The disorder of Alzheimer's is marked by progressive pathophysiological neurodegeneration. The amino acid peptides in the amyloid plaques found in the brains of people with Alzheimer's disease (AD) ...are known as amyloid-beta (Aβ). Current treatments are not curative, and the effects associated with AD are reduced. Improving treatment results involved the targeting of drugs at optimum therapeutic concentration. Nanotechnology is seen as an unconventional, modern technology that plays a key role in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease. Using nanoparticles, molecular detection, effective drug targeting, and their combination offer high sensitivity. The aim of this review is to shed light on the function and successful role of nanoparticles to resolve Aβ aggregation and thus to help cure Alzheimer's disease. The analysis divides these nanoparticles into three categories: polymer, lipid, and gold nanoparticles. A thorough comparison was then made between the nanoparticles, which are used according to their role, properties, and size in the procedure. The nanoparticles can prevent the accumulation of Aβ during the efficient delivery of the drug to the cells to treat Alzheimer's disease. Furthermore, this comparison demonstrated the ability of these nanoparticles to deal efficiently with Alzheimer's disease. The role of these nanoparticles varied from delivering the drug to brain cells to dealing with the disease-causing peptide.
•Sugar cane bagasse and orange peel can be recycled into biochar for soil application.•Application of SC–BC and OP–BC improved the physicochemical properties of the studied soil.•Both biochars can ...reduce the leachability of Pb in a metal smelter-contaminated soil.•Addition of SC–BC and OP–BC resulted in greater mobility of As in the treated soil.•Considerable attention should be paid when using the biochar in soil contaminated with As.
The main objectives of the current study were to evaluate the potential effects of biochar derived from sugar cane bagasse (SC–BC) and orange peel (OP–BC) on improving the physicochemical properties of a metal smelter contaminated soil, and determining its potentiality for stabilizing Pb and As in soil. To achieve these goals, biochar was produced in a small-scale biochar producing plant, and an incubation experiment was conducted using a silt loam metal-contaminated soil treated with different application rates of biochar (0–10% w/w). The obtained results showed that, the addition of SC–BC and OP–BC increased significantly the soil aggregate stability, water-holding capacity, cation exchange capacity, organic matter and N-status in soil. SC–BC considerably decreased the solubility of Pb to values lower than the toxic regulatory level of the toxicity characteristics leaching procedure extraction (5mgL−1). The rise in soil pH caused by biochar application, and the increase of soil organic matter transformed the labile Pb into less available fractions i.e. “Fe–Mn oxides” and “organic” bound fractions. On the other hand, As was desorbed from Fe–Mn oxides, which resulted in greater mobility of As in the treated soil. We concluded that SC–BC and OP–BC could be used successfully for remediating soils highly contaminated with Pb. However, considerable attention should be paid when using it in soil contaminated with As.
Extensive use of fertilizers and pesticides led to dangerous ecological effects and therefore the biological approaches have been widely recommended to prevent further deterioration for the ...environment. The current study was conducted to explore the potentiality of using single or combined inoculations by mycorrhizae, Bacillus subtilis and Pseudomonas fluorescence for controlling the infection of common bean plants with Sclerotium rolfsii on one hand and as bio-fertilizers for improving plants nutritional status on the other hand. The soil of study was mildly infected with S. rolfsii and contained high total-P content. Thus, minimal P inputs were added to the inoculated soil in the form of rock phosphate. Activities of plant defense enzymes i.e. chitinase, peroxidase and polyphenol oxidase were determined under the greenhouse conditions and the results obtained herein indicated that activities of such enzymes increased significantly owing to bio-agent inoculations. In this concern, combined treatments resulted in further significant increases over the single ones. A field study was then conducted for two successive years and the results reveal that single inoculations increased straw and green pod yields as well as the uptake of P and Fe by plants as compared with the non-inoculated treatment. Combined inoculants recorded further significant increases in these parameters even when compared with the fungicide treated plants. Generally, straw and pod yields obtained from the second growing season were significantly higher than those attained in the first growing one. Our study confirms the success of the used bio-treatments in minimizing soil pollution through fertilizer and/or pesticide inputs.
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•Pod yield increased significantly in single inoculations with either PGPR or AMF.•The investigated bioagents also increased P-uptake by bean plants.•Combined inoculants recorded further significant increases in such parameters.•Pod yield was higher in the second growing season than in the first one.•P. fluorescence compete with S. rolfsii on Fe uptake thereby suppress its infection.
This paper deals with a new class of hybrid fractional differential equations with fractional proportional derivatives of a function with respect to a certain continuously differentiable and ...increasing function ϑ. By means of a hybrid fixed point theorem for a product of two operators, an existence result is proved. Furthermore, the sufficient conditions of the continuous dependence on the given parameters are investigated. Finally, a simulative example is given to highlight the acquired outcomes.
The current study aims to investigate the implications of amending a soil contaminated with Cd with peanut residues biochar (BP) solely or in combination with cow manure (CMPB) at different rates on ...phytotoxicity of Cd for wheat plants and its distribution in a mine contaminated soil. Soil pH and EC increased progressively in soils amended with either PB or CMPB. Exchangeable Cd was decreased while its non-exchangeable fractions were increased. Dry weights of wheat straw, roots and grains increased when soils amended with either PB or CMPB, especially at the higher application rate. Such increases were correlated significantly with the extractable soil-Cd. Concentrations of Cd in roots were higher than those in straw; whereas, the concentrations in grains seemed to be the lowest. Generally, values of bio-concentration and translocation factors did not exceed “1” and decreased with application of either PB or CMPB. In conclusion, enriching biochar with cow manure is a recommended strategy to reduce Cd uptake and translocation to straw and seeds. Moreover, Concentrations of Cd did not exceed the permissible levels in grains when soils amended with the highest rate of CMPB.
•Peanut residues biochar (PB) effect to reduce Cd phytotoxicity was not well studied.•Application of PB & cow manure enriched biochar (CMPB) improved wheat productivity.•Exchangeable Cd was decreased but non-exchangeable one was increased with PB or CMPB.•Cd was below the permissible levels in grains when CMPB was applied.•PB and CMPB significantly decreased bio-concentration and translocation factors.
To cope with water crisis, wastewater reuse has been introduced as a potential source for irrigation. On the other hand, irrigation with wastewater may negatively affect the surroundings. In this ...study, reed plant (Phragmits australis) and its biochar were tested as low-cost treatments to enhance the efficiency of wastewater reclamation in wetlands within only 72 h. The investigated water was of low irrigation quality and exhibited high contents of BOD
and fecal coliform. Moreover, this water contained high levels of soluble cations and anions; besides, being marginally contaminated with Cu, Mn and Cd. After 2 days in the sedimentation unit, wastewater was subjected to three reclamation treatments in parallel (each lasted for 24 h): (1) a "sand & gravel bed", (2) "reed plants grown on a sand & gravel bed" and (3) "biochar + a sand & gravel bed". The results showed that all treatments decreased BOD
, fecal coliform, total cations and anions, with superiority for the second and third treatments. The levels of the potentially toxic elements also decreased to values within the permissible levels. Although the aforementioned wastewater treatment processes upgraded the quality of this water, it remained in the poor grade. Biochar or reed plants grown on sand and gravel beds significantly improved wastewater quality to the medium quality grade, with superiority for biochar treatment. In conclusion, investigated treatments are guaranteed in wetlands for wastewater reclamation; yet, further protocols should be followed to achieve safe handling of this water and attain the sustainable goals.
Sustainable management of low fertile arid soils using carbon-rich organic amendments such as biochar and compost is of great concern from both agricultural and environmental points of view. The ...impact of pyrolysis, composting, and co-composting processes of different feedstocks on carbon loss and emissions, soil properties, and plant growth in arid soils with low organic matter content has not been sufficiently explored yet. Consequently, the aim of this work was to 1) investigate the effects of the pyrolysis, composting, and co-composting processes on the properties of the produced biochar, compost, and co-composted biochar from rice straw (RS) and sugarcane bagasse (SB), and 2) examine the impact of addition of RB biochar (RSB), SB biochar (SBB), RS compost (RSC), SB compost (SBC), co-composted RS biochar (RSCB), and co-composted SB biochar (SBCB) at an application dose of 10 ton/hectare on soil properties, carbon emission, and growth of zucchini (Cucurbita pepo) in a sandy arid soil. Carbon loss (kg C kg−1 feedstock) was significantly (P < 0.05) lower during the preparation of the compost (90.36 in RSC, 220.00 in SBC) and co-composted-biochar (146.35 in RSCB, 125.20 in SBCB) than in biochar (176.5 in RSB, 305.6 in SBB). The C/N ratios of the compost and co-composted biochar (11–28.5) were narrower than the corresponding values of biochars (48–90). All amendments increased significantly soil organic carbon content (2.5 in RSC to 5.5 g kg−1 in RSCB), as compared to the non-amended control (1.2 g kg−1). All amendments, particularly RSCB, increased significantly (P < 0.05) the zucchini seed vigor index, dry weight, total chlorophyll content, and root and shoot length, as compared to the control. Moreover, RSCB was the only amendment that showed a positive soil carbon balance. The modified integrated two-way ecological model data also indicated that the co-composted biochar, particularly RSCB, is a promising amendment to improve soil quality and plant growth in sandy arid soils. However, those data should be verified under field conditions.
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•Carbon loss was higher during pyrolysing than composting rice and sugarcane waste.•Co-composted rice straw biochar (RSCB) showed a positive soil C balance.•All amendments improved soil health and zucchini growth parameters.•An integrated two-way ecological model data was introduced for the first time.•This model showed that RSCB is a promising amendment for low fertile arid soils.
The development of an environment-friendly nanomaterial with promising antimicrobial and antioxidant properties is highly desirable. The decolorization potentiality of toxic dyes using nanoparticles ...is a progressively serious worldwide issue. The successful biosynthesis of zinc nanoparticles based on phosphates (ZnP-nps) was performed using the extracellular secretions of Aspergillus fumigatus. The antibacterial activity of the biosynthetic ZnP-nps was investigated against Gram-negative bacteria and Gram-positive bacteria using the agar diffusion assay method. The antioxidant property for the biosynthetic nanomaterial was evaluated by DPPH and H.sub.2O.sub.2 radical scavenging assay. Remarkable antibacterial and antiradical scavenging activities of ZnP-nps were observed in a dose-dependent manner. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) for Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Escherichia coli was 25 microg/ml, however, the MIC for Bacillus subtilis was 12.5 microg/ml. The maximum adsorptive performance of nanomaterial was respectively achieved at initial dye concentration of 200 mg/L and 150 mg/L using methylene blue (MB) and methyl orange (MO), where sorbent dosages were 0.5 g for MB and 0.75 g for MB; pH was 8.0 for MB and 4.0 for MO; temperature was 30 degreesC; contact time was 120 min. The experimental data was better obeyed with Langmuir's isotherm and pseudo-second-order kinetic model (R.sup.2 > 0.999). The maximum adsorption capacity (q.sub.max) of MB and MO dyes on nanomaterial were 178.25 mg/g and 50.10 mg/g, respectively. The regenerated nanomaterial, respectively, persist > 90% and 60% for MB and MO after 6 successive cycles. The adsorption capacity of the prepared zinc phosphate nanosheets crystal toward MB and MO, in the present study, was comparable/superior with other previously engineered adsorbents. Based on the above results, the biosynthesized ZnP-nanosheets are promising nanomaterial for their application in sustainable dye decolorization processes and they can be employed in controlling different pathogenic bacteria with a potential application as antiradical scavenging agent. Up to our knowledge, this is probably the first study conducted on the green synthesis of ZnP-nanosheets by filamentous fungus and its significant in sustainable dye decolorization.
► Treating soil with EDTA increased water soluble and AB-DTPA extractable As significantly. ► Shoots As uptake increased significantly by EDTA applications. ► Roots As uptake did not increase ...significantly except at 2.5 and 5.0mmolkg−1 EDTA. ► Applications of EDTA in the presence of maize plant are unsuitable for As phytoextraction. ► Only shoots of maize plants grown on soil without EDTA treatment can be used in animal feeding.
EDTA amendments are widely used for micronutrient fertilization in arid soils, besides their effectiveness in the remediation process of heavy metal from contaminated soils. However, the persistence of EDTA in arsenic contaminated soil may have further negative effects on the grown plants. To investigate the influences of EDTA on soil As, a pot experiment was conducted using a sandy clay loam As-polluted soil treated with gradual rates of EDTA (0, 1.0, 2.5 and 5mmolkg−1) and planted with maize for two months. The key findings reveal that EDTA applications increased AB-DTPA extractable and water soluble As significantly. Such increases seemed to be the main reasons behind the increase in As uptake by maize plants as the addition of EDTA at the rates of 1.0, 2.5 and 5.0mmolkg−1 increased significantly As uptake by shoots 1.5, 2.4 and 3.0 folds, respectively compared to the untreated soil. On the other hand, As uptake by roots did not increase significantly except with the highest application rates of 2.5 and 5.0mmolkg−1. The results also show that arsenic translocation factor (TF) values were too low to attain successful phytoextraction. In conclusion, the bioavailable fraction of As is important to investigate the phytoextraction and phytotoxicity of As.
Soil organic carbon plays considerable roles in binding soil particles together forming aggregates. Carbon (C) incorporated within these aggregates is thought to be microbially processed; thus, ...investigating changes in microbial activities i.e. dehydrogenase, urease, catalase and phosphatase enzymes may explain, to some extent, the dynamics and probably mechanisms responsible of formation of these aggregates. Since, soil water content (SWC) may take part in stimulating/lessening activities of organic matter decomposers; thus, this study aimed at investigating the effects of rice straw as a source of organic C in combination with variable SWC on bioaccumulation of C within different soil aggregate size fractions (2000–250, 250–53 and < 53 μm) and hence formation of these aggregates. To achieve these objectives, a pot experiment was conducted for 90 days, including five water levels i.e. maintaining a water head 1 cm above the soil surface (W1), 100% of the saturation percentage, SP (W2), 80% of SP (W3), 65% of SP (W4) and 50% of SP (W5), beside of two rates of applied rice straw i.e. 0 and 15 g kg−1 (w/w). Results revealed that application of rice straw at a rate of 15 g kg−1 increased the activities of dehydrogenase, urease, neutral phosphatase and catalase enzymes within the first 60 days after application; thereafter, activities of the first three enzymes decreased considerably. Likewise, formation of soil macro- (2000–250 μm) and micro-aggregates (250–53 μm) increased by the end of the experimental period. The highest concentrations of soil carbon were incorporated within soil macro-aggregate, whereas the least C content was found within the “silt + clay” fraction. Increasing SWC resulted in significant reductions in activities of the aforementioned enzymes and consequent reductions occurred in soil aggregation. Carbon content within aggregates sized <250 μm were significantly correlated with the percentage of these aggregates in soil. Thus, soil aggregation is thought to be the byproduct of an aerobic biosynthetic microbial process in which more stable hydrophobic organic C existed mainly in macropores. This process probably occurred within the first 60 days after RS application.
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•Rice straw stimulated activities of dehydrogenase, urease, catalase and neutral phosphatase.•Carbon was mainly stored in macro (2000-250 μm) and micro (250-53 μm) aggregates.•Rice straw incorporation induced soil aggregation.•Increasing soil moisture reduced significantly activities of the aforementioned enzymes.
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