Abstract
High-grade calcium aluminate cement (CAC) has been successfully synthesized from municipal alumina waste and limestone under mild reaction conditions. Mineralogical composition and ...microstructure of the sintered mixes were investigated using X-ray diffraction and FESEM; valuable cementing phases such as CA, CA
2
, and C
12
A
7
were observed in addition to the C
3
A phase that was detected in the mixes with high CaCO
3
content. Mix CA60 containing 60 wt% alumina waste has achieved the best sinterability (less than 1 vol% porosity) and the highest densification (~ 2.65 g/cm
3
bulk density) at 1450 °C. Densification, cold-crushing strength (CCS), and microstructure of the hydrated cement samples (From Mix CA60) were investigated. The cast cement specimens revealed better density and CCS characteristics (63.1 and 74 MPa at 7 and 28 days, respectively) in comparison with the commercial cement. Conventional castables (5 × 5 × 5 cm
3
) were prepared from mixtures composed of 15 wt% cement and 85 wt% aggregates (40% Al
2
O
3
), where CA60 and commercial cement were used to compare the effect of the manufactured CA60 cement with the commercial one. The castables prepared with CA60 cement have shown a higher strength at 110 °C with 4.5 MPa when compared to the commercial CAC at the same temperature (1.8 MPa). Accordingly, this study contributes not only to preserving the environment from the accumulation of industrial wastes but also to valorizing and adding value to these wastes.
Recently, drug nanosuspensions have shown a potential for ophthalmic delivery. In this study, a hydrocortisone (HC) nanosuspension (NS) was developed using microfluidic nanoprecipitation as a recent, ...simple and cost-effective bottom-up technique of drug nanonization. For comparison, a second HC NS was prepared by top-down wet milling procedures. The produced nanosuspensions were characterized for particle size, shape and zeta potential. HC nanosuspensions of approximately 300
nm particle size were produced by adjusting experimental conditions of the two processing techniques. Results of X-ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry revealed that HC maintained the crystalline structure upon milling, while predominant amorphous particles were generated after precipitation. Ocular bioavailability of HC nanosuspensions was assessed in albino rabbits using HC solution as a control. A sustained drug action was maintained up to 9
h for the nanosuspensions compared to 5
h for the drug solution. The precipitated and milled NS achieved comparable AUC
0–9h values of 28.06
±
4.08 and 30.95
±
2.2, respectively, that were significantly (
P
<
0.05) higher than that of HC solution (15.86
±
2.7). After 2
months storage at room temperature, the milled HC NS showed good stability with no discernable changes in particle size, whereas the particle size of the precipitated HC NS increased to 440
nm.
Changes in intraocular pressure (IOP) of Albino rabbits after administration of Hc solution and nanosuspensions produced by milling and precipitation.
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Soil degradation due to global warming, water scarcity and diminishing natural resources negatively impacts food security. Soil fertility deterioration, particularly phosphorus (P) deficiency, ...remains a challenge in the arid and semi-arid regions. In this study, field experiments were conducted in different geographical locations to investigate the effects of organic amendments coupled with P fertilization and irrigation on soil physical-chemical properties, and the growth, yield and quality of wheat. Application of P fertilizers combined with organic amendments mitigated soil salinity, increased organic matter content, available water, hydraulic conductivity and available macronutrients, but decreased soil bulk density. Application of organic amendments slightly increased total Cd, Ni and Pb in soil, but Cd and Ni concentration was below allowable limits whilst Pb reached a hazardous level. Soil P fractions were significantly increased with the combined application of mineral P and organic amendments irrespective of salinity and irrigation. Crop growth yield and quality of wheat improved significantly in response to the integrated application of mineral P and organic amendments. In conclusion, the combination of mineral P sources with organic amendments could be successfully used as a cost-effective management practice to enhance soil fertility and crop production in the arid and semi-arid regions stressed with water scarcity and natural resource constraints.
While the functionality and healthy food value of red rice have increased its popularity, such that market demand for it is expected to rise, most strains suffer from low grain yield. To perform ...diversity and population structure analyses of red rice germplasm, therefore, becomes essential for improving yields for commercial production. In this study, fifty red rice germplasm from the Bangladesh Rice Research Institute (BRRI) genebank were characterized both morphologically and genetically using fifty simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers. Overall, 162 alleles were detected by the markers with the detected allele number varying from two to seven. Additionally, 22 unique alleles were identified for use as a germplasm diagnostic tool. The highest and lowest polymorphic information content (PIC) indices were 0.75 and 0.04 found in markers RM282 and RM304, respectively, and genetic diversity was moderate, varying from 0.05 to 0.78 (average: 0.35). While phylogenetic cluster analysis of the fifteen distance-based agro-morphological traits divided the germplasm into five clusters (I, II, III, IV and V), a similar SSR analysis yielded only three major groups (I, II, and III), and a model-based population structure analysis yielded four (A, B, C and D). Both principal component and neighbors joining tree analysis from the population structure method showed the tested germplasm as highly diverse in structure. Moreover, an analysis of molecular variance (AMOVA), as well as a pairwise FST analysis, both indicated significant differentiation (ranging from 0.108 to 0.207) among all pairs of populations, suggesting that all four population structure groups differed significantly. Populations A and D were the most differentiated from each other by FST. Findings from this study suggest that the diverse germplasm and polymorphic trait-linked SSR markers of red rice are suitable for the detection of economically desirable trait loci/genes for use in future molecular breeding programs.
•Parabolic trough/parabolic dish-desalination plant designs were critically reviewed.•A performance assessment and economic analyses of hybrid desalination plants are analyzed.•RO plant powered by ...parabolic trough is more economical than parabolic trough-MED-TVC plant.•Hybrid MED-RO system with parabolic trough is a promising technology.•System performance characteristics, challenges, and future strategies are discussed.
In this review, current status and recent progress in concentrated solar power (CSP) desalination technology has been presented. Special focus has been considered for designs and hybridization configurations, thermodynamic performance assessment, and economic analyses of hybrid solar desalination systems driven by only the parabolic trough, or/parabolic dish CSP systems. Studies that combined solar parabolic trough/dish with different desalination technologies such as multi-effect distillation (MED), reverse osmosis (RO), humidification-dehumidification (HDH), multi-stage flash (MSF), and thermal vapor compression (TVC) either for only freshwater production or for co-generation of power and freshwater are discussed in details. Comparison among the reviewed solar concentrated parabolic trough desalinating systems shows that the MED-TVC system powered by parabolic trough solar field is more appropriate than a parabolic trough-RO combination from a thermodynamic viewpoint. In addition, solar parabolic trough and dish collectors can operate the thermal cycles to drive RO desalination system with lower cost of producing water than the MED process. It can be concluded that adopting parabolic trough CSP-desalination technology was a better option for improving the economic advantages of hybrid CSP-desalination industry than adopting parabolic dish CSP-desalination technology. Furthermore, the hybrid MED-RO system with parabolic trough technology is characterized by high reliability, high freshwater generating efficiency, and low desalination cost. Nevertheless, more theoretical and experimental data are needed to optimize these hybrid systems to gain higher efficiency and lower operating cost in the future.
Aerobic rice cultivation represents an innovative approach to reduce water consumption and enhance water use efficiency compared to traditional transplanting methods. Simultaneously, cultivating ...drought-tolerant rice genotypes becomes crucial to ensure their sustainable production under abrupt climate fluctuations. Hence, this study aimed to explore the physiological, agronomic, and grain quality responses of ten diverse rice genotypes to various irrigation levels under aerobic cultivation conditions. A field experiment was performed for two summer seasons of 2019 and 2020 in an arid Mediterranean climate. The irrigation regimes were well watered (13,998 m
/ha), mild drought (10,446 m
/ha), moderate drought (7125 m
/ha), and severe drought (5657 m
/ha). The results revealed considerable variations among rice genotypes under tested irrigation regimes in all physiological, agronomic, and quality traits. According to drought response indices, rice genotypes were classified into three groups (A-C), varying from tolerant to sensitive genotypes. The identified drought-tolerant genotypes (Giza-179, Hybrid-1, Giza-178, and Line-9399) recorded higher yields and crop water productivity with reduced water usage compared to drought-sensitive genotypes. Thus, these genotypes are highly recommended for cultivation in water-scarce environments. Furthermore, their characteristics could be valuable in breeding programs to improve drought tolerance in rice, particularly under aerobic cultivation conditions. The PCA biplot, heatmap, and hierarchical clustering highlighted specific physiological parameters such as relative water content, chlorophyll content, proline content, peroxidase content, and catalase content exhibited robust associations with yield traits under water deficit conditions. These parameters offer valuable insights and could serve as rapid indicators for assessing drought tolerance in rice breeding programs in arid environments.
Abstract
The members of the genus
Phyllanthus
have long been used in the treatment of a broad spectrum of diseases. They exhibited antiproliferative activity against various human cancer cell lines. ...Breast cancer is the most diagnosed cancer and a leading cause of cancer death among women. Doxorubicin (DOX) is an anticancer agent used to treat breast cancer despite its significant cardiotoxicity along with resistance development. Therefore, this study was designed to assess the potential cytotoxicity of
P. niruri
extracts (and fractions) alone and in combination with DOX against naïve (MCF-7) and doxorubicin-resistant breast cancer cell lines (MCF-7
ADR
). The methylene chloride fraction (CH
2
Cl
2
) showed the most cytotoxic activity among all tested fractions. Interestingly, the CH
2
Cl
2
-fraction was more cytotoxic against MCF-7
ADR
than MCF-7 at 100 µg/mL. At sub-cytotoxic concentrations, this fraction enhanced the cytotoxic effect of DOX against the both cell lines under investigation (IC
50
values of 0.054 µg/mL and 0.14 µg/mL vs. 0.2 µg/mL for DOX alone against MCF-7) and (1.2 µg/mL and 0.23 µg/mL vs. 9.9 µg/mL for DOX alone against MCF-7
ADR
), respectively. Further, TLC fractionation showed that B2 subfraction in equitoxic combination with DOX exerted a powerful synergism (IC
50
values of 0.03 µg/mL vs. 9.9 µg/mL for DOX alone) within MCF-7
ADR
. Untargeted metabolite profiling of the crude methanolic extract (MeOH) and CH
2
Cl
2
fraction exhibiting potential cytotoxicity was conducted using liquid chromatography diode array detector-quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (LC-DAD-QTOF). Further studies are needed to separate the active compounds from the CH
2
Cl
2
fraction and elucidate their mechanism(s) of action.
Here, we synthesized new thiazole complexes from Cu (II), Fe (III), and Pd (II) ions. Such complexes were characterized to present their chemical formulae, firstly. The octahedral geometry was ...suggested for the investigated complexes except Pd (II) complex (ARPTPd), which has a square‐planer arrangement. ARPTPd was planned to be used as a catalyst for synthesis of dihydrotetrazolo1,5‐apyrimidine derivatives at mild conditions. The catalytic activity of ARPTPd complex in four‐components reaction approach was deliberately monitored till it reaches the most favorable conditions. The advantages of suggested catalyst were basically summarized by using green solvent (H2O), lower reaction time, and high products yields. Also, the superiority of ARPTPd complex and ultrasonic irradiation towards synthesis of dihydrotetrazolo1,5‐apyrimidine derivatives was revealed compared with other Lewis acids, basic, and ionic liquid catalysts. Furthermore, the mildness of conversion and compatibility with different functional groups makes it attractive. In addition, in consecration, computational aspects were often taken according to their effect on the declaration or discrimination of variable functional characteristics. Crystal packing systems of complexes were configured to extract important surface properties. DFT study was also applied to explain the causes behind the superiorly of ARPTPd complex. Also, the optimization process for intermediates was executed to support the suggested mechanism. Finally, this simple, economical, and green catalytic procedure may be applied to the industry in future.
Summary of catalytic reaction stepwise to produce Dihydrotetrazolo1,5‐apyrimidine.
The impacts of climate change and possible adaptations to food security are a global concern and need greater focus in arid and semi-arid regions. It includes scenario of Coupled Model ...Intercomparison Phase 5 (CMIP-RCP8.5). For this purpose, two DSSAT maize models (CSM-CERES and CSM-IXIM) were calibrated and tested with two different maize cultivars namely Single Cross 10 (SC10) and Three Way Cross 324 (TW24) using a dataset of three growing seasons in Nile Delta. SC10 is a long-growing cultivar that is resistant to abiotic stresses, whereas TW24 is short and sensitive to such harsh conditions. The calibrated models were then employed to predict maize yield in baseline (1981–2010) and under future time slices (2030s, 2050s, and 2080s) using three Global Climate Models (GCMs) under CMIP5-RCP8.5 scenario. In addition, the use of various adaptation options as shifting planting date, increasing sowing density, and genotypes was included in crop models. Simulation analysis showed that, averaged over three GCMs and two crop models, the yield of late maturity cultivar (SC10) decreased by 4.1, 17.2, and 55.9% for the three time slices of 2030s, 2050s, and 2080s, respectively, compared to baseline yield (1981–2010). Such reduction increased with early maturity cultivar (TW24), recording 12.4, 40.6, and 71.3% for near (2030s), mid (2050s), and late century (2080s) respectively relative to baseline yield. The most suitable adaptation options included choosing a stress-resistant genotype, changing the planting date to plus or minus 30 days from baseline planting date, and raising the sowing density to 9 m
−2
plants. These insights could minimize the potential reduction of climate change-induced yields by 39% by late century.
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