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Opportunity identification, opportunity development, and evaluation studies are the main contents in the entrepreneurship literature, but there lacks in‐depth research on the decision‐making process of franchise entrepreneurship. Through case interviews and literature review, this paper presents the cases of four franchise entrepreneurs of convenience store chains in Taiwan as examples to develop a new model of a franchise entrepreneurship decision‐making process. In addition to the new model of this decision‐making process, the following key observations are made based on the case comparison analysis. (1) Franchise entrepreneurs with prior knowledge of relevant industries were all affected by prior knowledge in both industrial decision and organizational type (self‐employment/franchise/merger) decision. Franchise entrepreneurs without prior knowledge of related industries were influenced by social network in both industrial decision and organizational (self‐employment/franchise/merger) decision. (2) Franchise entrepreneurs with prior knowledge of related industries were influenced by prior knowledge and potential financial reward in brand decision. Franchise entrepreneurs without prior knowledge of related industries were influenced by social network and potential financial reward in brand decision. (3) Franchise entrepreneurs with prior knowledge of related industries were influenced by prior knowledge, potential financial reward, and financial resources of the franchise headquarters in the franchise type (franchising/commissioning) decision. Franchise entrepreneurs without prior knowledge of the relevant industry were influenced by the social network, potential financial reward, and financial resources of the franchise headquarters in the franchise type (franchise/authorized chain) decision. (4) Franchise entrepreneurs were influenced by potential financial reward and franchise headquarters management knowledge in the location decision of the start‐up process, regardless of having prior knowledge of the industry or not. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, a one transistor one resistor (1T1R) structure combining a fin‐like low‐temperature polycrystalline‐silicon (LTPS) transistor and a resistive random access memory (RRAM) is successfully fabricated. For the fin‐like LTPS transistor, both n‐type and p‐types show excellent electrical output characteristics. Fin‐like structure produces more stable output characteristics. Also, the forming and current–voltage (I–V) characteristics are measured in this study, and the RRAM exhibits a forming voltage of about −1.9 V. As for the I–V switching property, the devices are stable and show excellent performance, with the set and reset voltages showing only minimal change over 100 cycles. Moreover, combining the fin‐like LTPS transistor and RRAM into a 1T1R structure results in favorable operation over 100 cycles, with excellent retention and endurance. According to these results, RRAM can be successfully combined with a fin‐like LTPS transistor for application in current integrated circuit processes without difficulty. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nanostructured cobalt selenide (CoSe2) thin films were deposited on a glass substrate using the selenization of Co films at different selenization temperatures (300 °C, 400 °C, and 500 °C) in a pure Se vapor for two hours. The morphology and structure of the as-deposited films shows that the film morphology and crystallinity are affected by the selenization temperature. Increasing the selenization temperature from 300 °C to 400 °C and 500 °C results in a change in the surface and cross sectional morphology. At 300 °C, the Co films have an almost amorphous structure, while at temperatures of 400 and 500 °C, the Co films have a crystalline nanostructure with bilayered morphology. Optical analyses of the CoSe2 films at 500 °C show a large absorption (α > 1.0 × 105 cm−1) and a direct band gap (∼1.0 eV). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As a consequence of a leftward shift of the interventricular septum and of pericardial restraint, related to the degree RV dilatation, left heart function would be influenced after pulmonary hypertension and right heart failure., Methods and Results: We enrolled 70 patients with pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) more than 30 mmHg: 40 patients with PASP between 30 and 60 mmHg (Group 2), 30 patients with PASP more than 60 mmHg (Group 3). Another 70 patients with normal heart performance and PASP less than 30 mmHg served as the control group (Group 1). Myocardial performance index (MPI), isovolumic contraction time (IVCT), and isovolumic relaxation time (IVRT) were obtained by tissue Doppler imaging (TDI). PASP correlated negatively to peak systolic velocity of lateral tricuspid annulus (RV-Sm) and RVEF. The MPI of RV and LV in patients with severe pulmonary hypertension (Group 3) became higher as the result of the prolongation of IVRT. The higher E/Em (peak early-diastolic mitral-inflow velocity divided by early-diastolic velocity of mitral annulus) in pulmonary hypertension indicated diastolic dysfunction of LV. The decline of left ventricular ejection fraction, and also right ventricular ejection fraction, suggested LV systolic dysfunction after pulmonary hypertension. The LV-MPI truly reflected LV systolic and diastolic dysfunction in patients with pulmonary hypertension. In multiple linear regression analysis, LV-MPI was independently associated only with RV-MPI (Beta 0.47, P < 0.0001)., Conclusion: The result infers that the systolic and diastolic function of LV declined, following pulmonary hypertension.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the use of echocardiographic parameters as predictors of rehospitalization in scleroderma patients., Methods: Echocardiographic studies were conducted in 38 patients with systolic scleroderma (SSc) to assess cardiopulmonary function. Forty-five age-matched volunteers without any sign of heart failure served as the control group. Transmitral flow pattern, tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE), left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), and right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) were evaluated. All patients were subsequently followed for one year., Results: Peak transmitral early-diastolic velocity (mitral E) and TAPSE measurements were significantly different between SSc and control patients (mitral E: 74.1 +/- 16.3 vs. 83.5 +/- 17.0 cm/s with P = 0.012; TAPSE: 2.4 +/- 0.43 vs. 1.9 +/- 0.39 cm with P < 0.0001). LVEF was similar, but RVEF was lower in the SSc group (LVEF: 61.7 +/- 9.7 vs. 61.7 +/- 5.8% with P = 0.962; RVEF: 49.6 +/- 6.8 vs. 39.2 +/- 6.7% with P < 0.0001). A strong correlation was found between TAPSE and RVEF. A TAPSE less than 1.96 cm indicted a RVEF less than 40% with a sensitivity of 81% and specificity of 78%. Contrary to expectation, pulmonary artery systolic pressure (PASP) did not correlate well with RV function (r = 0.261, r2= 0.068, P = 0.016). Finally, the frequency of rehospitalization was inversely correlated with RVEF and TAPSE in SSc patients., Conclusions: We can predict the rehospitalization rate of SSc patients by TAPSE and RVEF, suggesting the involvement of heart, skin, lung, and other organs in scleroderma patients.

Objective: This study investigates the change in new diastolic indices in uremic patients who undergo regular hemodialysis (H/D)., Materials and Methods: We studied uremic patients receiving regular H/D. All patients were sinus rhythm before H/D. They had normal left ventricular systolic performance without regional wall motion abnormality. Patients were separated into two groups according to whether they had significant aortic or mitral regurgitation (AR or MR) or not. They received complete transthoracic echocardiographic examinations. Stroke volume (SV) was calculated as the product of the time-velocity integral (TVI) and cross-sectional area of aortic annulus. Flow propagation velocity (FPV) was measured by color M-mode echocardiography in apical four-chamber view. Mitral annulus tissue Doppler velocities--peak systolic (Sa), early diastolic, and late diastolic--were measured from septal and lateral wall. All these parameters were obtained immediately before and after H/D. Paired data were compared., Result: H/D amount was strongly correlated with the change of SV. After H/D, the reduction of SV in patients without AR or MR (control group) was obvious but it was not significant in patients with significant AR or MR (study group). There were significant differences in mitral inflow velocities, FPV, and mitral annular velocities (except septal Sa) in the control group. In the study group, predialytic and postdialytic parameters of new diastolic indexes had no statistical difference., Conclusion: New echocardiographic indexes of uremic patients with significant AR or MR were relatively preload-independent. The phenomenon was possibly related to insignificant change of SV after H/D.

Objective: This study investigates the change in flow propagation velocity (FPV) in uremic patients who undergo regular hemodialysis (H/D)., Materials and Methods: We studied 93 uremic patients (44 men and 49 women; 59 +/- 14-years-old) receiving regular hemodialysis. Patients were separated by baseline left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF): 71 patients with LVEF > 50% (group 1), 13 patients with LVEF 35-50% (group 2), 7 patients with LVEF < 35% (group 3). All patients were in sinus rhythm before H/D. They received complete transthoracic echocardiographic examinations. Flow propagation velocity was measured by color M-mode echocardiography in apical four chambers view. All these parameters were obtained before and after H/D. Paired data were compared. According to different H/D amounts, we viewed the FPV response after H/D in variant baseline LVEF groups., Result: The baseline FPV became lower in patients with low LVEF. After H/D, obvious decrement of FPV occurred in group 1, but there were no obvious changes in groups 2 and 3. In fact, a slight increment of FPV was found in group 3. In patients with baseline LVEF > 50%, FPV after H/D was almost always lower, regardless of H/D amount. But there was different response in patients with baseline LVEF < 50%., Conclusion: Flow propagation velocity is preload independent in patients with LVEF < 50%, but it is preload-dependent in patients with LVEF > 50%.