Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reduced IFN-ß inhibitory activity of Lagos bat virus phosphoproteins in human compared to Eidolon helvum bat cells

Eidolon helvum bats are reservoir hosts for highly pathogenic lyssaviruses often showing limited disease upon natural infection. An enhanced antiviral interferon (IFN) response combined with reduced inflammation might be linked to the apparent virus tolerance in bats. Lyssavirus phosphoproteins inhibit the IFN response with virus strain-specific efficiency. To date, little is known regarding the lyssavirus P-dependent anti-IFN countermeasures in bats, mainly due to a lack of in vitro tools. By using E. helvum bat cell cultures in a newly established bat-specific IFN-promoter activation assay, we analyzed the IFN-ß inhibitory activity of multiple lyssavirus P in E. helvum compared to human cells. Initial virus infection studies with a recently isolated E. helvum-borne Lagos bat virus street strain from Ghana showed enhanced LBV propagation in an E. helvum lung cell line compared to human A549 lung cells at later time points suggesting effective viral countermeasures against cellular defense mechanisms. A direct comparison of the IFN-ß inhibitory activity of the LBV-GH P protein with other lyssavirus P proteins showed that LBV-GH P and RVP both strongly inhibited the bat IFN-β promotor activation (range 75–90%) in EidLu/20.2 and an E. helvum kidney cell line. Conversely, LBV-GH P blocked the activation of the human IFN-β promoter less efficiently compared to a prototypic Rabies virus P protein (range LBV P 52–68% vs RVP 71–95%) in two different human cell lines (HEK-293T, A549). The same pattern was seen for two prototypic LBV P variants suggesting an overall reduced LBV P IFN-ß inhibitory activity in human cells as compared to E. helvum bat cells. Increased IFN-ß inhibition by lyssavirus P in reservoir host cells might be a result of host-specific adaptation processes towards an enhanced IFN response in bat cells.
An integrated optimization model and metaheuristics for assortment planning, shelf space allocation, and inventory management of perishable products: A real application

Product category management (PCM) plays a pivotal role in today’s large stores. PCM manages to answer questions such as assortment planning (AP) and shelf space allocation (SSA). AP problem seeks to determine a list of products and suppliers, while SSA problem tries to design the layout of the selected products in the available shelf space. These problems aim to maximize the retailer sales under different constraints, such as limited purchasing budget, limited space of classes for displaying the products, and having at least a certain number of suppliers. This paper makes an attempt to develop an integrated mathematical model to optimize integrated AP, SSA, and inventory control problem for the perishable products. The objective of the model is to maximize the sales and retail profit, considering the costs of supplier contracting/selecting and ordering, assortment planning, holding, and procurement cost. GAMS BARON solver is hired to solve the proposed model in small and medium scales. However, because the problem is NP-hard, an evolutionary genetic algorithm (GA), and an efficient local search vibration damping optimization (VDO) algorithm are proposed. A real case study is considered to evaluate the effectiveness and capabilities of the model. Besides, some test problems of different sizes are generated and solved by the proposed metaheuristic solvers to confirm the efficient performance of proposed algorithms in solving large-scale instances.
Culturing, Characterization and Identification of Candidate Microorganisms in Cattle Ear, Responsible for Producing Volatile Constituents Attractive to the Brown Ear Tick

East Coast Fever is a disease of cattle which results in high animal mortality with corresponding economic losses to farmers and to the nation. The disease is caused by a protozoan agent whose vector is Rhipicephalus appendiculatus (Brown Ear Tick). The tick feeds dominantly inside the cattle ear. Studies have shown that the adults of R. appendiculatus exhibit „pull-push‟ effect that guides them to their preferred feeding site. This is linked to the presence of ear volatiles which attracts and anal volatiles which repels the tick. However, there is limited information that describes what produces the volatiles within the cattle ear. This study aims at establishing the role of ear microbes to the brown ear tick behavior while locating its preferred feeding site. In a preliminary observation, release of the ticks on the cattle with one ear sprayed with a broad-spectrum antibiotic showed that most ticks were attracted to the untreated ear, suggesting that the attractant volatiles are derived from specific microbial populations. In the present study where twelve cattle were used, one ear in each cow was treated with vetmycin a broad-spectrum antibiotic while the other ear was left untreated and the orientation behavior of the ticks (R. appendiculatus) placed at six different parts of cattle monitored. Most of the ticks moved to the untreated cattle ear (P<0.001,t-test). Ear swabs were collected and cultured in a general media to obtain a culture of the microbes for in-vitro behavioral tick experiments and genomic studies. In a choice laboratory experiment, ticks were also observed to orient towards cultivable cattle ear microbes relative to a negative control (P< 0.001,t-test). General lab media (Nutrient Agar) was then used to culture different micro-organisms. Sensitivity tests carried out to determine the efficacy of the antibiotic spray used on the cattle ears showed that most microbes were sensitive to the antibiotics contained in the spray according to Kirby Buer calibrations. Profiles of aerobically cultivable microbial communities in each of the twelve cows were investigated using pyrosequencing based analysis. Genomic DNA was extracted and amplified using two sets of primers U1F, U1R which targets band lengths of 490bp and 500bp and primers 27F, 1492R which targets bands lengths of 1490bp. Gene sequences of each ear helped to identify the specific genus of each microorganism and profiles of the candidate microorganisms. Pyro-sequencing blast results revealed that there were diverse communities of microbes majority of which were bacteria. The study lays down significant groundwork in identifying the specific ear microbes responsible for the production of the constituents of ear blend that is responsible for attracting the adults of the Brown Ear Tick. This may open up novel ways of manipulating the production of the blend and in controlling the tick.
Can high-performance work practices influence employee career competencies? There is a need for better employee outcomes in the banking industry

It is essential for organizations to invest and improve employee outcomes to enhance organizational competitiveness and growth in today’s world. However, most organizations place management objectives above the career competencies of employees. Therefore, this study investigated 1. the effect of high-performance work practices on employee career competencies in the banking industry. 2. the mediating effect of employee career competencies on the relationship between high-performance work practices and employee outcomes in the banking sector. The study adopted a quantitative approach with a total of 340 respondents from various banks in Tanzania. The data was analyzed using Covariance Based Structural Equation Modelling (CB-SEM). The results of the finding indicate that high-performance work practices have a significant effect on employee career competencies. Similarly, employee career competencies significantly impact service quality, creative performance, and extra-role performance in banks. Also, employee career competency does not mediate the relationship between high-performance work systems and service quality in the banking industry.
The Small RNA AmiL Regulates Quorum Sensing-Mediated Virulence in Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAO1

P. aeruginosa is a common nosocomial pathogen that causes diverse opportunistic infections in humans. The virulence crucial for infection is mainly regulated by QS. ABSTRACT Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an opportunistic and nosocomial pathogen of humans with hundreds of its virulence factors regulated by quorum sensing (QS) system. Small noncoding RNAs (sRNAs) are also key regulators of bacterial virulence. However, the QS regulatory sRNAs (Qrrs) that have been characterized in P. aeruginosa are still largely unknown. Here, sRNA AmiL (PA3366.1) in the amiEBCRS operon of PAO1 was identified as a novel Qrr by transcriptome sequencing (RNA-Seq). The expression of AmiL was negatively regulated by the las or rhl system, of which RhlR probably inhibited its transcription. AmiL deletion mutant and overexpressing strains were constructed in PAO1. Broad phenotypic changes were found, including reduced pyocyanin synthesis, elastase activity, biofilm formation, hemolytic activity, and cytotoxicity, as well as increased rhamnolipid production and swarming motility. AmiL appears to be a new regulator that influences diverse QS-mediated virulence. Furthermore, AmiL directly targeted PhzC, a key member of pyocyanin synthesis. AmiL also negatively regulated lasI expression in the early growth of PAO1, but predominantly increased rhlI expression and C4-HSL production in the middle and late stages. Therefore, a novel QS-sRNA signaling cascade of las/rhl (RhlR)-AmiL-PhzC/las/rhl was demonstrated, and it will help to shed new light on the virulence regulatory network of P. aeruginosa PAO1. IMPORTANCE P. aeruginosa is a common nosocomial pathogen that causes diverse opportunistic infections in humans. The virulence crucial for infection is mainly regulated by QS. Small noncoding RNAs (sRNAs) involved in virulence regulation have also been identified in many bacteria. Recently, there is a growing interest in the new sRNA species, QS regulatory sRNAs (Qrrs). Understanding Qrrs-mediated regulation in P. aeruginosa virulence is therefore important to combat infection. In this study, a previously uncharacterized sRNA AmiL in PAO1 has been identified as a novel Qrr. It has been found to influence diverse QS-mediated virulence factors including pyocyanin, elastase, rhamnolipid, and hemolysin, as well as biofilm formation, swarming motility, and cytotoxicity. Furthermore, PhzC essential for pyocyanin synthesis was a direct target of AmiL. QS gene expression and C4-HSL production were also regulated by AmiL. This study provides insights into the roles of Qrr AmiL in modulating P. aeruginosa virulence.
Pum2 and TDP-43 refine area-specific cytoarchitecture post-mitotically and modulate translation of Sox5, Bcl11b, and Rorb mRNAs in developing mouse neocortex

In the neocortex, functionally distinct areas process specific types of information. Area identity is established by morphogens and transcriptional master regulators, but downstream mechanisms driving area-specific neuronal specification remain unclear. Here, we reveal a role for RNA-binding proteins in defining area-specific cytoarchitecture. Mice lacking Pum2 or overexpressing human TDP-43 show apparent ‘motorization’ of layers IV and V of primary somatosensory cortex (S1), characterized by dramatic expansion of cells co-expressing Sox5 and Bcl11b/Ctip2, a hallmark of subcerebral projection neurons, at the expense of cells expressing the layer IV neuronal marker Rorβ. Moreover, retrograde labeling experiments with cholera toxin B in Pum2; Emx1-Cre and TDP43A315T mice revealed a corresponding increase in subcerebral connectivity of these neurons in S1. Intriguingly, other key features of somatosensory area identity are largely preserved, suggesting that Pum2 and TDP-43 may function in a downstream program, rather than controlling area identity per se. Transfection of primary neurons and in utero electroporation (IUE) suggest cell-autonomous and post-mitotic modulation of Sox5, Bcl11b/Ctip2, and Rorβ levels. Mechanistically, we find that Pum2 and TDP-43 directly interact with and affect the translation of mRNAs encoding Sox5, Bcl11b/Ctip2, and Rorβ. In contrast, effects on the levels of these mRNAs were not detectable in qRT-PCR or single-molecule fluorescent in situ hybridization assays, and we also did not detect effects on their splicing or polyadenylation patterns. Our results support the notion that post-transcriptional regulatory programs involving translational regulation and mediated by Pum2 and TDP-43 contribute to elaboration of area-specific neuronal identity and connectivity in the neocortex.
Tangential flow filtration facilitated washing of human red blood cells: A proof‐of‐concept study

Red blood cell (RBC) units in hypothermic storage degrade over time, commonly known as the RBC storage lesion. These older RBC units can cause adverse clinical effects when transfused, as older RBCs in the unit lyse and release cell‐free haemoglobin (Hb), a potent vasodilator that can elicit vasoconstriction, systemic hypertension and oxidative tissue injury after transfusion. In this study, we examined a novel method of washing ex vivo stored single RBC units to remove accumulated cellular waste, specifically cell‐free Hb, using tangential flow filtration (TFF) driven by a centrifugal pump.
Treatment and prophylaxis of radiation optic neuropathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Purpose Radiation optic neuropathy (RON) generally follows radiation therapy that exceed 50 Gy to the visual axis and occurs within three years of therapy. Currently, there are no universally accepted treatments or prophylaxis for RON. The review aimed to examine the efficacy of all treatments and prophylaxis for RON. Methods MEDLINE, Embase, the Cochrane Library, and gray literature were searched to December 2020. Studies on treatment(s) and/or prophylaxis of RON were included. Results were meta-analyzed using a random-effects model. Primary outcomes included the proportions of patients who experienced improvement, no change, or worsening of visual acuity (VA) for each treatment. Secondary outcome was the incidence of RON for studies on prophylaxis. Results Overall, 50 studies (n = 5397) were included. Meta-analysis (n = 1752) showed significantly lower incidence of RON in patients who underwent intravitreal anti-VEGF prophylaxis compared to control (RR 0.64, 95%CI [0.48, 0.86]) for uveal melanoma. Intravitreal anti-VEGF injections (n = 68), hyperbaric oxygen therapy alone (n = 14), and pentoxifylline (n = 5) resulted in improved or stable vision ≤1 logMAR in 54.5%, 42.9%, and 40.0% of patients, respectively. Systemic corticosteroids (n = 82), anticoagulants (n = 12), and systemic bevacizumab (n = 7) showed improved or stable vision ≤1 logMAR in 17.1%, 33.3%, and 14.3% of patients, respectively. Overall risk of bias was low, but evidence was limited to retrospective studies. Conclusion Intravitreal anti-VEGF injections reduced incidence of RON in irradiated uveal melanoma patients. Systemic corticosteroids, systemic bevacizumab, and warfarin alone are likely ineffective treatments. Early hyperbaric oxygen therapy and intravitreal anti-VEGF injections were most effective among those investigated and require further investigation.
Factors influencing the anticancer effects of metformin on breast cancer outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis

ABSTRACT Introduction Several clinical trials have attempted to find evidence that supports the use of metformin as an anticancer treatment. However, the observed effects on various breast cancer (BC) outcomes have been heterogeneous. Areas covered Based on the outcomes of previous clinical trials, this review discusses the patients’ characteristics, cancer intrinsic subtypes, cancer stage, and anticancer treatments that may influence the anticancer effect of metformin on BC outcomes. Additionally, the safety and tolerability of metformin addition to various anticancer regimens are reviewed. Expert opinion Metformin is a challenging anticancer agent in BC cohorts, besides being safe and well-tolerated at antidiabetic doses. Survival benefits of metformin have been observed in BC patients with: hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 overexpression, and high insulin like growth factor-1 receptor expression on the tumor surface. Moreover, patients with diabetes receiving metformin experienced better survival outcomes compared to diabetic patients not receiving metformin. Additionally, metformin has anti-proliferative activity in patients with BC who have high insulin resistance and high body mass index. Besides, metformin has been shown to decrease metastatic events, and enhance the level of metabolic- and insulin-related biomarkers associated with carcinogenesis. Finally, most adverse events following metformin treatment were low-grade GIT toxicities.
Role of platelet-derived extracellular vesicles in traumatic brain injury-induced coagulopathy and inflammation

Extracellular vesicles are composed of fragments of exfoliated plasma membrane, organelles or nuclei and are released after cell activation, apoptosis or destruction. Platelet-derived extracellular vesicles are the most abundant type of extracellular vesicle in the blood of patients with traumatic brain injury. Accumulated laboratory and clinical evidence shows that platelet-derived extracellular vesicles play an important role in coagulopathy and inflammation after traumatic brain injury. This review discusses the recent progress of research on platelet-derived extracellular vesicles in coagulopathy and inflammation and the potential of platelet-derived extracellular vesicles as therapeutic targets for traumatic brain injury.
High-Resolution Double Velocity Map Imaging Photoelectron Photoion Coincidence Spectrometer for Gas-Phase Reaction Kinetics.

We present a new photoelectron photoion coincidence (PEPICO) spectrometer that combines high mass resolution of cations with independently adjustable velocity map imaging of both cations and electrons. We photoionize atoms and molecules using fixed-frequency vacuum ultraviolet radiation. Mass-resolved photoelectron spectra associated with each cation's mass-to-charge ratio can be obtained by inversion of the photoelectron image. The mass-resolved photoelectron spectra enable kinetic time-resolved probing of chemical reactions with isomeric resolution using fixed-frequency radiation sources amenable to small laboratory settings. The instrument accommodates a variety of sample delivery sources to explore a broad range of physical chemistry. To demonstrate the time-resolved capabilities of the instrument, we study the 193 nm photodissociation of SO2 via the C̃(1B2) ← X̃(1A1) transition. In addition to the well-documented O(3Pj) + SO(3Σ-) channel, we observe direct evidence for a small yield of S(3Pj) + O2(3Σg-) as a primary photodissociation product channel, which may impact sulfur mass-independent fractionation chemistry.
A Latent Class Approach to Understanding Associations between Sports Participation, Substance Use, Dismissive Attitudes, and Sexual Violence Perpetration among High School Athletes

Sexual violence (SV) among adolescents continues to be a major public health concern with numerous consequences. Research, predominantly with male collegiate samples, has suggested an association between sports participation and SV perpetration, and has included other important risk factors such as substance use and attitudes. However, more research is needed in this area among adolescents. The current study uses latent class analysis (LCA) to examine data- driven classes of high school student athletes (N = 665) engaged in three risk factor areas for SV: sport contact level, likelihood of substance use, and attitudes dismissive of SV. Once classes were enumerated and fit separately for male and female samples, pairwise comparisons were conducted on scores on two forms of SV (perpetration of sexual harassment and unwanted sexual contact) as a function of class membership. A 5-class solution was retained for both males and females. In the female sample, regarding SV—harassment, those most likely to perpetrate sexual harassment were those characterized by high likelihood of use of cigarettes, marijuana, alcohol, vape products, and those who played any type of sport. Too few females endorsed perpetration of unwanted sexual contact for pairwise comparisons to be conducted. For males, the classes most likely to perpetrate both forms of SV were those who were likely to endorse high likelihood to use of cigarettes, marijuana, alcohol, vape products, endorse attitudes dismissive of SV, and play any type of sport but especially high contact sports. These findings implicate high school athletic spaces as important venues for sexual violence prevention efforts.
Total quality management implementation in engineering education in India: an interpretive structural modelling approach

In the past decade, much has been written about total quality management (TQM) in manufacturing; however, less attention has been paid to the education sector. In this paper, 13 principles of TQM implementation have been identified using the Delphi technique and applied to engineering education. A relationship among these principles is developed using interpretive structural modelling (ISM) methodology. It helps in identifying the hierarchy of actions to be taken to improve the quality of engineering education. Categorisation of these principles based on their driving power (principles which hold other principles) and dependence (principles which are dependent on other principles) have also been examined for TQM implementation to study the driving power and dependence power of these principles. The objective is to determine a roadmap of TQM implementation and categorise TQM principles based on their driving power for quality improvement in engineering education with the use of an ISM-based model. The results indicate that the principles possessing higher driving power, such as quality mission and vision statement and top management commitment and visionary leadership should be given more attention for overall improvement in quality. The major contribution of this research lies in the development of a contextual relationship among various identified principles of TQM and the determination of their driving and dependence power through a single systemic framework.
Vitamin B12 binding to mutated human transcobalamin, in-silico study of TCN2 alanine scanning and ClinVar missense mutations/SNPs

Abstract Many missense mutations/SNPs of the TCN2 gene (which yield Transcobalamin (TC)) were reported in the literature but no study is available about their effect on binding to vitamin B12(B12) at the structural level experimentally nor computationally. Predict the effect of TC missense mutations/SNPs on binding affinity to B12 and characterize their contacts to B12 at the structural level. TC-B12 binding energy difference from the wildtype (ΔΔGmut) was calculated for 378 alanine scanning mutations and 76 ClinVar missense mutations, repeated on two distinct X-ray structures of holoTC namely 2BB5 and 4ZRP. Destabilizing mutations then went through 100 ns molecular dynamics simulation to study their effect on TC-B12 binding at the structural level employing 2BB5 structure. Out of the studied 454 mutations (378 alanine mutations + 76 ClinVar mutations), 19 were destabilizing representing 17 amino acid locations. Mutation energy results show a neutral effect on B12 binding of several missense SNPs reported in the literature including I23V, G94S, R215W, P259R, S348F, L376S, and R399Q. Compared to the wildtype, all the destabilizing mutations have higher average RMSD-Ligand in the last 25% of the MD simulation trajectories and lower average hydrogen bond count while the other parameters vary. Previously reported TCN2 SNPs with an unknown effect on TC-B12 binding were found to have a neutral effect in the current study based on mutation energy calculations. Also, we reported 17 possible amino acids that destabilize TC-B12 binding upon mutation (four listed in ClinVar) and studied their structural effect computationally. Graphical Abstract Communicated by Ramaswamy H. Sarma