Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pathogenesis clue from early clinical presentation of 300 hospitalized COVID-19 patients

The global spread of COVID-19 has been lasted more than half a year. Except for the gene sequence and virus structure of SARS-CoV-2, its clinical characteristics, pathological mechanism and corresponding measures have not been fully revealed. Objective: To speculate the possible pathological mechanism from the early clinical manifestations of the patients with COVID-19. Methods: The onset symptoms, laboratory examination and CT findings on admission of 300 cases in two wards of Wuhan Third Hospital from January 28 to March 15 were analyzed retrospectively. Results: There was no difference in incidence between men and women, but women were hospitalized later after onset. Upper respiratory symptoms and sputum were seldom. The incidence of fever was 71%. Blood lymphocytes count decreased significantly on admission, which was related to the severity of the disease. In the moderate type of patients, who without hypoxia, thrombocytopenia occurred in 12.37%, CRP rose in 64.43 %, BUN elevated in 20.62 %, creatinine rose in 17.53 %, D-dimer elevated in 74.74%, creatine kinase and α-hydroxybutyrate dehydrogenase elevated in 45.36% and 54.12% patients respectively. The early CT showed a small amount of infiltration in the subpleural, the lateral zone of the lung and thickening of the interlobular septum. About 5 days later, infiltration had been worse in a part of the patients, and the affected lung was negatively correlated with the lymphocyte count. Conclusion: There was no gender difference in patients with SARS-CoV-2 invasion. Alveolar cells and T lymphocytes maybe main targets of the virus and apoptosis maybe primary pathogenesis. The virus entering the lung maybe transmitted through lymph or blood channels, rather than direct diffused in the respiratory tract. Early damage of multiple organs maybe caused by immune response.
Clinical Characteristics of 2019 Novel Coronavirus Pneumonia in China: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

Background Although novel pneumonia associated with the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) suddenly broke out in China, China has controlled this epidemic effectively. Therefore, evidence-based descriptions of medical and clinical characteristics in China are necessary. Methods Literatures have been systematically performed a search on PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, GreyNet International, and The Cochrane Library from inception up to March 15, 2020. Quality of evidence was evaluated according to the STROBE checklist, and publication bias was analyzed by Egger’s test. In the single-arm meta-analysis, A random-effects model was used to obtain a pooled incidence rate. We conducted subgroup analysis according to geographic region and research scale. Results A total of 30 Chinese studies and 1969 patients were included in this meta-analysis. The valid pooled incidence rates of symptoms were as follows: rhinorrhea 5.1% (95% CI: 3.7–6.8, I2 = 31.90), diarrhea 11.0% (95% CI: 9.3–12.9, I2 = 16.58), pharyngalgia 9.4% (95% CI: 7.5–11.7, I2 = 36.40), headache 9.5% (95% CI: 8.5–11.1, I2 = 5.7), and lymphocytopenia 36.7% (95% CI: 33.8–39.8 I2 = 28.73). Meanwhile, 4.3% (95% CI: 3.5–5.4, I2 = 0.00) of patients were found without any symptoms, although they were diagnosed by RT-PCR. In terms of lung CT imaging, most of the patients showed bilateral mottling or ground-glass opacity, and 7.7% (95% CI: 4.4–12.9, I2 = 35.64) of patients had a crazy-paving pattern. In subgroup analysis, the pooled incidence rate of normal CT presentations in the Wuhan area and outside Wuhan area was 2.3% (95% CI: 1.4–3.6, I2 = 24.78) and 5.8% (95% CI: 4.4–7.7, I2 = 32.76) respectively (P = 0.001). Conclusions The findings suggest that although most of the COVID-19 patients have symptoms or abnormal CT imaging presentations, a few of them accompany with no symptoms or abnormal CT imaging results should also be noticed. The digestive symptoms and lymphocytopenia may be the potential clinical characteristics, especially for patients with a history of contact with COVID-19. Additionally, the incidence rate of ARDS in the Wuhan area and outside Wuhan area was different; however, the reasons for this phenomenon are unclear.
Correlation of Age, Gender, and Employment Status with Quality of Life Glaucoma Patient

BACKGROUND: People with glaucoma sometimes do not feel the symptoms of glaucoma until the end of the stage, so the risk of blindness will be even greater. Glaucoma is a form of visual impairment, also the second cause of blindness after cataracts. However, in contrast to cataracts, glaucoma cannot be cured through surgery so that the blindness experienced is permanent. AIM: This study aimed to determine the relationship between the characteristics of respondents (age, gender, and occupational status) and the quality of life of glaucoma patients. METHODS: This study used quantitative research with cross-sectional method. Interviews were conducted on 250 glaucoma patients at community eye health centers. To determine age, sex, and employment status related to quality of life, the data were analyzed using Chi-square and logistic regression. RESULTS: The age with p-value 0668 and gender with p-value employment status in 0237 and 0105 with p values were not related to the quality of life of glaucoma patients. The results of logistic regression analysis showed that the employment status with a significance of 0046 was a factor related to the quality of life. CONCLUSION: No relation to gender, age, and income with the quality of life of patients with glaucoma in Makassar Community Eye Health Centers in 2018 was found.
Study on thermal degradation of sol and gel of natural rubber

The thermal degradation of natural rubber (NR) in air at a constant heating rate was studied by using of the thermogravimetry (TG) and thermogravimetry and differential thermal analysis (TG–DTA) simultaneous techniques. It indicates that the temperature of thermal degradation of gel and sol of NR rises linearly along with the increment of the heating rate, whereas the heating rate has little effect on the degree of thermal degradation. Accompanying other side reactions, the thermal degradation of NR is not a simple random chain scission process, and it is an exothermic reaction. The dynamic variation of molecular structure of NR during the thermal degradation was studied using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). It shows that the products of the thermal degradation of both sol and gel of NR are hydroperoxide, carbonyl, and hydroxyl compounds. The formation of gel makes the temperature of the thermal degradation of NR decrease and the rate of the thermal degradation increase; thus, the thermal stability of NR is reduced. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 75: 1339–1344, 2000
FLUIDIZATION STATE OF ULTRAFINE POWDERS

The fluidity of submicron powders was studied in a small-scale transparent column. Powders of Ni, Si3N4, SiC, Al2O3 and TiO2 were smoothly fluidized when gas velocity exceeded the apparent minimum fluidization velocity. The electrical conductivity of the particles did not affect the fluidizing quality in the range of the present experiments. All the tested submicron particles formed agglomerates during fluidization. The agglomerate size and the apparent minimum fluidization velocity were dependent on species of particles and fluidizing gas. The equilibrium size of agglomerates calculated from the apparent minimum fluidization velocity and the sedimentation velocity was in the range of 70-700 μm. However, the agglomerates of CaCO3 and ZrO2 were very cohesive and could not be evaluated. The primary particle size was not a proper measure for the classification of fine particles.
Forage performance of pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum [L.] R. Br.) in arid regions: Yield and quality assessment of new genotypes on different sowing dates

The evaluation of new forage genotypes under arid conditions would contribute to solving the feed shortage problem during the summer season in arid areas and identify potential candidates for particular breeding programs. The present study evaluated the yield and quality of five multi-cut pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum [L.] R. Br.) genotypes (IP19586, IP19612, IP6105, IP13150, and Shandaweel-1) affected by three sowing dates (15 May, 1 June, and 15 June) during the 2017 and 2018 summer seasons in Alexandria, Egypt. Among the new genotypes, IP13150 maintained the desirable balance between both productivity and quality. In addition to its high DM yield (3.50 t ha-1), it was characterized by the highest crude protein (91.6 g kg-1) and N-free extract (500.5 g kg-1) contents, while it had the lowest fiber fractions. This was reflected on its organic matter digestibility (395.7 g kg-1), high gas production (24.5 mL g-1 OM), short-chain fatty acid production (47.4 Mm), microbial protein (47.8 g kg-1 OM), and the highest energy values among all the genotypes. Although DM yield of the local cv. Shandaweel-1 was moderate (3.2 t ha-1), it was inferior regarding all the tested quality attributes. Altering the sowing date exerted a limited effect on the studied parameters; early sowing on 15 May was superior to later sowing on 1 and 15 June. The superiority of the second cut over the first and third cuts in forage production highlights the success of pearl millet as a multi-cut crop in similar environments.
Chemical Polymorphism and Composition of Leaf Essential Oils of Cinnamomum kanehirae Using Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry, Cluster Analysis, and Principal Component Analysis

Cinnamomum kanehirae Hayata is an endemic tree species in Taiwan. Leaf essential oils from 26 sources of C. kanehirae were obtained by hydrodistillation and their chemical constituents were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Fifty-eight compounds were identified from C. kanehirae leaf essential oils. The main constituents in leaf essential oils were linalool, 1,8-cineole, β-selinene, 1-hexadecyne, and α-cadinol. According to the chemical compositions of leaf essential oils and their relative contents obtained from GC-MS analyses, cluster analysis, and principal component analysis, the 26 sources examined were classified into five chemotypes: linalool type, linalool/1,8-cineole type, 1,8-cineole type, linalool/α-cadinol type, and mixed type. The biochemical correlations between the major constituents of C. kanehirae were examined and their relationship is discussed.
The Practices of Risk-Based Internal Shariah Auditing Within Malaysian Takaful Operators: A Multiple Case Study

Shariah audit functions within Islamic Financial Institutions were imposed by Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) with the issuance of Shariah Governance Framework in 2010. During the early stages of the implementation, the approach for this shariah audit function was only focused on shariah compliance. After ten years, the shariah audit function became mandatory, where this function was expected to be well-developed and able to achieve its primary objective. The role of shariah audit should go beyond Shariah compliance as it should serve as an independent assessment of internal control for any shariah compliance risk. Shariah audit also is one of the crucial elements in the Shariah governance framework. However, the lack of specific guidelines for shariah audit became a challenge for auditors to carry out a comprehensive shariah audit procedure. Therefore, this study aims to provide an in-depth explanation of the process of shariah audit, particularly on planning, executing, reporting and follow up, which emphasises on the application of risk-based internal audit (RBIA) approach. The study adopted a qualitative methodology by using multiple case studies involving Takaful Operators in Malaysia. The detailed explanation of the current shariah audit process is expected to contribute to the provision of valuable detailed information for the Takaful Industry as well as other Islamic financial institutions. The information could benefit Islamic Financial Institutions by assisting in developing a strategy to provide a robust internal control for reducing the occurrence of shariah non-compliance risk.
Exploring Local Food Characteristics in Developing Food Tourism Destination at Lenggong Valley, Perak

Many tourist destinations have started to recognize their local food as the core element or supporting attraction of their intangible heritage. Thus, integration of the relationship between food and tourism destination has become an important issue in the current food tourism study which covers various aspects. This study aims to explore the local food characteristics in Lenggong Valley, Perak. Data were collected through in-depth, semi-structured interviews and supported with participant observation. A total of nine informants were involved in this study comprising of traditional local food experts, local food providers, and local authorities. Four main characteristics of Lenggong local food were identified. These include i) practicing food culture using natural ingredients, ii) Malay traditional food as main dishes iii) the use of wild edible plants in traditional cooking and iv) freshwater fish sources used as signature dishes. The findings showed that Lenggong Valley is rich with assorted natural resources and diverse food cultural backgrounds that could be highlighted as a potential attraction to develop more memorable tourism experiences. It can also assist public and private agencies to develop food tourism at a destination by incorporating local food through tourism marketing strategies, in a way of destination’s culinary culture representation.
In vitro selection and genetic improvement of drought tolerance in cano- la (Brassica napus) using biochemical and molecular analyses

Callus induction methods and plant regeneration system in six selected canola (Brassica napus) cultivars“Serw-4, Pactol, Sakha-1, Line-99, Line-162 and Line-123" grown under Egyptian environment were investigated for drought stress. Biochemical and molecular characterization were the other goal for this study. Hypocotyl explants (5-7 mm) from sterile canola seedling were cultured on MS media with different concentrations of plant growth regulators. The results of callus induction varied with respect to treatments and genotypes. For B. napus, the use of hypocotyl explants resulted in a higher percentage of callus formation, ranging from 46 to 100% on different media. Moreover, among six tested media, MS6 (MS + 0.1 mg/l NAA + 0.5 mg/l Kin) gave the best results on average of callus induction percentage with 100% of explants producing callus for cv. Serw-4, Pactol, Sakha-1, Line-99 and Lin-123. Meanwhile, Line-162 recorded 94% for callus induction. The lowest responses were noted for MS medium with 0.5 mg/l BAP + 0.5 mg/l Kin (MS5). Sakha-1 was the most responsive in terms of percentage of callus induction, while recorded 100 % on MS1, MS3, MS4 and MS6, 96 % on MS2 and 78 % on MS5. As well as the highest percentage of explants with shoot induction (58.84 %) and the highest number of shoot per explant (7) was recorded for this genotype. Assessment of isozyme banding patterns (esterase and peroxidase) to detect more genetic markers was also another attempt for this study. A total of 94 amplified fragments were generated by five random 10-mer primers, 78 polymorphic bands were detected in RAPD analysis, out of them, 18 were unique bands. These unique bands can be used as a specific marker for drought tolerance in canola.
The effectiveness of ‘Student Team Achievement Divisions’ (STAD) model towards students’ achievement in the Principles of Accounting subject

The purpose of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the STAD model towards students’ achievement in the Principles of Accounting subject, specifically in the Ledger topics. This study also evaluated students' understanding, motivation, attitude and interest in learning Principles of Accounting after using the STAD model. A quantitative approach with a quasi-experimental design was used. The sample selection involved Form 4 students from the social science stream comprising 30 students in the treatment group and 30 students in the control group. The research instruments used were pre-test, post-test and a survey questionnaire. The data was analyzed using the descriptive and inferential analysis. The descriptive analysis was used to describe students' perceptions of learning Principles of Accounting after using the STAD model. The inferential analysis involved analysis such as independent sample t-tests, paired sample t-tests and Pearson correlation analysis to explain the differences and relationships between the variables of the study. The findings showed that there was a significant difference between the treatment group and the control group in the post-test whereby the treatment group showed a significant and higher improvement (mean score= 18.267) compared to the control group (mean score= 15.133). The Pearson correlation analysis also showed a strong relationship (r= 0.745) between the STAD model and student achievement in post-test analysis. The results of the students' perceptions of Principles of Accounting after using the STAD model showed that their levels of understanding and motivation were high. The findings of this study showed that the STAD model improved students' achievement, understanding and motivation in Principles of Accounting subject. The implications of this study indicated that the STAD model could enhance the learning effectiveness of Principles of Accounting.
The CEO Beauty Premium

How do top executives’ physical attributes impact firm value? Our study combines Upper Echelons Theory (UET) with insights from social psychology and labor economics to investigate how Chief Executive Officers’ (CEOs’) facial attractiveness influences firm valuation by investors in Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs). We document a pronounced CEO beauty premium. The positive relationship between CEO attractiveness and firm valuation is not driven by stereotype-based evaluations; that is, investors do not mistake attractiveness for other latent traits, such as competence, intelligence, likeability, or trustworthiness. Rather, CEO attractiveness seems to bear economic value per se. It helps attract institutional investors and has a sustainable effect on token price performance. Our results are immune to recall and confirmation biases, reverse causality, and unobserved heterogeneity.
A prospective study of dengue infection in Malaysia: A structural equation modeling approach

Background: Dengue fever has been a major health threat to Malaysia over one century since 1902. This situation is getting worse every year so that the government has taken an affirmative action to tackle this particular issue. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of government support, climate changes, public attitude, population growth, and environment on dengue infection. Also, this study considered the environment as a mediator construct as the past literature revealed its role in dengue infection model. Methods: In order to identify the relationship between exogenous and endogenous constructs, structural equation modeling (SEM) was used. Also, in order to identify the factors affecting dengue infection, measurement and structural model evaluation were applied. Using stratified sampling method, 670 questionnaires were distributed among prospective respondents from eastern region, but in turn, only 505 cases could be used after data cleaning process. Results: Considering environment factor as a mediator, the results show that public attitude and population growth have a significant impact on the environment, while government support, public attitude, and environment factors have a significant impact on dengue infection. Population growth was the most important factor affecting dengue fever. Conclusion: According to the results, dengue fever that emanating from four exogenous and one mediator constructs are adequate to discuss on respondent perception of dengue fever in Malaysia.
Effect of Cooking on Soluble and Insoluble Oxalate Contents in Selected Pakistani Vegetables and Beans

The present study evaluated the effects of cooking on the total, soluble and insoluble oxalate contents in six different types of locally consumed vegetables and beans (spinach, carrots, beet root, white bean, red bean and soybean). The foods were cooked in water until they reached the soft consistency (12–15 min for vegetable and 2 h for beans). The raw and cooked samples were analyzed for their soluble and insoluble oxalate contents using the HPLC techniques. The total oxalate content of raw spinach, carrot, beet root, white bean, red bean and soybean, were found to be 978 ± 5, 49 ± 7, 67 ± 12, 158 ± 16, 113 ± 15, and 497 ± 22 mg/100 g of fresh weight respectively. The total oxalate contents of these foods after boiling were 477 ± 8, 16 ± 9, 52 ± 14, 47 ± 17, 72 ± 17, and 224 ± 25 mg/100 g of fresh weight respectively. The results showed that boiling significantly (P < 0.05) reduced both soluble and insoluble oxalate contents. More losses were observed in the soluble than the insoluble oxalates. The reduction in soluble oxalate in different vegetables ranged from 16 to 66% whereas in beans ranged from 40 to 77%. The data suggests that the use of boiled vegetables can be an effective strategy for reducing the dietary intake of oxalates in individuals predisposed to the development of kidney stones.
Shopping’s Behaviour of Visitors at the Cross-Border Informal Market of Serikin, Sarawak

Cross-border activity especially in border towns is becoming increasingly important. There have been few studies of cross-border shopping and yet most of them have focused on macroeconomic effects rather on discovering the motivation, behavior and personal characteristics of cross-border shoppers who purchased abroad. This study aims to look the purchasing pattern of visitors at the cross-border informal market of Serikin, Sarawak according to the shopping’s behavior of the visitors. By using descriptive analysis, this study found that, the main purpose visitors come to Serikin once per month with friends by using their own cars and spend less than 4 hours is for shopping. On average, they spend less than RM 499 on other cost (transportation, foods & beverages and others) and there are only five items frequently buy by the visitors at Serikin that are clothes, vegetables, foods, electrical tools, and handicrafts. It is obvious that visitors come to Serikin for shopping. Although visitors come to Serikin with large quantity of money for shopping, but their expenditure will determine by their income.