Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
BEME systematic review: Predictive values of measurements obtained in medical schools and future performance in medical practice

Background: Effectiveness of medical education programs is most meaningfully measured as performance of its graduates. Objectives: To assess the value of measurements obtained in medical schools in predicting future performance in medical practice. Methods: Search strategy: The English literature from 1955 to 2004 was searched using MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane's EPOC (Effective Practice and Organization of Care Group), Controlled Trial databases, ERIC, British Education Index, Psych Info, Timelit, Web of Science and hand searching of medical education journals. Inclusion & exclusions: Selected studies included students assessed or followed up to internship, residency and/or practice after postgraduate training. Assessment systems and instruments studied (Predictors) were the National Board Medical Examinations (NBME) I and II, preclinical and clerkship grade-point average, Observed Standardized Clinical Examination scores and Undergraduate Dean's rankings and honors society. Outcome measures were residency supervisor ratings, NBME III, residency in-training examinations, American Specialty Board examination scores, and on-the-job practice performance. Data extraction: Data were extracted by using a modification of the BEME data extraction form study objectives, design, sample variables, statistical analysis and results. All included studies are summarized in a tabular form. Data analysis and synthesis: Quantitative meta-analysis and qualitative approaches were used for data analysis and synthesis including the methodological quality of the studies included. Results: Of 569 studies retrieved with our search strategy, 175 full text studies were reviewed. A total of 38 studies met our inclusion criteria and 19 had sufficient data to be included in a meta-analysis of correlation coefficients. The highest correlation between predictor and outcome was NBME Part II and NBME Part III, r = 0.72, 95% CI 0.30–0.49 and the lowest between NBME I and supervisor rating during residency, r = 0.22, 95% CI 0.13–0.30. The approach to studying the predictive value of assessment tools varied widely between studies and no consistent approach could be identified. Overall, undergraduate grades and rankings were moderately correlated with internship and residency performance. Performance on similar instruments was more closely correlated. Studies assessing practice performance beyond postgraduate training programs were few. Conclusions: There is a need for a more consistent and systematic approach to studies of the effectiveness of undergraduate assessment systems and tools and their predictive value. Although existing tools do appear to have low to moderate correlation with postgraduate training performance, little is known about their relationship to longer-term practice patterns and outcomes.
Pedagogical Efficiency of Teacher-led Whole-class Scaffolding as a Pre-writing Task

Task-based language teaching (TBLT) can provide learners with more authentic communicative activities, particularly in foreign language context, where learners may experience few such opportunities. From the perspective of sociocultural theory (SCT), scaffolding is a process of supportive interaction that occurs when learners are communicating with each other. There are situations in which the mediation of the teacher as an expert is necessary in the scaffolding process to advance the learners’ zone of proximal development. The present study sought to extend the scope of TBLT through SCT. More specifically, it was an attempt to investigate the effects of teacher-led whole-class scaffolding as pre-task on the writing proficiency of EFL learners. To this end, fifty Iranian female learners of English at intermediate level of general English proficiency took part in the study which was based on post-test only equivalent groups design. The participants were asked to evaluate some ELT textbooks based on a checklist and write a report respectively. The control group did not receive any pre-task activities; however, the experimental group participated in scaffolding as a pre-task. The results revealed that the trial of pre-task improved the writing performance in such areas as content, organization, grammar, and vocabulary.
Analysis of Aggregate Impact Factor Inflation in Ophthalmology

Purpose: To analyze the aggregate impact factor (AIF) in ophthalmology, its inflation rate, and its relation to other subject fields. Methods: A retrospective, database review of all subject fields in the Journal Citation Reports (JCR), Science edition. Citation data, AIF, number of journals and citations from the years 2003–2011 were analyzed. Data were retrieved from JCR. Future trends were calculated using a linear regression method. Results: The AIF varies considerably between subjects. It shows also an inflation rate, which varies annually. The AIF inflation rate in ophthalmology was not as high as the background AIF inflation rate. Conclusions: The AIF inflation rate caused the AIF to increase annually. Not considering these variations in the AIF between years and between fields will make the AIF as a bibliometric tool inappropriate.
A minicomputer-controlled all-digital tensile test system

This paper presents the design, construction, and evaluation of an all-digital programmable tensile test system, superior in several ways to other systems presently available for testing yarns. However, the basic system concepts can be applied to tensile test systems for other materials. The system is capable of performing three standard yarn tests: constant rate of extension, constant rate of loading, and fatigue. Extension rates range from 1 mm/s to 420 mm/s. Loading rates of up to 700 g/s and above are possible. Fatigue testing allows sinusoidal loading of yarn at frequencies from 0.88 to 5.2 Hz. A minicomputer is used for direct digital control, data acquisition, and on-line analysis. A digital tension mechanism incorporating a variable-reluctance step motor was designed and constructed. A "fractional stepping" scheme is presented where the computer software is used to improve the displacement resolution for slow-speed breaks. A unique indirect digital force transducer was designed for the system employing transistor-transistor logic integrated circuits. The interrogation rate is 7 kHz, the load range is 0-700 g, and resolution for the present design is 4 g. Final testing of the digital system involves the comparison of test results with those from a proved programmable analog tester. The three types of tests produced good results and show that the digital test system does characterize yarn break strength for different types of yarn. It overcomes many disadvantages of analog systems and performs certain tasks which these systems are unable to perform.
MIBG Myocardial Scintigraphy can Predict the Occurrence of Wearing-offPhenomenon in Early-stage ParkinsonÃ¢ÂÂs Disease

Background: Iodine-123 metaiodobenzylguanidine ( ¹²³ I-MIBG) myocardial scintigraphy has been accepted as one of the most useful methods for the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Moreover, the accumulated evidence has indicated that the heart-to-mediastinum (H/M) ratio correlates with the disease severity of hypokinesia/ bradykinesia and rigidity. The present report describes the wearing-off predictions obtained from MIBG in patients with early-stage PD. Methods: 13 males and 10 females with PD whose onset ages between 45 and 70 years were enrolled. They were separated into two groups according to their H/M ratios (less than 1.7 or 1.7 or higher). We generated Kaplan- Meier survival curves for the times of the onset of the wearing-off phenomenon, and survival differences were analyzed by the log-rank test. The onset of the wearing-off phenomenon was defined as an event during the 71- month observation. Results: There was a significant difference in the wearing-off occurrence between the 2 groups that were divided by the H/M ratio (P=0.016). This result might reflect the existence of PD patients who do not show reductions in the H/M ratios at earlier stages and who do not manifest the wearing-off phenomenon later. Conclusions: Our study suggests the possibility that patients with good prognoses represent those with almost normal H/M ratios, even though they are affected with PD. MIBG could be a valuable method for predicting prognoses as well as for diagnoses
Hypoglycaemia due to insulin autoimmune syndrome: report of two cases with characterisation of HLA alleles and insulin autoantibodies.

OBJECTIVE Insulin autoimmune syndrome (IAS) has been reported mainly in Japan and so far only 27 IAS cases have been described from outside Asia. We describe two unrelated Portuguese patients with IAS and characterise their insulin autoantibodies and HLA alleles. PATIENTS Patient 1, a 24-year-old white female suffered an episode of unconsciousness in the late postprandial state and blood glucose was found to be 33 mg/dl with serum insulin levels of >3980 microIU/ml (normal range 0-30 microIU/ml). She was receiving monthly injections of penicillin G for the prophylaxis of recurrent tonsillitis. Patient 2, was a 19-year-old white female, with episodes of sweating, hand tremor, weakness and hunger occurring in the postprandial state and blood glucose levels during the attacks of 28-56 mg/dl. Very high insulin levels (602-708 microIU/ml) were present. METHODS AND RESULTS Anti-insulin antibodies, determined by a semi-quantitative method, were strongly positive in both patients (91.7% in patient 1 and 88.6% in patient 2; normal range < or =7%). Sephadex G-100 chromatography of the sera showed most of insulin immunoreactivity present in the void volume which was retained by an affinity column with anti-human-immunoglobulin G antibodies (87% and 95% from patients 1 and 2 respectively). Scatchard plot analysis and molecular typing of the DRB1 gene revealed a polyclonal antibody and DRB1*0406 in patient 1, and a monoclonal antibody and DRB1*0403 in patient 2. CONCLUSIONS These two Portuguese patients with IAS had different HLA-DR4 subtypes and insulin autoantibodies: DRB1*0406 and a polyclonal antibody in a patient treated with penicillin, and DRB1*0403 and a monoclonal antibody in a patient with "idiopathic" IAS.
Are p53 Antibodies a Diagnostic Indicator for Patients with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma? Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

BACKGROUND P53 has been reported to be involved with tumorigenesis and has also been implicated as a significant biomarker in oral squamous cell carcinoma(OSCC). However, the diagnostic value of p53 antibodies remains controversial; hence, we comprehensively and quantitatively assessed the potential in the present systematic review. MATERIALS AND METHODS A comprehensive search was performed using PubMed and Embase, up to October 31, 2014, without language restriction. Studies were assessed for quality using QUADAS (quality assessment of studies of diagnostic accuracy). The positive likelihood ratio (PLR) and negative likelihood ratio (NLR) were pooled separately and compared with overall accuracy measures using diagnostic odds ratios (DORs) and symmetric summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curves. RESULTS Of 150 studies initially identified, 7 eligible regarding serum p53 antibodies met the inclusion criteria. Some 85.7% (6/7) were of relatively high quality (QUADAS score≥7). The summary estimates for quantitative analysis of serum p53 antibody in the diagnosis of squamous cell carcinoma were: PLR 2.06 [95% confidence interval (CI) : 1.35-3.15], NLR 0.85 (95%CI: 0.80- 0.90) and DOR 2.47 (95%CI: 1.49- 4.12). CONCLUSIONS This meta-analysis suggests that the use of s-p53-antibodies has potential diagnostic value with relatively high sensitivity and specificity for OSCC particularly with serum specimens for discrimination of OSCCs from healthy controls. However, its discrimination power is not perfect because of low sensitivity.
Constant Query Time $(1 + \epsilon)$-Approximate Distance Oracle for Planar Graphs

We give a $(1+\epsilon)$-approximate distance oracle with $O(1)$ query time for an undirected planar graph $G$ with $n$ vertices and non-negative edge lengths. For $\epsilon>0$ and any two vertices $u$ and $v$ in $G$, our oracle gives a distance $\tilde{d}(u,v)$ with stretch $(1+\epsilon)$ in $O(1)$ time. The oracle has size $O(n\log n ((\log n)/\epsilon+f(\epsilon)))$ and pre-processing time $O(n\log n((\log^3 n)/\epsilon^2+f(\epsilon)))$, where $f(\epsilon)=2^{O(1/\epsilon)}$. This is the first $(1+\epsilon)$-approximate distance oracle with $O(1)$ query time independent of $\epsilon$ and the size and pre-processing time nearly linear in $n$, and improves the query time $O(1/\epsilon)$ of previous $(1+\epsilon)$-approximate distance oracle with size nearly linear in $n$.
Mexican physicians’ knowledge and attitudes about the human papillomavirus and cervical cancer: a national survey

Objective: To assess Mexican physicians’ knowledge about the human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical cancer and their opinions and practices related to screening, managing, and counselling women on these topics. Methodology: In August 2002 we surveyed 1206 general practitioners (GPs) and obstetricians-gynaecologists (Ob-Gyns) working in a nationally representative sample of public and private facilities in urban Mexico. Eligible physicians completed a self administered questionnaire. We conducted a weighted analysis and used χ2 tests to compare GPs and Ob-Gyns on outcome variables. Results: 76% of recruited physicians responded to the survey. 43% of Ob-Gyns had performed a hysterectomy in the last year to treat a case of CIN I or II. With respect to HPV, while 80% of respondents identified the virus as the principal cause of cervical cancer, many lacked detailed knowledge about this association. Ob-Gyns were more likely than GPs to have heard about specific oncogenic strains of HPV (p<0.001). Nearly all respondents thought that women should be informed that HPV causes cervical cancer; nevertheless, physicians believed that positioning cervical cancer as a sexually transmitted infection (STI) could cause problems in partner relationships (60%), confusion (40%), and unnecessary anxiety among women (32%). Conclusions: Mexican physicians support patient education on the HPV-cervical cancer link. However, findings suggest the need to present clear messages to women (emphasising, for example, that only certain types of HPV are oncogenic), to consider the conflicts such information might create for couples, and to further educate physicians about this topic and about overall cervical cancer screening and treatment protocols.
Altered Expression of Na+/H+ Exchanger Isoforms 1 and 3 in Clipped and Unclipped Kidneys of a 2-Kidney-1-Clip Goldblatt Model of Hypertension

Background: Functional differences between the clipped and unclipped kidneys in a 2-kidney-1-clip (2K-1C) hypertension model have been reported. However, the molecular basis of these changes is poorly understood. Objectives: Expression of NHE-1 and NHE-3 isoforms and sodium pump activity (PNP), and their modulation by blood pressure (BP), PGE2 and TXB2 were examined in the kidneys of 2K-1C rats treated with cilazapril for short- (4 and 24 h) and long-term (7 days) periods. Methods: 2K-1C rats were divided into two groups. Group 1 (short-term) animals were treated with a single dose of cilazapril for 4 or 24 h. Group 2 (long-term) animals received a daily dose of cilazapril for 7 days. 2K-1C animals receiving water served as clipped controls, and sham-operated animals were normal controls. Western blot analysis was used to estimate the protein levels and ELISA for PGE2 and TXB2. Results: Levels of NHE-1 and NHE-3 protein in the unclipped kidneys of both treatment groups were increased, whereas levels of α-actin, PNP activity and crude microsomes remained unchanged. These changes were significantly reduced by long-term, and not by short-term treatment with cilazapril. In group 1 clipped kidneys, NHE-3 and α-actin proteins were increased, and crude microsomes and PNP activity were decreased. In group 2 clipped kidneys, both NHE-1 and 3 isoforms were induced, whereas PNP activity was decreased. Cilazapril did not reverse the changes in the clipped kidneys in both groups, but reduced the crude microsomes. Group 2 unclipped kidneys showed hypertrophy, which remained unaffected by cilazapril treatment. Induced levels of BP, PGE2 and TXB2 in both groups were reduced significantly except for the 24-hour post-cilazapril treatment. Conclusions: These findings demonstrate a differential expression of NHE-1 and NHE-3 isoforms which is dependent on the rise in BP, PGE2 or TXB2 in the long-term treatment group, but not in the short-term treatment group. Thus, the changes in NHE isoforms and sodium pump activity, together, contribute to functional differences that exist in the 2K-1C kidneys.
The Effect of Resistance Exercise on Inflammatory and Myogenic Markers in Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease

Background: Muscle wasting is a common complication of Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) and is clinically important given its strong association with morbidity and mortality in many other chronic conditions. Exercise provides physiological benefits for CKD patients, however the molecular response to exercise remains to be fully determined. We investigated the inflammatory and molecular response to resistance exercise before and after training in these patients. Methods: This is a secondary analysis of a randomized trial that investigated the effect of 8 week progressive resistance training on muscle mass and strength compared to non-exercising controls. A sub-set of the cohort consented to vastus lateralis skeletal muscle biopsies (n = 10 exercise, n = 7 control) in which the inflammatory response (IL-6, IL-15, MCP-1 TNF-α), myogenic (MyoD, myogenin, myostatin), anabolic (P-Akt, P-eEf2) and catabolic events (MuRF-1, MAFbx, 14 kDa, ubiquitin conjugates) and overall levels of oxidative stress have been studied. Results: A large inflammatory response to unaccustomed exercise was seen with IL-6, MCP-1, and TNF-α all significantly elevated from baseline by 53-fold (P < 0.001), 25-fold (P < 0.001), and 4-fold (P < 0.001), respectively. This response was reduced following training with IL-6, MCP-1, and TNF-α elevated non-significantly by 2-fold (P = 0.46), 2.4-fold (P = 0.19), and 2.5-fold (P = 0.06), respectively. In the untrained condition, an acute bout of resistance exercise did not result in increased phosphorylation of Akt (P = 0.84), but this was restored following training (P = 0.01). Neither unaccustomed nor accustomed exercise resulted in a change in myogenin or MyoD mRNA expression (P = 0.88, P = 0.90, respectively). There was no evidence that resistance exercise training created a prolonged oxidative stress response within the muscle, or increased catabolism. Conclusions: Unaccustomed exercise creates a large inflammatory response within the muscle, which is no longer present following a period of training. This indicates that resistance exercise does not provoke a detrimental on-going inflammatory response within the muscle.
Modulation of Heterochromatin Protein 1 Dynamics in Primary Mammalian Cells

Heterochromatin protein 1 (HP1β), a key component of condensed DNA, is strongly implicated in gene silencing and centromeric cohesion. Heterochromatin has been considered a static structure, stabilizing crucial aspects of nuclear organization and prohibiting access to transcription factors. We demonstrate here, by fluorescence recovery after photobleaching, that a green fluorescent protein–HP1β fusion protein is highly mobile within both the euchromatin and heterochromatin of ex vivo resting murine T cells. Moreover, T cell activation greatly increased this mobility, indicating that such a process may facilitate (hetero)chromatin remodeling and permit access of epigenetic modifiers and transcription factors to the many genes that are consequently derepressed.
Duration of the Phases of Left Ventricular Systole

The effects of altering stroke volume, aortic pressure and heart rate on the duration of each phase of left ventricular systole were investigated in a denervated dog heart. Augmenting stroke volume was found to prolong ejection, shorten the isovolumic period and had little or no effect on the duration of total systole. Elevating mean aortic blood pressure shortened ejection time, prolonged the isovolumic phase and either had no effect or decreased slightly the duration of total systole. Increasing heart rate at constant aortic pressure and stroke volume reduced the duration of all phases of systole. Digitalis and norepinephrine shortened all phases of systole. These findings demonstrate that the duration of each phase of left ventricular systole is dependent upon existing hemodynamic conditions as well as on the contractile state of the myocardium. By means of intrinsic mechanisms the ventricle exhibits the remarkable capability of being able to adjust the duration of each phase of systole in a manner appropriate to changing hemodynamic conditions.
Generalized Approach to Signal Processing in Wireless Communications: The Main Aspects and some Examples

The additive and multiplicative noise exists forever in any wireless communication system. Quality and integrity of any wireless communication systems are defined and limited by statistical characteristics of the noise and interference, which are caused by an electromagnetic field of the environment. The main characteristics of any wireless communication system are deteriorated as a result of the effect of the additive and multiplicative noise. The effect of addition of noise and interference to the signal generates an appearance of false information in the case of the additive noise. For this reason, the parameters of the received signal, which is an additive mixture of the signal, noise, and interference, differ from the parameters of the transmitted signal. Stochastic distortions of parameters in the transmitted signal, attributable to unforeseen changes in instantaneous values of the signal phase and amplitude as a function of time, can be considered as multiplicative noise. Under stimulus of the multiplicative noise, false information is a consequence of changed parameters of transmitted signals, for example, the parameters of transmitted signals are corrupted by the noise and interference. Thus, the impact of the additive noise and interference may be lowered by an increase in the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). However, in the case of the multiplicative noise and interference, an increase in SNR does not produce any positive effects.
Male survivors' perspectives of incest/sexual abuse.

PURPOSE To show how understanding the aftereffects of incest and other forms of sexual abuse from male survivors' perspectives may help clinicians identify males with a possible history of sexual abuse. METHODS Audiotaped interviews with 25 male survivors described the aftereffects in eight life areas. Data were analyzed by the double-coding qualitative method. FINDINGS Themes identified included isolation, anger, depression/suicidal feelings, addictions, or low sense of self, and distant relationships with men and women. CONCLUSIONS Clinicians need to explore the possibility of a history of sexual abuse with males who seek treatment for addictions, suicidal ideation, depression, and chronic low self-esteem.