Search Results (2)

Background and objectives: It has been shown that electromagnetic fields (EMFs) have negative effects on the reproductive system. The biological effects of EMF on the male reproductive system are controversial and vary depending on the frequency and exposure time. Although a limited number of studies have focused on the structural and functional effects of EMF, the effects of prenatal and postnatal EMF exposure on testes are not clear. We aimed to investigate the effects of 50-Hz, 3-mT EMF exposure (5 days/wk, 4 h/day) during pre- and postnatal periods on testis development. Materials and Methods: Pups from three groups of Sprague-Dawley pregnant rats were used: Sham, EMF-28 (EMF-exposure applied during pregnancy and until postnatal day 28), EMF-42 (EMF-exposure applied during pregnancy and until postnatal day 42). The testis tissues and blood samples of male offspring were collected on the postnatal day 42. Results: Morphometric analyses showed a decrease in seminiferous tubule diameter as a result of testicular degeneration in the EMF-42 group. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH) levels were decreased in the EMF-42 group. Lipid peroxidation levels were increased in both EMF groups, while antioxidant levels were decreased only in the EMF-28 group. We found decreased levels of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF1) in the EMF-42 group, and decreased levels of the SRC homology 3 (SH3) and multiple ankyrin repeat domain (SHANK3) in the EMF-28 group in the testis tissue. Conclusions: EMF exposure during pre- and postnatal periods may cause deterioration in the structure and function of testis and decrease in growing factors that would affect testicular functions in male rat pups. In addition to the oxidative stress observed in testis, decreased SHANK3, VEGF, and IGF1 protein levels suggests that these proteins may be mediators in testis affected by EMF exposure. This study shows that EMF exposure during embryonic development and adolescence can cause apoptosis and structural changes in the testis. Full article

This paper presents an algorithm that estimates the presence, location, shape, and depth of flaws using a bobbin-type magnetic camera consisting of bobbin probes and a bobbin-type integrated giant magnetoresistance (GMR) sensor array (BIGiS). The presence of the flaws is determined by the lobe path of the Lissajous curves obtained from bobbin coil with respect to the applied frequency. The location of the flaw, i.e., whether it is an inner diameter (ID) or outer diameter (OD) flaw, can be determined from the rotational direction of the lobe with respect to the frequency change. The shape of the flaw is then determined from the area of the lobe and the BIGiS image. At this stage, multi-site damage can be determined from the BIGiS image. The effectiveness of the flaw classification algorithm was evaluated using various types of artificial flaws introduced into small-bore tube test specimens made of austenitic stainless steel. Full article