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PURPOSE: Sperm DNA fragmentation (SDF) testing was recently added to the sixth edition of the World Health Organization laboratory manual for the examination and processing of human semen. Many conditions and risk factors have been associated with elevated SDF; therefore, it is important to identify the population of infertile men who might benefit from this test. The purpose of this study was to investigate global practices related to indications for SDF testing, compare the relevant professional society guideline recommendations, and provide expert recommendations. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Clinicians managing male infertility were invited to take part in a global online survey on SDF clinical practices. This was conducted following the CHERRIES checklist criteria. The responses were compared to professional society guideline recommendations related to SDF and the appropriate available evidence. Expert recommendations on indications for SDF testing were then formulated, and the Delphi method was used to reach consensus. RESULTS: The survey was completed by 436 experts from 55 countries. Almost 75% of respondents test for SDF in all or some men with unexplained or idiopathic infertility, 39% order it routinely in the work-up of recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL), and 62.2% investigate SDF in smokers. While 47% of reproductive urologists test SDF to support the decision for varicocele repair surgery when conventional semen parameters are normal, significantly fewer general urologists (23%; p=0.008) do the same. Nearly 70% would assess SDF before assisted reproductive technologies (ART), either always or for certain conditions. Recurrent ART failure is a common indication for SDF testing. Very few society recommendations were found regarding SDF testing. CONCLUSIONS: This article presents the largest global survey on the indications for SDF testing in infertile men, and demonstrates diverse practices. Furthermore, it highlights the paucity of professional society guideline recommendations. Expert recommendations are proposed to help guide clinicians.

The formation of lattice defects and their effect on the electronic properties of single-layer FeCl2 are investigated by means of first-principles calculations. Among the vacancy defects, namely mono-, di-, and three-Cl vacancies and mono-Fe vacancy, the formation of mono-Cl vacancy is the most preferable. Comparison of two different antisite defects reveals that the formation of the Fe-antisite defect is energetically preferable to the Cl-antisite defect. While a single Cl vacancy leads to a 1 mu(B) decrease in the total magnetic moment of the host lattice, each Fe vacant site reduces the magnetic moment by 4 mu(B). However, adsorption of an excess Cl atom on the surface changes the electronic structure to a ferromagnetic metal or to a ferromagnetic semiconductor depending on the adsorption site without changing the ferromagnetic state of the host lattice. Both Cl-antisite and Fe-antisite defected domains change the magnetic moment of the host lattice by -1 mu(B) and +3 mu(B), respectively. The electronic ground state of defected structures reveals that (i) single-layer FeCl2 exhibits half-metallicity under the formation of vacancy and Cl-antisite defects; (ii) ferromagnetic metallicity is obtained when a single Cl atom is adsorbed on upper-Cl and Fe sites, respectively; and (iii) ferromagnetic semiconducting behavior is found when a Cl atom is adsorbed on a lower-Cl site or a Fe-antisite defect is formed. Simulated scanning electron microscope images show that atomic-scale identification of defect types is possible from their electronic charge density. Further investigation of the periodically Fe-defected structures reveals that the formation of the single-layer FeCl3 phase, which is a dynamically stable antiferromagnetic semiconductor, is possible. Our comprehensive analysis on defects in single-layer FeCl2 will complement forthcoming experimental observations.

The formation of lattice defects and their effect on the electronic properties of single-layer FeCl2 are investigated by means of first-principles calculations. Among the vacancy defects, namely mono-, di-, and three-Cl vacancies and mono-Fe vacancy, the formation of mono-Cl vacancy is the most preferable. Comparison of two different antisite defects reveals that the formation of the Fe-antisite defect is energetically preferable to the Cl-antisite defect. While a single Cl vacancy leads to a 1 mu(B) decrease in the total magnetic moment of the host lattice, each Fe vacant site reduces the magnetic moment by 4 mu(B). However, adsorption of an excess Cl atom on the surface changes the electronic structure to a ferromagnetic metal or to a ferromagnetic semiconductor depending on the adsorption site without changing the ferromagnetic state of the host lattice. Both Cl-antisite and Fe-antisite defected domains change the magnetic moment of the host lattice by -1 mu(B) and +3 mu(B), respectively. The electronic ground state of defected structures reveals that (i) single-layer FeCl2 exhibits half-metallicity under the formation of vacancy and Cl-antisite defects; (ii) ferromagnetic metallicity is obtained when a single Cl atom is adsorbed on upper-Cl and Fe sites, respectively; and (iii) ferromagnetic semiconducting behavior is found when a Cl atom is adsorbed on a lower-Cl site or a Fe-antisite defect is formed. Simulated scanning electron microscope images show that atomic-scale identification of defect types is possible from their electronic charge density. Further investigation of the periodically Fe-defected structures reveals that the formation of the single-layer FeCl3 phase, which is a dynamically stable antiferromagnetic semiconductor, is possible. Our comprehensive analysis on defects in single-layer FeCl2 will complement forthcoming experimental observations.

Objective: Compartment syndrome is one of the most devastating complications in orthopedics both for the patient and the treating physician. Among the many causes, trauma and its treatment are the most common reasons for compartment syndrome, which most frequently occurs in the lower leg following tibial fractures. Since bridge plating of difficult metadiaphyseal tibial fractures is becoming increasingly popular, serious concerns have been raised about the increased intracompartmental pressures and possible compartment syndrome. Methods: This study investigated the intracompartmental pressure changes in anterolateral compartment of the leg during and immediately after anterolateral bridge plating of tibial fractures. Intracompartmental pressures were measured before and during plate application, just after the completion of fixation, and immediately and 4-5 min after the tourniquet release in 22 isolated closed comminuted tibial fractures. Results: Baseline anterolateral compartment pressures were higher than those on the uninjured side (9.3 vs 27.8 mmHg). Pressures were 69.5, 57.4, 65.8, and 56.8 mmHg, respectively, for the other measurements times. None of the patients received prophylactic fasciotomy, and none developed clinical compartment syndrome. Conclusion: We found that anterolateral compartmental pressures were higher than pressures on the uninjured side in all patients. Although there is a considerable increase in intracompartmental pressures during and immediately after anterolateral percutaneous bridge plating of comminuted tibial fractures, intraoperative prophylactic fasciotomy is not routinely needed. One should monitor the patients on the first postoperative day for signs of compartment syndrome. Fasciotomy decisions should be based on both clinical symptoms and serial intracompartmental pressure measurements rather than a single measurement.

OBJECTIVE: Compartment syndrome is one of the most devastating complications in orthopedics both for the patient and the treating physician. Among the many causes, trauma and its treatment are the most common reasons for compartment syndrome, which most frequently occurs in the lower leg following tibial fractures. Since bridge plating of difficult metadiaphyseal tibial fractures is becoming increasingly popular, serious concerns have been raised about the increased intracompartmental pressures and possible compartment syndrome. METHODS: This study investigated the intracompartmental pressure changes in anterolateral compartment of the leg during and immediately after anterolateral bridge plating of tibial fractures. Intracompartmental pressures were measured before and during plate application, just after the completion of fixation, and immediately and 4-5 min after the tourniquet release in 22 isolated closed comminuted tibial fractures. RESULTS: Baseline anterolateral compartment pressures were higher than those on the uninjured side (9.3 vs 27.8 mmHg). Pressures were 69.5, 57.4, 65.8, and 56.8 mmHg, respectively, for the other measurements times. None of the patients received prophylactic fasciotomy, and none developed clinical compartment syndrome. CONCLUSION: We found that anterolateral compartmental pressures were higher than pressures on the uninjured side in all patients. Although there is a considerable increase in intracompartmental pressures during and immediately after anterolateral percutaneous bridge plating of comminuted tibial fractures, intraoperative prophylactic fasciotomy is not routinely needed. One should monitor the patients on the first postoperative day for signs of compartment syndrome. Fasciotomy decisions should be based on both clinical symptoms and serial intracompartmental pressure measurements rather than a single measurement.

Nine N-pyridine Schiff bases (1-9) that were synthesized by reacting different ortho-, meta- and ortho-metasubstituted salicylaldehyde and 3,5-substituted aminopyridine were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity. The acute in vivo toxicity and genotoxic activity of these compounds were also tested. All of the compounds exhibited antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive (Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis) and Gram-negative bacteria (Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter aerogenes, Escherichia coli, Proteus vulgaris and Salmonella typhimurium) and against yeasts (Candida albicans, C. glabrata, C. utilis, Pichia membranafaciens and Rhodotorula rubra). The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of the compounds ranged from 0.95 to 1000 µg/ml. For the yeasts tested, the MICs ranged from 0.97 to 250 µg/ml. Compounds 1-6, which were substituted with CH3, NO2, Br and Cl, showed especially significant inhibitory activity against C. albicans, and the MICs of these compounds ranged from 0.97 to 7.81 µg/ml. An in vivo brine shrimp (Artemia salina) acute toxicity assay was used to determine the LD50 values of the test compounds. The LD50 (24 h) values of these compounds ranged from 31.64 to 94.9 µg/ml. Additionally, according to umu-test results, none of the tested compounds showed a genotoxic effect over a range from 10 to 5000 µg/ml.© 2013 Buket Kunduhoglu et al.

Anatomical shape differences in cortical structures in the brain can be associated with various neuropsychiatric and neuro-developmental diseases or disorders. Labeled Cortical Distance Map (LCDM), can be a powerful tool to quantize such morphometric differences. In this article, we investigate various issues regarding the analysis of LCDM distances in relation to morphometry. The length of the LCDM distance vector provides the number of voxels (approximately a multiple of volume (in mm^3)); median, mode, range, and variance of LCDM distances are all suggestive of size, thickness, and shape differences. However these measures provide a crude summary based on LCDM distances which may convey much more information about the tissue in question. To utilize more of this information, we pool (merge) the LCDM distances from subjects in the same group or condition. The statistical methodology we employ require normality and within and between sample independence. We demonstrate that the violation of these assumptions have mild influence on the tests. We specify the types of alternatives the parametric and nonparametric tests are more sensitive for. We also show that the pooled LCDM distances provide powerful results for group differences in distribution, left-right morphometric asymmetry of the tissues, and variation of LCDM distances. As an illustrative example, we use gray matter (GM) tissue of ventral medial prefrontal cortices (VMPFCs) from subjects with major depressive disorder, subjects at high risk, and control subjects. We find significant evidence that VMPFCs of subjects with depressive disorders are different in shape compared to those of normal subjects.

Statistical pattern classification methods based on data-random graphs were introduced recently. In this approach, a random directed graph is constructed from the data using the relative positions of the data points from various classes. Different random graphs result from different definitions of the proximity region associated with each data point and different graph statistics can be employed for data reduction. The approach used in this article is based on a parameterized family of proximity maps determining an associated family of data-random digraphs. The relative arc density of the digraph is used as the summary statistic, providing an alternative to the domination number employed previously. An important advantage of the relative arc density is that, properly re-scaled, it is a $U$-statistic, facilitating analytic study of its asymptotic distribution using standard $U$-statistic central limit theory. The approach is illustrated with an application to the testing of spatial patterns of segregation and association. Knowledge of the asymptotic distribution allows evaluation of the Pitman and Hodges-Lehmann asymptotic efficacies, and selection of the proximity map parameter to optimize efficiency. Furthermore the approach presented here also has the advantage of validity for data in any dimension., 29 pages, 21 figures

We discuss a graph-based approach for testing spatial point patterns. This approach falls under the category of data-random graphs, which have been introduced and used for statistical pattern recognition in recent years. Our goal is to test complete spatial randomness against segregation and association between two or more classes of points. To attain this goal, we use a particular type of parametrized random digraph called proximity catch digraph (PCD) which is based based on relative positions of the data points from various classes. The statistic we employ is the relative density of the PCD. When scaled properly, the relative density of the PCD is a $U$-statistic. We derive the asymptotic distribution of the relative density, using the standard central limit theory of $U$-statistics. The finite sample performance of the test statistic is evaluated by Monte Carlo simulations, and the asymptotic performance is assessed via Pitman's asymptotic efficiency, thereby yielding the optimal parameters for testing. Furthermore, the methodology discussed in this article is also valid for data in multiple dimensions., Comment: 31 pages, 15 figures

We derive the asymptotic distribution of the domination number of a new family of random digraph called proximity catch digraph (PCD), which has application to statistical testing of spatial point patterns and to pattern recognition. The PCD we use is a parametrized digraph based on two sets of points on the plane, where sample size and locations of the elements of one is held fixed, while the sample size of the other whose elements are randomly distributed over a region of interest goes to infinity. PCDs are constructed based on the relative allocation of the random set of points with respect to the Delaunay triangulation of the other set whose size and locations are fixed. We introduce various auxiliary tools and concepts for the derivation of the asymptotic distribution. We investigate these concepts in one Delaunay triangle on the plane, and then extend them to the multiple triangle case. The methods are illustrated for planar data, but are applicable in higher dimensions also., Comment: 24 pages, 14 figures

In this study, a total of 396 bacterial isolates were obtained from soil samples from Eskiş ehir, Turkey and these were screened for their antimicrobial and insecticidal activity. Only the isolates displaying weak or no activity, a total of 322, were selected for insecticidal activity studies. Two of these (39.02 and 42.04) showed insecticidal activity on Musca domestica larvae and on adult flies with topical application. The insecticidal activity of the isolates was compared to that of standard insecticidal compounds produced by actinomycetes (antimycin A, cycloheximide and nikkomycin Z) and insecticidal compounds producing collection strains (Streptomyces avermitilis NRRL 8165 and S. pactum NRRL 5230). In the primary screening program, the mortality rates of isolates 39.02 and 42.04 on M. domestica larvae were 95% and 75%, respectively. The insecticidal compounds produced by the isolates 39.02 and 42.04 were more effective by topical application than ingestion on adult flies. However, they did not show any insecticidal activity on the pupae and all pupae hatched into adult flies. The genotoxic potentials of the crude extracts from the active isolates were studied with the Umu test using Salmonella typhimurium NM2009 and NM3009 strains. The results show that all of the compounds did not have mutagenic activity. An 16S rRNA analysis of the isolates 39.02 and 42.04 shows that they belong to genera Achromobacter and Streptomyces, respectively. Fil: Yamac, Mustafa. Eskişehir Osmangazi University; Turquía Fil: Sahin, Elif. Cukurova University; Turquía Fil: Ceyhan, Emre. Eskişehir Osmangazi University; Turquía Fil: Amoroso, Maria Julia del R.. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; Argentina Fil: Cuozzo, Sergio Antonio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Tucumán. Planta Piloto de Procesos Industriales Microbiológicos; Argentina Fil: Pilatin, Sevil. Eskişehir Osmangazi University; Turquía

Purpose: Varicocele is a common problem among infertile men. Varicocele repair (VR) is frequently performed to improve semen parameters and the chances of pregnancy. However, there is a lack of consensus about the diagnosis, indications for VR and its outcomes. The aim of this study was to explore global practice patterns on the management of varicocele in the context of male infertility. Materials and Methods: Sixty practicing urologists/andrologists from 23 countries contributed 382 multiple-choice-questions pertaining to varicocele management. These were condensed into an online questionnaire that was forwarded to clinicians involved in male infertility management through direct invitation. The results were analyzed for disagreement and agreement in practice patterns and, compared with the latest guidelines of international professional societies (American Urological As- sociation [AUA], American Society for Reproductive Medicine [ASRM], and European Association of Urology [EAU]), and with evidence emerging from recent systematic reviews and meta-analyses. Additionally, an expert opinion on each topic was provided based on the consensus of 16 experts in the field. Results: The questionnaire was answered by 574 clinicians from 59 countries. The majority of respondents were urologists/ uro-andrologists. A wide diversity of opinion was seen in every aspect of varicocele diagnosis, indications for repair, choice of technique, management of sub-clinical varicocele and the role of VR in azoospermia. A significant proportion of the re- sponses were at odds with the recommendations of AUA, ASRM, and EAU. A large number of clinical situations were identi- fied where no guidelines are available. Conclusions: This study is the largest global survey performed to date on the clinical management of varicocele for male in- fertility. It demonstrates: 1) a wide disagreement in the approach to varicocele management, 2) large gaps in the clinical prac- tice guidelines from professional societies, and 3) the need for further studies on several aspects of varicocele management in infertile men.