Retained fetal membranes (RFM) is a prevalent postpartum disease in mares. During parturition, various proinflammatory cytokines are released in the placenta, which further facilitates uterine ...contractions, expulsion of the fetus and fetal membranes.
We hypothesized that an altered inflammatory response in mares results in retained fetal membranes.
Samples of the endometrium and the allantochorion were collected from 15 mares with RFM and from 29 control mares within 2 h of foal delivery. Next, the mRNA expression of IL-1β, IL-6 and TNFα proteins was analyzed by Real Time PCR and Western blot. These cytokines were also localized by immunocytochemistry.
In mares with RFM, the mRNA expression of IL-1β in the endometrium (p < 0.05) and IL-6 in the allantochorion (p < 0.0001) was higher than in mares that expelled fetal membranes physiologically. Higher expression of IL-6 in the allantochorion was confirmed by Western blot. In contrast, no changes in TNFα mRNA and protein expression were observed between the 2 groups of mares. Moreover, TNFα mRNA was barely detectable. The presence of all studied cytokine proteins in the allantochorion was confirmed by immunocytochemistry.
The results suggest that the outbreak of inflammation is involved in the mechanism of placenta release in mares. Increased expression of IL-6 in the allantochorion and IL-1β in the endometrium could reflect a local immune response which leads to the detachment of fetal membranes. The low expression of TNFα mRNA might suggest that this cytokine is not involved in the expulsion of fetal membranes. Further work is needed to determine the exact role and timing of inflammatory activation in fetal membranes during equine parturition.
•The expression of IL-1β and IL-6 was different between mares with RFM and control group.•Expression of TNFα was barely detectable thus this cytokine may not be involved in expulsion of fetal membranes in mares.•Inflammatory response is involved in the release of fetal membranes in mares.•We speculate that altered inflammatory response during parturition may lead to fetal membranes retention (RFM) in mares.
We present results for several light hadronic quantities (f sub(pi), f sub(K), B sub(K), m sub(ud), m sub(s), t super(1/2) sub(0), w sub(0)) obtained from simulations of 2+1 flavor domain wall ...lattice QCD with large physical volumes and nearly physical pion masses at two lattice spacings. We perform a short, O(3)%, extrapolation in pion mass to the physical values by combining our new data in a simultaneous chiral/continuum "global fit" with a number of other ensembles with heavier pion masses. We use the physical values of m sub(pi), m sub(K) and m sub(Omega) to determine the two quark masses and the scale-all other quantities are outputs from our simulations. We obtain results with subpercent statistical errors and negligible chiral and finite-volume systematics for these light hadronic quantities, including f sub(pi)=130.2(9)MeV; f sub(K)=155.5(8)MeV; the average up/down quark mass and strange quark mass in the MS scheme at 3 GeV, 2.997(49) and 81.64(1.17) MeV respectively; and the neutral kaon mixing parameter, BK, in the renormalization group invariant scheme, 0.750(15) and the MS scheme at 3 GeV, 0.530(11).
In order to reduce the current hadronic uncertainties in the theory prediction for the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon, lattice calculations need to reach subpercent accuracy on the ...hadronic-vacuum-polarization contribution. This requires the inclusion of O(α) electromagnetic corrections. The inclusion of electromagnetic interactions in lattice simulations is known to generate potentially large finite-size effects suppressed only by powers of the inverse spatial extent. In this paper we derive an analytic expression for the QEDL finite-volume corrections to the two-pion contribution to the hadronic vacuum polarization at next-to-leading order in the electromagnetic coupling in scalar QED. The leading term is found to be of order 1/L3 where L is the spatial extent. A 1/L2 term is absent since the current is neutral and a photon far away thus sees no charge and we show that this result is universal. Our analytical results agree with results from the numerical evaluation of loop integrals as well as simulations of lattice scalar U(1) gauge theory with stochastically generated photon fields. In the latter case the agreement is up to exponentially suppressed finite-volume effects. For completeness we also calculate the hadronic vacuum polarization in infinite volume using a basis of 2-loop master integrals.
The aims of our study were to determine (1) how the prevalence of cytologically determined subclinical endometritis varies when using three different cytological threshold ratios to categorize cows ...as either with or without endometritis, (2) how the number of animals categorized as having endometritis changes from the fourth to the sixth wk postpartum when using each threshold, (3) how subclinical endometritis influences the number of days open, and (4) how the results of cytological and bacterial examinations correlate. To answer these questions, 222 clinically healthy cows in two herds were examined in the fourth (Exam 1) and the sixth wk (Exam 2) postpartum, when endometrial surface scrapings for bacteriologic and cytologic examination were collected by cytobrush from their uterine horns. After each examination, all cows were categorized using three different thresholds: (1) > 18% polymorphonuclear leucocytes in Exam 1 and > 10% in Exam 2, (2) > 8% in both exams, and (3) > 5% in both exams. It was found that: (1) The number of cows categorized as having endometritis increased as the threshold was lowered, and ranged from 18.9% to 75.4% according to herd, time of examination, and the threshold used; (2) with all three thresholds and in both herds, the number of cows categorized as having endometritis in Exam 1 was approximately double that in Exam 2; whereas depending on the herd and the threshold used, 6.1% to 17.0% of the cows that were negative in the first exam were positive in the second, and 7.4% to 33.3% were positive in both exams; (3) cows were open for a significantly greater number of days if categorized as having endometritis with the first threshold in Exam 1 (mean ± SEM 151.5 ± 9.5 vs. 115.9 ± 7.8; P < 0.01), or with either the first or the second threshold in Exam 2 (mean ± SEM 155.0 ± 15.0 vs. 125.1 ± 6.6; P < 0.05); and (4) the most common bacteria were Streptococcus acidominimus and Escherichia coli, and the correlation between cytologic and bacteriologic findings was low (Φ = 0.08 to 0.17 for different tested thresholds). Subclinical endometritis seems to be associated more with the postpartum recovery of the endometrium than with bacterial infection.
Contents
The aim of this study was to derive the growth curves of the inner chorionic cavity and the biparietal distance in miniature dog breeds by ultrasonographic fetometry and present new specific ...formulas for prediction of parturition date. In this study, foetal biometry parameters were obtained using serial ultrasonographic examinations in 24 pregnant bitches of six different miniature breeds (≤5 kg). The mating time was unknown. Overall, 25 inner chorionic cavity diameter (ICC) and 22 biparietal diameter (BP) measurements were taken. The relationship between ICC or BP growth and days to parturition was analysed by linear regression. The results showed a significant relationship between days before delivery and ICC or BP. The equations derived from the growth curves can be used in practical prediction of parturition date in miniature dog breeds.
There has been much speculation as to the origin of the ΔI=1/2 rule (ReA0/ReA2≃22.5). We find that the two dominant contributions to the ΔI=3/2, K→ππ correlation functions have opposite signs, ...leading to a significant cancelation. This partial cancelation occurs in our computation of ReA2 with physical quark masses and kinematics (where we reproduce the experimental value of A2) and also for heavier pions at threshold. For ReA0, although we do not have results at physical kinematics, we do have results for pions at zero momentum with mπ≃420 MeV ReA0/ReA2=9.1(2.1) and mπ≃330 MeV ReA0/ReA2=12.0(1.7). The contributions which partially cancel in ReA2 are also the largest ones in ReA0, but now they have the same sign and so enhance this amplitude. The emerging explanation of the ΔI=1/2 rule is a combination of the perturbative running to scales of O(2 GeV), a relative suppression of ReA2 through the cancelation of the two dominant contributions, and the corresponding enhancement of ReA0. QCD and electroweak penguin operators make only very small contributions at such scales.
We determine the phase diagram of completely asymptotically free SU(Nc) gauge theories featuring Ns complex scalars and Nf Dirac quarks transforming according to the fundamental representation of the ...gauge group. The analysis is performed at the maximum known order in perturbation theory. We unveil a very rich dynamics and associated phase structure. Intriguingly, we discover that the completely asymptotically free conditions guarantee that the infrared dynamics displays long-distance conformality, and in a regime when perturbation theory is applicable. We conclude our analysis by determining the quantum corrected potential of the model and summarizing the possible patterns of radiative symmetry breaking. These models are of potential phenomenological interest as either elementary or composite ultraviolet finite extensions of the standard model.
Summary
Studies showed a beneficial effect of supplementation with selenium (Se) and vitamin E on semen quality. The aim of the study was to investigate the effect of Se and vitamin E supplementation ...on the antioxidant status of spermatozoa and semen quality in dogs with lowered fertility. Ten dogs were supplemented daily with Se (6 μg/kg organic Se yeast) and vitamin E (5 mg/kg) per os for 60 days. Control group consisted of 10 males without the supplementation. Semen was collected on day 0, 30, 60 and 90. Sperm quality parameters were evaluated using CASA and a microscope. Concentrations of Se and vitamin E in blood as well as glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px) activity and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) in the spermatozoa were determined. After 60 days of supplementation the concentration of spermatozoa, the majority of motility indicators and the percentage of normal morphology and live spermatozoa increased significantly (p < .05). An increase (p < .05) in concentration of Se and vitamin E in blood and GSH‐Px‐activity and TAC in the spermatozoa was detected. The study results indicate that Se and vitamin E supplementation for 60 days enhances the antioxidant status of spermatozoa and improves the quality of the semen in dogs with lowered fertility.
Comparison of Inductive and Resistive SFCL Kozak, J.; Majka, M.; Kozak, S. ...
IEEE transactions on applied superconductivity,
06/2013, Letnik:
23, Številka:
3
Journal Article, Conference Proceeding
Recenzirano
This article presents a comparison of inductive and resistive superconducting fault current limiter built with the same length of high temperature superconducting (HTS) tape. The resistive limiter is ...constructed as a noninductive bifilar winding. The inductive coreless limiter consists of primary winding and secondary shorted winding. Both limiters are connected parallel to the additional Cu primary winding, which helps to reduce the power dissipated in the HTS windings during and after a fault. It also ensures that in cases of an HTS tape failure, the protected circuit will not be disrupted. The limiters are very fast and the first peak is almost equally limited by both types of limiters.
The aim of this study was to determine several obstetric and neonatal parameters in the Maine Coon breed. The birth data of Maine Coon breeding population were collected of 52 litters from different ...households using a questionnaire. Significant relationships between various outcomes and the relevant predictors were assessed by multiple linear regression or logistic regression, as appropriate. The overall mean gestation length was 65.5±1.32 days. Larger litter size was associated with shorter gestation lengths (p⟨0.01). Mean litter size was 5.3±2.3 kittens. The weight of kittens born alive (overall mean 119.6±18.4 g) increased with prolonged gestation lengths (p⟨0.01) and decreased with larger litter sizes (p⟨0.01). In the analyzed group of kittens, 12.5% were stillborn. The expulsion intervals varied widely. The duration of the first stage of labour was less than 2h in 82.9% of the cats. The interval between the birth of the first and the last kitten was less than 6h in 99.3% of the cats, and it exceeded 6 h in only 2 cats. The present results can be used to develop references values and reliable assistance protocol for assessing the parturition in the Maine Coon to protect the queen and reduce perinatal losses.
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