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This paper presents two methods developed to extract quantitative information from video recordings of neonatal seizures in the form of temporal motion strength and motor activity signals. Motion strength signals are extracted by measuring the area of the body parts that move during the seizure and the relative speed of motion using a combination of spatiotemporal subband decomposition of video, nonlinear filtering, and segmentation. Motor activity signals are extracted by tracking selected anatomical sites during the seizure using a modified version of a feature-tracking procedure developed for video, known as the Kanade-Lucas-Tomasi (KLT) algorithm. The experiments indicate that the temporal signals produced by the proposed methods provide the basis for differentiating myoclonic from focal clonic seizures and distinguishing these types of neonatal seizures from normal infant behaviors.

Zinc (Zn), the second-most necessary trace element, is abundant in the human body. The human body lacks the capacity to store Zn; hence, the dietary intake of Zn is essential for various functions and metabolism. The uptake of Zn during its transport through the body is important for proper development of the three major accessory sex glands: the testis, epididymis, and prostate. It plays key roles in the initial stages of germ cell development and spermatogenesis, sperm cell development and maturation, ejaculation, liquefaction, the binding of spermatozoa and prostasomes, capacitation, and fertilization. The prostate releases more Zn into the seminal plasma during ejaculation, and it plays a significant role in sperm release and motility. During the maternal, labor, perinatal, and neonatal periods, the part of Zn is vital. The average dietary intake of Zn is in the range of 8–12 mg/day in developing countries during the maternal period. Globally, the dietary intake of Zn varies for pregnant and lactating mothers, but the average Zn intake is in the range of 9.6–11.2 mg/day. The absence of Zn and the consequences of this have been discussed using critical evidence. The events and functions of Zn related to successful fertilization have been summarized in detail. Briefly, our current review emphasizes the role of Zn at each stage of human reproduction, from the spermatogenesis process to childbirth. The role of Zn and its supplementation in in vitro fertilization (IVF) opens opportunities for future studies on reproductive biology.

Studies were performed on a large number of diabetic patients with three levels of plantar sensation loss by analysing walking foot pressure images in the frequency domain. The feet of diabetic subjects were scanned over ten specified areas using Semmes-Weinstein's nylon monofilaments to determine quantitatively the three levels of neuropathy. A new parameter, the power ratio (PR, ratio of high frequency power to the total power in an image) was used to distinguish discretely between normal and diabetic feet in three levels of sensation loss. Analysis of results showed that the differences in PR values for diabetic feet (in all three levels of sensation loss) compared to normal feet were found to be highly significant (p<0.0005) in the areas of the foot where there was a high incidence of plantar ulcer formation, even at the early stage of neuropathy characterised by a sensation level of 45mN. This result could help in the early detection of plantar ulcer formation in the initial stage of sensation loss and may be utilised by orthopaedic surgeons to consider early corrective methods to protect these feet from further damage due to neuropathic ulcer formation.

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