Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reproductive performance of dairy cows following different estrous synchronization protocols

El presente trabajo de investigacion ha sido disenado para desarrollar y recomendar un mejor y mas consistente programa de sincronizacion del estro con inseminacion a tiempo predeterminado, sin compromiso de la tasa de gestacion, en vacas lecheras durante el periodo postparto, el cual incluye animales con desordenes ovaricos. En el primer experimento, se han estudiado los efectos de la presincronizacion con doble inyeccion de prostaglandinas, en intervalo de 14 dias, durante el periodo previo a la inseminacion sobre la subsiguiente actividad ovarica en vacas lecheras en lactacion clinicamente normales. Las vacas del grupo de presincronizacion mostraron menores tasas de metritis-piometra y de quistes ovaricos, y mayores tasas de actividad luteal en el dia 50 postparto, de vacas en estro, de vacas con ovulacion y de vacas gestantes. El segundo estudio fue disenado para comparar dos protocolos de inseminacion a tiempo predeterminado, en los cuales progesterona, GnRH y PGF2a fueron combinados, junto con el protocolo Ovsynch, en vacas presincronizadas durante el periodo postparto temprano. En vacas con altos niveles de progesterona en sangre al inicio del tratamiento, el protocolo Ovsynch permitio obtener una significativa mayor tasa de vacas gestantes que los tratamientos con PRID o PRID/GnRH. En cambio, en vacas con niveles bajos de progesterona, los tratamientos con PRID o PRID/GnRH permitieron obtener de forma clara mayores tasas de vacas con ovulacion y gestantes que con el tratamiento Ovsynch. El tercer estudio fue disenado para comparar la eficacia reproductiva de vacas lecheras, presincronizadas durante el periodo postparto, tras la aplicacion del protocolo Ovsynch, sin tener en cuenta las estructuras ovaricas, o tras la aplicacion de un protocolo de sincronizacion del estro disenado de forma especifica para las estructuras ovaricas predominantes, determinadas mediante analisis ecografico. Los resultados de este estudio muestran que vacas sometidas a una sincronizacion especifica tuvieron 2,1 veces mas posibilidades de quedar gestantes a primera y segunda inseminacion que aquellas sincronizadas con el protocolo Ovsynch. En conclusion, la presincronizacion durante el periodo previo a la inseminacion mejora la actividad ovarica durante los dias 50 a 71 del periodo postparto, incrementando la tasa de vacas gestantes. La actividad luteal en el momento de la aplicacion de un protocolo de sincronizacion con inseminacion a tiempo predeterminado influye de manera significativa en la subsiguiente eficacia reproductiva de vacas lecheras en lactacion. La eficacia reproductiva de vacas lecheras en el periodo postparto temprano puede ser mejorada adoptando un protocolo especifico de sincronizacion aplicado de acuerdo al estado ovarico mas que aplicando un solo protocolo que no tenga en cuenta las estructuras ovaricas predominantes.
Dissociative recombination without a curve crossing.

[ital Ab] [ital initio] calculations show that a curve crossing is not always needed for a high dissociative-recombination cross section. For HeH[sup +], in which no neutral states cross the ion potential curve, dissociative recombination is driven by the nuclear kinetic-energy operator on adiabatic potential curves. The kinetic-energy derivative operator allows for capture into repulsive curves that are outside of the classical turning points for the nuclear motion. The dominant dissociative route is the [sup 2][Sigma][sup +] state leading to H([ital n]=2) atoms. An analogous mechanism is proposed for the dissociative recombination of H[sub 3][sup +].
Growth and maintenance respiration rates of aspen, black spruce and jack pine stems at northern and southern BOREAS sites.

We measured stem respiration rates during and after the 1994 growing season of three common boreal tree species at sites near the northern and southern boundaries of the closed-canopy boreal forest in central Canada. The growth respiration coefficient (r(g); carbon efflux per micro mole of carbon incorporated in structural matter) varied between 0.25 and 0.76, and was greatest for black spruce (Picea mariana (Mill.) B.S.P.), least for jack pine (Pinus banksiana Lamb.) and intermediate for trembling aspen (Populus tremuloides Michx.). There was a consistent trend for higher r(g) at northern sites than at southern sites. Maintenance respiration rates at 15 degrees C (r(m)) varied from 0.5 to 2.7 nmol C mol(-1) C(sapwood) s(-1). Values of r(m) were high at sapling-stage jack pine sites and mature black spruce sites, and low at mature trembling aspen and mature jack pine sites. We found significant relationships between annual maintenance respiration and sapwood relative growth rate and sapwood volume per unit of stem surface area that explained much of the within-stand and between-stand variability. Because of the large differences in parameter values among sites, we conclude that the use of stand-specific respiratory parameters may improve model predictions of ecosystem process models over the use of generic parameter values.
Post-operative care through tele-follow up visits in patients undergoing thyroidectomy and parathyroidectomy in a resource-constrained environment

We conducted a pilot study to assess the feasibility of tele-follow up in post-operative cases of thyroid and parathyroid diseases. Patients were enrolled after operation at the tertiary hospital in Lucknow who consented to report to the telemedicine centre at Cuttack, approximately 1500 km away. Initially videoconferencing used a single ISDN line (128 kbit/s); subsequently a satellite-based connection (384 kbit/s) was employed. Patients were given a questionnaire to assess their satisfaction with tele-follow up and the financial and work-time savings incurred by them. Over a period of nearly four years, a total of 34 postoperative patients were followed up by telemedicine. A total of 66 tele-visit sessions were held. The average number of visits per patient was two (range 1–6). The nature of disease was benign in 17 patients and malignant in the other 17. The reasons for tele-follow up were: confirmation of histology report (n = 18), medication dosage adjustments (n = 24) and serum thyroglobulin monitoring (n = 5). The patients' level of satisfaction was very good (31%) or excellent (69%). There were substantial financial and work-time savings per visit. Tele-follow up is feasible after thyroid and parathyroid surgery for benign thyroid and parathyroid disorders and in patients with low-risk thyroid cancers. The technique ensures satisfactory postoperative follow-up.
Thiolated polyacrylic acid-modified iron oxide nanoparticles for in vitro labeling and MRI of stem cells

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop and characterize new surface-modified iron oxide nanoparticles demonstrating the efficiency to be internalized by human endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) from umbilical cord blood. Methods: Iron oxide nanoparticles were coated with polyacrylic acid-cysteine (PAA-Cys) by either in situ precipitation or postsynthesis. The nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction. EPCs were labeled with PAA-Cys-modified iron oxide nanoparticles or with uncoated nanoparticles. The relaxivity of uncoated and coated iron oxide nanoparticles as well as EPCs labeled with PAA-Cys-modified iron oxide were determined. Results: Addition of PAA-Cys increased the particle size from 10.4 to 144 and 197 nm, respectively. The X-ray powder diffraction pattern revealed that the particles consist of Fe3O4 with a spinal structure. Postsynthesis coated particles showed a cellular uptake of 85% and 15.26 pg iron/cell. For both types of particles the relaxivity ratio was at least 2-fold higher than that of the gold standard Resovist®. Conclusion: The PAA-Cys coated iron oxide nanoparticles are a promising tool for labeling living cells such as stem cells for diagnostic and therapeutic application in cell-based therapies due to their high relaxivities and their easy uptake by cells.
Current Status of Non-invasive Alternatives to Liver Biopsy to Assess Hepatic Fibrosis

• The extent of hepatic fibrosis in patients with chronic liver disease is associated with the risk of hepatic morbidity and mortality via the development of portal hypertension and liver cancer. • Ideal features of a non-invasive test of hepatic fibrosis include simplicity, reproducibility, accuracy, association with disease severity, improvement with therapy, association with clinical outcomes in untreated patients, and widespread availability and cost. • Liver elastography using ultrasound and magnetic resonance based modalities offers great promise in providing accurate and reliable information in patients with moderate to severe hepatic fibrosis as well as potentially clinically useful prognostic information. • Panels of routine laboratory tests such as APRI and FIB-4 are simple and widely available indices to estimate the likelihood of advanced fibrosis but they are not liver disease specific, have limited discrimination for milder degrees of fibrosis and their prognostic utility is not well established. • Serum fibrosis marker panels consisting of PIIINP, hyaluronic acid, and TIMP-1 more directly reflect hepatic fibrogenesis and matrix turnover but have largely been tested in patients with viral hepatitis. Additional testing in prospective cohorts and patients with alcoholic liver disease and NAFLD are needed for further validation and refinement. • Liver specific physiologic tests based upon hepatic enzyme activity (methacetin breath test), kupfer cell mass (liver-spleen scan ratio), intra-hepatic shunting (cholate shunt), proteomics, and genomics may also provide important information but require further development.
Efficacy and safety analysis of epoetin alfa in patients with small-cell lung cancer: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

PURPOSE This randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (N93-004) evaluated the effects of epoetin alfa on tumor response to chemotherapy and survival in patients with small-cell lung cancer (SCLC). PATIENTS AND METHODS Adult patients with hemoglobin < or = 14.5 g/dL starting chemotherapy received epoetin alfa 150 U/kg or placebo subcutaneously 3 times weekly until 3 weeks after completion of chemotherapy. Survival was assessed for 3 years. The primary end point was the proportion of patients with complete or partial response after three chemotherapy cycles. RESULTS The trial was terminated prematurely after 224 of a projected 400 patients were accrued. Baseline characteristics were similar between groups. Epoetin alfa and placebo patients (n = 109 and n = 115, respectively) had mean baseline hemoglobin of 12.8 g/dL and 13.0 g/dL, respectively. Overall tumor response was similar between the epoetin alfa and placebo groups after three chemotherapy cycles (72% and 67%, respectively; 95% CI of difference, -6% to 18%) and after completion of chemotherapy (60% and 56%, respectively; 95% CI of difference, -9% to 17%). Epoetin alfa and placebo groups had similar median overall survival (10.5 and 10.4 months, respectively) and overall mortality (91.7% and 87.8%, respectively; hazard ratio, 1.172; 95% CI, 0.887 to 1.549; P = .264). Hemoglobin was maintained in the prechemotherapy range in epoetin alfa patients, but decreased substantially in placebo patients. Fewer epoetin alfa patients than placebo patients required transfusion. CONCLUSION These results suggest that in newly diagnosed patients with SCLC epoetin alfa does not affect tumor response to chemotherapy or survival. However, the early trial closure makes these conclusions preliminary.
Maximum-tolerated dose, toxicity, and efficacy of (131)I-Lym-1 antibody for fractionated radioimmunotherapy of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

PURPOSE Lym-1, a monoclonal antibody that preferentially targets malignant lymphocytes, has induced remissions in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL) when labeled with iodine 131 ((131)I). Based on the strategy of fractionating the total dose, this study was designed to define the maximum-tolerated dose (MTD) and efficacy of the first two, of a maximum of four, doses of (131)I-Lym-1 given 4 weeks apart. Additionally, toxicity and radiation dosimetry were assessed. MATERIALS AND METHODS Twenty patients with advanced NHL entered the study a total of 21 times. Thirteen (62%) of the 21 entries had diffuse large-cell histologies. All patients had disease resistant to standard therapy and had received a mean of four chemotherapy regimens. (131)I-Lym-1 was given after Lym-1 and (131)I was escalated in cohorts of patients from 40 to 100 mCi (1.5 to 3.7 GBq)/m2 body surface area. RESULTS Mean radiation dose to the bone marrow from body and blood (131)I was 0.34 (range, 0. 1 6 to 0.63) rad/mCi (0.09 mGy/MBq; range, 0.04 to 0.17 mGy/ MBq). Dose-limiting toxicity was grade 3 to 4 thrombocytopenia with an MTD of 100 mCi/m2 (3.7 GBq/m2) for each of the first two doses of (131)I-Lym-1 given 4 weeks apart. Nonhematologic toxicities did not exceed grade 2 except for one instance of grade 3 hypotension. Ten (71 %) of 14 entries who received at least two doses of (131)I-Lym-1 therapy and 11 (52%) of 21 total entries responded. Seven of the responses were complete, with a mean duration of 14 months. All three entries in the 100 mCi/m2 (3.7 MBq/m2) cohort had complete remissions (CRs). All responders had at least a partial remission (PR) after the first therapy dose of (131)I-Lym-1. CONCLUSION (131)I-Lym-1 induced durable remissions in patients with NHL resistant to chemotherapy and was associated with acceptable toxicity. The nonmyeloablative MTD for each of the first two doses of (131)I-Lym-1 was 100 mCi/m2 (total, 200 mCi/m2) (3.7 GBq/m2; total, 7.4 GBq/m2).
Chronic excessive alcohol consumption and male fertility: a case report on reversible azoospermia and a literature review.

AIMS The aim of this work was to report on a heavy drinker whose azoospermia was reversed after alcohol withdrawal. We also review the literature on links between alcohol consumption and azoospermia. METHOD This study is a clinical case report and a literature review. RESULTS Two years after alcohol withdrawal, a child was born following assisted reproduction technique. Excessive alcohol consumption (i.e. more than 60 g a day) is strongly associated with azoospermia and this condition may be reversible after alcohol withdrawal. CONCLUSIONS Testicular biopsies should be countra-indicated for heavy drinkers, and in order to increase the chances of obtaining a pregnancy, alcohol abstinence should be encouraged in male with low-to-moderate alcohol intakes.
A topodiagnostic investigation on body lateropulsion in medullary infarcts

Body lateropulsion may occur without signs of vestibular dysfunction and vestibular nucleus involvement. The authors examined 10 such patients with three-dimensional brainstem mapping. Body lateropulsion without limb ataxia reflected an impairment of vestibulospinal postural control caused by a lesion of the descending lateral vestibulospinal tract, whereas body lateropulsion with limb ataxia was probably the consequence of impaired or absent proprioceptive information caused by a lesion of the ascending dorsal spino-cerebellar tract.
Partial controllability of stochastic linear systems

The controllability concepts for linear stochastic differential equations, driven by different kinds of noise processes, can be reduced to the partial controllability concepts for the same systems, driven by correlated white noises. Based on this fact, in this article, we study the conditions of exact and approximate controllability for linear stochastic control systems under various kinds of noise processes, including correlated white noises as well as coloured, wide band and shifted white noises. It is proved that such systems are never exactly controllable while their approximate controllability is equivalent to the approximate controllability of the associated linear deterministic systems at all past time moments.
Somatic activity of the mariner transposable element in natural populations of Drosophila simulans

The characteristics of the mariner transposable element in natural populations of Drosophila simulans from different parts of the world were analysed. The somatic excision rate (estimated from a test-cross with a reference strain), the average number of copies (determined by Southern blots), and the presence of deleted copies (detected by polymerase chain reaction amplification) were estimated for each population. There was a great variability in the somatic excision rate, measured as the percentage of mosaic males, both within and between populations. The population effect was highly significant. The average copy number also varied widely and was correlated with the excision rate. Rare deleted elements were detected by polymerase chain reaction and Southern blots. Percentage of mosaic males increased in strains kept for a long time at low temperature, and the somatic excision rate increased with the latitude of origin of populations. Therefore, these results strongly suggest that temperature could be involved in the regulation of mariner somatic excision in D. simulans.
PSYCHOBEHAVIORAL DISORDERS, ORTHOSTATIC HYPOTENSION, AND FALLS RELATED TO A PHEOCHROMOCYTOMA IN A VERY ELDERLY SUBJECT: A CASE REPORT

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS The authors thank Frances Coburn for revising the final English version of this letter. Conflict of Interest: The editor in chief has reviewed the conflict of interest checklist provided by the authors and has determined that the authors have no financial or any other kind of personal conflicts with this paper. This study was supported in part by Grants 60A074404/09 (GM) and 60A07-9774 (AS) from the University of Padova, Italy. Author Contributions: G. Marioni: conception and study design, discussion of otorhinolaryngological topics. R. Rinaldi: discussion of microbiological topics, supervision. E. Manzato: discussion of geriatric topics, supervision. M. Sari, V. Prosenikliev, D. Accordi, and C. Staffieri, acquisition of data. L. Giacomelli: statistical analysis. A. Staffieri: discussion of otorhinolaryngological topics, supervision. Sponsor’s Role: The sponsors did not contribute to the design, methods, subject recruitment, data collection, analysis, or preparation of the letter.
Socioeconomic factors and the risk of metabolic syndrome in the adult Polish population: the WOBASZ study.

BACKGROUND Metabolic syndrome (MetS) increases the risk of cardiovascular disease and its development is determined by certain socioeconomic and lifestyle factors. AIM To investigate the impact of socioeconomic and lifestyle factors on the risk of MetS and the underlying contributing factors in the Polish population aged 20-74 years. METHODS Between 2003 and 2005, as part of the National Multicentre Health Survey (WOBASZ, Wieloośrodkowe Badanie Stanu Zdrowia Ludności), a random sample of Polish residents aged 20 to 74 years was investigated. Data on sociodemographic and anthropometric parameters, blood pressure, lipid and glucose levels and medical history were collected. MetS was defined according to the criteria proposed by the American Heart Association/National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (AHA/NHLBI) and by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) in 2005. Data necessary to evaluate MetS and the socioeconomic characteristics were obtained for 5940 men and 6627 women. RESULTS MetS was identified in 26.0% of men and 23.9% of women according to the AHA/NHLBI definition, and in 30.7% of men and 26.8% of women according to the IDF definition. In both genders older age, higher body mass index and current smoking increased the risk of developing MetS, whereas higher physical activity and good self-rated health decreased the risk. Moreover, women with higher education and in the higher quartile of alcohol intake were associated with a lower risk of having MetS. Household per-capita income did not affect the risk of having MetS in either gender. CONCLUSIONS A relatively high percentage of individuals with MetS was observed in the Polish population aged 20 to 74 years. In both sexes, the risk of MetS and its contributing factors was significantly associated with age and the following lifestyle factors: body mass index, smoking, self-rated health and, additionally for women, higher education and alcohol intake.
The Serotonergic System and Neuroplasticity are Implicated in the Effect of Phytochemicals on Mood and Cognitive Disorders

Studies has been established in the 1930s that any environmental changes, whether internal or external, that disturbs the maintenance of homeostasis can cause stress response, including psychological, neuronal, endocrine and immune system reactivity (B E Leonard, 2005). During chronic stress or long-term exposure to external stress, glucocorticosteroids induce the hyperactivity of the Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis, which produces an increase in plasma glucocorticoid level that then impairs the negative feedback mechanism, causing psychological disorders (Croes, Merz, & Netter, 1993; Henry, 1992). In stress-induced emotional and cognitive disorders, such as depression, anxiety and learning and memory impairment, the serotonergic system mainly exerts its regulatory functions through different subtypes of receptors. Research over the past decades have found that serotonin receptors, such as 5-HT1A, 5-HT1B, 5-HT2A, 5-HT2C, 5-HT4, 5-HT6, and 5-HT7 subtypes, are closely related to depression and memory deficits. Moreover, clinical investigation suggests that some of the agonists or antagonists of the 5-HT receptor subtypes can be used for treatment of depression. However, the detailed roles of serotonin receptors in these disorders remain unclear. Neuroplasticity has been described as the ability of the brain to reorganize itself and form new neuronal connections throughout life. Depression is associated with a neuronal loss in specific brain regions, which has been proven by functional brain imaging and other neurobiological techniques. The dendritic abnormalities seen in the hippocampus in animal models of depression and in patients with depression and Alzheimer’s suggest changes in hippocampal circuitry are involved in disorders involving depression, anxiety and learning and memory impairment. The morphological and functional changes of neurons may be reversed after treatment with antidepressants, such as some natural compounds. In this review, a connection between neuroplasticity and the antidepressant-like effects of phytochemicals that are currently being studied is brought into attention. Some phytochemicals, such as curcumin, are found to reverse impaired hippocampal
Capacidad informativa de los resultados contables en la empresa familiar

[ES] El presente trabajo analiza la relacion entre el control familiar y la credibilidad de los resultados contables. Utilizando un panel de datos de empresas espanolas cotizadas no financieras para el periodo 1997-2003, los resultados alcanzados muestran que la credibilidad de la informacion contable de la empresa familiar es inferior a la de la no familiar. Asimismo, el incremento de los derechos de voto en manos del ultimo propietario familiar incide negativamente en la credibilidad de sus resultados divulgados. Las unicas empresas en las que la naturaleza familiar incide positivamente en la credibilidad de la informacion contable son aquellas en las que el presidente del consejo de administracion no pertenece a la familia controladora.