Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Use of Standardized Patients in, Undergraduate Medical Genetics Education

Background and Purpose: To study the effectiveness of a standardized patient (SP) program in increasing the competence of medical students in assessing genetic risks and communicating genetic information to patients. Methods: Third-year medical students at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine had two encounters from 2001 to 2003 with the same SP, who portrayed a woman at risk for hereditary breast cancer. Assessment instruments included student self-assessment of skills, SP assessment of student communication skills, an observer checklist, grading of the student-drawn pedigree, and a knowledge test. Students also completed an evaluation form after the debriefing session at the end of each of the SP sessions. Results: The SP program was completed by 136 students. The student self-evaluation of skills instrument revealed that students who completed the SP program felt more competent in their ability to draw a pedigree, assess genetic risks based on family history and pedigree information, and communicate genetic risks compared to students at the same level of training who did not participate in the SP program. Of participating students, 90% agreed that the program allowed them to identify areas for improvement in their skills, and 95% agreed that the exercise increased their confidence for having a similar patient interaction in the future. Conclusions: The use of SPs in undergraduate medical genetics education may be one means for increasing the confidence of medical students in skills that are related to genetic encounters.
Comparison of Severity-of-Illness Scores in Critically Ill Obstetric Patients: A 6-Year Retrospective Cohort*

Objective:The purpose of this research was to evaluate the discrimination and calibration of mortality prediction of Simplified Acute Physiology Score 2, Simplified Acute Physiology Score 3, Mortality Probability Model II, and Mortality Probability Model III in peripartum women. Design:A retrospective cohort study. Setting:Rafael Calvo Maternity Hospital, a large teaching hospital in Cartagena (Colombia). Patients:All obstetric patients admitted to the ICU from 2006 to 2011. Interventions:None. Measurements and Main Results:Seven hundred twenty-six obstetric critical care patients were included. All scores showed good discrimination (area under the receiver operator characteristic curve > 0.86). Simplified Acute Physiology Score 2, Simplified Acute Physiology Score 3, and Mortality Probability Model III inaccurately estimated mortality. The only mortality prediction score that showed good calibration through mortality ratio and Hosmer-Lemeshow test was Mortality Probability Model II. Mortality ratio for Mortality Probability Model II was 0.88 (95% CI, 0.60–1.25). Hosmer-Lemeshow test was not significant (p = 0.571). Conclusions:Simplified Acute Physiology Score 2 and Simplified Acute Physiology Score 3 overestimate mortality in obstetric critical care patients. Mortality Probability Model III was inadequately calibrated. Mortality Probability Model II showed good fit to predict mortality in a developing country setting. Future studies in developed and developing countries are needed to further confirm our findings.
Direct v. Indirect Exposure to Trauma: An Insight to Officer Coping Mechanisms

Police officers serve a vital role in our communities and face particularly acute trauma and stress in the execution of their jobs. Therefore, it is critical to fully understand how police officers react in these situations. Studies have shown that officers endure a distinctive source of stress and are presented with the risk of exposure to traumatic events. Chopko & Schwartz (2012) surveyed 183 officers and found that more than 30% displayed symptoms of PTSD; however, this study focused on direct exposure to trauma. The current study expands this previous research to study the effects of indirect experiences of trauma. For the purpose of this study, direct exposure to trauma is any first-hand involvement with trauma—for example, engaging in fire—and indirect exposure to trauma is a secondhand interaction—for example, hearing about an assault. The current study uses the Impact of Event Scale-Revised instrument developed by Morris et al. (2005) and used by Chopko & Schwartz (2012) to assess PTSD-related symptoms of police officers in stressful events. This study assesses symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder as it relates to direct and indirect exposure to trauma, analyze officers' accessibility to employee assistance programs, and examine the officers' evaluation of these services.
Parent‐of‐origin, imprinting, mitochondrial, and X‐linked effects in traits related to alcohol dependence: Presentation Group 18 of Genetic Analysis Workshop 14

The participants of Presentation Group 18 of Genetic Analysis Workshop 14 analyzed the Collaborative Study on the Genetics of Alcoholism data set to investigate sex‐specific effects for phenotypes related to alcohol dependence. In particular, the participants looked at imprinting (which is also known as parent‐of‐origin effect), differences between recombination fractions for the two sexes, and mitochondrial and X‐chromosomal effects. Five of the seven groups employed newly developed or existing methods that take imprinting into account when testing for linkage, or test for imprinting itself. Single‐marker and multipoint analyses were performed for microsatellite as well as single‐nucleotide polymorphism markers, and several groups used a sex‐specific genetic map in addition to a sex‐averaged map. Evidence for paternal imprinting (i.e., maternal expression) was consistently obtained by at least two groups at genetic regions on chromosomes 10, 12, and 21 that possibly harbor genes responsible for alcoholism. Evidence for maternal imprinting (which is equivalent to paternal expression) was consistently found at a locus on chromosome 11. Two groups applied extensions of variance components analysis that model a mitochondrial or X‐chromosomal effect to latent class variables and electrophysiological traits employed in the diagnosis of alcoholism. The analysis, without using genetic markers, revealed mitochondrial or X‐chromosomal effects for several of these traits. Accounting for sex‐specific environmental variances appeared to be crucial for the identification of an X‐chromosomal factor. In linkage analysis using marker data, modeling a mitochondrial variance component increased the linkage signals obtained for autosomal loci. Genet. Epidemiol. 29(Suppl. 1):S125–S132, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Research analysis: Attracting, developing and retaining effective teachers: A global overview of current policies and practices

The Special Intergovernmental Conference on the Status of Teachers held in Paris on 5 October 1966 recognized: . the essential role of teachers in educational advancement and the importance of their contribution to the development of.modern society. In the four decades since the joint ILO/UNESCO Recommendation concerning the status of teachers was adopted, important changes that impacted on teachers have occurred. The locum of poverty has shifted from Asica to Africa where the HIV/Aids pandemic is at its most widespread. Expanding knowledge economies have provided a range of occupations for those who traditionally became teachers, a process affecting all parts of the world. The rapid pace of change in new communication technologies is impacting on economies and education systems alike. This overview looks at these factors and the implications for teachers in respect of: - teacher supply and retention; - teacher education reform; - innovations in the pre-service and continuing professional development (cpd) of teachers.
The crack problem for a nonhomogeneous plane

This study considers the plane elasticity problem for a nonhomogeneous medium containing a crack. It is assumed that the Poisson's ratio of the medium is constant and the Young's modulus E varies exponentially with the coordinate parallel to the crack. First the half plane problem is formulated and the solution is given for arbitrary tractions along the boundary. Then, the integral equation for the crack problem is derived. It is shown that the integral equation having the derivative of the crack surface displacement as the density function has a simple Cauchy-type kernel. Hence, its solution and the stresses around the crack tips have the conventional square-root singularity. The solution is given for various loading conditions. The results show that the effect of the Poisson's ratio and consequently that of the thickness constraint on the stress intensity factors are rather negligible. 14 references.
Enhanced neuronal differentiation in a three‐dimensional collagen‐hyaluronan matrix

Efficient 3D cell systems for neuronal induction are needed for future use in tissue regeneration. In this study, we have characterized the ability of neural stem/progenitor cells (NS/PC) to survive, proliferate, and differentiate in a collagen type I‐hyaluronan scaffold. Embryonic, postnatal, and adult NS/PC were seeded in the present 3D scaffold and cultured in medium containing epidermal growth factor and fibroblast growth factor‐2, a condition that stimulates NS/PC proliferation. Progenitor cells from the embryonic brain had the highest proliferation rate, and adult cells the lowest, indicating a difference in mitogenic responsiveness. NS/PC from postnatal stages down‐regulated nestin expression more rapidly than both embryonic and adult NS/PC, indicating a faster differentiation process. After 6 days of differentiation in the 3D scaffold, NS/PC from the postnatal brain had generated up to 70% neurons, compared with 14% in 2D. NS/PC from other ages gave rise to approximately the same proportion of neurons in 3D as in 2D (9–26% depending on the source for NS/PC). In the postnatal NS/PC cultures, the majority of βIII‐tubulin‐positive cells expressed glutamate, γ‐aminobutyric acid, and synapsin I after 11 days of differentiation, indicating differentiation to mature neurons. Here we report that postnatal NS/PC survive, proliferate, and efficiently form synapsin I‐positive neurons in a biocompatible hydrogel. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Monoclonal Antibody F89/160.1.5 Defines a Conserved Epitope on the Ruminant Prion Protein

ABSTRACT The transmissible spongiform encephalopathies are a heterogeneous group of fatal neurodegenerative disorders occurring in humans, mink, cats, and ruminant herbivores. The occurrence of novel transmissible spongiform encephalopathies in cattle in the United Kingdom and Europe and in mule deer and elk in parts of the United States has emphasized the need for reliable diagnostic tests with standardized reagents. Postmortem diagnosis is performed by histologic examination of brain sections from affected animals. The histopathological criteria for transmissible spongiform encephalopathies include gliosis, astrocytosis, neuronal degeneration, and spongiform change. These lesions vary in intensity and anatomic location depending on the host species and genetics, stage of disease, and infectious agent source. Diagnosis by histopathology alone may be ambiguous in hosts with early cases of disease and impossible if the tissue is autolyzed. Deposition of the prion protein (an abnormal isoform of a native cellular sialoglycoprotein) in the central nervous system is a reliable marker for infection, and immunohistochemical detection of this marker is a useful adjunct to histopathology. In the present paper we describe monoclonal antibody (MAb) F89/160.1. 5, which reacts with prion protein in tissues from sheep, cattle, mule deer, and elk with naturally occurring transmissible spongiform encephalopathies. This MAb recognizes a conserved epitope on the prion protein in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections after hydrated autoclaving. MAb F89/160.1. 5 will be useful in diagnostic and pathogenesis studies of the transmissible spongiform encephalopathies in these ruminant species.
The comparison of frequency of the upper limb musculoskeletal disorders among patients with diabetes type II with normal cases

Background and aim Musculoskeletal disease, that is recognized in diabetes and diabetes mellitus (DM) has shown a higher prevalence of chronic musculoskeletal complications. This study aimed at assessing the frequency of upper limb musculoskeletal disorders among patients with diabetes type II with normal cases in Mashhad, Iran. Methods A cross-section of 100 patients with upper limb musculoskeletal disorders were enrolled in this study. The patients were examined by a unique physician considering carpal tunnel syndrome disorder, trigger finger, adhesive capsulitis, and Dupuytren’s contracture at Ghaem hospital, Mashhad, Iran in 2015. All collected data were recorded by using SPSS version 21 and were analyzed through independent-samples t-test for comparing changes, and Chi-square. Results In this study, the mean age was 51.7±8.7 years old. Gender frequency was 114 (57%) male, and 86 (43%) female. There was no significant difference between groups in cases of gender frequency and mean of age (p>0.05). In evaluation of association between the two groups, there was significant difference for adhesive capsulitis, (p=0.04). Chi-square test showed significant association for age and adhesive capsulitis between the two groups, (p=0.040); but no other diabetes-related disorders, (p<0.05). Conclusion The results of this study showed that in patients with diabetes mellitus and musculoskeletal complications such as upper limb musculoskeletal abnormalities, it will lead to an increase in skeletal muscle effects in DM patients. It is recommended that musculoskeletal examination is done periodically in DM patients for identification of these disorders and necessary actions are carried out for prevention of the disorders as soon as possible.
Differences in Attitudes among Medical Students towards Psychiatry in One English University

Responses of 146 medical students in the final academic year on the Attitudes Towards Psychiatry Questionnaire were obtained before and after the clerkship in psychiatry. While there were no significant differences between the 57 men and 89 women, students' image of psychiatrists did not change but several initially held attitudes about psychiatric practice and training improved following the clerkship.
Methylenetetrahydrofolate Reductase Genotype in Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphomas with and without Hypermethylation of the DNA Repair Gene O6-Methylguanine DNA Methyltransferase

C677T and A1298C methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) polymorphisms have been suggested to affect susceptibility to malignant lymphoma, possibly by altering DNA methylation. The DNA repair gene O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) is transcriptionally silenced by promoter hypermethylation in diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCL). We analyzed the MTHFR677 and MTHFR1298 genotypes in 111 DLBCL patients and 465 controls. No significant difference in the frequency of MTHFR polymorphisms between patients and controls and no significant association between MTHFR677 or MTHFR1298 genotypes and methylation of MGMT promoter were observed. These results indicate that MTHFR variants are not related to DLBCL development and MGMT hypermethylation.
The Cross Attributes Flexible Substitution Logit: Uncovering Category Expansion and Share Impacts of Marketing Instruments

Different objectives such as category demand expansion or market share stealing warrant the use of different marketing instruments. To help brand managers make informed decisions, it is essential that marketing mix models appropriately measure their effects. Random Utility Models (RUM) that have been applied to this problem might not be adequate because they do not allow the effects of marketing instruments of one brand to spillover to preference for competing alternatives. Additionally, they possess the Invariant Proportion of Substitution (IPS) property, which in some situations imposes counter-intuitive restrictions on individual choice behavior. With the recognition that effects of marketing instruments can spillover across brands in a category, we then propose an alternative choice model that relaxes the IPS property – the “cross attributes flexible substitution logit” (CAFSL) model. We apply the model in two very different empirical settings: consumer choices of brands of refrigerated yogurt, and prescription-writing choices of physicians in the hyperlipidemia category. In both settings the proposed model provides consistent evidence that certain marketing instruments produce sales gains primarily from growing the category pie, while others produce gains from stealing share. By contrast, the random coefficient (RC) logit and generalized nested logit (GNL) models both predict that gains from all marketing instruments would have similar sources.
The integrated motivational-volitional model of suicidal behavior.

This chapter describes the Integrated Motivational‐Volitional (IMV) model of suicidal behavior, which accounts for the complex interplay between biology, psychology, and social factors in the etiology and course of suicidal behavior. The IMV model builds on the empirical and conceptual evidence from other models and perspectives and is able to make differential predictions in respect of suicidal ideation/intent and behavior. Although the development of the IMV model was influenced by a number of different models, the main drivers were the Theory of Planned Behavior, the diathesis–stress hypothesis, and the arrested flight model of suicidal behavior. As suicidology has been dominated by the search for risk factors since its inception, greater emphasis should also be given to the further identification and promotion of protective factors. Indeed, the IMV model identifies three stages along the motivational‐volitional pathway for potential intervention, not to mention numerous opportunities to ameliorate risk in the premotivational phase.
Evaluation of Individuals Deferred from Blood Donation for Medical Reasons 1

Modern techniques of blood collection require health screening of donors by non‐physicians using general guidelines. Health problems of concern to the donor and possible loss to future donation of actually healthy individuals are inherent in this acceptance and deferral process. Of the 108,908 donors presenting at the bloodmobiles of a regional blood center from September 1978 to February 1979, 9,542 were deferred. Of these, 1,203 with possible medical problems other than hepatitis, hypertension, or infectious disease were referred to their physician for further information concerning their suitability as donors. Over 80% had irregular pulses or histories suggestive of potential cardiovascular problems. The purpose of this study was to review the evaluation mechanism. Responses for evaluation were received from only 222 out of 1,203 (18%), and of these all but 29 (13%) were granted full permission to donate. Since only one evaluated individual with pulse or cardiovascular findings of possible significance was under the age of 35 years, this age is a reasonable cutoff for such deferrals. The minimum increase in collections with this change in deferral screening would be over 1,000 units per year in Connecticut, and perhaps 60,000 nationwide.
Genes in Dizygote Twins with Bowman Layer Corneal Dystrophy

Purpose To report a de novo R124C mutation of transforming growth factor &bgr;–induced (TGFBI) gene in one of dizygotic twins with corneal dystrophy of the Bowman layer. Case Report An 11-year-old boy was one of dizygotic twins and had a history of bilateral blurred vision and recurrent corneal erosion. Examination of the visual acuity demonstrated 20/40 in his each eye. Biomicroscopy showed bilaterally central corneal subepithelial opacities and some dot opacities in the superficial stroma. Anterior segment optical coherence tomography demonstrated most hyperreflective opacities at the subepithelial layer with some interspersed opacities in the superficial stroma. Confocal microscopy revealed irregular hyperreflective materials in the Bowman layer and the superficial stroma. Several rough filaments were found in the middle layer of stroma, corresponding to a feature of amyloid lattice. The corneas of his parents and dizygotic sister were clear. Sequencing of the TGFBI gene revealed an R124C mutation in the affected boy but not in his three healthy family members. Conclusions A de novo R124C mutation of the TGFBI gene may occur in one of dizygotic twins. Patients with an R124C mutation may have clinical features like corneal dystrophy of the Bowman layer. Confocal microscopy can be used to detect subclinical lattice lines, thereby facilitating differential diagnosis.
Rotator Cuff Ultrasonography: Diagnostic Capabilities

Abstract Dynamic shoulder ultrasonography is a noninvasive, accurate method used to assess the rotator cuff tendons. It can be incorporated into the in‐office physical examination of patients at risk for rotator cuff problems. The low cost, convenience, and lack of risk make dynamic ultrasonography an excellent imaging tool for evaluating the biceps, subscapularis, infraspinatus, teres minor, and supraspinatus tendons. In‐office ultrasound also provides an opportunity for patient education and explanation of management options.
Essential Role of p400/mDomino Chromatin-remodeling ATPase in Bone Marrow Hematopoiesis and Cell-cycle Progression*

p400/mDomino is an ATP-dependent chromatin-remodeling protein that catalyzes the deposition of histone variant H2A.Z into nucleosomes to regulate gene expression. We previously showed that p400/mDomino is essential for embryonic development and primitive hematopoiesis. Here we generated a conditional knock-out mouse for the p400/mDomino gene and investigated the role of p400/mDomino in adult bone marrow hematopoiesis and in the cell-cycle progression of embryonic fibroblasts. The Mx1-Cre- mediated deletion of p400/mDomino resulted in an acute loss of nucleated cells in the bone marrow, including committed myeloid and erythroid cells as well as hematopoietic progenitor and stem cells. A hematopoietic colony assay revealed a drastic reduction in colony-forming activity after the deletion of p400/mDomino. Moreover, the loss of p400/mDomino in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) resulted in strong growth inhibition. Cell-cycle analysis revealed that the mDomino-deficient MEFs exhibited a pleiotropic cell-cycle defect at the S and G2/M phases, and polyploid and multi-nucleated cells with micronuclei emerged. DNA microarray analysis revealed that the p400/mDomino deletion from MEFs caused the impaired expression of many cell-cycle-regulatory genes, including G2/M-specific genes targeted by the transcription factors FoxM1 and c-Myc. These results indicate that p400/mDomino plays a key role in cellular proliferation by controlling the expression of cell-cycle-regulatory genes.
A New Model of Two Directional$J_rm c$Distributions for$rm Bi_2rm Sr_2rm Carm Cu_2rm O_8$Materials

E-J properties of the high-Tc materials are related to the distribution of the local critical current density Jc. From the previous results on Bi2212 thick films and practical Ag-sheathed Bi2212 tapes, we found that the distribution of the local J c is much affected by microstructures, and the local Jc distribution becomes broad and asymmetric for well aligned plate-like Bi2212 grains. However, from a viewpoint of microstructures, the origin of the asymmetric Jc distribution remains unclear. In order to understand the relationship between the Jc distribution of Bi2212 materials and microstructure, we propose a "two directional Jc distribution model". In this model, the difference of the local Jc distributions for various kinds of Bi2212 samples was explained in terms of the two different directional current flows and the aspect ratio of the grains. Moreover, the possibility of the small n-value even for high Jc materials in Bi2212 is also shown