Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of iron supplementation during pregnancy on the intelligence quotient and behavior of children at 4 y of age: long-term follow-up of a randomized controlled trial.

BACKGROUND Iron supplements are often prescribed during pregnancy despite the lack of intervention trials that have assessed the effects of supplementation in pregnancy on childhood development. OBJECTIVE The objective was to determine whether iron supplementation during pregnancy influences childhood intelligence quotient (IQ) in an industrialized country. DESIGN Pregnant women (n = 430) were randomly allocated to receive iron (20 mg/d) or placebo from 20 wk gestation until delivery, and the women and their children were followed up over the long term (4 y). Seventy percent of these families participated in the follow-up. The proportion of women with iron deficiency anemia at the end of pregnancy was 1% (2 of 146) in the iron group and 11% (15 of 141) in the placebo group. The primary outcome was the IQ of the children at 4 y of age, as assessed by the Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scale. Secondary outcomes included child behavior and the general health of the mothers. RESULTS The mean IQ was not significantly different (P = 0.980) between the children of the iron-supplemented mothers (109 +/- 11; n = 153) and the children of the mothers in the placebo group (109 +/- 11; n = 149). However, the percentage of children with an abnormal behavior score was higher in the iron group (24 of 151, or 16%) than in the placebo group (12 of 149, or 8%); the relative risk was 1.97 (95% CI: 1.03, 3.80; P = 0.037). There was no significant difference in the health of the mothers between groups, as assessed by the SF-36 Health Survey. CONCLUSIONS Prenatal iron supplementation that reduces the incidence of iron deficiency anemia from 11% to 1% has no effect on the IQ of the offspring at 4 y of age.
Carbonic Anhydrase IX (CAIX), Cancer, and Radiation Responsiveness

Carbonic anhydrase IX has been under intensive investigation as a therapeutic target in cancer. Studies demonstrate that this enzyme has a key role in pH regulation in cancer cells, allowing these cells to adapt to the adverse conditions of the tumour microenviroment. Novel CAIX inhibitors have shown efficacy in both in vitro and in vivo pre-clinical cancer models, adversely affecting cell viability, tumour formation, migration, invasion, and metastatic growth when used alone. In co-treatments, CAIX inhibitors may enhance the effects of anti-angiogenic drugs or chemotherapy agents. Research suggests that these inhibitors may also increase the response of tumours to radiotherapy. Although many of the anti-tumour effects of CAIX inhibition may be dependent on its role in pH regulation, recent work has shown that CAIX interacts with several of the signalling pathways involved in the cellular response to radiation, suggesting that pH-independent mechanisms may also be an important basis of its role in tumour progression. Here, we discuss these pH-independent interactions in the context of the ability of CAIX to modulate the responsiveness of cancer to radiation.
Network meta-analysis: the highest level of medical evidence?

Network meta-analyses synthesise networks of direct and indirect comparisons of interventions, and enable researchers to simultaneously assess the effects of more than two interventions for the same condition.1 Indirect evidence refers to estimates from different direct meta-analyses with a common comparator and allows for treatment comparisons that have not been directly compared in a clinical trial.1 Guidelines from the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE)2 and the Cochrane Collaboration3 typically prefer direct evidence from randomised clinical trials and conventional meta-analyses to indirect evidence. However, the WHO have recently begun using network meta-analyses to inform clinical guidelines,4 the global scientific production of network meta-analyses is increasing rapidly5 and some argue that the methodology should represent the highest level of evidence for instructing clinical decision-making.6 Are we witnessing a shift in what constitutes the highest level of medical evidence? As network meta-analyses are becoming more influential in informing clinicians and decision-makers, we need a thorough discussion of reporting standards and methodological concerns. A previous paper published in Evidence-Based Medicine considered several challenges related to heterogeneity and inconsistency (see box 1 for a description of inconsistency) in network meta-analyses.7 The present analysis considers five additional topics relevant to network meta-analyses: quality of evidence, statistical power, random errors, multiplicity issues and treatment rankings. Our aim is to debate methodological and reporting problems for these topics, and their relevance for evidence-based practice. A glossary of key terms used throughout the article is provided in box 1.Box 1 ### Glossary of terms (concerning network meta-analyses) #### Direct evidence Effect estimates from a head-to-head comparison (eg, randomised trial on A vs B). Conventional meta-analyses use direct comparisons from randomised trials. #### Indirect evidence Effect estimates from multiple direct comparisons that share a common comparator (eg, randomised trial on A …
Left ventricular diastolic function of remodeled myocardium in dogs with pacing-induced heart failure.

In patients with heart failure, decreased contractility resulting in high end-diastolic pressures and a restrictive pattern of left ventricular filling produces a decrease in early diastolic filling, suggesting a stiff ventricle. This study investigated the elastic properties of the myocardium and left ventricular chamber and the ability of the heart to utilize elastic recoil to facilitate filling during pacing-induced heart failure in the anesthetized dog. Elastic properties of the myocardium were determined by analyzing the myocardial stress-strain relation. Left ventricular chamber properties were determined by analyzing the pressure-volume relation using a logarithmic approach. Elastic recoil was characterized using a computer-controlled mitral valve occluder to prevent transmitral flow during diastole. We conclude that, during heart failure, the high end-diastolic pressures suggestive of a stiff ventricle are due not to stiffer myocardium but to a ventricle whose chamber compliance characteristics are changed due to geometric remodeling of the myocardium. The restrictive filling pattern is a result of the ventricle being forced to operate on the stiff portion of the diastolic pressure-volume relation to maintain cardiac output. Slowed relaxation and decreased contractility result in an inability of the heart to contract to an end-systolic volume below its diastolic equilibrium volume. Thus the left ventricle cannot utilize elastic recoil to facilitate filling during heart failure.
Endothelin-1 is elevated in monocrotaline pulmonary hypertension.

These studies document striking pulmonary vasoconstrictor response to nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibition in monocrotaline (MCT) pulmonary hypertension in rats. This constriction is caused by elevated endothelin (ET)-1 production acting on ETA receptors. Isolated, red blood cell plus buffer-perfused lungs from rats were studied 3 wk after MCT (60 mg/kg) or saline injection. MCT-injected rats developed pulmonary hypertension, right ventricular hypertrophy, and heightened pulmonary vasoconstriction to ANG II and the NOS inhibitor N G-monomethyl-l-arginine (l-NMMA). In MCT-injected lungs, the magnitude of the pulmonary pressor response to NOS inhibition correlated strongly with the extent of pulmonary hypertension. Pretreatment of isolated MCT-injected lungs with combined ETA (BQ-123) plus ETB (BQ-788) antagonists or ETA antagonist alone prevented thel-NMMA-induced constriction. Addition of ETA antagonist reversed establishedl-NMMA-induced constriction; ETB antagonist did not. ET-1 concentrations were elevated in MCT-injected lung perfusate compared with sham-injected lung perfusate, but ET-1 levels did not differ before and after NOS inhibition. NOS inhibition enhanced hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction in both sham- and MCT-injected lungs, but the enhancement was greater in MCT-injected lungs. Results suggest that in MCT pulmonary hypertension, elevated endogenous ET-1 production acting through ETA receptors causes pulmonary vasoconstriction that is normally masked by endogenous NO production.
A 10-residue peptide from durum wheat promotes a shift from a Th1-type response toward a Th2-type response in celiac disease.

BACKGROUND Celiac disease (CD) is a Th1-driven autoimmune permanent enteropathy that is triggered by dietary gluten. Molecules able to shift the immune response from a Th1- to a Th2-type response have been suggested as therapeutic agents for Th1 autoimmune diseases. OBJECTIVE We sought to investigate the possibility that a decapeptide from durum wheat (p10mer, QQPQDAVQPF), which was previously shown to prevent the activation of celiac peripheral lymphocytes, may promote a shift from a Th1- to a Th2-type immune response in gluten-specific intestinal T cells of CD patients. DESIGN Intestinal T lymphocyte lines derived from 8 children with CD were incubated with gliadin peptides both alone and simultaneously with p10mer. Cell proliferation and the production of interferon-gamma and interleukin-10 by these T cells were measured. RESULTS The incubation of celiac intestinal T cells with deamidated gliadin peptides resulted in a significant (P < 0.008) increase in cell proliferation and interferon-gamma release, whereas the simultaneous exposure to p10mer totally abolished the cell proliferation and cytokine release. Moreover, incubation with p10mer maintained an elevated release of interleukin-10, whereas exposure of the cells to culture medium only did not. The replacement of the residues of aspartic acid in position 5 or those of alanine in position 6 in the sequence of p10mer resulted in peptides with no activity in the activation experiments. CONCLUSION In vitro, p10mer showed the ability to shift the pathogenic immune response of a CD patient from a Th1- to a Th2-type response.
Goblet cell-specific expression mediated by the MUC2 mucin gene promoter in the intestine of transgenic mice.

The regulation of MUC2, a major goblet cell mucin gene, was examined by constructing transgenic mice containing bases -2864 to +17 of the human MUC25'-flanking region fused into the 5'-untranslated region of a human growth hormone (hGH) reporter gene. Four of eight transgenic lines expressed reporter. hGH message expression was highest in the distal small intestine, with only one line expressing comparable levels in the colon. This contrasts with endogenous MUC2 expression, which is expressed at its highest levels in the colon. Immunohistochemical analysis indicated that goblet cell-specific expression of reporter begins deep in the crypts, as does endogenous MUC2 gene expression. These results indicate that the MUC2 5'-flanking sequence contains elements sufficient for the appropriate expression of MUC2 in small intestinal goblet cells. Conversely, elements located outside this region appear necessary for efficient colonic expression, implying that the two tissues utilize different regulatory elements. Thus many, but not all, of the elements necessary for MUC2 gene regulation reside between bases -2864 and +17 of the 5'-flanking region.
Dietary patterns and adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and distal stomach.

BACKGROUND Dietary pattern analysis is a unique approach to studying relations between diet and disease. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to describe the dietary patterns of an eastern Nebraska population and investigate the associations between those dietary patterns and risks of adenocarcinoma of the esophagus and distal stomach. DESIGN We recruited 124 subjects with esophageal adenocarcinoma, 124 subjects with distal stomach adenocarcinoma, and 449 control subjects in a population-based, case-control study. RESULTS Six dietary patterns were identified with the use of cluster analysis. The first dietary pattern represented healthy food choices and had higher energy contributions from fruit and vegetables and grain products and lower energy contributions from red meats, processed meats, and gravy than did the other dietary patterns. In contrast, a second dietary pattern was high in meats and low in fruit and cereals. The other 4 dietary patterns were each characterized by a concentrated energy source: salty snacks, desserts, milk, and white bread, respectively. The test of overall difference in cancer risk across dietary patterns was significant for distal stomach adenocarcinoma (P = 0.04) but not for esophageal adenocarcinoma. Risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma was inversely associated with intakes of dairy products, fish, all vegetables, citrus fruit and juices, and dark bread and was positively associated with gravy intake. Risk of distal stomach adenocarcinoma was positively associated with red meat intake. CONCLUSIONS Our study suggests that a diet high in fruit and vegetables may decrease the risk of esophageal adenocarcinoma and that a diet high in meats may increase the risk of distal stomach adenocarcinoma.
Partial hepatectomy-induced polyploidy attenuates hepatocyte replication and activates cell aging events.

In understanding mechanisms of liver repopulation with transplanted hepatocytes, we studied the consequences of hepatic polyploidization in the two-thirds partial hepatectomy model of liver regeneration. Liver repopulation studies using genetically marked rodent hepatocytes showed that the number of previously transplanted hepatocytes did not increase in the liver with subsequential partial hepatectomy. In contrast, recipients undergoing partial hepatectomy before cells were transplanted showed proliferation in transplanted hepatocytes, with kinetics of DNA synthesis differing in transplanted and host hepatocytes. Also, partial hepatectomy caused multiple changes in the rat liver, including accumulation of polyploid hepatocytes along with prolonged depletion of diploid hepatocytes, as well as increased senescence-associated β-galactosidase and p21 expression. Remnant hepatocytes in the partially hepatectomized liver showed increased autofluorescence and cytoplasmic complexity on flow cytometry, which are associated with lipofuscin accumulation during cell aging, and underwent apoptosis more frequently. Moreover, hepatocytes from the partially hepatectomized liver showed attenuated proliferative capacity in cell culture. These findings were compatible with decreased proliferative potential of hepatocytes experiencing partial hepatectomy compared with hepatocytes from the unperturbed liver. Attenuation of proliferative capacity and other changes in hepatocytes experiencing partial hepatectomy offer novel perspectives concerning liver regeneration in the context of cell ploidy.
A Self-Repairing Tree Topology Enabling Content-Based Routing in Mobile Ad Hoc Networks

Content-based routing (CBR) provides a powerful and flexible foundation for distributed applications. Its communication model, based on implicit addressing, fosters decoupling among the communicating components, therefore meeting the needs of many dynamic scenarios, including mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs). Unfortunately, the characteristics of the CBR model are only rarely met by available systems, which typically assume that application-level routers are organized in a tree-shaped network with a fixed topology. In this paper, we present COMAN, a protocol to organize the nodes of a MANET in a tree-shaped network able to 1) self- repair to tolerate the frequent topological reconfigurations typical of MANETs and 2) achieve this goal through repair strategies that minimize the changes that may impact the CBR layer exploiting the tree. COMAN is implemented and publicly available. Here, we report about its performance in simulated scenarios, as well as in real-world experiments. The results confirm that its characteristics enable reliable and efficient CBR on MANETs.
Experimental Evidence for Density-Dependent Regulation and Selection on Trinidadian Guppy Life Histories

Recent study of feedbacks between ecological and evolutionary processes has renewed interest in population regulation and density-dependent selection because they represent black-box descriptions of these feedbacks. The roles of population regulation and density-dependent selection in life-history evolution have received a significant amount of theoretical attention, but there are few empirical examples demonstrating their importance. We address this challenge in natural populations of the Trinidadian guppy (Poecilia reticulata) that differ in their predation regimes. First, we tested whether natural populations of guppies are regulated by density dependence and quantified in which phases of the life cycle the effects of density are important. We found that guppies from low-predation (LP) environments are tightly regulated and that the density-dependent responses disproportionately affected some size classes. Second, we tested whether there are differences in density-dependent selection between guppies from LP or high-predation (HP) environments. We found that the fitness of HP guppies is more sensitive to the depressant effects of density than the fitness of LP guppies. Finally, we used an evolutionary invasion analysis to show that, depending on the effect of density on survival of the HP phenotype, this greater sensitivity of the HP phenotype to density can partially explain the evolution of the LP phenotype. We discuss the relevance of these findings to the study of feedbacks between ecology and evolution.
Microtubules are involved in early hypertrophic responses of myocardium during pressure overload.

Mechanical overloading to cardiac muscle causes fetal contractile protein gene expression and acceleration of protein synthesis. Myocyte microtubules might be involved in these pressure overload-induced hypertrophic responses. We assessed c- fos and fetal contractile protein genes such as β-myosin heavy chain (MHC) and α-skeletal actin using Northern blot analysis and quantified total cardiac protein, DNA, and RNA content in the left ventricular myocardium obtained from four groups of rats: sham-operated rats; sham-operated rats treated with colchicine, which depolymerized microtubules; rats in which acute pressure overload was imposed by abdominal aortic constriction for 3 days (AoC); and AoC rats treated with colchicine (AoC + colchicine). Systolic arterial pressure was elevated to a similar degree in AoC and AoC + colchicine rats. c- fos and β-MHC mRNA levels were significantly upregulated in AoC rats, which was attenuated by microtubule inhibition. Both RNA content and RNA-to-DNA ratio, the index of the protein synthesis capacity, were increased in AoC rats, which effect was also abolished by colchicine. Furthermore, induction of nonfunctioning microtubules by taxol or deuterium oxide exerted the same inhibitory effects. Thus the hypertrophic responses of the myocardium during pressure overload might depend on the integrity of myocyte microtubules.
When the giant meets the ant an asymmetric approach for collaborative and concurrent object manipulation in a multi-scale environment

In this paper, we propose an innovative approach that enables two or more users to manipulate an object collaboratively. Our goal is to benefits from the wide variety of todays VR devices. Therefore, our solution is based on an asymmetric collaboration pattern at different scales in which users benefit from suited points of views and interaction techniques according to their device setups. Indeed, each user application is adapted thanks to plasticity mechanisms. Our system provides an efficient way to co-manipulate an object within irregular and narrow courses, taking advantages of asymmetric roles in synchronous collaboration. Moreover, its aims to provide a way to maximize the filling of the courses while the object moves on its path.
Participants’ Perceptions on the Use of Wearable Devices to Reduce Sitting Time: Qualitative Analysis

Background Recent epidemiological evidence indicates that, on average, people are sedentary for approximately 7.7 hours per day. There are deleterious effects of prolonged sedentary behavior that are separate from participation in physical activity and include increased risk of weight gain, cancer, metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and heart disease. Previous trials have used wearable devices to increase physical activity in studies; however, additional research is needed to fully understand how this technology can be used to reduce sitting time. Objective The purpose of this study was to explore the potential of wearable devices as an intervention tool in a larger sedentary behavior study through a general inductive and deductive analysis of focus group discussions. Methods We conducted four focus groups with 15 participants to discuss 7 different wearable devices with sedentary behavior capabilities. Participants recruited for the focus groups had previously participated in a pilot intervention targeting sedentary behavior over a 3-week period and were knowledgeable about the challenges of reducing sitting time. During the focus groups, participants commented on the wearability, functionality, and feedback mechanism of each device and then identified their two favorite and two least favorite devices. Finally, participants designed and described their ideal or dream wearable device. Two researchers, who have expertise analyzing qualitative data, coded and analyzed the data from the focus groups. A thematic analysis approach using Dedoose software (SocioCultural Research Consultants, LLC version 7.5.9) guided the organization of themes that reflected participants’ perspectives. Results Analysis resulted in 14 codes that we grouped into themes. Three themes emerged from our data: (1) features of the device, (2) data the device collected, and (3) how data are displayed. Conclusions Current wearable devices for increasing physical activity are insufficient to intervene on sitting time. This was especially evident when participants voted, as several participants reported using a “process of elimination” as opposed to choosing favorites because none of the devices were ideal for reducing sitting time. To overcome the limitations in current devices, future wearable devices designed to reduce sitting time should include the following features: waterproof, long battery life, accuracy in measuring sitting time, real time feedback on progress toward sitting reduction goals, and flexible options for prompts to take breaks from sitting.
Enhancing image and video retrieval: learning via equivalence constraints

The paper is about learning using partial information in the form of equivalence constraints. Equivalence constraints provide relational information about the labels of data points, rather than the labels themselves. Our work is motivated by the observation that in many real life applications partial information about the data can be obtained with very little cost. For example, in video indexing we may want to use the fact that a sequence of faces obtained from successive frames in roughly the same location is likely to contain the same unknown individual. Learning using equivalence constraints is different from learning using labels and poses new technical challenges. In this paper we present three novel methods for clustering and classification, which use equivalence constraints. We provide results of our methods on a distributed image querying system that works on a large facial image database, and on the clustering and retrieval of surveillance data. Our results show that we can significantly improve the performance of image retrieval by taking advantage of such assumptions as temporal continuity in the data. Significant improvement is also obtained by making the users of the system take the role of distributed teachers, which reduces the need for expensive labeling by paid human labor.