Multiyear outcomes using sibling oocytes demonstrates safety and efficacy of a simplified culture system consistent with use in a low-cost IVF setting.

Research Question: Can a novel closed simplified IVF culture system be used to achieve outcomes comparable to those obtained with intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) followed by conventional culturing?

Design: This analysis is part of a non-inferiority prospective study comparing ICSI and a simplified culture system (SCS) for gamete fertilization in a selected group of patients. According to protocol, sibling oocytes in intact cumulus-oocyte complexes were randomly distributed between ICSI and conventional insemination in the SCS. For women, selection criteria included being under 43 years of age and at least six eggs at retrieval.

Microbial bloom formation in a high pH spent nuclear fuel pond.

Microorganisms are able to colonise a wide range of extreme environments, including nuclear facilities. In this study, the First Generation Magnox Storage Pond (FGMSP) a high pH, legacy spent nuclear fuel pond (SNFP) situated at Sellafield, Cumbria, UK, was studied. Despite the inhospitable conditions in the FGMSP, microorganisms can cause "blooms" within the facility which to date have not been studied.

Oocyte insemination with the Walking Egg simplified IVF culture system - an investigation into reduced sperm numbers, sperm DNA fragmentation and reactive oxygen species formation.

Research Question: What is the lowest number of sperm that can be used for oocyte insemination during either conventional or the Walking Egg simplified IVF? Does the use of low numbers of sperm in high volume (1 ml) culture media have an effect on sperm DNA fragmentation and reactive oxygen species formation? Also, does the extended co-incubation of embryos with sperm and cumulus cells in the Walking Egg culture tubes induce higher levels of reactive oxygen species?

Design: Binding of sperm to the zona pellucida was compared using a modified hemi-zona assay. In the first part of the study, the binding capacity of decreasing concentrations of motile spermatozoa was evaluated, followed by a comparison of sperm binding after simulated insemination by conventional or the Walking Egg simplified culture protocol. Sperm DNA fragmentation was determined between test and control samples in the second part of the study and reactive oxygen species was measured in spent culture media.

The use of micro-algal biomass as a carbon source for biological sulphate reducing systems.

An upflow anaerobic digestor was fed dried algal biomass as a carbon source to establish the feasibility of using micro-algal biomass as the sole carbon source for biological sulphate reduction. The effect of the COD:SO4 ratio on substrate consumption and sulphate removal efficiencies were assessed by varying the organic carbon content of the media. Similar COD removal efficiencies were obtained irrespective of the influent COD:SO4 ratios, which were 8.

Tannery effluent as a carbon source for biological sulphate reduction.

Tannery effluent was assessed as a carbon source for biological sulphate reduction in a pilot-scale upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB), stirred tank reactor (STR) and trench reactor (TR). Sulphate removals of between 60-80% were obtained in all three reactors at total sulphate feed levels of up to 1800 mg l(-1). Sulphate removal in the TR (400-500 mg SO4 l(-1) day(-1)) and UASB (up to 600 mg SO4 l(-1) day(-1)) were higher than those obtained in the STR (250 mg SO4 l(1) day(-1)).