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•A passive solar distillation system is investigated.•Vacuum condition, separate air-cooled condenser and batch-wise operation are applied.•Extensive energy and exergy analysis is ...performed.•Exergoeconomic optimization is outlined.•Cost of exergy destruction rates and exergoeconomic cost of the fresh water are improved.
In this paper, an exergoeconomic optimization of the recently developed, evacuated solar distillation system is performed in order to evaluate the cost parameters, along with the energy and exergy analyses of the system. The present study includes the development of an exergoeconomic model for the system which is implemented in a MATLAB code and solved dynamically on an hourly basis. In addition, a sensitivity analysis is carried out to investigate the effects of key variables on the exergoeconomic cost of fresh water production. Furthermore, an optimization of the system, through a graphical approach, is carried out to minimize the exergoeconomic cost of the system product (i.e., fresh water). The results of this exergoeconomic optimization are compared with corresponding ones of the present system. It is revealed that the cost of exergy destructions is decreased by 36%, and hence, the exergoeconomic cost of fresh water is decreased by about 45% after the optimization.
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•A solar operated desalination system is investigated.•Vacuum condition, separate air-cooled condenser and batch-wise operation are applied.•Extensive energy and exergy analysis is ...performed.•Sources of deficiencies are highlighted.•Improvement potentials rates are explored and enhancement possibilities are identified.
This paper presents a detailed thermodynamic assessment of a solar operated desalination system through exergy analysis. This system operates under vacuum condition and is equipped with an air-cooled condenser. The thermodynamic model of this system is developed, implemented in a MATLAB code and solved iteratively to investigate the influence of design and operational parameters. A spectrum of the thermodynamic model includes rates of energy streams, exergy streams, exergy destructions and improvement potentials. The outputs of thermodynamic model, namely improvement potential rates, are employed to explore enhancement of current design of the desalination system. The results of this investigation reveals that, an increase in absorptivity of basin base by 12% improves the productivity, energy and exergy efficiencies of the desalination system by 27%, 25% and 39%, respectively. In respect of improvement potential rates, the higher value is attributed to the basin base. It is shown that the reduction of heat losses from basin walls by 75% increases the productivity and exergy efficiency of the desalination system by 87% and 152%, respectively.
A solar desalination system working at sub-atmospheric pressure is investigated. The decrease of the saline water evaporation pressure allows a much reduction of energy required to operate the ...system. The desalination system consists of a solar basin connected to an external air-cooled condenser and utilizes a vacuum pump to develop the vacuum condition. The experimental results for different seasons are presented. A maximum desalination system efficiency of 40% is obtained. An enhancement of 16.2% and 29.7% in productivity and thermal efficiency, respectively are obtained compared with the conventional solar still. Eventually, a cost analysis is carried out to evaluate the constructed desalination system economically. Based on the analysis of the obtained results, the recommendations for improvement of the constructed system are outlined.
•A modified basin type solar still is investigated experimentally.•Vacuum condition and addition of separate air-cooled condenser are employed.•Higher productivity and efficiency are obtained compared with conventional one.•Comparable productivity cost per liter.•Increasing cover transmissivity and recovery of heat of condensation are recommended.
The present work investigates the potential role of metformin nanoparticles (MTF-NPs) as a radio-protector against cardiac fibrosis and inflammation induced by gamma radiation via CXCL1/TGF-β ...pathway. Lethal dose fifty of nano-metformin was determined in mice, then 21 rats (male albino) were equally divided into three groups: normal control (G1), irradiated control (G2), and MTF-NPs + IRR (G3). The possible protective effect of MTF-NPs is illustrated via decreasing cardiac contents of troponin, C-X-C motif Ligand 1 (CXCL1), tumor growth factor β (TGF-β), protein kinase B (AKT), and nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB). Also, the positive effect of MTF-NPs on insulin-like growth factor (IGF) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) in heart tissues using immunohistochemical technique is illustrated in the present study. Histopathological examination emphasizes the biochemical findings. The current investigation suggests that MTF-NPs might be considered as a potent novel treatment for the management of cardiac fibrosis and inflammation in patients who receive radiotherapy or workers who may be exposed to gamma radiation.
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•A combined solar system to produce cooling and potable water is investigated.•The system combines a desalination unit and an intermittent absorption cooling unit.•The desalination ...unit consists of an evacuated basin and a water-cooled condenser.•The intermittent absorption cooling unit uses LiBr–H2O and employs a PV panel.•Experimental energy efficiency of 13.75% for the entire system is recorded.
In this paper, a combined system for domestic use in rural areas is designed and constructed. This system combines simultaneously a solar desalination unit and an intermittent solar operated absorption cooling unit. The desalination unit works at sub-atmospheric pressure where decrease of the saline water evaporation pressure allows a much reduction of energy required to operate the unit. The desalination unit consists of a solar basin connected to an external water-cooled condenser. The LiBr–H2O absorption cooling unit operates intermittently to match solar operation mode. Photovoltaic panels are employed to supply heat of generation process. The experimental performance of the constructed system at different climatic conditions is presented. The most efficient performance of the system is obtained in the month of August. The maximum desalination unit efficiency and minimum evaporator temperature of absorption cooling unit are 40% and 4.7°C, respectively. Energy efficiency of 13.75% for the entire system is recorded.
•A modified basin type solar still is investigated experimentally and theoretically.•The modified basin type solar still performed better than the conventional one.•Mathematical model of the modified ...solar still is developed and validated against experimental results.•Extensive performance study of the modified solar still is presented.
A modified basin type solar still equipped with an air-cooled condenser is constructed and tested. The system is operated at reduced pressure in batch-wise mode. Better measured performance of the modified still is obtained compared with that of the conventional one. On the other hand, the system is simulated using a mathematical model and solved numerically using a computer program written in MATLAB code. The developed model is validated against experimental measurements. The parametric study using the validated model is carried out to explore the improvement potentials of the constructed system.
Tissue-resident macrophages in the mammary gland are found in close association with epithelial structures and within the adipose stroma, and are important for mammary gland development and tissue ...homeostasis. Macrophages have been linked to ductal development in the virgin mammary gland, but less is known regarding the effects of macrophages on the adipose stroma. Using transcriptional profiling and single-cell RNA sequencing approaches, we identify a distinct resident stromal macrophage subpopulation within the mouse nulliparous mammary gland that is characterized by the expression of Lyve-1, a receptor for the extracellular matrix (ECM) component hyaluronan. This subpopulation is enriched in genes associated with ECM remodeling and is specifically associated with hyaluronan-rich regions within the adipose stroma and fibrous capsule of the virgin mammary gland. Furthermore, macrophage depletion leads to enhanced accumulation of hyaluronan-associated ECM in the adipose-associated stroma, indicating that resident macrophages are important for maintaining homeostasis within the nulliparous mammary gland stroma.
Thiazolidinedione (TZD) is one of the privileged heterocyclic rings and has shown many biological applications in medicinal chemistry and drug discovery. This review covers the synthetic approaches ...of TZD and its derivatives, different synthetic techniques for affording the desired regioselectivity and stereoselectivity, and the techniques that would enhance reaction conditions such as microwave, one‐pot, or ultrasound synthesis. It focuses on synthetic challenges of glitazones and the transformation of other heterocycles to TZD. Moreover, the chemical and biological behavior of TZD through the substitution in the N3 position, modification of the C5 position, annealing in complex heterocyclic systems, and hybridization with other pharmacologically attractive moieties are discussed. All reactions mentioned are provided as possible with different reaction conditions, mechanisms, derivatives scope, yield and clarified by applications of such reactions in the construction of potential medicinal agents. The review also answers questions about rapid racemization of glitazones, their toxicity, considering TZD as pan‐assay interference compounds (PAINS) or not, and the influence of saturation of 5‐position of TZD in their biological activities. This review is a comprehensive guide to make informed decisions for construction of TZD derivatives with biological potentials.
This review provides a comprehensive look at the synthesis and chemistry of TZD derivatives, with their general modes of reactivity describing in detail the pros and cons of each strategy, as a guide for the design and the proper election of the synthetic route for novel functional TZD reagents. Also, the routes are reinforced with illustrations of the use of TZD chemistry into biological candidates that have emerged in more in recent years.
Perturbations produced by ionizing radiation on intestinal tissue are considered one of highly drastic challenges in radiotherapy. Animals were randomized into five groups. The first group was ...allocated as control, and the second was subjected to whole body γ-irradiation (10 Gy). The third was administered HA NP (17.6 mg/kg/day; i.p.) and then irradiated. The fourth one received MitoQ (2 mg/kg/day; i.p.) and then irradiated. The last group received MitoQ/HA NP (2 mg/kg/day; i.p.) for 5 days prior to irradiation. Mice were sacrificed a week post-γ-irradiation for evaluation. MitoQ/HA NP ameliorated mitochondrial oxidative stress as indicated by rising (TAC) and glutathione peroxidase and decreasing malondialdehyde, showing its distinguished antioxidant yield. That impacted the attenuation of apoptosis, which was revealed by the restoration of the anti-apoptotic marker and lessening proapoptotic caspase-3. Inflammatory parameters dwindled via treatment with MitoQ/HA NP. Moreover, this new NP exerts its therapeutic action through a distinguished radioprotective pathway (Hmgb1/TLR-4.) Subsequently, these antioxidants and their nanoparticles conferred protection to intestinal tissue as manifested by histopathological examination. These findings would be associated with its eminent antioxidant potential through high mitochondria targeting, enhanced cellular uptake, and ROS scavenging. This research underlines MitoQ/HA NP as a new treatment for the modulation of intestinal damage caused by radiotherapy modalities.
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This illustrates that gamma radiation–induced intestinal injury in mice is indicated by an increase in mitochondrial oxidative stress, reactive oxygen species, and intestinal inflammation. The apoptosis marker was increased after irradiation that leads to intestinal damage through the TLR-4 and Hmgb-1 pathways. MitoQ and its hyaluronic acid–based nanopreparation improve all previously mentioned parameters.
The deleterious effect of gamma radiation on testicular tissue is a challenging problem in nuclear medicine. This study investigated the potential radioprotective effect of mitoquinol (MitoQ), a ...mitochondria-targeted antioxidant, against testicular damage induced by gamma irradiation in rats.
Rats were allocated into four groups. The first group served as the control, the second group received MitoQ (2 mg / kg / day; i.p.) for seven days, the third group was exposed to gamma radiation (5 Gy as a single dose) and the last group received MitoQ prior to irradiation. Rats were sacrificed. Then, sperm analyses and the serum testosterone were determined. Moreover, evaluation of mitochondrial oxidative stress parameters (SOD, GSH and GPx) as well as apoptosis indicators (cytochrome-c, Bax, Bcl-2 and caspase-3) was performed. Additionally, analysis of steroidogensis biomarkers (StAR, 3β-HSD and 17β-HSD) and histopathological investigations were carried out.
MitoQ replenished mitochondrial SOD, GPx and GSH indicating its strong antioxidant effect in addition to its energy preservation manifested by the elevated ATP. MitoQ inhibited the intrinsic apoptosis via diminution of Bax, cytochrome-c and caspase-3 and alleviation of Bcl-2. This antioxidant conferred protection to steroidogenesis as verified by the increase in testosterone and the up-regulation of StAR, 3β-HSD and 17β-HSD expression; these effects might be correlated with its antioxidant/anti-apoptotic potential. Histopathological and sperm analyses corroborated the biochemical findings.
This study identifies MitoQ as a novel agent for the management of testicular toxicity induced by gamma irradiation.
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•MitoQ ameliorated gamma radiation-induced testicular injury.•MitoQ mitigated gamma radiation-induced spermatogenesis arrest.•MitoQ ameliorated gamma radiation-produced mitochondrial oxidative stress in the testis.•MitoQ diminished gamma radiation-induced mitochondrial apoptosis in the testis.•This study sheds light on the role of mitochondria in the radioprotection of testis.
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