Nanoengineered, Pd-doped Co@C nanoparticles as an effective electrocatalyst for OER in alkaline seawater electrolysis.

Water electrolysis is considered one of the major sources of green hydrogen as the fuel of the future. However, due to limited freshwater resources, more interest has been geared toward seawater electrolysis for hydrogen production. The development of effective and selective electrocatalysts from earth-abundant elements for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) as the bottleneck for seawater electrolysis is highly desirable.

The protective effects of date seeds, in either conventional or nanoformulation, against bisphenol A-induced testicular toxicity: involvement of testicular expression of CYP11A1, Nrf-2 and Bax/Bcl-2 ratio.

Background: Bisphenol A (BPA), an endocrine-disrupting chemical (EDC), is ubiquitous in our environment and poses a significant threat to male fertility. Date seeds (DSs) are used in folk medicine due to their antioxidant activity.

Aim: The purpose of this study was to assess the beneficial effects of DSs, whether in powder or nanoparticle form, against BPA-induced testicular oxidative challenges and apoptosis, aided by inspection of specific genes linked to fertility, oxidative stress and intrinsic mitochondrial pathway of apoptosis.

Repro-protective activity of amygdalin and spirulina platensis in niosomes and conventional forms against aluminum chloride-induced testicular challenge in adult rats: role of CYP11A1, StAR, and HSD-3B expressions.

The male reproductive system is negatively influenced by Al exposure. Al represented a considerable hazard to men's reproduction capabilities. Amygdalin (AMG) and spirulina platensis (SP) have been considered to have a strong antioxidant and repro-protective activity; also, targeted drug delivery systems called niosomes improve the distribution of water-soluble medications like amygdalin and spirulina.

Ameliorative Effects of Zinc Oxide, in Either Conventional or Nanoformulation, Against Bisphenol A Toxicity on Reproductive Performance, Oxidative Status, Gene Expression and Histopathology in Adult Male Rats.

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a widely used endocrine disruptor that represents a significant risk to male reproductive function. Zinc (Zn) is vital for appropriate development of testes and to guarantee optimal testicular function and spermatogenesis. Our goal was to investigate if zinc oxide (ZnO), either in conventional or nanoformulation, could safeguard adult male rats' reproductive performance against the damaging effects of BPA.

Effect of Thermally Reduced Graphene on the Characteristics and Performance of Polysulfone Mixed Matrix Ultrafiltration Membranes.

Ultrafiltration (UF) polymeric membranes are widely used in water treatment and support desalination and gas separation membranes. In this article, we enhance the performance of Polysulfone (PSF) mixed matrix membranes (MMMs) by dispersing different concentrations of thermally reduced graphene (TRG) nanofillers. The UF PSF-TRG MMMs were fabricated via the phase inversion process, and the impact of TRG loading on the characteristics of the membrane, including hydrophilicity, porosity, roughness, and morphology, were analyzed using a contact angle measurement, atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and dynamic mechanical analysis.

Enhancing Polysulfone Mixed-Matrix Membranes with Amine-Functionalized Graphene Oxide for Air Dehumidification and Water Treatment.

Porous low-pressure membranes have been used as active membranes in water treatment and as support for thin-film composite membranes used in water desalination and gas separation applications. In this article, microfiltration polysulfone (PSf)mixed-matrix membranes (MMM) containing amine-functionalized graphene oxide (GO-NH) were fabricated via a phase inversion process and characterized using XPS, SEM, AFM, DMA, XRD, and contact angle measurements. The effect of GO-NH concentration on membrane morphology, hydrophilicity, mechanical properties, and oil-water separation performance was analyzed.

Monitoring of health status, performance and transcript abundance of some genes in dairy heifers produced by embryo transfer or artificial insemination.

The use of multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET) technology in the dairy cattle industry has increased dramatically in recent decades for the production of offspring from genetically superior cows. Yet, its long-term ramifications on adult performance have not been adequately clarified. Therefore, this study targeted comparing dairy heifers born after the transfer of in vivo-produced embryos (MOET-heifers, n = 400) and those born after artificial insemination (AI-heifers, n = 340).

Membrane processes for environmental remediation of nanomaterials: Potentials and challenges.

Nanomaterials have gained huge attention with their wide range of applications. This is mainly driven by their unique properties. Nanomaterials include nanoparticles, nanotubes, nanofibers, and many other nanoscale structures have been widely assessed for improving the performance in different applications.

Strong-Proton-Adsorption Co-Based Electrocatalysts Achieve Active and Stable Neutral Seawater Splitting.

Direct electrolysis of pH-neutral seawater to generate hydrogen is an attractive approach for storing renewable energy. However, due to the anodic competition between the chlorine evolution and the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), direct seawater splitting suffers from a low current density and limited operating stability. Exploration of catalysts enabling an OER overpotential below the hypochlorite formation overpotential (≈490 mV) is critical to suppress the chloride evolution and facilitate seawater splitting.

Rootstock Priming with Shikimic Acid and for Growth, Productivity, Physio-Biochemical, and Anatomical Characterisation of Tomato Grown under Cold Stress.

With this research, we aimed to determine the impact of grafting and rootstock seed treated with ( () or shikimic acid (SA) at a 60 ppm concentration on tomato ( L.) production grown under low-temperature conditions. Two open-field trials were performed during both winter seasons of 2020 and 2021 at the Experimental Farm, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt.

Foliar Application of Different Iron Sources Improves Morpho-Physiological Traits and Nutritional Quality of Broad Bean Grown in Sandy Soil.

Nano-fertilizers are a new tool that can be used to address plant production challenges, and it addresses such nutrient deficiencies through smart agriculture approaches. Iron (Fe) is a vital element for several metabolic and physiological processes; however, Fe deficiency is common in poorly fertile soils (sand soil) and in arid areas. Therefore, additional research is required to select the most efficient form of iron absorbance.

Effects of dietary boron supplementation on the testicular function and thyroid activity in male goats: Involvement of CYP17A1 gene.

The physiological effects of dietary boron (B) supplementation for farm animals specifically goat on male fertility are still scarce and need deep investigation. Thus, the current study was designed to investigate how adding B to the diet of male goats affected their testicular and thyroid activity. For that purpose, twelve male goats were divided randomly into two groups (six animals each); control group that was fed the basal diet and B group that was fed the basal diet containing 70 mg B/kg diet for 6 months.

Heat stress during critical windows of the oestrous cycle and risk of pregnancy establishment in embryo-recipient dairy heifers.

This study aimed to determine effects of exposure of recipient dairy heifers to heat stress (THI ≥ 73) during the oestrous cycle coinciding with embryo transfer (ET) on the risk of pregnancy establishment after transfer of in vivo produced embryos. Recipients exposed to THI values ≥73 during Days zero (recipient estrus), 7 (day of ET), 14 (seven days after ET), 15 and 16 (maternal recognition of pregnancy) of the ET cycle were considered as heat-stressed heifers (n = 254), while heifers in the control group (n = 470) were not exposed to THI ≥ 73 at any of the previous days. Results revealed no significant effects of any of the investigated factors on the risk of pregnancy following ET.

Solution Combustion Synthesis of Novel S,B-Codoped CoFe Oxyhydroxides for the Oxygen Evolution Reaction in Saline Water.

Green hydrogen presents itself as a clean energy vector, which can be produced by electrolysis of water by utilizing renewable energy such as solar or wind. While current technologies are sufficient to support commercial deployment of fresh water electrolyzers, there remain a few well-defined challenges in the path of commercializing direct seawater electrolyzers, predominantly related to the sluggish oxygen evolution reaction (OER) kinetics and the competing chlorine evolution reaction (CER) at the anode. Herein, we report the facile and swift fabrication of an S,B-codoped CoFe oxyhydroxide via solution combustion synthesis for the OER with apparent CER suppression abilities.

Synthesis, Anticancer Assessment, and Molecular Docking of Novel Chalcone-Thienopyrimidine Derivatives in HepG2 and MCF-7 Cell Lines.

Heterocycles containing thienopyrimidine moieties have attracted attention due to their interesting biological and pharmacological activities. In this research article, we reported the synthesis of a series of new hybrid molecules through merging the structural features of chalcones and pyridothienopyrimidinones. Our results indicated that the synthesis of chalcone-thienopyrimidine derivatives from the corresponding thienopyrimidine and chalcones proceeded in a relatively short reaction time with good yields and high purity.

Early Transition-Metal-Based Binary Oxide/Nitride for Efficient Electrocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution from Saline Water in Different pH Environments.

Using abundant seawater can reduce reliance on freshwater resources for hydrogen production from electrocatalytic water splitting. However, seawater has detrimental effects on the stability and activity of the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) electrocatalysts under different pH conditions. In this work, we report the synthesis of binary metallic core-sheath nitride@oxynitride electrocatalysts [Ni(ETM)]-[O-N], where ETM is an early transition metal V or Cr.

A randomized controlled trial of two-doses of vaginal progesterone 400 vs. 200 mg for prevention of preterm labor in twin gestations.

Objectives: To compare between the effectiveness and safety of two different daily doses of vaginal progesterone (400 vs. 200 mg) in the prevention of preterm labor in twin pregnancy.

Methods: This is a prospective single-blinded randomized controlled trial conducted on 100 primi-gravida who had twin pregnancy and attended the antenatal clinic of a University hospital.

Study of Uromodulin Gene Polymorphism in Egyptian Patients with End-Stage Renal Disease.

Uromodulin (UMOD) gene polymorphism has been linked with end-stage renal disease. In this research, we studied the prevalence of UMOD rs42993393 T>C in Egyptian hemodialysis (HD) patients and the blood level of UMOD in those patients. The study was a case-control study and included 100 patients on regular HD and 100 healthy control subjects.

Developmental Programming: Physiological Impacts of Prenatal Melatonin Administration on Reproductive Capacity and Serum Triiodothyronine of Adult Female Offspring Rat Born to Moms Exposed to Bisphenol A During Pregnancy.

Gestational bisphenol A (BPA) exposure induced multiple programmed diseases in the adult offsprings. Thus, this study targeted exploring the physiological impacts of melatonin (MEL) as a reprogramming strategy against in utero BPA exposure on reproductive capacity of adult F1 female rat offspring. Forty adult pregnant albino female rats were divided equally into 5 groups (n = 8): group I (control), group II (low-dose BPA; 25 μg BPA/kg B.

Transcript abundance of anti-Mullérian hormone and follicle-stimulating hormone receptor predicted superstimulatory response in embryo donor Holstein cows.

The goal was to investigate the relationship among mRNA expressions of anti-Mullérian hormone (AMH), follicle-stimulating hormone receptor (FSHR) and responses to superovulation (SO) in embryo donor dairy cows. Holstein cows (n = 19) were submitted to a standard SO protocol, with twice daily FSH treatments, and artificially inseminated. Prior to SO (Day 0), relative mRNA expressions of AMH and FSHR in blood were determined for all cows.

Oxygen-Deficient Cobalt-Based Oxides for Electrocatalytic Water Splitting.

An apparent increased interest has been recently devoted towards the previously untrodden path for anionic point defect engineering of electrocatalytic surfaces. The role of vacancy engineering in improving photo- and electrocatalytic activities of transition metal oxides (TMOs) has been widely reported. In particular, oxygen vacancy modulation on electrocatalysts of cobalt-based TMOs has seen a fresh spike of research work due to the substantial improvements they have shown towards oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and hydrogen evolution reaction (HER).