Binding characteristics of sperm with recombinant human zona pellucida glycoprotein-3 coated beads

Background & objectives: An inability or decreased ability of spermatozoa to bind to the zona pellucida (ZP), an extracellular glycoproteinaceous matrix surrounding egg, is one of the plausible causes of idiopathic infertility. It will be clinically useful to distinguish this condition from other causes of infertility. An assay system, investigating binding of human sperm with ZP glycoprotein may prove useful in this regard. We attempted to develop a simple assay system to analyse the binding of capacitated human spermatozoa to human zona pellucida glycoprotein-3 (ZP3) using baculovirus-expressed recombinant human ZP3 coated beads. Methods: Recombinant baculovirus-expressed ZP3 was purified, labelled with biotin and coated on streptavidin sepharose beads. An in vitro assay system was optimized to study binding of capacitated human sperm to ZP3 coated beads. Results: A higher percentage of baculovirus-expressed recombinant human ZP3 coated beads showed significant (P<0.05) binding of capacitated human sperm as compared to beads coated with fetuin. An inhibition in the binding of sperm to ZP3 coated beads was observed in presence of cold recombinant human ZP3. Further, prior incubation of ZP3 coated beads with monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) against ZP3 but not against ZP2 resulted in the decrease in number of sperm bound to bead. Interpretation & conclusion: An in vitro assay system to study the binding of human sperm to ZP3- primary sperm receptor was established, which may be useful to determine the functional competence of spermatozoa

Voltage modulated electro-luminescence spectroscopy and negative capacitance - the role of sub-bandgap states in light emitting devices

Voltage modulated electroluminescence spectra and low frequency ({\leq} 100 kHz) impedance characteristics of electroluminescent diodes are studied. Voltage modulated light emission tracks the onset of observed negative capacitance at a forward bias level for each modulation frequency. Active participation of sub-bandgap defect states in minority carrier recombination dynamics is sought to explain the results. Negative capacitance is understood as a necessary dielectric response to compensate any irreversible transient changes in the minority carrier reservoir due to radiative recombinations mediated by slowly responding sub-bandgap defects. Experimentally measured variations of the in-phase component of modulated electroluminescence spectra with forward bias levels and modulation frequencies support the dynamic influence of these states in the radiative recombination process. Predominant negative sign of the in-phase component of voltage modulated electroluminescence signal further confirms the bi-molecular nature of light emission. We also discuss how these states can actually affect the net density of minority carriers available for radiative recombination. Results indicate that these sub-bandgap states can suppress external quantum efficiency of such devices under high frequency operation commonly used in optical communication.Comment: 21 pages, 4 sets of figure

Ultrazvučni pregled promjena vimena uzrokovanih strojnom mužnjom mliječnih krava križanki između holštajnsko-frizijske i sahival pasmine

The study was conducted to observe the internal post-milking teat tissue changes and to evaluate recovery to pre-milking conditions, using ultrasonography. Left-sided teats of Holstein Friesian × Sahiwal crossbred dairy cows (n = 20) were scanned six times: before milking, immediately after milking, and at 1, 2, 3, and 4 hours after milking. Absolute and relative changes of teat canal length (TCL), teat diameter (TD), teat wall thickness (TWT) and teat cistern diameter (TCD) were measured. Machine milking significantly (P<0.001) affected all the measured teat parameters. There was a lengthening of the teat canal (19 - 25%), widening of the TD (19 - 20%), thickening of the teat wall (26 - 36%) and narrowing of TCD (51 - 52%). The time taken for the teats to return to their pre-milking state was significantly affected by teat position. The TWT, TCL and TD were recovered at 3 to 4 hours in the left front teats. In left hind teats, only TWT was recovered at 4 hours of milking. The deviations were highest immediately after milking for TD and TCD, and at 1 h after milking for TCL and TWT. We concluded that the time period of 4 hours is not sufficient for the complete recovery of the teats to the pre-milking state in Holstein Friesian × Sahiwal crossbred dairy cows.Ovo je istraživanje provedeno kako bi se ultrazvukom uočile promjene u tkivu sisa nakon mužnje i procijenio njihov oporavak te vraćanje u stanje prije mužnje. Lijeve sise mliječnih krava križanki između holštajnsko-frizijske i sahival pasmine (n = 20) šest su puta ultrazvučno promatrane: prije mužnje, odmah nakon mužnje te 1, 2, 3 i 4 sata nakon mužnje. Mjerene su apsolutne i relativne promjene dužine sisnog kanala (TCL), promjer vimena (TD), debljina stijenke sisnog kanala (TWT) i promjer sisne cisterne (TCD). Strojna mužnja znakovito je (P<0,0001) utjecala na sve mjerene pokazatelje. Uočeno je produženje sisnog kanala (19 - 25 %), povećanje promjera vimena (19 - 20 %), zadebljanje stijenke vimena (26 - 36 %) i suženje sisne cisterne (51 - 52 %). Na vrijeme potrebno da se sise vrate u stanje prije mužnje znakovito je utjecao njihov položaj. Tako su se vrijednosti TWT-a, TCL-a i TD-a vratile u prvotno stanje 3 - 4 sata kod sisa smještenih na prednjoj lijevoj strani vimena. U sisama smještenim na stražnjoj lijevoj strani vimena samo se TWT vratio u prvotno stanje 4 sata nakon mužnje. Odstupanja su bila najveća odmah nakon mužnje, i to kod vrijednosti TD-a i TCD-a te jedan sat nakon mužnje u slučaju TCL-a i TWT-a. Zaključeno je da je u mliječnih krava križanki između holštajnsko- frizijske i sahival pasmine vrijeme od četiri sata nedovoljno za potpuno vraćanje sisa u stanje prije mužnje

Barrier modification in sub-barrier fusion reactions using Wong formula with Skyrme forces in semiclassical formalism

We obtain the nuclear proximity potential by using semiclassical extended Thomas Fermi (ETF) approach in Skyrme energy density formalism (SEDF), and use it in the extended $\ell$-summed Wong formula under frozen density approximation. This method has the advantage of allowing the use of different Skyrme forces, giving different barriers. Thus, for a given reaction, we could choose a Skyrme force with proper barrier characteristics, not-requiring extra ``barrier lowering" or ``barrier narrowing" for a best fit to data. For the $^{64}$Ni+$^{100}$Mo reaction, the $\ell$-summed Wong formula, with effects of deformations and orientations of nuclei included, fits the fusion-evaporation cross section data exactly for the force GSkI, requiring additional barrier modifications for forces SIII and SV. However, the same for other similar reactions, like $^{58,64}$Ni+$^{58,64}$Ni, fits the data best for SIII force. Hence, the barrier modification effects in $\ell$-summed Wong expression depends on the choice of Skyrme force in extended ETF method.Comment: INPC2010, Vancouver, CANAD

Breast Tumor Recognition by Semantic Segmentation of Multiclass Ultrasound Images

Objectives: The main purpose of this paper is to suggest a semantic segmentation model to reduce training time in ultrasound breast cancer images. This is achieved by employing a smaller network with fewer trainable parameters, resulting in faster training while maintaining maximum accuracy. Methods: This paper proposes a modified U-Net model, which we call the V model, for the subdivision of breast tumors. The proposed V architecture is applied explicitly to ultrasound breast cancer datasets for semantic segmentation. Our proposed model achieves semantic segmentation by employing an encoder and decoder on real and mask image datasets. Findings: Therefore, developing a proposed system, namely a V-Net computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) system, is imperative. This CAD system aims to minimize human errors while enhancing accuracy and speed in the premature finding of breast tumors. The proposed model utilizes minimal layers and parameters while maintaining superior results regarding correctness, speed, and computational proficiency. Novelty: The proposed V-net model applies to analysing any medical image for detecting disease and finding more accuracy than other U-net models

UTILIZATION OF UNSERVICEABLE STRAWBERRIES FOR PRODUCTION OF ELLAGIC ACID AND ITS ENHANCEMENT BY ASPERGILLUS NIGER

Objective: Use of Aspergillus Niger (616) for the fabrication of ellagic acid from unserviceable strawberry as a substrate which is readily and chiefly available from Agro-industries and farm waste.Methods: The ellagic acid content was determined by HPLC method which shows a higher concentration of ellagic acid (143.085+1.669 ppm) after fermentation of 96 h at 35 °C. DPPH assay was carried out for antioxidant activity of ellagic acid.Results: Results designated that ellagic acid has higher antioxidant activity as compared with ascorbic acid.Conclusion: Existing study exposes that this agro waste and farm waste can be used at commercially for the production of ellagic acid which has enormous medicinal properties.Keywords: Ellagic acid, Raw strawberry, DPPH assay, Aspergillus Niger, Fermentation, and HPL

Prevalence of peripheral artery disease in diabetes mellitus: research article

Background: Peripheral artery disease is a major macrovascular complication of diabetes mellitus. Patients with diabetes mellitus have an increased prevalence of PAD. The ankle brachial pressure index is an easy, non invasive and often under utilised tool for diagnosis of PAD.Methods: In the present study, 100 patients from Western Uttar Pradesh with diabetes mellitus were enrolled to find out prevalence of peripheral vascular disease using ankle brachial pressure index and study the associated risk factors.Results: 59 percent of the subjects were female and 41 percent were male. Ankle-brachial index (ABI) examination of patients indicated Abnormal (ABI= <0.9), in 40 cases.Conclusions: it can be concluded that peripheral vascular disease in Diabetes Mellitus is more commonly associated than is generally believed