Significance of Stone Waste in Strength Improvement of Soil

The evolution of industries is essential for the economic growth of any country; however, this growth often comes with exploitation of natural resources and generation of wastes. The safe disposal and utilisation of industrial wastes has become essential for sustainable development. A possible approach would be to utilize these wastes in construction industries. The stone industry is one such flawed industries that generates waste in dust or slurry form; this leads harmful impacts on human beings, animals, and surrounding areas which, in turn, can lead to soil infertility. In the present study, stone waste was examined for its influence on maximum dry density (MDD), optimum water content (OMC) and unconfined compressive strength (UCS) of soil experimentally. Stone waste was used at 0%, 4%, 8%, 12%, 16% and 20% by weight of soil and UCS tests were conducted at maturing periods of 7, 14 and 21 days. Test results reported that the incorporation of stone waste improved the compressive strength value significantly. Maximum dry density was enhanced; however, optimum water content was reduced with the use of stone waste in soil due to its fine particles. Linear regression equations were also derived for various properties

Neurons for Ejaculation and Factors Affecting Ejaculation

Ejaculation is a reflex and the last stage of intercourse in male mammals. It consists of two coordinated phases, emission and expulsion. The emission phase consists of secretions from the vas deferens, seminal vesicle, prostate, and Cowper’s gland. Once these contents reach the posterior urethra, movement of the contents becomes inevitable, followed by the expulsion phase. The urogenital organs are synchronized during this complete event. The L3–L4 (lumbar) segment, the spinal cord region responsible for ejaculation, nerve cell bodies, also called lumbar spinothalamic (LSt) cells, which are denoted as spinal ejaculation generators or lumbar spinothalamic cells [Lst]. Lst cells activation causes ejaculation. These Lst cells coordinate with [autonomic] parasympathetic and sympathetic assistance in ejaculation. The presence of a spinal ejaculatory generator has recently been confirmed in humans. Different types of ejaculatory dysfunction in humans include premature ejaculation (PE), retrograde ejaculation (RE), delayed ejaculation (DE), and anejaculation (AE). The most common form of ejaculatory dysfunction studied is premature ejaculation. The least common forms of ejaculation studied are delayed ejaculation and anejaculation. Despite the confirmation of Lst in humans, there is insufficient research on animals mimicking human ejaculatory dysfunction

POWER UPGRADING OF TRANSMISSION LINE BY COMBINING AC-DC TRANSMISSION

Long extra high voltage (EHV) ac lines cannot be loaded to their thermal limits in order to keep sufficient margin against transient instability. With the scheme proposed in this paper it is possible to load these lines very close to their thermal limits. The conductors are allowed to carry usual ac along with dc superimposed on it. The added dc power flow does not cause any transient instability. This paper gives the feasibility of converting a double circuit ac line into composite ac–dc power transmission line to get the advantages of parallel ac–dc transmission to improve stability and damping out oscillations. Simulation and experimental studies are carried out for the coordinated control as well as independent control of ac and dc power transmissions. No alterations of conductors, insulator strings, and towers of the original line are needed. Substantial gain in the load ability of the line is obtained. Master current controller senses ac current and regulates the dc current orders for converters online such that conductor current never exceeds its thermal limit. Keywords: Flexible ac transmission system (FACTS) ,Extra high voltage (EHV)transmission, power system computer-aided design(PSCAD),Simultaneous ac-dc power transmission

The relationship between depression, anxiety and lower urinary tract symptoms in men

Purpose: Patients with lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) often experience comorbid depression and anxiety, yet the mechanisms underlying this association remain incompletely understood. This prospective study aimed to investigate the relationship between depression, anxiety, and LUTS in men. Materials and methods: A prospective study was conducted with 350 male patients who underwent urologic examinations at our institution from January 2021 to December 2021. Of these, 131 patients meeting the inclusion criteria were included. Various questionnaires, including the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS) and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), as well as LUTS examinations (prostate-specific antigen test, transrectal ultrasonography, and urine flowmetry), were administered. Results: Among the 350 patients, 131 were included in the analysis, with an average age of 58.0 ± 13.69 years. The total IPSS was 18.0 ± 8.69, with the average voiding symptom score at 8.7 ± 5.19 and the average storage symptom score at 6.0 ± 3.27. Both anxiety and depression were found to be correlated with LUTS (P < 0.05). After adjusting for age, hypertension, and diabetes, anxiety (but not depression) was significantly associated with LUTS based on regression analysis. Conclusion: Men with LUTS are more likely to experience anxiety. Therefore, it is essential to assess and address anxiety when managing men with LUTS

Tandem Photocatalysis of Graphene-Stacked SnS₂ Nanodiscs and Nanosheets with Efficient Carrier Separation

Being an optical semiconductor, tin disulfide (SnS₂) attracts increasing interest in the fields of heterogeneous photocatalysis and photovoltaics. However, support from a graphene sheet in the form of a nanocomposite is expected to increase the stability and effectiveness of a SnS₂ material in potential applications. We report here novel nanocomposites of graphene-oxide-stacked hexagonal-shaped pristine SnS₂ nanodiscs (NDs of two different sizes) and nanosheets synthesized using an in situ one-pot hydrothermal synthesis process and the application of the nanocomposite as an efficient heterogeneous photocatalyst. The as-synthesized morphology-oriented nanoparticles and nanocomposites were comprehensively characterized, and finally, excellent photocatalytic activity of reduced graphene oxide/SnS₂ nanocomposites under visible-light irradiation was analyzed using UV–vis spectroscopy, high-performance liquid chromatography, and gas chromatography. While precisely manipulating the nanocomposite formation, we observed efficient visible-light-driven photocatalytic application of graphene-stacked SnS₂ NDs in the quantitative synthesis of aniline (99.9% yield, absolute selectivity) from nitrobenzene (>99.9% conversion), in the reduction of toxic Cr­(VI) to nontoxic Cr­(III), and in the degradation of mutagenic organic dyes. A possible synergetic electrical and chemical coupling leads to effective carrier separation in the semiconductor and charge transport in the nanocomposite, which finally gives rise to efficient tandem photocatalysis reactions

Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Causing Apoptosis in a Mouse Model of an Ischemic Spinal Cord Injury

A spinal cord injury (SCI) is the devastating trauma associated with functional deterioration due to apoptosis. Most laboratory SCI models are generated by a direct impact on an animal’s spinal cord; however, our model does not involve the direct impact on the spinal cord. Instead, we use a clamp compression to create an ischemia in the descending aortas of mice. Following the success of inducing an ischemic SCI (ISCI), we hypothesized that this model may show apoptosis via an endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress pathway. This apoptosis by the ER stress pathway is enhanced by the inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS). The ER is used for the protein folding in the cell. When the protein folding capacity is overloaded, the condition is termed the ER stress and is characterized by the accumulation of misfolded proteins inside the ER lumen. The unfolded protein response (UPR) signaling pathways that deal with the ER stress response then become activated. This UPR activates the three signal pathways that are regulated by the inositol-requiring enzyme 1α (IRE1α), the activating transcription factor 6 (ATF6), and the protein kinase RNA-like ER kinase (PERK). IRE1α and PERK are associated with the expression of the apoptotic proteins. Apoptosis caused by an ISCI is assessed using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) test. An ISCI also reduces synaptophysin and the neuronal nuclear protein (NeuN) in the spinal cord. In conclusion, an ISCI increases the ER stress proteins, resulting in apoptosis in neuronal cells in the spinal cord

MOTILIPERM Ameliorates Immobilization Stress-Induced Testicular Dysfunction via Inhibition of Oxidative Stress and Modulation of the Nrf2/HO-1 Pathway in SD Rats

It is well established that physiological stress has an adverse effect on the male reproductive system. Experimental studies have demonstrated the promising effects of MOTILIPERM in male infertility. MOTILIPERM extract is composed of three crude medicinal herbs: Morinda officinalis How (Rubiaceae) roots, Allium cepa L. (Liliaceae) outer scales, and Cuscuta chinensis Lamark (convolvulaceae) seeds. The present study aimed to investigate the possible mechanisms responsible for the effects of MOTILIPERM on testicular dysfunction induced by immobilization stress. Fifty male Sprague Dawley rats were divided into five groups (10 rats each): a normal control group (CTR), a control group administered MOTILIPERM 200 mg/kg (M 200), an immobilization-induced stress control group (S), an immobilization-induced stress group administered MOTILIPERM 100 mg/kg (S + M 100), and MOTILIPERM 200 mg/kg (S + M 200). Stressed rats (n = 30) were subjected to stress by immobilization for 6 h by placing them in a Perspex restraint cage, while controls (n = 20) were maintained without disturbance. Rats were administrated 100 or 200 mg/kg MOTILIPERM once daily for 30 days 1 h prior to immobilization. At the end of the treatment period, we measured body and reproductive organ weight; sperm parameters; histopathological damage; reproductive hormone levels; steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR); biomarkers of oxidative stress; and apoptosis markers. MOTILIPERM treatment improved testicular dysfunction by up-regulating (p &lt; 0.05) sperm count, sperm motility, serum testosterone level, StAR protein level, Johnsen score, and spermatogenic cell density in stressed rats. MOTILIPERM decreased oxidative stress by increasing (p &lt; 0.05) testicular superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione peroxidase-4 (GPx 4), catalase, nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), and heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) levels and decreasing (p &lt; 0.05) malondialdehyde (MDA) and reactive oxygen species/reactive nitrogen species (ROS/RNS) levels. Furthermore, MOTILIPERM down-regulated (p &lt; 0.05) cleaved caspase 3 and BCL2 associated X protein (Bax) levels; increased pro caspase-3 and B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) levels; and upregulated testicular germ cell proliferation in stressed rats. The number of terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL)-positive cells and serum luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) levels also significantly (p &lt; 0.05) decreased after pretreatment with MOTILIPERM in stressed rats. Collectively, our results suggest that, in immobilization-mediated stress-induced testicular dysfunction, MOTILIPERM sustains normal spermatogenesis via antioxidant and anti-apoptotic activities by activating the NRF/HO-1 signaling pathway