All the samples showed chiral smectic C mesophase when they were heated. The glass transition temperature and mesophase-isotropic phase transition temperature of fluorinated elastomers increased slightly with increase of chiral crosslinking mesogens in the polymer systems, but the enthalpy changes of mesophase-isotropic phase transition decreased slightly. In XRD curves, all the samples exhibited strong sharp reflections at small angles suggesting smectic layered packing arrangement. These fluorinated chiral LCEs showed 0.1-0.2 mu C/cm(2) of spontaneous polarization with increasing chiral crosslinking component. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Objectives. – Different

ovarian stimulation protocols are used for in vitro fertilization (IVF) in “poor responder” patients. Our work aims at comparing two ovarian stimulation protocols (long agonist half-dose protocol Selleck AS1842856 versus short agonist protocol without pretreatment) in this population of women.\n\nPatients

and methods. – This prospective, randomized study was realized at the University Hospital of Saint-Etienne Gamma-secretase inhibitor and concerns “poor responder” patients (age between 38 and 42 years and FSH at day 3 more than 9.5 IU/L; and/or antral follicles count less or equal to 6; and/or failure of previous stimulation). The primary endpoint is based on the number of oocytes retrieved at the end of an IVF cycle.\n\nResults. – Out of the 44 patients randomized, 39 cycles were taken into account (20 in the long protocol, 19 in the short one). At the

end of the stimulation (FSH-r 300 to 450 UI/d), the number of follicles recruited appears higher in the long protocol but the difference is not significant (diameter between 14 and 18 mm: 3.0 +/- 231 vs 1.88 +/- 1.89 and diameter greater than 18 mm: 3.9 +/- 2 85 vs 3.06 +/- 2.77). The same tendency is observed for all the following criteria: the number of retrieved oocytes (6.74 +/- 2.73 vs 6.38 +/- 4.26), the total number of embryos (3.16 +/- 2.03 vs 2.25 +/- 2.11), the pregnancy rate per retrieval (21% vs 19%) and per cycle (20% vs 16%), and the number Bafilomycin A1 clinical trial of children born alive.\n\nDiscussion and conclusion. – The study did not reveal any difference between the two protocols but the long half-dose seems to be better. (C) 2011 Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.”
“This study assessed the therapeutic effect of pulsed electromagnetic fields (PEMF) on the backs of Polo ponies by measuring mechanical nociceptive thresholds (MNTs) and induced back movement. Twenty Polo ponies in regular training and competition were assigned to two groups. A double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover field study with PEMF was performed, consisting of two 10-day therapy periods. At the beginning and end of each therapy period, the MNTs from 25 sites of the horses backs were assessed by pressure algometry (PA), and induced back movement was evaluated by flexion testing. Baseline MNTs were generally low, with means between 6.4 and 10.0 kg/cm(2).