Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impairment of individual finger movements in Parkinson's disease

By analyzing the kinematics of repetitive, constant‐amplitude, finger oppositions, we compared the impairment of individual and nonindividual finger movements in patients with Parkinson's disease. In one task, subjects tapped only the index finger against the thumb (individual oppositions); in the other task, they tapped all four fingers together against the thumb pad (nonindividual oppositions). We used an optoelectronic motion analysis system to record movements in three‐dimensional space and recorded three 5‐second trials for each task. We counted how many finger oppositions subjects performed during each trial and measured the duration and amplitude of the flexions and extensions. We also calculated the duration of the pauses after flexion and extension. We assessed the deterioration of motor performance in patients by investigating the changes in speed and amplitude with task completion. During both tasks, normal subjects and patients performed finger flexions faster than extensions, and they invariably paused longer after flexion than after extension. Patients performed individual and nonindividual finger movements slowly and with reduced amplitude. Patients were disproportionately slow during flexion and in switching from flexion to extension. Movement slowness increased as finger oppositions progressed but predominantly when patients had to move fingers individually. In conclusion, in patients with Parkinson's disease, the motor performance deteriorated with task completion more during individual than during nonindividual finger movements. Parkinson's disease, therefore, impairs individual finger movements more than gross hand movements. This distinction reflects the finer cortical control needed to promote and sustain this highly fractionated type of motor output. © 2003 Movement Disorder Society
DNA Damage and Repair in Gorlin Syndrome and Normal Fibroblasts After Aminolevulinic Acid Photodynamic Therapy: A Comet Assay Study ¶

Using normal, untransformed, human fibroblasts, the effectiveness of aminolevulinic (ALA)‐mediated photodynamic therapy (PDT) was investigated in terms of both clonogenic survival and DNA damage. The response of normal fibroblasts was then compared with Gorlin syndrome–derived fibroblasts (basal cell nevus syndrome [BCNS]). In terms of clonogenic survival, no significant differences were observed between the two groups of cells. Using the alkaline comet assay, initial DNA damage after PDT was measured. Some DNA damage was detected at higher doses, but this was fully repaired within 24 h of treatment. The BCNS‐derived cells showed levels of initial damage that did not differ significantly from normal lines.
Understanding relationships between public service motivation and involvement in socio‐political organizations: Perspectives of organizational field theory

School of Public Administration, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, Florida, USA Correspondence Palina Prysmakova, School of Public Administration, Florida Atlantic University, 777 Glades Road, Boca Raton, FL 33-431, USA. Email: pprysmakova@fau.edu Funding information Miami-Florida Jean Monnet European Center of Excellence, Graduate Student Research Grant; Florida International University, Dissertation Year Fellowship and Doctoral Evidence Acquisition Fellowship; Krechevsky Foundation, Data Acquisition Grant; Open Society Institute, Civil Society Scholar Award; Orsa-Romano Cultural-and-Educational Foundation, Belarus Research Grant. The study provides insights about public service motivation values and participation in socio-political organizations. It applies organizational field theory to a sample of similar public and nonprofit service providers in a border region of two independent states. The results reveal that socio-political activities bear different meanings for individuals from different sectors and countries. Thus, from an institutional perspective, despite offering similar services, the organizations studied belong to different organizational fields. This validates a recent shift from defining an organizational field as a group of organizations that share products, services, or markets to those that share common meanings. A broader context being a sector of economy or an administrative realm defines the types of sociopolitical activities that share institutional infrastructures with public service organizations. Specifically, mutually exclusive associations are found for churches, political parties, and professional and volunteering groups. The study also indicates no value overlap with labour unions.
The determinants of income inequality in OECD countries

The objective of this paper is to identify the determinants of the increase in income inequality that OECD countries have experienced over the past two decades. My hypothesis is that along with the financialisation of economies that has taken place since 1990, inequality increased because labour flexibility intensified, labour market institutions weakened as trade unions lost power, and public social spending started to retrench and did not compensate for the vulnerabilities created by the globalisation process. Using data from 25 high-income OECD countries from 1990 to 2013, I empirically evaluate this hypothesis. My results clearly suggest that the increase in inequality over the past two decades is caused by an increase in financialisation, a deepening of labour flexibility, the weakening of trade unions and the retrenchment of the welfare state.
The Significance of Military Expenditure, Tourism, and Exports for Sustainable Economic Growth

The current empirical study addresses the recent economics of Saudi Arabia such as the uncertainty of economic growth and dependence on oil export. For this purpose, labor, capital, oil price, terrorism, military expenditure, tourism, and exports are added to the analysis. ARDL long-run and short-run analyses are used, and the results of the study have revealed that labor is negatively related to economic growth, which suggests that efforts should be done to reduce dependence on international labor through the installation of production facilities in those countries where labor is cheap. Also, it is noted that capital, tourism, and non-oil exports enhance economic growth, whereas oil price is the main problem for the economic growth of the country. These results suggest that the diversification of exports to non-oil products is a good strategy to boost economic growth. Alongside, domestic tourism should be promoted to enhance its share in economic activities. The current study helps the policy makers to open new earning avenues such as enhanced tourism sectors and modernized industries which help in technology exports.
Pimecrolimus Cream in the Long-Term Management of Atopic Dermatitis in Adults: A Six-Month Study

Background: Pimecrolimus cream (Elidel®, SDZ ASM 981), a non-steroid inhibitor of inflammatory cytokines, is effective in the treatment of atopic dermatitis (AD). We assessed whether early treatment of AD signs/symptoms reduces the need for topical corticosteroids. Objective: To investigate the efficacy and safety of pimecrolimus cream 1% in the long-term management of adult AD. Methods: 192 adults with moderate to severe AD were randomised (1:1) for twice daily (b.i.d.) treatment of early signs or symptoms of AD with either pimecrolimus cream 1% or vehicle cream (control group) to prevent progression to flares. Treatment was given as needed for 24 weeks. In the event of flares, a moderately potent corticosteroid (prednicarbate 0.25% cream) was permitted as rescue medication in both groups. The percentage of days on which a topical corticosteroid was used to treat disease flares was the main outcome measure. Results: Corticosteroid medication was used on 14.2% (95% confidence interval, CI: 8.3–21.1) of the days of the 24-week treatment period in the pimecrolimus group and on 37.2% (95% CI: 30.4–44.0) of the days in the control group (p < 0.001). In total, 44.8% (43/96) of patients in the pimecrolimus group did not experience a flare compared with 18.8% (18/96) of patients in the control group. The median time to first flare was 144 days in the pimecrolimus group and 26 days in the control group (p < 0.001). Pimecrolimus treatment was also associated with improvement in signs and symptoms of AD, pruritus, patients’ self-assessment and quality of life. Conclusions: Pimecrolimus cream 1% b.i. d. is an effective, well-tolerated, long-term treatment for AD in adults, substantially reducing the number of flares compared to a conventional therapy and consequently reducing or eliminating the need for corticosteroid treatment.
Role of acute physiology and chronic health evaluation II scoring system in determining the severity and prognosis of critically ill patients in pediatric intensive care unit

Objective: This study was conducted to validate the use of Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation II (APACHE II) scoring system in pediatric population in predicting the risk of mortality and to compare the predicted death rate (using APACHE II) with the actual death rate of the patients. Design: Hospital-based prospective study. Setting: Tertiary care Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) in Western Rajasthan, India. Methods: A total of 100 critically ill children between 1 and 18 years of age admitted to PICU and fulfilling the inclusion criteria were enrolled. APACHE II score was calculated in each patient on the day of admission. The predicted mortality was calculated on the basis of this score. Results: The mean APACHE II score was 21.35 ± 5.76. Mean APACHE II score among the survivors was 16.60 ± 6.12, and mean APACHE II score among the nonsurvivors was 26.11 ± 5.41, and the difference was statistically significant (P = 0.00). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for APACHE II score was found to be 0.889 (P = 0.008) indicating good discrimination. Conclusion: APACHE II scoring system has a good discrimination and calibration when applied to a pediatric population.
Prophylactic arterial catheterization in the management of high risk patients for obstetric haemorrhage.

OBJECTIVES Post-partum haemorrhage still remains one of the major causes of maternal morbidity and mortality. In case of abnormal placentation it is possible to carry out preventive and therapeutic actions. To maintain fertility in reproductive-aged women and to avoid a more radical surgery, embolization has been introduced in patients at high risk for haemorrhage. To describe a new option in the management of patients with abnormal placentation by an elective, preventive arterial catheterization and selective embolization of pelvic arteries. PATIENTS AND METHODS A retrospective study including thirty six patients with abnormal placental invasion. All patients were prepared in the angiographic room and preventive arterial catheterization was performed before elective caesarean delivery. Materials for interventional angiography were transferred to the operating room. During surgery, selective embolization of pelvic arteries was realized in case of uncontrolled bleeding. RESULTS Thirty-six elective arterial catheterizations were performed: 4 cases (11.1%) required embolization, haemorrhage was stopped in 2 patients. Hysterectomy was performed in two cases (5.5%). No death was reported. Two humeral thrombosis (5.5%) were registered. CONCLUSIONS Prophylactic arterial catheterization appears to be safe. The main advantage is the reduction of the interval between the onset of bleeding and the embolization. This new option of management may contribute to reduce the risk of hysterectomy and maternal death.
Molecular Pathogenesis of Genetic and Inherited Diseases Analysis of Tau Phosphorylation and Truncation in a Mouse Model of Human Tauopathy

Recent evidence has suggested that truncation of tau protein at the caspase cleavage site D421 precedes hyperphosphorylation and may be necessary for the assembly of tau into filaments in Alzheimer’s disease and other tauopathies. Here we have investigated the time course of the appearance of phosphorylated and truncated tau in the brain and spinal cord of mice transgenic for mutant human P301S tau protein. This mouse line recapitulates the essential molecular and cellular features of the human tauopathies, including tau hyperphosphorylation, tau filament formation, and neurodegeneration. Soluble tau was strongly phosphorylated at 1 to 6 months of age. Low levels of phosphorylated, sarkosyl-insoluble tau were detected at 2 months, with a steady increase up to 6 months of age. Tau truncated at D421 was detected at low levels in Tris-soluble and detergent-soluble tau at 3 to 6 months of age. By immunoblotting, it was not detected in sarkosyl-insoluble tau. However, by immunoelectron microscopy, a small percentage of tau in filaments from brain and spinal cord of transgenic mice was truncated at D421. Similar findings were obtained using dispersed filaments from Alzheimer’s disease and FTDP-17 brains. The late appearance and low abundance of tau ending at D421 indicate that it is unlikely that truncation at this site is necessary for the assembly of tau into filaments. (Am J Pathol 2008, 172:123–131; DOI: 10.2353/ajpath.2008.070627)
Interactions of Giardia sp. with the intestinal barrier: Epithelium, mucus, and microbiota

ABSTRACT Understanding how intestinal enteropathogens cause acute and chronic alterations has direct animal and human health perspectives. Significant advances have been made on this field by studies focusing on the dynamic crosstalk between the intestinal protozoan parasite model Giardia duodenalis and the host intestinal mucosa. The concept of intestinal barrier function is of the highest importance in the context of many gastrointestinal diseases such as infectious enteritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and post-infectious gastrointestinal disorders. This crucial function relies on 3 biotic and abiotic components, first the commensal microbiota organized as a biofilm, then an overlaying mucus layer, and finally the tightly structured intestinal epithelium. Herein we review multiple strategies used by Giardia parasite to circumvent these 3 components. We will summarize what is known and discuss preliminary observations suggesting how such enteropathogen directly and/ or indirectly impairs commensal microbiota biofilm architecture, disrupts mucus layer and damages host epithelium physiology and survival.
The ATP‐dependent ClpXP and Lon proteases regulate expression of the Yersinia pestis type III secretion system via regulated proteolysis of YmoA, a small histone‐like protein

The Yersinia pestis plasmid pCD1‐encoded type III secretion system (T3SS) is essential for the pathogenicity of Y. pestis in mammalian hosts. T3SS‐associated genes are maximally expressed at 37°C in the absence of extracellular calcium. Expression of T3SS genes requires LcrF, an AraC‐like transcriptional activator, and is repressed by YmoA, a small histone‐like protein. The mechanism by which temperature regulates T3SS gene expression has not been determined; however, changes in DNA topology have been implicated in this process. We report here that a Y. pestis strain deficient in production of the ClpXP and Lon proteases does not express a functional T3SS partly because of high cytosolic levels of YmoA. YmoA is rapidly degraded at 37°C in wild‐type Y. pestis, but remains stable in a clpXPlon deletion mutant. The stability of YmoA in wild‐type Y. pestis increased as the growth temperature of the culture decreased; in contrast, YmoA was stable at all temperatures examined in the clpXPlon deletion mutant. These results indicate that the ClpXP and Lon proteases contribute to the environmental regulation of the Y. pestis T3SS system through regulated proteolysis of YmoA.
Farmers’ Value Assessment of Sociocultural and Ecological Ecosystem Services in Agricultural Landscapes

Biophysical and economic values of ecosystem services (ESs) are commonly used to define areas for land use and management planning. To date, there has been limited research conducted in Ethiopia regarding farmers’ evaluations of ESs. This article addresses farmers’ evaluations and perceptions of 16 ESs that are provided by five major land uses within two catchments, using a combined method of data generation and synthesis. Most farmers perceived the majority of land use/land cover (LUC) types as multifunctional; however, they showed distinctly diverse opinions of the benefits and services that the land uses provide. The farmers also distinguished pristine ESs as different importantance depending on their location in up- or downstream regions. Accordingly, shade and shelter values in the upstream region and fodder sources in the downstream regions were among the services perceived as the most important, followed by erosion control. Conversely, water treatment and tenure security were attributed poor value. Farmers’ also identified various threats to the studied ESs that were believed to be the consequences of overpopulation coupled with climate change. Routine anthropogenic activities, woodlots extraction, agribusiness investment, and drought and rainfall variability appeared to be the main drivers of these threats. The farmers’ perceptions recorded in this study generally parallel empirical research, wherein anthropogenic and environmental challenges affect the ecosystems. This general consensus represents an important basis for the establishment of collaborative land management activities.
Policy advisory styles in the francophone Belgian civil service

In a context of the rising importance of ministerial advisers, this article provides empirical evidence about the nature of involvement of civil servants in policy work. Based on a survey of graduated civil servants in francophone Belgium, it shows that civil servants are much involved in policy work even in a politico-administrative system characterised by strong ministerial cabinets. Belgian francophone civil servants are ‘incidental advisors’. They are less process generalists than issue specialists who mostly deal with policy implementation. Their policy advisory style oscillates between ‘rational technician’ and ‘client advisor’. Despite a low institutionalisation of policy advice in the civil service, civil servants significantly serve the ministers in the policy formulation (for harmonization) phase, supplying information and analysis and participating to the writing of policy-related texts. Points for practitioners The francophone Belgian case shows the importance of policy tasks conducted by civil servants. It also provides evidence about the importance of in-house policy-analytical capacity as it shows that civil servants primarily rely on internal information sources and consultation when involved in policy formulation.
Measuring Inequality in Children’s Education in Rich Countries

There is growing recognition among international organizations, scholars and policymakers that education systems must produce equitable outcomes, but there is far less consensus on what this means in practice. This paper analyses differences in inequality of outcome and inequality of opportunity in educational achievement among primary and secondary schoolchildren across 38 countries of the European Union (EU) and/or the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD). The analysis focuses on reading achievement, drawing on data from the Progress in International Reading Literacy Study (PIRLS) and the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA). We use several measures to operationalize the two concepts of inequality in education. Our results show that inequality of outcome does not necessarily go hand in hand with inequality of opportunity. These two concepts lead to measures that produce very different country rankings. We argue that information on both inequality of outcome and inequality of opportunity is necessary for a better understanding of equity in children’s education.
How Does Green Training Boost Employee Green Creativity? A Sequential Mediation Process Model

Despite accumulated evidence from previous studies that green creativity is highly emphasized in various industries, limited research has been conducted in the context of public sectors. Drawing on the dynamic componential model of creativity and innovation in organizations, this paper aims to propose and sequentially test the relationship between green training and employees’ green creativity through green values and green intrinsic motivation. Based on the data collected in Chinese public sectors (N = 464) at two different time points, the results indicate that green training is positively related to green creativity. Moreover, this relationship is sequentially mediated by green values and green intrinsic motivation. The results in our study advance the emergent literature on green human resource management in the public sector for the practical applications of training and creativity in terms of green management.
Delayed Surgical Resection Reduces Intraoperative Blood Loss for Embolized Meningiomas

OBJECTIVE Embolization before surgical resection of tumors has been demonstrated to reduce intraoperative blood loss, but the optimal time that should elapse between embolization and tumor resection has not been established. We evaluated whether immediate surgical resection (≤24 h) after embolization or delayed surgical resection (>24 h) was more effective in minimizing intraoperative blood loss. METHODS We retrospectively analyzed the records for 50 patients with meningiomas who underwent preoperative embolization between 1993 and 1999. We divided the patients into two groups, i.e., those who underwent surgical resection of their meningiomas ≤24 hours after embolization and those who underwent surgery more than 24 hours after embolization. The extent of embolization, intraoperative blood loss, duration of surgery, and length of the hospital stay were compared for the two groups. Postoperative pathological specimens were examined for assessment of the extent of vascularity and necrosis caused by embolization. RESULTS Intraoperative blood loss was greater for the immediate group than for the delayed group (29% with blood loss of >1000 ml [median, 475 ml] versus 0% with blood loss of >700 ml [median, 337.5 ml];P = 0.01). There were no statistically significant differences between the groups with respect to tumor volume, extent of embolization, degree of devascularization, necrosis, duration of surgery, or length of the hospital stay. CONCLUSION Contrary to previous studies that emphasized a need for tumor removal immediately after embolization, to prevent revascularization, surgical resection of meningiomas should be delayed more than 24 hours after embolization, because there is less intraoperative blood loss.
An analysis of the firms-specific determinants influencing the voluntary IFRS adoption : evidence from Italian private firms

Abstract: The EU regulation 1606/2002 enhances the financial statement comparability by requiring the IFRS mandatory application. In Italy, the implementation of EU regulation states that listed firms are required to prepare their financial statements in accordance with IFRS, then extended to private firms on a voluntary basis. The study aims to examine the influence of some firm-specific characteristics on voluntary IFRS adoption by analysing a selected sample of Italian private firms over 2006–2010. The results show that firms are more likely to adopt IFRS in their separate financial statements if there is the presence of ownership diffusion and a Big-4 along with greater profitability. Such adoption is not influenced by whether firms register a high level of capital intensity and leverage, and it does not increase with the firm size or level of foreign sales. Our findings may also represent a primary approach to investigate whether IFRS adoption could be beneficial for SMEs, as a large part of sampled firms may be classified according to the EU definition of SME.