37 research outputs found

    Immature oocytes grow during in vitro maturation culture

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    BACKGROUND. Oocyte competence for maturation and embryogenesis is associated with oocyte diameter in many mammals. This study aimed to test whether such a relationship exists in humans and to quantify its impact upon in vitro maturation (IVM). METHODS. We used computer-assisted image analysis daily to measure average diameter, zona thickness and other parameters in oocytes. Immature oocytes originated from unstimulated patients with polycystic ovaries, and from stimulated patients undergoing ICSI. They were cultured with or without meiosis activating sterol (FF-MAS). Oocytes maturing in vitro were inseminated using ICSI and embryo development was monitored. A sample of freshly collected in vivo matured oocytes from ICSI patients were also measured. RESULTS. Immature oocytes were usually smaller at collection than in vivo matured oocytes. Capacity for maturation was related to oocyte diameter and many oocytes grew in culture. FF-MAS stimulated growth in ICSI derived oocytes, but only stimulated growth in PCO derived oocytes if they eventually matured in vitro. Oocytes degenerating showed cytoplasmic shrinkage. Neither zona thickness, perivitelline space, nor the total diameter of the oocyte including the zona were informative regarding oocyte maturation capacity. CONCLUSIONS. Immature oocytes continue growing during maturation culture. FF-MAS promotes oocyte growth in vitro. Oocytes from different sources have different growth profiles in vitro. Measuring diameters of oocytes used in clinical IVM may provide additional non-invasive information that could potentially identify and avoid the use of oocytes that remain in the growth phase

    Oestradiol-17β plasma concentrations after intramuscular injection of oestradiol benzoate or oestradiol cypionate in llamas (Lama glama)

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    <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Llamas (<it>Lama glama</it>) are induced ovulators and the process of ovulation depends on dominant follicular size. In addition, a close relationship between behavioural estrus and ovulation is not registered in llamas. Therefore, the exogenous control of follicular development with hormones aims to predict the optimal time to mate. Oestradiol-17β (E<sub>2</sub>) and its esters are currently used in domestic species, including camelids, in synchronization treatments. But, in llamas, there is no reports regarding the appropriate dosages to be used and most protocols have been designed by extrapolation from those recommended for other ruminants. The aim of the present study was to characterize plasma E<sub>2 </sub>concentrations in intact female llamas following a single intramuscular (i.m.) injection of two oestradiol esters: oestradiol benzoate (EB) and oestradiol cypionate (ECP).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Twelve non pregnant and non lactating sexually mature llamas were i.m. injected on day 0 with 2.5 mg of EB (EB group, n = 6) or ECP (ECP group, n = 6). Blood samples were collected immediately before injection, at 1, 6, 12, 24 h after treatment and then daily until day 14 post injection. Changes in hormone concentrations with time were analyzed in each group by analysis of variance (ANOVA) using a repeated measures (within-SS) design. Plasma E<sub>2 </sub>concentrations and area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) values were compared between groups by ANOVA. In all cases a Least-Significant Difference test (LSD) was used to determine differences between means. Hormonal and AUC data are expressed as mean ± S.E.M.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Peak plasma E<sub>2 </sub>concentrations were achieved earlier and were higher in EB group than in ECP group. Thereafter, E<sub>2 </sub>returned to physiological concentrations earlier in EB group (day 5) than in ECP group (day 9). Although plasma E<sub>2 </sub>profiles differed over time among groups there were no differences between them on AUC values.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The i.m. injection of a single dose of both oestradiol esters resulted in plasma E<sub>2 </sub>concentrations exceeding physiological values for a variable period. Moreover, the plasma E<sub>2 </sub>profiles observed depended on the derivative of oestradiol administered. This basic information becomes relevant at defining treatment protocols including oestrogens in llamas.</p

    VMM-independent graphics acceleration

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    This paper describes VMGL, a cross-platform OpenGL virtualization solution that is both virtual machine monitor (VMM) and graphics processing unit (GPU) independent. VMGL allows applications executing within virtual machines (VMs) to leverage hardware rendering acceleration, thus solving a problem that has limited virtualization of a growing class of graphics-intensive applications. VMGL also provides applications running within VMs with suspend and resume capabilities across GPUs from different vendors. Our experimental results from a number of graphics-intensive applications show that VMGL provides excellent rendering performance, coming within 14 % or better of native graphics hardware acceleration. Further, VMGL’s performance is two orders of magnitude better than that of software rendering, the commonly available alternative today for graphics-intensive applications running in virtualized environments. Our results confirm VMGL’s portability across VMware Workstation and Xen (on VT and non-VT hardware), and across Linux (with and without paravirtualization), FreeBSD, and Solaris. Finally, the resource demands of VMGL align well with the emerging trend of multi-core processors. Categories and Subject Descriptors I.3.4 [Computer Graphics]

    Low-Bandwidth VM Migration via Opportunistic Replay

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    Virtual machine (VM) migration has been proposed as a building block for mobile computing. An important challenge for VM migration is to optimize the transfer of large amounts of disk and memory state. We propose a solution based on the opportunistic replay of user interactions with applications at the GUI level. Whereas this approach results in very small replay logs that economize network utilization, replay of user interactions on a VM at the migration target site can result in divergent VM state. Cryptographic hashing techniques are used to identify and transmit only the differences. We discuss the implementation challenges of this approach, and present encouraging results from an early prototype that show savings of up to 80.5 % of bytes transferred

    Hormonal changes and follicular activity after treatment with intravaginal progesterone-releasing devices in llamas

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    Plasma progesterone (P4) concentrations and follicular activity after administration of different P4 doses were evaluated in 33 adult female llamas treated with intravaginal devices. In Study 1, a group of llamas (n = 10) was treated with an intravaginal device (IVD) containing 160 (n = 5) or 780 mg of P4 (n = 5). Based on the results from the first study, in Study 2, females with follicles at different stages of development were treated with the IVD containing 780 mg of P4 (n = 21) or remain untreated (control; n = 12) to evaluate the effect of P4 on follicular activity. In Study 1, the IVD containing 160 mg of P4 induced follicular turnover in 60% of females while the remaining 40% of llamas developed persistent follicles. Thus, this device controlled follicular activity in llamas, although it promotes the persistence of follicles present at start of treatment. Conversely, in both studies, the IVD containing 780 mg of P4 suppressed follicular development and hasten the emergence of a new follicular wave in all females regardless of the follicular phase at insertion. Additionally, in Study 2, this device effectively concentrated the appearance of follicles with ovulatory diameter at a definite time after treatment in comparison with control animals. In conclusion, treatment with an IVD containing 780 mg of P4 would be considered for the control of follicular activity in llamas as it ensures the presence of a young follicle with ovulatory diameter by day 6 after the end of treatment in all females.Fil: Cavilla, María Verónica. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires.. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Fisiopatologia. Laboratorio de Endocrinologia; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Bianchi, Carolina Paula. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tandil. Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires. Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil. Provincia de Buenos Aires. Gobernación. Comision de Investigaciones Científicas. Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil; ArgentinaFil: Aguilera, F.. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires.. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Fisiopatologia. Laboratorio de Endocrinologia; ArgentinaFil: Hermida, M.. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires.. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Fisiopatologia. Laboratorio de Endocrinologia; ArgentinaFil: Aba, M. A.. Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires.. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias. Departamento de Fisiopatologia. Laboratorio de Endocrinologia; Argentin

    VMM-independent graphics acceleration

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    or Carnegie Mellon University. All unidentified trademarks mentioned in the paper are properties of their respectiv

    Low-Bandwidth VM Migration via Opportunistic Replay

    No full text
    Virtual machine (VM) migration has been proposed as a building block for mobile computing. An important challenge for VM migration is to optimize the transfer of large amounts of disk and memory state. We propose a solution based on opportunistic replay of user actions. In contrast to other replay techniques, opportunistic replay captures user interactions with applications at the GUI level, resulting in very small replay logs that economize network utilization. Replay of user interactions on a VM at the migration target site can result in divergent VM state. Cryptographic hashing techniques are used to identify and transmit only the differences. We present a study of the implementation challenges of this approach, and encouraging results with a preliminary prototype that show savings of up to 80.5 % of bytes transferred
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