The role of human SAMHD1 in restricting porcine endogenous retroviruses (PERVs) and the innate immune response to PERV infection in human primary immune cells

The release of porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) particles from pig cells is a potential risk factor during xenotransplantation by way of productively infecting the human transplant recipient. Potential countermeasures against PERV replication are restriction factors, such as SAMHD1, that block retroviral replication. SAMHD1 is a triphosphohydrolase that depletes the cellular pool of dNTPs in non-cycling cells preventing retroviral reverse transcription. Restriction factors and innate immune responses are the first line of defense against invading pathogens. Sensing of viruses in a cell usually results in the production of type I IFNs that lead to the activation of IFN-stimulated genes. The first part of this study focuses on the analysis of the antiviral activity of SAMHD1 against PERV-A/C in human immune cells. To study that, PERV-A/Cs originating from activated porcine PBMCs was used to infect human primary cells from healthy human donors. In parallel, primary cells were transduced with virus-like particles (VLPs) lacking or containing the Vpx protein from SIVmac239. The result showed that SAMHD1 potently restricts PERV-A/C reverse transcription in human monocytes, monocyte-derived dendritic cells (MDDC), macrophages (MDM) or resting-CD4+ T-cells and in monocytic THP-1 cells. Degradation of SAMHD1 by SIVmac Vpx or CRISPR/Cas9 knock-out of SAMHD1 allowed for PERV reverse transcription. Addition of deoxynucleosides alleviated the SAMHD1-mediated restriction suggesting that SAMHD1-mediated degradation of dNTPs restricts PERV replication in these human immune cells. The aims in the second part of this study were to investigate the IFN response by monitoring induction of IFN stimulated genes following infection by PERV-A/Cs, and to identify the signaling pathways, which play a role in the type I IFNs response. The results showed that PERV-A/C increased (over 100-fold) CXCL-10 production in human MDDCs, monocytes and MDMs compared with non-infected cells or heat-inactivated virus. Treatment with VLP+Vpx or empty VLP did not cause more CXCL-10 induction compared with untreatment. The JAK-inhibitor (AT9283) reduced the CXCL-10 induction in infected cells indicating that the JAK/STAT pathway is activated by PERV-A/C infection of primary human myeloid cells. In conclusion, the findings in this work highlight SAMHD1 as a potential barrier to PERV-A/C transmission from pig transplants to human recipients during xenotransplantation

Assessment Mixing and Compaction Temperatures for Modified HMA Using Superpave High Shear Viscosity Methods

The objective of this study is determining the mixing and compaction temperature of the modified asphalt mixture. Results of binder tests showed that the addition of 3% SBS  to control asphalt (PG 64-16) would achieve the desired performance level (PG 76-16) a performance grade that fits our climate with traffic loads. When using 5% SBS the performance grade of binder increased three grades (PG 82-16) and when increasing SBS content to 8% the performance grade increased four grades (PG 88-16). At shear rate of 500 (s-1), the modified asphalt viscosity can be obtained at different temperatures and the viscosity temperature curve can be achieved. As a result, the mixing and compaction temperature of modified asphalt can be determined to reach 0.17 ± 0.02 Pa.s and 0.28 ± 0.03 Pa.s for mixing and compaction, respectively. It is noted that SBS modified reached a viscosity of 3 Pa.s when 8 % additive. Additive contents above these values may not be suitable for good workability and pump ability according to Superpave specifications. While addition of 5% SBS with control asphalt, more than 3.7times at 135°C Increase the viscosity. Marshall Stability test indicated that the strength for the SBS specimens increases as compared to the conventional specimens. An increase of about 39%, 74%, 102%, was observed with 3%SBS 5%SBS 8%SBS modified binders, respectively. The Marshall test results for 8%SBS binders required compaction temperatures above 175°C need to keep up quality of HMA item while limiting natural effect amid development, these proposals are unsatisfactory Modified mixtures the 5% SBS modification was determined to be the maximum useful content. The Superpave method to estimate mixing and compaction temperatures show are not practical for use with modified binders. Also,  it is observed that good agreement values between the average Marshall compaction temperature and the High Shear Viscosity Method (HSRV) and   lower than Superpave methods Where the decline ranges from 15 ºC to 17 ºC

The Role of Technical and Self Skills in Improving Competitiveness A field study on public banks in Lattakia Governorate

Leadership skills are one of the most important skills that managers must have in organizations because of their importance in improving performance and guiding it in the direction that ensures achieving the overall goals in the optimal way. Numerous can be summed up in the self, technical, intellectual and human skills, as these skills contribute to improving the competitiveness of organizations, and strengthening their competitive position in the market. The research aims to assess the availability of technical and subjective skills among a sample of managers of public banks in Lattakia, and to study their relationship to competitiveness in terms of size of competitiveness and scope of competition. To achieve this, two main hypotheses were formulated, and the researcher used the interview method to collect data that was analyzed using statistical tests, the most important of which are: One-Sample T. test, and Pearson Correlation. The researcher reached several results, the most important of which are: a good direct relationship between technical skills and competitiveness, and an intermediate positive relationship between subjective skills and competitiveness. تعد المهارات القيادية من أهم المهارات التي يجب أن تتوافر لدى المدراء في المنظمات نظراً لأهميتها في تحسين الأداء وتوجيهه بالاتجاه الذي يضمن تحقيق الأهداف العامة بالشكل الأمثل، وتستمد أهميتها من أهمية المورد البشري كونه المورد الأكثر أهمية وتأثيراً في أداء المنظمة، حيث قسم الباحثون هذه المهارات تقسيمات عديدة يمكن إجمالها بالمهارات الذاتية والفنية والفكرية والإنسانية، حيث أن هذه المهارات تسهم في تحسين القدرة التنافسية للمنظمات، وتدعيم مركزها التنافسي في السوق. ويهدف البحث إلى تقييم مدى توافر المهارات الفنية والذاتية لدى عينة من مدراء المصارف العامة في محافظة اللاذقية، ودراسة علاقتها بالقدرة التنافسية من حيث حجم القدرة التنافسية ونطاق التنافس. ولتحقيق ذلك تمّ صياغة فرضيتين رئيستين، واستخدم الباحث أسلوب المقابلة لجمع البيانات الّتي تمّ تحليلها باستخدام اختبارات إحصائيّة أهمّها: اختبار الوسط الحسابي One- Sample T. test، واختبار الارتباط الثّنائي Pearson Correlation. وقد توصل الباحث إلى عدّة نتائج أهمّها: وجود علاقة طردية جيدة بين المهارات الفنية والقدرة التنافسية، وعلاقة طردية متوسطة بين المهارات الذاتية والقدرة التنافسية.

A Descriptive Analysis of Job Satisfaction among Faculty Members: Case of Private Vocational and Technical Education Institutions, Baabda, Mount Lebanon, Lebanon

The study aimed to assess Job Satisfaction (JS) among teaching staff in private vocational and technical education institutions in Mount Lebanon, Lebanon. The study is descriptive and analytic, using a sample of 200 teachers from 13 schools and institutes chosen according to the coordinated random method. A questionnaire created and validated by Warr, Cook, and Wall is adopted to measure job satisfaction. This questionnaire includes personal information like job status, educational level, number of years of work, monthly income, age, gender, and social status. Using a seven-level Likert scale, it also contains 15 items to measure various dimensions of job satisfaction (internal and external factors). Results show a low overall mean of 4.69 out of 7 with a standard deviation of 1.15 for job satisfaction, based on data analysis using the SPSS program. Also, the majority of respondents are not satisfied with the wage received (the overall mean of job satisfaction=3.83, with a standard deviation of 2.00); there is a low level of JS among teachers concerning the degree of job security (mean=4.13 with a standard deviation of 1.91); there are no statistically significant differences in JS among teachers due to demographics. Capitalizing on the results, recommendations are made

Traffic Congestion Measures and Sustainability Evaluation of Urban Street

Traffic congestion become a serious problem that traffic engineers still face. This research explains the sustainable indicators and congestion index for urban streets and their implementation to evaluate the performance measures proceeding toward sustainable roads. Congestion measures in terms of speed reduction and sustainable indicators; mobility (congestion index, travel time, and delay), costs (vehicle operating cost), socio-economic effect (in terms of an estimated factor called User Satisfaction Index (USI), and air pollution (Fuel emissions) are estimated. Link 3 has the highest delay value of approximately (2 minutes) for the evening peak period in the north-south direction due to a large number of vehicles dense traffic and mixed land use of the study area that produce many attraction trips daily. Congestion is distributed more spatially during the morning peak periods, while in evening periods is relatively concentrated on a specific link. The reduction in travel speed due to the congestion effect induced higher vehicle operating costs of an average unit of 2.9 per Km for links 1, 2.6, and 2.4 for links 2 and 3, respectively, at peak time from (8 a.m. to 12 a.m.). Generally, traffic congestion is mainly concentrated on Links 1 and 3 of Palestine’s urban street segments. The overall user satisfaction index (USI) is 2.209 and about 44.18%, meaning user satisfaction is less than 50%. This illustrates that the selected segment of the study area is unsustainable regarding the social and commuter opinions aspect

ANTICHOLINESTERASE ACTIVITY OF ENDEMIC PLANT EXTRACTS FROM SOQOTRA

A total of 30 chloroform and methanol extracts from the following endemic Soqotran plants Acridocarpus socotranus Olive, Boswellia socotranao Balf.fil, Boswellia elongata Balf. fil., Caralluma socotrana N. Br, Cephalocroton socotranus Balf.f, Croton socotranus Balf. fil.., Dendrosicycos socotrana Balf.f., Dorstenia gigas Schweinf. ex Balf. fil., Eureiandra balfourii Cogn. & Balf. fil., Kalanchoe farinaceae Balf.f, Limonium sokotranum (Vierh) Radcl. Sm), Oldenlandia pulvinata, Pulicaria diversifolia( Balf. and Pulicaria stephanocarpa Balf. were screened for their acetylcholinesterase inhibitory activity by using in vitro Ellman method at 50 and 200 µg/ml concentrations. Chloroform extracts of Croton socotranus, Boswellia socotrana, Dorstenia gigas, and Pulicaria stephanocarpa as well as methanol extracts of Eureiandra balfourii exhibited inhibitory activities higher than 50 % at concentration of 200 ï­g. At a concentrations of 50 ï­g, the chloroform extract of Croton socotranus exhibited an inhibition of 40.6 %

Antibacterial, antioxidant, wound healing activities and stop-bleeding effect of methanolic extract of Tridax procumbens L. leaves

Tridax procumbens is a leafy herb commonly used in different traditional treatments in many countries including Yemen. The main aim of the present study is evaluating some specific biological activities (antibacterial, antiradical, wound healing potential and stop- bleeding effect) of methanolic (MeOH) extract of T. procumbens leaves collected from Yemen. Antibacterial effect was examined by paper disc diffusion method against different bacterial species, antioxidant was evaluated in vitro against 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals, wound healing and stop-bleeding were evaluated in experimental animals. Phytochemicals were screened by qualitative standard methods. Results showed that, MeOH extract of T. procumbens exhibited a strong anti-DPPH radical effect with IC50 value 151.23 µg/mL. Antibacterial activity was only observed against Klebsiella pneumoniae with the highest inhibition zone 16 mm by 100 mg/mL of extract. Completely healing for wounds treated with 50 mg/mL, 25mg/mL and 12.5mg/mL of extract was observed on the 11th day of treatment and the treatment applications with plant extract (50 mg/mL, 25mg/mL and 12.5mg/mL) significantly (P<0.05) reduced the time of bleeding by 50% compare to control. Major bioactive phytochemicals were detected in MeOH extract of T. procumbens. The obtained results in this study indicated that, T. procumbens could be used as natural source for many forms of pharmacological preparations. Further clinical and toxicological studies are recommended

A Predictive model for liver disease progression based on logistic regression algorithm

Liver disease counts to be one of the most prevalent diseases in the worldwide. Therefore, this paper is aim to address the problem of predicting liver disease progression. As the existing predictive models focus on predicting the label of disease; the probability of developing the disease is still obscure. This paper, therefore, has proposed a model to predict the probability occurrence of liver diseases. The proposed predictive model used logistic regression abilities to predict the probability of liver disease occurrence. ILPD dataset was used to analyze the performance of the model. The predictive model has shown outstanding performance with a prediction accuracy rate of 72.4%, the sensitivity of 90.3%, the specificity of 78.3 %, Type I Error of 9.7 %, Type II Error of 21.7 %, and ROC of 0.758%. The model has furthermore confirmed the feasibility of the laboratory tests such as as (Age; Direct Bilirubin (DB), Alamine_Aminotransferase (SGPT), Total_Protiens (TP), Albumin (ALB)) to predict the disease progression. The predictive model will be helpful to patients and doctors to realize the progression of the disease and make a suitable timely intervention