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ABSTRACTThe aim of this paper is to investigate agricultural sustainability as a collective issue involving multiple rather than individual farms. Through the utilization of energy consumption as a proxy, we propose a novel methodology that evaluates the impact of farm consolidations on agricultural sustainability while accounting for resource preferences. Our approach incorporates the ordered weighted averaging (OWA) operator within an inverse data envelopment analysis (IDEA) model to identify post-merger farms that meet preset efficiency targets. We employ a DEA cross-efficiency (DEA-CE) procedure to select merger plans that maximize agricultural sustainability for each preference scenario. By analysing a case study of 43 tomato greenhouse farms in Biskra, northern Algeria, our findings demonstrate that mergers can significantly enhance agricultural sustainability, surpassing the potential of individual farms by a factor of over 15. Additionally, the adoption of the most sustainable merger plan can lead to energy savings of more than 69%. Irrespective of the preference scenario, substantial energy savings in machinery, fertilizers, diesel, and electricity ranging from 22.92% to 73.73% were observed. These results emphasize the strategic role of merger processes in promoting agricultural sustainability and optimizing resource utilization.

PurposeIn this study, we retrospectively reviewed the use of flow cytometry (FCM) in the diagnosis of inborn errors of immunity (IEIs) at a single center in Algeria. Sharing insights into our practical experience, we present FCM based diagnostic approaches adapted to different clinical scenarios.MethodsBetween May 2017 and February 2024, pediatric and adult patients presenting with clinical features suggestive of immunodeficiency were subjected to FCM evaluation, including lymphocyte subset analysis, detection of specific surface or intracellular proteins, and functional analysis of immune cells.ResultsOver a nearly seven-year period, our laboratory diagnosed a total of 670 patients (372 (55.5%) males and 298 (44.5%) females), distributed into 70 different IEIs belonging to 9 different categories of the International Union of Immunological Societies classification. FCM was used to diagnose and categorize IEI in 514 patients (76.7%). It provided direct diagnostic insights for IEIs such as severe combined immunodeficiency, Omenn syndrome, MHC class II deficiency, familial hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis, and CD55 deficiency. For certain IEIs, including hyper-IgE syndrome, STAT1-gain of function, autoimmune lymphoproliferative syndrome, and activated PI3K delta syndrome, FCM offered suggestive evidence, necessitating subsequent genetic testing for confirmation. Protein expression and functional assays played a crucial role in establishing definitive diagnoses for various disorders. To setup such diagnostic assays at high and reproducible quality, high level of expertise is required; in house reference values need to be determined and the parallel testing of healthy controls is highly recommended.ConclusionFlow cytometry has emerged as a highly valuable and cost-effective tool for diagnosing and studying most IEIs, particularly in low-income countries where access to genetic testing can be limited. FCM analysis could provide direct diagnostic insights for most common IEIs, offer clues to the underlying genetic defects, and/or aid in narrowing the list of putative genes to be analyzed.

Abstract In men, reduced levels of testosterone are associated with the prevalence and progression of multiple sclerosis (MS), a chronic and disabling demyelinating disorder. Testosterone has been shown to promote myelin repair. Here, we demonstrate that the cooperation between testosterone and CXCR4 signaling involving astrocytes is required for myelin regeneration after focal demyelination produced in the ventral mouse spinal cord by the infusion of lysolecithin. The testosterone-dependent remyelination of axons by oligodendrocytes was accompanied by an increase in astrocytes expressing CXCR4, its ligand CXCL12 and the androgen receptor (AR) within the demyelinated area. Depriving males of their testosterone or pharmacological inhibition of CXCR4, with the selective antagonist AMD3100, prevented the appearance of astrocytes expressing CXCR4, CXCL12 and AR within the demyelinated area and the concomitant recruitment of myelin forming oligodendrocytes. Conditional genetic ablation of either CXCR4 or AR in astrocytes also completely blocked the formation of new myelin by oligodendrocytes. Interestingly, the gain of function mutation in CXCR4 causing WHIM syndrome allows remyelination to take place, even in the absence of testosterone, but its potentiating effects remained observable. After testosterone deprivation or CXCR4 inhibition, the absence of astrocytes within the demyelinated area led to the incursion of Schwann cells, most likely derived from spinal nerves, and the formation of peripheral nerve type myelin. In patients with progressive MS, astrocytes expressing CXCR4 and AR surrounded myelin lesions, and their presence opposed the incursion of Schwann cells. These results highlight a mechanism of promyelinating testosterone signaling and the importance of normalizing its levels in combined myelin repair therapies.

In this contribution, we would like to study the discourse held on a collective identity through the phrase “Nous sommes amazighes” as it unfolds in the discourses of the Algerian media sphere. We propose to revisit how this sentence mobilizes work on the consolidation and re-definition of an Amazigh identity. Our study is to highlight a semantics of the meaning of the sentence studied through the linguistic categories identified, notably in terms of enunciation, and the processes of disfiguring, pre-construction and nominalization to study the nature of identity discourse. By studying the trajectory of this sentence, we can identify the foundations of a denominational exercise in relation to the requirements of a context(s) of use of this sentence.

Digital social networks (SNN) are a space for virtual exchange and sharing, which quickly became a space for denunciation and activism during the Hirak or Smile Revolution. This article aims to study the construction of the digital female collective ethos. It will be about an argumentative-stating analysis of the comments of a post or post on the Facebook page « femmes insoumises algériennes », reporting the participation of Algerian women in the protest movement. We propose to report on how the enunciative and argumentative processes, deployed in the comments and participating in the construction of the Algerian female collective ethos, play on the doxa and the collective social representations, in favor of or against the woman.

In some geographically challenging areas (such as deserts, seas, and forests) where direct connectivity to a terrestrial network is difficult, space communication is the only option. In these remote locations, Internet of Space Things (IoST) applications can also be used successfully. In this paper, the proposed payload for IoST applications demonstrates how an Automatic Identification System (AIS) and a fire detection system can be used effectively. A space mission based on efficient and low-cost communication can use a constellation of nanosatellites to better meet this need. These two applications, which use a constellation of nanosatellites, can provide relevant university-level data in several countries as an effective policy for the transfer of space technology in an educational initiative project. To enhance educational participation and interest in space technology, this paper shares the lessons learned from the project feasibility study based on an in-depth design of a nanosatellite with several analyses (data budget, link budget, power budget, and lifetime estimation). Lastly, this paper highlights by experiments the development and application of a cost-effective sensor node for fire detection and the use of GPS to enable AIS capabilities in the IoST framework.

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic neurologic disease characterized by autoimmune destruction of myelin, a sheath-like material that insulates and protects nerve fibers. A significant portion of patients with MS experience severe chronic pain that is neuropathic in nature. Preclinical studies have recently demonstrated that a specific degradation product of myelin basic protein (MBP), one of the major targets of the autoimmune response in MS, is capable of producing neuropathic pain. In particular, MBP cryptic antigenic epitope, which is hidden in intact MBP, is exposed and released postnerve injury by the activity of matrix metalloproteinase 9 (MMP-9) and produces neuropathic pain. The purpose of our study is to determine if levels of the degradation product of MBP and antibodies against it correlate with the presence and severity of chronic neuropathic pain in patients with MS as well as to find out if levels of matrix metalloproteinase 9 in urine can be used as a marker of pain in MS patients.

Ecballium elaterium (squirting cucumber) is a Mediterranean plant used in folk medicine. Especially fruits and fruits juice are administered for several therapeutic uses, although they can be toxic at high doses. In the present work, a phytochemical characterization of different parts of the plant, namely fruits, flowers and leaves, was made. Extracts were analyzed by liquid chromatography coupled to diode array detector and mass spectrometry with triple quadrupole analyzer (HPLC-DAD-MS/MS). Only one cucurbitacin, Cuc D, was found in the three extracts, and an additional one, Cuc P, was tentatively identified for the first time in fruits extract. Additionally, several flavonoids such as rutin, narcissin and kaempferol were tentatively identified in the plant. Antioxidant activity was evaluated by DPPH, ABTS, FRAP and inhibition of human erythrocyte hemolysis mediated by AAPH. Results revealed that flowers extract was the most active one, with an EC50 of 46.01 µg/ml for DPPH and TEAC values of 489.11 and 160.97 µmol Trolox/g extract for ABTS and FRAP respectively; despite the protective effect of all extracts in AAPH assay was relatively moderated. In case of anti-inflammatory activity, all extracts were active by inhibiting heat induced protein denaturation in a non-dose dependent manner, showed protection against hypotonic hemolysis and reduction of mice hind paw edema, 3 h after carrageenan injection; as for previous tests, flowers extract exhibited the highest percentage of inhibition (82.93%) of hind paw edema at a dose of 200 mg/kg. Therefore, E. Elaterium flowers extract showed potential antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects similar to those exerted by the fruits. Keywords: Ecballium elaterium, Cucurbitacins, Flavonoids, HPLC-DAD-MS/MS, Anti-inflammatory activity, Antioxidant activity

تعتبر المعلومات أحد الموارد الهامة في إدارة الأنشطة في المؤسسات العصرية، لذا عملت جل المؤسسات على إتاحة عملية الإفصاح عن المعلومات وتسهيل الحصول عليها من أجل اتخاذ قرارات فعالة، وذلك باعتبار أن الإفصاح عن المعلومات وبالتحديد في أسواق الأوراق المالية يعد من الأمور الهامة بالنسبة للمستثمرين في السوق، وبالتالي فإن هذه المعلومات سواء كانت جيدة والتي تدل على الأرباح أم سيئة والتي تدل على الخسائر ستستجيب لها السوق بطريقة تتناسب مع نوعية وطبيعة هذه المعلومات. Information is one of the important resources in managing activities in modern institutions, so most of the institutions have worked to provide the process of disclosure of information and facilitate access to it in order to make effective decisions, considering that the disclosure of information, specifically in the stock markets, is one of the important matters for investors in the market. Therefore, this information, whether good, indicating profits or bad, indicating losses, will be responded to by the market in a manner commensurate with the quality and nature of this information. Key words : Disclosure, information, financial markets, and decision-making.

Grasslands are globally declining due to habitat conversion, overgrazing, climate change, and changes in fire and drought regimes. Degraded grasslands are less able to support wildlife species, which contributes to the imperilment of many species. Biosolids are used by some ranchers as an organic amendment to support more plant growth and in turn more livestock. We worked on a large cattle ranch in central British Columbia, Canada, to determine how biosolids amendment affected small mammal populations, as mice and voles are major prey for many predators and contribute to seed dispersal and underground dynamics. We found that biosolids‐amended pastures had more grass cover and supported fewer deermice (Peromyscus maniculatus) than did unamended pastures. Voles were scarce, likely due to a cyclic low. Although we sampled sites that had had biosolids applied 1 or 3 years prior to our work started, deermouse populations were similarly low across these sites. The reduction in deermice on sites with biosolids relative to unamended sites could be a signal of habitat restoration, because deermice prefer disturbed habitats rather than ones with high plant cover. Grass cover was more than twice as high on sites amended with biosolids, making these sites less suitable for deermice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ObjectivesTo evaluate the diagnostic and predictive contribution of autoantibodies screening in patients with primary immunodeficiencies (PIDs).MethodsIn the present study, PID patients and healthy controls have been screened for 54 different autoantibodies. The results of autoantibodies screening in PID patients were correlated to the presence of autoimmune diseases.ResultsA total of 299 PID patients were included in this study with a predominance of antibody deficiencies (27.8%) followed by immunodeficiencies affecting cellular and humoral immunity (26.1%) and complement deficiencies (22.7%). Autoimmune manifestations were present in 82 (27.4%) patients. Autoimmune cytopenia (10.4%) was the most common autoimmune disease followed by gastrointestinal disorders (10.0%), rheumatologic diseases (3.7%), and endocrine disorders (3.3%). Autoantibodies were found in 32.4% of PID patients and 15.8% of healthy controls (P < 0.0005). Anti-nuclear antibodies (ANA) (10.0%), transglutaminase antibody (TGA) (8.4%), RBC antibodies (6.7%), anti-smooth muscle antibody (ASMA) (5.4%), and ASCA (5.0%) were the most common autoantibodies in our series. Sixty-seven out of the 82 patients with autoimmune manifestations (81.7%) were positive for one or more autoantibodies. Eleven out of the 14 patients (78.6%) with immune thrombocytopenia had positive platelet-bound IgM. The frequencies of ASCA and ANCA among patients with IBD were 47.4% and 21.0% respectively. All patients with celiac disease had TGA-IgA, while six out of the 11 patients with rheumatologic diseases had ANA (54.5%). Almost one third of patients (30/97) with positive autoantibodies had no autoimmune manifestations. ANA, rheumatoid factor, ASMA, anti-phospholipid antibodies and ANCA were often detected while specific AID was absent. Despite the low positive predictive value of TGA-IgA and ASCA for celiac disease and inflammatory bowel disease respectively, screening for these antibodies identified undiagnosed disease in four patients with positive TGA-IgA and two others with positive ASCA.ConclusionThe present study provides valuable information about the frequency and the diagnostic/predictive value of a large panel of autoantibodies in PIDs. Given the frequent association of some AIDs with certain PIDs, screening for corresponding autoantibodies would be recommended. However, positivity for autoantibodies should be interpreted with caution in patients with PIDs due to their low positive predictive value.