Supplementation with selenium nanoparticles alleviates diabetic nephropathy during pregnancy in the diabetic female rats

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The bioactivity of nanoparticles has engendered a promise in scientific communities for developing novel therapeutic strategies. This study...     

A systematic review of the utilization of waste materials as aggregate replacement in stone matrix asphalt mixes

Environmental Science and Pollution Research - The daily utilization of a large amount of raw materials is causing a rapid depletion of natural resources. The growth of the human population is...     

Oleuropein alleviates malathion-induced oxidative stress and DNA damage in rats

The effects of acute exposure to 250 mg/kg malathion and the protective effects of 20 mg/kg oleuropein, both administered intraperitoneally, were evaluated in Wistar male rats. Malathion administration increased malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine, total oxidant status, and DNA damage, yet decreased total antioxidant activity, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities in blood, liver, and kidney. Administration of oleuropein reversed malathion-induced oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, DNA damage, and antioxidant enzyme activity.     

Histological and histochemical alterations induced by lead in the liver of the quail Coturnix coturnix

Adult males of the quail Coturnix coturnix were exposed to lead acetate trihydrate in drinking water (0.1, 0.25, 0.5, and 1% for one–six months) to investigate histological and histochemical alterations induced by lead intoxication in the liver. Chronic exposure to subtoxic concentrations of lead produced changes in hepatocytes, portal veins, Kupffer cells, and blood sinusoids. Alterations in hepatocytes mainly involved cytoplasmic vacuolation, necrosis, cytolysis, and glycogen accumulation. Kupffer cell hyperplasia, hemosiderosis, blood sinusoidal dilatation, portal vein congestion, and edema were also observed. No fibrosis or cirrhosis in the liver of any member of the dose groups over the entire period of the study was noted. The findings revealed that chronic exposure to lead produced mild histological and histochemical changes in the liver of the quail Coturnix coturnix.     

Towards an effective framework for coastal zone management: the Egyptian experience

Coastal areas are among the most highly populated, most exploited areas and vulnerable ecosystems in the world. How these interface areas between terrestrial and marine environments can effectively planned and managed has proved to be extremely challenging. Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) has been promoted as a potential panacea for the effective planning and management of these areas. However achieving such goals for ICZM is complex because of the many human activities and diverse regulatory regimes in coastal areas requires effective integration along many dimensions. Within the context of the developing world, which is often characterised by highly centralised governance systems combined with a lack of effective public and stakeholder participation in planning delivering an effective ICZM, which is drawn from collaborative planning ideas has proved particularly problematic. Furthermore within these countries there have been few critical and analytical evaluations of why ICZM experiments have failed. This paper seeks to begin to address this gap by suggesting that Actor Network Theory (ANT) is an appropriate analytical framework to critically evaluate why ICZM initiatives in Egypt, at both the national and local level, have been relatively unsuccessful. The critical evaluation leads to some practical recommendations that could help to enhance the implementation of ICZM in Egypt.     

Hepatitis B virus infection among health care workers in Public Teaching Hospitals in Khartoum State, Sudan

Background

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a global public health problem. It is estimated that there are more than 300 million HBV carriers in the world.

Aim

The study aimed to examine the sero-prevalence of hepatitis B virus (HBV) markers among health care workers (HCWs) in Public Teaching Hospitals in Khartoum State, in the year 2004.

Methods

The study is an observational, cross sectional, facility-based study. It was conducted on stratified two-stage cluster random sample of 843 subjects. The study followed non-parametric statistical methods, using Z-test for single proportion.

Results

Among the 843 subjects tested for all HBV markers (Anti-HBc, HBsAg, HBsAb, and HBeAg), the prevalence of Anti-HBc, HBsAg, HBsAb, and HBeAg was found to be 57% (CI 95%:53-60%), 6% (CI 95%:4.0-8.0%), 37% (CI 95%:34-40%) and 9% (CI 95%:7-11%) respectively. P < 0.05.

Conclusion

Seroprevalence of all HBV markers (P < 0.05) was found to be significantly high, while the rate of immunity against HBV infection was low among health care workers In Public Teaching Hospitals in Khartoum State, Sudan.     

Preparation of lactic acid modified cellulose nanoparticles by microwave heating for preconcentration of copper from blood and food samples

In this study, nano-sized cellulose modified with lactic acid (MW-Ce-LA) was prepared with the assistant of microwave then used for the adsorption of Cu²⁺ from real samples. This modified cellulose was characterized by means of FTIR, TEM, XRD, and elemental analysis. ICP-OES was used for determination of Cu²⁺. The effect of pH, adsorption times, temperature, sorbent dose, and initial adsorbate concentration were studied to detect the ideal adsorption condition. Langmuir model proved to be the best to fit the adsorption isotherm experiments with maximum adsorption capacity of 90.3 mg g^?1 Cu²⁺. Calculated thermodynamic parameters (ΔG° and ΔH°) for adsorption of Cu²⁺ on MW-Ce-LA suggested exothermic and nonspontaneous character of the adsorption process. The reusability tests indicated regeneration of the prepared adsorbent simply using 1 mol L^?1 of HCl. The examined method was used effectively to preconcentrate Cu²⁺ from water, blood, and food samples.

     

Stabilization/solidification of fly ashes and concrete production from bottom and circulating ashes produced in a power plant working under mono and co-combustion conditions

Two combustion tests were performed in a fluidized bed combustor of a thermo-electric power plant: (1) combustion of coal; (2) co-combustion of coal (68.7% w/w), sewage sludge (9.2% w/w) and meat and bone meal (MBM) (22.1% w/w). Three samples of ashes (bottom, circulating and fly ashes) were collected in each combustion test. The ashes were submitted to the following assays: (a) evaluation of the leaching behaviour; (b) stabilization/solidification of fly ashes and evaluation of the leaching behaviour of the stabilized/solidified (s/s) materials; (c) production of concrete from bottom and circulating ashes. The eluates of all materials were submitted to chemical and ecotoxicological characterizations. The crude ashes have shown similar chemical and ecotoxicological properties. The s/s materials have presented compressive strengths between 25 and 40 MPa, low emission levels of metals through leaching and were classified as non-hazardous materials. The formulations of concrete have presented compressive strengths between 12 and 24 MPa. According to the Dutch Building Materials Decree, some concrete formulations can be used in both scenarios of limited moistening and without insulation, and with permanent moistening and with insulation.     

Enhancement of Tensile Strength and Flexibility of Polycaprolactone/Tapioca Starch Blends by Octadecylamine Modified Clay

Polycaprolactone/tapioca starch/octadecylamine modified clay (OMMT) nanocomposites were successfully prepared by melt blending. X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) of the products showed that they are nanocomposites of a mixture intercalated and exfoliated types. In addition, the TEM also revealed that the OMMT layers are homogeneously distributed in the polymer matrix. The presence of 1 php of OMMT improved the compatibility of the polymers in the blends which consequently increased the tensile strength of the blend of more than 60% and elongation at break of more than 1,000%.     

Preparation and Properties of Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC)/Sodium alginate (SA) Blends Induced by Gamma Irradiation

Carboxymethyl Cellulose (CMC)/Sodium alginate (SA) blends have been prepared by casting solution method. The effect of different irradiation doses (2.5, 5, 10, 15, and 20 kGy) of gamma rays on the physical properties of the CMC/SA blend containing different ratios of SA (20, 30, and 40 %) such as gel fraction (%) and swelling (%) of CMC/SA blends were investigated. It was found that the gel fraction increases with increasing irradiation dose up to 20 kGy while the swelling of CMC/SA blend films tends to increase with increasing SA content and reduced with increasing irradiation doses. Mechanical and thermal properties of the blend films were improved when CMC content increased and with increasing irradiation dose up to 20 kGy. Morphology of the blend was examined by SEM, which indicates compatibility between CMC and SA. The blend rich in SA content possessed good antimicrobial activity against Gram +ve Bacteria (Bacillus subtilis).