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Nanotechnology is one of the most dynamic research areas and the fastest-growing market. Developing eco-friendly products using available resources to acquire maximum production, better yield, and stability is a great challenge for nanotechnology. In this study, copper nanoparticles (CuNP) were synthesized via the green method using root extract of the medical plant Rhatany (Krameria sp.) as a reducing and capping agent and used to investigate the influence of microorganisms. The maximum production of CuNP was noted at 70 °C after 3 h of reaction time. The formation of nanoparticles was confirmed through UV-spectrophotometer, and the product showed an absorbance peak in the 422–430 nm range. The functional groups were observed using the FTIR technique, such as isocyanic acid attached to stabilize the nanoparticles. The spherical nature and average crystal sizes of the particle (6.16 nm) were determined using Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and X-ray diffractometer (XRD) analysis. In tests with a few drug-resistant pathogenic bacteria and fungus species, CuNP showed encouraging antimicrobial efficacy. CuNP had a significant antioxidant capacity of 83.81% at 200 g/m−1. Green synthesized CuNP are cost-effective and nontoxic and can be applied in agriculture, biomedical, and other fields.

Herein, we report on the development of chitosan-capped silver nanoparticles (AgNPs-CHI) with an intrinsic activity against breast cancer cells. Following chemical synthesis via a simple, one-pot reaction, the chitosan coating of AgNPs was verified using Fourier-transform infrared and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopies. The physicochemical properties and morphology were characterized using dynamic light scattering, scanning electron microscopy, and transmission electron microscopy. The shelf stability of the optimized platform was tracked for 3 months upon storage at either room temperature or 4°C. Then, the anticancer activities of AgNPs-CHI on human breast cancer cells, MCF-7, versus normal human cells, human skin fibroblasts (HSF), were evaluated via 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide cytotoxicity assay and tumor-associated biomarkers determination by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, in comparison with plain silver nitrate (AgNO3) solution. AgNPs were successfully coated with chitosan and demonstrated acceptable physicochemical properties, with a spherical morphology and high stability upon long-term storage. Although AgNPs-CHI and AgNO3 demonstrated comparable cytotoxicity to MCF-7 cells, AgNPs-CHI resulted in 10-fold lower toxicity to HSF cells, suggesting a higher selectivity. In addition, AgNPs-CHI lowered IL-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels in MCF-7 cells by 90 and 30%, respectively, compared to 60 and 10% in the case of plain AgNO3. The interesting therapeutic modality presented in this study is promising for potential clinical applications.

ولد تزايد الطلب على الطاقة الى تأثيرات سلبية على البيئة نتيجة حرق الوقود الاحفوري، ولكون المباني المستهلك الرئيس للطاقة، فقد دعي لإجراء الدراسات من اجل إنشاء مباني كفؤة في الاستهلاك، فكانت التكنولوجيا متمثلة بالأدوات الرقمية للمحاكاة، حاضرة مع المصمم في انتخاب الحلول التصميمية لتحقيق هدف الوصول للتصميم الاكفأ. وهو ليس بالأمر السهل، في ظل صعوبات كم النماذج ذات الخصائص التصميمية المتعارضة التأثير فيما بينها، الواجب محاكاتها وتقييمها، بجهد ووقت كبيرين. هي الأسباب التي حدت من فاعلية تطبيق (منهج المحاكاة الحاسوبية التقليدي) خصوصاً للمشاريع الكبيرة، ليبرز (منهج الخوارزمية الجينية) كبديل فعال لتقييم التصاميم وتحسينها، بخطوات آلية لتبادل المتغيرات التصميمية بين النماذج الكفؤة وانتاج نماذج أكثر كفاءة بخطوات مماثلة لخطوات التطور الجيني للكائنات الحية. الا ان ضعف الاغناء المعرفي لآلية تطبيق هذا المنهج غيبه في البحوث والممارسات المعمارية المحلية، خصوصاً المرتبطة بمجال البيئة، لتبرز المشكلة البحثية: "ضعف الوضوح المعرفي عن طبيعة منهج الخوارزميات الجينية في انشاء نماذج ذات حلول تصميمية عالية الكفاءة مقارنة بالمنهج التقليدي ضمن الواقع المحلي"، ليتحدد هدف البحث: "الكشف عن طبيعة منهج الخوارزمية الجينية وتطبيقه لإنشاء حلول تصميمية محلية ذات كفاءة عالية بأقل وقت وجهد مقارنة بالمنهج التقليدي". اعتمد البحث منهج الكشف عن الآلية التطبيقية للخوارزمية الجينية في حل المشكلات التصميمية وانشاء مقارنة بين تطبيق (منهج المحاكاة الحاسوبية التقليدي) ومنهج (الخوارزمية الجينية في المحاكاة) على أنموذج افتراضي لفضاء معماري ضمن البيئة المحلية، لتحديد المنهج الاكفأ لإنشاء تصميم يحقق التوازن بين الخصائص التصميمية من حيث (نسبة مساحة الشباك الى مساحة الجدار) و(اختيار التوجيه الامثل) بما يضمن توفير اعلى معدلات للإضاءة الطبيعية وبأقل مقدار للكسب الحراري الشمسي داخل الفضاء، ومقارنة الوقت المستغرق لإنجاز العمل على وفق كلا المنهجين. ليتوصل البحث الى عدد من الاستنتاجات تمحورت حول كفاءة اعتماد منهج الخوارزمية الجينية من حيث اختصار الوقت ودقة النتائج مقارنة بالمنهج التقليدي.

Solar water pumping systems are fundamental entities for water transmission and storage purposes whether it is has been used in irrigation or residential applications. The use of photovoltaic (PV) panels to support the electrical requirements of these pumping systems has been executed globally for a long time. However, introducing optimization sizing techniques to such systems can benefit the end-user by saving money, energy, and time. This paper proposed solar water pumping systems optimum design for Oman. The design, and evaluation have been carried out through intuitive, and numerical methods. Based on hourly meteorological data, the simulation used both HOMER software and numerical method using MATLAB code to find the optimum design. The selected location ambient temperature variance from 12.8 °C to 44.5 °C over the year and maximum insolation is 7.45 kWh/m2/day, respectively. The simulation results found the average energy generated, annual yield factor, and a capacity factor of the proposed system is 2.9 kWh, 2016.66 kWh/kWp, and 22.97%, respectively, for a 0.81 kW water pump, which is encouraging compared with similar studied systems. The capital cost of the system is worth it, and the cost of energy has compared with other systems in the literature. The comparison shows the cost of energy to be in favor of the MATLAB simulation results with around 0.24 USD/kWh. The results show successful operation and performance parameters, along with cost evaluation, which proves that PV water pumping systems are promising in Oman.

Baghdad city constitutes one of the areas have clear sky with complex and ununiform distribution of light in the sky dome. This was one of the explanations why there is few studies concern with daylighting design in clear skies, from there, this research oriented to devise a new method that can assist in achieving the appropriate levels of lighting for interior spaces. The aim of this research is tempted to find a method that can help designers in achieving the appropriate levels of daylight in architectural spaces with different forms and sizes. The annual distribution rate of daylight was calculated for the horizontal surfaces of different orientations and unobstructed horizontal surface Furthermore account the Intensity of sky light and sun light on vertical surfaces of building facades opposite to the windows. Been reached a number of Graphs as protractor used with architectural drawings (horizontal plans and vertical sections), and by adopting of such Graphs, designers can measure the levels of daylight in any points within the space. Applied this method on a number of design characteristics of shape and direct the window and measure its influence in enlightened points within the space as their distance changes away from window. The research found a number of conclusions linked between the predictability of the distribution of daylighting levels within the space and pattern of distribution of windows within its

The use of sun control and shading devices is an important aspect of many energy-efficient building design strategies, where the shading of the building is the first step in the passive cooling systems in buildings. So the starting point of cooling systems is to reduce the solar heat gain by prevent solar radiation from entering the building in the hot period in the same time allow the daylight and benefit from achieving passive heating in cold period. This research interested with design of horizontal shading devices for buildings in Baghdad city. The research problem identified as the need to study the factors influence in deign horizontal shading devices and determining their dimensions. The research aimed to study the horizontal shading device in simple method because this device is the most effective and most commonly used among other types of shading devices. The research analyses the local affecting variables comprising the outside air temperature and intensity of solar radiation during the warm and cold months in Baghdad city. The study prepared for architectural designer the suitable values of extending the shading devices according to orientation, as well as the predictability of the design efficiency of all size of shading devices placed over the windows. The method of this research applied of design horizontal sun breakers with windows in different orientation, which showed the space of flexibility and possibilities in the design of shading devices. The research reach a number of conclusions presented as guideline to assist the designers in making decisions about the use of horizontal shading devices in different design cases.