Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Clinical analysis of minimally invasive McKeown esophagectomy in a single center by a single medical group

Objective: McKeown esophagectomy followed by cervical and abdominal procedures has been commonly used for invasive esophageal carcinoma. This minimally-invasive operative procedure in the lateral prone position has been considered to be the most appropriate method. We describe our experiences in minimally invasive McKeown esophagectomy (MIME) for esophageal cancer. Methods: Between March 2016 and February 2018, a total of 82 patients underwent MIME by a single group in our department (a single center). All procedure, operation, oncology, and complication data were reviewed. Results: All MIME procedures were completed successfully, with no conversions to open surgery. The median operative time was 260 min, and median blood loss was 100 ml. The average number of total harvested lymph nodes was 20.1 in the chest and 13.5 in the abdomen. There were no deaths within 30 postoperative days. Twenty cases (24.4%) developed postoperative complications, including anastomotic leak in 4 (4.9%), single lateral recurrent nerve palsy in 4 (4.9%), bilateral recurrent nerve palsy in 1 (1.2%), pulmonary problems in 3 (3.7%), chyle leak in 1 (1.2%), and other complications in 7 (including pleural effusions in 4, incomplete ileus in 2, and neck incision infection in 1; 8.54%). Average postoperative hospitalization time was 12 d. Blood loss, operation time, morbidity rate, and the number of harvested lymph nodes were analyzed by evaluating learning curves in different periods. Significant differences were found in operative time (P=0.006), postoperative hospitalization days (P=0.015), total harvested lymph nodes (P=0.003), harvested thoracic lymph nodes (P=0.006), and harvested abdominal lymph nodes (P=0.022) among different periods. Conclusions: Surgical outcomes following MIME for esophageal cancer are safe and acceptable. The MIME procedure for stages I and II could be performed proficiently and reached an experience plateau after approximately 25 cases.
Auxetics Abounding

Auxetic behavior refers to lateral widening upon stretching. Although a structural origin for this rather counterintuitive type of deformation was often suggested, a theoretical understanding of the role of geometry in auxetic behavior has been a challenge for a long time. However, for structures modeled as periodic bar-and-joint frameworks, including atom-and-bond frameworks in crystalline materials, there is a complete geometric solution which opens endless possibilities for new auxetic designs. We construct a large family of three-dimensional auxetic periodic mechanisms and discuss the ideas involved in their design.
APOBEC3B Activity Is Prevalent in Urothelial Carcinoma Cells and Only Slightly Affected by LINE-1 Expression

The most common mutational signature in urothelial carcinoma (UC), the most common type of urinary bladder cancer is assumed to be caused by the misdirected activity of APOBEC3 (A3) cytidine deaminases, especially A3A or A3B, which are known to normally restrict the propagation of exogenous viruses and endogenous retroelements such as LINE-1 (L1). The involvement of A3 proteins in urothelial carcinogenesis is unexpected because, to date, UC is thought to be caused by chemical carcinogens rather than viral activity. Therefore, we explored the relationship between A3 expression and L1 activity, which is generally upregulated in UC. We found that UC cell lines highly express A3B and in some cases A3G, but not A3A, and exhibit corresponding cytidine deamination activity in vitro. While we observed evidence suggesting that L1 expression has a weak positive effect on A3B and A3G expression and A3B promoter activity, neither efficient siRNA-mediated knockdown nor overexpression of functional L1 elements affected catalytic activity of A3 proteins consistently. However, L1 knockdown diminished proliferation of a UC cell line exhibiting robust endogenous L1 expression, but had little impact on a cell line with low L1 expression levels. Our results indicate that UC cells express A3B at levels exceeding A3A levels by far, making A3B the prime candidate for causing genomic mutations. Our data provide evidence that L1 activation constitutes only a minor and negligible factor involved in induction or upregulation of endogenous A3 expression in UC.
What's New in Critical Illness and Injury Science?: Revalidation of vasoactive–ventilation–renal scoring in predicting outcome in postcardiac surgery children and the importance of replicating studies

In this issue, Alam et al.[1] have revalidated the work done by Miletic et al. in regard to the effectiveness of the vasoactive–ventilation–renal (VVR) score as an appropriate tool in the prediction of postcardiac surgery outcome in children. [2,3] Miletic et al.’s work had also been previously validated by Scherer et al.[4] Here, however, Alam et al. accumulated a denominator nearly four times that of Miletic et al. (the two studies of Miletic et al. had 222 and 92 patients, and Alam et al. had 1097 patients). In their work, Alam et al. compared VVR with vasoactive–inotropic scoring (VIS) using the ventilation index (VI). [5] The VVR is equal to VIS + VI (VI) + (∆ creatinine × 10), where VI = respiratory rate × (peak inspiratory pressure [PIP] – positive end‐expiratory pressure [PEEP]) × PaCO2/1000, and ∆ creatinine is calculated by subtracting serum creatinine (mg/dl) at the time of each measurement with preoperative serum creatinine.
A study on related factors of hemodynamic depression in carotid artery stenting.

OBJECTIVE To investigate the pathogenesis and related factors of carotid artery stenting (CAS) related to hemodynamic depression (HD). PATIENTS AND METHODS 433 CAS patients were admitted to our hospital and were selected from Jan 2013 to Jun 2016. We set up the HD diagnostic criteria for CAS and observed the whole morphology of vessels to classify carotid atherosclerotic plaques. We analyzed cerebral angiography and placed temporary cardiac pacemaker via femoral vein in order to prepare carotid artery stenting. We determined the general situation of HD after CAS according to the results. RESULTS 38 patients received temporary placement of cardiac temporary pacemakers, and 241 patients (59.80%) developed HD. 403 patients were divided into HD group and non HD group and results suggested there was no significant difference between the two groups except for diabetes (p>0.05). Also, bilateral carotid stenting was performed in 26 patients (6.45%), and the HD group was significantly higher than that in non HD group (p<0.05). HD group had 31 MACCE cases, and non HD group had 2 MACCE cases. There was no occurrence of adverse cardiovascular events in this study. CONCLUSIONS Cardiac temporary pacemaker may be one of the effective approaches to improve HD after CAS and reduce perioperative MACCE.
Reducing mental health-related stigma in primary health care settings in low- and middle-income countries: a systematic review

Abstract Aims This systematic review compiled evidence on interventions to reduce mental health-related stigma in primary health care (PHC) in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Studies targeting PHC staff (including non-professionals) were included. Primary outcomes were stigmatising attitudes and discriminatory behaviours. Methods Data collection included two strategies. First, previous systematic reviews were searched for studies that met the inclusion criteria of the current review. Second, a new search was done, covering the time since the previous reviews, i.e. January 2013 to May 2017. Five search concepts were combined in order to capture relevant literature: stigma, mental health, intervention, PHC staff and LMICs. A qualitative analysis of all included full-texts was done with software MAXQDA. Full-texts were analysed with regards to the content of interventions, didactic methods, mental disorders, cultural adaptation, type of outcome measure and primary outcomes. Furthermore, a risk of bias assessment was undertaken. Results A total of 18 studies were included. Risk of bias was rated as high in most included studies. Only six studies had tested their intervention against a control condition, two of which had used random allocation. Most frequently used interventions were lectures providing theoretical information. Many studies also used interactive methods (N = 9), discussed case studies (N = 8) or used role plays (N = 5). Three studies reported that they had used clinical practice and supervision. Results of these studies were mixed. No or little effects were found for brief training interventions (e.g. 1 h to 1 day). Longer training interventions with more sophisticated didactic methods produced statistically significant changes in validated stigma questionnaires. These results have to be interpreted with caution due to risk of bias. Methods for cultural adaptation of interventions were rarely documented. Conclusions More rigorous trials are needed in LMICs to test interventions that target discriminatory behaviours in relationship with patients. Cultural adaptation of stigma interventions and structural/institutional factors should be more explicitly addressed in such trials.
Systematic review with meta‐analysis: risk of adverse cardiovascular events with proton pump inhibitors independent of clopidogrel

Clopidogrel's anti‐platelet effects may be attenuated by a pharmacokinetic interaction with co‐prescribed proton pump inhibitors, which inhibit oxidative pathways that convert clopidogrel into its active metabolites. Despite this, the impact of PPIs on cardiovascular risk in the absence of clopidogrel is not well defined.
Effect of Virtual Human Gaze Behaviour During an Orthogonal Collision Avoidance Walking Task

This paper presents a study performed in virtual reality on the effect of gaze interception during collision avoidance between two walkers. In such a situation, mutual gaze can be considered as a form of nonverbal communication. Additionally, gaze is believed to detail future path intentions and to be part of the nonverbal negotiation to achieve avoidance collaboratively. We considered an avoidance task between a real subject and a virtual human character and studied the influence of the character's gaze direction on the avoidance behaviour of the participant. Virtual reality provided an accurate control of the situation: seventeen participants were immersed in a virtual environment, instructed to navigate across a virtual space using a joystick and to avoid a virtual character that would appear from either side. The character would either gaze or not towards the participant. Further, the character would either perform or not a reciprocal adaptation of its trajectory to avoid a potential collision with the participant. The findings of this paper were that during an orthogonal collision avoidance task, gaze behaviour did not influence the collision avoidance behaviour of the participants. Further, the addition of reciprocal collision avoidance with gaze did not modify the collision behaviour of participants. These results suggest that for the duration of interaction in such a task, body motion cues were sufficient for coordination and regulation. We discuss the possible exploitation of these results to improve the design of virtual characters for populated virtual environments and user interaction.
Randomized fully dynamic graph algorithms with polylogarithmic time per operation

This paper solves a longstanding open problem in fully dynamic algorithms: We present the first fully dynamic algorithms that maintain connectivity, bipartiteness, and approximate minimum spanning trees in polylogarithmic time per edge insertion or deletion. The algorithms are designed using a new dynamic technique that combines a novel graph decomposition with randomization. They are Las-Vegas type randomized algorithms which use simple data structures and have a small constant factor. Let <italic>n</italic> denote the number of nodes in the graph. For a sequence of &OHgr;(<italic>m</italic><subscrpt>0</subscrpt>) operations, where <italic>m</italic><subscrpt>0</subscrpt> is the number of edges in the initial graph, the expected time for <italic>p</italic> updates is <italic>O</italic>(<italic>p</italic> log<supscrpt>3</supscrpt> <italic>n</italic>) (througout the paper the logarithms are based 2) for connectivity and bipartiteness. The worst-case time for one query is <italic>O</italic>(log <italic>n</italic>/log log <italic>n</italic>). For the <italic>k</italic>-edge witness problem (“Does the removal of <italic>k</italic> given edges disconnect the graph? ”) the expected time for <italic>p</italic> updates is <italic>O</italic>(<italic>p</italic> log<supscrpt>3</supscrpt> <italic>n</italic>) and the expected time for <italic>q</italic> queries is <italic>O</italic>(<italic>qk</italic> log<supscrpt>3</supscrpt> <italic>n</italic>). Given a graph with <italic>k</italic> different weights, the minimum spanning tree can be maintained during a sequence of <italic>p</italic> updates in expected time <italic>O</italic>(<italic>pk</italic> log<supscrpt>3</supscrpt> <italic>n</italic>). This implies an algorithm to maintain a 1 + ε-approximation of the minimum spanning tree in expected time <italic>O</italic>((<italic>p</italic> log<supscrpt>3</supscrpt> <italic>n</italic> log<italic>U</italic>)/ε) for <italic>p</italic> updates, where the weights of the edges are between 1 and <italic>U</italic>.
Investigating the Significance of the Bellwether Effect to Improve Software Effort Prediction: Further Empirical Study

<italic>Context:</italic> In addressing how best to estimate how much effort is required to develop software, a recent study found that using exemplary and recently completed projects [forming <italic>Bellwether moving windows </italic> (BMW)] in software effort prediction (SEP) models leads to relatively improved accuracy. More studies need to be conducted to determine whether the BMW yields improved accuracy in general, since different sizing and aging parameters of the BMW are known to affect accuracy. <italic>Objective:</italic> To investigate the existence of exemplary projects (<italic>Bellwethers</italic>) with defined window size and age parameters, and whether their use in SEP improves prediction accuracy. <italic>Method:</italic> We empirically investigate the moving window assumption based on the theory that the prediction outcome of a future event depends on the outcomes of prior events. Sampling of <italic>Bellwethers</italic> was undertaken using three introduced <italic>Bellwether methods</italic> (<italic>SSPM, SysSam,</italic> and <italic>RandSam</italic>). The ergodic Markov chain was used to determine the stationarity of the <italic>Bellwethers</italic>. <italic>Results:</italic> Empirical results show that 1) <italic>Bellwethers</italic> exist in SEP and 2) the BMW has an approximate size of 50 to 80 exemplary projects that should not be more than 2 years old relative to the <italic>new</italic> projects to be estimated. <italic>Conclusion:</italic> The study's results add further weight to the recommended use of <italic>Bellwethers</italic> for improved prediction accuracy in SEP.
Co2 Emissions Reduction of Photovoltaic Thermal Model Using Variable Flow Rate Values

In this paper, Co2 emission reduction of Photovoltaic Thermal (PVT) model using variable flow rate values has been examined and evaluated for seventy-three different Photovoltaic (PV) coverage area cases of PVT (between 20% to 80%). A data set of weather conditions of a city in Canada over one year is used for this study. Co2 emission reduction is investigated for each month for the different cases in this work. For minimizing Co2 emissions, the percentage of PV coverage area values for each month is determined. To maximize the annual Co2 emission reduction, specific PV coverage area values are carefully chosen for each month using variable flow rate. Results show that the annual Co2 emission reduction can be maximized by using adapted (dynamic) PV coverage area values compared to the conventional (static) PV coverage area values of the PVT system during a year. The fitted-curve function is obtained which evaluates the Co2 emissions reduction for each month at different PV coverage area ratio.
RXFP1 Receptor Activation by Relaxin-2 Induces Vascular Relaxation in Mice via a Gαi2-Protein/PI3Kß/γ/Nitric Oxide-Coupled Pathway

Background: Relaxins are small peptide hormones, which are novel candidate molecules that play important roles in cardiometablic syndrome. Relaxins are structurally related to the insulin hormone superfamily, which provide vasodilatory effects by activation of G-protein-coupled relaxin receptors (RXFPs) and stimulation of endogenous nitric oxide (NO) generation. Recently, relaxin could be demonstrated to activate Gi proteins and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) pathways in cultured endothelial cells in vitro. However, the contribution of the Gi-PI3K pathway and their individual components in relaxin-dependent relaxation of intact arteries remains elusive. Methods: We used Gαi2- (Gnai2-/-) and Gαi3-deficient (Gnai3-/-) mice, pharmacological tools and wire myography to study G-protein-coupled signaling pathways involved in relaxation of mouse isolated mesenteric arteries by relaxins. Human relaxin-1, relaxin-2, and relaxin-3 were tested. Results: Relaxin-2 (∼50% relaxation at 10-11 M) was the most potent vasodilatory relaxin in mouse mesenteric arteries, compared to relaxin-1 and relaxin-3. The vasodilatory effects of relaxin-2 were inhibited by removal of the endothelium or treatment of the vessels with N (G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) inhibitor) or simazine (RXFP1 inhibitor). The vasodilatory effects of relaxin-2 were absent in arteries of mice treated with pertussis toxin (PTX). They were also absent in arteries isolated from Gnai2-/- mice, but not from Gnai3-/- mice. The effects were not affected by FR900359 (Gαq protein inhibitor) or PI-103 (PI3Kα inhibitor), but inhibited by TGX-221 (PI3Kβ inhibitor) or AS-252424 (PI3Kγ inhibitor). Simazine did not influence the anti-contractile effect of perivascular adipose tissue. Conclusion: Our data indicate that relaxin-2 produces endothelium- and NO-dependent relaxation of mouse mesenteric arteries by activation of RXFP1 coupled to Gi2-PI3K-eNOS pathway. Targeting vasodilatory Gi-protein-coupled RXFP1 pathways may provide promising opportunities for drug discovery in endothelial dysfunction and cardiometabolic disease.
Sarcoidosis of the fallopian tube: A rare case study with confirmed Propionibacterium acnes infection

Sarcoidosis is a systemic granulomatous disease that is most commonly manifested in the pulmonary system. Though the entire etiology of sarcoidosis remains unknown, it has been reported that Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) has been isolated from sarcoid lesions. Herein, we report a case of salpingitis arising from sarcoidosis. A female patient aged 37 years, gravida 2 para 0, who had been diagnosed with sarcoidosis at the age of 36 years, underwent laparoscopic right salpingectomy due to obvious right hydrosalpinx with recurrent refractory right lower abdominal pain. The pathological diagnosis was granulomatous salpingitis of the right fallopian tube suspecting sarcoidosis. Immunocytochemistry using a specific monoclonal antibody against P. acnes lipoteichoic acid (PAB antibody) revealed PAB‐positive reaction in sarcoid granuloma. This is the first case of sarcoidosis that the presence of P. acnes was shown in sarcoid lesions in the fallopian tube.
Feature Visualiser: an Inspection Tool for Context-Oriented Programmers

As part of our ongoing research on context-oriented software technology, we propose a feature-oriented programming approach to context-oriented programming. Behavioural variations are implemented as fine-grained features that can be installed and activated dynamically, upon changing contexts. Given the highly dynamic nature of such a programming approach, and to cope with the complexity of many behavioural variations, that can depend on many varying contexts, developers could benefit from visual inspection tools to analyse what contexts and features are currently active, in which order they have been activated, and what code they adapt. We present a prototype of such a visualisation tool, and discuss potential improvements to that tool.
Effect of Environment Size on Curvature Redirected Walking Thresholds

Redirected walking (RDW) refers to a number of techniques that enable users to explore a virtual environment larger than the real physical space. These techniques are based on the introduction of a mismatch in rotation, translation and curvature between the virtual and real trajectories, quantified as rotational, translational and curvature gains. When these gains are applied within certain thresholds, the manipulation is unnoticeable and immersion is maintained. Existing studies on RDW thresholds reported a wide range of threshold values. These differences could be attributed to many factors such as individual differences, walking speed, or environment settings. In this paper, we propose a study to investigate one of the environment settings that could potentially influence curvature RDW thresholds: the environment size. The detailed description of the study is also provided, where the adaptive, 2-alternative forced choice method is used to identify the detection thresholds.
Covert Channels : Countermeasures Techniques

advanced developments in intrusion detection systems (IDS) and computer network technology encourage hackers to find new ways to leak confidential information without being detected. When the interpretation of a security model adopted by a system is violated by a communication between two users, or processes operating on their behalf, it is said that the two users are communicating indirectly or covertly. A network covert channel refers to any communication channel that can be exploited by a process to transfer information in a manner that violates a system's security policy. Loopholes in network protocols attract covert channel exploitation. This paper sheds light on network covert channel countermeasures and the most recent detection and prevention methods of such channels. The achievements and limitations of these countermeasures are discussed. The paper further introduces the concept of network covert channel triangle (DSM – Development, Switching, and Micro-protocol); three elements that have the most direct positive impact in a network covert channel environment. In addition, the paper reflects on the challenges such covert channels impose. Keywords—covert channel; security; channel detection; prevention; channel elimination; channel capacity; network protocols.
Modeling of Data Dissemination in OppNets

This paper focuses on modeling the charateristics of opportunistic networks (OppNets). The motivation of this work is to develop a model which is closer to the reality to represent the data dissemination in OppNets. This paper shows our preliminary results validating our model in OppNets scenarios which give an opportunity to exchange data among a group of people.
Block Circulant Decomposition of Cross-Correlation Matrix for Transmit MIMO Beamforming

This paper deals with the design of transmit probing signal under the trade-off between good target discrimination (low cross-correlation beam pattern) and beam pattern design (desired auto-correlation beam pattern) in a Multiple-Input-Multiple-Output (MIMO) radar configuration. The quartic optimization problem, with a finite alphabet constraint on the probing signal and using Quadrature Phase Shift Keying (QPSK) in a multiplexed antenna system, is solved through a Fourier series approximation of the desired beam pattern by exploiting a block circulant property of the transmit signal matrix. The mean square error between an ideal and the proposed crosscorrelation beam pattern is -35 dB enhancing the attractiveness of the proposed approach.