Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Gay and lesbian physicians in training: family practice program directors' attitudes and students' perceptions of bias.

BACKGROUND Disclosure of homosexual orientation by medical students or physicians has generally been regarded as having dire professional consequences. We surveyed family practice residency directors to determine how knowledge of homosexual orientation might affect a residency applicant's ranking. We then surveyed gay and lesbian medical students to better understand their attitudes and beliefs about disclosure of orientation during residency application. METHODS A survey was mailed to all family practice residency directors and a convenience sample of third- and fourth-year gay and lesbian medical students. RESULTS The program director response rate was 73%. Of these respondents, 67% showed accepting attitudes toward homosexuality, 25% were neutral, and 8% had negative views. One of four directors admitted they "might rank" or "most certainly" would rank an applicant known to be gay lower than a heterosexual one. The medical student response rate was 81%. When choosing a specialty, 42 students (71%) considered how other physicians might accept them as a lesbian or gay provider. Psychiatry and family practice were perceived as the most accepting specialties. Thirty-one student respondents (52%) agreed that at most residency programs, an applicant known to be gay or lesbian would be ranked lower than an applicant assumed to be heterosexual. CONCLUSIONS Most family practice residency directors have accepting attitudes toward gays and lesbians in general, but 25% of directors express hesitation in matching openly gay residents. Gay and lesbian medical students want to match in residency programs where they will be welcomed and respected but fear discrimination if they disclose their orientation.
Personalization in Europe

Personalization is a marketing tactic in which various media channels are used to send a personalized message to a consumer or client based on their interests. Personalization is not a new tactic. The use of personalization has been slowly increasing over the past few decades to become one of the key tactics used capture a customer’s attention. Personalized print—one media channel that can be used in the marketing mix—is divided among different applications such as mail merge, transactional print, versioning, moderate personalized print and highly personalized print.
TD‐DFT study on the sensing mechanism of a fluorescent chemosensor for fluoride: Excited‐state proton transfer

An excited‐state proton transfer (ESPT) process, induced by both intermolecular and intramolecular hydrogen‐bonding interactions, is proposed to account for the fluorescence sensing mechanism of a fluoride chemosensor, phenyl‐1H‐anthra(1,2‐d)imidazole‐6,11‐dione. The time‐dependent density functional theory (TD‐DFT) method has been applied to investigate the different electronic states. The present theoretical study of this chemosensor, as well as its anion and fluoride complex, has been conducted with a view to monitoring its structural and photophysical properties. The proton of the chemosensor can shift to fluoride in the ground state but transfers from the proton donor (NH group) to a proton acceptor (neighboring carbonyl group) in the first singlet excited state. This may explain the observed red shifts in the fluorescence spectra in the relevant fluorescent sensing mechanism. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2010
The comparative antidepressant value of L-tryptophan and imipramine with and without attempted potentiation by liothyronine.

In a trial lasting four weeks patients responded equally well to imipramine (150 mg daily) or to L-tryptophan (9 gm daily). Patients who received a small dose of L-triiodothyronine (T 3 , liothyronine sodium (25μg daily for the first two weeks of treatment) in addition to imipramine showed a significantly better therapeutic response than patients who received either imipramine or tryptophan alone. Liothyronine did not enhance the therapeutic response to L-tryptophan. None of the treatments tested seemed to benefit any particular symptom of depression differenntially. In particular, L-tryptophan had no specific effect on the sleep deficit of the syndrome. Liothyronine appeared to diminish the side effects of both imipramine and L-tryptophan in both men and women.
Consumer sentiment towards marketing in Bangladesh: The relationship between attitudes to marketing, satisfaction and regulation

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to investigate the overall attitudes of consumers in Bangladesh toward marketing. The paper also empirically tests for associations between consumer attitudes toward marketing, satisfaction with marketing mix and perception of government regulation in least developing countries (LDCs) using the structural equations modelling.Design/methodology/approach – A multi‐stage cluster sample of 600 consumers was surveyed to measure consumer sentiment toward marketing in Bangladesh and to test the theoretical model. Data were analyzed using analysis of variances and structural equations modelling.Findings – The study found Bangladeshi consumers are aggregately more unfavourable towards marketing practices in comparison to transitional countries and less unfavourable in comparison to developed ones. The marketing sentiment scale showed evidence of divergent, convergent and predictive validity. The results from the structural equation paths provided evidence that associations do.
Phase II trial of doxorubicin and paclitaxel plus granulocyte colony-stimulating factor in metastatic breast cancer: an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Study.

PURPOSE Several groups have reported that the combination of doxorubicin plus paclitaxel given as a 3-hour intravenous (IV) infusion for up to eight cycles produces a high response rate (> 80%) and complete response rate (> 20%) in metastatic breast cancer, but is also complicated by a 20% incidence of congestive heart failure (CHF). The purpose of this phase II trial was to evaluate the antineoplastic activity of the regimen in a multi-institutional setting and to reduce the incidence of cardiotoxicity by limiting treatment to a maximum of six cycles. PATIENTS AND METHODS Fifty-two patients with advanced breast cancer received doxorubicin (60 mg/m(2) by IV injection) followed 15 minutes later by paclitaxel (200 mg/m(2) by IV infusion over 3 hours) every 3 weeks for four to six cycles. RESULTS Objective responses occurred in 25 of 48 assessable patients (52%; 95% confidence interval [CI], 38% to 66%), including four complete responses (8%; 95% CI, 0% to 16%). The median cumulative doxorubicin dose given was 240 mg/m(2) (range, 132 to 360 mg/m(2)). Eleven patients (21%) were documented as having a decrease in the LVEF below normal, including three patients (6%; 95% CI, 0% to 12%) who developed CHF. CONCLUSION The doxorubicin/paclitaxel regimen that we used is unlikely to produce an objective response rate of more than 70% and a complete response rate of more than 20% in patients with metastatic breast cancer, and proved to be excessively cardiotoxic for use in the adjuvant setting.
Small Hypervascular Enhancing Lesions on Arterial Phase Images of Multiphase Dynamic Computed Tomography in Cirrhotic Liver: Fate and Implications

Objective: Our purpose was to determine the significance of small hypervascular enhancing lesions exclusively on the arterial phase images of dynamic computed tomography in cirrhotic liver. Methods: One hundred sixty-nine enhancing lesions (>5 and <30 mm) on the arterial phase images of dynamic computed tomography in 67 patients with cirrhotic liver, not distinguished from background hepatic parenchyma on equilibrium phase images without hypoattenuation density on portal phase images, were subjected to a retrospective assessment in terms of the lesion growth in addition to the location, size, and contour of the lesions, depending on the final diagnoses of the individual lesions. Results: Twenty-eight (17%) of the 169 enhancing lesions were hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs). All of the 43 wedge-shaped, subcapsular lesions were benign, and 126 nodular or irregular lesions were subcapsularly (benign, n = 59; HCC, n = 11) or centrally (benign, n = 39; HCC, n = 17) located. Significant differences were found between HCCs and benign lesions in terms of their shape (P = 0.002) and location (P = 0.041), and the positive and negative predictive values of centrally located lesions for diagnosing HCCs were 21% and 85%, respectively. The positive and negative predictive values for the diagnosis of HCC based on the lesion growth were 90% and 93%, respectively. Conclusions: Because of the low positive predictive value of non-wedge-shaped, centrally located, early enhancing lesions in the diagnosis of HCC, the serial follow-up for examining lesion growth is essential to the correct diagnosis of small arterial hypervascular lesions in cirrhotic liver.
Effect of Preferred Stock on Risk and Cost of Equity Capital - Evidence for Financially Distressed Firms

Preferred stock is a hybrid security that possesses features of debt and equity, but has been traditionally classified as equity under current accounting standards. Recent studies have shown that preferred stocks increases risk and cost of capital for common equity holders, hence, are more debt like. We use several different risk and cost of equity measures to show that preferred stocks are positively associated with risk and implied cost of equity capital. However, for financially distressed firms with high investment opportunity, preferred stocks tend to mitigate risks and behave more equity-like. We also find these risk-mitigation effects are stronger for non-redeemable preferred stocks. Our results have implications for standard setters in deciding on the classification of preferred stock and for managers and investors in assessing risks of a firm affected by preferred stocks.
Mycophenolate mofetil as first-line treatment improves clinically evident early scleroderma lung disease.

OBJECTIVE To find an effective, safe immunosuppressive regimen as an alternative to cyclophosphamide (Cy) for the treatment of clinically evident diffuse scleroderma (dSSc)-associated alveolitis of recent onset. METHODS Five consecutive patients with dSSc and recent-onset alveolitis were enrolled and treated with mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) and small (< or =10 mg/day) doses of predinisolone in this open-label trial. One patient with long-standing fibrosing alveolitis was later added to our cohort. Pulmonary function tests [carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO) and forced vital capacity (FVC)], pulmonary high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans and clinical assessment were performed before and at specified time-points after enrolment. Cases of significant infections, leucopenia and abdominal pain were recorded. RESULTS After 4-6 months of MMF therapy, DLCO improved significantly compared with pre-treatment (mean DLCO 75.4% vs 64.2% of predicted value, respectively, P = 0.033). Values of FVC also improved, with the difference almost reaching levels of statistical significance (mean FVC 76.2% vs 65.6% of predicted value, P = 0.057). Ground glass opacities cleared in three of four patients with recent-onset alveolitis and were reduced in one patient after 6-8 months of treatment. Breathlessness and cough improved by 3 months. A possible treatment failure was seen in one patient. However, in five patients functional and clinical improvement was sustained during the study period. No adverse events were recorded in this ongoing clinical trial. CONCLUSION Our preliminary data suggest that in patients with dSSc and recent, clinically apparent alveolitis, early treatment with MMF and small doses of corticosteroids (CS) may represent an effective, well-tolerated and safe alternative therapy.
Cutaneous leishmaniasis: usefulness of PCR on paraffin-embedded skin biopsies as part of routine investigation

Human cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) caused by Leishmania infantum is an endemic disease in Italy (Gramiccia, 2003). Its true incidence is probably under-estimated because the clinical pictures are extremely variable, the lesions can self-cure, and the usual method of diagnosis — the microscopical demonstration of amastigotes in skin biopsies — is not very sensitive (Faber et al., 2003). Although PCR-based assays can increase the sensitivity of CL diagnosis (Motazediam et al., 2002; Safaei et al., 2002; Muller et al., 2003; Cordoba Lanus et al., 2005), in Italy such assays are still largely confined to reference centres and research applications. The aim of the present, retrospective study, which was based on archived, paraffin-embedded skin biopsies, was to assess the potential value of PCR in the routine diagnosis of CL.
Diminished chemokine and cytokine-induced adhesion of CD4+ T cells to extracellular matrix ligands in patients with end-stage renal failure.

BACKGROUND Cell-mediated immunity is impaired in uremia. Cell-matrix interactions of immune cells such as CD4+ T lymphocytes with extracellular matrix are an important requirement for an intact immune response. The adherence of CD4+ T cells of healthy subjects (normal T cells) to ECM components is inhibited in the presence of uremic serum. Such decreased adhesive capacity is also found in T cells of dialysis patients. Various chemokines and cytokines affect the attachment of CD4+ T cells to ECM. OBJECTIVE To evaluate chemokine (MIP-1 beta and RANTES) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced adhesion of CD4+ T cells to ECM in a uremic milieu. METHODS We examined adhesion of normal CD4+ T cells (resting and activated) to intact ECM in response to soluble or bound chemokines (MIP-1 beta and RANTES) and to TNF-alpha following incubation in uremic versus normal serum. Thereafter, we evaluated the adhesion of resting CD4+ T cells from dialysis patients in a similar fashion and compared it to that obtained from a healthy control group. RESULTS Addition of uremic serum diminished soluble and anchored chemokine-induced attachment of normal resting and activated CD4+ T cells to ECM compared to a normal milieu (a peak response of 10-11% vs. 24-29% for soluble chemokines, P < 0.001; 12-13% vs. 37-39% for bound chemokines on resting cells, P < 0.01; and 18-20% vs. 45-47% for bound chemokines on activated cells, P < 0.02). The same pattern of response was noted following stimulation with immobilized TNF-alpha (7 vs. 12% for resting cells, P < 0.05; 17 vs. 51% for activated cells, P < 0.01). Adherence of dialysis patients' cells to ECM following stimulation with both bound chemokines was reduced compared to control T cells (15-17% vs. 25-32%, P < 0.0000). In contrast, adherence following stimulation by TNF-alpha was of equal magnitude. CONCLUSIONS Abnormal adhesive capacity of T lymphocytes to ECM in uremia may, in part, be related to a diminished response to MIP-1 beta, RANTES and TNF-alpha. However, whereas reduced adhesion to chemokines was present in both normal CD4+ T cells in a uremic environment and in dialysis patients' T cells, TNF-alpha-induced adhesion was found to be inhibited only in normal cells in a uremic milieu.
Big-Fish-Little-Pond Effects on Gymnastics Self-concept: Social Comparison Processes in a Physical Setting

In sport/exercise contexts, individuals use the performances of others to evaluate their own competence. In big-fish-little-pond effect (BFLPE) in educational settings, academic self-concept is positively predicted by one's own academic achievement but negatively predicted by the average achievement of others in one's school or class. Participation in programs for academically gifted students leads to lower self-concepts. In apparently the first test of the BFLPE in the physical domain, multilevel models of responses by 405 participants in 20 gymnastics classes supported these predictions. Gymnastics self-concept was positively predicted by individual gymnastics skills, but negatively predicted by class-average gymnastics skills. The size of this negative BFLPE grew larger during the 10-week training program (as participants had more exposure to the relative performances of others in their class), but did not vary as a function of gender, age, or initial gymnastics skills.
Do Banks Diversify Loan Portfolios? A Tentative Answer Based on Individual Bank Loan Portfolios

Theory of financial intermediation gives contradicting answers to the question whether banks should diversify or focus their loan portfolios. Our aim is to find out which of the two strategies is predominant in the German banking market. To this end we measure diversification for all German banks in the period from 1993 to 2002. As measures we use a broad set of heuristic approaches which capture the deviation of a bank's portfolio from a specified benchmark. Conceivable benchmarks are naive diversification across all industries or, alternatively, the economy's industry structure. With this framework our analysis comprises the widespread measures of concentration, like the Hirschman-Herfindahl index, but also the less known and in this context innovative group of distance measures. We find that different statistical measures of diversification may indicate contradicting results on the individual bank level. Since distance measures are more appealing from a theoretical point of view, the common practice to rely on measures of concentration only in the debate about diversification and focus, may be misleading. We further find that, despite these differences on the individual bank level, both approaches reveal that the majority of banks significantly increased loan portfolio diversification over the last decade. This tendency is especially driven by the large number of credit cooperatives and savings banks. However, some banks (especially regional banks and subsidiaries of foreign banks) reveal a strategy that seems to be more focused on certain industries.
Roles of (Z)-3-hexenol in plant-insect interactions

Green leaf C6-volatiles are among the most important herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs). They play important roles in mediating the behavior of herbivores and their natural enemies, and in triggering the plant-plant communication to prevent further attacks. Recently, wound-induced ubiquitous (Z)-3-hexenol, a C6-alcohol synthesized in the lipoxygenase/HPL pathway, was proved to be the most important infochemical for the herbivore repellence/attraction and natural enemy attraction in tritrophic interactions, as well as for the induction of gene expression in neighboring unattacked plants. In spite of the conflict functions of (Z)-3-hexenol in direct and indirect plant defenses, its positive roles in the indirect defense and the priming effect are consistent. Therefore, this compound can be used to develop novel insect pest control strategies.
Reamed versus nonreamed anterograde femoral nailing.

OBJECTIVE To compare reamed femoral nailing with unreamed femoral nailing. DESIGN Prospective, randomized. SETTING Two Level One trauma centers. PATIENTS One hundred seventy patients with 172 femur fractures were randomized to an unreamed or reamed group. MAIN OOUTCOME MEASURES: Data included demographics, Injury Severity Score (ISS), operative time, blood loss, blood and fluid requirements, technical complications, time to callus formation, time to union, and complications. RESULTS There was no statistical difference in operative time, transfusion requirements, or hypoxic episodes between the groups. Intraoperative blood loss was greater in the reamed group. The time to union was 80 +/- 35 days for the reamed group and 109 +/- 62 days for the unreamed group (p = 0.002). This difference was most dramatic in the distal femur, with union in the reamed group occurring in 80 days compared with 158 days in the unreamed group (p = 0.012). There were more technical complications and delayed unions in the unreamed group. CONCLUSIONS There is no advantage to the routine use of nailing without reamed insertion. Fractures treated with reamed nails heal faster than those treated with unreamed nails, especially distal fractures.
Frontal fibrosing alopecia in male patients: a report of 12 cases

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Endoscopic treatment of primary sclerosing cholangitis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS Dominant stricture of an extrahepatic bile duct is responsible for symptoms and an exacerbation of cholestasis in 15-20% of patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of endoscopic treatment in this selected patient group. METHODS Retrospectively, we evaluated 16 patients who were treated endoscopically due to elevation of serum biochemical liver tests and symptoms which were attributable to dominant bile duct strictures during the period 1990 to 2003. Symptoms and biochemical liver tests were compared before and after treatment. RESULTS Sixteen patients underwent a total of 58 therapeutic endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatographies (ERCP). Sixteen endoscopic sphincterotomies, 15 balloon dilatations, 6 bougie dilatations, 3 stone/sludge extractions and 8 stentings were performed. Endoscopic therapy was technically successful in all patients (100%). Biochemical liver tests were significantly improved when compared with pretreatment values (p<0.001). Patients have been followed-up without stents except for the patients who had cholangiocarcinoma and cirrhosis at the beginning. Procedure-related early complications occurred in 8.6% of therapeutic endoscopic biliary procedures. There was no mortality due to endoscopic treatment. Two patients whose stents were changed every two to three months had cholangitis due to stenting during 13 stent periods. Four patients whose stents were changed in seven to 10 days developed suppurative cholangitis (total 6 stent periods). CONCLUSIONS Endoscopic therapy of symptomatic dominant strictures in primary sclerosing cholangitis is safe and effective. The cholangitis seen in long-term stenting seems to be solved by short-term stenting.