Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Estimating the Determinants of NCAA Athletic Department Intellectual Property (Trademark) Rights

Nike Inc. recently signed a trademark-licensing contract with the University of Michigan for nearly US$174 million over 11 years for the rights to be the supplier of athletic apparel and to use the university’s intellectual property (trademark) rights. The focus of this article is to empirically investigate the determinants for trademark-licensing contract values using athletic apparel contract data among NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision schools.
A Highly Flexible System for Microstimulation of the Visual Cortex: Design and Implementation

This paper presents the design of a system intended to be used as a prosthesis allowing profoundly visually impaired patients to recover partial vision by means of microstimulation in the primary visual cortex area. The main component of the system is a bio-electronic device to be implanted inside the skull of the user, composed of a plurality of stimulation modules, whose actions are controlled via an interface module. Power and data are transmitted to the implant wirelessly through a bidirectional inductive link, allowing diagnosis of the stimulating device and its environment after implantation, as well as power delivery optimization. A high level of flexibility is supported in terms of stimulation parameters, but a configurable communication protocol allows the device to be used with maximum efficiency. The core of an external controller implemented in a system on a programmable chip is also presented, performing data conversion and timing management such that phosphene intensity can be modulated by any parameter defining stimulation, either at the pulse level or in the time domain. Measured performances achieved with a prototype using two types of custom ASICs implemented in a 0.18-mum CMOS process and commercial components fulfill the requirements for a complete visual prosthesis for humans. When on/off activation is used with predefined parameters, stimuli measured on an electronic test bench could attain a rate in excess of 500 k pulses/s.
A Provider’s Approach to the Assurance Market of Sustainability Reports in Spain

The assurance of sustainability reports faces significant challenges that arise from the characteristics of sustainability information and the regulatory context in which it is developed. This recently growing service has favoured the creation of a rapidly evolving market, a complex professional field in its early stages of development and study. The aim of this paper is to analyse whether the use of international standards or the profile of the provider performing the service affects assurance process and quality. To this end, we applied a novel methodology for this field: a survey through written questionnaires. The use of a primary information source allows us to gain insight into the topic, beyond other visible aspects often used in previous literature (e.g., assurance statement contents). We tested our hypotheses on a sample of Spanish accounting and consulting firms. Our results show that neither the use of international standards nor the provider’s professional background has any effect on assurance process and assurance quality. However, the way the professional perceives the developed service does have an impact on quality.
Intramural myocardial shortening in hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy with normal pump function.

BACKGROUND In hypertensive left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), intrinsic myocardial systolic function may be normal or depressed. Magnetic resonance tagging can depict intramural myocardial shortening in vivo. METHODS AND RESULTS Tagged left ventricular magnetic resonance images were obtained in 30 hypertensive subjects with LVH (mean LV mass index, 142 +/- 41 g/m) and normal ejection fraction (mean, 64 +/- 9%) using spatial modulation of magnetization. In 26 subjects, circumferential myocardial shortening (%S) was compared with results obtained in 10 normal subjects at endocardium, midwall, and epicardium on up to 4 short-axis slices each. Similarly, in 10 subjects, midwall long-axis shortening at basal, midventricular, and apical sites was compared with results obtained in 12 normal volunteers. Circumferential %S was reduced in hypertensive subjects. Mean shortening was 29 +/- 6% at the endocardium in hypertensive subjects versus 44 +/- 6% in normal subjects (P = .0001); 20 +/- 6% at the midwall versus 30 +/- 6% (P = .0001); and 13 +/- 5% at the epicardium versus 21 +/- 5% (P = .0002). However, the transmural gradient in percent shortening from endocardium to epicardium in hypertensive subjects paralleled that in normal subjects. The normal base-to-apex gradient in circumferential %S was absent in LVH. In contrast to normal subjects, circumferential %S showed regional heterogeneity in hypertensive subjects, being maximal in the lateral wall and least in the inferior wall. Longitudinal shortening was also uniformly depressed in hypertensive subjects: 10 +/- 9% at the base versus 21 +/- 6% in normal subjects (P = .0001); 14 +/- 8% at the midventricle versus 18 +/- 3% (P = .03); and 14 +/- 8% at the apex versus 18 +/- 4% (P = .04). CONCLUSIONS In hypertensive LVH with normal pump function, intramural circumferential and longitudinal myocardial shortening are depressed.
Novel Composite Sliding Mode Control for PMSM Drive System Based on Disturbance Observer

This paper introduces a sliding mode control (SMC) scheme to solve time-varying parameters and disturbances for a permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) drive system. A new speed controller is designed by the nonsingular terminal sliding mode control (NTSMC) strategy with the disturbance observer (DOB). The controller can make the motor speed reach the reference value in finite time, accompanying with a faster convergence and a better tracking precision. Considering the time-varying characteristic and the high-bandwidth property of the uncertainties and disturbances in a practical PMSM drive system, the common SMC method needs to provide large gain to restrain disturbance with large chattering. A DOB is introduced as a compensator to resist disturbance and to reduce control gains. By applying a DOB as the feed-forward compensator and the NTSMC as the feedback controller, one new composite NTSMC scheme has been proposed for the speed control of PMSM under disturbances and uncertainties with small chattering since smaller switching gain are required by the proposed scheme. The validity and robustness of the scheme are fully verified by comprehensive simulations and experiments.
Identification and Characterization of a Novel Plant Phospholipase D That Requires Polyphosphoinositides and Submicromolar Calcium for Activity in Arabidopsis*

Phospholipase D (PLD; EC 3.1.4.4) has been proposed to be involved in a number of cellular processes including transmembrane signaling and membrane deterioration. PLD previously described from various plant sources generally requires millimolar ranges of calcium for optimal activity. In this study, we genetically suppressed the expression of this conventional PLD in Arabidopsis by introducing an antisense PLD cDNA. However, both the antisense transgenic and wild-type plants showed comparable PLD activity in the presence of submicromolar concentrations of calcium and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate using phosphatidylcholine as a substrate. This new PLD activity was partially stimulated by phosphatidylinositol 4-phosphate, but not by other phospholipids, including phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidic acid, or phosphatidylcholine. Its requirement for polyphosphoinositides was further supported by its ability to be inhibited by neomycin. The polyphosphoinositide-dependent PLD requires calcium for activity, but no magnesium. The calcium stimulation was observed in the nanomolar range and reached a plateau at 5 μM calcium. The findings of this study demonstrate the presence of different PLDs that are regulated in a distinct manner in plants. The potential significance of a PLD that is regulated by polyphosphoinositides and physiological concentrations of Ca2+ is discussed.
Surfer's myelopathy: a rare presentation in a non-surfing setting and review of the literature.

BACKGROUND Surfers myelopathy can be a rapidly devastating disease and little is known surrounding the pathophysiology of the condition. Although the classical pattern of illness has been well reported, it has never been observed in a non-surfing setting. METHODS A 51-year-old demolition worker presented with acute non-traumatic myelopathy. Clinical examination revealed sensory loss to the level of L2. T2-MRI and MRI-DWI revealed a hyperintense signal suggestive of an ischaemic event. A diagnosis of surfer's myelopathy was made and he was commenced on steroid therapy. RESULTS Following steroid therapy and fluid management the patient was discharged after 6 days with minor anaethesia but significant overall neurological improvement. CONCLUSIONS Diagnosis of SM requires a thorough history, clinical examination and imaging (MRI, MRI-DWI). The patient should be admitted early and investigated. The use of rehabilitation services may be useful if available.
Sialic acid involved in hypermucoviscosity phenotype of Klebsiella pneumoniae and associated with resistance to neutrophil phagocytosis

Klebsiella pneumoniae (KP) with the hypermucoviscosity (HV) phenotype has abundant capsular polysaccharides (CPS) and usually causes an invasive syndrome. Sialic acid (Sia), a component of CPS in KP strains with the HV phenotype, may be anti-phagocytic. Sia-binding immunoglobulin-like lectin-9 (Siglec-9) act as an MHC class-I receptor on neutrophils that recognizes Sia and sends a signal to dampen inflammatory response. Three clinical KP strains with KP-M1 (HV-positive; capsular serotype K1), KP-14 (HV-negative; capsular serotype non-K1/K2), and DT-X (HV-negative; capsular serotype K1) were studied. We assessed total Sia in CPS extracts using enzymatic methods and phagocytosis by neutrophils of neuraminidase-treated bacteria using flow cytometry. Neutrophil killing was evaluated in the presence and absence of antibodies against Siglec-9. The concentration of Sia was significantly higher in the CPS extract of KP-M1 (56.75 ± 6.75 μmole/109 cfu) than in the CPS extract of KP-14 (0.02 ± 0.01 μmole/109 cfu) and DT-X (a negligible value). The KP-M1 (compared with the KP-14 and DT-X) was more resistant to neutrophil phagocytosis. Both the HV phenotype and resistance to phagocytosis of KP-M1 were significantly decreased after Sia removal with neuraminidase treatment. Fluorescence microscopy with an antibody against human Siglec-9 showed attachment of KP-M1 (but were absent of KP-14 and DT-X) to the surface of neutrophils and colocalization with human Siglec-9. Engagement of Siglec-9 via Sia enhanced neutrophils killing of KP-M1 by ex vivo human neutrophils bactericidal activity assay. The result showed that Sia might be a constituent of KP-M1 CPS responsible for HV, thereby contributing to anti-phagocytic activity of this pathogen.
Family values and practices promoting entrepreneurial competencies among Ghanaian women

This paper explores the interplay of family values and practices in explaining the development of entrepreneurial competencies of women in Ghana. Using feminist and interpretative approaches, 35 women entrepreneurs interviewed were selected by purposive, snowballing and convenience sampling. The findings of this study suggest a validation of the assumption that family values and practices impact on entrepreneurial activities. It also proposed a relationship between family values and practices and the development of entrepreneurial competencies. The findings revealed the possible existence of ethical and comping competencies. The paper concluded that there are some positive aspects of patriarchal family system that can be used to promote women entrepreneurship.
Linear Trading Rules for Portfolio Management

The author develops a workable procedure to make quantitative portfolio management more dynamic. Under several simplifying assumptions, an optimal portfolio management policy can be described by a linear trading rule in which the manager moves part of the way from the current position toward a target position. The author views the linear trading rule as the entry to the dynamic portfolio management space. A linear trading rule for one asset is governed by a parameter called the trade rate. The trade rate controls the rate of trading and the weight given to the sources of alpha for that asset. With the trade rate, one can calculate expectations of risk, transactions costs, turnover, and the asset’s exposure to the sources of alpha. This leads to a choice of each asset’s trade rate to maximize that asset’s contribution to an overall objective. This, in turn, yields transactions cost–sensitive signal weighting at the asset level. Finally, the knowledge gained provides a dynamic component to more traditional single or multistage portfolio optimization.
Integration of interests and expertise in the adaptation to climate change in The Netherlands

Much of The Netherlands is vulnerable to flooding and will be even more so if current predictions of climate change impacts are right. In order to prepare for such changes, preliminary investigations were carried out by the Ministry of Transport, Public Works and Water Management to explore possibilities for adjusting to increased flood discharges. In the consultations with other stakeholders, a lot of pressure was encountered to minimize the constraints imposed by flood management requirements, because these result in competition for space with other land uses. Setting priorities between these is partly a battle fought at policy level. Still, whatever the outcomes of the national debate, complexities of multiple land use demands need to be solved in specific projects where real interests are at stake and where an integration of expertise and interests is required in order to make a politically acceptable integrated assessment of the different options. From the findings in case studies of integrated water management in the Netherlands it can be concluded that successful projects show clever interweaving of interests and expertise in concrete results such as regional spatial plans. While the need for appropriate and adaptive process management cannot be underestimated, it is also possible to point out specific input that facilitates this interweaving. The use of flexible and negotiable objectives such as sustainability, safety or landscape quality helps the search for broadly supported solutions. Functionally they are boundary objects; as result they are holistic syntheses emerging from the contributing parts.
Randomized clinical trial of ridge preservation using porcine bone/cross‐linked collagen vs. bovine bone/non‐cross‐linked collagen: cone beam computed tomographic analysis

PURPOSE The aim of this study was to radiographically compare horizontal and vertical alterations of the alveolar ridge after ridge preservation using different combinations of biomaterials. MATERIALS AND METHODS The patients were randomly assigned into two groups: (a) the test group, which received collagenated porcine bone plus cross-linked collagen membrane (n = 15), and (b) the control group, which received collagenated bovine bone plus non-cross-linked collagen membrane (n = 15). Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) was performed immediately after ridge preservation and 4 months thereafter to compare the horizontal and vertical alterations of the ridge. Intention-to-treat (ITT) and per protocol (PP) analyses were performed. RESULTS In both analyses, there was no statistically significant difference in the horizontal alteration of the alveolar ridge between the test and control groups: -1.3 ± 0.6 (ITT)/1.2 ± 0.5 (PP) vs. -1.5 ± 0.9 mm at the 1-mm level; -1.2 ± 0.7 (ITT and PP) vs. -1.2 ± 0.7 mm at the 3-mm level; and -0.9 ± 0.7 (ITT)/ -0.9 ± 0.7 (PP) vs. -0.9 ± 0.9 mm at the 5-mm level, whereas the vertical height in the midfacial area was significantly reduced in the test group compared with the control group: --1.1 ± 2.8 (ITT)/1.5 ± 3.0 (PP) vs. -0.7 ± 1.8 mm. CONCLUSIONS The horizontal ridge alteration in ridge preservation did not differ significantly between using the test the control groups, but the vertical ridge alteration was more pronounced when using the test group (KCT0001709).
Different cognitive profiles between mild cognitive impairment due to cerebral small vessel disease and mild cognitive impairment of Alzheimer’s disease origin

Abstract Controversy surrounds the differences of the cognitive profile between mild cognitive impairment resulting from cerebral small vessel disease (MCI-SVD) and mild cognitive impairment associated with prodromal Alzheimer’s disease (MCI-AD). The aim of this study was to explore and compare the cognitive features of MCI-SVD and MCI-AD. MCI-SVD patients (n = 56), MCI-AD patients (n = 30), and normal control subjects (n = 80) were comprehensively evaluated with neuropsychological tests covering five cognitive domains. The performance was compared between groups. Tests that discriminated between MCI-SVD and MCI-AD were identified. Multiple cognitive domains were impaired in MCI-SVD group, while memory and executive function were mainly impaired in MCI-AD group. Compared with MCI-SVD, MCI-AD patients performed relatively worse on memory tasks, but better on processing speed measures. The AVLT Long Delay Free Recall, Digit Symbol Test, and Stroop Test Part A (performance time) in combination categorized 91.1% of MCI-SVD patients and 86.7% of MCI-AD patients correctly. Current study suggested a nonspecific neuropsychological profile for MCI-SVD and a more specific cognitive pattern in MCI-AD. MCI-AD patients demonstrated greater memory impairment with relatively preserved mental processing speed compared with MCI-SVD patients. Tests tapping these two domains might be potentially useful for differentiating MCI-SVD and MCI-AD patients. (JINS, 2009, 15, 898–905.)
The directional information content of options volumes

This study examines the directional information content realized by trades in a highly liquid options market by constructing put–call volume ratios and decoupled options‐to‐spot volume ratios. By investigating whether the specific investor type predicts underlying returns and the method used to exploit a directional information advantage, we find that foreign investment firms can leverage their directional information by executing buy trades to open new positions. Their open‐buy trades significantly predict next‐day spot returns, whereas trades initiated by domestic firms do not. This relationship becomes stronger for out‐of‐the‐money, large, and short‐horizon options trades and during the short‐sale restriction period.
Bullying and the older nurse.

AIM The purpose of this article is to discuss bullying from the perspective of the older nurse. BACKGROUND Inappropriate behaviours, such as bullying, are being scrutinised in health care because of the potential negative impact on patient care and safety and worker wellbeing and satisfaction. Although this phenomenon is often referred to as 'nurses eating their young', the implications for the older nurse cannot be ignored. EVALUATION The work environment is instrumental in the retention of workers. Older nurses are essential for knowledge transfer. When developing strategies to retain the older worker, issues such as bullying need to be examined. KEY ISSUES Without proper identification and the willingness of management to acknowledge it, bullying may become a cultural norm. Once this occurs, it is necessary to examine the underlying structures that support its continued presence. Hierarchical and disempowering work environments may be contributors. CONCLUSIONS Nurses of all ages can be affected by bullying, so empowering initiatives need to be developed to prevent perpetuation and victimisation. IMPLICATIONS FOR NURSING MANAGEMENT To prevent bullying, initiatives that recognise the skills and knowledge that nurses contribute to patient care need to be developed.
Influence of Protonation, Tautomeric, and Stereoisomeric States on Protein-Ligand Docking Results

In this work, we present a systematical investigation of the influence of ligand protonation states, stereoisomers, and tautomers on results obtained with the two protein-ligand docking programs GOLD and PLANTS. These different states were generated with a fully automated tool, called SPORES (Structure PrOtonation and Recognition System). First, the most probable protonations, as defined by this rule based system, were compared to the ones stored in the well-known, manually revised CCDC/ASTEX data set. Then, to investigate the influence of the ligand protonation state on the docking results, different protonation states were created. Redocking and virtual screening experiments were conducted demonstrating that both docking programs have problems in identifying the correct protomer for each complex. Therefore, a preselection of plausible protomers or the improvement of the scoring functions concerning their ability to rank different molecules/states is needed. Additionally, ligand stereoisomers were tested for a subset of the CCDC/ASTEX set, showing similar problems regarding the ranking of these stereoisomers as the ranking of the protomers.
Laparoscopic gastric resections with per oral specimen extraction in treatment of intramural gastric tumors.

AIM The goal of this work was to present our experiences and results of treatment of gastric tumors using the per oral specimen extraction (POSE) technique. MATERIAL AND METHODS A retrospective analysis a group of patients treated with laparoscopic stomach wedge resection of gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). During that time 50 patients underwent laparoscopy due to the suspicion of GIST. In 12 patients resected material was removed endoscopically per os (POSE). In the remaining 38 subjects it was evacuated through minilaparotomy. Mean age of patients treated using POSE technique was 65.6 years (48-81 years). There were 9 women and 3 men in this group Results: Mean time of the POSE procedure was 92.5 min (40-160 min). Size of removed tumors ranged from 14 mm to 40 mm (mean: 25 mm). The mean length of hospital stay was 3.2 days (2 to 8 days) for patients treated with POSE. One patient (8.3%) required longer hospitalization (8 days) due to the presence of a fluid collection at the site of gastric suture. This patient was treated conservatively. One patient (8.3%) was diagnosed with surgical site infection (navel wound after an optical trocar). Histopathological examination confirmed radical excision in all of our patients (R0). CONCLUSIONS It seems that the POSE technique is the next stage of development of minimally invasive surgery and may constitute a link in evolution of natural orifice translumenal surgery techniques. Removal of excised material through oral cavity is an attractive, effective, and safe method despite its many limitations.
Effects of Aging on LH and Prolactin after LHRH L-Dopa, Methyl-Dopa, and Stress in Male Rat 1 2

Summary Hypothalamic-pituitary control of prolactin and LH secretion was tested in young (4-6 months) and aged (22-30 months) male Long-Evans rats given l-dopa, methyl dopa, LHRH, or stress treatments. Pretreatment serum LH levels were consistently higher in young than in the aged groups. The increase in serum LH after LHRH injection was only about half as much in aged as compared to young control males. Although acute stress caused a prompt increase in serum LH in young male rats, this treatment was without effect in the aged group. Methyl dopa treatment stimulated serum prolactin secretion in both young and old rats. Although L-dopa treatment caused a reduction in serum prolactin in both age groups, the sensitivity, magnitude, and duration of the reduction was smaller in the aged rats.