Polar seas are under threat of enhanced UV-radiation as well as increasing shipping activities. Considering the ecological importance of marine viruses, it is timely to study the impact of UV-AB on ...Arctic phytoplankton host-virus interactions and also test the efficacy of ballast water (BW) UV-C treatment on virus infectivity. This study examined the effects of: (i) ecologically relevant doses of UV-AB radiation on
RCC2258 and its virus MpoV-45T, and (ii) UV-C radiation (doses 25-800 mJ cm
) on MpoV-45T and other temperate algal viruses. Total UV-AB exposure was 6, 12, 28 and 48 h (during the light periods, over 72 h total). Strongest reduction in algal growth and photosynthetic efficiency occurred for 28 and 48 h UV-AB treatments, and consequently the virus production rates and burst sizes were reduced by more than half (compared with PAR-only controls). For the shorter UV-AB exposed cultures, negative effects by UV (especially Fv/Fm) were overcome without impacting virus proliferation. To obtain the BW desired log
reduction in virus infectivity, a UV-C dose of at least 400 mJ cm
was needed for MpoV-45T and the temperate algal viruses. This is higher than the commonly used dose of 300 mJ cm
in BW treatment.
Summary A questionnaire study was performed in all eight University Medical Centers in The Netherlands to determine the predictors of influenza vaccination compliance in hospital-based healthcare ...workers (HCWs). Demographical, behavioural and organisational determinants were assessed based on behavioural and implementation models. Multivariable regression analysis was applied to assess the independent predictors for influenza vaccine uptake. Age >40 years, the presence of a chronic illness, awareness of personal risk and awareness of risk of infecting patients, trust in the effectiveness of the vaccine to reduce the risk of infecting patients, the HCWs’ duty to do no harm and their duty to ensure continuity of care, finding vaccination useful despite the constant flow of visitors and having knowledge of the Health Council’s advice, social influence and convenient time for vaccination were all independently associated with vaccine uptake. The accuracy of the prediction model was very high (area under the receiver operating curve: 0.95). Intervention programmes to increase influenza vaccine uptake among HCWs should target the relevant determinants identified in this study.
Assisted hatching (AH) in fresh embryo transfer (ET) could be associated with increased implantation rates. However, very few prospective randomized studies have specifically addressed the issue of ...AH during frozen-thawed embryo transfers (FET) cycles, those that have reported controversial results. The aim of this study was to evaluate the benefit of an enzymatic zona pellucida treatment of frozen-thawed embryos before transfer. METHODS: This was a prospective study including 125 non-donor FET cycles from 125 infertile couples. FETs were randomly allocated into AH group (n = 61, embryos pretreated with pronase 5 IU/ml for 1 min at 37°C) or control group (n = 64, untreated embryos). Zona pellucida thickness was measured for each transferred embryo. The main outcome parameters were clinical pregnancy and implantation rates. RESULTS: The two groups were comparable regarding mean women’s age, duration and indications of infertility, IVF outcome after fresh ETs, numbers and quality of fresh and frozen embryos, frozen-thawed embryo survival rates and blastomeres survival indexes. Despite a statistically significant decrease of zona pellucida thickness after pronase treatment (mean ± SD) 18.5 ± 2.25 versus 14.5 ± 2.75 µm; P < 0.0001, implantation (9.6 versus 9.2%) and clinical pregnancy rates (18.0 versus 17.2%) were not statistically different after FETs, with a similar mean number of embryos transferred between AH and control groups, respectively. CONCLUSION: Within the constraints of our protocol, partial enzymatic digestion of zona pellucida by pronase was not related with any benefit of the FET outcome especially concerning the implantation ability of frozen-thawed embryos.
We report a measurement of the energy spectrum of cosmic rays for energies above 2.5 × 1018 eV based on 215,030 events recorded with zenith angles below 60°. A key feature of the work is that the ...estimates of the energies are independent of assumptions about the unknown hadronic physics or of the primary mass composition. The measurement is the most precise made hitherto with the accumulated exposure being so large that the measurements of the flux are dominated by systematic uncertainties except at energies above 5 × 1019 eV. The principal conclusions are (1) The flattening of the spectrum near 5 × 1018 eV, the so-called "ankle," is confirmed. (2) The steepening of the spectrum at around 5 × 1019 eV is confirmed. (3) A new feature has been identified in the spectrum: in the region above the ankle the spectral index γ of the particle flux ( ∝ E−γ ) changes from 2.51 ± 0.03 ( stat ) ± 0.05 ( syst ) to 3.05 ± 0.05 ( stat ) ± 0.10 ( syst ) before changing sharply to 5.1 ± 0.3 ( stat ) ± 0.1 ( syst ) above 5 × 1019 eV. (4) No evidence for any dependence of the spectrum on declination has been found other than a mild excess from the Southern Hemisphere that is consistent with the anisotropy observed above 8 × 1018 eV.
We report a measurement of the energy spectrum of cosmic rays above 2.5 × 1018 eV based on 215 030 events. New results are presented: at about 1.3 × 1019 eV , the spectral index changes from 2.51 ± ...0.03 (stat) ± 0.05 (syst) to 3.05 ± 0.05 (stat) ± 0.10 (syst), evolving to 5.1 ± 0.3 (stat) ± 0.1 (syst) beyond 5 × 1019 eV, while no significant dependence of spectral features on the declination is seen in the accessible range. These features of the spectrum can be reproduced in models with energy-dependent mass composition. The energy density in cosmic rays above 5 × 1018 eV is 5.66 ± 0.03 (stat) ± 1.40 (syst) × 1053 erg Mpc−3.
Objectives. Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) is an effective treatment for severe depression. Electroencephalogram (EEG) measures between ECT sessions seem to be related to the antidepressant efficacy ...of ECT. In this naturalistic cohort study, we examine longitudinal effects of ECT on interhemispheric EEG coherence measures during seizure activity and its relation to the antidepressant efficacy. Methods. This study included 65 patients diagnosed with severe depressive disorder. Depressive symptoms were rated according to the Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale before and after the course of ECT. Frequency-specific ictal interhemispheric (fp1-fp2) EEG coherence measures were established during the first and each consecutive sixth treatment session. Linear mixed-effect models were used to determine longitudinal changes in ictal coherence measures during the course of ECT and its relation to treatment efficacy. Results. Ictal interhemispheric coherence in the theta and alpha frequency bands increased over the course of treatment, whereas no significant change was found for the delta and beta frequency bands. A main effect of treatment efficacy on the interhemispheric coherence in the delta and theta band was revealed. However, the longitudinal effects of ECT were not associated with treatment efficacy. Conclusion. The current study suggests that interhemispheric coherence during ECT-induced seizures increases over the course of treatment. Furthermore, these longitudinal effects seem to be unrelated to the antidepressant efficacy of ECT. These findings contribute to the understanding of the mechanism of action of ECT.
Nosocomial influenza is a large burden in hospitals. Despite recommendations from the World Health Organization to vaccinate healthcare workers against influenza, vaccine uptake remains low in most ...European countries. We performed a pragmatic cluster randomised controlled trial in order to assess the effects of implementing a multi-faceted influenza immunisation programme on vaccine coverage in hospital healthcare workers (HCWs) and on in-patient morbidity. We included hospital HCWs of three intervention and three control University Medical Centers (UMCs), and 3,367 patients. An implementation programme was offered to the intervention UMCs to assess the effects on both vaccine uptake among hospital staff and patient morbidity. In 2009/10, the coverage of seasonal, the first and second dose of pandemic influenza vaccine as well as seasonal vaccine in 2010/11 was higher in intervention UMCs than control UMCs (all p<0.05). At the internal medicine departments of the intervention group with higher vaccine coverage compared to the control group, nosocomial influenza and/or pneumonia was recorded in 3.9% and 9.7% of patients of intervention and control UMCs, respectively (p=0.015). Though potential bias could not be completely ruled out, an increase in vaccine coverage was associated with decreased patient in-hospital morbidity from influenza and/or pneumonia.
Purpose
Evaluate the effect of short gamete incubation on fertilization rate and embryo quality.
Methods
A prospective study has been performed. Two thousand five hundred and forty seven sibling ...oocytes from 240 couples undergoing IVF attempts were allocated to a short (1 h) or a standard (18 h) insemination procedure. Diploid fertilization rate (two pronuclei, 2PN), polyspermy (>2PN) and embryo quality were compared.
Results
The fertilization rate was statistically lower in the short insemination group compared to the standard insemination one (64.9% and 70.1%;
P
= 0.039), with a similar polyspermy rate observed between the two groups. A slight, but non significant, increase was observed concerning good embryo quality rate in the short insemination group when compared to the standard insemination, both at day 2 (60.1
vs.
58.1%;
P
= 0.06) and day 3 (53.2
vs.
48.5%;
P
= 0.22).
Conclusion
This new study highlights that a 1 h gamete exposure decreases the fertilization rate and does not improve embryo quality compared with a standard 18 h insemination procedure.
BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine the pronostic value of a sperm–zona pellucida (ZP) binding assay, combined with World Health Organization (WHO) grade ‘a’ sperm motility on the day ...of the IVF attempt, to predict sperm fertilizing ability in unexplained and moderate male factor infertilities. METHODS: In total, 84 couples (64 unexplained infertility; 20 male factor) underwent both a sperm–ZP binding assay and an IVF attempt, irrespective of the test’s result. The test was negative when grade ‘a’ motility was #5% and/or the ZP binding index was <0.7. Fertilization and pregnancy rates were related to the test’s results. RESULTS: Thirty-one patients had a negative test (group N) and 53 a positive test (group P). A difference was observed concerning the fertilization rate median (range): 0 (0–75%) versus 50 (0–100%); P = 0.0001 and the number of cycles with fertilization rate <20% (65 versus 23%; P = 0.0002) between groups N and P respectively. In the group of unexplained and male factor infertilities, the test showed a sensitivity of 83 and 60%, specificity of 50 and 90%, positive predictive value of 76 and 86%, and negative predictive value of 61 and 69% respectively. CONCLUSION: Sperm–ZP binding test, combined with WHO grade ‘a’ motility assessment, is relevant to prevent IVF fertilization failures in unexplained infertility and, most particularly, in moderate male factor infertility.
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