Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Laparoscopic cholecystectomy in acute gallstone pancreatitis in index hospital admission: feasibility and safety

Background and Objective: Acute gallstone pancreatitis is quite common throughout the globe. Conventionally definitive cholecystectomy has been delayed in index hospital admission. Since the last decade timing of cholecystectomy is gradually shifting towards the earlier phase of disease and currently gallstone pancreatitis is being evaluated as a further indication for laparoscopic cholecystectomy. There is also great concern regarding compliance of patients for definitive surgery due to poverty, ignorance and illiteracy in developing countries. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and safety of laparoscopic cholecystectomy as a definitive treatment in patients with mild and resolving gall stone pancreatitis. Methods: This was a prospective study from July 2009 to June 2012. Patients were diagnosed by clinical examination, biochemical tests, ultrasonography and contrast enhanced CT. Patients with mild form of the disease (Ranson Score ≤3) and who showed clinical improvement were offered laparoscopic cholecystectomy in index hospital admission. Those who were unfit for surgery were referred for endoscopic sphincterotomy. Common bile duct stones were excluded preoperatively. Results: A total of 38 patients were admitted with acute gallstone pancreatitis in the study period. The mean age of patients was 46.3 years with male to female ratio of 11/27. 22 (57.8%) patients were selected for laparoscopic cholecystectomy and procedure was completed successfully. Ten (26.3%) patients were referred for ERCP and endoscopic sphincterotomy and 11 (28.9%) were managed by conservative treatment and went without any definitive treatment. Mean duration of time from onset of symptoms and laparoscopic cholecystectomy was 7 days (range 4-10). Mean duration of operative time was 45 minutes and hospital stay was 7 days. There was no operative mortality. No major intra-operative or post-operative complication was recorded. two patients (9%) had minor complications. Conclusion: Laparoscopic cholecystectomy can be safely performed in selected cases of mild gallstone pancreatitis in order to prevent further attacks of acute pancreatitis and other consequences of delayed treatment. Furthermore it resolves the problem of noncompliance of patients in third world countries where many patients are lost for definitive treatment.
Surface modification and functionalization of carbon nanotube with some organic compounds

In this work the surface modification and functionalization of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were investigated. CNTs were firstly treated by acid mixture H2SO4/HNO3 to introduce the carboxylic group onto the surface of CNTs. This carboxylic group was used as reaction precursor in the functionalization. Two functional groups, dodecylamine (DDA) and 3-aminopropyl triethoxysilane (3-APTES), were successfully covalently attached to CNTs. The functionalized CNTs were characterized by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and thermal gravimetric analysis (DSC/TGA) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) methods. The CNTs attached to the organofunctional moieties have greater versatility for further utilization in different application fields such as biology, nanocomposites, solar energy, etc.
Unsupervised learning of object semantic parts from internal states of CNNs by population encoding

We address the key question of how object part representations can be found from the internal states of CNNs that are trained for high-level tasks, such as object classification. This work provides a new unsupervised method to learn semantic parts and gives new understanding of the internal representations of CNNs. Our technique is based on the hypothesis that semantic parts are represented by populations of neurons rather than by single filters. We propose a clustering technique to extract part representations, which we call Visual Concepts. We show that visual concepts are semantically coherent in that they represent semantic parts, and visually coherent in that corresponding image patches appear very similar. Also, visual concepts provide full spatial coverage of the parts of an object, rather than a few sparse parts as is typically found in keypoint annotations. Furthermore, We treat single visual concept as part detector and evaluate it for keypoint detection using the PASCAL3D+ dataset and for part detection using our newly annotated ImageNetPart dataset. The experiments demonstrate that visual concepts can be used to detect parts. We also show that some visual concepts respond to several semantic parts, provided these parts are visually similar. Thus visual concepts have the essential properties: semantic meaning and detection capability. Note that our ImageNetPart dataset gives rich part annotations which cover the whole object, making it useful for other part-related applications.
[Clinical and evolutionary characteristics of 134 patients with disseminated histoplasmosis associated with AIDS in the State of Ceará].

INTRODUCTION Since the beginning of the HIV epidemic in Ceará, disseminated histoplasmosis (DH) has often been detected among AIDS patients. METHODS In order to investigate the clinical and laboratory characteristics, evolution and survival of cases of DH/AIDS coinfection, the medical records on 134 cases of DH admitted to a reference hospital in Ceará between 1999 and 2005 were analyzed. RESULTS Patients with DH presented higher frequency of daily fever, coughing, weight loss, enlarged liver and spleen and acute kidney failure. The diagnosis was made using investigation and/or cultures. At admission, the following were risk factors for death among DH patients: vomiting, dyspnea, respiratory failure, acute kidney failure, hemoglobin < or = 8g/l, urea > or = 40mg/dl and creatinine > or = 1.5 mg/dl. CONCLUSIONS Patients with DH characteristically presented higher fever, previous hospitalization due to respiratory infection and more clinical complications. Significant anemia and elevated urea were independent risk factors for death among DH patients.
Transforming Growth Factor-β1 rs1800470 Polymorphism is Associated with Lung Cancer Risk: A Meta-Analysis

Background Transforming growth factor-β1 is a member of a large class of polypeptides that regulate the proliferation, differentiation, and carcinogenesis of epithelial cells. The rs1800470 polymorphism influences transforming growth factor-β1 expression and has been associated with lung cancer susceptibility. However, the association between the rs1800470 polymorphism and lung cancer risk remains controversial. Thus, a meta-analysis was conducted. Material/Methods We comprehensively searched PubMed and EMBASE databases. Summary odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using random-effects models or fixed-effects models. Results Overall, there was a significant association between rs1800470 polymorphism and lung cancer susceptibility (OR=1.23; 95%CI, 1.03–1.47; P=0.02). In the stratified analysis by ethnicity, we found that this polymorphism was significantly associated with lung cancer in Asians (OR=1.26; 95%CI, 1.01–1.57; P=0.04). However, we did not find any significant association between this polymorphism and lung cancer risk in Caucasians (OR=1.04; 95%CI, 0.60–1.82; P=0.88). In the NSCLC subgroup, we found that rs1800470 polymorphism could increase NSCLC risk (OR=1.36; 95%CI, 1.06–1.74; P=0.02). Conclusions This meta-analysis suggested that rs1800470 polymorphism was a risk factor of lung cancer.
International Trade, Technology, and the Skill Premium

What are the consequences of international trade on the skill premium? We incorporate skill-intensity differences across firms and sectors into a standard model of international trade. Reductions in trade costs reallocate factors toward a country's comparative advantage sectors, increasing the skill premium in countries with a comparative advantage in skill-intensive sectors and decreasing it elsewhere. Reductions in trade costs also reallocate factors toward more productive and skill-intensive firms within sectors and toward skill-intensive sectors in all countries, increasing the skill premium in all countries. Quantitatively, we find that trade liberalization increases the skill premium in almost all countries.
Gain-of-function mutations in the ALS8 causative gene VAPB have detrimental effects on neurons and muscles

Summary Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a motor neuron degenerative disease characterized by a progressive, and ultimately fatal, muscle paralysis. The human VAMP-Associated Protein B (hVAPB) is the causative gene of ALS type 8. Previous studies have shown that a loss-of-function mechanism is responsible for VAPB-induced ALS. Recently, a novel mutation in hVAPB (V234I) has been identified but its pathogenic potential has not been assessed. We found that neuronal expression of the V234I mutant allele in Drosophila (DVAP-V260I) induces defects in synaptic structure and microtubule architecture that are opposite to those associated with DVAP mutants and transgenic expression of other ALS-linked alleles. Expression of DVAP-V260I also induces aggregate formation, reduced viability, wing postural defects, abnormal locomotion behavior, nuclear abnormalities, neurodegeneration and upregulation of the heat-shock-mediated stress response. Similar, albeit milder, phenotypes are associated with the overexpression of the wild-type protein. These data show that overexpressing the wild-type DVAP is sufficient to induce the disease and that DVAP-V260I is a pathogenic allele with increased wild-type activity. We propose that a combination of gain- and loss-of-function mechanisms is responsible for VAPB-induced ALS.
Software project initiation and planning - an empirical study

This study describes a study of 14 software companies, on how they initiate and pre-plan software projects. The aim was to obtain an indication of the range of planning activities carried out. The study, using a convenience sample, was carried out using structured interviews, with questions about early software project planning activities. The study offers evidence that an iterative and incremental development process presents extra difficulties in the case of fixed-contract projects. The authors also found evidence that feasibility studies were common, but generally informal in nature. Documentation of the planning process, especially for project scoping, was variable. For incremental and iterative development projects, an upfront decision on software architecture was shown to be preferred over allowing the architecture to just ‘emerge’. There is also evidence that risk management is recognised but often performed incompletely. Finally appropriate future research arising from the study is described.
Environmental forcing does not induce diel or synoptic variation in the carbon isotope content of forest soil respiration

Abstract. Recent studies have examined temporal fluctuations in the amount and carbon isotope content (δ13C) of CO2 produced by the respiration of roots and soil organisms. These changes have been correlated with diel cycles of environmental forcing (e.g., sunlight and soil temperature) and with synoptic-scale atmospheric motion (e.g., rain events and pressure-induced ventilation). We used an extensive suite of measurements to examine soil respiration over 2 months in a subalpine forest in Colorado, USA (the Niwot Ridge AmeriFlux forest). Observations included automated measurements of CO2 and δ13C of CO2 in the soil efflux, the soil gas profile, and forest air. There was strong diel variability in soil efflux but no diel change in the δ13C of the soil efflux (δR) or the CO2 produced by biological activity in the soil (δJ). Following rain, soil efflux increased significantly, but δR and δJ did not change. Temporal variation in the δ13C of the soil efflux was unrelated to measured environmental variables, and we failed to find an explanation for this unexpected result. Measurements of the δ13C of the soil efflux with chambers agreed closely with independent observations of the isotopic composition of soil CO2 production derived from soil gas well measurements. Deeper in the soil profile and at the soil surface, results confirmed established theory regarding diffusive soil gas transport and isotopic fractionation. Deviation from best-fit diffusion model results at the shallower depths illuminated a pump-induced ventilation artifact that should be anticipated and avoided in future studies. There was no evidence of natural pressure-induced ventilation of the deep soil. However, higher variability in δ13C of the soil efflux relative to δ13C of production derived from soil profile measurements was likely caused by transient pressure-induced transport with small horizontal length scales.
Colic in breast‐milk‐fed infants: treatment by temporary substitution of Neocate infant formula

Infant colic is a common problem characterized by excessive crying and fussing. We examined whether colic symptoms of exclusively breast‐milk‐fed infants would be improved by temporary substitution of Neocate, an amino acid‐based infant formula, for breast milk. Six infants with colic were studied using Barr‐type infant behavior diaries for a 3‐5 d baseline period while they continued exclusive breast‐milk‐feeding, followed by a 4‐8 d intervention period of exclusive Neocate feeding. All infants showed improvement in distressed behavior during intervention; five of the six improved within 1‐2 d. For the period after 1 d of Neocate feeding, the total recorded crying and fussing time was reduced by an average of 42%, representing a decrease of 1.0 to 3.1 h daily. A significant difference was found between cry and fuss time at baseline versus during exclusive Neocate use. Concurrent with Neocate intervention, mothers strictly avoided all milk and dairy products. After colic symptoms improved, infants were reintroduced to breast milk, which was reasonably well tolerated in four of the six infants. Two infants had rapid recurrences of crying and fussing upon return to breastfeeding and required an additional period of Neocate feedings before subsequent reintroduction to breastfeeding. All infants exhibited colic symptoms when directly or indirectly challenged with bovine IgG (BGG), suggesting that BGG may play an etiologic role in colic.
Gaining users’ trust by publishing failure probabilities

In order to attract users with business-critical jobs to the Grid, they must trust the reliability of the services they request. Service Level Agreements (SLAs) have been a first approach to contractually define the Quality of Service (QoS) for a job execution. However, SLAs are not really accepted in the Grid world since resource providers are cautious agreeing them, and users not confident receiving the negotiated QoS. The AssessGrid project offers concepts to help providers gain the users’ trust by publishing the probability of failure of SLAs, leading to an increase of users’ confidence once these probabilities are clearly stated. Users can use this information as a decision factor in the SLA negotiation process. This paper presents the idea of AssessGrid in the scope of increasing trust in the SLA provisioning by integrating risk awareness in the Grid layers. Since only reliable information can create trust, an impartial evaluation of the provider’s trustworthiness is being developed in AssessGrid.
Simulated Short-Term Impacts of the Atlantic Menhaden Reduction Fishery on Chesapeake Bay Water Quality

Abstract Atlantic menhaden Brevoortia tyrannus support an intense fishery in Chesapeake Bay, an estuary that is impaired by eutrophication and excess phytoplankton biomass. Since Atlantic menhaden are filter-feeding fish that consume plankton, including phytoplankton, fishery removals may negatively affect water quality and may therefore hinder bay restoration efforts. We performed a simulation to estimate the short-term (monthly and annual) water quality impacts caused by the reduction fishery harvesting its current total allowable catch of Atlantic menhaden in Chesapeake Bay (109,020 metric tons/year). A theoretical loss in net nitrogen removal (Nt ) due to the fishery was estimated for each month, and the simulation was repeated for several scenarios to account for uncertainties associated with Atlantic menhaden feeding behavior. The largest potential impact of the fishery (i.e., absolute value of Nt ) occurred in August for all scenarios, but depending on the value assumed for average feeding rate the.
Recreational Physical Activity Ameliorates Some of the Negative Impact of Major Depression on Health-Related Quality of Life

Background: Major depressive episodes have a negative effect on health-related quality of life (HRQoL). The objective of this study was to determine whether recreational physical activity can ameliorate some of this negative impact. Methods: The data source for the study was the Canadian National Population Health Survey (NPHS). The NPHS is a longitudinal study that has collected data from a representative cohort of 15,254 community residents. Sixteen years of follow-up data are available. The NPHS included: an instrument to assess MDE (the Composite International Diagnostic Interview Short Form for Major Depression), an inventory of recreational activities (each associated with hours of participation and estimated metabolic expenditures), and a HRQoL instrument (the Health Utility Index, Mark 3, or HUI3). Proportional hazard and linear regression models were used in this study to determine whether MDE-related declines in HRQoL were lessened by participation in an active recreational lifestyle. Results: Consistent with expectation, major depression was associated with a significant decline in HRQoL over time. While no statistical interactions were observed, the risk of diminished HRQoL in association with MDE was reduced by physical activity. In a proportional hazards model, the hazard ratio for transition to poor HRQoL was 0.7 (95% CI: 0.6–0.8, p < 0.0001). In linear regression models, physical activity was significantly associated with more positive HRQoL (β = 0.019, 95% CI 0.004 to −0.034, p = 0.02). Conclusion: Recreational physical activity appears to ameliorate some of the decline in HRQoL seen in association with MDE. Physical activity may be an effective tertiary preventive strategy for this condition.
Damped bead on a rotating circular hoop - a bifurcation zoo

The evergreen problem of a bead on a rotating hoop shows a multitude of bifurcations when the bead moves with friction. This motion is studied for different values of the damping coefficient and rotational speeds of the hoop. Phase portraits and trajectories corresponding to all different modes of motion of the bead are presented. They illustrate the rich dynamics associated with this simple system. For some range of values of the damping coefficient and rotational speeds of the hoop, linear stability analysis of the equilibrium points is inadequate to classify their nature. A technique involving transformation of coordinates and order of magnitude arguments is presented to examine such cases. This may provide a general framework to investigate other complex systems.
A study on the use of an immersive virtual reality store to investigate consumer perceptions and purchase behavior toward non-standard fruits and vegetables

In this paper we present an immersive virtual reality user study aimed at investigating how customers perceive and if they would purchase non-standard (i.e. misshaped) fruits and vegetables (FaVs) in supermarkets and hypermarkets. Indeed, food waste is a major issue for the retail sector and a recent trend is to reduce it by selling non-standard goods. An important question for retailers relates to the FaVs' “level of abnormality” that consumers would agree to buy. However, this question cannot be tackled using “classical” marketing techniques that perform user studies within real shops since fresh produce such as FaVs tend to rot rapidly preventing studies to be repeatable or to be run for a long time. In order to overcome those limitations, we created a virtual grocery store with a fresh FaVs section where 142 participants were immersed using an Oculus Rift DK2 HMD. Participants were presented either “normal”, “slightly misshaped”, “misshaped” or “severely misshaped” FaVs. Results show that participants tend to purchase a similar number of FaVs whatever their deformity. Nevertheless participants' perceptions of the quality of the FaV depend on the level of abnormality.
Mass Release of Trichogramma evanescens and T. cacoeciae Can Reduce Damage by the Apple Codling Moth Cydia pomonella in Organic Orchards under Pheromone Disruption

Cydia pomonella is a major pest in apples in Denmark. Trichogramma spp. are known biocontrol agents of C. pomonella eggs and two naturally occurring species in Denmark, which are also both commercially available, were chosen for mass-release trials. Trichogramma evanescens, T. cacoeciae or a mix of the two species were evaluated for mass-release to control C. pomonella in two commercial organic apple orchards, one in 2012 and one in 2013, using a complete randomized block design. Pheromone disruption was used in both orchards, making the study one of the first to evaluate Trichogramma release under a mating disruption regime. Trichogramma activity was assessed using bait cards with Sitotroga cerealella eggs. The percent C. pomonella damaged fruit was recorded and the fruit yield was estimated. In 2012 cool and wet weather conditions resulted in low Trichogramma activity (<16% bait cards parasitized) and only T. evanescens was recovered from bait cards. The conditions in 2013 were warmer but T. evanescens was still >10 times more frequently found in bait cards than T. cacoeciae. There was a significant effect of the treatment and year (p = 0.009) and of the sampling period (p = 0.0008) on Trichogramma activity (proportion bait cards parasitized), with no significant difference between treatments in 2012. In 2013 the highest activity was found in T. evanescens and mixed treatments, in July reaching 69% and 47% bait cards parasitized, respectively. Fruit damage was highest in the control plots (7.1%) compared with Trichogramma treatments (T. evanescens 2.8%, T. cacoeciae 3.8%, mixed 3.3%) (p = 0.028). Yield did not differ significantly between treatments. In conclusion, Trichogramma mass release is a promising biocontrol method for use in the Danish climate, but further studies are needed regarding the performance of the two Trichogramma species (and potential other Trichogramma species) towards C. pomonella eggs in the field to identify the best biocontrol candidate.
Molecular mechanisms of peripheral nerve regeneration: emerging roles of microRNAs

MicroRNAs are small non-coding RNAs that suppress gene expression through target mRNA degradation or translation repression. Recent studies suggest that miRNA plays an important role in multiple physiological and pathological processes in the nervous system. In this review article, we described what is currently known about the mechanisms in peripheral nerve regeneration on cellular and molecular levels. Recently, changes in microRNA expression profiles have been detected in different injury models, and emerging evidence strongly indicates that these changes promote neurons to survive by shifting their physiology from maintaining structure and supporting synaptic transmission towards a regenerative phenotype. We reviewed the putative mechanisms involved in miRNA mediated post-transcriptional regulation and pointed out several areas where future research is necessary to advance our understanding of how targeting miRNA machinery can be used as a therapeutic approach for treating nerve injuries.