Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
iTRAQ-based proteomic analysis of the interaction of A549 human lung epithelial cells with Aspergillus fumigatus conidia

Severe invasive aspergillosis infection occurs when human immune function is impaired. The interaction between Aspergillus fumigatus (A. fumigatus) conidia and type II lung epithelial cells serves an important role in disease progression. The present study compared the proteomes of A549 human lung epithelial cells with and without A. fumigatus infection. Gene Ontology (GO), Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) and protein interaction analyses were performed, and differential protein expression was verified by western blotting and reverse transcription-quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). In addition, the RNA interference method, an internalization assay and ELISA were performed. Isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification analysis detected a total of 1,582 proteins, from which 111 proteins with differential expression were obtained (fold change >1.5 or <0.75). Among them, 18 proteins were upregulated and 93 proteins were downregulated in A549 cells challenged with A. fumigatus. GO and KEGG analyses revealed that the altered proteins were mainly involved in biological functions, such as cell metabolism, synthesis, the cellular stress response, metabolic pathways and pyruvate metabolism. N-myc downstream-regulated gene 1 (NDRG1) expression was upregulated 1.88-fold, while CD44 expression was downregulated 0.47-fold following A. fumigatus infection. The expression levels of specific proteins were verified by western blotting and RT-qPCR. The internalization efficiency was affected by NDRG1 gene silencing. The secretion of IL-6 and IL-8 was affected when CD44 was inhibited. These results indicated that A. fumigatus affects lung epithelial cell metabolism and biological synthetic functions. A number of novel molecules, including NDRG1 and CD44, were found to be related to A. fumigatus infection.
Enzymology and Physiology of a New Type of Phosphoenolpyruvate Carboxylase and the Development of a Pyruvate Carboxylase Expression System

Our laboratory is interested in studying the junction of glycolysis and the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle, specifically the enzymes phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, pyruvate carboxylase and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase. All produce oxaloacetate (OAA) for the cell. OAA production is critical for cell carbon synthesis in the methanogenic archaea. Therefore OAA-generating enzymes are essential for the survival of methanogens. In part of this study we investigated archaeal-type phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (PpcA), a new type of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase, which is widespread in the archaea and is found in three bacterial species. The form of phosphoenolpyruvate carboxylase (Ppc) that is prevalent in bacteria and plants is not found in the archaea. Due to complications expressing PpcA in the soluble form and difficulty purifying this enzyme from methanogens, an in-depth investigation of this enzyme’s biochemical properties has yet to occur. In this study we demonstrate the successful expression of a PpcA homolog in the soluble fraction of Escherichia coli. We purified the recombinant protein to homogeneity. This development provides the means to study the enzyme’s biochemical properties and manipulate the primary sequence in order to identify residues critical to the enzyme’s function. We also show that this PpcA homolog does have the postulated activity and investigate its biochemical properties. The data show that PpcA has unique properties in regard to the enzyme’s substrate and its regulation by metabolites. Our data also reveal that PpcA is a membrane associated protein, unlike Ppc, which is a soluble protein. We also show that pyruvate carboxylase (Pyc) can be expressed recombinantly in Pseudomonas aeruginosa at levels sufficient for structure-function studies. This is a major step forward in the expression in Pyc because it cannot be expressed at high levels in Escherichia coli. These are important developments in studying the enzymes that connect glycolysis and the TCA cycle.
ENTERPRISE RESOURCE PLANNING AND FIRM VALUE: CASE OF OIL AND GAS FIRM IN INDONESIAN STOCK EXCHANGE

Since oil price crash has big impact on oil and gas firm value, it is important to implements information technology for value improvement, such as enterprise resource planning implementation. This research is aimed to examine the effect of enterprise resource planning implementation on oil and gas firm value. Research sample are oil and gas firms which listed in Indonesian Stock Exchange 2013-2018. Enterprise resource planning implementation is measured by dummy variable. Firm value is measured by return on assets and market to assets value. Based on random effect regression analysis, enterprise resource planning implementation increases firm value. Enterprise resource planning provides higher information quality, integrated relationship between firms’ functions and departments, integrated relationship between supplier and customer, also efficiency in resource usage.
Prevalence of Escherichia coli virulence genes in patients with diarrhoea in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

Objective : Diarrhoeagenic E. coli (DEC) strains are important causes of diarrhoea in the developing world and, to a lesser extent, inthe developed world. In this study, we investigated the prevalence of the virulence genes specific for five major pathogroups of diarrheagenic Escherichia coli (DEC) in primary cultures from diarrhoeagenic patients in Burkina Faso. Methodology : From September 2016 to Mars 2017, a total of 211 faecal samples from diarrhoeagenic patients from urban hospitals of Ouagadou, Burkina Faso have been analysed. A 16-plex PCR was used to detect simultaneously, the five major DEC pathotypes (enteropathogenic E. coli (EPEC), enterotoxigenic E. coli (ETEC), Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), enteroaggregative E. coli (EAEC) and enteroinvasive E. coli (EIEC)). Results : At least one diarrhoeagenic E. Coli pathotype was detected in 31 samples (14.7%) in children and adults with diarrhoea. EAEC was the most common pathotype detected 9.5% (20/211), followed by EIEC2.4% (05/211) and STEC 0.5% (01/211). More than one DEC pathotype were detected in 2.4% (05/211) patients. EPEC and ETEC were not detected in single infection but in co-infection with others pathotypes. Conclusion : DEC, especially enteroaggregative, may be important responsible of diarrhoeas in Burkina Faso from all ages patient. Key Words : Diarrhoeagenic Escherichia coli, 16-plex PCR, Burkina Faso, human diarrhoeas stool.
Single cell RNA-seq and ATAC-seq indicate critical roles of Isl1 and Nkx2-5 for cardiac progenitor cell transition states and lineage settlement

Formation and segregation of cell lineages building the vertebrate heart have been studied extensively by genetic cell tracing techniques and by analysis of single marker gene expression but the underlying gene regulatory networks driving cell fate transitions during early cardiogenesis are only partially understood. Here, we comprehensively characterized mouse cardiac progenitor cells (CPC) marked by Nkx2-5 and Isl1 expression from E7.5 to E9.5 using single-cell RNA sequencing. By leveraging on cell-to-cell heterogeneity, we identified different previously unknown cardiac sub-populations. Reconstruction of the developmental trajectory revealed that Isl1+ CPC represent a transitional cell population maintaining a prolonged multipotent state, whereas extended expression of Nkx2-5 commits CPC to a unidirectional cardiomyocyte fate. Furthermore, we show that CPC fate transitions are associated with distinct open chromatin states, which critically depend on Isl1 and Nkx2-5. Our data provide a model of transcriptional and epigenetic regulations during cardiac progenitor cell fate decisions at single-cell resolution.
Interference of a weed community in the soybean crop in functions of sowing spacing

The use of double row spacing on soybean crop is recent and consists of a new soybean production technology in Brazil and worldwide, so weed interference may be different in relation to single crop row. Thus, the objective of this work was to evaluate the weed interference in soybean crop in function of sowing spacing. The experimental design was randomized blocks and treatments were arranged in a factorial (2x16): two spacings, a double row spacing [(0.20 x 0.20m) x 0.67 m] and a conventional single row spacing (0.45 x 0.45m) and sixteen periods of weed management, being eight control periods in which soybean was kept free of weeds by increasing periods of 7; 14; 21; 28; 35; 42; 49 and 145 days after emergence and eight coexistence periods, when the crop was maintained in the presence of the weed community for the same periods. The Critical Timing of Weed Removal (CTWR) was lower in the double row spacing, with eight days, compared with single spacing that was of 18 days. The Critical Weed-Free Period (CWFP) was of 36 and 31 days for double and single row spacing, respectively, and the emergence of weeds after this period did not cause damage to the productivity, but the Critical Period of Weed Control (CPWC) was higher in double row spacing (28 days) compared to the single row, which was of 13 days. The spacing in double row had a higher grain yield than the spacing in single row.
Sky Imager-Based Forecast of Solar Irradiance Using Machine Learning

Ahead-of-time forecasting of the output power of power plants is essential for the stability of the electricity grid and ensuring uninterrupted service. However, forecasting renewable energy sources is difficult due to the chaotic behavior of natural energy sources. This paper presents a new approach to estimate short-term solar irradiance from sky images. The proposed algorithm extracts features from sky images and use learning-based techniques to estimate the solar irradiance. The performance of proposed machine learning (ML) algorithm is evaluated using two publicly available datasets of sky images. The datasets contain over 350,000 images for an interval of 16 years, from 2004 to 2020, with the corresponding global horizontal irradiance (GHI) of each image as the ground truth. Compared to the state-of-the-art computationally heavy algorithms proposed in the literature, our approach achieves competitive results with much less computational complexity for both nowcasting and forecasting up to 4 h ahead of time.
NEWSPAPER FRAMING OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE ECONOMIC AND FINANCIAL CRIMES COMMISSION UNDER PRESIDENT MUHAMMADUBUHARI’S ADMINISTRATION

Objectives of the Study: The purpose of this study was to examine newspaper framing of the activities of the EFCC under President Buhari, using four purposively selected newspapers. In doing this, the researchers focused on the prevalence of frames, most prominent frames, and interpretations they gave to the activities of EFCC. Methodology: Content analysis and critical discourse analysis were adopted as the research methods. By means of the constructed week sampling technique, 288 editions of the selected newspapers years were studied. Results: It was found that six (6) frames constituted 75% frame prevalence rate, while two (2) frames constituted 15% non-prevalence rate. The corruption-combating/criminalisation frame was the most prominent. Interpretation of the reports revealed that some newspapers presented EFCC as victimisers, while some appraised its activities at mitigating graft in Nigeria. Application/implications: The implication of these results is that journalists need to improve in their framing anticorruption efforts as part of their social responsibility to the Nigerian society. Originality/ Novelty: This study has contributed to our understanding of the role of the media in promoting good governance and accountability in a developing country like Nigeria.
Biomass, Seed and Energy Yield of Cynara cardunculus L. as Affected by Environment and Season

Cynara cardunculus is a perennial plant that adapts well to Mediterranean climate conditions. The possibility of cultivating C. cardunculus with low or zero input and in low productivity or marginal lands makes it one of the most promising crops for bioenergy production in the Mediterranean areas. The objective of the research was to study the effects of two marginal and contrasting southern Italian environments (plain, 42 m a.s.l. and hilly area, 419 m a.s.l.) during a three-year period on biomass, seed, energy yield, and oil composition of two genotypes of C. cardunculus (cultivated cardoon and wild cardoon). When compared to the plain, plants that were grown in the hills gave higher biomass yield (10.9 vs. 9.7 t DM ha−1 year−1), higher seed yield (0.46 vs. 0.44 t DM ha−1 year−1) and, consequently, higher total energy yield (190 vs. 172 GJ ha−1 year−1), attributable to higher average annual rainfall (680 vs. 565 mm year−1). The season, although only evaluated for three years (short cycle), showed a different effect based on the genotype, highlighting a greater over-time production constancy of wild cardoon (though less yielding) as compared to cultivated cardoon. Oil yield and composition were only slightly affected by environment and genotype. Overall, the results of this research suggest using C. cardunculus in marginal hilly areas, where, in addition to the production of bioenergy, it may represent a good chance to fight erosion and improve soil fertility, without competing with food crops.
Let me go to the office! An investigation into the side effects of working from home on work-life balance

Purpose: The disruptions brought by COVID-19 pandemic compelled a large part of public sector employees to remotely work from home Home-based teleworking ensured the continuity of the provision of public services, reducing disruptions brought by the pandemic However, little is known about the implications of telecommuting from home on the ability of remote employees to manage the work-life interplay The article adopts a retrospective approach, investigating data provided by the sixth European Working Conditions Survey (EWCS) to shed lights into this timely topic Design/methodology/approach: An empirical, quantitative research design was crafted On the one hand, the direct effects of telecommuting from home on work-life balance were investigated On the other hand, work engagement and perceived work-related fatigue were included in the empirical analysis as mediating variables which intervene in the relationship between telecommuting from home and work-life balance Findings: Home-based telecommuting negatively affected the work-life balance of public servants Employees who remotely worked from home suffered from increased work-to-life and life-to-work conflicts Telecommuting from home triggered greater work-related fatigue, which worsened the perceived work-life balance Work engagement positively mediated the negative effects of working from home on work-life balance Practical implications: Telecommuting from home has side effects on the ability of remote workers to handle the interplay between work-related commitments and daily life activities This comes from the overlapping between private life and work, which leads to greater contamination of personal concerns and work duties Work engagement lessens the perceptions of work-life unbalance The increased work-related fatigue triggered by remote working may produce a physical and emotional exhaustion of home-based teleworkers Originality/value: The article investigates the side effects of remotely working from home on work-life balance, stressing the mediating role of work engagement and work-related fatigue © 2020, Emerald Publishing Limited
Improving Peak to Average Power Ratio of OFDM Signal Using DCT Precoding with Combined Distortion Techniques

This paper has presented Peak to Average Power Ratio (PAPR) reduction improvement in Orthorgonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) system using discrete cosine transform (DCT) precoding with repeated clipping and filtering plus Mu-law companding techniques. Recent studies have shown the use of evolution algorithms and combination of two or more algorithms to reduce PAPR in OFDM system. The algorithms of DCT, RCF and Mu-law were studied and presented in form of mathematical equations. MATLAB codes were developed for PAPR analysis in OFDM system. The MATLAB codes for DCT, RCF and Mu-law companding were implemented and incorporated into the OFDM system to enhance the PAPR performance. Simulations were conducted considering uncoded (or conventional) OFDM, uncoded of OFDM with RCF, precoded of OFDM with RCF, and precoded OFDM with RCF plus Mu-law. Using the PAPR value of 10.43dB at CCDF of 10 - 3 for the uncoded OFDM signal as reference value, it was observed that the introduction of RCF into the uncoded OFDM provided a PAPR value of 6.834dB which is 34.48% improvement. Also, for the precoded OFDM with RCF, the PAPR was reduced to 6.799dB with 34.81% improvement. Finally, the proposed scheme using precoded OFDM with RCF and Mu-law provided an efficient reduction in PAPR with a value of 2.048dB and 80.36% improvement. Thus, the implemented scheme has shown to be effective based on MATLAB simulations conducted.
Tiger abundance and gene flow in Central India are driven by disparate combinations of topography and land cover

Effective conservation of the endangered tiger depends upon reliable knowledge of factors driving genetic differentiation and population connectivity. Connectivity models frequently use resistance surfaces not optimized with actual movement or genetic data which limits reliability. Our aim is to use empirical data on genetic diversity of tiger populations to optimize landscape resistance to gene flow and identify factors that predict local population abundance across Central India.
Exploring the Content Knowledge of Accounting Teachers in Rural Contexts: A Call for a Decoloniality Approach

The purpose of this paper was to investigate deficiencies in the teaching and learning of financial literacy, which is the accounting part of the subject economic and management sciences in Grade 9 in South Africa. The content knowledge of Grade 9 accounting teachers at rural schools compared to those at urban schools, remains a challenge, as many of the former lack qualifications. Teachers at rural schools are considered to have inadequate content knowledge of accounting, owing to a lack of training and continuous professional development. The sample comprised 89 Grade 9 teachers. The study used secondary data that was collected with a questionnaire on different accounting topics to diagnose the difficulties teachers experience teaching accounting content. The items of the questionnaire were clustered into three constructs: analysis and recording of transactions on the accounting equation, understanding accounting concepts and connections between topics and application of accounting principles, and analysis of transactions in subsidiary journals. The results show that there are deficiencies relating to teachers' content knowledge and competence. This finding suggests that teachers in rural areas should undergo professional development to prepare them to teach learners at rural schools. This development should include establishing professional learning communities for sharing scarce instructional resources between various schools. https://doi.org/10.26803/ijlter.19. 8.24
Overwintering habitat links to summer reproductive success: intercontinental carry-over effects in a declining migratory bird revealed using stable isotope analysis

ABSTRACT Capsule: Breeding success in female Pied Flycatchers Ficedula hypoleuca is related to isotopic signature of feathers grown in Africa, suggesting wintering habitat links to breeding performance 5000 km away. Aims: Better understanding of inter-seasonal carry-over effects is a research priority, especially for declining migrants. We use stable isotope analysis to relate Pied Flycatcher winter habitat to summer reproductive success. Methods: Flycatchers were captured in three UK woodlands in 2013–15. An Africa-grown tertial was trimmed and analysed using Isotope Ratio Mass Spectrometry to quantify Nitrogen-15 (δ15N) and Carbon-13 (δ13C). In total, 135 samples were taken from 80 individuals. Results: Wintering δ15N and δ13C differed significantly between years. δ13C correlated with lay date, such that birds with lower carbon levels (indicative of more mesic habitat) bred earlier. There was a significant correlation between wintering δ13C and productivity after allowing for year, site and lay date; birds with low δ13C were more successful. This suggests δ13C links productivity directly as well as indirectly through phenological effects. δ15N did not relate to phenology or productivity. Conclusion: This is the first evidence of carry-over effects between geographical regions for a European passerine. Conservation measures should focus on all aspects of seasonal cycles, not just breeding grounds.
Climate change and Adaptation Coping Strategies among Sheep and Goat Farmers in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Nigeria.

Climate change and Adaptation Coping Strategies among Sheep and Goat Farmers in Ivo Local Government Area of Ebonyi State, Nigeria was studied. A total of 60 respondents were selected using multi-stage random sampling technique. Data for the study was collected using a structured questionnaire. Percentage responses and multiple regressions were used to analyzed the data. The results revealed that males were more prominent in sheep and goat farming with age range of 41-61 years old. Also, majority of the sampled farmers were married, educated, had access to extension services with household size of 7-12 persons. Also, the adaptation coping strategies adopted by the farmers were use of shade, Use of nutrient-dense diets , destocking and use of drinking water. Furthermore, the farmers socio-economic characteristics that affected the adaptation of climate change coping strategies in sheep and goats production were level of education, farming experience and age of the farmers. In addition, rainfall, temperature and relative humidity were the weather elements that effected sheep and goat production in the study area. Finally, the factors limiting farmers’ adaptation coping strategies were poor access to credit, poor access to information, poor access to extension services and poor government involvements.The need to ensure the farmers’ access to credit, education and extension services should be enhancedKeywords; Climate change, Adaptation, Coping Strategies, Sheep and Goat, Farmers.
Rose Rosette Disease: Recent Advances on Molecular Diagnostic Tools

Rose rosette emaravirus (RRV, genus Emaravirus ), the causal agent of rose rosette disease, is the topmost pathogen of concern for the rose industry in the United States. The only strategy available for disease management is early identiﬁcation and eradication of the infected plants. Highly reliable, speciﬁc, and sensitive detection assays are thus required to test and conﬁrm the presence of RRV in suspected plant samples. RRV is only a recently characterized virus and hence limits the diagnostic tools available for its early detection. With a U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Specialty Crop Research Initiative (SCRI) project sponsorship, several diagnostic tools including end-point reverse transcription- polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and RT-qPCR assays targeting single and multiple genes targets were developed for routine diagnostics. This review introduces an overall view of the different diagnostic tools developed, which are reliable, highly sensitive, and can be easily implemented for detection and identiﬁcation in laboratories providing diagnostic services and conﬁrmation of RRV-infected samples.