bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect of Inter‐Breed Embryo Transfer on Lamb Growing Performance and Survival
Authors: Emsen E , Diaz CAG , Yaprak M , Koycegiz F , Kutluca M , Emsen H 
Published: December 2008

ContentsThe roles of recipient and embryo genotype in determining the growth performance and survivability of offspring based on specific behavioural differences were investigated using inter‐breed embryo transfer. This study was carried out using three recipient genotypes (Awassi, Redkaraman and Tuj) and two embryo genotypes (Charollais and Romanov) to obtain the six possible combinations of ewe and lamb genotypes. Data were collected from 71 recipient ewes (10 Redkaraman with Charollais and 15 Redkaraman with Romanov embryos; 10 Tuj with Charollais and 12 Tuj with Romanov embryos, and 12 Awassi with Charollais lambs and 12 Awassi with Romanov embryos); all ewes received two frozen‐thawed embryos. Awassi ewes had a significantly longer duration of the licking/grooming event (25.5 min, p < 0.05) than Tuj ewes. Charollais lambs were significantly (p < 0.05) more likely to require birth assistance compared to Romanov lambs. Romanov lambs were significantly more (p < 0.01) active than Charollais lambs in the first 2 h after birth; ewe breed had no effect on lamb behaviour. There was no recipient breed effect on either birth or weaning weights of lambs. Charollais lambs were recorded with higher birth (5.5 ± 0.3 kg vs 3.9 ± 0.2 kg; p < 0.001) and weaning (29.4 ± 1.2 kg vs 22.4 ± 1.9 kg; p < 0.001) weights compared to Romanov lambs. At weaning Romanov lambs had significantly higher (95% vs 75%; p < 0.05) survival rates, however, this was not significantly affected by recipient breed. It was concluded that recipient breed was not an important factor in survival and weaning performance of embryo transferred lambs from a prolific breed (Romanov) while these traits recorded for lambs from meat type (Charollais) embryos were influenced by dam breed.
Generation and Characterization of Embryonic Stem‐Like Cell Lines Derived from In Vitro Fertilization Buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) Embryos
Authors: Huang B , Li T , Wang X‐L , Xie T‐S , Lu Y‐Q , Da Silva FM , Shi D‐S 
Published: December 2008

ContentsIn the present study, buffalo embryonic stem‐like (ES‐like) cell lines were successfully isolated, cultured and characterized. From a total of 92 normal buffalo embryos obtained by in vitro fertilization, 18 were morulae, 33 were blastocyst and 41 were hatched blastocyst, the inside of morulae or inner cell masses of blastocysts were isolated mechanically and cultured onto mitomocin‐C‐inactivated buffalo embryonic fibroblasts as feeder layers. Alkaline phosphatase (AP) of ES‐like cells, as well as the specific stage embryonic antigen SSEA‐1, SSEA‐3, SSEA‐4 and transcription factor OCT‐4, was used to evaluate the characterization of the cells. The spontaneous differentiation of ES‐like cells was induced by culturing on leukaemia inhibitory factor‐free medium for more than 2 weeks without passage. To evaluate mark gene expression, total RNA was extracted from cells, and specific primers were used for reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction (RT‐PCR). After 8–10 days of culture, primary ES‐like cell colonies were formed in 0% (0/18) of morulae, 24.24% (8/33) of blastocysts and 60.98% (25/41) of hatched blastocysts, respectively. The forming rate of primary ES‐like cells colonies in hatched blastocyst group was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than the obtained for other groups. Two ES‐like cell lines could survive to eight passages at least by using the method of mechanical dissociation, but just three passages by using the method of enzymatic dissociation. The cells formed large, multicellular colonies with distinct boundaries, exhibited many important features of ES/ES‐like cells, including positive AP, SSEA‐1, SSEA‐3 and SSEA‐4 activity. Undifferentiated buffalo ES‐like cells expressed Oct‐4, Nanog, Sox2 gene mRNA. In vitro differentiation experiments had demonstrated that those cells were pluripotent.
PROPHYLACTIC PANCREAS STENTING FOLLOWED BY NEEDLE‐KNIFE FISTULOTOMY IN PATIENTS WITH SPHINCTER OF ODDI DYSFUNCTION AND DIFFICULT CANNULATION: NEW METHOD TO PREVENT POST‐ERCP PANCREATITIS
Authors: Madácsy László , Kurucsai Gábor , Fejes Roland , Székely András , Székely Iván 
Published: December 2008

Introduction:  The aim of the present study was to reduce post‐endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) complications with a combination of early needle‐knife access fistulotomy and prophylactic pancreatic stenting in selected high‐risk sphincter of Oddi dysfunction (SOD) patients with difficult cannulation.Methods:  Prophylactic pancreatic stent insertion was attempted in 22 consecutive patients with definite SOD and difficult cannulation. After 10 min of failed selective common bile duct cannulation, but repeated (>5×) pancreatic duct contrast filling, a prophylactic small calibre (3–5 Fr) pancreatic stent was inserted, followed by fistulotomy with a standard needle‐knife, then a standard complete biliary sphincterotomy followed. The success and complication rates were compared retrospectively with a cohort of 35 patients, in which we persisted with the application of standard methods of cannulation without pre‐cutting methods.Results:  Prophylactic pancreatic stenting followed by needle‐knife fistulotomy was successfully carried out in all 22 consecutive patients, and selective biliary cannulation and complete endoscopic sphincterotomy were achieved in all but two cases. In this group, not a single case of post‐ERCP pancreatitis was observed, in contrast with a control group of three mild, 10 moderate and two severe post‐ERCP pancreatitis cases. The frequency of post‐ERCP pancreatitis was significantly different: 0% versus 43%, as were the post‐procedure (24 h mean) amylase levels: 206 U/L versus 1959 U/L, respectively.Conclusions:  In selected, high‐risk, SOD patients, early, prophylactic pancreas stent insertion followed by needle‐knife fistulotomy seems a safe and effective procedure with no or only minimal risk of post‐ERCP pancreatitis. However, prospective, randomized studies are awaited to lend to support to our approach.
Invasion of renal sinus fat is not an independent predictor of survival in pT3a renal cell carcinoma
Authors: Poon Stephen A. , Gonzalez Joshua R. , Benson Mitchell C. , McKiernan James M. 
Published: December 2008

OBJECTIVETo clarify the significance of the location of extrarenal tumour extension of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) as in the 2002 Tumour‐Nodes‐Metastasis classification. Renal cortical tumours with perirenal fat invasion (PFI) or sinus fat invasion (SFI) are consolidated within the pT3a grouping; tumours with SFI are close to the renal veins, lymphatics and the collecting system. This might carry a worse prognosis for disease‐specific survival (DSS), but reports are limited and contradictory.PATIENTS AND METHODSWe retrospectively reviewed 1244 patients treated with nephrectomy from 1988 to 2007, to identify patients with pT3a renal tumours. They were classified as having PFI or SFI. Kaplan‐Meier analysis and Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to assess predictors of survival.RESULTSThe 230 patients who met the inclusion criteria had a median follow‐up of 24 months. SFI was found in 63 (27.4%) patients and was associated with a worse 5‐year DSS than the 167 (72.6%) with PFI (62.5% vs 75.0%; log rank P = 0.022). On univariate analysis, diameter (hazard ratio, HR 1.1), nuclear grade (HR 4.5), margin status (HR 5.8), lymph node metastases (HR 6.4), and systemic metastases (HR 15.4) were significant for DSS. In a multivariate model, only nuclear grade (HR 3.1), margin status (HR 8.9) and systemic metastases (HR 9.8) were independent predictors.CONCLUSIONPatients with renal tumours with SFI are more likely to die from RCC than those with PFI. However, in the present patients the presence of SFI was not an independent predictor of DSS.
Clinical staging error in prostate cancer: localization and relevance of undetected tumour areas
Authors: Bolenz Christian , Gierth Michael , Grobholz Rainer , Köpke Thomas , Semjonow Axel , Weiss Christel , Alken Peter , Michel Maurice Stephan , Trojan Lutz 
Published: December 2008

OBJECTIVETo describe the localization and to assess the clinical implications of areas of undetected prostate cancer in radical prostatectomy (RP) specimens, focusing on patients with unilaterally negative preoperative biopsy cores.PATIENTS AND METHODSThe study included 149 of 559 consecutive patients (26.7%) who had RP for prostate cancer. Unilateral prostate cancer was diagnosed from prostate biopsies, taken by several physicians, but ≥ pT2c disease was present in the RP specimen. The prostate was dissected by standardized transversal cuts and tumour areas were mapped by one genitourinary pathologist. To estimate the tumour size and location, areas of prostate cancer were transferred to a digital grid database representing the prostate by 794 units.RESULTSThe most frequent location of undetected prostate cancer was in the dorsalateral region and in the apex of the prostate. The mean tumour volume of the false‐negative lobe was significantly lower than contralaterally (18.9 vs 47.5 units, P < 0.001). In 36 of 149 patients (24.2%), the tumour volume on the negative biopsy side was equal or higher than on the positive biopsy side; in the final RP specimen, 60 patients (40.3%) had capsular involvement on the negative biopsy side.CONCLUSIONSignificantly many patients with newly diagnosed prostate cancer remain clinically understaged. The apical and dorsolateral region of the prostate are not adequately represented in current biopsy strategies. Undetected tumour areas are often clinically significant by size and capsular involvement, indicating a direct clinical implication when planning nerve‐sparing RP or focal therapy. Our results show a continuing need for optimized and standardized biopsy protocols.
Pretreatment with low‐energy shock waves induces renal vasoconstriction during standard shock wave lithotripsy (SWL): a treatment protocol known to reduce SWL‐induced renal injury
Authors: Handa Rajash K. , Bailey Michael R. , Paun Marla , Gao Sujuan , Connors Bret A. , Willis Lynn R. , Evan Andrew P. 
Published: December 2008

OBJECTIVETo test the hypothesis that the pretreatment of the kidney with low‐energy shock waves (SWs) will induce renal vasoconstriction sooner than a standard clinical dose of high‐energy SWs, thus providing a potential mechanism by which the pretreatment SW lithotripsy (SWL) protocol reduces tissue injury.MATERIALS AND METHODSFemale farm pigs (6‐weeks‐old) were anaesthetized with isoflurane and the lower pole of the right kidney treated with SWs using a conventional electrohydraulic lithotripter (HM3, Dornier GmbH, Germany). Pulsed Doppler ultrasonography was used to measure renal resistive index (RI) in blood vessels as a measure of resistance/impedance to blood flow. RI was recorded from one intralobar artery located in the targeted pole of the kidney, and measurements taken from pigs given sham SW treatment (Group 1; no SWs, four pigs), a standard clinical dose of high‐energy SWs (Group 2; 2000 SWs, 24 kV, 120 SWs/min, seven pigs), low‐energy SW pretreatment followed by high‐energy SWL (Group 3; 500 SWs, 12 kV, 120 SWs/min + 2000 SWs, 24 kV, 120 SWs/min, eight pigs) and low‐energy SW pretreatment alone (Group 4; 500 SWs, 12 kV, 120 SWs/min, six pigs).RESULTSBaseline RI (≈0.61) was similar for all groups. Pigs receiving sham SW treatment (Group 1) had no significant change in RI. A standard clinical dose of high‐energy SWs (Group 2) did not significantly alter RI during treatment, but did increase RI at 45 min after SWL. Low‐energy SWs did not alter RI in Group 3 pigs, but subsequent treatment with a standard clinical dose of high‐energy SWs resulted in a significantly earlier (at 1000 SWs) and greater (two‐fold) rise in RI than that in Group 2 pigs. This rise in RI during the low/high‐energy SWL protocol was not due to a delayed vasoconstrictor response of pretreatment, as low‐energy SW treatment alone (Group 4) did not increase RI until 65 min after SWL.CONCLUSIONSThe pretreatment protocol induces renal vasoconstriction during the period of SW application whereas the standard protocol shows vasoconstriction occurring after SWL. Thus, the earlier and greater rise in RI during the pretreatment protocol may be causally associated with a reduction in tissue injury.
Behavioral genetic analyses of prosocial behavior in adolescents
Authors: Gregory Alice M. , Light‐Häusermann Jade H. , Rijsdijk Frühling , Eley Thalia C. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractProsocial behavior is an important aspect of normal social and psychological development. Adult and child twin studies typically estimate the heritability of prosocial behavior to be between 30 and 50%, although relatively little is known about genetic and environmental influences upon prosocial behavior in adolescence. We therefore examined reports of prosocial behavior in a large longitudinal family study of 1160 adolescent twin pairs (aged between 13 and 19 years). Prosocial behavior was assessed at two time points by self‐report and at the second time point by additional parent‐ratings using the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ;Goodman, 1997). Adolescent females were reported to be significantly more prosocial than males (p <.001). Univariate analyses primarily showed moderate heritability and large nonshared environmental influences. There was a moderate genetic correlation between self‐ and parent‐reported prosocial behaviour, suggesting that both types of rater were tapping into genetically overlapping constructs. Longitudinal analyses revealed that continuity was largely explained by genes. Unique environmental influences were predominantly time‐specific and were the major source of individual differences.
Adult brains don't fully overcome biases that lead to incorrect performance during cognitive development: an fMRI study in young adults completing a Piaget‐like task
Authors: Leroux Gaëlle , Spiess Jeanne , Zago Laure , Rossi Sandrine , Lubin Amélie , Turbelin Marie‐Renée , Mazoyer Bernard , Tzourio‐Mazoyer Nathalie , Houdé Olivier , Joliot Marc 
Published: December 2008

AbstractA current issue in developmental science is that greater continuity in cognition between children and adults may exist than is usually appreciated in Piaget‐like (stages or ‘staircase’) models. This phenomenon has been demonstrated at the behavioural level, but never at the brain level. Here we show with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), for the first time, that adult brains do not fully overcome the biases of childhood. More specifically, the aim of this fMRI study was to evaluate whether the perceptual bias that leads to incorrect performance during cognitive development in a Piaget‐like task is still a bias in the adult brain and hence requires an executive network to overcome it. Here, we compared two numerical‐judgment tasks, one being a Piaget‐like task with number–length interference (called ‘INT’) and the other being a control task with number–length covariation (‘COV’). We also used a colour‐detection task to control for stimuli numerosity, spatial distribution, and frequency. Our behavioural results confirmed that INT remains a difficult task for young adults. Indeed, response times were significantly higher in INT than in COV. Moreover, we observed that only in INT did response times increase linearly as a function of the number of items. The fMRI results indicate that the brain network common to INT and COV shows a large rightward functional asymmetry, emphasizing the visuospatial nature of these two tasks. When INT was compared with COV, activations were found within a right frontal network, including the pre‐supplementary motor area, the anterior cingulate cortex, and the middle frontal gyrus, which probably reflect detection of the number/length conflict and inhibition of the ‘length‐equals‐number’ response strategy. Finally, activations related to visuospatial and quantitative processing, enhanced or specifically recruited in the Piaget‐like task, were found in bilateral posterior areas.
Clinical features of 36 cases of amelanotic melanomas and considerations about the relationship between histologic subtypes and diagnostic delay
Authors: Gualandri L , Betti R , Crosti C 
Published: December 2008

AbstractBackground  Amelanotic melanomas (AM) are a difficult diagnostic challenge for clinicians.Objective  To consider the clinical presentation of AM, the histologic subtypes involved, the relationship with the diagnostic delay and the possible involvement in overall prognosis.Patients/Methods  Patients who were observed in our department to be affected by cutaneous melanomas were recorded. Sex, age, the clinical features, the site of presentation, the suspected diagnosis, the clinical course, the histological type, the Clark level and the Breslow thickness were recorded. AM were divided in three main clinical types: an erythematous macule or patch on sun‐exposed skin, a dermal plaque or nodule without a particular epidermal change, an exophytic nodule. Only pure AM were considered.Histological subtypes considered were superficial spreading melanoma, nodular melanoma, and lentigo maligna melanoma. Diagnostic delay considered from when the patients first noticed the lesion on the site where the melanoma was diagnosed and when the physician or the patient first proposed the removal was recorded. The chi‐squared test was used for statistical evaluation with P < 0.05 as level of significance.Results  Thirty‐six cases of AM out of a total of 500 melanomas (7.2%) were collected. The most frequent morphology of clinical presentation was the papulo‐nodular form, followed by the plaque form. Mean Breslow thickness of AM was 1.72 mm compared to 0.61 mm of pigmented cases. Nodular histotype was highly represented in AM (30.5% of cases) with respect to pigmented nodular melanomas (2.9%). The diagnostic delay did not differ between amelanotic and pigmented melanomas, nor between nodular AM and nodular pigmented melanomas.Conclusion  The great prevalence of clinical and histological nodular cases, the higher mean Breslow thickness (considered as the most important factor of prognosis) of AM compared with a not significant greater diagnostic delay may point out that a good percentage of AM have an intrinsic faster speed of growth with a worse prognosis irrespectively of the diagnostic performance. The importance of educational campaign for patient and physicians is stressed.Conflicts of interestNone declared
Determining the zone of reflection for posterior corneal surface comparison phakometry
Authors: Carkeet Andrew 
Published: December 2008

AbstractAlthough comparison phakometry has been used by a number of studies to measure posterior corneal shape, these studies have not calculated the size of the posterior corneal zones of reflection they assessed. This paper develops paraxial equations for calculating posterior corneal zones of reflection, based on standard keratometry equations and equivalent mirror theory. For targets used in previous studies, posterior corneal reflection zone sizes were calculated using paraxial equations and using exact ray tracing, assuming spherical and aspheric corneal surfaces. Paraxial methods and exact ray tracing methods give similar estimates for reflection zone sizes less than 2 mm, but for larger zone sizes ray tracing methods should be used.
Optical dispensing: the science of vision or blind faith?
Authors: Walsh Glyn 
Published: December 2008

AbstractThe evidence for the basic optometric function of optical dispensing is discussed in terms of the basic principles of scientific debate. The degree of rigour applied to product testing and evaluation of most other medically related areas is lacking in the dispensing of spectacles. There has been much debate on the place of religious faith in our society. Religious belief masquerading as science has come in for particular scrutiny. However, little attention has been paid to the equally contentious issue of non‐religious belief, within scientific disciplines, masquerading as science. It could be argued that optical dispensing is, to a significant degree, such a case.
A defensive maximal covering problem on a network
Authors: Berman O. , Drezner T. , Drezner Z. , Wesolowsky G. O. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractConsider a situation where p facilities need to be located by a leader, on the nodes of a network, to provide maximum coverage of demand generated at nodes of the network. At some point in the future it is expected that one of the links of the network will become unusable either due to a terrorist attack or a natural disaster (by the follower). The follower's objective is which link to remove. The leader's objective is to cover the most demand following such a damage to a link. The problem is formulated and analyzed from the leader's perspective. An efficient approach to solving the follower's problem is constructed. The leader's problem is solved heuristically by an ascent algorithm, simulated annealing, and tabu search, using the efficient algorithm for the solution of the follower's problem. Computational experiments on 40 test problems ranging between 100 and 900 nodes and 5–200 facilities provided good results.
Determinants of operational efficiencies in the Indian pharmaceutical industry
Authors: Saranga Haritha , Phani B. V. 
Published: December 2008

AbstractOperational efficiencies of a firm play a crucial role in determining the survival and growth of a firm, especially when the industry is going through a dynamic structural transformation owing to external changes. In this paper, we explore the effect of managerial and strategic parameters on the degree of operational efficiency achieved by a firm in the Indian pharmaceutical industry using data envelopment analysis (DEA). During the period 1992–2002, the relaxation of import restrictions and foreign direct investment, along with a major change in the regulatory norms, resulted in increased competition from firms with superior resources in this industry. We use non‐parametric DEA models and parametric methods such as regression analysis to determine the factors that have contributed to the internal operational efficiencies of these firms. The findings indicate that domestic firms, most of which are controlled by family‐based governance structures, enjoy higher efficiencies than affiliates of multinational pharmaceutical majors. After controlling for firm size and initial efficiency levels, we find that firms with higher levels of innovation through higher R&D investments and older establishments are associated with higher efficiencies, when compared with their less R&D intensive and younger counterparts, respectively.