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Purpose: The term “intentional injuries” refers to a spectrum of injuries resulting from self-inflicted injuries, interpersonal violence, and group acts of violence. Intentional injuries are underreported in Saudi Arabia. This study aimed to analyze and evaluate the characteristics of intentional injuries in patients who presented to the emergency department of a primary trauma center in Medina, Saudi Arabia in 2013.Methods: A prospective cohort database analysis of the clinical patterns and treatment outcomes of 252 patients who had intentional injuries between January and December 2013 was done.Results: The proportion of trauma patients with intentional injuries was 1.3%. The mean age was 34.2±9.4 years, 141 patients (56.0%) were males, and 111 (44.1%) were females (male to female ratio, 1.27:1). The majority (n=159, 63.1%) of injuries occurred at night. Most occurred outside the home (n=180, 71.0%). Financial problems (n=62, 24.6%) and social disputes (n=61, 24.2%) were the most common reasons. Sharp objects (n=93, 36.9%) were the most common weapons used. The head and neck were the most commonly injured areas (n=63, 54.4%). Superficial cuts (n=87, 34.5%), were the most common type of injury. Suturing of wounds (n=54, 21.4%) and surgical debridement (n=47, 18.7%) were the most commonly performed modalities of management.Conclusions: We conclude that intentional injuries in Saudi Arabia are a health care hazard that is, unfortunately, underreported. The clinical pattern is similar in most aspects to international reports but differs in certain features due to the specific religious and conservative characteristics of the community. Nationwide clinical studies are strongly recommended.

The Major Histocompatibility Complex class I-related protein 1 (MR1) presents small molecule metabolites, drugs, and drug-like molecules that are recognized by MR1-reactive T cells. While we have an understanding of how antigens bind to MR1 and upregulate MR1 cell surface expression, a quantitative, cell-free, assessment of MR1 ligand-binding affinity was lacking. Here, we developed a fluorescence polarization-based assay in which fluorescent MR1 ligand was loaded into MR1 protein in vitro and competitively displaced by candidate ligands over a range of concentrations. Using this assay, ligand affinity for MR1 could be differentiated as strong (IC

Reliance on deep learning techniques has become an important trend in several science domains including biological science, due to its proven efficiency in manipulating big data that are often characterized by their non-linear processes and complicated relationships. In this study, Convolutional Neural Networks (CNN) has been recruited, as one of the deep learning techniques, to be used in classifying and predicting the biological activities of the essential oil-producing plant/s through their chemical compositions. The model is established based on the available chemical composition’s information of a set of endemic Egyptian plants and their biological activities. Another type of machine learning algorithms, Multiclass Neural Network (MNN), has been applied on the same Essential Oils (EO) dataset. This aims to fairly evaluate the performance of the proposed CNN model. The recorded accuracy in the testing process for both CNN and MNN is 98.13% and 81.88%, respectively. Finally, the CNN technique has been adopted as a reliable model for classifying and predicting the bioactivities of the Egyptian EO-containing plants. The overall accuracy for the final prediction process is reported as approximately 97%. Hereby, the proposed deep learning model could be utilized as an efficient model in predicting the bioactivities of, at least Egyptian, EOs-producing plants.

MR1 presents vitamin B-related metabolites to mucosal associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, which are characterized, in part, by the TRAV1-2+ αβ T cell receptor (TCR). In addition, a more diverse TRAV1-2- MR1-restricted T cell repertoire exists that can possess altered specificity for MR1 antigens. However, the molecular basis of how such TRAV1-2- TCRs interact with MR1-antigen complexes remains unclear. Here, we describe how a TRAV12-2+ TCR (termed D462-E4) recognizes an MR1-antigen complex. We report the crystal structures of the unliganded D462-E4 TCR and its complex with MR1 presenting the riboflavin-based antigen 5-OP-RU. Here, the TRBV29-1 β-chain of the D462-E4 TCR binds over the F'-pocket of MR1, whereby the complementarity-determining region (CDR) 3β loop surrounded and projected into the F'-pocket. Nevertheless, the CDR3β loop anchored proximal to the MR1 A'-pocket and mediated direct contact with the 5-OP-RU antigen. The D462-E4 TCR footprint on MR1 contrasted that of the TRAV1-2+ and TRAV36+ TCRs' docking topologies on MR1. Accordingly, diverse MR1-restricted T cell repertoire reveals differential docking modalities on MR1, thus providing greater scope for differing antigen specificities.

Background Atrial myxomas (AMs) are the most commonly encountered cardiac tumours. They can be genetically inherited and are commonly found in the left atrium. They usually present with dyspnoea, syncopal episodes, heart failure from mitral valve obstruction, and constitutional symptoms including weight loss, fatigue, and fever. We present a rare case of severe symptomatic hyponatraemia secondary to a large AM and discuss possible aetiology. Case summary A 75-year-old Caucasian female presented with acute nausea, vomiting, confusion, and drowsiness. She had a background of palpitations for about 20 years. Her blood test results revealed severe hyponatraemia (serum sodium—103 mmol/L). Further investigations for hyponatraemia including serum cortisol and urine biochemistry suggested Syndrome of Inappropriate Anti-Diuretic Hormone (SIADH) secretion. Computer tomography scan revealed an incidental large left AM. Echocardiography confirmed the AM attached to the left side of the inter-atrial septum and occupying the majority of the left atrium. She was treated medically for hyponatraemia and referred for excision of myxoma. She underwent urgent resection of the myxoma once sodium levels were optimized. Postoperatively, her serum sodium remained low but gradually returned to normal on postoperative Day 11. Conclusion This is only the third reported case of significant hyponatraemia associated with a large AM. It has been previously hypothesized that large left AM stretch the atrium causing release of atrial natriuretic peptide and subsequent hyponatraemia. The excision of myxoma and reduction in left atrial size postoperatively with an improvement in sodium levels suggests an association between the two pathologies.

Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are activated by microbial riboflavin-based metabolite antigens when presented by MR1. How modifications to the potent antigen 5-OP-RU affect presentation by MR1 and MAIT cell activation remains unclear. Here we design 20 derivatives, termed altered metabolite ligands (AMLs), to dissect the impact of different antigen components on the human MAIT-MR1 axis. Analysis of 11 crystal structures of MAIT T cell antigen receptor (TCR)-MR1-AML ternary complexes, along with biochemical and functional assays, shows that MR1 cell-surface upregulation is influenced by ribityl and non-ribityl components of the ligand and the hydrophobicity of the MR1-AML interface. The polar ribityl chain of the AML strongly influences MAIT cell activation potency through dynamic compensatory interactions within a MAIT TCR-MR1-AML interaction triad. We define the basis by which the MAIT TCR can differentially recognize AMLs, thereby providing insight into MAIT cell antigen specificity and potency.

The volatile nature of Cloud user’s needs is considered a worthy challenge in formulating the Service Level Agreement (SLA) negotiation. The sterility of the standard SLA templates in handling the ...

Natural and chemical colorants are attracting a lot of attention as sustainable feed additives due to their effect on food color and because presentation matters to consumers. Color also is a major sensory factor that helps consumers determine food quality and its possible health benefits. For example, highly colored egg yolks can only come from healthy laying hens fed a well-balanced, nutrient-rich diet. Consumers associate an intense yolk color with healthy, nutrient-rich food. There is a growing market request for eggs with rich yolk coloring. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the impact of natural (paprika) and chemical (carmoisine) colorant supplementation on the performance, egg-quality characteristics, yolk fatty-acid profile, and blood constituents in laying hens. A total of 240 Bovans laying hens were randomly distributed in a completely randomized design in four treatments according to four experimental diets: a control diet (without supplementation of any colorants), a control diet supplemented with 4 kg/ton paprika, a control diet supplemented with 150 g carmoisine/ton, and a control diet supplemented with a combination of 4 kg/ton paprika plus 150 g carmoisine/ton, fed from 42 to 54 weeks of age. Each treatment consisted of 10 replications with six hens. Dietary inclusion of paprika colorant improved (p &lt, 0.05) the feed-conversion ratio and egg-production rate, while final body weight, weight change, feed intake, and egg weight and mass were not affected. The degrees of egg yolk and white were increased (p &lt, 0.05) by the dietary supplements. Yolk color and shell thickness were enhanced (p &lt, 0.05) by adding paprika and/or carmoisine colorants. Supplementation of the paprika colorant alone or in combination with carmoisine increased (p &lt, 0.05) linolenic acid, oleic acid, and vitamin E concentrations in egg yolks. In contrast, egg yolk palmitic acid and liver malondialdehyde contents were decreased (p &lt, 0.05). Paprika and carmoisine colorants and their combination improved (p &lt, 0.05) blood lipid profile in treated hens. We concluded that the dietary supplementation of natural (paprika) colorants has an influential role in improving egg yolk color, production performance, and egg yolk fatty-acid profile in laying hens.

Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells detect microbial infection via recognition of riboflavin-based antigens presented by the major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I)–related protein 1 (MR1). Most MAIT cells in human peripheral blood express CD8αα or CD8αβ coreceptors, and the binding site for CD8 on MHC-I molecules is relatively conserved in MR1. Yet, there is no direct evidence of CD8 interacting with MR1 or the functional consequences thereof. Similarly, the role of CD8αα in lymphocyte function remains ill-defined. Here, using newly developed MR1 tetramers, mutated at the CD8 binding site, and by determining the crystal structure of MR1–CD8αα, we show that CD8 engaged MR1, analogous to how it engages MHC-I molecules. CD8αα and CD8αβ enhanced MR1 binding and cytokine production by MAIT cells. Moreover, the CD8–MR1 interaction was critical for the recognition of folate-derived antigens by other MR1-reactive T cells. Together, our findings suggest that both CD8αα and CD8αβ act as functional coreceptors for MAIT and other MR1-reactive T cells.

Improving the performance of e-learning services to provide a scalable and effective e-learning system is a big challenge for the educational organizations. The e-learning system faces many challenges in pedagogical services (e.g. learning design and learning content problems), and technical services (e.g. resource provisioning and financial cost). This article presents an e-learning environment based on cloud computing (PCLE) in attempt to enhance the e-learning services' by customizing the contents of the course's material depending on the students' knowledge, experiences, and requirements. Also, the system focuses on supporting and achieving reusability, interoperability, adaptation and personalization in order to overcome the passive role of the student and transfer it into an interactive and useful participation. On the other hand, PCLE is built over the cloud computing environment trying to overcome the traditional web-hosting challenges as scalability, availability, and cost.

Multiple guidelines exist for the management of aortic stenosis (AS). We systematically reviewed current guidelines and recommendations, developed by national or international medical organizations, on management of AS to aid clinical decision-making. Publications in MEDLINE and EMBASE between 1 June 2010 and 15 January 2021 were identified. Additionally, the International Guideline Library, National Guideline Clearinghouse, National Library for Health Guidelines Finder, Canadian Medical Association Clinical Practice Guidelines Infobase, and websites of relevant organizations were searched. Two reviewers independently screened titles and abstracts. Two reviewers assessed rigour of guideline development and extracted the recommendations. Of the seven guidelines and recommendations retrieved, five showed considerable rigour of development. Those rigourously developed, agreed on the definition of severe AS and diverse haemodynamic phenotypes, indications and contraindications for intervention in symptomatic severe AS, surveillance intervals in asymptomatic severe AS, and the importance of multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) and shared decision-making. Discrepancies exist in age and surgical risk cut-offs for recommending surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR) vs. transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI), the use of biomarkers and complementary multimodality imaging for decision-making in asymptomatic patients and surveillance intervals for non-severe AS. Contemporary guidelines for AS management agree on the importance of MDT involvement and shared decision-making for individualized treatment and unanimously indicate valve replacement in severe, symptomatic AS. Discrepancies exist in thresholds for age and procedural risk used in choosing between SAVR and TAVI, role of biomarkers and complementary imaging modalities to define AS severity and risk of progression in asymptomatic patients.

The antigen-presenting molecule MR1 (MHC class I-related protein 1) presents metabolite antigens derived from microbial vitamin B(2) synthesis to activate mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells. Key aspects of this evolutionarily conserved pathway remain uncharacterized, including where MR1 acquires ligands and what accessory proteins assist ligand binding. We answer these questions by using a fluorophore-labeled stable MR1 antigen analog, a conformation-specific MR1 mAb, proteomic analysis, and a genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 library screen. We show that the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) contains a pool of two unliganded MR1 conformers stabilized via interactions with chaperones tapasin and tapasin-related protein. This pool is the primary source of MR1 molecules for the presentation of exogenous metabolite antigens to MAIT cells. Deletion of these chaperones reduces the ER-resident MR1 pool and hampers antigen presentation and MAIT cell activation. The MR1 antigen-presentation pathway thus co-opts ER chaperones to fulfill its unique ability to present exogenous metabolite antigens captured within the ER.

Throughout the years Machine Learning (ML) has increased a lot of consideration on ordinary products as search, filters, recognition and recently genomics. Various strategies incorporate sophisticated artificial neural system designs and are all known as applications of Deep Learning (DL). These days, deep learning could be a current and a fortifying field of machine learning. Deep Learning models have fair been shown prepared for both enhancing data encoding simplicity and prescient design execution over elective methodologies. Also deep learning techniques have been shown to reflect and learn unsurprising relationships in various different types of data and to guarantee that the future of genomics research and precise medicine applications will change. DL applications in genomic field is rapidly developed.This review presents a clarification for machine learning and deep learning methods utilized in genomics. And the main goal is to show a detailed comprehensive overview on the available ML and DL techniques used in genomics.

The role unconventional T cells play in protective immunity in humans is unclear. Mucosal-associated invariant T (MAIT) cells are an unconventional T cell subset restricted to the antigen-presenting molecule MR1. Here, we report the discovery of a patient homozygous for a rare Arg31His (R9H in the mature protein) mutation in MR1 who has a history of difficult-to-treat viral and bacterial infections. MR1R9H was unable to present the potent microbially derived MAIT cell stimulatory ligand. The MR1R9H crystal structure revealed that the stimulatory ligand cannot bind due to the mutation lying within, and causing structural perturbation to, the ligand-binding domain of MR1. While MR1R9H could bind and be up-regulated by a MAIT cell inhibitory ligand, the patient lacked circulating MAIT cells. This shows the importance of the stimulatory ligand for MAIT cell selection in humans. The patient had an expanded γδ T cell population, indicating a compensatory interplay between these unconventional T cell subsets.

MR1 presents vitamin B–related metabolites to mucosal associated invariant T (MAIT) cells, which are characterized, in part, by the TRAV1-2(+) αβ T cell receptor (TCR). In addition, a more diverse TRAV1-2(−) MR1-restricted T cell repertoire exists that can possess altered specificity for MR1 antigens. However, the molecular basis of how such TRAV1-2(−) TCRs interact with MR1–antigen complexes remains unclear. Here, we describe how a TRAV12-2(+) TCR (termed D462-E4) recognizes an MR1–antigen complex. We report the crystal structures of the unliganded D462-E4 TCR and its complex with MR1 presenting the riboflavin-based antigen 5-OP-RU. Here, the TRBV29-1 β-chain of the D462-E4 TCR binds over the F′-pocket of MR1, whereby the complementarity-determining region (CDR) 3β loop surrounded and projected into the F′-pocket. Nevertheless, the CDR3β loop anchored proximal to the MR1 A′-pocket and mediated direct contact with the 5-OP-RU antigen. The D462-E4 TCR footprint on MR1 contrasted that of the TRAV1-2(+) and TRAV36(+) TCRs' docking topologies on MR1. Accordingly, diverse MR1-restricted T cell repertoire reveals differential docking modalities on MR1, thus providing greater scope for differing antigen specificities.

A 60-year-old lady with a past history of rheumatic mitral stenosis (MS), percutaneous valvuloplasty and persistent atrial fibrillation represented with heart failure. Cardiac ECHO confirmed severe MS, moderate tricuspid and aortic valve regurgitation and pulmonary hypertension. She underwent mitral and aortic valve replacements, a tricuspid valve repair and left atrial appendage clip. She developed a LV wall rupture and underwent repair of defect. Cardiogenic shock persisted despite IABP counter-pulsation and escalating inotropic support. Central veno-arterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (VA-ECMO) and 9 days later, a percutaneous Protek Duo right ventricular assist device (RVAD) for RV failure afforded a successful outcome.

Significance MR1 is a monomorphic major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I-like molecule that presents ligands to Mucosal Associated Invariant T cells. MR1 antigen presentation at the cell surface is tightly regulated by ligand availability. Although previously described MR1 ligands facilitate translocation of ER-resident MR1 to the cell surface, we describe nonmicrobial ligands, DB28 and its ester analogue NV18.1, which retain MR1 in the ER in an immature ligand-receptive form and competitively inhibit stimulatory ligands. We provide the molecular and functional basis underpinning the interactions of this class of ligands with MR1., The antigen-presenting molecule MR1 presents riboflavin-based metabolites to Mucosal-Associated Invariant T (MAIT) cells. While MR1 egress to the cell surface is ligand-dependent, the ability of small-molecule ligands to impact on MR1 cellular trafficking remains unknown. Arising from an in silico screen of the MR1 ligand-binding pocket, we identify one ligand, 3-([2,6-dioxo-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyrimidin-4-yl]formamido)propanoic acid, DB28, as well as an analog, methyl 3-([2,6-dioxo-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyrimidin-4-yl]formamido)propanoate, NV18.1, that down-regulate MR1 from the cell surface and retain MR1 molecules in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) in an immature form. DB28 and NV18.1 compete with the known MR1 ligands, 5-OP-RU and acetyl-6-FP, for MR1 binding and inhibit MR1-dependent MAIT cell activation. Crystal structures of the MAIT T cell receptor (TCR) complexed with MR1-DB28 and MR1-NV18.1, show that these two ligands reside within the A′-pocket of MR1. Neither ligand forms a Schiff base with MR1 molecules; both are nevertheless sequestered by a network of hydrophobic and polar contacts. Accordingly, we define a class of compounds that inhibits MR1 cellular trafficking.

Real-time systems are intensively used nowadays. Scheduling algorithms are very important to manage the scheduling of tasks in real-time systems. In this paper we give an overview on the real-time scheduling techniques for uniprocessors and multiprocessors, then we present a comparison between the multiprocessor scheduling algorithms which are classified into partitioning and global scheduling algorithms. The results achieved from the comparison have showed that the parameters such as makespan, waiting time, missed deadlines and task preemptions are better in performance when using partitioned scheduling algorithms than that for global scheduling algorithms when the number of tasks is small. While when the number of tasks increased, it gives more better performance when using global scheduling algorithms than partitioned scheduling algorithms using all parameters except for some of the algorithms gave low performance in missed deadlines, they give a high number of missed deadlines. But in total when the number of tasks increased the global scheduling algorithms gives better performance than partitioned scheduling algorithms.

Cloud computing lineaments enable the users to deal with resources and get benefit from the services in a distinct economic manner. One of the vital cloud’s services is storing the users’ data on a remote location on a cloud’s storage resource, which means that this storage has to be characterized by a high level of security and safety, for instance, to ensure the data integrity and preserve its confidentiality. In the existing cloud environments, these security issues are handled by a third party; neither user nor provider, known as the Cloud Third Party (CTP). Despite the evident important role of CTP, it may adversely affect the security and becomes untrustworthy insider employee (i.e., malicious insider). In this paper, we present an automated framework for enhancing the cloud security “Self-Protecting of Data Auditing (SPDA)” based on the concept of autonomic computing. This framework is divided into three phases in order to handle the two significant security issues: the integrity and the confidentiality. The first stage concerns with encrypting the user’s data automatically to maintain its confidentiality. The second phase is for automated data auditing in order to keep the data integrity. And, the last one is used to automatically decrypt the data to its original correct form when the user requests to retrieve it.

One of the most significant research fields in image processing is image fusion that means combining two or more images with different characteristics in order to integrate relevant information from the source images into a rich informative image. Generally, the fusion methods are categorized into two domains; the spatial domain methods that deal directly with the pixel value in the input images to obtain the fused image, and the frequency domain methods in which the source images are first transformed into the frequency domain by computing the Fourier Transform of the source images, where the fusion operations are all applied on the Fourier transform and then applying inverse Fourier transform to obtain the fused image. In this paper, a comparison among some of the recent image fusion techniques in both the spatial and transform domains using a medical image dataset of two different medical imaging modalities (CT and MRI). The techniques that have been used in the experiment include PCA and Simple Average in the spatial domain and DWT, SWT, LP, DCT, and LP+DCT in the transform domain. The performance parameters used in the evaluation step were: Standard Deviation (SD), and Peak Signal to Noise Ratio (PSNR). Experimental results illustrate some features of the spatial domain methods having a better peak signal to noise ratio and thus keep the similarity between the fused image and the source images, reduce image distortion, as well as they are simple and easy to implement. On the other hand, the multiresolution methods give better information and high contrast and enhance spectral information.

Within medical imaging, there are various modalities of medical images like CT, X-rays, MRI and other modalities that provide information about a human body in different ways. Each modality has distinctive characteristics that provide various sources of information. Therefore, there are some problems like image comparison such as CT/PET, CT /MRI, and MRI/ PET were usually meet by the clinical treatment and diagnosis. Hence the need to combine the different images' information and this process is known as ‘medical image fusion’. In this paper, two techniques for the ‘medical image fusion’ are introduced. The first proposed fusion technique is the combination of the fast filtering with the discrete wavelet transform ‘DWT’ methods for overcoming the low spatial resolution fused image provided by DWT and preserve the source images' salient features. Where we used the fast filtering method procedures for combining the corresponding ‘low-frequency coefficients’ to maintain the ‘salient features’ of the initial images, and the maximum rule with the high-frequency coefficients which lead getting better the resultant image contrast. The second proposed technique is the combination of fast filtering with stationary wavelet transform (SWT) methods, where ‘SWT’ has the shift-invariant property which enables to overcome the shift-variance DWT's drawback. The performance of the fused output is tested and compared with five of the common fusion methods like the Gradient pyramid, Contrast pyramid, DWT, Fast Filtering, and SWT techniques, using performance parameters: E, SNR, SD, and PSNR.

The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class-I related molecule MR1 is a monomorphic and evolutionary conserved antigen (Ag)-presenting molecule that shares the overall architecture of MHC-I and CD1 proteins. However, in contrast to MHC-I and the CD1 family that present peptides and lipids, respectively, MR1 specifically presents small organic molecules. During microbial infection of mammalian cells, MR1 captures and presents vitamin B precursors, derived from the microbial biosynthesis of riboflavin, on the surface of antigen-presenting cells. These MR1-Ag complexes are recognized by the mucosal-associated invariant T cell receptor (MAIT TCR), which subsequently leads to MAIT cell activation. Recently, MR1 was shown to trap chemical scaffolds including drug and drug-like molecules. Here, we review this metabolite Ag-presenting molecule and further define the key molecular interactions underlying the recognition and reactivity of MAIT TCRs to MR1 in an Ag-dependent manner.

Heparan sulfate proteoglycans are proteins substituted with one or more heparan sulfate (HS) polysaccharides, found in abundance at cell surfaces. HS chains influence the activity of many biologically important molecules involved in cellular communication and signaling. The exostosin (EXT) proteins are glycosyltransferases in the Golgi apparatus that assemble HS chains on HSPGs. The EXTL3 enzyme mainly works as an initiator in HS biosynthesis. In this work, human lumenal N-glycosylated EXTL3 (EXTL3ΔN) was cloned, expressed in human embryonic kidney cells, and purified. Various biophysical and biochemical approaches were then employed to elucidate the N-glycosylation sites and the function of their attached N-glycans. Furthermore, the stability and conformation of the purified EXTL3ΔN protein in solution have been analyzed. Our data show that EXTL3ΔN has N-glycans at least at two positions, Asn290 and Asn592, which seem to be critical for proper protein folding and/or release. EXTL3ΔN is quite stable, as high temperature (∼59 °C) was required for denaturation. Deconvolution of the EXTL3ΔN far-UV CD spectrum revealed a substantial fraction of β sheets (25%) with a minor proportion of α-helices (14%) in the secondary structure. Solution small-angle X-ray scattering and dynamic light scattering revealed an extended structure suggestive of a dimeric arrangement and consisting of two distinct regions, narrow and broad, respectively. This is consistent with bioinformatics analyses suggesting a 3-domain structure with two glycosyltransferase domains and a coiled-coil domain.

Cloud Computing is, by nature, multi-tenant, complex, large-scale, and heterogeneous distributed systems. Thus respectively, its processes and strategies need to be automated and integrated. one of the essential processes in the Cloud computing system is negotiating the service level agreement which always has to be elastic and flexible in handling and translating the user services’ requirements. This paper aims at presenting an automated SLA negotiation framework based on autonomous and flexible agents and multi agent systems based on the autonomic computing features as suitable tools for self-detection of failures and self-monitoring for the Cloud operations and services.

أصبحت مسألة استهلاك الطاقة في مختلف قطاعات الحياة وخاصة قطاع المباني الذي يمثل الجزء الأكبر من هذا الاستهلاك هما فصلي الشتاء مسألة جوهرية تشغل دول العالم كافة وبضمنها العراق. إن طبيعة مناخ العراق المتمثلة بفترتين رئيستين و والصيف، وقصر فترات الاعتدال جعل الاستعانة بالمنظومات الخدمية الميكانيكية والكهربائية وبشكل مكثف في المباني أمرا ضروريا وميما لضمان بيئة داخلية ملائمة للشاغلين وخاصة في فترة الصيف الحار. أدى ذلك إلى زيادة في معدلات استهلاك الطاقة في المباني وبشكل خاص في العقدين الأخيرين، ومثلت هذه المشكلة الحدود العامة للدراسة، ولأهمية الموضوع سعت دراسات وبحوث عديدة إلى محاولة إيجاد حلول عملية تقلل من صرفيات الطاقة في المباني من خلال السيطرة على تأثيرات المناح على المبنى بإتباع استراتيجيات مختلفة، تبدأ بالإستراتيجية الذاتية غير المستهلكة للطاقة والتي يقتصر دورها في تقليل عمليات السريان الحراري إلى الداخل ودعم عمليات الفقدان الحراري ضمن غلاف المبنى ولان تلك الاستراتيجة غير كافية للتبريد الكفوء فقد تطرق البحث إلى استراتيجيات التبريد الفعالة والتي تسهم بشكل اكبر في تقليل حمل التبريد في المباني من ذات البيئة الخارجية، وقد جاء هذا البحث كمحاولة لتعزيز تلك الإستراتيجية من خلال تزويده بقابلية الاستجابة والتكيف مع متغير خلال تفعيل استجابة غلاف المبنى لظروف البيئة الخارجية المتغيرة بتطبيق منظومة غلاف المبنى الذكي والتي تشتمل على مجموعة من التقنيات تعمل على تحسين الأداء الحراري للمبنى بإتباع الذكاء كوسيلة تعطي صفة التكامل لتلك التقنيات مع النظم الميكانيكية للمبنى والمنسجمة مع التكنولوجيا البنائية المحلية، ولغرض معرفة تأثير تطبيق منظومة غلاف المبنى الذكي في تقليل حمل التبريد في المبنى تم إجراء عدة اختبارات تطبيقية بالاستعانة ببرنامج محاكاة الطاقة الحاسوبية (Ecotect)، أدرجت النتائج باعتماد الرسوم التوضيحية وبناءا عليها توصل البحث إلى إن استعمال المنظومة يعمل على تقليل أحمال التبريد السنوية للمبنى بمعدل ( 24.97%) مما يعني تقليل الهدر بالطاقة المصروفة إلى الربع تقريبا. وبذلك يأتي البحث كمحاولة لتقديم صورة واضحة أمام المصمم عن جدوى تطبيق المنظومة والتشجيع على استخدامها.

To increase our understanding of the interactions between the different cellular and intercellular processes, it is imperative to construct accurate biological models. An important class of these models are usually used to predict the time evolution of the corresponding chemical species over a specified period of time. Stochastic and coloured stochastic Petri nets can be adopted to construct graphical models that can be executed to simulate the firing of a set of reactions in a well-mixed chemical system. For the purpose of this specific application, (coloured) stochastic Petri nets employ internally the stochastic simulation algorithm (SSA) to perform the simulation. Although the result of the SSA is accurate in comparison with similar numerical simulation approaches (e.g., the systems of ordinary differential equations), it is empirically considered as a computationally expensive algorithm. In this paper, we propose an efficient parallel simulation algorithm for SSA to improve the execution of (coloured) stochastic Petri nets. We illustrate our proposal by applying it to a well-known model in the biological context: reaction diffusion. Furthermore, we evaluate the performance of the parallel algorithm and compare its runtime behaviour with the sequential one.

The diagnosis of acute appendicitis is mainly clinical and is correct in about 80% of patients, but 20–33% present with atypical findings, which resulted in a negative appendectomy rate of 20–30%. The graded compression ultrasound method in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis was reported with a sensitivity of 89%, and specificity of 95%. In this study, we aim to evaluate the graded compression ultrasonography in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis, its influence on the clinical judgment to operate, and its role in lowering the negative appendectomy rate. 1073 patients treated surgically for acute appendicitis between January 2005 and December 2014 were reviewed. Ultrasound findings, histopathological diagnosis, and positive or negative appendectomy rates were analyzed. 647 (60.3%) patients were males and 426 (39.7%) females. The mean age was 26.5 years. Positive ultrasound findings were recorded in 892 (83.13%), while negative findings were recorded in 181 (16.87%). Positive appendectomy was recorded in 983 (91.6%), while negative appendectomy was recorded in 90 (8.4%). The sensitivity was 83%, specificity was 100%, and the rate of negative appendectomy was 8.39%. Graded compression technique of ultrasound is a useful modality, in addition to the clinical judgment of the surgeon and clinical findings, in detecting true positive cases of acute appendicitis, and thus reducing the negative appendectomy rate. Values of 100% specificity, and 8.4% negative appendectomy rate, or better, could be achieved, when an experienced surgeon and a professional radiologist collaborate in the diagnosis of acute appendicitis.

To investigate the influence of emulsifiers on broilers fed low-energy diets, the birds were distributed into three sets&mdash, the control was fed the basal diet, the second group was fed diets 50 kcal/kg less than control, and the third group was fed diets 50 kcal/kg less than control and supplemented with 500 g/ton of emulsifiers. The used mixture of exogenous emulsifiers contains phosphatidyl choline, lysophosphatidyl choline, and polyethylene glycol ricinoleate. Although the feed intake was not meaningfully affected by dietary low-energy level with emulsifier inclusion (P = 0.42), the weight gain and FCR were clearly enhanced (P = 0.005 and P = 0.044, respectively). Protein and lipids utilization were decreased by reducing energy level, but they were increased by emulsifier supplementation (P = 0.022 and P = 0.011, respectively). Liver thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARs) and muscle palmitic acid concentrations were decreased by reducing the energy level and emulsifier&rsquo, s supplementation (P = 0.014 and P = 0.042, respectively). However, muscle total lipids and &alpha, tocopherol, oleic acid, linoleic acid, and &alpha, linolenic acid were not affected by dietary treatments (P &gt, 0.05). Interestingly, the plasma total cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, total protein, and globulin were decreased in the low-energy group without emulsifier but they were increased by emulsifier supplementation (P = 0.008, P = 0.005, P = 0.037, and P = 0.005, respectively). It could be concluded that the mixture of emulsifier supplementation to low-energy diets enhanced fat utilization and resulted in positive effects on the growth performance, nutrient utilization, lipid peroxidation, and modified plasma lipid profiles in broilers. Getting such benefits in broilers is a necessity to reduce the feed cost and consequently the price of the product, which will lead to improved welfare of mankind.

A different way for γδ T cells to bind The ligands bound by γδ T cell receptors (TCRs) are less well characterized than those of their αβ TCR cousins, which are antigens presented by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) and related proteins. Le Nours et al. identified a phenotypically diverse γδ T cell subset in human tissues that reacts to MHC-related protein 1 (MR1), which presents vitamin B derivatives. A crystal structure of a γδ TCR–MR1–antigen complex revealed that some of these TCRs can bind underneath the MR1 antigen-binding cleft instead of recognizing the presented antigen. This work thus uncovers an additional ligand for γδ T cells and reconceptualizes the nature of T cell antigen recognition. Science , this issue p. 1522