This study explores the potential for making lightweight bricks via the use of dry, pulverized spent mushroom materials (SMM) as a thermal insulator. There are five distinct replacement proportions of SMM that are used, and they range from 0% to 15% of the weight of the clay. The firing of the fabricated bricks at temperatures of 700, 800, and 900 °C led to the development of pores on the interior surface of the bricks as a consequence of the decomposition of SMM. The impact of SMM on the physicomechanical characteristics of fabricated bricks is assessed based on standard codes. Compressive strength, bulk density, and thermal conductivity decreased as the SMM content increased, reaching up to 8.7 MPa, 1420 kg/m³, and 0.29 W/mK at 900 °C and 15% substitution percentage. However, cold water absorption, boiling water absorption, linear drying shrinkage, linear firing shrinkage, and apparent porosity increased with the increase in SMM, reaching 23.6%, 25.3%, and 36.6% at 900 °C and 15% substitution percentage. In the study simulation model, there was a significant improvement in energy consumption, which reached an overall reduction of 29.23% and 21.49% in Cario and Jazan cities, respectively.

Globally, prostate cancer is among the most threatening and leading causes of death in men. This study, therefore, aimed to search for an ideal antitumor strategy with high efficacy, low drug resistance, and no or few adverse effects. Resistomycin is a natural antibiotic derived from marine actinomycetes, and it possesses various biological activities. Prostate cancer cells (PC3) were treated with resistomycin (IC₁₂.₅: 0.65 or IC₂₅: 1.3 µg/mL) or 5-fluorouracil (5-FU; IC₂₅: 7 µg/mL) for 24 h. MTT assay and flow cytometry were utilized to assess cell viability and apoptosis. Oxidative stress, apoptotic-related markers, and cell cycle were also assessed. The results revealed that the IC₅₀ of resistomycin and 5-FU on PC3 cells were 2.63 µg/mL and 14.44 µg/mL, respectively. Furthermore, treated cells with the high dose of resistomycin showed an increased number of apoptotic cells compared to those treated with the lower dose. Remarkable induction of reactive oxygen species generation and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) leakage with high malondialdehyde (MDA), carbonyl protein (CP), and 8-hydroxyguanosine (8-OHdG) contents were observed in resistomycin-treated cells. In addition, marked declines in glutathione (GSH), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in PC3 cells subjected to resistomycin therapy were observed. Resistomycin triggered observable cell apoptosis by increasing Bax, caspase-3, and cytosolic cytochrome c levels and decreasing Bcl-2 levels. In addition, notable downregulation of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and cyclin D1 was observed in resistomycin-treated cancerous cells. According to this evaluation, the antitumor potential of resistomycin, in a concentration-dependent manner, in prostate cancer cells was achieved by triggering oxidative stress, mitochondrial apoptosis, and cell cycle arrest in cancer cells. In conclusion, our investigation suggests that resistomycin can be considered a starting point for developing new chemotherapeutic agents for human prostate cancer.

The development of energy-efficient and sustainable building materials is imperative to reduce energy consumption in the construction sector. This study addresses both the applied problem of increased solar heat gain and decreased indoor thermal comfort, as well as the scientific problem of reducing the thermal conductivity of clay bricks. It investigates the incorporation of recycled spent mushroom materials, consisting of Pleurotus florida mycelia and rice husk waste, as a novel additive in the production of fired clay bricks (FCBs) to enhance thermal insulation properties. The developed bricks were utilized in an optimized wall design for a residential building in New Cairo, Egypt. The wall design is created using energy modeling software, including Honeybee, Ladybug, Climate Studio, and Galapagos. The results demonstrate that an optimal waste content of 15% and a firing temperature of 900 °C yield the best thermal performance. Compared to traditional FCB walls, the new design incorporating the florida waste additive significantly improves thermal comfort, as indicated by a lower predicted mean vote and predicted percentage of dissatisfaction. Furthermore, the developed walls contribute to a reduction in CO₂ emissions of 6% and a decrease in total energy consumption of 38.8%. The incorporation of recycled florida waste offers a sustainable approach to enhancing standard brick fabrication processes. This work highlights the promise of agricultural waste valuation for the development of eco-friendly and energy-efficient building materials. Future research should explore the mechanical strength, acoustics, cost–benefit analysis, and field implementation of the developed walls, thereby addressing both the scientific and applied aspects of the problem.

Fusarium solani is a soil-borne fungus that causes fusarium dry rot disease in Upper Egypt. In this study, endophytic fungi from the Helwan University campus were collected, separated, and classified according to their morphological traits. Based on morphological and molecular characteristics, Epicocum nigrum was isolated and identified from E. milii leaves; other endophytic fungi were recovered and recognised morphologically from E. hirta leaves. The endophytic isolates were examined for their antifungal activity against F. solani on PDA plates using the dual culture technique, which exhibited a variable growth inhibition percentage. E. nigrum showed a highly inhibited percentage (94%) after 5 days. As well, E. nigrum metabolites were extracted by different solvents (e.g., ethyl acetate, dichloromethane, and chloroform: methanol, 2:1), and the crude extracts were active against F. solani compared to the control. The antifusarial activity was mostly reported in the ethyl acetate extract. Both light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy showed that higher concentrations of ethyl acetate extract caused a change in hyphal aggregation and spore formation in F. solani. Identification of antifungal components in ethyl acetate extract using GC-MS analysis revealed the presence of 2, 2, 3, 3, 4, 4-Hexadeutero Octadecanal, 2, 2-Dideutero Octadecanal, and Isochiapin B as major components that could have antifungal and antimicrobial substances. These results suggest using E. nigrum extracts for controlling phytopathogenic F. solani.

The accumulation of low density polyethylene, used extensively in packaging for industrial and agricultural applications, in the ecosystem is a great threat. This study focuses on the isolation of micro-biota from the plastic polluted sites to screen and optimise their potential for low density polyethylene (LDPE) film biodegradation. Firstly, the plastic samples from soil dumping plastic debris and plastic polluted water were collected; then fungi and bacteria were isolated using potato dextrose agar media and nutrient agar media, respectively, while screening low density polyethylene film biodegradation performed on mineral salt media (MSM) using the isolated micro-biota. The measurement of the potential biodegradation was assessed by visual observation. The most microbial colonization for low density polyethylene films was identifying molecular which was then utilized for optimisation of the biodegradation processes with different parameters such as media type, inoculum size, shaking speed, different incubation temperature and pH at different incubation time. Then the weight loss in the LDPE films percentage was calculated measuring dry mycelium weight and bacterial absorbance. The results revealed that, among the isolated micro-biota fifteenth, the most colonization was Fusarium equiseti and Brevibacillus parabrevis depending on the scanning electron microsope (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) analysis, in addition to optimum media, inoculum size, shaking speed, incubation temperature, pH, MSM, 2 disks and 2 ml, 30˚ C and 35˚C, pH5 and pH7 for 30:20 days for F.equiseti and B.parabrevis, respectively. The overall results confirmed that F.equiseti and B.parabrevis from the plastic polluted sites play an essential role in low density polyethylene films biodegradation.