Percentage Of Abnormalities Research Articles

Effects of Boron and Calcium on Seed Yield and Quality of Onion

A field experiment with onion var. BARI Piaz-1 was conducted in the research farm of Sher-e-Bangla Agricultural University, Dhaka, during the winter season (October to February) to find out the response of boron and calcium on seed yield and quality of onion. The experiment was carried out with four levels of boron viz. B0 (0 ppm), B1 (500 ppm), B2 (1000ppm) and B3 (2000 ppm); and three level of calcium viz. C0 (0 ppm), C1 (2500 ppm) and C2 (5000 ppm). This experiment was laid out in RCBD with three replications. The results showed that the treatments significantly influenced the plant height and number of leaves at all growth stages except harvesting time. At harvest, boron and calcium significantly increased the umbel per plot, flowers per umbel, fruits per umbel, fruit set (%), yield per plant, 1000-seed weight, seed yield per ha, germination and normal seedling percentage; and reduced the abnormal seedling percentage. Combined application of boron and calcium also significantly increased the all above parameters mentioned except abnormal seedling percentage of onion. The highest result of all parameters including yield showed from B3C2 but this treatment reduced production of abnormal seedling. Besides, combined of boron and calcium treatment B3C2 gave the highest plant height, leaf number and chlorophyll content. The application of 2000 ppm of boron together with 5000 ppm of calcium (B3C2) treatment gave the best performance showing the yield and quality of onion seed. Bangladesh J. Agri. 2024, 49(2): 87-100

Clinicopathological and in Silico Insights into Male Infertility: Agerelated Trends and Anti-sperm Antibodies Post COVID-19 Vaccination.

Infertility was often considered a female issue, but male infertility emerged significantly after the Covid-19 pandemic. Hence, assessments are crucial for planning policies on health care and family planning and reasons thereof post vaccinations. The present study was a case-control, dual-centers, prospective study with normal sperm parameters. Semen samples collected by masturbation for idiopathic reasons were conducted at King Abdulaziz University with 133 samples, followed by molecular modeling via interaction between IZUMO1, Alpha2A adrenergic receptor, and Fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 protein with IgA antibody produced post vaccination/infection. The infertile males under 30 (21%), 31-40 (50%), 41-50 (24%) and over 50 (5%), with altered sperm motility grades are A (8.45%), B (11.1%), C (15.8%), and D (59.8%) were reported. Liquefaction times range from 36 to 30 minutes by age, with abnormal sperm percentages between 43.85% and 46.33%. Protein molecular interaction between IZUMO1, Alpha2A adrenergic receptor, and Fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 protein with IgA antibody shows cumulative length of 25.354 Å, 39.049 Å, and 41.999 Å, respectively, with significant interaction between atoms chain, amino acid, marked variation in bond length. Male infertility peaks at 31-40 years, with lowering in men aged 41-50 years, IgA antibody reduced sperm motility, causing immunogenic infertility exacerbated post-Covid-19 vaccination or infection. Interaction of IgA and various receptors produced stable interactive molecules of IgA and proteins on sperm, affecting motility, aliquefication, and abnormal sperm percentage disturbing the normal dynamics of sperm cells opening a new dimension of infertility among males.

SHIP-1 regulates the differentiation and function of Tregs via inhibiting mTORC1 activity

Cell metabolism is crucial for orchestrating the differentiation and function of regulatory T cells (Tregs). However, the underlying mechanism that coordinates cell metabolism to regulate Treg activity is not completely understood. As a pivotal molecule in lipid metabolism, the role of SHIP-1 in Tregs remains unknown. In this study, we found SHIP-1 Treg KO mice (SHIP-1 specifically deleted in regulatory T cells) had severe autoimmunity with increased Tregs in the thymus and disrupted peripheral T cell homeostasis. Mechanistically, CD4Cre Ship-1flox/flox mice were found to have increased Treg precursors and SHIP-1 KO Tregs had reduced migration and stability, which caused decreased Tregs in the spleen. Additionally, the suppressive function of Tregs from SHIP-1 KO mice was diminished, along with their promotion of anti-tumor immunity. Interestingly, the PI3K-mTORC1, but not mTORC2, signaling axis was enhanced in SHIP-1 KO Tregs. In vivo treatment of SHIP-1 Treg KO mice with rapamycin rescued the abnormal Treg percentages and peripheral T cell homeostasis, as well as Treg suppressive function. Furthermore, the treatment of wild-type mice with SHIP-1 inhibitor enhanced anti-tumor activity. Our study highlights the SHIP-1-PI3K-mTORC1 axis that regulates Treg differentiation and function, and it is a potential target for cancer treatment.

Andrological Potential of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Stevia rebaudiana in Male Wistar Rats

This study aimed to investigate the effects of an aqueous leaf extract of Stevia rebaudiana (Bertoni) on male Wistar rats administered alloxan. Thirty (30) male Wistar rats, comprising six normoglycemic (NC) and twenty-four (24) alloxan-induced diabetic (D) specimens. The diabetic rats were divided into four groups (n = 6): DC, diabetic rats receiving distilled water; DGL, diabetic rats receiving glibenclamide; DSR100, diabetic rats receiving 100 mg/kg bw S. rebaudiana; and DSR200, diabetic rats receiving 200 mg/kg bw S. rebaudiana. Treatment was administered daily via gavage for a duration of 15 days. At the conclusion of the treatment session, the animals were subjected to overnight fasting prior to being euthanized via cervical dislocation, following which blood was collected for serum extraction. Body weight, fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels, serum malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were evaluated. Furthermore, sperm parameters, serum follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), and testosterone levels were assessed. The data indicated a significant (P = .05) reduction in body weight in the DC group compared to the NC group. Significant (P = .05) enhancement in body weight was observed in DSR100 and DSR200 relative to DC. Significant (P = .05) elevations in serum FBG and MDA, accompanied by equivalent reductions in TAC, were noted in DC relative to NC. The total abnormal sperm count and percentage of sperm abnormalities were significantly (P = .05) elevated in DC compared to NC. Nonetheless, FBG, MAD, total abnormal sperm count, and percentage of sperm abnormalities exhibited significant (P = .05) reduction in the DSR100 and DSR200 groups compared to the DC group. The findings of this investigation substantiate the assertion that S. rebaudiana exhibits andrological action in rats.

Insider filings as trading signals — Does it pay to be fast?

We test a trading strategy based on SEC Form 4 insider trading filings in the post Sarbanes–Oxley Act period. Using intraday data, we analyze whether a prompt reaction to the announcement would earn abnormal returns. We find positive but lower abnormal percentage returns than in previous studies for short holding periods, but they vanish and even become negative when limiting the tradable dollar amount for each trading signal to a reasonable size. Moreover, we find that the returns in our setup are negatively correlated with stock liquidity, almost negating a potentially profitable and scalable trading strategy even before considering transaction costs.

Evaluating the effect of semen storage and dilution rate on boar sperm quality

ABSTRACT This study analyzed the effect of boar semen storage and dilution rate on sperm motility, swimming patterns and kinematics. It used 35 sexually mature, healthy boars, with an average age of 19.0 ± 10.34 months and known fertility. Samples were separated into four treatments according to dilution ratio (1:1, 1:4, 1:8 and 1:16; v:v) with Androstar Plus® and refrigerated at 17°C in the dark for 96 h. Subsamples were analyzed at 12, 24, 28, 72 and 96 h using the ISAS®v1 Computer-Assisted Semen Analysis System (CASA). Total and progressive motility decreased (P < 0.05) as semen storage time increased. The percentage of morphological abnormalities increased after 48 h of semen storage. Samples diluted 1:1 (v:v) had higher values of total motility and faster spermatozoa compared to other dilution rates. It was concluded that sperm motility, swimming patterns and plasma membrane integrity showed a significant downward pattern as semen storage time and dilution rate increased.

3.0-Tesla MRI Observation at Return to Play After Hamstring Injuries.

To describe 3.0-Tesla (T) magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of hamstring muscles in clinically recovered athletes who were cleared for return to play (RTP). Prospective observational study. Hospital. Athletes (amateur and professional) who were cleared for RTP after hamstring injury. Fifty-eight participants were included in the analysis. 3-T MRI at baseline (within 7 days from initial injury) and MRI at RTP (within 10 days of RTP). Injury location, grade of injury (modified Peetrons and British Athletics Muscle Injury Classification/BAMIC), presence and the extent of intramuscular signal abnormality, intramuscular tendon disruption, and thickness. Reinjuries within 1 year of RTP were recorded. Magnetic resonance images at RTP showed that 55 (95%) participants had intramuscular increased signal intensity (edema) and 44 (76%) participants had intramuscular abnormal low-signal intensity (suggesting fibrosis) on MRI. There was an overall reduction of injury grades according to the modified Peetrons and BAMIC classification at initial injury to RTP. Three (5%) participants had no abnormal signal intensities (grade 0 or grade 0A) on MRI at RTP. Intramuscular tendon disruption, waviness, and tendon thickening were present at RTP in, respectively, 22 (38%), 15 (26%), and 36 (62%). We recorded 3 (5%) reinjuries. At RTP, 3.0-T MRI shows high percentages of MRI abnormalities (edema, fibrosis, and intramuscular tendon disruption and thickening). We conclude that complete normalization of 3.0-T MRI is not expected for RTP decision after a hamstring injury. Its possible association with reinjury risk has to be determined in larger cohorts.

Machine Learning Insights into Ascorbic Acid-Enhanced Germination of Black Cumin (Nigella sativa L.) under Cadmium Stress

AbstractThe objective of the present work is to study the impact of seed priming with varying concentrations of ascorbic acid (vitamin C) on the germination process of black cumin (Nigella sativa) under cadmium (Cd) stress. As expected, Cd had a great effect on germination rates and seedling growth. However, the application of ascorbic acid during seed priming effectively alleviated Cd stress and significantly increased seed vigor. Primed seeds exhibited markedly elevated final germination percentage, germination index, mean germination time, seedling length, seedling vigor index, and reduced abnormal seedling percentage. Additionally, vitamin priming reduced membrane lipid peroxidation, in treated seeds. Moreover, seed priming elicited a considerable increase in peroxidase and catalase activity, thus mitigating stress effects and augmenting seed vitality. Our experimental data allowed us to establish 100–150 mg/L as the optimal concentration range for ascorbic acid in seed priming of black cumin. These insights were further corroborated through modeling techniques based on supervised machine learning. Notably, XGBoost emerged as a proficient tool for predicting final germination percentage, mean germination time, seedling vigor index, abnormal seedling percentage, and peroxidase activity, while SVR demonstrated aptitude in forecasting catalase activity and germination index. The Gaussian method exhibited superior performance in predicting malondialdehyde content. These comprehensive findings substantiate the premise that vitamin priming with ascorbic acid serves as a promising strategy to ameliorate germination outcomes under Cd-induced stress conditions.

Evaluation of ocular surface inflammation and systemic conditions in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus: a cross-sectional study

ObjectiveThe cross-sectional study was designed to evaluate the association of ocular surface inflammation with systemic conditions in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).MethodsThe study enrolled 30 SLE patients and 30 controls. Ocular symptoms were evaluated using the Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI) questionnaire. Tear samples from all participants were collected for tear multi-cytokine and chemokine concentration analysis. All participants were assessed for dry eye disease (DED), including Schirmer I test, tear break-up time (TBUT), corneal fluorescein staining (CFS), meibomian gland secretion (MGS), lid-parallel conjunctival folds (LIPCOF), corneal clarity, and symblepharon. Besides, all participants were also examined for conjunctival impression cytology to measure the density of conjunctival goblet cells (CGCs). The peripheral blood indicators from SLE patients were also collected to measure the SLE-associated autoantibody specificities and systemic inflammatory indicators. Pearson and Spearman’s analysis were uesd to examine the correlation between tear cytokines, CGCs, DED-related indicators, and systemic conditions.ResultsThe two groups were matched for age and gender in this study. 36.67% of eyes (11 in 30) of SLE patients and 13.33% of eyes (4 in 30) of controls were diagnosed with DED. OSDI scores, abnormal TBUT percentages, CFS percentages, and DED grading were all higher in SLE patients than in control group, while density of CGCs was lower. There were no significant differences in Schirmer I test, MGS, LIPCOF, corneal clarity, and symblepharon between SLE patients and controls. The levels of tear chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 11 (CXCL11) and cytokine interleukin-7 (IL-7) in patients with SLE were significantly higher than those in control group. Moreover, among SLE patients, the severity of DED and the level of tear chemokine CXCL11 were significantly positively correlated with SLE-associated autoantibody specificities.ConclusionDry eye and tear cytokines and chemokines-mediated ocular surface inflammation persist in SLE patients and are associated with systemic conditions. Therefore, it is necessary for patients with SLE to combine systemic and ocular assessments.

Evaluation of seminal plasma levels of vaspin and visfatin in infertile males with elevated sperm DNA fragmentation index: a comparative study

BackgroundSperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) can significantly impact male fertility, especially in cases where there is a substantial level of DNA damage. We aimed in the current study to assess seminal plasma (SP) levels of vaspin and visfatin in infertile men with an elevated SDF index (SDFI ≥ 30%) compared to infertile males with a normal SDFI (SDFI < 30%).ResultsGroups with good and medium DNA integrity exhibited significantly higher total motile sperm count and sperm motility in comparison to the group with poor DNA integrity. Significant negative correlations were noticed between SDF index (SDFI) and numerous semen parameters. Similarly, a significant negative correlation was observed between SDFI and SP vaspin. On the other hand, a significant positive correlation was found between SDFI and abnormal forms percentage. A statistically significant negative correlation was identified SP vaspin with age (r = -0.305, P = 0.006) and infertility duration (r = -0.263, P = 0.019). Statistically significant negative correlation was also identified between SP visfatin and abnormal forms percentage (r = -0.239, P = 0.034). The receiver operating characterisitic curve for predicting poor DNA integrity (SDFI ≥ 30%) revealed fair discriminative power for SP vaspin, with a cutoff value of < 0.55 ng/ml. It demonstrated a sensitivity of 58.8% and a specificity of 64.5% (area under the cureve (AUC) 0.685, p = 0.008). Meanwhile, SP visfatin had little discriminative power (AUC 0.562, p = 0.408). Finally, the results of a linear regression analysis indicated that sperm motility and SP vaspin were significant independent predictors of poor DNA integrity (SDFI ≥ 30%). The analysis was done with a 95% confidence interval and showed upper and lower bounds of -0.302 and -0.623, and -1.362 and -16.101, p < 0.001, p = 0.021, respectively.ConclusionSP Level of vaspin had shown promise as potential biomarkers for sperm DNA integrity. However, vaspin appeared to have greater specificity than visfatin in this point. Future studies are required to validate these findings, evaluate the role of SP vaspin in maintaining sperm DNA integrity, and investigate the potential relationship between SP adipocytokines and other clinical-demographic variables.

The Prognostic Impact of Plasma Cell Chromosome 17 Abnormality Percentage Cut-offs on Patient Outcomes in Multiple Myeloma

Abstract Abnormalities in chromosome 17 encompassing the TP53 locus [deletion of the small arm {del (17p)} and monosomy 17] as identified by fluorescent in-situ hybridization (FISH), are a well-established adverse prognostic factor in multiple myeloma (MM). Previous research suggested that higher percentages of these chromosome 17 abnormalities correlate with worse prognoses, proposing various cutoff points to assess this relationship, ranging between 50-60%. Of note, these studies employed extensive plasma cell enrichment protocols and often included only cases with high plasma cell percentages (70-90%). Our study aims to investigate the relationship between the percentage of plasma cells with chromosome 17 abnormalities and patient outcomes at the time of acquisition of the abnormality, scrutinizing various cut-off points for prognostic significance. We retrospectively reviewed 339 MM patients at our institution, including newly diagnosed and relapsed cases, examining chromosome 17 abnormality levels identified by FISH on bone marrow specimens. After CD138 magnetic bead enrichment, 50 nuclei were scored for these abnormalities and the percentage calculated. It is important to note that the precise percentage of plasma cells in the sample was not quantified. We analyzed survival outcomes across different percentage cut-off points (20%, 40%, 50%, 55%, 60%, and 80%) using Kaplan Meier analysis and log-rank tests. Significant differences in median survival were noted at the 40% and 50% cut-offs. Patients with &amp;gt;40% chromosome 17 abnormalities showed a median survival of 17.5 months compared to 25.8 months for those with ≤40% (p&amp;lt;0.05), an absolute difference of 8.3 months. Similarly, the &amp;gt;50% group had a median survival of 19.4 months versus 24.3 months in the ≤50% group (p&amp;lt;0.05), with an absolute difference of 4.9 months. However, these differences, while statistically significant, may not be clinically substantial. Furthermore, a 55% cut-off did not yield a significant survival difference (23.5 months vs. 19.8 months for ≤55% and &amp;gt;55% groups, p&amp;gt;0.05) in our cohort. Our findings confirm some prognostic value of chromosome 17 abnormality levels in MM but suggest that the absolute differences in median survival at certain cut-offs, based on the test as performed in our laboratory, might not be clinically impactful. This may be due to differences in the proportion of non-plasma cells within the samples being scored, resulting in ambiguity when interpreting FISH results. Future research should aim to improve the consistency of plasma cell enrichment, develop approaches to score only plasma cells, establish risk-specific cut-offs, and explore the relationship between chromosome 17 abnormality levels, treatment response, and overall significance. The study raises important questions about the necessity of stratifying patients based on chromosome 17 abnormality levels versus simply detecting their presence for prognostic assessment.

PSV-15 Evaluating the relationship between subcutaneous backfat thickness and sperm morphology in young beef bulls

Abstract Literature indicates that high-energy diets can lead to reductions in both sperm motility and morphology in bulls. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between individual variation in subcutaneous backfat thickness (SCBF) and sperm morphology in young beef bulls exposed to the same diet. We hypothesized that bulls with excessive subcutaneous fat thickness have increased sperm morphology defects compared with bulls with adequate subcutaneous backfat thickness. Historical data collected from yearling Bos taurus beef bulls (n = 557) enrolled in a bull development program were used in an observational retrospective cohort study to test this hypothesis. Over the course of 5 yr, bulls in two locations were developed according to industry standard practices, and performance was evaluated over 84 d with a 21-d adaptation period. At the end of the performance evaluation period, a carcass ultrasound was performed to evaluate ribeye area, SCBF, and intramuscular fat. Furthermore, breeding soundness examinations (BSE) were performed according to the Society of Theriogenology guidelines within 40 d after carcass ultrasonography. Bulls that failed the BSE for reasons unrelated to semen quality were excluded from this study. Within each year, bulls were ranked based on SCBF and classified as top 10% (TOP; n = 55), middle 80% (MID; n = 446), and bottom 10% (BTM;n = 56) for SCBF. Initial body weight (BW) was greater (P &amp;lt; 0.01) in TOP bulls compared with MID and BTM (Table 1). Off-test BW was also greater in TOP compared with MID and BTM bulls (P &amp;lt; 0.01). In contrast, average daily gain and scrotal circumference did not differ between experimental groups (P = 0.35 and P = 0.65, respectively). TOP bulls had greater (P &amp;lt; 0.01) SCBF compared with MID and BTM, and MID bulls had greater (P &amp;lt; 0.01) SCBF compared with BTM bulls. Similar results were observed for intramuscular fat (P &amp;lt; 0.01) and ribeye area (P &amp;lt; 0.01). Percentage of normal sperm cells was greater in both BTM and MID bulls compared with TOP bulls (P &amp;lt; 0.01). Additionally, percentage of primary abnormalities tended (P = 0.07) to be greater in TOP bulls compared with BTM and MID. There were no differences in the percentage of secondary abnormalities between experimental groups (P = 0.45). There was a tendency (P = 0.07) for a greater percentage of TOP bulls to fail the BSE compared with MID and BTM bulls. Moreover, there was a positive linear relationship (P = 0.01) between SCBF and the probability of failing the BSE. In summary, elevated SCBF in bulls exposed to the same diet was associated with an increase in sperm morphological abnormalities and tended to increase the percentage of bulls failing the BSE.

Abnormal ear development in corn: Does hybrid, environment, and planting date matter?

AbstractCorn (Zea mays L.) yields have increased historically, but production concerns still exist. For decades, abnormal corn ear development symptoms have been reported. Most of these reports have not been addressed through research, perhaps due to low occurrence and challenges in replicating them. In 2016, widespread abnormal ear development (multiple ears per node, barbell‐ears, and short‐husk ears) issues were reported in several cornfields in the Texas Panhandle, Eastern Colorado, Nebraska, and other US Midwest states. Fields with a high frequency of abnormalities resulted in lower yields. To investigate causal factors, a field trial was established to study the effect of hybrids, environments, and planting dates on abnormal ears. The project was conducted at two Nebraska sites during the 2018, 2019, and 2020 growing seasons. Six hybrids, six environments, and four planting dates were studied. Approximately 59,200 plants were individually assessed at the dent stage (R5). Abnormal ear percentages ranged from 0% to 45% per plot, with a mean of 6.66% across all conditions. Interactions among hybrids, environments, and planting dates were documented despite the overall low incidence of abnormal ears. Grain yields ranged from 5.2 to 22.5 Mg ha−1; hybrids with higher abnormal ear percentages were associated with lower yields. The main documented symptom was short‐husk ears. Abnormal ears were often placed at lower heights in the plant relative to normal ears. The results presented here demonstrate the importance of studying abnormal ears and understanding the impact of planting dates and hybrid selection as potential strategies to mitigate abnormal ears.

Quantitative CT analysis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis and correlation with lung function study

BackgroundIdiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive fibrotic lung disease. However, the field of quantitative CT scan analysis in conjunction with pulmonary function test for IPF patients remains relatively understudied. In this study, we evaluated the diagnostic value of features derived high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) for patients with IPF and correlated them with pulmonary function tests.MethodsWe retrospectively analyzed the chest HRCT images and pulmonary function test results of 52 patients with IPF during the same period (1 week) and selected 52 healthy individuals, matched for sex, age, and body mass index (BMI) and with normal chest HRCT as controls. HRCT scans were performed using a Philips 256-row Brilliance iCT scanner with standardized parameters. Lung function tests were performed using a Jaeger volumetric tracer for forced vital capacity (FVC), total lung capacity (TLC), forced expiratory volume in first second (FEV1), FEV1/FVC, carbon monoxide diffusing capacity (DLCO), and maximum ventilation volume (MVV) metrics. CT quantitative analysis, including tissue segmentation and threshold-based quantification of lung abnormalities, was performed using 3D-Slicer software to calculate the percentage of normal lung areas (NL%), percentage of ground-glass opacity areas (GGO%), percentage of fibrotic area (F%) and abnormal lesion area percentage (AA%). Semi-quantitative analyses were performed by two experienced radiologists to assess disease progression. The aortic-to-sternal distance (ASD) was measured on axial images as a standardized parameter. Spearman or Pearson correlation analysis and multivariate stepwise linear regression were used to analyze the relationship between the data in each group, and the ROC curve was used to determine the optimal quantitative CT metrics for identifying IPF and controls.ResultsROC curve analysis showed that F% distinguished the IPF patient group from the control group with the largest area under the curve (AUC) of 0.962 (95% confidence interval: 0.85–0.96). Additionally, with F% = 4.05% as the threshold, the Youden’s J statistic was 0.827, with a sensitivity of 92.3% and a specificity of 90.4%. The ASD was significantly lower in the late stage of progression than in the early stage (t = 5.691, P < 0.001), with a mean reduction of 2.45% per month. Quantitative CT indices correlated with all pulmonary function parameters except FEV1/FVC, with the highest correlation coefficients observed for F% and TLC%, FEV1%, FVC%, MVV% (r = − 0.571, − 0.520, − 0.521, − 0.555, respectively, all P-values < 0.001), and GGO% was significantly correlated with DLCO% (r = − 0.600, P < 0.001). Multiple stepwise linear regression analysis showed that F% was the best predictor of TLC%, FEV1%, FVC%, and MVV% (R2 = 0.301, 0.301, 0.300, and 0.302, respectively, all P-values < 0.001), and GGO% was the best predictor of DLCO% (R2 = 0.360, P < 0.001).ConclusionsQuantitative CT analysis can be used to diagnose IPF and assess lung function impairment. A decrease in the ASD may indicate disease progression.

Exploring the potential of selenium nanoparticles and fabricated selenium nanoparticles @vitamin C nanocomposite in mitigating nicotine-induced testicular toxicity in rats.

The tobacco epidemic signifies a major public health threat. Nicotine (NIC), a major active constituent in tobacco, impedes male fertility and semen quality. This work is implemented to explore the potential of selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) and the newly fabricated SeNPs @vitamin C (SeNPs@VITC) nanocomposite in mitigating testicular toxicity induced by NIC. The six groups of 48 adult Wistar rats were designed as follows: the control group injected intraperitoneally with normal saline, the SeNPs group treated orally with 2mg/kg of SeNPs, the SeNPs@VITC nanocomposite group treated orally with 2mg/kg of SeNPs@VITC nanocomposite, the NIC group injected intraperitoneally with 1.25mL/kg of NIC, the NIC+ SeNPs group received SeNPs plus NIC, and the NIC+ SeNPs@VITC nanocomposite group received SeNPs@VITC nanocomposite plus NIC. Treatments were administered over a 28-day period. NIC treatment significantly caused poor sperm quality, decreased serum testosterone, increased follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) concentrations, reduced hemoglobin levels, leukocytosis, disrupted testicular oxidant/antioxidant balance, and disorganized testicular structure. The construction of the novel SeNPs@VITC nanocomposite, compared to NIC plus SeNPs alone, demonstrated a more potent ameliorative effect on NIC-induced reproductive toxicity in adult rats. The SeNPs@VITC nanocomposite significantly increased sperm count, reduced the percentage of sperm head abnormalities, lowered both serum FSH and LH concentrations, and improved the hemoglobin response. Both SeNPs and SeNPs@VITC nanocomposite alleviated the testicular toxicity induced by NIC, but the SeNPs@VITC nanocomposite exhibited superior efficacy. The SeNPs@VITC nanocomposite could be employed to advance enhanced therapeutic strategies for addressing male infertility.

Coconut water combined with purebred chicken egg yolk as an alternative semen extender for Madura Pote bucks semen preservation

One of the many efforts to increase the quality of livestock genetics is through artificial insemination (AI). Other than increasing it, AI can be conducted to preserve semen. A successful AI is determined by seminal quality, therefore, a method to preserve semen for a longer storage time is needed. The method used is adding an extender that fulfills prerequisites for a semen extender such as coconut water combined with egg yolk citrate extender. Coconut water is rich in carbohydrates, protein, vitamins, and antioxidants while egg yolk contains lecithin. This study aims to find out the Pote buck spermatozoa quality stored in coconut water and egg yolk extender. This study uses three groups of treatments (T0: 0.1 ml semen + 0.9 ml egg yolk citrate, T1: 0.1 ml semen + 0.9 ml coconut water, and T2: 0.1 ml semen + egg yolk citrate (20%) + coconut water). All three of these are stored at 5oC and evaluated every day until day 5 of their motility, viability, intact plasma membrane, abnormality, and MDA level. Data analysis used is ANOVA and a further test called BNT is conducted if a significant difference is determined. No significant difference was found between T0 and T1 (p&gt;0.05). The highest progressive motility, viability, and intact plasma membrane (%) among the three groups of treatments happened to be from T2. Meanwhile, a low percentage of spermatozoa abnormality and MDA level were also found in T2 with its extender being coconut water combined with egg yolk citrate. To conclude, the best extender for storing Pote buck semen is stored at 5oC is coconut water combined with egg yolk citrate extender.

Climate Change Induce the Toxicity of Black Sand Nanoparticles on Catfish (Clarias gariepinus) Using Hemato-Hepatological Biomarkers

This study aimed to explore the effects of heat stress and black sand acute exposure on the erythron profile, hematological and antioxidant parameters, as well as histological and histochemical indices. Catfish were subjected to black sand nanoparticles (6.4 g of nanoparticles black sand per kg of diet), thermal stress (32 °C), and a combined treatment involving both stressors over a period of 15 days. Catfish exposed to black sand nanoparticles and heat stress singly and/or in combination showed significantly lower red blood cells (RBCs) count, hemoglobin (Hb), platelets, white blood cells (WBCs) count, large lymphocytes, small lymphocytes, and monocytes. Antioxidant indices decreased in black sand NPs and heat stress combination compared to other groups. Notably, the combination of black sand nanoparticles and heat stress led to a substantial increase in the percentages of both RBCs alterations and nuclear abnormalities. Histological examinations of the liver revealed various features, including intracellular bleeding, cytoplasmic vacuolation, tissue deterioration, hepatocyte pyknotic nuclei, nuclear displacement, shrinkage, and accumulation of melanomacrophage cells. In conclusion, the study underscores that the effects of black sand nanoparticles on erythron profile, hematological and antioxidant parameters, as well as histological and histochemical indices, become more pronounced under elevated temperatures indicating the potential for synergistic effects between pollution and climate change. This holistic approach is crucial for developing more accurate forecasts of the complex interactions between environmental stressors and their implications for aquatic ecosystems.

Relationship between fraction of exhaled nitric oxide and peripheral eosinophilia in asthma

Background Achieving disease control is the goal of asthma management. Serum or sputum eosinophil counts have been known traditional means of assessing eosinophilic airway inflammation in asthma, which is vital in predicting response to corticosteroid therapy which ultimately promotes control of the disease. Evidence suggests that fraction of exhaled nitric oxide (FeNO) may be a more useful non-invasive surrogate biomarker for the assessment of eosinophilic airway inflammation and could help with the timely adjustment of inhaled corticosteroid therapy in the uncontrolled asthma patient. The relationship between FeNO and other markers of airway inflammation has been variable in literature, with limited data in sub-Saharan Africa where FeNO testing is very sparse. We sought to define the relationship between FeNO levels, serum eosinophil counts, spirometry measures and symptom control among asthma patients. Materials and methods The study was conducted at the Asthma Clinic of a large tertiary hospital. This study included 82 patients with physician-diagnosed asthma being regularly managed at the clinic. All participants were taken through the asthma control test (ACT), had FeNO and spirometry measurements taken according to the American Thoracic Society (ATS) guidelines. Blood samples were obtained from all participants for serum eosinophil counts. Correlation coefficient was used to ascertain the relationship between FeNO levels and serum eosinophil counts, ACT scores, and spirometry measurements. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between high FeNO and abnormal FEV1 percentage predicted (<80%) with adjustments for age, sex, and BMI. Results A total of 82 patients with asthma were included in the study, with higher prevalence of females (72%). Majority (40.2%) of the patients were found in the 60 and above age category. The median FeNO level and ACT score was 42.00 (26.00–52.50) parts per billion (ppb) and 20.0 (18–23) respectively. The median serum eosinophil counts was 0.25(0.90–0.38) × 109/L. The median FeNO levels were significantly higher in patients with partly and very poorly controlled asthma than in the well-controlled group (p < 0.001). A total of 47(57%) of the patients were classified as having well controlled asthma and 35 (42%) uncontrolled. FeNO correlated with serum eosinophil counts (r = 0.450, p < 0.001), ACT (r = −0.648, p < 0.001), and FEV1 percentage predicted (r = −0.353, p = 0.001). High FeNO (>50 ppb) was associated with an over fivefold increased risk of having an abnormal FEV1 percentage predicted. Conclusion FeNO levels significantly correlated with the ACT scores, serum eosinophil counts and FEV1% predicted among the asthma patients who were on inhaled corticosteroid therapy. High FeNO was significantly associated with abnormal FEV1 percentage predicted. We suggest that the point of care assessment of FeNO is a reliable marker of eosinophilic inflammation in our cohort of patients and together with ‘ACT scores’ in our asthma clinics could increase asthma control rates.

Anomaly detection in groundwater monitoring data using LSTM-Autoencoder neural networks.

Groundwater monitoring data can be prone to errors and biases due to various factors like borehole and equipment malfunctions, or human mistakes. These inaccuracies can jeopardize the groundwater system, leading to reduced efficiency and potentially causing partial or complete failures in the monitoring system. Traditional anomaly detection methods, which rely on statistical and time-variant techniques, struggle to handle the complex and dynamic nature of anomalies. With advancements in artificial intelligence and the growing need for effective anomaly detection and prevention across different sectors, artificial neural network methods are emerging as capable of identifying more intricate anomalies by considering both temporal and contextual aspects. Nonetheless, there is still a shortage of comprehensive studies on groundwater anomaly detection. The intricate patterns of sequential data from groundwater present numerous challenges, necessitating sophisticated modeling techniques that combine mathematics, statistics, and machine learning for viable solutions. This paper introduces a model designed for high accuracy and efficient computation in detecting anomalies in groundwater monitoring data through a probabilistic approach. We employed the Monte Carlo method and SEAWAT numerical simulation to ascertain the uncertainty in groundwater salinity. Subsequently, a Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM)-Autoencoder model was trained and evaluated, forming the basis of an anomaly detection framework. Each piece of training data was assessed by the LSTM-Autoencoder using the Negative Log Likelihood (NLL) score and a predefined threshold to determine the data's abnormality percentage. The accuracy evaluation of the proposed LSTM-Autoencoder algorithm revealed that this approach achieved commendable performance, with an accuracy of 98.47% in anomaly detection.

Improving semen quality of rams fed with ration containing protected maggot oil.

The study aimed to to evaluate the effect of feeding protected maggot oil at different levels on the ram sperm quality. The study used 15 local rams with an age of approximately 10-12 months and an initial weight of 19.99 ± 3.97kg. The feeding rate was 4% of body weight per day. Feed was given 3 times a day, specifically in the morning (08.00 WIB), afternoon (12.00 WIB) and evening (16.00 WIB). Water was provided ad libitum. This study used 3 treatments and 5 groups as replicates. The treatments used concentrates with different levels of protected maggot oil: P0(0% protected maggot oil (control)), P1(4% protected maggot oil), and P2(8% protected maggot oil). The variables measured were nutrient consumption, blood cholesterol levels, scrotal circumference, and sperm quality. Blood cholesterol and scrotal circumference measured at the end of the experimental diet. Semen samples were collected and analysed before and at the end of the experimental diet. The data obtained were analysed using ANOVA, with further testing using Duncan's test for significant differences. The results showed that there were no significant differences in the consumption of dry matter, crude protein, crude fiber, scrotal circumference, volume, colour, pH of semen, sperm concentration, live percentage, abnormal percentage, plasma membrane, and acrosome integrity of spermatozoa. There were significantly (p < 0.05) produced higher consumption of oleic and palmitic acids in 8% protected maggot oil compared to 4% treatments, the treatments containing 4% and 8% protected maggot oil produced significantly (p < 0.05) higher consumption of lauric and myristic acids, blood cholesterol levels, and sperm motility than the control. The result indicates that protected maggot oil up to 8% in the ram diet have positive effect on improving the microscopic quality of ram sperm, i.e. increased sperm motility.