Hierarchical NiO nanosheets were successfully grown on flexible carbon fibers with pre-deposited ZnO nanoparticle films as the buffer layers, followed by the removal of the ZnO films. The as-grown NiO nanosheets with excellent flexibility exhibited a largest specific capacitance of 842 mF cm À2 at a current density of 1 mA cm À2 . Configured as flexible symmetric all-solid-state supercapacitors, the device showed a specific capacitance of 20 mF cm À2 at 0.1 mA cm À2 , excellent cyclability with a real capacitance of about 20 mF cm À2 for over 10 000 cycles, and excellent mechanical flexibility and stability under different curvatures.

Epidemiological studies link ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution to abnormalities in the male reproductive system. However, few toxicological studies have investigated this potentially important adverse effect of PM2.5 pollution. Therefore, in the present study, we analyzed the effects of PM2.5 exposure on spermatogenesis and hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis in a murine model. Fourteen male C57BL/6J mice were subjected to a 4-month exposure to filtered air or concentrated ambient PM2.5 (CAP). Their sperm count, testicular histology, spermatogenic parameters, and the major components of HPG axis were assessed. Exposure to CAP significantly reduced sperm count in the epididymis. This was accompanied by Sertoli cell vacuolization, immature germ cell dislocation, and decreases in pachytene spermatocytes and round spermatids of stage VII seminiferous tubules, suggesting a marked impairment of spermatogenesis in these mice. This impairment of spermatogenesis appeared to be attributable to a suppression of HPG axis subsequent to CAP exposure-induced hypothalamic inflammation, as exposure to CAP significantly increased TNFα and IL1b mRNA levels and meanwhile decreased gonadotropin-releasing hormone mRNA expression in the hypothalamus. Moreover, CAP exposure significantly reduced circulating testosterone and follicle-stimulating hormone, testicular testosterone and mRNA expression of follicle-stimulating hormone target gene SHBG and luteinizing hormone target genes P450scc, 17βHSD, and StAR. The present data demonstrate that exposure to ambient PM2.5 impairs spermatogenesis in murine model, raising the concern over effects of ambient PM2.5 pollution on the male reproductive function.

No abstract

No abstract