Abstract: In order to inhibit the growth of fungi, such as Cryptococcus neoformans, silver nanoparticles are synthesized and capped with an extract of Caralluma sinaica. The silver nanoparticles capped with the extract of Caralluma sinaica are made by adding the extract of Caralluma sinaica to an aqueous silver nitrate solution to reduce the silver nitrate and form a suspension of silver nanoparticles capped with the extract of Caralluma sinaica. The silver nanoparticles capped with the extract of Caralluma sinaica are removed from the suspension by centrifugation or the like. The silver nanoparticles capped with Caralluma sinaica extract exhibit strong antifungal activity. To treat a Cryptococcus neoformans infection, an effective dose of the silver nanoparticles capped with Caralluma sinaica extract may be administered to a patient in need thereof.

Abstract: Amaranthus hybridus silver nanoparticles can be synthesized by mixing an extract of Amaranthus hybridus with a silver nitrate solution to provide a mixture including Amaranthus hybridus silver nanoparticles. The Amaranthus hybridus silver nanoparticles can have an average particle size ranging from about 45 nm to about 100 nm. The AH-AgNPs can have antifungal properties and can be particularly effective agents against Madurella mycetomatis, for the treatment of eumycetoma.

Abstract: The composition for treating bone loss is an alcoholic extract of Lavandula atriplicifolia plant flowers and leaves. The composition is prepared by extracting dried Lavandula plant flower and leaf powder in ethanol or methanol for at least 4 hours in a Soxhlet apparatus. The Lavandula atriplicifolia extract acts by both stimulating osteogenesis and inhibiting adipogenesis. The composition may be used to form drug compositions for treating bone loss.

Abstract: In order to inhibit the growth of bacteria, such as methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA), gold nanoparticles are synthesized and capped with an extract of Caralluma sinaica. The gold nanoparticles capped with the extract of Caralluma sinaica are made by adding the extract of Caralluma sinaica to an aqueous HAuCl4 solution to reduce the HAuCl4 and form a suspension of gold nanoparticles capped with the extract of Caralluma sinaica. An unreacted portion of the extract of Caralluma sinaica is removed from the suspension by centrifugation or the like, and the gold nanoparticles capped with the extract of Caralluma sinaica are then removed from the suspension by further centrifugation or the like. The gold nanoparticles capped with Caralluma sinaica extract exhibit strong antibacterial activity. To treat a MRSA infection, an effective dose of the gold nanoparticles capped with Caralluma sinaica extract may be administered to a patient in need thereof.

Abstract: A composition for treating osteoporosis comprising Acroceras macrum gold nanoparticles (AM-AuNPs). The composition is prepared by mixing an Acroceras macrum extract with an aqueous chloroauric acid (HAuCl4) solution to provide a mixture including the Acroceras macrum gold nanoparticles; removing unreacted Acroceras macrum extract from the mixture followed by purifying the Acroceras macrum gold nanoparticles; and obtaining the gold nanoparticle composition comprising the Acroceras macrum gold nanoparticles (AM-AuNPs). The composition may be used to form drug compositions for treating osteoporosis.

Abstract: Amaranthus hybridus silver nanoparticles can be synthesized by mixing an extract of Amaranthus hybridus with a silver nitrate solution to provide a mixture including Amaranthus hybridus silver nanoparticles. The Amaranthus hybridus silver nanoparticles can have an average particle size ranging from about 45 nm to about 100 nm. The AH-AgNPs can have antifungal properties and can be particularly effective agents against Madurella mycetomatis, for the treatment of eumycetoma.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a smart knowledge-based waste collection system and method for monitoring and collecting waste of an area by optimizing a dynamic waste collection route by analyzing actual and historical waste generation data of the waste bin to forecast volume of daily waste generated, prioritizing the waste bin to be serviced if a volume of daily waste of the waste bin predicted is larger than bin capacity, assigning waste bin and real-time traffic data to the route optimization module to compute the dynamic waste collection route and transmitting the optimized route to the autonomous vehicle to collect the waste from the waste bins to be serviced.

Abstract: A composition of green biosynthesized silver nanoparticles made using leaf extract of Desmidorchis retrospiciens, as a novel antifungal therapy. These biosynthesized silver nanoparticles can be combined with leaf extract of Desmidorchis retrospiciens to provide a synergistic treatment for histoplasmosis.

Abstract: A gold nanoparticle composition for controlling or inhibiting the growth of red palm weevil. The gold nanoparticle composition can include Peperomia blanda gold nanoparticles (PB-AuNPs) either alone or in combination with a separate extract of Peperomia blanda (PB), thereby forming PB-AuNPs. In an embodiment, the PB-AuNPs/PB can be applied to soil to protect a date palm plant growing therein from red palm weevil.

Abstract: Salsola tetrandra silver nanoparticles (ST-AgNPs) can be prepared by providing a Salsola tetrandra extract and combining the Salsola tetrandra extract with silver nitrate. The mixture can be heated to complete the bio-reduction process and provide the Salsola tetrandra silver nanoparticle composition. The Salsola tetrandra silver nanoparticles can be used to treat or inhibit a fungal infection, such as invasive pulmonary aspergillosis.

Abstract: The composition for treating bone loss is an alcoholic extract of Lavandula atriplicifolia plant flowers and leaves. The composition is prepared by extracting dried Lavandula plant flower and leaf powder in ethanol or methanol for at least 4 hours in a Soxhlet apparatus. The Lavandula atriplicifolia extract acts by both stimulating osteogenesis and inhibiting adipogenesis. The composition may be used to form drug compositions for treating bone loss.

Abstract: Silver nanoparticles made by a green synthesis method using silver nitrate and a chlorophyll derivative, such as a chlorophyllin are provided. The thus produced silver nanoparticles can have a crystalline structure and an average particle size ranging from about 10 nm to about 40 nm. The disclosed silver nanoparticles may be useful in treating, preventing, and/or reducing insect infestation of a variety of plants, particularly date palms.

Abstract: In order to inhibit the growth of fungi, such as Madurella mycetomatis, gold nanoparticles are synthesized and capped with an extract of Reseda arabica. The gold nanoparticles capped with the extract of Reseda arabica are made by adding the extract of Reseda arabica to an aqueous sodium tetrachloroaurate (NaAuCl4) solution to reduce the sodium tetrachloroaurate and form a suspension of gold nanoparticles capped with the extract of Reseda arabica. The extract of Reseda arabica acts as a reducing and stabilizing agent while also functionalizing the surfaces of the gold nanoparticles to cap the surfaces. The suspension may be boiled, followed by removal of the gold nanoparticles capped with the extract of Reseda arabica from the suspension. To treat a Madurella mycetomatis infection, an effective dose of the gold nanoparticles capped with Reseda arabica extract may be administered to a patient in need thereof.

Abstract: Silver nanoparticles made by a green synthesis method using silver nitrate and a chlorophyll derivative, such as a chlorophyllin are provided. The thus produced silver nanoparticles can have a crystalline structure and an average particle size ranging from about 10 nm to about 40 nm. The disclosed silver nanoparticles may be useful in treating, preventing, and/or reducing insect infestation of a variety of plants, particularly date palms.

Abstract: Amaranthus hybridus silver nanoparticles can be synthesized by mixing an extract of Amaranthus hybridus with a silver nitrate solution to provide a mixture including Amaranthus hybridus silver nanoparticles. The Amaranthus hybridus silver nanoparticles can have an average particle size ranging from about 45 nm to about 100 nm. The AH-AgNPs can have antifungal properties and can be particularly effective agents against Madurella mycetomatis, for the treatment of eumycetoma.

Abstract: Silver nanoparticles made by a green synthesis method using silver nitrate and a chlorophyll derivative, such as a chlorophyllin are provided. The thus produced silver nanoparticles can have a crystalline structure and an average particle size ranging from about 10 nm to about 40 nm. The disclosed silver nanoparticles may be useful in treating, preventing, and/or reducing insect infestation of a variety of plants, particularly date palms.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for processing video pictures for dynamic false contour effect compensation. Each video picture is divided into at least a first type and second type of area according to the video gradient of the picture. A specific video gradient range is associated to each type. First and second sets of sub-field code words are allocated to the first and second types respectively. The second set is a subset of the first set. The pixels of the first and second types are encoded with the first and second sets of sub-field code words respectively. For at least one horizontal line of pixels including pixels of the first and second type, the area of second type is extended until the next pixel in the first type area is a pixel encoded by a sub-field code word belonging to both first and second set of sub-field code words.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for coding video levels of pixels of a color component of a picture to be displayed on a display device into code words. The invention is more particularly applicable to Plasma Display Panels (PDP) to improve the picture quality (grayscale enhancement, dynamic false contour reduction). The main idea of the invention is to automatically change the floor and ceiling levels used classically for dithering each pixel value depending on the neighboring pixels of the same color component. The size of the window determining the neighboring pixels is dependent on the definition of the wanted flat field size.

Abstract: An improved diaphragm-type pneumatic brake actuator includes a flange case, a cover cooperable with the flange case, a flexible diaphragm extending between the flange case and the cover forming a lower pneumatic chamber and an upper pneumatic chamber on opposed sides of the diaphragm. A piston assembly is disposed in the cover for moving a spring between compressed and decompressed positions. A spring guide is disposed between the cover and the piston assembly in the upper chamber. The spring guide prevents direct contact of the spring with the cover to prevent formation of a corrosion cell.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method and a device for coding video levels of pixels of a colour component of a picture to be displayed on a display device into code words. The invention is more particularly applicable to Plasma Display Panels (PDP) to improve the picture quality (grayscale enhancement, dynamic false contour reduction). The main idea of the invention is to automatically change the floor and ceiling levels used classically for dithering each pixel value depending on the neighboring pixels of the same color component. The size of the window determining the neighboring pixels is dependent on the definition of the wanted flat field size.