Conducting polymers (CPs), such as poly (3, 4-ethylenedioxythiophene)(PEDOT), are widely recognized for their exceptional electrical conductivity, chemical stability, and environmental durability, making them promising candidates for protective coatings on metal surfaces. In this study, PEDOT coatings were electrochemically deposited on mild steel and platinum electrodes using cyclic voltammetry (CV) in a non-aqueous acetonitrile medium containing tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate. The deposition conditions—including scan rate, initial and final potentials, monomer concentration, and temperature—were optimized to achieve a homogeneous, compact, and adhesive polymer layer. The optimal conditions involved an EDOT monomer concentration of 0.01 M, a scan rate of 100 mV/s, and a potential range from− 0.5 to 1.8 V (SCE) at 30 C. The electropolymerization process was found to be more …

The taxonomic ambiguity of North African Rhabdias Stiles & Hassall, 1905 requires a deep revision and re-evaluation to define the genuine taxa. Based on newly gathered specimens, the African/Saharo-Arabian Rhabdias aegyptiaca El-Garhy & Garo, 2006 is redescribed for specimens collected from the lungs of the common African toad, Sclerophrys regularis (Reuss) (Anura: Bufonidae) from Egypt, northeast Africa. The species characterization is investigated through detailed morphology using light and scanning electron microscopy, as well as in-depth morphological and morphometric comparisons against closely related Rhabdias spp. The problematic morphological/taxonomic status of the original description of R. aegyptiaca is elucidated, discussed, and treated. Additionally, species identification is confirmed by genetic divergence, phylogenetic, and species delimitation analyses using the mitochondrial gene (cox1 mtDNA) and ribosomal genetic markers (28S rDNA + ITS rDNA). Rhabdias aegyptiaca differs from other African congeners in the combination of the following characteristics: truncate anterior end, buccal capsule 11–17 (15 ± 0.4) µm wide, four submedian circumoral lips with two lateral pseudolabia, esophagus with dilatation at end of first third and tail wholly covered with inflated cuticle except for its end tip. Present investigations on the validity of the Saharo-Arabian record of R. africanus sensu Abdel-Hakeem, Fadladdin, El-Sagheer & Adel, 2022 regard it as another record of R. aegyptiaca. The confusing status of the Saharo-Arabian record of Rhabdias bufonis sensu Morsy, Mohamed, Abdel-Ghaffar, Fayoumi & Abdel-Haleem, 2018 is discussed and assigned as belonging to another genus, Thubunaea Seurat, 1914. Rhabdias bufonis sensu Moravec, Baruš & Ryšavý, 1987 is considered a highly likely stand-alone Saharo-Arabian species, distinguished from the complex of Rhabdias bufonis (Schrank, 1788) Stiles & Hassall, 1905 by its pre-equatorial vulva, and largely sized buccal capsule and eggs. However, their specimens still need futural re-investigation for an appropriate description and designating type specimens.

This book explains microbial roles for agricultural sustainability, especially under climate changes, including the role of microorganisms in sustainable agriculture. Major coverage entails microbial enzymatic roles in agriculture, microbial phytohormones as promising sustainable plant bioagents, and phosphate-, potassium-, and calcium-solubilizing microbes as alternative biofertilizers. It introduces microbial solutions to mitigate the biotic and abiotic stress, with high attention to rising temperature and water limitation due to the climate changes. This book Presents a summarized insight into important roles of microbes in facing the climate changes; Describes plant–microbe interaction in sustainability; Highlights roles of microorganisms in limited agriculture water sources; Provides an insight into microbial phytohormones as promising plant-sustainable bioagents; provides comprehensive overviews of microbial bioremediation roles for soil reclamation. This book is aimed at researchers and graduate students in microbiology, agriculture, and sustainability.

Pharmaceutical active compounds such as diclofenac (DCF) pose serious risks to aquatic ecosystems. Therefore,
the development of safe and inexpensive phytoremediation strategies is essential. This study assessed the effect of
foliar-applied biological gibberellin (BG; 0, 50, 100, and 150 mg L􀀀 1), produced by Fusarium proliferatum, on the
remediation capacity of Atriplex lentiformis halophyte grown hydroponically under DCF contamination (0, 15,
and 30 μg L􀀀 1). A. lentiformis effectively removed DCF from the medium, while BG implementation further
boosted the DCF removal efficiency, bioaccumulation, and translocation factors. The application of 150 mg L􀀀 1
BG to 30 μg L􀀀 1 DCF achieved up to 80 % DCF removal and the maximum accumulation of DCF by 154.8 % over
the control. BG also promoted plant growth and photosynthetic pigments while mitigating DCF toxicity by
enhancing non-enzymatic antioxidants (AsA, GSH, phenolics, and proline) and antioxidant enzymes (APX, GPX,
PPO, GR, and PAL), and reducing stress biomarkers (MDA, H2O2, and electrolyte leakage). BG treatments
modified protein patterns and induced new isozyme profiles, reflecting a strengthened antioxidant system.
Overall, BG is a promising solution that serves as an eco-friendly biostimulant to enhance phytoremediation
efficiency. Extending this approach to soil systems may provide a sustainable strategy for managing pharmaceutical
pollution.

Preparation of cobalt(II) and zinc(II) complexes with an asymmetric thiourea ligand, N-phenylpiperidine-1-
carbothioamide, (L), was achieved. The composition and structure of the complexes, [CoL2Cl2] (1) and [ZnL2Cl2]
(2), were determined using various techniques, including single-crystal X-ray diffraction. X-ray structural
analysis revealed a distorted tetrahedral arrangement in the vicinity of the central metal atoms, with coordination
involving two thioamide (L) ligands through their sulfur atoms and two chlorido ligands. Fusarium oxysporum
is one of the most damaging phytopathogens, causing substantial economic losses. Excessive application
of commercial antifungals promotes microbial resistance, making the search for new agents essential. The
bioactivity of the free ligand, the starting metal(II) chlorides, and complexes 1 and 2 (0–200 μg/ml) against
Fusarium oxysporum was evaluated, alongside Cycloheximide as a standard. All compounds exhibited higher
activities than the standard. The complexes were the most effective anti-Fusarium oxysporum agents, with the
highest inhibitions of 46 and 37 mm for 1, and 2, respectively. Experiments on the fungal pathogenicity of wheat
seeds indicated complete inhibition by complex 1 (pathogenicity = zero %), while pathogenicity was only 6.7 %
with complex 2. The phytotoxicity of these compounds was assessed based on the percentage of wheat germination
obtained. Complex 2 demonstrated the best results, being non-toxic to wheat seeds up to 100 μg/ml, but
its phytotoxicity at 200 μg/ml resulted in only 73 % wheat germination.

Detailed field and stratigraphic studies were undertaken on the Upper Cretaceous-lower Paleogene (K-Pg) pre-rift sequences at the Duwi Mountain Range (DMR), Quseir Area, Red Sea Coast, Egypt. Six stratigraphic sections were investigated to cover the
DMR. They are arranged in a south-north profile as follows: Gabal Hamadat, Nasser Mine, Beida Mine, Gabal Anz, Gabal Nakheil and
Wadi Sudmeen. The studied pre-rift (Red Sea Rift) succession is lithostratigraphically represented by the Duwi (uppermost part), Dakhla,
Tarawan, Esna, and Thebes (lowermost part) formations. Biostratigraphically, twenty-one global planktonic foraminiferal zones were
defined. Three syn-sedimentary tectonic events were recorded, the first and second tectonic events (TE I and TE II) were regional and lie
within the Duwi/Dakhla and the uppermost part of the Hamama Member. The TE I occurred at the Campanian/Maastrichtian (C/M) boundary, whereas the TE II occurred at the beginning of the Danian. TE III was local and is recorded only at Wadi Sudmeen within the Beida
Member in the latest Danian. These events were related to the Syrian-Arc Event, which caused the uplift of the DMR as paleo-highs during
this interval.