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BACKGROUND. The optimal immunosuppressive regimen in kidney transplant recipients, delivering maximum efficacy with minimal toxicity, is unknown. METHODS. The Amsterdam, LEiden, GROningen trial is a randomized, multicenter, investigator-driven, noninferiority, open-label trial in 305 kidney transplant recipients, in which 2 immunosuppression minimization strategies—one consisting of early steroid withdrawal, the other of tacrolimus minimization 6 months after transplantation—were compared with standard immunosuppression with basiliximab, corticosteroids, tacrolimus, and mycophenolic acid. The primary endpoint was kidney function. Secondary endpoints included death, primary nonfunction, graft failure, rejection, discontinuation of study medication, and a combined endpoint of treatment failure. An interim analysis was scheduled at 6 months, that is, just before tacrolimus minimization. RESULTS. This interim analysis revealed no significant differences in Modification of Diet in Renal Disease between the early steroid withdrawal group and the standard immunosuppression groups (43.2 mL/min per 1.73 m2 vs 45.0 mL/min per 1.73 m2, P = 0.408). There were also no significant differences in the secondary endpoints of death (1.0% vs 1.5%; P = 0.737), primary nonfunction (4.1% vs 1.5%, P = 0.159), graft failure (3.1% vs 1.5%, P = 0.370), rejection (18.6% vs 13.6%, P = 0.289), and discontinuation of study medication (19.6% vs 12.6%, P = 0.348). Treatment failure, defined as a composite endpoint of these individual secondary endpoints, was more common in the early steroid withdrawal group (P = 0.027), but this group had fewer serious adverse events and a more favorable cardiovascular risk profile. CONCLUSIONS. Based on these interim results, early steroid withdrawal is a safe short-term immunosuppressive strategy. Long-term outcomes, including a comparison with tacrolimus minimization after 6 months, will be reported in the final 2-year analysis.

The structural properties of (x)CuO/(1-x)CdFe2O4 nanocomposites for x = 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, 0.5 and 1.0 were studied. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns confirmed the existence of both phases with a secondary phase of α-Fe2O3. The Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) characterization showed the vibrational bands of the synthesized samples. The high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) micrographs revealed the presence of CuO, CdFe2O4, and α-Fe2O3 phases and showed the polycrystalline nature of the prepared nanocomposites. The scanning electron microscope (SEM) study exhibited the morphology of the prepared nanostructures and indicated the agglomeration between them. The energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) results revealed the presence of all chemical elements within the synthesized nanocomposites. Emission peaks of the samples were analyzed via Photoluminescence (PL) deconvolutions which approved the interface defects. The Mössbauer study showed the presence of hematite impurity and the results were coherent with XRD findings. The obtained M-H loops from the vibrating-sample magnetometer (VSM) analysis depicted a paramagnetic nature of CuO and showed the ferromagnetic behavior of the nanocomposites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The powder of treated watermelon seeds (WST), obtained through hexane extraction, has proven to be a promising adsorbent for the environmentally friendly and cost-effective removal of Basic Yellow 28 (BY28) using adsorption techniques. By optimizing conditions through Central Composite Design (CCD), focusing on key factors such as temperature, adsorbent weight, and dye concentration, we aimed to enhance the efficiency of the adsorption process. Our study assessed the accuracy of the model and regression coefficients through analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results revealed a strong agreement between the predicted values derived from the model and the experimental values for BY28, with a coefficient of determination (R2) equal to 0.92, indicating a high level of reliability and effectiveness of the developed model in predicting the adsorption behavior of BY28 on WST. Under optimal conditions, including a temperature of 35°C, an adsorbent weight of 2.45 g/L, and a dye concentration of 50 mg/L, the adsorption process demonstrated exceptional efficiency. This study highlights the remarkable potential of treated watermelon seeds for the removal of organic pollutants, emphasizing the importance of using sustainable and readily available agricultural materials for environmental remediation, thus contributing to both environmental conservation and cost-effectiveness in wastewater treatment processes.

This study focuses on the potential of treated avocado seed to remove azoic organic dyes (basic yellow 28 and tartrazine). The treated avocado seed was characterized, and batch adsorption studies were carried out to evaluate the effects of several removal dye parameters (contact time, ionic strength, initial concentration, adsorbent dose, and temperature). The adsorption kinetics of the dyes examined showed that the adsorption mechanism on the two selected catalysts followed pseudo-second-order kinetics (R2 > 0.999). The adsorption process of each dye was reported to fit using five non-linear regressions. Freundlich and Temkin adsorption isotherms described well the adsorption of basic yellow 28, and Freundlich adsorption isotherms described well the adsorption of tartrazine on the Treated Avocado Seed. The results suggested that the maximum amount adsorbed was 49.30 mg/g for basic yellow 28 and 38.43 mg/g for tartrazine and a high removal rate of 89.93% for BY 28 and 93.22% for tartrazine and that a chemical, spontaneous and endothermic process of adsorption occurred. Boyd’s expression demonstrated a mechanism of film diffusion for adsorption. Based on the findings, we suggest the application of activated avocado seeds for the removal of azoic dyes in aqueous solutions.

Background: This research centers on the development and spectroscopic characterization of new quinazolin-4(3H)-one-isoxazole derivatives (5a–e). The aim was to investigate the regioselectivity of the 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition involving arylnitriloxides and N-propargylquinazolin-4(3H)-one, and to assess the antioxidant properties of the synthesized compounds. The synthetic approach started with the alkylation of quinazolin-4(3H)-one using propargyl bromide, followed by a 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reaction. Methods: The structural identification of the products was performed using various spectroscopic methods, such as IR, 1H, 13C, and HMBC NMR, HRMS, and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. To further examine the regioselectivity of the cycloaddition, Density Functional Theory (DFT) calculations at the B3LYP/6-31G(d) level were employed. Additionally, the antioxidant potential of the compounds was tested in vitro using DPPH (2,2-Diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl)radical scavenging assays. The reaction selectively produced 3,5-disubstituted isoxazoles, with the regiochemical outcome being independent of the substituents on the phenyl ring. Results: Theoretical calculations using DFT were in agreement with the experimental results, revealing activation energies of −81.15 kcal/mol for P-1 and −77.32 kcal/mol for P-2, favoring the formation of P-1. An analysis of the Intrinsic Reaction Coordinate (IRC) confirmed that the reaction proceeded via a concerted but asynchronous mechanism. The antioxidant tests demonstrated that the synthesized compounds exhibited significant radical scavenging activity, as shown in the DPPH assay. The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of arylnitriloxides with N-propargylquinazolin-4(3H)-one successfully resulted in novel 3,5-disubstituted isoxazoles. Conclusions: The experimental findings were well-supported by theoretical predictions, and the antioxidant assays revealed strong activity, indicating the potential for future biological applications of these compounds.

Cancer is one of the most devastating disorders of the 21st century, creating a major concern among clinicians and researchers. Many different treatment strategies are being tried to fight the war against cancer have been tested. Various inorganic nanoparticles have been investigated to induce cytotoxicity in cancer cells and one of the successfully tried nanoparticles is Selenium Nanoparticles (SeNPs). Green synthesized SeNPs are a promising source of new antioxidant and anti-inflammatory agents, given the multiplicity of its mechanism. SeNPs displayed antiproliferative potential against colon, liver, cervical, breast, melanoma, and prostate cancer cells by several mechanisms, including triggering apoptotic signal transduction pathways or slow down the angiogenic signalling in cancer cells. Metal nano-therapies such as SeNPs are granted research consideration for cancer treatment. The biocompatibility achieved through green synthesis suggests its possible use not only in specific cancer conditions but also in other types of cancer without any risk of toxicity of these molecules.

This study offers a comparative assessment of two methodologies for mitigating soil swelling in marl and clay soils. The methods under investigation include the use of natural plant fibers (Alfa, jute, sisal) and polypropylene fibers in combination with lime-pozzolana cement. Laboratory tests, including Proctor compaction tests, and swell potential assessments, were conducted to assess the effectiveness of each method. The findings reveal that both natural plant fibers and polypropylene fibers, when combined with lime-pozzolana cement, effectively reduce soil swelling. The study underscores the promise of eco-friendly natural plant fibers and the durability of polypropylene fibers as viable solutions for soil stabilization. Furthermore, incorporating lime-pozzolana cement enhances both methods performance, providing an additional layer of soil stability. This research contributes valuable insights to geotechnical engineering projects dealing with marl and clay soils. It aids in the selection of suitable soil stabilization techniques, considering project-specific needs and sustainability concerns. Ultimately, this study advances the field of geotechnical engineering by promoting environmentally conscious and resilient solutions to address soil swelling in clay and marl soils.

This work describes the synthesis, characterization, and in vitro and in silico evaluation of the biological activity of new functionalized isoxazole derivatives. The structures of all new compounds were analyzed by IR and NMR spectroscopy. The structures of 4c and 4f were further confirmed by single crystal X-ray and their compositions unambiguously determined by mass spectrometry (MS). The antibacterial effect of the isoxazoles was assessed in vitro against Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, and Staphylococcusaureus bacterial strains. Isoxazole 4a showed significant activity against E. coli and B. subtilis compared to the reference antibiotic drugs while 4d and 4f also exhibited some antibacterial effects. The molecular docking results indicate that the synthesized compounds exhibit strong interactions with the target proteins. Specifically, 4a displayed a better affinity for E. coli, S. aureus, and B. subtilis in comparison to the reference drugs. The molecular dynamics simulations performed on 4a strongly support the stability of the ligand–receptor complex when interacting with the active sites of proteins from E. coli, S. aureus, and B. subtilis. Lastly, the results of the Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism, Excretion and Toxicity Analysis (ADME-Tox) reveal that the molecules have promising pharmacokinetic properties, suggesting favorable druglike properties and potential therapeutic agents.

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) comprises 10 % to 20 % of breast cancer, however, it is more dangerous than other types of breast cancer, because it lacks druggable targets, such as the estrogen receptors (ER) and the progesterone receptor (PR), and has under expressed receptor tyrosine kinase, ErbB2. Present targeted therapies are not very effective and other choices include invasive procedures like surgery or less invasive ones like radiotherapy and chemotherapy. This study investigated the potential anticancer activity of some novel quinazolinone derivatives that were designed on the structural framework of two approved anticancer drugs, Ispinesib (KSP inhibitor) and Idelalisib (PI3Kδ inhibitor), to find out solutions for TNBC. All the designed derivatives (3a-l) were subjected to extra precision molecular docking and were synthesized and spectrally characterized. In vitro enzyme inhibition assay of compounds (3a, 3b, 3e, 3 g and 3 h) revealed their nanomolar inhibitory potential against the anticancer targets, KSP and PI3Kδ. Using MTT assay, the cytotoxic potential of compounds 3a, 3b and 3e were found highest against MDA-MB-231 cells with an IC50 of 14.51 µM, 16.27 µM, and 9.97 µM, respectively. Remarkably, these compounds were recorded safe against the oral epithelial normal cells with an IC50 values of 293.60 µM, 261.43 µM, and 222 µM, respectively. The anticancer potential of these compounds against MDA-MB-231 cells was revealed to be associated with their apoptotic activity. This was established by examination with the inverted microscope that revealed the appearance of various apoptotic features like cell shrinkage, apoptotic bodies, and membrane blebbing. Using flow cytometry, the Annexin V/PI-stained cancer cells showed an increase in early and late apoptotic cells. In addition, DNA fragmentation was revealed to occur after treatment with the tested compounds by gel electrophoresis. The relative gene expression of pro-apoptotic and anti-apoptotic genes revealed an overexpression of the P53 and BAX genes and a downregulation of the BCL-2 gene by real-time PCR. So, this work proved that compounds 3a, 3b, and 3e could be developed as anticancer candidates, via their P53-dependent apoptotic activity.

A series of new quinazolinone derivatives (5a-l) were designed as 3CL protease inhibitors for SARS-CoV-2 infection. The designed derivatives were efficiently synthesized by S-alkylation/arylation of an intermediate, 6-fluoro-3-(4-fluorophenyl)-2-mercaptoquinazolin-4(3H)-one and their successful synthesis was established by analytical methods, viz. IR, 1H NMR, & 13C NMR spectroscopy. The in silico inhibitory potential against 3CLpro of SARS-CoV-2 were studied by means of docking and dynamics simulations, and compared with the co-crystallized ligand (VR4) of SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro. The compounds interacted strongly within the active catalytic dyad (Cys-His) site, thereby anticipated to obstruct the function of 3CLpro of SARS-CoV-2. Compounds 5b, 5c, 5i, 5j and 5l showed efficient binding with protease 3CLpro with XP Gscore of −7.4, −8.3, −7.8, −7.5 and −8.2 respectively. Furthermore, molecular dynamic simulation study of these compounds (5b, 5c, 5i, 5j and 5 l) showed stable interaction over 50 ns production run. Swiss ADME and pkCSM web tools showed favorable physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties and fulfilled the criteria for drug-likeness of these selected studied compounds. The toxicity determination of these selected compounds predicted that some compounds were hepatotoxic, but were not AMES toxic. Compounds 5b, 5c, 5i, 5j and 5 l revealed their inhibitory potential against the SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro, and their IC50 values were attained at 1.58, 1.25, 1.97, 0.44 and 2.56 µM, respectively. In addition, these compounds were found to have devoid of any significant cytotoxicity even at a higher concentration of 20 µM against VeroE6 cells. These quinazolinone derivatives showed potent binding and inhibitory potential against SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro and may emerge as compounds that might act as prospective inhibitors.

The influence of the removal of carbonates on the ceramic properties made of Moroccan red clay as a main material and tea waste as pore-forming agent, has been investigated. ATD-TG, dilatometry, dimensional changes, weight loss, water absorption, open porosity, bulk density, flexural and indirect tensile strengths were assessed at different firing temperatures within the range of 900–1150 °C. SEM was used to evaluate the microstructures of the fired samples, while XRD was used to study the phase evolution. At varying firing temperatures, the materials which contains the carbonate (CC) exhibit greater weight loss, water absorption, and porosity compared to the materials without carbonate (NCC). On the other hand, NCC materials has greater mechanical strength than that CC materials. The microstructural analysis conducted through SEM revealed distinct changes in the fired samples when comparing observations at 1100 °C to those at 900 and 1000 °C. At 1100 °C, there was a noticeable increase in particle contacts and layered structures, which can be attributed to the presence of dehydroxylated clay minerals (illite and chlorite), quartz particles, and pores formed during firing. Subsequently, at 1150 °C/ 2 h, further alterations in the microstructures were observed due to a higher degree of vitrification in the fired samples. This resulted in material consolidation, interparticle and neck contacts, leading to the formation of vitrified bridges. Firing has resulted in the formation of closed and open pores of varying sizes, in the vitrified structures associated with anorthite, hematite, and quartz, a thin crystal precipitation of small particles was observed. This alteration in microstructure made it possible to conclude that the flexural and indirect tensile strength increased during firing, reaching its pinnacle at 1150 °C. As a result of the firing process, the ceramic supports underwent heightened sintering, leading to a gradual decline in open porosity. The present inquiry proved to be intriguing as it led to a deeper understanding of the utilization of Moroccan red clay as a ceramic’s raw material.

This study aims to assess plant fibers' efficacy in reducing soil swelling in expansive conditions. Testing on clay and marl soils included incorporating incremental amounts (1%, 3%, 9%, and 18%) of Alfa, jute, and sisal fibers. Without fibers, significant soil swelling occurred, but their inclusion effectively mitigated the issue. Sisal fibers showed the highest effectiveness at 18%, followed by jute fibers, and then Alfa fibers. Combining different fiber types improved overall stability. Clay soils outperformed marl soils. Findings highlight the cost-effectiveness and eco-friendliness of plant fibers as a solution against soil swelling.

In wastewater treatment, the application of ceramic membranes has gained significant attention due to their potential for highly effective filtration. These membranes are typically produced using methods such as spin coating, dip-coating, and spray coating. However, these techniques have limitations when applied to large-scale industrial applications due to their high cost, time consuming process, and difficulty of control. Moreover, obtaining a complete and uniform coating typically requires several attempts. This research demonstrates the highly effective treatment of tannery wastewater using cost-effective porous ceramic membranes, by incorporating bio-based materials, such as tea waste, as porosifying additives into the main material, which is Moroccan red clay. Various analytical techniques, including X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TDA-TG), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and the Archimedes principle test, were used to investigate the properties of these ceramic membranes. The impact of the pore-forming agents on the membranes physical and mechanical properties, such as open porosity, bulk density, average pore diameter, flexural and indirect tensile strength, was evaluated. Filtration tests demonstrated effective removal of turbidity, suspended matter and chemical oxygen demand from the wastewater. The optimized membrane exhibited a permeability of 1249 L/h.m2.bar and turbidity removal efficiencies of 99.76% for seawater and 99.16% for tannery wastewater.

This study evaluates the possibilities to produce new materials, starting from Moroccan oil shales, for different applications. More specifically, the authors aimed to demonstrate that the organic fraction of the oil shales could be used as a precursor of carbon foams and graphitizable carbons, after appropriate chemical treatments resulting in the âmaturationâ of this organic phase. First, the researchers studied the optimization of experimental conditions and the identification of various parameters influencing the yield and composition of oils obtained by the supercritical extraction of Moroccan oil shale. The effect of various experimental parameters, such as mineral matter, thermal treatment temperature (T), treatment duration (t) and solvent type, was studied. The experimental results obtained show clearly that the organic matter contained in the Moroccan Tarfaya oil shale (sub-layer R3 ) can be recovered by phenol under the following optimal conditions: T = 390 °C, t = 2.5 hours using phenol as a solvent with an amount of 15 g for each 10 g of sub-layer R3 carbonate-free oil shale (RH). The results reveal that the yield and composition of the oil obtained by extraction with phenol is markedly different from those obtained by extraction with toluene, quinoline or without solvent. Furthermore, the phenol has a very signiï¬cant role in increasing the recovery yield and the degree of maturation of the obtained oil. It was shown that phenol was a suitable extraction solvent to produce graphitizable carbon at a relatively low temperature, below 1800 °C.

Abstract Background During the COVID-19 first wave in France, the capacity of intensive care unit (ICU) beds almost doubled, mainly because of the opening of temporary ICUs with staff and equipment from anaesthesia. Objectives We aim to investigate if the initial management in temporary ICU is associated with a change in ICU mortality and short-term prognosis. Design Retrospective single-centre cohort study. Setting Surgical ICU of the Bichat Claude Bernard University Hospital during the COVID-19 “first wave” (from 18 March to 10 April 2020). Patients All consecutive patients older than 18 years of age with laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and/or typical radiological patterns were included during their first stay in the ICU for COVID-19. Intervention Patients were admitted to a temporary ICU if no room was available in the classical ICU and if they needed invasive mechanical ventilation but no renal replacement therapy or Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation (ECMO) in the short term. The temporary ICUs were managed by mixed teams (from the ICU and anaesthesiology departments) following a common protocol and staff meetings. Main outcome measure ICU mortality Results Among the 59 patients admitted, 37 (62.7%) patients had initial management in the temporary ICU. They had the same characteristics on admission and the same medical management as patients admitted to the classical ICU. ICU mortality was similar in the 2 groups (32.4% in temporary ICUs versus 40.9% in classical ICUs; p=0.58). SAPS-II and ECMO use were associated with mortality in multivariate analysis but not admission to the temporary ICU. Conclusion In an overload context of the ICU of a geographical area, our temporary ICU model allowed access to intensive care for all patients requiring it without endangering them.

Quinazolinone and isoxazoline systems have attracted much attention due to their interesting pharmacological properties. The association of these two pharmacophores in a single hybrid structure can boost the biological activity or bring a new one. Inspired by this new paradigm, in the present work we report the synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of new quinazolinone–isoxazoline hybrids. The target compounds were obtained via 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition reactions of arylnitriloxides and N-allylquinazolinone. The synthesized compounds were characterized using spectroscopic techniques such as IR, 1D NMR (1H and 13C), 2D NMR (COSY and HSQC), and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS). The spectral data show that this reaction leads only to the 3,5-disubstituted isoxazoline regioisomer, and that the observed regiochemistry is not affected by the nature of the substituents in the phenyl ring of the dipole. In addition, a theoretical study was performed using density functional theory (DFT) to support the experimental results in regard to the regiochemistry of the studied reactions. The computational mechanistic study was in good agreement with the experimental data.

In this paper, we focused on the green synthesis of titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticles via an ecofriendly process using Citrus limon extract. Several analytical techniques were used to characterize the prepared samples: X-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and X-ray photoelectrons spectroscopy (XPS). XRD diffractograms revealed an anatase crystal structure of TiO2. SEM analysis showed the presence of particles with nanometric sizes, and the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectra confirmed the presence of the synthesized nanoparticles. The antibacterial activity of the green prepared TiO2 nanoparticles was assessed. Additionally, the antibacterial efficiency of the green prepared TiO2 nanoparticles was compared with TiO2 nanoparticles prepared via a chemical process. The results prove the efficacy of this ecofriendly process. This method can be used for the rapid and environmentally friendly biosynthesis of stable titanium oxide nanoparticles. This work is a contribution to the valorization of bio-sources for the synthesis of titanium dioxide crystals using Citrus limon fruit extract and tetrabutile titanate as a precursor.

Background: Dupuytren's disease is characterized by fibrosis of the superficial palmar aponeurosis which can lead to a deformation of the fingers in flexum. The main objectives of the treatment of Dupuytren's disease are to reduce the flexion and the associated disability. Objectives: The objective of this study was to investigate the epidemiological and clinical profile of Dupuytren's disease and to analyze the results of the treatment by aponeurectomy in comparison with the data of the literature. Methods: We report a retrospective study of 15 cases of Dupuytren's disease treated by aponeurectomy in the orthopedic trauma department B of the Mohammed VI University Hospital Oujda, Morocco, over a 5-year period from February 2017 to March 2022. Results: The mean age of the patients was 52.6 years and 30% were women. For the risk factors, we found that 56% of the patients have a manual activity, 30% of the patients are diabetics, 17% had a local trauma, 15% are known alcohol consumers, 25% are smokers, 20% of the patients present a similar case in the family. As for the clinic, bilateral forms are found in 60% of cases with a predominance of the 4th ray in both hands. Finally, 67% of our patients were diagnosed in the early stages of the disease (Stage 1, 2, 3 according to the Tubiana classification). Surgical treatment was proposed for 100% of the patients who underwent aponeurectomy with very satisfactory results. Overall, our study allowed us to make findings that are similar to those described in the literature. Conclusion: The genesis of Dupuytren's disease is not yet fully determined despite numerous studies on collagen and fibroblast. Surgery is the most common treatment. The appearance of collagenases, proves to be very interesting for the treatment of palmar forms, but the efficacy and safety of this approach still need to be validated in the medium and long term.

The aim of this paper is to simulate the European natural gas system in extreme situations and to determine its weaknesses in terms of demand coverage. An assessment has also been made of the targets set for existing energy efficiency regulations and their effects on the coverage of future natural gas demand. This document assesses the potential for energy efficiency improvements associated with European countries and the effect of such improvements on the lessening of the natural gas demand. Once the efficiency improvement potential has been identified, the results of demand coverage in various scenarios of natural gas supply cut-off via pipelines were studied. The expected result reflects the study of the effect of the presumed demand reduction, due to the improvement of energy efficiency, on the self-sufficiency of the natural gas network and the improvement of energy coverage for EU countries. To carry out this study, an evaluation of the current infrastructures was developed, the existing resources were optimized, and the independence of the system was quantified in relation to the current situation of natural gas consumption at the European level. The proposed model has resulted in improvements in the coverage of the demand of certain countries and has detected those with systems that are not robust enough to face extreme crisis situations. The main conclusions are that the natural gas system has improved considerably from 2009 to the present, and that, in the event of massive gas cuts, there is a real risk of being unable to cover the natural gas demand of several countries with a very high dependence on gas from Russia.

In the present work, Moroccon Tarfaya oil shale was treated by acids and different solvents under supercritical conditions, successively. Experimental results showed clearly that residual mineral matter had a significant effect on the yield and composition of the resulting organic fraction. Indeed, theoil yields obtained from some samples, 43% and 56%, respectively, were much higher than that from the sub-layer, 18%. In addition, the yield of recuperation and quality of extracted oils were largely dependent on the nature of solvents (toluene, water, shale oil). Thus, phenol was shown to be a very efficient modifier for the supercritical extraction of organic matter from Tarfaya oil shale with toluene, affording a good yield of recovery and a suitable maturation of organic matter. The pitches prepared by mixing phenol and toluene contained more aromatics and had a high char yield (46%) at 950 °C compared to those obtained by extraction with supercritical toluene alone.

Susac syndrome is a rare microangiopathy of indeterminate etiology, presumably autoimmune, characterized by a triad of encephalopathy, sensorineural hearing loss, and branch retinal artery occlusions occurring predominantly in women. The onset and progression patterns are multiple, mainly of three modes. Fulminant evolution is exceptional, rarely reported across literature. We report through this case a Susac syndrome in a young man in whom evolution was fatal. Magnetic resonance imaging is essential to raise the diagnosis and for follow-up, with almost pathognomonic findings, all the more useful as the clinical triad is usually incomplete and as the encephalopathy is the most limiting of the symptoms.

In this study, novel nanostructures based on Ni-MOF/polysulfone nanofibers were fabricated by microwave-assisted electrospinning method. The final Ni-MOF/polysulfone fibrous nanostructure were immobilized on SiO2 substrates with high physicho-chemical properties. These nanostructures with an average diameter of 20 nm and a specific surface area of 1690 m2/g were used as novel adsorption for CH4 gas adsorption. It seems that the integration of novel Ni-MOF compounds into the fibrous network has differentiated these materials from previous samples. Since the experimental parameters significantly affect the specific surface area, the parameters including voltage, concentration, and distance between the collector and source are designed by the fractional factorial method. The results were optimized by contour plots, ANOVA and surface plots, theoretically. The results show that the sample has an adsorption rate of about 5.14 mmoL/g. The improved CH4 gas adsorption performance is attributed to the large specific surface area and porous nature of the Ni-MOF/Ps nanostructure which is more convenient and accessible for CH4 gas adsorption.

In this study, cobalt composite immobilized on polysulfone fibrous network nanoparticles (CCPSF NPs) were synthesized in a controllable and one-step way under microwave-assisted conditions. The structure of CCPSF NPs was characterized by SEM images (for morphology and size distribution), TGA (for thermal stability), BET technique (for the specific surface area), FT-IR spectroscopy (for relation group characterization), and XRD patterns (for crystal size). The oxidation of the primary and secondary alcohols to aldehyde and ketone was investigated using synthesized CCPSF NPs under solvent-free microwave-assisted conditions, and high oxidizing activity was observed. In addition to oxidation properties, the anticancer activity of the synthesized CCPSF NPs in breast cancer was evaluated by the MTT method , and significant results were obtained.

Chitin and chitosan are abundant unique sources of biologically-fixed nitrogen mainly derived from residues of the fishery productive chain. Their high potential as nitrogen-based highly added-value platform molecules is still largely unexploited and a catalytic way for their valorization would be strongly desirable within a biorefinery concept. Here we report our results obtained with a series of heterogeneous catalysts in the depolymerization of chitosan and chitin to acetylglucosamine. Copper catalysts supported on SiO2, SiO2–Al2O3, SiO2-ZrO2, ZrO2 and the corresponding bare oxides/mixed oxides were tested, together with a sulfated zirconia system (ZrO2-SO3H) that revealed to be extremely selective towards glucosamine, both for chitosan and chitin, thus giving pretty high yields with respect to the values reported so far (44% and 21%, respectively). The use of a heterogeneous catalyst alone, without the need of any additives or the combination with a mineral acid, makes these results remarkable.