Bases of inorganic and organic chemistry

Stated fundamental theoretical principles of general, inorganic and organic chemistry and analyzed the reactivity of the most important classes of inorganic and organic substances. A multivariate tasks and exercises for classroom and independent work are proposed. For university students full-time and distance learning areas "Chemical Technology and Engineering" "Oil and gas engineering and technology" and others

An CFRP fabrics as internal reinforcement in concrete beams

This paper presents preliminary results of an experimental programme that investigated mechanical properties of a balanced-symmetric CFRP fabric laminate. Although FRP fabrics have potential to be formed into efficient reinforcement systems that can enable the development of innovative low embodied energy concrete structures, very little research on applications of FRP fabrics has been reported in the literature. In accordance with the classical laminate theory, in a balanced-symmetric laminate there is no coupling between in-plane deformation and curvature, nor between in-plane normal loading and shear deformation. As a result of the choice of lay-up arrangement the flexural reinforcement systems in concrete beams can be designed by considering the conventional section equilibrium analysi

Association of the TCF7L2 rs12255372 (G/T) variant with type 2 diabetes mellitus in an Iranian population

In various populations worldwide, common variants of the TCF7L2 (Transcription factor 7-like 2) gene are associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). The aim was to investigate the association between rs12255372 (G/T) polymorphism in the TCF7L2 gene and T2DM in an Iranian population. 236 unrelated patients with T2DM, and 255 normoglycemic controls without diabetes were studied. The PCR-RFLP method was used for genotyping rs12255372 (G/T) polymorphism, and the SPSS version 18.0 for Windows for statistical analysis. The minor T allele of TCF7L2 rs12255372 was found to significantly increase the risk of T2DM, with an allelic odds ratio (OR) of 1.458 (95% CI 1.108-1.918, p = 0.007). A significant difference in TT genotype was observed between T2DM patients and normoglycemic controls (OR 2.038, 95% CI 1.147-3.623; p = 0.014). On assuming dominant and recessive models, ORs of 1.52 [95% CI (1.05-2.21) p = 0.026)] and 1.74 [95% CI (1.01-3.00) p = 0.043] were obtained, respectively, thereby implying that the co-dominant model would best fit the susceptible gene effect. This study further confirms the TCF7L2 gene as enhancing susceptibility to the development of T2DM. © 2012, Sociedade Brasileira de Genética

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

Responses of Artemisia herba-alba Asso. and its Associated Species to Grazing Frequency (Midelt, Morocco)

The objective of this study (conducted in 1994) was to assess the effects of season and grazing frequency (control, continuous, intermittent during 2 days per week) on vegetation attributes, and animal feeding behavior. Mean standing crop, for which Artemisia herba alba contributed 72%, attained 533 for the control while it was maintained at 394 and 322 Kg DM/ha, for the continuous and the intermittent grazing, respectively. Mean productivity of Artemisia herba alba varied according to treatment and had values of 5.3, 3.0 and 2.5 Kg DM/ha/day, under the ungrazed control, the continuous and the intermittent grazing regimes, respectively. Percent utilization varied according to season, groups of plant species and treatment. Thus, this parameter ranged from 3.3% to 27.6%, and from 28% to 56.1%, for Artemisia herba alba and the perennial grasses, respectively. Mean contribution to sheep diets was similar (34%) for both Artemisia herba alba and the perennial grasses. However, it varied according to availability and the grazing regime. For example, Artemisia herba alba contributed with 27.1% and 41.7%, under the continuous and the intermittent grazing regimes, respectively

Proposing a Popular Method for Meteorological Drought Monitoring in the Kabul River Basin, Afghanistan

This paper investigates meteorological drought in one of Afghanistan's most important socio-economic river basins called Kabul River Basin (KRB) using a 38 years monthly precipitation data. Several drought indices such as Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), Percent of Normal Precipitation Index (PNPI), Deciles Index (DI), and China-Z Index (CZI) were applied for the first time on the basin in order to observe the correlation among the indices in the basin for drought, and to see which method is suitable for drought monitoring in KRB. Due to the concerns that climate is changing and especially the rapid snowmelt that accounts for 80% of the precipitation in Afghanistan, it was essential to carry such a study in order to warn the responsible bodies in the country for a better drought management. Moreover, the rapid population increase and USAge of more water for both drinking and agricultural purposes in the basin with a possible decrease in the annual precipitation make it necessary to undertake such a study. The results of the investigation show that KRB area experienced drought conditions continuously from 2000 to 2004 with a peak extreme drought in 2001 which confirm to the reported worst drought in the region. It is noted that log-SPI, gamma-SPI, and Deciles captured the historical extreme and severe drought periods successfully, therefore, these methods are recommended to be applied to this region as drought assessment tools

Phenotypic and genetic diversity in Sinorhizobium meliloti and S. medicae from drought and salt affected regions of Morocco

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Sinorhizobium meliloti </it>and <it>S. medicae </it>are symbiotic nitrogen fixing bacteria in root nodules of forage legume alfalfa (<it>Medicago sativa </it>L.). In Morocco, alfalfa is usually grown in marginal soils of arid and semi-arid regions frequently affected by drought, extremes of temperature and soil pH, soil salinity and heavy metals, which affect biological nitrogen fixing ability of rhizobia and productivity of the host. This study examines phenotypic diversity for tolerance to the above stresses and genotypic diversity at Repetitive Extragenic Pallindromic DNA regions of <it>Sinorhizobium </it>nodulating alfalfa, sampled from marginal soils of arid and semi-arid regions of Morocco.</p> <p>Results</p> <p><it>Rsa</it>I digestion of PCR amplified 16S rDNA of the 157 sampled isolates, assigned 136 isolates as <it>S. meliloti </it>and the rest as <it>S. medicae</it>. Further phenotyping of these alfalfa rhizobia for tolerance to the environmental stresses revealed a large degree of variation: 55.41%, 82.16%, 57.96% and 3.18% of the total isolates were tolerant to NaCl (>513 mM), water stress (-1.5 MPa), high temperature (40°C) and low pH (3.5), respectively. Sixty-seven isolates of <it>S. meliloti </it>and thirteen isolates of <it>S. medicae</it> that were tolerant to salinity were also tolerant to water stress. Most of the isolates of the two species showed tolerance to heavy metals (Cd, Mn and Zn) and antibiotics (chloramphenicol, spectinomycin, streptomycin and tetracycline). The phenotypic clusters observed by the cluster analysis clearly showed adaptations of the <it>S. meliloti </it>and <it>S. medicae </it>strains to the multiple stresses. Genotyping with rep-PCR revealed higher genetic diversity within these phenotypic clusters and classified all the 157 isolates into 148 genotypes. No relationship between genotypic profiles and the phenotypes was observed. The Analysis of Molecular Variance revealed that largest proportion of significant (P < 0.01) genetic variation was distributed within regions (89%) than among regions (11%).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>High degree of phenotypic and genotypic diversity is present in <it>S. meliloti </it>and <it>S. medicae </it>populations from marginal soils affected by salt and drought, in arid and semi-arid regions of Morocco. Some of the tolerant strains have a potential for exploitation in salt and drought affected areas for biological nitrogen fixation in alfalfa.</p

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

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

Acute febrile torticollis in youth: clinical investigation and current management Naouar Ouattassi

Acute febrile torticollis in children is a rare and a special clinical picture of variable causes. It may indicate an inflammatory or an infectious pathology affecting any of the anatomical structures of the neck. Treatment is quite clearly defined, and it may be a therapeutic emergency. It is a condition that all ENT specialists must be familiar with since they are most likely to be the first physician to whom such a child is brough