Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
RELATION OF ANTIMÜLLERIAN, FOLLICULAR STIMULATING HORMONE AND ANTRAL FOLLICLE COUNT ON INTRACYTOPLASMIC SPERM INJECTION OUTCOME IN INFERTILE PATIENTS

Background Studying some of fertility-related hormones is of major benefit to identify the causative factors and to search for an appropriate treatment. Anti-müllerian hormone regarded as quantitative markers for ovarian reserve. Basal follicular stimulating hormone provides a picture of how well the hypothalamicpituitary-gonadal axis is functioning and is the most commonly used tests for predicting success in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) treatment. Objective To evaluate the level of serum and follicular fluid antimüllerian hormone, serum follicular stimulating hormone and antral follicle count and its relation to ICSI outcome in infertile patients. Methods Seventy four infertile women were selected randomly from those attending the Fertility Centre, Al-Sader Teaching Hospital, Al-Najaf /Iraq. Ultrasound was performed for antral follicle count and their measurement at cycle day 2. Hormonal analysis is done for serum follicular stimulating hormone at cycle day 2 and for serum and follicle fluid antimüllerian hormone at day of ovum pickup. Result The fertilization rate was positively correlated with follicular fluid antimüllerian hormone (r = 0.303; P = 0.048) but not with serum follicular stimulating hormone, serum antimüllerian hormone and antral follicle count. Conclusion Follicular fluid antimüllerian hormone level was positively correlated with fertilization rate, while serum antimüllerian hormone level does not affect the fertilization rate in ICSI cycle. The basal follicular stimulating hormone level do not relate to fertilization rate, and the same thing regarding antral follicle
Bladder cancer detection in patients with gross haematuria: Computed tomography urography with enhancement-triggered scan versus flexible cystoscopy

Abstract Objective. Computed tomography urography (CTU) can be used to direct further investigation of patients if the bladder tumour detection rate is high. The aim of this study was to compare a CTU protocol including an enhancement-triggered scan and flexible cystoscopy for detecting bladder tumours. Materials and methods. Patients with gross haematuria undergoing CTU during 2005–2008 were included. For patients younger than 50 years the CTU protocol included unenhanced, enhancement-triggered corticomedullary, and excretory phases. Patients older than 50 years followed the same protocol plus a nephrographic phase. The entire urinary tract was examined in all phases. Results. Of 435 patients, 55 patients were diagnosed with bladder tumour. CTU detected bladder tumour in 48 patients (87%). Five CTU examination reports were false positive. With CTU, sensitivity for finding bladder tumour was 0.87, specificity 0.99, positive predictive value (PPV) 0.91 and negative predictive value (NPV) 0.98. Cystoscopy detected bladder tumour in 48 patients (87%) and had one false-positive finding, resulting in sensitivity of 0.87, specificity 1.0, PPV 0.98 and NPV 0.98. Conclusions. The detection rate of bladder tumours for the CTU protocol including an enhancement-triggered scan was high and comparable to flexible cystoscopy. Hence, this protocol could be used to assess the bladder as the primary investigation and direct further investigation of the patient.
Public Infrastructure, Location of Private Schools and Quality of Schooling in an Emerging Economy

The present paper argues that local public infrastructure exerts a significant and positive effect on the presence of private school as well as the quality of schooling in Indian villages. Given historical distribution of land and ethnic composition, villages with more unequal distribution of land are more likely to have better access to public infrastructure (for given level of ethnic fractionalization), which in turn enhances the likelihood of having a private school in the village. Results using PROBE survey of household-, school- and village-level data from five north Indian states provide some support to this central hypothesis. There is also evidence that the quality of overall schooling is generally better in villages with a private school; rise of private schools however fails to affect the quality of local state schools.
Correlation between index electrocardiographic patterns and pre‐intervention angiographic findings: Insights from the HORIZONS‐AMI trial

Objectives: To improve ECG interpretation accuracy in patients with chest pain prior to activation of the cardiac catheterization laboratory for primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PPCI). Background: Despite current guideline‐based ECG criteria, challenges remain in optimizing the rate of appropriate catheterization laboratory activation. Methods: The HORIZONS‐AMI trial enrolled 3,602 patients with chest pain consistent with myocardial infarction (MI). ECG and angiographic core laboratory databases were analyzed for correlation between the qualifying study ECG and the baseline coronary angiogram. Results: LAD occlusion manifested in >80% of cases as ST‐segment elevation in leads V2 and V3, while the culprit vessel was the RCA and LCx in 75 and 25% of cases, respectively, for inferior MI ECG patterns. The study threshold of ≥1.0 mm ST‐segment elevation in ≥2 contiguous ECG leads was not met in 189 (5.3%) patients. When stratified by culprit artery, the prevalence of reciprocal ST‐segment depression ranged from 24 to 88%, being least common for lesions in the mid‐ and distal left anterior descending artery. Despite study eligibility, no posterior MIs were enrolled. Only 36 LBBB cases were identified (25% of whom did not undergo PCI), and 5 of 11 left main coronary occlusions (45%) had ST‐segment elevation in lead aVR. Conclusions: The present study confirms prior ischemic ECG findings predicted by vectorcardiography, validates certain ECG patterns as reliable surrogate markers for acute coronary occlusion, and provides novel insights correlating index ECG ischemic changes and pre‐intervention coronary angiography. These results may enhance the rate of appropriate catheterization laboratory activation. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Capital Structure and Business Cycles

This study investigates the relationship between business cycles and capital structure. Specifically, it extends the work of Lemmon et al. (2008), by incorporating the effect of four different stages of the business cycle – peak, contraction, trough and expansion – on the relative importance of the unobserved permanent component of the capital structure. Results indicate that business cycles play an important role in explaining the unobserved permanent component of leverage ratios after controlling for firm fixed effects. In particular, the model becomes much stronger in explaining the variation in leverage ratios after accounting for business cycle phases.
Become Your Own Technical Analyst

The author first observes that investment scandals and the dot.com fallout have wreaked havoc on the U.S. equity market since 1999. Dow components have fallen to depths many would never have imagined after incredible growth in the 1990s. Further, because of increased trading volatility, many investors have fueled their strategies in the market based on feelings instead of facts. The Moving Average Convergence-Divergence indicator or MACD, however, is a technical analysis tool that can be used to determine future trends in the stock market by using actual stock market activity to establish patterns of strength and weakness. The author and inventor of this tool describes the process of charting these averages using actual snapshots of market performance to help investors make better-informed decisions about their buy-sell-hold actions.
An Empirical Investigation of Corporate Asset Downsizing

We study 130 large asset downsizings in 1985-1994. We find that downsizings are most often accomplished by selling assets. The decision to downsize is negatively related to operating performance at both the firm and industry levels and is positively related to firm debt ratio and level of diversification. Following their downsizings, the sample firms are more focused, have lower debt ratios, and experience statistically significant increases in operating performance. These results suggest that large downsizings are efficient responses to declining circumstances. However, we also find that their occurrence is strongly dependent upon an active market for corporate control.
[Long-term service-dependent patients in mental health care: connection to urbanisation].

BACKGROUND In view of the increased rate of psychiatric morbidity in urban areas there is likely to be a relation between urbanisation and the extent to which patients use the care services. It is not yet known whether this relation is particularly strong in the case of long-term service-dependent patients with mental health problems. AIM To investigate the possible relation between the prevalence of long-term service-dependent patients and the degree of urbanisation and to find out if there are differences in the strength of this relation in the case of different types of long-term patients and between these patients and other psychiatric patients. METHOD Data were collected from three psychiatric case registers and from the Statistics Netherlands (cbs). Distinctions were made between three types of long-term patients: 'long stay', 'residential & outpatient' and 'outpatient'. The population was divided into five categories according to the degree of urbanisation in the area of residence. Data were analysed using Poisson regression analysis, corrected for differences in age, sex, marital status and the amount of care available. RESULTS The incidence rate ratios for the categories 'long stay', 'residential & outpatient' and 'outpatient' and for other patients were significantly higher for each category of urbanisation than for non-urbanised municipalities. There was also a significant positive linear relation. For long stay patients no significant relation was found with the degree of urbanisation. The total ratios for long-term patients were higher than the ratios for other types of patients. The ratios for residential and outpatient were higher than the ratios for outpatient. CONCLUSION The prevalence of long-term service-dependent patients in mental health care increases with the degree of urbanisation and this increase is stronger than the increase observed for other patients. Furthermore, the relation with urbanisation for the category residential and outpatient is stronger for the category residential and outpatient than for the long-term outpatients.
Evidence for a Glutamatergic Pathway from the Guinea Pig Auditory Cortex to the Inferior Colliculus

Abstract: We attempt to provide evidence that the projection from the guinea pig auditory cortex (AC) to the inferior colliculus (IC) may contain glutamatergic or GABAergic fibers. Seven days after unilateral AC aspiration, histological studies indicated almost complete AC destruction and preterminal degeneration of fibers and terminal fields in the dorsal cortex (DCIC), external cortex (ECIC), and central nucleus (CNIC) of the IC ipsilateral to the ablated AC. Contralaterally, degeneration appeared in the DCIC. AC ablation depressed the electrically evoked Ca2+‐dependent release of d‐[3H]aspartate (d‐[3H]Asp) in the ipsilateral DCIC, ECIC, and CNIC, and d‐[3H]Asp uptake in the CNIC. Together with other evidence that the corticocollicular pathway is excitatory, these findings suggest that this projection may contain glufamatergic and/or aspartatergic (Glu/Asp‐ergic) fibers. Glutamic acid decarboxylase immunoreactivity was not apparent in presumed pyramidal cells of layer V of the AC retrogradely labeled with biotinylated dextran injected into the ipsilateral IC. Thus, corticocollicular neurons probably do not synthesize GABA and may not be GABAergic. However, AC ablation depressed [14C]GABA release from the ipsilateral DCIC and ECIC, and [14C]GABA uptake in the DCIC. These findings are consistent with the atrophy or down‐regulation of some subcortical neurons that mediate GABAergic transmission in the IC.
Metabolic syndrome in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus from Southern Spain

The aim of this cross-sectional study was to establish the frequency, phenotype and characteristics of metabolic syndrome (MS), as defined by the Adult Treatment Panel III, in a cohort of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) and its possible association with cardiovascular diseases (CVD). A total of 160 patients with SLE and 245 age, sex, educational level and ethnically matched controls were included. Association with cardiovascular risk factors, SLE features, treatment of SLE and history of CVD were assessed in patients with SLE and controls with and without MS. MS was non-significantly increased in patients with SLE (20%) compared with controls (13%; P = 0.083). It was more commonly observed in patients with SLE ≤40 years old (15.8%) than in controls of the same age group (4.2%; P < 0.001). The mean number of MS criteria was significantly higher among patients with SLE than in controls. The frequency of CVD was also 28-fold higher among patients with SLE (11.3%) than in controls (0.4%). SLE with MS presented higher levels of inflammatory markers than SLE without MS. In a multivariate analysis, educational level, serum triglycerides, HDL-cholesterol and C3 serum levels and hydroxychloroquine use were independently associated with MS.
The relative impacts of banking, infrastructure and labour on industrial growth: evidence from Indian states

This article analyses the impacts of outreach of banking services, infrastructure penetration, and labour market rigidity on the growth of manufacturing industries across 14 major states in India in the post-liberalization period (from 1991–92 to 2002–3). It documents that the outreach of the banking sector as well as infrastructure penetration has a significant positive impact on the growth of industries. Interestingly, the counteracting effect of labour market rigidity does not appear to be significant, if the effects of infrastructure and banking services are controlled for. This article also assesses the relative magnitudes of the impacts of these three institutional factors on industrial growth.
Book Review: Women and Leadership: A Contextual Perspective Karin Klenke New York: Springer, 1996, 307 pp. cloth

In Women and Leadership A Contextual Perspective, Karin Klenke takes a ,,B,~ comprehensive look at women in leadership positions in diverse fields such as history, media, business, and politics. Using a multi-disciplinary perspective, she sets the stage for her central theme: leadership, in particular, women’s access to and performance in leadership roles depends very much upon context. However, since contexts are always shifting, this precludes a formal, fixed definition of leadership that is germane to all situations.
Dead-time effect analysis of dual active bridge DC-DC converter with dual-phase-shift control

This paper gives a detailed analysis about the causes of the voltage distortion caused by dead time in dual active bridge (DAB) DC-DC converter. The zero-crossing point of the equivalent leakage inductor's current is the definitive factor for various voltage distortion phenomena, which is determined by dead time and phase-shift ratios. Based on the switching characterization of DAB in dual-phase-shift scheme, a comprehensive summary of dead-time effect is acquired, including voltage polarity reversal, voltage sag and duty-cycle abnormity. At the same time, the causes of these phenomena are analyzed in detail. Considering all kinds of voltage distortion phenomena will affect the transmission power and other issues, a special operation mode defined as recessive-dead-time mode is obtained. In recessive-dead-time mode, the dead-time effect can be avoided by reasonable parameter-setting, thus, the voltage distortion will not occur. Finally, experimental results verify the theoretical analysis.
Radiation Pattern-Reconfigurable Wearable Antenna Based on Metamaterial Structure

A pattern-reconfigurable wearable antenna is designed based on a metamaterial structure. By reconfiguring the dispersion curve of the transmission line, the patch antenna can resonate at the zeroth-order mode or the +1 mode, yielding a broadside or an omnidirectional radiation pattern, respectively. The antenna is fabricated with textile material targeting wearable applications. The impedance bandwidth covers the 2.4 GHz Industrial, Scientific, and Medical (ISM) band in both operating states. The antenna is also simulated on a human tissue model, illustrating that the specific absorption rate is well below the European standard threshold. The bending configurations are also discussed for the proposed antenna.
A New End Tab Design for Off-Axis Tension Test of Composite Materials

A new end tab fabricated using a fiberglass knit in a silicon rubber matrix was used for off-axis tension tests on unidirectional composites. It was shown experimentally that this new tab allowed shear deformation of the specimen to occur in the hydraulic grips and, thus, produce a uniform state of strain in the specimen. Consequently, the shear modulus could be determined accurately using this new tab. Furthermore, due to the absence of stress concentrations, this procedure could also be used to determine shear strength.
Mutual Fund Performance: An Analysis of Quarterly Portfolio Holdings

This article employs the 1975-84 quarterly holdings of a sample of mutual funds to construct an estimate of their gross returns. This sample, which is not subject to survivorship bias, is used in conjunction with a sample that contains the actual (net) returns of the mutual funds. In addition to allowing the authors to estimate the bias in measured performance that is due to the survival requirement and to estimate total transaction costs, the sample is used to test for the existence of abnormal performance. The tests indicate that the risk-adjusted gross returns of some funds were significantly positive. Copyright 1989 by the University of Chicago.
Perceived Stress among Nursing Staff in Psychiatric Inpatient Care: The Influence of Perceptions of the Ward Atmosphere and the Psychosocial Work Environment

The aims of this study were to investigate (1) perceived stress as felt by the nursing staff working in psychiatric inpatient care, (2) possible differences between nurses and nurse assistants, and (3) associations among individual characteristics, the ward atmosphere, the psychosocial work environment, and perceived stress. Ninety-three members of the nursing staff completed three instruments—one each measuring perceived stress, the ward atmosphere, and the psychosocial work environment. There were no differences among the staff groups concerning perceived stress. Multivariate analysis showed that the ward atmosphere factor “Involvement” and the psychosocial work environment factor “Role Clarity” were indicators of perceived stress. Improvements in these factors could help to prevent stress among the staff.
Fibroblast growth factor receptor‐1 mediates the inhibition of endothelial cell proliferation and the promotion of skeletal myoblast differentiation by SPARC: A role for protein kinase A

The role of the matricellular protein SPARC (secreted protein, acidic and rich in cysteine) in modulation of vascular cell proliferation is believed to be mediated, in part, by its ability to regulate the activity of certain growth factors through direct binding. In this study, we demonstrate that SPARC does not bind to basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF/FGF‐2) or interfere with complex formation between FGF‐2 and its high‐affinity FGF receptor‐1 (FGFR1), yet both native SPARC and a peptide derived from the C‐terminal high‐affinity Ca2+‐binding region of protein significantly inhibit ligand‐induced autophosphorylation of FGFR1 (>80%), activation of mitogen‐activated protein kinases (MAPKs) (>75%), and DNA synthesis in human microvascular endothelial cells (HMVEC) stimulated by FGF‐2 (>80%). We also report that in the presence of FGF‐2, a factor which otherwise stimulates myoblast proliferation and the repression of terminal differentiation, both native SPARC and the Ca2+‐binding SPARC peptide significantly promote (>60%) the differentiation of the MM14 murine myoblast cell line that expresses FGFR1 almost exclusively. Moreover, using heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG)‐deficient myeloid cells and porcine aortic endothelial cells (PAECs) expressing chimeric FGFR1, we show that antagonism of FGFR1‐mediated DNA synthesis and MAPK activation by SPARC does not require the presence of cell‐surface, low‐affinity FGF‐2 receptors, but can be mediated by an intracellular mechanism that is independent of an interaction with the extracellular ligand‐binding domain of FGFR1. We also report that the inhibitory effect of SPARC on DNA synthesis and MAPK activation in endothelial cells is mediated in part (>50%) by activation of protein kinase A (PKA), a known regulator of Raf‐MAPK pathway. SPARC thus modulates the mitogenic effect of FGF‐2 downstream from FGFR1 by selective regulation of the MAPK signaling cascade. J. Cell. Biochem. 90: 408–423, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Dividend Policy and Earnings Management: An Empirical Study of Pakistani Listed Companies

Dividend policy is one of the widely addressed topics in financial management. It is an important duty of a financial manager to formulate the company's dividend policy that is in the best interest of the company. Many a time financial managers are involved in earnings management practices with the intention of adjusting dividends. The present study has been carried out to scrutinize the effect of earnings management on dividend policy. The researchers have taken the data of 86 listed companies for the year 2004 to 2009. The researchers have measured the dividend policy by using dividend payout ratio while Modified Cross Sectional Jones Model (1995) has been employed to measure the earnings management. The results of the common effect model show that there is not any significant relationship among earnings management and dividend policy. Moreover, smaller companies are paying more dividends as compared to larger companies. This study reveals that involvement of managers is not for dividend policy. There might be some other motives behind the earnings management.
Power Doppler imaging: initial evaluation as a screening examination for carotid artery stenosis.

PURPOSE To evaluate power Doppler imaging as a possible screening examination for carotid artery stenosis. MATERIALS AND METHODS In the principal pilot study, a prospective, blinded comparison of power Doppler imaging with duplex Doppler imaging, the reference-standard method, was conducted in 100 consecutive patients routinely referred for carotid artery imaging at a large, private multispecialty clinic. In the validation pilot study, a prospective, blinded comparison of power Doppler imaging with digital subtraction angiography, the reference-standard method, was conducted in 20 consecutive patients routinely referred at a teaching hospital. Using conservative assumptions, the authors performed cost-effectiveness analysis. RESULTS Power Doppler imaging produced diagnostic-quality images in 89% of patients. When the images of the patients with nondiagnostic examinations were regarded as positive, power Doppler imaging had an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, A(z), of 0.87, sensitivity of 70%, and specificity of 91%. The validation study results were very similar. The cost-effectiveness of screening and, as indicated, duplex Doppler imaging as the definitive diagnostic examination and endarterectomy was $47,000 per quality-adjusted life-year. CONCLUSION The A(z) value for power Doppler imaging compares well with that for mammography, a generally accepted screening examination, and with most other imaging examinations. Power Doppler imaging is likely to be a reasonably accurate and cost-effective screening examination for carotid artery stenosis in asymptomatic populations.