Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Training in Transvaginal Sonography Using Pelvic Ultrasound Simulators Versus Live Models: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Purpose To compare pelvic ultrasound simulators (PSs) with live models (LMs) for training in transvaginal sonography (TVS). Method The authors conducted a prospective, randomized controlled trial of 145 eligible medical students trained in TVS in 2011–2012 with either a PS or an LM. A patient educator was used for LM training. Simulated intrauterine and ectopic pregnancy models were used for PS training. Students were tested using a standardized patient who evaluated their professionalism. A proctor, blinded to training type, scored their scanning technique. Digital images were saved for blinded review. Students rated their training using a Likert scale (0 = not very well; 10 = very well). The primary outcome measure was students’ overall performance on a 40-point assessment tool for professionalism, scanning technique, and image acquisition. Poisson regression and Student t test were used for comparisons. Results A total of 134 students participated (62 trained using a PS; 72 using an LM). Mean overall test scores were 56% for the PS group and 69% for the LM group (P = .001). A significant difference was identified in scanning technique (PS, 60% versus LM, 73%; P = .001) and image acquisition (PS, 37% versus LM, 59%; P = .001). None was observed for professionalism. The PS group rated their training experience at 4.4, whereas the LM group rated theirs at 6.2 (P < .001). Conclusions Simulators do not perform as well as LMs for training novices in TVS, but they may be useful as an adjunct to LM training.
Statistical (and Racial) Discrimination, 'Ban the Box', and Crime Rates

This article studies interactions between criminal behavior and employment dynamics in a setting where employees belong to one of two groups. Employers can statistically discriminate based on group membership as well as criminal records. It first shows that “self-fulfilling expectations” cannot exist when there are diminishing returns to deterrence from increasing expected sanctions. This eliminates the possibility of multiple equilibria within groups, and suggests that statistical discrimination by employers can only be motivated by differences across groups’ criminal tendencies. This type of statistical discrimination typically leads to an increase in crime, and the article identifies sufficient conditions for this result. This suggests that societies in which group membership is salient (e.g. due to racial heterogeneity) are, ceteris paribus, likely to have higher crime rates. Attempting to fix the negative impacts of statistical discrimination through policies that reduce the visibility of criminal records (e.g. ban the box) increases crime further. Moreover, such policies cause greater negative effects for law abiding members of the higher-criminal-tendency group, which is consistent with the unintended consequences associated with ban the box campaigns discussed in the empirical literature.
A comparison of adverse reaction rates for PAS C versus plasma platelet units

Plasma constituents have been implicated in some types of platelet (PLT) transfusion reactions. Leukoreduced apheresis PLTs stored in InterSol have 65% less plasma than apheresis PLTs stored in 100% plasma (PPs). This study compared transfusion reaction rates in InterSol PLTs (PLT additive solution [PAS] C) versus PPs.
Antibody to a synthetic oligopeptide in subjects at risk for human immunodeficiency virus infection

Detection of antibodies to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) is the accepted method to screen blood products at risk to transmit infection. The presence of antibodies to HIV in 565 serum specimens from 274 patients with acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or AIDS-related complex, symptomatic and asymptomatic subjects at risk for AIDS, and controls was determined with an ELISA that incorporates synthetic peptides (designated E32/E34) representing sequences in the envelope glycoprotein gp41. Of 105 specimens from patients with AIDS or AIDS-related complex, 3 specimens that were negative by commercially licensed ELISA and immunoblot test were similarly unreactive in the E32/E34 ELISA. For homosexual men with generalized lymphadenopathy, 186 specimens were positive by the E32/E34 ELISA and 63 specimens were negative. In comparison, with the licensed ELISA, 184 of these samples were positive and 65 samples were negative. The two samples that were positive in the E32/E34 ELISA but not the commercial kit were also positive by immunoblotting. Sequential sera from one individual who apparently underwent seroconversion according to the commercial assays were all positive by E32/E34 ELISA and immunoblotting. Thus, the ELISA with synthetic peptides is an extremely sensitive and specific test of antibody response to HIV and has not yet yielded a negative result with a Western blot (immunoblot)-confirmed antibody-positive serum.
Effect of Framework in an Implant-Supported Full-Arch Fixed Prosthesis: 3D Finite Element Analysis.

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to analyze through a three-dimensional finite element analysis (3D-FEA) stress distribution on four implants supporting a full-arch implant-supported fixed prosthesis (FFP) using different prosthesis designs. MATERIALS AND METHODS A 3D edentulous maxillary model was created and four implants were virtually placed into the maxilla and splinted, simulating an FFP without framework, with a cast metal framework, and with a carbon fiber framework. An occlusal load of 150 N was applied, stresses were transmitted into peri-implant bone, and prosthodontic components were recorded. RESULTS 3D-FEA revealed higher stresses on the implants (up to +55.16%), on peri-implant bone (up to +56.93%), and in the prosthesis (up to +70.71%) when the full-acrylic prosthesis was simulated. The prosthesis with a carbon fiber framework showed an intermediate behavior between that of the other two configurations. CONCLUSION This study suggests that the presence of a rigid framework in full-arch fixed prostheses provides a better load distribution that decreases the maximum values of stress at the levels of implants, prosthesis, and maxillary bone.
Being at home: Global citizenship in Norwegian schools. A study of children’s poems

The paper addresses the question of self-perceived identity in children attending international schools in Norway. In this population, the distinction between “home culture” and “host culture” is no longer relevant, since most of the children represent “hyphenated” (e.g. Asian-British or American-Scandinavian) or merged nationalities and cultures. The goal of the study is to investigate how these pupils define themselves and the notion of “home”. To achieve at least a preliminary picture of the children’s self-perception, the authors have analysed poems on two topics: Me and Home, written by pupils of an international school and a Norwegian school, both informant groups aged 11-13. A semantic analysis of the poems indicates that the international school children present strong assertions of individual identity as defined against societal roles, while the Norwegian school pupils do not conceptualize identity formation as a struggle and their poems reflect a high degree of social, familial and national integration.
Excess Mortality, Institutionalization and Homelessness Among Status Indians in Canada

In this paper we use confidential-use Census and administrative data to produce the first national estimates of excess mortality, institutionalization and homelessness for the largest Indigenous population in Canada from the ages of 5 to 64. We identify mortality rates at least twice the Canadian average and find exceptionally high mortality rates for young Indigenous women and girls – up to four times the Canadian average at certain ages. We show mortality rates are even higher on reserve – up to five times the Canadian average. These relative mortality rates are higher than the relative mortality rates of African Americans and the Native Americans to non-Hispanics in the United States. We also estimate very high rates of institutionalization and homelessness, especially among men and as a result there are stark gender ratio imbalances among this population. We speculate that this gender imbalance may play a role in excess female mortality in addition to several other socioeconomic factors.
Prevalence and Risk Factors for Human Papillomavirus and Cervical Intraepithelial Neoplasia Among HIV-Positive Women at a Tertiary Level Hospital in India

Objectives. The hypothesis to be tested was that the prevalence of human papillomavirus (HPV) and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia would be significantly higher in HIV seropositive women as compared with seronegative controls. Secondary aims were to determine the risk factors for HPV and cervical intraepithelial neoplasia and the HPV types in HIV-positive women. Materials and Methods. A cross-sectional study of women 18 to 49 years old was done. Seventy-five women who were HIV seropositive and 58 seronegative women, of whom 27 had HIV-positive partners, participated in the study. A Pap smear and a cervical swab for HPV were done. Women with Pap smear abnormality underwent colposcopy and large loop excision procedures if indicated. Results. Ten (13.3%) HIV-positive women had high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesion as compared with 2 (3.4%) seronegative women (odds ratio [OR] 4.3; 95% CI = 0.9-41.7; p =.048). Among the HIV-positive women, 28 (37.3%) had high-risk HPV, whereas only 9 (15.5%) had high-risk HPV among seronegative women (OR 3.2; 95% CI = 1.3-8.3; p =.009). Among women who were positive for high-risk HPV, the HIV-positive women were significantly more likely to have more than 1 HPV type (OR 7.4; 95% CI = 1.4-43.7; p =.005). Women who had coitus at less than 18 years of age were more likely to have high-risk HPV infection (OR 2.9; 95% CI = 1.2-6.2; p =.013) even after controlling for HIV status. Conclusions. HIV-positive women have a higher risk for multiple HPV infections as compared with seronegative women. Behavioral factors dominate HIV in determining HPV infections and resultant cervical neoplasia.
[Adrenal incidentalomas].

Since the early 1980s, incidentally discovered adrenal masses have become a common clinical problem as a result of the more widespread use of abdominal imaging procedures. Once identified, an adrenal lesion must be characterized as to its functional status and malignant potential. The evaluation of these masses include clinical, hormonal, radiological and scintigraphic data. Optimal treatment of these patients require an agreement between endocrinologist, radiologist and surgeon. The presence of an hypersecretion will prompt a surgical intervention. In the vast majority of cases, the mass will be hormonally nonhypersecretory. Than the possibility of primary or metastatic malignancy must be excluded. The arguments for benign nonhypersecretory mass are mainly a enhanced CT attenuation coefficient of 0 HU or less, a small size (< or = 3 cm of diameter), typical feature of benign mass on CT scan. In the presence of those features non further investigation are necessary, and a reevaluation will be done regularly. We recommended surgery for adrenals at high risk of malignancy: 1. CT attenuation coefficient of more than 10 HU; 2. large (> 5 cm) diameter or increase in size at any reevaluation; 3. picture of intratumoral necrosis, hemorrhage or irregular margins.
Relationship between the occurrence of symptoms of anxiety and depression, quality of life, and level of acceptance of illness in patients with type 2 diabetes.

OBJECTIVES To determine the occurrence of symptoms of anxiety and depression in patients with type 2 diabetes, as well as to assess the relationship between the occurrence of symptoms of anxiety and depression, quality of life, and level of acceptance of illness of patients in northeastern Poland. METHODS A cross-sectional study was conducted on 126 patients with type 2 diabetes in the Department of Endocrinology, Diabetes and Internal Diseases, Medical University of Bialystok, Bialystok, Poland from February 2010 to March 2011. Three questionnaires were administered: Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale, Acceptance of Illness Scale, and SF-36v2 Scale. RESULTS Symptoms of anxiety were found in 30.4% of patients and depression in 32%, more often in women than men (20.6% versus 10.3% for anxiety and 22.2% versus 10.3% for depression). Multiple regression analysis revealed that 50% of variance on the illness acceptance scale affected the quality of life in relation to the general health PCS and MCS. CONCLUSION Symptoms of anxiety and depression adversely affect the degree of acceptance of illness and significantly lower the quality of life in patients with diabetes. Lowered quality of life is an important predictor of worse acceptance of illness by patients.
Activation of humoral immunity and eosinophils in neuromyelitis optica

Objective: To study immunologic alterations in patients with neuromyelitis optica (NMO). Methods: The authors studied 8 patients with NMO together with 16 healthy subjects, 16 patients with relapsing remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS), and 16 patients with secondary progressive MS (SPMS), matched for age and sex, as controls. Because recent histopathologic studies have demonstrated that active NMO lesions consist of perivascular immunoglobulin (Ig) deposition and eosinophil infiltration, IL-5, IL-6, IL-12, IgG, and IgM production by anti-myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG) mononuclear cells in peripheral blood and CSF were selected for study using ELISPOT. Eotaxin-2 (Eo-2) and eotaxin-3 (Eo-3) levels were also assessed using ELISA and eosinophil cationic protein (ECP) levels by radioimmunoassay. Results: MOG-specific responses in CSF showed significant increase in IL-5, IL-6, IgG, and IgM secreting cells in NMO patients compared with patients with RRMS, SPMS and healthy subjects. Interestingly, numbers of IgM secreting cells were significantly higher than identical specificity IgG secreting ones. Moreover, CSF Eo-2, Eo-3, and ECP levels were also significantly higher in NMO patients compared to all three control populations. Anti-MOG IL-12 secreting cells were increased in CSF and peripheral blood from NMO, RRMS, and SPMS patients when compared to healthy subjects. Conclusions: These observations suggest that neuromyelitis optica is associated with a major humoral immune response (particularly anti-MOG IgM production) and eosinophil activation present exclusively in CSF.
Methods for pharmacokinetic analysis in young children

Introduction: Pediatric physiology and disease states are often complex and are distinct from adults. Pediatric clinicians and scientists, as well as governmental regulators, are increasingly concerned with the necessity to optimize clinical pharmacological study design to achieve appropriate drug-dosing practices for various pediatric populations. Areas covered: There are significant challenges in clinical trial design, implementation and analysis that are unique to pediatric populations. Innovative techniques of sample preparation and analysis of pharmacokinetic (PK) studies as well as modern methods of data analysis, including PK modeling and simulation, that address some of these challenges are reviewed along with recent examples from the literature. Expert opinion: There have been clear and exciting advances in the understanding of pediatric clinical pharmacology in the areas of clinical trial design and sample analysis, as well as PK and pharmacodynamic modeling and simulation. Further advances require collaboration and interdisciplinary efforts from multiple specialties in both academia and industry. Ideally, these efforts will then not only provide informed and individualized dosing for pediatric patients but will also provide new methods and algorithms for broader use of new pharmacotherapeutic agents or applications.
What drives compliance? An application of the theory of planned behaviour to urban water restrictions using structural equation modelling

ABSTRACT This article presents analysis of households’ intentions to comply with government constraints on the use of urban water, or so-called water restrictions. The data are drawn from Australian cities and was collected during a severe drought. Structural equation modelling is employed to operationalize constructs taken from the theory of planned behaviour and to answer important policy questions related to compliance. The modelled data support the view that attitudes, social norms and perceived behavioural control (PBC) have a positive and significant influence on intentions to comply. PBC has the strongest influence on intentions, suggesting policy directed at assisting households to meet regulatory criteria might be at least as effective as advertising expenditures aimed at shaping attitudes and norms. Importantly, intentions to comply are also shown to have a positive and significant influence on reported compliance behaviour.
Real-time in vivo visualization of oxidative stress in duckweed (Lemna minor L.)

An experimental set-up which enabled non-invasive, real-time reactive oxygen species (ROS) visualization on a whole plant level was constructed. In the test organism, Lemna minor L. (common duckweed), apoplastic and symplastic oxidative stress was evaluated by exposure to menadione (50 μM), menadione (50 μM) + ascorbate (100 μM) or neither for control. Menadione (50 μM) caused a statistically significant increase in H2DCFDA fluorescence in the apoplast after 60 minutes of exposure. The addition of ascorbate (100 μM) in the test medium significantly decreased apoplastic oxidative stress. 50 μM menadione caused an increase in symplastic H2DCFDA fluorescence in 57% of fronds. The exposure of L. minor plants to both menadione and ascorbate decreased the rate of fluorescence intensity accumulation in the symplast to control levels. The method has proven to be quick and straightforward and could be applied to a range of chemicals in various physiological and toxicological plant studies. The advantages of the set-up and different possible artefacts are discussed.
Which comes first? psychogenic dizziness versus otogenic anxiety

Objective: To investigate the hypotheses that physical neurotologic conditions may trigger anxiety disorders (otogenic pattern of illness), that psychiatric disorders may produce dizziness (psychogenic pattern), and that risk factors for these syndromes may be identified. Study Design: Retrospective review of all patients (N = 132) treated at a tertiary care balance center from 1998 to 2002 for psychogenic dizziness with or without physical neurotologic illnesses. Methods: All patients underwent comprehensive neurotologic and psychiatric evaluations with attention to the longitudinal course of symptoms and risk factors for psychopathology. Patients were grouped according to the condition first causing dizziness. Risk factors were compared across groups. Results: Three equally prevalent patterns of illness were found: anxiety disorders as the sole cause of dizziness (33% of cases), neurotologic conditions exacerbating preexisting psychiatric disorders (34%), and neurotologic conditions triggering new anxiety or depressive disorders (33%). Panic disorder and agoraphobia were significantly more prevalent than less severe phobias in the first two groups, whereas the opposite pattern existed in the third group (P < .0001). More patients in the first two groups had risk factors for anxiety disorders (P < .05). Depression was not a primary cause of dizziness in any patient. Vestibular neuronitis, benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, and migraine were the most common neurotologic conditions. Conclusions: These data support the hypothesis that physical neurotologic conditions may trigger psychopathology as often as primary anxiety disorders cause dizziness. A third pattern appears to be equally common wherein physical neurotologic conditions exacerbate preexisting psychiatric illnesses. Individuals at risk for anxiety disorders may be more likely to have primary psychopathology.
Metal-ion-promoted dephosphorylation of the 5'-triphosphates of uridine and thymidine, and a comparison with the reactivity in the corresponding cytidine and adenosine nucleotide systems.

First-order rate constants (50 degrees C; I = 0.1 M, NaClO4) for the dephosphorylation of UTP and TTP (1 mM) in the pH range 2-10 are compared with those of ATP and CTP; they all show the same properties indicating that the nucleic base has no influence on the rate. In the presence of Cu2+ or Zn2+ (NTP:M2+ = 1:1) this changes drastically: ATP-M2+ much greater than UTP-M2+ approximately equal to TTP-M2+ approximately equal to CTP-M2+ greater than NTP, the Cu2+ systems being always more reactive than the Zn2+ systems, and these more than the Ni2+ systems. An interaction between the nucleic base and metal ion is important for the Cu2+-ATP and Zn2+-ATP systems, but not for the pyrimidine-nucleotide systems (these behave like methyltriphosphate). Accordingly, prevention of the Cu2+-purine interaction by the addition of one equivalent of 2,2'-bipyridyl, leading to Cu(Bpy) (NTP)2-, strongly reduces the activity and all four ternary Cu2+ systems now show the same dephosphorylation rate. Addition of a second equivalent of Cu2+ to the Cu2+-UTP 1:1 system enhances the dephosphorylation rate significantly and Job's method provides evidence that a 2:1 complex is the most reactive intermediate. The relation between the initial rate, vo = d[PO3-4]/dt, and the concentration of Cu2+-UTP in 1:1 and 2:1 systems was determined. The results suggest that the reactive complex with pyrimidine nucleotides is a monomeric, dinuclear species of the type M2(NTP) (OH)- (its formation is inhibited by ligands like tryptophanate), while with M2+-ATP the reactive complex is a dimer. The connection between the indicated dephosphorylations in vitro, i.e. trans-phosphorylations to H2O, and related reactions in vivo are discussed.
Morphological changes in rat tracheal mucosa immediately after antigen challenge.

We have investigated the morphological effects of an intratracheal challenge with 50 micrograms ovalbumin (OA) on sensitized rat tracheas, in vivo. Female Sprague-Dawley rats were primed ten days before challenge with a single i.t. injection of 100 micrograms OA plus Bordetella pertussis (OA-BP). Two additional groups of animals served as controls: primed animals challenged with saline only and non-primed but OA-challenged animals. Sacrifices--and subsequent morphological studies--were performed prior to and 5, 15 and 60 min after challenge. At each time, the total numbers of epithelial nuclei, subepithelial mast cells (SEMC) and intraepithelial mast cells (IEMC) were scored in six non-adjacent cross sections per trachea. We found that: 1) priming with OA-BP alone did not induce any change in the tracheal mucosa with respect to morphological structure and mast cell counts; 2) no morphological change nor significant modification of the cell counts occurred at any time in tracheas from either of the control groups; 3) in contrast, a luminal heterogeneous exudate and a subepithelial oedema developed in 9 of the 15 tracheas of primed animals within 60 min of OA challenge. In those nine tracheas, the scores of intraepithelial nuclei, of IEMC and of SEMC were found to decrease significantly 15 min after challenge as compared with starting values (p less than 0.05 for each score). The decrease in the number of mucosal mast cells is probably related to the damages of the epithelial cells and to the difficulty with which depleted mast cells can be seen by toluidine blue staining.