Investigation of the nanocrytalline SnO2 Synthesized by Homogeneous Precipitation

Nanocrystalline tin dioxide synthesized by the homogeneous pre cipitation method using the reaction of tin tetrachloride pentahydrate and urea solutions has been investigated. The nanocrystalline powder has been traced at different calcination temperatures (300ºC-1050ºC), and then characterized by using   Thermogravemetric analysis, differential thermal analysis and x-ray diffraction. The microstructure of the obtained nanoparticles has been examined by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The average crystallite size, determined by x-ray diffraction, was found to be in the range of 3 –30 nm. The analysis exhibited a tetragonal phase.  Optical properties were investigated by a UV–vis absorption spectrophotometer. The calculated optical band gap lies between 4.47–3.71 eV as a result of increasing the calcination temperatures and crystallite size. Surface area and porosity of SnO2 nanoparticles are measured. Specific surface area which is related to pore volume and decreases from 155 m2/g at 100ºC to 3.3 m2/g at 1050ºC.Â

Characterization and optimization of lipase activity produced by Pseudomonas monteilli 2403-KY120354 isolated from ground beef

A total of 56 Gram negative bacterial isolates were recovered from twenty ground beef samples and were screened for their potentiality to produce lipase. Forty four bacterial isolates were recorded as positive producers for lipase on tween as carbon source in solid medium. Also, the highly producer isolates were screened for lipase activity in submerged culture using olive oil as carbon and the most active isolate was 2043 which gave an activity of 20.0 ± 0.29 U/ml. The bacterial isolate 2403 was identified phenotypically according to Bergey’s Manual and genotypically using 16S rRNA genes analysis as Pseudomonas monteilli. Effect of some different factors on lipase activity were studied and the maximum lipase activity was achieved at reaction medium of pH 6 and incubated at 40°C for 60 min. Also, addition of Ba2+ in the reaction medium enhanced the lipase activity, while the other tested metals reduced the enzyme activity.Key words: Food contamination, lipase activity, olive oil, cultural conditions, Pseudomonas

Toxico-histological Effects of Sublethal Concentrations of Lead Nitrate on the Gills of the African Catfish, Clarias gariepinus

170-175This study aimed to investigate the effects of subleathal lead doses on the histological architecture of gills in the freshwater African catfish, Clarias gariepinus. Results revealed three stages of changes after exposure to three doses of lead nitrate. The changes were mild in fish exposed to 16.12 mg/L of Pb (NO3)2 (stage I 20% of LC50) and severe in case of 40% of LC50 (stage II, 32.24 mg/L) and 60% of LC50 (stage III 48.37% mg/L) in comparison to control. The histological examination revealed normal architecture of gills in control fish. Normal gills were characterized with primary gill lamellae with a central hyaline cartilage. However, three-stage changes were observed after exposure to the three doses of lead nitrate. In stage I, a cartilaginous matrix appeared along with loosening of the epithelial lining of the cartilaginous core and abundant vascular spaces were observed on the secondary gill lamellae. An extra cartilaginous matrix, loosening of the epithelial lining of the cartilaginous core, de-shaped gill lamellae, and degeneration of the secondary gill lamellae were noted in stage II. Lesions in the gill pattern in stage III were represented by shortening of the tips of secondary gill lamellae, damaged gill lamellae, a cartilaginous matrix, and hyperplasia. This indicated that lead exposure resulted in severe histopathological changes in the gills in a dose-dependent manner

The Potential of Natural Leaf Extracts as Green Inhibitors for Mild Steel Corrosion in Hydrochloric Acid Solutions

The inhibitive and thermodynamic behavior of Abelmoschus Esculentus and Citrus Maxima leaf extracts on the corrosion of mild steel in Hydrochloric acid solutions were investigated using potentiodynamic polarization curves measurements and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) technique. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was done to predict some suggested chemical constituent of both leaf extracts. At any given concentration Abelmoschus Esculentus leaf extract is more efficient as a corrosion inhibitor for mild steel in 0.5 M HCl solutions than Citrus Maxima leaf extract. Potentiodynamic polarization curves indicated that both leaf extracts act as mixed type inhibitors for mild steel in 0.5 M HCl solutions. The impedance responses indicated that the corrosion process takes place under activation control. The inhibition of these plant leaf extracts depends on the physical adsorption of the chemical constituents of the extracts on mild steel surface as confirmed by Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDS)

New Fused Pyrimidines of Potential Biosignificant Interest. Syntheses and Molecular Modelling Studies

Abstract New derivatives of thieno [3,2-d]pyrimidine and thieno [2,3-b]pyrrole 5a,b and 6a,b, respectively, were obtained from the corresponding thiophene-2-carboxamides 4a,b. On the basis of compounds 5b, 6a and 6b, two novel series of tricyclic-and tetracyclic-condensed pyrimidines 8-15 and 16-19, respectively, were synthesized by the application of the cyclization reactions of 5b and 6a,b with a variety of commercially available reactants. Geometry optimization of selected structures, using the AM1 semiemperical method, revealed a smaller ionization potential and a lower degree of conformational freedom for the tetracyclic pyrimidine derivatives relative to their tricyclic counterparts. Interestingly, computation of the solvation free energies of the lowest energy conformers at physiological conditions indicated that the series is highly soluble under these conditions. The trend in solubility as implied by the relative magnitudes of the solvation free energies is suggestive of a greater contribution of higher moments of charge distribution in modulating the interaction of the structures with the biological environment which could be detrimental for the binding modes of these structures to their putative receptor sites

Molecular diagnosis in recessive pediatric neurogenetic disease can help reduce disease recurrence in families.

BackgroundThe causes for thousands of individually rare recessive diseases have been discovered since the adoption of next generation sequencing (NGS). Following the molecular diagnosis in older children in a family, parents could use this information to opt for fetal genotyping in subsequent pregnancies, which could inform decisions about elective termination of pregnancy. The use of NGS diagnostic sequencing in families has not been demonstrated to yield benefit in subsequent pregnancies to reduce recurrence. Here we evaluated whether genetic diagnosis in older children in families supports reduction in recurrence of recessive neurogenetic disease.MethodsRetrospective study involving families with a child with a recessive pediatric brain disease (rPBD) that underwent NGS-based molecular diagnosis. Prenatal molecular testing was offered to couples in which a molecular diagnosis was made, to help couples seeking to prevent recurrence. With this information, families made decisions about elective termination. Pregnancies that were carried to term were assessed for the health of child and mother, and compared with historic recurrence risk of recessive disease.ResultsBetween 2010 and 2016, 1172 families presented with a child a likely rPBD, 526 families received a molecular diagnosis, 91 families returned to the clinic with 101 subsequent pregnancies, and 84 opted for fetal genotyping. Sixty tested negative for recurrence for the biallelic mutation in the fetus, and all, except for one spontaneous abortion, carried to term, and were unaffected at follow-up. Of 24 that genotyped positive for the biallelic mutation, 16 were electively terminated, and 8 were carried to term and showed features of disease similar to that of the older affected sibling(s). Among the 101 pregnancies, disease recurrence in living offspring deviated from the expected 25% to the observed 12% ([95% CI 0·04 to 0·20], p = 0·011).ConclusionsMolecular diagnosis in an older child, coupled with prenatal fetal genotyping in subsequent pregnancies and genetic counselling, allows families to make informed decisions to reduce recessive neurogenetic disease recurrence

Toxico-histological Effects of Sublethal Concentrations of Lead Nitrate on the Gills of the African Catfish, Clarias gariepinus

This study aimed to investigate the effects of subleathal lead doses on the histological architecture of gills in the freshwater African catfish, Clarias gariepinus. Results revealed three stages of changes after exposure to three doses of lead nitrate. The changes were mild in fish exposed to 16.12 mg/L of Pb (NO3)2 (stage I 20% of LC50) and severe in case of 40% of LC50 (stage II, 32.24 mg/L) and 60% of LC50 (stage III 48.37% mg/L) in comparison to control. The histological examination revealed normal architecture of gills in control fish. Normal gills were characterized with primary gill lamellae with a central hyaline cartilage. However, three-stage changes were observed after exposure to the three doses of lead nitrate. In stage I, a cartilaginous matrix appeared along with loosening of the epithelial lining of the cartilaginous core and abundant vascular spaces were observed on the secondary gill lamellae. An extra cartilaginous matrix, loosening of the epithelial lining of the cartilaginous core, de-shaped gill lamellae, and degeneration of the secondary gill lamellae were noted in stage II. Lesions in the gill pattern in stage III were represented by shortening of the tips of secondary gill lamellae, damaged gill lamellae, a cartilaginous matrix, and hyperplasia. This indicated that lead exposure resulted in severe histopathological changes in the gills in a dose-dependent manner

Osteogenic Differentiation Potential of Human Bone Marrow and Amniotic Fluid-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Vitro & in Vivo

BACKGROUND: Cell therapies offer a promising potential in promoting bone regeneration. Stem cell therapy presents attractive care modality in treating degenerative conditions or tissue injuries. The rationale behind this is both the expansion potential of stem cells into a large cell population size and its differentiation abilities into a wide variety of tissue types, when given the proper stimuli. A progenitor stem cell is a promising source of cell therapy in regenerative medicine and bone tissue engineering. AIM: This study aimed to compare the osteogenic differentiation and regenerative potentials of human mesenchymal stem cells derived from human bone marrow (hBM-MSCs) or amniotic fluid (hAF-MSCs), both in vitro and in vivo studies. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Human MSCs, used in this study, were successfully isolated from two human sources; the bone marrow (BM) and amniotic fluid (AF) collected at the gestational ages of second or third trimesters. RESULTS: The stem cells derived from amniotic fluid seemed to be the most promising type of progenitor cells for clinical applications. In a pre-clinical experiment, attempting to explore the therapeutic application of MSCs in bone regeneration, Rat lumbar spines defects were surgically created and treated with undifferentiated and osteogenically differentiated MSCs, derived from BM and second trimester AF. Cells were loaded on gel-foam scaffolds, inserted and fixed in the area of the surgical defect. X-Ray radiography follows up, and histopathological analysis was done three-four months post- operation. The transplantation of AF-MSCs or BM-MSCs into induced bony defects showed promising results. The AF-MSCs are offering a better healing effect increasing the likelihood of achieving successful spinal fusion. Some bone changes were observed in rats transplanted with osteoblasts differentiated cells but not in rats transplanted with undifferentiated MSCs. Longer observational periods are required to evaluate a true bone formation. The findings of this study suggested that the different sources; hBM-MSCs or hAF-MSCs exhibited remarkably different signature regarding the cell morphology, proliferation capacity and osteogenic differentiation potential CONCLUSIONS: AF-MSCs have a better performance in vivo bone healing than that of BM-MSCs. Hence, AF derived MSCs is highly recommended as an alternative source to BM-MSCs in bone regeneration and spine fusion surgeries. Moreover, the usage of gel-foam as a scaffold proved as an efficient cell carrier that showed bio-compatibility with cells, bio-degradability and osteoinductivity in vivo

Morphological and molecular characterization of the monogenean gill parasite, Acleotrema maculatus, infecting Argyrops filamentosus fish in the Red Sea, Saudi Arabia

ABSTRACT Fish are considered one of the important sources of protein which are invaded by different parasites. This study aimed to shed light on monogenean parasites that infect fish within the family Sparidae in Saudi Arabia. A total of 30 Argyrops filamentosus specimens were collected from the Red Sea, the city of Jeddah (Saudi Arabia), and then examined for the presence of monogenean parasites. Parasitic species were isolated and studied morphologically using light microscopic examination and molecularly via the partial sequencing of the 28S rRNA gene. Only a monogenean parasitic species has been identified. This parasite is morphologically and morphometric compatible with previously Acleotrema maculatus Morsy, El-Fayoumi & Fahmy (2014), identified from Plectropomus maculatus in the Red Sea, Egypt. Phylogeny revealed that this putative diplectanid species nested well within a clade clustering Diplectanidae species, which along with morphological data, suggests it is a member of the genus Acleotrema. Query sequences showed identities of 98.92% for 28S rRNA (AF026118.1) of Acleotrema sp. This study reflects the first account of this genus as endoparasite taxa of the examined sparid fish, as well as providing novel DNA data for this species

Synthesis, Characterization, and Magnetic Properties of Pure and EDTA-Capped NiO Nanosized Particles

The effect of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) as a capping agent on the structure, morphology, optical, and magnetic properties of nickel oxide (NiO) nanosized particles, synthesized by coprecipitation method, was investigated. Nickel chloride hexahydrate and sodium hydroxide (NaOH) were used as precursors. The resultant nanoparticles were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). XRD patterns showed that NiO have a face-centered cubic (FCC) structure. The crystallite size, estimated by Scherrer formula, has been found in the range of 28–33 nm. It is noticed that EDTA-capped NiO nanoparticles have a smaller size than pure nanoparticles. Thus, the addition of 0.1 M capping agent EDTA can form a nucleation point for nanoparticles growth. The optical and magnetic properties were investigated by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and UV-vis absorption spectroscopy (UV) as well as electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and magnetization measurements. FTIR spectra indicated the presence of absorption bands in the range of 402–425 cm−1, which is a common feature of NiO. EPR for NiO nanosized particles was measured at room temperature. An EPR line with g factor ≈1.9–2 is detected for NiO nanoparticles, corresponding to Ni2+ ions. The magnetic hysteresis of NiO nanoparticles showed that EDTA capping recovers the surface magnetization of the nanoparticles