Efficacy of methods to synchronize follicular wave emergence in pregnant heifers.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of various methods for synchronization of follicular wave emergence (FWE) in pregnant heifers. Pregnant (60 d of gestation) Holstein heifers (n = 86) arranged in cohorts were randomly assigned to be administered 172 µg of gonadorelin acetate (GnRH), 3,300 IU of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), follicular ablation of follicles >5 mm (FA), or saline (control). Ultrasonography was performed to determine ovulation and emergence of a new follicular wave.

Chronic Offending and Its Relation to Homicide in a Large, Prospective Brazilian Birth Cohort.

Background: Many studies have found that a small group of chronic offenders is responsible for the majority of crimes and tend to be particularly violent. However, there is a major lack of evidence on chronic offending in low- and middle-income countries; understanding these patterns is especially important in settings with very high levels of serious violence, such as Brazil.

Aims: To identify the extent that crime is concentrated in chronic offenders and linked to violence and homicide in a Brazilian cohort.

Discovery of a DNA methylation profile in individuals with Sifrim-Hitz-Weiss syndrome.

Pathogenic heterozygous variants in CHD4 cause Sifrim-Hitz-Weiss syndrome, a neurodevelopmental disorder associated with brain anomalies, heart defects, macrocephaly, hypogonadism, and additional features with variable expressivity. Most individuals have non-recurrent missense variants, complicating variant interpretation. A few were reported with truncating variants, and their role in disease is unclear.

Development of chitosan-based films with invertase enzyme for active packaging: Physicochemical parameters, structure, application, and storage.

The use of active packaging made from biodegradable polymers can contribute to the environment and to the food industry by increasing the shelf life of their products. This study aimed to produce chitosan-based films incorporated with the invertase enzyme (1, 2, 5, 9, and 10 %) as an alternative to avoid sucrose crystallization in the confectionery industry. The optimum activity of the invertase enzyme was observed at 55 °C and pH 5, thus, the films made with the film-forming solution adjusted to pH 5 and dried at 55 °C were compared with those without pH adjustment and dried at room temperature.

Human fallopian tube organoids provide a favourable environment for sperm motility.

Study Question: Does a human fallopian tube (HFT) organoid model offer a favourable apical environment for human sperm survival and motility?

Summary Answer: After differentiation, the apical compartment of a new HFT organoid model provides a favourable environment for sperm motility, which is better than commercial media.

What Is Known Already: HFTs are the site of major events that are crucial for achieving an ongoing pregnancy, such as gamete survival and competence, fertilization steps, and preimplantation embryo development. In order to better understand the tubal physiology and tubal factors involved in these reproductive functions, and to improve still suboptimal in vitro conditions for gamete preparation and embryo culture during IVF, we sought to develop an HFT organoid model from isolated adult stem cells to allow spermatozoa co-culture in the apical compartment.