Success of intracytoplasmic sperm injection in couples with male and/or female chromosome aberrations

This paper reports on results of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in patients in whom constitutional or secondary chromosome aberrations were detected in the male and/or female partner. Out of 434 couples treated by ICSI (590 cycles), 16 couples (3.7%) were affected by constitutional chromosome aberrations and 96 (22.1%) by secondary chromosome aberrations. Constitutional chromosome aberrations were found in eight male and eight female patients. Couples with the aberration in the male showed significantly lower fertilization, implantation and pregnancy rates (P < 0.05). The occurrence of female constitutional chromosome aberrations led to lower fertilization rates but implantation and pregnancy rates were similar to a control group; however, a higher abortion rate was noted. In the group with secondary chromosome aberrations, 22 males and 59 females carried an abnormality and in 15 couples, both partners. Compared to the remaining (unaffected) 322 couples, fertilization and embryo transfer rates were reduced but implantation rates and pregnancy rates were not different. In all couples where an abortion occurred, mainly parental autosomal aberrations were involved (six out of eight). Our retrospective analysis shows that an unexpectedly high number of infertile couples in an ICSI programme are affected by chromosome aberrations, which in turn may explain the reduced fertilization rates observed in this subgroup of patients.     

Ferroelasticity and ferroelectricity in betaine arsenate

Single crystals of betaine arsenate, an addition compound of the amino acid betaine with H₃AsO₄, were investigated by dielectric, optical, caloric, and X-ray methods. At room temperature betaine arsenate is ferroelastic with two different monoclinic domains. This state seems to disappear at 411 K. Below T_c = 119 K the ferroelastic domains show a ferroelectric behaviour with a spontaneous polarization P_s = 2μC/cm² at T = T_c - 35 deg.     

Si bipolar 14 Gb/s 1:4-demultiplexer IC for system applications

A 1:4-demultiplexer IC meeting the essential requirements for lightwave communication systems has been designed based on a 21 GHz f _T 0.4 μm Si bipolar process. The circuit provides features such as bit-rotation control, clock enable control, outputs aligned in time, and phase aligner for clock signals. It operates up to 14 Gb/s (14 GHz) with a phase margin of ⩾250°. The power consumption is 2 W with a -4.5 V supply. 1:16-demultiplexer operation is demonstrated on the basis of 1:4-demultiplexer IC's at 10 Gb/s     

A case of respiratory muscle weakness due to cytochrome c oxidase enzyme deficiency

BACKGROUND: Cytologic evaluation of abnormal nipple secretion is a well-established method for the rapid diagnosis of breast carcinoma in females. However, less attention has been focused on male patients presenting with nipple discharge. CASE: A case of intraductal carcinoma of the male breast was diagnosed by nipple discharge cytology alone. CONCLUSION: This report illustrates the usefulness of nipple discharge cytology in the diagnosis of early breast carcinoma in males.     

Nurse-midwifery service model in an academic environment

Chiral high performance liquid chromatography was used for the enantiometric separation of leucovorin. The optimal separation conditions recommended after optimizing the mobile phase composition, flow rate, and temperature are described. Achiral reversed-phase chromatographic method was applied for the simultaneous separation of methotrexate and leucovorin in clinical samples. Column-switching system including achiral short pre-column and chiral analytical column based on immobilized bovine serum albumin were used for simultaneous determination of leucovorin and methotrexate patients treated at the National Cancer Institute.     

Silicon oxynitride planar waveguiding structures for application inoptical communication

The refractive index of silicon oxynitride (SiON), a widely used material for integrated optics devices, can be chosen in a wide range between 1.45-2.0. We describe how the consequent large design freedom can be exploited on the one hand for a “standard” polarization independent optical channel waveguide having a favorable tradeoff between efficient fiberchip coupling and small bend radii (compact devices) and on the other hand for special-purpose and hybrid components where the refractive index should be finely adjusted for obtaining the desired functionality. We illustrate the applicability of SiON by describing a few devices for optical filtering in a new architecture for wavelength multiplexing, modulation, polarization splitting and second-harmonic generation     

Entwicklungsansätze für innovative Hochdrehzahlkupplung in E‑Fahrzeugen

Forschung im Ingenieurwesen - Die Vorteile von elektrischen Hochdrehzahlantrieben mit Mehrganggetriebe gegenüber aktuellen elektrischen Antrieben, konnten durch jüngste...