It is found that the energy gaps and work functions of these small BNNTs are strongly dependent on their chirality and diameters. The small zigzag BNNTs become desirable semiconductors and have peculiar distribution of nearly free electron (NFE) states due to strong hybridization effect. When such a small BNNT is inserted in a larger one, the energy gap of the formed double-walled BNNT can be even much reduced due to the coupled effect of

wall buckling difference and interwall NFE-pi(*) hybridization.”
“Implantation failure in assisted reproduction is thought to be mainly due to impaired uterine receptivity. With click here normal uterine anatomy, changes in endocrine profile during ovarian stimulation and medical conditions of the mother (i.e. thrombophilia and abnormal check details immunological response) could result in a non-receptive endometrium. High oestradiol concentrations during ovarian stimulation lead to premature progesterone elevation, causing endometrial advancement and hampering implantation, which can be overcome by a freeze-all approach and embryo transfer in natural cycles or by milder stimulation protocols. Patients with recurrent implantation failure (RIF) should be tested for inherited

and acquired thrombophilias. Each patient should be individually assessed and counselled regarding therapy with low-molecular-weight heparin (LMWH). Empirical treatment with LMWH, aspirin or corticosteroids is not effective for women with RIF who have negative thrombophilic tests. If thrombophilic tests are normal, patients should be tested for immunological causes. If human leukocyte antigen dissimilarity is proven, treatment with intravenous immunoglobulin might be beneficial. Preliminary observational studies using intralipid infusion in the presence of increased natural killer cytotoxic activity

are interesting but the proposed rationale is controversial and randomized controlled trials are needed. Hysteroscopy and/ or endometrial scratching in the cycle preceding ovarian stimulation should become standard for patients with RIF. (C) 2013, Reproductive Healthcare Ltd. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.”
“Purpose Normative data for WHOQOL-bref are scarce in the literature and unavailable in Latin selleck American countries. The main objective of this study was to provide normative scores of WHOQOL-bref in a general population sample in Brazil and to describe differences in mean scores according to some socio-demographic characteristics.

Methods WHOQOL-bref was applied to a randomly selected sample of the general population of Porto Alegre. Participants were literate people aged 20 to 64 years. The questionnaires were self-administered in the presence of an interviewer in the respondent’s home.

Results The response rate was 68%, and the final sample contained 751 respondents (38% men, 62% women).