Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cleavage Stage versus Blastocyst Stage Embryo Transfer in Oocyte Donation Cycles

Background and Objective: During the last few years, a trend has been noted towards embryos being transferred at the blastocyst stage, which has been associated with improved rates regarding implantation and clinical pregnancy in comparison to cleavage stage embryo transfers. There is a limited number of studies investigating this notion in oocyte donation cycles employing cryopreserved embryos. The aim of this study is to evaluate the implantation potential and clinical pregnancy rates between the day 3 cleavage stage and blastocyst stage embryo transfers in oocyte donation cycles employing vitrified embryos. Methods: This is a retrospective evaluation of oocyte donation frozen–thawed transfers completed in our clinic from January 2017 to December 2017. Intracytoplasmic sperm injection was conducted for all oocytes. Following fertilization, all embryos were cryopreserved either at the cleavage or blastocyst stage. Embryo transfer of two embryos was performed under direct sonographic guidance in all cases. Results: Our results confirmed a 55.6% clinical pregnancy (CP) resulting from day 3 embryo transfers, a 68.8% CP from day 5, and 71.4% CP from day 6. Significantly improved pregnancy rates were related to embryo transfers at the blastocyst stage when compared to cleavage stage transfers (68.9% and 55.6% respectively, p = 0.016). The risk with regards to multiple pregnancies was similar. Conclusion: Our findings indicate that in oocyte donation cycles employing vitrified embryos, embryo transfer at the blastocyst stage is accompanied with a significant improvement in pregnancy rates and merits further investigation.
Work in the 21st Century: An Introduction to Industrial and Organizational Psychology

Now in its third edition, Work in the 21st Century is the most current, engaging, and highly regarded text for the industrial and organizational psychology course. - Cutting-edge topics and research coverage: includes the Five Factor Theory of Personality, the Big Eight theory of competencies, emotional intelligence, culture and emotions, genetics and job satisfaction, achieving balance between work and non-work, stress and violence, measuring motivation, integrity testing, entrepreneurship, computer-based assessment, male vs. female leaders, cross-cultural teams, bullying, and more - New! Increased emphasis on computer and web-based training and use of MP3 players and iPODs for training delivery - Updated research on stress management interventions and sexual harassment by clients and customers - New! Additional U.S. and international coverage of bullying at work, diversity awareness training, and innovative and creative performance in multi-disciplinary teams - Ancillaries: Instructor’s Manual, Test Bank, Study Guide, PowerPoint slides, and more at www.wiley. com/college/landy/
Putting your money where your mouth is: Geographic targeting of World Bank projects to the bottom 40 percent

The adoption of the shared prosperity goal by the World Bank in 2013 and Sustainable Development Goal 10, on inequality, by the United Nations in 2015 should strengthen the focus of development interventions and cooperation on the income growth of the bottom 40 percent of the income distribution. This paper contributes to the incipient literature on within-country allocations of development institutions and assesses the geographic targeting of World Bank projects to the bottom 40 percent. Bivariate correlations between the allocation of project funding approved over 2005–14 and the geographical distribution of the bottom 40 as measured by survey income or consumption data are complemented by regressions with population and other potential factors affecting the within-country allocations as controls. The correlation analysis shows that, of the 58 countries in the sample, 41 exhibit a positive correlation between the shares of the bottom 40 and World Bank funding, and, in almost half of these, the correlation is above 0.5. Slightly more than a quarter of the countries, mostly in Sub-Saharan Africa, exhibit a negative correlation. The regression analysis shows that, once one controls for population, the correlation between the bottom 40 and World Bank funding switches sign and becomes significant and negative on average. This is entirely driven by Sub-Saharan Africa and not observed in the other regions. Hence, the significant and positive correlation in the estimations without controlling for population suggests that World Bank project funding is concentrated in administrative areas in which more people live (including the bottom 40) rather than in poorer administrative areas. Furthermore, capital cities receive disproportionally high shares of World Bank funding on average.
Independent association between the visceral adiposity index and microalbuminuria in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes

Visceral adiposity and albuminuria are commonly observed in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Recently, the visceral adipose index (VAI) was found to be an indicator of visceral fat accumulation. However, the relationship between the VAI and urinary albumin has not been investigated in T2DM patients, and whether the predictive value of the VAI is superior to that of the triglyceride/high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL‐c) ratio remains unknown.
Influence of Socio-Economic and Psychosocial Profiles on the Human Breast Milk Bacteriome of South African Women

The human breast milk (HBM) bacteriome is an important, continuous source of microbes to the neonate in early life, playing an important role in shaping the infant’s intestinal bacteriome. Study of the composition of the HBM bacteriome is an emerging area of research, with little information available, particularly from low- and middle-income countries. The aim of this study was to characterize the diversity of bacterial communities in HBM samples collected between 6–10 weeks postpartum from lactating South African women and to study potential influencing factors of the bacteriome. Using 16S rRNA gene sequencing of samples from 554 women, we demonstrated that the HBM bacteriome was largely dominated by the phyla Firmicutes (mean relative abundance: 71.1%) and Actinobacteria (mean relative abundance: 16.4%). The most abundant genera identified from the HBM bacteriome were Streptococcus (mean relative abundance: 48.6%), Staphylococcus (mean relative abundance: 17.8%), Rothia (mean relative abundance: 5.8%), and Corynebacterium (mean relative abundance: 4.3%). “Core” bacterial genera including Corynebacterium, Streptococcus, Staphylococcus, Rothia, Veillonella, Gemella, Acinetobacter, Micrococcus and a genus belonging to the Enterobacteriaceae family were present in 80% of samples. HBM samples were classified, according to their bacteriome, into three major clusters, dominated by the genera Staphylococcus (cluster 1), a combination of Staphylococcus and Streptococcus (cluster 2), and Streptococcus (cluster 3). The cluster groups differed significantly for Shannon and chao1 richness indices. Bacterial interactions were studied using co-occurrence networks with positive associations observed between the abundances of Staphylococcus and Corynebacteria (members of the skin microflora) and between Streptococcus, Rothia, Veillonella, and Gemella (members of the oral microflora). HBM from older mothers had a higher Shannon diversity index. The study site was associated with differences in HBM bacteriome composition (permutational multivariate analysis of variance using distance matrices (PERMANOVA), p < 0.05). No other tested socio-demographic or psychosocial factors were associated with HBM bacterial composition.
UAV Positioning for Throughput Maximization Using Deep Learning Approaches

The use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) as a communication platform has great practical importance for future wireless networks, especially for on-demand deployment for temporary and emergency conditions. The user throughput estimation in a wireless system depends on the data traffic load and the available capacity to support that load. In UAV-assisted communication, the position of the UAV is one major factor that affects the capacity available to the data flows being served. This study applies multi-layer perceptron (MLP) and long short term memory (LSTM) approaches to determine the position of a UAV that maximizes the overall system performance and user throughput. To analyze and evaluate the system performance, we apply the hybrid of MLP-LSTM for classification regression tasks and K-means algorithms for automatic clustering of classes. The implementation of our work is done through TensorFlow packages. The performance of our proposed system is compared with other approaches to give accurate and novel results for both classification and regression tasks of the user throughput maximization and UAV positioning. According to the results, 98% of the user throughput maximization accuracy is correctly classified. Moreover, the UAV positioning provides accuracy levels of 94.73%, 98.33%, and 99.53% for original datasets (scenario 1), reduced features on the estimated values of user throughput at each grid point (scenario 2), and reduced feature datasets collected on different days and grid points achieved maximum throughput (scenario 3), respectively.
Intestinal Fungal Dysbiosis and Systemic Immune Response to Fungi in Patients With Alcoholic Hepatitis

Chronic alcohol consumption causes increased intestinal permeability and changes in the intestinal microbiota composition, which contribute to the development and progression of alcohol‐related liver disease. In this setting, little is known about commensal fungi in the gut. We studied the intestinal mycobiota in a cohort of patients with alcoholic hepatitis, patients with alcohol use disorder, and nonalcoholic controls using fungal‐specific internal transcribed spacer amplicon sequencing of fecal samples. We further measured serum anti–Saccharomyces cerevisiae antibodies (ASCA) as a systemic immune response to fungal products or fungi. Candida was the most abundant genus in the fecal mycobiota of the two alcohol groups, whereas genus Penicillium dominated the mycobiome of nonalcoholic controls. We observed a lower diversity in the alcohol groups compared with controls. Antibiotic or steroid treatment was not associated with a lower diversity. Patients with alcoholic hepatitis had significantly higher ASCA levels compared to patients with alcohol use disorder and to nonalcoholic controls. Within the alcoholic hepatitis cohort, patients with levels of at least 34 IU/mL had a significantly lower 90‐day survival (59%) compared with those with ASCA levels less than 34 IU/mL (80%) with an adjusted hazard ratio of 3.13 (95% CI, 1.11‐8.82; P = 0.031). Conclusion: Patients with alcohol‐associated liver disease have a lower fungal diversity with an overgrowth of Candida compared with controls. Higher serum ASCA was associated with increased mortality in patients with alcoholic hepatitis. Intestinal fungi may serve as a therapeutic target to improve survival, and ASCA may be useful to predict the outcome in patients with alcoholic hepatitis.
Investigation into attitudes towards older people with dementia in acute hospital using the Approaches to Dementia Questionnaire

Background Health care professionals have poor recognition of cognitive impairment among older patients and often have difficulties in providing care for people with dementia in acute hospitals. There are also reported high levels of stigma and negative staff attitudes towards people with dementia. Methodology A one-time survey of staff working on acute medical and orthopaedic wards of five District Health Boards in New Zealand using the ‘Approaches to Dementia Questionnaire’; a 19-item Questionnaire that aims to capture two attitudinal domains (Hope and Person-Centredness), towards people with dementia. A total of 563 questionnaires were distributed. Data were analysed using R. Results Three hundred and four (53.99%) respondents completed the survey. Ninety-four of the respondents (31.1%) were aged 51 years or older, and nearly all (88.4%) were women. One hundred and sixty-four of the respondents (53.9%) were registered nurses, 10 were student nurses (3.3%), 24 (7.9%) were healthcare assistants, 70 (23.0%) were allied health professionals, 27 (8.9%) were doctors and 9 (3%) were pharmacists. The mean total score of 72.7 reflected positive attitudes overall on the part of the respondents. Allied health professionals, student nurses and pharmacists had high scores on both scales whilst healthcare assistants scored lowest on both scales. Conclusion Overall, the Approaches to Dementia Questionnaire is a useful measure, but it can be difficult to differentiate between genuine attitudinal differences and confounding influences such as level of knowledge and education amongst such a diverse group of participants. Differences between staff may be considered as a reflection of the high level of direct care that is expected of some staff and not of others. Further, the Approaches to Dementia Questionnaire may not be the most appropriate measure to accurately understand attitudes to dementia care in acute environments; and that it more usefully reveals knowledge about dementia rather than attitudes related to real-time practice.
Effects of Intermittent Energy Restriction Combined with a Mediterranean Diet on Reducing Visceral Adiposity: A Randomized Active Comparator Pilot Study

Intermittent energy restriction combined with a Mediterranean diet (IER+MED) has shown promise to reduce body fat and insulin resistance. In the Multiethnic Cohort Adiposity Phenotype Study, Japanese Americans had the highest visceral adipose tissue (VAT) when adjusting for total adiposity. We conducted this pilot study to demonstrate feasibility and explore efficacy of following IER+MED for 12 weeks to reduce VAT among East Asians in Hawaii. Sixty volunteers (aged 35–55, BMI 25–40 kg/m2, VAT ≥ 90 cm2 for men and ≥ 80 cm2 for women) were randomized to IER+MED (two consecutive days with 70% energy restriction and 5 days euenergetic MED) or an active comparator (euenergetic Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet). Participants and clinic staff (except dietitians) were blinded to group assignments. IER+MED had significantly larger reductions in DXA-measured VAT and total fat mass (−22.6 ± 3.6 cm2 and −3.3 ± 0.4 kg, respectively) vs. DASH (−10.7 ± 3.5 cm2 and −1.6 ± 0.4 kg) (p = 0.02 and p = 0.005). However, after adjusting for total fat mass, change in VAT was not statistically different between groups; whereas, improvement in alanine transaminase remained significantly greater for IER+MED vs. DASH (−16.2 ± 3.8 U/L vs. −4.0 ± 3.6 U/L, respectively, p = 0.02). Attrition rate was 10%, and participants adhered well to study prescriptions with no reported major adverse effect. Results demonstrate IER+MED is acceptable, lowers visceral and total adiposity among East Asian Americans, and may improve liver function more effectively than a healthful diet pattern. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03639350.
The role of spectrin in cell adhesion and cell–cell contact

Spectrins are proteins that are responsible for many aspects of cell function and adaptation to changing environments. Primarily the spectrin-based membrane skeleton maintains cell membrane integrity and its mechanical properties, together with the cytoskeletal network a support cell shape. The occurrence of a variety of spectrin isoforms in diverse cellular environments indicates that it is a multifunctional protein involved in numerous physiological pathways. Participation of spectrin in cell–cell and cell–extracellular matrix adhesion and formation of dynamic plasma membrane protrusions and associated signaling events is a subject of interest for researchers in the fields of cell biology and molecular medicine. In this mini-review, we focus on data concerning the role of spectrins in cell surface activities such as adhesion, cell–cell contact, and invadosome formation. We discuss data on different adhesion proteins that directly or indirectly interact with spectrin repeats. New findings support the involvement of spectrin in cell adhesion and spreading, formation of lamellipodia, and also the participation in morphogenetic processes, such as eye development, oogenesis, and angiogenesis. Here, we review the role of spectrin in cell adhesion and cell–cell contact. Impact statement This article reviews properties of spectrins as a group of proteins involved in cell surface activities such as, adhesion and cell–cell contact, and their contribution to morphogenesis. We show a new area of research and discuss the involvement of spectrin in regulation of cell–cell contact leading to immunological synapse formation and in shaping synapse architecture during myoblast fusion. Data indicate involvement of spectrins in adhesion and cell–cell or cell–extracellular matrix interactions and therefore in signaling pathways. There is evidence of spectrin’s contribution to the processes of morphogenesis which are connected to its interactions with adhesion molecules, membrane proteins (and perhaps lipids), and actin. Our aim was to highlight the essential role of spectrin in cell–cell contact and cell adhesion.
Essential role of the PGC‐1α/PPARβ axis in Ucp3 gene induction

We report that the peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor (PPAR)γ coactivator 1‐α (PGC‐1α)/PPARβ axis is a crucial mediator of uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) expression in skeletal muscle cells via the transactivativation of a distal PPAR response element at the Ucp3 gene promoter. This mechanism is activated during the myogenic process and by high concentrations of fatty acids independent of PGC‐1α protein levels. Ucp3 is essential for PGC‐1α‐induced oxidative capacity and the adaptive mitochondrial response to fatty acid exposure. These findings provide further evidence for the broad spectrum of the coactivator action in mitochondrial homeostasis, positioning the PGC‐1ɑ/PPARβ axis as an essential component of the molecular regulation of Ucp3 gene in skeletal muscle cells.
Experimental evidence for species-dependent responses in leaf shape to temperature: Implications for paleoclimate inference

In many woody dicot plant species, colder temperatures correlate with a greater degree of leaf dissection and with larger and more abundant leaf teeth (the serrated edges along margins). The measurement of site-mean characteristics of leaf size and shape (physiognomy), including leaf dissection and tooth morphology, has been an important paleoclimate tool for over a century. These physiognomic-based climate proxies require that all woody dicot plants at a site, regardless of species, change their leaf shape rapidly and predictably in response to temperature. Here we experimentally test these assumptions by growing five woody species in growth cabinets under two temperatures (17 and 25°C). In keeping with global site-based patterns, plants tend to develop more dissected leaves with more abundant and larger leaf teeth in the cool treatment. Overall, this upholds the assumption that leaf shape responds in a particular direction to temperature change. The assumption that leaf shape variables respond to temperature in the same way regardless of species did not hold because the responses varied by species. Leaf physiognomic models for inferring paleoclimate should take into account these species-specific responses.
Genomic Profiling of KRAS/NRAS/BRAF/PIK3CA Wild-Type Metastatic Colorectal Cancer Patients Reveals Novel Mutations in Genes Potentially Associated with Resistance to Anti-EGFR Agents

Previous findings suggest that metastatic colorectal carcinoma (mCRC) patients with KRAS/NRAS/BRAF/PIK3CA wild-type (quadruple-wt) tumors are highly sensitive to anti-epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs). However, additional molecular alterations might be involved in the de novo resistance to these drugs. We performed a comprehensive molecular profiling of 21 quadruple-wt tumors from mCRC patients enrolled in the “Cetuximab After Progression in KRAS wild-type colorectal cancer patients” (CAPRI-GOIM) trial of first line FOLFIRI plus cetuximab. Tumor samples were analyzed with a targeted sequencing panel covering single nucleotide variants (SNVs), insertions/deletions (Indels), copy number variations (CNVs), and gene fusions in 143 cancer-related genes. The analysis revealed in all 21 patients the presence of at least one SNV/Indel and in 10/21 cases (48%) the presence of at least one CNV. Furthermore, 17/21 (81%) patients had co-existing SNVs/Indels in different genes. Quadruple-wt mCRC from patients with the shorter progression free survival (PFS) were enriched with peculiar genetic alterations in KRAS, FBXW7, MAP2K1, and NF1 genes as compared with patients with longer PFS. These data suggest that a wide genetic profiling of quadruple-wt mCRC patients might help to identify novel markers of de novo resistance to anti-EGFR MoAbs.
Graphene Oxide Based Magnetic Nanocomposites with Polymers as Effective Bisphenol–A Nanoadsorbents

Magnetic graphene oxide was impregnated with polymers for the preparation of nanocomposite adsorbents to be examined for the adsorptive removal of a typical endocrine disruptor, bisphenol–A (BPA) from aqueous solutions. The polymers used were polystyrene, chitosan and polyaniline. The nanocomposites prepared were characterized for their structure, morphology and surface chemistry. The nanocomposites presented an increase adsorptive activity for BPA at ambient conditions, compared to pure magnetic oxide, attributed to the synergistic effect of the polymers and the magnetic graphene oxide. The increased adsorption of BPA exhibited by the nanocomposites with chitosan and polyaniline could be attributed to the contribution of amine groups.
A FRAMEWORK FOR THINKING ABOUT INFORMAL STATISTICAL INFERENCE

Informal inferential reasoning has shown some promise in developing students’ deeper understanding of statistical processes. This paper presents a framework to think about three key principles of informal inference – generalizations ‘beyond the data,’ probabilistic language, and data as evidence. The authors use primary school classroom episodes and excerpts of interviews with the teachers to illustrate the framework and reiterate the importance of embedding statistical learning within the context of statistical inquiry. Implications for the teaching of more powerful statistical concepts at the primary school level are discussed. First published May 2009 at Statistics Education Research Journal: Archives
Matching Mechanisms and Matching Quality: Evidence from a Top School in China

We compare competing college admission matching mechanisms that differ in preference submission timing (pre-exam, post-exam but pre-score, or post-score) and in matching procedure (Boston (BOS) and serial dictatorship (SD) matching). Pre-exam submission asks students to submit college preferences before entrance exam scores are known, whereas post-score (post-exam) submission removes (reduces) score uncertainties. Theoretical analyses show that although mechanisms with post-score submission or SD matching are ex-post fair and efficient, they are not so ex-ante. Instead, the mechanism with pre-exam submission and BOS matching can be more fair and efficient ex-ante. These hypotheses are supported by empirical test on data from a top-ranked Chinese college with identification based on temporal and provincial changes. We find that although students admitted under the pre-exam BOS mechanism have lower college entrance exam scores than students admitted through other mechanisms on average, they exhibit similar or even better college academic performance.