Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Donor-Dependent Developmental Competence of Oocytes from Lambs Subjected to Repeated Hormonal Stimulation1

Abstract An unpredictability of ovarian response still remains the major problem concerning ovine reproductive programs. The influence of several environmental, genetic, and ovarian cycle effects on oocyte/embryo yield from donor females has been previously reported. The present research has been designed to exclude aforementioned causes of variability, thus to verify embryogenic competence in homogenous groups of animals. For this purpose we used prepubertal ewes kept under identical conditions. Initially, we stimulated three groups of prepubertal ewes at various ages and used a number of gonadotropin treatments to assess differences in oocyte competence between individuals. The results revealed the repeatability of response within individual donor lambs throughout the study. Moreover, once the variability in both oocyte and embryo yield between homogenous groups of donors was revealed alongside the influence of age and type of gonadotropin treatment (P < 0.001), we investigated whether the individual donor effect persisted among genetically similar animals. Therefore, we compared oocyte and subsequent embryo output of sibling lambs derived from the most efficient donor. Here the genetic homogeneity of sisters kept under identical conditions substantially improved the uniformity of either follicular response or embryo production, suggesting that the genotype plays a primary role in establishing follicular recruitment and developmental capability of oocytes. This observation consents to predict the ovarian performance from a single ewe already in early prepuberty (i.e., to qualify the female to breeding programs).
Multiple mechanisms of methicillin resistance and improved methods for detection in clinical isolates of Staphylococcus aureus

The mec gene of a number of clinical methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus isolates exhibiting a variety of heterogeneous expression modes was selectively inactivated by allelic replacement mutagenesis. While the resistance level of each of the transformants was reduced, the methicillin MIC for these transformants was well above the MIC for susceptible laboratory strains of S. aureus and was similar to the methicillin MIC for many contemporary clinical isolates which did not react with the mec-specific DNA probe but which showed a low or borderline level of resistance to methicillin. A number of those strains had no detectable beta-lactamase, and for about half of the isolates that did carry plasmid-borne beta-lactamase, elimination of the plasmid caused only partial reduction of the methicillin MIC or no reduction at all. The findings suggest that many contemporary strains of staphylococci harbor a combination of at least three distinct beta-lactam resistance mechanisms: (i) the mechanism related to the acquisition of the foreign mec gene and (ii) a beta-lactamase-dependent and (iii) a beta-lactamase-independent mechanism, each one of which can provide a certain degree of resistance against penicillinase-resistant beta-lactam antibiotics.
Compositional and stoichiometric analysis of Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin complexes in Caco‐2 cells and claudin 4 fibroblast transfectants

Clostridium perfringens enterotoxin (CPE) binds to host cell receptors, forming a small complex precursor for two large complexes reportedly having molecular masses of ∼155 or ∼200 kDa. Formation of the ∼155 kDa complex causes a Ca2+ influx that leads to apoptosis or oncosis. CPE complex composition is currently poorly understood, although occludin was identified in the ∼200 kDa complex. The current study used heteromer gel shift analysis to show both CPE large complexes contain six CPE molecules. Ferguson plots and size exclusion chromatography re‐sized the ∼155 and ∼200 kDa complexes as ∼425–500 kDa and ∼550–660 kDa respectively. Co‐immunoprecipitation and electroelution studies demonstrated both CPE‐binding and non‐CPE‐binding claudins are associated with all three CPE complexes in Caco‐2 cells and with small complex and ∼425–500 kDa complex of claudin 4 transfectants. Fibroblast transfectants expressing claudin 4 or C‐terminal truncated claudin 4 were CPE‐sensitive and formed the ∼425 kDa complex, indicating claudin‐induced cell signalling is not required for CPE action and that expression of a single receptor claudin suffices for ∼425–500 kDa CPE complex formation. These results identify CPE as a unique toxin that combines with tight junction proteins to form high‐molecular‐mass hexameric pores and alter membrane permeability.
Alterations in Platelet Function During Aging: Clinical Correlations with Thromboinflammatory Disease in Older Adults

Platelets have a dynamic functional repertoire that mediates hemostatic and inflammatory responses. Many of these functions are altered in older adults, promoting a prothrombotic, proinflammatory milieu and contributing to risk of adverse clinical events. Drawing primarily from human studies, this review summarizes important aspects of aging‐related changes in platelets. The relationship between altered platelet functions and thrombotic and inflammatory disorders in older adults is highlighted. Established and developing antiplatelet therapies for the treatment of thrombotic and inflammatory disorders are also discussed in light of these data.
Safety and quality as a "way of life" in the PICU: where does the morbidity and mortality conference fit in?*.

2306 www.ccmjournal. org October 2014 • Volume 42 • Number 10 In the ideal world, safe, high-quality healthcare would be delivered to all within an affordable budget. The reality is less than ideal with high healthcare-related morbidity and limited access to care despite considerable expenditure. If that situation is to improve, it is essential that physicians (and other healthcare workers) be prepared to acknowledge mistakes and change patterns of behavior. Morbidity and mortality conferences (MMCs)—in which physicians particularly have been challenged to reflect on what happened to patients in their care and whether they could have performed better—have been conducted for many decades after their origins in surgical practice (2). They are a requirement of the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) for residency programs (although specific requirements differ by discipline) and are recommended by the Institute of Medicine (3) but are not implemented in all hospitals across the United States. TBI management in place of individualizing therapy based on cerebral autoregulatory potential (11)? As mentioned previously, both barbiturate coma and DCH have their fair share of complications. In our quest to achieve the arbitrarily defined “optimum” ICP control, are we really subjecting our patients to unnecessary and potentially unsafe treatments?
Dynamics and significance of coagulase-negative staphylococcal intramammary infections.

Cows (n = 139) were sampled within 17 d postpartum and monthly thereafter to examine dynamics of mammary infections and relationships between infection status, milk yield, SCC, NAGase activity, and chloride concentration. Forty-eight and 67% of cows and 19.5 and 30.5% of quarters were infected at first test and lactation end, respectively, with 51% of all infections present at first test. Coagulase-negative staphylococci accounted for 67 and 65% of first test and total infections with 85% persisting to lactation end. Animals with coagulase-negative staphylococci infections had significantly elevated quarter SCC and NAGase activity and a decrease of 821 kg mature equivalent lactation milk production compared with uninfected animals. Clinical cases with no bacterial isolation or major pathogen infections were associated with significant elevations in bucket and quarter milk SCC, NAGase activity, chloride concentration in quarters, and a decrease of 1153 kg mature equivalent lactation milk production as compared with uninfected animals. Correlations between milk production and in SCC and ln NAGase and between ln SCC and ln NAGase were -. 15, -. 25, and . 55 (-.23, -.28, and .41 for first lactation only).
Compliance of the obstructed fetal rabbit bladder

We evaluated compliance in the developing bladder using a newly developed animal model of posterior urethral valves: partial infravesical obstruction in the fetal rabbit bladder. Partial bladder outlet obstruction was created in fetal rabbits at day 23 of a 31 to 32‐day gestation period. An in vitro whole bladder preparation provided data on compliance and an isolated bladder strip preparation provided data on the mechanical properties of the bladder wall. In addition, the influence of calcium on both preparations was evaluated.
Antibody response to phosphorylcholine in vitro. II. Analysis of T‐dependent and T‐independent responses

Spleen cells, from BALB/c mice primed with keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH), were stimulated with heat‐killed vaccine of rough Pneumococcus pneumoniae R36A (Pn) and/or phosphorylcholine (PC)‐coupled KLH to induce an anti‐PC response in vitro. The response to PC‐KLH was found to be T‐dependent while it is T‐independent to Pn. The antibodies induced with either antigen had similar avidity and expressed the TEPC 15 idiotype exclusively; thus T cell involvement in the response to PC‐KLH failed to alter these parameters of the anti‐PC response.
Elective single embryo transfer: Is frozen better than fresh?

OBJECTIVE Single embryo transfer (SET) has been recommended to avoid multiple births following assisted reproductive technology (ART) procedures. Many studies have shown that frozen embryo transfer may yield better pregnancy rates than fresh embryo transfer. This study looked into pregnancy rates following fresh versus frozen single embryo transfer procedures in age-matched patients. METHODS This retrospective case control study was carried out at a private clinic [NewLife Fertility Clinic, ON, Canada]. Patient groups included infertile women treated with IVF/ICSI and elective single embryo transfer (eSET) given either fresh or frozen embryos. Cycle outcomes were compared between patient groups matched by age. The primary endpoints were positive testing for ß-hCG and viable ongoing pregnancy. The secondary endpoints were live birth and miscarriage rates. RESULTS A total of 583 eSET cycles (212 fresh transfer cycles and 371 frozen transfer cycles) were performed. Significantly higher pregnancy and live birth rates were observed among patients aged ≤ 39 years given frozen embryos. CONCLUSION Frozen single embryo transfer was associated with higher pregnancy and live birth rates when compared to fresh single embryo transfer.
Linearity and Lagrange Linear Multiplicator in the Equations of Ordinary Kriging

The equations of Simple and Ordinary Kriging are compared to outline their differences in the estimation procedure. Emphasis is given to the Lagrange multiplicator as a variable that allows the minimization of variance in Ordinary Kriging. The matrices and linear systems of kriging, which are most often performed in the background of the computer mapping algorithm, are analyzed and presented in detail. The intention is to show the importance of geomathematics in one of the basic geological tasks, mapping. Furthermore, a detailed presentation of equation sets provides a better understanding of the Simple and Ordinary Kriging algorithms for geological engineers, as the two most-used geostatistical techniques (included Indicator Kriging as the third). The conclusion includes proposals, presented in four steps, for the determination of the Lagrange multiplicator value in any Ordinary Kriging equation.
Full Order Unknown Inputs Observer for Multiple Time-Delay Systems

Abstract In this paper, a design of a full-order observer for linear time-invariant (LTI) multivariable systems with multiple time-delays and unknown inputs (UI) is proposed. The main idea is to reduce the problem of the unknown input observer (UIO) for systems with multiple time-delays to that of a standard one. To that purpose, the orthogonal collocation method is used to transform the infinite dimensional model of the delayed system described by a set of linear partial differential equations (PDEs) to a finite dimensional one described by a set of linear ordinary differential equations (ODEs). Even using an approximation method, the asymptotic stability of the UIO is well proven. The efficiency of the proposed algorithm is shown using the quadruple-tank benchmark. The two cases of minimum and non-minimum phase models are considered.
Effects of Certain Degeneracies in the Predator-Prey Model

To demonstrate the influence of spatial heterogeneity on the predator-prey model, we study the effects of the partial vanishing of the nonnegative coefficient functions b(x) and e(x), respectively, in the steady-state predator-prey model {l} -d_1(x)\Delta u=\lambda a_1(x)u-b(x)u^2-c(x)uv,\\ -d_2(x)\Delta v=\mu a_2(x)c-e(x) v^2+d(x)uv, \end{array} \quad u|_{\partial \Omega}=v|_{\partial \Omega}=0, where all other coefficient functions are strictly positive over the bounded domain $\Omega$ in RN. Critical values of the parameter $\lambda$ are obtained to show that, in each case, the vanishing has little effect on the behavior of the model when $\lambda$ is below the critical value, while essential changes occur once $\lambda$ is beyond the critical value.
A 60-GHz CMOS Receiver with Frequency Synthesizer

A 60-GHz receiver (RX) chip fabricated in 90 nm CMOS process is reported. The RX chip consists of an LNA, a downconversion mixer and a phase-locked loop synthesizer. The RX chip is capable of generating LO signal from phase-locked synthesizer. Measured power gain and NF of 22 dB and 8.4 dB were obtained at 61.5 GHz. These results indicate the possibility of realization of CMOS single-chip 60-GHz transceiver.
Clinical teachers working in primary care: what would they like changed in the medical school?

INTRODUCTION General practitioners (GPs) working as clinical teachers are likely to influence medical students' level of community-based learning. This paper aimed to ascertain clinical teachers' views in relation to The University of Auckland about their clinical learning environment. METHOD A total of 34 clinical teachers working in primary care contributed to this study. To gauge their level of involvement in teaching and learning, the clinical teachers were asked about issues such as their confidence, available time, sufficient clinical learning opportunities, clear learning objectives to teach students and what they would like changed. FINDINGS The GPs appeared confident, felt there were sufficient learning opportunities for students and that their students were part of the team. Less experienced teachers expressed less confidence than more experienced peers. There was some hesitancy in terms of coping with time and feedback. Some clinical teachers were unclear about the learning objectives presented to students. CONCLUSION Several issues that emerged--including available time and financial rewards--are difficult to resolve. Curriculum and selection are evolving issues requiring constant monitoring and alignment with increasing numbers of students studying medicine, increased ethical awareness, more diverse teaching systems and more advanced technologies. Non-faculty clinicians need adequate representation on curriculum committees and involvement in clinical education initiatives. Issues of cultural competency and professional development were raised, suggesting the need for more established links between university and GPs.
PDMS waveguide integrated microfluidic chip for the detection of fluorophore tagged polypeptides

This work presents a novel method of fabrication of an optical microfluidic system by using polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and UV curable optical adhesive. An optical waveguide system including multiple waveguides and couplers were integrated with a microfluidic system by using soft lithography process. The developed LOC was demonstrated for the detection of fluorophore tagged polypeptides.
Influence of the Seat Arrangement in Public Reading Spaces on Individual Subjective Perceptions

— This study involves a design proposal. The objective of is to create a seat arrangement model for public reading spaces that enable free arrangement without disturbing the users. Through a subjective perception scale, this study explored whether distance between seats and direction of seats influence individual subjective perceptions in a public reading space. This study also involves analysis of user subjective perceptions when reading in the settings on 3 seats at different directions and with 5 distances between seats. The results may be applied to public chair design. This study investigated that (a) whether different directions of seats and distances between seats influence individual subjective perceptions and (b) the acceptable personal space between 2 strangers in a public reading space. The results are shown as follows: (a) the directions of seats and distances between seats influenced individual subjective perceptions. (b) subjective evaluation scores were higher for back-to-back seat directions with Distances A (10cm) and B (62cm) compared with face-to-face and side-by-side seat directions; however, when the seat distance exceeded 114cm (Distance C), no difference existed among the directions of seats. (c) regarding reading in public spaces, when the distance between seats is 10cm only, we recommend arranging the seats in a back-to-back fashion to increase user comfort and arrangement of face-to-face and side- by-side seat directions should be avoided. When the seat arrangement is limited to face-to-face design, the distance between seats should be increased to at least 62cm. Moreover, the distance between seats should be increased to at least 114cm for side- by-side seats to elevate user comfort.
Genome-Wide Analysis of the Core DNA Replication Machinery in the Higher Plants Arabidopsis and Rice1[W][OA]

Core DNA replication proteins mediate the initiation, elongation, and Okazaki fragment maturation functions of DNA replication. Although this process is generally conserved in eukaryotes, important differences in the molecular architecture of the DNA replication machine and the function of individual subunits have been reported in various model systems. We have combined genome-wide bioinformatic analyses of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) and rice (Oryza sativa) with published experimental data to provide a comprehensive view of the core DNA replication machinery in plants. Many components identified in this analysis have not been studied previously in plant systems, including the GINS (go ichi ni san) complex (PSF1, PSF2, PSF3, and SLD5), MCM8, MCM9, MCM10, NOC3, POLA2, POLA3, POLA4, POLD3, POLD4, and RNASEH2. Our results indicate that the core DNA replication machinery from plants is more similar to vertebrates than single-celled yeasts (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), suggesting that animal models may be more relevant to plant systems. However, we also uncovered some important differences between plants and vertebrate machinery. For example, we did not identify geminin or RNASEH1 genes in plants. Our analyses also indicate that plants may be unique among eukaryotes in that they have multiple copies of numerous core DNA replication genes. This finding raises the question of whether specialized functions have evolved in some cases. This analysis establishes that the core DNA replication machinery is highly conserved across plant species and displays many features in common with other eukaryotes and some characteristics that are unique to plants.
Pension Funds and the Principles for Responsible Investment: Multiplying Stakeholder Salience?

From a simple idea to unite pension funds in their quest for responsible investment at its launch in April 2006, the United Nations supported Principles for Responsible Investment (PRI) have grown in just one decade into an initiative with more than 1,500 fee paying signatories. These signatories consist of asset owners (e.g. pension funds, charities), the asset managers that serve them and service providers to both groups. Jointly, the PRI’s signatories hold over $60 trillion in assets under management, which makes PRI into one of the more prevalent non-for-profit organisations worldwide. This paper undertakes an empirical investigation of the stakeholder relationships PRI and its asset owner signatories during five crucial years of PRI’s emergence: 2007-2011. Guided by stakeholder salience theory, we explore the factors that drive asset owners to subscribe to PRI. Using a variety of public data sources, we overcomes the limitation of self-reported data qualifying the findings of Majoch et al. (2016). We find that for asset owners the most salient factors are utilitarian power, societal and pragmatic legitimacy, management values, and coalition building though the relevance of individual factor is not static but evolves over time with PRI’s emergence.
The hematopoietic and epithelial forms of CD44 are distinct polypeptides with different adhesion potentials for hyaluronate‐bearing cells.

CD44 is a polymorphic integral membrane protein which recognizes hyaluronate and whose proposed roles encompass lymphocyte activation, matrix adhesion and the attachment of lymphocytes to lymph node high endothelial venules (HEVs). Immunochemical and RNA blot data have supported the existence of two forms of CD44: a hematopoietic form expressed by cells of mesodermal origin (and by some carcinoma cell lines) and an epithelial form weakly expressed by normal epithelium but highly expressed by carcinomas. This report describes the isolation of a cDNA encoding a distinct CD44 polypeptide expressed by epithelial cells. Re‐expression of each form of CD44 in a B cell line allowed cells transfected with the hematopoietic but not the epithelial form to bind to viable rat lymph node HEV cells in primary culture.
Comparison of gluon flux-tube distributions for quark-diquark and quark-antiquark hadrons

The distribution of gluon fields in hadrons is of fundamental interest in QCD. Using lattice QCD we have observed the formation of gluon flux tubes within three-quark (baryon) and quark plus antiquark (meson) systems for a wide variety of spatial distributions of the color sources. In particular we have investigated three-quark configurations where two of the quarks are close together and the third quark is some distance away, which approximates a quark plus diquark string. We find that the string tension of the quark-diquark string is the same as that of the quark-antiquark string on the same lattice. We also compare the longitudinal and transverse profiles of the gluon flux tubes for both sets of strings, and find them to be of similar radii and to have similar vacuum suppression.
300,000 species to identify: problems, progress, and prospects in DNA barcoding of land plants

DNA barcodes have been successfully applied to a limited number of animal groups with the application of the mitochondrial gene, cytochrome c oxidase subunit 1. Recently two DNA regions, the plastid trnH-psbA spacer and nuclear ribosomal ITS region, have been shown to have potential as an identification barcode for land plants, although with some significant drawbacks. The ideal barcode should be relatively short in length (∼700 bp), more variable between than within species, and easily amplifiable with universal primers. Building on current success, ongoing investigations are searching for the best barcode to apply to all land plants. Once established, a plant barcode may be effectively used in biodiversity inventories, conservation assessments, and applied forensic investigations. Advances in sequencing technology and the completion of the DNA barcode library have the potential to provide the public with increased access to information about the natural world.