A Framework for Information Technology Auditing in Corporate Digital Operations

This paper provides a conceptual framework for auditing in digital operations. It aims to create and position digital auditing framework as a pragmatic lens for organisations in the embryonic, growth and established stage of digitalisation. The paper applies a conceptual approach by engaging in a brief conceptual review, thereafter, relying on extant literature and professional documents, the paper creates a maiden framework for digital auditing, which contributes to the literature on information technology auditing. Accordingly, this paper provides a digital auditing framework for professionals, academics, and researchers; in addition, it provides an agenda for further research to develop this initial framework by adding more encompassing nodes of digital auditing technological imperatives.

Maternal lipid profile in pregnancy and embryonic growth: a population-based prospective cohort study.

Objective To investigate the association between the maternal lipid profile in early pregnancy and embryonic growth. Design Prospective population-based cohort study. Setting Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Population We included 1474 women from the Generation R(otterdam) Study. Methods The maternal lipid profile was defined as total cholesterol, triglycerides (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c), remnant cholesterol, non-high-density (non-HDL-c) lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations and the triglycerides/high-density lipoprotein (TG/HDL-c) ratio. Additionally, maternal glucose concentrations were assessed. Associations were studied with linear regression models, adjusted for confounding factors: maternal age, pre-pregnancy BMI, parity, educational level, ethnicity, smoking and folic acid supplement use Main Outcome Measures Crown-rump length (CRL). Results Triglycerides and remnant cholesterol concentrations are positively associated with embryonic growth (fully adjusted models, 0.17 SDS: 95% CI 0.03 ; 0.30, and 0.17 SDS: 95% CI 0.04 ; 0.31, respectively). These associations were not present in women with normal weight (triglycerides and remnant cholesterol: fully adjusted model, 0.44 SDS: 95% CI 0.15 ; 0.72). Associations between maternal lipid concentrations and embryonic growth were not attenuated after adjustment for glucose concentrations. Total cholesterol, HDL-c, LDL-c, non-HDL-c concentrations and the TG/HDL-c ratio were not associated with embryonic growth. Conclusions Higher triglycerides and remnant cholesterol concentrations in early pregnancy are associated with increased embryonic growth, most notably in overweight women. Keywords Pregnancy, Cholesterol, Low-density lipoprotein (LDL-c), High-density lipoprotein (HDL-c), Triglycerides, Intrauterine development, Fetal growth, Early pregnancy Tweetable abstract The maternal lipid profile in pregnancy is associated with embryonic growth.

O-216 Culture medium used in IVF-treatment impacts post-implantation embryonic growth and developmental trajectories in a sex-specific manner

Study question What is the (sex-specific) impact of two different culture media used in in vitro fertilization (IVF) treatment on post-implantation growth and development? Summary answer Embryos, especially males, cultured in SAGE 1-Step grow and morphologically develop faster in the first trimester, when compared to those cultured in Vitrolife G-1 PLUS. What is known already Increasing success rates after IVF can be attributed to several advancements, such as improved culture conditions. Culture media are of special interest, as they supply the embryo with essential nutrients and have previously been shown to impact birthweight. Moreover, IVF pregnancies are associated with an increased male:female ratio. However, it is unknown if culture media also have an impact prenatally. Therefore, our aim is to study the (sex-specific) impact of two different culture media (SAGE 1-Step and Vitrolife G-1 PLUS) used in IVF treatment on first-trimester embryonic growth and development, and fetal outcomes. Study design, size, duration Women with a viable singleton pregnancy were included before 10 weeks of gestation in the Rotterdam Periconception Cohort, an ongoing prospective tertiary hospital-based study, conducted since November 2009. Participants/materials, setting, methods A total of 879 pregnancies were included; 153 after culture in Vitrolife G-1 PLUS, 251 after culture in SAGE 1-Step and 475 naturally conceived. First-trimester growth and development, defined by serial crown-rump length (CRL), embryonic volume (EV) and Carnegie stages measurements were performed using state-of-the-art imaging techniques. Secondary outcomes included second trimester estimated fetal weight (EFW) and birth outcomes, and were retrieved from medical records. Main results and the role of chance Linear mixed model analyses, adjusted for gestational age and maternal characteristics, showed that embryos cultured in SAGE 1-Step grow faster than those cultured in Vitrolife G-1 PLUS (βEV 0.030 ∛cm3 (95%CI 0.008-0.052), p=0.007). CRL and Carnegie stages were not statistically different between culture media. After stratification for fetal sex, similar results were observed for male embryos (βEV 0.048 ∛cm3 (95%CI 0.015-0.081), p=0.005), but not for female embryos. EFW and birth outcomes were comparable between culture media in the total population and after stratification for fetal sex. Embryos cultured in SAGE 1-Step also grow faster than those conceived naturally (βEV 0.033 ∛cm3 (95%CI 0.006-0.060), p=0.018). This association was also most pronounced in male embryos (βEV 0.066 ∛cm3 (95%CI 0.024-0.108), p=0.002). Limitations, reasons for caution Although this study has a prospective design, its observational character does not exclude residual confounding. Furthermore, the external validity of this explorative study is limited, since participants were recruited from a tertiary university hospital. Wider implications of the findings Culture in SAGE 1-Step culture medium is associated with faster first-trimester growth and development, especially in male embryos. This may be the result of altered susceptibility to preimplantation environmental stressors. Further research should focus on the (sex-specific) impact of culture media on postnatal development and the susceptibility to non-communicable diseases. Trial registration number N/A

PRE - AND POST HATCH GROWTH OF NIGERIAN INDIGENOUS GUINEA FOWL AS INFLUENCED BY EGG SIZE AND HATCH WEIGHT.

Two experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of egg size on embryonic growth during incubation and of egg size and hatch weight on growth to 12 weeks of age in the Nigerian indigenous Guinea fowl. Weight loss in eggs incubated was about 5.42% while weight gain was 1.02g with the fastest increase in the last trimester of incubation. At hatching, the keets were 72.42% of the weight of the eggs. Egg weight was positively significantly (P<0.05) correlated with embryonic weight and is reliable for estimating the small, medium and large size. Egg weight was embryonic weight. Body weight up to 12 weeks of age differed when eggs were classified into significantly (P<0.05) and positively correlated to body weight up to 4 weeks of age and egg weight was found to be reliable for estimating body weight up to 4 weeks only. Hatch weight was also significantly (P<0.05) and positively correlated with subsequent body weight to 8 weeks of age.