The effect of Ramadan fasting on spatial attention through emotional stimuli

Fasting can influence psychological and mental states. In the current study, the effect of periodical fasting on the process of emotion through gazed facial expression as a realistic multisource of social information was investigated for the first time. The dynamic cue-target task was applied via behavior and event-related potential measurements for 40 participants to reveal the temporal and spatial brain activities-before, during, and after fasting periods. The significance of fasting included several effects. The amplitude of the N1 component decreased over the centroparietal scalp during fasting. Furthermore, the reaction time during the fasting period decreased. The self-measurement of deficit arousal as well as the mood increased during the fasting period. There was a significant contralateral alteration of P1 over occipital area for the happy facial expression stimuli. The significant effect of gazed expression and its interaction with the emotional stimuli was indicated by the amplitude of N1. Furthermore, the findings of the study approved the validity effect as a congruency between gaze and target position, as indicated by the increment of P3 amplitude over centroparietal area as well as slower reaction time from behavioral response data during incongruency or invalid condition between gaze and target position compared with those during valid condition. Results of this study proved that attention to facial expression stimuli as a kind of communicative social signal was affected by fasting. Also, fasting improved the mood of practitioners. Moreover, findings from the behavioral and event-related potential data analyses indicated that the neural dynamics of facial emotion are processed faster than that of gazing, as the participants tended to react faster and prefer to relay on the type of facial emotions than to gaze direction while doing the task. Because of happy facial expression stimuli, right hemisphere activation was more than that of the left hemisphere. It indicated the consistency of the emotional lateralization concept rather than the valence concept of emotional processing

Effects of adverse early-life experiences on sexually transmitted infections among homelesswomen

Background: Homeless women are at high risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) due to their adverse early-life experiences. Objectives: This study aimed to examine the association between adverse early-life experiences and the risk of acquiring STIsamong homeless women in Tehran. Patients and Methods: A descriptive-analytical cross-sectional study was carried out in 2014. The study recruited 241 homeless women through quota sampling from the drop in centers and shelters affiliated to a local welfare organization in Tehran, Iran. Data were obtained using questionnaires on demographics and adverse early-life experiences. Blood and urine samples were tested for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), herpes simplex virus 2 (HSV-2), syphilis, Chlamydia trachomatis, and Neisseria gonorrhea. Descriptive statistics including frequency were calculated for all variables. To analyze the data at a significance level of 0.05, binary logistic regression was used. Results: The prevalence rates of HIV/AIDS, HSV-2, syphilis, Chlamydia trachomatis, and Neisseria gonorrhea were 8.29, 23.65, 14.93, 11.61, and 6.63, respectively. The results of logistic regression showed that the risk of acquiring STIs increases by factors such as sexual abuse (OR = 4.06; 95 CI = 1.21 -13.6, P = 0.02), running away from home (OR = 4.46; 95 CI = 1.67 -12.89, P = 0.03), drug use (OR = 3.93; 95 CI = 1.13 -13.58, P = 0.03), alcohol use (OR = 4.12; 95 CI = 1.38 -12.24, P = 0.01), imprisonment and criminal records (OR = 2.72; 95 CI = 1.01 -7.52, P = 0.04), premarital sexual activity (OR = 4.71; 95 CI = 1.06 -13.84, P = 0.05), divorce (OR = 3.47; 95 CI = 1.06 -11.32, P = 0.03), Nikah mut'ah (OR = 4.33; 95 CI = 1.39 -13.49, P = 0.01), having multiple sex partners (OR = 5.2; 95 CI = 1.81 -14.96, P = 0.02), and having unprotected sexual relationships (OR = 3.69; 95 CI = 1.00 -13.62, P = 0.05). Conclusions: Homeless women had high rates of adverse early-life experiences and overall 41.49 of them were affected at least by one STI. Future interventions should focus on the reduction of adverse early-life experiences, especially during adolescence, including the promotion of adolescent empowerment, promotion of condom use, and improvement of awareness of STIs. © 2019, Author(s)

Re-branding Abu Dhabi: From oil giant to energy titan

This article presents a case study of Abu Dhabi\u27s \u27energy re-branding\u27 since 2005 when it declared its intention to transform itself from an oil exporter to a total energy giant that also embraces alternative (renewable and nuclear) energy. The first part of the article identifies the benefits of this policy for Abu Dhabi\u27s external diplomacy but argues that the real driver is the emirate\u27s domestic gas shortage and its effects on economic diversification and political legitimacy. The second part of the article discusses the motivations and interactions of local and foreign agents by focusing on the implementation of alternative energy platforms. It therefore provides a rare glimpse of the policy-making process in Abu Dhabi. The final part of the article examines the extent to which energy re-branding may be linked to a process by the government to reiterate, reinterpret and repudiate Emirati identity in order to enhance regime legitimacy in the twenty-first century. © 2012 Macmillan Publishers Ltd

Prevalence and correlates of psychiatric disorders in a national survey of Iranian children and adolescents

Objective: Considering the impact of rapid sociocultural, political, and economical changes on societies and families, population-based surveys of mental disorders in different communities are needed to describe the magnitude of mental health problems and their disabling effects at the individual, familial, and societal levels. Method: A population-based cross sectional survey (IRCAP project) of 30 532 children and adolescents between 6 and 18 years was conducted in all provinces of Iran using a multistage cluster sampling method. Data were collected by 250 clinical psychologists trained to use the validated Persian version of the semi-structured diagnostic interview Kiddie-Schedule for Affective Disorders and Schizophrenia-PL (K-SADS-PL). Results: In this national epidemiological survey, 6209 out of 30 532 (22.31%) were diagnosed with at least one psychiatric disorder. The anxiety disorders (14.13%) and behavioral disorders (8.3%) had the highest prevalence, while eating disorders (0.13%) and psychotic symptoms (0.26%) had the lowest. The prevalence of psychiatric disorders was significantly lower in girls (OR = 0.85; 95% CI: 0.80-0.90), in those living in the rural area (OR = 0.80; 95% CI: 0.73-0.87), in those aged 15-18 years (OR = 0.92; 95% CI: 0.86-0.99), as well as that was significantly higher in those who had a parent suffering from mental disorders (OR = 1.96; 95% CI: 1.63-2.36 for mother and OR = 1.33; 95% CI: 1.07-1.66 for father) or physical illness (OR = 1.26; 95% CI: 1.17-1.35 for mother and OR = 1.19; 95% CI: 1.10-1.28 for father). Conclusion: About one fifth of Iranian children and adolescents suffer from at least one psychiatric disorder. Therefore, we should give a greater priority to promoting mental health and public health, provide more accessible services and trainings, and reduce barriers to accessing existing services. © 2019 Tehran University of Medical Scienc

Regulation of Thromboxane Receptor Signaling at Multiple Levels by Oxidative Stress-Induced Stabilization, Relocation and Enhanced Responsiveness

Thromboxane A(2) (TxA(2)) is a major, unstable arachidonic acid metabolite, and plays a key role in normal physiology and control of vascular tone. The human thromboxane receptor (TPβ), expressed in COS-7 cells, is located predominantly in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER). Brief hydrogen peroxide exposure increases the efficiency of translocation of TPβ from the ER into the Golgi complex, inducing maturation and stabilization of TPβ. However, the ultimate fate of this post-ER TPβ pool is not known, nor is its capacity to initiate signal transduction. Here we specifically assessed if functional TPβ was transported to the plasma membrane following H(2)O(2) exposure.We demonstrate, by biotinylation and confocal microscopy, that exposure to H(2)O(2) results in rapid delivery of a cohort of TPβ to the cell surface, which is stable for at least eight hours. Surface delivery is brefeldin A-sensitive, indicating that translocation of this receptor cohort is from internal pools and via the Golgi complex. H(2)O(2) treatment results in potentiation of the increase to intracellular calcium concentrations in response to TPβ agonists U46619 and 8-iso PGF(2α) and also in the loss of ligand-dependent receptor internalization. Further there is increased responsiveness to a second application of the agonist. Finally we demonstrate that the effect of H(2)O(2) on stimulating surface delivery is shared with the FP prostanoid receptor but not the EP3 or EP4 receptors.In summary, brief exposure to H(2)O(2) results in an immediate and sustained increase in the surface pool of thromboxane receptor that is capable of mediating a persistent hyper-responsiveness of the cell and suggests a highly sophisticated mechanism for rapidly regulating thromboxane signaling

Thermally-activated shape memory effect on biodegradable nanocomposites based on PLA/PCL blend reinforced with hydroxyapatite

[EN] In this work, the effect of the addition of different amount of nanosized hydroxyapatite (nHA) on the shape memory behavior of blends based on poly (lactic acid) (PLA) and poly (epsilon-caprolactone) (PCL) has been studied. In particular PLA/PCL blend with 70 wt % PLA has been reinforced with 0.5, 1 and 3 wt % nHA. Moreover, the relationship between the morphology and the final properties of the nanocomposites has been investigated by field emission scanning electron microscopy, confocal Raman spectroscopy and atomic force microscopy. In particular, PeakForce has been used to study quantitative nanomechanical properties of the multifunctional materials leading to conclusion that nHA increase the phase separation between PLA and PCL as well as act as reinforcements for the PCL-rich phase of the nanocomposites. Furthermore, excellent thermally-activated shape memory response has been obtained for all the nanocomposites at 55 degrees C. Finally, the disintegration under composting conditions at laboratory scale level was studied in order to confirm the biodegradable character of these nanocomposites. Indeed, these materials are able to be used for biomedical issues as well as for packaging applications where both thermally-activated shape memory effect and biodegradability are requested.Authors thank the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness, MINEICO, (MAT2017-88123-P) and the Regional Government of Madrid (S2013/MIT-2862) for the economic support. M.P.A. and L.P. acknowledge the Juan de la Cierva (FJCI-2014-20630) and Ramon y Cajal (RYC-2014-15595) contracts from the MINEICO, respectively. The authors also thanks CSIC for the I-Link project (I-Link1149).Peponi, L.; Sessini, V.; Arrieta, MP.; Navarro-Baena, I.; Sonseca Olalla, Á.; Dominici, F.; Giménez Torres, E.... (2018). Thermally-activated shape memory effect on biodegradable nanocomposites based on PLA/PCL blend reinforced with hydroxyapatite. Polymer Degradation and Stability. 151:36-51. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polymdegradstab.2018.02.019S365115

LPS Regulates SOCS2 Transcription in a Type I Interferon Dependent Autocrine-Paracrine Loop

Recent studies suggest that SOCS2 is involved in the regulation of TLR signaling. In this study, we found that the expression of SOCS2 is regulated in human monocyte-derived DC by ligands stimulating TLR2, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 9 signaling. SOCS2 induction by LPS was dependent on the type I IFN regulated transcription factors IRF1 and IRF3 as shown by using silencing RNAs for IRFs. Blocking endogenous type I IFN signaling, by neutralizing antibodies to the receptor IFNAR2, abolished SOCS2 mRNA expression after TLR4 stimulation. Transcription factors STAT3, 5 and 6 displayed putative binding sites in the promoter regions of the human SOCS2 gene. Subsequent silencing experiments further supported that STAT3 and STAT5 are involved in LPS induced SOCS2 regulation. In mice we show that SOCS2 mRNA induction is 45% lower in bone marrow derived macrophages derived from MyD88−/− mice, and do not increase in BMMs from IRF3−/− mice after BCG infection. In conclusion, our results suggest that TLR4 signaling indirectly increases SOCS2 in late phase mainly via the production of endogenous type I IFN, and that subsequent IFN receptor signaling activates SOCS2 via STAT3 and STAT5