New Insights on the Biomechanics of the Fetal Membrane.

During pregnancy, the Fetal Membrane (FM) is subjected to mechanical stretching that may result in preterm labor. The structural integrity of the FM is maintained by its collagenous layer. Disconnection and reconnection of molecular bonds between collagen fibrils is the fundamental process that governs the irreversible mechanical and supramolecular changes in the FM.

Association between betamethasone levels and respiratory distress syndrome in preterm births: A prospective cohort study.

The recommended fixed dosage of betamethasone for pregnancies at risk of preterm birth was determined in the 1970s, regardless of gestational age (GA), number of fetuses, and maternal weight. We aimed to examine the association between maternal and neonatal betamethasone serum levels and neonatal respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) and to examine whether levels correlate with maternal weight, GA, or number of fetuses. A prospective study was conducted at a single academic medical center between August 2016 and February 2019.

Indoors audio classification with structure image method for simulating multi-room acoustics.

In this paper, we introduce an extension of the image method for generating room impulse responses in a structure with more than a single confined space, namely, the structure image method (StIM). The proposed method, StIM, can efficiently generate a large number of environmental examples for a structure impulse response, which is required by current deep-learning methods for many tasks, while maintaining low computational complexity. We address the integration of the environment representation, produced by StIM, into the training process, and present a framework for training deep models.

Enthalpy of collagen interfibrillar bonds in fetal membranes.

During pregnancy, the fetal membrane (FM) is subjected to mechanical stretching that may result in preterm labor. The structural integrity of the FM is maintained by its collagenous layer. The disconnection and reconnection of molecular bonds between collagen fibrils are the fundamental processes that govern the irreversible mechanical and supermolecular changes in the FM.

On the Value of Alert Systems and Gentle Rule Enforcement in Addressing Pandemics.

The COVID-19 pandemic poses a major challenge to policy makers on how to encourage compliance to social distancing and personal protection rules. This paper compares the effectiveness of two policies that aim to increase the frequency of responsible health behavior using smartphone-tracking applications. The first involves enhanced alert capabilities, which remove social externalities and protect the users from others' reckless behavior.

Collagen bundling and alignment in equibiaxially stretched human amnion.

We study irreversible collagen arrangement processes in ex-vivo human amnions subjected to inflation tests, which simulate the mechanical conditions prior to and during the initiation of labor uterine contractions. The investigation is focused on the center of the membrane where the stresses are maximal and equibiaxial. Second harmonic generation reveals an unexpected collagen rearrangement in the compact layer that is responsible for the structural integrity of the fetal membrane.

The effects of long-term saline groundwater pumping for desalination on the fresh-saline water interface: Field observations and numerical modeling.

This study tests for the first time the long-term effects of pumping saline groundwater (SGW) as feed for a desalination plant on a coastal aquifer. Field measurements combined with 3D modeling of the hydrological conditions were conducted to examine the effects of SGW pumping on the aquifer system. The plant is next to the city of Almeria (South East Spain) and has been operating since 2006.

The effect of pumping saline groundwater for desalination on the fresh-saline water interface dynamics.

Over the past few decades, seawater desalination has become a necessity for freshwater supply in many countries worldwide, particularly in arid and semi-arid regions. One potentially high-quality feed water for desalination is saline groundwater (SGW) from coastal aquifers, which has lower fouling propensity than seawater. This study examines the effect of pumping SGW from a phreatic coastal aquifer on fresh groundwater, particularly on the dynamics of the fresh-saline water interface (FSI).

Guided CdSe Nanowires Parallelly Integrated into Fast Visible-Range Photodetectors.

One-dimensional semiconductor nanostructures, such as nanowires (NWs), have attracted tremendous attention due to their unique properties and potential applications in nanoelectronics, nano-optoelectronics, and sensors. One of the challenges toward their integration into practical devices is their large-scale controlled assembly. Here, we report the guided growth of horizontal CdSe nanowires on five different planes of sapphire.

Ectopic pregnancy risk factors for ART patients undergoing the GnRH antagonist protocol: a retrospective study.

Background: In-vitro fertilization is a known risk factor for ectopic pregnancies. We sought to establish the risk factors for ectopic pregnancy in GnRH antagonist cycles examining patient and stimulation parameters with an emphasis on ovulation trigger.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective, cohort study of 343 patients undergoing 380 assisted reproductive technology (ART) cycles with the GnRH antagonist protocol and achieving a clinical pregnancy from November 2010 through December 2015.

Fetal Biometry in the Israeli Population: New Reference Charts.

Background: Selection of appropriate reference charts for fetal biometry is mandatory to ensure an accurate diagnosis. Most hospitals and clinics in Israel use growth curves from the United States. Charts developed in different populations do not perform well in the Israeli population.

Measurement of betamethasone concentration in maternal serum treated for fetal lung maturity; Is it feasible?

Background: The association between maternal serum concentration of betamethasone given for fetal lung maturity and perinatal outcome has not been investigated. This may be due to an absence of a reliable method for measuring serum betamethasone concentrations. We aimed in the current study to assess the feasibility of a specific ELISA kit to measure the concentrations of betamethasone in maternal serum and to examine the trend of sequential measurements after a course of betamethasone for fetal lung maturity.

Clinical benefit using sperm hyaluronic acid binding technique in ICSI cycles: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

The human oocyte is surrounded by hyaluronic acid, which acts as a natural selector of spermatozoa. Human sperm that express hyaluronic acid receptors and bind to hyaluronic acid have normal shape, minimal DNA fragmentation and low frequency of chromosomal aneuploidies. Use of hyaluronic acid binding assays in intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) cycles to improve clinical outcomes has been studied, although none of these studies had sufficient statistical power.

[ABANDONED EMBRYOS OR SURPLUS FERTILIZED OOCYTES--SEEKING THE SOLUTION FOR A FROZEN BURNING PROBLEM].

Israel is a world leader in the utilization rate of in vitro fertilization (IVF). During many IVF cycles, spare fertilized oocytes are cryopreserved. Today, thousands of fertilized oocytes, cryopreserved long ago, are stored in Israeli IVF units.

Characterization of irreversible physio-mechanical processes in stretched fetal membranes.

Unlabelled: We perform bulge tests on live fetal membrane (FM) tissues that simulate the mechanical conditions prior to contractions. Experimental results reveal an irreversible mechanical behavior that appears during loading and is significantly different than the mechanical behavior that appears during unloading or in subsequent loading cycles. The irreversible behavior results in a residual strain that does not recover upon unloading and remains the same for at least 1h after the FM is unloaded.

Precesarean Prophylactic Balloon Catheters for Suspected Placenta Accreta: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Objective: To examine the effect of prophylactic balloon catheters on bleeding morbidity among women with a prenatal diagnosis of placenta accreta.

Methods: In a randomized trial, women with a prenatal diagnosis of placenta accreta were randomized to either preoperative prophylactic balloon catheters (intervention group) or to a control group. Other than placement of the prophylactic balloon catheters in the anterior division of the internal iliac arteries, the same multidisciplinary approach was used in both groups.

Trend in major neonatal and maternal morbidities accompanying the rise in the cesarean delivery rate.

The aim of the study was to explore a cesarean delivery rate (CDR) beyond which major neonatal and maternal morbidities may outweigh the benefits of the procedure itself. A retrospective population-based cohort study was conducted at a single university teaching hospital between 1993 and 2012. Pregnant women who delivered at a gestational age of 23 weeks or more were included.

A randomized trial comparing time intervals from HCG trigger to intrauterine insemination for cycles utilizing GnRH antagonists.

Intrauterine insemination (IUI) during ovarian stimulation cycles is typically performed 36 hours after human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) injection. We hypothesized that adjusting the time interval to IUI to better coincide with ovulation may increase pregnancy rates. Patients undergoing induction of ovulation utilizing gonadotropins and gonadotropin releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonists and IUI were divided to three groups based on the time from hCG injection to IUI: 36, 42, and 48 hours.

Lag time from ovulation trigger to oocyte aspiration and oocyte maturity in assisted reproductive technology cycles: a retrospective study.

Objective: To study the correlation between the lag time from ovulation trigger to oocyte aspiration and the proportion of metaphase II (MII) mature oocytes aspirated.

Design: Retrospective study.

Setting: Fertility and IVF center in an academic regional hospital.

Long-term outcome of obstetric anal sphincter injury repaired by experienced obstetricians.

Objective: To examine the long-term outcomes of women with obstetric anal sphincter injury (OASI) repaired by obstetricians without the involvement of colorectal surgeons.

Methods: A retrospective cohort study was undertaken of women who had been admitted for delivery between 2004 and 2012. All OASIs had been repaired by experienced obstetricians using the end-to-end technique.

Distribution of estrogen and progesterone receptors isoforms in endometrial cancer.

Background: 70-80% of sporadic endometrial carcinomas are defined as endometrioid carcinoma (EC). Early-stage, well differentiated endometrial carcinomas usually retain expression of estrogen and progesterone receptors (ER and PR, respectively), as advanced stage, poorly differentiated tumors often lack one or both of these receptors. Well-described EC prognosis includes tumor characteristics, such as depth of myometrial invasion.

Rescue intracytoplasmic sperm injection: a systematic review.

Objective: To assess the feasibility, efficacy, and safety of rescue intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) in cases of fertilization failure, using a scientific literature search.

Design: Systematic review.

Setting: Centers for reproductive care.

Establishment of fetal biometric charts using quantile regression analysis.

Objectives: Fetal growth evaluation is an essential component of pregnancy surveillance. There have been several methods used to construct growth charts. The conventional charts used in current daily practice are based on small numbers and traditional statistical methods.

Human amniotic epithelial cells differentiate into cells expressing germ cell specific markers when cultured in medium containing serum substitute supplement.

Background: Human amniotic epithelial cells (hAECs) maintain the plasticity of pregastrulation embryonic cells, having the potential to differentiate into all three germ layers. The potential of these cells to differentiate into cells expressing germ cell specific markers has never been described before.

Methods: In the present study, hAECs were cultured in medium containing serum substitute supplement (SSS).