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This study investigates the physiological and genetic diversity of Allorhizobium vitis strains in Morocco, focusing on their ability to produce and utilize opines as sources of carbon, nitrogen, and energy. Using ultra-high performance liquid chromatography coupled with quadrupole time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UHPLC-Q-TOF) and specific PCR assays, we identified and characterized opines in tumors induced in tomato plants by Moroccan strains of A. vitis. All strains showed the rare octopine/vitopine combination. Chromatographic analysis and molecular validation revealed metabolic and genetic uniformity in opine catabolism among the strains. These results suggest a homogeneity of octopine/vitopine tumour-inducing plasmids (pTi), which contribute to the uniformity of opine-related genes. This comprehensive approach provides insights into the molecular mechanisms of opine utilization and bacterial virulence, suggesting that targeting specific pathways or key virulence genes may be a strategy to control crown gall disease.

Soil salinity significantly impacts crop productivity. In response, plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) offer an innovative and eco-friendly solution to mitigate salinity stress. However, research on PGPR’s effects on crop physiology under varying salinity levels is still emerging. This study evaluates the impact of five bacterial strains, isolated from compost, on the growth of maize (Zea mays) and tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) plants under different levels of salt stress. This study involved treating maize and tomato seeds with five bacterial strains, and then planting them in a greenhouse under varying salt stress conditions (43 mM, 86 mM, 172 mM, 207 mM NaCl) using a Randomized Complete Block Design. Results showed that bacterial inoculation improved plant growth under saline conditions. S2015-1, S2026-2, and S2027-2 (Bacillus cereus, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, Bacillus subtilis) were particularly effective in promoting plant growth under salt stress, especially at ionic concentrations of 43 mM and 86 mM, leading to a substantial increase in fresh and dry weight, with strain S2015-1 boosting chlorophyll by 29% at 86 mM in both crops. These results highlight the potential of PGPR to enhance crop resilience and productivity under salinity stress, promoting climate-smart agricultural practices.

Chondrosarcoma is a primary malignant bone tumor, with spinal involvement being rare. Diagnosing this condition can be challenging and typically requires histological verification. Chondrosarcoma has the potential to invade locally and spread systemically. We report the case of 32 year-old women presenting with back pain and weight loss. Magnetic resonance imaging of the spine showed a bone growth at the low cervical spine which extends to the upper dorsal spine. Histological examination showed low-grade chondrosarcoma. Given the tumor proximity to the spinal cord, an incomplete surgical excision was performed followed by radiotherapy sessions. Clinical course was marked by partial regression of the tumor process with a stability of the radiological image of the tumor after a three years follow-up. Our case is original because of the bifocality of the chondrosarcoma in two adjacent segments of the spine.

Introduction. The stiff-person syndrome (SPS) is a rare disease whose incidence is estimated at approximately 1 in a million individuals in the general population. Diagnosis relies on a combination of clinical, immunological, and electromyographic items. We present the case of a patient diagnosed with the idiopathic SPS, initially misdiagnosed as focal paravertebral myositis. Case presentation. A 36-year-old patient was referred to us for the investigation of subacute dorsal myalgias. The patient reported a severe torticollis seven months ago, which resolved spontaneously after one month, and some episodes of back stiffness. On examination, the patient was afebrile, had hyperlordosis with a paravertebral contracture and tenderness. Neurological and cognitive examinations were normal. C-reactive Protein was at 137 mg/l. The rest of laboratory investigations, including creatine phosphokinase (CPK), were within normal range. Spinal MRI revealed T2 hyperintensity in the semispinalis muscle, erector spinae muscle, trapezius muscle, as well as the intervertebral muscles. Therefore, focal paravertebral myositis was suspected. The electromyogram (EMG) revealed the presence of a continuous motor unit activity in agonist and antagonist muscles, suggestive of stiff-person syndrome. Antinuclear antibodies, anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 and onconeuronal antibodies were negative. Analysis of the cerebrospinal fluid, including anti-glutamic acid decarboxylase 65 test, was normal. We noticed that the paravertebral contracture became less noticeable when the patient was commenced on diazepam. Diagnosis of SPS was established according to Dalakas criteria. Investigations for an underlying neoplasm, were normal. Associated autoimmune disorders have been ruled out. The MRI description was rather explained by the continuous contraction of the affected muscles. Treatment included diazepam, baclofen, intravenous immunoglobulin and corticosteroids. The patient showed important signs of improvement. Conclusion. SPS is a rare condition whose diagnosis can be delayed. Recognizing and managing SPS as early as possible is crucial. It is based on clinical reasoning, imaging, biological features and EMG.

Introduction. Polyautoimmunity refers to the phenomenon where an individual is affected by multiple autoimmune diseases simultaneously. This condition underscores the complexity of autoimmune disorders and their interconnected nature, often resulting from shared genetic predispositions and overlapping immunological mechanisms. In this report, we present a case that exemplifies the coexistence of myasthenia gravis, scleroderma, and anti-synthetase syndrome in a female patient. The combination of these three distinct autoimmune conditions highlights the challenges faced by clinicians in diagnosis and management. We herein report a case that illustrates the coexistence of myasthenia, scleroderma and anti-synthetase syndrome in a female patient. Case description. A 45-year-old female patient was referred for systemic sclerosis, without respiratory or muscular involvement. Two years later, she presented with dyspnea and muscle fatigue. She had mechanic’s hands and bilateral symmetric proximal muscle weakness. Laboratory investigations revealed CK levels at 995 IU/L and positive anti-PL7 antibodies. Thoracic CT showed diffuse interstitial lung disease. Spirometry demonstrated a restrictive lung disease. The electroneuromyogram (ENMG) showed a myopathic pattern. Diagnosis of anti-synthetase syndrome was established. Treatment was initiated with monthly cyclophosphamide infusions. Seven months later, she presented with left ptosis and worsening dyspnea and muscle fatigue. An intravenous immunoglobulin infusion was administered, than the patient was commenced on mycophenolate mofetil. She showed a slight improvement, than she developed dysphagia. Brain MRI and cerebrospinal fluid were normal. Onconeuronal antibodies were negative. The ENMG did not reveal any decrement, but the acetylcholine receptor antibody level was positive at 1.12 nmol/L. Consequently, with the presence of ptosis, dysphonia and dysphagia, the diagnosis of myasthenia gravis was established. Imaging did not reveal a thymoma. A favorable therapeutic response was achieved with intravenous immunoglobulins and pyridostigmine. Conclusions. Patients with autoimmune diseases necessitate meticulous management and monitoring because they are at risk for developing multiple immune-mediated disorders, either simultaneously or in succession over the course of their illness. This phenomenon, known as polyautoimmunity, can complicate the clinical picture, as overlapping symptoms and disease manifestations may make diagnosis challenging.

The elaboration of a new family of tetrapodal molecules L1–L3 bearing two pyrazole–tetrazole units is presented. The structure assigned to such molecules was verified by various techniques, including FTIR, NMR, HRMS and elemental analysis. The ability of these tetrapods to inhibit the growth of four fungal strains was examined, and the obtained results showed that they have some antifungal potency in the range of 12–16 mm. The alpha-amylase inhibition activity of these molecules was also evaluated. The obtained IC50 values (1.34 × 10−1–1.2 × 10−2 mg/mL) demonstrated that all compounds are potent enough to inhibit this enzyme much better than the positive control acarbose (2.6 × 10−1 mg/mL). A docking study on the porcine alpha-amylase was performed, and the results were in good correlation with the experimental results.

This article discusses the challenges involved in diagnosing faults in renewable energy systems. A significant challenge is the high computational demands of the artificial intelligence algorithms needed for grid-connected photovoltaic (GCPV) and wind energy conversion (WEC) systems in fault diagnosis. To address this issue, several methods are proposed to reduce computation time, minimize memory requirements, and improve efficiency. First, optimization algorithms such as the Salp Swarm Algorithm (SSA), Genetic Algorithm (GA), and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO), combined with machine learning classifiers for feature selection, are suggested to reduce computational time and memory space requirements. This approach notably decreases computation time but has a limited impact on memory space. Secondly, further reduction in memory space requirements is recommended by using the variogram method for data reduction. This method can leverage the outputs of preceding algorithms to optimize renewable energy systems, making their operations cost-effective and efficient. Finally, the outputs of the variogram are used to train neural network (NN), recurrent neural network (RNN), and long short-term memory (LSTM) classifiers to differentiate between various modes of operation in GCPV and WEC systems. Experimental results demonstrate the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed methods, showing that memory space can be reduced by 1.3 to 5.6 times and CPU time by 1.1 to 11 times while maintaining accuracy and improving efficiency compared to conventional algorithms.

Abstract. From the 70s and 80s, several political science works have focused on the way in which actors interact with institutions and how they act through their capacities on the environment. To explain the change institutional, neo-institutional theory (NIT) has integrated this agentic turn thanks to some of his works from the thirty latest years. Our manuscript aimed to explore the capacity action of twelve founders of the Union Independent of Nurses and Health Technicians (SIITS) on their environments, with a view to mobilizing in favor of the constraints linked to its institutionalization, constraining their participation in elections of administrative joint administrative committees (CAP) organized in 2021. Semi- structured interviews carried out between 2023 and 2024 identified an ability action strategic in a neo-corporatist field structure conflictual, marked by the domination of unions inter-categorical opposing the introduction of a category of actor, proclaiming the representation of nursing interests. Faced with this complexity institutional, the founders of SIIITS considered as institutional entrepreneurs used their skills and roles social to establish an institutional DIY the day before the 2021 elections between the first union autonomous nurses, inactive since its creation in 2007 and their unauthorized union after its creation in 2020.

AbstractIn recent years, some localities in Tunisia that are among the most amenable to agritourism have focused on the development of agritourism houses with a focus on rural women through agritourism entrepreneurial training. In this regard, the current study examines the influential determinants of entrepreneurial behavior using an agritourism method with rural Tunisian women. 167 of the study’s 235 rural Tunisian women participants were chosen using the Cochran algorithm. The findings suggest that rural women will have a strong desire to establish agritourism residence through a gradual process of changing norms towards the acceptance of rural women entrepreneurs as well as the acceptance of agritourism culture through the establishment of local and regional institutions and organizations in a context of family support with strong bonds of commitment, solidarity, environmental, and infrastructural foundations.

Table olives, a vital category among fermented vegetables, come in treated and natural forms. Treated green olives require an alkaline treatment before brining to start fermentation. This study investigates the fermentation of unsalted Moroccan Picholine green olives using a method that includes heat shock treatment, inoculation with Lactiplantibacillus plantarum S61, and orange peel juice. The findings indicate that a heat shock at 70°C significantly reduces enterobacteria and enhances acidification, dropping pH levels from 5.0 to 3.6. In contrast, non-heat-treated olives showed only a slight pH decrease. The method also exhibited high antimicrobial activity, with substantial inhibition of E. coli, P. aeruginosa, L. monocytogenes, and S. aureus. Antifungal activity was noted, with significant inhibition of various strains. These results suggest that combining heat shock, L. plantarum S61, and orange peel juice can significantly improve the fermentation process of green olives, enhancing safety and quality.

- In a world where industrial mechatronic systems evolve from day to day, the intensity of these requirements influences the maximization of efficiency, the optimization of the safety of the working environment including human and the increase of the quality of services. This is why industrial computing is becoming a necessity for manufacturers and even researchers working on innovative and creative subjects.This paper deals with the analysis and the modeling of a flexible manufacturing system. Firstly, the study of the system engineeringthen the composition of the studied system was presented. Second, we present an application of a modeling based on Petri Nets.Finally, the last present conclusion and future work.

The Mw 6.8 Adassil earthquake that occurred in the High Atlas on September 8, 2023, was a catastrophic event that provided a rare opportunity to study the mechanics of deep crustal seismicity. This research aimed to decipher the rupture characteristics of the Adassil earthquake by analyzing teleseismic waveform data in conjunction with interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) observations from both ascending and descending orbits. Our analysis revealed a reverse fault mechanism with a centroid depth of approximately 28 km, exceeding the typical range for crustal earthquakes. This result suggests the presence of cooler temperatures in the lower crust, which facilitates the accumulation of tectonic stress. The earthquake exhibited a steep reverse mechanism, dipping at 70°, accompanied by minor strike-slip motion. Within the geotectonic framework of the High Atlas, known for its volcanic legacy and resulting thermal irregularities, we investigated the potential contributions of these factors to the initiation of the Adassil earthquake. Deep seismicity within the lower crust, away from plate boundaries, calls for extensive research to elucidate its implications for regional seismic hazard assessment. Our findings highlight the critical importance of studying and preparing for significant seismic events in similar geological settings, which would provide valuable insights into regional seismic hazard assessments and geodynamic paradigms.

In Vehicular Ad-Hoc Networks (VANETs), a Certificateless Aggregate Signature (CLAS) scheme with a conditional anonymity authentication meets both anonymity and security requirements. This scheme enables a roadside unit to aggregate multiple signatures during Vehicle-to-Infrastructure communications and send the aggregate signature to other RSUs and a traffic control center. However, according to Girault's classification of trust levels (TLs) [1], the existing CLAS schemes only achieve TL 2. At this level, a malicious Trusted Authority (TA) or vehicle can impersonate a legitimate vehicle by launching a public key replacement attack during the authentication process. Consequently, the existing research does not provide strong non-repudiation, as it cannot be proven whether the authority or the vehicle has replaced the original public key. In this study, a new CLAS scheme is designed that achieves TL 3 using asymmetric pairing with a type-2 sitting and the hashing technique of Al-Riyami and Paterson [2]. The results demonstrate that the proposed CLAS scheme offers strong non-repudiation and effectively prevents a public key replacement attack. A security proof is carried out and demonstrates that our scheme achieves Existential Unforgeability under Chosen Message Attack (EUF-CMA) security in the random oracle. Furthermore, the simulation outcomes demonstrate that the proposed scheme outperforms the existing schemes and allows to save communication bandwidth during V2I communications in VANET [3].

In the present work, a new mathematical model is introduced to investigate the effects of skills development on the governance of cyclical unemployment. A system of non-linear differential equations is formed and analyzed. In the modeling approach, we categorize the considered workforce into three distinct classes: the fundamentally unemployed Us, employed individuals E and cyclically unemployed people Uc. We also make the assumption that some government programs can qualify individuals who have been out of work for a period to reintegrate and prevent them from becoming long-term unemployed. The qualitative analysis of differential equations is used to analyze the proposed model. It has been demonstrated that the suggested model has only one equilibrium that is globally asymptotically stable under particular conditions. The impact of key parameters is analyzed by examining their sensitivity. In order to verify the important theoretical results, numerical illustrations of the model have been performed. The obtained results demonstrate that the development of skills among the cyclically unemployed is effective in reducing unemployment.

A novel approach for infrared (IR) energy harvesting through the integration of a resonating metasurface with a metal-insulator-metal (MIM) nano-rectenna is presented. The absorption of IR radiation at 28.3 THz is significantly enhanced through the localization of surface plasmons with the integration of a periodic metasurface on the top of the log spiral MIM rectenna. Additionally, a ground plane is introduced on the backside of the structure to further enhance absorption characteristics. Extensive characterization analysis of the antenna's absorbed E-fields for incident 28.3 THz radiation is conducted with and without the integrated metasurface using full-wave numerical simulation. Also, the rectification properties (I/V, resistivity, and responsivity) are studied with variations in metal (Au, Al, Ag, and Cu) and five different insulators (Al2O3, Cu2O, Ta2O5, TiO2, and ZnO) types. The results demonstrate that the presence of the metasurface enhances the absorbed IR E-field by the rectenna to levels of 80–90%. Furthermore, exceptional harvesting performance, including E-field, current density, resistivity, and rectification efficiency (responsivity), is achieved with the asymmetric Au-ZnO-Cu and Au-ZnO-Ag MIM and metasurface rectenna structures. The proposed design strategies can lead to the development of highly efficient IR energy harvesters in the future.

Abstract Background Prion diseases, also known as transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs) remain one of the deleterious disorders, which have affected several animal species. Polymorphism of the prion protein (PRNP) gene majorly determines the susceptibility of animals to TSEs. However, only limited studies have examined the variation in PRNP gene in different Nigerian livestock species. Thus, this study aimed to identify the polymorphism of PRNP gene in Nigerian livestock species (including camel, dog, horse, goat, and sheep). We sequenced the open reading frame (ORF) of 65 camels, 31 village dogs and 12 horses from Nigeria and compared with PRNP sequences of 886 individuals retrieved from public databases. Results All the 994 individuals were assigned into 162 haplotypes. The sheep had the highest number of haplotypes (n = 54), and the camel had the lowest (n = 7). Phylogenetic tree further confirmed clustering of Nigerian individuals into their various species. We detected five non-synonymous SNPs of PRNP comprising of G9A, G10A, C11G, G12C, and T669C shared by all Nigerian livestock species and were in Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium (HWE). The amino acid changes in these five non-synonymous SNP were all “benign” via Polyphen-2 program. Three SNPs G34C, T699C, and C738G occurred only in Nigerian dogs while C16G, G502A, G503A, and C681A in Nigerian horse. In addition, C50T was detected only in goats and sheep. Conclusion Our study serves as the first to simultaneously investigate the polymorphism of PRNP gene in Nigerian livestock species and provides relevant information that could be adopted in programs targeted at breeding for prion diseases resistance.

Newborn screening (NBS) represents an important public health measure for the early detection of specified disorders; such screening can prevent disability and death, not only from metabolic disorders but also from endocrine, hematologic, immune, and cardiac disorders. Screening for critical congenital conditions affecting newborns’ health is a great challenge, especially in developing countries such as Morocco, where NBS program infrastructure is lacking. In addition, the consanguinity rate is high in Morocco. This study aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of integrating NBS into a diagnostic laboratory for routine analysis. Six primary severe conditions were included: congenital hypothyroidism (CH), cystic fibrosis (CF), phenylketonuria (PKU), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency (G6PD), congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH), and hemoglobinopathies. Methods: A retrospective investigation was carried out to examine the outcomes of NBS in Casablanca, Morocco. A total of 5511 newborn blood samples were collected via heel-prick sampling and tested for the above disorders. Most of the samples were collected within the third and sixth days of birth. The dried blood spots were analyzed via a quantitative immunofluorescence technique and isoelectric focusing. Results: A total of 72 newborns had one of the six pathological conditions. The most prevalent disorders were hemoglobinopathies, which were identified in 47 newborns (0.9%), with 29 having HbC carrier status (0.5%), 15 having Hb S carrier status (0.3%), and 3 having an Hb Bart’s carrier profile (0.05%). This was followed by G6PD deficiency, which was found to affect 16 newborns (0.32% of cases). CF was found in one case (0.02%), whereas five newborns (0.09%) tested positive for CAH. Additionally, two newborns (0.04%) tested positive for CH, and one newborn tested positive for PKU (0.02%). Conclusion: Our findings underscore the importance and success of NBS programs in preventing morbidity and mortality and improving the quality of life of affected neonates. The significant gap in data and research on these disorders within the Moroccan population highlights the urgent need to integrate NBS into routine practice in diagnostic laboratories across Morocco. This integration is crucial for enhancing the health and well-being of Moroccan newborns.

This study employed the FMOLS and DOLS models to examine the impact of renewable energy, trade openness and economic growth on CO2 emissions in MENA countries over the period 1990-2023. Furthermore, we employ SGMM approach in order to robustify DOLS and FMOLS results. Our findings reveal that the renewable energy promotes the environmental quality by decreasing the CO2 emissions in the MENA countries. However, the economic growth increases the carbon emissions. The study reveals also that instead of the conventional U-shaped EKC hypothesis, there is the inversed U-shaped relationship between CO2 emissions and economic growth in the long run. For the trade openness, it has a negative effect on CO2 emissions, in the SGMM model. However, our findings in the FMOLS and DOLS show that it increases the CO2 emissions in the long run. Then this paper suggests that MENA policy makers should maximise the use of renewable energy and ensure the efficient utilization of GDP and trade openness in order to minimise the level of CO2 emissions.

This research aims to identify the relationship between non-renewable electricity (NRE), renewable electricity (RE) and government expenditures (EXPD) on environmental degradation using the ARDL model for 10 Newly Industrialized Countries (NIC) during the period 1990-2021. Our empirical findings show that the NRE increases the CO2 emissions, however the RE decrease the CO2 emissions in the long and short run. For the effect of governement expenditure on the environment, it may be classified as direct and indirect. In fact, EXPD affect positively the CO2 emissions. In contrast, The indirect effect operates through the interaction between EXPD and NRE and RE. Our results demonstrate that the interaction between EXPD and NRE affects negatively the CO2 emissions. Nevertheless, the impact of the interaction between EXPD and RE on the CO2 emissions is more important. The results show also there is a bidirectional causality between each variable and CO2 emissions. With the empirical findings as a basis, we suggest that the NI countries should reduce NRE consumption and enhance the environmental expenditures so that they may produce more RE to combat environmental issues.

Energy generated from renewable sources is exposed to extremely dynamic variations in climatic conditions as well as uncertainties (current/voltage variability, noise, measurement errors.). These conditions are relevant issues to be considered when monitoring renewable energy conversion (REC) systems. In fact, these uncertain systems are subjected to many failures leading to performance degradation and long downtime maintenance periods. Therefore, fault detection and diagnosis (FDD) are essential to ensure its high dependability. This paper proposes an FDD under climatic conditions variability of uncertain REC systems using deep recurrent neural networks (DRNNs) techniques. Firstly, a novel modeling strategy for REC systems is built. Secondly, different DRNN-based interval-valued data methods are intended to differentiate between the various REC systems operating states. Finally, the hyperparameters of the proposed techniques are tuned using the Bayesian optimization algorithm. The efficiency and robustness of the novel strategy are demonstrated through REC application, using grid-connected photovoltaic (GCPV) systems. The obtained results show the efficiency of the developed strategy by reaching an accuracy rate of 92.40%.

In recent years, augmented reality has emerged as an emerging technology with huge potential in image-guided surgery, and in particular, its application in brain tumor surgery seems promising. Augmented reality can be divided into two parts: hardware and software. Further, artificial intelligence, and deep learning in particular, have attracted great interest from researchers in the medical field, especially for the diagnosis of brain tumors. In this paper, we focus on the software part of an augmented reality scenario. The main objective of this study was to develop a classification technique based on a deep belief network (DBN) and a softmax classifier to (1) distinguish a benign brain tumor from a malignant one by exploiting the spatial heterogeneity of cancer tumors and homologous anatomical structures, and (2) extract the brain tumor features. In this work, we developed three steps to explain our classification method. In the first step, a global affine transformation is preprocessed for registration to obtain the same or similar results for different locations (voxels, ROI). In the next step, an unsupervised DBN with unlabeled features is used for the learning process. The discriminative subsets of features obtained in the first two steps serve as input to the classifier and are used in the third step for evaluation by a hybrid system combining the DBN and a softmax classifier. For the evaluation, we used data from Harvard Medical School to train the DBN with softmax regression. The model performed well in the classification phase, achieving an improved accuracy of 97.2%.

Nowadays, photovoltaic (PV) energy is considered as one of the most encouraging renewable energy sources. Nevertheless, the power delivered by a PV field is strongly attached to irradiance which undergoes rapid variations depending on the climatic conditions. Accordingly, it becomes extremely difficult to distinguish if it refers to faulty status in the system or healthy status under the irradiance variation (IV). Therefore, PV monitoring considering IV condition is fundamental in ensuring high reliability as well as improving power production of PV systems.In fault detection and diagnosis (FDD) field, researchers have considered the variation of irradiance (especially under low irradiance level) as faulty operating mode while others have considered it as fixed parameter during detecting faults.In this paper, therefore, firstly, the IV is introduced in the dynamic model of the grid connected PV (GCPV) system in different operating conditions. Then, an efficient and robust FDD approach based on machine learning and deep learning techniques is proposed in order to identify the healthy and faulty operating conditions.The obtained results through simulated data of a 12 kW PV module are extremely encouraging with a high accuracy under different studied cases.

ABSTRACTPolymorphism of the prion protein gene (PRNP) gene determines an animal’s susceptibility to scrapie. Three polymorphisms at codons 136, 154, and 171 have been linked to classical scrapie susceptibility, although many variants of PRNP have been reported. However, no study has investigated scrapie susceptibility in Nigerian sheep from the drier agro-climate zones. In this study, we aimed to identify PRNP polymorphism in nucleotide sequences of 126 Nigerian sheep by comparing them with public available studies on scrapie-affected sheep. Further, we deployed Polyphen-2, PROVEAN, and AMYCO analyses to determine the structure changes produced by the non-synonymous SNPs. Nineteen (19) SNPs were found in Nigerian sheep with 14 being non-synonymous. Interestingly, one novel SNP (T718C) was identified. There was a significant difference (P

Environmental concerns are gradually reducing the global yield capacity of agricultural systems, with climate change representing the most significant challenge. Globally, Potatoes are the most essential non-cereal crop. Therefore, understanding the potential impacts of climate change on potato production is crucial for maintaining future global food security. This study aims to explore the roles played by PGPMs in two distinct regions, which are characterized by different climatic conditions, to assess their influence on two potato varieties, namely Siena and Bellini. Inoculation with these strains, particularly the Aureobasidium pullulans strains Ach1-1 and Ach1-2, resulted in significant improvements in growth and yield. In 2018, impressive yields of 194.1 kg/0.05 ha and 186.6 kg/0.05 ha were recorded for the two strains, with the Ain Taoujdate site achieving yields of 157.1 kg/0.05 ha and 151.1 kg/0.05 ha for each of the two strains. Additionally, further observations revealed that the Siena variety is more susceptible to rot than the Bellini variety. However, Ach1-1 and Ach1-2 strains had a significant effect on this rot, showcasing their potential to mitigate this negative issue in the Bellini variety. These promising results underscore the potential of PGPMs to enhance potato production in the Fez–Meknes region of Morocco, contributing to global food security amid climate change.

Abstract Background Heart failure (HF) is a serious and frequent pathology. It represents a major public health problem. We have few data about this pathology in our country. The aim of our study is to determine the epidemiological, clinical, therapeutic, and prognostic characteristics of new-onset HF with reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (HFrEF) and to study the degree of conformity of the management of HF with international recommendations. Results Our study population includes 210 patients hospitalized for HFrEF newly diagnosed. The average age of our patients was 64 ± 12 years. A male predominance was noted with a sex ratio of 2.8. The main etiology of HF was ischemic heart disease noted in 97 patients (46.2%). The average LVEF is 33 ± 6%. The triple combination (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors + beta blockers + Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists) was prescribed in 75 patients (35.7%). The quadruple combination (angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors + beta blockers + Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists + Sodium-Glucose Co-Transporter 2 inhibitors) was prescribed in 17 patients (8.1%). Myocardial revascularization was indicated in 97 patients (46.6%) and valve surgery was indicated in 49 patients (23.3%). Hospital mortality was 3.8% and at 1 year 18.1%. Among the 192 patients followed during the first year after discharge from hospital, 81 patients had to be re-hospitalized, i.e., a 1-year rehospitalization rate of 42.2%. Conclusions Our study highlighted the epidemiological and clinical features of HF in a Tunisian care center, revealing our patient management deficiency. This pushes us to have a new Tunisian register to enable a better statistical analysis and lead to more relevant conclusions.

This study examines the historiography of early Islam by assessing the reliability of Qurʾānic exegeses as sources documenting the early history of Islam and the biography of the Prophet Muḥammad in Mecca. Focusing on Qurʾānic exegetical practices from late antiquity to the medieval period, this article argues that there is a significant discontinuity in how Qurʾānic exegeses align with the historical context of the Qur’an, especially in relation to Meccan sūras such as Q 107. Significantly, this challenges the continuity of tradition, the fundamental concept upon which the “Islamic sciences” are based. This discontinuity is herein revealed through a historical–critical analysis of the exegesis of Q 107:4 that demonstrates how Qurʾānic exegetical practices have reinterpreted and reshaped early Islamic history in response to the pressures of new identity formation and made Qurʾānic exegeses more reflective of the social and political contexts of the exegetes than of the historical milieu of the Qurʾān itself. This analysis contributes to the ongoing discussion of the role exegesis played in reshaping the history of Islam. Indeed, it emphasises the importance of critically evaluating these sources in order to uncover a more nuanced historical narrative of early Islam.

Objective To provide an original observation of Behçet’s disease, revealed by an inflammatory pseudotumor of the orbit. Methods We reported an observation of an inflammatory pseudotumor of the orbit that revealed Behçet’s disease. Results Twenty-Eight years old patient was admitted to the internal medicine department for painful edema in the right eye with headache and loss of visual acuity. Ophthalmologic examination revealed eye protrusion with conjunctival hyperemia. Orbital MRI resonance imaging revealed periorbital inflammatory thickening associated with inflammatory myositis. Behçet’s was diagnosed based on a history of recurrent oral aphthous since childhood, pseudofolliculitis, pathergy test positivity, and negativity of the rest of the etiological investigations. The evolution was spectacular with boli methylprednisolone and colchicine prescriptions. Conclusion Although the association is rare, Behçet’s disease should be included in the workup of inflammatory pseudotumors of the orbit.

Despite the availability of an effective vaccine for several decades, the measles virus continues to spread worldwide. From 2018 to 2019, several countries experienced large measles outbreaks with genotype B3, including Tunisia. We analyzed 66 samples collected from serologically confirmed measles cases during this outbreak. Fifty-five percent were aged less than 12 months and had not received a measles vaccine. Phylogenetic analysis using the 450 nucleoprotein (N450) window revealed that all strains belonged to genotype B3, with five different variants identified. The N450 sequence of the predominant one, which circulated all through the epidemic period, was identical to the named strain MVs/Kabul.AFG/20.14/3. For better molecular discrimination, the amplification and sequencing of 1018 nucleotides in the non-coding region between the M and F genes (MF-NCRs) revealed higher variability with at least nine clusters. A phylogeographic study using Bayesian methods suggested the Governorate of Kasserine (on the borders of Algeria) as the introduction point with a TMRCA (Time to Most Recent Common Ancestor) for the 2019 sequences estimated around October 2018. These findings emphasize the crucial role of advanced molecular investigations in tracing measles transmission pathways which, together with good vaccine coverage, will help the final success of the global measles elimination program.

Crown gall is a globally recognized bacterial disease caused by Agrobacterium tumefaciens. This bacterium is characterized by its potential to infect a wide range of plants, specifically fruit trees. In Morocco, almond trees (Prunus amygdalus) are among the most heavily affected species by this disease. In our study, all tested bacteria were isolated in the laboratory from infected almond samples exhibiting tumors at the crown and root of the sampled trees collected from northwestern of Morocco. Biochemical, pathogenicity and molecular identification were performed to identify the causal agent of almond crown gall. Molecular identification was done using a duplex PCR (A/C9 and A/E9) targeting virD2gene located in the pTi plasmid, which is the oncogenic element of the bacterium. The results showed that 12 from 20 isolates were identified as tumorigenic A. tumefaciens with the presence of pTi. Moreover, these isolates were found to exhibit tumorigenic properties both in vitro and in vivo when tested on indicator plants, specifically tomato and carrot discs. The efficacy of agrocin synthesized by Agrobacterium radiobacter strain K1026, a biopesticide known as NoGall, was tested in vitro and in planta against tumorigenic strains of A. tumefaciens. Our results revealed a significant inhibitory effect in vitro, with inhibition percentages ranging from 29.5% to 38.9%. Additionally, we observed a complete reduction in tumor growth at the inoculation sites on indicator plants, with a 100% reduction percentage.

Background Ewing’s sarcoma is a rare malignant entity. Extraosseous Ewing’s sarcoma (EES) of the head and neck region is a rare occurrence, and Ewing’s sarcoma of the parotid gland is even rarer. To the best of our knowledge, we reported the first case of extraskeletal ES originating from the parotid gland in the Tunisian literature. Case report We report a rare case of EES of the parotid gland in a 35-year-old female. She presented with left parotid tumefaction. Physical examination revealed solid and fixed mass associated with facial paralysis. Magnetic resonance imaging illustrated a left intra-parotid process occupying the entire gland measuring 42 mm infiltrating the masseter and pterygoid muscles. The patient had a total left parotidectomy with ipsilateral triangular lymph node dissection. The definitive pathological examination and the immunohistochemical staining confirmed a primary peripheral neuroectodermal tumor or PNET with the presence of a specific EWING/PNET-type translocation in 60% of the tumor cells. She had an adjuvant chemotherapy (four cycles of vincristine, doxorubicin, cyclophosphamide alternating with ifosfamide and etoposide) followed by external radiotherapy. Conclusion A clinical and radiological follow-up by cervical MRI was done every 3 months and The 10-month follow-up showed no locoregional and distant recurrence.

This study examines the impact of irrigation water quality on the synthesis of secondary metabolites and the chemical composition of Mentha piperita essential oil (MPEO). Three essential oils from Mentha piperita plants, irrigated with different water sources commonly used for mint irrigation in Morocco’s Oriental region, were analyzed. The water sources were characterized based on various parameters, such as nitrites, nitrates, orthophosphates, chemical oxygen demand (COD), biological oxygen demand (BOD5), pH, and electrical conductivity. The essential oils were extracted using hydrodistillation, and their chemical composition was determined using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS), revealing notable variations among the compositions of the three essential oils. In this study, in silico tests using the Prediction of Activity Spectra for Substances (PASS) algorithm; the absorption, distribution, metabolism, and excretion (ADME) model; and Pro-Tox II were conducted to evaluate the drug-likeness, pharmacokinetic properties, expected safety profile upon ingestion, and potential pharmacological activity of the identified compounds in MPEO. The antioxidant activity of the MPEOs was assessed through a 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging assay and the total antioxidant activity (TAC) method. Additionally, the antimicrobial effectiveness of the essential oils was tested against four bacterial strains (Staphylococcus aureus, Micrococcus luteus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and four fungal strains (Candida glabrata, Rhodotorula glutinis, Penicillium digitatum, Aspergillus niger), demonstrating moderate to strong activities against the tested strains. This study concludes that regulating irrigation water quality can enhance the production of specific metabolites, making them potentially valuable as antioxidants and antimicrobial agents.