Single-channel fits and K-matrix constraints

A K-matrix formalism is used to relate single-channel and multi-channel fits. We show how the single-channel formalism changes as new hadronic channels become accessible. These relations are compared to those commonly used to fit pseudoscalar meson photoproduction data.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures. A numerical example has been adde

Time-delay in a multi-channel formalism

We reexamine the time-delay formalism of Wigner, Eisenbud and Smith, which was developed to analyze both elastic and inelastic resonances. An error in the paper of Smith has propagated through the literature. We correct this error and show how the results of Eisenbud and Smith are related. We also comment on some recent time-delay studies, based on Smith's erroneous interpretation of the Eisenbud result.Comment: 4 pages, no figure

Scanning Ion Microprobe Assessment of Biological Sample Preparation Techniques

Different preparation techniques for high lateral resolution scanning ion microprobe imaging of biological samples have been investigated. The sharpest histological maps are obtained from chemically fixed and plastic embedded specimens. It is often problematic to correlate ultrastructure and bioaccumulation from analysis of frozen cut and lyophilized sections. The best compromise is to resin-embed frozen samples in order to get a perfectly flat section from tissue where the in vivo ion distribution is maintained. Use of the University of Chicago Ion Microprobe gave us the ability to observe the relative ion translocations induced during sample preparation. As an example, we show the rapid decrease of intracellular K+/Na+ ratio through a fast frozen blood droplet

Risk of cancer after assisted reproduction: a review of the available evidences and guidance to fertility counselors

Infertile women requiring ovarian stimulation and assisted reproduction techniques (ART) are faced with difficult issues. The fear that using hormones could increase their risk of cancer is the most significant. One of the main challenges for assessing cancer risk after ART is the difficulty to separate it from the underlying condition of infertility per se. The delay or the inability to achieve a pregnancy is an important risk factor for breast, endometrial and ovarian cancer. We analyzed the current literature on the topic

Progress in High Resolution Scanning Ion Microscopy and Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry Imaging Microanalysis

The performance of a new high resolution scanning ion microprobe (SIM) is elucidated with regard to imaging capabilities using the ion-induced secondary electron (ISE) or secondary ion (ISI) signals, and the mass-resolved signal from a secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) system. The new instrument focuses a beam extracted from a liquid metal ion source (LMIS) to a range of spot sizes reaching the 20 nm level. The probe current (1.6 pA) available at this level of lateral resolution, which approaches the theoretical resolution limits of the SIMS method, is still adequate to obtain detailed isotopic maps for surfaces rich in the elements of low ionization potential (positive ISI), or high electron affinity (negative ISI). In addition to examples of high resolution ISE and ISI images of objects displaying sufficiently small topographic detail, mass spectra and isotopic maps are shown, testing both the lateral and depth resolution attained. The latter results belong with a program of interdisciplinary research applications of the new microprobe, which include studies of e.g., the monolayer lateral distribution of intercalant in SbCl5 intercalated graphite and of silicate minerals and iron distribution in sections of chondrules and their rims (components of chondrites, a class of stoney meteorites). In the biomedical field, the new microprobe finds application in e.g., the study of human renal calculi and bone. Most promising is the use of stable isotope tracers (e.g., Ca44) to unravel the dynamics of bone mineralization, as thus far shown with the in-vitro culture of the skull bone of neonatal mice

Dendritic Oxide Growth on the Surface of Liquid Gallium

We have studied the oxidation of a liquid gallium surface with a high spatial resolution scanning ion microprobe. A 40 keV focused gallium ion beam, extracted from a liquid metal ion source, was employed, first, to sputter clean a 40 x 40 μm2 area on a drop of liquid gallium, in a ultra high vacuum (UHV) specimen chamber. It was then used to monitor the oxide growth by secondary ion mass spectrometry imaging microanalysis while the chamber was gradually back-filled with oxygen. In the initial stages, gallium oxide grew in a dendritic pattern from the edge of the cleaned area where oxide preexisted. Gradually the oxide layer grew in thickness and covered the entire area leaving only small islands and channels uncovered. Computer simulations based on aggregation of two dimensional random walkers (or diffusion limited aggregation) show similar dendritic patterns in the initial stages of growth. The similarity is also reflected by their comparable fractal dimensions. For the final stages, qualitative discrepancies between the experimental and simulated patterns are discernible

A Proposal for a High Resolution Scanning Ion Microprobe Based on Laser Non-Resonant Post-Ionization of Sputtered Atoms

A new high resolution scanning ion microprobe (SIM) is described which combines laser non-resonant multiphoton ionization (MPI) and time of flight (ToF) spectroscopy. The proposed instrument is designed to overcome limitations of the conventional secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) method. A pulsed ion probe (with current 1 - 100 pA) is extracted from a liquid metal ion source (LMIS). This beam is purified by a Wien filter, focused to a spot (15 - 150 nm), and scanned across a sample in a raster pattern (512 x 512 pixels). A high power (200 mJ, 193 nm, 500 Hz) ArF pulsed laser -an off-axis ellipsoidal reflector is planned to boost its power density - intercepts the sputtered neutrals, ionizing a large fraction for detection. The resultant ions are collected by a spherical sector energy analyzer and mass resolved by either a reflectron or Poschenrieder type ToF spectrometer. The laser pulse defines the time base for the spectrometer; mass resolution of more than 3000 is feasible. Detailed calculations of the neutrals\u27 sputtering and photoionization yields are given. In particular, an analytical expression for two-photon ionization of sputtered atoms, which optimizes the photon-neutrals overlap, is derived and results plotted. This technique, post-ionization of sputtered atoms (PISA), is shown to permit several high statistical accuracy, high mass and lateral resolution images to be obtained simultaneously, even for elements with high ionization potential or low electron affinity, elements difficult to examine with SIMS. Compared to SIMS, PISA greatly reduces the range of the variation in detected signal as a function of atomic number, facilitating quantification

An Observational Retrospective Cohort Trial on 4,828 IVF Cycles Evaluating Different Low Prognosis Patients Following the POSEIDON Criteria

Objective: To study the actual controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) management in women with suboptimal response, comparing clinical outcomes to the gonadotropins consume, considering potential role of luteinizing hormone (LH) addition to follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH).Design: Monocentric, observational, retrospective, real-world, clinical trial on fresh intra-cytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles retrieving from 1 to 9 oocytes, performed at Humanitas Fertility Center from January 1st, 2012 to December 31st, 2015.Methods: COS protocols provided gonadotropin releasing-hormone (GnRH) agonist long, flare-up, short and antagonist. Both recombinant and urinary FSH were used for COS and LH was added according to the clinical practice. ICSI outcomes considered were: gonadotropins dosages; total, mature, injected and frozen oocytes; cumulative, transferred and frozen embryos; implantation rate; pregnancy, delivery and miscarriage rates. Outcomes were compared according to the gonadotropin regimen used during COS.Results: Our cohort showed 20.8% of low responders, defined as 1-3 oocytes retrieved and 79.2% of "suboptimal" responders, defined as 4-9 oocytes retrieved. According to recent POSEIDON stratification, cycles were divided in group 1 (6.9%), 2 (19.8%), 3 (11.7%), and 4 (61.5%). The cohort was divided in 3 groups, according to the gonadotropin's regimen. Women treated with FSH plus LH showed worst prognostic factors, in terms of age, basal FSH, AMH, and AFC. This difference was evident in suboptimal responders, whereas only AMH and AFC were different among treatment groups in low responders. Although a different result, in terms of oocytes and embryos detected, major ICSI outcomes (i.e., pregnancy and delivery rates) were similar among groups of COS treatment. Outcomes were significantly different among Poseidon groups. Implantation, pregnancy and delivery rates were significantly higher in Poseidon group 1 and progressively declined in other POSEIDON groups, reaching the worst percentage in group 4.Conclusions: In clinical practice, women with worst prognosis factors are generally treated with a combination of LH and FSH. Despite low prognosis women showed a reduced number of oocytes retrieved, the final ICSI outcome, in terms of pregnancy, is similarly among treatment group. This result suggests that the LH addition to FSH during COS could improve the quality of oocytes retrieved, balancing those differences that are evident at baseline

Cation–chromatin binding as shown by ion microscopy is essential for the structural integrity of chromosomes

Mammalian interphase and mitotic cells were analyzed for their cation composition using a three-dimensional high resolution scanning ion microprobe. This instrument maps the distribution of bound and unbound cations by secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS). SIMS analysis of cryofractured interphase and mitotic cells revealed a cell cycle dynamics of Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, and K+. Direct analytical images showed that all four, but no other cations, were detected on mitotic chromosomes. SIMS measurements of the total cation content for diploid chromosomes imply that one Ca2+ binds to every 12.5–20 nucleotides and one Mg2+ to every 20–30 nucleotides. Only Ca2+ was enriched at the chromosomal DNA axis and colocalized with topoisomerase IIα (Topo II) and scaffold protein II (ScII). Cells depleted of Ca2+ and Mg2+ showed partially decondensed chromosomes and a loss of Topo II and ScII, but not hCAP-C and histones. The Ca2+-induced inhibition of Topo II catalytic activity and direct binding of Ca2+ to Topo II by a fluorescent filter-binding assay supports a regulatory role of Ca2+ during mitosis in promoting solely the structural function of Topo II. Our study directly implicates Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, and K+ in higher order chromosome structure through electrostatic neutralization and a functional interaction with nonhistone proteins

Freeze/thaw stress induces organelle remodeling and membrane recycling in cryopreserved human mature oocytes

Purpose: Our aim was to evaluate the ultrastructure of human metaphase II oocytes subjected to slow freezing and fixed after thawing at different intervals during post-thaw rehydration. Methods: Samples were studied by light and transmission electron microscopy. Results: We found that vacuolization was present in all cryopreserved oocytes, reaching a maximum in the intermediate stage of rehydration. Mitochondria-smooth endoplasmic reticulum (M-SER) aggregates decreased following thawing, particularly in the first and intermediate stages of rehydration, whereas mitochondria-vesicle (MV) complexes augmented in the same stages. At the end of rehydration, vacuoles and MV complexes both diminished and M-SER aggregates increased again. Cortical granules (CGs) were scarce in all cryopreserved oocytes, gradually diminishing as rehydration progressed. Conclusions: This study also shows that such a membrane remodeling is mainly represented by a dynamic process of transition between M-SER aggregates and MV complexes, both able of transforming into each other. Vacuoles and CG membranes may take part in the membrane recycling mechanism