The same sperm selection techniques in assisted reproduction clinics have remained largely unchanged despite their weaknesses. Recently, microfluidic devices have emerged as a novel methodology that ...facilitates the sperm selection process with promising results. A prospective case-control study was conducted in two phases: 100 samples were used to compare the microfluidic device with Density Gradient, and another 100 samples were used to compare the device with the Swim-up. In the initial phase, a significant enhancement in progressive motility, total progressive motile sperm count, vitality, morphology, and sperm DNA fragmentation were obtained for the microfluidic group compared to Density Gradient. Nevertheless, no statistically significant differences were observed in sperm concentration and chromatin structure stability. In the subsequent phase, the microfluidic group exhibited significant increases in sperm concentration, total progressive motile sperm count, and vitality compared to Swim-up. However, non-significant differences were seen for progressive motility, morphology, DNA structure stability, and DNA fragmentation. Similar trends were observed when results were stratified into quartiles. In conclusion, in a comparison of microfluidics with standard techniques, an improvement in sperm quality parameters was observed for the microfluidic group. However, this improvement was not significant for all parameters.
In the present paper, the effect of air density variations on cup anemometer performance is analyzed. The effect on the sensor’s performance is mainly due to the difference between the altitude at ...which the cup anemometer is working and the altitude at which this instrument was calibrated. Data from the available literature are thoroughly analyzed, focusing on explaining the coupled effect of the air temperature on both the rotor’s friction torque and the air density (that is, related to the aerodynamic torque on the rotor). As a result, the effect of air density variation at constant temperature (that is, leaving aside any variation of friction forces at the anemometer rotor shaft) on the sensor transfer function (i.e., on the calibration constants) is evaluated. The analysis carried out revealed a trend change in the variation with air density of the transfer function of the cup anemometer. For densities greater than 0.65, the calibration constants of the instrument have a variation with density that must necessarily change suddenly as the start-up speed, represented by the calibration constant B, becomes zero around this value of air density. To highlight the relevance of the present research, some estimations of the effect of wind speed measurement errors associated with air density changes on the Annual Energy Production (AEP) of wind turbines are included. A 1.5% decrease in the AEP forecast at air density corresponding to 2917 m above sea level is estimated for 3000–4500 kW wind turbines.
The concept of a pedal curve is used in geometry as a generation method for a multitude of curves. The definition of a pedal curve is linked to the concept of minimal distance. However, an ...interesting distinction can be made for ℝ2. In this space, the pedal curve of another curve C is defined as the locus of the foot of the perpendicular from the pedal point P to the tangent to the curve. This allows the generalization of the definition of the pedal curve for any given angle that is not 90º.In this paper, we use the generalization of the pedal curve to describe a different method to generate a limaçon of Pascal, which can be seen as a singular case of the locus generation method and is not well described in the literature. Some additional properties that can be deduced from these definitions are also described.
Is the automatic embryo grading function of specific time-lapse systems clinically useful as a decision support tool for IVF laboratories?
Blastocyst grading according to the automatic scoring system ...is directly associated with the likelihood of implantation and live birth, at least in treatments without preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy (PGT-A).
Several embryo selection algorithms have been described since the introduction of time-lapse technology in IVF laboratories, but no one algorithm has yet been sufficiently consolidated for universal use. Multicentric models based on automated grading systems offer promise for standardization of embryo selection.
A retrospective cohort study was performed including 1678 patients who underwent IVF treatments between 2018 and 2020 and whose embryos (n = 12 468) were cultured in time-lapse systems.
After obtaining the required parameters (division time to 2, 3, 4 and 5 cells; time of blastocyst formation; inner cell mass quality; and trophectoderm quality), the automatic embryo score was calculated using the software included in the appropriate workstation. First, embryo score was compared with conventional morphological quality and the subsequent clinical outcomes of 1952 single blastocyst transfers. Second, we quantified the contribution of the automatic embryo score and conventional morphological grade to implantation and live birth outcome with multivariate logistic regression analysis in different patient populations.
A higher embryo score was associated with a better clinical outcome of IVF treatment. The mean of the automatic embryo score varied significantly (P < 0.001) among embryos with different morphological categories, between euploid and aneuploid embryos, between embryos resulting in positive versus negative pregnancy, between implanted and non-implanted embryos, and between embryos resulting in positive and negative live birth. Embryo score was related to the odds of implantation and live birth in the oocyte donation program (odds ratio (OR)=1.29; 95% CI 1.19-1.39; P < 0.001 for implantation and OR = 1.26; 95% CI 1.16-1.36; P < 0.001 for live birth) and in conventional treatments with autologous oocytes (OR = 1.38; 95% CI 1.24-1.54; P < 0.001 for implantation and OR = 1.47; 95% CI 1.30-1.65; P < 0.001 for live birth). There was no significant association of embryo score with implantation or live birth in treatments involving PGT-A.
This study is limited by its retrospective nature. Further prospective randomized trials are required to confirm the clinical impact of these findings. The single-center design should be taken into account when considering the universal application of the model.
Evidence of the clinical efficiency of automated embryo scoring for ranking embryos with different morphological grade and potential in order to achieve higher implantation and live birth rates may make it a decision support tool for embryologists when selecting blastocysts for embryo transfer.
This research has been funded by a grant from the Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities FIS (PI21/00283) awarded to M.M. There are no competing interests to declare.
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ABSTRACTActivated microglia and increased brain IL‐1β play a main role in cognitive impairment in much pathology. We studied the role of IL‐1β in neuroinflammation‐induced impairment of the following ...different types of learning and memory: novel object recognition (NOR), novel object location (NOL), spatial learning, reference memory (RM), and working memory (WM). All these processes are impaired in hyperammonemic rats. We assessed which of these types of learning and memory are restored by blocking the IL‐1 receptor in vivo in hyperammonemic rats and the possible mechanisms involved. Blocking the IL‐1 receptor reversed microglial activation in the hippocampus, perirhinal cortex, and prefrontal cortex but not in the postrhinal cortex. This was associated with the restoration of NOR and WM but not of tasks involving a spatial component (NOL and RM). This suggests that IL‐1β would be involved in neuroinflammation‐induced nonspatial memory impairment, whereas spatial memory impairment would be IL‐1β–independent and would be mediated by other proinflammatory factors.—Taoro‐González, L., Cabrera‐Pastor, A., Sancho‐Alonso, M., Arenas, Y. M., Meseguer‐Estornell, F., Balzano, T., ElMlili, N., Felipo, V. Differential role of interleukin‐1β in neuroinflammation‐induced impairment of spatial and nonspatial memory in hyperammonemic rats. FASEB J. 33, 9913–9928 (2019). www.fasebj.org
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