Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Living Donor Nephrectomy: Flank Incision Versus Anterior Vertical Mini-Incision

Background. Currently, many centers perform laparoscopic donor nephrectomy (DN). We studied the outcome of donors and recipients following open DN using either flank incision (ODN) or mini-incision (MIDN). Methods. Data of 196 living kidney donors were recorded prospectively. In 127 cases ODN and 69 cases MIDN were performed. Results. Demographic details of donors were comparable for both groups. The left kidney was procured in 58% for ODN and in 64% for MIDN. Multiple arteries were more frequently present when MIDN (11% vs. 28%) was performed. The mean operating time was 129 min for ODN and 133 min for MIDN. Early complications occurred in 7% following ODN and in 4% following MIDN. Late complications were observed in 21% after ODN and 1% after MIDN. The mean hospital stay was significantly longer following ODN compared with MIDN (7.5 vs. 6.4 days). The primary graft function rate was 97% in both groups. One-year graft survival was 97% after ODN and 100% after MIDN. Conclusions. Results following MIDN are superior to those following ODN. Even in case of multiple renal vessels MIDN can be safely applied. In comparison with laparoscopic DN advantages of MIDN may be reduced costs, shorter operating time, and comparable cosmetic results.
The Value of social networks in rural Paraguay

We conduct field experiments in rural Paraguay to measure the value of reciprocity within social networks in a set of fifteen villages. These experiments involve conducting dictator- type games; different treatments involve manipulating the information and choice that individuals have in the game. These different treatments allow us to measure and distinguish between different motives for giving in these games. The different motives we're able to measure include a general benevolence, directed altruism, fear of sanctions, and reciprocity within the social network. We're further able to draw inferences from play in the games regarding the sorts of impediments to trade which must restrict villagers' ability to share in states of the world when no researchers are present running experiments and measuring outcomes.
Sex Ratio at Birth and Age-Reversed Dominance among Female Varecia

Analysis of 283 offspring born at the Duke University Primate Center show that young female ruffed lemurs, Varecia variegata, produce significantly more daughters, whereas old mothers produce more sons than expected. Data are compared to 3 hypotheses for sex ratio bias: the Trivers-Willard hypothesis which predicts that dominant females produce more males, the local resource competition (LRC) hypothesis which predicts that subordinate females produce more males, and the local resource enhancement (LRE) extension of the LRC hypothesis that females produce the sex that provides later cooperative benefits. In the case of Varecia, this may include alloparenting or cooperative breeding. The results are more consistent with the LRC model. However, observations of 8 mother-daughter relationships show that female dominance rank in free-ranging Varecia groups is age reversed, with daughters aggressively outranking their mothers. Daughters born into the group were not beneficial as future supporters in within-group intermatriline competition as assumed by the LRE model, or as subordinate alloparents, cooperative breeders or aids in territorial defense. Both sex ratio and ranking observations are consistent, however, with the hypothesis that mothers produce daughters when they are young and able to invade elsewhere and sons as they age and are less able to do so. This is supported by a single observation of a mother dispersing which resulted in her daughter inheriting the natal territory. These data are supportive of the LRE model with female alliances and cooperative breeding among dispersed females.
Vitamin A Supplementation at Birth Might Prime the Response to Subsequent Vitamin A Supplements in Girls. Three Year Follow-Up of a Randomized Trial

Objectives Within a randomised trial of neonatal vitamin A supplementation (VAS) in Guinea-Bissau, neonatal VAS did not affect overall infant mortality. We conducted a post-hoc analysis to test the hypothesis that neonatal VAS primes the response to subsequent vitamin A. Methods All trial children were offered VAS after follow-up ended at 1 year of age (FU-VAS). We compared mortality between 1 and 3 years of age according to initial randomization to neonatal VAS or placebo in Cox-regression models; we expected that children randomized to neonatal VAS compared with those randomized to placebo would have lower mortality after reception of FU-VAS. Results Of 4345 infants enrolled in the original trial, 3646 lived in the study area at 1 year of age and 2958 received FU-VAS. Between 1 and 3 years of age, 112 children died. After FU-VAS, neonatal VAS was associated with lower mortality than placebo: Mortality Rate Ratio (MRR) = 0.54 (95%CI: 0.31–0.94). The effect was more pronounced in girls (MRR = 0.37 (0.16–0.89)) than boys (MRR = 0.73 (0.35–1.51)). The beneficial effect of neonatal VAS may have been particularly strong for girls who received both VAS in a campaign and FU-VAS (MRR = 0.15 (0.03–0.67)). Among children who had not received FU-VAS, mortality in the second and third year of life did not differ according to reception of neonatal VAS or placebo. Hence, in the second and third year of life the effect of neonatal VAS versus placebo was different in girls who had or had not received FU-VAS (p for homogeneity = 0.01). Conclusions The present results suggest that neonatal VAS primes the response in girls such that they get a beneficial effect after a subsequent dose of VAS. Trial Registration Clinicaltrials.gov NCT00168597
QA better than IR ?

A Question Answering (QA) system allows the user to ask questions in natural language and to obtain one or several answers. If compared with a classical IR engine like Google, what kind of key benefits QA bring to users and how to measure their distinctive performances. This is what we shall attempt here to determine, specially in providing a comparative weak and strong points table of each system, along with showing how QA systems, in particular our Qristal QA system, requires up two to six time less "user effort".
[Early weaning: implications to oral motor development].

OBJECTIVE This article aims at reviewing the relationship between early weaning and its consequences to oral motor development, focusing on the consequences to occlusion, breathing, and children's oral motor aspects. SOURCES A literature review based on Medline database from the early 60s up to 2001 was performed taking into consideration the following topics: pediatrics, dentistry and speech language pathology. SUMMARY OF THE FINDINGS Based on this review of literature, we could verify that early weaning may lead to a proper oral motor development rupture, which may cause negative consequences to swallowing, breathing and speaking activities as well as malocclusion, oral breathing and oral motor disorders. CONCLUSIONS In addition to several benefits of breastfeeding, it contributes to a proper oral motor development and also avoids speech-language disorders, regarding oral motor system.
Quantitative Proteomics Reveals That Only a Subset of the Endoplasmic Reticulum Contributes to the Phagosome*

Phagosomes, by killing and degrading pathogens for antigen presentation, are organelles implicated in key aspects of innate and adaptive immunity. Although it has been well established that phagosomes consist of membranes from the plasma membrane, endosomes, and lysosomes, the notion that the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) membrane could play an important role in the formation of the phagosome is debated. However, a method to accurately estimate the contribution of potential source organelles and contaminants to the phagosome proteome has been lacking. Herein, we have developed a proteomic approach for objectively quantifying the contribution of various organelles to the early and late phagosomes by comparing these fractions to their total membrane and postnuclear supernatant of origin in the J774A.1 murine macrophage cell line. Using quantitative label-free mass spectrometry, the abundance of peptides corresponding to hundreds of proteins was estimated and attributed to one of five organelles (e.g. plasma membrane, endosomes/lysosomes, ER, Golgi, and mitochondria). These data in combination with a stable isotope labeling in cell culture method designed to detect potential contaminant sources revealed that the ER is part of the phagosomal membrane and contributes ∼20% of the early phagosome proteome. In addition, only a subset of ER proteins is recruited to the phagosome, suggesting that a specific subdomain(s) of the ER might be involved in phagocytosis. Western blotting and immunofluorescence substantially validated this conclusion; we were able to demonstrate that the fraction of the ER in which the ER marker GFP-KDEL accumulates is excluded from the phagosomes, whereas that containing the mVenus-Syntaxin 18 is recruited. These results highlight promising new avenues for the description of the pathogenic mechanisms used by Leishmania, Brucella, and Legionella spp. , which thrive in ER-rich phagosomes.
Free lunches for function and program induction

In this paper we prove that for a variety of practical problems and representations, there is a free lunch for search algorithms that specialise in the task of finding functions or programs that solve problems, such as genetic programming. In other words, not all such algorithms are equally good under all possible performance measures. We focus in particular on the case where the objective is to discover functions that fit sets of data-points - a task that we will call symbolic regression. We show under what conditions there is a free lunch for symbolic regression, highlighting that these are extremely restrictive.
Hyaluronan Used for Intradermal Injections Is Incorporated into the Pericellular Matrix and Promotes Proliferation in Human Skin Fibroblasts in vitro

Background: Over the past decade injectable hyaluronan (HA) formulations have been widely used to decrease the visibility of skin aging. However, little basic research has been performed to address their effect on dermal skin fibroblasts. Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate whether human skin fibroblasts are affected by exogenous non-cross-linked HA with respect to proliferation, migration and extracellular matrix composition. Methods: The effect of a non-cross-linked HA on proliferation, migration and gene expression of human dermal fibroblasts was determined. Furthermore, affinity histochemistry of pericellular HA was performed. Results: Proliferation was significantly stimulated by HA whereas migration was not affected. Importantly, exogenous HA was incorporated into fine HA filaments of the pericellular fibroblast matrix. Conclusion: This is the first evidence that a HA formulation used in humans for cosmetic reasons stimulates fibroblast proliferation and is utilized to assemble a supramolecular pericellular structure.
Roles of Lipoprotein Lipase and Hepatic Triglyceride Lipase in the Catabolism In Vivo of Triglyceride‐Rich Lipoproteins

To define the roles, In vivo, of hepatic triglyceride lipase and lipoprotein lipase in the catabolism of trlglyceiide-rlch lipoproteins, we Investigated the relationship between the activities of the above enzymes In postheparin plasma and the fractional removal rates of very low density lipoproteins (VLDL) and VLDL remnant particles. In 22 patients, the fractional removal rates of VLDL and VLDL-remnant particles were determined from analyses of the disappearance of radlolodlnated Sf 60-400 and Sf 12-60 lipoprotein B apoproteln. The maximal activities of hepatic triglyceride lipase and lipoprotein lipase were determined in plasma samples drawn 2-60 minutes after heparln injection (60 U/kg). A positive correlation was observed between the fractional removal rate of VLDL and postheparin plasma lipoprotein lipase activity (r = 0.65). When all 22 patients were considered together, no relationship was demonstrable between remnant fractional removal and postheparin plasma lipoprotein lipase activity. However, humans may be subdivided with respect to the way In which they catabollze remnants. In some, all remnant may be catabollzed to form LDL. In others, some of the remnant may also be directly removed from the circulation. Those subjects In whom previous studies Indicate that all remnant Is converted to LDL demonstrated a positive correlation between remnant fractional removal rate and postheparin plasma lipoprotein lipase activity (n = 8, r = 0.83). No correlations between postheparin plasma hepatic triglyceride lipase activity and any of the fractional removal rates were found. These data are consistent with the following: 1) lipoprotein lipase plays a key regulatory role In the catabolism of trlglycerlde-rich lipoproteins; 2) this role applies only to those catabollc processes involving the formation of particles of higher density VLDL remnants and low density lipoprotein; and 3) hepatic triglyceride lipase plays no rate-limiting role In the catabolism of VLDL or VLDL-remnant particles.
Optimal Transceiver Design for SWIPT in $K$-User MIMO Interference Channels

This paper investigates simultaneous wireless information and power transfer (SWIPT) in K-user multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) interference channels. In particular, the power splitting (PS) technique is leveraged at each receiver to divide the received signal into two flows, for information decoding (ID) and energy harvesting (EH), respectively. As a whole system, our objective is to minimize the total transmit power of all transmitters by jointly designing transmit beamformers, power splitters, and receive filters, subject to the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR) constraint for ID and the harvested power constraint for EH at each receiver. Due to the coupling nature of all variables, the formulated joint transceiver design problem is nonconvex, and has not yet been well addressed in the literature. In this paper, we first propose a semidefinite relaxation-based alternating optimization (SDRAO) solution to approach the optimal solution of the problem. Then, we semidecouple the joint optimization by the derived diversity interference alignment (DIA) technique, and obtain a solution of lower complexity. Finally, a closed-form solution is further developed relying on the transmitter-side zero-forcing (TZF), which can be implemented in a distributed manner, with the lowest computational complexity and CSI exchanging overhead.
TIMP-3 Binds to Sulfated Glycosaminoglycans of the Extracellular Matrix*

Of the four known tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs), TIMP-3 is distinguished by its tighter binding to the extracellular matrix. The present results show that glycosaminoglycans such as heparin, heparan sulfate, chondroitin sulfates A, B, and C, and sulfated compounds such as suramin and pentosan efficiently extract TIMP-3 from the postpartum rat uterus. Enzymatic treatment by heparinase III or chondroitinase ABC also releases TIMP-3, but neither one alone gives complete release. Confocal microscopy shows colocalization of heparan sulfate and TIMP-3 in the endometrium subjacent to the lumen of the uterus. Immunostaining of TIMP-3 is lost upon digestion of tissue sections with heparinase III and chondroitinase ABC. The N-terminal domain of human TIMP-3 was expressed and found to bind to heparin with affinity similar to that of full-length mouse TIMP-3. The A and B β-strands of the N-terminal domain of TIMP-3 contain two potential heparin-binding sequences rich in lysine and arginine; these strands should form a double track on the outer surface of TIMP-3. Synthetic peptides corresponding to segments of these two strands compete for heparin in the DNase II binding assay. TIMP-3 binding may be important for the cellular regulation of activity of the matrix metalloproteinases.
Patterns of scuba diver behaviour to assess environmental impact on marine benthic communities: a suitable tool for management of recreational diving on Benidorm island (Western Mediterranean sea) .

Few studies have analyzed the SCUBA divers’ behaviour in the Mediterranean Sea and none of them involved marine unprotected areas. Generally speaking the damage done by individuals is quite low, but the, accumulative effects of these disturbances can cause significant localised destruction of benthic marine organisms. The present study was carried out during the year 2005 on a diving site called La Llosa, on Benidorm Island (Alicante: Western Mediterranean Sea) with more than 7,000 dives per year. Two hundred and seventeen (217) divers were monitored randomly. Each subject was observed underwater for 10 minutes (Rouphael & Inglis, 2001). Samples were randomly collected during the high diving season (June-October). Divers were not aware of this surveillance so as not to interfere with their normal patterns of behaviour. The results showed that 95% of divers came into physical contact with benthic substrata during the 10-min observation period. Fin contact rates were significantly different depending on the diving certification level (Man-Whitney test, p<0.003) detecting the greatest number of contacts within higher diving certification levels (Bonferroni correction). Divers using an underwater light device came intocontact with the substratum significantly more frequently than non-light users ( , p < 0.022). However, contact rate did not show significant variance across divers using a camera and those who did not (p<0.366). No difference was found between contact rates of divers who were given a briefing and those who were not. Environmental briefing before diving had no effect on the divers’ hand contact rates ( , p< 0.194), which shows a low marine environmental sensitivity level of divers. We concluded that the decrease in scuba divers contact rate would take place given an improvement of environmental awareness, specially among professional divers.
Evaluation of a Novel Glucose Area Under the Curve (AUC) Monitoring System: Comparison with the AUC by Continuous Glucose Monitoring

Background Management of postprandial hyperglycemia is a key aspect in diabetes treatment. We developed a novel system to measure glucose area under the curve (AUC) using minimally invasive interstitial fluid extraction technology (MIET) for simple monitoring of postprandial glucose excursions. In this study, we evaluated the relationship between our system and continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) by comparing glucose AUC obtained using MIET with that obtained using CGM for a long duration. Methods Twenty diabetic inpatients wearing a CGM system were enrolled. For MIET measurement, a plastic microneedle array was applied to the skin as pretreatment, and hydrogels were placed on the pretreated area to collect interstitial fluid. Hydrogels were replaced every 2 or 4 hours and AUC was predicted on the basis of glucose and sodium ion levels. Results AUC predicted by MIET correlated well with that measured by CGM (r=0.93). Good performances of both consecutive 2- and 4-hour measurements were observed (measurement error: 11.7%±10.2% for 2 hours and 11.1%±7.9% for 4 hours), indicating the possibility of repetitive measurements up to 8 hours. The influence of neither glucose fluctuation nor average glucose level over the measurement accuracy was observed through 8 hours. Conclusion Our system showed good relationship with AUC values from CGM up to 8 hours, indicating that single pretreatment can cover a large portion of glucose excursion in a day. These results indicated possibility of our system to contribute to convenient monitoring of glucose excursions for a long duration.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors and venlafaxine in early pregnancy and risk of birth defects: population based cohort study and sibling design

ObjeCtive To assess whether use of specific selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) or venlafaxine in early pregnancy is associated with an increased risk of birth defects, with emphasis on cardiovascular birth defects even when accounting for lifestyle or other familial confounding. Multicountry population based cohort study, including sibling a birth defect compared with 3.1% of 2 266 875 unexposed infants, yielding a covariate adjusted odds ratio of 1.13 (95% confidence interval 1.06 to 1.20). In the sibling controlled analysis the adjusted odds ratio decreased to 1.06 (0.91 to 1.24). The odds ratios for any cardiac birth defect with use of any SSRI or venlafaxine were 1.15 (95% confidence interval 1.05 to 1.26) in the covariate adjusted analysis and 0.92 (0.72 to 1.17) in the sibling controlled analysis. For atrial and ventricular septal defects the covariate adjusted odds ratio was 1.17 (1.05 to 1.31). Exposure to any SSRI or venlafaxine increased the prevalence of right ventricular outflow tract obstruction defects, with a covariate adjusted odds ratio of 1.48 (1.15 to 1.89). In the sibling controlled analysis the adjusted odds ratio decreased to 0.56 (0.21 to 1.49) for any exposure to SSRIs or venlafaxine and right ventricular outflow tract obstruction defects.
Depth-of-Field Rendering with Saliency-Based Bilateral Filtering

Depth of Field (DoF) is an indispensable feature of photo realistic rendering and photography retouching. In this paper, we propose an image-based rendering technique which can simulate the depth-of-field effect. The proposed technique can render the depth-of-field effect automatically without any interactions. Compared to the ordinary depth-of-field rendering technique, our algorithm is less time-consuming and needs no additional depth maps to assist the depth-of-field rendering. In our proposed algorithm, the saliency detection technique is employed to simulate the depth information. The flash-based technique is also introduced to promote the final depth-of-field rendering visual effect.
TREC 2007 Genomics Track Overview

The TREC 2007 Genomics Track employed an entity-based question-answering task. Runs were required to nominate passages of text from a collection of full-text biomedical journal articles to answer the topic questions. Systems were assessed not only for the relevance of passages retrieved, but also how many aspects (entities) of the topic were covered and how many relevant documents were retrieved. We also classified the features of runs to explore which ones were associated with better performance, although the diversity of approaches and the quality of their reporting prevented definitive conclusions from being drawn.
NMDA Receptor Composition Differs Among Anatomically Diverse Malformations of Cortical Development

Altered excitatory synaptic activity is likely a key factor in the neuronal hyperexcitability of developmental cerebral malformations. Using a combined morphologic and molecular approach, we investigated the NMDA receptor and related protein composition in human epileptic patients affected by periventricular nodular heterotopia, subcortical band heterotopia, or focal cortical dysplasia. Our results indicate that expression levels of specific NMDA receptor subunits are altered in both cerebral heterotopia and cortical dysplasia. A selective increase in the NR2B subunit was present in all cortical dysplasia, whereas the expression level of NR2A and NR2B subunits was significantly downregulated in all patients with heterotopia. NR2B upregulation in cortical dysplasia was greater in the total homogenate than the postsynaptic membrane fraction, suggesting that mechanisms other than increased ionic influx through the postsynaptic membrane may sustain hyperexcitability in dysplastic neurons. In cerebral heterotopia, the NR2A and NR2B downregulation was accompanied by less evident reduction of the SAP97 and PSD-95 proteins of the MAGUK family, thus suggesting that NMDA impairment was associated with altered molecular structure of the postsynaptic membrane. Our results demonstrate that diverse human developmental malformations are associated with different alterations of the NMDA receptor, which may contribute to the genesis of epileptic phenomena.