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Resume Introduction Le but de cette etude est d’evaluer les resultats esthetiques et fonctionnels de la technique du lambeau tarsoconjonctival de Kollner-Hughes dans les larges defects superieurs aux trois-quarts de la paupiere inferieure. Patients et methodes Etude descriptive retrospective d’une serie de 15 patients traites entre janvier 2013 et decembre 2015. Nous avons inclus tous les patients operes pour une tumeur atteignant plus des trois-quarts de la paupiere inferieure et epargnant les canthis. La reconstruction du defect palpebrale inferieur a ete realisee selon la technique de Kollner-Hughes. Resultats La moyenne d’âge de nos patients etait de 65,7 ± 8 ans. Le sex-ratio etait de 1,5 en faveur des hommes. Il s’agissait d’un carcinome basocellulaire bien differencie de la paupiere inferieure chez tous les patients. La moyenne de la taille du defect palpebral induit etait de 18 ± 4 mm. L’autonomisation du lambeau tarsoconjonctival a ete realisee apres un delai de 8 a 10 semaines de la reconstruction. Apres un suivi moyen de 12 ± 6 mois, les resultats esthetiques et fonctionnels etaient satisfaisants dans 86,7 % des cas notamment en termes de fermeture palpebrale et de protection de la surface oculaire. Parmi les complications, l’erytheme du bord libre neoforme a ete enregistre dans 26,7 % des cas, la keratinisation et l’hypertrophie de ce dernier ont ete notees dans 20 % des cas, la deformation du bord libre superieur en chapeau de gendarme avec un entropion associe a ete retrouvee dans 20 % des cas, tandis que la retraction de la paupiere inferieure a ete enregistree dans 6,67 % des cas. Les atteintes de la surface oculaire a type de keratite ponctuee superficielle minime ou de secheresse oculaire ont ete retrouvees dans 13,4 % des cas. Discussion Plusieurs auteurs ont choisi la technique de Kollner-Hughes pour reconstruire des defects palpebraux de plus en plus larges avec des resultats tres satisfaisants. La reconstruction suivant la technique de Kollner et Hughes est une procedure tres seduisante, car elle presente plusieurs avantages. Il s’agit d’une technique facile et rapide. Elle couvre des defects largement superieurs aux trois-quarts de la paupiere inferieure avec des resultats esthetiques tres satisfaisants et sans augmenter significativement la morbidite au niveau du site donneur. En association avec des procedures complementaires, cette technique peut reconstruire toute la paupiere inferieure. Malgre toutes ses qualites, le lambeau tarsoconjonctival de Kollner-Hughes presente quelques inconvenients mineurs comme la necessite de deux temps operatoires espaces de quelques semaines pour l’ouverture de la fente palpebrale et par consequent il est contre indique chez les sujets monophtalmes et les enfants vu le risque d’amblyopie. Conclusion Le lambeau d’abaissement tarsoconjonctival tel qu’il a ete decrit par Kollner et Hughes etait initialement indique dans la reconstruction des deficits moderes et medians de la paupiere inferieure. D’apres les resultats de notre serie, nous pouvons elargir les indications de cette technique aux deficits superieurs aux trois-quarts de la paupiere inferieure tout en garantissant des resultats esthetiques satisfaisants et un minimum de complications.

Resume Introduction La prevalence du syndrome de pseudoexfoliation capsulaire (PEC) est estimee a 8 % de l’ensemble des cataractes operees dans notre structure. Le but de notre etude est de decrire la frequence des complications peroperatoires et postoperatoires, ainsi que les resultats anatomiques et fonctionnels a long terme de la phacoemulsification dans le syndrome de pseudoexfoliation capsulaire. Patients et methodes Etude retrospective observationnelle d’une serie incluant 103 patients (107 yeux) presentant une cataracte associee a un syndrome de pseudoexfoliation capsulaire admis entre janvier 2010 et septembre 2014. Tous les patients ont ete operes par phacoemulsification. Resultats La moyenne d’âge de nos patients etait de 72,5 ± 6 ans. La moyenne de l’AV corrigee initiale etait de 0,52 ± 0,14 LogMAR. La cataracte etait de grade C3N3 dans 58 % des cas. La PEC etait bilaterale dans 69 % des cas. La dilatation pupillaire etait ≤ 6 mm dans 54 % des cas. Parmi les complications peroperatoires, la desinsertion zonulaire a ete retrouvee dans 1,8 % des cas. La rupture capsulaire avec issue de vitre a ete notee chez 5,4 % des patients. L’incidence de la cataracte secondaire etait de 31,7 % a 12 mois. La moyenne de la meilleure AV corrigee postoperatoire etait de 0,13 ± 0,15 LogMAR. Discussion La mauvaise dilatation pupillaire associee au grade eleve de la cataracte dans notre serie explique la frequence legerement plus elevee de desinsertions zonulaires peroperatoires. La chirurgie de la cataracte par phacoemulsification permet une amelioration statistiquement significative de l’acuite visuelle ( p Conclusion Le syndrome de pseudoexfoliation capsulaire est frequent dans notre pays. Les resultats fonctionnels de la phacoemulsification sont tres satisfaisants et la cataracte secondaire constitue la principale complication. La recherche minutieuse de la PEC doit etre imperative lors de l’examen initial afin de reduire les complications peroperatoires. Un lavage soigneux des masses et un polissage systematique de la capsule cristallinienne limiteraient l’incidence de la cataracte secondaire.

Retinoblastoma is a malignant intraocular tumor that mainly affects infants and young children. The diagnosis is made at an average age of 2 years for unilateral forms and 1 year for bilateral cases. The aim of our study was to report the atypical observation of a child with a unilateral endophytic retinoblastoma diagnosed at age 14.

Resume Introduction Le traitement des perforations non traumatiques de la cornee constitue un veritable challenge aussi bien pour le choix de la technique chirurgicale que pour la gestion de la pathologie causale. Le but de notre travail est de determiner les resultats anatomiques et fonctionnels de la prise en charge des perforations non traumatiques de la cornee en l’absence d’un acces urgent a la greffe de cornee. Patients et methodes Etude retrospective d’une serie monocentrique de 23 cas consecutifs traites entre janvier 2011 et janvier 2013. Nous avons inclus 23 yeux presentant une perforation corneenne non traumatique. Differentes techniques chirurgicales ont ete utilisees en fonction de la taille et de la localisation de la perforation corneenne. Resultats L’etiologie dominante des perforations corneennes dans notre serie etait l’abces de cornee retrouve dans 30,4 % des cas (7 yeux). Le recouvrement conjonctival a ete realise dans 43,5 % des cas (10 yeux) suivi de la tarsorraphie dans 21,7 % des cas (5 yeux), puis du patch corneen autologue dans 17,4 % des cas (4 yeux) puis de la membrane amniotique dans 13 % des cas (3 yeux) et finalement la colle de cyanoacrylate dans un seul cas. Le recul moyen etait de 12,4 ± 2,1 mois. La fermeture anatomique de la perforation a ete obtenue dans 91,3 % des cas (21 yeux), tandis que l’acuite visuelle finale n’a pas ete amelioree a cause des opacites sequellaires. Discussion Le choix de la technique chirurgicale depend de la taille de la perforation corneenne, de son siege, de son etiologie et des moyens disponibles aux urgences. Le recouvrement conjonctival est une technique facile et efficace qui constitue une bonne alternative pour fermer les perforations corneennes de moins de 3 mm lorsque la membrane amniotique et la greffe de cornee sont indisponibles. Il permet d’obtenir une surface oculaire de bonne qualite et de preparer une keratoplastie transfixiante. Conclusion Le recouvrement conjonctival est une technique qui reste toujours d’actualite en l’absence de greffon corneen ou de membrane amniotique. Le taux de succes anatomique est tres satisfaisant, mais parfois plusieurs interventions sont necessaires pour ameliorer le pronostic visuel.

Les tumeurs fibreuses solitaires (TFS) sont des tumeurs mesenchymateuses rares et habituellement benignes. Elles ont ete decrites pour la premiere fois en 1931 par Klemperer et Rabin au niveau de la plevre. Initialement, elles etaient considerees comme des mesotheliomes benins ou des fibromes pleuraux. La localisation pleurale constitue leur siege de predilection dans environ 80% des cas. Le progres de l’immunohistochimie a permis de diagnostiquer les TFS en dehors des sereuses. Ainsi, les premieres localisations orbitaires et craniofaciales ont ete rapportees a partir de 1994 [1]. La prevalence des TFS parmi les tumeurs orbitaires varie de 0.71 a 1.5% [2–4]. Cette frequence est sans doute sous-estimee [5] car les localisations extra-pleurales posent toujours des problemes de diagnostic differentiel avec les autres neoplasies a cellules fusiformes [6,7]. Nous rapportons le cas d’un patient âge de 46 ans suivi pour une tumefaction orbitaire avec extension aux paupieres et a la face. Les particularites de cette observation sont la taille historique de la tumeur ainsi que son caractere mal limite et tres infiltrant contrastant avec sa presentation habituellement bien circonscrite.

Resume Introduction La suspension palpebrale au muscle frontal par fil dans le traitement du ptosis congenital a longtemps ete consideree comme une solution provisoire lorsqu’il existe un risque d’amblyopie. Elle permet de degager l’axe visuel en attendant une chirurgie ulterieure apres l’âge de 4 ans. Le fil de polypropylene (Prolene®), qui est un materiau inerte, possede une qualite cicatricielle optimale avec une resistance a la traction et une tres bonne tenue des nœuds. Il a donne des resultats fonctionnels et esthetiques tres encourageants et de faibles taux de recurrence. Materiel et methodes Etude retrospective descriptive d’une serie de 21 patients, colliges entre janvier 2008 et decembre 2012, presentant un ptosis congenital severe avec fonction mediocre ou nulle du muscle releveur de la paupiere superieure. Resultats Dans notre serie, le taux de recidive du ptosis etait de 14,3 % pour un suivi moyen de 25,9 ± 10,8 mois. Nous avons retrouve 3 cas de sous-correction et un seul cas de granulome inflammatoire avec infection. Discussion L’utilisation du fil de polypropylene semble etre une tres bonne alternative aux moyens classiques de suspension comme le fascia lata, l’aponevrose du muscle temporal et le polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE ou Goretex®). Les avantages de cette technique sont la facilite du geste, le cout maitrise et une moindre morbidite associee. Conclusion La suspension palpebrale par fil de polypropylene est une technique facile, rapide, reversible et peu couteuse. Les resultats a court et moyen termes sont tres encourageants et nous avons besoin d’un plus grand recul pour evaluer les resultats a long terme.

The goal of this study is to assess functional and aesthetic results of anterior lamellar resection with lid margin splitting of the upper lid in the treatment of cicatricial trachomatous entropion.Descriptive cross-sectional study of a series of 26 consecutive patients treated between January 2014 and December 2015. All patients were operated for cicatricial trachomatous entropion in our tertiary center using the technique of the anterior lamellar resection with lid margin splitting of the upper eyelid. All patients were followed for 6 to 12 months after surgery. The anatomical, functional and aesthetic results were evaluated six months after surgery. They were considered good if there was no recurrence of the entropion, no lashes in contact with the cornea and no associated eyelid complications.The mean age of the patients was 68.5±10 years with a male predominance (sex ratio=1.8). The average initial corrected visual acuity was 0.65±0.35 LogMAR, ranging from counting fingers at 1m to 6/10. Involvement was bilateral in 34.6% of cases. Correction of the cicatricial entropion was achieved in 24 patients (92.3% of cases) and full correction of misdirected lashes without any contact with the ocular surface was obtained in 23 patients (88.4% of cases). The lid margin was regular in 88.4% of cases. A significant improvement of the tear film and corneal surface was observed in 84.6% of patients. During the follow-up period, no cases of recurrent entropion were reported.Among the various surgical techniques, anterior lamellar resection with lid margin splitting is one that most respects the anatomy of the upper eyelid and allows precise intraoperative control of eyelid rotation and eversion of the misdirected lashes. Therefore, it reduces significantly the risk of recurrence and significantly enhances the aesthetic results of surgery.Anterior lamellar resection with lid margin splitting of the upper eyelid is a simple and effective technique that significantly improves the aesthetic result of cicatricial trachomatous entropion.

Resume Introduction Les abces de cornee chez les porteurs de lentille de contact sont de plus en plus frequents, et peuvent parfois entrainer des tableaux severes. Le but de notre travail est de definir les caracteres epidemiologiques, cliniques, microbiologiques et therapeutiques de ces abces dans notre contexte. Patients et methodes Nous avons mene une etude retrospective descriptive non comparative d’une serie de cas de patients presentant un abces de cornee suite au port de lentilles de contact colliges entre janvier 2009 et janvier 2012. Resultats L’âge moyen de nos patients etait de 22 ans avec un sex-ratio F/H de 7,5. Des facteurs de risque generaux ont ete retrouves dans 17,5 % des cas. La duree moyenne d’hospitalisation etait de 15 jours. Parmi nos patients, 58,8 % portaient des lentilles cosmetiques et 41,2 % des lentilles correctrices. Le delai moyen de consultation etait de cinq jours. Les signes cliniques etaient domines par une douleur et rougeur oculaires, avec une baisse d’acuite visuelle qui etait inferieure a 1/10 chez 82,3 % des patients. Dans 70,6 % des cas, l’abces etait central. Sa taille moyenne etait de 4,3 mm. Une reaction de la chambre anterieure etait retrouvee dans 47,1 %. Le prelevement bacteriologique sur la cornee etait positif dans 47,8 %. Les germes retrouves etaient le Staphylococcus aureus , le Pseudomonas aeruginosa et les Acanthamœba . Les prelevements sur la lentille et le liquide de conservation etaient positifs dans 73,6 % des cas. L’evolution a ete favorable sous un traitement antibiotique local et general adapte aux resultats microbiologiques dans seulement 41,2 % des cas. Chez le reste des patients, une opacite sequellaire genante persistait. Discussion Le port de lentille de contact cosmetique et therapeutique est une cause importante d’abces de cornee. Le retard de consultation donne des tableaux severes avec non amelioration de l’acuite visuelle. Conclusion L’ophtalmologiste a un role important dans la prevention des complications du port de lentille de contact, par une meilleure information sur l’hygiene, et le suivi de ses patients.

The growing dependence on coal-fired electricity generation has resulted accumulation of massive quantities of coal combustion by products such as fly ash and bottom ash which are regarded as problematic solid wastes all over the world. Being used beneficially in very less quantities, each year large amount of fly ash is disposed to arable lands which lead to degradation and contamination of land and ground water. However fly ash is identified as a useful soil ameliorant with its properties pertinent to the enhancement of soil fertility and productivity. Fly ash has the potential to improve soil physical, chemical and biological properties and is a source of readily available plant macro and micro-nutrients. Especially for countries whose soils show inherent structural and nutritional limitations for cropping and that need expensive and intensive management, fly ash creates a possible solution to improve crop yields and enhance food security. At the same time the soil added fly ash can involve in terrestrial carbon sequestration by enhancing the microclimate of the soils to facilitate organic matter humification to yield stable forms of soil carbon. This paper reviews the studies of fly ash as a soil amendment in order to present a comprehensive view of the possibility of using fly ash in agricultural lands to improve soil productivity while harvesting possible carbon sequestration benefits. Some identified adverse effects of fly ash addition that can hinder the crop growth in amended soils especially in long term applications have limited its potential use in cultivable lands. However more research work on existing gaps in knowledge to be filled (especially regarding the appropriate application rate and possible environmental contamination) may help to derive the maximum advantages of fly ash in terms soil improvement and waste disposal. The paper, in particularly examines the potential use of this plentiful solid waste material on soil amendment in Australian agricultural soils.

An analytical model based on the displacement function of the opening of crack applied by Lundmark and Varna [26] in the internal layers to study the evolution of the decrease of stiffness in a laminate is investigated. The results of axial rigidity versus the crack density are presented for three composite materials. The influences of the temperature and moisture on the mechanical properties of composite material are highlighted. The micromechanical model of the laminates used in present study describes the degradation of the mechanical properties of composite material by the variation in the temperature and moisture. The hygrothermal effect is observed to be harmful for composite materials.

Thermal buckling behaviour of FGM square plates with simply supported edges has been studied in this note using the classic plate theory (CPT). It is assumed that the nonhomogeneous mechanical properties of the plate, graded through thickness, are described by a power-law FGM (simply called P-FGM) and sigmoid FGM (S-FGM). The plate is assumed to uniform temperature rise. Resulting equations are employed to obtain the closed-form solutions for the critical buckling temperature change of FGM. The results are compared with the results of the first order shear deformation theory.

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the buckling of FGM plate under thermal loads. The plate is assumed to be under two types of thermal loadings, namely; uniform temperature rise and linear temperature rise through the thickness. It is assumed that the plate is a mixture of metal and ceramic, and that its properties change according to the power functions of the plate thickness (linear, quadratic, cubic, and inverse quadratic). By applying Von Karman’s method general formulas have been obtained for the critical temperature of FGM plate. The appropriate formulas for homogenous and FGM plate are found as special cases. Effects of changing plate characteristics, material composition and volume fraction of constituent materials of FGM plate with simply supported edges are also investigated. The results obtained for homogeneous cases are compared with their counterparts in the literature.

The stiffness reduction of symmetric hygrothermal aged angle-ply laminates containing a cracked mid-layer is predicted by using a modified shear-lag model. The material properties of the composite are affected by the variation of temperature and moisture, and are based on a micro-mechanical model of laminates. This hygrothermal effect is taken into account to assess the changes in the longitudinal modulus due to transverse cracking. The obtained results represent well the dependence of the degradation of elastic properties on the cracks density and hygrothermal conditions.

An analytical model based on the notion of the stress perturbation function is developed and applied to study the effect of multiple cracks in aged cross-ply laminates on the stiffness of a laminated composite. The material properties of the composite are affected by the variation of temperature and moisture, and are based on a micro-mechanical model of laminates. This hygrothermal effect is taken into account to assess the changes in the longitudinal modulus due to transverse cracking. The obtained results represent well the dependence of the degradation of elastic properties on the cracks density and hygrothermal conditions. Through this theoretical study, we hope to contribute to the understanding of damage of aged composite materials.

The prevalence of pseudoexfoliation syndrome is estimated at 8 % of all cataracts operated within our institution. The goal of our study was to describe the frequency of intraoperative and postoperative complications and long-term anatomical and functional results of phacoemulsification in pseudoexfoliation syndrome.A retrospective observational study of a series including 103 patients (107 eyes) with cataract associated with pseudoexfoliation syndrome admitted between January 2010 and September 2014. All patients underwent phacoemulsification.The average age of our patients was 72.5±6 years. The average initial corrected visual acuity was 0.52±0.14LogMAR. The cataract was grade C3N3 in 58 % of cases. The pseudoexfoliation syndrome was bilateral in 69 % of cases. Pupillary dilatation was≤6mm in 54 % of cases. Among intraoperative complications, zonular dialysis was found in 1.8 % of cases. Posterior capsular rupture and vitreous loss was noted at 5.4 % of patients. The incidence of secondary cataract was 31.7 % at 12 months. The mean postoperative best corrected visual acuity was 0.13±0.15 LogMAR.The small pupil associated with high grade of the cataracts in our series explains the slightly higher frequency of intraoperative zonular dialysis. Cataract surgery by phacoemulsification allows for a statistically significant improvement in visual acuity (P0.001). The incidence of secondary cataract, the main postoperative complication, is higher in our series compared to data in the literature.Pseudoexfoliation syndrome is common in our country. Functional results of phacoemulsification are very satisfactory, and secondary cataract is the main complication. A meticulous search for pseudoexfoliation is mandatory during the initial examination in order to reduce intraoperative complications. Careful removal of the cortex and systematic polishing of the lens capsule should limit the incidence of secondary cataracts.

The use of aircraft structural parts made of polymer matrix composites subjected to severe environment conditions calls for better knowledge of their long – term behaviour, with an emphasis on their ability to withstand important cyclic variations of moisture and temperature. The influence of temperature and moisture on such structures is receiving special attention, because it induces transient residual stresses within the plies. Such stresses must be taken into account in the design of composite materials, particularly aerospace structures, e.g. aircraft. In the present paper the transient hygroscopic stresses induced by cyclic and unsymmetric environmental loadings which simulate an aeronautical application are investigated. It is shown that the heterogeneity and anisotropy of such plates generally result in transient stress distributions which are very different from the equilibrium stress distribution. Some stacking sequences exhibit important stresses within the plies. These stresses have to be taken into account in the design of composite structures submitted to a moist environment.

External variations in temperature and moisture are of primary importance for the long term behaviour of structures made of polymer matrix composites, because they induce residual stresses within laminated composite plates. It was shown (Hahn et al., 1978; Benkeddad et al., 1995, 1996; Tounsi et al., 2000, 2002, 2004; Adda-Bedia et al., 2001; Tounsi and Adda-Bedia, 2003a, b) that the heterogeneity and the anisotropy of such plates, have an influence on the distribution of transient hygroscopic stresses through the thickness of composite plates. The aim of the present paper is to present a simplified approach for the calculation of transient hygroscopic stresses within unidirectional laminates in the case where these latter are exposed to the cyclic and unsymmetric environmental conditions. Several examples are presented to assess such stresses and to demonstrate the efficiency of the used method. These stresses have to be taken into consideration for the design of composite structures submitted to a moist environment.

Soil vapor extraction (SVE) is an effective and cost-efficient method of removing volatile organic compounds and petroleum hydrocarbons from unsaturated soils. However, SVE becomes ineffective in soils with low permeability—for example, soils with air permeabilities less than 1 Darcy. Prefabricated vertical drains (PV drains) have been used to dewater finegrained soils for more than 20 years. For the last 5 years, PV drains have been used for soil flushing applications to remove contaminants below the groundwater table. Incorporating PV drains in an SVE system can extend the effectiveness of SVE to lower permeability soils by shortening the airflow paths and ultimately expediting contaminant removal. An advantage of using PV drains in place of conventional SVE wells is that they can be installed relatively inexpensively. The objective is to effectively incorporate PV drains into an SVE remediation system and to demonstrate a PV drain-enhanced SVE system at full scale.

The treatment of non-traumatic perforations of the cornea is a real challenge for the choice of surgical technique as well as for management of the causal pathology. The goal of our study is to determine the anatomical and functional results of the management of non-traumatic perforation of the cornea in the absence of ready access to a corneal graft.This is a retrospective, non-comparative monocentric study of 23 consecutive cases diagnosed and treated between January 2011 and January 2013. We included 23 eyes with non-traumatic corneal perforation. Various surgical techniques were used depending on the size and location of the corneal perforation.The predominant etiology of the corneal perforations in our series was corneal abscess, found in 30.4% of cases (7 eyes). A conjunctival flap was performed in 43.5% of cases (10 eyes) followed by tarsorrhaphy in 21.7% of cases (5 eyes), autologous corneal patch in 17.4% of cases (4 eyes), amniotic membrane in 13% of cases (3 eyes) and finally cyanoacrylate glue in one case. Mean follow-up was 12.4 ± 2.1 months. Anatomical closure of the corneal perforation was achieved in 91.3% of cases (21 eyes), while the final visual acuity was not improved due to secondary opacities.The choice of surgical technique depends on the size of the corneal perforation, its location, its etiology and the resources available for emergencies. When amniotic membrane and corneal donor tissue are unavailable, conjunctival flap is an easy and effective technique, which is a good alternative to close corneal perforations less than 3mm. It improves ocular surface quality and prepares the eye for later penetrating keratoplasty.Conjunctival flap is a good technique that is still relevant today, especially in the absence of corneal donor tissue or amniotic membrane. The anatomical success rate is very satisfactory, but sometimes several interventions are needed to improve the visual prognosis.

Frontalis suspension of the upper eyelid using suture in the treatment of congenital ptosis has long been considered a temporary solution when there is a risk of amblyopia. It helps to clear the visual axis pending further surgery after the age of 4 years. Polypropylene suture (Prolene(®)), which is an inert material with optimum scarring properties and tensile strength and good knot stability, has shown very encouraging functional and aesthetic results and low recurrence rates.Retrospective descriptive study of a series of 21 patients, between January 2008 and December 2012, with severe congenital ptosis and poor or no function of the levator muscle of the upper eyelid.In our series, the recurrence rate of ptosis was 14.3% with a mean follow-up of 25.9 ± 10.8 months. We found 3 cases of under-correction, and one case of granulomatous inflammation with infection.The use of polypropylene suture seems to be a very good alternative to conventional materials for suspension, such as fascia lata, temporalis fascia and polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE or Goretex(®)). The advantages of this technique are the ease of removal, low cost and lower associated morbidity.Eyelid suspension with polypropylene suture is an easy, rapid, reversible and inexpensive technique. The results in the short and medium terms are very encouraging, and we need longer follow-up to evaluate the long-term results.

Several thermal springs occur within the Catalan Coastal Ranges, mainly located along bounding faults of horst–graben systems. Most of the springs are located in the Valles-Penedes graben, where they correspond to local topography-driven flow systems. The Caldetes thermal water spring cannot be explained easily in these terms. From the chemical and isotopic composition of these waters, a recharge area at an elevation of at least 600 m is inferred, most likely in the Montseny massif some 20 km NW of Caldetes. We propose a deep flow system with infiltration of meteoric fluids from the Montseny massif. Fluids then pass through tertiary units of the Valles-Penedes graben and infiltrate faults and fracture zones that are connected to the bounding faults of the Barcelona halfgraben. Fluids finally ascend along these faults and are discharged as thermal waters at Caldetes.

Corneal ulcers in contact lens wearers are becoming more common, and can sometimes lead to severe complications. The purpose of this study is to define the epidemiological, clinical, microbiological and therapeutic considerations of these ulcers within the above context.We conducted an uncontrolled, descriptive, retrospective study of 51 patients presenting with contact lens related corneal ulcers to the ophthalmology department of the August 20, 1953 Hospital in Casablanca between January 2009 and January 2012.The average age of our patients was 22 years, with a gender ratio of 7.5 female to male. General risk factors (diabetes and tuberculosis) were found in 17.5% of cases. The average length of hospital stay was 15 days. Of our patients, 58.8% wore cosmetic contact lenses and 41.18% wore therapeutic contact lenses. Mean duration prior to consultation was 5 days. The predominant clinical signs were eye pain and redness, with a decrease in visual acuity worse than 1/10 in 82.3% of patients. In 70.6% of cases, the ulcer was central. The average size was 4.3mm. An anterior chamber reaction was found in 47.1%. Corneal bacterial cultures were positive in 47.8%. Pathogens found were Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Acanthamœba. Contact lens and solution cultures were positive in 73.6% of cases. Outcomes were favorable with local and systemic antibiotic treatment adapted to microbiological results in only 41.2% of cases. In the remaining patients, significant secondary opacities persisted.Cosmetic and therapeutic contact lens wear is a major cause of corneal ulcer. Delayed consultation results in severe sequelae with persistently decreased visual acuity.The ophthalmologist plays an important role in preventing complications of contact lens wear, through better hygiene instruction and follow-up of his or her patients.

High temperature storage can degrade moulding compounds for chip encapsulation to such an extent that the adhesion to surfaces like copper (lead frames) or polyimide (chip coating) decreases drastically causing delamination. Also during normal operation of electronic components heat is generated locally (bond wire or chip surface) degrading the moulding compound and reducing the adhesion which in extreme cases can destroy the metallisation or the bond wires.

Metal degradation has recently received increased attention as a failure mechanism in power devices under active cycling conditions, i.e. under repeated pulsed voltage/current loads [1, 2]. Both electro-thermal and thermo-mechanical simulation are indispensable for understanding this mechanisms. The paper presents experimental and simulation data for a dedicated test structure. A suitable lifetime model has to go beyond a simple Coffin-Manson type model to capture the essential influencing parameters.

Plasma treatment was done to improve the hydrophobic functions of nonwoven geotextiles. We compared the separation and reinforcement performance through frictional properties, before and after plasma treatment. Friction tests were examined in the interface between geomembranes and nonwoven geotextiles. The frictional performance was analyzed by the peak shear stress and the residual shear stress. The long-term performance of these geotextiles could be determined and analyzed from the experimental results before and after plasma treatment.

It is well known that high temperature storage can degrade moulding compounds for chip encapsulation to such an extent that the adhesions to surfaces like copper (lead frames) or polyimide (chip coating) decreases drastically causing delamination. During normal operation of electronic components, heat is generated locally (bond wire, or chip surface) degrading the moulding compound and reducing the adhesion which in extreme cases can destroy the metallisation or bond wires.

The use of multi-layer ceramic chip capacitors as integrated passive in e. g. system in package applications needs methods to examine and predict their reliability. Therefore, a nondestructive failure analytical technique is described to detect cracks in the ceramic and the metallic layers within encapsulated 0402 SMD capacitors. After choosing from techniques to reproducibly generate cracks, it is shown that an in-situ capacitance measurement is a convenient method to detect these failures unambiguously. Finite Element simulations support the experimental results. A reliability estimate for capacitor integrity under given loading conditions is given.

This study is devoted to the analysis of the psammophyte of the coastal and semi-continental dunes in Tlemcen. Interesting results have been obtained, in particular, on the biological and ecological aspects of the psammophyte. The interpretation from Factoriel analysis of correspondences enabled us to identify the different phytosociological classes (Cakiletea maritimae, Ammophiletea, Quercetea ilicis, Therobrachypodietea and Stellarietea mediae). Some of these classes (Cakiletea maritimae and Ammophiletea) inhabit, exceedingly well, the embryonic dunes. Some species (Therobrachypodietea) colonize the quickset dunes. Lastly, some others (Quercetea ilicis) settle in the more mature and stable dunes. By using the phytosociological and phytodynamical data, we have been able to understand the vegetation and its diversity.

The activity changes of two urea cycle enzymes, argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS) and argininosuccinase (ASL), were followed after corticosteroid and pancreatic hormone treatments in utero and in primary cultured fetal hepatocytes. The ASL activity which was induced by glucagon or by (Bu)2cAMP administration was enhanced by a treatment with streptozotocin for 2 days, although ASS was not changed under these conditions. The activity of both enzymes was enhanced by cortisol administration in utero only in streptozotocin-treated fetuses, suggesting an inhibitory effect of insulin. In cultured fetal hepatocytes, dexamethasone produced a marked increase of the two enzyme activities, which was abolished by the simultaneous addition of insulin. The parallel results obtained with these two experimental models allow one to conclude that the high plasma insulin level in late gestation might repress the development of ASS and ASL activities in utero and antagonize the effect of corticosteroids on these enzyme activities.

The activity changes of the urea-cycle enzymes were monitored in cultured foetal hepatocytes after dexamethasone and insulin treatments. Addition of dexamethasone induced the development of carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase, argininosuccinate synthetase, argininosuccinase and arginase activities as soon as day 16.5 of gestation. When insulin was added together with dexamethasone, it markedly inhibited the steroid-induced increase in carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase, argininosuccinate synthetase and argininosuccinase activities.

Foetal-rat hepatocytes were cultured in primary monolayer culture, and activity changes of argininosuccinate synthetase (ASS, EC 6.3.4.5) and argininosuccinase (ASL, EC 4.3.2.1) were followed under defined hormone conditions. In hormone-free medium, cultured cells maintained the enzyme activities at values equal to those of freshly isolated cells for at least 3 days. Continuous addition of dexamethasone produced the development of the two enzyme activities, but only after the first 20h of culture. Under these conditions, urea production by the foetal hepatocytes was concomitantly increased in the culture medium. Pretreatment with dexamethasone for 20h was sufficient to produce the development of ASL activity within the 2 following days. Introduced alone, glucagon induced an increase of ASL activity, but did not affect the ASS activity. The most powerful stimulation of ASS and ASL could be observed in cultured hepatocytes if glucagon and dexamethasone were added simultaneously or sequentially. These results indicated that the development of the receptor complex for the induction of urea-cycle enzymes appears early before birth and established that glucocorticoids amplify the glucagon stimulation of these enzyme activities during foetal life.