Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Correlations between anti-müllerian hormone, inhibin B, and activin A in follicular fluid in IVF/ICSI patients for assessing the maturation and developmental potential of oocytes.

OBJECTIVE The objective of the present study was to evaluate the correlation between anti-müllerian hormone (AMH), inhibin B, and activin A in follicular fluid from patients receiving treatment with in-vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI), to identify a parameter to assess the maturation and developmental potential of oocytes. - MATERIALS AND METHODS AMH, inhibin B, and activin A were measured in follicular fluid from 27 patients undergoing IVF/ICSI treatment for male-factor infertility, tubal occlusion, endometriosis, or anovulation. The values were correlated with the serum estradiol level, the numbers and maturation of the oocytes, and the outcome of IVF/ICSI. - RESULTS A positive correlation was found between AMH in follicular fluid and the number of oocytes retrieved. High inhibin B levels in follicular fluid and high serum E subset2 levels indicated a normal ovarian response to stimulation, corresponding to the oocyte numbers, while low inhibin B and 17-beta-estradiol (E subset2) levels indicated poor responders to stimulation. An activin A/inhibin B ratio of less than 1 and very high inhibin B levels correlated with large numbers of oocytes, while a ratio of 1-2 and high inhibin levels correlated with regular numbers of oocytes. An activin/inhibin ratio of more than 3 and low inhibin levels were found in poor responders. Pregnancies occurred predominantly in the group with a normal or high response. Patients with elevated ratios for 17-beta-estradiol/AMH, oocyte numbers/AMH, and metaphase II oocyte numbers/AMH had the best chances of becoming pregnant, indicating an inverse correlation between AMH and the maturation and developmental potential of the oocytes. - CONCLUSIONS In IVF/ICSI patients, a positive correlation was found between AMH, inhibin B, and the activin A/inhibin B ratio in follicular fluid, on the one hand; and between serum 17-beta-estradiol levels and the numbers of oocytes retrieved, on the other. The activin A/inhibin B ratio correlated with the number of oocytes retrieved. The ratio for 17-beta-estradiol, oocyte numbers, and metaphase II oocytes relative to AMH indicated the best developmental potential, and it can therefore be assumed that there is a negative correlation between AMH levels and the maturation and quality of oocytes.
Herding Behavior in the Nairobi Securities Exchange*

In this study, we use 2010-15 daily data stock market from the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) to investigate herding behavior among NSE market participants. We examine the impact of rising and falling markets, as well as exogenous factors such as political and regulatory instability, on herding behavior. Our findings are twofold. First, herding behavior differs by sector, moreover, each sector responds differently to rising and falling markets. Thus, failing to consider each sector separately may mask herding behavior. Second, herding behavior is most pronounced from 2013 through 2014, which was a time of both political and regulatory instability for Kenya.
Spatially Gradated Hydrogel Platform as a 3D Engineered Tumor Microenvironment

There is an acute need for biomaterial tools that recreate the heterogeneous brain-tumor microenvironment. A microfluidic mixing tool is reported to encapsulate glioblastoma multiforme cells within miniaturized gelatin hydrogels containing overlapping patterns of tumor-inspired matrix signals. This approach permits in situ analysis of glioma cells at the molecular and genomic level as well as the potential for clinical insight.
Digital Activism for Social Causes: Understanding Clicktivism and Substantive Actions

Successful fundraising is one of the main challenges for charities and non-profit organizations. At the same time, the widespread adoption and proliferation of social media (such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube) and crowdfunding platforms (such as GoFundMe and Indiegogo) put forward novel opportunities to these organizations. Our research builds upon theories from social psychology and social movement to develop a model for explaining and predicting social media users’ engagement in symbolic online action (i.e. clicktivism) as well as substantive action (e.g., donating money or time) in support of a social cause. Using data from 4,539 crowdfunding campaigns, this short paper also reports on a preliminary exploration of symbolic and substantive actions on a donation-based crowdfunding platform. The outcomes of this research will inform charities and non-profit organizations in developing more effective digital communication and grassroots fundraising strategies.
Health and identity-related interactions between lesbian, bisexual, queer and pansexual women and their healthcare providers

Abstract Disclosure of sexual identity among sexual minority women is related to better outcomes and improved quality of care. The existing literature on sexual minority women’s experiences of identity disclosure and related interactions with healthcare providers draws little distinction between different groups of sexual minority women, despite the different barriers, stigma and health outcomes that exist between them. This paper presents factors influencing identity disclosure and describes the characteristics of interactions that sexual minority women have with their healthcare providers around sexual identity and health. Using a mixed-methods approach, both qualitative and quantitative data were gathered using an online survey. The sample included lesbian, bisexual, queer and pansexual women from across the USA. Qualitative and quantitative data were analysed concurrently, and qualitative themes were quantified and integrated into quantitative analyses. Identity disclosure, reasons for disclosing identity and characteristics of interactions with providers varied by identity, but often overlapped. Bisexual and pansexual participants were significantly less likely to disclose identity than lesbian participants. There were no significant differences related to age or ethnicity. Findings from this study have the potential to inform ethical medical practices and improve healthcare quality among sexual minority women.
Price Discovery in NSE Spot and Futures Markets of India: Evidence from selected IT Industries

Johansen's Cointegration technique followed by the Vector Error Correction Model (VECM) was employed to examine the lead-lag relationship between NSE spot and futures markets of selected eight IT sector stocks of India. The empirical analysis was conducted for the daily data series from 20th April, 2005 to 15th September, 2008. The analysis reveals the bidirectional relationship between spot and futures markets in case of five selected IT stocks. This is followed by spot leads to futures and futures leads to spot markets in case of two and one selected IT stocks in India respectively. The present study suggests that depending on the relative proportions of informed to uninformed (noise) traders migrating from the spot market to the futures market, the lead-lag relationship between futures and spot market of selected IT sector stocks may differ.
Approach to realize wide-scan-angle phased array with enhanced bandwidth and filtering function by using integrated filter/patch

For microstrip patch phased arrays, larger fractional bandwidth (FBW) and wider scan angle are challenging to achieve at the same time. Phased arrays on thin substrates typically can scan to large angles due to the reduction of mutual coupling caused by surface waves. However, thin substrates limit the achievable FBW of the phased array antenna. In this paper, an integrated filter/patch technology is proposed to realize phased arrays with large scan angle capabilities and enhanced bandwidth. In addition, this integrated filter/patch is able to provide filtering function which is desirable for RF front ends. To prove the concept, a 2nd-order filter/antenna comprised of one cavity resonator and one patch antenna is designed, fabricated and measured. The center frequency and FBW of the filter/antenna are 5.89 GHz and 5.5%, respectively, with the thickness of the antenna layer being 50 mil. As a comparison, the FBW of a regular coax-fed patch antenna on 50-, 75-, and 100-mil-thick substrates is 2.5%, 4.3%, and 6.3%, respectively. Full-wave Floquet analysis is performed to investigate the active impedance behavior of phased arrays using filter/antenna or patch antennas on substrates with different thickness. It is shown that the filter/antenna phased array exhibits the best performance in terms of active reflection coefficient when the array scans to large angles among all cases. Though the patch antenna phased array on 50-mil-thick substrate has the similar active impedance performance, its FBW (2.5%) is much narrower than that (5.5%) of the filter/antenna phased array.
Towards modelling the flexible timing of shoot development: simulation of maize organogenesis based on coordination within and between phytomers.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS Experimental evidence challenges the approximation, central in crop models, that developmental events follow a fixed thermal time schedule, and indicates that leaf emergence events play a role in the timing of development. The objective of this study was to build a structural development model of maize (Zea mays) based on a set of coordination rules at organ level that regulate duration of elongation, and to show how the distribution of leaf sizes emerges from this. METHODS A model of maize development was constructed based on three coordination rules between leaf emergence events and the dynamics of organ extension. The model was parameterized with data from maize grown at a low plant population density and tested using data from maize grown at high population density. KEY RESULTS The model gave a good account of the timing and duration of organ extension. By using initial conditions associated with high population density, the model reproduced well the increase in blade elongation duration and the delay in sheath extension in high-density populations compared with low-density populations. Predictions of the sizes of sheaths at high density were accurate, whereas predictions of the dynamics of blade length were accurate up to rank 9; moderate overestimation of blade length occurred at higher ranks. CONCLUSIONS A set of simple rules for coordinated growth of organs is sufficient to simulate the development of maize plant structure without taking into account any regulation by assimilates. In this model, whole-plant architecture is shaped through initial conditions that feed a cascade of coordination events.
Effectiveness of fundoplication at the time of gastrostomy in infants with neurological impairment.

IMPORTANCE Gastrostomy tube (GT) placement is the most common gastrointestinal operation performed on neonates. Concomitant fundoplication is used variably to prevent complications of gastroesophageal reflux, but its effectiveness is unproven. OBJECTIVE To compare the effect of fundoplication at the time of GT placement vs GT placement alone on subsequent reflux-related hospitalizations in infants with neurological impairment. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Retrospective, observational cohort study, defined by birth between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2010, at 42 children's hospitals in the United States, with a 1-year follow-up period among 4163 infants with neurological impairment who underwent GT placement with or without fundoplication during their neonatal intensive care unit stay. INTERVENTION Fundoplication and GT placement vs. GT placement alone. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES One-year postprocedural reflux-related hospitalization rates, defined as hospitalization for asthma, mechanical ventilation, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and aspiration or other types of pneumonia. Propensity to undergo concomitant fundoplication was modeled using demographics, prior procedures (tracheostomy and mechanical ventilation), and prior diagnoses (eg, pneumonia, gastroesophageal reflux disease, and other comorbidities). RESULTS Overall, 4163 of 42,796 infants (9.7%) with neurological impairment admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit underwent GT placement alone or with fundoplication. Infants who concomitantly underwent fundoplication had more reflux-related hospitalizations during the first year than those who underwent GT placement alone (mean, 1.02; 95% CI, 0.93-1.10 vs mean, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.91-1.00). Of 1404 infants who underwent fundoplication, 1027 (73.1%) were matched based on propensity scores. The mean difference of the matched cohort for any reflux-related hospitalizations was -0.05 (95% CI, -0.20 to 0.15) per year. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Infants with neurological impairment who underwent fundoplication at the time of GT placement did not have a reduced rate of reflux-related hospitalizations during the first year compared with those who underwent GT placement alone, despite propensity score matching. This may be due to a lack of effectiveness of fundoplication in preventing these complications or due to differences in the patient groups that were inadequately accounted for in the matching.
RANIBIZUMAB FOR MACULAR EDEMA AFTER BRANCH RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION: One Initial Injection Versus Three Monthly Injections

Purpose: To compare the 12-month-efficacy of 1 initial intravitreal ranibizumab injection (IVR) followed by pro re nata (PRN) dosing with that of three initial monthly IVR followed by PRN dosing in patients with macular edema (ME) after branch retinal vein occlusion. Design: Prospective, interventional study. Methods: Of 81 eyes, 42 received 1 initial IVR injection (1+PRN group) and 39 eyes received 3 monthly IVRs (3+PRN). Pro re nata injections were performed when fovea exudative changes were evident. Results: At Month 12, the visual acuity (VA) changes from baseline were −0.245 ± 0.227 and −0.287 ± 0.222, in the 1+PRN and 3+PRN groups, respectively; there were no significant difference between groups (P = 0.728). The stratified analysis showed that patients with better VA (baseline VA >20/40) had similar significant improvement in VA at Month 12 (P < 0.001) to that of those with poorer VA (⩽20/40). Better VA at Month 12 was significantly associated with younger age, better baseline VA, and thinner baseline central foveal thickness (P = 0.003, < 0.001, and < 0.001, respectively). Mean total number of IVR injections in the 1+PRN and 3+PRN groups were 3.8 ± 1.8 and 4.6 ± 1.4, respectively (P = 0.060). In both groups, shorter durations to the first PRN injection were associated with greater total PRN injection number (1+PRN, P = 0.006; 3+PRN; group, P < 0.001). Conclusion: In IVR treatment for ME after branch retinal vein occlusion, 1+PRN and 3+PRN regimens achieved similar 12-month functional outcomes. Patients with shorter durations to initial PRN injection may require more PRN treatments.
Preventive psychiatric admission for patients with borderline personality disorder: a pilot study.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to establish the preliminary effects of preventive psychiatric admission of patients with severe borderline personality disorder (BPD) on the rate of agreement over treatment, patient service use, and patient views on the intervention. DESIGN AND METHODS A retrospective pre-post test design with quantitative measures and qualitative interviews was used. FINDINGS Agreement over treatment increased substantially and significantly, and services use decreased substantially, yet not significantly. Patients were highly content with the intervention. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Preliminary results indicate that preventive admissions may be easy to use and cost effective with severe BPD patients in mainstream psychiatric services, but more research into the intervention is needed.
Impact of Islet Size on Pancreatic Islet Transplantation and Potential Interventions to Improve Outcome

Better results have been recently reported in clinical pancreatic islet transplantation (ITX) due mostly to improved isolation techniques and immunosuppression; however, some limitations still exist. It is known that following transplantation, 30% to 60% of the islets are lost. In our study, we have investigated 1) the role of size as a factor affecting islet engraftment and 2) potential procedural manipulations to increase the number of smaller functional islets that can be transplanted. C57/BL10 mice were used as donors and recipients in a syngeneic islet transplant model. Isolated islets were divided by size (large, >300 μm; medium 150–300 μm; small, <150 μm). Each size was transplanted in chemically induced diabetic mice as full (600 IEQ), suboptimal (400 IEQ), and marginal mass (200 IEQ). Control animals received all size islets. Engraftment was defined as reversal of diabetes by day 7 posttransplantation. When the superiority of smaller islets was observed, strategies of overdigestion and fragmentation were adopted during islet isolation in the attempt to reduce islet size and improve engraftment. Smaller islets were significantly superior in engraftment compared to medium, large, and control (all sizes) groups. This was more evident when marginal mass data were compared. In all masses, success decreased as islet size increased. Once islets were engrafted, functionality was not affected by size. When larger islets were fragmented, a significant decrease in islet functionality was observed. On the contrary, if pancreata were slightly overdigested, although not as successful as small naive islets, an increase in engraftment was observed when compared to the control group. In conclusion, smaller islets are superior in engraftment following islet transplantation. Fragmentation has a deleterious effect on islet engraftment. Islet isolations can be performed by reducing islet size with slight overdigestion, and it can be safely adopted to improve clinical outcome.
Activation and degeneration during aging: A morphometric study of the human hypothalamus

During the course of aging both activation and degenerative changes are found in the human hypothalamus. Degeneration may start around middle‐age in some neurotransmitter‐ or neuromodulator‐containing neurons. For instance, a decreased number of vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP) neurons was observed in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of middle‐aged males. The normal circadian fluctuations seen in the number of vasopressin (AVP) neurons in the SCN of young subjects diminished in subjects older than 50 years. Moreover, a sharp decline in cell number was found in the sexually dimorphic nucleus (SDN) after 50 years in males. On the other hand, many hypothalamic systems remain perfectly intact during aging like the oxytocin (OXT) neurons in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN). The AVP neurons in the PVN are activated during aging as appears from their increasing cell number. Also the corticotrophin‐releasing hormone (CRH) neurons of the PVN are activated in the course of aging, as indicated by their increased number and their increased AVP coexpression. Part of the infundibular nucleus, the subventricular nucleus, contains hypertrophic neurokinin B neurons in postmenopausal women. It can be concluded that a multitude of changes in the various hypothalamic nuclei may be the biological basis for many functional changes in aging, i.e., both endocrine and central alterations, and that only a minority of the possible human hypothalamic changes have so far been studied. Microsc. Res. Tech. 44:36–48, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Dynamic policies for cooperative networked systems

A set of economic entities embedded in a network graph collaborate by opportunistically exchanging their resources to satisfy their dynamically generated needs. Under what conditions their collaboration leads to a sustainable economy? Which online policy can ensure a feasible resource exchange point will be attained, and what information is needed to implement it? Furthermore, assuming there are different resources and the entities have diverse production capabilities, which production policy each entity should employ in order to maximize the economy's sustainability? Importantly, can we design such policies that are also incentive compatible even when there is no a priori information about the entities' needs? We introduce a dynamic production scheduling and resource exchange model to capture this fundamental problem and provide answers to the above questions. Applications range from infrastructure sharing, trade and organization management, to social networks and sharing economy services.
First detection of the Sunyaev Zel'dovich effect increment at λ < 650 μm

The Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) effect is a spectral distortion of the cosmic microwave background as observed through the hot plasma in galaxy clusters. This distortion is a decrement in the CMB intensity for λ > 1.3 mm, an increment at shorter wavelengths, and small again by λ ~ 250 μm. As part of the Herschel Lensing Survey (HLS) we have mapped 1E0657–56 (the Bullet cluster) with SPIRE with bands centered at 250, 350 and 500 μm and have detected the SZ effect at the two longest wavelengths. The measured SZ effect increment central intensities are ΔI_0 = 0.097 ± 0.019 MJy sr^(-1) at 350 μm and ΔI_0 = 0.268 ± 0.031 MJy sr^(-1) at 500 μm, consistent with the SZ effect spectrum derived from previous measurements at 2 mm. No other diffuse emission is detected. The presence of the finite temperature SZ effect correction is preferred by the SPIRE data at a significance of 2. 1σ, opening the possibility that the relativistic SZ effect correction can be constrained by SPIRE in a sample of clusters. The results presented here have important ramifications for both sub-mm measurements of galaxy clusters and blank field surveys with SPIRE.
BOOST PROFIT ANALYSIS AT ISLAMIC BANK: A CASE STUDY OF BANK SYARIAH MANDIRI

ABSTRACT This paper empirically analyzes the performance of Banks SyariahMandiri using return on assets (ROA) as analytic tool. Regression analysis is used as an equation to estimate the company's internal determinants. This study finds that income is predominantly influenced by the activity of equities. Capital adequacy ratio significantly has a negative correlation with income. The other variables have no significant effect in the regression model.
The association of growth hormone parameters with skeletal muscle phosphocreatine recovery in adult men.

CONTEXT Previous studies have suggested a relationship between GH and mitochondrial function. However, little is known about the relationship of specific GH indices and in vivo measures of mitochondrial function in humans. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to determine the association between GH, IGF-I, and phosphocreatine (PCr) recovery, a measure of mitochondrial function, in otherwise healthy adults. DESIGN Thirty-seven healthy men and women were studied at a single university medical center. Subjects underwent GH stimulation testing with GH releasing hormone-arginine and measurement of IGF-I. Mitochondrial function was determined by PCr recovery after submaximal exercise by (31)Phosphorous magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Subjects underwent assessment of lean and fat mass with use of dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS There were no differences in PCr recovery between men and women (men 20.7±1.5 vs. women 24.8±1.4 mM/min; P > 0.05). IGF-I (r = 0.33; P = 0.04) was associated with PCr recovery in all subjects. Among men, IGF-I (r = 0.69; P = 0.003), peak stimulated GH (r = 0.52; P = 0.04), and GH area under the curve (AUC) (r = 0.53; P = 0.04) were significantly associated with PCr recovery. However, neither IGF-I, peak stimulated GH, nor GH AUC (all P > 0.05) were associated with PCr recovery in women. After adjusting for age, race, and physical activity, IGF-I remained significantly associated with PCr recovery (β = 0.10; P = 0.02) among men. CONCLUSIONS IGF-I, peak stimulated GH, and GH AUC are associated with skeletal muscle PCr recovery in men.