Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Association of Serum Zn/Cu Ratio With Handgrip Strength and Hospitalization in Japanese Patients With Type 2 Diabetes

Zinc (Zn) is negatively associated with the incidence of coronary heart diseases in patients with type 2 diabetes [1], and copper (Cu) may also play a pivotal role in the pathogenesis of diabetes [2]. We reported that the serum Zn/Cu ratio was positively associated with glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes [3]. In another study, patients with type 2 diabetes demonstrated lower handgrip strength, which is a useful predictor of the risk of cardiovascular disease and mortality [4], than those without diabetes [5]. The aim of this study was to examine the association of the serum Zn/Cu ratio with handgrip strength and hospitalization for glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes. We conducted a retrospective cohort study on patients with type 2 diabetes who were treated at the National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Kohnodai Hospital, and the study was performed in accordance with the Declaration of Helsinki. Of the 1,303 subjects enrolled, we simultaneously measured the handgrip strength and serum levels of Zn/Cu of 131 subjects (74 men and 57 women) at baseline. Their mean age, body mass index, and hemoglobin A1c levels were 63.8 ± 12.7 years, 26.2 ± 5.8 kg/m2, and 7.8±1.9%, respectively. Their mean and median serum Zn/Cu ratios were 0.74 ± 0.25 and 0.73, respectively. The serum Zn/Cu ratio was positively associated with handgrip strength (r = 0.279, P = 0.001, by Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient). During the mean follow-up of 469 ± 425 days, 55 patients (42%) were admitted to the hospital for glycemic control. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis confirmed a negative association between the serum Zn/Cu ratio and risk of hospitalization for glycemic control (P = 0.031) (Fig. 1). To my knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate a significant association of the serum Zn/Cu ratio with handgrip strength and hospitalization in patients with type 2 diabetes. Mocchegiani et al [6] reported an unfavorable association of the serum Cu/Zn ratio with physical parameters, including handgrip strength and mortality, in elderly subjects. Although serum levels of Zn and Cu are influenced by numerous factors, such as the nutritional status and comorbidities [3, 6], an adequate Zn/Cu ratio has the potential to ameliorate glycemic control and improve physical functions. However, this is a small-scale, retrospective, observational study; thus, further investigations are needed to understand both the effect of serum Zn/Cu ratio on glycemic control and its underlying mechanism of action.
To Quest Common Dangerous Bacterial Attack in Drinking Water

Buried ground water is very indispensable because it is major sources for the uses of humans, animals, industry and domestic purposes. The presence of pathogenic bacteria in drinking water is one of the great issues now-adays. The present article summarizes the dangerous effects, common methods of detection, recent outbreaks and possible plan to control the contamination of various common bacteria in drinking water to alert general public to be safe and healthy.
Improved traffic sign recognition for in-car cameras

ABSTRACT We propose an enhanced approach for recognizing traffic signs; images are captured using a video camera installed in a car. Support vector machines detect the edges and gradients of each captured image to identify possible traffic sign regions in the image. In our system, bilateral Chinese transforms recognize circular traffic signs; vertex and bisector transforms detect triangular traffic signs. Our system applies color information for accurate identification of traffic sign regions in images. The traffic signs are recognized using a neural network. Results indicate that our system can obtain the desired results effectively.
The impact of Lean Manufacturing on employee satisfaction: a case study

The Lean has been spreading through several areas and different niches, as in the graphic industries that have been seeking to include the practices of this system to its objectives, in order to achieve a reduction of wastes, for example. Its implementation requires a series of changes in the processes, but also requires a change in the organizational culture, which means that adequate time is needed for people to become accustomed to the day-to-day of a new method of work and to that can realize the benefits that are generated. The perception regarding employee satisfaction can be studied in order to adapt it to the new scenario and the behavior change of the people. The purpose of the survey is to verify through a case study in a medium-sized graphics industry, how Lean implementation affects employee satisfaction of the shop floor. The results show that the level of employee satisfaction increased after the implementation of the Lean according to Maslow's Pyramid of Hierarchies, where needs tend to be met by levels and with each level reached the level of satisfaction increases.
Barriers and facilitators to postoperative pain management in Rwanda from the perspective of health care providers: A contextualization of the theory of planned behavior

ABSTRACT Aims Identify opportunities to improve knowledge translation for post-operative pain management in Rwanda by exploring clinician and environmental factors affecting this practice. Methods The theory of planned behavior (TPB) guided development of a questionnaire to measure intent to assess and treat postoperative pain. Focus groups and individual interviews were used to contextualize the final questionnaire and generate questions related to pain management practice. Health care providers from two Rwandan teaching hospitals involved in postoperative pain management completed the TPB questionnaire in May 2015. TPB subscale scores were analyzed to identify demographic and practice characteristics associated with intention to treat pain. The general linear model was used to test effect of attitudes, subjective norms, and perceived control on behavioral intent to treat pain. Results Forty-six percent of participants (N = 131) had training in acute pain management, 56% used a pain protocol, and 74% used pain scales. Tramadol (78%), morphine (79%), and paracetamol (75%) were used most often to treat pain. Drug availability was the most frequently reported barrier to treating pain. Though intention to treat pain was high, only attitudes and perceived control about assessing pain were associated with intention to treat pain. The theme of fear of the adverse effects of pain medications was consistent across focus groups and interviews in both sites. Conclusions System and knowledge barriers exist: interventions to address these barriers may lead to improved postoperative pain care. Further validation of the TPB questionnaire is required to address cultural and language factors specific to the Rwandan context.
Feeding disorders related to nutrition

Aim: To study the relationship between early feeding disorders and nutritional intake during the second and third year of life. Methods: 15 children, nine girls and six boys, with a feeding problem identified at the Specialist Child Health Care Unit at a mean age of 14.5 mo were matched with respect to age and sex with healthy control children. Four‐day dietary records were collected at inclusion (time 1) and follow‐up of the study (time 2). Measures of growth at birth, at times 1 and 2 of the study, and at 3 y of age were obtained from Child Health Centre records. Results: A lower intake of energy, carbohydrate and protein was evident at times 1 and 2 for the group of children with feeding disorders compared to the controls. Zinc and vitamin B6 were the only micronutrients that differed for the feeding disorder group compared to the control group at times 1 and 2. Children with feeding disorders decelerated in weight during the second year of life and in height during the third year of life as compared to controls.
ACCOLÉ : Annotation Collaborative d’erreurs de traduction pour COrpus aLignÉs (ACCOLÉ: A Collaborative Platform of Error Annotation for Aligned Corpus)

La plateforme ACCOLÉ (Annotation Collaborative d’erreurs de traduction pour COrpus aLignÉs) propose une palette de services innovants permettant de répondre aux besoins modernes d’analyse d’erreurs de traduction : gestion simplifiée des corpus et des typologies d’erreurs, annotation d’erreurs efficace, collaboration et/ou supervision lors de l’annotation, recherche de modèle d’erreurs dans les annotations.
Research report Timing in the baby brain

AbstractTen-month-old infants and adults were tested in an auditory oddball paradigm in which 50-ms tones were separated by 1500 ms (standardinterval) and occasionally 500 ms (deviant interval). Both infants and adults showed marked brain responses to the tone that followed adeviant inter-stimulus interval (ISI). Specifically, the timing-deviance event-related-potential (ERP) difference waves (deviant-ISI ERPminus standard-ISI ERP) yielded a significant, fronto-centrally distributed, mismatch negativity (MMN) in the latency range of 120–240 mspost-stimulus for infants and 110–210 ms for adults. A robust, longer latency, deviance-related positivity was also obtained for infants(330–520 ms), with a much smaller and later deviance-related positivity observed for adults (585–705 ms). These results suggest that the10-month-old infant brain has already developed some of the same mechanisms as adults for detecting deviations in the timing of stimulusevents.D 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Retrieval of Spatial and Temporal Variability in Snowpack Depth over Glaciers in Svalbard Using GPR and Spaceborne POLSAR Measurements

The highly dynamic nature of snow requires frequent observations to study its various properties. Keeping this in mind, the present investigation presents results from the analysis of fully polarimetric synthetic aperture radar (POLSAR) parameters for the development of a snow depth (SD) inversion model for SD retrieval. Snow depth retrieved using ground penetrating radar (GPR) at 500 MHz over Austre Grønfjordbreen in the Svalbard region was used to understand the behaviour of certain polarimetric parameters. A significant correlation was found between field-measured SD and POLSAR parameters, namely coherence and normalized volume scattering power (R2 = 0.84 and R2 = 0.73, respectively.) Using the POLSAR scattering powers obtained from the six-component model-based decomposition (6SD), the heterogeneity and anisotropic behaviour in the firn areas are also explained. Further, based on the analyses shown in this work, a polarimetric parameter-based SD inversion algorithm have been proposed and validated. The univariate model with co-polarization coherence has the highest correlation (R2 = 0.84, Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) = 0.18). We have even tested several multivariate models for the same, to conclude that a combination of coherence, normalized volume and double-bounce scattering have a high correlation with SD (R2 = 0.84, RMSE = 0.18). Additionally, temporal and spatial variability in SD was also observed from three polarimetric SAR images acquired between 4 April 2015 and 15 May 2015 over the Western Nordenskiöld Land region. Increase in snow depth corresponding to snow precipitation events were also detected using the POLSAR data.
Resultados quirúrgicos de la técnica de elevación de la ceja transblefaroplastia

Objetivo: Evaluar los resultados quirurgicos de la tecnica de elevacion de la ceja transblefaroplastia y las complicaciones presentadas. Metodos: Se realizo un estudio descriptivo, retrospectivo, de corte longitudinal, de 12 pacientes (24 parpados) con ptosis de la ceja asociada a dermatochalasis del parpado superior desde mayo a septiembre del ano 2018, en la consulta de Cirugia Plastica Ocular del Instituto Cubano de Oftalmologia "Ramon Pando Ferrer". Fueron excluidos los que ya tenian una cirugia anterior del tercio facial superior. Resultados: El 83,3 % de los pacientes fueron del sexo femenino. En cuanto a los grupos de edades resulto mas frecuente el grupo de mayores de 62 anos de edad. Hubo un predominio de la raza blanca, para un 58,3 %. En el 60 % de los casos del sexo femenino (6 pacientes), la dermatochalasis del parpado superior, asociada a la ptosis de la ceja, fue moderada. La ptosis de la ceja resulto corregida en 18 parpados, para el 75 %. Se presento el 25 % de complicaciones (3 pacientes). Conclusiones: La tecnica de elevacion de la ceja transblefaroplastia logra la correccion de la ceja en el mayor numero de pacientes con un bajo porcentaje de complicaciones, y constituye una buena opcion quirurgica para este tipo de afeccion palpebral.
Management of chronic constipation in the elderly

SFP2009; 35(3): 84-92 INTRODUCTION This review focuses on the approach and treatment of chronic constipation in the elderly. A local study in 2000 found the prevalence of constipation to be 7.3%±3.5%1. Women had a higher prevalence of 11.3 ± 6.0% of chronic constipation as compared with men 3.6 ± 3.5%, p<0.05. In North America, constipation has an average prevalence of 12-19% in North America, increasing with increasing age, and female to male preponderance of 2.2:12. The reported prevalence in institutionalized elderly is up to 50%3, 4. Age-related problems e.g. decreased mobility, comorbid medical conditions, and the resultant increased use of medications explains the increase in prevalence of constipation in old age. A detailed medical history and physical examination is needed to exclude secondary causes of constipation.
Thermochemical behavior of Eucalyptus grandis wood exposed to termite attack

This study aimed to evaluate the variations in thermal and chemical characteristics of juvenile Eucalyptus grandis wood submitted to a deterioration test by Nasutitermes termites. For this purpose, a biodeterioration test with termites was conducted according to ASTM D 3345 (2008), in which, after the end of the period corresponding to the test (40 days), we evaluated the mass loss, chemical composition and thermal stability of the main components of the deteriorated wood samples and those belonging to the control group. We found that deterioration due to exposure of the samples to Nasutitermes sp. termites caused a mass loss of 66.88% for wood with a density at 12% moisture content of 0.412 g.cm-3. The quantitative chemical composition showed a reduction in the contents of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. Analysis of the variations of the organic functional groups related to the chemical composition of the wood by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy and relative intensity of the spectral bands also showed reductions, demonstrating homogeneous deterioration of the main components of the deteriorated woods. The thermal stability showed an increase in deteriorated wood for most of the temperature ranges, mainly for those that corresponded to losses in moisture and volatiles (25 °C - 100 °C), hemicelluloses (240 °C - 300 °C), celluloses, and together with initial lignin degradation (310 °C to 400 °C), possibly due to the removal of cellulose and hemicellulose, as well as the deposition of substances expelled by the termites in the cell wall. From the results, we conclude that the termites do not have specificity regarding the chemical component and that the deterioration caused variations in the chemical composition of the wood, whereas the opposite was observed for thermal stability, which presented an increase in most of the temperatures ranges for the deteriorated woods compared to the control group.
The Emerging MDMA Pandemic

A new wave of epidemic is emerging that is posing serious mental health risks to people all around the world. This epidemic is caused by a club or party drug 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA). MDMA is a psychoactive drug with stimulant and hallucinogenic properties first made in 1912 by the German pharmaceutical company Merck. It was found to improve psychotherapy beginning but later became popular as a street drug in the 1980s [1]. In the year 2017, between 9 and 29 million persons between the ages of 15 and 64 used MDMA i.e. 0.19% to 0.71% of the world population [2]. It is used primarily as a recreational drug associated with the “rave” culture and, as yet, has no accepted medical uses.
Editorial: Theory of mind in relation to other cognitive abilities

COPYRIGHT © 2023 Dowker, Frye and Tsuji. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms. Editorial: Theory of mind in relation to other cognitive abilities
What do current estimates of Hispanic mortality really tell us

This paper reviews existing studies of Hispanic mortality in the US and analyzes the adequacy of current data for the claim that Hispanic mortality is converging with that of other whites. 1980 US census data which included separate 100% items in Spanish origin and race introduced some potential discontinuities with previous studies of Hispanic-origin persons which used Spanish surnames as the identifier: evidence of "recruitment" into reporting oneself as Spanish origin reporting non-white racial status by increasing numbers of Spanish-origin persons possible discrepancies between census self reporting of ethnic origin and reporting of ethnic origin in vital statistics and discrepancies in the list of Spanish surnames used in different data sources. Relatively few studies of Hispanic mortality have been done outside the southwest or with non-Mexican Hispanics. Data from approximately 4 decennial census years have recently been used to argue that Hispanic mortality has converged with that of other whites and life tables for Hispanics from the 1980 census show their life expectancy and sex differential in mortality to exceed that of all others. However the use of Spanish-surname vital statistics in the numerators with Spanish-origin data as denominators appears to result in net underestimation of Hispanic mortality with child mortality and the mortality of the elderly the most vulnerable to understatement. When mortality data for Hispanic-surnamed men and women are standardized using other males and females as the standard population the crude death rate increases from 5.8 to 9.0 for men and from 3.8 to 7.5 for women. Evidence of age misreporting especially exaggeration underreporting of infant mortality and census underenumeration cast further doubt on the extent of reported improvements in Hispanic mortality.
ROLE OF NUTRIENTS IN NON-ALCOHOLIC FATTY LIVER DISEASE

Introduction: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a liver disorder that refers to a group of conditions where there is accumulation of excess fat in the liver of people who drink little to no alcohol. The most common form of NAFLD is a non serious condition called fatty liver (Naim Alkhouri, MD, et al. 2012). In NAFLD, simple fatty infiltration of the liver or hepatic steatosis (fat content exceeds 5% of liver volume) without any evidence of hepatocellular injury in the form of ballooning of hepatocytes or no evidence of fibrosis. The risk of developing cirrhosis and liver failure is minimal but due to its high prevalence it none the less represents an important cause of cirrhosis (Dr. James Mc Morran, et al. 2016). Cirrhosis occurs when the liver sustains substantial damage, and the liver cells are gradually replaced by scar tissue, which results in the inability of the liver to work properly. Some patients who develop cirrhosis may eventually require a liver transplant (surgery to remove the damaged liver and replace it with a new liver) (Marsha H. Kay, MD, et al. 2012).
Perception of Early Pregnancy Symptoms among Antenatal Women in Port Harcourt, Southern Nigeria

Background: Early pregnancy symptoms are commonly experienced by most women during pregnancy. While some such as missed periods may serve as an early warning symptom, others may be were commoner among primigravid women 208(33.8%), and they tend to reduce significantly with increasing parity. The recurrent rate among parous women was high 82.6%. The mean gestational age at onset of symptoms was 4.06 ± 1.64 weeks, and by eight weeks, about 87% of the women have developed pregnancy symptoms. The symptoms were perceived to be worse between 5 and eight weeks, with a mean of 7.20 ± 2.15 weeks, and they started to subside by 9 – 12 weeks, with a mean of 14.06 ± 3.85 weeks. Amenorrhoea was the commonest symptom 98.6%, followed by nausea and vomiting 52.3%, then breast pain and heaviness 52.3%, low back pain 45.3%, and urinary symptoms 36.4%. Pregnancy symptoms interfered very little with professional and domestic activities, and the hospital admission rate was quite low 8.4%. Conclusion: Women hardly go through pregnancy without experiencing multiple pregnancy symptoms. The prevalence rate was high, especially among Primigravidas, and symptoms tend to be recurrent among multiparous women. Pregnancy symptoms tend to peak around 5 – 8 weeks and begin to subside by 9 -12 weeks.
Characteristics and Current Harmonic Control of N* Three-Phase PMSG for HVDC Transmission Based on MMC

The permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG) is widely used in high voltage DC transmission technology of wind power systems due to its high-power density, high reliability and simple maintenance. To meet the increasing rated power of the generator (≥10 MW), the multi-converter parallel connection is usually used, which significantly increases the complexity and cost of the system. Therefore, a new modular N* three-phase PMSG is proposed in this paper. Based on the structure and working principle of the generator, the finite element model is established, and the electromagnetic properties are obtained by finite element analysis. Aiming at the unique winding structure and characteristics of modular N* three-phase PMSG, a generator side current converter harmonic control algorithm, combining a resonant controller with the proportional-integral regulator, is proposed. The suppression of stator current harmonics at different speeds could be achieved by the proposed algorithm, and the efficiency of the wind power generation system can be improved. Finally, the feasibility of the novel generator and the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm are verified by simulation and experiment.
Safety profile of a special butterbur extract from Petasites hybridus in migraine prevention with emphasis on the liver

Background: Butterbur supplements are available in the USA and Canada and are commonly used for treating migraines. Petadolex, a special butterbur extract from Petasites hybridus, is a natural herbal product and the only butterbur extract with proven clinical efficacy in migraine prevention. The Complimentary Migraine Guidelines of the AAN mention butterbur as level A recommendation for the prevention of chronic episodic migraine. However, these guidelines have been retired. Methods: We review suspected serious liver cases, pyrrolizidine alkaloids, regulatory issues, preclinical and clinical data of the special butterbur extract Petadolex. Results: The RUCAM (Roussel Uclaf Causality Assessment Method) test found no probable relationship between the butterbur root extract Petadolex® and cases of serious liver injury. Two cases of non-serious reversible liver enzyme elevations were rated as probably related to Petadolex®. The safety is supported by preclinical data in animals as well as in-vitro toxicology experiments. In addition, Petadolexis free of detectable levels of pyrrolizidine alkaloids. Conclusion: There is no evidence that the special butterbur root extract Petadolex poses a substantial risk of liver injury for patients.