The performance of single slope solar still with an enhanced condenser at different saline water mediums in the basin is studied and assessed based on productivity, energy, exergy, economic, and enviroeconomic methodologies. Six solar still configurations are considered: conventional solar still (CSS); modified solar still (MSS) which is a still with heat sink condenser; MSS having an umbrella (MSS + U); MSS with forced-air cooling (MSS + FA); MSS with forced-water cooling (MSS + FW); and finally, MSS with forced-water cooling and contains sand in the basin (MSS + FW + SD). Experiments are conducted under hot and cold climate conditions of Sohag city, Egypt. The results indicate that the MSS + FW + SD has a maximum daily yield of 5.37 kg/m² in summer and 2.74 kg/m² in winter with an increase of 36% in summer and 26% in winter compared with CSS. It was found that the maximum increase of the energy and exergy efficiency compared with CSS is achieved in the case of MSS + FW + SD of 39% and 33%, respectively. Furthermore, the maximum and minimum cost of freshwater is achieved in cases of MSS + U and MSS + FW + SD, respectively. Finally, among all studied systems, MSS + FW + SD achieves the best performance based on the exergoeconomic approach.

Toxic and apoptotic impacts of zinc oxide nanoparticle (ZNP) on different cancer cells have been reported. Maspin (a mammary serine protease inhibitor) as a tumor suppressor gene can inhibit tumor growth and metastasis. The expression of maspin is modulated by p53, Bcl-2 family genes, and estrogen receptor α (ER-α). This study aimed to assess the ZNP effects on maspin expression in MCF-7 cells (a breast cancer cell). Experimental groups (ZNP5, ZNP10, and ZNP20) received 5, 10, and 20 μM/mL ZNP for 48 h, respectively. 17-β-estradiol (E2) was used to evaluate the role of ER-α in the anticancer impact of ZNP. Cell viability, Annexin V, migration assay, gene expression, and western blotting methods were applied to evaluate ZNP effects on the MCF-7 cells. ZNP at the concentrations of 10 and 20 μM/mL could significantly decrease the viability and migration rate, and significantly increase apoptosis percentage in the MCF-7 cells. ZNP significantly enhanced mRNA expression and protein level of maspin in MCF-7 cells in a concentration-dependent way. ZNP concentration-dependently elevated mRNA expression and protein level of p53 and Bax while reduced the expression of Bcl-2 and ER-α. E2 promoted cancer cell growth by enhancing survival and migration rates. E2 treatment reduced mRNA expression and protein level of maspin and p53, and elevated Bcl-2 expression. ZNP considerably changed these events induced by E2 in the MCF-7 cells. It is concluded that the maspin overexpression is one of the toxic mechanisms of the ZNP on the ER-α-positive breast cancer cells, and can suppress the migration of these cells.

As environmental issues aggravated heavily, China faces increasing pressure and challenges on carbon emission reduction and distribution. we used non-competitive input-output table (I-O table) combined with the methods of Structural Path Analysis (SPA) and Multidimensional Analytical Framework (MAF), based on the data of China in 2012, to analyze the current situation of inter-sector carbon emission transfer and identify the key sectors and the critical paths from multiple perspectives. Our results show that total fixed capital formation is the main final demand. The electricity, petroleum, and metal smelting are the largest carbon outflow sectors, which emit carbon at the upstream of the path. Construction and other services are the most obvious carbon inflow sectors, which belong to the middle and downstream of the path and lead to indirect carbon emissions through their demands for other sectors. “Metal smelting → Construction → Total fixed capital formation,” “Nonmetallic products → Construction → Total fixed capital formation,” and “Petroleum → Urban consumption,” “Electricity → Urban consumption” are the top four paths with large carbon emission, which deserve attention. Finally, this paper puts forward some policy implications on emission reduction based on the results.

The present study proposes the synthesis and characterization of graphene oxide (GO) and its application in the adsorption of the antibiotic cephalexin (CFX) in aqueous solution. The characterization of graphene oxide was obtained by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and zeta potential. The influence of pH on the batch adsorption process was investigated by analysing adsorption equilibrium isotherms and adsorption kinetics. The images obtained by SEM and TEM presented the typical morphology attributed to GO sheets. The kinetic adsorption tests showed that equilibrium was reached in 420 min, and an adsorption capacity of 164 mg g⁻¹ was obtained. The models that best fit the experimental data were pseudo-second as well as the Langmuir isotherm. Therefore, GO was effective for removing the CFX antibiotic from aqueous solution by using a batch adsorption process.

In recent years, the impact of ultrafine nanomaterials on the aquatic organisms and their ecosystems contributed much concern due to their abundance in environment. Several toxicity studies have reported that nanoparticles induced reproductive stress and resulted in reproductive impairment of fishes. The present study was aimed to investigate the stress-induced toxicity of C₆₀ fullerene nanomaterial on various reproductive parameters of the freshwater fish, Anabas testudineus. Fish were exposed to two sublethal concentrations of fullerene C₆₀, one-tenth (5 mg/L) and one-fifth (10 mg/L) of LC₅₀–96 h, for 4, 7, 15, 30, and 60-day durations. At the end of exposure period, the activities of steroidogenic enzymes, 3β-, and 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase decreased in the testis and ovary thereby indicated that the nanomaterial affected gonadal steroidogenesis. The level of serum testosterone decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in male whereas the level of estradiol showed significant (p < 0.05) reduction in female fish with significant (p < 0.05) increase in the level of serum cortisol in both sexes in concentration- and time-dependent manner. The analysis of the levels of alkali-labile phosphates, plasma calcium, and total protein showed significant (p < 0.05) reduction in female fish without significant changes in male fish, and this could be due to the antiestrogenic action of fullerene C₆₀ nanomaterial. The activity of aromatase enzyme decreased significantly (p < 0.05) in the ovary and brain of female fish, and the decline in the enzyme activity was prominent only in the brain tissue of male fish. The present results suggested that the stress-induced by fullerene C₆₀ exposure provoked reproductive toxicity in the fish, Anabas testudineus.

Many studies have demonstrated the effectiveness of algicidal compounds produced by macrophytes against microalgae. The aim of this study was to assess the algicidal activity of seven Moroccan macrophyte ethyl acetate extracts (MEA) to control harmful algal blooms (HABs). The response and sensitivity of prokaryotic toxic cyanobacteria (Microcystis aeruginosa) and eukaryotic microalgae (Chlorella sp.) were highlighted. The algicidal effect of MEA extracts against the two microalgae was assessed using both the paper disc diffusion and microdilution methods. This last was used in order to evaluate the minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) and minimum algicidal concentrations (MAC). Results showed that the growth of both microalgae was significantly inhibited by all MEA extracts. Myriophyllum spicatum organic extract shows the highest growth inhibition activity against M. aeruginosa (35.33 ± 1.53) and Chlorella sp. (30.33 ± 1.15 mm). This stronger inhibitory activity was confirmed by the low MIC (6.25, 12.5 mg/L) and MAC (6.25, 12.5 mg/L) values. Furthermore, results showed different sensitivity between the prokaryotic and eukaryotic microalgae into MEA extracts. Based on the MIC and MAC values, we can distinguish two groups of plants. The first one, including M. spicatum, Ranunculus aquatilis, and Enteromorpha sp., can be considered as a preferable anti-prokaryotic group with a stronger inhibitory activity on M. aeruginosa growth. The second group, constituted by Potamogeton natans, Nasturtium officinale, Elodea sp., and Ceratophyllum sp., has a preferable and stronger inhibitory effect against eukaryotic algae (Chlorella sp.). Overall the results reveal the potential algicidal activity of macrophytes and suggested that MEA extracts could play an important role in biocontrol of HABs.

Cancer remains as the major cause of death worldwide. The main reason why available therapies fail is that a vicious cycle in established which initiates multiple pathways and recurrence after metastasis. Hyperthermic treatment, which involves heating tumor tissues to a moderate temperature of 40–43 °C, has emerged as an effective strategy for treating tumors. This method is highly efficient at destroying tumor cells and does not induce the side effects of conventional cancer treatments. On the other hand, hyperthermic treatment method can be co-administered with conventional treatments. Nanotechnology had created huge opportunities in almost all areas of research, including the field of hyperthermic treatment. The utilization of magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) offers functionalities not possible using conventional magnetic materials. In this review, we detail recent developments and applications of MNPs for hyperthermic treatment and discuss future possibilities.

Pelagic Sargassum is considered an ecological plague that is causing adverse economic impacts to the tourist and fishing industries in the Caribbean. However, its proliferation might be playing an important role to reduce global warming, as it removes a high content of CO₂ from the atmosphere and transforms it into calcium carbonate, in its calcite phase, producing sediment after it dies. We quantified the amount of calcite in Sargassum samples collected from the Mexican Caribbean coast in 2019. Samples were divided into three parts: vesicles, thallus, and leaves. In each part, the amount of carbon, oxygen, and calcium was determined by means of X-ray energy dispersion to confirm the existence of a calcite crystalline phase. Imaging methodologies and IR spectroscopy complemented the structural studies. The thermogravimetric analysis determined that approximately 5% of the CO₂ captured by the Sargassum was converted into calcite. Thus, by extrapolation, the Atlantic Sargasso Belt retained approximately 19.3 million tons of CO₂ from 2011 to 2019.

Exposure to organophosphate (OP) pesticides in children may increase oxidative stress, resulting in the development of chronic diseases. This study aims to compare urinary OP metabolites and oxidative stress between children in agricultural and urban communities. The study also investigated the factors associated with urinary OP metabolites among children. Urine samples were collected from children for measuring levels of OP metabolites, glutathione (GSH), and malondialdehyde (MDA). The remarkable findings were that total dialkylphosphate (DAP) levels detected among children in this agricultural community were significantly higher than those from the urban community (P = 0.001). Multiple linear regression showed that total diethylphosphate (DEP) levels among children in the agricultural community were negatively associated with distances from children’s residence to the agricultural fields (β ± SE. = − 1.535 ± 0.334, 95%CI = − 2.202, − 0.863) and positively associated with playing on farms (β ± SE. = 0.720 ± 0.342, 95%CI = 0.036, 1.405). In addition, total dimethylphosphate (DMP) levels were positively associated with children working on farms (β ± SE. = 0.619 ± 0.264, 95%CI = 0.091, 1.147). Importantly, GSH levels among children in the agricultural community were significantly lower than those in the urban community (P < 0.001), but MDA levels did not differ. These results therefore suggest that children can be exposed to OPs both outdoors and indoors. Our results also provide supporting evidence that OP exposure can cause oxidative stress in children. As oxidative stress contributes to several chronic diseases, a good proposed strategy for the future would include measurement of oxidative stress biomarkers among children exposed to OPs as an early warning of chronic diseases.

Leakage of CO₂ from the geological storage is a serious issue for the sustainability of the receiving fresh soil–water systems. Subsurface water quality issues are no longer related to one type of pollution in many regions around the globe. Thus, an effort has been made to review studies performed to investigate supercritical CO₂ (scCO₂) and CO₂ enrich brine migration and it's leakage from geological storage formations. Further, the study also reviewed it's impacts on fresh soil–water systems, soil microbes, and vegetation. The first part of the study discussed scCO₂/CO₂ enrich brine migration and its leakage from storage formations along with it's impact on pore dynamics of hydrological regimes. Later, a state-of-the-art literature survey has been performed to understand the role of CO₂–brine leakage on groundwater dynamics and its quality along with soil microbes and plants. It is observed in the literature survey that most of the studies on CO₂–brine migration in storage formations reported significant CO₂–brine leakage due to over-pressurization through wells (injections and abandoned), fracture, and faults during CO₂ injection. Thus, changes in the groundwater flow and water table dynamics can be the first impact of the CO₂–brine leakage. Subsequently, three major alterations may also occur—(i) drop in pH of subsurface water, (ii) enhancement of organic compounds, and (iii) mobilization of metals and metalloids. Geochemical alteration depends on the amount of CO₂ leaked and interactions with host rocks. Therefore, such alteration may significantly affect soil microbial dynamics and vegetation in and around CO₂ leakage sites. In-depth analysis of the available literature fortifies that a proper subsurface characterization along with the bio-geochemical analysis is extremely important and should be mandatory to predict the more accurate risk of CO₂ capture and storage activities on soil–water systems.