Biochemical alterations in cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis (Boisd.) related to emamectin benzoate and fipronil compared to their joint action.

Cotton leafworm, Spodoptera littoralis (Boisduval), is one of the major destructive pests of ornamental, industrial, and vegetable crops. The efficacy of technical emamectin benzoate (EMB) and fipronil (FPR) was assessed against the 4th larval instar using leaf-dip bioassay method. EMB was more efficient than FPR based on 96 h LC50 values of 0.004 and 0.023 µg/ml, respectively. Joint toxic action of the dual exposure in sequence with time interval 24 h and in mix were evaluated at LC10:LC10, LC25:LC25 and LC50:LC50 after 96 h posttreatment, as well. Their impacts on detoxification enzymes, esterases (ESTs); alkaline phosphatase (ALP); and glutathione S-transferase (GST) as well as acetylcholine esterase (AChE) were also determined. The sequential exposure of EMB after FPR (S1) produced antagonism, potentiation, and potentiation effects, respectively while sequential exposure of FPR after EMB (S2) interacted as addition, potentiation, and potentiation respectively. The rest of binary mixtures (Mix) revealed antagonistic effect regardless of concentration. Orthogonal contrast analysis showed that the highest elevations of AChE, α-EST, ß- EST and ALP enzymes were obtained from Mix at LC50:LC50 (181.6%, 288.4, 229.2 and 460.9%, respectively), LC25:LC25 (131.5%, 252.8, 205.60 and 252.0, respectively) and LC10:LC10 (106.6%, 215.6%, 201.8% and 170.0%, respectively). Differently, the greatest elevation of GST activity (157.7%) resulted from S1 at LC50:LC50, while it was significantly lower at LC25:LC25 and LC10:LC10 as well as Mix and S2 at all concentrations than corresponding concentrations of FPR. These findings shed some light on the role of GST in FPR toxicity and clarified the risk of these dual exposures in elevating detoxification enzymes dangerously compared to their individual insecticides. These dual exposures should be carefully handled. Although rotational exposure at low concentrations may enhance performance and mitigate resistance risk, rotational exposure at high concentrations and Mix may indirectly contribute to the evolution of cross-resistance to other insecticides.

Colorimetric Chemosensor and Turn on Fluorescence Probe for pH Monitoring Based on Xanthene Dye Derivatives and its Bioimaging of Living Escherichia coli Bacteria.

A new turn on fluorescence probe based on 3',6'-dihydroxy-6-methyl-2-((pyridin-2-ylmethylene)amino)-4-(p-tolyl)spiro[benzo[f]isoindole-1,9'-xanthen]-3(2H)-one (BFFPH) derived from benzo[f]fluorescein was prepared. Full characterization of the prepared probe using spectroscopic analysis was described such as IR, NMR and MS spectra. The sensitivity of BFFPH for monitoring of pH change in alkaline medium was studied. BFFPH exhibited a high sensitivity to alkaline pH by two pKa values at 8.82 and 10.66 in UV/vis spectroscopy titration. The pH monitoring was studied in broad range of pH values (2.5-12.2) at two pKa values at 8.72 and 10.73 by recording the effect of pH on the fluorescence intensity of BFFPH. The acid-base reversibility character of the probe was investigated as well as the effect of the pH change on the fluorescence quantum yield. The application of the prepared BFFPH probe for detection of living Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria using confocal fluorescence microscope was investigated.

Stroke burden in Egypt: data from five epidemiological studies.

PURPOSE: Accurate data on the epidemiology of stroke in Egypt is scarce. The aim of this review is to address this issue based on available community-based studies and compare the resulting findings to those of other regional and international studies. METHOD: A systematic literature search was conducted to identify population-based epidemiological studies of stroke in Egyptians. Original articles published in English between 1990 and 2016 were included. Five studies from five different governorates in southern Egypt fulfilled the study criteria (Qena, Sohag, Assiut, New Valley and Red Sea). RESULTS: The mean and median crude prevalence rates (CPRs) across the five studies, which were conducted in southern Egypt were 721.6/100,000 and 655/100,000, respectively. The mean and median crude incidence rates (CIRs) were 187/100,000 and 180.5/100,000, respectively. The average CPR weighted by sample population size was 613/100,000 and the average CIR weighted by sample population size was 202/100,000. CONCLUSION: The incidence and prevalence of stroke in Egypt are high. More population-based studies are urgently needed in northern Egypt and in Cairo - the capital of Egypt.

Synthesis, biological activity and molecular modeling study of new Schiff bases incorporated with indole moiety.

A new series of heterocyclic Schiff bases 2-9 containing indole moiety were synthesized by facile and efficient condensation of indole-3/2/5-carboxaldehyde (1a/1b/1c) with different aromatic and heterocyclic primary amines using conventional and/or microwave irradiation methods. The structures of the obtained compounds were assigned by sophisticated spectroscopic and spectrometric techniques (1D-NMR, 2D-NMR and MS). The synthesized compounds were screened for their cytotoxicity and antibacterial activities. In vitro cytotoxicity screening revealed that compound 5 exhibited moderate activity against KB-3-1 cell line (IC50=57.7 µM) while 5-indolylimino derivative 7 indicated close to the activity (IC50=19.6 µM) in comparison with the positive control (+)-Griseofulvin (IC50=19.2 µM), while the tested compounds 5, 6b, 7 and 9 revealed good or moderate antibacterial activity. In addition, molecular docking study of Schiff bases 2-9 was performed by Molecular Operating Environment (MOE 2014.09) program on the matrix metalloproteinase-8 (MMP-8) (Protein Data Bank (PDB) ID: 1MNC) in an attempt to explore their mode of action as anticancer drugs.

A pulmonary vein atlas for radiotherapy planning.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cardiac arrhythmia is a recognised potential complication of thoracic radiotherapy, but the responsible cardiac substructures for arrhythmogenesis have not been identified. Arrhythmogenic tissue is commonly located in the pulmonary veins (PVs) of cardiology patients with arrhythmia, however these structures are not currently considered organs-at-risk during radiotherapy planning. A standardised approach to their delineation was developed and evaluated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The gross and radiological anatomy relevant to atrial fibrillation was derived from cardiology and radiology literature by a multidisciplinary team. A region of interest and contouring instructions for radiotherapy computed tomography scans were iteratively developed and subsequently evaluated. Radiation oncologists (n = 5) and radiation technologists (n = 2) contoured the PVs on the four-dimensional planning datasets of five patients with locally advanced lung cancer treated with 1.8-2.75 Gy fractions. Contours were compared to reference contours agreed by the researchers using geometric and dosimetric parameters. RESULTS: The mean dose to the PVs was 35% prescription dose. Geometric and dosimetric similarity of the observer contours with reference contours was fair, with an overall mean Dice of 0.80 ± 0.02. The right superior PV (mean DSC 0.83 ± 0.02) had better overlap than the left (mean DSC 0.80 ± 0.03), but the inferior PVs were equivalent (mean DSC of 0.78). The mean difference in mean dose was 0.79 Gy ± 0.71 (1.46% ± 1.25). CONCLUSION: A PV atlas with multidisciplinary approval led to reproducible delineation for radiotherapy planning, supporting the utility of the atlas in future clinical radiotherapy cardiotoxicity research encompassing arrhythmia endpoints.

Laser and pneumatic lithotripsy in the endoscopic management of large ureteric stones: a comparative study.

OBJECTIVE: We compared the results of holmium laser and pneumatic intracorporeal lithotripsy for large ureteric calculi in terms of efficacy, safety and complications. METHODS: The study was conducted between April 2009 and October 2010. 80 patients divided into two equally matched groups were included in a prospective randomized trial including patients with a ureteric stone size of 0.5-2 cm. A holmium laser with a 550-µm fiber was employed in the laser lithotripsy (LL) group. The Swiss Lithoclast was used in the pneumatic lithotripsy (PL) group. RESULTS: Mean stone size was comparable in both groups, namely 13.1 mm in the PL group and 12.9 mm in the LL group. The early stone-free rate was equal in both groups, while the delayed stone-free rate was 95% in LL and 85% in PL. Stone migration occurred in 12 PL cases and in 5 LL cases. Ureteric perforation occurred in 3 LL cases and in 2 PL cases. Ureteric stricture occurred in 1 case following LL. CONCLUSION: Both PL and LL are effective and safe modalities in treating large ureteric stones with minor insignificant differences. A pneumatic system may be more efficient with regard to the cost-benefit ratio, which was not studied in the present work; further studies should address this issue.

Synthesis, reactions and antimicrobial activities of 8-ethoxycoumarin derivatives.

Condensation of 3-acetyl-8-ethoxycoumarin (3) with thiosemicarbazide gave ethylidenehydrazinecarbothioamide 5, which was transformed into the thiazolidin-4-one derivatives 6,7. Interaction of 3 with DMF/POCl(3) gave b-chloroacroline derivative 8. Treatment of 3 with malononitrile gave benzo[c]chromone and 2-aminobenzonitrile derivatives 9 and 10, respectively with respect to the reaction conditions. Condensation of 3-(2-bromoacetyl)-8-ethoxycoumarin (4) with o-phenylenediamine gave 3-(quioxaline-2-yl)-8-ethoxycoumarin hydrobromide (11), while 4 reacted with 2-aminopyridine to give chromenopyridopyrimidine derivative 12. Condensation of 4 with potassium thio-cyanate/methanol gave an unexpected derivative, 2H-chromeno-3-carboxy(methyl-carbonimidic)thioanhydride 16, which upon treatment with (NH(2))(2)·H(2)O gave 3-ethoxy-2-hydroxybenzaldehyde azine 19. Interaction of 4 with thiourea derivatives gave thiazole derivatives 20a-c. The structures of the newly synthesized compounds were confirmed by their spectra data. The newly synthesized compounds were also screened for their antimicrobial activity.

Corrosion mitigation for steel in acid environment using novel p-phenylenediamine and benzidine coumarin derivatives: synthesis, electrochemical, computational and SRB biological resistivity.

Three novel p-phenylenediamine and benzidine coumarin derivatives were synthetized, namely: 4,4'-((((1,4-phenylenebis(azaneylylidene))bis(ethan-1-yl-1-ylidene))bis(2-oxo-2H-chromene-3,6-diyl))bis(diazene-2,1-diyl))dibenzenesulfonic acid (PhODB), 4,4'-(((-([1,1'-biphenyl]-4,4'-diylbis(azaneylylidene))bis(ethan-1-yl-1-ylidene))bis(2-oxo-2H-chromene-3,6-diyl))bis(diazene-2,1-diyl))dibenzenesulfonic acid (BODB) and 4,4'-(((-((3,3'-dimethoxy-[1,1'-biphenyl]-4,4'-diyl)bis(azaneylylidene))bis(ethan-1-yl-1-ylidene))bis(2-oxo-2H-chromene-3,6-iyl))bis(diazene-2,1-diyl))dibenzenesulfonic acid (DODB). Their chemical structures were proved by performing Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, proton nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry analysis. The synthesized p-phenylenediamine and benzidine coumarin derivatives were tested as corrosion inhibitors for mild steel (MS) in 1 M HCl solution using weight loss, electrochemical, morphological, and theoretical studies. The compound 3,3'-dimethoxy benzidine coumarin derivative (DODB) was proved to give the highest efficiency with 94.98% obtained from weight loss measurements. These compounds are mixed inhibitors, as seen by the polarization curves. Impedance diagrams showed that when the concentration of these derivatives rose, the double-layer capacitance fell and the charge transfer resistance increased. Calculated thermodynamic parameters were computed and the mechanism of adsorption was also studied for the synthesized p-phenylenediamine and benzidine coumarin derivatives. The ability of the synthesized derivatives to protect the surface against corrosion was investigated by scanning electron microscope (SEM), UV-visible spectroscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Theoretical chemical calculations (DFT) and biological resistivity (SRB) were investigated.

Insights into the adsorption and corrosion inhibition properties of newly synthesized diazinyl derivatives for mild steel in hydrochloric acid: synthesis, electrochemical, SRB biological resistivity and quantum chemical calculations.

Two azo derivatives, 4-((4-hydroxy-3-((4-oxo-2-thioxothiazolidin-5-ylidene)methyl)phenyl) diazinyl) benzenesulfonic acid (TODB) and 4-((3-((4,4-dimethyl-2,6-dioxocyclohexylidene) methyl)-4-hydroxyphenyl)diazinyl) benzenesulfonic acid (DODB) were synthesized and characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), proton nuclear magnetic resonance (1H-NMR) and mass spectral studies. Gravimetric methods, potentiodynamic polarization (PDP), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), electrochemical frequency modulation (EFM) techniques and inductive coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy were used to verify the above two compounds' ability to operate as mild steel (MS) corrosion inhibitors in 1 M HCl. Tafel data suggest that TODB and DODB have mixed-type characteristics, and EIS findings demonstrate that increasing their concentration not only alters the charge transfer (R ct) of mild steel from 6.88 Ω cm2 to 112.9 Ω cm2 but also changes the capacitance of the adsorbed double layer (C dl) from 225.36 to 348.36 µF cm-2. At 7.5 × 10-4 M concentration, the azo derivatives showed the highest corrosion inhibition of 94.9% and 93.6%. The inhibitory molecule adsorption on the metal substrate followed the Langmuir isotherm. The thermodynamic activation functions of the dissolution process were also calculated as a function of inhibitor concentration. UV-vis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) techniques were used to confirm the adsorption phenomenon. The quantum chemical parameters, inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICPE) measurements, and the anti-bacterial effect of these new derivatives against sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) were also investigated. Taken together, the acquired results demonstrate that these compounds can create an appropriate preventing surface and regulate the corrosion rate.

Synthesis, reactions and biological evaluation of some new naphtho[2,1-b]furan derivatives bearing a pyrazole nucleus.

Vilsmeier formylation of 2-(1-phenylhydrazonoethyl)naphtho[2,1-b]furan (2) gave 3-naphtho[2,1-b]furan-2-yl-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazole-4-carbaldehyde (3), which was reacted with C- and N-nucleophiles to afford naphthofuranpyrazol derivatives 4-8. Treatment of 2-[(3-(naphtho[2,1-b]furan-2-yl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl)methylene]-malononitrile (4a) with reactants having active hydrogen and Et3N gave the corresponding pyrazoline, pyran and chromene addition product derivatives 10, 12 and 13, consisting of three different connected heterocyclic moieties. Reaction of 1-((3-(naphtho[2,1-b]furan-2-yl)-1-phenyl-1H-pyrazol-4-yl) methylene)-2-phenylhydrazone (6b) with AcONa and ethyl bromoacetate or chloroacetone afforded the thiazolidinone and methylthiazole derivatives 14 and 15, respectively. In addition, intramolecular cyclization of 6d with Ac2O afford the corresponding 1,3,4-thiadiazol-2-yl acetamide derivative 16. The structures of the synthesized compounds were confirmed by IR, ¹H-NMR/¹³C-NMR and mass spectral studies. Compound 14 showed promising effects against the tested Gram positive and negative bacteria and fungi.

Synthesis and characterization of new diiodocoumarin derivatives with promising antimicrobial activities.

A series of 6,8-diiodocoumarin-3-N-carboxamides (4-11) were prepared. Treatment of ethyl 6,8-diiodocoumarin-3-carboxylate (1) with ethyl cyanoacetate/NH(4)OAc gave ethyl 2-(3-carbamoyl-6,8-diiodocoumarin-4-yl)-2-cyanoacetate (12) and 2-amino-4-hydroxy-7,9-diiodocoumarino[3,4-c]pyridine-1-carbonitrile (13), and treatment with acetone in the presence of NH(4)OAc or methylamine gave the ethyl 4-oxo-2,6-methano-2-methyl-3,4,5,6-tetrahydro-8,10-diiodobenzo[2,1-g]-2H-1,3-oxazocine-5-carboxylate derivatives 14a,b. All compounds were evaluated for their antimicrobial activity and the compounds 12-14a,b exhibited a pronounced effect on all tested microorganisms.

An Overview of Medullary Thyroid Cancer Cases Treated at Kuwait Cancer Control Center.

INTRODUCTION: Medullary thyroid cancers (MTC) constitute about 5% of all thyroid cancers. The 10-year overall survival (OS) rate of patients with localized disease in thyroid for this pathology is 80% to 90% which is comparable with differentiated thyroid cancers, figures drop to 75% for cases with nodal metastases. Only 20% of patients with distant metastases at diagnosis survive for 10 years. In metastatic disease there are variations with smoldering less active disease to progressive active disease. Surgery is cornerstone of the management with total thyroidectomy and nodal dissection as main treatment. Adjuvant treatment with radiotherapy is case selective, varies from case to case. The management of residual, recurrent disease is possible re-surgery with external beam radiation therapy. The development of targeted therapy has brought in a major advantage in management of metastatic disease. Two drugs -vandetanib and cabozantinib- have been approved for use in metastatic MTC. The optimum management in this group of patients is a challenge and long-term use of TKI needs to be balanced with monitoring side effects of TKI and dose adjustments of TKI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A retrospective review of cases with diagnosis of medullary thyroid cancers treated or registered at Kuwait Cancer Control Center was conducted. The data of patients registered between 1987 till 2017 was analyzed. The data was collected and analyzed using SPSS (version 20) software program. For analysis we considered date of surgery as the date of diagnosis. Final state of disease along with emphasis on prognostic factors was correlated with Kaplan Meyer survival curves. RESULTS: There were total 31 cases out of which 15(48.4%) were male and 16(51.6%) females. The median age at presentation was 51.6 years (range-28years-77years). MEN syndrome was diagnosed in 6(19.4%) patients. Staging revealed Stage I - 7/31 (22.58%), Stage II-3/31(9.67%), Stage III-7/31(22.58%), Stage IVA (nonmetastatic) -12/31 (38.70%), Stage IVC (metastatic) - 2/31 (6.45%). Total thyroidectomy and central compartment neck dissection was optimum surgery (29%). Total thyroidectomy with central compartment neck dissection and unilateral neck dissection was done in 38.7% patients, comprehensive neck dissection and total thyroidectomy was done in 32.2% patients. External beam radiotherapy (EBRT) with conformal or IMRT technique was used in 13 out of 31 patients. One patient was treated for bony metastasis with palliative intent. Four patients were treated by TKI for metastatic disease or at progression. Median follow up was 79 months. Median overall survival was 93 months. Median progression free survival irrespective of stage was 62 months. At the end of 5 years 61% patients were alive irrespective of stage of disease. Due to the small sample size and natural history of advanced MTC the observed p-value for several pathological variables in relation with survival was not significant. CONCLUSION: Stage I and stage II cases of our study did well and were all alive and disease free till our last follow up. EBRT in our cohort of patient did not revealed any added benefits in survival. The use of TKI in metastatic disease was associated with many issues including availability of drug. Elevated serum calcitonin and CEA levels in absence of measurable disease should be dealt cautiously.

Protecting the Heart: A Practical Approach to Account for the Full Extent of Heart Motion in Radiation Therapy Planning.

PURPOSE: Emerging evidence suggests that the heart is more radiosensitive than previously assumed; therefore, accounting for heart motion in radiation therapy planning is becoming more critical. In this study, we determined how much heart delineations based on 3-dimensional (3D) computed tomography (CT), 4-dimensional (4D) average projection (AVG), and maximum intensity projection (MIP) images should be extended to represent the full extent of heart motion during 4D imaging acquisition. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The 3D and 4D CT scans of 10 lung cancer patients treated with stereotactic ablative radiation therapy were used. Median surfaces were derived from heart delineations of 3 observers on the 3D CT, AVG, MIP, and 25% exhale scans. Per patient, the 25% exhale contour was propagated on every phase of the 4D scan. The union of all 4D phase delineations (U4D) represented the full extent of heart motion during imaging acquisition. Surface distances from U4D to 3D, AVG, and MIP volumes were calculated. Distances in the most extreme surface points (1.5 cm most superoinferior, 10% most right/left/anteroposterior) were used to derive margins accounting only for systematic (delineation) errors. RESULTS: Heart delineations on the MIP were the closest to the full extent of motion, requiring only ≤2.5-mm margins. Delineations on the AVG and 3D scans required margins up to 3.4 and 7.1 mm, respectively. The largest margins were for the inferior, right, and anterior aspects for the delineations on the 3D, AVG, and MIP scans, respectively. CONCLUSION: Delineations on 3D, AVG, or MIP scans required extensions for representing the heart's full extent of motion, with the MIP requiring the smallest margins. Research including daily imaging to determine the random components for the margins and dosimetric measurements to determine the relevance of creating a planning organ at risk volume of the heart is required.

Non-Motor Symptoms as Predictors of Quality of Life in Egyptian Patients With Parkinson's Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study Using a Culturally Adapted 39-Item Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire.

OBJECTIVE: The prevalence of non-motor symptoms (NMSs) and their impact on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in Parkinson's disease (PD) has been reported inconsistently among different populations. In this study, we aimed to investigate the NMSs and HRQoL profiles and their correlation in Egyptian PD patients, using a culturally adapted Arabic version of the 39-item Parkinson's disease questionnaire (PDQ-39). METHODS: Ninety-seven PD patients were rated using the unified Parkinson's disease rating scale (UPDRS), the non-motor symptoms scales (NMSS), Beck depression inventory (BDI), and the Arabic version of PDQ-39. We used the Spearman's rank correlation and multiple linear regression analyses to evaluate the relationship between NMSs domains and HRQoL dimensions. RESULTS: Fatigue/sleep (91.3%) and mood/cognitive disturbances (87%) were the most frequently and severely affected NMSS domains. Other common NMSs included urinary (75.9%), memory/attention (72.4%), gastrointestinal (67.8%), and cardiovascular problems (64.8%). The total NMSS scores were positively correlated with UPDRS I, II, and III scores. Depression was prevalent in 76.7% of PD patients. Moreover, all enrolled PD patients reported impairment in different HRQoL dimensions, especially mobility (98.9%), activities of daily living (97.8%), and emotional well-being (95.5%). The summary index of PDQ-39 was correlated to the total NMSS, UPDRS-I, UPDRS-II Off, UPDRS-III (Off and On states), and BDI scores. CONCLUSION: This study showed the high prevalence of NMSs and the value of NMSS and BDI scores as predictors of HRQoL in Egyptian PD patients. Therefore, characterizing the NMSs profile is essential for tailoring management strategies for PD patients.

Safety and efficacy of tubeless percutaneous renal surgery.

PURPOSE: We challenge the requirement for routine placement of a nephrostomy tube after percutaneous renal surgery, assessing the outcome, safety, and efficacy of tubeless procedures. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 128 patients underwent tubeless percutaneous renal surgery from May 2001 to May 2004: stone extraction in 120 patients and endopyelotomy +/- stone extraction in 8. The stone sizes ranged from 2 to 7 cm with a mean of 4.1 cm. An external ureteral catheter was used in 120 patients and was removed after 24 hours if a retrograde study revealed no extravasation. An antegrade Double-J stent was used in 8 patients and removed 4 to 6 weeks postoperatively. Among the 128 patients treated by the tubeless technique, we met situations that mandated insertion of a nephrostomy tube in 18. RESULTS: The stone free-rate was 90.4%. The mean hospital stay was 1.7 days. The incidence of significant intraoperative bleeding was 1.5% and that of significant postoperative hematuria was 4.6%. Postoperative sonography revealed a small perirenal collection (<50 mL) in 10 patients (7.8%) and significant perirenal collections (100-250 mL) in 3 (2.3%). The postoperative retrograde study revealed minor extravasation in 14 patients (12%) and significant extravasation in 3 (2.3%) CONCLUSION: Tubeless percutaneous renal surgery with an externalized ureteral catheter is a safe procedure that is suitable for any patient who can be rendered stone free with a single procedure regardless of the initial stone burden.

Preparation of 4-aminophenylacetic acid derivatives with promising antimicrobial activity.

Condensation of 4-aminophenylacetic acid with phthalic anhydride gave (dioxoisoindolin-2-yl)phenylacetic acid (1), which was employed as the key intermediate in the synthesis of title compounds 2-8. The products were characterized by analytical and spectral data (IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR and mass spectra). Antimicrobial activities were studied and some of the compounds showed promising results.

Preparation and characterization of humic acid-carbon hybrid materials as adsorbents for organic micro-pollutants.

The present work involves the preparation of novel adsorbent materials by the insolubilization and hybridization of humic acid (HA) with carbon. The prepared materials were characterized by N2 adsorption, elemental analysis, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, solid-state (13)C cross polarization magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance, and low-field nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) relaxometry on wetted samples. The water solubility of these materials and the lack of effect of oxidants were also confirmed. With this background, the adsorption capacities toward phenol, 2,4,6-tricholrophenol, and atrazine were evaluated, using these as model compounds for organic micropollutants of concern in water. Experimental results show that the prepared materials are mesoporous and have a higher surface area than humic acid and even than the porous carbon in the case of carbon coating. They retain the basic features of the starting materials with lowered functional group content. Moreover, there are interesting new features. NMR relaxometry shows that equilibration of water uptake is very fast, making use in water simple. They have higher adsorption capacities than the pure materials, and they can be applied under a wide range of environmental conditions.