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

Ankyloblepharon filiforme adnatum: a case report

Ankyloblepharon is defined by partial or complete adhesion of the ciliary edges of superior and inferior eyelids. It is usually a sporadic isolated malformation in which the upper and lower lids are joined by tags. Although it is an uncommon and benign condition, its presence should alert the clinician to the possibility of other important disorders. We report a case of a new born who had a sporadic ankyloblepharon, treated one day after birth.Key words: Ankyloblepharon filiforme adnatum, malformation, eye

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

Agricultural land acquisitions unlikely to address the food security needs of African countries

In recent years, Large Scale Land Acquisitions (LSLA), direct land tenure changes have been gaining momentum in developing countries. In this study, we evaluate the potential extent to which agricultural land deals in Africa are able to address the host countries' food security needs, a commonly cited motivation for their establishment. First, we develop a framework to evaluate the priority food security needs of 38 African countries in 2000 based on indicators of food availability, accessibility, stability, and utilization. Second, we estimate whether the crops from land deals would be sold on export or local food markets based on the origin of investments (domestic, foreign or mixed), type of investors (eg. agribusiness, finance, or government) and the intended crops (eg. food, cash crop, or biofuel). This enables us to estimate how likely the investment is to improve in-country food security, versus serving other purposes (e.g., speculation, enclosure of natural resources). Third, we account for the characteristics of the locations where the deals happen (population density, land cover and distance to markets) in order to estimate the level of conflict and deforestation that they could exacerbate. We find that LSLA are only likely to address the identified food security needs of 7 countries. LSLA are also at risk of increasing land pressures and conflicts or deforestation on 83% of the acquired area, including in countries where they could meet food security needs. We also find that the more productive lands are most often allocated to flex crops, while food crops are produced on more marginal lands. We thus argue that even when their purpose is agricultural production, most LSLA are not likely to improve food security; rather, they often serve the financial interests of transnational companies and local elites with the support of host governments. Finally, we recommend agricultural investments to be elaborated in consultation with local communities and marginalized groups to sustainably support their socio-ecological systems

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

Utilisation des lichens comme bio-indicateurs de la pollution atmosphérique par le plomb, cadmium et zinc de la région de Rabat-Sale-Zemmour-Zaêr (Maroc)

Au Nord-Ouest du Maroc, la région de Rabat-Salé-Zemmour-Zaêr présente une importance socioéconomique pour le royaume. En effet, elle est sujette à deux sources de pollution; le trafic routier et les rejets des poteries. Considérant le risque de contamination métallique de l’Homme et de l’environnement, une étude a été conduite pour évaluer la pollution métallique de l’atmosphère. Elle a porté sur les bioindicateurs lichens (Xanthoria Parietina). C’est ainsi que des échantillons de thalle de Xanthoria Parietina ont été prélevés au cours de la période située entre janvier et juillet 2007 et trois éléments métalliques Plomb(Pb), Cadmium(Cd) et Zinc(Zn) ont été détectés. Les résultats de suivi spatial obtenus au niveau des quatre stations étudiées (Kamra, Centre ville, Oulja et Allal Behraoui) ont révélé des concentrations moyennes mensuelles dépassant les normes requises à l’exception de la station de Allal Behraoui. Les résultats de suivi temporel obtenus au niveau des lichens montrent que la variation saisonnière atmosphérique des métaux est très marquée avec des teneurs plus élevées en hiver et plus basses en été.Mots-clés : métaux lourds, lichens, plomb, cadmium, zinc, Rabat, salé, Zemmour, Zaêr, Maroc

EFFICIENCY OF ULTRAFILTRATION CERAMIC MEMBRANES FOR TOXIC ELEMENTS REMOVAL FROM WASTEWATERS

The preparation and characterization of porous ceramics multilayer ultrafiltration membrane is described. The first step consisted to prepare high-quality macroporous support in Moroccan clay. The choice of this material is based on its natural abundance and thermal stability.The microporous interlayer was then prepared by slip casting from zirconia commercial powders and finally the active UF toplayers was obtained by sol-gel route using ZnAl2O4 and TiO2 mixed sols. The performance of ultrafiltration membrane (TiO2 (50�20– ZnAl2O4 (50� was evaluated by pores diameter, water flux, thickness and molecular weight cut off (MWCO). The water permeability measured for this composite membrane is 9.42 L/(m2•h•bar), the thickness is less than 700 nm, the pore diameter is centered near 5 nm and the MWCO was about 4500 Da

Design and optimization of a new compact 2.4 GHz-bandpass filter using DGS technique and U-shaped resonators for WLAN applications

The objective of this work is the study, the design and the optimization of an innovative structure of a network of coupled copper metal lines deposited on the upper surface of a R04003 type substrate of height 0.813 with a ground deformed by slots (DGS). This structure is designed in an optimal configuration for use in the design of narrowband bandpass filter for wireless communication systems (WLAN), the aim of use the defected ground structure is to remove the unwanted harmonics in the rejection band, the simulation results obtained from this structure using CST software show a very high selectivity of the designed filter, a very low level of losses (less than-0.45 dB) with a size overall size of 43.5x34.3 mm