Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
One central oscillatory drive is compatible with experimental motor unit behaviour in essential and Parkinsonian tremor

Objective. Pathological tremors are symptomatic to several neurological disorders that are difficult to differentiate and the way by which central oscillatory networks entrain tremorogenic contractions is unknown. We considered the alternative hypotheses that tremor arises from one oscillator (at the tremor frequency) or, as suggested by recent findings from the superimposition of two separate inputs (at the tremor frequency and twice that frequency). Approach. Assuming one central oscillatory network we estimated analytically the relative amplitude of the harmonics of the tremor frequency in the motor neuron output for different temporal behaviors of the oscillator. Next, we analyzed the bias in the relative harmonics amplitude introduced by superimposing oscillations at twice the tremor frequency. These findings were validated using experimental measurements of wrist angular velocity and surface electromyography (EMG) from 22 patients (11 essential tremor, 11 Parkinson’s disease). The ensemble motor unit action potential trains identified from the EMG represented the neural drive to the muscles. Main results. The analytical results showed that the relative power of the tremor harmonics in the analytical models of the neural drive was determined by the variability and duration of the tremor bursts and the presence of the second oscillator biased this power towards higher values. The experimental findings accurately matched the analytical model assuming one oscillator, indicating a negligible functional role of secondary oscillatory inputs. Furthermore, a significant difference in the relative power of harmonics in the neural drive was found across the patient groups, suggesting a diagnostic value of this measure (classification accuracy: 86%). This diagnostic power decreased substantially when estimated from limb acceleration or the EMG. Signficance. The results indicate that the neural drive in pathological tremor is compatible with one central network providing neural oscillations at the tremor frequency. Moreover, the regularity of this neural oscillation varies across tremor pathologies, making the relative amplitude of tremor harmonics a potential biomarker for diagnostic use.
Prostate cancer serum biomarker discovery through proteomic analysis of alpha‐2 macroglobulin protein complexes

Alpha‐2 macroglobulin (A2M) functions as a universal protease inhibitor in serum and is capable of binding various cytokines and growth factors. In this study, we investigated if immunoaffinity enrichment and proteomic analysis of A2M protein complexes from human serum could improve detection of biologically relevant and novel candidate protein biomarkers in prostate cancer. Serum samples from six patients with androgen‐independent, metastatic prostate cancer and six control patients without malignancy were analyzed by immunoaffinity enrichment of A2M protein complexes and MS identification of associated proteins. Known A2M substrates were reproducibly identified from patient serum in both cohorts, as well as proteins previously undetected in human serum. One example is heat shock protein 90 alpha (HSP90α), which was identified only in the serum of cancer patients in this study. Using an ELISA, the presence of HSP90α in human serum was validated on expanded test cohorts and found to exist in higher median serum concentrations in prostate cancer (n = 18) relative to control (n = 13) patients (median concentrations 50.7 versus 27.6 ng/mL, respectively, p = 0.001). Our results demonstrate the technical feasibility of this approach and support the analysis of A2M protein complexes for proteomic‐based serum biomarker discovery.
Salvage of Failed Achilles Tendon Interposition Arthroplasty for DRUJ Instability After Ulnar Head Resection With Aptis Prosthesis

Background: Historically, failed conservative treatment for irreparably damaged distal radioulnar joints (DRUJs) is treated via distal ulnar resection or DRUJ fusion; complications include disabling painful convergence of the radius and ulnar stump during lifting Various treatments for radioulnar impingement include distal radioulnar Achilles tendon allograft interpositional arthroplasty. This technique does not adequately prevent radioulnar impingement and we explore an alternative treatment. Methods: We report 7 adult patients who failed Achilles tendon interposition, subsequently treated with Aptis total DRUJ prostheses (mean follow-up, 26 months; range, 7-40). Results: Revision to Aptis prosthesis produced clinically stable DRUJ, improved grip strength and painless lifting capabilities, high patient satisfaction, and no major complications. All returned to daily activities and even recreational sports. Conclusions: Tendon lacks biomechanical features key to the shock-absorbing function of cartilage—features it cannot deliver when used to prevent radioulnar convergence. We report Aptis DRUJ prosthesis as an alternative to the tendon allograft technique.
Empathy, ToM, and self–other differentiation: An fMRI study of internal states

This study used functional magnetic resonance imaging to examine the neural substrates of empathy, Theory of Mind (ToM), and self–other differentiation involved in the adaptive understanding of people’s internal states. Three conditions were distinguished in both sad and neutral (no obvious emotion) contexts. The empathy condition involved imagining what another person is feeling while the more cognitively loaded ToM condition involved imagining what would make another person feel better. The self-reference condition required participants to imagine how they would feel in someone else’s situation. Areas previously implicated in empathy, ToM, and self–other differentiation were identified within the different conditions, regardless of emotional context. Specifically, the frontal and temporal poles responded more strongly for ToM than for empathy. The self-reference condition was associated with stronger dorsolateral prefrontal response than the empathy condition, while the reverse comparison revealed a stronger role for right frontal pole. Activations in frontal pole and orbitofrontal cortex were shared between the three conditions. Contrasts of parameter estimates demonstrated modulation by emotional context. The findings of common and differential patterns of responding observed in prefrontal and temporal regions suggest that within the social cognition network empathy, ToM and self–other differentiation have distinct roles that are responsive to context.
Comparison of two approaches to a positional servo control

The paper deals with comparison of a filtered disturbance observer based PID control (DO FPID) with different realizations of a two-degree-of-freedom (2DOF) PID control. It shows that whereas in terms of IAE (Integral of absolute error) of the setpoint and disturbance step responses, both solutions may yield an equivalent closed loop dynamics, the DO FPID control guarantees a much better quantization noise attenuation [1]-[3]. It is shown that this property may be used in such a way that whereas the torque ripple of both alternatives evaluated by a modified total variance measure takes equivalent values, IAE values of the loop with the DO-FPID will significantly decrease.
Local governments' expenditures efficiencies and determinants: the case of Indonesia

This paper investigates the efficiency of local governments' expenditures in Indonesia, setting Human Development as the designated outputs. Annual data of 34 provinces in Indonesia during 2013-2016 are collected for conducting this research. Data envelopment analysis (DEA) is used to measure the efficiency levels. In addition, the efficiencies' performance also measured by using Malmquist index. We found that, during the analysis period, the efficiency levels of local government expenditures of provinces outside of Java Island are still deficient. DKI Jakarta, DI Yogyakarta, and West Java Province are always located in the efficient frontiers. However, East Kalimantan, Papua, and South Sumatera have been the most improved provinces among others. Further study on the impact of exogenous factors affecting the efficiency scores through Tobit regression yields that Population, Government accountability, Democratic Index, number of universities and local investments have a positive-significant impact on the efficiency scores whereas Area coverage correlates negatively.
Risk Factors for Dysmenorrhea and Its Severity in Women with Ovarian Endometriomas

Objective: To identify factors associated with the risk of developing dysmenorrhea or the severity of dysmenorrhea in women with surgically confirmed ovarian endometriomas. Study Design: 710 patients with surgically diagnosed ovarian endometriomas were interviewed and their charts read. Fourteen factors were considered. Among the 710 patients, 376 patients had major complaint of dysmenorrhea and were evaluated to identify factors associated with the severity of dysmenorrhea. Results: The logistic regression model identified younger age at surgery, previous medication use, presence of adhesion, and presence of adenomyosis as risk factors for dysmenorrhea. For the severity of dysmenorrhea, the presence of adenomyosis was consistently and robustly identified by several statistical models with rather different assumptions as the factor associated with severity. The rAFS stage was also associated with the severity, but the association may be explained by the presence of adenomyosis. Conclusion: The presence of adenomyosis has been consistently identified as a risk factor for both dysmenorrhea and its severity. Younger age at surgery, presence of adhesion, and previous use of endometriosis-related medication are additional risk factors for dysmenorrhea. For the severity of dysmenorrhea, there are other factors than the presence of adenomyosis that may influence the severity of dysmenorrhea.
Post‐herpetic neuralgia case study: optimizing pain control

Post‐herpetic neuralgia (PHN) is a chronic pain syndrome associated with the reactivation of a primary infection with varicella zoster virus (chicken pox), which leads to a chronic infection of the dorsal root ganglia. Under various clinical circumstances, including immunosuppressive diseases or treatments and certain cancers, reactivation of the infection can occur in adults as shingles. Other factors such as psychological distress and stressful life events also appear to play a role in the onset of shingles and the development of PHN. The most common risk factor for shingles and its potential sequela, PHN, is advanced age. For a significant number of patients, the pain following healing of shingles can persist for months to years; this pain is classified as PHN if it persists longer than 3 months. PHN often leads to depression, disrupted sleep, decreased functioning and increased healthcare utilization. Prompt use of antiviral therapy appears to reduce the period of pain following an episode of shingles by about half and may possibly reduce the overall incidence of PHN. Damage to a variety of neurologic pathways as a result of herpes zoster reactivation suggests that intervention with multiple agents having divergent mechanisms of action is an appropriate treatment approach. Current treatment options aimed at relieving the symptoms of PHN include antidepressants, opioids, anticonvulsants and topical analgesics. It is important for the clinician to establish a baseline pain intensity and character as well as quality of life measures against which to judge the effectiveness of any treatment. This review article features a case study of a patient with PHN to illustrate current diagnostic and treatment approaches.
Neuroprotective effects of SNX-185 in an in vitro model of TBI with a second insult.

PURPOSE Second insults following traumatic brain injury (TBI), such as ischemia and hypoxia, significantly worsen outcome in patients and in experimental models of TBI. Following TBI there is a pathological increase in intracellular calcium, triggering cellular mechanisms of dysfunction and death. N-type specific voltage gated calcium channel (VGCC) blockers reduce cell death in both in vitro mechanical strain injury (MSI) and in vivo models of TBI, but they have not been previously explored in a model of TBI followed by a second insult. METHODS In the following studies, cortical neurons and astrocytes experienced MSI followed by incubation in 20% CO2. Cultures were treated with the N-type VGCC blocker, ω-conopeptide SNX-185 (1 μM), 5-minutes post-injury and intracellular calcium accumulation was assessed at 3, 6 and 24 h. Neuronal viability was assessed 24 h after MSI. RESULTS Increasing incubator CO2 to 20% significantly increased calcium accumulation and cell death regardless of MSI severity. Treatment with 1 μM of SNX-185 significantly reduced the accumulation of calcium 3 hours following injury and increased the number of viable neurons 24 h post-injury and incubation in 20% CO2. CONCLUSIONS In vitro models provide a critical tool for identifying roles of cell specific mechanisms involved in neuronal dysfunction and death following injury. These data demonstrate the potential of N-type VGCC blockers in reducing the damaging effects of TBI and second insults.
EASI, (objective) SCORAD and POEM for atopic eczema: responsiveness and minimal clinically important difference

To cite this article: Schram ME, Spuls PI, Leeflang MMG, Lindeboom R, Bos JD, Schmitt J. EASI, (objective) SCORAD and POEM for atopic eczema: responsiveness and minimal clinically important difference. Allergy 2012; 67: 99–106.
Business Angels Research in Entrepreneurial Finance: A Literature Review and a Research Agenda

Since the seminal works of Wetzel, research on business angels (BAs) has emerged as a new and promising research field. This review analyses the current knowledge on BAs, identifying the main contents and outcomes. We also provide a bibliometric analysis to illustrate the evolution of the research field, the level of dispersion of the scientific community, the main outlets for publication and the different methodological approaches adopted. Through the analysis of backward and forward citations, we depict the current knowledge base on which BA research is grounded and whether it has any impact on other research fields.
Supervisor support, work/family conflict and employee satisfaction among nurses in health care service

Understanding work and family roles is critically important for organization in enabling employee to experience satisfaction in life. Besides, this is one of the possible solutions for organization to attract and retain capable employee. The present study aims to validate the hypothesized interrelationships among the constructs of supervisor support, work-family conflict and satisfaction outcomes among nurses. Survey questionnaire was administered to 689 married nurses employed in five regional public hospitals in Malaysia. The hypothesized relationships were tested using a full structural modeling with AMOS maximum likelihood estimation. The results indicated that supervisor support is positively related to satisfaction of employee such as well-being, family and job satisfaction. However, the findings also revealed that supervisor support is negatively related to work-family conflict and satisfaction outcomes. The research concluded that the need of supervisor support is practically important in helping employee to achieve satisfaction in life.
Pseudomonas aeruginosa invades corneal epithelial cells during experimental infection

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is considered an extracellular pathogen. Using assays to determine intracellular survival in the presence of gentamicin, we have demonstrated that some strains of P. aeruginosa are able to invade corneal cells during experimental bacterial keratitis in mice. Although intracellular bacteria were detectable 15 min after inoculation, the number of intracellular bacteria increased in a time-dependent manner over a 24-h period. Levels of invasion were similar when bacteria were grown as a biofilm on solid medium and when they were grown in suspension. Intracellular bacteria survived in vitro for at least 24 h, although only minimal bacterial multiplication within cells was observed. P. aeruginosa PAK and Escherichia coli HB101 did not cause disease in this model and were not isolated from corneas after 24 h even when an inoculum of 10(8) CFU was applied. Transmission electron microscopy of corneal epithelium from eyes infected for 8 h revealed that intracellular bacteria were present within membrane-bound vacuoles, which suggests that bacterial entry was an endocytic process. At 24 h, the observation of many bacteria free in the cytoplasm indicated that P. aeruginosa was able to escape the endocytic vacuole. The ability of some P. aeruginosa strains to invade corneal epithelial cells may contribute to the pathogenesis or to the progression of disease, since intracellular bacteria can evade host immune effectors and antibiotics commonly used to treat infection.
The Role of Human Resource-Related Quality Management Practices in New Product Development: A Dynamic Capability Perspective

The purpose of this paper is to adopt the dynamic capability (DC) view as a theoretical framework to empirically investigate the relationships among human resource (HR)-related quality management (QM) practices: new product development (NPD) as a specific DC, learning orientation, knowledge integration, and strategic flexibility. Learning orientation and knowledge integration represent two antecedents of strategic flexibility, and strategic flexibility is the developed ability that facilitates NPD. ,To empirically test the relationships, the authors used data from 236 European firms and performed structural equation modeling. ,Results indicate that HR-related QM practices contribute to creating a learning-oriented company, integrating knowledge, and supporting successful NPD. Furthermore, knowledge integration is positively related to NPD through strategic flexibility. ,This study is relevant for practitioners because it identifies key points in QM implementation that enable firms to be more strategically flexible and thus better able to regularly develop new products. ,When organizations must sustain their competitive positions by continuously adapting to environmental changes, it is important to study not only how QM implementation is positively related to the firm performance on which a significant portion of the QM literature has focused but also to study whether QM implementation is related to strategic variables and can make a contribution to strategic processes. To fill the void in the HR and QM literature, this study offers an integrated framework with empirical support that identifies the role of HR-related QM practices in learning orientation, knowledge integration, strategic flexibility, and NPD.
BRCA1‐IRIS activates cyclin D1 expression in breast cancer cells by downregulating the JNK phosphatase DUSP3/VHR

Cyclin D1 plays an important role in cell cycle progression. In breast cancer, Cyclin D1 expression is deregulated by several mechanisms. We previously showed that in breast cancer cells, overexpression of BRCA1‐IRIS induces Cyclin D1 overexpression and increases cell proliferation. BRCA1‐IRIS alone or in complex with steroid receptor co‐activators was targeted to the cyclin D1 promoter pre‐bound by the c‐Jun/AP1 and activated its transcription, which could explain the co‐overexpression of BRCA1‐IRIS and Cyclin D1 in breast cancer cells coupled with their increased proliferation. We report here an alternate or a complementary pathway by which BRCA1‐IRIS activates Cyclin D1 expression. BRCA1‐IRIS overexpression decreases the expression of the dual specificity phosphatase, DUSP3/VHR, an endogenous inhibitor of several MAPKs, including c‐Jun N‐terminal kinase. Although, the mechanism by which BRCA1‐IRIS overexpression accomplishes that is not yet known, it is sufficient to induce Cyclin D1 overexpression in a human mammary epithelial cell model. Cyclin D1 overexpression could be blocked by co‐overexpression of VHR in those cells. Furthermore, in 2 breast cancer cell lines that overexpress both BRCA1‐IRIS and Cyclin D1 (MCF‐7 and SKBR3) depletion of BRCA1‐IRIS by RNA interference attenuated the expression of Cyclin D1 by elevating the expression level of VHR. These data demonstrate a critical role for BRCA1‐IRIS in human breast cancer cell‐cycle control and suggest that deregulated expression of BRCA1‐IRIS is likely to reduce dependence on normal physiological growth stimuli, thereby providing a growth advantage to tumor cells and a potential mechanism of resistance to endocrine therapy. © 2007 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Arthroscopic repair of full-thickness tears of the supraspinatus: does the tendon really heal?

BACKGROUND Good functional results have been reported for arthroscopic repair of rotator cuff tears, but the rate of tendon-to-bone healing is still unknown. Our hypothesis was that arthroscopic repair of full-thickness supraspinatus tears achieves a rate of complete tendon healing equivalent to those reported in the literature with open or mini-open techniques. METHODS Sixty-five consecutive shoulders with a chronic full-thickness supraspinatus tear were repaired arthroscopically in sixty-five patients with use of a tension-band suture technique. Patients ranged in age from twenty-nine to seventy-nine years. The average duration of follow-up was twenty-nine months. Fifty-one patients (fifty-one shoulders) had a computed tomographic arthrogram, and fourteen had a magnetic resonance imaging scan, performed between six months and three years after surgery. All patients were assessed with regard to function and the strength of the shoulder elevation. RESULTS The rotator cuff was completely healed and watertight in forty-six (71%) of the sixty-five patients and was partially healed in three. Although the supraspinatus tendon did not heal to the tuberosity in sixteen shoulders, the size of the persistent defect was smaller than the initial tear in fifteen. Sixty-two of the sixty-five patients were satisfied with the result. The Constant score improved from an average (and standard deviation) of 51.6 +/- 10.6 points preoperatively to 83.8 +/- 10.3 points at the time of the last follow-up evaluation (p < 0.001), and the average University of California at Los Angeles score improved from 11.5 +/- 1.1 to 32.3 +/- 1.3 (p < 0.001). The average strength of the shoulder elevation was significantly better (p = 0.001) when the tendon had healed (7.3 +/- 2.9 kg) than when it had not (4.7 +/- 1.9 kg). Factors that were negatively associated with tendon healing were increasing age and associated delamination of the subscapularis or infraspinatus tendon. Only ten (43%) of twenty-three patients over the age of sixty-five years had completely healed tendons (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Arthroscopic repair of an isolated supraspinatus detachment commonly leads to complete tendon healing. The absence of healing of the repaired rotator cuff is associated with inferior strength. Patients over the age of sixty-five years (p = 0.001) and patients with associated delamination of the subscapularis and/or the infraspinatus (p = 0.02) have significantly lower rates of healing.