Host Factor Interaction Networks Identified by Integrative Bioinformatics Analysis Reveals Therapeutic Implications in COPD Patients With COVID-19

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic poses an imminent threat to humanity, especially for those who have comorbidities. Evidence of COVID-19 and COPD comorbidities is accumulating. However, data revealing the molecular mechanism of COVID-19 and COPD comorbid diseases is limited.Methods: We got COVID-19/COPD -related genes from different databases by restricted screening conditions (top500), respectively, and then supplemented with COVID-19/COPD-associated genes (FDR<0.05, |LogFC|≥1) from clinical sample data sets. By taking the intersection, 42 co-morbid host factors for COVID-19 and COPD were finally obtained. On the basis of shared host factors, we conducted a series of bioinformatics analysis, including protein-protein interaction analysis, gene ontology and pathway enrichment analysis, transcription factor-gene interaction network analysis, gene-microRNA co-regulatory network analysis, tissue-specific enrichment analysis and candidate drug prediction.Results: We revealed the comorbidity mechanism of COVID-19 and COPD from the perspective of host factor interaction, obtained the top ten gene and 3 modules with different biological functions. Furthermore, we have obtained the signaling pathways and concluded that dexamethasone, estradiol, progesterone, and nitric oxide shows effective interventions.Conclusion: This study revealed host factor interaction networks for COVID-19 and COPD, which could confirm the potential drugs for treating the comorbidity, ultimately, enhancing the management of the respiratory disease.

PSIX-22 Assessment of the influence of IGF2 gene polymorphism in boars on economically significant traits

Studies of polymorphism in the IGF2 gene are of interest due to their association with economically useful traits in pigs. The aim of this work was to study the effect of IGF2 polymorphism on the variability of meat and fattening traits in pigs and to control the preservation of high reproductive qualities. The genotyping was performed using RT-PCR approaches were generated on the genetic resource collection of the L.K. Ernst Federal Research Center for Animal Husbandry. The total of 272 Large White (LW) and 301 Landrace (L) boars was investigated. Genotypes have been identified: at LW AA 73.5%, AG 23.2%, GG 3.3%; for L AA 10.3%, AG 35.2%, GG 54.5%. Reproductive performance evaluated on 22082 farrows from these boars. Analysis of productivity data was performed taking advantage of the model: y=μ+Breed+IGF2+Breed×IGF2+e, where y is the productivity index (for traits: weight at start of the test (BWs), weight at the end of the test (BWe), age of reaching 100 kg (AGE100), average daily gain (ADG), fat thickness (BF), litter size (LS), live-born (LB) and stillborn piglets (SB), the number of weaned piglets (Wean), the weaning weight (WWT), µ is the total average for a sample of n animals; Breed - the influence of the breed factor; IGF2 - gene factor effect; Breed×IGF2 - factor interaction effect; e - error. A significant effect of the IGF2 gene on variability was revealed at P < 0.001 BWe, ADG, LS, LB, Wean, WWT, at P < 0.01 on BWs, AGE100; when factors interact at P < 0.001 on ADG, AGE100, Wean, WWT, at P < 0.05 on LB. Revealed animals with genotype AA showed the best results in terms of meat and feeding qualities, as well as reproductive qualities. This research was supported by the Ministry of science and higher education No 0445-2021-0008.

Cytoskeletal regulation of a transcription factor by DNA mimicry

A long-established strategy for transcription regulation is the tethering of transcription factors to cellular membranes. In contrast, the principal effectors of Hedgehog signaling, the Gli transcription factors, are regulated by microtubules in the primary cilium and the cytoplasm. How Gli is tethered to microtubules remains unclear. We uncover DNA mimicry by the ciliary kinesin Kif7 as a mechanism for the recruitment of Gli to microtubules, revealing a new mode of tethering a DNA-binding protein to the cytoskeleton. Gli increases the Kif7-microtubule affinity and consequently modulates the localization of both proteins to microtubules and the cilium tip. Thus, the kinesin-microtubule system is not a passive Gli tether but a regulatable platform tuned by the kinesin-transcription factor interaction. We re-tooled the unique DNA-mimicry-based Gli-Kif7 interaction for inhibiting the nuclear and cilium localization of Gli. This strategy can be potentially exploited for downregulating erroneously activated Gli in human cancers.

Identification of COVID-19 and Dengue Host Factor Interaction Networks Based on Integrative Bioinformatics Analyses

BackgroundThe outbreak of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has become an international public health crisis, and the number of cases with dengue co-infection has raised concerns. Unfortunately, treatment options are currently limited or even unavailable. Thus, the aim of our study was to explore the underlying mechanisms and identify potential therapeutic targets for co-infection.MethodsTo further understand the mechanisms underlying co-infection, we used a series of bioinformatics analyses to build host factor interaction networks and elucidate biological process and molecular function categories, pathway activity, tissue-specific enrichment, and potential therapeutic agents.ResultsWe explored the pathologic mechanisms of COVID-19 and dengue co-infection, including predisposing genes, significant pathways, biological functions, and possible drugs for intervention. In total, 460 shared host factors were collected; among them, CCL4 and AhR targets were important. To further analyze biological functions, we created a protein-protein interaction (PPI) network and performed Molecular Complex Detection (MCODE) analysis. In addition, common signaling pathways were acquired, and the toll-like receptor and NOD-like receptor signaling pathways exerted a significant effect on the interaction. Upregulated genes were identified based on the activity score of dysregulated genes, such as IL-1, Hippo, and TNF-α. We also conducted tissue-specific enrichment analysis and found ICAM-1 and CCL2 to be highly expressed in the lung. Finally, candidate drugs were screened, including resveratrol, genistein, and dexamethasone.ConclusionsThis study probes host factor interaction networks for COVID-19 and dengue and provides potential drugs for clinical practice. Although the findings need to be verified, they contribute to the treatment of co-infection and the management of respiratory disease.

Experimental Investigation of Emulsion AGET ATRP of MMA in a Stirred Tank Reactor

This study investigates the emulsion AGET ATRP of MMA in a 2-L reactor using the reactants: surfactant (Brij 98), catalyst complex (CuBr2/dNbpy), initiator (EBiB) and reducing agent (ascorbic acid). Preliminary trials demonstrate that the two-step procedure preserves the ATRP living features much better than the single-step procedure. An experimental design and statistical analysis were performed to investigate the main effects and two-factor interaction effects of temperature, surfactant, catalyst complex, initiator and reducing agent on the monomer conversion, average molecular weights and polydispersity index of the polymer. The input-output model predictions agree with experimental data. The results revealed that the temperature was the most influential factor for all three-process responses with 71.34%, 32.78% and 27.76 % contribution. However, the initiator was the least influential factor for both conversion and PDI with 0.035% and 0.13% contribution, whereas the surfactant was the least influential factor for molecular weight with 0.068% contribution

Experimental Investigation of Emulsion AGET ATRP of MMA in a Stirred Tank Reactor

This study investigates the emulsion AGET ATRP of MMA in a 2-L reactor using the reactants: surfactant (Brij 98), catalyst complex (CuBr2/dNbpy), initiator (EBiB) and reducing agent (ascorbic acid). Preliminary trials demonstrate that the two-step procedure preserves the ATRP living features much better than the single-step procedure. An experimental design and statistical analysis were performed to investigate the main effects and two-factor interaction effects of temperature, surfactant, catalyst complex, initiator and reducing agent on the monomer conversion, average molecular weights and polydispersity index of the polymer. The input-output model predictions agree with experimental data. The results revealed that the temperature was the most influential factor for all three-process responses with 71.34%, 32.78% and 27.76 % contribution. However, the initiator was the least influential factor for both conversion and PDI with 0.035% and 0.13% contribution, whereas the surfactant was the least influential factor for molecular weight with 0.068% contribution

Effects of degree of oil palm frond mulching using tractor mounted mulcher blades

This study investigates the influence of blade lifting angles, tractor forward speed, and tractor power take off (PTO) speed on the degree of mulching. Four blades with different lifting angles, two tractor PTO speeds, and three tractor forward speeds were assessed using the parametric test at the Universiti Putra Malaysia oil palm plantation. The result shows that the best-fit regression equation was a quadratic regression with a high coefficient of determination. It indicates that any change in this three-factor interaction has a significant effect using Tukey’s Studentized mean comparison and can predict the degree of mulching. Seventy-four percent of the degree of mulching variance is explained by blade lifting angles, tractor forward speed, and tractor PTO speed. Since the blade lifting angle was a major predictor of the degree of mulching, this result implies that any change in the blade lifting angle can provide a significant prediction of the degree of mulching in an oil palm plantation. Additionally, the predicted model can further be used to predict the degree of mulching during field operations, replanting, and access for mulching of oil palm fronds. A detailed field evaluation of the performance of a tractor-mounted mulcher with different blade lifting angles in other parts of Malaysia is highly recommended to cater for the differences in soil moisture content and bulk density.

Production Potential of Short Duration Red Gram [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] in the Southern Laterites of Kerala

Red gram [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.] is a new introduction in the southern laterites of Kerala. The field experiment was laid out in factorial RBD to assess the performance of the short duration varieties of red gram, APK 1 and Vamban (Rg) 3 under two spacings (40 cm x 20 cm and 60 cm x 30 cm) and three nutrient levels (40:80:40, 30:60:30 and 20:40:20 kg NPK ha-1) in the Instructional Farm, College of Agriculture, Vellayani, Kerala during November 2018 to March 2019. Significant variations were recorded in growth and yield attributes and among the varieties, APK 1 was found to be superior with a seed yield of 997.78 kg ha-1. The closer spacing of 40 cm x 20 cm and the highest dose of 40:80:40 kg NPK ha-1 recorded the significantly highest seed yields of 1195.00 kg ha-1 and 1055.83 kg ha-1, respectively. The three factor interaction also revealed APK 1 and Vamban (Rg) 3 to record superior seed yields at the closer spacing and higher nutrient dose. The short stature, lower branching tendency, early flowering nature and higher yields in APK 1, proved its suitability for cultivation in southern laterites of Kerala and the agronomic package would involve sowing seeds at a spacing of 40 cm x 20 cm with an NPK dose of 40:80:40 kg ha-1.

High-precision Online Prediction Model of Plate Crown Based on Multi-factor Interaction Mechanism

The crown is a key quality index of strip and plate. Up to now, many plate crown prediction models have been established, however, the calculation accuracy of these traditional models is not very high. This is because these models only consider the effect of various influencing factors on the outlet plate crown under the basic process parameters, but these factors are not independent of each other. Therefore, in order to improve the accuracy of the plate crown prediction model, a high-precision prediction model of plate crown is established by introducing the evaluation coefficient that represents the influence of single factor on plate crown and the correction coefficient that represents the effect of factor a on the evaluation coefficient of factor b. This paper takes the steel SPHC as an example, calculates the plate crown without considering the correction coefficient and the plate crown considering the correction coefficient. Then, the two calculation results are compared with the calculation results of the coupled model and the accuracy of the new model is improved after considering the correction coefficient. In general, compared with the traditional crown prediction model, the accuracy of the new model is greatly improved.