MАR-test and Spermiological Research Indices

Antisperm antibodies are detected in 3% to 25% of cases in men and women diagnosed with infertility. They can also be diagnosed in 1–10% of healthy fertile men. The presence of a high titer of AST is one of the factors of male infertility, which can be «hidden», i. e. not cause symptoms and deterioration of the overall spermogram. The objective: to analyze the results of sperm testing in men with antisperm antibodies, which were detected by MAR-test. Material and methods. A retrospective analysis of the examination results of 555 men was conducted on the basis of the Medical Center for Infertility Treatment in Chernivtsi. Spermograms were examined according to WHO recommendations in 2000, using an inverted microscope Olympus CKX41 in a Broker chamber. Determination of the percentage of sperm coated with antisperm antibodies was performed using the MAR-test (MAR-test, MAR-mixed antiglobulin reaction). Results. If we calculate the percentage of patients in whom we assume the connection between the presence of antisperm antibodies and undertaken surgery, genital infections and allergy history, we get only 48.3% of cases. It has been found that most changes in sperm counts correlate with the percentage of sperm that are coated with IgG. These data indicate that increased IgG levels play an important role in the development of pathospermia. A negative medium-strength correlation was found between the percentage of Category A sperm and the percentage of IgG-coated sperm. Persistence of IgG in semen is accompanied by a probable decrease in the morphological quality of sperm. Conclusion. In 52% of patients it was not possible to establish the etiological factor for the presence of Ig in the ejaculate. It has been found that most changes in sperm counts correlate with the percentage of sperm that are coated with IgG. It has been determined that an increase in the level of IgA and IgG leads to a probable increase in the percentage of pathological sperm forms and decrease in sperm motility. In the presence of 30% of sperm that are coated with IgG, with a probability of 95%, the ejaculate of patients will have 100% of pathologicoalr mf s of sperm.

Design of narrow band multi-channel optical filters using zero index medium

We propose a design of narrow-band multi-channel optical filter using multiple stacks of unit cell consisting of trilayer of Doubly positive medium (DPS)–Doubly negative medium (DNG)–Epsilon negative medium (ENG). Finite Difference Time Domain (FDTD) technique is used to numerically simulate the effect of optical thickness of DPS, DNG and ENG media on tunability of the transmission spectrum of such a medium. We also demonstrate the control on the number of channels at different frequencies that can be transmitted through such medium.

A Review of Real-Estate Indices

This chapter presents the main real-estate indices used worldwide for investment purposes and on which derivatives contracts are very likely to be issued. It is important to know the type of real-estate index based on the method of construction. The chapter contains a description of the main real-estate indices used in real-estate derivatives contracts, indices that are built using various methodologies such as hedonic, repeat sales, appraisal, or transaction based. Themethod of construction of the real-estate index should be taken into consideration when modelling the real-estate indices. The stylized facts about the real-estate indices are important not only for a better understanding of the real-estate investmentmarket per se but also for better model construction for pricing real-estate derivatives. Serial correlation is amajor feature of real-estate indices as demonstrated comprehensibly in this chapter and in general this is positive short-term, and negative medium-term. Longer-term serial correlationmay switch back to being positive, albeit weakly positive, or disappear as in the case of daily calculated indices. Taking into account the stylized features of real-estate indices is necessary to avoid model risk.

FDTD Modelling of 1D Photonic Crystal comprised of Double Positive and Double Negative Metamaterial for Thermal Masking Application with CPML Absorbing Boundary Condition.

<p>Periodic structures of double positive and double negative metamaterial of thickness of λ/4 is designed to stop long-wave infrared and mid-wave infrared frequencies for masking from infrared detection devices. Band-gaps are obtained by calculating reflection and transmission coefficients at probe point close to the front and back faces of the periodic structure. 1D- finite difference time domain method is implemented in Matlab to study the electromagnetic wave propagation which is incident normal to a periodic stack of double positive and double negative metamaterial of having refractive indices of 9 and -6 respectively, at centre wavelength. Drude model is adapted to model double negative medium. Band-gap obtained are compared with the conventional photonic crystal by replacing the double negative medium with a double positive medium with the magnitude of refractive index same as that of double negative medium. Band-gap obtained confirms the presence of Zero-n͂ band-gap in DPS-DNG photonic crystal which is wider than the reflection band in conventional photonic crystal; nearly twice in mid-wave infrared region and five times in long-wave infrared region. A novel and highly efficient convolutional perfectly matched layer absorbing boundary condition is used to terminate the infinite computational finite difference time domain lattices.</p>

Gain properties of an axially slotted cylinder with two coating layers

The gain properties of an axially slotted cylinder coated with two lossless layers and embedded in a certain lossless background medium have been investigated analytically. The effects of different types of coating layers, i.e. dielectric, magnetic, and Single Negative materials upon the gain characteristics of an axial slot have been discussed. It is observed that if inner layer is either of dielectric or magnetic type and outer layer is an Epsilon Negative type having its relative permittivity of negative one and slotted cylinder is embedded in the free space then the gain has directive pattern. It is also studied that if both layers are dielectric or magnetic types and embedded in a Mu Negative medium then its gain pattern becomes more directive with the maximum gain in the forward direction.