The Japanese government has recently set an ambitious target to reduce its CO2 emissions by expanding renewables and nuclear power plants (NPPs). Perception of nuclear power, however, has always been an issue in Japan. This research reports the results of a survey regarding public acceptance of NPPs in three community groups and associations with some of its influencing factors. The samples are taken from one site near a plant under construction (Kaminoseki), another near a plant in operation (Hamaoka) and one without plants nearby (Kyoto). Among the findings, the preference to expand nuclear power was 28 percent, while that to decrease it was 11 percent. In addition, the community acceptance may shift from 28 to 65 percent in a special case of constrained acceptance. People living near the planning and the consumption sites had the highest acceptance rates and the least polarised view towards NPPs expansion. Among the analysed factors of influence, “Inclusion in the decision process” had a significant correlation with both cases of acceptance (b=0.22). Some measures to improve community acceptance before plans for NPPs expansion are included as recommendations.

Determination of the radioactive isotopes concentrations in the petroleum waste of sludge and sand is an essential issue not only to refineries, industrial processing, waste disposal and transports but also, to human health and the environment. As these radioactive isotopes are radiation risky, therefore they should be assessed and controlled. Moreover, they might contain heavy and toxic elements which cause hazardous pollution. This paper will focus on the evaluation of the concentrations of metals, heavy and toxic elements in sludge samples from different petroleum companies’ sites located in the eastern Egyptian desert. Five sludge oil samples were elementally analyzed by Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) technique. The samples were irradiate using the irradiation box inside the Egyptian second research reactor (ETRR-2) (rabbit irradiation system) for 4 hours and then counted after 14 days using HPGe detector. 18 isotopes named (Ca, Sc, Cr, Fe, Co, Zn, Br, Rb, Sr, Ag, Sb, Cs, Ba, Eu, Yb, Lu, Hf, and Ta) were detected with different concentrations in the samples under investigation. The isotopes of Ca, Fe, Sr, and Ba had high concentrations compared with other isotopes in the samples. The toxic element of barium with high concentration and other trace elements with low concentrations were detected in the samples. High concentration of Fe trace elements above the standard level was detected in all samples. The outcomes of the study imply that more monitoring is needed for the petroleum waste in these locations to minimize the environmental pollution and to minimize the radiation risk for the workers.

Determination of the radioactive isotopes concentrations in the petroleum waste of sludge and sand is an essential issue not only to refineries, industrial processing, waste disposal and transports but also, to human health and the environment. As these radioactive isotopes are radiation risky, therefore they should be assessed and controlled. Moreover, they might contain heavy and toxic elements which cause hazardous pollution. This paper will focus on the evaluation of the concentrations of metals, heavy and toxic elements in sludge samples from different petroleum companies’ sites located in the eastern Egyptian desert. Five sludge oil samples were elementally analyzed by Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) technique. The samples were irradiate using the irradiation box inside the Egyptian second research reactor (ETRR-2) (rabbit irradiation system) for 4 hours and then counted after 14 days using HPGe detector. 18 isotopes named (Ca, Sc, Cr, Fe, Co, Zn, Br, Rb, Sr, Ag, Sb, Cs, Ba, Eu, Yb, Lu, Hf, and Ta) were detected with different concentrations in the samples under investigation. The isotopes of Ca, Fe, Sr, and Ba had high concentrations compared with other isotopes in the samples. The toxic element of barium with high concentration and other trace elements with low concentrations were detected in the samples. High concentration of Fe trace elements above the standard level was detected in all samples. The outcomes of the study imply that more monitoring is needed for the petroleum waste in these locations to minimize the environmental pollution and to minimize the radiation risk for the workers.

Determination of the radioactive isotopes concentrations in the petroleum waste of sludge and sand is an essential issue not only to refineries, industrial processing, waste disposal and transports but also, to human health and the environment. As these radioactive isotopes are radiation risky, therefore they should be assessed and controlled. Moreover, they might contain heavy and toxic elements which cause hazardous pollution. This paper will focus on the evaluation of the concentrations of metals, heavy and toxic elements in sludge samples from different petroleum companies’ sites located in the eastern Egyptian desert. Five sludge oil samples were elementally analyzed by Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) technique. The samples were irradiate using the irradiation box inside the Egyptian second research reactor (ETRR-2) (rabbit irradiation system) for 4 hours and then counted after 14 days using HPGe detector. 18 isotopes named (Ca, Sc, Cr, Fe, Co, Zn, Br, Rb, Sr, Ag, Sb, Cs, Ba, Eu, Yb, Lu, Hf, and Ta) were detected with different concentrations in the samples under investigation. The isotopes of Ca, Fe, Sr, and Ba had high concentrations compared with other isotopes in the samples. The toxic element of barium with high concentration and other trace elements with low concentrations were detected in the samples. High concentration of Fe trace elements above the standard level was detected in all samples. The outcomes of the study imply that more monitoring is needed for the petroleum waste in these locations to minimize the environmental pollution and to minimize the radiation risk for the workers.

Determination of the radioactive isotopes concentrations in the petroleum waste of sludge and sand is an essential issue not only to refineries, industrial processing, waste disposal and transports but also, to human health and the environment. As these radioactive isotopes are radiation risky, therefore they should be assessed and controlled. Moreover, they might contain heavy and toxic elements which cause hazardous pollution. This paper will focus on the evaluation of the concentrations of metals, heavy and toxic elements in sludge samples from different petroleum companies’ sites located in the eastern Egyptian desert. Five sludge oil samples were elementally analyzed by Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA) technique. The samples were irradiate using the irradiation box inside the Egyptian second research reactor (ETRR-2) (rabbit irradiation system) for 4 hours and then counted after 14 days using HPGe detector. 18 isotopes named (Ca, Sc, Cr, Fe, Co, Zn, Br, Rb, Sr, Ag, Sb, Cs, Ba, Eu, Yb, Lu, Hf, and Ta) were detected with different concentrations in the samples under investigation. The isotopes of Ca, Fe, Sr, and Ba had high concentrations compared with other isotopes in the samples. The toxic element of barium with high concentration and other trace elements with low concentrations were detected in the samples. High concentration of Fe trace elements above the standard level was detected in all samples. The outcomes of the study imply that more monitoring is needed for the petroleum waste in these locations to minimize the environmental pollution and to minimize the radiation risk for the workers.

The treatment of drug-resistant cancer is a clinical challenge, hence screening for novel anticancer drugs is critically important. In the present study we investigated the anti-tumor potential of three plant-derived flavone compounds 3-hydroxy flavone (3-HF), 6-hydroxy flavone (6-HF) and 7-hydroxy flavone (7-HF) either alone or combined with silica nanoparticles (3-HF+NP, 6-HF+NP and 7-HF+NP) on the human breast carcinoma cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7, as well as on non-tumorigenic normal breast epithelial cells (MCF-10). The IC50 values of these flavone compounds loaded with NP (flavones+NP) in these cell lines were determined to be 1.5µg/ml without affecting the viability of normal MCF-10 cells. Additionally, we found that combination of flavones with NP significantly induced apoptosis in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cancer cells using annexin-V/PI double staining followed by flow cytometry analysis. Furthermore, flavones+NP increased the expression of cytochrome C and caspase 9 mediating growth arrest of these cancer cells. Most importantly, combination of flavones with NP significantly abolished the expression of ATF-3, which in turn is responsible for the proliferation and invasion of bone metastatic breast cancer cells. Our data revealed the potential therapeutic effects of these flavones in fighting breast cancer cells and provided the first insight concerning the underlying molecular mechanisms.

The treatment of drug-resistant cancer is a clinical challenge, hence screening for novel anticancer drugs is critically important. In the present study we investigated the anti-tumor potential of three plant-derived flavone compounds 3-hydroxy flavone (3-HF), 6-hydroxy flavone (6-HF) and 7-hydroxy flavone (7-HF) either alone or combined with silica nanoparticles (3-HF+NP, 6-HF+NP and 7-HF+NP) on the human breast carcinoma cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7, as well as on non-tumorigenic normal breast epithelial cells (MCF-10). The IC50 values of these flavone compounds loaded with NP (flavones+NP) in these cell lines were determined to be 1.5µg/ml without affecting the viability of normal MCF-10 cells. Additionally, we found that combination of flavones with NP significantly induced apoptosis in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cancer cells using annexin-V/PI double staining followed by flow cytometry analysis. Furthermore, flavones+NP increased the expression of cytochrome C and caspase 9 mediating growth arrest of these cancer cells. Most importantly, combination of flavones with NP significantly abolished the expression of ATF-3, which in turn is responsible for the proliferation and invasion of bone metastatic breast cancer cells. Our data revealed the potential therapeutic effects of these flavones in fighting breast cancer cells and provided the first insight concerning the underlying molecular mechanisms.

The treatment of drug-resistant cancer is a clinical challenge, hence screening for novel anticancer drugs is critically important. In the present study we investigated the anti-tumor potential of three plant-derived flavone compounds 3-hydroxy flavone (3-HF), 6-hydroxy flavone (6-HF) and 7-hydroxy flavone (7-HF) either alone or combined with silica nanoparticles (3-HF+NP, 6-HF+NP and 7-HF+NP) on the human breast carcinoma cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7, as well as on non-tumorigenic normal breast epithelial cells (MCF-10). The IC50 values of these flavone compounds loaded with NP (flavones+NP) in these cell lines were determined to be 1.5µg/ml without affecting the viability of normal MCF-10 cells. Additionally, we found that combination of flavones with NP significantly induced apoptosis in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cancer cells using annexin-V/PI double staining followed by flow cytometry analysis. Furthermore, flavones+NP increased the expression of cytochrome C and caspase 9 mediating growth arrest of these cancer cells. Most importantly, combination of flavones with NP significantly abolished the expression of ATF-3, which in turn is responsible for the proliferation and invasion of bone metastatic breast cancer cells. Our data revealed the potential therapeutic effects of these flavones in fighting breast cancer cells and provided the first insight concerning the underlying molecular mechanisms.

The treatment of drug-resistant cancer is a clinical challenge, hence screening for novel anticancer drugs is critically important. In the present study we investigated the anti-tumor potential of three plant-derived flavone compounds 3-hydroxy flavone (3-HF), 6-hydroxy flavone (6-HF) and 7-hydroxy flavone (7-HF) either alone or combined with silica nanoparticles (3-HF+NP, 6-HF+NP and 7-HF+NP) on the human breast carcinoma cell lines MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7, as well as on non-tumorigenic normal breast epithelial cells (MCF-10). The IC50 values of these flavone compounds loaded with NP (flavones+NP) in these cell lines were determined to be 1.5µg/ml without affecting the viability of normal MCF-10 cells. Additionally, we found that combination of flavones with NP significantly induced apoptosis in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cancer cells using annexin-V/PI double staining followed by flow cytometry analysis. Furthermore, flavones+NP increased the expression of cytochrome C and caspase 9 mediating growth arrest of these cancer cells. Most importantly, combination of flavones with NP significantly abolished the expression of ATF-3, which in turn is responsible for the proliferation and invasion of bone metastatic breast cancer cells. Our data revealed the potential therapeutic effects of these flavones in fighting breast cancer cells and provided the first insight concerning the underlying molecular mechanisms.

Protein A (SpA) of Staphylococcus aureus is known to target the paratope of immunoglobulins expressing V(H)3 genes, and to delete marginal zone B cells and B-1a in vivo. We have discovered that SpA endows S. aureus with the potential to subvert B-cell trafficking in the host. We found that SpA, whose Fc-binding site has been inactivated, binds essentially to naïve B cells and induces a long-lasting decrease in CXCR4 expression and in B-cell chemotaxis to CXCL12. Competition experiments indicated that SpA does not interfere with binding of CXCR4 ligands and does not directly bind to CXCR4. This conclusion is strongly supported by the inability of SpA to modulate clathrin-mediated CXCR4 internalization, which contrasts with the potent effect of anti-immunoglobin M (IgM) antibodies. Microscopy and biochemical experiments confirmed that SpA binds to the surface IgM/IgD complex and induces its clathrin-dependent internalization. Concomitantly, the SpA-induced signaling leads to protein kinase C-dependent CXCR4 downmodulation, suggesting that SpA impairs the recycling of CXCR4, a postclathrin process that leads to either degradation into lysozomes or de novo expression at the cell surface. In addition to providing novel insight into disruption of B-cell trafficking by an infectious agent, our findings may have therapeutic implications. Because CXCR4 has been associated with cancer metastasis and with certain autoimmune diseases, SpA behaves as an evolutionary tailored highly specific, chemokine receptor inhibitor that may have value in addition to conventional cytotoxic therapy in patients with various malignancies and immune-mediated diseases.