Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PCR-based markers for identification of some allelic variation at Glu-1 and Glu-3 loci in common wheat

Marker assisted selection (MAS) is a tool for breeding, screening, and genetic characterization of germplasm. Allelic variation of both high and low molecular weight glutenin subunits (HMW/LMW-GS) is associated with the rheological properties of wheat flour. In this study, we investigated glutenin pattern using SDS-PAGE and their PCR based on DNA markers in 60 advanced wheat lines and cultivars with different origins. Specific DNA markers regarding to Glu-1 loci, such as 1319 bp, 669 bp and 450 bp fragments were respectively validated for 2*, 17+18, 5+10 alleles. These alleles showed the highest allelic percentage in Glu-1 loci in studied cultivars. However the Null, 7+8 and 5+10 alleles showed the highest allelic percentage in advanced lines. In this study, 23%, 40% and 37% of cultivars respectively, got good (10), moderate (8-9) and weak (4-7) quality scores. In advanced lines, 18%, 44% and 38% got good, moderate and weak quality scores respectively. Ten specific DNA PCR markers were also detected for genotyping Glu-B3 alleles. The most frequent Glu-B3 alleles in wheat cultivars were i, a, b and d with 24%, 21%, 20% and 12%, respectively.Specific PCR markers regarding to the reported Glu-B3 alleles were produced as 621bp, 1095bp, 1570 bp and 662bp consequently. The most frequent Glu-B3 alleles in advanced lines belonged to a, i and d alleles with 35%, 26% and 21% respectively. The results provided useful information for breeding program to improve breadmaking quality and develop new cultivars.
Leaching of salt-affected soil amended by leonardite

ABSTRACT Salt-affected soils are widely distributed in arable croplands worldwide with potential productivity so that it is important to develop and utilize these soils. This study investigated the effects of leonardite at the application dosage of 0 (CK), 1% (T1), 3% (T2), and 5% (T3) on amending salt-affected soils under intermittent leaching. Results showed that leaching effectively reduced the electrical conductivity (EC) in soil at CK/T1/T2/T3 with 67.4%/70.9%/75.7%/75.6% of salt discharged. As the dominant cation in leachates, Na+ removed accounted for 75.1% (CK), 79.7% (T1), 72.6% (T2), and 71.5% (T3) of the total cation in soil. Sodium adsorption ratio of soil column for CK/T1/T2/T3 treatment decreased by 61.1%/68.1%/50.0%/44.9%. Organic matters in the soil reached 9.74/17.20/31.41/42.88 g/kg for CK/T1/T2/T3 treatment at the end of the experiment, indicating a fertile prospect for reclamation of the salt-affected soils. Soil pH increased with leonardite dosage after leaching in a similar pattern as the decline of EC. The results would provide practical assistance for amending salt-affected soil in the Yellow River Delta.
Caracterización de las ?-1,3-glucanosil-transferasas de la familia GH72 implicadas en la remodelación de la pared celular de Schizosaccharomyces pombe

La formacion de la pared celular de Schizosaccharomyces pombe requiere la actividad coordinada de enzimas involucradas en la biosintesis y modificacion de sus componentes, entre los que destacan por su abundancia los glucanos. El complejo enzimatico s-glucan-sintasa sintetiza s-1,3-glucanos lineales, que permanecen desorganizados y solubles en alcali hasta que se establecen enlaces covalentes entre los s-1,3-glucanos y otros componentes de la pared celular. Las transferasas de la pared celular cuyos sustratos son los s-1,3-glucanos podrian estar desempenando importantes funciones en el ensamblaje y reordenamiento de la pared celular. Diversas proteinas pertenecientes a la familia 72 de las glicosil-hidrolasas (GH72) con actividad s-1,3-glucanosil-transferasa han sido caracterizadas en otros organismos (Gas1p, Gas2p y Gas4p de Saccharomyces cerevisiae, o Gel1p de Aspergillus fumigatus). La secuenciacion del genoma de S. pombe ha permitido identificar cuatro genes (gas1+, gas2+, gas4+ y gas5+) que codifican cuatro hipoteticas proteinas pertenecientes a la familia GH72. Desde el punto de vista funcional, gas1p es esencial para la viabilidad celular durante el crecimiento vegetativo, ya que los mutantes carentes de este gen solo son capaces de crecer en medios estabilizados osmoticamente. Por su parte, gas4p desempena un papel basico en la construccion de la pared celular de las esporas. Finalmente, las proteinas gas2p y gas5p deben ejercer un papel minoritario en la sintesis de la pared celular vegetativa, ya que mutantes carentes de estos genes (o el doble mutante) no presentan defectos morfologicos significativos. Bioquimicamente, todas ellas poseen actividad s-1,3-glucanosil-transferasa, aunque se diferencian por la especificidad de longitud de sustrato, el punto de corte y los productos generados. Todo ello, junto con las diferencias de expresion a lo largo del ciclo biologico, sugiere que las distintas proteinas de la familia GH72 presentes en S. pombe podrian estar realizando funciones complementarias, no solapantes, en la levadura de fision.
A novel 2019: Coronavirus

A novel coronavirus (SCoV) is the etiological agent of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) SCoV-like viruses were isolated from Himalayan palm civets found in a live-animal market in Guangdong, China Evidence of virus infection was also detected in other animals (including a raccoon dog, Nyctereutes procyonoides) and in humans working at the same market The detection of SCoV-like viruses in small, live wild mammals in a retail market indicates a route of interspecies transmission, although the natural reservoir is not known This review summarizes both classical and contemporary discoveries in the study of the molecular biology of these infectious agents, with particular emphasis on the nature and recognition of viral receptors, viral RNA synthesis, and the molecular interactions governing viral assembly
Turbidity and salinity influence trophic cascades on oyster reefs through modification of sensory performance and facilitation of different predator types

Abiotic factors can influence the distribution of organisms through physiological tolerance limits and by affecting their sensory performance in critical life history functions such as foraging or predator avoidance. In estuaries, salinity and turbidity directly influence the distribution of organisms but the indirect, synergistic effects of these factors on trophic interactions and community structure remain obscure. We investigated the effects of salinity and turbidity on oyster reef communities by comparing oyster reef community structure in low vs. high turbidity in consecutive years that varied considerably in rainfall and ambient salinity levels. Turbidity had significant effects in both 2016 and 2017 by interfering with fish foraging ability and consumption. In turbid sites, fish predation decreased by ~21%, crab mesopredators were 11% larger and nearly 5 times more abundant due to reduced top-down control by fish, and oyster reef biodiversity was 12% lower. In 2016, oysters were 350% less abundant in sites with abundant crab predators. However, in 2017, salinity increased, facilitating a new predator (oyster drills Stramonita haemastoma) to emerge onto reefs, and oysters were 7 times less abundant in sites with oyster drills despite having fewer crab predators. Thus, salinity and turbidity can indirectly affect food webs by facilitating different predators and influencing their sensory performance. Turbidity had significant effects on estuarine food webs regardless of salinity levels, and like salinity, turbidity should also be considered in oyster reef restoration and management of estuarine ecosystems.
An Interval Forecasting Model Based on Phase Space Reconstruction and Weighted Least Squares Support Vector Machine for Time Series of Dissolved Gas Content in Transformer Oil

Transformer state forecasting and fault forecasting are important for the stable operation of power equipment and the normal operation of power systems. Forecasting of the dissolved gas content in oil is widely conducted for transformer faults, but its accuracy is affected by data scale and data characteristics. Based on phase space reconstruction (PSR) and weighted least squares support vector machine (WLSSVM), a forecasting model of time series of dissolved gas content in transformer oil is proposed in this paper. The phase spaces of time series of the dissolved gas content sequence are reconstructed by chaos theory, and the delay time and dimension are obtained by the C-C method. The WLSSVM model is used to forecast time series of dissolved gas content, the chemical reaction optimization (CRO) algorithm is used to optimize training parameters, the bootstrap method is used to build forecasting intervals. Finally, the accuracy and generalization ability of the forecasting model are verified by the analysis of actual case and the comparison of different models.
Analyzing the Impact of the Medicare Coverage Gap on Counseling Professionals: Results of a National Study

The authors surveyed 6,550 members of the American Counseling Association regarding the current impact of Medicare policy on counseling professionals. More than half of respondents (54.8%) had been directly affected by Medicare reimbursement barriers, including 70.0% of practicing counselors. Statistical analyses indicated significant associations between years in the profession, direct experience with the Medicare coverage gap, and participation in professional advocacy related to Medicare. Implications for counselors, counselor educators, and counseling scholarship are discussed.
A physiological and biochemical approach to selecting the ideal diet for Ostrea edulis (L.) broodstock conditioning (part A)

To select the best microalgae for Ostrea edulis conditioning, four single species diets were fed to batches of broodstock, which were then compared using physiological and biochemical approaches. Ingestion and absorption were first studied, showing that Chaetoceros gracilis and Skeletonema marinoi were efficiently ingested (4.9–5.3 mg g−1 h−1) and absorbed (1.9–2.5 mg g−1 h−1) while Tetraselmis suecica led to the lowest physiological responses (0.36 and 0.12 mg g−1 h−1 respectively). When O. edulis were fed any microalgae except T-ISO with only 79 mg g−1, gonads accumulated carbohydrates from 116 to 141 mg g−1 and the extent of accumulation depended on the species supplied in the order T. suecica C. gracilis S. marinoi. When oysters were fed either of the diatoms (C. gracilis or S. marinoi), an efficient transfer of 20:5(n-3) to all tissues, including the gonads, was recorded while no enrichment in 22:6(n-3) occurred in all tissues (polar fraction) when oysters were fed T-ISO. In contrast (22:5(n-6)), a characteristic fatty acid of T-ISO accumulated in all tissues, confirming its allocation despite particularly low ingestion (1.66 mg g−1 h−1) and absorption (0.32 mg g−1 h−1). When oysters were fed C. gracilis or S. marinoi an efficient transfer of cholesterol and campesterol from diatoms to the gonads was observed, while no sterol accumulation occurred in the gonad when fed T. suecica. Because of low ingestion, absorption and poor biochemical compounds' transfer, T. suecica is not recommended for O. edulis conditioning. T-ISO also exhibited low physiological performances but due to a specific 22:6(n-3) enrichment in the gonad neutral fraction (16.1%), its potential role in reproduction should be considered. Chaetoceros gracilis is highly recommended for O. edulis broodstock while a source of DHA other than that provided by T-ISO should be found due to its poor absorption. Because a mixed diet has been shown to be more efficient for O.
Numerical Methods for Electromagnetic Modeling of Graphene: A Review

Graphene’s remarkable electrical, mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties have made this the frontier of many other 2-D materials a focus of significant research interest in the last decade. Many theoretical studies of the physical mechanisms behind these properties have been followed by those investing the graphene’s practical use in various fields of engineering. Electromagnetics, optics, and photonics are among these fields, where potential benefits of graphene in improving the device/system performance have been studied. These studies are often carried out using simulation tools. To this end, many numerical methods have been developed to characterize electromagnetic field/wave interactions on graphene sheets and graphene-based devices. In this article, most popular of these methods are reviewed and their advantages and disadvantages are discussed. Numerical examples are provided to demonstrate their applicability to real-life electromagnetic devices and systems.
Additivity of apparent and true ileal amino acid digestibility coefficients in complete broiler diets.

The additivity of apparent and true ileal amino acid digestibility values in three complete diets based on maize (M), wheat (W), rice bran (RB), soybean meal (SBM) and canola meal (CM) for broilers was investigated. The three complete diets contained the following as the main ingredients: M + SBM. W + SBM and M + RB + SBM + CM. Endogenous amino acid flow was determined using the enzyme hydrolysed casein method and used to calculate the true digestibility values. In general, for both apparent and true digestibility, there were no significant differences (P > 0.05) between the determined and predicted values in the M + SBM diet. In the W + SBM diet, the determined and predicted true digestibility values were similar (P > 0.05), but the determined apparent digestibility values were higher (P 0.05), but the determined apparent digestibility values were higher (P < 0.05) than predicted values for five essential amino acids. The present results indicate that apparent digestibility values of individual ingredients are not additive when ingredients with low amino acid digestibility and/or anti-nutritive factors are used in feed mixtures. The data also suggest that true digestibility values are additive, irrespective of the ingredient type used.
Tactical Provenance Analysis for Endpoint Detection and Response Systems

Endpoint Detection and Response (EDR) tools provide visibility into sophisticated intrusions by matching system events against known adversarial behaviors. However, current solutions suffer from three challenges: 1) EDR tools generate a high volume of false alarms, creating backlogs of investigation tasks for analysts; 2) determining the veracity of these threat alerts requires tedious manual labor due to the overwhelming amount of low-level system logs, creating a "needle-in-a-haystack" problem; and 3) due to the tremendous resource burden of log retention, in practice the system logs describing long-lived attack campaigns are often deleted before an investigation is ever initiated.This paper describes an effort to bring the benefits of data provenance to commercial EDR tools. We introduce the notion of Tactical Provenance Graphs (TPGs) that, rather than encoding low-level system event dependencies, reason about causal dependencies between EDR-generated threat alerts. TPGs provide compact visualization of multi-stage attacks to analysts, accelerating investigation. To address EDR’s false alarm problem, we introduce a threat scoring methodology that assesses risk based on the temporal ordering between individual threat alerts present in the TPG. In contrast to the retention of unwieldy system logs, we maintain a minimally-sufficient skeleton graph that can provide linkability between existing and future threat alerts. We evaluate our system, RapSheet, using the Symantec EDR tool in an enterprise environment. Results show that our approach can rank truly malicious TPGs higher than false alarm TPGs. Moreover, our skeleton graph reduces the long-term burden of log retention by up to 87%.
Linear Feedback Dead-Beat Control for Modular Multilevel Converters: Validation Under Faults Grid Operation Mode

The cascaded control approach is widely used to control the modular multilevel converter (MMC). Such approach allows to manage all MMC state variables in a decoupling manner based on modes separation. This separation introduces conditions related to control objectives response time resulting in slow dynamics. This will limit the use of the potential of MMC energy that is considered as a freedom for ac and dc grids ancillary services. On another side, robustness properties for a given control are also of a great interest when considering unmodeled uncertainties and disturbances. Starting from these requirements, a linear feedback dead-beat control is proposed in this article to accelerate the inner loops and consequently the outer ones (control objectives). The proposed control, based on exact discrete-time model of the MMC in which the sampling period is considered a priory in the control design, is synthetized by taking into account the control outputs saturation. The stability proof of the control and the robustness analysis as well as experimental results under fault grid operations highlighted on small-scale MMC will be presented in this article. The comparison with a continuous-time sliding mode control shows the advantage of the proposed control regarding the response time and undesired oscillation reduction.
2D Fe-doped NiO nanosheets with grain boundary defects for the advanced oxygen evolution reaction.

Two-dimensional (2D) nanomaterials with grain boundary defects are attractive to researchers in many fields, such as energy conversion and storage, sensing, catalysis and biological medicine. In this work, a nanostructure of 2D Fe-doped NiO nanosheets (NiFexO) with grain boundary defects was designed and applied in the electrocatalytic oxygen evolution reaction. This nanomaterial was synthesized through a solvothermal strategy followed by a thermally driven conversion process. In general, NiFexO electrocatalysts were fabricated with gradual morphological variation depending on the atomic ratio of Ni : Fe. It is surprising that the Fe content determines the electrocatalytic performance and the overpotential of water oxidation exhibits an inverted volcanic pattern. As expected, the as-prepared 2D NiFe0.1O nanosheets with grain boundary defects exhibit enhanced OER activity (274 mV@10 mA cm-2) compared with the oxide electrocatalyst reported in 1.0 M KOH owing to the advantages of abundant active sites. This work will shed light on the design and fabrication of novel-structured nanocatalysts.
A Fast Protection of Multi-Terminal HVDC System Based on Transient Signal Detection

HVDC technologies are widely acknowledged as one of solutions for the interconnection of renewable energy resources with the main electric power grid. The application of the latest modular multi-level converter (MMC) makes power conversion much more efficient. Due to the relatively low impedance in a DC system, DC fault currents may rise to an extremely high level in a short period of time, which can be very dangerous for HVDC converters. To improve the sustainability and security of electricity transmission, protection solutions for HVDC systems are being developed. Nevertheless, they have various drawbacks on fault signal detection and timely clearance. This paper proposes a protection method that provides a fast and reliable solution addressing those drawbacks. A protection algorithm based on travelling wave simulation and analysis is proposed to detect abrupt transient signals. The algorithm shows high efficiency, reliability, selectivity and has low sampling frequency requirements. The proposed protection method has been validated through a cyber-physical simulation platform, developed using a real-time digital simulator (RTDS) and IEC 61850 communication links. The obtained results show that the proposed method has good potential for practical applications.
Examining the association between work–family conflict and the work attitudes of job satisfaction and organizational commitment among Chinese correctional staff

Considerable empirical research has shown that work–family conflict has a negative effect on the job satisfaction and organizational commitment of United States correctional staff. This study is the first to examine the effect of work–family conflict on job satisfaction and organizational commitment for staff at Chinese prisons. Findings from ordinary least squares (OLS) regression analyses indicated that strain-based conflict, behavior-based conflict and family-on-work conflict had negative effects on the job satisfaction of Chinese prison staff. Also, strain-based conflict and behavior-based conflict had negative effects on organizational commitment. Overall, the results support the conclusion that work–family conflict was generally perceived as stressful by Chinese prison staff and negatively impacted their job satisfaction and organizational commitment, as has been found among United States staff.
Molecular characterisation of putative WNT signalling protein, Leucine zipper and ICAT domain containing (LZIC)

The regulatory events which control cell division are referred to as the cell cycle. The cell cycle is arrested in non-permissive conditions by cell cycle checkpoints. The functioning of these checkpoints in response to stimuli prevents incorporation of mutations and acquisition of aneuploidy, while failure is a promoter of oncogenesis and hyper proliferative disorders. Interestingly, both the development and the treatment of cancer are dependent on the modulation of these checkpoints. Therefore, identification of proteins which regulate these cell cycle checkpoints can both provide mechanistic insight and treatment targets for cancer. Ionising radiation (IR) is a well-established cancer therapy and a potent activator of the cell cycle checkpoints. However, the mechanisms governing cellular response to IR are under investigated compared to many small molecular inhibitors and chemotherapeutic agents. The Leucine zipper and ICAT containing (LZIC) protein is poorly characterised but has been implicated in the development of IR induced tumorigenesis. Interactome analysis of LZIC highlights an enrichment for spliceosome components. In parallel, I show that the transcriptional response of LZIC knock-out cells to IR is altered, with emphasis on MYC signalling and G2/M checkpoint. Analysis of the cell cycle checkpoint activation by flow cytometry and western blot indicate an early release phenotype from the late G2/M checkpoint, with partial recovery of the phenotype being observed following treatment with protein phosphatase inhibitor. In addition, quantification of chromosome number in LZIC KO cell lines shows an increased aneuploidic state. Survival analysis for multiple human cancers shows decreased prognosis of patients with reduced LZIC expression. My findings suggest that LZIC is a new component of the cell cycle regulatory machinery with potential usage as a biomarker for IR cancer therapy sensitivity.