Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Functional lipid components for obesity management: a review

Obesity is globally acknowledged as a major public health concern and future threat which is associated with its co-morbidities in particular diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular diseases, osteoarthritis, stroke and inflammatory diseases. It was suggested that a high-fat diet promotes the development of obesity and that there is a direct relationship between the amount of dietary fat and the degree of obesity. Fats and oils, particularly higher molecular weight and saturated fats, lead to a positive fat balance, and consequent adipose mass accumulation; therefore, for good health, the type of fats/oils people eat is far more important that the amount, and there is some evidence that the same may be true for weight control. Advancements in food processing sector and modernisation of the societies lead to changes in lifestyle which attracts the consumers to modify their diet accordingly. Therefore, there is great scope of designer foods that could help in prevention or management of obesity. Lipid components, including medium chain triglycerides (MCTs), diacylglycerides (DAGs), conjugated linoleic acids (CLAs) and omega-3 fatty acids (ω-3 FAs) are extensively studied for their anti-obesity effects. The same may give a way in the area of research on weight management by incorporating them in the regular diet or in food formulation as functional components because of their beneficial effects on energy intake and expenditure.
Fibrinogen Level in Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus (NIDDM)

Background: Diabetes mellitus is the most common metabolic disorder characterized by metabolic abnormalities and long term complications. The presence of high levels of plasma fibrinogen is predictive of vascular complications and cardiovascular death in patients with diabetes mellitus. The increased prevalence of Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) in diabetic patients makes it important to evaluate changes in plasma fibrinogen. Aim and Objectives: The present study was undertaken to estimate plasma fibrinogen level in patients with diabetes type II and its correlation with glycemic control. Methods and materials: The study was conducted in Al Wahda hospital, and from different clinic in Derna city. The study included 53 patients with diabetic mellitus type II and 19 non diabetics (as control) without coronary artery disease (CAD). Plasma fibrinogen level was estimated in all cases and controls, and it’s correlated with glycemic control in diabetic. Results: Mean plasma fibrinogen level in patients with diabetic mellitus type II was high (447±22.2mg/dl) as compared to controls (198±0.82 mg/dl), which was found to be statistically highly significant (p=0.001). Our study showed fibrinogen to be significantly associated with the glycocylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) Fibrinogen level increased as the value of HbA1c became higher (459±22.8 mg/ dl ) when HBA1C ≥ 7%. Conclusion: Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus had a higher plasma fibrinogen level. Fibrinogen level was significantly correlated with glycemic control.
Preliminary Validation of a Patient Satisfaction Instrument in the Emergency Department

Statement of the purpose- The aim of this study was to develop a valid and reliable satisfaction tool that can be utilised in the emergency departments (EDs) of hospitals throughout Sharjah, United Arab Emirates (UAE). Methods- The study followed a cross-sectional study design. The study was conducted during the period from October 2018 to January 2019. The participants were conveniently sampled. The total number of eligible questionnaires for analysis accounted for 207. The data collection tool was developed following a review of literature which yielded 25 statements. Satisfaction levels were measured using a 3-point Likert scale (satisfied=3, do not know=2, dissatisfied=1). The tool was validated through face validity performed by the research team. Content validity performed by a panel of nine randomly selected specialists. Principal components analysis was done to extract the relevant components to the statements on the tool. Results- Scale content validity index= 0.836. Principal components analysis with oblique rotation extracted three components namely; medical staff performance, duration of the encounter, and general impression about the emergency department. Internal consistency for the tool using the split-half Cronbach’s alpha, part 1=0.80, and part 2=0.82. Conclusion- The findings of the present study support the reliability and validity of the Emergency Services Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire for intended use, following an independent sample of patients at EDs in Sharjah, UAE. The scale is recommended for assessing patient satisfaction with service provision to help hospitals in Sharjah determine to what extent they are meeting the needs of their patients.
Analysis of the Effect of Different Helmet Types and Conditions in Two Real-world Accident Scenarios with a Human Body Model

the Vehicle Safety Institute of Graz University of Technology, Austria. P. Spitzer is scientific director at the research Center for Childhood Accidents, Safe Kids Austria, Graz, Austria. Abstract In the current study, head impacts from real-world moped crashes were analysed to evaluate the influence on injury outcome of different helmet geometries and unfastened chinstraps in primary and ground impacts. Finite element simulations of real-world moped to car crashes were conducted based on technical reports providing initial conditions for two crash scenarios. Finite element helmet models of a full-face and a motocross helmet were generated and validated on the basis of drop test data. The THUMS v4 was equipped with the different helmets and positioned on a moped model. In a parameter study, the influence of helmet type and unfastened chinstrap was evaluated in primary and ground impacts. The analysis of the different helmet types showed increased neck loadings and relative displacements between head and helmet due to the lever effect of the protruding chinguard of the motocross helmet. All simulations involving a loose chinstrap resulted in helmet loss, consequently leading to increasing the head injury severity in the ground impact. Both helmet models correlated sufficiently with the reference to drop test data. The parameter study on helmet geometry as well as chinstrap conditions revealed that these factors influence the injury outcome.
Effect of nearshore surface slicks on meroplankton distribution: Role of larval behaviour

During a 10 d survey off the Central Cantabrian Coast, we used GPS-drifters and bongo nets to observe water circulation and meroplankton distributions associated with 4 different nearshore surface slicks or foam lines. Accumulation of larvae was observed associated with surface convergence at these slicks. Three of the slicks moved onshore at velocities ranging between 2 and 11 cm s−1 and accumulated cyprid barnacle larvae, crab zoeae, littorinid veligers, and annelid and ascidian larvae from the onshore side of the front. The predominant onshore source of larvae suggests that, in our study area, surface slicks may result in onshore retention of larvae. Accumulation at surface slicks was greatest for larvae with swimming speeds about half the speed of the cross-frontal, horizontal surface convergence. We hypothesize that this peak corresponds to an optimum slick speed for which the horizontal surface flow is strong enough to bring significant numbers of larvae to the front, but the associated downward vertical flow at the convergence line is weak enough to be countered by upward swimming. However, we estimated that the vertical flow may be stronger than the horizontal convergence, thus buoyancy and behavioural shifts in larval swimming performance may play an important role in the frontal accumulation of larvae. Given differences in swimming capabilities of different taxa and larval stages, a surface convergence can bring about different transport outcomes, accumulating or acting as a barrier for some larvae while allowing others to move through.
Past and future drought in Northwestern Algeria: the Beni Bahdel Dam catchment

Abstract. In last decades, the impact of climate change started to appear in the semi-arid regions of the Mediterranean Basin. The severity and frequency of drought events in Northwestern Algeria have affected water resources availability and agriculture. This study aims to evaluate the temporal evolution of drought events characteristics, such as drought duration, frequency and severity, of the Beni Bahdel Dam catchment, Northwestern Algeria. Drought characteristics have been derived from the Standardized precipitation index (SPI) computed for the period from 1941 to 2100 using precipitation data from observations and simulations of the regional climate model RCA4 (Rossby Centre Atmosphere model, version 4). The RCA4 model was forced by the global circulation model MPI-ESM-LR under two Representative Concentration Pathways (RCPs) scenarios. The ability of the model simulations was firstly assessed to reproduce the drought characteristics from observed data (1951–2005). Then, future changes in drought characteristics over the twenty-first century were investigated under the two scenarios (RCP4.5 and RCP8.5). Results show an amplification of drought frequencies and durations in the future under the RCP8.5 scenario.
CD8 T cells drive anorexia, dysbiosis, and blooms of a commensal with immunosuppressive potential after viral infection

Significance Infections are known to perturb intestinal microbiome composition, but the underlying mechanisms and the implications of specific commensal species for antiviral immunity remain largely unknown. Here, we found that infection of mice with a fast-spreading and persistent, but not slow-spreading acute, viral isolate induced profound microbial dysbiosis, including blooming of Akkermansia muciniphila, that was largely caused by CD8 T cells and/or CD8 T cell-induced anorexia. Notably, administration of A. muciniphila into infected mice attenuated selected aspects of CD8 T cell responses, supporting its immunosuppressive potential in this context. Our findings bring about a role for CD8 T cells in promoting anorexia and microbial shifts after infection, including the enrichment of a fasting-associated commensal that can attenuate CD8 T cell responses. Infections elicit immune adaptations to enable pathogen resistance and/or tolerance and are associated with compositional shifts of the intestinal microbiome. However, a comprehensive understanding of how infections with pathogens that exhibit distinct capability to spread and/or persist differentially change the microbiome, the underlying mechanisms, and the relative contribution of individual commensal species to immune cell adaptations is still lacking. Here, we discovered that mouse infection with a fast-spreading and persistent (but not a slow-spreading acute) isolate of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus induced large-scale microbiome shifts characterized by increased Verrucomicrobia and reduced Firmicute/Bacteroidetes ratio. Remarkably, the most profound microbiome changes occurred transiently after infection with the fast-spreading persistent isolate, were uncoupled from sustained viral loads, and were instead largely caused by CD8 T cell responses and/or CD8 T cell-induced anorexia. Among the taxa enriched by infection with the fast-spreading virus, Akkermansia muciniphila, broadly regarded as a beneficial commensal, bloomed upon starvation and in a CD8 T cell-dependent manner. Strikingly, oral administration of A. muciniphila suppressed selected effector features of CD8 T cells in the context of both infections. Our findings define unique microbiome differences after chronic versus acute viral infections and identify CD8 T cell responses and downstream anorexia as driver mechanisms of microbial dysbiosis after infection with a fast-spreading virus. Our data also highlight potential context-dependent effects of probiotics and suggest a model in which changes in host behavior and downstream microbiome dysbiosis may constitute a previously unrecognized negative feedback loop that contributes to CD8 T cell adaptations after infections with fast-spreading and/or persistent pathogens.
Immune life history, vaccination, and the dynamics of SARS-CoV-2 over the next 5 years

Imperfect future immunity Humans are infected by several seasonal and cross-reacting coronaviruses. None provokes fully protective immunity, and repeat infections are the norm. Vaccines tend to be less efficient than natural infections at provoking immunity, and there are risks of adverse cross-reactions. Saad-Roy et al. used a series of simple models for a variety of immune scenarios to envisage immunological futures for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) with and without vaccines. The model outcomes show that our imperfect knowledge about the imperfect coronavirus immune landscape can give rise to diverging scenarios ranging from recurring severe epidemics to elimination. It is critical that we accurately characterize immune responses to SARS-CoV-2 for translation into managing disease control. Science, this issue p. 811 Modeling shows how essential it is to improve precise understanding of immune responses to SARS-CoV-2. The future trajectory of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic hinges on the dynamics of adaptive immunity against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2); however, salient features of the immune response elicited by natural infection or vaccination are still uncertain. We use simple epidemiological models to explore estimates for the magnitude and timing of future COVID-19 cases, given different assumptions regarding the protective efficacy and duration of the adaptive immune response to SARS-CoV-2, as well as its interaction with vaccines and nonpharmaceutical interventions. We find that variations in the immune response to primary SARS-CoV-2 infections and a potential vaccine can lead to markedly different immune landscapes and burdens of critically severe cases, ranging from sustained epidemics to near elimination. Our findings illustrate likely complexities in future COVID-19 dynamics and highlight the importance of immunological characterization beyond the measurement of active infections for adequately projecting the immune landscape generated by SARS-CoV-2 infections.
Aneuploidy and DNA Methylation as Mirrored Features of Early Human Embryo Development

Genome stability is an integral feature of all living organisms. Aneuploidy is the most common cause of fetal death in humans. The timing of bursts in increased aneuploidy frequency coincides with the waves of global epigenetic reprogramming in mammals. During gametogenesis and early embryogenesis, parental genomes undergo two waves of DNA methylation reprogramming. Failure of these processes can critically affect genome stability, including chromosome segregation during cell division. Abnormal methylation due to errors in the reprogramming process can potentially lead to aneuploidy. On the other hand, the presence of an entire additional chromosome, or chromosome loss, can affect the global genome methylation level. The associations of these two phenomena are well studied in the context of carcinogenesis, but here, we consider the relationship of DNA methylation and aneuploidy in early human and mammalian ontogenesis. In this review, we link these two phenomena and highlight the critical ontogenesis periods and genome regions that play a significant role in human reproduction and in the formation of pathological phenotypes in newborns with chromosomal aneuploidy.
Mud Pack With Menthol and Arnica Montana Accelerates Recovery Following a High-Volume Resistance Training Session for Lower Body in Trained Men

Abstract Bartolomei, S, Nigro, F, D'Amico, A, Cortesi, M, and Di Michele, R. Mud pack with menthol and Arnica montana accelerates recovery following a high-volume resistance training session for lower body in trained men. J Strength Cond Res 36(7): 1909–1915, 2022—The aim of this study was to compare the effects of a mud pack, containing menthol and Arnica montana, on the recovery responses following a high-volume resistance protocol. Ten resistance-trained men (mean ± SD: age = 25.3 ± 6.1 years; body mass = 79.1 ± 10.6 kg; height = 178.9 ± 7.5 cm) performed a high-volume resistance workout for lower body squat and leg extension, (5 sets of 10 reps at 70% of one repetition maximum for both exercises). All the subject used mud (MUD) or a placebo (PL) in randomized counterbalanced crossover design. MUD or PL were applied 4 times: 3, 19, 27, and 45 hours after the workout, on the skin surface above the quadriceps muscle of both legs. Muscle performance (countermovement jump power [CMJP], isokinetic leg press at 75 cm·s−1 and 25 cm·s−1 [ISOK75 and ISOK25, respectively], isometric squat [ISQ]), and morphology (muscle thickness of vastus lateralis [VLMT]), were measured before exercise (baseline [BL]), and 15 minutes (15P), 24 hours (24P), and 48 hours (48P) postexercise. In addition, muscle soreness was assessed at the same time points using a visual analog scale (VAS). No significant interactions (p > 0.05) between the trials were detected for CMJP, ISOK75, ISQ, and VLMT. A significant interaction between trials was noted for ISOK25 (p = 0.022) and for VAS (p = 0.001). ISOK25 was significantly (p < 0.01) reduced from BL at 15P, 24P and 48P in PL, whereas changes were significant (p < 0.05) at 15P and 24P only in MUD. The present findings indicate that MUD may enhance the recovery rate of strength and reduce muscle soreness after high-volume exercise. Muscle morphology do not seem to be influenced by mud packs.
Spotlight on the Shift to Remote Anatomical Teaching During Covid‐19 Pandemic: Perspectives and Experiences from the University of Malta

Covid‐19 has spread globally, affecting all nations. Preventive measures were implemented by governments including the closure of universities. The aim of this study was to evaluate the student's perspectives and experiences on the shift to remote preclinical medical education while inquiring whether there has been any psychological impact on the students. A customized questionnaire utilizing Likert‐scale‐based questions and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder‐7 assessment tool was distributed online to enrolled preclinical medical students at the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery at the University of Malta. Quantitative and qualitative analyses of the data gathered was carried out. Multivariate logistic regression analyses was performed to establish independent variables associated with anxiety symptoms. A total of 172 responded out of a cohort of 299 preclinical students (58%). The majority perceived a positive learning experience following the shift to remote lectures, however, it was not the case for small group teaching including dissection sessions. Nonetheless students reported concerns about their education, examinations, progression to next academic year and wellbeing. Less than half the students exhibited symptoms of anxiety. Students exhibiting “moderate” worry (OR:7.6; CI 95%:1.98–29.31; P < 0.01) and “severe” worry (OR: 2.0; CI 95%: 5.0–80.5; P < 0.01) on their mental, emotional, and wellbeing due to Covid‐19 were associated with anxiety symptoms after adjusting for cofounders. Apart from the short‐term effects, the Covid‐19 pandemic may have a long‐term impact on both the medical education and the students' future careers. It is important that the implemented changes in medical education are recorded and studied since such data will be essential on how to proceed post‐Covid‐19 pandemic.
Visual Sensory Cortices Causally Contribute to Auditory Word Recognition Following Sensorimotor-Enriched Vocabulary Training

Abstract Despite a rise in the use of “learning by doing” pedagogical methods in praxis, little is known as to how the brain benefits from these methods. Learning by doing strategies that utilize complementary information (“enrichment”) such as gestures have been shown to optimize learning outcomes in several domains including foreign language (L2) training. Here we tested the hypothesis that behavioral benefits of gesture-based enrichment are critically supported by integrity of the biological motion visual cortices (bmSTS). Prior functional neuroimaging work has implicated the visual motion cortices in L2 translation following sensorimotor-enriched training; the current study is the first to investigate the causal relevance of these structures in learning by doing contexts. Using neuronavigated transcranial magnetic stimulation and a gesture-enriched L2 vocabulary learning paradigm, we found that the bmSTS causally contributed to behavioral benefits of gesture-enriched learning. Visual motion cortex integrity benefitted both short- and long-term learning outcomes, as well as the learning of concrete and abstract words. These results adjudicate between opposing predictions of two neuroscientific learning theories: While reactivation-based theories predict no functional role of specialized sensory cortices in vocabulary learning outcomes, the current study supports the predictive coding theory view that these cortices precipitate sensorimotor-based learning benefits.
Coinfection of HIV and hepatitis C increases complication rates after total joint arthroplasty

Introduction: As advances in efficacy of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis-C virus (HCV) anti-viral medications increase, patients are able to maintain higher quality of lives than ever before. While these patients live longer lives, the unique patient population of those co-infected with both HIV and HCV increases. As these older patients seek orthopaedic care, it is important to understand their unique outcome profile. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the complication rate after total joint arthroplasty (TJA) in patients with HIV and HCV coinfection compared with patients with HIV or HCV only. Methods: A retrospective review of patients undergoing primary total joint arthroplasty (TJA) at our urban, academic hospital between April 2016 and April 2019 was conducted. Patients were stratified into three groups according to viral status: HIV only, HCV only, or HIV and HCV coinfection. Baseline demographics, intravenous drug (IV) use, surgery type, CD4+ count, follow-up and complications were analysed. Results: Of the 133 patients included in the study, 28 had HIV, 88 had HCV and 17 were coinfected with both HIV and HCV. Coinfected patients were more likely to have a lower BMI (p < 0.039) and a history of IV drug use (p < 0.018) compared to patients with either HIV or HCV only. Coinfected patients had a higher complication rate (41%) than both HIV only (7%; p < 0.001) and HCV only (12.5%; p < 0.001) patients. Discussion: Patients coinfected with HIV and HCV undergoing TJA have a higher complication rate than patients with either infection alone. As this unique population of coinfected patients continues to expand, increasingly they will be under the care of arthroplasty surgeons. Improved awareness and understanding of the baseline demographic differences between these patients is paramount. Recognition of the increased complication rates grants the opportunity to improve their orthopaedic care through preoperative and multidisciplinary management.
The Role of Cancer-Associated Fibroblasts and Extracellular Vesicles in Tumorigenesis

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) play a key role in the communication between cancer cells and stromal components of the tumor microenvironment (TME). In this context, cancer cell-derived EVs can regulate the activation of a CAF phenotype in TME cells, which can be mediated by several EV cargos (e.g., miRNA, proteins, mRNA and lncRNAs). On the other hand, CAF-derived EVs can mediate several processes during tumorigenesis, including tumor growth, invasion, metastasis, and therapy resistance. This review aimed to discuss the molecular aspects of EV-based cross-talk between CAFs and cancer cells during tumorigenesis, in addition to assessing the roles of EV cargo in therapy resistance and pre-metastatic niche formation.