Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
¿Cuál es la situación de la Ley de Bosques en la Región Chaqueña a diez años de su sanción? Revisar su pasado para discutir su futuro

In a complex environmental, productive and socioeconomic scenario, on November 28th, 2007, the National Act N°26.331 of “Minimum Standards for the Environmental Protection of Native Forests” (known as the “Forest Law”) was sanctioned in Argentina with the purpose of protecting native forests at the national scale. In this article, we aim to critically synthesize the available information about this law ten years after its sanction from an approach that takes into account environmental, economic and social aspects. In particular, we characterize the performance of this law in the Chaco Region in different dimensions, identify its main challenges and describe a series of proposals that from the science and technology sector can contribute to its (re)design and implementation in the context of the revisions of the Provincial Native Forest Land Use Planning Programs. In order to accomplish these objectives, we integrated information available from different sources, such as laws and regulations (national and provincial), scientific literature, reports from government agencies and NGOs and newspaper articles. The Forest Law installed in the public opinion of our country the problems related to the loss of native forests and has positioned itself as the main national instrument for forest conservation. Although deforestation rates lowered in the Chaco Region, there is no clear evidence that this reduction was due to its application. The Forest Law in the Chaco Region presents a series of challenges to improve its performance in terms of its effectiveness, equity and social legitimacy. In this paper, we present ten observations that emerge from the review carried out. On the other hand, linked to these observations, we outline a series of research and action proposals for enhancing the performance of the law. *Ex Aequohttps://doi.org/10.25260/EA.18. 28.2. 0.677
Mirror Therapy in Unilateral Neglect After Stroke (MUST trial)

Objective: We explored the effectiveness of mirror therapy (MT) in the treatment of unilateral neglect in stroke patients. Methods: This is an open, blinded endpoint, randomized controlled trial carried out from January 2011 to August 2013. We included stroke patients with thalamic and parietal lobe lesions with unilateral neglect 48 hours after stroke. Patients were randomized to the MT group or the control group (sham MT), and both the groups received limb activation. Patients received treatment for 1–2 hours a day 5 days a week for 4 weeks. The primary outcome was unilateral neglect assessed by a blinded assessor using the star cancellation test, the line bisection test, and a picture identification task at 1, 3, and 6 months. This study was registered at http://clinicaltrials.gov (NCT 01735877). Results: Forty-eight patients were randomized to MT (n = 27) or the control group (n = 21). Improvement in scores on the star cancellation test over 6 months was greater in the MT group (mean difference 23, 95% confidence interval [CI] 19–28; p < 0.0001). Similarly, improvement in the MT group was observed in the scores on the picture identification task (mean difference 3.2, 95% CI 2.4–4.0; p < 0.0001) and line bisection test (mean difference 8.6, 95% CI 2.7–14.6; p = 0.006). Conclusions: In patients with stroke, MT is a simple treatment that improves unilateral neglect. Classification of evidence: This study provides Class I evidence that for patients with neglect from thalamic and parietal lobe strokes, MT improves neglect.
The major determinants of logistic performance in a global perspective: evidence from panel data analysis

ABSTRACT The global logistics industry has grown significantly and logistics has become an important sector of the business economic system and a major global economic activity in recent years. Logistics activities accelerate economic and productivity growth. Efficient logistics is also important to a country’s competitiveness and source of employment. The purpose of this paper is to uncover and understand the major determinants of logistics performance (LP) to further lift the LP of countries. Using unbalanced panel data of 93 selected countries from 2007 to 2014, the present research attempts to critically investigate the major determinants of LP. In estimating the model, this study prefers to use static panel data approach owing to limited data. The findings of the present study reveal that (a) countries with low level of corruption and stable political environment are likely to yield a high level of LP; (b) improvement in resources supply such as infrastructure, technology, labour, and education also have a significant positive effect on LP. Therefore, institutional reforms and upgrading resources will effectively accelerate LP.
Daňová konkurencieschopnosť členských krajín Európskej únie v kontexte korporátneho zdanenia

Despite the tax coordination and harmonisation, as the tax burden convergence processes, the corporate taxation systems differ among EU Member States, which can affect the development of economies to various degrees. The main objective of the paper is to assess whether the EU-27 countries are competitive in the field of corporate taxation and to verify whether "new Member States" are considered more competitive than the "old Member States". Empirical research from 2004 to 2014 used traditional quantitative indicators and specific quantitative methods in the form of tax rate relations, cluster analysis and constant market shares method, the application of which in the tax field is one of the main benefits of the research. Empirical results have highlighted the significant and positive impact of tax competitiveness on growth of corporate earnings growth. It has also shown that tax competition among countries is not clearly associated with a decrease in tax rates and will persist unless harmonization efforts are successful.
The new factor Xa inhibitor: Apixaban

Cardiovascular diseases are still the most important cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and anti-thrombotic treatment is widely used as a result. The currently used drugs include heparin and its derivatives, vitamin K antagonists, though efficacious, have their own set of limitations like unpredictable pharmacokinetic profile, parenteral route (with heparin and its derivatives only), narrow therapeutic window, and constant laboratory monitoring for their efficacy and safety. This lead to the development of novel factor Xa inhibitors which could be given orally, have predictable dose response relationship and are associated with lesser hemorrhagic complications. They include rivaroxaban, apixaban, and edoxaban among others. Apixaban has currently been approved for use in patients undergoing total knee or hip replacement surgery and to prevent stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation. Many trials are ongoing for apixaban to firmly establish its place in future, among the anti-thrombotic drugs.
Prehospital airway technique does not influence incidence of ventilator-associated pneumonia in trauma patients

BACKGROUND The relationship between the prehospital airway device used and later development of ventilator-associated pneumonia (VAP) is unknown. We sought to determine if the prehospital airway device choice is associated with an increased risk of VAP in risk-adjusted critically injured patients. METHODS We performed a retrospective analysis of all trauma patients requiring definitive airway placement before intensive care unit admission at a Level I trauma center from 2008 to 2012. Prehospital airway management strategies were classified as extraglottic device placement, endotracheal intubation, bag-valve mask ventilation (BVM), or lack of a prehospital airway with subsequent intubation at the trauma center. Patients were excluded if they were hospital transfers, were dead on arrival, died in the emergency department, or did not require at least 48 hours of mechanical ventilation. The primary end point was the development of VAP as determined by institutional guidelines for diagnosis. Logistic regression was used to determine risk factors for VAP. RESULTS A total of 317 patients met inclusion criteria. The median age was 37 years (interquartile range, 25–51 years), 75% were male, 78% sustained a blunt injury, and the median Injury Severity Score (ISS) was 29 (interquartile range, 21–34). Ninety-seven patients (30.6%) developed VAP. Prehospital airway strategies were as follows: 17 (5.4%) had extraglottic device placement, 28 (8.8%) had BVM, 84 (26.5%) had endotracheal intubation, and 188 (59.3%) had no prehospital airway placement and were intubated after arrival. The type of prehospital airway was not statistically significant in terms of VAP development (range, 26.1–42.9%; p = 0.15). The only statistically significant predictor of VAP was length of mechanical ventilation (univariate: odds ratio, 1.14; 95% confidence interval, 1.10–1.18; p ⩽ 0.01; multivariate: odds ratio, 1.15; 95% confidence interval, 1.10–1.20; p ⩽ 0.01). CONCLUSION Our data suggest that the prehospital airway device used was not associated with the development of VAP. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE Therapeutic study, level IV; epidemiologic study, level III.
Genetic mating system and mate selection in smallmouth bass

Abstract Mating systems are an important factor influencing the variance in reproductive success among individuals within natural populations and thus have important ecological and evolutionary implications. We used molecular pedigree reconstruction techniques with microsatellite DNA data to characterize the genetic mating system and mate selection in adult smallmouth bass spawning in Lake Opeongo. The genetic mating system of smallmouth bass in this system can be characterized as predominantly monogamous with a low rate of polygynandry particularly among larger individuals. Iteroparous individuals showed a complete absence of interannual mate fidelity, presumably due to the low annual return rate of spawning adults. Within a season, individuals from both sexes pursued additional mating opportunities with males showing greater variance in mate number than females. Female mate selection appeared to be largely random with little evidence for elevated levels of inbreeding in this population. Multiple mating females pursued additional males to whom they were less related than the first male with which they spawned within a given season, however, this pattern varied among years. The mating pattern observed in this population would likely limit the strength of sexual selection and thus could account for the lack of sexual dimorphism and the absence of alternative reproductive tactics in this species.
Generalized Sharpe Ratios and Asset Pricing in Incomplete Markets

This paper draws on the seminal article of Cochrane and Saa-Requejo (2000) who pioneered the calculation of option price bounds based on the absence of arbitrage and high Sharpe Ratios. Our contribution is threefold: We base the equilibrium restrictions on an arbitrary utility function, obtaining the C&S-R analysis as a special case with truncated quadratic utility. Secondly, we restate the discount factor restrictions in terms of Generalised Sharpe Ratios suitable for practical applications. Last but not least, we demonstrate that for ItU processes C&S-R price bounds are invariant to the choice of the utility function, and that in the limit they tend to a unique price determined by the minimal martingale measure.
Pro-competitive effects of globalisation on prices, productivity and markups : evidence in the Euro Area

Global trade has recently slowed down after a peak in the 1990s and early 2000s. Existing literature shows evidence of pro-competitive effects of trade liberalisation during this booming period on prices, productivity and markups. The goal of this paper is to assess whether such pro-competitive effects are still carried on in the manufacturing industry of five Euro Area countries (Austria, Germany, Spain, France and Italy). Our analysis is based on Melitz and Ottaviano’s (2008) theoretical framework and its empirical setup by Chen et al. (2004, 2009). Our contribution is twofold. First, we use traditional trade indicators (gross and value added exports and imports) but also novel indicators that account for the development of global value chains. Second, from the findings of Chen et al. (2004, 2009), we go further by investigating the effect of trade at sector level with respect to quality upgrading and firm concentration. We find that pro-competitive effects are more significant when using import penetration in value-added terms and such effects are particularly strong in sectors with low concentration. Indeed, higher concentration seems to mitigate the trade-induced competition. However, our model focuses on price competition and further research on the quality upgrading would be complementary to our results.
Do Microprudential Regulations and Supervision Affect the Link Between Lending and Capital Ratio in Economic Downturns of Large Banks in the EU

This paper extends the literature on the capital crunch effect by examining the role of public policy for the link between lending and capital in a sample of large banks operating in the European Union during economic downturns. Applying Blundell and Bond (1998) two-step robust GMM estimator, we show that restrictions on bank activities and more stringent capital standards weaken the capital crunch effect, consistent with reduced risk-taking and boosted bank charter values. Official supervision also reduces the impact of capital ratio on lending in downturns; however, its effect is only marginally significant in the sample of unconsolidated banks. Private oversight seems to be related to thin capital buffers in expansions, and therefore the capital crunch effect is enhanced in countries with increased market discipline. We thus provide evidence that neither regulations nor supervision at the microprudential level is neutral from a financial stability perspective. Weak regulations and supervision seem to increase the pro-cyclical effect of capital on bank lending.
Molecular Basis of H2O2 Resistance Mediated by Streptococcal Dpr

H2O2 is an unavoidable cytotoxic by-product of aerobic life. Dpr, a recently discovered member of the Dps protein family, provides a means for catalase-negative bacteria to tolerate H2O2. Potentially, Dpr could bind free intracellular iron and thus inhibit the Fenton chemistry-catalyzed formation of toxic hydroxyl radicals (H2O2 + Fe2+ → ⋅OH +–OH + Fe3+). We explored the in vivo function of Dpr in the catalase- and NADH peroxidase-negative pig and human pathogen Streptococcus suis. We show that: (i) a Dpr allelic exchange knockout mutant was hypersensitive (∼106-fold) to H2O2, (ii) Dpr incorporated iron in vivo, (iii) a putative ferroxidase center was present in Dpr, (iv) single amino acid substitutions D74A or E78A to the putative ferroxidase center abolished the in vivo iron incorporation, and (v) the H2O2 hypersensitive phenotype was complemented by wild-type Dpr or by a membrane-permeating iron chelator, but not by the site-mutated forms of Dpr. These results demonstrate that the putative ferroxidase center of Dpr is functionally active in iron incorporation and that the H2O2 resistance is mediated by Dpr in vivo by its iron binding activity.
Estimates of the prevalence of arthritis and selected musculoskeletal disorders in the United States.

OBJECTIVE To provide a single source for the best available estimates of the national prevalence of arthritis in general and of selected musculoskeletal disorders (osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, the spondylarthropathies, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, polymyalgia rheumatica/giant cell arteritis, gout, fibromyalgia, and low back pain). METHODS The National Arthritis Data Workgroup reviewed data from available surveys, such as the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey series. For overall national estimates, we used surveys based on representative samples. Because data based on national population samples are unavailable for most specific musculoskeletal conditions, we derived data from various smaller survey samples from defined populations. Prevalence estimates from these surveys were linked to 1990 US Bureau of the Census population data to calculate national estimates. We also estimated the expected frequency of arthritis in the year 2020. RESULTS Current national estimates are provided, with important caveats regarding their interpretation, for self-reported arthritis and selected conditions. An estimated 15% (40 million) of Americans had some form of arthritis in 1995. By the year 2020, an estimated 18.2% (59.4 million) will be affected. CONCLUSION Given the limitations of the data on which they are based, this report provides the best available prevalence estimates for arthritis and other rheumatic conditions overall, and for selected musculoskeletal disorders, in the US population.
Objective confirmation of asthma diagnosis improves medication adherence

ABSTRACT Objective: The impact of diagnostic work-up in asthma management on medication redemption and probably also drug adherence is largely unknown, but we hypothesized that a confirmed diagnosis of asthma in a hospital-based out-patient clinic increases the willingness to subsequent medication redemption in a real life setting. Methods: In a retrospective register-based study, 300 medical records of patients referred with possible asthma during one year were examined, of whom 171 had asthma (57%). One-year data on dispensed medicine was collected using the Danish Registry of Medicinal Product Statistics. Patients who had a positive asthma (e.g. bronchial challenge) were classified as verified asthma, whereas unverified asthma refers to doctor's diagnosis of asthma with negative or no diagnostic tests performed. Results: 111 (65%) had a verified diagnosis and patients with verified asthma were more frequently prescribed new therapy compared to those with unverified asthma (88.9% vs. 65.0%, respectively, p < 0.001). No difference was found in first time redemption of prescriptions (72% vs. 64%, respectively, p = 0.3), whereas the second (52% vs. 27%, p = 0.001) and third or more asthma redeemed prescriptions (37% vs. 17%, p = 0.006) showed increased redemption of prescription and probably adherence in the verified compared with the unverified patients with asthma. Furthermore, the use of inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) was calculated as Percent Days Covered (PDC), which was higher in the verified group compared with the non-verified asthma group (88% vs. 30%, p = 0.004). Conclusion: Objective verification of a diagnosis of asthma using asthma tests was associated with an improved redemption of prescription.
Fluorodopa and raclopride PET analysis of patients with Machado-Joseph disease

We performed [18F]6-fluoro-L-dopa (6-FD) and[11C]raclopride (RAC) PET studies in six patients with Machado-Joseph disease (MJD) (age, 17 to 61 years; duration of illness, 3 to 10 years), normal controls (n = 10 in 6-FD-PET, n = 8 in RAC-PET), and patients with idiopathic parkinsonism (n = 15 in 6-FD-PET). The youngest patient with MJD had prominent dystonia and pyramidal features (type 1 MJD), whereas the remainder were prominently ataxic (types 2 and 3 MJD). Striatal RAC binding was normal in patients with MJD. Striatal 6-FD influx constants (Ki) were low in the range of idiopathic parkinsonism in two patients with MJD (youngest and oldest patients), whereas striatal Ki were normal in the remaining patients with MJD. The impairment of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway did not correlate with the phenotype, CAG repeat length, disease duration, or age of onset patients with MJD. Our results suggest that striatal D2 receptor are normal and the nigral damage is diverse in MJD.
Long‐term results after primary repair or non‐surgical treatment of anterior cruciate ligament rupture: a randomized study with a 15‐year follow‐up

We investigated the long‐term outcome of 100 patients 15 years after having been randomly allocated to primary repair (augmented or non‐augmented) or non‐surgical treatment of an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rupture. The subjective outcome was similar between the groups, with no difference regarding activity level and knee‐injury and osteoarthritis outcome score but with a slightly lower Lysholm score for the non‐surgically treated group. This difference was attributed to more instability symptoms. The radiological osteoarthritis (OA) frequency did not differ between surgically or non‐surgically treated patients, but if a meniscectomy was performed, two‐thirds of the patients showed OA changes regardless of initial treatment of the ACL. There were significantly more meniscus injuries in patients initially treated non‐surgically. One‐third of the patients in the non‐surgically treated group underwent secondary ACL reconstruction due to instability problems. In this study, ACL repair itself could not reduce the risk of OA nor increase the subjective outcome scores. However, one‐third of the non‐surgical treated patients were later ACL reconstructed due to instability. The status of the menisci was found to be the most important predictor of developing OA. Early ACL repair and also ACL reconstruction can reduce the risk of secondary meniscus tears. Indirectly this supports the hypothesis that early stabilization of the knee after ACL injury is advantageous for the long‐term outcome.
Comparison of the non-invasive Nexfin® monitor with conventional methods for the measurement of arterial blood pressure in moderate risk orthopaedic surgery patients

Objective Continuous invasive arterial blood pressure (IBP) monitoring remains the gold standard for BP measurement, but traditional oscillometric non-invasive intermittent pressure (NIBP) measurement is used in most low-to-moderate risk procedures. This study compared non-invasive continuous arterial BP measurement using a Nexfin® monitor with NIBP and IBP monitors. Methods This was a single-centre, prospective, pilot study in patients scheduled for elective orthopaedic surgery. Systolic BP, diastolic BP and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) were measured by Nexfin®, IBP and NIBP at five intraoperative time-points. Pearson correlation coefficients, Bland–Altman plots and trending ability of Nexfin® measurements were used as criteria for success in the investigation of measurement reliability. Results A total of 20 patients were enrolled in the study. For MAP, there was a sufficient correlation between IBP/Nexfin® (Pearson = 0.75), which was better than the correlation between IBP/NIBP (Pearson = 0.70). Bland–Altman analysis of the data showed that compared with IBP, there was a higher percentage error for MAPNIBP (30%) compared with MAPNexfin® (27%). Nexfin® and NIBP underestimated systolic BP; NIBP also underestimated diastolic BP and MAP. Trending ability for MAPNexfin® and MAPNIBP were comparable to IBP. Conclusion Non-invasive BP measurement with Nexfin® was comparable with IBP and tended to be more precise than NIBP.