Technique-Dependent Relationship between Local Ski Bending Curvature, Roll Angle and Radial Force in Alpine Skiing.

Skiing technique, and performance are impacted by the interplay between ski and snow. The resulting deformation characteristics of the ski, both temporally and segmentally, are indicative of the unique multi-faceted nature of this process. Recently, a PyzoFlex ski prototype was presented for measuring the local ski curvature (w″), demonstrating high reliability and validity.

Boosting Dose of Pfizer-BioNtech mRNA Vaccine Against SARS-CoV-2 Does Not Affect Reproductive Outcomes in In-Vitro Fertilization Patients: A Cohort Study.

Since the introduction of anti-COVID-19 mRNA vaccination, few studies have shown that reproductive outcomes in artificial reproductive technology (ART) treatments are not impaired, after receiving the two-dose regimen. Our aim was to investigate whether a boosting dose of the Pfizer-BioNtech mRNA vaccine affects reproductive outcomes in ART patients. This is a prospective observational study, including 157 consecutive in-vitro fertilization (IVF) cycles between October 1, 2021, and November 24, 2021, in a single university affiliated IVF unit.

Mild COVID-19 Was Not Associated with Impaired IVF Outcomes or Early Pregnancy Loss in IVF Patients.

Data collection regarding the effects of COVID-19 on reproduction is ongoing. This study examined the effect of COVID-19 on IVF cycle parameters and early pregnancy outcomes. It included two arms: the first compared non-exposed cycles to post-SARS-CoV-2 IVF cycles.

Validation of a Sensor-Based Dynamic Ski Deflection Measurement in the Lab and Proof-of-Concept Field Investigation.

Introduction: Ski deflection is a performance-relevant factor in alpine skiing and the segmental and temporal curvature characteristics (m−1) along the ski have lately received particular attention. Recently, we introduced a PyzoFlex® ski deflection measurement prototype that demonstrated high reliability and validity in a quasi-static setting. The aim of the present work is to test the performance of an enhanced version of the prototype in a dynamic setting both in a skiing-like bending simulation as well as in a field proof-of-concept measurement.

The Impact of Internal Medicine Clerkship Characteristics and NBME Subject Exams on USMLE Step 2 Clinical Knowledge Exam Performance.

Background: Residency program directors will likely emphasize the United States Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE) Step 2 clinical knowledge (CK) exam more during residency application given the recent USMLE Step 1 transition to pass/fail scoring. We examined how internal medicine clerkship characteristics and NBME subject exam scores affect USMLE Step 2 CK performance.

Design: The authors used univariable and multivariable generalized estimating equations to determine associations between Step 2 CK performance and internal medicine clerkship characteristics and NBME subject exams.

"Who needs an app? Fertility patients' use of a novel mobile health app".

Objective: The number of couples experiencing infertility treatment has increased, as has the number of women and men experiencing infertility treatment-related stress and anxiety. Therefore, there is a need to provide information and support to both men and women facing fertility concerns. To achieve this goal, we designed a mhealth app, that provided men and women with tailored medical, psychosocial, lifestyle, and legal information.

Loss of heterochromatin and retrotransposon silencing as determinants in oocyte aging.

Mammalian oocyte quality reduces with age. We show that prior to the occurrence of significant aneuploidy (9M in mouse), heterochromatin histone marks are lost, and oocyte maturation is impaired. This loss occurs in both constitutive and facultative heterochromatin marks but not in euchromatic active marks.

Kinematic and Kinetic Gait Parameters Can Distinguish between Idiopathic and Neurologic Toe-Walking.

The differentiation between mild forms of toe-walking (equinus) in cerebral palsy (CP) and idiopathic toe-walking (ITW) is often clinically challenging. This study aims to define kinematic and kinetic parameters using 3D gait analysis to facilitate and secure the diagnosis of "idiopathic toe-walking". We conducted a retrospective controlled stratified cohort study.

Curvature Detection with an Optoelectronic Measurement System Using a Self-Made Calibration Profile.

So far, no studies of material deformations (e.g., bending of sports equipment) have been performed to measure the curvature (w″) using an optoelectronic measurement system OMS.

'Why have women not returned to use their frozen oocytes?': a 5-year follow-up of women after planned oocyte cryopreservation.

Research Question: What are the reproductive choices and retrospective reflections of women at least 4 years after planned oocyte cryopreservation (POC)?

Design: This was an internet survey, using the REDCap application, of women who underwent POC, at a single-centre university-affiliated IVF unit, 4-8 years before the survey. The questionnaire addressed reproductive choices and outcomes following POC.

Results: Seventy-nine women who underwent POC during 2011-2014 were invited to participate, and 70 (89%) responded.

Ovarian follicular function is not altered by SARS-CoV-2 infection or BNT162b2 mRNA COVID-19 vaccination.

Study Question: Does the immune response to coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection or the BNT162b2 mRNA vaccine involve the ovarian follicle, and does it affect its function?

Summary Answer: We were able to demonstrate anti-severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) IgG in follicular fluid (FF) from both infected and vaccinated IVF patients, with no evidence for compromised follicular function.

What Is Known Already: No research data are available yet.

Study Design, Size, Duration: This is a cohort study, composed of 32 consecutive IVF patients, either infected with COVID-19, vaccinated or non-exposed, conducted between 1 February and 10 March 2021 in a single university hospital-based IVF clinic.

EMR Precharting Efficiency in Internal Medicine: A Scoping Review.

Purpose: The act of precharting, or navigating the EMR to review a patient's recent vitals, labs, notes, and other results, is something that is required of every clinician prior to effective rounding on patients. The purpose of this scoping review is to review the extant literature on precharting.

Methods: Scholarly data through OVID on Medscape and grey literature were systematically searched with extensive inclusion criteria including the terms "Pre-round" "precharting" as well as "student" "education" or "teach" adjacent to "EMR" or "electronic medical record" or "electronic health record" or "documentation.

A Novel Sensor Foil to Measure Ski Deflections: Development and Validation of a Curvature Model.

The ski deflection with the associated temporal and segmental curvature variation can be considered as a performance-relevant factor in alpine skiing. Although some work on recording ski deflection is available, the segmental curvature among the ski and temporal aspects have not yet been made an object of observation. Therefore, the goal of this study was to develop a novel ski demonstrator and to conceptualize and validate an empirical curvature model.

How far is too far? Does time interval between GnRH antagonist and GnRH agonist trigger in GnRH antagonist cycles matter?

Research Question: What is a suitable time interval between the last GnRH antagonist exposure and GnRH agonist (GnRHa) triggering for final follicular maturation?

Design: A retrospective cohort study including 413 patients undergoing GnRH antagonist cycles in which GnRHa trigger was used, either solely or as a dual trigger. The primary outcome measure was the follicle/mature oocyte ratio. Cycles were analysed according to the time interval between the last GnRH antagonist exposure and the GnRHa triggering: Group 1 included patients with a 12-14 h interval; Group 2: 7-10 h interval; Group 3: 5-6 h interval and Group 4: 2-4 h interval.

'Luckily, I don't believe in statistics': survey of women's understanding of chance of success with futile fertility treatments.

Research Question: Why are women who face poor prognoses for success in assisted reproductive technology (ART) treatment choosing to pursue procedures using their own eggs, despite receiving information that their chances of success are very low.

Design: Cross-sectional study based on an anonymous questionnaire distributed to women aged between 43 and 45 years, undergoing ART using their own oocytes, at six public outpatient fertility clinics and three public in-hospital IVF units in Israel between 2015 and 2016. The main outcome measure was personal estimation of chance to achieve a live birth after the current ART treatment cycle and the cumulative estimated rate after all the treatment cycles the patient intended to undergo.

Classification of Alpine Skiing Styles Using GNSS and Inertial Measurement Units.

In alpine skiing, four commonly used turning styles are snowplow, snowplow-steering, drifting and carving. They differ significantly in speed, directional control and difficulty to execute. While they are visually distinguishable, data-driven classification is underexplored.

Automotive Lidar Modelling Approach Based on Material Properties and Lidar Capabilities.

Development and validation of reliable environment perception systems for automated driving functions requires the extension of conventional physical test drives with simulations in virtual test environments. In such a virtual test environment, a perception sensor is replaced by a sensor model. A major challenge for state-of-the-art sensor models is to represent the large variety of material properties of the surrounding objects in a realistic manner.

Predictors of infertility-related concerns in a Canadian survey of men and women seeking fertility treatment.

Objective: To examine if and how factors associated with infertility-related concerns and opportunity to discuss concerns differ between male and female fertility patients.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 313 female and 254 male patients recruited from Canadian fertility clinics. An online survey asked about sociodemographic characteristics, psychological distress, the severity of psychosocial concerns on a scale of 0 (not concerned) to 5 (very concerned) related to fertility treatment, and their opportunity and desire to discuss concerns with healthcare providers (HCPs).

Outcomes of ovarian stimulation and fertility preservation in breast cancer patients with different hormonal receptor profiles.

Purpose: To evaluate fertility preservation outcomes in breast cancer women with different hormonal receptor profiles before oncological treatment.

Methods: The study population included women with a diagnosis of breast cancer who underwent fertility preservation from 2009 until 2018 at a university-affiliated tertiary hospital. Stimulation parameters and fertility preservation outcomes were compared among the following receptor-specific profile groups: (1) estrogen receptor positive (ER+) versus estrogen receptor negative (ER-), (2) triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) versus estrogen and progesterone receptor positive (ER+/PR+), and (3) TNBC versus non-TNBC.

Cancer in IVF patients treated at age 40 years and older: long term follow-up.

Research Question: Current knowledge of cancer risk among women who undergo IVF is based mainly on studies of women treated in their thirties, frequently with short follow-up periods. Therefore, information about cancer risk among infertile menopausal women is limited. We aimed to evaluate the risk of cancer among IVF patients treated at age 40 years and older, followed up for an extended period.

Searching the Internet for Infertility Information: A Survey of Patient Needs and Preferences.

Background: Given the complexity of infertility diagnoses and treatments and the convenience of the internet for finding health-related information, people undergoing infertility treatments often use Web-based resources to obtain infertility information and support. However, little is known about the types of information and support resources infertility patients search for on the internet and whether these resources meet their needs.

Objective: The aims of this study were to (1) examine what individual factors, namely, demographic characteristics and distress, are associated with searching the internet for different types of infertility-related information and support resources and (2) determine whether Web-based resources meet the needs of patients.

The Brandenburg reformed medical curriculum: study locally, work locally.

The Brandenburg Medical School "Theodor Fontane" (MHB) was founded in 2014 by municipal and non-profit institutions in Bernau, Brandenburg an der Havel and Neuruppin to train more physicians for the non-metropolitan region of Brandenburg. Since the 2015 summer term, 48 medical students have been enrolled each year, accepted through the university's own selection process in which the score on the German school-leaving exam and time spent on the waiting list play subordinate roles. Tuition fees can be partially financed through scholarship agreements with regional hospitals if the applicants commit themselves to medical specialist training at a particular hospital.