Hidden Markov model-based activity recognition for toddlers.

Objective: Physical activity has been shown to impact future health outcomes in adults, but little is known about the long-term impact of physical activity in toddlers. Accurately measuring the specific types and amounts of physical activity in toddlers will help us to understand, predict, and better affect their future health outcomes. Although activity recognition has been extensively developed for adults as well as older children, toddlers move in ways that are significantly different from older children, indicating the need for a more tailored approach.

Parental quality of life and self-efficacy in pediatric asthma.

Self-efficacy is the personal belief that a behavior can produce a desired result; and in asthma, self-efficacy in asthma care has been related to improvements in asthma outcomes and children's quality of life. To appreciate the full burden of asthma on families, the relationship between parental self-efficacy and quality of life also needs further study. We aim to characterize this relationship.

Hip and Wrist-Worn Accelerometer Data Analysis for Toddler Activities.

Although accelerometry data are widely utilized to estimate physical activity and sedentary behavior among children age 3 years or older, for toddlers age 1 and 2 year(s), accelerometry data recorded during such behaviors have been far less examined. In particular, toddler's unique behaviors, such as riding in a stroller or being carried by an adult, have not yet been examined. The objective of this study was to describe accelerometry signal outputs recorded during participation in nine types of behaviors (i.

In vitro blastocyst development from serially split mouse embryos and future implications for human assisted reproductive technologies.

Objective: To assess the efficacy of serial splitting of mouse embryos with respect to blastocyst development.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Commercial research facility.

In-vitro developmental potential of individual mouse blastomeres cultured with and without zona pellucida: future implications for human assisted reproduction.

This study was designed to compare the developmental potential of individual blastomeres derived from 2-, 4-, 6- and 8-cell mouse embryos cultured with and without zona pellucida (ZP). In the first series, one, three, five and seven blastomeres were biopsied from 2-, 4-, 6- and 8-cell embryos respectively, and inserted individually into empty ZP recipients, leaving the remaining blastomere within its original ZP. In the second series, the same protocol was used except that the biopsied blastomeres were cultured without ZP and compared with the remaining blastomere within its original ZP.

Possible therapy of male infertility by reproductive cloning: one cloned human 4-cell embryo.

This study was conducted to evaluate the preimplantation embryonic potential of adult somatic cells from an infertile man using an interspecies bioassay for quality control and also to create human embryos via somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT). Skin tissue was biopsied from infertile man to obtain fibroblast cells. These cells were fused with both enucleated bovine oocytes obtained commercially and human oocytes obtained from his wife.

Relationships among frozen-thawed sperm characteristics assessed via the routine semen analysis, sperm functional tests and fertility of bulls in an artificial insemination program.

Frozen semen specimens from 22 Holstein bulls representing a wide range of field fertility levels or nonreturn rates (NRR) were used in this study. Semen specimens were thawed at 37 degrees C for a minimum of 30 sec, followed by assessment via a routine semen analysis (RSA) and other sperm functional tests. The RSA was performed by assessing sperm count, motility and morphological characteristics.

Seminal characteristics and sexual behavior in men of different age groups: is there an aging effect?

Aim: To assess the seminal characteristics as well as the sexual behavior of men of various age groups to establish the presence of an aging effect on those characteristics.

Methods: Semen samples were collected from men (n = 792) undergoing in vitro fertilization or intrauterine insemination in cases of female factor infertility only. Samples were collected using a seminal collection device at intercourse and evaluated manually according to World Health Organization (WHO) standards.

Evaluation of the embryonic preimplantation potential of human adult somatic cells via an embryo interspecies bioassay using bovine oocytes.

Objective: To examine the embryonic preimplantation potential of human adult somatic cells by creating interspecies embryos via somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) using bovine oocytes.

Design: Prospective study.

Setting: Research facility of Reprogen.

Viability and fecundity of human semen specimens cryostored and transported at 5 degrees C using the Bio-Tranz shipping.

This study was designed to assess the viability and fecundity of semen stored at 5 degrees C for 24 hours using the Bio-Tranz shipping system. Semen specimens were assessed for motility and sperm membrane integrity at the time of collection and 24 hours after storage in the Bio-Tranz. In group 1 (n = 61), specimens were diluted in TYB, processed and used for intrauterine insemination (IUI), leaving an aliquot for storage for 24 hours in the Bio-Tranz.

Efficient blastomere biopsy for mouse embryo splitting for future applications in human assisted reproduction.

The objective of the current study was to establish a safe, efficient biopsy procedure for embryo splitting using the mouse model for future applications in human assisted reproduction. From mouse embryos at the 2-, 4-, 6- and 8-cell stage, half the number of blastomeres were microsurgically biopsied and transferred into empty mouse zonae pellucidae. Twin embryonic development was monitored during in-vitro culture.

Stem cells and cellular therapy: potential treatment for cardiovascular diseases.

This paper reviews the current status of cloning and stem cell research and its application to treating various diseases, particularly cardiovascular disease. Recently new techniques have been developed to isolate embryonic stem cells from preimplantation embryos. These cells are undifferentiated and are therefore able to develop into the cells of whichever organ it is in contact with.

Clinical management of men producing ejaculates characterized by high levels of dead sperm and altered seminal plasma factors consistent with epididymal necrospermia.

Sperm quality and viability can be improved in healthy men with epididymal necrospermia by requesting a second ejaculate 60 minutes after the first specimen is obtained.

The effect of colloid osmotic pressure in human spermatozoa exposed to hypoosmotic conditions.

The use of a protein source such as serum and albumin had been extensively employed as supplements of culture media for handling and culture of gametes and embryos. Protein molecules behave as colloids in solution and contribute to the osmotic pressure of fluids. The interaction of proteins in solution and spermatozoa needs to be assessed in order to determine their possible role in osmoregulation.

Intracytoplasmic injection using spermatids and subsequent pregnancies: round versus elongated spermatids.

The purpose of this clinical trial study was to report the outcome of intracytoplasmic injection of round (RS) and elongated (ES) spermatids retrieved from the testis of nonobstructive men. Seven and three cycles using RS and ES injections were performed, respectively. Only one cycle utilizing the late stage of ES (Sd2) resulted in an on-going pregnancy.

Comparison between the quality and function of sperm after semen processing with two different methods.

Aim: To compare the recovery rate of morphologically normal and chromatin condensed spermatozoa from native semen samples using the SpermPrep filtration columns and Percoll gradient centrifugation and to determine the influence of the two processing techniques on fertilization and pregnancy rates in an IVF-ET program.

Methods: Sixteen semen samples obtained from patient's husband were included in this study. Each was divided into two aliquots.

Assessment of two devices for in vitro preparation of human sperm.

The aim of the study was to assess and compare the efficiency of the ZSC-II versus the Sperm Select techniques in preparing human sperm from normozoospermic patients for use in intrauterine insemination and other assisted reproductive technologies. Twenty-five patients were included in the study. Semen was collected at intercourse and processed via 2 sperm preparation methods.

Viability of human semen specimens cryostored and transported at 5 C using the Bio-Tranz shipping system.

Objective: Transport of unprocessed human semen specimens from the production site to distant laboratories for andrological evaluation and clinical use requires the development of proper protocols and devices for the shipment and maintenance of sperm viability during transport. Factors such as maintenance of proper temperature and the specific diluent used are considered to affect the viability of semen specimens during transport. The Bio-Tranz shipper (ZDL, Inc.

Outcome of in vitro fertilization (IVF) and intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) using human sperm prepared via a new standardized swim-up technique fit for office use.

Objective: Recent developments in the assisted reproductive technology (ART) areas necessitate the use of new and more efficient and acceptable modes of gamete in vitro manipulation techniques. As established via the use of various forms of ART, the natural process of fertilization has been largely bypassed and the gametes are obtained and manipulated outside of the normal means of conception. For the male, improvements in sperm quality have involved the use of various techniques that aim to recover a small percentage of healthy spermatozoa that can be further used for the different ART procedures.