Correlation between dissolved oxygen level, antioxidants and oxidants in semen diluted with partially deoxygenated extender at various stages of cryopreservation.

BACKGROUND: Dissolved oxygen (DO) in semen dilutor may lead to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and buffalo sperm may become more prone to deleterious effects of ROS due to the presence of high amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in their membranes. OBJECTIVE: To study the correlation between dissolved oxygen level, antioxidants and oxidants in semen diluted with partially deoxygenated extender at various stages of cryopreservation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Each semen sample was split into two aliquots viz., Aliquot I [diluted with Extender I (control: without deoxygenation)] and Aliquot II [diluted with Extender II: partially deoxygenated by liquid nitrogen (LN) flushing], which were diluted, filled in straws, cryopreserved and evaluated post-thaw. RESULTS: The DO levels (P < 0.05) decreased significantly after LN flushing of the extender and they increased significantly (P < 0.05) in post-thaw semen. The progressive motility, viability, hypo-osmotic swelling response, acrosomal integrity, glutathione peroxidase (GPx), total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in both control and treated semen after thawing. SOD and TAC were positively correlated in semen treated with normal extender at the pre-freeze stage; however, in semen treated with partially deoxygenated extender, no correlation was found between SOD and TAC at the pre-freeze stage. ROS and total TAC were negatively correlated in semen treated with partially deoxygenated extender at the pre-freeze stage; however, no correlation was found between ROS and TAC in control semen. CONCLUSION: The partial deoxygenation of extender affects the correlation between sperm quality parameters, antioxidants, and oxidants during different stages of semen cryopreservation. doi.org/10.54680/fr22310110712.

Study on correlation of sperm quality parameters with antioxidant and oxidant status of buffalo bull semen during various stages of cryopreservation.

This investigation was carried out to study the correlation of sperm quality parameters with antioxidant and oxidant status of buffalo bull semen during various stages of cryopreservation. Semen samples were evaluated for sperm parameters (mass motility [MM], concentration [CON], progressive motility [PM], viability [VIB], acrosomal integrity [AI] and hypo-osmotic swelling [HOS] response), antioxidants (superoxide dismutase [SOD], catalase [CAT], glutathione peroxidase [GPx] and total antioxidant capacity [TAC]) and oxidants (Lipid peroxidation [LPO] and reactive oxygen species [ROS]) at fresh, pre-freeze and post-thaw stages. Sperm parameters (PM, VIB, AI and HOS response) and antioxidants (SOD, CAT and TAC) were significantly (p < .05) reduced at fresh stage, and oxidants (LPO and ROS) were significantly (p < .05) increased at pre-freeze and post-thaw stages. At fresh stage, MM was negatively correlated with LPO (p < .05), and CON was positively correlated with SOD, TAC and CAT, negatively correlated with LPO and CAT was positively (p < .01) correlated with VIB and HOS response. At pre-freeze stage, CAT was positively correlated with PM and AI (p < .05), and AI was negatively (p < .05) correlated with ROS. At post-thaw stage, CAT was positively correlated with PM, VIB, HOS response and AI,, and LPO was negatively correlated with HOS, AI and VIB. The study of correlations of these parameters at different preservation stages with bull fertility may play an important role in developing models for predicting future fertility of bulls in the absence of conception rate data.

Effect of Liquid Nitrogen Flushing of Extender on Seminal Antioxidant Profile of Murrah Buffalo during Cryopreservation.

BACKGROUND: The dissolved oxygen in the extender may act as a source for the production of reactive oxygen species that may lead to reduced seminal antioxidant profile which in turn may be responsible for impaired frozen thawed sperm quality and fertility. OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of adding liquid nitrogen into the extender on semen freezability and seminal antioxidant profile in buffalo. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Semen extender was prepared freshly and divided into two sub extenders namely, Extender I: control (non deoxygenated) and Extender II: partially deoxygenated by using LN2 flushing). The estimation of dissolved oxygen (DO) level was done in both extenders. Semen samples with mass motility of ≥ 3+ and individual progressive motility of 70% and above, collected from murrah buffalo bulls were utilized for the present study. Each semen sample was split into two group's viz., group I: diluted with extender I and group II: diluted with extender II up to 60×106 sperm/mL. The diluted semen samples were packed into French mini straws (0.25 mL), sealed with polyvinyl alcohol powder, kept for 3 h at 5°C for equilibration and then kept in automatic programmable freezer until temperature of straws reached -145°C followed by plunging into liquid nitrogen (-196°C). The evaluation of semen samples was carried out for various seminal attributes (sperm motility, live sperm count, acrosomal integrity, and hypo-osmotic swelling (HOS) response) and antioxidant profile (superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC)) at pre freeze and post thaw stage. RESULTS: Sperm motility, live sperm count, acrosomal integrity, HOS response were significantly (P<0.05) higher in group II as compared to group I. The average seminal SOD, GPx and TAC levels were significantly (P<0.05) higher in group II as compared to group I at pre freeze and post thaw stage. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that partial deoxygenation of the extender prior to its addition to semen enhances sperm quality in terms of sperm motility, live sperm count, acrosomal integrity, and hypo-osmotic swelling (HOS) response and also improves seminal antioxidant profile (superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and total antioxidant capacity (TAC).

Self-inflicted genital ulcer: An intriguing case report.

Self inflicted genital ulcer due to penile constriction injury is a rare clinical entity, which requires urgent management to prevent its devastating outcomes such as penile gangrene and auto amputation. Although this is common, definitely, it is of interest because of the genital involvement. Here, we present a case report on an unusual case of rubber band induced penile constriction injury.

Clinical Profile and Outcome of Indian Children with Aromatic L-Amino Acid Decarboxylase Deficiency: A primary CSF Neurotransmitter Disorder Mimicking as Dyskinetic Cerebral Palsy.

Aromatic L-amino acid decarboxylase (AADC) deficiency is a disorder of neurotransmitter synthesis. It presents with psychomotor delay, dystonia, oculogyric crisis, and autonomic features. There is paucity of literature on this disorder. Hence, we are reporting this series with an objective to study profile and outcome of Indian children with AADC deficiency. In this retrospective review, all case records of genetically confirmed cases of AADC deficiency at the pediatric neurology department in a tertiary care hospital, from March 2014 to March 2020, were analyzed. The data were extracted in a predesigned proforma and analyzed. Out of seven cases, five were males. Median age of onset of symptoms was 4 months but median age of diagnosis was 12 months. All of them had developmental delay, oculogyric crisis, dystonia, increased sweating, intermittent fever, feeding and sleep disturbance, irritability, failure to thrive, axial hypotonia with dyskinetic quadriparesis, and normal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of brain and electroencephalogram (EEG). All of them were treated with pyridoxal 5-phosphate, trihexyphenidyl and pramipexole and six cases, in addition, were given bromocriptine. One case was additionally treated with selegiline. One case showed good improvement, five showed partial improvement, and one case expired. In conclusion, AADC deficiency should be suspected in any child with dyskinetic quadriparesis, oculogyric crisis, autonomic disturbances like increased sweating, intermittent fever, and sleep disturbance with normal neuroimaging.

Partial deoxygenation of extender improves sperm quality, reduces lipid peroxidation and reactive oxygen species during cryopreservation of buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) semen.

The present study was designed to investigate the effect of partial deoxygenation of extender on sperm quality, lipid peroxidation (LPO) and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) during cryopreservation of semen. Semen extender was prepared freshly and split into three sub-extenders [Extender I: control (non-deoxygenated), Extender II (partially deoxygenated by using LN2 flushing) and Extender III (partially deoxygenated mechanically by vacuum pump)]. Amounts of dissolved oxygen (DO) were determined in all the three extenders and also in post-thaw semen. Ejaculates with mass motility of ≥3+ and individual progressive motility of 70% or greater were collected from Murrah buffalo bulls and utilized in the study. Each semen sample was divided into Groups I (diluted with Extender I), II (diluted with Extender II) and III (diluted Extender III) with a maximum of 60 × 106 sperm/mL. French mini straws (0.25 mL) were filled with the extended semen samples, sealed with polyvinyl alcohol powder, kept for 3 h at 5 °C for equilibration and then stored in an automatic programmable freezer until the temperature of straws reached -145 °C followed by plunging the straws into liquid nitrogen (-196 °C). Semen samples were evaluated at pre-freeze and post-thaw stages for various variables [sperm motility, live sperm count, acrosomal integrity, hypo-osmotic swelling (HOS) response, LPO and ROS concentrations]. The mean DO was less (P < 0.05) in Extender II as compared to I and III. The DO was less (P < 0.05) in Group II (semen extended with Extender II) as compared with III (semen extended with Extender III) and I (semen extended with Extender I). The percentages for sperm motility, viability and intact acrosomes (PIA) were greater (P < 0.05) in Groups II and III as compared to the control group at the pre-freeze stage, while at the post-thaw stage, percentages of sperm motility, viability, PIA and HOS response were greater (P < 0.05) in Group II as compared with the control group and Group III. Pre-freeze HOS response (%) was greater (P < 0.05) in Group II as compared with the control and Group III. At the pre-freeze stage, sperm LPO and ROS were less (P < 0.05) in Groups II and III as compared with the control and at post-thaw stage, spermatic LPO and ROS concentrations were less (P < 0.05) in Group II than in the control group and Group III. In conclusion, partial deoxygenation of extender improves sperm quality, reduces sperm LPO and ROS concentrations in buffalo during cryopreservation. Partial deoxygenation of the extender with LN2 flushing may be one of the ways for improving quality and fertility of frozen-thawed buffalo sperm.

Effect of incubation on freezability of cholesterol-loaded cyclodextrin treated buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) spermatozoa.

AIM: The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of incubation on freezability of cholesterol loaded cyclodextrin (CLC) treated buffalo spermatozoa. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Semen samples with mass motility of 3+ and greater, collected from Murrah buffalo bulls were utilized. Immediately after collection, four equal groups of semen sample were made. Group I was kept as control and diluted with Tris upto concentration of 60×10(6) sperm/ml, where as Groups II, III, and IV were treated with CLC at 3 mg/120× 10(6) spermatozoa, incubated at 37°C for action of CLC for 10, 15 and 20 min, respectively, and diluted with tris upto concentration of 60×10(6) sperm/ml. All groups were subjected to equilibration and freezing. The evaluation of semen samples from all groups was carried out at fresh, pre-freeze and post-thaw stage for progressive motility, viability and hypo-osmotic swelling response (HOS response). RESULTS: At the pre-freeze stage, significantly (p<0.05) higher percentage of progressive motility and viability was observed in treatment groups as compared to control with no significant difference among treatment groups. HOS response was significantly (p<0.05) higher in treatment groups as compared to control at pre-freeze stage. At post-thaw stage, significantly (p<0.05) higher percentage of progressive motility, viability and HOS response was recorded in Group II as compared to control and other treatment groups (III and IV). Group II retained significant post-thaw motility and viability at various post-thaw incubation periods. CONCLUSION: Incubation period of 10 min for CLC treated buffalo spermatozoa yielded significantly higher results in terms of freezability as compared to incubation for 15 and 20 min.

Hf-Co and Zr-Co alloys for rare-earth-free permanent magnets.

The structural and magnetic properties of nanostructured Co-rich transition-metal alloys, Co(100-x)TMx (TM = Hf, Zr and 10 ≤ x ≤ 18), were investigated. The alloys were prepared under non-equilibrium conditions using cluster-deposition and/or melt-spinning methods. The high-anisotropy HfCo7 and Zr2Co11 structures were formed for a rather broad composition region as compared to the equilibrium bulk phase diagrams, and exhibit high Curie temperatures of above 750 K. The composition, crystal structure, particle size, and easy-axis distribution were precisely controlled to achieve a substantial coercivity and magnetization in the nanostructured alloys. This translates into high energy products in the range of about 4.3-12.6 MGOe, which are comparable to those of alnico.

Permanent magnetism of intermetallic compounds between light and heavy transition-metal elements.

First-principle calculations are used to investigate the intrinsic magnetic properties of intermetallic alloys of the type XMn, where X is a 4d or 5d element and M is Fe or Co. Emphasis is on the hexagonal C14 Laves-phase 1:2 and 1:5 alloys, the latter crystallizing in the CaCu5 structure. These series are of interest in permanent magnetism from fundamental and practical viewpoints, respectively. In the former, the unit cells form a prototypical motif where a heavy atom with high spin-orbit coupling and magnetocrystalline anisotropy is surrounded by many somewhat smaller M atoms with high magnetization, and the latter are Laves-phase derivatives of renewed interest in permanent magnetism. Our DFT calculations predict magnetic moments, magnetizations and anisotropies, as well as formation energies. The results are analyzed across the 4d and 5d series, especially with respect to hybridization effects between 3d and 4d/5d bands.

Experimental and theoretical studies of hydroxyl-induced magnetism in TiO nanoclusters.

A main challenge in understanding the defect ferromagnetism in dilute magnetic oxides is the direct experimental verification of the presence of a particular kind of defect and distinguishing its magnetic contributions from other defects. The magnetic effect of hydroxyls on TiO nanoclusters has been studied by measuring the evolution of the magnetic moment as a function of moisture exposure time, which increases the hydroxyl concentration. Our combined experiment and density-functional theory (DFT) calculations show that as dissociative water adsorption transforms oxygen vacancies into hydroxyls, the magnetic moment shows a significant increase. DFT calculations show that the magnetic moment created by hydroxyls arises from 3d orbitals of neighboring Ti sites predominantly from the top and second monolayers. The two nonequivalent hydroxyls contribute differently to the magnetic moment, which decreases as the separation of hydroxyls increases. This work illustrates the essential interplay among defect structure, local structural relaxation, charge redistribution, and magnetism. The microscopic differentiation and clarification of the specific roles of each kind of intrinsic defect is critical for the future applications of dilute magnetic oxides in spintronic or other multifunctional materials.

Anaerobic degradation of textile dye bath effluent using Halomonas sp.

The main objective of this work is to reduce the chemical oxygen demand (COD) and color of the effluent containing reactive textile dye by microbial method. Anaerobic digestion has the potential to break down complex refractory organic compounds so that they may be further degraded aerobically or to completely mineralize them. An anaerobic digestion technique was applied to synthetic reactive red 2 dye cotton textile effluent aiming at the dye degradation. Halophilic and halotolerant bacterial culture Halomonas variabilis and Halomonas glaciei were used for degradation in batch-mode static condition. The temperature was kept constant at 30°C using CO(2) incubator. Maximum degradation was achieved within 144 h of experimental run. Degradation studies were made by determining COD and biochemical oxygen demand (BOD). Statistical analysis showed that the BOD and COD reduction rate were optimal in the concentration of 1297 mg L(-1) for the time duration of nearly 100 h.

SSEP-2.0: Secondary Structural Elements of Proteins.

The Secondary Structural Elements of Proteins (SSEP) database is an integrated and comprehensive knowledge base for accessing information related to all the secondary-structural elements present in non-redundant (25 and 90%) protein chains. The new version 2.0 of the database contains 2485 and 8595 protein chains from the 25 and 90% non-redundant data sets, respectively. The necessary web interfaces have been developed that enable users to visualize the three-dimensional structure of the secondary-structural element in the client machine using the free molecular-visualization program RASMOL. This source is updated at regular intervals and can be accessed through the bioinformatics web server at the URL http://cluster.physics.iisc.ernet.in/ssep or http://144.16.71.148/ssep/.

CADB-2.0: Conformation Angles Database.

The Conformation Angles Data Base (CADB) is a comprehensive, authoritative and timely knowledge base with a powerful query engine developed to facilitate the retrieval of information related to the conformational angles (main chain and side chain) of the amino-acid residues present in non-redundant (both 25 and 90%) data sets. The updated version has improved options for determining the dependency of the conformation angles of a particular residue upon the flanking residues, doublet analysis, triplet analysis and analysis of a particular protein structure. It is worth mentioning that for all options a user-friendly and convenient Java graphical user interface (GUI) has been provided to display the output on the client machine. The database is accessible at the URL http://cluster.physics.iisc.ernet.in/cadb/ or http://144.16.71.148/cadb/.