Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Expression of PON1, PON2, PON3 and MPO Genes in Patients with Depressive Disorders

Background: Taking into account the role of oxidative stress in neurodegeneration, we sought to evaluate the expression of genes for select enzymes with antioxidant properties (paraoxonases PON1, PON2 and PON3 and myeloperoxidase MPO) at the mRNA and protein levels in patients with depressive disorders. We further sought to determine the impact of oxidative stress in the etiopathogenesis of this group of mood disorders. Methods: A total of 290 subjects (190 depressed patients, 100 healthy controls) took part in the study. Sociodemographic and clinical data were collected. The severity of depressive symptoms was assessed using the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS). Venous blood was collected. RT-PCR was used to assess gene expression at the mRNA level, while enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was used to assess gene expression at the protein level. Results: The expression of the PON2 and PON3 genes at the protein level was significantly higher in depressive patients than in healthy controls. mRNA expression of the PON1, PON2 and PON3 genes was slightly higher in patients with depressive disorders than in the control group, however, this relationship was not statistically significant. On the other hand, the expression of the MPO gene at both mRNA and protein levels was significantly lower in patients with depressive disorder than in the control group. Conclusions: Our results are not in agreement with many studies on enzymes involved in maintaining oxidative balance. Our findings may not support the utility of paraoxonases (PON) or myeloperoxidase (MPO) as promising biomarker candidates of depression pending larger and well controlled studies.
Particle Transport Processes

The effect of gravitational settling and radiation driven diffusion on the evolution of stars near the main sequence is reviewed. New simplified formulae for calculating diffusion are proposed that improve on previous such formulae. The reliability of available diffusion coefficients is discussed and areas where further work is needed are identified. Newly available opacity calculations are used to estimate the effects of radiative acceleration on Fe. The size of the modifications to the evolution are shown to be modest: a reduction of order 10% on the evolutionary age of globular clusters. There are indications from the Li abundance in the high T eff halo stars that some turbulence is present below the convection zone. Models calibrated using solar properties reproduce the T eff at which the Li gap is observed in F stars as well as its depth without any arbitrary parameter. Similarly the presence of AmFm stars is explained over the T eff range where they are observed.
Pre-treatment effect on the structure of bacterial cellulose from Nata de Coco (Acetobacter xylinum)

This paper presents a structural analysis of various methods to produce bacterial cellulose (BC) from Nata de Coco (Acetobacter xyllinum). BC sheet, BC chem and BC mech powder were successfully prepared using oven drying, chemical and mechanical treatment. The X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) were used to analyze the structure of prepared BC. The structure of bacterial cellulose was compared with the structure of commercial microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) and cotton fabric. The XRD results showed that the BC sheet sample had the highest degree of crystallinity (81.76%) compared to cotton cellulose (75.73%). The crystallite size of cotton was larger than the BC sheet, with the value of 6.83 ηm and 4.55 ηm, respectively. The peaks in the FTIR spectra of all BC were comparable to the commercial MCC and cotton fabrics. FESEM images showed that the prepared BC sheet, BC mech, and BC chem had an almost similar structure like commercial MCC and cotton fabric. It was concluded that simple preparation of BC could be implemented and used for further BC preparation as reinforcement in polymer composites, especially in food packaging.
Staphylococcal saoABC Operon Codes for a DNA-Binding Protein SaoC Implicated in the Response to Nutrient Deficit

Whilst a large number of regulatory mechanisms for gene expression have been characterised to date, transcription regulation in bacteria still remains an open subject. In clinically relevant and opportunistic pathogens, such as Staphylococcus aureus, transcription regulation is of great importance for host-pathogen interactions. In our study we investigated an operon, exclusive to staphylococci, that we name saoABC. We showed that SaoC binds to a conserved sequence motif present upstream of the saoC gene, which likely provides a negative feedback loop. We have also demonstrated that S. aureus ΔsaoB and ΔsaoC mutants display altered growth dynamics in non-optimal media; ΔsaoC exhibits decreased intracellular survival in human dermal fibroblasts, whereas ΔsaoB produces an elevated number of persisters, which is also elicited by inducible production of SaoC in ΔsaoBΔsaoC double mutant. Moreover, we have observed changes in the expression of saoABC operon genes during either depletion of the preferential carbon or the amino acid source as well as during acidification. Comparative RNA-Seq of the wild type and ΔsaoC mutant demonstrated that SaoC influences transcription of genes involved in amino acid transport and metabolism, and notably of those coding for virulence factors. Our results suggest compellingly that saoABC operon codes for a DNA-binding protein SaoC, a novel staphylococcal transcription factor, and its antagonist SaoB. We linked SaoC to the response to nutrient deficiency, a stress that has a great impact on host-pathogen interactions. That impact manifests in SaoC influence on persister formation and survival during internalisation to host cells, as well as on the expression of genes of virulence factors that may potentially result in profound alternations in the pathogenic phenotype. Investigation of such novel regulatory mechanisms is crucial for our understanding of the dynamics of interactions between pathogenic bacteria and host cells, particularly in the case of clinically relevant, opportunistic pathogens such as Staphylococcus aureus.
Abnormal Respiratory Symptoms of Workers and Sampling of Organic Vapors Using Solid-phase Microextraction Devices in a Golf Ball Manufacturing Factory

The ink that is used in the mark printing, and the protective paints that are sprayed on golf balls as surface and primer layers are the main sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in a golf ball manufacturing factory. In this investigation, workers’ exposures to VOCs were evaluated using a needle trap sampler (NTS), which is a micro sampling device, and the results of an analysis using a gas chromatography mass spectrometer were compared to the samples that were collected in charcoal adsorption tubes with respect to VOC content. Ethyl acetate and n-butyl acetate are main compounds that are emitted in the painting and printing of golf ball. The highest worker time weighted average exposure concentration of n-butyl acetate was 16.92 ppm, and that for ethyl acetate was 19.69 ppm, as measured in a closed spray room. Painters’ and printers’ symptoms of respiratory tract abnormalities (RTA) were strongly correlated with their exposures to organic solvents as determined from the answers to a questionnaire survey on workers’ RTA symptoms. An NTS can be used as an alternative to charcoal tubes for sampling organic solvents to which workers are exposed, based on the differences in the limiting VOC analysis concentrations of both sampling devices. Due to lighter weight and lower cost than the traditional charcoal tube, which has to be connected to a sampling pump, therefore, NTS should be promoted as a routine VOC monitoring device in the workplace.
Development of a Machine Learning Model to Predict Non-Durable Response to Anti-TNF Therapy in Crohn’s Disease Using Transcriptome Imputed from Genotypes

Almost half of patients show no primary or secondary response to monoclonal anti-tumor necrosis factor α (anti-TNF) antibody treatment for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Thus, the exact mechanisms of a non-durable response (NDR) remain inadequately defined. We used our genome-wide genotype data to impute expression values as features in training machine learning models to predict a NDR. Blood samples from various IBD cohorts were used for genotyping with the Korea Biobank Array. A total of 234 patients with Crohn’s disease (CD) who received their first anti-TNF therapy were enrolled. The expression profiles of 6294 genes in whole-blood tissue imputed from the genotype data were combined with clinical parameters to train a logistic model to predict the NDR. The top two and three most significant features were genetic features (DPY19L3, GSTT1, and NUCB1), not clinical features. The logistic regression of the NDR vs. DR status in our cohort by the imputed expression levels showed that the β coefficients were positive for DPY19L3 and GSTT1, and negative for NUCB1, concordant with the known eQTL information. Machine learning models using imputed gene expression features effectively predicted NDR to anti-TNF agents in patients with CD.
Network-Oriented Real-Time Embedded System Considering Synchronous Joint Space Motion for an Omnidirectional Mobile Robot

This paper proposes a real-time embedded system for joint space control of omnidirectional mobile robots. Actuators driving an omnidirectional mobile robot are connected in a line topology which requires synchronization to move simultaneously in translation and rotation. We employ EtherCAT, a real-time Ethernet network, to control servo controllers for the mobile robot. The first part of this study focuses on the design of a low-cost embedded system utilizing an open-source EtherCAT master. Although satisfying real-time constraints is critical, a desired trajectory on the center of the mobile robot should be decomposed into the joint space to drive the servo controllers. For the center of the robot, a convolution-based path planner and a corresponding joint space control algorithm are presented considering its physical limits. To avoid obstacles that introduce geometric constraints on the curved path, a trajectory generation algorithm considering high curvature turning points is adapted for an omnidirectional mobile robot. Tracking a high curvature path increases mathematical complexity, which requires precise synchronization between the actuators of the mobile robot. An improvement of the distributed clock—the synchronization mechanism of EtherCAT for slaves—is presented and applied to the joint controllers of the mobile robot. The local time of the EtherCAT master is dynamically adjusted according to the drift of the reference slave, which minimizes the synchronization error between each joint. Experiments are conducted on our own developed four-wheeled omnidirectional mobile robot. The experiment results confirm that the proposed system is very effective in real-time control applications for precise motion control of the robot even for tracking high curvature paths.
Impact of Technical Controls, Accountability, and Monitoring on the Job Performance of Employees: Assessing the Mediating Role of Stress

One of the major cyber security challenges that organisations face is understanding the contribution of internal organisational, personal, and technical factors. Cybercriminals are widely discussed in mainstream media with respect to data breaches and attacks, but most security breaches are caused by employees, whether intentionally or unintentionally, due to non-compliance with cyber security measures. In the interests of cyber security compliance, organisations implement measures such as technical controls, accountability procedures and monitoring. Some organisations compel employees to comply with these and other cyber security policies and procedures, which may increase compliance but induce stress and reduce employees’ performance. The current research sought to determine the relationship between technical cyber security controls, accountability, monitoring and the job performance of the employees, as well as the mediating role of stress. Data was collected between March to June 2021 from 302 participants (211 men, 91 women and all adults) working in Saudi Arabian organisations. The data was analysed using mediation analysis in SPSS. The results indicate a significant positive relationship between the use of technical controls, accountability procedures and monitoring for cyber security purposes and employee stress, and a significant direct negative relationship between stress and job performance. These results are novel and directly applicable in organisational settings in which cyber security is an important objective. It would also be helpful to tell employers what they can do to improve cyber security without increasing stress.
MLPG Method for Transient Heat Conduction Problem with MLS as Trial Approximation in Both Time and Space Domains

The meshless local Petrov-Galerkin (MLPG) method with an effi- cient technique to deal with the time variable are used to solve the heat conduction problem in this paper. The MLPG is a meshless method which is (mostly) based on the moving least squares (MLS) scheme to approximate the trial space. In this paper the MLS is used for approximation in both time and space domains, and we avoid using the time difference discretization or Laplace transform method to overcome the time variable. The technique is applied for continuously nonhomo- geneous functionally graded materials (FGM) in a finite strip and a hallow cylinder. This idea can be easily extended to all MLS based methods such as the element free Galerkin (EFG), the local boundary integral equation (LBIE) and etc.
TCRM_A_364923 643..655

1Clinical Pharmacy Unit and Research Team, Department of Pharmacy, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, Bahir Dar, Amhara, Ethiopia; 2Department of Social and Public Health, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Amhara, Ethiopia; 3Pharmacology and Toxicology Unit, Department of Pharmacy, College of Health Sciences, Debre Tabor University, Debre Tabor, Amhara, Ethiopia
Positive Effect of Air Purifier Intervention on Baroreflex Sensitivity and Biomarkers of Oxidative Stress in Patients with Coronary Artery Disease: A Randomized Crossover Intervention Trial

Exposure to fine particulate matter increases the risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Few studies have tested the beneficial effect of indoor air filtration intervention in patients with cardiovascular disease. The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of air filtration on mitigating cardiovascular health in patients with coronary artery disease. This randomized, double-blind, crossover study is conducted with 38 coronary artery disease patients. The intervention consists of the following three periods: two-week active and sham air filtration interventions, with a two-week washout period. The indoor PM2.5 concentration is continuously monitored during the entire study period. We measure the blood pressure, heart rate variability, baroreflex sensitivity, autonomic function test results, and endothelial function. The two-week active air filtration intervention for two weeks reduces the average indoor concentration of PM2.5 by 33.9%. The indoor PM2.5 concentration is significantly correlated to cross-correlation baroreflex sensitivity. Active air filtration is significantly associated with a decrease in the indicator of oxidative stress represented as 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine. This study shows that a short-term air filtration intervention improved baroreflex sensitivity and might reduce oxidative stress in coronary artery disease patients. These findings suggest that the use of an air purifier could mitigate the recurrence of cardiovascular disease events in patients with coronary artery disease.
First Evidence of CpGV Resistance of Codling Moth in the USA

Simple Summary Different isolates of Cydia pomonella granulovirus (CpGV) have been formulated into different biological control agents that are applied to reduce the infestation and losses induced by codling moth in organic and integrated apple and pear orchards. Cyd-X® is the most widely applied CpGV product in apple orchards in the USA and contains a single active ingredient, the isolate CpGV-M (GV-0001). Aiming to investigate the susceptibility of codling moth to GV-0001, we used a discriminating virus concentration to screen five codling moth populations derived from Washington State (USA), which were reared in the laboratory (colony WA1-WA5). The results indicate that colony WA3 had a significantly reduced susceptibility to GV-0001 and survivors from the bioassay can produce offspring. WA3 represents the first documented case of CpGV resistance in the USA. In further tests, WA3 showed resistance to all commercial CpGV agents currently registered in the USA. Nonetheless, the resistant WA3 colony showed high susceptibility to three newly developed CpGV preparations. Therefore, the introduction of the novel CpGV formulations may allow the maintenance of sustainable management programs for codling moth in the USA. Abstract Codling moth (Cydia pomonella L.) is a very important pest in apple, pear, and walnut orchards worldwide, including the USA. Cydia pomonella granulovirus (CpGV) is used to control codling moth in organic and conventional production. Due to increasing codling moth infestations from organic apple orchards in Washington State, USA, five codling moth colonies (WA1-WA5) were screened for their susceptibility relative to the isolate GV-0001, the main active ingredient of Cyd-X®, using a discriminating concentration of 6 × 104 OB/mL. Compared to a susceptible laboratory colony, the observed results indicated that GV-0001 lacked efficacy against codling moth colony WA3. It was confirmed that WA3 was the first case of codling moth resistance to CpGV in the USA. Further testing of WA3 was performed on a range of CpGV isolates and a lack of efficacy was observed against additional isolates. However, three newly developed CpGV preparations can efficiently infect larvae from the resistant colony WA3. Our results suggest that there is an urgent need to monitor the situation in the USA, aiming to prevent the emergence or spread of additional codling moth populations with CpGV resistance. Strategies to sustain the efficacy of codling moth control using novel CpGV formulations need to be developed.
Predicting Urban Flooding Due to Extreme Precipitation Using a Long Short-Term Memory Neural Network

Extreme precipitation events can lead to the exceedance of the sewer capacity in urban areas. To mitigate the effects of urban flooding, a model is required that is capable of predicting flood timing and volumes based on precipitation forecasts while computational times are significantly low. In this study, a long short-term memory (LSTM) neural network is set up to predict flood time series at 230 manhole locations present in the sewer system. For the first time, an LSTM is applied to such a large sewer system while a wide variety of synthetic precipitation events in terms of precipitation intensities and patterns are also captured in the training procedure. Even though the LSTM was trained using synthetic precipitation events, it was found that the LSTM also predicts the flood timing and flood volumes of the large number of manholes accurately for historic precipitation events. The LSTM was able to reduce forecasting times to the order of milliseconds, showing the applicability of using the trained LSTM as an early flood-warning system in urban areas.
When encryption fails: a glimpse behind the curtain of synthetic drug trafficking networks

ABSTRACT The confiscation of the server of an encrypted telephone provider resulted in the retrieval of millions of text messages about covert activities that were overtly discussed between criminals. It provided a unique window into serious organised crime and the people involved. In this article, a social network analysis was carried out on accounts who communicated about synthetic drug trafficking. The sheer number of accounts (N = 4,158) and messages threads (12,085) allows for a meso level analysis of the structural characteristics of the networks involved. Three findings stand out. Firstly, the majority (58%) of the accounts active in the synthetic drug market is involved in poly-drug trafficking. Secondly, three-quarters of all accounts are interconnected in a giant component, resulting in a criminal small-world effect. Thirdly, the network appears to be robust. As a consequence, the removal of central accounts will hardly have any impact on the network as a whole.
Microwave-Sensing Technology Using Orbital Angular Momentum: Overview of Its Advantages

Industry and academia have agreed that the vortex electromagnetic (EM) wave carrying orbital angular momentum (OAM) provides a dynamic freedom that can enhance radar techniques. For sensing applications in particular, OAM has the potential to improve the performance of conventional object-detection and imaging systems, i.e., OAM-based sensing. To help readers understand this crucial technology, this article offers a comprehensive overview of state-of-the-art OAM-based sensing, including characteristics of the OAM-carrying field, principles of EM vortex imaging and rotational Doppler detection, advantages over conventional systems, and the OAM-generation approach. Several open questions that offer promising ideas to inspire more research in this emerging area are also included. This article presents insights to guide the design and practice of OAMbased sensing systems.
The effect of Triple Particle sizes on the mechanical behaviour of granular materials using Discrete element method (DEM)

Granules are used in various industries such as medicine and agriculture, and their behavior is influenced by the characteristics of the constituent particles. The Discrete Element Method (DEM) is a technique for characterizing the mechanical behavior of granular materials by building a mechanical model that describes the impacted parameters, including particle shape, which is being one of these parameters. As a result, the discrete element method is applied to investigate the macro-and micro-mechanical shear behavior of granular materials. For this study, a gravitational disposition for geometrical arrangement model has been used to model various triple particle sizes for a direct shear test using (EDEM®), which is a three-dimensional (3D) program based on (DEM). Different triple particle sizes were used to create an assembly. The results revealed that the size index affected the relationship between shear strength, angular velocity, dilation, coordination number (CN), and volumetric strain.