Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia type 1 (HHT1) is an autosomaly dominant inherited disease that is generally characterized by vascular malformation and fragility. HHT1 has been associated with mutations in the TGF beta co-receptor Endoglin, encoded by ENG gene. We have previously demonstrated that some Endoglin variants are trapped in the Endoplasmic Reticulum (ER) and fail to traffic to their normal localization in plasma membrane, which suggested the involvement of ER associated protein degradation (ERAD) in their molecular pathology. In this study we used stably transfected HEK293 cell line harboring WT and mutant variants of Endoglin in order to elucidate their degradation pathway. Our data shows, for the first time, that WT Endoglin is degraded through both proteasomal and lysosomal pathways, while mutant variants, trapped in the ER, undergo proteasomal degradation. These results pave the way for exploring the possibility of overcoming ERAD as a potential therapeutic target for HHT1.
The analysis of human faces has been an attractive mean for automatic people identification due to its unobtrusive character and non-cooperative nature. Retrieving face morphology via DNA analysis is of great interest in forensic investigations, especially in the lack of other phenotypic information by the suspect(e.g. eye color, hair color/type). However, this goal is still a great challenge. Indeed, the current forensic face reconstruction needs skeletal evidence and mostly used for identifying a victim, whereas DNA traces may be the only clue available in the crime scene. In this paper we are assessing the state-of-the-art regarding 32 selected single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) in the UAE local population. The selected SNPs have been associated with facial phenotypes in other populations. A total of 28 spatial face measurements of 20 UAE locals are obtained in order to test for correlation.Bivariate analysis yielded significant correlation between 40% of the selected SNPs with face measurements.
Bacteria and their products have countless practical applications across several fields spanning biomedical, therapeutic, agricultural, biocontrol, and biotechnology industries to name a few. Despite the impressively practical applications of bacteria, more than 99% of the potentially 1011-1012 microbial species remain undiscovered to date due to our inability to culture these organisms in the lab. These "uncultured" bacteria coined "The Microbial Dark Matter" and their potential benefits remain out of reach. Our lab has developed a method to cultivate these bacteria, and we have successfully cultivated over 150 novel "uncultured" strains. In this work we have performed de novo whole-genome sequencing and assembly of one of these strains in an effort to unravel its identity and potential application. The size of the draft genome generated was 3.62Mb, encoding 3591 genes. Based on the 16S-rRNA gene homology, this uncultured bacterium appears to represent a previously uncharacterized genus belonging to the phylum Actinobacteria.
Excessive production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is implicated in the pathogenesis of aging-related disorders like cardiovascular diseases. However, monitoring of ROS in vivo remains elusive due to the short half-lives. ROS level can be assessed by measuring the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), biomarker of lipid oxidation induced by ROS. There are many noninvasive techniques to measure MDA, though, they are expensive, and time consuming. In this study, non-invasive and cost-effective method is introduced to detect urinary MDA by utilizing chemicals that react with MDA to produce a colorimetric solution. Three colorimetric methods, p-anisidine, Schiff reagent and methyl-2-phenylindole (MPI), were compared in specificity and sensitivity of MDA by reacting with MDA at normal (0.2 μM) and diseased (0.6 μM and 1 μM) saliva conditions. Only MPI was sensitive enough to identify MDA in diseased conditions. This study supports the efficiency of MPI to detect MDA, indicating the presence of ROS.
Waterfront communities are facing unprecedented challenges with global Sea Level Rise (SLR) becoming a reality. Many of the proposed protection strategies against SLR are at regional levels, and their goals are usually to achieve the greater good for the whole region. However, the distribution of the benefits or burdens may be unequal across different communities. Many waterfront communities are considered disadvantaged because of the concentration of minority and low-income families. The present paper illustrates transportation inequality by quantifying the impact of potential protection strategies on different communities. A case study of the San Francisco Bay Area indicates that the improvements of mobility, resulting from protecting access to the bay-crossing bridges, are often greater in disadvantaged communities than in others. However, many of the disadvantaged communities located next to the entrances to the bridges are negatively impacted. Additional measures should be taken on relieving these communities to reduce transportation inequality.
This paper develops and applies a mathematical model with the objective of locating Hydrogen Refuel Stations (HRS) by maximizing the distance among them through the interstate connectivity from Canada to Mexico on the west coast of United States. The study is focused on the interstate modality of HRS placement while the tendency on the hydrogen market is targeting the use of hydrogen fuel-cell electric (FCEV) heavy-duty trucks as the prototype being released by Nikola Corporation in 2021. The research also considers the characterization of the HRS determining by the distance to the closes current Hydrogen Power Plant generation for delivery and on-site production when the placement is feasible to incorporate green energy to produce hydrogen to achieve sustainable solution combining green and gray hydrogen production.
Using immersive virtual environments (IVEs), researchers explore important research questions related to how occupants perceive and interact with their indoor environment in response to different environmental stimuli (e.g., visual and thermal). Despite an increasing number of applications, the literature lacks review efforts of IVE-based comfort research, leaving the current state of such efforts and their prospects unclear. The current work aims to address this gap by presenting a critical review of scholarly articles using IVEs to study occupant comfort in buildings. It reviews of available IVR technologies and their associated fundamental concepts, followed by a review of studies that employed IVEs to assess single or multiple domains' comfort. A critical analysis is then presented to reflect on the current state-of-the-art, its gaps, and way forward. Results show that despite significant advancements in IVR technology, its application to occupant comfort is limited in studying multi-domain comfort and cross-effects between the domains.
Mangroves represent a crucial component of the global carbon cycle because of their elevated carbon sequestration rates in biomass and sediments. Still, the future capability of Mangroves to act as carbon sinks depends on their ability to endure sea-level rise and its most direct impacts: increasing coastal salinization and altered submersion regimes. Salinization, in particular, is known to limit Mangrove transpiration and productivity through osmotic effects. In contrast, atmospheric CO2 concentration is projected to increase steeply under current emission scenarios (atmospheric carbon enrichment), thus enhancing plant productivity - a process known as atmospheric fertilization. Here we model the interplay of salinity and CO2 enrichment and its impacts on Mangrove transpiration and productivity at the plant scale. Our analysis is central to understand the future of coastal wetlands under climate change.
In this paper, we propose a post-carbon urban district in Dubai that explores the design of such a district in times of climate change and a future without oil. The paper also aims to study the current conditions of sustainability in Dubai and be a case study for the future of sustainable development in the Emirate. The district welcomes residents from all backgrounds and has educational, religious, governmental institutions, recreational and commercial sites, and offers many job opportunities.
Autonomous vehicles (AVs) are expected to improve traffic flow, reduce accidents, reduce social exclusion and improve the utility of time on travel. Regardless, the challenges remain, especially in convincing the consumers to switch to AVs despite their benefits. This paper reviewed recent studies on the implications of autonomous vehicles and the user acceptance of technology according to the level of automation based on different models of acceptance like TAM and UTAUT. The review results have shown that initial trust, perceived safety risk, perceived privacy risk and environmental concerns are the most critical factors in promoting a positive attitude towards AVs. Early AV adopters will likely be young students, more educated, and spend more time in vehicles. These findings provide guidance for designing interventions aimed at improving the public's acceptance of AVs
