State-of-the-art technology: Recent investigations on laser-mediated synthesis of nanocomposites for environmental remediation

In both developing and industrialized/developed countries, various hazardous/toxic environmental pollutants are entering water bodies from organic and inorganic compounds (heavy metals and specifically dyes). The global population is growing whereas the accessibility of clean, potable and safe drinking water is decreasing, leading to world deterioration in human health and limitation of agricultural and/or economic development. Treatment of water/wastewater (mainly industrial water) via catalytic reduction/degradation of environmental pollutants is extremely critical and is a major concern/issue for public health. Light and/or laser ablation induced photocatalytic processes have attracted much attention during recent years for water treatment due to their good (photo)catalytic efficiencies in the reduction/degradation of organic/inorganic pollutants. Pulsed laser ablation (PLA) is a rather novel catalyst fabrication approach for the generation of nanostructures with special morphologies (nanoparticles (NPs), nanocrystals, nanocomposites, nanowires, etc.) and different compositions (metals, alloys, oxides, core-shell, etc.). Laser ablation in liquid (LAL) is generally considered a quickly growing approach for the synthesis and modification of nanomaterials for practical applications in diverse fields. LAL-synthesized nanomaterials have been identified as attractive nanocatalysts or valuable photocatalysts in (photo)catalytic reduction/degradation reactions. In this review, the laser ablation/irradiation strategies based on LAL are systematically described and the applications of LAL synthesized metal/metal oxide nanocatalysts with highly controlled nanostructures in the degradation/reduction of organic/inorganic water pollutants are highlighted along with their degradation/reduction mechanisms.     

Bearing capacity of horizontally layered geosynthetic reinforced stone columns

In very soft soils, the bearing capacity of stone columns may not improve significantly due to very low confinement of the surrounding soil. Therefore, they may be reinforced with geosynthetics by using vertical encasement or horizontal layers. Very limited studies exist on horizontally reinforced stone columns (HRSCs). In this research, some large body laboratory tests have been performed on horizontally reinforced stone columns with diameters of 60, 80, and 100?mm and groups of stone columns with 60?mm diameter. Results show that the bearing capacity of stone columns increases by using horizontally reinforcing layers. Also, they reduce lateral bulging of stone columns by their frictional and interlocking effects with stone column aggregates. Finally, numerical analyses were carried out to study main affecting parameters on the bearing capacity of HRSCs. Numerical analysis results show that the bearing capacity increases considerably with increasing the number of horizontal layers and decreasing space between layers.     

The microstructure of buccal cavity and alimentary canal of Siganus rivulatus: Scanning electron microscope study

The microstructure of the oral cavity and alimentary canal of herbivorous fish Siganus rivulatus collected from the Red Sea were investigated by using scanning electron microscope (SEM). The results showed that S. rivulatus has three types of teeth, tri‐cusped, bi‐cusped, and papilliform. A taste bud (Type I) was recorded in the oropharyngeal cavity. Characteristic styles of microridges on the cell's surface inside the buccal cavity were recorded. Also, the distribution of the mucous cells in the lining of the mouth cavity, alimentary canal was observed. Mucosal folds along the distinct parts of alimentary canal, showed characteristic pattern which was complex in the intestinal mucosa. The results concluded that there are characteristic microstructures according to feeding habitat compared with other bony fishes.     

Production of calcium nitrate crystals via membrane distillation crystallization using polyvinylidene fluoride/sorbitan trioleate membranes

As an alternative to the energy-intensive evaporation-crystallization method, membrane distillation crystallization (MDC) was applied for the first time to obtain calcium nitrate crystals from its aqueous solution. Calcium nitrate solution was obtained through the reaction between calcium carbonate and nitric acid, and then it was concentrated in the membrane distillation (MD) process and further crystallized. The MD step was conducted using hydrophobic polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)/sorbitan trioleate (Span 85) membranes. Span 85 was incorporated into the membrane structure in various concentrations to improve the hydrophobicity of membranes, and the resultant membranes were characterized via different methods. In addition, the resultant calcium nitrate crystals were characterized by X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectroscopy. The MDC results showed that the optimum amount of Span 85 in the polymeric solution was 4%, which led to the formation of a membrane with higher porosity (67.2%) and water contact angle (95.7°) compared to the neat PVDF membrane. The mentioned membrane exhibited the highest water flux in the MD process compared to the other membranes, and also it produced the highest amount of crystals due to its remarkably better performance in the MD step in terms of feed concentration.     

Gene expression of 49 kDa apyrase,cytoskeletal proteins,ATPase, ADPase and amino acid contents of <i>Pisum sativum</i> (L.) cells germinated in E<i>uryops arabicus</i> (Steud. ex Jaub. & Spach) water extract

The present research reports of quick and marked changes induced by plant extract of Euryops arabicus in the gene expression of 49-kDa apyrases, cytoskeletal proteins, ATPases, ADPase and amount of amino acid of pea (Pisum sativum L. var. Alaska). Pellets of cytoskeletals proteins (27000 xg) were probed with anti-apyrase antibody, biotinylated anti-rat, actin and alpha and beta-tubulin for Western blotting. ATPase and ADPase activities were determined based on the hydrolytic efficacy of adenine triphosphate and adenine diphosphate. By 72 hours, the abundance of apyrases, cytoskeletal proteins and amount of amino acid in pellets of 27000 xg of germinated pea seeds in E. arabicus extracts were sharply increased than those sown in distilled water. All the samples exhibited that the stems had more amount from apyrases, cytoskeletal proteins, amino acids and ATPase and ADPase activities than primary leaves and primary roots that were germinated either on E. arabicus water extract or in distilled water. Based on the enzyme’s capability to hydrolyse nucleotide triphosphate and nucleotide diphosphate as well as the direct association between expression of 49-kDa apyrase and cytoskeletal proteins, E. arabicus water extract had an important effect on plant germinations.     

Green synthesis of zinc oxide nanoparticles using Amygdalus scoparia Spach stem bark extract and their applications as an alternative antimicrobial,anticancer, and anti-diabetic agent

For the first time in this study, Zinc oxide nanoparticles were biosynthesized by the eco-friendly and cost-effective procedure using Amygdalus scoparia stem bark extract then used as antibacterial, antifungal, anticancer, and anti-diabetic agents. The characterization techniques confirmed the biosynthesis, crystalline nature, structure, size, elemental composition of ZnO NPs and bioactive compounds that exist in A. scoparia extract accounting for Zn²⁺ ion reduction, capping and stabilization of ZnO NPs. The ZnO NPs displayed remarkable inhibitory activity against E. coli, E. aerigenes, S. aureus, P. oryzae, F. thapsinum, and F. semitectum compared to antibiotic standards. The ZnO NPs showed significant inhibitory effects on cancer cell lines, while it had no toxic effect on Vero normal cell line. The ZnO NPs (30 mg/kg)-treated diabetic rats showed significantly higher levels of insulin and lower AST, ALT and blood glucose compared with the STZ induced diabetic group and other treated groups (P < 0.05). The ZnO NPs- and extract-treated rats showed significantly higher levels of IR, GluT2, and GCK expression and lower TNFα expression compared with the STZ induced diabetic rats. Our findings showed that ZnO NPs represented an outstanding performance for biological applications.     

Numerical simulation of two-phase mass transport in three-dimensional naturally fractured reservoirs using discrete streamlines

Simulation of multiphase mass transport in large field-scale heterogeneous, naturally fractured reservoirs with common grid-based methods is very time consuming and costly. An in-house streamline-based simulator is extended to simulate two-phase flow of oil and water in 3D heterogeneous, naturally fractured reservoirs. Different waterflooding problems have been simulated in 2D and 3D fractured reservoirs, and their results are compared with those of the grid-based commercial software. It has been shown that the streamline-based simulator can predict the results of the grid-based software with an acceptable accuracy, while its computational time and required memory is exceptionally less than the grid-based method.