A Leaky Wave Antenna Design Based on Half-mode Substrate Integrated Waveguide Technology for X Band Applications

A new type of leaky-wave antenna (LWA) using half-mode substrate integrated waveguide (HMSIW) as the base structure is proposed in this paper. The structure consists of an array of slot, antenna designed to operate in X band applications from 8 to 12 GHz. HMSIW preserves nearly all the advantages of SIW whereas its size is nearly reduced by half. The antenna radiates one main beam that can be steered from the backward to the forward direction by changing frequency

OPTIMAL SIZING OF A HYBRID PHOTOVOLTAIC/WIND SYSTEM SUPPLYING A DESALINATION UNIT

This work presents the dimensioning of a wind-photovoltaic hybrid system for the supply of a seawater desalination plant (reverse osmosis desalination) located in Honaïne in the Tlemcen coastal region of Algeria. The plant has a production capacity of 200,000 m3 /day and supplies potable water for a population of about 555,000 people (the plant's energy demand is 1,825 MW). The main idea is to present a method for sizing and optimizing a hybrid system by introducing two scenarios: the first scenario treats the operation of the plant under good weather conditions. The second one introduces the notion of the worst month (poor weather conditions). For it, we developed a calculation code (Programming under the MATLAB environment) that allowed us to determine the size and optimization of the system, as well as the optimal technical and economic configuration (numbers of photovoltaic panels, wind turbines and batteries), as well as the total cost. The results obtained show on the one hand: the complementarity of the two scenarios, which allows a better reliability of the system, and this by using a number well defined of panels, wind turbines and batteries to ensure the long-term operation of the plant. On the other hand, the use of the hybrid system has allowed us to obtain a 51.46% benefit compared to fossil fuels, which gives the proposed study an important reliability, since it offers a very advantageous benefit in terms of cost and efficiency

DIAGNOSTIC BIOLOGIQUE DE LA BRUCELLOSE HUMAINE: COMPARAISON DE DEUX TECHNIQUES DE SEROAGGLUTINATION

objective: Evaluate the technical characteristics of two agglutination techniques used for the detection of serum antibodies of Brucella. Material and methods: The search for Brucella antibodies was performed in 100 serum samples. They come from patients with brucellosis was suspected on clinical and epidemiological criteria. The average age was 31 years with a standard deviation of 1.5 and a sex ratio (M / W) is equal to 2. The two methods used are (manual): 1- BRUCELLACAPT® (Vircell,Spain) 2- ROSE BENGAL ® (Bio-Rad, France). Results: The results showed a concordance between the two techniques of 92% (80% negative results and 12% positive), and discrepancy of 8%. Conclusion: Discordant results demonstrate the need to always integrate the  approach diagnostic of a clinical and epidemiological data associated with biological data, and secondly, to take into account the  threshold value of detection of serological markers of the technique used.Objectif : Evaluer les caractéristiques de deux techniques de séroagglutination  pour la détection des anticorps sériques anti-Brucella. Matériel et méthodes : La recherche des anticorps anti Brucella a été effectuée sur 100 échantillons de sérums,  provenant de patients  chez qui la brucellose a été suspectée sur des critères cliniques et épidémiologiques. La moyenne d’âge est de 31 ans avec un écart type de 1,5 et un sex-ratio (H/F) de 2. Les deux méthodes de séroagglutination utilisées (manuelles) sont : 1- BRUCELLACAPT® (Vircell,Espagne) 2- ROSE BENGALE® (Bio Rad, France). Résultats : Les résultats  ont montré une concordance entre les deux techniques de 92% (80% négatifs et 12% positifs), et une disconcordance de 8%. Conclusion : Les résultats discordants démontrent la nécessité d’intégrer à la démarche diagnostic, les données cliniques, épidémiologiques,  l’évolution de la maladie, ainsi que les données biologiques et  de prendre en considération la valeur seuil  de détection des marqueurs sérologiques de la technique utilisée

COMPARAISON DE DEUX TECHNIQUES IMMUNOENZYMATIQUES ELISA POUR LA DETECTION DES ANTICORPS IgG SERIQUES ANTIRUBEOLIQUES

OBJECTIF: Il s’agit d’évaluer les caractéristiques de deux techniques immunoenzymatiques ELISA (principe, performances et limites) pour la détection des IgG sériques antirubéolique. MATERIEL ET METHODES: L a recherche des IgG antirubéoliques a été effectuée dans 100 échantillons de sérums recueillis dans le laboratoire d’immunosérologie du CHU Ibn Rochd de Casablanca. Ils proviennent de patients hospitalisés et de consultants externes du CHU. Il s’agit pour la plupart de jeunes femmes (85%) et de nouveaux nés (12%). Les deux méthodes immunoenzymatiques ELISA utilisées sont : 1- kit Vircell®Spain (technique manuelle) 2- AxsymAbbott®USA (technique microparticulaire automatisée). RESULTATS: Les résultats sérologiques pour la détection des anticorps IgG antirubéolique ont montré une concordance entre les deux techniques de 94% (90% des résultats positifs et 4% négatifs et une discordance de 6%. CONCLUSION: Même si la concordance entre les deux techniques est de 94%, les résultats discordants démontrent la nécessité d’intégrer toujours la démarche diagnostique, d’une part les données cliniques associées aux données biologiques, et d‘autres part, de prendre en considération la valeur seuil de détection des marques sérologiques spécifiques de la technique utilisée, ainsi que la qualité des échantillons testés

Optimizing the Pole Properties in Pole Vaulting by Using Genetic Algorithm Based on Frequency Analysis

Abstract. The pole vaulting is a sport with a long history involving complex dynamic motion. The aim of pole vaulting for the athlete is to achieve maximum height. The dynamic behavior of the pole-athlete system is identical to an inverted pendulum system with the buckling pole acting as a spring. The purpose of this paper is to study the influence of factors on the pole vaulting performance such as the initial velocity of the athlete, pole stiffness and length. The best results are obtained when all the stored potential energy in the pole is released with the pole reaching the 90 degrees condition for success. The natural frequency of the poleathlete system is obtained by Fast Fourier Transform (FFT). The storing and releasing time of potential energy should be equal to half the natural period. Based on this condition the pole length and stiffness are determined by using Genetic Algorithm (GA) so as to achieve maximum height. This paper presents an optimization procedure to design a flexible pole based on the frequency analysis. The result of this research can be utilized in sport industries to design optimum poles

Intracranial aneurysms in sickle cell disease are associated with hemodynamic stress and anemia

Although hemodynamic stress plays a key role in aneurysm formation outside of sickle cell disease (SCD), its role is understudied in patients with SCD. We hypothesized that tissue-based markers of hemodynamic stress are associated with aneurysm presence in a prospective SCD cohort. Children and adults with SCD, with and without aneurysms, underwent longitudinal brain magnetic resonance imaging/magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) to assess cerebral blood flow (CBF) and oxygen extraction fraction (OEF). Baseline characteristics were recorded. In the subgroup of adults, stepwise mixed-effect logistic regression examined clinical variables, CBF, and OEF as predictors of aneurysm presence. Cumulative rates of new aneurysm formation were estimated using Kaplan-Meier analyses. Forty-three aneurysms were found in 27 of 155 patients (17%). Most aneurysms were ≤3 mm and in the intracranial internal carotid artery. On univariate analysis, older age (P = .07), lower hemoglobin (P = .002), higher CBF (P = .03), and higher OEF (P = .02) were associated with aneurysm presence. On multivariable analysis, age and CBF remained independently associated with aneurysm presence. Seventy-six patients (49% of enrollment) received follow-up MRAs (median, 3.5 years). No aneurysm grew or ruptured, however, 7 new aneurysms developed in 6 patients. The 3-year cumulative rate of aneurysm formation was 3.5%. In 155 patients with SCD, 17% had intracranial aneurysms. Three-year aneurysm formation rate was 3.5%, although limited by small longitudinal sample size and short follow-up duration. Aneurysm presence was associated with elevated CBF in adults, as a tissue-based marker of cerebral hemodynamic stress. Future studies may examine the predictive role of CBF in aneurysm development in SCD

The first transcriptome of Italian wall lizard, a new tool to infer about the Island Syndrome

Some insular lizards show a high degree of differentiation from their conspecific mainland populations, like Licosa island lizards, which are described as affected by Reversed Island Syndrome (RIS). In previous works, we demonstrated that some traits of RIS, as melanization, depend on a differential expression of gene encoding melanocortin receptors. To better understand the basis of syndrome, and providing raw data for future investigations, we generate the first de novo transcriptome of the Italian wall lizard. Comparing mainland and island transcriptomes, we link differences in life-traits to differential gene expression. Our results, taking together testis and brain sequences, generated 275,310 and 269,885 transcripts, 18,434 and 21,606 proteins in Gene Ontology annotation, for mainland and island respectively. Variant calling analysis identified about the same number of SNPs in island and mainland population. Instead, through a differential gene expression analysis we found some putative genes involved in syndrome more expressed in insular samples like Major Histocompatibility Complex class I, Immunoglobulins, Melanocortin 4 receptor, Neuropeptide Y and Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen