Electronic transport in a Cantor stub waveguide network

We investigate theoretically, the character of electronic eigenstates and transmission properties of a one dimensional array of stubs with Cantor geometry. Within the framework of real space re-normalization group (RSRG) and transfer matrix methods we analyze the resonant transmission and extended wave-functions in a Cantor array of stubs, which lack translational order. Apart from resonant states with high transmittance we unravel a whole family of wave-functions supported by such an array clamped between two-infinite ordered leads, which have an extended character in the RSRG scheme, but, for such states the transmission coefficient across the lead-sample-lead structure decays following a power-law as the system grows in size. This feature is explained from renormalization group ideas and may lead to the possibility of trapping of electronic, optical or acoustic waves in such hierarchical geometries

Toxicological Pathology of Contraceptive in Rat by Oral Intubation for Six Months

The study was done on laboratory white rats(Sprague dawelly) in 2groups, 8 male and female as untreated control and 8 male and female as treated with contraceptive pills. The study showed that untreated animals were normal in breeding respect while treated animals showed no evidence of breeding at all and histopathologically untreated controls showed normal ovaries and testis while treated animals showed atrophy of ovaries and marked suppression of spermatogenesis. Other histopathological changes were also seen in liver and kidney. Keywords: contraceptive, ovary, testis and ra

The Effects of Disinfectants on Dimensional Accuracy and Surface Quality of Impression Materials and Gypsum Casts

Abstract Background: The study aimed to evaluating the effect of disinfecting impression materials on the dimensional accuracy and surface quality of the resulting casts

Association between the single nucleotide variants of the mitochondrial cytochrome B gene (MT-CYB) and the male infertility

Background Idiopathic male infertility can be attributed to genetic predispositions that afect sperm performance and function. Genetic alterations in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) have been linked to certain types of male infertility and abnormal sperm function. Mutations in the mitochondrial cytochrome B (MT-CYB) gene might lead to some defciencies in mitochondrial function. Thus, in the current study, we aimed to investigate the efect of mutations in the MT-CYB gene on sperm motility and male infertility. Methods and results Semen specimens were collected from 111 men where 67 men were subfertile and 44 were fertile. QIAamp DNA Mini Kit and REPLI-g Mitochondrial DNA Kit from QIAGEN were used to isolate and amplify the mito chondrial DNA. Followed by PCR and Sanger sequencing for the target sequence in the MT-CYP gene. Sequencing of the MT-CYB gene revealed a total of thirteen single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Eight SNPs were non-synonymous vari ant (missense variant) including: rs2853508, rs28357685, rs41518645, rs2853507, rs28357376, rs35070048, rs2853506, and rs28660155. While fve SNPs were Synonymous variant: rs527236194, rs28357373, rs28357369, rs41504845, and rs2854124. Among these SNPs, three variants showed a signifcant diference in the frequency of the genotypes between subfertile and fertile groups: rs527236194 (T15784C) (P=0.0005), rs28357373 (T15629C) (P=0.0439), and rs41504845 (C15833T) (P=0.0038). Moreover, two SNPs showed a signifcant association between allelic frequencies of rs527236194 (T15784C) (P=0.0014) and rs41504845 (C15833T) (P=0.0147) and male subfertility. Conclusion The current study showed a signifcant association between the MT-CYB gene polymorphisms and the develop ment of male infertility. In particular, rs527236194, rs28357373 and rs41504845 variants were found to be the most related to the subfertility group. Further studies on larger and other populations are required to reveal the exact role of this gene in the development of male infertility. In addition, functional studies will be helpful to elucidate the molecular impact of the MT-CYP polymorphisms on mitochondrial function

A lack of a definite correlation between male sub-fertility and single nucleotide polymorphisms in sperm mitochondrial genes MT-CO3, MT-ATP6 and MT-ATP8

Background An inability of a man to conceive a potentially fertile woman after a year of unprotected intercourse is defned as male infertility. It is reported that 30–40% of males in their reproductive years have abnormalities in sperm production, either qualitatively or quantitatively, or both. However, genetic factors result in up to 15% of male infertility cases. The present study aimed to analyze the possible correlations between sub-fertility and polymorphisms in sperm mitochondrial CO3, ATP6 and ATP8 genes in sub-fertile men. Methods and results For 67 sub-fertile and 44 fertile male samples, Sanger sequencing of selected mitochondrial DNA genes was done. A total of twelve SNPs in the MT-CO3 gene: rs2248727, rs7520428, rs3134801, rs9743, rs28358272, rs2853824, rs2856985, rs2854139, rs41347846, rs28380140, rs3902407, and 28,411,821, fourteen SNPs in the MT-ATP6: rs2001031, rs2000975, rs2298011, rs7520428, rs9645429, rs112660509, rs6650105, rs6594033, rs6594034, rs6594035, rs3020563, rs28358887, rs2096044, and rs9283154, and ten SNPs in the MT-ATP8: rs9285835, rs9285836, rs9283154, rs8179289, rs121434446, rs1116906, rs2153588, rs1116905, rs1116907, and rs3020563 were detected in the case and control groups at diferent nucleotide positions. Only the rs7520428 in the MT-CO3 and MT-ATP6 showed a statistically signifcant diference between sub-fertile and fertile groups in the genotype’s and allele’s frequency test (P<0.0001 for both). Conclusion The results of our study suggest that male sub-fertility is linked with rs7520428 SNP in MT-CO3 and MT-ATP6. The studied polymorphic variations in the MT-ATP8 gene, on the contrary, did not reveal any signifcant association with male sub-fertility

Applications of Remote Sensing in Geoscience

Remote sensing is becoming an important and useful tool in mapping large, remote areas and has many applications in geosciences such as geologic and geo-structural mapping, mineral and water exploration, hydrocarbon exploration, natural hazards analysis, and geomorphology. The recent advances in remote-sensing imaging acquisition and availability of images can help geoscientists to explore and prepare maps quickly and evaluate the geo-potential of any specific area on the globe. Advances in remote-sensing data analysis techniques have improved the capacity to map the geological structures and regional characteristics and can serve in mineral exploration in complex and poorly understood regions. In this chapter, geophysical remotely sensed data (airborne geophysics) are integrated with other sources of remotely sensed data to analyze three separate areas, one each for geological structure, lineament presence and orientation, and geothermal potential. Three case studies are discussed in this chapter from three countries—Afghanistan, United Arab Emirates, and Algeria—to show the effectiveness of remote sensing in mapping and detecting geo-structural, geomorphological, and geothermal characteristics of ground surfaces

Mitochondrial nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide hydride dehydrogenase (NADH) subunit 4 (MTND4) polymorphisms and their association with male infertility

Purpose The purpose of the present study was to determine the relationship between infertility and the polymorphisms of mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunit 4 (MTND4) by spermatozoa analysis in fertile and subfertile men. Methods Samples were divided into 68 subfertile men (case group) and 44 fertile men (control group). After semen analysis, samples were purified. The whole genome was extracted using a QIAamp DNA Mini Kit and the mitochondrial DNA was amplified by using the REPLI-g Mitochondrial DNA Kit. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to amplify the MT-ND4 gene. Then, samples were purified and sequenced using the Sanger method. Results Twenty-five single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified in the MTND4 gene. The genotype frequencies of the study population showed a statistically significant association between rs2853495 G>A (Gly320Gly) and male infertility (P = 0.0351). Similarly, the allele frequency test showed that rs2853495 G>A (Gly320Gly) and rs869096886 A>G (Leu164Leu) were significantly associated with male infertility (adjusted OR = 2.616, 95% CI = 1.374–4.983, P = 0.002; adjusted OR = 2.237, 95% CI = 1.245–4.017, P = 0.007, respectively). Conclusion In conclusion, our findings suggested that male infertility was correlated with rs2853495 and rs869096886 SNPs in MTND4

Lack of association between single polymorphic variants of the mitochondrial nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide dehydrogenase 3, and 4L (MT-ND3 and MT-ND4L) and male infertility

Male infertility is a multifactorial condition associated with different genetic abnormalities in at least 15%–30% of cases. The purpose of this study was to identify suspected correlations between infertility and polymorphisms in mitochondrial NADH dehydrogenase subunits 3 and 4L (MT-ND3 and MT-ND4L) in subfertile male spermatozoa. Sanger sequencing of the mitochondrial DNA target genes was performed on 68 subfertile and 44 fertile males. Eight single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in MT-ND3 (rs2853826, rs28435660, rs193302927, rs28358278, rs41467651, rs3899188, rs28358277 and rs28673954) and seven SNPs in MT-ND4L (rs28358280, rs28358281, rs28358279, rs2853487, rs2853488, rs193302933 and rs28532881) were detected and genotyped. The genotypes and allele frequencies of the study population have shown a lack of statistically significant association between MT-ND3 and MT-ND4L SNPs and male infertility. However, no statistically significant association was found between the asthenozoospermia, oligozoospermia, teratozoospermia, asthenoteratozoospermia, oligoasthenoteratozoospermia and oligoteratozoospermia subgroups of subfertile males. However, rs28358278 genotype of the MT-ND3 gene was reported in the subfertile group but not in the fertile group, which implies a possible role of this SNP in male infertility. In conclusion, the investigated polymorphic variants in the MT-ND3 and MT-ND4L genes did not show any significant association with the occurrence of male infertility. Further studies are required to evaluate these findings. Moreover, the subfertile individuals who exhibit a polymorphism at rs28358278 require further monitoring and evaluation

Comamonas testosteroni Blood Stream Infection in A Patient with End-stage Renal Failure on Hemodialysis

We report for the first time from Jordan and probably Arab countries a very rare case of Comamonas testosteroni causing blood stream infection in a Sudanese patient with renal failure on hemodialysis whom was waiting for a living-related renal transplant. He was successfully treated with cefepime and had his transplant ten days into his treatment. Post-transplant he did well and was discharged home

Evaluation of the efficacy of hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate at mitigating the negative impact of aflatoxicosis on nutrient digestibility and other production- and health-related indices in broiler chickens

Dietary supplementation with aluminosilicates is a field-practical and cost-effective strategy to reduce the toxicity of feedborne aflatoxins in poultry. Importantly, not all types of aluminosilicates have the same decontaminating efficiency; thus, a full characterization of the protective properties of each single material would assist in selecting the most appropriate binder. Hydrated sodium calcium aluminosilicate (HSCAS) has been proven protective against many of the deleterious effects produced by aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) in broiler chickens. However, to date, there is no information specifically concerning its ability to counteract AFB1-induced impairment of nutrient digestibility in these animals. Therefore, expanding on previous research, we sought to fill this gap by incorporating new analyses on nutrient digestibility in a typical panel of aflatoxicosis-relevant endpoints. The aflatoxicated chickens that did not receive HSCAS showed many of the commonly reported signs of aflatoxicosis, including growth depression, liver injury, impaired immune function. Interestingly, some less common aflatoxicosis manifestations were also observed, such as increased serum glucose and cholesterol levels, and increased relative weight of abdominal fat. An unexpectedly low sensitivity to the challenge with AFB1 was recorded for the digestibility-related parameters. In AFB1-exposed chickens that received HSCAS, most of the abovementioned signs of aflatoxicosis were not observed, and the few still-occurring ones were substantially mitigated. Interestingly, some of the production- and health-related variables investigated showed significant improvement even when compared with control chickens. Overall, this study brings new knowledge regarding the potential manifestations of aflatoxicosis in broiler chickens and spectrum of HSCAS' beneficial effects, thereby contributing to better identification and control of an aflatoxin problem in poultry farms