Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Statistical education for medical students—Concepts are what remain when the details are forgotten

Teaching statistics to medical students is a challenging and often unrewarding task. However, few would argue the need for statistics in the medical school curriculum. In recent years, there has been a growing call for teaching only statistical concepts in medical schools. We strongly oppose this opinion and offer an alternative approach. In this article, we present our experience in teaching statistics to medical students at the Sackler School of Medicine, Tel‐Aviv University, Israel. We then present the results of a recently held survey regarding the long‐term contribution of the statistical curriculum to our students in different phases of their studies. We conclude by suggesting a new integrative statistical program, which incorporates the study of statistics into the entire medical curriculum. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The in vitro cell cycle of adult mammalian epidermis: a preliminary study.

Cultured epidermal cells of albino guinea pigs were studied autoradiographically to determine the lengths of the G 1 (gap preceding DNA synthesis), S (DNA synthesis), G 2 (gap following DNA synthesis and immediately preceding cell division), and M (mitosis) periods of the cell cycle. The epidermal cells were grown in vitro using a chamber culture technique. Skin slices containing dermis and epidermis were surgically removed from the ear and then incubated for ten minutes in a trypsin solution to remove the underlying dermis. The cells were teased apart and cultured in Fischer's Medium supplemented with 15% fetal calf serum and a penicillin-streptomycin mixture. 3 H-thymidine was added at t=0 to make a final concentration of 0.21 μc/ml (s.a. 3.0 c/m mole). Progress in the cycle was monitored hourly by stopping growth in a portion of the chambers. Coverglasses with cells attached were then prepared for autoradiography. Kodak AR-10 Stripping Film was used. Development was performed seven days after exposure began. One thousand cells on each slide were scored to determine the percentage of cells labeled, labeled cells in mitosis, and the percentage of labeled and unlabeled cells in metaphase. From this data, the total length of the cell cycle was found to be approximately 15 hours; G 2 was minimally 3 hours; S lasted approximately 5.4 hours; the duration of the M phase was . 4 hours; and G 1 was 6.2 hours long. A marked increase in DNA synthetic activity was noted at 7 to 8 hours. Partial synchrony of the cell population was thought to be achieved upon removal of the ear tissue from the guinea pig. This apparent synchrony supports the proposal that cells in G 1 prior to injury are directed to synthesis when removal occurs and suggests that the real control of the cell cycle may lie in the G 1 period.
Comparison of the laryngeal mask (LMA™) and laryngeal tube (LT®) with the new perilaryngeal airway (CobraPLA®) in short surgical procedures

Background and objective: We compared the laryngeal mask airway (LMA™) and the laryngeal tube (LT®) with the newly introduced perilaryngeal airway (CobraPLA®, PLA) with regard to haemodynamic responses induced by airway insertion, clinical performance and occurrence of postoperative sore throat after short surgical procedures. Methods: After premedication, 90 ASA I–II patients awaiting short surgical procedures were randomized to receive, LMA, LT or PLA. Anaesthesia was induced with intravenous propofol (2.5 mg kg−1) and mivacurium (0.2 mg kg−1). Number of attempts, time of insertion of the device, any other unwanted effect, mean aterial pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation and end‐tidal carbon dioxide were recorded. At the end of surgery, the cuff of the device was immediately deflated and the airway device was removed. The device was examined and noted for the presence of visible blood. Patients were asked to rate their throat soreness, dysphonia and dysphagia 1 and 24 h postoperatively. Results: There were no differences in haemodynamic variables. Insertion times for the devices were similar (LMA: 20 ± 11 s, LT: 19 ± 14 s and PLA: 21 ± 12 s.) The success rates at first insertion were lower in the (LMA group (57%) when compared with the PLA (97%, P < 0.05). The number and type of airway interventions for achieving an effective airway were similar. When the airways were removed 50% of the PLA devices had positive blood traces, while only 17% of the LMA and LT devices had positive blood traces (P < 0.01). Fifty percent of the patients suffered from a sore throat in the PLA group, which was significantly higher than in the LMA and LT groups (P < 0.05). Conclusion: We conclude that haemodynamic, ventilation and oxygenation variables throughout the surgery were similar with, LMA, LT and PLA, but LT and PLA were easier to insert; LMA and LT caused less mucosal trauma.
Health Information Exchange Capabilities in Skilled Nursing Facilities

The purpose of this study is to determine the levels at which health information exchange is used by skilled nursing facilities for clinical functions, the benefits and barriers associated with health information exchange and telehealth/telemonitoring capabilities, and the facility characteristics associated with health information exchange capabilities. A cross-sectional design was implemented. Data were collected from nursing home administrators, using a mail and online survey approach. A total of 156 usable questionnaires were returned of 397 distributed—a 39.30% response rate. The highest level of electronic exchange for clinical functions was within the facility than within corporation/affiliated organization or with nonaffiliated providers. It was also more prevalent in for-profit skilled nursing facilities than nonprofit skilled nursing facilities. More than half of the facilities reported no electronic exchange for functions, such as public health reporting, diagnostic test orders/results, medical orders/e-prescribing, advance directives, lab orders/results, and radiology orders/ results. Similarly, telehealth/telemonitoring was not in wide use by facilities in the state. The greatest barriers to electronic exchange of clinical functions were financial barriers, technological barriers, and connectivity barriers. Faster and accurate billing, improved care planning, and improved quality of documentation were reported as benefits of electronic information exchange of clinical data with affiliated and nonaffiliated providers.
Popular Consensus

Most climate experts agree that human carbon dioxide emissions cause anthropogenic global warming (AGW), reflected in increased global temperatures during every decade since 1970. Nonetheless, some public figures have claimed that AGW stopped in 1998. In a large experiment (N = 200), participants extrapolated global climate data, presented graphically either as share prices or as temperatures. Irrespective of their attitudes toward AGW, and irrespective of presentation format, people judged the trend to be increasing. These results suggest that presentation of climate data can counter claims that AGW has stopped.
Effects of a New Waste‐Processing By‐product on Soil and Vegetation at Fort Campbell, Tennessee

A garbage‐processing technology has been developed that sterilizes and separates inorganic and organic components of municipal solid waste. A study was initiated to evaluate the uncomposted organic by‐product of this process as a soil amendment for establishing native prairie grasses on disturbed Army training lands. The waste was incorporated into a silt loam soil at Fort Campbell Military Reservation in the central United States. The waste material was applied at rates of 0, 4.5, 9, 18, and 36 Mg ha−1 and seeded with native prairie grasses to assess its effects on vegetation for two growing seasons, with an additional unseeded control treatment for comparison to natural recovery. Treatments receiving the highest rate of application had significantly more native grass basal cover and percent composition than the controls. Plant phosphorus accumulation increased significantly with increasing pulp application. Soil phosphorus and lead concentrations increased in the top 10 cm of the highest application rates where pulp was mixed in the soil. Because minimal environmental effects were detected and the pulp improved perennial grass establishment and nutrition at the 36 Mg ha−1 rate, land application should be considered a viable and beneficial alternative to current waste‐management practices.
Human bone hardness seems to depend on tissue type but not on anatomical site in the long bones of an old subject

It has been hypothesised that among different human subjects, the bone tissue quality varies as a function of the bone segment morphology. The aim of this study was to assess and compare the quality, evaluated in terms of hardness of packages of lamellae, of cortical and trabecular bones, at different anatomical sites within the human skeleton. The contralateral six long bones of an old human subject were indented at different levels along the diaphysis and at both epiphyses of each bone. Hardness value, which is correlated to the degree of mineralisation, of both cortical and trabecular bone tissues was calculated for each indentation location. It was found that the cortical bone tissue was harder (+18%) than the trabecular one. In general, the bone hardness was found to be locally highly heterogeneous. In fact, considering one single slice obtained for a bone segment, the coefficient of variation of the hardness values was up to 12% for cortical bone and up to 17% for trabecular bone. However, the tissue hardness was on average quite homogeneous within and among the long bones of the studied donor, although differences up to 9% among levels and up to 7% among bone segments were found. These findings seem not to support the mentioned hypothesis, at least not for the long bones of an old subject.
Predictive validity of the multiple mini‐interview for selecting medical trainees

Introduction In this paper we report on further tests of the validity of the multiple mini‐interview (MMI) selection process, comparing MMI scores with those achieved on a national high‐stakes clinical skills examination. We also continue to explore the stability of candidate performance and the extent to which so‐called ‘cognitive’ and ‘non‐cognitive’ qualities should be deemed independent of one another.
Hepatitis C virus: evidence for sexual transmission.

OBJECTIVE--To determined the prevalence of hepatitis C virus infection and associated risk factors in patients attending a genitourinary medicine clinic, as evidence for sexual transmission. DESIGN--Seroprevalence estimated by reactivity in an enzyme immunoassay for antibodies to C100 protein with supplementary testing with a recombinant immunoblot assay and an assay for hepatitis C virus RNA. SETTING--Outpatient genitourinary medicine clinic in central London. PATIENTS--The panel of 1046 serum samples was from 1074 consecutive patients attending the clinic during November and December 1987 and having blood taken for routine testing for syphilis. Before samples were anonymised demographic and risk factor information was extracted from the clinic notes. Samples had already been tested for antibody to HIV-I and antibody to hepatitis B core antigen. MAIN RESULTS--Significantly more homosexual subjects than heterosexual subjects were positive for hepatitis C antibody determined by enzyme immunoassay alone (19/275 (6.9%) v 8/771 (1.0%), odds ratio 7.14, p less than 0.0001) and also when reactive serum samples were also tested by recombinant immunoblot assay (6/270) (2.2%) v 3/770 (0.4%), odds ratio 5.88, p less than 0.02). There were also significant associations in patients positive for hepatitis C antibody with positivity for antibodies to HIV and to hepatitis B core antigen, lifetime number of sexually transmitted diseases (homosexual men only), and age (all groups combined). Most patients whose serum samples contained specific antibodies to hepatitis C virus were viraemic. CONCLUSIONS--The study provides strong evidence for the sexual transmission of hepatitis C virus. Assays derived from other gene products are desirable to investigate the specificity and sensitivity of the enzyme immunoassay for C100 antibody as a marker of hepatitis C virus infection.
Snoring in French preschool children

The prevalence of habitual snoring and its associations with respiratory symptoms, personal and familial risk factors, ear, nose, and throat (ENT) abnormalities, and its influence on ventilatory function were studied in a sample of 190 children aged 5 to 6 years from nine kindergartens in Nancy (northeastern France). Nineteen (10%; 95% Cl 5.7–14.3%) of the children were habitual snorers; the prevalence was the same in boys and girls. In univariate analysis habitual snoring was significantly associated with a personal history of exercise‐induced bron‐chospasm [relative risk (RR) 4.50]; a history of adenotonsillectomy (RR, 2.56); a personal history of allergy (RR, 2.83); a sibling history of atopy (RR, 2.39); and doctor‐assessed tonsillar hypertrophy (RR, 2.51). These factors were entered into a logistic regression model that retained as independent determinants exercise‐induced asthma, personal history of allergy, sibling history of allergy, and tonsillar hypertrophy. The height‐adjusted peak expiratory flow rate was slightly, non‐significantly lower in habitual snorers as compared to non‐snorers (2.01 ± 0.32 vs 2.10 ± 0.38 L/s/m2). Due to the limited numbers in the sample, the increased risk for paternal (RR, 1.8) and maternal (RR, 1.6) smoking at home remained nonsignificant. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Orally bioavailable GSK-3alpha/beta dual inhibitor increases markers of cellular differentiation in vitro and bone mass in vivo.

UNLABELLED GSK-3, a component of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway, is implicated in regulation of bone mass. The effect of a small molecule GSK-3 inhibitor was evaluated in pre-osteoblasts and in osteopenic rats. GSK-3 inhibitor induced osteoblast differentiation in vitro and increased markers of bone formation in vitro and in vivo with concomitant increased bone mass and strength in rats. INTRODUCTION Inactivation of glycogen synthase kinase -3 (GSK-3) leads to stabilization, accumulation, and translocation of beta-catenin into the nucleus to activate downstream Wnt target genes. To examine whether GSK-3 directly regulates bone formation and mass we evaluated the effect of 603281-31-8, a small molecule GSK-3 alpha/beta dual inhibitor in preosteoblastic cells and in osteopenic rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS Murine mesenchymal C3H10T1/2 cells were treated with GSK-3 inhibitor (603281-31-8) and assayed for beta-catenin levels, activity of Wnt-responsive promoter, expression of mRNA for bone formation, and adipogenic markers and alkaline phosphatase activity. In vivo, 6-month-old rats were ovariectomized (OVX), allowed to lose bone for 1 month, and treated with GSK-3 inhibitor at 3 mg/kg/day orally for 60 days. At the end of treatment, BMD was measured by DXA, bone formation rate by histomorphometry, vertebral strength (failure in compression), and the expression levels of osteoblast-related genes by real-time PCR. RESULTS Treatment of C3H10T1/2 cells with the GSK-3 inhibitor increased the levels of beta-catenin accompanied by activation of Wnt-responsive TBE6-luciferase reporter gene. This was associated with an increased expression of mRNA for bone sialoprotein (1.4-fold), collagen alpha1 (I) (approximately 2-fold), osteocalcin (1.2-fold), collagen alpha1(V) (1.5-fold), alkaline phosphatase (approximately 160-fold), and runx2 (1.6-fold), markers of the osteoblast phenotype and bone formation activity. Alkaline phosphatase mRNA expression paralleled alkaline phosphatase activity. The mRNA levels of collagens alpha1 (I), alpha1 (V), biglycan, osteonectin, and runx-2 increased on treatment with the GSK-3 inhibitor in rat femur compared with the OVX control. DXA analyses revealed significant increases in BMC and BMD in cancellous and cortical bone of OVX rats treated with GSK-3 inhibitor. This was associated with increased strength (peak load, energy, and stiffness) assessed by lumbar vertebra load to failure in compression. Histomorphometric analyses showed that 603281-31-8 robustly increased bone formation but did not exclude a small effect on osteoclasts (resorption). CONCLUSIONS An orally active, small molecule GSK-3 inhibitor induced osteoblast differentiation and increased markers of bone formation in vitro, and increased markers of bone formation, bone mass, and strength in vivo, consistent with a role for the canonical Wnt pathway in osteogenesis.
CYP2A6 Gene Polymorphism and Personality Traits for NEO-FFI on the Smoking Behavior of Youths

We performed a survey on the relationship between nicotine dependence and psychological (the personality traits using neuroticism extroversion openess-five factor inventory (NEO-FFI)/nicotine metabolism (the CYP2A6 gene polymorphism) factors among Japanese young students to elucidate the mechanism of the development of nicotine dependence. As a result, the frequency of the CYP2A6*4C gene (enzyme activity deficit) was significantly (p < 0.05) higher among nonsmokers than smokers, and the Openness score by NEO-FFI was higher among smokers than nonsmokers. However, there were no significant differences in the Neuroticism, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Conscientiousness scores by NEO-FFI between smokers and nonsmokers. We conclude that the CYP2A6*4C gene and the Openness personality trait may affect the development of the smoking behavior of youth.
Instructions for use Title pfaB products determine the molecular species produced inbacterial polyunsaturated fatty acid biosynthesis

When pDHA4, a vector carrying all five pfaA–pfaE genes responsible for docosahexaenoic acid (DHA; 22:6) biosynthesis in Moritella marina MP-1, was coexpressed in Escherichia coli with the individual pfaA–pfaD genes for eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; 20:5) biosynthesis from Shewanella pneumatophori SCRC-2738, both polyunsaturated fatty acids were synthesized only in the recombinant carrying pfaB for EPA synthesis. Escherichia coli coexpressing a deleted construct comprising pfaA, pfaC, pfaD, and pfaE for EPA and pfaB for DHA produced EPA and DHA. Both EPA and DHA were detected in bacteria that inherently contained pfa genes for DHA. These results suggest that PfaB is the key enzyme determining the final product in EPA or DHA biosynthesis. Running Head: Bacterial polyunsaturated fatty acid molecular species
The Faster, the Better? The Impact of Internet Speed on Employment

Does faster broadband generate more economic benefits than normal-speed broadband? This study examines the differential economic impacts of broadband of different speeds. Utilizing the broadband availability and speed data from the National Broadband Map, a first-differenced regression analysis was conducted to investigate if faster broadband more effectively boosts the employment. The analysis shows a positive relationship between broadband availability and county-level employment. However, compared to normal-speed broadband, faster broadband did not generate greater positive effects on employment.
Oxygen isotopic exchange and fractionation during bacterial ammonia oxidation

We examined the oxygen isotopic systematics for ammonia oxidation, the first step in the regeneration of nitrate from ammonium. In particular, oxygen isotopic fractionation and exchange with water were evaluated for their roles in determining the δ18O of nitrite produced by four species of ammonia‐oxidizing bacteria (AOB). Microbially catalyzed oxygen isotopic exchange between nitrite and water was less than 25% at low cell densities (106 cells mL−1) and ammonium concentrations (less than 50 µmol L−1). The amount of exchange was relatively constant for a given species of ammonia oxidizer but varied between 1% and 25% among the four species tested. The δ18O value of nitrite produced at a given water δ18O value also varied by nearly 10% among the different species. Isotopic fractionation, either during oxygen (O2) incorporation by ammonia monooxygenase and/or water incorporation by hydroxylamine oxidoreductase plays an important role in setting the δ18O of nitrite produced by AOB. This work provides a detailed characterization of the oxygen isotopic systematics of ammonia oxidation by AOB, which will help us better interpret the oxygen isotopic distributions of nitrite, nitrate, and nitrous oxide in terrestrial and aquatic environments.
A variational r‐adaption and shape‐optimization method for finite‐deformation elasticity

This paper is concerned with the formulation of a variational r‐adaption method for finite‐deformation elastostatic problems. The distinguishing characteristic of the method is that the variational principle simultaneously supplies the solution, the optimal mesh and, in problems of shape optimization, the equilibrium shapes of the system. This is accomplished by minimizing the energy functional with respect to the nodal field values as well as with respect to the triangulation of the domain of analysis. Energy minimization with respect to the referential nodal positions has the effect of equilibrating the energetic or configurational forces acting on the nodes. We derive general expressions for the configurational forces for isoparametric elements and non‐linear, possibly anisotropic, materials under general loading. We illustrate the versatility and convergence characteristics of the method by way of selected numerical tests and applications, including the problem of a semi‐infinite crack in linear and non‐linear elastic bodies; and the optimization of the shape of elastic inclusions. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Homicide: A Study at Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok

The results of autopsies performed on homicide victims during a period of 10 years, 1972 to 1981, were studied. Post-mortem examination of 6080 unnatural deaths revealed that 468 (7.7 per cent) occurred as the result of homicide, with a male to female ratio of 9: 1. The most common age group was found to be between 20 and 39 years and the next most common 10 to 19 years. Homicidal cases involving victims over 60 years old were rare. The incidence of homicide was highest in the evening between 7.00–10.00 p.m. , and the crime occurred more frequently in summer than winter. In this series a gun was the most commonly used weapon; 219 cases (46–79 percent) involved firearms. The majority of cases were the results of personal disputes and were not associated with heavy drinking. The causes of death were mostly injuries to brain and chest.
Annual trend in the occurrence of antimicrobial drug residues particularly Chloramphenicol using a comparative detection methods in Federal Capital Territory ( FCT ) , Abuja , Nigeria

The use of chloramphenicol is highly restricted in many countries of the world because of its toxic effects. Several disease conditions of poultry have varied incidences between seasons of the year. Higher incidences may attract wrong application of the drug amongst farmers. This study consequently assessed the misuse of antimicrobial drugs, particularly chloramphenicol across seasons. Out of 2000 chicken egg sampled in 12 months, 370(18.5%) and 120(6.0%) were positive for antimicrobial drug residues (AMDR) and chloramphenicol residues (CAPR) respectively. Occurrences between the seasons showed no significant difference (P > 0.05). Mean concentrations however showed significant difference (P < 0.05) between the seasons with dry windy/harsh and dry humid seasons showing highest and lowest mean concentrations of (0.338±0.097 and 0.165±0.057)μg/L respectively with wet rainy season showing an intermediate mean concentration of 0.273±0.020 μg/L. Both analytic methods showed good correlation with correlation coefficient, r of 0.998. Accuracy was determined as average recovery rate of 84.0%.