Tag Archives: Timing

How Long He Abstains: The Impact of Male Ejaculation Timing on IVF Success

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How Simple Interventions Boost IVF Success Rates

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Men are encouraged to ejaculate within 48 hours prior to IVF egg retrieval to enhance their chances of achieving a viable pregnancy. This recommendation comes from the first clinical trial exploring the effects of varying ejaculation intervals on fertility treatment outcomes.

During the final stages of an IVF cycle, a woman receives a “trigger” injection that matures the developing egg. This crucial injection occurs 36 hours before the eggs are harvested and fertilized.

For optimal sperm health during fertilization, men are often advised to ejaculate between two to seven days before providing their sperm sample for IVF. According to Dr. David Miller from the University of Leeds, who was not involved in the study, “There is an ideal timeframe for ejaculation when sperm quality peaks.”

This two-to-seven-day range is quite broad. Prolonged storage of sperm in the testes exposes them to various environmental toxins, particularly free oxygen radicals from metabolic processes and pollution. This exposure can lead to DNA damage and deterioration of sperm quality, warns Dr. Richard Paulson, also not involved in the trial. Conversely, too short a period between ejaculations may decrease sperm count.

Until now, solid clinical evidence supporting the idea that shorter intervals between ejaculations improve pregnancy outcomes has been lacking, though some studies hint at this. For instance, a 2024 meta-analysis observed that ejaculating less than four days apart correlated with improved semen quality in infertile men. Moreover, another study indicated that intervals under four hours resulted in lesser DNA-damaged sperm and enhanced sperm motility.

To investigate this concept further, Professor Yang Yu from the First Hospital of Jilin University in Changchun, China, conducted a study with 453 men undergoing conventional IVF. One group ejaculated roughly 36 hours prior to the final sperm sample, while another group ejaculated between 48 hours and seven days before.

Results revealed that the ongoing pregnancy rate was significantly higher in the short abstinence group: 46% versus 36% in the longer abstinence group. “While these findings are encouraging, it’s essential to note that they don’t completely represent ultimate treatment outcomes such as live birth rates,” Miller states. Nonetheless, the shorter abstinence group exhibited lower miscarriage rates, suggesting a potential for more live births.

Professor Paulson highlighted that the study provided intriguing insights but also noted its weaknesses, including the inclusion of both fresh and frozen embryos. IVF success rates can vary significantly between these two types. He also pointed out that the data showed a fertility decline in the short abstinence group while simultaneously seeing an increase in ongoing pregnancies. This suggests that fewer couples conceived, but those who did were more likely to continue past 12 weeks, warranting more detailed analysis. “Extraordinary claims necessitate extraordinary evidence that meticulously accounts for all potential variables,” he commented.

Future studies may also disclose whether more frequent ejaculation improves pregnancy outcomes for couples not undergoing IVF. “This trial offers strong evidence that shorter periods of abstinence contribute to better sperm quality,” asserts Dr. Jackson Kirkman-Brown from the University of Birmingham, UK.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Perfect Timing for Firefox: Developing an AI Browser and the Future of the Web

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Need an assistant for your online activities? Several major artificial intelligence companies have moved away from chatbots like ChatGPT and are now focusing on new browsers with deep AI integration. These could take the form of agents who shop for you or ubiquitous chatbots that follow you, summarizing what you’re looking at, looking up related information, and answering related questions.

In the last week alone, OpenAI released the ChatGPT Atlas browser, while Microsoft showcased Edge’s new Copilot mode, both heavily utilizing chatbots. In early October, Perplexity made its Comet browser available for free. Mid-September saw Google rolling out Chrome with Gemini, integrating its AI assistant into the world’s most popular browser.

Following these releases, I spoke with Firefox General Manager Anthony Enzor-DeMeo to discuss whether AI-first browsers will gain traction, if Firefox will evolve to be fully AI-driven, and how user privacy expectations may change in this new era of personalized, agent-driven browsing.

Guardian: Have you tried ChatGPT Atlas or other AI browsers? I’m curious what you think about them.

Anthony Enzor-DeMeo: Yes, I’ve tried Atlas, Comet, and other competing products. What do I think about them? It’s a fascinating question: What do users want to see? Today, users typically go to Google, perform a search, and view various results. Atlas seems to be transitioning towards providing direct answers.

Guardian: Would you want that as a user?

Enzor-DeMeo: I prefer knowing where the AI derives its answers. References are important, and Perplexity’s Comet provides them. I believe that’s a positive development for the internet.

Guardian: How do you envision the future of the web? Is search evolving into a chat interface instead of relying solely on links?

Enzor-DeMeo: I’m concerned that access to content on the web may become more expensive. The internet has traditionally been free, mostly supported by advertising, though some sites do have subscriptions. I’m particularly interested in how access to content might shrink behind paywalls while aiming for a free and open internet. AI may not be immediately profitable, yet we have to guard against a shift towards a more closed internet.

Guardian: Do you anticipate Firefox releasing an AI-integrated or agent-like browser similar to Perplexity Comet or Atlas?

Enzor-DeMeo: Our focus remains on being the best browser available. With 200 million users, we need to encourage people to choose us over default options. We closely monitor user preferences regarding AI features, which are gradually introduced. Importantly, users retain control; they can disable features they do not wish to use.

Guardian: Do you think AI browsers will become popular or remain niche tools?

Enzor-DeMeo: Currently, paid AI usage is about 3% globally, so it’s premature to deem it fully mainstream. However, I believe AI is here to stay. The forthcoming years will likely see greater distribution and trial and error as we discover effective revenue models that users are willing to pay for. This varies widely by country and region, so the next phase of the internet presents uncertainties.

Guardian: What AI partnerships is Firefox considering?

Enzor-DeMeo: We recently launched Perplexity, akin to a search partnership agreement. While Google search is our default, users have access to 50 other search engines, providing them with options.

Guardian: Given your valuable partnership with Google, what financial significance does the Perplexity partnership hold?

Enzor-DeMeo: I’m unable to share specific details.

Guardian: Firefox has established its reputation on user privacy. How do you reconcile increasing demands for personalization, which requires more data, with AI-assisted browsing?

Enzor-DeMeo: Browsers inherently have a lot of user context. Companies are developing AI browsers to leverage this data for enhanced personalization and targeted ads. Mozilla will continue to honor users’ choices. If you prefer not to store data, that’s entirely valid. Users aren’t required to log in and can enjoy completely private browsing. If it results in less personalized AI, that’s acceptable. Ultimately, the choice lies with users.

Guardian: Do you think users anticipate sacrificing privacy for personalization?

Enzor-DeMeo: We’ve observed a generational divide. Younger cohorts prioritize value exchange—will sharing more information lead to a more tailored experience? In a landscape with numerous apps and social media, this expectation has emerged. However, perspectives vary between generations; Millennials often value choice, while Gen Xers prioritize privacy. Many Gen Z users emphasize personalization and choice.

Guardian: What are your thoughts on the recent court decision regarding Google’s monopoly?

Enzor-DeMeo: The judge acknowledged the influx of competition entering the market. He deliberately avoided delving into the browser engine domain. We support search competition but not at the cost of independent browsers. The ruling allows us to keep receiving compensation while monitoring market evolution over the next few years. The intersection of search and AI remains uncertain, and a prudent stance is to observe how these developments unfold.

Guardian: Firefox’s market share has been steadily declining over the past decade; what are your realistic goals for user growth in the coming years?

Enzor-DeMeo: Every user must decide to download and use Firefox. We’re proud to serve 200 million users. I believe that AI presents us with significant growth opportunities. We want to provide choices rather than lock users into a single solution, fostering diverse growth possibilities for us.

Source: www.theguardian.com

The Importance of Breakfast Timing for Longevity, According to Major Studies

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As individuals age, having breakfast may be linked to a higher risk of early death, particularly for those in poor health. Recent research involving 3,000 adults indicates this connection.

After tracking participants for an average of 22 years, scientists observed that those who usually ate breakfast later in the morning had a slightly better survival rate in the following year compared to those who ate earlier.

Study participants typically consumed breakfast around 8:20 am, but those who waited until after 9 am were more prone to issues like depression, fatigue, or oral health problems.

“These findings provide new insight into the saying ‘breakfast is the most important meal of the day,’ especially for seniors,” stated the authors, including Dr. Hassan Dashti, a nutrition scientist at Massachusetts General Hospital.

“Our research implies that the timing of meals, particularly breakfast for older adults, can be a simple marker for assessing overall health.”

“Moreover, promoting a regular dietary schedule among older adults could be part of a larger strategy to enhance healthy aging and longevity.”

Participants were observed for over 20 years, during which they reported their health status, meal times, and occasionally provided blood samples.

Over time, researchers noticed that people were shifting their breakfast and dinner times later in the day, thereby shortening their overall eating window.

Since this study was observational, it does not definitively prove that delaying breakfast leads to health issues or early mortality; rather, it hints at a potential correlation.

Furthermore, researchers have determined that individuals genetically predisposed to “night owl” behavior are likely to rise and sleep later, consequently eating their meals later as well.

Individuals who practice intermittent fasting often eat breakfast later in the day, allowing their bodies longer periods without food – Credit: via Getty

The authors emphasized the significance of their findings, especially considering the rising trend of intermittent fasting.

“The timing of subsequent meals, particularly delayed breakfast, is connected to health challenges and an increased risk of death among older adults,” Dashti concluded.

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Source: www.sciencefocus.com

The Timing of Your Oral Exam Can Influence Your Success or Failure

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Certain university courses, such as language, have oral assessments

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A study involving more than 100,000 ratings shows that university students tend to have a higher success rate in oral exams when tested around noon.

Carmelo Vicario from the University of Messina in Italy began investigating this trend after noting similar findings in a prior research study on how jury decisions can be affected by meal times. “We aimed to explore if this phenomenon also extends to educational settings,” Vicario stated.

Along with his team, Vicario examined data from a public database, analyzing the results and timings of over 104,500 oral assessments from approximately 19,000 university students in Italy. These assessments took place from October 2018 to February 2020, starting with the 1243 course.

The researchers discovered an average pass rate of 54% at 8 AM, which increased to 72% by noon, before dropping to 51% by 4 PM. “We observed a remarkable bell-shaped distribution in our findings,” Vicario noted.

This trend was consistent across various types of oral assessments, including language examinations and research presentations. However, it’s uncertain whether this trend is applicable to written tests.

“Numerous external factors influence student performance,” according to Thomas Lancaster from Imperial College London. “Scheduling can make a difference—be it the time of day or even the intervals between exams.”

The reasons behind these variations are complex and often difficult to untangle. They could relate to natural patterns of sleep among students.

Research indicates that younger individuals often lean toward being night owls, which can misalign with the chronotypes of older examiners. The closest alignment tends to occur around noon.

During this time, there may be a balance between students who perform optimally and those who are more lenient with their grading. “As always, the best outcomes tend to find a middle ground,” Vicario shared, expressing hope that this research will inform universities in scheduling oral exams.

“Personally, I believe we should utilize this data to advocate that students avoid scheduling Vivas (oral defenses of their theses) or presentations before 10 AM,” Lancaster recommended.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Ancient Reptile Footprints Challenge Theories on Land Animal Evolution Timing

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Researchers in Australia have discovered the oldest known fossil footprint of reptile-like animals, dating back roughly 350 million years ago.

This discovery implies that the first animals began emerging from the oceans around 400 million years ago and adapted to terrestrial life much quicker than previously thought.

Stuart Smida, a paleontologist from California State University, remarked, “I believed the transition from fins to limbs took more time.”

Before this, the oldest known reptile footprints were found in Canada and dated to 318 million years ago.

The ancient footprints were uncovered in sandstone slabs near Melbourne, revealing reptile-like feet with elongated toes and claws.

Scientists estimate that the creature was about 2.5 feet long (80 cm) and might resemble a modern monitor lizard. These findings were published on Wednesday in the journal Nature.

Co-authors and paleontologists, including Arlberg from Uppsala University in Sweden, indicated that the evidence showcases the identification of nails surrounding the footprint.

“It’s a walking animal,” he stated.

Located near Melbourne, Australia, sandstone slabs reveal fossil footprints of reptile-like creatures that roamed approximately 350 million years ago. The footprint is highlighted in yellow (front paw) and blue (back paw), indicating the movement of three similar animals, according to the researchers.
Grzegorz Niedzwiedzki / Prof. Per Per Erik Ahlberg via AP

Only animals that evolved to live entirely on land developed the claws seen in these fossils. Earlier vertebrates, such as fish and amphibians, did not have hard claws and depended on aquatic environments for laying eggs.

In contrast, branches of the evolutionary tree leading to modern reptiles, birds, and mammals, known as amniotes, developed feet equipped with claws suited for traversing dry ground.

Smida commented, “This is the earliest evidence we’ve encountered of animals with claws.”

During the time these ancient reptiles existed, the environment was warm and humid, with expansive forests beginning to take shape. Australia was then part of the supercontinent Gondwana.

The fossil footprints tell a story of a day in the life, Ahlberg explained. A reptile fled across the ground before light rain; some rain droplets lightly obscured the tracks. Subsequently, two more reptiles dashed in opposing directions before the ground hardened and became covered with sediment.

Co-author John Long, a paleontologist at Flinders University in Australia, stated:

Source: www.nbcnews.com