Taxonomic and functional structure of macrobenthic invertebrate communities and their response to environmental variables along the subbranches of the Nile River (rayahs), Egypt.

Macrobenthic invertebrate communities serve as markers of anthropogenic stress in freshwater ecosystems. In this study, 17 sampling sites were selected from two Nile river subbranches (El-Rayah El-Behery and El-Rayah El-Nassery) and subjected to different anthropogenic influences to explore the ecological environment and characteristics of macrobenthos communities. Macrobenthos were studied using taxonomic diversity and biological trait analysis to investigate how human activity and variation in water quality affect their structure and function. A total of 37 taxa represented by 43,389 individuals were recognized. The communities are composed chiefly of Oligochaeta and aquatic insects. Multivariate statistical analyses found that the most influential environmental variables in the structural and functional community were sodium, dissolved oxygen, silicate, pH, calcium, and cadmium. At high levels of pollution, notably sewage and industrial pollution in the northern part of El-Rayah El-Behery, characteristics such as larger body size, detritus feeders, burrowers, and high tolerance to pollution predominated, whereas at low levels of pollution, features such as small body sizes, scraper and predator feeders, intolerant and fairly tolerant of pollution, and climber and swimmer mobility are predominant. The results confirm our prediction that the distribution of macroinvertebrate traits varies spatially in response to environmental changes. The diversity-based method distinguished impacted sewage and industrial sites from thermal effluent sites, while the trait-based approach illustrated an apparent variance between the ecological status of contaminated regions. Therefore, the biological features should be employed in addition to structural aspects for assessing the biodiversity of macroinvertebrate communities under environmental stressors.

Ecological risk assessment of heavy metal pollution in sediments of Nile River, Egypt.

The Nile River is the soul of Egypt, providing more than 95% of its freshwater demand. However, it receives different pollutants discharged into the water body along its stretch from Aswan (downstream of the High Dam) to Cairo, which is approximately 950 km. Alternatively, sediments play an important role in the dynamics of the entire aquatic environment and act as a sink or a source of pollution in the overlying water under various conditions. This study assessed sediment quality and its heavy metal levels. Several indices and human health risks were determined to assess the potential ecological risk of the Nile River sediment. On the basis of the index results, Cd registered the highest pollution ranking, whereas Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, and Ni had the lowest effect. In another context, southern sites represented the lowest ecological risk relative to the central and northern sectors. The results of the noncarcinogenic hazard indices, hazard quotient, and hazard index in addition to the lifetime cancer risk were below the acceptable international limits, confirming that there are no adverse effects on the exposed population due to the Nile sediment.

Risk assessments and spatial distributions of natural radioactivity and heavy metals in Nasser Lake, Egypt.

Nasser Lake provides more than 95% of the Egyptian freshwater budget. The levels, spatial distributions, and risk assessments of heavy metals and natural radioactivity were investigated in the water and sediments in the main channel and khors (side extensions) of Nasser Lake in January 2017. Several indices were used to determine the quality and pollution degree of the water and sediments. The water indices included the heavy metal pollution index and metal contamination index, while the sediment indices were based on the (a) the metal levels as the enrichment factor and geo-accumulation index, and (b) the radioactivity as radium equivalent activity, absorbed dose rate, and external hazard indices. All index values were lower than their global mean values. Also, the results of the noncarcinogenic human health risk via water ingestion were below the threshold risk level. The obtained results indicate the safely used of Nasser Lake water for different purposes.

Efficient water decontamination using layered double hydroxide beads nanocomposites.

Ni-Al-CO3-layered double hydroxide (LDH) with Ni:Al ratio (3:1) and their nanocomposites with alginate and chitosan beads were prepared and examined for their efficiency in removal of Cd2+ and Cu2+ ions from wastewater. Different parameters such as contact time, pH value, adsorbent weight, and heavy metal ion concentration on the removal efficiency were examined and reported. The prepared beads were examined using X-ray diffraction (XRD), TEM, SEM, and FTIR. Our results revealed a successful preparation of the LDH in rhombohedral hexognal crystal form and the alginate-LDH-chitosan beads. The optimized batch experiment conditions in ambient room temperature were found to be 2 g/L adsorbent dose, 50 mg/L initial concentration of meal, contact time of 2 h, and pH ~ 5 and 6 for removal of Cu2+ and Cd2+, respectively. The adsorption process was well fitted with Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models (higher R2), with trivial advantage for Freundlich approach. Kinetic studies showed that the adsorption of both Cd2+ and Cu2+ followed the pseudo-second-order. The current study demonstrated that the Ni-Al-CO3 LDH and their novel alginate-chitosan-based nanocomposite could be further tailored and used as efficient adsorbents for the uptake of heavy metals from wastewater.

Heavy metals fractionation and risk assessment in surface sediments of Qarun and Wadi El-Rayan Lakes, Egypt.

This study establishes a baseline for trace metal speciation in Qarun and Wadi El-Rayan lakes. A five-step sequential extraction procedure was applied for the speciation of the Fe, Mn, Zn, and Cu in sediment samples collected at Qarun and Wadi El-Rayan lakes. Mn and Cu were the most mobile metals, whereas the residue fraction maintained the highest concentrations of Zn and Fe (≈ 60 %). No significant differences in metal concentrations were detected in the sediments of each lake sites, despite of the large distance between them (P > 0.05). Hazardous discharge sources are responsible for the high accumulation of metals in the nonresidual fractions. Qarun Lake showed high mobility factor for all studied metals than Wadi El-Rayan lakes; as such, all the humans, plants, animals and the general biota within the vicinity of this aquatic system are quite vulnerable to the trace metal exposure. According to geoaccumulation index (I-geo), the studied sediments were practically uncontaminated by Fe and Mn and classified as uncontaminated to moderately contaminated with Cu in Qarun and Zn in Wadi El-Rayan lakes. The low values of load pollution index (<1), confirmed the unpolluted condition of the lakes' superficial sediments.

The interplay between MDV and HVT affects viral miRNa expression.

It is well established that herpesviruses encode numerous microRNAs (miRNAs) and that these virally encoded small RNAs play multiple roles in infection. The present study was undertaken to determine how co-infection of a pathogenic MDV serotype one (MDV1) strain (MD5) and a vaccine strain (herpesvirus of turkeys [HVT]) alters viral miRNA expression in vivo. We first used small RNA deep sequencing to identify MDV1-encoded miRNAs that are expressed in tumorigenic spleens of MDV1-infected birds. The expression patterns of these miRNAs were then further assessed at an early time point (7 days postinfection [dpi]) and a late time point (42 dpi) in birds with and without HVT vaccination using real-time PCR (RT-PCR). Additionally, the effect of MDV1 co-infection on HVT-encoded miRNAs was determined using RT-PCR. A diverse population of miRNAs was expressed in MDV-induced tumorigenic spleens at 42 dpi, with 18 of the 26 known mature miRNAs represented. Of these, both mdv1-miR-M4-5p and mdv1-miR-M2-3p were the most highly expressed miRNAs. RT-PCR analysis further revealed that nine MDV miRNAs were differentially expressed between 7 dpi and 42 dpi infected spleens. At 7 dpi, three miRNAs were differentially expressed between the spleens of birds co-infected with HVT and MD5 compared with birds singly infected with MD5, whereas at 42 dpi, nine miRNAs were differentially expressed. At 7 dpi, the expression of seven HVT-encoded miRNAs was affected in the spleens of co-infected birds compared with birds only receiving the HVT vaccine. At 42 dpi, six HVT-encoded miRNAs were differentially expressed between the two groups. Target prediction analysis suggests that these differentially expressed viral miRNAs are involved in regulating several cellular processes, including cell proliferation and the adaptive immune response.

Topologic ferrimagnetism in cobalt(II)-azido chains.

New monodimensional Co(II)/azido systems with unusual topological ferrimagnetic response have been characterised.

A two-dimensional azido-based topologic ferrimagnet.

The reported Mn(II)-azide system is the first example of a two-dimensional homometallic ferrimagnet, in which the magnetic properties are due exclusively to topological reasons related with the coordination mode of the bridging ligands; it is also the first case in which a system of this kind exhibits long range order comparable to the classical heterospin ferrimagnets.

[M(N3)2(L)]n: building 3-D MII-azido networks with new topologies.

Novel 3D topologies combining diazine and azido bridges between MnII magnetic centres have been obtained and characterised by low-temperature magnetic measurements.

A New Family of High-Dimensional Molecular Magnets Built from the Manganese-Azido System. Syntheses, Structures, and Magnetic Characterization of Two New Ferro-Antiferromagnetic Two-Dimensional Complexes.

Two new compounds in the series of general formula [Mn(L)(2)(N(3))(2)](n)() in which L = 4-cyanopyridine (1) or 3-acetylpyridine (2) have been obtained and structurally and magnetically characterized. Both compounds crystallize in the monoclinic system, space group P2(1)/a, formula [C(12)H(8)MnN(10)] with a = 13.286(4) Å, b = 8.340(3) Å, c = 13.579(4) Å, beta = 90.55(2) degrees, and Z = 4 for compound 1 and space group P2(1)/c, formula [C(14)H(14)MnN(8)O(2)] with a = 11.843(4) Å, b = 9.550(3) Å, c = 14.998(5) Å, beta = 105.99(3) degrees, and Z = 4 for compound 2. The two compounds show a similar arrangement of alternating end-to-end and end-on azido bridges between the manganese atoms, giving magnetically alternated ferro-antiferromagnetic two-dimensional compounds. The pyridyl ligands coordinated to the axial sites stick out above and below the 2-D sheets, and intersheet pi-pi interactions are formed between the pyridyl ligands, playing a role in the structural differences. The low-temperature magnetic properties of 1 and 2, together with those of the previously reported compounds with L = pyridine (3), 4-acetylpyridine (4), and ethyl isonicotinate (5), are reported. Magnetic ordering and spontaneous magnetization is achieved at T(C) = 18, 16, 40, 28, and 16 K for 1-5, respectively.

Structure and Magnetic Behavior of a New 1-D Compound with Simultaneous End-On Azido and Carboxylato Bridges. Unexpected Strong Ferromagnetic Coupling for a Cu-N-Cu Bond Angle of 111.9 degrees as a Consequence of Ligand HOMOs Countercomplementarity.

The X-ray structure of the &mgr;-carboxylate-&mgr;(1,1)-azido-bridged compound {[Cu(Hpht)(N(3))].H(2)O}(n)() has been determined (Hpht = hydrogen phthalate). Crystal data: formula C(8)H(7)CuN(3)O(5), monoclinic, P2(1)/m (No. 11), a = 7.383(3) Å, b = 6.568(4) Å, c = 10.659(4) Å, beta = 93.38(3) degrees, Z = 2. The compound is found to be a system formed by chains of copper atoms bridged simultaneously by syn-syn carboxylato and end-on azido bridges. The copper chains are linked by a second carboxylato bridge, giving a 2-D compound. Magnetic measurements indicate strong ferromagnetic coupling, which affords a good example of unexpected magnetic properties due to the countercomplementarity of the superexchange pathways of the two ligands.

Synthesis and Structural Characterization of [Mn(ethyl isonicotinate)(2)(N(3))(2)](n)(), a Two-Dimensional Alternating Ferromagnetic-Antiferromagnetic Compound. Magnetostructural Correlations for the End-to-End Pseudohalide-Manganese System.

Three compounds with formula [Mn(L)(2)(N(3))(2)](n)(), in which L is 4-acpy = 4-acetylpyridine (1), Etinc = ethyl isonicotinate (2), and py = pyridine (3), have been studied from the magnetic point of view. The new compound [Mn(L)(2)(N(3))(2)](n)() (2) crystallizes in the monoclinic system, space group P2(1)/a (No. 14), formula [C(16)H(18)MnN(8)O(4)], with a = 15.176(5) Å, b = 9.060(3) Å, c = 15.760(6) Å, beta = 111.62(3) degrees, and Z = 4. Compounds 1 and 2 are two-dimensional systems, whereas 3 is a 3-D compound. Compound 2 shows ferromagnetic Mn(2)(N(3))(2) dimeric entities linked antiferromagnetically to the four neighboring dimeric entities by four end-to-end azido bridges, leading to an alternate ferromagnetic-antiferromagnetic two-dimensional compound. MO calculations have been performed to study the superexchange pathway for the manganese 1,3-azido system.