Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Safety of vitamin D3 in adults with multiple sclerosis.

BACKGROUND Vitamin D3 may have therapeutic potential in several diseases, including multiple sclerosis. High doses of vitamin D(3) may be required for therapeutic efficacy, and yet tolerability--in the present context, defined as the serum concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] that does not cause hypercalcemia--remains poorly characterized. OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to characterize the calcemic response to specific serum 25(OH)D concentrations. DESIGN In a 28-wk protocol, 12 patients in an active phase of multiple sclerosis were given 1200 mg elemental Ca/d along with progressively increasing doses of vitamin D3: from 700 to 7000 microg/wk (from 28 000 to 280 000 IU/wk). RESULTS Mean (+/- SD) serum concentrations of 25(OH)D initially were 78 +/- 35 nmol/L and rose to 386 +/- 157 nmol/L (P < 0.001). Serum calcium concentrations and the urinary ratio of calcium to creatinine neither increased in mean values nor exceeded reference values for any participant (2.1-2.6 mmol/L and <1.0, respectively). Liver enzymes, serum creatinine, electrolytes, serum protein, and parathyroid hormone did not change according to Bonferroni repeated-measures statistics, although parathyroid hormone did decline significantly according to the paired t test. Disease progression and activity were not affected, but the number of gadolinium-enhancing lesions per patient (assessed with a nuclear magnetic brain scan) decreased from the initial mean of 1.75 to the end-of-study mean of 0.83 (P = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS Patients' serum 25(OH)D concentrations reached twice the top of the physiologic range without eliciting hypercalcemia or hypercalciuria. The data support the feasibility of pharmacologic doses of vitamin D3 for clinical research, and they provide objective evidence that vitamin D intake beyond the current upper limit is safe by a large margin.
Primary chylomicronemia in patients with severe familial hypertriglyceridemia responds to long-term treatment with (n-3) fatty acids.

Because it disturbs microcirculation, chylomicronemia can cause severe clinical complications such as acute pancreatitis. Dietary measures are very important in the prevention and treatment of this condition. Dietary supplementation with (n-3) fatty acids has been shown to be of benefit in short-term treatment of chylomicronemia. To evaluate the long-term efficacy of (n-3) fatty acids we added 2.16 or 4.32 g/d (for 3 mo) and 3.24 g/d (for a further 8 mo after 1 mo of no treatment) (n-3) fatty acids to the diet of eight patients with primary chylomicronemia. Serum triglycerides decreased significantly from 15.0 +/- 2.5 to 9.9 +/- 2.8 mmol/L (P < 0.01) after 11 mo of treatment, and VLDL triglycerides decreased from 12.3 +/- 2.8 to 9.0 +/- 2.4 mmol/L (P < 0.01), resulting in a significant decrease of plasma viscosity from 1.56 +/- 0.17 mPa-s to 1.47 +/- 0.12 mPa.s (P < 0.01). Total cholesterol, HDL and LDL cholesterol as well as lipoprotein (a) and fibrinogen concentrations were not affected by fish oil treatment. The presence of chylomicrons and chylomicron remnants (apolipoprotein B 48 concentration in the lipoprotein fraction with a density lower than 1.006 kg/L) was significantly reduced from 4.82 +/- 1.08 to 1.06 +/- 0.38 mg/L (P < 0.01). Body weight increased significantly from 71.0 +/- 4.6 kg to 75.2 +/- 5.3 kg after 11 mo of treatment with (n-3) fatty acids. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
EyeTap Devices for Augmented, Deliberately Diminished, or Otherwise Altered Visual Perception of Rigid Planar Patches of Real-World Scenes

Diminished reality is as important as augmented reality, and both are possible with a device called the Reality Mediator. Over the past two decades, we have designed, built, worn, and tested many different embodiments of this device in the context of wearable computing. Incorporated into the Reality Mediator is an EyeTap system, which is a device that quantifies and resynthesizes light that would otherwise pass through one or both lenses of the eye(s) of a wearer. The functional principles of EyeTap devices are discussed, in detail. The EyeTap diverts into a spatial measurement system at least a portion of light that would otherwise pass through the center of projection of at least one lens of an eye of a wearer. The Reality Mediator has at least one mode of operation in which it reconstructs these rays of light, under the control of a wearable computer system. The computer system then uses new results in algebraic projective geometry and comparametric equations to perform head tracking, as well as to track motion of rigid planar patches present in the scene. We describe how our tracking algorithm allows an EyeTap to alter the light from a particular portion of the scene to give rise to a computer-controlled, selectively mediated reality. An important difference between mediated reality and augmented reality includes the ability to not just augment but also deliberately diminish or otherwise alter the visual perception of reality. For example, diminished reality allows additional information to be inserted without causing the user to experience information overload. Our tracking algorithm also takes into account the effects of automatic gain control, by performing motion estimation in both spatial as well as tonal motion coordinates.
Anterior Hox Genes Interact with Components of the Neural Crest Specification Network to Induce Neural Crest Fates

Hox genes play a central role in neural crest (NC) patterning particularly in the cranial region of the body. Despite evidence that simultaneous loss of Hoxa1 and Hoxb1 function resulted in NC specification defects, the role of Hox genes in NC specification has remained unclear due to extended genetic redundancy among Hox genes. To circumvent this problem, we expressed anterior Hox genes in the trunk neural tube of the developing chick embryo. This demonstrated that anterior Hox genes play a central role in NC cell specification by rapidly inducing the key transcription factors Snail2 and Msx1/2 and a neural progenitor to NC cell fate switch characterized by cell adhesion changes and an epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT). Cells delaminated from dorsal and medial neural tube levels and generated ectopic neurons, glia progenitors, and melanocytes. The mobilization of the NC genetic cascade was dependent upon bone morphogenetic protein signaling and optimal levels of Notch signaling. Therefore, anterior Hox patterning genes participate in NC specification and EMT by interacting with NC‐inducing signaling pathways and regulating the expression of key genes involved in these processes. STEM CELLS 2011;29:858–870
Neuropathic orofacial pain: Facts and fiction

Definition and taxonomy This review deals with neuropathic pain of traumatic origin affecting the trigeminal nerve, i.e. painful post-traumatic trigeminal neuropathy (PTTN). Symptomatology The clinical characteristics of PTTN vary considerably, partly due to the type and extent of injury. Symptoms involve combinations of spontaneous and evoked pain and of positive and negative somatosensory signs. These patients are at risk of going through unnecessary dental/surgical procedures in the attempt to eradicate the cause of the pain, due to the fact that most dentists only rarely encounter PTTN. Epidemiology Overall, approximately 3% of patients with trigeminal nerve injuries develop PTTN. Patients are most often female above the age of 45 years, and both physical and psychological comorbidities are common. Pathophysiology PTTN shares many pathophysiological mechanisms with other peripheral neuropathic pain conditions. Diagnostic considerations PTTN may be confused with one of the regional neuralgias or other orofacial pain conditions. For intraoral PTTN, early stages are often misdiagnosed as odontogenic pain. Pain management Management of PTTN generally follows recommendations for peripheral neuropathic pain. Expert opinion International consensus on classification and taxonomy is urgently needed in order to advance the field related to this condition.
A liquid-based skin and blood flow model for Doppler optical coherence tomography imaging

Doppler optical coherence tomography (DOCT) combines the imaging capabilities of OCT with functional velocity imaging and is used routinely to study skin in-vivo. The skin provides a window to monitor diseases; it has been shown that changes in skin blood flow and structure are indicative of systemic disease change and representative of disease status. This study aims to aid understanding and interpretation of DOCT images of skin with respect to vessel diameter, depth and blood flow. We have constructed a tissue model using glass capillary tubes suspended at an angle of 20° to the horizontal in an Intralipid-filled tank. The Intralipid was diluted to levels which represented optimal tissue and blood flow scattering parameters. Intralipid was then pumped through the tubes to represent blood flow. The angled nature of the tubes allowed flow imaging at various depths. DOCT images were recorded using a swept-source OCT system with 1300 nm central wavelength and 6 μm axial resolution (OCMP1300SS, Thorlabs, Inc.). Data parameters extracted from images include velocity, penetration depth and their dependence on tube diameter, depth and flow. We have successfully demonstrated a tissue model that allows DOCT imaging of vessel diameter, depth and blood flow to be investigated.
Is the efficacy of Chinese herbal medicine on polycystic ovarian syndrome enhanced by acupuncture in rats

The objective of the present study is to investigate whether acupuncture could significantly enhance the efficacy of Chinese herbal medicine (CHM) in treating polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) rats by testosterone propionate. Forty female Sprague–Dawley rats were equally divided into normal control group (Group A), model group (Group B), CHM combined with acupuncture group (Group C) and CHM group (Group D), with ten rats in each group. A rat model of PCOS was established by single injection of testosterone propionate at 9th day after birth. After treatment, the levels of total testosterone (TT), sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), androstenedione, follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) in the serum of rats were examined with ELISA and the peroxisome proliferator- activated receptor gamma (PPARG) mRNA expression in ovaries of the rats were measured by real-time quantitative PCR. The serum LH/FSH, free androgen index (FAI) and androstenedione levels were eminently lower and PPARG mRNA expression in the ovaries of the rats in Groups A, C and D were significantly higher than those of Group B (P 0.05). However, the serum FAI and androstenedione levels were markedly lower and PPARG mRNA expression in the ovaries of the rats in Group C was significantly higher than those of Group D (P<0.05). Acupuncture treatment could significantly enhance the efficacy of CHM in rats with PCOS.
Cancer vaccine: learning lessons from immune checkpoint inhibitors

Cancer vaccines have been exclusively studied all through the past decades, and have made exceptional achievements in cancer treatment. Few cancer vaccines have been approved by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), for instance, Provenge, which was approved for the treatment of prostate carcinoma in 2012. Moreover, more recently, T-VEC got approval for the treatment of melanoma. While, the overall therapeutic effects of cancer vaccines have been taken into consideration as below expectations, low antigenicity of targeting antigen and tumor heterogeneity are the two key limiting barriers encountered by the cancer vaccines. Nonetheless, recent developments in cancer immune-therapies together with associated technologies, for instance the unparalleled achievements bagged by immune checkpoint inhibitor based therapies and neo-antigen identification tools, envisage potential improvements in cancer vaccines in respect to the treatments of malignancies. This review brings forth measures for the purpose of refining therapeutic cancer vaccines by learning lessons from the success of PD-1 inhibitor based immune-therapies.
In Situ-Based Gels for Nose to Brain Delivery for the Treatment of Neurological Diseases

In situ-based gel drug delivery systems that can bypass the blood-brain barrier, deliver the therapeutics to the desired site, reduce peripheral toxicity and control drug release kinetics have been developed. Some of the therapeutics used to treat neurological diseases suffer from poor bioavailability. Preclinical reports from several researchers have proven that the delivery of drugs to the brain via the nose-to-brain route using in situ gels holds great promise. However, safety issues on the toxicity of the nasal mucosa, transportation of the drugs to specific brain regions and determination of the required dose are factors that must be considered when designing these gels. This review will be focused on in situ-based gels that are used for the delivery of therapeutics via the nose-to-brain route, preclinical reports and challenges.
Circulating folic acid in plasma: relation to folic acid fortification.

BACKGROUND The implementation of folic acid fortification in the United States has resulted in unprecedented amounts of this synthetic form of folate in the American diet. Folic acid in circulation may be a useful measure of physiologic exposure to synthetic folic acid, and there is a potential for elevated concentrations after fortification and the possibility of adverse effects. OBJECTIVE We assessed the effect of folic acid fortification on circulating concentrations of folic acid and 5-methyltetrahydrofolate in the Framingham Offspring Cohort. DESIGN This is a cross-sectional study that used plasma samples from fasting subjects before and after fortification. Samples were measured for folate distribution with the use of an affinity-HPLC method with electrochemical detection. RESULTS Among nonsupplement users, the median concentration of folic acid in plasma increased from 0.25 to 0.50 nmol/L (P < 0.001) after fortification, and among supplement users the median increased from 0.54 to 0.68 nmol/L (P = 0.001). Among nonsupplement users, the prevalence of high circulating folic acid (>/=85th percentile) increased from 9.4% to 19.1% (P = 0.002) after fortification. Among supplement users, the prevalence of high circulating folic acid increased from 15.9% to 24.3% (P = 0.02). Folic acid intake and total plasma folate were positively and significantly related to high circulating folic acid after adjustment for potential confounding factors (P for trend < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Folic acid fortification has resulted in increased exposure to circulating folic acid. The biochemical and physiologic consequences of this are unknown, but these findings highlight the need to understand the effects of chronic exposure to circulating folic acid.
Endogenous gut nitrogen losses in growing pigs are not caused by increased protein synthesis rates in the small intestine.

The purpose of this study was to establish, using a flooding dose of L-[ring 2, 6-(3)H] phenylalanine, whether feeding pigs diets that induce high endogenous gut nitrogen losses (ENL) also increases protein synthesis rates in (PSR) the visceral organs. Twelve 18-kg Yorkshire barrows with catheters in the right and left jugular veins were fed for 3 wk either casein-cornstarch- (CC) or barley-canola meal- (BCM) based diets formulated to a similar digestible energy /crude protein ratio and designed to induce either low or high ENL, respectively. Pigs were infused with 10 mL/kg body weight of a 150 mmol. L(-1) phenylalanine solution containing 230 MBq. L(-1) labeled phenylalanine for 12 min and killed 20 min later. Plasma phenylalanine specific radioactivity (SRA) rose to a plateau value within 3 min of starting the infusion and did not change (P > 0.10) thereafter. Fractional rates of protein synthesis (K(s), %/d) based on SRA in plasma- or intracellular-free phenylalanine did not differ (P > 0.10) in all tissues except pancreas (P < 0.05). Diet affected K(s )in liver (P < 0.01) and colon (P < 0.05) but not in pancreas, duodenum, jejunum and cecum. Based on plasma-free phenylalanine SRA, liver K(s)were 85.4 +/- 11.0 vs. 60.5 +/- 5.2 (mean +/- SEM) in CC- and BCM-fed pigs, respectively; these values were 82.3 +/- 4.7 vs. 98.2 +/- 5.8 in the colon. The absolute amount of protein synthesis (g.d(-1)) was higher in the liver (P < 0.05) and pancreas (P < 0. 05) of the CC pigs compared to BCM pigs. No dietary effects were observed in all other organs (P > 0.10). The present results suggest that feeding growing pigs a BCM diet that induces high ENL does not affect PSR in the small intestine of growing pigs from which >50% of ENL originates.
Structural and Mechanical Properties of Silica and Hybrid Aerogels and Xerogels Studied Using Molecular Dynamics Simulations

Structural and Mechanical Properties of Silica and Hybrid Aerogels and Xerogels Studied Using Molecular Dynamics Simulations John Sandro Rivas Murillo The structural and mechanical properties of silica and hybrid aerogels and xerogels are studied using Molecular Dynamics simulations. Hybrid samples are created by adding methyl groups (CH3) to the silica structure. Silica samples are generated expanding a dense silica glass in a simulation box of volume chosen to produce a porous sample of a specified density. The expanded glass is thermally treated using a combination of heating and cooling processes. The heating process increases the kinetic energy of the atoms in the system, which facilitates their movement throughout the system. The cooling process reduces the kinetic energy of the atoms and helps locking them in place forming the desired porous structure. A similar procedure is used to create the hybrid samples, but CH3−SiO2 molecules are randomly inserted in the expanded structure before the thermal treatment of the sample. The structures are characterized estimating the fractal dimension of the samples. It is calculated using its relationship with the decay of the Pair Distribution Function of the samples in the intermediate range of structural arrangement. The fractal dimension of the samples used for this study compares favorably to the values found reported in experimental studies, which validates the preparation processes used here. The mechanical properties of the samples are obtained by modeling a tension test performed by stretching the sample along one direction. The stress vs. strain relationship is estimated for all the samples. The results reproduce trends similar to those reported from physical experiments. The computational models show that the addition of methyl groups reduces the stiffness of the structure allowing it to stretch more easily, and increasing the toughness of the samples. From the stress-strain plots is concluded that as the amount of methyl groups in the structure is increased also does the compliance of the sample, effectively making the nature of the material similar to a rubber-like material. These results are in agreement with physical experimental findings which show that adding methyl groups to silica allows compressing the samples more than 50% without destroying them. To my family, my life support. My father Jose Catalino, my mother Maria Leida, my brothers Oscar, Alirio, Carlos Ivan, and Jose Antonio, my sisters Lina Maria and Julia Ema, and to my nephews and nieces, especially Andrea and Alejandra. Thanks for always being there for me!
Eyespots deflect predator attack increasing fitness and promoting the evolution of phenotypic plasticity

Some eyespots are thought to deflect attack away from the vulnerable body, yet there is limited empirical evidence for this function and its adaptive advantage. Here, we demonstrate the conspicuous ventral hindwing eyespots found on Bicyclus anynana butterflies protect against invertebrate predators, specifically praying mantids. Wet season (WS) butterflies with larger, brighter eyespots were easier for mantids to detect, but more difficult to capture compared to dry season (DS) butterflies with small, dull eyespots. Mantids attacked the wing eyespots of WS butterflies more frequently resulting in greater butterfly survival and reproductive success. With a reciprocal eyespot transplant, we demonstrated the fitness benefits of eyespots were independent of butterfly behaviour. Regardless of whether the butterfly was WS or DS, large marginal eyespots pasted on the hindwings increased butterfly survival and successful oviposition during predation encounters. In previous studies, DS B. anynana experienced delayed detection by vertebrate predators, but both forms suffered low survival once detected. Our results suggest predator abundance, identity and phenology may all be important selective forces for B. anynana. Thus, reciprocal selection between invertebrate and vertebrate predators across seasons may contribute to the evolution of the B. anynana polyphenism.
Biased Sex Ratios Influence Fundamental Aspects of Human Mating

The operational sex ratio—the ratio of men to women in a given population—affects a range of social processes. The current research demonstrates that biased sex ratios (greater numbers of one sex than the other) influence fundamental aspects of people’s mating strategy. When the sex ratio was favorable (one’s own sex was in the minority), both sexes adopted strong sex-typical sociosexual orientations (relatively restricted for women; relatively unrestricted for men). When the sex ratio was unfavorable (one’s own sex was in the majority), both sexes shifted toward the orientation typically favored by the other sex: Women became more unrestricted and men became more restricted (Experiment 1). When the sex ratio was unfavorable (relative to favorable), participants also displayed greater aggression toward a romantically desirable (but not undesirable) same-sex partner (Experiment 2). Exploratory analyses suggested that the sex ratio effect was present for unprovoked aggression but not provoked aggression (given the exploratory nature of that analysis, the aggression effect should be considered with some caution). Findings suggest that people’s mating strategies are adaptively calibrated to contingencies within the local mating ecology.
New Panoramic View of 12CO and 1.1 mm Continuum Emission in the Orion A Giant Molecular Cloud. I. Survey Overview and Possible External Triggers of Star Formation

We present new, wide and deep images in the 1.1 mm continuum and the $^{12}$CO ($J$=1-0) emission toward the northern part of the Orion A Giant Molecular Cloud (Orion-A GMC). The 1.1 mm data were taken with the AzTEC camera mounted on the Atacama Submillimeter Telescope Experiment (ASTE) 10 m telescope in Chile, and the $^{12}$CO ($J$=1-0) data were with the 25 beam receiver (BEARS) on the NRO 45 m telescope in the On-The-Fly (OTF) mode. The present AzTEC observations are the widest $(\timeform{1.D7}$ $\times$ $\timeform{2.D3}$, corresponding to 12 pc $\times$ 17 pc) and the highest-sensitivity ($\sim$9 mJy beam$^{-1}$) 1.1 mm dust-continuum imaging of the Orion-A GMC with an effective spatial resolution of $\sim$ 40$\arcsec$. The $^{12}$CO ($J$=1-0) image was taken over the northern $\timeform{1D.2} \times\timeform{1D.2}$ (corresponding 9 pc $\times$ 9 pc) area with a sensitivity of 0.93 K in $T_{\rm MB}$, a velocity resolution of 1.0 km s$^{-1}$, and an effective spatial resolution of 21$\arcsec$. With these data, together with the MSX 8 $\mu$m, Spitzer 24 $\mu$m and the 2MASS data, we have investigated the detailed structure and kinematics of molecular gas associated with the Orion-A GMC and have found evidence for interactions between molecular clouds and the external forces that may trigger star formation. Two types of possible triggers were revealed; 1) Collision of the diffuse gas on the cloud surface, particularly at the eastern side of the OMC-2/3 region, and 2) Irradiation of UV on the pre-existing filaments and dense molecular cloud cores. Our wide-field and high-sensitivity imaging have provided the first comprehensive view of the potential sites of triggered star formation in the Orion-A GMC.