Corrosion inhibition of aluminum (Al) in hydrochloric acid by anionic polyeletrolyte pectates (PEC) as a water-soluble natural polymer polysaccharide has been studied using both gasometric and weight loss techniques. The results drawn from these two techniques are comparable and exhibit negligible differences. The inhibition efficiency was found to increase with increasing inhibitor concentration and decrease with increasing temperature. The inhibition action of PEC on Al metal surface was found to obey the Freundlich isotherm. Factors such as the concentration and geometrical structure of the inhibitor, concentration of the corrosive medium, and temperature affecting the corrosion rates were examined. The kinetic parameters were evaluated and a suitable corrosion mechanism consistent with the kinetic results is discussed in the paper.

We have determined the phase transition for the Co-20 and -30 at.% Cu alloys
fabricated by arc melting technique, from the binodal to the two phases þL as
well as the peritectic transitions, using differential thermal analysis (DTA). We
equally studied the effects of aging treatment, ranging from 3 to 35 h, on the alloy
samples using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Vickers hardness (HV).
The activation energies of these alloys are equally determined using five
established models. Our results show that for aging time up to 15 h, within the
spinodal region at 773 K, the hardness value for Co-20 and -30 at.% Cu alloys
oscillates reaching a local maximum at the aging time of 8.50.5 h. After 20 h of
heat treatment, the HV for Co-20 at.% Cu alloy diminishes significantly while
that of Co-30 at.% Cu effectively stabilizes at 241 MPa. The activation energies
for the peritectic transformation based on Ozawa model are estimated to be 2465
and 2680 kJ mol1 for Co-20 and -30 at.% Cu, respectively.

The transmission and reflection spectra of the chalcogenide Te67.5 Ga2.5 As30 thin film with thickness of
150, 300 and 450 nm are measured. The formed crystalline phases due to the thermal annealing of the
as-prepared film are identified by X-ray diffraction. The as-prepared films have absorption mechanism
which is an indirect allowed transition with a decrease in the value of the optical energy gap (Eg) as
the thickness increases. The films annealed at temperatures higher than the temperature of the onset
of the crystallization have a direct allowed transition with an increase in Eg with annealing temperatures.
The effect of the film thickness on the refractive index and the high-frequency dielectric constant are
studied.

The transmission and reflection spectra of the chalcogenide Te67.5 Ga2.5 As30 thin film with thickness of
150, 300 and 450 nm are measured. The formed crystalline phases due to the thermal annealing of the
as-prepared film are identified by X-ray diffraction. The as-prepared films have absorption mechanism
which is an indirect allowed transition with a decrease in the value of the optical energy gap (Eg) as
the thickness increases. The films annealed at temperatures higher than the temperature of the onset
of the crystallization have a direct allowed transition with an increase in Eg with annealing temperatures.
The effect of the film thickness on the refractive index and the high-frequency dielectric constant are
studied.

Porous alumina films, prepared by anodization of pure aluminum (Al) thin film deposited on SiO2/Si substrate, has been fabricated and characterized. Constant voltage and constant current anodization in two-electrode cell configurations were performed. Electro-oxidation of Al in the voltage range of 1-90V was explored using the three electrolytes: 1M sulfuric acid (1-22V), 0.3M oxalic acid (1-70V) and 0.75M phosphoric acid (60-90V). The temperature dependence of the i-V characteristics and the properties of the porous structures are ascertained. An explanation for the difference in current density at same voltage for different electrolytes. The kinetics and mechanistic aspects of Al anodization are discussed.

The treatment of drug-resistant cancer is a clinical challenge, and thus screening for novel anticancer drugs is critically important. We recently demonstrated a strong enhancement of the antitumor activity of snake (Walterinnesia aegyptia) venom (WEV) in vitro in breast carcinoma, prostate cancer and multiple myeloma cell lines but not in normal cells when the venom was combined with silica nanoparticles (WEV+NP). In the present study, we investigated the in vivo therapeutic efficacy of WEV+NP in breast cancer- and prostate cancer-bearing experimental mouse models. Xenograft breast and prostate tumor mice models were randomized into 4 groups for each cancer model (10 mice per group) and were treated with vehicle (control), NP, WEV or WEV+NP daily for 28 days post tumor inoculation. The tumor volumes were monitored throughout the experiment. On day 28 post tumor inoculation, breast and prostate tumor cells were collected and either directly cultured for flow cytometry analysis or lysed for Western blot and ELISA analysis. Treatment with WEV+NP or WEV alone significantly reduced both breast and prostate tumor volumes compared to treatment with NP or vehicle alone. Compared to treatment with WEV alone, treatment of breast and prostate cancer cells with WEV+NP induced marked elevations in the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), hydroperoxide and nitric oxide; robust reductions in the levels of the chemokines CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL12, CXCL13 and CXCL16 and decreased surface expression of their cognate chemokine receptors CXCR3, CXCR4, CXCR5 and CXCR6; and subsequent reductions in the chemokine-dependent migration of both breast and prostate cancer cells. Furthermore, we found that WEV+NP strongly inhibited insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1)- and epidermal growth factor (EGF)-mediated proliferation of breast and prostate cancer cells, respectively, and enhanced the induction of apoptosis by increasing the activity of caspase-3,-8 and -9 in both breast and prostate cancer cells. In addition, treatment of breast and prostate cancer cells with WEV+NP or WEV alone revealed that the combination of WEV with NP robustly decreased the phosphorylation of AKT, ERK and IκBα; decreased the expression of cyclin D1, survivin and the anti-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members Bcl-2, Bcl-XL and Mcl-1; markedly increased the expression of cyclin B1 and the pro-apoptotic Bcl-2 family members Bak, Bax and Bim; altered the mitochondrial membrane potential; and subsequently sensitized tumor cells to growth arrest. Our data reveal the therapeutic potential of the nanoparticle-sustained delivery of snake venom against different cancer cell types.

Groundwater exploration in the area northwest of Qena using electrical resistivity survey.

Groundwater exploration in the area northwest of Qena using electrical resistivity survey.

Groundwater exploration in the area northwest of Qena using electrical resistivity survey.