Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Event‐related potential P3 change in mild Parkinson's disease

The purpose was to determine if unmedicated, mildly affected patients with Parkinson's disease exhibited abnormality in the P3 component of the event‐related potential, and whether such abnormality differed between younger and older patients. The study evaluated 10 younger (mean age = 43.7 years) and 10 older (mean age = 64.4 years) unmedicated patient volunteers diagnosed with idiopathic PD during the past 4 years and equal numbers of age‐, gender‐, and education‐matched controls. The auditory oddball P3 was recorded, and P3 peak amplitude, peak latency, and the component score derived from principal components analysis were analysed. Neuropsychological measures focusing on frontal lobe and memory function were obtained. Although patients did not show neuropsychological deficits, they had significantly enlarged P3 amplitude measured at Cz (p < 0.01) or Pz (p < 0.01). The P3 amplitude abnormality among patients was not affected by age. Patient P3 latency was not prolonged. The results indicate that P3 amplitude may more sensitive than neuropsychological measures for detecting subtle brain dysfunction occurring early in PD. This measure has possible utility for detecting and tracking early disease. It is hypothesized that enlarged P3 amplitude reflects abnormality in use of at tentional resources to compensate for brain dysfunction.
Characterization of resistance to the prolactin-lowering effects of cabergoline in macroprolactinomas: a study in 122 patients.

CONTEXT Macroprolactinomas poorly responsive to dopamine-agonists are often more aggressive and are usually termed 'resistant' but this clinical concept has always been defined empirically. OBJECTIVE To define resistance to cabergoline (CAB) on the basis of a dose-response relationship established in a large series of macroprolactinoma patients and to assess the influence of gender and tumor invasiveness on the response to treatment. DESIGN Retrospective study. METHODS One hundred and twenty-two patients (72 women and 50 men) primarily treated with CAB for at least 1 year were included. Main outcome measures were serum prolactin (PRL) and tumor size. RESULTS Normalization of PRL was obtained in 115 out of the 122 patients (94%). The majority of patients (96/115, 83%) were controlled with a CAB dose < or =1.5 mg/week. Most of the other patients (19/26) had only a partial resistance, responding to a further increase of the CAB dose. Beyond the dose of 3.5 mg/week, there was no clear advantage in further increasing the dose instead of continuing the treatment at the same dose. Most tumors (98/119 assessable cases, 82%) showed a significant shrinkage during CAB treatment. It was more likely to occur in cases of PRL normalization. Both cavernous sinus invasion and male gender were significantly and independently associated with partial or complete resistance to treatment. CONCLUSIONS Most macroprolactinomas primarily treated with CAB are adequately controlled with doses < or =1.5 mg/week. About 20% of patients, mainly men and/or those with invasive tumors will require a higher dose of CAB. We suggest defining such patients as resistant to CAB.
Induction of IRAK-M Is Associated with Lipopolysaccharide Tolerance in a Human Endotoxemia Model

Recent in vitro and murine in vivo studies have identified several potential LPS tolerance factors. In this study, we describe the expression kinetics of these LPS tolerance factors in standardized human endotoxemia models using i.v. LPS bolus administration. Responsiveness to LPS as well as the expression of potential regulators of LPS signaling were determined in peripheral whole blood. Intravenous LPS administration (4 ng/kg) resulted in peak plasma levels of TNF-α at 1.5 h followed by subsequent peaks of the classic negative feedback inhibitors A20 and IL-10 at 2 and 3 h, respectively. Circulating blood monocyte counts decimated during the initial inflammatory response, but normalized in the period between 4 and 8 h post-LPS. The LPS response as determined by ex vivo TNF release per monocyte in whole blood was profoundly decreased at 6–8 h post-LPS injection despite cessation of A20 and IL-10 expression after 4 h. Analysis of MyD88short, IL-1R-associated kinase (IRAK)-1, IRAK-M, ST2, suppressor of cytokine signaling-1 and -3, SHIP-1, and MAP kinase phosphatase-1 expression indicated that the observed LPS tolerance was associated with decreased IRAK-1 and elevated IRAK-M expression in this human model. Interestingly, a lower dose of LPS (1 ng/kg) induced LPS tolerance accompanied with IRAK-M up-regulation but without depletion of IRAK-1. In vitro studies in whole blood showed that IRAK-M up-regulation by LPS is largely dependent on TNF-α. The observed rise of IRAK-M transcription in the human endotoxemia model appeared much greater compared with in vitro-stimulated whole blood. In conclusion, LPS tolerance in human endotoxemia models is associated with IRAK-M up-regulation.
Demokratie und politische Selbstwirksamkeit

Zusammenfassung Hartmut Rosa hat mit seinem Buch „Resonanz. Eine Soziologie der Weltbeziehung“ (2016) einen der originellsten Neuansätze der Kritischen Theorie vorgelegt, dessen demokratietheoretische Potentiale allerdings bislang noch nicht genügend herausgearbeitet worden sind. In dem Beitrag werden an Rosas Resonanztheorie der Demokratie zwei Modifikationen vorgenommen und dabei die Bedeutung von individuellen und kollektiven Selbstwirksamkeitserfahrungsmöglichkeiten in der Politik in den Vordergrund gerückt.
Biofuels – a new challenge for nutritional science?

‘Food is basically a net product of an ecosystem, however simplified. Food production starts with a natural material, however modified later. Injections of energy (and even brains) will carry us only so far. If the population cannot adjust its wants to the world in which it lives, there is little hope of solving the food problem for mankind. In that case the food shortage will solve our population problem. ’
Thrombolysis Treatment for Acute Stroke: Issues of Efficacy and Utilization in Women

Background: Some studies report that women with ischemic stroke are more likely to benefit from intravenous tissue thrombolysis (IV tPA) treatment, but are less likely to receive the treatment compared with men. We review the literature on sex differences in utilization and efficacy of IV tPA and suggest directions for future studies. Methods: We identified studies that reported on sex differences in either the utilization or efficacy of IV tPA treatment for acute ischemic stroke. Results: Data from observational studies of IV tPA use show evidence of under-utilization in women, although wide variability between studies suggests that differences are specific to local conditions and populations. Prior analyses of randomized trial data show strong evidence that women but not men receive statistically and clinically significant benefit from IV tPA treatment. Observational studies of the effectiveness of IV tPA treatment in men and women have limited validity because of the absence of comparable control groups. Conclusion: There is good evidence that there are clinically important sex differences in both the efficacy and utilization of IV tPA, with women gaining more benefit from treatment than men. The current paradox between greater efficacy but lower utilization of IV tPA in women requires greater attention from the stroke community. Larger placebo-controlled thrombolysis trials, specifically powered to look at sex differences in treatment efficacy, and more studies designed to understand the underlying reasons for the lower utilization of IV tPA in women are required.
Reinventing law for the commons

There is a long history, stretching back to the Magna Carta in 1215, of commoners seeking to use law to decriminalize their sharing and secure legal recognition for their self-organized management of shared wealth â€“ â€œcommoningâ€ . However, because state law is philosophically committed to a social order based on individual property rights, private capital accumulation and extractive relationships with nature, it often does not have the motivation, vocabulary, or legal instruments to adequately protect collective, long-term and ecological interests. This chapter describes a variety of creative initiatives attempting to reinvent law for the commons in disparate settings â€“ indigenous, subsistence, digital, urban, local and organizational, among others â€“ which are part of an emerging effort to legitimate the commons as a generative social form.
Export Intensity, Geographic Diversification and the Role of Public Support: The Evidence from Old and New Europe SMEs

Objective : The objective of the article is to investigate how public support (both financial and non-financial) affects the geographic scope and export intensity of SMEs originating from Old (EU15) and New Europe (the CEE12 region). In particular, the work considers the direct and indirect effects (via geographic scope) of public support on the export intensity of SMEs. Research Design & Methods : The empirical analyses use a large, cross-country, cross-industry dataset of 2 375 European SMEs from 27 countries. Findings: The study findings indicate that only financial public support is positively, directly and indirectly associated with the export intensity of European SMEs, regardless of the origin. The results related to non-financial public support are less conclusive. Additionally, the study reveals that despite significant, firm-level differences characterising internationally oriented SMEs from Old and New Europe, the examined relationships and effects of control variables are largely the same . Implications & Recommendations: The article offers clear insights into the significance of financial vs. non-financial public support programmes for internationalisation activities of SMEs, encouraging further research to focus on the question which firms should receive public support and how to increase the awareness and propensity of the owners/managers of SMEs to consult public support providers. Contribution & Value Added: The originality of this work lies in investigating the impact of public support for internationalisation efforts (export intensity and geographic diversification) of SMEs originating from different contexts of the EU15 and CEE12 countries.
Presumptive fenbendazole toxicosis in North American porcupines.

CASE DESCRIPTION 4 North American porcupines were evaluated because of diarrhea or neutropenia (or both) that developed after treatment with fenbendazole for intestinal parasites. CLINICAL FINDINGS Complete blood cell count abnormalities included severe neutropenia in all affected porcupines and mild anemia in some of them. In 2 porcupines, postmortem findings included bone marrow hypoplasia and intestinal crypt cell necrosis. TREATMENT AND OUTCOME Affected porcupines received supportive care including fluid supplementation and broad-spectrum antimicrobials. The 2 surviving animals recovered after 9 to 33 days of treatment. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE Fenbendazole is an anthelminthic that may be used in an extralabel manner for the treatment of intestinal parasitism in wildlife species. The drug inhibits mitosis and can affect rapidly dividing cell lines, such as those in the bone marrow and intestinal crypt mucosa. Fenbendazole may not be an appropriate anthelminthic choice in North American porcupines.
Parkinson Disease: A Role for Autophagy?

Autophagy is a term used to describe the process by which lysosomes degrade intracellular components. Known originally as an adaptive response to nutrient deprivation, autophagy has now been recognized to play important roles in several human disorders including neurodegenerative diseases. Experimental results from genetic, cellular, and toxicological studies indicate that many of the etiological factors associated with Parkinson disease (PD) can perturb the autophagic process in various model systems. Thus, the emerging data support the view that dysregulation of autophagy may play a critical role in the pathogenic process of PD.
Real-time performance of hand motion recognition using kinematic signals for impaired hand function training

Re-gaining the fine motor skills of hand is the ultimate goal of the rehabilitation for the stroke survivors and traumatic brain injured patients with chronic hemiparesis. The clinical outcomes with the traditional passive rehabilitation approaches are often limited and slow for impaired hand-function recovery. It is well known that actively involving the conscious efforts of patients into hand-function training would be critical for improving cerebral functional reorganization according to the brain plasticity theory. In this study, a training system for the rehabilitation of fine hand functions was developed based on a flexible data glove system and validated in able-bodied subjects. The real-time performance of the training system was assessed with a measure, motion completion rate, in seven healthy subjects. The results of this study showed that using the kinematic signals a high average offline classification accuracy (98.67%±1.51%) and sound real-time completion rate (89.17%±5.49%) could be achieved in able-bodied subjects, which suggested a promise of applying kinematic signals in hand-function rehabilitation training. The future works will be conducted in stroke patients to further validate the performance of the proposed system.
Ketone and pyruvate Ringer's solutions decrease pulmonary apoptosis in a rat model of severe hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation.

BACKGROUND Resuscitation fluids containing beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHB) have been shown to decrease cellular injury after hemorrhagic shock and resuscitation through an unknown mechanism. We tested whether this effect was related to BHB-induced metabolic modulations. METHODS Male Sprague Dawley rats (n=30) were subjected to volume-controlled hemorrhage (27 mL/kg during 10 minutes followed by 75 minutes of shock during which another 8 mL/kg of blood was withdrawn). Experimental groups included the following: (1) sham, (2) no resuscitation (NR), (3) racemic lactated Ringer's (DL-LR) solution, (4) LR containing L-isomer only (L-LR), (5) ketone Ringer's solution with lactate substituted by BHB (KR), and (6) pyruvate Ringer's solution with lactate substituted by pyruvate (PR). The resuscitation fluids were infused during 45 minutes simultaneously with additional hemorrhage of 8 mL/kg. Hemodynamic and physiologic parameters and the plasma levels of BHB were serially measured. The animals were killed 2 hours after resuscitation, and tissues were frozen instantaneously for cellular adenylate extraction and adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and adenosine diphosphate analysis. Pulmonary apoptosis was studied using Western blotting, immunohistochemistry, and reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. Expression of enzymes involved in ketogenesis and ketolysis was analyzed by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS NR and resuscitation with DL-LR increased the expression of apoptotic markers, whereas resuscitation with KR and PR significantly decreased the expression of apoptotic markers in rat lungs. Resuscitation with KR was followed by a profound increase in plasma BHB levels; however, the expression levels of ketolytic enzymes were essentially unaffected. KR infusion did not induce significant improvements in tissue ATP levels. CONCLUSIONS Resuscitation with KR and PR protects against pulmonary apoptosis without improving tissue ATP content. Therefore, metabolic modulation is unlikely to be the major mechanism by which BHB exerts its protective effects during reperfusion.
The diencephalon of the pacific herring, Clupea harengus: Cytoarchitectonic analysis

The cytoarchitecture of nuclei in the preoptic area, ventral thalamus, dorsal thalamus, epithalamus, hypothalamus, posterior tuberculum, synencephalon, and pretectum and the accessory optic nuclei was analyzed in the clupeomorph teleost, Clupea harengus. Plesiomorphic (evolutionarily primitive) and apomorphic (evolutionarily derived) features of nuclei were identified by cladistic analysis. Plesiomorphic features include the cytoarchitectonic organization of most of the preoptic nuclei, the somewhat scattered cells of nucleus ventrolateralis, the compact, oval shape of nucleus intermedius, the presence of dorsoventrally oriented laminae in the central posterior nucleus, and most features of the hypothalamic nuclei. Also plesiomorphic are the presence of a thick, prominent paraventricular organ, a nucleus of the paraventricular organ, a nucleus tuberis posterior, and a preglomerular complex in which the boundaries between multiple nuclei are relatively difficult to distinguish. Additionally, the cytoarchitecture of the three synencephalic nuclei present in Clupea, the presence of small cells in nucleus pretectalis superficialis pars parvicellularis and of larger, scattered cells in nucleus pretectalis superficialis pars magnocellularis, the presence of large cells in the dorsal accessory optic nucleus that form a rostrocaudally oriented column, and the feature of a small, cell‐sparse ventral accessory optic nucleus are plesiomorphic. Apomorphic features include the presence of a single, large, circular lamina that surrounds a central neuropil in all but the most caudal part of nucleus anterior, a lack of bilateral asymmetry in the habenular nuclei, the relatively small size of the periventricular nucleus of the posterior tuberculum, the presence of two, distinguishable caudomedial nuclei in the posterior tuberculum, elongation and folding of the neuropil of nucleus pretectalis superficialis pars parvicellularis, and the relatively large size of nucleus pretectalis superficialis pars magnocellularis and the posterior pretectal nucleus. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
IQ and personality traits assessed in childhood as predictors of drinking and smoking behaviour in middle-aged adults: a 24-year follow-up study.

AIMS The identification of childhood personality predictors of drinking and smoking behaviour in adults. DESIGN A 24-year follow-up study. SETTING Prague, the Czech Republic. PARTICIPANTS Combined cohorts of 220 males and females born of unwanted pregnancies, and 220 control subjects, examined with low attrition rates at ages 9-10, 21-23, 28-31 and 32-35. MEASUREMENTS In childhood IQ was assessed by the Wechsler Intelligence Scale, Children (WISC), and personality characteristics were rated by teachers, mothers and classmates. In adulthood questionnaires and face-to-face interviews were used to assess drinking and smoking. FINDINGS Unwanted pregnancy was not related to adult drinking and smoking. The ratings of childhood personality characteristics were condensed into three personality dimensions, i.e. conscientiousness, extroversion and neuroticism, interpreted as three of the Big Five personality dimensions, and found to show some stability into adulthood. Gender, IQ and the three childhood personality traits were used as predictors of adult drinking and smoking behaviour. Adult drinking behaviour was significantly predicted by the block of the three childhood personality traits, low conscientiousness predicting high drinking quantity per occasion (and heavy episodic drinking) whereas extroversion predicted subjects' average daily consumption. Smoking in adulthood was predicted by low IQ and low conscientiousness. CONCLUSIONS IQ and personality traits in children explain to some degree the drinking and smoking behaviour of adult men and women, but the roles of the different components vary according to the form of substance use.
Caspofungin Prolongs Survival of Transiently Neutropenic Rats with Advanced-Stage Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis

ABSTRACT A high-dose-step-down strategy for caspofungin treatment was evaluated in an experimental model of advanced-stage invasive pulmonary aspergillosis. The therapeutic efficacy of caspofungin in relation to the severity of invasive pulmonary infection caused by Aspergillus fumigatus in transiently neutropenic rats was investigated by using rat survival and the decrease in the fungal burden as the parameters of efficacy. When treatment was started at either 16 h or 24 h after fungal inoculation, caspofungin administered intraperitoneally at 4 mg/kg of body weight/day for 10 days was highly effective (100% and 93% rat survival, respectively). However, only 27% rat survival was obtained when treatment was started at 72 h, when the rats had advanced-stage infection. Increasing the dose from 4 to 10 mg/kg/day could compensate for the decrease in efficacy and resulted in 67% rat survival. The high dose of 10 mg/kg/day for 10 days did not appear to be necessary since a high-dose-step-down dosing schedule with 10 mg/kg/day for 3 days followed by 4 mg/kg/day for 7 days was equally effective. At 10 days after the end of treatment with 10 mg/kg/day caspofungin, the level of neither A. fumigatus DNA nor A. fumigatus galactomannan in the infected left lung was significantly decreased. In contrast, A. fumigatus galactomannan concentrations in serum were significantly decreased. The levels of creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, alanine aminotransferase, and asparate aminotransferase were not elevated during treatment. Caspofungin is effective for the treatment of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in transiently neutropenic rats and is even effective in rats with advanced-stage infection. In this model, the administration of high-dose-step-down treatment was as effective as treatment with high doses for the whole treatment period.
Accelerating Yield Mapping at Low Data Rates Using Compressive Field Estimate

Increasing the efficiency of farming has been one of, if not the, most important factor in human development since the neolithic age. It laid the path for mankind's accomplishments in the present age. Even today, new improvements are required. One of the most promising improvements is precision farming which demands a spatial distribution of crop parameters in order to cultivate plants in every location in precisely the correct way, e.g. by supplying the perfect amount of fertilizer. One convenient way to gain such a distribution is measuring data on a combine harvester while driving across the field. When data is simply collected on board and transferred and evaluated later, huge amounts of data may be collected. However, being able to estimate the distribution while being on the field has some promising advantages ranging from getting improved status information or satisfying the curiosity of farmers to being able to predict when the harvester needs to empty its tank. The major challenge in transmitting the data is having only access to low bandwidth links due to underdeveloped public land mobile network infrastructures in rural areas. We propose Compressive Field Estimate (CFE), an approach for sending compressed data on the go in order to gain an early estimate of the whole spatial scalar field of plant and ground parameters. Lastly, we demonstrate CFE's performance in a simulative evaluation based on a trace recorded by a harvester on a spacious field.