Explore the vast range of titles available.

Objective The Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) is an observational, international study designed to establish biomarker‐defined cohorts and identify clinical, imaging, genetic, and biospecimen Parkinson's disease (PD) progression markers to accelerate disease‐modifying therapeutic trials. Methods A total of 423 untreated PD, 196 Healthy Control (HC) and 64 SWEDD (scans without evidence of dopaminergic deficit) subjects were enrolled at 24 sites. To enroll PD subjects as early as possible following diagnosis, subjects were eligible with only asymmetric bradykinesia or tremor plus a dopamine transporter (DAT) binding deficit on SPECT imaging. Acquisition of data was standardized as detailed at www.ppmi-info.org. Results Approximately 9% of enrolled subjects had a single PD sign at baseline. DAT imaging excluded 16% of potential PD subjects with SWEDD. The total MDS‐UPDRS for PD was 32.4 compared to 4.6 for HC and 28.2 for SWEDD. On average, PD subjects demonstrated 45% and 68% reduction in mean striatal and contralateral putamen Specific Binding Ratios (SBR), respectively. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was acquired from >97% of all subjects. CSF (PD/HC/SWEDD pg/mL) α‐synuclein (1845/2204/2141) was reduced in PD vs HC or SWEDD (P < 0.03). Similarly, t‐tau (45/53) and p‐tau (16/18) were reduced in PD versus HC (P < 0.01), Interpretation PPMI has detailed the biomarker signature for an early PD cohort defined by clinical features and imaging biomarkers. This strategy provides the framework to establish biomarker cohorts and to define longitudinal progression biomarkers to support future PD treatment trials.

The geographical dimension covered by the international migration research literature is usually concerned with a host-/home-country perspective. However, little attention has been paid to the function of the region as a \"clearing house\" through which companies in a recruitment process can identify and screen potential candidates that have already settled the country. This paper investigates the recruitment channels used by companies for recruiting highly skilled internationals to the Sunnhordland region in Norway. The empirical evidence, combining secondary data and company case study data, has shown that regional and national recruitment channels play important roles in the search for highly skilled migrants that originally come from outside Norway. In particular, the data show two important roles of higher education in Norway. The first is in the training of suitable candidates originally from outside Norway in accordance with the needs of Norwegian businesses. The second is the way in which years spent in Norway as a student represent an important \"testing ground\" for individuals considering future settlement in the country. The ability to find information about potential candidates directly through references, on the basis of who the candidates have worked for, or inquiring through more informal networks, further demonstrate the value of the region's role in recruitment, starting from the sourcing process to choice and attractiveness of the destination in question. Der geographische Fokus der internationalen Migrationsforschung liegt in der Regel auf der Perspektive von Gast-und Heimatland. Wenig Augenmerk wurde bisher hingegen der Funktion einer Region als Quelle für hochqualifiziertes ausländisches Personal zuteil, das sich bereits im Land niedergelassen hat. Der vorliegende Beitrag untersucht die Anwerbungspraktiken von Unternehmen für hochqualifiziertes internationales Personal in der Region Sunnhordaland in Norwegen. Auf der Grundlage von Fallstudien und sekundären Daten wird aufgezeigt, dass bereits zugewanderte ausländische Fachkräfte eine wichtige Zielgruppe bei der Anwerbung hochqualifizierten Personals darstellen. Insbesondere verdeutlichen die Daten, die wichtige Funktion der Hochschulausbildung in Norwegen. Zum einen ist die Ausbildung an norwegischen Hochschulen auf die spezifischen Anforderungen der Wirtschaft ausgerichtet und garantiert somit eine gute Vorbereitung ausländischer Kandidaten. Zum anderen bildet die Zeit der Hochschulausbildung gewissermaßen eine Testphase, in der die individuelle Bereitschaft und Fähigkeit der längerfristigen Niederlassung in einem fremden Land erprobt werden kann. Die verschiedenen Wege, Informationen über mögliche Kandidaten zu finden, sei es auf der Basis von Referenzen vorheriger Arbeitgeber oder auch über verschiedene eher informelle Kanäle, demonstriert darüber hinaus das besondere Potential der Region in dem Anwerbungsprozess.

The aim of the present study was to compare the morphological characteristics of the taenia and haustra of the large intestine in pigs. Ten pigs were fed a barley/wheat-based diet for a period of five weeks. Tissue samples were taken from the cecum and the proximal part of the colon at slaughter and processed histologically for determination of crypt volume, depth and density of the crypts, thickness of muscularis externa, and carbohydrate histochemistry. In all parameters examined regional differences in mucosal architecture of the cecum and proximal colon were demonstrated. Apparently, the regional differences in mucosal architecture between taenia and haustra were more pronounced in the cecum than in the proximal colon. The regional variation in mucin characteristics and in crypt parameters could be explained by differences in functional status and/or in the local environment. As all the parameters investigated in this study are not only dependent on sampling site, but also, e.g., on type of diet and its physical form, great care must be taken to obtain tissue from comparable sites in all animals in experimental studies to avoid incorrect conclusions.