OBJECTIVE--To investigate whether semen quality has changed during the past 50 years. DESIGN--Review of publications on semen quality in men without a history of infertility selected by means of Cumulated Index Medicus and Current List (1930-1965) and MEDLINE Silver Platter database (1966-August 1991). SUBJECTS--14,947 men included in a total of 61 papers published between 1938 and 1991. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES--Mean sperm density and mean seminal volume. RESULTS--Linear regression of data weighted by number of men in each study showed a significant decrease in mean sperm count from 113 x 10(6)/ml in 1940 to 66 x 10(6)/ml in 1990 (p < 0.0001) and in seminal volume from 3.40 ml to 2.75 ml (p = 0.027), indicating an even more pronounced decrease in sperm production than expressed by the decline in sperm density. CONCLUSIONS--There has been a genuine decline in semen quality over the past 50 years. As male fertility is to some extent correlated with sperm count the results may reflect an overall reduction in male fertility. The biological significance of these changes is emphasised by a concomitant increase in the incidence of genitourinary abnormalities such as testicular cancer and possibly also cryptorchidism and hypospadias, suggesting a growing impact of factors with serious effects on male gonadal function.

https://www.bmj.com/content/bmj/305/6854/609.full.pdf

Evidence for decreasing quality of semen during past 50 years.

We survey the quadratic eigenvalue problem, treating its many applications, its mathematical properties, and a variety of numerical solution techniques. Emphasis is given to exploiting both the structure of the matrices in the problem (dense, sparse, real, complex, Hermitian, skew-Hermitian) and the spectral properties of the problem. We classify numerical methods and catalogue available software.

/pdf/the-quadratic-eigenvalue-problem-4ozf2mxadi.pdf

The Quadratic Eigenvalue Problem

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the development of follicles in the mammalian ovary. The unresolved issues in follicular development are focused. Folliculogenesis culminates in the production of fully ripe, preovulatory follicles visible to the naked eye as large bulges on the surface of the ovary. Each ripe follicle contains thousands of highly differentiated cells. This complex, functional miniature organ arises from the handful of cells that constitute a simple primordial follicle, a structure so small that it is invisible at the lower magnifications of a light microscope. All regulatory influences can only permit or prevent cells from completing the full maturation process; they cannot change the course of differentiation. A plethora of modulating influences act as permissive inducers, impeding or propelling the committed follicular cells through the process of clonal expansion. As each follicle progresses through its program of limited clonal expansion and maturation, its cells proliferate more and more rapidly. With every passing generation, the proliferative potential of the granulosa and theca cells continues to diminish, while the state of maturation increases.

Development of Follicles in the Mammalian Ovary

This paper presents a review of the principal developments in functionally graded materials (FGMs) with an emphasis on the recent work published since 2000. Diverse areas relevant to various aspects of theory and applications of FGM are reflected in this paper. They include homogenization of particulate FGM, heat transfer issues, stress, stability and dynamic analyses, testing, manufacturing and design, applications, and fracture. The critical areas where further research is needed for a successful implementation of FGM in design are outlined in the conclusions. DOI: 10.1115/1.2777164

https://web.mst.edu/~vbirman/papers/Modeling%20and%20Analysis%20of%20FGM_Review_2007.pdf

Modeling and Analysis of Functionally Graded Materials and Structures

11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1 (11beta-HSD1) interconverts inactive cortisone and active cortisol. Although bidirectional, in vivo it is believed to function as a reductase generating active glucocorticoid at a prereceptor level, enhancing glucocorticoid receptor activation. In this review, we discuss both the genetic and enzymatic characterization of 11beta-HSD1, as well as describing its role in physiology and pathology in a tissue-specific manner. The molecular basis of cortisone reductase deficiency, the putative "11beta-HSD1 knockout state" in humans, has been defined and is caused by intronic mutations in HSD11B1 that decrease gene transcription together with mutations in hexose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase, an endoluminal enzyme that provides reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate as cofactor to 11beta-HSD1 to permit reductase activity. We speculate that hexose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase activity and therefore reduced nicotinamide-adenine dinucleotide phosphate supply may be crucial in determining the directionality of 11beta-HSD1 activity. Therapeutic inhibition of 11beta-HSD1 reductase activity in patients with obesity and the metabolic syndrome, as well as in glaucoma and osteoporosis, remains an exciting prospect.

11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 1: a tissue-specific regulator of glucocorticoid response.

Influence of steel fibres on strength and ductility of normal and lightweight high strength concrete

Particle swarm optimization of tuned mass dampers

An accurate method of dynamic condensation in structural analysis

a Combined Modal/finite Element Analysis Technique for the Dynamic Response of a Non-Linear Beam to Harmonic Excitation

This article deals with the anti-synchronization between two identical chaotic fractional-order Qi system, Genesio–Tesi system, and also between two different fractional-order Genesio–Tesi and Qi systems using active control method. The chaotic attractors of the systems are found for fractional-order time derivatives described in Caputo sense. Numerical simulation results which are carried out using Adams–Boshforth–Moulton method show that the method is reliable and effective for anti-synchronization of nonlinear dynamical evolutionary systems.

Andrew Y. T. Leung

Papers

Influence of steel fibres on strength and ductility of normal and lightweight high strength concrete

Particle swarm optimization of tuned mass dampers

An accurate method of dynamic condensation in structural analysis

a Combined Modal/finite Element Analysis Technique for the Dynamic Response of a Non-Linear Beam to Harmonic Excitation

Anti-synchronization between identical and non-identical fractional-order chaotic systems using active control method