Assistive Technology Research Articles

The optimal design of assisted reproductive technologies policies.

This paper studies the optimal fiscal treatment of assisted reproductive technologies (ART) in an economy where individuals differ in their reproductive capacity (or fecundity) and in their wage. We find that the optimal ART tax policy varies with the postulated social welfare criterion. Utilitarianism redistributes only between individuals with unequal fecundity and wages but not between parents and childless individuals. To the opposite, ex post egalitarianism (which gives absolute priority to the worst-off in realized terms) redistributes from individuals with children toward those without children, and from individuals with high fecundity toward those with low fecundity, so as to compensate for both the monetary cost of ART and the disutility from involuntary childlessness resulting from unsuccessful ART investments. Under asymmetric information and in order to solve for the incentive problem, utilitarianism recommends to either tax or subsidize ART investments of low-fecundity-low-productivity individuals at the margin, depending on the degree of complementarity between fecundity and ART in the fertility technology. On the opposite, ex post egalitarianism always recommends marginal taxation of ART.

Factors affecting implantation: What really matters?

Factors affecting embryo implantation, particularly in assisted reproductive technology, remain controversial and poorly understood. Better understanding and optimization of the process of implantation in assisted reproductive technology is important to improving live birth rate and pregnancy outcomes. In this literature review, we examine the key factors involved in implantation and elaborate on current practice, emerging data, and gaps in knowledge.

Coronavirus disease and assisted reproduction in South Africa: a qualitative study

Objective: Little has been written about the effects of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on assisted reproduction services in low and middle-income countries. The purpose of this study was to investigate the immediate and long-term effects of assisted reproductive technology services in South Africa after 27 months of various lockdowns and restrictions associated with the pandemic. Methods: This article draws on data collected in 2020–2023 as part of a qualitative study of assisted reproduction within sub-Saharan Africa. Twenty-nine infertility specialists and other clinical staff including embryologists, clinic coordinators, ova donor coordinators, and nurses were interviewed and asked about the effects of the pandemic on their clinics and patients. A semistructured in-depth interview technique was used to collect the data. The analysis was conducted using the thematic analysis method. Result: Findings revealed that the immediate effects of the pandemic included the cancellations and deferral of assisted reproductive technology cycles and decreased numbers of cross-border patients. Challenges experienced by clinics in making decisions included whether to treat COVID-positive patients, increased costs of testing, and economic losses. Longer-term effects included the reconsideration of life priorities by both specialists and patients, and improved remote consultations and networking opportunities facilitated by the widespread dissemination of online platforms. There was also increased acceptability of the shipping and use of frozen gametes, leading to a perceived growth of the South African frozen oocyte trade. There was also decreased demand for add-ons, associated with the economic downturn post-pandemic in the region. Conclusion: COVID-19 carried costs (cancellation of cycles, a decrease in international patients, decrease in some procedures with the post-COVID economic downturn) but also unanticipated benefits for the practices and provision of services within infertility clinics in South Africa (increased gamete and embryo shipping; virtual patient consultations; improved virtual networking; greater use of local in vitro fertilization services). Further comparisons postpandemic in other low and middle-income countries are needed to understand the long-term implications.

PERSPECTIVE: Semen additives for improving frozen-thawed buffalo and cattle semen ‐ a review

This comprehensive review delves into the evolving landscape of assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs) in bovine species, particularly focusing on the pivotal roles of semen additives in the cryopreservation of buffalo and cattle semen. In developing nations, where ARTs are still emerging, these techniques significantly influence bovine reproductive strategies. In contrast, developed regions have embraced them as primary approaches for dairy buffalo and cattle breeding. Semen cryopreservation, while offering advantages like extended storage and genetic propagation, also presents challenges. These include diminished sperm quality due to reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, alterations in sperm structure, and temperature fluctuations. Further, the effect of cryopreservation differs between cattle and buffaloes, with the latter exhibiting poorer semen viability and fertility due to inherent lipid composition susceptibilities. The generation and implications of ROS, especially hydrogen peroxide, contribute significantly to sperm DNA damage and functional impairments. To counteract these challenges, research has intensified on semen additives, aiming to bolster semen quality and protect against oxidative stress-induced damage. As the field advances, the review emphasizes the need for optimized cryopreservation techniques and tailored antioxidant strategies to harness the full potential of ARTs in bovine breeding programs.

Advancing Accessibility through Automatic Speech Recognition and NLP Integration

Abstract: The integration of Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) and Natural Language Processing (NLP) technologies has the potential to revolutionize accessibility and inclusive communication. This article explores the fundamentals of ASR, including acoustic modeling, language modeling, and speech signal processing techniques, and discusses the challenges posed by language diversity in developing accurate ASR systems. The advent of ASR technology has opened up numerous possibilities for enhancing accessibility across various domains, such as assistive technology, education, healthcare, and media. The integration of ASR with NLP techniques enables the processing and analysis of spoken language data, leading to the development of voice-enabled virtual assistants, conversational AI systems, and cross-lingual communication tools. However, several challenges remain, including the need for robust and accurate ASR systems, privacy and security concerns, and ethical considerations in the development and deployment of these technologies. The article also presents future directions, such as the integration of ASR and NLP with emotion recognition and sentiment analysis, advances in deep learning techniques, and the application of these technologies in healthcare and accessibility. Overall, the integration of ASR and NLP holds immense promise for creating more natural, empathetic, and inclusive communication systems, but their development and deployment must be approached with care to ensure fairness, transparency, and user privacy.

Training and learning support for people with vision impairment in the use of smartphones and applications (apps): an exploratory Australasian survey.

Occupational therapists working in low vision rehabilitation make recommendations for assistive technology (AT) and provide training in AT use for people with vision impairment (PVI) to support participation and independence. Smartphones and apps are an important AT for PVI, yet little is known about the training needs of PVI or what training is currently provided. Research exploring PVI's learning and training experiences is required to inform training development. This study aimed to explore the perspectives, needs, and recommendations of PVI from Australia and Singapore on smartphone training methods. An online survey collected data between November 2020 to February 2021. Participants were recruited from Australia and Singapore using purposeful sampling. The survey had three sections: (i) demographics, (ii) use of smartphones and apps, and (iii) training. It consisted of 26 closed and open-ended questions. The quantitative results from the survey were analysed descriptively, and responses to open-ended questions were analysed using content analysis. Sixty-eight PVI responded to the survey, with 34 (50%) participants from each country. There were more Australians (n = 19/34, 55.9%) who had accessed formal training compared to Singaporeans (n = 11/34, 32.3%). Participants valued both formal and informal training, and self-training was the most used method for informal training (Australia: n = 29/34, 85%, Singapore: n = 22/34, 64.7%). Participants stated they preferred individualised formal training that caters to their learning needs and is provided by patient and knowledgeable trainers. They also preferred formal training, which is flexible and convenient to access, including online training with peers. Findings such as providing individualised training, ensuring increased awareness of formal training, and using both formal and informal training methods can be considered by occupational therapists to enhance and develop training for PVI in the use of smartphones and apps. Consumers were involved at the development stage. Three people with vision impairment reviewed and provided feedback on the survey's accessibility and content.

I Don’t Want to Sound Rude, but it’s None of their Business: Exploring Security and Privacy Concerns Around Assistive Technology Use in Educational Settings

Students with disabilities often use assistive technology to gain equal access to educational content. However, using this technology can lead to security and privacy concerns, including the possibility of disclosing a disability. In this work, we explore that and other privacy risks happening through the use of assistive technology in educational settings. We conducted interviews with eight students who use assistive technology, exploring the risks around in-person and online classes and how they changed as students moved to remote courses during the COVID-19 pandemic. We found that students were aware of in-person risks, but generally had not thought of the potential risks of online disclosure. Students were concerned about their disability being disclosed, especially without their explicit consent, but they considered trade-offs, including increased accessibility for themselves and others, that might make them more accepting of disclosure. Building on the interviews, we did an analysis of the privacy policies of the assistive technology that the students used, examining how potential privacy and security vulnerabilities were communicated. We found that, although there are identified vulnerabilities for many of the assistive technologies, the policies varied widely in whether or how much information they gave the user about the risks.

The cumulative live birth rate and cost-effectiveness of the clomiphene and gonadotropin cotreatment protocol versus the mid-luteal GnRH agonist protocol in women over 35 years old

The decrease in assisted reproductive technology success among older women, attributed to decreased oocyte quantity and quality, poses a significant challenge. Currently, no consensus on the optimal ovarian stimulation protocol for older women undergoing IVF exists. This retrospectively registered cohort study aimed to compare the cumulative live birth rate (CLBR), time to live birth (TTLB), and cost-effectiveness among women older than 35 years who were receiving either the gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) or clomiphene citrate and gonadotropin cotreatment with ovarian stimulation (CC cotreatment) protocol. To compare treatment outcomes, we performed propensity score matching (PSM) on 2871 IVF cycles in women older than 35 years who received either the GnRHa or CC cotreatment protocol, resulting in 375 cycles in each group. Additionally, a decision tree model was utilized to assess the cost-effectiveness of the two protocols. Following PSM, both groups had similar baseline characteristics. The CC cotreatment protocol resulted in a greater rate of cycle cancellation (13.07% vs. 8.00%, p = 0.032), but the groups maintained comparable fertilization rates and embryo quality. Although the TTLB was longer in the CC cotreatment group, the CLBR per initial cycle (41.07% vs. 45.33%, p = 0.269) and delivery outcomes were similar between the two groups at the 24 months follow-up. Additionally, the average cost per live birth in the CC cotreatment group was 21.27% lower than in the GnRHa group (¥32,301.42 vs. ¥39,174.22). In conclusion, for women older than 35 years undergoing IVF, the CC cotreatment protocol offered a comparable CLBR to the GnRHa protocol but with reduced costs, indicating its potential as a viable and cost-effective ovarian stimulation option.Clinical trial registration: https://www.chictr.org.cn/, identifier [ChiCTR2300076537].

Androgens (dehydroepiandrosterone or testosterone) for women undergoing assisted reproduction.

Practitioners in the field of assisted reproductive technology (ART) continually seek alternative or adjunct treatments to improve ART outcomes. This Cochrane review investigates the adjunct use of synthetic versions of two naturally produced hormones, dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) and testosterone (T), in assisted reproduction. Steroid hormones are proposed to increase conception rates by positively affecting follicular response to gonadotrophin stimulation. This may lead to a greater oocyte yield and, subsequently, an increased chance of pregnancy. To assess the effectiveness and safety of DHEA and T as pre- or co-treatments in infertile women undergoing assisted reproduction. We searched the following electronic databases up to 8 January 2024: the Gynaecology and Fertility Group (CGF) Specialised Register, CENTRAL, MEDLINE, Embase, PsycINFO, and trial registries for ongoing trials. We also searched citation indexes, Web of Science, PubMed, and OpenGrey. We searched the reference lists of relevant studies and contacted experts in the field for any additional trials. There were no language restrictions. Randomised controlled trials (RCTs) comparing DHEA or T as an adjunct treatment to any other active intervention, placebo, or no treatment in women undergoing assisted reproduction. Two review authors independently selected studies, extracted relevant data, and assessed risk of bias. We pooled data from studies using fixed-effect models. We calculated odds ratios (ORs) for each dichotomous outcome. Analyses were stratified by type of treatment. We assessed the certainty of evidence for the main findings using GRADE methods. We included 29 RCTs. There were 1599 women in the intervention group and 1469 in the control group. Apart from three trials, the trial participants were women identified as 'poor responders' to standard in vitro fertilisation (IVF) protocols. The included trials compared either T or DHEA treatment with placebo or no treatment. Pre-treatment with DHEA versus placebo/no treatment: DHEA likely results in little to no difference in live birth/ongoing pregnancy rates (OR 1.30, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.95 to 1.76; I² = 16%, 9 RCTs, N = 1433, moderate certainty evidence). This suggests that in women with a 12% chance of live birth/ongoing pregnancy with placebo or no treatment, the live birth/ongoing pregnancy rate in women using DHEA will be between 12% and 20%. DHEA likely does not decrease miscarriage rates (OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.53 to 1.37; I² = 0%, 10 RCTs, N =1601, moderate certainty evidence). DHEA likely results in little to no difference in clinical pregnancy rates (OR 1.18, 95% CI 0.93 to 1.49; I² = 0%, 13 RCTs, N = 1886, moderate certainty evidence). This suggests that in women with a 17% chance of clinical pregnancy with placebo or no treatment, the clinical pregnancy rate in women using DHEA will be between 16% and 24%. We are very uncertain about the effect of DHEA on multiple pregnancy (OR 3.05, 95% CI 0.47 to 19.66; 7 RCTs, N = 463, very low certainty evidence). Pre-treatment with T versus placebo/no treatment: T likely improves live birth rates (OR 2.53, 95% CI 1.61 to 3.99; I² = 0%, 8 RCTs, N = 716, moderate certainty evidence). This suggests that in women with a 10% chance of live birth with placebo or no treatment, the live birth rate in women using T will be between 15% and 30%. T likely does not decrease miscarriage rates (OR 1.63, 95% CI 0.76 to 3.51; I² = 0%, 9 RCTs, N = 755, moderate certainty evidence). T likely increases clinical pregnancy rates (OR 2.17, 95% CI 1.54 to 3.06; I² = 0%, 13 RCTs, N = 1152, moderate certainty evidence). This suggests that in women with a 12% chance of clinical pregnancy with placebo or no treatment, the clinical pregnancy rate in women using T will be between 17% and 29%. We are very uncertain about the effect of T on multiple pregnancy (OR 2.56, 95% CI 0.59 to 11.20; 5 RCTs, N = 449, very low certainty evidence). We are uncertain about the effect of T versus oestradiol or T versus oestradiol + oral contraceptive pills. The certainty of the evidence was moderate to very low, the main limitations being lack of blinding in the included trials, inadequate reporting of study methods, and low event and sample sizes in the trials. Data on adverse events were sparse; any reported events were minor. Pre-treatment with T likely improves, and pre-treatment with DHEA likely results in little to no difference, in live birth and clinical pregnancy rates in women undergoing IVF who have been identified as poor responders. DHEA and T probably do not decrease miscarriage rates in women under IVF treatment. The effects of DHEA and T on multiple pregnancy are uncertain. Data regarding adverse events were very limited; any reported events were minor. Research is needed to identify the optimal duration of treatment with T. Future studies should include data collection on adverse events and multiple pregnancy.

Exploring rehabilitation providers’ perspectives of assistive technology access after the implementation of a paediatric AT provision program in rural South India

A paediatric Assistive Technology (AT) Provision Program was implemented by a non-governmental rehabilitation facility in rural South India to support rehabilitation providers in providing needed AT access for children with disabilities. Capacity-building measures for providers and other supports based on the AT needs, barriers, and facilitators to AT access were implemented that aligned with the AT global report for low-middle income countries (LMIC). This study explores how the initiatives from the AT Provision Program have influenced the perspectives of rehabilitation providers on AT access. Using a qualitative design eight paediatric rehabilitation providers were purposively sampled for virtual semi-structured interviews. Findings were analysed using thematic analysis. Six overarching themes were identified: (1) Stigma associated with AT use, (2) Organisational response to changing needs, (3) Financial factors related to family socioeconomic status and the organisation providing AT services, (4) Inequity of AT service access in rural areas, (5) Provider AT awareness and confidence and, (6) Quality assurance. Rehabilitation providers’ experiences informed future AT capacity-building strategies within a low-resource context. Our findings provide valuable insights for the development of comprehensive AT Provision Program initiatives to provide AT access for children with disabilities in LMIC settings.

A Comparison of the Frequency of Trisomy 13, 18, and 21 Using Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing According to Diminished vs. Normal Egg Reserve and Age

Background: This study’s aim was to determine whether diminished oocyte reserve (DOR) increases the risk of having a fetus with trisomy 13, 18, or 21 at 10 weeks as evaluated by non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT) and to evaluate the confounding effect of advanced age. Methods: NIPT was undertaken in all pregnancies conceived through natural treatment or assisted reproductive technology that reached 10 weeks from conception with a viable fetus from one infertility center. Data were stratified according to serum anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH) < 1 ng/mL and ≥1 ng/mL. Results: No woman < 39 or with AMH ≥ 1 ng/mL showed trisomy 13, 18, or 21 by NIPT. Only women ≥ age 39 with DOR had one of these trisomies. Conclusions: Hopefully these data, coupled with other factors, e.g., etiology of infertility, age, insurance, or financial circumstances, and personal views of pregnancy termination, will aid patients with DOR when choosing treatment options, including natural conception, IVF-ET, IVF with pre-implantation genetic testing for aneuploidy, or transfer of fertilized donor eggs.

Deep learning classification of EEG-based BCI monitoring of the attempted arm and hand movements.

The primary objective of this research is to improve the average classification performance for specific movements in patients with cervical spinal cord injury (SCI). The study utilizes a low-frequency multi-class electroencephalography (EEG) dataset from Graz University of Technology. The research combines convolutional neural network (CNN) and long-short-term memory (LSTM) architectures to uncover neural correlations between temporal and spatial aspects of the EEG signals associated with attempted arm and hand movements. To achieve this, three different methods are used to select relevant features, and the proposed model's robustness against variations in the data is validated using 10-fold cross-validation (CV). The research also investigates subject-specific adaptation in an online paradigm, extending movement classification proof-of-concept. The combined CNN-LSTM model, enhanced by three feature selection methods, demonstrates robustness with a mean accuracy of 75.75 % and low standard deviation (+/- 0.74 %) in 10-fold cross-validation, confirming its reliability. In summary, this research aims to make valuable contributions to the field of neuro-technology by developing EEG-controlled assistive devices using a generalized brain-computer interface (BCI) and deep learning (DL) framework. The focus is on capturing high-level spatiotemporal features and latent dependencies to enhance the performance and usability of EEG-based assistive technologies.

Autonomy, independence, and participation of nursing home habitants addressed by assistive technology: a scoping review

Context Assistive technologies have been identified by researchers and public policies of the Western world to be promising tools to face the challenge of maintaining quality of life of older people, and especially for nursing home habitants. Independence, autonomy, and participation are major determinants of quality of life of nursing homes habitants. Maintaining quality of life is nowadays a priority for public health policies and institutions of the where the population is growing older every year. Method This PRISMA-ScR review aims to determine which assistive technologies are used to promote autonomy, independence, and social participation of nursing home habitants. An electronic search was conducted for English, French articles to identify research studies using CINAHL, PubMed, Cochrane Library, PsycINFO, and Googlescholar. Results 12 papers published between 2009 and 2023 described 6 assistive technologies: technologies integrated into the environment, monitoring technologies, surveillance technologies, information and communication technology, social assistance robots, virtual reality. Six types of AT are currently used worldwide to maintain autonomy, independence and participation of people living in nursing homes. Their use is mainly perceived as positive by habitants, care and non-care staff, next of kin, and experts despite some concerns regarding ethical, financial, consideration. Discussion Nevertheless, their impact on habitant’s autonomy, independence and participation still needs to be measured using suitable tools to understand their real impact on the quality of life of the elderly.

Comparative study between JAWS® And NVDA® in academic performance of students with visual impairment

Assistive technology (AT) plays a significant role in improving academic activities of visually impaired students. Through these ATs, visually impaired students can be empowered to engage actively in academic activities. To investigate the impact of JAWS® (job access with speech) and NVDA® (nonvisual desktop access) on the academic performance of visually impaired students. This study employed a prospective analytical design. Age-matched groups of severely visually impaired students were enrolled and divided into two groups: Group A ( N = 25) received NVDA® and Group B ( N = 25) received JAWS®. The MNREAD acuity chart was used to measure the reading acuity, maximum reading speed, and critical print size. In addition, a self-designed questionnaire was employed to gather qualitative data on the features of the software and the students’ experiences while using it. Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) was used for data tabulation and analysis. An independent samples t-test was conducted to analyze the differences between variables. Furthermore, a qualitative assessment was performed using Pearson’s chi-square association test to determine the association between software usage and student experience. Statistical significance was set at p < .05. The results revealed that NVDA® exhibited better outcomes than JAWS® in terms of improved academic activity among visually impaired students. These findings contribute to the existing literature on AT and underscore the potential of NVDA® in supporting the educational experiences of visually impaired students. Use of screen reader software not only enhanced the reading and learning experience but also promoted independence in the classroom. NVDA is the superior choice for several reasons. It caters to the individual needs of students, effectively supports their learning processes, and demonstrates a high level of appreciation among the users.

The Role of Technology in Enhancing Adaptive Behavior Skills for Students with Intellectual Disabilities

The current study documents key contributions in teaching students with intellectual disabilities using an integrative STEAM approach. This study aimed to understand the role of technology and arts-based methodologies in improving adaptive behavior skills for students with intellectual disabilities. The researcher used descriptive analytical methods to review, analyze, compare, and interpret related theories and literature. The study highlights how technology and arts-based approaches enhance adaptive skills and support development in self-care, mobility, educational skills, independence, performance, and community integration for these students. The promising finding is that an integrative STEAM approach, incorporating technology and arts-based learning, improves adaptive behavior skills for students with intellectual disabilities. Based on the results, the researcher recommends that the Ministry of Education provide guidance, counseling, seminars, and workshops for teachers on using assistive technology and arts-based methodologies due to their importance in rehabilitating and educating individuals with intellectual disabilities.

Vascular health of fathers with history of intracytoplasmic sperm injection

Objective Studies suggest that men who undergo assisted reproductive technologies (ART) may have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease; however, limited data on this matter is available. This observational pilot study aimed to investigate the overall vascular health of fathers with history of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) compared to fathers whose partners conceived spontaneously. Methods Diet quality, physical activity, sedentary behavior as well as overall vascular function including the assessment of pulse wave analysis, intima-media thickness (cIMT), arterial stiffness of the common carotid artery (CCA) and blood lipids, were evaluated. Results A total of 34 fathers with history of ICSI and 29 controls (48.49 [46.32 − 57.09] years vs. 47.19 [40.62 − 55.18] years, p = 0.061) were included. After adjusting for age, no significantly increased cardiovascular risk was detected regarding vascular function. Conclusions The results suggest an unaltered cardiovascular risk profile in fathers with history of ICSI. In the future, prospective multicenter studies are required to validate these preliminary results.

Re-Examination of PGT-A Detected Genetic Pathology in Compartments of Human Blastocysts: A Series of 23 Cases.

Background: In recent years, preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidies (PGT-A) has become widespread in assisted reproduction. However, contrary to expectations, PGT-A does not significantly improve the clinical outcomes of assisted reproductive technologies. One of the underlying reasons is the discordance between the PGT-A results and the true chromosomal constitution of the blastocyst. In this case series, we re-examined the PGT-A results in trophectoderm (TE) re-biopsies and in the two isolated blastocyst compartments-the TE and the inner cell mass (ICM). Methods: This study enrolled 23 human blastocysts from 17 couples who were referred for assisted reproduction. The blastocysts were unsuitable for uterine transfer due to the chromosomal imbalance revealed by PGT-A using array comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) (n = 11) or next-generation sequencing (NGS) (n = 12). The re-examination of the PGT results involved two steps: (1) a TE re-biopsy with subsequent aCGH and (2) blastocyst separation into the TE and the ICM with a subsequent cell-by-cell analysis of each isolated compartment by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) with the DNA probes to chromosomes 13, 16, 18, 21, and 22 as well as to the PGT-A detected imbalanced chromosomes. Results: In 8 out of 23 cases, the PGT-A results were concordant with both the re-biopsy and the isolated TE and ICM analyses. The latter included the diagnoses of full non-mosaic aneuploidies (five cases of trisomies and two cases of monosomies). In one case, the results of PGT-A, aCGH on the TE re-biopsy, and FISH on the isolated TE showed Xp tetrasomy, which contrasted with the FISH results on the isolated ICM, where this chromosomal pathology was not detected. This case was classified as a confined mosaicism. In 4 out of 23 cases, the results were partially discordant. The latter included one case of trisomy 12, which was detected as non-mosaic by PGT-A and the re-biopsy and as mosaic by FISH on the isolated TE and ICM. This case was classified as a true mosaicism with a false negative PGT-A result. In 11 out of 23 cases, the re-examination results were not concordant with the PGT-A results. In one of these discordant cases, non-mosaic tetraploidy was detected by FISH in the isolated TE and ICM, whereas the PGT-A and the TE re-biopsy failed to detect any abnormality, which advocated for their false negative result. In two cases, the re-examination did not confirm full aneuploidies. In eight cases, full or partial mosaic aneuploidies as well as chaotic mosacism were not confirmed in the isolated TE nor the isolated ICM. Thus, in 47.8% of cases, the PGT-A results did not reflect the true chromosomal constitution of a blastocyst. Conclusions: The PGT results may have different prognostic value in the characterization of the chromosomal constitution of a blastocyst. The detected non-mosaic aneuploidies have the highest prognostic value. In stark contrast, most PGT-identified mosaic aneuploidies fail to characterize the true chromosomal constitution of a blastocyst. Once detected, a differential diagnosis is needed.

Telomere length in relation to fecundability and use of assisted reproductive technologies: the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort Study.

In women, shorter telomeres have been reported to be associated with conditions such as endometriosis and polycystic ovary syndrome, whereas other studies have reported the opposite. In men, studies mostly report associations between shorter telomeres and sperm quality. To our knowledge, no studies have thus far investigated the associations between TL and fecundability or the use of ART. This study is based on the Norwegian Mother, Father, and Child Cohort (MoBa) Study and uses data from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway (MBRN). We included women (24,645 with genotype data and 1,054 with TL measurements) and men (18,339 with genotype data and 965 with TL measurements) participating between 1998 and 2008. We investigated the associations between leukocyte TL and fecundability, infertility, and the use of ART. We also repeated the analyses using instrumental variables for TL, including genetic risk scores for TL and genetically predicted TL. Approximately 11% of couples had experienced infertility and 4% had used ART. TL was not associated with fecundability among women (fecundability ratio [FR], 0.98; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.92-1.04) or men (FR, 0.99; CI, 0.93-1.06), nor with infertility among women (odds ratio [OR], 1.03; CI, 0.85-1.24) or men (OR, 1.05; CI, 0.87-1.28). We observed an increased likelihood of using ART with increasing TL among men (OR, 1.22; CI, 1.03-1.46), but not among women (OR, 1.10; CI, 0.92-1.31). No significant associations were observed using the instrumental variables. Our results indicate that TL is a poor biomarker of fecundability, infertility and use of ART in MoBa. Additional studies are required to replicate the association observed between TL and ART in men.

MST-DGCN: A Multi-Scale Spatio-Temporal and Dynamic Graph Convolution Fusion Network for Electroencephalogram Recognition of Motor Imagery

The motor imagery brain-computer interface (MI-BCI) has the ability to use electroencephalogram (EEG) signals to control and communicate with external devices. By leveraging the unique characteristics of task-related brain signals, this system facilitates enhanced communication with these devices. Such capabilities hold significant potential for advancing rehabilitation and the development of assistive technologies. In recent years, deep learning has received considerable attention in the MI-BCI field due to its powerful feature extraction and classification capabilities. However, two factors significantly impact the performance of deep-learning models. The size of the EEG datasets influences how effectively these models can learn. Similarly, the ability of classification models to extract features directly affects their accuracy in recognizing patterns. In this paper, we propose a Multi-Scale Spatio-Temporal and Dynamic Graph Convolution Fusion Network (MST-DGCN) to address these issues. In the data-preprocessing stage, we employ two strategies, data augmentation and transfer learning, to alleviate the problem of an insufficient data volume in deep learning. By using multi-scale convolution, spatial attention mechanisms, and dynamic graph neural networks, our model effectively extracts discriminative features. The MST-DGCN mainly consists of three parts: the multi-scale spatio-temporal module, which extracts multi-scale information and refines spatial attention; the dynamic graph convolution module, which extracts key connectivity information; and the classification module. We conduct experiments on real EEG datasets and achieve an accuracy of 77.89% and a Kappa value of 0.7052, demonstrating the effectiveness of the MST-DGCN in MI-BCI tasks. Our research provides new ideas and methods for the further development of MI-BCI systems.

Evaluation of the maternal systemic immune system during frozen euploid embryo transfer according to cycle outcome

Infertility affects 15 % of couples in the US, and many turn to assisted reproductive technologies, including in vitro fertilization and subsequent frozen embryo transfer (FET) to become pregnant. This study aimed to perform a broad assessment of the maternal immune system to determine if there are systemic differences on the day of FET in cycles that result in a live birth compared to those that do not. Women undergoing FET of euploid embryos were recruited and blood was collected on the day of FET as well as at early timepoints in pregnancy. Sixty immune and angiogenic proteins were measured in plasma, and gene expression of 92 immune-response related genes were evaluated in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). We found plasma concentrations of interleukin-13 (IL-13) and macrophage derived chemokine (MDC) were significantly lower on the day of FET in cycles that resulted in a live birth. We also found genes encoding C-C chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5), CD8 subunit alpha (CD8A) and SMAD family member 3 (SMAD3) were upregulated in PBMCs on the day of FET in cycles that resulted in live birth. Measurements of immune mediators from maternal blood could serve as prognostic markers during FET to guide clinical decision making and further our understanding of implantation failure.