Comment on "Spatial optical solitons in highly nonlocal media" and related papers

In a recent paper [A. Alberucci, C. Jisha, N. Smyth, and G. Assanto, Phys. Rev. A 91, 013841 (2015)], Alberucci et al. have studied the propagation of bright spatial solitary waves in highly nonlocal media. We find that the main results in that and related papers, concerning soliton shape and dynamics, based on the accessible soliton (AS) approximation, are incorrect; the correct results have already been published by others. These and other inconsistencies in the paper follow from the problems in applying the AS approximation in earlier papers by the group that propagated to the later papers. The accessible soliton theory cannot describe accurately the features and dynamics of solitons in highly nonlocal media.Comment: 2 page

Metabolic acclimation to heat stress in farm housed Holstein cows with different body condition scores

The aim of this study was to determine the effects of body condition score to metabolic acclimation in heat stressed Holstein cows. Body condition of cows had no effect on any of the tested parameters during the thermal neutral period, except for the percentage of protein in milk. Heat stress has been demonstrated to have an impact on all the selected parameters, and has been found to be the cause of decreased milk production and quality, increased rectal temperature and respiration rate, decreased glucose, non esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and cholesterol concentration, increased urea and bilirubin concentration, and loss of subcutaneous fat. Obese cows (BCS>4) had less ability of acclimation to heat stress as compared to normal and thin cows (significantly lower production and milk quality, and significantly higher rectal temperature and respiration level in relation to the other groups of cows). Obese cows showed a significantly higher concentration of NEFA and significantly lower glucose during exposure to heat stress. The steady increase in NEFA concentrations and decrease of backfat thickness suggested that fat was used for energy purposes, which significantly increased the heat balance and led to poor acclimation to heat stress in obese cows. Cows with high body condition were at higher risk of developing liver failure and lipidosis (reduced cholesterol and elevated bilirubin concentration) during heat stress, which could be linked with increased concentrations of fatty acids in the blood. This was found with an increased concentration of urea during exposure to heat stress, with significantly higher concentration in obese cows. Using the fat for energy purposes depends on the sensitivity to insulin, which increases during heat stress. Obese cows are naturally less sensitive to insulin and more prone to lipolysis. However, these signs should be the focus of future research.Key words: Body condition score, heat stress, metabolic status, cow

Relationship Between Endocrine Profile, Energy Balance and Milk Yield in Dairy Cows During Lactation

The objective of the present study was to investigate relationship between endocrine profile with energy balance (EB) and milk yield (MY) in Simmental dairy cows during lactation. Fifteen late pregnant cows, 15 early lactation cows and 15 mid lactation cows were chosen for the analysis. Blood samples were collected to measure growth hormone (GH), insulin, triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4). Early lactation cows were found to have higher blood serum concentrations of GH (p0.05), T3 (p0.05) compared to dry and mid lactation cows. Insulin and thyroid hormones were in positive correlation with EB (p<0.05), and in negative correlation with MY (nonsignificant). GH was in positive correlation with MY (p<0.05), but in negative correlation with EB (nonsignificant). Relationship between hormones showed significant positive correlation between insulin and thyroid hormones. These relations are not principaly determinated by EB or MY. Negative correlations between insulin or thyroid hormones with GH were observed. These relations are principaly determinated by EB or MY

Postural stability – a comparison between rowers and field sport athletes

Postural stability (PS) is an important function for maintaining equilibrium during periods of standing still, locomotion, and any motor activities that require high degree of balance. High PS is essential in different sports for the regulation of voluntary movement and for improving athletic physical condition and performance. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to compare the static PS of elite rowing athletes and field sport athletes. Methods: A total of 90 elite athletes (age: 23.9 ± 1.97 years; body height: 174.9 ± 8.9 cm; body weight: 67.7 ± 12.03 kg) were divided into Rowing (N = 47) and Field sport (N = 43) athlete groups. Static PS parameters were assessed with a static double-leg and single-leg standing stability test on a force plate platform. Results: The multivariate analysis of variance showed a general stability difference between the groups (F = 13.255; P ≤ 0.0001), in double leg stability (F = 16.735; P ≤ 0.0001), and left leg (F = 15.097; P ≤ 0.0001) stability parameters. When analyzing variables separately, significant statistical differences were observed in favor of the Rowing group in double leg sway area (p = 0.017; ES = −0.07), double leg center of force (COF) traveled way (p ≤ 0.0001; ES = −27.42), length function of surface (p ≤ 0.0001; ES = −26.86), right leg ML displacement (p = 0.030; ES = −0.46), left leg sway area (p = 0.030; ES = −0.44), left leg COF traveled way (p ≤ 0.0001; ES = −60.63), left leg AP displacement (p = 0.043; ES = −0.44). Conclusion: These results underline the differences in rowing and field sport athletes in terms of static PS. The characteristics of sport and competition may affect PS, and it is important to adjust training modalities for the required level of PS in every sport, especially in rowing

Influence of Blood and Milk Selenium Concentration on Somatic Cell Count in Early and Mid Lactation

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of selenium concentration in blood and milk in early lactation on somatic cell count. The average selenium concentration in the blood serum was 0.62 ± 0.11 μmol/l and in the milk serum 0.61 ± 0.07 μmol/l. Optimal blood selenium concentrations were found in 19 cows and suboptimal concentrations in 11 cows. Optimal milk selenium concentration was found in 14 cows and suboptimal in 16 cows. The average milk production per cow was 23.12 ± 3.1 liters / day and the average somatic cell count in the first and sixth months of lactation was 5.34 ± 5 (log transformed) and 5.12 ± 4.9, respectively. Blood selenium concentration correlated negatively with milk somatic cell count in early and mid lactation. The classification of cows based on blood selenium concentration gave results which suggested that selenium-deficient cows had a significantly higher somatic cell count in early lactation (the first month) and mid lactation (the sixth month). Blood selenium is an important predictor of milk somatic cell count. Somatic cell count in milk is not dependent upon selenium concentration in milk or interaction blood×milk selenium. Selenium concentration is not in connection with milk production

Whole-genome plasma sequencing reveals focal amplifications as a driving force in metastatic prostate cancer

Genomic alterations in metastatic prostate cancer remain incompletely characterized. Here we analyse 493 prostate cancer cases from the TCGA database and perform whole-genome plasma sequencing on 95 plasma samples derived from 43 patients with metastatic prostate cancer. From these samples, we identify established driver aberrations in a cancer-related gene in nearly all cases (97.7%), including driver gene fusions (TMPRSS2:ERG), driver focal deletions (PTEN, RYBP and SHQ1) and driver amplifications (AR and MYC). In serial plasma analyses, we observe changes in focal amplifications in 40% of cases. The mean time interval between new amplifications was 26.4 weeks (range: 5–52 weeks), suggesting that they represent rapid adaptations to selection pressure. An increase in neuron-specific enolase is accompanied by clonal pattern changes in the tumour genome, most consistent with subclonal diversification of the tumour. Our findings suggest a high plasticity of prostate cancer genomes with newly occurring focal amplifications as a driving force in progression