First attempts for predicting future Salinization in coastal irrigated areas

Salinity contamination of irrigation ground water is a serious worldwide problem. The Mnasra zone, which has an agricultural land area that represents 70% of the total area and its agricultural production reaches12% of the national production, is threatened by a Salinization of underground waters. The ground water available in this region allows the supply of a population of 145 000 inhabitants. We have developed a simple mechanistic simulation model for predicting future Salinization in this ground water. The method adopted to predict the variation of salinity pollution in ground water is the same as the population based on an increase (ordecrease) geometry (geometric series). This work allows preparing for and coping with the environmental pollution that threatens not only humans, but also the fauna and flora of this region. According to this study, we predict an area of 8730 hectares where water will be polluted by the salinity in 2021. These results will have a negative impact at medium and long terms on the agricultural production of this region

Incidence de pluies exceptionnelles sur un aquifère hétérogène côtier (M’nasra, Maroc)

Les eaux souterraines qui représentent les seules ressources en eau de la M’nasra côtière, sont minéralisées : intrusion marine, évaporation, recyclage des eaux d’irrigation chargées en sels et l’utilisation abusive des engrais. L’évolution spatio-temporelle de la pollution nitrique de cette nappe phréatique a été suivie sur 159 puits, objective en trois périodes de campagne éclatées : 2003, 2007 et 2010 qui inclue une période exceptionnellement pluvieuses. Une comparaison par apport à l’état de la nappe en 1993, date de début de la surexploitation des eaux souterraines, a été faite. Les suivis ont montré qu’à la suite des Pluiesimportantes de la période de campagne 2009/2010, on a pu observer une dégradation de la qualité de la nappe aussi bien au niveau ponctuel qu’au niveau spatial, en particulier dans la partie Nord de la zone étudiée (aunord de la ligne de cordonnée Y = 430 000 m). Les résultats de cette étude sont présentés sous forme de cartes thématiques par le SIG.  Mots clés: Aquifère côtier, inondation, pollution nitrique, nappe phréatique, M’nasra, Maro

Évaluation de la pollution nitrique de la nappe phréatique de la

La pollution nitrique de la nappe phréatique de la zone côtière du Gharb du Maroc (M’nasra) a été révélée depuis 1993 par l’Office Régional de Mise en Valeur Agricole du Gharb. En effet, il a été procédé en 2003 à la prospection de 161 puits dans la zone côtière correspondant aux même puits prospectés en 1993 et dont les cordonnées Lambert sont bien identifiés. Cette prospection avait pour objectif l’analyse des nitrates, pour appréhender l’évolution de la pollution nitrique. La nappe de M’nasra qui a fait l’objet de notre étude est soumise à une activité agricole très intense, qui risquent de compromettre l’avenir de sa qualité. Les principaux résultats montrent que les moyennes générales de la concentration des nitrates en 1993 et 2003 sont respectivement de 106,4 mg/L et 119.6 mg/L ; soit une augmentation de 13,2 mg/L. Si en 1993, 44 puits des 161 puits prospectés (27,3 %) répondaient aux normes de potabilité et dosaient moins de 50 mg/L, en 2003 seulement 28 puits parmi les 161 puits prospectés (17,4 %) répondaient aux normes de potabilité. L’analyse spatiale de la pollution nitrique de la zone M’nasra, montre qu’il y a une certaine amélioration de la qualité de la nappe entre 1993 et 2003 au Sud de la zone étudiée (au Sud de la ligne de coordonnée Y = 430 000 m), en revanche la qualité de la nappe a été dégradée dans la moitié Nord de cette zone

Topological degree and application to a parabolic variational inequality problem

We are interested in constructing a topological degree for operators of the form F=L+A+S, where L is a linear densely defined maximal monotone map, A is a bounded maximal monotone operators, and S is a bounded demicontinuous map of class (S+) with respect to the domain of L. By means of this topological degree we prove an existence result that will be applied to give a new formulation of a parabolic variational inequality problem

On the solvability of a variational inequality problem and application to a problem of two membranes

The purpose of this work is to give a continuous convex function, for which we can characterize the subdifferential, in order to reformulate a variational inequality problem: find u=(u1,u2)∈K such that for all v=(v1,v2)∈K, ∫Ω∇u1∇(v1−u1)+∫Ω∇u2∇(v2−u2)+(f,v−u)≥0 as a system of independent equations, where f belongs to L2(Ω)×L2(Ω) and K={v∈H01(Ω)×H01(Ω):v1≥v2  a.e. in Ω}

Gene3D: modelling protein structure, function and evolution

The Gene3D release 4 database and web portal () provide a combined structural, functional and evolutionary view of the protein world. It is focussed on providing structural annotation for protein sequences without structural representatives—including the complete proteome sets of over 240 different species. The protein sequences have also been clustered into whole-chain families so as to aid functional prediction. The structural annotation is generated using HMM models based on the CATH domain families; CATH is a repository for manually deduced protein domains. Amongst the changes from the last publication are: the addition of over 100 genomes and the UniProt sequence database, domain data from Pfam, metabolic pathway and functional data from COGs, KEGG and GO, and protein–protein interaction data from MINT and BIND. The website has been rebuilt to allow more sophisticated querying and the data returned is presented in a clearer format with greater functionality. Furthermore, all data can be downloaded in a simple XML format, allowing users to carry out complex investigations at their own computers

Atomically Thin Resonant Tunnel Diodes built from Synthetic van der Waals Heterostructures

Vertical integration of two-dimensional van der Waals materials is predicted to lead to novel electronic and optical properties not found in the constituent layers. Here, we present the direct synthesis of two unique, atomically thin, multi-junction heterostructures by combining graphene with the monolayer transition-metal dichalocogenides: MoS2, MoSe2, and WSe2.The realization of MoS2-WSe2-Graphene and WSe2-MoSe2-Graphene heterostructures leads toresonant tunneling in an atomically thin stack with spectrally narrow room temperature negative differential resistance characteristics

Primary hepatoid carcinoma of the ovary: A case report

Primary hepatoid carcinoma of the ovary (HCO) is a very rare type of high-grade invasive malignant ovarian tumor with hepatic differentiation and production of á-fetoprotein (AFP). We describe a 78-year-old Moroccan woman who presented to our hospital with abdominal distension andpurplish nodules infiltrating the para umbilical skin with weight loss and impairment of her performance status. Excisional biopsy of the paraumbilical nodule revealed a cutaneous localization of moderately   differentiated adenocarcinoma and pelvic ultrasonography noted the presence of a tumoral right adnexal mass. The patient underwent an exploratory laparoscopy which found peritoneal carcinomatosis with pelvic adhesions allowing only a peritoneal biopsy. Diagnosis of primary hepatoid carcinoma of the ovary was established on the basis of classic   histopathologic findings, immunohistochemical staining and marked elevation in serum of á-fetoprotein more than the carbohydrate antigen 125. The patient received 3 cycles of chemotherapy based on Carboplatin and Paclitaxel with disease progression. No second line chemotherapy was given because of the drop of patient's performance status to 3. The patient died one month later

Cu-Ag bi-layer films in dielectric/metal/dielectric transparent electrodes as ITO free electrode in organic photovoltaic devices

Among ITO alternative, dielectric/metal/dielectric multilayer structures are one of the most often studied possible substituent. However, if their optical and electrical properties are systematically investigated it is not the same with regard to their mechanical properties. In the present manuscript we have studied the properties of ZnS/Cu/Ag/ZnS, ZnS/Cu/Ag/MO3 (with M ¼ Mo or W) structures. With a maximum transmission of 90% and a sheet resistance of 5 U/sq the optimum structure exhibits a figure of merit of 82 10-3 Ω-1 when l = 600 nm. Beyond these standard measures we proceeded to the study of the mechanical properties of the multilayer structures. The inner and outer bending tests show that the ZnS/ Cu/Ag/ZnS (or MO3) structures are more flexible than ITO, while their responses to scotch tests show that they exhibit a large adhesion to the substrate, glass or plastic. The scratching adhesion test puts in evidence that the adhesion to the substrate of the Ag layer is smaller than that of ZnS/Cu/Ag/ZnS, which is smaller than that of ITO. On the other hand, this test shows that the ZnS/Cu/Ag/ZnS (no cracks for L = 25 N) is less brittle than ITO (cracks L = 15N). Finally, when used as anode in organic solar cells, the structure ZnS/Cu/Ag/WO3 allows achieving the best efficiency, similar to that obtained with ITO