Concentration effect of trace metals in Jordanian patients of urinary calculi

Due to the increase in the number of urinary calculi disease cases in Jordan, stone samples were collected from patients from various Jordanian hospitals (Princes Basma (PBH), King Abdullah University (KAUH), Al-Basheer (ABH) and Al-Mafraq (AMH)). This study concentrates on the effect of trace metals in patients of urinary calculi. Trace metals were detected in 110 urinary calculi samples using X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and atomic absorption spectroscopy (AAS) techniques. Of the calculi examined, 21 were pure calcium oxalate (CaOax), 29 were mixed calcium oxalate/uric acid, 23 were mixed calcium oxalate/phosphate (apatite), 25 were phosphate calculi (apatite/struvite), five were mixed calcium oxalate monohydrate/struvite, four were urate calculi (mixed ammonium acid urate/sodium acid urate) and three were pure cystine calculi. The concentration measurement of Ca and other trace metals levels has been found useful in understanding the mechanism of stone formation and in evaluating pathological factors. It has been found that Ca is the main constituent of the urinary calculi, especially those stones composed of calcium oxalate and calcium phosphate. The concentration of most of the trace metals that were analyzed was (Ca = 48.18, Na = 1.56, K = 0.9, Mg = 3.08, Fe = 1.17, Al = 0.49, Zn = 0.7, Cu = 0.19, Mn = 0.029, P = 10.35, S = 1.88, Sr = 0.306, Mo = 0.2, Cr = 0.146, Co = 0.05, Ni = 0.014)%. In conclusion, metals concentration in Jordanian patient’s urinary calculi samples was higher than its equivalents of other patients’. It has been noted that there is no concentration of toxic trace elements (like Li, V, Pb, Cd, and As). Some heavy metals, however, were detected Mo, Cr, Co and Ni as traces. P and S ions are present in few calculi stones as traces.     

Inhibitory effect of arachidonic acid on venom acetylcholinesterase

The venom of krait (Bungarus sindanus), an Elapidae snake, contains high level of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity. The effect of arachidonic acid on krait (Bungarus sindanus) venom AChE (acetylcholine hydrolase, EC 3.1.1.7) was studied using kinetic methods. This study evaluated for the first time whether arachidonic acid acts as potential AChE inhibitor of krait venom. Kinetic studies, using Line-Weaver Burk and Dixon plots, indicated that the inhibition produced by arachidonic acid was non-competitive, i.e., both k_m and V _max fell with increase in the concentration of arachidonic acid. The concentration of arachidonic acid required to inhibit 50% of enzymatic activity was found to be 1.9?µM while the inhibitory constant (K_i ) was 1.4?µM. The present results suggest that essential fatty acid (arachidonic acid) may also be used as an inhibitor of snake venom AChE.     

Ag–TiO2 doped photo catalytic degradation of Procion blue H-B dye in textile washwater

The photocatalytic degradation of Procion blue H-B dye in biodegraded textile washwater has been investigated for the complete removal of color and maximum reduction of chemical oxygen demand (COD). Pseudomonas putida was utilized for obtaining biodegraded textile washwater. In this process, silver-doped TiO₂ photocatalyst was prepared and experiments were carried out to study the effects of UV and mercury lamp irradiations on COD reduction and removal of color. The thus prepared silver-doped TiO₂ catalyst was characterized by thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis, UV-visible spectrometer, X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope, energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis, and BET surface area techniques. Adsorption studies were also carried out to evaluate the fitness of isotherm models. The results show that the silver-doped TiO₂ has enhanced the photodegradation of Procion blue H-B dye under UV and mercury lamp irradiations. The enhanced activity of silver-doped TiO₂ is due to the enrichment of electron–hole separation by electron trapping of silver particles.     

Green supply chain management in the chemical industry: structural framework of drivers

ABSTRACT

The main purpose of Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) is to improve the quality of supply chain management strategies and environmental performance. As per current statistics, the chemical industry is growing fast in Bangladesh. In order to compete for global competition, GSCM is essential in this sector. This paper proposes a systematic approach of structural framework whose aim is to enhance the probability of constructive implementation of GSCM in the field chemical industry in Bangladesh. Therefore, this framework evaluates the appropriate interrelationship along with the drivers of GSCM in the chemical industry. In total, eight drivers were finalized from an associated literature review with the help of survey and by taking expert opinions via the Delphi methodology. In addition to MICMAC analysis, the driving and the dependence powers for all the drivers were determined. Moreover, the structural frameworks for the drivers were developed by means of total interpretive structural modeling (TISM) technique. As a result, the findings indicate that the most significant driver was supplier pressure and willingness and the most important barrier was high cost. Finally, the main objective of this research is expected to help industrial managers to evaluate and understand the critical areas where they should emphasize to implement GSCM in the chemical industry.     

Chlorpyrifos insecticide uptake by plantain from polluted water and soil

Chlorpyrifos is a common organophosphorus insecticide used for crop protection. Chlorpyrifos use has induced heath issues and water pollution. Such issues may be solved by phytoremediation, which is the use of plants for the cleanup of pollutants. Here, we tested Plantago major L. to clean water and soils under laboratory conditions. Results show that the concentration of chlorpyrifos residues after 5 days exposure reached 36.86 μg/g in roots and 13.93 μg/g in upper plant tissues. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis of chlorpyrifos metabolites suggests the formation of 3, 5, 6-trichloro-2-pyridinol (TCP) and diethyl 3,5,6-trichloropyridin-2-yl phosphate (chlorpyrifos-oxon). Chlorpyrifos-oxon was detected in the roots and the leaves after 2 h of testing. After 24 h of testing, the degradation product chlorpyrifos-oxon increased in the roots and the leaves then decreased gradually until the end of testing. TCP levels increased gradually to 192 h then decreased until the end of testing.     

Lead- and cadmium-induced histopathological changes in gill,kidney and liver tissue of freshwater climbing perch Anabas testudineus (Bloch, 1792)

The objective of this study was to examine the toxicological effect of two major heavy metal pollutants, lead chloride (PbCl₂) and cadmium chloride (CdCl₂), in the freshwater climbing perch, Anabas testudineus. Fish were exposed to 1.0 and 2.0 mg/L both metals and histopathological changes in gill, kidney and liver tissues were studied. Major changes observed in gill tissue were epithelial lifting, proliferation of epithelial cells, fusion of secondary lamellae, hyperplasia and hypertrophy of mucous cells, and necrosis of epithelial cells. Cell necrosis, degenerated kidney tubules, congestion, lymphocytic infiltration and vacuolation were the major abnormalities observed in kidney tissue. The most conspicuous changes in liver were darker nucleoli, irregularly shaped hepatocytes with dilated blood capillaries, and focal as well as single necrosis. Fish specimens exposed to PbCl₂ exhibited pronounced changes in all tissues examined compared with those exposed to CdCl₂. It is evident from this study that heavy metals can cause significant histopathological changes in fish tissue.     

Heuristic space–time design of monitoring wells for contaminant plume characterization in stochastic flow fields

An optimization methodology for designing groundwater quality monitoring networks applicable to stochastic flow fields is presented and evaluated. The approach sets itself apart from previous techniques by incorporating the time dimension directly into the objective function. This function is extremized using a directed partial enumeration strategy guided by physical considerations related to transport processes. The result is a set of monitoring well locations and a sampling schedule that minimizes plume characterization error while satisfying constraints on the maximum number of wells and allowable number of active wells. The method is evaluated using hypothetical plumes with varying degrees of heterogeneity. Results indicate that the proposed approach is successful in generating near-optimal sampling networks that satisfy all imposed constraints. Monitoring networks with as little as three active wells and a total of 12 wells are found to provide adequate plume characterization for low toxicity contaminants.     

Effect of green marketing mix,green customer value,and attitude on green purchase intention: evidence from the USA

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The undertaken research examines the impact of green attitude, green customer value (e.g., environmental image and perceived value), and green...     

Studies on nanomaterial-based p-type semiconductor gas sensors

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The development of various metal oxide semiconductor materials has resulted in better performance of the gas sensors in terms of selectivity,...