Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Comparison of endoscopic third ventriculostomy alone and combined with choroid plexus cauterization in infants younger than 1 year of age: a prospective study in 550 African children.

OBJECT The aim of this prospective study was to determine whether, and in which patients, the outcome for bilateral choroid plexus cauterization (CPC) in combination with endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) was superior to ETV alone. METHODS A total of 710 children underwent ventriculoscopy as candidates for ETV as the primary treatment for hydrocephalus. The ETV was accomplished in 550 children: 266 underwent a combined ETV-CPC procedure and 284 underwent ETV alone. The mean and median ages were 14 and 5 months, respectively, and 443 patients (81%) were younger than 1 year of age. The hydrocephalus was postinfectious (PIH) in 320 patients (58%), nonpostinfectious (NPIH) in 152 (28%), posthemorrhagic in five (1%), and associated with myelomeningocele in 73 (13%). The mean follow up was 19 months for ETV and 9.2 months for ETV-CPC. Overall, the success rate of ETV-CPC (66%) was superior to that of ETV alone (47%) among infants younger than 1 year of age (p < 0.0001). The ETV-CPC combined procedure was superior in patients with a myelomeningocele (76% compared with 35% success, p = 0.0045) and those with NPIH (70% compared with 38% success, p = 0.0025). Although the difference was not significant for PIH (62% compared with 52% success, p = 0.1607), a benefit was not ruled out (power = 0.3). For patients at least 1 year of age, there was no difference between the two procedures (80% success for each, p = 1.0000). The overall surgical mortality rate was 1.3%, and the infection rate was less than 1%. CONCLUSIONS The ETV-CPC was more successful than ETV alone in infants younger than 1 year of age. In developing countries in which a dependence on shunts is dangerous, ETV-CPC may be the best option for treating hydrocephalus in infants, particularly for those with NPIH and myelomeningocele.
On-line error detection for finite field multipliers

In this paper error-detection is applied to finite field multipliers. It is shown that by using parity prediction, error-detection can be incorporated into these multipliers with very low hardware overheads. The structures of error-detection circuits for any finite field are given for these multipliers. The hardware overheads of these methods are independent of m and so for large values of m the presented approaches are particularly hardware efficient. The fault coverage of these structures are investigated by simulation experiments.
Boards, Uncertainty, and the Use of Fairness Opinions

Manuscript Type: Empirical Research Question/Issue: We propose and test a new perspective on why the boards of some acquiring firms purchase a fairness opinion (FO). Specifically, we examine whether the board’s knowledge explains the use of a FO and the market reaction to the FO. Research Findings/Insights: We find that FOs are more likely to be purchased when the acquiring firm’s board feels uncertain about the deal Specifically, we find that boards with more outside directors are more likely to use a FO, while boards whose directors hold more outside appointments (busy boards) are less likely to seek a FO. Moreover, we find that although the market reacts negatively to the FO, board characteristics both moderate and exacerbate the reaction. When a FO is used by a busy board, the market reacts more negatively to the merger announcement. In contrast, board independence and the average service years for directors seem to moderate the market’s reaction to the FO. Theoretical/Academic Implications: The results of this study are consistent with the idea that a lack of knowledge and underlying transaction uncertainty motivates the board to purchase a FO. In addition, our empirical evidence supports a sophisticated market reaction, where the market recognizes the board’s knowledge when assessing the necessity of the FO.Practitioner/Policy Implications: This study provides a new perspective on why boards use FOs. A board with more outside directors may be strong on monitoring, but may lack knowledge on the deal. This essentially provides an example of a cost associated with an independent board. Further, we show that the market can differentiate the types of board that use a FO.
First case of hepatitis C virus transmission by a red blood cell concentrate after introduction of nucleic acid amplification technique screening in Germany: a comparative study with various assays

Background and Objectives Pooled nucleic acid amplification techniques (NAT) and donor screening for anti‐hepatitis C virus (HCV) have reduced the diagnostic window period of HCV infection in the blood donor population from about 12 to 1 or 2 weeks. During that time, HCV RNA is hardly detectable by pooled or individual donation NAT. Here we describe a case of transfusion‐acquired HCV infection from an extremely low‐titre donation. After a repeat donor tested positive for HCV, a look‐back procedure was initiated. A recipient of a red cell concentrate from the previous donation was identified and found to be infected with HCV as well. We compared several commercial NAT systems for their ability to detect the viraemic plasma.
Factors contributing to successful public private partnership projects

Purpose – With the increasing interest in public private partnership (PPP), there is a need to investigate the factors contributing to successful delivery of PPP projects. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the perceptions of respondents from Hong Kong, Australia and the UK on the importance of 18 such factors.Design/methodology/approach – An empirical questionnaire survey was conducted in Hong Kong and Australia. The survey respondents were asked to rate 18 factors which contribute to delivering successful PPP projects.Findings – The findings from this survey were further compared with the results achieved by a previous researcher in a similar survey conducted in the UK. The comparison showed that amongst the top five success factors ranked by Hong Kong respondents, three were also ranked highly by the Australians and British. These success factors included: “Commitment and responsibility of public and private sectors”; “Strong and good private consortium”; and “Appropriate risk allocation and risk .
Moral Imagination or Heuristic Toolbox? Events and the Risk Assessment of Structured Financial Products in the Financial Bubble

The paper uses the example of the failure of bankers and financial managers to understand the risks of dealing in structured financial products, before the financial collapse, to investigate how people respond to crises. It focuses on whether crises cause people to challenge their habitual frames by the application of moral imagination. It is proposed that the structure of financial products and their markets triggered the use of heuristics that contributed to the underestimation of risks. It is further proposed that such framing heuristics are highly specialised to specific contexts and are part of a wider set of heuristics that people carry in their cognitive ‘adaptive toolboxes’. Consequently, it is argued, when a crisis occurs, the heuristics are not challenged, but are simply put away, and other more appropriate heuristics are put to use until a sense of normality returns, and the use of the old heuristics is resumed.
Training Health Care Professionals for 21st-Century Practice: A Systematic Review of Educational Interventions on Chronic Care

Purpose To systematically review the evidence for high-quality and effective educational strategies to train health care professionals across the education continuum on chronic disease care. Method A search of English-language publications and conference proceedings was performed in November 2013 and updated in April 2014. Studies that evaluated a newly developed curriculum targeting chronic disease care with learner outcomes were included. Two primary reviewers and one adjudicating reviewer evaluated the studies and assessed their quality using the validated Medical Education Research Study Quality Instrument (MERSQI). Studies were also mapped onto elements of Wagner’s chronic care model (CCM) to evaluate their use of established evidence-based models for chronic care delivery. Miller’s classification of clinical competence was used to assess the quality of learner achievements for each educational intervention. Results A total of 672 articles were found for this review. Twenty-two met criteria for data extraction. The majority of studies were of moderate quality according to MERSQI scoring. Only three studies reported both learner and patient outcomes. The highest-quality studies incorporated more elements of Wagner’s CCM and showed high-level learner competence according to Miller’s classification. Successful interventions redesigned health care delivery systems to include team-based care, emphasized training of health care professionals on patient self-management, and included learner-based quality improvement initiatives. Conclusions The growing number of children and adults with chronic disease necessitates improved educational interventions for health care professionals that involve evidence-based models for restructuring chronic care delivery, aim for high-level learner behavioral outcomes, and evolve through quality improvement initiatives.
Treatment planning of brain implants using vascular information and a new template technique

A new template technique has been developed for implanting hyperthermia catheters in the treatment of brain tumors. The technique utilizes an imaging template and a drill template which can be rigidly secured to the head with three skull screws. The anatomic and vascular information needed for hyperthermia treatment planning may be assessed with three-dimensional magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and angiography acquisitions which use a surface coil. In the companioning treatment planning system the catheter positions and lengths and the electrodes in the catheter can be interactively manipulated relative to the anatomy and vasculature. The visualization of the blood vessels relative to the template allows the minimization of the risk on intracranial hemorrhages. This template technique is useful for any brain tumor implants, especially when a large number of catheters are involved. A phantom test has shown that this procedure has an accuracy in the order of 1 mm provided that the MR-related geometry distortions are minimized.
Using case-based retrieval for customer technical support

Cascade, a case-based interactive system that helps technical support engineers solve the problems of customers whose hardware or software has stopped working, is discussed. Cascade has a case library of failures of VMS device drivers and suggests solutions to new failures. The system uses validated retrieval to address aspects of failure recovery that are specific to help desks. Cascade's implementation, which was accomplished by developing a seed case base, a knowledge base containing knowledge about similarities between surface-feature values, and a validation model containing the necessary probes and knowledge about them, is described. <<ETX>>
Equivalent Circuit Considering the Harmonics of Core Loss in the Squirrel-Cage Induction Motor for Electrical Power Steering Application

Consideration of the saturation in the core is essential in designing motors for automotive application, because of the stringent size limitations in automotive electric motors, such as those equipped with electrical power steering. In the design of squirrel-cage induction motors, equivalent circuit analysis using lumped parameters is often used to investigate the motor performance. However, estimation of the motor characteristics has been limited because the standard equivalent circuit that considers space harmonics does not consider the core loss. To improve the reliability of the characteristic analysis, a new method that can solve these problems is required. Thus, study of a new equivalent circuit that considers the saturation in the core and the core loss harmonics is needed. Therefore, to obtain the reliable characteristics of induction motors, this paper presents a modified space harmonic equivalent circuit that considers the harmonics of core loss resistance. The modified equivalent circuit is verified by comparing the analysis results of the suggested method and the experimental results of the test model.
Fractional flow reserve and resting indices for coronary physiologic assessment: Practical guide, tips, and tricks

Physiologic assessment using fractional flow reserve (FFR) to guide percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI) has been demonstrated to improve clinical outcomes, compared to angiography‐guided PCI. Recently, resting indices such as resting Pd/Pa, “instantaneous wave‐free ratio”, and contrast medium induced FFR have been evaluated for the assessment of the functional consequences of coronary lesions. Herein, we review and discuss the use of FFR and other indices for the functional assessment of coronary lesions. This review will cover theoretical aspects, as well as practical points and common pitfalls related to coronary physiological assessment. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Accuracy analysis of UAV remote sensing imagery mosaicking based on structure-from-motion

Structure-From-Motion (SFM) method is based on the same scene and different angles of the captured sequence of image, then calculate the feature points in the photogrammetric coordinate system of three-dimensional coordinates and camera parameters. SFM can directly generated orthophoto map just by captured overlapping images, but mosaicking accuracy has not to be verified. The purpose of this study is that verify the feasibility and accuracy of SFM method in UAV image mosaic. The process of UAV imagery mosaicking based on SFM method was elaborated, and the test image was mosaicked with UAV imagery processing software which based on SFM. The result: (1) UAV imagery mosaicking based on SFM algorithm has low accuracy on geographic positioning because of the low precision POS. But the distance\area measurement with high accuracy, the perimeter accuracy is above 96.6% and the area accuracy is above 93.2%. (2) The image had high accuracy after geometric correction using ground points. When 5 ground points were used, the mean value of absolute error was 0.60 m. The study showed: (1) the accuracy of perimeter and area can basically meet the accuracy requirements of distance\area measurement in agricultural applications. (2) the orthophoto map was rectified by ground control point can significantly improve the geo-location precision of the image.
Policy Uncertainty and the Margins of Trade

Building upon recent theoretical models in international trade, we derive predictions for the impact of policy uncertainty on the margins of trade. We decompose aggregate bilateral trade flows from 1995-2012 into intensive and extensive margin components and employ a standard gravity specification to assess the impact of policy uncertainty on each margin separately. Consistent with the model, increases in policy uncertainty decrease both trade values and the extensive margin but have an ambiguous effect on the intensive margin. After controlling for various measures of expected future economic conditions, our estimates indicate that a 10% increase in policy uncertainty would lead to a 1% decrease in aggregated trade flows, with virtually all of the decline attributable to the extensive margin. In further tests we find that our results cannot be attributed solely to the recent global economic crisis or to periods with extremely high levels of policy-related uncertainty.
A Miniaturized Ring Slot Antenna Design With Enhanced Radiation Characteristics

The design of a miniaturized CPW-fed ring slot antenna using interdigitated slits is presented. The fundamental resonant frequency of the ring slot antenna was reduced significantly using an interdigitated slit-loaded structure. A further reduction in resonant frequency to 54.46% of the unloaded resonant frequency of the ring slot antenna was also achieved using multiple interdigitated slits inside the ring, causing the antenna to almost reach the electrically small limit. Thereafter, the antenna characteristics of the electrically small antenna is significantly enhanced using a low impedance metamaterial slab design working under normal incidence, leading to a considerable reduction in superstrate height. Particularly, the directivity and efficiency of the electrically small antenna is significantly improved with the incorporation of the low-profile superstrate. In addition, good matching characteristics are obtained for the miniaturized antenna without the necessity of a matching network together with improved bandwidth.
Electricity Production by the Application of a Low Voltage DC-DC Boost Converter to a Continuously Operating Flat-Plate Microbial Fuel Cell

An ultra-low voltage customized DC-DC booster circuit was developed using a LTC3108 converter, and used continuously on a flat-plate microbial fuel cell (FPM) system. The boost converter successfully stepped up the microbial fuel cell (MFC) voltage from ~0.5 V to 3.3 and 5.0 V of outputs. The designed circuit and system displayed the dynamic variations of the source FPM as well as the output voltage through the designed three connection points within the booster circuit. The source MFC voltage was interrelated with the booster circuit and its performance, and it adapted to the set points of the booster dynamically. The maximum output power density of the MFC with the DC-DC booster circuit was 8.16 W/m3 compared to the maximum source FPM input power of 14.27 W/m3 at 100 Ω, showing a conversion efficiency of 26–57%, but with a 10-fold higher output than that of the source voltage. The combined LTC3108 with FPM supplied power for electronic devices using synthetic and real domestic wastewater. This report presents a promising strategy for utilizing the electrical energy produced from MFCs, and expands the applicability of bioelectrochemical systems with an improved energy efficiency of the present wastewater treatment system.
Are high doses of carbidopa a concern? A randomized, clinical trial in Parkinson's disease

Recommended doses of carbidopa are 75‐200 mg/day. Higher doses could inhibit brain aromatic amino‐acid decarboxylase and reduce clinical effects. We compared 4‐week outpatient treatments with carbidopa (75 and 450 mg/day) administered with L‐dopa on the subjects' normal schedule. After each treatment phase, subjects had two 2‐hour L‐dopa infusions. The first infusion examined the effects of carbidopa doses administered the preceding 4 weeks, and the second infusion determined the acute effects of the two dosages of carbidopa. The antiparkinsonian effects and L‐dopa and carbidopa plasma concentrations were monitored during the infusions. Twelve subjects completed the study. Carbidopa concentrations were eight times higher after the high‐carbidopa phase. Area under the curve (AUC) for clinical ratings did not differ for the four L‐dopa infusions, although AUC for plasma L‐dopa was modestly increased with 450 mg of carbidopa. Nine subjects reported that the high‐carbidopa outpatient phase was associated with greater response to L‐dopa. Doses of 450 mg/day of carbidopa did not reduce the responses to L‐dopa infusion, extending the safe range of carbidopa to 450 mg/day. © 2012 Movement Disorder Society
A Re-assessment of the Concept of Political Support

It has been said about the United States that it is now suffering ‘a crisis of regime’. Europe, we have been told, is in little better condition: ‘all over Europe the First World War broke up the structure of society which, before 1914, had provided the necessary basis of confidence between government and governed. There no longer exists, except in a few places such as Switzerland, that general acceptance of the conduct of national affairs that adds to the vigor of government and society alike. ’1 These are the kinds of practical political problems to which the concept of political support, as found in systems analysis, has been directed.
An Empirical Look at Franchising as an Organizational Form

Franchise contracts are identified as a hybrid form of economic organization. Motives for the dominance of franchise arrangements are identified by examining the theoretical literature on franchising and related literatures on the theory of the firm, firm growth, managerial and employee selection, a nd brand-name capital. Empirical tests are performed on the incidence of franchise contracts across states for three industries in which f ranchising is prominent and data are readily available. The results s uggest that both principal-agent incentives and informational incenti ves favor the use of franchise arrangements. Copyright 1988 by the University of Chicago.
Sampling variability of liver biopsy in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease.

BACKGROUND & AIMS In nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), the distinction between steatosis and steatohepatitis (NASH) and the assessment of the severity of the disease rely on liver histology alone. The aim of this study was to assess the sampling error of liver biopsy and its impact on the diagnosis and staging of NASH. METHODS Fifty-one patients with NAFLD underwent percutaneous liver biopsy with 2 samples collected. The agreement between paired biopsy specimens was assessed by the percentage of discordant results and by the kappa reliability test. RESULTS No features displayed high agreement; substantial agreement was only seen for steatosis grade; moderate agreement for hepatocyte ballooning and perisinusoidal fibrosis; fair agreement for Mallory bodies; acidophilic bodies and lobular inflammation displayed only slight agreement. Overall, the discordance rate for the presence of hepatocyte ballooning was 18%, and ballooning would have been missed in 24% of patients had only 1 biopsy been performed. The negative predictive value of a single biopsy for the diagnosis of NASH was at best 0.74. Discordance of 1 stage or more was 41%. Six of 17 patients with bridging fibrosis (35%) on 1 sample had only mild or no fibrosis on the other and therefore could have been under staged with only 1 biopsy. Intraobserver variability was systematically lower than sampling variability and therefore could not account for most of the sampling error. CONCLUSIONS Histologic lesions of NASH are unevenly distributed throughout the liver parenchyma; therefore, sampling error of liver biopsy can result in substantial misdiagnosis and staging inaccuracies.
Interference alignment and cancellation over the LTE-A based on coordinated multi-point system

Nowadays, the potential challenges of interference alignment and cancellation (IAC) in a cellular communication system. IAC arises as a hopeful technology that has the capability to qualify each user in an interference network to obtain the half degree of freedom (DoF) or stream of information to transmit as there is no any interference which was proved to be sum capacity of the interference channel. Interference alignment is a tool in regulating the interference combination in a way like as all interference seen by a receiver falling into a particular signal subspace and departs the residual subspace interference free. In this paper a K-user interference channel applies to each user transmitting one degree of freedom of information by using interference alignment precoding and zero-forcing (ZF) receiving filters. This paper also inquires about interference alignment and cancellation for Coordinated Multi-Point (CoMP) schemes over Long Term Evolution-Advanced (LTE-A). The CoMP systems are assumed by LTE-A to amplify the uplink or downlink spectral efficiency, peak data rate and cell-edge throughput, respectively.