Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
SARS-CoV-2 infection and adverse outcomes in users of ACE inhibitors and angiotensin-receptor blockers: a nationwide case-control and cohort analysis

Objective To examine the impact of ACE inhibitor (ACE-I)/angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) use on rate of SARS-CoV-2 infection and adverse outcomes. Methods This nationwide case-control and cohort study included all individuals in Denmark tested for SARS-CoV-2 RNA with PCR from 27 February 2020 to 26 July 2020. We estimated confounder-adjusted ORs for a positive test among all SARS-CoV-2 tested, and inverse probability of treatment weighted 30-day risk and risk ratios (RRs) of hospitalisation, intensive care unit (ICU) admission and mortality comparing current ACE-I/ARB use with calcium channel blocker (CCB) use and with non-use. Results The study included 13 501 SARS-CoV-2 PCR-positive and 1 088 695 PCR-negative individuals. Users of ACE-I/ARB had a marginally increased rate of a positive PCR when compared with CCB users (aOR 1.17, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.37), but not when compared with non-users (aOR 1.00 95% CI 0.92 to 1.09). Among PCR-positive individuals, 1466 (11%) were ACE-I/ARB users. The weighted risk of hospitalisation was 36.5% in ACE-I/ARB users and 43.3% in CCB users (RR 0.84, 95% CI 0.70 to 1.02). The risk of ICU admission was 6.3% in ACE-I/ARB users and 5.4% in CCB users (RR 1.17, 95% CI 0.64 to 2.16), while the 30-day mortality was 12.3% in ACE-I/ARB users and 13.9% in CCB users (RR 0.89, 95% CI 0.61 to 1.30). The associations were similar when ACE-I/ARB users were compared with non-users. Conclusions ACE-I/ARB use was associated neither with a consistently increased rate nor with adverse outcomes of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Our findings support the current recommendation of continuing use of ACE-Is/ARBs during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Trial registration number EUPAS34887
Temperature, pH, and Moisture Profiles During Cooling of 290-Kilogram Stirred-Curd Cheddar Cheese Blocks

Abstract The temperature at 28 locations in each of two 290-kg blocks of stirred-curd Cheddar cheese in stainless steel hoops was monitored during 12 d of cooling at approximately 2.2°C ambient temperature. Percentage of moisture and pH were determined at 28 different positions in cheese blocks after 0, 24, 48, 144, and 240h of cooling at 2.2°C and at 15 different positions in cheese blocks after 0, 12, 24, and 48h of cooling at 2.2°C. Temperature, pH, and moisture profiles in the blocks were generated from the data. Vacuum treatment and heat of metabolism of starter bacteria may have affected block temperature before the start of cooling. Temperature gradient from the interior (mean of 35°C) to the exterior (mean of 15°C) of blocks developed within 24h. It took 12 d for the center of blocks to reach 2.2°C. Milk fat appeared to affect cooling rate. Gradients of pH and moisture extended from the interior (means of pH 5.40 and 41%, respectively) to the exterior (means of pH 5.25 and 39%, respectively) of blocks. After 24h, pH and moisture gradients were reversed and were lower in interior regions (means of pH 5.1 and 35%, respectively) than in outer regions (means of pH 5.2 and 38%, respectively). Moisture appeared to travel in response to temperature and pH gradients.
Studies on entomopathogenic fungus Metarhizium anisopliae isolated from Spodoptera litura

The laboratory experiment was carried out at laboratory of Plant Pathology section, College of Agriculture, Nagpur during 2018-19. Isolates of Metarhizium anisopliae were collected, studied and evaluated for its morphological and cultural studies on four different media viz., PDA, SDA, SDAY and SMA. The cultural studies revealed that, SDAY media support maximum linear growth (35.00 mm) and abundant sporulation to M. anisopliae followed by SMA, SDA and PDA exhibiting 30.83, 29.50 and 25.33 mm growth, respectively. Hence, SDAY media was selected as basal medium for further studies. It was noticed that, the requirement of temperature for maximum growth and sporulation of M. anisopliae fungus was observed at 25 0C (35.00 mm) and 30 0C (34.50 mm) followed by room temperature (30.50 mm). The fungus could tolerate15-35 0C. However, it could not grow at 400C. All the different humidity levels supported growth and sporulation of M. anisopliae. The maximum linear growth was recorded at 95 per cent RH (35.50 mm) with abundant sporulation. Among the different pH levels, pH 5.5 was found to be the best level for growth and sporulation (35.33 mm). It indicates that, the maximum biomass at low pH and least biomass growth at higher basic pH.
A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF AUTOMOTIVE ENGINEERING STUDENTS’ PERCEPTIONS OF THEIR LEARNING ENVIRONMENT AT TWO MALAYSIAN COMMUNITY COLLEGES

The primary aim of this study was to compare automotive engineering students’ perceived learning environments in two Malaysian community colleges that used the same syllabus. A modified version of the 50-item Dundee Ready Education Environment Measure (DREEM) was used to elicit responses from 57 male student respondents. The DREEM inventory had five domains related to students’ perceptions about the learning environment (perception of learning, perception of teachers, academic self-perception perception of atmosphere and social self-perception). Data were analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences program (SPSS) for windows version 20. The overall mean score of each of the five domains and the mean score of each individual item in the DREEM inventory were calculated and compared. The t-test was used to determine statistically significant differences between the colleges. The total DREEM mean scores showed that in general the students had a positive perception regarding their learning environments. The study however found two areas of concern that needed immediate remedial actions: i) the perceptions that the teachings over-emphasized factual learning and ii) the teachings were too teacher-centered. Findings also revealed that there was not a significant difference in the DREEM total mean score between the two colleges. This study has shown that a modified DREEM inventory is suitable for use with engineering students. Findings from these studies would help the college management to enhance the students’ learning environment.
Inclusão do farelo grosso de trigo na dieta e seu efeito sobre as propriedades físicas e sensoriais da carne caprina

The effect of inclusion levels of Coarse Wheat Bran (CWB) (0; 8.9; 19.8 and 31.7%) in the animal diet on sensorial attributes (goat aroma, strange aroma, color, texture, tenderness, goat flavor, juiciness and general appearance) and physical-chemical characteristics (pH, losses during cooking and color of the meat operating in the CIE (L*, a* e b*) system of goat loins were evaluated. A statistical design of four treatments and four replications was used. The inclusion of CWB did not significantly affect goat meat aroma. However, there was a quadratic effect on color and on the characteristic taste of the meat. Texture, tenderness and general appearance decreased linearly. For pH, the behavior was quadratic, with a maximum of 18.53% and the average percentage of losses during cooking was 25.5%. There was a decreasing linear effect on brightness (L*), which varied from 30.2 to 32.2; red color (a*) was intensified with the increase of CWB levels, and varied from 7.56 to 8.47, while yellow color (b*) showed a quadratic behavior (maximum of 14.53%). The increasing inclusion of CWB in the animal diet affected all sensorial attributes, except for aroma. According to the chromatic evaluation, goat meat color was darker with increasing CWB levels.
Two Unusual Phenolic Substances and One New Xanthone from Hypericum sampsonii

Sampsone A (1), a novel prenylated aromatic lactone, and sampsone B (2), an unusual dihydrodibenzodioxinone, together with sampsone C (3), a new xanthone, were isolated from the aerial parts of Hypericum sampsonii. Their structures were determined by spectroscopic methods which were mainly 1D- and 2D-NMR techniques, and the structure of sampsone B (2) was also confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis. All of these compounds were evaluated for in vitro antibacterial activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). Only sampsone A showed moderate antibacterial activities at a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 32 μg/ml.
Synthesis and Properties of Amide Derivatives of 4‐N, N‐Dialkylaminoazobenzenes

Several disperse dyes, derivatives of 4-N, N-dialkylaminoazobenzene having acetylamino, carbamyl, phthalimide or naphthalimide substituents have been prepared. Their spectral properties and reaction to heat were determined, and their usefulness was evaluated in terms of the sublimation fastness. It was found that the dyes containing a benzamide system with an unsubstituted NH group, similar to that in phthalimide and naphthalimide derivatives, show a high sublimation fastness due to their ability to associate.
Numerical study of ethylene and acetylene laminar flame speeds

Detailed chemical kinetic computations for ethylene-air and acetylene-air mixtures have been performed to simulate laminar flame speeds. Sensitivity analysis was applied to determine those reactions which strongly influence flame propagation. In ethylene-air mixtures, the C{sub 2}H{sub 3} + O{sub 2} = CH{sub 2}CHO + O reaction was one of the most sensitive reactions in the C{sub 2}H{sub 4}/C{sub 2}H{sub 3} submechanism and therefore this reaction was very important to ethylene flame propagation. This reaction was not considered in previously reported mechanisms used to model ethylene-air flame propagation. In acetylene-air mixtures, the C{sub 2}H{sub 2}+O {yields} Products, HCCO+H=CH{sub 2}(s)+CO, HCCO+O{sub 2}=CO{sub 2}+CO+H, H+C{sub 2}H{sub 2}(+M) = C{sub 2}H{sub 3}(+M) and CH{sub 2}(s)+C{sub 2}H{sub 2} = H{sub 2}CCCH+H were the most sensitive reactions in the C{sub 2}H{sub 2}/HCCO / CH{sub 2}(s) reaction set.
Microstructure of Fe–N thin films prepared using an atomic nitrogen beam

The formation of Fe–N thin films by exposure to an atomic (free radical) nitrogen beam is reported. This new method of preparing Fe–N films uses fluxes of highly reactive, thermal energy N atoms that do not disturb the film microstructure. It is shown that by careful control of the exposure conditions, a range of predominantly single phase films can be obtained. At low nitrogen concentrations an amorphous-like phase is observed, whereas crystalline phases of e-Fe2-3N and ζ-Fe2N are formed at higher concentrations. Dramatic differences in the microstructure and crystallographic texture of these films reveal the inherent microstructure of the different phases rather than the influence of the growth technique.
A Conceptual Model for Shear-Induced Phase Behavior in Crystallizing Cocoa Butter

We propose a conceptual model to explain the quantitative data from synchrotron X-ray diffraction experiments on the shear-induced phase behavior of cocoa butter, the main structural component of chocolate. We captured two-dimensional diffraction patterns from cocoa butter at crystallization temperatures of 17.5, 20.0, and 22.5 °C under shear rates from 45 to 1440 s-1 and under static conditions. From the simultaneous analysis of the integrated intensity, correlation length, lamellar thickness, and crystalline orientation, we postulate a conceptual model to provide an explanation for the distribution of phases II, IV, V, and X and the kinetics of the process. As previously proposed in the literature, we assume that the crystallites grow layer upon layer of slightly different composition. The shear rate and temperature applied define these compositions. Simultaneously, the shear and temperature define the crystalline interface area available for secondary nucleation by promoting segregation and affecting t.
Effect of Municipal Solid Waste Compost and Compost Tea as Fertility Amendments on Growth and Tissue Element Concentration in Container-Grown Tomato

Evaluation of fertility sources for certified organic greenhouse vegetable production is necessary for further industry growth. Two experiments tested the effects of municipal solid waste compost (MSWC) and water extract tea made from it on potted greenhouse tomatoes. The first used MSWC alone (two levels) and soil tea drench alone (three application frequencies). The second used MSWC and tea in factorial combination at three levels (0, 1×, and 2×). The greatest yield and leaf tissue potassium (K) were obtained using the greatest level combinations of compost and foliar tea spray, and this was significantly greater than conventional nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (NPK) fertilizer yield. Tissue magnesium (Mg) was affected by compost because of the antagonism from compost K. Tea increased tissue sodium (Na). No significant differences in heavy-metal tissue concentrations were found between treatments. While MSWC is an effective soil fertility amendment, the benefits of using tea may be increased with more frequent application.
Effects of Xylo-Oligosaccharides on Growth and Gut Microbiota as Potential Replacements for Antibiotic in Weaning Piglets

Xylo-oligosaccharides (XOS) is a well-known kind of oligosaccharide and extensively applied as a prebiotic. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of XOS supplementation substituting chlortetracycline (CTC) on growth, gut morphology, gut microbiota, and hindgut short chain fatty acid (SCFA) contents of weaning piglets. A total of 180 weaned piglets were randomly allocated to three treatments for 28 days, as follows: control group (basal diet, CON), basal diet with 500 mg/kg (XOS500) XOS, and positive control (basal diet with 100 mg/kg CTC). Compared with the CON group, the piglets in the XOS500 group improved body weight (BW) on days 28, average daily gain (ADG) and reduced feed: gain ratio during days 1–28 (P < 0.05). The XOS500 supplementation increased Villus height and Villus height: Crypt depth ratio in the ileum (P < 0.05). Villus Height: Crypt Depth of the ileum was also increased in the CTC treatment group (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, the XOS500 supplementation increased significantly the numbers of goblet cells in the crypt of the cecum. High-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed distinct differences in microbial compositions between the ileum and cecum. XOS500 supplementation significantly increased the bacterial diversity. However, CTC treatment markedly reduced the microbial diversity (P < 0.05). Meanwhile, XOS500 supplementation in the diet significantly increased the abundance of Lactobacillus genus compared to the CON and CTC group in the ileum and cecum (P < 0.01), whereas the level of Clostridium_sensu_stricto_1, Escherichia-Shigella, and Terrisporobacter genus in the XOS500 group were markedly lower than the CON and CTC group (P < 0.05). In addition, dietary supplementation with XOS500 significantly increased the total short-chain fatty acids, propionate and butyrate concentrations and decreased the acetate concentration compared to the CON group in the cecum (P < 0.05). In summary, dietary supplemented with XOS500 could enhance specific beneficial microbiota abundance and decrease harmful microbiota abundance to maintain the structure of the intestinal morphology and improve growth performance of weaned piglets. Thus, XOS may potentially function as an alternative to in-feed antibiotics in weaned piglets in modern husbandry.
An introduction to fluid mechanics and heat transfer : with applications in chemical & mechanical process engineering

Preface List of symbols Dimensionless ratios 1. Introduction and definitions 2. Fluid flow 3. The energy and momentum equations 4. Applications of the continuity, energy and momentum equations 5. Dimensional analysis applied to fluid mechanics 6. Flow in pipes and channels 7. Pumps and compressors 8. Heat conduction and heat transfer 9. Heat exchangers 10. Dimensional analysis applied to heat transfer 11. Heat transfer and skin friction in turbulent flow 12. Equations of motion for a viscous fluid 13. Boundary layers 14. Turbulent flow 15. Potential flow 16. Diffusion and mass transfer 17. The energy equation and heat transfer 18. Forced convection 19. Compressible flow in pipes and nozzles 20. Open-channel flow 21. Solid particles in fluid flow 22. Flow through packed beds and fluidized solids 23. Condensation and evaporation Appendix 1. Engineer's guide to vector analysis Appendix 2. Equations of motion for an inviscid fluid Appendix 3. Vorticity and circulation Appendix 4. Stress components in a viscous fluid and the equations of motion Appendix 5. Laminar boundary-layer flow Appendix 6. Heat transfer with laminar flow in a pipe Appendix 7. Conversion factors Examples Outlines solutions Index.
The Role of EBV-Encoded LMP1 in the NPC Tumor Microenvironment: From Function to Therapy

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is closely associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. It is also characterized by heavy infiltration with non-malignant leucocytes. The EBV-encoded latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1) is believed to play an important role in NPC pathogenesis by virtue of its ability to activate multiple cell signaling pathways which collectively promote cell proliferation and survival, angiogenesis, invasiveness, and aerobic glycolysis. LMP1 also affects cell-cell interactions, antigen presentation, and cytokine and chemokine production. Here, we discuss how LMP1 modulates local immune responses that contribute to the establishment of the NPC tumor microenvironment. We also discuss strategies for targeting the LMP1 protein as a novel therapy for EBV-driven malignancies.
Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Triple Negative Breast Cancer Treatment: Promising Future Prospects

Immunotherapy has emerged as the fifth pillar of cancer treatment alongside surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy. Immune checkpoint inhibitors are the current superheroes of immunotherapy, unleashing a patient’s own immune cells to kill tumors and revolutionizing cancer treatment in a variety of cancers. Although breast cancer was historically believed to be immunologically silent, treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors has been shown to induce modest responses in metastatic breast cancer. Given the inherent heterogeneity of breast tumors, this raised the question whether certain breast tumors might benefit more from immune-based interventions and which cancer cell-intrinsic and/or microenvironmental factors define the likelihood of inducing a potent and durable anti-tumor immune response. In this review, we will focus on triple negative breast cancer as immunogenic breast cancer subtype, and specifically discuss the relevance of tumor mutational burden, the plethora and diversity of tumor infiltrating immune cells in addition to the immunoscore, the presence of immune checkpoint expression, and the microbiome in defining immune checkpoint blockade response. We will highlight the current immune checkpoint inhibitor treatment options, either as monotherapy or in combination with standard-of-care treatment modalities such as chemotherapy and targeted therapy. In addition, we will look into the potential of immunotherapy-based combination strategies using immune checkpoint inhibitors to enhance both innate and adaptive immune responses, or to establish a more immune favorable environment for cancer vaccines. Finally, the review will address the need for unambiguous predictive biomarkers as one of the main challenges of immune checkpoint blockade. To conclude, the potential of immune checkpoint blockade for triple negative breast cancer treatment could be enhanced by exploration of aforementioned factors and treatment strategies thereby providing promising future prospects.
Development, Validation, and Visualization of A Web-Based Nomogram for Predicting the Recurrence-Free Survival Rate of Patients With Desmoid Tumors

Background Surgery is an important treatment option for desmoid tumor (DT) patients, but how to decrease and predict the high recurrence rate remains a major challenge. Methods Desmoid tumor patients diagnosed and treated at Tianjin Cancer Institute & Hospital were included, and a web-based nomogram was constructed by screening the recurrence-related risk factors using Cox regression analysis. External validation was conducted with data from the Fudan University Shanghai Cancer Center. Results A total of 385 patients were identified. Finally, after excluding patients without surgery, patients who were lost to follow-up, and patients without complete resection, a total of 267 patients were included in the nomogram construction. Among these patients, 53 experienced recurrence, with a recurrence rate of 20.15%. The 3-year and 5-year recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were 82.5% and 78%, respectively. Age, tumor diameter, admission status, location, and tumor number were correlated with recurrence in univariate Cox analysis. In multivariate Cox analysis, only age, tumor diameter and tumor number were independent risk factors for recurrence and were then used to construct a web-based nomogram to predict recurrence. The concordance index (C-index) of the nomogram was 0.718, and the areas under the curves (AUCs) of the 3-year and 5-year receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were 0.751 and 0.761, respectively. In the external validation set, the C-index was 0.706, and the AUCs of the 3-year and 5-year ROC curves are 0.788 and 0.794, respectively. Conclusions Age, tumor diameter, and tumor number were independent predictors of recurrence for DTs, and a web-based nomogram containing these three predictors could accurately predict RFS (https://stepforward.shinyapps.io/Desmoidtumor/).
SHELF and MICROBIOLOGICAL STABILITY of ACIDIFIED NONINOCULATED and INOCULATED (ALTERNARIA TENUIS) TOMATO JUICE

Tomato juice was pasteurized (86°C for 10 min) and subjected to 3 different conditions: control (initial pH 4.55), acidified-noninoculated (initial pH 4.00) and acifidified-inoculated (initial pH 4.00) with Alternaria tenuis. These were evaluated for chemical, physical and microbiological stability during ambient (29 ± 2°C) storage for 28 days. Acifidied-inoculated and control samples showed appreciable increase in microbial population; attaining Log10 7.5 and 6.9 cfu mL−1, respectively, at the end of storage, but no apparent change occurred in acidified-noninoculated. Similar trends occurred in Lactobacilli counts. Conversely, yeast counts increased almost at the same rate in all three treatments. Alternaria count and pH increased in acidified-inoculated tomato juice with storage, but total soluble solids decreased. Mycelial mat and settling out of insoluble suspended solids occurred in acidified-inoculated sample by day 16, but these adverse changes were not observed in the other 2 samples.