End-to-end deep learning of geometric shaping for unamplified coherent systems.

With the increasing data rate requirements on short-reach links, the recent standardization of unamplified coherent optical systems is paving the way for a cost and power-effective solution, targeting a massive deployment in the near future. However, unamplified systems are introducing new challenges. Particularly, the performance is highly dependent on the peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) of the transmitted signal, which puts at question the use of the typical constellation formats. In this work, we use an end-to-end deep learning framework to optimize the geometry of different constellation sizes, ranging from 8- to 128-ary constellations. In general, it is shown that the performance of these systems is maximized with constellations whose outer symbols are disposed in a square shape, owing to the minimization of the real-valued PAPR. Following this premise, we experimentally demonstrate that odd-bit constellations can be significantly optimized for unamplified coherent links, achieving power budget gains in the range of 0.5-3 dB through the geometric optimization of 8-, 32- and 128-ary constellations.

Estudo da vascularização folicular e do corpo lúteo de éguas cíclicas tratadas com extrato de pituitária equina utilizando ultrassom Doppler colorido / Study of follicular and corpus luteum vascularization in mares treated with Equine Pituitary Extract using ultrasound color Doppler

Informações sobre a vascularização da parede folicular e do corpo lúteo equino, associadas à superovulação, são escassas. Com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito superovulatório do extrato de pituitária equina (EPE) no fluxo sanguíneo folicular e luteal, foram utilizadas seis éguas Puro Sangue Árabe, em dois ciclos estrais (controle e tratamento). As éguas foram monitoradas diariamente por ultrassonografia modo B, até que os folículos atingissem diâmetro de 23mm (desvio). No ciclo tratamento, as éguas receberam 8mg de EPE, uma vez ao dia, por via IM, até que dois ou mais folículos atingissem o diâmetro entre 32 e 35mm. A ovulação foi induzida com acetato de deslorelina, quando os folículos atingiram, no mínimo, 35mm. No momento do desvio folicular, da indução da ovulação e do último exame pré-ovulatório, foi utilizada a ultrassonografia modo B para medir o diâmetro dos folículos e, no oitavo dia pós-ovulação, para a área do corpo lúteo (CL). Utilizou-se também ultrassonografia com Doppler colorido para avaliar a perfusão sanguínea da parede folicular e do parênquima luteal. No ciclo controle, foi realizado o mesmo procedimento, exceto pelo uso do EPE. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância, com nível de significância de 5%. Não foi observado efeito do EPE sobre o número de ovulações, o diâmetro dos folículos, a vascularização da parede folicular e a concentração sérica de estrógeno. Os animais, tratados ou não, apresentaram CLs funcionais, não havendo diferença na área do parênquima ou da vascularização luteal, nem na concentração sérica de progesterona, no oitavo dia após a ovulação. Foi observado que o EPE proporcionou um maior número de folículos subordinados no momento da indução da ovulação do folículo dominante (P ≤ 0,05). Embora esses folículos não tenham chegado a ovular, concluiu-se que o EPE atuou no crescimento de folículos, que podem ser utilizados em outras biotécnicas, como a transferência de oócitos, com maior aproveitamento da reserva folicular de ovários equinos.(AU)

Knowledge about follicle and corpus luteum vascularization associated with superovulation in mares is scarce. Aiming to evaluate the effect of equine pituitary extract (EPE) on superovulation, the experiment was conducted using six mares Purebred Arabian in two estrous cycles (control and treatment). The mares were synchronized, and monitored daily by ultrasound B mode until the follicles reached diameter ≤ 23 mm (deviation). In the treatment cycle, from the deviation, mares received 8 mg of EPE, once a day, intramuscularly, until two or more follicles reached a diameter between 32 and 35 mm. Ovulation was induced with deslorelin acetate when follicles reached at least 35 mm. At the time of follicular deviation, induction of ovulation and final preovulatory exam, it was used B-mode ultrasound to measure the diameter of follicles and on the eighth day after ovulation to measure the area of the corpus luteum (CL); color Doppler was also used to assess blood perfusion of the follicle wall and luteal parenchyma. In the control cycle was performed the same procedure except for the use of EPE. Data were subjected to analysis of variance, with 5% significance level. There was no effect of EPE on ovulation number, diameter of follicles, vascularity of the follicular wall and serum estrogen concentration. The animals treated or not, showed functional CLs, with no difference in parenchymal area or luteal vascularization, or in serum progesterone concentration on the eighth day after ovulation. It was observed that the EPE provided a greater number of subordinate follicles at the time of induction of ovulation of the dominant follicle. Although these follicles have failed to ovulate, it was concluded that EPE influenced the follicles growth, and it can be used in other biotechnologies, with greater utilization of equine ovarian follicular reserve.(AU)

Toll-like receptors 2, 3 and 4 and thymic stromal lymphopoietin expression in fatal asthma.

BACKGROUND: Airway inflammation in asthma involves innate immune responses. Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and thymic stromal lymphopoietin (TSLP) are thought to be involved in airway inflammation, but their expression in asthmatics' both large and small airways has not been investigated. OBJECTIVE: To analyse the expression of TLR2, TLR3, TLR4 and TSLP in large and small airways of asthmatics and compare their expression in smoking and non-smoking asthmatics; to investigate whether TLR expression is associated with eosinophilic or neutrophilic airway inflammation and with Mycoplasma pneumoniae and Chlamydophila pneumoniae infection. METHODS: Using immunohistochemistry and image analysis, we investigated TLR2, TLR3, TLR4 and TSLP expression in large and small airways of 24 victims of fatal asthma, FA, (13 non-smokers, 11 smokers) and nine deceased control subjects (DCtrl). TLRs were also measured in 18 mild asthmatics (MA) and 12 healthy controls (HCtrl). M. pneumoniae and C. pneumoniae in autopsy lung tissue were analysed using real-time polymerase chain reaction. Airway eosinophils and neutrophils were measured in all subjects. RESULTS: Fatal asthma patients had higher TLR2 in the epithelial and outer layers of large and small airways compared with DCtrls. Smoking asthmatics had lower TLR2 levels in the inner and outer layers of the small airways than non-smoking asthmatics. TSLP was increased in the epithelial and outer layers of the large airways of FA. FA patients had greater TLR3 expression in the outer layer of large airways and greater TLR4 expression in the outer layer of small airways. Eosinophilic airway inflammation was associated with TLR expression in the epithelium of FA. No bacterial DNA was detected in FA or DCtrls. MA and HCtrls had only a small difference in TLR3 expression. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Increased expression of TLR 2, 3 and 4 and TSLP in fatal asthma may contribute to the acute inflammation surrounding asthma deaths.

Repeated inhalation of crack-cocaine affects spermatogenesis in young and adult mice.

To investigate the effects of repeated crack-cocaine inhalation on spermatogenesis of pubertal and mature Balb/c mice, ten young (Y(ex)) and ten adult (A(ex)) Balb/c mice were exposed to the smoke from 5 g of crack with 57.7% of pure cocaine in an inhalation chamber, 5 days/week for 2 months. The young (Y(c)) and adult (A(c)) control animals (n = 10) were kept in a specially built and controlled animal house facility. The morphologic analysis of both testes of all animals included the analysis of quantitative and qualitative histologic parameters to assess the effect of crack-cocaine on spermatogenesis and Leydig cells. Apoptosis was determined by immunolabeling with caspase-3 antibodies. Compared to the Y(c) animals, Y(ex) animals showed a significant reduction in the number of stage VII tubules per testis (p = 0.02), Sertoli cells (p < 0.001) and elongated spermatids (p = 0.001). Comparisons between the Y(ex) and A(ex) groups identified a significant reduction in the number of Sertoli cells (p < 0.001) and round spermatids (p < 0.001) in the Y(ex) group and a significant increase in apoptotic Leydig cells (p = 0.04) in the A(ex) group. The experimental results indicate that crack-cocaine smoke inhalation induced spermatogenesis disruption in chronically exposed mice, particularly in pubertal mice.

Creatine activates airway epithelium in asthma.

Airway epithelium plays important roles in the pathophysiology of asthma. Creatine supplementation (Cr) was shown to increase asthma features in a murine model of allergic asthma; however, the role of the airway epithelium in this inflammatory response is not known. BALB/c mice were divided into control, creatine supplementation, ovalbumin-sensitized (OVA) and OVA plus creatine supplementation groups. OVA sensitization occurred on days 0, 14, 28 and 42, and ovalbumin challenge from days 21-53. Cr was also given on days 21-53. Total and differential cells counts in BALF were evaluated. Quantitative epithelial expression of interleukin (IL)-4, IL-5, IL-13, CCL11, CCL5, CCL2, iNOS, VCAM-1, ICAM-1, NF-κB, VEGF, TGF-ß, IGF-1, EGFR, TIMP-1, TIMP-2, MMP-9, MMP-12 and arginase II were performed. Cr increased the number of total cells and eosinophils in BALF, the epithelial content of goblet cells and the epithelial expression of IL-5, CCL2, iNOS, ICAM-1, NF-κB, TGF-ß, TIMP-1 and MMP-9 when compared to the control group (p<0.05). Creatine supplementation also exacerbated goblet cell proliferation, and IL-5 and iNOS expression by epithelial cells compared to the OVA group (p<0.01). Creatine up-regulates the pro-inflammatory cascade and remodelling process in this asthma model by modulating the expression of inflammatory mediators by epithelial cells.

Exercise reduces effects of creatine on lung.

We recently demonstrated that creatine supplementation increased some features of lung allergic sensitization in mice. On the other hand, other studies have shown that aerobic exercise inhibited allergic airway inflammation and remodeling. We hypothesized that aerobic exercise may decrease the exacerbatory effects of the creatine supplementation in a murine model of asthma. Balb/c mice were divided into six groups: Control, Creatine (Cr), Low Intensity Exercise+Creatine (Low+Cr), Ovalbumin (OVA), Ovalbumin+Creatine (OVA+Cr) and Ovalbumin+Creatine+Low Intensity Exercise (OVA+Cr+Low). OVA-sensitized groups were sensitized with OVA intraperitoneal injections (days 0, 14, 28, and 42). Aerosol challenge (OVA 1%) and Cr treatment (0.5 g/kg/day) were initiated on Day 21 until Day 53. Low intensity exercise began on day 22 and was sustained until day 50. Low intensity exercise in the presence of creatine supplementation in sensitized mice resulted in a decreased number of eosinophils in BALF (p<0.001) and in the airways (p<0.001), and a decreased density of inflammatory cells positive to IL-4 (p<0.001) and IL-5 (p<0.001), airway collagen (p<0.001) and elastic fibers (p<0.001) content, airway smooth muscle thickness (p<0.001) and bronchoconstriction index (p<0.05) when compared with OVA+Cr group. These results suggest that aerobic exercise reduces the exacerbatory effects of creatine supplementation in chronically sensitized mice.