fast eaters vs. slow eaters ). This classification was validated by measuring the persistence of SCR differences through time, conducting cluster analysis to classify individuals into two behavioural types (BT 1 and BT 2 ) on the basis of a suite of 14 behavioural, physiological, and performance predictors, and comparing serum cortisol concentrations of cows in either group. Discriminant and linear correlation analyses were used to assess the influence of behavioural and performance responses on the classification of cows, and to study the relationships between behaviour and animal performance. Thirty-three young cows were tracked with GPS collars for approximately 45 days during the calving seasons of 2006 and 2007 and several performance responses were measured on each individual. Cows classified as exhibiting BT 1 had significantly higher ( P ≤ 0.05) SCR (mean ± SE 2006: 1.90 ± 0.1; 2007: 2.54 ± 0.1 g/s) and serum cortisol (SC) concentrations (8.8 ± 0.88 ng/mL) than BT 2 counterparts (SCR 2006: 0.32 ± 0.03 g/s; SCR 2007: 1.59 ± 0.1 g/s; SC: 5.5 ± 0.5 ng/mL). Compared to BT 2 cows, BT 1 individuals tended to spend less time at water (BT 1 : 73 ± 10; BT 2 : 172 ± 16 min/day), cover larger areas (BT 1 : 21 ± 0.3; BT 2 : 17 ± 2 ha/day), and exhibit less concentrated search patterns (BT 1 : 264 ± 8.9; BT 2 : 314 ± 2 6 m travelled/(ha covered/day)). BT 1 individuals tended to be heavier (BT 1 : 434 ± 7; BT 2 : 394 ± 10 kg) and began gaining weight sooner after calving (BT 1 : 44 ± 3; BT 2 : 69 ± 6 days). Cows exhibiting BT 1 were more abundant in the herd and appeared to perform better in the rangeland environment where we conducted the study. Further research is needed to determine the constraints imposed by this behavioural syndrome on animal performance in other feeding environments.
STAPLE: An Agent Programming Language Based on the Joint Intention Theory

Joint intention theory has been used for rule based creation of teams and to provide a formal semantics for communicative acts but there were no agent programming languages linked to this theory. We proposed a declarative agent programming language called STAPLE whose logical semantics is given by the joint intention theory. This paper illustrates the STAPLE support for communication and teamwork in a unified framework.
Effect of low concentrations of ozone on the enzymes catalase, peroxidase, papain and urease

The enzymes catalase, peroxidase, papain and urease were treated in vitro with low concentrations of ozone gas. Wide variations were found in the sensitivity of the enzymes to the inhibitory action of the gas. Papain showed the greatest sensitivity; the rest required a much greater amount of ozone for inactivation. Comparisons of ozone and hydrogen peroxide as inhibitors of papain and urease showed ozone to be 30 times as effective as hydrogen peroxide on papain and 3 times as effective on urease. 14 references, 2 figures, 3 tables.
Institutional Change and the Health Politics of the 1990s

In the 1970s, Canada implemented its new health care financing system while the United States considered reform but failed to act. Reform debate in the 1990s must be informed by the correct lessons of the 1970s and an understanding of the subsequent changes in American government. The different Canadian and U.S. experiences had more to do with prevailing institutional arrangements than enduring societal characteristics. Since then, U.S. institutions—reflecting the way private power is represented and public authority is organized—have been dramatically transformed. These changes, along with the election of a president committed to reform, create a policy environment more conducive to health care reform than was true in the 1970s. The medical, insurance, and business alliance opposed to reform has been disrupted and lacks the means to prevail. Achieving reform remains a major challenge, but there is now an opportunity for bold policy action.
Instability of convection of an ethanol-water solution in a vertical tank

An experimental and numerical investigation has been carried out into the instability characteristics of natural convection of an ethanol–water solution in a vertical tank with aspect ratio (height/width) of 15. The solution contains 39 wt% ethanol with Prandtl number . These convection cells are unsteady even at low supercritical states, similar to earlier observations for higher Pr fluids. The cause of such unsteadiness of the flow has been determined by studying the streak images constructed by superposing individual frames of a digital movie sequence. New cells are generated in the upper and lower portions of the tank and then migrate toward the centre, causing the convection cells in the mid-section to merge. At higher Gr, even the tertiary cells, which rotate in the opposite direction of the secondary cells, participate in the merging process. Numerical simulations of the two-dimensional natural convection of a Boussinesq fluid with constant thermophysical properties, carried out at low supercritical Gr equivalent to the experimental value, show the same process of cell generation and merging as that observed in the experiments. By analysing the substantial time rate of change of the kinetic energy of the fluid using the mechanical energy equation, it is determined that the energy needed for the cell generation process is supplied by the work of the dynamic pressure. The subsequent migration of the cells toward the middle is caused by the pressure gradient in the tank. The total kinetic energy of the fluid attains a relative maximum right after a merging process due to the reduction of dissipation associated with the region of strong shear between the cells.
The effect of falsely balanced reporting of the autism–vaccine controversy on vaccine safety perceptions and behavioral intentions

Controversy surrounding an autism–vaccine link has elicited considerable news media attention. Despite being widely discredited, research suggests that journalists report this controversy by presenting claims both for and against a link in a relatively ‘balanced’ fashion. To investigate how this reporting style influences judgments of vaccine risk, we randomly assigned 320 undergraduate participants to read a news article presenting either claims both for/against an autism–vaccine link, link claims only, no-link claims only or non-health-related information. Participants who read the balanced article were less certain that vaccines are safe, more likely to believe experts were less certain that vaccines are safe and less likely to have their future children vaccinated. Results suggest that balancing conflicting views of the autism–vaccine controversy may lead readers to erroneously infer the state of expert knowledge regarding vaccine safety and negatively impact vaccine intentions.
Modeling of failure near spot welds in lap-shear specimens based on a plane stress rigid inclusion analysis

Abstract In this paper, the failure mechanism of resistance spot welds in dual-phase steel lap-shear specimens is investigated based on experimental observations, two-dimensional elasticity theories and two-dimensional finite element analyses. Optical micrographs of the cross sections of spot welds in lap-shear specimens of a dual-phase steel before and after failure are first examined to understand the failure mechanism. The experimental results suggest that under lap-shear loading conditions, a necking failure is initiated near the middle of the nugget circumference in the base metal and then the failure propagates along the nugget circumference in the sheet to final fracture. Based on the stress function approach of the elasticity theory, an analytic solution for an infinite plate containing a rigid inclusion subjected to a resultant shear force is developed and used to investigate the stress and strain distributions near the nugget in lap-shear specimens. The results of the elastic analytic solution and those of a two-dimensional elastic finite element analysis indicate that the initial yielding starts on the two side edges of the inclusion in the sheet. However, the results of a two-dimensional elastic–plastic finite element analysis indicate that as the applied displacement increases, the maximum equivalent plastic strain shifts from the two side edges of the inclusion to the middle of the inclusion along the inclusion circumference in the sheet. The computational results suggest that the location of the initial necking failure should occur near the middle of the nugget circumference in the sheet as observed in experiments based on the forming limit diagram (FLD) for ductile sheet metals.
Giftedness and evidence for reproducibly superior performance: An account based on the expert performance framework.

Giftedness researchers have long debated whether there is empirical evidence to support a distinction between giftedness and attained level of achievement. In this paper we propose a general theoretical framework that establishes scientific criteria for acceptable evidence of superior reproducible performance, which any theory of exceptional performance must explain. We review evidence for superior reproducible performance, generally emerging only after extended periods of deliberate practice that result in subsequent physiological adaptations and complex cognitive mechanisms. We also apply this framework to examine proposed evidence for innate talents. With the exception of fixed genetic factors determining body size and height, we were unable to find evidence for innate constraints to the attainment of elite achievement for healthy individuals.
Power spectral analysis of visual evoked potentials in multiple sclerosis

Power spectral analysis (PSA) was performed on the visual evoked potentials (VEPs) to counterphased checkerboard stimuli from 98 eyes in 49 patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) and 54 eyes of 27 normal volunteers. Attenuation of high frequency components of the transient visual evoked potential was found in 53% of MS patients and 4% of controls. Loss of high frequency components was poorly correlated with prolonged latency (r = 0.346). The consideration of both PSA and latency of the VEP increased the percentage of MS patients exhibiting visual pathway conduction abnormalities from 61% to 86%. The use of PSA in the diagnosis of MS is useful in increasing detection especially in cases where deformed waveforms preclude a reliable estimation of latency.
Impact of fiber birefringence on optical switching with nonlinear optical loop mirrors

We use a vector theory of cross-phase modulation to discuss how residual birefringence of the fiber loop affects the switching performance of a nonlinear optical loop mirror. It is found that the interaction between polarization-mode dispersion (PMD) and cross-phase modulation transfers spatial randomness of residual birefringence to temporal power fluctuations within the switching window. PMD reduces the switching contrast and the reduction depends on wavelength separation between the signal and control pulses as well as on the magnitude of the PMD parameter. Fluctuations in the switched power become worse for a wavelength separation for which the PMD diffusion length associated with birefringence fluctuations becomes comparable to the nonlinear length associated with cross-phase modulation.
Fluctuation attraction in condensed matter: A nonlocal functional approach.

By exploiting the analogy between the correlation charge surrounding an electron in an interacting electron gas and the electronic charge localized about nuclei in condensed atomic systems, we are led to a functional approach which partially preserves the nonlocality of fluctuations in an inhomogeneous system. In this way, the van der Waals and Axilrod-Teller interactions are determined solely from the fluctuation properties of the electron gas. The approach gives further insight into the local-density approximation.
An experimentally-based viscoelastic constitutive model for polyurea, including pressure and temperature effects

Presented here are the results of a systematic study of the viscoelastic properties of polyurea over broad ranges of strain rates and temperatures, including the high-pressure effects on the material response. Based on a set of experiments and a master curve developed by Knauss (W.G. Knauss, Viscoelastic Material Characterization relative to Constitutive and Failure Response of an Elastomer, Interim Report to the Office of Naval Research (GALCIT, Pasadena, CA, 2003.) for time–temperature equivalence, we have produced a model for the large deformation viscoelastic response of this elastomer. Higher strain-rate data are obtained using Hopkinson bar experiments. The data suggest that the response of this class of polymers is strongly pressure dependent. We show that the inclusion of linear pressure sensitivity successfully reproduces the results of the Hopkinson bar experiments. In addition, we also present an equivalent but approximate model that involves only a finite number of internal state variables and...
Commentary on the WHO 2008 classification of immunodeficiency-associated lymphoproliferative disorders

The 2008 WHO update of Classification of Tumours of Hematopoietic and Lymphoid Tissues revised the classification of immunodeficiency-associated lymphoproliferative disorders with the aim to better define these heterogeneous entities to better distinguish between reactive and neoplastic lesions, further refine some entities (plasmablastic lymphoma, monomorphic post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorders and other iatrogenic immunodeficiency-associated lymphoproliferative disorders), and introduce a new lymphoma entity (large B-cell lymphoma arising in HHV8-associated multicentric Castleman disease). The purpose of this review is to highlight the changes in the 2008 WHO classification of immunodeficiency-associated lymphoproliferative disorders.
Submitted for your consideration: potential advantages of a novel clinical trial design and initial patient reaction.

In many circumstances, individuals do not respond identically to the same treatment. This phenomenon, which is called treatment response heterogeneity (TRH), appears to be present in treatments for many conditions, including obesity. Estimating the total amount of TRH, predicting an individual’s response, and identifying the mediators of TRH are of interest to biomedical researchers. Clinical investigators and physicians commonly postulate that some of these mediators could be genetic. Current designs can estimate TRH as a function of specific, measurable observed factors; however, they cannot estimate the total amount of TRH, nor provide reliable estimates of individual persons’ responses. We propose a new repeated randomizations design (RRD), which can be conceived as a generalization of the Balaam design, that would allow estimates of that variability and facilitate estimation of the total amount of TRH, prediction of an individual’s response, and identification of the mediators of TRH. In a pilot study, we asked 118 subjects entering a weight loss trial for their opinion of the RRD, and they stated a preference for the RRD over the conventional two-arm parallel groups design. Research is needed as to how the RRD will work in practice and its relative statistical properties, and we invite dialog about it.
Does Online Learning Work in Retail

A retail customer seeking to buy a product often needs to decide which of several versions of a product type best meets her needs. A knowledgeable retail sales associate (SA) can explain the features of the available product variants and give the customer sufficient confidence in her choice that she becomes willing to purchase. It is thus plausible that increasing SA knowledge will increase sales. Given that training is not costless, an important question is whether training increases SA productivity, and if so, whether the increase is enough to justify the cost of training. To answer these questions, we partnered with Experticity, a firm that provides online training modules for retail SAs, and Dillard’s, a leading department store chain whose more than 50,000 SAs had access to the Experticity modules. We assembled a data set of the training history and sales productivity of Dillard’s associates over a two-year period. We found that as SAs engaged in training over time, their sales rate increased by 1.8 percent for every module taken. We also found that willingness to engage in voluntary training was an indicator of raw talent; those SA who engaged in training were 20 percent more productive prior to any training, and 46 percent more productive after training, than those who took no training. Surprisingly, brand-specific training does not significantly affect sales of the focal brand but instead improves overall sales of all brands. Our evidence of successful online learning is also of general interest given that, to date, analysis of massive open online courses (MOOCs) has shown poor engagement by participants and questionable outcomes.
Government Takings of Private Property: Kelo and the Perfect Storm

In Kelo v. City of New London, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that governments are permitted to use the power of eminent domain to force the sale of private property for the purpose of promoting economic development. The decision provoked an unusually widespread popular reaction of outrage. In this chapter, we document the extreme public reaction to Kelo, which cut across political party, race, gender, and education. We focus on the rift between the public's expectations about the circumstances under which government should be permitted to take private property, on the one hand, and eminent domain law, on the other. The Supreme Court has long interpreted the "public use" requirement of the Fifth Amendment quite loosely, but for many decades this went mostly unnoticed by the general public until the Supreme Court declared in Kelo that taking homes for the purpose of economic development satisfies the public use requirement. The Kelo decision seemed to trigger a sudden collective recognition of the Court's public use doctrine, and in this chapter we explore the possible reasons for this change.
Measuring the Performance of Public-Private Partnerships

The shift from government to governance and the increasing reliance on public-private partnerships are well documented, but there is less clarity regarding how to measure the performance of these new arrangements. Performance measures based on traditional governmental forms, such as centralized planning and regulation, are relatively straightforward. In collaborative governance, however, the wide range of policy tools for enabling and encouraging public-private partnerships—such as grants, contracts, and technical assistance—requires more nuance in distinguishing outputs from outcomes. Choosing appropriate output and outcome measures is necessary if public-private partnerships are to be held accountable for performance. Drawing on evidence regarding inconsistent use of performance measures from the Performance Assessment Rating Tool (PART), a classification system is presented for defining outputs and outcomes for different types of programs. PART data are used to demonstrate the need for a consistent cla...
Baseline Variation in Use of VA/DOD Clinical Practice Guideline Recommended Opioid Prescribing Practices Across VA Health Care Systems.

OBJECTIVES The purpose of this study was to determine baseline adherence to key recommendations from the 2010 VA/DOD Clinical Practice Guideline for Opioid Therapy for Chronic Pain at Veterans Health Administration (VA) facilities. We hoped to understand practice patterns at the time of guideline release to guide quality improvement and implementation efforts. METHODS Overall practice patterns were examined at each of the 140 VA Health Care Systems based on quality metrics developed to assess adherence to the VA/DOD Clinical Practice Guideline. RESULTS Clinical practice varied widely across facilities on measures of use of urine drug screens, substance use disorder treatment for diagnosed substance use disorder patients, and use of rehabilitative treatments. Less variation was observed in measures of sedative coprescription and use of adjunctive pharmacotherapy. Use of guideline recommended practices was generally more frequent for patients prescribed long-acting opioid formulations and those with chronic use. Relative facility-level implementation was correlated across most measures. Overall implementation of guideline recommended practices was lower at less complex facilities and facilities in the Western United States. DISCUSSION In 2010, guideline-recommended practices for opioid prescribing were variably used across VA health care systems. Efforts to disseminate practices used at high-performing sites, and increase consistency of use of recommended practices across patients and facilities should be considered to improve pain management and reduce adverse events.
Uric acid binding to serum proteins: differences among species.

SummaryBinding of labeled uric acid to serum proteins of eleven animal species was studied using an equilibrium dialysis system. Significant differences were found among species with serum of man, rhesus monkey, rabbit, rat, guinea pig, and chicken demonstrating binding but with little or no binding found in serum of other animals studied. The physiologic significance of these variations is uncertain since they do not correlate with known differences in uric acid excretion by these animals, and binding is demonstrated only at low temperature in hypotonic buffers. The findings do indicate significant differences in the binding site on albumin.
Abstract A16: DNA microarray analysis of the UPII‐SV40Tag model for invasive bladder TCC: Identification of markers for bladder premalignancy

Transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder (TCC) ranks 4th in incidence of all cancers in the developed world, yet the mechanisms of its origin and progression remain poorly understood. There are a few commercially available urine‐based tests for screening and surveillance for bladder cancer, but none of these can detect premalignancy. We have combined a transgenic mouse model for invasive bladder cancer (UPII‐SV40Tag mice) with DNA microarray technology, in order to determine molecular mechanisms involved in early TCC development and to identify new biomarkers for detection, diagnosis and prognosis of TCC. We have identified genes that are differentially expressed between the bladders of UPII‐SV40Tag mice and their age‐matched wild type (WT) littermates at 3, 6, 20 and 30 weeks of age. These are ages which correspond to premalignant, carcinoma in‐situ, and early and later stage papillary TCC, respectively. There were approximately 1,900 unique genes differentially expressed (>= 3‐fold difference at one or more time points) between WT and UPII‐SV40Tag urothelium during the time course of tumor development. Among these, there were a high proportion of cell cycle regulatory genes and proliferation signaling genes that are more strongly expressed in the UPII‐SV40Tag bladder urothelium. We have tested several of the genes upregulated in UPII‐SV40Tag urothelium, including autocrine motility factor (AMFR), hyaluronan‐mediated motility receptor (Hmmr), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), Rac GTPase activating protein 1 (RacGAP 1) and others as biomarkers for premalignancy, in urine samples from a recently completed Phase II, randomized, placebo controlled chemoprevention trial (N01 CN85186, PI: A. Sabichi) that was designed to test whether celecoxib can prevent recurrence in patients successfully treated by TUR for non‐muscle invasive bladder cancer. Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2010;3(1 Suppl):A16.
Kinetic characteristics of alpha 1-adrenergic contractions in human corpus cavernosum smooth muscle

Kinetic studies were conducted on the contractile response elicited by phenylephrine (PE) activation of the alpha 1-adrenergic receptor subtype in vascular smooth muscle isolated from the corpus cavernosum of impotent men. PE-induced contractions were separated into distinct phasic and tonic components, and the tonic portion was analyzed using a first-order rate equation to determine the maximal rate constant for onset of contraction (kobs max) and the maximum amplitude of the steady-state contractile response (Req max). The kobs max value in tissues from insulin-dependent diabetic patients was significantly greater than that in tissues from either noninsulin-dependent diabetics or nondiabetics. Additionally, the mean kobs max value in older patients (60-70 yr) was significantly greater than the mean kobs max value in younger patients (32-59 yr). Significant diabetes-related, but not age-related, alterations were also found in Req max. The observed changes in contractility resulted in dramatic age- and pathology-dependent alterations in the initial rate and/or magnitude of PE-induced response generation. These kinetic studies extend our previous observations at steady state and provide further evidence for heightened corporal tissue tone in the etiology of erectile dysfunction.
Characterization of pseudosingle bunch kick-and-cancel operational mode

Author(s): Sun, C; Robin, DS; Steier, C; Portmann, G | Abstract: Pseudosingle-bunch kick-and-cancel (PSB-KAC) is a new operational mode at the Advanced Light Source of Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory that provides full timing and repetition rate control for single x-ray pulse users while being fully transparent to other users of synchrotron radiation light. In this operational mode, a single electron bunch is periodically displaced from a main bunch train by a fast kicker magnet with a user-on-demand repetition rate, creating a single x-ray pulse to be matched to a typical laser excitation pulse rate. This operational mode can significantly improve the signal to noise ratio of single x-ray pulse experiments and drastically reduce dose-induced sample damage rate. It greatly expands the capabilities of synchrotron light sources to carry out dynamics and time-of-flight experiments. In this paper, we carry out extensive characterizations of this PSB-KAC mode both numerically and experimentally. This includes the working principle of this mode, resonance conditions and beam stability, experimental setups, and diagnostic tools and measurements.
Reversion of drug resistance in multidrug resistant cell line HL-60/HHT by Bcl-2 antisense oligonucleotides

Objective Multidrug resistance is one of the important causes of refractoriness or relapse in children with acute leukemia Recently, it was proved that the increased level of Bcl 2 is an important reason leading to drug resistance. To probe into the role of the Bcl 2 gene in the antiapoptosis and drug resistance of acute leukemia and the effect of Bcl 2 antisense oligonucleotide (ASON) on reversing multidrug resistance Methods The influence of Bcl 2 ASON on the chemosensitivity was determined by MTT assay The Bcl 2 and Bax protein levels in HL 60 and HL 60/HHT were detected by McAb direct label method with FACScan flow cytometer The apoptosis of HL 60/HHT cell lines was measured by FACS The experiment was designed to have following groups, HHT group, ASON plus HHT group, nonsense oligonucleotides plus HHT group. Results (1) The levels of Bcl 2 protein in HL 60/HHT(92±6) was significantly higher than that in HL 60(61±4) ( P 0 01) (2) The Bcl 2 ASON could significantly reverse the chemosensitivity of HL 60/HHT( P 0 01) The IC 50 of HHT decreased from 89 ng/ml to 51 ng/ml( P 0 01); The Bcl 2 ASON could increase the apoptosis of HL 60/HHT (3)The Bcl 2 ASON could increase the apoptosis of HL60/HHT The percentage of apoptosis of HL 60/HHT was higher when exposed in ASON (19 4±1 9)% than that exposed in HHT [(14±1 9)%, P 0 05], and much higher when exposed in HHT+ASON[ (46±10)%, P 0 01] (4)The Bcl 2 level could be reduced by ASON ( P 0 01) The Bcl 2 levels were 92±6 in control group, 84±6 in HHT group, 71±6 in ASON group ( P 0 05), and 44±5 in ASON plus HHT group ( P 0 01). Conclusion High level of Bcl 2 protein in HL 60/HHT cell line may be one of the important causes of the drug resistance ASON could reduce the Bcl 2 level and partialy reverse the drug resistance. The results suggested that antisense technique would be applied hopefully to treat refractory or drug resistant acute leukemia after further studies
Analysis on Sanitary Monitoring Situation of Bottled Purified Drinking Water in Yongzhou From 2003 to 2005

Objective To investigate the sanitary situation of the bottled purified drinking water in Yongzhou,Hunan Provience,and to provide scientific basis for health inspection and supervision.Methods From 2002 to 2004,263 samples of bottled purified drinking water were tested with the methods from GB17324—2003,GB/T8538,GB17323 and GB/T4789.21—2003.Results The rate of qualified water sample was 75.8%.The rate of qualified water sample of 2003 was lower than that of 2004 and 2005.In each index,the rates of qualified samples in the total number of bacterium colony and conductivity were 79.5% and 76.8% respectively,and the other qualified items rates were all 100%.Conclusion The sanitary situation of bottled purified drinking water in Yongzhou is severe.The main problem of the bottled drinking water is that the total number of bacterium colony and conductivity are exceeded the standard.It is important to enhance the inspection and administration to bottled purified drinking water,so as to guarantee the safety of drinking water.
Ancient Human Migration after Out-of-Africa

The serial founder model of modern human origins predicts that the phylogeny of ancestries exhibits bifurcating, tree-like behavior. Here, we tested this prediction using three methods designed to investigate gene flow in autosome-wide genotype data from 3,528 unrelated individuals from 163 global samples. Specifically, we investigated whether Cushitic ancestry has an East African or Middle Eastern origin. We found evidence for non-tree-like behavior in the form of four migration events. First, we found that Cushitic ancestry is a mixture of ancestries closely related to Arabian ancestry and Nilo-Saharan or Omotic ancestry. We found evidence for additional migration events in the histories of: 1) Indian and Arabian ancestries, 2) Kalash ancestry, and 3) Native American and Northern European ancestries. These findings, based on analysis of ancestry of present-day humans, reveal migration in the distant past and provide new insights into human history.
Urethral duplication and complete bladder exstrophy.

AbstractUrethral duplication is a rare anomaly that has been classified into epispadiac, hypospadiae, spindle, Y-duplications and collateral varieties. We report a case of an accessory urethra associated with complete bladder exstrophy in which the accessory urethra was integrated into the epispadias repair. To our knowledge this is the first case reported of urethral duplication associated with bladder exstrophy.
Toxicity of Therapy and Quality of Life in Patients Treated for CNS Tumors

Quality of life is a complex and difficult-to-define concept with physical, spiritual, and psychosocial components. This concept is directly dependent on the health status of an individual and closely related to the subjective perception of well-being. During the past decade substantial efforts have been made to find measurable parameters of “health-related quality of life” (HRQOL) and to define a standardized health status instrument. Different quality of life studies based on patient self-assessment reports (Mackworth et al. 1992) or using multiple instruments (Taphoorn et al. 1992) have been used for this purpose.
Characterization of cells responsible for ADCC and natural cytotoxicity against gonococci

The cellular response to gonococcal infection has continued to be an enigma despite intensive investigation. We have been interested in the lymphoid cell populations of both peripheral blood and the human fallopian tube mucosa and their interactions with the gonococcus in cellular cytotoxic reactions. Studies were performed to determine the cell types responsible for antibody dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and natural cytotoxicity against gonococci. Mucosal lymphocytes were separated using Percoll gradients and used as effector cells against gonococci. A cell fraction (ρ = 1.076) containing lymphoid cells was capable of ADCC and natural cytotoxicity. Peripheral blood lymphocytes were purified using plastic adherence and B and T cell panning with monoclonal antibodies, and used as effector cells against gonococci. Populations of T cells contaminated with NK cells were effective in ADCC assays and in natural cytotoxicity. Cytotoxic/suppressor cells of high purity were able to express natural cytotoxicity but not ADCC.
Post-traumatic stress disorder symptoms and risk of hypertension over 22 years in a large cohort of younger and middle-aged women.

Background Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) has been linked to hypertension, but most research on PTSD and hypertension is cross-sectional, and potential mediators have not been clearly identified. Moreover, PTSD is twice as common in women as in men, but understanding of the PTSD-hypertension relationship in women is limited. We examined trauma exposure and PTSD symptoms in relation to incident hypertension over 22 years in 47 514 civilian women in the Nurses' Health Study II. Method We used proportional hazards models to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for new-onset hypertension (N = 15 837). Results PTSD symptoms assessed with a screen were modestly associated with incident hypertension in a dose-response fashion after adjusting for potential confounders. Compared to women with no trauma exposure, women with 6-7 PTSD symptoms had the highest risk of developing hypertension (HR 1.20, 95% CI 1.12-1.30), followed by women with 4-5 symptoms (HR 1.17, 95% CI 1.10-1.25), women with 1-3 symptoms (HR 1.12, 95% CI 1.06-1.18), and trauma-exposed women with no symptoms (HR 1.04, 95% CI 1.00-1.09). Findings were maintained, although attenuated, adjusting for hypertension-relevant medications, medical risk factors, and health behaviors. Higher body mass index and antidepressant use accounted for 30% and 21% of the PTSD symptom-hypertension association, respectively. Conclusions Screening for hypertension and reducing unhealthy lifestyle factors, particularly obesity, in women with PTSD may hold promise for offsetting cardiovascular risk.