Types Of Fertilizer Treatments Research Articles

Exploring the demand for elective egg freezing: A laboratory experiment

We conducted a proof-of-concept analysis to demonstrate that government funding decisions can be studied within a lab experiment: We explore the effects of government funding levels, information level, and various participant characteristics on the demand for elective egg freezing (EEF) and in vitro fertilization (IVF), two types of fertility treatment, and determine price and income elasticities of demand within an incentive-compatible experiment.We recruited 217 female participants without children aged 20–29 years. Participants were assigned to one of three between-subjects experimental treatments that varied income endowment and information provided. Additionally, the experiment consisted of 3 within-subjects conditions corresponding to different levels of government funding for IVF and EEF with 2 decision periods (‘planning period’ and ‘family-formation period’) and participants had to indicate their treatment choice aiming to achieve a live birth.The demand for EEF and IVF were shown to be price-inelastic. We found that the increase in the price for EEF and IVF through restrictions in government funding significantly reduced demand for such treatments. However, demand did not significantly change with income level, suggesting a high value associated with fertility treatment.Overall, our study shows that government funding decisions for medical interventions can be explored within an experimental setting.

P-779 School performance of children conceived by assisted reproductive technology

Abstract Study question Does elementary school performance differ between children conceived through assisted reproductive technology (ART) compared to children born to subfertile couples not conceived by ART? Summary answer Children born after ART perform equally well at age 12 (end of elementary school) compared to children born to subfertile couples not conceived by ART. What is known already It is well established that pregnancies conceived by ART are at higher risk of adverse outcomes, such as pre-term birth and a lower birth weight, also when restricted to singleton pregnancies. However, whether ART also affects outcomes in later life, such as school performance, is less clear. Although some studies indicate that there might be subtle differences in the school performance of ART and spontaneously conceived children, it remains unclear whether this is due to the ART treatment, parental factors or a combination of both. Study design, size, duration Data were used from the OMEGA-cohort, a historical nationwide cohort with prospective follow-up in the Netherlands. The cohort comprises all offspring of women who were treated in one of the 13 IVF clinics or 2 regional fertility centers in 1983-2010. Of 89,249 live-born children, 54,417 were ART-conceived and 37,832 were not ART-conceived (conceived naturally with or without ovarian stimulation) by subfertile women. Participants/materials, setting, methods Data on type of fertility treatment and maternal risk factors were available from medical records of the mothers and through the national perinatal registry. The OMEGA-cohort was linked to the education dataset of Statistics Netherlands, including school performance data for the period 2006-2017, leaving 24,806 children in the analytical cohort. The overall test Z-score and Z-scores on the separate domains (Dutch language and mathematics) between ART and non-ART children were compared using multivariable linear regression. Main results and the role of chance The cohort comprises 14,958 ART-conceived children and 9,848 non-ART children with test scores around age 12 in 2006-2017. The mean overall score was 536,5 (SD = 9.7), with scores of 536.4 (SD = 9.9) in ART-conceived children and 536.6 (SD = 9.5) in non-ART children. After adjustment for maternal age and maternal and paternal educational level, in a multivariable linear regression model, the overall test Z-score was also not different among ART-children compared to non-ART children from subfertile parents (β=-0.02, 95% CI=-0.04-0.01). Overall test Z-scores were not different according to different ART treatment modalities, IVF (β=-0.02, 95%CI=-0.05-0.01), ICSI (β=-0.01, 95% CI=-0.05-0.02) and frozen embryo transfer (β = 0.07, 95%CI=-0.01-0.14) when compared to children born to subfertile couples not using ART. ART children performed equally well on mathematics and Dutch language compared to children born to subfertile couples not conceived by ART. Limitations, reasons for caution Although the current analyses include a large proportion of the ART children in the Netherlands with data on school performance and our study had sufficient power to address the research question, it is not clear to which extent our results are generalizable to other countries. Wider implications of the findings Reassuringly, based on first results, children born after ART had comparable test scores at the end of elementary school compared to children from subfertile couples not conceived by ART. Trial registration number Not applicable

Impact of Indication for Oocyte and Embryo Reception on Reproductive and Obstetric Outcomes

Objectives: This study aimed to assess if the indication for oocyte reception (OR) or embryo reception (ER) impacts the reproductive and obstetric outcomes by evaluating our experience at a tertiary fertility centre and by performing a literature review on this subject. Several previous studies have reported that, in contrast to other types of fertility treatment, the indication for OR/ER seems to have little impact on the outcomes. However, the compared indication groups vary considerably between these studies, and some data indicates worse outcomes in patients who developed premature ovarian insufficiency (POI) due to Turner syndrome or treatment with chemotherapy/radiotherapy. Design: A retrospective analysis of all cases of OR/ER at a tertiary fertility centre from 2001 until 2020 was conducted. We analysed 584 cycles from 194 individual patients. A literature review on the impact of indication on reproductive or obstetric outcomes of OR/ER was performed using the following databases: PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and the Cochrane Library. A total of 27 studies were included and analysed. Participants, Setting, Methods: For the retrospective analysis, patients were divided into three major indication groups: failure of autologous assisted reproductive technology, POI, and genetic disease carrier. To assess reproductive outcomes, we determined pregnancy rate, implantation rate, miscarriage rate, and live birth rate. For comparing obstetric outcomes, we reviewed the term of birth, mode of delivery, and birthweight. Outcomes were compared using Fisher’s exact test, χ² test, and one-way ANOVA utilizing the GraphPad tool. Results: There were no significant differences in reproductive and obstetric outcomes between the three major indication groups in our population, in line with the findings reported by existing literature. Data on impaired reproductive outcomes in patients with POI after chemotherapy/radiotherapy are conflicting. Obstetrically, these patients are at higher risk of preterm birth and possibly also low birthweight, especially after abdomino-pelvic or total body irradiation. For patients with POI due to Turner syndrome, most data suggest similar pregnancy rates but a higher rate of pregnancy loss, and obstetrically an increased risk of hypertensive disorders and caesarean section. Limitations: The small number of patients in the retrospective analysis resulted in low statistical power when evaluating differences between smaller subgroups. There were some missing data on the occurrence of complications during pregnancy. Our analysis covers a period of 20 years, during which several technological innovations have also been made. Conclusions: Our study shows that the important heterogeneity in couples treated with OR/ER does not significantly impact their reproductive or obstetric outcomes, except for POI due to Turner syndrome or treatment with chemotherapy/radiotherapy, where there seems to be an important uterine/endometrial component that cannot be entirely overcome by providing a healthy oocyte.

Examining attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and related behavioral disorders by fertility treatment exposure in a prospective cohort

PurposeTo evaluate whether underlying infertility and mode of conception are associated with childhood behavioral disorders. MethodsOversampling on fertility treatment exposure using vital records, the Upstate KIDS Study followed 2057 children (of 1754 mothers) from birth to 11 years. Type of fertility treatment and time to pregnancy (TTP) were self-reported. Mothers completed annual questionnaires reporting symptomology, diagnoses, and medications at 7–11 years of age. The information identified children with probable attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, anxiety or depression, and conduct or oppositional defiant disorders. We estimated adjusted relative risks (aRR) for disorders by underlying infertility (TTP > 12 months) or treatment exposure groups compared to children born to parents with TTP ≤ 12 months. ResultsChildren conceived with fertility treatment (34%) did not have an increased risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (aRR): 1.21; 95% CI: 0.88, 1.65), or conduct or oppositional defiant disorders (aRR: 1.31; 0.91, 1.86), but did have an increased risk of anxiety or depression (aRR: 1.63; 1.18, 2.24), which remained elevated even after adjusting for parental mood disorders (aRR: 1.40; 0.99, 1.96). Underlying infertility without the use of treatment was also associated with a risk of anxiety or depression (aRR: 1.82; 95% CI: 0.96, 3.43). ConclusionsUnderlying infertility or its treatment was not associated with risk of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. Observations of increased anxiety or depression require replication.

Physical intimate partner violence among women reporting prior fertility treatment: a survey of U.S. postpartum women

To determine the prevalence of physical intimate partner violence (IPV) among postpartum women reporting preconception fertility treatment compared to those who conceived without the use of assisted reproduction. Cross-sectional population-based study. Twelve U.S. states with at least a 50% PRAMS survey response rate. Postpartum respondents of the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS) survey. Preconception fertility treatment utilization. Physical Intimate Partner Violence (IPV). Of the 43,999 respondents included in this analytic sample, roughly 2% reported physical IPV. Respondents reporting preconception fertility treatment (12.6%) were less likely to endorse physical IPV than those who conceived without fertility treatment exposure (OR 0.5, 95% CI 0.4-0.7). In the multivariate regression model, the odds of physical IPV were similar among postpartum women regardless of fertility treatment exposure (aOR 1.2, 95% CI 0.8-2.0). Residing in a household with an income under the federal poverty level and increased preconception stressors were predictive of reported physical IPV. There was no difference in type of fertility treatment and report of physical IPV. Among women exposed to fertility treatment, predictors of physical IPV included self-identification of Black (p<0.0001) or Hispanic (p=0.0352) race/ethnicity as well as report of 4 or more stressors in the 12 months prior to the most recent delivery (p<0.0001). The use of fertility treatment did not confer greater risk of physical IPV within this postpartum population. However, there are many individuals with infertility who never present for an assessment, proceed with treatment, or are unsuccessful, thus the extent to which infertility and fertility treatment exposure is associated with physical IPV remains to be elucidated. Women reporting a greater number of stressors may be uniquely at risk despite access and exposure to fertility treatment. The preconception period, inclusive of encounters with infertility specialists, represents a unique opportunity to screen and counsel all women for IPV.

Outcomes of subchorionic hematoma-affected pregnancies in the infertile population.

To determine the implications of an incidentally noted subchorionic hematoma on pregnancy outcomes in the infertile population. Retrospective cohort study at a tertiary care, university-based facility. All patients with intrauterine pregnancy on initial obstetric ultrasound presenting to an infertility clinic between January 2015 and March 2018 (n=1210), regardless of treatment cycle, were included. Nonviable pregnancies were excluded. The main outcome measured was association between subchorionic hematoma and first trimester miscarriage. The prevalence of subchorionic hematoma was 12.5% (n=151) and did not differ by type of fertility treatment. There was no association between subchorionic hematoma and first trimester miscarriage; however, among patients with subchorionic hematoma, those who reported both bleeding and cramping had an increased probability of miscarriage compared to those without symptoms (0.62 vs. 0.12, P<0.001). The live birth rate in this sample was 81.3% and there were no statistically significant differences in pregnancy outcomes between those with and without subchorionic hematoma. Among an infertile population, there was no increased risk of miscarriage when subchorionic hematoma was seen on early ultrasound; however, when patients noted both vaginal bleeding and cramping, their probability of miscarriage was significantly increased.

332 Investigation of the factors that affect the success of IVF

Introduction and aims of the study: In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a type of fertility treatment where fertilization takes place outside the body. It’s suitable for people with a wide range of fertility issues. The purpose of this study is to investigate the factors associated with low fertilization rates in IVF cycles. Methods: Retrospective cohort study evaluating demographic and individual characteristics of the infertile couple and IVF cycle factors to identify predictors of low fertilization rate.

The Effect of Plant Density, Zinc Added to Phosphorus Fertilizer Sources and Location on Selected Yield Parameters of Soybean

Background: Soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merrill] is an annual herbaceous leguminous grain crop which is cultivated mainly for its oil and protein. The objective of the study was to determine the effects of plant density and zinc added to phosphorus fertilizer sources on soybean yield performance under different environmental conditions. Methods: A field trial was executed in two sites during the 2018/19 and 2019/20 summer planting seasons. The experimental design involved a 2 × 2 × 5 factorial fitted into a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four replications. The experiment consisted of two plant densities, a lower plant density of 66 666 plants/ha and a higher plant density of 111 111 plants/ha. The five different types of fertilizer treatments were single superphosphate, monoammonium phosphate, zinc sulphate added to single superphosphate, zinc sulphate added to monoammonium phosphate and control. Result: The results showed that plant density has a significant effect (P less than 0.05) on soybean number of pods per plant and the field biomass yield. Soybean planted under lower plant density conditions produced a significantly larger number of pods per plant during both planting seasons, whereas higher plant density conditions resulted in a higher soybean field biomass yield during the 2018/19 planting season. It was observed that soybean treated with monoammonium phosphate had higher seed mass.

FERTILITY CENTERS AND CELL-FREE FETAL DNA SCREENING (CFFDNA): A REVIEW OF MATERNIT® 21 PLUS PERFORMANCE IN THE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH SETTING

Individuals who become pregnant through reproductive endocrinology and infertility (REI) often conceive by some type of fertility treatment. Patients who have experienced infertility or received fertility treatment, may have an aversion to chorionic villus sampling or amniocentesis because of the perceived risk associated with these procedures. Given the risk of procedure related pregnancy loss from these procedures patients may request cffDNA to provide additional information prior to deciding on diagnostic testing.

O-077 Cancer risk in a nationwide cohort of children and young adults conceived by assisted reproductive technology in 1983-2012

Abstract Study question Are children conceived by assisted reproductive technology (ART) at increased cancer risk, compared with the general population and with non-ART conceived offspring from subfertile women? Summary answer Overall cancer risk was not increased in ART-conceived offspring compared with non-ART conceived offspring from subfertile women (median follow-up, 17 years). What is known already There is growing evidence that ART procedures could perturb epigenetic processes during the pre-implantation period. Although the results of most studies are reassuring for children born after in vitro fertilization (IVF), recent studies showed (non-)significantly increased cancer risks after intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) and frozen embryo transfer (FET). Since the proportion of children born after these techniques increased dramatically over the past decades, it is important from a public health perspective to investigate cancer risk after ICSI and FET in larger studies. Study design, size, duration Data were used from the OMEGA-cohort, a historical nationwide cohort with prospective follow-up in the Netherlands. Offspring of women who were treated in one of the 13 IVF clinics or 2 regional fertility centers between 1983-2012 were included. Of 98,165 live-born children, 53,154 were ART-conceived and 45,211 were non-ART conceived (conceived naturally with or without ovarian hyperstimulation) by subfertile women. Participants/materials, setting, methods Data on type of fertility treatment and maternal risk factors were available from medical records from the mothers and the Dutch Perinatal registry. Cancer incidence was ascertained through linkage with the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Cancer risk in ART-conceived children was compared with risk in children not conceived by ART from subfertile women (hazard ratios [HRs]) and with children from the general population (standardized incidence ratios [SIRs]). Main results and the role of chance The median age at end of follow-up was 17 years and was shorter in ART-conceived children (16.1 years) compared with non-ART children (19.1 years). In total, 382 cancers were observed, 166 in the ART group and 222 in the non-ART group. In preliminary analyses, overall cancer risk was not increased in ART-conceived children, neither compared with children not conceived by ART from subfertile women (HR:0.98, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.79-1.22) nor compared with the general population (SIR:0.98, 95% CI = 0.81-1.11). Risks were also not significantly increased in children conceived by ICSI or FET (HR:1.20, 95%CI = 0.85-1.70; 1.25, 95%CI = 0.68-2.43, respectively). From 18 years of age onwards, the HR of cancer in ART-conceived versus non-ART individuals was 1.22 (95%CI = 0.86-1.74). There were no significantly increased site-specific cancer risks in ART-conceived children compared with non-ART children and the general population. Risk of lymphoblastic leukaemia was not increased in the ART group compared with the non-ART group (HR: 1.03, 95% CI = 0.58-1.82). Limitations, reasons for caution Despite the large cohort and long-term follow-up the number of cancer cases was limited which hampered some subgroup analyses, especially for analyses according to specific cancer types and children born after FET. Wider implications of the findings The results from this study importantly contribute to the current knowledge about health risks in ART-offspring. Physicians may inform parents who consider ART about potential health risks for ART-conceived children. Furthermore, pediatric oncologists caring for ART-conceived children/adolescents with cancer need evidence-based information about the association between ART and cancer risk. Trial registration number n.a.

Night shift work undertaken by women and fertility treatment interact to increase prevalence of urogenital anomalies in children

ObjectiveTo investigate the role of maternal night shift work in occurrence of urogenital anomalies in offspring, considering a possible interaction with mode of conception.MethodsA population-based cohort comprising births in South...

Effect of agricultural waste as organic fertilizer on yield and soil properties of cocoa (Theobroma cacao L.)

The use of fertilizer particularly for the inorganic fertilizers has increased annually to cope the global demand of crop production. Nevertheless, inorganic fertilizer is expensive and associate with the negative effects to the environment and the soil structure. Alternatively, agricultural waste can be composted and used as organic fertilizer. Although such fertilizer has low nutrient concentration and solubility, it releases nutrients slowly which makes them available for a longer period. Moreover, this agricultural waste such as biomass and manure from plantation and livestock farms are available in abundance. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the effects of different types of fertilizer treatments as listed; T1 – inorganic fertilizer (control), T2 – chicken manure, T3 – cow manure, T4 – empty fruit bunch and T5 – cocoa pod husk on the production of cocoa mature tree and its soil fertility. The results have shown that organic fertilizers with its consistency application has produce comparable production with inorganic fertiliser and have no differences in the soil chemical properties between the treatments. Hence, this study has clearly demonstrated that agricultural wastes act as organic fertilizers were able to increase crop production and improved the soil fertility in cocoa cultivation.

Finding the optimal fertilizer type and rate to balance yield and soil GHG emissions under reclaimed water irrigation

Water and inorganic nitrogen fertilizer have a notable impact on crop yield and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from soil. Reclaimed water (RW) is widely used for irrigation when there are shortages of water resources. It is very important to control yield and greenhouse gas emissions by fertilization under reclaimed water irrigation (RWI). The study consisted of a continuous test that evaluated three types of fertilizer treatments (urea, amine, and slow-release fertilizer) and a no-fertilizer treatment under three-year RWI and four fertilizer levels (150, 200, 250 and 300 kg.N.ha−1) under one-year RWI to determine the best fertilizer to support maize production and reduce GHG (CO2 and N2O) emissions from soil; further, the applicability of RWI in the DNDC model was verified. For many years, GHG emissions under RWI showed an increasing trend, but the effect was not significant. A strong correlation was found between the GHG emissions flux and fertilizer amount, and a threshold fertilization amount existed between 220 and 260 kg.N.ha−1 that minimized yield-scaled N2O emissions and the ratio of GHG cumulative emission to yield (GHG/Y). The results indicated that the optimal amounts of SF and UF under RWI were 240 and 225 kg.N.ha−1 by second-order equation and the DNDC model, respectively, and the rate better balanced the yield and GHG emissions.

Medically assisted reproduction and the risk of preterm birth: a case-control study using data from the Quebec Pregnancy Cohort.

The use of fertility treatments has been growing over the past decade, but these treatments are not without risk. We aimed to quantify the risk of preterm birth associated with the use of ovarian stimulators (OS) and assisted reproductive technologies (ART) overall and by type of fertility treatment. We conducted a case-control analysis of data from the Quebec Pregnancy Cohort. We included singleton pregnancies ending in a live birth during the time when Quebec operated a universal reimbursement program for assisted reproduction (2010-2015). Fertility treatments were defined dichotomously, and pregnancies resulting from spontaneous conception were used as the reference. We categorized fertility treatments into subgroups: ovarian stimulators alone, ART alone and OS and ART combined. Preterm birth was defined as birth before 37 weeks' gestation. We estimated odds ratios (ORs) for the association between type of assisted reproduction and preterm birth using generalized estimating equation models and adjusted ORs for potential confounders. A total of 57 624 pregnancies were included in the study. During the study period, 2055 pregnancies were conceived through the use of OS, ART or both: 419 involved OS alone, 150 involved ART alone and 1486 involved both OS and ART. When we adjusted for potential confounders, conception with OS, ART or both was associated with an increased risk of preterm birth (adjusted OR 1.46, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.25-1.72, 182 exposed cases). All types of assisted reproduction were associated with an increased risk of preterm birth compared with pregnancies conceived spontaneously (OS alone: adjusted OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.04-2.07; ART alone: adjusted OR 1.76, 95% CI 1.01-3.06; OS and ART combined: adjusted OR 1.43, 95% CI 1.19-1.73). Use of OS or ART or both was associated with an increased risk of late, moderate and extremely preterm birth (extremely preterm birth: adjusted OR 2.39, 95% CI 1.30-4.39). Compared with pregnancies conceived spontaneously, pregnancies conceived through the use of OS, ART or both were associated with a 46% increased risk of preterm birth. Physicians should advise patients of the increased risks of late, moderate and extremely preterm birth so that they can make informed choices.

Prophylactic cervical cerclage, fully embedded, for twin pregnancies following fertility treatment

Purpose of Investigation: With the advent of fertility treatment the number of twin gestations has increased considerably. These pregnancies are associated with many maternal and perinatal complications, mainly due to prematurity. The aim of this study was to assess the effectiveness of a fully embedded prophylactic vaginal cervical cerclage in reducing the rate of prematurity in twin pregnancies following ART. Materials and Methods: A prophylactic vaginal cervical cerclage was applied in forty three twin pregnancies conceived following fertility treatments. The cerclage suture was fully embedded under the vaginal mucosa in order to minimize the risk of infection. Results: The mean gestational age at delivery was 35+4 weeks and the mean delivery weight was 2,238 grams. No differences between the type of fertility treatment used was noted in the outcome measures studied. Conclusion: Twin pregnancies conceived with the aid of fertility treatment, benefited from the application of a prophylactic vaginal cervical cerclage.

Manure Utilization from Cows, Goats, and Chickens as Compost, Biochar, and Poschar in Increasing the Red Chili Yield

This study aimed to determine the characteristics of biochar, compost, and poschar from livestock manure waste and its effect on the yield of red chili plants. Randomized Block Design (RBD) with nested patterns was used in this study. The treatment composition consisted of 9 types of fertilizer (cow compost, goat compost, chicken compost, beef biochar, goat biochar, chicken biochar, beef poschar, goat poschar, and chicken poschar), and 3 levels of fertilizer doses (5, 10, and 15-ton ha-1) and one control treatment. The results showed that the type of fertilizer treatment did not significantly influence all observed variables, except the maximum plant height and fresh weight of shoot had a very significant effect. While the dose of fertilizer did not have a significant effect on most of the variables observed except for the height of the chili plant, the weight of the fresh stem and leaves, and the weight of the fresh chili harvested. In various types of fertilizer treatments, the maximum plant height obtained in chicken biochar (111.53 cm), which shows a slight difference when it was compared with the lowest plant height of 99.58 cm in biochar goat. The treatment of compost, biochar, and poschar sourced from 15 tons ha-1 chicken manure achieved the highest yields of fresh weight of chili harvested respectively 266.06 g, 270.95 g, and 280.05 g which were significantly increased 39.16%, 41.72%, and 46.48% compared with control (without treatments).

Intimate partner violence among postpartum women reporting prior fertility treatment

To determine the prevalence of intimate partner violence (IPV) among women reporting use of fertility services compared to those who conceived spontaneously in a national sample of postpartum women. A cross-sectional population-based study using data from the Pregnancy Risk Assessment Monitoring System (PRAMS), which included women with recent live births between 2009-2016. Women self-reported use and type of fertility treatment as well as IPV before or during their most recent pregnancy. Weighted percentages for reported IPV were calculated and compared between women with and without a prior history of fertility treatment preceding their recent pregnancy. We adjusted for maternal age, maternal race/ethnicity, maternal education, marital status, pre-pregnancy BMI, number of stressors (e.g. homelessness) experienced in the preceding 12 months prior to delivery, tobacco use in the three months prior to pregnancy, pre-pregnancy health insurance, annual household income, number of prior live births, outcome of prior pregnancy (including preterm or low birth weight), birth plurality, outcome of most recent pregnancy (including NICU admission or neonatal death), breastfeeding status of most recent neonate. Using multivariate logistic regression, the adjusted odds of IPV as a function of fertility treatment status were calculated. Of the 37,114 women, 4,664 (12.6%) reported fertility treatment and 766 (2.1%) reported IPV. Of the women who reported use of fertility treatment, 59 (1.3%) reported IPV prior to or during their most recent pregnancy. Women who reported use of fertility treatment were less likely to endorse IPV as compared to women who did not report use of fertility treatment prior to their most recent pregnancy (p<0.0001). After adjustment, the odds of IPV were similar among women who received fertility treatment and those who did not (adjusted odds ratio 1.10, 95% confidence interval 0.64-1.89). There was no difference in type of fertility treatment and IPV (including fertility-enhancing drugs, artificial or intrauterine insemination, assisted reproductive technology, or other medical treatment). Predictors of IPV within this population included age less than 20, greater number of reported stressors, tobacco use prior to pregnancy, and household annual income less than $52,000. Non-Hispanic White race/ethnicity and being married were protective against IPV. Despite the known adverse psychosocial implications of infertility, its treatment did not confer greater risk of IPV within this postpartum population. The difficulties associated with infertility, however, may have been mitigated by successful treatment but could be potentiated if unsuccessful. The preconception period, inclusive of encounters with infertility specialists, represents a unique opportunity to screen and counsel women, especially those who may be at higher risk for IPV.

Risk of miscarriage in women conceiving after medically assisted reproduction with an ultrasound-verified viable pregnancy at 6-8 weeks' gestation.

What is the risk of miscarriage after a viable fetus verified on ultrasound at 6-8 weeks' gestation among women who conceive with medically assisted reproduction (MAR), stratified by type of fertility treatment? A nationwide register-based cohort study of women identified in the Danish ART-Registry with a viable singleton pregnancy at 6-8 weeks' gestation between 2007 and 2010 (n = 10,011). Women were identified from The Danish Fetal Medicine Database (DFMD), which holds information on early (between 6-8 and 11-14 weeks) and late (between 11-14 and 22 weeks) miscarriages. The late miscarriage rate was compared with a control group of naturally conceived pregnancies with a viable fetus at 11-14 weeks' gestation from 2008 to 2010, identified in the DFMD (n = 146,932). In the MAR1 cohort, the overall miscarriage rate was 11.8% (1091/9261) after an ultrasound verified viable pregnancy at 6-8 weeks' gestation. Most miscarriages occurred before the 11-14-week scan (1035/1091 [94.9%]). The early miscarriage rate was slightly higher in women who conceived with frozen embryo transfer compared with intrauterine insemination (IUI), corresponding to an adjusted OR of 1.31 (1.02 to 1.68). We found no significant risk associated with IVF and intracytoplasmic sperm injection compared with IUI pregnancies. The late miscarriage rate was 0.8% in women conceiving with MAR and 0.6% among controls (P = 0.013). After adjustment for maternal characteristics, none of the fertility treatment types were associated with an increased risk of miscarriage compared with naturally conceiving women.

Crop Sensor-Based In-Season Nitrogen Management of Wheat with Manure Application

It is difficult to predict the crop-available nitrogen (N) from farmyard manures applied to soil. The aim of this study was to assess the usefulness of the proximal sensors, Yara N-TesterTM and RapidScan CS-45, for diagnosing the N nutritional status of wheat after the application of manures at sowing. Three annual field trials were established (2014–2015, 2015–2016 and 2016–2017) with three types of fertilizer treatments: dairy slurry (40 t ha−1 before sowing), sheep manure (40 t ha−1 before sowing) and conventional treatment (40 kg N ha−1 at tillering). For each treatment, five different mineral N fertilization doses were applied at stem elongation: 0, 40, 80, 120, and 160 kg N ha−1. The proximal sensing tools were used at stem elongation before the application of mineral N. Normalized values of the proximal sensing look promising for adjusting mineral N application rates at stem elongation. For dairy slurry, when either proximal sensor readings were 60–65% of the reference plants with non-limiting N, the optimum N rate for maximizing yield was 118–128 kg N ha−1. When the readings were 85–90%, the optimum N rate dropped to 100–110 kg N ha−1 for both dairy slurry and conventional treatments. It was difficult to find a clear relationship between sensor readings and yield for sheep manure treatments. Measurements taken with RapidScan C-45 were less time consuming and better represent the spatial variation, as they are taken on the plant canopy. Routine measurements throughout the growing season are particularly needed in climates with variable rainfall. The application of 40 kg N ha−1 at the end of winter is necessary to ensure an optimal N status from the beginning of wheat crop development. These research findings could be used in applicator-mounted sensors to make variable-rate N applications.

Association between ovarian stimulators with or without intrauterine insemination, and assisted reproductive technologies on multiple births

We sought to quantify the risk of multiple births associated with the use of different modalities of medically assisted reproduction. We conducted a case-control study using a birth cohort from 2006 through 2009. This cohort was built with the linkage of data obtained by a self-administered questionnaire and medical, hospital, pharmaceutical, birth, and death databases in Quebec. Cases were pregnancies resulting in multiple live births (International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision/International Statistical Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision codes). Each case was matched, on maternal age and year of delivery, with 3 singleton pregnancies (controls) randomly selected among all Quebec singleton pregnancies. Data on the use of different fertility treatments were collected by a self-administered questionnaire. Multiple logistic regression models, adjusted for body mass index, number of previous live births, ethnicity, family income, place of residence, marital status, subfertility, reduction of embryos, diabetes, metformin treatment, folic acid supplementation, and lifestyle factors, were used to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (CIs). We evaluated the associations between each type of fertility treatment (ovarian stimulators used alone, intrauterine insemination [IUI] used with ovarian stimulation, and assisted reproductive technologies [ART]) and the risk of multiple births. A total of 1407 cases of multiple births and 3580 controls were analyzed. More than half of multiple births following medically assisted reproduction (53.6%) occurred among women having used ovarian stimulation with or without IUI. The use of ovarian stimulators alone and IUI with ovarian stimulation increase the risk of multiple births (adjusted OR, 4.5; 95% CI, 3.2-6.4; and adjusted OR, 9.32; 95% CI, 5.60-15.50, respectively) compared to spontaneous conception. The use of invasive ART was associated with a greatly increased risk of multiple births. Among only the 465 women who used medically assisted reproduction for conception, the use of IUI with ovarian stimulation was associated with an increased risk of multiple births (adjusted OR, 1.98; 95% CI, 1.12-3.49) when compared to ovarian stimulators used alone. Invasive ART were associated with an increased risk of multiple births (adjusted OR, 6.81; 95% CI, 3.72-12.49) when compared to ovarian stimulators used alone. Although the risk of multiple births associated with invasive ART can be decreased by elective implementing of single embryo transfer, special attention should be paid to the greatly increased risk associated with ovarian stimulation used alone or with IUI.