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Other than location of the primary colorectal cancer (CRC), a few factors are known to influence the intrahepatic distribution of colorectal cancer liver metastases (CRLM). We aimed to assess whether the anatomy of the portal vein (PV) could influence the intrahepatic distribution of CRLM.

Abstract Background Cardiac arrest remains a global health issue with limited data on long-term outcomes, particularly regarding recurrent cardiovascular events in patients surviving out-of-hospital cardiac arrest. (OHCA). We aimed to describe the long-term occurrence of major cardiac event defined by hospital admission for cardiovascular events or death in OHCA hospital survivors, whichever came first. Our secondary objective were to assess separately occurrence of hospital admission and death, and to identify the factors associated with major event occurrence. We hypothesized that patients surviving an OHCA has a protracted increased risk of cardiovascular events, due to both presence of the baseline conditions that lead to OHCA, and to the cardiovascular consequences of OHCA induced acute ischemia-reperfusion. Methods Consecutive OHCA patients from three hospitals of Sudden Death Expertise Center (SDEC) Registry, discharged alive from 2011 to 2015 were included. Long-term follow-up data were obtained using national inter-regime health insurance information system (SNIIRAM) database and the national French death registry. The primary endpoint was occurrence of a major event defined by hospital admission for cardiovascular events and death, whichever came first during the follow-up. The starting point of the time-to-event analysis was the date of hospital discharge. The follow-up was censored on the date of the first event. For patients without event, follow-up was censored on the date of December, 29th, 2016. Results A total of 306 patients (mean age 57; 77% male) were analyzed and followed over a median follow-up of 3 years for hospital admission for cardiovascular event and 6 years for survival. During this period, 38% patients presented a major event. Hospital admission for cardiovascular events mostly occurred during the first year after the OHCA whereas death occurred more linearly during the all period. A previous history of chronic heart failure and coronary artery disease were independently associated with the occurrence of major event (HR 1.75, 95%CI[1.06-2.88] and HR 1.70, 95%CI[1.11-2.61], respectively), whereas post-resuscitation myocardial dysfunction, cardiogenic shock and cardiologic cause of cardiac arrest did not. Conclusion Survivors from OHCA must to be considered at high risk of cardiovascular event occurrence whatever the etiology, mainly during the first year following the cardiac arrest and should require closed monitoring.

Introduction: Blood lactate is a marker of tissue hypoxia while capillary refill time (CRT) is a surrogate of tissue perfusion. Measuring these parameters is recommended for assessing circulatory status and guiding resuscitation. However, blood lactate is not widely available in African emergency departments. Additionally, CRT assessment faces challenges related to its precision and reproducibility. This study aims to evaluate the accuracy of visual CRT(V-CRT) compared to plethysmographic CRT (P-CRT) in predicting lactate levels among septic patients. Methods: This prospective observational study enrolled consecutive patients with sepsis or septic shock over a 6-month period from a tertiary hospital in Marrakech, Morroco. V-CRT and P-CRT were evaluated upon admission, and simultaneous measurements of arterial lactate levels were obtained. The precision of V-CRT and P-CRT in predicting arterial lactate was assessed using ROC curve analysis. Results: Forty-three patients aged of 64±15 years, of whom 70 % were male, were included in the study. Of these, 23 patients (53 %) had sepsis, and 20 patients (47 %) experienced septic shock. Both V-CRT and P-CRT demonstrated statistically significant correlations with arterial lactate, with correlation coefficients of 0.529 (p < 0.0001) and 0.517 (p = 0.001), respectively. ROC curve analysis revealed that V-CRT exhibited satisfactory accuracy in predicting arterial lactate levels >2 mmol/l, with an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.8 (95 % CI=0.65 – 0.93; p < 0.0001). The prediction ability of P-CRT was lower than V-CRT with an AUC of 0.73 (95 % CI: 0.57–0.89; p = 0.043). The optimal thresholds were determined as 3.4 s for V-CRT (sensitivity = 90 %, specificity = 58 %) and 4.1 s for P-CRT (sensitivity = 85 %, specificity = 62 %). Conclusion: These findings suggest that the plethysmographic evaluation did not improve the accuracy of CRT for predicting lactate level. However, V-CRT may still serve as a viable surrogate for lactate in septic patients in low-income settings.

Abstract Thoracic manifestations of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are rare, occurring in less than 1% of patients. Unlike most other extra-intestinal manifestations, they predominate in patients with ulcerative colitis rather than in Crohn’s disease. In most patients, thoracic involvement follows the onset of IBD by several years. However, thoracic involvement may also occur synchronously or even precede the onset of digestive symptoms. The thoracic manifestations of IBD include airway involvement and parenchymal lung abnormalities. Airways are the most frequent anatomical site for thoracic involvement in IBD. Airway manifestations usually develop several years after the onset of intestinal manifestations, preferentially when the latter are stable or in remission. Airway manifestations include bronchial wall thickening, bronchiectasis, small airway disease, and tracheal wall thickening. Parenchymal lung abnormalities are less prevalent in IBD and include organizing pneumonia, necrobiotic nodules, noncaseating granulomatous nodules, drug-induced pneumonia, and rarely interstitial lung diseases. The differential diagnosis between organizing pneumonia, necrobiotic nodules, and noncaseating granulomatous nodules is difficult and usually requires histopathological analysis for a definite diagnosis. Radiologists play a key role in the detection of thoracic manifestations of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis and, therefore, need to be familiar with their imaging findings. This article aims to offer an overview of the imaging findings of thoracic manifestations in patients with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. Critical relevance statement Thoracic manifestations of Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis include tracheal involvement, bronchiectasis, small airway disease, and parenchymal lung abnormalities such as organizing pneumonia and necrobiotic nodules. These rare manifestations (

Abstract This study aimed to assess the significance of serum albumin levels within 24 h of patient admission in correlation with the incidence of outcomes and mortality in patients diagnosed with acute pancreatitis. A retrospective study was conducted over a 5-year period, from January 2018 to December 2023, at the Mohammed VI University Hospital in Oujda, Morocco. The study included 371 patients diagnosed with acute pancreatitis. Hypoalbuminemia (≤ 30 g/L) was observed in 124 patients (33.4% of cases), and these patients had a higher mean age compared to those with normal albumin levels (P = 0.003). Hypoalbuminemia was significantly associated with persistent Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome (SIRS) (70.8% vs. 29.2%, P = 0.000), a higher BISAP score (66.7% vs. 33.3%, P = 0.000), and a higher CTSI score (51.7% vs. 48.3%, P = 0.000). Hypoalbuminemia was also associated with the presence of pleural effusion (P = 0.000). The mortality in the sample was 4.6%, and it was significantly associated with hypoalbuminemia (76.5%, P = 0.000). In conclusion, serum albumin levels within 24 h of patient admission appear to be a significant prognostic biomarker in acute pancreatitis, particularly in anticipating persistent organ failure and mortality.

Abstract Background The use of psychoactive substances, including tobacco, alcohol, and others, remains a major public health problem. However, few studies have been conducted on Moroccan university students. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of substance use among students at Mohammed First University, Oujda, Morocco. Methods We conducted this cross-sectional study with students enrolled at one of the Mohammed First University of Oujda’s institutes as part of the 2021–202 academic year. We used a self-administered survey to collect data anonymously. We cleaned the data and then entered it into IBM SPSS Statistics 21 for analysis. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics as well as univariate and multivariate analysis. We considered a P value 20 years, self-financing, school failure (one year repeated or more), the practice of a leisure activity, the presence of a personal medical or psychiatric history, and the presence of a family medical history were all significantly associated with the use of psychoactive substances. Conclusion Our study revealed a significant prevalence of psychoactive substance use among university students in Oujda, highlighting the need for interventions at various levels. Further analytical studies are necessary to better understand the initiation and maintenance of psychoactive substance use and to identify all associated factors to enhance prevention strategies against substance use disorders.

Background: Buttermilk, a significant by-product of the dairy industry, is acknowledged as a beneficial food due to its content of water-soluble vitamins, polar lipids, and milk fat globule membranes. This research is focused on investigating the potential of buttermilk as a substitute in the production of a novel soft cheese type ‘‘camembert’’. Methods: A total of 12 cheese samples of camembert cheese, both with and without buttermilk, were prepared and subjected to a series of physico-chemical analyses in October 2023 to measure protein, fat, total solids, pH, and production yield. Texture Profile Analysis was applied to evaluate textural characteristics, and the microstructure was examined using Scanning Electron Microscopy. A hedonic scale was employed in sensory evaluation to measure taste intensity. Results: The sample containing 90% cow's milk and 10% buttermilk exhibited the most significant (p≤0.05) physico-chemical characteristics as production yield of 45.33%±0.710, protein content of 28.9%±0.58, fat content of 24.88%±0.026, total solids of 54.62±0.23, and a pH of 6.42±0.58. Sensory evaluations demonstrated that camembert samples containing buttermilk were distinguished by high sensory quality and satisfactory taste profiles. In addition, a dense and tightly fused protein matrix was observed in the microstructure of the buttermilk fortified cheese. The results also emphasized that the acidic nature of buttermilk significantly affected the production yield, total solids content, and textural characteristics, evidenced by a hardness of 3.36 N and fracturability of 1.75 N. Conclusion: The results validate the use of buttermilk as an effective alternative in the production of a new type of soft cheese, manifesting improved sensory, structural, and physico-chemical characteristics. This investigation supports the innovative utilization of buttermilk in cheese production, potentially offering a valuable avenue for dairy industry by-products. DOI: 10.18502/jfqhc.11.2.15647

Abstract Background The COVID-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of intensive care units (ICUs) and their organization in healthcare systems. However, ICU capacity and availability are ongoing concerns beyond the pandemic, particularly due to an aging population and increasing complexity of care. This study aimed to assess the current and future shortage of ICU physicians in France, ten years after a previous evaluation. A national e-survey was conducted among French ICUs in January 2022 to collect data on ICU characteristics, medical staffing, individual physician characteristics, and education and training capacities. Results Among 290 ICUs contacted, 242 responded (response rate: 83%), representing 4943 ICU beds. The survey revealed an overall of 300 full time equivalent (FTE) ICU physician vacancies in the country. Nearly two-thirds of the participating ICUs reported at least one physician vacancy and 35% relied on traveling physicians to cover shifts. The ICUs most affected by physician vacancies were the ICUs of non-university affiliated public hospitals. The retirements expected in the next five years represented around 10% of the workforce. The median number of physicians per ICU was 7.0, corresponding to a ratio of 0.36 physician (FTE) per ICU bed. In addition, 27% of ICUs were at risk of critical dysfunction or closure due to vacancies and impending retirements. Conclusion The findings highlight the urgent need to address the shortage of ICU physicians in France. Compared to a similar study conducted in 2012, the inadequacy between ICU physician supply and demand has increased, resulting in a higher number of vacancies. Our study suggests that, among others, increasing the number of ICM residents trained each year could be a crucial step in addressing this issue. Failure to take appropriate measures may lead to further closures of ICUs and increased risks to patients in this healthcare system.

Ticks play the main role, in veterinary terms, in transmitting important pathogens. Rhipicephalus sanguineus is a widespread tick known for its ability to thrive in indoor environments and could be the main reservoir host for many TBDs. In this study, the acaricidal and larvicidal potential of Rosmarinus officinalis essential oil was evaluated against R. sanguineus. The aerial part of this plant was extracted by hydrodistillation and then analyzed by gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC/MS). The yield obtained from this oil was 0.38%, its major chemical compounds were found to be Camphor (43.52%), Eucalyptol (13.66%), and Camphene (13.2%). The adult immersion test (AIT) using four concentrations (1µl/ml,2µl/ml,10µl/ml, 30µl/ml) revealed that this oil presented oviposition reduction percentages of 5.75%, 20.68%, 33.27%, and 46.84%, hatching reductions percentages of 5%, 15%, 35%, and 60%, and efficacy extract percentages of 10.46%, 32.58%, 56.63%, and 78.74% Further, the larval immersion test (LIT) using five concentrations (0.5µl/ml,1µl/ml, 2µl/ml, 3µl/ml, and 5µl/ml) revealed considerable larvicidal activities with LC50 and LC90 values of 2.286 µl/ml and 5.380 µl/ml, respectively. These results are encouraging and open interesting and promising horizons for its application as a bio-acaricide.

In immersive VR, a self-avatar that replicates the user’s movements and is viewed from a first-person perspective can substitute the real body. If the avatar’s movements are sufficiently synchronized with the user’s actual movements, the user can experience a sense of embodiment over the avatar. Recent studies have shown that discrepancies between the movements of the avatar and those of the user can be well tolerated while maintaining high levels of embodiment. The point at which a distortion is perceived (detection threshold) and its impact on the level of embodiment has not been studied in lower limb tasks such as gait. This study aimed to identify a detection threshold of gait asymmetry by unilaterally manipulating the step length of a self-avatar, and the effect of this detection on perceived embodiment. A real-time step length distortion model was developed, and a detection threshold between actual and avatar’s gait movement was assessed on thirty healthy participants. The step length was manipulated to introduce gait asymmetry (ascending condition) or start from a large asymmetry that was gradually decreased (descending). The results showed that, on average, the avatar’s step length could be increased by up to 12% before the participants detected the distortion. Furthermore, in the descending condition, they detected increases that were above 9%. The point of detection had no effect on the sense of embodiment as participants still reported being embodied in their avatars, even when they consciously detected the step length distortion. The sense of embodiment was closely correlated with the level of distortion; as distortion increased, embodiment decreased, and vice versa. For a given distortion level, embodiment was similar whether in the ascending or descending condition. This suggests that embodiment can be achieved even when the avatar’s spatial alignment initially differs from the participants’, provided that alignment is gradually restored. These results provide valuable insights into participants’ ability to tolerate movement discrepancies in embodied avatar experiences during gait in virtual environments, with potential applications in motor training and gait rehabilitation.

IntroductionThe development of machine learning models for symptom-based health checkers is a rapidly evolving area with significant implications for healthcare. Accurate and efficient diagnostic tools can enhance patient outcomes and optimize healthcare resources. This study focuses on evaluating and optimizing machine learning models using a dataset of 10 diseases and 9,572 samples.MethodsThe dataset was divided into training and testing sets to facilitate model training and evaluation. The following models were selected and optimized: Decision Tree, Random Forest, Naive Bayes, Logistic Regression and K-Nearest Neighbors. Evaluation metrics included accuracy, F1 scores, and 10-fold cross-validation. ROC-AUC and precision-recall curves were also utilized to assess model performance, particularly in scenarios with imbalanced datasets. Clinical vignettes were employed to gauge the real-world applicability of the models.ResultsThe performance of the models was evaluated using accuracy, F1 scores, and 10-fold cross-validation. The use of ROC-AUC curves revealed that model performance improved with increasing complexity. Precision-recall curves were particularly useful in evaluating model sensitivity in imbalanced dataset scenarios. Clinical vignettes demonstrated the robustness of the models in providing accurate diagnoses.DiscussionThe study underscores the importance of comprehensive model evaluation techniques. The use of clinical vignette testing and analysis of ROC-AUC and precision-recall curves are crucial in ensuring the reliability and sensitivity of symptom-based health checkers. These techniques provide a more nuanced understanding of model performance and highlight areas for further improvement.ConclusionThis study highlights the significance of employing diverse evaluation metrics and methods to ensure the robustness and accuracy of machine learning models in symptom-based health checkers. The integration of clinical vignettes and the analysis of ROC-AUC and precision-recall curves are essential steps in developing reliable and sensitive diagnostic tools.

We have investigated a weakly q-deformed algebra, which leads to non-Hermitian operators. It has been explicitly shown that the harmonic oscillator Hamiltonian is quasi-Hermitian, and that the corresponding physical Hilbert-space metric Θ differs from that obtained in Ref. [1], by hermitizing the position operator. The reality of the Hamiltonian eigenvalues has been illustrated by analytically computing the first order correction to the energy spectrum of the harmonic oscillator (HO). Furthermore, we have shown that this q-deformation leads to a GUP with minimal uncertainties in both position and momentum measurements. Moreover, the physical implications of this q-deformation, have been investigated by studying the thermostatistics of a system of HOs and an ideal gas. For both systems, we computed the partition function, and then we derived some thermodynamic functions. In addition, for the ideal gas, a modified equation of state and a generalized Mayer's equation, consistent with the real behavior of gases, have been established. The obtained results show that the impact of this model would be significant at high temperatures. However, unlike earlier research, we observe that this q-deformation induced the similar corrections regardless of the system under study.

Background: Despite advances in asthma treatments, severe asthma exacerbation (SAE) remains a life-threatening condition in adults, and there is a lack of data derived from adult patients admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) for SAE. The current study investigated changes in adult patient characteristics, management, and outcomes of SAE over a 20-year period in 40 ICUs in the greater Paris area. Methods: In this retrospective observational study, admissions to 40 ICUs in the greater Paris area for SAE from January 1, 1997, to December 31, 2016 were analyzed. The primary outcome was the proportion of ICU admissions for SAE during 5-year periods. Secondary outcomes were ICU and hospital mortality, and the use of mechanical ventilation and catecholamine. Multivariate analysis was performed to assess factors associated with ICU mortality. Results: A total of 7049 admissions for SAE were recorded. For each 5-year period, the proportion decreased over time, with SAE accounting for 2.84% of total ICU admissions (n=2841) between 1997 and 2001, 1.76% (n=1717) between 2002 and 2006, 1.05% (n=965) between 2007 and 2011, and 1.05% (n=1526) between 2012 and 2016. The median age was 46 years (interquartile range [IQR]: 32–59 years), 55.41% were female, the median Simplified Acute Physiology Score II was 20 (IQR: 13–28), and 19.76% had mechanical ventilation. The use of mechanical ventilation remained infrequent throughout the 20-year period, whereas the use of catecholamine decreased. ICU and hospital mortality rates decreased. Factors associated with ICU mortality were renal replacement therapy, catecholamine, cardiac arrest, pneumothorax, acute respiratory distress syndrome, sepsis, and invasive mechanical ventilation (IMV). Non-survivors were older, had more severe symptoms, and were more likely to have received IMV. Conclusion: ICU admission for SAE remains uncommon, and the proportion of cases decreased over time. Despite a slight increase in symptom severity during a 20-year period, ICU and hospital mortality decreased. Patients requiring IMV had a higher mortality rate.

Abstract Cardiogenic shock (CS) is characterized by low cardiac output and sustained tissue hypoperfusion that may result in end-organ dysfunction and death. CS is associated with high short-term mortality, and its management remains challenging despite recent advances in therapeutic options. Timely diagnosis and multidisciplinary team-based management have demonstrated favourable effects on outcomes. We aimed to review evidence-based practices for managing patients with ischemic and non-ischemic CS, detailing the multi-organ supports needed in this critically ill patient population.

Wheeled mobile robots (WMR) are common autonomous systems requiring efficient control methods. This work investigates fixed-time adaptive sliding mode control (FxT-ASMC) for the trajectory tracking task of a WMR subject to disturbances/uncertainties. The developed control strategy seeks to avoid the chattering problem, cope with disturbances when the upper limit is undefined, and enhance the convergence of the system states. Indeed, a new adaptive technique has been developed to effectively handle disturbances, even in the absence of prior knowledge regarding their upper bound. This technique consists in estimating the switching gain for each channel separately. On the other hand, an appropriate design of the reaching law ensures the fixed-time convergence of the sliding variables to zero. Additionally, sliding variables are designed in a way that guarantees the tracking errors will stabilize within a set amount of time. This kind of convergence was demonstrated using Lyapunov stability theory. In order to realize the trajectory tracking control structure, the FxT-ASMC system is incorporated with a classical kinematic controller. The efficiency of the suggested control methodology is proven via simulations and practical implementation.

Adherence of Bacillus cereus spores to dairy industry equipment is a serious problem, causing food spoilage and, occasionally, outbreaks of foodborne diseases. Antimicrobial essential oils (EOs) have been proposed as an alternative to synthetic disinfectants due to their environmentally friendly properties. The aim of this study was to assess the effect of Cymbopogon winterianus and Juniperus phoenicea EOs on planktonic and adherent B. cereus spores to stainless steel surfaces. Eleven strains of B. cereus were used in this study. The chemical composition of the C. winterianus and J. phoenicea oils was analyzed by gas chromatography (GC)/mass spectrometry (MS). Ninety components were identified for C. winterianus, being geranial (37 %), neral (29 %), beta-myrcene (16 %) and geraniol (4 %) the most abundant constituents. Twelve components were identified for J. phoenicea, being alpha-pinene (65 %) the most abundant constituent. The results of the minimal inhibitory concentration and minimal bactericidal concentration revealed that C. winterianus was the most effective EO (p

Superior mesenteric artery syndrome is an acquired vascular compression disorder resulting from the compression of the third portion of the duodenum, which is the first part of the small intestine, leading to a reduction in the space between the aorta and the superior mesenteric artery. Although rare, superior mesenteric artery syndrome-induced pancreatitis has been documented in the literature. This article presents the case of a 20-year-old female patient with a history of colectomy for acute severe colitis, resulting in significant weight loss. She was admitted to the hospital with symptoms of upper bowel obstruction, and the diagnosis of superior mesenteric artery syndrome complicated by acute pancreatitis was made. The patient underwent a nutritional assistance program along with intravenous fluid therapy, resulting in positive outcomes. Superior mesenteric artery syndrome -induced pancreatitis is rarely reported and can be attributed to an occlusive post-papillary syndrome, which causes retrograde reflux of bile into the pancreatic duct, activating inflammation responsible for pancreatitis.

Introduction: The global impact of the SARS-CoV-2-induced COVID-19 pandemic has reached Morocco. Early identification of factors contributing to severity is imperative for effective management. There is, however, a notable research gap, as only a limited number of studies have systematically investigated the importance of inflammatory biomarkers in assessing COVID-19 severity in the Moroccan context. No study has included the dosage of IL-6 which represents one of the main inflammatory agents responsible for the inflammatory storm. This study attempts to fill this gap by exploring the role of inflammatory biomarkers in the severity of COVID-19 in Moroccan patients. Material and methods: This prospective cross-sectional study was conducted at the Medical Immunology Laboratory of Ibn Rochd University Hospital in Casablanca, between November 2, 2020, and December 1, 2021. Data on demographic characteristics, underlying comorbidities, and laboratory tests were collected from medical records. The patients were divided into non-severe and severe groups. we performed an assay of il-6 using an automated chemiluminescence. technique. Results: The study analyzed 371 confirmed COVID-19 patients and found that lymphopenia, hyperneutrophilia, increased NLR, CRP, and IL-6 were associated with the severity of COVID-19. Significant positive correlations were found between IL-6 and other immune-inflammatory parameters, including neutrophil count, CRP, and NLR. Conclusion: our study provides evidence that NLR, CRP are potential biomarkers for predicting COVID-19 severity in Moroccans. This finding could help with the early identification of severe cases, which can lead to better management and outcomes.

Introduction. The railway Traction Power Supply System (TPSS) encounters a common challenge related to high-frequency harmonic resonance, especially when employing AC-DC-AC traction drive systems in high-speed trains. This resonance issue arises when the harmonic elements introduced by the traction AC-DC converter on the grid side of trains align with the innate resonance frequency of the TPSS. The novelty the proposed work focuses on the challenges associated with resonance elevation and high-frequency harmonics in high-speed trains, while simultaneously enhancing energy quality. This is achieved by integrating a pulse-width-modulated converter on the grid side with a single-phase configuration and incorporating an LCL filter. Methodology. In order to optimize the system’s efficiency, a robust control system is employed, taking advantage of the capabilities of a fuzzy logic controller (FLC). The choice of the FLC is justified by its straightforward design and reliability, emphasizing the dedication to precise control, as fuzzy logic excels in handling complex, nonlinear systems. Through the use of linguistic variables and heuristic reasoning, the FLC adjusts to dynamic changes in the system, demonstrating its efficacy in enhancing both transient and steady-state responses. Practical value. A grid-side LCL filter-based converter was meticulously designed and rigorously simulated using the MATLAB/Simulink platform. The inclusion of an advanced FLC in the system introduced a novel approach to control strategies, surpassing the traditional PI controller. Through a comprehensive comparative analysis, the simulation results showcased the remarkable efficacy of the proposed solution in an effectively mitigating high-frequency resonance within the TPSS. This outcome underscores the potential of FLC as a sophisticated control mechanism for enhancing the performance systems in railway applications, showcasing its superiority over conventional control methods. The study contributes in shedding light on innovative approaches for optimizing the control and efficiency of grid-side LCL filter-based converters in high-speed train systems.

La pratique du semis direct (SD), en tant que composante principale de l’agriculture de conservation (AC), vise à améliorer la qualité des sols et la productivité des cultures. Les avantages des légumineuses cultivées sous le système SD pourraient être encore améliorés en utilisant des génotypes performants qui agissent positivement sur la disponibilité des éléments nutritifs dans le sol. Dans ce sens, la présente étude vise à évaluer les propriétés chimiques du sol après la récolte de certains génotypes de lentille et de pois chiche, dans des systèmes semis conventionnel (SC) et semis direct (SD). Les propriétés évaluées comprennent le pH du sol, le phosphore disponible (P), le potassium échangeable (K), la teneur en nitrates (NO3), l’azote total (TotN) et la matière organique du sol (MOS) à environ 30 cm de profondeur. Le semis de pois chiche sous le système SD a augmenté de manière significative le P, le K, le NO3 et le TotN du sol de 8 %, 17 %, 54 % et 13 % respectivement, tandis que le pH du sol a légèrement diminué de 3 %, avec un effet non pertinent sur la MOS. Toutes les propriétés chimiques du sol ont enregistré une corrélation négative avec le pH du sol. En conséquence, les génotypes les plus répondeurs au système SD pour la culture de pois chiche étaient le génotype 71771 qui a amélioré les niveaux de P et de K de 40 % et 30 %, respectivement, et le génotype PI269882 qui a amélioré le NO3 et le TotN de 55 % et 27 %, respectivement, de même le génotype PI564775 a amélioré le K et le NO3 de 17 % et 80 %, respectivement. De l’autre côté, les génotypes les plus répondeurs au SD pour la culture de lentille étaient le génotype ZR-7 qui a amélioré les niveaux de P et de K de 25 % et 10 %, respectivement, et le génotype LR8 qui a amélioré le NO3 de 41 %. En conclusion, l’utilisation des génotypes de légumineuses les plus adaptés au système semis direct pourrait être une alternative prometteuse pour améliorer encore davantage la fertilité des sols et la productivité des cultures.

Abstract Background Meningiomas are common benign intracranial tumors, accounting for 1/3 of all primary intracranial neoplasms, and hence, are not considered the chief cause of death when encountered incidentally during autopsy. These tumors are usually slow-growing, and the clinical course may be asymptomatic to the point of acute complications. Sudden unexpected deaths due to meningiomas are exceptional and rarely reported in the literature. In the present report, we describe two autopsy cases of sudden unexpected death due to meningiomas and we discuss the mechanism of death. Case presentation Two apparently healthy men were discovered dead in their home. A judicial autopsy was ordered. At dissection, a pedunculated firm mass, attached to the dura was found in both cases. Tumors were located in the anterior and middle fossa. The remaining organs were congestive without any abnormality. A microscopic examination confirmed the diagnosis of meningiomas. Postmortem toxicology analysis was negative. Forensic pathologists concluded to sudden unexpected death due to intracranial meningioma. Conclusions These cases illustrate the possibility of meningioma remaining silent till acute complication and fatal outcome. Therefore, clinicians must bear in mind the possibility, albeit extremely rare, of sudden unexpected death in cases of undiagnosed intracranial meningiomas, as documented in the present report. Thus, we emphasize the value of promptly and thoroughly investigating even seemingly minor neurological symptoms, such as headaches or acute epileptic seizures, in adults. We also stress the importance of the early detection and appropriate management of brain tumors in fatal outcome prevention, and we highlight the role of the post-mortem examination to detect such a fatal complication.

The primary goal of this paper is to assess the thermal behaviour of Earth-to-Air Heat Exchanger (EAHE) under continuous operation mode during the cooling period in warm climatic conditions. An experimental setup was conducted in Biskra University (Algeria) to test the ability to use EAHE as an alternative solution to conventional air conditioning systems. Besides, a transient numerical approach for the flowing air within the EAHE was developed using energy balance equations, discretised by the implicit finite differences method and solved by Thomas method. Furthermore, the transient temperature profile of the soil around the EAHE was investigated in order to determine the adiabatic radius of the soil as a function of the duration of operation. In this context, a transient semi-analytical model was integrated to the air model to estimate the transient EAHE’s performance deterioration. This deterioration is produced by the thermal saturation of the soil, which is influenced by the heat released from the air inside the pipe. Results showed that continuous operation for a duration of four days has minimal impact on the outlet air temperatures due to the implementation of night purging. Furthermore, the design and thermal efficiency of the EAHE are impacted by factors such as higher air velocity and reduced soil thermal conductivity.

In this research study, the development of a theoretical model to estimate the efficiency of a double pass solar air heater (DPSAH) was the main objective. The mathematical model was compared to experimental results and found to be in agreement, both qualitatively and quantitatively. The model used energy balance equations to determine the outlet temperature and could solve the temperature equations of each component of the heater simultaneously. A matrix inversion method was used for this purpose. The study found that increasing the Nusselt number led to an increase in energy efficiency, but also caused a drop in outlet temperature at any solar radiation. The mass flow rate (MFR), with larger flow rates resulting in better efficiencies, had a significant impact on the double pass air heater's efficiency. Thus, increasing of DPSAH’s length increases its thermal performances and reach its maximum values for L=9m. These findings could be beneficial in selecting the most efficient design parameters for DPSAH.

A convenient and effective synthesis of imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidine derivatives has been developed under microwave irradiations using Al2O3 as a catalyst in solvent-free conditions. The functionalized imidazo[1,2-a]pyrimidine derivatives are useful in biochemistry and medical science. In our investigation, the antimicrobial activity of the synthesized compounds was evaluated against 13 microorganisms, including 6 Gram-positive bacteria, 4 Gram-negative bacteria, and 3 pathogenic fungi. Bioactivity tests revealed that the majority of the compounds exhibited good antimicrobial activity. Finally, molecular docking simulations and ADME-T predictions were performed, showing that the most active compounds have good binding modes with microbial targets and promising pharmacokinetic safety profiles.

Manual wheelchair propulsion represents a repetitive and constraining task, which leads mainly to the development of joint injury in spinal cord-injured people. One of the main reasons is the load sustained by the shoulder joint during the propulsion cycle. Moreover, the load at the shoulder joint is highly correlated with the force and moment acting at the handrim level. The main objective of this study is related to the estimation of handrim reactions forces and moments during wheelchair propulsion using only a single inertial measurement unit per hand. Two approaches are proposed here: Firstly, a method of identification of a non-linear transfer function based on the Hammerstein–Wiener (HW) modeling approach was used. The latter represents a typical multi-input single output in a system engineering modeling approach. Secondly, a specific variant of recurrent neural network called BiLSTM is proposed to predict the time-series data of force and moments at the handrim level. Eleven subjects participated in this study in a linear propulsion protocol, while the forces and moments were measured by a dynamic platform. The two input signals were the linear acceleration as well the angular velocity of the wrist joint. The horizontal, vertical and sagittal moments were estimated by the two approaches. The mean average error (MAE) shows a value of 6.10 N and 4.30 N for the horizontal force for BiLSTM and HW, respectively. The results for the vertical direction show a MAE of 5.91 N and 7.59 N for BiLSTM and HW, respectively. Finally, the MAE for the sagittal moment varies from 0.96 Nm (BiLSTM) to 1.09 Nm for the HW model. The approaches seem similar with respect to the MAE and can be considered accurate knowing that the order of magnitude of the uncertainties of the dynamic platform was reported to be 2.2 N for the horizontal and vertical forces and 2.24 Nm for the sagittal moments. However, it should be noted that HW necessitates the knowledge of the average force and patterns of each subject, whereas the BiLSTM method do not involve the average patterns, which shows its superiority for time-series data prediction. The results provided in this study show the possibility of measuring dynamic forces acting at the handrim level during wheelchair manual propulsion in ecological environments.

This article deals with a new strategy for solving a certain type of nonlinear integro-differential Fredholm equations with a weakly singular kernel. We build our new algorithm starting with the linearization phase using Newton's iterative process, then with the discretization phase we apply the Kantorovich's projection method. The discretized linear scheme will be approximated by the product integration method in the weak singular terms, and the other regular integrals will be approximated by the Nyström method. The process of convergence of our new algorithm is carried out under certain predefined and necessary conditions. Finally, we give practical examples where, the results show the efficiency of our new algorithm for solving systems of weakly singular nonlinear integro-differential equations.

Providing pathogen-free ready-to-eat (RTE) salads is critical for all consumers, especially individuals with weakened immunity. In this study, the efficacy of γ-irradiation on Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) in freshly packaged salads (4.24 log CFU/g) treated with essential oil (EO) and myrtle juice during 10 days of storage and their impact on organoleptic properties were investigated. EO was extracted by hydrodistillation and the chemical composition was analyzed by gas chromatography with Flame Ionization Detector (GC/FID) and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Myrtle juice was prepared from fresh fruits. The cytotoxic effects of Thymus capitatus (T. capitatus) EO against a normal human umbilical vein endothelial cell (HUVEC) were assessed. GC/FID and GC–MS analysis of the thyme EO revealed the presence of 13 compounds, including carvacrol (79.55%) and p-cymene (7.93%) as major components. The EO was found to be noncytotoxic, with concentrations lower than 0.16 µL/mL. A reduction of more than 3 log CFU/g and a total inactivation of S. aureus were achieved with the combination of gamma irradiation at 0.5 kGy with myrtle juice at 6 µL/mL and EO at 0.08 µL/mL, respectively. The treatment of fresh RTE salads with thyme and myrtle juice was evaluated as acceptable by the sensory panel. The combined effect showed a synergistic potential on the inactivation of S. aureus.

Abstract Quantifying the effect of external forcings like seismicity or rain on slope destabilization is a long-standing and challenging issue. To investigate the respective roles of these forcings, we analyze an unprecedented 10-year long catalog of rockfalls occurring in the crater of the Piton de la Fournaise volcano (La Reunion Island), using statistical tools originally developed for earthquakes. Our analysis reveals the predominant effect of low amplitude repetitive seismicity in the triggering of rockfalls located at a few kilometers from the source, due to progressive damaging of the slope. Moreover, we show that the efficiency and time-delay of this dynamic triggering is controlled by the stability state of the slope, i.e. its closeness to the failure, as observed with lab-experiments on metastable granular slopes. Our results show the need to account for long-term swarm-type seismic activity that can affect the stability of geological structures like slopes and faults, but also buildings.

Abstract Background Out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) is a heterogeneous entity with multiple origins and prognoses. An early, reliable assessment of the prognosis is useful to adapt therapeutic strategy, tailor intensity of care, and inform relatives. We aimed primarily to undertake a prospective multicentric study to evaluate predictive performance of the Cardiac Arrest Prognosis (CAHP) Score as compare to historical dataset systematically collected after OHCA (Utstein style criteria). Our secondary aim was to evaluate other dedicated scores for predicting outcome after OHCA and to compare them to Utstein style criteria. Methods We prospectively collected data from 24 French and Belgium Intensive Care Units (ICUs) between August 2020 and June 2022. All cases of non-traumatic OHCA (cardiac and non-cardiac causes) patients with stable return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) and comatose at ICU admission (defined by Glasgow coma score ≤ 8) on ICU admission were included. The primary outcome was the modified Rankin scale (mRS) at day 90 after cardiac arrest, assessed by phone interviews. A wide range of developed scores (CAHP, OHCA, CREST, C-Graph, TTM, CAST, NULL-PLEASE, and MIRACLE2) were included, and their accuracies in predicting poor outcome at 90 days after OHCA (defined as mRS ≥ 4) were determined using the area under the receiving operating characteristic curve (AUROC) and the calibration belt. Results During the study period, 907 patients were screened, and 658 were included in the study. Patients were predominantly male (72%), with a mean age of 61 ± 15, most having collapsed from a supposed cardiac cause (64%). The mortality rate at day 90 was 63% and unfavorable neurological outcomes were observed in 66%. The performance (AUROC) of Utstein criteria for poor outcome prediction was moderate at 0.79 [0.76–0.83], whereas AUROCs from other scores varied from 0.79 [0.75–0.83] to 0.88 [0.86–0.91]. For each score, the proportion of patients for whom individual values could not be calculated varied from 1.4% to 17.4%. Conclusions In patients admitted to ICUs after a successfully resuscitated OHCA, most of the scores available for the evaluation of the subsequent prognosis are more efficient than the usual Utstein criteria but calibration is unacceptable for some of them. Our results show that some scores (CAHP, sCAHP, mCAHP, OHCA, rCAST) have superior performance, and that their ease and speed of determination should encourage their use. Trial registration https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04167891