Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Detection of obstructive sleep apnea in children using decreases in the amplitude fluctuations of PPG signal and HRV

An analysis of the HRV during decreases in the amplitude fluctuations of PPG (DAP) events, and their utility in OSAS screening is presented. The overall data set used in the study includes the polysomnographic records of 21 children. DAP events were automatically detected by an algorithm based on the envelope attenuations of the PPG. DAP events were classified as apneic or non apneic by a linear discriminant analysis. The features used by the linear discriminant come from the temporal and spectral parameters of the heart rate obtained by Smooth Pseudo Wigner Ville Distribution. Two indexes were defined: the number of DAP events per hour ratio rDAP and the number of apneic DAP events per hour ratio rDAPα. Results show a 12% increase in accuracy for rDAPα with respect to rDAP in classifying 1 hour polysomnographic segments, reaching values of 72.7% and 80% for sensitivity and specificity, respectively. As for subject classification, the improvement in accuracy is 6.7% obtaining values of 87.5% and 71.4% for sensitivity and specificity respectively. These results suggest that the combination of DAP and HRV could be an alternative for sleep apnea screening with the added benefit of low cost and simplicity.
Variance swaps under L\'{e}vy process with stochastic volatility and stochastic interest rate in incomplete markets

This paper focuses on the pricing of the variance swap in an incomplete market where the stochastic interest rate and the price of the stock are respectively driven by Cox-Ingersoll-Ross model and Heston model with simultaneous L\'{e}vy jumps. By using the equilibrium framework, we obtain the pricing kernel and the equivalent martingale measure. Moreover, under the forward measure instead of the risk neural measure, we give the closed-form solution for the fair delivery price of the discretely sampled variance swap by employing the joint moment generating function of the underlying processes. Finally, we provide some numerical examples to depict that the values of variance swaps not only depend on the stochastic interest rates but also increase in the presence of jump risks.
Seeing is not always believing: crop loss and climate change perceptions among farm advisors

As climate change is expected to significantly affect agricultural systems globally, agricultural farm advisors have been increasingly recognized as an important resource in helping farmers address these challenges. While there have been many studies exploring the climate change belief and risk perceptions as well as behaviors of both farmers and agricultural farm advisors, there are very few studies that have explored how these perceptions relate to actual climate impacts in agriculture. Here we couple survey data from United States Department of Agriculture farm service employees (n = 6, 514) with historical crop loss data across the United States to explore the relationship of actual climate-related crop losses on farm to farm advisor perceptions of climate change and future farmer needs. Using structural equation modelling we find that among farm advisors that work directly with farms on disaster and crop loss issues, there is a significant positive relationship between crop loss and perceived weather variability changes, while across all farm advisors crop loss is associated with reduced likelihood to believe in anthropogenic climate change. Further, we find that weather variability perceptions are the most consistently and highly correlated with farm advisors’ perceptions about the need for farm adaptation and future farmer needs. These results suggest that seeing crop loss may not lead to climate change belief, but may drive weather variability perceptions, which in turn affect farm adaptation perceptions. This lends further evidence to the debate over terminology in climate change communication and outreach, suggesting that weather variability may be the most salient among agricultural advisors.
Multidimensional tomography with new generation VHR SAR data for urban monitoring

Research and application is spreading of techniques based on coherent combination of SLC (amplitude and phase) SAR data to extract rich information even on complex observed scenes, fully exploiting existing SAR data archives, and new tandem satellites. Among such techniques, Tomo-SAR stems from multibaseline interferometry to achieve full-3D imaging through elevation beamforming. The Tomo concept has been integrated with differential interferometry, producing the new Differential Tomography (Diff-Tomo) processing mode, that allows “opening” the SAR cells in complex non-stationary scenes, resolving multiple heights and deformation velocities of layover (double) scatterers. In this paper, recent experiments carried out at University of Pisa and at the RaSS Nat. Lab. of the Italian National Consortium for Telecommunications (CNIT), and latest advances are presented of Diff-Tomo techniques for the efficient reconstruction and monitoring of complex urban/infrastructure deformating scenarios with new generation VHR SAR data. In particular, a new 4D Diff-Tomo model-based method with single-look light-burden superresolution capabilities is presented, and validated with COSMO-SkyMed (CSK) data. Also, first investigations of triple scatter detection, and of eigenvalue-based pre-detection are carried out with the CSK data. Finally, a new “5D” Diff-Tomo model-based method for non-uniform motion (thermal dilation) monitoring at superresolution is introduced, and tested. This ensemble of results is the first extensive demonstration of multidimensional superresolution tomographic methodologies for CSK applications.
Hospital innovativeness and organizational performance: evidence from English public acute care.

BACKGROUND Hospitals around the world dedicate increasing attention and resources to innovation. However, surprisingly little is known about the nature of hospital innovativeness and its relationship with organizational performance. Given both the specific characteristics of the hospital sector and the rather mixed evidence from other industries, a positive innovation-performance link should not be taken for granted but requires empirical examination. PURPOSES The purposes of this study were to introduce a perspective of hospitals as vital generators of innovation, to unpack the concept of innovativeness, to propose a measurement model for hospital innovativeness, and to empirically investigate the innovativeness-performance relationship. METHODOLOGY We conducted a large-scale empirical study among the entire population of public hospital organizations that are part of the English National Health Service (n = 173) and analyzed the data using exploratory factor and regression analyses. FINDINGS Our analyses suggest a significant positive relationship between science- and practice-based innovativeness and clinical performance but provide less unambiguous support for the existence of such a relationship between innovativeness and administrative performance. In particular, we find that higher levels of innovativeness are rather associated with superior quality of care than with measurable bottom-line financial benefits. PRACTICE IMPLICATIONS Hospitals investing in innovation-generating activities might find their efforts well rewarded in terms of tangible clinical performance improvements. However, to achieve measurable financial benefits, numerous hospitals have yet to discover and capture the commercial value of some of their innovations-a challenging task that requires a holistic innovation management and an effective network of complementary partners.
Impaired Short-term Motor Learning in Multiple Sclerosis: Evidence From Virtual Reality

Objective. Virtual reality (VR) has been proposed as a potentially useful tool for motor assessment and rehabilitation. The objective of this study was to investigate the usefulness of VR in the assessment of short-term motor learning in multiple sclerosis (MS). Methods. Twelve right-handed MS patients and 12 control individuals performed a motor-tracking task with their right upper limb, following the trajectory of an object projected on a screen along with online visual feedback on hand position from a sensor on the index finger. A pretraining test (3 trials), a training phase (12 trials), and a posttraining test (3 trials) were administered. Distances between performed and required trajectory were computed. Results. Both groups performed worse in depth planes compared to the frontal (x,z) plane (P < .006). MS patients performed worse than control individuals in the frontal plane at both evaluations (P < .015), whereas they had lower percent posttraining improvement in the depth planes only (P = .03). Conclusions. The authors' VR system detected impaired motor learning in MS patients, especially for task features requiring a complex integration of sensory information (movement in the depth planes). These findings stress the need for careful customization of rehabilitation strategies, which must take into account the patients' motor, sensory, and cognitive limitations.
Association of ZDHHC8 polymorphisms with smooth pursuit eye movement abnormality

The zinc finger DHHC domain‐containing protein 8 (ZDHHC8) is located in the 22q11 microdeletion region and may contribute to the behavioral deficit associated with 22q11 deletion syndrome. Although polymorphisms of ZDHHC8 have been reported to be associated with the risk of schizophrenia, those associations are still controversial. This study was performed to validate the genetic association of ZDHHC8 polymorphisms with the risk of schizophrenia, and also to scrutinize the association with smooth pursuit eye movement (SPEM) abnormality in a Korean population. Five SNPs of ZDHHC8 were genotyped by TaqMan assay. Their genetic effects on the risk of schizophrenia were analyzed in 354 patients and 396 controls using allele‐based χ2 analyses. Association of ZDHHC8 polymorphisms with SPEM abnormality among 166 schizophrenic patients were analyzed using multiple regressions. No ZDHHC8 polymorphisms were found to be associated with the risk of schizophrenia. However, four SNPs and one haplotype (ht4) were strongly associated with the risk of SPEM abnormality even after multiple correction (P = 0.00005–0.0007, Pcorr = 0.0001–0.002). The results of the present study provide the first evidence that ZDHHC8 on the 22q11 locus might have influence on SPEM function of schizophrenia patients in a Korean population and may provide a new clue for understanding differential effects of candidate genes in schizophrenia. © 2010 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Tendon‐derived progenitor cells improve healing of collagenase‐induced flexor tendinitis

Tendinitis is a common and a performance‐limiting injury in athletes. This study describes the value of intralesional tendon‐derived progenitor cell (TDPC) injections in equine flexor tendinitis. Collagenase‐induced tendinitis was created in both front superficial digital flexor (SDF) tendons. Four weeks later, the forelimb tendon lesions were treated with 1 × 107 autogenous TDPCs or saline. Tendinitis was also induced by collagenase in one hind SDF tendon, to study the survival and distribution of DiI‐labeled TDPCs 1, 2, 4, and 6 weeks after injection. The remaining normal tendon was used as a “control. ” Twelve weeks after forelimb TDPC injections, tendons were harvested for assessment of matrix gene expression, biochemical, biomechanical, and histological characteristics. DiI‐labeled TDPCs were abundant 1 week after injection but gradually declined over time and were undetectable after 6 weeks. Twelve weeks after TDPC injection, collagens I and III, COMP and tenomodulin mRNA levels were similar (p = 0.3) in both TDPC and saline groups and higher (p < 0.05) than normal tendon. Yield and maximal stresses of the TDPC group were significantly greater (p = 0.005) than the saline group's and similar (p = 0.6) to normal tendon. However, the elastic modulus of the TDPC and saline groups were not significantly different (p = 0.32). Histological assessment of the repair tissues with Fourier transform‐second harmonic generation imaging demonstrated that collagen alignment was significantly better (p = 0.02) in TDPC group than in the saline controls. In summary, treating collagenase‐induced flexor tendon lesions with TDPCs improved the tensile strength and collagen fiber alignment of the repair tissue. Study Design © 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 34:2162–2171, 2016.
Downregulation of the RECK‐tumor and metastasis suppressor gene in glioma invasiveness

Invasive behavior is the pathological hallmark of malignant gliomas, being responsible for the failure of surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are essential for proper ECM remodeling and invasion. The tumor and metastasis suppressor RECK protein regulates at least three members of the MMPs family: MMP‐2, MMP‐9, and MT1‐MMP. In order to mimic the in vivo invasion process, A172 and T98G, respectively, non‐invasive and invasive human glioblastoma cell lines, were cultured onto uncoated (control) or type I collagen gel‐coated surface, and maintained for up to 7 days to allow establishment of the invasive process. We show that the collagen substrate causes decreased growth rates and morphological alterations correlated with the invasive phenotype. Electronic transmission microscopy of T98G cells revealed membrane invaginations resembling podosomes, which are typically found in cells in the process of crossing tissue boundaries, since they constitute sites of ECM degradation. Real time PCR revealed higher RECK mRNA expression in A172 cells, when compared to T98G cells and, also, in samples obtained from cultures where the invasive process was fully established. Interestingly, the collagen substrate increases RECK expression in A172 cells and the same tendency is displayed by T98G cells. MMPs‐2 and ‐9 displayed higher levels of expression and activity in T98G cells, and their activities are also upregulated by collagen. Therefore, we suggest that: (1) RECK downregulation is critical for the invasiveness process displayed by T98G cells; (2) type 1 collagen could be employed to modulate RECK expression in glioblastoma cell lines. Since a positive correlation between RECK expression and patients survival has been noted in several types of tumors, our results may contribute to elucidate the complex mechanisms of malignant gliomas invasiveness. J. Cell. Biochem. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Evaluation of Arterial Stiffness in Patients with Branch Retinal Vein Occlusion

Purpose: To assess the arterial stiffness in patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO). Methods: Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (PWV) and ankle-brachial index were measured in 10 patients with BRVO (mean age 67.9 ± 7.5 years) and in 18 age-matched controls (mean age 66.9 ± 6.8 years). The controls were subjects with systemic essential hypertension having no retinal lesions. Results: The PWV in the BRVO group was 1,946 ± 254 cm/s which was significantly higher than that in the control group (1,688 ± 274 cm/s; p = 0.014, Wilcoxon rank sum test). The ankle-brachial indexes were 1.16 and 1.15 in BRVO and control groups, respectively. There was no significant difference between the groups (p = 0.944). In the control group, there was a significant positive correlation between PWV and systolic blood pressure (Spearman correlation coefficient rs = 0.385, p = 0.043), while no significant correlation was found in the BRVO group (Spearman correlation coefficient rs = –0.188, p = 0.603). Conclusion: The arterial stiffness is increased in patients with BRVO which was thought to be due to the structural changes of the artery and not dependent on the blood pressure.
The Timing of Anterior Temporal Lobe Involvement in Semantic Processing

Despite indications that regions within the anterior temporal lobe (ATL) might make a crucial contribution to pan-modal semantic representation, to date there have been no investigations of when during semantic processing the ATL plays a critical role. To test the timing of the ATL involvement in semantic processing, we studied the effect of double-pulse TMS on behavioral responses in semantic and difficulty-matched control tasks. Chronometric TMS was delivered over the left ATL (10 mm from the tip of the temporal pole along the middle temporal gyrus). During each trial, two pulses of TMS (40 msec apart) were delivered either at baseline (before stimulus presentation) or at one of the experimental time points 100, 250, 400, and 800 msec poststimulus onset. A significant disruption to performance was identified from 400 msec on the semantic task but not on the control assessment. Our results not only reinforce the key role of the left ATL in semantic representation but also indicate that its contribution is especially important around 400 msec poststimulus onset. Together, these facts suggest that the ATL may be one of the neural sources of the N400 ERP component.
Flow cytometric analysis of virus-infected cells and its potential use for screening antiviral agents.

Virus-infected cells were analyzed using multiparameter flow cytometry. Two virus-cell systems were investigated: HSV-1-infected VF cells and influenza C virus JHB/1/66-infected MDCK cells. Analysis included the measurement of the appearance of virus specific antigens. On individual cells, with polyclonal antibodies, antigens were first detected at 12 h p.i. , and the numbers of labeled cells were followed up to 96 h p.i. The efficacy of four antiviral agents was tested with this system. The results were in good agreement with those of plaque reduction tests and indicated that this new method may be extremely useful for the correlation of viral and cellular events with antiviral activity. Finally, it was demonstrated that infected cells in both systems have a considerably greater volume than non-infected cells.
Free of speckle ultrasonic imaging of soft tissue with account of second harmonic signal

The Born approximation deconvolved inverse scattering imaging technique is an alternative to the conventional pulse-echo method. This novel technique deconvolves the incident pulse from the reflected pulse, and uses the resulting impulse response to produce an image of the acoustic impedance distribution. It is applicable mainly to structures that resemble a layered medium. The images captured by this method prove to have improved resolution and are free of speckle. With this method one can use ultrasound of lower frequencies than would be required by the pulse-echo method to achieve the same resolution. To provide further improvement of images the second harmonic signals can be employed. Here we describe the deconvolved inverse scattering imaging technique with account of the second harmonic signal. For this purpose the hybrid transducer by Krautkramer Branson Co., which consists of a cylindrical 5 MHz transducer wrapped in an annulus-shaped 2.5 MHz transducer, has been used. The phantom and soft tissue were imaged and in both cases the account of the second harmonic reflection data provides an improvement of the image quality.
‘How corporate social responsibility can be integrated into corporate sustainability: a theoretical review of their relationships’

ABSTRACT The notion that corporations are expected to have social and environmental performance standards and practices while meeting their financial and legal obligations is commonly referred to as corporate social responsibility (CSR) or corporate sustainability (CS). Previous studies have discussed whether the two terms are converging or should be used as stand-alone concepts. After reviewing the trends in development of CSR and CS, and the various viewpoints on the relationships between the two, we propose a relationship model to better understand how CSR can be integrated into CS as either a transitional stage or ultimate goal for a corporation. This study aims to provide researchers and practitioners with further insights on the adoption of CSR and CS. The model is intended to provide a plausible view of the relationships between CSR and CS to help to lessen the confusion and ease the communication both between and within these fields.
Reliable ${H}_{\infty}$ Fuzzy Control for a Class of Discrete-Time Nonlinear Systems Using Multiple Fuzzy Lyapunov Functions

This brief deals with the problem of reliable Hinfin fuzzy control for a class of discrete-time nonlinear systems with actuator faults by using multiple fuzzy Lyapunov functions. The Takagi and Sugeno fuzzy model is employed to represent a nonlinear system. A sufficient condition for the existence of reliable Hinfin fuzzy controllers is given in terms of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs), which can guarantee that the closed-loop fuzzy system is globally asymptotically stable and satisfies different levels of disturbance attenuation for different operating regimes. Furthermore, a suboptimal reliable fuzzy controller is proposed for minimizing the normal level while maintaining acceptable levels in the faulty cases. Finally, it is also demonstrated, through numerical simulations on a discrete-time chaotic system, that the proposed method is effective
Information Systems Security (ISS) of E-Government for Sustainability: A Dual Path Model of ISS Influenced by Institutional Isomorphism

This study investigated information systems security (ISS) as one of the important issues of e-government for sustainable development. ISS is becoming increasingly important in the discourse on information technology-related organizational transformation, and governments need to undergo organizational transformation to establish an effective ISS system for advancing e-government capacity which plays a vital role in achieving sustainability. Furthermore, ISS breaches are becoming the norm rather than the exception, but ISS can only be achieved when employees fully and firmly embrace the concept by changing their behavior to comply with advanced ISS technologies. A research model is theoretically developed in this context based on institution theory, which proposes a dual path model consisting of legitimacy-leading organizational citizenship behaviors (OCB) and organizational cynicism-causing counterproductive work behaviors (CWB) in the process of innovating ISS for e-government. This dual-path model is empirically tested against 388 data collected from information security managers in 30 departments and councils within Korea’s central government. A structural model evaluation of the collected data principally validates the research model. The results indicate that the path through legitimacy, influenced by normative and coercive isomorphism, is stronger than that through organizational cynicism. The data largely supports the proposed research model, confirming the applicability of institutional theory in explaining the institutionalization processes in effective ISS compliance at the organizational and individual levels. The implications of these findings are then discussed in detail.
The Politics of Ethnic Identity in Sub-Saharan Africa

Recent literature suggests that African Presidents tend to target co-ethnics with patronage, especially in non-democracies. Coupled with evidence on the role of incentives in driving ethnic identity change, I propose that a change in the ethnic identity of the President should lead to an increase in the proportion of people identifying with the President’s ethnic group. I use survey data from fourteen African countries with Presidential transitions to show that ethnic Presidential change leads to an upwards shift in the percentage of respondents identifying with the new ruling ethnic group in non-democracies, and that this shift increases with the level of autocracy. I also show that countries where citizens perceive more ethnic favoritism see higher levels of ethnic switching. Within-survey evidence from Zambia demonstrates that this shift is immediate, and case study evidence from early modern China suggests that this phenomenon is not limited to Sub-Saharan Africa.