Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Utilizing Xanthan Gum Coatings as Probiotic Bacteria Carriers to Enhance Postharvest Quality and Antioxidants in Fresh-Cut Cantaloupe and Honeydew (Cucumis melo L.) Melons

Due to spoilage microflora and browning, minimally processed fresh-cut fruits have a short shelf life, and over the years, studies have shown the potential of using edible coatings to extend the shelf life and improve the safety of fresh-cut fruits. Recently, there has been a rise in research on the incorporation of probiotics in edible coatings due to the bespoke health and biopreservation benefits they impart. Therefore, in this study, lactobacillus strains (Lactiplantibacillus plantarum 75 and Bifidobacterium longum) were incorporated into a xanthan edible coating to enhance color retention, sensory properties, antioxidant retention (ascorbic acid, carotenoids, total phenols), and antioxidant activity (FRAP antioxidant power, ABTS scavenger activity) of fresh-cut cantaloupes and honeydew cucumis melo L. melons during cold storage at 5 C and 85% RH for five days. The edible coating was prepared by mixing 0.5% xanthan gum, 1% glycerol, and 2% citric acid solution with L. plantarum 75 (LAB 75) and Bifidobacterium longum bacteria separately, and the final lab count for each strain was made to be 8.0 log CFU/mL. Stable probiotic coatings with ζ-potential of between −39.7 and −51.4 mV and a PdI of 1 were developed, and the incorporation of the probiotic bacteria into the coating was justified using FTIR analysis. The probiotic coatings showed a typical pseudoplastic behavior, in which the viscosity curves fall as the shear rate increases. Thermal stability analysis showed a continuous and multi-step weight reduction in this work, illustrating how the edible coating components interact. The survival of both Lactobacillus strains was recorded on day 5. Both freshly cut melons coated with xanthan and loaded with Lactobacillus strains retained a sufficient quantity of probiotics at the end of storage, while L. plantarum 75 (7 log CFU/g for cantaloupe and 8 log CFU/g for honeydew) retained the highest viability compared to B. longum (6 log CFU/g for cantaloupe and 7 log CFU/g for honeydew). In comparison to the coated and uncoated control samples, the inclusion of L. plantarum 75 in xanthan coatings significantly retained the color properties, pigments (total chlorophyll and carotenoids), ascorbic acid, total phenols, and antioxidant activity (FRAP, DPPH, and ABTS). The overall acceptability of fresh cuts of cantaloupe and honeydew melons coated with xanthan gum loaded with L. plantarum 75 was higher than that of other treatments. Thus, xanthan gum loaded with L. plantarum 75 coating is most suitable for reducing postharvest losses in fresh cuts of honeydew melons and cantaloupe, which will help preserve antioxidant and bioactive properties. The xanthan gum loaded with L. plantarum 75 coatings exhibited the highest preservation impact; therefore, it can be recommended for the fresh-cut industry.
High-density lipoprotein metabolism, composition, function, and deficiency

Purpose of review To examine the recent advances in our knowledge of HDL metabolism, composition, function, and coronary heart disease (CHD), as well as marked HDL deficiency states because of mutations in the apolipoprotein (apo) A-I, ATP-binding cassette transfer protein A1 and lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) gene loci. Recent findings It has been documented that apoA-I, myeloperoxidase and paraoxonase 1 (PON1) form a complex in HDL that is critical for HDL binding and function. Myeloperoxidase has a negative impact on HDL function, whereas PON1 has a beneficial effect. Patients who lack apoA-I develop markedly premature CHD. Patients who lack ATP-binding cassette transfer protein A1 transporter function have only very small discoidal pre&bgr;-1 HDL, and develop hepatosplenomegaly, intermittent neuropathy and premature CHD, although significant heterogeneity for these disorders has been reported. Patients with LCAT deficiency have abnormal small discoidal LDLs and HDL particles, and develop kidney failure. Enzyme replacement therapy is being developed for the latter disorder. Summary Recent data indicates that proteins other than apoA-I and apoA-II such as MPO and PON1 have important effects on HDL function. There has been considerable recent progress made in our understanding of HDL protein content and function.
Impact of Progression of Diastolic Dysfunction on Mortality in Patients With Normal Ejection Fraction

Background— Diastolic dysfunction is an independent predictor of mortality in patients with normal left ventricular ejection fraction. There are limited data, however, on whether worsening of diastolic function is associated with worse prognosis. Methods and Results— We reviewed clinical records and echocardiograms of consecutive patients who had baseline echocardiograms between January 1, 2005, and December 31, 2009, that showed left ventricular ejection fraction ≥55% and who subsequently had a follow-up echocardiogram within 6 to 24 months. Diastolic function was labeled as normal, mild, moderate, or severe dysfunction. All-cause mortality was determined by use of the Social Security Death Index. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox regression analysis with a proportional hazard model were performed to assess outcomes. A total of 1065 outpatients were identified (mean±SD age, 67.9±13.9 years; 58% male). Baseline diastolic dysfunction was present in 770 patients (72.3%), with mild being the most prevalent. On follow-up testing (mean±SD, 1.1±0.4 years), 783 patients (73%) had stable, 168 (16%) had worsening, and 114 (11%) had improved baseline diastolic function. Eighty-eight patients (8.3%) had a decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction to <55% and were more likely to have advanced diastolic dysfunction (P=0.002). After a mean±SD follow-up (from the second study) of 1.6±0.8 years, 142 patients (13%) died. On multivariate analysis, a decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction to <55% and any worsening of diastolic function were independently associated with increased risk of mortality (hazard ratio, 1.78; 95% confidence interval, 1.10–2.85; P=0.02; and hazard ratio, 1.78; 95% confidence interval, 1.21–2.59; P=0.003, respectively). Conclusion— In patients with normal baseline left ventricular ejection fraction, worsening of diastolic function is an independent predictor of mortality.
FOR THE SIMULATION , PERFORMANCE ANALISYS AND REAL-TIME IMPLEMENTATION OF WAVE FIELD SYNTHESIS SYSTEMS FOR 3 D-AUDIO

Wave Field Synthesis is a method for 3D sound reproduction, based on the precise construction of the desired wave field by using an array of loudspeakers. The main purpose of this work is to present a set of software tools that brings to the audio community a feasible an easy way to start working with wave field synthesis systems. First in the paper, an introduction to different 3D sound techniques and an overview of WFS theory and foundations are given. Next, a series of software tools specially developed to simulate, analyze and implement WFS systems are presented. The first software module helps the user in the design of the array of loudspeakers to be employed in the reproduction by computing the equations for each speaker signal excitation. Another tool simulates the wave field generated by the arrays and analyses both performance and quality of the acoustic field. Finally a user friendly tool for realtime convolution capable of producing the excitation signals for the array of loudspeakers is presented. Also, different experiments that have been carried out with this software in order to evaluate the precision and behaviour of different WFS configurations are presented and interpreted.
Web-Based Enterprise Computing

The paper considers how Web technologies have emerged as a credible alternative to client-server computing in the corporate enterprise. Web-based enterprise computing allows corporate IT to integrate disparate systems into a single, coherent environment. This shift from a traditional Web server with database connectivity to integrated systems that support the use of Web technologies facilitates business processes and allows corporations to service both internal and external customers effectively.
Comparative Analyses of Three Chlorella Species in Response to Light and Sugar Reveal Distinctive Lipid Accumulation Patterns in the Microalga C. sorokiniana

While photosynthetic microalgae, such as Chlorella, serve as feedstocks for nutritional oils and biofuels, heterotrophic cultivation can augment growth rates, support high cell densities, and increase triacylglycerol (TAG) lipid content. However, these species differ significantly in their photoautotrophic and heterotrophic characteristics. In this study, the phylogeny of thirty Chlorella strains was determined in order to inform bioprospecting efforts and detailed physiological assessment of three species. The growth kinetics and lipid biochemistry of C. protothecoides UTEX 411, C. vulgaris UTEX 265, and C. sorokiniana UTEX 1230 were quantified during photoautotrophy in Bold's basal medium (BBM) and heterotrophy in BBM supplemented with glucose (10 g L−1). Heterotrophic growth rates of UTEX 411, 265, and 1230 were found to be 1.5-, 3.7-, and 5-fold higher than their respective autotrophic rates. With a rapid nine-hour heterotrophic doubling time, Chlorella sorokiniana UTEX 1230 maximally accumulated 39% total lipids by dry weight during heterotrophy compared to 18% autotrophically. Furthermore, the discrete fatty acid composition of each strain was examined in order to elucidate lipid accumulation patterns under the two trophic conditions. In both modes of growth, UTEX 411 and 265 produced 18∶1 as the principal fatty acid while UTEX 1230 exhibited a 2.5-fold enrichment in 18∶2 relative to 18∶1. Although the total lipid content was highest in UTEX 411 during heterotrophy, UTEX 1230 demonstrated a two-fold increase in its heterotrophic TAG fraction at a rate of 28.9 mg L−1 d−1 to reach 22% of the biomass, corresponding to as much as 90% of its total lipids. Interestingly, UTEX 1230 growth was restricted during mixotrophy and its TAG production rate was suppressed to 18.2 mg L−1 d−1. This constraint on carbon flow raises intriguing questions about the impact of sugar and light on the metabolic regulation of microalgal lipid biosynthesis.
Hormonal Adaptation to the Stresses Imposed Upon Sodium Balance by Pregnancy and Lactation in the Yanomama Indians, A Culture Without Salt

SUMMARY The Yanomama Indians of northern Brazil and southern Venezuela have been identified as “no-salt” culture. In this study, data were obtained to determine in this population the adjustments of sodiumrelated hormones to the stresses imposed upon sodium balance by pregnancy and prolonged lactation. Controls against the possibility that findings in the Yanomama were ethnic rather than dietary were provided by similar observations in the Guaymi Indians of Panama, who have free access to salt. Urinary concentrations of sodium were approximately 1 mEq/l in male and female Yanomama, with 24-hour excretion rates in the males averaging 1 mEq, similar to our prior observations. The pregnant Yanomama had exceeding high urinary concentrations of aldosterone. These were associated with higher plasma renin activities and serum aldosterone concentrations than in all other subjects. Although pregnant Guaymi had elevations of serum and urinary aldosterone, these were significantly lower (p < 0.001) than those of the Yanomama. Prolonged lactation in the Yanomama was associated with elevation of plasma renin activity and serum and urinary aldosterone concentration compared with the Guaymi, but were not higher than those in nonlactating Yanomama females. The findings suggest that pregnancy in a salt-poor environment is associated with an exaggerated augmentation of hormonal responses that enhance positive sodium balance.
A linear quadratic control problem with mean field dependent fixed costs

The paper deals with an optimal control problem in one dimension, having affine dynamics, and a running cost which is discontinuous in the control variable. More precisely, besides terms which are quadratic in the state and control variables, a mean field dependent fixed cost is paid as long as the control is activated (not null). This leads to a problem that, although simple, does not seem to fall into a known class. Moreover, the outcome is completely different according to the magnitude of the fixed cost in comparison to other parameters, such as the (constant) disturbance appearing into the state equation. By means of some tools of Bellman's Dynamic Programming and viscosity solutions, we are able to provide an explicit formula for the value function in all different cases, as well as a feedback formula for the optimal control, leading in some subcases to chattering optimal controls. Finally a mean field game is introduced where a set of homogeneous players minimize each the cost functional of the single player control problem, sharing the fixed cost. For such a game the existence of equilibrium points is proved and their characterization is displayed.
On finding multiplicities of characteristic polynomial factors of black-box matrices

We present algorithms and heuristics to compute the characteristic polynomial of a matrix given its minimal polynomial. The matrix is represented as a black-box, i.e., by a function to compute its matrix-vector product. The methods apply to matrices either over the integers or over a large enough finite field. Experiments show that these methods perform efficiently in practice. Combined in an adaptive strategy, these algorithms reach significant speedups in practice for some integer matrices arising in an application from graph theory.
BACTERIOLOGICAL PROFILE AND ANTIBIOGRAM PATTERN IN ISOLATES FROM NEONATAL SEPSIS IN A TERTIARY CARE HOSPITAL

Objective: To determine the microbiological profile and their Antibiogram pattern in isolates from neonatal sepsis. Methods: This study was conducted from October 2022 to January 15th 2023. Total 663 blood samples received from NICU, which were processed in the department of microbiology Andhra Medical College, Visakhapatnam. Organisms were identified by conventional methods and an antibiotic susceptibility test was done by Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method as per CLSI guidelines. Results: Out of 663 samples 200 (30.16%) are culture positives, in which males are more affected than females, that is 103 (51.5%). Among the culture positives, the most predominant isolate was klebsiella species 106 (53%) followed by pseudomonas 28 (14%) Escherichia coli 28 (14%) Acinetobacter 24 (12%), MRSA 11 (0.05%), MSSA 3(0.015%). Regarding its antibiogram, klebsiella species and Escherichia coli were most sensitive to penicillins+beta lactamase inhibitors (83%), fluroquinolones (75%) and aminoglycosides (75%), respectively. Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter was sensitive to penicillins+betalactamase inhibitors (100%) and aminoglycosides (72%). Gram-positive organisms were mostly sensitive to vancomycin, linezolid, aminoglycosides (MRSA) and cefoxitin (MSSA). There was widespread resistance to third-generation cephalosporins (77.77%) among gram-negative organisms. Conclusion: Gram negative bacteria are the most common cause of neonatal sepsis and klebsiella species are the predominant pathogens. These gram negative bacteria were resistant to cephalosporins. Antibiogram helps as a guide to antimicrobial therapy and resistance to antibiotics, as it is the common problem that causes ineffectiveness of empirical treatment.
A Dynamic Logic of Events and States for the Interaction between Plural Quantification and Verb Aspect in Natural Language

The influence NPs can have on the aspectual behaviour of verbal expressions, witness the pair ’eat an apple in ten minutes/*for ten minutes’ and ’eat apples *in ten minutes/for ten minutes, requires an analysis of how static semantic information (NP) interacts with dynamic semantic information (verb). An interpretation of verbs and NPs is presented in which the interaction is analyzed by using an extension of dynamic logic (DL). First, models for DL are extended by adding a domain E of events (together with an event structure E). The intuition behind this addition is that each transition (pair of states) which is an element of the relation denoted by a program in DL is brought about by an event from E. This makes it possible to view a change either as an object (event) or as a transformation of a state. Second, in addition to sequential programs, parallel programs (relations between sets of states) are introduced. At the level of E this corresponds to the distinction between events and sets of events. The dynamic component of a verbal expression denotes an event-type P that corresponds to a program (relation between states) at the level of the transition structure S. This program has particular properties in terms of which aspectual distinctions are defined. The parallel program corresponding to sets of events is partly determined by the cardinality information introduced by the determiner as part of an argument NP. At the level of E this information functions as a boolean condition expressing the result that is brought about by the set of events. Static information therefore interacts with dynamic information by providing a condition that must hold upon termination of events.1
Does Breast Surgery Type Alter Incidental Axillary Irradiation? A Dosimetric Analysis of the “Sentinel Envahi et Randomisation du Curage” SERC Trial

Simple Summary Currently, breast surgery type directly affects the management of the axillary fossa in patients with breast cancer. Trials that validated the omission of completion axillary dissections after a positive sentinel lymph node biopsy had excluded patients treated with a total mastectomy. Radiotherapy and its incidental axillary dose seem to be a major element of local axillary control in this setting, but these are only described in the literature after conservative surgeries. Within a sub-study of an SERC trial, which included patients treated with a total mastectomy, we demonstrated that the axillary dose delivered via radiotherapy is of the same level as that already known after conservative surgery. This element could contribute to the data allowing us to dispense with completion axillary lymph node dissections in the case of a positive sentinel lymph node biopsy after a total mastectomy. Abstract Background. An incidental axillary dose of adjuvant radiotherapy using tangential beams is usually given after breast-conserving surgery for breast cancer. The goal of this sub-study was to evaluate this incidental dose in the setting of post-mastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT) according to two different radiotherapy techniques. Methods. Patients participating in a randomized SERC trial who received PMRT in a single center were included. We collected the incidental axillary dose delivered to the Berg level 1 using different dosimetric parameters and compared two techniques using Student’s t-test: three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy (3D-CRT) and volumetric arc therapy (VMAT). Results. We analyzed radiotherapy plans from 52 patients who received PMRT from 2012 to 2021. The mean dose delivered to the Berg level 1 was 37.2 Gy. It was significantly higher with VMAT than with 3D-CRT—43.6 Gy (SD = 3.1 Gy) versus 34.8 Gy (SD = 8.6 Gy) p < 0.001. Eighty-four percent of the Berg level 1 was covered by 40 Gy isodose in the VMAT group versus 55.5% in the 3D-CRT group p < 0.001. Conclusions. On the Berg level 1, PMRT gives a dose at least equivalent to the one given by post-breast-conserving surgery radiotherapy, making it possible to limit completion axillary lymph node dissections in select pN1a patients treated with a mastectomy. Modern radiotherapy techniques like VMAT tend to increase this incidental dose.
Natural history of multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is the most common idiopathic inflammatory disease of the central nervous system. The distinction between MS and other benign or fulminant inflammatory demyelinating disorders is based on quantitative, rather than qualitative, differences in chronicity and severity. Primary progressive MS may differ from relapsing‐remitting MS in MRI lesion frequency, immunogenetic profile, responsiveness to immunosuppressive treatment, and histology. In 60% of patients, MS begins as a relapsing‐remitting disease and evolves secondarily into a progressive neurological illness. Life expectancy is not substantially altered in patinents with MS, particularly in the early years of the illness. The rate of suicide has been reported to be increased sevenfold in MS patients. Up to 40% of patients with attacks severe enough to render them nonambulatory may not recover. At 15 years from MS onset, 50% of patients are disabled to the point at which they at least require a cane to walk a half block. Early age at onset, female sex, relapsing‐remitting course at onset, and perhaps optic neuritis or sensory symptoms at onset and relatively few attacks in the first two years are associated with a favorable course.
Reasons that prevent the inclusion of Alzheimer's disease patients in clinical trials.

AIM To assess reasons that prevent Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients from being included in clinical trials. METHODS In 2009, we reviewed the Lille Memory Clinic's case database to identify patients suitable for inclusion in four AD clinical trials. An initial selection was made on the basis of four criteria: (i) a diagnosis of AD (with or without white matter lesions [WML]), (ii) age, (iii) mini mental state examination (MMSE) score and (iv) symptomatic treatment of AD (cholinesterase inhibitors/memantine). Next, data on patients fulfilling these criteria were reviewed against all the inclusion/exclusion criteria for four clinical trials performed in 2009 at the Memory Clinic. Reasons for non-inclusion were analyzed. RESULTS Two hundred and five patients were selected according to the four initial criteria. Reasons for subsequently not including some of patients in clinical trials were abnormalities on MRI (56.9%, 88.9% of which were WML), unauthorized medication (37.3%), the lack of a study partner/informant (37.1%), the presence of a non-authorized disease (24.4%), contraindication to MRI (9%), a change in diagnosis over time (3.9%), visual/auditory impairments (2.9%), alcohol abuse (2%) and an insufficient educational level (1%). CONCLUSION A high proportion of AD patients presented with vascular abnormalities on MRI. This was not unexpected, since the patients were selected from the database and, as shown in epidemiologic studies, cerebrovascular diseases are frequently associated with AD. The presence of a study partner is essential for enabling a patient to participate in clinical trials because of the need to record reliably primary and secondary outcomes.
Intersecting singularities for multi-structured estimation

We address the problem of designing a convex nonsmooth regularizer encouraging multiple structural effects simultaneously. Focusing on the inference of sparse and low-rank matrices we suggest a new complexity index and a convex penalty approximating it. The new penalty term can be written as the trace norm of a linear function of the matrix. By analyzing theoretical properties of this family of regularizers we come up with oracle inequalities and compressed sensing results ensuring the quality of our regularized estimator. We also provide algorithms and supporting numerical experiments.