Basic Science Sector

The transverse energy (ET) in Pb-Pb collisions at 2.76 TeV nucleon -nucleon center- of-mass energy (sNN) has been measured over a broad range of pseudorapidity ( ) and collision centrality by using the CMS detector at the LHC. The transverse energy density per unit pseudorapidity (dET/d) increases faster with collision energy than the charged particle multiplicity. This implies that the mean energy per particle is increasing with collision energy. At all pseudorapidities, the transverse energy per participating nucleon increases with the centrality of the collision. The ratio of transverse energy per unit pseudorapidity in peripheral to central collisions varies significantly as the pseudorapidity increases from =0 to | |=5.0. For the 5% most central collisions, the energy density per unit volume is estimated to be about 14GeV/fm3 at a time of 1fm/c after the collision. This is about 100 times larger than normal nuclear matter density and a factor of 2.6 times higher than the energy density reported at sNN=200GeV at the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the 980-nm diode laser in conjunction with corticosteroids in the treatment of ear lobule keloids. Several methods have been described for the treatment of keloid scars, but none of them have been 100% successful.

This chapter describes our recent researches on the fabrication and characterization of electrochemically-prepared metal oxide nanostructures, i.e., manganese oxide, onto various substrates, e.g., glassy carbon (GC), gold (Au), platinum (Pt) and multi wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and their applications as electrocatalys for reactions of relevance to, among others, the polymer electrolyte membrance fuel cell, e.g., oxygen reduction and evolution reactions as well as methanol and formic acid oxidation reactions. This includes the electrodeposition of crystallographically oriented manganese oxide nanorods (in the manganite phase) onto the various substrates. Details of the morphological and the electrochemical characterizations of the thus-fabricated manganese oxide nanorods are outlined. This includes scanning electron microscope imaging (SEM), high resolution transmission electron microscope (HR-TEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns and XPS data. The excellent reversible redox properties of the thus-prepared manganese oxide nanorods markedly enhanced the electrocatalytic activity of the modified electrodes towards water electrolysis as well as formic acid and methanol oxidation reactions.

The electrochemical behavior of tin metal in tartaric acid solutions of different concentrations was investigated. Some amino acids, namely, alanine, glycine, glutamic acid and histidine were used environmentally safe inhibitors for the tin dissolution process. Different electrochemical techniques including, potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) were used. The metal surface was examined via scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The E/I curves showed that the anodic behavior of tin exhibits active/passive transition. The active dissolution of tin was increased by increasing tartaric acid concentration. Glycine was found to give the highest corrosion inhibition efficiency at a concentration of 0.02 mol dm-3 . The corrosion inhibition process is based on the adsorption of the amino acid molecules on the metal surface. The adsorption process was found obey the Freundlich isotherm, and the adsorption of glycine on Sn has an adsorption free energy of 10.2 kJ/mol which reveals physical adsorption of the amino acid molecules on the metal surface. The experimental impedance data are in good agreement with the polarization experiments. An equivalent circuit model was proposed for fitting of the experimental impedance data, and to simulate the electrode/electrolyte interface.

Inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) represents the most aggressive form of breast cancer, characterized by rapid progression, involvement of dermal lymphatic emboli and extensive metastatic lymph nodes. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are proteolytic enzymes that play an important role in cancer invasion and metastasis. Although the role of MMPs in non-IBC is well studied, little is known about its role in IBC. Thus the goal of the present study was to 1) investigate the expression and activity levels of membrane type matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MT1-MMP) and matrix metalloproteinase-2 and-9 (MMP-2 and MMP-9) in IBC versus non-IBC tissue samples and; 2) test correlation between expression of MT1-MMP and pro- and active forms of MMP-2 and MMP-9. We enrolled 51 breast cancer patients, 21 were diagnosed as IBC and 30 as non-IBC. Level of expression of MT1-MMP in carcinoma tissue was assessed by immunoblot and immunohistochemistry techniques. The expression and activation of MMP-2 and MMP-9 was measured by gelatin zymography. Our results revealed that MT1-MMP, pro-MMP-2, pro-MMP-9 and active MMP-2 were more expressed in IBC tissue versus non-IBC. Furthermore, we found that MT1-MMP expression correlates with expression of pro-MMP-2, pro-MMP-9 and active MMP-2 in IBC tissue samples and with MMP-9 in non-IBC tissue sample. In conclusion, our study suggests a role of MT1-MMP in inflammatory breast cancer disease progression.

Etching of silicon and formation of definite porous surfaces can be carried out by different methods. Metal-assisted etching represents a convenient method for the application of induced etching for beneficial applications. Porous silicon layers (PSL) on Si are useful and important in solar energy conversion and optoelectronics. Porous silicon on silicon increases the effective area and thus higher optical absorption as well as solar conversion efficiency can be achieved.

Two modified chitosan polymers were obtained by reaction of chitosan with cinnamoyl chloride and cinnamoyl isothiocyanate to produce two new derivatives. The new modified polymers were characterized by elemental and spectral analysis to confirm their structures.

{Metal complexes of clotrimazole (CLMZ) drug were prepared and characterized based on elemental analyses, IR, magnetic moment, molar conductance, and thermal analyses techniques.The complexes have the general formulae [MCl2(H2O)2(L)2].yH2O (where M = Mn(II), Cu(II)), Co(II), Ni(II), Zn(II)

Nowadays, the use of fossil fuels as energy is caused global warming by increases of greenhouse effect gases concentrations in the atmosphere. Therefore renewable clean energy is required for replacing fossil fuel with biomass to reduce the CO2 emission. The developed of renewable energy is constantly increasing as alternative source of fossil fuel. A strategy to develop high performing micro-organisms has to consider the product of desire. Microalgae biomasses appear to be the most promising source for production and applications of interest renewable energy. With development in genetic and metabolic processing, microalgae can meet the high demands of bio-energy. This review is discusses the production of bioenergy from microalgae.

The existence of bacterial flora in apparently healthy conjunctiva has been reported in several studies. Methicillin- resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (MRCNS) have been isolated from clinically healthy conjunctivas. Chloramphenicol eye drops are useful for the treatment of MRSA ocular surface infection. The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence of MRSA and MRCNS isolates. Also to assess the in vitro susceptibility of the conjunctival bacterial

The existence of bacterial flora in apparently healthy conjunctiva has been reported in several studies. Methicillin- resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Methicillin-resistant coagulase-negative staphylococci (MRCNS) have been isolated from clinically healthy conjunctivas. Chloramphenicol eye drops are useful for the treatment of MRSA ocular surface infection. The aim of the study is to determine the prevalence of MRSA and MRCNS isolates. Also to assess the in vitro susceptibility of the conjunctival bacterial

3-Amino-3-thioxopropanamide (1) reacted with ethyl acetoacetate to form6-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-thioxo-2,3-dihydropyridine-3-carboxamide (2), which reacted with ?-haloketones 3 to produce 2,3-disubstituted-8-hydroxy-6-methyl-2H,5H-pyrido[3,2-f]-[1,4] thiazepin-5-ones 4a-c. Benzoylation of 4c led to the formation of the dibenzoate derivative 9. Compounds 4a-c could be prepared stepwise through the formation of S-alkylated derivatives 10a-c. Compounds 2, 4a-c, 9 and 10a-c were prepared using microwave as a source of heat, and gave better yields in shorter times than those achieved by traditional methods. Coupling of 4a-c with arenediazonium chlorides proceeded unusually to give the 6-hydroxy-4-methyl-2-(arylazo)thieno[2,3-b]pyridin-3(2H)-one ring contraction products 14. Structures of the newly synthesized compounds were proven by spectral and chemical methods.

Sildenafil citrate (SC) is a commonly used pharmaceutical compound in the treatment of erectile dysfunction. Many side effects were reported for overdose including: headaches; fainting resulting from dilation of blood vessels, and blue-tinted vision. Many analytical methods are reported in literature for the assay of sildenafil citrate in its generic form or pharmaceutical formulations; these will be summarized in the present mini review.

A robust classification scheme for partitioning groundwater chemistry into homogeneous groups was an important tool for the characterization of Eocene limestone aquifer. The aquifer locally composed of chalky limestone with thin clay intercalated (Samalut Fm.); the fissures; the joints; and the fractures represent the conduits of the aquifer system.

Manganese nanocrystalline ferrite powders were synthesized using citrate precursor technique. The ferrite samples were subjected to different types of irradiation; gamma rays, neutrons, and laser photons to compare their effects on the physical properties of prepared ferrite. The samples were characterized by XRD and IR techniques. XRD shows a shift in all planes keeping the spinel structure stable. The magnetic and dielectric behavior for the irradiated and unirradiated samples was investigated at different temperatures. The data recommended the use of this nanoferrite as radiation detector.

The type material of the poorly known and monotypic genus Mogharaeceras is revised. Relationship with Pulchelliidae, Engonoceratidae and Barremitinae are discussed. All the available evidence suggests that Mogharaeceras is an offshoot of Barremitites and that it should be classified in the Barremitinae. New material from Egypt allows us to establish the Late Barremian age of this taxon.

Meat commonly contain the same Aeromonas spp. which occur in human diarrhoeal and non-diarrhoeal faecal samples. Motile Aeromonas were isolated from 5.6% of total 302 samples. The distribution of the isolates were 5.9 and 5.2% in fresh and frozen samples, respectively. Of the 302 samples taken of the four animal meat species investigated, the genus Aeromonas were isolated in 12.3% of the fresh samples collected from buffalo meat, in 6.5% of the samples collected from sheep meat and 14.0% from the samples collected from the cattle frozen meat samples. The camel meat did not reveal any Aeromonas isolates. Aeromonas hydrophila was isolated as the most prevalent species with 6.8%, followed by Aeromonas caviae with 2.7% and Aeromonas sobria with 2.1% from the total meat samples. Aerolysin toxin gene (aerA) was detected in 3/17 isolates of A. hydrophila isolated from contaminated meat. Infection due to bacterial pathogen with such virulent factor through contact with contaminated meat while handling them, poses health hazards to humans.

Salinity affects plant growth by the osmotic stress of the salt around the roots, as well as by toxicitycaused by excessive accumulation of salt in leaves. In the present study, seven common (Triticumaestivum) and two durum (T. turgidum ssp. Durum) wheat genotypes were subjected to salt stress for 2weeks. Salt stress decreased leaf osmotic potential in all cultivars. The difference in osmoticadjustment between the cultivars was correlated with the concentrations of minerals examined such asNa+ and K+. The salt tolerance in the T. aestivum cultivar Gemmiza 10 and in T. durum cultivars Sohagand BeniSweif was due to higher ability to maintain osmotic potential of the cells than the othercultivars by increase in osmoticum concentration under salt stress. The genetic variation andrelationships among different wheat genotypes with different responses to salt stress were alsoinvestigated by RAPD and SSR analyses. 82 out of 118 RAPD markers detected were polymorphic(69.5%) and 42 out of 59 SSR alleles were polymorphic (71%), and can be considered as useful markersfor the wheat cultivars tested. 18 random amplified polymorphic DNAs (RAPD) markers and 13 simplesequence repeats (SSR) markers generated were found to be genotype-specific. Seven markersdistinguished the cultivar BeniSweif, six markers for the cultivar Sohag and two markers for thecultivar Gemmiza 10. These markers can be verified as being genetic markers associated with salt

The main canal (Masraf El-Moheet) is one of the largest canals in Giza governorate (Egypt). Due to the extended domestic activities and urbanization as well as the continuous industrial and agricultural growth of the region, water quality is potentially changing and causes fish floating and death. This study was conducted to measure toxic metals concentrations in water samples along the main channel using ICP Spectrometer (iCAP 6000 Series; Thermo Scientific). The most pronounced feature is the highest concentration of Fe, NH4, Al, Pb and Cr in main canal (35.28, 11.55, 9.318, 0.386 and 0.748 mg L- 1, respectively) when compared with World Health Organization, United States Environmental Protection Agency and Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality Control. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) of metals levels showed significant difference among the regions. The present results showed that the collected water samples based on the higher levels of metal accumulation could be the first reason for fish floating and death in these regions, in addition to unsafe use for human consumption.

One hundred thirty two samples of fruits, vegetables, herbs and spices collected from Egyptianlocal markets were analyzed for pesticide residues. Contamination with pesticide residues reached 54.55% while samples free from contamination reached 45.45%.