Self-reported sleep quality and oligo/astheno/teratozoospermia among men attending an infertility clinic: a longitudinal study.

OBJECTIVE: We aimed to examine the influence of sleep disturbances on the risk of oligo/astheno/teratozoospermia (OAT) in men attending an infertility clinic. METHODS: We consecutively enrolled men attending an infertility clinic from July 2020 to June 2021. Semen parameters were obtained at initial presentation, and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Epworth Sleepiness Scale score, and the STOP-BANG Questionnair were completed to assess sleep quality. Embryo outcomes were evaluated after infertility treatment. RESULTS: Of 466 men enrolled, 119 had OAT (OAT group) and 347 had normozoospermia (NS group). There were no differences between the two groups regarding Epworth Sleepiness Scale and STOP-BANG Questionnaire scores. The prevalence of poor sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score ≥ 5) in the OAT group was significantly higher than that in the NS group (42% vs. 29%, p = 0.009). A higher rate of poor subjective sleep quality was observed in the OAT group compared with the NS group (p = 0.005) and Pearson's correlations revealed a negative relationship between subjective sleep quality and semen quality. Logistic regression found that subjective sleep quality was independently associated with an increased risk of OAT (adjusted odds ratio = 0.610, p = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS: Men with OAT attending an infertility clinic exhibited poor subjective sleep quality. Improving sleep disturbances may be a target intervention to reduce the risk of OAT. This possibility warrants further investigation.

In2Se3, In2Te3, and In2(Se,Te)3 Alloys as Photovoltaic Materials.

In its lowest-energy three-dimensional (3D) hexagonal crystal structure (γ phase), In2Se3 has a direct band gap of ∼1.8 eV and displays high absorption coefficient, making it a promising semiconductor material for optoelectronics. Incorporation of Te allows for tuning the band gap, adding flexibility to device design and extending the application range. Here we report results of hybrid density functional theory calculations to assess the electronic and optical properties of γ-In2Se3, γ-In2Te3, and γ-In2(Se1-xTex)3 alloys, and initial experiments on the growth and characterization of γ-In2Se3 thin films. The predicted band gap of 1.84 eV for γ-In2Se3 is in good agreement with the absorption onset derived from transmission and reflection spectra of thin films. We show that incorporation of Te gives γ-In2(Se1-xTex)3 alloys with a band gap ranging from 1.84 eV down to 1.23 eV, thus covering the optimal band gap range for single-junction solar cells. In addition, the γ-In2Se3/γ-In2(Se1-xTex)3 bilayer could be employed in tandem solar-cell architectures absorbing at Eg ≈ 1.8 eV and at Eg ≤ 1.4 eV, toward overcoming the ∼33% efficiency set by the Shockley-Queisser limit for single junction solar cells. We also discuss band gap bowing and mixing enthalpies, aiming at adding γ-In2Se3, γ-In2Te3, and γ-In2(Se1-xTex)3 alloys to the available toolbox of materials for solar cells and other optoelectronic applications.

Neonatal exposure of bisphenol A led to increased lipolysis of visceral adipose tissue in adult rats with DNA hypomethylation of Atgl being one of the possible underlying mechanisms.

Accumulating evidence suggests the role of developmental exposure of bisphenol A (BPA) in metabolic disorders. However, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Using a rat model, we investigated the neonatal exposure of BPA on lipid metabolism in adult and the underlying mechanisms. From postnatal day1(PND1) to PND10, male rats were exposed to BPA via daily subcutaneous injection with 10 µg/100 µL BPA (1.24-0.5 mg/kg body weight/day, a dose below the US-EPA LOAEL). After fasting for 8 h, adult rats aged 80 days showed elevated levels of serum free fatty acid (FFA), glycerol and glucose, and increased levels of FFA and glycerol in visceral adipose tissue. The expression levels of key enzymes of lipolysis, adipose triglyceride lipase (Atgl) and hormone-sensitive lipase (Hsl), were increased in visceral adipose tissue from BPA-exposed rats after fasting. On the other hand, transcription levels of lipogenic genes remained unchanged. Differentiation of visceral adipocyte in rats takes place neonatally. In our study, neonatal BPA exposure induced DNA hypomethylation of Atgl in visceral adipose tissue. In 3T3-L1 cell, administration of 10-7 mol/L BPA throughout the differentiation stage led to DNA hypomethylation and increased expression of Atgl. Our results suggest that neonatal exposure of BPA led to increased lipolysis of visceral adipose tissue in young adults, which will predispose individuals to multiple metabolic disorders. The DNA hypomethylation of Atgl might be one of the mechanisms underneath the long-lasting effect of neonatal BPA exposure.

Defect Dynamic Model of the Synergistic Effect in Neutron- and γ-Ray-Irradiated Silicon NPN Transistors.

A defect dynamic model is proposed for the positive synergistic effect of neutron- and γ-ray-irradiated silicon NPN transistors. The model considers a γ-ray-induced transformation and annihilation of the neutron-induced divacancy defects in the p-type base region of the transistor. The derived model of the base current predicts a growth function of the γ-ray dose that approaches exponentially an asymptotic value, which depends linearly on the neutron-induced initial displacement damage (DD) and a linear decay function of the dose whose slope depends quadratically on the initial DD. Variable fluence and dose neutron-γ-ray irradiation experiments are carried out, and we find all of the novel dose and fluence dependence predicted by the proposed model are confirmed by the measured data. Our work, hence, identifies that the defect evolution under γ-ray irradiation, rather than the widely believed interface Coulomb interaction, is the dominating mechanism of the synergistic effect. Our work also paves the way for the modification of displacement defects in silicon by γ-ray irradiation.

[Effect of acupoint injection by Astragalus injection on local SIgA and pathomorphology changes in rats with chronic pelvic inflammatory disease].

OBJECTIVE: To observe the effect of acupoint injection by astragalus injection on local SIgA and pathomorphologial changes in rats with chronic pelvic inflammatory disease (CPID). METHOD: 50 female Wistar rats were randomly devided into 6 groups, in which CPID model was made except the normal group and sham operation group. The astragalus injection group and the 0.9% NaCl injection group were treated by acupoint injection in Guanyuan (RN4) and Zusanli (ST36). The group was fed Qianjinpian solution into stomach. The histopathologic changes of rats' uterus of each group were observed and SIgA in vagina flushing was detected. RESULT: The model group showed inflammatory changes, and astragalus injection group and Qianjinpian group showed little histopathologic changes. The levels of SIgA in astragalus injection group were significantly higher than those in other groups, but that in the model group was the lowest. CONCLUSION: The deficiency of local SIgA lead to repeatedly attack of CPID. The treatment of acupoint injection by astragalus injection can improve the excretion of SIgA, reinforce the local immunity, and prevent the repeatedly attack.

PAHs in aquatic sediment in Hangzhou, China: analytical methods, pollution pattern, risk assessment and sources.

Eleven surface sediment samples, from Hangzhou section of Qiantang River and Jinghang Canal, west Lake the inland river were collected to investigate 17 polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) pollution in aquatic sediments of Hangzhou. Accelerated solvent extraction(ASE) was used to extract PAHs from sediments with satisfactory recoveries. It was found that the total PAHs in the sediments ranged from 308.4 to 3037 ng/g dw, and PAHs pollution in sediments from Jinghang Canal were the heaviest. Lowest effect level (LEL) and severe effect level (SEL) sediment quality guidelines were introduced to perform risk assessment for PAHs pollution in aquatic sediments. Only one sample in Jinghang Canal had adverse impact on benthic organism. 2-3 ring PAHs had a noticeable contribution to total PAHs, especially NA, PHEN. A quantity method was used to determine the major source, the results showed petroleum origin was the chief source to PAHs pollution in all sediments with the exception of sediments from Jinghang Canal where combustion sources had a larger contribution.