Search Results (24)

Sperm cryopreservation is widely used in reproductive biotechnology, but the freeze–thaw process often reduces sperm quality by impairing motility, viability, and DNA integrity. This study assessed how antifreeze protein III (AFP III; 1.5 µg/mL) and trehalose (25 mM), alone or combined, influence post-thaw sperm quality in swim-up fractions. After routine semen evaluation, ejaculates were separated into upper, native, and lower fractions and diluted in a Tris–fructose–egg yolk extender containing the additives. Post-thaw analyses covered motility, kinematic parameters, apoptosis, intracellular hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), mitochondrial activity, lipid peroxidation, viability, and DNA fragmentation. Because all fractions originated from the same ejaculate, differences among native, upper, and lower sperm populations were evaluated using a mixed-effects model with sperm fraction as a fixed effect and dog/ejaculate as a random effect. Native semen showed significant differences among fractions (p < 0.05). The upper fraction showed the highest TM and PM, together with clearly superior kinematic performance in VCL, VSL, VAP, and ALH. All these parameters were significantly higher than those measured in the lower fraction (p < 0.05). In contrast, the native fraction displayed intermediate values for TM, PM, VCL, VSL, VAP, and ALH, showing a significant difference compared with the upper fraction (p < 0.05) but no significant difference relative to the lower fraction (p > 0.05). Beat cross frequency (BCF) did not differ among groups (p > 0.05). AFP III improved motility and reduced H₂O₂-derived ROS (p < 0.05), whereas trehalose decreased motility (p < 0.05) but increased mitochondrial activity in the lower fraction (p < 0.05). After freezing, the upper fraction showed higher lipid peroxidation and DNA fragmentation, while the lower fraction exhibited more apoptosis and reduced viability (p < 0.05). Overall, AFP III provided the most consistent protection, and trehalose produced mixed, fraction-dependent effects, confirming that sperm subpopulation characteristics strongly influence freeze–thaw outcomes. Full article

Deep eutectic solvents (DESs) are promising electrolyte media for solar redox flow batteries, but their high viscosity and sluggish ion transport can limit redox-species diffusion, interfacial charge transfer, and photocharging performance. This study aimed to regulate a TEMPO/VCl₃-based DES electrolyte by controlled water addition for a Yb,Er-doped TiO₂–g-C₃N₄ photoanode solar redox flow battery. DES electrolytes containing 0, 5, 10, and 15 wt% added water were evaluated by physicochemical, electrochemical, and photoelectrochemical measurements, while full-cell tests compared pristine DES with the half-cell-selected 10 wt% electrolyte. While water incorporation systematically enhanced bulk redox-species transport, the optimal photoelectrochemical performance was achieved at 10 wt% water, rather than 15 wt%. Although the 15 wt% electrolyte exhibited the highest bulk diffusivity, the 10 wt% composition provided the most favorable balance between mass transport and interfacial charge transfer kinetics. The Raman spectra supported water-induced reorganization of the bulk DES hydrogen-bonding network. Full-cell tests confirmed that the 10 wt% water-containing electrolyte delivered higher and more stable photocharging responses than pristine DES over 20 cycles. These results indicate that moderate water regulation is an effective strategy for improving DES-based solar redox flow batteries. Full article

The assessment of sperm quality is essential for improving reproductive efficiency in aquaculture species such as common carp (Cyprinus carpio). While sperm motility is widely used as a key functional indicator, the predictive value of oxidative protein markers for sperm performance remains unclear. In this study, sperm motility and kinematic parameters were assessed using computer-assisted sperm analysis (CASA). Markers of oxidative status, advanced oxidation protein products (AOPPs), ceruloplasmin (CP), and total protein concentration were quantified in samples. The results showed relatively high total motility (70.51%) and progressive motility (69.00%), indicating good sperm quality. No statistically significant correlations (p > 0.05) were found between AOPP or CP and sperm motility. Protein concentration was positively associated with motility parameters, including curvilinear velocity (VCL) and amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH). A significant negative correlation was found between Fulton’s condition factor (FCF) and AOPP (r = −0.686; p < 0.05), indicating that individuals with higher body condition had lower oxidative protein damage. These findings suggest that oxidative protein markers may not directly reflect sperm motility, highlighting the potential value of including additional oxidative stress-related parameters in sperm quality assessment. Full article

Background: Post-thyroidectomy vocal cord dysfunction (PT-VCD) is an important side effect of thyroid surgery. With the introduction of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM), hopes have been raised that either the rate or severity of PT-VCD could be reduced. However, data to support these concepts are scarce. To better understand the relationship between IONM outcomes and the severity of PT-VCD, a detailed time-course evaluation of recovery of PT-VCD was performed in a continuous clinical quality registry from a specialized high-volume endocrine surgery center. Methods: Data were prospectively recorded in a single-center clinical quality assurance registry (June 2015 to May 2016) and subsequently analyzed retrospectively, with a 12-month follow-up for all cases. All patients underwent vocal cord (VC) laryngoscopy (VCL) by independent ear–nose–throat (ENT) specialists before and after surgery. Cases with newly diagnosed PT-VCD were enrolled in a detailed follow-up program (recruitment from June 2015 to May 2016) that included structured telephone interviews every 4–6 weeks to assess the exact time course of PT-VCD recovery and VC status for a period of at least 12 months. Clinical data were analyzed for variables affecting the time course of recovery by univariate analysis. Results: From 6/2015 to 5/2016 there were 1097 consecutive thyroid procedures. During this period, 78 cases of PT-VCD (1591 nerves at risk (NARs); 4.9%) were entered into the detailed follow-up-program. Of these, three cases of PT-VCD persisted at 12 months (PT-VCD 0.18% NAR), with six cases lost to follow-up (maximum rate of potentially persistent PT-VCD of 0.54% NAR). In total, 15% of PT-VCD cases recovered within 4 weeks; the mean recovery time was 4.4 months, and 6 months after thyroidectomy, 18% still had impaired VCL tests. Individual cases were followed >12 months showing late full recovery of PT-VCD, thereby challenging the definition of permanent VCD. Logistic regression analysis revealed non-transitory loss of signal (ntLOS) (OR for recovery within 12 weeks: 0.39; 95%CI 0.15–0.98; p = 0.046) and more specifically, secondary ntLOS, to be a significant independent predictor of PT-VCP recovery beyond 12 weeks (OR for recovery within 12 weeks 0.303; 95%CI 0.115–0.797; p = 0.016). Conclusions: For the first time, these data provide a detailed description of the time course of PT-VCD recovery in a large cohort, along with correlations to operative data and IONM findings. Our study indicates that recovery from PT-VCD can be prolonged, and specifically, the occurrence of ntLOS—especially secondary ntLOS—during IONM was predictive of a longer recovery trajectory. This suggests that IONM may offer an additional advantage by functioning as a prognostic tool, helping to identify patients at higher risk for extended recovery periods. Such early identification could enable a more targeted approach, potentially allowing for the earlier initiation of supportive interventions, like speech therapy, in those most likely to benefit from proactive management. Full article

Semen cryopreservation is a critical biotechnological approach for preserving superior genetic resources in livestock. Spermatozoa are particularly vulnerable to cryogenic stress during the freeze–thaw process, resulting in impaired structure and function. Therefore, the development of effective cryoprotective additives is essential for improving yak semen cryopreservation. In this study, ginseng peptide (GFREH) was incorporated into the freezing extender at different concentrations (0, 0.25, 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0 mg/mL) to evaluate its effects on post-thaw sperm quality, in vitro fertilization (IVF) capacity, and the underlying regulatory mechanisms. Semen samples treated with 0 and 0.75 mg/mL GFREH were further subjected to proteomic analysis to elucidate the molecular basis of its cryoprotective action. The results demonstrated that GFREH significantly increased total motility (TM), progressive motility (PM), straight-line velocity (VSL), curvilinear velocity (VCL), average path velocity (VAP), as well as plasma membrane and acrosome integrity of frozen–thawed yak spermatozoa (p < 0.05). GFREH also significantly reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) levels while enhancing antioxidant enzyme activities, mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), and ATP content (p < 0.05). Moreover, GFREH at concentrations of 0.5, 0.75, and 1.0 mg/mL significantly improved IVF and blastocyst formation rates compared with the control (p < 0.05), with the 0.75 mg/mL group exhibiting the highest fertilization and blastocyst rates. Proteomic analysis further revealed that GFREH modulated the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway and downregulated FOXO1 expression. Collectively, these findings indicate that ginseng peptides enhance yak sperm cryotolerance by coordinating oxidative balance, mitochondrial energy metabolism, and survival-related signaling, with 0.75 mg/mL representing an optimal effective concentration within the functional dose range tested. Full article

This study presents a novel approach to the parametrization of 3D PETRO FACIES and SEISMO FACIES using supervised and unsupervised learning, supported by a coherent structural and stratigraphic framework, to enhance understanding of the presence of hydrocarbons in the Dzików–Uszkowce region. The prediction relies on selected seismic attributes and well logging data, which are essential in hydrocarbon exploration. Three-dimensional seismic data, a crucial source of information, reflect the propagation velocity of elastic waves influenced by lithological formations and reservoir fluids. However, seismic response similarities complicate accurate seismic image interpretation. Three-dimensional seismic data were also used to build a structural–stratigraphic model that partitions the study area into coeval strata, enabling spatial analysis of the machine learning results. In the 3D seismic model, PETRO FACIES classification achieved an overall accuracy of 80% (SD = 0.01), effectively distinguishing sandstone- and mudstone-dominated facies (RT1–RT4) with F1 scores between 0.65 and 0.85. RESERVOIR FACIES prediction, covering seven hydrocarbon system classes, reached an accuracy of 70% (SD = 0.01). However, class-level performance varied substantially. Non-productive zones such as HNF (No Flow) were identified with high precision (0.82) and recall (0.84, F1 = 0.83), while mixed-saturation facies (HWGS, BSWGS) showed moderate performance (F1 = 0.74–0.81). In contrast, gas-saturated classes (BSGS and HGS) suffered from extremely low F1 scores (0.08 and 0.12, respectively), with recalls as low as 5–7%, highlighting the model’s difficulty in discriminating these units from water-saturated or mixed facies due to overlapping seismic responses and limited training data for gas-rich intervals. To enhance reservoir characterization, SEISMO FACIES analysis identified 12 distinct seismic facies using key attributes. An additional facies (facies 13) was defined to characterize gas-saturated sandstones with high reservoir quality and accumulation potential. Refinements were performed using borehole data on hydrocarbon-bearing zones and clay volume (VCL), applying a 0.3 VCL cutoff and filtering specific facies to isolate zones with confirmed gas presence. The same approach was applied to PETRO FACIES and a new RT facie was extracted. This integrated approach improved mapping of lithological variability and hydrocarbon saturation in complex geological settings. The results were validated against two blind wells that were excluded from the machine learning process. Knowledge of the presence of gas in well N-1 and its absence in well D-24 guided verification of the models within the structural–stratigraphic framework. Full article

This study optimized the cryopreservation protocol for cashmere goat semen by testing centrifugation speeds (750, 1000, 1250, 1500 rpm) for seminal plasma removal and L-proline concentrations (10, 30, 50 mmol/L) in a freezing extender. Semen from six 3-year-old breeding bucks of Inner Mongolia cashmere goats was evaluated post-thaw in terms of motility, membrane integrity, antioxidant capacity, and artificial insemination (AI) outcomes (n = 130 does). The results demonstrated that the group that underwent centrifugation at 1250 rpm saw significantly improved sperm motility (p < 0.05), curvilinear velocity (VCL, p < 0.05), and straight-line velocity (VSL, p < 0.05) compared to the other groups. The addition of 30 mmol/L L-proline further enhanced post-thaw sperm motility (p < 0.05), plasma membrane integrity (p < 0.05), and acrosome integrity (p < 0.05), while significantly reducing reactive oxygen species (ROS, p < 0.05) and malondialdehyde (MDA, p < 0.05) levels. This group also exhibited the highest antioxidant capacity, as indicated by elevated levels of total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) (p < 0.05). AI trials revealed that semen treated with 1250 rpm centrifugation and 30 mmol/L L-proline achieved the highest kidding rate (56.82%), significantly outperforming the control group (37.21%, p < 0.05). Meanwhile, no significant differences were observed in prolificacy or offspring sex ratio (p > 0.05). In conclusion, this study demonstrates that combining 1250 rpm centrifugation for seminal plasma removal with the addition of 30 mmol/L L-proline to the freezing extender significantly improves the quality of cryopreserved cashmere goat semen and enhances AI outcomes. Full article

The Chinese rare minnow (Gobiocypris rarus), an important model fish in China, faces endangerment in the wild. Sperm cryopreservation facilitates the development of new strains and germplasm conservation, but the quality of its cryopreserved sperm remains low. This study evaluates the protective effects of different concentrations of antifreeze proteins (AFP I and AFP III) on the cryopreservation of Chinese rare minnow sperm. Cryopreserved sperm showed significant declines in progressive motility, curvilinear velocity (VCL), average path velocity (VAP), and lifespan compared to fresh sperm, except for straight-line velocity (VSL). The cryomedium containing 10 μg/mL AFP I improved these parameters to their highest levels. However, no significant difference was found in progressive motility and kinetic parameters between cryopreserved sperm with and without AFPs. Cryopreserved sperm with 10 μg/mL AFP I showed the highest plasma membrane integrity, mitochondrial activity, and DNA integrity, significantly better than without AFPs; importantly, the fertilization rate of cryopreserved sperm with 10 μg/mL AFP I was not significantly different from that of fresh sperm. These results indicate that the addition of 10 μg/mL AFP I to the cryomedium for Chinese rare minnow sperm does not improve kinetic parameters but significantly enhances sperm quality, aiding in its new strain development and germplasm conservation. Full article

This investigation aimed to analyze the effect that thawing time and temperature in combination with a termo-resistance test had on straws from dairy bulls used for artificial insemination (AI) on semen motility and kinematic variables measured with CASA systems. Eight animals of Holstein and Jersey breeds were used, and nine frozen-thawed semen doses per animal were analyzed for each breed. Three temperatures (35, 37, and 40 °C) and three thawing times (35, 40, and 45 s) were evaluated using a factorial design. Motility and kinematic patterns were analyzed using CASA-mot (Computer-Assisted Semen Analysis of motility) technology at different post-thawing times (0.5, 1, and 2 h). Sperm motility in Jersey bulls was higher (p < 0.05) than in Holstein ones (64.52 ± 1.45% and 53.10 ± 1.40%, respectively). The same effect was seen with progressive motility among the two breeds (Jersey: 45.29 ± 1.00%; Holstein: 36.30 ± 0.98%, p < 0.05). The Jersey breed presented higher values (p < 0.05) of curvilinear velocity (VCL), rectilinear velocity (VSL), average velocity (VAP), linearity on forward progression (LIN), and wobble (WOB). The Holstein breed showed a lower mean value (p < 0.05) of the beat-cross frequency (BCF) compared to the Jersey breed, thus suggesting an effect on VCL and VAP. During the post-thaw period, a gradual increase in VCL was observed at 2 h. VSL and VAP showed a decrease (p < 0.05) as the post-thaw period was prolonged. The study showed differences in sperm quality between Holstein and Jersey breeds, influenced by cryopreservation, thawing, and post-thawing incubation. Thawing at 37 °C for 30 s was considered optimal in relation to sperm motility. In addition, a decrease in sperm quality was observed as post-thawing time increased. Full article

Spermatozoa cryopreservation protocols have been established for yellow catfish (Pelteobagrus fulvidraco), but cryopreservation can still cause cellular damage and affect spermatozoa viability and fertility. Therefore, the aim of this paper was to evaluate the effects of adding or not adding cryoprotectants during low-temperature storage on the ultrastructural damage, oxidative damage, and DNA damage of thawed yellow catfish spermatozoa. The mixed semen of three male yellow catfish was divided into a fresh spermatozoa group, a frozen spermatozoa group (DMSO⁺) with a cryoprotectant (10% DMSO), and a frozen spermatozoa group without a cryoprotectant (DMSO⁻). Ultrastructural of the spermatozoa after thawing were observed under an electron microscope and the spermatozoa were assayed for SOD, MDA, and T-AOC enzyme activities, as well as for DNA integrity. In terms of movement parameters, compared with DMSO⁻, the addition of DMSO has significantly improved sperm motility, curve line velocity (VCL), and straight line velocity (VSL). The ultrastructural results showed that although thawed spermatozoa exhibited increased damage than fresh spermatozoa, 10% DMSO effectively reduced the damage to the plasma membrane, mitochondria, and flagellum of spermatozoa by cryopreservation, and most of the spermatozoa were preserved with intact structure. The results of oxidative damage showed that compared with frozen spermatozoa, 10% DMSO significantly increased the activities of SOD and T-AOC enzymes and clearly reduced the activity of the MDA enzyme. The antioxidant capacity of spermatozoa was improved, lipid peroxidation was reduced, and the oxidative damage caused by cryopreservation was mitigated. The DNA integrity of spermatozoa showed that 10% DMSO clearly reduced the DNA fragmentation rate. In conclusion, 10% DMSO can effectively reduce the ultrastructural damage, oxidative damage, and DNA damage of yellow catfish spermatozoa during cryopreservation; it can also further optimize the cryopreservation protocol for yellow catfish spermatozoa. Meanwhile, it also provides a theoretical basis for the future optimization of the cryopreservation protocols. Full article

Transition metal (TM) single-atom catalysts (SACs) have been widely applied in photocatalytic CO₂ reduction. In this work, n–p codoping engineering is introduced to account for the modulation of photocatalytic CO₂ reduction on a two-dimensional (2D) bismuth-oxyhalide-based cathode by using first-principles calculation. n–p codoping is established via the Coulomb interactions between the negatively charged TM SACs and the positively charged Cl vacancy (V_Cl) in the dopant–defect pairs. Based on the formation energy of charged defects, neutral dopant–defect pairs for the Fe, Co, and Ni SACs (P_TM⁰) and the −1e charge state of the Cu SAC-based pair (P_Cu⁻¹) are stable. The electrostatic attraction of the n–p codoping strengthens the stability and solubility of TM SACs by neutralizing the oppositely charged V_Cl defect and TM dopant. The n–p codoping stabilizes the electron accumulation around the TM SACs. Accumulated electrons modify the d-orbital alignment and shift the d-band center toward the Fermi level, enhancing the reducing capacity of TM SACs based on the d-band theory. Besides the electrostatic attraction of the n–p codoping, the P_Cu⁻¹ also accumulates additional electrons surrounding Cu SACs and forms a half-occupied d_x²_−y² state, which further upshifts the d-band center and improves photocatalytic CO₂ reduction. The metastability of Cl multivacancies limits the concentration of the n–p pairs with Cl multivacancies (P_TM@nCl (n > 1)). Positively charged centers around the P_TM@nCl (n > 1) hinders the CO₂ reduction by shielding the charge transfer to the CO₂ molecule. Full article

Semen preservation involves lengthening sperm’s fertile lifespan without any detrimental effects on its biochemical, functional, and ultrastructural properties. Liquid storage at 4 °C is a ram sperm preservation method. However, this method of storage causes irreversible damage due to cold shocks, osmotic stresses, oxidative stresses, and reductions in sperm metabolism. The present study aims to investigate whether the supplementation of mitochonic acid 5 (MA-5) in a sperm extender could improve chilled ram sperm quality and elucidate its mechanism of action. Ram sperm were diluted with a tris-citrate-glucose extender containing different concentrations of MA-5 (0, 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 nM) and stored at 4 °C for up to 48 h. Sperm motility, membrane integrity, acrosome integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential, reactive oxygen species (ROS) level, ATP content, and the expression of NADPH dehydrogenase subunits 1 (MT-ND1) and NADPH dehydrogenase subunits 6 (MT-ND6) were evaluated. It was observed that compared to the control, the 10 nM MA-5 treatment significantly (p < 0.05) increased total motility (82 ± 3.5% vs. 76 ± 5.9%), progressive motility (67.6 ± 8.2% vs. 51 ± 8.3%), and other parameters (straight-line velocity (VSL), average path velocity (VAP), and curvilinear velocity (VCL)). In addition, 10 nM MA-5 supplementation also improved ram sperm membrane integrity and acrosomal integrity as well increased mitochondrial membrane potential (51.1 ± 0.7% vs. 37.7 ± 1.3%), reduced ROS levels, and elevated adenosine triphosphate (ATP) contents. Furthermore, a Western blot analysis demonstrated that the addition of MA-5 significantly (p < 0.05) increased the expression of MT-ND1 and MT-ND6 proteins in ram sperm, with the 10 nM MA-5 treatment resulting in the highest expression level. These results suggest that MA-5 improves ram sperm quality by maintaining high sperm mitochondrial function during liquid storage at 4 °C. Full article

Hydrogen storage in Mg/MgH₂ materials is still an active research topic. In this work, a mixture of Mg-15wt.% VCl₃ was produced by cryogenic ball milling and tested for hydrogen storage. Short milling time (1 h), liquid N₂ cooling, and the use of VCl₃ as an additive produced micro-flaked particles approximately 2.5–5.0 µm thick. The Mg-15wt.% VCl₃ mixture demonstrated hydrogen uptake even at near room-temperature (50 °C). Mg-15wt.% VCl₃ achieved ~5 wt.% hydrogen in 1 min at 300 °C/26 bar. The fast hydriding kinetics is attributed to a reduction of the activation energy of the hydriding reaction (E_{a hydriding} = 63.8 ± 5.6 kJ/mol). The dehydriding reaction occurred at high temperatures (300–350 °C) and 0.8–1 bar hydrogen pressure. The activation energy of the dehydriding reaction is 123.11 ± 0.6 kJ/mol. Cryomilling and VCl₃ drastically improved the hydriding/dehydriding of Mg/MgH₂. Full article

The purpose of this study was to compare four activation solutions (AS)—Woynarovich, Lahnsteiner, Kucharczyk, and Perchec—with the addition of 0.5% bovine serum albumin (BSA) for ide (Leuciscus idus) sperm activation and analysis with a CASA system. It was found that ide sperm can be activated using each AS within a pH range of 7.4–9.0 and an osmolality range of 160–200 mOsm kg⁻¹. The effect of Woynarovich and Perchec solutions supplemented with BSA and casein at concentrations of 0.25, 0.5, 1.0, and 2.0% were also analyzed during the experiment. These two AS without protein supplementation (pure solutions) were the controls. Woynarovich and Perchec solutions supplemented with the minimum BSA concentration (i.e., 0.25%) significantly improved sperm motility (89.05% and 86.63%, respectively) compared to the controls (20.39 and 28.48%, respectively). Similar increases were also noted in progressively motile sperm (PRG, %), the curvilinear velocity of sperm (VCL, µm s⁻¹), and the amplitude of lateral head displacement (ALH, µm). A similar trend in CASA parameters was also noted when casein was added to Woynarovich and Perchec solutions at a concentration of 0.25%. We concluded that 0.25% doses of each of the proteins were sufficient to prevent sperm adhesion to glass slides, and they can be used in research on ide sperm motility measurements. Full article

Reactions of VCl₃ with 1,2-Bis[(4-methylphenyl)imino]acenaphthene (4-Me-C₆H₄-bian) or 1,2-Bis[(2-methylphenyl)imino]acenaphthene (2-Me-C₆H₄-bian) in air lead to the formation of [VOCl₂(R-bian)(H₂O)] (R = 4-Me-C₆H₄ (1), 2-Me-C₆H₄ (2)). Thes complexes were characterized by IR and EPR spectroscopy as well as elemental analysis. Complexes 1 and 2 have high catalytic activity in the oxidation of hydrocarbons with hydrogen peroxide and alcohols with tert-butyl hydroperoxide in acetonitrile at 50 °С. The product yields are up to 40% for cyclohexane. Of particular importance is the addition of 2-pyrazinecarboxylic acid (PCA) as a co-catalyst. Oxidation proceeds mainly with the participation of free hydroxyl radicals, as evidenced by taking into account the regio- and bond-selectivity in the oxidation of n-heptane and methylcyclohexane, as well as the dependence of the reaction rate on the initial concentration of cyclohexane. Full article