Differential proteomics of human seminal plasma: A potential target for searching male infertility marker proteins

The clinical fertility tests, available in the market, fail to define the exact cause of male infertility in almost half of the cases and point toward a crucial need of developing better ways of infertility investigations. The protein biomarkers may help us toward better understanding of unknown cases of male infertility that, in turn, can guide us to find better therapeutic solutions. Many clinical attempts have been made to identify biomarkers of male infertility in sperm proteome but only few studies have targeted seminal plasma. Human seminal plasma is a rich source of proteins that are essentially required for development of sperm and successful fertilization. This viewpoint article highlights the importance of human seminal plasma proteome in reproductive physiology and suggests that differential proteomics integrated with functional analysis may help us in searching potential biomarkers of male infertility.     

Simulations for parallel processing of ultrasound reflection-mode tomography with applications to two-phase flow measurement

An evaluation of the application of a parallel-processing array to the measurement of two-phase flow, such as bubbly oil flow through a pipe, in real-time is described. Pulse-echo ultrasound tomography is used to generate a cross-sectional image of the flow that forms the basis for the deduction of flow parameters, such as the void fraction. The tomographic algorithm used is backprojection adapted for execution on an array of parallel-processing devices. It is shown that real-time reconstruction is feasible using the concepts of parallel processing. Different sensor arrangements were investigated by computer simulation. It is shown that a special multisegment sensor results in a significant improvement in signal-to-noise ratio and image quality and that the reconstructed image benefits from the concurrent activation of multiple receivers per transmitted pulse. The findings may also be useful for nondestructive testing and medical applications.     

The microbiology of sheep carcasses processed in a modern Indian abattoir

A study has been conducted on the microbiology of sheep carcasses processed in a modern abattoir. The data revealed that careful handling at the different stages of processing of sheep reduced the level of microbial contamination of carcasses. Processing steps such as evisceration and washing did not increase the microbial counts on the carcass surface. Sources of microbial contamination in the abattoir were examined. It was observed that skin, floor washings, intestinal contents and gambrels were the major sources of microbial contamination. Seasonality did not have any effect on the microbial contamination of carcasses. The study revealed that total plate counts in 86·6% of the carcasses ranged between 3·0–4·9log/cm². The counts of coliforms, staphylococci, enterococci and psychrotrophs were low. Pathogens such as Salmonella were not detected. The microbial counts were well within the generally acceptable levels. These findings demonstrated hygienic handling of carcasses. Shoulder and neck are the critical points for microbiological sampling as these sites showed higher microbial counts. Micrococcus and Staphylococcus predominated among microorganisms associated with carcasses. It was noted that differences occurred in microbial types of carcasses processed in tropical and temperate climates. The data generated in a model facility procided useful information for improving meat handling practices.     

Chemical Defense in the Plant Bug Lopidea robiniae (Uhler)

Secretions from the metathoracic glands (MTG) of the black locust bug, Lopidea robiniae (Uhler) (Heteroptera: Miridae) contained six major compounds, including (E)-2-hexenal, (E)-2-hexen-1-ol, (E)-2-octenal, (E)-2-octen-1-ol (E)-2-heptenal, and (Z)-3-octen-1-ol. Males and females did not differ significantly in the relative compositions of identified compounds. In feeding trials, six bird species [robin (Turdus migratorious), blue jay (Cyanocitta cristata), brown thrasher (Toxostoma rufum), killdeer (Charadrius vociferus), starling (Sturnus vulgaris), and house wren (Troglodytes aedon)] demonstrated feeding aversions towards L. robiniae, implying that black locust bugs are chemically defended. Bugs discharged the liquid contents of their MTG when attacked, thereby producing a strong and distinct odor. Some birds immediately ejected bugs out of their mouth after biting them, suggesting that the MTG secretion was a deterrent.     

Incorporating anthropometry into design of ear-related products

To achieve mass customization and collaborative product design, human factors and ergonomics should play a key development role. The purpose of this study was to provide product designers with the anthropometic dimensions of outer ears for different demographic data, including gender and age. The second purpose was to compare the dimensions of various ear-related products (i.e., earphone, bluetooth earphone and ear-cup earphone) with the anthropometic database and recommend appropriate solutions for design. Two hundred subjects aged 20-59 was selected for this study and divided into four age stratifications. Further, three different dimensions of the outer ear (i.e., the earhole length, the ear connection length and the length of the pinna) were measured by superimposed grid photographic technique. The analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to investigate the effects of gender, and age on ear dimensions. The results showed that all ear dimensions had significant gender effects. A comparison between the anthropometric dimensions and those of current products revealed that most current ear-related products need to be redesigned using anthropometric data. The shapes of earhole and pinna are not circular. Consequently, ear products need to be elongated so that users may feel more comfortably and not have the product slip off easily.     

An investigation of 2'-deoxyribonucleoside cyanoboranes in mice for therapeutic safety

A standard acute toxicity study was undertaken to assess 2'-deoxyribonucleoside cyanoboranes for therapeutic safety. 2'-Deoxyribonucleoside cyanoboranes and related derivatives were nontoxic at doses required for anti-neoplastic and hypolipidemic activities. At higher doses (50 and 100 mg/kg/day IP for 7 days), all treated animals survived with slight reductions in total body weight and small decrements in daily food consumption. No clinical chemistry value was elevated to a magnitude suggesting onset of organ specific toxicity. However, agents appeared to modulate subpopulations of white blood cells, i.e., more lymphocytes than PMNs were present in blood from treated animals as determined by differential cell counts. This modulation is correlated with increases in granulomatous foci in the spleen and mesentery of treated animals after 7 days. The kidney was damaged only by Compound 5 at 50 and 100 mg/kg/day; Compound 5 had the most potent anti-neoplastic activity. The compounds demonstrated no in vitro toxicity against human HCT-8 ileum cells. LD(50) values were greater than 1000 mg/kg, IP, for all compounds.     

Motion estimation of skeletonized angiographic images using elastic registration

An approach for estimating the motion of arteries in digital angiographic image sequences is proposed. Binary skeleton images are registered using an elastic registration algorithm in order to estimate the motion of the corresponding arteries. This algorithm operates recursively on the skeleton images by considering an autoregressive (AR) model of the deformation in conjunction with a dynamic programming (DP) algorithm. The AR model is used at the pixel level and provides a suitable cost function to DP through the innovation process. In addition, a moving average (MA) model for the motion of the entire skeleton is used in combination with the local AR model for improved registration results. The performance of this motion estimation method is demonstrated on simulated and real digital angiographic image sequences. It is shown that motion estimation using elastic registration of skeletons is very successful especially with low contrast and noisy angiographic images.     

Image staining and differential diagnosis of ultrasound scans based on the Mahalanobis distance

The covariance matrices associated with each state of health or disease from a previous study are used as the basis of an image staining display technique for aid in quantitative differential diagnosis. A state of health or disease is chosen by the clinician: this selects the covariance matrix from the data base. A region of interest (ROI) is then scrolled through an abdominal B-scan. For each position of the ROI a point in the four-dimensional feature space is calculated. A natural measure of the distance of this point from the center of mass (multivariate mean) of the disease class is calculated in terms of the covariance matrix of this class; this measure is the Mahalanobis distance. The confidence level for acceptance or rejection of the hypothesized disease class is obtained from the probability distribution of this distance, the T(2) probability law. This confidence level is color coded and used as a color stain that overlays the original scan at that position. The variability of the calculated features is studied as a function of ROI size, or the spatial resolution of the color coded image, and it is found that for an ROI in the neighborhood of 4 cm(2) most of the variability due to the finite number of independent samples (speckles) is averaged out, leaving the "noise floor" associated with inter- and intra-patient variability. ROIs on the order of 1 cm(2) may result with technical advances in B-scan resolution. A small number of points on organ boundaries are entered by the user, to fit with arcs of ellipses to be used to switch between organ (liver and kidney) data bases as the ROI encounters the boundary. By selecting in turn various state-of-health or state-of-disease databases, such images of confidence levels may be used for quantitative differential diagnosis. The method is not limited to ultrasound, being applicable in principle to features obtained from any modality or multimodality combination.     

The anti-inflammatory activity of boron derivatives in rodents

Acyclic amine-carboxyboranes were effective anti-inflammatory agents in mice at 8 mg/kg x 2. These amine-carboxyboranes were more effective than the standard indomethacin at 8 mg/kg x 2, pentoxifylline at 50 mg/kg x 2, and phenylbutazone at 50 mg/kg x 2. The heterocyclic amine derivatives as well as amine-carbamoylboranes, carboalkoxyboranes, and cyanoboranes were generally less active. However, selected aminomethyl-phosphonate-N-cyanoboranes demonstrated greater than 60% reduction of induced inflammation. The boron compounds were also active in the rat induced edema, chronic arthritis, and pleurisy screens, demonstrating activity similar to the standard indomethacin. The compounds were effecive in reducing local pain and decreased the tail flick reflex to pain. The derivatives which demonstrated good anti-inflammatory activity were effective inhibitors of hydrolytic lysosomal, and proteolytic enzyme activities with IC(50) 50 values equal to (-6)M in mouse macrophages, human leukocytes, and Be Sal osteofibrolytic cells. In these same cell lines, the agents blocked prostaglandin cyclooxygenase activity with IC(50) values of (-6)M. In mouse macrophage and human leukocytes, 5' lipoxygenase activity was also inhibited by the boron derivatives with IC(50) values of 10(-6)M. These IC(50) values for inhibition of these enzyme activities are consistent with published values of known anti-inflammatory agents which target these enzymes.