Corpus luteum blood flow evaluation on Day 21 to improve the management of embryo recipient herds

AbstractThe aim of the present study was to use blood flow evaluation of the CL at 14 days after embryo transfer to detect nonpregnant animals and optimize the management of bovine recipients. The estrous cycle was synchronized in 165 recipients, and the day of expected ovulation was considered to be Day 0. Embryo transfer was performed 7 days later, on Day 7. On Day 21, pregnancy was diagnosed on the basis of blood flow evaluation of the CL (DG21—predictive diagnostic). To validate this methodology, visual scores for blood flow were compared to objective data extracted from CL ultrasound images recorded in the Doppler mode. The size was also evaluated using recorded images of the CL in the B mode. Blood samples were also collected for further analysis of the progesterone (P4) concentration. The diagnosis of pregnancy was confirmed at 35 days after estrus (DG35—definitive diagnostic). The DG21 showed that 55.2% (90 of 163) of the animals were presumptively pregnant, and this value was higher (P < 0.04) than that obtained at DG35 (43.6%, 71 of 163). The predictive diagnostic achieved moderate specificity (79.3%) for the detection of pregnancy, but most importantly, high sensitivity (100%) for the detection of nonpregnant recipients. The overall accuracy of the diagnosis was 88.3%. The P4 concentrations were different (P < 0.02) and correlated with each visual score assigned for the CL size. Visual scores for CL blood flow were also efficient (P < 0.0001) to distinguish animals with different levels of P4; however, P4 concentrations were higher for scores 1 and 2 (high and regular blood flow, respectively) than those for score 3 (low blood flow). This technique showed high sensitivity and facilitated the early detection of nonpregnant animals. The DG21 would allow about 79.3% of nonpregnant animals to be resynchronized 9 to 14 days earlier, when compared to conventional management based on pregnancy diagnosis at Days 30 to 35

25th-order high-temperature expansion results for three-dimensional Ising-like systems on the simple cubic lattice

25th-order high-temperature series are computed for a general nearest-neighbor three-dimensional Ising model with arbitrary potential on the simple cubic lattice. In particular, we consider three improved potentials characterized by suppressed leading scaling corrections. Critical exponents are extracted from high-temperature series specialized to improved potentials, obtaining $\gamma=1.2373(2)$, $\nu=0.63012(16)$, $\alpha=0.1096(5)$, $\eta=0.03639(15)$, $\beta=0.32653(10)$, $\delta=4.7893(8)$. Moreover, biased analyses of the 25th-order series of the standard Ising model provide the estimate $\Delta=0.52(3)$ for the exponent associated with the leading scaling corrections. By the same technique, we study the small-magnetization expansion of the Helmholtz free energy. The results are then applied to the construction of parametric representations of the critical equation of state, using a systematic approach based on a global stationarity condition. Accurate estimates of several universal amplitude ratios are also presented.Comment: 40 pages, 15 figure

Characterization of the virulence, growth temperature and antibiotic resistance of the Campylobacter jejuni IAL 2383 strain isolated from humans

The objective of this study was to characterize the C. jejuni IAL2383 strain isolated from humans in Brazil. Transcripts for the racR, dnaJ and ciaB genes were found and flaA, plda and cadF genes were present in the genome and bacteria was sensitive to most of the important antimicrobials used to treat humans. C. jejuni IAL2383 is a good experimental model to analyze the interactions with cells

High-precision determination of the critical exponents for the lambda-transition of 4He by improved high-temperature expansion

We determine the critical exponents for the XY universality class in three dimensions, which is expected to describe the $\lambda$-transition in ${}^4$He. They are obtained from the analysis of high-temperature series computed for a two-component $\lambda\phi^4$ model. The parameter $\lambda$ is fixed such that the leading corrections to scaling vanish. We obtain $\nu = 0.67166(55)$, $\gamma = 1.3179(11)$, $\alpha=-0.0150(17)$. These estimates improve previous theoretical determinations and agree with the more precise experimental results for liquid Helium.Comment: 8 pages, revte

Verificación de la precipitación estimada con información satelital y terrestre en un balance hidrológico

PosterEl modelo de Balance Hidrológico Operativo para el Agro (BHOA, Fernández Long et al., 2012) constituye una herramienta fundamental para la decisión de manejo del sector agrícola, principalmente porque contribuye al monitoreo diario del almacenaje de agua del suelo, representando su variabilidad temporal en forma operativa (Fernández Long et al., 2018). Su desempeño fue evaluado como satisfactorio al compararlo con mediciones de humedad del suelo realizadas in situ en varios trabajos anteriores (Veliz et al., 2014; Veliz et al., 2016; Gattinoni et al., 2017). La baja densidad de estaciones meteorológicas en Argentina es una fuerte limitante en la estimación de modelos que utilizan la precipitación como variable de entrada principal (Fernández Long et al., 2018). Esta problemática propone grandes desafíos, orientados al desarrollo de nuevas y mejores técnicas de interpolación de los datos observados. Adicionalmente, en los últimos años, la creciente disponibilidad de información satelital ha contribuido a mejorar el conocimiento de la distribución espacial de la precipitación. Sin embargo, dicha información debe ser suministrada en forma operativa y debe contar con una validación con información de campo, con el objetivo de conocer los sesgos asociados a la estimación para cada región. En el año 2015, la Universidad de California puso a disposición un producto que combina información satelital y climatología de los datos provenientes de las estaciones meteorológicas, conocido como CHIRP (por sus siglas en inglés de Precipitación Infrarroja del Grupo de Amenazas Climáticas). La misma base de datos, con la posterior corrección con datos observados (CHIRPS), constituye una mejora sobre CHIRP pero con la desventaja de no ser operativa (Funk et al., 2015). El objetivo de este trabajo es evaluar la información resultante del BHOA a partir de información CHIRP y CHIRPS, comparándolas con la serie de datos proveniente del sensor de humedad del suelo instalado en la localidad de Venado Tuerto en la provincia de Santa Fe. Se espera que este análisis contribuya a una mejora en la decisión y elección adecuada de la fuente de datos para la estimación del perfil de agua del suelo.Fil: Bontempi, M.E. Servicio Meteorológico Nacional; ArgentinaFil: Rossi Lopardo, M.S. Servicio Meteorológico Nacional; ArgentinaFil: Fernández Long, M.E. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Agronomía. Cátedra de Climatología; ArgentinaFil: Spennemann, P.C. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. Servicio Meteorológico Nacional; Argentina Universidad Nacional de Tres de Febrero; ArgentinaFil: Gattinoni, Natalia N. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Instituto de Clima y Agua; Argentin

Efeito da utilização de acaricidas em citros, sobre a população de Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes, 1939) e ácaros predadores (Phytoseiidae)

The experiment was carried out in order to study the effects of some acaricides on Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes,1939) (Acari,Tenuipalpidae) and predatory mites (Phytoseiidae) hi citrus. The products tested and dosages in g AI/ 100 / of water were: fenpyroximate (5.0), acrinathrin (0.5), hexythiazox (1.5), amitraz (40.0) and sulphur (225.0). The acaricides fenpyroximate, acrinathrin and hexythiazox were efficient against B. phoenicis up to 127 days from the application date, whereas sulphur and amitraz presented good control up to 92 days and 58 days after treatment, respectively. Hexythiazox was fairly innocuous to predatory mites but, the remaining acaricides caused significant mortality to these mites. The pesticides sulphur, fenpyroximate and acrinathrin induced reductions of the population of phytoseid mites up to 58 days, but amitraz showed reductions up to 92 days after application.Foi conduzido experimento com o objetivo de estudar o efeito de alguns acaricidas sobre Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes,1939) (AcarirTenuipalpidae) e ácaros predadores (Phytoseiidae), em citros. Os produtos testados e as dosagens em g i.a./100 / de água foram: fenpyroximate (5,0), acrinathrin (0,5); hexythiazox (1,5); amitraz (40,0) e enxofre (225,0). Os acaricidas fenpyroximate, acrinathrin e hexythiazox foram eficientes contra B. phoenicis até 127 dias após a aplicação, enquanto que, o enxofre e o amitraz apresentaram bom controle até 92 e 58 dias após o tratamento, respectivamente. O hexythiazox foi praticamente inócuo aos ácaros predadores mas os demais acaricidas foram significativamente prejudiciais a estes ácaros. Os produtos enxofre, fenpyroximate e acrinathrin induziram reduções na população de fitoseíídeos até 58 dias, porém o amitraz apresentou reduções até 92 dias após a pulverização

Efeito da utilização de acaricidas em citros, sobre a população de Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes, 1939) e ácaros predadores (Phytoseiidae)

The experiment was carried out in order to study the effects of some acaricides on Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes,1939) (Acari,Tenuipalpidae) and predatory mites (Phytoseiidae) hi citrus. The products tested and dosages in g AI/ 100 / of water were: fenpyroximate (5.0), acrinathrin (0.5), hexythiazox (1.5), amitraz (40.0) and sulphur (225.0). The acaricides fenpyroximate, acrinathrin and hexythiazox were efficient against B. phoenicis up to 127 days from the application date, whereas sulphur and amitraz presented good control up to 92 days and 58 days after treatment, respectively. Hexythiazox was fairly innocuous to predatory mites but, the remaining acaricides caused significant mortality to these mites. The pesticides sulphur, fenpyroximate and acrinathrin induced reductions of the population of phytoseid mites up to 58 days, but amitraz showed reductions up to 92 days after application.Foi conduzido experimento com o objetivo de estudar o efeito de alguns acaricidas sobre Brevipalpus phoenicis (Geijskes,1939) (AcarirTenuipalpidae) e ácaros predadores (Phytoseiidae), em citros. Os produtos testados e as dosagens em g i.a./100 / de água foram: fenpyroximate (5,0), acrinathrin (0,5); hexythiazox (1,5); amitraz (40,0) e enxofre (225,0). Os acaricidas fenpyroximate, acrinathrin e hexythiazox foram eficientes contra B. phoenicis até 127 dias após a aplicação, enquanto que, o enxofre e o amitraz apresentaram bom controle até 92 e 58 dias após o tratamento, respectivamente. O hexythiazox foi praticamente inócuo aos ácaros predadores mas os demais acaricidas foram significativamente prejudiciais a estes ácaros. Os produtos enxofre, fenpyroximate e acrinathrin induziram reduções na população de fitoseíídeos até 58 dias, porém o amitraz apresentou reduções até 92 dias após a pulverização

Results and clinical interpretation of germline RET analysis in a series of patients with medullary thyroid carcinoma: The challenge of the variants of uncertain significance

Germline RET variants are responsible for approximately 25% of medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) cases. Identification of RET variant carriers allows for the adoption of preventative measures which are dependent on the risk associated with the specific alteration. From 2002 to 2020, at our cancer genetics clinic, RET genetic testing was performed in 163 subjects (102 complete gene analyses and 61 targeted analyses), 72 of whom presented with MTC. A germline RET variant was identified in 31.9% of patients affected by MTC (93.8% of those having positive family history and 14.3% of clinically sporadic cases). Subsequent target testing in relatives allowed us to identify 22 asymptomatic carriers, who could undertake appropriate screening. Overall, patients with germline RET variants differed significantly from those who tested negative by family history (p &lt; 0.001) and mean age at MTC diagnosis (44.45 vs. 56.42 years; p = 0.010), but the difference was not significant when only carriers of moderate risk variants were considered (51.78 vs. 56.42 years; p = 0.281). Out of 12 different variants detected in 49 patients, five (41.7%) were of uncertain significance (VUS). For two of these, p.Ser904Phe and p.Asp631_Leu633delinsGlu, co-segregation and genotype/phenotype analysis, matched with data from the literature, provided evidence supporting their classification in the moderate and the highest/high risk class (with a MEN2B phenotype), respectively

Soporte automatizado a la metodología web QEM

El soporte automatizado de muchas de las tareas en un proceso de evaluación permite minimizar esfuerzos y costos, como así también evitar errores e imprecisiones introducidas por el factor humano. El contar en el proceso de evaluación con una metodología cuantitativa que permita determinar un factor como calidad (o costo) de sitios y aplicaciones Web y, particularmente, el contar con herramientas de soporte a la misma es una de nuestras líneas de investigación y desarrollo. En el presente trabajo, ilustramos qué nivel de soporte da la herramienta WebQEM_Tool [9] al proceso de evaluación definido en la metodología Web QEM (Quality Evaluation Method). La metodología Web QEM [7] la comenzamos a desarrollar a mediados del 98, con el propósito de aportar una estrategia eficaz para evaluar y analizar la calidad de sitios o aplicaciones Web. Está basada en un modelo jerárquico de requerimientos de calidad, partiendo de las características de alto nivel prescritas en la norma ISO-9126 [2], a saber: usabilidad, funcionalidad, confiabilidad, eficiencia, mantenibilidad y portabilidad. De modo que, a partir de esas características, se derivan subcaracterísticas, y, a partir de éstas, siguiendo un proceso de descomposición jerárquico, se especifican atributos. Es importante destacar, sin embargo, que se puede valorar a la calidad de un producto, mediante la apropiada agregación y cuantificación de alguna o todas las características, a partir de la medición directa e indirecta de atributos y su agrupamiento en un modelo de agregación y ulterior cálculo. En la sección 2, presentaremos los principales pasos de la metodología (ver [7], para una discusión y análisis detallado). Por otra parte, la herramienta WebQEM_Tool permite a los evaluadores la administración de proyectos, pudiendo crear, abrir y modificar proyectos, los cuales contienen información de sitios Web a ser evaluados. Además permite ingresar los requerimientos no funcionales que consisten básicamente de un factor (como calidad o costo), características, subcaracterísticas y atributos. Cada uno de estos elementos contiene también sus respectivos campos en las tablas. Luego, mediante el ingreso y edición de indicadores de preferencia de calidad elementales (es decir, valores numéricos asignados a atributos) tomados de uno o varios sitios Web, se permite calcular un indicador de calidad global para cada sitio dado un proyecto de evaluación. Esto habilita a evaluar y/o comparar por ejemplo la calidad de productos Web, dar recomendaciones, y justificar los resultados mediante un modelo de seguimiento. De este modo, se muestran los resultados a través de hiperdocumentos con información textual, tabular y gráfica, generados dinámicamente a partir de las tablas almacenadas en la capa de datos. En la sección 3, comentaremos los principales módulos de WebQEM_Tool y las tecnologías empleadas. Finalmente, concluiremos con los futuros avances en esta línea.Eje: Ingeniería del SoftwareRed de Universidades con Carreras en Informática (RedUNCI