Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Widening participation in higher education. Policies and institutional settings: cross-country perspectives and an empirical analysis of Chile

In the last three decades, Higher Education (HE) has experienced an unprecedented expansion worldwide. In many countries, governments have transferred the cost of HE from taxpayers to individuals and households as a means of increasing the provision on a financially sustainable basis. Most policies have attempted to address the issue of low-income students’ participation by setting student aid policies for those unable to afford HE costs. Nonetheless, the starting point of this thesis is that the goal of equity in HE should not begin with, or be confined to, HE policy but must address school education as well. I investigate the effect of the socioeconomic distribution of school achievement on HE enrolment rates in a cross-country framework. I find a mild but statistically significant negative association suggesting that the more school achievement is determined by socioeconomic factors, the less participation in HE is observed. Next, I evaluate the impact of a reform to the student aid system in Chile using household surveys and regression-based and differences-in-differences evaluation techniques. I find the reform increased the probability of access of low-income students to HE by 6 percentage points, or 20 per cent in proportional terms. After having researched the effects of inequality of school achievement, I focus on the design of student aid and its effect on persistence and dropout. In particular, I investigate the level of harshness of different aid programmes and its effect on students’ persistence, completion, and dropout rates. By specifying a logistic multinomial model, I compare the effect of two loan programmes, an incomecontingent loan and a mortgage-type, bank-managed, government-guaranteed loan. The harsher, mortgage-type loan was associated with increased persistence and higher completion rates but no difference in dropout rates. Nonetheless, this association was only observable for low-income students; loan harshness made no difference in completion rates for better-off students. In other words, harsher loans seem to be a deterrent only for poor students. This introduces an ethical dilemma: although harsher aid may be more effective, should student aid be disproportionately putting pressure on the poorest students? However, this may in turn reflect poor student’s relative higher ability rather than a differential deterrent effect.
Can Labor Provisions in Trade Agreements Promote Gender Equality? Empirical Evidence from Cambodia

In recent years, an increasing number of regional and bilateral trade agreements have emerged that include provisions on labor standards. The claimed purpose of these labor provisions is to improve working conditions in developing and emerging economies. However, little is known about whether such provisions actually do impact working conditions. This paper conducts an econometric study on the effectiveness of labor provisions in trade agreements. In particular, we evaluate the impact of the 1999 Bilateral Textile Agreement between Cambodia and the United States (CUSBTA) on both the gender wage gap and discrimination. The agreement combined the incentive of higher exports with the obligation of textile manufacturers to comply with international core labor standards, which include the elimination of discrimination in respect of employment and occupation. Using data from the Cambodia Socioeconomic Survey and applying a differenceâ€ inâ€ difference estimation, we find a statistically significant reduction of the gender wage gap in the textile sector that can be attributed to the CUSBTA.
The effect of short‐term withdrawal from continuous positive airway pressure therapy on sympathetic activity and markers of vascular inflammation in subjects with obstructive sleep apnoea

Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is commonly associated with cardiovascular disease and sympathetic activation. However, it is unclear whether this association is independent of obesity and to what extent treatment with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) alleviates the vascular inflammation that underpins cardiovascular disease. We therefore evaluated whether short‐term withdrawal from CPAP therapy in subjects with moderate–severe OSA would result in increased levels of sympathetic activity and circulating inflammatory cytokines independent of weight. Vascular inflammatory markers (hsCRP, hsIL‐6 and hsTNF‐α) were assessed in 20 subjects after one and seven nights of withdrawal from CPAP together with the hypoxia‐responsive angiogenic marker VEGF and urinary catecholamines. Compared with baseline on CPAP, withdrawal from therapy resulted in an immediate return of OSA with an increase in RDI to 26.7 ± 5.2 and 39.0 ± 5.9 events per hour after one and seven nights without CPAP, respectively (both P < 0.0001). This was accompanied by a concomitant rise in daytime urinary noradrenaline (P < 0.0001) after seven nights CPAP withdrawal that was positively associated with the severity of hypoxaemia. In contrast, withdrawal from CPAP therapy was not accompanied by any change in measured cytokines or VEGF (all P > 0.1). In conclusion, 1 week of CPAP withdrawal was associated with a return of OSA and a marked increase in sympathetic activity without a concomitant elevation of vascular inflammatory markers.
Relative changes in maximal force, EMG, and muscle cross-sectional area after isometric training.

The purpose of this experiment was to determine whether training-induced increases in maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) can be completely accounted for by increases in muscle cross-sectional area. Fifteen female university students were randomly divided into a control (N = 7) and an experimental (N = 8) group. The experimental group underwent 8 wk of isometric resistance training of the knee extensors of one leg; the other leg was the untrained control. Training consisted of 30 MVC.d-1 x 3 d.wk-1 x 8 wk. Extensor cross-sectional area (CSA), assessed by computerized tomographic (CT) scanning of a cross-sectional slice at mid-thigh, was used as a measure of muscle hypertrophy. After 8 wk of training, MVC increased by 28% (P < 0.05), CSA increased by 14.6% (P < 0.05), and the amplitude of the electromyogram at MVC (EMGmax) was unchanged in the trained leg of the experimental subjects. The same measures in the untrained legs of the experimental subjects and in both legs of the control subjects were not changed after training. Although there was an apparent discrepancy between the increase in MCV (28%) and CSA (14.6%), the ratio between the two, the specific tension (N.cm-2), was not significantly different after training. As a result of these findings, we conclude that in these subjects there is no evidence of nonhypertrophic adaptations to resistance training of this type and magnitude, and that the increase in force-generating capacity of the muscle is due to the synthesis of additional contractile proteins.
The oxygen uptake efficiency slope in 1411 Caucasian healthy men and women aged 20–60 years: reference values

Background The oxygen uptake efficiency slope (OUES) has been proposed as an independent, reproducible and objective measure of cardiorespiratory function that does not require maximal exercise testing. Existing reference values have been published for healthy paediatric populations and healthy elderly. However, reference ranges and equations for healthy adults of working age are insufficiently documented. The aim of the present study was to establish prediction equations and to describe reference values for healthy men and women aged 20–60 years. Design Cross-sectional study. Methods One thousand four hundred and eleven (877 men) healthy individuals (mean age 38.6 years; range 20–60) completed a maximal graded cycle exercise test until volitional exhaustion. Subsequently, oxygen uptake was plotted against the logarithm of total ventilation and the OUES was calculated by means of linear regression analysis. Results Multivariate regression analyses revealed age, sex and body surface area as statistically significant determinants of the OUES. Following this, sex-specific prediction equations for the OUES were established and cross-validated. Finally, the distribution of the OUES with age was described and reference values were established for men and women separately. Conclusions This study established a comprehensive set of reference values and reference equations for the OUES for a healthy population of men and women aged between 20 and 60 years.
Coexistence of a Choriocarcinoma and a Gonadoblastoma in the Gonad of a 46,XY Female: A Single Nucleotide Polymorphism Array Analysis

Females with 46,XY complete gonadal dysgenesis are at significant risk of developing germ cell tumors, mostly gonadoblastomas. We present here the case of 2 half-sisters, sharing the same father, diagnosed with 46,XY complete gonadal dysgenesis. The 1st sister developed a gonadoblastoma and an invasive dysgerminoma, whereas the 2nd sister developed a gonadoblastoma and an invasive choriocarcinoma within the same gonad. No SRY mutation, chromosome abnormalities, or mosaicism were detected in blood. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) profiling of the choriocarcinoma revealed a complex hyperdiploid pattern with gains of 1 to 4 copies of material from several autosomes, as well as the loss of the Y chromosome and a homozygous SNP profile without copy number change for the X chromosome. Our results are in agreement with the recurrent chromosome gains and losses previously published in germ cell tumors, and the coexistence of both tumors within the same gonad suggests that choriocarcinomas may derive from gonadoblastomas.
A PLACE AMONG THE STARS? THE INFLUENCE OF RELIGION AND CREATIONISM ON ATTITUDES TOWARDS SPACE EXPLORATION AND BELIEFS IN EXTRATERRESTRIAL LIFE

OF THESIS A PLACE AMONG THE STARS? THE INFLUENCE OF RELIGION AND CREATIONISM ON ATTITUDES TOWARDS SPACE EXPLORATION AND BELIEFS IN EXTRATERRESTRIAL LIFE Space exploration continues to expand humanity’s understanding of the universe. And, while Americans have widely favorable attitudes towards efforts to explore outer space, certain religious beliefs appear to be associated with more negative attitudes towards space exploration and the search for extraterrestrial life. The current study explored the role of religion and creationism on attitudes towards space exploration and the search for extraterrestrial life. Priming techniques were used to test whether increasing the accessibility of religious and creationist concepts led to more negative attitudes towards space exploration and beliefs about extraterrestrial life. Participants (N = 230) encountered an explicit prime of religion, creationism, or a control prior to completing a word fragment task and measures of attitudes towards space exploration and beliefs about extraterrestrial life. The results of Bayesian estimation and hypothesis testing did not support the prediction. However, exploratory analyses indicated very strong evidence of atheists having more positive attitudes towards space exploration and beliefs about extraterrestrial life than theists. These findings suggest that while priming religion and creationism did not appear to influence reported attitudes, attitudes towards space exploration and the search for extraterrestrial life may differ based on belief in god.
MOMO. IV. The Complete Swift X-Ray and UV/Optical Light Curve and Characteristic Variability of the Blazar OJ 287 during the Last Two Decades

We have been carrying out a dense monitoring of the blazar OJ 287 with Swift since late 2015 as part of our project MOMO (Multiwavelength Observations and Modeling of OJ 287). This is the densest existing monitoring of OJ 287 involving X-ray/UV data. In this latest publication of a sequence, we characterize the multiwavelength variability of OJ 287 based on >4000 Swift single-wave-band data sets including archival data since 2005. A structure function analysis reveals a characteristic timescale of ∼5 days in the optical–UV at epochs of low-level activity and larger during outbursts. The discrete correlation function shows zero lag between optical and UV, with τ = 0 ± 1 day at the epoch of densest cadence. During outbursts (in 2016/17 and 2020) the X-rays follow the UV with near-zero lags. However, during quiescence, the delay is 7–18 days with X-rays leading or lagging, interpreted as due to a different X-ray component dominated by inverse Compton emission. Scaling relations are used to derive the characteristic length scales of the broad-line region and torus in OJ 287. A remarkable, symmetric UV–optical deep fade is identified in late 2017, lasting 2 months. We rule out occultation from the passage of a dusty cloud and a model where the secondary black hole deflects the jet between the primary and observer. We speculate about a temporary dispersion or jet swing event in the core or in a bright quasi-stationary jet feature. The deep fade reveals an additional, spatially distinct X-ray component. The epoch 2020.9–2021.1 was searched for precursor flare activity predicted by the binary black hole model of OJ 287.
The Influence of Underpricing to IPO Aftermarket Performance: Comparison between Fixed Price and Book Building System on the Indonesia Stock Exchange

This study discusses the IPO stock trading in Indonesia Stock Exchange in asymmetry information conditions between heterogen investors. Underpricing is a central issue in the IPO trading, where the price conditions were considered too low to below the market price. This condition is very detrimental to the company's prime, but also a signal that the company has a good reputation. IPO with strong conditions indicated has well performance in the aftermarket period. This condition is referred to as the contradictions and an anomali in Financial Management. This study aimed to assess the effect of underpricing on the stock performance in the aftermarket period. Indonesia Stock Exchange in its history ever implement the fixed price and bookbuilding IPO trading systems. This study intends to compare the IPO aftermarket performance between the bookbuilding and fixed price period. This study intends to provide answers the question that the bookbuilding can reduce the uncertainty of new stock trading and to reduce the impact of asymmetry information in the aftermarket period.
Divergent effects of d-norgestrel on the metabolism of rat very low density and low density apolipoprotein B.

Rats treated with the contraceptive steroid d-norgestrel have lower plasma very low density lipoprotein (VLDL)-triglycerides and higher low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol than controls. To explain these results, the kinetics of VLDL and LDL turnover were studied by injecting 125I-labeled rat-VLDL and 131I-labeled rat-LDL simultaneously into rats treated with a small dose of d-norgestrel (4 micrograms per day per kg body weight0.75 for 18 days, n = 22) and their untreated controls (n = 22). VLDL- and LDL-apoB specific activity-time curves obtained over 50 hr best conformed to a three-pool model. VLDL-apoB clearance expressed as irreversible catabolic rate (k01) was markedly enhanced in the treated versus control rats (0.57 vs. 0.34 pools hr-1), leading to a marked reduction in VLDL-apoB pool size (270 vs. 420 micrograms). However, VLDL-apoB production rates were similar in the two groups (160 vs. 140 micrograms/hr, respectively). The 125I-labeled apoB specific activity-time curve derived from the catabolism of 125I-labeled VLDL-apoB also showed enhanced clearance in d-norgestrel-treated rats. 125I-Labeled IDL-apoB and 125I-labeled LDL-apoB specific activity-time curves failed to intersect the VLDL-apoB curve at maximal heights, suggesting input of intermediate density lipoprotein (IDL) and LDL independent of VLDL catabolism in both groups. However, the extent of independent LDL-apoB production was similar in both groups. Clearance of 131I-labeled LDL-apoB following injection of 131I-labeled rat-LDL was delayed in the d-norgestrel-treated versus control rats. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Targeting CD44 Expressed on Neutrophils Inhibits Lung Damage in Abdominal Sepsis

Neutrophil infiltration is an insidious feature in septic lung injury, although the specific adhesive mechanisms regulating pulmonary recruitment of neutrophils in polymicrobial sepsis remain elusive. The aim of this present study was to define the role of CD44 in sepsis-induced neutrophil infiltration and lung damage. Mice were treated with a monoclonal antibody against CD44 before cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) induction. Edema formation, bronchoalveolar accumulation of neutrophils, myeloperoxidase activity, and macrophage inflammatory protein 2 (MIP-2) levels in the lung were determined after CLP. Expression of Mac-1 and CD44 on neutrophils was quantified by using flow cytometry. In separate experiments, fluorescent-labeled neutrophils coincubated with an anti-CD44 antibody were adoptively transferred to CLP mice. Cecal ligation and puncture triggered clear-cut lung damage characterized by edema formation, neutrophil infiltration, and increased levels of MIP-2 in the lung. Notably, immunoneutralization of CD44 reduced CLP-induced pulmonary accumulation of neutrophils. In addition, functional inhibition of CD44 decreased CLP-induced lung damage and edema. However, formation of MIP-2 in the lung and neutrophil expression of Mac-1 were intact in septic mice pretreated with the anti-CD44 antibody. Adoptive transfer experiments revealed that neutrophil rather than lung CD44 mediates neutrophil accumulation in septic lung injury. Moreover, administration of hyaluronidase had no effect on CLP-induced neutrophil recruitment and tissue damage in the lung. Our data demonstrate that CD44 contributes to pulmonary infiltration of neutrophils and lung damage associated with abdominal sepsis. Thus, these novel findings suggest that CD44 may serve as a target to protect against lung injury in polymicrobial sepsis.
Species crosses in Helianthus: I. Diploid species

SummaryResults of artificial hybridization involving ten annual and 18 perennial diploid (n=17) species are given. Crosses between annual species give hybrids with highly reduced fertility and irregular meiosis. On the other hand, most crosses between perennials give hybrids with little or no reduction in fertility and show regular or essentially regular bivalent formation. Some “wide” crosses in the perennials, involvingH. carnosus, H. longifolius, andH. radula, give hybrids with some reduction in fertility; these in some combinations show less than the normal 17 pairs at diakinesis. Only two successful hybrids have been secured between annuals and perennials at the diploid level, viz.H. canus Xangustifolius andH. debilis Xfloridanus. These hybrids are vigorous and nearly sterile with numerous meiotie abnormalities. Thus it appears that the two groups of North American sunflowers, established primarily on the duration of growth, are well isolated genetically. Some discussion of the nature and significance of the barriers to natural hybridization in the two groups is presented.
Raloxifene-Induced Myeloma Cell Apoptosis: A Study of Nuclear Factor-κB Inhibition and Gene Expression Signature

Because multiple myeloma remains associated with a poor prognosis, novel drugs targeting specific signaling pathways are needed. The efficacy of selective estrogen receptor modulators for the treatment of multiple myeloma is not well documented. In the present report, we studied the antitumor activity of raloxifene, a selective estrogen receptor modulator, on multiple myeloma cell lines. Raloxifene effects were assessed by tetrazolium salt reduction assay, cell cycle analysis, and Western blotting. Mobility shift assay, immunoprecipitation, chromatin immunoprecipitation assay, and gene expression profiling were performed to characterize the mechanisms of raloxifene-induced activity. Indeed, raloxifene, as well as tamoxifen, decreased JJN-3 and U266 myeloma cell viability and induced caspase-dependent apoptosis. Raloxifene and tamoxifen also increased the cytotoxic response to vincristine and arsenic trioxide. Moreover, raloxifene inhibited constitutive nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) activity in myeloma cells by removing p65 from its binding sites through estrogen receptor α interaction with p65. It is noteworthy that microarray analysis showed that raloxifene treatment decreased the expression of known NF-κB-regulated genes involved in myeloma cell survival and myeloma-induced bone lesions (e.g., c-myc, mip-1α, hgf, pac1,.) and induced the expression of a subset of genes regulating cellular cycle (e.g., p21, gadd34, cyclin G2,.). In conclusion, raloxifene induces myeloma cell cycle arrest and apoptosis partly through NF-κB-dependent mechanisms. These findings also provide a transcriptional profile of raloxifene treatment on multiple myeloma cells, offering the framework for future studies of selective estrogen receptor modulators therapy in multiple myeloma.
Simultaneous determination of anionic intermediates for Bacillus subtilis metabolic pathways by capillary electrophoresis electrospray ionization mass spectrometry.

A method for simultaneous determination of anionic metabolites based on capillary electrophoresis (CE) coupled to electrospray ionization mass spectrometry is described. To prevent current drop by the system, electroosmotic flow (EOF) reversal by using a cationic polymer-coated capillary was indispensable. A mixture containing 32 standards including carboxylic acids, phosphorylated carboxylic acids, phosphorylated saccharides, nucleotides, and nicotinamide and flavin adenine coenzymes of glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid cycle pathways were separated by CE and selectively detected by a quadrupole mass spectrometer with a sheath-flow electrospray ionization interface. Key to the analysis was EOF reversal using a cationic polymer-coated capillary and an electrolyte system consisting of 50 mM ammonium acetate, pH 9.0. The relative standard deviations of the method were better than 0.4% for migration times and between 0.9% and 5.4% for peak areas. The concentration detection limits for these metabolites were between 0.3 and 6.7 micromol/L with pressure injection of 50 mbar for 30 s (30 nL); i.e., mass detection limits ranged from 9 to 200 fmol, at a signal-to-noise ratio of 3. This method was applied to the comprehensive analysis of metabolic intermediates extracted from Bacillus subtilis, and 27 anionic metabolites could be directly detected and quantified.
Multi-objective optimization and comparative evaluation of Si soft-switched and SiC hard-switched automotive DC-DC converters

The application of soft-switching concepts or Silicon Carbide (SiC) devices are two enabling technologies to further push the efficiency, power density or specific weight of power electronics converters. For an automotive application, such as a dc-dc converter that interconnects the high voltage battery or ultra-capacitor in a hybrid electrical vehicle (HEV) or a fuel cell vehicle (FCV) to the dc-link, costs and failure rate are likewise of importance. Due to increasing requirements on multiple of these converter characteristics the comprehensive multi-objective optimization of the entire converter system gains importance. Thereto, this paper proposes an optimization method to explore the limits of power density as a function of the switching frequency and the number of phases of non-isolated bi-directional multi-phase dc-dc converters operated with soft-switching and Silicon devices and hard-switched converters that take advantage of SiC devices. In addition, the optimization includes an algorithm to determine the chip size required for the semiconductor devices under consideration of the thermal characteristics and efficiency requirements. Based on detailed analytical volume, loss and cost models of the converter components as well as on measurements demonstrative results on the optimum converter designs are provided and evaluated comparatively for the different converter concepts.