Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The discrete polynomial-phase transform

The discrete polynomial-phase transform (DPT) is a new tool for analyzing constant-amplitude polynomial-phase signals. The main properties of the DPT are its ability to identify the degree of the phase polynomial and to estimate its coefficients. The transform is robust to deviations from the ideal signal model, such as slowly-varying amplitude, additive noise and nonpolynomial phase. The authors define the DPT, derive its basic properties, and use it to develop computationally efficient estimation and detection algorithms. A statistical accuracy analysis of the estimated parameters is also presented. >
Risk Assessment of Abdominal Wall Thickness Measured on Pre-Operative Computerized Tomography for Incisional Surgical Site Infection after Abdominal Surgery.

BACKGROUND The surgical site infection (SSI) is a common complication of abdominal operation. It relates to increased hospital stay, increased healthcare cost, and decreased patient's quality of life. Obesity, usually defined by BMI, is known as one of the risks of SSI. However, the thickness of subcutaneous layers of abdominal wall might be an important local factor affecting the rate of SSI after the abdominal operations. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study is to assess the importance of the abdominal wall thickness on incisional SSI rate. MATERIAL AND METHOD The subjects of the present study were patients who had undergone major abdominal operations at Thammasat University Hospital between June 2013 and May 2014, and had been investigated with CT scans before their operations. The demographic data and clinical information of these patients were recorded. The thickness ofsubcutaneous fatty tissue from skin down to the most superficial layer of abdominal wall muscle at the surgical site was measured on CT images. The wound infectious complication was reviewed and categorized as superficial and deep incisional SSIfollowing the definition from Centersfor Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) guidelines. The significance ofeach potentialfactors on SSI rates was determined separately with student t-test for quantitative data and χ2-test for categorical data. Then all factors, which had p < 0.10, were included into the multivariate logistic regression analysis and were analyzed with significance at p < 0.05. RESULTS One hundred and thirty-nine patients were included in this study. They all underwent major abdominal surgery and had had pre-operative CTscans. Post-operative SSI was 25.2% (35/139), superficial and deep types in 27 and 8 patients, respectively. The comparison of abdominal wall thickness between patients with and without infection was significantly different (20.0 ± 8.4 mm and 16.0 ± 7.2 mm, respectively). When the thickness at 20 mm was used as the cut-off value, 43 of 139 patients had abdominal wall thickness ≥ 20 mm. The incidence of SSI of the thickness ±20 mm group was 37.2% (16/43) and of the less thickness group was 19.8% (19/96), with p < 0.05. The univariate analysis revealed that abdominal wall thickness ≥ 20 mm, body weight ≥ 60 kg, and wound classification were the important factors related to SSI after the abdominal operation. However, only abdominal wall thickness and wound classification were still significant by multivariate analysis. CONCLUSION The findings of this study confirmed the significance of the subcutaneous thickness of abdominal wall at the surgical site on the incidence of incisional SSI. The thickness ≥ 20 mm had an effect on increasing post operative SSI rate especially in contaminated operations. These findings could be helpful in making healthcare providers fully aware and thus exercise special attention in wound care or even develop new modalities to prevent SSI in patients with the aforementioned risks.
Strategy for unfolding a fabric piece by cooperative sensing of touch and vision

A hand/eye system for handling flexible materials is under development. Our concern is to increase the effectiveness of a cooperative sensing of touch and vision for handling flexible and limp materials. We consider that a cooperative sensing of touch and vision is more important when flexible or limp objects such as fabrics are handled. This paper presents a strategy of sensor-based manipulation for unfolding a fabric piece in a case of primitive fabric handling movements. Vision and tactile sensing are used for picking up the folded part.
International Congress on Hormonal Steroids and Hormones and Cancer The angiogenic factor CYR61 in breast cancer: molecular pathology and therapeutic perspectives

CYR61 (CNN1), a member of the cysteine rich 61/connective tissue growth factor/nephroblastoma overexpressed (CYR61/CTFG/NOV) family of growth regulators (CNN), is a pro-angiogenic factor that mediates diverse roles in development, cell proliferation, and tumorigenesis. We have recently shown that CYR61 is overexpressed in invasive and metastatic human breast cancer cells. Accordingly, elevated levels of CYR61 in breast cancer are associated with more advanced disease. Unfortunately, the exact mechanisms by which CYR61 promotes an aggressive breast cancer phenotype are still largely unknown. This review examines the functional role of CYR61 in breast cancer disease, presenting evidence that CYR61 signaling may play a major role in estrogen- as well as growth factor-dependent breast cancer progression. We also emphasize the functional significance of the molecular connection of CYR61 and its integrin receptor αvβ3 enhancing breast cancer aggressiveness. Moreover, we describe experimentalevidence that establ ishes a novelrol e for CYR61 determining the protection of human breast cancer cells against chemotherapy-induced apoptosis through its interactions with the integrin receptor αvβ3. All these findings delineate a new noteworthy function of a CYR61/αvβ3 autocrine–paracrine signaling pathway within both angiogenesis and breast cancer progression, which would allow a dual anti-angiogenic and anti-tumor benefit with a single drug.
Determining the Factors Affecting Retention of Employees in Taiwanese Electronic's Firms - General Vs Repatriated Employees

This study set out to examine the differences leading to turnover intention between two groups, general and repatriated employees. The issue of whether job satisfaction, organizational commitment and attitude of job-hopping can affect Taiwanese IT general employees and repatriates’ intention to leave the organization was analyzed, and helped to explain the potential difference in turnover intention between the two groups of employees. Based on the results, for general employees, payment, nature of work and job-hopping were found to be negatively related to turnover intention. For repatriated employees, organizational commitment was the only factor found to be significantly related to turnover intention. Surprisingly, there was no significant difference in turnover intention between the two groups, which is contrary to most empirical observations that suggest a higher rate of turnover among repatriated employees. However, there exist very strong differences in terms of reasons to leave an organization between these two groups. The findings of this paper strongly suggest that there exists substantially different reasons leading to turnover between the two groups, and that further support programs or initiatives would go a long way in addressing both groups'
Tourist loyalty toward shopping destination: the role of shopping satisfaction and destination image

This study extends the theoretical concepts and evaluates the empirical evidence of the relationship between tourist loyalty towards a shopping destination and its two important determinant factors, shopping satisfaction and destination image. The results, drawn from a sample of 563 domestic and foreign tourists in Indonesia, show the importance of tourist shopping satisfaction and destination image as the determinant of tourist loyalty toward a shopping destination. Further, this study discloses that the tourist destination image is the crucial factor in determining tourists’ overall shopping satisfaction as well as tourists’ loyalty toward the shopping destination. Consequently, the development of a region or a city into a shopping destination is only possible if it simultaneously develops the region or city to be an attractive destination.
The activity of chromite in multicomponent spinels: Implications for T‐fO2 conditions of equilibrated H chondrites

Abstract— Activities of chromite in multicomponent spinels with compositions similar to those of H chondrites were experimentally determined by equilibrating Pt‐alloys with spinel at known temperature and fO2. Our results are consistent with predictions based on the spinel solid solution model incorporated into the MELTS program. Therefore, we combined literature formulations for the activities of components in spinel, the ferromagnesian silicates, and alloys with measured and literature (bulk alloy) compositions of the meteoritic phases to constrain T‐fO2 conditions for the H‐group chondrites Avanhandava (H4), Allegan (H5), and Guareña (H6).
A search-set model of path tracing in graphs

We present a predictive model of human behaviour when tracing paths through a node-link graph, a low-level abstract task that feeds into many other visual data analysis tasks that require understanding topological structure. We introduce the idea of a search set, namely, the set of paths that users are most likely to search, as a useful intermediate level for analysis that lies between the global level of the full graph and the local level of the shortest path between two nodes. We present potential practical applications of a predicted search set in the design of visual encoding and interaction techniques for graphs. Our predictive model is based on extensive qualitative analysis from an observational study, resulting in a detailed characterization of common path-tracing behaviours. These include the conditions under which people stop following paths, the likely directions for the first hop people follow, the tendency to revisit previously followed paths and the tendency to mistakenly follow apparent paths in addition to true topological paths. The algorithmic implementation of our predictive model is robust to a broad range of parameter settings. We provide a preliminary validation of the model through a hierarchical multiple regression analysis comparing graph readability factors computed on the predicted search set to factors computed at the global level and the local shortest path solution. The tested factors included edge–edge crossings, node–edge crossings, path continuity and path length. Our approach provides modest improvements for predictions of RT and error using search-set factors.
Design of Conditionally Active STATs: Insights into STAT Activation and Gene Regulatory Function

ABSTRACT The STAT (signal transducer and activator of transcription) signaling pathway is activated by a large number of cytokines and growth factors. We sought to design a conditionally active STAT that could not only provide insight into basic questions about STAT function but also serve as a powerful tool to determine the precise biological role of STATs. To this end, we have developed a conditionally active STAT by fusing STATs with the ligand-binding domain of the estrogen receptor (ER). We have demonstrated that the resulting STAT-ER chimeras are estrogen-inducible transcription factors that retain the functional and biochemical characteristics of the cognate wild-type STATs. In addition, these tools have allowed us to evaluate separately the contribution of tyrosine phosphorylation and dimerization to STAT function. We have for the first time provided experimental data supporting the model that the only apparent role of STAT tyrosine phosphorylation is to drive dimerization, as dimerization alone is sufficient to unmask a latent STAT nuclear localization sequence and induce nuclear translocation, sequence-specific DNA binding, and transcriptional activity.
Effect of a computerized body mass index prompt on diagnosis and treatment of adult obesity.

BACKGROUND In obese adults, physicians often fail to identify obesity and recommend treatments for it. We sought to determine whether a computerized body mass index (BMI) chart prompt would increase the likelihood that patients of family physicians would be diagnosed with obesity and referred for obesity treatment. METHODS A total of 846 obese patients of 37 family physicians were randomly assigned to either have a patient's BMI chart prompt placed in their electronic medical record (intervention group) or not have a BMI prompt (comparison group) placed in the record. We then examined patient medical records for evidence of an obesity diagnosis and referral for specific obesity treatments. We also measured whether the presence of comorbidities in obese patients influenced the likelihood of diagnoses and treatments by the physicians. RESULTS Obese patients of physicians who had a BMI chart prompt in their medical records were significantly more likely than obese patients of physicians who did not receive a BMI chart prompt to receive a diagnosis of obesity (16.6% versus 10.7%; P=.016). Patients of physicians who were provided with a BMI chart prompt were also more likely than patients of physicians who did not get a chart prompt to receive a referral for diet treatment (14.0% versus 7.3%, P=.002) and exercise (12.1% versus 7.1%, P=.016). Of the obesity comorbidities, only obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) was a predictor of a patient being diagnosed with obesity (OR=.49, 95% CI=0.281, 0.869, P=.014). CONCLUSIONS Inclusion of a computerized BMI chart prompt increased the likelihood that physicians would diagnose obesity in obese patients and refer them for treatment.
Analysis of procedural sedation provided by pediatricians

Pediatric procedural sedation outside of the operating room is performed by a variety of pediatric specialists. Using the database from the Pediatric Sedation Research Consortium (PSRC), patient demographics, medications used, diagnoses, complications, and procedures involved when pediatricians provided sedation in this cohort, were described. ‘Pediatrician’ was defined as a general pediatrician, cardiologist, endocrinologist, gastroenterologist, hematologist/oncologist, neurologist, pulmonologist or hospitalist.
Business Accelerators and New-Venture Performance: Evidence from Start-Up Chile

Do business accelerators add value? If so, how? We investigate these questions by focusing on Start-Up Chile, an accelerator sponsored by the Chilean government. Using a regression discontinuity design, we show the mentoring services of accelerators can significantly increase new-venture performance by improving the managerial capital of participants. We speculate about the existence of two performance-enhancing mechanisms: the increase in the start-up’s social capital by enabling access to mentor networks, and the provision of an accountability structure in the form of board oversight. We find no support for the causal effect of basic services of cash and co-working space.
Experts’ versus Consumers’ Perception of Financial Products

This study explores decision-making processes of promoters of financial products and financial advice services. We collect experimental evidence about how these professionals perceive their customersO needs, preferences, and biases. By focusing on the behavioral differences between expert (621) and non-expert subjects (573) this study shows that expertise alone is not enough to prevent biased behavior. Our results suggest that even the most experienced and well-informed professionals exhibit systematic biases. We discuss how interpersonal cues used in financial communications may induce trust-related biases. This research provides useful insights for future in-depth research on how contextual factors, often non-informative, influence financial advisersO judgments and subsequent advice.
Area-time-power tradeoff in cellular arrays VLSI implementations

Designing pipelined cellular arrays for arithmetical purposes, the choice of circuit design style is crucial. Usually, this choice is made by establishing an optimal area-time-power tradeoff. In order to achieve this result, analysis and simulations of the whole designed array have to be repeatedly performed for several design styles. This paper presents a methodology that allows the same result to be obtained avoiding time-consuming simulations of an entire array. The proposed technique is based on an appropriate partitioning of the arrays into small subcircuits. The features of the latter are analytically recomposed to evaluate performances and costs of an array of any size for various design approaches.
Technical Note - Capacitated Serial Inventory Systems: Sample Path and Stability Properties Under Base-Stock Policies

We study a periodically reviewed multiechelon serial inventory system with a capacity constraint on the order quantity at every stage. Under echelon base-stock policies, we demonstrate a simple sample-path result that maps the echelon shortfalls in the serial system to the shortfalls of suitably defined single-stage systems. Because the shortfall processes of single-stage systems are well understood, our result allows us to reinterpret results in the literature on the stability and regeneration times of such multiechelon systems in a simpler fashion with weaker assumptions.
CD8 Blockade Promotes Antigen Responsiveness to Nontolerizing Antigen in Tolerant Mice by Inhibiting Apoptosis of CD4+ T Cells1

Using the DO11.10 CD4+ TCR-transgenic mouse system, we have recently shown that CD8 blockade promotes the expansion of Ag-specific regulatory CD4+ T cells in mice made tolerant to OVA with anti-CD4 mAb. We now show that CD8 blockade is also critical to promoting responses to nontolerizing Ag in anti-CD4 mAb-treated tolerant mice. Previously published work shows that treatment with anti-CD4 mAb without CD8 blockade induces Ag-specific tolerance. We now show that, in addition to inducing tolerance, anti-CD4 mAb treatment also significantly reduces responsiveness to irrelevant, nontolerizing Ag, and this unresponsiveness is associated with significant apoptosis of the CD4+ T cells. Anti-CD4 mAb-induced apoptosis is inhibited by cotreatment with anti-CD8 mAb and responsiveness to irrelevant Ag is restored, while Ag-specific tolerance is maintained. These data suggest that CD8 blockade promotes responsiveness to nontolerizing Ags in tolerant mice by inhibiting CD4+ T cell apoptosis.
A 1.83 GHz 28.5 dBm CMOS Power Up-Mixer

A power up-mixer is proposed in this letter. A merged CMOS linear power amplifier (PA) and mixer allows low current consumption and smaller chip size than a conventional integrated transmitter including a mixer and a CMOS linear PA. The chip is fabricated in a 0.18 mum CMOS process and in an integrated-passive-device. Measurements show a drain efficiency of 27% at 27.2 dBm of 1 dB compression point (P1dB) output power from 1.75 to 1.95 GHz. Power conversion gain is 26.4 dB and LO leakage is -43 dBc.
Sharing economy: comparing users’ and non-users’ perceptions

With the support of new online platforms such as Airbnb, 9flats, Uber and Liftshare, the so-called sharing economy or collaborative consumption has rapidly gained popularity among consumers. Millions of people have changed the way they purchase and consume, with deep consequences on both the demand side and the supply side. Different reasons encourage people to participate in collaborative consumption. In particular, available literature has identified both extrinsic motivations (such as securing economic benefits) and intrinsic motivations (such as contributing to environmental sustainability). Despite the growing relevance and popularity of this phenomenon, knowledge on this issue is still in its embryonic stage. The aim of this study is to advance such knowledge by studying the perceptions of both people that participate in collaborative consumption (“users”) and people who do not (“non-users”), with the intent of identifying the motivations which predict the usage of sharing economy platforms. For this purpose, a questionnaire-based survey was conducted among a sample of 378 Italian consumers. The findings highlight the importance of both extrinsic and intrinsic motivations but also disconfirm the significance of some drivers suggested by previous studies. Relevant managerial implications for firms affected by this phenomenon are derived from these results.
Beyond budgeting in Jotun : a case study on substituting the budget with separate forecasting and targeting tools in a global, industrial corporation

The following thesis is a qualitative study aimed at contributing to the Beyond Budgeting literature on unbundling the traditional budget by answering the question: “Why may global, industrial corporations attempting to go Beyond Budgeting struggle to effectively substitute the budget with separate forecasting and targeting functions? ” We find this research problem interesting, as there are no case studies today documenting potential struggles of separating the forecasting and targeting functions. The aim is to fill this gap in this literature by providing insight into the process and struggles inherent in this separation process. As the basis to answer this question, we have performed a case study on Jotun, a global chemicals company originally from Norway. Jotun introduced a targeting tool called Strategic Target Planning (STP) in 2007, and have in parallel attempted to make what they call cost budget into a forecasting tool. Beyond Budgeting literature proposes several reasons for separating the traditional budget into individual processes, such as decreased resource use due to less negotiation, more flexibility because of more autonomy, and less gaming as there are fewer conflicting purposes. In this case study we found that Jotun has only partially managed to remedy these issues by substituting the budget with separate forecasting and targeting tools. One interesting finding that has not been addressed in previous literature is the paradox of autonomy. If an organization already has a culture based on the decentralization and trust that is necessary for Beyond Budgeting to function well, this culture can be counter-productive to the implementation of Beyond Budgeting in the first place. We also found evidence that separating the forecasting and targeting function from the traditional budget could still lead to skewed incentives and gaming, as these new tools can still be misinterpreted or involve conflicting purposes, such as resource allocation, benchmarking and bonus schemes. A third finding was that the substitution of the budget with separate forecasting and targeting tools may lead to more flexibility in terms of upwards spending, but not as much downwards. This implies that spending in excess of the forecast is possible as long as the business case is good, but that there is less flexibility in reducing costs when actual needs turn out to be less than forecasted as employees perceive the funds to be allocated already.
Cost-effective design of an inverter output reactor in ASD applications

In this paper, the cost-effective design of an output reactor which is used to suppress the overvoltage at the motor terminal in the adjustable speed drives (ASD) application is proposed. In the elevator drive system, the power cable length is relatively shorter than other ASD applications and then the overvoltage at the motor terminal depends on the frequency characteristics of the output reactor at the overvoltage operating frequency. The overvoltage suppression mechanism of the output reactor in ASD application is analyzed and the dominant parameters of the output reactor for the overvoltage suppression are extracted. Using these parameters as the design values and considering the high frequency characteristics of the iron core in the reactor, a new cost-effective structure of output reactor is proposed. Experimental results of the conventional reactor and the proposed reactor with a 15 kW induction motor are given to verify the proposed scheme.