Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
2H-2 Gradients in Radial Strain Across the Cardiac Wall Studied with Epicardial Ultrasound

Differences in radial deformation characteristics across the myocardial wall have been studied extensively in order to better understand cardiac mechanics and (patho-)physiology. To date, transmural gradients have typically been determined by invasive techniques as accurate non-invasive assessment remains a technical challenge. However, invasive methods require pericardial opening which is generally known to affect cardiac mechanics. The aim of this study was therefore to apply epicardial ultrasound in order to assess myocardial deformation at high temporal and spatial resolution. In this way, the differences in myocardial deformation across the wall could be quantified and the influence of pericardial opening could be studied. Hereto, five anesthetised, open-chest sheep were scanned using a 13 MHz epicardial transducer before and after pericardial opening. Color Doppler myocardial velocity data were acquired from the anterior wall with the probe positioned both parallel and perpendicular to the left anterior descending coronary artery. All data sets were analyzed off-line on a personal computer using dedicated software (SPEQLE). Radial end-systolic strain was extracted in the subendocardial, mid-wall and subepicardial layers. In concordance with reported observations from invasive measurements, subendocardial strain was found to be highest after pericardial opening. However, while the pericardium was intact, strain showed to be highest in the mid-myocardial layers, which is in concordance with prior observations using transthoracic ultrasound. This concept is violating local conservation of mass, which would hold for an elastic body. However, due to its structure and especially the capillary bed, myocardial might better be modelled as a poroelastic material since blood can be locally displaced within the myocardium during the cardiac cycle
The Effects on Schools and Pupils of Modularising GCSEs

In 2009, a suite of revised GCSEs was introduced for first teaching. For the first time, all subjects were offered in modular specifications, where previously the majority were only offered linearly. For some time, modular assessment – and resits in particular – have featured in the public discourse on standards. Despite Ofqual incorporating rules to limit resit opportunities and to require forty per cent terminal assessment in new GCSEs, the coalition government expressed concerns over modular assessment early on, particularly at GCSE. In anticipation of a consultation on reverting to linear assessment, a study was conducted to gain some understanding of schools’ experiences of using the newly modularised GCSEs. A series of semi-structured interviews was conducted with (mainly) deputy head teachers in a variety of schools, sampled according to governance model. Participants were asked about the effect of modular assessment on teaching and learning, and the wider impact on financial and organisational aspects of schools. The findings suggest that the burden of assessment associated with modular GCSEs limited the number of subjects in which schools adopted a modular approach. There was also an apparent divide between independent/selective schools and comprehensive schools: the former generally teaching fewer modular subjects than the latter. Nonetheless, schools with mixed and lower ability pupils reported a number of benefits to teaching modular GCSEs compared with linear ones. These included greater motivation and engagement following success in early exams and the spreading of the workload for pupils who, for various reasons not necessarily related to ability, tend to underperform in terminal examinations. Before the interviews were completed but, more importantly, before the modular GCSEs had time to bed in, the government announced that all GCSEs would revert to linear assessment from 2012. Nonetheless, with A Level Reform in progress and the school leaving age set to rise to 18, some of the findings of this study could still prove useful.
Bacteriophage Therapy for Control of Necrotic Enteritis of Broiler Chickens Experimentally Infected with Clostridium perfringens

Abstract Several lytic bacteriophages effective at destroying a genetically diverse population of Clostridium perfringens were isolated from the environment, extensively characterized, and used to formulate a multivalent bacteriophage cocktail designated “INT-401. ” Two in vivo studies were conducted to determine the cocktail's efficacy in controlling necrotic enteritis (NE) caused by C. perfringens. The first study investigated the efficacy of INT-401 and a bacteriophage-derived, toxoid-type vaccine in controlling NE in C. perfringens–challenged broiler chickens. The study was designed as a proof-of-concept battery cage study with birds reared until 28 days old. Compared with the mortality observed with the C. perfringens–challenged but untreated chickens, oral administration of INT-401 significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the mortality of the C. perfringens–challenged birds by 92%. Overall, INT-401 was more effective than the toxoid vaccine in controlling active C. perfringens infection. The second study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of the cocktail when administered via oral gavage, feed, or drinking water. The study was conducted in floor pens, with birds reared to 42 days old. INT-401 administered by all three methods significantly (P < 0.05) reduced mortality. Weight gain and feed conversion ratios were significantly better in the C. perfringens–challenged chickens treated with INT-401 than in the C. perfringens–challenged, phage-untreated control birds. The data indicate that delivering INT-401 to broiler chickens via their drinking water or feed may be an effective means for controlling NE caused by C. perfringens and may improve weight gain and feed conversion ratios in birds with clinical or subclinical NE.
Accounting Standards and International Portfolio Holdings: Analysis of Cross-border Holdings Following Mandatory Adoption of IFRS.

Prior literature shows that investors under-invest in foreign firms due to information asymmetry problems. I posit that differences in local accounting standards are a source of the information asymmetry among investors. Using security-level holdings of international mutual funds, I find that harmonizing accounting standards (adoption of IFRS) increases foreign mutual fund holdings. Harmonizing accounting standards increases cross-border holdings 1) directly by reducing the information processing cost of foreign investors and 2) indirectly by reducing the effect of other barriers on cross-border investments such as geographic distance. Further analysis suggests that harmonization across regimes is a more effective means to attract foreign capital than a unilateral improvement in a country’s reporting regime. I thank my dissertation chair, Russell Lundholm, for his continuous guidance and members of my dissertation committee, Ilia Dichev, Greg Miller, Venky Nagar, Tyler Shumway, and Jing Zhang for their thoughtful comments and suggestions. I also thank Phil Berger (Editor), Bjorn Jorgensen, Nemit Shroff, Don Yu, an anonymous referee, and seminar participants at the University of Michigan for their helpful feedback on the paper. I gratefully acknowledge financial support from the Center of International Business and Education, the Deloitte Foundation, Harry H. Jones Endowment Fund, and the Paton Accounting Fellowship. All errors are my own.
Syntax-directed recognition of hand-printed two-dimensional mathematics

Research in the real-time recognition of hand-printed characters [1--5] offers the possibility of drawing mathematical expressions on a RAND Tablet [6] or similar input device, and obtaining a list of the characters and their positions in an x-, y-coordinate system. This paper discusses the use of a set of replacement rules to recognize, or "parse," such two-dimensional configurations of characters. The replacement rules might be considered to be a generalization of the context-free Backus Normal Form rules used to describe a class of syntaxes for character strings.
Characterization of EPPIN's Semenogelin I Binding Site: A Contraceptive Drug Target1

ABSTRACT Epididymal protease inhibitor (EPPIN) is found on the surface of spermatozoa and works as a central hub for a sperm surface protein complex (EPPIN protein complex [EPC]) that inhibits sperm motility on the binding of semenogelin I (SEMG1) during ejaculation. Here, we identify EPPIN's amino acids involved in the interactions within the EPC and demonstrate that EPPIN's sequence C102-P133 contains the major binding site for SEMG1. Within the same region, the sequence F117-P133 binds the EPC-associated protein lactotransferrin (LTF). We show that residues Cys102, Tyr107, and Phe117 in the EPPIN C-terminus are required for SEMG1 binding. Additionally, residues Tyr107 and Phe117 are critically involved in the interaction between EPPIN and LTF. Our findings demonstrate that EPPIN is a key player in the protein-protein interactions within the EPC. Target identification is an important step toward the development of a novel male contraceptive, and the functionality of EPPIN's residues Cys102, Tyr107, and Phe117 offers novel opportunities for contraceptive compounds that inhibit sperm motility by targeting this region of the molecule.
DETERMINANTS OF BALANCED SCORECARD USAGE: INDIRECT CORRELATION THROUGH ATTITUDINAL FACTORS

The successful implementation of Balanced Scorecard (BSC) requires a positive attitude toward the BSC. Specifically, the BSC should be perceived as simple to use and of great usefulness. This study develops the measurement of BSC usage and examines whether the determinants impact the BSC usage through attitudinal factors. Most existing studies have quantified the BSC usage by identifying the stages of BSC application whereby the discrete step of usage is reflected rather than the degree of usage. This research work thus develops a measurement to reflect the degree of BSC usage by taking into consideration the key characteristics of BSC usage and their theoretical weights. In addition, this study examines the determinant-innovation relation by drawing on the organizational innovation theory and the technology acceptance model. In particular, this research article seeks to determine whether top management support and training are associated with the BSC usage through the attitudinal factors of perceived ease of use and perceived usefulness. Based on 73 complete questionnaires, it is found that top management support and training are indirectly associated with the BSC usage through the perceived ease of use and the perceived usefulness factors. These findings highlight the vital role of the attitudinal factors as the mediating factors.
MicroRNA-34a Negatively Regulates Efferocytosis by Tissue Macrophages in Part via SIRT1

Apoptotic cell (AC) clearance (efferocytosis) is an evolutionarily conserved process essential for immune health, particularly to maintain self-tolerance. Despite identification of many recognition receptors and intracellular signaling components of efferocytosis, its negative regulation remains incompletely understood and has not previously been known to involve microRNAs (miRs). In this article, we show that miR-34a (gene ID 407040), well recognized as a p53-dependent tumor suppressor, mediates coordinated negative regulation of efferocytosis by resident murine and human tissue macrophages (Mø). The miR-34a expression varied greatly between Mø from different tissues, correlating inversely with their capacity for AC uptake. Transient or genetic knockdown of miR-34a increased efferocytosis, whereas miR-34a overexpression decreased efferocytosis, without altering recognition of live, necrotic, or Ig-opsonized cells. The inhibitory effect of miR-34a was mediated both by reduced expression of Axl, a receptor tyrosine kinase known to recognize AC, and of the deacetylase silent information regulator T1, which had not previously been linked to efferocytosis by tissue Mø. Exposure to AC downregulated Mø miR-34a expression, resulting in a positive feedback loop that increased subsequent capacity to engulf AC. These findings demonstrate that miR-34a both specifically regulates and is regulated by efferocytosis. Given the ability of efferocytosis to polarize ingesting Mø uniquely and to reduce their host-defense functions, dynamic negative regulation by miR-34a provides one means of fine-tuning Mø behavior toward AC in specific tissue environments with differing potentials for microbial exposure.
Comprehensive Income, Future Earnings, and Market Mispricing

This paper examines the usefulness of comprehensive income disclosures as required by the Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (SFAS) No. 130, Reporting Comprehensive Income. In particular, we examine the implication of current period ‘other comprehensive income’ (OCI) for subsequent period income and whether the stock market fully recognizes the implications of current period OCI for future periods as reflected in stock prices. The results in the paper are consistent with the notion that OCI reported under SFAS No.130 is incrementally useful in predicting one-year ahead net income. We also find that while the market correctly impounds the implication of current period net income for next period net income, it does not reflect the implications of current period OCI for subsequent period net income. Based on this mispricing, we provide evidence that it is possible to have a profitable investment strategy. Specifically, we show that a zero-investment strategy based on current period OCI yields an abnormal return of 5.4 percent over a one year period even after controlling for other correlated variables. However, given the specifics of the form of discloser requirements under SFAS No. 130, we find that the extent of this mispricing is smaller in the post-SFAS No. 130 period than in the pre-SFAS No. 130 period. This is perhaps attributable to the effectiveness of the disclosures under SFAS No. 130.
An efficient method to perform range analysis for DSP circuits

Range analysis is an important step in determining integer bit-widths for arithmetic DSP circuits. Disadvantages of conventional methods, such as long calculation time and coarse results, limit their applicability. In this paper, we propose a new method based on affine arithmetic and Arithmetic Transform to perform range analysis, which can efficiently and tightly calculate the range and allocate bit-widths. The experiments show that tight ranges and small circuit areas can be obtained in short running time.
Depression induces bone loss through stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system

Major depression is associated with low bone mass and increased incidence of osteoporotic fractures. However, causality between depression and bone loss has not been established. Here, we show that mice subjected to chronic mild stress (CMS), an established model of depression in rodents, display behavioral depression accompanied by impaired bone mass and structure, as portrayed by decreases in trabecular bone volume density, trabecular number, and trabecular connectivity density assessed in the distal femoral metaphysis and L3 vertebral body. Bone remodeling analysis revealed that the CMS-induced skeletal deficiency is accompanied by restrained bone formation resulting from reduced osteoblast number. Antidepressant therapy, which prevents the behavioral responses to CMS, completely inhibits the decrease in bone formation and markedly attenuates the CMS-induced bone loss. The depression-triggered bone loss is associated with a substantial increase in bone norepinephrine levels and can be blocked by the β-adrenergic antagonist propranolol, suggesting that the sympathetic nervous system mediates the skeletal effects of stress-induced depression. These results define a linkage among depression, excessive adrenergic activity, and reduced bone formation, thus demonstrating an interaction among behavioral responses, the brain, and the skeleton, which leads to impaired bone structure. Together with the common occurrence of depression and bone loss in the aging population, the present data implicate depression as a potential major risk factor for osteoporosis and the associated increase in fracture incidence.
Transcribed ultraconserved region Uc.63+ promotes resistance to docetaxel through regulation of androgen receptor signaling in prostate cancer

Docetaxel is the standard chemotherapy for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). However, nearly all patients ultimately become refractory due to the development of docetaxel resistance. The transcribed ultraconserved regions (T-UCRs) are a novel class of non-coding RNAs that are absolutely conserved across species and are involved in carcinogenesis including prostate cancer (PC). In this study, we investigated the transcriptional levels of 26 representative T-UCRs and determined the regions that were differentially expressed in PC. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis revealed that the expression of T-UCR Uc.63+ was increased in PC tissues. MTT assay and wound healing assay revealed that Uc.63+ was involved in cell growth and cell migration. miR-130b was predicted to have binding sites within the Uc.63+ sequence. The expression of miR-130b was significantly disturbed by the overexpression or knockdown of Uc.63+. We also showed that Uc.63+ regulated the expression of MMP2 via miR-130b regulation. Furthermore, overexpression of Uc.63+ increased the expression of AR and its downstream molecule PSA and promoted resistance to docetaxel through AR regulation. In patients treated with docetaxel, the expression of serum Uc.63+ in the docetaxel-resistant patients was higher than that in the docetaxel-sensitive patients (P = 0.011). Moreover, Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that the high expression of serum Uc.63+ correlated with a worse prognosis (P = 0.020). These results substantially support the important role that Uc.63+ plays in PC progression by interacting with miR-130b and indicate that Uc.63+ could potentially be a promising serum marker for deciding the best treatment for patients with CRPC.
Recent measurements of aero-optical effects caused by subsonic boundary layers

Results of recent experimental measurements of aero-optical distortions caused by turbulent boundary layers at subsonic speeds M=0.4. 0.6 are presented. Measurements were performed using a high-speed Shack-Hartmann sensor to collect instantaneous wavefronts with high spatial and temporal resolution, accompanied by wavefront measurements with a Malley probe. Effects of different aperture sizes on levels of aero-optical aberrations and detailed statistical analysis of spatial and temporal spectra of aero-optical distortions for both wavefront sensors are presented and discussed.
Understanding the leadership role of the board chairperson through a team production approach

Current corporate governance recommendations – rooted in an investor-based shareholder supremacy model – often narrowly discuss the issue of board leadership as whether or not there is a separation of the CEO and chairperson positions. In this article we employ a team production approach to better understand the leadership role of the board chairperson. We argue that effective board performance is driven by the extent to which corporate directors bring relevant knowledge into the boardroom. An important prerequisite is however that the knowledge must be actively used. In line with this argument, we contend that the competencies and behaviors of the board chairperson are critical in order to unleash a board’s value creating potential.
Understanding Pay: Perceptions, Communication and Impact in For-Profit Organizations

This qualitative case study investigated pay perceptions and compensation communication in for-profit companies in the Midwestern United States. The purpose of this study was to explore how pay-related communication can be improved to benefit employees and their organizations. Labor costs are the primary expense of most organizations. The ability to optimize compensation strategies to attract and retain a high-performing workforce is vital to organizational success. Interviews were conducted with 15 Millennial generation employees to capture what they know about compensation and learn what would increase their pay satisfaction. Employees articulated how they think about pay, what pay means to them, why it is a difficult topic to address, and what advice they would provide to their organizations on communicating pay. The findings were analyzed using the lenses of symbolic interactionism, social solidarity and secrecy theories. Three main conclusions surfaced: (1) Employees have limited knowledge of how pay works; (2) Most employees value transparency around compensation; and (3) The link between pay and performance is unclear. This research did confirm the lack of compensation information restricts participants from understanding the relationship of pay and performance. A pay transparency continuum and a pay communication assessment model were provided to assist organizations in determining their pay communication approach. Three recommendations were identified to help organizations enhance pay communication: (1) Recognize the impact of pay secrecy on pay equity perceptions; (2) Determine the right level of transparency for the organizational culture; and (3) Transform managers into communication ambassadors for compensation. A future area of study to extend this research would be the influence of organizational culture on pay program design and communication strategy.
Real and Accrual Earnings Management around IPOs: Evidence from US Companies

Studies examined accrual earnings management activities around IPOs found that IPO firms reported significant abnormal discretionary accruals around IPO periods. Incentives and opportunities of accrual-based earnings management (AEM) have also been documented. Also, real activities manipulation (REM), which is defined as firms' deviation from normal business practices, is widely studied in recent earnings management literature. REM has been studied in settings such as around zero earnings threshold, SEOs, as well as meeting or beating analysts' earnings forecasts. However, REM around IPOs is still an area needed to be examined. The purpose of this study is to examine the presence of REM of IPO firms utilizing the cross-sectional regressions on each industry-year (Roychowdhury, 2006). The real activities examined in this paper include sales manipulation, reduction of discretionary expenses and overproduction. The results show that IPO firms have significantly negative abnormal cash flows from operations and significantly positive abnormal production costs in the IPO year. The findings suggest that IPO firms not only manipulate accruals to inflate reported earnings, but also engage in real activities manipulation. In studying the determinants of earnings management activities, results show that IPO firms' decisions to manipulate earnings in the IPO year is positively related to the amounts of IPO proceeds and negatively related to the underwriters' reputation rankings and the presence of venture capital. However, in the tradeoff between AEM and REM, little evidence of the tradeoff has been found.
How Descriptive Menu Labels Influence Attitudes and Repatronage

How do descriptive menu labels influence customers? In a six-week field experiment involving 140 customers, descriptive menu labels (such as "Grandma's zucchini cookies" or "succulent Italian seafood filet") increased sales by 27% and improved attitudes towards the food, attitudes towards the restaurant, and intentions towards repatronage. Such labels did not, however, directly increase the amount a person is willing to pay for the labeled item. If descriptive labels are used sparingly and appropriately, they can improve sales and post-consumption attitudes of the food and the restaurant.