Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Resident Performance on the In-Training and Board Examinations in Obstetrics and Gynecology: Implications for the ACGME Outcome Project

Background: The Accreditation Council on Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) Outcomes Project has endorsed the in-training examination (ITE) as an example of a multiple-choice question examination that is a valid measure of a resident's attainment of medical knowledge. An outcome measure for performance on the ITE would be the subsequent performance on the board certification examination. However, there are few reports that attempt to correlate a resident's performance on the ITE to subsequent performance on the board certification examination. Purpose: The Council on Resident Education in Obstetrics and Gynecology (CREOG) has administered the ITE annually since 1970. This study tested the hypothesis that the CREOG–ITE score is a valid assessment tool to predict performance on the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ABOG) written examination. Methods: CREOG–ITE and ABOG written board examination results were collected for 69 resident graduates between the years 1998 and 2005. Logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic analyses were used to estimate the relationship between a resident's score on the CREOG–ITE and subsequent performance on the ABOG written examination. Results: Fifty-seven resident graduates passed (82.6%) and 12 graduates failed (17.4%) the ABOG written examination. The correlation between the CREOG–ITE overall score and performance on the ABOG examination was weak (correlation coefficient =.38, p =.001). Receiver operating characteristic analysis for the CREOG–ITE overall scores and the probability of passing or failing the ABOG examination revealed moderate accuracy (area under the curve = 0.77, 95% CI = 0.62–0.92) with a CREOG–ITE score of 187.5 yielding the best trade-off between specificity (0.79) and sensitivity (0.75). At the cutoff value of 187.5 there was a weak positive predictive value of 43% (i.e., 43% of residents with a score less than 187.5 will fail the ABOG exam) and a strong negative predictive value of 94% (i.e., 94% of the residents with a score above 187.5 will pass the ABOG exam). Logistic regression analysis also revealed a statistically significant relationship between the CREOG–ITE overall score and performance on the ABOG written examination (p = .003). Conclusions: Similar to other specialties, resident performance on the CREOG–ITE is a weak assessment tool to predict the probability of a resident failing the ABOG written examination. Our study highlights the need, in the spirit of the ACGME Outcome Project, for residency and board specialty organizations to coordinate efforts to develop more reliable and correlative measures of a resident's medical knowledge and ability to pass the boards.
Tourist demand characterization. Andean cultural festival Inti Raymi (Ecuador)

ABSTRACT The present empirical work was carried out in situ and using a questionnaire it tries to analyze the demand of the “Inti Raymi” cultural festival, the motivations and satisfaction of its visitors. This festival is held once a year at the Archaeological Complex of Ingapirca located in the province of Cañar in Ecuador. It is a symbol of gratitude of the Andean community to the “Taita Inti” (Father Sun) and the “Paccha Mama” (Mother Earth) for the kindness to allow a good production and harvest of traditional products. During the investigation it was found that the main motivations for attending were: enjoy the culture of Ingapirca, attend an Andean Folk Festival, fun and relaxation. In addition, the results show a high satisfaction of the tourists in the Festival.
Chromatin dynamics in living cells: Identification of oscillatory motion

Genomic DNA in mammalian cells is organized into ∼1 Mbp chromatin domains (ChrD) which represent the basic structural units for DNA compaction, replication, and transcription. Remarkably, ChrD are highly dynamic and undergo both translational movement and configurational changes. In this study, we introduce an automated motion tracking analysis to measure, both in 2D and 3D, the linear displacement of early, mid and late S‐phase replicated ChrD over short time periods (<1 sec). We conclude that previously identified large‐scale transitions in the spatial position and configuration of chromatin, originate from asymmetric oscillations of the ChrD detectable in fractions of a second. The rapid oscillatory motion correlates with the replication timing of the ChrD with early S replicated ChrD showing the highest levels of motion and late S‐phase chromatin the lowest. Virtually identical levels of oscillatory motion were detected when ChrD were measured during active DNA replication or during inhibition of transcription with DRB or α‐amanitin. While this motion is energy independent, the oscillations of early S and mid S, but not late S replicated chromatin, are reduced by cell permeabilization. This suggests involvement of soluble factors in the regulation of chromatin dynamics. The DNA intercalating agent actinomycin D also significantly inhibits early S‐labeled chromatin oscillation. We propose that rapid asymmetric oscillations of <1 sec are the basis for translational movements and configurational changes in ChrD previously detected over time spans of minutes–hours, and are the result of both the stochastic collisions of macromolecules and specific molecular interactions. J. Cell. Physiol. 228: 609–616, 2013. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
The versatility of spectrum analysis for forecasting financial time series

The versatility of the oneâ€ dimensional discrete wavelet analysis combined with wavelet and Burg extensions for forecasting financial times series with distinctive properties is illustrated with market data. Any time series of financial assets may be decomposed into simpler signals called approximations and details in the framework of the oneâ€ dimensional discrete wavelet analysis. The simplified signals are recomposed after extension. The final output is the forecasted time series which is compared to observed data. Results show the pertinence of adding spectrum analysis to the battery of tools used by econometricians and quantitative analysts for the forecast of economic or financial time series.
RAT PHARMACOKINETICS AND PHARMACODYNAMICS OF A SUSTAINED RELEASE FORMULATION OF THE GABAA α5-SELECTIVE COMPOUND L-655,708

The pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic (i.e., receptor occupancy) properties of L-655,708, a compound with selectivity for α5-over α1-, α2-, and α3-containing GABAA receptors, were examined in rats with the aim of developing a formulation that would give sustained (up to 6 h) and selective occupancy of α5-containing GABAA receptors suitable for behavioral studies. Standard rat pharmacokinetic analyses showed that L-655,708 has a relatively short half-life with kinetics in the brain mirroring those in the plasma. In vivo binding experiments showed that plasma concentrations of around 100 ng/ml gave relatively selective in vivo occupancy of rat brain α5-versus α1-, α2-, and α3-containing GABAA receptors. Therefore, this plasma concentration was chosen as a target to achieve relatively selective occupancy of α5-containing receptors using s.c. implantations of L-655,708 (0.4, 1.5, or 2.0 mg) formulated into tablets of various size (20 or 60 mg) containing different amounts of L-655,708 and combinations of low and high viscosity hydroxypropyl methylcellulose (LV- and HV-HPMC). The optimum formulation, 1.5 mg of L-655,708 compressed into a 60-mg tablet with 100% HV-HPMC, resulted in relatively constant plasma concentrations being maintained for at least 6 h with very little difference between Cmax concentrations (125–150 ng/ml) and plateau concentrations (100–125 ng/ml). In vivo binding experiments confirmed the selective occupancy of rat brain α5-over α1-, α2-, and α3-containing GABAA receptors.
Bioactive proteins and peptides from food sources. Applications of bioprocesses used in isolation and recovery.

There are many examples of biologically active food proteins, with physiological significance beyond the pure nutritional requirements that concern available nitrogen for normal growth and maintenance. Moreover, there are many physiologically active peptides, derived by protease activity from various food protein sources; however, relationships between structural properties and functional activities have not been completely elucidated. Many bioactive peptides have in common structural properties that include a relatively short peptide residue length (e.g. 2-9 amino acids), possessing hydrophobic amino acid residues in addition to proline, lysine or arginine groups. Bioactive peptides are also resistant to the action of digestion peptidases. Antihypertensive peptides, known as Angiotensin I converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors have been derived from milk, corn and fish protein sources. Peptides with opioid activities are derived from wheat gluten or casein, following digestion with pepsin. Exorphins, or opioid peptides derived from food proteins such as wheat and milk (e.g. exogenous sources) have similar structure to endogenous opioid peptides, with a tyrosine residue located at the amino terminal or bioactive site. Immunomodulatory peptides derived from tryptic hydrolysates of rice and soybean proteins act to stimulate superoxide anions (reactive oxygen species-ROS), which triggers non-specific immune defense systems. Antioxidant properties that prevent peroxidation of essential fatty acids have also been shown for peptides derived from milk proteins. The addition of a Leu or Pro residue to the N-terminus of a His-His, dipeptide will enhance antioxidant activity and facilitate further synergy with non-peptide antioxidants (e.g. BHT). We also show herein, that the tryptic digests of casein yielding caseinophosphopeptides exhibits both hydrophilic and lipophilic antioxidant activity due to both metal ion sequestering and quenching of ROS. The separation and purification of bioactive peptides which will involve development of automated and continuous systems is an important field for Food chemists. Much effort has been given to develop selective column chromatography methods that can replace batch methods of salting out, or using solvent extraction to isolate and purify bioactive peptides. Advances here will enable recovery of bioactive peptides with minimal destruction thus enabling utilization by returning these active peptides to functional food or specific nutraceutical applications.
Inflammatory breast cancer: a review.

PURPOSE The natural history of inflammatory breast cancer and the recent advances in its management were reviewed. DESIGN The English medical literature from 1924 to 1990 was reviewed using the Cancerline and Medline retrieval systems, and through a manual review of bibliographies of identified articles. RESULTS The majority of patients with inflammatory breast cancer treated only with local therapies died 18 to 24 months after diagnosis. A combined modality approach with chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy has improved disease-free and overall survival rates for inflammatory breast cancer. Approximately 35% to 55% of patients treated with combined modality regimens remain disease-free and alive at 5 years. CONCLUSION Induction combination chemotherapy administered with radiation therapy, mastectomy, both, or with additional chemotherapy favorably alters the natural history of inflammatory breast cancer. New drug combinations and high-dose chemotherapy with autologous bone marrow support are being evaluated to improve further patient survival.
Simulation analysis of geostionary passive microwave observation for tropical cyclone

The passive microwave observations from geostationary earth orbit (GEO) are able to enhance the short-time forecasting of tropical cyclones (TCs) due to its ability to track and detect the internal structure of TCs. To assess the operational capabilities of the candidate GEO microwave instruments, the numerical simulations of GEO microwave observation for the three TC cases were carried out. This paper compares the abilities of 3 candidate passive microwave sensors, based on GEM/GOMAS, GeoSTAR and GIMS-II respectively, to observe the upwelling brightness temperatures of TCs at 50–57GHz band. The analysis is based on WRF model variables and radiative transfer mode DOTLRT.
Motivational interviewing and interaction skills training for parents of young adults with recent-onset schizophrenia and co-occurring cannabis use: 15-month follow-up

Background There is a clear need for effective interventions to reduce cannabis use in patients with first-episode psychosis. This follow-up of a randomized trial examined whether an intervention for parents, based on motivational interviewing and interaction skills (Family Motivational Intervention, FMI), was more effective than routine family support (RFS) in reducing cannabis use in patients with recent-onset schizophrenia. Method In a single-blind trial with 75 patients in treatment for recent-onset schizophrenia, 97 parents were randomly assigned to either FMI or RFS. Assessments were conducted at baseline and at 3 and 15 months after the interventions had been ended. Analyses were performed on an intention-to-treat basis using mixed-effect regression models. Results From baseline to the 15-month follow-up, there was a significantly greater reduction in FMI compared to RFS in patients’ quantity (p = 0.01) and frequency (p < 0.01) of cannabis use. Patients’ craving for cannabis use was also significantly lower in FMI at 15 months follow-up (p < 0.01). Both groups improved in parental distress and sense of burden; however, only FMI parents’ appraisal of patients’ symptoms showed further improvement at the 15-month follow-up (p < 0.05). Conclusions The results support the sustained effectiveness of FMI in reducing cannabis use in patients with recent-onset schizophrenia at 15 months follow-up. Findings were not consistent with regard to the long-term superiority of FMI over RFS in reducing parents’ distress and sense of burden.
Crohn's disease intestinal CD4+ T cells have impaired interleukin-10 production which is not restored by probiotic bacteria

Objective. Crohn's disease (CD) has been associated with low mucosal interleukin (IL)-10 production, but the mechanism behind this deficiency remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate IL-10 and interferon (IFN)-γ production in intestinal CD4+ T cells from CD patients and healthy volunteers (HV) and to examine how this was affected by bacterial products and the presence or absence of autologous dendritic cells. Material and methods. We cultured intestinal CD4+ T cells from CD patients (n=9) and HV (n=6) and differentiated dendritic cells from their peripheral monocytes. Intestinal T cells were stimulated with Lactobacillus strains or autologous intestinal bacteria in the presence or absence of dendritic cells. IL-10 and IFN-γ were measured on day 4. Results. When there were autologous dendritic cells present, CD intestinal T cells produced high levels of IFN-γ (mean 6.4 ng/ml±standard error of the mean 1.1 ng/ml) but low levels of IL-10 (0.7 ng/ml±0.1 ng/ml). In contrast, HV intestinal T cells produced less IFN-γ (3.9 ng/ml±0.8 ng/ml, p=0.06) and more IL-10 (4.6 ng/ml±0.9 ng/ml, p=0.0001) than CD intestinal T cells. Co-culture with Lactobacilli failed to revert this imbalance in CD, but tended to do so in HV. When there were no dendritic cells, CD intestinal T cells responded to autologous bacteria with an increased IFN-γ production (2.3±1.3 ng/ml) compared with HV intestinal T cells (0.3±0.2 ng/ml). Conclusions. Crohn's disease intestinal CD4+ T cells display a pro-inflammatory cytokine profile with impaired production of the regulatory cytokine IL-10. Tolerogenic bacteria (Lactobacilli) failed to restore this regulatory defect.
Restriction of Amino Acid Change in Influenza A Virus H3HA: Comparison of Amino Acid Changes Observed in Nature and In Vitro

ABSTRACT We introduced 248 single-point amino acid changes into hemagglutinin (HA) protein of the A/Aichi/2/68 (H3N2) strain by a PCR random mutation method. These changes were classified as positive or negative according to their effect on hemadsorption activity. We observed following results. (i) The percentage of surviving amino acid changes on the HA1 domain that did not abrogate hemadsorption activity was calculated to be ca. 44%. In nature, it is estimated to be ca. 39.6%. This difference in surviving amino acid changes on the HA protein between natural isolates and in vitro mutants might be due to the immune pressure against the former. (ii) A total of 26 amino acid changes in the in vitro mutants matched those at which mainstream amino acid changes had occurred in the H3HA1 polypeptide from 1968 to 2000. Of these, 25 were positive. We suggest that the majority of amino acid changes on the HA protein during evolution might be restricted to those that were positive on the HA of A/Aichi/2/68. (iii) We constructed two-point amino acid changes on the HA protein by using positive mutants. These two-point amino acid changes with a random combination did not inhibit hemadsorption activity. It is possible that an accumulation of amino acid change might occur without order. (iv) From the analysis of amino acids participating in mainstream amino acid change, each antigenic site could be further divided into smaller sites. The amino acid substitutions in the gaps between these smaller sites resulted in mostly hemadsorption-negative changes. These gap positions may play an important role in maintaining the function of the HA protein, and therefore amino acid changes are restricted at these locations.
Sagittal plane configuration of the sacrum in spondylolisthesis.

STUDY DESIGN A radiographic study of the sagittal sacral deformity in spondylolisthesis. OBJECTIVES To characterize and classify the pathoanatomy of sagittal sacral deformation in spondylolisthesis. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA Spondylolisthesis has been extensively described and reviewed in the literature. Deformity of the entire sacrum in spondylolisthesis potentially could affect the natural history, treatment options, and outcome. The sagittal contour of the entire human sacrum has never been quantitatively studied in spondylolisthesis. METHODS A literature search was performed and data was gathered retrospectively on patients with spondylolisthesis at the authors' institution. Cases of degenerative spondylolisthesis were excluded. Specifically those patients with L5-S1 spondylolisthesis were studied. The authors studied standing lateral radiographs and performed statistical analysis to understand morphologic relations. RESULTS A broad range of global sacral kyphosis (37-188 degrees ) exists in spondylolisthesis. Increasing sacral kyphosis is significantly associated with increasing percent slip, sacral horizontal angle, Neuman's classification, lumbar lordosis, and lumbar index. A simple classification of the spectrum of sacral deformity in the sagittal plane is presented. CONCLUSION The entire sacrum in spondylolisthesis can develop a significant kyphotic deformity in the sagittal plane, and this is associated with other abnormalities found in the lumbosacral spine. Sacral deformity is a significant factor in the assessment of the sagittal contour of the patient with L5-S1 spondylolisthesis.
Reported pneumonia in patients with COPD: findings from the INSPIRE study.

BACKGROUND Pneumonia is an important complication of COPD and is reported more often in patients receiving inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs). Little is known about the clinical course and factors predisposing to pneumonia in patients with COPD. We investigated patient characteristics and symptoms occurring before pneumonia reports in the Investigating New Standards for Prophylaxis in Reduction of Exacerbations (INSPIRE) study. METHODS This was a 2-year, double-blind, double-dummy parallel study of 1,323 patients randomized to salmeterol/fluticasone propionate 50/500 μg bid (SFC) or tiotropium 18 μg once daily (Tio). Baseline demographics, including serum C-reactive protein (CRP) levels, were measured, and daily record cards (DRCs) were completed. RESULTS We identified 87 pneumonia reports from adverse event records (SFC=62; Tio=25) in 74 patients (SFC=50; Tio=24), compared with 2,255 exacerbations (SFC=1,185; Tio=1,070). Pneumonia was more common in patients with severe dyspnea and in those with a baseline CRP level>10 mg/L. Numbers of de novo pneumonias (events that were not preceded by symptoms of an exacerbation) were similar between treatment groups, but pneumonia was more likely after either a treated or untreated unresolved exacerbation in patients receiving ICSs (SFC=32; Tio=7). Similar results were seen when analysis was confined to radiologically confirmed events. CONCLUSIONS Pneumonia is much less frequent than exacerbation in COPD. The excess of events with ICS treatment appears to be associated with protracted symptomatic exacerbations. Earlier identification and treatment of these events to prevent pneumonia merits further investigation. TRIAL REGISTRY ClinicalTrials.gov; No.: NCT00361959; Study No.: SC040036; URL: clinicaltrials.gov.
Influence of decrease in thickness on permittivity of stretched acrylic elastomer

A dielectric elastomer generator (DEG) is one of the energy harvesting devices that convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. The electrical energy output of DEG depends on the rate of change in the capacitance of dielectric elastomer (DE), which is an elastomer sheet sandwiched between two compliant electrodes. When the thickness of DE is decreased by stretching, the geometric capacitance increases but the relative permittivity may decrease. This paper investigated the influence of the decrease in thickness on relative permittivity of the stretched DE. The electrode system for measuring the capacitance of the stretched DE was constructed. As a result, the permittivity of DE decreased with decreasing thickness of DE. These permittivity characteristics of the stretched DE was represented by linear approximation equation, which will enable to evaluate and predict the output of DEGs more accurately.
Interaction Effects of Treatment Setting and Client Characteristics on Retention and Completion

Abstract Client-treatment matching assumes treatment outcome will be improved if characteristics of clients are matched to specific elements of treatment. Few empirical studies, however, have examined matching across different types of treatment settings. The present research examined differences in demographics and substance-related problems in populations admitted to three substance abuse treatment settings—outpatient (n = 1132), intensive outpatient (n = 1190), and residential (n = 149)—and tested whether interactions between client characteristics and type of setting predicted rates of 30-day retention and treatment completion. In addition, three specific hypotheses based on prior theoretical and empirical investigations were tested. Client characteristics included demographic information (e.g ., sex, age, race) and Addiction Severity Index (ASI) composite scores. Client-setting interactions were found for both retention and completion. All three hypotheses received at least partial support. Implications for client assignment and future research are discussed.