A rhizobial isolate was recovered from the root nodule of the faba bean (Vicia faba L.) grown in sludgecontaminated fields in Upper Egypt. The isolate was identified as Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae on the bases of phenotypic characteristics and sequences of the gene encoding 16S rRNA. The isolate was resistant to heavy metal stress in decreasing order Ba2þ (80 ppm), Zn2þ (70 ppm), Co2þ (50), Al3þ (40 ppm), Ni2þ (30 ppm), and Cd2þ (10 ppm). The rhizobial isolate was used as an efficient biosorbent for Cd2þ and Co2þ removal from aqueous solutions. The maximum adsorption capacities for Cd2þ and Co2þ biosorption calculated from the Langmuir adsorption isotherm were 135.3 and 167.5 mg g1, respectively. The adsorption isotherm for both heavy metals fit well with the Langmuir isotherm rather than the Freundlich model with correlation coefficient (r2>0.98). This study indicates that the R. leguminosarum bv. viciae isolate STDF-Egypt19 can be useful as an inexpensive and efficient bioremediation technology to remove and recover heavy metal ions from an aqueous solution.

A rhizobial isolate was recovered from the root nodule of the faba bean (Vicia faba L.) grown in sludgecontaminated fields in Upper Egypt. The isolate was identified as Rhizobium leguminosarum bv. viciae on the bases of phenotypic characteristics and sequences of the gene encoding 16S rRNA. The isolate was resistant to heavy metal stress in decreasing order Ba2þ (80 ppm), Zn2þ (70 ppm), Co2þ (50), Al3þ (40 ppm), Ni2þ (30 ppm), and Cd2þ (10 ppm). The rhizobial isolate was used as an efficient biosorbent for Cd2þ and Co2þ removal from aqueous solutions. The maximum adsorption capacities for Cd2þ and Co2þ biosorption calculated from the Langmuir adsorption isotherm were 135.3 and 167.5 mg g1, respectively. The adsorption isotherm for both heavy metals fit well with the Langmuir isotherm rather than the Freundlich model with correlation coefficient (r2>0.98). This study indicates that the R. leguminosarum bv. viciae isolate STDF-Egypt19 can be useful as an inexpensive and efficient bioremediation technology to remove and recover heavy metal ions from an aqueous solution.

This study was devoted for H2 production from rotten fruits of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) by three fermentation stages. A facultative anaerobe, Escherichia coli EGY was used in first stage to consume O2 and maintain strict anaerobic conditions for a second stage dark fermentative H2 production by the strictly anaerobic Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824. Subsequently, a third stage photofermentation using Rhodobacter capsulatus DSM 1710 has been conducted for the H2 production. The maximum total H2 yield of the three stages (7.8 mol H2 mol
1 sucrose) was obtained when 5 g L
1 of sucrose was supplemented to fermentor as rotten date fruits. A maximum estimated cumulative H2 yield of the three stages (162 LH2 kg
1 fresh rotten dates) was estimated at the (5 g L
1) sucrose concentration. These results suggest that rotten dates can be efficiently used for commercial H2 production. The described protocol did not require addition of a reducing agent or flashing with argon which both are expensive.

This study was devoted for H2 production from rotten fruits of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) by three fermentation stages. A facultative anaerobe, Escherichia coli EGY was used in first stage to consume O2 and maintain strict anaerobic conditions for a second stage dark fermentative H2 production by the strictly anaerobic Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824. Subsequently, a third stage photofermentation using Rhodobacter capsulatus DSM 1710 has been conducted for the H2 production. The maximum total H2 yield of the three stages (7.8 mol H2 mol
1 sucrose) was obtained when 5 g L
1 of sucrose was supplemented to fermentor as rotten date fruits. A maximum estimated cumulative H2 yield of the three stages (162 LH2 kg
1 fresh rotten dates) was estimated at the (5 g L
1) sucrose concentration. These results suggest that rotten dates can be efficiently used for commercial H2 production. The described protocol did not require addition of a reducing agent or flashing with argon which both are expensive.

This study was devoted for H2 production from rotten fruits of date palm (Phoenix dactylifera L.) by three fermentation stages. A facultative anaerobe, Escherichia coli EGY was used in first stage to consume O2 and maintain strict anaerobic conditions for a second stage dark fermentative H2 production by the strictly anaerobic Clostridium acetobutylicum ATCC 824. Subsequently, a third stage photofermentation using Rhodobacter capsulatus DSM 1710 has been conducted for the H2 production. The maximum total H2 yield of the three stages (7.8 mol H2 mol
1 sucrose) was obtained when 5 g L
1 of sucrose was supplemented to fermentor as rotten date fruits. A maximum estimated cumulative H2 yield of the three stages (162 LH2 kg
1 fresh rotten dates) was estimated at the (5 g L
1) sucrose concentration. These results suggest that rotten dates can be efficiently used for commercial H2 production. The described protocol did not require addition of a reducing agent or flashing with argon which both are expensive.

The levels of GH, IGF-1, blood glucose and glycosylated plasma proteins (GPP) were determined in sera of diabetics (19 with and 18 without DR, 17 with IDDM and 20 with NIDDM). The levels of the four parameters were significantly higher in diabetics with and without retinopathy compared with controls. Patients with retinopathy had higher levels than those with nonproliferative changes. Serum GH and IGF-1 were higher in IDDM than in NIDDM. In patients with retinopathy, GH was correlated with the duration of diabetes and random blood glucose while IGF-1 did not correlate. It seems that increase GH and IGF-1 levels have possible contribution to the pathogenesis and progression of DR, especially in IDDM besides blood glucose and GPP excess. Such levels do appear to identify diabetics at high risk for rapid deterioration of vision and hence may be useful in selecting those for more intensive therapy.

The levels of GH, IGF-1, blood glucose and glycosylated plasma proteins (GPP) were determined in sera of diabetics (19 with and 18 without DR, 17 with IDDM and 20 with NIDDM). The levels of the four parameters were significantly higher in diabetics with and without retinopathy compared with controls. Patients with retinopathy had higher levels than those with nonproliferative changes. Serum GH and IGF-1 were higher in IDDM than in NIDDM. In patients with retinopathy, GH was correlated with the duration of diabetes and random blood glucose while IGF-1 did not correlate. It seems that increase GH and IGF-1 levels have possible contribution to the pathogenesis and progression of DR, especially in IDDM besides blood glucose and GPP excess. Such levels do appear to identify diabetics at high risk for rapid deterioration of vision and hence may be useful in selecting those for more intensive therapy.

The levels of GH, IGF-1, blood glucose and glycosylated plasma proteins (GPP) were determined in sera of diabetics (19 with and 18 without DR, 17 with IDDM and 20 with NIDDM). The levels of the four parameters were significantly higher in diabetics with and without retinopathy compared with controls. Patients with retinopathy had higher levels than those with nonproliferative changes. Serum GH and IGF-1 were higher in IDDM than in NIDDM. In patients with retinopathy, GH was correlated with the duration of diabetes and random blood glucose while IGF-1 did not correlate. It seems that increase GH and IGF-1 levels have possible contribution to the pathogenesis and progression of DR, especially in IDDM besides blood glucose and GPP excess. Such levels do appear to identify diabetics at high risk for rapid deterioration of vision and hence may be useful in selecting those for more intensive therapy.

The levels of GH, IGF-1, blood glucose and glycosylated plasma proteins (GPP) were determined in sera of diabetics (19 with and 18 without DR, 17 with IDDM and 20 with NIDDM). The levels of the four parameters were significantly higher in diabetics with and without retinopathy compared with controls. Patients with retinopathy had higher levels than those with nonproliferative changes. Serum GH and IGF-1 were higher in IDDM than in NIDDM. In patients with retinopathy, GH was correlated with the duration of diabetes and random blood glucose while IGF-1 did not correlate. It seems that increase GH and IGF-1 levels have possible contribution to the pathogenesis and progression of DR, especially in IDDM besides blood glucose and GPP excess. Such levels do appear to identify diabetics at high risk for rapid deterioration of vision and hence may be useful in selecting those for more intensive therapy.

The kinetics of hexachloroplatinate(IV) oxidation of uranium(IV) ion in aqueous perchloric acid solutions at a constant ionic strength of 1.0 mol dm
3 has been investigated using the stopped-flow and conventional spectrophotometric techniques. The oxidation reaction was found to proceed through two distinct stages. The initial stage was found to be relatively fast corresponding to the formation of [(H2O)nUIV 3 Cl6PtIV]2+ binuclear intermediate complex (with the rate constant k1 = 1.75  104 dm3 mol
1s
1, k
1 = 6.8 s
1, and the formation constant K = 2.6  103 dm3 mol
1 at [H+] = 1.0mol dm
3 and 25
C for binuclear formation). This stage was followed by a much slower stage corresponding to the transfer of two electrons from UIV to PtIV in the rate-determining step (with the rate constant k = 5.32  10
5 s
1 at [H+] = 1.0 mol dm
3 and 25
C). The reaction stoichiometry was found to depend on the molar ratio of the reactants concentration. The experimental results indicated the decrease of the observed first-order rate constants with increasing the [H+] for the decomposition of the binuclear intermediate complex through the slow-second stage, whereas no change was observed with respect to the rate of formation of the binuclear complex at the initial rapid part. A tentative reaction mechanism consistent with the kinetic results is discussed.