For socioeconomic development in arid regions, there is an increasing need for groundwater resources due to rapid population expansion. It is necessary to apply innovative approaches for managing the sustainability of groundwater resources. Thus, remote sensing, geologic, climatic, and hydrologic data are integrated through the GIS-based frequency ratio and overlay analysis for assessing the spatial distribution of groundwater potential zones (GWPZs) of Wadi Al Hamdh, Saudi Arabia. Twelve factors controlling groundwater’s existence and infiltration were identified, normalized using the frequency ratio technique and combined through GIS techniques. To accomplish this, 313 well locations in the study area were used for training (70%) and 137 well locations were utilized for validation (30%). Using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves and field data, the model predictions were validated and showed very good performance (AUC: 0.893). The five zones on the GWPZs map correspond to 2.24, 5.81, 13.39, 53.90, and 24.65% of the entire area. These are: excellent, good, moderate, low, and very low perspectivity. As a good example, the applied approaches provided very good results that are significant to planning and sustainable development as well as managing groundwater resources in arid regions.

Remote sensing and GIS approaches have provided valuable information on modeling water resources, particularly in arid regions. The Sahara of North Africa, which is one of the driest regions on Earth, experienced several pluvial conditions in the past that could have stored significant amounts of groundwater. Thus, harvesting the stored water by revealing the groundwater prospective zones (GWPZs) is highly important to water security and the management of water resources which are necessary for sustainable development in such regions. The Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) digital elevation model (DEM), Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS)/Phased Array type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR), Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), and Landsat-8 OLI data have all successfully revealed the geologic, geomorphic, climatic, and hydrologic features of Wadi El-Tarfa east of Egypt’s Nile River. The fusion of eleven predictive GIS maps including lithology, radar intensity, lineament density, altitude, slope, depressions, curvature, topographic wetness index (TWI), drainage density, runoff, and rainfall data, after being ranked and normalized through the GIS-based analytic hierarchy process (AHP) and weighted overlay methods, allowed the GWPZs to be demarcated. The resulting GWPZs map was divided into five classes: very high, high, moderate, low, and very low potentiality, which cover about 10.32, 24.98, 30.47, 24.02, and 10.20% of the entire basin area, respectively. Landsat-8 and its derived NDVI that was acquired on 15 March 2014, after the storm of 8–9 March 2014, along with existing well locations validated the GWPZs map. The overall results showed that an integrated approach of multi-criteria through a GIS-based AHP has the capability of modeling groundwater resources in arid regions. Additionally, probing areas of GWPZs is helpful to planners and decision-makers dealing with the development of arid regions.

At present, in addition to several thousands of satellites for various applications, there are more than 900,000 pieces from 1 to 10 cm in Earth-orbit.This has been estimated by the European Space Agency (ESA).Furthermore, as time passes, these satellites represent debris.Such accumulated debris threaten the daily uses of space-based applications satellites and future missions.The potential danger would persist unless the international space community considers the risks and join forces to mitigate the danger.Today, only ideas have been proposed by the various space agencies without taking much action.Each of these ideas deals with a specific size of debris.Thus, this paper proposes an integrated design to remedy the situation.It is a satellite with robotic arms, electromagnetic mesh and onboard radar to detect, collect, shred and sort most of the debris larger than 1 cm.This material can, thus, be used as a source of raw material in a novel "made in space program."It can be used as row material for 3d printers for metal and non-metals needed for the maintenance of the International Space Station (ISS) and other equipment of future space missions.This proposal is a premiere design and a start of a pilot model.Also proposed here is a recommendation for a sustainable financing model that can be established by space agencies by assigning a tariff for each future space flight.The tariff value could be determined based on, the extent of the mission's lifetime, the size of the satellite, and the purpose of the mission.

Today, as estimated by the U.S. Space Surveillance Network, there are 14,000 pieces of debris larger than 10 cm in Earth-orbit. That is in addition to thousands of satellites for various applications. As time passes, these satellites represent debris that might represent dangerous space waste. Such accumulated items orbit the Earth at very high speed and might threaten the daily uses of space-based applications, such as satellites that are needed for weather forecasting, telecommunications, and global positioning systems (GPS). In addition, this might negatively affect future missions -- unless the international space community considers the risks and joins forces to mitigate them. Today, only ideas have been proposed by the various space agencies without taking much action. Each proposed idea deals with a specific size of debris. This paper proposes an integrated approach to collect most of the debris to be recycled for use as a source of raw material in construction equipment, which are used in maintenance of the International Space Station (ISS) and other equipment needed by future space missions and spacecraft. Furthermore, this proposal might solve the problem of the lack of space in the ISS, which served as home to numerous astronauts for more two decades. The proposed design could be implemented through cooperative programs by the world’s space agencies. Because few countries represent the main source of this space wastes, it is here proposed that a financing source would be established by assigning a tariff for each future space flight, as a percentage of the cost of each mission. For example, fees could be determined based on; the extent of the mission’s lifetime, the size and weight of the satellites, and the purpose of the mission.

The Qena Bend of the Nile River, named after Qena town in Upper Egypt, is considered a remarkable geomorphological feature in southern Egypt. It is unique and its geodynamic formation is still not fully understood. This study addresses the relationship between the bend geometry and the structural setting of the underlying basement complex using remotely sensed and aeromagnetic data. The hillshade and drainage extraction algorithms were applied to the digital elevation model (DEM) of the Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) to define the lineaments dissecting the limestone plateaus and control the Nile Valley cliffs. Moreover, the Interferometry Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) coherence image was derived from two Sentinel-1 images to delineate and/or confirm the structures, which underlie and control the sand dunes movement. In addition, various edge-detection derivatives were applied on the reduced-to-pole (RTP) aeromagnetic anomaly to define the basement structures. The results showed the derived surface and subsurface structures are controlled by the NW–SE and NE–SW trends of the Suez–Red Sea, Aqaba–Dead Sea, and Qena–Safaga Shear Zone. The RTP anomaly reveals a strong NE–SW positive anomaly zone coinciding with the bend. The magnetic 2D forward modelling and 3D depth inversion suggest the basement consists of granitic rocks (0.02 – 0.033 cgs) and the positive anomaly below the bend probably attributes to a major uplift at a depth of 750 m. This uplift broke the plateau forming NE–SW-oriented weak structural zones along which the bend was developed.

At present, the Arabian Peninsula is one of the driest regions on Earth; however, this area experienced heavy rainfall in the past thousand years. During this period, catchments received substantial amounts of surface water and sustained vast networks of streams and paleolakes, which are currently inactive. The Advanced Land Observing Satellite (ALOS) Phased Array Type L-band Synthetic Aperture Radar (PALSAR) data reveal paleohydrologic features buried under shallow aeolian deposits in many areas of the ad-Dawasir, Sahba, Rimah/Batin, and as-Sirhan wadis. Optical remote-sensing data support that the middle of the trans-peninsula Wadi Rimah/Batin, which extends for ~1200 km from the Arabian Shield to Kuwait and covers ~200,000 km2, is dammed by linear sand dunes formed by changes in climate conditions. Integrating Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI), Geo-Eye, Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM) digital elevation model, and ALOS/PALSAR data allowed for the characterization of paleodrainage reversals and diversions shaped by structural and volcanic activity. Evidence of streams abruptly shifting from one catchment to another is preserved in Wadi ad-Dawasir along the fault trace. Volcanic activity in the past few thousand years in northern Saudi Arabia has also changed the slope of the land and reversed drainage systems. Relics of earlier drainage directions are well maintained as paleoslopes and wide upstream patterns. This study found that paleohydrologic activity in Saudi Arabia is impacted by changes in climate and by structural and volcanic activity, resulting in changes to stream direction and activity. Overall, the integration of radar and optical remote-sensing data is significant for deciphering past hydrologic activity and for predicting potential water resource areas.

Groundwater has recently become a main resource for domestic water and irrigation in Lebanon. During the last two decades, surface water and shallow groundwater have been severely exhausted to meet water demand. This study seeks to understand the groundwater flow/storage regime and the mechanism of water loss into the sea using a geospatial approach. Landsat thermal satellite images from years 2013–2015 are used to detect freshwater seeps in the coastal waters of Lebanon to analyse their distribution, time of occurrence and origin. The analysis is supplemented with data from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM), geological maps, the SRTM Digital Elevation Model (DEM), and springs’ location maps. A groundwater potentiality map is constructed to understand points of surface water entry into the ground, areas of accumulation and water transport pathways. Results show dominant thermal plumes off-shore adjacent to Akkar District and Batroun city. The former relates to direct rainfall and the latter to rainfall and snowmelt on land. No surface drainage is associated with either plume. Both plumes project 8–13 km from inland along fault alignments. These faults act as conduits to channel rainwater and snowmelt from the surrounding mountains before seeping into the sea. It is thus feasible to capture the water lost this way for farming and domestic uses. The study presents an integrative geospatial approach that can be extended and applied throughout the coastal Middle East and North Africa Region to assess freshwater seeps into the sea.

The application of Dunaliella salina (D. salina) microalgae in nutraceutical products is limited due to poor aqueous solubility and consequently low bioavailability of the existing β-carotene. The aim of the present study is the design of bioenhanced oral tablets of D. salina powder prepared by direct compression technique using the novel solubilizer, Sepitrap™ 80, and bioenhancers as bile salts. The results showed that all prepared tablets manifested uniform diameter and thickness. The eligibility of the prepared tablets was confirmed by the friability test. The addition of the novel solubilizer, Sepitrap™ 80, as well as crospovidone significantly reduced the disintegration time and improved the dissolution rate of β-carotene. Further enhancement was observed after the addition of bile salts. The oral antifibrotic effect of the optimized oral tablets of D. salina powder was evaluated in a thioacetamide- (TAA-) induced fibrosis model in rats. The bioenhanced oral tablets of D. salina powder reduced liver function enzymes, serum levels of interleukin-6, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, transforming growth factor-beta, hepatic contents of collagen-1, alpha-smooth muscle actin, elevated matrix metalloproteinase-9 significantly and finally improved the histopathological feature of hepatocytes. Hence, bioenhanced oral tablets of D. salina powder have a promising antifibrotic potential against TAA-induced fibrosis in rats.

The Egyptian desert, as a part of the Eastern Sahara, is among the driest places on Earth. In the past, this region underwent drastic climatic changes through the alternation of dry and wet conditions. During wet phases, when the rain was plentiful over a prolonged time period, the surface was veined by rivers and dotted by large lakes. The use of microwave and topographic satellite data has led to the identification of sandy buried ancient mega drainage systems, river deltas and lake basins. The long wavelength of radar data, in particular, enabled the penetration of the sands and revealed many of these hidden fluvial basins which represent indisputable evidence of the past pluvial conditions of the region. Many of these basins could hold large groundwater reservoirs as well as oil and natural gas at depth. This study shows that space-data integration is a promising approach that can help significantly in the groundwater exploration efforts in the desert land of Egypt, where freshwater access is essential for the developing of the region.

Retinoids are essential during early cardiovascular morphogenesis. However, recent studies showed their important role in cardiac remodeling in rats with hypertension and following myocardial infarction. The present study aimed to investigate the effect of zeaxanthin heneicosylate (ZH); a carotenoid ester isolated from Dunaliella salina microalgae, on cardiac dysfunction ensuing d-galactose injection in rats. Rats injected with d-GAL (200 mg/kg; I.P) for 8 weeks were orally treated with ZH (250 μg/kg) for 28 consecutive days. Results showed that d-GAL injection caused dramatic electrocardiographic changes as well as marked elevation in serum levels of homocysteine, creatinine kinase isoenzyme and lactate dehydrogenase. A reduction in the cardiac contents of glucose transporter-4 and superoxide dismutase along with the elevation of inducible nitric oxide synthetase and interleukin-6 was also noticed. Oral administration of ZH significantly improved the above mentioned cardiac aging manifestations; this was further emphasized through histopathological examinations. The effect of ZH is mediated through the interaction with retinoid receptor alpha (RAR-α) as evidenced through a significant elevation of RAR-α expression in cardiac tissue following the lead of an in silico molecular docking study. In conclusion, zeaxanthin heneicosylate isolated from D. salina ameliorated age-associated cardiac dysfunction in rats through the activation of retinoid receptors.

Microalgal gained much interest as a promising sustainable feedstock for the production of food, feed, bulk chemicals and biofuels. Pilot scale of microalgal is needed to bridge the gap between laboratory scale research and commercial application. Commercial applications of microalgal have been used for a wide array of functions including, pharmaceutical, health sector, nutraceutical, cosmetics and agriculture. Numerous photobioreactors (PBRs) of different volume and shapes have been designed. Cost of PBR has a major influence on production cost for large scale biomass. There are several ways to reduce production cost depends on the type of algal strain, type of PBRs, CO2 and the production technology of the biomass. Dilution rate is an important factor, which affects the biomass productivity, rate and ultimately what needs to be maximized.

In the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Oman, an arid climate coupled with rising populations have placed increased demand on scarce water resources. This study performs groundwater prospecting in the northern UAE and Oman by delineating Groundwater Potential (GWP), the relative likelihood of a location to accumulate groundwater, by modelling the influence of physiographic variables affecting groundwater accumulation. Remote sensing data from ASTER, Landsat-8, Shuttle Radar Topography Mission (SRTM), and Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) were used to map relevant physiographic variables including elevation, slope, curvature, drainage density, Topographic Wetness Index, lithology/land cover, lineament density, rainfall, and groundwater-induced cool thermal anomaly frequency (GW CTA). Three different techniques were used for the GWP model including Simple Additive Weight (SAW), Probabilistic Frequency Ratios (PFR), and the Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP). The three derived GWP maps were assessed through validation by comparing the locations of 645 water wells, 49 natural springs, and field observations of groundwater features to GWP zones. The SAW and AHP maps were deemed valid with agreement to moderate or greater potential zones for wells at 98% and 92% and springs at 63% and 86% respectively, and all field observation locations for both maps. Based on the SAW and AHP maps, the highest GWP is located in the Dubai/Sharjah emirates due to optimal runoff accumulation, infiltration conditions, and subsurface storage capacity. Findings of this study demonstrate integration of remote sensing data with the adopted geospatial techniques is a practical method of groundwater prospecting in similarly data scarce, arid environments.

Several fresh-water carbonate deposits (tufa and travertine) were formed at different elevations within the Kurkur paleolake, 50 km west of Aswan, Egypt. Such paleolake was unique and confined in sag between the cuesta and the capping platform of Sin El-Kaddabaa Plateau. This work aims at integrating the remote sensing data together with the chemical and petrographic analyses to map and characterize these tufa and travertine deposits to define their paleo-depositional environment. A DEM with 2.5 m spatial resolution was generated from two ALOS/PRISM images to show geomorphological and hydrological parameters. In addition, full-polarimetric SAR data were used to investigate the scattering response of these tufa and travertine deposits. These deposits show a volume scattering response, with an increase in the pedestal height of the co- and cross-polarized signatures. The tufa and travertine deposits range from Pleistocene (older upper level) to Recent (younger lower level). The young tufa is hard, light brown porous and thinly-laminated, while the old tufa is generally coarse crystalline and consists of columnar pseudo denderitic calcite crystals. The travertine displays a stromatolitic fabric, where thin dark micritic algal laminae alternate with relatively thick calcitic bands (similar to 1 cm). Conducted XRD and chemical analyses reveal that these tufa and travertine are entirely composed of low magnesium calcite, with traces of quartz (<2%). Moreover, the delta C-13 and delta O-18 values suggest that the old tufa have been developed during warm pluvial periods, while the younger ones were precipitated in drier periods. Two hypotheses were introduced to explain the changes in the hydrological regime of Kurkur paleolake; the first proposes a hydrological breaching due to water overflow on the lake's low periphery areas that led to their desiccation (where the tufa and travertine were deposited) and the second is the possible integration into the regional drainage networks of the area presently occupied by Lake Nasser. (C) 2017 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Purpose: Aging is associated with hepatic morphological and physiological deterioration due to the accumulation of endogenous and exogenous free radicals and the resultant oxidative stress. The present study aims to investigate the effect of Haematococcus pluvialis microalgae on hepatic changes associated with D-galactose (D-Gal)-induced aging in rats. Methods: Aging was induced in rats by daily intraperitoneal injection of D-Gal (200 mg/kg/day) for eight consecutive weeks. D-Gal-injected rats were treated by astaxanthin (ATX)-rich H. pluvialis biomass, its carotenoid and polar fractions for two weeks. Twenty four hours after the last dose, blood samples were collected and the liver tissues were isolated for further biochemical and histopathological examinations. Results: D-Gal induced aging was associated with an elevation in serum liver function parameters, hepatic oxidative stress biomarkers viz., catalase (CAT), glutathione transferase (GST) and myeloperoxidase (MPO), as well as decreased expression of nuclear factor like-2 (Nrf2). Moreover, induction of aging exhibited an elevation of hepatic inflammatory cytokine; interleukin-6 (IL-6) and its modulator; nuclear factor Kappa B (NF-KB). However, treatment of D-Gal injected rats with ATX-rich H. pluvialis restored the serum liver function parameters as well as hepatic CAT, GST and MPO levels with an elevated expression of Nrf2. Treatment with ATX-rich H. pluvialis was also accompanied with a decrease in hepatic levels of NF-KB and IL-6. Histopathological examination emphasized all the previous results. Similarly, all trans-astaxanthin showed high affinity towards Nrf2 with -7.93 kcal/mol estimated free energy of binding as well as moderate affinities towards IL-6 and NF-KB through a docking study. Conclusion: ATX-rich H. pluvialis showed beneficial effects by ameliorating the hepatic changes associated with D-Gal induced aging in rats due to its modulatory role of the Nrf2/Keap pathway.

Objective: The objective of this study is to investigate the efficacy of microalgae Dunaliella salina to improve apelin, oxidative damage, inflammatory, and apoptotic function implicated in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obesity in rats.Methods: Fifty male Westar albino rats weighing 150–160 g were fed on HFD for 12 weeks. Treatment of obese rats with D. salina was carried out in a dose 150 mg/kg body weight as compared to orlistat as anti-obesity standard drug. Blood nuclear factor kappa-B cells (NF-kB), apelin, apoptosis regulator (B-cell lymphoma 2 [BCl2]), monocytes chemo attractant protein-1, paraoxonase-1 (PON1) were determined in serum of different groups. Besides, lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde [MDA]), glutathione (GSH) levels as well as histopathological examination were investigated in liver tissue of obese rats.Results: Serum apelin, MDA, and NF-kB levels were significantly high, reached to 97.25, 158.18, 511.433, and 170.73%, respectively. While significant decrease in PON1 (47.82%), BCl2 (74.88%), and GSH (63.54 %), levels were detected in the obese rats compared to controls. Obviously improvement in all biomarkers under investigation upon treated obese rats with ethanol extract of D. salina. Histopathological examination of obese hepatic tissue showed dilatation in the central portal veins associated with inflammatory cells infiltration in the portal area and congestion. However, treatment of obese rats with D. salina confirmed biochemical analysis and declared less diffuse inflammatory cells infiltration as well as less focal infiltration in both hepatic parenchyma and portal area with higher improvement in D. salina than drug.Conclusion: It could be concluded that D. salina has a great ability to improve inflammation associated with obesity as well as damaged hepatic architectures which can be used as a promising anti-obesity nutraceuticals.

Objective: This study was carried out to investigate the potential of Dunaliella salina microalgae to ameliorate obesity induced by high-fat diet (HFD) in male Wistar rats.Methods: Fifty rats weighing 150–160 g were fed HFD for 12 weeks. The rats were randomly divided into five groups of ten rats each. Obese rats were orally administered D. salina ethanolic extract (150 mg/Kg body weight), and orlistat as standard drug (12 mg/Kg body weight), for 6 weeks.Results: Treatment of obese rats with both D. salina and orlistat had a significant effect in reducing body and liver weights as well as visceral fat, inhibiting pancreatic lipase activity, decreased lipid profile, and increased fecal fat and ameliorating liver function enzymes activity, insulin, blood glucose, and leptin levels. Besides, food intake was insignificantly increased as a result of D. salina and orlistat treatments compared with normal control rats.Conclusion: It could be concluded that D. salina rich in β-carotene significantly reduced body weight gain and ameliorated several metabolic pathways implicated in obesity and its related complication. Hence, further intensive study must be carried out to formulate D. Salina extracts to apply as a promising natural anti-obesity nutraceutical drug.