Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Symmetry, dynamics and function: Biological macromolecules studied by elastic network models

Symmetry is a common feature in nature. Large biological macromolecules (> 100 kD) tend to assemble from multiple subunits and spatially arranged in symmetric ways. The topological symmetry not only results in coding efficiency and error control, but also characterizes the equilibrium dynamics of the biomolecular system. Coarse-grained normal mode analyses have been broadly used in recent years to elucidate the relation between structure, dynamics and function. Further insights into collective motions can be gained by considering continuum models with appropriate symmetry and boundary conditions to approximately represent the molecular structure. We solved the elastic wave equation analytically for the case of spherical symmetry, yielding a symmetry-based classification of vibrational motions accessible to the structures together with explicit predictions of their vibrational frequencies. Applications to biomolecular assemblies have shown that the continuum models with spherical symmetry efficiently provide insights into collective motions that are otherwise obtained by detailed elastic network models. Additionally, to understand the mechanism of functions associated with structural changes between different conformations, the transition pathways between these conformations have been explored with the help of elastic network models. Although there are many computational methods for exploring the conformational transitions of proteins, these are usually applicable to small-to-moderate size proteins, and the task of exploring the transition pathways becomes prohibitively expensive in the case of supramolecular systems of the order of megadaltons. Coarse-grained models that lend themselves to analytical solutions appear to be the only possible means of approaching such cases. Motivated by the utility of elastic network models for describing the collective dynamics of biomolecular systems, and by the growing theoretical and experimental evidence in support of the intrinsic accessibility of functional substates under native state conditions, we developed a new method, adaptive anisotropic network model (aANM), for exploring the functional transitions of large biomolecular systems. Application to bacterial chaperonin GroEL, and comparisons with experimental data, and with results from other theoretical and/or computational approaches, support the utility of aANM as a computationally efficient, yet physically plausible, tool for unraveling the potential transition pathways sampled by large complexes/assemblies.
The effects of integrated soil fertility management on household welfare in Ethiopia

Integrated Soil Fertility Management (ISFM) is a technology package consisting of the joint use of improved seeds, organic and inorganic fertilizers. It is increasingly promoted to enhance soil fertility, crop productivity and income of smallholder farmers. While studies find positive effects of ISFM at the plot level, to date there is little evidence on its broader welfare implications. This is important since system technologies like ISFM mostly involve higher labor and capital investments, and it remains unclear whether these pay off at the household level. Using data from maize, wheat and teff growing farmers in two agroecological zones in Ethiopia, we assess the impact of ISFM on crop and household income, and households’ likelihood to engage in other economic activities. We further study effects on labor demand, food security and children’s education. We use the inverse probability weighting regression adjustment method, and propensity score matching as robustness check. We find that ISFM adoption for maize, wheat or teff increases income obtained from these crops in both agroecological zones. Yet, only in one subsample, it also increases household income, while in the other it is associated with a reduced likelihood to achieve income from other crops and off-farm activities. Results further show that ISFM increases labor demand. Moreover, we find positive effects of ISFM on food security and primary school enrollment in those regions where it goes along with gains in household income. We conclude that welfare effects of agricultural innovations depend on farmers income diversification strategies.
A Multi-Stage Coordinated Volt-Var Optimization for Integrated and Unbalanced Radial Distribution Networks

The growing penetrations of rooftop photovoltaics (PVs) into low-voltage (LV) distribution networks are challenging voltage regulation. Developing an effective volt-var (VV) control has been the focus of many researchers with various approaches proposed so far. However, assuming a single voltage level and balanced network model, widely adopted in existing literatures, tends to cause inaccurate and even infeasible control solutions. Besides, existing distribution VV control studies are usually based on the day-ahead predictions of PV generations and loads, introducing inevitable and non-negligible errors. To address the challenges above, this paper proposes a VV co-optimization across unbalanced medium-voltage (MV) and LV networks, by traditional and emerging techniques, to ensure the network operation with the required power quality. Specifically, the operation of MV delta-connected switched capacitors and LV distributed PV inverters is coordinated, under a three-stage strategy that suits integrated and unbalanced radial distribution networks. The proposal aims to simultaneously improve voltage magnitude and balance profiles while reducing network power loss, at the least controlling cost. To effectively solve the proposed VV optimization problem, a joint solver of the modified particle swarm optimization and the improved direct load flow is employed. Finally, the proposal is evaluated by simulations on real Australian distribution networks over 24 h.
Comparative analysis of activin receptor type-IIA gene expression in two distinct chicken lines

Activin Receptor Type-IIA (ACVR2A) is a member of TGF-β super family, which is receptor for MSTN playing inhibitory role in regulating muscular growth in chicken [1]. Expression profile of ACVR2A gene was studied in two contrasting lines of chicken viz. control broiler line (CB) having faster growth rate and control layer line (CL) having slower growth. We conducted experiment during post-hatch stage from day 1, day 14, day 28, day 42 and day 56 of age. Expression of ACVR2A gene in pectoral muscle ranged from -0.43 ±0.71 to 1.26±0.71 in CB and 2.13 ±0.71 to 6.29 ±0.71 in CL line. ACVR2A gene expressed differently in both CB broiler and CL.
BRIEF COMMUNICATIONS: Effect of pump depletion on superradiance in Raman scattering of light

An analysis is made of superradiance under Raman light scattering conditions (SRRS) allowing for pump depletion in the single-mode approximation. An investigation is made of the population difference kinetics and the pulse temporal profile under SRRS conditions. It is shown that allowance for the pump depletion imposes an additional constraint on the observation of SRRS, i.e., an upper limit of ~1019 cm–3 for the density of the medium. It it is noted that as a result, observation of SRRS is more likely in gaseous media.
Effects of dietary n-3 rich PUFA mixture on performance, plasma metabolites and muscle fatty acids profile in growing pigs.

The study was conducted to assess the effect of feeding an n-3 PUFA-enriched diet on growth performance, plasma metabolites, and muscle fatty acids composition in growing pigs. Forty growing pigs (13.1±1.8 kg body weight) were randomly divided to receive a control [C based on corn-triticale-soybean meal (SBM)] or n-3 PUFA mix diet [extruded linseed EL: walnut meal WM, where the 80 g/kg dietary mixture (50:30 wt/wt) partially replace SBM] for 30 days. At the end of the trial, blood and muscle samples were collected for plasma profiles and fatty acids analyses. Feeding pigs with n-3 PUFA-enriched diet slightly improved body weight and average daily gain (P>0.05) with similar feed intake, and tend to improve feed efficiency (P=0.058). There was no effect on plasma protein profile, but the plasma urea nitrogen was decreased (P=0.042) indicating a higher utilization of dietary nitrogen. Plasma lipid profile was affected as a response to the dietary mixture by reducing the total cholesterol concentration (P=0.04) vs C diet. The Longissimus Dorsi muscle of pigs fed dietary mixture had higher contents in alpha-linolenic acid (P=0.030), docosahexaenoic (P=0.050), total PUFA (P=0.0001) and n-3 PUFA (P=0.019), and a lower n-6: n-3 ratio (P=0.002) vs pigs fed C diet. In conclusion, the dietary mixture had a positive effect on growing pigs’ performance and health status, improving the plasma lipo-protein response and enhanced the fatty acid profile of the meat.
Properties of Al 2 O 3 -Ag Nanopowders Produced by an Innovative Thermal Decomposition–Reduction Method and Chemical Silver Nitrate Reduction

Obecnie w przemy le istnieje du e zapotrzebowanie na materia y charakteryzuj ce si w a ciwo ciami biobojczymi. Dlatego te , nanocz stki srebra od kilku lat znajduj si w centrum zainteresowania wielu o rodkow badawczych na wiecie. Z uwagi na swoje niewielkie rozmiary, nanocz stki srebra charakteryzuj si wysok aktywno ci chemiczn , ktora zale na jest zarowno od ich rozmiaru, jak i kszta tu [1]. Nanocz stki srebra posiadaj rownie dobre w a ciwo ci antyreumatyczne i przeciwzapalne. Podobnie jak kationy srebra, nanocz stki tego pierwiastka posiadaj zdolno niszczenia szerokiej liczby bakteryjnych szczepow Gram-dodatnich i Gram-ujemnych, a tak e grzybow [2]. Ponadto, ostatnie badania dowodz e mikroorW a ciwo ci nanoproszkow Al2O3-Ag wytworzonych innowacyjn metod rozk adu termicznego-redukcji oraz metod redukcji chemicznej azotanu srebra
COMPARISON OF CARDIOPULMONARY CHANGES DURING
CYCLE AND TREADMILL TESTS

Authors’ contribution Wkład autorów: A. Study design/planning zaplanowanie badań B. Data collection/entry zebranie danych C. Data analysis/statistics dane – analiza i statystyki D. Data interpretation interpretacja danych E. Preparation of manuscript przygotowanie artykułu F. Literature analysis/search wyszukiwanie i analiza literatury G. Funds collection zebranie funduszy Summary Background. Our pilot study aimed to investigate cardiopulmonary differences between vita maxima incremental cycle and treadmill tests among elite youth cyclists. Material and methods. 8 elite youth cyclists (6 male, 2 female; age: 17.125±1.8 years) completed a cycle ergometer test using a road racing bike on a Tacx Smart Flux roller, followed by a vita maxima treadmill test 48 hours later. Aerobic capacity, cardiopulmonary, and metabolic parameters were measured during both tests. Results. Based on the paired sample t-test, and Wilcoxon signed-rank test, the maximal load values (W) on the treadmill were significantly higher (t=3.52; p<0.05) than in the cycle test. Volume of utilized oxygen (VO2; ml/min) and volume of exhaled CO2 (VCO2; ml/min) values (t=4.76 and t=3.45; p<0.05), maximal fat oxidation (Fatmax; g/day) (t=4.34; p<0.05), maximum rate of oxygen consumption (VO2max; ml/kg/min) (t=4.9; p<0.05) and rate of oxygen consumption at lactate threshold (VO2atLT; ml/kg/min) (t=4.04; p<0.05) also showed significantly higher values than in treadmill test. Pearson’s correlation study showed significant correlation between VO2atLT, and most other parameters (VO2, ventilation (VE; BTPS l/min), load at lactate threshold (load at LT), energy expenditure (EE; g/day)). Conclusions. The differences in results may be because of sport-specific adaptation to cycling and the characteristics of running and cycling, such as the different muscle contraction composition (concentric and eccentric) and different metabolic demands. These findings must be taken into account when testing cyclists on a treadmill, and planning their training loads based on these results.
CHARACTERIZATION OF SPONTANEOUS HYPERTENSION IN CHLOROCEBUS AETHIOPS SABAEUS, THE AFRICAN GREEN MONKEY

OF DISSERTATION CHARACTERIZATION OF SPONTANEOUS HYPERTENSION IN CHLOROCEBUS AETHIOPS SABAEUS, THE AFRICAN GREEN MONKEY Hypertension is a complex multifactorial pathology that is a major risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease, stroke, and end stage renal disease. In the United States, hypertension affects over 1 in 3 adults and comprises an annual cost of over $58 billion in the healthcare industry. While remarkable strides in the diagnosis and treatment of hypertension have been made since the pathology was first treated in the 1960s, a remarkable 13% of patients with elevated blood pressures are classified as resistant hypertensive, where blood pressure remains uncontrolled while on three or more classes of anti-hypertensive drugs. This treatment gap suggests that researchers need to develop and utilize translational models that recapitulate the pathologies seen in patient populations. Non-human primates (NHP) are highly similar to humans in terms of physiology, circadian rhythmicity, behavior, and gene sequence and structure. Development of NHP models that spontaneously develop pathologies, like spontaneous hypertension, provide novel and vital tools to studying disease. Overall, this dissertation is a comparative analysis of the mechanisms that drive the development of spontaneous hypertension in Chlorocebus aethiops sabaeus, an Old World non-human primate, and known mediators of essential hypertension in human populations. Chapter 2 presents how hypertensive (HT) African Green Monkeys (AGMs) are older, with elevated heart rates, increased renal vascular wall/lumen ratios, and altered glomerular morphologies compared to normotensive (NT) controls. Chapter 3 describes metabolic studies performed in a large cohort of animals that identified elevated proteinuria and ion excretion in HT AGMs compared to NT animals. Chapter 4 focuses on the contribution of sympathetic nervous system to the development of hypertension in this animal model and describes the significant left ventricular hypertrophy and elevation of adrenergic receptor mRNA in HT AGMs. Chapter 5 examines how age affects hypertension and renal function in the NT and HT AGMs. Together these data provide a foundational basis for the development of spontaneous hypertension in the AGM and provide a novel translational model for the study of cardiovascular disease.
New Unobtrusive Tidal Volume Monitoring System Using Channel State Information in Wi-Fi Signal: Preliminary Result

In this paper, we propose a respiration monitoring system based on the channel state information received from a commercial off-the-shelf Wi-Fi device. We develop data processing modules for extracting respiration parameters from the Wi-Fi signal and estimate the relative tidal volume. In order to verify the performance of the proposed monitoring system, we use a human patient simulator and also test one real human subject in various experimental settings. With the human patient simulator, we evaluate the monitoring performance at various tidal volume levels and compare our monitoring results with the simulator settings. In testing with a human subject, we test our approach on different sleep postures and positions, Wi-Fi router’s positions, and monitoring environments and compare our performance with the spirometer measurement. The results with both the human patient simulator and real human subject demonstrate the strong and robust estimation performance of the proposed approach in various monitoring conditions, indicating the high promise for non-intrusive respiration monitoring in practice.
Automatization of Pin Fin Heat Sink Design with Geometric and Fluid Constraints

The sizing of the cooling system is one of the most crucial parts of the design of power electronics since it has a high impact on the overall performance of the packages as well as the lifetime of the chips. The high temperature causes irreversible damage and increases the cost for maintenances and substitutions. However, during the design of the package, some geometric constraints can occur, such as maximum height or width. Moreover, limitations about volume rate and fluid temperature must be taken into account. This work aims to create a tool that can automatize the design of the heat sink cooling system with geometric constraints. The analytical model can consider in-line and staggered configurations. In this study, a genetic algorithm is applied as the optimization algorithm in order to find a solution which respects the boundary and fluid constraints and minimize the heat sink volume. Numerical simulations for the resulted geometries have been performed to validate the tool. The results of the numerical simulations show an error between the numerical and the expected maximum temperature of the plate lower than 2% and 3% for in-line and staggered configuration, respectively. The model can be applied over a wide range of application, and it can be easily adapted to different material and different cooling liquid.
Consumption of Chlorogenic Acids through Coffee and Health Implications

Chlorogenic acids (CGA) are the main antioxidant compounds in the Western diet, due to their high concentrations in coffee associated with the high consumption of the beverage. Until about 10 years ago, like many other phenolic compounds, CGA were thought to be poorly absorbed in the human digestive system. Along the years, large amounts of information on the absorption and metabolism of these compounds have been unveiled, and today, it is known that, on average, about one third of the consumed CGA from coffee is absorbed in the human gastrointestinal tract, although large inter-individual variation exists. Considering results from in vitro animal and human studies, it is possible to conclude that the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects of coffee CGA are responsible for, at least to a certain extent, the association between coffee consumption and lower incidence of various degenerative and non-degenerative diseases, in addition to higher longevity.
Analytical Modeling of NOMA-Based Mobile Edge Computing Systems With Randomly Located Users

Non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) has been treated as a promising technology to improve the computation offloading performance of mobile edge computing (MEC). A complete understanding of the impact of applying NOMA on MEC is essential for network operators to deploy MEC systems. In this letter, we develop a mathematical framework to analyze the impact of NOMA on offloading decisions in MEC, which captures the interaction among the offloading decisions of multiple co-channel users. Using stochastic geometry and order statistics, we derive the expression for the computation offloading probability of the $n$ -th ranked user in terms of serving distances in a NOMA-based MEC system. Numerical simulations are performed to verify the accuracy of our analysis and demonstrate the performance gain of applying NOMA on MEC.
ANTIBIOTIC RESILIENCE PATTERN AND CETRIMIDE INDUCED ULTRA STRUCTURALCHANGES IN MULTIDRUG RESISTANT S. AUREUS

The emergence of resistance to antimicrobial agents is a global public health problem, particularly in pathogens causing nosocomial infections. The most common nosocomial pathogens include Staphylococci (especially Staphylococcus aureus), Pseudomonas, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella and Proteus. Concerns about resistance have led to not only the correct and judicious use of antibiotics but also more stringent infection control measures to reduce the transmission of infection because the organisms that cause nosocomial infections are often drug-resistant. One such measure encouraged is the use of different disinfectants. QACs (Quaternary ammonium compounds) are the most useful antiseptics and disinfectants used in hospitals. Cetrimide is one such strong monocationic surfactant, a QAC. In the present study >50% S.aureus isolates collected from hospital environment showed resistance to antibiotics, such as teicoplanin(100%) erythromycin(50%), tetracycline (60%) cephalothin(40%), methicillin (40%), rifampicin(40%) and co-trimoxazole (10%). The MIC of cetrimide against these resistant Staphylococcus aureus varied between 9.765 and 312.5 mcg/ml with maximum number of isolates (30 %) showing the MIC value of 312.5 mcg/ml. The bactericidal activity of cetrimide against S.aureus evaluated by time kill assay indicated a complete killing of bacteria after 30min. Transmission electron microscopic studies on the effect of cetrimide on methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus revealed that the nuclear areas become obscured by an inflow of the cytoplasm, followed by loss of granularity of cytoplasm, disintegration of cell wall, cell membrane and condensation of cytoplasm, loss of cell constituents and break down of cell wall and extensive damage to cytoplasmic membrane and ultimately cell lysis. The ultra structural studies showed that antibiotic resistance does not alter the susceptibility of antibiotic resistant S.aureus to QAC cetrimide.
Westward range expansion of the Indo-Pacific nakedband gaper Champsodon nudivittis (Ogilby, 1895) in Saronikos Gulf, Greece

The Indo-West Pacific nakedband gaper, Champsodon nudivittis, was recorded for the first time in Saronikos Gulf (central Aegean Sea, Greece) on the basis of a single specimen collected by bottom trawl on 13 October 2017 at 89 m mean depth. DNA barcoding was used as a complementary tool to standard taxonomic features description for species identification. The present record corresponds to the westernmost expansion of this Lessepsian migrant, whose transition from the Levantine basin to the west was clearly associated with a deceleration in dispersal rate.
Quality, Quantity and Origin of PAHs （Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons） in Lotic Ecosystem of Al-Hilla River, Iraq

The Euphrates River is one of the major rivers in Iraq. When it reaches north of Hilla city, it will be divided in two branches. One of these braches flows toward Hilla city. On this branch, six locations were studied for the water quality of the Euphrates water. The present paper is aimed to fill the gap of information of the presence of PAHs (poly aromatic hydrocarbons) in water and sediment of Al-Hilla River, as well as to determine the quality and quantity of some PAHs. The depth of the river ranges from 2 m to 6 m. The quality, quantity and the origin of PAHs were studied in the water and sediment of Al-Hilla River. In addition, some physical and chemical properties were studied at six sites along the studied area, for the period March, 2010 to February, 2011. Sixteen PAHs that are listed by USEPA (US Environmental Protection Agency) as priority pollutants (Nap (naphthalene), Acpy (acenaphthylene), Acp (acenaphthene), Flu (fluorine), Phen (phenanthrene), Ant (anthracene), Flur (fluoranthene), Py (pyrene), B(a)A (benzo(a)anthracene), Chry (chrysene), B(b)F (benzo(b)fluoranthene), B(k)F (benzo(k)fluoranthene), B(a)p (benzo(a)pyrene), BbA (dibenzo(a,h)anthracene), B(ghi)P (benzo(ghi)perylene) and Ind (indeno (1,2,3-cd) pyrene)) were detected in Al-Hilla river. High concentrations of PAHs were detected in the sediment relative to that within the water. The present study revealed that the origin of PAHs in water and sediment might be the pyrogenic origin.
Critical Review of Extreme Effects of Exposome/ Interaction between Genetics and Environment on Hearing Disorders Reclassified

This article has critically reviewed the literature's information on the deleterious effects of the exposome on the reclassification of auditory disorders. Thus, a theoretical framework was proposed including the conceptual model and hypotheses to be tested in the process of hearing impairment. The exposome describes the interactions between genetics, chronobiology, diet, risk behaviour, infections, urbanization, physical environment, active smoking, epigenetics, health system, biometrics and reclassification of the host man's auditory disorders. Conclusion: With the progress of science, the genesis and development of hearing disorders (mixed or isolated by conduction and perception) are currently elucidated by the exposome (integration of the environmental harmful exposure set, infections, and oxidative stress during the evolution of age.