Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Flexible GnRH antagonist versus flare-up GnRH agonist protocol in poor responders treated by IVF: a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND Although initial studies in poor responders using GnRH antagonists have reported encouraging results, they are limited in number, only a few of them are prospective, while the majority is characterized by limited power to detect a clinically important difference. METHODS A randomized controlled trial was performed in patients with one or more previous failed IVF cycles in which five or less oocytes were retrieved, using > or =300 IU of gonadotrophins/day. Patients were randomized by computer-generated list and treated by either the flare-up GnRH agonist protocol (n = 90) or a flexible GnRH antagonist protocol (n = 180). RESULTS Ongoing pregnancy rate, the primary outcome measure, was significantly higher in the antagonist group compared with the agonist group (12.2 versus 4.4%, P< 0.048; difference 7.8%, 95% CI: 0.2 to 14.0). Estradiol levels on the day of hCG administration were lower in the antagonist protocol [median (interquartile range): 572 (325-839) versus 727 (439-1029) pg/ml, P = 0.018]. Clinical and biochemical pregnancy rates, fertilization and implantation rates, as well as the number of oocytes retrieved, the number of mature oocytes present, the stimulation period and the gonadotrophin dosage were not significantly different between the two groups compared. CONCLUSIONS The flexible GnRH antagonist protocol is associated with significantly higher ongoing pregnancy rates compared with the flare-up GnRH agonist protocol in poor responders.
Psychological Determinants of Using Facebook: A Research Review

In recent years, Facebook has become the most popular of social networking sites (SNSs). Due to its increasing popularity and rising number of its users, the phenomenon of Facebook has aroused academic interest as well. There has been a growing number of studies on this subject. The aim of this article is to present the main trends in Facebook research and to provide an overview of major empirical findings. Among the most intensively explored topics in Facebook research, studies that concentrate on personality and individual differences among users, the role of self-efficacy, and motivation for using that specific SNS were identified. There is also a growing trend in empirical studies that focuses on testing advanced theoretical models of Facebook usage determinants. Technology acceptance model, presented in this article, is one of the most often used among them. This kind of approach may serve as a suggestion for a methodological conceptualization in the future confirmatory research on Facebook.
Boolean functions whose Fourier transform is concentrated on pairwise disjoint subsets of the input

We consider Boolean functions f:{-1,1}^n->{-1,1} that are close to a sum of independent functions on mutually exclusive subsets of the variables. We prove that any such function is close to just a single function on a single subset. We also consider Boolean functions f:R^n->{-1,1} that are close, with respect to any product distribution over R^n, to a sum of their variables. We prove that any such function is close to one of the variables. Both our results are independent of the number of variables, but depend on the variance of f. I.e., if f is \epsilon*Var(f)-close to a sum of independent functions or random variables, then it is O(\epsilon)-close to one of the independent functions or random variables, respectively. We prove that this dependence on Var(f) is tight. Our results are a generalization of the Friedgut-Kalai-Naor Theorem [FKN'02], which holds for functions f:{-1,1}^n->{-1,1} that are close to a linear combination of uniformly distributed Boolean variables.
Genetic Characterization of Methicillin Resistant and Sensitive, Vancomycin Intermediate Staphylococcus aureus Strains Isolated from Different Iranian Hospitals

Background. Global concerns have been raised due to upward trend of Vancomycin Intermediate Staphylococcus aureus (VISA) and Vancomycin Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA) reports which mean casting doubt on the absolute effectiveness of the last line of antibiotic treatment for S. aureus, vancomycin. Hence, epidemiological evaluation can improve global health care policies. Methodology. 171 Isolates of Staphylococcus aureus were collected from different types of clinical samples in selected hospitals in Isfahan, Mashhad, and Tehran, Iran. Then, they were evaluated by agar screening, disk diffusion, and MIC method to determine their resistance to vancomycin and methicillin. The isolated VISA strains were then confirmed with genetic analysis by the evaluation of mecA and vanA genes, SCCmec, agr, and spa type, and also toxin profiles. MLST was also performed. Results and Conclusion. Our data indicated that 67% of isolated S. aureus strains were resistant to methicillin. Furthermore, five isolates (2.9%) had intermediate resistance to vancomycin (VISA). In contrast to usual association of VISA with MRSA strains, we found two isolates of MSSA-VISA. Therefore, our data suggests a probable parallel growing trend of VISA towards MSSA, along with MRSA strains. However, more samples are required to confirm these primarily data. Moreover, genetic analysis of the isolated VISA strains revealed that these strains are endemic Asian clones.
Profit Maximization: Translog Functions applied to Indian Agriculture

In this paper we test the profit maximization hypothesis using Indian agricultural data on a farm-level basis. The paper employs a translog variable profit function and the implied input share equations to test the hypothesis. The model is estimated by Zellner's Seemingly Unrelated Regressions method with restrictions within and across equations. The restrictions implied by the theory are tested. The tests reject the profit maximization hypothesis.
The effect of methacholine-induced acute airway narrowing on lung sounds in normal and asthmatic subjects.

The association between lung sound alterations and airways obstruction has long been recognized in clinical practice, but the precise pathophysiological mechanisms of this relationship have not been determined. Therefore, we examined the changes in lung sounds at well-defined levels of methacholine-induced airway narrowing in eight normal and nine asthmatic subjects with normal baseline lung function. All subjects underwent phonopneumography at baseline condition and at > or = 20% fall in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and in asthmatic subjects also at > or = 40% fall in FEV1. Lung sounds were recorded at three locations on the chest wall during standardized quiet breathing, and during maximal forced breathing. Airflow-dependent power spectra were computed using fast Fourier transform. For each spectrum, we determined the intensity and frequency content of lung sounds, together with the extent of wheezing. The results were analysed using analysis of variance (ANOVA). During acute airway narrowing, the intensity and frequency content of the recorded sounds, as well as the extent of wheezing, were higher than at baseline in both groups of subjects. At similar levels of obstruction, both the pitch and the change in sound intensity with airflow were higher in asthmatics than in normal subjects. Wheezing, being nondiscriminative between the subject groups at baseline, was more prominent in asthmatics than in normal subjects at 20% fall in FEV1. We conclude that, at given levels of acute airway narrowing, lung sounds differ between asthmatics and normal subjects. This suggests that airflow-standardized phonopneumography is a sensitive method for detecting abnormalities in airway dynamics in asthma. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Massive Cerebral Gas Embolism under Discectomy due to Hydrogen Peroxide Irrigation

Massive cerebral and spinal gas embolism occurs rarely as a complication of discectomy. We report a 54-year-old female who had undergone a discectomy (L3/4 and L4/5) under epidural anesthesia in a local hospital developed multiple massive gas embolisms. At closure, surgeons irrigated the incision wound with hydrogen peroxide. Soon after the irrigation, the patient suddenly developed tachycardia, hypotension, and rapid oxygen desaturation. Subsequently, patient progressed into unconsciousness and right hemianopsia quadriplegia. Computed tomography (CT) scan showed multiple hypointensity spots around the brain due to cerebral gas embolism, which indicated the pneumoencephalos. The likely mechanism was the absorption of hydrogen peroxide into blood. When the amount of oxygen evolved exceeded its maximal blood solubility, venous embolization occurred. Though the patient was treated with supportive treatments and hyperbaric oxygen, she did not get full recovery and was left with severe long-term cerebral injury.
Political Conflict and Foreign Portfolio Investment: Evidence from North Korean Attacks

We examine the response of foreign (i.e., non-South Korean) investors to escalating political conflict and its impact on the South Korean stock market surrounding 13 North Korean military attacks between 1999 and 2010. Using domestic (i.e., South Korean) institutions and individuals as benchmarks, we evaluate the trading behavior and performance of foreign investors. Following attacks, foreigners increase their holdings of Korean stocks and buy more shares of risky stocks. Performance results show foreigners maintain their pre-attack level of performance while domestic individuals, who make the overwhelming majority of domestic trades, perform worse. In addition, domestic institutions improve their performance. Overall, the results are consistent with the predictions based on the benefits of international diversification. Unlike domestic individuals, foreigners trade more shares than usual and deviate from their general strategy of positive feedback trading.
On Risk Premia and Volatility Transmission Across the Stock and Bond Markets

This paper analyzes risk premia and volatility transmission across the stock and bond markets within an expected return beta representation of the conditional capital asset pricing model. Time variation in the market price of risk is characterized by a two state Markov regime switching process, while time variation in conditional betas is characterized by an asymmetric general dynamic covariance process. On the basis of estimated state dependent generalized impulse response functions, we find evidence of a flight to quality phenomenon, whereby investors shift funds from the stock market to the bond market in response to high stock market volatility. Our impulse response analysis also suggests that the degree of risk diversification achieved by cross market hedging is lowest when it is most desirable.
Inflation and economic growth: a multi-country empirical analysis

The world eocnomy is currently adjusting to a low inflation regime which has implicastions for the cross-country distribution of world growth opportunities. In contrast to previous related work which assumes unidirectional causality, this paper uses the Granger methodology to examine both the direction and pattern of causality between inflation and economic growth in 70 countries using annual data over the period 1960–89. Among the conclusions are that first, the relationship between inflation and growth is non-uniform across countries: 40% of countries studied reveal no causality, one-third exhibit unidirectional causality and about one-fifth of countries show bidirectional causality, second, a vast majority of countries which show either uni- or bi-directional causality beong to the industrial group, and third, the low world inflation regime will on balance redistribute real growth opportunities benefit away from the developing countries towards the industrialized countries.
Global minimum for a variant Mumford–Shah model with application to medical image segmentation

Traditional level set-based active contour models/snakes are widely applied to medical image segmentation. The main problems faced by those traditional models are that they cannot find the global minimum of the energy functionals and hardly handle the intensity inhomogeneities which often occur in medical images. In order to overcome the drawbacks mentioned above, we make use of a global minimisation framework and the dual formulation of the total variation (TV) norm to solve a global variant Mumford–Shah energy with bias field estimator. Furthermore, we utilise a new method to compute the bias field estimator by the Gaussian kernel function, which can ensure the bias field estimator to keep smooth in the whole image domain. Finally, through the dual projection method of the weighted TV norm, we can find the global minimum of the variant Mumford–Shah energy with bias field estimator rather than the local one. Experimental results demonstrate that our method can obtain the desired results both in synthetic and medical images.
A Decentralized Control Algorithm for Maintaining Communication Links in Mobile Sensor Networks

This paper presents a distributed control algorithm for mobile nodes cooperating so as to dynamically reconfigure themselves to maintain reliable end-to-end communication links. A Delaunay trianglation based network model is proposed for describing the multi-robot system. The improved adjacency matrix is adopted to denote connection relationship of the one-hop neighboring nodes. Inspired by potential field and virtual force technology, the performace index implying virtual energy of individual node is proved to be globally convergent. Meanwhile, an algorithm named minimum-following is proposed for tethering of mobile team. The experimental results have shown the effectiveness of the proposed network model and tethering program.
The U.S. Listing Gap

Relative to other countries, the U.S. now has abnormally few listed firms. This “U.S. listing gap” is consistent with a decrease in the net benefit of a listing for U.S. firms. Since the listing peak in 1996, the propensity to be listed is lower for all firm size categories and industries, the new list rate is low, and the delist rate is high. The high delist rate accounts for 46% of the listing gap and the low new list rate for 54%. The high delist rate is explained by an unusually high rate of acquisitions of publicly listed firms.
OTC derivatives market structure and the credit profi les of wholesale investment banks

The OTC market is at a critical crossroads from a number of angles – proposed regulatory changes, changing end-user expectations, competitive pressures from the listed market, and the effect of all these on the banks’ economics from the business. The possible paths forward may include central clearing, exchange trading, stricter capital, margin and disclosure requirements, for all or parts of the USD 600T market. Moreover, as part of this process, we are seeing the creation of new, or growth of existing, systemically-important institutions – central counterparties. Each of these paths, and the way in which they will interact, have different implications for systemic and individual fi rm risks.
A novel dual-input power converter for renewable-energy generation system

This paper presents a novel dual-input power converter (DIPC) for PV-wind hybrid power system. The proposed DIPC can simultaneously process two different kinds of renewable sources. Even if either of them shutdowns from the power system, the proposed DIPC can still keep providing sufficient power for output. Moreover, the energy stored in leakage inductance can be completely recycled for promoting the conversion efficiency. Compared with traditional step-up converters, the DIPC possesses some advantages, such as lower transformer turns ratio, sharing a common output inductor, smaller volume, and dual-input energy processing. Operation of the proposed DIPC and theoretical analysis are discussed in this paper. Finally, a 200W prototype is built to verify the feasibility and correctness.
Toward number recognition system: A nonstationary signal analyzing approach through SVM algorithm

Non-stationary signal analysis based on visual stimulation has drawn extensive attention in BCI system to provide the promising services. The main task of this paper tries to evaluate specific pattern of each decimal number created in human brain using the specific features of EEG. For differentiating among the decimal numbers, salient features are extracted using time, frequency and time-frequency domain analysis and SVM classifiers are used to demonstrate the primitive features. It is observed that sigmoid kernel provides the highest accuracy than the other used classifiers and numbers are differentiated clearly by the best distinguishable features of PSD analysis.
Two-loop matching of the dipole operators for b → sγ and b → sg 1

The order αs corrections to the Wilson coefficients of the dipole operators (O7, O8) at the matching scale μ = mW are a crucial ingredient for a complete next-to-leading logarithmic calculation of the branching ratio for b → sγ. Given the phenomenological relevance and the fact that this two-loop calculation has been done so far only by one group [1], we present a detailed re-calculation using a different method. Our results are in complete agreement with those in ref. [1]. Work supported in part by Schweizerischer Nationalfonds
Local Economic Development : An Accessibility Analysis

This paper examines the impact of job accessibility on wages and productivity using Swedish municipality level data on night and daytime wages. The empirical analysis is based on annual data for 290 Swedish municipalities over the period 2005-2011. The strength of this paper lies in its empirical method. By using both Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and Seemingly Unrelated Regressions (SUR) in a panel data setting, I find that empirical analysis have to take into account the joint determination of day and night time wages. The core of this paper builds on the theories of New Economic Geography and the Jacobs hypothesis. Accordingly, firms that cluster in space are assumed to benefit from urbanization externalities, allowing them access to a large variety of differentiated input service suppliers. Thus, the results of this paper are consistent with the Jacobs hypothesis.
Feminising the Market: Women's Pay and Employment in the European Community

List of Figures - List of Tables - Abbreviations - Acknowledgements - Introduction - Women's Employment in the EC - Women and The Single European Market - Making the EC work for Women - Developing Policies for Women in the EC: 1957-1986 - How has EC Policy Affected Women in the UK? A Case Study of the Equal Pay Directive - Policies for Women in the Single European Market, 1986-1992 - The Response of Trade Unions and Women's Groups: The Priorities for Women in the Single European Market? - Conclusion: Towards a Feminist Analysis of the European Community - Appendix 1: Institutions of the European Community - Appendix 2: How Can Women Influence the EC Process? - Appendix 3: European Community Legislation in Favour of Women - Appendix 4: The Effect of Infringement Proceedings Against Member States in Implement the 1973 Equal Pay Directive - Appendix 5: Cases in the English Courts that have been Affected by the Scope of EC Law - Appendix 6: Community Charter of Fundamental Social Rights of Workers - Bibliography - Index
The Significance of Participant Experience when Evaluating Software Inspection Techniques

Software inspections have been used to improve software quality for 30 years. The Checklist Based Reading strategy has traditionally been the most prevalent reading strategy. Increased Object Oriented usage has raised questions regarding this technique's efficacy, given issues such as delocalisation. This study compared two OO inspection techniques: Use-Case Reading and Usage-Based Reading, with Checklist Based Reading. Students and industry professionals were recruited to participate in the study. The effectiveness of each reading strategy was analysed, and the effect experience had on inspection efficacy. The results showed no significant difference between inspection techniques, whether used by student or professional developers but a significant difference was identified between student and professional developers in applying the different techniques. Qualitative results highlighted the differences in ability between industry and students with respect to what each group considered important when inspecting and writing code. These results highlight the differences between student and industry professionals when applying inspections. Therefore, when selecting participants for empirical software engineering studies, participant experience level must be accounted for within the reporting of results.
Foreign Participation in Local-Currency Bond Markets

Countries that cannot attract foreigners to invest in their local currency bonds run the risk of currency mismatches that can result in painful crises. We analyze foreign participation in the bond markets of over 40 countries. Bond markets in less developed countries have returns characterized by high variance and negative skewness, factors that we show are eschewed by U.S. investors. While results based on a three-moment CAPM indicate that it is diversifiable idiosyncratic risk that U.S. investors shun, our analysis suggests that countries can improve foreign participation by reducing macroeconomic instability.
Explaining Schooling Returns and Output Levels Across Countries

This paper develops and calibrates a model with endogenous schooling and returns to schooling to explain Mincerian returns variation across countries, and assess the importance of schooling on output variation. The calibrated model is able to explain forty percent of the variation in the data, substantially more than linear regressions explain. Variation in the direct costs of schooling driven by government funding levels relative to enrollment rates and fertility rates contribute the most to the explanatory power of the model. Nevertheless, high effective discount rates are needed to reconcile the high level of Mincerian returns in the data. In the calibrated model, schooling contributes on average one-third to output per worker. ∗I am grateful to Virgiliu Midrigan for his exceptional work as a research assistant. I have benefited from comments from George Alessandria, Paul Evans, Jim Heckman, and Tom Mroz, as well as those received in presentations at Northwestern, Notre Dame, Ohio State, and the NEUDC 2003 and SED 2003 meetings. I thank the the Ohio State University for financial support. All mistakes are, of course, my own. †Contact: kaboski.1@osu.edu, 415 Arps Hall, 1945 N. High St., Columbus, OH, 614292-5588 (ph), 614-292-3906 (fax)
Distinct cellular and molecular mechanisms mediate initial axon development and adult-stage axon regeneration in C. elegans

The molecular and cellular mechanisms that allow adult-stage neurons to regenerate following damage are poorly understood. Recently, axons of motoneurons and mechanosensory neurons in adult C. elegans were found to regrow after being snipped by femtosecond laser ablation. Here, we explore the molecular determinants of adult-stage axon regeneration using the AVM mechanosensory neurons. The first step in AVM axon development is a pioneer axonal projection from the cell body to the ventral nerve cord. We show that regeneration of the AVM axon to the ventral nerve cord lacks the deterministic precision of initial axon development, requiring competition and pruning of unwanted axon branches. Nevertheless, axons of injured AVM neurons regrow to the ventral nerve cord with over 60% reliability in adult animals. In addition, in contrast to initial development, axon guidance during regeneration becomes heavily dependent on cytoplasmic protein MIG-10/Lamellipodin but independent of UNC-129/TGF-β repellent and UNC-40/DCC receptor, and axon growth during regeneration becomes heavily dependent on UNC-34/Ena and CED-10/Rac actin regulators. Thus, C. elegans may be used as a genetic system to characterize novel cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying adult-stage nervous system regeneration.