Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The influence of the UAE context on management practice in UAE business

Purpose - In many managerial publications, and even in quite a few academic ones, warnings are given about the different and difficult business environment which exist in Arab countries. This environment is allegedly characterized by a high religious influence, a definitive centralization of power, a strong family and tribal culture and a strong role of wasta, which makes doing business in the Middle East arduous. However, the context of the UAE is not typical Arab as it is very much multicultural with many expatriates working in both local and foreign companies. In this article it is investigated whether the UAE business context as described in the literature still matches with the UAE business context in practice. Design/methodology/approach - The theoretical aspects of the UAE business context were derived from a literature study. The aspects of the UAE business context in practice were collected during interviews with 36 Emirati and Western and Eastern expat managers working in the UAE. Subsequently, the theoretical aspects were matched with the practical aspects. Findings - The matching shows that the typical Arab business setting is still there but that it exists next to the international business setting. Research limitations/implications - Because of the coexisting cultural business settings more nuance is needed in describing the typical Arab elements of the UAE business context, in order to fully understand the way of operating in the UAE. Originality/value - As during this study a cross section of nationalities working in the UAE, including Emirati, was interviewed it gives an unique insight into the current state of affairs in the UAE.
Effects of long-term and reduced-dose hormone replacement therapy on endothelial function and intima-media thickness in postmenopausal women

ObjectiveShort-term estrogen therapy improves endothelial function in postmenopausal women. However, there are few reports on its long-term effects on endothelial function and carotid intima-media thickness. Further, we determined whether a reduced dosage of estrogen may maintain its beneficial effects. DesignEighteen postmenopausal women (53.7±1.1 years) who had been diagnosed as having osteoporosis were enrolled. Among them, 11 women were prescribed oral conjugated estrogen 0.625 mg and medroxyprogesterone acetate 2.5 mg per day, and 7 women were prescribed an oral calcium supplement as the control group. Each patient decided whether she would take hormone replacement therapy or a calcium supplement. We performed ultrasound measurement of endothelial function of the brachial artery and carotid intima-media thickness. Examinations were scheduled to be performed pre-therapy and after 3, 6, 12, 18, 24, and 36 months of therapy. ResultsAfter three years of therapy, 6 women in the hormone replacement therapy group agreed to take half the dose of oral conjugated estrogen. Improvement of flow-mediated dilatation was observed at 3 months and the improvement was preserved up to 36 months. A similar improvement was also observed while women were on hormone replacement therapy even at the reduced dosage. Intima-media thickness of the common carotid artery in the control group increased after 12 months, which was not observed in the hormone replacement therapy group. ConclusionsOur results indicate that even at half the dose of estrogen, hormone replacement therapy may improve endothelial function and prevent the progression of carotid intima-media thickening in postmenopausal women.
Robot-music synchronization: Self-designed dance

Dance is an art consisting of sequences of movements. Its beauty comes from geometrically clean linearity, symmetry in movement phrasing, and balance in the rhythm. To make an industrial robot dance, synchronization of music with the dance is studied and simulated. Four basic patterns of movements are established using a modified Laban notation designed for an industrial robot. The beats of the music are extracted, and used in the dance synchronization. The algorithm is tested on various genres of music and Salsa dance is shown as an example. The test results show that the algorithm developed in this work is practical and promising.
Increase of calcium levels in epithelial cells induces translocation of calcium-binding proteins migration inhibitory factor-related protein 8 (MRP8) and MRP14 to keratin intermediate filaments.

Migration inhibitory factor-related protein 8 (MRP8) and MRP14, two S-100-like Ca(2+)-binding proteins, have been described in cells of the epithelial lineage where they are either expressed constitutively (e.g. by mucosal squamous epithelium) or induced during disease (e.g. in keratinocytes during the course of psoriasis). Their biological function, however, is not yet clear. Recent studies have provided evidence that S-100-like proteins may interact with cytoskeletal components; we have therefore studied the biochemical properties and subcellular distribution of MRP8 and MRP14 in epithelial cells. TR146 human squamous carcinoma cells, which were found to express MRP8 and MRP14 in Northern and Western blot studies, were chosen for analysis. Cross-linking experiments using bis(sulphosuccinimidyl)suberate followed by SDS/PAGE and Western blot analysis revealed formation of heteromeric MRP8-MRP14 complexes. On subjecting TR146 cell lysates to two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and Western blotting, four distinct MRP14 isoforms could be identified resembling those described earlier in macrophages. A differential centrifugation technique revealed a Ca(2+)-dependent translocation of MRP8-MRP14 from the cytoplasm to the membrane and the Nonidet P40-insoluble cytoskeletal fraction. Double-label immunofluorescence microscopy of Ca2+ ionophore A23187-stimulated TR146 cells and cytochalasin B and demecolcine cytoskeleton disruption studies identified these structures as keratin intermediate filaments. Ca(2+)-dependent binding of MRP8-MRP14 to keratin filaments was additionally confirmed by an in vitro binding assay. In conclusion, our data suggest that MRP8 and MRP14 may be involved in Ca(2+)-dependent reorganization of cytoskeletal filaments in epithelial cells, which could be of importance for events associated with differentiation and inflammatory activation.
Conventional MRI Is Inadequate to Delineate the Relationship between the Red Nucleus and Subthalamic Nucleus in Parkinson’s Disease

Background: An understanding of the relationships between the anterior commissure-posterior commissure line (AC-PC), the subthalamic nucleus (STN), and red nucleus (RN) is imperative if these structures are to be used for targeting in deep brain stimulation. Currently, these relationships are incompletely understood and difficult to assess using conventional MRI. We examined the location and relationships of the STN and the RN to the AC-PC line and to each other in order to provide a greater understanding of their utility when targeting the STN, and the consistency of these anatomic relationships when examined using conventional MRI. Methods: A total of 52 STN and RN in 26 patients with Parkinson’s disease were evaluated on T2-weighted MR images. The anterior and posterior commissures and the border coordinates of the STN and RN were derived using frame coordinates. The distances from the midcommissural point (mcp) to the centers of the STN and RN, the diameters for each nucleus, and the distances between the nuclei were calculated in the x-, y-, and z-axes. Results: The mean AC-PC length was 26.1 ± 1.3 mm. The distance from the mcp to the center of the STN was 10 ± 0.7 mm in the x-axis, 0.2 ± 0.7 mm in the y-axis, and 3.3 ± 0.9 mm in the z-axis. The distance from the mcp to the center of the RN was 4.7 ± 0.6 mm in the x-axis, –5.9 ± 1.0 mm in the y-axis, and 6.1 ± 1.3 mm in the z-axis. The distance between the STN and RN was 2.3 ± 0.7 mm in the x-axis, 2.1 ± 1.0 mm in the y-axis, and –0.2 ± 1.3 mm in the z-axis. Conclusions: Although recent studies imply that the RN can be used as a relatively consistent marker for the position of the STN, the present data suggest otherwise. These data indicate that a single targeting method may be inadequate given the resolution of conventional MRI, and that it is imperative to use multiple anatomical measurements when targeting the STN for deep brain stimulation in Parkinson’s disease.
The Medicine Wheel

Accidents, violence, and certain chronic diseases kill American Indians greatly out of proportion to other racial groups. Complex interactions between previously adaptive survival mechanisms, historical and cultural factors, and U.S. policy must be understood to respond effectively to these health issues. The traditional medicine wheel provides a conceptual framework that is culturally grounded and also supported by solid scientific research. Research related to complex neuroendocrine and behavioral responses to the stressors of life provides a basis for effective treatment programs for American Indians.
Acid‐sensing ion channels (ASICs) in mouse skeletal muscle afferents are heteromers composed of ASIC1a, ASIC2, and ASIC3 subunits

Acid‐sensing ion channels (ASICs) are expressed in skeletal muscle afferents, in which they sense extracellular acidosis and other metabolites released during ischemia and exercise. ASICs are formed as homotrimers or heterotrimers of several isoforms (ASIC1a, ASIC1b, ASIC2a, ASIC2b, and ASIC3), with each channel displaying distinct properties. To dissect the ASIC composition in muscle afferents, we used whole‐cell patch‐clamp recordings to study the properties of acid‐evoked currents (amplitude, pH sensitivity, the kinetics of desensitization and recovery from desensitization, and pharmacological modulation) in isolated, labeled mouse muscle afferents from wild‐type (C57BL/6J) and specific ASIC–/– mice. We found that ASIC‐like currents in wild‐type muscle afferents displayed fast desensitization, indicating that they are carried by heteromeric channels. Currents from ASIC1a–/– muscle afferents were less pH‐sensitive and displayed faster recovery, currents from ASIC2–/– mice showed diminished potentiation by zinc, and currents from ASIC3–/– mice displayed slower desensitization than those from wild‐type mice. Finally, ASIC‐like currents were absent from triple‐null mice lacking ASIC1a, ASIC2a, and ASIC3. We conclude that ASIC1a, ASIC2a, and ASIC3 heteromers are the principle channels in skeletal muscle afferents. These results will help us understand the role of ASICs in exercise physiology and provide a molecular target for potential drug therapies to treat muscle pain. —Gautam, M. , Benson, C. J. Acid‐sensing ion channels (ASICs) in mouse skeletal muscle afferents are heteromers composed of ASIC1a, ASIC2, and ASIC3 subunits. FASEB J. 27, 793–802 (2013). www.fasebj. org
Magnolol Enhances Hippocampal Neurogenesis and Exerts Antidepressant‐Like Effects in Olfactory Bulbectomized Mice

Magnolol is the main constituent of Magnolia bark and has been reported to exhibit antidepressant effects in rodent models. Hippocampal neurogenesis and neurotrophins such as brain‐derived neurotrophic factor are integrally involved in the action of conventional antidepressants. Here, we investigated the effects of magnolol on depressive behaviours, impaired hippocampal neurogenesis and neurotrophin‐related signal transduction in an olfactory bulbectomy (OBX) mouse model of depression. Mice were submitted to OBX to induce depressive behaviour, which was evaluated in the tail suspension test. Magnolol was administered orally by gavage needle. Neurogenesis was assessed by analysis of cells expressing NeuN, a neuronal marker, and 5‐bromo‐2′‐deoxyuridine (BrdU) uptake. Phosphorylation levels of protein kinase B (Akt), extracellular signal‐regulated kinase and cyclic AMP‐responsive element‐binding protein were evaluated by Western blot. Fourteen day treatment with magnolol (50 or 100 mg/kg/day) significantly improved OBX‐induced depressive behaviour in tail suspension test. In agreement, magnolol significantly rescued impairments of hippocampal neurogenesis. Moreover, single treatments with magnolol (50 mg/kg) significantly increased phosphorylation of Akt, extracellular signal‐regulated kinase and cyclic AMP‐responsive element‐binding protein after 3 h. The present data indicate that magnolol exerts antidepressant‐like effects on behaviours by enhancing hippocampal neurogenesis and neurotrophin‐related intracellular signalling in OBX mice. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
HDLs in apoA-I transgenic Abca1 knockout mice are remodeled normally in plasma but are hypercatabolized by the kidney Published, JLR Papers in Press, July 16, 2005. DOI 10.1194/jlr.M500179-JLR200

Patients homozygous for Tangier disease have a near absence of plasma HDL as a result of mutations in ABCA1 and hypercatabolize normal HDL particles. To determine the relationship between ABCA1 expression and HDL catabolism, we investigated intravascular remodeling, plasma clearance, and organ-specific uptake of HDL in mice expressing the human apolipoprotein A-I (apoA-I) transgene in the Abca1 knockout background. Small HDL particles (7.5 nm), radiolabeled with 125I-tyramine cellobiose, were injected into recipient mice to quantify plasma turnover and the organ uptake of tracer. Small HDL tracer was remodeled to 8.2 nm diameter particles within 5 min in human apolipoprotein A-I transgenic (hA-ITg) mice (control) and knockout mice. Decay of tracer from plasma was 1.6-fold more rapid in knockout mice (P < 0.05) and kidney uptake was twice that of controls, with no difference in liver uptake. We also observed 2-fold greater hepatic expression of ABCA1 protein in hA-ITg mice compared with nontransgenic mice, suggesting that overexpression of human apoA-I stabilized hepatic ABCA1 protein in vivo. We conclude that ABCA1 is not required for in vivo remodeling of small HDLs to larger HDL subfractions and that the hypercatabolism of normal HDL particles in knockout mice is attributable to a selective catabolism of HDL apoA-I by the kidney.
The prognostic significance of c-erbB-2 and p53 protein expressions in gastric carcinoma--a multivariate analysis of prognostic factors.

152 curative gastrectomy specimens from patients with gastric carcinoma were examined in an attempt to assess the prognostic value of c-erbB-2 and mutant p53 protein expressions. The labeled streptavidin-biotin method was applied to routinely fixed and paraffin-embedded tissue sections, using the polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies against the c-erbB-2 protein and the mutant form p53 protein, respectively. In this examination, staining of c-erbB-2 protein was found in 9.2% of these carcinomas. The c-erbB-2 stained tumors were significantly associated with the tumors whose diameters were smaller than 5cm, and were more likely to be associated with serosal invasion and nodal involvement than the unstained ones. However, there was little association between staining of c-erbB-2 protein and clinicopathologic findings such as age, sex, location, histology, gross type, lymph node status, depth of invasion, and stage. The survival analysis of 104 patients with stage III gastric carcinoma revealed no significant association between c-erbB-2 staining status and survival duration. The 5-year survival rates of the c-erbB-2 positive group and its negative group were 21% and 28%, respectively. Positive p53 protein expression was observed in 46% of 152 carcinomas. There was no significant association between p53 expression and parameters such as age, sex, location, histology, gross type, and size. The p53 stained tumors were more likely to be associated with lymph node metastasis, serosal invasion than p53 unstained ones; but this did not reach significance. The 5-year survival rates of the p53 positive group and counter part group were 27% and 31%, respectively. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Association Between Availability of a Price Transparency Tool and Outpatient Spending.

IMPORTANCE There is increasing interest in using price transparency tools to decrease health care spending. OBJECTIVE To measure the association between offering a health care price transparency tool and outpatient spending. DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS Two large employers represented in multiple market areas across the United States offered an online health care price transparency tool to their employees. One introduced it on April 1, 2011, and the other on January 1, 2012. The tool provided users information about what they would pay out of pocket for services from different physicians, hospitals, or other clinical sites. Using a matched difference-in-differences design, outpatient spending among employees offered the tool (n=148,655) was compared with that among employees from other companies not offered the tool (n=295,983) in the year before and after it was introduced. EXPOSURE Availability of a price transparency tool. MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES Annual outpatient spending, outpatient out-of-pocket spending, use rates of the tool. RESULTS Mean outpatient spending among employees offered the tool was $2021 in the year before the tool was introduced and $2233 in the year after. In comparison, among controls, mean outpatient spending changed from $1985 to $2138. After adjusting for demographic and health characteristics, being offered the tool was associated with a mean $59 (95% CI, $25-$93) increase in outpatient spending. Mean outpatient out-of-pocket spending among those offered the tool was $507 in the year before introduction of the tool and $555 in the year after. Among the comparison group, mean outpatient out-of-pocket spending changed from $490 to $520. Being offered the price transparency tool was associated with a mean $18 (95% CI, $12-$25) increase in out-of-pocket spending after adjusting for relevant factors. In the first 12 months, 10% of employees who were offered the tool used it at least once. CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE Among employees at 2 large companies, offering a price transparency tool was not associated with lower health care spending. The tool was used by only a small percentage of eligible employees.
Cortisol in tissue and systemic level as a contributing factor to the development of metabolic syndrome in severely obese patients.

CONTEXT Adrenal and extra-adrenal cortisol production may be involved in the development of metabolic syndrome (MetS). OBJECTIVE To investigate the activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the expression of HSD11B1, nuclear receptor subfamily 3, group C, member 1 (glucocorticoid receptors) α (NR3C1α) and β (NR3C1β) in the liver, subcutaneous adipose tissue (SAT) and visceral adipose tissue (VAT) of severely obese patients with and without MetS. METHODS The study included 37 severely obese patients (BMI ≥ 40 kg/m(2)), 19 with MetS (MetS+ group) and 18 without (MetS- group), studied before and during bariatric surgery. Before the day of surgery, urinary free cortisol (UFC) and diurnal variation of serum and salivary cortisol were estimated. During surgery, biopsies of the liver, VAT and SAT were obtained. The expression of HSD11B1, NR3C1α and NR3C1β was evaluated by RT-PCR. RESULTS UFC and area under the curve for 24-h profiles of serum and salivary cortisol were lower in the MetS- group. In the MetS- group, mRNA levels of HSD11B1 in liver exhibited a negative correlation with liver NR3C1α (LNR3C1α) and VAT expression of HSD11B1 was lower than the MetS+ group. CONCLUSIONS We observed a downregulation of the NR3C1α expression and lower VAT mRNA levels of HSD11B1 in the MetS- group, indicating a lower selective tissue cortisol production and action that could protect these patients from the metabolic consequences of obesity. In the MetS- group, a lower activity of the HPA axis was also detected. Taken together, cortisol in tissue and systematic level might play a role in the development of MetS in severely obese patients.
Return predictability in emerging equity market sectors

ABSTRACT This article investigates the predictive power of technical trading rules in the emerging equity market sector portfolios and finds that trading strategies based on technical indicators significantly outperform the buy-and-hold benchmark. Combination of data snooping bias, data measurement errors in the form of non-synchronicity bias and fluctuations in currency exchange rates is unable to explain the observed outperformance. The introduction of transaction costs tempers the results but technical analysis still possesses significant predictive power for a number of sectors. The performance of technical analysis in the emerging equity market sectors does not conform to historical trends observed in the developed equity markets as well as in the emerging equity markets when broadly diversified portfolios are considered, where predictive power of technical trading rules has been shown to decline over time.
Parkin functionally interacts with PGC‐1&agr; to preserve mitochondria and protect dopaminergic neurons

&NA; To understand the cause of Parkinson's disease (PD), it is important to determine the functional interactions between factors linked to the disease. Parkin is associated with autosomal recessive early‐onset PD, and controls the transcription of PGC‐1&agr;, a master regulator of mitochondrial biogenesis. These two factors functionally interact to regulate the turnover and quality of mitochondria, by increasing both mitophagic activity and mitochondria biogenesis. In cortical neurons, co‐expressing PGC‐1&agr; and Parkin increases the number of mitochondria, enhances maximal respiration, and accelerates the recovery of the mitochondrial membrane potential following mitochondrial uncoupling. PGC‐1&agr; enhances Mfn2 transcription, but also leads to increased degradation of the Mfn2 protein, a key ubiquitylation target of Parkin on mitochondria. In vivo, Parkin has significant protective effects on the survival and function of nigral dopaminergic neurons in which the chronic expression of PGC‐1&agr; is induced. Ultrastructural analysis shows that these two factors together control the density of mitochondria and their interaction with the endoplasmic reticulum. These results highlight the combined effects of Parkin and PGC‐1&agr; in the maintenance of mitochondrial homeostasis in dopaminergic neurons. These two factors synergistically control the quality and function of mitochondria, which is important for the survival of neurons in Parkinson's disease.
Effects of crosstalk in WDM systems using spectrum-sliced light sources

We report on the effects of intraband crosstalk in the system using spectrum-sliced light sources. The results show that the spectrum-sliced light sources are much less sensitive to intraband crosstalk compared to laser sources. This is mainly because the spectrum-sliced light source should have relatively broad optical bandwidth to obtain the signal-to-noise ratio required for the acceptable bit-error-rate performance. Thus, in the system using spectrum-sliced light sources, the signal-crosstalk beat noise is reduced significantly as the beat components become spread outside of the receiver's bandwidth.