Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Push, pull, and plant: the personal side of physician immigration to alberta, Canada.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES The global migration of physicians has led many international physicians to enter practice in Alberta, Canada. The study was designed to explore the personal side of migration and transition experiences of these international medical graduates (IMGs). METHODS A qualitative study using telephone interviews and a semi-structured interview guide was used to interview 19 IMGs who are currently practicing and have held Part V, restricted or temporary practice licenses for less than 7 years. RESULTS Three major themes were identified. The first was the "push" from their own country of origin and their perception that moving to Alberta would be better for them. Professional opportunities in their home country had been affected by changing policies, lack of infrastructure, and personal/family safety issues culminating in highly stressful work environments. The second was "pull. " An improvement in the quality of personal life was associated with geographical, educational, recreational, and spiritual aspects of daily living for participants and their families in their new environment. The third theme was "plant"ie, factors that encouraged them to stay in Alberta. CONCLUSIONS This study demonstrates the continued relevance of push and pull theory in understanding IMG physician migration. Our findings in this study indicate that remaining in place, or "being planted" is conditional on political, social, and economic aspects.
Ursodeoxycholic acid for treatment of primary sclerosing cholangitis: A placebo‐controlled trial

The efficacy and safety of ursodeoxycholic acid for the treatment of primary sclerosing cholangitis were evaluated in a prospective, randomized, double‐blind, placebo‐controlled trial. Fourteen patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis documented by cholestatic serum enzyme pattern, liver histological appearance and endoscopic retrograde cholangiography were included in the trial. Six patients received ursodeoxycholic acid (13 to 15 mg/kg body wt/day), and eight patients received placebo. Two patients had to be withdrawn from the study, one because of UDCA‐related diarrhea and the other because of worsening of the disease during placebo treatment. Patients in the ursodeoxycholic acid group improved significantly during 1 yr of treatment with respect to serum levels of bilirubin (median = − 50%), alkaline phosphatase (median = − 67%), γ‐glutamyltransferase (median = − 53%), AST (median = − 54%) and ALT (median = − 36%) compared with the placebo group, but not with respect to serum levels of hydrophobic bile acids. During ursodeoxycholic acid treatment, histopathological features also improved significantly, as evaluated by multiparametric score. Expression of human leukocyte antigen class I molecules appeared to be markedly reduced on liver cells after ursodeoxycholic acid treatment. We conclude that ursodeoxycholic acid is beneficial in reducing disease activity in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis (HEPATOLOGY 1992;16:707–714.)
Magnetic resonance imaging of the uterus after endometrial resection

Objective Despite the increasing popularity of endometrial resection for the treatment of menstrual problems, the long term sequelae of this procedure are poorly recognised. As diagnostic hysteroscopy following endometrial resection is frequently unrewarding and transvaginal ultrasound is incapable of detecting subtle changes in endometrial morphology, magnetic resonance imaging was employed to evaluate the uterus.
In vitro perfusion studies of single umbilical artery cords, the vasoactive effects of serotonin

BACKGROUND To investigate the vascular resistance and the vasoactive effects of serotonin in arteries from single umbilical artery (SUA) cords. METHODS The preparations were sampled from 10 patients with SUA cords. The control group (n=20) was matched according to gestational age, birth weight percentile, blood pressure and proteinuria. The arterial segments were perfused in vitro employing a constant perfusion rate and measuring alterations in perfusion pressure. Following an initial test with serotonin 10(-7) M the drug was administrated in stepwise increasing concentrations from 10(-10) to 10(-5) M. RESULTS The vascular resistance was significantly reduced in the SUA group compared to the control group (p<0.01). In about half of the preparations in both groups serotonin 10(-7) M induced a transient pressure decrease followed by a larger pressure increase. The remaining arteries showed a monophasic pressure increase. The maximum constrictory response calculated in percent of the prestimulatory perfusion pressure was significantly increased (p<0.01) in the SUA compared to the control group, but non-significantly increased (p=0.073) when calculated in absolute values (mmHg). CONCLUSIONS Arteries in SUA cords display reduced vascular resistance compared to arteries from normal cords in in vitro perfused preparations. The response pattern to serotonin was not altered, but the constrictory response might be increased in arteries from SUA cords.
Phase I study of S-1 and nedaplatin for patients with recurrence of head and neck cancer.

UNLABELLED A phase I study of chemotherapy was planned with S-1 and nedaplatin to find the optimal dose for patients with recurrent head and neck cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS Oral administration of S-1 (days 1-14) and intravenous nedaplatin (day 8) were tested for patients with recurrent head and neck cancer in a phase-I setting. The dose of S-1 was fixed and the dose of nedaplatin was escalated from 80 mg/m2, with an increase of 10 mg/m2 per step, to find the maximum tolerated dose. RESULTS Nine patients were recruited in this trial. The maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of nedaplatin was 90 mg/m2. At this dose level, dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) was observed in two out of three patients. One experienced grade 4 thrombocytopenia and febrile grade 3 neutropenia, while the other suffered myelosuppression causing more than a two-week delay of the second chemotherapy cycle. Myelosuppression was the DLT of this regimen. CONCLUSION The recommended phase II dose of nedaplatin combined with oral S-1 was identified as 80 mg/m2.
Intravenous Injection of a D1 Protein of the Smith Proteins Postpones Murine Lupus and Induces Type 1 Regulatory T Cells1

T cells that recognize nucleoproteins are required for the production of anti-dsDNA Abs involved in lupus development. SmD183–119 (a D1 protein of the Smith (Sm) proteins, part of small nuclear ribonucleoprotein) was recently shown to provide T cell help to anti-dsDNA Abs in the NZB/NZW model of lupus. Using this model in the present study, we showed that high dose tolerance to SmD1 (600–1000 μg i.v. of SmD183–119 peptide/mo) delays the production of autoantibodies, postpones the onset of lupus nephritis as confirmed by histology, and prolongs survival. Tolerance to SmD183–119 was adoptively transferred by CD90+ T cells, which also reduce T cell help for autoreactive B cells in vitro. One week after SmD183–119 tolerance induction in prenephritic mice, we detected cytokine changes in cultures of CD90+ T and B220+ B cells with decreased IFN-γ and IL-4 expression and an increase in TGFβ. Increased frequencies of regulatory IFN-γ+ and IL10+ CD4+ T cells were later detected. Such regulatory IL-10+/IFN-γ+ type 1 regulatory T cells prevented autoantibody generation and anti-CD3-induced proliferation of naive T cells. In conclusion, these results indicate that SmD183–119 peptide may play a dominant role in the activation of helper and regulatory T cells that influence autoantibody generation and murine lupus.
A Comparison of Two Nicotiana attenuata Accessions Reveals Large Differences in Signaling Induced by Oral Secretions of the Specialist Herbivore Manduca sexta1[W][OA]

Genetic variation within and among populations provides the raw material for evolution. Although many studies describe inter- and intraspecific variation of defensive metabolites, little is known about variation among plant populations within early signaling responses elicited by herbivory or by herbivore oral secretions (OS) introduced into wounds during feeding. In this study, we compare the OS-elicited early responses as well as the antiherbivore defensive metabolites in two accessions of the wild tobacco Nicotiana attenuata and show that, compared with an accession collected from Utah, an Arizona accession has lower herbivore-elicited activity of the salicylic acid-induced protein kinase, an important mitogen-activated protein kinase involved in herbivore resistance. These differences in salicylic acid-induced protein kinase activity were associated with substantially different levels of OS-elicited jasmonic acid, jasmonic acid-isoleucine conjugate, and ethylene bursts. Gene expression level polymorphism (ELP) determines phenotypic variation among populations, and we found the two accessions to have significantly different ELPs in the genes involved in early signaling responses to herbivory. In addition, we found differences between the Utah and the Arizona accessions in the concentrations of several secondary metabolites that contribute to N. attenuata's direct and indirect defenses. This study demonstrates significant natural variation in regulatory elements that mediate plant responses to herbivore attack, highlighting the role of ELP in producing a diversity of plant defense phenotypes.
Assessment of transport emissions impact and the associated social cost for Chengdu, China

ABSTRACT Chengdu, the capital city of Sichuan province, is the fourth biggest city in China with over 15 million residents and 3.4 million vehicles. In Chengdu, transport and other mobile sources accounted for over 27% of the city's PM2.5 emissions (CDEPB, 2016), posing negative impacts on public health, local environment, and the climate. This study estimated impacts from transport-related emissions (CO2, CH4, N2O, PM10, PM2.5, NOX, SOX, CO, and HC) and evaluated the associated social cost for Chengdu from 2005 to 2013. The study also assessed the city's transport performance in terms of its eco-efficiency with the socioeconomic and environmental concerns. The activity-based methodology was adopted to produce the emission inventories, while utilizing meta-analysis and localizing the emission social cost factors based on Chengdu's economic and demographic reality to support social cost assessment. The study marks the first attempt in literature to evaluate Chengdu's transport emission social cost. The following were observed in the study: (i) in 2013, the social cost of all transport emissions in Chengdu was around US$3 billion, with the lowest estimate of US$449 million and the highest estimate of US$4.7 billion; (ii) trucks, private cars, and motorcycles were the major contributors, while NOX, PM2.5, and CO were the key pollutants to public health; (iii) if GHGs (CO2, CH4, and N2O) were excluded, the upper range of social cost of transport air pollutants would be from US$2.4 billion to US$4.1 billion, or 1.6%–2.8% of the Chengdu's GDP.
Economic Globalization: Boon or Bane for African Health?

The effect of globalization, especially economic liberalization, on socioeconomic development has long been debated in development economics. There is a view that globalization is not beneficial to the underdeveloped and developing world. Africa is always put forward as an example. So it is important to see what is really the impact of international integration and increasing trade on countries of Africa. Evidence for this is very limited and inconclusive. The present study attempts to decipher how health status of African countries is impacted by the economic liberalization. It aims to bridge the gap between the two strands of literature: (i) impact of economic liberalization on growth, and (ii) effect of economic growth on health status. The findings show a positive effect of globalization on the health status of African countries with those having lower income and underdeveloped status in initial period benefiting more.
EARLY DIAGNOSTIC MARKERS FOR ENCAPSULATING PERITONEAL SCLEROSIS: A CASE-CONTROL STUDY

♦ Objective: Encapsulating peritoneal sclerosis (EPS) is a severe complication of long-term peritoneal dialysis (PD). The aim of this study was to investigate whether dialysate levels of cancer antigen-125 (CA125), K+, interleukin (IL)-6, and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are early diagnostic markers of EPS. Therefore, we analyzed the time courses of the above described dialysate markers in EPS patients and controls. ♦ Methods: Dialysate and serum samples of 11 EPS patients and 31 control patients, all treated with PD for at least 57 months, were longitudinally collected during standard peritoneal permeability analyses. CA125 and IL-6 were measured in dialysate only, K+ and VEGF were measured in both dialysate and serum. CA125 and IL-6 are expressed as appearance rates (AR). The linear mixed model was used to analyze the time courses. Sensitivity and specificity were calculated based on the results of the last 2 time points. ♦ Results: No differences in the time courses of the different markers were present between the groups. For K+ and VEGF attributed to local production, no differences between the groups were found. However, AR-CA125 was lower during the last 3 years prior to EPS (p < 0.05) and AR-IL-6 tended to be higher 2 years prior to EPS (p = 0.09). The combination of AR-CA125 < 33 U/min and AR-IL-6 > 350 pg/min had a sensitivity of 70% and a specificity of 89% for the development of EPS. ♦ Conclusions: Compared to controls, AR-CA125 showed lower values and AR-IL-6 tended to be higher during the last years prior to the diagnosis of EPS. The sensitivity and specificity of the combination of CA125 and IL-6 indicate their potential use for an early diagnosis of EPS.
Comparative Analysis of the Effectiveness of Special Economic Zones and Their Influence on the Development of Territories

One of the key issues of the functioning of special economic zones (hereinafter SEZ) is the effect that the tax incentives they offer has on the state and their home areas. The purpose of this article is to perform a comparative analysis of SEZ of industrial type that won the global free zones of the Year 2015 awards. By summarizing China’s experience of conducting a comprehensive evaluation of SEZs’ effectiveness we were able to identify the main methods that are used for evaluating the effectiveness of SEZs. To perform the analysis, we use financial indicators such as direct investment, revenue shortfalls because of tax incentives, direct financial subsidies as well as indicators that reflect the impact of SEZs on the development of their home territories: People’s income, employment, gross domestic product. The article presents a comparative analysis of the impact of SEZs on the development of their home territories using the case of the leader zones in the following regions: Europe - Alabuga SEZ, Republic of Tatarstan (Russia); Central and Eastern Europe - Katowice SEZ, Poland, Latin America and Caribbean - Zona Franca Santiago, Dominican Republic. The results of the analysis prove that the SEZs have a positive effect on the development of their home territories, for example, by driving up direct foreign investment and GPD per capita. At the same time, SEZs have no influence on the size of the population and the unemployment rate there
Characterization of ESD protection devices under total ionizing dose irradiation

In this paper, the total ionizing dose effects on electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection devices are investigated. Irradiation is conducted with 1.5 MeV He+ from a RPEA 4.0 MV Dynamitron accelerator, and the Barth 4002 transmission line pulse (TLP) tester is used for measurements. The ESD devices considered are a P+/NW diode, a Zener diode, gate grounded NMOS (GGNMOS), and lateral silicon controlled rectifiers (LSCR) fabricated in a 0.35 um BCD (Bipolar-CMOS-DMOS) technology. The pre- and post-irradiated TLP I-V characteristics are analyzed and compared in detail. Significant degradation in ESD protection is observed after exposure of devices to ionizing irradiation.
Refractive versus diffractive multifocal intraocular lenses in cataract surgery: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.

METHODS Data sources, including PubMed, Medline, Embase, and the Cochrane Controlled Trials Register, were used to identify potentially relevant randomized controlled trials. Eight qualified studies incorporating 1,242 eyes of 621 patients were analyzed using Rev- Manager version 5.2 software (The Cochrane Collaboration, Oxford, England). The primary measures included uncorrected distance, intermediate, and near visual acuity. Reading ability, spectacle independence, and occurrence of photic phenomena were also addressed. RESULTS The refractive MIOL group exhibited better uncorrected distance visual acuity than the diffractive MIOL group (weighted mean difference [WMD] = -0.04, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -0.06 to -0.02, P < .01). However, the diffractive MIOL group performed better than the refractive MIOL group in uncorrected near visual acuity, reading acuity, reading speed, smallest print size, spectacle independence, halo, and glare rate (WMD = 0.13, 95% CI: 0.10 to 0.17, P < .01; WMD = 0.14, 95% CI: 0.08 to 0.19, P < .01; WMD = -24.14, 95% CI: -43.56 to -4.72, P = .01; WMD = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.43 to 0.69, P < .01; WMD = 0.56, 95% CI: 0.45 to 0.70, P < .01; WMD = 1.50, 95% CI: 1.16 to 1.93, P = .002; WMD = 1.39, 95% CI: 1.10 to 1.75, P = .006, respectively). There was no significant difference between the two groups in uncorrected intermediate visual acuity (WMD = -0.04, 95% CI: -0.09 to 0.00, P = .05). CONCLUSIONS Refractive MIOLs can provide better distance vision, whereas diffractive MIOLs provide better near vision, reading ability, and equivalent intermediate vision, reduce unwanted photic phenomena, and allow greater spectacle independence.
The Indonesian tourism industry under crisis: a Bourdieuan perspective on social boundaries among small-scale business owners

Abstract This study investigates how small-scale business owners in the Indonesian tourism industry seek to overcome the consequences of multiple crises, over a 10-year period. Taking a Bourdieuan perspective, the authors emphasize the context-dependency and quality differences of various forms of capital, and explain how these differences are manifested in boundary work aimed at overcoming major adversity. It is argued that social, economic and cultural capital contributes differently to small-scale business owners’ resilience, either spanning or setting developmental boundaries. This furthers understanding of how small-scale business owners cope with social boundaries and generate innovative opportunities for the development in the aftermath of crises.
Sibling correlations in terms of education, profession and earnings, in France

This paper examines the contribution of family background to inequality in France by estimating sibling correlations in various measures of socio-economic success. Compared to often reported measures of intergenerational elasticity, the sibling correlation in socio-economic outcomes allows to capture a broader set of family influences. We use data from the French Education-Training-Employment (FQP) survey to investigate similarities between siblings in education, social prestige and earnings. We also investigate trends over time in sibling correlations and differences across family types in siblings' characteristics. Our results indicate a high degree of association in siblings' socio-economic success. The correlation is around 0.3 and 0.5 respectively for social prestige and years of education. The sibling correlation in annual earnings is around 0.4. All in all, this indicates that estimates of the intergenerational elasticity lead to underestimate the role of family background in children's success in France.
Hyperthermia improves therapeutic efficacy of doxorubicin carried by mesoporous silica nanocontainers in human lung cancer cells

Purpose: We investigated the use of hyperthermia to improve the anti-cancer efficacy of doxorubicin (DOX)-loaded mesoporous silica nanocontainer Si-SS-CD-PEG. The hypothesis was that heat stimulates glutathione-mediated degradation of cyclodextrin gatekeeper, thereby causing the release of DOX from the carrier and DOX-induced cell death. Materials and methods: The release of DOX from DOX-loaded Si-SS-CD-PEG suspended in PBS containing glutathione (GSH) was studied by assessing the changes in DOX fluorescence intensity. The effect of heating at 42°C on the release of DOX from the intracellular carriers was determined with confocal microscopy. The extents of clonogenic and apoptotic cell death caused by DOX-loaded Si-SS-CD-PEG were determined. Results: The release of DOX from DOX-loaded Si-SS-CD-PEG in PBS occurred only when GSH presented in the suspension, and heating at 42°C slightly increased the release of DOX from the carriers. Heating significantly elevated the GSH content in A549 cells and increased the release of DOX from the internalised carriers. Heating the cancer cells treated with the carriers at 42°C markedly increased the clonogenic death and apoptosis. The GSH content in A549 cells was greater than that in L-132 cells, and A549 cells were far more sensitive than L-132 cells to DOX-loaded Si-SS-CD-PEG at both 37°C and 42°C. Conclusions: Hyperthermia increased the GSH-mediated release of DOX from DOX-loaded Si-SS-CD-PEG. Furthermore, hyperthermia markedly elevated the GSH content in cancer cells, thereby increasing the release of DOX from the internalised carriers and potentiating the DOX-induced clonogenic and apoptotic cell death.
Gender Differences Among Physician–Scientists in Self-Assessed Abilities to Perform Clinical Research

Purpose. To examine gender differences in physicians’ self-assessed abilities to apply knowledge and skills in six core competencies for success as a clinical investigator. Method. A written questionnaire containing 35 learning objectives was administered to physicians involved in a clinical-research training program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Between 2000 and 2002, 57 postgraduate trainees (49% women) completed the questionnaire; 40 of the 57 completed the questionnaire a second time after a four-day intensive workshop in clinical research. The main outcome measure was gender differences in ratings for each question answered. Results. Before the workshop, women physicians rated their abilities lower than men rated their own abilities on 22 of 35 learning objectives and women were significantly lower in rating their ability to spend sufficient time developing and advancing their own area of scientific knowledge and research. After the workshop, women rated themselves lower than men rated themselves on 33 of 35 objectives, with significant differences in seven. Women did not rate themselves significantly higher than men rated themselves on any of the 35 objectives assessed. Conclusion. Women physicians consistently rated their abilities to perform or apply knowledge and skills related to clinical research lower than men rated themselves, and a traditional training venue exacerbated these gender differences. This previously unexplored gender difference in self-perceived competency may indicate an additional barrier women face in academic career development and suggests that educational programs incorporate learning activities that address gender differences when training physicians for careers in clinical research.