Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Symbiont‐specific responses to environmental cues in a threesome lichen symbiosis

Photosymbiodemes are a special case of lichen symbiosis where one lichenized fungus engages in symbiosis with two different photosynthetic partners, a cyanobacterium and a green alga, to develop two distinctly looking photomorphs. We compared gene expression of thallus sectors of the photosymbiodeme‐forming lichen Peltigera britannica containing cyanobacterial photobionts with thallus sectors with both green algal and cyanobacterial photobionts and investigated differential gene expression at different temperatures representing mild and putatively stressful conditions. First, we quantified photobiont‐mediated differences in fungal gene expression. Second, because of known ecological differences between photomorphs, we investigated symbiont‐specific responses in gene expression to temperature increases. Photobiont‐mediated differences in fungal gene expression could be identified, with upregulation of distinct biological processes in the different morphs, showing that interaction with specific symbiosis partners profoundly impacts fungal gene expression. Furthermore, high temperatures expectedly led to an upregulation of genes involved in heat shock responses in all organisms in whole transcriptome data and to an increased expression of genes involved in photosynthesis in both photobiont types at 15 and 25°C. The fungus and the cyanobacteria exhibited thermal stress responses already at 15°C, the green algae mainly at 25°C, demonstrating symbiont‐specific responses to environmental cues and symbiont‐specific ecological optima.
A chemometrical approach to study interactions between ethynylestradiol and an AhR‐agonist in stickleback (Gasterosteus aculeatus)

Quantifiable responses in fish, such as induction of certain proteins, can be used as indicators of chemical contamination of waterways. In order to evaluate differences in ethoxyresorufin‐O‐deethylase (EROD) induction capacity of the gill and the liver and effects on organs and biomarker proteins, e.g. gill and liver EROD, hepatosomatic index (HSI), nephrosomatic index (NSI), gonadosomatic index (GSI), spiggin, vitellogenin and sperm motility were analysed in male three‐spined sticklebacks (Gasterosteus aculeatus) exposed for 21 days to β‐naphthoflavone (βNF) alone (Exp 1) or in combination with 17α‐ethynylestradiol (EE2) (Exp 2). The sperm motility variables were studied using computer‐assisted sperm analysis (CASA).
Prior brain endurance training improves endurance exercise performance

ABSTRACT Mental fatigue (MF) impairs endurance exercise performance. Brain endurance training (BET) describes the systematic repetition of mentally-fatiguing cognitive tasks designed to build resilience to MF and improve endurance performance. Evidence to date shows that mental training during physical training can benefit post-training exercise performance, however, this concurrent BET approach may not be practical for all settings. Therefore, the current study evaluated the effects of mental training before physical training (prior BET) on exercise performance. A randomised control trial design: pre-test, training (BET, control), post-test. During the pre-test and post-test sessions, participants performed a 5-min rhythmic handgrip task requiring the generation of as much force as possible, a 20-min 2-back working memory task, and another 5-min rhythmic handgrip task. Participants were randomly assigned to a BET (n = 12) or control group (n = 12). Both groups completed the same submaximal rhythmic handgrip training for five weeks (four sessions per week). The BET group also completed 20-min cognitive training (2-back working memory task, incongruent colour-word Stroop task) before each submaximal exercise training session. Endurance performance improved more (p < 0.05) following BET (24%) than physical training alone (12%). Compared to the control group, the BET group showed higher prefrontal oxygenation during the post-test exercise tasks (p < 0.05). Both groups were characterised by the same exertion, motivation, heart rate, and heart rate variability. Mental training before physical training improves endurance performance greater than physical training alone. The benefits of prior BET may be explained, at least in part, by improved prefrontal oxygenation. Highlights This study provides further evidence that brain endurance training (BET) improves performance over matched physical training. Prior BET (i.e. engaging in mentally demanding cognitive tasks before physical training) offers another option to enhance fatigue resilience, which expands the use of BET to more sports and potentially higher intensity training where concurrent BET will not be practical. The benefits of prior BET may be explained, at least in part, by improved prefrontal oxygenation.
Ions and precipitation charging in warm and cold clouds as simulated in one-dimensional time-dependent models

Abstract One-dimensional time-dependent models of warm and cold clouds were constructed to test the electrical and precipitation development in the presence of a variety of charge separation mechanisms. The, models simulate charging by ion diffusion, the Wilson effect (ion conduction), polarization induction, the Workman-Reynolds effect and the thermoelectric effect. It was found that charging by ion processes does not significantly contribute to the electrical development of either warm (shallow or deep) of cold clouds. In cold continental clouds, without ice multiplication processes, charging due to ice-ice collisions did not significantly contribute to the electrical buildup because of the low concentrations of ice particles and their low electrical conductivities at low temperatures. The most significant charging resulted from collisions of ice particles and water droplets. These collisions produced strong charging by both the inductive and non-inductive processes. It also was found that when both pol.
Sterol O-Acyltransferase Inhibition Ameliorates High-Fat Diet-Induced Renal Fibrosis and Tertiary Lymphoid Tissue Maturation after Ischemic Reperfusion Injury

Metabolic syndrome is associated with the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD). We previously demonstrated that aged kidneys are prone to developing tertiary lymphoid tissues (TLTs) and sustain inflammation after injury, leading to CKD progression; however, the relationship between renal TLT and metabolic syndrome is unknown. In this study, we demonstrated that a high-fat diet (HFD) promoted renal TLT formation and inflammation via sterol O-acyltransferase (SOAT) 1-dependent mechanism. Mice fed a HFD prior to ischemic reperfusion injury (IRI) exhibited pronounced renal TLT formation and sustained inflammation compared to the controls. Untargeted lipidomics revealed the increased levels of cholesteryl esters (CEs) in aged kidneys with TLT formation after IRI, and, consistently, the Soat1 gene expression increased. Treatment with avasimibe, a SOAT inhibitor, attenuated TLT maturation and renal inflammation in HFD-fed mice subjected to IRI. Our findings suggest the importance of SOAT1-dependent CE accumulation in the pathophysiology of CKDs associated with TLT.
WIND EFFECTS ON BASE-ISOLATED STRUCTURES

The sensitivity of base‐isolated structures to wind loadings is studied. The wind velocity is decomposed into mean and random fluctuating parts. A stationary random model for the fluctuating part of wind velocity is considered and the method of equivalent linearization is used for response analysis. Displacement‐response statistics, including autocorrelation, power spectrum, and variance of a rigid structure, are evaluated for the laminated rubber bearing (LRB), the high damping rubber bearing, and the resilient‐friction base isolator (R‐FBI) base‐isolation systems. The results show that base‐isolated structures are not sensitive to wind loading during common storms. However, for severe hurricanes, displacements on the order of a few centimeters may be expected. The presence of a frictional element in the base‐isolation system significantly reduces its sensitivity to strong wind loadings. High damping in the base‐isolation system decreases the displacement due to the fluctuating part of wind excitation.
On the Complex Oscillation of Some Linear Differential Equations

We treat the linear differential equation ( ∗ )f(k) + A(z)f = 0, wherek ≧ 2 is an integer andA(z) is a transcendental entire function of order σ(A). It is shown that any non-trivial solution of the equation ( ∗ ) satisfies λ(f) ≧ σ(A), where λ(f) is the exponent of convergence of the zero-sequence off, under the conditionKN(r, 1/A) ≦ T(r, A),r ∉ Efor aK > 2kand an exceptional setEof finite linear measure. The second order equationf″ + (eP1(z) + eP2(z) + Q(z))f = 0, whereP1(z),P2(z) are non-constant polynomials andQ(z) is an entire function, is also studied.
Future of HIV2 and HIV2 +  1 Infected Patients Treated with Antiretrovirals Followed at the Day Hospital HIV Care Unit from 2011 to 2015

Introduction: HIV2 is endemic in West Africa. In Burkina Faso, its prevalence was estimated at 2%. The aim of this work was to evaluate the follow-up of patients and also to contribute to the availability of data. Methods: We involved 18 years or older. Infection was screened according to the national algorithm. A cross- sectional study from first June 2017 to 31 December 2017 was performed. For each patient, sociodemographic, clinical, biological, therapeutic and evolution data were collected and analyzed. Results: The proportion of patients infected with HIV2 (n = 48; 1.7%) and HIV2 + 1 (n = 67; 2.4%) was 4.3%. The sex rat mean age was 50.3 ± 8.5 years. The combination of 2INTI + LPV/r was the most prescribed (n = 73; 63.5%). The average gain of LTCD4 has evolved from + 236 cells/mm3 in 2011 to + 364 cells/mm3 in 2015. The retention rate at grade 5 was about 70%. Conclusion: The immunological and clinic response of the patients was satisfactory. More than half of the patients remained in the continuum of care after five years of follow-up.
The combined protective effect of N-acetylcysteine and vitamin E against acrylamide-induced nephrotoxicity in rats

Keywords The purpose of the present study to evaluate the antioxidant and nephroprotective effects of N- acetylcysteine (NAC) and/or Vitamin E (Vit E) against renal damage induced by acrylamide (ACR) in rats. The antioxidant and nephroprotective efficacy of NAC and Vit E against ACR- induced nephrotoxicity in rats was investigated in this work. The rats were assigned to equal seven groups (n=7): control vehicle group (saline only), NAC group (150 mg/kg, orally), Vit E group (100 mg/kg, orally), ACR group (20 mg/kg, orally), NAC+ACR group, Vit E+ACR group, and NAC+Vit E+ACR group and all treatments were given for 30 days. Creatinine, urea, and glucose concentrations in the blood were increased as a result of ACR administration. Furthermore, ACR reduced protein and albumin levels. Malondialdehyde levels in kidney tissues were increased dramatically and reduced glutathione, superoxide dismutase, and catalase levels were decreased. ACR also caused certain degenerative lesions in the kidney tissues and elevated caspase-3 expression. On conclusion: administration of NAC and Vit E alone or in combinations ameliorated the renal toxicity and apoptosis induced by ACR. N-acetylcysteine
Large-scale comparative genomics to refine the organization of the global Salmonella enterica population structure

The White–Kauffmann–Le Minor (WKL) scheme is the most widely used Salmonella typing scheme for reporting the disease prevalence of the enteric pathogen. With the advent of whole-genome sequencing (WGS), in silico methods have increasingly replaced traditional serotyping due to reproducibility, speed and coverage. However, despite integrating genomic-based typing by in silico serotyping tools such as SISTR, in silico serotyping in certain contexts remains ambiguous and insufficiently informative. Specifically, in silico serotyping does not attempt to resolve polyphyly. Furthermore, in spite of the widespread acknowledgement of polyphyly from genomic studies, the prevalence of polyphyletic serovars is not well characterized. Here, we applied a genomics approach to acquire the necessary resolution to classify genetically discordant serovars and propose an alternative typing scheme that consistently reflect natural Salmonella populations. By accessing the unprecedented volume of bacterial genomic data publicly available in GenomeTrakr and PubMLST databases (>180 000 genomes representing 723 serovars), we characterized the global Salmonella population structure and systematically identified putative non-monophyletic serovars. The proportion of putative non-monophyletic serovars was estimated higher than previous reports, reinforcing the inability of antigenic determinants to depict the complexity of Salmonella evolutionary history. We explored the extent of genetic diversity masked by serotyping labels and found significant intra-serovar molecular differences across many clinically important serovars. To avoid false discovery due to incorrect in silico serotyping calls, we cross-referenced reported serovar labels and concluded a low error rate in in silico serotyping. The combined application of clustering statistics and genome-wide association methods demonstrated effective characterization of stable bacterial populations and explained functional differences. The collective methods adopted in our study have practical values in establishing genomic-based typing nomenclatures for an entire microbial species or closely related subpopulations. Ultimately, we foresee an improved typing scheme to be a hybrid that integrates both genomic and antigenic information such that the resolution from WGS is leveraged to improve the precision of subpopulation classification while preserving the common names defined by the WKL scheme.
The effect of leader-member exchange and job design on employees' performance in five-star hotels in Sharm El-Sheikh: Mediating effects of employees' organizational commitment

Workforce is considered the most crucial asset for an organization. Therefore, it is essential for the hotel's success and competitiveness to find effective ways to retain and motivate employees and enhance their performance. This research aims at examining the impact of leader-member exchange (LMX) and job design on employees' performance with the mediating role of organizational commitment in five-star hotels in Sharm El-Sheikh. A questionnaire-based survey was developed and used as a primary research method to gather data from 300 employees selected randomly from five-star hotels in Sharm El-Sheikh. Data were analyzed using the Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling technique (PLS-SEM). The results revealed that LMX, job design and organizational commitment have a direct significant and positive impact on employees' performance. In addition, the antecedent variables (LMX and job design) indirectly influence employees' performance through the mediation effects of organizational commitment which acts as a partial mediator in this relationship. The study implied that managers and supervisors in hotels should develop and maintain strong relationships with their employees characterized with mutual respect, appreciation, and trust. Besides, leaders must review and design jobs considering the five attributes of the job characteristics model by Hackman and Oldham to enhance employees' motivation, commitment, and job performance.
Investigation and modeling of the electrical properties of metal–oxide–metal structures formed from chemical vapor deposited Ta2O5 films

Amorphous Ta2O5 films were deposited by low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) and plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) at temperatures below 450 °C. These films were used to fabricate metal–oxide–metal (MOM) structures with titanium nitride (TiN) electrodes. The electrical properties of the MOM capacitance were investigated by the means of current–voltage and capacitance–voltage characteristics in the 100 Hz–1 MHz frequency range. It is shown that the conduction mechanism changed from Schottky emission, for the LPCVD material, to Poole–Frenkel current for the PECVD material. The roughness of the bottom electrode, as determined by atomic force microscopy measurements, is found to impact the leakage current. For the LPCVD material the capacitance exhibits a strong dependency on the applied bias and the frequency. For the PECVD material, only a small variation of the capacitance is observed when the bias is increased, with almost no frequency dependency. A clear correlation between the .
Efficacy of Hydroxychloroquine in Rheumatic Diseases and Associated Co- morbidities

Background In the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), the antimalarial drug hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is frequently used. It reduces the risk of illness flare-ups, prevents thrombosis, and lowers the possibility of long-term organ damage. HCQ's advantageous impact on cholesterol levels and diabetes risk reduction. Objective: The aim of the present study was to identify the efficacy of HCQ in rheumatic diseases and associated comorbidities. Patients and method : This cross-sectional study included a total of 71 RA and 9 SLE patients, attending at Department of Rheumatology, Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Assiut University Hospitals. University Hospitals. All patients subjected to complete history taking including medication history [HCQ dose (daily, cumulative) and duration], clinical examination, disease activity of RA was defined by DAS 28 (Disease activity scale) and disease activity of SLE by SELDAI-2K (Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Disease Activity Index). Laboratory assessments were performed including: routine investigation, autoantibodies Results: HCQ has a role in control diabetes mellitus (DM) of our diabetic patients and had role in reducing the risk for atherosclerosis and a significant reduction in the lipid profiles as well as AI has been observed. Conclusion: It could be concluded that HCQ is associated with a reduced risk of rheumatic diseases and its associated comorbidities.
Spatial growth of gulf stream meanders

Abstract An attractive explanation for the observed spatial growth of the Gulf Stream meanders is that the meanders are spatially growing unstable waves. The results of a calculation based on a simple two-layer model of baroclinically unstable flow presented here support this idea. The model is a familiar one with the energy for the growth of the meander perturbations coming from the potential energy available in the geostrophic tilt of the interface between the two layers due to their velocity shear. In order to distinguish between spatial and temporal growth, it IS necessary to assume that the meanders are generated in a localized region, or equivalently, that the meanders are upstream disturbances which are amplified as they enter a region of unstable flow. This assumption is implemented mathematically through the use of a Green's function which governs the propagation of the meanders. Analysis of the spatial and temporal characteristics of the Green's function leads to a criterion which must he satisf.
Clinical and economic impact of ferric carboxymaltose treatment for iron deficiency in patients stabilized following acute heart failure: a multinational study

Abstract Objective To estimate clinical events and evaluate the financial implications of introducing ferric carboxymaltose (FCM) to treat iron deficiency (ID) at discharge in patients hospitalized for acute heart failure (AHF) with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) <50% in the UK, Switzerland and Italy. Methods A decision analytic cost-offset model was developed to evaluate the costs associated with introducing FCM for all eligible patients in three countries compared to a world without FCM, over a five-year time horizon. Data from AFFIRM-AHF clinical trial were used to model clinical outcomes, using an established cohort state-transition Markov model. Country-specific prevalence estimates were derived using data from real-world studies to extrapolate number of events and consequent cost totals to the population at risk on a national scale. Results The cost-offset modeling demonstrated that FCM is projected to be a cost-saving intervention in all three country settings over a five-year time horizon. Savings were driven primarily by reduced hospitalizations and avoided cardiovascular deaths, with net cost savings of −£14,008,238, −CHF25,456,455 and −€105,295,146 incurred to the UK, Switzerland and Italy, respectively. Limitations Although AFFIRM-AHF was a multinational trial, efficacy data per country was not sufficiently large to enable country-specific analysis, therefore overall clinical parameters have been assumed to apply to all countries. Conclusions This study provides further evidence of the potential cost savings achievable by treating ID with FCM at discharge in patients hospitalized for AHF with LVEF <50%. The value of FCM treatment within the healthcare systems of the UK, Switzerland and Italy was demonstrated even within a limited time frame of one year, with consistent cost savings indicated over a longer term.
Distribution of KIR Genes and Their HLA Ligands in Different Viral Infectious Diseases: Frequency Study in Sicilian Population

Natural killer (NK) cells play a role in defence against viral infections by killing infected cells or by producing cytokines and interacting with adaptive immune cells. Killer immunoglobulin-like receptors (KIRs) regulate the activation of NK cells through their interaction with human leucocyte antigens (HLA). Ninety-six Sicilian patients positive to Human Immunodeficiency Virus-1 (HIV) and ninety-two Sicilian patients positive to SARS-CoV-2 were genotyped for KIRs and their HLA ligands. We also included fifty-six Sicilian patients with chronic hepatitis B (CHB) already recruited in our previous study. The aim of this study was to compare the distribution of KIR–HLA genes/groups of these three different infected populations with healthy Sicilian donors from the literature. We showed that the inhibitory KIR3DL1 gene and the KIR3DL1/HLA-B Bw4 pairing were more prevalent in individual CHB. At the same time, the frequency of HLA-C2 was increased in CHB compared to other groups. In contrast, the HLA-C1 ligand seems to have no contribution to CHB progression whereas it was significantly higher in COVID-19 and HIV-positive than healthy controls. These results suggest that specific KIR–HLA combinations can predict the outcome/susceptibility of these viral infections and allows to plan successful customized therapeutic strategies.