Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a disease that forms as a complication of diabetes. It is particularly dangerous since it often goes unnoticed and can lead to blindness if not detected early. Despite ...the clear importance and urgency of such an illness, there is no precise system for the early detection of DR so far. Fortunately, such system could be achieved using deep learning including convolutional neural networks (CNNs), which gained momentum in the field of medical imaging due to its capability of being effectively integrated into various systems in a manner that significantly improves the performance. This paper proposes a computer aided diagnostic (CAD) system for the early detection of non-proliferative DR (NPDR) using CNNs. The proposed system is developed for the optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging modality. Throughout this paper, all aspects of deployment of the proposed system are studied starting from the preprocessing stage required to extract input retina patches to train the CNN without resizing the image, to the use of transfer learning principals and how to effectively combine features in order to optimize performance. This is done through investigating several scenarios for the system setup and then selecting the best one, which from the results revealed to be a two pre-trained CNNs based system, in which one of these CNNs is independently fed by nasal retina patches and the other one by temporal retina patches. The proposed transfer learning based CAD system achieves a promising accuracy of 94%.
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•Nano Cynara scolymus derived biochar was prepared.•Factor optimization by microwave assisted sorption approach.•Superfast extraction and removal of heavy metals in 25 s.•The sorption ...mechanism and kinetics of Cd(II) and Sm(III) by the prepared biochar.•Reusability of Cynara scolymus derived biochar.
Applicability of biochar materials in water remediation is picking up recent interests on account of their sustainability and low mass-production cost. Herein, a novel ecofriendly nanobiochar was successfully fabricated by employing discarded materials from Cynara scolymus leaves (CSL) (Artichoke) as a green renewable low-cost nanosorbent. The produced nanomaterial was employed to estimate the adsorption characteristics towards two different heavy metal cations namely; cadmium and samarium using microwave sorption technique. The chemical composition and the surface morphology of the as-prepared nanobiochar (CSL-NanoB) were determined and fully characterized by (FT-IR, SEM, XRD, TGA and EDX) analyses, which proved the uniform nanosized biochar particles (23.54–27.8 nm). Microwave-assisted sorption technique as a rapid approach was utilized and implemented to assess the influences of some critical analytical parameters on adsorption process as solution pH, nanobiochar dose, irradiation exposure time, interfering ions and initial metal ion concentrations. The optimum conditions were quantitatively estimated at pH 7.0, 25 s heating time, and 10 mg nanosorbent mass. The equilibrium uptake capacity values of Cd(II) and Sm(III) were established as 1150 and 650 μmolg−1, respectively. Metal complexation with −OH and −COOH groups and ion exchange were characterized as the participating dominant mechanisms in adsorption process. Sorption kinetics data were fitted well with pseudo-first-order and Elovich with the contribution of intra-particle diffusion in the adsorption mechanism, as well as correlated with Freundlich isotherm model. Thermodynamic parameters indicated that, the sorption process of examined metal ions on CSL-NanoB was endothermic as favored at high temperature and spontaneous in nature. Furthermore, the adsorption performance of CSL-NanoB was significantly stable and efficient after multiple regeneration process. The outlined results indicate that, the investigated CSL-NanoB is a sustainable, dynamic and affordable nanosorbent to contribute in solving water pollution problems.
Accumulation of plastic wastes has been recently recognized as one of the most critical environmental challenges, affecting all life forms, natural ecosystems and economy, worldwide. Under this ...threat, finding alternative environmentally-friendly solutions, such as biodegradation instead of traditional disposal, is of utmost importance. However, up to date, there is limited knowledge on plastic biodegradation mechanisms and efficiency. From this point of view, the purpose of this review is to highlight the negative effects of the accumulation of the most conventional plastic waste (polyethylene, polypropylene, polystyrene, polyvinylchloride, polyethylene terephthalate and polyurethane) on the environment and to present their degradability potential through abiotic and biotic processes. Furthermore, the ability of different microbial species for degradation of these polymers is thoroughly discussed. The present review also addresses the contribution of invertebrates, such as insects, in plastic degradation process, highlighting the vital role that they could play in the future. In total, a schematic pathway of an innovative approach to improve the disposal of plastic wastes is proposed, with view to establishing an effective and sustainable practice for plastic waste management.
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•The main hazardous effect of plastic is its accumulation in the environment.•An effective eco-friendly management practice for plastic wastes is still absent.•Invertebrates gut microbiota could play an important role in plastic degradation.•Plastic degradation can improve by combining various degradation techniques.•Plastic degradation calls for future studies to develop biodegradation processes.
Graphene based nanomaterials are explored in the field of cancer bioimaging and biomedical science and engineering. The luminescent nanostructures with a low toxicity and high photostability can be ...used as probes in bioimaging applications. This work is aimed to prepare graphene/folic acid-zinc oxide (GN/FA-ZnO) nanocomposite with dual-mode emissions (down-conversion and up-conversion) to be used in cancer bioimaging. The dual mode emissions offer long luminescence lifetime, multicolor emissions detected by the naked eyes after excitation and narrow band absorption and emission spectra. ZnO nanospheres and nanorods structures were prepared using co-precipitation technique and were conjugated with FA to separate the bulk graphite layers electrostatically into GN. The optical, morphological, surface charge and structural properties of the prepared nanostructures were investigated and discussed using different characterization techniques such as UV-visible spectroscopy, photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscope (SEM), high resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM), Zeta potential, Raman spectroscopy, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), X-ray powder diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR). GN/FA-ZnO nanocomposites were injected into Swiss albino mice implanted with Ehrlich Tumor and the bioimaging was investigated using photon imager and digital camera. The results showed clear fluorescence and confirmed that the green design of GN/FA-ZnO nanocomposite with targeting behavior was capable of selective bioimaging of the tumor. This study presented a novel dual mode emission nanocomposite for tumor targeting and is a promising strategy for the fabrication of a new design of spectral encoding.
The present study is aimed to evaluate the microwave–enforced sorption approach (MES) for instantaneous extraction and removal of trace concentration of metal ions using microwave-synthesized ...titanium oxide nanoparticles-bonded-chitosan nanolayer (NTiO2-NCh). The proposed and designed nanocomposite was characterized by different techniques. The coveted ions were allowed to heat in presence of NTiO2-NCh nanocomposite inside a microwave apparatus for 5–20s to execute the sorption process. The contribution of microwave warming time, nanocomposite dose, concentration of Cd(II) and Cu(II) ions, pH and interfering ions were explored and optimized. Sorption of Cd(II) was characterized as 1050 and 1150μmolg−1 and those of Cu(II) were identified as 450 and 800μmolg−1 using 5 and 20s of microwave heating time, respectively. Optimization of the nanocomposite dose factor was found to enhance the metal uptake values of Cd(II) to 1800μmolg−1 using 5.0mg. The potential utilization of MES technique for removal and extraction of Cd(II) and Cu(II) at low concentration levels (mgL−1) from water samples was also explored. The percentage extraction values of Cu(II) and Cd(II) from water and wastewater samples were ranged as 86.80–88.01% and 72.56–70.67%, respectively using 60–70s heating via MES technique.
•Microwave sorption approach for removal of metal ions•5–20s extraction and removal process•Nanocomposite of TiO2-covalent bonded-chitosan nanolayer•Maximum cadmium capacity (1800μmolg−1) was identified using 5.0mg.•Optimization of experimental controlling factors.
Photovoltaic generation is a temperature-dependent technology, with each 1 °C temperature rise of the PV module, the efficiency drops by 0.2–0.5 % depending on the material of the PV cells. MPCM ...slurry is employed in the study to work as a cooling medium that circulates through a serpentine pipe to absorb heat from the back of a (0.8m x1.6m) 1.28 m2 PV module for cooling purpose. The paper presents the experimental rig, the procedure of using MPCM slurry in PV/T and the limitations to its application. The experiments run under specific laboratory conditions with three concentrations of MPCM (5%, 10%, and 15%) in the slurry to test the effect of the major parameters such as radiation, Reynolds number and the concentration of the MPCM in the slurry on the performance of the system. The results showed that the system achieves 83% overall efficiency and 5.9 coefficient of performance (COP) when it operates with 10 % MPCM concentration slurry. Despite the good experimental outputs, the system is facing some problems that impede its application mostly due to the complexity of the cooling medium (MPCMS).
Cryogels have recently been attracted intense attention as suitable carriers for enzyme immobilization. Herein, l-asparaginase was selected as the model enzyme due to its application such as ...pharmaceutical and food. Under optimum conditions, l-asparaginase was immobilized on poly (2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate-glycidyl methacrylate) cryogels with 68.8% of immobilization yield and 69.3% of activity recovery. The immobilized enzyme exhibited improved stability with respect to the soluble enzyme at extreme conditions, especially around acidic pH and high temperature. Also, the storage stability and reusability of the immobilized enzyme were found to be approximately 54% and 52% of the original activity after 28 days at room temperature and 10 cycles, respectively. The thermodynamic studies indicated that activation energy (Ea) of the free enzyme decreased from 13.08 to 10.97 kJ/mol, which means an increase in the thermostability of l-asparaginase. The Michaelis-Menten constants (Km) of 2.04 and 1.67 mM, and the maximum reaction rates (Vmax) of 170.0 and 115.0 μM min−1 were estimated for soluble and immobilized l-asparaginase, respectively. These findings demonstrated that the designed cryogels turn out to be a good carrier matrix for l-asparaginase immobilization with high catalytic efficiency and enhanced stability.
•p(HEMA-GMA) cryogels were prepared and used for immobilization of L-ASNase.•The fabricated p(HEMA-GMA)/L-ASNase was reused several times without important losses in catalytic activity.•The p(HEMA-GMA)/L-ASNase cryogel column may be performed to scavenge L-asparagine from the blood when used in apheresis.
Using the auto combustion flash method, Ni1-x+2Mgx+2Fe2+3O4 (x = 0, 0.2, 0.6, 0.8 and 1) nano-ferrites were synthesized. All samples were thermally treated at 973 K for 3 h. The structural analysis ...for the synthesized samples was performed using XRD, high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM), and FTIR. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was undertaken to explore the surface morphology of all the samples. The thermal stability of these samples was investigated using thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). XRD data show the presence of a single spinel phase for all the prepared samples. The intensity of the principal peak of the spinel phase decreases as Mg content increases, showing that Mg delays crystallinity. The Mg content raised the average grain size (
) from 0.084 μm to 0.1365 μm. TGA shows two stages of weight loss variation. The vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) measurement shows that magnetic parameters, such as initial permeability (
) and saturation magnetization (
), decay with rising Mg content. The permeability and magnetic anisotropy at different frequencies and temperatures were studied to show the samples' magnetic behavior and determine the Curie temperature (
), which depends on the internal structure. The electrical resistivity behavior shows the semi-conductivity trend of the samples. Finally, the dielectric constant increases sharply at high temperatures, explained by the increased mobility of charge carriers, and decreases with increasing frequency.
The underlying study was carried out aiming at transdermal drug delivery (TDD) of Goniothalamus macrophyllus as sono-photo-sensitizer (SPS) using microneedle (MN) arrays with iontophoresis (MN-IP), ...electroporation (MN-EP) in conjunction with applying photodynamic therapy (PDT), sonodynamic therapy (SDT) and sono-photodynamic therapy (SPDT) as an up-to-date activated cancer treatment modality. Study was conducted on 120 male Swiss Albino mice, inoculated with Ehrlich ascites carcinoma (EAC) divided into 9 groups. We employed three different arrays of MN electrodes were used (parallel, triangular, and circular), EP, IP with different volts (6, 9, 12 V), an infrared laser and an ultrasound (pulsed and continuous wave) as our two energy sources. Results revealed that parallel 6 V TDD@MN@IP@EP can be used as effective delivery system for G. macrophyllus from skin directly to target EAC cells. In addition MN@IP@EP@TDD G. macrophyllus is a potential SPS for SPDT treatment of EAC. With respect to normal control mice and as opposed to the EAC untreated control mice, MN@EP@IP TDD G. macrophyllus in the laser, ultrasound, and combination activated groups showed a significant increase in the antioxidant markers TAC level and the GST, GR, Catalase, and SOD activities, while decrease in lipid peroxidation oxidative stress parameter MDA levels. In addition significantly increased apoptotic genes expressions (p53, caspase (3, 9), Bax, and TNF alpha) and on the other hand decreased anti- apoptotic (Bcl-2) and angiogenic (VEGF) genes expressions. Moreover significantly ameliorate liver and kidney function decreasing ALT, AST, urea and creatinine respectively. Furthermore MN@IP@EP@TDD G. macrophyllus combined with SPDT was very effective at reducing the growth of tumors and even causing cell death according to microscopic H&E stain results. This process may be related to a sono- and/or photochemical activation mechanism. According to the findings, MN@IP@EP@TDD G. macrophyllus has a lot of potential as a novel, efficient delivery method that in combination with infrared laser and ultrasound activation SPDT demonstrated promising anticancer impact for treating cancer.
Abstract
The main aim of this study is to use the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) techniques to determine the optimum site to collect the residues in order to reduce cost and increase the ...benefits. To achieve these three scenarios were studied to reach the best collection sites for recycling rice straw in Sinbilawin center. The results indicate that the first scenario: The result was forty (40) collection sites in this status the cost of transfer will be very high because the collecting starts from inside village to the 40 sites and transfer to main sites to recycle operation. The second scenario: The total lengths of roads are not much then the cost of transfer is low and save time and efforts. The third scenario: The result was five collecting sites. It was shortest length and lowest cost. Transportation costs in the first scenario were difficult to calculate because of the difficulty to access a network of documented roads from satellite maps to use it with the GIS program. The total internal transport costs were 987,308.86 and 826,966.43 L.E (Egyptian pound, $ = 19.15 L.E) for second and third scenarios, respectively. The average transport costs per ton were 17 and 14 L.E/ton for the second and third scenarios, respectively. Also, the total lengths of roads were 817.62 and 615.65 km for the second and third scenarios, respectively.
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