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Soil acidification in managed ecosystems such as agricultural lands principally results from the increased releasing of protons (H

The study area is located in the West Feiran area, offshore Gulf of Suez, Egypt. This gulf is a well-known petroleum prolific basin that was formed from Late-Oligocene to Early Miocene times. This study focuses on evaluating the source rocks of Eocene (Thebes Formation), Paleocene (Esna Formation) and Cretaceous (Sudr, Brown Ls., Matulla, Wata and Raha formations) of GS 197–2 and WFA-1 wells based on total organic carbon (TOC), Rock-Eval pyrolysis, vitrinite reflectance (VR), and seismic data. In this study, Thebes, Sudr and Brown Ls. are considered to have fair to very good TOC (up to 4.05 wt%) that are characterized by Type II kerogen (mainly oil-prone) and mixed Type II/III kerogen (swamp oil and gas-prone), but haven't reach the peak of hydrocarbon generation at present depth of GS 197–2 well. On the other hand, Esna, Matulla, Wata and Raha formations have relatively lower TOC (only up to 1.15 wt%). For these formations the quality of the organic matter is represented by mixed Type II/III and Type III kerogen (mainly gas-prone), but have reached the maturation and generation stages in both wells with the presence of indigenous hydrocarbons detected. Depth-structure maps of these source rocks based on seismic data interpretation indicate that the mature source rocks located in the NW direction are so much deeper than the others in the study area. Understanding regional variations of Eocene, Paleocene and Cretaceous source-rock maturities which largely depend on burial depth will help to reduce the risk for future exploration drilling within the Gulf of Suez.

Sandy soils, typical of Australia's west, either have little or no habitat protection for microbes including arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, which are essential for nutrient cycling. To minimize this problem, the application of organic matter, such as humus-rich composts, is necessary during vegetable crop production. This study aimed at determining the effects of humus-rich composts on either indigenous or inoculated AM fungal colonisation in roots, lettuce (Lactuca sativa L. var. Quechua) growth, and soil fertility improvement. Four different humus-rich composts with varying humus contents were applied at the same standard rate to lettuce grown under glasshouse conditions for 10 weeks after sowing and compared with two low-humus composts and non-amended soil (control). Humus-rich composts significantly increased lettuce shoot growth, root growth, and AM fungal colonisation in roots. Humus contents in the composts were also correlated with lettuce shoot and root growth. Soil dissolved organic carbon, microbial biomass carbon, and fertility were increased with the application of humus-rich composts. These humus-rich composts, especially the compost of higher humic acid with and without AM inoculation, might have a significant role in sustainable vegetable production, for example lettuce growth. Overall, the results indicate that supplementation with humus-rich compost is highly beneficial to enhance soil fertility and potentially maintain the sustainability of vegetable production.

While plant growth promotion with increased nutrient uptake had been well addressed for biochar soil amendment in agriculture, there was limited knowledge on the variation of such effects with crop genotypes. In a rice field experiment without and with biochar soil amendment at 20 t ha

In the East Baghdad oilfield of central Iraq, the Upper Cretaceous Khasib Formation is the largest producing carbonate reservoir. The basic architecture of the “Khasib reservoirs” is heavily impacted by the lithofacies classification and sequence stratigraphic interpretation at East Baghdad field. A description of the Khasib Formation in terms of depositional systems, environments and lithofacies was obtained by studying the vertical distribution of the lithofacies, defined using well-log values and their mutual statistical relationships and constrained by the core data (thin sections). In this paper, a lithofacies classification and sequence stratigraphic interpretation are used to define reservoir geometry, lateral continuity and petrophysical characteristics of the Khasib reservoirs. The “Khasib” carbonate ramp stratigraphy exhibits different lithofacies in different depositional systems at the East Baghdad field. In addition, the log signatures and petrophysical properties of the same lithofacies vary. Multivariate statistical methods (principal component analysis and clustering) have been applied to separate stratigraphic packages and different carbonate lithofacies. Khasib carbonate lithofacies can be better discriminated from cluster analysis based on principal components rather than from arbitrary well log observations alone. The geometry of the strata in the ‘Khasib’ outer ramp is retrogradational, becoming aggradational during the lowstand systems tract (LST) and transgressive systems tract (TST). The highstand systems tract (HST) of the Khasib Formation is typically distinguished by a relatively thick aggradational-to-progradational geometry. This parasequence set is widespread upon the “Khasib” mid- and inner ramp. Petrographic analysis reveals the relative abundance and distribution of characteristic porosity types of the “Khasib” reservoirs. The HST (mid- and inner ramp) of “Khasib” Formation reveals the best reservoir characteristics (thickness, porosity, and hydrocarbon saturation) in the East Baghdad field. This enhancement of the knowledge of the lithofacies within a sequence stratigraphic framework through the application of principal component and cluster analysis is especially important to -optimally delineate and define the potential reservoir intervals of Iraq's Khasib Formation. Such multivariate statistical techniques may have similar beneficial application to carbonate reservoirs elsewhere in the world.

Waste causes environmental pollution and greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions when it is not managed sustainably. In Bangladesh, municipal organic waste (MOW) is partially collected and landfilled. Thus, it causes deterioration of the environment urging a recycle-oriented waste management system. In this study, we propose a waste management system through pyrolysis of selective MOW for biochar production and composting of the remainder with biochar as an additive. We estimated the carbon (C), nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) recycling potentials in the new techniques of waste management. Waste generation of a city was calculated using population density and per capita waste generation rate (PWGR). Two indicators of economic development, i.e., gross domestic product (GDP) and per capita gross national income (GNI) were used to adopt PWGR with a projected contribution of 5–20% to waste generation. The projected PWGR was then validated with a survey. The waste generation from urban areas of Bangladesh in 2016 was estimated between 15,507 and 15,888 t day−1 with a large share (∼75%) of organic waste. Adoption of the proposed system could produce 3936 t day−1 biochar blended compost with an annual return of US $210 million in 2016 while it could reduce GHG emission substantially (−503 CO2 e t−1 municipal waste). Moreover, the proposed system would able to recover ∼46%, 54%, 54% and 61% of total C, N, P and K content in the initial waste, respectively. We also provide a projection of waste generation and nutrient recycling potentials for the year 2035. The proposed method could be a self-sustaining policy option for waste management as it would generate ∼US$51 from each tonne of waste. Moreover, a significant amount of nutrients can be recycled to agriculture while contributing to the reduction in environmental pollution and GHG emission.

Background: Osteopathy is an important cause of morbidity in β-thalassemia major (TM). Although many of the etiopathological factors implicated in thalassemic osteoporosis commence in early disease phases during childhood, limited information exists on bone turnover in children with TM. This study was conducted with the objective to compare bone turnover markers (BTMs) in thalassemic children at different ages. Methods: In a cross sectional case control study, 47 children (age range, 1.5–18 years) with TM were recruited. BTMs were compared to eighteen age- and sex-matched healthy controls and to 16 adults (age range, 19.67–31.08 years) with TM. Results: Thalassemic children displayed unbalanced bone turnover with an increased bone resorption (shown by high levels of tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase 5b (TRACP5), receptor activator of nuclear factor-kappa B ligand (sRANKL) and sRANKL/osteoprotegerin (OPG) ratio) and a decreased bone neoformation (shown by low levels of osteocalcin (OC)) when compared to healthy children. TRACP5b was the only BTMs studied that showed a significant correlation with age in thalassemic children. For the whole thalassemic children group, regression analyses showed an influence of sex hormones replacement therapy on TRACP5b; pretransfusion hemoglobin and splenectomy on sRANKL; pretransfusion hemoglobin on sRANKL/OPG; and pretransfusion hemoglobin and serum ferritin on OC. Conclusion: The present study confirms that TM has profound effects on bone metabolism starting from early childhood. The early onset of bone turnover disturbances in TM indicates the need to investigate possible option to intervene early. Key Words: osteopathy, bone turnover, children, thalassemia

Condensed tannins are a class of plant secondary metabolites which are formed by the condensation of flavanols, and play an important role in plant-soil-microbes interactions by influencing the colonisation of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi. The aim of this study was to determine the influence of AM fungi on condensed tannins concentrations in roots, stems and leaves of birdsfoot trefoil (Lotus japonicus L.). The concentrations of condensed tannins in roots, stems and leaves of the Lotus japonicus plants were measured using histochemical staining and spectrophotometry. The extent of AM fungal colonisation in roots was also quantified. Soluble and insoluble condensed tannins concentrations in roots were lower in plants inoculated with AM fungi but higher in stems and leaves compared to plants not inoculated with AM fungi. The higher concentration of condensed tannins in the stems and leaves were associated with AM fungi colonisation of roots. This had increased animal feed value and also could be influenced by the plant-soil-microbes feedback processes.

The Khalda Concession is located southeast of the Abu Gharadig Basin in the Western Egyptian Desert. The present study is based on Rock-Eval pyrolysis and vitrinite reflectance (%Ro) data of the SPYGLASS-1X and AG-24 wells and analyses of two-dimensional seismic sections. This study evaluates the hydrocarbon potential, quality of organic matter, and thermal maturation history of the Abu Roash F and G members and the Bahariya Formation in the two wells. In addition, two burial history models were constructed using the PetroMod software to determine the status of the studied sequences with respect to oil and gas windows and the timing of hydrocarbon generation , which depend on the modeled %Ro. The structural setting and entrapment styles of the generated hydrocarbons were detected via the interpretation of the two-dimensional seismic lines using the Petrel software platform. The results indicate that the hydrocarbon potentiality of the Bahariya Formation and the Abu Roash F and G members ranges from poor to very good with the total organic carbon reaching 2.5 wt%. The hydrogen index values indicate that the kerogen types are mainly Type II, mixed Type II/III, and Type III. In addition, the maturity parameters (%Ro, T max , and the production index) and the burial history models of the studied wells indicate that the Abu Roash F and G members and the Bahariya Formation have reached the mature stage at the studied depths. The seismic interpretation reveals that the entrapment styles of the generated hydrocarbons are primarily structural traps of normal faults, forming horst and graben structures, and anticline folds.

In this study, pure and La of various concentrations (0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, and 2.5 wt.%) doped CuO thin films were produced by means of the NSP technique to be used as UV photodetection applications. Various physicochemical investigations such as XRD, SEM, PL, UV–Vis, and current-voltage (I–V) characteristics have been conducted to inspect the role of La in the grown films. X-ray diffraction data confirm the single cubic crystal structure and the size of crystallites shrinkages from 22.6 to 19.4 nm. SEM photo shows the formation of triangular prismic shape like morphology. The spectroscopic studies show that the added La impurity promotes their absorption level in the UV region and redshift the optical bandgap from 2.07 to 1.81 eV. Photoluminescence spectral analysis confirms the presence of oxygen vacancies at 413 nm. Upon exposure to a UV light source (λ = 365 nm) the fabricated La-doped CuO thin films offered a better photo-responsivity, detectivity, and external quantum efficiency value of 1.63 × 10−1 AW−1, 1.75 × 1010 Jones, and 107% respectively. Our results provide a guideline to design high-performance UV photodetectors.

Molecular ecology studies of fungi in roots and soils involve sampling DNA from heterogeneous environments. There is a wide range of fungal life strategies, including modes of sporulation, and interactions some fungi may have with roots of different plant species. Therefore, assessment of the relative abundance of fungi in these complex environments needs to take into account fungal life cycles, including sporulation, as well as potential interactions with roots, whether they are specific or non-specific. Such heterogeneity means that a significant factor in quantification of fungi from environmental samples based on DNA sequences is the sampling strategy employed. Therefore, we investigated fungal communities associated with soil, roots, and hyphae extracted from soil in a relatively homogeneous agricultural soil in which Pennisetum clandestinum (Whittet Kikuyu) was grown as a monoculture in a glasshouse experiment with the naturally occurring fungal community. Pennisetum clandestinum occurs in pasture monocultures in south-western Australia and this model was used to minimise potential variability in fungal occurrence associated with multiple plant species. The community structures of the fungi overall, and that of the subset of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi, were assessed using ITS rRNA sequencing. For fungi overall, there were marked differences in the relative abundance of the dominant phyla Chytridiomycota and Zygomycota in soil, roots, and hyphae from soil. For AM fungi (Glomeromycota), there was greater diversity within soil and among hyphae from soil than in roots, with marked differences in relative abundance of two orders, Archeosporales and Diversisporales. Roots were dominated by Glomus spp. Dark septate endophyte hyphae were dominant in roots but not in soil according to DNA sequencing, although they were not dominant in roots based on microscopy. Sporulation could influence fungal dominance in fungal DNA analyses, and this may be the case for the dark septate hyphae observed here. The considerable diversity in fungal communities based on DNA sequences from the relatively homogeneous environmental samples investigated in our study highlights the need for appropriate sampling and interpretation based on fungal life strategies, especially in more heterogeneous environmental samples of roots and soil under field conditions. There is potential for multiple DNA copies of fungal sequences associated with spores either inside roots or in soil, in addition to heterogeneity associated with growth of fungal hyphae in roots and in the rhizosphere of different plant species.