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OBJECTIVE: ACTN2, encoding alpha-actinin-2, is essential for cardiac and skeletal muscle sarcomeric function. ACTN2 variants are a known cause of cardiomyopathy without skeletal muscle involvement. Recently, specific dominant monoallelic variants were reported as a rare cause of core myopathy of variable clinical onset, although the pathomechanism remains to be elucidated. The possibility of a recessively inherited ACTN2-myopathy has also been proposed in a single series. METHODS: We provide clinical, imaging, and histological characterization of a series of patients with a novel biallelic ACTN2 variant. RESULTS: We report seven patients from five families with a recurring biallelic variant in ACTN2: c.1516A>G (p.Arg506Gly), all manifesting with a consistent phenotype of asymmetric, progressive, proximal, and distal lower extremity predominant muscle weakness. None of the patients have cardiomyopathy or respiratory insufficiency. Notably, all patients report Palestinian ethnicity, suggesting a possible founder ACTN2 variant, which was confirmed through haplotype analysis in two families. Muscle biopsies reveal an underlying myopathic process with disruption of the intermyofibrillar architecture, Type I fiber predominance and atrophy. MRI of the lower extremities demonstrate a distinct pattern of asymmetric muscle involvement with selective involvement of the hamstrings and adductors in the thigh, and anterior tibial group and soleus in the lower leg. Using an in vitro splicing assay, we show that c.1516A>G ACTN2 does not impair normal splicing. INTERPRETATION: This series further establishes ACTN2 as a muscle disease gene, now also including variants with a recessive inheritance mode, and expands the clinical spectrum of actinopathies to adult-onset progressive muscle disease.

Abstract The electromagnetic compatibility analysis of RF circuitry is essential due to the adverse effects on sensitive components. Two metamaterial unit cells with slow‐wave properties are presented for cross‐talk reduction in transmission lines. The analytical expressions for computing equivalent lumped elements of the lines are then provided. The dispersion diagram is obtained from the parameters extracted from the measurement. A microstrip as the generator line and five identical CRLH unit cells as the receptor line are then used and a significant reduction in cross‐talk is observed in comparison to conventional lines. A non‐uniform transmission line with two different CRLH unit cells as the receptor line is then employed and found effective in further cross‐talk reduction between the lines. The lengths of the lines and numbers of cells are kept the same in all lines for comparison. The simulated results are validated by measurements.

Purpose – This paper aims to examine how leadership style in audit firms influences audit quality. The paper further explores the mediating role of knowledge sharing in the relationship between leadership style and audit quality. Design/methodology/approach – The present paper studies the effects of transformational and servant leadership styles on audit quality through knowledge sharing. Data are collected from 396 Iranian external auditors via a questionnaire. Findings – The results show that both transformational and servant leadership style significantly influence audit quality through knowledge sharing. Moreover, the impact of transformational leadership style is stronger than the impact of servant leadership style. Originality/value – In audit quality literature, little attention has been devoted to both leadership style and knowledge sharing. This paper develops a parsimonious model which shows how leadership style improves audit quality, and how knowledge sharing strengthens the impact of leadership style on audit quality. The results have important implications particularly for audit industry. 研究目的 – 本文探討審計公司內的領導風格會如何影響審計質量; 本文亦進一步探索、在領導風格與審計質量的關聯上、知識共享所扮演的調節角色。 研究設計/方法/理念 – 本文旨在研究透過知識共享、轉型領導風格和僕人式領導風格會如何影響審計質量。數據取自396名伊朗外聘審計員，方法是透過一份調查問卷而進行的。 研究結果 – 研究結果顯示、轉型領導風格和僕人式領導風格兩者均會透過知識共享、影響著審計質量，而且，這影響是頗為顯著的。就影響的程度而言，轉型領導風格的影響則較僕人式領導風格的更為強烈。 研究的原創性/價值 – 在研究審計質量的文獻裡，學者對領導風格和知識共享這兩個課題均沒多大關注。本文建立了一個簡約模型，去顯示領導風格如何能改善審計質量，以及知識共享如何能增強領導風格對審計質量的影響。研究結果給予我們重要的啟示，尤對審計行業而言。

Abstract The nanoporous compound SBA-15 was functionalized using (3-aminopropyl)trimethoxysilane (APTES). Then the obtained product was modified with ellagic acid (ELA), a bioactive polyphenolic compound. The structure of the prepared nanoporous composition SBA-15@ELA was extensively characterized and confirmed by various techniques, such as Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy, Energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) elemental analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and N2 adsorption–desorption isotherms (BET). The novel, recoverable, heterogenous SBA-15@ELA nanoporous compound was used to investigate its catalytic effect in the synthesis of 4-oxo-quinazoline derivatives (19 examples) with high yields (78–96%), as an important class of nitrogen-containing heterocyclic compounds. The use of an inexpensive mesoporous catalyst with a high surface area, along with easy recovery by simple filtration are among the advantages of this catalysis research work. The catalyst has been used in at least 6 consecutive runs without a significant loss of its activity.

Abstract Objective ACTN2, encoding alpha‐actinin‐2, is essential for cardiac and skeletal muscle sarcomeric function. ACTN2 variants are a known cause of cardiomyopathy without skeletal muscle involvement. Recently, specific dominant monoallelic variants were reported as a rare cause of core myopathy of variable clinical onset, although the pathomechanism remains to be elucidated. The possibility of a recessively inherited ACTN2‐myopathy has also been proposed in a single series. Methods We provide clinical, imaging, and histological characterization of a series of patients with a novel biallelic ACTN2 variant. Results We report seven patients from five families with a recurring biallelic variant in ACTN2: c.1516A>G (p.Arg506Gly), all manifesting with a consistent phenotype of asymmetric, progressive, proximal, and distal lower extremity predominant muscle weakness. None of the patients have cardiomyopathy or respiratory insufficiency. Notably, all patients report Palestinian ethnicity, suggesting a possible founder ACTN2 variant, which was confirmed through haplotype analysis in two families. Muscle biopsies reveal an underlying myopathic process with disruption of the intermyofibrillar architecture, Type I fiber predominance and atrophy. MRI of the lower extremities demonstrate a distinct pattern of asymmetric muscle involvement with selective involvement of the hamstrings and adductors in the thigh, and anterior tibial group and soleus in the lower leg. Using an in vitro splicing assay, we show that c.1516A>G ACTN2 does not impair normal splicing. Interpretation This series further establishes ACTN2 as a muscle disease gene, now also including variants with a recessive inheritance mode, and expands the clinical spectrum of actinopathies to adult‐onset progressive muscle disease.

Abstract A technique for wireless power transfer (WPT) efficiency improvement by a proper design of the excitation waveform is presented. This improvement is obtained on the one hand by a combined‐harmonics excitation, and on the other hand by exploiting multiple‐resonance coupled resonators. In contrast to wireless communications, there is no constraint on the linearity of the transmitter and receiver in a WPT system. Therefore, the impact of the excitation waveform on the power transfer efficiency with the help of an analytical model is investigated. An optimum excitation waveform is determined to maximise the power transfer efficiency. Thereafter, the authors concentrate on designing a multiple‐resonance coupled resonator system that is consistent with the determined excitation waveform. This work introduces a non‐uniform spiral resonator for controlling the self‐resonant frequencies, which is consistent with the required excitation waveform. The performance of the designed coupled resonators is then evaluated using a 3D finite‐element method and experiments. The numerical simulation and experimental results are in good agreement, verifying the validity of our design.

Objective: Oral and dental problems are important issues in patients suffering from hematologic malignancies. This study aimed to assess the efficacy of supragingival irrigation with chlorhexidine in improving the oral health status of patients with hematologic malignancies.Methods: This randomized, single-blind, controlled clinical trial, included 32 patients suffering from blood dyscrasia and hospitalized in Imam-Reza Hospital, Mashhad, Iran. Participants were randomly allocated to intervention and control groups. The control subjects received routine dental care by cleaning their teeth daily with sterilized gauze soaked in normal saline. For the intervention group, supra-gingival irrigation with chlorhexidine was performed in addition to routine dental care. The Debris Index Simplified (DI-S) part of the Oral hygiene index-simplified (OHI-S) index was recorded in all patients at baseline (T0), one (T1), two (T2), and three (T3) weeks later. The World Health Organization (WHO) scale was used to assess oral mucositis.Results: DI-S decreased significantly in the intervention group (P

Summary: Pathogenic variants in the DES gene clinically manifest as progressive skeletal muscle weakness, cardiomyopathy with associated severe arrhythmias, and respiratory insufficiency, and are collectively known as desminopathies. While most DES pathogenic variants act via a dominant mechanism, recessively acting variants have also been reported. Currently, there are no effective therapeutic interventions for desminopathies of any type. Here, we report an affected individual with rapidly progressive dilated cardiomyopathy, requiring heart transplantation at age 13 years, in the setting of childhood-onset skeletal muscle weakness. We identified biallelic DES variants (c.640-13 T>A and c.1288+1 G>A) and show aberrant DES gene splicing in the affected individual’s muscle. Through the generation of an inducible lentiviral system, we transdifferentiated fibroblast cultures derived from the affected individual into myoblasts and validated this system using RNA sequencing. We tested rationally designed, custom antisense oligonucleotides to screen for splice correction in these transdifferentiated cells and a functional minigene splicing assay. However, rather than correctly redirecting splicing, we found them to induce undesired exon skipping. Our results indicate that, while an individual precision-based molecular therapeutic approach to splice-altering pathogenic variants is promising, careful preclinical testing is imperative for each novel variant to test the feasibility of this type of approach for translation.

Summary: Background: RYR1-related myopathies (RYR1-RM) are caused by pathogenic variants in the RYR1 gene which encodes the type 1 ryanodine receptor (RyR1). RyR1 is the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) calcium release channel that mediates excitation-contraction coupling in skeletal muscle. RyR1 sub-conductance, SR calcium leak, reduced RyR1 expression, and oxidative stress often contribute to RYR1-RM pathogenesis. Loss of RyR1-calstabin1 association, SR calcium leak, and increased RyR1 open probability were observed in 17 RYR1-RM patient skeletal muscle biopsies and improved following ex vivo treatment with Rycal compounds. Thus, we initiated a first-in-patient trial of Rycal S48168 (ARM210) in ambulatory adults with genetically confirmed RYR1-RM. Methods: Participants received 120 mg (n = 3) or 200 mg (n = 4) S48168 (ARM210) daily for 29 days. The primary endpoint was safety and tolerability. Exploratory endpoints included S48168 (ARM210) pharmacokinetics (PK), target engagement, motor function measure (MFM)-32, hand grip and pinch strength, timed functional tests, PROMIS fatigue scale, semi-quantitative physical exam strength measurements, and oxidative stress biomarkers. The trial was registered with clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04141670) and was conducted at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center between October 28, 2019 and December 12, 2021. Findings: S48168 (ARM210) was well-tolerated, did not cause any serious adverse events, and exhibited a dose-dependent PK profile. Three of four participants who received the 200 mg/day dose reported improvements in PROMIS-fatigue at 28 days post-dosing, and also demonstrated improved proximal muscle strength on physical examination. Interpretation: S48168 (ARM210) demonstrated favorable safety, tolerability, and PK, in RYR1-RM affected individuals. Most participants who received 200 mg/day S48168 (ARM210) reported decreased fatigue, a key symptom of RYR1-RM. These results set the foundation for a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled proof of concept trial to determine efficacy of S48168 (ARM210) in RYR1-RM. Funding: NINDS and NINR Intramural Research Programs, NIH Clinical Center Bench to Bedside Award (2017-551673), ARMGO Pharma Inc., and its development partner Les Laboratoires Servier.

The coronavirus disease or COVID-19, as a global disease, is an unprecedented health care crisis due to increasing mortality and its high rate of infection. Patients usually show significant complications in the respiratory system. This disease is caused by SARS-CoV-2. Decreasing the time of diagnosis is essential for reducing deaths and low spreading of the virus. Also, using the optimal tool in the pediatric setting and Intensive care unit (ICU) is required. Therefore, using lung ultrasound is recommended. It does not have any radiation and it has a lower cost. However, it makes noisy and low-quality data. In this paper, we propose a novel approach called Uniform Local Binary Pattern on Five intersecting Planes and convolutional neural Network (ULBPFP-Net) that overcomes the said limitation. We extract worthwhile features from five planes for feeding a network. Our experiments confirm the success of the ULBPFP-Net in COVID-19 diagnosis compared to the previous approaches.

Abstract Objective FHL1‐related reducing body myopathy is an ultra‐rare, X‐linked dominant myopathy. In this cross‐sectional study, we characterize skeletal muscle ultrasound, muscle MRI, and cardiac MRI findings in FHL1‐related reducing body myopathy patients. Methods Seventeen patients (11 male, mean age 35.4, range 12–76 years) from nine independent families with FHL1‐related reducing body myopathy underwent clinical evaluation, muscle ultrasound (n = 11/17), and lower extremity muscle MRI (n = 14/17), including Dixon MRI (n = 6/17). Muscle ultrasound echogenicity was graded using a modified Heckmatt scale. T1 and STIR axial images of the lower extremity muscles were evaluated for pattern and distribution of abnormalities. Quantitative analysis of intramuscular fat fraction was performed using the Dixon MRI images. Cardiac studies included electrocardiogram (n = 15/17), echocardiogram (n = 17/17), and cardiac MRI (n = 6/17). Cardiac muscle function, T1 maps, T2‐weighted black blood images, and late gadolinium enhancement patterns were analyzed. Results Muscle ultrasound showed a distinct pattern of increased echointensity in skeletal muscles with a nonuniform, multifocal, and “geographical” distribution, selectively involving the deeper fascicles of muscles such as biceps and tibialis anterior. Lower extremity muscle MRI showed relative sparing of gluteus maximus, rectus femoris, gracilis, and lateral gastrocnemius muscles and an asymmetric and multifocal, “geographical” pattern of T1 hyperintensity within affected muscles. Cardiac studies revealed mild and nonspecific abnormalities on electrocardiogram and echocardiogram with unremarkable cardiac MRI studies. Interpretation Skeletal muscle ultrasound and muscle MRI reflect the multifocal aggregate formation in muscle in FHL1‐related reducing body myopathy and are practical and informative tools that can aid in diagnosis and monitoring of disease progression.

Abstract The arbitrary and overuses of antibiotics have resulted in the emergence of multidrug resistance bacteria which encounters human to a serious public health problem. Thus, there is an ever-increasing demand for discovery of novel effective antibiotics with new modes of function against resistant pathogens. Endophytic actinobacteria (EA) have currently been considered as one of the most prospective group of microorganisms for discovery of therapeutic agents. This study aimed to isolate EA from Thymes kotschyanus, Allium hooshidaryae, and Cerasus microcarpa plants and to evaluate their antibacterial properties. The healthy samples were collected, dissected and surface-sterilized before cultured on four different selection media at 28 °C. Nine EA were isolated and identified based on morphological and molecular properties, and scanning electron micrograph analyses. Based on phylogenetic analysis, they were taxonomically grouped into four families Streptomycetaceae, Nocardiaceae, Micromonosporaceae, and Pseudonocardiaceae. Their branched aerial mycelia produced chains of cylindrical or cube or oval shaped spores with smooth or rough surfaces. Four strains; IKBG03, IKBG05, IKBG13, and IKBG17 had less than 98.65% sequence similarity to their closely related strains, which constitute them as novel species/strains. Besides, three strains; IKBG05, IKBG13, and IKBG18 were reported as endophytes for the first time. Preliminary antibacterial activity conducted on the all isolates revealed potent antibacterial effects against Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. All isolates strongly inhibited the growth of at least one of the tested pathogens. Our results reveals that the test plants are novel sources for isolating a diverse group of rare and common actinobacteria that could produce a wide range of novel biologically active natural products with antibacterial activity which have a great potential in pharmaceutical and biotechnological applications.

Abstract Background Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a highly prevalent disease that has life-threatening consequences like micro and macrovascular complication. Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is one of the common consequences of T2DM which is related to secretory factors like hepatokines. Angiopoietin-Like Protein 3 (ANGPTL3) is a hepatokine that is perturbated in cardiometabolic diseases and experimental studies showed its effect on renal functions and lipid metabolism. For the first time, ANGPTL3 was measured in patients with T2DM and DN in the present study. Methods Serum levels of ANGPTL3, IL-6, and TNF-α were measured in 60 healthy control, 60 T2DM patients, and 61 DN patients. Results Serum levels of ANGPTL3 increased in T2DM (252.39 ± 66.01) and DN (284.59 ± 69.27) patients compared to controls (160.22 ± 48.96), and DN patients compared with T2DM patients. Urinary albumin excretion (UAE) was higher in the DN group compared to T2DM and control groups. Moreover, serum levels of IL-6 and TNF-α were elevated in both patient groups compared to controls. Moreover, ANGPTL3 represented a positive correlation with triglycerides, creatinine, and UAE in patients with both T2DM and DN groups and showed an inverse correlation with eGFR in patients with DN. Moreover, this hepatokine had a good potential to differentiate patients from controls, especially, DN patients. Conclusions these findings provide invivo evidence for the relation of ANGPTL3 with renal dysfunction and hypertriglyceridemia in patients with DN which is in line with experimental findings and suggested a potential role for this hepatokine in DN pathogenesis.

Abstract This article presents a technique for controlling energy coupling in a coupled transmission line system based on the space–time modulation concept. The per-unit-length mutual capacitance and mutual inductance of the structure are modulated in space and time. The main idea is based on the harmonic generation property of space–time modulated media. As the amplitude of harmonics is a function of modulation parameters it is demonstrated that by choosing an appropriate space–time modulation scheme energy of different harmonics can be engineered leading to crosstalk reduction. In the quest for designing an effective space–time modulation scheme, an analytical method is developed for the examination of the space–time modulated coupled transmission line. The proposed method which is based on the state space formulation and benefits from the coupled mode theory is fast and accurate making it feasible for design problems. To validate the proposed analytical method, a full-wave simulation method has been used. The time-varying nature of the problem makes the finite-difference-time-domain the most appropriate choice. The validity of the analytical method is rigorously verified against the developed finite-difference-time-domain technique. The interest in circuit design techniques in an IC-compatible fashion in microwave circuits and the introduction of tunable material such as graphene in the THz regime leads to a positive future for the proposed space–time modulation-based crosstalk reduction method.

This paper introduces an innovative method for quantitatively determining plasma density in plasma columns, with particular applicability to reconfigurable antennas. This method significantly enhances the speed of capturing density variations, particularly in surface wave-excited antennas. By utilizing images of excited plasma tubes, the proposed approach extracts a light intensity versus plasma density (LIVPD) graph, creating a direct correspondence between visible light intensity and plasma density. The methodology, encompassing LIVPD graph extraction and plasma density evaluation, is comprehensively elucidated. Rigorous analytical and experimental validations confirm a minor deviation of approximately 8.5%. The versatility of the method is demonstrated through two practical applications, reaffirming its accuracy in challenging scenarios. Additionally, this study includes a comparative analysis that highlights the superiority of the method in terms of sampling rate, measurement points, and non-intrusiveness over conventional techniques. This paper thus presents a robust method with promising potential for accurate plasma density determination in diverse antenna applications.

With the emergence of fifth-generation cellular networks (5G), there has been significant interest in multi-input-multi-output (MIMO) systems. MIMO systems aim to achieve several key objectives, including increasing capacity, mitigating the negative effects of multi-path propagation, minimizing interference, and achieving higher data rates. Furthermore, the utilization of millimeter-wave (mmWave) technology and high bandwidth can address traffic congestion and interference challenges, leading to substantial improvements in data rates, spectral efficiency, and overall bandwidth. In the realm of mmWave communications, massive MIMO systems incorporating lens antenna arrays have proven effective in reducing the number of required radio-frequency chains. This paper presents two distinct approaches to address the challenge of massive MIMO channel estimation in mmWave communications. The first approach proposes a compressed sensing (CS) scheme based on convex optimization, which offers accurate and low-complexity channel estimation. The second approach introduces an estimation algorithm based on the greedy method, which provides fast reconstruction, a straightforward geometric interpretation, and a mathematically efficient framework. Extensive simulations demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed algorithms compared to similar methods such as support detection (SD), orthogonal matching pursuit (OMP), and sparsity mask detection (SMD). The proposed algorithms exhibit higher channel estimation accuracy, better recovery quality, and fast convergence rates.

Abstract Background Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is linked to an accelerated risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Some key CVD risk factors are present in patients suffering from OSA such as hypertension, inflammation, oxidative stress, and dyslipidemia. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC) is proposed as a reliable biomarker of HDL function and the present study aimed to quantify this biomarker in patients with OSA. Methods ATP binding cassette subfamily A member 1 (ABCA1), non-ABCA1, and total CEC were determined in 69 polysomnographic-confirmed OSA patients and 23 controls. Moreover, paraoxonase (PON) activities, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), apolipoprotein B (apo B), and apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I) circulating levels were quantified in the studied population. Results: All CEC measures were reduced in the OSA group compared to the control group. Strikingly, ABCA1 CEC was diminished in severe OSA in comparison with mild OSA. Furthermore, PON activities and apo A-I showed lower levels, while hsCRP and apo B were elevated in OSA patients compared to controls. Moreover, ABCA1 CEC showed an inverse association with hsCRP and a positive association with apo A-I, while non-ABCA1 CEC presented an association with HDL-C. Conclusion These results suggest the presence of an impaired HDL function in OSA. In particular, ABCA1 CEC was associated with disease severity and inflammation which could be a factor increasing the risk of CVD.

AbstractIntroduction: In this research, barium carbonate was synthesized via mechanochemical method from the mixture of barite concentrate-sodium carbonate. The producing of barium carbonate form barite concentrate and the evaluation of the phases/products were the goal of this research.Methods: After crushing the barite concentrate, the acid washing process was done with 1 N of HCl. The mixtures of barite concentrate-sodium carbonate with different molar ratios (BaSO4:Na2CO3=1:1, 1:2, 1:2.5) were prepared and milled in a planetary mill for different times (2 and 5 hours). The as-milled samples and the heated products were dissolved in distilled water and then the solid residues were dried in an oven. The isothermal heating of the samples was done into the alumina and zirconia crucibles. The unmilled mixture of barite concentrate-sodium carbonate was also prepared. The findings of this research were evaluated using XRF, XRD and STA methods and the microstructures of the samples were studied by SEM method.Findings: The2 and 5 h-milled mixtures showed the sign of chemical reaction between the starting materials (barite concentrate-sodium carbonate) at 720⁰C in STA results. This sign however was observed at 735 ͦC in the unmilled mixture. According to XRD patterns, the chemical reaction between barite concentrates and sodium carbonate was not completed in the milled mixtures. The signs of orthorhombic phase of barium carbonate were observed in the products after isothermal heating at700⁰C for 1 h. The results indicated that the isothermal heating of the milled mixture of barite concentrate-sodium carbonate with a molar ratio of 1:2.5 at 750⁰C for 2 h was the suitable conditions for synthesizing of barium carbonate. Additionally, the weak signs of an intermediate phase (Ca4Ba2Si6O18) were observed in the XRD patterns of the barite concentrate-sodium carbonate mixture. For comparison, the experiments were performed with pure barium sulfate sample (Barex). In the product of isothermal heating (750⁰C, 2 h) for the mixture of barium sulfate (Barex)-sodium carbonate (molar ratio :1:2.5), barium carbonate phase was produced and no trace of the intermediate phase was observed. The results of this research showed that it is possible to synthesis barium carbonate phase from the mixture of barite concentrate-sodium carbonate using ball milling process and isothermal heating.

IntroductionCropping history can affect our knowledge about the compositions and diversity of weed communities in the soil. Weed Species composition and density are influenced by farming practices and vary from field to field and among areas within fields. Plants that escape control and produce seeds within the field can be considered as a major source of seed entering the soil. Crop rotation is an effective weed management tool which can change weed distribution pattern by increasing selection pressures. Two types of rotation including corn-winter wheat and fallow-winter wheat are the most common cropping systems in arid and semi-arid areas of Iran. The multiple tillage operations can affect the vertical distribution, germination and emergence of weed seeds in the soil. Weed seed bank density, species composition and diversity will change when crop management practices are altered.Materials and MethodsA field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of corn-wheat and fallow-wheat crop rotations on weed seed bank dynamics and seedling population during 2016-2018 growing season at Shiraz University. The fields divided into 10 by 10 meter grids. Soil samples were taken from 0-15 and 15-30 cm depths by soil sampler (auger) with 10 cm diameter. These samples collected after seedbed preparation and before crop sowing from 144 points. The samples of each depth were mixed together, placed in black plastic bags, and transferred to the laboratory. Then, 250g of the total soil was weighed and separated. These samples was placed in silk bags and washed with low water pressure. Finally, weed seeds dried, identified and counted to the level of species using a binocular stereomicroscope. Those seeds that were resistant to forceps pressure assumed as healthy seeds. Weed seedling population were calculated using a quadrat before and after application of herbicide at the same points were seed bank was carried out. Geostatistics technique was used to investigate density and spatial distribution of weed seedlings in two different crop rotations.ResultThe highest frequency of weed seed bank belongs to Portalaca oleracea, Amaranthus retroflexus, Chenopodium album and Lamium amplexicaule. Relative density of P. oleracea and A. retroflexus seeds increased in corn-wheat rotation compared with fallow-wheat. The results showed that weed seed frequency was significantly affected by crop rotation and depth of plowing. As corn-wheat rotation had 33% increasing and fallow-wheat 19.44% decreasing of weed seed in 15-30 cm soil depth. The size of the total weed seed bank in corn-wheat caused a greater seed accumulation in the surface layer of the soil (0-15 cm). Weed seed density in corn-wheat rotation increased 89.79% and 62.85% in 0-15 and 15-30 cm, respectively during two years. Shannon diversity index increased by 12% in corn-wheat and decreased by 5.4% in fallow-wheat compared with the first year. Margalf index of corn-wheat rotation at 0-15 and 15-30 cm of soil depths decreased 33.70% and 38.25%, respectively, compared to the fallow-wheat rotation in the first year. Sorenson similarity index of corn-wheat and fallow-wheat at 0-15 and 15-30 soil depths was 0.82% and 0.80% during two years. The slope of linear regression also indicates that fallow-wheat weed seed bank (0.79) decreased more than corn-wheat rotation (0.47). Spatial distribution of weed seedlings showed that there is a large similarity in distribution patterns of total weed population between before and after herbicide application in two different rotations during the second year. However, distribution pattern of seedlings in corn-wheat rotation at the first year herbicide application was different after application of herbicide. Therefore, herbicide application can affect spatial distribution and number of weed seedling species.ConclusionCorn-wheat rotation as a high input level cropping system with deep tillage increases the size of the weed seed bank, especially in the soil surface layer (0-15 cm). While fallow-wheat rotation as a low input level cropping system causes a decreasing in weed seed bank dynamics, increasing in the diversity and richness of the seed bank and improving the soil structure by wheat residual on the soil during fallow system. The results of this study will be valuable in aiding the prediction of likely weed infestations in rotation systems. This ability to predict the size of weed seed bank, pouplation, diversity and emergence would also provide valuable input to population dynamics models that can be used in weed management.

Missense variants in RNA-binding proteins underlie many diseases. Here the authors report an oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy caused by heterozygous frameshift mutations in HNRNPA2B1 that alter its nucleocytoplasmic transport dynamics and result in cytoplasmic accumulation of hnRNPA2 protein.

Abstract Objective To define the transcriptomic changes responsible for the histologic alterations in skeletal muscle and their progression in collagen VI‐related muscular dystrophy (COL6‐RD). Methods COL6‐RD patient muscle biopsies were stratified into three groups based on the overall level of pathologic severity considering degrees of fibrosis, muscle fiber atrophy, and fatty replacement of muscle tissue. Using microarray and RNA‐Seq, we then performed global gene expression profiling on the same muscle biopsies and compared their transcriptome with age‐ and sex‐matched controls. Results COL6‐RD muscle biopsy transcriptomes as a group revealed prominent upregulation of muscle extracellular matrix component genes and the downregulation of skeletal muscle and mitochondrion‐specific genes. Upregulation of the TGFβ pathway was the most conspicuous change across all biopsies and was fully evident even in the mildest/earliest histological group. There was no difference in the overall transcriptional signature between the different histologic groups but polyserial analysis identified relative changes along with COL6‐RD histological severity. Interpretation Overall, our study establishes the prominent dysregulation of extracellular matrix genes, TGFβ signaling, and its downstream cellular pathways at the transcriptomic level in COL6‐RD muscle.

In this study mechanical properties of friction stir welded AM60 magnesium alloy in existence and lacking of alumina nanoparticles were examined. Microscopical analysis revealed peak condition could be made in 1200 rpm rotational speed, not only in the absence of reinforcing alumina nanoparticles but also in the presence of them. Adverse effects of higher strains in lowering grain size and higher temperatures in grain growth should be considered. In the existence of alumina nanoparticles in the matrix some areas of low content aluminum formed besides of high aluminum content of intermetallic compounds regions. Higher hardness and ultimate tensile strength achieved in optimum 1200 rpm rotational speed not only with alumina nanoparticles but also in the absence of alumina nanoparticles condition. Higher stresses and therefore lower agglomerated alumina nanoparticles resulted with increasing rotational speed. With alumina nanoparticles in matrix, lower grain size, higher hardness and higher ultimate tensile strength was attained.

AbstractThe effect of metallic agents such as aluminium, magnesium and mixture of magnesium-zinc was studied on the carbothermic reduction of titanium dioxide in this research under mechanical milling. The mechanical milling runs have been done in a planetary ball mill in different times. The mixtures of TiO2-Mg-C, TiO2-Mg-Zn-C and TiO2-Al-C were prepared based on stoichiometric ratios for each reaction. The acid washing process using 2 N HCl solution was done to remove the soluble phases after finishing mechanical milling of each sample. The isothermal heating was done at temperature of 1000 °C for one hour for solid residues of acid washing under flowing of argon atmosphere. The analysis of products and phases was done using XRD and the microstructure of samples studied by SEM. The results showed the reaction between titanium dioxide and carbon would be exothermic after the adding metallic agent. The reaction progresses via MSR mode for the mixture of TiO2-Al-C in milling conditions and the products were titanium carbide and alumina in the 5 h milled sample. The reduction reaction however progressed via intermediate titanium dioxide in the milled samples for mixtures of TiO2-Mg-C and TiO2-Mg-Zn-C. The signs of titanium carbide and intermediate titanium oxide such as Ti2O3 were observed in the milled mixtures of TiO2-Mg-C and TiO2-Mg-Zn-C after isothermal heating under argon atmosphere. The signs of Ti2O3 phase reveal that the reduction reaction of titanium dioxide does not be completed after 10 h milling when metallic agents such as magnesium and/or magnesium-zinc mixture are used

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects motor neurons. Mutations in the SPTLC1 subunit of serine palmitoyltransferase (SPT), which catalyzes the first step in the de novo synthesis of sphingolipids (SLs), cause childhood-onset ALS. SPTLC1-ALS variants map to a transmembrane domain that interacts with ORMDL proteins, negative regulators of SPT activity. We show that ORMDL binding to the holoenzyme complex is impaired in cells expressing pathogenic SPTLC1-ALS alleles, resulting in increased SL synthesis and a distinct lipid signature. C-terminal SPTLC1 variants cause peripheral hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy type 1 (HSAN1) due to the synthesis of 1-deoxysphingolipids (1-deoxySLs) that form when SPT metabolizes L-alanine instead of L-serine. Limiting L-serine availability in SPTLC1-ALS–expressing cells increased 1-deoxySL and shifted the SL profile from an ALS to an HSAN1-like signature. This effect was corroborated in an SPTLC1-ALS pedigree in which the index patient uniquely presented with an HSAN1 phenotype, increased 1-deoxySL levels, and an L-serine deficiency. These data demonstrate how pathogenic variants in different domains of SPTLC1 give rise to distinct clinical presentations that are nonetheless modifiable by substrate availability.

The contagious and pandemic COVID-19 disease is currently considered as the main health concern and posed widespread panic across human-beings. It affects the human respiratory tract and lungs intensely. So that it has imposed significant threats for premature death. Although, its early diagnosis can play a vital role in revival phase, the radiography tests with the manual intervention are a time-consuming process. Time is also limited for such manual inspecting of numerous patients in the hospitals. Thus, the necessity of automatic diagnosis on the chest X-ray or the Computed Tomography (CT) images with a high effcient performance is urgent. Toward this end, we propose a novel method, named as the ULGFBP-ResNet51 to tackle with the COVID-19 diagnosis in the images. In fact, this method includes Uniform Local Binary Pattern (ULBP), Gabor Filter (GF), and 51-layer Residual Neural Networks (ResNet51). According to our results, this method could offer superior performance in comparison with the other methods, and attain maximum accuracy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper introduces analytical solutions to gap waveguide slot antenna structures. The reciprocity method is used for the analysis by exploiting Green’s function of a bed of nails structure employing a homogenized plane-wave spectral-domain approach. Green’s function is found using parallel plate waveguide and surface admittance concepts. The spectral surface admittance of the pin structure is calculated using asymptotic boundary condition (ABC), and the unknown antenna slot currents are solved using moment methods. The structure is designed to have a cutoff frequency of 10–15 GHz, and the central operating frequency of the slot is 12.5 GHz. This approach is applied to the specific geometry of a propagating ridge gap waveguide single transverse broad wall slot antenna structure. The equivalent series impedance and far zone fields and patterns are calculated, and the results are compared with a full-wave commercial software, and they are proved to be accurate.