Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Oligofructose-supplemented infant cereal: 2 randomized, blinded, community-based trials in Peruvian infants.

BACKGROUND Prebiotics are nondigestible food ingredients that stimulate the growth of Bifidobacterium and other bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. Improved gastrointestinal and other health effects have been attributed to them. OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary supplementation with the prebiotic oligofructose with and without zinc on the prevalence of diarrhea in a community with a high burden of gastrointestinal and other infections. DESIGN Two consecutive randomized, blinded, controlled clinical trials were performed in a shantytown community near Lima, Peru. The first trial compared an infant cereal supplemented with oligofructose (0.55 g/15 g cereal) with nonsupplemented cereal. During the second trial, zinc (1 mg/15 g cereal) was added to both oligofructose-supplemented and control cereals. RESULTS We enrolled 282 infants in the first trial and 349 in the second. In the first trial, mean (+/- SD) days of diarrhea were 10.3 +/- 9.6 in the nonsupplemented cereal group and 9.8 +/- 11.0 in the prebiotic-supplemented cereal group (P = 0.66). In the second trial, mean days of diarrhea were 10.3 +/- 8.9 in the group consuming cereal fortified only with zinc and 9.5 +/- 8.9 in the group consuming cereal containing both zinc and prebiotics (P = 0.35). Postimmunization titers of antibody to Haemophilus influenzae type B were similar in all groups, as were gains in height, visits to clinic, hospitalizations, and use of antibiotics. CONCLUSIONS Cereal supplemented with prebiotics was not associated with any change in diarrhea prevalence, use of health care resources, or response to H. influenzae type B immunization. Infants and young children who continue to breast-feed may not benefit from prebiotic supplementation.
Effect of sucrose on the metabolic disposition of aspartame.

Twelve normal adult subjects ingested a beverage providing 0.136 mmol aspartame/kg body wt on 2 different days. On 1 study day the beverage provided only aspartame, on the other the beverage provided both aspartame and 3.51 mmol sucrose/kg body wt. The high mean plasma phenylalanine concentrations were similar after administration of aspartame alone (158 +/- 28.9 mumol/L, mean +/- SD) and administration of aspartame plus sucrose (134 +/- 44.1 mumol/L). Evaluation of the area under the plasma concentration-time curve (AUC) for phenylalanine also showed no significant difference between groups (197 +/- 49.1 vs 182 +/- 28.3 mumol.L-1.h for aspartame alone and aspartame plus sucrose, respectively). Similarly, the high mean ratio of phenylalanine to large neutral amino acids (Phe:LNAA) in plasma did not differ significantly (0.265 +/- 0.046 for aspartame alone, 0.275 +/- 0.107 for aspartame plus sucrose). However, there was a small but significant difference between groups for the 4-h AUC values for plasma Phe:LNAA. The simultaneous ingestion of sucrose with aspartame had only minor effects on aspartame's metabolic disposition.
Characterisation of dusts and sludges generated during stainless steel production in Brazilian industries

Abstract During the stainless steel production process, wastes are generated at the electric arc furnace (EAF) and at the converters. These wastes are a problem for stainless steel industries, for they must be disposed of in controlled landfills. Finding areas to make more landfills is becoming difficult, and new landfills are being placed far from the industries. This leads to an increase in disposal prices and, furthermore, in production prices. Recycling of these wastes, besides solving the disposal and environmental problems, makes it possible to recover valuable metals such as iron, chromium, and nickel. These three metals are needed in stainless steel manufacture and could be returned to the production procedure, hence bringing profit to the industry. It is important, therefore, to develop a recycling process. Waste characterisation is an essential step in the definition of such a process. Four kinds of dust and two kinds of sludge, generated in stainless steel production, were characterised in the present work. The techniques used to characterise the waste were chemical analysis, size separation, density measurement, X-ray diffraction analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) microanalysis. The largest proportion of the dust and sludge particles was of spherical shape. This kind of particle was composed mainly of iron and chromium in the form of a spinel, or of oxides. Precipitation of a secondary phase was identified in some particles.
Acidizing Process in Acid Fracturing

The theory and numerical implementation of acid-fracturing model that solves the 2D fracture geometry leakoff, acid transport and acid-rock reaction simultaneously will be presented. The mathematical model proovides a penetration distance for acid fracturing. Due to limitation of analytical solution, a finite-difference method was developed for modelling the fracture acidizing process. Example was solved for HCl reaction in limestone and dolomite fractures, and the results are presented in graphical form. The acid-transport model integrates a number of features which were not accounted for an earlier design models: comprehensive study of hydrodynamic process; acidizing controlled by mass transfer, rate of reaction, and leakoff. Coupling with reservoir forecasting models gives the ability to optimize the job.
Detectable Tenofovir Levels in Breast-Feeding Infants of Mothers Exposed to Topical Tenofovir

ABSTRACT Lactation studies are necessary evaluations of medications for reproductive-age women. We evaluated pharmacokinetics (PK), pharmacodynamics, safety, and adherence profiles associated with 7 days of 1% tenofovir (TFV) vaginal gel use during lactation. Tenofovir levels (maternal/infant serum, milk) and anti-HIV activity (milk), adverse events (AEs), and adherence were measured for 17 HIV-1-seronegative breast-feeding mother-infant pairs. Tenofovir use was well-tolerated and detected at low levels in maternal serum, milk, and infant serum but demonstrated no anti-HIV activity in milk.
Seasonal Influence on the Risk of Relapse at a Rise of Antineutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibodies in Vasculitis Patients with Renal Involvement

Objective. The objective of this study was to identify risk factors for a relapse at the time of an increase in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (ANCA) in patients with renal ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV). Methods. All patients between January 2000 and November 2011 with renal AAV having an ANCA rise during remission were included. Differences in time to relapse since the ANCA rise were assessed using a Cox regression model. The level of 25-hydroxy Vitamin D (25(OH)D) was assessed at the ANCA rise and at a subsequent relapse or time-matched during remission. Results. Sixty patients had an ANCA rise, of whom 36 patients relapsed. Three risk factors were associated with a relapse at the time of the ANCA increase: previous disease activity not treated with cyclophosphamide or rituximab (HR 3.48, 95% CI 1.60–7.59), an ANCA rise during the fall season (HR 4.37, 95% CI 1.60–11.90), and an extended ANCA rise (HR 3.57, 95% CI 1.50–8.48). Levels of 25(OH)D significantly decreased during followup in relapsing patients, but not in patients who remained in remission (difference −6.3 ± 14.4, p = 0.017 vs 2.7 ± 16.3, p = 0.430). Conclusion. ANCA rises occurring during the fall season are more frequently followed by a relapse than ANCA rises occurring during other seasons. Although it is tempting to speculate that decreasing Vitamin D levels following the ANCA rise can be held responsible for the subsequent relapse, this remains to be determined.
Sex differences in the effect of body-composition variables on bone mass in healthy children and adolescents.

BACKGROUND Prophylactic interventions against osteoporosis require a determination of the factors that influence the accumulation of bone mass during growth. OBJECTIVE The objective was to determine the independent sex-specific contribution of lean mass and fat mass to bone mineral content (BMC), after adjustment for anthropometric variables and lifestyle factors, in healthy children and adolescents. DESIGN Healthy schoolchildren (184 boys and 179 girls) aged 10-17 y (x+/- SD: 13.0 +/- 2.1 y) participated in this cross-sectional study. Total and regional (lumbar spine, femoral neck, and distal one-third of the radius) BMC and body composition were measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. RESULTS A significant effect of anthropometric variables and lifestyle factors on BMC was observed at all skeletal sites. Lean mass and fat mass showed robust correlations with BMC, even after adjustment for anthropometric variables and lifestyle factors. Lean mass contributed to 6-12% of the variance in BMC in boys and to 4-10% in girls. Fat mass accounted for 0.1-2% of BMC variance in boys and to 0.1-6.5% in girls. CONCLUSIONS Both lean mass and fat mass are consistent predictors of BMC at multiple skeletal sites in healthy children and adolescents. The contribution of lean mass to BMC variance was larger in boys than in girls. In both sexes, the highest contribution of lean mass to BMC was observed at the femoral neck.
A population-based prospective cohort study examining the influence of early-life respiratory tract infections on school-age lung function and asthma

Background Early-life respiratory tract infections could affect airway obstruction and increase asthma risk in later life. However, results from previous studies are inconsistent. Objective We examined the associations of early-life respiratory tract infections with lung function and asthma in school-aged children. Methods This study among 5197 children born between April 2002 and January 2006 was embedded in a population-based prospective cohort study. Information on physician-attended upper and lower respiratory tract infections until age 6 years (categorised into ≤ 3 and >3–6 years) was obtained by annual questionnaires. Spirometry measures and physician-diagnosed asthma were assessed at age 10 years. Results Upper respiratory tract infections were not associated with adverse respiratory outcomes. Compared with children without lower respiratory tract infections ≤3 years, children with lower respiratory tract infections ≤3 years had a lower FEV1, FVC, FEV1:FVC and forced expiratory flow at 75% of FVC (FEF75) (Z-score (95% CI): ranging from −0.22 (−0.31 to –0.12) to −0.12 (−0.21 to −0.03)) and an increased risk of asthma (OR (95% CI): 1.79 (1.19 to 2.59)). Children with lower respiratory tract infections >3–6 years had an increased risk of asthma (3.53 (2.37 to 5.17)) only. Results were not mediated by antibiotic or paracetamol use and not modified by inhalant allergic sensitisation. Cross-lagged modelling showed that results were not bidirectional and independent of preschool wheezing patterns. Conclusion Early-life lower respiratory tract infections ≤3 years are most consistently associated with lower lung function and increased risk of asthma in school-aged children.
Consumption of coffee is associated with reduced risk of death attributed to inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases in the Iowa Women's Health Study.

BACKGROUND Coffee is the major source of dietary antioxidants. The association between coffee consumption and risk of death from diseases associated with inflammatory or oxidative stress has not been studied. OBJECTIVE We studied the relation of coffee drinking with total mortality and mortality attributed to cardiovascular disease, cancer, and other diseases with a major inflammatory component. DESIGN A total of 41,836 postmenopausal women aged 55-69 y at baseline were followed for 15 y. After exclusions for cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, colitis, and liver cirrhosis at baseline, 27,312 participants remained, resulting in 410,235 person-years of follow-up and 4265 deaths. The major outcome measure was disease-specific mortality. RESULTS In the fully adjusted model, similar to the relation of coffee intake to total mortality, the hazard ratio of death attributed to cardiovascular disease was 0.76 (95% CI: 0.64, 0.91) for consumption of 1-3 cups/d, 0.81 (95% CI: 0.66, 0.99) for 4-5 cups/d, and 0.87 (95% CI: 0.69, 1.09) for > or =6 cups/d. The hazard ratio for death from other inflammatory diseases was 0.72 (95% CI: 0.55, 0.93) for consumption of 1-3 cups/d, 0.67 (95% CI: 0.50, 0.90) for 4-5 cups/d, and 0.68 (95% CI: 0.49, 0.94) for > or =6 cups/d. CONCLUSIONS Consumption of coffee, a major source of dietary antioxidants, may inhibit inflammation and thereby reduce the risk of cardiovascular and other inflammatory diseases in postmenopausal women.
High strength zinc alloys for engineering applications in the motor car

Des alliages de Zn sont associes traditionnellement a la production en grande quantite de pieces moulees compliquees par le procede de coulee sous pression en chambre chaude. Une nouvelle famille d'alliage zinc aluminium, de haute resistance, appeles ZA8, ZA12 et ZA27 a ete developpee pour completer les materiaux realises par coulee sous pression, ces materiaux etant detailles dans le British standard 1004
Plant Materials are Sustainable Substrates Supporting New Technologies of Plant-Only-Based Culture Media for in vitro Culturing of the Plant Microbiota

In order to improve the culturability and biomass production of rhizobacteria, we previously introduced plant-only-based culture media. We herein attempted to widen the scope of plant materials suitable for the preparation of plant-only-based culture media. We chemically analyzed the refuse of turfgrass, cactus, and clover. They were sufficiently rich to support good in vitro growth by rhizobacteria isolates representing Proteobacteria and Firmicutes. They were also adequate and efficient to produce a cell biomass in liquid batch cultures. These culture media were as sufficient as artificial culture media for the cultivation and recovery of the in situ rhizobacteria of barley (Hordeum murinum L.). Based on culture-dependent (CFU plate counting) and culture-independent analyses (qPCR), mowed turfgrass, in particular, supported the highest culturable population of barley endophytes, representing >16% of the total bacterial number quantified with qPCR. This accurately reflected the endophytic community composition, in terms of diversity indices (S′, H′, and D′) based on PCR-DGGE, and clustered the plant culture media together with the qPCR root populations away from the artificial culture media. Despite the promiscuous nature of the plant materials tested to culture the plant microbiome, our results indicated that plant materials of a homologous nature to the tested host plant, at least at the family level, and/or of the same environment were more likely to be selected. Plant-only-based culture media require further refinements in order to provide selectivity for the in vitro growth of members of the plant microbiome, particularly difficult-to-culture bacteria. This will provide insights into their hidden roles in the environment and support future culturomic studies.
Discrepancy in perception of bullying experiences and later internalizing and externalizing behavior: A prospective study

Discrepancy in perception of bullying experiences may lead to later internalizing or externalizing behavior in adolescents. A 1,663 South Korean 7th and 8th graders (mean age: 13.1 and 14.1 years old), were seen for a follow-up study to examine the relationships between the discrepancy in perception of their bullying experiences (defined as discrepancy between self- and peer-reports of bullying experiences) and internalizing or externalizing behavior at follow-up. Bullying was assessed by self- and peer-report. The discrepancy in perception of bullying experiences was defined by the concordance or discordance between self- and peer-reports. Internalizing and externalizing behavior was evaluated using the Youth Self Report and Child Behavior Checklist, at baseline and follow-up. Two by two ANCOVA was performed with a factorial design, categorizing discrepancy in perception of bullying experiences based on the agreement between self-report and peer-report. Internalizing/externalizing behavior-at-follow-up was used as an outcome, adjusting for other known risk factors for internalizing/externalizing behavior, including baseline internalizing/externalizing behavior, and bullying experiences. Adolescents with perceptions of bullying experiences discrepant from peer-reports showed increased internalizing/externalizing behavior at follow-up. Bullying also stands out as an independent risk factor for the development of future externalizing behavior even among adolescents with accurate perceptions of bullying experiences. These specific groups of youth warrant more focused assessment and intervention.
Mechanisms of PD-1/PD-L1 expression and prognostic relevance in non-Hodgkin lymphoma: a summary of immunohistochemical studies

Immune checkpoint blockade therapeutics, notably antibodies targeting the programmed death 1 (PD-1) receptor and its PD-L1 and PD-L2 ligands, are currently revolutionizing the treatment of cancer. For a sizeable fraction of patients with melanoma, lung, kidney and several other solid cancers, monoclonal antibodies that neutralize the interactions of the PD-1/PD-L1 complex allow the reconstitution of long-lasting antitumor immunity. In hematological malignancies this novel therapeutic strategy is far less documented, although promising clinical responses have been seen in refractory and relapsed Hodgkin lymphoma patients. This review describes our current knowledge of PD-1 and PD-L1 expression, as reported by immunohistochemical staining in both non-Hodgkin lymphoma cells and their surrounding immune cells. Here, we discuss the multiple intrinsic and extrinsic mechanisms by which both T and B cell lymphomas up-regulate the PD-1/PD-L1 axis, and review current knowledge about the prognostic significance of its immunohistochemical detection. This body of literature establishes the cell surface expression of PD-1/PD-L1 as a critical determinant for the identification of non-Hodgkin lymphoma patients eligible for immune checkpoint blockade therapies.
The combined relations of adiposity and smoking on mortality.

BACKGROUND Smoking and high adiposity are strong independent health risk factors but are also interrelated. Smoking is related to a lower body mass index (BMI) but not necessarily with a smaller waist circumference. Smoking cessation is associated with increased body weight and a substantial increase in waist circumference. How this affects mortality risk is unknown. OBJECTIVE This study examined the combined relations of smoking status with BMI and waist circumference and smoking status to all-cause mortality. DESIGN Data were from 149 502 men and 88 184 women aged 51-72 y participating in the National Institutes of Health-AARP Diet and Health Study. All-cause mortality was assessed over 10 y of follow-up from 1996 to 2006. RESULTS Current smokers with a BMI (in kg/m(2)) <18.5 or >or=35 had a mortality risk 6-8 times that of persons within the normal BMI range who never smoked. Current smokers with a large waist circumference had a mortality risk about 5 times that of never smokers with a waist circumference in the second quintile. CONCLUSION Both smoking and adiposity are independent predictors of mortality, but the combination of current or recent smoking with a BMI >or= 35 or a large waist circumference is related to an especially high mortality risk.
Overestimation of infant and toddler energy intake by 24-h recall compared with weighed food records.

BACKGROUND Twenty-four-hour dietary recalls have been used in large surveys of infant and toddler energy intake, but the accuracy of the method for young children is not well documented. OBJECTIVE We aimed to determine the accuracy of infant and toddler energy intakes by a single, telephone-administered, multiple-pass 24-h recall as compared with 3-d weighed food records. DESIGN A within-subjects design was used in which a 24-h recall and 3-d weighed food records were completed within 2 wk by 157 mothers (56 non-Hispanic white, 51 non-Hispanic black, and 50 Hispanic) of 7-11-mo-old infants or 12-24-mo-old toddlers. Child and caregiver anthropometrics, child eating patterns, and caregiver demographics and social desirability were evaluated as correlates of reporting bias. RESULTS Intakes based on 3-d weighed food records were within 5% of estimated energy requirements. Compared with the 3-d weighed food records, the 24-h recall overestimated energy intake by 13% among infants (740 +/- 154 and 833 +/- 255 kcal, respectively) and by 29% among toddlers (885 +/- 197 and 1140 +/- 299 kcal, respectively). Eating patterns (ie, frequency and location) did not differ appreciably between methods. Macronutrient and micronutrient intakes were higher by 24-h recall than by 3-d weighed food record. Dairy and grains contributed the most energy to the diet and accounted for 74% and 54% of the overestimation seen in infants and toddlers, respectively. Greater overestimation was associated with a greater number of food items reported by the caregiver and lower child weight-for-length z scores. CONCLUSIONS The use of a single, telephone-administered, multiple-pass 24-h recall may significantly overestimate infant or toddler energy and nutrient intakes because of portion size estimation errors.
Interactome analysis of transforming growth factor-β-activated kinase 1 in Helicobacter pylori-infected cells revealed novel regulators tripartite motif 28 and CDC37

Transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ)-activated kinase 1 (TAK1) plays a central role in controlling the cellular pro-inflammatory response via the activation of the nuclear factor κB (NF-κB)- and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases-dependent transcriptional programs. Here, we show that depletion of TAK1 and the TAK1-binding proteins TAB1 and TAB2 affects NF-κB, JNK and p38 phosphorylation and suppresses NF-κB activity in AGS cells infected with Helicobacter pylori or stimulated with the cytokines TNF and IL-1β. To increase our understanding of TAK1 regulation and function, we performed mass spectrometry (MS)-based TAK1 interactomics. In addition to the identification of known and novel TAK1 interacting proteins, including TRIM28, CDC37 and STOML2, analysis of the MS data revealed various post-translational modifications within the TAK1/TAB complex. By applying siRNAs, TRIM28 and CDC37 were found to regulate phosphorylations of TAK1, IκB kinases IKKα/IKKβ and MAP kinases, NF-κB transactivation activity and IL-8 expression in the infected epithelial cells.
RESS: A Reliable Energy-Efficient Storage System

Extracting high I/O performance from parallel file systems is no longer the only goal in modern data centres. As issues of the Energy Wall and the Reliability Wall become unavoidable, it is a demanding and challenging task to reduce energy consumption in large-scale storage systems in modern data centres while retaining acceptable systems reliability. Most energy conservation techniques inevitably have adverse impacts on the parallel disk systems. To address the reliability issues of energy-efficient parallel storage systems, we propose a reliable energy-efficient storage system called RESS, which aims at improving both energy efficiency and reliability of parallel storage systems by seamlessly integrating HDDs and SSDs. At the heart of the RESS is a transformative middleware layer, which reorganizes the I/O workload for the underlying parallel file systems. With the help of the middleware layer, RESS can distribute popular data to SSDs and put HDDs into the low-power mode under light workload conditions without modification of the parallel systems.