There is an urgent need that all possible sources of inexpensive adsorbents should be explored and their feasibility for the removal of heavy metals. Thus, this study presents application of low-cost adsorbents agro-based wastes, such as rice husk and their utilization possibilities for elimination of heavy metals; Fe (II) and Pb (II) from wastewater by the adsorption process.The adsorption technique was used for the removal of Fe 2+ and Pb 2+ in two drains (Khashaa drain and Tera drain) which are discharged into Burullus Lake.The obtained results showed that, the adsorption of the metal ions was adsorbent dosage, adsorbate concentration, contact time and pH dependent. The optimum contact time, adsorbent dosage, and pH were found to be at 105 min, 8 g and pH 8, respectively, for Fe 2+ and at 40 min, 8 g and pH 8, respectively, for Pb 2+ . Freundlich isotherm model was found to be the best fit most suitable for each of heavy metals at R 2 = 0.96, 0.91. Kinetic studies showed that pseudo-second-order reaction model best described the adsorption process.The results revealed also a good removal of Fe 2+ and Pb 2+ using rice husk under optimum conditions with removal percentage 91.36% and 94.42% for Fe 2+ , respectively and Pb 2+ in Khashaa drain and 93.56% and 90.93% for Fe 2+ and Pb 2+ , respectively in Tera drain.Therefore, the study showed that rice husk can be efficiently used as low cost alternative for removal of metal ions.

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Background It remains essential for non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFLD) patients, to develop a sensitive and specific diagnostic model. Data regarding the use of micro (mi)RNA-34 for NAFLD diagnosis are few. Routine clinical assessment, laboratory tests were done for Egyptian individuals (n = 314) were included (100 healthy individuals and 214 NAFLD patients). Quantification of miRNA-34 was done using real-time PCR. Extremely significant variables were entered into stepwise logistic regression. The diagnostic power of variables was estimated by the area under the ROC (AUC). Results MiRNA-34 levels were higher in NAFLD patients than healthy individuals with a significant difference (P< 0.0001). The multivariate analysis was used to evaluate the NAFLD-associated variables (CRP, cholesterol, body mass index (BMI), ALT had p< 0.0001 while mRNA-34 had (p=0.0004). The AUCs (CI) of candidate NAFLD markers were in the order of miRNA-34 0.72 (0.66–0.77) < ALT 0.73 (0.67–0.79) < BMI 0.81 (0.76–0.86) < cholesterol < 0.85 (0.79–0.90) < CRP 0.88 (0.84–0.92). We developed a novel index for discriminating patients with NAFLD named NAFLD Mark. AUC was jumped to 0.98 (0.93–0.99) when five markers were combined. The AUC of NAFLD mark for NAFLD detection was higher than the AUCs of seven common NAFLD indexes (0.44–0.86). Conclusions The NAFLD mark is a non-invasive and highly sensitive and specific model for NAFLD diagnosis.

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Aim: Application of response surface methodology (RSM) to determine optimum parameters in the coagulation-flocculation process aided by curcumin for boron removal from aqueous solution was investigated. Methodology: Different parameters such as pH, coagulant dosage, and curcumin dosage that effect boron removal were tested. Application of central composite design in RSM was used to design the coagulation-flocculation experiment. Results: The results showed 75% of boron removal, while the optimum parameters for boron removal were observed at pH 2.8, 132.05 ppm poly aluminum chloride dose and 1161.4 ppm curcumin dose, respectively. Interpretation: Quadratic regression showed that the model was significant and lack of fit P value was 0.107 (p > 0.05), implying a significant model correlation between the variables and responses. The experimental data and predicted model proved that RSM is an appropriate approach for optimising the coagulation–flocculation process in removing boron from aqueous solution.