ABSTRACT
Seawater electrolysis holds tremendous promise for the generation of green hydrogen (H2). However, the system of seawater-to-H2 faces significant hurdles, primarily due to the corrosive effects of chlorine compounds, which can cause severe anodic deterioration. Here, a nickel phosphide nanosheet array with amorphous NiMoO4 layer on Ni foam (Ni2P@NiMoO4/NF) is reported as a highly efficient and stable electrocatalyst for oxygen evolution reaction (OER) in alkaline seawater. Such Ni2P@NiMoO4/NF requires overpotentials of just 343 and 370 mV to achieve industrial-level current densities of 500 and 1000 mA cm-2, respectively, surpassing that of Ni2P/NF (470 and 555 mV). Furthermore, it maintains consistent electrolysis for over 500 h, a significant improvement compared to that of Ni2P/NF (120 h) and Ni(OH)2/NF (65 h). Electrochemical in situ Raman spectroscopy, stability testing, and chloride extraction analysis reveal that is situ formed MoO4 2-/PO4 3- from Ni2P@NiMoO4 during the OER test to the electrode surface, thus effectively repelling Cl- and hindering the formation of harmful ClO-.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To study the effect of rhTNF-alpha on human sperm mitochondrial function and motility in vitro. METHODS: Fifty-six semen samples collected by masturbation were analyzed according to WHO protocols. Semen samples from 40 healthy men were prepared using Percoll centrifugation. Sperm suspension was diluted to a concentration of 10 x 10(6)/ml in Ham's F10 medium. Sperm samples were incubated with rhTNF-alpha solution (final concentration 0.03 microg/L, 0.06 microg/L, 0.09 microg/L and 0.27 microg/L, respectively) for 0.5 h, 1 h, 2 h, 3 h and 4 h at 37 degrees C in 5% CO2, and comparative studies were made with a control group. Ten microl sperm samples were examined with CASA technique, 250 microl stained in the presence of 10 microg/ml Rh123 and PI, and mitochondrial function analyzed by flow cytometry. RESULTS: Significant differences were found between the experimental groups (final concentration 0.06 microg/L, 0.09 microg/L and 0.27 microg/L) and the control group in viability, straight line velocity, curvilinear velocity, average path velocity, progressive motility of human sperm and the number of spermatozoa with normal mitochondrial function (P < 0.01) except the final concentration 0.03 microg/L group (P > 0.05). Motility of human sperm lowered with the increase of rhTNF-alpha concentration and incubation time, and r values were 0.675, 0.691, 0.762, 0.693, 0.724 and 0.571, 0.594, 0.752, 0.791, 0.816, respectively (P < 0.01). The number of spermatozoa with normal mitochondrial function decreased with the increased rhTNF-alpha concentration and incubation time, and r values were 0.615, 0.643, 0.752, 0.691, 0.754 and 0.532, 0.567, 0.782, 0.692, 0.854, respectively (P < 0.01). CONCLUSION: rhTNF-alpha can reduce human sperm motility function in vitro, possibly by interfering with human sperm mitochondrial function.
Subject(s)
Mitochondria/drug effects , Sperm Motility/drug effects , Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha/pharmacology , Adult , Dose-Response Relationship, Drug , Humans , Male , Mitochondria/physiology , Recombinant Proteins/pharmacologyABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To study the relationship of the long-term incidence rate of benign prostate hyperplasia (BPH) after vasectomy to age and time after operation. METHOD: Questionnaire survey, physical examination, and ultrasonography were conducted among 850 healthy males, aged 55 - 76 who underwent vasectomy more than 20 years before and 390 healthy males, aged 53 - 75, who had not undergone vasectomy in Yichang, Hubei province, selected by randomized cluster sampling. The data such as international prostate symptom scoring (IPSS), quality of life (QOL) index, maximum urine flow rate (MFR), and average flow rate (AFR), digital rectal examination (DRE), volume of prostate gland (V), and residual urine (R) were analyzed. RESULTS: The general BPH incidence rate of the vasectomy group was 10.8%, significantly lower than that of the control group (40.8%, P < 0.01). The age-specific BPH incidence rates in the vasetomy group were all significantly lower than those of the control group, especially that of the subjects aged over 70 (10.8% vs. 56.5%, P < 0.001). The BPH incidence rate of those who had undergone vasectomy 25 years or over before was 7.8%, significantly lower than that of those who had undergone vasectomy 20 years before (13.2%, P < 0.05), but not significantly difference from that of those who had undergone vasectomy 30 years or over before (5.5%, P > 0.05). The volumes of prostate gland in all age subgroups were significantly smaller in the vasectomy group than in the control group. CONCLUSION: Vasectomy reduces the incidence rate of BPH significantly.
Subject(s)
Prostatic Hyperplasia/epidemiology , Vasectomy , Age Factors , Aged , Humans , Incidence , Male , Middle Aged , Time FactorsABSTRACT
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the possibility and efficacy of vasoligation and deferent vein ligation in treating and preventing benign prostatic hyperplasia(BPH). METHODS: 40 male pooches were divided into A, B, C and D groups randomly. Each group has 10 pooches group A and B were made into the model of BPH. Two years later, the pooches in group A and C accepted the operation of vasoligation and deferent vein ligation on both sides. Group B and D only accepted the operation of dissection and relieving its deferent duct. Then continuing to feed the 40 pooches after the operation, they were killed another two years later. After taking out their prostates and calculating their volume and weight, the sections of the prostates were checked by microscope to observe their histology and pathology changes. RESULTS: There were significant differences of weight and volume as well as the changes of histology and pathology between group A and group C (P < 0.01). It was the same with group B and D (hyperplasia changes). CONCLUSIONS: Vasoligation and deferent vein ligation before benign prostatic hyperplasia at pooches grow-up stage can reduce the extent of BPH at old age, and treatment after benign prostatic hyperplasia can make prostatic tissue appear different degrees of atrophy.