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Biologically active magnesium oxide (MgO) nanoparticles were synthesised using green reduction with an extract derived from the Vitis vinifera plant. The investigation focused on examining the structure and carbon abundance resulting from the thermal degradation of adsorbed biomolecules. It was accomplished using powder X-ray diffraction, Raman spectroscopy, and FT-IR analysis techniques. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy studies conducted on MgO nanoparticles indicate the absence of any supplementary peaks, thereby indicating the purity of the material. The morphological characteristics, which have been examined using field emission scanning electron microscopy and TEM methodologies, demonstrate the presence of particles with a spherical shape, exhibiting minimal agglomeration and a uniform distribution across the surfaces of MgO. The porous structure, porosity, and pore volume of the MgO particles were evaluated using Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface analysis. The experimental findings reveal that the surface area of the MgO nanoparticles is 23.8742 m2/g, while the total pore volume is 0.12528 cm3/g. Additionally, the average pore diameter is determined to be 1.7 nm. These observations collectively suggest the presence of microporous structures within the MgO nanoparticles. This article discusses the biological studies to assess the antibacterial, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, and anti-diabetic activities of the synthesised MgO nanoparticles.

Water-deficit problem in Egypt due to the scarcity of water resources and climatic changes causes significant stress on all crops such as grapevines. Using soil conditioners like superabsorbent polymer (SAP) and Bentonite (BENT) can reduce water problems due to their abilities to store more water and improve the physical and chemical characteristics of soil.

Prostomatean ciliates inhabit a wide range of aquatic environments and serve as a trophic link in food webs. However, the biodiversity and molecular phylogeny of the Prostomatea, especially the order Prostomatida, is poorly known owing to undersampling and the paucity of molecular data. Here, three prostomatid ciliates, Platina marina gen. nov. sp. nov. Parametacystis pulchra gen. nov. sp. nov. and Apsiktrata gracilis , were studied based on morphological data and small subunit ribosomal ribonucleic acid (SSU rRNA) gene sequences. The two new genera show a close relationship with the class Plagiopylea but a distant relationship with Metacystis , which bears a strong morphological similarity to the two new genera. The simplified oral ciliature can be regarded as a synapomorphy of the two new genera. The SSU rRNA gene of a representative of the family Apsiktratidae was sequenced for the first time. Morphological and phylogenetic analyses suggest that Apsiktratidae might be more closely related to Prorodontida than to Prostomatida, and the oral basket might be more phylogenetically informative than the brosse in distinguishing Prorodontida and Prostomatida. Supplementation with rare taxa reveals a close association between the Prostomatida and Trimyemidae. The putative secondary structure of the SSU rRNA V9 region suggests a sister relationship between the order Prostomatida and the class Plagiopylea. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a controversy involved in the models of the formation of serpulid tube microstructures, which either have been formed in similar ways to molluscan structures or in an alternative, unique serpulid way. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) study of the tube microstructure of Crucigera zygophora has been performed. A new serpulid tube microstructure, an aggregative SIOP, has been discovered in C. zygophora, herein termed ASIOP. During the first phase of crystallization, the sparsely located nuclei of the ASIOP structure formed, and in the second phase of crystal growth, the nucleation of spherultic sectors took place on the surface of preformed nuclei. The ASIOP structure differs from SIOP by more sparsely located crystallisation centres (nuclei) and the slower formation (i.e., crystallisation) of basic units. The formation of the ASIOP structure cannot be fully explained by the classical carbonate slurry model. Future comparative studies should show whether molluscan crossed spindle-like structures and serpulid SIOP structures are structural analogues. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Free‐living litostomatean ciliates, prominent microeukaryote predators commonly encountered in freshwater and marine habitats, play vital roles in maintaining energy flow and nutrient cycles. Nevertheless, understanding their biodiversity and phylogenetic relationships remains challenging due to insufficient morphological information and molecular data. As a new contribution to this group, three haptorian ciliates, including two new species (Actinobolina bivacuolata sp. nov. and Papillorhabdos foissneri sp. nov.) and the insufficiently described type species, Actinobolina radians, were isolated from wetlands around Lake Weishan, China and investigated by a combination of living morphology, stained preparations, and 18S rRNA gene sequence data. An illustrated key of the valid species within the two genera is provided. In addition, we reveal the phylogenetic positions of these two genera for the first time. Although they differ in all key morphologic characters such as general appearance (ellipsoidal with numerous tentacles vs. cylindrical), extrusomes (stored in tentacles vs. anchored to pellicle), circumoral kinety (present vs. absent), composition of somatic kineties (kinetosome clusters vs. monokinetids), and number of dorsal brush rows (1 vs. 4), they both cluster in a fully supported clade in the phylogenetic tree, which indicates that the biodiversity and additional molecular markers of this group need further exploration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effectiveness of Opuntia ficus-indica (cactus) juice, a macromolecular flocculant, in removing turbidity of mineral origin (synthetic suspension of bentonite clay) has been studied in this paper. The results obtained in this study have clearly showed good performance in terms of turbidity elimination treatment. In this study, it has been possible to reduce turbidity at different doses. This reduction has exceeded 83%, 82%, and 97% for 0.5g/L, 2.5 g/L, and 5 g/L of initial dryness, respectively, and each initial concentration of dryness has corresponded to an optimal dosage varying from 2.64 to 7.92 g/kg DM. The obtained results have led to propose that the predominant mechanism involved during bentonite flocculation is adsorption and bridging. The effect of pH on turbidity removal and floc formation using cactus juice has been studied for bentonite suspension (2g/l). Only in acidic pH there was no flocculation activity. In fact, this plant has shown itself to be a biodegradable and harmless flocculant, and it is available for direct use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]