The study investigates the causal relationship between energy consumption, economic growth, and CO2 emission through both single- and multi-country Granger causality analysis in the frequency domain ...considering eight oil-rich MENA countries; namely, Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Tunisia, and the United Arab Emirates for the period 1975–2014. The panel frequency domain analysis detects more causal nexus between variables across different frequencies compared to the time domain causality. According to panel causality test results, energy conservation policies do not have an adverse effect on economic growth both in the short- and intermediate-run while their effects are negative in the long-run. Moreover, policies to control air pollution can be designed by policymakers because of the absence of the causal nexus between economic growth and CO2 emission.
•No causal nexus between economic growth and CO2 in the MENA region.•The energy conservation hypothesis holds in the short- and the intermediate-run.•Energy consumption causes economic growth in the long-run.•Energy consumption is the Granger cause of CO2 in the short-run.•Two-way causality exists between energy use and CO2 except for the short-run.
La conciencia de defensa nacional es un elemento clave en la defensa de un Estado. En España, todos los gobiernos han considerado un objetivo prioritario fortalecerla. En el periodo 2001-2007, la ...Defensa y las Fuerzas Armadas alcanzaron niveles máximos de notoriedad y presencia mediática mientras surgían los conflictos de Irak y Afganistán, donde se desplegaban contingentes internacionales que provocaron que algunos sectores de la opinión pública los vieran como conflictos neocoloniales. Esta visión ha dificultado verlos desde otras perspectivas y provocado rechazo en la opinión pública. La retirada del contingente español en Irak, tras un atentado terrorista, tuvo un impacto significativo en la conciencia de Defensa.
Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) play a key role in activating the innate immune system during pathogen recognition. In the pathogenesis of multiple sclerosis (MS), activated TLR4 together with myeloid ...differentiation primary response gene 88 (MyD88) produce an inflammatory microenvironment that promotes the differentiation of microglia into the M1 phenotype, who plays a key role in the pathogenesis of MS. Interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase (IRAK)-M is specifically expressed in microglia in central nervous system (CNS) and act as a negative regulator of TLR4-MyD88 signaling pathway. Moreover, previous studies have shown that IRAK-M promotes the differentiation of type 2 microglia; however, its role in MS has not been explored. In the present study, we demonstrated that IRAK-M expression is elevated during EAE, and IRAK-M−/− mice significantly accelerated course and increased severity of disease, accompanied by a visible increase of the M1 microglia infiltrated. In conclusion, these data indicates that IRAK-M significantly improves EAE onset through down-regulation of the TLR4-MyD88 signaling pathway, which finally leads to differentiation of M2 phenotype in the microglia. Our study suggests that IRAK-M may be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of MS.
•The expression of IRAK-M is significantly increased during EAE.•IRAK-M improves the clinical symptoms and pathological manifestations of EAE.•IRAK-M inhibits NF-κB signaling and activation of STAT1.•IRAK-M promotes M2 polarization of microglia and inhibits M1 polarization during EAE both in vivo and vitro.
The major cause of death in SARS-CoV-2 infected patients is due to de-regulation of the innate immune system and development of cytokine storm. SARS-CoV-2 infects multiple cell types in the lung, ...including macrophages, by engagement of its spike (S) protein on angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) receptor. ACE2 receptor initiates signals in macrophages that modulate their activation, including production of cytokines and chemokines. IL-1R-associated kinase (IRAK)-M is a central regulator of inflammatory responses regulating the magnitude of TLR responsiveness. Aim of the work was to investigate whether SARS-CoV-2 S protein-initiated signals modulate pro-inflammatory cytokine production in macrophages. For this purpose, we treated PMA-differentiated THP-1 human macrophages with SARS-CoV-2 S protein and measured the induction of inflammatory mediators including IL6, TNFα, IL8, CXCL5, and MIP1a. The results showed that SARS-CoV-2 S protein induced IL6, MIP1a and TNFα mRNA expression, while it had no effect on IL8 and CXCL5 mRNA levels. We further examined whether SARS-CoV-2 S protein altered the responsiveness of macrophages to TLR signals. Treatment of LPS-activated macrophages with SARS-CoV-2 S protein augmented IL6 and MIP1a mRNA, an effect that was evident at the protein level only for IL6. Similarly, treatment of PAM3csk4 stimulated macrophages with SARS-CoV-2 S protein resulted in increased mRNA of IL6, while TNFα and MIP1a were unaffected. The results were confirmed in primary human peripheral monocytic cells (PBMCs) and isolated CD14+ monocytes. Macrophage responsiveness to TLR ligands is regulated by IRAK-M, an inactive IRAK kinase isoform. Indeed, we found that SARS-CoV-2 S protein suppressed IRAK-M mRNA and protein expression both in THP1 macrophages and primary human PBMCs and CD14+ monocytes. Engagement of SARS-CoV-2 S protein with ACE2 results in internalization of ACE2 and suppression of its activity. Activation of ACE2 has been previously shown to induce anti-inflammatory responses in macrophages. Treatment of macrophages with the ACE2 activator DIZE suppressed the pro-inflammatory action of SARS-CoV-2. Our results demonstrated that SARS-CoV-2/ACE2 interaction rendered macrophages hyper-responsive to TLR signals, suppressed IRAK-M and promoted pro-inflammatory cytokine expression. Thus, activation of ACE2 may be a potential anti-inflammatory therapeutic strategy to eliminate the development of cytokine storm observed in COVID-19 patients.
Nimo, Maha, Safah, Shatha, Emma, Danielle, Kim, Charlene. In a book that once again blends her distinctive flair for capturing the texture of everyday life with shrewd political insights, Cynthia ...Enloe looks closely at the lives of eight ordinary women, four Iraqis and four Americans, during the Iraq War. Among others, Enloe profiles a Baghdad beauty parlor owner, a teenage girl who survived a massacre, an elected member of Parliament, the young wife of an Army sergeant, and an African American woman soldier. Each chapter begins with a close-up look at one woman’s experiences and widens into a dazzling examination of the larger canvas of war’s gendered dimensions. Bringing to light hidden and unexpected theaters of operation—prostitution, sexual assault, marriage, ethnic politics, sexist economies—these stories are a brilliant entryway into an eye-opening exploration of the actual causes, costs, and long-range consequences of war. This unique comparison of American and Iraqi women’s diverse and complex experiences sheds a powerful light on the different realities that together we call, perhaps too easily, “the Iraq war.”
•Hotel features highly influenced the generated solid waste quantity.•Average solid waste generation rate was 0.89 kg per guest, per day, during mega festivals.•MLR is capable of predicting the ...amount of solid waste generated from hotels with R2 of 0.799.•A strong relationship was noticed between the solid waste amount and the Hotels rank.
Major-religious festivals hosted in the city of Kerbala, Iraq, annually generate large quantities of Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) which negatively impacts the environment and human health when poorly managed. The hospitality sector, specifically hotels, is one of the major sources of MSW generated during these festivals. Because it is essential to establish a proper waste management system for such festivals, accurate information regarding MSW generation is required. This study therefore investigated the rate of production of MSW from hotels in Kerbala during major festivals. A field questionnaire survey was conducted with 150 hotels during the Arba’een festival, one of the largest festivals in the world, attended by about 18 million participants, to identify how much MSW is produced and what features of hotels impact on this. Hotel managers responded to questions regarding features of the hotel such as size (Hs), expenditure (Hex), area (Ha) and number of staff (Hst). An on-site audit was also carried out with all participating hotels to estimate the mass of MSW generated from these hotels.
The results indicate that MSW produced by hotels varies widely. In general, it was found that each hotel guest produces an estimated 0.89 kg of MSW per day. However, this figure varies according to the hotels’ rating. Average rates of MSW production from one and four star hotels were 0.83 and 1.22 kg per guest per day, respectively. Statistically, it was found that the relationship between MSW production and hotel features can be modelled with an R2 of 0.799, where the influence of hotel feature on MSW production followed the order Hs > Hex > Hst.
Interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinases (IRAKs) −4, −2, and −1 are involved in transducing signals from Toll-like receptors (TLRs) via the adaptor myeloid differentiation primary-response protein ...88 (MYD88). How MYD88/IRAK4/2/1 complexes are formed, their redundancies, and potential non-enzymatic roles are subjects of debate. Here, we examine the hierarchical requirements for IRAK proteins in the context of TLR4 activation and confirmed that the kinase activity of IRAK4 is essential for MYD88 signaling. Surprisingly, the IRAK4 scaffold is required for activation of the E3 ubiquitin ligase TNF receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) by both MYD88 and TIR domain-containing adaptor protein inducing IFN-β (TRIF), a unique adaptation in the TLR4 response. IRAK4 scaffold is, therefore, essential in integrating MYD88 and TRIF in TLR4 signaling.
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•IRAK1 and IRAK2 are partially redundant in TLR4 signaling, but not in TLR7 signaling•IRAK4 kinase activity is required for TLR4/MYD88 signaling•TRIF and MYD88 require the IRAK4 scaffold for TRAF6 activation•TRIF-mediated TRAF3 activation occurs independently of IRAKs
By studying the redundancies of IRAK proteins in Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4 and 7 signaling, Pereira et al. demonstrate a kinase-independent function for IRAK4 in the TRIF pathway. This provides an understanding of how TLR4 signaling triggers the production of inflammatory cytokines upon infections with Gram-negative bacteria.
The target of this work is to examine the performance of an integrated solar water heater with corrugated absorber surface. An integrated solar water heater was built and experimentally tested ...outside so as to observe the temperature variation of water in the storage tank. The present solar water heater capacity is 140 L. Two cases have been studied, which are with and without flow rate. In case of without flow rate, the maximum value of stored water temperature obtained is 58 °C and 78 °C during winter and spring seasons, respectively. The stored water temperature got in the present work is higher than for the previous work principally attributable to the corrugated absorber of the storage tank. In case of with load, the daily thermal efficiency values of the solar collector were 59%, 65%, and 67%, when the mass flow rate values were 0.005 kg/s, 0.0091 kg/s, and 0.013 kg/s, respectively. The outcomes demonstrate that a large thermal losses from the system was observed during the night hours. In addition, the present integrated solar water heater is success to provide hot water suitable to use by the human during the winter and spring seasons of Iraq.
•Integrated solar water heater with corrugated absorber is investigated experimentally.•Two cases have been studied, which are with and without flow rate.•The important parameters have studied which are daily temperature and efficiency.•The using corrugated absorber made the solar water heater more efficient.•Level of confidence is predicted in terms of uncertainty in the measured values.
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