Assessment of magmatic versus post-magmatic processes in the Mueilha rare-metal granite, Eastern Desert of Egypt, Arabian-Nubian Shield

The Mueilha rare-metal granite, exposed in the central Eastern Desert of Egypt, is a post-collisional intrusion that formed in the final magmatic stage of the evolution of the Arabian-Nubian Shield. The Mueilha intrusion was emplaced as a high-level magmatic cupola into metamorphic country rocks. It consists of two cogenetic intrusive bodies: an early phase emplaced at shallow depth and now penetratively altered to white albite granite and a later phase of red granites emplaced at greater depth that better preserve magmatic features. The albite granite is less common and represents the upper margin of the Mueilha intrusion, the apex of the magmatic cupola. The red granites are volumetrically dominant and appears to have crystallized from the margins inward, forming a composite pluton zoned from muscovite granite to alkali feldspar granite. All parts of the Mueilha pluton appear to have been emplaced within a short time interval, before complete crystallization of the earliest phase. The geochemistry of the Mueilha granites is typical of rare-metal granites, characterized by high SiO₂, Na₂O + K₂O, Nb, Rb, Ta, Y, U, Th, Sn, and W with depletion in P, Mg, Ti, Sr and Ba. They are weakly peraluminous and highly fractionated with A-type character. The chondrite-normalized REE patterns have strongly negative Eu anomalies, typical of highly differentiated granites that evolved through a transitional magmatic–hydrothermal stage. The primary magma feeding the Mueilha intrusion was generated by partial melting of the juvenile crust of the Arabian-Nubian Shield; it subsequently underwent extensive fractional crystallization and metasomatism by late- to post-magmatic fluids. Separation of fluids from the oversaturated melt promoted both diffuse greisenization and focused segregation of pegmatite and fluorite and quartz veins. Alkalis liberated from feldspars consumed by greisenization were redeposited during albitization in the uppermost part of the magma chamber. Despite penetration of the intrusion boundary by discrete dikes, veins, and aphophyses, diffuse alteration of the metamorphic country rocks is not apparent. Primary columbite-series minerals crystallized from the melt and were later partly replaced by secondary Nb and Ta minerals (fluorcalciomicrolite and wodginite) during hydrothermal alteration

Biochemical Parameters in Obese Egyptian Patients as a Non-Invasive Marker for Disease Screening in Early Diagnosis of Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

BACKGROUND: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has recently been considered as the most public liver problem worldwide and a major clinicopathologic health burden in the developed countries. Biochemical tests are important in verifying a better understanding of many diseases and hence help to have the right decisions for achieving better management. AIM: This study was conducted to assess biochemical markers in NAFLD Egyptian patients. METHODS: Forty obese subjects (32 females and 8 males, mean age was 42.32 ± 9.12 years) (20 with NAFLD and 20 without NAFLD) and 20 normal participants were selected. RESULTS: Body mass index (BMI) was 40.86 ± 5.45 in obese FL versus 22.07 ± 2.10 in control, p < 0.001 and versus 35.83 ± 5.94 in obese non-FL, p = 0.003. Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) was 57.30 ± 46.24 in obese FL versus 25.45 ± 7.12 in control, p = 0.003 and versus 27.35 ± 11.09 in obese non-FL, p = 0.005. Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) (41.40 ± 36.09 in obese FL vs. 21.7 ± 3.81 in control, p = 0.015 and vs. 24.05 ± 7.50 in obese non-FL, p = 0.032). Total bilirubin (T.Bil) (0.62 ± 0.25 in obese FL vs. 0.47 ± 0.15 in control, p = 0.014). Prothrombin time (PT) (86.80 ± 11.32 in obese FL vs. 97.86 ± 4.31 in control, p < 0.001) and International Normalization Ratio (INR) (1.11 ± 0.13 in obese FL vs. 1.01 ± 0.02 in control, p = 0.002). Triglycerides (TGs) (128.20 ± 43.49 in obese FL vs. 88.35 ± 24.26 in control, p < 0.001 and vs. 94.50 ± 31.65 in obese non-FL, p = 0.003). Ferritin (88.21 ± 54.88 in obese FL vs. 47.65 ± 32.07 in obese non-FL, p = 0.006). Alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) (2.42 ± 1.67 in obese FL vs. 1.20 ± 0.75 in control, p = 0.001). Fasting blood sugar (FBS) (119.70 ± 49.11 in obese FL vs. 84.10 ± 7.19 in control, p < 0.001 and vs. 80.50 ± 8.84 in obese non-FL, p < 0.001) and postprandial (P.P) (152.80 ± 82.86 in obese FL vs. 94.35 ± 3.70 in control, p < 0.001 and vs. 93.35 ± 7.77 in obese non-FL, p < 0.001). Serum high-density lipoprotein (HDL) level was significantly lower in NAFLD patients compared to obese non-FL (40.05 ± 5.81 vs. 41.9 ± 4.85, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: NAFLD is associated with changes in biochemical parameters. Its early assessment can help in modifying the disease course and delaying complications

Geomatics-Based Modeling and Hydrochemical Analysis for Groundwater Quality Mapping in the Egyptian Western Desert: A Case Study of El-Dakhla Oasis

Groundwater is the single source of water in El-Dakhla Oasis, western desert, Egypt. The main objective of this study is an assessment of groundwater in the area for agriculture and drinking compared to Egyptian and World Health Organization criteria. Most the contamination of water in the study area comes from human and agricultural activities. Thirty soil profiles were studied in the area and we assessed soil quality. Seventy-four samples were taken from the area’s groundwater wells to assess the chemical characteristics of the groundwater. Moreover, the contamination of groundwater by farming and anthropogenic activities was assessed using a land use/land cover (LULC) map. Nine standard water criteria were determined to assess groundwater quality for agriculture. Furthermore, the resulting risk to human health and agricultural crops has been addressed. Therefore, the drinking quality of groundwater samples is graded as low as the hydrochemical study showed high TH, EC, TDS, Ca2+, Mg2+, Mn2+, and Fe2+ contents of 40.5%, 2.7%, 1.4%, 3.8%, 1.6%, 86.5%, and 100%, respectively. Human health is risked by drinking this water, which negatively affects hair, skin, and eyes, with greatest exposure to enteric pathogens. Using these criteria, the majority of groundwater samples cause harmful effects on soil types and are toxic to sensitive crops (vegetable crops). In conclusion, the output of this research is a map showing groundwater suitable for consumption and agriculture in El-Dakhla Oasis based on all indices using the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) model. Additionally, there was evidence of a linear relationship between soil quality and irrigation water quality (R2 = 0.90). This emphasis on tracking changes in soil/water quality was brought on by agricultural practices and environmental variables

Groundwater Quality Assessment Using Multi-Criteria GIS Modeling in Drylands: A Case Study at El-Farafra Oasis, Egyptian Western Desert

first_pagesettingsOrder Article Reprints Open AccessArticle Groundwater Quality Assessment Using Multi-Criteria GIS Modeling in Drylands: A Case Study at El-Farafra Oasis, Egyptian Western Desert by Hanaa A. Megahed 1,Hossam M. GabAllah 1,Rasha H. Ramadan 2ORCID,Mohamed A. E. AbdelRahman 2,*ORCID,Paola D’Antonio 3,*ORCID,Antonio Scopa 3ORCID andMahmoud H. Darwish 4ORCID 1 Division of Geological Applications and Mineral Resources, National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences (NARSS), Cairo 1564, Egypt 2 Division of Environmental Studies and Land Use, National Authority for Remote Sensing and Space Sciences (NARSS), Cairo 1564, Egypt 3 Scuola di Scienze Agrarie, Forestali, Alimentari ed Ambientali (SAFE), Università degli Studi della Basilicata, Viale dell’Ateneo Lucano, 10, 85100 Potenza, Italy 4 Geology Department, Faculty of Science, New Valley University, El Kharga 72511, Egypt * Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed. Water 2023, 15(7), 1376; https://doi.org/10.3390/w15071376 Received: 15 February 2023 / Revised: 26 March 2023 / Accepted: 27 March 2023 / Published: 3 April 2023 (This article belongs to the Special Issue Water Security, Water Economics and the Evolution of Water Consumption) Download Browse Figures Versions Notes Abstract The most critical issue that was the main research interest is its groundwater quality which is vital for public health concerns. Groundwater is a significant worldwide water supply for diverse communities, especially in dryland regions. Groundwater quality assessment in desert systems is largely hindered by the lack of hydrological data and the remote location of desert Oases. This study provides a preliminary understanding of the influences of climate, land usage, and population growth on the groundwater quality in El-Farafra Oasis in the Western Desert in Egypt from 2000 to now. Therefore, the study’s main objective was to determine the extent of change in temporal water quality and the factors causing it. The present study integrates chemical analyses and geospatial modeling better to assess groundwater quality in the study area. A chemical analysis of thirty-one groundwater samples from wells representing each study area was carried out during three time periods (2000, 2010, and 2022). Several chemical properties of groundwater samples gathered from wells in the research area were analyzed. Furthermore, the groundwater quality trend from 2000 to the present was identified using three approaches: Wilcox and Schoeller Diagram in Aq.QA software, interpolation in the ArcGIS software, and Ground Water Quality Index (GWQI). Moreover, the influence of changing land usage on groundwater quality was studied, and it was found that the increase in agriculture and urbanization areas is linked to groundwater quality degradation. The findings revealed that the barren area in 2000, 2010, and 2022 was 371.7, 362.0, and 343.2 km2, respectively, which indicates a substantial decrease of 6.2% within this research timeframe. In contrast, agriculture and human-made structures have expanded by 1.8%. Also, population growth has led to an increase in water consumption as the population has grown at a rate of 7.52% annually from 2000 to 2020. As the climatic condition increases from 2000 to 2022, these changes could extend to the water quality in shallow aquifers with increasing evaporation. Based on the water quality spatial model, it is found that, despite a declining tendency in the rate of precipitation and an expansion in agricultural areas and population growth, the water quality was still appropriate for human and farming consumption in large areas of the study area. The presented approach is applicable to the assessment of groundwater in desert regions in the Middle East area

Novi analitički pristup sa smanjenom potrošnjom organskih otapala u spektrofotometrijskoj analizi temeljenoj na prijenosu naboja: Primjena u analizi nekih antihipertenziva

The present study describes the development of a novel analytical approach that can reduce by 50-fold the consumption of organic solvents in the charge transfer (CT)-based spectrophotometric analysis. The proposed approach employed 96-microwell assay plates for carrying out the reaction. The CT reaction between the electron-donating analyte and electron-accepting reagent was performed in microwells (200-µL of organic solvent) and the color signals were measured with a microwell-plate reader. Optimum conditions for the proposed approach were established for two antihypertensive drugs, namely ramipril (RML) and lisinopril (LSL) as model compounds for the electron-donating analytes, and 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-1,4-benzoquinone (DDQ) as a -electron acceptor. Under the optimum conditions, Beer’s law was obeyed in the concentration range of 6–100 and 6–60 g mL1 for RML and LSL, respectively. The limits of detection were 0.97 and 1.10 g mL1 for RML and LSL, respectively. The precision of the methods was satisfactory; the values of relative standard deviations did not exceed 1.1 %. The proposed approach was successfully applied to the analysis of pharmaceutical dosage forms with good accuracy and precision. The results were comparable with those of the reported methods. The approach described herein is of great practical value in pharmaceutical analysis because it reduces the exposure of analysts to the toxic effects of organic solvents, lowers the analysis cost by 50-fold, and it has a high throughput property. Although the approach was validated for RML and LSL, the same methodology could be used for any electron-donating analyte for which a CT-reaction can be performed.U radu je opisan razvoj novog analitičkog pristupa koji 50 puta smanjuje potrošnju organskih otapala u spektrofotometrijskoj analizi na bazi prijenosa naboja (CT). Predložena metoda koristi ploče s 96 jažica za izvođenje analize. CT reakcije između elektron-donora i elektron-akceptora izvodi se u jažicama s 200-µL organskog otapala. Promjene boje mjere se pomoću posebnog mikročitača za ploče s jažicama. Određeni su optimalni uvjeti za dva antihipertenzivna lijeka, ramipril (RML) i lizinopril (LSL) koji su upotrebljeni kao modelni spojevi za elektron-donorske analite, i 2,3-diklor-5,6-dicijano-1,4-benzokinon (DDQ) kao -elektronski akceptor. U optimalnim uvjetima Beerov zakon je vrijedio u koncentracijskom području 6–100 i 6–60 g mL1 za RML, odnosno LSL. Granice detekcije bile su 0,97 i 1,1 g mL1 za RML, odnosno LSL. Preciznost metode bila je zadovoljavajuća, a relativna standardna devijacija bila je manja od 1,1 %. Predložena metoda uspješno je primijenjena za analizu doziranih farmaceutskih pripravaka koji sadrže ispitivane lijekove, uz dobru točnost i preciznost. Rezultati predložene metode usporedivi su s rezultatima poznatih metoda. Postupak opisan u ovom radu vrlo je praktičan: analitičari su manje izloženi toksičnim učincima organskih otapala, troškovi analize smanjeni su 50 puta, a također ju odlikuje visoka propusnost. Iako je postupak validiran za RML i LSL, ista metoda može se upotrijebiti za elektron-donirajući analit koji ulazi u CT reakciju

Novel spectrophotometric method for determination of cinacalcet hydrochloride in its tablets via derivatization with 1,2-naphthoquinone-4-sulphonate

This study represents the first report on the development of a novel spectrophotometric method for determination of cinacalcet hydrochloride (CIN) in its tablet dosage forms. Studies were carried out to investigate the reaction between CIN and 1,2-naphthoquinone-4-sulphonate (NQS) reagent. In alkaline medium (pH 8.5), an orange red-colored product exhibiting maximum absorption peak (λmax) at 490 nm was produced. The stoichiometry and kinetic of the reaction were investigated and the reaction mechanism was postulated. This color-developing reaction was employed in the development of a simple and rapid visible-spectrophotometric method for determination of CIN in its tablets. Under the optimized reaction conditions, Beer's law correlating the absorbance with CIN concentration was obeyed in the range of 3 - 100 μg/ml with good correlation coefficient (0.9993). The molar absorptivity (ε) was 4.2 × 105 l/mol/cm. The limits of detection and quantification were 1.9 and 5.7 μg/ml, respectively. The precision of the method was satisfactory; the values of relative standard deviations (RSD) did not exceed 2%. No interference was observed from the excipients that are present in the tablets. The proposed method was applied successfully for the determination of CIN in its pharmaceutical tablets with good accuracy and precisions; the label claim percentage was 100.80 - 102.23 ± 1.27 - 1.62%. The results were compared favorably with those of a reference pre-validated method. The method is practical and valuable in terms of its routine application in quality control laboratories

Potencijalna profilaktička uloga aminogvanidina u diabetičkoj retinopatiji i nefropatiji u eksperimentalnih životinja

This study sought to determine the potential prophylactic and antioxidant effects of aminoguanidine in experimentally induced diabetes. Four groups of Wistar rats, each composed of ten rats, were used. Two groups served as control. In group 3, diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (65 mg kg1). In group 4, diabetes was induced and treated with aminoguanidine 100 mg kg1 daily orally for 3 months. Levels of serum glucose, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase and erythrocytes catalase were analyzed on day 90 of the experiment. Retinal and kidney specimens were examined histopathologically after sacrifice of the animals. A significant antioxidant effect of aminoguanidine and its prophylactic role in diabetic retinopathy and nephropathy were observed in experimental animals.U ovom radu ispitivano je potencijalno profilaktičko i antioksidativno djelovanje aminogvanidina u eksperimentalno induciranom dijabetesu. Ispitivanja su provedena na četiri skupine od 10 štakora. Dvije skupine bile su kontrolne skupine, u trećoj skupini dijabetes je induciran jednokratnom intraperitonealnom injekcijom streptozotocina 65 mg kg1, a u četvrtoj dijabetes je induciran i tretiran aminogvanidinom 100 mg kg1 dnevno, peroralno, tijekom 3 mjeseca. Devedeseti dan eksperimenta analizirane su koncentracije glukoze u serumu, glutation peroksidaze, glutation reduktaze i eritrocitne katalaze. Životinje su žrtvovane, a uzorci retine i bubrega ispitivani su histopatologiški. Uočen je značajni antioksidativni učinak aminogvanidina i njegova profilaktička uloga u dijabetičkoj retinopatiji i nefropatiji

Utility of certain nucleophilic aromatic substitution reactions for the assay of pregabalin in capsules

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Pregabalin (PG) is an anticonvulsant, analgesic and anxiolytic drug. A survey of the literature reveals that all the reported spectrophotometric methods are either don't offer high sensitivity, need tedious extraction procedures, recommend the measurement of absorbance in the near UV region where interference most probably occurs and/or use non specific reagent that don't offer suitable linearity range.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Two new sensitive and simple spectrophotometric methods were developed for determination of pregabalin (PG) in capsules. Method (I) is based on the reaction of PG with 1,2-naphthoquinone-4-sulphonate sodium (NQS), yielding an orange colored product that was measured at 473 nm. Method (II) is based on the reaction of the drug with 2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) producing a yellow product measured at 373 nm. The different experimental parameters affecting the development and stability of the reaction product in methods (I) and (II) were carefully studied and optimized. The absorbance-concentration plots were rectilinear over the concentration ranges of 2-25 and 0.5-8 μg mL^-1for methods (I) and (II) respectively. The lower detection limits (LOD) were 0.15 and 0.13 μg mL^-1and the lower quantitation limits (LOQ) were 0.46 and 0.4 μg mL^-1for methods (I) and (II) respectively.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The developed methods were successfully applied to the analysis of the drug in its commercial capsules. The mean percentage recoveries of PG in its capsule were 99.11 ± 0.98 and 100.11 ± 1.2 (n = 3). Statistical analysis of the results revealed good agreement with those given by the comparison method. Proposals of the reaction pathways were postulated.</p

Osjetljiva spektrofotometrijska metoda za određivanje antagonista H2-receptora uz uporabu N-bromsukcinimida i p-aminofenola

A simple, accurate and sensitive spectrophotometric method for determination of H2-receptor antagonists: cimetidine (CIM), famotidine (FAM), nizatidine (NIZ), and ranitidine hydrochloride (RAN) has been full developed and validated The method was based on the reaction of these drugs with NBS and subsequent measurement of the excess N-bromosuccinimide by its reaction with p-aminophenol to give a violet colored product (max at 552 nm). Decrease in the absorption intensity (A) of the colored product, due to the presence of the drug, was correlated with its concentration in the sample solution. Different variables affecting the reaction were carefully studied and optimized. Under optimal conditions, linear relationships with good correlation coefficients (0.9988-0.9998) were found between A values and the corresponding concentrations of the drugs in a concentration range of 830, 622, 625, and 420 g mL1 for CIM, FAM, NIZ, and RAN, respectively. Limits of detection were 1.22, 1.01, 1.08, and 0.74 g mL1 for CIM, FAM, NIZ, and RAN, respectively. The method was validated in terms of accuracy, precision, ruggedness, and robustness; the results were satisfactory. The proposed method was successfully applied to the analysis of the above mentioned drugs in bulk substance and in pharmaceutical dosage forms; percent recoveries ranged from 98.5 0.9 to 102.4 0.8% without interference from the common excipients. The results obtained by the proposed method were comparable with those obtained by the official methods.Razvijena je i validirana ispravna, jednostavna i osjetljiva spektrofotometrijska metoda za određivanje antagonista H2-receptora: cimetidina (CIM), famotidina (FAM), nizatidina (NIZ) i ranitidin hidroklorida (RAN). Metoda se temelji na reakciji tih ljekovitih tvari s N-bromsukcinimidom (NBS). Višak N-bromsukcinimida određuje se nakon reakcije s p-aminofenolom s kojim daje ljubičasti produkt (max pri 552 nm). Smanjenje apsorpcijskog intenziteta (A) obojenog produkta, zbog prisutnosti ljekovite tvari korelirano je s njegovom koncentracijom u otopini uzorka. Proučavane su različite varijable koje utječu na reakciju. Linearno koncentracijsko područje za CIM, FAM, NIZ i RAN, s koeficijentom korelacije od 0,9988 do 0,9998, iznosi 830, 622, 625 odnosno 420 g mL1. Granice detekcije bile su 1,23, 1,02, 1,09 i 0,75 g mL1 za CIM, FAM, NIZ, odnosno RAN. Predložena metoda je uspješno primijenjena za analizu navedenih ljekovitih tvari i ljekovitih pripravaka. Nepreciznost od 0,7 do 1,2% i visoka ispravnost (analitički povrat između 98,5 i 102,4%), bez interferencije uobičajenih pomoćnih tvari, ukazuju na dobru analitičku metodu. Rezultati dobiveni predloženom metodom usporedivi su s rezultatima dobivenim službenom metodom