Recently, copper oxide–ferric oxide nanocomposites (CuO/Fe2O3-NCs) have gained popularity and are widely employed in various applications. However, their effectiveness against phytopathogens has not been studied yet. This study investigates the synthesis and characterization of CuO/Fe2O3-NCs using the hydrothermal technique. X-ray diffraction (XRD), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) were used to characterize the produced nanocomposite (NC). EDX and TEM analyses revealed the presence of Cu, Fe, and O elements. The NC had a polygonal shape with sides around 12 nm, spherical CuO particles of 7–10 nm, and plate-likeFe2O3. XRD measurements confirmed the crystal and hexagonal structures of CuO and Fe2O3. The XRD patterns of CuO/Fe2O3 showed the characteristic peaks of (−111) and (004) reflections for CuO at 35.69° and 37.73°. The FTIR spectra showed characteristic lines at 525 and 567 cm−1 for the Cu–O bond and Fe–O stretching modes of Fe2O3, respectively. The antifungal activity of CuO/Fe2O3-NCs showed significant growth inhibition of Fusarium oxysporum, Rhizoctonia solani, and Botrytis cinerea by up to 71, 50, and 81%, respectively, at 100 µg/mL. At 50 µg/mL, the antibacterial test revealed inhibition zones of 12.33 mm for Pectobacterium carotovorum, 9.33 mm for Streptomyces scabies, 10.67 mm for Pectobacterium atrosepticum, and 14.67 mm for Ralstonia solanacearum. The results show that CuO/Fe2O3-NCs can efficiently suppress the growth of various fungal and bacterial strains, making them potential antimicrobial agents against phytopathogenic microorganisms.
The workers of an iron foundry were exposed to air pollution, which after some time of exposure results in lung fibrosis among some workers. The diagnosis of pneumoconiosis in workers of an iron foundry is based mainly on the radiological findings among workers exposed to the dust causing lung fibrosis. However, on radiograms many parenchymal structures overlap, which limits sensitivity and specificity to the method. Difficulties in accurate interpretation of conventional radiograms in silicosis also result from their relatively low resolution. The purpose of the present study was to assess the value and usefulness of high resolution computed tomography in the diagnostics of nodular changes in foundry workers' pneumoconiosis, compared to conventional radiography. The study group consisted of 64 iron foundry workers in whom silicosis had been recognized. The average age of the group was 51 years and the mean silica exposure time was 23 years. Chest radiograms with hard X-rays were taken at the maximal inspiration phase. For the HRCT examination the Siemens Somatom ART apparatus was used, equipped with a 512 × 512 pixels reconstruction matrix and a special programme for high resolution algorithm image reconstruction. In our material, consistency of results for conventional radiography and HRCT in revealing the presence of nodules was high. A statistically significant increase in detectability of intralobular nodules and peripheral nodules localized under the pleura was observed. The increase in detectability of cavernous, calcified nodules and those in the upper pulmonary fields obtained from computed tomography, however, was not statistically significant. High resolution computed tomography provides significant additional information in patients with foundry workers' pneumoconiosis.
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