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Sustainable serpentine/polyamide nanocomposite (SP/PAM) was fabricated using malicious mining (serpentine chrysotile, SP Ctl) and industrial (polyamide, PA6) wastes via the electro-spinning technique. Before fabrication, the fibrous nature of Ctl was demolished through intensive grinding into nano-fractions. The successful impregnation of Ctl within PA6 via the electro-spinning technique at fixed ratios of precursor raw materials in the dissolving agent (7.5/92.5% SP/PA wt/wt solid/solid) created an internal network structure within the polymer fibers by molecular self-assembly. SP/PAM showcased its prowess in tackling the remediation of diverse dyes and Fe(III) from synthetic solutions in a batch system. Based on correlation coefficient outcomes (R2 ≈ 0.999), the pseudo-second-order equation justified the sorption data in an adequate way for all contaminants. In addition, intra-particle diffusion was not the only driving factor in the sorption process. Similarly, the Langmuir equation with maximum removal capacity (qmax) 5.97, 4.33, and 5.36 mg/g for MO, MB, and Fe(Ⅲ), respectively, defined the sorption data better than Freundlich.

Barite and hematite are the most common heavy-weight minerals applied as aggregates in radiation shielding concrete (RSC). Therefore, to limit the cement consumption and reduce the CO2 emissions accompanying its production, the aim of this study is to use Egyptian barite and hematite minerals in their native status and evaluate their attenuation efficiency against fast neutrons and γ-rays. This was implemented through the measurement of their radiation attenuation against fast neutrons and γ-rays in the energy ranges of 0.80–11 and 0.40–8.30 MeV, respectively, employing a Pu-Be source and a stilbene scintillator. Theoretical calculations were prepared using the NXcom program to validate the fast neutron attenuation measurements. Furthermore, the implications of the physical, mineralogical, geochemical, and morphological characteristics of these heavy-weight minerals with respect to their attenuation efficiencies were considered. We found that barite has superior radiation attenuation efficiency for fast neutrons and γ-rays compared to hematite by 9.17 and 51% for fast neutrons and γ-rays, respectively. This was ascribed to the superior physical, mineralogical, geochemical, and morphological properties of the former relative to those of the latter. Furthermore, a satisfactory agreement between the experimental and theoretical results was achieved, with a deviation of 16 and 19.25% for the barite and hematite samples, respectively. Eventually, barite and hematite can be successful candidates for their use as sustainable alternatives to common RSC.

Landslides are one of the natural hazards, which have significant negative effects on both humans and the environment. Thus, slope stability analyses and stabilization processes are necessary to obviate or mitigate landslides. In this study, the effect of groundwater level fluctuations and the construction of a building (i.e., a recently built church) on slope stability was investigated on the eastern slope of the Avas Hill, at Miskolc, in Northeast Hungary. Soil movements and groundwater levels were monitored and geological and slope stability models were constructed. Furthermore, the possibility of constructing a retaining system was evaluated to minimize the detrimental effects of both groundwater level fluctuations and the construction of the church. The findings showed that the fluctuation in groundwater levels had a destructive effect on slope stability due to pore-water pressure, which decreased the soil strength of the slope and slope stability. On the other hand, the church added an external load onto the underlying soil leading to an increase in slope instability. Hence, we suggested constructing retaining structures such as gravity retaining walls to increase the soil shear strength and enhance slope stability in the long term.

The current study was an attempt to investigate the effectiveness of using an E-Portfolio(EP)-based learning for nurturing 4th year EFL student teachers’ reflective practices and self-efficacy at the Faculty of Education, Minia University. A quasi-experimental design was employed as it was suitable for the nature of the study. The one group pretest-posttest design was chosen to determine the intervention or the treatment on the study group. An EP teacher’s guide was developed by the researcher and used with the study group. Thirty students (both females and males) were randomly chosen for the study group. Data of the study were collected using two questionnaires (A reflective instructional practices questionnaire and EP knowledge questionnaire) a Reflective Instructional Practices Test (RIPT); a Teaching Practice Observation Sheet (TPOS) and a Self-Efficacy Scale (SES) as basic tools. Analysis of data (using t-test) revealed that the study group significantly surpassed and achieved higher in the post performance of RIPT, TPOS and the Self-Efficacy Scale. Discussion of these findings, recommendations and suggestions for further research are presented.

T he present study was conducted to investigate the effect of using a program based on cooperative learning group activities on developing language proficiency and attitudes towards learning English of first year secondary school female students at Minia Secondary School for Girls. A pre-post control group research design was used to achieve the research objectives. Sixty students were randomly divided into two groups: the experimental and the control groups. The experimental group students were trained in cooperative learning group activities based program to enhance their language proficiency and attitudes towards learning English. Control group students were taught following the regular method of teaching. Instruments of the study included a language proficiency test and an attitude scale to measure their performance before and after implementing the program and as a means of calculating the pre and post performance of the students. A training program was built to train the experimental group. Analysis of data obtained by students (using t- test) revealed that the experimental group significantly surpassed the control in the post performance. Discussion of these findings, recommendations and suggestions for further research are presented.

T he present study was carried out to investigate the effectiveness of using a Flipped Learning (FL) strategy on fostering 4th year English Majors’ achievement in methodology course and their motivation towards the course at the Faculty of Education, Minia University. A quasi-experimental pre-post test control group research design was employed. A language teaching program based on FLS was developed by the researcher and used with the treatment group, whereas, the conventional lecture method was used with the non-treatment group. Sixty female and male 4th year English Majors students were randomly chosen and divided into two groups the treatment and the non-treatment groups of the research. Tools of the study included a pre-post achievement test on methodology course, a language teaching FL-based program, a checklist of students’ computer literacy and a pre-post motivation scale. Analysis of data (using t-test) revealed that the treatment group significantly outperformed the non treatment one on the post performance of the achievement test. The treatment group significantly improved on the post performance of motivation Scale as well. Discussion of these findings, recommendations and suggestions for further research are presented.

T he present study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of using an e- Mind Mapping Software based program in developing vocabulary acquisition and use of second year English majors at the Faculty of Education. A pre-post control group research design was used to achieve the research objectives. Sixty students were randomly divided into two groups: the treatment and the non treatment groups. The treatment group students were trained in the e-mind mapping based program to develop their vocabulary acquisition and use. The non treatment group students were taught the same content through the conventional method of teaching vocabulary. Tools of the study included needs assessment questionnaires to determine the sub skills of vocabulary acquisition and use that were most needed by second year English majors, a training program in vocabulary skills, a pre-post test in vocabulary acquisition, and a pre-post test in vocabulary use. Analysis of data obtained by students (using t- test) revealed that the treatment group significantly surpassed the non treatment one in the post performance of the tests. Discussion of these findings, recommendations and suggestions for further research are presented.