Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ventral Hernia Repair: A Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials.

BACKGROUND From the patient's perspective, a ventral hernia (VH) can cause pain, adversely affect function, increase size, cosmetically distort the abdomen, and incarcerate/strangulate abdominal contents. The only known "cure" for a VH is surgical repair. The aim of this study was to review systematically the published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of the surgical care of VH. METHOD A search of the Ovid, MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases was performed to obtain reports of RCTs on the use of mesh reinforcement in abdominal wall hernia repair. The outcomes assessed were hernia recurrence and surgical site infection (SSI). The overall quality of evidence was assessed using Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE). When feasible, based on assessment of heterogeneity, data were pooled and analyzed in a meta-analysis. RESULTS Of the 10,349 titles screened, 25 articles (23 studies) met the search criteria. Evidence indicates that mesh reinforcement in clean cases can decrease hernia recurrence (number needed to treat = 7.9) but increase risk of SSI (number needed to harm = 27.8). Placing mesh in the sublay position (as opposed to the onlay or underlay position) may decrease the risk of hernia recurrence and SSI. CONCLUSIONS Mesh reinforcement is recommended for all VH repairs in a clean case (high grade of evidence). Sublay mesh location may result in fewer recurrences and SSIs than onlay or inlay placement, but further study is needed to confirm this hypothesis (moderate grade of evidence).
Applying Snowden's Narrative Technique to Conduct Project debrief within the British Council: an Exemplar of Knowledge Management Project

This paper begins with a review of knowledge management (KM) literature, which highlights the problem that KM is interpreted in many different ways. This is due to the fact that different authors make different assumptions about the nature of knowledge and the nature of knowing. Up until the mid-1990s, knowledge was defined as a "thing". In the late 1990s, there was a call to define knowledge not as a "thing" but as "flows". The theories of Dervin and Snowden belong to the latter school of thought and are reviewed here.In the British Council, the design of knowledge management projects is informed by theories and research in the discourse of management, communications studies and information science. In particular, the work of Dervin and Snowden has shaped our knowledge management journey. This paper presents a specific example to provide in-depth insight on how we have designed a project debrief workshop that is informed by Dervin's sense-making theory and Snowden's complexity theory.
Evidence of pulmonary oedema triggered by exercise in healthy humans and detected with various imaging techniques

This review summarizes current literature on pulmonary oedema triggered by above‐ground exercise in healthy humans from studies that use various imaging techniques to detect oedema. Eleven studies were identified, comprising of 137 subjects (mean age = 28 years). Eighty per cent (n = 110) were males, and 20% (n = 27) were female. The studies were grouped into three different categories according to the severity of the exercise protocol, which were either prolonged, submaximal exercise of 15‐min to 2 h in duration at approx. 50–75%V̇O2max and not to exhaustion (PROLONGED, n = 44), a V̇O2max test lasting 16–20 min in which the intensity of exercise was only maximum for about 2 min at the end of the test (GXT, n = 15), and maximum or near maximum effort exercise protocols at or near volitional exhaustion where the goal was to finish in the fastest possible time or maintain the highest possible workload (MAX EFFORT, n = 78). Only 16% of the subjects showed signs of oedema from PROLONGED exercise and no subjects (0%) showed signs of oedema from GXT exercise. Surprisingly, approx. 65% of the subjects showed signs of oedema triggered by MAX EFFORT exercise (χ2 test of association; P 0.01), which was independent of both sex, the level of hypoxia (inspired PO2 = 106–118 mmHg vs. 149 mmHg), the timing of the post‐exercise imaging (<10, >30 but <60 min, or >60 min) and V̇O2max (approx. 3.0 vs. approx. 4.8 L min−1). The data suggests that the chances of triggering pulmonary oedema from exhaustive MAX EFFORT exercise is 4× more compared with PROLONGED exercise. As well, the likelihood of triggering pulmonary oedema may be independent of lung size, sex, moderate levels of hypoxia, and aerobic fitness.
Recent Insights into the Cell Biology of Thyroid Angiofollicular Units Ides

In thyrocytes, cell polarity is of crucial importance for proper thyroid function. Many intrinsic mechanisms of self-regulation control how the key players involved in thyroid hormone (TH) biosynthesis interact in apical microvilli, so that hazardous biochemical processes may occur without detriment to the cell. In some pathological conditions, this enzymatic complex is disrupted, with some components abnormally activated into the cytoplasm, which can lead to further morphological and functional breakdown. When iodine intake is altered, autoregulatory mechanisms outside the thyrocytes are activated. They involve adjacent capillaries that, together with thyrocytes, form the angiofollicular units (AFUs) that can be considered as the functional and morphological units of the thyroid. In response to iodine shortage, a rapid expansion of the microvasculature occurs, which, in addition to nutrients and oxygen, optimizes iodide supply. These changes are triggered by angiogenic signals released from thyrocytes via a reactive oxygen species/hypoxia-inducible factor/vascular endothelial growth factor pathway. When intraand extrathyrocyte autoregulation fails, other forms of adaptation arise, such as euthyroid goiters. From onset, goiters are morphologically and functionally heterogeneous due to the polyclonal nature of the cells, with nodules distributed around areas of quiescent AFUs containing globules of compact thyroglobulin (Tg) and surrounded by a hypotrophic microvasculature. Upon TSH stimulation, quiescent AFUs are activated with Tg globules undergoing fragmentation into soluble Tg, proteins involved in TH biosynthesis being expressed and the local microvascular network extending. Over time and depending on physiological needs, AFUs may undergo repetitive phases of high, moderate, or low cell and tissue activity, which may ultimately culminate in multinodular goiters. (Endocrine Reviews 34: 209–238, 2013)
A Classification of Recent Australasian Computing Education Publications

A new classification system for computing education papers is presented and applied to every computing education paper published between January 2004 and January 2007 at the two premier computing education conferences in Australia and New Zealand. We find that while simple reports outnumber other types of paper, a healthy proportion of papers address and answer a research question. We find that more papers deal with programming courses than with other courses, and that more than half of all publications are situated in single subjects. To the extent that differing circumstances permit, we compare our results with those of an earlier study of the SIGCSE conference, and find that the Australasian publications include fewer simple reports and more papers describing analysis and experiment. We note a reasonable number of publications on multi-institutional work, which we interpret as evidence of a sense of computing education community within Australia and New Zealand.
A new recommendation algorithm for reducing dimensionality and improving accuracy

Recommender systems are valuable tools for providing suitable recommendations to users. In the last decade, the amount of online information have grown rapidly. Consequently, traditional recommender systems often raise some limitations like inefficiency problems when processing or analysing such large volume of data. Matrix factorization is one of the most popular techniques for prediction problems in the fields of intelligent systems and data mining. It has shown its effectiveness in many real-world applications such as recommender systems. This paper describes a new algorithm that represents a solution to overcome the problem of high dimensionality when using matrix factorization for recommendation. It aims at producing low dimensional representation of data and more accurate predictions. The experimentation results show that the proposed algorithm significantly improves the accuracy of recommender systems over existing approaches.
Autonomic function and SIDS

There is an extensive literature suggesting that disordered autonomic function, including cardiorespiratory control, may be involved in sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), by rendering an infant liable to sudden death in a variety of ways, from loss of cardiorespiratory, upper airway or temperature control, singly or in combination (1-4) Adults with autonomic neuropathy are known to die suddenly and unexpectedly ( 5 ) . Infants with SIDS and/ or an apparent life-threatening event (ALTE) have been shown to have decreased beat-to-beat variability, a higher resting heart rate (6) and excessive sweating (7) compared with controls, all of which can indicate autonomic dysfunction in adults. In 1959, Gastaut & Gastaut demonstrated increased potency of the oculocardiac reflex in children under five years of age and that the younger the subject the more easily is cardiac arrest caused through vagal sensitivity (8). Further interest in autonomic dysfunction and SIDS was demonstrated by Salk et al. in 1974 (9) and by Schwartz et al. 1976 (10). The recent report of recurring hypothermia in ALTE infants may be additional evidence of poor autonomic control of heat production in brown fat (sympathetic cholinergic activity) ( 1 I ) . In addition, maintenance of upper airway expiratory resistance, which is important in maintaining a functional residual capacity, and thereby protecting against end-expiratory apnoea, is under autonomic control.
Mapping the Isoprenoid Binding Pocket of PDEδ by a Semisynthetic, Photoactivatable N‐Ras Lipoprotein

Biologically functional Ras isoforms undergo post‐translational modifications starting with farnesylation of the most C‐terminal cysteine. Combined with further processing steps, this isoprenylation allows for the anchoring of these proteins in endomembranes, where signal transduction events take place. The specific localization is subject to dynamic regulation and assumed to modulate the activity of Ras proteins by governing their spatiotemporal distribution. The δ subunit of phosphodiesterase (PDEδ) has attracted attention as a solubilization factor of isoprenylated Ras. In this study, we demonstrate that critical residues in the putative isoprenoid pocket of PDEδ can be mapped by coupling with a semisynthetic N‐Ras lipoprotein in which the native farnesyl group of the processed protein was replaced by a photoactivatable geranyl benzophenone moiety. The crosslinked product included parts of β‐sheet 9 of PDEδ, which contains the highly conserved amino acids V145 and L147. Modeling of the PDEδ–geranyl benzophenone (GerBP) complex supports the conclusion that the photolabeled sequence is embedded in the putative isoprenoid pocket of PDEδ.
Classification of intentional electromagnetic environments (IEME)

One can classify potential intentional electromagnetic environments (IEME) threat environments into four categories, based on frequency coverage. Yet another way of categorizing IEME is based on the level of sophistication of the underlying technologies involved in producing the electromagnetic environment, as low, medium, and high-tech systems. A third way of classifying IEME is by the effects that it can have on a targeted system. This paper will examine the merits of classifying IEME in these ways and provide examples of high-power electromagnetic generators that employ current and emerging technologies, for each classification scheme.
Structure of the Functional Form of the Mosquito Larvicidal Cry4Aa Toxin from Bacillus thuringiensis at a 2.8-Angstrom Resolution

ABSTRACT The Cry4Aa δ-endotoxin from Bacillus thuringiensis is toxic to larvae of Culex, Anopheles, and Aedes mosquitoes, which are vectors of important human tropical diseases. With the objective of designing modified toxins with improved potency that could be used as biopesticides, we determined the structure of this toxin in its functional form at a resolution of 2.8 Å. Like other Cry δ-endotoxins, the activated Cry4Aa toxin consists of three globular domains, a seven-α-helix bundle responsible for pore formation (domain I) and the following two other domains having structural similarities with carbohydrate binding proteins: a β-prism (domain II) and a plant lectin-like β-sandwich (domain III). We also studied the effect on toxicity of amino acid substitutions and deletions in three loops located at the surface of the putative receptor binding domain II of Cry4Aa. Our results indicate that one loop is an important determinant of toxicity, presumably through attachment of Cry4Aa to the surface of mosquito cells. The availability of the Cry4Aa structure should guide further investigations aimed at the molecular basis of the target specificity and membrane insertion of Cry endotoxins.
Effect of oat saponins and different types of dietary fibre on the digestion of carbohydrates

The effects of oat saponins (a mixture of avenacosides A and B) and dietary fibre (cellulose and guar gum) on the disaccharidase activities in the proximal small intestine of the rat were investigated. The influence of avenacosides A and B on the activity of disaccharidases and α-amylase (EC 3·2·1·1) was also studied in vitro. In vivo, oat diets with three avenacoside contents (negligible, normal and twice normal) were used. No significant differences in sucrase (EC 3·2·1·48), maltase (EC 3·2·1·20), trehalase (EC 3·2·1·28) and lactase (EC 3·2·1·21) activities were found between the oat groups after 19 d feeding. The rats that were given cellulose tended to have higher disaccharidase activities compared with the other groups. The avenacosides inhibited the lactase activity significantly in vitro while no or small effects on the other disaccharidases were found. In contrast, the in vitro hydrolysis of starch by α-amylase was increased in the presence of saponins, probably due to their detergent effect. Thus, the in vitro studies showed that the avenacosides could influence the enzyme activities. In vivo, these effects are probably minor due to the low avenacoside concentrations found in oats.
COMPUESTOS FUNCIONALES DE LA LECHE MATERNA

Los recien nacidos poseen unas necesidades nutritivas especiales debido al incompleto desarrollo de sus sistemas de organos, que iran abandonando conforme estos sistemas vayan adquiriendo su completa funcionalidad. Al correcto desarrollo del organismo infantil va a contribuir no solo la correcta nutricion del nino, sino tambien la accion de muchos compuestos funcionales presentes en la leche materna, entre los que destacan: hormonas, factores de crecimiento, neuropeptidos, agentes antiinflamatorios y agentes inmunomoduladores. Debido a la importancia que tienen estos compuestos en la alimentacion infantil hemos realizado una revision bibliografica sobre sus diferentes propiedades y su presencia en la leche materna, con el objetivo de poder justificar el empleo de estos productos como ingredientes funcionales en la elaboracion de las formulas infantiles. En general, dichas formulas son deficitarias en estos compuestos bioactivos, por lo que su adicion como ingrediente podria incrementar la calidad nutricional de las formulas infantiles consiguiendo los mismos efectos positivos que sobre el nino tiene la lactancia materna.
How Accurate Is Scientific Software?

This paper describes some results of what, to the authors' knowledge, is the largest N-version programming experiment ever performed. The object of this ongoing four-year study is to attempt to determine just how consistent the results of scientific computation really are, and, from this, to estimate accuracy. The experiment is being carried out in a branch of the earth sciences known as seismic data processing, where 15 or so independently developed large commercial packages that implement mathematical algorithms from the same or similar published specifications in the same programming language (Fortran) have been developed over the last 20 years. The results of processing the same input dataset, using the same user-specified parameters, for nine of these packages is reported in this paper. Finally, feedback of obvious flaws was attempted to reduce the overall disagreement. The results are deeply disturbing. Whereas scientists like to think that their code is accurate to the precision of the arithmetic used, in this study, numerical disagreement grows at around the rate of 1% in average absolute difference per 4000 fines of implemented code, and, even worse, the nature of the disagreement is nonrandom. Furthermore, the seismic data processing industry has better than average quality standards for its software development with both identifiable quality assurance functions and substantial test datasets. >
ICTV Virus Taxonomy Profile: Pneumoviridae.

The family Pneumoviridae comprises large enveloped negative-sense RNA viruses. This taxon was formerly a subfamily within the Paramyxoviridae, but was reclassified in 2016 as a family with two genera, Orthopneumovirus and Metapneumovirus. Pneumoviruses infect a range of mammalian species, while some members of the Metapneumovirus genus may also infect birds. Some viruses are specific and pathogenic for humans, such as human respiratory syncytial virus and human metapneumovirus. There are no known vectors for pneumoviruses and transmission is thought to be primarily by aerosol droplets and contact. This is a summary of the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) Report on the taxonomy of the Pneumoviridae, which is available at www.ictv. global/report/pneumoviridae.
Expression of the Membrane-associated Carbonic Anhydrase Isozyme XII in the Human Kidney and Renal Tumors

Carbonic anhydrase isozyme XII (CA XII) is a novel membrane-associated protein with a potential role in von Hippel–Lindau carcinogenesis. Although Northern blotting has revealed positive signal for CA XII in normal human kidney, this is the first study to demonstrate its cellular and subcellular localization along the human nephron and collecting duct. Immunohistochemistry with a polyclonal antibody (PAb) raised against truncated CA XII revealed distinct staining in the basolateral plasma membrane of the epithelial cells in the thick ascending limb of Henle and distal convoluted tubules, and in the principal cells of the collecting ducts. A weak basolateral signal was also detected in the epithelium of the proximal convoluted tubules. In addition to the normal kidney specimens, this immunohistochemical study included 31 renal tumors. CA XII showed moderate or strong plasma membrane-associated expression in most oncocytomas and clear-cell carcinomas. The segmental, cellular, and subcellular distribution of CA XII along the human nephron and collecting duct suggests that it may be one of the key enzymes involved in normal renal physiology, particularly in the regulation of water homeostasis. High expression of CA XII in some renal carcinomas may contribute to its role in von Hippel–Lindau carcinogenesis.
Longitudinal Study of the Use of Client-side Security Mechanisms on the European Web

As the web rapidly expands and gets integrated into all kinds of business, browsing the web has become an important part of people's daily lives. With the rising importance of various web applications sit in a browser, attackers also shifted their focus towards client-side attacks. To defend against these attacks, numerous client-side security mechanisms for the browser are proposed. The presence of these mechanisms on a website can be used as an indicator of the security awareness and practices of that website. In this paper, through a large-scale analysis of more than 18,000 European websites over two years, we analyze the longitudinal trends of the adoption of client-side security mechanisms. We validate that the most popular websites were adopting new security features quicker that less popular websites in the two year timeframe. By examining the websites based on their business vertical, we observe that the websites in the Finance and Education category are outperforming other verticals in the data set, with respect to the usage of client-side security mechanisms.
Molecular mechanisms underlying adhesion and migration of hematopoietic stem cells

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation is the most powerful treatment modality for a large number of hematopoietic malignancies, including leukemia. Successful hematopoietic recovery after transplantation depends on homing of hematopoietic stem cells to the bone marrow and subsequent lodging of those cells in specific niches in the bone marrow. Migration of hematopoietic stem cells to the bone marrow is a highly regulated process that requires correct regulation of the expression and activity of various molecules including chemoattractants, selectins and integrins. This review will discuss recent studies that have extended our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying adhesion, migration and bone marrow homing of hematopoietic stem cells.
The utility of immunohistochemistry in the differential diagnosis of gynecologic disorders.

CONTEXT Immunohistochemistry has assumed an increasing role in the identification and characterization of gynecologic disorders including lesions with deceptively bland morphology, uncommon and underdiagnosed neoplasms, and neoplasms with specific genetic alterations associated with overexpression or loss of expression of specific proteins. The diagnostic accuracy has been significantly improved owing to the discovery and increasing experience with the tumor-associated biomarkers, and the increasing demand for precise tumor classification to assess suitability for the expanding therapeutic modalities including clinical trials. OBJECTIVE To differentiate lesions of the gynecologic tract through the use of effective immunohistochemical panels. DATA SOURCES Literature review and authors' personal practice experience. CONCLUSIONS The application of diagnostic and prognostic immunohistochemical panels has enabled pathologists to better guide therapeutic decisions and to better predict the clinical outcome. It is now well established that the use of ancillary testing, including immunohistochemistry, has a significant power in the identification, differentiation, and classification of reactive, premalignant, and malignant gynecologic disorders. This article discusses the utilities and pitfalls of the commonly used immunohistochemical markers in the context of overlapping morphologic features encountered in the uterus, ovaries, and fallopian tubes.