Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Laparoscopic Completion Cholecystectomy: An Audit from the Americas Hepato-Pancreato-Biliary Association (AHPBA) Caribbean Chapter

Objective Removal of a gallbladder remnant occasionally becomes necessary when retained stones become symptomatic. Although the laparoscopic approach has been described, it is not yet considered the standard of care. We sought to determine the outcomes after completion cholecystectomies in the resource-poor setting within the Caribbean. Methods We carried out an audit of the databases from all hepatobiliary surgeons in the Anglophone Caribbean. We identified all patients who had completion cholecystectomy over the five-year period from July 1, 2012 to June 30, 2018. Retrospective chart review was performed to extract the following data: patient demographics, diagnoses, presenting complaints, operative details, morbidity, mortality, and clinical outcomes. Descriptive statistics were generated using Statistical Packaging for Social Sciences (SPSS), version 12.0 (SPSS Inc., Chicago IL) Results There were 12 patients who were subjected to laparoscopic completion cholecystectomy for acute cholecystitis (7), severe biliary pancreatitis (3), and chronic cholecystitis (2) secondary to stones in a gallbladder remnant. There were 10 women and two men at a mean age of 47.4 years (range 32-60; standard deviation (SD) +/-7.81; median 48; mode 52) and a mean body mass index (BMI) of 30.8 Kg/M2 (SD +/-3.81; range 26-38; median 29.5). The mean interval between the index operation and the completion operation was 14.8 months (SD +/- 12.3; range 1-48; median 13; mode 18). Five (42%) patients had their original cholecystectomy using the open approach. Five (42%) index operations were done on an emergent basis and the gallbladder remnant was deliberately left behind in three (25%) index operations. The completion cholecystectomies were all completed laparoscopically in 130.5 minutes (SD +/- 30.5; range 90-180, median 125; mode 125) without any conversions or mortality. There were two minor bile leaks that resolved without intervention through an indwelling drain. Discussion Completions cholecystectomy can be completed via the laparoscopic approach with good outcomes and acceptable morbidity and mortality rates. The patients derive the same advantages as elective cholecystectomies. Therefore, the laparoscopic approach, when performed by hepatobiliary surgeons with advanced laparoscopic expertise in specialized centers, should be the new standard of care.
Smart Grids and Their Role in Transforming Human Activities—A Systematic Literature Review

In this work, a systematic review of the literature has been carried out to analyse the design of intelligent networks in environments inhabited by people and the applications of sensors to improve quality of life and aid human activities. This study aims to answer three research questions. The first question is whether the design of smart grids is made with people in mind. The second question focuses on whether intelligent networks are being taken account of in the research on human activity recognition, the Internet of Things, and the recognition of activities of daily living. The third question looks at whether there are synergies and multidisciplinary teams studying state-of-the-art technologies applied to environments inhabited by elderly or disabled people. Installations with sensors deployed for the improvement of the quality of human life will also help to improve the quality of the intelligent network, thus integrating the Human–Technology binomial. This study concludes with an analysis of the results of the sources examined, putting forward a protocol of seven proposals to guide future work.
Efeito do processamento do grão sobre a população de protozoários ruminais de ovinos Santa Inês

Objetivou-se com a presente pesquisa caracterizar a população de protozoários do rúmen de ovinos alimentados com milho e sorgo submetidos a diferentes tipos de processamento. Em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado foram avaliados quatro tratamentos com sete repetições. As borregas foram submetidas a uma dieta com relação volumoso:concentrado de 40:60 na matéria seca. O concentrado foi composto pelos alimentos testados: milho grão seco, milho grão reidratado, sorgo grão seco e sorgo grão reidratado. O volumoso da dieta foi o feno de capim bermudas (Cynodom dactylon). Os animais foram confinados, totalizando um período experimental de 60 dias. No último dia do experimento, foi realizada a coleta por punção do fluido ruminal com auxílio de um cateter e de seringa estéril para análises macroscópicas e físico-químicas do fluido ruminal. As concentrações de protozoários foram submetidas ao teste de Kruskall-Wallis e as frequências dos gêneros foram comparadas pelo teste do Qui-quadrado. Verificou-se que o processamento do grão em dieta mista não interferiu na concentração de médios e grandes protozoários, no entanto a concentração de pequenos protozoários foi superior quando a fonte de concentrado foi o sorgo grão reidratado e ensilado e inferior em dietas constituídas por milho grão seco. O gênero Entodinium foi o mais frequente em todos grupos avaliados.
Grapevine breeding under climate change: Applicability of a molecular marker linked to véraison

Viticulture is of high economic value. Traditional grapevine cultivars (Vitis vinifera L.) are used in adaptation to the climatic conditions from Northern to Southern European growing areas. However, the recent trend of global warming causes quality deficits due to a shift of the plant's development to earlier times in the year. As a consequence, premature ripening happens under warm temperatures and interferes with the balanced accumulation of sugars, acids, aroma profiles and berry coloration. Modern grapevine breeding is challenged to include the ripening behavior as an important trait (besides pathogen resistance and other characteristics) into the development of novel cultivars well suited for sustainable viticulture. Breeders nowadays apply molecular markers to follow the introgression of desired traits on the genetic level. Previous work has identified a molecular tag on grapevine chromosome 16 strongly linked to the time of veraison, the start of the second phase of berry ripening, in a segregating cross population. In this study we analyzed the transferability of this marker to a set of 36 grapevine cultivars commonly used in German viticulture. Association analysis verified the predictive character of the time point of veraison for maturation time and confirmed the diagnostic potential of the veraison-linked marker in this extended set of cultivars.
The Relationship between Agricultural Credit, Regional Agricultural Growth, and Economic Development: The Role of Rural Commercial Banks in Jiangsu, China

ABSTRACT This paper examines the relationship between different forms of agricultural credit, regional agricultural growth, and regional economic development. The sample we study consists of 51 rural commercial banks operating in Jiangsu Province, China. For analytical purposes, a random-effects (RE) model and the generalized method of moments (GMM) are employed to analyze agricultural credit’s relationship to regional agricultural and economic growth. Our results reveal that overall agricultural loans have a significant positive effect on both regional agricultural and economic growth. Furthermore, loans to farmers and rural enterprises also have a significant positive relationship to both regional agricultural and economic growth. Moreover, farmers’ microcredit loans and student loans, rural individual industrial and commercial household loans, and other types of loans to farmers also have a significant positive relationship to regional agricultural growth. The latter two types also have a significant positive relationship to regional economic growth. We conclude that promoting agricultural credit from rural commercial banks stimulates regional agricultural growth and overall economic development in Jiangsu Province.
Local adaptation under gene flow: Recombination, conditional neutrality and genetic trade-offs shape genomic patterns in Arabidopsis lyrata

Short-scale local adaptation is a complex process involving selection, migration and drift. The expected effects on the genome are well grounded in theory, but examining these on an empirical level has proven difficult, as it requires information about local selection, demographic history and recombination rate variation. Here, we use locally adapted and phenotypically differentiated Arabidopsis lyrata populations from two altitudinal gradients in Norway to test these expectations at the whole-genome level. Demography modelling indicated that populations within the gradients diverged less than 2 kya and that the sites are connected by gene flow. The gene flow estimates were, however, highly asymmetric with migration from high to low altitudes being several times more frequent than vice versa. To detect signatures of selection for local adaptation, we estimated patterns of lineage specific differentiation among these populations. Theory predicts that gene flow leads to concentration of adaptive loci in areas of low recombination; a pattern we observed in both lowland-alpine comparisons. Although most selected loci displayed patterns of conditional neutrality, we found indications of genetic trade-offs, with one locus particularly showing high divergence and signs of selection in both populations. Our results further suggest that resistance to solar radiation is an important adaptation to alpine environments, while vegetative growth and bacterial defense were indicated as selected traits in the lowland habitats. These results provide insights into genetic architectures and evolutionary processes driving local adaptation under gene flow. We also contribute to understanding of traits and biological processes underlying alpine adaptation in northern latitudes.
Electrospun Nanofibers Containing Strontium for Bone Tissue Engineering

Electrospun polymer/metal composite nanofibers have received much attention in the field of bone tissue engineering and regenerative medicine (BTERM) owing to their extracellular matrix- (ECM-) like structure, sufficient mechanical strength, favorable biological properties, and bone induction. In particular, electrospun nanofibers containing strontium (Sr) can significantly promote bone repair and regeneration by mediating osteolysis and osteogenesis, which offers a promising bioactive material for BTERM. In this review, we summarized the effects of electrospun nanofibers containing Sr on stem cells, osteoblasts, and osteoclasts in BTERM. Also, current challenges and future perspectives for electrospun nanofibers containing Sr in BTERM are briefly outlined. It is hoped that the systematic overview will inspire the readers to further study Sr-containing nanofibers for BTERM and accelerate their translation from the bench to the clinic.
Monitoring a bi-attribute high-quality process using a mixture probability distribution

Abstract High-quality processes with very low defect rates are usually modeled using a Poisson distribution. Considering any correlation between the number of defects on a unit and the fraction of nonconforming units, a bi-attribute process is introduced and the relationship between the two features is discussed in this research. A generalization of the Poisson distribution which is called k-inflated Poisson (KIP) distribution is derived to model these types of processes. Based on the KIP distribution, a two-parameter distribution, a sampling method is suggested for inspection of a high-quality process. The joint distribution of the bi-attribute high-quality process is also introduced and the correlation between its attributes is discussed. The results of numerical examples provided some perspective to the model and supported the theoretical findings that there is no significant correlation between the two features. Then a charting procedure is suggested for monitoring the two parameters of the KIP distribution.
Duramen y propiedades físicas de la madera de robinia pseudoacacia en relación a su potencial uso en la industria de la madera sólida

A fin de caracterizar tecnologicamente la madera de Robinia pseudoacacia L. “acacia blanca” de la provincia de Buenos Aires-Argentina, en relacion a su potencial uso en la industria de la madera solida en especial en aplicaciones al exterior, los objetivos del trabajo fueron determinar las propiedades fisicas de la madera (densidad, contenido de humedad y cambios dimensionales), y el contenido de duramen. Se cortaron rodajas a 4 alturas en el fuste (0,3 m; 1,3m; 2,3m y 4m a partir del suelo) en 10 arboles (7-15 anos) implantados en la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Sobre cada rodaja se midieron el diametro sin corteza y el diametro del duramen en todas las alturas. Se determino la densidad normal 12% en probetas radiales obtenidas cada 3 anillos de crecimiento en todas las alturas. La densidad mostro una homogeneidad de los valores a lo largo del fuste comercial, con un rango de magnitud que la clasifica como madera semi-pesada (0,750 y 0,823 g/cm 3 ). Esta homogeneidad, junto con la buena estabilidad dimensional (T/R 1,42) y los altos valores de duramen hallados en las diferentes alturas del fuste (50-67%), permitiria considerar a esta madera apta para aplicaciones al exterior, tanto para madera redonda como madera aserrada, pudiendo utilizarse para pisos, muebles, pergolas, revestimientos.
Climate and plant structure determine the spatiotemporal butterfly distribution on a tropical mountain

Mountains are among the most powerful natural gradients for testing ecological and evolutionary responses of biota to environmental influences because differences in climate and plant structure occur over short spatial scales. We describe the spatiotemporal distribution patterns and drives of fruit‐feeding butterfly diversity in the mountainous region of Serra do Cipó, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Seven elevations from 822 to 1,388 m a.s. l. were selected for evaluating the effects of abiotic factors and vegetation characteristics on butterfly diversity. A total of 44 fruit‐feeding butterfly species were recorded in a two‐year study. Species richness (local and regional) of fruit‐feeding butterflies decreased with increasing elevation. The interaction between temperature or humidity and precipitation influenced the abundance and β‐diversity of butterflies in the elevation gradient, whereas β‐diversity decreased with increasing plant richness. Butterfly richness (local and regional) and β‐diversity varied with the sampling period, with fewer species in July (2012 and 2013), the dry period, as expected for Neotropical insects. β‐Diversity in space and time was due to species replacement (turnover), indicating that butterfly composition differs throughout the mountain and over time. In summary, climate and plant richness largely influence butterfly diversity in the elevational gradient. Climatic changes in conjunction with increasing anthropic impacts on mountainous regions of southeast Brazil will likely influence the community of mountaintop butterflies in the Espinhaço Mountain Range.
UM ESTUDO QUANTITATIVO SOBRE OS RISCOS DA INDÚSTRIA 4.0 NO CONTEXTO INDUSTRIAL: UMA REVISÃO SISTEMÁTICA DA LITERATURA

RESUMO A Industria 4.0 e um tema em ascensao tanto no meio academico como no contexto pratico de empresas. As pesquisas atuais focam seus esforcos nos estudos dos beneficios dos conceitos e tecnologias envolvidos no conceito da Quarta Revolucao Industrial, no entanto, poucas procuram entender quais os pontos negativos. Dessa forma, atraves de uma revisao bibliografica sistematizada realizada em janeiro de 2019, esse estudo procura entender quais sao riscos em evidencia na literatura que empresas do setor industrial podem enfrentar no contexto da Industria 4.0. Foram selecionados 66 artigos atraves das bases de dados Scopus e Web of Science , os quais foram bibliometricamente estudados em relacao aos autores e periodicos mais relevantes. Em seguida, estudando os 28 riscos mapeados na literatura por Soltovski et al. (2019), foi possivel entender quais sao mais representativos na literatura na perspectiva da sustentabilidade (ambiental, economico e social) e na perspectiva tecnologica. De forma geral, descobrimos que os riscos relacionados a conectividade, como cyber atacks e vazamento de dados privados atraves de tecnologias, como Internet das Coisas, sao os mais discutidos na literatura. Alem disso, constatamos que existe carencia de estudos na perspectiva ambiental e economica. Por fim, foram sumarizadas contribuicoes gerenciais e potenciais direcionamentos para futuros pesquisadores. Palavras-chave: Industria 4.0. Sustentabilidade. Gestao de Risco. ABSTRACT Industry 4.0 is a growing topic, both in academia and in the practical context of companies. Current research focuses its efforts on studies of benefits and technologies involved in the concept of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, however, they rarely understand what the negative points are. Thus, through a systematic literature review conducted in January 2019, this study can understand what are the risks in evidence in the literature that companies in the industrial sector may face in the context of Industry 4.0. 66 articles were selected on the Scopus and Web of Science databases, which are the bibliometrically studied in relation to the most relevant authors and journals. Then, studying the 28 risks mapped in the literature by Soltovski et al . (2019), it was possible to understand which are the most representative in the literature from the perspective of sustainability (environmental, economic and social) and from a technological perspective. In general, we found that risks related to connectivity such as cyber attacks and data leakage are using technologies like the Internet of Things that are most discussed in the literature. In addition, we note that there is a lack of studies from an environmental and economic perspective. Finally, managerial contributions were summarized and directed to future researchers. Keywords: Industry 4.0. Sustainability. Risk Management.
A Theoretical Study about Ergodicity Issues in Predicting Contaminant Plume Evolution in Aquifers

A large-time Eulerian–Lagrangian stochastic approach is employed to: (1) estimate centroid position uncertainty of contaminant plumes that originate from instantaneous point sources in statistically stationary and isotropic porous formations; (2) assess the time needed for achieving ergodic conditions, which would allow for the evaluation of local concentration values based on the only ensemble mean distribution; (3) derive the concentration coefficient of variation (CV) as a function of asymptotic macro-dispersion coefficients and centroid trajectory variances. The results indicate that the decay time of plume position uncertainty is so large that there is practically no chance for effective ergodicity. The concentration coefficient of variation is zero at the centroid but rapidly increases when moving away from it. The dissipative effect of local dispersion in the presence of relatively high Péclet numbers is considerably exalted by marked flow field heterogeneity, which confirms the previously postulated synergic, non-additive effect of advection and local dispersion in passive solute dilution. A further result from this study is the derivation of the power law that relates dimensionless concentration micro-scale to dimensionless local dispersive area. The exponent of this power law is the same that appears in the relationship between dimensionless Kolmogorov turbulent micro-scale and flow Reynolds number.
Physical and Geometrical Effects on the Vibratory Pattern of a Pipe Carrying Fluid Flow

In this research, the first natural frequencies and critical velocities of a fluid flow-conveying pipe are obtained with finite element method. By discretizing the structure wall and fluid flow, starting from beam type with two degrees of freedom per node. We determine the equation of motion from the fluid-structure coupling using Lagrange energy principle. Parameters frequencies and critical velocity of fluid flow are calculated by using a program developed on MATLAB. The results are compared with those predicted by the differential transformation method. Stability and instability properties of the system are analyzed after calculating the natural frequencies and the fluid critical velocity in terms of various parameters.
Telecommunications network design: Technology impacts and future directions

During the past 50 years telecommunication network technology has raced ahead powered by exponential advances in computer chip and fiber optic technology. The introduction of packet‐switched networks and the Internet has increased network traffic demands exponentially and has nurtured a variety of new telecommunication services (e.g., email, web‐surfing, social media, streaming services, e‐commerce, the Internet of Things, etc.) over the past 30 years. This rapidly changing environment (along with certain technical considerations) has made it very difficult to give accurate forecasts of traffic demands for both the short‐term (intraday) and for the longer term (year‐to‐year). Telecommunications network design has evolved from the voice‐only networks of the 1970s where operations research (OR) methodology was indispensable to current multiservice packet‐switched data networks whose uncertainty and rapid evolution has reduced the utility of classical optimization models that rely on accurate traffic demand forecasts. After summarizing the major developments in telecommunications network design technologies/services, we describe some promising future research directions to address an environment where technology is ever‐changing and traffic forecasting is difficult. In particular, we focus on the public Internet and emphasize possible work where OR/optimization methodology may be useful in understanding and solving telecommunications network routing and design problems.