Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relation of Firm Size to R&D Productivity

Abstract Many studies have shown that small firms generate more patents per R&D dollar than large firms. Does this mean that small firms are more efficient innovators than large firms? In this paper we exploit a unique data set to reexamine the firm size-innovation relationship. Because firm-reported R&D expenditures may be a biased measure of R&D activities due to under-reporting by small firms, we use the number of inventors in the firm’s employ as a measure of R&D inputs. We focus on the pharmaceutical and semiconductor industries, two industries that are prolific generators of homogenous innovations. As has been found elsewhere in the literature, we find that patents per R&D dollar decline with firm size for both industries. This contrasts with the relationship between patents per inventor and firm size. The average number of patents per inventor increases with size in the semiconductor industry. In the pharmaceutical industry, we find no relationship between the number of patents produced per inventor and firm size.
Essential tremor associated with focal nonnigral Lewy bodies: a clinicopathologic study.

BACKGROUND Essential tremor is one of the most common neurological diseases. Its links with Parkinson disease (PD) are often debated. There have been few published postmortem studies. OBJECTIVE To study our first case of essential tremor through the recently established Essential Tremor Centralized Brain Repository. DESIGN Report of a case of a patient with a diagnosis of severe essential tremor for 46 years who exhibited no signs of parkinsonism. RESULTS On postmortem examination, gross brain sections showed no abnormalities. Results of microscopic examination of hematoxylin-eosin-stained sections revealed that the locus coeruleus contained multiple Lewy bodies (LBs), although none were found in the substantia nigra, dorsal vagal nuclei, thalamus, substantia innominata, inferior olivary nucleus, or cerebellum. Immunochemical staining using antibodies directed against alpha-synuclein confirmed the presence of many LBs in the locus ceruleus and showed rare LBs in the substantia innominata and dorsal vagal nuclei. There were no LBs in the substantia nigra. CONCLUSIONS Our patient had a very focal presence of LBs in the locus ceruleus, an anatomically restricted form of LB disease. This study provides support for the link between essential tremor and LB disease and raises the question as to what proportion of patients with essential tremor might have unusual forms of LB disease.
Music perception of cochlear implant users: A questionnaire, and its implications for a music training program

Abstract Current research has shown that although adult cochlear implant (CI) users generally find music to be less enjoyable following implantation, training may help some recipients to improve their music perception. This study developed and administered a questionnaire (The University of Canterbury Music Listening Questionnaire: UCMLQ), to collect information which could then be used to develop such a music training program (MTP). One hundred adult recipients completed the UCMLQ. Results showed that respondents generally found music to be less enjoyable post-implantation, and thought that music did not sound as they would expect it to sound to a person with normal hearing. However, it was reported that music listening could be enhanced by controlling the listening environment, being selective about the music chosen, and using a contralateral HA. The preferred logistics for a MTP were 30-minute sessions, 2–3 times per week, using a DVD format. The program should focus on improving recipients' ability to recognize tunes, and encompass a wide range of musical styles. The findings support the development of a MTP for CI users to better enable them to enjoy and appreciate music, and to maximize their potential with current technology. Sumario Las investigaciones recientes han mostrado que a pesar de que los usuarios adultos de implantes cocleares (IC) generalmente encuentran que la música es menos agradable después de la implantación, el entrenamiento puede ayudar a algunos a mejorar su percepción de la música. En este estudio se desarrolló y administró un cuestionario (Cuestionario para escuchar musica de la Universidad de Canterbury: UCMLQ) para colectar información que podría después usarse en el desarrollo de un programa de entrenamiento musical (MTP). Cien implantados adultos completaron el UCMLQ. Los resultados muestran que los que respondieron, generalmente encuentran la música menos agradable después de la implantación y piensan que no suena como esperarían que sonara a una persona con audición normal. No obstante, se reportó que la audición de la música puede mejorar si se controla el ambiente de escucha, siendo selectivos en relación con la música que se escoge y usando un auxiliar auditivo contralateral. La logística preferida para un MTP fue con sesiones de 30 minutos, 2–3 veces por semana, usando un formato DVD. El programa debe enfocarse a mejorar la habilidad de los usuarios para reconocer tonadas y comprende un amplio rango de estilos musicales. Los hallazgos apoyan el desarrollo de un MTP para usuarios de IC con objeto de permitirles un mayor agrado y apreciación de la música y para maximizar su potencial con la tecnología actual.
Expression and intracellular distribution of stress fibers in aortic endothelium

Immunofluorescence microscopy was used to determine the number of endothelial cells with stress fibers for three age groups, and for three distinct anatomical locations within the descending thoracic aorta of both normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats. For each age group examined, hypertensive rats consistently demonstrated greater stress fiber expression than did normotensive rats. Neither age nor blood pressure was the predominant influence on stress fiber expression in aortic endothelium. In the normotensive rats, stress fiber expression remained unchanged for all age groups examined. For both strains, however, more endothelial cells with stress fibers were found in those regions where fluid shear stresses are expected to be high, when compared with those regions where the fluid shear stresses are expected to be low. This observation suggests that anatomical location, with its implied differences in fluid shear stress levels, is a major influence on stress fiber expression within this tissue. Electron microscopy was used to determine the intracellular distribution of stress fibers for both strains. Most stress fibers in both strains were located in the abluminal portion of the endothelial cells. This result is consistent with a role for stress fibers in cellular adhesion. However, the hypertensive rats had a higher proportion of stress fibers in the luminal portion of their cytoplasm than the normotensive rats. This increased presence of stress fibers in the luminal portion of the cell may be important in maintaining the structural integrity of the endothelial cell in the face of elevated hemodynamic forces in situ.
The MacNew Questionnaire Is a Helpful Tool for Predicting Unplanned Hospital Readmissions After Coronary Revascularization

Background The MacNew questionnaire is a neuro-behavioral tool which is easy and immediately usable. This self-reported questionnaire filled out by the patient allows the physician to achieve helpful information concerning the ways for optimizing the therapy and patient’s lifestyles. In this retrospective study, our aim was to assess whether relatively high scores found using the MacNew questionnaire in patients who had undergone percutaneous or surgical revascularization were associated with a decreased risk of unscheduled hospitalizations during the follow-up. Methods A retrospective analysis concerning 210 patients was carried out. The clinical sheets of these patients were examined as regards the information provided in the specific questionnaires (MacNew Italian version) routinely administered during the hospitalization prescribed for recovering from recent interventions of coronary percutaneous or surgery revascularization. Every patient undergoing the psychological test with MacNew questionnaire was followed up for 3 years. Results Using univariate analysis, a global score’s high value (i.e., above the median of the whole examined population) was shown to be associated with a significantly decreased risk of rehospitalization (HR (hazard ratio): 0.4312; 95% CI: 0.3463 - 0.5370; P < 0.0001). After adjustment for age, gender and myocardial infarction as initiating event, using a multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression model, the protection exerted by a high MacNew score against the risk of hospitalizations remained significant (HR: 0.0885; 95% CI: 0.0317 - 0.2472; P < 0.0001). Conclusions A relatively elevated MacNew global score appears to be associated with a significantly decreased risk of unscheduled hospitalizations after coronary revascularization over a 3-year follow-up.
Increased oncogenicity of the murine sarcoma virus (Moloney) by co-infection with murine leukemia viruses.

The high incidence of spontaneous regressions of primary tumors induced by the Moloney sarcoma virus in adult mice was significantly altered by co-infection with Rauscher, Moloney, and Friend leukemia viruses. Intramuscular, intraperitoneal, or subcutaneous inoculation of sarcoma extracts, prepared from progressively growing tumors obtained from dually infected animals, resulted in extensive metastases. Tumor nodules were observed in several tissues and organs. Regression of primary virus-induced tumors could be altered by low concentrations of Rauscher leukemia virus. The role of the leukemia virus, acting as “helper” or as an immunosuppressor, is discussed.
Financial Communities

Postings on Internet discussion boards provide an unusual opportunity to explore the sociological mechanics underlying the impounding of information into stock prices and to examine any implications for portfolio construction. Graph-theoretic techniques applied to contacts across the web network of stock discussion allow classification of stocks into two types: communities of connected stocks, and disconnected stocks. Connected stocks outperform others in a risk-adjusted sense. Adopting the concept of centrality from the sociology literature reveals that stocks with high centrality covary more with other stocks, suggesting greater analyst scrutiny. Classifying stocks into financial communities provides a novel way to look at risk-return trade-offs and to direct analyst attention, and offers new diversification insights for portfolio managers.
Packet equalisation in PONs using adjustable gain-clamped semiconductor optical amplifiers (AGC-SOA)

The past ten years have witnessed a dramatic growth in the delivery of high bandwidth services through Passive Optical Networks (PONs), directly to the home or to the kerb. The bursty nature of upstream traffic in a PON (from the user to Optical Network Unit, ONU) combined with a wide dynamic range of signal strength (−15 dB to −28 dB the difference between a very close Optical Network Terminal (ONT) with a small split ratio and a distant ONT with a high split ratio), places severe demands on the burst mode receiver at the ONU. We report here on an adjustable gain-clamped semiconductor optical amplifier (AGC-SOA) designed to maximize the output saturated power while adjusting gain to regulate the power differences between packets without loss of linearity. This device is shown to be able to modulate gain at rates that are compatible with packet to packet equalisation. Through theoretical analysis coupled with experimental verification, this paper demonstrates for the first time that this is entirely feasible.
Estimation of gestational age at birth Comparison of two methods

constricted and the breathing becomes more shallow it is reasonable to suspect that the child may have ingested something containing a narcotic. The distressed parents may say that the child has not had any drugs, but many cough mixtures and medicines prescribed for diarrhoea contain narcotics or their derivatives, and bottles of these may lie around forgotten in the house. Before naloxone became available both the current narcotic antagonists, i.e. nalorphine and levallorphan had some agonist activity of their own, and could themselves produce respiratory depression in the absence of a narcotic (Blumberg and Dayton, 1972), thus worsening the respiratory depression caused by nonopiate drugs such as barbiturates. Naloxone has virtually no agonist activity and therefore is without this disadvantage. It can be given as a diagnostic test and will not produce more depression in non-narcotic overdoses (Evans et al., 1973) or if given in excess (Rumack and Temple, 1974). Therefore if a child presents with unexplained respiratory depression and with constricted pupils, part of the management is to ensure the airway and support respiration if necessary and then to give a diagnostic dose of naloxone 0 01 mg/kg IV. Case 2 illustrates several further points. The duration of action of naloxone is short while that of many of the narcotics including diphenoxylate is long, and therefore repeated doses of naloxone will usually be needed. The clinical response to IV naloxone is dramatic and immediate. It is important to anticipate the sudden return to full consciousness and to protect intravenous infusions and endotra-cheal tubes from forcible rejection. Finally, poisoning with Lomotil, the management of which has been well reviewed by Rumack and Temple (1974), can now be confirmed by measuring plasma diphen-oxylic acid levels (Ford et al., 1976). The level obtained in this patient, in blood taken 12 hours after the probable time of ingestion, was very high, since similar levels would be expected in an adult as a peak concentration one hour after oral ingestion. Summary Two patients are presented with respiratory depression for which no cause was apparent. Both had ingested narcotics without the parents' knowledge. Narcotic ingestion should be suspected if signs of respiratory failure with constricted pupils are present, and a diagnostic test with naloxone should be performed. (1976). The measurement of diphenoxylic acid in plasma following administration of diphenoxylate. A scoring system for the estimation of gestational age of newborn babies using 10 neurological measures …
Instability of Plane Couette Flow

The energy gradient theory has been proposed with the aim of better understanding the mechanism of flow transition from laminar flow to turbulent flow. In this theory, it is suggested that the transition to turbulence depends on the relative magnitudes of the energy gradient amplifying the disturbance and the viscous friction damping that disturbance. For a given flow geometry and fluid properties, when the maximum of K (the ratio of the energy gradient in the transverse direction to that in the streamwise direction) in the flow field is larger than a certain critical value, it is expected that instability would occur for some initial disturbances. In this paper, using the energy analysis, the equation for calculating K for plane Couette flow is derived. It is demonstrated that the critical value of K at subcritical transition is about 370 for plane Couette flow. This value is about the same as for plane Poiseuille flow and pipe Poiseuille flow (385-389). Therefore, it is concluded that the critical value of K at subcritical transition is about 370-389 for wall bounded parallel shear flows which include both pressure and shear driven flows.
Speed of feedforward and recurrent processing in multilayer networks of integrate-and-fire neurons

The speed of processing in the visual cortical areas can be fast, with for example the latency of neuronal responses increasing by only approximately 10 ms per area in the ventral visual system sequence V1 to V2 to V4 to inferior temporal visual cortex. This has led to the suggestion that rapid visual processing can only be based on the feedforward connections between cortical areas. To test this idea, we investigated the dynamics of information retrieval in multiple layer networks using a four-stage feedforward network modelled with continuous dynamics with integrate-and-fire neurons, and associative synaptic connections between stages with a synaptic time constant of 10 ms. Through the implementation of continuous dynamics, we found latency differences in information retrieval of only 5 ms per layer when local excitation was absent and processing was purely feedforward. However, information latency differences increased significantly when non-associative local excitation was included. We also found that local recurrent excitation through associatively modified synapses can contribute significantly to processing in as little as 15 ms per layer, including the feedforward and local feedback processing. Moreover, and in contrast to purely feed-forward processing, the contribution of local recurrent feedback was useful and approximately this rapid even when retrieval was made difficult by noise. These findings suggest that cortical information processing can benefit from recurrent circuits when the allowed processing time per cortical area is at least 15 ms long.
A Three-Dimensional Variational Data Analysis Method with Recursive Filter for Doppler Radars

Abstract In this paper, a new method of dual-Doppler radar wind analysis based on a three-dimensional variational data assimilation (3DVAR) approach is proposed. In it, a cost function, including background term and radial observation term, is minimized through a limited memory, quasi-Newton conjugate-gradient algorithm with the mass continuity equation imposed as a weak constraint. In the method, the background error covariance matrix, though simple in this case, is modeled by a recursive filter. Furthermore, the square root of this matrix is used to precondition the minimization problem. The current method is applied to Doppler radar observation of a supercell storm, and the analysis results are compared to a conceptual model and previous research. It is shown that the horizontal circulations, both within and around the storms, as well as the strong updraft and the associated downdraft, are well analyzed. Because no explicit integration of the anelastic mass continuity equation is involved, error accumu.
The new approximative model of multiservice Erlang's ideal grading with queues

The paper presents a new approximate model for multi-service, non-full-availability queueing system. This model can be used to model the access nodes of the network. Due to the fact that this model is a approximate model, the results obtained were compared with the results of simulation experiments. The comparison has allowed us to confirm the correctness of the model's assumptions.
Counteractive control over temptations: Promoting resistance through enhanced perception of conflict and goal value

Abstract The present research explored people’s everyday practice of counteractive control. Experience sampling was used to test our prediction that strong temptations would promote self-control. Participants were 237 Japanese citizens with ages ranging from 18 to 69. Results indicated that perceived temptation prompted stronger resistance and restraint of behaviors, compared to those cases where no conflict was perceived. In addition, multilevel path analysis revealed the underlying process such that (a) a strong desire toward temptation intensified perception of conflict; (b) perceived conflict bolstered the value of goals that were in disagreement with the temptation; and (c) highly valued goals promoted self-control (i.e., stronger resistance and hence less yielding to temptation).
The Effects of Metaphorical Framing on Political Persuasion: A Systematic Literature Review

ABSTRACT Effects of metaphorical framing of political issues on opinion have been studied widely by two approaches: a critical-discourse approach (CDA) and a response-elicitation approach (REA). The current article reports a systematic literature review (N = 109) that examines whether these approaches report converging or diverging effects. We compared CDA and REA on the metaphorical frames that were studied and their reported effects. Results show that the CDA frames are typically more negative, nonfictional, and extreme than REA frames. Reported effects in CDA and REA studies differ in terms of presence, directionality, and strength, with CDA typically reporting strong effects in line with the frame, compared to REA. These differences in effects can be (partly) explained by the different frame characteristics. However, differences in the methods applied by CDA and REA could be (partly) responsible for these differences as well. In all, we conclude that the research field is fragmented on the impact of metaphors in politics.
Inhibition of Ice Growth and Recrystallization by Zirconium Acetate and Zirconium Acetate Hydroxide

The control over ice crystal growth, melting, and shaping is important in a variety of fields, including cell and food preservation and ice templating for the production of composite materials. Control over ice growth remains a challenge in industry, and the demand for new cryoprotectants is high. Naturally occurring cryoprotectants, such as antifreeze proteins (AFPs), present one solution for modulating ice crystal growth; however, the production of AFPs is expensive and inefficient. These obstacles can be overcome by identifying synthetic substitutes with similar AFP properties. Zirconium acetate (ZRA) was recently found to induce the formation of hexagonal cavities in materials prepared by ice templating. Here, we continue this line of study and examine the effects of ZRA and a related compound, zirconium acetate hydroxide (ZRAH), on ice growth, shaping, and recrystallization. We found that the growth rate of ice crystals was significantly reduced in the presence of ZRA and ZRAH, and that solutions containing these compounds display a small degree of thermal hysteresis, depending on the solution pH. The compounds were found to inhibit recrystallization in a manner similar to that observed in the presence of AFPs. The favorable properties of ZRA and ZRAH suggest tremendous potential utility in industrial applications.
Taxation, Bank Leverage, and Financial Crises

That most corporate tax systems favor debt over equity finance is now widely recognized as, potentially, amplifying risks to financial stability. This paper makes a first attempt to explore, empirically, the link between this tax bias and the probability of financial crisis. It finds that greater tax bias is associated with significantly higher aggregate bank leverage, and that this in turn is associated with a significantly greater chance of crisis. The implication is that tax bias makes crises much more likely, and, conversely, that the welfare gains from policies to alleviate it can be substantial far greater than previous studies, which have ignored financial stability considerations, suggest.