Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Long-term Cognitive and Motor Deficits After Enterovirus 71 Brainstem Encephalitis in Children

OBJECTIVES. Several large outbreaks of enterovirus 71 infections have occurred in Taiwan during the past decade. Brainstem encephalitis was the most common neurologic complication. This study was designed to determine the long-term cognitive and motor outcomes of children with enterovirus 71 brainstem encephalitis. METHODS. We conducted a prospective follow-up study of children who met the case definition for enterovirus 71 brainstem encephalitis. Subjects were stratified into isolated brainstem encephalitis (stage II), autonomic nervous system dysregulation (stage IIIa), and pulmonary edema (stage IIIb). The subjects and their parents or guardians were interviewed using structured questionnaires and received comprehensive cognitive and neurologic examinations. Motor coordination, visual-motor skill, and intellectual ability were evaluated. RESULTS. Follow-up studies were conducted in 63 previously healthy children with enterovirus 71 brainstem encephalitis (49 stage II, 7 stage IIIa, and 7 stage IIIb). The mean time to follow-up was 2.8 ± 1.0 years (range: 1.4–4.9 years). Boys outnumbered girls by 3 to 2. The mean age at diagnosis was 2.4 ± 1.4 years (range: 0.3–7.1 years). The most common abnormal neurologic findings on admission were altered consciousness (47.6%), followed by abnormal activities of daily living (52.4%), cerebellar dysfunction (17.5%), and cranial nerve palsy (15.9%). At follow-up, 51 of 63 children had no detectable deficits. Among the remaining 12 children, 3 died during the follow-up. The remaining 9 children (14.3%) had residual deficits. Two of these with stage IIIb disease continued to have severe motor and respiratory failure. CONCLUSIONS. Residual defects were still present in a significant proportion of children with enterovirus 71 brainstem encephalitis at >2 years after their hospitalization. Children with stage II disease were most likely to have residual cerebellar defects. Those with stage IIIb disease continued to have severe respiratory and motor impairment. Long-term follow-up of this cohort is needed to determine the ultimate prognosis.
Design of a boost DC-DC converter with a low startup voltage

A boost DC-DC converter with a wide input voltage range and low start-up voltage is proposed. The proposed converter was fabricated by using a 0. 35μm 2P4M mixed-signal polycide process, and it is capable to startup successfully with a 1-V input voltage. Hence, the input voltage of the converter may range from 1.0 V to 3.2 V with its output voltage setting to 3.3 V. Besides, the available load current range of the boost converter is 0-200 mA.
Innovation in Swedish Restaurant Franchises

Background – The franchising industry in Sweden has experienced a vast growth in the recent years, and it makes up a significant part of the Swedish economy. The restaurant industry accounts for a large amount of the Swedish franchises. Due to the dynamic business environment today, companies need to increasingly strive for improvement in order to sustain their competitive advantage and to enhance their performance. Innovation may be required, and franchises are no exceptions. However, due to the nature of the franchise systems, with the franchisor imposing particular policies on the individual franchisees, the position of innovation in this context is not clear. On one hand, a franchise should act innovatively in order to remain competitive in the marketplace, but on the other hand, the franchisor limits the activities of the franchisee to ensure system uniformity through brand and quality management. The position of innovation in the franchise context is ambiguous, since very little research has been conducted on the topic.Purpose – The purpose of this thesis is to examine Swedish franchises within the restaurant industry and to determine the position of innovation in the franchise context from the perspective of the franchisee.Method – A case study with semi-structured interviews with five franchisees in a specific region in Sweden were conducted to gain empirical material on the topic of innovation within restaurant franchises. The obtained data was then analyzed with the help of existing literature on innovation and franchise systems.Conclusion – It was discovered that Swedish franchises within the restaurant industry pursue product and marketing innovation. The innovation is mostly incremental, rather than radical. Several different factors contribute to why franchisees pursue innovation. It was also identified that some Swedish franchisors take an active role in encouraging innovation in the franchises, while other franchisors have a more passive, or even discouraging stance towards franchise innovation.
Factors Contributing to the Success of Start-Up Firms Using Two-Point or Multiple-Point Scale Models

Abstract This study investigates the determinants of start-up success in a sample of Finnish firms. Our database allows us to investigate how qualitative information based on the personal history and characteristics of the owner, along with firm and market attributes, affect success 5 years after start-up. It seeks to compare the factors affecting success as derived from two-point and multiple-point scale models. The results indicate that a multiple-point scale model yields more statistically significant attributes compared to a two-point scale model. Furthermore, the founder attributes are not as important as predicted.
Synchronization analysis for UWB systems with a low-complexity energy collection receiver

This paper presents analysis of a synchronization scheme for a low complexity, noncoherent ultrawideband (UWB) receiver. The receiver has very low complexity and the synchronization scheme does not increase drastically the complexity. A theoretical formula that helps in the definition of the preamble length is proposed and its validity provided for reasonable signal to noise ratio (SNR). The performance is examined in terms of probability of synchronization for both AWGN and Saleh-Valenzuela channel models. The synchronization results together with the BER performance show the suitability of this simple receiver structure for low cost devices in sensor networks.
Digital control of a voltage-mode synchronous buck converter

A digital control algorithm capable of separately specifying the desired output voltage and transient response for a synchronous buck converter operating in voltage mode was developed. This algorithm is based on superimposing a small control signal onto a voltage reference at each switching cycle to cancel out the perturbations. A zero steady-state error in the output voltage can be obtained with the aid of additional dynamics to allow the controller to track a load change and update the reference to a new load state. The specifications of the control algorithm are achieved by pole placement using complete state feedback. The control algorithm was implemented on a digital signal processor (DSP)-controlled synchronous buck converter.
CLOSELY-HELD CORPORATIONS PARTICIPATE LESS IN CORPORATE SOCIAL REPORTING

This study investigates the relationship between corporate social reporting (CSR) disclosures and firm characteristics (such as: financial performance and corporate structure) in 100 multinational companies that list on the main U.S. stock exchanges. By using content analysis method, it evaluates annual reports according to several criteria. The results show that the absolute measure of net income and firm size are significant predictors of CSR disclosures. This association does not hold for the relative measure of income and other variables. However, not surprisingly, closely-held shares percentage variable has a significant negative relationship with corporate social reporting. This reveals that closely-held corporations are expected to conceal more information from the public than others. In sum, the findings confirm that large firm and profitable firms are more likely to disclose their CSR practices, but less so when closely held.
Correlation analysis of partial discharge measurement results

In the paper correlation analysis of partial discharge (PD) measurement results achieved using conventional electrical method and ultra-high frequency (UHF) method is presented. All measurements are proceeded under laboratory conditions on various PD model sources immersed in an insulation oil. Typical measuring system commonly used for electrical power transformers PD diagnostics is applied in the research. Supply voltage level as well as PD generating spark gap configuration and UHF measurement frequency band influence on correlation coefficients between registered physical quantities are investigated in the paper. Furthermore an aggregate comparative analysis of achieved results is presented which points out that correlation coefficients between registered apparent charge and UHF voltage results are in most cases higher than 0.8. Finally announced research results further practical application possibilities in fields of real life insulation systems PD diagnostics are proposed in the paper.
Purification of a RNA-binding Protein from Rat Liver

In cultured rat hepatocytes the degradation of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase mRNA might be regulated by protein(s), which by binding to the mRNA alter its stability. The 3′-untranslated region of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase mRNA as a potential target was used to select RNA-binding protein(s) from rat liver by the use of gel retardation assays. A cytosolic protein was isolated, which bound to the phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase mRNA 3′-untranslated region and other in vitro synthesized RNAs. The protein was purified to homogeneity; it had an apparent molecular mass of 400 kDa and consisted of identical subunits with an apparent size of 24.5 kDa. Sequence analysis of a tryptic peptide from the 24.5-kDa protein revealed its identity with rat ferritin light chain. Binding of ferritin to RNA was abolished after phosphorylation with cAMP-dependent protein kinase and was augmented after dephosphorylation with alkaline phosphatase. Weak binding was observed in extracts from okadaic acid-treated cultured hepatocytes compared with untreated cells. Preincubation of ferritin with an anti-phosphoserine or an anti-phosphothreonine antibody attenuated binding to RNA, while an anti-phosphotyrosine antibody generated a supershift indicating that phosphoserine and phosphothreonine but not phosphotyrosine residues were in close proximity to the RNA-binding region. Ferritin is the iron storage protein in the liver. Binding of ferritin to RNA was diminished in the presence of increasing iron concentrations, whereas the iron chelator desferal was without effect. It is concluded that ferritin might function as RNA-binding protein and that it may have important functions in the general regulation of cellular RNA metabolism.
Automated Bidding in Computing Service Markets : Strategies, Architectures, Protocols

This dissertation contributes to the research on Computational Mechanism Design by providing novel theoretical and software models - a novel bidding strategy called Q-Strategy, which automates bidding processes in imperfect information markets, a software framework for realizing agents and bidding strategies called BidGenerator and a communication protocol called MX/CS, for expressing and exchanging economic and technical information in a market-based scheduling system.
Analysis of the myocardial velocities in patients with mitral stenosis.

BACKGROUND Pure mitral stenosis (MS) affects left-ventricular performance as a result of myocardial and functional factors. We planned this study to evaluate the effect of MS on right- and left-ventricular functions using Doppler tissue imaging (DTI). METHODS A total of 46 patients with an established diagnosis of MS (mean age: 41 +/- 11 years), and 40 age-matched healthy individuals (mean age: 40 +/- 9 years) were included in this study. Echocardiography equipped with DTI function was performed on each participant. The mitral valve area was measured. Myocardial velocities were recorded at 4 different sites (septum, lateral, anterior, and inferior) of the left ventricle, and the right-ventricular free wall annulus by DTI. The positive systolic velocity when the mitral and tricuspid ring moved toward the cardiac apex, and 2 negative diastolic velocities when the mitral annulus moved toward the base away from the apex (1 during the early phase of diastole and another in the late phase of diastole [A(m)]) were measured. The early diastolic velocity/A(m) ratio was calculated for each wall. The mean of systolic and diastolic myocardial velocities of the left ventricle was calculated. Patients with pure MS were compared with healthy participants, and the relationship of DTI variables with mitral valve area was evaluated. RESULTS The myocardial velocities of the left ventricle indicating left-ventricular function were found to be significantly lower in patients with pure MS. Right-ventricular annulus velocities, on the other hand, were similar in both groups. A significant positive correlation could be established between mitral valve area and mean positive systolic velocity, A(m) of the left ventricle, and right-ventricular A(m) (r = 0.50, P <.001; r = 0.48, P =.001; r = 0.45, P =.002, respectively), whereas a significant negative correlation (r = -0.42, P =.004) was established for right-ventricular early diastolic velocity/A(m) ratio. CONCLUSION This first study where pure MS was evaluated by DTI shows that MS affects left-ventricular performance on long axis. The results indicate that the decrease in left-ventricular performance is caused by both functional and myocardial factors.
Self-rated health mediates the association between functional status and health-related quality of life in Parkinson's disease.

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To explore whether self-rated health acts as a potential mediator in the association between functional status and health-related quality of life in Parkinson's disease. BACKGROUND Older persons (as most patients with Parkinson's disease are) who reported poor self-rated health compared with those with excellent self-rated health were two-and-a-half times more likely to have experienced a decline in functional ability. DESIGN Cross-sectional. METHODS Socio-demographic and clinical data of the patients (n = 176) were obtained during a structured interview and from medical records. Functional status was measured with the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (total score), self-rated health with the first item of the Short-Form 36-item Health Survey Questionnaire and health-related quality of life with the disease-specific questionnaire called the Parkinson's Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire-39. Multiple linear regression analyses and the Sobel test were employed to assess mediation. RESULTS Self-rated health seems to have a mediating effect on the association between functional status and health-related quality of life. The Sobel test confirmed an indirect effect of functional status via self-rated health on health-related quality of life and showed a statistically significant indirect effect of functional status on health-related quality of life via self-rated health against the direct route without the mediator. CONCLUSIONS Self-rated health partially mediates the deteriorating effect of functional status on health-related quality of life. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Supportive and adaptation psychosocial intervention programmes leading to restored self-rated health may enhance the quality of life regardless of disability in Parkinson's disease.
Structural Basis for the 14-3-3 Protein-dependent Inhibition of the Regulator of G Protein Signaling 3 (RGS3) Function*

Background: The 14-3-3 protein binds to and regulates the function of the regulator of G protein signaling 3 (RGS3). Results: The 14-3-3 binding affects the structure of the Gα interaction portion of RGS3. Conclusion: The 14-3-3 protein blocks the interaction between the RGS3 and the Gα. Significance: This might explain the inhibitory function of 14-3-3 in the regulation of RGS3. Regulator of G protein signaling (RGS) proteins function as GTPase-activating proteins for the α-subunit of heterotrimeric G proteins. The function of certain RGS proteins is negatively regulated by 14-3-3 proteins, a family of highly conserved regulatory molecules expressed in all eukaryotes. In this study, we provide a structural mechanism for 14-3-3-dependent inhibition of RGS3-Gα interaction. We have used small angle x-ray scattering, hydrogen/deuterium exchange kinetics, and Förster resonance energy transfer measurements to determine the low-resolution solution structure of the 14-3-3ζ·RGS3 complex. The structure shows the RGS domain of RGS3 bound to the 14-3-3ζ dimer in an as-yet-unrecognized manner interacting with less conserved regions on the outer surface of the 14-3-3 dimer outside its central channel. Our results suggest that the 14-3-3 protein binding affects the structure of the Gα interaction portion of RGS3 as well as sterically blocks the interaction between the RGS domain and the Gα subunit of heterotrimeric G proteins.
Second-order Optimization for Deep Reinforcement Learning using Kronecker-factored Approximation

In this work, we propose to apply trust region optimization to deep reinforcement learning using a recently proposed Kronecker-factored approximation to the curvature. We extend the framework of natural policy gradient and propose to optimize both the actor and the critic using Kronecker-factored approximate curvature (K-FAC) with trust region; hence we call our method Actor Critic using Kronecker-Factored Trust Region (ACKTR). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first scalable trust region natural gradient method for actor-critic methods. It is also the method that learns non-trivial tasks in continuous control as well as discrete control policies directly from raw pixel inputs. We tested our approach across discrete domains in Atari games as well as continuous domains in the MuJoCo environment. With the proposed methods, we are able to achieve higher rewards and a 2- to 3-fold improvement in sample efficiency on average, compared to previous state-of-the-art on-policy actor-critic methods. Code is available at https://github.com/openai/baselines
Novel circularly polarized loop coupled dipole antenna

This paper presents the design principle of a novel circularly polarized printed antenna having simple unobstructed layout and single feeding port. At the same time, the proposed antenna demonstrates good circular polarization performance. The design and optimization of two antenna prototypes have been carried out for RFID applications in 953 MHz frequency band. Both simulation and measurement data on VSWR, circular polarization AR, and antenna gain are presented.
Chain empowerment : supporting African farmers to develop markets

This is a book of hope for Africa's smallholder farmers. It shows how they can earn more from their crops and livestock by taking control over the value chains they are part of - chains that link them with consumers in Africa's towns and cities, as well as in other countries. The book is written in easy-to-understand language and is richly illustrated with line drawings. The book describes two basic strategies that groups of farmers can use to improve their incomes: vertical and horizontal integration. Vertical integration means taking on additional activities in the value chain: processing or grading produce, for example. Horizontal integration means becoming more involved in managing the value chain itself - by farmers' improving their access to and management of information, their knowledge of the market, their control over contracts, or their co-operation with other actors in the chain. This book contains 19 case studies showing how groups of farmers throughout Africa have adopted one or both of these strategies to improve their incomes. It shows how development organisations have helped them do this - how they have succeeded, and how they have sometimes failed. It shows the need to invest in improving the quality of existing products, developing new products, establishing market linkages, and building farmer organisation and capacity. The book provides numerous insights for those striving to empower smallholder farmers to develop markets. It will be of particular interest to government policymakers and staff involved in agricultural development, non-government organisations, university faculty and students, trainers, evaluators, and donors seeking ways to promote agriculture in Africa and elsewhere in the developing world.
Iron Loss Estimation Method for Rotating Machines Taking Account of Hysteretic Property

This paper investigates a novel estimation method for iron losses considering hysteretic property and skin effect simultaneously. In the proposed method, iron losses considering both hysteretic property and skin effect are estimated by utilizing a 1-D finite element method as a postprocessing of the usual 2-D analyses based on ordinary magnetization curve. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed iron loss estimation method, we compare numerical results with measured ones. Furthermore, the proposed method is applied to iron loss analysis of an interior permanent magnet motor fed by pulsewidth modulation inverter.
A Recommender System for Online Consumer Reviews Research-in-Progress

Online consumer reviews have helped consumers to increase their knowledge about different products/services. While most previous studies try to provide general models that predict performance of online reviews, this study notes that different people look for different types of reviews. Hence, there is a need for developing a system that that is able to sort reviews differently for each user based on the ratings they previously assigned to other reviews. Using a design science approach, we address the above need by developing a recommender system that is able to predict the perceptions of each user regarding helpfulness of a specific review. In addition to addressing the sorting problem, this study also develops models that extract objective information from the text of online reviews including utilitarian cues, hedonic cues, product quality, service quality, price, and product comparison. Each of these characteristics may also be used for sorting and filtering online reviews.
Shareholder Class Action Suits and the Bond Market

Using a sample of 2,241 shareholder lawsuits from 1996 through 2008, we identify 579 lawsuit firms (26%) with publicly traded bonds. We find a mean [median] excess bond return of -2.59% [-1.83%], and a significant increase in trading volume for these bonds around the class action filing date. The excess bond returns are more negative for more risky bonds, when the ex ante merits of the lawsuit are higher, when a debtholder is a co-plaintiff, and when the complaint has a debt allegation. We also examine the relationship between bondholder and shareholder returns. We find no evidence of an expropriation of wealth between claimants. We do find that the bond market incorporates the negative news leading up to and encompassing the filing date more quickly than the stock market. We attribute this result to the bond market being traded primarily by institutional investors.