The influx of Ca2+ and its subsequent intracellular increase are required for the acrosome reaction of sea urchin sperm to occur. Spermatozoa must undergo this reaction, which is triggered by the egg jelly, in order to fertilize the egg. Here, the egg jelly-induced Ca2+ influx mechanisms have been studied in sperm loaded with FURA-2 using Mn2+ under the assumption that this divalent ion is an i...

Bentonite-Sand Backfill is a part of Engineered Barrier System (EBS) widely used in a Near Surface Disposal Facility (NSDF) to delay migration of radionuclides from the disposed nuclear waste in a geo environment. Laboratory migration experiments have been conducted to understand the advection/diffusion mechanisms of various radionuclides through backfill and to evaluate their migration rates i...

Background. This study examines the impact of one-time direct application of haemostatic agent zeolite-bentonite powder to wounded skin on the healing process in rats. Materials and Methods. 24 male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly allocated into two groups (n = 12): (1) the rats whose wounds were washed only with sterile normal saline (NS-treated) and (2) those treated with zeolite-bentonite ...

Bentonite-derived monolithic materials with and without distributed nanoscale turbostratic carbon, obtained by hot-pressing organobentonite and bentonite particles, respectively, in the absence of an added binder, exhibit exceptionally high dielectric loss while the electrical conductivity is relatively low. The combination of high dielectric loss and relatively low conductivity has not been pr...

The preferred method for the storage of spent nuclear fuel (HLW) is the disposal in deep geological formations. The repository will consist not only of the geological barrier but also of an engineered barrier and has to isolate the waste for at least 10 years from the biosphere [1]. In this barrier, several materials like concrete or bentonite are effective in retention of radionuclides. In mod...

IN the analysis of events immediately preceding and following fertilization of the frog egg, it is frequently desirable to treat the eggs with various reagents. Any such treatment must circumvent the barrier represented by the fertilization membrane and the jelly layers. These membranes can be removed from fertilized eggs mechanically or by treatment with proteolytic enzymes (Spiegel, 1951) wit...

Photocatalyst nanocomposites of ZnO/bentonite clay are synthesized by Solid-state ion exchange method. Ion exchange intercalation process of clays is used to incorporate the catalyst into the basal space of the layered structure of clays. The purpose of this study is to find a new method, which is focused on simplifying and saving time to prepare ZnO-bentonite composite with photocatalyst prope...

Background: Chronic diabetes mellitus is accompanied with enhanced oxidative stress and reduce the activity of antioxidant defense system. Due to significant role of enhanced oxidative stress in development of testes damage in diabetices, this study was conducted to evaluate the effect of royal jelly on oxidative stress marker in testis tissue of diabetic rats. Materials and Methods: In this ex...

Na-bentonite was prepared and tested as an adsorbent for a dye (Reactive Blue2) removal from aqueous solution. The effect of various experimental parameters was investigated using a batch adsorption technique. In this manner, initial dye concentration, pH of the initial dye solution, temperature and time contact effects upon dye adsorption on Na–bentonite having a structural formula of (Si7.86 ...