A comparative study of luteal estradiol pre-treatment in GnRH antagonist protocols and in micro dose flare protocols for poor-responding patients

Purpose This study aims to verify if luteal estradiol pretreatment improves IVF/ICSI outcomes in a GnRH antagonist protocol as compared with a micro dose GnRH agonist protocol in poor-responding patients. Methods A total of 116 IVF/ICSI cycles were included in this prospective randomized single blind clinical trial. The selected women were randomly assigned to receive an estradiol pre-treatment in a GnRH antagonist protocol (daily oral Estradiol Valerate 4 mg preceding the IVF cycle from the 21st day until the first day of the next cycle) or in oral contraceptive pill micro dose GnRH agonist protocol. Results The patients in the luteal estradiol protocol required more days of stimulation (10.9 ± 1.6 vs. 10.2 ± 1.8) and a greater gonadotropin requirement (3,247.8 ± 634.6 vs. 2,994.8 ± 611 IU), yet similar numbers of oocytes were retrieved and fertilized. There was no significant difference between the two groups in terms of the implantation rates (9.8 vs. 7.9 %) and the clinical pregnancy rates per transfer (16.3 vs. 15.6 %). Conclusion This study demonstrates that the use of estradiol during a preceding luteal phase in a GnRH antagonist protocol can provide similar IVF outcomes when compared to a micro dose GnRH agonist protoco

Novel strategies for the modulation and investigation of memories in the hippocampus

Disruptions of the memory systems in the brain are linked to the manifestation of many neuropsychiatric diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder. The limited efficacy of current treatments necessities the development of more effective therapies. Neuromodulation has proven effective in a variety of neurological diseases and could be an attractive solution for memory disorders. However, the application of neuromodulation requires a more detailed understanding of the network dynamics associated with memory formation and recall. In this work, we applied a combination of optical and computational tools in the development of a novel strategy for the modulation of memories, and have expanded its application for interrogation of the hippocampal circuitry underlying memory processing in mice. First, we developed a closed-loop optogenetic stimulation platform to activate neurons implicated in memory processing (engram neurons) with a high temporal resolution. We applied this platform to modulate the activity of engram neurons and assess memory processing with respect to synchronous network activity. The results of our investigation support the proposal that encoding new information and recalling stored memories occur during distinct epochs of hippocampal network-wide oscillations. Having established the high efficacy of the modulation of engram neurons’ activity in a closed-loop fashion, we sought to combine it with two-photon imaging to enable high spatial resolution interrogation of hippocampal circuitry. We developed a behavioral apparatus for head-fixed engram modulation and the assessment of memory recall in immobile animals. Moreover, through the optimization of dual color two-photon imaging, we improved the ability to monitor activity of neurons in the subfields of the hippocampus with cellular specificity. The platform created here will be applied to investigate the effects of engram reactivation on downstream projections targets with high spatial and cell subtype specificity. Following these lines of investigations will enhance our understanding of memory modulation and could lead to novel neuromodulation treatments for neurological disorders associated with memory malfunctioning

Developing a trust model using graph and ranking trust of social messaging system

Trust is an important issue in social interactions, especially in using cyberspace services. In this paper, a trust and evaluation model are proposed based on which the government can provide reliable services to users. The model is a distributed and hierarchical model. First, the number 12 trust criteria and the weight of these criteria were extracted using the analytical hierarchy process (AHP) and analytic network process (ANP) techniques. Second, to obtain the trust in the service examined, for each criterion, a graph of trusted entities is proposed. Then, a weighted graph with the number of trusted entities called trust pathways measure will be obtained. To test the model, the effect of the 12 criteria on three important evaluation factors over seven widely used social services was rated by three experts. The trust of each service was obtained, which was satisfactory as compared to a valid organizational evaluation. Finally, the correlation coefficient of this comparison was 70.37%, indicating that the results from this model were appropriate

Surface Interactions of Proteinogenic Biomolecules and Gold Nanostructures on Si(111)7×7

The site-specific surface interactions and film growth mechanisms of adsorption of gold and of proteinogenic sulfur-containing amino acids, i.e., L-cysteine and L-methionine, on Si(111)7×7 are studied for the first time by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and Scanning Tunneling Microscopy (STM) at room temperature under ultrahigh vacuum condition. The results are supported with large-scale density functional theory (DFT) calculations with dispersion correction for biomolecule adsorbates, to provide precise modeling of the equilibrium adsorption geometries of adsorbates on a Si200H49 slab used as the model Si(111)7×7 surface. Growth evolution of gold on the 7×7 surface is found to follow the Stranski-Krastanov mode, starting with completion of two distinct gold silicide layers to individual gold nanoisland formation. Of special interest is the formation of two-dimensional self-assembled gold silicide honeycomb nanonetwork at 0.76 monolayer coverage at room temperature. Observed for the first time, this honeycomb nanonetwork is made up of six triangular gold clusters (surrounding each corner hole) interconnected to one another at the dimer rows of the Si(111)7×7 substrate. With the corner holes of the 7×7 surface exposed, this novel gold silicide template offers a unique honeycomb network (4 nm in grids size) for surface functionalization and a nanopore pattern (~1 nm in pore size) for molecular trapping application. In analogy to common simple aliphatic amino acids, such as glycine and alanine, sulfur-containing aliphatic amino acids, cysteine and methionine, exhibit an “universal” three-stage growth sequence on Si(111)7×7 surface at room temperature under ultra-high vacuum condition. In particular, the biomolecule first anchors to specific dangling bond sites on the 7×7 reconstruction via strong short-range covalent bonds (through Si–N and/or Si–S linkages in unidentate and/or bidentate arrangement of cysteine adsorption, and through Si–N linkage in unidentate arrangement of methionine adsorption), forming the interfacial layer (the first adlayer). This is then followed by the formation of a transitional layer (the second adlayer) and finally of a zwitterionic film (multilayer), both of which are driven by intralayer and interlayer hydrogen bonding. XPS study of thermal stabilities of these adlayers indicates that these proteinogenic biomolecules can be used to transform a highly reactive Si(111)7×7 surface to not just a permanent bio-organic surface but also a semi-permanent (or renewable) and a temporary bio-organic surfaces by manipulating the exposure and the post-annealing temperature. Our results on all the adsorbed proteinogenic biomolecules on Si(111)7×7 surface studied to date enable us to construct a reference XPS data table to guide future studies of biofilm growth on reconstructed Si(111) surface. The STM study of adsorbed cysteine on Si(111)7×7 provides strong evidence for coverage-dependent adsorption structures of cysteine, from bidentate to unidentate attachments to self-assembled multimers, which involves formation of intralayer horizontal N⋯H–O hydrogen-bond as reported in our XPS study. In contrast to cysteine adsorption, high-resolution STM imaging demonstrates self-organization of methionine into a novel, stable Y-shaped trimer within a half unit cell on the 7×7 surface at room temperature, which is driven by hydrogen bonding among the unattached carboxylic acid groups in a ring configuration. The near-perfect match of the Y-shaped trimer with three-fold symmetry within the half-unit cell represents the first supported “magic-number” molecular cluster reported to date. Our XPS experiments provide the primary experimental evidence for the formation of covalent bond between substrate and adsorbates and the feasibility of the intralayer and interlayer hydrogen bonding mediated dimers. They are also supported by our large-scale ab-initio DFT-D2 calculations. Using ab-initio DFT-D2 calculations, we also establish a common trend in the H-bond length among different types of hydrogen bonding (O–H⋯N < O–H⋯O < N–H⋯N < N–H⋯O) for di-molecular structures in the gas phase. Except for the N–H⋯N H-bond due to covalent bonding of the amino group with the surface, this trend can also be applied to biomolecular H-bonding surface interaction. These calculated results and the observed trends can be used to predict the adsorption behavior of larger biochemical materials, such as peptides and proteins. The ultimate goal of the present study is to examine the molecular interaction of these aliphatic amino acids with gold clusters and other metallic nanostructures supported on the 7×7 surface. We have performed preliminary XPS and STM studies on the molecular interactions of cysteine with three distinct gold nanoassemblies on Si(111)7×7, including Au monomers and dimers, Au silicide honeycomb nanonetwork, and Au nanocrystallite film. These studies show unidentate and/or bidentate bonding arrangement of adsorbed cysteine with rather minor perturbation due to the presence of the supported Au monomers and dimers. On the Au silicide honeycomb nanonetwork, we observe the coexistence of two chemisorption states, involving unidentate adspecies through the thiol group interaction with Au atoms and of the amino group with Si atoms. Cysteine is found to chemisorb via the sulfur in neutral form on the supported Au nanocrystallite film to form the interfacial layer. These STM/XPS studies are reinforcing our hypothesis that the novel gold silicide honeycomb nanonetwork offers a number of interesting potential applications for molecular trapping and biofunctionalization

Value of follicular fluid vitamin D in predicting the pregnancy rate in an IVF program

Purpose This study investigated whether there is a correlation between levels of 25OH-D in the follicular fluid and the serum of infertile women and the results of IVF and rates of pregnancy. The association between the levels of 25OH-D in the follicular fluid and the vitamin D repletion status was also assessed. Methods Two hundred and twenty-one infertile women participated in an IVF cycle from 2010 to 2011 in a prospective observational study. Serum and follicular fluid were collected for vitamin D analysis. Deficient, insufficient, and sufficient levels of vitamin D were defined as 10, 10–29, and 30–100 ng/ml, respectively. IVF cycle parameters and clinical pregnancy rates were also compared with the vitamin D level. Results The levels of vitamin D deficiency, insufficiency, and sufficiency were 22.6, 70.1, and 7.2 %, respectively. The fertilization rates associated with these three levels of vitamin D were 43.17, 53.37, and 58.77 %, respectively, (P = 0.054), and the implantation rates were 17.33, 15.26, and 18.75 %, respectively, (P = 0.579). No significant correlation was seen between the pregnancy rate and the serum vitamin D level (P = 0.094) or the follicular vitamin D level (P = 0.170). The serum and follicular fluid vitamin D levels showed a significant correlation (P = 0.000). Conclusion Although vitamin D is an important hormone in the human body, no correlation was found between the serum and follicular vitamin D level and the pregnancy rate in the IVF cycle. Keywords Vitamin D � IVF � Follicular fluid � Pregnancy rate � 250H-

Trajectorial market models: Arbitrage and pricing intervals

The paper develops general, non-probabilistic market models based on trajectory sets and minmax price bounds leading to price intervals for European options. The approach provides the trajectory based analogue of a martingale process as well as a generalization that allows a limited notion of arbitrage in the market while still providing coherent option prices. An illustrative example is described in detail. Several properties of the price bounds are obtained, in particular a connection with risk neutral pricing is established for trajectory markets associated to a continuous-time martingale model.Fil: Ferrando, Sebastian Esteban. Ryerson University; CanadáFil: González, Alfredo Lázaro. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Matemática; ArgentinaFil: Degano, Iván Leonardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Mar del Plata; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de Mar del Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales. Departamento de Matemática; ArgentinaFil: Rahsepar, Massoomeh. Ryerson University; Canad

Reference Values of Oxidative Stress Parameters in Adult Iranian Fat-Tailed Sheep

The present study was performed on 111 adult clinically healthy Iranian fat-tailed sheep from both sexes (28 male and 83 female). Blood concentrations of oxidative stress parameters viz. malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) were determined. The reference values for oxidative stress parameters of adult clinically healthy Iranian fat-tailed sheep were as followed: MDA 0.53-0.60 mmol/l, SOD 948.65-1011.50 U/gHb, CAT 1834.29-1915.63 U/gHb and GPX 191.67-196.52 U/gHb. There were no significant differences in oxidative stress parameters among animal of the two sexes

A Preliminary Study on the Therapeutic Effects of Hydroxychloroquine on Generalized Vitiligo

Vitiligo is a recalcitrant depigmentary autoimmune skin disorder. Hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) is an effective immunomodulatory drug which is widely used in treatment of autoimmune disorders. HCQ-induced pigmenta- tion has been previously found in patients taking HCQ due to other auto- immune diseases. The present study aimed to determine whether HCQ im- proves re-pigmentation of generalized vitiligo. HCQ was orally administered 400 mg daily (6.5 mg/Kg of body weight) by 15 patients with generalized vitiligo (more than 10% involvement of body surface area) for three months. Patients were evaluated monthly and skin re-pigmentation was assessed us- ing the Vitiligo Area Scoring Index (VASI). Laboratory data were obtained and repeated monthly. Fifteen patients (12 women and 3 men) with a mean age of 30.13±12.75 years were studied. After 3 months, the extent of re-pigmen- tation on all the body regions, including the upper extremities, hands, trunk, lower extremities, feet, and head and neck was significantly higher than the baseline (P value <0.001, 0.016, 0.029, <0.001, 0.006, 0.006, respectively). Patients with concomitant autoimmune diseases had significantly more re- pigmentation compared with others (P=0.020). No irregular laboratory data were observed during the study. HCQ could be an effective treatment for generalized vitiligo. The benefits are likely to be more evident in case of con- comitant autoimmune disease. The authors recommend additional large- scale controlled studies to draw further conclusions

Determination of the association between body image with sexual function and marital adjustment in fertile and infertile Women by path analysis modeling

Abstract Background & Objective: Infertility has several adverse effects on body, psychological and social aspects of women. Otherwise, body image could be a predictor of different behaviors including sexual behavior. Thus, in the present study we aimed to assess the association between body image with sexual function and marital adjustment in fertile and infertile women. Materials & Methods: One-hundred and thirty fertile and 130 infertile women were enrolled in this study. Statistical analysis was performed by using AMOS 18 with structural equation modeling. Results: In fertile women, the strongest path coefficient was related with the effect of body image on general health, while in infertile women, the strongest path coefficient was associated with the effect of body image on sexual function. In both occupying and non-occupying women the strongest path coefficient was related with the effect of body image on general health. In those infertile women who had the supports of their partners, the strongest path coefficient was associated with the effect of body image on sexual function, and in those infertile women who had not the supports of their partners the strongest path coefficient belonged to the effect of sexual function on marital adjustment. Conclusion: Based on our results, it seems that using structural equation modeling in evaluating and recognition of direct, indirect and total effects of the similar model is absolutely necessary and can be a good alternative method instead of regression