Microbial Leaching of Uranium from Low Grade Ore and Waste Sample of Northern Part of Gabal Gatter, Egypt Using Penicillium Purpurogenium and Pseudomonas fluorescens SHA 281

Uranium (U) is one of the strategic elements and essential for many applications as a fuel in nuclear power plants and nuclear weapons. Microbiological leaching has been used as an alternative approach to conventional hydrometallurgical methods of uranium's recovery from low grade ores and waste samples Penicillium purpurogenium and Pseudomonas fluorescens SHA 281 were exhibited a good potential in generating varieties of organic acids effective for bioleaching uranium. Efficiency of bioleaching was studied by varying parameters like pulp density and incubation period. Indeed, it was observed that the highest percentages of bioleached uranium from the tested samples directly by Penicillium purpurogenium were found to be 72.49, 55.60 % at a pulp density 300 gm/L after 9 days of incubation at 30 oC and 57.47, 60.06 % by P. fluorescens SHA 281 after 8 days of incubation at 35 o C using shaking incubator at 175 rpm from (T-2)80 and waste sample (W1), respectively

Performance of Close Anode Cathodic Protection System Applied to a Plane Metallic Grid

In CP technique the negative shift in cathode potential determines the degree of protection against corrosion. This shift occurs by two mechanisms: the first is depression of cathode potential relative to electrolyte (Remote Anode Systems). The second is elevation of electrolyte potential in the vicinity of cathode relative to electrolyte (Close Anode Systems). These systems are considerably sensitive to anode position because of sharp changes in electrolyte potential with variation of anode location (proximity effect). Our work is to investigate the performance of CP system under conditions of variable anode position, applied to mild steel grid simulating steel reinforced concrete

Forecasting the Climate Change through the Distributions of Solar Radiation and Maximum Temperature

The climate change crisis is negatively affecting the world and is the focus of many researchers attention for its life-threatening economic and climate impact on Earth. Therefore, this study aims to estimate the joint distribution function (EFXY) of both daily solar radiation (S) and daily maximum temperature (T) along with the Markov property. In this study, three-parameter distributions have been utilized with S and T, which are generalized extreme value (GEV) and Weibull (W-3P), respectively. Each of these parameters and the joint distribution function ((, )) have been estimated. Four real data of S and T in Queensland, Australia during two consecutive years are applied. The method of maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) is applied on the proposed distributions of S and T to estimate their parameters, which was validated using Goodness-of-Fit tests. In addition, the logarithmic (LFXY) model and the multi-regression model (MFXY) for (, ) are obtained. The results have been compared and the EFXY and LFXY are found to be non-equivalently, while the EFXY and MFXY are equivalent and homogeneous, confirming the validity of the joint distribution function estimate with the least error. Thus, the climate change probabilities are more accurately predictable by knowing both X and Y or by knowing both () and () with minimal error

microRNA-141 as a diagnostic and prognos- tic biomarker for prostate cancer in Egyptian population: Pilot study

Introduction: microRNAs are a family of small non protein-coding RNAs. They are involved in posttranscriptional gene regulation of their target genes. The deregulation of microRNAs has been linked to cancer development and tumor progression. The aim of out study was to look for microRNA-141 as a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for prostate cancer.Patients and methods: The study prospectively recruited 30 patients newly diagnosed with prostate cancer; including 13 and 17 patients without and with metastases, respectively. Another 30 patients without prostate cancer diagnosis were included as a control group. Real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis was done for relative quantification of microRNA-141.Results: The present study showed that microRNA-141 was significantly upregulated in cancerous patients compared to control group. Also it was significantly upregulated in patients with metastatic disease compared to non-metastatic patients. Moreover, it was significantly correlating with serum PSA and Gleason score.Conclusion: Serum microRNA-141 could be a promising diagnostic and prognostic biomarker for prostate cancer and a good indicative of disease aggressiveness

Effects of Poly-MVA on the rheological properties of blood after in-vivo exposure to gamma radiation

AbstractThis study aims to examine the radio-prophylactic effects of poly-MVA against exposure to acute dose of gamma radiation. Adult male rats, weighing 200 gm, were exposed to 6 Gy gamma radiation from Cs-137 source. The animals received daily oral administration of 2 ml/kg body weight of poly-MVA for different time intervals. The prophylactic effect was examined by two modes of administration: two weeks before irradiation and another group which received continuous administration for two weeks before and two other weeks after irradiation (total time of administration 28 days). Different parameters were performed, which include determination of cellular antioxidant enzymes (Glutathione (GSH), catalase and superoxide dismutase) in hepatic cells, the rheological properties of blood, osmotic fragility and scanning electron microscope photography of red blood cells. Exposure to radiation resulted in a significant decrease in cellular antioxidant enzymes (GSH, Catalase and SOD) and decrease in Bingham viscosity, yield stress and aggregation index of blood. Furthermore it induced slightly increase in average osmotic fragility of red blood cells accompanied by decrease in osmotic dispersion and remarkable modification of red blood cell morphology. Administration of Poly-MVA showed markedly elevation in GSH, Catalase and SOD content in liver cells in all treated groups. It also showed improvement in all observed parameters. The obtained results showed that oral uptake of poly MVA posses a radio-prophylactic effect that might be used in planned radiation exposure in diagnosis and radiotherapy

Radio-mitigation effect of poly-MVA after exposure to an acute dose of gamma radiation

AbstractAdult male rats were exposed to a 6Gy single dose from a Cs-137 source. The radio-mitigation effect of poly-MVA was evaluated by daily administration of 2ml/kg of body weight immediately after irradiation for two weeks. The morphological changes in the red blood cells were studied. The osmotic fragility and rheological properties of blood, the alteration in the contents of antioxidant enzymes (glutathione, catalase and superoxide dismutase) and lipid peroxidation in hepatic cells were determined. The results showed that exposure to radiation resulted in significant changes in cellular antioxidant enzymes (GSH, catalase and SOD) and a decrease in the blood Bingham viscosity, yield stress and aggregation index. Furthermore, it induced a slight increase in the average osmotic fragility of red blood cells accompanied by a decrease in osmotic dispersion, as well as a modification of red blood cell morphology. It also caused a significant increase (75%) in the lipid peroxidation 1 day after exposure to radiation, which persisted until the 14th day recorded after irradiation. Oral administration of poly-MVA after irradiation reduced the radiation-induced damage, as seen in the non-significant change in lipid peroxidation compared to the control. It also resulted in improvement in the observed parameters

Amelioration of The Dielectric Properties of Ceramic Insulators Using Nano-alumina

Outdoor HV porcelain insulators face various environmental stresses that cause their degradation. Consequently, amelioration of their insulating properties becomes a target of recent researches to survive higher voltage levels. Investigating the impact of the addition of 0, 5, 10, and 15 wt. % nano- alumina (NA) on the dielectric and physical characteristics of porcelain materials at elevated sintering temperatures is the aim of this study. Porcelain specimens were synthesized from kaolin, feldspar, and quartz as available low-cost raw materials. The specimens were sintered at 1100, 1200, 1300, and 1400°C for 2 h. For some specimens, the microstructure and phases formed were identified using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques. The changes that occur upon heating (include melting, phase transition, sublimation, and decomposition) were identified by Differential Thermogravimetric Analysis. The dielectric strength, relative permittivity, and loss tangent of different samples were measured at a large scale of frequencies. Breakdown strength values of different samples were verified by applying the Finite Element Method. The best electrical and physical properties were achieved at 1300ºC. At this temperature the porcelain sample containing 5 wt. % NA presented optimum physical characteristics as well as good insulating properties assent the feasibility of producing electro-technical porcelai