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The present work provides an experimental study for preparing eco-friendly geopolymer mortar based on ground granulated blasted furnace slags with good mechanical properties and durability. This work studied the effect of silica fume reactive powder as a replacement material for slag weight with constant weight ratios of 20% on geopolymer mortar’s mechanical tests. The geopolymer mixtures were prepared with (15M) NaOH solution and a (2.5:1) ratio of (Na2SiO3/NaOH). The samples were cured at ambient conditions at different times of 7 and 28 days and a high temperature of 70°C in a furnace for three hours. It was found from the obtained results that silica fume played a vital role in improving all these properties by enhancing the degree of the silicate ion geopolymerization reaction in the alkaline solution. In addition, the curing process greatly impacted the geopolymers’ features. The properties improve significantly with increasing the curing time and temperature, especially when cured at high temperatures, compared to ambient curing.

Mucormycosis is a devastating fungal infection which usually occurs in patients with diabetic ketoacidosis, chronic renal failure, haematological malignancies, or solid organ transplant recipients caused mostly by Rhizopus spp and mucor ssp intravenous catheters are the most common primary source of bloodstream infection, responsible for around onequarter of episodes of sepsis, with over 80% of bloodstream infections acquired in health care institutions, the Vascular Access of hemodialysis treatment placed patients in a high risk of getting infected. One hundred whole blood sample from patients on hemodialysis were submitted to conventional methods (BacT/ALERT system, blood culture) and molecular method (Multiplex Real Time PCR) for detection of mucormycosis. By conventional methods, the following Fungi were identified: Candida spp. (4%), Cryptococcus spp. (2%), Conidiobolus spp. (1%). By molecular methods the following fungi was identified: Rhizopus oryzae (3%). In conclusion, patients undergoing hemodialysis developing different fungi infection which are: C. albicanis, C. utilis, Cryptococcus spp., conidiobolus spp. and Rhizopus oryzae, which consider to be very serious issue, the nephrologist should put in mind. The above fungi may either acquired during hemodialysis or they have it as underlying diseases. In this study, it have been proven that the molecular method is the golden standard in detection of mucorales species, especially in blood samples. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]