We conducted differentiations between thyroid follicular adenoma and carcinoma for 8-bit bitmap ultrasonography (US) images utilizing a deep-learning approach. For the data sets, we gathered small-boxed selected images adjacent to the marginal outline of nodules and applied a convolutional neural network (CNN) to have differentiation, based on a statistical aggregation, that is, a decision by m...

Throughout ovarian development and function in mammals, a highly orchestrated, periodic process known as follicular atresia occurs that destroys and eliminates follicles and oocytes from the ovary. Follicular atresia is pervasive. In humans, it is estimated to account for 99.9% of the loss of oocytes from development of the fetal ovary until reproductive senescence (Baker, 1963; Faddy et al., 1...

This review exposes the follicular abnormalities responsible for anovulation in polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The putative pathophysiological explanations involve the principal intra- and extra-ovarian regulators which intervene during normal folliculogenesis to control the initial recruitment and growth and then the cyclic recruitment. We propose the hypothesis that the follicular problem ...

The effect of an acute energy deficit on the hormone balance of dominant follicles was studied in six normally-cycling, high-yielding Italian Friesian cows at 60 and 90 days after calving. At 60 days after calving, the cows, which had been fed according to their maintenance and production requirements, were synchronized and follicular fluid was collected from the dominant follicles under ultras...

We reviewed recent in vivo studies of the real-time changes in the vasculature of the follicle wall during selection of the dominant follicle as well as during ovulation in cows. Changes in follicle diameter and vascularity were determined by transrectal ultrasonography. Blood flow within the walls of the two largest follicles was detected at the time of wave emergence (largest follicle=5 mm in...

Notch signaling plays an important role in hair follicle maintenance, and it has been suggested that Notch is also required for follicular fate selection by adult hair follicle stem cells in the bulge. Here we demonstrate that, on the contrary, Notch signaling in bi-potential bulge stem cells or their uncommitted descendents acts to suppress the epidermal fate choice, thus ensuring follicular f...

A two-stage procedure for simultaneously detecting multiple thresholds and achieving model selection in the segmented accelerate failure time (AFT) model is developed in this paper. In the first stage, we formulate the threshold problem as a group model selection problem so that a concave 2-norm group selection method can be applied. In the second stage, the thresholds are finalized via a refin...

Ovarian follicular development in cattle is characterized by waves of growth during the prepubertal and postpartum periods and during estrous cycles. Each wave of follicular growth is characterized by recruitment of a cohort of follicles 4 to 5 mm in diameter. From the cohort, one follicle is selected for continued growth and becomes dominant. If luteolysis occurs during the growth phase of dom...

Follicular development occurs in wave like patterns in monotocous species such as cattle and humans and is regulated by a complex interaction of gonadotropins with local intrafollicular regulatory molecules. To further elucidate potential mechanisms controlling dominant follicle selection, granulosa cell RNA harvested from F1 (largest) and F2 (second largest) follicles isolated at predeviation ...