Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efecto del ácido tióctico en los cambios clínicos, neuroconductivos e histopatológicos de la neuropatía diabética sensitivo motora distal

Resumen Introduccion : La polineuropatia diabetica es la mas comun de las complicaciones microvasculares de la diabetes mellitus, siendo causa importante de morbilidad y mortalidad asociada a la enfermedad Objetivos : evaluar el efecto del acido tioctico en los cambios clinicos, neuroconductivos e histopatologicos en la neuropatia diabetica sensitivo motora distal. Metodos : estudio prospectivo, longitudinal, de intervencion terapeutica, en pacientes que acudieron a la consulta externa y unidad cardiometabolica del Servicio de Medicina Interna del Hospital Militar “Dr. Carlos Arvelo”, a quienes se les realizo historia clinica con evaluacion del score sensitivomotor, pruebas de neuroconduccion y biopsia de piel, con evaluacion a la semana n° 1, 4,12, 18 y 24. Resultados : 30 pacientes diabeticos con criterio clinico de neuropatia diabetica sensitivo motora distal. Se observo mejoria de las parestesias a partir de la semana 12 (p <0.05) de la administracion del acido tioctico a dosis de 600mg/dia por via oral. En la neuroconduccion hubo aumento de la velocidad de conduccion durante el post tratamiento (p<0,05). Se realizaron 12 biopsias de piel: 2 fueron positivas (16,7%) previo tratamiento y 10 negativas (83,3%) con anticuerpo PGP 9,5. En la semana 24 post tratamiento 7 positivas (58,3%) y 5 negativas (41,7%) (p<0,05). Conclusiones : Se demostro que el tratamiento con acido tioctico es efectivo en mejorar los sintomas y la neuroconduccion en los pacientes diabeticos con neuropatia sensitivo motora distal. Background : Diabetic neuropathy is the most common microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus, and a major cause of morbidity and mortality Objectives: To evaluate the effect of thioctic acid in the clinical, histopathological neuroconductive and sensory motor. diabetic distal neuropathy Methods : Prospective, longitudinal, therapeutic intervention, in patients attending the outpatient and cardiometabolic consultation Internal Medicine;an assessment of sentitivo-motor score was performed and blood chemistry was measured as well as HbA1c. Neuroconduction and skin biopsy with assessment at weeks 1, 4.12, 18 and 24 were done. Results: 30 diabetic patients with clinical criteria of distal motor sen- sory neuropathy were included. The clinical symptom was paresthesia, which was present from week 12 and showed improvement (p <0.05) at weeks 18 and 24 (p <0.05). Neuroconduction was measured by increased conduction velocity post treatment (p <0.05). Biopsies were performed in 12 patients; two were positive (16.7%) after treatment and 10 negative (83.3%) for PGP 9.5 antibody. At week 24 of treatment, 7 were positive (58.3%) and 5 negative (41.7%) (p<0.05). Conclusion : We demonstrated effectiveness of thioctic acid after week 12 of treatment.
Profiles of prebiotic fructooligosaccharides, inulin and sugars as well as physicochemical properties of banana and its snacks as affected by ripening stage and applied drying methods

Abstract Contents of fructooligosaccharides and inulin along with those of selected sugars in fresh banana of different ripening stages were first determined. Banana was then processed into snacks either by hot air drying (HD) or low-pressure superheated steam drying (LPSSD). Selected physicochemical properties of both fresh banana (moisture content, water activity, flesh-to-peel ratio, total soluble solids content, pH, titratable acidity and firmness) and its snacks (microstructure, texture and color) were investigated. Fresh banana of ripening stage 5 exhibited higher fructooligosaccharides, inulin and sugar contents; its snacks also possessed maximum fructooligosaccharides and inulin contents. Drying methods did not have any significant effect on the contents of these prebiotics. Although snacks from banana of ripening stage 5 possessed higher sugar contents, such contents, when snacks are consumed at the recommended amount, are still lower than the recommend daily intake. Stage-5 LPSSD snack exhibited better texture and color than its HD counterpart, so the former has a potential of being a prebiotic-based snack.
Childhood Obesity Epidemic: Emerging Role for School-based Occupational Therapists

ABSTRACT In the United States, childhood obesity continues to increase at unprecedented rates. School-based occupational therapists can play a more significant role in health promotion and obesity prevention efforts in the school setting. Since this is a relatively new role for occupational therapists, there is still a tremendous gap in the literature regarding occupational therapy’s impact on obesity. This article explores the role occupational therapists can play in health promotion and obesity prevention efforts in schools. It will explain how occupational therapists are uniquely qualified to lead and support these school-based health initiatives and how these efforts can help improve children’s overall health and wellness. The hope is that these efforts will help promote more successful educational outcomes for all students.
DIRECT MARKETING STRATEGIES AND MARKET PERFORMANCE OF DEPOSIT-TAKING SAVINGS AND CREDIT CO-OPERATIVE SOCIETIES IN NAIROBI CITY COUNTY, KENYA

This study aimed at investigating the effect of direct marketing strategies on market performance of Deposit-taking Savings and Credit Co-operative Societies in Nairobi City County. The specific objectives were to; establish the effect of social media marketing, mobile phone marketing, direct selling, and email marketing on market performance of Deposit-taking Savings and Credit Co-operative Societies in Nairobi City County. The study adopted an explanatory research design research design in which all forty registered financial Deposit-taking Savings and Credit Co-operative Societies in Nairobi City County were considered using census technique. Data was collected using close ended questionnaires from marketing managers or other senior managers of the identified Deposit-taking Savings and Credit Co-operative Societies. Data was analyzed using descriptive statistic and inferential statistics using SPSS version 22. The results indicated that relationship between social media marketing, direct selling, email marketing and market performance of deposit taking Savings and Credit Co-operative Societies in Nairobi City County were significant (p value=0.00, 0.00, 0.035 and 0.001 respectively) while mobile phone marketing was not significant (P value =0.035) at 95% confidence interval. In addition the study had R squared of 0.691 indicating that social media marketing, mobile phone marketing, direct selling, email marketing contributed 69.1% on market performance. The study concluded that social media marketing, mobile phone marketing, email marketing and direct selling marketing affects the marketing performance positively. The study recommended that Deposit-taking Savings and Credit Co-operative Societies should improve their direct marketing strategies targeting the ideal customers, with aim of increasing sales to current and lapsed customers improve customer loyalty and create new business . Key words: Direct Marketing Strategies, Market Performance and Deposit-Taking Savings and Credit Co-Operative Societies CITATION: Kamande, F. A. N. , & Maina, S. (2019). Direct marketing strategies and market performance of Deposit-taking Savings and Credit Co-operative Societies in Nairobi City County, Kenya. The Strategic Journal of Business & Change Management, 6 (4), 1718 – 1734.
A verified and optimized Stream X‐Machine testing method, with application to cloud service certification

The Stream X‐Machine (SXM) testing method provides strong and repeatable guarantees of functional correctness, up to a specification. These qualities make the method attractive for software certification, especially in the domain of brokered cloud services, where arbitrage seeks to substitute functionally equivalent services from alternative providers. However, practical obstacles include the difficulty in providing a correct specification, the translation of abstract paths into feasible concrete tests and the large size of generated test suites. We describe a novel SXM verification and testing method, which automatically checks specifications for completeness and determinism, prior to generating complete test suites with full grounding information. Three optimization steps achieve up to a 10‐fold reduction in the size of the test suite, removing infeasible and redundant tests. The method is backed by a set of tools to validate and verify the SXM specification, generate technology‐agnostic test suites and ground these in SOAP, REST or rich‐client service implementations. The method was initially validated using seven specifications, three cloud platforms and five grounding strategies.
High Force Density Textile Electrostatic Clutch

Clutches are key elements for blocking or coupling motion in wearable systems such as soft exoskeletons, haptic clothing, and rehabilitation equipment. Electrostatic clutches (ESclutches) are compact and light, making them particularly well‐suited for wearable applications. They are variable capacitors whose electrodes can slide with respect to each other, with a frictional force between electrodes proportional to the square of the applied voltage. A high force–density textile‐based ESclutch is reported here, generating frictional shear stresses of 21 N cm−2 at only 300 V, a stress level 11 times higher than any other ESclutch, and 88 times better than textile‐based ESclutches. Actuation and release time are inferior to 5 and 15 ms. Power consumption is below 1.2 mW cm−2. To reach such high frictional stresses, a dielectric material with high permittivity is chosen (P(VDF‐TrFE‐CTFE)), a fabrication process that enables highly planar dielectric and conductive films on textile is developed, and an alternating current waveform is optimized to minimize space charge. The ESclutch is thin, highly flexible, and weighs only 30 mg cm−2. The device demonstrated here is designed for wearable applications such as kinesthetic haptic feedback for virtual reality or for soft exoskeletons.
Event Studies of High‐Latitude FACs With Inverse and Assimilative Analysis of AMPERE Magnetometer Data

We present examples of high‐latitude field‐aligned current (FAC) and toroidal magnetic potential patterns in both hemispheres reconstructed at a 2‐min cadence using an updated optimal interpolation (OI) method that ingests magnetic perturbation data provided by the Active Magnetosphere and Planetary Electrodynamics Response Experiment (AMPERE) program. A solstice and an equinoctial event are studied to demonstrate the reconstructed patterns and to provide scientific insights into FAC response to different solar wind drivers. For the 14 June 2011 high‐speed stream event with mostly northward Bz driving, we found persistently stronger FACs in the Northern Hemisphere. Extreme interhemispheric asymmetry is associated with the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) direction and large dipole tilt, consistent with earlier studies. FAC asymmetries seen during an isolated substorm can be attributed to dipole tilt. During relatively low geomagnetic activity, the FAC response to IMF Bx changes is identified. For the 17–18 March 2013 period, we provide global snapshots of rapid FAC changes related to an interplanetary shock passage. We further present comparisons between instantaneous and mean behaviors of FAC for the solar wind sheath passage and interplanetary coronal mass ejection southward Bz interval and northward Bz intervals. We show that (1) sheath passage results in strong FAC and high variation in the dayside polar cap region and pre‐midnight region, different from the typical R1/R2 currents during prolonged southward Bz; (2) four‐cell reverse patterns appear during northward Bz but are not stable; and (3) persistent dawn‐dusk asymmetry is seen throughout the storm, especially during an extreme substorm, likely associated with a dawnside current wedge.
CMIP5 Climate Models Overestimate Cooling by Volcanic Aerosols

We compare projections of the observed hemispherical mean surface temperature (HadCRUT4.6.0.0) and the ensemble mean of CMIP5 climate models' simulations on a set of standard regression model forcing variables. We find that the volcanic aerosol regression coefficients of the CMIP5 simulations are consistently significantly larger (by 40–49%) than the volcanic aerosol coefficients of the observed temperature. The probability that the observed differences are caused just by chance is much less than 0.01. The overestimate is due to the climate models' response to volcanic aerosol radiative forcing. The largest overestimate occurs in the winter season of each hemisphere. We hypothesize that the models' parameterization of aerosol‐cloud interactions within ice and mixed phase clouds is a likely source of this discrepancy. Furthermore, the models significantly underestimate the effect of solar variability on temperature for both hemispheres.
Elaboração de hambúrguer de carne bovina com adição de farinha de sorgo

R e s u m o . O hambúrguer é um alimento bastante apreciado e consumido pela população de diversas faixas etárias. No intuito de melhorar a qualidade nutricional, o objetivo do presente estudo foi desenvolver um hambúrguer de carne bovina com adição de diferentes concentrações de farinha de sorgo: 2,5; 5,0; 7,5 e 10% e avaliar seus atributos nas características físicas, químicas, microbiológicas e sensoriais. Os hambúrgueres apresentaram níveis microbiológicos de acordo com o preconizado pela Legislação Brasileira e valores de pH (5,64-5,72) adequados para produtos cárneos, estando o produto próprio para o consumo. Os resultados das características de umidade mostraram que o hambúrguer cozido da formulação quatro (F4) obteve maior umidade (63,02%) em relação as outras amostras. Nos parâmetros cor (L*, a* e b*) observou-se que quanto maior a concentração de farinha, mais intensa (escura) a cor do hambúrguer. A análise instrumental da força de cisalhamento mostrou que o acréscimo de farinha de sorgo não afetou significativamente a textura dos hambúrgueres, tendo a formulação 1 uma textura de 1,80 kgf/s e a formulação 4 uma textura de 1,86 kgf/s. Os valores do cozimento mostraram que os hambúrgueres com maior percentual de farinha de sorgo apresentaram maior capacidade de retenção de umidade (92,66%) e com isso maior rendimento (89,14%) e um menor encolhimento das amostras com maior quantidade de farinha (9,48%) contribuindo para maior suculência. A análise sensorial utilizando a escala hedônica de nove pontos, com 103 consumidores, constatou que todos os atributos avaliados (avaliação global, cor, sabor, textura, intenção de compra) nas 4 formulações apresentadas, apresentaram boa aceitação sensorial e intenção de compra, porém a formulação 2 foi a melhor aceita pelos consumidores. E-mail anabcf1@gmail.com
Hypophysitis associated with immunomodulatory therapies

Poster: "ECR 2016 / C-0895 / Hypophysitis associated with immunomodulatory therapies" by: "N. Vaz, D. Vas, J. Berenguer, M. L. Olondo, N. Bargallo Alabart, L. Oleaga Zufiria, M. T. Pujol Farre, S. Capurro, C. Cardenal; Barcelona/ES"
Metasurfaces-based imaging and applications: from miniaturized optical components to functional imaging platforms

This review focuses on the imaging applications of metasurfaces. These optical elements provide a unique platform to control light; not only do they have a reduced size and complexity compared to conventional imaging systems but they also enable novel imaging modalities, such as functional-imaging techniques. This review highlights the development of metalenses, from their basic principles, to the achievement of achromatic and tunable lenses, and metasurfaces implemented in functional optical imaging applications.
The Enigma of Reason

Hugo Mercier and Dan Sperber’s The Enigma of Reason is a tour de force that documents flaws in our reasoning and provides a new and different take on why, through evolution, we acquired our reasoning capacity. This end, we learn, may not be so that we can now discover black holes, as many of us may think. Rather, we may have acquired this capacity because we are social beings and our reasoning capacity helps us get along with each other better. The volume is intellectually challenging with content that fluctuates from fascinating empirical findings and examples from history to puzzles illustrating points regarding our use of logic that left me knowing that I am among the humans about whom the authors refer! Each point the authors make is extensively referenced providing readers means by which they can research areas of particular interest. This book may leave readers with three gains: engaging and illuminating information; a new way of viewing our human capacity for reasoning and a dense, demanding set of problems in logic illustrating why the authors’ claims about the limits of our reasoning may be true. The first of these gains, the studies and historical examples are as interesting as they are instructive. It would be worthwhile for some readers to skim the content for these gems. The second gain, a new appreciation of some social functions of reasoning, provides both positive and negative insights regarding what we seek and need from each other. The third gain is a grueling confrontation with what we can and cannot do individually with our reasoning. Here, we may go slowly and struggle with the book’s many challenging reasoning puzzles, seeing howmanyof themwe can solve. There is an additional gain for mental health providers to personally grow throughout their lives, and for them to be better able to help their patients. Both these gains would come from a qualitatively new appreciation from reading this book regardless of what we currently think. Insight may be passed on to our patients and insight may create a leap in openmindedness. This may allow and enable us to make choices and act in ways we would not have considered before. Our pre-knowledge that we “knew better” may, after reading this book, no longer exist, freeing us to explore and pioneer new pathways. The book proceeds sequentially, making each new point by building upon what was previously said. I will do the same. There are five main sections and each contains many subdivisions. Moving along through each section, I will try to give readers a separate sense of how they might merely engage or go deeper. I will conclude this review by offering some of my own thoughts.
An asymmetric information mean‐field type linear‐quadratic stochastic Stackelberg differential game with one leader and two followers

This paper is concerned with an asymmetric information linear‐quadratic (AILQ) stochastic Stackelberg differential game with one leader and two followers, where the game system is governed by mean‐field type stochastic differential equation (MF‐SDE). With the help of two systems of Riccati equations, the followers solve a MF‐type stochastic LQ game problem with partial information first, and then, the leader turns to address an optimal control problem driven by linear MF‐type forward‐backward stochastic differential filtering equation (MF‐FBSDFE). By maximum principle, direct construction method and optimal filtering, the open‐loop Stackelberg solution is expressed as a feedback form of state, state estimation, and state mean.
¿CUÁNTO SE HA AVANZADO EN PROPORCIONAR ANALÍTICA E INTELIGENCIA DE NEGOCIOS A LAS PYMES?

Este trabajo revisa las publicaciones academicas arbitradas del periodo 2017-2018 relacionadas con la inteligencia de negocios y la analitica, orientadas a las microempresas dedicadas al comercio, buscando encontrar una oportunidad de reducir las asimetrias de informacion en la toma de decisiones de este relevante sector de la economia. Se muestra el nivel de avance logrado y la escasez de tecnologia de inteligencia de negocios y la analitica para contribuir a la sustentabilidad de estos negocios en el contexto de la industria 4.0. Se propone un trabajo futuro para proveer tecnologia de analitica e inteligencia de negocios, orientada a microempresas dedicadas al comercio, que les permita contar con visualizacion de datos reforzadas con logica difusa, mediante un panel de control difuso.
Early Mobilization and Physical Activity Improve Stroke Recovery: A Cohort Study of Stroke Inpatients in Kisumu County Referral Hospitals, Kenya

Early mobilization in acute stroke care is highly recommended in a range of developed countries policy; however, in developing countries like Kenya, lack of evidence seems to hinder formulation and implementation of policy guideline on early mobilization in acute stroke care. Therefore, to estimate the safe optimal time for early mobilization of stroke patients in Kenya, we conducted a prospective cohort study in two purposively selected health facilities in Kisumu County, Kenya. About 100 stroke patients admitted in medical wards (mean age 59.1±2.3 years, females 61%) were recruited. Barthel Index’ tool was used to assess recovery and physical activity levels. It comprised of scoring scale ranging from 0-100. The participants were categorized as follows: Patients who score between 0 – 30 were considered as mildly recovered, 31 - 60 as moderately recovered and patients who score from 61 – 100 were regarded as fully recovered. Multiple logistic regression model was used to compute adjusted ORs (AOR) of early mobilization and Barthel Index variable, adjusting for age, gender and type of stroke. Early mobilization improves patient recovery. Participants in early mobilization group were more like to independently feed, groom, dress, use toilet, use wheel chair and climb stairs with help compared to late mobilization (p <0.05). Most (76%) participants who were exposed to high physical activity had full recovery than the (5%) bones in low physical activity (p< 0.001). This study provides evidence that early mobilization and high physical activity improves stroke patient recovery.
Coincidence of hand-foot syndrome and diffuse erythema – cutaneous side-effects of sorafenib

Introduction. Hand-foot syndrome (palmoplantar erythrodysesthesia) is a toxic reaction provoked by certain types of chemotherapy or biological therapy. It is characterized by erythema, hyperkeratosis and bullae occurring mainly on the palms and soles. In patients treated with sorafenib, a tyrosin kinase inhibitor with antiangiogenic and antiproliferative activity, hand-foot syndrome is one of the most common sideeffects. Rarely, an association of hand-foot syndrome and diffuse erythema is observed. Objective. Presentation of clinical picture of sorafenib induced skin side effects. SŁOWA KLUCZOWE: zespol reka–stopa, sorafenib, inhibitory kinaz tyrozynowych, erytrodyzestezja dloniowo-podeszwowa, reakcje polekowe.
Validation of Metabolic and Immunologic Biomarkers TNF-a, IGF, IL-6, CRP and Hair Cortisol in the Common Marmoset

The common marmoset is a good model for research because they are easy to house and have complex social relationships (French et al., 2019). Marmosets are sensitive to social isolation, and when introduced to a stressor, the HPA axis is activated (Saltzman & Abbott, 2011). The purpose of this experiment is to validate marmosets as a translational model for stress due to social relationships in humans. This is done by validating biomarker concentration levels at baseline, then comparing the concentration when introduced to a stressor. The biomarkers IL-6, CRP, IGF-1 and TNF-a were tested using a serum assay, then running the well plate under a plate reader to determine the concentration. No antibodies were detected in the marmoset samples for the biomarkers IL-6, CRP, IGF-1 and TNF-a. Chronic cortisol concentration was determined using marmoset hair samples. The high stress group for hair cortisol concentration was significantly greater than the control group, providing evidence that hair cortisol is a reliable biomarker for long-term chronic stress. Marmosets can be used as a translational animal model to further understand and study both acute and chronic stress due to social relationships and isolation.