Atypical structure of the nuclear membrane, distribution of nuclear pores and lamin B1 in spermatozoa of patients with complete and partial globozoospermia.

Globozoospermia is a form of male infertility characterized by spermatozoa with spherical heads lacking acrosomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate ultrastructural and molecular defects in different types of globozoospermia. Semen samples from 12 infertile patients (9 with complete globozoospermia and 3 with partial globozoospermia) and 10 normozoospermic men (control) were examined by transmission electron microscopy and immunocytochemistry with antibodies against lamin B1.

Comprehensive semen examination in patients with pancreatic-sufficient and pancreatic-insufficient cystic fibrosis.

We examined a cohort of 93 cystic fibrosis (CF) male patients who were pancreatic-sufficient (PS-CF; n=40) or pancreatic-insufficient (PI-CF; n = 53). Complex semen examination was performed, including standard semen analysis, quantitative karyological analysis (QKA) of immature germ cells (IGCs), transmission electronic microscopy (TEM), biochemical analysis, and sperm DNA fragmentation by terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nickend labeling (TUNEL) assay. Azoospermia was diagnosed in 83 (89.

Optimal Greedy Control in Reinforcement Learning.

We consider the problem of dimensionality reduction of state space in the variational approach to the optimal control problem, in particular, in the reinforcement learning method. The control problem is described by differential algebraic equations consisting of nonlinear differential equations and algebraic constraint equations interconnected with Lagrange multipliers. The proposed method is based on changing the Lagrange multipliers of one subset based on the Lagrange multipliers of another subset.

Evolution of the magnetic hyperfine field profiles in an ion-irradiated FeAl film measured by nuclear resonant reflectivity.

Nuclear resonant reflectivity (NRR) from an FeAl film was measured using synchrotron radiation at several grazing angles near the critical angle of total external reflection. Using laterally resolved measurements after irradiation with 20 keV Ne ions of gradually varying fluence of 0-3.0 × 10 ions cm, the progressive creation of the ferromagnetic A2 phase with increasing ion fluence was confirmed.

Influence of Surface Modification of MK-40 Membrane with Polyaniline on Scale Formation under Electrodialysis.

A comprehensive study of the polyaniline influence on mineral scaling on the surface of the heterogeneous MK-40 sulfocationite membrane under electrodialysis has been conducted. Current-voltage curves and chronopotentiograms have been obtained and analyzed for the pristine MK-40 membrane and the MK-40 membrane which is surface-modified by polyaniline. The study of the electrochemical behavior of membranes has been accompanied by the simultaneous control of the pH of the solution outcoming from the desalination compartment.

Nuclear resonance reflectivity from a [Fe/Cr] multilayer with the Synchrotron Mössbauer Source.

Mössbauer reflectivity spectra and nuclear resonance reflectivity (NRR) curves have been measured using the Synchrotron Mössbauer Source (SMS) for a [Fe/Cr] periodic multilayer, characterized by the antiferromagnetic interlayer coupling between adjacent Fe layers. Specific features of the Mössbauer reflectivity spectra measured with π-polarized radiation of the SMS near the critical angle and at the `magnetic' maximum on the NRR curve are analyzed. The variation of the ratio of lines in the Mössbauer reflectivity spectra and the change of the intensity of the `magnetic' maximum under an applied external field has been used to reveal the transformation of the magnetic alignment in the investigated multilayer.

Strain-induced significant increase in metal-insulator transition temperature in oxygen-deficient Fe oxide epitaxial thin films.

Oxygen coordination of transition metals is a key for functional properties of transition-metal oxides, because hybridization of transition-metal d and oxygen p orbitals determines correlations between charges, spins and lattices. Strain often modifies the oxygen coordination environment and affects such correlations in the oxides, resulting in the emergence of unusual properties and, in some cases, fascinating behaviors. While these strain effects have been studied in many of the fully-oxygenated oxides, such as ABO3 perovskites, those in oxygen-deficient oxides consisting of various oxygen coordination environments like tetrahedra and pyramids as well as octahedra remain unexplored.

Effects of type II pyrethroids on Daphnia magna: dose and temperature dependences.

Environmental contamination with various insecticides remains an actual problem. In this connection, investigation of toxicologic hazard of insecticides is essential. In this work, effects of the type II pyrethroids (fenvalerate, cypermethrin and deltamethrin) on Daphnia magna were determined.