Reductions, resolutions and the copolarity of isometric group actions

Wir verallgemeinern Strukturresultate für Reduktionen und die Kopolarität beliebiger isometrischer Gruppenwirkungen, die von Gorodski, Olmos und Tojeiro für orthogonale Darstellungen gezeigt wurden. Ferner beweisen wir eine Integrationsformel für isometrische Gruppenwirkungen, konstruieren globale Auflösungen isometrischer Gruppenwirkungen bezüglich dicker Schnitte, und zeigen, wie Reduktionen benutzt werden können um variationelle Vollständigkeit zu untersuchen. Wir berechnen auch detailliert Reduktionen von speziellen isometrischen Gruppenwirkungen. We generalize structural results on reductions and the copolarity of arbitrary isometric group actions, which were established by Gorodski, Olmos and Tojeiro in the case of orthogonal representations. Furthermore, we prove an integration formula for isometric group actions, construct global resolutions of isometric actions with respect to fat sections, and show how reductions can be used to study variational completeness. We also compute in detail reductions of special isometric actions

The effect of metritis on luteal function in dairy cows

BACKGROUND: Disturbed uterine involution impairs ovarian function in the first weeks after calving. This study analyzed the long-term effect of metritis on luteal function of 47 lactating Holstein-Friesian cows during the first four postpartum estrous cycles. Cows with abnormal uterine enlargement and malodorous lochia were classified as having metritis (group M, n = 18), and all others were considered healthy (group H, n = 29). Luteal size was measured once between days 9 and 13 of the first (group H, n = 11; group M, n = 12), second (group H, n = 23; group M, n = 18) and fourth (group H, n = 11; group M, n = 7) postpartum luteal phases. Serum progesterone concentration was measured at the same time. Sixteen cows (group H, n = 9; group M, n = 7) underwent transvaginal luteal biopsy for gene expression analysis of steroidogenic regulatory proteins during the second and fourth cycles. Cows with persistence of the corpus luteum (CL) underwent determination of luteal size, luteal biopsy and serum progesterone measurement once between days 29 and 33, followed by prostaglandin treatment to induce luteolysis. The same procedures were repeated once between days 9 and 13 of the induced cycle. RESULTS: The cows in group M had smaller first-cycle CLs than the cows in group H (p = 0.04), but progesterone concentrations did not differ between groups. Luteal size, progesterone concentration and gene expression did not differ between the two groups during the second and fourth cycles. Compared with healthy cows (10%), there was a trend (p = 0.07) toward a higher prevalence of persistent CLs in cows with metritis (33%). Persistent CLs were limited to the first cycle. Persistent CLs and the induced cyclic CLs did not differ with regard to the variables investigated. CONCLUSIONS: An effect of metritis on luteal activity was apparent in the first postpartum estrous cycle. However, after the first postpartum cycle, no differences occurred in analyzed parameters between metritis and control cows. Therefore, a metritis is able to impair luteal activity transiently, but does not seem to have a long-term effect on luteal function

Effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and peptidoglycan (PGN) on estradiol production in bovine granulosa cells from small and large follicles

In cows, postpartum uterine infection due to bacteria that produce lipopolysaccharide (LPS) or peptidoglycan (PGN) leads to ovarian dysfunction. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of LPS and/or PGN on estradiol production from granulosa cells from small and large follicles in the bovine ovary. Granulosa cells from small and large ovarian follicles were exposed to LPS and/or PGN in vitro. LPS inhibited the expression of TLR4, CD14, MD2 and NOD1 genes in FSH-treated granulosa cells from small follicles. LPS suppressed estradiol (E2) production in granulosa cells from small and large follicles, while PGN inhibited E2 production in granulosa cells from large follicles. LPS or PGN did not affect granulosa cell survival. Although LPS alone suppressed E2 production in granulosa cells from small and large follicles, E2 production was not further suppressed when PGN was added to culture medium with LPS alone. Our data demonstrated that susceptibility to LPS or PGN in granulosa cells depends on the follicle developmental stage. The results of the present study suggest that ovarian dysfunction in cows with postpartum uterine infection may be caused by inhibitory effects of LPS and PGN on E2 production in granulosa cells

Effects of exogenous oxytocin on uterine blood flow in puerperal dairy cows: The impact of days after parturition and retained fetal membranes

The objective of this study was to examine whether an oxytocin challenge test (OCT), evaluated by measuring the changes in uterine blood flow using transrectal colour Doppler ultrasonography, is a suitable non-invasive method to determine uterine contractility in puerperal dairy cows. The changes in uterine blood flow during uterine contractions induced by oxytocin were evaluated on days 2 and 5 postpartum (pp). Twelve clinically healthy Holstein cows were randomly assigned into two groups: (1) oxytocin group (n=7), 50IU oxytocin injected IM and (2) control group (n=5), 5mL saline injected IM. Blood flow volume (BFV) and pulsatility index (PI) in the uterine arteries were determined before and after injection for 120min on days 2 and 5 pp. BFV declined and PI increased rapidly after oxytocin injection on day 2 (P<0.05), whereas oxytocin on day 5 pp did not cause changes in blood flow parameters. The result confirmed that uterine responsiveness to oxytocin decreases with time postpartum in healthy cows. The same OCT was applied in cows with retained fetal membranes (n=6) on day 2 pp, however uterine blood flow showed no change after oxytocin injection. The results showed that an OCT on day 2 pp may be a useful method for investigating the uterine contractile response to oxytocin (reflected as the decrease of uterine blood flow) and the potential pathophysiology of uterine involution in cows

Proceedings of the first international symposium on underground freight transportation by capsule pipelines & other tube/tunnel systems

The purpose of this symposium is to bring the key players and stakeholders of capsule pipelines together from around the world not only to share experiences and research findings, but also to plan the future of capsule pipelines, in order to accelerate commercial use of various types of capsule pipelines. The five specific objectives of this Symposium are: 1. Review state-of-the-art and recent developments in the field of capsule pipelines. 2. Share research findings among researchers. 3. Bring stakeholders together to plan for the future of capsule pipelines. 4. Bring attention to the capability of capsule pipelines as an environmentally friendly, new mode of freight transport for the future. 5. Organize a worldwide network (coalition) to promote and accelerate commercial use of capsule pipelines.Workshop recommendations -- Opening remarks -- Keynote speech : "selling the underground pipe dream," -- Program -- Short course program -- Individual papers. "Capsule pipeline technologies : current status and potential future use" ; "Recent developments in coal log pipeline technology" ; ''Electrical capsule pipeline system for freight transportation" ; ''The technical & economic feasibility of tube freight transportation systems" ; "Review of past and current research and use of capsule pipelines in Japan" ; "Pneumatic capsule pipelines in japan and future developments" ; "Electromagnetic pipeline transport systems for the phosphate industry" ; "Use of linear induction motors for pumping capsules in pneumatic capsule pipelines (PCP)" ; "Corridor selection in Texas as part of a freight pipeline feasibility study" ; ''Underground freight transport in urban areas" ; "OLS-Schiphol, a pilot study for automated underground freight transport in the Netherlands" ; "The continued potential for pneumatic capsule pipeline systems in North America" ; "Transportation of goods through pipelines-a comprehensive study" ; "Megaships, megaports and landside access problems in the U.S. port industry-an opportunity for freight pipelines" ; "Tube freight system risk assessment" ; "Underground goods distribution in the city of Leiden : the results of a feasibility study" ; "Analysis of pneumatic capsule pipeline systems with bends" -- Luncheon speaker: "The pneumatic mail tubes: New York's hidden highway and its development" -- Panel discussion on need for UFT -- Participants roster