Sperm chromatin dispersion test before sperm preparation is predictive of clinical pregnancy in cases of unexplained infertility treated with intrauterine insemination and induction with clomiphene citrate

Background/aims: A large proportion of men with normal sperm results as analyzed using conventional techniques have fragmented DNA in their spermatozoa. We performed a prospective study to examine the incidence of DNA fragmentation in sperm in cases of couples with previously unexplained infertility and treated with intrauterine insemination. We evaluated whether there was any predictive value of DNA fragmentation for pregnancy outcome in such couples. Methods: The percentage of DNA fragmentation and all classical variables to evaluate sperm before and after sperm treatment were determined. We studied the probable association between these results and pregnancy outcome in terms of clinical and ongoing pregnancy rate per started first cycle. We also assessed the optimal threshold level to diagnose DNA fragmentation in our center. Results: When using threshold levels of 20, 25, and 30%, the occurrence of DNA fragmentation was 42.9, 33.3, and 28.6%, respectively. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis of all cases revealed an area under the curve of 80% to predict the clinical pregnancy rate per cycle from testing the sperm motility (a + b) before treatment. We failed to generate an ROC curve to estimate pregnancy outcome from the amount of DNA fragmentation before treatment. However, when selecting only those men with a pretreatment DNA fragmentation of at least 20%, the pretreatment result was statistically different between couples who achieved a clinical pregnancy and those who did not. Conclusion: DNA fragmentation is often diagnosed in couples with unexplained infertility. Each center should evaluate the type of test it uses to detect DNA fragmentation in sperm and determine its own threshold values

Educational heterogamy: does it equal cultural differences in child-rearing?

Heterogamy is commonly considered detrimental to relationships because of its hypothesized link with cultural differences and social disapproval. Focusing on the link with cultural differences, this explanation lacks solid empirical support. The scarce studies encounter problems related to the choice and measurement of cultural differences, while psychology oriented studies have generally not confirmed this link. In addition, the wide theoretical base that supports this link, is challenged by a number of empirical considerations that cast doubt on the cultural similarity of homogamous couples (e.g. gender differences in values and behaviors), and the quasi-mechanical effect that is assumed to lead to cultural differences for heterogamous couples (e.g. selection on values and behaviors). Progressing from the inconclusive findings of previous studies, this study examines the theoretically founded link between educational heterogamy, as heterogamy in achieved characteristics is asserted most important for cultural differences, and cultural differences concerning child-rearing. In addition, Diagonal Reference Models are used to analyze the individually measured values and behaviors of both partners, as couples data from the Netherlands are used (survey Child-rearing and family in the Netherlands). Results indicate that education shows the expected positive association with the child-rearing behaviours of support, and the expected negative association with the child-rearing behaviours of negative control and the child-rearing values of adaptation. However, for educational heterogamy, the situation appears more complex, as results show that homogamous couples are not free of cultural differences either (e.g. gender differences in negative control), while the degree of cultural differences is affected by other important factors as well (e.g. processes of selection). Nevertheless, a positive link between educational heterogamy and cultural differences was found for support and adaptation. For negative control, a different mechanism appeared to be at work with increased negative control for both partners in heterogamous couples. While this does not support the hypothesis of increased cultural differences for heterogamous couples, it does fit with the idea of heterogamy leading to problems in heterogamous families

Educational heterogamy and marital quality: a new look at the old question(s)

The detrimental effect of heterogamy on relationship quality and stability is well established in sociological theory. However, empirical research has failed to provide unequivocal support for this view. An important reason for this appears to be at a conceptual level. Focusing on educational heterogamy, two types of effects have been commonly examined under the banner of heterogamy effects: 1. the effect of the educational difference between the partners, and 2. the interaction effect between the levels of education of the partners. Despite representing two conceptually different views on heterogamy effects, previous research has failed to distinguish between them. This paper presents the theoretical distinction between both heterogamy effects, and empirically analyses them. This is done using Diagonal Reference Models – a technique from social mobility research that is particularly useful for analyzing heterogamy effects. Based on data concerning 643 couples from the survey Child-rearing and family in the Netherlands, it is shown that the effect of the educational difference is felt by both men and women as both report the highest marital satisfaction in marriages where the educational difference is to the advantage of the husband. In addition, men, but not women, are subject to the interaction effect, as the importance of his level of education in determining his own degree of marital satisfaction is accentuated, the more the educational balance in the couple is to his advantage. These results illustrate how conceptual clarification, in combination with the appropriate analysis technique may advance the field of heterogamy research

The influence of mothers' and fathers' parenting stress and depressive symptoms on own and partner's parent-child communication

This study examines how parenting stress and depressive symptoms experienced by mothers and fathers influence their own (actor effects) and the partner's (partner effects) parent–child communication. Based on the Actor-Partner Interdependence Model, data from 196 families were analyzed, with both parents rating their parenting stress and depressive feelings, and parents as well as children rating the open parent–child communication. Actor effects were found between parenting stress and open parent–child communication, whereas partner effects were prominent between depressive symptoms and open parent–child communication. The results provide no evidence for gender differences in the strength of the pathways to open parent–child communication. Our findings demonstrate the need to include both parents in studies on parent–child communication to enhance our understanding of the mutual influence among family members

Tradução Comentada para Libras de “Etnografia de um Terreiro de Mina em São Luís do Maranhão. Diversidade Afrorreligiosa no Maranhão: matriz afro- O tambor de mina” de Gerson Lindoso

TCC(graduação) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Centro de Comunicação e Expressão. Letras LibrasDiante do panorama de inclusão que pretende oferecer as pessoas surdas o acesso aos mais diversos tipos de informação em seus diferentes gêneros, torna-se imprescindível que sejam feitas traduções de textos da Língua Portuguesa para a Língua de Sinais Brasileira. Isso inclui também textos religiosos e técnicos científicos. De forma simples podemos definir tradução como o ato de transferir, transladar, de modo restrito, uma operação de transferência linguística e, de modo amplo, qualquer operação de transferência entre códigos ou inclusive, dentro de códigos. Assim, o presente trabalho consiste na tradução comentada do texto” O Tambor de Mina” da Língua Portuguesa para a Língua de Sinais Brasileira. E com metodologia de análise tradutória funcionalista orientada por Christiane Nord (2016). Para conclusão do trabalho, buscou-se apresentar reflexões acerca de escolhas tradutórias, as tomadas de decisões, dificuldades encontradas, preparação para a tradução, organização recursos utilizados no processo de tradução e comentários acerca da tradução.In view of the inclusion scenario that seeks to offer deaf people access to the most diverse types of information in their different genres, it is essential that translations of texts from the Portuguese to the Brazilian Sign Language be made. This also includes religious texts and scientific techniques. In a simple way we can define translation as the act of transferring, translating, in a restricted way, a linguistic transfer operation and, broadly, any transfer operation between codes or even, within codes. Thus, the present work consists of the commented translation of the text "The Drum of Mine" from the Portuguese Language to the Brazilian Sign Language. And with methodology of translational functionalist oriented by Christiane Nord (2016). For the conclusion of the work, we sought to present reflections about the translation choices, the decision making, the difficulties encountered, the preparation for the translation, the organization resources used in the translation process and the comments about the translation