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This study aimed to evaluate the effect of indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) concentrations (0 ppm, 300 ppm, 500 ppm, 750 ppm, 1000 ppm, and 1500 ppm) on root development and sprouting of Thymus atlanticus stem cuttings. The results showed a significant effect of auxin type and concentration on survival rate, rooting percentage, root and shoot length, number of shoots, fresh and dry weight. The most efficient was IBA at 1000 ppm, which resulted in a survival rate of 62%, a rooting percentage of 57%, a shoot length of 7.5 cm, and 3.1 new shoots per cutting. These findings highlight the potential of IBA to improve the propagation of Thymus atlanticus using 3–4 cm long shoots, with has important implications for commercial propagation and ecological rehabilitation.

Cumin is a high-potential crop with great demand all over the world. Consequently, its cultivation is expanding rapidly worldwide, including in Morocco, where it is increasingly grown as an alternative cash crop, particularly in oases. The selection of high-performance genotypes adapted to oases and the initiation of local seed production are among the main goals of the INRA1-ORMVATF2 agreement for the development and promotion of cumin in Alnif cercle. Therefore, a preliminary survey was conducted among 69 farmers in Morocco to assess seed diversity, potential yields, and associated cultivation techniques. Cumin is primarily cultivated in three regions: Marrakech-Safi, Draâ-Tafilalet, and Oriental. Cumin cultivation is mostly associated with the rain-fed system (28%) in the Marrakech-Safi region, while in other regions, it is conducted under drip irrigation (23%) and gravity-fed irrigation (49%). Farmers employ various fertilizers and phytosanitary products, reflecting different levels of agricultural knowledge and practices. According to farmers, yields vary significantly, ranging from 0.5 to 11.5 q/ha, with an average of 3.7±2.4 q/ha across Morocco. The yield average is 3.0 q/ha in the rain-fed system, slightly lower than the 4.1 q/ha recorded in irrigated systems. Farmers in Marrakech-Safi rely on local seeds, whereas farmers in other regions, use a mixture of non-certified seeds from several countries. Sowing is generally performed along rows or through broadcasting. Seed rates range from 3 to 41 kg/ha, exceeding the internationally recommended doses. The study revealed significant morphological differences between local and imported seeds. The local seeds were highly pilose, whereas the imported seeds were glabrous, scabrid, or slightly pubescent. Thus, the cultivation of cumin in Morocco warrants increased attention to enhance productivity and sustain its development.

The main goal of this study was to conduct a phytochemical investigation on the hydro-ethanolic extracts of Hertia maroccana Batt. and Teucrium malenconianum Maire. and to evaluate their antioxidant, antibacterial, and anti-hyperlipidemic activities. The phytochemical study was carried out using chemical screening tests and the antioxidant potential was assessed using in vitro methods. Moreover, agar well diffusion method was used to determine the antimicrobial properties against Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. In addition, triton-induced acute hyperlipidemia model was used to evaluate the anti-hyperlipidemic activity. The findings revealed that H. maroccana and T. malenconianum extracts contain various metabolites (such as proteins, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides, phenols, flavonoids, tannins, etc.), significant amounts of phenolic compounds (50.33 and 49.94 mg GAE/gE, respectively), and exhibit notable antioxidant properties (DPPH IC50: 1.18 and 0.97 mg/mL, respectively; ABTS IC50: 0.27 and 0.23 mg/mL, respectively; FRAP value: 0.65 and 0.7 Fe2+E mM, respectively). Moreover, we found that H. maroccana exerted an important antibacterial effect against Staphylococcus aureus (MIC = 0.39 mg/mL and MBC = 6.25 mg/mL). Additionally, T. malenconianum induced significant anti-hyperlipidemic activity. In conclusion, that H. maroccana represents a promising source of antibacterial agents whereas, T. malenconianum shows potential for managing hyperlipidemia.

Teucrium mideltense (Batt.) Humbert (T. mideltense) is an endemic Moroccan species that grows exclusively in the Oriental High Atlas Mountains of Morocco. In this work, we aim at determining the chemical profile and biological properties of the traditionally used aqueous extract of this plant. HPLC analysis, estimation of the amounts of total phenolic compounds including flavonoids, and in vitro antioxidant activity was evaluated according to the literature procedures (DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP). Additionally, safety assessment was carried out according to the organization for economic cooperation and development guidelines and the anti-hyperlipidemic activity was evaluated in triton-induced hyperlipidemic rat model. Our findings revealed that the aqueous extract of this plant contains significant amounts of phenolic compounds (91.94 mg GAE/gE) including flavonoids (27.41 mg RE/gE). HPLC analysis revealed the presence of vanillic acid, hesperidin, and rutin. Moreover, a considerable in vitro antioxidant effect was evaluated (DPPH IC50 = 36.10± 0.02 μg/mL; ABTS IC50 = 34.98± 1.31 μg/mL; FRAP EC50 = 129.74±2.18 μg/mL). Furthermore, T. mideltense (Batt.) Maire extract exerted significant lipid-lowering effects by reducing the levels of total cholesterol (-88.78%), triglycerides (-62.12%), and non-HDL cholesterol (-68.37%). We conclude that the supplementation with the aqueous extract of T. mideltense would be effective in lowering lipids under hyperlipidemic conditions.

Abstract Background Maternal and neonatal mortality in low- and middle-income countries is frequently caused by inadequate management of obstetric and neonatal complications and a shortage of skilled health workers. The availability of these workers is essential for effective and high-quality healthcare. To meet the needs of sexual, reproductive, maternal, new-born, child, and adolescent health by 2030, more than one million health workers, including 900 000 midwives, are required globally. Despite this, uncertainty persists regarding the return on investment in the health workforce. Methods The objective of this research was to determine the cost-benefit ratio of increasing investment in midwifery in Morocco from 2021 to 2030. A comparative analysis was conducted between scenarios “with” and “without” the additional investment. The costs and benefits were estimated using relevant data from national and international sources. Results Following the International Confederation of Midwives’ recommendations, it is advised that Morocco recruit 760 midwives annually to achieve 95% of universal health coverage. This increase in midwifery could result in saving 120 593 lives by 2030, including reducing maternal deaths by 3 201, stillbirths by 48 399, and neonatal deaths by 68 993. The estimated economic benefit of investing in midwives was US$ 10 152 287 749, while the total cost was US$ 638 288 820. Consequently, the cost-benefit ratio was calculated as 15.91, indicating that investing in midwifery would provide 16 times more benefits than costs. Conclusion Increasing investment in midwifery appears to be an efficient strategy for achieving comprehensive maternal and child health coverage in low- and middle-income countries.

Recently, we have observed a noticeable evolution and growing use and incorporation of chatbots on websites, mobile and social networking apps. A chatbot is a computer program that exhibits a capacity to converse quite naturally with users in a way that resembles a human dialogue. Examples of chatbots can be found in several areas, including education, commerce, and tourism. The use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and its sub-fields, such as Machine Learning, Deep Learning, and Natural Language Processing (NLP), is increasing across all business sectors. One of the most advanced applications of this technology is the chatbot, which is particularly beneficial due to the quick response times and its simplicity. Nevertheless, although studies on chatbots exist in tourism, academic research covering their adoption, technological evolution, and impact on this sector is still relatively sparse. Therefore, this study aims to provide a comprehensive overview of chatbots and their effect on tourism. First, we provide a new classification of chatbots based on specific criteria. Second, we explore the conceptual architecture of chatbots and their key components. Third, this study aims to assess and contrast the main existing tools for developing chatbots, classifying them and highlighting their key advantages and disadvantages. Fourth, this study aims to examine the integration of chatbots in the tourism sector by identifying their key applications in the industry over the past decade. Additionally, it seeks to analyze the impact of chatbots on the various functionalities outlined in the 6A framework for tourism. To achieve this, a thorough search will be conducted using five prominent databases - Scopus, ACM, IEEE Xplore, Springer Link, and Web of Science - covering the period from 2013 to 2023. For this study, 1155 academic publications were reviewed after applying a systematic review protocol including purpose, research questions, keywords, digital libraries, search strings, and inclusion and exclusion criteria. Only 31 were identified to be primary studies.

Lichens are symbiotic organisms with unique secondary metabolism. Various metabolites from lichens have shown antimicrobial activity. Nevertheless, very few studies have investigated the antimicrobial potential of the volatile compounds they produce. This study investigates the chemical composition and antimicrobial properties of volatile compounds from Pseudevernia furfuracea collected in two regions of Morocco. Hydrodistillation was used to obtain volatile compounds from samples collected in the High Atlas and Middle Atlas. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis identified phenolic cyclic compounds as the primary constituents, with atraric acid and chloroatranol being the most abundant. Additionally, eight compounds were detected in lichens for the first time. The antimicrobial activity of these compounds was assessed using disc diffusion and broth microdilution methods. Both samples demonstrated significant antimicrobial effects against multidrug-resistant human bacteria, reference microorganisms, fish pathogens, and Candida albicans, with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) ranging from 1000 µg/mL to 31.25 µg/mL. This study provides the first report on the volatile compounds from Pseudevernia furfuracea and their antimicrobial effects, particularly against fish pathogens, suggesting their potential as novel antimicrobial agents for human and veterinary use. Further research is warranted to explore these findings in more detail.

المخلص: أهداف البحث: الغرض الرئيسي للدراسة الحالية هو تحديد التركيب الكيميائي وتقييم السلامة والنشاط المضاد للأكسدة والنشاط المضاد للدهون الزائدة للمستخلص المائي من الأعشاب الطبية التوكريوم تاكوميتينس. طرق البحث: تم تقييم تحليل الفيتوكيميائي (المحتوى الكلي للفينول والفلافونويد وأحماض الهيدروكسي الحمضية)، والنشاط المضاد للأكسدة (قوة التخفيض الفريك للأكسدة، حمض الأزينوبيس الاثيل البنزوثيازولين السلفونيك، الديفينيل البيكريل الهيدرازيل، واختبارات القدرة الكلية المضادة للأكسدة)، السمية الحادة، والنشاط المضاد للدهون الزائدة وفقا لنماذج المقالات والدراسات. في حين تم تحديد التوصيف الفيتوكيميائي بواسطة كروماتوغرافيا الغاز المرتبطة بطيف الكتلة بعد التميثل. النتائج: كشف المستخلص المائي من التوكريوم تاكوميتينس عن محتوى عالي من البوليفينولات الكلية وأحماض الهيدروكسي الحمضية وكمية قليلة من الفلافونويدات الكلية. بالإضافة إلى ذلك، أظهر المستخلص نشاط مضاد للأكسدة ملحوظ. كان البنزين، (هيكسيل أوكسي)-(19,32%) و 2,6 أ-ميثانو-6أ-اتش-اندينو[4,5-ب]أوكسيرين، أوكتاهيدرو – (1أ.ألفا.، 2.بيتا.، 3أ.ألفا.، 6أ.بيتا.، 6ب.ألفا.)-(32,42%)، دي-فوكوز (5,47%)، 5-هيدروكسيميثيلفورفورال (5,47%) والجواياكول (3,19%) هي المركبات الرئيسية في المستخلص. تم تقدير الجرعة الوسطى المميتة بين 500 و 2000 ملغم / كغ. علاوة على ذلك، أظهر المستخلص المائي من التوكريوم تاكوميتينس في 500 و 250 ملغم / كغ نشاطا مضادا للدهون الزائدة في الجسم مثيرا للاهتمام. الاستنتاجات: الجدير بالذكر أن المستخلص من التوكريوم تاكوميتينس له قدرة دوائية هامة وتركيب كيميائي متنوع. Abstract: Objective: The main purpose of the present work was to determine the chemical composition, safety, and antioxidant and antihyperlipidemic activities of an aqueous extract of Teucrium takoumitense. Methods: Phytochemical analysis (total phenolic, total flavonoid, and total hydroxycinnamic acid contents), antioxidant activity (ferric-reducing antioxidant power, 2,2ʹ-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic acid, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazil, and total antioxidant capacity tests), acute toxicity, and antihyperlipidemic activity were evaluated according to established models. In addition, the phytochemical profile was determined by methylation followed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Results: The aqueous extract of T. takoumitense had a high content of total polyphenols (87.01 ± 0.31 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g extract) and hydroxycinnamic acid (2.28 ± 0.1 g/100 g Powdered Material) and a low content of total flavonoids (2.99 ± 0.16 mg GAE/g extract). In addition, the extract demonstrated remarkable antioxidant activity (DPPH IC50 = 76.67 ± 0.56 μg/mL, ABTS IC50 = 89.65 ± 0.27 μg/mL, FRAP EC50 = 296.32 ± 0.86 μg/mL, TAC value = 43 ± 0.27 mg EAA/g extract). The main compounds were identified as benzene, (hexyloxy)- (19.32%), 2,6a-methano-6aH-indeno[4,5-b]oxirene, octahedro-(1a.alpha., 2.beta., 3a.alpha., 6a.beta., 6b.alpha.)- (32.42%), d-fucose (5.47%), 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5.47%) and guaiacol (3.19%). The LD50 was estimated to be between 500 and 2000 mg/kg. Furthermore, at 500 and 250 mg/kg, the aqueous extract of T. takoumitense exhibited good antihyperlipidemic activity in vivo. Conclusion: T. takoumitense extract has significant pharmacological potential and a varied chemical composition.

Usually omnipresent from trivial discussions to solemn harangues, phraseological units reflect the idiomatic and figurative facet of our language. Likewise, being part of the lexical repertoire, and of the cultural system in a broader sense, these lapidary constructions, a composed and more or less stabilized part of the lexicon, are, through their cohesion and their intergenerational transfer, explicit representatives of the “language and culture” binary. Part of the framework of Cognitive Semantics via the conceptual metaphor model developed by Lakoff & Johnson (1980), this work goes beyond the classic vision which did not envisage a link between the primary senses and idiomatic of the PU. Furthermore, our reflection aims to question the said conception in favor of multiple iconic (metaphorical and metonymic) and cultural motivations, ensuring a continuum from which the trajectory of meaning of the phraseological units is traced, from compositionality to idiomaticity.

Abstract Due to the exponential growth of online information, the ability to efficiently extract the most informative content and target specific information without extensive reading is becoming increasingly valuable to readers. In this paper, we present 'EXABSUM,' a novel approach to Automatic Text Summarization (ATS), capable of generating the two primary types of summaries: extractive and abstractive. We propose two distinct approaches: (1) an extractive technique (EXABSUMExtractive), which integrates statistical and semantic scoring methods to select and extract relevant, non-repetitive sentences from a text unit, and (2) an abstractive technique (EXABSUMAbstractive), which employs a word graph approach (including compression and fusion stages) and re-ranking based on keyphrases to generate abstractive summaries using the source document as an input. In the evaluation conducted on multi-domain benchmarks, EXABSUM outperformed extractive summarization methods and demonstrated competitiveness against abstractive baselines.

The aim of this study is to present the seasonal variation of organic matter (OM), total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), and total phosphorus (TP) in the bottom sediments of Marchica Lagoon, a post-restorated lagoon located in the Moroccan Mediterranean, and to estimate the potential role of the geochemistry and granulometry of bottom sediments in the retention of old eutrophication. The organic index of bottom sediment was found generally higher in old-eutrophic and enclosed areas. The surface sediments show variable levels of OM, TOC, TP, and TN; high in some cases (12.3%, 6.71%, 0.70%, and 0.30% respectively). These high levels were recorded in the central part of the lagoon and in areas subjected to high anthropogenic pressure, including wastewater discharges. Our results indicated that sediments are an excellent immobilizer of organic matter (C, N, and P), although, there was no correlation between sediment grain size and organic matter content. The absence of correlation might be explained by currentology and hydrodynamics, but also by the bathymetry of the lagoon. Therefore, sediments must be implicated in any lagoon restoration strategy and the site development plan.

High soil salinity has an unfavorable consequence on the growth and productivity of rice crop. However, some salt-tolerant plant growth-promoting bacteria (ST-PGPB) regulate specific physiological, biochemical, and molecular properties to promote crop growth while minimizing the detrimental effects of salt stress. In this regard, we isolated ST-PGPB from rhizospheric soil and examined it to mitigate the salinity stress in rice seedlings. The growth of the bacterium at 3 M NaCl demonstrated its halotolerance, and 16S rRNA sequencing identified it as Bacillus siamensis, and the isolated strain was named BW. Further study indicated that biopriming with BW strain helps plant growth promotion-related phenotype and significantly mitigates salinity stress in rice seedlings. Treatment of rice seeds with BW resulted in significantly improved germination of seedlings at 75 mM to 150 mM NaCl, along with better physiology and biochemical parameters than the untreated ones. Furthermore, Bacillus sp. BW efficiently colonizes rice roots and produces auxin and siderophore, via forming biofilm under different salt concentrations. Under 100–200 mM NaCl treatment conditions, the extracellular metabolite profile from BW showed a substantial abundance in specific metabolites, such as osmoprotective chemicals, suggesting the likely protective mechanism against salinity stress damage. This study demonstrates the role and potential of a halotolerant- BW strain in supporting the growth of rice plants under salinity conditions.

The Marchica lagoon (Morocco, Mediterranean) is a wetland classified as a RAMSAR site, which has been the subject of restoration activities after several years of pollution. The heavy metal (loïdes) content was studied in four common species of seaweed (Gracilaria sp., Alsidium corallinum, Caulerpa prolifera and Chaetomorpha sp.) for the first time, and was added to the basic studies carried out on sediments and water of this ecosystem. The heavy metals with mean values (mg/kg) can be sequenced in descending order, Al > Sr > Rb > Ba > As > Ti > V > Ni > Pb > Cr > Cd > Li > Co for Chaetomorpha sp., and the following order Al > Sr > As > Pb > Ti > Ba > Rb > V > Li > Cr > Co > Ni > Cd for Caulerpa prolifera. The mean concentrations (mg/kg) in Gracilaria sp. followed the sequence Al > Sr > Ti > Rb > Pb > As > Co > Ba > V > Ni > Cr > Li > Cd, and the following order Al > Sr > Ti > Rb > As > Ba > Pb > V > Co > Ni > Cr > Li > Cd in Alsidium corralinum. The Pb and As levels in studied seaweeds were above the CEVA standards. The health risk analysis showed that consuming the seaweed under study posed a serious risk. All examined seaweed had HI values greater than 1.0, and arsenic is the element that strongly contributes to these values, which can suggest a potential negative impact caused by this metalloid. Red seaweeds showed the highest MPI, followed by green seaweeds.

Microcystins (MCs), natural hepatotoxic compounds produced by cyanobacteria, pose significant risks to water quality, ecosystem stability, and the well-being of animals, plants, and humans when present in elevated concentrations. The escalating contamination of irrigation water with MCs presents a growing threat to terrestrial plants. The customary practice of irrigating crops from local water sources, including lakes and ponds hosting cyanobacterial blooms, serves as a primary conduit for transferring these toxins. Due to their high chemical stability and low molecular weight, MCs have the potential to accumulate in various parts of plants, thereby increasing health hazards for consumers of agricultural products, which serve as the foundation of the Earth’s food chain. MCs can bioaccumulate, migrate, potentially biodegrade, and pose health hazards to humans within terrestrial food systems. This study highlights that MCs from irrigation water reservoirs can bioaccumulate and come into contact with plants, transferring into the food chain. Additionally, it investigates the natural mechanisms that organisms employ for conjugation and the microbial processes involved in MC degradation. To gain a comprehensive understanding of the role of MCs in the terrestrial food chain and to elucidate the specific health risks associated with consuming crops irrigated with water contaminated with these toxins, further research is necessary.

This article reports a practical synthesis of tert-butyl acetylcarbamate, C7H13NO3, from N-Boc-thioacetamide and the study of its crystal structure. The reaction proceeds in the presence of natural phosphate as a catalyst, with excellent yield, simple workup and benign environment. The crystal structure was refined using a transferred multipolar atom model. In the crystal, symmetrical pairs of strong N—H...O hydrogen bonds connect the molecules into dimers with an R22(8) ring motif. The interactions between neighbouring dimers are mostly van der Waals, between hydrophobic methyl groups. Hirshfeld surface analysis shows the major contributions to the crystal packing are from H...H (42.6%) and O...H (26.7%) contacts.

Thymus satureioides Cosson is an endemic chamaephyte to Morocco and Algeria. It belongs to the Lamiaceae family and commonly used in traditional medicine. Its over-exploitation threatens its sustainability in many ecosystems in Morocco. This study aims to explore the effect of environmental factors (temperature and storage) on the germination capacity of the seeds of this species in order to contribute to contribute to the rehabilitation of degraded ecosystems of T. satureioides. Accordingly, seeds collected from natural plant populations were subjected to six alternating temperatures (40/25, 35/20, 30/15, 20/10, 15/5 and 10/0 °C with a 14/10 hr. thermoperiod) and three storage duration (3 years, 5 years and 8 years) under ambient laboratory conditions. The results indicate that the alternating temperature and the seed storage duration have a significant effect on the germination parameters according to the test of Student Newman and Keuls (SNK). The highest germination percentage 93% was recorded for the alternating temperature of 15/05 °C, while high alternating temperature 40/25 °C strongly inhibited the seed germination. The 20/10 °C temperature regime was the best in terms of higher capacity and speed germination as indicated by the germination index (7.7 %/day for 20/10 °C versus 0.5 %/day for 10/0 °C). Furthermore, these results show that seed stored for longer duration delayed germination and decreased the germination capacity and rate. Seeds stored at room condition retain seeds viability up to 3 years. However, after 5 and 8 years of storing, the germination percentage was significantly reduced (75.0 and 64.5% respectively), which also suggests a reduction of seed viability.

The Expression of the Body in Une difficile fin de moi by Ahmed Zitouni ABSTRACT: The body writing is at the same time the essence and the matter, the substance and the form, the subject and the object, the heart and the reason of Zitouni’s emblematic novel: Une difficile fin de moi. The narrator unfolds his body through the speech of his memory, and the writing itself becomes living and mortified flesh by the very peculiar enunciative situation of a crumbling and disappearing man through his narrative, thus he sacrifices himself in order for his story to survive and his past to finally have a value. RÉSUMÉ : L’écriture du corps est à la fois l’essence et la matière, le fond et la forme, le sujet et l’objet, le cœur et la raison du roman emblématique de Zitouni : Une difficile fin de moi. Le narrateur déploie son corps à travers le discours de sa mémoire, et l’écriture elle-même devient vivante et meurtrie par la situation énonciative très particulière d’un homme qui s’effrite et disparaît au fil de la narration, et qui se sacrifie pour que son histoire survive et que son passé ait enfin de la valeur

Objective: To study the chemical profile, antimicrobial properties, and synergistic effect with known antibiotics of essential oil extracted from the marine red macroalgae Centroceras clavulatum (C. Agardh) Montagne, collected in Morocco. Methods: The chemical composition of the oil was analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The oil was evaluated for antibacterial (Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Micrococcus luteus, Staphylococcus aureus, and Klebsiella pneumoniae), and antifungal activity (Candida albicans, Candida glabrata, Candida krusei, and Candida parapsilosis), by the disc diffusion method. The minimum inhibitory and minimum microbicidal concentrations of the oil were determined, as well as the synergistic effects of its application combined with the antibiotics ciprofloxacin and fluconazole, by the checkerboard method. Results: Thirty molecules were identified in the essential oil, comprising 96.27% of the total oil composition. Monoterpenes such as carvacrol (36.06%) were the most abundant compounds, followed by caryophyllene (14.67%), endo-borneol (9.04%), pyroterebic acid (3.23%) and caryophyllene oxide (3.13%). The oil exhibited a moderate antimicrobial activity with inhibition zone diameters ranging from 9.0 to 15.0 mm. The minimum inhibitory concentration values varied between 0.9 and 14.7 mg/mL, and Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli were the more sensitive bacteria with 0.9 and 1.9 mg/mL, respectively. The minimum microbicidal concentration values ranged from 0.4 to 14.7 mg/mL. A significant synergic action was observed when the oil was applied in combination with ciprofloxacin and fluconazole, with fractional inhibitory concentration index values ranging from 0.31 to 0.50. Synergy was found in 80% of the combinations and a 2 to 16-fold reduction of antibiotics MIC was observed. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the essential oil of Centroceras clavulatum should be further appraised for its potential use in the management of multi-drug resistant microorganisms, with the purpose to restore the activity of standard antimicrobial drugs.

The objective of this article is to present a simulation of quantum information. We take advantage of quantum entanglement to ensure the spontaneous transfer of a state from one qubit to another similar qubit. Similarly, the principle of quantum teleportation is conceived in the application; it is not about transfer of matter, but of information. Indeed, two systems already exist, and at the end of the teleportation, the process is destructive—the first system will no longer be in the same state as the initial state and the second system takes the state of the first, which does not contradict the no-cloning theorem.

Conversational agents are being increasingly adopted in various domains, such as e-commerce and customer services, and as a direct communication channel between companies and end-users. Several tools have been developed to facilitate their definition and deployment. They exploit existing cloud infrastructures and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to efficiently process users’ input and extract conversational information. Major Information Technology (IT) companies, such as Google, IBM, Microsoft, and Amazon, have provided powerful tools to develop conversational agents. Still, choosing the most appropriate tool is not easy, as it may require high costs associated with automatic natural language processing (NLP) services and expertise in software engineering and AI. Therefore, this paper aims to analyze different tools to help developers and non-developers to choose the optimal tool for their specific scenario of creating a conversational agent.

Research on Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria (PGPB) has focused much more on rhizospheric bacteria. However, PGPB associated with toxic cyanobacterial bloom (TCB) could enter the rhizosphere through irrigation water, helping plants such as Pisum sativum L. (pea) overcome oxidative stress induced by microcystin (MC) and improve plant growth and nutritional value. This study aimed to isolate bacteria associated with toxic cyanobacteria, test PGPB properties, and inoculate them as a consortium to pea seedlings irrigated with MC to investigate their role in plant protection as well as in improving growth and nutritional value. Two bacterioplankton isolates and one rhizosphere isolate were isolated and purified on a mineral salt medium supplemented with 1000 μg/L MC and identified via their 16S rRNA gene. The mixed strains were inoculated to pea seedlings in pots irrigated with 0, 50, and 100 μg/L MC. We measured the morphological and physiological parameters of pea plants at maturity and evaluated the efficiency of the plant’s enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidant responses to assess the role and contribution of PGPB. Both bacterioplankton isolates were identified as Starkeya sp., and the rhizobacterium was identified as Brevundimonas aurantiaca. MC addition significantly (p < 0.05) reduced all the growth parameters of the pea, i.e., total chlorophyll content, leaf quantum yield, stomatal conductance, carotenoids, and polyphenol contents, in an MC concentration-dependent manner, while bacterial presence positively affected all the measured parameters. In the MC treatment, the levels of the pea’s antioxidant traits, including SOD, CAT, POD, PPO, GST, and ascorbic acid, were increased in the sterile pots. In contrast, these levels were reduced with double and triple PGPB addition. Additionally, nutritional values such as sugars, proteins, and minerals (Ca and K) in pea fruits were reduced under MC exposure but increased with PGPB addition. Overall, in the presence of MC, PGPB seem to positively interact with pea plants and thus may constitute a natural alternative for soil fertilization when irrigated with cyanotoxin-contaminated water, increasing the yield and nutritional value of crops.

Over the last years, the use of artificial lakes and ponds to irrigate agricultural crops has been intensified and cultivation methods have been diversified. Hydroponics is a type of hydroculture which usually involves growing plants in an inert substrate, by using nutrient-enriched water to support plant growth. However, irrigating plants in hydroponic-based culture must be accompanied by monitoring the quality of irrigation water. The human health risks involved are mainly related to the proliferation of microcystin-producing cyanobacteria that contaminate water used for irrigation purposes. Strawberry (Fragaria vulgaris L.) is a widely cultivated plant of an increased economically importance worldwide. Its fruits provide essential elements for human nutrition; therefore, the study of its sensitivity to microcystins (MCs) is of paramount importance. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of MCs in irrigation water on the growth, physiology, and antioxidant defense system in F. vulgaris. In this study, strawberry seedlings at the three-leaf stage were grown in pots containing perlite under controlled conditions. Plants were exposed to a crude extract of Microcystis aeruginosa bloom at different concentrations of MCs (1, 5, 10, and 20 μg/L) for 60 days of exposure. The results showed that the highest concentrations of 10 and 20 μg/L induced a decrease in growth parameters. They resulted in root/shoot length decrease as well as number of leaves, roots/leaves dry and fresh weight. Furthermore, MCs reduced chlorophyll/carotenoid content, stomatal conductance, fluorescence, and total protein content of strawberry plants. At the same time, a significant increase in Malondialdehyde (MDA) (an indicator of lipid peroxidation), polyphenol, and sugar content were recorded in strawberry plants exposed to MCs at 5, 10, and 20 μg/L compared with the control. Additionally, superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD), Polyphenoloxydase (PPO), and ascorbate peroxidase (APX) activities significantly increased in plants under MCs exposure. The oxidative stress was higher in plants exposed to 10 and 20 μg/L of MCs from the second harvest (after 60 days of exposure) compared to those from the first harvest (after 30 days). Overall, the results obtained in this study indicate an increasingly negative effect of MCs on strawberry plants grown in hydroponics even at concentrations (10 and 20 µg/L). This effect is more damaging on the roots after exposure (60 days).

Powering implanted biomedical devices (IMDs) and sensors is a major obstacle for researchers in the microelectronics field. Such as the problem of miniaturization, increasing the distance between the external part (TX) and the internal part (RX), and the improvement of the power transfer efficiency (PTE), … The purpose of this article is to compare two strategies for optimizing component characteristics for a wireless energy transfer system (coupling of two coils), based on the new Figure-of-Merit (FoM) or iterative procedure (IP), and genetic algorithm (GA), in order to have a power transfer efficiency equal to 15% and 94.18 % respectively for a separation distance d = 12cm.

Frequent toxic cyanoblooms in eutrophic freshwaters produce various cyanotoxins such as the monocyclic heptapeptides microcystins (MCs), known as deleterious compounds to plant growth and human health. Recently, MCs are a recurrent worldwide sanitary problem in irrigation waters and farmland soils due to their transfer and accumulation in the edible tissues of vegetable produce. In such cases, studies about the persistence and removal of MCs in soil are scarce and not fully investigated. In this study, we carried out a greenhouse trial on two crop species: faba bean (Vicia faba var. Alfia 321) and common wheat (Triticum aestivum var. Achtar) that were grown in sterile (microorganism-free soil) and non-sterile (microorganism-rich soil) soils and subjected to MC-induced stress at 100 µg equivalent MC-LR L−1. The experimentation aimed to assess the prominent role of native rhizospheric microbiota in mitigating the phytotoxic impact of MCs on plant growth and reducing their accumulation in both soils and plant tissues. Moreover, we attempted to evaluate the health risk related to the consumption of MC-polluted plants for humans and cattle by determining the estimated daily intake (EDI) and health risk quotient (RQ) of MCs in these plants. Biodegradation was liable to be the main removal pathway of the toxin in the soil; and therefore, bulk soil (unplanted soil), as well as rhizospheric soil (planted soil), were used in this experiment to evaluate the accumulation of MCs in the presence and absence of microorganisms (sterile and non-sterile soils). The data obtained in this study showed that MCs had no significant effects on growth indicators of faba bean and common wheat plants in non-sterile soil as compared to the control group. In contrast, plants grown in sterile soil showed a significant decrease in growth parameters as compared to the control. These results suggest that MCs were highly bioavailable to the plants, resulting in severe growth impairments in the absence of native rhizospheric microbiota. Likewise, MCs were more accumulated in sterile soil and more bioconcentrated in root and shoot tissues of plants grown within when compared to non-sterile soil. Thereby, the EDI of MCs in plants grown in sterile soil was more beyond the tolerable daily intake recommended for both humans and cattle. The risk level was more pronounced in plants from the sterile soil than those from the non-sterile one. These findings suggest that microbial activity, eventually MC-biodegradation, is a crucial bioremediation tool to remove and prevent MCs from entering the agricultural food chain.

Nowadays, making strategic decisions in a sensitive sector such as energy planning that usually requires allocating huge funds, time, and resources is a difficult task. For instance, prioritizing a set of Renewable Energy Sources (RES) is a complex multi-dimensional task that typically involves a range of conflicting criteria featuring different forms of evaluation data in an uncertain decision-making environment. This process is aligned with several sources that can be uncertain, including imprecise information, limited domain knowledge from decisionmakers, and failures to provide accurate judgments from experts. In this study, we propose to use the Evidential Reasoning (ER) approach to manage the expanding complexities and uncertainties in RES prioritization problem. The ER approach is employed as a multiple criteria framework to assess the appropriateness regarding the use of different renewable energy technologies. A case study is provided to illustrate the implementation process. Results show that using the ER approach when assessing the sustainability of different RES under uncertainty allows providing robust decisions, which brings out a more accurate, effective, and better-informed decision-making tool to conduct the evaluation process.

A quantum theoretical approach, within the adiabatic approximation and taking into account a strong non-adiabatic correction via the resonant exchange between the fast mode excited states of the two moieties of the dimer. The intrinsic anharmonicity of the low-frequency mode through a Morse potential, direct and indirect damping, and a selection rule breaking mechanism for forbidden transitions, is applied to reproduce the υX-H IR line shape of cyclic dimers of moderately H-bonded species in the crystalline phase. The results are used to gain an insight into the experimental spectral line shapes obtained by the transmission method. This approach fits satisfactorily the experimental line shape of 2-thiopheneacetic acid and predicts their evolution with isotopic substitution. Numerical calculations show that mixing of all these effects allows one to reproduce the main features of the experimental IR line shapes.

Cyanobacteria are a group of photosynthetic prokaryotes that pose a great concern in the aquatic environments related to contamination and poisoning of wild life and humans. Some species of cyanobacteria produce potent toxins such as microcystins (MCs), which are extremely aggressive to several organisms, including animals and humans. In order to protect human health and prevent human exposure to this type of organisms and toxins, regulatory limits for MCs in drinking water have been established in most countries. In this regard, the World Health Organization (WHO) proposed 1 µg MCs/L as the highest acceptable concentration in drinking water. However, regulatory limits were not defined in waters used in other applications/activities, constituting a potential threat to the environment and to human health. Indeed, water contaminated with MCs or other cyanotoxins is recurrently used in agriculture and for crop and food production. Several deleterious effects of MCs including a decrease in growth, tissue necrosis, inhibition of photosynthesis and metabolic changes have been reported in plants leading to the impairment of crop productivity and economic loss. Studies have also revealed significant accumulation of MCs in edible tissues and plant organs, which raise concerns related to food safety. This work aims to systematize and analyze the information generated by previous scientific studies, namely on the phytotoxicity and the impact of MCs especially on growth, photosynthesis and productivity of agricultural plants. Morphological and physiological parameters of agronomic interest are overviewed in detail in this work, with the aim to evaluate the putative impact of MCs under field conditions. Finally, concentration-dependent effects are highlighted, as these can assist in future guidelines for irrigation waters and establish regulatory limits for MCs.

Microcystins (MCs) produced in eutrophic waters may decrease crop yield, enter food chains and threaten human and animal health. The main objective of this research was to highlight the role of rhizospheric soil microbiota to protect faba bean plants from MCs toxicity after chronic exposure. Faba bean seedlings were grown in pots containing agricultural soil, during 1 month under natural environmental conditions of Marrakech city in Morocco (March–April 2018) and exposed to cyanobacterial extracts containing up to 2.5 mg·L−1 of total MCs. Three independent exposure experiments were performed (a) agricultural soil was maintained intact “exposure experiment 1”; (b) agricultural soil was sterilized “exposure experiment 2”; (c) agricultural soil was sterilized and inoculated with the rhizobia strain Rhizobium leguminosarum RhOF34 “exposure experiment 3”. Overall, data showed evidence of an increased sensitivity of faba bean plants, grown in sterilized soil, to MCs in comparison to those grown in intact and inoculated soils. The study revealed the growth inhibition of plant shoots in both exposure experiments 2 and 3 when treated with 2.5 mg·L−1 of MCs. The results also showed that the estimated daily intake (EDI) of MCs, in sterilized soil, exceeded 2.18 and 1.16 times the reference concentrations (0.04 and 0.45 µg of microcysin-leucine arginine (MC-LR). Kg−1 DW) established for humans and cattle respectively, which raises concerns about human food chain contamination.

The viability of the sodium-ion batteries as a post-lithium storage technology is strongly tied to the development of high-performance carbonaceous anode materials. This requires screening novel precursors, and tuning their electrochemical properties. Soft carbons as promising anode materials, not only for batteries, but also in hybrid capacitors, have drawn great attention, due to safe operation voltage and high-power properties. Herein, several vinyl polymer-derived soft carbons have been prepared via pyrolysis, and their physicochemical and sodium storage properties have been evaluated. According to the obtained results, vinyl polymers are a promising source for preparation of soft carbon anode materials for sodium-ion battery application. In addition, their applicability towards Li-ion battery and hybrid capacitors (e.g., Li ion capacitors, LICs) has been examined. This work not only contrasts the carbonization products of these polymers with relevant physicochemical characterization, but also screens potential precursors for soft carbons with interesting alkali metal-ion (e.g., Na or Li, with an emphasis on Na) storage properties. This can stimulate further research to tune and improve the electrochemical properties of the soft carbons for energy storage applications.

The application of natural compounds extracted from seaweeds is a promising eco-friendly alternative solution for harmful algae control in aquatic ecosystems. In the present study, the anti-cyanobacterial activity of three Moroccan marine macroalgae essential oils (EOs) was tested and evaluated on unicellular Microcystis aeruginosa cyanobacterium. Additionally, the possible anti-cyanobacterial response mechanisms were investigated by analyzing the antioxidant enzyme activities of M. aeruginosa cells. The results of EOs GC–MS analyses revealed a complex chemical composition, allowing the identification of 91 constituents. Palmitic acid, palmitoleic acid, and eicosapentaenoic acid were the most predominant compounds in Cystoseira tamariscifolia, Sargassum muticum, and Ulva lactuca EOs, respectively. The highest anti-cyanobacterial activity was recorded for Cystoseira tamariscifolia EO (ZI = 46.33 mm, MIC = 7.81 μg mL−1, and MBC = 15.62 μg mL−1). The growth, chlorophyll-a and protein content of the tested cyanobacteria were significantly reduced by C. tamariscifolia EO at both used concentrations (inhibition rate >67% during the 6 days test period in liquid media). Furthermore, oxidative stress caused by C. tamariscifolia EO on cyanobacterium cells showed an increase of the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration was significantly elevated after 2 days of exposure. Overall, these experimental findings can open a promising new natural pathway based on the use of seaweed essential oils to the fight against potent toxic harmful cyanobacterial blooms (HCBs).

Objective To evaluate the potential economic benefits of keeping a meningitis A vaccine at or near ambient temperature for up to 4 days during a mass vaccination campaign. Methods During a 10-day mass vaccination campaign against meningitis A in three regions of Chad in 2011, the costs associated with storage and transport of the vaccine in a traditional cold chain system were evaluated. A mathematical model was used to estimate the savings that could have been achieved if the vaccine had been stored at or near ambient temperature – in a “controlled temperature” chain – at the peripheral levels of the supply chain system. Findings The cost of the cold chain and associated logistics used in the campaign in Chad was 0.24 United States dollars (US$) per person vaccinated. In the modelled scenario for a controlled temperature chain, however, these costs dropped by 50% and were estimated to be only US$ 0.12 per person vaccinated. Conclusion The implementation of a “controlled temperature” chain at the most peripheral levels of the supply chain system – assuming no associated loss of vaccine potency, efficacy or safety – could result in major economic benefits and allow vaccine coverage to be extended in low-resource settings.

Cyanobacteria are found globally due to their adaptation to various environments. The occurrence of cyanobacterial blooms is not a new phenomenon. The bloom-forming and toxin-producing species have been a persistent nuisance all over the world over the last decades. Evidence suggests that this trend might be attributed to a complex interplay of direct and indirect anthropogenic influences. To control cyanobacterial blooms, various strategies, including physical, chemical, and biological methods have been proposed. Nevertheless, the use of those strategies is usually not effective. The isolation of natural compounds from many aquatic and terrestrial plants and seaweeds has become an alternative approach for controlling harmful algae in aquatic systems. Seaweeds have received attention from scientists because of their bioactive compounds with antibacterial, antifungal, anti-microalgae, and antioxidant properties. The undesirable effects of cyanobacteria proliferations and potential control methods are here reviewed, focusing on the use of potent bioactive compounds, isolated from seaweeds, against microalgae and cyanobacteria growth.

Competing Interests: Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

Background: Spontaneous splenic rupture is a rare life-threatening finding with a challenging diagnosis which is largely ignored in the literature. Hematological disorders such as afibrinogenemia are reported to cause bleeding disorders mostly cerebral hemorrhage. Despite being a life-threatening condition, data about spontaneous splenic rupture in patients with Afibrinogenemia remain scarce. Such fatal incidents should warrant diligent efforts to establish and adopt prevention measures in this particularly vulnerable population. We report two new cases of spontaneous splenic rupture in two siblings, diagnosed with congenital afibrinogenemia since early childhood. In addition, we report the results of a systematic review of the literature of cases that have reported the occurrence of splenic rupture in afibrinogenemia, with the aim of filling the gap in the clinical course of such an uncommon event., Methods: We conduced a systematic review of English and French language publications cataloged in Pubmed, and Google Scholar up to December 2022. We opted to include articles written in other languages if an English language abstract was available and contained the information needed for our report. The following MeSH (medical subject heading) search criteria were used: ''splenic rupture'' AND ''afibrinogenemia.'' The above search strategy was further combined with a supplementary strategy that included the MeSH terms ''spleen'', AND ''rupture'' AND ''Afibrinogenemia''. In order to reduce the selection bias in searching on the Google Scholar database, we searched for articles containing these MeSH terms in their titles., Results: We reported two cases of splenic rupture in two family members who were diagnosed with afibrinogenemia at the age of 1 year. The splenic rupture was misdiagnosed by clinicians in the brother's case, resulting in his death and presenting as a forensic case. However, the sister underwent a splenectomy one week before her brother's death following the onset of asthenia and acute abdominal pain. Then we conducted a literature review of relevant studies of spontaneous splenic rupture in Afibrinogenemia. A selection of 13 relevant studies was included in the final review, describing a total of 25 cases of spontaneous splenic rupture in Afibrinogenemia. One paper was an international cross-sectional study across 25 different countries involving 211 patients with fibrinogen disorders, showing that 11 patients with afibrinogenemia had developed spontaneous splenic rupture. The remaining 12 articles were case reports or case series, describing a total of 14 cases of atraumatic splenic rupture in afibrinogenemia, ranging from 0 to 28 years old, with a median age of 14.5 years, where the majority were infants (age inferior to 18) with the most cases occurred in the age group of 10-15 years old., Conclusion: Congenital afibrinogenemia is a rare disease with a wide range of clinical symptoms and with challenging management. While the most common presenting symptoms are bleeding and thrombosis, spontaneous spleen rupture is rare and probably underdiagnosed which consequently may lead to death. Studies about the topic remain scarce, hence, further studies are needed to ascertain this risk and establish target preventive measures for this vulnerable population., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2025 Elsevier Ltd and Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: The aim of the present work is to develop a novel method for predicting age in individuals over 50 years old, utilizing regression models., Methods: The conducted study is of an analytical cross-sectional nature, involving a sample of 44 young subjects and 107 elderly subjects. The necessary data for this research were extracted from "The New Mexico Decedent Image Database." Based on the phenomenon of height shrinkage with age, we created models for young subjects and applied them to elderly subjects, allowing us to extract the variables., Results: We obtained highly encouraging results with an R 2 of 0.73, a mean absolute error of 3.94, and stable cross-validation. We used a Student's t-test, which demonstrated no significant difference between predicted and actual values (p-value >0.05). We also conducted a learning curve analysis and examined residuals against predicted values. This suggests that the forecasts are accurate, with no significant bias in predictions., Conclusion: This work has allowed us to conclude that it is possible to reliably estimate the age of subjects over 50, taking into account age-related physiological and pathological changes., (Copyright © 2024 Elsevier Ltd and Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine. All rights reserved.)

The mastoid bone, situated at the base of the skull and characterized by its compact structure in the petrous portion, being among the slowest-growing bones, has gained recognition as a valuable anthropological tool for sex determination. Thus, we have proposed to assess the reliability of the mastoid process in sex determination in a Tunisian population using CT-scan analysis. A cross-sectional study was conducted. CT scans forming the mastoid triangle were analyzed using a General Electric Bright Speed scanner. Nine measurements were taken by a single observer, ensuring reliability through intra- and inter-observer assessments. Normalization and statistical analyses, including logistic regression, were applied to identify sex-discriminating variables. The model's performance was evaluated using learning curves, cross-validation, and various metrics. The resulting logistic regression equation, coefficients, and intercept provided a predictive tool for sex determination. A total of 256 cranial CT scans (126 males, 130 females) were analyzed. Our study revealed that the mastoid region approach achieved an overall accuracy of 80.8 % in sex identification within the examined population. The method demonstrated a sensitivity of 78.9 % and specificity of 81.8 %. All investigated variables (AP, PM, AM, CMH, TMH, OSDmax, OCDmax, MA) exhibited discriminatory capabilities for sex determination, except for AIA. Notably, the most effective discriminators were AP, CMH, and OSDmax. Utilizing an ROC curve analysis to optimize mastoid variables for maximum sensitivity and specificity, we obtained excellent results, with an area under the curve reaching 91 %., Competing Interests: The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (© 2024 The Authors.)

Glucocorticoids represent the mainstay of therapy for a broad spectrum of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying their anti-inflammatory mode of action have remained incompletely understood 1 . Here we show that the anti-inflammatory properties of glucocorticoids involve reprogramming of the mitochondrial metabolism of macrophages, resulting in increased and sustained production of the anti-inflammatory metabolite itaconate and consequent inhibition of the inflammatory response. The glucocorticoid receptor interacts with parts of the pyruvate dehydrogenase complex whereby glucocorticoids provoke an increase in activity and enable an accelerated and paradoxical flux of the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle in otherwise pro-inflammatory macrophages. This glucocorticoid-mediated rewiring of mitochondrial metabolism potentiates TCA-cycle-dependent production of itaconate throughout the inflammatory response, thereby interfering with the production of pro-inflammatory cytokines. By contrast, artificial blocking of the TCA cycle or genetic deficiency in aconitate decarboxylase 1, the rate-limiting enzyme of itaconate synthesis, interferes with the anti-inflammatory effects of glucocorticoids and, accordingly, abrogates their beneficial effects during a diverse range of preclinical models of immune-mediated inflammatory diseases. Our findings provide important insights into the anti-inflammatory properties of glucocorticoids and have substantial implications for the design of new classes of anti-inflammatory drugs., (© 2024. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Limited.)

Fibromuscular dysplasia of the coronary is an uncommon coronary defect with a range of pathological alterations and unpredictable clinical description that can cause sudden death. We present an autopsy case of sudden cardiac death due to a rupture of a coronary artery aneurysm in a 59-year-old woman. Postmortem autopsy revealed two huge saccular aneurysms located at the right coronary artery, one of which was ruptured leading to a fatal hemopericardium. Histopathological examination revealed coronary artery fibromuscular dysplasia with fibromyxoid dissociation of the media causing saccular aneurysms. The involvement of coronary arteries in fibromuscular dysplasia with aneurysmal features has been rarely reported in the literature and is most likely an underdiagnosed finding. Due to the little number of published studies, the etiology is not fully understood and data on pathogenesis, risk factors, manifestation, disease course, and mortality are still unclear, which is a gap that needs to be filled in order to avoid under-diagnosis of the disease. Our case report aimed to discuss the mechanisms of sudden death attributed to coronary fibromuscular dysplasia., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest No funding was received for the conception of this work or that could have influenced its outcome. The authors report no conflict of interest. This research did not receive any specific grant from funding agencies in the public, commercial, or not-for-profit sectors. As the Corresponding Author, I confirm that the manuscript has been read and approved for submission by all the named authors. Informed and written consent for publication was obtained from the next of kin. There were no identifying images published in this study and there is no identification of the deceased in the mentioned case., (Copyright © 2023 Elsevier Ltd and Faculty of Forensic and Legal Medicine. All rights reserved.)

IL-3 has been reported to be involved in various inflammatory disorders, but its role in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) has not been addressed so far. Here, we determined IL-3 expression in samples from patients with IBD and studied the impact of Il3 or Il3r deficiency on T cell-dependent experimental colitis. We explored the mechanical, cytoskeletal and migratory properties of Il3r -/- and Il3r +/+ T cells using real-time deformability cytometry, atomic force microscopy, scanning electron microscopy, fluorescence recovery after photobleaching and in vitro and in vivo cell trafficking assays. We observed that, in patients with IBD, the levels of IL-3 in the inflamed mucosa were increased. In vivo , experimental chronic colitis on T cell transfer was exacerbated in the absence of Il-3 or Il-3r signalling. This was attributable to Il-3r signalling-induced changes in kinase phosphorylation and actin cytoskeleton structure, resulting in increased mechanical deformability and enhanced egress of Tregs from the inflamed colon mucosa. Similarly, IL-3 controlled mechanobiology in human Tregs and was associated with increased mucosal Treg abundance in patients with IBD. Collectively, our data reveal that IL-3 signaling exerts an important regulatory role at the interface of biophysical and migratory T cell features in intestinal inflammation and suggest that this might be an interesting target for future intervention., Competing Interests: Competing interests: MFN has served as an advisor for Pentax, Giuliani, MSD, AbbVie, Janssen, Takeda and Boehringer. SZ received honoraria from Takeda, Roche, Galapagos, Ferring, Falk, Lilly and Janssen. MFN and SZ received research support from Takeda, Shire (a part of Takeda) and Roche. JG and MK are co-founders of Rivercyte GmbH, a company that develops biomedical applications for real-time deformability cytometry. The other authors declare no conflicts of interest., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2023. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

Since the 1950 s, several studies have reported that patients using first generation and/or second-generation antipsychotics had increased risk of venous thromboembolism events. These events include deep vein thrombosis and/or pulmonary embolism (PE). However, data about fatal PE in patients on antipsychotics (APs) remain scarce. Thus, the current study aimed to investigate sociodemographic, clinical and pharmacological characteristics related to psychiatric patients on APs and who died from a fatal PE. We reported a case-series, then conducted a literature review of relevant studies and performed a meta-analysis of studies with usable data. The main outcome of the study suggested a significantly high risk of fatal PE in patients using APs compared to nonusers (Odds Ratio=6.68, with 95% confidence interval 1.43-31.11). Clozapine was the most incriminated drug. Low potency first generation APs were the second most exhibited medication. Studies about the topic remain scarce with a high heterogeneity and a high probability of bias. Further studies are needed to ascertain this risk and to establish target preventive measures in this particularly vulnerable population., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Background: Despite the abundance of studies reporting the prevalence of women's sexual abuse all over the world, there is a real lack of such reports in developing countries in general and Arab-Muslim societies in particular. However, due to the little number of published studies in Tunisia, and the absence of a national database, data on female sexual assaults are still underestimated, which is a gap that needs to be filled in order to make specific preventive actions. We aim to identify the pattern of female victims of sexual abuse in the governorate of Kairouan (Tunisia) in order to provide recommendations for prevention., Methods: Retrospective data were collected on all-female sexual assault victims, particularly rape, presented to the Department of Forensic Medicine of the University Hospital Ibn El Jazzar of Kairouan (Tunisia), during an 8-year period, from 2009 to 2016., Results: Two hundred and sixteen victims were included. Age ranged from 3 to 82 years with a mean age of 20.4 years. Victims were single in 84.3%, unmarried in 90.7% and they lived in rural areas in the majority of cases. Rape was committed by a single individual in 94.9% of cases, and the assailant was a stranger in only 26.8%. The assault occurred most frequently in the assailant's home (73.6%) or the public places (11.6%). Evidence of recent acute general body trauma was found in 41.2% of the victims, and the most common injuries were located on the thigh, upper arm, and chest. In 28.1% of the cases, injuries were seen in the face and the neck. Genital examination showed that 188 victims (87%) had a tear in the hymenal membrane and only 13% of victims had intact hymenal membrane. A complacent hymen was noted in 2.3%. A recent anal lesion was seen in 8.3% of the cases. Cytology was performed on 78 victims. In 22 cases (28.2%), sperm could be detected in vaginal swabs up to 3 days post-assault, and pregnancy was seen in 7.4% of assault victims., Conclusion: Sexual abuse represents a human rights and public health problem that is thriving in a culture of silence, particularly in the Arab region. There is a particular need to create a Tunisian national database on female sexual assaults, in order to centralize data and provide holistic follow-up for specific preventive measures. Finally, efficient management of such cases will need, in addition to legislation, a partnership between the various actors involved in taking care of the victims (health care professionals, the police, social specialists, and psychologists). In addition, civil societies are key partners to break the silence, support this issue, and raise awareness., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

This article presents the results of experimental and theoretical studies of the v(O-H) and v(O-D) band shapes in the polarized infrared spectra of 3-thiophenic acid crystals measured at room temperature and at 77 K. The line shapes are studied theoretically within the framework of the anharmonic coupling theory, Davydov coupling, Fermi resonance, direct and indirect damping, as well as the selection rule breaking mechanism for forbidden transitions. The adiabatic approximation allowing to separate the high-frequency motion from the slow one of the H-bond bridge is performed for each separate H-bond bridge of the dimer and a strong nonadiabatic correction is introduced via the resonant exchange between the fast-mode excited states of the two moieties. The spectral density is obtained within the linear response theory by Fourier transform of the damped autocorrelation functions. The approach correctly fits the experimental line shape of the hydrogenated compound and predicts satisfactorily the evolution in the line shapes with temperature and the change in the line shape with isotopic substitution., (Copyright 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.)

The effects of glucocorticoids (hydrocortisone, dexamethasone) and insulin on enzymatic activities of the intestinal brush border membrane were investigated in an anuran amphibian, Alytes obstetricians, before and during experimental metamorphosis produced by immersion into a thyroxine solution. During experimental metamorphosis, a new epithelium (secondary epithelium) replaces the degenerating primary epithelium. The enzymes studied were three glucidases (maltase, glucoamylase, trehalase) and alkaline phosphatase. In tadpoles reaching the end of premetamorphosis, hormones were injected every day (hydrocortisone, dexamethasone: 25 micrograms/g body wt/day; insulin: 5 mU/g body wt/day, for 3 and occasionally 6 consecutive days. Under such conditions, most of the activities in the primary epithelium increased or remained stable. In animals which completed experimental metamorphosis, the secondary epithelium formed. Hydrocortisone (25 micrograms/g body wt/day) and insulin (5 mU/g body wt/day) treatments significantly decreased the enzymatic activities of the new brush border membrane in animals which received one hydrocortisone and/or insulin injection per day, during 3 consecutive days. Such results, which previously had not been obtained systematically in spontaneously metamorphosing tadpoles (El Maraghi-Ater, Mesnard, and Hourdry (1986). Gen. Comp. Endocrinol. 61, 53-63), emphasize the relative independence of the intestinal metabolism during experimental and spontaneous metamorphosis.