Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cycling induced by functional electrical stimulation improves the muscular strength and the motor control of individuals with post-acute stroke. Europa Medicophysica-SIMFER 2007 Award Winner.

AIM The aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of cycling induced by functional electrical stimulation (FES) in patients with postacute stroke. METHODS Twenty postacute inpatients were recruited and were randomly shared in a control group (56+/-9.2 years old, 50.8+/-24.5 days post-stroke) performing the standard rehabilitation (SR) and a FES group (51+/-12 years old, 56.1+/-22.8 days post-stroke) performing FES cycling in addition to SR. Both the groups performed 3 hours of rehabilitation per day for 4 weeks. The FES cycling was applied daily for 35 minutes and quadriceps, hamstring, gluteus maximus and tibialis anterior of both the legs were stimulated. The two groups were compared by the following outcome measurements before and after treatment: maximum isometric voluntary contraction (MVC) of quadriceps, walking and sit-to-stand ability, motricity index, upright motor control test and trunk control test. RESULTS After the treatment, the U-Mann-Whitney test demonstrated that the FES group produced a significantly higher increase of the muscular force produced by both the quadriceps during MVC with respect to the control group (P<0.05). Seventy percent of FES patients learned how to perform the sit to stand movement with three different rising speeds while no control patients develop the ability to perform the task properly. CONCLUSION Rehabilitation including FES cycling was more effective in promoting muscle strength and motor recovery of the lower extremity than therapist-assisted SR alone. Tests on an enlarged number of patients are necessary for generalization before proposing FES cycling in the clinical rehabilitation of post-acute stroke patients.
Maternal risk factors for childhood malnutrition in the Mazowe District of Zimbabwe.

OBJECTIVE To determine the maternal risk factors associated with childhood malnutrition. DESIGN An unmatched case control study of 327 children < 5 years of age. SETTING Primary health care clinics on the communal lands and commercial farms in the Mazowe District of Zimbabwe. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES The relationship between maternal risk factors and childhood malnutrition was analysed. To correct for confounding variables a forward stepwise logistic regression was performed. RESULTS Odds ratio (95pc confidence limits) for childhood malnutrition were a working mother 5.69 (2.37 to 3.66) and lack of decision making power 2.86 (1.1 to 7.45) on the communal lands, and lack of extra income generating projects 3.92 (1.64 to 9.54) and previous death of a child 2.17 (1.08 to 4.39) on the commercial farms. In both areas malnutrition was associated with < or = 1 acre of land 3.66 (1.4 to 9.53) and p < 0.01 (Fisher's exact test) for the communal lands and commercial farms respectively), and father's income < or = Z$150/month 12.5 (2.5 to 100) and 5.56 (1.4 to 25.0) for the communal lands and commercial farms respectively. CONCLUSIONS To reduce childhood malnutrition in the rural areas reduced maternal work load and increased decision making power, better access to health care plus more access to land and higher income are all critical issues.
The Split Domination in Product Graphs

The paper concentrates on the theory of domination in graphs. The split domination in graphs was introduced by Kulli and Janakirm. In this paper; we have investigated some properties of the split domination nu mber of some product graphs and obtained several interesting results. Index Terms—Do mination, Split do mination set, Split domination nu mber, Standard graphs, Product Graphs.
Cross-national differences in e-WOM influence

Purpose: This paper aims to present a cross-national study that investigates changes in purchase intentions of UK versus Chinese consumers following exposure to successive e-WOM comments in the form of positive and negative user reviews for experience versus search products. Design/methodology/approach: A 2(e-WOM valence and order: negative versus positive most recent)×2(product type: experience versus search)×3(purchase intentions at t 1, t 2, t 3) repeated-measures factorial design is used to test a set of hypotheses developed from the literature. Findings: Chinese consumers are susceptible to recent e-WOM comments regardless of their valence, while UK consumers anchor on negative information regardless of the order in which it is acquired. This holds particularly for experience products. Originality/value: This cross-national study contributes to the scarce literature on the impact of e-WOM on consumer purchase decisions by comparing UK and Chinese consumers. The authors suggest that culture moderates the development of product evaluations following exposure to e-WOM.
Angels and Informal Risk Capital

Business angel investors are a significant source of funding for technology-based inventors hoping to finance development ideas and for technology-based firms in search of startup and growth capital. However, it is both difficult to raise risk capital and to identify informal risk capital investors. In an effort to learn more about available risk capital sources, determine the characteristics of business angels, provide suggestions to entrepreneurs seeking investors, and recommend steps to improve the efficiency of the informal risk capital market, 133 business angel investors in New England were interviewed. The study focused on the role of informal investors as a source of funds for (1) technology based inventors; (2) startup and emerging firms; and (3) small established firms growing faster than retained earnings can support. Factors that influenced the investment decisions of these angels included life-cycle preferences, geography, industry, exit strategies, and expectations of risk and reward. Additional observations which may be of interest to entrepreneurs: (1) informal risk capital investors are often motivated by non-financial rewards; (2) informal investors most often learn of investment opportunities through a network of friends and business associates; and (3) a written business plan is desirable. Efforts to support the financing of technology startups must include the capability to identify opportunities and profile the characteristics of these potential investments; identify and profile informal investors and their objectives; provide a referral/linking mechanism; and strengthen referral networks. (SFL)
Propensity to patent, R&D and market competition: Dynamic spillovers of innovation leaders and followers

Dynamic interactions among stock return, Research and Development (R&D) expenses, patent applications based on R&D investment, and the propensity to patent are studied in this work for a panel of firms from the United States. The panel includes technologically similar firms, neck-to-neck, mostly from the drugs product-market sector. Firms’ propensity to patent is modeled by a dynamic latent-factor patent count data model that separates patented and non patented R&D. Patent innovation leader and follower firms are identified according to their knowledge stock. Significant and positive dynamic spillover effects are obtained among patent application leaders and followers. We observe that neck-to-neck firms in patent innovation activity produce an inverted-U relationship between market competition and innovation. Furthermore, firms’ propensity to patent is positively correlated with market competition and there is a positive feedback in both directions. Increasing the degree of competition in the market enhances innovation and patent applications, in order to help firms to appropriate part of the benefits of their R&D investments. On the other hand, firms by increasing their patent applications defend themselves from competitors, trying to improve their market share. However, due to the diffusion of knowledge through patent applications, knowledge spills over to competitors therefore, the degree of competition and innovation increases in the market.
A Comparative Study of the Boundary Control of Buck Converters Using First- and Second-Order Switching Surfaces -Part I: Continuous Conduction Mode

A comparative study on the performance characteristics of the buck converters with boundary control using the first-order switching surface (sigma1) and a recently proposed second-order switching surface (sigma2) is presented. Performance attributes under investigation include the average output voltage, output ripple voltage, switching frequency, and large-signal characteristics. Special emphases are given to investigate the effects of the equivalent series resistance of the output capacitor on the above attributes, and the sensitivity of the output voltage against the variations of the input voltage and circuit component values. Generally, converters with sigma2 are found to exhibit better dynamic responses than the ones with sigma 1. The theoretical predictions are favorably verified with the experimental results of a 120 W buck converter
Serum protein profile in Nigerian women: an analysis by gestation age

The effects of pregnancy and advancing gestation on serum proteins pattern of Nigerian women, living in Ikirun, south western Nigeria were examined in sixty6six (66) apparently normal pregnant women. Twenty6five (25) apparently normal non6pregnant (age matched) women were also concurrently studied as controls. The mean total serum proteins and serum albumin concentration of the controls were 70.5 ± 3.3 mg/ml and 40.8 ± 4.0 mg/ml; respectively. Total serum proteins and serum albumin concentrations decreased significantly and progressively as gestation advanced to the lowest level of 58.2 ± 2.7 mg/ml and 29.2 ± 3.7 mg/ml (p < 0.001); respectively at 33636 th week of gestation. The total serum globulins concentration remained statistically unchanged throughout the gestation period but for a significant increase to a level of 32.1 ± 1.6 mg/ml (p = 0.025) at 21624 weeks of gestation. Serum protein electrophoresis pattern showed no significant abnormality but for an elevated α26globulin band at 21624 th week of gestation and did not closely reflect changes observed in the absolute concentrations of serum albumin. The relatively stable total serum globulins (TSG) concentration in the face of normal gestational haemodilution suggested increased TSG mass during normal pregnancy. (Adedeji AL, Adedosu OT, Afolabi OK, Badmus JA, Ehigie LO, Fatoki JO and Adelusi TI. Serum protein profile in Nigerian women: an analysis by gestation age. Researcher 2012;4(11):38642) (ISSN: 155369865). http://www.sciencepub. net/researcher. 4
Phase III trial of carboplatin and paclitaxel with or without sorafenib in metastatic melanoma.

PURPOSE The primary objective of this study was to determine whether carboplatin, paclitaxel, and sorafenib (CPS) improve overall survival (OS) compared with carboplatin and paclitaxel (CP) in chemotherapy-naive patients with metastatic melanoma. PATIENTS AND METHODS In this double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled phase III study, all patients received carboplatin at area under the [concentration-time] curve 6 and paclitaxel 225 mg/m(2) intravenously once every 21 days with random assignment to sorafenib 400 mg orally twice per day on days 2 through 19 every 21 days or placebo. The primary end point was OS, and secondary end points included progression-free survival, objective tumor response, and toxicity. RESULTS In all, 823 patients were enrolled over 34 months. At final analysis, the median OS was 11.3 months (95% CI, 9.8 to 12.2 months) for CP and 11.1 months (95% CI, 10.3 to 12.3 months) for CPS; the difference in the OS distribution was not statistically significant by the stratified log-rank test, stratified on American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) stage, Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance status, and prior therapy (P = .878). Median progression-free survival was 4.9 months for CPS and 4.2 months for CP (P = .092, stratified log-rank test). Response rate was 20% for CPS and 18% for CP (P = .427). More patients on the CPS arm had grade 3 or higher toxicities (84% v 78%; P = .027), with increased rash, hand-foot syndrome, and thrombocytopenia accounting for most of the difference. CONCLUSION Sorafenib does not improve OS when given in combination with CP for chemotherapy-naive patients with metastatic melanoma. This study establishes benchmark end points for the CP regimen in first-line therapy of metastatic melanoma.
A further look at the motherese hypothesis: a reply to Gleitman, Newport & Gleitman

of the on both of the the role of environmental input in language acquisition, and and in some cases misrepresented to Our discussion is organized around five issues: (1) the appropriate interpretation of the motherese hypothesis; (2) problems with GNG's method; (3) problems with their treatment and interpretation of data; (4) GNG's criticisms of FNB's and (5) discussion of the general issue of the relation between language input and language learning.
Clamping Time and Its Effect on Mothers and Their Full Term Newborns

The umbilical cord of every newborn is clamped and cut at birth, yet the optimal timing for this intervention remains controversial The aim was to explore the effects of clamping time on mothers and their full term newborns. The Design a quasi-experimental (time series) was used for this study. Settings: study was conducted at labor & delivery units in El- Menoufia University Hospital, Shebin El-kom Teaching Hospital, and New General Bagour Hospital. The Participants of this study were 100 parturient women and their full term newborns after gaining their acceptance. Tools were: 1 st a structured interview questionnaire of socio- demographic data and obstetric history,2 nd structured assessment tool for mothers and newborn laboratory outcomes, 3 rd Apgar score (Verginia Apgar). The results of the present study revealed statistically significant difference regarding duration of third stage of labor. There were no statistically significance differences of mother's hematocrit, or hemoglobin among early and delayed cord clamping groups at birth and at 24 hours later. In contrast there were a significance difference between cord-clamping time for hemoglobin, hematocrite, RBCs and ferritin level at birth for newborns and highly statistically significant difference after 24hrs for delayed cord clamping group. This elevation was within the prespecified physiologic range. So, they weren't in need for admission to Intensive Care Unit due to hyperbilirubinemia. It can be concluded that delaying clamping of the cord for more than one minute to three minutes doesn't increase the risk of maternal postpartum hemorrhage. In addition, late cord clamping can be advantageous for the newborn by improving hemoglobin, hematocrit and ferritin values. It is recommended that delayed clamping should be practiced and supported by university hospitals, ministry of health and population (MOHP) and hospital administration. Increasing awareness of the routine delayed clamping by obstetricians, midwives and pediatricians. Future research may be helpful in refining the timing of clamping by determining the minimum time required to provide maximum benefit associated with placental transfusion.
Regional homogeneity analysis on acupoint specificity with resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging.

BACKGROUND The mechanism of acupuncture analgesia in craniotomy has been widely studied. However, the theoretical basis for selection of acupoints has not been examined. In this study, we used the regional homogeneity method blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) signals to determine changes in brain activity in response to transcutaneous electrical stimulation on acupoints and non-acupoints in resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). METHODS Twelve healthy volunteers were enrolled in this study. BOLD fMRI scanning of the brain was performed for 306 seconds before and 30 minutes after transcutaneous electrical stimulation on acupoints UB63 (Jinmen), LV3 (Tai chong), ST36 (Zusanli), and GB40 (Qiuxu). The procedure was repeated after one week with stimulation on non-acupoints (one was 9 above BL67, the second was 12 above BL67 (Kunlun), the third was 7 above KI3, and the fourth was 10 above KI3 (Taixi)). RESULTS The regional homogeneity in the acupoint group was increased in the left thalamus, caudate, putamen, lentiform nucleus (BA19, 30, 39), postcentral gyrus, precentral gyrus (BA3, 4, 30, 32), calcarine fissure, middle temporal gyrus (BA30), right superior temporal gyrus, inferior temporal gyrus (BA38), cuneus, and precuneus (BA7, 19) when compared to the non-acupoint group. The regional homogeneity of the acupoint group was decreased in the left cerebellum posterior lobe, middle frontal gyrus (BA10), double-side precuneus (BA7), and the postcentral gyrus (BA40). CONCLUSIONS The brain region activated following acupoint stimulation is the ipsilateral pain-related brain region, which may relate to the therapeutic effect of acupuncture on pain relief. Further acupoint stimulation causes different central nervous responses compared to non-acupoint stimulation.
Detection of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius ST169 and novel ST354 SCCmec II–III isolates related to the worldwide ST71 clone

SUMMARY The recent appearance of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) is a concern for both veterinary and human healthcare. MRSP clonal lineages with sequence type (ST) 71-spa t02-staphylococcal cassette chromosome mec (SCCmec) II–III and ST68-spa t06-SCCmec V have spread throughout Europe and North America, respectively. The current study compared the molecular characteristics of 43 MRSP isolates from dogs in Japan with those of MRSP from previous reports using multilocus sequence typing based on seven housekeeping genes, SCCmec typing, and detection of antimicrobial resistance genes. Three related clonal lineages, ST71, ST169, and the newly registered ST354, were observed in SCCmec II–III isolates from Japan, despite MRSP SCCmec II–III isolates being thought to belong to a single clonal lineage. The majority of SCCmec II–III isolates belonging to ST169 (9/11) and ST354 (3/3), but not ST71 (0/11), harboured tetM. Four STs were observed for the SCCmec V isolates; however, neither ST68 nor related STs were found in the Japanese MRSP isolates. In conclusion, MRSP SCCmec II–III isolates from Japan belonged to ST71 and related STs (ST169 and ST354). A variety of MRSP SCCmec V clones, including some novel clones, were identified.
Pengaruh Gaya Kepemimpinan Manajer, Pola Komunikasi dalam Organisasi, dan Jenis Penghargaan terhadap Loyalitas Karyawan

PT Citra Transpor Nusantara is a national private company engaged in public transport services, particularly in the management of taxi meters. This study will analyze both individually and simultaneously the influence of manager leadership style, communication patterns within the organization and type of awards for employee loyalty. The study takes place at PT Citra Transpor Nusantara using correlation and multiple regression methods. Various data are collected and analyzed from respondents namely employees regarding assessment of employee loyalty using Likert scale. The results of this study indicate there is a positive relationship and strong and significant influence between patterns of communication within the organization and the type of awards for employee loyalty. This study also proves the strength of connection and influence between the types of award for employee loyalty was ranked top, second, strength of connection and influence between communication patterns within the organization towards employee loyalty, and third, strength of connection and influence between leadership style towards employee loyalty. The study is expected to give input and suggestions for PT Citra Transpor Nusantara for the management and employees in improving employee loyalty at PT Citra Transpor Nusantara.
Dependence of Castration‐Resistant Prostate Cancer (CRPC) Stem Cells on CRPC‐Associated Fibroblasts

We previously established a role for cancer‐associated fibroblasts (CAF) in enhancing the self‐renewal and differentiation potentials of putative prostate cancer stem cells (CSC). Our published work focused on androgen‐dependent prostate cancer (ADPC) using the conditional Pten deletion mouse model. Employing the same model, we now describe the interaction of CAF and CSC in castration‐resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). CAF isolated from ADPC (ADPCAF) and from CRPC (CRPCAF) were compared in terms of their ability to support organoid formation and tumor initiation by CSC from CRPC (CRPCSC) in vitro and in vivo. CRPCSC formed spheroids in vitro and well‐differentiated glandular structures under the renal capsules of recipient mice in vivo more effectively in the presence of CRPCAF compared to ADPCAF. Furthermore, whereas CSC with CAF from ADPC formed mostly well‐differentiated tumors in our previous study, we now show that CRPCSC, when combined with CRPCAF (but not ADPCAF), can form aggressive, poorly‐differentiated tumors. The potential of CRPCAF to support organoid/tumor formation by CRPCSC remained greater even when compared to 10‐fold more ADPCAF, suggesting that paracrine factors produced specifically by CRPCAF preferentially potentiate the stemness and tumorigenic properties of the corresponding CSC. This apparently unique property of CRPCAF was notable when the CAF and CSC were grafted in either intact or castrated recipient mice. In both environments, CRPCAF induced in the epithelial compartment higher proliferative activity compared to ADPCAF, indicated by a higher Ki67 index. Factors released by CRPCAF to regulate CRPCSC may be targeted to develop novel therapeutic approaches to manage advanced prostate cancer. J. Cell. Physiol. 229: 1170–1176, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Risk Factors and Consequences of Hyperaluminemia in a Peritoneal Dialysis Cohort

♦ Background: Widespread Al toxicity is unusual today. In 2005, Canadian peritoneal dialysis (PD) centers reported widespread hyperaluminemia in patients using dialysates from one specific manufacturer. Our objectives were to evaluate risk factors related to Al accumulation and to assess its clinical consequences in patients from 2 centers. ♦ Methods: A retrospective closed cohort study was conducted in patients treated with PD in May 2005. A multivariate linear regression model was constructed to identify variables associated with a higher serum Al level in the exposed group at the moment of solution change. Using appropriate statistical methods, anemia and bone metabolism parameters were compared between the exposed and unexposed groups. Time to first peritonitis was estimated by the Kaplan-Meier method. ♦ Results: The study cohort included 87 Al-exposed patients and 95 unexposed patients. In the exposed group, serum Al at the moment of solution change was influenced by the length of exposure to Al-containing dialysates and by PD creatinine clearance; serum Al was inversely correlated with renal creatinine clearance. No consequences of Al accumulation were observed. No difference was observed in the time to first peritonitis between patients who switched manufacturers and those who remained with the original manufacturer. ♦ Conclusions: Our results suggest that hyperaluminemia is directly related to the length and extent of exposure to Al-containing dialysates; residual renal function is protective against Al accumulation. Because the problem was detected rapidly, no clinical consequences of hyperaluminemia were observed in the study cohort.