Nanocrystalline nickel ferrite was synthesized from its stoichiometric metal nitrates and urea mixtures, using a microwave assisted combustion method. The process was convenient, inexpensive and efficient method for formation of NiFe2O4 nanomaterials. Effect of urea/metal nitrates ratio on the obtained phases, particle size and magnetic properties has been investigated by various techniques. Saturation magnetization of 50 emu/g was observed at room temperature (RT) for larger particles, and it decreases with decreasing particle size. The coercivity attains a maximum value of 170 Oe when the particle size was ~ 20 nm, and decreases with increasing particle size. Mössbauer spectra measured at RT for some representative samples show a combination of ordered and superparamagnetic behavior, whereas those collected at 20 K elucidate the nature of the obtained phases and cation distribution.

Nanocrystalline nickel ferrite was synthesized from its stoichiometric metal nitrates and urea mixtures, using a microwave assisted combustion method. The process was convenient, inexpensive and efficient method for formation of NiFe2O4 nanomaterials. Effect of urea/metal nitrates ratio on the obtained phases, particle size and magnetic properties has been investigated by various techniques. Saturation magnetization of 50 emu/g was observed at room temperature (RT) for larger particles, and it decreases with decreasing particle size. The coercivity attains a maximum value of 170 Oe when the particle size was ~ 20 nm, and decreases with increasing particle size. Mössbauer spectra measured at RT for some representative samples show a combination of ordered and superparamagnetic behavior, whereas those collected at 20 K elucidate the nature of the obtained phases and cation distribution.

Nanocrystalline nickel ferrite was synthesized from its stoichiometric metal nitrates and urea mixtures, using a microwave assisted combustion method. The process was convenient, inexpensive and efficient method for formation of NiFe2O4 nanomaterials. Effect of urea/metal nitrates ratio on the obtained phases, particle size and magnetic properties has been investigated by various techniques. Saturation magnetization of 50 emu/g was observed at room temperature (RT) for larger particles, and it decreases with decreasing particle size. The coercivity attains a maximum value of 170 Oe when the particle size was ~ 20 nm, and decreases with increasing particle size. Mössbauer spectra measured at RT for some representative samples show a combination of ordered and superparamagnetic behavior, whereas those collected at 20 K elucidate the nature of the obtained phases and cation distribution.

For two successive years (2011 and 2012), the floristic diversity and vegetation composition in the southern part of the Eastern Desert were investigated through four transects (3 crossing the Eastern Desert and one along the Red Sea). The data collected from 142 stands covering the study area included the species composition, functional groups, chorology and occurrences (Q-values). A total of 94 plant species belonging to 33 different families were recorded, with Asteracea, Zygophyllaceae, Fabaceae, Poaceae, Chenopodiaceae and Brassicaceae as the largest families. Shrubs represented the largest functional group (39.4%), while perennial herbs represented the smallest ones (12.8%). Species occurrence (Q-value) revealed that Zilla spinosa, Acacia tortilis subsp. raddiana, Morettia philaeana, Caroxylon imbricatum, Zygophyllum coccineum and Citrullus colocynthis had wide ecological range of distribution (dominant species, Q-values ≥ 0.2). Saharo-Arabian chorotype was highly represented (72.6 %) in the flora of this area, eventually as mono, bi or pluriregional. Classification of the data set yielded 7 vegetation groups included: (A) Zilla spinosa-Morettia philaeana, (B1) Zilla spinosa-Citrullus colocynthis-Morettia philaeana, (B2) Zilla spinosa, (C1) Zygophyllum album-Tamarix nilotica, (C2) Zygophyllum coccineum-Tamarix nilotica, (D1) Zilla spinosa-Zygophyllum coccineum and (D2) Zilla spinosa-Acacia tortilis subsp. raddiana-Tamarix aphylla-Balanites aegyptiaca. Certain vegetation groups were assigned to one or more transects. Detrended Correspondence Analysis (DCA) revealed that electrical conductivity, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium, chlorides, moisture content, sulphates, pH, organic matter and gravel were the soil variables that affect the species distribution in this study.