Basic Science Sector

LaBO3 (B = Ni, Co, Fe and Mn) were prepared by microwave-assisted citrate method. The electrocatalytic activity toward hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) was investigated. XRD characterization showed that pure perovskite crystals were indeed formed. SEM images showed that changing the type of the B-site metal ion affected the morphology of the prepared perovskites.

{Soil samples were collected from three sites (Wadi-El-Natrun, Kafr-El-Sheekh and Mallahat Road) located in Cairo-AlexandriaAgriculture Road, Egypt. The total fungal counts allover the road was 755 colonies, constituting ten fungal species (Alternariaalternata, Aspergillusflavus, Aspergillusnidulans, Aspergillusniger, Aspergillusterreus, Fusariummoniliforme, Penicilliumchrysogenum, Penicill-iumpurpurogenum, Phomaherbarum and Rhizopusoryzae). The most potent fungal species producing pigmentsalong the road were A. nidulans, F. moniliforme, P. purpurogenum and P. herbarum. Comparative sensitivity to different light wavelengths and radiation (laser, gamma and ultraviolet rays) on growth and pigment production in the four selected fungal species wasestimated. Optimization of physical and nutritional factors on growth and pigment production was carried out. A steady increase in theantioxidant activities was showed in all four tested pigments producing species with raising the phenol contents. The extracellularpigment of P. purpurogenum was found to be more effective against some pathogenic microbes and might have a potential role inpharmaceutical drug industry. The identification of the structure of unknown P. purpurogenum pigment was detected using UV andFTIR spectra, and indicated that it is an phenolic compound and has broad stretching OH

Corrosion characterization of AZ91D alloy was studied in aqueous sodium oxalate solutions with various concentrations using different electrochemical techniques (open circuit potential, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and cyclic voltammetry (CV)). The corrosion rate and consequently the rate and extent of hydrogen evolution were found to increase significantly with increasing oxalate anion concentration and temperature or with decreasing the pH of solution. Increasing additions of various anions over the lower concentration range (0.001-1.0 mM) in the blank oxalate solution increases to a varying extent the corrosion rate of the alloy and hence increases the hydrogen evolution rate and decreases surface film stability in the following order Cl- > SO_4^(2-) > F-. On the other hand, addition of phosphate anion exhibits a reverse trend, where the active corrosion rate decreases with increasing PO_4^(3-) anion concentration, implying that this anion acts as a passivator for AZ91D alloy. The obtained electrochemical results are further confirmed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analysis.

Staphylococcus aureus is a globally distributed bacterium causing wide variety of illnesses in humans, which attributed to its ability to produce wide array of virulence factors, including enterotoxins that are responsible for staphylococcal food poisoning outbreaks. The current study was carried out to investigate the prevalence of enterotoxigenic S. aureus among pet dogs and cats and its public health implication. For this purpose, nasal, oral, and wound swabs were collected from 70 dogs and 47 cats, whereas nasal swabs were collected from 26 human contacts.

Background: Recent evidence suggests a role for nanobacteria in a number of human diseases, especially renal stone formation. It has become clear that the pathophysiology of renal stone disease cannot be explained by crystallization processes alone.

Both the valence nucleons (holes) and the isospin asymmetry dependencies of the -cluster inside parents radioactive nuclei are the preformation probability of an investigated. The calculations are employed in the framework of the density-dependent cluster model of ?-decay process for the even-even spherical parents nuclei with protons number around the closed shell Z0= 82 and neutrons number around the closed shells Z0=82 and Z0=126. The microscopic ?-daughter nuclear interaction potential is calculated in the framework of the Hamiltonian energy density approach based on the SLy4 Skyrme-like effective interaction. Also, the calculations based on the realistic effective M3Y-Paris nucleon-nucleon, NN, force have been used to confirm the results. The calculations then proceed to find the assault frequency and the ? penetration probability within the WKB approximation. The half-lives of the different mentioned ? decays are then determined and have been used in turn to find the spectroscopic factor. We found that the spectroscopic factor increases with increasing the isospin asymmetry of the parent nuclei if they have valence protons and neutrons. When the parent nuclei have neutron or proton holes in addition to the valence protons or neutrons then the spectroscopic factor is found to decrease with increasing the isospin asymmetry. The obtained results show also that the deduced spectroscopic factors follow individual linear behaviors as a function of the multiplication of the valence protons (Np) and neutron (Nn) numbers. These linear dependencies are correlated with the closed shells core (Z0, N0 ). The same individual linear behaviors are obtained as a as a function of the multiplication of Np Nn and the isospin asymmetry parameter, Np Nn I. Moreover, the whole deduced spectroscopic factors are found to exhibit a nearly general linear trend with the function Np Nn/ (Z0+N0).

The thermal cure behavior of diglycidyl ether bisphenol-A/carboxylated polyester hybrid powder coating system (DGEBA/CPE) in absence and presence of catalyst was monitored using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Curing temperatures were between 160 and 200oC. The experimental results showed an autocatalytic behavior of the reaction, which could be described by the model proposed by Kamal. This model includes two rate constants k1 and k2 and two reaction orders m and n.

1-amino-9, 10-anthraquinone, AAQ, was electropolymerized on platinum substrates either from aqueous or non-aqueous electrolytes. The aqueous electrolyte was 6.0 mol L-1 H2SO4 and the non-aqueous solvent was acetonitrile containing lithium perchlorate, LiClO4, as supporting electrolyte. The formed polyaminoanthraquinone, PAAQ, was stable and the polymerization process was reproducible. The kinetics of the electropolymerization process was investigated by determining the charge consumed during the electropolymerization as a function of time at different concentrations of the electrolyte components. The results of chronoamperometry have been used to determine the orders of reaction. In either aqueous or non-aqueous solution, the electropolymerization process follows first order kinetics with respect to the monomer concentration. In non-aqueous solution, the very small concentrations of water did not affect the order of reaction. The order of reaction with respect to the traces of water and the supporting electrolyte concentration was found to be zero. In aqueous solution the order of the electropolymerization reaction with respect to the concentration of H2SO4 was found to be negative (-0.66) which means that the aqueous electrolyte inhibits the polymerization reaction.

Four plant extracts molluscicidal and insecticidal efficacy was evaluated under laboratory conditions versusBiomphalariaalexandrina,Lymneacailliaudi snails; their egg masses and Culexpipiens larvae. These extractsincluded Grape seed, Eucalyptus, Pomegranate, Verbesinaalcoholic extracts, as well as Eucalyptus oil.Different mortalities in the exposed vectors were recorded by the four plant extracts using differentconcentrations and exposure time.

Introduction: The current radiofrequency ablation technique requires invasive needle placement. On the other hand, most of the common photothermal therapeutic methods are limited by lack of accuracy of targeting. Gold and magnetic nanoparticles offer the potential to heat tumor tissue selectively at the cellular level by noninvasive interaction with laser and radiofrequency.

Electron impact excitations and de-excitation rate coefficients of the excited ion Fe XVI are calculated according to the analytical formulas of Vriens and Smeets. A simple modification has been made by substituting effective quantum numbers in Vriens formulas to be applicable for the ion under consideration. The energy levels and transition probabilities have been calculated using the multiconfiguration Hartree-Fock (MCHF) method with Breit-Pauli relativistic correction (CF.Fischer's ATSP computer package) in which the monopole and the quadrupole transitions have been introduced in the calculations in addition to the dipole transitions. Level population densities are then calculated by solving the coupled rate equations involving the 54 levels 1i2i2p6nl, where n=3-8 and 1=0,1,2,3,4,5. Positive gain coefficients are displayedfor the transitions 5p(2P1/1/2)?4d(2D3/2), 5p(2p3/2) ? 4d(2D32) and 5p(2p3/2) ? 4d(2D5/2) at three selected electron temperatures namely 1/4, 1/2 and 3/4 the ionization potential.

Five groups of laterally di-substituted three-ring compounds, 4-(3_-fluoro phenylazo)-2-(or 3-) substituted phenyl-4_-alkoxybenzoates, were prepared and investigated for their mesophase formation and stability. Each group of compounds, which have in common a lateral fluorine atom on the first terminal ring, differs from each other by a second lateral group substituted on the central ring.

One particularly exciting field of research involves the use of gold nanoparticles (GNPs) in the detection and treatment of cancer cells in the liver. The detection and treatment of cancer is an area in which the light absorption and emission characteristics of GNPs have become useful. Currently, there are no data available regarding the fluorescence spectra or in vivo accumulation of nanoparticles (NPs) in rat liver after repeated administration. In an attempt to characterise the potential toxicity or hazards of GNPs in therapeutic or diagnostic use, the present study measured fluorescence spectra, bioaccumulation and toxic effects of GNPs at 3 and 7 days following intraperitoneal administration of a 50 ?l/day

In the present study the effect of long-term exposure (1 hour/day for 4 months) to electromagnetic radiation field (EMF) (900 MHz, 0.02 mW/cm2, SAR: 1.165 W/kg) on the EEG of freely moving rat is investigated. The spectral analysis of the EEG bands was done after 1, 2 and 4 months of daily EMF irradiation and after 1 month of stopping irradiation that extended daily for 4 months. The quantitative analysis of EEG revealed a clear shift from high frequency (beta) to lower frequency (delta) in irradiated animals as compared to unexposed animals, which indicated the change in the animal arousal. The cumulative effect of non-thermal EMF has been suggested for chronic exposure to radiation. It could be suggested that EMF cause changes in central cholinergic system that change the cortical excitability that reflected in slowing down of the EEG frequencies.