Lecithin as an Effective Modifier of the Transport Properties of Variously Crosslinked Hydrogels.

Transport properties are one of the most crucial assets of hydrogel samples, influencing their main application potential, i.e., as drug carriers.

l-Ascorbic Acid Treatment of Electrochemical Graphene Nanosheets: Reduction Optimization and Application for De-Icing, Water Uptake Prevention, and Corrosion Resistance.

The aeronautical industry demands facile lightweight and low-cost solutions to address climate crisis challenges. Graphene can be a valid candidate to tackle these functionalities, although its upscalability remains difficult to achieve. Consequently, graphene-related materials (GRM) are gathering massive attention as top-down graphite exfoliation processes at the industrial scale are feasible and often employed.

N-thiocarboxyanhydrides, amino acid-derived enzyme-activated HS donors, enhance sperm mitochondrial activity in presence and absence of oxidative stress.

Background: Hydrogen sulfide (HS) donors are crucial tools not only for understanding the role of HS in cellular function but also as promising therapeutic agents for oxidative stress-related diseases. This study aimed to explore the effect of amino acid-derived N-thiocarboxyanhydrides (NTAs), which release physiological HS levels in the presence of carbonic anhydrase, on porcine sperm function during short-term incubation with and without induced oxidative stress. For this purpose, we employed two HS-releasing NTAs with release half-lives (t) in the range of hours that derived from the amino acids glycine (Gly-NTA) or leucine (Leu-NTA).

Strain-Field Modifications in the Surroundings of Impact Damage of Carbon/Epoxy Laminate.

The relationship between deformation and stress is crucial for any elasto-plastic body. This paper deals with the experimental identification of the basic parameters of the composite laminate model in relation to the finite element model. Standardized tensile, impact, and post-impact tests on a carbon fiber-reinforced epoxy laminate were used.

Linearization of Composite Material Damage Model Results and Its Impact on the Subsequent Stress-Strain Analysis.

To solve problems in the field of mechanical engineering efficiently, individual numerical procedures must be developed, and solvers must be adapted. This study applies the results of a carbon-fibre reinforced polymer (CFRP) analysis along with the nonlinear finite element damage (FE) method to the translation of a linear solver. The analyzed tensile test sample is modelled using the ply-by-ply method.

The Interaction of NO and HS in Boar Spermatozoa under Oxidative Stress.

Various recent studies dedicated to the role of nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen sulfide (H2S) in somatic cells provide evidence for an interaction of the two gasotransmitters. In the case of male gametes, only the action of a single donor of each gasotransmitter has been investigated up until today. It has been demonstrated that, at low concentrations, both gasotransmitters alone exert a positive effect on sperm quality parameters.

Novel Hydrogel Material with Tailored Internal Architecture Modified by "Bio" Amphiphilic Components-Design and Analysis by a Physico-Chemical Approach.

Nowadays, hydrogels are found in many applications ranging from the industrial to the biological (e.g., tissue engineering, drug delivery systems, cosmetics, water treatment, and many more).

Optimal Design and Testing of a Thermoplastic Pressurized Passenger Door Manufactured Using Thermoforming.

The present paper documents and discusses research work associated with a newly designed passenger door structure demonstrator. The composite structure was manufactured from carbon-fiber-reinforced thermoplastic resin. A composite frame with a variable cross-section was designed, optimized, and fabricated using thermoforming technology.

Spermatogenic Activity and Sperm Traits in Post-Pubertal and Adult Tomcats (): Implication of Intra-Male Variation in Sperm Size.

Tomcats are considered to be adults at 1 year of age, although many reach sexual maturity at an earlier age. Nevertheless, we still know little about whether the spermatogenic activity and sperm quality of mature under one-year-old tomcats differ from those of tomcats that are over one-year-old. This study aims to evaluate the spermatogenic activity, sperm traits, and their relationships in mature tomcats at two different ages.

Effect of the Test Procedure and Thermoplastic Composite Resin Type on the Curved Beam Strength.

The application of thermoplastic composites (TPCs) in aircraft construction is growing. This paper presents a study of the effect of an applied methodology (standards) on out-of-plane interlaminar strength characterization. Additionally, the mechanical behaviour of three carbon fibre-reinforced thermoplastic composites was compared using the curved beam strength test.

Divergent effect of fast- and slow-releasing HS donors on boar spermatozoa under oxidative stress.

Hydrogen sulphide (HS) is involved in the physiology and pathophysiology of different cell types, but little is known about its role in sperm cells. Because of its reducing properties, we hypothesise that HS protects spermatozoa against the deleterious effects of oxidative stress, a condition that is common to several male fertility disorders. This study aimed i) to determine the total antioxidant capacities of NaS and GYY4137, which are fast- and slow-releasing HS donors, respectively, and ii) to test whether HS donors are able to protect spermatozoa against oxidative stress.

The Roles of NO and HS in Sperm Biology: Recent Advances and New Perspectives.

After being historically considered as noxious agents, nitric oxide (NO) and hydrogen sulfide (HS) are now listed as gasotransmitters, gaseous molecules that play a key role in a variety of cellular functions. Both NO and HS are endogenously produced, enzymatically or non-enzymatically, and interact with each other in a range of cells and tissues. In spite of the great advances achieved in recent decades in other biological systems, knowledge about HS function and interactions with NO in sperm biology is in its infancy.

Pharmacological Activity of Honeybush () in Boar Spermatozoa during Semen Storage and under Oxidative Stress.

In recent decades, an increasing number of ethnopharmacological studies have been dedicated to medicinal plants from South African fynbos. Among these plants, honeybush ( spp.) has become a popular tea, mainly due to its healthy properties and caffeine-free status.

Aminoguanidine Protects Boar Spermatozoa against the Deleterious Effects of Oxidative Stress.

Aminoguanidine is a selective inhibitor of the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) and a scavenger of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Numerous studies have shown the antioxidant properties of aminoguanidine in several cell lines, but the in vitro effects of this compound on spermatozoa under oxidative stress are unknown. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that aminoguanidine may protect against the detrimental effects of oxidative stress in boar spermatozoa.