The value of automated follicle volume measurements in IVF/ICSI

Background/Aims: The objective of this literature study is to investigate the place of recent software technology sonography-based automated volume count (SonoAVC) for the automatic measurement of follicular volumes in IVF/ICSI. Its advantages and disadvantages and potential future developments are evaluated. Methods: A total of 74 articles were read via a PubMed literature study.The literature study included 53 articles, 32 of which for the systematic review. Results: The SonoAVC software shows excellent accuracy. Comparing the technology with the “golden standard” two-dimensional (2D) manual follicle measurements, SonoAVC leads to a significantly lower intra- and inter-observer variability. However, there is no significant difference in clinical outcome (pregnancy rate).We noted a significant advantage in the time gained, both for doctor and patient. By storing the images, the technology offers the possibility of including a quality control and continuous training and further standardization of follicular monitoring can be expected. Ovarian reserve testing by measuring the antral follicle count with SonoAVC is highly reliable. Conclusion: This overview of previously published literature shows how SonoAVC offers advantages for clinical practice, without losing any accuracy or reliability. Doctors should be motivated to the general use of follicular volumes instead of follicular diameters

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

Evaluation of the New Jersey Resiliency Program for Law Enforcement

Research has shown that police officers are exposed frequently to events throughout their careers that can negatively impact their mental health and are at a level that could reach five times greater than that of the general population for post-traumatic stress symptoms. To address law enforcement officers’ mental health issues, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal issued Directive NO. 2019-1, titled Promoting Law Enforcement Resiliency. New Jersey is the first state in the United States to take action and mandate mental health training for all law enforcement officers. On August 6, 2019, the New Jersey Attorney General’s Office revealed that they developed the New Jersey Resiliency Program for Law Enforcement (NJRP-LE). This study was conducted to evaluate the Train the Trainer Model developed in the NJRP-LE. In addition, this study surveyed the Master Resiliency Program Officers to obtain their perspective on the quality, usefulness, and likelihood of using the materials utilized in this program. The survey conducted covered the program’s components, the Resiliency Program Officers’ characteristics, their qualifications, interest and confidence levels, and the course material components. The survey revealed a positive correlation between being interested in the program and volunteering for the assignment of Resiliency Officer. There was also a strong positive correlation between volunteering and the option to remain in the NJRP-LE

Inactivation of Salmonella , Listeria monocytogenes and Escherichia coli O157:H7 inoculated on coriander by freeze-drying and supercritical CO 2 drying

Coriander, either fresh or inoculated with three strains of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Salmonella or Listeria monocytogenes, was treated with supercritical CO2 (scCO(2), with and without drying) or freeze-dried. After drying in scCO(2) for 150 min at 80 bar and 35 degrees C, the aerobic plate count, yeasts and molds, and the Enterobacteriaceae were reduced by 2.80, 5.03, and 4.61 log CFU/g, respectively. The total count of mesophilic aerobic spores was not significantly reduced by the treatment. Freeze-drying induced lower reductions with 1.23, 0.87, and 0.97 log CFU/g, respectively. After treatment at 100 bar and 40 degrees C without drying, inoculated strains of E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, and L. monocytogenes were inactivated by > 7.37, > 4.73 and 4.99 log CFU/g, respectively. After drying in scCO 2 for 150 min at 80 bar and 35 degrees C, the strains were reduced by > 5.18 log CFU/g. Freeze-drying resulted in lower reduction with maximum 1.53, 2.03, and 0.71 log CFU/g, respectively. This study indicated that scCO(2) can be used for drying while offering a good inactivation of E. coli O157:H7, Salmonella, and L. monocytogenes as well as most of the bacteria in the vegetative form naturally occurring on coriander. Industrial relevance: Although dried foods are considered microbiological stable foods and show adverse conditions to microbial growth, they may still host pathogenic microorganisms, which may proliferate upon sufficient rehydration. Highly contaminated commodities such as herbs and spices can pose a threat to consumer health if not processed carefully. There is therefore a need to develop or improve drying techniques which can provide dried foods while reducing the initial contamination to acceptable levels in a single process. CO2 is a cheap, accessible solvent, with a low critical point (31 degrees C, 73.8 bar). Moreover, in the supercritical region, CO, exhibits potent microbicidal properties. Therefore, supercritical CO2 drying could be a valuable alternative nonthermal technique for conventional drying methods, such as air-drying or freeze-drying, when medium to high value-added food products with high initial contamination are involved

Spectroscopic characterization of graphene films grown on Pt (111) surface by chemical vapor deposition of ethylene

This work reports the peculiar properties of a graphene film prepared by the chemical vapor deposition (CVD) of ethylene in high vacuum on a well oriented and carefully cleaned Pt(111) crystal surface maintained at high temperature. In-situ and ex-situ characterization techniques (low energy electron diffraction, high resolution electron energy loss spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy and Raman micro-spectroscopy) used here indicate the prevalence of single layer regions and the presence of two different orientations of the graphene sheets with respect to the Pt(111) substrate. In most of the deposited area evidence is found of a compressive stress for the graphene lattice, as a net result of the growth process on a metal substrate. This graphene film grown on Pt(111) exhibits a lower degree of order and of homogeneity with respect to the exfoliated graphene on Si/SiO2, as it is found generally for graphene on metals, but several characterization techniques indicates a better quality than in previous deposition experiments on the same metal substrate.Comment: 18 pages, 5 figures, Journal of Raman spectroscopy 201

A distinct structural region of the prokaryotic ubiquitin-like protein (Pup) is recognized by the N-terminal domain of the proteasomal ATPase Mpa

AbstractThe mycobacterial ubiquitin-like protein Pup is coupled to proteins, thereby rendering them as substrates for proteasome-mediated degradation. The Pup-tagged proteins are recruited by the proteasomal ATPase Mpa (also called ARC). Using a combination of biochemical and NMR methods, we characterize the structural determinants of Pup and its interaction with Mpa, demonstrating that Pup adopts a range of extended conformations with a short helical stretch in its C-terminal portion. We show that the N-terminal coiled-coil domain of Mpa makes extensive contacts along the central region of Pup leaving its N-terminus unconstrained and available for other functional interactions.Structured summaryMINT-7262427: pup (uniprotkb:B6DAC1) binds (MI:0407) to mpa (uniprotkb:Q0G9Y7) by pull down (MI:0096) MINT-7262440: mpa (uniprotkb:Q0G9Y7) and pup (uniprotkb:B6DAC1) bind (MI:0407) by isothermal titration calorimetry (MI:0065

Deckungsbeiträge

Der Deckungsbeitrag (DB) ist die Differenz zwischen Leistung und variablen Kosten eines Produktionszweiges. Der DB muss die Gemeinkosten abdecken. Gemeinkosten sind Kosten, die nicht schlüsselungsfrei einem bestimmten Kostenträger (Betriebszweig) zugeteilt werden können. Die Berechnung des Deckungsbeitrages erfolgt nicht nach genauen Regeln. Sie richtet sich vielmehr nach der konkreten Problemstellung. Je nach Planungshorizont werden beispielsweise mehr oder weniger Kostenpositionen miteinbezogen. Hingegen ist die Berechnung des vergleichbaren Deckungsbeitrages (alt DfE) exakt definiert

DAWN Mission Bus and Waveguide Venting Analysis Review

A concern was raised regarding the time after launch when the DAWN Mission Communications Subsystem, which contains a 100 Watt X-Band Traveling Wave Tube Amplifier (TWTA) with a high voltage ((approximately 7 Kilo Volt (KV)) Electronic Power Converter (EPC), will be powered on for the first post-launch downlink. This activation is planned to be approximately one hour after launch. Orbital Sciences (the DAWN Mission spacecraft contractor) typically requires a 24-hour wait period prior to high voltage initiation for Earth-orbiting Science and GEO spacecraft. The concern relates to the issue of corona and/or radio frequency (RF) breakdown of the TWTA ((high voltage direct current (DC) and RF)), and of the microwave components (high voltage RF) in the presence of partial atmospheric pressures or outgassing constituents. In particular, generally the diplexer and circulator are susceptible to RF breakdown in the corona region due to the presence of small physical gaps ((~ 2.5 millimeter (mm)) between conductors that carry an RF voltage. The NESC concurred the DAWN Mission communication system is safe for activation