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Green hydrogen is gaining a significant attention in the transition to sustainable energy and achieving net-zero emissions. Platinum-based catalysts are highly regarded in hydrogen production, particularly due to their efficiency in water electrolysis. Platinum nanoparticles (Pt NPs) is successively prepared by the microwave-assistant citrate method on a biomass-based support, and characterized by X-rays diffraction, scanning and transmission electron microscopy. The chelation and gelation resulted by using citric acid during the synthesis lead to the formation of highly stabilized and dispersed Pt NPs on the carbon support. The electrocatalytic activity of Pt NPs for the hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) is examined by cathodic linear polarization and impedance spectroscopy. A high catalytic performance is shown by the prepared sample, as indicated by the calculated exchange current density 5.3 mA/cm 2 , and activation energy, 38.13 kJ/mol. The HER follows Volmer/Tafel mechanism with a reaction order of unity. Impedance spectra confirms the high electrocatalytic activity by the decrease of the total impedance, pore resistance, and charge-transfer resistance, with increasing the applied overpotential. The proposed synthesis method offers a green, economic, and efficient route for preparing precious metals used for catalytic applications.

Saprolegnia infections cause severe economic losses among freshwater fish and their eggs. The banning of malachite green increased the demand for finding effective alternative treatments to control the disease. In the present study, we investigated the ability of boric acid to control saprolegniosis in salmon eggs and yolk sac fry. Under in vitro conditions, boric acid was able to decrease Saprolegnia spore activity and mycelial growth in all tested concentrations above 0.2 g/L, while complete inhibition of germination and growth was observed at a concentration of 0.8 g/L. In in vivo experiments using Atlantic salmon eyed eggs, saprolegniosis was controlled by boric acid at concentrations ranging from 0.2-1.4 g/L during continuous exposure, and at 1.0-4.0 g/L during intermittent exposure. The same effect was observed on salmon yolk sac fry exposed continuously to 0.5 g/L boric acid during the natural outbreak of saprolegniosis. During the experiments no negative impact with regard to hatchability and viability was observed in either eggs or fry, which indicate safety of use at all tested concentrations. The high hatchability and survival rates recorded following the in vivo testing suggest that boric acid is a candidate for prophylaxis and control of saprolegniosis.

Background Noncoding RNAs play pivotal roles in the process of autoimmune diseases. However, the definite contributions of these molecules to Behçet’s disease (BD) are still unknown. This study aimed to explore the clinical value of a novel competing endogenous (ce) RNA network in the pathogenesis of BD and to assess its use in primary diagnosis. Methods Bioinformatic analysis was applied to construct a BD-related ceRNA network: lncRNA (MIAT and PVT1)-miRNA (miR-93-5p and miR-124-3p)-mRNA (SOD-2 and MICA). Blood was obtained from 70 BD patients and 30 healthy subjects, and the serum expression of the tested RNAs was estimated via quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Serum tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) levels were also determined. The associations between these RNAs were further analyzed, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve and logistic regression analyses were employed to validate their diagnostic and prognostic values. Results The expression levels of the lncRNAs PVT1 and miR-93-5p were significantly increased, whereas those of the lncRNAs MIAT and miR-124-3p, as well as those of the SOD-2 and MICA mRNAs, were significantly decreased in BD patients compared with controls. BD patients had significantly higher serum TNF-α levels than controls did. ROC curve analysis indicated that the selected RNAs could be candidate diagnostic biomarkers for BD. Moreover, the highest diagnostic efficiency was achieved with the combination of MIAT and miR-93-5p or PVT1 and miR-124-3p with either SOD-2 or MICA. Logistic regression analysis revealed that all RNA expression levels could be predictors for BD. Conclusion Mechanistically, our research revealed a novel ceRNA network that is significantly disrupted in BD. The findings reported herein, highlight the noncoding RNA-molecular pathways underlying BD and identify potential targets for therapeutic intervention. These insights will likely be applicable for developing new strategies for the early diagnosis, management and risk assessment of BD as well as the design of novel preventive measures. Trial registration The protocol for the clinical studies was approved by Cairo University’s Faculty of Pharmacy’s Research Ethics Committee (approval number: BC 3590)

Acute liver failure (ALF) is a serious illness characterized by extensive liver cell damage and inflammation. The present study highlights the potential of purslane seed oil extract-Pluronic-modulated liposomes (PSE-PMLs) to protect against thioacetamide (TAA)-induced ALF in rats. Four groups of rats were used in the present study: normal control (NC), TAA-induced ALF, silymarin (SIL), and PSE-PML groups. SIL- and PSE-PML-pretreated groups were orally pre-administered SIL (200 mg/kg) and PSE-PMLs (500 mg/kg), respectively, for 7 days. After these pretreatments, all groups except the NC group were injected intraperitoneally with TAA (350 mg/kg) to induce ALF. Serum levels of liver biochemical markers and inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-4, and interferon-gamma were estimated. Additionally, the hepatic malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase activity, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma coactivator 1-alpha, phosphorylated Janus kinase 2, phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription 3, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma, tumor protein p53, active cysteine-aspartic acid protease 3, and B-cell lymphoma 2 were assessed. A histopathological examination of the liver was also performed. The study found that pretreatment with PSE-PMLs mitigated TAA-induced biochemical and histopathological alterations, alleviating oxidative stress, dampening the overproduction of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and amending liver cell apoptosis. These pioneering findings suggest that PSE-PMLs are a promising prophylactic agent against ALF, warranting further studies in the post-injury models. The phytochemical profiling, gas chromatography–mass spectrometry, of purslane seed oil revealed α-linolenic acid (∼98%) as the predominant component, with additional sterols, tocopherols, and phenolic acids that may underlie its strong antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects.

The aquaculture industry is suffering from significant financial setbacks due to an increasing frequency of disease outbreaks, posing a threat to the sector’s sustainability. Various bacterial, viral, parasitic, and fungal pathogens have led to massive mortalities in farmed fish worldwide. Throughout the years, the management of fish diseases has predominantly centered around the utilization of conventional antibiotics and chemicals. Nevertheless, their indiscriminate use has given rise to serious implications, including an increase in resistant pathogens, disruptions in the metabolic processes of fish, degradation of the aquatic environment, the presence of drug residues in aquatic products, and a potential threat to human health. Various effective bio-based and immunoprophylaxis alternative therapies have been developed to overcome these impediments. Recent alternative therapeutic approaches to fish diseases encompass a range of strategies, including phytotherapeutics, nanotherapeutics, probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, phage therapy, vaccination, quorum quenching, antimicrobial peptides, biosurfactants, bacteriocins, stem cells, and diagnostic-based therapy. Advancements in biotechnology have significantly enhanced the efficacy of these therapies. However, additional research is essential to refine the utilization of these therapeutic approaches. Critical concerns, such as efficacy, cost, risks, availability, and adverse effects on fish and the ecosystem, need to be addressed to establish guidelines for their sustainable application in aquaculture. This review will increase aquaculturists’ awareness of recent therapies used in fish farming, their mechanisms, challenges, and impacts while promoting the sustainability of commercial aquaculture.

The postharvest life of cut flowers is limited, which is a major challenge and varies greatly depending on plant varieties, cut flower stage, flower length of the harvested shoots, and storage conditions including postharvest treatments. As a result, improving the vase life and quality of cut flowers in regulating postharvest characteristics and overcoming these challenges is critical to the horticulture business. Novel engineered nanocomposites were created and tested for possible impacts on flower bud opening, postharvest life extension, longevity regulation, and preservation and enhancement of the strength and appearance of cut flowers. The experiment was conducted as a factorial experiment using a completely randomized design (CRD) with two factors. The first factor was two holding solutions (without or with sucrose at 20 gL −1 ). The second factor was 12 pulsing treatments for 24 h; distilled water as a control, 75 ppm GA 3 , multi-walled carbon nanotubes MWCNTs at 10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 ppm, and MWCNTs (10, 20, 30, 40, and 50 ppm)/GA 3 (75 ppm) composites; each treatment had 3 replicates, for a total of 72 experimental units. In the present study, gibberellic acid (GA 3 ) was synthesized in functionalized (MWCNT/GA 3 composites) as a novel antisenescence agent, and their effect on the vase life quality of cut rose flowers Rosa hybrida cv. ‘Moonstone’ was compared by assaying several parameters critical for vase life. The adsorption of GA 3 on MWCNTs was proven by performing FTIR spectroscopy which ensures that the formation of the MWCNTs/GA3 composite preserves the nanostructure and was examined by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM). The results revealed that sucrose in the holding solution showed a significant increase in fresh weight, flower diameter, and vase life by 10.5, 10.6, and 3.3% respectively. Applying sucrose with MWCNTs 20 ppm/GA 3 75 ppm composites or MWCNTs 20 ppm alone, was critical for the significant increase in flower opening by 39.7 and 28.7%, and longevity by 34.4 and 23.2%, respectively, and significantly increased chlorophyll a, b, total chlorophyll, anthocyanin, total phenolic content, and 2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl scavenging activity as compared to the control.

La0.9Sr0.1FeO3 perovskite, prepared by the microwave-assisted method, was capped with cetyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (CTAB) cationic surfactant, and applied as a sorbent for the removal of the anionic Congo red (CR) dye from aqueous solutions. X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns showed that the perovskite structure was not affected by capping; however, the particle size increased. There was a hipsochromic shift in the value of λmax of the CR absorption spectrum in the presence of CTAB, which indicated the formation of an oppositely charged dye–surfactant complex. The adsorption efficiency of CTAB-capped La0.9Sr0.1FeO3 was independent of the pH of the solution—equilibrium was reached after a few minutes. The value of the maximum adsorption capacity, qm, was 151.52 mg·g−1, which was 10-times higher than that of the pure perovskite. The proposed sorbent maintained its excellent sorption ability in the presence of the sample matrix; therefore, it can be regenerated and reused with unchanged performance.

Vibriosis is a common disease in aquaculture. Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) farmed within some commercial fish farms in Kafr El-Sheikh governorate Egypt showed signs of disease and exhibited heavy mortality. In order to get to the root of the problem, ninety moribund tilapia were sampled from the affected fish farms and subjected to bacteriological and molecular examinations. Biochemical characterization of bacterial isolates was performed via the API 20E analytical system. All examined fish samples were infected with Vibrio species. Eighteen Vibrio isolates, V. mimicus (n = 12), and V. cholerae (n = 6) were taken randomly for molecular characterization and further analysis. Isolates were genotyped via sequencing and alignment of the recA gene. Isolates possessed numerous virulence traits, including the production of hemolysins, proteases, lipases, and nucleases. The prevalence of ompU, vmh, vpsR, and flrA virulence genes in Vibrio strains was 61.1%, 66.6%, 27.7%, and 33.3 %, respectively. The blaTEM (55.5%), apHAI (50%), and qnrVC (27.7%) antibiotic resistance genes were recorded in Vibrio strains. All Vibrio isolates (100%) were resistant to ampicillin 10 μg and amoxicillin 30 μg, while they showed high sensitivity against florfenicol 30 µg (83.3%) and ciprofloxacin 5 µg (77.7%). Challenge experiments in Nile tilapia confirmed pathogenicity of the isolates. Fish showed symptoms of septicemia and high mortality was observed. Infections induced numerous histopathological alterations in diseased fish. This is the first report of V. mimicus outbreaks associated with mass mortality in Egyptian farmed Nile tilapia. The findings form the basis for future development of effective control and preventive measures against one of the most infectious pathogens that affect fish and humans.

This study aimed to investigate the protective effects of lipopolysaccharide from Rhodobacter sphaeroides (LPS-RS) against ethanol-induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in experimental rats. The study involved an intact control group, LPS-RS group, two groups were given ethanol (3 and 5 g/kg/day) for 28 days, and two other groups (LPS-RS + 3 g/kg ethanol) and (LPS-RS + 5 g/kg ethanol) received a daily dose of LPS-RS (800 μg/kg) before ethanol. Ethanol significantly increased the expression of nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) in the liver tissue and decreased anti-oxidant enzymes. Hepcidin expression was downregulated in the liver, with increased serum levels of ferritin and iron. Prior-administration of LPS-RS alleviated the increase in oxidative stress and inflammatory markers, and preserved iron homeostasis markers. In the kidney, administration of ethanol caused significant increase in the expression of NF-κB and the levels of TNF-α and kidney injury markers; whereas LPS-RS + ethanol groups had significantly lower levels of those parameters. In conclusion; this study reports anti-oxidant, anti-inflammatory and iron homeostasis regulatory effects of the toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) antagonist LPS-RS against ethanol induced toxicity in both the liver and the kidney of experimental rats.

LaFeO 3 /biochar composite is prepared by cellulose-modified microwave-assisted method at 450 °C. The structure is identified by Raman spectrum which, consists of characteristics biochar bands and octahedral perovskite chemical shifts. The morphology is examined by scanning electron microscope (SEM); two phases are observed, rough microporous biochar and orthorhombic perovskite particles. The BET surface area of the composite is 57.63 m 2 /g. The prepared composite is applied as a sorbent for the removal of Pb 2+ , Cd 2+ , and Cu 2+ ions from aqueous solutions and wastewater. The adsorption ability reaches a maximum at pH > 6 for Cd 2+ , and Cu 2+ ions, and is pH-independent for Pb 2+ ions adsorption. The adsorption follows pseudo 2nd order kinetic model, Langmuir isotherm for Pb 2+ ions, and Temkin isotherms for Cd 2+ , and Cu 2+ ions. The maximum adsorption capacities, q m , are 606, 391, and 112 mg/g for Pb 2+ , Cd 2+ , and Cu 2+ ions, respectively. The electrostatic interaction is responsible for the adsorption of Cd 2+ , and Cu 2+ ions on LaFeO 3 /biochar composite. In case of Pb 2+ ions form a complex with the surface functional groups of the adsorbate. LaFeO 3 /biochar composite shows high selectivity for the studied metal ions and excellent performance in real samples. The proposed sorbent can be easily regenerated and effectively reused.