Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genome-Wide and Exome-Capturing Sequencing of a Gamma-Ray-Induced Mutant Reveals Biased Variations in Common Wheat

Induced mutagenesis is a powerful approach for the creation of novel germplasm and the improvement of agronomic traits. The evaluation of mutagenic effects and functional variations in crops is needed for breeding mutant strains. To investigate the mutagenic effects of gamma-ray irradiation in wheat, this study characterized genomic variations of wheat early heading mutant (eh1) as compared to wild-type (WT) Zhongyuan 9 (ZY9). Whole-genome resequencing of eh1 and ZY9 produced 737.7 Gb sequencing data and identified a total of 23,537,117 homozygous single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) and 1,608,468 Indel. Analysis of SNP distribution across the chromosome suggests that mutation hotspots existed in certain chromosomal regions. Among the three subgenomes, the variation frequency in subgenome D was significantly lower than in subgenomes A and B. A total of 27.8 Gb data were obtained by exome-capturing sequencing, while 217,948 SNP and 13,554 Indel were identified. Variation annotation in the gene-coding sequences demonstrated that 5.0% of the SNP and 5.3% of the Indel were functionally important. Characterization of exomic variations in 12 additional gamma-ray-induced mutant lines further provided additional insights into the mutagenic effects of this approach. Gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genome (KEGG) analysis suggested that genes with functional variations were enriched in several metabolic pathways, including plant–pathogen interactions and ADP binding. Kompetitive allele-specific PCR (KASP) genotyping with selected SNP within functional genes indicated that 85.7% of the SNPs were polymorphic between the eh1 and wild type. This study provides a basic understanding of the mechanism behind gamma-ray irradiation in hexaploid wheat.
Illuminating the Effect of the Local Environment on the Performance of Organic Sunscreens: Insights From Laser Spectroscopy of Isolated Molecules and Complexes

Sunscreens are essential for protecting the skin from UV radiation, but significant questions remain about the fundamental molecular-level processes by which they operate. In this mini review, we provide an overview of recent advanced laser spectroscopic studies that have probed how the local, chemical environment of an organic sunscreen affects its performance. We highlight experiments where UV laser spectroscopy has been performed on isolated gas-phase sunscreen molecules and complexes. These experiments reveal how pH, alkali metal cation binding, and solvation perturb the geometric and hence electronic structures of sunscreen molecules, and hence their non-radiative decay pathways. A better understanding of how these interactions impact on the performance of individual sunscreens will inform the rational design of future sunscreens and their optimum formulations.
Effect of iso-butanol addition to diesel fuel on performance and emissions of a DI diesel engine with exhaust gas recirculation

Iso-butanol is a second generation biofuel that has the potential to improve energy security and mitigate harmful pollutants in reciprocating engines. The present study investigates the effect of iso-butanol addition to diesel fuel on performance and emissions of a single cylinder direct-injection diesel engine with exhaust gas recirculation (EGR). For this objective, four iso-butanol/diesel blends containing 10%, 20%, 30%, and 40% were prepared by volume basis and tested in the engine under three EGR rates: 10% to 30% (at increments of 10%) with the combination of two injection timings: 23° and 21° crank angle (CA) before top dead center (bTDC). Experimental results showed that the combination of 30% EGR rate, 40% iso-butanol addition (ISB40) and retarded injection timing by 2° CA bTDC simultaneously reduced NOx emissions from 1284 to 749 ppm and smoke opacity from 20.7% to 1.9% with a slight drop in performance. It was found that higher iso-butanol/diesel blends require higher EGR levels to attain optimum levels of smoke and NOx emissions. Both hydrocarbon (HC) and carbon-monoxide (CO) emissions presented an increasing trend at escalating EGR rates. At retarded injection timing, ISB40 blend presented decreased HC emissions, increased CO emissions with a slight drop in performance compared to its injection at original timing.
Utility of Free Web-Based Software for Identifying Potentially Teratogenic Medicines in Pregnancy

Aim & Objective: To study and validate the clinical utility of free web-based software in picking up potentially and clearly harmful prescribed medicines with reference to FDA category.Materials and Methods: The present observational, cross-sectional, prospective, web-based prescription audit study was carried over a period of one year in a tertiary care teaching hospital. A total of 500 such prescriptions prescribed to pregnant women coming for routine antenatal checkup, irrespective of month of gestation, from any socioeconomic/ socio-demographic background were collected for one-point analysis. The analysis was carried out to evaluate specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value. Results: A total number of 1588 drugs were prescribed for 500 prescriptions studied with a mean of 3.17. Web-based free software picked up 1383 (87.09%) drugs, while rest 205 (12.91%) drugs were not picked up by the software. Potential teratogenic effect picked up by the software included 468 (29.48%) drugs. The sensitivity of software with reference to four textbooks varied from 70.76% to 60.32%, specificity 99.04% to 97.18%, positive predictive 98.29 to 94.87% and negative predictive value from 74.10% to 73.92%. Conclusion: Validation of drugs picked-up by the software as potential teratogenic was suboptimal as per sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were concerned.
A case study of teachers’ efforts towards learning problems in virtual EFL class during Covid-19 school closure

The Covid-19 has been deemed a global pandemic affecting almost all sectors, particularly in education. Learning activities have been forced to relocate virtually due to the school closure. This study aimed at exploring teaching-learning problems felt by English teachers and their efforts to overcome those problems during the school closure in a state senior high school in West Lombok. Designed in a case study, two English teachers were voluntarily recruited using convenience sampling. The data for this study were gathered from observation, interviews, and documentation. Informed by the theory of Community of Inquiry (CoI) and previous empirical studies, the data were analysed using four stages of the interactive model. The investigation revealed that during the virtual teaching, teachers experienced considerable internal and external pedagogical glitches. It was also uncovered that the teachers disclosed some endeavours to maintain teaching, social, and cognitive presence in the instruction to surmount the nested pedagogical problems. However, their efforts were observed inadequate and left some room for improvement on how teachers could effectively serve in the virtual pedagogical practices. Some implications and future research directions are discussed accordingly. DOI: 10.26905/enjourme.v6i2. 6463
Positive Airway Pressure at Extubation Minimizes Subglottic Secretion Leak In Vitro

Accumulated secretion above the endotracheal tube cuff can be aspirated during extubation after deflation. The possible techniques for minimizing pulmonary aspiration from subglottic secretion during extubation have not been well explored. This study aimed to determine the effect of different extubation techniques on secretion leakage. An endotracheal tube was placed in a tube mimicking an airway. We measured the leak volume of water or artificial sputum of different viscosities with three extubation techniques—negative pressure with suctioning; positive pressure with a resuscitator; and continuous positive airway pressure set at 5, 10, and 20 cm H2O. Extubation with continuous positive airway pressure resulted in lower secretion leakage than that with negative pressure with suctioning and positive pressure with a resuscitator. Increasing the continuous positive airway pressure level decreased secretion leakage volume during extubation. We further determined a correlation of leak volume with sputum viscosity. Continuous positive airway pressure at 5 cm H2O produced lower volume secretion leakage than the other two techniques, even with higher secretion viscosity. Based on these results, using continuous positive airway pressure with a previous ventilator continuous positive airway pressure/positive end-expiratory pressure setting for extubation is recommended.
Spiking Transformer Networks: A Rate Coded Approach for Processing Sequential Data

Machine learning applications are steadily increasing in performance, while also being deployed on a growing number of devices with limited energy resources. To minimize this trade-off, researchers are continually looking for more energy efficient solutions. A promising field involves the use of spiking neural networks in combination with neuromorphic hardware, significantly reducing energy consumption since energy is only consumed as information is being processed. However, as their learning algorithms lag behind conventional neural networks trained with backpropagation, not many applications can be found today. The highest levels of accuracy can be achieved by converting networks that are trained with backpropagation to spiking networks. Spiking neural networks can show nearly the same performance in fully connected and convolutional networks. The conversion of recurrent networks has been shown to be challenging. However, recent progress with transformer networks could change this. This type of network not only consists of modules that can easily be converted, but also shows the best accuracy levels for different machine learning tasks. In this work, we present a method to convert the transformer architecture to networks of spiking neurons. With only minimal conversion loss, our approach can be used for processing sequential data with very high accuracy while offering the possibility of reductions in energy consumption.
Reverberation Chamber Metrology for Wireless Internet of Things Devices: Flexibility in Form Factor, Rigor in Test

Internet of things (IoT) devices are proliferating in our connected world, with the number of devices expected to exceed 14 billion in 2023 [1]. Wireless IoT applications are increasing day by day, ranging from cellular-enabled parking meters that can validate your credit card in real time, to trash compactors that inform the garbage company when they are full, to wireless local-area-network–enabled industrial programmable logic controllers (PLCs) that control robots on the factory floor with micron precision. The physical size and shape or form factor of these devices can range from millimeters to meters on a side, and latency requirements can range from hours (e.g., trash compactor) to seconds (e.g., parking meter) to milliseconds or less (e.g., factory floor sensing and control). With all of the possible variations, it is important to have flexible yet accurate test facilities for these devices.
Modifying axonal transport as a therapeutic strategy for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Deficits in retrograde axonal transport have been described at a presymptomatic stage in the SOD1G93A mouse model of ALS. The early appearance of transport defects suggests that they may play an important role in disease pathogenesis. However, the causative role of axonal transport deficits in ALS motor neuron degeneration has not yet been demonstrated directly. The goal of my PhD project was to identify pharmacological enhancers of retrograde axonal transport that could be used to prove conclusively whether axonal transport defects play a significant role in ALS pathogenesis. To this aim, I developed and performed a microscopy-based screen for the identification of pharmacological enhancers of retrograde axonal transport in motor neurons. I was able to demonstrate that the accumulation of α-p75NTR and HCT in the cell body of mouse ES-derived motor neurons acts as a sensitive read-out of retrograde axonal transport efficiency and using this assay, I identified and validated two compounds (A1 and E4) that were able to accelerate retrograde axonal transport in motor neurons. Compound A1 was revealed to be an inhibitor of p38 MAPK. Inhibition of p38 MAPK was found to correct deficits in retrograde axonal transport in SOD1G93A motor neurons both in vitro and in vivo. Using genetic and pharmacological approaches, I was able to demonstrate that p38 MAPKα is responsible for the transport deficits observed. Compound E4 was revealed to be an inhibitor of the IGF1 receptor (IGF1R). It was found to accelerate retrograde axonal transport in both wild type and SOD1G93A motor neurons, but had no effect on anterograde transport speeds. In conclusion, this thesis work has identified inhibitors of p38 MAPK and IGF1R as novel modifiers of retrograde axonal transport and demonstrated that inhibitors of p38 MAPKα can be used to determine the role of axonal transport defects in ALS pathogenesis.
In vitro impedance spectroscopy: A MEA-based measurement bench for myoblasts cultures monitoring

Bioimpedance spectroscopy is a promising tool for non-invasive monitoring of tissue structure and fluids. With the objective of using it to assess muscle fatigue in vitro, we have developed a measurement bench allowing the monitoring of myoblasts cultures by bioimpedance measurements. This work presents the setup and its characterization, combining modeling and measurements. This setup relies on a microelectrodes array and a commercial impedance analyzer. Its characterization with Phosphate Buffered Saline is coherent with our simulation. The impedance increases at low frequencies after several cell cultures, due to a degradation of the microelectrode interface. Nevertheless, the measurement bench allows us to detect the presence of myoblasts covering the electrodes in a frequency range from 10 kHz to 100 kHz. The measurement bench is therefore suitable to explore the relative impedance variation as a signature of muscle fatigue.
Osteonecrosis of the Jaws in Patients with Hereditary Thrombophilia/Hypofibrinolysis—From Pathophysiology to Therapeutic Implications

Osteonecrosis of the jaws (ONJ) usually has a clear etiology. Local infection or trauma, radiotherapy and drugs that disrupt the vascular supply or bone turnover in the jaws are its major contributors. The thrombotic occlusion of the bone’s venous outflow that occurs in individuals with hereditary thrombophilia and/or hypofibrinolysis has a less known impact on jaw health and healing capability. Our research provides the most comprehensive, up-to-date and systematized information on the prevalence and significance of hereditary thrombophilia and/or hypofibrinolysis states in ONJ. We found that hereditary prothrombotic abnormalities are common in patients with ONJ refractory to conventional medical and dental treatments. Thrombophilia traits usually coexist with hypofibrinolysis traits. We also found that frequently acquired prothrombotic abnormalities coexist with hereditary ones and enhance their negative effect on the bone. Therefore, we recommend a personalized therapeutic approach that addresses, in particular, the modifiable risk factors of ONJ. Patients will have clear benefits, as they will be relieved of persistent pain and repeated dental procedures.
Paleoecological Investigation of Vegetation, Climate and Fire History in, and Adjacent to, Kootenay National Park, Southeastern British Columbia, Canada

Paleoecological investigation of two montane lakes in the Kootenay region of southeast British Columbia, Canada, reveal changes in vegetation in response to climate and fire throughout the Holocene. Pollen, charcoal, and lake sediment carbon accumulation rate analyses show seven distinct zones at Marion Lake, presently in the subalpine Engelmann Spruce-Subalpine Fir (ESSF) biogeoclimatic (BEC) zone of Kootenay Valley, British Columbia. Comparison of these records to nearby Dog Lake of Kootenay National Park of Canada in the Montane Spruce (MS) BEC zone of Kootenay Valley, British Columbia reveals unique responses of ecosystems in topographically complex regions. The two most dramatic shifts in vegetation at Marion Lake occur firstly in the early Holocene/late Pleistocene in ML Zone 3 (11,010–10,180 cal. yr. B.P.) possibly reflecting Younger Dryas Chronozone cooling followed by early Holocene xerothermic warming noted by the increased presence of the dry adapted conifer, Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii) and increasing fire frequency. The second most prominent change occurred at the transition from ML Zone 5 through 6a (∼2,500 cal. yr. B.P.). This zone transitions from a warmer to a cooler/wetter climate as indicated by the increase in western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla) and subsequent drop in fire frequency. The overall cooling trend and reduction in fire frequency appears to have occurred ∼700 years later than at Dog Lake (∼43 km to the south and 80 m lower in elevation), resulting in a closed montane spruce forest, whereas Marion Lake developed into a subalpine ecosystem. The temporal and ecological differences between the two study sites likely reflects the particular climate threshold needed to move these ecosystems from developed forests to subalpine conditions, as well as local site climate and fire conditions. These paleoecological records indicate future warming may result in the MS transitioning into an Interior Douglas Fir (IDF) dominated landscape, while the ESSF may become more forested, similar to the modern MS, or develop into a grassland-like landscape dependent on fire frequency. These results indicate that climate and disturbance over a regional area can dictate very different localized vegetative states. Local management implications of these dynamic landscapes will need to understand how ecosystems respond to climate and disturbance at the local or ecosystem/habitat scale.
Climate Change in the Philippines

Impacts of Climate Change in the Philippines include threats to biodiversity such as coral loss, declining rice yields, more intense droughts, and higher sea-level rise. While there is a strong scientific consensus that human-caused greenhouse gas emissions are generating climate change that then contributes to stronger typhoons, the Filipinos have low responsibility for causing climate change. The struggle that is faced by the Philippines, as well as other developing countries, is more than just an environmental problem, it is an example of climate injustice.
Factors Affecting the Perception and Practice of Iranian Nomadic and Semi-Nomadic Pastoralists in Regard to Biosecurity Practices in Sheep and Goat Farms: A Cross-Sectional and Prospective Study

Preventing the spread of diseases between and within farms (biosecurity) is essential for minimizing animal mortality and morbidity, as well as for reducing the risk of spread of zoonotic diseases. These effects are even greater in countries such as Iran, which have to deal with multiple ongoing epidemics of infectious disease. However, there is currently no published information about biosecurity practices on sheep and goat farms in Iran in published research. The aim of this study was to collect such information and to identify some of the factors affecting biosecurity practices. Data were gathered using a checklist and in-depth interviews with 99 nomadic and semi-nomadic pastoralists. Regression analysis was used to identify the relationships between the collected variables and the biosecurity scores. The results showed that neither within- nor between-farm disease prevention measures were appropriately applied on most farms (median total score of total biosecurity was 37.3/90; Q1 = 29.0 and Q3 = 44.7). Almost all the farmers reported slaughtering animals on farms and nobody properly disposed of the bodies of the dead animals. Additionally, the majority of the participants did not disinfect the umbilical cords of newborns. Of the collected variables, the annual mortality rate was associated with most within-farm biosecurity practices. The increase in annual mortality rates was associated with the regular cleaning of troughs (p = 0.03), preventing feed and water from being contaminated by urine and feces (p = 0.02), providing a clean and dry place for animals to rest (p = 0.05) and disinfecting the navel cord (p = 0.03). The results of this survey suggest that there is a clear need for extension programs to enhance Iranian and sheep and goat farmers’ perceptions and practices regarding biosecurity measures.
Connecting the dots between performance management and red tape perceptions

Abstract We know little about how performance management matters for red tape perceptions. Some argue that performance management will reduce burdensome rules, while others portray performance targets and registrations as sources of red tape perceptions. This article examines how performance management regime change—from external accountability to internal learning—matters for frontline staff red tape perceptions. Using a three-year trial set-up in Danish hospitals, we examine how a formal institutional reform of the performance regime affects the red tape perceptions of employees. We find no evidence of effect. In addition, the paper develops empirically grounded hypotheses about how performance management practices of supervisors matter for red tape perceptions. Our empirical exploration generates hypotheses for further testing about the relationship between performance information use for respectively learning and external advocacy and perceptions of red tape. Managerial practices are, hence, a promising avenue for connecting the dots between performance management and red tape.
Multi-GNSS Combined Orbit and Clock Solutions at iGMAS

Global navigation services from the quad-constellation of GPS, GLONASS, BDS, and Galileo are now available. The international GNSS monitoring and assessment system (iGMAS) aims to evaluate the navigation performance of the current quad systems under a unified framework. In order to assess impact of orbit and clock errors on the positioning accuracy, the user range error (URE) is always taken as a metric by comparison with the precise products. Compared with the solutions from a single analysis center, the combined solutions derived from multiple analysis centers are characterized with robustness and reliability and preferred to be used as references to assess the performance of broadcast ephemerides. In this paper, the combination method of iGMAS orbit and clock products is described, and the performance of the combined solutions is evaluated by various means. There are different internal precisions of the combined orbit and clock for different constellations, which indicates that consistent weights should be assigned for individual constellations and analysis centers included in the combination. For BDS-3, Galileo, and GLONASS combined orbits of iGMAS, the root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 5 cm is achieved by satellite laser ranging (SLR) observations. Meanwhile, the SLR residuals are characterized with a linear pattern with respect to the position of the sun, which indicates that the solar radiation pressure (SRP) model adopted in precise orbit determination needs further improvement. The consistency between combined orbit and clock of quad-constellation is validated by precise point positioning (PPP), and the accuracies of simulated kinematic tests are 1.4, 1.2, and 2.9 cm for east, north, and up components, respectively.