Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Alcohol-related Road Traffic Injuries in Al-Ain City, United Arab Emirates

Objective: We aimed to prospectively study the demography, severity of injury and outcome of alcohol-related road traffic collision (RTC) injuries in the United Arab Emirates. Methods: Data of RTC Registry of Al-Ain City were prospectively collected from Al-Ain and Tawam hospitals during the period of April 2006 to October 2007. It included all RTC trauma patients who were admitted or those who died after arrival to these hospitals. Car occupants with complete data on alcohol use were included in the study. Patients were divided into two groups, those who reported using alcohol and those who did not. Results: Out of the 771 car occupants, sixteen (16) used alcohol (2.1%), 15 (94%) of them were males. The median (range) age of the alcohol group was significantly higher than those without alcohol (35 (15–53) years compared with 26 (1–78) years, p = 0.02). The UAE nationals were significantly more (P = 0.01) and the revised trauma score was significantly less in the alcohol group (P = 0.03). Head/face was the most commonly injured region in the alcohol group (94%). Conclusion: Self reported alcohol-related car collisions in Al-Ain City had a low incidence. It affected older Emirati male nationals and was associated with lower revised trauma score, mainly due to head injury. There is a need for a national registry with data on alcohol abuse so as to assess its effects and strategies for its prevention.
The role of neuromuscular properties in determining the end-point of a movement

How does the activation of several muscles combine to produce reliable multijoint movements? To study this question, we stimulated up to six sites in muscles, nerves, and the spinal cord. Flexion and extension of the hip, knee, and ankle were elicited in anesthetized and decerebrate cats. The movements occurred largely in the sagittal plane against a constant spring load and covered most of the passive range of motion of the cat's limb. The movements of the end-point (foot) were compared with predictions based on vectorial summation of end-point movements elicited by stimulating single electrodes. The lengths of the movements produced by stimulating more than one site exceeded what was expected from linear summation for small movements (<3 cm) and showed a less than linear summation for large movements (>11 cm). The data were compared with muscle and limb models. Since the deviations from linearity were predictable as a function of distance, adjustments might easily be learned by trial and error. The summation was less complete for spinal stimulation, compared to nerve and muscle stimulation, so spinal circuits do not appear to compensate for the nonlinearities. Movements were elicited from positions of the limb not only in a neutral position, but also in front and behind the neutral position. A degree of convergence was seen, even with stimulation of some individual muscles, but the convergence increased as more muscles were stimulated and more joints were actively involved. This suggests that convergence to an equilibrium-point arises at least partly from muscle properties. In conclusion, there are deviations from linear vectorial summation, and these deviations increase when more muscles are stimulated. The convergence to an equilibrium-point may simplify the computations needed to produce movements involving many muscles.
Endothelium-dependent vasodilation is associated with exercise capacity in smokers and non-smokers

Smoking is an established cardiovascular risk factor that impairs endothelial function and reduces exercise capacity. Peripheral vascular endothelial function correlates with exercise capacity, but whether this association prevails in smokers is unknown. The purpose of this investigation was to examine the association between endothelial function and exercise capacity in chronic smokers and non-smoking controls. Brachial artery flow-mediated dilation (FMD, endothelium-dependent) following 5 minutes of upper arm occlusion was compared in 26 smokers (age 58 ± 2 years; 15 female; BMI (body mass index) = 28 ± 1) and 39 non-smokers (age 58 ± 2 years; 24 female; BMI = 28 ± 1) using ultrasound. Exercise treadmill time (ETT) was recorded from a standard Bruce protocol during symptom limited stress testing. There was found to be a significant positive association between FMD and ETT in smokers (r = 0.60, p < 0.05) and non-smokers (r = 0.28, p < 0.05). FMD was significantly lower in smokers versus non-smokers (8.9 ± 0.9 vs 12.6 ± 0.7%, p < 0.05). ETT was significantly lower in smokers (425 ± 35 seconds) versus non-smokers (522 ± 25 seconds, p < 0.05). After adjusting for FMD, there were no longer group differences in ETT. When patients were matched according to FMD, there were no differences in ETT between smokers and non-smokers. In conclusion, peripheral endothelial dysfunction is a correlate of low exercise capacity in smokers and non-smokers alike. Future research is needed to examine if improving endothelial function will lead to concomitant increases in exercise capacity in chronic smokers.
β-1, 3-glucan modulates PKC signalling in Lymnaea stagnalis defence cells: a role for PKC in H2O2 production and downstream ERK activation

SUMMARY Haemocytes from the gastropod snail Lymnaea stagnalis (Linnaeus) were used as a model to characterize protein kinase C (PKC) signalling events in molluscan defence cells. Challenge of freshly collected haemocytes with theβ -1, 3-glucan laminarin resulted in a transient increase in the phosphorylation of haemocyte PKC, with maximal phosphorylation (represented by a 3.5-fold increase) occurring at 10 min; this effect was blocked by the PKC inhibitor, GF109203X. Moreover, extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) was found to be a downstream target of molluscan PKC, operating via a MAPK/ERK kinase (MEK)-dependent mechanism. Pharmacological inhibition of PKC phosphorylation by U-73122 and ET-18-OCH3 suggested that laminarin-dependent PKC signalling was modulated via phospholipase C (PLC); however, a role for phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase (PI-3-K) is unlikely since the PI-3-K inhibitor LY294002 was without effect. Generation of H2O2 by haemocytes in response to laminarin was also investigated. H2O2 output increased in a dose- and time-dependent manner, with 10 mg ml-1 laminarin eliciting a 9.5-fold increase in H2O2 production after 30 min. H2O2 production was significantly attenuated by the PKC inhibitors, GF109203X and Gö 6976, and by the NADPH-oxidase inhibitor, apocynin. In conclusion, these data further our understanding of PKC signalling events in molluscan haemocytes and for the first time define a role for PKC in H2O2 production by these defence cells. Given that H2O2 is an important anti-pathogen molecule, and that haemocytes play a crucial role in the elimination of invading organisms, PKC signalling in these cells is likely to be crucial to the molluscan innate defence response.
Pareto Efficiency with Different Beliefs : 1 Introduction

Pareto efficiency is not as compelling when people hold different beliefs as it is under common beliefs or certainty. Gilboa, Samuelson, and Schmeidler (2013) have suggested that the standard Pareto relation be weakened by imposing the additional constraint that, in order for one allocation to dominate another, there should exist a single hypothetical belief under which all agents prefer the former to the latter. In the present work we propose an alternative definition whereby Pareto efficiency is supplemented by the requirement that according to each agent’s belief the former alternative is preferred to the latter for all other agents. This paper analyzes and compares these and other definitions. ∗We thank Markus Brunnermeier, José Heleno Faro, Johannes Hörner, Ben Polak, Andy Postlewaite, Anna Rubinchik, Alp Simsek, Glen Weyl, and Wei Xiong for discussions and comments. ISF Grant 396/10 (Gilboa and Schmeidler), ERC Grant 269754 (Gilboa), and NSF Grant SES-1153893 (Samuelson) are gratefully acknowledged. †Department of Economics, Bar-Ilan University. gabi.gayer@gmail.com ‡Tel-Aviv University and HEC, Paris. tzachigilboa@gmail.com §Department of Economics, Yale University. larry.samuelson@yale.edu ¶The Interdisciplinary Center, Herzliya, Tel-Aviv University, and The Ohio State University. davidschmeidler@gmail.com Pareto Efficiency with Different Beliefs
Test-retest reliability and list equivalency of Persian quick speech in noise test in Azari-Persian bilinguals

Background and Aim: The quick speech in noise (Q-SIN) test results have been reported to be entirely different in monolinguals compared to bilinguals. We attempted to assess the reliability and equivalency of the Persian Q-SIN test in Azari-Persian bilinguals. Methods: The Q-SIN test was performed on 51 Persian monolinguals and 51 Azari-Persian bilinguals by the 1, 2, 3, and 5 lists binaurally under headphone. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) loss was determined for each group. The reliability was evaluated on 30 bilinguals. Results: There was no gender effect on all results in both groups. The mean SNR losses of four lists were -1.19 and -0.8dB in monolinguals and bilinguals, respectively, also they were within normal limits in both groups. The mean SNR losses for all lists in monolinguals were better than those in bilinguals, but there was a significant difference between two groups for list 1 (p=0.03). No significant differences were observed between two runs for lists 1, 3, and 5 in bilinguals, and two runs for lists 1, 2, and 5 were significantly correlated. There were no significant differences between the scores of lists 2, 3, and 5 in bilinguals (p>0.000), and a moderate correlation existed between lists 2 and 3. Conclusion: The scores of lists 2, 3, and 5 in bilinguals are similar to those in monolinguals. In bilinguals, lists 1 and 5 are reliable, and lists 2 and 3 are equivalent. The overall results indicate limitations in both reliability and equivalency of Persian Q-SIN lists in the bilinguals.
Differential distribution of the glutamate transporters GLT‐1 and GLAST in tanycytes of the third ventricle

The ventral one‐third of the ventricular lining in the hypothalamus is formed by specialized ependymal cells called the tanycytes. These cells may serve a neuroendocrine transport function because of their structural specializations, which include apical microvili on the ventricular surface and long basal processes that terminate on blood vessels or on the glia limitans. Here, we describe the expression of mRNA and protein for the glutamate transporters GLT‐1 and GLAST in unique tanycyte populations of the third ventricle in rat brain. Using nonisotopic in situ hybridization, we demonstrate GLAST mRNA labeling in tanycytes of the ventral floor and lateral walls in the tuberal and mammillary recess portions of the third ventricle. This GLAST mRNA labeling had a higher intensity than the labeling intensity observed in regular ependymal cells throughout the ventricular system. Furthermore, we have identified strong GLT‐1 mRNA labeling in a population of tanycytes situated in the dorsolateral walls of caudal tuberal and mammillary recess portions. Immunocytochemical staining indicates that both GLT‐1 and GLAST protein are expressed in the tanycyte populations as well. These data corroborate previous findings that third ventricle tanycytes are functionally heterogeneous. Furthermore, the GLT‐1‐expressing tanycytes represent a population of tanycytes that, to date, has not been recognized as functionally distinct. The strong GLAST expression by the ventral tanycytes in the hypophysiotropic area suggests a role of tanycyte‐mediated glutamate transport in neuroendocrine activity. The functional role of GLT‐1 in dorsal wall tanycytes remains to be explored. J. Comp. Neurol. 433:101–114, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Immunoreactivity of five antigens of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in patients attending a public health care facility in an area with high endemicity for TB

The objective of this study was to evaluate people attending a primary health clinic in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil for immunoreactivity to five Mycobacterium tuberculosis antigens, as these antigens are markers of immune response and factors associated with active TB. The serum antibody titers of different categories of patients (defined by microbiological and radiological characteristics and by response to therapy on follow‐up) to 38 kDa, 16 kDa, MPT64, ESAT‐6 and MT10.3 antigens were determined blind with ELISA. Positive tests to each antigen were defined with ROC analysis. OR were calculated for factors associated with humoral response in patients with active TB. A total of 201 patients underwent serological testing. Patients with confirmed active TB responded more frequently to MPT64 (44%), 16 kDa (37.7%) and 38 kDa (36.1%). ESAT‐6 and MT10.3 were also able to distinguish people in TB groups from controls. TB infected subjects responded less frequently to ESAT‐6 and MT10.3 (3.7% and 11%, respectively). Sensitivity and specificity to all antigens combined were 58.4% and 60.7%, respectively. Reactivity to 38 kDa and to MPT64 was more likely among alcohol users OR 2.61 (95%CI;1.05–6.94) and OR 3.27 (95%CI;1.33–8.15), respectively. 16 kDa antigen elicited a more protective response among smokers, OR 0.29 (95%CI; 0.10–0.83). It was concluded that reactivity to all antigens tested represented markers of active disease. ESAT‐6 and MT10.3 could not be identified as markers of TB infection in this community. Sensitivity was higher to all antigens combined, but at a cost of lower specificity. Interestingly, among factors associated with positive immunoreactivity, alcohol use and smoking seem to polarize the humoral response in different directions. This finding deserves further investigation.
Self-reorganization in transition from military to civilian life: Maria's way

Qualitative research has demonstrated that transition from military to civilian life involves narrative identity reconstruction among service members. The reformulation of narrative identities may prove to become an existential quest for service members since the questions of who I am, where I am going, and what is my place in the world need to be (re)answered by the self in a new cultural context. Thus, a reorganization of stories also corresponds to a reorganization of I-positions in the self. This article presents the case study of Lieutenant Maria, one participant derived from a larger longitudinal research project designed to explore this process of transition, and aims to demonstrate new ways of understanding self-identity work in transition through a Dialogical Self Theory approach. The analysis of the case study suggests that self-reorganization was necessary for adaptation to a civilian cultural context that shaped alternate identities. Four types of factors were observed to have major influence upon the self-identity evolution: contextual promoters, a dialogical self-attitude, meta-cognitive activities, and a group of cooperative positions in the self which could evolve in a new context and through emerging identities. MeSh Headings/
First-trimester screening for trisomy 21 in singleton pregnancies achieved by assisted reproduction.

BACKGROUND The possible effect of assisted reproduction on first-trimester screening for trisomy 21 was examined by fetal nuchal translucency thickness (NT), maternal serum free beta-human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) and pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A). METHODS Parameters were measured at 11-14 weeks in 411 singleton pregnancies achieved by controlled ovarian stimulation, including 220 that had undergone IVF. Results were compared with 1233 singleton pregnancies conceived spontaneously. RESULTS In the IVF pregnancies, the median fetal NT was not significantly different from that in controls, whilst the median free beta-HCG was significantly increased, and PAPP-A was significantly decreased. In the intracytoplasmic sperm injection group, fetal NT and free beta-HCG values were not significantly different from those in controls, but PAPP-A was significantly decreased. In those pregnancies achieved by ovarian stimulation, neither fetal NT, free beta-HCG nor PAPP-A were significantly different from the control group. CONCLUSIONS In IVF pregnancies, screening for trisomy 21 by fetal NT, maternal serum free beta-HCG and PAPP-A levels may be associated with a 1.2% higher false-positive rate than in natural conception.
Metabolism, protein content, and in vitro embryonic development of goat cumulus–oocyte complexes matured with physiological concentrations of glucose and L‐lactate

No information is available concerning how the maturation environment controls the metabolism of goat oocytes. The objectives of this experiment were to: (1) Determine the concentrations of glucose, lactate, and pyruvate in caprine follicular fluid; and (2) Investigate the effects of physiological concentrations of glucose and lactate in the in vitro maturation (IVM) medium on the metabolism (glycolysis and pyruvate oxidation), protein content, and developmental competence of caprine oocytes and cumulus–oocyte complexes (COCs). Abattoir‐derived COCs were matured for 18–20 hr in a defined, SOF‐based medium containing 0.75, 1.5 (follicular fluid = 1.4 mM), or 3.0 mM glucose, and 3.0, 6.0 (follicular fluid = 7.1 mM), or 12.0 mM L‐lactate. The protein content of oocytes and COCs was not affected (P > 0.05) by the concentration of glucose and lactate in the maturation medium. Increasing glucose and lactate decreased (P ≤ 0.05) glycolytic activity of oocytes, without affecting (P > 0.05) pyruvate oxidation. In COCs, increasing glucose concentrations tended (P = 0.07) to decrease glycolysis. When metabolic activity was corrected for protein content (pmol/µg protein/3 hr), increasing glucose or lactate concentrations in the medium decreased (P ≤ 0.05) pyruvate oxidation in oocytes, but increased (P ≤ 0.05) pyruvate oxidation in COCs. Embryonic development (cleavage and blastocyst development, hatching, and cell number) was not affected (P > 0.05) by the glucose and lactate concentrations tested. These results indicate that concentrations of glucose and lactate in the medium have cell type‐specific effects on metabolism of oocytes and COCs, but do not affect developmental competence within the range of concentrations tested. Mol. Reprod. Dev. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Automorphisms of hyperkähler manifolds and groups acting on CAT(0) spaces

We study groups of biholomorphic and bimeromorphic automorphisms of projective hyperkähler manifolds. Using an action of these groups on some non-positively curved space, we immediately deduce many of their properties, including finite presentation, strong form of Tits’ alternative, and some structural results about groups consisting of transformations with infinite order.
Retinoid-related orphan receptor g regulates several genes that control metabolism in skeletal muscle cells: links to modulation of reactive oxygen species production

Retinoid-related orphan receptor g (ROR g ) is an orphan nuclear hormone receptor (NR) that is preferentially expressed in skeletal muscle and several other tissues, including pancreas, thymus, prostate, liver and testis. Surprisingly, the speciﬁc role of ROR g in skeletal muscle, a peripheral tissue, has not been examined. Muscle is one of the most energy demanding tissues which accounts for w 40% of the total body mass and energy expenditure, O 75% of glucose disposal and relies heavily on b -oxidation offatty acids. We hypothesize that ROR g regulates metabolism in this major mass lean tissue. This hypothesis was examined by gain and loss of function studies in an in vitro mouse skeletal muscle cell culture model. We show that ROR g mRNA and protein are dramatically induced during skeletal muscle cell differentiation. We utilize stable ectopic over-expression of VP16-ROR g (gain of function), native ROR g and ROR gD H12 (loss of function) vectors to modulate ROR g mRNA expression and function. Ectopic VP16 (herpes simplex virus transcriptional activator)-ROR g and native ROR g expression increases ROR a mRNA expression. Candidate-driven expression proﬁling of lines that ectopically express the native and variant forms of ROR g suggested that this orphan NR has a function in regulating the expression of genes that control lipid homeostasis (fatty acid-binding protein 4, CD36 (fatty acid translocase), lipoprotein lipase and uncoupling protein 3), carbohydrate metabolism (GLUT5 (fructose transporter), adiponectin receptor 2 and interleukin 15 (IL-15))andmuscle mass (includingmyostatin andIL-15). Surprisingly, the investigationrevealeda functionfor ROR g inthe pathway that regulates production of reactive oxygen species.
Heat Shock and Caloric Restriction Have a Synergistic Effect on the Heat Shock Response in a sir2.1-dependent Manner in Caenorhabditis elegans*

Background: The heat shock response (HSR) maintains proteostasis and may be under metabolic control. Results: Caloric restriction (CR) enhances induction of hsp70 genes in Caenorhabditis elegans and prevents toxicity in an aggregation model, requiring sir2.1. Conclusion: CR synergizes with heat to activate the HSR. Significance: The metabolic state of an organism modulates the HSR. The heat shock response (HSR) is responsible for maintaining cellular and organismal health through the regulation of proteostasis. Recent data demonstrating that the mammalian HSR is regulated by SIRT1 suggest that this response may be under metabolic control. To test this hypothesis, we have determined the effect of caloric restriction in Caenorhabditis elegans on activation of the HSR and have found a synergistic effect on the induction of hsp70 gene expression. The homolog of mammalian SIRT1 in C. elegans is Sir2.1. Using a mutated C. elegans strain with a sir2.1 deletion, we show that heat shock and caloric restriction cooperate to promote increased survivability and fitness in a sir2.1-dependent manner. Finally, we show that caloric restriction increases the ability of heat shock to preserve movement in a polyglutamine toxicity neurodegenerative disease model and that this effect is dependent on sir2.1.
Timing of uplift in the Zagros belt / Iranian plateau and accommodation of late Cenozoic Arabia – Eurasia convergence

The motion of Arabia was stable with respect to Eurasia over the past 22 Ma. Deformation and exhumation in the Zagros is seen to initiate at the same time as argued by new detrital thermochronologic constraints and increasing accumulation rates in synorogenic sediments. A recent magnetostratigraphic dating of the Bakhtyari conglomerates in the northern Fars region of the Zagros further suggests that shortening and uplift in the Zagros Folded Belt accelerated after 12.4 Ma. Available temporal constraints from surrounding collision belts indicate that shortening and uplift focused in regions bordering the Iranian plateau to the south between 15 and 5 Ma. As boundary velocity was kept constant this requires concomitant decreasing strain rates in the Iranian plateau. Slab detachment has been proposed to explain the observed changes as well as mantle delamination, but the insignificant change in the Arabian slab motion and lack of unambiguous constraints make both hypotheses difficult to account for. It is proposed based on a review of shortening estimates provided throughout the Arabia–Eurasia collision that the total 440 km of convergence predicted by geodesy and plate reconstruction over the past 22 Ma can be accounted for by distributed shortening. I suggest that the topography and expansion of the Iranian plateau over Late Miocene–Pliocene time can be reproduced by the progressive thickening of the originally thin Iranian continental lithosphere presumably thermally weakened during the Eocene extensional and magmatic event.