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The field experiments were conducted to study the bio-efficacy of microbial insecticides against Pieris brassicae Linnaeus in cabbage crop var. “Green Hero” in NEH region of India. The pooled data of two years indicated that Metarhizium anisopliae @ 1500 g/ha proved the most effective treatment in reducing the incidence of P. brassicae with a minimum mean leaf damage of 49.93 per cent as against 67.57 per cent in untreated control followed by Beauveria bassiana 10 SC @ 1000 ml ha-1 and M. anisopliae @ 1000 g ha-1 with a record of lower mean leaf damage of 51.68 and 51.85 per cent, respectively. The treatment M. anisopliae @ 1500 g ha-1 recorded maximum cabbage yield of 17.09 t ha-1, followed by B. bassiana 10 SC @ 1000 ml ha-1 treated plots (15.19 t ha-1) and M. anisopliae @ 1000 g ha-1 (15.02 t ha-1). The minimum yield (12.84 t ha-1) was obtained from the plots treated with Dichlorvos 76 SL @ 500 ml with an increased yield of 3.09 t ha-1 over control, but, did not differ significantly from rest of the treatments. The extent of avoidable yield loss due to the incidence of P. brassicae was estimated to be 45.98 per cent in untreated control which was reduced to 9.41-28.86 per cent in treated plots. Minimum avoidable yield loss being recorded in B. bassiana 10 SC @ 1000 ml ha-1 and maximum avoidable yield loss in Dichlorvos 76 SL @ 500 ml ha-1 treatments. The net profit of the treatments varied from Rs. 28,350.00 (Dichlorvos 76 SL @ 500 ml ha-1) to Rs. 77,150.00 (M. anisopliae @ 1500 gm ha-1) with the cost-benefit ratio of 1:11.12 to 1:13.19 in the treatments. Beauveria bassiana 10 SC @ 1000 ml ha-1 gave the highest benefit-cost ratio of 1:13.19, while the lowest was in Dichlorvos 76 SL @ 500 ml ha-1 with 1:11.12.

Study question What is the outcome of intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) using testicular spermatozoa obtained on the day of oocyte pick-up (OPU) or the day before OPU. Summary answer Testicular spermatozoa were obtaining the one day before OPU does not affect fertilization rate, top quality embryo on day 3, and blastocyst utilization rate. What is known already Usually, TESE is performed just before OPU. OPU is generally cancelled if no sperm is retrieved. The use of fresh testicular spermatozoa, obtained the day before OPU could offer the couple and the caring team both medical and practical advantages. The benefits of this approach, however, has not been evaluated in detail. An uncontrolled preliminary study has revealed that regular fertilization and pregnancy rates could be achieved with sperm extraction performed one day before OPU. Study design, size, duration This was a single-center retrospective study in Bahceci BIH IVF center. Sixty-six patients suffering from azoospermia from January 2015 to December 2020 were evaluated. TESE was performed either on the OPU day (43 patients; group A) or one day before OPU (23 patients; group B). Participants/materials, setting, methods In this study, primary outcomes were motile spermatozoa at ICSI, fertilization, top quality embryo on day 3, and blastocyst utilization rate. Statistical analyses were performed with chi-squared tests. Main results and the role of chance There is no statistical difference fertilization rate (72.3% vs. 72.2, p > 0.05), top quality embryo rate on day 3 (58.3% vs 58.3%, p > 0.05) and blast utilization rate (43.98% vs 49.58%, p > 0.05) between group A and B, respectively. Limitations, reasons for caution The retrospective nature of this study may not eliminate potential bias. On the contrary, the strength of our study is that all procedures were performed by the same operators, so there are no operator-dependent differences. More research is needed to prove our findings. Wider implications of the findings: TESE procedure can be performed one day before OPU without compromising success. Trial registration number 1

Study question Does the GnRHa trigger improve oocyte and embryo quality in patients younger than 40, and do mtUPPR have a role? Summary answer GnRHa trigger improves oocyte nuclear/cytoplasmic maturation, blastocyst utilization and downregulates HSP60 levels and upregulates ATF5 levels compared to hCG trigger. GnRHa trigger suppresses mitochondrial stress. What is known already hCG has been used for decades to achieve final oocyte maturation and, thereby, correct oocyte retrieval timing in connection with ovarian hyperstimulation protocols. As an alternative to hCG, a GnRH agonist has been used to trigger the endogenous release of LH (and FSH) in a fashion resembling the mid-cycle surge of gonadotrophins. GnRHa is as effective as hCG for the induction of ovulation. It has been very well known that the GnRHa trigger improves oocyte nuclear maturation, embryo quality, and implantation rate, but the underlying mechanism remains unknown. Study design, size, duration 3054 women younger than 40; oocytes retrieved more than 10 (up to 20) analyzed. Male infertility was excluded. Ovulation triggered either by hCG (n = 1368) or GnRHa (1668). Female mice were divided into three groups as control, hCG-treated and GnRHa-treated group. Superovulation was performed by FSH + hCG or GnRHa. Oocytes were collected 13 hours after hCG/GnRHa injection. ATF5, BiP, and HSP60 levels were analyzed by Western blot. Statistical analysis was performed using Student’s t-test. Participants/materials, setting, methods This study has two parts. i) RCT and ii) Experimental. In the experimental part, three months old female BALB/C mice (25–30 g) were used and divided into three groups (n = 20/group) as control, hCG-treated and GnRHa-treated group. Superovulation was performed by administering an injection of 5 IU FSH (i.p.) and hCG (i.p.) or GnRHa (20 mg/kg) i.m. Oocytes were collected 13 hours after hCG/GnRHa injection. ATF5, BiP, and HSP60 levels were analyzed by Western blot. Main results and the role of chance The mean age (34.8 vs. 35.2 years), total gonadotropin dose (2176 vs. 2230 IU), and the number of oocytes picked up (14.9 vs. 13.4) were not statistically different among GnRHa and hCG group, respectively. No LH rise or any OHSS was noticed in any groups. Oocyte maturation (79.8% vs. 75.9%), oocyte diameter (as a marker of cytoplasmic maturity) (10198 µm2 and 9474 µm2), fertilization rate (78% vs. 72%), and embryo utilization rate (52% vs. 47.2%) were significantly higher in GnRHa group compared to hCG group, respectively. HSP60 level (activated by mtUPR) was statistically higher in the hCG group compared to the GnRHa group (55% vs. 22%, p Limitations, reasons for caution The limitation is that this is a proof-of-concept study to reveal the mechanism of good embryo quality with GnRHa trigger. Wider implications of the findings: This application offers convenience and simplifies the IVF protocol with a better oocyte and embryo quality while reducing Ovarian Hyperstimulation Syndrome (OHSS) risk during IVF care Trial registration number Not applicable

This paper investigates various approaches for automated inspection of gluing process using shape-based matching application. A new supervised defect detection approach to detect a class of defects in gluing application is proposed. Creating of region of interest in important region of object is discussed. Gaussian smoothing features is proposed in determining better image processing. Template matching in differentiates between reference and tested image are proposed. This scheme provides high computational savings and results in high defect detection recognition rate. The defects are broadly classified into three classes: 1) gap defect; 2) bumper defect; 3) bubble defect. This system does lessen execution time, yet additionally produce high precision in deformity location rate. It is discovered that the proposed framework can give precision at 95.77% recognition rate in recognizing imperfection for gluing application.

Batislam, Ertan/0000-0002-7493-4573 WOS: 000228921600003 PubMed: 16025856 Seventy-six of 108 random men aged 50 years or over were evaluated for erectile dysfunction with interviews of patients using the International Index of Erectile Function Form and minimal evaluation. Serum hormone concentrations were measured. Bone mineral density was measured using dual energy x-ray absorptiometry. Hormone levels did not show significance in terms of erectile dysfunction or bone mineral density results. Erectile dysfunction was determined in 57 (75%) of 76 palients. Ten (13.2%) patients had osteoporosis and 45 (59.2%) had osteopenia at the bone mineral density measurements. The distribution of bone mineral density groups relating to erectile dysfunction did not show significance. The frequencies of osteoporosis and erectile dysfunction increased with age, but the association of these conditions seems to be independent of each other and hormonal changes appear not to be the major determinants for both conditions in elderly men.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the ef- fects of aging on semen quality in a population of infertile couples. Methods: A cross-sectional study of semen samples ob- tained from 1,500 men randomly selected from couples who attended an infertility clinic was conducted. The anal- yses were performed using Spearman's correlation and Mann-Whitney tests. The age groups consisted of men ≤ 35 years, from 36-45 years and > 45 years of age. The semen analysis was performed according to the WHO criteria, and morphology was evaluated using the motile sperm organelle morphology examination (MSOME). The percentages of normal spermatozoa and spermatozoa with large nuclear vacuoles (LNV, occupying > 50% nuclear area) were determined. The percentages of DNA fragmen- tation were assessed using the TUNEL assay. Results: A regression analysis revealed that the per- centages of LNV spermatozoa and sperm DNA frag- mentation positively correlated with age. Conversely, a regression analysis revealed that the percentage of nor- mal sperm, sperm progressive motility and sperm vi- tality negatively correlated with age. As in the previous test, the analysis by age group showed that there was a significant reduction (P < 0.05) in the percentage of normal sperm, sperm progressive motility and sperm vitality as age increased. Conversely, the percentage of spermatozoa with LNVs and sperm DNA fragmenta- tion significantly increased (P < 0.05) as age increased. Conclusion: Semen quality seems to be influenced by ag- ing. The age-related decrease in sperm quality suggests that delaying childbearing, not only for women but also for men, may jeopardize reproductive capacity.

The objective of the study was to ascertain whether flexible ureteroscopy with holmium laser lithotripsy and/or extraction of stone fragments is as effective in obese patients as in non-obese patients. The patients were divided into four groups (group 1: normal weight = 79 procedures, group 2: overweight = 123 procedures, group 3: obese = 87 procedures, and group 4: morbidly obese = 20 procedures) according to BMI cohorts. Patient charts were retrospectively reviewed and relevant data collected. A total of 309 operations were included in the present study. The overall mean ± SD (range) age was 41 ± 12 years (18–82), BMI 29 ± 6 kg/m2 (18–52), operative time 64 ± 29 min (20–200), hospital stay 25 ± 11 h (4–168), stone number 3 ± 2 (1–15), stone burden 21 ± 14 mm (4–98), and internal stenting time 26 ± 8 days (2–60). Mean stone size was 10 ± 6, 9 ± 5, 11 ± 8, and 11 ± 8 mm for groups 1 through 4, respectively. There were no differences among groups regarding patients and stone characteristics, and perioperative parameters including patient age, operative time, hospital stay, and complications. Overall SFRs were similar between groups (81, 87, 87.4, and 85 %, respectively; χ 2=3.304, p=0.770) as were the complication rates (12–16 %). Our contemporary Retrograde Intrarenal Surgery (RIRS) series showed that operative times, hospital stays, ancillary equipment use (internal stent, basket, etc.), SFRs, and complication rates were independent of BMI. Therefore, RIRS can be performed as efficiently and efficaciously in obese patients as in non-obese patients.

Purpose: Due to the lack of a gold standard for performing cavernosometry, we selected 30 patients with veno-occlusive dysfunction to evaluate the internal relationships of cavernosometric parameters and their reliability for therapeutic decisions.Materials and Methods: Cavernosometry was performed after injection of 20 to 40 microgram of prostaglandin E1. Maintenance flow rates, intracavernous pressure decay following cessation of flow and intracavernous pressure changes after compression maneuvers were the main parameters considered.Results: Cavernosometric results were standardized as grade 1--7 patients with maintenance flow rate less than 20 ml. per minute (mean 18 plus/minus 2.5) and intravernous pressure decay 27.5 plus/minus 15 percent, grade 2--11 with maintenance flow rates significantly lower (p less than 0.001) than grade 1 (mean 37 plus/minus 11 ml. per minute) and intracavernous pressure decay 33 plus/minus 20 percent, and grade 3--12 with only recorded induction flows greater than 7...

In this study, genotoxic activities of four halogenated anesthetics (halothane, isoflurane, sevoflurane and desflurane) were investigated in human peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) and sperm cells in vitro by alkaline comet assay. For this purpose, sperm or lymphocyte suspension was exposed to different concentrations (0.1 mM, 1 mM, 10 mM and 100 mM) of anesthetic agents and 1% dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) as controls. The DNA strand breaks as well as alkali-labile sites were measured as percentage tail intensity with comet assay. The results of this study demonstrate that all analyzed drugs were capable of inducing DNA damage on PBLs in a dose-dependent manner in vitro. However, the results in sperm cells were slightly different since we did not observe any genotoxic effect for desflurane in any of the exposure doses, and the genotoxic effect of halothane was not dose dependent. This experimental study points out to the presence of DNA damage after exposure to halogenated anesthetics in both PBLs and sperm cells, although this effect seems to be higher in PBLs.

The dynamic response of an oscillating microcantilever with a gold-coated tip interacting with dissimilar functionalized silica surfaces was studied in electrolyte solutions with pH ranging from 4 to 9. Silica surfaces were chemically modified, yielding dissimilar surfaces with -Br, -NH(2), and -CH(3) functional group terminations. The relative hydrophobicity of the surfaces was characterized by contact angle measurements. The surface charge of the functionalized surfaces was first probed with commonly used static AFM measurements and serves as a reference to the dynamic response data. The amplitude and phase of the cantilever oscillation were monitored and used to calculate the effective interaction stiffness and damping coefficient, which relate to the electrical double layer interactions and also to distance-dependent hydrodynamic damping at the solid/water interface. The data for the dynamic response of the AFM over silica surfaces as a function of chemical functionalization and electrolyte pH show that the effective stiffness has a distinctive dependence on the surface charge of functionalized silica surfaces. The hydrodynamic damping also correlates strongly with the relative hydrophobicity of the surface. The data reported here indicate that interfacial properties can be strongly affected by changing the chemical composition of surfaces.

In this study, silica surfaces were chemically modified yielding dissimilar surfaces with –Br, –NH2 , and –CH3 functional group terminations. The dynamic response of an oscillating micro-cantilever with a gold-coated tip interacting with the functionalized silica surfaces was studied in electrolyte solutions with pH ranging from 4 to 9. The amplitude and phase of the cantilever oscillation were monitored and used to calculate the effective stiffness of the AFM cantilever, which relates to the double layer interactions and the hydrodynamic damping at the solid/water interface. The data for the dynamic response of the AFM over silica surfaces as a function of chemical functionalization and electrolyte pH show that the effective stiffness has distinctive dependence on the surface charge of functionalized silica surfaces. The hydrodynamic damping also correlates strongly with the relative hydrophobicity of the surface, suggesting a dependence on interfacial characteristics including effective slip lengths. It is hoped that the experimental data reported here will provide insights for development of more theoretical models explaining the underlying mechanisms.Copyright © 2010 by ASME

[No abstract available]

WOS: 000170748800006 PubMed: 11554682 This study investigated the effect of the seminal and blood plasma calcitonin levels on the sperm motility in idiopathic infertile patients The number of sperm cells and their motility were evaluated in the spermiograms of 52 idiopathic infertile patients. The levels of seminal plasma calcitonin were studied with double antibody technique using a DPC kit. Fifty-two patients were divided into 2 groups according to the motility rates of sperm and 20 healthy volunteers were assigned to a control group. The difference between the groups was evaluated by using Kruskall-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests, and the correlation of seminal and blood calcitonin levels with sperm motility were determined. The difference in motility rates between the 3 groups was statistically significant (P = .0001 p < .05). Blood plasma calcitonin levels were in normal ranges in all cases and no significant difference was found among the 3 groups ((2) = 2.7219, p = .2589, p > .05). While sperm motility was correlated with seminal calcitonin levels (r = .8581). blood calcitonin levels did not show a correlation with sperm motility rate (r = -.0265). Moreover, there was no correlation between seminal and blood plasma levels of calcitonin (r = -.0010). Motility rates decreased in the patients with low seminal calcitonin levels and seminal calcitonin levels had a significant effect on sperm motility.

Objectives: Hypoxaemia occurring during haemodialysis has long been known. Several mechanisms in the pathogenesis have been proposed. The present study was conducted to test whether changes in pulmonary alveolar permeability were among the operating mechanisms. Materials and methods Twenty haemodialysis patients (12 male, 8 female) were included in the study. The mean age was 49 years (age range: 18-85 years). Patients with known pulmonary disease, current smokers and those gaining more than I kg weight during the interdialytic period were excluded. Complete blood count, arterial blood gas analysis, pulmonary function tests and Tc-99m diethylene triamine pentaacetate (DTPA) inhalation scintiscan were carried out before and after haemodialysis. A bronchial provocation test was carried out after each session. A postero-anterior chest radiogram was taken for each patient. Results: When the results before and after haemodialysis were compared, it was observed that the pH and serum bicarbonate levels, haemoglobin and haematocrit values were significantly higher after haemodialysis. However, the platelet count was found to be decreased significantly. Bronchial hyperreactivity, tested by metacholine, was positive in 5 of 19 patients (26%). No correlation between bronchial hyperreactivity and other factors could be identified. No significant difference was observed in pulmonary Tc-99m DTPA clearance after haemodialysis. All chest radiograms were interpreted to be within normal limits. Conclusions: Since we observed no hypoxaemia following haemodialysis, we cannot comment as to whether the changes in pulmonary clearance play a role in the pathogenesis of haemodialysis-associated hypoxaemia. In order to reach reliable conclusions, additional studies are needed.

Objective: To improve sensitivity by using different portions of voided urine cytology (VUC) and bladder wash material cytology (BWC). Materials and Methods: 52 patients with biopsy-proven superficial transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder were studied. Voided urine specimens were divided into a first stream, mid-stream and terminal stream. Bladder wash material was also divided into a first portion, mid-portion and last portion. All portions were investigated for cytology abnormalities. Results: Sensitivity for the detection of malignant cells was 34.6, 38.5 and 38.5% for the first, mid- and terminal stream of VUC and 34.6, 38.5 and 34.6% for the first, mid- and last portion of BWC, respectively. The sensitivity of VUC was 20–25% for grade I, 30–40% for grade II, and 50–75% for grade III tumors, respectively. The sensitivity of BWC was 25% for grade I, 35–45% for grade II, and 33–50% for grade III tumors, respectively. There was no statistical significant difference for sensitivities between either grades (p = 0.06) or portions or streams (p = 0.3) of VUC and BWC. Conclusions: In this small group of patients, we did not find any significant difference, but we found highest sensitivity in grade III tumors with the terminal portion of the voided urine when compared to other portions of VUC. Therefore, we believe that further study in a large series is necessary to investigate this approach of differentiated BWC and especially VUC.

To investigate changes in histology and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity in cavernosal tissues from rats with neurogenic erectile dysfunction induced experimentally.Twenty-four adult male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided equally into three groups and underwent a sham operation (control, group 1), unilateral (group 2) or bilateral (group 3) cavernosal nerve resection. Three months later they were killed and the cavernosal tissues analysed histologically by light and transmission electron microscopy, with NOS activity detected using an NADPH-diaphorase staining technique.On light and electron microscopy, while penile nerves and cavernosal smooth muscle cells had a normal morphological appearance in the eight control rats, there were degenerative changes of the myelinated penile nerves and axonal fibrosis in groups 2 and 3. However, these changes were not significant. Using NADPH-diaphorase staining, NOS activity was detected in all three groups in endothelial cells and cavernosal structures. However, the staining was more intense in endothelial cells and cavernosal muscles of rats in group 2 than in the other groups.NOS activity was increased in the cavernosal tissue after cavernosal denervation, but the pharmacological action of nitric oxide may be impaired.

Thirtyfive boys with distal hypospadias were operated on using urethral sleeve advancement procedure between 1990 and 1994. Early complications such as hematoma and wound infection, and late complications such as fistula formation and meatal retraction were not seen in the patients except meatal stenosis in first month control in only eight patients. Four of them underwent dilatation and meatotomy was performed in the rest. Both cosmetic and functional results were excellent in the patients in sixth month control.

We present a case of horseshoe kidney. He was operated because of nephrolithiasis, and was found to have a tumour-like mass in the isthmic localization 2 years after the operation. The tumour-like mass was proven to be an isthmus hypertrophy after detailed research.

Twenty-three male patients with known or suspected urethral stricture disease were evaluated using sonourethrography and standard retrograde x-ray urethrography for comparative analysis of two techniques. Results were evaluated statistically. These two methods can substitute each other in determining the stricture area length of anterior urethra. Due to advantages, if both of these methods are used combining each other, we believe that they will be much more sensitive.

The efficacy and side effects of the prophylactic intravesical bacillus Calmette-Guérin and epirubicin combination therapy were evaluated in 14 patients who underwent transurethral resection for Ta-T1 superficial bladder cancer. Therapy was started 7-10 days after the operation and maintained weekly for 6 weeks and then monthly for 6 months unless withdrawal due to side effects. Instillation of 50 mg epirubicin (Farmorubicin, Farmitalia Carlo Erba) diluted in 50 ml saline was followed by 80 mg of the Connaught strain bacillus Calmette-Guérin (ImmuCyst, Pasteur Mérieux) in 50 ml saline and the duration of instillation was 2 h for each drug. All the patients experienced moderate to severe cystitis and fever. Side effects necessitated discontinuation of the therapy in 5 patients (35.7%). Therapy was delayed in 7 patients (50%) for reasons related or unrelated to the side effects. Of the 9 patients who completed the course, 8 (89%) had no tumor recurrence 10-16 months (mean 14 months) after therapy. Results obtained revealed that this treatment schedule cannot be tolerated by a considerable number of the patients. Mainly the side effects of the combination are emphasized in this report. The therapeutic efficacy of such a combination has yet to be determined and further clinical studies are warranted.

A plane elastic wedge-shaped solid was split through the application of a rigid punch. It was assumed that the coefficient of friction on the the contact area was constant, and the problem had a plane of symmetry with respect to loading and geometry, with the crack in the plane of symmetry. The problem was formulated in terms of a system of integral equations with the contact stress and the derivative of the crack surface displacement as the unknown functions. The solution was obtained for an internal crack and for an edge crack. The results include primarily the stress intensity factors at the crack tips, and the measure of the stress singularity at the wedge apex, and at the end points of the contact area.

Objective To report the aetiological, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of penile Mondor's disease treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or surgery. Patients and methods During the last 3 years, 10 patients (mean age 35 years, range 20–57) were treated for superficial penile vein thrombophlebitis. The main aetiological factors were prolonged and excessive sexual intercourse, operations for inguinal hernia and deep vein thrombosis. All patients had noticed sudden and almost painless cord-like induration on the penile dorsal surface. Doppler ultrasonography was useful in both diagnosis and follow-up. Eight patients were treated with NSAIDs and platelet drugs. Results The mean interval to resolution of symptoms was 3 weeks. Two patients who did not respond to drug therapy underwent surgery (dorsal vein resection). Conclusion Medical therapy and, when indicated, vein resection are successful and effective in treating penile Mondor's disease.