Basic Science Sector

The green macroalgae, Enteromorpha compressa (Linnaeus) Nees, Ulva lactuca, and E. linza, were seasonally collected from Abu Qir bay at Alexandria (Mediterranean Sea) This work aimed to investigate the seasonal environmental conditions, controlling the green algal growth, predominance, or disappearance and determining antioxidant activity. The freshly collected selected alga (E. compressa) was subjected to pigment analysis (chlorophyll and carotenoids) essential oil and antioxidant enzyme determination (Ascorbate oxidase and catalase). The air-dried ground alga was extracted with ethanol (crude extract) then sequentially fractionated by organic solvents of increasing polarity (petroleum ether, chloroform, ethyl acetate, and water). Antioxidant activity of all extracts was assayed using different methods (total antioxidant, DPPH [2, 2 diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl], ABTS [ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid], and reducing power, and ?-carotene linoleic acid bleaching methods). The results indicated that the antioxidant activity was concentration and time dependent. Ethyl acetate fraction demonstrated higher antioxidant activity against DPPH method (82.80%) compared to the synthetic standard butylated hydroxyl toluene (BHT, 88.5%).However, the crude ethanolic extract, pet ether, chloroform fractions recorded lower to moderate antioxidant activities (49.0, 66.0, and 78.0%, resp.). Using chromatographic and spectroscopic analyses, an active compound was separated from the promising ethyl acetate fraction.

The aim of this dissertation is to investigate the Environmental impact of anthropogenic activity on the surface and ground-waters systems in the western part of the River Nile, Minia Governorate, Upper Egypt. The situation is further complicated by contamination with lithogenic and anthropogenic (agricultural and sewage wastewaters) sources and low plan exploitation techniques. The Pleistocene aquifer is composed of sand and gravel of different sizes, with some clay intercalation. The semi confined condition was around the River Nile shifted to unconfined outside the floodplain. The groundwater flow generally from south to north and diverts towards the western part and the River Nile. Ninety-six and twenty-one water samples were collected from Pleistocene aquifer and surface irrigated waters (Ibrahimia canal, River Nile, and Bahr Youssef) and El Moheet drain. The detail chemical analyses with respect to major and trace elements were accomplished for hydrogeochemical evaluation. The total dissolve solids (TDS) of the surface irrigated water are below 500 ppm which is suitable for drinking and irrigating uses. The As and Ni content of surface water makes it unsuitable for drinking but suitable for irrigation. The River Nile in the study area with respect to the Cd content is inappropriate for drinking and irrigation purposes due to the agricultural activity and inflow from the groundwater (the River Nile is a discharge zone). The Pb and Se concentrations in surface irrigated water are higher than the drinking standards and lower than the irrigation standards The Zn and F concentrations in surface irrigated water are lower than the drinking and irrigation standards. The dissolved oxygen (DO) concentration is more or less equal in surface irrigated water and decline in El Moheet drain by increase in organic wastewaters (BOD and COD) in the drain. The COD and BOD in surface irrigated water are higher than the drinking standards. The B and Cu concentrations in surface irrigated water are lower than drinking and irrigation standards. The TDS concentration in groundwater increases generally from southern to northern part of the study area, with groundwater flow. The TDS anomalous areas (800 to 1400 ppm) are attributed to lithogenic, and anthropogenic (agricultural) impact. The B concentration anomalous areas are located due to the western zone that exceed the drinking water standard. The contamination with respect to Cu and Ni is out the aquifer system. The Cd concentration was below the drinking water standard of 0.003 mg/l, therefore no pollution with respect to Cd concentration.

The corrosion inhibition of Mg-Al-Zn alloy was investigated in stagnant naturally aerated chloride free neutral solutions using amino acids as environmentally safe corrosion inhibitors. The corrosion rate was calculated in absence and presence of the corrosion inhibitor using the polarization technique and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The experimental impedance data were fitted to theoretical data according to a proposed electronic circuit model to explain the behavior of the alloy/electrolyte interface under different conditions. The corrosion inhibition process was found to depend on the adsorption of the amino acid molecules on the metal surface. Phenyl alanine has shown remarkably high corrosion inhibition efficiency up to 93% at a concentration of 2x10-3 mol dm-3. The corrosion inhibition efficiency was found to depend on the concentration of the amino acid and its structure. The mechanism of the corrosion inhibition process was discussed and different adsorption isotherms were investigated. The free energy of the adsorption process was calculated for the adsorption of different amino acids on the Mg-Al-Zn alloy and the obtained values reveal a physical adsorption of the inhibitor molecules on the alloy surface.

Identified in a recent S. mansoni genome sequencing and analysis study, our report is the first to measure nSMase enzymatic activity in Triton X-100-solubilized surface membrane (Sup 1) and whole worm soluble (SWAP) molecules of male and female Schistosoma mansoni and Schistosoma haematobium. Neutral, but no acidic, sphingomyelinase activity was readily detectable by the Amplex Red Sphingomyelinase Assay, and increased with incubation time and protein amount. Like nSMase family members, the schistosome nSMase activity was significantly (P < 0.05 - < 0.0001) enhanced by unsaturated fatty acids and phosphatidyl serine and significantly (P < 0.01) decreased following exposure to the nSMase specific inhibitor GW4869. Peptides based on the published sequence of S. mansoni putative nSMase and used in a multiple antigen peptide form induced the generation of specific antibodies, which readily bound to the immunogen and to the cognate protein in Sup 1 and SWAP. Immunofluorescence studies suggested the parasite nSMase is located in the worm tegument and gut lining. Studies using RNA interference are in progress to define nSMase role in larval and adult worm surface membrane antigen exposure and unsaturated fatty acid-mediated attrition.

A study was conducted to determine the prevalence and various risk factors associated with helminth parasitism in small ruminants of Ladakh (India) during 2007-2008. A total of 581 small ruminants including 313 sheep and 268 goats were considered during the study. The gastrointestinal tracts including heart and lungs of the host animals were collected from different slaughtered houses and were subjected for the presence of larvae and adult helminth parasites using standard parasitological methods (Boomker et al, 1968). The study reveals overall prevalence as (69.70%) with (68.37%) and (71.26%) in sheep and goats respectively. A significant difference was observed in prevalence of helminth parasites with respect to season, wherein higher prevalence (76.50%) was observed during the wet season as compared to dry season 58.13%. Similarly an association was observed between sex and age of the host with prevalence of helminth infections. Females and young animals of either of the host species were more infected than their counter partners. Likewise an association was observed between prevalence and agro-ecology of the study area where in higher values (76.50%) were recorded for comparatively lowland (Kargil) areas as compared to highland (Leh) areas (58.13%). Hence, it was concluded that species of the animal, season, sex, age, and agro-ecology are important risk factors associated with helminth parasitism in this area.

The ethmoidal ganglion of three lizards belonging to three different families is described. Suchganglion is represented by one part in both Uromastyx aegypteus (Family: Agamidae) and Varanus griseus griseus (Family: Varanidae) and by two parts in Sphenops sepsoides (Family: Lacertidae).

Novel ethyl (1,3-diphenyl-1H-pyrazolo[4,3-e][1,2,4] triazolo [1,5-c]pyrimidin-5-yl)acetate (5), was prepared via heating of 5-amino-1,3-diphenyl-4,5-dihydro-4-imino-1Hpyrazolo[3,4-d] pyrimidine (1) and diethyl malonate (2) under reflux. The structure of the synthesized compound was assigned on the basis of its elemental analysis, IR, 1H-NMR and mass spectral data.

Developing new therapeutic agents that can overcome gastrointestinal injury and at the same timecould lead to an enhanced anti-inflammatory effect becomes an urgent need for inflammation patients.Thiazolyl and pyrrolyl steroids were synthesized via straight forward and efficient methods andtheir structures were established based on their correct elemental analysis and compatible IR,1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, and mass spectral data. The dihydrothiazolyl-hydrazonoprogesterone 12 andthe aminopyrrolylprogesterone 16a showed anti-inflammatory,

In this investigation, a trial for preparation and evaluation of locally prepared (autogenous) bacterinagainst the infection with Avibacteriumparagallinarum (Avi. paragallinarum) causing infectious coryzadisease in layer chickens was done. Two types of adjuvant (aluminum hydroxide and mineral oil based) werecompared. At 6 weeks of age, one hundred layer chickens were divided into equally distributed 4 groupseach containing 25 birds.

Glycolipids in five species of marine algae: two species of Rhodophyta Laurencia popillose Galaxoura cylindriea) ; and one species Ulva fasciata and two species of Phaeophyta Dilophys fasciola Taonia atomaria collected from Red and Mediterranean sea, respectively were extracted, purified on silica gel column chromatography and identified by liquid chromatography MS/MS. Total glycolipid contents (GL) (as % of total lipid) were found to be in ranges 10.9 to 28.7%. T. atomaria had the highest level (28.7%) followed by L. popillose(22.5 %).

The present field investigation was designed to explain clearly why methyltestosterone is widely used by the producers of farmed tilapia. Also to demonstrate why there are no known risks to consumers, producers and on the environment from using this hormone provided the recommended best practices for methyltestosterone used in aquaculture of fish. In this study, all water quality parameters were within the acceptable range for fish growth. The present analyses showed no significant differences in plasma total protein, albumin, globulin, A/G ratio, AST, ALT, LDH, it showed highly significant differences in plasma CPK activities.

A mathematical model has been reviewed and used to simulate retention of beryllium ions on flow-through fixed bed reactor of Amb-IR-120. The interlinked effects of structural parameters, kinetics, hydrodynamic and operating conditions have been incorporated in the mathematical model.

The purpose of the present work was to evaluate the possible ameliorative effect of Coelatura aegyptiaca extract (CE) and vitamin C on oxidative stress induced by monosodium glutamate (MSG) in rat liver. Male rats were randomly divided into four main groups: control group, received distilled water; group 2 (100 mg/kg) and 3 (250 mg/kg) received CE for seven consecutive days. Group animals (24 rats) were administered MSG (4 mg/g body weight) daily for 10 days.

A series of pyrido[2,3-d][1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyrimidin-5-ones (8) has been synthesised via reaction of 5-substituted-2-thioxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-pyrido[2,3-d]pyrimidin-4-one (3) or its methylthio derivative 4 with hydrazonoyl chlorides 5. Al- ternative syntheses of products 8 were carried out either by reaction of enaminone 1 with 7-amino-1,3-disubstituted[1,2,4]triazolo[4,3-a]pyrimidin-5-one (10) or via the Japp-Klingemann reaction of compound 13. Both conventional thermal and microwave irradiation techniques were used for synthesis of the target products 8 and a comparative study of these techniques using triethylamine or chitosan, as basic catalysts, was carried out.The mechanisms of the reactions under investigation are discussed. In addition, the antimicrobial activity of the newly synthesized products was evaluated.

Typha domingensis phytomass is used as a biosorbent for aluminium ions removal from aqueous solution. A full 23 factorial design of experiments is used to obtain the best conditions of biosorption of Al3? from water solutions. The three factors screened are temperature, pH, and biosorbent dosage. Two levels for each factor are used; pH (2.5 and 6.0), temperature (25 and 45_C), and phytomass loading weight (0.5 and 1 g/50 ml). Batch experiments are carried out using 50 ml solutions containing 7 mg/L Al3? simulating its concentration in a real wastewater effluent.

Polycrystalline carbon nitride thin films were deposited on Si (100) substrates by electrolysis of methanol-urea solution at atmospheric pressure and low temperature. The effect of the process parameters, namely deposition time, concentration and applied voltage on growth and bonding state of carbon nitride (CNx) thin films was studied using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, grazing incidence X-ray diffraction (GIXRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM).

Two biological formulations, neem (Nimbecidine) &Beauveriabassiana (Bio-Power) and jojoba oil were used for control onion thrips, T. tabaci in onion field. Also, vegetative characteristics and yield and germination of onion seeds were considerable. The evaluation was conducted in onion field at 2007/2008 season and repeated at 2008/2009 season. Two rates for each formulation, oil and a recommended rate of Malathion (reference insecticide) were sprayed three times for each season while the control was sprayed with distilled water. The first and second sprayings were carried out during the growing period while the third spray was during the flowering period. Results showed that all tested products revealed significant reduction in thrips populations on both growing and flowering periods. Bio-Power exhibited the highest effective on the growing period (2nd spray) followed by jojoba oil, Nimbecidine and Malathion at 2007/2008 season, while Malathion was the highest with the same spray on the growing period followed by jojoba oil, Nimbecidine and Bio-Power at 2008/2009 season. On the flowering period, Nimbecidine and Malathion were more effective on thrips population at 2008/2009 season as well as they gave the highest significant seed yield. Vegetative characteristics and seed germination were also improved. In conclusion, it can be use Bio-Power and Jojoba oil on growing period and Nimbecidine on flowering period in integrated pest management of onion crop.