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By:

Abhijit Mulye

21 August 2024 at 11:29:11 am

New icon of party loyalty amid world of turncoats

Mumbai: In the competitive landscape of Mumbai’s municipal politics, Akshata Tendulkar has emerged as a symbol of ideological steadfastness and party loyalty. Known as a “staunch Hindutva voice” in the Mahim-Dadar belt, she has navigated a political terrain historically dominated by regional heavyweights like the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). The Mahim-Dadar area has long been the ideological heart of Mumbai’s politics. For a BJP leader to carve out a niche as a...

New icon of party loyalty amid world of turncoats

Mumbai: In the competitive landscape of Mumbai’s municipal politics, Akshata Tendulkar has emerged as a symbol of ideological steadfastness and party loyalty. Known as a “staunch Hindutva voice” in the Mahim-Dadar belt, she has navigated a political terrain historically dominated by regional heavyweights like the Shiv Sena (UBT) and the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS). The Mahim-Dadar area has long been the ideological heart of Mumbai’s politics. For a BJP leader to carve out a niche as a prominent proponent of Hindutva in this specific geography is a significant feat. Tendulkar’s rise is attributed to her vocal and uncompromising stance on cultural and religious identity, which has resonated with a traditional voter base that feels a deep connection to the Hindutva narrative. In an era where political affiliations are often fluid, Tendulkar’s career reached a defining moment during the seat-sharing negotiations of the Mahayuti alliance. When her preferred ward was allocated to the Shiv Sena (Eknath Shinde faction) as part of the coalition agreement, she faced a difficult choice: switch banners to stay in the race or stand down. Striking Aspect The most striking aspect of Tendulkar’s profile is her refusal to compromise on her political identity for the sake of an electoral ticket. Recognizing her local influence and the strength of her “Hindutva voice,” the Shiv Sena reportedly offered her a ticket to contest the election under their “bow and arrow” symbol. While many politicians today—often referred to as “turncoats”—regularly cross party-lines to secure power, Tendulkar chose a different path. She famously declined the offer, insisting that she remained committed to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP); that she would only contest as a candidate representing the party she had served and that her loyalty to the organisation outweighed her personal ambition for office. Rare Precedent “This is a very rare example of party loyalty in today’s times. I’m happy that such examples can be found only in the BJP,” said city BJP spokesperson Niranjan Shetty. He also highlighted that by choosing to withdraw from the race rather than abandon her party’s flag, Tendulkar set a rare precedent in contemporary Maharashtra politics. Her decision reinforced her image as a leader driven by conviction rather than opportunism. “She has earned the leadership by her fearless acts and uncompromising nature when it comes to issues related to Hindutva,” said senior RSS worker from Dadar area, Ramesh Deole. “Her decision today will be remembered for times to come,” he added. While it might be a ‘Political Harakiri’ in opinion of a few political analysts. But, with her act today she has actually given herself a larger identity. Today, she is viewed not just as a local leader from Ward 192, but as a “distinct example of loyalty.” Her background as a fierce advocate for Hindutva remains her calling card, making her a critical asset for the BJP in the heart of Mumbai. In a city where political winds shift rapidly, Akshata Tendulkar stands as a reminder of the power of ideological consistency.

AI in Sperm Sorting: An Unbiased Decision for A Better Outcome

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Artificial Intelligence or AI is revolutionising fertility treatments of the future. The inclusion of AI enhances the accuracy, efficiency, and objectivity of sperm selection, hence potentially improving fertility outcomes by leaps and bounds. Traditionally, sperm sorting through manual methods is subjective to judgments. Processes like centrifugation and swim-up methods are used to separate sperm based on motility and morphology. Although they are effective, they have their limitations, leading to human errors that affect the success rates of fertility treatment. For instance, studies have shown that traditional sperm sorting techniques can have variability in success rates, with reported live birth rates ranging between 15 per cent to 25 per cent per cycle depending on the method and quality of sperm. Hence the introduction of AI helps in maintaining consistency in evaluations of sperm, using the same data set for every sample which leads to better judgments.


Automation and Standardisation- Automation of sperm selection and also introduction of AI in the process have improved the results in ART. AI-assisted sperm selection improves the accuracy in choosing high-quality sperm for fertilisation purposes, and also, pregnancy and live birth rates might be improved. Technologies like Intracytoplasmic Morphologically Selected Sperm Injection along with AI ensure the chances of pregnancies increase by about 10-20 per cent compared to the standard procedures. AI and Automation will decrease time taken to analyze sperm and increase opportunities to select better sperm with DNA integrity for better development and higher success rates in embryo selection. These processes ensure that the sperm selection process follows consistent criteria, reducing variability in outcomes caused by human error.


Analysing Complex Data for Better Outcomes- AI plays a crucial in improving IVF outcomes by analysing complex data and providing tailored recommendations. AI-driven tools and models such as those on SpOvum.ai point towards an opportunity to optimise ovarian stimulation decisions by assessing patient characteristics and follicle growth patterns. A study revealed that the use of AI in IVF improved egg yield and reduced medication costs. AI enables fertility specialists to make data-driven choices, improving overall IVF success rates and streamlining treatment processes.


Reducing Human Error- AI models can continuously learn and refine their performance by being trained on newer data. This adaptability ensures the technology remains unbiased and up-to-date with the latest scientific insights into sperm quality and fertility success rates. Studies have shown that AI-driven sperm sorting can decrease human-related errors by up to 25 per cent, improving sperm selection quality in terms of morphology and motility.


Reduction of Sperm Damage- The new AI-driven sperm sorting techniques also include microfluidic systems that are known to exhibit several advantages over the most commonly used conventional method, which is centrifugation. Traditional centrifugation methods, such as density gradient centrifugation, also cause severe oxidative stress and DNA fragmentation of the sperm because of the very high mechanical forces involved. The AI-infused microfluidic sorting minimises this damage significantly by involving gentler processes that mimic the natural pathway of sperm selection. The studies show that the process of microfluidic sorting decreases DNA fragmentation in sperm, which gives improved opportunities for success for IVF. For example, DNA fragmentation is 20 percent lower in sperm sorted using microfluidic processes than in traditional processing methods.


AI is bound to play an increasingly definitive role in fertility treatments, which will improve the outcomes for couples experiencing infertility.


(The author is a Co-Founder & CEO at SpOvum® Technologies. Views personal.)

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