High-silicon and molybdenum (SiMo) ductile iron is a common heat-resistant alloy that may be exposed to high-temperature wear during service in many of its applications. The wear behavior of four SiMo ductile iron alloys was evaluated at different temperatures up to 750 °C. This research focuses on the influence of various Mo contents on the microstructure, structural stability, and hence, the wear performance of such alloys. Thermodynamic calculations proposed the phase diagrams, critical transformation temperatures, and phase volume fractions in all samples by means of Thermo-Calc software. The dilatometry measurements were carried for confirming the theoretical results of Thermo-Calc thermodynamic calculations. The results revealed that the microstructure of SiMo ductile cast iron consists of nodular graphite and a ferrite matrix with carbides embedded in the fine precipitates at the grain boundary regions. The type of carbides and the nature of these fine precipitates are discussed according to EDX and SEM results. Adding molybdenum enhanced the wear performance of SiMo by decreasing the weight loss by about 40–70% compared to a Mo-free alloy. This is due to the increased molybdenum carbides, which increase hardness and improve wear resistance in SiMo alloys. The high temperatures have a negative effect on reducing the wear resistance at 250 °C. On the other hand, the wear resistance unexpectedly started to increase at higher temperatures of 500 °C and 750 °C because of the contribution of oxidative wear with abrasive wear by forming a protective oxide layer. Furthermore, the obtained results supported the idea that adding molybdenum improves wear resistance at high temperatures. Hence, SiMo has the potential to be wear-resistant material in wider applications requiring high-temperature wear resistance.

Rasagiline mesylate (RM) is a potent monoamine oxidase-B inhibitor that suffers from extensive hepatic metabolism, low bioavailability, and low brain distribution. Thus, this study aimed to formulate an intranasal nanovesicular system with high RM encapsulation (EE%) and enhanced delivery to the brain tissues. In this perspective, negatively and positively charged RM-transfersomal vesicles were prepared, characterized and the formulation parameters were statistically optimized as per two different response surface methodologies namely, I-optimal and D-optimal design. Although both statistical designs acted almost similarly in terms of experimental response analysis; the I-optimal design might be functioning better in terms of formulations’ optimization and response prediction with higher desirability factors. Consequently, the optimized negative transfersomes (particle size: 213 nm, EE%:62.55 %) and positive transfersomes (particle size: 515 nm, EE%:70.9 %) suggested by the I-optimal design were furtherly formulated, characterized for their in-vitro release, elasticity, transmission electron microscope and pH. Finally, both systems were administered intranasally and compared to an intravenous RM solution where the optimized positive transfersomes has shown significantly higher brain targeting efficiency, positive direct transfer percentage values and longer brain mean residence time. These results suggested that the surface charge of the formulated vesicles could be more effective factor -than the particle size-in enhancing the brain bioavailability of the administered drugs.

This study was carried out to assess the performance of the activated sludge process (ASP) for the treatment of oil refinery wastewater. Seasonal variation for temperature and the total dissolved solids (TDS) of wastewater were the key parameters examined. The treatment system is a batch-laboratory column that is continuously fed with oil refinery wastewater after physical separation of the surface oil layer in the refinery (API Separator). The determination of optimum operating conditions was performed for the treatment system at different temperatures ranging from 20 °C to 35 °C. Two main groups were examined: fresh wastewater (Group A) had an average TDS of less than 3 g/L, and saline wastewater (Group B) had an average TDS of 10–15 g/L. Results indicated that removal percentages in fresh wastewater (Group A) for chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD), oil and grease (O&G), phenols, and total suspended solids (TSS) were (76%–83%), (80.9%–92%), (83.5%–100%), and (94%–100%), respectively, while removal percentages in saline wastewater (Group B) for COD, BOD, O&G, phenols, and TSS were (76%–81%), (85.3%–95.8%), (87.5%–90%), (100%), and (93%–92%), respectively. The highest removal efficiency for pollution parameters was obtained at an average temperature of 25–35 °C. In conclusion, the overall treatment efficiency of fresh wastewater is better than that of saline wastewater. The quality of treated effluents achieved complies with the permissible limits of Egyptian regulations. Finally, ASP is efficient for the oxidation of organic matter applied to oil refinery wastewater with similar characteristics.

Pollution with xenobiotic compounds such as congo red (CR) is a serious problem in the environment. In the present study, an attempt has been made to screen and isolate a potential local bacterial strains from dye contaminated area for decolorization of CR dye as an example of (azo-dye). Out of 52 bacterial isolates demonstrated the ability to grow on CR dye as a sole carbon source, three bacterial isolates showed high dye decolorization percentage ranged from 65.8 to 81.5% after 4 days of incubation (λ max of CR 498 nm). The selected bacterial strains were identified as Bacillus licheniformis S2, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens S12 and Bacillus subtilis S50 based on morphological, molecular and biochemical characteristics. A set of experiments were carried out to optimize the degradation ability of the selected isolates under different physicochemical conditions such as different concentrations of CR, pH range, temperatures and static and shaking incubation. The results revealed that the three Bacillus species were able to degrade CR more efficiently at static conditions compared to shaking conditions and the optimum CR dye concentration for the three isolates was 100 μM at 37 ºC and pH 7.0. Spectroscopic techniques were performed to evaluate the isolates degradation abilities and to identify the degradation by-products by UV-Vis and GC-MS, indicated the complete degradation of congo red to other less-toxic compounds after 6 days of incubation. The phytotoxicity test on Vicia faba and Triticum aestivum seeds revealed that all bacterial degraded dye metabolites had almost negligible effect on both plant germinations compared to untreated dye, which indicating the successful detoxification of CR dye. Therefore, the selected Bacillus strains from this study might be useful in the treatment of industrial effluent contaminated with synthetic dyes. © 2024 National Information and Documentation Center (NIDOC).

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BACKGROUND: Microbial fuel cells (MFCs) offer a promising approach for treating wastewater and generating electrical energy simultaneously. However, their implementation in wastewater treatment plants is hindered by the limited electricity generation, often attributed to the electrolyte's high resistance. This study aimed to improve bioelectricity generation in MFCs by adding nanomaterials to the electrolyte to enhance conductivity. RESULTS: Three types of nanomaterials – carbon nanotubes (CNTs), graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4), and reduced graphene oxide (r-GO) – were synthesized and addition to the electrolyte at a concentration of 50 mg in 1.5 L. MFC performance was evaluated, employed a hydraulic retention time (HRT) of 140 h, and compared to a control with no nanomaterials added. The addition of nanomaterials significantly improved MFC performance. Compared to the control, the MFCs with CNTs, g-C3N4, and r-GO exhibited higher voltage: 1.301 V (CNTs), 1.286 V (g-C3N4), 1.280 V (r-GO) versus 0.570 V (control); increased power density: 14.11 mW m−3 (CNTs), 13.78 mW m−3 (g-C3N4), 13.66 mW m−3 (r-GO) versus 2.71 mW m−3 (control); enhanced areal power density: 21.06 mW m−2 (CNTs), 20.57 mW m−2 (g-C3N4), 20.39 mW m−2 (r-GO) versus 4.04 mW m−2 (control); and improved coulombic efficiency: 19.43% (CNTs), 19.19% (g-C3N4), 19.11% (r-GO) versus 8.54% (control). CONCLUSION: Incorporating nanomaterials into the MFC electrolyte significantly increased bioelectricity generation by 5.21 times and coulombic efficiency by 2.28 times compared to the control. This improvement is attributed to the high specific surface area of the nanomaterials, which facilitates the adhesion and growth of microorganisms around the anode, enhancing direct electron transfer. © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI). © 2024 Society of Chemical Industry (SCI).

Recently, the integrated different interdisciplinary studies derived the environmental solutions of the climate change impacts (e.g., cultivation, wastewater treatment, and managing groundwater resources) (Mesalhy et al. 2020, and Gobashy et al. 2021). Thus, this paper focused on the application of bioremediation to maximize the use of wastewater for new reclamation areas in the Northwest Egyptian desert (New Egyptian Delta (NED). In the NED project, the drainage water samples collected from Nile Delta drains will provide the main unconventional water resources for irrigation through the new Hammam canal. Therefore, three Pleurotus strains were grown moderately on two natural media, the first containing Salvia L. (sage) extract (MDA) and the second containing Thymus vulgaris L. (origanum thymus Kuntze, Thymus collinus Salisb) (TDA) extract replacing potato infusions in standard PDA. Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacquin; Kummer) strain records the highest growth among the three tested fungi on modified media. PO records 4.49 and 4.41 cm on (MDA) and (TDA), respectively. There is a marked decrease in the majority of heavy metal concentrations on sterile drainage water amended with PD broth and inoculated with three tested Pleurotus strains individually. At the end of the incubation period, Pleurotus ostereatus which expressed in abbreviation (PO) are more efficient in the removal of Al, Co, Cr, and Ni by 53.15, 95.87, 58.47, and 85.07%; respectively. Pleurorotus pulmonarius (Fr.) which symbolized (PP) is more potent in the removal of Cd, Si, Sn, Sr, and V by 70.37, 56.59, 41.19, 52.78, and 96.24%; respectively. Pleurotus floridanus (NZOR) which indicated as (PF) is actively over the former species in the removal of Ba, Fe, and Mo by 87.84, 46.67, and 97.34%; respectively. Cu, Mn, Pb, As, and Se could not be detected as the control sample recorded measurements below 0.009 mg L−1. An unexpected increase in Zn among the different treatments was detected from 05.04 to 07.01%.

Objectives
The present trial’s aim was to compare the remineralization potential of self-assembling peptide P11-4 combined with fluoride to that of fluoride varnish.

Materials and methods
Twenty-eight participants with 58 incipient carious lesions were enrolled in the present trial. Participants were randomly divided into two groups with 14 participants and 29 incipient lesions in each group. Patients were assigned either to self-assembling peptide combined with fluoride (Curodont Repair Fluoride Plus™) or sodium fluoride varnish (NaF, Bifluorid 10) groups. Both agents were applied according to the manufacturer’s instructions on non-cavitated incipient carious lesions. Lesions were assessed by two calibrated and blinded assessors at baseline, and after one-, three- and six-months using a laser fluorescence device (DIAGNOdent).

Results
Although laser fluorescence scores significantly improved in both groups over time (p < 0.05), no notable differences were evident between both groups at one-month (p > 0.05). Yet, at three- and six-months statistically lower laser fluorescence readings were evident in the self-assembling peptide combined with fluoride group in comparison to the fluoride alone group (p < 0.05). There was 60% less risk for caries progression for Curodont Repair Fluoride Plus™ when compared to NaF varnish after six months. Self-assembling peptide combined with fluoride was able to change 65.5% of non-cavitated carious lesions from DIAGNOdent score 3 (11–20) to score 1 (0–4). Fluoride varnish was able to change 13.8% of the lesions from score 3 to score 1 after six months.

Conclusions
The self-assembling peptide combined with fluoride varnish showed higher remineralization potential than fluoride varnish alone for incipient carious lesions over a six-months follow up.

Clinical relevance
The combination of self-assembling peptide P11-4 and fluoride could offer a new tool in managing incipient carious lesions.