Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interactions Between Follicle-Stimulating Hormone and Growth Factors in Modulating Secretion of Steroids and Inhibin-Related Peptides by Nonluteinized Bovine Granulosa Cells1

Abstract The aim was to investigate potential interactions between FSH and intraovarian growth factors in modulating secretion of inhibin A (inh A), activin A (act A), follistatin (FS), estradiol (E2), and progesterone (P4) by bovine granulosa cells cultured under conditions in which a nonluteinized FSH-responsive phenotype is maintained. Cells from 4- to 6-mm follicles were cultured in serum-free medium containing insulin (10 ng/ml) and androstenedione (10-7 M), and effects of ovine FSH (0.037–3 ng/ml) were tested alone and in combination with insulin-like growth factors (IGF) (LR3 IGF-I analogue; 2–50 ng/ml) and epidermal growth factor (EGF; 0.1–10 ng/ml). Medium was changed every 48 h and cultures ended after 144 h, when cell number was determined. Between 48–96 h and 96–144 h, FSH promoted (P < 0.0001) increases in output of inh A (6-fold), act A (15-fold), FS (6-fold), and E2 (18-fold), with maximal responses (in parentheses) elicited by 0.33 ng/ml FSH during the final period. Higher FSH doses (1 and 3 ng/ml) gave reduced responses for each of the above hormones, whereas P4 output was maximal (3-fold) at these doses. FSH promoted a slight increase in cell number (∼1.7-fold; P < 0.001). LR3 IGF-I alone markedly increased (P < 0.0001) output of inh A (8-fold), act A (41-fold), FS (12-fold), and E2 (18-fold); this was accompanied by modest increases (P < 0.01) in P4 output (∼2.5-fold) and cell number (∼2-fold). Whereas FSH enhanced inh A, act A, FS, and E2 secretion evoked by lower doses of LR3 IGF-I, it suppressed (P < 0.001) the response to the highest dose. EGF alone promoted a 1.7-fold increase in cell number (P < 0.001) without affecting hormone release; however, it abolished (P < 0.001) FSH-induced secretion of inh A, act A, FS, and E2. Both FSH alone and LR3 IGF-I alone dose-dependently increased the act A:FS ratio (∼3-fold; P < 0.005) and act A:inh A ratio (3-fold to 6-fold; P < 0.001), suggesting that both factors selectively raise activin “tone” and that this could be a key requirement for FSH and IGF-induction of follicular E2 production. This hypothesis was reinforced by the finding that addition of FS, to reduce the act A:FS ratio and sequester secreted activin, markedly suppressed (P < 0.001) FSH (3-fold)-, and LR3 IGF-I (2-fold)-induced E2 output.
Hardware-Efficient Design of Real-Time Profile Shape Matching Stereo Vision Algorithm on FPGA

A variety of platforms, such as micro-unmanned vehicles, are limited in the amount of computational hardware they can support due to weight and power constraints. An efficient stereo vision algorithm implemented on an FPGA would be able to minimize payload and power consumption in microunmanned vehicles, while providing 3D information and still leaving computational resources available for other processing tasks. This work presents a hardware design of the efficient profile shape matching stereo vision algorithm. Hardware resource usage is presented for the targeted micro-UV platform, Helio-copter, that uses the Xilinx Virtex 4 FX60 FPGA. Less than a fifth of the resources on this FGPA were used to produce dense disparity maps for image sizes up to 450 × 375, with the ability to scale up easily by increasing BRAM usage. A comparison is given of accuracy, speed performance, and resource usage of a census transform-based stereo vision FPGA implementation by Jin et al. Results show that the profile shape matching algorithm is an efficient real-time stereo vision algorithm for hardware implementation for resource limited systems such as microunmanned vehicles.
A test statistic for the affected‐sib‐set method

This paper discusses generalizations of the affected‐sib‐pair method. First, the requirement that sib identity‐by‐descent relations be known unambiguously is relaxed by substituting sib identity‐by‐state relations. This permits affected sibs to be used even when their parents are unavailable for typing. In the limit of an infinite number of marker alleles each of infinitesimal population frequency, the identity‐by‐state relations coincide with the usual identity‐by‐descent relations. Second, a weighted pairs test statistic is proposed that covers affected sib sets of size greater than two. These generalizations make the affected‐sib‐pair method a more powerful technique for detecting departures from independent segregation of disease and marker phenotypes. A sample calculation suggests such a departure for tuberculoid leprosy and the HLAD locus.
Sex differences in the incidence of hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke among diabetics in Taiwan.

BACKGROUND Diabetes mellitus is an important risk factor for stroke, but whether there is differential gender-specific risk has not been fully elucidated. We aimed to explore the impact of gender on incidence and relative risks of hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke among the diabetic population in Taiwan. METHODS In this study, 500,868 diabetic patients and 500,248 age matched and-sex-matched nondiabetic individuals were linked to inpatient claims (1997-2002) to identify hospitalizations for nontraumatic hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke. Incidence density was calculated with the Poisson assumption, and Kaplan-Meier analysis was used to assess the cumulative incidence over a 6-year follow-up period. We also evaluated the relative hazards of stroke in relation to diabetes with the Cox proportional hazard model, adjusted with demographics and geographic regions. RESULTS The incidence of hemorrhagic stroke in diabetic women was less than that in diabetic men except in those aged > or =85, but the difference between male and female diabetic patients was less pronounced with ischemic stroke. The hazard ratios (HRs) of hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke among diabetic women were increased by a magnitude of 1.2 and 1.32, respectively, which were significantly higher than those of diabetic men. Further age-stratified analysis indicated that young and middle-aged diabetic women tended to have higher HRs and that diabetic women aged <35 suffered from particularly high HRs (HR 7.69, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.81-32.75 for hemorrhagic stroke, and HR = 8.46, 95% CI 4.28-16.75 for ischemic stroke). CONCLUSIONS There was a significant gender-diabetes interactive effect on the incidence of hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke. Additionally, young Taiwanese diabetic patients were most vulnerable to an increased relative risk of hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke. Comprehensive diabetic care with stroke prevention measures should be emphasized in young diabetic people in order to prevent premature disability.
Migration and land use change in Europe: a review.

Migration within Europe and between Europe and other parts of the world is a major driver of population change and has far reaching effects on land use. The theory, historical trends and actual patterns of migration were reviewed and from these an understanding of different categories of migration was developed. The pressures for land use change caused by different types of migration were developed and interpreted into a map of Europe, resolved at NUTSx level and a set of descriptions of land use change projections, examples of which are presented. The paper suggests that the implications of migration on land use change need further research and better data in order to be able to be more certain of trends. In the modern world migration will continue to be a major influence on land use and European policies which consider migration and land use as separate issues are likely to miss important connections.
Capturing the Political Imagination: Think Tanks and the Policy Process

Parliamentary Affairs- ". a sophisticated and balanced evaluation" Austrian Broadcasting Corporation- "This comprehensive study of British and American Think Tanks tells us how they work, how they"re used and hot to distinguish between them. " Political Studies- " By drawing on the literature of agenda setting, knowledge communities and policy entrepreneurship Stone is able to give her study a strong conceptual framework within which to conduct her analysis.the overall impression is of a very sound and stimulating piece of work" New Times - "a wide-ranging and comprehensive analysis.an excellent book" Contemporary Review - " This is a thoughtful and well-researched study of an aspect of policy development which has not been much written up in this country.an essential book for the library of the policy student- and of the decision taker in Government" The Political Quarterly- "This book has the great merit of seeking to debunk the myth of the overmighty think tank, refusing to acccept claims of influence and success without proof" Times Literary Supplement- " As a reference work it is.invaluable
Asset Correlations in Turbulent Markets and their Implications on Asset Management

In this article, the dependence structure of the asset classes stocks, government bonds and corporate bonds in different market environments and its implications on asset management are investigated. Asset returns are modelled by a Markov-switching model which allows for two market regimes with completely different risk-return structures. Using major stock indices, calm and turbulent market periods are identified for the time period between 1987 and 2009 and the correlation structures in the respective periods are compared. It turns out that the correlations between as well as within the asset classes under investigation are far from being stable and vary significantly between calm and turbulent market periods as well as time. Finally, the impact of these findings is examined in a portfolio optimization context. To accomplish this, a case study using the mean-variance and the mean-conditional-value-at-risk framework as well as two levels of risk aversion is conducted. The results show that an explicit consideration of different market conditions in the modelling framework yields better portfolio performance as well as lower portfolio risk compared to standard approaches. These findings hold true for all investigated optimization frameworks and risk-aversion levels.
Whole body physiologically based modelling of β‐blockers in the rat: events in tissues and plasma following an i.v. bolus dose

Whole body physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) models have been increasingly applied in drug development to describe kinetic events of therapeutic agents in animals and humans. The advantage of such modelling is the ability to incorporate vast amounts of physiological information, such as organ blood flow and volume, to ensure that the model is as close to reality as possible.
Protecting due process in a punitive era: an analysis of changes in providing counsel to the poor

Most criminal justice scholars agree that the past three decades have witnessed a punitive shift in criminal justice policy, public opinion, and political rhetoric. Have these political trends also left their mark on policy approaches to due process rights? The provision of counsel to indigent defendants is a signature issue in debates over due process rights. The Supreme Court expanded dramatically the circumstances under which states were required to provide counsel in the 1960s and 1970s, though decisions about the implementation of this mandate were left to individual states. We examine the evolution of indigent defense policy, at the state and local level, over the past three decades, and ask two questions: First, did policies evolve in the directions expected by reform advocates? Second, to the extent that policies developed differently across states, how can we account for those differences? We find that refomers' optimistic projections about structure and funding have not been realized, and that adoption of progressive policies has been uneven across states. Most importantly, we find evidence that the politics of ideology and racial conflict have played a significant role in states' indigent defense policy over the past three decades.
A contingent approach to the design of vendor selection systems for different types of co‐operative customer/supplier relationships

Literature on supply chain management has been recently stressing the need for co‐operation and integration between suppliers and customers, highlighting the critical role played by the supplier in contributing to the overall performance of the purchaser. Consequently supplier selection is one of the purchasing manager’s most critical tasks, as demonstrated by the number of articles that have dealt with vendor selection criteria and techniques in the light of the requirements of the new environment. The paper proposes four different vendor selection systems (VSSs) depending on the time frame (short‐term versus long‐term) and on the content (logistic versus strategic) of the co‐operative customer/supplier relationships. More precisely, the suggested VSSs consider, in an analytic hierarchy process framework, different sets of measures, deriving from a non‐conventional model of the supplier based on the dynamic system and on the resource‐based approach.
VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURE OF SEGMENT INFORMATION BY AUSTRALIAN DIVERSIFIED COMPANIES

: This paper reports an examination of economic incentives motivating listed diversified companies in Australia to voluntarily disclose segment information. The study is based on a sample of 65 listed diversified companies. Support is found for ownership diffusion, the level of minority interest in subsidiaries, firm size and industry membership as factors influencing the voluntary disclosure of segment information. No support is found for leverage or diversification into related versus unrelated industries.
Factors influencing the assurance of sustainability reports in the context of the economic crisis in Portugal

Purpose - – The paper aims to analyse the engagement in sustainability reporting assurance (SRA) by a sample of Portuguese firms between 2008 and 2011. Design/methodology/approach - – Bivariate and multivariate non-parametric statistics is used to analyse some factors that influence the decision to have sustainability reports assured. Findings - – Results indicate that size, leverage, profitability, listing status and industrial affiliation are determinants of SRA, whereas type of ownership is not. A downward trend in sustainability reporting and its assurance was also detected. Research limitations/implications - – The sample is small. Originality/value - – It adds to the scarce research on SRA by providing new empirical data in a context of crisis and extends prior research by analysing the effects of listing status and type of ownership.
SME internationalization research: past, present, and future

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to understand the similarities and differences in the internationalization of SMEs and MNEs and the specific factors affecting them.Design/methodology/approach – The relevant literature was reviewed particularly in the context of the major theories of internationalization.Findings – The positive and negative aspects of each theoretical approach to internationalization are present to form the basis of a new model of international entrepreneurship.Research limitations/implications – The newly developed conceptual model has not been empirically tested.Originality/value – A redeveloped theoretical integrative conceptual model of international entrepreneurship is proposed based on four internationalization properties (mode, market, product, and time), internationalization performance, and key antecedents and consequences of the internationalization process.
Measuring Perceived Communicative Ability After Traumatic Brain Injury: Reliability and Validity of the La Trobe Communication Questionnaire*

ObjectiveFurther psychometric evaluation of a measure designed to assess communication ability after traumatic brain injury (TBI). DesignInternal consistency, test-retest reliability, and validity for self-report and close-other versions of the tool were evaluated. ParticipantsEighty-eight adults with severe TBI (mean posttraumatic amnesia 53.12 days) and 71 close others (relatives or friends). MeasureThe La Trobe Communication Questionnaire (LCQ), a 30-item questionnaire that measures cognitive-communication ability from multiple perspectives. ResultsInternal consistency coefficients were above 0.9 and test-retest reliability exceeded 0.80. The questionnaire was sensitive to the effect of severity of injury. ConclusionThe La Trobe Communication Questionnaire is a promising tool for measuring perceived communication ability in adults with severe TBI.
Pursuing competitive advantage through integrated global sourcing

Executive Summary As organizations search for new ways to gain competitive advantage, the development of progressive global strategies and approaches becomes an increasingly attractive option. Perhaps more than any other area in business today, integrated global sourcing strategies offer the potential for major performance gains. Since most organizations do not have well-developed global sourcing processes or strategies in place, improvement opportunities are indeed attractive and largely unrealized. This article enhances our understanding of global sourcing by identifying the differences between international purchasing and global sourcing within a five-level framework that highlights the progression from domestic purchasing only to the coordination and integration of global requirements. The primary focus of this article is a presentation of the factors that differentiate successful from less successful global sourcing efforts. The article concludes with a brief discussion of lessons learned and future .
Life Insurer Financial Distress: Classification Models and Empirical Evidence

This study extends previous research on life insurer insolvency by providing empirical evidence on a large (nonmatched-pair) sample of insurers based on three alternative types of statistical models. The study utilizes 1986 through 1990 data for a sample of insurers that did or did not become financially impaired during 1989 through 1991. Empirical evidence suggests that surplus measures and leverage measures are strong indicators of insurer financial strength; however, no evidence is found for a strong relationship between state minimum capital requirements and insolvency. Classification rates for this study's large sample are generally lower than those found in previous studies examining earlier time periods and using smaller, matched-pair samples.
Effects of Ordering on the Magnetic Properties of Gas-Atomized Fe–Si–Cr Powders

Fe–9%Si–2%Cr powder was gas-atomized and then annealed in order to investigate the effects of DO3 and B2 ordered phases on high-frequency permeability of the powder. The B2 phase is formed during the atomization process. The DO3 phase began to form at 450 °C and grew rapidly when annealed at higher temperature as confirmed by X-ray diffractometer, whereas the existence of the DO3 phase in the as-atomized powder could be confirmed by electron transmission microscope. With the increase in the temperature, the average lattice parameter and the coercivity decreased. There was an abrupt increment of the coercivity in the powder annealed at 450 °C. Highest permeability could be obtained in the powder annealed at a relative low temperature of 150 °C and then the permeability real decreased with the temperature. The behavior of the coercivity and the permeability with the temperature could be successfully explained by the formation of the DO3 ordered phase and the change of the electrical resistivity.
NCHS growth curves for children birth-18 years. United States.

Abstract : In 1974 the National Academy of Sciences' urged that new growth charts for infants and children be prepared using current data for the nutritional assessment of populations of infants and children in the United States. The Academy recommended using the data on growth and development collected over the past decade by the Health Examination Surveys (HES) of the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), supplemented by age-appropriate sets of height and weight data on infants and children from the Fels Research Institute and from an Ohio State University team headed by Dr. George Owen. Earlier (1971), a study group, cosponsored by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Maternal and Child Health Program, Public Health Service, Department of Health, Education, and Welfare (DHEW), had made similar recommendations. This latter report emphasized the use of such data in the clinical assessment of the growing infant and child, thereby supplementing nutritional screening and other epidemiologic assessments of populations of children. Again, in 1975, a research-oriented study group sponsored by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development made similar recommendations . Furthermore, each of the groups recommended that one set of data for all races would be sufficient for practical purposes, despite the small but actual differences in body measurements noted among racial groupings.
Mergers and acquisitions as a human resource strategy: Evidence from US banking firms

– This paper investigates how a firm's human resource capability can affect the deployment and effectiveness of corporate mergers and acquisitions strategy. , – Mergers and acquisitions (M&A) is treated as a long‐term strategic orientation based on human resource advantage rather than a tactic to pursue short‐term goals. Using a sample of 267 US banking firms, the main and interaction effects of M&A intensity, HR capability, and in‐state propensity on four firm performance measures were examined. , – The findings confirm that banking M&A could be very effective when the firm had high HR capability. Evidence was also found that HR capability had a direct impact on firm performance. Although in‐state M&A strategy was in general superior to out‐of‐state M&A strategy, a firm with excellent HR capability might narrow the performance difference between in‐state and out‐of‐state M&A. , – An obvious drawback of using this sample of banking firms is that it raises questions about the generalizability of these findings to smaller financial firms and firms in other industries. This study considers firms having at least one M&A over a three‐year period, so we should not generalize our findings to those firms preferring to use internal growth strategies or greenfield start‐ups. , – The main message of this paper is that human resource capability is critical for M&A strategy to be effective. , – By extending previous investigations which showed that M&A strategy and HR capacity should be independently treated, this study highlights the critical role of internal HR capability in performance implications of M&A strategy.
The Ecology of Organizational Founding: American Labor Unions, 1836-1985

This paper analyzes the founding rate of national labor unions in the United States for the period 1836-1985. It investigates the effects of competitive processes and environmental effects on this rate. A number of stochastics models embodying different assumptions about the ecology of foundings are estimated. The best-fitting models posit that the effect of density (the number of unions in existence) and the number of recent foundings on the foundig rate is curvilinear. Analysis of more complicated models reveals that the growth of industrial unions inhibited the founding rate of craft unions. However, the founding rate of industrial unions was unaffected by the number of craft unions in existence.