Are Today’s Medical School Graduates Performing the Same Number of Medical Procedures Compared to Graduates Ten Years Ago? A case for Simulation?

INTRODUCTION: Medical schools are charged with providing both a strong basic science and clinical curriculum for their students. In most institutions instruction in performing the core clinical procedures is part of the curriculum, but because of many constraints do medical students practice these procedures as many times as medical students in the past? Several studies have concluded that medical students today feel incompetent to perform basic clinical procedures at the time of graduation. [See PDF for complete abstract]

A reverse crystal Engineering approach

The enormous impact of crystal engineering in modern solid state chemistry takes advantage from the connection between a typical basic science field and the word engineering. Regrettably, the engineering aspect of organic or metal organic crystalline materials are limited, so far, to descriptive structural features, sometime entangled with topological aspects, but only rarely with true material design. This should include not only the fabrication and structural description at micro- and nano-scopic level of the solids, but also a proper reverse engineering, a fundamental discipline for engineers. Translated into scientific language, the reverse crystal engineering refers to a dedicated and accurate analysis of how the building blocks contribute to generate a given material property. This would enable a more appropriate design of new crystalline material. We propose here the application of reverse crystal engineering to optical properties of organic and metal organic framework structures, applying the distributed atomic polarizability approach that we have extensively investigated in the past few years[1,2].

Cancer patients' attitudes toward cancer trials

Background. Accurate measurement of attitudes toward participation in cancer treatment trials (CTs) and cancer prevention trials (CPTs) across varied groups could assist health researchers and educators when addressing attitudinal barriers to participation in these trials. ^ Methods. The Attitudes toward Cancer Trials Scales (ACTS) instrument development was based on a conceptual model developed from research literature, clinical practice experience, and empirical testing of items with a sample of 312 respondents. The ACTS contains two scales, the Cancer Trials (CT) scale (4 components; 18 items) and the Cancer Prevention Trials (CPT) scale (3 components; 16 items). Cronbach's alpha values for the CT and CPT scales, respectively, were 0.86 and 0.89. These two scales along with sociodemographic and cancer trial history variables were distributed in a mail survey of former patients of a large cancer research center. The disproportionate stratified probability sampling procedure yielded 925 usable responses (54% response rate). ^ Results. Prevalence of favorable attitudes toward CTs and CPTs was 66% and 69%, respectively. There were no significant differences in mean scale scores by cancer site or gender, but African Americans had more favorable attitudes toward CTs than European Americans. Multiple regression analysis indicated that older age, lower education level, and prior CT participation history were associated with more favorable attitudes toward CTs. Prior CT participation and prior CPT participation were associated with more favorable attitudes toward CPTs. Results also provided evidence of reliability and construct validity for both scales. ^ Conclusions. Middle age, higher education, and European American ethnicity are associated with less positive attitudes about participating in cancer treatment trials. Availability of a psychometrically sound instrument to measure attitudes may facilitate a better understanding decision making regarding participation in CTs and CPTs. It is this author's intention that the ACTS' scales will be used by other investigators to measure attitudes toward CTs and CPTs in various groups of persons, and that the many issues regarding participation in trials might become more explicit. ^

Alginate-coated chitosan nanogels differentially modulate class-A and class-B CpG-ODN targeting of dendritic cells and intracellular delivery.

UNLABELLED CpG-oligodeoxynucleotides (CpG-ODNs) interact with dendritic cells (DCs), but evidence is less clear for CpG-ODN admixed with or incorporated into vaccine delivery vehicles. We loaded alginate-coated chitosan-nanogels (Ng) with class-A or class-B CpG-ODN, and compared with the same CpG-ODNs free or admixed with empty Ng. Experiments were performed on both porcine and human blood DC subpopulations. Encapsulation of class-A CpG-ODN (loading into Ng) strongly reduced the CpG-ODN uptake and intracellular trafficking in the cytosol; this was associated with a marked deficiency in IFN-α induction. In contrast, encapsulation of class-B CpG-ODN increased its uptake and did not influence consistently intracellular trafficking into the nucleus. The choice of CpG-ODN class as adjuvant is thus critical in terms of how it will behave with nanoparticulate vaccine delivery vehicles. The latter can have distinctive modulatory influences on the CpG-ODN, which would require definition for different CpG-ODN and delivery vehicles prior to vaccine formulation. FROM THE CLINICAL EDITOR This basic science study investigates the role of class-A and class-B CpG-oligodeoxynucleotides loaded into alginate-coated chitosan nanogels, demonstrating differential effects between the two classes as related to the use of these nanoformulations as vaccine delivery vehicles.

Identification of Sleep-Modulated Pathways Involved in Neuroprotection from Stroke.

STUDY OBJECTIVES Sleep deprivation (SDp) performed before stroke induces an ischemic tolerance state as observed in other forms of preconditioning. As the mechanisms underlying this effect are not well understood, we used DNA oligonucleotide microarray analysis to identify the genes and the gene-pathways underlying SDp preconditioning effects. DESIGN Gene expression was analyzed 3 days after stroke in 4 experimental groups: (i) SDp performed before focal cerebral ischemia (IS) induction; (ii) SDp performed before sham surgery; (iii) IS without SDp; and (iv) sham surgery without SDp. SDp was performed by gentle handling during the last 6 h of the light period, and ischemia was induced immediately after. SETTINGS Basic sleep research laboratory. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS Stroke induced a massive alteration in gene expression both in sleep deprived and non-sleep deprived animals. However, compared to animals that underwent ischemia alone, SDp induced a general reduction in transcriptional changes with a reduction in the upregulation of genes involved in cell cycle regulation and immune response. Moreover, an upregulation of a new neuroendocrine pathway which included melanin concentrating hormone, glycoprotein hormones-α-polypeptide and hypocretin was observed exclusively in rats sleep deprived before stroke. CONCLUSION Our data indicate that sleep deprivation before stroke reprogrammed the signaling response to injury. The inhibition of cell cycle regulation and inflammation are neuroprotective mechanisms reported also for other forms of preconditioning treatment, whereas the implication of the neuroendocrine function is novel and has never been described before. These results therefore provide new insights into neuroprotective mechanisms involved in ischemic tolerance mechanisms.

Estimating Intra-Party Preferences: Comparing Speeches to Votes

Well-established methods exist for measuring party positions, but reliable means for estimating intra-party preferences remain underdeveloped. While most efforts focus on estimating the ideal points of individual legislators based on inductive scaling of roll call votes, this data suffers from two problems: selection bias due to unrecorded votes and strong party discipline, which tends to make voting a strategic rather than a sincere indication of preferences. By contrast, legislative speeches are relatively unconstrained, as party leaders are less likely to punish MPs for speaking freely as long as they vote with the party line. Yet, the differences between roll call estimations and text scalings remain essentially unexplored, despite the growing application of statistical analysis of textual data to measure policy preferences. Our paper addresses this lacuna by exploiting a rich feature of the Swiss legislature: on most bills, legislators both vote and speak many times. Using this data, we compare text-based scaling of ideal points to vote-based scaling from a crucial piece of energy legislation. Our findings confirm that text scalings reveal larger intra-party differences than roll calls. Using regression models, we further explain the differences between roll call and text scalings by attributing differences to constituency-level preferences for energy policy.

Intensification of tropical Pacific biological productivity due to volcanic eruptions

Major volcanic eruptions generate widespread ocean cooling, which reduces upper ocean stratification. This effect has the potential to increase nutrient delivery into the euphotic zone and boost biological productivity. Using externally forced last millennium simulations of three climate/Earth System models (Model for Interdisciplinary Research On Climate (MIROC), Community Earth System Model (CESM), and LOch-Vecode-Ecbilt-CLio-agIsm Model (LOVECLIM)), we test the hypothesis that large volcanic eruptions intensify nutrient-driven export production. It is found that strong volcanic radiative forcing enhances the likelihood of eastern Pacific El Niño-like warming in CESM and LOVECLIM. This leads to an initial reduction of nutrients and export production in the eastern equatorial Pacific. However, this initial response reverses after about 3 years in association with La Niña cooling. The resulting delayed enhancement of biological production resembles the multiyear response in MIROC. The model simulations show that volcanic impacts on tropical Pacific dynamics and biogeochemistry persist for several years, thus providing a new source for potential multiyear ecosystem predictability.

The TREAT-NMD DMD Global Database: analysis of more than 7,000 Duchenne muscular dystrophy mutations.

Analyzing the type and frequency of patient-specific mutations that give rise to Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an invaluable tool for diagnostics, basic scientific research, trial planning, and improved clinical care. Locus-specific databases allow for the collection, organization, storage, and analysis of genetic variants of disease. Here, we describe the development and analysis of the TREAT-NMD DMD Global database (http://umd.be/TREAT_DMD/). We analyzed genetic data for 7,149 DMD mutations held within the database. A total of 5,682 large mutations were observed (80% of total mutations), of which 4,894 (86%) were deletions (1 exon or larger) and 784 (14%) were duplications (1 exon or larger). There were 1,445 small mutations (smaller than 1 exon, 20% of all mutations), of which 358 (25%) were small deletions and 132 (9%) small insertions and 199 (14%) affected the splice sites. Point mutations totalled 756 (52% of small mutations) with 726 (50%) nonsense mutations and 30 (2%) missense mutations. Finally, 22 (0.3%) mid-intronic mutations were observed. In addition, mutations were identified within the database that would potentially benefit from novel genetic therapies for DMD including stop codon read-through therapies (10% of total mutations) and exon skipping therapy (80% of deletions and 55% of total mutations).

Do Information, Price, or Morals Influence Ethical Consumption? A Natural Field Experiment and Customer Survey on the Purchase of Fair Trade Coffee

We address ethical consumption using a natural field experiment on the actual purchase of Fair Trade (FT) coffee in three supermarkets in Germany. Based on a quasi-experimental before-and-after design the effects of three different treatments – information, 20% price reduction, and a moral appeal – are analyzed. Sales data cover actual ethical purchase behavior and avoid problems of social desirability. But they offer only limited insights into the motivations of individual consumers. We therefore complemented the field experiment with a customer survey that allows us to contrast observed (ethical) buying behavior with self-reported FT consumption. Results from the experiment suggest that only the price reduction had the expected positive and statistically significant effect on FT consumption.

Three Experimental Approaches to Measure the Social Context Dependence of Prejudice Communication and Discriminatory Behavior

Empirical research on discrimination is faced with crucial problems stemming from the specific character of its object of study. In democratic societies the communication of prejudices and other forms of discriminatory behavior is considered socially undesirable and depends on situational factors such as whether a situation is considered private or whether a discriminatory consensus can be assumed. Regular surveys thus can only offer a blurred picture of the phenomenon. But also survey experiments intended to decrease the social desirability bias (SDB) so far failed in systematically implementing situational variables. This paper introduces three experimental approaches to improve the study of discrimination and other topics of social (un-)desirability. First, we argue in favor of cognitive context framing in surveys in order to operationalize the salience of situational norms. Second, factorial surveys offer a way to take situational contexts and substitute behavior into account. And third, choice experiments – a rather new method in sociology – offer a more valid method of measuring behavioral characteristics compared to simple items in surveys. All three approaches – which may be combined – are easy to implement in large-scale surveys. Results of empirical studies demonstrate the fruitfulness of each of these approaches.

The Epicardium in the Embryonic and Adult Zebrafish

The epicardium is the mesothelial outer layer of the vertebrate heart. It plays an important role during cardiac development by, among other functions, nourishing the underlying myocardium, contributing to cardiac fibroblasts and giving rise to the coronary vasculature. The epicardium also exerts key functions during injury responses in the adult and contributes to cardiac repair. In this article, we review current knowledge on the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying epicardium formation in the zebrafish, a teleost fish, which is rapidly gaining status as an animal model in cardiovascular research, and compare it with the mechanisms described in other vertebrate models. We moreover describe the expression patterns of a subset of available zebrafish Wilms' tumor 1 transgenic reporter lines and discuss their specificity, applicability and limitations in the study of epicardium formation.

Variables affecting the stability of multiple cloning sites and hairpin structures in retroviral vectors

Retroviruses are RNA viruses that replicate through a double-stranded DNA intermediate. The viral enzyme reverse transcriptase copies the retroviral genomic RNA into this DNA intermediate through the process of reverse transcription. Many variables can affect the fidelity of reverse transcriptase during reverse transcription, including specific sequences within the retroviral genome. ^ Previous studies have observed that multiple cloning sites (MCS) and sequences predicted to form stable hairpin structures are hotspots for deletion during retroviral replication. The studies described in this dissertation were performed to elucidate the variables that affect the stability of MCS and hairpin structures in retroviral vectors. Two series of retroviral vectors were constructed and characterized in these studies. ^ Spleen necrosis virus-based vectors were constructed containing separate MCS insertions of varying length, orientation, and symmetry. The only MCS that was a hotspot for deletion formed a stable hairpin structure. Upon more detailed study, the MCS previously reported as a hotspot for deletion was found to contain a tandem linker insertion that formed a hairpin structure. Murine leukemia virus-based vectors were constructed containing separate sequence insertions of either inverted repeat symmetry (122IR) that could form a hairpin structure, or little symmetry (122c) that would form a less stable structure. These insertions were made into either the neomycin resistance marker ( neo) or the hygromycin resistance marker (hyg) of the vector. 122c was stable in both neo and hyg, while 122IR was preferentially deleted in neo and was remarkably unstable in hyg. ^ These results suggest that MCS are hotspots for deletion in retroviral vectors if they can form hairpin structures, and that hairpin structures can be highly unstable at certain locations in retroviral vectors. This information may contribute to improved design of retroviral vectors for such uses as human gene therapy, and will contribute to a greater understanding of the basic science of retroviral reverse transcription. ^

Na 1 Nachlass Max Horkheimer, 58 - Korrespondenzen u.a. mit Betty Drury (p. I 27, 186-333)

5 Briefe zwischen Konrad Wittwer und Max Horkheimer, 1936, 1938, 1939; 1 Brief von Max Horkheimer an Joseph Wohl, 18.08.1934; 1 Brief von Max Horkheimer an Hedwig Wollenberger, 25.02.1941; 2 Briefe zwischen Richard Wolf und Max Horkheimer, 22.10.1938, 07.11.1938; 2 Briefe zwischen Martha Wolfenstein und Max Horkheimer, 11.10.1937, 19.10.1937; 1 Brief von Clemy Wolff an Leo Löwenthal, 05.03.1941; 2 Briefe zwischen Ilse Wolff und Max Horkheimer, 29.08.1937, 03.09.1937; 1 Brief von Max Horkheimer an Howard Woolston, 25.03.1941; 1 Einladung von der Women's Conference, 1935; 1 Brief von Max Horkheimer an die Women's Conference, 15.03.1935; 1 Brief von der World Foundation an Max Horkheimer, 26.11.1937; 2 Briefe vom World Jewish Congress an Max Horkheimer, 1942, 1945; 1 Brief von Max Horkheimer an Francis Henry Russel, 28.09.1942; 1 Brief von Max Horkheimer an Dr. Opie, 28.09.1942; 1 Brief der Württembergische Hypothekenbank an Max Horkheimer, 24.12.1930; 12 Briefe zwischen Rösle Wuestholz und Max Horkheimer, 1935-1937, 1939; 1 Brief von Max Horkheimer an Frida Wunderlich, 22.11.1937; 1 Brief von Max Horkheimer an die Yale University Library, 22.12.1938; 2 Briefe zwischen Owen D. Young und Max Horkheimer, 22.04.1940, April 1940; 3 Briefe zwischen Hans Zeisel und Max Horkheimer, 21.07.1941, 1941, 1944; 2 Briefe zwischen der Zentrale Hilfsstelle für deutsche Flüchtlingskinder Prag und Max Horkheimer, 01.03.1938, 25.04.1938; 6 Briefe zwischen Gregory Zilboorg und Max Horkheimer, 1939; 16 Briefe und Beilage an Max Horkheimer und F. Pollock von Edgar Zilsel, 1939-1942; 1 Brief vom Social Science Research Counsil an Edgar Zilsel, 01.04.1940; 1 Brief von The Rockefeller Foundation an Edgar Zilsel, 20.06.1939; 9 Briefe und Beilage von Max Horkheimer und F. Pollock an Edgar Zilsel, 1939-1942 sowie Briefwechsel mit Betty Drury; 10 Briefe zwischen The Rockefeller Foundation und Max Horkheimer, 1939-1940; 1 Brief von Max Horkheimer an Edgar Zilsel, 20.06.1939; 12 Briefe zwischen Betty Drury und F. Pollock, 1939-1940; 7 Briefe zwischen Alexander Zinnemann und Max Horkheimer, 1936;

Na 1 Nachlass Max Horkheimer, 57 - Korrespondenzen u.a. mit Hilde Weiss (p. I 27, 1-185)

1 Brief von Max Horkheimer an Weiss, 18.07.1937; 27 Briefe und Beilagen zwischen Hilde Weiss und Max Horkheimer, 1934-1936, 1945 sowie Briefwechsel mit der Commission on Community Interrelations of the American Jewish Congress; 3 Briefe zwischen der Commission on Community Interrelations of the American Jewish Congress und Max Horkheimer, 02.10.1945, 1945; 2 Briefe und Beilage zwischen dem Social Science Research Council und Max Horkheimer, 04.02.1943, 18.03.1943; 1 Brief und 1 Beilage von Leo Löwenthal an Margot von Mendelssohn, 01.03.1943; 2 Briefe zwischen Ernst Weissmann und Max Horkheimer, 07.09.1945; 11 Briefe zwischen Leo H. Weissmann und Max Horkheimer, 1938-1939; 1 Brief von Max Horkheimer an Chaim Weizmann, 06.05.1941; 8 Briefe und 1 Beilage zwischen Karl Georg Wendriner, Anna Wendriner und Max Horkheimer, 1935-1938; 1 Brief von Max Horkheimer an Frederic Wertham, 18.11.1941; 2 Briefe zwischen Wertheimer und Max Horkheimer, 07.11.1934; 2 Briefe von Abr. F. Westermann an Max Horkheimer, 1932, 1934; 1 Brief von Max Horkheimer an die Western Service Corporation, 06.04.1941; 30 Briefe zwischen Wetzel und Max Horkheimer, 1937-1939; 3 Briefe zwischen Helen B. White und Max Horkheimer, 16.03.1939, 1939; 3 Briefe zwischen John Whyte und Max Horkheimer, 01.03.1941, 12.03.1941; 3 Briefe und 1 Beilage zwischen Philip Paul Wiener und Max Horkheimer, 08.12.1938, 1938; 7 Briefe zwischen Maria Wiesengrund und Max Horkheimer, 1942, 1945, 1948; 1 Lebenslauf und 2 Zeugnisse von Ilse Wiesenthal; 1 Brief vom Comité International Pour Le Placement Des Intellectuels Réfugiés an Max Horkheimer in Verbindung mit Ilse Wiesenthal, Dezember 1935; 1 Brief von Max Horkheimer an Willen; 1 Brief vom The Wimbledon Co Master Tailors an Max Horkheimer, 15.06.1937; 5 Briefe zwischen Josef Winternitz und Max Horkheimer, 1938-1939; 7 Briefe zwischen Louis Wirth und Max Horkheimer, 1937-1941; 22 Briefe zwischen Egon Wissing und Max Horkheimer, 1936-1941 sowie Briefwechsel mit dem Georg Washington Hotel, New York; 1 Brief von Lieselotte Karplen an Maidon Horkheimer, 25.04.1940; 2 Briefe zwischen dem Georg Washington Hotel und Max Horkheimer, 07.05.1936, 12.05.1936;

Na 1 Nachlass Max Horkheimer, 532 - Korrespondenzen u.a. mit Otto Kirchheimer und Leo Löwenthal (p. VI 11, 287 - 514)

55 Briefe zwischen Otto Kirchheimer, Anne Kirchheimer und Max Horkheimer, 1937 - 1947; 1 Brief von Otto und Anne Kirchheimer an Frederick Pollock, 06.08.1939; 2 Briefe zwischen der Rockfeller Foundation (New York) und Max Horkheimer, März 1941; 1 Brief von dem Oberlaender Trust an Frederick Pollock, 10.02.1941; 1 Brief von Otto Kirchheimer an Frederick Pollock, 06.08.1939; 1 Brief von Max Horkheimer an das American College Bureau (Chicago), 07.10.1940; 1 Brief von Max Horkheimer an das College and Specialist Bureau (Memphis, T.), 23.09.1939; 2 Briefe zwischen Max Horkheimer und dem Social Science Research Council (New York), 17.12.1938; 73 Briefe zwischen Leo Löwenthal und Max Horkheimer 1933 - 1935; 1 Brief von dem Europa Verlag A. G. (Zürich) an Max Horkheimer, 30.11.1935; 1 Brief von Max Horkheimer an das United States Department of Labor (New York), 03.05.1935; 2 Briefe von Hugo Sinzheimer an Max Horkheimer, 11.06.1934; 1 Brief von Leo Löwenthal an Hugo Sinzheimer, 16.07.1934; 2 Briefe zwischen Leo Löwenthal und Fritz Schiff, 1934/1935;