An integrated review program for the preparation for the United States medical license examination (USMLE)

The primary objective of the present educational research program is to improve upon existing commercially available USMLE review programs. With the clear shortage of both residency slots, the medical student's performance (score), on the USMLE assumes a new and critical importance. Furthermore, there is a global need for 4.3 million new doctors and nurses. This shortage is particularly evident in Central and Southeast Asia. Many of the needed new doctors will most probably be required to pass the USMLE

An integrated review program for the preparation for the United States medical license examination (USMLE)

The primary objective of the present educational research program is to improve upon existing commercially available USMLE review programs. With the clear shortage of both residency slots, the medical student's performance (score), on the USMLE assumes a new and critical importance. Furthermore, there is a global need for 4.3 million new doctors and nurses. This shortage is particularly evident in Central and Southeast Asia. Many of the needed new doctors will most probably be required to pass the USMLE

INVESTIGATION OF THE NUTRITIONAL AND BIOLOGICAL VALUE OF SOUR VEGETABLE JUICES

The article considers the possibility of using organic acids in the formation of organoleptic and physicochemical quality indicators of vegetable juices, the development of recipes and technologies of vegetable juices using permitted organic acids, organoleptic indicators of fresh vegetable juices, the results of a study of nutritional and biological value. The characteristics of the most commonly produced vegetable juices with low acidity (pumpkin, cucumber, carrot), as well as freshly blended vegetable juices with high biological value were studied. Results of the work: formulations and technology of acidified vegetable juices and blends based on them have been developed. The nutritional and biological value of slightly acidic vegetable juices from pumpkin, cucumber, carrot and blended juices based on them has been studied according to organoleptic and physicochemical indicators. Relevance of the work: expanding the range of non-acidic vegetable juices and blended drinks using organic acids allowed as acidifiers, and their use as dietary and preventive drinks

Evaluation of Component Algorithms in an Algorithm Selection Approach for Semantic Segmentation Based on High-level Information Feedback

In this paper we discuss certain theoretical properties of the algorithm selection approach to the problem of semantic segmentation in computer vision. High quality algorithm selection is possible only if each algorithm’s suitability is well known because only then the algorithm selection result can improve the best possible result given by a single algorithm. We show that an algorithm’s evaluation score depends on final task; i.e. to properly evaluate an algorithm and to determine its suitability, only well formulated tasks must be used. When algorithm suitability is well known, the algorithm can be efficiently used for a task by applying it in the most favorable environmental conditions determined during the evaluation. The task dependent evaluation is demonstrated on segmentation and object recognition. Additionally, we also discuss the importance of high level symbolic knowledge in the selection process. The importance of this symbolic hypothesis is demonstrated on a set of learning experiments with a Bayesian Network, a SVM and with statistics obtained during algorithm selector training. We show that task dependent evaluation is required to allow efficient algorithm selection. We show that using symbolic preferences of algorithms, the accuracy of algorithm selection can be improved by 10 to 15% and the symbolic segmentation quality can be improved by up to 5% when compared with the best available algorithm

Combining intelligent tutoring systems and virtual clinical simulations for USMLE step 1 preparation

The primary objective of the proposed research program was to establish a framework for the development and establishment of a comprehensive Review Program for the United States Medical License Examination (USMLE) Step 1

Combining intelligent tutoring systems and virtual clinical simulations for USMLE step 1 preparation

The primary objective of the proposed research program was to establish a framework for the development and establishment of a comprehensive Review Program for the United States Medical License Examination (USMLE) Step 1

Vectors, molecular epidemiology and phylogeny of TBEV in Kazakhstan and central Asia

BACKGROUND: In the South of Kazakhstan, Almaty Oblastʼ (region) is endemic for tick-borne encephalitis, with 0.16–0.32 cases/100,000 population between 2016–2018. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence and circulating subtypes of tick-borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) in Almaty Oblastʼ and Kyzylorda Oblastʼ. METHODS: In 2015 we investigated 2341 ticks from 7 sampling sites for the presence of TBEV. Ticks were pooled in 501 pools and isolated RNA was tested for the presence of TBEV by RT-qPCR. For the positive samples, the E gene was amplified, sequenced and a phylogenetic analysis was carried out. RESULTS: A total of 48 pools were TBEV-positive by the RT-qPCR. TBEV-positive ticks were only detected in three districts of Almaty Oblastʼ and not in Kyzylorda Oblastʼ. The positive TBEV pools were found within Ixodes persulcatus, Haemaphysalis punctata and Dermacentor marginatus. These tick species prevailed only in Almaty Oblastʼ whereas in Kyzylorda Oblastʼ Hyalomma asiaticum and D. marginatus are endemic. The minimum infection rates (MIR) in the sampling sites were 4.4% in Talgar, 2.8% in Tekeli and 1.1% in Yenbekshikazakh, respectively. The phylogenetic analysis of the generated sequences indicates that TBEV strains found in Almaty Oblastʼ clusters in the Siberian subtype within two different clades. CONCLUSIONS: We provided new data about the TBEV MIR in ticks in Almaty Oblastʼ and showed that TBEV clusters in the Siberian Subtype in two different clusters at the nucleotide level. These results indicate that there are different influences on the circulating TBEV strains in south-eastern Kazakhstan. These influences might be caused by different routes of the virus spread in ticks which might bring different genetic TBEV lineages to Kazakhstan. The new data about the virus distribution and vectors provided here will contribute to an improvement of monitoring of tick-borne infections and timely anti-epidemic measures in Kazakhstan