The Preperitoneal Space in Hernia Repair.

The preperitoneal spaces relevant for incisional hernia repair and minimally invasive groin hernia repair are described in terms of surgical anatomy. Emphasis is put on the transversalis fascia and the urogenital fascia and its extensions, the vesicoumbilical fascia, and the spermatic sheath of Stoppa procedure. Steps in hernia surgery where these structures are relevant are reviewed.

The Oudierin Drainage Archaeological Project: New Perspectives on the Saloum Delta Shell Middens (Senegal).

Archaeological research on the Saloum Delta (Senegal) shell middens has had relative highs and lows since the first half of the twentieth century, but they are one of the most investigated regional clusters in West Africa. Research has been structured along three main thematic axes: mortuary archaeology (investigating burial mounds); taphonomy (assessing the rhythm and speed of shell midden formation); and ethnoarchaeology (contributing to the construction actualistic references). The Oudierin Drainage Archaeological Project was designed to shift perspective from single sites to the "region"-in this case, the Bolon Oudierin drainage-by investigating the long-term dynamics of the local shellfish economy via fine-tuned "motorboat" and pedestrian surveys, detailed site-mapping and recording, and excavation at two key sites. The research reported here presents new details on the structure of large shell middens, including detailed stratigraphic sections, activity areas, and material culture. The analysis of shell size variations along the stratigraphic column of the largest midden allows for modeling the reasons for the punctuated nature of shell middens formation-relatively short periods of exploitation followed by longer periods of abandonment. Finally, it is shown that shellfish exploitation started some 10,000 years ago during the early Holocene, much earlier than the formation of the Saloum Delta as known today. The formation of cemeteries with burial mounds occurred early in the second millennium (AD 1000-1300), supporting the Diorom-Boumak sequence.

Les recherches archéologiques sont menées sur les amas coquilliers du delta du Saloum (Sénégal) depuis la première moitié du XXe siècle. Toutes proportions gardées, ils sont à ce jour l'ensemble régional le plus étudié en Afrique de l'Ouest. Les recherches menées sont structurées selon trois principaux axes thématiques: l'archéologie funéraire (avec les fouilles des tumuli); la taphonomie (évaluant le rythme et la vitesse de formation des amas coquilliers); et l'ethnoarchéologie (contribuant à la construction de référentiels actualistes). Le projet archéologique du Bolon Oudierin, conçu dans une perspective régionale, explore la dynamique à long terme de l'économie conchylicole locale via une prospection systématique, la cartographie et enregistrement détaillés du site, et fouilles à ce stade de 2 sites clés. Les résultats préliminaires rapportés ici présentent pour la première fois des détails fins de la structure de grands amas coquilliers, y compris une stratigraphie précise et rigoureuse, les aires d'activité insérées et la culture matérielle. L'analyse des variations de taille des coquilles le long de la colonne stratigraphique du plus grand amas coquillier permet de modéliser les raisons du caractère « ponctué¼ de la formation des amas coquilliers ­ période d'exploitation relativement courte suivie de périodes d'abandon beaucoup plus longues -. Il est démontré en effet que l'exploitation des coquillages a commencé beaucoup plus tôt, il y a environ 10 000 ans au cours de l'Holocène Ancien, dans ce qui n'était clairement pas encore le delta du Saloum tel qu'on le connaît aujourd'hui. La formation de cimetière avec des tumulus a eu lieu pendant le 1er tiers du IIe millénaire [1000­1300 CE] confirmant ainsi la séquence de Diorom-Boumak.

COVID-19 and the Performance of Exporting Companies in Benin.

This paper assesses the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the performance of exporting companies in Benin. It also identifies factors that explain the perceived effect of COVID-19 on the companies' performance. To do this, we used a survey data covering 122 micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) and micro, small, and medium industry (MSMIs) in four communes in Benin. Firstly, we computed the annual rate change in quarterly turnover to capture the effect of the COVID-19. Secondly, a multiple regression was estimated to identify factors explaining the perceived effect of the COVID-19 on the exporting companies. We found that the exporting companies experience on average a 53.308% drop in quarterly turnover in 2020 probably due to the COVID-19 crisis. Based on the forecasts, the results also revealed a very slow recovery in activities but the rate of change will remain negative until 2021 if nothing is done to support the MSMEs/MSMIs. Finally, we found that the perceived effect of the COVID-19 depends on the level of education of head of the companies, on the experience in exportation, and on the organization of the work because of the pandemic. Our findings suggest the necessity for public policy support toward the MSMEs/MSMIs to contain the effect of the pandemic in Benin.

Cet article évalue l'effet de la pandémie de COVID-19 sur la performance des entreprises exportatrices au Bénin. Il identifie également les facteurs qui expliquent l'effet perçu de la COVID-19 sur les performances des entreprises. Pour ce faire, nous avons utilisé des données d'enquête couvrant 122 micro, petites et moyennes entreprises (MPME) et micro, petites et moyennes industries (MPMI) dans quatre communes du Bénin. Premièrement, nous avons calculé la variation annuelle des taux du chiffre d'affaires trimestriel pour capturer l'effet du COVID-19. Deuxièmement, une régression multiple a été estimée pour identifier les facteurs expliquant l'effet perçu du COVID-19 sur les entreprises exportatrices. Nous avons constaté que les entreprises exportatrices ont enregistré en moyenne une baisse de 53,308% du chiffre d'affaires trimestriel en 2020 probablement en raison de la crise de la COVID-19. Sur la base des prévisions, les résultats ont également révélé une reprise très lente des activités mais le taux de changement restera négatif jusqu'en 2021 si rien n'est fait pour soutenir les MPME / MSMI. Enfin, nous avons constaté que l'effet perçu du COVID-19 dépend du niveau d'éducation du chef d'entreprise, de l'expérience à l'exportation et de l'organisation du travail en raison de la pandémie. Nos résultats suggèrent la nécessité d'un soutien des politiques publiques envers les MPME / MSMI pour contenir l'effet de la pandémie et relancer les activités économiques.

Dark Side Archaeology: Climate Change and Mid-Holocene Saharan Pastoral Adaptation.

High-resolution paleoenvironmental research allows us to pinpoint the tempo and amplitude of past climate changes. Abrupt climate events have axiomatically triggered cascades of adjustments, in vegetation, fauna, humans, and pathogens. This essay focuses on the abrupt end of the African Humid Episode (9000-6000 cal BP), ca. 5000 cal BP in the Sahara. Neolithic pastoralists, practicing transhumance between sandy lowlands and Saharan mountains, adopted new cultural practices: cattle burials and livestock bone deposits in built installations. Their ritual nature is indisputable. But ritual for what? If considered from the perspective of livestock zoonoses, such practices may point to the "dark side" of cultural adjustments-strategies to counter human and livestock diseases. Livestock zoonoses are constant sources of emerging infectious diseases (EID) in the present, as they were in the past. Sustained research on livestock and human health are of paramount importance given the accelerating rate of world urbanization.

La haute résolution des recherches paléoenvironnementales actuelles permet de préciser la chronologie et l'amplitude précises des changements climatiques passés. Axiomatiquement, de brusques changements climatiques ont déclenché des cascades d'ajustements, de la végétation, la faune, les humains et les agents pathogènes. Cet article porte sur la fin abrupte de l'Episode Humide Africain (9000-6000 Cal yr BP), autour de 5000 calBP dans le Sahara. Les pasteurs néolithiques, transhumant entre les basses terres sablonneuses et les montagnes sahariennes, ont adopté de nouvelles pratiques culturelles: enterrements de bétail et dépôts de leurs os dans des installations construites. Leur nature rituelle est incontestable. Mais rituel pour Quoi? Si elles sont prises en considération du point de vue des zoonoses du bétail, de telles pratiques peuvent indiquer le « côté obscur ¼ des ajustements culturels, des stratégies de lutte contre les maladies humaines et du bétail. Les zoonoses sont des sources constantes de maladies infectieuses émergentes [EID] dans le présent, ainsi que dans le passé, en effet. En raison de l'urbanisation acceleree, les recherches soutenues sur la santé humaine et du bétail sont d'une importance capitale.

Prospective, randomized-controlled trial comparing postoperative pain after plug and patch open repair with totally extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to compare postoperative pain between the open tension-free plug and patch (PP) technique and the totally extraperitoneal patch (TEP) hernioplasty. METHODS: One hundred and fifty-four male patients with unilateral inguinal hernia were randomized to undergo PP and TEP from 2005 to 2009. Pain assessment was conducted using the numerical rating scale (NRS) and the McGill Pain Questionnaire preoperatively, 6, 12 and 24 months postoperatively. All patients received the same analgesic regimen and documented pain in a NRS-based 4-week diary. RESULTS: Of the 154 patients 77 underwent TEP and 77 PP. Median follow-up was 3.8 years. One recurrent hernia was observed in the TEP and two in the PP group (p = 0.56). Median preoperative NRS scores were 2 and 2, 0.3 and 0.4 at 6 months, 0.1 and 0.3 at 12 months, 0.2 and 0.1 at 24 months postoperatively in the PP and TEP groups, respectively (p > 0.05). Data from the 4-week pain diaries revealed significant differences in pain intensity between the two different techniques from the second postoperative week (p < 0.05). Patients in the PP group required more additional analgesics on day four and five postoperatively (p = 0.037 and 0.015, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Our data favor the TEP technique concerning postoperative pain as primary endpoint between tension-free PP and TEP hernia repair.

Fluorous metal-organic frameworks with superior adsorption and hydrophobic properties toward oil spill cleanup and hydrocarbon storage.

We demonstrate that fluorous metal-organic frameworks (FMOFs) are highly hydrophobic porous materials with a high capacity and affinity to C(6)-C(8) hydrocarbons of oil components. FMOF-1 exhibits reversible adsorption with a high capacity for n-hexane, cyclohexane, benzene, toluene, and p-xylene, with no detectable water adsorption even at near 100% relative humidity, drastically outperforming activated carbon and zeolite porous materials. FMOF-2, obtained from annealing FMOF-1, shows enlarged cages and channels with double toluene adsorption vs FMOF-1 based on crystal structures. The results suggest great promise for FMOFs in applications such as removal of organic pollutants from oil spills or ambient humid air, hydrocarbon storage and transportation, water purification, etc. under practical working conditions.

[Expression profile and prognostic significance of CD24, p53 and p21 in lymphomas. A tissue microarray study of over 600 non-Hodgkin lymphomas]. / Expressionsmuster und prognostische Bedeutung von CD24, p53 und p21 in Lymphomen. Eine Gewebe-Mikroarray-Studie an über 600 Non-Hodgkin-Lymphomen.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Tissue microarrays allow the simultanous, rapid and standardized in-situ analysis of up to 1000 different tissue samples on a single glass slide. We investigated the expression profil and the prognostic significance of CD24, p53 and p21 using a Non-Hodgkin-Lymphoma tissue microarray. METHODS: Over 600 well documented Non-Hodgkin-Lymphomas, consisting of 341 diffuse large B-cell lymphomas, 86 follicular lymphomas, 81 chronic lymphatic leukemias/small lymphocytic lymphomas, 51 primary mediastinal diffuse large B-cell lymphomas, 26 mantle cell lymphomas, 8 lymphoplasmocytic lymphomas, 8 T-cell-lymphomas NOS und 2 Burkitt lymphomas were brought into array format. The expression of CD24, p53 and p21 was analysed semiquantitatively by immunohistochemistry. The immunophenotype p53+/p21- (Deltap53) was used as a surrogat for p53 gene mutations. The expression profile was compared to clinical data and the overall survival in the subgroup of diffuse large B-cell lymphomas. RESULTS: 91% of the analyzed Non-Hodgkin-lymphomas (473 of 522 cases) showed CD24 positivity. CD24 Expression was not associated with survival. Deltap53 was found in thirteen percent of all lymphomas (70 of 539 cases), the subgroup of the diffuse large B-cell lymphomas demonstrated the highest Deltap53 (21%). In a multivariate cox regression analysis, a high international prognostic index and Deltap53 were independent markers of bad survival. CONCLUSION: The TMA-technology allows also in lymphoma research the simultanous, cost-effective and standardized analysis of large patient cohorts. Deltap53 revealed as an independent negative prognostic factor in diffuse large B-cell lymphomas. It can easily be determined in daily routine practice.