Do Mutual Fund Investors Still Trust Standard Risk-Adjusted Performance Measures?

E-print/Working paper (2012)

We study the relationship between the past performance of mutual funds and their capital flows (i.e. their subscriptions and redemptions). Testing the most traditional risk-adjusted performance measures ... [more ▼]

We study the relationship between the past performance of mutual funds and their capital flows (i.e. their subscriptions and redemptions). Testing the most traditional risk-adjusted performance measures, we identify the ones which best explain the flows of US equity mutual funds. [less ▲]

The HMG-Box Transcription Factor Sox4b Is Required for Pituitary Expression of gata2a and Specification of Thyrotrope and Gonadotrope Cells in Zebrafish.

in Molecular Endocrinology (2012), 26(6), 1014-1027

The pituitary is a complex gland comprising different cell types each secreting specific hormones. The extensive network of signaling molecules and transcription factors required for determination and ... [more ▼]

The pituitary is a complex gland comprising different cell types each secreting specific hormones. The extensive network of signaling molecules and transcription factors required for determination and terminal differentiation of specific cell types is still not fully understood. The SRY-like HMG-box (SOX) transcription factor Sox4 plays important roles in many developmental processes and has two homologs in zebrafish, Sox4a and Sox4b. We show that the sox4b gene is expressed in the pituitary anlagen starting at 24 h after fertilization (hpf) and later in the entire head region including the pituitary. At 48 hpf, sox4b mRNA colocalizes with that for TSH (tshbeta), glycoprotein subunit alpha (gsualpha), and the Zn finger transcription factor Gata2a. Loss of Sox4b function, using morpholino knockdown or expression of a dominant-negative Sox4 mutant, leads to a drastic decrease in tshbeta and gsualpha expression and reduced levels of gh, whereas other anterior pituitary gland markers including prl, slbeta, pomc, and lim3 are not affected. Sox4b is also required for expression of gata2a in the pituitary. Knockdown of gata2a leads to decreased tshbeta and gsualpha expression at 48 hpf, similar to sox4b morphants. Injection of gata2a mRNA into sox4b morphants rescued tshbeta and gsualpha expression in thyrotrope cells. Finally, sox4b or gata2a knockdown causes a significant decrease of gonadotropin expression (lhbeta and fshbeta) at 4 d after fertilization. In summary, our results indicate that Sox4b is expressed in zebrafish during pituitary development and plays a crucial role in the differentiation of thyrotrope and gonadotrope cells through induction of gata2a expression in the developing pituitary. [less ▲]

Prevalence of naturally occuring cartilage defects in the ovine stifle

Poster (2012)

Structural model of the mitral valve included in a cardiovascular closed loop model

Poster (2011, December)

A minimal cardiovascular system (CVS) model including mitral valve dynamics has been previously validated in silico. However parameters of this model are difficult to link with structural and anatomical ... [more ▼]

A minimal cardiovascular system (CVS) model including mitral valve dynamics has been previously validated in silico. However parameters of this model are difficult to link with structural and anatomical components of the valve. This research describes the integration of a structural model of the mitral valve in an existing closed-loop cardiovascular system (CVS) model [less ▲]

PHOTOREDUCTION OF PROTOCHLOROPHYLLIDE IN DARK-GROWN BEAN COTYLEDONS AS A FUNCTION OF AGE

in Murata, N (Ed.) Research in Photosynthesis (1992)