7β-hydroxy-epiandrosterone (7β-OH-EpiA) is an endogenous androgen metabolite that has been shown to exert neuroprotective, anti-inflammatory and anti-estrogenic effects. However, to the best of our knowledge no information is available about this androgen steroid in relation to sperm quality. We analyzed 7β-OH-EpiA in plasma and seminal plasma using a newly developed isotope dilution ultra-high performance liquid chromatography - mass spectrometry method. Validation met the requirements of FDA guidelines. Levels of 7β-OH-EpiA were measured in 191 men with different degrees of infertility. One-way analysis of variance followed by multiple comparison and correlation analysis adjusted for age, BMI and abstinence time were performed to evaluate the relationships between this steroid and sperm quality. Concentrations of 7β-OH-EpiA in seminal plasma were significantly higher in severely infertile men in comparison with healthy men and slightly infertile men. The same trend was found when blood plasma was evaluated. Furthermore, plasma 7β-OH-EpiA negatively correlated with sperm concentration (-0.215; p<0.01) and total count (-0.15; p<0.05). Seminal 7β-OH-EpiA was negatively associated with motility (-0.26; p<0.01), progressively motile spermatozoa (-0.233; p<0.01) and nonprogressively motile spermatozoa (-0.188; p<0.05). 7β-OH-EpiA is associated with lower sperm quality and deserves more research in that respect., J. Vitku, L. Kolatorova, C. Ricco, C. Ferroud, O. Hennebert, T. Skodova, J. Heracek, L. Starka., and Obsahuje bibliografii
We consider the solution operator $S\:\mathcal F_{\mu ,(p,q)}\rightarrow L^2(\mu )_{(p,q)}$ to the $\bar{\partial }$-operator restricted to forms with coefficients in $\mathcal F_{\mu }= \bigl \lbrace f\: f \text{is} \text{entire} \text{and} \int _{\mathbb{C}^n} |f(z)|^2\mathrm{d}\mu (z) <\infty \bigr \rbrace $. Here $\mathcal F_{\mu ,(p,q)}$ denotes $(p,q)$-forms with coefficients in $\mathcal F_{\mu }$, $L^2(\mu )$ is the corresponding $L^2$-space and $\mu $ is a suitable rotation-invariant absolutely continuous finite measure. We will develop a general solution formula $S$ to $\bar{\partial }$. This solution operator will have the property $Sv\bot \mathcal F_{(p,q)}\, \forall \,v \in \mathcal F_{(p,q+1)}$. As an application of the solution formula we will be able to characterize compactness of the solution operator in terms of compactness of commutators of Toeplitz-operators $[T_{\bar{z_i}},T_{z_i}]= [T^*_{{z_i}},T_{z_i}]\:\mathcal F_\mu \rightarrow L^2(\mu )$.
Since the 19th century, crafts for Japan have been as important for trade and the economy as they have been for national and cultural identity. The discourse of "Japaneseness" has been central to the national and public debate in the craft world. As the Japanese empire expanded into North East China in the 1930s, Japan became interested in the cultures of greater China, including Taiwan. Japan´s continuous obsession with the idea of the "Japaneseness" in craft products was complicated by its effort to redefine itself in terms of its "Orientalness". This involved the location of its identity within the three-way positioning of Occident-Jaoan-Orient rather than the simple binary position of Japan versus the Occident. This aper firstly examines how Japanese craft and design experts confronted these multiple and different shades of the Orient and constructed the notion of "Japaneseness" as part of the Orient in the design discourse. Secondly, it will investigate the Japan centric hybrid design concept of "Greater Oriental Design", articulated by Japan as the leading power and authority of crafts in Asia. Finally, this paper will explore how this design discourse and these concepts were creatively interpreted in actual design terms and in experimentation, as well as the resulting implications for Japanese design history.
The 10.7 GHz observation of four Virgo cluster spirals made with the 100 m MPIfH radio telescope are examined for possible effects of the cluster environment. Their radio structure parameters were compared to these known from observations of nearby field spirals. A search for an anomalous composition of the 10.7 GHz radiation and for a general deficiency of these spirals relative to field galaxies has been also made.
Insect dormancy responses, in the broad sense of modifications of development, are examined from a general perspective. The range of responses is extraordinarily wide because environments are diverse, different taxa have different evolutionary histories, adaptations are needed for both seasonal timing and resistance to adversity, and not only development but also many other aspects of the life-cycle must be coordinated. Developmental options are illustrated by examining the wide range of ways in which development can be modified, the fact that each individual response consists of several components, and the different potential durations of the life-cycle. The concepts of alternative life-cycle pathways (chosen according to current and likely future environmental conditions) and of active and passive default responses are treated. Also introduced are aspects of variation and trade-offs.
Some general conclusions that help in understanding dormancy responses emerge from such an examination. Many options are available (cf. Table 1). The nature of the habitat, especially its predictability, determines the potential effectiveness of many of the developmental options. Any particular set of responses reflects evolutionary history and hence depends on past as well as current environments. It is not necessarily obvious what kinds of selection, especially requirements for timing versus resistance to adversity, explain a particular life cycle. Life-cycle pathways have multiple components, so that components cannot be analyzed in isolation. A given feature, such as delayed development, can have multiple roles. Default responses can be either active (development continues unless signalled otherwise) or passive (development stops unless signalled otherwise), making necessary a broad approach to understanding the action of environmental cues. Even relatively minor effects that fine-tune dormancy responses enhance survival, but may be difficult to detect or measure. Trade-offs are not inevitable, not only when certain resources are surplus, but also because resources in very short supply (constraints) cannot be traded off. Life-cycle components are widely, but not universally, coordinated. These conclusions confirm that the range of dormancy responses is wider, more complex and more integrated than has often been recognized.
Suppose that some polynomial f with rational coefficients takes only natural values at natural numbers, i. e., L={f(n)∣n∈N}⊆N. We show that the base-q representation of L is a context-free language if and only if f is linear, answering a question of Shallit. The proof is based on a new criterion for context-freeness, which is a combination of the Interchange lemma and a generalization of the Pumping lemma.
The concept of rank of a commutative cancellative semigroup is extended to all commutative semigroups S by defining rank S as the supremum of cardinalities of finite independent subsets of S. Representing such a semigroup S as a semilattice Y of (archimedean) components Sα, we prove that rank S is the supremum of ranks of various Sα. Representing a commutative separative semigroup S as a semilattice of its (cancellative) archimedean components, the main result of the paper provides several characterizations of rank S; in particular if rank S is finite. Subdirect products of a semilattice and a commutative cancellative semigroup are treated briefly. We give a classification of all commutative separative semigroups which admit a generating set of one or two elements, and compute their ranks.
Objective: to analyze main clinical-statistical indices of spine and spinal cord injuries (SCI) and system of organization of medical aid to the victims. We conducted a cohort retrospective study of materials of medical institutions of Tashkent city. Medical records of patients and records of forensic examinations were analyzed. 242 cases of spinal cord injuries were studied. Over the last 10 years in Tashkent the frequency of SCI have been tend to increase, males and working-age people are dominated. In 60.9% of cases the injury was associated, in 36.2% - isolated, and in 2.9% - combined. Fallings from height and road traffic accidents were the main reasons for getting SCI. Lesions at cervical level registered in 45% of cases, thoracic level - 27.3%, at lumbar level - 27.7%, respectively. According to ASIA/IMSOP, full injuries were noted in 40.1% of cases, incomplete injures were in 59.9%. Overall mortality from SCI was 68.6%. study allowed to get in detail the clinical and statistical indicators of SCI in the region., Rukhulla Zabikhullaevich Khikmatullaev, Alisher Iskandarovich Iskandarov, Dildora Zabikhullaevna Khakimova, and Literatura
Hemodynamics in the distal end-to-side anastomosis is related to early development of intimal hyperplasia and bypass failure. In this study we investigated the effect of diameter ratios between the target artery and the bypass at three different angles of the connection. The pulsatile flow field was visualized using particle image velocimetry in transparent models with three different angles of the connection (25°, 45°, 60°) and the diameter ratio between the bypass and the target artery was 4.6 mm : 6 mm, 6 mm :
6 mm, and 7.5 mm : 6 mm. Six parameters including location and oscillation of the stagnation point, local energy dissipation, wall shear stress (WSS), oscillatory shear index, spatial and temporal gradient of WSS and their distribution in the target artery were calculated from the flow field. In the wider bypass, the stagnation point oscillated in a greater range and was located more proximal to the anastomosis. Energy dissipation was minimal in a wider bypass with a more acute angle. The maximum WSS values were tree times greater in a narrow bypass and concentrated in a smaller circular region at the floor of the anastomosis. The oscillatory shear index increased with wider bypass and more acute angle. The maximum of spatial gradient of WSS concentrated around the floor and toe of the anastomosis and decreased with more acute angle and wider bypass, the temporal gradient of WSS was stretched more towards the side wall. Greater bypass to target vessel ratio and more acute anastomosis angle promote hemodynamics known to reduce formation of intimal hyperplasia.