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Dr., Sharad Kadam, Mishra Srijan, and Singh Mayank. "Exports, Imports, and Economic Growth in India." International Journal of Advance and Applied Research 10, no. 3 (2023): 223–34. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7632040.
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Abstract The purpose of this research study is to shed light on the causal relationship between foreign trade and economic growth in India. This study analyzes Export-led growth (ELG) and Import-led growth (ILG) hypothesis in India. The author does so by analyzing the yearly data of Export, Import and Gross domestic product of India between 1980 and 2016. The author employed augmented Dickey-Fuller method and Phillip-Perron method to transform the all the data series into a stationary form. The author finds that all three variables i.e. Export, Import and Gross domestic product are highly positively correlated to each other. The result of Johansen co-integration test indicates cointegration and long-haul relationship among the variables. The result of the Granger causality and Toda-Yamamoto causality test shows unidirectional causal relationship between export and economic growth; the one-way causation exists between import and economic growth while economic growth causes export and import in India. The result of the impulse response function indicates that a change in the GDP is due to its own shocks whereas the impact of export shows certain effect on GDP. The analysis of the variance decomposition demonstrated that only 28.25% fluctuations in the GDP were explained due to its own shocks. Thus the outcome of the study indicates importance of export and import for economic growth is significance and foreign trade is heavily relied on economic growth of the country
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Satuluri, Ramesh Kumar, and Raavi Radhika. "MEASURES TO IMPROVE LIFE INSURANCE PROFITABILITY IN INDIA." Indian Journal of Finance and Banking 5, no. 2 (2021): 98–105. http://dx.doi.org/10.46281/ijfb.v5i2.1046.
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With ~32 crore policies in-force and over ~11000 branches across locations, Life Insurance Industry in India is the 10th largest across the globe in terms of premium contribution. India's share in Global Life Insurance Market was 2.73% during 2019. The life insurance industry is also one of the largest employers with both direct and indirect employment. Life Insurance penetration in India is at 2.82% and density at 58 USD, which is way below the global statistics. This gives immense opportunity for global players to venture into the Indian insurance market. With a proposal for an FDI hike to 74%, we are expecting many big players to enter the Indian market. However, the attractiveness of the industry not depends solely on the market opportunity but also on the bottom line, which is profitability. Indian Insurance Industry is one of the highly regulated markets across the globe and perceived to be the lowest profit-making insurance market. Hence, the need for the study to improve the profitability of life insurance companies in India through structural and policy measures.
 JEL Classification Codes: G22, I13, O16, A10, E22, G10.
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Muthusamy, Dr A., and Raghuveer Negi. "Does Foreign Direct Investment Induces Societal Development in India?" GATR Journal of Finance and Banking Review 5, no. 1 (2020): 32–38. http://dx.doi.org/10.35609/jfbr.2020.5.1(4).
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Objective – This paper argues the retrospective effect of foreign investment inflow. The FDI not only causes economic growth in the nation also it vindicate the societal development in the host nation. It is assumed that FDI does affect societal development either directly or indirectly also it can be constructive or dubious. Methodology – The societal development indicators have been taken for the study such as access to electricity, refugee population, and total natural resource on rent. The Ordinary Least Square (OLS) method used for regression analysis, Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) used to analyse stationarity and Autoregressive Distributive Lag (ARDL) used for empirical results. Findings – The result shows the consistency in FDI inflows, but all the taken indicators have not experienced the positive effect of FDI on the societal development of a nation. Novelty –Also, the policies of the government and initiative related to foreign investment inflow have major impact on societal growth in the nation. Type of Paper: Empirical Keywords: Electricity; FDI; India; Natural Resources; Refugee Population; Societal Development Reference to this paper should be made as follows: Muthusamy, A; Negi, R. 2020. Does Foreign Direct Investment Induces Societal Development in India?, J. Fin. Bank. Review, 5 (1): 32 – 38 https://doi.org/10.35609/jfbr.2020.5.1(4) JEL Classification: A1; E01; M14; M16
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Mousumi, Sengupta, and Peter Helen. "Investigating the SDT theory of motivation: A study among Indian banking sector employees." Empirical Economics Letters 24, March Special Issue 4 (2025): 47–64. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.15107660.
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<strong>Abstract: </strong>The banking sector in India is characterized by intense competition, rapid technological advancements, and a strong focus on customer service. Self-determination theory (SDT) of motivation offers insights into the different motivations that drive employee performance. Keeping this in mind, Motivation at Work Scale (MAWS) was administered among 289 employees of the Indian banking sector and 32 respondents were interviewed, to investigate the motivation factors. In general, the respondents perceived all motivational factors as the reasons for which they were performing their job roles. The study revealed that respondents’ perception significantly differed in relation to the motivational factors, responsible for their job performance. Respondents’ perception significantly differed in relation to motivational factors, responsible for their job performance. It is also revealed that respondents differed in perceiving intrinsic motivation, identified regulation, introjected regulation, and external regulation based on demographic factors. Findings support the existing literature, in terms of motivation at work. They highlight the complexity of workplace motivation, emphasizing that no one-size-fits-all solution exists. <strong>Keywords</strong>: Intrinsic Motivation, Extrinsic Motivation, Job Performance, Employee Engagement <strong>JEL Classification Number</strong>: M540, M120, M100, M10
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Keerthika, Divya, and Subburaj Alagarsamy. "A Multiple Measure of Organizational Performances and its Effect on Distinctive Marketing Competencies: An Empirical Study of India and the Maldives." GATR Journal of Management and Marketing Review (JMMR) Vol. 3 (3) Jul-Sep 2018 3, no. 3 (2018): 129–42. http://dx.doi.org/10.35609/jmmr.2018.3.3(5).
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Objective - The role of knowledge management and competencies related to marketing skills are essential for Indian and Maldivian businesses, due to the emerging economy and globalization. This study therefore aims to identify the impact of marketing competencies on organizational performance in automobile sales centers, by reviewing the relationship between marketing competencies and firm performance, to support interest and investments in such a concept. Methodology/Technique - 424 respondents (327 Indian samples and 97 Maldivian samples) were randomly selected for the research, with a 71% response rate. The first section of the questionnaire consists of questions related to marketing competencies (32 items) and the second section contains items related to organizational performance (10 items), and the last part includes questions about the respondents' demographical differences. After the data collection, construct validity and reliability statistic tests were conducted to check the validity and reliability of the instrument using IBM SPSS AMOS 23. Findings - The structural equation modelling results for the Indian and the Maldivian samples reveal that marketing competencies have a significant and positive affect on organizational performance. Novelty - This study may be useful for policymakers and top-level managers in the automobile sector; this study provides empirical insights into how the performance of the firm is affected by marketing competencies. Type of Paper: Empirical. Keywords: Marketing Competency; Marketing Resources and Capabilities; Automobile Sales Centers; India; Maldives. JEL Classification: M30. M31. M37. M39
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Singh, Kanhaiya, and M. R. Saluja. "Input–Output Table for India 2013–2014: Based on the New Series of National Accounts Statistics and Supply and the Use Table." Margin: The Journal of Applied Economic Research 12, no. 2 (2018): 197–223. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0973801017753258.
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In our study, we attempt to produce a more up-to-date input–output (I-O) table for India based on the supply and use table (SUT) of the economy and the new series of National Accounts Statistics (NAS). The resulting table has been used to estimate output multipliers for 25 sectors, and these have been compared with multipliers from the last set of I-O officially estimated for the country in 2007–2008. A key difference between the two sets of tables is the inclusion of inputs in the public administration sector in the more recent one, as a result of which the Type-I multiplier of this sector is greater than one in the latter table compared to one in the former. For the same reason, the Type-II multipliers obtained from the 2013–2014 I-O table are broadly higher than those obtained from the 2007–2008 I-O table. Validation has also been done by comparing gross value added (GVA) as a basic price obtained from the national accounts data for 2013–2014 with the GVA arrived at from the constructed I-O table. JEL Classification: C-67, E01
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Sinha, Ram Pratap. "Total Factor Productivity Growth of Indian General Insurance Companies in the Recent Period: A Bootstrapped Approach." Journal of Infrastructure Development 11, no. 1-2 (2019): 59–80. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/0974930619872103.
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This study estimates Malmquist index of total factor productivity change of 14 major general insurers in India over the period 2009–10 to 2016–17 over 7 annual windows. The study decomposes total factor productivity index into its constituent components, using several approaches including Färe et al. (1989, Productivity Developments in Swedish Hospitals: A Malmquist Output Index Approach. Carbondale: Department of Economics, Southern Illinois University; 1992, Journal of Productivity Analysis 3(1): 85–101), Färe et al. (1994, American Economic Review 84(1): 66–83), Ray and Desli (1997, American Economic Review 87(5): 1033–39) and Wheelock and Wilson (1999, Journal of Money, Credit and Banking 31(2): 212–23). Furthermore, the study uses bootstrap data envelopment analysis (DEA) method to obtain bias-corrected point and interval estimates of Malmquist index and its components. Finally, the study makes a comparison of productivity performance between public and private sector insurers. The results indicate a modest growth in total factor productivity during the period contributed mainly by efficiency changes. The private sector insurers performed better than the public sector in terms of productivity growth. The variations in productivity performance indicate that insurer scale of activity can affect their performance. JEL Classification: G-23, C-61, D-21
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Simansky, Vladimir, Jan Horak, Martin Juriga, and Dusan Srank. "Soil structure and soil organic matter in water-stable aggregates under different application rates of biochar." VIETNAM JOURNAL OF EARTH SCIENCES 40, no. 2 (2018): 97–108. http://dx.doi.org/10.15625/0866-7187/40/2/11090.
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The effects of biochar and biochar combined with N-fertilizer on the content of soil organic matter in water-stable aggregates were investigated. A field experiment was conducted with different biochar application rates: B0 control (0 t ha-1), B10 (10 t ha-1) and B20 (20 t ha-1) and 0 (no N), 1st and 2nd levels of nitrogen fertilization on silt loam Haplic Luvisol (Dolna Malanta, Slovakia), in 2014. The N doses of level 1 were calculated on required average crop production using balance method. Level 2 included additional 100% of N in year 2014 and additional 50% of N in year 2016. The effects were investigated during the growing seasons of spring barley and spring wheat in 2014 and 2016, respectively. Results indicate that the B20N2 treatment significantly increased the proportion of water-stable macro-aggregates (WSAma) and reduced water-stable micro-aggregates (WSAmi). Aggregate stability increased only in the B20N1 treatment. The B20N2 treatment showed a robust decrease by 27% in the WSAma of 0.5-0.25 mm. On the other hand, an increase by 56% was observed in the content of WSAma with fractions 3-2 mm compared to the B0N0 treatment. The effect of N fertilizer on WSAma was confirmed only in the case of the B10N2 treatment. The proportion of WSAma with fractions 3-2 mm decreased by 42%, while the size fraction of 0.5-0.25 mm increased by 30% compared to the B10N0 treatment. The content of WSAma with fractions 1-0.5 mm decreased with time. On the contrary, the content of WSAma with particle sizes above 5 mm increased with time in all treatments except the B10N2 and B20N2 treatments. A statistically significant trend was identified in the proportion of WSA in the B10N2 and B20N2 treatments, which indicates that biochar with higher application levels of N fertilizer stabilizes the proportion of water-stable aggregates. In all treatments, the content of soil organic carbon (SOC) and labile carbon (CL) in WSAmi was lower than those in WSAma. A considerable decrease of SOC in the WSAma >5 mm and an increase of SOC in WSAmi were observed when biochar was applied at the rate of 10 t ha-1. Contents of SOC in WSAmi increased as a result of adding biochar combined with N fertilizer at first level. CL in WSA significantly increased in all size fractions of WSA.References Abiven S., Hund A., Martinsen V., Cornelissen G., 2015. Biochar amendment increases maize root surface areas and branching: a shovelomics study in Zambia. Plant Soil, 342, 1-11. Agegnehu G., Bass A.M., Nelson P.N., and Bird M.I., 2016. Benefits of biochar, compost and biochar–compost for soil quality, maize yield and greenhouse gas emissions in a tropical agricultural soil. Sci. Tot. Environ., 543, 295-306. Angers D.A., Samson N., Legere A., 1993. 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Clay-sized organo-mineral complexes in a cultivation chronosequece: revisiting the concept of the “primary organo-mineral complex”. Eur. J. Soil Sci., 56, 596-607. Dziadowiec H., Gonet S.S., 1999. Methodical guide-book for soil organic matter studies. Polish Society of Soil Science, Warszawa, 65p. Elliott E.T., 1986. Aggregate structure and carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus in native and cultivated soils. Soil Sci. Soc. Am. J., 50, 627-633. Fischer D., Glaser B., 2012. Synergisms between compost and biochar for sustainable soil amelioration, In: Kumar S. (ed.): Management of Organic Waste, In Tech Europe, Rijeka, 167-198. Glaser B., Lehmann J., Zech W., 2002. Ameliorating physical and chemical properties of highly weathered soils in the tropics with charcoal - a review. Biol. Fertil. Soils., 35, 219-230. Heitkotter J., and B. Marschner, 2015. Interactive effects of biochar ageing in soils related to feedstock, pyrolysis temperature, and historic charcoal production. Geoderma, 245-246, 56-64. Herath H.M.S.K., Camps-Arbestain M., Hedley M., 2013. Effect of biochar on soil physical properties in two contrasting soils: an Alfisol and an Andisol. Geoderma, 209-210, 188-197. Hillel D., 1982, Introduction to soil physics. Academic Press, San Diego, CA , 364 p. Chenu C., Plante A., 2006. Clay-sized organo-mineral complexes in a cultivation chronosequence: revisiting the concept of the “primary organo-mineral complex”. Eur. J. Soil Sci., 56, 596-607. IUSS Working Group WRB., 2014. World reference base for soil resources 2014. International soil classification system for naming soils and creating legends for soil maps. World Soil Resources Reports, 106, FAO, Rome., 112p. Jeffery S., Verheijen F.G.A., Van der Velde M., Bastos A.C., 2011. A quantitative review of the effects of biochar application to soils on crop productivity using meta-analysis. Agr. Ecosys. Environ., 144, 175-187. Jien S.H., Wang Ch.S., 2013. Effects of biochar on soil properties and erosion potential in a highly weathered soil. Catena, 110, 225-233. Kammann C., Linsel S., Goßling J., Koyro H.W., 2011. Influence of biochar on drought tolerance of Chenopodium quinoa Willd and on soil-plant relations. Plant Soil, 345, 195-210. Kodesova R., Nemecek K., Zigova A., Nikodem A., Fer M., 2015. Using dye tracer for visualizing roots I pact on soil structure and soil porous system. Biologia, 70, 1439-1443. Krol, A., Lipiec, J., Turski, M., J. Kuoe, 2013. Effects of organic and conventional management on physical properties of soil aggregates. Int. Agrophys., 27, 15-21. Kurakov A.V., Kharin S.A., 2012. The Formation of Water-Stable Coprolite Aggregates in Soddy-Podzolic Soils and the Participation of Fungi in This Process. Eur. Soil Sci., 45, 429-434. Loginow W., Wisniewski W., Gonet S.S., Ciescinska B., 1987. Fractionation of organic carbon based on susceptibility to oxidation. Pol. J. Soil Sci., 20, 47-52. Lynch, J.M., and E. Bragg, 1985. Microorganisms and soil aggregate stability. Adv. Soil Sci., 2, 133-171. MHYPERLINK "about:blank"unkholm L.J., Schjonning P., Debosz K., Jensen H.E., Christensen B.T., 2002. Aggregate strength and mechanical behaviour of a sandy loam soil under long-term fertilization treatments. Eur. J. Soil Sci., 53, 129-137. Paradelo R., Van Oort F., Chenu C., 2013. Water-dispersible clay in bare fallow soils after 80 years of continuous fertilizer addition. Geoderma, 200-201, 40-44. Purakayastha T.J., Kumari S., Pathak H., 2015. Characterisation, stability, and microbial effects of four biochars produced from crop residues. Geoderma, 239-240, 293-303. Rees F., Germain C., Sterckeman T., Morel J.L., 2015. Plant growth and metal uptake by a non-hyperaccumulating species (Lolium perenne) and a Cd-Zn hyperaccumulator (Noccaea caerulescens) in contaminated soils amended with biochar. Plant Soil, 395, 57-73. Saha D., Kukal S.S., Sharma S., 2011. 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D., Vimala, Sundararaj R., Prabakaran S., Ilango K., and Revathi K. "Status of whiteflies (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) infesting Ficus religiosa Linn. in India and their coexistence." Biolife 4, no. 3 (2022): 582–86. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7336975.
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<strong>ABSTRACT</strong> <em>Ficus religiosa</em> Linn. Commonly known as Peepal tree is found wild or cultivated nearly throughout India especially in vicinity of temples and is held sacred by Hindus and Buddhists. It is also planted as an avenue or road side tree and its various parts are used in traditional system of medicine. On this tree so far 12 species of whiteflies viz., <em>Aleurodicus dispersus</em> Russell, <em>Aleuroclava complex </em>Singh, <em>A. grewiae </em>Sundararaj and David, <em>A. louiseae </em>Sundararaj and David, <em>Aleuroplatus alcocki </em>(Peal), <em>A</em>. <em>quaintancei</em> (Peal), <em>A. spina </em>(Singh), <em>Bemisia religiosa </em>(Peal), <em>Dialeurolonga maculata </em>(Singh), <em>Dialeuropora decempuncta</em> (Quaintance & Baker), <em>Pealius spinosus </em>Jesudasan & David and <em>Singhiella simplex </em>(Singh) are known to breed in India. In our survey on whiteflies <em>A. dispersus</em>, <em>A. complex</em>, <em>A. alcocki</em>, <em>D. decempuncta</em>, and <em>S. simplex </em>were commonly found breed on <em>F. religiosa </em>in south India. Among them the infestation of <em>A. complex</em>, <em>A. alcocki</em> and <em>S. simplex </em>was severe resulting in drying and premature falling of leaves in younger plants. Further in the infestation of whiteflies coexistence of <em>A. complex</em> with <em>S. simplex</em> was commonly observed. In this context of infestation of whiteflies reaching the status of pest, the probable role of global warming is discussed. <strong>Key words:</strong> Indian Aleyrodidae, <em>Ficus religiosa,</em><em> Aleurodicus dispersus</em> <strong><em>REFERENCES</em></strong> David, B.V. and Subramaniam, T.R. 1976. Studies on some Indian Aleyrodidae. <em>Rec. Zool. Survey India</em>, 70: 133 - 233. David, B.V. and Jesudasan, R.W.A. 1989a. <em>Dialeurolonga</em> <em>maculata</em> (Singh) comb. nov. and <em>Dialeurolonga</em> <em>takahashi</em> nom. nov. for <em>Dialeurolonga</em> <em>maculata</em> Takahashi (Aleyrodidae: Homoptera) from Madagascar. <em>Entomon</em>, 14(3,4): 371. David, B.V. 1994. A new species of Viennotaleyrodes Cohic (Aleyrodidae: Homoptera) from India. <em>Hexapoda</em>, 6: 33 - 38. David, B.V. and Ragupathy, E. 2004. Whiteflies (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) of mulberry, <em>Morus</em> <em>alba</em> L., in India. <em>Pestology</em>, 28(10): 24 - 32. David, B.V. and Raja, M. 2008. Severe incidence of Aleyrodid, <em>Aleuroplatus</em> <em>alcocki</em> (Peal) on <em>Syzygium</em> <em>cumini</em>. <em>Insect Environment</em>, 14(2): 69 - 70. Dubey, A. K. 2003. Biosystematics of the aleyrodids (Aleyrodidae: Homoptera: Insects) of south western ghats, India. <em>Ph.D.Thesis submitted to FRI University, Dehra Dun</em>, pp. 282. Dubey, A.K. and Sundararaj, R. 2004a. Host range of the spiralling whitefly, <em>Aleurodicus</em> <em>dispersus</em> Russell (Aleyrodidae: Homoptera) in western ghats of south India. <em>Indian J. Forestry</em>, 27(1): 63 - 65. Dubey, A.K. and Sundararaj, R. 2005b. A review of the genus <em>Aleuroclava</em> Singh (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae) with descriptions of eight new species from India. <em>Oriental Insects</em>, 39: 241 - 272. Dubey, A.K. and Sundararaj, R. 2005d. A taxonomic study of the genus <em>Pealius</em> Quaintance & Baker (Homoptera: Aleyrodidae) in India. <em>J. Bombay Nat. Hist. Soc</em>., 102 (2): 158 - 161. Dubey, A. K. and Ko, C. C. 2008. Whitefly (Aleyrodidae) host plants list from India. <em>Oriental Insects</em>, 42: 49 - 102. Ghani, A. 1998. Medicinal plants of Bangladesh with chemical constituents and uses, <em>Asiatic Society of Bangladesh, Dhaka</em>, 236pp. Jesudasan, R.W.A. and David, B.V. 1991. Taxonomic studies on Indian Aleyrodidae (Insecta: Homoptera). <em>Oriental Insects</em>, 25: 231 - 434. 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Yakubu, Bashir Ishaku, Shua’ib Musa Hassan, and Sallau Osisiemo Asiribo. "AN ASSESSMENT OF SPATIAL VARIATION OF LAND SURFACE CHARACTERISTICS OF MINNA, NIGER STATE NIGERIA FOR SUSTAINABLE URBANIZATION USING GEOSPATIAL TECHNIQUES." Geosfera Indonesia 3, no. 2 (2018): 27. http://dx.doi.org/10.19184/geosi.v3i2.7934.
Full textAbstract:
Rapid urbanization rates impact significantly on the nature of Land Cover patterns of the environment, which has been evident in the depletion of vegetal reserves and in general modifying the human climatic systems (Henderson, et al., 2017; Kumar, Masago, Mishra, & Fukushi, 2018; Luo and Lau, 2017). This study explores remote sensing classification technique and other auxiliary data to determine LULCC for a period of 50 years (1967-2016). The LULCC types identified were quantitatively evaluated using the change detection approach from results of maximum likelihood classification algorithm in GIS. Accuracy assessment results were evaluated and found to be between 56 to 98 percent of the LULC classification. The change detection analysis revealed change in the LULC types in Minna from 1976 to 2016. Built-up area increases from 74.82ha in 1976 to 116.58ha in 2016. Farmlands increased from 2.23 ha to 46.45ha and bared surface increases from 120.00ha to 161.31ha between 1976 to 2016 resulting to decline in vegetation, water body, and wetlands. The Decade of rapid urbanization was found to coincide with the period of increased Public Private Partnership Agreement (PPPA). Increase in farmlands was due to the adoption of urban agriculture which has influence on food security and the environmental sustainability. The observed increase in built up areas, farmlands and bare surfaces has substantially led to reduction in vegetation and water bodies. The oscillatory nature of water bodies LULCC which was not particularly consistent with the rates of urbanization also suggests that beyond the urbanization process, other factors may influence the LULCC of water bodies in urban settlements.
 Keywords: Minna, Niger State, Remote Sensing, Land Surface Characteristics
 
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M., Naveen Kumar, and Virender Kolagani. "EVALUATION OF NOOTROPIC ACTIVITY OF CARICA PAPAYA IN MICE." Biolife 2, no. 3 (2022): 721–30. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7219751.
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<strong>ABSTRACT</strong> Alzheimer’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder primarily manifesting as a loss of memory, senile dementia, and intraneuronal neurofibrillary tangle formation. <em>C. papaya</em> has a very long history of medicinal use in Chinese and Indian herbal traditions. The objective of this study is to evaluate the nootropic activity of Carica papaya by using animal model mice. The dried seeds of papaya fruits were used for the extraction by cold maceration method using ethanol as solvent. Preliminary Phytochemical study was performed. Estimation of anti-oxidant enzymes like super oxide dismutase, glutathione peroxide and glutathione reductase were done in extract treated mice. Estimation of acetylcholinestarase levels was also done. The ethyl acetate extract gave positive results for alkaloids, flavanoids, carbohydrates, tannins, glycosides, and absence of proteins, saponins, steroids, terpenes, phenols, gums and mucilage. In the present study, we have found a significant decrease in the level of antioxidant enzymes and the elevated of AChE in mice brain after a single injection of Scopolamine. EECP at 200 mg/ kg and 400 mg/kg had shown the significant reduction in the elevated enzyme level of acetylcholine esterase. The oxidative stress involved by the administration of Scopolamine produced neurotoxicity indicated the decreased levels of super oxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase. Treatment of EECP shows the protection of these antioxidant enzymes on both 200 mg/kg and 400 mg/kg dose level respectively due to the rejuvenating property of the extract. <strong>Key Words:</strong> Alzeimer’s disease, C. papaya, acetylcholinestarase, oxidative stress. <strong>REFERENCES</strong> Gertz HJ and Kiefer M. Review About Ginkgo Biloba Special Extract EGb 761 (Ginkgo). Current Pharmaceutical Designs 2004; 10: 261-264. Bhattacharya SK, Bhattacharya A, Kumar A, Ghosal S. Antioxidant activity of <em>Bacopa monneria</em> in rat frontal cortex, striatum and Hippocampus, Phototherapy. Res 2000; 14: 174-179. Sharma A, Parikh V, Singh M. Pharmacological basis of drug therapy of Alzheimer’s disease. Indian journal of experimental biology 1997; 35: 114-115. Sloane P, Zimmerman S, Suchindran C, Reed P, Wang L, Boustani M, Sudha S. The public health impact of Alzheimer's disease, potential implication of treatment advances. Annu Rev Public Health 2002; 23:13-31. Hebert LE, Scherr PA, Bienias JL. Alzheimer disease in the US population. Prevalence estimates using the 200census. Arch. Neurol 2003; 60:11-12. Geula C, Mesulam M. Cholinergic systems and related neuropathological predilection patterns in Alzheimer disease. I Terry Katzman, R. Bick, K.L. (Eds.) Alzheimer Disease. Raven press, New York 1994; 263-291. Marata M, Castellonea C, Oliverio A, Pomponi M. Studies on physostigmine a centrallyacting acetylcholine esterase inhibitor. Life science 1988; 43:19-21. Kang J, Lenmaire HG, Unterbeck A, Salbaum MN, Masters CL, Grzeschik KH, <em>et al.,</em> The precursor protein of Alzheimers disease amyloid A4 protein resembles a cell surface receptor. Nature 1987; 32(5):733-736. Pereira C, Santos MS, Oliveira C. Involvement of oxidative stress on the impairment of energy metabolism induced by A Peptides on PC12 cells: protection by antioxidants. Neurobiol. Dis 1999; 6: 209-219. Seubert P. Isolation and quantitation of soluble Alzheimers -peptide from biological fluids. Nature 1992; 35(9): 325-327. Yankner B, Duffy L, Kirschner D. Neurotrophic and neurotoxic effects of amyloid beta protein: reversal by tachykinin Smith G. Animal models of Alzheimers disease experimental cholinergic denervation, Brain Research Reviews 1988; 13: 103-118. Maurice T, Lockhart BP, Privat A. Amnesia induced in mice by centrally administered beta-amyloid peptides involves cholinergic dysfunction. Brain Res 1996; 70(6): 181 - 193. Zheng H, Jiang M, Trumbauer ME, Sirinathsinghji DJ S, Hopkins. Amyloid precursor protein-deficient mice show reactive gliosis and decreased locomotor activity. Cell 1995; 81: 525-531. Muller U, Cristina N, Li ZW, Wolfer DP, Lipp HP, and Weissmann, C. Behavioral and anatomical deficits in mice homozygous for a modified b-amyloid precursor protein gene. Cell 1994; 79: 755-765. Games D, Adams D, Alessandrini R, Barbour R, Berthelette and Zhao J. Alzheimer type neuropathology in transgenic mice over expressing V717Fb-amyloid precursor protein. Nature 1995; 37(3): 523-527. World health organization (1992) ICD-10, classification of mental and behavioural guidelines. Geneva world health organization. Guidance on the use of Donepezil, rivastigmine and galantamine for the treatment of alzheimers disease (technology appraisal guidance no.19). National institute for clinical excellence, January 2001. Delbridge A, Bernard JRL. The Macquarine Concise Dictionary 1998. 213-224. 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Ghosh, S., K. Telang, L. Sharma, et al. "AB0794 A PROSPECTIVE STUDY ON RENAL INVOLVEMENT IN INDIAN PATIENTS WITH ANCA-ASSOCIATED VASCULITIS." Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases 82, Suppl 1 (2023): 1608.1–1609. http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/annrheumdis-2023-eular.2898.
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BackgroundThe ANCA-associated vasculitides (AAV) are systemic autoimmune diseases affecting small and medium-sized blood vessels. Upper airways, lungs, and kidneys are variably involved in the different types of AAV, and the consequences of a missed or delayed diagnosis of renal vasculitis are potentially life-threatening. AAV may be classified into clinical syndromes or based on their serology (Anti-PR3 or Anti-MPO). Patient survival and the risk of end-stage renal disease are closely associated with renal functional status.ObjectivesThis study was undertaken to study the disease characteristics and outcomes in patients of AAV based on the presence or absence of renal involvement.MethodsThis was a longitudinal, observational study conducted at a tertiary care hospital in Northern India. Between February 2020 and December 2021, all consecutive adult patients diagnosed with AAV based on their autoantibody profiles (using indirect immunofluorescence and Line ImmunoAssay) and clinical features were included in this study after taking their informed consent. Demographic details, clinical features, laboratory parameters, disease activity, and mortality or morbidity outcomes of patients were analysed prospectively. All outcomes were compared between patients with and without renal involvement.ResultsA total of 112 patients were included in our study, with a median age of 51.5 years. 74 (66%) patients had renal involvement either in the form of Nephritic syndrome, Nephrotic syndrome, RPRF (Rapidly progressive renal failure), Nephritic nephrotic syndrome, or Asymptomatic Urinary Sediments. c-ANCA and PR3 positivity were seen in more than two-thirds of our population, without any significant correlation with organ involvement. Patients with renal disease had a significantly higher proportion with diffuse alveolar haemorrhage (32.4% vs 10.5%, p=0.05) and palpable purpura (19.6% vs 7.9%, p-0.025), but significantly lower occurrences of nasal pathology (14% vs 42%, p=0.001) and subglottic stenosis (1.4% vs 18.4%, p=0.001). Mean BVAS at enrolment was significantly higher in the renal group (20.9 vs 12.89). Remission was achieved in 50% and 47.4% of the patients with and without renal involvement respectively. Rates of relapse (19/74 vs 14/38), refractory disease, and mortality were not significantly different among the two subgroups. The commonest organ involvement in disease flare was pulmonary involvement. 21.6% of the patients developed CKD over a median follow-up period of 18 months.ConclusionKidney involvement is one of the commonest manifestations of AAV. Patients with renal involvement may have higher mean BVAS scores and an increased risk of developing alveolar haemorrhage and purpuric skin rash; while nasal pathology and subglottic stenosis occurred more frequently in patients without renal disease. Rates of remission, refractory disease, and mortality were almost similar, regardless of renal involvement, while relapses were numerically more in the non-renal AAV patients.References[1]Stone JH, Merkel PA, Spiera R, Seo P, Langford CA, Hoffman GS, Kallenberg CG, St. Clair EW, Turkiewicz A, Tchao NK, Webber L. Rituximab versus cyclophosphamide for ANCA-associated vasculitis. New England Journal of Medicine. 2010 Jul 15;363(3):221-32.[2]Córdova-Sánchez BM, Mejía-Vilet JM, Morales-Buenrostro LE, Loyola-Rodríguez G, Uribe-Uribe NO, Correa-Rotter R. Clinical presentation and outcome prediction of clinical, serological, and histopathological classification schemes in ANCA-associated vasculitis with renal involvement. Clinical rheumatology. 2016 Jul;35(7):1805-16.[3]Kronbichler A, Shin JI, Lee KH, Nakagomi D, Quintana LF, Busch M, Craven A, Luqmani RA, Merkel PA, Mayer G, Jayne DR. Clinical associations of renal involvement in ANCA-associated vasculitis. Autoimmunity Reviews. 2020 Apr 1;19(4):102495.Acknowledgements:NIL.Disclosure of InterestsNone Declared.
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Ramprakash, Stalin, Rajat Kumar Agarwal, C. P. Raghuram, et al. "Incidence, Risk Factors and Outcomes of Veno-Occlusive Disease / Sinusoidal Obstruction Syndrome (VOD/SOS) in Children with Severe Thalassemia (ST) Conditioned with Busulfan- Cyclophosphamide (Bu-Cy) Based Regimen." Blood 134, Supplement_1 (2019): 4499. http://dx.doi.org/10.1182/blood-2019-130841.
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Introduction Sinusoidal obstruction syndrome / Veno-occlusive disease (VOD/SOS) is one of the major complication which increases morbidity and mortality following allogeneic stem cell transplant. Busulfan-cyclophosphamide (Bu-Cy) based conditioning regimen, use of busulfan and patients with thalassaemia are considered to be among the important risk factors for development of VOD/SOS (Barker et al. Bone Marrow Transplantation (2003) 32, 79-87, Dix et al Bone Marrow Transplantation 1996 Feb;17(2):225-30). We routinely use oral busulfan in our low and intermediate risk thalassemia transplant conditioning regimen. We summarize the incidence, risk factors, severity and outcomes of VOD/SOS in our patient population. Methods We studied the incidence of VOD/SOS defined by EBMT criteria (Corbacioglu et al. Bone marrow transplantation 2018 Feb;53(2):138-145) in 121 consecutive patients with ST (thalassemia syndrome with the inability to spontaneously maintain hemoglobin levels ≥ 7 g/dl) on a single uniform protocol across three collaborating centers from India - People Tree hospitals, Bangalore (PTH), Care Institute of Medical sciences, Ahmedabad (CIMS), South- East Asia Institute of Thalassaemia (SEAIT). Our conditioning regimen comprised of Fludarabine (150 mg/m2, days -17 to -13), anti-thymocyte globulin (ATG) (Genzyme 4 mg/kg, days -12 to -10, dose was increased to 7 mg/kg in case of splenomegaly and or sex mismatched transplants), busulfan (14 mg/kg oral, not adjusted to serum levels over days -9 to -6) and cyclophosphamide (200 mg/kg, days -5 to -2). G-CSF-primed bone marrow (5 μg/kg/dose twice daily for 5 days prior to harvest) was the source of hematopoietic stem cells in all cases. The majority of patients (111) were low - intermediate risk based on liver size < 2 cm from costal margin and age less than 15 years (median 6.9 years, range 1.1 to 14.5) while 10 patients might have been high-risk based on Pesaro classification due to liver >3 cm by palpation at transplant. In fact, liver biopsies were not performed. All matched related donors were HLA-compatible by high resolution typing. None of the patients received routine defibrotide prophylaxis and all patients have at least one year follow up. Results Out of the 121 patients studied, 18 developed VOD/SOS (14.9%). One patient developed massive intracranial haemorrhage (ICH) on day 9 and subsequently died on day 11, had some features of VOD/SOS which may have contributed to the ICH. Another patient needed admission in intensive care with respiratory distress was treated with defibrotide for 5 days and recovered. In all others VOD/SOS resolved spontaneously with supportive care only. There was a trend towards decreased overall (94% vs 97%) and disease-free survival (83% vs 89%) in the VOD/SOS group, both did not reach statistical significance (Fig 1 and 2). None of the previously known risk factors studied such as age at BMT (p =0.16), Ferritin level at BMT (p = 0.2), hepatitis C status (p = 0.28) and raised pre-transplant ALT levels (> 3 times normal upper limit) (p = 0.7) showed significant variation between VOD/SOS group and unaffected group. Factors which showed significant difference were Major ABO mismatch (p = 0.041), presence of splenomegaly at BMT (p = 0.0015) and duration of Hydroxyurea (HU) treatment pre-transplant for more than 12 months (p = 0.04). Longer duration of HU may be related to the prolonged down-staging process for poorly managed ST patient pre-transplant. As expected, the VOD/SOS group required increased blood product support (Table 1). Conclusion Our results suggest that even though about 15% of low/intermediate risk thalassaemia transplants using Bu-Cy may develop VOD/SOS, in the great majority of cases this complication is mild and resolves spontaneously with supportive care alone. Many of the known risk factors did not seem to be relevant in our patient population. The possible role of splenomegaly at BMT and major ABO mismatch as risk factors for VOD/SOS may warrant further studies. Disclosures No relevant conflicts of interest to declare.
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Evangelin, G., Horne Bertrand, M. Muthupandi, and William S. John. "VENOMOUS SALIVA OF NON-HAEMATOPHAGOUS REDUVIID BUGS (HETEROPTERA: REDUVIIDAE): A REVIEW." Biolife 2, no. 2 (2022): 615–26. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7214084.
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<strong>ABSTRACT</strong> While reduviids are a modestly well characterized group of insects, especially the blood sucking triatominae due to the medical implications of the Chagas disease, which is mainly transmitted by the infected bugs whose excrement contains <em>Trypanosoma cruzi </em>that enters the body through bruises or cuts in the skin of humans, their non-haematophagus counterparts are a forgotten lot and have not been thoroughly investigated. The venom in the saliva of the non-haematophagus reduviids has come into the spotlight in the last couple of decades due to the voracious predatory lifestyle that enable them to be used as biological control agents in subduing pests. But the biochemistry of reduviid venom, its action and subsequent effect on the prey, toxicity, enzymes, peptides present in the venom and their significance, the role of extra oral digestion facilitated by the venom for its predatory lifestyle have not been given much consideration. 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Gledis, Peza. "Social and Psychological Factors Related to Filicide: A Literature Review." Beder Journal of Educational Sciences Volume 26(2) (June 22, 2023): 157–70. https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.8070104.
Full textAbstract:
<strong>Abstract</strong> The historical moment in which we live is strongly characterized by violence, and the ways and the forms through which it manifests itself are more and more ambiguous, so in many cases recognizing it becomes really difficult. In recent years more than in the past, we have witnessed the spread of a series of murders that took place in familiar circumstances. In a contemporary society, the child is protected and defended by legal regulations, but still, the phenomenon of filicide remains one of the crimes that raise an alarm in public opinion. This article aims to inform the interested professionals of mental health about the consequences of filicide by introducing a broad overview of the topic, including its history, definitions, classifications, and the recent findings around filicide. Filicide is an expression of mental illness, it is mainly associated with postpartum depression and is, perhaps, the most dramatic manifestation of this pathology. It is important to know that filicide is a crime that may occur in all cultures either in isolation or as a systematic practice with specific interpretation to each community. There are anthropological, psychoanalytic, and psychiatric explanations that currently try to address this phenomenon. This literature review will analyze the legal and psychopathological factors associated with filicide in order to examine the motivations of what push these mothers to commit such a cruel act to their children. This review has the dual purpose of presenting all this information to the interested parties as well as raise awareness about the importance of prevention and identification of factors leading to such a crime by both the psychological and legal professionals. <strong>Keywords</strong><em>:</em> <em>Murders, Filicide, Crime, Women.</em> <strong>Introduction </strong> The family is not always that place of security and love that we imagine; sometimes that's the scenery of heinous crimes, not necessarily attributable to subjects with psychiatric disorders. Pregnancy and motherhood are complex and delicate events, but of the utmost importance. Desired or not, the child is fulfilled and grows up in a body that may or may not be suited to his own development. Some women experience this process as something shocking, a foreign body that takes possession of their body, grows inside her and modifies her body. This can determine fear, anguish or obsessive fantasies. Sometimes the trauma of pregnancy is so strong that the woman does not accept the child (Lewis & Bunce, 2003). In a society like the present one, where the child is protected and defended by legal norms, the phenomenon of filicide remains one of the crimes that arouse alarm in public opinion social increasingly strong, both because these actions violence occur in a background such as that familiar, and for the extreme brutality with which he often homicidal conduct occurs. The perpetrating of these conducts, which are implemented internally of the household, highlights so dramatic as the consideration of the familiar place which is based on bonds of solidarity and love and which is intended to protect its members, and at the same time to allow it to develop, socialize and fulfill itself. There are certain factors and situations where the risk of violence is potentially high, for this reason it is very important to aim at preventing it (Abdullah et al., 2022). From a historical and anthropological perspective, in the past and even nowadays, in many civilizations killing own children was and is not only tolerated but also permitted and encouraged by social and cultural values. When events of this type occur, public opinion immediately turns to the idea of one undoubtedly "crazy" mother, who killed as a result of her infirmity. Yet, these behaviors do not always arise in a climate of mental illness, but there are cases in which the family environment and its dynamics are pathological (Mugavin, 2008). In these conditions yes they can verify abuses, psychic and physical violence and, in the most serious cases, homicide. As difficult as it is to accept, there are cases in which mothers kill their own child having consciousness and awareness of what they are doing. In the course of the work done, after having treated the historical-juridical aspects of filicide, will be examined the psychological, psychopathological aspects, the socio-cultural situations and personal motivations that push these mothers to commit such an act cruel to their children. This excursus has the dual purpose of giving life to a classification of the reasons they can lead to the crime, and to try to explain an event that in the eyes of public opinion is incomprehensible, especially when you take the bond into consideration in detail that unites the subjects in question. <strong>Literature review </strong> <strong>2.1 Historical background</strong> The theme of the murder of the son is an event that occurs in several religions, and if one makes an excursus of history and anthropology you can have one confirmation of this. The legal protection of the life of children, especially if not yet adults, is guaranteed by law in relatively recent times. It is well known that during the period of the Roman Empire, the <em>pater familias</em> boasted the right of life and death. In ancient Rome, from the very first moments of upon birth, the child was subjected to the will of the father, who was the only one who could dispose of the fate of the son. The mother, on the other hand, watched everything with a passive attitude and had no right to be able to intervene. In 16th and 17th centuries, child murder was viewed differently in Europe. Some countries such as France and then England established laws that approached to filicide as a criminal behavior punished by death. Both countries also presumed that the mother who was guilty of committing the crime, should be considered as such until proven innocent. Another change was implemented after the establishment of the Infanticide Acts of 1922 and 1938 in England (Giacchetti et al., 2023; West, 2007). These laws considered the ‘adverse’ effect that birthing and caring for an infant may have on mother's mental health for up to 12 months after the event which may lead the mother toward mental health problems such as postpartum depression and anxiety (Koenen & Thompson, 2008). Anthropological studies show how the sacrifice of children is present in the history of Greece and Egypt, and in most cultures. In India and Africa there are cases where, according to the custom, the killing of an infant is not considered as a crime, since the newborn just came into the world and cannot be considered a complete human being, with his own rights and duties (Sedumedi & Winter, 2022). Anthropologist Mary Douglas made a few observations concerning the fact that in some tribes of Africa, when twins are born, one comes killed, as in their culture this event is considered a social anomaly (Douglas, 1990). It is controversial the fact that two human beings can come into the world by a single person, the mother, in the same time and place. In the Amazon, in the tribe of the Venezuela Yanomani, the practice of infanticide in comparisons of females is a habit at times performed following a precise ritual, and it comes justified by stating that this is intended to control population growth. In practice, if the newborn is deformed the mother must kill him; in the case of twin birth, the older child is suppressed and weak, or the female if it is twins of different sex. One explanation could be that yes ensures the survival of the species: the child misshapen would be a burden to the group. <strong>2.2 What are the reasons of committing filicide?</strong> Filicide, the murder of a child by a parent, is a multifaceted phenomenon with various causes and characteristics (Bourget et al., 2007). The murder of the own child is known as filicide (Putkonen et al., 2006). The context in which the homicide occurs can be very variable, being able to appear from puerperal psychoses to the presence of domestic violence or the use of the minor as an object to harm the other member of the couple. As for the victims, although filicide does not refer to the age of the victim, as a general rule, children younger than six months have a higher risk of experiencing lethal violence from their parents. As far as gender is concerned, no differences have been found in Western society in this regard. It is difficult to determine the reasons that push a person to actively cause the death of one or more of their children. However, some authors such as Resnick (1969) or Putkonen (2016) have tried to make a general classification of the reasons that have arisen in different cases. The search reflects the following categories or types of filicide: <strong>Altruistic filicide</strong> This type of filicide usually occurs when the child has some type of medical condition that makes or is considered to make you suffer for life or suffers from some type of terminal illness. It is about causing the death of the son or daughter as a method of avoiding suffering. Another subtype of filicide considered altruistic by the person performing it is one that is directly related to the suicide of the abuser himself. The father or mother intends to commit suicide and believes their children will not be able to live or that it would be unfair to abandon them, preferring to kill them before making them face the situation. <strong>Generated by psychosis or mental illness</strong> While the assumption that the people who perform this type of act are people with mental disorders is unrealistic, the truth is that in some cases filicides are administered in the context of mental illness. An example is during a certain type of psychotic epidemic, in the context of hallucinations or delusions in which the child is confused with a possible enemy, persecutor, assassin, alien or demon. <strong>Unwanted child</strong> This type of filicide is motivated by the fact that the child was not wanted by the parents or one of them, or by not being able to take care of the child. Technically some authors consider abortion as such, although filicide is usually reserved for children already born. A less debatable and controversial example is the one that occurs for neglecting the child's needs or abandoning him. <strong>Accidental filicide</strong> He is considered as such the filicide who was not intended to cause the death of the child, but ends up leading him to it. It is frequent in the context of intra-family abuse or indirect violence to break the will of the couple in cases of gender-based violence. It can also happen in the context of a fight. <strong>Revengeful or utilitarian filicide</strong> The child's death is used as an instrument of torture and revenge, usually to harm the couple for some kind of harm or rejection. It is a type of indirect violence directed not so much towards the minor himself (his death is for the aggressor less), but with the cause of harm to another person. <strong>2.3 The filicide: general characteristics</strong> The killing of a child is not a very frequently committed crime. However, there are some circumstances and characteristics that can facilitate the commitment of this type of act (Frederique et al., 2023). Among these, it has been observed that many cases of filicide occur in persons with reduced capacity for maternity or paternity. In some cases, there was a deprivation of affection in the parent's own childhood, experiencing the parent-child relationship as something negative in which there was no love and perhaps some kind of abuse (Frederick et al., 2022). Other possible risk factors are found in young mothers and fathers, whose first child appears before the age of 19 and with few economic and social resources (Barone, et al., 2014). Finally, another distinct profile includes the presence of sadistic and psychopathic characteristics, lack of emotional attachment to the child and use of this as a tool to manipulate, control or attack the other. There are many cases of filicide that are passed off as completely random episodes, but which in reality hide a well-developed homicidal project. As regards the profile of the filicidal mother, it should be noted that the average age identified by the various studies on the subject ranges from 25 to 30 years (Frederique et al., 2023). A good part has a low IQ, probably also influenced by the lower level of education (Farr, 2022; McKee & Bramante, 2010). As regards marital status, the majority of these women were married or in a relationship at the time of their child's death. Usually these are women living in a delicate socio-economic situation, characterized by financial difficulties and often with a history of abuse and maltreatment behind them. Even the mother's behavior after committing the crime is different depending on the case, as there are many factors that condition it the woman's relationship with her family of origin, the presence and type of mental illness, the ability of introspection and acceptance of murder, the type and quality of life in the prison context, the acceptance of psychotherapeutic and pharmacological treatments (Debowska et al., 2015; & McKee & Bramante, 2010). The psychological dynamics that can follow filicide are therefore different and it is extremely important to understand them as soon as possible, both for ascertaining the truth in court, and for setting up a therapeutic intervention aimed at preventing suicide attempts, very frequent in these women, as well as to avoid the recurrence of the crime and, obviously, to guarantee the person's rehabilitation (McKee & Bramante, 2010; & Mugavin, 2005). In some cases, the mothers who have killed their own child tend to make a complete and truthful confession as soon as the crime is committed, in others, however, the mothers continue to maintain, even for long periods, their extraneousness (Valença et al., 2011). An example of the first group can be that of the mother who "survived" a project of extended suicide who, after having killed her son, recounts the crime she committed with great suffering and minute detail. An example of the second group is that of a mother who kills her child because she is unwanted, or that of a mother who tends to forcefully deny her responsibility to the point of attributing it to another person because she is unable, or simply does not want to admit to herself that she had committed such a horrible crime. At the basis of these psychological processes there is often the attempt by the perpetrator of the crime to transform, for psychological defense and in an unconscious way, his own image and that of the victim. <strong>Conclusions</strong> Being a mother brings with it, alongside joy, many anxieties, fears, difficulties, anger, intolerance, which women alone cannot always face, especially when these feelings become insurmountable, overwhelming them. Because these women are often left alone in their fears, despite the fact that in most cases they are surrounded by relatives or husbands, who are not actually present emotionally, even though they are there. In addition to mental pathology, other important risk factors have also been mentioned in the literature, such as excessive dependence on others and conflicts within the family unit. The risk factors for filicide, compared to those for neonaticide, offer greater possibilities for prevention, not only through the antenatal clinic, but also with postpartum follow-ups that allow high-risk cases to be followed up. Several interventions are possible when anxiety and mood symptoms occur after childbirth. Certainly, a set of prevention and intervention programs aimed at elevating or moderating the psychological symptoms of mothers can be implemented for the benefit of both maternal and child wellbeing. For example, mothers including fathers as well can be provided with cognitive-behavioral therapies. There are still pre- and post-natal group therapies, which help mothers find reassurance in sharing the same difficulties with other women, as well as home visits, which have been particularly successful in cases of neglect and abuse. More research is needed to be conducted to further explore and identify the factors that lead to cases of high risk, as well as adequate professional training is necessary for professionals who are more in direct contact with mothers, from pediatricians to general practitioners, so that they can immediately address the cases and send them to special services. <strong>References</strong> Abdullah, A., Cudjoe, E., Frederico, M., Jordan, L. P., Chiu, M. Y., Asamoah, E., & Emery, C. R. (2022). Filicide as a cultural practice in Ghana: the qualitative understanding of a family tragedy and its implications for child protection practice. <em>Child Abuse & Neglect</em>, <em>127</em>, 105580. Barone, L., Bramante, A., Lionetti, F., & Pastore, M. (2014). Mothers who murdered their child: An attachment-based study on filicide. <em>Child Abuse & Neglect</em>, <em>38</em>(9), 1468-1477. Bourget, D., Grace, J., & Whitehurst, L. (2007). A review of maternal and paternal filicide. <em>Journal-American Academy of Psychiatry and The Law</em>, <em>35</em>(1), 74. Debowska, A., Boduszek, D., & Dhingra, K. (2015). Victim, perpetrator, and offense characteristics in filicide and filicide–suicide. <em>Aggression and violent behavior</em>, <em>21</em>, 113-124. Douglas, M. (1990). Risk as a forensic resource. <em>Daedalus</em>, 1-16. Figlicidio materno, Associazione Italiana di Psicologia Giuridica (2010/2011) from:https://aipgitalia.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/11/TesinaAIPG11_Melchiorri.pdf Uccidere i propri figli, Claudia Simula, from: https://www.area-c54.it/public/la%20tragedia%20di%20medea%20%20uccidere%20i%20propri%20figli%20-%20tesi.pdf Farr, K. (2022). Maternal filicide: risk factors for a death penalty outcome. <em>Criminal Justice Studies</em>, <em>35</em>(4), 385-402. Filicide: Mental Illness in Those Who Kill Their Children, Sandra M. Flynn, Jenny Shaw. Kathryn M. Abel, from : https://www.researchgate.net/publication/236207492_Filicide_Mental_Illness_in_Those_Who_Kill_Their_Children Frederick, J., Devaney, J., & Alisic, E. (2022). Adverse childhood experiences and potential pathways to filicide perpetration: A systematic search and review. <em>Child abuse review</em>, <em>31</em>(3), e2743. Frederique, A., Stolberg, R., Estrellado, J., & Kellum, C. (2023). Maternal Filicide: A Review of Psychological and External Demographic Risk Factors. <em>Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma</em>, <em>32</em>(1-2), 34-52. Giacchetti, N., Lattanzi, G. M., Aceti, F., Vanacore, N., & Williams, R. (2023). States of Mind with Respect to Attachment: a comparative study between women who killed their children and mothers diagnosed with post-partum depression. <em>Nordic Journal of Psychiatry</em>, <em>77</em>(1), 3-13. Killing One’s Own Baby: A Psychodynamic Overview with Clinical Approach to Filicide Cases, Dilşad FOTO ÖZDEMİR, Ş. Gülin EVİNÇ, from: https://www.turkpsikiyatri.com/PDF/C32S3/en/TPD_c32(3)_201-210.pdf Koenen, M. A., & Thompson, Jr, J. W. (2008). Filicide: Historical review and prevention of child death by parent. <em>Infant Mental Health Journal: Official Publication of The World Association for Infant Mental Health</em>, <em>29</em>(1), 61-75. Lewis, C. F., & Bunce, S. C. (2003). Filicidal mothers and the impact of psychosis on maternal filicide. <em>Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law Online</em>, <em>31</em>(4), 459-470. McKee, G. R., & Bramante, A. (2010). Maternal filicide and mental illness in Italy: A comparative study. <em>The Journal of Psychiatry & Law</em>, <em>38</em>(3), 271-282. Mugavin, M. E. (2005). A Meta‐Synthesis of filicide classification systems: Psychosocial and psychodynamic issues in women who kill their children. <em>Journal of forensic nursing</em>, <em>1</em>(2), 65-72. Putkonen, H., Amon, S., Weizmann-Henelius, G., Pankakoski, M., Eronen, M., Almiron, M. P., & Klier, C. M. (2016). Classifying filicide. <em>International journal of forensic mental health</em>, <em>15</em>(2), 198-210. Resnick, P. J. (1969). Child murder by parents: a psychiatric review of filicide. <em>American journal of psychiatry</em>, <em>126</em>(3), 325-334. Sedumedi, T. P., & Winter, D. A. (2022). I killed my children: Construing pathways to filicide. <em>Journal of Constructivist Psychology</em>, <em>35</em>(3), 930-952. Valença, A. M., Mendlowicz, M. V., Nascimento, I., & Nardi, A. E. (2011). Filicide, attempted filicide, and psychotic disorders. <em>Journal of forensic sciences</em>, <em>56</em>(2), 551-554. West, S. G. (2007). An overview of filicide. <em>Psychiatry (Edgmont)</em>, <em>4</em>(2), 48.
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Dawani, Chandni, and Deepa Pareek. "Analysing India’s Export Competitiveness in ASEAN Economies: Insights from Viner’s Trade Creation Model." Journal of Asian Economic Integration, February 25, 2024. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/26316846241232832.
Full textAbstract:
Both India and ASEAN are characterised by dynamic market economies and have implemented extensive reforms to deepen their economic integration. Despite the existing economic links between them, this article acknowledges that the trade relations are significant but fall short of their full potential. In this context, the present study utilises a modified trade creation approach to estimate India’s export potential at the sectoral level with individual ASEAN member states for the years 2010 and 2021. The analysis has identified five most significant trading partners in the region, namely, Singapore, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Indonesia, which together represent substantial trading opportunities in the five broad sectors such as Machinery, Chemical products, Base metals, Plastics, Minerals. Additionally, this article explores ASEAN’s GVC linkages with India vis-à-vis world at an aggregate and sectoral level over the last decade. We base our analysis on the P&C using the UN Broad Economic Category (BEC) product classification, concorded with HS trade classification. The findings reveal a marginal decline in the region’s share of GVC trade with India relative to its global GVC trade. JEL Classification: F10, F14, F15
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Suleman, Shahida, Hassanudin Mohd Thas Thaker, and Calvin Cheong Wing Hoh. "Magnetic Macro Drivers of Trade Openness: A Study of BRICS Economies." South Asian Journal of Macroeconomics and Public Finance, November 11, 2024. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/22779787241288940.
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The major goal of this study endeavour is to thoroughly evaluate the impact of macro factors on trade openness (TOP). The study was conducted through the examination of numerous trade conceptions, with a specifically emphasis on examining these patterns within the economies of the BRICS nations (Russia, India, China and South Africa) from 1995 to 2020. Stepwise regression for selecting models, Pedroni, Johnson, Granger causality and advance panel regression are some of the techniques used including FMOLS, Panel OLS and FEM. The study’s outcomes reveal the presence of both long-term and short-term associations between TOP and (a) total investment, (b) human capital, (c) trade reserves, (d) trade balance and (e) exchange rate. The study authors found both one-way and two-way causal association between TOP and these five factors. Additionally, trade balance emerges as the most significant factor impacting TOP. Notably, the exchange rate does not exhibit significant economic importance. JEL Classification: F14, F15, F17
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SINGARAVELAN, S., A. MARY SATHYA, V. HARINI, and D. MURUGAN. "GWO BASED OPTIMISTIC FEATURE SELECTION FOR PREDICTION OF ADVANCED LIVER FIBROSIS." Journal of Basic and Applied Research International, April 12, 2022, 6–13. http://dx.doi.org/10.56557/jobari/2022/v28i27599.
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The present populace of India is 1,362,255,678 as of January, 2019, in view of the most recent United Nations estimates [1]. Worldwide examinations calculate that there are 8.7 million individuals living with chronic Hepatitis in India. Chronic Hepatitis disease represents 12-32 per cent of liver malignant growth and 10-20 per cent of cirrhosis cases in India. The vast majority with constant Hepatitis B or C are ignorant of diseases and are at genuine danger of creating cirrhosis or liver malignant growth.Machine learning fits a few procedures superior to other traditional methods like Biopsy. This paper evaluate various machine learning methods to predict advanced liver fibrosis by using patient’s blood report to build up the optimization and classification models. The METAVIR score is a device used to assess the seriousness of fibrosis seen on a liver biopsy test from a human who has chronic hepatitis. Based on the METAVIR score [2,3,4] chronic hepatitis divided into three parts, first one is classified as mild stage, second one is moderate stage and third one is advanced stage of fibrosis. Grey Wolf Optimization, Random Forest Classifier and Decision tree procedure models forpropelled fibrosis chance expectation were produced. ROC curve and confusion matrix was evaluated to compare the accuracy of proposed methods.
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Stephen, Ruth Anna, Vinu Moses, George M. Varghese, KB Santhosh Babu, Suchita Chase, and Shyamkumar N. Keshava. "Outcomes of Percutaneous Ultrasound-guided Splenic Procedures: A Retrospective Observational Study from a Tertiary Care Centre in Southern India." JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND DIAGNOSTIC RESEARCH, January 1, 2025. https://doi.org/10.7860/jcdr/2025/73720.20561.
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Introduction: Data on image-guided percutaneous procedures of the spleen are limited, particularly for infectious lesions. Aim: To evaluate the complication rate of percutaneous ultrasound-guided splenic procedures. Materials and Methods: A retrospective observational study was conducted in a tertiary care centre in Southern India. Data from all consecutive patients who underwent ultrasound-guided splenic procedures from January 2008 to October 2023 were analysed. Information was extracted from digital radiology reports, images, inpatient records, outpatient records and blood investigation reports. Complications were categorised according to standardised guidelines. Descriptive statistics for categorical data were reported. Pearson Chi-square test were used to assess associations between categorical variables. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 21.0 was used. Results: A total of 312 patients were included, with mean age of 42.2±15.8 years. Of these, 212 (68%) were males and 100 (32%) were females. There were 259 diagnostic procedures: 125 (40.1%) Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNACs), 18 (5.8%) biopsies and 116 (37.2%) aspirations. Fifty-three procedures were therapeutic: 52 (16.7%) drainages, and 1 (0.3%) percutaneous injection of sclerosant. The overall complication rate was 22 in 312 patients (7.1%, with 95% CI of 4.7% to 10.4%). As per the Society of Interventional Radiology (SIR) Clinical Practice Guidelines classification, six patients (27.3%) had Category-A complications with small perisplenic haematomas, three patients (13.6%) had Category-B complications, 10 patients (45.5%) had Category-C complications and two patients (9.1%) had Category-D complications. One patient (4.5%) died during the postoperative period (Category-F complication). No patients had SIR Category-E complications. Conclusion: Percutaneous ultrasound-guided procedures were safe and efficacious in this patient cohort, which predominantly consisted of individuals with infectious diseases and exhibited a low mortality rate.
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Sailesh, Conjeti1 and Bijay Kumar Rout. "STRATEGY FOR ELECTROMYOGRAPHY BASED DIAGNOSIS OF NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASES FOR ASSISTIVE REHABILITATION." September 22, 2013. https://doi.org/10.5121/ijbb.2013.3303.
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International Journal on Bioinformatics & Biosciences (IJBB) Vol.3, No.3, September 2013 DOI: 10.5121/ijbb.2013.3303 25 STRATEGY FOR ELECTROMYOGRAPHY BASED DIAGNOSIS OF NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASES FOR ASSISTIVE REHABILITATION Sailesh Conjeti1 and Bijay Kumar Rout2 1Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, Rajasthan, India. 2Department of Mechanical Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani, Rajasthan, India. ABSTRACT Assistive Rehabilitation aims at developing procedures and therapies which reinstate lost body functions for individuals with disabilities. Researchers have monitored electrophysiological activity of muscles using biofeedback obtained from Electromyogram signals collected at appropriate innervation points. In this paper, we present a comprehensive technique for detection of neuromuscular disease in a subject and a strategy for continuous therapeutic assessment using the Rehabilitation Assessment Matrix. The decision making tool has been trained using a wide spectrum of synthetic physiological data incorporating varying degrees of myopathy and neuropathy from beginning stages to acute. The statistical, spectral and cepstral features extracted from EMG have been used to train a Cascade Correlation Neural Network Classifier for disease assessment. The diagnostic yield of the classifier is 91.2% accuracy, 85.3% specificity and 91.35% sensitivity. The strategy has also been extended to include isotonic contractions in addition to static isometric contractions. This comprehensive strategy is proposed to aid physicians plan and schedule treatment procedures to maximize the therapeutic value of the rehabilitation process. KEYWORDS Electromyography, Rehabilitation, Myopathy, Neuropathy and Cascade Correlation Neural Network. 1.INTRODUCTION Assistive Rehabilitation of affected individuals aims at restoring original body functionality by compensating for the lost functions and thus providing opportunities to lead an independent life. Such procedures for neuromuscular rehabilitation often require design of manipulative physiotherapy procedures, following the detection of neuromuscular disease (NMD) in the subject. The biofeedback acquired from the patient is crucial to the design and execution of an effective medical rehabilitation scheme [1]. A complete and comprehensive assessment is often labour-intensive and expensive because the design and configuration of individualistic procedures require training of highly-skilled physiotherapists with appropriate expert knowledge. In this situation, Computer Aided Diagnostics of NMDs helps minimize observer bias, facilitates inter-subject comparison and aids the physicians to arrive at a more accurate diagnosis [2]-[3]. Neuromuscular facilitation mechanisms for individuals affected with NMDs must be designed considering individual’s neurophysiology, motor-learning and motor development functions [4]. This work primarily focuses on two classes of NMD viz. Myopathy and Neuropathy. Myopathy refers to a medical condition where muscle weakness is observed due to reduced functionality and activation of muscle fibres for a particular nervous stimulation. Muscle cramps, stiffness International Journal on Bioinformatics & Biosciences (IJBB) Vol.3, No.3, September 2013 26 and spasm are the usual reported symptoms associated with myopathic disorders [5]. Neuropathy, on the other hand, is a neurogenic condition resulting in loss of movement and haptic sensation owing to nervous damage. The reported symptoms include nerve pain, partial or complete paralysis, abnormal sensations and muscle weakness [6]. The treatment of neuromuscular diseases varies from medications, physical therapy, splinting and in acute cases even surgery is suggested. The treatment is often administered on the basis of the cause and origin of NMDs and the degree of its severity. The presented work aims to develop an Electromyography based assessment approach for NMDs which is fast and reliable. The proposed methodologies would aid the physiotherapists in preparing an appropriate medical treatment scheme with proper scheduling of physiological exercise routines, thus maximizing the therapeutic value of the rehabilitation procedure instituted. Figure 1. Intramuscular EMG Recordings (a) Normal Subject (b) Neuropathic Subject and (c) Myopathic Subject 2. ELECTROMYOGRAPHY AND APPLICATIONS IN NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASE DIAGNOSIS Researchers in the field of health monitoring have used the Electromyogram (EMG) signal for detection and monitoring of NMDs as they are accessible as bioelectric signals under direct volitional control [7]. EMG is a cumulative effect of the motor unit action potentials (MUAPs), generated by the motor neurons, which are responsible for actuating the skeletal muscles for support and motion of the human skeleton [8]. Electromyography signals acquired from appropriate muscular regions reflect on the muscle’s tone, strength, abnormalities in reflexes, ideomotor and voluntary movements and postural equilibrium reactions [9]. Figure 1 illustrates a typical intramuscular EMG recorded from three subjects (a) Healthy, (b) Neuropathy and (c) Myopathy (Figure adapted from [10]). Berzuini et al. investigated into the applicability of EMG signals collected from the right brachii muscles to detect neurogenic disorders. Variations observed in both time-domain and frequency domain parameters helped them to find topographical clusters in the multivariate space of EMG parameters corresponding to neuropathic subjects [11]. Pattiachis et al. investigated into applying Neural Network models of EMG diagnosis for detecting NMDs. They trained the networks using extracted morphological features of MUAP waveform after signal decomposition procedures on EMG [3]. These research works establish the suitability of EMG signals for detection of International Journal on Bioinformatics & Biosciences (IJBB) Vol.3, No.3, September 2013 27 neuromuscular disease and development of a reliable rehabilitation strategy for a particular subject. 3. REHABILITATION ASSESSMENT MATRIX The current styles of rehabilitation assessment forms used by medical practitioners in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR) documents the patient’s strengths, abilities, preferences, needs, findings, and recommendations for treatment. Inferences drawn from these ensure that appropriate rehabilitation procedures are administered on timely basis [12]. The Rehabilitation Assessment Matrix (RAM) has been developed to meet the need for comprehensive assessment of patient with NMDs which requires a quantitative progress chart to monitor the therapeutic value of the treatment being administered. The proposed design of such a matrix is shown in the Figure 2. The approach to obtain this RAM is discussed in the subsequent section. The integration of the proposed RAM to existing PMR assessment reports will provide the therapist measurable objectives for monitoring the patient’s progress during the course of assistive rehabilitation. A motor unit refers to an α-motor neuron of the Central Nervous System and the set of muscle fibres it innervates. When a motor unit (MU) is recruited, it contributes a quantum of force to muscular contraction [13]. The changes in the active MU density are attributable to age, buildup, disease and injury. It is observed that though MU density reduces with age, it is not as severe as the effects due to NMDs. It is observed to be a very useful parameter to monitor neurogenic disease progression, motor-neuron death rate and motor development improvements during rehabilitation [14]. The active MU density in Biceps Brachii muscle has been reported as average of 109 per mm2 (Std. Dev.: 53 per mm2 ) for a stroke related myopathy patient and about 153 per mm2 (Std. Dev.: 38 per mm2 ) for a normal subject [15]. The number of active motor units per unit area, inferred from the EMG has been recorded in the X-axis of the RAM. The axis has been sub-divided into 8 classes with a class width of 15 active MUs per mm2 (shown in Fig. 2). However, it must be noted that this work does not delve into Motor Unit Number Estimation (MUNE) methods. Researchers have developed enhanced statistical approaches for MUNE like Bayesian Estimators [16], Poisson Techniques [17], Higher Order Statistics [18] and SpatioTemporal Summation approaches [19]. Figure 2. Rehabilitation Assessment Matrix The Y+ -axis of the RAM (shown in Figure 2) refers to the myopathic affected fibre fraction representing the degree of myopathy whereas the Y-- -axis refers to the neuropathic motor unit Myopathy Progress Curve Neuropathy Progress Curve International Journal on Bioinformatics & Biosciences (IJBB) Vol.3, No.3, September 2013 28 loss fraction corresponding to the degree of neuropathy. As treatment progresses, the subject’s improvement line, both Myopathy Progress Curve and Neuropathy Progress Curve (Sample highlighted in Figure 2) moves towards the Normal body functioning line. The pattern followed in the RAM reflects the subject’s motor learning ability and can provide useful insights into the nature of exercise the physiotherapist can administer to the subject. If the subject’s curve is not progressive as desired, the physiotherapist’s may be alerted to a need for change in the exercise routine and treatment being administered. 4. PHYSIOLOGICAL DATA ACQUISITION, PRE-PROCESSING AND FEATURE EXTRACTION The Electromyogram signals were synthetically generated using a physiological model developed by Wright and Stashuk. This model generates EMG signals consistent with those acquired through intramuscular needle electrodes from the limb muscles (including biceps brachii) of human subjects [20]. Though the Kinesiological EMG acquired through intramuscular electrodes is invasive over surface electrodes, it is preferred for neuromuscular disease prognosis due to its increased signal specificity and more selective recording to characterize the muscle of interest [21]. The EMG signal was generated at 31,250 Hz and band pass filtered from 10 to 10,000 Hz to remove enhance signal characteristics. The selected muscle and motorneuron pool settings of the Wright-Stashuk model correspond to the biceps brachii muscle of a human subject, simulating a constant force isometric contraction without fatigue or spasm. Isometric contractions are static muscle contractions which happen without any appreciable decrease in fibre length and change in the distance between point of electrode insertion and origin of EMG signals. The subject-age and gender were not fixed during each simulation to minimize any fixed-variable bias and enhance data set universality. The simulated intra-muscular needle electrode configuration, contraction type and the muscle model parameters are described in Table 1. Table 1. Description of parameters for EMG Generation S.N. Type of Parameter Description 1 Electrode Configuration Differential Electrode Configuration Detection Surfaces Dimension: Length: 1.0cm; Width: 1.2mm; Separation: 1.0 cm Bandwidth: 20-500Hz with a 40 dB/decade roll-off. Common Mode Rejection Ratio: > 80dB Noise: < 2µV rms (20-400 Hz)Input Impedance: > 100 MΩ 2 Electrode Location Middle line of Muscle Belly between the myotendonous junction and nearest innervation zone. 3 Muscle Model Parameters Contraction Level ( % MVC): 5-50% No. of Active MU Density: 75-180 per mm2 4 Disease Parameters Neuropathic Motor Unit Loss Fraction: 0.0(Healthy)-1.0 (Extreme) Step Size: 0.25 Myopathic Fiber Affected Fraction:0.0(Healthy)-1.0 (Extreme) Step Size: 0.25 4.1. Synthetic EMG Generation from Wright-Stashuk Model A total of 2000 sample-waveforms (10 Contraction-levels × 8 Classes of Active MU Density × 5 Classes of Myopathy × 5 Classes of Neuropathy) were synthetically generated for 5 seconds at a sample rate of 31,250 Hz. The objective behind introducing high degree of inter-simulation variability is to develop a universal approach that can be readily extended to medical domain. International Journal on Bioinformatics & Biosciences (IJBB) Vol.3, No.3, September 2013 29 The algorithms and codes for analysis have been written in MATLAB R2010b® and use the inbuilt Statistics, System Identification and Neural Network Toolboxes. 4.2. Physiological Feature Extraction In the present case, the generated signals were filtered for suppressing signal aliasing and motion artifacts using a 5th order Savitsky Golay Filter. The filter fits a 5th order polynomial in a window of 41 data points. It reduces noise while preserving the waveform’s shape, structure, the relative maxima, minima and width [22]. The smoothened signal representing muscle force for the three real-life test signals has been shown in the Figure 3.The filtered muscle data is partitioned into static windows and the features extracted from each window will constitute the characteristic feature vector. The optimal window size for this particular application is expected to vary between 100ms and 1s. Therefore, classifier’s decision making performance would be evaluated for good trade-off between accuracy and specificity, over 10 windows from 100ms to 1s in steps of 100ms. The extracted features are explained in the following subsections. Figure 3. Savitsky-Golay Filtering 4.2.1. Statistical Features These features help in assessment of uncertainty associated with physiological signal. De Luca et al. demonstrated that time-domain statistical features of EMG are influenced by MU firing rate, number of detected active MU, the MU activation potential, duration, waveform morphology and the recruitment stability [9]-[23]. The statistical features extracted include: Global Maxima, Global Minima, Mean, Standard Deviation, Energy, Time Duration, Bandwidth, Time Bandwidth Product, 3rd order moment, 4th order moment, 5th order moment, Root Mean Square Value, Kurtosis and Skewness as tabulated in Table 2. Table 2. Statistical Features of EMG Signal S.N. Feature Name Formula S.N. Feature Name Formula 1 Global Maxima Max(x[n]) 8 Time Bandwidth Product TD BW International Journal on Bioinformatics & Biosciences (IJBB) Vol.3, No.3, September 2013 30 2 Global Minima Min(x[n]) 9 3 rd Order Moment N i x i N 1 3 [ ] 1 3 Mean N i x i N x 1 [ ] 1 10 4 th Order Moment N i x i N 1 4 [ ] 1 4 Std. Dev. N i x i x N s 1 2 ( [ ] ) 1 11 5 th Order Moment N i x i N 1 5 [ ] 1 5 Energy N i x i 1 2 [ ] 12 Root Mean Square N i x i N 1 2 [ ] 1 6 Time Duration 1/2 1 2 [ ] 1 2 [ ] 2 ( ) N i x i N i i i x i TD 13 Kurtosis 4 ( 1) 1 4 ( [ ] ) N s N i x i x 7 Bandwidth 1/2 1 2 [] 2 2 ( [ ] [ 1]) 2 1 N i x i N i x i x i BW 14 Skewness 3 ( 1) 1 3 ( [ ] ) N s N i x i x 4.2.2. Spectral Features In studies on rehabilitation, it is desirable to predict fatigue before it commences so that appropriate remedies may be adopted. Researchers have used the contractile force approach for evaluating fatigue points when the subject undergoes sustained contraction. Changes in the muscle force and the monitored torque indicate progress of fatigue with time. But, this method is considered inefficient as force and torque provide only a general overview of the entire muscle and not the individual motor units. In this context, the spectral modification during compression, along with the alteration of the skewness of the EMG waveform is acceptable as a Fatigue Index. EMG gives a more holistic view on muscle fatigue as individual skeletal muscle can be monitored continuously from the point of onset of the contraction. The Figure 4 below illustrates the factors of EMG which influence the spectral modification property and its interrelationships. Figure 4. Factors influencing spectral characteristics of EMG waveform Researchers have observed spectral modifications in the power spectrum of EMG acquired during tetanic muscular contractions (Tetanic refers to sustained muscle contraction without rest intervals). The skewness of the MUAP waveform is observed to alter with increasing fatigue and changes in muscle biochemistry due to continuous accumulation of lactic acid in the muscle cell (Anaerobic Respiration) [24]. The power spectrum of EMG signals was estimated using the Lomb periodogram approach because of its robustness to motion artifacts and missed data points International Journal on Bioinformatics & Biosciences (IJBB) Vol.3, No.3, September 2013 31 and lesser computational complexity for real-life biomedical applications [25]. Let S (f) represent the Lomb periodogram of the EMG signal over an input range of f: 10Hz to 10000Hz (Frequency Resolution Δf: 1 Hz). The spectral features extracted are the mean, median and the maximum frequency which are given by formulae (1)-(3) respectively. (1) ( ) ( ) 10000 10 10000 10 f f mean s f f f s f f f ( ) (2) 2 1 10000 10 f median f s f f arg max( ( )) (3) max f s f imum f 4.2.3. Cepstral Features Cepstral Coefficients are calculated from the inverse Fourier Transform of the logarithmic power spectrum of EMG. Yoshikawa et al. established that the lower order Cepstral coefficients extracted from EMG can be used in robust classification of hand motions [26].These cepstral coefficients are derived from the 10th order autoregressive model of the filtered EMG signal. Let x(k) represent the filtered EMG signal, ai is the i th coefficient of the M-order autoregressive model and e(k) is the white noise in the system (refer Formula (4)). The cepstral coefficients ci (i=1:5) are derived from ai using recursive formulae (5)-(6). ( ) ( ) ( ) (4) 10 1 M i i x k a x k i e k ( 5 ) 1 1 c a 1 1 1 1 n i i n i i a c i n c a where 1<em> 0.452 the subject is classified as Unhealthy. For such a cutoff, the sensitivity of classifier performance was observed as 91.35% and the overall specificity was 85.3%. International Journal on Bioinformatics & Biosciences (IJBB) Vol.3, No.3, September 2013 36 Further, the designed classifier for the optimal window size of 400 ms is tested against the human Kinesiological EMG data acquired from Physionet signal database and the observed outputs from the network are tabulated in Table 5. The data includes intracellular EMG signals acquired from the biceps brachii muscle from three human subjects: a 44-year old man without any medical history of neuromuscular disease, a 62-year old man with chronic lower back pain and neuropathy and a 57-year old man with myopathy [10]. As observed from ROC analysis, the network’s output cut-off of 0.452 is used to demarcate the healthy subject from an unhealthy subject. It is hence observed that the developed classifier accurately classifies the presented human subject acquired signals into their respective classes thus provides a proof-of-concept for the presented approach. Table 5. Results of Testing Real-Life EMG Data Against the Trained CCNN S.N. Class of Patient Target Data Avg. Output Network Output 1. H 0.0 0.1186 H 2. UH: M 1.0 0.7874 UH 3. UN: N 1.0 0.8755 UH Legend: H: Healthy UH: Unhealthy M: Myopathic N: Neuropathic For investigating the extendibility of CCNN Classifier technique to perform NMD diagnosis using dynamic isotonic contractions, the 22-attribute feature vector was extracted for a time window of 400ms from the data acquired using protocols described in Section 6. Since the subject is a healthy subject, the performance analysis metrics for testing the classifier here were decided as the output mean square error (MSE) as against accuracy and specificity. The observations are tabulated in Table 6. The data from Trail 01 and Trial 02 were diagnosed correctly and the misclassification of Healthy into Unhealthy for Trial 03 must be noted. Since the performance of Trial 02 data is better that Trail 01 and Trial 03, it is proposed that for extending the CCNN Classifier to dynamic isotonic contractions, the EMG data must be acquired through slow and steady flexion and extension motions. Table 6. Results of Testing CCNN Against Isotonic Contractions S.N. Trial Speed Target Data Avg. Output Diagnosis MSE Observed 1. T 01 Normal 1.0 0.7421 Healthy 3.211E-01 2. T 02 Slow 1.0 0.8745 Healthy 1.602E-01 3. T 03 Fast 1.0 0.4352 Unhealthy 6.458E-01 In Table 7, similar works for NMD detection available in literature are presented. Although direct comparison is not feasible, the proposed strategy compares well since it is trained using EMG data incorporating varied levels of disease severity both in neuropathy and myopathy and the learning technique for neural network training (Cascade Correlation) ensures design of an optimal classifier for the application. Table 7. Performance Evaluation of Present Technique vs. Existing Literature S.N. Author/Research Group Technique Classification Accuracy 1. Chistoudoulou et al. [34] Modular Neural Network 79.6% 2. Pattichis et al. [3] Feed-forward Network+ Self Organizing Maps 80% 3. H.B. Xie et al.[35] Support Vector Machine 82.4% 4. H.B. Xie et al.[36] Hybrid Neuro-Fuzzy Systems 88.58% 5. This Work Cascade Correlation Neural Network 91.2%(Training) 89.7%(Testing) International Journal on Bioinformatics & Biosciences (IJBB) Vol.3, No.3, September 2013 37 8. CONCLUSIONS AND FUTURE WORK The proposed diagnostic system for NMD detection utilizes the Cascade Correlation Neural Network learning methodology. The optimal window size for diagnosis was inferred as 400ms and the classification using CCN Networks resulted in 91.2% accuracy, 85.3% specificity and 91.35% sensitivity for training data. For testing data, the diagnostic yield was 89.7% accuracy and an acceptable specificity of 78.5%. The proof-of-concept for extending the CCN classifier to real-life isometric contraction is established by testing on real-life kinesiological data. Investigations on data acquired using isotonic elbow flexion and extension contractions established that this method can be extended to dynamic studies. Further, integration of the proposed Rehabilitation Assessment Matrix with existing Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation practices will provide measurable objectives for therapists to monitor the patient’s progress and help in preparing an appropriate medical treatment scheme to maximize the therapeutic value of the rehabilitation process. In the future, decision support systems to for NMD diagnosis will be developed which incorporate a multimodal diagnosis approach fusing EMG data with inferences from biochemical analysis, neuropathology and clinical observations. 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International Journal on Bioinformatics & Biosciences (IJBB) Vol.3, No.3, September 2013 39 Authors Sailesh Conjeti holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Hons.) Degree in Electrical and Electronics Engineering from Birla Institute of Technology and Science, Pilani. He is currently with the School of Medical Science and Technology at Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur pursuing his Masters in Medic al Imaging and Informatics. His research interests include Medical Image Computing, Biomedical Signal Processing, Wearable Computing and Rehabilitation Engineering. He has participated in 5 research projects and has 8 publications to his credit. B. K. Rout completed his B. E. in Mechanical Engineering from University College of Engineering, Burla, Sambalpur (Deemed University) in the year 1990 and completed M. Tech, in Quality, Reliability and Operations Research from Indian Statistical Institute Calcutta, 1992. After graduation he worked with Escort Ancillaries and MESCO Steel Projects for 5 years. He joined BITS Pilani, in December 1998. For the last 12 years he is working as a Faculty member of Mechanical Engineering Group. While serving as a faculty member in the department of Mechanical Engineering, he completed his doctoral research in area of manipulator design under the guidance of Prof. R K Mittal in 2006. So far he has published many research papers in National and International Conferences and in International Journals. His areas of interests are Simulation and Optimization of Dynamic Systems, Design Optimization and Quality Engineering. </em>
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Kojo, Kosuke, Tomoko Oguri, Takazo Tanaka, et al. "Seminal plasma metallomics: a new horizon for diagnosing and managing male infertility." Revista Internacional de Andrología 23, Published Ahead of Print (2025). https://doi.org/10.22514/j.androl.2025.013.
Full textAbstract:
The authors, Kosuke Kojo and Tomoko Oguri, contributed equally. This HTML edition is publicly accessible at the following URL:https://academic298uro.github.io/open-archive/2025/seminal-plasma-metallomics-new-horizon/ Abstract Seminal plasma contains a wide range of biomolecules—including inorganic elements—that may significantly influence male reproductive function. Historically, semen analysis has focused on sperm count and motility, while overlooking the diagnostic potential of this acellular fraction. This narrative review synthesizes historical perspectives on seminal plasma metallomics, elucidates the biological functions of its diverse elemental constituents, and critically evaluates methodological advancements in their detection. Furthermore, it examines future clinical and research directions by addressing key topics, including the evolution of multi-element analyses in seminal plasma, the interplay between metal exposure and male reproductive health, and the application of omics-based and machine-learning approaches in characterizing male infertility. Progress in analytical chemistry, particularly inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, now enables high-precision multi-element measurements in seminal plasma. The “metallomic” profiles reveal both essential elements—such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium, zinc and selenium—and potentially toxic metals, including cadmium and lead, that reflect environmental exposures and may impair fertility. Seminal plasma metallomics also underscores fraction-specific differences between prostatic and seminal vesicular secretions, suggesting that certain chemicals may rise in seminal plasma before shifts appear in blood, thereby making it a promising biomarker for infertility risk assessment. Machine-learning approaches, such as clustering based on seminal plasma-to-serum ratios, offer new diagnostic insights by identifying subtypes of male infertility. By complementing traditional semen parameters and advanced biomarkers (<em>e.g.</em>, DNA fragmentation index), these integrative tools can refine diagnoses and guide interventions, including nutritional supplementation and avoidance of specific toxicants, potentially improving pregnancy outcomes. However, significant challenges remain: standardized protocols, validated reference ranges, and larger prospective studies are needed for clinical translation. Addressing these gaps is crucial for integrating metallomic analyses into routine evaluations of male infertility. As this field continues to evolve, it has the potential to reshape infertility assessments and foster more personalized and effective management strategies. Keywords: Male infertility; Seminal plasma; Metallomics; Trace elements; Environmental exposure; Machine learning; Personalized medicine; Semen analysis; Zinc; Phosphorus Original Publication <strong>Journal</strong>: <em>Revista Internacional de Andrología</em> <strong>Year</strong>: 2025 <strong>Volume</strong>: Published Ahead of Print <strong>Article Title</strong>: <em>Seminal plasma metallomics: a new horizon for diagnosing and managing male infertility</em> <strong>DOI</strong>: 10.22514/j.androl.2025.013 License Statement Starting from Issue 1, 2024, all content in <em>Revista Internacional de Andrología</em> (REV INT ANDROL) is published under the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0) license. This <strong>unrestrictive license</strong> allows for unlimited copying, redistribution, remixing, transformation, and building upon the work, provided that proper credit is given to the original authors and source. Copyright © 2025 The Author(s). Published by MRE Press.According to the journal’s policy, <strong>the copyright is retained by the author(s)</strong>. Under the terms of CC BY 4.0, no additional permission is required to reuse or distribute this content, as long as appropriate credit is given. 1. Introduction Infertility in humans often occurs when an insufficient number of spermatozoa reaches the female oviduct following vaginal coitus or intrauterine insemination (IUI), thereby preventing fertilisation. Historically, semen analysis has primarily emphasised sperm count and motility to diagnose male infertility. However, seminal plasma (<em>i.e</em><em>.</em>, semen without cells) contains a myriad of lipids, inorganic ions, metabolites, nucleic acids, proteins and other biomolecules, the physiological roles of which remain underexplored [1–4]. In addition to its contribution to fertilisation, seminal plasma has gained attention as a potential reservoir of biomarkers relevant not only to fertility but also to genitourinary malignancies and infections [5, 6]. Metallomics is a branch of analytical chemistry that systematically investigates metals and metalloids in biological systems [7]. Seminal plasma metallomics specifically aims to characterise the inorganic constituents (<em>e.g</em><em>.</em>, metal ions and metal–protein complexes) in semen. In this review, we use the term “metals” broadly to encompass all inorganic elements relevant to metallomics, including certain metalloids and, on rare occasions, non-metals (<em>e.g.</em>, phosphorus). More than a century has passed since the initial suggestion that zinc is crucial for vertebrate reproduction. Recent omics-based approaches have widened the scope of the metals/metalloids under investigation. These developments have potentially transformed diagnostics in reproductive medicine by highlighting trace elements in seminal plasma that can affect sperm physiology or reflect environmental exposure. Building on previous studies that explored the clustering of male infertility subtypes using seminal plasma-to-serum trace element concentration ratios [8], we undertook this narrative review as part of a broader cross-sectional project aimed at developing new diagnostic strategies for male infertility. To identify relevant literature, we performed a focused search of PubMed and Google Scholar using terms such as “male infertility”, “seminal plasma”, “trace elements”, “metallomics” and “environmental exposure”. We also examined several specialized andrology textbooks to confirm certain historical milestones and methodological details. By incorporating these references into our broader search strategy, we aimed to capture both the foundational and the most current perspectives on seminal plasma metallomics in male infertility. Through this process, we synthesized historical perspectives on the field, examined the biological functions of various elemental constituents and evaluated methodological advancements in their detection. In the following sections, we address key topics such as the evolution of multi-element analyses in seminal plasma, the interplay between metal exposure and male reproductive health, and the potential of metallomics-based approaches to refine the classification and management of male infertility. 2. Historical perspectives on seminal plasma trace element research 2.1 Early observations: zinc and fertility (1920s–1970s) Initial hints of the relevance of trace elements in semen date back to the 1920s, when Bertrand and Vladesco proposed that zinc plays a role in vertebrate reproduction [9]. Research in subsequent decades has confirmed that zinc and other ions are present in male accessory gland secretions and influence sperm function. However, until the 1970s, analytical limitations restricted most investigations to measuring a small number of elements—primarily zinc, calcium and magnesium—in relation to spermatozoal parameters [10]. 2.2 Emergence of multi-element analytical techniques (1980s–2000s) In the 1980s, atomic absorption spectrometry and early inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) expanded the range of elements detectable in semen [11]. Studies have begun to compare fertile and infertile men, with a focus on the detection of single heavy metals, such as lead or cadmium, along with essential elements. Despite technological advances, many surveys lack precise information regarding the exposure history or environmental confounders [12]. 2.3 Rise of metallomics and modern seminal plasma studies After 2010, advances in ICP-MS enabled simultaneous measurement of multiple ultra-trace elements, spurring integrative analyses of seminal plasma “metallomes” [13]. Researchers have increasingly recognised that many elements beyond zinc can influence sperm function, either as essential micronutrients or as toxicants. New high-throughput approaches allow investigators to examine previously unstudied metals in normal and abnormal semen, thereby offering a broader perspective on male reproductive function. 3. Biological significance of trace elements in seminal plasma 3.1 Intracellular vs. extracellular elemental concentrations Body fluids generally comprise cellular components and a fluid fraction. In blood, erythrocytes constitute about 40–45% of the total volume (roughly 4–6 × 10<sup>9</sup> erythrocytes per mL), whereas the fluid component is plasma; in clinical practice, serum is derived by allowing blood to clot, thereby removing clotting factors (particularly fibrinogen) from the fluid component. Many electrolytes and trace elements—such as sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and zinc—are routinely measured in serum, reflecting extracellular concentrations. However, certain elements (<em>e.g.</em>, cadmium and lead) can accumulate within erythrocytes over their 120-day lifespan, making whole-blood analysis more appropriate for assessing chronic exposure in occupational or environmental contexts [14]. The standard concentrations of representative elements in whole blood, erythrocytes and serum are summarized in Table 1 (Ref. [14–16]). <strong>Table 1. Elemental concentrations in whole blood, serum and erythrocytes.</strong> Z Element Classification Concentration (mg/L) Whole blood Concentration (mg/L) Serum Concentration (mg/L) Erythrocyte 11 Sodium Light metal 1.7×10<sup>3</sup>–2.0×10<sup>3</sup> [a] 3.0×10<sup>3</sup>–3.4×10<sup>3</sup> [a] 1.8×10<sup>2</sup>–3.6×10<sup>2</sup> [b] 12 Magnesium Light metal 3.0×10<sup>1</sup>–3.9×10<sup>1</sup> [a] 1.9×10<sup>1</sup>–2.4×10<sup>1</sup> [a] 4.6×10<sup>1</sup>–6.3×10<sup>1</sup> [a] 15 Phosphorus [c] Non-metal/Metalloid 3.2×10<sup>2</sup>–3.9×10<sup>2</sup> [a] 1.2×10<sup>2</sup>–1.8×10<sup>2</sup> [a] 5.6×10<sup>2</sup>–7.6×10<sup>2</sup> [a] 19 Potassium Light metal 1.5×10<sup>3</sup>–1.8×10<sup>3</sup> [a] 1.5×10<sup>2</sup>–2.3×10<sup>2</sup> [a] 3.0×10<sup>3</sup>–4.0×10<sup>3</sup> [a] 20 Calcium Light metal 4.8×10<sup>1</sup>–6.0×10<sup>1</sup> [a] 8.8×10<sup>1</sup>–1.0×10<sup>2</sup> [a] 6.3×10<sup>−1</sup>–5.2×10<sup>0</sup> [b] 25 Manganese Heavy metal 5.0×10<sup>−3</sup>–1.4×10<sup>−2</sup> [a] 4.0×10<sup>−4</sup>–6.0×10<sup>−4</sup> [a] 8.9×10<sup>−3</sup>–2.9×10<sup>−2</sup> [a] 26 Iron Heavy metal 4.0×10<sup>2</sup>–5.1×10<sup>2</sup> [a] 8.7×10<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>–1.9×10<sup>0</sup> [b] 9.6×10<sup>2</sup>–1.2×10<sup>3</sup> [a] 29 Copper Heavy metal 7.3×10<sup>−1</sup>–1.4×10<sup>0</sup> [a] 8.0×10<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>–1.9×10<sup>0</sup> [a] 5.4×10<sup>−1</sup>–7.5×10<sup>−1</sup> [a] 30 Zinc Heavy metal 4.7×10<sup>0</sup>–6.7×10<sup>0</sup> [a] 7.3×10<sup>−</sup><sup>1</sup>–1.1×10<sup>0</sup> [a] 1.0×10<sup>1</sup>–1.5×10<sup>1</sup> [a] 33 Arsenic Metalloid 7.0×10<sup>−5</sup>–3.4×10<sup>−3</sup> [a] 3.0×10<sup>−5</sup>–1.7×10<sup>−3</sup> [a] 1.6×10<sup>−4</sup>–5.8×10<sup>−3</sup> [a] 34 Selenium Metalloid 8.5×10<sup>−2</sup>–1.3×10<sup>−1</sup> [a] 7.0×10<sup>−2</sup>–1.1×10<sup>−1</sup> [a] 1.1×10<sup>−1</sup>–1.9×10<sup>−1</sup> [a] 48 Cadmium Heavy metal 1.3×10<sup>−4</sup>–1.7×10<sup>−3</sup> [a] <9.0×10<sup>−6</sup>–1.7×10<sup>−5</sup> [a] 2.1×10<sup>−4</sup>–3.4×10<sup>−3</sup> [a] 82 Lead Heavy metal 5.4×10<sup>−3</sup>–2.6×10<sup>−2</sup> [a] 1.0×10<sup>−5</sup>–1.0×10<sup>−4</sup> [a] 1.2×10<sup>−2</sup>–6.3×10<sup>−2</sup> [a] Z, atomic number. [a] Values quoted from Heitland and Köster (2021) [14], representing the 5th–95th percentile range (approximate values rounded to two significant figures). [b] Derived from the review by Iyengar <em>et al.</em> [15] (1978), showing the minimum and maximum among reported mean concentrations in the literature examined (approximate values rounded to two significant figures). [c] Phosphorus is widely recognized as a non-metal, although certain sources have classified it as a metalloid. The values here represent total phosphorus, encompassing not only inorganic phosphate but also phospholipids and other phosphorus-containing compounds, and thus differ from the inorganic phosphate typically measured in routine clinical practice [16]. A similar logic applies to semen: it has a cellular component (sperm) and a fluid component (seminal plasma). Yet sperm concentrations (up to~1 × 10<sup>8</sup> per mL) are generally lower than erythrocytes counts in blood, meaning the impact of “cell removal” (<em>i.e.</em>, separating sperm) on trace element measurements can be less dramatic than that between whole blood and serum. Nevertheless, studies often prefer to measure seminal plasma specifically, in order to focus on the microenvironment that directly surrounds sperm. Unlike serum, methodological standardisation for electrolytes and trace elements in seminal plasma remains limited. Reported concentrations vary widely across investigations, potentially reflecting genuine differences in population, region, diet and environmental exposure, but also inconsistencies in sample processing or analytical protocols. Consequently, caution is warranted when comparing absolute values between studies. As an alternative, we and others have proposed ratio-based approaches (<em>e.g.</em>, “seminal plasma-to-serum ratios”) to help reduce inter-laboratory variability [8]. While some groups use serum and seminal plasma in parallel [17], other group simultaneously evaluated “whole blood” and “whole semen,” underscoring the importance of clarifying which compartments are being measured in reproductive toxicology research [18]. Table 2 (Ref. [8, 16, 19–22]) provides a concise overview of key trace elements in seminal plasma—including their typical distribution, primary glandular sources and reproductive roles—which will be referenced throughout this manuscript where relevant. <strong>Table 2. Seminal plasma trace elements: distribution, origins and roles.</strong> Z Element SP/Se ratio [a] Dominant glandular origin Potential role in seminal plasma [12, 19, 20] 11 Sodium 0.88–0.97 [b] Prostate [c] Maintains osmotic balance and membrane potential essential for sperm viability 12 Magnesium 2.9–7.3 [b] Prostate [c] Supports ejaculatory function and stabilizes sperm membranes 15 Phosphorus [d] 6.12–9.24 [b] Seminal vesicle [c] Contributes to energy metabolism and acid phosphatase activity, aiding sperm function 19 Potassium 5.37–9.00 [b] Prostate [c] Maintains osmotic balance and membrane potential essential for sperm viability 20 Calcium 2.18–4.55 [b] Prostate [c] Regulates sperm motility and acrosome reaction 25 Manganese 7–18 [b] Prostate [c] Acts as a cofactor in antioxidant defense; exact role in sperm function under investigation 26 Iron 0.08–0.16 [b] Prostate [c] No major direct role; may contribute to oxidative balance in seminal plasma 29 Copper 0.08–0.16 [b] Prostate [c] Acts as a cofactor for antioxidant enzymes; may indirectly influence sperm quality 30 Zinc 116–306 [b] Prostate [c] Stabilizes sperm chromatin and supports antioxidant defense 33 Arsenic 1.61–3.49 [b] Seminal vesicle [c] Non-essential; can disrupt sperm parameters when elevated 34 Selenium 0.37–0.61 [b] Prostate [c] Essential for selenoproteins; protects sperm from oxidative stress 48 Cadmium Unknown [e] Unknown [f] Non-essential; accumulates in tissues and may impair testicular function 82 Lead Unknown [e] Seminal vesicle? [f] Non-essential; interferes with reproductive hormones and sperm parameters Z, atomic numb; SP, seminal plasma; Se, serum. [a] The value indicates the relative concentration in seminal plasma when the serum concentration is set to 1. [b] These data refer to our findings in Tanaka (2024) [8]. Specifically, they represent the 25th–75th percentiles for men whose partners conceived within one year without undergoing in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection. [c] Based on our own data in Tanaka (2024) [8] using split ejaculate sampling: elements showing higher concentrations in the early fraction were deemed prostate-dominant, whereas those showing higher concentrations in the later fraction were deemed seminal vesicle–dominant. [d] Here, the phosphorus values represent total phosphorus, encompassing not only inorganic phosphate but also phospholipids and other phosphorus-containing compounds, and thus differ from the inorganic phosphate typically measured in routine clinical practice [16]. [e] No systematic study has established SP/Se ratios for cadmium or lead. Althogh the data from Riaz (2016) [21] may be partially informative, they may overestimate serum concentrations compared with other studies. [f] Based on Pant (2003) [22], cadmium’s lack of correlation with fructose or acid phosphatase leaves its origin unclear, whereas lead’s positive correlation with fructose and negative correlation with acid phosphatase suggests the seminal vesicles as its likely dominant origin. 3.2 Essential elements Many essential elements are found in their ionic forms in seminal plasma and support sperm physiology [20] (Table 2). Calcium modulates sperm motility, hyperactivation, acrosome reaction and chemotaxis [23]. Magnesium is critical for the ejaculatory function and affects sperm membrane stability [24, 25]. Potassium and sodium are vital for membrane potential regulation via sodium–potassium adenosine triphosphatase (Na/K-ATPase) [26]. Zinc helps stabilise sperm chromatin, assists in antioxidant defense and supports spermatogenesis [27, 28]. Selenium is a cofactor in selenoproteins that protect cells from oxidative damage and is integral to sperm formation [29]. These elements often differ in absolute concentration between blood and seminal plasma. For example, prostatic fluid typically contains high levels of zinc, reflecting a specialized role in stabilizing sperm DNA and supporting accessory gland function. Assessing such elements in the reproductive tract’s fluid fraction can thus provide information beyond conventional serum measurements alone. 3.3 Potentially toxic metals and metalloids Heavy metals, defined as inorganic elements with a density greater than 5 g/cm<sup>3</sup> [30], are often associated with toxicity when present in excess (Tables 1 and 2). Examples include silver, arsenic, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, lead, mercury, nickel and zinc. These metals are classified as non-essential or in cases where they may be biologically essential, can become harmful when their levels exceed the physiological requirements [31]. Certain heavy metals tend to accumulate in biological materials owing to the limited detoxification and excretion pathways in the body, making them reliable environmental exposure biomarkers for assessing health risks [32]. The reproductive system is particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of heavy metals, which act through direct mechanisms, such as oxidative damage and gonadal toxicity, and indirect mechanisms, such as endocrine disruption [33]. Some trace elements, while necessary in small amounts, can exert toxic effects when concentrations exceed physiological thresholds. Additionally, certain metals, such as lead and cadmium, are endocrine-disrupting compounds that interfere with hormonal pathways and can alter reproductive health [34]. 3.4 Evidence of elemental exchange between sperm and seminal plasma Essential elements such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, sodium and zinc are present in seminal plasma, predominantly in the ionic form. Spermatozoa use supecialized ion channels and pumps to regulate intracellular and extracellular concentrations, ensuring optimal osmotic balance, pH, and membrane potential for motility and fertilization [35]. This dynamic exchange parallels that between erythrocytes and plasma in blood [36, 37], albeit on a smaller scale due to the lower cellular density in semen. In reproductive technology, the composition of semen simulants (artificial seminal plasma) injected into the vaginal environment is calibrated carefully to mimic the physiological levels of essential elements as closely as possible [38]. This is performed to optimise the conditions for sperm function and fertilisation. The distinction between intracellular and extracellular metal homeostasis highlights the precision with which these elements are regulated to support fertilisation. For example, zinc, potassium, calcium and magnesium concentrations in seminal plasma often significantly exceed those found in serum. Conversely, other elements such as copper and iron are consistently higher in the serum than in the seminal plasma [8, 17, 39] (Table 2). These differential patterns underscore the highly specialised microenvironment of the male reproductive tract, which is tailored to the needs of spermatozoa during their journey through the male and female reproductive systems [40]. The choice of whether to measure whole blood or serum (in the case of blood), and whole semen or seminal plasma (in the case of semen), depends on study objectives, exposure profiles, and the need to differentiate chronic from acute or localized effects. 4. Analytical approaches in seminal plasma metallomics 4.1 A key analytical technique: advantages and limitations Among the various methodologies for comprehensive profiling of both essential and ultratrace metals in seminal plasma, ICP-MS provides high sensitivity, a broad dynamic range, and the ability to measure multiple elements simultaneously [41]. These features make it especially suitable for the comprehensive profiling of both essential and ultratrace metals in seminal plasma. However, ICP-MS requires meticulous calibration and strict contamination control. Sample digestion protocols, which often employ nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide, are critical for obtaining consistent measurements [42]. 4.2 Comparison with other methods Although atomic absorption spectrometry remains a standard technique for single-element analysis, its throughput and sensitivity to ultratrace levels can be limited. Inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES) also offers multi-element capabilities by measuring the light emitted from excited atoms or ions in the ionized gas plasma (not to be confused with seminal plasma), but it generally provides higher detection limits (<em>i.e.</em>, lower sensitivity) compared to ICP-MS, which detects ions based on their mass-to-charge ratio [16]. Given the wide range of metal concentrations in seminal plasma, ICP-MS has become the method of choice for advanced metallomic studies. 4.3 Sampling and pre-analytical considerations The proper collection and storage of seminal plasma samples are of paramount importance, as metal contamination can arise from containers or spermatozoa. Centrifugation to remove sperm, spermatogenic cells and other cellular and particulate debris [43] precedes storage at −80 °C in several protocols [44]. 4.4 Data interpretation and quality control Metals in seminal plasma often exhibit non-Gaussian distribution, and researchers should apply nonparametric statistics or data transformations to handle skewed data [45]. Moreover, external reference materials to analytical quality control for seminal plasma are scarce, which necessitates the reliance on serum-based or in-house calibrations [46, 47]. 5. Fractionation of the ejaculate: prostate <em>vs. </em>seminal vesicle contributions 5.1 Normal physiology of ejaculation and fraction dominance Semen primarily consists of secretions from the prostate and seminal vesicles, with minor contributions from other sources, such as the bulbourethral glands, epididymides and the testes. Understanding each gland’s contribution is crucial for assessing male reproductive health [48, 49]. Theoretically, prostatic fluid can be obtained through prostatic massage [50], and seminal vesicular fluid is collected via aspiration under transrectal ultrasound guidance [51]. However, these methods are associated with significant invasiveness and a high risk of contamination, limiting their application to specialized contexts, such as pharmacokinetic studies or the evaluation of obstructive azoospermia in cases of male infertility. Given these challenges, there remains a clear need for less invasive and more precise techniques to evaluate the gland-specific contributions to semen [52]. Split ejaculation sampling, which involves collecting multiple fractions from a single ejaculation, is often employed as a noninvasive method to evaluate the dynamics of accessory gland secretions <em>in vivo</em> [53]. This sampling technique leverages the physiological property that approximately the first 30% of the ejaculate typically originates from the prostate, while the remaining two-thirds are primarily composed of seminal vesicular fluid [54]. Observational studies using transrectal ultrasound have further demonstrated that the timing of prostatic contractions differs from that of seminal vesicle contractions by at least several seconds [55]. Additionally, prostatic fluid is typically watery, while seminal vesicular fluid has a gel-like consistency [56, 57]. This difference in texture can serve as a helpful indicator of whether the ejaculate has been successfully fractionated during sampling. 5.2 Biochemical and elemental differences in early vs. subsequent fractions Fractionation studies in the 1970s showed that the initial portion of the ejaculate, dominated by prostatic fluid, generally has higher sperm concentration and motility, whereas seminal vesicular fluid contains only a small number of sperm [58]. Subsequent research further demonstrated that excessive exposure to seminal vesicular fluid can reduce sperm motility, shorten lifespan, compromise nuclear chromatin stability, and negatively affect sperm DNA integrity [59]. Chemically, the first fraction tends to have elevated levels of elements, such as zinc, calcium and magnesium, reflecting prostatic secretion [53, 56]. In contrast, the subsequent fraction is often more voluminous and enriched with phosphorus and arsenic [8, 53] (Table 2). Notably, it was already recognized in the 1990s that seminal vesicular fluid may contain prostaglandins, semenogelins, and other factors potentially capable of reducing sperm motility [60, 61]. In fact, significant progress has been made in elucidating the functions of numerous bioactive substances present in seminal vesicular fluid, and their contributions to sperm function regulation and modulation of the immune environment in the female reproductive tract are increasingly being understood [49, 62]. However, further research is required to comprehensively clarify the interactions of newly identified components and their physiological significance [63]. In addition, the use of split ejaculation sampling for trace element studies poses specific methodological challenges. Potential pitfalls include incomplete separation of fractions, cross-contamination between the initial and subsequent fractions, and an increased likelihood of contamination arising from multiple collection containers. Consequently, ensuring the reliability and accuracy of research designs employing this approach requires careful timing to capture the intermittent outflow from the urethra, as well as the standardization of protocols—including the use of low-contamination consumables. By addressing these factors, split ejaculation sampling can remain a valuable tool for elucidating gland-specific trace element distributions in semen. 5.3 Clinical implications of fractionation for fertility assessment Elucidating the secretory profiles of each accessory gland offers valuable insights into male fertility. In addition to testicular factors, the etiology of semen abnormalities also involves post-testicular contributors—namely epididymal and accessory gland functions—which remain relatively underexplored [64]. Seminal plasma is considered an optimal resource for investigating these factors because it reflects the local pathophysiology of the male reproductive organs [65]. A practical approach proposed more than half a century ago revealed that using only the initial fraction of ejaculate for IUI could result in higher pregnancy rates [66]. Similarly, the “withdrawal coital method”, wherein the initial fraction is ejaculated intravaginally while the remaining portion is expelled outside the vagina, can be viewed as an early technique that harnesses the distinct physiological effects of prostatic and seminal vesicular secretions on sperm to improve pregnancy outcomes [67]. From a diagnostic perspective, specific biomarkers in seminal plasma have long been used to evaluate glandular function. Zinc was identified in the 1980s as a marker of prostatic secretion [68], while fructose was used to assess seminal vesicular function [69]. By the 2000s, the use of prostate-specific antigen (PSA) in seminal plasma to evaluate prostatic secretory capacity had also been reported [52, 70]. Other established markers of prostatic activity include citric acid, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, and acid phosphatase [71, 72]. Additionally, parameters such as pH and viscosity have been proposed as potential indicators of seminal vesicular dysfunction [73]. Zinc, calcium and magnesium are well-known trace elements predominantly found in prostatic fluid [53]. Moreover, our previous research demonstrated that a wide range of elements—including lithium, sodium, sulfur, manganese, iron, cobalt, copper, zinc, selenium, rubidium, strontium, molybdenum, cesium, barium and thallium—are predominantly present in prostatic fluid [8]. In contrast, only two trace elements, phosphorus and arsenic, appear to be more concentrated in seminal vesicular fluid [8]. Building on earlier studies, which proposed combining fructose and PSA measurements to simultaneously quantify the relative contributions of the prostate and seminal vesicles to total semen volume [52], we have introduced a novel approach. Using ICP-MS to measure a broad spectrum of trace elements [16], we demonstrated its analytical advantage in assessing the imbalance between prostatic and seminal vesicular secretions. This method could serve as a foundation for developing superior diagnostic strategies. In addition, our earlier findings suggest that certain trace elements are maintained at higher or lower concentrations in seminal plasma than in serum, potentially reflecting active regulation by epithelial cells in the prostate or seminal vesicles [8]. Although the fundamental physiological rationale for maintaining divergent levels in seminal plasma remains unclear, the fact that seminal plasma-to-serum ratios vary significantly depending on the specific element indicates their potential value as biomarkers for evaluating post-testicular factors [17]. Overall, fractionation not only reveals the distinct biochemical signatures contributed by the prostate and seminal vesicles but also has meaningful clinical relevance. By understanding which glandular functions are compromised or exaggerated, targeted therapeutic interventions may be devised, such as adjusting supplementation to enhance prostatic support or addressing potential excess seminal vesicular components. Although epididymal fluid represents less than 10% of the total ejaculate volume [52], it remains pivotal for sperm maturation, with neutral α-glucosidase and L-carnitine serving as recognized functional markers [74, 75]. However, no specific trace element has yet been definitively linked to epididymal fluid, and it is unclear whether subtle variations in epididymal secretion significantly affect metallomic profiles. Empirical or supplemental therapies, including coenzyme Q10, vitamins, zinc and selenium, continue to be studied for their potential to improve sperm quality in men with unexplained male infertility [76]. Moreover, measuring seminal plasma biomarkers may identify subgroups of idiopathic oligoasthenoteratospermic men who could benefit from L-carnitine supplementation [75], suggesting a new avenue for personalized treatment approaches. Future work may clarify how post-testicular, epididymal and accessory gland contributions jointly influence male reproductive outcomes and guide more targeted interventions. 6. Environmental and occupational exposures to trace elements 6.1 Seminal plasma as a sensitive biomarker of environmental exposure Although blood and urine are conventional biomarkers, seminal plasma can be more specific for reproductive outcomes. High levels of certain toxicants in seminal plasma may cause infertility before overt changes appear in the blood [77]. This specificity stems from the role of accessory glands in excreting or concentrating certain metals [31]. 6.2 Regional pollution and male infertility Regions such as Campania (Italy) and Opole (Poland) have been associated with industrial contamination and diminished sperm quality [78, 79]. Similar associations have been noted in heavily industrialised parts of India and China, underscoring how local environmental factors can shape seminal plasma metallomic profiles [13]. 6.3 Regulatory thresholds and gaps in knowledge Despite the accumulating evidence, no universally accepted threshold values exist for “toxic” <em>vs.</em> “safe” levels of elements in seminal plasma. Establishing reference intervals for multiple metals remains a challenge [12], and researchers must disentangle chronic low-dose exposure, which may exert subtle but significant effects, from acute high-dose exposure. 7. Emerging trends: personalized medicine and machine learning 7.1 Clustering and other data-driven approaches in metallomics The ultimate goal of seminal plasma biomarker research in addressing male infertility is achieving partner pregnancy. To this end, two potential case-control study designs can be envisioned. One approach involves comparing fertile and infertile men, while the other focuses on examining differences in biomarker profiles to predict pregnancy outcomes in their partners. Both approaches, however, face limitations when relying on traditional statistical methods. This is due to the known correlations—both positive and negative—among the concentrations of seminal plasma biomarkers that reflect accessory gland secretory functions. For example, positive correlations have been reported between zinc and citric acid concentrations, while negative correlations exist between zinc and fructose concentrations [80]. Additionally, several studies have documented consistent positive correlations among heavy metals in seminal plasma [79, 81–86]. Given these complexities, machine learning techniques have emerged as promising tools in seminal plasma metallomics research. Specifically, studies comparing fertile and infertile men have utilized supervised machine learning methods, such as Bayesian kernel machine regression and weighted quantile sum models, to address the intricate multicollinearity among trace elements [86]. These approaches have demonstrated efficacy in distinguishing between fertile and infertile groups when clear classification is achievable. However, real-world challenges remain, including difficulty in definitively excluding female infertility as a factor, the possibility of spontaneous conception in men initially categorized as infertile, and the relatively large sample sizes required for supervised learning methods. To overcome these challenges, we explored the use of unsupervised machine learning techniques to maximize the utility of pilot data obtained from a relatively small-scale study [8]. This approach analyzed high-dimensional elemental data, aiming to identify latent subtypes within a population of male patients with infertility—defined as individuals whose fertility status cannot be clearly categorized as fertile or infertile. By clustering these patients based on the ratios of key elements in seminal plasma to serum, we identified distinct patterns reflecting “prostatic fluid dominance” and “seminal vesicular fluid dominance”. Our findings suggest that the subgroup characterized by “prostatic fluid dominance” may be associated with better pregnancy outcomes. 7.2 Integration with sperm analysis The DNA fragmentation index, recognized as an advanced biomarker, holds promise as a robust predictor of fertilization outcomes [87]. By integrating metallome profiles as a third pillar alongside traditional semen parameters, such as sperm concentration, motility and morphology, as well as advanced biomarkers, such as DNA fragmentation indices, we anticipate a more powerful framework for addressing the complex mechanisms of infertility. This integrative approach not only has the potential to enhance diagnostic precision but may also guide targeted therapeutic strategies, including nutritional supplementation and avoidance of specific toxicant exposure, thus paving the way for more effective interventions in the future. 7.3 Challenges and future directions Large-cohort studies, prospective designs and standardised sample handling are essential to validate these approaches. The high cost and limited accessibility of ICP-MS remain a barrier; moreover, as the reference intervals for seminal plasma metals remain poorly defined, clinicians must interpret results with caution. 8. Conclusions Seminal plasma metallomics studies highlight how inorganic elements shape male reproductive health. This field, galvanised by improvements in ICP-MS and machine learning, expands our understanding beyond semen analysis alone. Early versus subsequent fraction patterns, environmental exposure and personalised therapies converge to form a new paradigm in infertility research. Robust prospective studies with standardised protocols are required to validate and translate these findings into clinical practice. <strong>Availability of data and materials</strong> Not applicable. <strong>Author contributions</strong> KK and TO—designed the research study. KK and TTan—performed the experiments. MU, KY, AI, HNe, TTak, TK and HNi—provided assistance and advice. KK, TTan, AN and DN—analysed the data. KK and TO—wrote the manuscript. All authors contributed to the editorial changes in the manuscript. All the authors have read and approved the final version of the manuscript. <strong>Ethics approval and consent to participate</strong> Not applicable. <strong>Acknowledgment </strong> The authors express their sincere gratitude to Haruki Tsuchiya and Masahiro Kurobe for their invaluable support in managing the project. We also extend our appreciation to Daiki Numata, Mikiko Matsuoka, Yukiko Hara, Jun Itadani, Miki Takahashi, Tomoyasu Sakai, Mami Enjoji and Miki Muroi for their assistance with laboratory operations. Special thanks go to Yukinobu Haruyama and Yukinari Gunji for their guidance on serum sample handling. We are also deeply grateful to Takuya Shimizu, Shunsuke Fujimoto, Mitsuhiro Ueda, Katsura Kato, Naoyuki Okamoto, and Seiichi Inagaki of Renatech Co., Ltd., for their invaluable advice on project initiation and trace element measurement techniques. Lastly, we sincerely thank Yoshiyuki Nagumo, Tomokazu Kimura, Shuya Kandori, Kaoru Yanagida, and Teruaki Iwamoto for their support in reviewing the study design and manuscript preparation. <strong>Funding</strong> This research was funded by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science KAKENHI under Grant Numbers 23K15756 and 21K16737 as well as the Japan Science and Technology Agency through Grant Number JPMJPF2017. <strong>Conflict of interest</strong> The authors declare no conflict of interest. <strong>References</strong> 1. Wang F, Yang W, Ouyang S, Yuan S. The vehicle determines the destination: The significance of seminal plasma factors for male fertility. Int J Mol Sci. 2020; 21: PubMed PMID: 33198061; PubMed Central PMCID: PMC7696680. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms21228499 2. Rodriguez-Martinez H, Martinez EA, Calvete JJ, Pena Vega FJ, Roca J. Seminal plasma: Relevant for fertility? 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