Exploration and confirmation of the latent variable structure of the Jefferson scale of empathy.

OBJECTIVE: To reaffirm the underlying components of the JSE by using exploratory factor analysis (EFA), and to confirm its latent variable structure by using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA). METHODS: Research participants included 2,612 medical students who entered Jefferson Medical College between 2002 and 2012. This sample was divided into two groups: Matriculants between 2002 and 2007 (n=1,380) and be-tween 2008 and 2012 (n=1,232). Data for 2002-2007 matriculants were subjected to EFA (principal component factor extraction), and data for matriculants of 2008-2012 were used for CFA (structural equation modeling, and root mean square error for approximation. RESULTS: The EFA resulted in three factors: perspective-taking, compassionate care and walking in patient\u27s shoes replicating the 3-factor model reported in most of the previous studies. The CFA showed that the 3-factor model was an acceptable fit, thus confirming the latent variable structure emerged in the EFA. Corrected item-total score correlations for the total sample were all positive and statistically significant, ranging from 0.13 to 0.61 with a median of 0.44 (p=0.01). The item discrimination effect size indices (contrasting item mean scores for the top-third versus bottom-third JSE scorers) ranged from 0.50 to 1.4 indicating that the differences in item mean scores between top and bottom scorers on the JSE were of practical importance. Cronbach\u27s alpha coefficient of the JSE for the total sample was 0.80, ranging from 0.75 to 0.84 for matriculatnts of different years. CONCLUSIONS: Findings provided further support for under-lying constructs of the JSE, adding to its credibility

The Compulsive Gambler Process

In the compulsive gambler process there is a finite set of agents who meet pairwise at random times ($i$ and $j$ meet at times of a rate-$\nu_{ij}$ Poisson process) and, upon meeting, play an instantaneous fair game in which one wins the other's money. We introduce this process and describe some of its basic properties. Some properties are rather obvious (martingale structure; comparison with Kingman coalescent) while others are more subtle (an "exchangeable over the money elements" property, and a construction reminiscent of the Donnelly-Kurtz look-down construction). Several directions for possible future research are described. One -- where agents meet neighbors in a sparse graph -- is studied here, and another -- a continuous-space extension called the {\em metric coalescent} -- is studied in Lanoue (2014)

Shedding Light on Endometriosis: Patient and Provider Perspectives on a Challenging Disease

Background: Endometriosis is a serious yet understudied medical condition impacting millions of women worldwide. Methods: This mixed methods study aimed to understand health care provider perceptions and patient experiences with endometriosis in the United States. Providers were surveyed to assess their understanding of disease prevalence. A subset of providers also participated in short, open-ended interviews about treating patients who have or are suspected to have endometriosis. Interviews were also conducted with women diagnosed with endometriosis to understand their experiences with the disease. Means and frequencies were calculated for survey data; interviews were transcribed and separately analyzed by two coders using an iterative coding process until agreement was reached. Results: Fifty-three providers completed surveys. Six out of 53 providers (11%) accurately identified the prevalence of endometriosis. Four providers and 12 patients completed interviews. Emergent themes among providers included limited training, difficulty of diagnosis, complexity of the referral process, a challenging patient-provider dynamic, and the importance of multidisciplinary collaboration. Emergent themes from patients included the psychological impact of the disease, difficulties interacting with the healthcare system, self-advocacy, quality of life, and limited treatment options. Conclusion: Providers are frequently unfamiliar with the far-reaching scope of endometriosis and cite many challenges caring for patients with the disease. Patients equally find the disease challenging to live with as it encroaches on physical, mental, and emotional well-being

Does an ACL autograft, allograft or synthetic graft lead to improved long term knee stability?

Current literature surrounding anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction outlines four primary classes of grafts used to replace the existing ACL. These classes include bone-patellar tendon-bone (BPTB) autografts, hamstring tendon (HT) autographs, allografts and synthetic grafts. Research has been conducted on each of these primary ACL reconstruction strategies and through this research we are looking to answer the question on which of these classes of ACL grafts in turn leads to the most improved long-term knee stability. In addition to analyzing these classes of grafts we will also inspect options along the non-surgical route to ACL repair, a more conservative approach, and its impact on knee stability in the long-term. Many studies have been conducted with a short-term follow up in their design. It is our goal to determine which ACL reconstruction graft option leads to the best long-term outcome for patients, as well as outlining pros and cons to each graft choice to help guide patients to the choice of the best ACL graft for them

Computer Software and Strict Products Liability

This Comment examines the problems involved in applying strict products liability law to computer software. The author addresses two main problems: the intangible nature of a computer program as a product and whether it can actually be considered a product, and whether the sale of a computer program actually constitutes the sale of a service or a product. The author examines the nature of these issues and concludes that the best solution would be to view a computer program as a hybrid transaction involving the sale of both a product and a service, which might allow for recovery based on the dual nature of the program

Teaching the Presidential Debates: Helping Students to Understand and Overcome Biases during Presidential Election Campaigns David J. Lanoue Columbus State University Gregory Domin Columbus State University Abstract

In this paper, we propose ideas for teaching presidential debates within the university classroom setting. In particular, we explore methods for helping students to break through partisan and ideological barriers that might inhibit their understanding of and ability to analyze candidates’ messages. If debates are to fulfill their original purpose of creating a more informed and responsible electorate, it is first essential that viewers give each nominee a full and fair hearing. We begin our discussion with a brief history of presidential debates, emphasizing both the presentations of the candidates and how those presentations have been distorted by media analysis, particularly the general emphasis on style and trivia over substance. We then address the cognitive filters that all viewers—including students—bring to these events. Next, we introduce several ideas for disarming these filters. Finally, we conclude by addressing the potential of debates to help political science professors create better prepared voters