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Polyacrylamide/functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (PAAm/FMWCNTs) composites were prepared by different polymerization techniques using gamma radiation as an initiator. These polymerization techniques were template polymerization of acrylic acid (AA) onto PAAm/FMWCNTs (N1), template polymerization of acrylamide (AAm) onto PAAm/FMWCNTs (N2), copolymerization of AA and AAm onto FMWCNTs (N3), and in situ polymerization of AAm from FMWCNTs surface (N4). The composites were analyzed by FTIR, SEM, and TGA. The composites were applied for the removal of Cu(II) metal ions by the batch adsorption method. The adsorption was investigated under various experimental conditions including initial pH, contact time, composites dosage, the concentration of Cu(II) metal ions, and temperature. The adsorption capacities of N1, N2, N3, and N4 composites were 385.44, 330.23, 351.95, and 320.29 mg/g, respectively, at a contact time: 90 min, initial concentration of Cu(II) metal ions: 0.8 g/L, the temperature: 25 °C, rpm: 150, pH: 5. and V/m: 1 L/g. The adsorption experimental results were closer to pseudo-second-order and Langmuir adsorption models. Thermodynamic data showed that the adsorption process was endothermic. The desorption studies have shown that PAAm/FMWCNTs composites adsorbents have a good adsorption/desorption performance for Cu(II) metal ions.

Background The main purpose is to investigate the effect of LiCO3 as an add-on therapy with radioactive iodine in increasing the cure and decreasing the T4 level compared to radioactive iodine alone. The primary outcome is the cure rate as defined by the number of hyperthyroid patients who became euthyroid or hypothyroid. The secondary outcome is the T4 level. Methods Four databases were searched (PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane central library). The inclusion criteria were randomized and non-randomized clinical trials of hyperthyroidism patients receiving LiCO3 with radioiodine compared with hyperthyroidism patients receiving radioactive iodine alone. Included studies were appraised with the risk of bias version 2 tool, according to the Cochrane Handbook for Systematic Reviews of Interventions 5.1.0. Results Nine studies were eligible for inclusion in the study, six randomized control trials and three non-randomized control trials. There were 477 patients in the intervention group and 451 patients in the control group. The cure rate was not significantly different between the two groups, while it was significantly increased with 5000 to 6500 mg optimized cumulative dose of LiCO3 compared with the control group, P = 0.0001. The T4 level showed no significant difference between the two groups, P = 0.13. Conclusions LiCO3 adjunct to radioactive iodine did not show significant differences compared with radioactive iodine alone in terms of cure rate or decreasing T4 level. However, the dose of 5000 to 6000 mg of LiCO3 may increase the cure rate.

Removal behaviors of 152+154Eu, 60Co, and 134Cs radionuclides onto Chitosan-acrylic acid-1-vinyl-2-vinylpyrrolidone/oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CTS-AA-VP/o-MWCNTs) composite has been investigated by batch adsorption technique. CTS-AA-VP/o-MWCNTs composite has been synthesized by copolymerization of acrylic acid (AA) and 1-vinyl-2-vinylpyrrolidone (VP) onto the surface of chitosan/oxidized multi-walled carbon nanotubes (CTS/o-MWCNTs) using gamma radiation. SEM, TGA, and FTIR were applied to characterize the morphology, thermal stability, and structure of the composite. The composite shows high removal capacity of 321.77, 369.91, and 456.46 mg/g towards 152+154Eu, 60Co, and 134Cs radionuclides, respectively.

A simple and efficient separation method of carrier-free 47Sc from neutron irradiated titanium target using a novel chitosan-acrylic acid/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (CS-AA/MWCNTs) composite was established. The synthesis of the CS-AA/MWCNTs composite was achieved using gamma radiation-induced template polymerization. The grafting efficiency (GE%) of AA on CS onto the surface of f-MWCNTs reached a maximum of~84% under the optimized conditions (30 wt% CS, 1.0 wt% AA, 0.15 wt% f-MWCNTs, >0.2 wt% N,N′-Methylenebisacrylamide (NMBA), and irradiation dose ~25 kGy). Different analyses (FT-IR, SEM, TGA and DTA) were examined for confirming the structural morphology and mechanical properties of the new synthesized composite. Interestingly, the CS-AA/MWCNTs composite depicted a selective adsorption of Sc(III) rather than Ti(IV) ions at pH 5 with adsorption efficiency of ~93.93%. The ionic exchange separation of no-carrier-added (NCA)47Sc(III) from irradiated TiO2 target on CS-AA/MWCNTs composite packed column efficiently eluted 47Sc(III) by 91 ± 0.8% using 1 M HCl solution. The quality control tests (radionuclidic, radiochemical, and chemical purities) for the eluted 47Sc(III) clarified its high purity and validity for cancer theranostics.

Khellin was successfully extracted from Ammi visnaga fruits with a recovery percent of 96.15%. Next radio-iodination of Khellin was successfully achieved with a high yield. The biodistribution study of [131I]iodo-khellin in tumour bearing mice revealed that khellin preferentially localization at tumour tissue. Target prediction study for [131I]iodo-khellin revealed that PI3K and VEGFR are potential targets for iodo-khellin with good affinity. The results of this study potentiate [131I]iodo-khellin as a good theranostic agent for tumour imaging and therapy.

Alginate–acrylic acid–vinylsulfonic acid/functionalized multiwalled carbon nanotubes (Alg–AA–VSA/f-MWCNTs) composite was prepared by gamma radiation as initiator the graft copolymerization of VSA and AA on Alg onto f-MWCNTs surface matching to template polymerization technique. The optimum synthesis conditions of the nanocomposite are 2.5 wt% Alg, 40 wt% comonomer, 0.5 wt% f-MWCNTs, 0.8 wt% NMBA, AA/VSA monomer composition of 70/30 wt%, and 25 kGy absorbed dose. The structure of the nanocomposite was analyzed using FTIR, TGA, SEM, and XRD. The adsorption of Co(II) radionuclide was applied by batch technique. The kinetic, isotherm, and thermodynamic data of the adsorption of Co(II) deduced that the adsorption followed the second-order model and Langmuir model and became favorable at a low temperature, respectively. Maximum capacity of Co(II) adsorption was 306.399 mg/g.

Multiwalled carbon nanotubes were used for the synthesis of five different polyacrylamide/ MWCNT composites. Different polymerization techniques were applied, namely, copolymerization, template polymerization of monomers on polyacrylamide, or grafting method, all induced by γ-irradiation. Fourier transform IR spectra were used for characterization. These composites were used for studying the adsorption and separation behaviors of Co(II) and Eu(III) under various experimental conditions. Radioactive isotopes 60Co and 152+154Eu were used for tracing the corresponding elements. The adsorption on the related polymers was also studied for comparison. The Kd values for the adsorption on the nanocomposites were found to be much higher than those on the corresponding polymers. Complete adsorption was achieved on some of the synthesized nanocomposites under definite conditions, suggesting the possibility of complete isolation of Co(II) and/or Eu(III) from large volumes of aqueous solutions. Separation of Co(II) and Eu(III) from each other was also found to be possible under certain conditions.

Starch-acrylic acid-co-vinyl sulfonic acid/multiwalled carbon nanotubes (starch-AA-VSA/f-MWCNTs) bionanocomposite was successfully synthesized using gamma radiation for initiate the grafting of AA/VSA on starch in the presence of f-MWCNTs by template polymerization technique. The structural characteristics were confirmed by FTIR, SEM, and TGA. The adsorption behaviors of bionanocomposite toward Eu(III) and Cs(I) were examined using the batch adsorption experiments. Langmuir and Freundlich’s models were used to fit the experimental data of the adsorption isotherms. Kinetic studies showed that the adsorption data followed the pseudo-second-order model. Thermodynamic studies indicated that the reaction was favorable at high temperature and endothermic process.

In this study, effects of the collector added before grinding and after grinding on the subsequent flotation and mineral surface properties were investigated. The pH was controlled at 10 during the grinding and flotation processes opened to the atmosphere. With enough amounts of sodium butyl xanthate addition, adding the collector before grinding recovered more chalcopyrite than adding it after grinding in single mineral flotation. The Eh of each ground pulp before and after conditioning were measured and it was found that adding collector before grinding obtained higher and relatively suitable pulp potential for chalcopyrite flotation. Particle size analyses of the flotation products indicate that the different flotation recoveries occurred due to the different flotation losses in fine particles (

Water scarcity is a major cause of crops yield reduction in many parts of the world. So, a more rational use of irrigation water should be adapted and deficit irrigation principles should be accepted with a certain level of reduction in yield level. To study the efficiency of four water requirements (100% whole season, 75% whole season, 50% whole season and 100% whole season while 50% at grain-filling stage) and five weed-control treatments (three postemergence herbicides i.e., metosulam, tribenuron-methyl, and bromoxynil), hand weeding and unweeded check, and their interactive effects, two field experiments on wheat crop were conducted in two successive seasons at the agricultural experimental station of the National Research Centre, Nubaria, Egypt. Bromoxynil, tribenuron-methyl came in the first order for controlling total broad-leaved weeds. Application of 100% water requirement recorded the highest values compared to all other irrigation water treatments in term of flag-leaf area, chlorophyll content, plant height, number of spike/m2, spike weight, grains number/spike, weight of 1,000 grains, yield and yield attributes of wheat. Metosulam followed by bromoxynil, tribenuron-methyl and hand-weeding treatments gave higher values of grain yield/ha. The highest grain yield, protein and carbohydrates percentages of wheat grains were obtained from addition of 100% water requirement with metosulam treatment was used followed by 75% of water requirement combined with metosulam treatment without significant difference among these treatments.

Introduction Hematological complications such as neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and anemia of DAAs/ribavirin in HCV can result in suboptimal outcomes. This study was aimed to investigate the frequency of hematological variations and their impact on the response to DAA therapy. Patients were defined as having hematological abnormalities if they had the presence of either/or a combination of the following hematological parameters at least once during the first month of treatment: drop in (Hb) level, TLC, and PLT count. Pretreatment, Hb, WBC count, and PLT count were not statistically related to the treatment response. However, lower count of all parameters was associated with moderate or advanced hepatic fibrosis stages according to the METAVIR scoring (P < .001). Static analysis showed that drop in Hb, TLC, and PLT count was significantly associated with response to treatment; P < .001, .21, and .41, respectively. Methods Fifty-eight patients for treatment of chronic hepatitis were studied. Their hematological parameters including TLC, Hb, and platelet counts were recorded before starting antiviral therapy and then at 3 monthly intervals. All the patients were given DAAS/ribavirin as antiviral therapy. Data were collected over a period of 3 months. Results Fifty-eight patients with mean (SD) age of 54.38 (12.67) years were studied. There was a mean hemoglobin (Hb) fall of 1.5 g/dL at the first 4 weeks of antiviral therapy. Mean TLC fell to 1.03 × 10⁹/L in the first month. A similar downward trend was noted in platelet values with a mean fall of 12.3 × 10⁹/mm in the first month of the antiviral therapy. Of the cases, 41.4% developed clinically significant anemia as evidenced by hemoglobin 11 g/dL after 4 weeks of antiviral therapy; this fall was noted only in first 4 weeks of treatment. Conclusion Significant hematological abnormalities occurred within the first 4 weeks of antiretroviral therapy. There was significant decrease in hemoglobin level.