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Earlier studies have demonstrated that moral values play a critical role in mobilizing against moral norm violations. Despite its importance, scientific knowledge of the concept is limited, especially in non-Western cultures. This study examined the roles of moral foundations and moral disengagement in relation to moral courage in the Turkish cultural context. 658 adults (410 females, 248 males; Mage = 23, SDage = 9.12) participated in the current study through an online survey. Participants filled out Moral Disengagement Scale (Bandura et al., 1996), Moral Foundations Scale (Graham et al., 2011), and Moral Courage Scale (Bronstein et al., 2007). Results indicated that individualizing moral foundations had a direct and positive association with moral courage; they were also related to moral courage indirectly through decreasing moral disengagement. Binding moral foundations, on the other hand, directly and negatively associated with moral courage, but had no indirect role through moral disengagement. Moreover, exploratory analyses revealed that females tended to be more sensitive to moral issues, were less likely to disengage from moral principles, and were more likely to raise their voices against moral norm violations. Findings showed that moral engagement is a substantial part of intentions to stand up against moral norm violations.

Abstract Viruses that carry a positive-sense, single-stranded (+ssRNA) RNA translate their genomes soon after entering the host cell to produce viral proteins, with the exception of retroviruses. A distinguishing feature of retroviruses is reverse transcription, where the +ssRNA genome serves as a template to synthesize a double-stranded DNA copy that subsequently integrates into the host genome. As retroviral RNAs are produced by the host cell transcriptional machinery and are largely indistinguishable from cellular mRNAs, we investigated the potential of incoming retroviral genomes to directly express proteins. Here we show through multiple, complementary methods that retroviral genomes are translated after entry. Our findings challenge the notion that retroviruses require reverse transcription to produce viral proteins. Synthesis of retroviral proteins in the absence of productive infection has significant implications for basic retrovirology, immune responses and gene therapy applications.

Destructive earthquakes with high deformations have occurred in the Aegean region since the historical period. The most destructive of these earthquakes in recent years is the October 30, 2020 (M w = 6.9) Samos (Aegean Sea) earthquake. This earthquake affected a wide area and caused numerous losses of lives and property especially in Izmir city. For examining the effects of the earthquake, Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) data before, during, and after the earthquake were processed, and coseismic and postseismic displacement evaluations were made. Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) ascending, descending interferograms, line of sight velocity, and displacement maps were obtained for the earthquake-affected area. The GNSS and InSAR data were evaluated together, and the areas with subsidence and uplift were determined in conjunction with the fault zone. In addition, the horizontal displacements were analyzed by using Coulomb failure criteria, and peak ground displacements were obtained from the strong motion stations located in the study region. As a result, from all the displacement analyses, it was determined that high-amplitude energy was released, at the regional scale from Ayvalık in the North to Datça in the South after the earthquake, and this earthquake generated permanent deformation in the affected region.

The aim of this study was to obtain an extract rich in bioactive components from yellow onion peels, which are generally considered waste material. Accordingly, a three-factor three-level Taguchi (L9) experimental design with three factors, namely ethanol concentration (A; 50%, 75%, 100%), extraction temperature (B; 30, 40, 50 °C), and sonication time (C; 10, 20, 30 min) was used to optimize the ultrasound-assisted extraction process of onion peel powders. Through Taguchi optimization, the optimum extraction conditions were determined as A2B3C2 to obtain the extract with the highest total phenolic matter (TPM) content and antioxidant activity (DPPH (%)). In addition, the extract produced under A2B1C2 conditions was found to be the richest in total monomeric anthocyanin (TMA) content with the highest level of color pigments. In order to determine the overall optimization conditions and to reduce the three-response optimization process to a single response, the simple sum weighting (SAW) method was used as a multi-criteria decision-making method. As a result of the optimization, it was concluded that an extract rich in bioactive components with optimal TPM and TMA contents and DPPH (%) value could be obtained as a result of sonication at 30 °C for 20 min to onion peel powders mixed with a solvent containing 75% ethanol (A2B1C2). The extraction conditions of bioactive components from yellow onion peels were successfully optimized by the Taguchi-SAW hybrid optimization method.

The use of alternative flour in the production of cereal products such as bread can improve the functional and nutritional properties of bread. However, the addition of substitute flour to wheat flour may have some technological, sensory, and rheological disadvantages. To eliminate these problems, alternative flours should be used in different proportions. The aim of this study is to evaluate the remaining proportions of hemp, safflower and rosehip seeds after oil extraction and to determine their chemical properties (protein, fat, ash) and to investigate the effect on rheological dough properties with Mixolab when used as a substitute for wheat flour. Accordingly, safflower, hemp and rosehip seed flour were added to wheat flour in five different amounts (5, 7.5, 10, 15 and 20%), focusing on displacement. The addition of flour increased the protein, fat, ash, phenolic content, and antioxidant capacity. It was found that the addition of 10% safflower and hemp seed flour and 7.5% rosehip seed flour had a positive effect on rheological properties. For all three flour additions, the dough development time, stability, and percent protein softening values increased, while water holding capacity decreased. Flours added at 15% or more began to negatively affect the rheological properties. This study shows that 3 different flours, which can be added up to 10%, improve the rheological properties, chemically enrich them and improve their functional properties.

Abstract Background Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive primary brain tumor with extremely poor prognosis, highlighting an urgent need for developing novel treatment options. Identifying epigenetic vulnerabilities of cancer cells can provide excellent therapeutic intervention points for various types of cancers. Method In this study, we investigated epigenetic regulators of glioblastoma cell survival through CRISPR/Cas9 based genetic ablation screens using a customized sgRNA library EpiDoKOL, which targets critical functional domains of chromatin modifiers. Results Screens conducted in multiple cell lines revealed ASH2L, a histone lysine methyltransferase complex subunit, as a major regulator of glioblastoma cell viability. ASH2L depletion led to cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. RNA sequencing and greenCUT&RUN together identified a set of cell cycle regulatory genes, such as TRA2B, BARD1, KIF20B, ARID4A and SMARCC1 that were downregulated upon ASH2L depletion. Mass spectrometry analysis revealed the interaction partners of ASH2L in glioblastoma cell lines as SET1/MLL family members including SETD1A, SETD1B, MLL1 and MLL2. We further showed that glioblastoma cells had a differential dependency on expression of SET1/MLL family members for survival. The growth of ASH2L-depleted glioblastoma cells was markedly slower than controls in orthotopic in vivo models. TCGA analysis showed high ASH2L expression in glioblastoma compared to low grade gliomas and immunohistochemical analysis revealed significant ASH2L expression in glioblastoma tissues, attesting to its clinical relevance. Therefore, high throughput, robust and affordable screens with focused libraries, such as EpiDoKOL, holds great promise to enable rapid discovery of novel epigenetic regulators of cancer cell survival, such as ASH2L. Conclusion Together, we suggest that targeting ASH2L could serve as a new therapeutic opportunity for glioblastoma. Video Abstract

Moyamoya disease is a chronic, progressive hereditary disease characterized by narrowing of the vascular lumen because of hypertrophy of smooth muscles in the walls of the arteries that form the circle of Willis. Cerebral vessels may be encountered in bleeding and occlusion clinics. Although it is seen as predominant in Asian races, cases have been reported worldwide. Although its etiopathogenesis is not clear, genetics, some infectious agents, and autoimmune mechanisms are blamed. The gold standard in diagnosis is digital subtraction angiography. Surgical or endovascular interventions can be used in patients with recurrent progressive ischemic events and decreased cerebral perfusion. Here we present a 43-yearold Moyamoya patient who presented with posterior system findings and had a stent implantation with critical stenosis in the basilar artery.

Geleneksel atıştırmalıklarımızdan biri olan leblebi yüksek besleyicilik özellikleri ile ön plana çıkmaktadır. Leblebi üretiminde yan ürün olarak kırık leblebi ve leblebi tozu açığa çıkmaktadır. Ticari değeri düşük olan bu yan ürünlerin alternatif gıdalarda kullanılması katma değerini yükseltecektir. Bu çalışmada, leblebi tozu/unu beş farklı oranda (%0, 10, 20, 30 ve 50) glütensiz un ile ikame edilmiş ve elde edilen karışımlardan glütensiz bisküvi üretimi gerçekleştirilmiştir. Üretilen bisküvilerin fiziksel (çap, yükseklik, yayılma oranı, renk vb), kimyasal (protein, yağ, kül vb), fonksiyonel (toplam fenolik madde, toplam antioksidan kapasite), tekstürel ve duyusal özellikleri tespit edilmiştir. Ayrıca örneklerin duyusal analiz sonuçları çoklu karar verme yöntemi (TOPSIS) ile de değerlendirilmiştir. Yapılan analizler sonucunda glütensiz una leblebi tozu/unu ilave edilmesi örneklerin protein, kül, toplam fenolik madde ve antioksidan kapasite değerlerini yükseltmiştir. Bisküvi örneklerinin kabarma dereceleri düşmüş, yayılma dereceleri ise artış göstermiştir. Ayrıca leblebi tozu/unu ilavesi örnekleri daha sert bir yapıya dönüştürmüş, %30 ve üzerinde leblebi tozu/unu ilave edilen örneklerin fiziksel özelliklerinin olumsuz etkilendiği belirlenmiştir. Yapılan duyusal değerlendirme de %20 leblebi tozu/unu ilaveli örneklerin kontrol örneğine en yakın genel beğeni puanı aldığı, çoklu karar verme yöntemi (TOPSIS) ile değerlendirilen duyusal analiz verilerinin de benzer sonuçlar verdiği tespit edilmiştir. Bu çalışma protein ve fonksiyonel bileşenlerce zengin glütensiz bisküvi üretiminde leblebi tozu/ununun alternatif ürün olarak kullanılabileceği göstermektedir.

During the processing of sour cherries into different foodstuffs, a large amount of kernels is produced as waste material, which creates a significant disposal problem for the food industry. Sour cherry kernels containing 25.3–35.5% of protein can be used as a functional protein source in food production. Therefore, we aimed to study the effects of hydrolysis degree on the sour cherry kernel protein hydrolysates. Proteins were extracted from the defatted flour by isoelectric precipitation. The resulting protein concentrate was hydrolyzed (5, 10, and 15% hydrolysis) using Alcalase to yield hydrolysates. We determined their oil and water holding, emulsifying, gelation, and foaming properties, as well as apparent molecular weight distribution and proximate compositions. No protein fractions greater than an apparent molecular weight of about 22 kDa were present in the hydrolysates. The hydrolysis of the protein concentrate mostly led to an increase in protein solubility. As the degree of hydrolysis increased from 5 to 15%, the water holding capacity of the hydrolysates decreased from 2.50 ± 0.03 to 2.03 ± 0.02 g water/g, indicating its deterioration. The hydrolysates obtained at different degrees of hydrolysis had a better solubility than the intact protein concentrate. The oil holding capacity, the foaming stability, and the least gelation concentration of the protein concentrate could not be considerably improved by hydrolysis. In contrast, its emulsifying activity index and foaming capacity could be increased with a limited degree of hydrolysis (up to 10%).

The effects of dill oil extract as an antioxidant on the crystallization properties of colza biodiesel were investigated. 3000 ppm dill oil (Anethum graveolens) was blended with colza biodiesel-diesel mixtures at certain rates. The chemical antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) was used to compare the effects. For this reason, the samples were prepared and called D100, B20D80, B20D80D, and B20D80BHT. The crystallization temperatures (Tcr) of the samples were determined by using a Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) technique. The values of samples with antioxidants were decreased compared to the non-antioxidant biodiesel sample (B100). The order of antioxidant power was D100

Abstract Dysregulation of the epigenome due to alterations in chromatin modifier proteins commonly contribute to malignant transformation. To interrogate the roles of epigenetic modifiers in cancer cells, we generated an epigenome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 knockout library (EPIKOL) that targets a wide-range of epigenetic modifiers and their cofactors. We conducted eight screens in two different cancer types and showed that EPIKOL performs with high efficiency in terms of sgRNA distribution and depletion of essential genes. We discovered novel epigenetic modifiers that regulate triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and prostate cancer cell fitness. We confirmed the growth-regulatory functions of individual candidates, including SS18L2 and members of the NSL complex (KANSL2, KANSL3, KAT8) in TNBC cells. Overall, we show that EPIKOL, a focused sgRNA library targeting ~800 genes, can reveal epigenetic modifiers that are essential for cancer cell fitness under in vitro and in vivo conditions and enable the identification of novel anti-cancer targets. Due to its comprehensive epigenome-wide targets and relatively high number of sgRNAs per gene, EPIKOL will facilitate studies examining functional roles of epigenetic modifiers in a wide range of contexts, such as screens in primary cells, patient-derived xenografts as well as in vivo models.

Abstract The highly conserved Elongator complex is a translational regulator that plays a critical role in neurodevelopment, neurological diseases, and brain tumors. Numerous clinically relevant variants have been reported in the catalytic Elp123 subcomplex, while no missense mutations in the accessory subcomplex Elp456 have been described. Here, we identify ELP4 and ELP6 variants in patients with developmental delay, epilepsy, intellectual disability, and motor dysfunction. We determine the structures of human and murine Elp456 subcomplexes and locate the mutated residues. We show that patient‐derived mutations in Elp456 affect the tRNA modification activity of Elongator in vitro as well as in human and murine cells. Modeling the pathogenic variants in mice recapitulates the clinical features of the patients and reveals neuropathology that differs from the one caused by previously characterized Elp123 mutations. Our study demonstrates a direct correlation between Elp4 and Elp6 mutations, reduced Elongator activity, and neurological defects. Foremost, our data indicate previously unrecognized differences of the Elp123 and Elp456 subcomplexes for individual tRNA species, in different cell types and in different key steps during the neurodevelopment of higher organisms.

ÖZ: Bu araştırmanın amacı iç grup özdeşiminin iç grup yanlılığı üzerindeki etkisinde iç grup normunun düzenleyici etkisini incelemektir. Bu amaç doğrultusunda üç deneysel çalışma yürütülmüştür. İlk çalışmada, gerçek grup üyelerinin iç grup özdeşimleri ölçülmüş ve iç grup normları eşitlikçilik, kayırmacılık veya kontrol grubu olacak şekilde değişimlenmiştir. İç grup yanlılığı, iç grup ve dış grup arasında spor programı süresi paylaştırma, spor gazetesi sayfası paylaştırma ve olumlu özelliklerle değerlendirme ölçümlerindeki iç grup lehine fark olarak işlevselleştirilmiştir. Sonuçlar, iç grup özdeşimi arttıkça iç grup yanlılığının da arttığını, ancak iç grup özdeşimi ve iç grup yanlılığı arasındaki ilişkide grup normunun düzenleyici etkisinin olmadığını göstermiştir. Diğer iki çalışmada laboratuvarda oluşturulmuş minimal gruplar kullanılmıştır. İkinci çalışmada bir matematik görevinden sonra katılımcılara seçkisiz olarak analitik veya bütüncül düşünme-karar verme stiline sahip oldukları şeklinde sahte bir geribildirim verilerek iki grup oluşturulmuş ve ilk çalışmadaki gibi norm ataması yapılmıştır. Ayrıca iç grup özdeşimi de ölçülmek yerine yüksek ve düşük seviyelerde olacak şekilde değişimlenmiştir. Üçüncü çalışmada ise iç grup özdeşimi, yine ikinci deneysel çalışmadakine benzer bir yöntem ile değişimlenmiş; ancak bu kez düzenleyicilik etkisi grup normunun bir öncülü olarak değerlendirilen iç grup biçimlenmesi bağlamında araştırılmıştır. İkinci ve üçüncü çalışmada özdeşimin, grup normunun ya da biçimlenmesinin iç grup yanlılığı üzerinde temel etkisi gözlenmemiştir. Grup özdeşiminin, grup normuyla veya grup biçimlemesiyle etkileşimi de istatistiksel olarak anlamlı bulunmamıştır. Psikoloji öğrencisi olmayan toplumun farklı kesimlerinden katılımcıları örnekleyen bu üç çalışma, alanyazının aksine grup üyelerinin grup normlarına veya biçimlenmelerine bağlı olarak bölüştürme davranışı sergilemediğini göstermektedir. Bulgular, metodolojik farklılıklar ve sosyal psikolojideki tekrarlanabilirlik sorunu bağlamında tartışılmıştır. ABSTRACT: The aim of this research was to examine the moderating role of ingroup norm on the association between ingroup identification on ingroup bias. We also examined whether this association varied depending on the group formation. To do this, we conducted three experimental studies. Study 1 (N = 103) focused on real groups (Fenerbahçe and Galatasaray Football Club fans), where we manipulated ingroup norm and then measured ingroup identification. Specifically, in order to manipulate ingroup norm, participants were randomly assigned to an “egalitarian” norm condition, a “favoritism” norm condition, or a control condition. Ingroup bias was operationalized through a difference score in allocating screen time for a sports program on TV, allocating page spaces in sports newspapers, and positive evaluations via adjective ratings. Results showed that higher identification was associated with stronger ingroup bias. However, the moderating effect of ingroup norm (egalitarianism vs. favoritism) on the relationship between ingroup identification and ingroup bias was not significant. Study 2 and Study 3 were based on minimal groups created in the lab setting. In Study 2 (N = 122), two groups labeled “analytical” and “holistic” thinkers were formed based on false feedback (i.e., participants were told that their answers to math problems would be categorized based on an algorithm), and then ingroup norm (egalitarianism vs. favoritism) was manipulated as the same way in the first study. In addition, ingroup identification was manipulated rather than being merely measured. In Study 3, (N = 94) ingroup identification was manipulated with a similar procedure used in Study 2; but this time, the moderating effect of group formation (competitive vs. cooperative groups), rather than group norm, was investigated. In Studies 2 and 3, no main effects of ingroup identification, ingroup norm, and group formation on ingroup bias were obtained. The interaction effects of identification with ingroup norm or formation were not statistically significant either. These three experimental studies showed that, contrary to the literature, intergroup members did not exhibit distributional ingroup bias based on a type of group norms and group formations. These findings were discussed in the context of literature, methodological differences, and the problem of reproducibility in social psychology.

This study aimed to determine the physical (height, weight, volume, color, etc.), chemical (protein, fat, ash, moisture, etc.), functional (total phenolic, flavonoid, and antioxidant capacity), nutritional (total, soluble, insoluble dietary fiber, and important starch fractions), and texture properties and volatile organic compounds of traditional Tokat bread. In addition, yeast and bacterial species were isolated and identified from the sourdoughs used in its production. Having a 6‐day shelf life, traditional Tokat bread has an average total dietary fiber content of 14.64%. The predictable glycemic index was 83.09, and the slowly digestible starch content was 6.15%. In traditional Tokat bread, 45 different volatile aroma components were identified, and S. cerevisiae, D. hansenii, K. lactis, L. plantarum, and L. mesentorides species were mostly isolated in sourdough. The characteristics of traditional Tokat breads produced by traditional methods in different regions were determined. It is predicted that the taste and aroma of traditional Tokat bread originate from the hornbeam and pelite woods used in the baking stage and the sourdough used. The yeast composition of the breads collected from different regions also varies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study has two main objectives: (i) to determine the physicochemical and rheological properties of different flours and (ii) to estimate the alveograph parameters obtained as a result of experimental studies. In this context, physicochemical (protein, ash, falling number, wet gluten, gluten index, Zeleny, and delayed sedimentation) and alveograph parameters (P, L, G, W, P/L, and IE) of 150 different bread and pastry flours were determined. Multiple regression analysis (MRA) and artificial neural network (ANN) methods were then used to predict alveograph results from this experimentally obtained data set. Root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE), Nash‐Sutcliffe (NSEC), and relative error (RE) performance statistics were used to evaluate the CS prediction capabilities of the methods. It was found that the flours were in the range of 11.01%–13.82% protein, 325–403 s falling number, and 30–61 mL Zeleny and delayed sedimentation values. The ANN method showed better predictive performance than the regression‐based method. W was the best estimated parameter in the ANN model. This was followed by G, L, Ie, P/L, and P values. Considering the RMSE value of the W parameter, it was observed that the ANN method provided an improvement of 5.16, 1.76, and 2.15 times compared to the regression method for the training, validation, and test sets, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Unlike traditional approaches that analyse an actor's foreign policy by focusing on the search for physical security and material interests, ontological security advocates a more nuanced approach that considers identity politics, regime security, issues of legitimacy, and emotional motives. This article aims to examine Iran's Axis of Resistance from the perspective of ontological security, without rescinding the possibility of power struggles or ideological motivations in influencing Iran's foreign policymaking process. This study posits that the Axis of Resistance embodies a profound meaning and overarching significance for Iran that transcends mere considerations of physical security or sectarian--ideological inclinations. The pursuit of the Axis of Resistance by Iran serves to provide the regime with ontological security, achieved through the utilisation of national narratives, the establishment of routines, concerns pertaining to domestic order, and the incorporation of emotional underpinnings of the Islamic regime. The existential significance that Iran ascribes to the Axis of Resistance is of crucial importance in maintaining this paradigm, despite all its costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The social identity tradition has not reached a consensus regarding the question of whether identifying with an ingroup directly leads to ingroup bias, or whether this association may be moderated by group norms. One previous study (Jetten, Spears, & Manstead, 1997) showed that an ingroup norm of fairness as opposed to differentiation seems to moderate this link between identification and ingroup bias. The present research aims to examine the extent to which real-life group members (Kurds and Turks) with a history of conflict engage in ingroup bias as a function of their level of identification when group norms prescribe favoritism or equality. In Study 1, Kurdish and Turkish participants report their ingroup norm (egalitarianism or favoritism) and allocate a fixed amount of funds between Kurds and Turks in a hypothetical situation. The results show a significant interaction between social identification and group norm on ingroup bias. Accordingly, ingroup bias increases with the strength of identification when the norm is favoritism; however, there is no relationship when the norm is egalitarianism. Study 2 manipulates the ingroup norm for Kurdish and Turkish participants in the same hypothetical context. This time, the interaction is marginally significant but in a similar direction, where stronger identification leads to higher ingroup bias in the favoritism norm condition, yet this effect disappears in the egalitarianism norm condition. These findings extend the literature on the role of norms in intergroup relations, emphasizing the important role of egalitarian norms in reducing ingroup bias even in real-life conflict-ridden contexts., Author(s): Sami Çoksan [sup.1], Banu Cingöz-Ulu [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.6935.9, 0000 0001 1881 7391, Department of Psychology, Middle East Technical University, , Üniversiteler mah. Dumlupinar bul. No:1 06800 Çankaya, [...]

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Several data sets have been collected and various artificial intelligence models have been developed for COVID‐19 classification and detection from both chest radiography (CXR) and thorax computed tomography (CTX) images. However, the pitfalls and shortcomings of these systems significantly limit their clinical use. In this respect, improving the weaknesses of advanced models can be very effective besides developing new ones. The inability to diagnose ground‐glass opacities by conventional CXR has limited the use of this modality in the diagnostic work‐up of COVID‐19. In our study, we investigated whether we could increase the diagnostic efficiency by collecting a novel CXR data set, which contains pneumonic regions that are not visible to the experts and can only be annotated under CTX guidance. We develop an ensemble methodology of well‐established deep CXR models for this new data set and develop a machine learning‐based non‐maximum suppression strategy to boost the performance for challenging CXR images. CTX and CXR images of 379 patients who applied to our hospital with suspected COVID‐19 were evaluated with consensus by seven radiologists. Among these, CXR images of 161 patients who also have had a CTX examination on the same day or until the day before or after and whose CTX findings are compatible with COVID‐19 pneumonia, are selected for annotating. CTX images are arranged in the main section passing through the anterior, middle, and posterior according to the sagittal plane with the reformed maximum intensity projection (MIP) method in the coronal plane. Based on the analysis of coronal MIP reconstructed CTX images, the regions corresponding to the pneumonia foci are annotated manually in CXR images. Radiologically classified posterior to anterior (PA) CXR of 218 patients with negative thorax CTX imaging were classified as COVID‐19 pneumonia negative group. Accordingly, we have collected a new data set using anonymized CXR (JPEG) and CT (DICOM) images, where the PA CXRs contain pneumonic regions that are hidden or not easily recognized and annotated under CTX guidance. The reference finding was the presence of pneumonic infiltration consistent with COVID‐19 on chest CTX examination. COVID‐Net, a specially designed convolutional neural network, was used to detect cases of COVID‐19 among CXRs. Diagnostic performances were evaluated by ROC analysis by applying six COVID‐Net variants (COVIDNet‐CXR3‐A, ‐B, ‐C/COVIDNet‐CXR4‐A, ‐B, ‐C) to the defined data set and combining these models in various ways via ensemble strategies. Finally, a convex optimization strategy is carried out to find the outperforming weighted ensemble of individual models. The mean age of 161 patients with pneumonia was 49.31 ± 15.12, and the median age was 48 years. The mean age of 218 patients without signs of pneumonia in thorax CTX examination was 40.04 ± 14.46, and the median was 38. When working with different combinations of COVID‐Net's six variants, the area under the curve (AUC) using the ensemble COVID‐Net CXR 4A‐4B‐3C was.78, sensitivity 67%, specificity 95%; COVID‐Net CXR 4a‐3b‐3c was.79, sensitivity 69% and specificity 94%. When diverse and complementary COVID‐Net models are used together through an ensemble, it has been determined that the AUC values are close to other studies, and the specificity is significantly higher than other studies in the literature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background The genomes of HIV-2 and some SIV strains contain the accessory gene vpx, which carries out several functions during infection, including the downregulation of SAMHD1. Vpx is also commonly used in experiments to increase HIV-1 infection efficiency in myeloid cells, particularly in studies that investigate the activation of antiviral pathways. However, the potential effects of Vpx on cellular innate immune signaling is not completely understood. We investigated whether and how Vpx affects ISG responses in monocytic cell lines and MDMs during HIV-1 infection. Results HIV-1 infection at excessively high virus doses can induce ISG activation, although at the expense of high levels of cell death. At equal infection levels, the ISG response is potentiated by the presence of Vpx and requires the initiation of reverse transcription. The interaction of Vpx with the DCAF1 adaptor protein is important for the enhanced response, implicating Vpx-mediated degradation of a host factor. Cells lacking SAMHD1 show similarly augmented responses, suggesting an effect that is independent of SAMHD1 degradation. Overcoming SAMHD1 restriction in MDMs to reach equal infection levels with viruses containing and lacking Vpx reveals a novel function of Vpx in elevating innate immune responses. Conclusions Vpx likely has as yet undefined roles in infected cells. Our results demonstrate that Vpx enhances ISG responses in myeloid cell lines and primary cells independently of its ability to degrade SAMHD1. These findings have implications for innate immunity studies in myeloid cells that use Vpx delivery with HIV-1 infection.