Allocating resources for cancer control--resolving multicriteria decision-making using the analytic hierarchy process

When competing programs ought to be financed simultaneously for the same purpose, an allocation problem occurs due to scarce resources, and different perspectives and preferences. Facing the problem needs determining criteria which the decision might be based on. Those criteria form the objectives (the scope) of the different participants, and are relevant for the achievement of the goal, providing a comprehensive resource allocation that bridges and integrates the different perspectives. In case of cancer control primary prevention, secondary prevention, therapy and tertiary prevention, education, basic sciences, and clinical trials form the alternatives. An analytic hierarchy process (AHP) is used for supporting decision-making in the resource allocation problem. AHP is a method for setting priorities, but can only work out the implications of what was declared through the pairwise-ranking process, namely the relative preferences, weighing the criteria and rating the alternatives two by two. In the first analysis the relative weights to criteria were 0.099 for 'distributive justice'; 0.120 for constitutional and human rights; 0.251 for lay opinion; 0.393 for EBM; 0.137 for cost-effectiveness. Ranking the alternatives using 'judgements' resulted in relative preference of 0.238 for therapy, 0.204 for primary prevention, 0.201 for secondary prevention, 0.135 for clinical trials, 0.111 for tertiary prevention, 0.066 for basic sciences and 0.045 for education. In the second analysis the relative importance of "cost-effectiveness" was doubled, thus resulting in 0.234 for therapy, 0.216 for secondary prevention, 0.183 for primary prevention, 0.145 for clinical trials, 0.113 for tertiary prevention, 0.063 for basic sciences and 0.046 for education. Sensitivity analysis has shown that increasing the relative weight of cost-effectiveness up to approximately 0.4 changes the rank of alternatives, and above 0.4 this criterion gives secondary prevention preferences. According to the relative rates computed in both of the models all criteria vote for therapy, but these preferences change at the high level of weights, in case of EBM, 'rights', and cost-effectiveness. Cost-effectiveness prefers secondary prevention to therapy; the criterion of constitutional and human rights and the criterion of evidence-based medicine vote for primary prevention.     

Bayesian experimental design for nonlinear mixed-effects models with application to HIV dynamics

Bayesian experimental design is investigated for Bayesian analysis of nonlinear mixed-effects models. Existence of the posterior risk for parameter estimation is shown. When the same prior distribution is used for both design and inference, existence of the preposterior risk for design is also proven. If the prior distribution used in design is different from that used for inference, sufficient conditions are established for existence of the preposterior risk for design. A case study of design for an experiment in population HIV dynamics is provided.     

Biology of Triatoma pallidipennis stal 1945 (Hemiptera: Reduviidae:Triatominae) under laboratory conditions

Aspects related to hatching, life time, mortality, feeding behaviour and fecundity for each stage of Triatoma pallidipennis life-cycle were evaluated. The hatching rate observed for 200 eggs was 60% and the average time of hatching was 18 days. Eighty nymphs (N) (40%) completed the cycle and the average time from NI to adult was 168. 7+/-11.7days. The average span in days for each stage was 18.0 for NI, 18.5 for NII, 30.0 for NIII, 35.7 for NIV and 50.1 for NV. The number of bloodmeals at each nymphal stage varied from 1 to 5. The mortality rate was 9.17 for NI, 5.5 for NII, 6.8 for NIII 4.17 for NIV and 13.04 for NV nymphs. The average number of eggs laid per female in a 9-month period was 498.6. The survival rates of adults were 357+/-217.9 and 262.53+/-167.7 for males and females respectively.     

New data on the European fauna of encyrtid wasps (Hymenoptera, Chalcidoidea, Encyrtidae)

On the basis of examination of the collection of the Natural History Museum (london), an annotated list of 36 encyrtid species with new records for 12 countries is given: one species new for both Ukraine and Croatia; two, for Austria, Cyprus, and Norway; three, for U.K.; four, for Germany and Spain; five, for Bulgaria; six, for Italy; eight, for France, and twelve, for Greece.     

Synopsis of the hard ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) of Romania with update on host associations and geographical distribution

The current paper is a synoptic review of the distribution and host associations of the 25 species of hard tick fauna (family Ixodidae) in Romania. In addition to a full literature survey, original data is presented, based on eight years of occasional or targeted sample collection. The literature data on geographical distribution was transposed digitally to the decimal degree coordinate system. For each species, an updated distribution map is given together with all historical data and new host associations. Overall, our paper records 58 new tick-host associations for Romania: 20 for Ixodes ricinus, 1 for I. apronophorus, 6 for I. arboricola, 2 for I. hexagonus, 9 for I. redikorzevi, 1 for I. trianguliceps, 2 for I. vespertilionis, 2 for Haemaphysalis punctata, 1 for H. sulcata, 2 for H. concinna, 1 for D. marginatus, 4 for Rhipicephalus sanguineus sensu lato, 1 for R. bursa and 6 for Hyalomma marginatum.     

Blood groups, red cell enzymes, and cerumen types of the Ahousat (Nootka) Indians

A survey of the blood groups of a Nootka band produced frequencies characteristic of North American Indians for the ABO system (0.99 for 0, 0.0 for B, and 0.01 for A), Rhesus (0.822 for cDE, 0.011 for cde, 0.023 for cDe), Lutheran (1.00 for Lu(a—)), Duffy (0.505 for Fy(a+)) and Diego (0.039 for Di(a+)). K is not absent though the frequency is not great (0.028). Surprising results were obtained for the MN locus (0.399 for M, 0.601 for N), P (0.209 for P₁), and Lewis (0.568 for Le(a+)). A frequency of phosphoglucomutase type PGM₁¹ of 0.890 was found; all hemoglobins were type AA; no G-6-PD deficiency was found an all were type B positive; the frequency of the dry cerumen allele was found to be 0.323.     

The Genetic Structure of Natural Populations of Drosophila Melanogaster. Xxiv. Effects of Hybrid Dysgenesis on the Components of Genetic Variance of Viability

Eight hundred second chromosomes were extracted from the Ishigakijima population, one of the southernmost populations of Drosophila melanogaster in Japan. Half of them were extracted in Native cytoplasm (P-type), and half in Foreign cytoplasm (M-type). Various population-genetic parameters, including the frequency of lethal-carrying second chromosomes (Q = 0.235 for the Native; 0.218 for the Foreign), the allelism rate of lethal second chromosome (Ic = 0.0217 for the Native; 0.0134 for the Foreign), the homozygous detrimental and lethal loads (D = 0.179 for the Native; 0.270 for the Foreign; L = 0.262 for the Native; 0.240 for the Foreign), the average degree of dominance of mildly deleterious mutations (?E = 0.244 for the Native; 0.208 for the Foreign), and the components of genetic variance for viability [additive (sigma A2) and dominance (sigma D2)](?igma A2 = 0.0187 for the Native; 0.0172 for the Foreign; ?igma D2 = 0.0005 for the Native; 0.0009 for the Foreign) were estimated. The data indicate that D was significantly larger and hE was significantly smaller in the Foreign cytoplasm. However, the estimates of additive and dominance variances were not significantly different between the two cytoplasms. The additive genetic variance for viability in the Ishigakijima population was greater than expected on the basis of mutation-selection balance confirming previous studies on papers of D. melanogaster in warm climates.     

Japanese sleep disturbance and fatigue disability weights in evaluating the effects of increasing temperatures on health by a life cycle approach

Purpose

This study aimed to establish a set of disability weights (DWs) for sleep problems and fatigue which could be applied in composite health outcome measures in order to quantify the burden of symptoms and economically evaluate the effects of increasing temperatures on a life cycle approach.

Methods

The conditions were evaluated by a two-step questionnaire study. In the first step, specialists determined the DW for each condition. The second step was identical to the first, except that the determinations were made by primary care physicians. Both groups of medical practitioners used an interpolation method consisting of a comprehensive set of 31 disease-specific DWs.

Results and discussion

Mean DWs for sleep disturbance were 0.101 for environmental sleep disturbance, 0.069 for mild sleep disturbance, and 0.086 for moderate sleep disturbance. Mean DWs for chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) were 0.099 for a diagnosis of CFS, 0.164 for mild handicap, 0.281 for moderate handicap, and 0.459 for severe handicap. Mean DWs assigned by primary care physicians for sleep disturbance were 0.114 for environmental sleep disturbance, 0.140 for mild sleep disturbance, and 0.126 for severe sleep disturbance. Those for CFS were 0.154 for a diagnosis, 0.099 for mild handicap, 0.147 for moderate handicap, and 0.226 for severe handicap.

Conclusions

Using the present valuation protocol, it appeared feasible to establish the burden of symptoms as attributable to increasing temperatures. The results can be applied in composite health outcome measures for public health research, environmental research, and economic evaluations.     

Log-linear Models for Polytomous Data

The present study discusses two variants of linear logistic models for polytomous variables for ?unordered”? and for ?ordered”? categories (polydimensional and one-dimensional model). The ML-estimation equations and the possibilities to test the validity of the model are given for both. A test for goodness-of-fit (external validity) and a test for equality of the parameter estimates for split data (interval validity) are suggested. In addition, statistical tests for the significance of individual parameters on the basis of the information matrix and likelihood ratio tests for one or more parameters are described. The presentation is completed by an empirical example from the area of audiology.     

Genetic parameter estimates in a clonally replicated progeny test of teak (Tectona grandis Linn. f.)

Teak (Tectona grandis Linn. f.) has been planted extensively in the tropics for its highly valued timber. We analysed data from a 3.5-year-old teak progeny test with clonal replication located in northern Australia. Additive and non-additive genetic variances were estimated for commercially important traits. Trees originating from seedlings were on average 2% taller and 4% straighter than those of the same genotype originating from cuttings. Non-additive genetic variance represented 35–50% of total genetic variance for growth traits and 63% of total genetic variance for incidence of flowering. Narrow-sense heritability was 0.22 for diameter, 0.18 for height and volume, 0.07 for stem straightness, 0.05 for insect defoliation, 0.03 for epicormic sprouts and 0.30 for incidence of flowering (estimated on an assumed underlying continuous scale). Broad-sense heritability was 0.37 for diameter, 0.28 for height, 0.35 for volume, 0.12 for stem straightness, 0.06 for insect defoliation, 0.12 for epicormic sprouts and 0.71 for incidence of flowering. Positive correlations were found between tree volume and flowering and between tree volume and stem straightness. The presence of sizeable non-additive variance supports the selection and deployment of clones to capture the full extent of genetic variation in commercially important traits.     

Diagnostic DNA-flow- vs. -image-cytometry in effusion cytology.

AIMS: To determine the sensitivity and specificity of flow- and image-cytometry for the detection of DNA-aneuploidy as a marker for malignant cells in effusions. METHODS: 200 effusions (80 tumor cell-positive, 74 negative and 46 cytologically equivocal) were stained with DAPI-SR for DNA-flow- and with Feulgen-Pararosaniline for -image-cytometry. They were measured using a PAS-flow-cytometer and an AutoCyte-QUIC-DNA-workstation according to the ESACP consensus reports for DNA-flow- and -image-cytometry, respectively [7,23,29,49]. RESULTS: Sensitivity of DNA-aneuploidy for the identification of malignant cells was 32.1% for DNA-flow- and 75.0% for -image-cytometry, specificity of -euploidy in benign cells was 100.0% for both methods. Positive predictive value of DNA-aneuploidy for the identification of malignant cells was 100.0% for both techniques, negative predictive value of DNA-euploidy was 48.6% for DNA-flow- and 72.0% for -image-cytometry. CONCLUSIONS: Searching for DNA-aneuploidy as a diagnostic marker for neoplastic cells in serous effusions image-cytometry revealed superior sensitivity as compared with monoparametric flow cytometry.     

Quantitation of hepatitis B virus DNA in serum of patients with hepatoma

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) DNA in the serum of 31 patients with histologically confirmed primary hepatocellular carcinoma (PHC) from Malaysia and Indonesia was quantitated by densitometric scanning of autoradiograms obtained by Southern blot DNA hybridization, after electrophoresis using a 32P DNA cloned into plasmid pBR325 as a probe. This quantitation after electrophoresis is more informative than the usual spot hybridization technique. Five of the 31 sera were positive for HBV DNA. Levels ranged between 1.36 pq and 143.18 pq per ml of serum, and the levels of HBsAg, anti-HBs, anti-HBc, HBeAg and anti-HBe in the serum were serologically determined. All five sera positive for HBV DNA were also positive for HBsAg. Three of the five positive for HBV DNA were positive for HBeAg and negative for anti-HBe. Two of the sera positive for HBV DNA were negative for HBeAg but positive for anti-HBe. All sera negative for HBV DNA were also negative for HBeAg. Many sera which were negative for HBV DNA and HBeAg were positive for HBsAg. Of the 31 sera from PHC patients, 23 had at least one HBV marker positive (74.2%).     

Epistatic Association Mapping for Alkaline and Salinity Tolerance Traits in the Soybean Germination Stage

Soil salinity and alkalinity are important abiotic components that frequently have critical effects on crop growth, productivity and quality. Developing soybean cultivars with high salt tolerance is recognized as an efficient way to maintain sustainable soybean production in a salt stress environment. However, the genetic mechanism of the tolerance must first be elucidated. In this study, 257 soybean cultivars with 135 SSR markers were used to perform epistatic association mapping for salt tolerance. Tolerance was evaluated by assessing the main root length (RL), the fresh and dry weights of roots (FWR and DWR), the biomass of seedlings (BS) and the length of hypocotyls (LH) of healthy seedlings after treatments with control, 100 mM NaCl or 10 mM Na₂CO₃ solutions for approximately one week under greenhouse conditions. A total of 83 QTL-by-environment (QE) interactions for salt tolerance index were detected: 24 for LR, 12 for FWR, 11 for DWR, 15 for LH and 21 for BS, as well as one epistatic QTL for FWR. Furthermore, 86 QE interactions for alkaline tolerance index were found: 17 for LR, 16 for FWR, 17 for DWR, 18 for LH and 18 for BS. A total of 77 QE interactions for the original trait indicator were detected: 17 for LR, 14 for FWR, 4 for DWR, 21 for LH and 21 for BS, as well as 3 epistatic QTL for BS. Small-effect QTL were frequently observed. Several soybean genes with homology to Arabidopsis thaliana and soybean salt tolerance genes were found in close proximity to the above QTL. Using the novel alleles of the QTL detected above, some elite parental combinations were designed, although these QTL need to be further confirmed. The above results provide a valuable foundation for fine mapping, cloning and molecular breeding by design for soybean alkaline and salt tolerance.     

HOW TO ESTIMATE AND USE THE VARIANCE OF d' FROM DIFFERENCE TESTS

d' is an estimate of δ, a measure of the degree of sensory difference between two products, that can be obtained easily using tables, from the proportion of difference tests performed correctly. Tables of δ are available for the 2-AFC, 3-AFC, triangular and duo-trio tests. Tables for calculating the variance of d' for these tests are provided in this paper. They can be used for comparison of d's, especially for those obtained from different difference tests. A simple procedure is described here for computing values for the variance of d'. Having obtained the variance, confidence intervals for d' can be obtained, tests of significance for d' can be made as well as tests of whether two or more d's are significantly different. The formula and tables for the number of judgments required for the estimation of δ are given also in this paper.     

In Pursuit of Closed‐Loop Supply Chains for Critical Materials: An Exploratory Study in the Green Energy Sector

A closed‐loop supply chain (CLSC) is considered not only an important solution for ensuring sustainable exploitation of materials, but also a promising strategy for securing long‐term availability of materials. The latter is especially highlighted in the materials criticality discourse. Critical raw materials (CRMs), being exposed to supply disruptions, create an uncertain operational environment for many industries, particularly for green energy technologies that employ multiple CRMs. However, recycling rates of CRMs are very low and engagement of companies in CLSC for CRM is limited. This study examines factors influencing CLSC for CRM development in photovoltaic panels and wind turbine technologies. The aim is to analyze how the factors manifest themselves in different companies along the supply chain and to identify enabling and bottleneck conditions for implementation of CLSC for CRM. The novelty of the study is twofold: the focus on material rather than product flows, and examination of factors from a multiactor perspective. The evidence obtained suggests that the manufacturing companies and reverse supply‐chain operators engaged in the study take different perspectives (product vs. material) regarding development of CLSC for CRM and thus emphasize different factors. The findings underline the need for interactions between supply‐chain actors, a sound competitive environment for recycling processes, and investment in technologies and infrastructure development if CLSC for CRM is to be developed. The paper provides implications for practitioners and policy makers for implementation of CLSC for CRM, and suggests prospects for further research.     

菜豆种质资源RAPD多样性的研究Ⅱ

本研究收集了我国43个栽培品种,国际热带农业中心13个半野生品种,波兰4个矮生品种共60个菜豆品种资源,将其分成三大类型,即蔓生种35个,矮生种12个,半野生种13个,从RAPD标记上进行了研究,探明种内及各种群间的遗传相似度、遗传距离,绘制聚类分析图。综合RAPD标记聚类图,表明:蔓生种群分为五大类;矮生种群分为二大类;半野生种群分为二大类。我国是菜豆的主要育种、栽培地区,收集国内外菜豆种质资源,开展DNA水平的分子标记将有助于了解菜豆种内、各种群间的遗传基础,确定各资源材料间的亲缘关系,为我国菜豆种质资源的保存及培育优良品种工作提供一定的理论依据。     

Communalities for rates of diaphyseal elongation of short bones of the hand of children with Down syndrome

Communality indices for rates of elongation of diaphyses of short bones of the hand were computed from serial data for children with Down syndrome, 7 to 14 years of age. Communalities were larger for adjacent than for nonadjacent bones and also larger for bones grouped in rows rather than rays of the hand. This pattern is similar to that reported for normal children. Communality indices for rates of diaphyseal elongation for girls with Down syndrome were lower than those of boys with Down syndrome and normal children.     

Determination of the pK values for the alpha-amino groups of human hemoglobin.

The rate of reaction between alpha-amino groups and cyanic acid was followed at 26 degrees and ionic strength 0.2 M as a function of pH of human hemoglobin Ao solutions to determine the pK and the pH-independent second order rate constant, kappa, for these groups in the alpha and beta chains. At a given point in time, the extent of the reaction was determined by employing the Beckmann Sequencer as a quantitative tool in which the yields of leucine and histidine in the second Edman degradation cycle were used to define the rates of reaction of the alpha and beta chains, respectively. From these results, the individual were evaluated (Garner, M.H., Garner, W.H., and Gurd, F. R.N. (1973) J. Biol. Chem. 248, 5451-5455). Values for pK for the alpha and beta chains were, respectively, 6.74 and 6.93 for cyanoferrihemoglobin, 6.95 and 7.05 for carboxyhemoglobin, and 7.79 and 6.84 for deoxyhemoglobin. Values for kappa, M- minus 1 S-minus 1, for the alpha and beta chains were, respectively, 12.5 and 17 for cyanoferrihemoglobin, 12 and 18 for carboxyhemoglobin, and 91 and 24 for deoxyhemoglobin. Limits of significance were estimated for both variables in each case. The pK results for valine 1alpha agree well with the value obtained by Hill and Davis (1967) J. Biol. Chem. 242, 2005-2012) for carboxyhemoglobin and with that of Kilmartin and Rossi-Bernardi ((1971) Biochem. J. 124, 31-45) for deoxyhemoglobin. Values obtained for sperm whale myoglobin were 7.77 for pK and 7.4 for kappa. The results are useful for the interpretation of the allosteric interactions of hemoglobin with hydrogen ions, with CO2, and with phosphate.     

Dietary supplementation with antioxidants. Is there a case for exceeding the recommended dietary allowance?

The containment of damaging oxygen species by antioxidant nutrients has led to the speculation that the RDA for these specific nutrients may be overly low. Among these nutrients are vitamin E, vitamin C, and to a lesser extent beta-carotene and selenium. Evidence for the role of these nutrients in cancer and heart disease is evaluated. The case is presented for an increase of two-fold for the vitamin C RDA and between three and five-fold for vitamin E; for establishing 15 mg as the RDA for beta-carotene; for no change in the vitamin A RDA; and for further study on selenium.