Assessing the in vivo data on low/no-calorie sweeteners and the gut microbiota

Low/no-calorie sweeteners (LNCS) are continually under the spotlight in terms of their safety and benefits; in 2014 a study was published linking LNCS to an enhanced risk of glucose intolerance through modulation of the gut microbiota. In response, an in-depth review of the literature was undertaken to evaluate the major contributors to potential changes in the gut microbiota and their corresponding sequelae, and to determine if consuming LNCS (e.g., acesulfame K, aspartame, cyclamate, neotame, saccharin, sucralose, steviol glycosides) contributes to changes in the microbiome based on the data reported in human and animal studies. A few rodent studies with saccharin have reported changes in the gut microbiome, but primarily at high doses that bear no relevance to human consumption. This and other studies suggesting an effect of LNCS on the gut microbiota were found to show no evidence of an actual adverse effect on human health. The sum of the data provides clear evidence that changes in the diet unrelated to LNCS consumption are likely the major determinants of change in gut microbiota numbers and phyla, confirming the viewpoint supported by all the major international food safety and health regulatory authorities that LNCS are safe at currently approved levels

Random raman fiber laser based on a twin-core fiber with FBGs inscribed by femtosecond radiation

Narrowband Raman lasing in a polarization-maintaining two-core fiber (TCF) is demonstrated. Femtosecond point-by-point inscription of fiber Bragg gratings (FBGs) in individual cores produces a half-open cavity with random distributed feedback. The laser linewidth in the cavity with a single FBG inscribed in one core of the TCF reduced by ∼2 times with respect to the cavity with a fiber loop mirror. It is shown that the inscription of two FBGs in different cores leads to the formation of a Michelson-type interferometer, leading to the modulation of generation spectra near threshold. This technique offers new possibilities for spectral filtering or multi-wavelength generation

Interleukin-6, age, and corpus callosum integrity.

The contribution of inflammation to deleterious aging outcomes is increasingly recognized; however, little is known about the complex relationship between interleukin-6 (IL-6) and brain structure, or how this association might change with increasing age. We examined the association between IL-6, white matter integrity, and cognition in 151 community dwelling older adults, and tested whether age moderated these associations. Blood levels of IL-6 and vascular risk (e.g., homocysteine), as well as health history information, were collected. Processing speed assessments were administered to assess cognitive functioning, and we employed tract-based spatial statistics to examine whole brain white matter and regions of interest. Given the association between inflammation, vascular risk, and corpus callosum (CC) integrity, fractional anisotropy (FA) of the genu, body, and splenium represented our primary dependent variables. Whole brain analysis revealed an inverse association between IL-6 and CC fractional anisotropy. Subsequent ROI linear regression and ridge regression analyses indicated that the magnitude of this effect increased with age; thus, older individuals with higher IL-6 levels displayed lower white matter integrity. Finally, higher IL-6 levels were related to worse processing speed; this association was moderated by age, and was not fully accounted for by CC volume. This study highlights that at older ages, the association between higher IL-6 levels and lower white matter integrity is more pronounced; furthermore, it underscores the important, albeit burgeoning role of inflammatory processes in cognitive aging trajectories

Complexification methods of interval forecast estimates in the problems on short-term prediction

Вирішено завдання удосконалення методичної бази системи підтримки прийняття рішень у процесi короткострокового прогнозування показникiв організаційно-технічних систем шляхом розробки нових i адаптації існуючих методiв комплексування, здатних врахувати інтервальну невизначеність прогнозних оцінок. Актуальнiсть даного завдання обумовлена необхідністю врахування невизначеності первинної інформації, викликаної проявом НI-чинникiв. Проведений аналіз передумов i особливостей формалiзації невизначеності первинних даних в інтервальнiй формi, виявлені переваги iнтервального аналiзу для вирішення задачi комплексування інтервальних прогнозних оцінок. Викладено короткі відомості про базовий математичний апарат: iнтервальну арифметику та інтервальний аналiз. Вдосконалено методи комплексування прогнозних оцінок шляхом синтезу iнтервальних розширень, отриманих вiдповiдно до парадигми інтервального аналізу. В результатi досліджень встановлено, що введення аналiтичної функцiї переваг дозволило синтезувати модель комплексування в досить загальному виглядi, шляхом об'єднання в єдинiй формi класiв гiбридних i селективних моделей для генерації консолідованих прогнозiв на основi інтервальних прогнозних оцiнок. Це дозволяє отримувати комплексовані прогнози на основi інтервальних прогнозних оцінок, тим самим забезпечувати точність консолідованого короткострокового прогнозу. Проведено критичний аналіз запропонованих методiв i розроблено рекомендацiї щодо їх практичного використання. Сформульовано рекомендації щодо параметричного налаштування аналітичної функції переваг. На прикладi показано адаптивні властивості інтервальної моделі комплексування

Predicting disease progression in progressive supranuclear palsy in multicenter clinical trials

INTRODUCTION: Clinical and MRI measurements can track disease progression in PSP, but many have not been extensively evaluated in multicenter clinical trials. We identified optimal measures to capture clinical decline and predict disease progression in multicenter PSP trials. METHODS: Longitudinal clinical rating scales, neuropsychological test scores, and volumetric MRI data from an international, phase 2/3 clinical trial of davunetide for PSP (intent to treat population, n = 303) were used to identify measurements with largest effect size, strongest correlation with clinical change, and best ability to predict dropout or clinical decline over one year as measured by PSP Rating Scale (PSPRS). RESULTS: Baseline cognition as measured by Repeatable Battery for Assessing Neuropsychological Status (RBANS) was associated with attrition, but had only a small effect. PSPRS and Clinical Global Impression (CGI) had the largest effect size for measuring change. Annual change in CGI, RBANS, color trails, and MRI midbrain and ventricular volumes were most strongly correlated with annual PSPRS and had the largest effect sizes for detecting annual change. At baseline, shorter disease duration, more severe depression, and lower performance on RBANS and executive function tests were associated with faster worsening of the PSPRS in completers. With dropouts included, SEADL, RBANS, and executive function tests had significant effect on PSPRS trajectory of change. CONCLUSION: Baseline cognitive status and mood influence the rate of disease progression in PSP. Multiple clinical, neuropsychological, and volumetric MRI measurements are sensitive to change over one year in PSP and appropriate for use in multicenter clinical trials

Meeting the Needs of the Marginally Learning Disabled Intermediate Grade Child

This study focused on the needs of 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students who have I.Q. scores of roughly 75-95. These students often function two or more years below grade level in school and are referred to as Marginally Learning Disabled (MLD), or slow learners. Factors which contribute to the existence of this situation were discussed as were problems of accurate identification. It was found that most school districts do not provide special help for these students. MLD students are usually placed in the regular classroom. A few school districts have experimented with special resource classes or self-contained classes. Parental involvement was found to be a major factor in the academic progress of the slow learner. Teacher effectiveness is also extremely important. An effective teacher was found to, (a) believe the child could learn, (b) be organized and run a structured program, and (c) provide direct, group instruction rather than individualized lessons