Expired Antifungal Drugs as Effective Corrosion Inhibitors for Carbon Steel in 1 M HCl Solution: Practical and Theoretical Approaches.

The anticorrosion potency of two expired antifungal drugs, namely, bifonazole (BIF) and terconazole (TER), for X65 carbon steel (X65CS) in a 1.0 M HCl solution was estimated using practical and computational measurements. The results of all methods applied showed that the percentage of anticorrosive efficacy (% AE) increased for expired BIF and TER and reduced at elevated temperatures. The % AE values of expired BIF and TER (375 mg L-1) reached 92.08 and 94.19%, respectively, using polarization methods. The anticorrosion activities of the two expired drugs were interpreted based on their adsorption on the X65CS surface. The adsorption occurred according to the Langmuir isotherm model. The polarization results indicated that the expired drugs BIF and TER were mixed inhibitors. The impedance results showed a single capacitive loop, confirming that the charge transfer process controlled the corrosion of X65CS. Expired BIF and TER served as good pitting inhibitors by shifting the pitting potential to positive values. The thermodynamic functions of activation and adsorption were defined and explained. Density functional theory and Monte Carlo simulations were used to investigate the BIF and TER inhibitors. The theoretical parameters were consistent with the experimental results. The anticorrosion efficiencies determined using the various methods were in complete agreement.

Enhanced and Proficient Soft Template Array of Polyaniline-TiO2 Nanocomposites Fibers Prepared Using Anionic Surfactant for Fuel Cell Hydrogen Storage.

Porous TiO2-doped polyaniline and polyaniline nanocomposite fibers prepared by the in situ polymerization technique using anionic surfactant in an ice bath were studied. The prepared nanocomposites were characterized by FTIR spectroscopy and XRD patterns for structural analysis. The surface morphology of the polyaniline and its nanocomposites was examined using SEM images. DC conductivity shows the three levels of conductivity inherent in a semiconductor. Among the nanocomposites, the maximum DC conductivity is 5.6 S/cm for 3 wt.% polyaniline-TiO2 nanocomposite. Cyclic voltammetry shows the properties of PANI due to the redox peaks of 0.93 V and 0.24 V. Both peaks are due to the redox transition of PANI from the semiconductor to the conductive state. The hydrogen absorption capacity is approximately 4.5 wt.%, but at 60 °C the capacity doubles to approximately 7.3 wt.%. Conversely, 3 wt.% PANI-TiO2 nanocomposites have a high absorption capacity of 10.4 wt.% compared to other nanocomposites. An overall desorption capacity of 10.4 wt.% reduced to 96% was found for 3 wt.% TiO2-doped PANI nanocomposites.

Increase in the detection rate of viral and parasitic enteric pathogens among Egyptian children with acute diarrhea.

INTRODUCTION: Acute diarrhea continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children from developing countries. Determination of the frequency of diarrhea in an area, along with the proportion of disease caused by specific enteric agents of different origins, is considered the first step in controlling diarrheal diseases. METHODOLOGY: From 2005 to 2007, a hospital-based surveillance was conducted in two locations in Egypt to determine the causes of acute diarrhea in children younger than 5-years seeking treatment. Five additional enteric viral and parasitic pathogens were tested using commercially-available enzyme immunoassays (EIA) to re-evaluate the prevalence of diarrheal pathogens in undiagnosed cases. RESULTS: Adenovirus, astrovirus, norovirus and G. lamblia were detected as the sole pathogen in 2% (n=34), 3% (n=56), 9% (n=191) and 7% (n=146) of the cases, respectively. E. histolytica was never detected as the sole pathogen. The percentage of diarrheal cases with a known cause increased significantly, from 48% (n=1,006) to 74% (n=1,568) (P < 0.0001). CONCLUSION: In our study, the incorporation of immunoassays yielded useful data in identifying pathogens in previously pathogen-negative diarrhea cases.

Increase in the Detection Rate of Viral and Parasitic Enteric Pathogens among Egyptian Children with Acute Diarrhea

Introduction: Acute diarrhea continues to be a major cause of morbidity and mortality in children from developing countries. Determination of the frequency of diarrhea in an area; along with the proportion of disease caused by specific enteric agents of different origins; is considered the first step in controlling diarrheal diseases. Methodology: From 2005 to 2007; a hospital-based surveillance was conducted in two locations in Egypt to determine the causes of acute diarrhea in children younger than 5-years seeking treatment. Five additional enteric viral and parasitic pathogens were tested using commercially-available enzyme immunoassays (EIA) to re-evaluate the prevalence of diarrheal pathogens in undiagnosed cases.Results: Adenovirus; astrovirus; norovirus and G. lamblia were detected as the sole pathogen in 2 (n=34); 3 (n=56); 9 (n=191) and 7 (n=146) of the cases; respectively. E. histolytica was never detected as the sole pathogen. The percentage of diarrheal cases with a known cause increased significantly; from 48 (n=1;006) to 74 (n=1;568) (P0.0001). Conclusion: In our study; the incorporation of immunoassays yielded useful data in identifying pathogens in previously pathogen-negative diarrhea cases