Corrosion Control of Carbon Steel in Water-Based Mud by Nanosized Metallo-Cationic Surfactant Complexes During Drilling Operations.

In this work, three nanometal complexes named cetyltrimethyammonium dibromodichloro zincate (CT-Zn), cetyltrimethyammonium dibromodichloro cuprate (CT-Cu), and cetyltrimethyammonium dibromodichloro manganesate (CT-Mn) were prepared, characterized, and evaluated as corrosion inhibitors for carbon steel in water-based mud (WBM). The chemical structure of the prepared complexes was confirmed by the use of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, elemental analysis, atomic absorption spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering, and thermogravimetric analysis techniques. The surface tension of the complexes was measured. The critical micelle concentrations and some of the surface properties were also determined. The compounds were evaluated as corrosion inhibitors for carbon steel in the prepared WBM using potentiodynamic polarization and weight loss methods during the static and dynamic conditions of the drilling operations. The results indicated that the prepared metal complexes showed high anticorrosion action as the inhibition efficiency increased gradually with the increase in the concentrations of the prepared complexes until it reached the maximum value (93.1%) at 300 ppm for CT-Cu. The order of inhibition efficiency of these inhibitors was as follows: CT-Cu > CT-Zn > CT-Mn. The polarization curves showed that these complexes acted as mixed-type inhibitors. According to the results, the adsorption of these compounds obeyed Langmuir adsorption isotherm. Surface analysis of the carbon steel samples was investigated using scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray, and X-ray diffraction techniques. Rheological properties, gel strength, thixotropy, and filtration properties were also measured according to American Petroleum Institute specifications.

Developmental neurotoxicity after penconazole exposure at embryo pre- and post-implantation in mice.

The present study was conducted to evaluate the effect of penconazole fungicide at a low dose (2.5 mg/kg b.w.) during embryogenesis in either the pre- or post-implantation of embryos. Females were determined pregnant according to the presence of vaginal plug and then grouped into control and penconazole-exposures at high doses (30, 20, 10, and 5 mg/kg b.w.). These high doses provoked foetoresorptionin the first experiment. Thus, a low dose (2.5 mg/kg b. w.) was used in either the pre- or post-implantation of embryos to clarify the embryotoxicity without mortality on the developing brain and eye. Results indicate a developmental delay of the cerebral hemisphere, hippocampus, cerebellum (lobulation) and induced retinopathy during eye development in post-implantation of penconazole treated group. Also, the effect of penconazole at low dose provoked a decrease in the expression of α-synuclein in the hippocampus, cerebellum, and ganglion cell layer of the developing brain and eye. In conclusion, exposure to PEN fungicide during pregnancy at a dose (2.5 mg/kg) induces alterations in the developing brain and eye tissues.

Toxicological potential of penconazole on early embryogenesis of white mice Mus musculus in either pre- or post-implantation exposure.

The present investigation was conducted to evaluate the effect of penconazole (PEN) fungicide on early embryogenesis of white mice. In the first experiment, 48 pregnant females were divided into different groups; the first group is control (G1). The second group (G2) was treated daily with PEN (30-, 20-, 10-, 5-mg/kg BW). The third group (G3) was treated with PEN (5-mg/kg BW; day after the other day). The fourth group (G4) was treated with PEN (2.5-mg/kg BW daily) during pre-implantation stage (from the 1st to the 4th day of gestation). The fifth group (G5) was treated with PEN (2.5-mg/kg BW daily) during post-implantation (from the 5th to the 8th day of gestation). The pregnant females were sacrificed at the 14th day of gestation. In the second experiment, 63 pregnant females were classified into control, PEN-treated during pre-implantation period (2.5-mg/kg BW), and PEN-administered during post-implantation period (2.5-mg/kg BW). Each group was sacrificed at stages E6.5, E7.5, E8.5, E9.5, E11.5, E14.5, and E18.5. The high doses of PEN in the first experiment showed failed pregnancy, foetoresorption, and embryo disorganization. High doses of PEN induce alterations in the uterus tissue at the level of histology and immunohistochemistry for the expression of TGFß2, TNFR2, Caspase 10, and HSP70. The low doses of PEN in the second experiment showed upregulated expression of TGFß2, TNFR2, Caspase 10, and HSP70 at stages E6.5 and E7.5. In conclusion, PEN was found to alter the suitable uterine environment for proper implantation and development at the levels of histological and immunohistochemical that could create a risk during the full course of embryogenesis.

Nanocrystalline cellulose as an eco-friendly reinforcing additive to polyurethane coating for augmented anticorrosive behavior.

Nanocrystalline cellulose (NCC) and micro-powdered cellulose (MPC) were extracted from rice straw by mechanical and alkali treatment methods, then characterized via infrared spectroscopy and dynamic light scattering. A series of polyurethane nanocrystalline cellulose composite (PNCCC) and polyurethane micro-powdered cellulose composite (PMPCC) coatings were prepared with various loading levels of NCC and MPC from 0.5 to 2.0 wt.%, and the coatings were applied onto the pretreated mild steel substrate at room temperature. The results showed that the NCC and MPC influenced positively the studied properties of the polyurethane coating; furthermore the most pronounced anticorrosive properties were obtained at 1 wt.% NCC and MPC, as confirmed by open circuit potential (OCP) study, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) study and salt spray test. However, the optimum enhancement of mechanical properties was found at 1.5 wt.% loading level, after which further loading of NCC and MPC led to the reduction in the mechanical properties.

Synthesis of cuprous oxide epoxy nanocomposite as an environmentally antimicrobial coating.

Cuprous oxide is commonly used as a pigment; paint manufacturers begin to employ cuprous oxide as booster biocides in their formulations, to replace the banned organotins as the principal antifouling compounds. Epoxy coating was reinforced with cuprous oxide nanoparticles (Cu2O NPs). The antibacterial as well as antifungal activity of Cu2O epoxy nanocomposite (Cu2O EN) coating films was investigated. Cu2O NPs were also experimented for antibiofilm and time-kill assay. The thermal stability and the mechanical properties of Cu2O EN coating films were also investigated. The antimicrobial activity results showed slowdown, the growth of organisms on the Cu2O EN coating surface. TGA results showed that incorporating Cu2O NPs into epoxy coating considerably enhanced the thermal stability and increased the char residue. The addition of Cu2O NPs at lower concentration into epoxy coating also led to an improvement in the mechanical resistance such as scratch and abrasion. Cu2O NPs purity was confirmed by XRD. The TEM photograph demonstrated that the synthesized Cu2O NPs were of cubic shape and the average diameter of the crystals was around 25nm. The resulting perfect dispersion of Cu2O NPs in epoxy coating revealed by SEM ensured white particles embedded in the epoxy matrix.

Synthesis of novel tetrahydronaphthalen-2-yl heterocycles for analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antipyretic evaluation.

Condensation of 2-acetyltetralin with ethylcyanoacetate and/or malononitrile and some aldehydes in the presence of excess of ammonium acetate afforded the respective hydroxycyanopyridines or aminocyanopyridines 1a-f and 2a-f. Treatment of 2-acetyltetralin with some sulfonylhydrazides yielded the hydrazone derivatives 3a-d, respectively, which upon treatment with thioglycolic acid gave the corresponding thiazole derivatives 4a-d, respectively. Compounds 4a-d underwent cyclocondensation with different arylidene derivatives to give the corresponding pyrane derivatives 5a-d. Upon the reaction of compounds 4a-d with some secondary amines and paraformaldehyde the corresponding Mannich bases 6a,c, 7b,d and 8a,d were obtained. Compounds 1c, 1d, 1e, 2e, 3a and 3d were evaluated as analgesic, anti-iflammatory and antipyretic agents.

Could the MMR vaccine replace the measles vaccine at one year of age in Egypt?

This cross-sectional study evaluated the immune status of non-vaccinated healthy infants to determine if it is possible to replace both measles vaccine (at 9 months) and measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine (at 18 months) with a single dose of MMR at 12 months. Serum samples from 566 children in Alexandria, Egypt showed a significant decrease in the seropositive rate to the 3 viral diseases with increasing age, but a significant increase in the seropositive rate among infants who were ranked 1st or 2nd in their family, full-term or born to mothers with no history of hypertension during pregnancy. We recommend administration of the first dose of MMR vaccine between 9 and 12 months of age, and a booster dose of MMR vaccine at 4 years of age.

Synthesis of some new quinazolin-4-one derivatives and evaluation of their antimicrobial and antiinflammatory effects.

In this work, it was of interest to synthesize new series of some 2-[(E)-2-furan-2-yl-vinyl]-quinazolin-4(3H)-ones incorporated into pyrazoline, isoxazoline, pyrimidine or pyrimidine-thione ring systems at position-3 of the quinazoline ring. The antimicrobial activity and antiinflammatory effect of some of these compounds were studied.

Cathodic adsorptive stripping voltammetric determination of muscle relaxant: gallamine triethiodide (flaxedil).

A sensitive and simple voltammetric method of analysis is developed for the determination of trace amounts of gallamine triethiode in phosphate media. This method is based on controlled adsorptive preconcentration of the relaxant onto a Hanging Mercury Drop Electrode (HMDE) whereby mercurous iodide salt(s) are formed. The technique used is Cathodic Linear Sweep Stripping Voltammetry (CLSSV). The adsorptive response was evaluated with respect to preconcentration time and potential. As little as 3 x 10(-9) mol dm(-3) i.e. 2.7 ppb flaxedil (proconcentration time 300 seconds) can be determined successfully. The application of this method was tested in the determination of flaxedil in pharmaceutical preparation (ampoules).

Kinetics of the acute-phase reaction in rats after tumor transplantation.

Transplantation of Yoshida sarcoma (solid type) and Zajdela ascites hepatoma tumors in rats induces a biphasic change in the concentration of the following five acute-phase proteins: alpha-1-acid glycoprotein; alpha-1-antitrypsin; haptoglobin; hemopexin; and ceruloplasmin. These proteins and other plasma proteins were quantitated by two-dimensional immunoelectrophoresis relative to normal serum concentrations. The elevation of most of these acute-phase proteins was greater in the second phase, during which serum levels increased continuously as the tumor burden increased until the animals died. The increase in haptoglobin concentration during the second phase was much higher in rats bearing Yoshida sarcoma than in rats bearing Zajdela tumors. Rats receiving irradiated tumor cells showed neither tumor growth nor second-phase protein changes. Significant increases in uptake of 3H-amino acids by isolated perfused livers of tumor-bearing rats provided evidence for an increase in the hepatic synthesis rates of the acute-phase proteins. Removal of the solid tumor resulted in a gradual decrease of acute-phase protein concentrations with concomitant increase in serum albumin concentration. These alterations in serum acute-phase proteins during tumor growth and after removal of the tumor may make their use attractive as biological markers of the response of the tumor-bearing animal to its tumor.

Effect of glucocorticoids, insulin and a growth promoting tripeptide on the biosynthesis of plasma proteins in serum-free hepatocyte cultures.

The effect of cortisol, dexamethasone, insulin and a liver cell growth promoting tripeptide on the secretion of plasma proteins into the medium of rat hepatocytes in monolayer cultures was studied. Cortisol and dexamethasone resulted in equal to or approximately 2.5-fold increase in the fibrinogen synthesis with general suppression of albumin and alpha-lipoprotein synthesis. On the other hand, insulin inhibited the biosynthesis of most plasma proteins except for the complement system and transferrin. Concentrations of alpha-lipoprotein, alpha-1-macroglobulin and haptoglobin were moderately elevated when the tripeptide Gly-His-Lys was applied in low concentration.

Biosynthesis of plasma proteins in serum-free medium by primary monolayer culture of rat hepatocytes.

Morphologically intact rat hepatocytes separated by collagenase perfusion were cultured in L-15/fetal calf serum medium to form a monolayer. Thereafter the hepatocytes were grown in serum-free L-15 medium in which they produced and continuously released plasma proteins. The secreted plasma proteins were collected, separated and characterized by crossed immunoelectrophoresis. Most of the newly biosynthesized plasma proteins secreted into the medium during incubation for thirty hours had the same electrophoretic mobility, antigenicity and staining characteristics as their counterparts in rat serum. The addition of tritium labelled amino acid mixture to the culture medium revealed that the release of radioactively labelled plasma proteins into the culture medium was essentially linear during the thirty hour incubation period. However, saturation of the intracellular pool took place after ca. ten hours of incubation. Addition of leukocytic endogenous mediator, LEM, to cultures of rat hepatocytes caused a profound increase in the relative concentration of acute-phase proteins secreted into the culture medium.

The effect of fibrinopeptides A and B on experimental allergic encephalomyelitis.

Experimental allergic encephalomyelitis (EAE) was induced in guinea-pigs and rats by sensitization with encephalitogenic antigens and adjuvant. Treatment of the experimental animals by daily intraperitoneal injections with human fibrinopeptides A and B proved to produce significant changes in the course of EAE. In the treated animals as compared to controls the clinical neurological signs of the disease wuch as the number, the severity and the duration of pareses were diminished. Furthermore, the inflammatory alterations of vasopermeability associated with extravasation of plasma proteins and oedema of the neuroparenchyma were significantly less pronounced in the fibrinopeptide-treated animals. Finally, a significantly higher titre of circulating immune complexes was observed in the serum of these animals. However, the treatment with fibrinopeptides A and B did not alter the specific immune response to the antigenic challenge. No differences in anti-basic protein and anti-brain antibody production were observed. The characteristic cellular infiltrates of EAE also showed no significant qualitative or quantitative differences between fibrinopeptide-treated animals and the saline-treated controls. These results suggest that fibrinopeptides A and B act primarily on the immunologically non-specific phase of EAE development by reducing the severity of vascular permeability alterations.

An epidemiological and biochemical study on osteomalacia among pregnant women in Egypt.

230 pregnant women of low socio-economic standard were studied regarding the nutritional status and state of calcium and bone mineralization, social, environmental, dietary and biological factors of the women were also investigated to determine their possible role in such state. Results revealed a low nutritional status associated with biochemical abnormality denoting an impaired calcium state and defective bone mineralization. The low intake of available calcium and lack or inefficient supplements are suggested to be the main factors in causing the low state of calcium.

Erythrocyte sedimentation rate and C-reactive protein.

C-reactive protein (CRP) was isolated from pleura exudate of patients with metastasing cancer and added to plasma of healthy blood donors. Only the addition of excessive amounts of CRP (220 mg/ml) caused a notable increase in erythrocyte sedimentation rate. An immunoelectrophoretic method for the simultaneous quantitative determination of CRP together with C 3 or other acute phase reactants is described.

Serum and Placental lactic dehydrogenase and alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes in normal pregnancy and in pre-eclampsia.

LDH isoenzymes and heat-stable alkaline phosphatase were studied in the serum and placental extract of 20 cases of pre-eclampsia and 10 normal pregnancies as a control. The starch-gel electrophoretic serum and placental isoenzymogram showed that LDH4 and LDH5 were the main isoenzymes in the placenta while LDH1 and LDH2 were the main isoenzymes in the serum in pre-eclampsia. The electrophoretic serum protein pattern in pre-eclamlobulins with decreased albumin fraction, while in the placenta, the albumin fraction was increased together with a decrease in the alpha-globulins. The electrophoretic pattern of serum alkaline phosphatase showed a main band of activity at the B-globulin zone in all cases of normal pregnancy and pre-eclampsia. In the placenta, two additional bands were detected.