The use of bacteria is a good method for biodegradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons due to their fast-growing and cost effectiveness. Bacteria can completely mineralize such toxic compounds to harmless by-products. ASU-035 is a bacterial strain, which was isolated from oil contaminated soil. It was identified as Achromobacter denitrificans on the basis of the nucleotide sequence of 16S rRNA gene, and deposited in GenBank under accession number KC342253. Achromobacter denitrificans have been tested for utilization of pyrene as a sole source of carbon and energy. Some pyrene degradative enzymes and ability of this strain for biosurfactants production have been studied. The results illustrated that the strain could utilize 76.5 mg/L of pyrene (100 mg/L) within 18 days with growth rate and mean generation time 0.033 h-1 and 30.3 h, respectively. The maximum specific activities (U/mg protein) of pyrene dioxygenase, catechol 1,2 dioxygenase (C12O), and catechol 2,3 dioxygenase (C23O) were 0.78 ± 0.12, 0.41 ± 0.05, and 0.2 ± 0.01, respectively. Achromobacter denitrificans could enhance the bioavailability of pyrene to get use of it as a sole carbon source by increasing the emulsification activity to 11.5 ± 2.1 U/mg proteins and cell-surface hydrophobicity to 39 ± 1.3 %.

A novel kernel-based method is proposed for fast, highly accurate and numerically stable computations of polar harmonic transforms (PHT) in polar coordinates. Euler formula is used to derive a novel trigonometric formula where the later one is used in the kernel generation. The simplified radial and angular kernels are used in efficient computation PHTs. The proposed method removes the numerical approximation errors involved in conventional methods and provides highly accurate PHTs coefficients which results in highly improved image reconstruction capabilities. Numerical experiments are performed where the results are compared with those of the recent existing methods. In addition to the tremendous reduction in computational times, the obtained results of the proposed method clearly show a significant improvement in rotational invariance.

The study aimed to assess the effect-combined use different of date palm composts amended with ligno-cellulolytic fungi and mineral-N on growth and N, P and K-uptake of maize plants in sandy calcareous soil. Each type of compost was applied either in organic form in dose equivalent to 100% of N fertilization (285 kg ha-1) or in organic form in combination with mineral-N (50% for each). The experiment was constructed in a complete randomized block design (CRBD). Results showed that plant height and dry weight of shoot and root of maize significantly increased as a result of the combined use of compost with mineral-N (1:1, w:w). All types of composts combined with half-dose of mineral-N was effective, however, compost that contained with Aspergillus niger + A. subsessilis + Trichoderma lanuginosus + Bacillus sp. was the best. This type of fertilization increased N-uptake shoot and root of maize more than mineral N-fertilizer by 39.73%-49%. Inaddition, the P-uptake by shoot and root of maize increased by 58.82%-156%. The addition of compost treatments to the soil increased the total N, P and K after harvesting. Regression analysis showed positive and significant linear correlation between the application rate of compost and the availability of P and K in soil.

In the last years, a considerable amount of attention has been devoted to the development of the area of northwest of the Gulf of Suez. It is one of the most important areas, which takes considerable attention by the Egyptian government because it hosts one of the MEGA National projects in Egypt. The area presents a great potential for development programs including touristic resorts, industrial zones, a new port and finally the great new second Suez Canal which has been started the implementation in the last quarter of 2014. The water resources in this area play an increasing important role in providing a source of potable water for land reclamation and construction of new settlements. The proposed area forms a part of the great Eocene plateau of the northeastern Desert of Egypt. Two major limestone sections have been selected to evaluate the suitability of the Eocene limestone in Cement Industry. The first section represents the carbonate sequence of Gabal Sad El-Na'am exposed at Bir Gindali district. The second one is measured at Gabal Umm Rassiess. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the suitability of both sections in Cement Industry by creating specific geochemical analyses. By using these geochemical analyses with other parameters, it will be able to determine whether, Gabal Sad El-Na'am or Umm Rassiess is valid in Cement Industry.

The present study was carried out to investigate the histological and histochemical changes in the retina on different developmental stages of Egyptian toad Bufo regularis. Our experiment started when tadpoles begin to feed. The adapted embryos are divided into 3 large tanks of 200 embryos each, collections of samples started from feeding age every three days. Both histological and histochemical results showed that the general architecture of the retina organ is correlated with the state of development. Therefore, it displayed different characteristic features depending on the investigated developmental stage starting from the larval stage (feeding began, stage 44) and ending with the postmetamorphic stage 66. Also, the present work aimed to study the chronic effects of UVA on the retina structure of B. regularis during development and metamorphosis for the first time

The aim of the present study is to evaluate the cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) towards African catfish (Clarias gariepinus). Adult male catfish was exposed to 0, 25, 50, and 75 mgl–1 Ag-NPs for two weeks. Exposure to Ag-NPs exerted an increase in mortality rate and behavioural changes compared to control. A fluorescent microscopy examination was used to assess the cytotoxic effect. There was a 15-fold greater extent of apoptosis in erythrocytes of exposed fish to 75 mgl–1 compared to control fish. No significant differences in the extent of apoptosis were detected in 25 mgl–1 and 50 mgl–1 exposed fish. Also, the genotoxic effect of the tested compound was evaluated via micronucleus and DNA fragmentation assays. The micronucleated erythrocytes were observed as well as, DNA damage was recorded in the liver, kidney, gill, and muscles in all exposed groups and percentage elevated with the increase of Ag-NPs concentration. Overall, our results indicate that, Ag-NPs exhibited the both genotoxic and cytotoxic effects in African catfish.

The endocrine disrupting substances represent major challenge to aquaculture and the most widespread one is 4-nonylphenol (4-NP). Pyrazole possess an interesting broad spectrum of pharmacological actions. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the therapeutic potential of five novel thieno [2,3-c] pyrazole compounds in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) on the hematotoxic and electrolyte disruptor influences of 4-NP. The hemato-electrolyte disturbance induced by 4-NP was well proved by many examined endpoints. On the other hand, thienopyrazole compounds exhibited the ability to modulate the previous toxicological impact by different levels based on the modification in structures and properties. This study provided insight into the endless therapeutic treasures of newly synthesized complexes, and a driving force for its application on the other clinically relevant problems in fish.

The endocrine disrupting substances represent major challenge to aquaculture and the most widespread one is 4-nonylphenol (4-NP). Pyrazole possess an interesting broad spectrum of pharmacological actions. Therefore, this study was designed to investigate the therapeutic potential of five novel thieno [2,3-c] pyrazole compounds in African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) on the hematotoxic and electrolyte disruptor influences of 4-NP. The hemato-electrolyte disturbance induced by 4-NP was well proved by many examined endpoints. On the other hand, thienopyrazole compounds exhibited the ability to modulate the previous toxicological impact by different levels based on the modification in structures and properties. This study provided insight into the endless therapeutic treasures of newly synthesized complexes, and a driving force for its application on the other clinically relevant problems in fish.

In this survey, fishes were obtained from four localities: Assiut as a control and Beheira, Alexandria and Kafr EL-Sheikh; three farms from each governate as farmed monosex produced using Methyltestosterone (MT). Serum MT, total antioxidant capacity (TAC), malondialdehyde (MDA), and total peroxides (TPX) were estimated, followed by calculation of oxidative stress index (OSI). MT concentration in the serum of fishes farmed at Assiut showed no detectable levels of hormonal residues, while the monosex farms showed high levels of MT concentration in the serum of the sampled fishes. In comparison with control fishes of Assiut farms, serum TAC levels of monosex fishes collected from farms of Beheira and Alexandria were significantly lower. Serum TPX content of the monosex fishes obtained from Alexandria farms were significantly higher than the wild fishes obtained from Assiut farms. Calculated from ratio of serum TPX content and TAC concentration, OSI illustrated a significant difference between control fishes collected from Assiut and monosex fishes collected from Beheira. Although few significant changes were found in the examined oxidative stress endpoints, the results of this work put our foot in the beginning of road to link hormonally sex reversal practice with oxidative stress induction, and provocative for other researchers to invade this field of research more deeply utilizing more specific relevant markers and cutting-edge techniques.

The main aim of the present study was to obtain a basic knowledge of the hematology and biochemistry of the Red Sea seabream Diplodus noct. The samples were collected from the Red sea at Hurghada, Egypt. Baseline values for hematological parameters including Red Blood Corpuscles (RBCs), Hematocrit (HCT), Hemoglobin (Hb), Mean cell hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), mean cell hemoglobin (MCH) and mean cell volume (MCV) and biochemical parameters including AST, ALT, glucose, total protein and urea were established. Erythrocytes, thrombocytes and three types of leucocytes, lymphocytes, neutrophils and eosinophils, were distinguished, characterized and measured. The morphological and cytochemical aspects of peripheral blood cells of Diplodus noct were studied by light microscopy. This investigation may be helpful as a tool to monitor the health status of Diplodus noct and will grant early detection of clinical pathology.