nils-herrmann/clean_scirepeval huggingface dataset:
New approach to the validity of the alcohol use disorders identification test: stratum-specific likelihood ratios analysis.

Previous validation studies of the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT) used either the fixed-threshold approach or receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses. This study was aimed to conduct a stratum-specific likelihood ratio (SSLR) analysis on the validity of the AUDIT for detecting alcohol use disorders.



A two-phase validation study was conducted among nonpsychiatric inpatients at a general hospital, using the AUDIT for phase 1 screening and the Schedules for Clinical Assessment in Neuropsychiatry for the phase 2 interview. All of the patients with positive screening results and a subsample of the patients with negative screening results were interviewed in the second phase. The validity of the AUDIT for current alcohol use disorders was estimated using the ROC first, and an SSLR analysis was performed subsequently.



In 422 inpatients who completed the screening, 193 had a negative result with a zero score, 103 had a negative result with a nonzero score, and 126 had a positive result. Twenty screened patients with a negative result and a nonzero score and 107 patients with a positive result were interviewed in the second phase, in which 59 patients were found to have current alcohol use disorders according to DSM-IV criteria. The area under the ROC curve of the AUDIT for current alcohol use disorders was 0.98. The sensitivity and specificity of the AUDIT at the optimal cutoff of 8 were 0.97 and 0.90, respectively. Three strata of the AUDIT scores (0-7, 8-13, and > or = 14) were derived for alcohol use disorders, with the SSLRs being 0.04, 3.67, and 49.72, and the corresponding posttest probabilities being 0.01, 0.42, and 0.91, respectively.



The AUDIT is a valid screening tool for alcohol use disorders, and the three strata derived from the SSLR analysis are informative and readily applicable in clinical practice.

Field of study: Medicine
Lamiktal in the treatment of epilepsy patients

Lamictal (Lamotrigin) action was studied in 61 patients with partial and generalized epileptic seizures (not fewer than twice a month). Most of the patients received Lamictal in doses of 200-300 mg daily as well as other antiepileptic medications (before lamictal all patients were treated without effect with various antiepileptic medications). Effectiveness of treatment with lamictal includes: the cessation of epileptic attacks (5 patients), its more rare appearance (31 patients), transformation into more light fits (15 patients). Lamictal has a broad spectrum of antiepileptic activity: it stops generalized tonic-clonic seizures, absences, simple and complex partial seizures as well as secondarily generalized tonic-clonic seizures. The medication is also effective in patients with psychopathologic symptoms.

Field of study: Medicine, Psychology
Morphine catalepsy as an adaptive reflex state in rats.

These experiments demonstrate that morphine-induced catalepsy consists of two complementary, but opposite, behavioral extremes (rigid immobility and sudden locomotor bursts), each of which can be controlled by distinct classes of external stimuli. When stimuli that involve pain and/or nonnociceptive skin pressure are tonic (continuous), morphine-induced electroencephalographic (EEG) deactivation and behavioral immobility are potentiated, even to the extent that a stimulation-bound reversible coma results. In contrast, phasic (discrete) stimulation produces behavioral and/or EEG activation. EEG and behavioral rebound effects are observed following stressful (intense, prolonged) stimuli. On the basis of the observed stimulus controls, sensorimotor characteristics, and EEG reactions, it is suggested that similarities may exist between morphine-induced catalepsy and defensive reactions of immobility and escape in drug-free animals (i.e., the adaptive death- feigning reflex).

Field of study: Biology, Psychology
Isolation of a novel cDNA encoding a putative membrane receptor with high homology to the cloned μ, δ, and κ opioid receptors

A rat brain cDNA library was screened for clones homologous to the recently cloned mouse δ-opioid receptor (DOR-1). Among the clones isolated was Hyp 8-1, a clone with a unique nucleotide sequence capable of encoding a putative protein which is 57–58% identical to the amino acid sequences of the cloned δ, μ and κ opioid receptors, indicating a close relationship of Hyp 8-1 with the opioid receptor family. Several cDNAs representing possible splice variants of Hyp 8-1 were also isolated. Binding studies of COS-7 cells transfected with clone Hyp 8-1 failed to demonstrate specific binding with several 3H-opioid ligands. In situ hybridization studies indicate that the mRNA for Hyp 8-1 is distributed discretely throughout the rat brain, in an overall pattern which is different from that of several other G-protein-coupled seven transmembrane receptors. Thus, it is likely that the Hyp 8-1 cDNA encodes a novel peptide receptor.

Field of study: Biology
Evaluation of policies to support drug development in New Zealand.

Changes in the traditional model of drug development are creating a potential opportunity for New Zealand's drug development industry. This research evaluates whether New Zealand could utilise some of the policies employed by countries with successful drug development industries.



A framework to support a drug development industry was developed by taking into account policies that affect the industry. The framework was then used to analyse the types of policies provided by different countries and to postulate six different models that support a pharmaceutical industry.



Countries with a successful drug development industry have identified their strengths, analysed the opportunities in the industry, and have employed consistent and specific policies in support of their industry. New Zealand's policy in support of its drug development industry is most similar to that of the medical research-based model of the UK, Australia and Canada.



New Zealand needs to develop a consistent policy for support of its drug development industry based on identifying and focussing on the competencies where it is internationally competitive. A strong partnership with Australia could capitalise on the strengths of both countries and linkages with other Asia-Pacific countries could further promote the region's capabilities in drug development research.

Field of study: Medicine, Political science
Devotion to Legalism: On the Brexit Case

This note examines the UK Supreme Court's judgment in the Brexit case, Miller v Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union. The case upheld the decision of the High Court, which rejected the claim that the foreign affairs prerogative provided a legal basis for giving notice to EU institutions of the UK's intention to withdraw from the EU. But the Supreme Court's preferred basis for dismissing that claim rested on the more general proposition that significant constitutional change can only be effected by statute. This position offers the germs of a jurisprudence of constitutional change and was substantiated by means of an analysis of Parliament's dual capacity as legislator and constituent agent. Miller also includes important and potentially innovative dicta on the relationship between international and domestic sources of law.

Field of study: Law
Aspartoacylase is restricted primarily to myelin synthesizing cells in the CNS: therapeutic implications for Canavan disease.

Canavan disease is a devastating neurodegenerative childhood disease caused by mutations in aspartoacylase, an enzyme that deacetylates N-acetylaspartate to generate free acetate in the brain. Localization of aspartoacylase in different cell types in the rat brain was examined in an attempt to understand the pathogenesis of Canavan disease. In situ hybridization histochemistry with a riboprobe based on murine aspartoacylase cDNA was used in this study. The hybridization signal was detectable primarily in the myelin-synthesizing cells, namely oligodendroglia. These findings provide strong additional support for insufficient myelin synthesis as the pathogenic basis of Canavan disease and make a compelling case for acetate supplementation as a simple and noninvasive therapy for this fatal disease with no treatment.

Field of study: Biology
Rapid quantitative detection of H5 subtype avian influenza inactivated vaccine by real-time fluorescent PCR and exploration of vaccine efficacy by in vitro test

To establish a specific, sensitive, rapid method to detect virus gene of H5 sub- type inactivated vaccine and to analyze the correlation between the gene copy number and the HI antibody titer.  Specific primers and TaqMan MGB(minor groove binder) probes were designed with Primer Express 2.0 software according to the conserved region of the H5 subtype AIV hemagglutinin (HA) gene to make research of real-time fluorescent PCR in the quantitative detection of H5 subtype avian influenza inactivated vaccine. A se- ries of gradient diluted H5 RNA standard was prepared by in vitro transcription to draw a standard curve. Fifty batches of H5 subtype avian influenza inactivated vaccine were detected by fluorescence PCR and the copy number of HA gene of each vaccine was obtained. The correlation was analyzed between the copy number of HA gene and the HI antibody titers of 50 batches of vaccines.  The standard curve showed the sensitivity was 10 copies/ reaction. The correlation coefficient of standard curve was 0.998003. The result showed that the method was spe- cific and reproducible. No cross-reaction was discovered with other avian disease vaccines. There was no correla- tion between the copy number of HA gene and the HI antibody titers of the vaccine.  Real-time fluo- rescent PCR provided a specific, sensitive and rapid method for the quantitative detection of virus gene of H5 sub- type avian influenza inactivated vaccine.

Field of study: Biology
Differential regulation of mRNAs for neuropeptide Y and its receptor subtypes in widespread areas of the rat limbic system during kindling epileptogenesis.

Expression of mRNAs for neuropeptide Y (NPY) and its receptor subtypes Y1 (Y1-R), Y2 (Y2-R) and Y5 (Y5-R) was studied in adult rat brain using in situ hybridization after 40 rapidly recurring seizures induced with 5-min interval by hippocampal kindling stimulations. At 2-4 h post-seizure, NPY mRNA levels were markedly elevated in dentate granule cells, CA1 and CA3 pyramidal layers, amygdala and piriform and entorhinal cortices. Gene expression had returned to control level in the dentate granule cell layer at 48 h but remained high in the other areas, reaching baseline at 1 week. Transient decreases of Y1-R mRNA levels were detected at 2-4 h in hippocampal subregions, amygdala, piriform, entorhinal and somatosensory cortices. The Y2-R mRNA levels were reduced at 2-4 h in the CA3 region and piriform cortex, but exhibited marked increases at 48 h and 1 week post-seizure in the dentate gyrus, amygdala and piriform and entorhinal cortices. At 3 weeks, Y2-R mRNA expression had virtually returned to baseline. Elevated Y5-R mRNA levels were only detected at 2-4 h and confined to dentate granule cell layer and piriform and entorhinal cortices. These results demonstrate a cell- and region-specific, differential regulation of mRNA expression for NPY and Y1-R, Y2-R, and Y5-R in the limbic system following recurring seizures. Because the gene changes were transient, it seems unlikely that the presumed alterations of the corresponding proteins are involved in the maintenance of the epileptic syndrome, which develops up to 4 weeks post-seizure in the present model and is stable thereafter. Our data provide further support for the hypothesis that the changes of NPY and its receptors act to dampen seizure susceptibility, and suggest that the cascade of gene changes is orchestrated to optimize this anticonvulsant effect.

Field of study: Biology
Thoughts about the macro theory of developing the sports industry in China via independent innovation

The guideline for constructing an innovative nation is “independent innovation,critical breakthrough,de-velopment support and future guidance”. Its core is “independent innovation”. The author applied the “independent innovation” theory to study the macro theory of developing the sports industry in China at the present time,and re-vealed that there are 11 new ideas for developing the sports industry in China,namely,to handle two rela-tions–governmental management relation and social management relation,to highlight two functions–educational function and entertaining function,to distinguish two forms–commonweal type sport and business type sport,to in-tensify two supports–ideological support and policy support,to establish two systems–modern property system and modern enterprise system,to control two key points–management system innovation and sports art innovation,to occupy two markets–domestic market and international market,to stick to two services–serving the mass and serv-ing economic and social development,to develop in two aspects–for the mass and for the markets,to arouse two ini-tiatives–leader initiative and mass initiative,and to realize two benefits–social benefit and economic benefit.

Field of study: Education
Full-length cDNA cloning and distribution of human dopamine D4 receptor.

Dopamine D4 receptor is the focus of interest in terms of pharmacological profile and possible relation to the disease. Using poly A+RNA from human retina as a template, we succeeded in cloning of full-length cDNA of the human dopamine D4 receptor by improved reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). From the RT-PCR products, two polymorphic variants which had two and four tandem repeats in the putative third cytoplasmic loop were obtained. Transient expression of the full-length cDNA in COS-1 cells produced [3H]spiperone binding sites with a high affinity. These results confirmed the existence of the D4 receptor mRNA containing a different number of polymorphic tandem repeats in native human tissues. The RT-PCR method demonstrated the restricted distribution of the D4 mRNA in human tissues and brain regions. The mRNA was detected at the highest level in the retina, followed by the brain, placenta, and kidney. Among brain regions, relatively low levels for mRNA of the human D4 receptor were observed in the nigrostriatal pathway compared with the mesolimbic system. The distribution of the mRNA in human brain suggests that the D4 receptor plays a different role in the central nervous system compared with the D2 receptor.

Field of study: Biology
Social and sexual motivation in the mouse.

Does a sexual encounter have reward value for a learned operant response? Ovariectomized female mice with or without estradiol replacement were trained to perform a bar-contact operant response for either male or female targets. Response rates of females with estradiol replacement did not differ from those of females without estradiol replacement or females responding for access to females. Reflexive receptive sexual behavior remained responsive to estradiol replacement. Experiment 2 demonstrated that socially isolated females would respond faster for access to a female target than when group housed. Finally, the oxytocin blocker, atosiban, reduced both operant and reflexive social behavior. These results converge on the conclusion that the operant reward value of social and sexual contact is primarily social.

Field of study: Biology, Psychology
The effect of estrogen on the induced superovulation by PMS in rabbits. II

PMSによる家兎の過排卵誘起にestrogen注射を併用することが有効かどうか再検討すると共に,estrogenを併用した場合としない場合の卵巣所見の比較から併用効果の機序について考察を試みた。40IUのPMSを5日間,計200IU皮下注射し,24時間または48時間経過して交配した過排卵対照区の平均排卵数は21.3~24.1コ,過排卵陽性率50~63.6%に対し,PMS注射最終日に0.1mgのestradiol注射を併用した区の平均排卵数は32.5~37.8コ,過排卵陽性率87.5~100%で,estrogenを併用することにより排卵数が高められる傾向にあった。未破裂卵胞数は,排卵数の多いestrogen併用区は少なく,対照区は多くなっていた。また,過排卵対照区と併用区について,卵胞を1~1.4mm,1.5~2.4mm,2.5mm以上の3種に分類して経時的に発育程度を比較したが,3種の卵胞数の推移は両区ともまちまちで,わずかに総卵胞数においてestrogen併用区が優っていたにすぎない。これらの結果から,estrogen併用注射は,外面的には卵胞発育に対し直接影響を与えていないにもかかわらず,未破裂卵胞を減じ排卵数を増加させる効果がみうけられた。

Field of study: Biology
Impact of Age, Gender and Discipline on Undergraduates’ Perception of Causes of Youth Restiveness in Delta State of Nigeria

This study set out to investigate impact of age, gender and discipline on undergraduates’ perception of causes of youth restiveness in Delta State of Nigeria.  One research question and two hypotheses guided the study.  Literature was reviewed.  The sample size was 275 respondents who were drawn using multi-stage random sampling technique.  A thirty item questionnaire was used to collect data.  The instrument has face and content validity.  It has a reliability index of 0.75.  The data was analysed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA.  The results revealed that the variables of gender and age have no impact on undergraduates’ perception of the causes of youths’ restiveness.  But the discipline of students has impact on their perception of the causes of youth’s restiveness in Delta State.  Recommendations were made based on findings.

Field of study: Education
Repeated superovulation of Holstein heifers with FSH and PGF2.ALPHA. analogue for non-surgical embryo collection.

ホルスタイン種未経産牛18頭にFSHとPGF2αアナログによって連続して2回過排卵処理を行い,人工授精後7日目に非手術的に胚採取を行なった。1. 胚採取率は第1回目の過排卵時には88.9%(16/18頭),第2回目には55.6%(10/18頭)であった。2. 第1回目と第2回目の過排卵を比較すると推定黄体数はそれぞれ9.3,7.9,採取胚胚数はそれぞれ5.6,3.1,で両者の間には差がみられなかったが,発育胚数はそれぞれ3.6,1.3で第2回目の過排卵時の成績が悪かった。第1回目と第2回目の過排卵時の推定黄体数の間には有意な関係が認められず,第1回目の過排卵反応は第2回目の反応の指標にはなりえなかった。3. 胚回収後10~11日にPGF2αアナログを投与することによって妊娠を防止でき,次の発情の発現をはやめることができた。

Field of study: Biology
Competition among hospitals in the United States.

The value added by acute-care hospitals is in the form of specific procedures (therapy, operations, testing) and the bed care necessary to make the procedures effective. When more than one hospital exists in a local area (defined in many studies as a radius of 15 mi/24 km) they compete for market share, since greater market share has a positive effect on economies of scale, utilization rates, learning curves and levels of quality. Competition is not only with other hospitals (and 75% of all hospitals do have a competitor within 24 km), but also with doctors who now perform some procedures in their offices, and with specialized clinics. The first strategy is to attract physician allegiance since they act as gate-keepers, directing patients to specific hospitals. This is done through personal amenities, professional amenities and enhancement to personal prestige and income. This competition for physician allegiance has a direct effect on utilization rates (doctors want spare capacity to suit their needs), on the range of services and facilities offered (doctors want more support), and on length of stay (doctors want longer stays). All of these increase the hospital's costs. The second strategy is to enter into contracts with third-party payers who will direct their clients to specific or preferred hospitals. The negative effect is that in competitive markets such payers may be able to bargain prices down. However, hospital differentiation makes it difficult for payers to make complete substitutions among them. As well, since the payers compete for clients, they often use hospital alliances as a selling point and therefore are often cooperative rather than confrontational in their negotiations. One tactic used by hospitals is to stress quality of service. But since quality in health care is hard to measure, patients are often unable to make direct assessments of alternatives. Hospitals therefore often 'signal' quality in various ways which may, and often do, increase hospital costs. (Some of these signals also attract physicians). Price is not a major element in competition. Most other strategies and tactics raise hospital costs and therefore price. Pressure from payers is turned back through differentiation (preventing substitution) and hospital-payer alliances for clients. Health care comes in too many packages to allow effective price competition. A final tactic is to increase the range of services or facilities offered. Enhanced services attract doctors by offering more support; attract some patients direct; and help to recapture market share lost to specialized clinics.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400

Field of study: Medicine, Political science
The effects of the electrostatic field on blood free radicals in rats after an acute endurance swimming

In the experiment, the effects of the 0.3,0.6,0.8,1.0 and 1.2 kV/cm electrostatic fields on the 24h free radical level of blood in the rats after a stressful endurance swimming training are analyzed. The results of the experiment show that treatment with the electrostatic field with an appropriate intensity after stressful endurance swimming training may speed up the elimination of free radicals and improve the activity of anti-free radical enzymes in the body of the rat, and play active role in accelerating recovery from fatigue.

Field of study: Education
Activity analysis of promoter from human α2(I) procollagen gene

To investigate the fragment of high promoter activity in human α2(Ⅰ) procollagen gene and to explore the potential effect of cytokines on promoter activity.  Five chimeric genes were constructed with various lengths of sequences between 2.4kb upstream of the initiation of transcription of the human α2(Ⅰ) procollagen gene and 58bp downstream of this site. The sequences were fused to chloramphenicol acetyltransferase(CAT) reporter gene. These recombinant plasmids were transiently transfected into human skin fibroblast by FuGENE 6 transfection method. The putative promoters activities were tested and compared by CAT measurement in transfected cells.  The highest CAT expression was demonstrated in construction driven by -2292 to +58bp, -1476 to +58bp fragment. TGF-β, IGF-1 increased promoter activity of human α2(Ⅰ) procollagen gene.  TGF-β, IGF-1 increasedⅠcollagen synthesis by regulating promoter element in procollagen gene.

Field of study: Biology
A human monoclonal antibody derived from axillary lymph nodes of a breast cancer patient.

A human hybridoma clone (A4-33) was established by fusion of human lymphoblastoid cells, HO-323, with lymphocytes of axillary lymph nodes obtained from a breast cancer patient. This clone has been stable, producing IgM for over 24 months. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) showed that monoclonal antibody A4-33 reacted strongly to MCF-7, and weakly to PANC-1 and HT-29, but not to other human malignant cell lines. The reactivity of A4-33 to MCF-7 was markedly reduced by treatment with periodate, but not affected or enhanced by neuraminidase or trypsin. Immunoperoxidase staining of normal human tissue sections showed that A4-33 reacted to acinar and ductal cells of the mammary gland and to ductal epithelial cells of the salivary gland, sweat gland, pancreas and bile duct. With malignant tumor sections, A4-33 reacted to breast cancer, pancreatic cancer and parotid cancer. These results suggested that A4-33 recognized the antigen which commonly exists on ductal epithelial cells of the exocrine gland.

Field of study: Biology
The power of "principles" in a national pharmaceuticals strategy.

The role of principles in shaping the development of public policy has garnered increasing attention. The authors explore the role of underlying principles in the development of a Canadian National Pharmaceuticals Strategy (NPS), an area in which practical policy development has been disappointing. In analyzing proposed principles for a NPS identified in government documents and by a set of major stakeholder coalitions, they find broad agreement on principles underlying a NPS, particularly regarding equity, accessibility, safety and effectiveness. However, the identification of principles for a NPS has not motivated practical policy progress in this crucial area. Some reasons for this failure are rooted in the current state of ethics and principles in health policy and some in the value-laden, interest-dominated nature of pharmaceutical policy itself.

Field of study: Medicine, Political science