Inhibitory effects of long-term repeated treatments of a sustainable GnRH antagonist, degarelix acetate, on caprine testicular functions.

We investigated the effects of long-term repeated treatments with a sustainable gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) antagonist, degarelix acetate, on testicular hormonal secretion, size, ultrasound images, histology and spermatogenesis in goats to assess its efficacy as a chemical castration method. Male Shiba goats (3-6 months of age) were treated subcutaneously with degarelix acetate every 4 weeks for 24 weeks. Plasma testosterone and insulin-like peptide 3 concentrations decreased (P < 0.05) within 2 days after the first treatment and remained low until 29 weeks (P < 0.05). Scrotal circumference and testicular pixel intensity were lower from 2-6 months and from 1-6 months, respectively, compared to the pretreatment values (P < 0.05). The testis and epididymis weights were lower at 24 weeks compared to those in untreated goats (P < 0.05). There were no sperm in the seminiferous tubules of testicular tissue sections or in homogenates of the epididymis at 24 weeks. These results suggest that repeated treatment with degarelix acetate is an effective chemical castration method for goats.

Birth of first foals through embryo transfer after artificial insemination using frozen semen in Japan.

Until now, there have been no reports of foals born through embryo transfer after artificial insemination using frozen semen in Japan. The aims of this study were to develop a riding crossbred horse and evaluate the prospects of embryo transfer technology in multiplying horse population. In both donor and recipient mares, luteolysis was induced by the administration of 0.1 mg Cloprostenol to synchronize the onset of estrus, and ovulation was induced by administering 2000 IU human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) or 0.75 mg Deslorelin. Frozen semen from an Irish Connemara pony stallion was used to breed a Hokkaido native pony mare by deep-horn artificial insemination (dose, 400 × 106 sperm). A non-surgical technique was used to collect embryos from the donor mare at day 7 post-ovulation and transfer them transcervically into the uterus of recipient mares (n = 4) immediately after collection. Weekly blood samples were collected from the recipients throughout pregnancy. A total of four embryos were recovered from seven collection attempts (57% recovery) from a donor mare in a single breeding season. Three of the four transferred embryos maintained successful pregnancy and delivered a healthy live foal (75% birth). A normal progesterone profile was observed throughout gestation in recipient mares. In conclusion, for the first time, to the best of our knowledge, this study describes the birth of foals through non-surgical transcervical embryo transfer in Japan after artificial insemination using frozen semen. We expect that this new crossbreed (Connemara pony × Hokkaido native pony) will be a good riding breed.

Applications of Photonics in Agriculture Sector: A Review.

The agricultural industry has made a tremendous contribution to the foundations of civilization. Basic essentials such as food, beverages, clothes and domestic materials are enriched by the agricultural industry. However, the traditional method in agriculture cultivation is labor-intensive and inadequate to meet the accelerating nature of human demands. This scenario raises the need to explore state-of-the-art crop cultivation and harvesting technologies. In this regard, optics and photonics technologies have proven to be effective solutions. This paper aims to present a comprehensive review of three photonic techniques, namely imaging, spectroscopy and spectral imaging, in a comparative manner for agriculture applications. Essentially, the spectral imaging technique is a robust solution which combines the benefits of both imaging and spectroscopy but faces the risk of underutilization. This review also comprehends the practicality of all three techniques by presenting existing examples in agricultural applications. Furthermore, the potential of these techniques is reviewed and critiqued by looking into agricultural activities involving palm oil, rubber, and agro-food crops. All the possible issues and challenges in implementing the photonic techniques in agriculture are given prominence with a few selective recommendations. The highlighted insights in this review will hopefully lead to an increased effort in the development of photonics applications for the future agricultural industry.

Relationships of plasma insulin-like peptide 3, testosterone, inhibin, and insulin-like growth factor-I concentrations with scrotal circumference and testicular weight in Japanese Black beef bull calves.

This study was conducted to clarify the relationships of plasma concentrations of insulin-like peptide 3 (INSL3), testosterone, inhibin, and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) with scrotal circumference and testicular weight in Japanese Black beef bull calves (n = 20), from birth to pre-puberty. Monthly blood sampling (0 to 7 months) and scrotal circumference measurements (0 to 7 months) were performed. Testicular weight was recorded immediately after castration at 7 months. Plasma INSL3, testosterone, inhibin, and IGF-I concentrations were measured either by enzyme immunoassay or time-resolved fluorescence immunoassay. The correlation coefficients of these hormonal concentrations with scrotal circumference were significant (P < 0.0001) and it was higher for INSL3 (r = 0.647) than for testosterone (r = 0.597), IGF-I (r = 0.400), and inhibin (r = -0.453). Calves with heavier testes (> 60 g) at castration (7 months) had higher (P < 0.05) plasma INSL3 (from 3 to 7 months) and inhibin (from 1 to 4 months) concentrations than those with lighter testes (< 60 g). The calves with heavier testes at castration had larger (P < 0.05) scrotal circumference than those with lighter testes from 3 to 7 months. In conclusion, blood INSL3 concentrations may be the best functional indicator among the hormones analyzed for determining total testicular volume during pre-puberty in bull calves. In addition, inhibin and INSL3 concentrations in early calfhood may be functional predictors for testicular weight at pre-puberty.

Developmental dysplasia of the hip: usefulness of next generation genomic tools for characterizing the underlying genes - a mini review.

Developmental dysplasia of the hip (DDH) is one of the most common skeletal anomalies. DDH encompasses a spectrum of the disorder ranging from minor acetabular dysplasia to irreducible dislocation, which may lead to premature arthritis in later life. Involvement of genetic factors underlying DDH became evident when several studies reported chromosomal loci linked to DDH in families with multiple affected individuals. Moreover, using association studies, variants in genes involved in chondrogenesis and joint formation have been shown to be associated with DDH. At least, one study identified a pathogenic variant in the chemokine receptor gene in DDH. No genetic analysis has been reported or carried out in DDH patients from the Middle East. Here, we review the literature related to genetics of DDH and emphasized the usefulness of new generation technologies in identifying genetic variants underlying DDH in consanguineous families.

Correlation between Clinical and Arthroscopic Findings in Meniscal Tear of Knee.

The meniscus is the most commonly injured structure in the knee joint. Carefully performed clinical examination can give better diagnosis of meniscal tear. The aim of this study was to find out the correlation between clinical and arthroscopic findings in meniscal tear of knee. This cross sectional observational study was conducted in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, BSMMU, Dhaka from July 2012 to June 2014. Thirty patients of meniscal tear were selected as per inclusion and exclusion criteria. After proper evaluation and clinical examination of these patient arthroscopic examinations was done under spinal anesthesia. A total number of 30 patients were recruited in this study. Twenty seven (90%) patients were male and only 3(10%) were female. Mean±SD of age was 26.00±5.55 and range was 17-34 years. Out of 30 patients 19(63.3%) had right knee affected and the rest 11(36.7%) had left knee affected. It was found from clinical diagnosis that most of the patients had MM injury (73.4%) and LM injury was in 26.6% patients. From arthroscopic diagnosis we found most of the patients had multiple types of injury (40.0%) followed by 26.7% patents had isolated MM injury, 16.6% patients had isolated LM injury, 10.0% patients had other injuries like ACL, PCL or MCL and rest 6.7% patients had no injury at all. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy of clinical diagnosis in diagnosis of MM injury were 94.4%, 58.3%, 77.3%, 87.5% and 80.0% respectively. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy of clinical diagnosis in diagnosis of LM injury were 85.7%, 91.3%, 75.0%, 95.5% and 90.0% respectively. Clinical evaluation may diagnose meniscal tear accurately.

An optimal control strategy for DC bus voltage regulation in photovoltaic system with battery energy storage.

This paper presents an evaluation of an optimal DC bus voltage regulation strategy for grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) system with battery energy storage (BES). The BES is connected to the PV system DC bus using a DC/DC buck-boost converter. The converter facilitates the BES power charge/discharge to compensate for the DC bus voltage deviation during severe disturbance conditions. In this way, the regulation of DC bus voltage of the PV/BES system can be enhanced as compared to the conventional regulation that is solely based on the voltage-sourced converter (VSC). For the grid side VSC (G-VSC), two control methods, namely, the voltage-mode and current-mode controls, are applied. For control parameter optimization, the simplex optimization technique is applied for the G-VSC voltage- and current-mode controls, including the BES DC/DC buck-boost converter controllers. A new set of optimized parameters are obtained for each of the power converters for comparison purposes. The PSCAD/EMTDC-based simulation case studies are presented to evaluate the performance of the proposed optimized control scheme in comparison to the conventional methods.

Comparative study of popular objective functions for damping power system oscillations in multimachine system.

Power oscillation damping controller is designed in linearized model with heuristic optimization techniques. Selection of the objective function is very crucial for damping controller design by optimization algorithms. In this research, comparative analysis has been carried out to evaluate the effectiveness of popular objective functions used in power system oscillation damping. Two-stage lead-lag damping controller by means of power system stabilizers is optimized using differential search algorithm for different objective functions. Linearized model simulations are performed to compare the dominant mode's performance and then the nonlinear model is continued to evaluate the damping performance over power system oscillations. All the simulations are conducted in two-area four-machine power system to bring a detailed analysis. Investigated results proved that multiobjective D-shaped function is an effective objective function in terms of moving unstable and lightly damped electromechanical modes into stable region. Thus, D-shape function ultimately improves overall system damping and concurrently enhances power system reliability.

Feature extraction using Hough transform for solid waste bin level detection and classification.

This paper deals with the solid waste image detection and classification to detect and classify the solid waste bin level. To do so, Hough transform techniques is used for feature extraction to identify the line detection based on image's gradient field. The feedforward neural network (FFNN) model is used to classify the level content of solid waste based on learning concept. Numbers of training have been performed using FFNN to learn and match the targets of the testing images to compute the sum squared error with the performance goal met. The images for each class are used as input samples for classification. Result from the neural network and the rules decision are used to build the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) graph. Decision graph shows the performance of the system waste system based on area under curve (AUC), WS-class reached 0.9875 for excellent result and WS-grade reached 0.8293 for good result. The system has been successfully designated with the motivation of solid waste bin monitoring system that can applied to a wide variety of local municipal authorities system.

Prevalence of Gingivitis, Plaque accumulation and Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth among slum population in Bangladesh.

A cross-sectional survey, using cluster sampling technique, of slum population, was done to explore the oral health status and the prevalence of common oral diseases. A close ended questionnaire comprising Decayed, Missing and Filled Teeth (DMFT) Index, Gingival Index (Löe and Silness) and Plaque Index was applied to evaluate and record oral diseases, in both male and female population, covering a wide range of age groups. Clinical examination was carried out in different shum set ups, including slum schools by trained and calibrated examiners. Three thousand nine hundred and four (3904) slum dwellers participated in the survey. Prevalence of Caries was expressed in mean DMFT, recording of gingival status followed the method of Löe and Silness, oral hygiene status was evaluated using Plaque index. Mean decayed component, of the DMFT, was significantly higher than filling and missing component. Both decayed and missing components showed increasing trend, and filling components decreased as the age progressed. Prevalence of gingivitis and plaque accumulation was remarkably high among slum dwellers. Significantly high level of common oral diseases was found among Tongi slum dwellers.

Predicting Difficult Intubation by using Modified Mallampati (MMT) with or without Thyromental Height Test (TMHT).

Failed Tracheal Intubation with Subsequent inability to maintain an open airway and adequate oxygenation is the most frequent cause of brain damage or death during anesthesia. Recognizing before anesthesia the potential for difficult intubation allows time for optimal preparation. Proper Selection of equipment and techniques is needed to avoid unwanted situation. To find out difficulties associated with endotracheal intubation using Modified Mallampati Test (MMT) combined with Thyromental Height Test (TMHT) and MMT without TMHT. This prospective observational study was conducted at the Department of Anesthesia in Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), Dhaka, Bangladesh from April 2018 to September 2018. Two hundred two patients with different surgical procedures under general anaesthesia in different operation theaters of BSMMU, Dhaka were selected as study population. After taking written consents from each patient or his/her attendant elaborate history of illness, meticulous clinical examinations were performed and relevant laboratory investigations were done. All information was recorded in a preformed data sheet and statistical analysis was done by SPSS-22.0. Mean age ±SD of the study subjects was 42.49±14.29 years in MMT with TMHT group and 43.40±15.39 years in MMT without TMHT group. Females were enrolled more than males in both the groups. BMI was 28.75±3.59kg/m² in MMT with TMHT group and 29.44±8.64kg/m² in MMT without TMHT group. There were no significant differences in age, gender and BMI between the groups. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy were 100.0%, 96.0%, 96.2%, 100.0% and 98.0% respectively of MMT with TMHT in predicting intubation difficulty. Sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV and accuracy were 100.0%, 96.0%, 96.2%, 100.0% and 98.0% respectively of MMT only in predicting intubation difficulty. MMT combined with TMHT is a better predictor of intubation difficulty than MMT alone.

Solid waste bin level detection using gray level co-occurrence matrix feature extraction approach.

This paper presents solid waste bin level detection and classification using gray level co-occurrence matrix (GLCM) feature extraction methods. GLCM parameters, such as displacement, d, quantization, G, and the number of textural features, are investigated to determine the best parameter values of the bin images. The parameter values and number of texture features are used to form the GLCM database. The most appropriate features collected from the GLCM are then used as inputs to the multi-layer perceptron (MLP) and the K-nearest neighbor (KNN) classifiers for bin image classification and grading. The classification and grading performance for DB1, DB2 and DB3 features were selected with both MLP and KNN classifiers. The results demonstrated that the KNN classifier, at KNN = 3, d = 1 and maximum G values, performs better than using the MLP classifier with the same database. Based on the results, this method has the potential to be used in solid waste bin level classification and grading to provide a robust solution for solid waste bin level detection, monitoring and management.

A Case of Brain Tuberculosis With an Unusual Presentation Mimicking Viral Fever During a Dengue Outbreak in Bangladesh.

Both dengue and tuberculosis are endemic in South Asian countries, including Bangladesh. Here we report an interesting case presenting as suspected dengue fever and eventually diagnosed as a case of brain tuberculosis. A 27-year-old immunocompetent male presented to us with fever, headache, retro-orbital pain, and photophobia for five days. He had no other complaints, and clinical examination findings were normal. Full blood count revealed neutrophilic leukocytosis; dengue antigen test and anti-dengue antibody test were negative. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain showed both supra and infra-tentorial multiple small (2-4 mm) gadolinium-enhancing lesions suggestive of tuberculomas. A cerebrospinal fluid study revealed lymphocytic pleocytosis with raised protein, low sugar level, and positive Gene Xpert MTB/RIF (Cepheid, California, US) assay test. Investigations did not reveal the involvement of other organs except for the brain. We started standard anti-tuberculosis therapy (HRZE) along with steroids and pyridoxine, and the patient became symptom-free within one week. The patient was discharged with the advice of follow-up after one month. The clinical course and all investigation findings of this case are presented. Central nervous system tuberculosis may present with non-specific signs and symptoms and may be misdiagnosed as other infections, including dengue, particularly during an ongoing epidemic. It may cause significant morbidity and mortality when the diagnosis is delayed due to its vague clinical presentation.

Ultrasonographic examination of equine fetal growth parameters throughout gestation in pony for Equine-Assisted Therapy.

Equine-Assisted Therapy (EAT) is gaining popularity. Ultrasound examination is used to decrease the abortion rate in horses. In this study, to monitor fetal well-being throughout the gestation for EAT, we measured fetal heart rate (FHR), fetal eye orbit (FEO), fetal gonad length (FGL), fetal kidney length (FKL), and the combined thickness of the uterus and placenta (CTUP) by ultrasonography in pony mares. Additionally, we measured the plasma progesterone (P4) and estradiol (E2) concentrations in pregnant horses using enzyme immunoassay. The FGL peaked at week 32 and then decreased to term, and a strong correlation (r=0.72, P<0.001) between the FGL and E2 concentration was observed. A strong correlation with gestational age was detected among the FEO (r=0.96, P<0.001), FKL (r=0.85, P<0.001), and CTUP (r=0.96, P<0.001). The P4 concentration peaked at week 10, decreased to low levels (below 5 ng/ml), and peaked before parturition. In conclusion, this study provides information on fetal growth throughout gestation in pony mares for EAT. In addition, it revealed the relationship between ultrasonographic profile and plasma hormone concentrations during gestation.

An improved model and performance analysis for grid-connected photovoltaic system in Oman.

The PV systems' sources are environmentally friendly, but at the same time, they are constantly changing with time. When evaluating solar energy resources, it is necessary to consider the variability and effects of different environmental operation parameters like solar irradiances, ambient temperature, and module temperature. The study introduces a method to simulate an existing photovoltaic system using a mathematical model that permits intelligent strategies to optimise the efficiency and adjust the most effective operational parameters for the solar energy systems. A mathematical analysis for the data framework, including correlation and regression coefficients, was calculated to identify and chart the relationships between the system's most influential parameters and the generated power from the PV system. An improved mathematical model was built with the most influential parameters. The improved model was simple, accurate, and based on the loss ratio by eliminating the unknown parameters. The system's efficiency was analysed using an existing data framework-recorded hourly from 1st January 2017 to December 2018 for a grid-connected photovoltaic system installed in the south of Oman. The results showed that the most influential parameters on the efficiency were the module's solar irradiance and surface temperature. The operating parameters such as ambient temperature, wind speed, and air humidity had a negligible effect on the generated power compared to the cell temperatures and solar radiation. The dissipation factor was used in the new output current and voltage equations to stimulate the output power of the PV model. The improved model was validated in a MATLAB Simulink and showed a more promising output with a lower RMSE of 5 %.

Hypothyroidism in Bangladesh: Is Autoimmunity the Next Big Threat?

In many low and middle-income countries, iodine-deficient hypothyroidism leads to complex public health consequences. However, increasing evidence from population-based studies has linked thyroid autoimmunity with excess iodine intake. The iodine supplementation program in Bangladesh was a success story. This cross-sectional study aims to assess the pattern and predictors of autoimmunity among Bangladeshi hypothyroid patients. In this study, 154 consecutive, newly detected, biochemically-confirmed patients with primary hypothyroidism were recruited from the Endocrinology outpatient department of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University and tested for anti-thyroid peroxidase and anti-thyroglobulin antibody levels from October 2015 and November 2016. Patterns of thyroid autoimmunity were assessed via descriptive statistics. Predictors of autoimmunity were assessed with multivariable mixed-effect logistic regression. The mean age of participants was 36.1±11.0 years, and 70.1% were female. The frequency of thyroid autoimmunity in the study subjects was very high, 89.0% were positive for either anti-TPO or anti-Tg antibodies and 48.7% were positive for both. More participants were positive for anti-TPO antibodies (82.5%) than anti-Tg antibodies (55.2%). The risk of autoimmunity was associated with the thyroid's structural abnormalities but not with functional status. Weight gain and hypertension were associated with autoimmunity, whereas diabetes was protective against autoimmunity.

Integrated technologies for solid waste bin monitoring system.

The integration of communication technologies such as radio frequency identification (RFID), global positioning system (GPS), general packet radio system (GPRS), and geographic information system (GIS) with a camera are constructed for solid waste monitoring system. The aim is to improve the way of responding to customer's inquiry and emergency cases and estimate the solid waste amount without any involvement of the truck driver. The proposed system consists of RFID tag mounted on the bin, RFID reader as in truck, GPRS/GSM as web server, and GIS as map server, database server, and control server. The tracking devices mounted in the trucks collect location information in real time via the GPS. This information is transferred continuously through GPRS to a central database. The users are able to view the current location of each truck in the collection stage via a web-based application and thereby manage the fleet. The trucks positions and trash bin information are displayed on a digital map, which is made available by a map server. Thus, the solid waste of the bin and the truck are being monitored using the developed system.

Proximal Myopathy With Hypercalcemic Crisis and Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma in a 38-Year-Old Female.

Although proximal myopathy is a well-known manifestation of primary hyperparathyroidism (PHP), it is usually not the first one. Here, we present the case of a 38-year-old female who presented to the neurology outpatient department with proximal myopathy as the presenting feature of PHP along with a hypercalcemic crisis. Her serum calcium and intact parathyroid hormone levels were very high. Her symptoms and calcium levels improved with adequate hydration and bisphosphonate therapy. Ultrasonography of the thyroid and parathyroid glands and Tc99m sestamibi single-photon emission computed tomography-computed tomography of the parathyroid glands suggested adenoma or carcinoma of the parathyroid gland on the right side with another irregular right-sided thyroid nodule. Electromyography showed low-amplitude polyphasic potentials suggestive of myopathy. Subsequently, the patient underwent surgical resection of both the right parathyroid glands and the thyroid nodule. Histopathology report was suggestive of parathyroid adenoma and papillary thyroid carcinoma. Hypercalcemic crisis is a rare clinical scenario, which needs prompt diagnosis and treatment. Otherwise, the condition may have a fatal outcome. Due to its diverse presentation, physicians should be aware of this condition. Moreover, we need to be cautious in treating a patient having hyperparathyroidism with thyroid nodule due to possible concomitant thyroid malignancy.

Correction: Particle swarm optimization algorithm-based PI inverter controller for a grid-connected PV system.

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0243581.].

Multi-dimensional optimization of In0.53Ga0.47As thermophotovoltaic cell using real coded genetic algorithm.

The optimization of thermophotovoltaic (TPV) cell efficiency is essential since it leads to a significant increase in the output power. Typically, the optimization of In0.53Ga0.47As TPV cell has been limited to single variable such as the emitter thickness, while the effects of the variation in other design variables are assumed to be negligible. The reported efficiencies of In0.53Ga0.47As TPV cell mostly remain < 15%. Therefore, this work develops a multi-variable or multi-dimensional optimization of In0.53Ga0.47As TPV cell using the real coded genetic algorithm (RCGA) at various radiation temperatures. RCGA was developed using Visual Basic and it was hybridized with Silvaco TCAD for the electrical characteristics simulation. Under radiation temperatures from 800 to 2000 K, the optimized In0.53Ga0.47As TPV cell efficiency increases by an average percentage of 11.86% (from 8.5 to 20.35%) as compared to the non-optimized structure. It was found that the incorporation of a thicker base layer with the back-barrier layers enhances the separation of charge carriers and increases the collection of photo-generated carriers near the band-edge, producing an optimum output power of 0.55 W/cm2 (cell efficiency of 22.06%, without antireflection coating) at 1400 K radiation spectrum. The results of this work demonstrate the great potential to generate electricity sustainably from industrial waste heat and the multi-dimensional optimization methodology can be adopted to optimize semiconductor devices, such as solar cell, TPV cell and photodetectors.