Assessment of Radiological Hazards of Sedimentary, Igneous and Sediments Natural Rocks

Gamma-ray spectroscopy based on a 100% efficiency hyper-pure germanium detector was used to evaluate the activity concentrations of 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K natural radionuclides in sedimentary, conglomerate, igneous and sedi-ments rock samples collected from four different locations in Eastern desert in Egypt. The obtained activity concentrations are used to evaluate the radi-ological hazards indices, absorbed dose rate, annual effective dose equivalent in air, radium equivalent, external and internal hazard index, radiation level index, annual gonadal dose equivalent, excess lifetime cancer risk and expo-sure rate. The results show that 1) the absorbed dose rate depends on the rock type, 2) the annual effective dose equivalent in air in 71% of sample below 20 mSvy-1 (permissible limit for workers), 3) the conglomerate rocks show low radioactivity level, 4) sedimentary rocks are rich in radium while igneous rocks are rich in thorium and the sediments rocks are rich in both radium and thorium.

Neutron activation analysis of ceramic tiles and its component and radon exhalation rate

The concentrations of 20 trace elements in several ceramics tiles and ceramic composites used in Egypt were elementally analyzed by neutron activation analysis(NAA) technique. The samples and standard were irradiated with reactor for 4 h(in the Second Research Egyptian Reactor(Et-RR-2)) with thermal neutron flux 5.9×10 13 n/(cm 2·s).The gamma-ray spectra obtained were measured for several times by means of the hyper pure germanium detection system(HPGe). Also a solid state nuclear track detector(SSNTD) CR-39, was used to measure the emanation rate of radon for these samples. The radium concentrations were found to vary from 0.39—3.59 ppm and the emanation rates were found to vary from (0.728—5.688) × 10 -4 kg/(m 2· s).The elemental analysis of the ceramic tiles and ceramic composites have a great importance in assigning the physical properties and in turn the quality of the material.

Effect of Vitex agnus-castus plant extract on polycystic ovary syndrome complications in experimental rat model

Objective: To investigate ameliorative effects of Vitex agnus-castus (VAC) and VAC containing pharmaceutical supplement (VPS) against polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Methods: PCOS in the rats was induced by daily administration of letrozole at 1 mg/kg body weight concentration for 21 d. PCOS rats were then treated daily either with metformin, VAC plant extract or VPS at 70, 8 or 8 mg/kg body weight concentration for 15 d. Rats that received none of these treatments were considered as control. Blood and ovaries were collected from all the rats. Serum glucose, cholesterol, triglyceride and high density lipoprotein-cholesterol were measured spectrophotometrically. Serum insulin, estrogen, progesterone, testosterone, luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulation hormone, catalase, superoxide dismutase, malondialdehide and reduced glutathione were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Rats treated with letrozole demonstrated a significant increase in serum testosterone, estrogen, cholesterol, luteinizing hormone, triglycerides, glucose, insulin, and malondialdehide levels, and a significant decline in progesterone, follicle-stimulating hormone, high density lipoprotein-cholesterol, catalase and reduced glutathione levels compared to control. Contrarily, no significant change in superoxide dismutase was noted in response to letrozole treatment. Rats treated with metformin, VAC or VPS showed a remarkable reversal in the levels of parameters affected by letrozole treatment. Conclusions: Data indicate that VAC and VPS exert potential ameliorative effects against PCOS through the modulation of hormonal and lipid profile as well as oxidative stress. Moreover, the favorable effects of these compounds are comparable to that of metformin.

Extraction and Characterization of Chitosan from Shrimp Shells

Chitosan is one of the most studied polysaccharides nowadays. Because it is non-toxic, widely used in food, pharmaceutical processes, agricultural, and presents excellent biological properties such as biodegradation in the human body, and antibacterial. In the present study we reported the extraction of low cost chitosans (Cs1, Cs2, Cs3 and Cs4) from shrimp shells by extraction of chitin (Egypt: case study), then alkaline deacetylation of chitin with strong alkaline solution at different period of time. The different prepared chitosans (Cs1, Cs2, Cs3 and Cs4) were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, thermal stability, morphology, crystallography, elemental analysis and degree of deacetylation. The data showed that the prepared chitosan Cs2 has the most thermal stability and the highest degree of deacetylation.

Ameliorative Effects of Spirulina platensis on Deltamethrin-Induced Biochemical Alterations and Oxidative Stress in the African Catfish;Clarias gariepinus

The present study was carried out to determine LC50 of deltamethrin (DM) in the African catfish;Clarias gariepinus, investigate its effects on the biochemical parameters and the antioxidant status of various tissues, and assess the protective role of Spirulina platensis (SP) against DM induced toxicity in C. gariepinus. The fish were distributed into seven groups of 10 fish/each for 30 days as follows: Group 1, control;Group 2, orally administered saline;Group 3, oral SP (150 mg/kg b.w.);Group 4, exposed to 5.19 μg/l DM;Group 5, exposed to 5.19 μg/l DM and orally administered SP (150 mg/kg b.w.);Group 6, exposed to 12.97 μg/l DM;and Group 7, exposed to 12.97 μg/l DM and orally administered SP (150 mg/kg b.w.). Results revealed marked elevation in serum AST, ALT, ALP, creatinine, urea and uric acid. Significant decrease in serum total protein and albumin was recorded. At the same time, the level of malondialdehyde (MDA) was significantly increased in liver, kidney and gills. While, tissue level ofGSHand, SOD,CATandGSH-Px activities were reduced. Treatment with SP improved the biochemical parameters and attenuated the DM induced oxidative damage. Therefore, this study confirmed the protective role of SP as an antioxidant against the toxicity of DM in catfish.

Lived Experience with Cirrhosis of Liver Patient at a University Hospital: A Qualitative Study

Introduction: Patients’ physical, psychosocial, economical, spiritual and daily activities as well as quality of life are mostly affected by the cirrhosis of liver. It is an advanced stage of liver fibrosis that mostly caused by hepatitis B and hepatitis C, and alcoholism. Objective: This study is intended to explore the lived experience of the patient’s with cirrhosis of liver patients. Methodology: A Phenomenological study design was used as a research methodology to elicit in-depth understanding of lived experience of the hospitalized adult cirrhosis of liver patients at Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Twenty patients with cirrhosis of liver were purposively interviewed using guidelines until data were saturated. Recorded voice was checked by participants to establish trustworthiness. Interviews were recorded, transcribed verbatim and translated. Content analysis was used to explore the structure of meaning of the lived experienced cirrhosis of liver patients. Results: The average age of the cirrhosis of liver patients was 43.85 (±15.06) and most of them were male, Muslim and married. The average duration of suffering from this disease was 2.07 year ± 3.95. The lived experiences of cirrhosis of liver patients emerged at five themes: uncertainty about disease and its causes;feeling worse;living in physical impairment and economical crisis;coping with disease and self-actualization about prevention of cirrhosis of liver. Conclusion: People with cirrhosis of liver have unpredictable sufferings. The study findings would help the nurses to realize the patient’s condition for providing proper nursing care and prevent associate complications. It may also assist in conducting further research.

Bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells ameliorate sodium nitrite-induced hypoxic brain injury in a rat model

Sodium nitrite（Na NO2） is an inorganic salt used broadly in chemical industry. Na NO2 is highly reactive with hemoglobin causing hypoxia. Mesenchymal stem cells（MSCs） are capable of differentiating into a variety of tissue specific cells and MSC therapy is a potential method for improving brain functions. This work aims to investigate the possible therapeutic role of bone marrow-derived MSCs against Na NO2 induced hypoxic brain injury. Rats were divided into control group（treated for 3 or 6 weeks）, hypoxic（HP） group（subcutaneous injection of 35 mg/kg Na NO2 for 3 weeks to induce hypoxic brain injury）, HP recovery groups N-2 w R and N-3 w R（treated with the same dose of Na NO2 for 2 and 3 weeks respectively, followed by 4-week or 3-week self-recovery respectively）, and MSCs treated groups N-2 w SC and N-3 w SC（treated with the same dose of Na NO2 for 2 and 3 weeks respectively, followed by one injection of 2 × 106 MSCs via the tail vein in combination with 4 week self-recovery or intravenous injection of Na NO2 for 1 week in combination with 3 week self-recovery）. The levels of neurotransmitters（norepinephrine, dopamine, serotonin）, energy substances（adenosine monophosphate, adenosine diphosphate, adenosine triphosphate）, and oxidative stress markers（malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine, glutathione reduced form, and oxidized glutathione） in the frontal cortex and midbrain were measured using high performance liquid chromatography. At the same time, hematoxylin-eosin staining was performed to observe the pathological change of the injured brain tissue. Compared with HP group, pathological change of brain tissue was milder, the levels of malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, oxidized glutathione, 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine, norepinephrine, serotonin, glutathione reduced form, and adenosine triphosphate in the frontal cortex and midbrain were significantly decreased, and glutathione reduced form/oxidized glutathione and adenosine monophosphate/adenosine triphosphate ratio were significantly increased in the MSCs treated groups. These findings suggest that bone marrow-derived MSCs exhibit neuroprotective effects against Na NO2-induced hypoxic brain injury through exerting anti-oxidative effects and providing energy to the brain.

Radionuclides measurements and mineralogical studies on beach sands, East Rosetta Estuary, Egypt

Radiometric measurements were carried out for the beach sands from East Rosetta estuary to determine the activity concentrations of 238 U, 226 Ra, 232 Th, and 40 K, using a Hyper Pure Germanium spectrometer, to estimate the dose rates and radiation hazard indices. The average specific activities are 778.20 Bq/kg for 238 U; 646.89 Bq/kg for 226 Ra; 621.92 and 627.85 Bq/kg for the 222 Rn daughters 214 Pb and 214 Bi respectively. The average specific activity of 232 Th is 1510.25 Bq/kg, while the calculated specific activity for 40 K has an average of 8.41 Bq/kg. The average specific activity of 235 U is 38.61 Bq/kg. The average absorbed dose rate is 1211.36 nGy/h, 20 times higher than the estimated average global primordial radiation of 60 nGy/h and 6 times higher than that of the world range (10-200 nGy/h). The radium equivalent (Ra eq ) values are from 6 to 9 times the recommended value. The internal and external hazard indices (H int , H ex ) indicate that their values are from 6 to 11 times the permissible values of these indices. These higher values may be due to the presence of economic heavy minerals containing radionuclides as zircon and monazite as well as some trace minerals, thorite and uranothorite. The mineralogical study indicates the beach sands contain heavy minerals, zircon, monazite, rutile, ilmenite, leucoxene, magnetite and garnet. The average abundance of zircon is 0.175 wt% ranging from 0.125 wt% to 0.239 wt%, while it is 0.004wt% ranging from 0.001 wt% to 0.007 wt% for monazite. The average abundance is 0.087 wt% for rutile; 2.029 wt% for ilmenite; 1.084 wt% for magnetite; 0.384 wt% for leucoxene and 0.295 wt% for garnet.

Awareness and Practice on Household Solid Waste Management among the Community People

Household solid waste management is a major public health concern in the community people and closely related to daily human life. Community people can play a pivotal role in managing household solid waste. Objectives: This study was aimed to assess the awareness and practice of household solid waste management among the people living in the Mugda community in Dhaka. Methods: A descriptive co-relational study design was used. A total of 112 participants were selected with the convenience sampling technique. The data collection period was from July 2019 to June 2020. The data were collected from the participants by face-to-face interview through the door-to-door survey by using a structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed by using descriptive, Pearson correlation, t-test, and one-way ANOVA statistics. Results: Finding of the study shows that the mean awareness regarding household solid waste management was 7.96 (SD = 1.64) and the mean practice was 2.94 (SD = 1.35) respectively. It indicates that the awareness and practice of community people were at a moderate level. In bivariate analysis, it has been shown that training on household solid waste management (“P < 0.001”), and recyclable waste (p = 0.019) were statistically significantly correlated with household solid waste management practice. Conclusion: Overall awareness and practice level of household solid waste management were at a moderate level among the community people. Training on household solid waste management and recyclable waste management were statistically significantly correlated with household solid waste management. Policymakers can use this baseline data to make a strategy for increasing awareness among the community people.

Er³⁺and Er³⁺/Yb³⁺Ions Embedded in Nano-Structure BaTi_0.9Sn_0.1O₃: Structure, Morphology and Dielectric Properties

Barium titanate tin oxides BaTi0.9Sn0.1O3 referred to as (BTSO) doped with 0.5Er3+ and co-doped with (0.75 and 1) Yb3+ ions, were prepared using a modified sol-gel method and calcinated at 1050?C in the air for 4 h. The influence of the selected rare earth element on the structure morphology, dielectric properties behavior was investigated. From TEM micrographs, it has appeared that the particles have a spherical shape with a small size in nanoscale. The average particle size is determined both by TEM and XRD diffraction was found to be in agreement and within the range between 45.9 and 57.7 nm. The effects of Lanthanide incorporation on the evolution of these nano-crystalline structures were followed by XRD and (FTIR). The XRD patterns give rise to a single perovskite phase, while the tetragonality was found to decrease gradually with Er3+ and Er3+/Yb3+ ions, respectively. FTIR results showed enhancement of the crystallinity and the absence of carbonates upon increasing Yb3+ ions concentration from 0.75 up to 1 mol%. The dielectric and conductivity properties were found to be enhanced by the nature and the concentration of the lanthanide element (Er3+, Yb3+) in the BTSO host lattice. The Curie temperature (Tc) shifted to a lower value from 117 for BTSO: 0.5Er to 93 for BTSO: 0.5Er/1Yb and the permittivity ε’ increased from 3972 to 6071, so BTSO: 0.5Er/1Yb good crystalline material candidate for capacitors application due to its higher permittivity.

On thermodynamic self-consistency of generic axiomatic-nonextensive statistics

Generic axiomatic-nonextensive statistics introduces two asymptotic properties,to each of which a scaling function is assigned.The first and second scaling properties are characterized by the exponents c and d,respectively.In the thermodynamic limit,a grand-canonical ensemble can be formulated.The thermodynamic properties of a relativistic ideal gas of hadron resonances are studied,analytically.It is found that this generic statistics satisfies the requirements of the equilibrium thermodynamics.Essential aspects of the thermodynamic self-consistency are clarified.Analytical expressions are proposed for the statistical fits of various transverse momentum distributions measured in most-central collisions at different collision energies and colliding systems.Estimations for the freezeout temperature（T_（ch）） and the baryon chemical potential（μ_b） and the exponents c and d are determined.The earlier are found compatible with the parameters deduced from Boltzmann-Gibbs（BG） statistics（extensive）,while the latter refer to generic nonextensivities.The resulting equivalence class（c,d） is associated with stretched exponentials,where Lambert function reaches its asymptotic stability.In some measurements,the resulting nonextensive entropy is linearly composed on extensive entropies.Apart from power-scaling,the particle ratios and yields are excellent quantities to highlighting whether the particle production takes place（non）extensively.Various particle ratios and yields measured by the STAR experiment in central collisions at 200,62.4 and 7.7 GeV are fitted with this novel approach.We found that both c and d 〈 1,i.e.referring to neither BG-nor Tsallis-type statistics,but to（c,d）-entropy,where Lambert functions exponentially rise.The freezeout temperature and baryon chemical potential are found comparable with the ones deduced from BG statistics（extensive）.We conclude that the particle production at STAR energies is likely a nonextensive process but not necessarily BG or Tsallis type.