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PubMed2002

[Personality and personality disorders I. Universality and sensitivity of dimensional personality models as diagnostic systems for personality disorders].

OBJECTIVE: A dimensional diagnostic system for personality disorders (PD) postulates continuous transitions from normal to disordered personalities (continuity hypothesis) and universal validity of basic personality dimensions (universal hypothesis). In the present study three dimensional personality models that claim to provide a systematic representation of the overall domain of personality disorders were compared: the Big-Five model proposed by Costa and McCrae, the psychobiological model proposed by Cloninger and colleagues, and the "Dimensional Assessment of Personal Pathology (DAPP)" model proposed by Livesley and colleagues. METHOD: The "Six Factor Test" (SFT) measuring the Big-Five factors of personality, the "Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI)" measuring 4 temperament and 3 character dimensions, and the DAPP measuring 18 basic traits and 4 second ordered factors were administered to general population subjects (n = 156), and a clinical sample (n = 220) including a subsample of 69 patients with at least one diagnosis of DSM-IV PD. Group comparisons, regression analyses, and facet theoretical analyses were conducted. RESULTS: The nonmetric similarity analyses of the three personality models show a nearly identical radex-representation of the second ordered factors in the non-clinical and clinical sample reflecting an universal validity of 4 basic personality dimensions and confirming the universal hypothesis. In comparison with the BIG-Five concept and the psychobiological model the DAPP model seems to be more sensitive to differentiate PD patients from controls with a reclassification rate of 94.5 %. CONCLUSIONS: The Big-Five model, the DAPP and the TCI represent a substantially similar domain despite their different conceptualization. However, the DAPP was more sensitive to differences between PD patients and controls, offered a more comprehensive account of PD, and could differentiate the two groups more effectively.

Character↗
PubMed1998

[Research activities of medical students in Germany using as an example the Würzburg University Clinic].

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Many medical students in Germany take part in research at their university, as part of their work on a doctoral dissertation. There are alternatives to this model in other countries. To have a basis for comparison, the research activities of medical students at the University of Würzburg were analysed. METHOD: A questionnaire was sent to all members of the teaching staff of the medical faculty of the University Würzburg (n = 238). It contained 20 questions about the number of students whose research had been supervised, duration of the research, number of uncompleted research studies, cost of materials, resulting publications and estimate of value of the research done. Among those questioned were two groups of professors (50 and 66 respectively, 122 senior lecturers or titular professors). RESULTS: 106 faculty members answered the questionnaire sent to them (45%), 66 working clinically, 26 in a clinic-related institute and 14 in basic research. The students' research usually started in their 4th year and on average took up 216 full-time days. The average training period had lasted for 3 months, 10% of student broke off their research, and each faculty member supervised a mean of 4.5 students. Nonexperimental work (48.3%) cost on average DM 2300, experimental work (51.7%) DM 15,000. Generally two publications resulted and one or two posters/oral communications per student. Two-thirds of the faculty members thought that research undertaken by medical students was important for maintaining a qualitatively and quantitatively high publication level at a university clinic. CONCLUSION: Work on a doctoral dissertation not only promotes scientific thinking of the future doctor but also contributes towards maintaining scientific standards.

Academic Dissertations as Topic↗
PubMed2001

Cost and cost-effectiveness of universal screening for hearing loss in newborns.

OBJECTIVE: To estimate the cost and cost-effectiveness of universal newborn hearing screening. STUDY DESIGN AND SETTING: Decision analysis model utilizing the hospital perspective. This model evaluated 4 distinct protocols for screening a fixed and defined hypothetical cohort of newborn infants. OUTCOME MEASURES: Cost of screening and the number of infants with hearing loss identified through universal screening. RESULTS: Otoacoustic emissions testing at birth followed by repeat testing at follow up demonstrated the lowest cost ($13 per infant) and had the lowest cost-effectiveness ratio ($5100 per infant with hearing loss identified). Screening auditory brainstem evoked response testing at birth with no screening test at follow-up was the only protocol with greater effectiveness, but it also demonstrated the highest cost ($25 per infant) and highest cost-effectiveness ratio ($9500 per infant with hearing loss identified). These findings were robust to sensitivity analysis, including best-case and worst-case estimation. The prevalence of hearing loss and the fraction of infants returned for follow-up testing had a large impact on the absolute level, but not relative level of protocol cost and cost-effectiveness. CONCLUSION: The otoacoustic emissions testing protocol should be selected by screening programs concerned with cost and cost-effectiveness, although there are certain caveats to consider. SIGNIFICANCE: The most significant barriers to implementation of universal newborn hearing screening programs have been financial, and this study compares the most common protocols currently in use. This study can assist program directors not only in the decision to initiate universal screening but also in their choice of screening protocol.

Child Health Services↗
PubMed2003

Resolving the question of color naming universals.

The existence of cross-linguistic universals in color naming is currently contested. Early empirical studies, based principally on languages of industrialized societies, suggested that all languages may draw on a universally shared repertoire of color categories. Recent work, in contrast, based on languages from nonindustrialized societies, has suggested that color categories may not be universal. No comprehensive objective tests have yet been conducted to resolve this issue. We conduct such tests on color naming data from languages of both industrialized and nonindustrialized societies and show that strong universal tendencies in color naming exist across both sorts of language.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1993

Galaxy dynamics and the mass density of the universe.

Dynamical evidence accumulated over the past 20 years has convinced astronomers that luminous matter in a spiral galaxy constitutes no more than 10% of the mass of a galaxy. An additional 90% is inferred by its gravitational effect on luminous material. Here I review recent observations concerning the distribution of luminous and nonluminous matter in the Milky Way, in galaxies, and in galaxy clusters. Observations of neutral hydrogen disks, some extending in radius several times the optical disk, confirm that a massive dark halo is a major component of virtually every spiral. A recent surprise has been the discovery that stellar and gas motions in ellipticals are enormously complex. To date, only for a few spheroidal galaxies do the velocities extend far enough to probe the outer mass distribution. But the diverse kinematics of inner cores, peripheral to deducing the overall mass distribution, offer additional evidence that ellipticals have acquired gas-rich systems after initial formation. Dynamical results are consistent with a low-density universe, in which the required dark matter could be baryonic. On smallest scales of galaxies [10 kiloparsec (kpc); Ho = 50 km.sec-1.megaparsec-1] the luminous matter constitutes only 1% of the closure density. On scales greater than binary galaxies (i.e., >/=100 kpc) all systems indicate a density approximately 10% of the closure density, a density consistent with the low baryon density in the universe. If large-scale motions in the universe require a higher mass density, these motions would constitute the first dynamical evidence for nonbaryonic matter in a universe of higher density.

Journal Article↗
PubMed1999

Empirical laws of survival and evolution: their universality and implications.

Presented analysis of human and fly life tables proves that with the specified accuracy their entire survival and mortality curves are uniquely determined by a single point (e.g., by the birth mortality q(0)), according to the law, which is universal for species as remote as humans and flies. Mortality at any age decreases with the birth mortality q(0). According to life tables, in the narrow vicinity of a certain q(0) value (which is the same for all animals of a given species, independent of their living conditions), the curves change very rapidly and nearly simultaneously for an entire population of different ages. The change is the largest in old age. Because probability to survive to the mean reproductive age quantifies biological fitness and evolution, its universal rapid change with q(0) (which changes with living conditions) manifests a new kind of an evolutionary spurt of an entire population. Agreement between theoretical and life table data is explicitly seen in the figures. Analysis of the data on basic metabolism reduces it to the maximal mean lifespan (for animals from invertebrates to mammals), or to the maximal mean fission time (for bacteria), and universally scales them with the total number of body atoms only. Phenomenological origin of this unification and universality of metabolism, survival, and evolution is suggested. Their implications and challenges are discussed.

Aging↗
PubMed1996

Problems and awareness of support services among students at an urban Australian university.

Although Australian universities have allocated significant resources toward the development of student support services, administrators have little systematic information about the problems undergraduate university students experience or students' knowledge about available support services. The author surveyed 441 students in an urban, nonresidential university to examine the prevalence of difficulties associated with learning, sexual harassment, discrimination, emotional distress, health problems, course and career concerns, financial difficulties, and difficulties with lecturers; he also assessed students' knowledge of support services in each of these areas. Course concerns were the most common problem, followed by emotional distress, worry about career choices, financial difficulties, and problems with lecturers. More than half of the students were unaware of the support services available to them to address a range of concerns from sexual harassment and discrimination to emotional distress. Approximately 20% of the students reported having used university counseling or career services. Implications for targeting specific areas for outreach programs are discussed.

Female↗
PubMed1991

Compulsory HIV antibody testing, universal precautions and the perceived risk of HIV: a survey among medical students and consultant staff at a London teaching hospital.

Routine screening of patients and health care staff for HIV has not been endorsed by the medical profession. Instead universal precautions have been recommended as being the most effective way of minimizing the occupational risk of HIV infection. Consultant staff and undergraduate medical students at the Royal Free Hospital and School of Medicine, London, were asked about their attitudes towards compulsory HIV antibody testing, their compliance with universal precautions and their perceived risk of HIV infection. A substantial proportion of staff and students supported compulsory HIV antibody testing for patients, health care workers and certain subgroups of the population. Most of the clinical students and about half the consultants failed to comply with universal precautions. Staff and students saw themselves at greater risk of HIV infection in the hospital than in their personal lives. Clearly, these beliefs and practices must be taken into account when introducing a policy of universal precautions.

AIDS Serodiagnosis↗
PubMed1998

Maximizing usability: the principles of universal design.

The Center for Universal Design at North Carolina State University has developed a set of seven Principles of Universal Design that may be used to guide the design process, to evaluate existing or new designs, and to teach students and practitioners. This article presents preceding design guidelines and evaluation criteria, describes the process of developing the Principles, lists The Principles of Universal Design and provides examples of designs that satisfy each, and suggests future developments that would facilitate applying the Principles to assess the usability of all types of products and environments.

Adaptation, Physiological↗
PubMed1998

Universal design in housing.

Universal design in housing is a growing and beneficial concept. It is subtle in its differences from barrier-free, accessible, and industry standard housing. Accessibility standards and codes have not mandated universal design and do not apply to most housing. Universal design exceeds their minimum specifications for accessible design and results in homes that are usable by and marketable to almost everyone. Universal homes avoid use of special assistive technology devices and, instead, incorporate consumer products and design features that are easily usable and commonly available.

Architectural Accessibility↗
PubMed1998

A Draft of a System of Teaching Occupational Safety and Ergonomics at Universities in Poland.

The aim of the study was to develop a set of curricula for teaching Occupational Safety and Ergonomics at colleges and universities of various types, aimed at equipping students with knowledge and skills and at shaping active attitudes towards the practical application of the acquired knowledge in their future working lives. On the basis of the analysis of the curricula at Polish and foreign colleges and universities, a set (canon) of educational contents constituting a common practice in the academic teaching of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics was established. Then, a convenient for teaching this subject classification of university specialisations in Poland was introduced. This led to identifying and defining a taxonomic unit called here an educational profile. Next, curriculum minima for the developed profiles were defined objectively. To achieve this aim, the set of educational contents was ranked by university teachers and specialists in occupational safety and ergonomics. Each part of the educational contents (subject) was ranked on a 10-point scale in relation to each educational profile. The results of this ranking led to formulating sets of educational contents for each educational profile. On this basis, a repertoire of curricula (6 curricula, in 2 hour-by-hour versions each) was prepared, with methodological guidelines for lecturers. The results of the study were presented in the form of a manual for academic authorities.

designer↗
PubMed2003

Do the French and the English differ for hand skill asymmetry? Handedness subgroups in the sample of Doyen and Carlier (2002) and in English schools and universities.

Doyen and Carlier (2002) reported peg-moving performance in a sample of French adults classified in the hand preference subgroups of Annett (1970, 1985). The findings were said to differ from those for English samples. This paper describes new analyses of English data, drawn from schools and universities. Comparison of the school and university samples showed that relationships between hand skill asymmetry and subgroup handedness were reliable, but also revealed a new finding. Asymmetries were stronger in the school than university samples at all levels of hand preference. The French findings resembled those for the English university sample for all measures and for all subgroups except right-handed writers with strong left tendencies. The performance of the latter in the French sample was like that of left-handers rather than right-handers. An explanation might be that some members of this group were left-handers who had been forced to use the right hand for writing.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2005

Surgical education and Internet-based simulation: The World Virtual University.

The new means and modalities of communication and information technologies have significantly revolutionized access to surgical education. The introduction of the Internet information highway into mainstream clinical practice as an information sharing medium offers a wide range of opportunities to healthcare professionals. High-speed Internet broadcasting allows the display of high-quality full-screen videos. Access to surgical procedures through the Internet already plays a major role in continuing medical education nowadays and will undoubtedly be gaining grounds in the future. WebSurg.com, the World Virtual University, a web-based surgical university, is dedicated to minimally invasive laparoscopic surgery. Using brand-new multimedia data, the electronic university provides thorough descriptions of over 150 procedures in minimal access surgery and 265 videos of surgical interventions. Such a teaching tool recreates all the prerequisites and requirements of a traditional School of Medicine, incorporating the manifold standpoints of world-renowned experts about specific topics and hands-on hints in various surgical specialities. Following the evolution of technologies, recent advances have made it possible to display items of Websurg.com on handheld devices (personal data/digital assistance also known as PDAs, Pocket PCs, and smart phones). Integrating all these elements into a unique World Virtual University, Websurg.com epitomizes the concept of a unified academic center providing teaching and tutorials administered by international experts. The Internet assuredly contributes to the worldwide diffusion of scientific information in an easy and user-friendly way.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

Gestational diabetes: universal or selective screening?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the incidence of gestational diabetes in our population and verify costs of universal screening. To assess neonatal and obstetrical outcomes with respect to maternal epidemiological characteristics. METHODS: Eight hundred and fifty-six pregnant women between 24th and 28th weeks of gestation were examined in this observational study. Universal screening with glucose challenge test was used to screen the group for gestational diabetes. History, obstetrical and neonatal outcomes were collected and then analyzed. RESULTS: Gestational diabetes was diagnosed in 6.6% of cases. Patients with at least one risk factor had a cesarean section in 50% of cases and a spontaneous vaginal delivery in 23.59% of cases (p < 0.001). The absence of any risk factor was found in 73.7% of positive glucose tolerance test and in 62.5% of affected patients. The cost of universal screening in our study, was 57,60 Euros per case identified. CONCLUSIONS: Given the high prevalence of diabetes, the high proportion of patients potentially not identified with a selective screening in this study and the relatively low cost, universal screening for gestational diabetes seems the best way to identify patients and prevent adverse obstetrical and neonatal outcomes.

Adult↗
PubMed2004

Would universal antenatal screening for HIV infection be cost-effective in a setting of very low prevalence? Modelling the data for Australia.

BACKGROUND: The economics of universal antenatal human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening should be explored if mother-to-child transmission of HIV occurs, the health-service infrastructure for universal screening exists, and optimal risk-reducing treatments can be supplied. METHODS: We evaluated a hypothetical cohort of the antenatal population of Australia during 2001-2002, to examine whether universal antenatal HIV screening is cost-effective in this setting. A quasi-societal perspective was adopted, secondary data sources were used, and sensitivity analyses were undertaken. Costs and benefits incurred in the future were discounted to their present value. RESULTS: The intervention would be cost-effective if the prevalence of undiagnosed HIV in the currently unscreened Australian antenatal population was >or=0.004372%. We predict 6.95 new diagnoses of HIV, 1.73 infections avoided, and 46.97 discounted-life-years gained. Applying favorable and unfavorable values for key variables suggests that the prevalence at which the intervention would be cost-effective is 0.0016%-0.0106%. CONCLUSIONS: Universal antenatal HIV screening would be cost-effective at a very low prevalence and would generate net benefits under many scenarios; accurate statistics on the true prevalence of HIV in the currently unscreened antenatal population are required.

Australia↗
PubMed2002

The sustainability of hepatitis B immunization within the Universal Immunization Programme in India.

Based on the recommendations of the World Health Organization, India as a member-state is likely to implement universal immunization against hepatitis B through the existing Universal Immunization Programme (UIP). A pilot project is already under progress in two municipal zones of Delhi. This paper begins by reviewing epidemiological features of hepatitis B in India, some established aspects and other emerging trends. The gaps in the existing knowledge base are also given due consideration. The current recommendation is to deliver the vaccine at zero-day for infants in the absence of facilities for antenatal screening and immunoglobulin administration. The paper explores the potential pitfalls for integrating the proposed hepatitis B vaccination with the DPT (diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus) schedule. Based on the findings of the National Family Health Survey, the likely coverage for the states is estimated for both the schedules--zero-day and with DPT. The performance of the pilot phase is reviewed through the results of a coverage survey. The paper also estimates the resources that should be committed to launch the universal immunization of hepatitis B vaccination and the sustainability issues thereof. The paper finally concludes with the position that hepatitis B immunization will 'sink or sail' with the UIP. Further, this should act as an engine for recharging the infrastructure and functioning of the public health system and promote general preventive practices like universal precautions.

Diphtheria-Tetanus-Pertussis Vaccine↗
PubMed2003

Beijing health promoting universities: practice and evaluation.

The aims of this study were to create a health promoting university within the framework of the Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion. Strategies included reforming and issuing healthy policies, creating a healthy physical and social environment, developing personal health skills, reorienting the health services, and implementing intervention activities. To evaluate the study, 180 students and 120 teaching/administrative staff were sampled for an in-depth interview with open-ended questions administered 1 year after the launch of the project. To assess health knowledge and behavior, 2500 students were sampled to answer a questionnaire, both prior to and following project implementation. With respect to policies, environment and health services, 166 students and 117 teaching and administrative staff participated in the in-depth interview. Approximately three-quarters (75.90%) of university students considered that the physical environment of the campus had improved significantly and 83.73% reported they had a good social environment. All university administration departments made commitments to health promotion. Consultations on mental health, smoking cessation and STD/AIDS prevention were provided all year round. Health education was included in a curriculum as a selective course with 1-2 credits. Almost two-thirds (60.66%) of teaching/administrative staff reported that they had had a yearly physical examination. In the final stages of the research, significantly more college students reported improved mental health (38.25% compared with 17.93% at baseline) (p < 0.01) and more were knowledgeable about transmission of STDs/AIDS (57.00/35.50% compared with 51.66/28.20% at baseline, respectively) (p < 0.01). Significantly less regular smokers were found (45% compared with 15.81% at baseline) (p < 0.01). However, there was a significant increase in high-fat food intake (44.81% compared with 49.50%) (p < 0.01) and pre-marital sex (5.11% compared with 14.00%), and a significant decrease in physical exercise participation (29.41% compared with 23.50%) (p < 0.01). As a health promotion setting, the university community can benefit greatly from implementing health promotion campaigns based on the principles of the Ottawa Charter.

Adolescent↗
PubMed1999

Support programs for minority students at Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine.

The Ohio University College of Osteopathic Medicine ranks high among the nation's 19 osteopathic medical schools with respect to the percentage of underrepresented minorities (URMs) in the entering class. The college has strong recruitment and retention programs for URM and disadvantaged students. URM enrollment rose steadily from 11% in 1982-83 to 22% in 1997-98, despite the school's location in a rural, residential public university with few minorities as students or town residents. The college has six programs to support minority students through both undergraduate and medical school: the Summer Scholars Program (1983 to present), an intensive six-week summer program to prepare rising under-graduate seniors and recent graduates to apply to medical school; Academic Enrichment (1987 to present), to support first- and second-year medical students; the Prematriculation Program (1988 to present), an intensive six-week summer program for students who will matriculate in the college; Program ExCEL (1993 to present), a four-year program for undergraduates at Ohio University; the Summer Enrichment Program (1993 to present), an optional six-week program for students who will enter the premedical course at Ohio University; and the Post-baccalaureate Program (1993 to present), a year-long, individually tailored program for URM students who have applied to the medical college but have been rejected. The medical college first focused on supporting students already in the medical school curriculum, then expanded logically back through the undergraduate premedical programs, always targeting learning strategies and survival strategies, peer and faculty support, and mastery of the basic science content. The college plans to create an on-site MCAT preparation program and perhaps expand into secondary education.

Curriculum↗