Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Follicle and corpus luteum size and vascularity as predictors of fertility at the time of artificial insemination and embryo transfer in beef cattle 1

Pinaffi F.L. V. , Santos E.S. , Silva M.G. , Maturana Filho M. , Madureira E.H. & Silva L.A. 2015. Follicle and corpus luteum size and vascularity as predictors of fertility at the time of artificial insemination and embryo transfer in beef cattle. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 35(5):470-476. Laboratório de Teriogenologia, Departamento de Medicina Veterinária, Faculdade de Zootecnia e Engenharia de Alimentos, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Duque de Caxias Norte 225, Pirassununga, SP 13635-900, Brazil. E-mail: fabio_pinaffi@hotmail.com Two ultrasound based fertility prediction methods were tested prior to embryo transfer (ET) and artificial insemination (AI) in cattle. Female bovines were submitted to estrous synchronization prior to ET and AI. Animals were scanned immediately before ET and AI procedure to target follicle and corpus luteum (CL) size and vascularity. In addition, inseminated animals were also scanned eleven days after insemination to target CL size and vascularity. All data was compared with fertility by using gestational diagnosis 35 days after ovulation. Prior to ET, CL vascularity showed a positive correlation with fertility, and no pregnancy occurred in animals with less than 40% of CL vascularity. Prior to AI and also eleven days after AI, no relationship with fertility was seen in all parameters analyzed (follicle and CL size and vascularity), and contrary, cows with CL vascularity greater than 70% exhibit lower fertility. In inseminated animals, follicle size and vascularity was positive related with CL size and vascularity, as shown by the presence of greater CL size and vascularity originated from follicle with also greater size and vascularity. This is the first time that ultrasound based fertility prediction methods were tested prior to ET and AI and showed an application in ET, but not in AI programs. Further studies are needed including hormone profile evaluation to improve conclusion.
Clinical determinants of calcineurin inhibitor disposition: a mechanistic review

Abstract The calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) tacrolimus and cyclosporine are widely used immunosuppressive drugs characterized by high pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic variability, both between and within patients. CNIs are highly lipophilic, poorly soluble, undergo extensive first-pass metabolism and are cleared by the liver. In both gut and liver, CNIs are substrates for the cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes 3A4 and 3A5 as well as the P-glycoprotein (P-gp) transporter, whose functions are determined by a complex interplay between genetic polymorphisms, the inductive or inhibitory effects of many drugs, herbs, food constituents and endogenous substances such as uremic toxins in case of end-stage renal disease. The current literature is reviewed for all common clinical determinants of variability in CNI disposition such as food intake, diarrhea and other intestinal pathology, anemia, hypoalbuminemia, hyperlipidemia, liver and kidney disease, aging, ethnicity, formulation and time post-transplant, focusing on the underlying mechanisms. Drugs and herb- and food constituents mainly interact with CNIs at the gut level by affecting bioavailability, with interactions generally being much more pronounced in case of oral compared with intravenous co-administration. Cyclosporine disposition is less susceptible to these interactions compared with tacrolimus, possibly because cyclosporine is itself a moderately strong CYP3A4- and strong P-gp inhibitor, blunting the effect of additional inhibitors. P-gp also has a major role in limiting distribution of CNI to tissues such as the brain, placenta, lymphocytes and kidney. Inactivating polymorphisms and inhibition of P-gp have the potential to significantly increase CNI exposure in these tissues with possible implications for toxicity and efficacy.
Molecular Characterization of a Novel Fastidious Mycobacterium Causing Lepromatous Lesions of the Skin, Subcutis, Cornea, and Conjunctiva of Cats Living in Victoria, Australia

ABSTRACT Between 1999 and 2006, 15 cats were diagnosed with disease attributable to a novel mycobacterial species. The infections consisted of granulomatous lesions in the skin, subcutis, and ocular or periocular tissues with an indolent but progressive clinical course. Lesions typically were found in facial regions or on the distal limbs. Cats of all ages and both sexes were affected. Infections often were challenging to treat, although they could be cured using surgery in concert with combination antimicrobial therapy. Microscopically, lesions were granulomatous to pyogranulomatous and contained numerous acid-fast bacilli. Scanty cultures of the causal microorganisms occasionally could be obtained in mycobacterial broth, but subculture to solid media failed. When cultures were not available, DNA was extracted from fresh tissue, lyophilized material, and formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues from lesions. PCR amplification of the 5′ end of the 16S rRNA gene and regions within four additional loci (ITS1, hsp65, rpoB, and sodA) was performed with various efficiencies using mycobacterial primers. Nucleotide sequences were unique for each locus tested. Nucleotide sequences obtained from individual cases were identical for each locus for which the amplification was successful. Phylogenetic analysis performed using concatenated partial 16S rRNA and hsp65 gene sequences indicated that this novel mycobacterial species from Victoria is a member of the Mycobacterium simiae-related group, taxonomically related to the mycobacterium causing leproid granulomas in dogs throughout the world. Based on the clustering of cases, we refer to this novel species as Mycobacterium sp. strain Tarwin.
Vitamin D Receptor Activation Reduces Angiotensin-II–Induced Dissecting Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm in Apolipoprotein E–Knockout Mice

Objective—Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a vascular disorder characterized by chronic inflammation of the aortic wall. Low concentrations of vitamin D3 are associated with AAA development; however, the potential direct effect of vitamin D3 on AAA remains unknown. This study evaluates the effect of oral treatment with the vitamin D3 receptor (VDR) ligand, calcitriol, on dissecting AAA induced by angiotensin-II (Ang-II) infusion in apoE−/− mice. Approach and Results—Oral treatment with calcitriol reduced Ang-II–induced dissecting AAA formation in apoE−/− mice, which was unrelated to systolic blood pressure or plasma cholesterol concentrations. Immunohistochemistry and reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction analysis demonstrated a significant increase in macrophage infiltration, neovessel formation, matrix metalloproteinase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-9, chemokine (CCL2 [(C-C motif) ligand 2], CCL5 [(C-C motif) ligand 5], and CXCL1 [(C-X-C motif) ligand 1]) and vascular endothelial growth factor expression in suprarenal aortic walls of apoE−/− mice infused with Ang-II, and all were significantly reduced by cotreatment with calcitriol. Phosphorylation of extracellular signal–regulated kinases 1/2, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, and nuclear factor-&kgr;B was also decreased in the suprarenal aortas of apoE−/− mice cotreated with calcitriol. These effects were accompanied by a marked increase in VDR–retinoid X receptor (RXR) interaction in the aortas of calcitriol-treated mice. In vitro, VDR activation by calcitriol in human endothelial cells inhibited Ang-II–induced leukocyte–endothelial cell interactions, morphogenesis, and production of endothelial proinflammatory and angiogenic chemokines through VDR–RXR interactions, and knockdown of VDR or RXR abolished the inhibitory effects of calcitriol. Conclusions—VDR activation reduces dissecting AAA formation induced by Ang-II in apoE−/− mice and may constitute a novel therapeutic strategy to prevent AAA progression.
Applying artificial intelligence to disease staging: Deep learning for improved staging of diabetic retinopathy

Purpose Disease staging involves the assessment of disease severity or progression and is used for treatment selection. In diabetic retinopathy, disease staging using a wide area is more desirable than that using a limited area. We investigated if deep learning artificial intelligence (AI) could be used to grade diabetic retinopathy and determine treatment and prognosis. Methods The retrospective study analyzed 9,939 posterior pole photographs of 2,740 patients with diabetes. Nonmydriatic 45° field color fundus photographs were taken of four fields in each eye annually at Jichi Medical University between May 2011 and June 2015. A modified fully randomly initialized GoogLeNet deep learning neural network was trained on 95% of the photographs using manual modified Davis grading of three additional adjacent photographs. We graded 4,709 of the 9,939 posterior pole fundus photographs using real prognoses. In addition, 95% of the photographs were learned by the modified GoogLeNet. Main outcome measures were prevalence and bias-adjusted Fleiss’ kappa (PABAK) of AI staging of the remaining 5% of the photographs. Results The PABAK to modified Davis grading was 0.64 (accuracy, 81%; correct answer in 402 of 496 photographs). The PABAK to real prognosis grading was 0.37 (accuracy, 96%). Conclusions We propose a novel AI disease-staging system for grading diabetic retinopathy that involves a retinal area not typically visualized on fundoscopy and another AI that directly suggests treatments and determines prognoses.
In Vitro Activity of a New Ketolide Antibiotic, HMR 3647, against Chlamydia pneumoniae

ABSTRACT The in vitro activities of HMR 3647, roxithromycin, erythromycin, and azithromycin against 19 strains of Chlamydia pneumoniaewere tested. The MIC at which 90% of the isolates are inhibited and the minimum bactericidal concentration at which 90% of the isolates are killed of HMR 3647 were 0.25 μg/ml (range, 0.015 to 2 μg/ml). Nine recently obtained clinical isolates from children with pneumonia were more susceptible (MICs, 0.015 to 0.0625 μg/ml) than older strains that had been passaged more extensively.
Broad-band continuous-wave-pumped fiber optical parametric amplifier with 49-dB gain and wavelength-conversion efficiency

A broad-band continuous-wave (CW) pumped fiber-based parametric amplifier with 39 dB of internal gain and wavelength conversion efficiency, corresponding to a black box gain/efficiency of 38 dB, is demonstrated. Bit-error-rate (BER) measurements indicate performance comparable to erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFAs). These amplifiers may thus find new applications in future lightwave systems.
Feasibility of 3T Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance-Guided Biopsy in Localizing Local Recurrence of Prostate Cancer After External Beam Radiation Therapy

Objectives:The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility of the combination of magnetic resonance (MR)-guided biopsy (MRGB) and diagnostic 3T MR imaging in the localization of local recurrence of prostate cancer (PCa) after external beam radiation therapy (EBRT). Materials and Methods:Twenty-four consecutive men with biochemical failure suspected of local recurrence after initial EBRT were enrolled prospectively in this study. All patients underwent a diagnostic 3T MR examination of the prostate. T2-weighted and dynamic contrast-enhanced MR images (DCE-MRI) were acquired. Two radiologists evaluated the MR images in consensus for tumor suspicious regions (TSRs) for local recurrence. Subsequently, these TSRs were biopsied under MR-guidance and histopathologically evaluated for the presence of recurrent PCa. Descriptive statistical analysis was applied. Results:Tissue sampling was successful in all patients and all TSRs. The positive predictive value on a per patient basis was 75% (15/20) and on a per TSR basis 68% (26/38). The median number of biopsies taken per patient was 3, and the duration of an MRGB session was 31 minutes. No intervention-related complications occurred. Conclusions:The combination of MRGB and diagnostic MR imaging of the prostate was a feasible technique to localize PCa recurrence after EBRT using a low number of cores in a clinically acceptable time.
A comunidade de abelhas (Hymenoptera: Apoidea) das dunas interiores do Rio São Francisco, Bahia, Brasil

A comunidade de abelhas das dunas interiores do medio Sao Francisco foi estudada com relacao a riqueza em especies, abundância relativa e distribuicao temporal e sazonal. Os dados foram comparados aos obtidos em outros estudos realizados na caatinga. As amostragens foram realizadas nos meses de marco, setembro e dezembro de 1996 e marco de 1997, utilizando-se rede entomologica para a captura das abelhas nas flores ou em voo. A area de estudos esta localizada em Ibiraba (10o48'S, 42o50'W), municipio de Barra, Bahia. O clima e semi-arido, do tipo quente e seco. A vegetacao local predominante e a caatinga. Foram coletados 931 individuos de 31 especies pertencentes a cinco familias de Apoidea. A maioria das especies foram representadas por pequeno numero de individuos. Apenas oito especies predominaram; juntas representaram 87,6% do total de individuos coletados. Anthophoridae representou a maior porcao da fauna local de abelhas (52%) enquanto que em numero de individuos, Apidae predominou (75%). Em nivel especifico, Apis mellifera Linnaeus e Frieseomellita silvestri languida Moure foram predominantes; representaram respectivamente 34,9% e 16% do total dos individuos amostrados. Embora os dados obtidos sejam ainda insuficientes para a determinacao de um padrao, observa-se maior frequencia de individuos e especies de abelhas durante a estacao chuvosa. Dados similares foram obtidos em outros estudos em areas de caatinga.
Management of Ocular and Orbital Complications in Acute Rhinosinusitis and Skull Base Diseases

Orbital extension of acute rhinosinusitis represents a medical and surgical emergency. Radiological investigation with computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is essential to distinguish different diagnosis and to evaluate the extent of disease. Endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS) is indicated any time acute sinusitis with complications is observed to reduce compression of adjacent structures, to restore sinus drainage, for bacteriological or mycotic examinations, and to provide a final histopathological examination. The clinical presentation of orbital complications of two rare cases of acute rhinosinusitis and one case of nasopharyngeal carcinoma is described in this paper and the therapeutic approaches are discussed.
Adolescent Self-Esteem: A Foundational Disposition

Based on results of a concept synthesis and concept derivation, an argument is made that self-esteem is a human foundational disposition within the self-care deficit theory of nursing and, as such, is a component of an individual’s self-care agency. Guided by research literature, the basic conditioning factors of age, gender, developmental state, family systems, sociocultural orientation, health state, and environmental factors are discussed in regard to their influence on the adolescent’s developing self-esteem and emerging self-care agency.
Entrepreneurship , Innovation and Economic Growth 1 Past experiences , current knowledge and policy implications February 2010

Considerable advances, even breakthroughs, have been made during the last decades in our understanding of the relationship between knowledge and growth on one hand, and entrepreneurship and growth on the other. Similarly, more profound insights have also been gained as to how entrepreneurship, innovation and knowledge are interrelated. Yet, a comprehensive understanding is still lacking concerning the interface of all of those variables: knowledge, innovation, entrepreneurship and growth. The link between the microeconomic origin of growth and the macro-economic outcome is still too rudimentary modeled to grasp the full width of these complex and intersecting forces. The main objective of this paper is hence to shed light on recent advances in our understanding of the forces that underpin the creation of knowledge, its diffusion and commercialization through innovation, and the role of the entrepreneur in the growth process. The policy implications of recent research findings conclude this survey. Particularly important policy implications refer to the design of regulation influencing knowledge production, ownership, entry barriers, labor mobility and (inefficient) financial markets. They all have implication for the efficient diffusion of knowledge through entry. Knowledge creation has to be matched by incentives that induce mechanisms to convert knowledge into societal and useful needs.
Permissive Cytomegalovirus Infection of Primary Villous Term and First Trimester Trophoblasts

ABSTRACT Forty percent of women with primary cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections during pregnancy infect their fetuses with complications for the baby varying from mild to severe. How CMV crosses the syncytiotrophoblast, the barrier between maternal blood and fetal tissue in the villous placenta, is unknown. Virus may cross by infection of maternal cells that pass through physical breaches in the syncytiotrophoblast or by direct infection of the syncytiotrophoblast, with subsequent transmission to underlying fetal placental cells. In this study, we show that pure (>99.99%), long-term and healthy (>3 weeks) cultures of syncytiotrophoblasts are permissively infected with CMV. Greater than 99% of infectious progeny virus remained cell associated throughout culture periods up to 3 weeks. Infection of term trophoblasts required a higher virus inoculum, was less efficient, and progressed more slowly than parallel infections of placental and human embryonic lung fibroblasts. Three laboratory strains (AD169, Towne, and Davis) and a clinical isolate from a congenitally infected infant all permissively infected trophoblasts, although infection efficiencies varied. The infection of first trimester syncytiotrophoblasts with strain AD169 occurred at higher frequency and progressed more rapidly than infection of term cells but less efficiently and rapidly than infection of fibroblasts. These results show that villous syncytiotrophoblasts can be permissively infected by CMV but that the infection requires high virus titers and proceeds slowly and that progeny virus remains predominantly cell associated.
YBCO/Ag bulk material by melt crystalization for cryomagnetic applications

Based on thermoanalytic investigations a melt crystallization process was developed with reduced process temperatures and process times to produce YBCO/Ag monoliths (d=26 mm) achieving the homogenous distribution of small sized Ag inclusions. The mechanical properties are improved, but the superconducting properties at 77 K, B/sub 0/ (480 mT) and F/sub N/ (40 N) are slightly reduced compared with YBCO monoliths without an addition of Ag (750 mT and 65 N). The maximum trapped flux was increased to the value B/sub 0/ 9.4 T at 26.5 K, instead of 8.4 T in the Ag-free bulk monolith.
Assessment of acute pain and anxiety in children and adolescents by self-reports, observer reports, and a behavior checklist.

s: Manuscripts of regular articles must be accompanied by an abstract of 100-150 words. Manuscripts of Brief Reports must be accompanied by an abstract of 75-100 words. All abstracts must be typed on a separate sheet of paper. Brief Reports. The Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology will accept Brief Reports of research studies in clinical psychology. The procedure is intended to permit the publication of soundly designed studies of specialized interest or limited importance that cannot now be accepted as regular articles because of lack of space. Several pages in each issue will be devoted to Brief Reports, published in the order of their receipt without respect to the dates of receipt of the regular articles. An author who submits a Brief Report must agree not to submit the full report to another journal of general circulation. The Brief Report should give a clear, condensed summary of the procedure of the study and as full an account of the results as space permits. Brief Reports should be limited to two printed pages and prepared according to the following specifications: To ensure that a Brief Report does not exceed two printed pages, follow these instructions for typing: (a) Set typewriter to a 48-space line, (b) Type text, (c) Count all lines except abstract (75-100 words), title, and by-line, including acknowledgments. If you have exceeded 185 lines, shorten the material, (d) If your Brief Report barely exceeds 75 lines (one printed page), try to edit to 75 lines exactly. Reports slightly exceeding one page will be edited for length in order to use space economically. In Brief Reports, headings, tables, and references are avoided or, if essential, must be counted in the 75 or 185 lines. This journal no longer requires an extended report, but if one is available, the Brief Report must be accompanied by the following footnote: Requests for reprints and an extended report of this study should be sent to John Doe (give the author's full name and address). The footnote should be typed on a separate sheet and not counted in the 75-line quota. Submitting manuscripts. Manuscripts should be submitted in triplicate (the original and two photocopies), and all copies should be clear, readable, and on paper of good quality. Authors should keep a copy of the manuscript to guard against loss. Mail manuscripts to the Editor-elect, Alan E. Kazdin, Western Psychiatric Institute and Clinic, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, 3811 O'Hara Street, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15213.
Immunogenicity of two formulations of oral cholera vaccine comprised of killed whole vibrios and the B subunit of cholera toxin

Two formulations of oral cholera vaccine were evaluated for safety and immunogenicity in adult volunteers in Thailand, an area with sporadic cholera outbreaks. One formulation consisted of 2 x 10(11) killed vibrios and 5 mg of cholera toxin B subunit, as was previously evaluated in North American volunteers, and the other consisted of 1 x 10(11) killed vibrios and 1 mg of B subunit, as was recently evaluated in a field trial in Bangladesh. Three doses of each formulation were given with citrate-bicarbonate buffer. Neither formulation had adverse effects. The formulations stimulated similar serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and IgA responses to Vibrio cholerae lipopolysaccharide and cholera toxin and intestinal secretory IgA responses to lipopolysaccharide and toxin after three doses. The formulation containing twice the quantity of killed vibrios stimulated better vibriocidal responses, especially to Ogawa serotype. A formulation of oral vaccine containing more killed vibrios than were included in the vaccine studied in the Bangladesh field trial may provide greater protection against cholera.
Proteome and transcriptome profiles of a Her2/Neu‐driven mouse model of breast cancer

Purpose: We generated extensive transcriptional and proteomic profiles from a Her2‐driven mouse model of breast cancer that closely recapitulates human breast cancer. This report makes these data publicly available in raw and processed forms, as a resource to the community. Importantly, we previously made biospecimens from this same mouse model freely available through a sample repository, so researchers can obtain samples to test biological hypotheses without the need of breeding animals and collecting biospecimens.
Some Electromagnetic Limitations on the Number of Users in MU-MIMO Communication Systems

The aim of this letter is to analyze some physical limitations in the number of users that can be simultaneously served in multiuser multiple-input-multiple-output (MU-MIMO) communication systems with Zero-Forcing algorithm. The problem of MU-MIMO is reformulated as a spatial interpolation problem. The results show that the maximum number of users that can be simultaneously served with a reasonable signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) is limited by the number of degrees of freedom of the field. This is a further constraint that must be taken into account during the allocation of the resources among the MU-MIMO users.