SIFTER search: a web server for accurate phylogeny-based protein function prediction.

We are awash in proteins discovered through high-throughput sequencing projects. As only a minuscule fraction of these have been experimentally characterized, computational methods are widely used for automated annotation. Here, we introduce a user-friendly web interface for accurate protein function prediction using the SIFTER algorithm. SIFTER is a state-of-the-art sequence-based gene molecular function prediction algorithm that uses a statistical model of function evolution to incorporate annotations throughout the phylogenetic tree. Due to the resources needed by the SIFTER algorithm, running SIFTER locally is not trivial for most users, especially for large-scale problems. The SIFTER web server thus provides access to precomputed predictions on 16 863 537 proteins from 232 403 species. Users can explore SIFTER predictions with queries for proteins, species, functions, and homologs of sequences not in the precomputed prediction set. The SIFTER web server is accessible at http://sifter.berkeley.edu/ and the source code can be downloaded

A mechanical behavior law for the numerical simulation of the mushy zone in welding

The aim of this work is to propose a mechanical behavior law dedicated to the mushy zone located between the solid phase and the weld pool in welding. The objective is to take into account of the influence of the mushy zone in the simulation of welding in order to improve the computation of induced effects such as residual stresses

Genetic variations between two ecotypes of Egyptian clover by inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) techniques

The inter-simple sequence repeat (ISSR) markers have been used in order to determine genetic variation and relationship between two clover ecotypes. Ten (10) primers for ISSR were used in this study but only six were successful in generating reproducible and reliable amplicons for different types of the Egyptian clover. The results reveal the polymorphism level by ISSR primers. HB10 ISSR-primer was higher than the rest of the ISSR primers in polymorphic 100%. The Fahl monocut ecotype had 29 present bands, 3 absent bands in total of 32 bands; among those there were two unique bands. The multicut ecotype were given different pattern of bands, Gemmiza1 (21 present and 11 absent), Giza6 (21 present and 11 absent) and Serw1; (23 present and 9 absent). There were three unique bands appearance in the two ecotypes. Fahl was given two with HB11 and HB13; the Serw1 multicut cultivar had one unique bands with HB08. Similarity indices among the four Egyptian clover cultivars based on ISSR analysis was estimated and the highest value appeared between Fahl and Gemmiza1 as well as Giza6 and Serw1 followed by Fahl and Serw1. The lowest similarity value appeared between Gemmiza1 and Serw1 followed by Gemmiza1 and Giza6.Key words: Egyptian clover, molecular marker, Fahl, Gemmiza1, Giza6, Serw1

Ballisticity of nanotube FETs: Role of phonon energy and gate bias

We investigate the role of electron-phonon scattering and gate bias in degrading the drive current of nanotube MOSFETs. Our central results are: (i) Optical phonon scattering significantly decreases the drive current only when gate voltage is higher than a well-defined threshold. It means that elastic scattering mechanisms are most detrimental to nanotube MOSFETs. (ii) For comparable mean free paths, a lower phonon energy leads to a larger degradation of drive current. Thus for semiconducting nanowire FETs, the drive current will be more sensitive than carbon nanotube FETs because of the smaller phonon energies in semiconductors. (iii) Radial breathing mode phonons cause an appreciable reduction in drive current.Comment: 16 pages, 1 table, 4 figure

Comparison between static and dynamic cervical assessment in prediction of preterm birth

Background: Preterm labor represents one of the most likely causes for prenatal hospitalization. Previously, the accuracy of cervical length measurement in predicting preterm birth was thoroughly examined. The current study aimed to compare static and dynamic cervical assessment in prediction and management of preterm labor.Methods: The present study was prospective comparative study and conducted on (75) pregnant female patients recruited from the antenatal clinic of El-Shatby Maternity University hospital in the period from October 2021 till August 2022. The patients included in the study were divided into three groups; the first group included (25) patients and all were subjected to static cervical assessment, the second group included (25) patients and all were subjected to dynamic cervical assessment and the last group included (25) patients and all were subjected to interval dynamic cervical assessment. All groups are almost matched in their general characteristics. All groups received tocolysis in the form of nifedipine slow-release tablets 20 mg twice daily. Conventional static and dynamic transvaginal ultrasound assessment of cervical length (CL) was done.Results: There were inverse relationships between gestational age (GA), fundal level (FL) and mean gestational age (MGA) with the latency period but there was a direct relationship between the parity and the static cervical length in all the studied groups. There was a statistically significant difference between the studied groups regarding their means of latency period in those with static cervical length >1.5-2.5 cm (most of cases in all groups). Although there was statistically significant difference between group A, B and C as regard their means of static and dynamic cervical length.Conclusions: The longer the latency period, the lengthier the cervical length. The latency period had an inverse correlation with gestational age. There was also a direct relationship among parity and cervical length. The cervical estimation using the fundal pressure method, dynamic cervical length, is more enlightening than the interval approach

Multi-level Multi-objective Quadratic Fractional Programming Problem with Fuzzy Parameters: A FGP Approach

The motivation behind this paper is to present multi-level multi-objective quadratic fractional programming (ML-MOQFP) problem with fuzzy parameters in the constraints. ML-MOQFP problem is an important class of non-linear fractional programming problem. These type of problems arise in many fields such as production planning, financial and corporative planning, health care and hospital planning. Firstly, the concept of the -cut and fuzzy partial order relation are applied to transform the set of fuzzy constraints into a common crisp set. Then, the quadratic fractional objective functions in each level are transformed into non-linear objective functions based on a proposed transformation. Secondly, in the proposed model, separate non-linear membership functions for each objective function of the ML-MOQFP problem are defined. Then, the fuzzy goal programming (FGP) approach is utilized to obtain a compromise solution for the ML-MOQFP problem by minimizing the sum of the negative deviational variables. Finally, an illustrative numerical example is given to demonstrate the applicability and performance of the proposed approach

Improvement of drought tolerance in five different cultivars of Vicia faba with foliar application of ascorbic acid or silicon

Aim of study: To explore the role of ascorbic acid (AsA) or silicon (Si) in improving drought tolerance in five faba bean cultivars under irrigation water deficit (IWD).Area of study: The experimental farm; 30° 36′ N, 32° 16′ E, Egypt.Material and methods: Three drip irrigation regimes (WW, well-watered, 4000 m3 water ha-1; MD, moderate drought, 3000 m3 water ha-1; and SD, severe drought, 2000 m3 water ha-1) were applied to plants, which were sprayed 25, 40, and 55 days after sowing with 1.5 mM AsA or 2.0 mM Si vs distilled water as a control.Main results: Drought negatively affected physiological attributes (photosynthetic pigments, gas exchange parameters, relative water content, membrane stability index, electrolyte leakage (EL), and lipid peroxidation), which restricted plant growth and yields, and stimulated alterations in both enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant activities. However, AsA or Si application mitigated drought effects on physiological attributes, improving growth, yields and water use efficiency by raising antioxidant activities and suppressing lipid peroxidation and EL in stressful cultivars. The mitigating effects of AsA and Si were more pronounced under MD.Research highlights: ‘Nubaria-2’, ‘Giza-843’, and ‘Sakha-3’ were more tolerant than ‘Giza-716’ and ‘Sakha-4’, suggesting the use of AsA or Si to ameliorate the IWD effects on stressful cultivars. Certain physiological traits exhibited positive association with growth and seed yield, demonstrating their importance in enhancing seed yield under irrigation treatments

Novel synthesis, ring transformation and anticancer activity of 1,3-thiazine, pyrimidine and triazolo[1,5-a]pyrimidine derivatives

Synthesis, heterocyclization and anticancer activity of a new series of heterocyclic compounds are described. Aminothiazine 1 was obtained from the base induced condensation of thiourea, benzaldehyde and ethyl cyanoacetate. The synthesis of N-phenyl amino pyrimidine derivative 2 was obtained as a result of reaction of aniline with compound 1. Compound 2 underwent ring opening and recyclization upon reaction with HCl or H2O2/ NaOH to afford the acid derivative 3 or oxazine 4, respectively. Thiazine 1 undergoes ring transformation upon the effect of NH2OH.HCl to produce pyrimidine derivative 5. Heterocyclization of compound 1 with thiosemicarbazide followed by oxidation with I2/AcOH afforded triazolopyrimidine 6 and 7, respectively. Alkylation of compound 1 was promoted by reaction of 1 with ethyl iodide to give alkylated thiazine 8 which in turn undergo ring transformation when subjected to reaction with hydrazine hydrate to give pyrazole derivative 9. Refluxing of amino-1,3-thiazine derivative 1 with ethyl bromoacetate in the presence of Et3N produce the alkylated pyrimidine product 10. Hydrazonolysis of 1,3-thiazine 1 with hydrazine or phenyhydrazine gave pyrimidine derivatives 11a,b, respectively. Compound 11b was cyclized with carbon disulfide or formaldehyde to produce triazolopyrimidines 12 and 13, respectively. Some of the new compounds were screened for anticancer activity and significant results were found for some compounds.               KEY WORDS: 1,3-Thiazine, Pyrimidine, Triazole, Pyrazole, Anticancer activity Bull. Chem. Soc. Ethiop. 2018, 32(3), 513-522.DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.4314/bcse.v32i3.1