Aging changes of the testis in albino rat: light, electron microscopic, morphometric, immunohistochemical and biochemical study

Background: Aging has a deleterious effect on the morphology of the male reproductive system which might, in turn, lead to changes in spermatogenesis and consequently, decrease in both quality and quantity of spermatozoa. Materials and methods: The present study elucidated the histological and ultrastructural changes of testes of adult albino rats during aging and applied morphometric measures to obtain quantitative data for these changes. The oxidative and antioxidative markers of aged testes were also assessed. Results: The results documented the presence of age-related regressive structural changes of the testis accompanied with an increase in the apoptosis and a decrease in the proliferative capacity. Conclusions: The biochemical results gave evidence of an imbalance between the oxidative damage and the antioxidant defence indicating increased oxidative stress of aged testis

Materiales vitrocerámicos a partir de lodos procedentes de una estación de depuración de aguas residuales urbanas (en la Ciudad de El-Sadat, Egipto)

La depuración de las aguas residuales urbanas es fuente de importantes volúmenes de lodos los cuales es preciso gestionar. En este trabajo se expone la posibilidad de aplicarles un proceso de gestión basado en la vitrificación y mediante el cual, además de inertizar los elementos contaminantes presentes en los lodos, se obtiene un material vitrocerámico con un importante valor añadido. Partiendo de la caracterización química (FRX), mineralógica (DRX) y térmica (ATD-TG) de estos lodos, se determina la formulación del vidrio original y su poder energético. Mediante ATD-TG, dilatometría y MEB, se ha determinado la temperatura de máxima velocidad de nucleación y la temperatura de crecimiento así como la morfología y tamaño de los núcleos formados que, en este caso, son nanométricos. En definitiva, se ha comprobado como la gestión de los residuos sólidos urbanos mediante la vitrificación es una alternativa a los vertederos y a la incineración

Asymmetrical liquid crystals synthesis for effective sensing: Fluorescence investigations

Currently, a new set of asymmetrical dimeric molecules with a Schiff-base at one end and a chalcone alkali substitution by di-ether are made and their liquid crystal and fluorescence properties are investigated. The proposed chemical structure was confirmed by routine analytical methods using FT-IR and NMR spectroscopy. Additionally, polarized optical microscopy (POM); was used to assess the pointed compounds' liquid crystalline characteristics, while differential scanning calorimetry (DSC); was employed to confirm the compounds' transitions. The results report the length of the alkali chain at one end of the molecule is critical to the creation of the mesophase type. Compounds with medium-length chains exhibit nematic mesophases with moderate transition temperatures. The fluorescence of compounds was analyzed, with blue-emitting results indicating the presence of blue-light-emitting features. The 10a had higher ɛ; as well as red-shifted λmax; and Fmax; compared to the others and has blue light emission properties. Eventually; the expanding range of possible uses to include OLED material and fluorescent probes for sensing applications