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The research work was conducted on eroded soil in the Keroua forest of Saida, Algeria, whose objective is to know the changes in the physicochemical and biological properties of forest soils subjected to the effect of water erosion. The samples were taken to a depth between 0-10 cm in each zone (eroded zone and control zone). Our results show that the biological properties are the most affected by water erosion where there was a significant decrease in basal respiration and microbial biomass, which had a negative influence on the metabolic quotient (higher values in the eroded area). For chemical properties, there was an increase in organic matter and total limestone, while the pHWater decreased in the eroded zone. For the physical properties. We raised a slight difference between the two areas, but which was not statistically significant.

The mechanisms that cause nickel (Ni) toxicity are multiple and potentially affect all cells in the body. For this purpose, we were interested in the oxidative stress induced by the Ni at the erythrocyte level at a dose of 2 g/l during the gestation and lactation period in the Wistar rats and the capacity of the clove essential oil, Syzygium aromaticum, (CEO) to restore or not this state of stress. Extraction of the CEO by hydro-distillation allowed us to obtain a CEO with a yield of 10.60% and the characterization of this essential oil by GC-MS indicates that the major components of this oil are: Eugenol (80.95%), eugenyl acetate (10.48%), β-caryophyllene (7.21%) and α-humulene (0.87%). The antioxidant activity of the CEO made in vitro showed a free radical scavenging capacity DPPH with an IC 50 of the order of 25.60 μg/ml. In addition, analysis of the erythrocyte antioxidant status indicated that Ni significantly increased the enzymatic activities of catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and significantly decreased the enzymatic activity of glutathione peroxidase (GPx), resulting in dysfunction of the antioxidant defense system. On the other hand, the administration of CEO by intraperitoneal (IP) over a period of 21 days to rats previously intoxicated with Ni, indicates that this CEO contributes significantly in improving defenses against free radical aggression, through a recovery. At the level of antioxidant enzyme activities by increasing their abilities to eliminate radical compounds.

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This paper presents a study on the dry turning of polyoxymethylene copolymer POM-C. The effect of five factors (cutting speed, feed rate, depth of cut, nose radius, and main cutting edge angle) on machinability is evaluated using four output parameters: surface roughness, tangential force, cutting power, and material removal rate. To do so, the study relies on three approaches: (i) Pareto statistical analysis, (ii) multiple linear regression modeling, and (iii) optimization using the genetic algorithm. To conduct the investigation, mathematical models are developed using response surface methodology based on the Taguchi L16 orthogonal array. The results indicate that feed rate, nose radius, and cutting edge angle significantly influence surface quality, while depth of cut, feed, and speed have a notable impact on other machinability parameters. The developed mathematical models have determination coefficients greater than or very close to 95%, making them very useful for the industry as they allow predicting response values based on the chosen cutting parameters. Finally, the optimization using the genetic algorithm proves to be promising and effective in determining the optimal cutting parameters to maximize productivity while improving surface quality.

Context: The application of soil amendments to immobilise pesticide residues is a promising technology for meeting human health requirements, environmental protection and cost-effective remediation. Aims: This study aims to evaluate the effect of rice straw biochar (RB), rice straw compost (RC) and their mixtures at rates of 0.5% and 1.0% in pots, on the immobilisation of pesticides (such as atrazine, glyphosate and chlorpyrifos) in contaminated soil, using spectroscopy analysis under grown canola (Brassica napus L.) plants. Methods: Determination of immobilisation of pesticide residues by GC or HPLC and chemical properties of RB and RC and adding them at differentrates to the contaminated soil. Keyresults: The results showed that the addition of RB or RC alone or their mixtures led to a significant increase in the exchangeable Ca2+ contents, organic matter (OM), cation exchange capacity (CEC), uptake of N, P and K and dry weight of canola plants. Pesticide concentrations decreased with increasing OM, CEC, and exchangeable Ca2+ with the soil amended by RC and RB. The data indicated that adding RB at levels of 0.5% and 1.0% resulted in reductions in chloropyrifos by 43.2% and 63.1%, glyphosate by 32.8% and 77.3%, and atrazine by 21.9% and 72.2%, respectively, as compared to the control. Addition of (RC + RB) at 0.5% gave the highest pesticide immobilisation, followed (RC+RB) at 1.0%. Conclusion: These results indicate that the dominant mechanisms of pesticides immobilisation in the alkaline soils amended with RC and RB by FTIR and XRD analysis were π–π interaction, pore filling, hydrophobic effect, H-bonding, degradation as well as improvement of soil properties and dry yield of canola plants. Implications: Our results suggested the possibility of adding recycled rice straw in the form of compost or biochar to the contaminated soil to improve its properties, immobilise pesticides and increase its production capacity. The application of soil amendments to immobilise pesticide residues is a promising technology for meeting human health requirements, environmental protection and cost-effective remediation. The addition of biochar with compost increased the canola growth and decreased the concentrations of pesticide residues. Spectroscopy analysis indicated that the π–π interaction, pore filling, hydrophobic effect, H-bonding, and degradation are the dominant mechanisms of the studied pesticide residues with rice straw of biochar and compost amendments in the alkaline soils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to investigate the structural, mechanical, optical, electronic, and thermoelectric properties of novel double perovskites Tl2GeCl6 and Tl2GeBr6. The Quantum Espresso code was employed to perform the Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculation on the perovskites’ characteristics. The results indicated that both materials exhibit chemical and structural stability, with equilibrium lattice constants of 10.08 Å and 10.55 Å for Tl2GeCl6 and Tl2GeBr6, respectively. The calculated elastic parameters and elastic moduli data also demonstrated that the new double perovskites exhibit mechanical stability while the calculated electronic band structure and the density of states using the PBE functional indicated that the materials are semiconductors with energy gap values of 0.3 eV for Tl2GeBr6 and 1.72 eV for Tl2GeCl6, respectively. Using more accurate SCAN approximation, the energy gaps were refined to 0.53 eV for Tl2GeBr6 and 2.10 eV for Tl2GeCl6. Additionally, the calculated dielectric functions, extinction coefficient and absorption coefficients of Tl2GeCl6 and Tl2GeBr6 strongly suggest the exceptional optical response of these materials. Notably, Tl2GeBr6 is estimated to have a particularly strong visible-light absorption capacity, positioning it as a promising absorber for perovskite solar cells. These findings are also supported by the low reflectivity values observed. Finally, the analysis of their thermoelectric properties revealed the excellent thermoelectric properties of Tl2GeCl6 and Tl2GeBr6, as indicated by their high figures of merit, predicted to be 0.73 and 0.68 for the respective perovskites.

The data presented here aim to show how to analyze crack propagation of a novel metallic matrix composite of Ti-6Al-4V reinforced with 1 wt.% nano-yttria-stabilized zirconia processed by laser powder bed fusion technology. The data was acquired via microstructural observations and electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) analyses after the quasistatic tensile tests at room temperature. The overall crack path configuration based on the fracture surface observation by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was first operated, presenting two main regions: (i) local inclined planes (hereafter denoted as “stair-like”), and (ii) region in accordance with the theoretical mode I fracture plane. Thereafter, a series of EBSD data set on a surface obtained after longitudinal cut off operation on one failed piece was conducted at three distinct positions: (i) in the stair-like configuration region, (ii) in the mode I fracture region, and (iii) in the region where the crack path made his transition between these two mechanisms. Since the EBSD data sets were not prone to any post-processing filtering operation, comparison of the observed mechanism with other Ti-6Al-4V alloy processed by additive manufacturing (AM) technology can be easily carried out.

Anaerobic digestion is a complex process whose understanding, optimization, and development require mathematical modeling to simulate digesters' operation under various conditions. Consequently, the present work focuses on developing a new and improved model called "AM2P" derived from the AM2 model. This new model incorporates surface-based kinetics (SBK) into the overall simulation process to transform the system into three stages: hydrolysis, acidogenesis, and methanogenesis. Experimental data from our previous work were used to identify the AM2 and AM2P models' parameters. Simulations showed that the AM2P model satisfactorily represented the effect of the hydrolysis phase on the anaerobic digestion process, since simulated values for acidogenic (X1) and methanogenic (X2) biomass production revealed an increase in their concentration as a function of particle size reduction, with a maximum concentration of the order of 5.5 g/l for X1 and 0.8 g/l for X2 recorded for the case of the smallest particle size of 0.5 cm, thus accurately representing the effect of substrate particle disintegration on biomass production dynamics and enabling the process of anaerobic digestion to be qualitatively reproduced. The AM2P model also provided a more accurate response, with less deviation from the experimental data; this was the case for the evolution of methane production, where the coefficient of determination (R2) was higher than 0.8, and the root-mean-square error (RMSE) was less than 0.02.

This study aims to study the benefits of lean approach implementation in engineering education in Morocco by using three concrete case studies to present a comparative analysis between situations with and without Lean approach deployment. The first project focuses on improving internet access. The second project aims to improve the conduct of practicum sessions. The third project aims to identify and improve the performance of the processes implemented in the student affairs department. In this research study, deductive methodology is followed, also called the "hypothetical-deductive approach", First, we presented a synthetic analysis of Lean implementation studies existing in the literature between 2000-2023, then we presented three Lean implementation projects in the engineering school in Morocco. This research work allowed us to present, with concrete cases, the contribution of the approach to engineering education in Morocco, whether it is in the teaching processes or in the support and management processes within an engineering school. The involvement and sensibilization of the resources represent key success factors of this Lean transformation. This research work can serve as a baseline reference for other Lean implementation initiatives in the field of education in Morocco. On the one hand, while examining the literature, we found a scarcity of studies that have presented a comparison between the situation without and with the Lean approach. On the other hand, the Lean approach is a new concept that has never been discussed concretely in the context of Moroccan engineering; the present research fills that gap. Doi: 10.28991/ESJ-2023-07-04-07 Full Text: PDF

This is a case report about a 44-year-old woman who sustained multiple stab wounds, resulting in an isolated right ureteral injury. Despite a precise diagnosis from an urgent CT scan showing contrast material extravasation, the patient's stable vital signs allowed for a thorough surgical exploration, leading to an accurate diagnosis. Immediate surgical repair of the right ureter using an end-to-end anastomosis following precise surgical principles achieved complete restoration of the initial injuries. The case highlights the accuracy of CT scan assessment, the unreliability of hematuria in diagnosing ureteral injuries, and the need for a high index of suspicion during surgical exploration to avoid overlooking such cases.

Air rifle, although considered as a toy, can cause injuries ranging from trivial to very grievous. The severity of injuries depends on the type of air rifle, the distance of firing, and the anatomic site at which the bullet hits. We present a case involving a young boy, who was accidently hit by an air rifle while playing. The Bullet penetrated the penis through the glans to be lodged in between the distal extremities of the corpus cavernosum behind the urethra. The surgical treatment was performed and the results were good.

Background: Isolated gastrocnemius tightness (IGT) is a prevalent condition linked to various foot pathologies. In a previous quantitative gait analysis study, we identified an increase in knee flexion during the midstance phase in IGT patients compared with controls. Although stretching and eccentric exercises (the Stanish protocol) are commonly used for IGT management, their impact on gait parameters remains poorly understood. This study aimed to assess the influence of a Stanish protocol on gait parameters in bilateral IGT subjects. Methods: We enrolled 10 asymptomatic bilateral IGT subjects and 10 controls. Quantitative gait analysis and dynamic baropodometry were carried out on each subject. A Stanish protocol was applied for 4 weeks (five sessions/week) by the IGT group, followed by a similar gait analysis. The ankle and knee range of motion and foot pressure distribution were assessed during the midstance phase of the gait. Results: An increase in knee flexion was initially present in the IGT group compared with controls (8.9 +/− 4.6 vs. 3.4 +/− 2.3 degrees, p < 0.001). There was no difference in the ankle range of motion and foot pressures between the groups at that time. Significant reductions in knee flexion during gait were observed in the IGT subjects after the Stanish protocol (8.9 +/− 4.6 to 3.7 +/− 2.3 degrees, p < 0.001) with a normalization of this parameter (3.4 +/− 2.3 in controls vs. 3.7 +/− 2.3 degrees in IGT, p = 0.72). There was no change in ankle range of motion and foot pressure after the Stanish protocol. Conclusions: Our findings support the effectiveness of the Stanish protocol in reducing knee flexion and normalizing gait in IGT subjects. This protocol not only offers a noninvasive approach for IGT-related issues management but could also enable prophylactic care in asymptomatic cases.

Bu makalenin amacı; plansız gebelik yaşayan anne adaylarının, gebeliği ve anneliği anlamlandırma biçimlerini incelemek, anneliğe geçiş sürecindeki bu kritik dönemde deneyimledikleri tecrübeleri dini, manevi ve psikolojik yönleriyle ele alarak din psikolojisi perspektifiyle bir resim çizmeye çalışmaktır. Durum deseninde hazırlanan bu nitel saha araştırmasında, amaçlı örnekleme tiplerinden kartopu ve ölçüt örnekleme ile seçilmiş 21-38 yaş aralığında (ort. 28,7), mevcut durumda plansız gebelik yaşayan, 11’inin ilk gebeliği, 6’sının ikinci gebeliği, 7’sinin üçüncü gebeliği, 1’inin ise dördüncü gebeliği olan, ağırlıklı olarak lisans ve lisansüstü eğitime sahip, 12’sinin aktif olarak çalışmakta olduğu 25 evli Müslüman kadın ile yarı yapılandırılmış görüşmeler yapılmıştır. Betimsel ve içerik analizi ile yapılan çö zümlemeler sonucunda; plansız gebelik yaşayan kadınların yaşadıkları duygusal yoğunlukla mücadele etmek için dini ve manevi başa çıkma yöntemlerini kullandıkları (i), hem aile ve sosyal çevrelerinden hem de bu alandaki profesyonellerden manevi destek almaya ihtiyaç- larının olduğu (ii) tespit edilmiştir. Ayrıca katılımcıların gebeliklerini ilk öğrendikleri andaki duygu hallerinde “şaşkınlık ve şok” alt teması baskın gelirken (iii), anneliği anlamlandırma biçimlerinde nitelendirdikleri en yoğun kavram “sorumluluk” alt teması olmuştur (iv). Bir anne adayını bebeğini dünyaya getirip getirmeme noktasında nelerin arada bırakabileceğine dair sebepler listesinde ise “ekonomik durum” ve “eşi ile ilişkisi” alt temaları ön plana çıkmıştır (v).

The white-headed duck is a globally threatened species and its populations have become fragmented and undergone major decline in recent decades. Changes including long-term abundance (five times from 2005 to 2018) and diurnal activity budget (2010−2011 and 2017−2018) with respect to the effect of habitat features at Boussedra marsh (unprotected area) were compiled in order to fill some gaps in the status and trend of North African populations. The population size of the white-headed duck decreased over years from 2010 to 2018 by about 52.81%, and was positively associated with interior vegetation area, but not significantly with water surface area. Trends of population dynamics differed among seasons, and the number was higher in wintering than breeding season. Sleeping (44.93%, 23.74%) and feeding (59.09%, 27.43%) were the dominant diurnal activities at both the years of study, respectively. Boussedra marsh plays an important ecological role as a diurnal forging habitat and reproduction site for this threatened species and as a shelter for other waterfowl.

La microphtalmie postérieure avec pli papillomaculaire est une anomalie rare. Elle affecte les deux yeux et ne s'accompagne habituellement pas d'autres anomalies oculaires ou générales. Elle se caractérise par un segment postérieur court avec un segment antérieur normal. Nous rapportons le cas d'une fille âgée de 10 ans qui consulte pour une baisse d'acuité visuelle progressive bilatérale, l'examen ophtalmologique des deux yeux retrouve une forte hypermétropie avec une meilleure acuité visuelle corrigée chiffrée à 08/10ème à droite et à 07/10eme à gauche, les segments antérieurs sont normaux, par contre au fond d'œil nous notons un aspect d'une papille pleine non excavée, un pli papillo-maculaire bilatéral, et une périphérie normale. L'échographie oculaire en mode A et B confirme la microphtalmie postérieure. La tomographie en cohérence optique (OCT) montre un aspect d'un pli rétinien de siège papillomaculaire qui intéresse les couches internes de la rétine avec respect des couches externes de la rétine et la choroïde. L'objectif de ce travail est d'analyser les caractéristiques cliniques du segment postérieur de l’œil au cours de la microphtalmie postérieure à travers cette observation et une revue de littérature

Décrite pour la première fois par Quicke en 1897, l’Hypertension intracrânienne (HTIC) bénigne, appelée également HTIC idiopathique ou pseudotumeur cérébrale, est une augmentation de la pression du liquide céphalorachidien (LCR), sans arguments cliniques, biologiques ou radiologiques en faveur d’une pathologie intracrânienne, elle est plus fréquente chez la femme adulte obèse. Nous rapportons le cas d’une patiente âgée de 18ans, célibataire, avec un Indice de masse corporelle 29 kg/m2, sans antécédents ophtalmologiques particuliers et généraux, Admise à notre niveau par le biais de l’urgence pour prise en charge de trouble visuel bilatérale avec limitation de l'abduction de l'œil gauche et un œdème papillaire bilatéral. Au terme du bilan clinique et paraclinique, le diagnostic d’hypertension intracrânienne idiopathique est posé, notre patiente a reçu un traitement par acétazolamide et un bolus de corticoïdes pendant 3jours entamé 48h après l'introduction de l’azithromycine, puis un relais par voie oral avec une dégression progressive par palier. Ce qui a permis l'amélioration de l'acuité visuelle à 06/10ème à droite et à 1/10ème à gauche 04 semaines plus tard avec une pâleur modérée de la papille gauche. Devant ce tableau trompeur de neurorétinite bilatérale posant un problème de diagnostic différentiel, le diagnostic positif de l’hypertension intracrânienne repose non seulement sur l’IRM encéphalique et orbitaire qui élimine un éventuel processus expansif intracrânien ou une thrombophlébite cérébrale et montre des signes spécifiques au niveau orbitaire mais aussi sur la négativité de toute une panoplie d’examens biologiques et cliniques

BackgroundCoronary artery diseases remain the leading cause of death in the world. The management of this condition has improved remarkably in the recent years owing to the development of new technical tools and multicentric registries. ObjectiveThe aim of this study is to investigate the in-hospital and 1-year clinical outcomes of patients treated with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in Tunisia. MethodsWe will conduct a prospective multicentric observational study with patients older than 18 years who underwent PCI between January 31, 2020 and June 30, 2020. The primary end point is the occurrence of a major adverse cardiovascular event, defined as cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident, or target vessel revascularization with either repeat PCI or coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). The secondary end points are procedural success rate, stent thrombosis, and the rate of redo PCI/CABG for in-stent restenosis. ResultsIn this study, the demographic profile and the general risk profile of Tunisian patients who underwent PCI and their end points will be analyzed. The complexity level of the procedures and the left main occlusion, bifurcation occlusion, and chronic total occlusion PCI will be analyzed, and immediate as well as long-term results will be determined. The National Tunisian Registry of PCI (NATURE-PCI) will be the first national multicentric registry of angioplasty in Africa. For this study, the institutional ethical committee approval was obtained (0223/2020). This trial consists of 97 cardiologists and 2498 patients who have undergone PCI with a 1-year follow-up period. Twenty-eight catheterization laboratories from both public (15 laboratories) and private (13 laboratories) sectors will enroll patients after receiving informed consent. Of the 2498 patients, 1897 (75.9%) are managed in the public sector and 601 (24.1%) are managed in the private sector. The COVID-19 pandemic started in Tunisia in March 2020; 719 patients (31.9%) were included before the COVID-19 pandemic and 1779 (60.1%) during the pandemic. The inclusion of patients has been finished, and we expect to publish the results by the end of 2022. ConclusionsThis study would add data and provide a valuable opportunity for real-world clinical epidemiology and practice in the field of interventional cardiology in Tunisia with insights into the uptake of PCI in this limited-income region. Trial RegistrationClinicaltrials.gov NCT04219761; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04219761 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)RR1-10.2196/24595

Ce papier vise à fournir une meilleure compréhension de la problématique entourant l’acceptation de la technologie de la télémédecine par les médecins marocains. Dans ce sens, nous avons mobilisé le modèle Unifié de l'acceptation et de l'utilisation de la technologie (Venkatesh et al, 2003) qui a été utilisé, dans différents contextes, par les chercheurs pour expliquer ou comprendre les déterminants de l'intention des médecins d’accepter et utiliser la technologie de la télémédecine. S’inscrivant dans une posture épistémologique interprétativiste, ce travail cherche à comprendre davantage et démystifier la pratique de la télémédecine au Maroc en se basant sur une approche qualitative exploratoire hybride via la méthode des entretiens semi-directifs avec un échantillon réduit des médecins qui constituent, à notre sens, le principal acteur vers une acceptation et une utilisation saines de cette pratique au sein des hôpitaux marocains. Les résultats de cette étude montrent que les variables : les attentes en performances et les conditions facilitantes ont une relation significative positive sur l’intention comportementale des médecins Marocains.

Polylimonene-clay nanocomposites (PLM-Mag 2, 3, 6 and 10% by weight of clay) were prepared by mixing Maghnite-CTA+ (Mag-CTA+) and polylimonene (PLM) in solution using ultrasonic irradiation. The catalyst preparation method were studied in order to determine and evaluate their structural, morphological and thermal properties. The Mag-CTA+ is an organophylic montmorillonite silicate clay prepared through a direct exchange process, using green natural clay of Maghnia (west of Algeria) called Maghnite. The Algerian clay was modified by ultrasonic-assisted method using cetyltrimethylammonuim bromide (CTAB) in which they used as green nano-reinforcing filler. Polylimonene was obtained by the polymerization of limonene, using Mag-H+ as a catalyst. The morphology of the obtained nanocomposites was studied by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electronic microscopy (SEM), transmission electronic microscopy (TEM) and infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) shows that the nanocomposites have a high degradation temperature (200−250 °C) compared with the pure polylimonene (140 °C). The analyses confirmed the chemical modification of montmorillonite layers and their uniformly dispersion in the polylimonene matrix. Exfoliated structures were obtained for low amounts of clay (2 and 3% by weight), while intercalated structures and immiscible regions were detected for high amounts of clay (6 and 10% by weight). Copyright © 2021 by Authors, Published by BCREC Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).

In this paper we have explored a novel and green method to synthesis and polymerize ethylene glycol dimethacrylate (EGDM). This technique consists on using Maghnite (Algerian clay) as a green catalyst to replace toxic catalysts. The Algerian clay has been modified using two ion exchange process to obtain Maghnite-H+ (proton exchanged process) and Maghnite-Na+ (sodium exchanged process). Synthesis experiments of EGDM and Poly (EGDM) are performed in bulk respecting the principles of green chemistry. The structure of the obtained monomer and the obtained polymer was confirmed by FT-IR, 1H-NMR and 13C-NMR, where the methacrylate end groups are clearly visible. The presence of unsaturated end group in the structure of monomer was confirmed by UV-Visible analysis. Thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) was used to study the thermal stability of these obtained products. Copyright © 2020 by Authors, Published by BCREC Group. This is an open access article under the CC BY-SA License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0).

Hard turning is a machining process that is widely used in the precision mechanical industry. The characterization of the functional surface texture by the ISO 13565 standard holds a key role in automotive mechanics. Until now, the impact of cutting conditions during hard turning operation on the bearing area curve parameters has not been studied (ISO 13565). The three parameters Rpk , Rk and Rvk illustrate the ability of the surface texture to resist friction. In this work, the main objective is to study the impact of cutting conditions (Vc, f and ap) of the hard turning on three parameters of the bearing area curve. The statistical study based on response surface methodology (RSM), analysis of variance (ANOVA) and quadratic regression were performed to model the three output parameters and optimize the input parameters. The experimental design used in this study is the Taguchi L25 orthogonal array. The results obtained show that the cutting speed has a greater effect on the bearing ratio curve (Rpk , Rk and Rvk ) parameters with a percentage contribution of 37.68%, 37.65% and 36.91%, respectively. The second significant parameter is the feed rate and the other parameter is significant only in relation to Rpk and Rk parameters.

This study discusses the effects of hot isostatic pressing (HIP) post-treatment on Laser Powder Bed Fusion of Ti6Al4V and Ti6Al4V reinforced with 1 wt% and 2.5 wt% of nano-yttria-stabilized zirconia (nYSZ). The bulk parts display a higher density after HIP post-treatment than the as-built counterparts. Besides, X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicates a reduction of the β phase percentage after HIP. An increase in α grain thickness is noticed on both reinforced and unreinforced parts. Additionally, compared to their un-HIPed counterparts, the microhardness decreases after HIP post-treatment by 3%, 11%, 8% and 4% for the as-built Ti6Al4V, stress relieved Ti6Al4V, 1 wt% nYSZ reinforced and 2.5 wt% nYSZ reinforced parts, respectively. The same trend was observed for the yield stress, which decreases by 1%, 4% and 8%, for the as-built Ti6Al4V, stress relieved Ti6Al4V and 2.5 wt% nYSZ-reinforced parts respectively after HIP post-treatment, except for 1 wt% nYSZ-reinforced part, whose yield stress increase by about 7%, which could be attributed to the specific texture evolution within this material. The plastic strain was significantly enhanced after HIP in all materials.

Recent developments in information technology (IT) in health are extended to highly specialized services, an example is telemedicine technology, understood as the use of IT to enable the transfer of medical information for diagnostic purposes, therapeutic and educational. Despite the benefits of implementing such technology, healthcare professionals, as end users, do not fully utilize it. The Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) and the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT), are among the models applied to assess and predict the acceptance and use of telemedicine. This article aims to identify the relevant literature related to these two models, to review and summarize the methodologies and results, and propose a conceptual model for the acceptance and use of telemedicine technology by healthcare professionals.

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most important infectious diseases, particularly in the world. Amongst the genitourinary organs, prostatic TB is less common. We report an 68 year old patient, immunocompetent who presented obstructive and irritative symptoms of the lower urinary tract. A history of pulmonary tuberculosis was not present. The digital rectal examination was suspicious and PSA was a normal. The biopsy results did not reveal any malignant lesions but the transurethral resection of the prostate performed for voiding purposes showed prostatic tuberculosis. A very good clinical and biological improvement was observed after chemotherapy anti-tuberculosis.

Context: Few remote care technologies have been able to integrate clinical routines in the health sector, one of the reasons is the non-acceptance of these technologies by end-users who are health professionals. Objective: Identify from a review of the literature the research that has studied the acceptance behavior of remote care technologies by health professionals and that has used technology acceptance model (TAM) and Unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT) as a theoretical framework. Methods: An electronic search was conducted in the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases during the period between May and June 2021. The articles were identified using predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. All search results have been exported to an Excel file. Next, the titles and abstracts of the publications were assessed by two independent reviewers according to the inclusion and exclusion criteria to select relevant studies from those found in the database, Any conflict in decision-making during the selection phase was resolved by discussion among reviewers or, if necessary, with the research coordinator until consensus was reached. Results: Of 531 potentially relevant titles (duplicates excluded), 32 studies were included in this systematic review. These studies did not test a single model, there was a variety of models tested, 7 studies tested the original TAM model and 6 tested the original UTAUT model. While 13 studies tested an extension of TAM (or modified TAM) and 6 tested an extension of UTAUT (or modified UTAUT). There are studies on a wide variety of remote health care applications in the articles included in this systematic review. In the majority of cases (21 studies 66%), the authors did not specify the type of application they studied, i.e. they used generic terms such as eHealth, mHealth, Telehealth, or telemedicine. Conclusions: The main finding of this review shows that these two models TAM and UTAUT are still valid and used to predict the acceptance behavior of remote care technologies by health professionals, even if they date back several years and even if they were not originally formulated to be used in the context of remote care technologies.

This study aims to explore for the first time the mechanical, electronic, optical and thermoelectric properties of cubic lead-free perovskites InSnBr _3 and InSnI _3 to investigate their potential applications in solar cell devices. Additionally, the previously examined InSnCl _3 perovskite is also included. The properties of the perovskites were determined using first-principles calculation based on the well-known Density Functional Theory (DFT) with the Generalized Gradient Approximation (GGA) functional implemented in the Quantum Espresso package. One of the most important findings was that the bandgaps of the compounds decrease and undergo an indirect-to-direct bandgap transition when Cl is replaced by Br and I. This indicates that InSnBr _3 and InSnI _3 perovskites are more suitable for solar cell applications. The bandgap energies for InSnCl _3 , InSnBr _3 , and InSnI _3 perovskites are 0.59 eV (R→X), 0.44 eV (R→R), and 0.24 eV (R→R), respectively. The improved band gaps using the HSE06 functional are 2.35 eV, 2.13 eV, and 2.01 eV for the respective perovskites. The materials were found to possess chemical, mechanical, and thermodynamic stability as well as ductile behaviour. Furthermore, the materials exhibit remarkable optical properties, including high absorption coefficients and relatively small reflectivity. The calculated thermoelectric properties indicated high electrical conductivity and reasonable figure of merit values, making them promising candidates for the application in thermoelectric devices.

In this work, we report a new facile method for the preparation of myrcene-limonene copolymers and nanocomposites using a Lewis acid as a catalyst (AlCl3) and organo-modified clay as a nano-reinforcing filler. The copolymer (myr-co-lim) was prepared by cationic copolymerization using AlCl3 as a catalyst. The structure of the obtained copolymer is studied and confirmed by Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectroscopy, and Differential Scanning Calorimetry. By improving the dispersion of the matrix polymer in sheets of the organoclay, Maghnite-CTA+ (Mag-CTA+), an Algerian natural organophilic clay, was used to preparenanocomposites of linear copolymer (myr-co-lim). In order to identify and assess their structural, morphological, and thermal properties, the effect of the organoclay, used in varyingamounts (1, 4, 7, and 10% by weight), and the preparation process were investigated. The Mag-CTA+ is an organophylic montmorillonite silicate clay prepared through a direct exchange process in which they were used as green nano-reinforcing filler. The X-ray diffraction of the resulting nanocomposites revealed a considerable alteration in the interlayer spacing of Mag-CTA+. As a result, interlayer expansion and myr-co-lim exfoliation between layers of Mag-CTA+ were observed. Thermogravimetric analysis provided information on the synthesized nanocomposites’ thermal properties. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electronic microscopy, respectively, were used to determine the structure and morphology of the produced nanocomposites (myr-co-lim/Mag). The intercalation of myr-co-lim in the Mag-CTA+ sheets has been supported by the results, and the optimum amount of organoclay needed to create a nanocomposite with high thermal stability is 10% by weight. Finally, a new method for the preparation of copolymer and nanocomposites from myrcene and limonene in a short reaction time was developed.

Warmer and drier climates are expected in the Mediterranean basin which is considered as a climate-change hotspot. Here we used climate contrasts across the Mediterranean to mimic climate change effects on litter microbial communities. Litterbags of monospecific (Pinus halepensis and Pistacia lentiscus) and of binary mixtures of litter (Pinus/Pistacia, 50/50) were transferred across contrasted climates between France and Algeria (from a sub-humid to a semi-arid climate). We tested the effect of litter type (species identity, litter-mixing) and of environmental context (coast/inland) on microbial responses to more constraining climate conditions. After 12-months of field incubation, litter chemical properties (C/N and solid-state 13C NMR) and microbial markers (active microbial biomass (MB), basal respiration (BR), bacterial catabolic and genetic structures (BIOLOG and T-RFLP) were characterized. After transfer, catabolic and genetic structures were different from those of both French and Algerian control and responses depended on the context and on litter type: stronger modifications were observed in inland context, except for microbial communities of Pistacia lentiscus litter (weak variations). However, MB and BR decreased in response to transfer for this litter type. On the other hand, and for either inland or coastal context, MB of Pinus halepensis litter did not vary in response to transfer and BR decreased reflecting microbial performance in sustaining biomass and limiting C losses through respiration. Here, litter mixture did not mitigate the effect of climate stress on microbial communities neither in inland nor in coastal context: lower MB and BR were detected after transfer in inland context whereas lower MB was accompanied by a higher BR in coastal context, reflecting an increase in CO2 release for a weaker amount of microbial biomass. This study shows that microbial responses to climate change vary with litter type and also with the environmental context.

This paper presents the estimation of substrate and biomass concentrations inside a Chemostat used for waste-water treatment. These concentrations represent the state variables of the process model. Most research in this field used only deterministic models, not accounting for uncertainties and noises on the states and on the output. Hence, the estimation of these concentrations may not be sufficiently accurate. For a more realistic description, we used here a stochastic formulation. Unlike the other research works, we used a stochastic differential equations (SDE) model which provides a better representation of the system in his natural processing scale. This model also includes the aleatory effects in the process which had been discarded in the other works. We then deal with the state estimation problem using an Extended Kalman filter, which proceeds with a linearization of the model around a deterministic trajectory. The classical prediction and update steps of the filter are then carried-out and led to good results. Notice that the system in study has some interesting properties such as discrete-time observations, high noise intensities and slow-time evolution. Results are presented, discussed and compared with the related state-of-the-art researches.