Oxidative stress and acid–base balance during the transition period of neonatal Holstein calves submitted to different calving times and obstetric assistance

During the neonatal period, constant adaptations to the extrauterine environment are required. These adaptations are made impossible or hindered when unexpected obstetrical events take place. This study aimed to identify clinical changes of vitality, metabolic and acid–base balance, and oxidative stress of newborn calves born to assisted dams that experienced different durations of calving. A prospective and observational study was conducted with 44 Holstein calves allocated to 3 groups according to the duration of calving: 2?h (n = 16), 2–4?h (n = 16), and >4?h (n = 12), and to 2 subgroups: spontaneous calving (n = 22) and assisted calving (n = 22). We observed that obstetric assistance was beneficial when calving lasted more than 4 h, because 100% of assisted calves had a high Apgar score (≥7) at 5?min, similar to that of spontaneously born calves after 2?h of calving. Rectal temperature of all calves remained within normal values, albeit with a reduction at 20 min of life. Calves born after a calving time >4 h had the highest rectal temperatures, especially those that required obstetrical assistance. There was a progressive increase in blood oxygenation with time, but calves in the >4?h group showed the highest partial pressure of carbon dioxide at birth, whereas calves in the 2 h and 2–4 h groups had lower values. A decrease in partial pressure of CO₂ was observed at 120 min in the 2–4?h and >4?h groups. In the 2–4?h group, calves with obstetrical assistance had higher oxidative stress (measured as thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, TBARS) at 120 min of life compared with that at birth. In spontaneously born calves, TBARS increased only after 240?min. In the >4?h group, TBARS increased progressively with time, regardless of obstetrical subgroup. Calves born spontaneously within the 2?h group had higher TBARS values at birth than calves in the >4 h group with obstetrical assistance. Calves in the >4?h group showed higher levels of glutathione peroxidase (an antioxidant enzyme) at birth than those in the remaining groups. Glutathione peroxidase decreased at 120?min in the >4?h group and at 240?min for the 2?h and 2–4?h groups. In conclusion, obstetric assistance did not improve neonatal vitality and blood oxygenation when calving lasted less than 2 h. Calves born after 2 h of calving showed decreased vitality, hypercapnia, hypoxemia, and increased antioxidant status (glutathione peroxidase).     

Contrasting meta-learning and hyper-heuristic research: the role of evolutionary algorithms

The fields of machine meta-learning and hyper-heuristic optimisation have developed mostly independently of each other, although evolutionary algorithms (particularly genetic programming) have recently played an important role in the development of both fields. Recent work in both fields shares a common goal, that of automating as much of the algorithm design process as possible. In this paper we first provide a historical perspective on automated algorithm design, and then we discuss similarities and differences between meta-learning in the field of supervised machine learning (classification) and hyper-heuristics in the field of optimisation. This discussion focuses on the dimensions of the problem space, the algorithm space and the performance measure, as well as clarifying important issues related to different levels of automation and generality in both fields. We also discuss important research directions, challenges and foundational issues in meta-learning and hyper-heuristic research. It is important to emphasize that this paper is not a survey, as several surveys on the areas of meta-learning and hyper-heuristics (separately) have been previously published. The main contribution of the paper is to contrast meta-learning and hyper-heuristics methods and concepts, in order to promote awareness and cross-fertilisation of ideas across the (by and large, non-overlapping) different communities of meta-learning and hyper-heuristic researchers. We hope that this cross-fertilisation of ideas can inspire interesting new research in both fields and in the new emerging research area which consists of integrating those fields.     

Effect of rotary instrument associated with different irrigation techniques on removing calcium hydroxide dressing

Calcium hydroxide [Ca(OH)₂] residues in root canals may compromise sealing of filling and endodontic treatment success. The aim of this study was to compare the efficacy of using rotary instrument associated with EndoActivator, EndoVac, passive ultrasonic irrigation (PUI), and conventional needle irrigation (CNI), in Ca(OH)₂ removal from root canal, by means of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) images. Sixty‐six human canines were prepared with the Protaper system up to F5 and filled with Ca(OH)₂. After 7 days, Ca(OH)₂ was removed with rotary instrument F5 associated with the irrigation techniques used in each group (n = 15): GI (CNI), GII (EndoVac), GIII (EndoActivator) and GIV (PUI). In all groups 15 mL of 2.5% NaOCl and 3 mL of 17% EDTA were used for Ca(OH)₂ removal. The Ca(OH)₂ residues was evaluated by SEM in the middle and apical third using a system of scores. The results were analyzed by the Kruskal‐Wallis and Dunn tests (α = 0.05). None of the techniques completely removed the Ca(OH)₂ from root canals. There was no difference between EndoActivator, EndoVac and PUI (P > 0.05), but the three techniques removed more Ca(OH)₂ than the CNI (P < 0,05), in the middle and apical thirds of the root canal. It was concluded that the rotary instrument combined with EndoActivator, EndoVac, and PUI was shown to be more efficient than the rotary instrument combined with the CNI in removing Ca(OH)₂ from the root canal. Microsc. Res. Tech. 77:642–646, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

Irreversible thermodynamics analysis of ellipsoidal wheat kernel drying,aiming at the evaluation of phenomenological properties

Literature data have revealed that wheat kernel stress–strain relationships, thermal conductivity, and specific heat support the assumption of isotropy. Accepting this premise, we show that drying complexity can be reduced by properly defining the kernel shape and an accurate model. Therefore, we present an irreversible thermodynamics procedure for obtaining transport properties of a wheat kernel. The numerical solution of the associated nonlinear conservation equations was based on the Radial Basis Functions method. Drying behavior of both prolate ellipsoidal and spherical grain kernels is presented and compared. The predicted moisture and temperature profiles correlated favorably with experimental drying profiles, obtained for two temperatures of 47 and 67.5°C.     

Value of PCA3 to Predict Biopsy Outcome and Its Potential Role in Selecting Patients for Multiparametric MRI

PCA3 (prostate cancer gene 3) and multiparametric 3 tesla MRI are new promising diagnostic tools in the detection of PCa. Our aim was to study the clinical value of the Progensa PCA3-test: its predictive value for biopsy outcome, Gleason score and MRI outcome. We evaluated, retrospectively, 591 patients who underwent a Progensa PCA3-test at the Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Centre between May 2006 and December 2009. Prostate biopsies were performed in 290 patients; a multiparametric 3 tesla MRI of the prostate was performed in 163/591 patients. The PCA3-score was correlated to biopsy results and MRI outcome. The results show that PCA3 was highly predictive for biopsy outcome (p < 0.001); there was no correlation with the Gleason score upon biopsy (p = 0.194). The PCA3-score of patients with a suspicious region for PCa on MRI was significantly higher (p < 0.001) than in patients with no suspicious region on MRI (52 vs. 21). In conclusion, PCA3 is a valuable diagnostic biomarker for PCa; it did not correlate with the Gleason score. Furthermore, multiparametric MRI outcome was significantly correlated with the PCA3-score. Thus, PCA3 could be used to select patients that require MRI. However, in patients with a negative PCA3 and high clinical suspicion of PCa, a multiparametric MRI should also be done.