Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Introducing the Sliding-Wall Concept for Heat Transfer Augmentation: The Case of Flow over Square Cylinder at Incidence

Abstract The “sliding-wall concept” has been introduced for the case of convective heat transfer past a square cylinder with an angle of incidence. Based on this concept, all walls of the cylinder tangentially move at a constant speed. This idea is denominated by the “sliding-wall concept”, which can be constructed using a strip that is rolled around the body and moves at a constant speed. The finite-volume method is employed to numerically solve the governing equations using the OpenFOAM codes. Two critical wall velocities are computed, and it is found that the flow field is transient at velocities less than the first critical speed, and the separated vortices completely vanish beyond the second critical speed. It is obtained that by increasing the wall velocity up to 22 times the upstream velocity, a high mean Nusselt number of 40, and a mean lift coefficient of −40 can be achieved. It is found that at velocities greater than the second critical wall velocity, a part of the fluid that is affected by the hot body is confined to the areas near the cylinder. This flow pattern is called the “hotspot motion”. It is expected that the new observed trends can be extended to flows over other bluff bodies.
Sjögren’s Disease and Oral Health: A Genetic Instrumental Variable Analysis

Epidemiological studies have consistently shown that Sjögren’s disease (SjD) increases the risk of dental caries. Despite similar evidence indicating an elevated risk of periodontitis, SjD remains a disputed risk factor for this disease. The risk of bias in observational research is a major impediment to confirming this link. Within an instrumental variable framework, genetic variants associated with a risk factor can be used to proxy its effect on an outcome while avoiding common sources of observational study bias. In this study, we leveraged an instrumental variable approach to investigate whether SjD affects the risk of caries and periodontitis. A total of 57 genetic variants strongly associated with SjD were identified from a genome-wide association study of 2,247 European descent cases and 332,115 controls. We tested for associations of these genetic instruments with caries (measured as the number of decayed, missing, and filled surfaces in 26,792 individuals) and periodontitis (17,353 clinical periodontitis cases and 28,210 European controls). Several sensitivity analyses were used to further validate the primary inverse variance weighted (IVW) estimate. IVW analysis revealed an adverse effect of SjD on caries (β = 0.039, P = 6.3e-16) and periodontitis (odds ratio = 1.033, P = 2.3e-05). Sensitivity analyses, conducted to assess the robustness to potential violations of instrumental variable assumptions, further support these findings. Our results showed that SjD has a detrimental effect on caries and also suggest that SjD promotes periodontitis.
Critical Success Factors Affecting Project Performance: An Analysis of Tools, Practices, and Managerial Support

This study examines success factors for a team project. The influence of three success factors—(1) project management tools, (2) project management best practices, and (3) managerial support on the performance of individuals, teams, and projects was measured. We surveyed 121 business students with team project experience. Exploratory factor analysis confirms that success factors (project management tools, project management best practices, and managerial support) in a project tend to respond more to individual team members’ performance compared to team performance and project performance. Our findings indicate that project management tools, project management best practices, and support are equally important to success during project implementation. We also find that harmonious relationships among team members lead to extrinsic motivation within project teams and enhance team and project performance. However, most of the time, the system—not the individual—causes a project to fail. Therefore, this study suggests that project managers make a clear plan and agenda by utilizing project management tools.
Rotalia viennoti, an important foraminiferal species from Asia Minor and western Asia

A new species of foraminifera, Rotalia viennoti, is described, and its range and geographical distribution, as known at present, are given. From the time of its discovery in Persia in 1930 until quite recently, the new foraminifer described in this article had been known and recognized only in thin-sections of limestones. It was first noted in upper and lower Lutetian limestones of Surkh-i-dizeh, W. Persia. Subsequently it was found in upper Lutetian limestones of the Kirkuk oil field, Iraq, and also in the Maestrichtian of Dohuk, Iraq, not far from the Turkish and Kurdish frontiers. In 1932, it was again noted by me in limestone sections of Oligocene and Lutetian age in Palestine from three localities: (a) at Nablus, Mt. Gerizim, north of Jerusalem; (b) at a point 24 miles west-southwest of Jerusalem and 1.5 miles west of Beit Jibrin; and (c) near Tulkarem. Almost concurrently, but quite independently, geologists of the Iraq Petroleum Company also recognized the organism at several points in Palestine and were successful in 1 Published by kind permission of the Standard Oil Co. of New Jersey and the Iraq Petroleum Company. 2 Geologist and micropaleontologist, Societa Petrolifera Italiana, Italy. (Subsidiary of Standard Oil Co. of New Jersev.) isolating complete specimens from their matrix. Mr. F. R. S. Henson, of the above-mentioned company, then kindly forwarded numerous specimens to me in order that a description of the new species could be made public. In 1930, shortly after its discovery, the new species was assigned tentatively to the family Rotaliidae and given a new generic manuscript name by the late M. Pierre Viennot of Paris, to whom I had referred the specimens for complete determination. My further researches have confirmed Viennot's opinion that the species should be included in the Rotaliidae, but a new generic name hardly seems to be warranted, as the organism, apart from its ornamentation, appears to be structurally very similar to Rotalia proper, as described by Lamarck in 1804. The new specific name, Rotalia viennoti, proposed in this paper, has been given in memory of this zealous work r on the foraminifera, whose untimely death robbed him of the chance of describing the new species himself. This content downloaded from 157.55. 39.112 on Wed, 07 Sep 2016 04:54:32 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor. org/terms
Media and Mobile Phones in a South African Rural Area: A Baseline Study

In South Africa, access to information remains unequal and often hampered by language barriers, poor infrastructure and endemic poverty, particularly among members of rural and peri-urban communities. The government recognises the potential of media and information and communication technology (ICT) to promote socio-economic development and social cohesion. In this paper we discuss the findings of a survey on media and ICT (particularly mobile phones) in a rural community. The area is the site of a number of interventions and research projects by a nearby university. Our study provides a baseline to measure their impact and identify future trends. Data from 300 households was collected through a set of open-ended, as well as closed, questions. Language emerged as an important factor in media consumption. Broadcast media were more common than print and people showed a preference for news, followed by entertainment. While computers were virtually non-existent, mobile phones were omnipresent and most respondents could be considered experienced users. Although the costs associated with mobile phones were key concerns, most households had access to at least one phone with advanced features such as internet connectivity. Different activities performed on mobile phones reflected different gender and generational roles. Our work indicates that further research is needed on quality and frequency of media consumption as well as a more detailed study of mobile phone use. Research along the age and gender dimensions promises to yield interesting results. A qualitative approach is best suited for such in-depth investigation.
Elevated level of testosterone in amniotic fluid during prenatal stress and its association with development of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) like symptoms in toddlers

Aim of the study To investigate the “prenatal testosterone hypothesis”, according to which, high level of testosterone associated with the development of ADHD like symptoms in younger children, and to investigate whether maternal stress during pregnancy increases the risk of developing ADHD like symptoms in early childhood. Design This was a prospective study with three measurement periods: the first one during pregnancy (12 to 25 weeks of gestation); the second period involved the assessment of infants of this pregnancy at the age of 6 months and the third one the assessment of the same infants at the age of 18 months. The research plan is approved by “David Tvildiani Medical University” Research Ethics Committee. The study does not contain serious predictable risks as the expected benefit overweighs them. Material and methods The study group is presented by 40 pregnant women and 40 infants of these pregnancies. Pregnant women were asked about their perceived stress levels, critical life events of the past year and pregnancy-specific stress levels using standardized questionnaires. Child's temperament and behavioral regulation were assessed using the questionnaires. Amniotic fluid was collected undergoing amniocentesis. Total testosterone in amniotic fluid was measured by radioimmunoassay. Results Although statistically significant relationship was identified between hyperactivity, also impulsiveness symptoms and prenatal stress, no statistically significant relationship was identified between testosterone level and hyperactivity, also impulsivity symptoms, as well as between testosterone level and prenatal stress level. Conclusion The performed study did not support the “hypothesis about prenatal testosterone”, because there was a significant negative correlation between the frequency of hyperactivity symptoms and testosterone level.
Differences in Falls and Physical Activity in Older Women From Two Generations

Abstract Background Falls and physical inactivity increase with age. However, physical activity, falls and their associations in older people born at different times are unclear. Methods Women born 1921–26 and 1946–51 who completed follow-up questionnaires in 1999 (n = 8 403, mean (SD) age: 75 (1) years) and 2019 (n = 7 555; 71 (1) years) in the Australian Longitudinal Study on Women’s Health. Self-reported noninjurious and injurious falls in the previous 12 months and weekly amounts and types of physical activity (brisk walking, moderate- and vigorous-intensity) were compared between the cohorts using Chi-square tests. Associations between physical activity, and noninjurious and injurious falls were estimated using multinomial logistic regressions informed by a directed acyclic graph. Results A greater proportion of the later (1946–51) cohort (59%) reached 150–300 minutes of weekly physical activity, as recommended by the World Health Organization, compared to the earlier (1921–26) cohort (43%, p < .001). A greater proportion of the later cohort reported noninjurious falls (14% vs 8%). Both cohorts reported similar proportions of injurious falls (1946–51:15%, 1921–26:14%). In both cohorts, participation in 150–300 minutes of physical activity was associated with lower odds of noninjurious falls (adjusted Odds Ratio, 95% CI: 1921–26: 0.66, 0.52–0.84; 1946–51: 0.78, 0.63–0.97) and injurious falls (1921–26: 0.72, 0.60–0.87; 1946–51: 0.78, 0.64–0.96). Conclusions Participation in recommended levels of physical activity was associated with reduced falls in both cohorts. However, generational differences were found with more falls and more physical activities in the women born later. Future studies could examine the reasons contributing to the generational differences.
Polyphenol Contents, Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC–;MS) and Antibacterial Activity of Methanol Extract and Fractions of Sonneratia Caseolaris Fruits from Ben Tre Province in Vietnam

Plants contain a large number of phytochemical components, many of which are known as bioactive compounds and responsible for the expression of various pharmacological activities. The extract of Sonneratia caseolaris fruit collected in Vietnam was investigated for its total phenolic and total flavonoid contents using methanol solvent and different fractions of S. caseolaris fruits (hexane, ethyl acetate, n-butanol, and aqueous). GC–MS analysis was conducted to identify the bioactive chemical constituents occurring in the active extract. Further, the antibacterial activity was tested in vitro on bacterial isolates, namely Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Bacillus subtilis, using the disc diffusion method on tryptic soya agar (TSA) medium. The methanol extract showed high total flavonoid (82.3 ± 0.41 mg QE/g extract) and phenolic (41.0 ± 0.34 mg GAE/g extract) content. GC–MS of the methanol extract and different fractions of S. caseolaris fruits detected 20 compounds, principally fatty alcohols, fatty acids, phenols, lipids, terpenes derivatives, and carboxylic acids derivatives. A 50 mg/ml concentration of methanol extract had the strongest antibacterial activity on E. coli, S. aureus, and B. subtilis. Furthermore, ethyl acetate, aqueous, and n-butanol fractions inhibited S. aureus and B. subtilis the most. The results of the present study suggested that the fruits of S. caseolaris are rich sources of phenolic compounds that can contribute to safe and cost-effective treatments.
The basic leucine zipper transcription factor MeaB is critical for biofilm formation, cell wall integrity, and virulence in Aspergillus fumigatus

ABSTRACT The regulation of fungal cell wall biosynthesis is crucial for cell wall integrity maintenance and directly impacts fungal pathogen virulence. Although numerous genes are involved in fungal cell wall polysaccharide biosynthesis through multiple pathways, the underlying regulatory mechanism is still not fully understood. In this study, we identified and functionally characterized a direct downstream target of SomA, the basic-region leucine zipper transcription factor MeaB, playing a certain role in Aspergillus fumigatus cell wall integrity. Loss of meaB reduces hyphal growth, causes severe defects in galactosaminogalactan-mediated biofilm formation, and attenuates virulence in a Galleria mellonella infection model. Furthermore, the meaB null mutant strain exhibited hypersensitivity to cell wall-perturbing agents and significantly alters the cell wall structure. Transcriptional profile analysis revealed that MeaB positively regulates the expression of the galactosaminogalactan biosynthesis and β-1,3-glucanosyltransferase genes uge3, agd3, and sph3 and gel1, gel5, and gel7, respectively, as well as genes involved in amino sugar and nucleotide sugar metabolism. Further study demonstrated that MeaB could respond to cell wall stress and contribute to the proper expression of mitogen-activated protein kinase genes mpkA and mpkC in the presence of different concentrations of congo red. In conclusion, A. fumigatus MeaB plays a critical role in cell wall integrity by governing the expression of genes encoding cell wall-related proteins, thus impacting the virulence of this fungus. IMPORTANCE Aspergillus fumigatus is a common opportunistic mold that causes life-threatening infections in immunosuppressed patients. The fungal cell wall is a complex and dynamic organelle essential for the development of pathogenic fungi. Genes involved in cell wall polysaccharide biosynthesis and remodeling are crucial for fungal pathogen virulence. However, the potential regulatory mechanism for cell wall integrity remains to be fully defined in A. fumigatus. In the present study, we identify basic-region leucine zipper transcription factor MeaB as an important regulator of cell wall galactosaminogalactan biosynthesis and β-1,3-glucan remodeling that consequently impacts stress response and virulence of fungal pathogens. Thus, we illuminate a mechanism of transcriptional control fungal cell wall polysaccharide biosynthesis and stress response. As these cell wall components are promising therapeutic targets for fungal infections, understanding the regulatory mechanism of such polysaccharides will provide new therapeutic opportunities.
Predicting survival in patients with buccal cancer: A study based on SEER database and external validation in China

Abstract Objective Buccal mucosa cancer (BMC) is one of the most common oral cancers and has poor prognosis. The study aimed to develop and validate nomograms for predicting the 1‐, 3‐, and 5‐year overall survival (OS) and cancer‐specific survival (CSS) of BMC patients. Methods We collected and reviewed information on BMC patients diagnosed between 2004 and 2019 from the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results database. Two nomograms were developed and validated to predict the OS and CSS based on predictors identified by univariate and multivariate Cox regression. An extra external validation was further performed using data from Sun Yat‐sen Memorial Hospital (SYSMH). Results A total of 3154 BMC patients included in this study were randomly assigned to training and validation groups in a 2:1 ratio. Independent prognostic predictors were identified, confirmed, and fitted into nomograms for OS and CSS, respectively. The C‐indices are 0.767 (Training group OS), 0.801 (Training group CSS), 0.763 (Validation group OS), and 0.781 (Validation group OS), respectively. Moreover, the nomograms exhibited remarkable precision in forecasting and significant clinical significance, as evidenced by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, calibration curves, and decision curve analyses (DCA). The final validation using our data from SYSMH also showed high accuracy and substantial clinical benefits within the nomograms. The C‐indices are 0.849 (SYSMH group OS) and 0.916 (SYSMH group CSS). These indexes are better than tumor, node, and metastasis stage based on prediction results. Conclusions The nomograms developed with great performance predicted 1‐, 3‐, and 5‐year OS and CSS of BMC patients. Use of the nomograms in clinical practices shall bring significant benefits to BMC patients.
Analysis of microbial diversity in an extreme environment: White Island, New Zealand

IX Statement of candidate XI Acknowledgements XIII Abbreviations and symbols XV CHAPTER I. LITERATURE REVIEW 1 1. Microbial diversity 4 1.1. Origin of early life 4 1.2. Extremophiles 6 1.3. Microbial consortia 8 1.4. Microbial metabolism 8 1.4.1. Sulphur cycling 11 1.4.2. Iron cycling 12 2. Volcanic environments 12 2.1. Geothermal and hydrothermal systems 13 2.2. White Island, New Zealand 13 3. The study of microbial diversity 14 3.1. Culture-independent techniques 14 3.2. Culture-dependent techniques 17 4. Quantum dots 19 4.1. Biological applications of the QDs 21 4.1.1. Cell detection and imaging 21 4.1.2. Gene technology 22 4.1.3. Bacterial, pathogen and toxin detection 23 4.2. QDs and flow cytometry 24 5. Aims of this study 25 CHAPTER II. MATERIALS AND METHODS 27 1. MATERIALS 29 1.1. Chemicals and biochemicals 29 1.2. Reaction kits 30 1.3. Enzymes 30
Cleanstarttm: The Programme for Sustainable Soil Pest Management From Certis Europe

Soil hygiene is a key pillar for successful and sustainable crop production, particularly in high-value and intensive crops, where limited options for pest and disease control are available, especially against nematodes. Certis Europe, from its establishment in 2001, has been focused on IPM solutions and started the CleanStart(TM) programme, fully dedicated to soil pest management. CleanStart(TM) is the integrated portfolio of tools and solutions that Certis provides to high-value crop growers aiming to optimise their soil environment and ensure the cultivation of healthy crops. In line with IPM principles, CleanStart(TM) offers a combination of chemical, biological, physical and agronomic tools for soil disinfestation resulting in a reduced need for other post-planting treatments. Certis’ portfolio of soil treatment products includes Basamid (dazomet), Monam (metam sodium), Mocap (ethoprophos), Jet 5 (peracetic acid), as well as biological products such as Tusal (Trichoderma spp.), and other biopesticides under development, which are distributed under the CleanStart(TM) brand. Dimethyl Disulfide (DMDS) will be also part of Certis’ future CleanStart(TM) portfolio in the future in two formulations: EC (94.1%) for drip irrigation in protected crops and open field, and AL (99.1%) for shank application in field crops. Alongside CleanStart(TM), a pan-European fumigation stewardship program has been developed to support sustainable soil fumigation practice followed by appropriate measures to ensure safe use by minimizing the product’s impact on the environment and human health. Within the framework of the CleanStart(TM) programme, Certis has started a communication campaign based on a regional research and exchange programme dealing with sustainable fumigation strategies and involving key experts from southern European countries.
Additive partially linear models for ultra‐high‐dimensional regression

We consider a semiparametric additive partially linear regression model (APLM) for analysing ultra‐high‐dimensional data where both the number of linear components and the number of non‐linear components can be much larger than the sample size. We propose a two‐step approach for estimation, selection, and simultaneous inference of the components in the APLM. In the first step, the non‐linear additive components are approximated using polynomial spline basis functions, and a doubly penalized procedure is proposed to select nonzero linear and non‐linear components based on adaptive lasso. In the second step, local linear smoothing is then applied to the data with the selected variables to obtain the asymptotic distribution of the estimators of the nonparametric functions of interest. The proposed method selects the correct model with probability approaching one under regularity conditions. The estimators of both the linear part and the non‐linear part are consistent and asymptotically normal, which enables us to construct confidence intervals and make inferences about the regression coefficients and the component functions. The performance of the method is evaluated by simulation studies. The proposed method is also applied to a dataset on the shoot apical meristem of maize genotypes.