Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Endometrial receptivity is affected in women with high circulating progesterone levels at the end of the follicular phase: a functional genomics analysis.

BACKGROUND Elevated serum progesterone levels at the end of the follicular phase in controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) leads to a poorer ongoing pregnancy rate in IVF cycles due to reduced endometrial receptivity. The objective of this study was to use microarray technology to compare endometrial gene expression profiles at the window of implantation according to the levels of circulating progesterone. METHODS For this prospective cohort study, microarray data were obtained from endometrial biopsies from 12 young healthy oocyte donors undergoing COS with pituitary suppression by either gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists or antagonists, and recombinant FSH. On the day of recombinant chorionic gonadotrophin (rCG) administration, six women had serum progesterone levels (P) >1.5 ng/ml (study group) and six had serum P levels <1.5 ng/ml (control group). Endometrial samples were collected using a Pipelle catheter 7 days after the rCG injection. RESULTS Using the parametric test, we identified 140 genes significantly dysregulated (64 up- and 76 down-regulated) in the study group endometria compared with the control endometria, regardless of the GnRH analogue employed. These genes are related to cell adhesion, developmental processes, the immune system and others, which are all required for normal endometrial function development. Of the 25 gene targets previously proposed as markers for endometrial receptivity, 13 appeared over-regulated in the study group. CONCLUSIONS Our results reveal that elevated progesterone levels on the day of rCG administration can induce significant alterations in the gene expression profile of the endometrium.
10 kV, 120 A SiC half H-bridge power MOSFET modules suitable for high frequency, medium voltage applications

The majority carrier domain of power semiconductor devices has been extended to 10 kV with the advent of SiC MOSFETs and Schottky diodes. The devices exhibit excellent static and dynamic properties with encouraging preliminary reliability. Twenty-four MOSFETs and twelve Schottky diodes have been assembled in a 10 kV half H-bridge power module to increase the current handling capability to 120 A per switch without compromising the die-level characteristics. For the first time, a custom designed system (13.8 kV to 465/√3 V solid state power substation) has been successfully demonstrated with these state of the art SiC modules up to 855 kVA operation and 97% efficiency. Soft-switching at 20 kHz, the SiC enabled SSPS represents a 70% reduction in weight and 50% reduction in size when compared to a 60 Hz conventional, analog transformer.
Rural progress, rural decay : neoliberal adjustment policies and local initiatives

How do rural development programs, especially those run by nongovernmental organizations, cope in a time of structural adjustment programs and economic liberalization? Using Ecuador as a prototype of many other countries, Rural Progress, Rural Decay explores the adverse consequences of neoliberal macroeconomic policies on equitable development and compares them with experiences elsewhere in Latin America and other parts of the developing world.
Based on sliding mode control to synchronize of switched fractional Lorenz systems

The problem of synchronization for fractional master-slave Lorenz chaotic systems coupled with switched modified is investigated. Based on the Lyapunov stability theory and using the sliding mode control technique, a control scheme containing a new fraction-integer integral (FII) switching surface is developed to guarantee the synchronization of fractional Lorenz chaotic systems even when the switched modified is present. Numerical simulations are included to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed synchronization scheme.
Hyaluronan and the interaction between CD44 and epidermal growth factor receptor in oncogenic signaling and chemotherapy resistance in head and neck cancer.

OBJECTIVES To investigate whether hyaluronan (HA) and CD44 (hereinafter HA-CD44) promotes head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) chemotherapy resistance and whether HA-CD44 promotes epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-mediated oncogenic signaling to alter chemotherapy sensitivity in HNSCC. Hyaluronan, a glycosaminoglycan component of the extracellular matrix, is a ligand for the transmembrane receptor CD44, which acts through multiple signaling pathways to influence cellular behavior. We recently determined that HA-CD44 promotes phospholipase C-mediated calcium signaling and cisplatin resistance in HNSCC. DESIGN Cell line study. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Tumor cell growth with various chemotherapeutic drugs (methotrexate, doxorubicin hydrochloride, adriamycin, and cisplatin) was measured in the presence or absence of HA and other inhibitors of the EGFR-mediated signaling pathway. Immunoblotting was used to study EGFR signaling. Migration assays provided one measure of tumor progression. RESULTS The addition of HA, but not HA plus anti-CD44 antibody, resulted in a 2-fold reduced ability of methotrexate and an 8-fold reduced ability of adriamycin to cause HNSCC cell death. Immunoblotting studies demonstrated that HA can promote an association between CD44 and EGFR as well as CD44-dependent activation of EGFR-mediated signaling. Migration assays demonstrated that HA-CD44 can promote tumor migration with EGFR signaling. The presence of AG1478, an EGFR inhibitor, and U0126, an extracellular signal-regulated kinase inhibitor, inhibited HA-mediated tumor growth, migration, and chemotherapy resistance. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that HA promotes CD44/EGFR interaction, EGFR-mediated oncogenic signaling, and chemotherapy resistance in HNSCC. Perturbation of HA-CD44-mediated signaling may be a promising and novel strategy to treat HNSCC.
Accelerated Pathological and Clinical Nephritis in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus-Prone New Zealand Mixed 2328 Mice Doubly Deficient in TNF Receptor 1 and TNF Receptor 2 via a Th17-Associated Pathway1

TNF-α has both proinflammatory and immunoregulatory functions. Whereas a protective role for TNF administration in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-prone (New Zealand Black × New Zealand White)F1 mice has been established, it remains uncertain whether this effect segregates at the individual TNFR. We generated SLE-prone New Zealand Mixed 2328 mice genetically deficient in TNFR1, in TNFR2, or in both receptors. Doubly-deficient mice developed accelerated pathological and clinical nephritis with elevated levels of circulating IgG anti-dsDNA autoantibodies and increased numbers of CD4+ T lymphocytes, especially activated memory (CD44highCD62Llow) CD4+ T cells. We show that these cells expressed a Th17 gene profile, were positive for IL-17 intracellular staining by FACS, and produced exogenous IL-17 in culture. In contrast, immunological, pathological, and clinical profiles of mice deficient in either TNFR alone did not differ from those in each other or from those in wild-type controls. Thus, total ablation of TNF-α-mediated signaling was highly deleterious to the host in the New Zealand Mixed 2328 SLE model. These observations may have profound ramifications for the use of TNF and TNFR antagonists in human SLE and related autoimmune disorders, as well as demonstrate, for the first time, the association of the Th17 pathway with an animal model of SLE.
Essays on Finance of Innovation, Firm Dynamics and Economic Growth

Aggregate productivity, fundamental cause of long-run economic growth, plays a crucial role in determining economic development and living standards of nations. The main source of aggregate productivity growth is technological advances that are the outcomes of firms' and entrepreneurs' innovative activity. Complementary to the growing literature that studies how firm dynamics shape technological change, my dissertation focuses on how financial decisions of these agents affect this process. The three chapters of my dissertation provide theoretical, empirical, and quantitative investigation of the interplay between financial and innovative actions of heterogeneous firms along with its implications on aggregate productivity growth. Chapter one studies the impact of financial system on net firm entry, an important source of aggregate productivity growth. Selective funding of most promising ideas by financial intermediaries creates a trade-off between the mass of entrant firms and their average contribution to aggregate productivity. This chapter highlights the relevance of firm heterogeneity for the relationship between finance and growth, and discusses the theoretical and empirical implications of the resulting trade-off in firm entry. Chapter two also builds on the above mass-composition link, and uses it to study the permanent productivity losses due to sudden stops (SS). The model embeds the main mechanism into a real business cycle small open economy framework to measure the forgone productivity contribution of entrants deprived of funding. The theoretical prediction is that, during SS, smaller yet on average more productive cohorts enter the market. Chilean plant-level data that cover the 1998 SS verify this prediction, while the calibrated model demonstrates the quantitative significance of heterogeneity and selection in measuring the long-run productivity loss. Chapter three focuses on a specific financial intermediary that is especially relevant to innovation and growth, namely venture capital (VC) finance. It studies VC's quantitative impact on firm dynamics and economic growth using a new dynamic equilibrium model of technological change with heterogeneous firms and an explicit VC market. Distinctively, the model incorporates a unique feature of VC firms: their operational knowledge (OK) bundled with their investment. Experiments based on the estimated model highlight the quantitative relevance of OK and analyze policy implications. Degree Type Dissertation Degree Name Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) Graduate Group Economics First Advisor Jesus Fernandez-Villaverde
MEETINGS AND ? ' HE DAILY WELL-BEING OF EMPLOYEES

Steven Rogelberg, Advisor Although meetings are a pervasive experience of organizational life, researchers have not examined their effects on the employee. By likening meetings to interruptions and daily hassles, this study proposed that the meeting experiences of an employee can affect hidher daily well-being. Participants were asked to maintain a daily work diary of their work meetings for a period of one week. They were also asked to complete daily self-reports of their well-being, which included measures of fatigue, negative mood, subjective workload, and feelings of productivity. Based upon the work diary, information about various aspects of the employee's daily meeting experiences were gathered, including: number of meetings attended, percentage of time they consumed, how they were scheduled, and their relevance to the employee's primary work goals. Using HLM analyses, results showed statistically significant relationships between number of meetings attended and daily fatigue as well as subjective workload. The extent to which meetings helped employees achieve work goals and were relevant to their roles and responsibilities were positively related to daily feelings of productivity. Exploratory HLM analyses indicated that individual work stress significantly moderated several of the relationships between daily well-being and meeting experiences.
Osteoporosis in post-menopausal women

Haematuria P Watson 498 W Howe 498 Current issues in fitness for work certification D Beaumont and J Challenor 498 Mortality in general practice T J Scanlon 499 Restricting the use of thioridazine P Bailey and V Russell 499 Bladder catheterisation A Evand and D Stickler 500 Prescribing costs and patterns M Wilcock 500 Telephone consultations H Joesbury 501 M Doublet-Stewart 501 M Innes 502 Author's response B McKinstry 502 All letters are subject to editing and may be shortened. Letters should be sent to the BJGP office by e-mail in the first instance, addressed to journal@rcgp.org. uk (please include your postal address). Alternatively, they may be sent by post (please use double spacing and, if possible, include a MS Word or plain text version on an IBM PC-formatted disk). We regret that we cannot notify authors regarding publication. The article 'Clinical risk factors as pre-dictors of postmenopausal osteoporo-sis in general practice' by Versluis et al 1 is an interesting contribution to the study of clinical risk factors in post-menopausal osteoporosis. Diagnosis of osteoporosis is commonly based on bone mass measurements but it is obvious that data concerning clinical risk factors may be helpful in assessment of risk for fragility fractures. The authors have found that three risk factors — a low body mass index, previous fragility fractures, and severe kyphosis and/or loss of height — were significantly associated with osteo-porosis. However, we have some critical remarks concerning the study. First, in the article only bone mass-related risk factors were evaluated, so it would be better to emphasise that in the title. Secondly, the authors assessed kyphosis and/or height loss as a clinical risk factor and, in parallel, osteo-porosis was defined by the presence of severe vertebral deformity and/or a bone mineral density T-score less than –2.5. It is a serious mistake; kyphosis cannot be used in the same study twice. The authors ought to choose whether kyphosis is a diagnostic criterion or is concerned as an independent risk factor for fragility fracture. Risk factors must be distinctly separated from signs of the diseases and cannot simply be exchanged. Therefore, we are convinced that the proposed simplified case-finding strategy cannot be suitable in a diagnostic process. In a recent, excellent review of the literature on bone mass-related risk factors for fracture 2 the authors evaluated the role of a long list of clinical factors but height loss was not considered to …
Assessment of left ventricular diastolic function and recognition of diastolic heart failure.

Left ventricular (LV) diastolic dysfunction, as occurs in patients with hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and/or aging, carries a substantial risk of the subsequent development of heart failure and reduced survival, even when it is asymptomatic or “preclinical. ”1–4 Diastolic dysfunction is defined as functional abnormalities that exist during LV relaxation and filling. When such abnormalities cause or contribute to the clinical syndrome of heart failure with a normal LV ejection fraction, it is appropriate to describe the condition as diastolic heart failure. This diagnosis carries a mortality rate that is similar to that seen in systolic failure, approaching 15% per year in patients older than 65 years.5,6 Over the past 20 years, the survival of patients with systolic heart failure has improved, whereas the prognosis of diastolic heart failure has not changed.5 Diagnostic echocardiographic and Doppler techniques have improved,7 and criteria for the diagnosis of diastolic heart failure have been developed,8,9 but the evolution of therapeutic strategies has not kept pace with this growing public health problem. Improved therapy will depend on basic research directed at mechanisms of disease, coupled with clinical investigations directed at diagnosis and therapy. Article p 637 The article published by Kasner et al10 in this issue of Circulation consists of an exhaustive evaluation of invasive hemodynamic and noninvasive conventional and tissue Doppler echocardiographic parameters to search for the optimal method(s) for the evaluation of LV diastolic function. They studied 43 patients with definite and reliable evidence of diastolic dysfunction obtained during cardiac catheterization. The patients exhibited exercise intolerance, all were in New York Heart Association functional class II or III, and the level of the N-terminal pro B-type natriuretic peptide was elevated. The authors do not mention the physical examination, but presumably, the patients had been treated and signs of congestion …
Social pedagogy and inter-professional practice: evaluation of Orkney Islands training programme

From February to September 2011, a social pedagogy training programme was provided for 18 staff from across Orkney Islands Council education and social care services. The initiative was jointly funded by Orkney Islands Council and the Scottish Institute for Residential Child Care (SIRCC), now the Centre for excellence for looked after children in Scotland (CELCIS). The Orkney initiative was the first instance in Scotland of an inter-agency group of participants undertaking the course together. The purpose of the evaluation was to provide systematic evidence of the impact that the social pedagogy training had on participants’ day-to-day practice and inter-agency or inter-professional working. The evaluation questions were: 1.What was the impact of the training on participants’ day-to-day practice? 2.What impact did the provision of social pedagogy training to multi-agency participants have on their inter-professional and inter-agency collaboration? 3.What helped and hindered the process of building inter-agency collaboration and what key challenges can be identified?
Mediational Effects of Self-Efficacy Dimensions in the Relationship between Knowledge of Dengue and Dengue Preventive Behaviour with Respect to Control of Dengue Outbreaks: A Structural Equation Model of a Cross-Sectional Survey

Background Dengue fever is endemic in Malaysia, with frequent major outbreaks in urban areas. The major control strategy relies on health promotional campaigns aimed at encouraging people to reduce mosquito breeding sites close to people's homes. However, such campaigns have not always been 100% effective. The concept of self-efficacy is an area of increasing research interest in understanding how health promotion can be most effective. This paper reports on a study of the impact of self-efficacy on dengue knowledge and dengue preventive behaviour. Methods and Findings We recruited 280 adults from 27 post-outbreak villages in the state of Terengganu, east coast of Malaysia. Measures of health promotion and educational intervention activities and types of communication during outbreak, level of dengue knowledge, level and strength of self-efficacy and dengue preventive behaviour were obtained via face-to-face interviews and questionnaires. A structural equation model was tested and fitted the data well (χ2 = 71.659, df = 40, p = 0.002, RMSEA = 0.053, CFI = 0.973, TLI = 0.963). Mass media, local contact and direct information-giving sessions significantly predicted level of knowledge of dengue. Level and strength of self-efficacy fully mediated the relationship between knowledge of dengue and dengue preventive behaviours. Strength of self-efficacy acted as partial mediator in the relationship between knowledge of dengue and dengue preventive behaviours. Conclusions To control and prevent dengue outbreaks by behavioural measures, health promotion and educational interventions during outbreaks should now focus on those approaches that are most likely to increase the level and strength of self-efficacy.
Inversion of azimuthally dependent NMO velocity in transversely isotropic media with a tilted axis of symmetry

Just as the transversely isotropic model with a vertical symmetry axis (VTI media) is typical for describing horizontally layered sediments, transverse isotropy with a tilted symmetry axis (TTI) describes dipping TI layers (such as tilted shale beds near salt domes) or crack systems. P-wave kinematic signatures in TTI media are controlled by the velocity VP0 in the symmetry direction, Thomsen’s anisotropic coefficients e and δ, and the orientation (tilt ν and azimuth β) of the symmetry axis. Here, we show that all five parameters can be obtained from azimuthally varying P-wave NMO velocities measured for two reflectors with different dips and/or azimuths (one of the reflectors can be horizontal). The shear‐wave velocity VS0 in the symmetry direction, which has negligible influence on P-wave kinematic signatures, can be found only from the moveout of shear waves. Using the exact NMO equation, we examine the propagation of errors in observed moveout velocities into estimated values of the anisotropic parame.
C-terminal Deletions of the Escherichia coli RecA Protein

A set of C-terminal deletion mutants of the RecA protein of Escherichia coli, progressively removing 6, 13, 17, and 25 amino acid residues, has been generated, expressed, and purified. In vivo, the deletion of 13 to 17 C-terminal residues results in increased sensitivity to mitomycin C.In vitro, the deletions enhance binding to duplex DNA as previously observed. We demonstrate that much of this enhancement involves the deletion of residues between positions 339 and 346. In addition, the C-terminal deletions cause a substantial upward shift in the pH-reaction profile of DNA strand exchange reactions. The C-terminal deletions of more than 13 amino acid residues result in strong inhibition of DNA strand exchange below pH 7, where the wild-type protein promotes a proficient reaction. However, at the same time, the deletion of 13–17 C-terminal residues eliminates the reduction in DNA strand exchange seen with the wild-type protein at pH values between 7.5 and 9. The results suggest the existence of extensive interactions, possibly involving multiple salt bridges, between the C terminus and other parts of the protein. These interactions affect the pK a of key groups involved in DNA strand exchange as well as the direct binding of RecA protein to duplex DNA.
Asymmetric Returns and Semidimensional Risks: Security Valuation with a New Volatility Metric

Most theoretical models in finance measure risk as variance or covariance. However, many financial decision-makers seem to regard risk as the volatility of below-target returns and treat the volatility of above-target returns as a sweetener. Using simple metrics of downside risk and upside potential, constructed from conditional covariances, I test for the empirical content of this asymmetry. I introduce a new composite metric of semidimensional risks which reveals that the nonlinearity in the covariation of stock returns with bearish and bullish conditions of the market is priced in the cross-section of stock returns. In particular, I find that stocks that have concave characteristic regression lines against the market earn higher average returns than stocks that have convex characteristic regression lines. This new metric captures the relevant information in returns asymmetry or nonlinearity better than either coskewness or the square-coefficient from quadratic regression. I also present results that are consistent with a semidimensional risk-based explanation for the twin puzzles of return momentum and reversal. The primitive representation of the security pricing kernel as the negative of covariance between marginal utility of consumption and security returns lends theoretical support for semidimensional risks and provides a unifying perspective for seemingly disparate literature on semivariances, skewness and behavioral finance.