Brieskorn manifolds as contact branched covers of spheres

We show that Brieskorn manifolds with their standard contact structures are contact branched coverings of spheres. This covering maps a contact open book decomposition of the Brieskorn manifold onto a Milnor open book of the sphere.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figur

Sex Stereotypes of Adolescents in Traffic: The Role of Sex and Family Relationships (Trafikte Ergenlerin Cinsiyet Kalıp Yargıları: Cinsiyet ve Aile İlişkilerinin Rolü)

Studies have shown a number of differences between male and female drivers, such as male drivers committing more offenses and female drivers making more errors. Related to this persistent sex difference, relatively little research has been conducted to examine the presence of gender stereotypes and determinants in the context of driving. This study examined the perceptions of female and male drivers among adolescents in Türkiye and how sex differences and relationships with parents contributed to the endorsement of sex stereotypes. The study was conducted with 128 high school adolescents aged 15-20 years (M = 16.25, SD = 1.32) who completed a questionnaire package consisting of the Sex Stereotypes Associated with Driving (SSAD) and a demographic information form. In terms of sex stereotype endorsement indices, female adolescents reported female drivers as more polite and risk-averse, whereas male adolescents reported male drivers as more skilled. While a positive relationship with fathers reduced the endorsement of courtesy and risk-avoidance stereotypes, a better relationship with mothers resulted in a lower endorsement of the driving skills stereotype. The results provide evidence for the existence of sex stereotypes among adolescents and for the importance of family relationships in relation to sex stereotype endorsement. The findings can be used to design training and education that focuses on stereotypes at an early age. (Araştırmalar, erkek ve kadın sürücüler arasında, erkek sürücülerin daha fazla trafik cezası alması ve kadın sürücülerin daha fazla hata yapması gibi bir dizi farklılık olduğunu göstermektedir. Gözlemlenen bu cinsiyet farklılığına bağlı olarak, sürüş bağlamında toplumsal cinsiyet kalıp yargılarının ve belirleyicilerinin varlığını inceleyen nispeten az sayıda araştırma yapılmıştır. Bu çalışma, Türkiye'deki ergenlerin kadın ve erkek sürücü algılarını ve cinsiyet farklılıklarının ve ebeveynlerle ilişkilerin cinsiyet kalıp yargılarının onaylanmasına nasıl katkıda bulunduğunu incelemiştir. Çalışma, Sürücülükle İlişkili Cinsiyet Kalıp Yargıları (SSAD) ve demografik bilgi formundan oluşan bir anket paketini dolduran 15-20 yaş arası 128 lise çağındaki ergen (M = 16.25, SD = 1.32) ile yürütülmüştür. Cinsiyet stereotipi onay endeksleri açısından, kız ergenler kadın sürücüleri daha kibar ve riskten kaçınan olarak bildirirken, erkek ergenler erkek sürücüleri daha becerikli olarak bildirmiştir. Babalarla olumlu bir ilişki nezaket ve riskten kaçınma kalıp yargılarının onaylanmasını azaltırken, annelerle daha iyi bir ilişki sürüş becerileri kalıp yargısının daha az onaylanmasıyla sonuçlanmıştır. Sonuçlar, ergenler arasında cinsiyet kalıp yargılarının varlığına ve aile ilişkilerinin cinsiyet kalıp yargılarının onaylanması açısından önemine dair kanıtlar sunmaktadır. Bulgular, erken yaşta kalıp yargılara odaklanan eğitim ve müdahale çalışmalarının tasarlanmasında kullanılabilir.

The effect of theoretical and simulation training on medical errors of nurse students in karadeniz technical university, Turkey

Objective: To assess the efficacy of theoretical training related to medical errors and patient safety and practical simulation training on students' knowledge and skill levels. Methods: This experimental study was conducted from March 28 to May 18, 2016, at nursing department of a university and comprised of students attending the third grade of the nursing school. The subjects were divided into two equal experimental and control groups. The experimental group, among other things, received simulation training that involved a demonstration and subsequent one-to-one practice. Data was collected on a proforma that included demographic information, pretest and post-test scores, checklists for pre-assessments and final assessments related to nursing practices. Results: There were 62 nurses divided into two groups of 31(50%) each. The difference between post-test scores of the concerning theoretical training about medical errors and patient safety was statistically significant (p0.05), while there was a significant difference between their final assessments (p<0.05). Conclusion: Theoretical education increased students' levels of knowledge regarding medical errors and patient safety, and the the practical simulation training reduced malpractices by improving skills. © 2018, Pakistan Medical Association. All rights reserved

Hospital Records of Pain, Fatigue, or Circulatory Symptoms in Girls Exposed to Human Papillomavirus Vaccination: Cohort, Self-Controlled Case Series, and Population Time Trend Studies

Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination has been associated with subsequent diffuse symptoms in girls, reducing public confidence in the vaccine. We examined whether girls have nonspecific outcomes of HPV vaccination, using triangulation from cohort, self-controlled case series (SCCS), and population time trend analyses carried out in Denmark between 2000 and 2014. The study population consisted of 314,017 HPV-vaccinated girls and 314,017 age-matched HPV-unvaccinated girls (cohort analyses); 11,817 girls with hospital records (SCCS analyses); and 1,465,049 girls and boys (population time trend analyses). The main outcome measures were hospital records of pain, fatigue, or circulatory symptoms. The cohort study revealed no increased risk among HPV vaccine-exposed girls, with incidence rate ratios close to 1.0 for abdominal pain, nonspecific pain, headache, hypotension/syncope, tachycardia (including postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome), and malaise/fatigue (including chronic fatigue syndrome). In the SCCS analyses, we observed no association between HPV vaccination and subsequent symptoms. In time trend analyses, we observed a steady increase in these hospital records in both girls and (HPV-unvaccinated) boys, with no relationship to the 2009 introduction of HPV vaccine to Denmark’s vaccination program. This study, which had nationwide coverage, showed no evidence of a causal link between HPV vaccination and diffuse autonomic symptoms leading to hospital contact

What do we mean by cognitive load? Towards more accurate definition of the term for better identification by driver monitoring systems

The 2023 European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) [9] protocol states that Original Equipment Manufacturers (OEMs) should include Driver Monitoring Systems (DMS) and appropriate technical assessment dossiers for evaluation by driving authorities. This includes demonstrating how the system can identify elements of driver state; driver distractions, fatigue, and unresponsiveness. Whilst visual distractions have been detailed extensively, cognitive distraction has received less attention within these protocols. Part of the reason for this could be the lack of understanding or general consensus on cognitive distraction within the context of driver state. For example, how do we assess driver state, how do we develop ground truths, how much distraction should be considered too much, and what is and is not considered cognitive? To answer these questions, workshop participants will focus on the methods and metrics used to assess cognitive load and the impact this has on driver state and performance; whether during manual driving, monitoring an automated vehicle, or during takeovers after periods of automation

L-MYC gene polymorphism and risk of thyroid cancer

L-myc gene polymorphism is a representative genetic trait responsible for an individual’s susceptibility to several cancers. However, there have been no reports concerning the association between thyroid cancer and L-myc gene polymorphism. Aim: To analyze the distribution of L-myc gene polymorphism in Turkish patients with thyroid disorders and thyroid cancers. Methods: We used a molecular genotyping method, polymerase chain reaction-based restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). We studied 138 patients of whom 47 had multinodular goiter, 13 had follicular cancer and 69 had papillar cancer, in comparison with control group of 109 healthy individuals. Results: No significant difference in the distribution of genotypes was observed between thyroid patients and controls. Carrying SS or LS genotype revealed a 1.96-fold (95% CI 0.573–6.706) risk for the occurrence of follicular cancer when compared with controls, and 3.11-fold (95% CI 0.952–10.216), when compared with multinodular goiter patients (p = 0.04). Conclusion: We suggest that L-myc genotype profiling together with other susceptibility factors, may be useful in the screening for thyroid nodular malignancy.Для ряда опухолей человека показана корреляция между риском развития опухоли и определенным вариантом гена L-MYC. Данные о наличии такой связи при раке щитовидной железы к настоящему времени отсутствуют. Цель: проанализировать распределение полиморфных типов гена L-MYC в популяции больных с доброкачественными и злокачественными поражениями щитовидной железы, включая рак щитовидной железы, в Турции. Методы: для анализа полиморфизма гена L-MYC использован метод молекулярного генотипирования, в частности, метод определения полиморфизма длины рестрикционных фрагментов, основанный на полимеразной цепной реакции (PCR-RFLP). Определение проводили в лейкоцитах 138 больных, в том числе 48 больных с узловым зобом, 13 больных фолликулярным раком щитовидной железы и 69 больных папиллярным раком. Контрольную группу составляли 109 здоровых лиц. Результаты: статистически достоверных различий в распределении исследуемых генотипов у больных с патологией щитовидной железы и здоровых лиц не выявили. Показано, что относительный риск фолликулярного рака щитовидной железы у больных-носителей генотипа SS или LS составляет 1,96 по сравнению со здоровыми лицами (при 95% доверительном интервале от 0,573 до 6,706) и 3,11 по сравнению с больными с узловым зобом (при 95% доверительном интервале от 0,952 до 10,216) (р = 0,04). Выводы: по нашему предположению, определение профиля полиморфизма гена L-MYC с учетом других факторов, определяющих предрасположенность к развитию опухолей, может быть полезным при скрининге озлокачествления узелковых образований щитовидной железы

Greater Expectations?

Physically Unclonable Functions (PUFs) are key tools in the construction of lightweight authentication and key exchange protocols. So far, all existing PUF-based authentication protocols follow the same paradigm: A resource-constrained prover, holding a PUF, wants to authenticate to a resource-rich verifier, who has access to a database of pre-measured PUF challenge-response pairs (CRPs). In this paper we consider application scenarios where all previous PUF-based authentication schemes fail to work: The verifier is resource-constrained (and holds a PUF), while the prover is resource-rich (and holds a CRP-database). We construct the first and efficient PUF-based authentication protocol for this setting, which we call converse PUF-based authentication. We provide an extensive security analysis against passive adversaries, show that a minor modification also allows for authenticated key exchange and propose a concrete instantiation using controlled Arbiter PUFs

PTPN22 gene polymorphism in Takayasu's arteritis

Objective. Takayasu's arteritis (TA) is a chronic, rare granulomatous panarteritis of unknown aetiology involving mainly the aorta and its major branches. In this study, genetic susceptibility to TA has been investigated by screening the functional single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of PTPN22 gene encoding the lymphoid-specific protein tyrosine phosphatase. Methods. Totally, 181 patients with TA and 177 healthy controls are genotyped by PCR-RFLP method for the SNP rs2476601 (A/G) of PTPN22 gene. Polymorphic region was amplified by PCR and digested with Xcm I enzyme. Results. Detected frequencies of heterozygous genotype (AG) were 5.1% (9/177) in control group and 3.8% (7/181) in TA group (P = 0.61, odds ratio: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.3, 2.0). No association with angiographic type, vascular involvement or prognosis of TA was observed either. Conclusion. The distribution of PTPN22 polymorphism did not reveal any association with TA in Turkey. © The Author 2008. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology. All rights reserved