Early stage nanocrystallization as a method of enhancement of electrical properties of lead/barium titanate doped vanadium borate glasses.

Glass-ceramic nanocomposites (GCNs) of (10 - x) BaTiO3 (BT)-xPbTiO3 (PT)-60V2O5-30B2O3 with x = 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10 mol% were formed during heat treatment of conventional melt quenching glasses. X-ray diffraction was used to ensure glass and GCNs formation. Glasses and GCNs densities were measured by Archimedes principle. Fine polar clusters of lead titanate and/or barium titanate incorporation into vanadium borate glass matrix strongly depend on the composition. It was found out that the electrical conductivity of the initial glasses can be considerably improved by proper early stage of nanocrystallization at temperatures approaching the crystallization temperatures determined by DSC method. GCNs show massive increase in electrical conductivity (up to 6 orders of magnitude) as a function of BaTiO3 content. By increasing BaTiO3 content, the activation energy values have been found to increase. The enhancement in electrical conductivity of GCNs can be attributed to the increase in the crystalline phases in the glassy matrix which increases the concentrations of the V ion pairs.

Erbium-doped (Pb0.9-Er0.01-Zr0.09) and (Pb0.9-Er0.01-Zr0.045-Ti0.045) nano-crystalline films and nano-rods ceramic synthesis by sol-gel technique for energy-storage application.

The development of dielectric constant materials for energy storage applications is in high demand. Lead zirconate and lead zirconate titanate doping with erbium thin films and bulk-based devices with variant dielectric constant were created in this work. Pb(0.9)-Er0.01Zr(0.09) (PEZ) and Pb0.9-Er0.01-Zr0.045-Ti0.045 (PEZT) thin films were produced on a glass substrate using a sol-gel doctor blade technique at low temperature. X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and electron diffraction (ED) were used to examine the structure of the produced nanocrystals. PEZ and PEZT films had nanocrystals that were 9.5 nm and 15 nm in size, respectively, whereas PEZ and PEZT bulk nano-rods had 455 ± 5 nm in length and 45 ± 1 nm in diameter. The TEM and XRD results were found to be completely consistent in terms of particle size. Ferroelectric properties and dielectric characteristics were found to be frequency dependent. Dielectric experiments revealed that the dielectric constant was decreasing for bulk samples compared to film samples. The energy-storage efficiency of PEZ films was roughly 66.01%, and 67.8% for PEZT. The residual polarization of the Er-doped PEZ and PEZT films was the highest, reaching 36.25 µC/cm2 and 69.79 µC/cm2, respectively, and the coercive fields were 43 kV/cm and 45.43 kV/cm, respectively. On the other hand, PEZ and PEZT bulk samples had residual polarizations of 27.15 µC/cm2 and 37.29 µC/cm2, respectively, while having coercive fields of 32.3 kV/cm and 39.3 kV/cm, respectively. It was found that (PEZ) and (PEZT) samples may have potential use in energy storage applications.

Therapeutic and protective effects of Caesalpinia gilliesii and Cajanus cajan proteins against acetaminophen overdose-induced renal damage.

The present work aims to evaluate the protective and ameliorative effects of two plant-derived proteins obtained from the seeds of Cajanus cajan and Caesalpinia gilliesii(Leguminosae) against the toxic effects of acetaminophen in kidney after chronic dose through determination of certain biochemical markers including total urea, creatinine, and kidney marker enzyme, that is, glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH). In addition histopathological examination of intoxicated and treated kidney with both proteins was performed. The present results show a significant increase in serum total urea and creatinine, while significant decrease in GAPDH. Improvement in all biochemical parameters studied was demonstrated, which was documented by the amelioration signs in rats kidney architecture. Thus, both plant protein extracts can counteract the nephrotoxic process, minimize damage to the kidney, delay disease progression, and reduce its complications.

Hepatoprotective effect of Caesalpinia gilliesii and Cajanus cajan proteins against acetoaminophen overdose-induced hepatic damage.

This study aims to evaluate two proteins derived from the seeds of the plants Cajanus cajan (Leguminosae) and Caesalpinia gilliesii (Leguminosae) for their abilities to ameliorate the toxic effects of chronic doses of acetoaminphen (APAP) through the determination of certain biochemical parameters including liver marker enzymes: alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, and total bilirubin. Also, total protein content and hepatic marker enzyme, lactate dehydrogenase were studied. Moreover, liver antioxidants, glutathione (GSH), nitric oxide, and lipid peroxides were determined in this study. Hepatic adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase), adenylate energy charge (ATP, adenosine diphosphate, adenosine monophosphate, and inorganic phosphate), and phosphate potential, serum interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-α, and myeloperoxidase were also examined in the present study. On the other hand, histopathological examination of intoxicated and liver treated with both proteins was taken into consideration. The present results show disturbances in all biochemical parameters and hepatic toxicity signs including mild vascular congestion, moderate inflammatory changes with moderate congested sinusoids, moderate nuclear changes (pyknosis), moderate centrilobular necrosis, fatty changes, nuclear pyknosis vascular congestion, and change in fatty centrilobular necrosis liver. Improvement in all biochemical parameters studied was noticed as a result of treatment intoxicated liver with C. gilliesii and C. cajan proteins either paracetamol with or post paracetamol treatment. These results were documented by the amelioration signs in rat's hepatic architecture. Thus, both plant protein extracts can upregulate and counteract the inflammatory process, minimize damage of the liver, delay disease progression, and reduce its complications.

Female sexual dysfunction in Lower Egypt.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of female sexual dysfunction (FSD) in Lower Egypt. DESIGN: A cross-sectional clinic-/hospital-based survey. SETTING: Five district medical centres in Dakahlia Governorate: Shirbin, Bilquas, Samblawen, Dekrinis and Mansoura City. POPULATION: One thousand married women aged between 16 and 49 years. METHODS: Data were collected by personal interview in a questionnaire format in addition to physical examination (when allowed). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: FSD and associated risk factors. RESULTS: The response rate was 93.6%. 68.9% of women had one or more sexual problems; however, 23% of the women with sexual problems were not distressed by these issues. 31.5% of women suffered from dyspareunia. 49.6% of the women had decreased sexual desire, 36% had difficult arousal and 16.9% had anorgasmia (primary and secondary). Marital disharmony, 'hate' and unfavourable socio-economic circumstances were the most common aggravating factors (28.1%) for sexual dysfunction among the participants, followed by pregnancy-related events (15.7%). Most women (84.5%) received no help for their sexual problems. 90.3% of the women were circumcised. Only 7.1% (46 of 645) of women with sexual problems had received treatment, with no real improvement reported in 58.7% (27 of the 46 women). CONCLUSIONS: FSD is a highly prevalent problem within the scope of this study. Low reporting rates and very low treatment rates were identified in the sample from Lower Egypt.