Pregnancy Outcomes for Single Frozen-thawed Blastocyst Transfer of Day 5 and Day 6 With Different Quality: a Large Matched-cohort Study

Background: Whether the day of blastocyst expansion affects pregnancy outcomes in frozen-thawed blastocyst transfer (FBT) cycles remains controversial. The conflicting results may be attributed to the potential confounders of FBT cycles between day 5 and day 6. The aim of this study is to compare the clinical pregnancy rate (CPR) and live birth rate (LBR) of FBT cycles on day 5 versus day 6 accounting for the baseline comparability and determine the transfer order of FBT cycles.Methods: This was a retrospective match-cohort study, FBT cycles of day 5 and day 6 were matched by the general characteristics of patients, 2207 matched pairs of FBT cycles were included from January 2016 to December 2019 in our reproductive medicine center.Results: The CPR and LBR of day 5 blastocyst were significantly higher than day 6 with the same quality. In the FBT cycles with good quality, the CPR of day 5 and day 6 was 61.30%, 57.56% respectively (P=0.045), the LBR was 44.79%, 36.16% respectively (P<0.001). While in the FBT cycles with poor quality, the CPR of day 5 and day 6 was 48.61%, 40.89% respectively (P=0.006), the LBR was 31.71%, 25.74% respectively (P=0.019). The CPR of FBT cycles on day 6 with good quality was statistically higher than day 5 with poor quality (57.56% versus 48.61%, P=0.001). Maternal age, AMH, endometrial thickness, embryo quality and the day of blastocyst expansion was independently correlated with CPR and LBR. The FBT cycles of day 5 exhibited significantly higher CPR [adjusted odds ratio (OR)=1.246, 95% confidence intervals (Cl): 1.097-1.415, P=0.001] and LBR (adjusted OR=1.435, 95% Cl: 1.258-1.637, P<0.001) compared with day 6.Conclusions: The embryo quality should be the primary indicator in the FBT cycles. The blastocyst of day 5 should be preferred if the embryo quality of day 5 and day 6 is equal.Trial registration: Not applicable.

Cashless Payments and Economic Growth in Selected European Countries

<p>Purpose of the article: The aim of the paper was to show connections between the instruments of cashless payments and economic growth. The goal was to find the answers to the following research questions: What is the current share of payments with the use of particular forms of cashless payments in total payments?; What forms of cashless payments are connected with economic growth measured by real GDP per capita in the group of countries of Central and Eastern Europe and Western Europe?; What is the relation between the value of cashless payments and economic growth measured by real GDP per capita in the group of countries of Central and Eastern Europe and Western Europe?</p><p>Research methods: Spearman’s rank correlation.</p><p>Research results: The authors have found that the highest share in terms of the number of payments in total payments in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe constituted payments with the use of payment cards, then, the payments with the use of a transfer order. Whereas, in the countries of Western Europe, apart from the fact that high percentage of payments in total constituted payments with the use of payment cards and transfer orders, more and more payments are made with the use of the instruments of e-money. Examining mutual relationships, information about correlational connections that occur between economic growth measured by GDP per capita and value of payments with the use of some instruments of cashless payments was obtained. The main conclusion that can be drawn after data analysis is positive relationships between the value of payments with the use of a transfer order, payment card and economic growth found both in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the countries of Western Europe. In the countries of Western Europe, the payments with the use of a direct debit turned out to be insignificant, whereas the payments with the use of instruments of e-money were signifiant. Taking into account the force of relationships, it can be said that higher positive correlation is shown by the value of payments with the use of a transfer order with reference to real GDP per capita in the countries of Western Europe (0.80). In the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, it is only 0.48. Mutual connections between the value of payments with the use of payment cards and economic growth are similar in both groups of countries. What is interesting, high impact on real GDP per capita – about 0.80 – is shown by the payments with the use of instruments of e-money. This study may represent a contribution to further research, that is, an analysis of cause-and-effect relationships in the field of cashless payments and economic growth, including division of countries in terms of, for example, the level of wealth.</p><p>Added value: Analysis of current literature on the impact of cashless payments on economic growth and an empirical analysis.</p>

Characteristics and Outcomes of Patients Discharged Directly Home From a Medical Intensive Care Unit: A Retrospective Cohort Study

Objective: To evaluate the safety of directly discharging patients home from the medical intensive care unit (MICU). Materials and Methods: Single-center retrospective observational study of consecutive MICU direct discharges to home from an urban university hospital between June, 1, 2017, and June 30, 2019. Results: Of 1061 MICU discharges, 331 (31.2%) patients were eligible for analysis. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on duration of wait-time (< or ≥24 hours) between ward transfer order and ultimate hospital discharge. Most patients (68.2%) were discharged in <24 hours. Patients who waited for a floor bed for ≥24 hours prior to discharge had longer hospital length-of-stay (LOS, median 3.83 versus 2.00 days) and ICU LOS (median 3.51 versus 1.74 days). Overall, 44 (13.3%) direct MICU discharges were readmitted to the hospital within 30-days, but there was no difference in this outcome or in 30-day mortality when comparing the 2 wait-time groups. Conclusions: The practice of directly discharging MICU patients home does not negatively influence patient outcomes. Patients who overstay in the ICU after being deemed transfer-ready are unlikely to be benefiting from critical care, but impact hospital throughput and resource utilization. Prospective investigation into this practice may provide further confirmation of its feasibility and safety.

Performance of a deep learning based neural network in the selection of human blastocysts for implantation

Deep learning in in vitro fertilization is currently being evaluated in the development of assistive tools for the determination of transfer order and implantation potential using time-lapse data collected through expensive imaging hardware. Assistive tools and algorithms that can work with static images, however, can help in improving the access to care by enabling their use with images acquired from traditional microscopes that are available to virtually all fertility centers. Here, we evaluated the use of a deep convolutional neural network (CNN), trained using single timepoint images of embryos collected at 113 hr post-insemination, in embryo selection amongst 97 clinical patient cohorts (742 embryos) and observed an accuracy of 90% in choosing the highest quality embryo available. Furthermore, a CNN trained to assess an embryo’s implantation potential directly using a set of 97 euploid embryos capable of implantation outperformed 15 trained embryologists (75.26% vs. 67.35%, p<0.0001) from five different fertility centers.

NUTRIENT CYCLING IN EUCALYPTUS DUNNII: MICRONUTRIENTS IN THE LITTERFALL

The evaluation of litterfall and nutrient return is important for understanding the dynamics of nutrient cycling. Although required in smaller quantities by plants, micronutrients have unique importance in biogeochemical regulation. The objective of the present study was to quantify the litterfall and the concentration of micronutrients in the different fractions and seasons of the year in Eucalyptus dunnii stand. Four plots of 20 m x 21 m were demarcated. The collection of leaf litter, twigs (diameter <0.5 cm) and miscellaneous resulted in the installation of 4 collectors with an area of 0.5 m² in each plot. For the quantification of the thick branches fraction (diameter> 0.5 cm), four useful areas of medium-diameter trees were demarcated in each plot. The leaf fraction represented 59% of litterfall and the transfer order was Mn> Fe> B> Zn> Cu, totaling 8.04 kg ha-1. The leaf fraction presented the highest concentrations for B and Mn. The litterfall was seasonal with summer and spring differing statistically from winter and the temperature variable explains the deposition pattern of the same.

NUTRIENT RETURN THROUGH LITTERFALL IN A Eucalyptus dunnii Maiden STAND IN SANDY SOIL

ABSTRACT In a forest stand, litterfall is primarily responsible for the retention and return of nutrients to the soil. The objective of this study was to evaluate the return of nutrients through litterfall in a stand of Eucalyptus dunnii in a Pampa biome. For quantification of litterfall, four 420-m2 installments were marked; within each one, four 0.50-m2 collection plots were distributed. For the collection of thick branches, four 7.00-m2 sub-plots were staked out. The collected litterfall was separated into leaf, twig, thick branch, and miscellany fractions for subsequent chemical analysis. The total litterfall measured was 6.99 Mg ha-1 yr-1, and comprised 61.57% leaves, 17.34% twigs, 13.83% thick branches, and 7.26% miscellany. The total amount of macronutrients in the litterfall was 160.22 kg ha-1 yr-1, and the macronutrient transfer order was the same for the leaf, twig, and thick branch fractions (Ca > N > K > Mg > S > P). The total quantity of micronutrients was 7.55 kg ha-1 yr-1, and the transfer order was Mn > Fe > B > Zn > Cu. Maintaining litterfall on the site, especially in degraded or low fertility soils like in the Pampa biome, may contribute to possible improvements in soil characteristics.

Part IV The UK Resolution Regime, 14 Property Transfers and Bail-in under the Banking Act

This chapter discusses the stabilization process undergone by banks under resolution, as set forth by the UK Banking Act 2009 (BA). To give effect to the stabilization options, the BA employs four basic powers (‘Stabilization Powers’) as follows: the power to make a share transfer instrument; the power to make a share transfer order; the power to make a Property Transfer Instrument; and the power to make a resolution instrument. To supplement these basic powers, the BA gives the power to make a compensation scheme order, a resolution fund order, or a third-party compensation order. In addition, the BA contains provisions governing the continuity of services and facilities provided to a bank by members of its group.

Guangzhou Industry Transformation Research

With the intensification change of the international economic environment in post-crisis era, industry transformation has become the economies test. Considering the economy and energy environmental change and Guangzhous current situation, this article believes that Guangzhou should give priority to the development of modern service industry, focus on developing high technology industry, support the development of strategic emerging industries, and guide industry international transfer order and speed.

E-Commerce Models and Consumer Concerns

Electronic commerce (e-commerce) refers generally to all forms of buying, selling, transforing, exchanging products, services, or information over computer networks (Carter, 2002). Business activities such as communication, business transactions, and data transfer, including both organizations and individual, are conducted online. The “electronic” or “e” in e-commerce or e-business refers to the technology/systems; the “commerce” refers to the traditional business models. Things like funds transfer, order booking, data interchange, automated inventory management, and online marketing all come under the purview of e-commerce (Erber, Klaus, & Voigt, 2001). For instance, people and organizations can shop around the Web to find the products, prices, and services that suit them best and order and pay for items without a physical presence of either the shopper or the merchandise.