Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quasi-Resonant Passive Snubber for Improving Power Conversion Efficiency of a DC–DC Step-Down Converter

A quasi-resonant passive snubber for the conventional dc–dc step-down converter is proposed. The snubber uses six passive components to achieve a zero-current turn-<sc>on</sc> and zero-voltage turn-<sc>off</sc> of the switch, and to suppress the reverse recovery current of diode. At input voltage of 200 V, output voltage of 100 V, output power of 300 W, and switching frequency of 190 kHz, the snubber increased the power conversion efficiency <italic>η<sub>e</sub></italic> by 2.8% and stabilized the temperature of <sc>mosfet</sc> switch at ∼68 °C. The snubber worked well for both <sc>mosfet</sc> and insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) switches without increasing the voltage stress. These experimental results show that the proposed snubber is very helpful for improving <italic>η<sub>e</sub></italic> of a dc–dc step-down converter that operates at a high frequency.
Cognitive-behavior therapy, sertraline, and their combination for children and adolescents with obsessive-compulsive disorder: the Pediatric OCD Treatment Study (POTS) randomized controlled trial.

CONTEXT The empirical literature on treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) in children and adolescents supports the efficacy of short-term OCD-specific cognitive-behavior therapy (CBT) or medical management with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors. However, little is known about their relative and combined efficacy. OBJECTIVE To evaluate the efficacy of CBT alone and medical management with the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor sertraline alone, or CBT and sertraline combined, as initial treatment for children and adolescents with OCD. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS The Pediatric OCD Treatment Study, a balanced, masked randomized controlled trial conducted in 3 academic centers in the United States and enrolling a volunteer outpatient sample of 112 patients aged 7 through 17 years with a primary Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition diagnosis of OCD and a Children's Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Scale (CY-BOCS) score of 16 or higher. Patients were recruited between September 1997 and December 2002. INTERVENTIONS Participants were randomly assigned to receive CBT alone, sertraline alone, combined CBT and sertraline, or pill placebo for 12 weeks. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Change in CY-BOCS score over 12 weeks as rated by an independent evaluator masked to treatment status; rate of clinical remission defined as a CY-BOCS score less than or equal to 10. RESULTS Ninety-seven of 112 patients (87%) completed the full 12 weeks of treatment. Intent-to-treat random regression analyses indicated a statistically significant advantage for CBT alone (P = .003), sertraline alone (P = .007), and combined treatment (P = .001) compared with placebo. Combined treatment also proved superior to CBT alone (P = .008) and to sertraline alone (P = .006), which did not differ from each other. Site differences emerged for CBT and sertraline but not for combined treatment, suggesting that combined treatment is less susceptible to setting-specific variations. The rate of clinical remission for combined treatment was 53.6% (95% confidence interval [CI], 36%-70%); for CBT alone, 39.3% (95% CI, 24%-58%); for sertraline alone, 21.4% (95% CI, 10%-40%); and for placebo, 3.6% (95% CI, 0%-19%). The remission rate for combined treatment did not differ from that for CBT alone (P = .42) but did differ from sertraline alone (P = .03) and from placebo (P<.001). CBT alone did not differ from sertraline alone (P = .24) but did differ from placebo (P = .002), whereas sertraline alone did not (P = .10). The 3 active treatments proved acceptable and well tolerated, with no evidence of treatment-emergent harm to self or to others. CONCLUSION Children and adolescents with OCD should begin treatment with the combination of CBT plus a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor or CBT alone.
Essays on Corporate Governance and the Quality of Disclosed Earnings: Across Transitional Europe

This paper investigates the quality of earnings response to the Russian corporate governance reforms of 2002. We study the effect of the governance reforms on the earnings management practices of Russian companies. The accrual-based Jones (1991) model is used to estimate the discretionary accrual part of total earnings. The quality of earnings, reflected by the absolute discretionary accruals in reverse order, is not affected by the introduction of the 2002 corporate governance reforms in Russia. Only the direction of earnings management is changed by the reforms, likely attributable to reversal of accruals or tax management. Among other determinants of the positive and negative discretionary accruals, we find that adoption of international accounting standards is a significant factor for reducing the discretion to inflate or deflate reported earnings during both the preand post-reform periods. Large capital investment during the pre-reform period is also associated with inflating accruals. We find the ferrous metal and telecom sector firms have lower quality of earnings than the power and oil and gas sector firms. JEL Classification: G34, G38, M41
Management of the risk of HIV infection in male homosexual couples

ObjectivesTo study the ways of managing HIV risk within male homosexual steady relationships (gay couples), including factors associated with consistent condom use during anal sex with the steady partner. MethodAn anonymous and standardized questionnaire completed by a convenience sample of homosexuals in Switzerland in 1997 (n = 1097). Information on the couple was provided by the 74% (n = 786) of male respondents who reported having a steady partner in the past 12 months. Data were analysed by contingency tables and logistic regression. ResultsDifferent ways of managing HIV risk were reported: negotiated safety (both HIV negative, condoms abandoned) was chosen by one quarter of the couples, but the most frequent solution was reliance on condoms for anal sex, chosen by more than four in 10. Altogether 84% of couples exhibited safe management of HIV risk within their partnership. The 16% of couples showing inadequate management of HIV risk within the couple mostly relied on questionable assumptions about past or present risks. A total of 74% of couples had spoken about managing HIV risk with possible casual partners. Reported behaviour with the steady partner and with casual partners was highly consistent with claimed strategies chosen to manage HIV risk. Consistent condom use with the steady partner was mostly associated with variables characterizing the relationship: initial 2 years of the relationship, discordant or unknown serological HIV status, non-exclusivity. ConclusionGay couples manage HIV risk in a variety of ways. Most strategies provide adequate protection with casual partners, but leave gaps in protection between the steady partners themselves.
Sponsorship and CSR: is there a link? A conceptual framework

A prolific stream of research has demonstrated the unique potential of sports sponsorship to contribute to corporate image and to influence audiences around the world. Meanwhile, the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) has increasingly been identified in the literature for its potential to deliver a degree of competitive advantage. This paper builds on both these theoretical fields to develop a conceptual framework linking the effectiveness of sports sponsorship with the sponsors' CSR commitment to both employees and consumers.
Associations between neighborhood safety, availability of recreational facilities, and adolescent physical activity among Canadian youth.

BACKGROUND The safety of neighborhoods and availability of parks and facilities may influence adolescent physical activity independently or interactively. METHODS 9114 Canadians in grades 6 to 10 completed the 2006 Health Behavior in School-Aged Children Survey. The outcome of interest was students' self-reported participation in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity outside of school. A composite scale based on questions measuring student perceptions of safety was used to capture individual perceptions of safety. In addition, schools were grouped into quintiles based on the mean of the perceived safety scale, used as a proxy for peer perceptions. The number of parks and recreational facilities within 5 km of schools was abstracted from a geographical information system. RESULTS Moderate gradients in physical activity were observed according to individual and group perceptions of safety. Boys and girls with the highest perceptions of safety were 1.31 (95% CI: 1.17-1.45) and 1.45 (1.26-1.65) times more likely to be physically active, respectively, than those with the lowest perceptions. Compared with those who perceived the neighborhood as least safe, elementary students in higher quintiles were 1.31, 1.39, 1.37, and 1.56 times more likely to be physically active (P(trend) = 0.012). Increased numbers of recreational features were not related to physical activity irrespective of neighborhood safety. CONCLUSIONS Individual and group perceptions of neighborhood safety were modestly associated with adolescents' physical activity.
Naming Patterns Reveal Cultural Values

Four studies examined the hypothesis that honor norms would be associated with a pronounced use of patronyms, but not matronyms, for naming children. Study 1 shows that men who endorse honor values expressed a stronger desire to use patronyms (but not matronyms) for future children, an association that was mediated by patriarchal attitudes. Study 2 presents an indirect method for assessing state patronym and matronym levels. As expected, patronym scores were significantly higher in honor states and were associated with a wide range of variables linked previously to honor-related dynamics. Study 3a shows that following the terrorist attacks of 9/11, patronyms increased in honor states, but not in non-honor states. Likewise, priming men with a fictitious terrorist attack (Study 3b) increased the association between honor ideology and patronym preferences. Together, these studies reveal a subtle social signal that reflects the masculine values of an honor culture.
Dual Effects of DAMGO [d-Ala2,N-Me-Phe4,Gly5-ol]-Enkephalin and CTAP (D-Phe-Cys-Tyr-D-Trp-Arg-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH2) on Adenylyl Cyclase Activity: Implications for μ-Opioid Receptor Gs Coupling

The μ-opioid receptor (MOR) couples to multiple G proteins, of which coupling to Gs has long been debated. As expected, in opioid naive Chinese hamster ovary cells expressing recombinant MOR, the predominant action of [d-Ala2,N-Me-Phe4,Gly5-ol]-enkephalin (DAMGO) is inhibitory. However, inactivation of Gi/Go proteins via pertussis toxin (PTX) unmasks its ability to facilitate forskolin activation of adenylyl cyclase (AC) activity. Tolerance develops to this effect of DAMGO, which can also be attenuated by cholera toxin (CTX). The latter suggests G mediation. d-Phe-Cys-Tyr-d-Trp-Arg-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH2 (CTAP), previously considered to be a neutral MOR antagonist, also produces a facilitation of forskolin (FSK) activation of AC that is augmented by chronic morphine. Facilitative effects of CTAP in naive as well as its augmentation in tolerant membranes are both substantially reduced by CTX. This suggests that not only Gs mediation but also Gsα-linked signaling is critical to the chronic morphine-induced enhanced facilitative action of CTAP. Interestingly, the (augmented) CTAP facilitation of FSK-stimulated AC activity that is observed in opioid tolerant (but not in naive) membranes is also sensitive to PTX. This can best be explained by postulating the involvement of Gi-derived Gβγ, which would stimulate type 2 ACs, conditional on the presence of activated Gsα. The emergence of a Gβγ dimension of AC stimulation by CTAP after chronic morphine could explain its ability to augment the stimulatory action of CTAP on AC. These results support putative MOR coupling to Gs and underscore the multifaceted nature and plasticity of MOR G protein coupling.
Association of TERT promoter mutation 1,295,228 C>T with BRAF V600E mutation, older patient age, and distant metastasis in anaplastic thyroid cancer.

CONTEXT The aggressive role of TERT promoter mutations has been well established in differentiated thyroid cancer but has not been established in anaplastic thyroid cancer (ATC). RESEARCH DESIGN We tested the mutation status by sequencing genomic tumor DNA and examined its relationship with clinicopathological characteristics of ATC. RESULTS Among 106 American and Chinese ATC samples, TERT 1,295,228 C>T (termed TERT C228T) mutation was found in 37 (34.9%) cases, TERT promoter mutation 1,295,250 C>T was found in four cases (3.8%), and the two mutations were mutually exclusive and collectively found in 41 cases (38.7%). TERT C228T occurred in 28 of 90 (31.1%) wild-type BRAF cases vs nine of 16 (56.3%) BRAF V600E cases, with an odds ratio of 2.85 (95% confidence interval, 0.96-8.42; P = .05). Patient age was 67.6 ± 13.6 vs 61.6 ± 11.4 years in the TERT C228T vs wild-type TERT patients (P = .02), demonstrating an association between TERT C228T and older patient age. This association was also seen within the American cohort. In this cohort, which had more available clinicopathological data, TERT C228T was associated with distant metastasis of the tumor; specifically, distant metastasis occurred in 15 of 18 (83.3%) TERT C228T patients vs eight of 26 (30.8%) wild-type TERT patients, with an odds ratio of 11.25 (95% confidence interval, 2.53-50.08; P = .001). No association was found with patient sex, tumor size, lymph node metastasis, and extrathyroidal invasion of ATC. CONCLUSIONS This is the largest study on the aggressive role of TERT promoter mutations in ATC, demonstrating an association of TERT C228T with BRAF V600E, older patient age, and tumor distant metastasis in ATC.
Decentralized Large-Scale Electricity Consumption Shifting by Prosumer Cooperatives

In this work we address the problem of coordinated consumption shifting for electricity prosumers. We show that individual optimization with respect to electricity prices does not always lead to minimized costs, thus necessitating a cooperative approach. A prosumer cooperative employs an internal cryptocurrency mechanism for coordinating members decisions and distributing the collectively generated profits. The mechanism generates cryptocoins in a distributed fashion, and awards them to participants according to various criteria, such as contribution impact and accuracy between stated and final shifting actions. In particular, when a scoring rulesbased distribution method is employed, participants are incentivized to be accurate. When tested on a large dataset with real-world production and consumption data, our approach is shown to provide incentives for accurate statements and increased economic profits for the cooperative.
THE CLIENTELE EFFECT OF SPINOFFS - FURTHER EVIDENCE FROM THE EFFECTIVE DATE OF CORPORATE DIVESTITURES

In the past few decades, issues related to corporate restructuring have been extensively examined in the finance literature. A major form of corporate restructuring is divestitures. Divestitures are ways in which the subsidiaries, divisions, segments or product lines are separated from their parent companies. The two major types of divestitures are spinoffs and sell-offs. A spinoff creates a separate new legal entity; the shares of the new legal entity are distributed on a pro rata basis to the existing shareholders of the parent company. The existing shareholders of the parent company have the same proportion of ownership in the new entity as in the parent company and the parent company receives no cash from the existing shareholders. A spinoff can be viewed as dividend in kind paid by the parent company to its shareholders. Spinoffs separate the common stocks of the parent and the new companies for subsequent trading on a date known as the ex date.
Near-monochromatic high-harmonic radiation from relativistic laser–plasma interactions with blazed grating surfaces

Intense, femtosecond laser interactions with blazed grating targets are studied through experiment and particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations. The high harmonic spectrum produced by the laser is angularly dispersed by the grating leading to near-monochromatic spectra emitted at different angles, each dominated by a single harmonic and its integer-multiples. The spectrum emitted in the direction of the third-harmonic diffraction order is measured to contain distinct peaks at the 9th and 12th harmonics which agree well with two-dimensional PIC simulations using the same grating geometry. This confirms that surface smoothing effects do not dominate the far-field distributions for surface features with sizes on the order of the grating grooves whilst also showing this to be a viable method of producing near-monochromatic, short-pulsed extreme-ultraviolet radiation.
Brand Management: A Theoretical and Practical Approach

1 The history of the brand 1.1 - The brand before 1870 1.2 - The development of the manufacturer-owned brand 1.3 - The development of the distributor-owned brand 1.4 - The awareness of the value of brands 1.5 - Recent developments 2 The choice for a brand strategy 2.1 - The applicability of a brand strategy 2.2 - Possible advantages of a brand strategy 3 Analysis of the branded article 3.1 - The four building blocks of the branded article 3.2 - The hierarchy of attributes 3.3 - The relative importance of intrinsic and extrinsic attributes 4 Giving meaning to the brand 4.1 - Intended meaning of the brand 4.2 - Brand images 4.3 - Brand-added value 5 Two routes of brand development 5.1 - Criteria for the choice of a route for brand development 5.2 - The two different roles of brand name and packaging 5.3 - Instruments of brand development for the low-budget route 5.4 - Phases in the high-budget route of brand development 6 The brand name as central pivot 6.1 - Three brand-name strategies 6.2 - Considerations in the choice of a brand name 6.3 - A classification of brand names 6.4 - The brand-name development trajectory 6.5 - Changes in brand names 7 The role of design in brand development 7.1 - Design as an instrument 7.2 - Classification and effects of design 7.3 - Brand attributes in which design plays a role 7.4 - Shape and colour 7.5 - The design development trajectory 7.6 - Reasons for design change 8 The role of advertising and internet 8.1 - Advertising as an instrument in the marketing-communication mix 8.2 - Two forms of advertising execution 8.3 - The mechanism of advertising 8.4 - Operational aspects of advertising 8.5 - Brands on internet 9 Legal protection of brands 9.1 - The trademark concept 9.2 - Community Trademark registration 9.3 - Trademark infringement 9.4 - Distinguishing capacity and expiration of rights 10 From branded article to brand portfolio 10.1 - The exploitation of one brand 10.2 - Advantages of the exploitation of several brands 10.3 - Four types of brands in a brand portfolio 10.4 - Building and rationalising a brand portfolio 10.5 - International aspects 11 Capitalisation on a successful brand 11.1 - Extension strategy 11.2 - Endorsement strategy 11.3 - Extension versus endorsement strategy 12 Critical success factors in brand damage 12.1 - Brand damage: from incident to crisis 12.2 - Influence of market-, product-, and brand-related factors 12.3 - Influence of organisation- and reaction-related factors 12.4 - Possible consequences of crises 13 The value of a brand for the company 13.1 - Brand equity 13.2 - Components of brand equity 13.3 - Financial-brand valuation Appendix 1: Price strategies and corresponding methods of pricing Appendix 2: The Rokeach Value Survey (RVS) Appendix 3: Criteria for various brand strategies Appendix 4: International schedule of classes of goods and services for the registration of brands Appendix 5: Guidelines product-recall advertisementLiterature Author index Brand- and company name index Index of terms About the authors
Deconstructing Solar Photovoltaic Pricing: The Role of Market Structure, Technology, and Policy

Solar photovoltaic (PV) system prices in the United States display considerable heterogeneity both across geographic locations and within a given location. Such heterogeneity may arise due to state and federal policies, differences in market structure, and other factors that influence demand and costs. This paper examines the relative importance of such factors on equilibrium solar PV system prices in the United States using a detailed dataset of roughly 100,000 recent residential and small commercial installations. As expected, we find that PV system prices differ based on characteristics of the systems. More interestingly, we find evidence suggesting that search costs and imperfect competition affect solar PV pricing. Installer density substantially lowers prices, while regions with relatively generous financial incentives for solar PV are associated with higher prices.
Audio-Visual Organisation and the Temporal Ventriloquism Effect between Grouped Sequences: Evidence That Unimodal Grouping Precedes Cross-Modal Integration

Cross-modal grouping interactions between auditory and visual sequences have previously been demonstrated (O'Leary and Rhodes 1984, Perception & Psychophysics 33 565–569; Rahne et al 2008, Brain Research 1220 118–131). Three experiments were conducted here to determine whether cross-modal interaction precedes unimodal grouping and whether the temporal ventriloquism effect could be found between grouped auditory and visual sequences. We used a repeating four-tone auditory sequence (high–middle–middle–low) where the middle tones could group with either the high tone or the low tone, paired with a sequence of light flashes with a single flash one side and three the other. Experiment 1 showed that the temporal position of the isolated flash in the visual sequence had no effect on which of the auditory tones were perceived as isolated. Experiments 2 and 3 demonstrated that the temporal ventriloquism effect occurs between grouped auditory and visual sequences, as participants reported that the isolated light and tone from grouped visual and auditory sequences seemed to synchronise when they were between 120 and 240 ms apart. These results suggest that unisensory grouping can occur prior to cross-modal interaction.
EFFECT OF THE ADDITION OF WHEAT BRAN STREAM ON DOUGH RHEOLOGY AND BREAD QUALITY

The milling by-products have high nutritional value and can be incorporated into white flour. This study was aimed at comparatively examining the rheological behaviour of the doughs made from wheat white flour with different levels (3-30%) of bran streams incorporated and from wholewheat. The results indicated significant correlations between the ash content of the wheat bran streams incorporated into flour and Alveograph, Rheofermentograph and Mixolab parameters. The white flour sample with 25% wheat bran streams had the ash content similar to wholewheat, but the dough rheology was improved. The quality of the white flour bread with 25% wheat bran streams was improved compared to the wholemeal bread.