Exploratory Content Analysis Using Text Data Mining: Corporate Citizenship Reports of Seven US Companes from 2004 to 2012

This study demonstrates the use of Text Data Mining (TDM) for exploring the content of a collection of Corporate Citizenship(CC) reports. The collection analyzed comprises CC reports produced by seven Dow Jones companies (Citi, Coca-Cola, ExxonMobil, General Motors, Intel, McDonalds and Microsoft) in2004, 2008 and 2012.Exploratory con-tent analysis using TDM enables insights for CC professionals and analysts, in less time using fewer resources, which in turn could help them explore collaboration opportunities around supply chains, re-training programs, and alternative risk mitigation strategies in terms of governance and compliance. In addition, TDM, using supervised machine learning on the whole collection (or corpus) as well as unsupervised machine learning on document collections by year, suggests the integration of CC considerations related to environmental sustain-ability in CC report components discussing the core business of some firms. This method has been used in many contexts in which a collection of documents needs to be categorized and/or analyzed to uncover new patterns and relationships

Restricted Diffusion of Pus in the Subarachnoid Space: MRSA Meningo-Vasculitis and Progressive Brainstem Ischemic Strokes – A Case Report

Extra-axial restriction on diffusion weighted imaging (DWI) is an unusual finding on brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Intra-axial restriction on DWI, however, is common, and can represent brain parenchymal infarction, tumor, abscess, or toxic-metabolic process. The infrequency of extra-axial DWI restriction and the paucity of clinico-pathological correlation in the literature limit its differential diagnosis. Scant case reports suggest that extra-axial DWI restriction could be a lymphoma, neurenteric cyst, or, in one patient, subdural empyema [1,2,3]. We postulate that pus formation must be excluded first, because it can provoke an aggressive meningo-vasculitis with rapidly fatal, intra-axial infarctions. Our patient was a 45-year-old man, presenting to our hospital with left facial droop and right (contralateral) arm and leg weakness. Initial MRI revealed DWI restriction in the left lateral pons, consistent with a classic Millard-Gubler stroke. Also noted was a subtle, extra-axial area of curvilinear diffusion restriction in the left cerebellar-pontine angle's subarachnoid space. Days later, the patient had a headache, and repeat MRI revealed extension of the two DWI lesions – both the intra-axial pontine infarction and the extra-axial area of restricted diffusion in the subarachnoid space. The patient became comatose, a third MRI revealed more extensive DWI restrictions, and he expired despite aggressive care. Autopsy revealed massive brainstem infarcts, a thick lymphoplasmacytic infiltrate, copious Gram-Positive cocci (likely MRSA) and arteries partially occluded with fibrointimal proliferation. This emphasizes the concept that extra-axial DWI restriction can represent pus development in the subarachnoid space – a radiographic marker to identify a patient at risk for demise due to septic, meningo-vasculitic infarctions

Spirulina extract improves age-induced vascular dysfunction

Vascular dysfunction is considered a hallmark of ageing that has been associated with altered vasomotor responses, in which nitric oxide (NO) and reactive oxygen species participate. The consumption of Spirulina extracts, with antioxidant properties, increased recently. Objective: This study investigates the effect of Spirulina aqueous extract (SAE) on the vascular function of the aorta from aged rats. Materials and methods: Aortic segments from aged male Sprague-Dawley rats (20–22 months old) were exposed to SAE (0.1% w/v, for 3 h) to analyse: (i) the vasodilator response induced by acetylcholine (ACh), by the NO donor sodium nitroprusside (SNP), by the carbon monoxide releasing molecule (CORM) and by the KATP channel opener, cromakalim (CK); (ii) the vasoconstrictor response induced by KCl and noradrenaline (NA); (iii) the production of NO and superoxide anion, and (iv) the expression of the p-eNOS and HO-1 proteins. Results: Incubation with SAE increased the expression of p-eNOS (1.6-fold) and HO-1 (2.0-fold), enhanced NO release (1.4-fold in basal and 1.9-fold in ACh-stimulated conditions) while decreased the production of superoxide (0.7-fold). SAE also increased the sensitivity (measured as pEC50) to ACh (control: −7.06 ± 0.11; SAE: −8.16 ± 0.21), SNP (control: −7.96 ± 0.16; SAE: −9.11 ± 0.14) and CK (control: −7.05 ± 0.39; SAE: −8.29 ± 0.53), and potentiated the response to KCl (1.3-fold) and to NA (1.7-fold). Conclusion: The antioxidant properties of SAE improved the vasomotor responses of aorta from aged rats. These results may support the use of Spirulina as a protection against vascular dysfunctionThis study was supported by grants from Comunidad de Madrid(S2013/ABI-2783,‘INSPIRA1-CM’) and Fondo Europeo de Desarrollo Regional to C. O. and M. F., the Spanish Ministerio deCiencia e Innovaci on (CTQ2017-86170-R) to C. O. and by theFondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias del Instituto de Salud Carlos III(PI19/01282) to M.

Aplicación del método indirecto para la obtención de una matriz insumo-producto año 2002 para VIII Región del Bío-Bío

El objetivo de este trabajo, es presentar una serie actualizada de matrices (12*12) 1996-2002 para la VIII región del Bío Bío y el diseño de algoritmo, desarrollado mediante MATLAB, para su aplicación directa a matrices regionales implementadas en planilla electrónica EXCEL.En esta perspectiva se identifican los modelos utilizados; así como,los requerimientos de información y supuestos teóricos necesarios para estimar la matriz inversa para la economía regional, mediante la utilización de las tablas input-output (12 x 12 sectores). Las conclusiones se derivan de la propuesta metodológica Chernery Watanabe, Rasmussen y Chi-cuadrado.Finalmente, se realiza un análisis comparativo (1996 -2002) del cambio estructural acontecido en los sectores productivos, reflejado en la matriz inversa de la economía de la VIII Región

Association between the perceived environment and physical activity among adults in Latin America: a systematic review

BACKGROUND: Activity friendly environments have been identified as promising strategies to increase physical activity levels in the population. Associations between perceived environmental attributes and physical activity in Latin America may vary from those observed in high income countries. The objective of this systematic review is to identify which perceived environmental attributes are associated with physical activity in Latin America. METHODS: Systematic literature search of articles published in English, Portuguese, and Spanish in four databases was conducted (PubMed, Virtual Health Library, EBSCO, and Web of Science). Associations with environmental attributes were analyzed separately for physical activity domains. Fifteen articles were included in the analysis. RESULTS: All studies had cross-sectional designs. The majority of associations were statistically non-significant, and only four associations were found in the unexpected direction. Leisure-time and transport-related physical activity were the domains most frequently included in the studies and had higher number of associations in the expected direction. Leisure-time physical activity showed a convincing association in the expected direction with safety during the day. Transport-related physical activity had a convincing association with presence of street lighting. CONCLUSIONS: This study shows that perceived environmental attributes and their relationship with physical activity appears to be domain, and context specific. In addition, findings from this study show inconsistencies with the information gathered from high-income countries

Sexual abuse vs. sexual freedom? A legal Approach to the Age of Sexual Consent in Adolescents in Spanish-Speaking Countries

Child and adolescent sexual abuse (CSA) is an international public health problem. Despite the importance of CSA, there is no consensus definition, and the lack of consensus is related to difficulties in conducting prevalence studies as well as research in other areas. To establish a consensual definition, legal aspects such as the age of sexual consent and the difference in age or power between victim and aggressor as well as aspects related to sexual freedom and sexual indemnity must be considered. Therefore, the main goal of this research was to analyze the age of sexual consent in the legal systems of Spanish-speaking countries and to examine whether the Romeo and Juliet clause is established. To achieve the proposed aims, we employed the legal interpretation method, and we analyzed the current Criminal Codes of the 21 Spanish-speaking countries. From the results, it is found that the age of sexual consent varies between countries, establishing valid sexual consent between 13 and 18 years. In addition, only six countries have the Romeo and Juliet clause that protects sexual freedom in adolescents. Finally, we discussed the lack of consensus on the age of sexual consent and the limitations presented by the Romeo and Juliet clause

Complete Plastid Genome Sequences of Two Species of the Neotropical Genus Brunellia (Brunelliaceae)

Here we present the first two complete plastid genomes for Brunelliaceae, a Neotropical family with a single genus, Brunellia. We surveyed the entire plastid genome in order to find variable cpDNA regions for further phylogenetic analyses across the family. We sampled morphologically different species, B. antioquensis and B. trianae, and found that the plastid genomes are 157,685 and 157,775 bp in length and display the typical quadripartite structure found in angiosperms. Despite the clear morphological distinction between both species, the molecular data show a very low level of divergence. The amount of nucleotide substitutions per site is one of the lowest reported to date among published congeneric studies (π = 0.00025). The plastid genomes have gene order and content coincident with other COM (Celastrales, Oxalidales, Malpighiales) relatives. Phylogenetic analyses of selected superrosid representatives show high bootstrap support for the ((C,M)O) topology. The N-fixing clade appears as the sister group of the COM clade and Zygophyllales as the sister to the rest of the fabids group

Rediseño e implementación de un prototipo para la medición y control de nivel y caudal de agua

Este artículo presenta el proceso de rediseño de una planta de medición de nivel y caudal, como un prototipo didáctico, incorporando diferentes tecnologías de medición. Se incluyen diferentes estrategias de control para una misma variable y la posibilidad de comparar los resultados de las mediciones realizadas. En la ejecución del proyecto, se reubicó parte de la instrumentación existente y se instalaron nuevos equipos. Se calibraron los equipos que lo requerían, se rediseñó el tablero eléctrico y se actualizaron los planos de cableado, permitiendo articular el sistema de control con la instrumentación de campo con la que se dotó el sistema. Finalmente, se realizaron las respectivas pruebas técnicas y se elaboraron las guías de laboratorio para la medición y control de nivel y caudal de agua. No obstante, se deja la posibilidad de expandir el prototipo didáctico mediante la implementación de nuevas estrategias de control tales como SCADA y otros sistemas de adquisición de datos que permitan el desarrollo de aplicaciones de simulación.This article aims to show the redesign process of a plant for level and flow control that includes different technologies of measurement. The plant operates as a didactic dispositive. This project includes different control strategies so measurement results can be compared.A part ofthe existing instrumentation was relocated and new equipment was installed. The equipment that required fine tuning was calibrated. The electric board was redesigned and the wiring plans were updated so that the control system was articulated with the field instrumentation given to the system. Finally, relevant technical trials were carried out, and laboratory guides regarding the me asure and control of water level and volume were developed. Additionally, the possibility to expand the didactic prototype by means of new control strategies implementation was included in the final recommendations. Such strategies include SCADA and systems of data acquisition in order to develop applications to simulate the system

Calmness of Linear Constraint Systems under Structured Perturbations with an Application to the Path-Following Scheme

Publisher Copyright: © 2021, The Author(s).We are concerned with finite linear constraint systems in a parametric framework where the right-hand side is an affine function of the perturbation parameter. Such structured perturbations provide a unified framework for different parametric models in the literature, as block, directional and/or partial perturbations of both inequalities and equalities. We extend some recent results about calmness of the feasible set mapping and provide an application to the convergence of a certain path-following algorithmic scheme. We underline the fact that our formula for the calmness modulus depends only on the nominal data, which makes it computable in practice.Peer reviewe

Crtc1 activates a transcriptional program deregulated at early Alzheimer's disease-related stages

Cognitive decline is associated with gene expression changes in the brain, but the transcriptional mechanisms underlying memory impairments in cognitive disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD), are largely unknown. Here, we aimed to elucidate relevant mechanisms responsible for transcriptional changes underlying early memory loss in AD by examining pathological, behavioral, and transcriptomic changes in control and mutant β-amyloid precursor protein (APPSw,Ind) transgenic mice during aging. Genome-wide transcriptome analysis using mouse microarrays revealed deregulation of a gene network related with neurotransmission, synaptic plasticity, and learning/memory in the hippocampus of APPSw,Ind mice after spatial memory training. Specifically, APPSw,Ind mice show changes on a cAMP-responsive element binding protein (CREB)-regulated transcriptional program dependent on the CREB-regulated transcription coactivator-1 (Crtc1). Interestingly, synaptic activity and spatial memory induces Crtc1 dephosphorylation (Ser151), nuclear translocation, and Crtc1-dependent transcription in the hippocampus, and these events are impaired in APPSw,Ind mice at early pathological and cognitive decline stages. CRTC1-dependent genes and CRTC1 levels are reduced in human hippocampus at intermediate Braak III/IV pathological stages. Importantly, adeno-associated viral-mediated Crtc1 overexpression in the hippocampus efficiently reverses Aβ-induced spatial learning and memory deficits by restoring a specific subset of Crtc1 target genes. Our results reveal a critical role of Crtc1-dependent transcription on spatial memory formation and provide the first evidence that targeting brain transcriptome reverses memory loss in AD