Embryo quality and chromosomal abnormality in embryos from couples undergoing assisted reproductive technology using preimplantation genetic screening

Objective:To detect common chromosomal aneuploidy variations in embryos from couples undergoing assisted reproductive technology and preimplantation genetic screening and their possible associations with embryo quality.Methods:In this study,359 embryos from 62 couples were screened for chromosomes 13,21,18,X,and Y by fluorescence insitu hybridization.For biopsy of blastomere,a laser was used to remove a significantly smaller portion of the zona pellucida.One blastomere was gently biopsied by an aspiration pipette through the hole.After biopsy,the embryo was immediately returned to the embryo scope until transfer.Embryo integrity and blastocyst formation were assessed on day 5.Results:Totally,282 embryos from 62 couples were evaluated.The chromosomes were normal in 199(70.57%)embryos and abnormal in 83(29.43%)embryos.There was no significant association between the quality of embryos and numerical chromosomal abnormality(P=0.67).Conclusions:Embryo quality is not significantly correlated with its genetic status.Hence,the quality of embryos determined by morphological parameters is not an appropriate method for choosing embryos without these abnormalities.

Support from Healthcare Professionals for Couples/Partners Undergoing Assisted Reproductive Technology in Japan: A Literature Review

Background and Purpose: A growing number of couples/partners have been undergoing assisted reproductive technology (ART) in Japan. The purpose of this study was to clarify the support from healthcare professionals based on the support vectors in the Family Care/Caring Theory proposed by Hohashi (2015) through a literature review. Methods: Using Ichushi-Web, we searched for original articles using the keywords “assisted reproductive technology”, “infertility”, “family”, “couple”, “nursing”, “care”, and “support”. Thirteen articles suitable for the purpose of this study were subjected to content analysis. Family support was encoded and grouped into subcategories and categories, and classified according to support vectors. Results: A total of 21 categories of support from healthcare professionals was extracted. Intervention for family internal environment included seven categories, such as “Nursing professionals stay close to females”. Intervention for family system unit included five categories, such as “Nursing professionals adjust couple/partner relationships”. Intervention for micro system only included “Nursing professionals provide opportunities for peer support to the couples/partners” and intervention for macro system only included “Nursing professionals encourage medical doctors to relate to females”. Intervention for family chrono environment included seven categories, such as “Healthcare professionals resolve female’s anxieties”. Conclusion: The support from healthcare professionals could be organized by the support vectors of Family Care/Caring Theory, but intervention for supra system (culture, religion, etc.) was lacking. Moreover, because most support was directed toward females or couples/partners, male-focused direct and/or indirect support are also needed. .

理解为残疾人学习的教育技术:福祉技术(Assistive Technology)——访谈约翰霍普金斯大学学者约翰·卡斯特兰尼

随着技术的进步和社会的发展,为残疾人和弱势群体使用的教育技术——Assistive Technology也得到了较快的发展。访谈者参考日本学者后藤芳在其著作《福祉技术入门》中对辅助技术的翻译,在这里将Assistive Technology按照意译翻译为福祉技术。需要指出的是,有很多人将Assistive Technology翻译为辅助技术,为了能够体现新技术对残疾人和弱势群体的关爱和辅助,访谈者的翻译与此一致并考虑了技术使用目的与情境。访谈者通过面对面访谈约翰.霍普金斯大学的约翰.卡斯特兰尼副教授和之后的数次邮件和电话沟通,介绍了国际上福祉技术现状、相关研究、趋势、热点及相关政策;同时介绍了相关的学会、刊物、学者、流派、现状。我们希望本文能够引起更多中国教育技术及相关领域学者对福祉技术的关注、设计以及应用,关注和研究社会弱势群体教育问题。

Benign ovarian cysts in reproductive-age women undergoing assisted reproductive technology treatment

The scope of this review is to focus on the management of benign ovarian cyst in the reproductive-age group of women undergoing ART. Ovarian cysts are a common occurrence in this patient population. The differential diagnosis includes functional cysts, dermoid cysts, endometrioma. The appropriate evaluation includes medical history and physical examination, laboratory tests and imaging. The treatment options include conservative follow-up, medical treatment and surgery. This review will explore the differential diagnosis, appropriate work-up and treatment options to the various cyst types encountered.

Assisted Reproductive Technology for HIV-1 Serodiscordant Couples: A Review of Current Controversies

Since 1992, assisted reproductive technology （ART） has been reported as a viable means of helping HIV-1 serodiscordant couples achieve pregnancy while theoretically reducing the risk for viral transmission. While the sum of the evidence suggests that ART is effective and safe, numerous controversies still exist, The follow- ing review addresses several of the important issues involved in the use of ART for HIV-serodiscordant couples, including patient selection, semen processing techniques, post-process HIV testing, the use of lUI vs IVF-ICSI.

Assistive Technology Based on Robotics and Rise in China

The concept of assistive technology based on robotics,rehabilitation robot and intelligent assistive devices. Domestic intelligence assistive devices include intelligent prosthetics, intelligent orthotics, intelligent walker, assistive devices for smart home environment control, intelligent life assistive devices; Domestic intelligent rehabilitation robot include upper limb rehabilitation robot, hand rehabilitation robot, lower limb rehabilitation robot, robotic smart wheelchair, intelligent nursing bed, daily care robot,the development trend of intelligent assistive devices and rehabilitation robot.

Conceptual exploration of a gravity-assisted electrorheological fluid-based gripping methodology for assistive technology

Gripping devices help patients carry out everyday tasks and increase their independence.However,there seems to be a lack of bionic gripping technologies that can fully adapt to any possible shape,as the use of artificial fingers and predetermined grip settings limits the operating space.The development of a more agile device,which is operated by a simple control paradigm,could greatly benefit users.An electrorheological(ER)fluid system should be able to adapt to the shape of an object and then hold that configuration.The aim of this study was to explore if a conceptual prototype of an ER system could hold a geometric shape when it is activated.A test rig was constructed with a moving part(set in different silicone oils)that could be displaced using a tensometer.Silica particles were dispersed in the silicone oils,and a field with a voltage of 4 kV mm?1 was generated to activate the fluid.The results show that the developed system can support an increased force when activated and hold a simple geometric position without any noticeable delay.This outcome provides an initial proof of concept for a possible new(gravity-assisted)gripping approach using smart fluids,which could be developed with materials that are biocompatible and widely available.

Awareness and perception of assisted reproductive technology practice amongst women with infertility in Northern Nigeria

Background: Involuntary infertility is a tragedy in most African setting. This is due to premium placed on fertility as a result of roles children fulfill in the family and the society. Aetiologic factors of infertility in sub-Saharan Africa are mostly infection related and they are mainly associated with poor treatment outcome to conventional non assisted conception technique. Objective: To evaluate the level of awareness and perception of assisted conception treatment among women attending fertility clinic. Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study. Results: One hundred and ninety six women attending fertility clinic were interviewed. Mean age was 34.8year and mean duration of infertility of 4.1 years. Of the 196 infertile women interviewed, 150 (76.5%) have heard of Assisted Reproductive Technology treatment. Sources of information were mainly family relation (46%) and friends (28.7%). Knowledge on some of Assisted Reproductive Technology practices showed that 50.7% were aware that the treatment could fail, 36.8% knew it could be applied for male infertility treatment, 9.3% and 18.7% respectively are aware that donor oocyte and sperm could be used for treatment. Perception on babies conceived from assisted conception treatment revealed that 52% of patients interviewed could not comment if they are normal and natural babies. Majority of patients could not affirm if they will agree to the use of donor gamete or zygote for their treatment. Conclusion: Awareness of assisted conception treatment was high, however knowledge on specifics of treatment was low and perception on some of the practices was unfavorable. Sensitization of the public will help overcome some beliefs that may be at tangent to some practices of assisted conception.

Live birth rates of assisted reproductive technology treatment and spontaneous conception among subfertile couples in Singapore: A follow-up study

Objective: To explore the potential predictors of a live birth (LB) outcome among subfertile couples of Asian ethnicity undergoing the first fertility treatment cycle;to assess the cumulative live birth rates after successive cycles;and to determine the incidence rate of spontaneous conception (SC).Methods:Subfertile couples were grouped according to treatment modalities at the first fertility treatment cycle: intrauterine insemination (IUI),in vitro fertilization (IVF), intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and no treatment, and were followed-up for duration up to seven years. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used for statistical analyses. Results: Age of female subjects [35-38 years, odds ratio (OR): 0.39;≥39 years, OR: 0.14], uterine factor subfertility (OR: 5.24), and treatment modalities (ORs: IUI 0.25, IVF 2.33 and ICSI 1.91) significantly predicted a LB outcome (P<0.05). The cumulative live birth rates were 11.7% IUI, 41.5% IVF, 27.5% ICSI and 22.6% from frozen embryo transfer cycles. The cumulative SC rate was 24.6% in the non-treated group and 10.7% in the treated group. All LBs from IVF cycles were delivered by the second cycle and within four years, compared to SC delivery of within five years in the non-treated group and six years in the treated group. Conclusions:Age of female subject, uterine factor and modalities of treatment are significant predictors for LB outcome at the first cycle. Higher delivery rates could be achieved following fewer successive IVF cycles and within a shorter duration compared to SC.

Pregnancies Outcome after Assisted Reproductive Technology: A Multicenter Case Control Study in a Low Income Setting Douala, Cameroon

The objective was to assess the outcome of pregnancies after assisted reproductive technology (ART). It was a case-control study carried out in four health facilities in Douala-Cameroon, over a period of five years. The cases were pregnant women who conceived through ART and the controls were those who conceived naturally. Cases and controls were matched for maternal age and parity (one case for two controls). A logistic regression analysis was used to compute Odds ratios. Statistical significance was set at 0.05. A total of 174 women who conceived through ART and 348 who conceived naturally were enrolled. Some independent factors associated with ART were: age over 45 years [aOR: 7.55; 95% CI (1.55 - 36.76);p: 0.01], twin pregnancies [aOR: 16.55; 95% CI (7.91 - 34.60);p < 0.01], Cervical cerclage [aOR: 3.04; 95% CI (1.23 - 7.50);p: 0.01], miscarriages [aOR: 11.73; 95% CI (5.07 - 27.10);p: 0.01], elective cesarean section [aOR: 4.63; 95% CI (2.27 - 9.45);p: 0.01] and low birth weight [aOR: 3.32; 95% CI (1.90 - 5.82);p < 0.01]. Women who conceived by ART were older with higher rates of multiple pregnancy and complications. We recommend transfer of a single embryo.

Implementation and Evaluation of Infertility Reflection in Early Pregnancy after the Use of Assisted Reproductive Technology: A Feasibility Study

Background: This study aims to evaluate the infertility reflection in early pregnancy after assistive reproductive therapy (ART), including 1) process evaluation (the use and evaluation of infertility reflection) and 2) outcome evaluation (satisfaction of care needs, anticipatory anxiety towards the loss of a pregnancy or fetus, cognition of infertility experience, and depression and anxiety). Methods: This program evaluation study used a one-group pre-post-test design. The participants were 50 primiparas who had undergone ART at two fertility treatment facilities in a metropolitan area in Japan. For the infertility reflection, they conducted an online reflection. Data were collected three times: at the 5th week of pregnancy (Time 1), the 8th week of pregnancy as the final consultation at the clinic (Time 2), and the 16th week of pregnancy as the final point of early pregnancy (Time 3). Results: The data from 40 participants were analyzed. More than 80% of the users of the online reflection positively evaluated the appropriateness and usefulness of the methods and contents. Organized thoughts and feelings by reflection were shown as the reasons for the usefulness. The evaluation of the online reflection showed a relatively strong correlation with the Care Need Satisfaction Scale (CNSS) for both Time 2 and Time 3, but the online reflection did not show a significant correlation with the other outcome variables. There were no significant differences in outcome variables between users and non-users of online reflection between Time 2 and Time 3. Conclusions: Attempts at the reflection in early pregnancy require modified methods that do not have a negative impact and lead to the fulfillment of needs.

Clinical study of different fertilization methods of assisted reproductive technology on neonatal birth defects

Objective:To investigate the incidence of neonatal birth defects in assisted reproductive technology(ART)by in vitro fertilization(IVF)and intracytoplasmic sperm injection(ICSI).Methods:The clinical data of 4229 cases of singleton deliver by infertile patients under 35 years old who received IVF/ICSI-ET in our center were analyzed.According to different fertilization methods,they were divided into IVF group(2967 cases)and ICSI group(1262 cases).The general situation of birth,birth defects and the location of defects were compared between the two groups.Results:a total of 38 cases of neonatal birth defects were found,the incidence of birth defects was 0.89%,including 30 cases(1.01%)in IVF group and 8 cases(0.64%)in ICSI group.There was no significant difference in the incidence of birth defects between the two groups(P>0.05).There was also no significant difference in birth weight,gestational age and gender ratio between the two groups(P>0.05).Conclusion:Different fertilization methods in assisted reproductive technology do not increase the incidence of neonatal birth defects.

A review of SAGD technology development and its possible application potential on thin-layer super-heavy oil reservoirs

Super-heavy oil is a significant unconventional energy source,and more than 30 years of research have shown that steam-assisted gravity drainage(SAGD)technology is suitable for thick super-heavy oil reservoirs.Recently,more and more thin-layer super-heavy oil reservoirs have been discovered in China,while their deep buried depth and serous heterogeneity make the existing SAGD technology difficult to apply,so it is urgent to improve the existing SAGD technology for the thin-layer super-heavy oil.To this end,this paper focuses on the enlightenment of field application in SAGD technology.Firstly,based on typical SAGD field projects,the development history of SAGD technology in the world was reviewed,and the influence of reservoir physical properties on the application of SAGD technology in thin-layer superheavy oil reservoirs was analyzed.Secondly,the well pattern,wellbore structure,pre-heating,artificial lift,and monitor technique of SAGD were detailed described,and their adjustment direction was expounded for the development of thin-layer super-heavy oil reservoirs.Lastly,the gas-and solventassistant SAGD were comprehensively evaluated,and their application potential in thin-layer superheavy oil reservoirs was studied.The research results can provide theoretical guidance for the application of SAGD technology in thin-layer super-heavy oil reservoirs.

A Short Review of the Literature on Assistive Technologies for Alzheimer’s Patients and Their Caregivers

Alzheimer’s is one of the most disabling neurocognitive diseases. A person diagnosed with Alzheimer’s slowly loses cognitive function and ultimately becomes entirely dependent upon the caregivers. Caregivers must help the patient in everyday activities ranging from walking to cooking, eating, and so on. In most caregiving facilities, a single caregiver often handles more than one patient, which results in caregiver burnout. Researchers are developing useful technologies to prevent caregiver burnouts and facilitate families in the best possible manner. The goal of this purposive short review of literature is to study the modern tools, devices, and gadgets available to Alzheimer’s patients and caregivers and understand the focus areas for future research. The review identified a range of products and technologies that help in monitoring to diagnosis, aid therapy, and reduce the burden on caregivers. These technologies play a vital role in improving the quality of life for both the patients and the caregivers. The study identified reducing cost of the devices, increasing robustness and dependability of the devices, and various aspects of the assistive technologies, including ethical and privacy issues, as the focus areas for future research.

Recent Advances of Sensors for Assistive Technologies

In this paper, the recent advances of sensors incorporated in assistive technologies are presented. Based on the function and operation of modern assistive devices, a variety of sensors are described with their features and applications. Further improvements and future trend are pointed out and discussed.

Assistant pullback technique for main span closure of Sutong Bridge

Sutong Bridge is a cable-stayed steel box girder bridge with a main span of 1 088 m.The erection of upper structure adopts geometry control method and requires no change to the unit's size and the structure's none-stress geometry.Before main span closure,the cantilever of girder reaches 540.8 m,the structure state is noticeably influenced by external circumstances,the main span closure face great difficulty.By abstracting the advantage of the pullback method abroad and the domestic temperature-cutting method,a new assistant pullback method have put forward and bring into practice actually.In this paper,the analysis key point of practice conditions,key parameter of practice,main measures of the method and the performance is introduced.

Extraction of Carotenoids and Fatty Acids from Microalgae Using Supercritical Technology

The work described here is based on a comparative study of carotenoids and fatty acids extracted from Synechococcus sp. with (1) pure supercritical CO2, (2) CO2 with 5% (v/v) ethanol as cosolvent and (3) ultrasound-assisted extraction using N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF). The effects of extraction conditions on supercritical CO2 extraction with and within cosolvent were analyzed at different temperatures (40℃, 50℃ and 60℃) and pressures (200, 300 and 400 bars). SFE with CO2 proved to be the most selective method for the extraction of β-carotene, but under these conditions the contents of zeaxanthin and fatty acids were only comparable to or lower than those obtained with techniques that use SFE cosolvent. The SFE technique with CO2 and ethanol simultaneously extracted β-carotene and zeaxanthin and not only increased the concentrations of fatty acids obtained, but also helped to remove fatty acids (palmitoleic and linolenic acid) that were not obtained with pure CO2. Comparison of the supercritical technology with the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) shows that the former technique is the most appropriate due to the fact that ethanol is generally regarded as a safe solvent in comparison to DMF.

Research on the Application of CAI Computer Technology in the Teaching of Western Art History

The purpose of the computer aided instruction(CAI)is to improve the teachers'teaching efficiency and stimulate the students'interests in their learning.By using the modem means of the computer aided instruction(CAI),we can do a better job in our teaching.The application of the computer-aided instruction(CAI)in the art teaching should be guided by the new ideas and concepts in the best environment for the students to leam in the most efficient and intuitive way to promote the development of the educational modernization.The current situation of the CAI courseware assistant teaching is good as a whole,but there are still some shortcomings in three aspects:the teachers'CAI skill proficiency,the integration and sharing of the CAI teaching resources,and the frequency of the CAI courseware teaching.The teaching of the art history needs to be improved.

Optimal Rules to Adopt High Technology under Uncertainty

In the research of choosing the optimal timing for the high technology products, especially IT products to the market, most studies prefer to provide the scope or infnnum of timing. In this paper, an optimal rule is adopted to guild the timing of high technology product to the market, this idea is illustrated through the theory of optimal stopping, and a high approach is developed to theoretical framework for timing decision. On this basis, a random programming model is established, in which the objective function is the expected profit to adopt high technology and the constraint condition is the successful probability over critical value a with all variables beyond the rule, and it is used to find the optimal timing of adopt high technology product.

Russian Collaborative Development of Reproduction Technologies for the Sustainable Management of Amphibian Biodiversity

Reproduction technologies(RTs)can provide for the reliable reproduction of amphibians,as well as perpetuation of species genetic variation with the use of biobanks.In 1982,in anticipation of the biodiversity conservation crisis,major Russian institutions collaborated in a dynamic program to develop and implement RTs for the sustainable management of amphibian biodiversity.An initial primary focus was the captive breeding of threatened Russian endemic anuran and caudate species,using RTs that varied from environmental manipulation to the use of exogenous gonadotropic hormones to stimulate reproduction.These species were mostly from Palearctic or cool mountain regions,but also included a wide range of species from warm regions.Other early achievements included the successful cryopreservation of anuran spermatozoa and anuran diploid pluripotent cell nuclei,in order to store both the matrilineal and patrilineal genomes in biobanks,with their subsequent development to the blastula stage after implantation into enucleated oocytes.After the turn of the 21st Century,in support of the priorities of the Amphibian Conservation Action Plan(2007),we developed RTs for the refrigerated storage of testicular or urinary spermatozoa for days to weeks at 4℃,the cryopreservation of urinary spermatozoa using anovel cryoprotectant,the in vitro fertilisation of hormonally induced oocytes either fresh or after refrigerated ex situ or in situ storage,and the artificial insemination of salamanders with fresh spermatozoa.In this article,we describe previously unpublished techniques and techniques from obscure Russian sources.