Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relationships between the plasma concentrations of insulin-like growth factor-I in dairy cows and their fertility and milk yield

The relationships between insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and the fertility and milk yield of Holstein-Friesian dairy cows were investigated. The concentration of IGF-I in blood was measured weekly from one week before to 12 weeks after calving in 177 multiparous cows and at four times during this period in 142 primiparous cows; the concentration of IGF-I in milk was measured in 50 of the multiparous cows. The plasma concentrations of IGF-I were higher in the primiparous than in the multiparous animals. In the primiparous cows, high concentrations of IGF-I before calving were associated with longer calving to conception intervals. Conversely, in the multiparous cows low concentrations of IGF-1 before and after calving were associated with a failure to conceive, despite repeated services. Multiparous cows with IGF-I concentrations of greater than 25 ng/ml in the week after calving were 11 times more likely to conceive to first service than those with lower concentrations. Concentrations of IGF-I greater than 50 ng/ml at first service increased the likelihood of conception five-fold. Cows with higher peak milk yields had lower plasma concentrations of IGF-I and took longer to return to ovarian cyclicity. The negative relationship between milk yield and return to cyclicity was stronger in the multiparous cows (P<0˙002) than in the primiparous cows (P<0˙04). The concentrations of IGF-I in milk followed a different pattern and were not associated with the changes in plasma IGF-I or fertility.
A Semianalytical Matching Approach for Power Amplifier With Extended Chebyshev Function and Real Frequency Technique

In this paper, an extended Chebyshev function is proposed to adapt the matching condition of the power amplifier (PA) by introducing a new factor. A set of impedance functions can be directly calculated along with the variation of a new variable, and the first element extracted from the functions is distributed in a wide range. In addition, the impedance function whose first element is the closest to the output capacitance of the transistor can be easily read out and selected as the original matching network. The fundamental impedance of the selected function will be reached a good matching state, and the impedances out of band will be on the edge of Smith chart. To achieve better performances, the real frequency technique is applied to adjust the harmonic impedances preventing it from falling into the low-efficiency region. Two PAs with a relative bandwidth of 34% and 75% are implemented to validate the proposed approach.
A resources allocation algorithm based on media task QoS in cloud computing

Consider service satisfaction of multitask in cloud media, a resources allocation algorithm based on Media Task QoS (RAMTQ) is put forward. Firstly, according to media task features, QoS weight vector and expected resources vector are obtained; then we work out resources similarity vector between alternative resources and expected resources by linear normalization, further to obtain the service satisfaction by Euclidean distance; finally, the resources corresponding to the maximum service satisfaction are allocated. The simulation illustrates the effectiveness of the algorithm.
Differential Expression of Aggrecanase and Matrix Metalloproteinase Activity in Chondrocytes Isolated from Bovine and Porcine Articular Cartilage*

The release of aggrecan catabolites from cartilage is an early event in the pathogenesis of degenerative joint diseases. The enzymes involved in this process are unknown, controversial, and the subject of intense investigation. In this paper we have utilized a recombinant substrate containing the interglobular domain (IGD) of aggrecan to study specifically aggrecanaseversus matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) catabolism in this domain of aggrecan. Our studies have shown that (i) there are species differences in the expression of latent versus active MMP activity on the aggrecan IGD; (ii) interleukin-1α exposure induces both aggrecanase and MMP activities, whereas retinoic acid induces only aggrecanase activity and inhibits the MMP activity on the aggrecan IGD; (iii) activators of latent MMP activity (p-aminophenylmercuric acetate and trypsin) significantly reduce aggrecanase activity; (iv) the time course of the appearance of aggrecanase versus the MMP catabolism of aggrecan IGD differs; (v) aggrecanase is a protease with metalloprotease characteristics; however (vi) the physiological (tissue) inhibitors of MMPs show weak inhibition (TIMP-1) or no inhibition (TIMP-2) of aggrecanase activity. Collectively, these studies show that aggrecanase and MMP catabolism of the aggrecan IGD are independent and uncoupled.
Ageing and the Diurnal Expression of the mRNAs for Vasopressin and for the V1a and V1b Vasopressin Receptors in the Suprachiasmatic Nucleus of Male Rats

Changes in the function of neuropeptide synthesizing cells within the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), the site of the predominant circadian pacemaker, may underlie the disturbance of rhythms observed during ageing. Arginine vasopressin (AVP) is synthesized by nearly one‐third of SCN neurones in the rat. This peptide has predominantly excitatory actions within the SCN mediated by V1‐type receptors; the extent to which the V1a and/or V1b receptor subtypes are involved in SCN functions remains to be determined. The present study used isotopic in situ hybridization histochemistry to examine the effects of ageing on expression of mRNAs for AVP and V1a in the SCN and for V1b in the SCN and supraoptic nucleus (SON) of male rats kept under a 12 : 12 h light/dark cycle. Analysis of film autoradiographs from young adult (2–3‐month‐old; n = 40) or aged (19–20‐month‐old; n = 40) animals, at eight time points across the light/dark cycle, revealed an equivalent pattern and amplitude for the diurnal rhythm of AVP mRNA in the SCN of the young adult and aged groups. Both groups also displayed a significant diurnal rhythm in the expression of V1a receptor mRNA; however, the amplitude of this rhythm was reduced in the aged group, due to increased levels during the light phase and early part of night. Although the expression of V1b mRNA did not display a significant diurnal rhythm within the SCN or SON, persistently elevated levels for V1b mRNA were observed in the aged group at both sites.
A Model of Expe tation E(cid:11)e ts in Inferior Temporal Cortex

Preliminary experimental data suggests that primate inferior temporal ortex implements an automati me hanism of expe tation: inter-stimulus delay a tivity often in reases or de reases monotoni ally. The slope of the a tivity is su h that the maximum/minimum is always rea hed at the time of the onset of the se ond stimulus, adapting to the length of the interval. This me hanism ould play an important role for a variety of neural omputations that a t on a time s ale of a few se onds. We developed a model that reprodu es su h monotoni ally in reasing a tivity by making use of short-term synapti fa ilitation and network e(cid:11)e ts.
Specific expression of ezrin, a cytoskeletal‐membrane linker protein, in a subset of chick retinotectal and sensory projections

Lamina‐specific neuronal connections are a fundamental feature in many parts of the vertebrate central nervous system. In the chick, the optic tectum is the primary visual centre, and it has a multilaminated structure consisting of 15 laminae, of which only three or four receive retinal projections. Each of the retinorecipient laminae establishes synaptic connections selectively from one of a few subsets of retinal ganglion cells (RGCs). We have generated a series of monoclonal antibodies that appear to stain only one of the retinorecipient laminae. One of these, TB4, stained lamina F which receives inputs from a subpopulation of ≈ 10–20% of RGCs which express the presynaptic acetylcholine receptor β2‐subunit. TB4 recognized a single 79‐kDa protein on immunoblotting. cDNA cloning and immunochemical analysis revealed that the TB4 antigen molecule was ezrin, a cytoskeletal‐membrane linker molecule belonging to the ezrin‐radixin‐moesin family. Unilateral enucleation of the eye, both prior to and after the establishment of retinotectal projections, attenuated the lamina‐selective staining with TB4 in the contralateral tectum, suggesting that ezrin is anterogradely transported from RGCs to lamina F. Ezrin was thus expressed in a subset of RGCs that project to lamina F. Similar subset‐selective expression and resultant lamina‐selective distribution of ezrin were also observed in the lamina‐specific central projections from the dorsal root ganglia. The staining pattern with TB4 in the dorsal root ganglia and spinal cord indicated that high expression of ezrin was restricted in cutaneous sensory neurons, but not in muscle sensory neurons. Since ezrin modulates cell morphology and cell adhesion profiles by linking membrane proteins with the cytoskeleton, it was suggested that ezrin is involved in the formation and/or maintenance of lamina‐specific connections for neuronal subpopulations in the visual and somatosensory systems.
Obesity and Reproduction

Obesity is associated with multiple interrelated disorders such as insulin resistance/diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, sleep apnea all contributing collectively to the diagnosis of a metabolic syndrome, that reduces life expectancy (Flegal et al., 2013). Metabolic changes in obesity may also affect reproduction. In women, obesity is associated with a higher incidence of ovulatory disorders and idiopathic infertility (ASRM, 2015). On the other hand, obese women under treatment for infertility may face additional problems, such as the need for higher doses of drugs to induce/stimulate ovulation, oocyte morphological changes, reduction in fertilization and implantation rates, and embryo quality (ASRM, 2015; Provost et al., 2016). Compared to women of normal body weight, obese women submitted to IVF may present reduced rates of clinical pregnancy and live births, with an increased rate of abortion (Provost et al., 2016). In addition, obese pregnant women have a higher incidence of maternal and fetal complications, such as gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy and increased perinatal morbidity/mortality (Aune et al., 2014). With respect to men, male obesity has been linked to reduced rates of pregnancy and live births (Campbell et al., 2015). However, studies on specific relationships between semen parameters and obesity have been contradictory. Although different studies have shown correlations between increased obesity and changes in sperm parameters, although selectively (MacDonald et al., 2010, Sermondade et al., 2013, Campbell et al., 2015), others did not report adverse effects (Bandel et al., 2015). On the other hand, recent studies point to a negative association between body weight and the very integrity of sperm DNA (Fariello et al., 2012; Taha et al., 2016); however, these results are not unanimous (Bandel et al., 2015; Campbell et al., 2015). Spermatogenesis requires a controlled testicular environment and intact endocrine signaling through the hypothalamic-pituitary-testicle axis; and the impact of obesity on fertility can be attributed mainly to the endocrine mechanisms that alter this relationship (MacDonald et al., 2010; Fariello et al. 2012; ASRM, 2015). Moreover, the preferential buildup of toxic substances and fat-soluble endocrine disruptors in adipose tissue, and hyperthermia resulting from the buildup of adipose tissue around the scrotum cause oxidative stress to the testes, thus broadening these alterations (Fariello et al., 2012; Sermondade et al., 2013, Taha et al., 2016). In conclusion, even considering the controversies, weighty reduction and lifestyle interventions should be included in the recommendations to obese infertile couples.
Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy measurements of elemental release from 2 high-palladium dental casting alloys into a corrosion testing medium.

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM The biocompatibility of high-palladium alloy restorations has been of some concern due to the release of palladium into the oral environment and sensitivity reactions in patients. PURPOSE This study measured the in vitro elemental release from a Pd-Cu-Ga alloy and a Pd-Ga alloy into a corrosion testing medium. MATERIAL AND METHODS Both alloys were cast into 12-mm-diameter x 1-mm-thick disks, subjected to heat treatment that simulated porcelain firing cycles, polished to a 0.05-mm surface finish, and ultrasonically cleaned in ethanol. Two specimens of each alloy were immersed 3 times (at 7, 70, and 700 hours) in an aqueous lactic acid/NaCl solution used for in vitro corrosion testing and maintained at 37 degrees C. The specimens were removed after each immersion time, and the elemental compositions of the solutions were analyzed with inductively coupled plasma-mass spectroscopy (ICP-MS). Elemental concentrations for the 2 alloys at each immersion time were compared with Student t test (alpha=.05). RESULTS No significant differences in palladium release were found for the 7- and 70-hour solutions, but significant differences were found for the 700-hour solutions. Mean concentrations of palladium and gallium in the 700-hour solutions, expressed as mass per unit area of alloy surface, were 97 (Pd) and 46 (Ga) microg/cm(2) for the Pd-Cu-Ga alloy and 5 (Pd) and 18 (Ga) microg/cm(2) for the Pd-Ga alloy. CONCLUSION Relative proportions of the elements in the solutions were consistent with the release of palladium and breakdown of microstructural phases found in the alloys. The results suggest that there may be a lower risk of adverse biological reactions with the Pd-Ga alloy than with the Pd-Cu-Ga alloy tested.
Development of OLED with high stability and luminance efficiency by co-doping methods for full color displays

We propose co-doping systems in emission layers of red and green organic light-emitting diodes (OLEDs). The luminance-voltage, luminous and power efficiency-voltage characteristics, operational stability, and the energy bands of materials were measured. In red OLED devices, we propose an emitting assist (EA) dopant for better luminance efficiency and power efficiency with pure red emission and improved operational stability. The EA dopant (rubrene) did not emit itself but assisted the energy transfer from a host (Alq) to an emitting dopant (DCJTB). By doping rubrene, the luminance efficiency increased from 1.7 to 4.3 cd/A (from 0.6 to 1.9 lm/W) with chromaticity of (x=0.64, y=0.36) unchanged. An improved lifetime was also observed. In green OLED devices, we introduced hole transporting material (NPB) into an emission layer for better charge injection balance. The green devices with the emitting dopant (C545T) achieved the luminance efficiency of 8.5 cd/A compared with 6.9 cd/A without NPB. We studied the co-doping methods and use of this approach for active-matrix full color display. The power consumption of white emission at 100 cd/m/sup 2/ was reduced by 32%. The effectiveness of these co-doping methods was demonstrated for practical applications.
Clinician-patient communication to enhance health outcomes.

Medication adherence usually refers to whether patients take their medications as prescribed (eg, twice daily), as well as whether they continue to take a prescribed medication. Medication non adherence is a growing concern to clinicians, healthcare systems, and other stakeholders (eg, payers) because of mounting evidence that it is prevalent and associated with adverse outcomes and higher costs of care. To date, measurement of patient medication adherence and use of interventions to improve adherence are rare in routine clinical practice. The goals of the present report are to address (1) different methods of measuring adherence, (2) the prevalence of medication non adherence, (3) the association between non adherence and outcomes, (4) the reasons for non adherence, and finally, (5) interventions to improve medication adherence. Hojat M, Gonnella JS, Nasca TJ, Mangione S, Vergare M, & Magee M. (2002). Physician empathy: Definition, components, measurement, and relationship to gender and specialty. The American Journal of Psychiatry, 159(9) 1563-1569. OBJECTIVE: There is a dearth of empirical research on physician empathy despite its mediating role in patient-physician relationships and clinical outcomes. This study was designed to investigate the components of physician empathy, its measurement properties, and group differences in empathy scores. METHOD: A revised version of the Jefferson Scale of Physician Empathy (with 20 Likert-type items) was mailed to 1,007 physicians affiliated with the Jefferson Health System in the greater Philadelphia region; 704 (70%) responded. Construct validity, reliability of the empathy scale, and the differences on mean empathy scores by physicians’ gender and specialty were examined. RESULTS: Three meaningful factors emerged (perspective taking, compassionate care, and standing
Along-Track Motion Compensation for Strip-Map SAR Based on Resampling

The airborne or vehicle-based SARs are very vulnerable to the influences of airflows or road conditions so as to deviate from the predicted trajectory, which undermines the uniformity of the azimuth sampling. As a result, the SAR image quality can get impaired in varying degrees. Since the SAR systems are sensible to the track deviation, the motion compensation (MOCO) algorithms are always applied as pre-processing of SAR raw data. In this paper, mainly with regard to the motion error caused by the forward velocity variation, a 'resampling MOCO' algorithm is proposed as an auxiliary of the widely used bulk MOCO. The simulation result has verified that the performance of the fundamental bulk MOCO algorithm is greatly improved utilizing the proposed method.
Further experience with the syndrome of "normal" pressure hydrocephalus.

D URING the past 10 years, it has become possible to separate from the large number of adults with dementia a small group whose symptoms are related to normal pressure hydrocephalus. The typical early clinical picture is characterized by the gradual development over weeks to months of mild impairment of memory, physical and mental slowness, unsteadiness of gait, and urinary incontinence. With the patient lying on his side, the CSF pressure measured in the lumbar subarachnoid space is less than 180 mm of water. Pneumoencephalography (P EG) reveals marked ventricular enlargement and, in classic cases, a lack of filling of the subarachnoid space over the cerebral convexities. Following this procedure, there is often a marked increase in the symptoms and signs. Improvement follows a shunt operation. This report analyzes our surgical experience with a total of 28 cases, including five previously reported.l,2, 9
Interscalene brachial plexus block combined with total intravenous anaesthesia and laryngeal mask airway for shoulder surgery

angle a catheter had to pas to get mto the right position; however. after clinical expenence we learned that such introduction is not impossible. The technical device consists of the catheter set Contiplex' D and nerve somulator S m u p l e f l HNS 11 (B. Braun Co. Melsugen, Germany). Indicauons for the continuous VIB t e c h q u e mclude postoperaove pain reliefand chromc p a n relief (c.g. complex regonal pain syndrome). Local anaathencs and dosage are: 40 ml pnlocaine 1% plus 10 ml ropivacamc 0.75 % (intra-operauvely); 15-20 ml ropivacvne 0.2% (single shot); 4 ml (-10 ml) h-' ropivacaine 0.2% (conunuously). Local anaesthetics are administered only if penpheral muscle contractions (preferably supphed by postenor f;ucicle) arc observed on nerve sumulauon of at least 0.3 m h . After injection of about three-quarters of the intended total local anaathenc, the m e t stimukuon cannula is removed and the catheter is advanced to about 5 cm into the nerve plexus compartment. Then the remainder ofthc anaatheac IS injected and the catheter i s 6xed on the skin in the subclavian region for connnuous application. The catheter may be used for as long as n o s i p of idammanon become evident. Because of its advantages the verticalinfraclaviculu blockade has become the most commonly applied technique in upper extremity r e g i o d anaesthesia in our hospital. Moreover, handling of continuous administration of local anaestheuc d r u p has been much simplified since 100 ml and 200 nil b a p of ropivacaine 0.2% are available for electronic motor infusion systems. Further Reading 1 Kulenkrmpff I ) . Anicthmie da Plexus hrarhialis. i.mhcllbhrrJ~r C h t n g r 191 1: 8: 1337-50. Itinchel (;. D i e Anisthesicrung da I'lcxui hrrchialis hci Opcrationcn der ohnen Exwemitic. Mwuh Mrdizin Wwhrwhnfi l ' j l l . 58: 1SSS-6. IkJong l t l t . Axillrry hlock of the hrxhul plcxuc Anrrrhmn&w 1'3f11; 22: 215-25. Winnic AP. Ckllmc VJ. The suklavun pcrivrsculrr technique of brachial plexus mnthnir. Annrhritokr~ 1064; 25: 35.3(13 I h j 1'1'. Moncgomcry SJ. Ncnlcs I). Jcnkinc MT. Infraclvicuhr hrrchial plcxrii hlcwk. r ncw approach. Anrsrhrdrr and Aw(pia 1073; s2: R W ' W . Kilka t l ( ; , (;eiyrr P. Mchrkcns H-H. the inhrclrviculrre Illcrkadc drr Plexus hrrchulic Andsdirsirr 1WS; 44: 339-14. 2
Three-dimensional quantitative high-frequency characterization of freshly-excised human lymph nodes

High-frequency quantitative ultrasound (QUS) permits characterization of tissue microstructure using system-independent estimates. In this study, freshly-excised lymph nodes from cancer patients were evaluated using specifically designed three-dimensional (3D) QUS methods. The long-term objective was to develop 3D QUS methods for detecting metastases. Detection of metastases is critically important for cancer staging and treatment planning. A custom laboratory scanning system was used to acquire radio-frequency (RF) data in 3D from excised lymph nodes using a 26-MHz center-frequency transducer. Overlapping 1-mm cylindrical regions-of-interest (ROIs) of the RF data were processed to yield 13 QUS estimates associated with tissue microstructure. QUS estimates were obtained from more than 250 nodes from more than 150 colorectal-, gastric-, and breast-cancer patients. Cancer-detection performance was assessed for individual estimates and linear combinations of estimates. ROC results demonstrated excellent classification. For colorectal- and gastric-cancer nodes, the areas under the ROC curves (AUCs) were above 0.94. Slightly poorer results (AUC 0.87) were obtained for breast nodes. Images based on QUS parameters also permitted localization of cancer foci in some micrometastatic cases. Therefore, these advanced 3D QUS methods potentially can be valuable for detecting small metastatic foci in dissected lymph nodes.
Psychopathology in the offspring of anxiety disorders patients.

Recherche des caracteristiques des enfants dont les parents souffrent d'anxiete pathologique: par rapport aux groupes-controle, ils sont plus anxieux et craintifs, ont plus de difficultes scolaires, expriment davantage de soucis personnels ou familiaux et de plaintes somatiques et enfin, ils sont plus souvent occupes a des activites solitaires