Combined application of electrical resistivity and GIS for subsurface mapping and groundwater exploration at El-Themed, Southeast Sinai, Egypt

The study area is located at south central part of Sinai Peninsula at El-Thamed area. Geoelectrical resistivity method was used by measuring eighteen vertical electrical soundings using the Schlumberger configuration with total current electrode separation ranging between 3 m and 4000 m in order to investigate the deep groundwater aquifer and to delineate the subsurface structures of this area. The geoelectrical cross-sections show that the subsurface section consists of six geoelectrical units. The first unit is Quaternary deposits with thickness ranging from 0.6 m to 30.9 m and the resistivity values ranging from 177 Ohm.m. to 39680 Ohm.m. The second geoelectrical unit is composed of Egma Formation, with thickness ranging from 9.2 m to 12.8 m and the resistivity values ranging between 21 Ohm.m. and 82 Ohm.m. The third geo-electrical unit is composed of Paleocene Esna shale, also not detected at the study area with exception at profile 2, its thickness ranges from 15.6 m to 166.5 m and resistivity range from 8.9 Ohm.m. to 20 Ohm.m. This layer has not been detected at the extremely southern part of this profile, its depth ranges from 9.63 m to 15.5 m. The fourth geoelectrical unit is composed of Nubian Sandstone of Malha Formation (Lower Cretaceous) with depth ranging from 0.5 m to 8.9 m and its resistivity values ranging from 14 Ohm.m. to 133 Ohm.m. This layer represents the main aquifer in the study area with thickness ranging between 14.2 m and 283 m. The fifth geoelectrical unit is composed of claystone of Naqus Formation with depth ranging from 14.2 to 349 m and its resistivity values ranging from 2.7 Ohm.m. to 13 Ohm.m., sometimes, it is extends to the maximum depth of penetration. The sixth geoelectrical unit is composed of Basement rocks. It is characterized by resistivity ranging from 970 Ohm.m. to 25462 Ohm.m. and depth ranging from 60.1 m to 283 m. This unit is detected at the eastern part of the study area. Structurally, the study area is affected by sets of faults trending mainly NE-SW (Aqaba Trend)

Photodynamic therapy for hair removal

Background: Unwanted hair is one of the most common medical problems affecting women of reproductive age inducing a lot of psychological stress and threatening their femininity and self-esteem. Old methods of removing unwanted hair include shaving, waxing, chemical depilation, and electrolysis, all of which have temporary results. However laser-assisted hair removal is the most efficient method of long-term hair removal currently available. It is desirable to develop a reduced cost photodynamic therapy (PDT) system whose properties should include high efficiency and low side-effects. Method: Mice skin tissues were used in this study and divided into six groups such as controls, free methylene blue (MB) incubation, liposome methylene blue (MB) incubation, laser without methylene blue (MB), free methylene blue (MB) for 3 and 4 h and laser, liposome methylene blue (MB) for 3 h and laser. Methylene blue (MB) was applied to wax epilated areas. The areas were irradiated with CW He-Ne laser system that emits orange-red light with wavelength 632.8 nm and 10 mW at energy density of 5 J/cm2 for 10 min. The UV-visible absorption spectrum was collected by Cary spectrophotometer. Results: Methylene blue (MB) is selectively absorbed by actively growing hair follicles due to its cationic property. Methylene blue (MB) untreated sections showed that hair follicle and sebaceous gland are intact and there is no change due to the laser exposure. Free methylene blue (MB) sections incubated for 3 h showed that He:Ne laser induced destruction in hair follicles, leaving an intact epidermis. Treated section with free methylene blue (MB) for 4 h showed degeneration and necrosis in hair follicle, leaving an intact epidermis. Liposomal methylene blue (MB) sections incubated for 3 h showed He:Ne laser induced destruction in hair follicles with intradermal leucocytic infiltration. Conclusion: Low power CW He:Ne laser and methylene blue (MB) offered a successful PDT system in selectively damaging hair follicles, leaving an intact epidermis. The current PDT system provides better outcome than hair destruction through laser heat transfer procedures and laser-mediated hair removal, due to complete destruction of hair follicles.qscienc