Regional Cooperation of Urban Conservation in the Middle East

The historical city centres in the Middle East are very well endowed with artefacts and significant architecture. The urban fabric found within these rich contexts can be said to be the binding force of cultural heritage, along with the social qualities and values that are integrated into these urban environments. Yet modernity, globalization, and many other vehicles of radical change have severely affected the traditional urban phenomena of the Middle East. Urban conservation has therefore become imperative, surpassing the typical limited concerns of the restoration and preservation of historical buildings in the region

Structural and superconducting properties of R1 – xCaxBa2Cu3O7 – delta with 0.50 \u3e= x \u3e= 0.00

We report here a consolidated study of structural and superconducting properties of Ca substituted R1-xCaxBa2Cu3O7-δ system, with R=Er, Y, Sm, and Nd, and for 0.50\u3e~x\u3e~0.00. Interestingly, with increasing x, Er/Y samples show a behavior significantly different from Sm/Nd. In particular (1) orthorhombic distortion of R:123 lattice is found to be little affected for Er/Y samples with increasing x in comparison to Sm/Nd samples, (2) although Ca substitution leads to oxygen depletion for all the four sets of samples, the average Cu valence is, in general, found to remain invariant with x, (3) ρ(T) is found to show an upward curvature for Er/Y samples, which is absent for the Sm/Nd samples, and (4) Tc(ρ=0) as a function of x and δ shows a much steeper decrease in Er/Y based samples, than in Sm/Nd based ones. Our results unequivocally point to a different structural order or disorder in Er/Y samples as compared to Sm/Nd based samples. We suggest that different site preferences of oxygen vacancies, predominantly created in CuO2 planes (CuO chains) of Er and Y (Sm and Nd) based samples, might be responsible for the observed difference in the behavior. This contention is supported by a host of other considerations and experimental observations

Fluctuation-Induced Excess Conductivity and Infrared Spectra in Y Doped BSCCO Superconductors

We report here the fluctuation induced excess conductivity and IR spectra in Bi2Sr2Ca1-xYxCu2Oy (0.00 < x < 0.50) superconductors. This work is done by using the reported data of Sedky, Physica B 410, 227 (2013), and with the help of Anderson and Zou relation. The logarithmic plots of excess conductivity ∆σ and reduced temperature Є reveal two different exponents corresponding to unique crossover temperature in the slope of each plot. The first exponent is obtained in the normal field region at a temperature of (Tcmf << T < 2Tcmf ), while the second exponent is obtained in the mean field region at a temperature of (T ~ Tcmf). The dimensional exponents are shifted from three dimensional (3D) to two dimensional (2D) for x < 0.30, but it is shifted from 2D to 3D for x = 0.50. Both zero kelvin critical magnetic fields and current density are considerably enhanced by increasing x up to 0.30 followed by a decrease with further increase of x up to 0.50. The vice is versa for the behavior of interlayer coupling, coherence lengths and anisotropy against x. On the other hand, IR spectra show absorption modes in the wave number range of 716-726 cm-1 according to the value of x. These results are discussed in terms of the correlation between carrier concentration, oxygen deficient and effective Cu valance which are induced by Y through CuO2 planes of BSCCO superconductors

Synthesis and application of polypyrrole/carrageenan nano-bio composite as a cathode catalyst in microbial fuel cells

A novel nano-bio composite polypyrrole (PPy)/kappa-carrageenan(KC) was fabricated and characterized for application as a cathode catalyst in a microbial fuel cell (MFC). High resolution SEM and TEM verified the bud-like shape and uniform distribution of the PPy in the KC matrix. X-ray diffraction (XRD) has approved the amorphous structure of the PPy/KC as well. The PPy/KC nano-bio composites were then studied as an electrode material, due to their oxygen reduction reaction (ORR) ability as the cathode catalyst in the MFC and the results were compared with platinum (Pt) as the most common cathode catalyst. The produced power density of the PPy/KC was 72.1 mW/m2 while it was 46.8 mW/m2 and 28.8 mW/m2 for KC and PPy individually. The efficiency of the PPy/KC electrode system is slightly lower than a Pt electrode (79.9 mW/m2) but due to the high cost of Pt electrodes, the PPy/KC electrode system has potential to be an alternative electrode system for MFCs

In vitro and in vivo anthelmintic efficacy of condensed tannins extracted from the seeds of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) against Haemonchus contortus infection

This study was designed to examine in vitro and in vivo anthelmintic efficacy of condensed tannins (CT) extracted from seeds of Medicago sativa on Haemonchus contortus in sheep. CT's in vitro anthelmintic effect was assessed at a 300 μg/ml concentration compared with albendazole (reference drug) at 10 μg/ml. The results showed that CT had a nematocidal effect on H. contortus, and the cuticle of the adult worm appeared to be its initial target. For the in vivo experiment, nine 3-month-old helminths-free lambs were distributed into three groups. Group 1 (n=3) was challenged only as infected untreated controls; Group 2 (n=3) was treated with condensed tannin, and Group 3 (n=3) was treated with albendazole. Fecal and blood samples were collected every 3 days until the end of the experiment; for fecal egg count (FEC) and anti- H. contortus IgG titers determination, respectively. The lambs treated with the CT in G2 exhibited a pronounced decrease of mean FEC with great FECR% detected from the first-week post-treatment (PT) until the end of the experiment compared with G1 animals. The antibody levels gradually increased in G2 following the 2nd dose of CT treatment compared to other groups. A brilliant consistent relation between the elevation of IgG response and reduction of FEC was observed following the second booster dosing of the CT in G2. In conclusion, the CT evoked strongly in vitro and in vivo anthelmintic activity against H. contortus and could be used as a natural alternative treatment of high potency against haemonchosis in sheep

Medical prospects of cryptosporidiosis in vivo control using biofabricated nanoparticles loaded with Cinnamomum camphora extracts by Ulva fasciata

Background and Aim: Global efforts are continuing to develop preparations against cryptosporidiosis. This study aimed to investigate the efficacy of biosynthesized Ulva fasciata loading Cinnamomum camphora oil extract on new zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnONPs shorten to ZnNPs) and silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) as alternative treatments for Cryptosporidium parvum experimental infection in rats. Materials and Methods: Oil extract was characterized by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, loaded by U. fasciata on ionic-based ZnO and NPs, and then characterized by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, and X-ray diffraction. Biosafety and toxicity were investigated by skin tests. A total of 105 C. parvum oocysts/rat were used (n = 81, 2–3 W, 80–120 g, 9 male rats/group). Oocysts shedding was counted for 21 d. Doses of each preparation in addition to reference drug were administered daily for 7 d, starting on post-infection (PI) day (3). Nitazoxanide (100 mg) was used as the reference drug. After 3 weeks, the rats were sacrificed for postmortem examination and histopathological examination. Two blood samples/rat/group were collected on the 21st day. Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid blood samples were also used for analysis of biochemistry, hematology, immunology, micronucleus prevalence, and chromosomal abnormalities. Results: C. camphora leaves yielded 28.5 ± 0.3 g/kg oil and 20 phycocompounds were identified. Spherical and rod-shaped particles were detected at 10.47–30.98 nm and 18.83–38.39 nm, respectively. ZnNPs showed the earliest anti-cryptosporidiosis effect during 7–17 d PI. Other hematological, biochemical, immunological, histological, and genotoxicity parameters were significantly fruitful; hence, normalized pathological changes induced by infestation were observed in the NPs treatments groups against the infestation-free and Nitazoxanide treated group. Conclusion: C. camphora, U. fasciata, ZnNPs, and AgNPs have refluxed the pathological effects of infection as well as positively improved host physiological condition by its anticryptosporidial immunostimulant regenerative effects with sufficient ecofriendly properties to be proposed as an alternative to traditional drugs, especially in individuals with medical reactions against chemical commercial drugs

Special Libraries, April 1933

Volume 24, Issue 3https://scholarworks.sjsu.edu/sla_sl_1933/1002/thumbnail.jp

2018 Research & Innovation Day Program

A one day showcase of applied research, social innovation, scholarship projects and activities.https://first.fanshawec.ca/cri_cripublications/1005/thumbnail.jp