Porous anodic alumina (PAA) templates have been extensively studied due to their unique morphology and extensive applications.The fabrication of PAAcan bemodulated to achieve a self-ordered pore structure with desired pore size and interpore separation.PAAthin film templateswere fabricated fromsilicon doped aluminumfilm,Al-1wt%Si, based on one-step anodization method at 22 °C. Effects of anodizing potential (10–20V) as well as sulfuric acid concentrations (0.6–1.8M) on current density, interpore distance, anodization rate, and volume expansion were evaluated.The results indicated that current density increased largely exponentially with a concentration of the electrolyte at a given anodizing voltage. In addition, distinct andwell-ordered pores were obtained for anodization conducted at 15Vand 20 V. The volume expansion factor is proportional to the applied voltage. At 1.8Msulfuric acid, the expansion factor increases with pore regularity with 1.4 considered as the transition point.Theminimumcurrent density (2.1±0.15mAcm−2) was observed at theminimumanodizing condition (0.6M, 10V).Also,maximumanodizing condition (1.8M, 20V) resulted in the highest current density of 34±4mAcm−2.As expected, anodization time decreaseswith an increase in both anodization voltage and electrolyte concentration.

Ge-In-Se system, similar to many other chalcogenide glasses, has attracted much attention due to its interesting physical properties and applications. This article reports thermal analysis and estimation of activation energies of the glass transition and amorphous-crystallization transformation of Ge13In8Se79 chalcogenide glass. The kinetic parameters were investigated under a non-isothermal condition at different heating rates (7–40 K/min) using differential scanning calorimetric (DSC) technique. The amorphous nature of the samples was confirmed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The activation energy was calculated from DSC data using five isoconversional methods: Kissinger–Akahira– Sunose (KAS), Flynn–Wall–Ozawa (FWO), Tang, Starink, and Vyazovkin. The results confirm that the activation energy of crystallization varies and depends on the degree of crystallization as well as temperature. It was also observed that the transformation from amorphous to the crystalline structure is complex involving different mechanisms of nucleation, diffusion, and growth.

The present study aimed to evaluate the quality of fresh sushi in Egypt. Fifty samples of sushi (Salmo salar) were collected from restaurants in Alexandria, Egypt. Paraffin, semi-thin and ultra-thin sections were used for parasitological analysis by light and transmission electron microscopy. Bacteria were isolated by the dilution plate and direct plate methods and identified by a Vitek system. Twenty (40%) of the total examined samples showed microsporidia and helminth metacercariae infections. Histochemical stains showed distinct pinkish-red pyriform microspores embedded in muscular tissue stained with Gram, periodic acid-Schiff (PAS), and Ziehl–Neelsen (ZN) stains. Semi-thin sections showed double membrane xenoma-inducing granulomas containing spores at different developmental stages. Empty sporophorous vesicles and free spores were observed in the electron microscopic images. A bacteriological assay showed forty samples (80%) contaminated with human pathogenic bacteria with the average total bacterial counts ranging from 32 to 526 CFU/g. Four species of human pathogenic bacteria were identified in the examined samples, namely Klebsiella pneumoniae, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Serratia plymuthica in 40, 38, 11, and 6 samples, respectively. These constitute the first record of fresh sushi product in Egypt and indicate the potential pathogenicity associated with raw seafood products.

The present study aims to investigate the histological, histochemical and electron microscopic changes of the caecal proximal part of Japanese quail during both pre- and post-hatching periods starting from the 2nd embryonic day (ED) until four weeks post-hatching. On the 2nd and 3rd ED, the primordia of caeca appeared as bilateral swelling on the wall of the hindgut. On the 7th ED, the lamina propria/submucosa contained the primordia of glands. On the 8th ED, rodlet cells could be observed amongst the epithelial cells. On the 9th ED, the caeca began to divide into three parts with more developed layers. With age, the height and number of villi increased. On the 13th ED, immature microfold cells (M-cells) could be identified between the surface epithelium of the villi. The caecal tonsils (CTs) appeared in the form of aggregations of lymphocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells and different types of leukocytes. Telocytes and crypts of Lieberkuhn were observed at this age. On hatching day, the crypts of Lieberkuhn were well-defined and formed of low columnar epithelium, goblet cells, and enteroendocrine cells. Posthatching, the lumen was filled with villi that exhibited two forms: (1) tongue-shaped villi with tonsils and (2) finger-shaped ones without tonsils. The villi lining epithelium contained simple columnar cells with microvilli that were dispersed with many goblet cells, in addition to the presence of a high number of intra-epithelial lymphocytes and basophils. Moreover, the submucosa was infiltrated by numerous immune cells. CD3 immunomarker was expressed in intraepithelial lymphocytes, while CD20 immunomarker showed focal positivity in CTs. In conclusion, the caecal immune structures of quails at post-hatching were more developed than those in pre-hatching life. The high frequency of immune cells suggests that this proximal part may be a site for immunological surveillance in the quail caecum. The cellular organisation of the caecum and its relation to the immunity was discussed.

The present study aims to investigate the histological, histochemical and electron microscopic changes of the caecal proximal part of Japanese quail during both pre- and post-hatching periods starting from the 2nd embryonic day (ED) until four weeks post-hatching. On the 2nd and 3rd ED, the primordia of caeca appeared as bilateral swelling on the wall of the hindgut. On the 7th ED, the lamina propria/submucosa contained the primordia of glands. On the 8th ED, rodlet cells could be observed amongst the epithelial cells. On the 9th ED, the caeca began to divide into three parts with more developed layers. With age, the height and number of villi increased. On the 13th ED, immature microfold cells (M-cells) could be identified between the surface epithelium of the villi. The caecal tonsils (CTs) appeared in the form of aggregations of lymphocytes, macrophages, dendritic cells and different types of leukocytes. Telocytes and crypts of Lieberkuhn were observed at this age. On hatching day, the crypts of Lieberkuhn were well-defined and formed of low columnar epithelium, goblet cells, and enteroendocrine cells. Posthatching, the lumen was filled with villi that exhibited two forms: (1) tongue-shaped villi with tonsils and (2) finger-shaped ones without tonsils. The villi lining epithelium contained simple columnar cells with microvilli that were dispersed with many goblet cells, in addition to the presence of a high number of intra-epithelial lymphocytes and basophils. Moreover, the submucosa was infiltrated by numerous immune cells. CD3 immunomarker was expressed in intraepithelial lymphocytes, while CD20 immunomarker showed focal positivity in CTs. In conclusion, the caecal immune structures of quails at post-hatching were more developed than those in pre-hatching life. The high frequency of immune cells suggests that this proximal part may be a site for immunological surveillance in the quail caecum. The cellular organisation of the caecum and its relation to the immunity was discussed.

The seaweed Cystoseira trinodis was fermented by different fungi prior to extraction of fucoidan and alginate to enhance their antioxidative potential. All the investigated fungi were able to produce fucoidanase (1.05–3.41 U/ml) and alginate lyase (7.27–18.59 U/mL). Different fungal species induced a reduction in the molecular weight (MW) of fucoidan and alginate in comparison to the unfermented control. The MW of fucoidan reduced by 41–81.5%, while the MW of alginate was reduced by 28–75%, depending on the fungal species. Significant increases in the fucose and sulphate contents of fucoidan and mannuronic/guluronic acid ratio of alginate were induced by fungal fermentation. Fungal pretreatment enhanced the ferric reducing antioxidant power, total antioxidant capacity and hydroxyl radical scavenging activity of both fucoidan and alginate. Additionally, enzymatic pretreatment of the macroalgal biomass assisted in the recovery of fucoidan and alginate with low molecular weight and enhanced antioxidative potential.

Fucoidanase and alginate lyase are promising biocatalysts for several biotechnological applications. The sequentially extracted fucoidan and alginate from the brown macroalgae Sargassum latifolium were used for the optimization of a cost-effective culture medium for fucoidanase and alginate lyase production by the marine fungus Dendryphiella arenaria. Plackett–Burman statistical design was conducted for initial determination of the importance of 11 independent variables on enzyme potentiation, and the significant variables were further optimized using Box–Behnken design. The optimum conditions for fucoidanase production were fucoidan (1.5% w/v), NaCl (1.5%), urea (0.3%), and incubation period (2 days), which gives ~ 4 U mL−1 of crude fucoidanase. While, alginate (1.5% w/v), NaCl (4%), NH4Cl (0.3%), and incubation period (6 days) were the optimum conditions that enhanced alginate lyase production to ~ 24 U mL−1. Additionally, a new protocol for the enzymatic saccharification of fucoidan and alginate was optimized using Box–Behnken design with respect to substrate concentration, enzyme dosage, and temperature. The enzymatic saccharification of citric acid-extracted fucoidan gave a maximum yield of reducing sugar 365 mg g−1 fucoidan, while the alkali-extracted alginate gave 439.66 mg g−1 alginate. The results showed that the two enzymes could be exploited for the efficient production of reducing sugars from fucoidan and alginate, which are the key substrate for producing biofuels from brown macroalgal biomass.

Fucoidanase is a promising biocatalyst for several biotechnological applications. Crude fucoidanase production by Dendryphiella arenaria was optimized using a natural low-cost medium composed of Cystoseira trinodis and natural seawater. The results showed that seaweed biomass concentration and incubation period were the most significant factors affecting fucoidanase production. At the optimized conditions [seaweed biomass (4.25% w/v), seawater concentration (100% v/v), and incubation period (2 days)], the fucoidanase production was 3.43 U/mL. The crude fucoidanase exhibited a wide pH (3–9) stability with residual activity > 58%. The enzyme showed a good thermostability at 40 and 50 °C with half-lives of 239.02 and 115.52 min, respectively. Several parameters of thermal inactivation kinetics and thermodynamics were calculated, and suggested that the enzyme would be thermostable. Additionally, enzymatic extract containing fucoidanase was used for the enzymatic saccharification of the brown algal biomass in terms of seaweed particle size, solid/liquid ratio, and enzyme dosage. The maximum reducing sugars obtained was 57.11 mg/g. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report regarding fungal fucoidanase optimization mediated saccharification of a brown seaweed.

Introduction: Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is known as a carcinogenic, teratogenic, mutagenic and growth inhibitory mycotoxin. Aim: the current study aims to demonstrate the adverse morphological effects of AB1 on the developing chick embryo. Materials and methods: Fertilized eggs of the chick Gallus domesticus were divided into five groups: control group, positive control group treated with aflatoxin's solvent (10% Ethanol), and three experimental groups treated with a single doses of 5ng, 10ng or 20ng of AFB1 extract. The hatchability and mortality rates were recorded, specimens were weighed, morphologically examined, and morphometric measurements were carried out for some parameters: Crown rump, head length, head circumference, head height, fore limb and all parts of hind limb lengths of the embryos after 21 days of incubation. Results: Current data showed a decrease in hatchability rate (4.76%, 5.48%, 6.9% ) in treated groups (5ng, 10ng and 20ng) respectively compared to control (97%), weight and all morphometric parameters were significantly decreased in treated groups compared to control ones and insignificantly changed among the three treated groups. Mortality rate was increased (13%, 24%, 13%) in treated groups (5ng, 10ng and 20ng) respectively compared to control (0%). Different congenital malformations were observed in treated embryos such as: growth retardation, brain deformation, invagination of eyes, anophthalmia, beak deformities, wry and twisted neck, absence of feathers, open body cavity, limb deformities such as bud limbs or absence of limbs and poor ossification. Discussion: The present study demonstrated that AFB1 causes developmental anomalies to the embryo such as decreasing the hatchability rate, increasing mortality rate and also causes severe congenital anomalies to the embryo, according to earlier literatures, AFB1 alters DNA and RNA and causes cell death which may explain the severe malformations during the dvelopment of chick embryo.

In this work, a new quaternion-based method for color image watermarking is proposed. In this method, a novel set of quaternion radial substituted Chebyshev moments (QRSCMs) is presented for robust geometrically invariant image watermarking. An efficient computational method is proposed for highly accurate, fast, and numerically stable QRSCMs in polar coordinates. The proposed watermarking method consists of three stages. In the first stage, the Arnold transform is used to improve the security of the watermarking scheme by scrambling the binary watermark. In the second stage, the proposed accurate and stable QRSCMs of the host color image are computed. In the third stage, the encrypted binary watermark is embedded into the host image by employing the quantization technique on selected-magnitude QRSCMs where the watermarked color image is obtained by adding the original host color image to the compensation image. Then, the binary watermark can be extracted directly without using the original image from the magnitudes of QRSCMs. Numerical experiments are performed where the performance of proposed method is compared with the existing quaternion moment-based watermarking methods. The comparison clearly shows that the proposed method is very efficient in terms of the visual imperceptibility capability and the robustness under different attacks compared to the existing quaternion moment-based watermarking algorithms.