Hydrothermal complex of the Souk Ahras Basin: geological and hydrogeochemical approaches (north east of Algeria)

North- East of Algeria, in The Souk Ahras region, the Triassic evaporates are in the form of important intrusive masses. Thermal and cold water emerge from various training. These sources present are taking their pathways along the faulting system. A complex multilayered reservoir has significant potential water. The karstic aquifer consists mainly on fresh water. Thermal water characterized by high salinity is carbo-gaseous. Collection and chemical analysis of major water elements in addition to nonionic mineral compounds (SiO2) and trace elements (Sr2+, F-, Br-) have determined a deep saline fluid circulation. The tectonic effect would be responsible for the current water flow. Cartography of fracturing system has identified a NNW-SSE hot spring distribution. Similar alignment can match the faulting system direction affecting the concerned study area.Keywords: Triassic evaporate; thermal waters; tectonic; deep fluid circulatio

RÉCUPÉRATION DE L'EAU DE PLUIE EN ALGÉRIE: UTILISATION ET ÉVALUATION DE LA QUALITÉ PHYSICO-CHIMIQUE CAS D’ÉTUDE DE LA RÉGION DE SOUK-AHRAS

En Afrique du Nord précisément dans la ville de Souk Ahras située dans l’Est Algérien, le climat est aride au semi-aride, la pluviométrie est incertaine et irrégulière. L'eau est une ressource fragile est inégalement distribuée et moins disponible. L’utilisation des eaux récupérées à partir des toitures des maisons connues aussi par les eaux non conventionnelles s’avére une bonne solution parmi d'autres. Les zones de collection peuvent être régies par des eaux à qualités différentes, selon la dynamique industrielle et économique. La pollution de l'eau de pluie produite avant d'être collectée joue également un rôle décisif dans la qualité de ces eaux.L'objectif de cette étude est d'évaluer la qualité physico-chimique de l'eau de pluie récoltée des toits des maisons (zones). Les eaux de pluie sont collectées et analysées à partir de trois (03) sites d'échantillonnage en deux saisons différentes de l'année, hiver et été ; Stockés dans divers réservoirs (béton et plastique) pour différents paramètres de qualité: pH, dureté totale, minéralisation globale, calcium, Nitrate). Le type de réservoir le plus approprié pour stocker de l’eau récupérée a été choisis selon les normes algériennes des eaux potables.In North Africa precisely in Souk Ahras city which is located in the east side of Algeria, the climate is arid to semiarid; the Rainfall is uncertain and irregular. The water as brittle resources is unevenly distributed and less available. Using rainwater harvested from the houses roofs as a solution among other seems good. The collection areas can have a different quality compared to another, according to industrial and other economic dynamics. Pollution of rainwater produced before being collected has also a decisive role in the quality of these waters.The goal of this study is to assess the physicochemical quality of the harvested rainwater from houses roofs. Three sampling locations of harvested rainwater in two seasons of the year winter and summer and from various storage tanks (Concrete and plastic) were collected and analyzed for different quality parameters: pH, total hardness, overall mineralization, Calcium, Sodium, potassium, chloride, Nitrate) and by the way drawn the more suitable materials for collection of the rainwater according to the Algerian drinking water standards

The fate and behavior of selected endocrine disrupting chemicals in full scale wastewater and sludge treatment unit processes

Endocrine disrupting chemicals are discharged into the environment mainly through wastewater treatment processes. There is a need for better understanding of the fate of these compounds in the unit processes of treatment plant to optimize their removal. The fate of oestrone, 17β-estradiol, 17α-ethinyestradiol and nonylphenol in the unit processes of full scale wastewater treatment plants in the UK, including activated sludge plant, oxidation ditch, biofilter and rotating biological contractor were investigated. The overall removal efficiencies of all the compounds ranged from 41 % to 100 %. The removals were predominantly during the secondary biological treatment with the rates of removal related to the nitrification rates and the sludge age. The removal efficiency of the treatment processes were in the order activated sludge > oxidation ditch > biofilter > rotating biological contractors. Activated sludge plant configured for biological nutrient removal showed better removal of the endocrine disrupting chemicals compared to conventional activated sludge plant effluents. Tertiary treatment was also significant in the removal process through solids removal. Overall mechanisms of removal were biodegradation and sorption unto sludge biomass. Phytoremediation was also significant in the removal processes. The endocrine disrupting chemicals persisted in the anaerobic sludge digestion process with percentage removals ranging fro 10-48 %. Sorption of the endocrine disrupting chemicals onto the sludge increased with increasing values for the partitioning coefficients and the organic carbon contents of the sludge

Acetonic Extract of Buxus sempervirens Induces Cell Cycle Arrest, Apoptosis and Autophagy in Breast Cancer Cells

Plants are an invaluable source of potential new anti-cancer drugs. Here, we investigated the cytotoxic activity of the acetonic extract of Buxus sempervirens on five breast cancer cell lines, MCF7, MCF10CA1a and T47D, three aggressive triple positive breast cancer cell lines, and BT-20 and MDA-MB-435, which are triple negative breast cancer cell lines. As a control, MCF10A, a spontaneously immortalized but non-tumoral cell line has been used. The acetonic extract of Buxus sempervirens showed cytotoxic activity towards all the five studied breast cancer cell lines with an IC50 ranging from 7.74 µg/ml to 12.5 µg/ml. Most importantly, the plant extract was less toxic towards MCF10A with an IC50 of 19.24 µg/ml. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) analysis showed that the plant extract induced cell death and cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase in MCF7, T47D, MCF10CA1a and BT-20 cell lines, concomitant to cyclin D1 downregulation. Application of MCF7 and MCF10CA1a respective IC50 did not show such effects on the control cell line MCF10A. Propidium iodide/Annexin V double staining revealed a pre-apoptotic cell population with extract-treated MCF10CA1a, T47D and BT-20 cells. Transmission electron microscopy analyses indicated the occurrence of autophagy in MCF7 and MCF10CA1a cell lines. Immunofluorescence and Western blot assays confirmed the processing of microtubule-associated protein LC3 in the treated cancer cells. Moreover, we have demonstrated the upregulation of Beclin-1 in these cell lines and downregulation of Survivin and p21. Also, Caspase-3 detection in treated BT-20 and T47D confirmed the occurrence of apoptosis in these cells. Our findings indicate that Buxus sempervirens extract exhibit promising anti-cancer activity by triggering both autophagic cell death and apoptosis, suggesting that this plant may contain potential anti-cancer agents for single or combinatory cancer therapy against breast cancer

The Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Response in Neuroprogressive Diseases: Emerging Pathophysiological Role and Translational Implications

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER) is the main cellular organelle involved in protein synthesis, assembly and secretion. Accumulating evidence shows that across several neurodegenerative and neuroprogressive diseases, ER stress ensues, which is accompanied by over-activation of the unfolded protein response (UPR). Although the UPR could initially serve adaptive purposes in conditions associated with higher cellular demands and after exposure to a range of pathophysiological insults, over time the UPR may become detrimental, thus contributing to neuroprogression. Herein, we propose that immune-inflammatory, neuro-oxidative, neuro-nitrosative, as well as mitochondrial pathways may reciprocally interact with aberrations in UPR pathways. Furthermore, ER stress may contribute to a deregulation in calcium homoeostasis. The common denominator of these pathways is a decrease in neuronal resilience, synaptic dysfunction and even cell death. This review also discusses how mechanisms related to ER stress could be explored as a source for novel therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative and neuroprogressive diseases. The design of randomised controlled trials testing compounds that target aberrant UPR-related pathways within the emerging framework of precision psychiatry is warranted

Analiza tendencji opadów – przykład północno-wschodniej Algierii

The climatic change is a reality largely recognized today in the scientific community. Nevertheless, its impact on precipitation, especially on annual, monthly and seasonally rainfall in arid and semi-arid regions is not yet certain. Indeed, very few studies have dealt with this matter in Algeria. In this context to examine spatial distribution of annual and seasonal rainfall an attempt has been made using the inverse distance weighting (IDW) method. Trends and magnitude estimate of change in rainfall series were detected by Mann–Kendall tests and Sen's test slope, has been applied to the data registered of 35 stations in the watershed Constantinois Seybouse Mellegue (CSM) North-Eastern Algeria over a period of 43 years (1969–2012). Results from spatial plot of annual rainfall showed that the rainfall increases with altitude, but is higher for the stations exposed to moist winds. It also increases from east to west and conversely decreases as one moves away from the coast to the south. From statistical method showed that there are increase trends at 95% confidence at annual scale in some rainfall stations with high altitude and coastal stations during winter season.Zmiana klimatu jest faktem powszechnie uznawanym obecnie przez społeczność naukową. Mimo to jej wpływ na opady, szczególnie na roczny, miesięczny i sezonowy opad na obszarach klimatu suchego i półsuchego, nie jest jeszcze dobrze rozpoznany. Do tej pory tylko kilka badań w Algierii dotyczyło tej kwestii. W związku z tym podjęto próbę zbadania przestrzennego rozmieszczenia rocznych i sezonowych opadów za pomocą metody odwrotnej odległości (IDW – ang. inverse distance weighting). Trendy i wielkość oszacowanych zmian w seriach opadów analizowano testem Manna–Kendalla, a test nachylenia Sena użyto do danych zgromadzonych w 35 posterunkach opadowych w zlewni Constantinois Seybouse Mellegue (CSM) w północno- -wschodniej Algierii w ciągu 43 lat (1969–2012). Wyniki analiz przestrzennego rozkładu rocznych opadów wykazały, że opad rośnie wraz z wysokością nad poziomem morza i jest większy w stanowiskach eksponowanych na wilgotne wiatry. Opad rośnie ze wschodu na zachód, a maleje od wybrzeża w kierunku południowym. Metody statystyczne ujawniły rosnący (przedział ufności 95%) trend opadów w niektórych posterunkach na dużych wysokościach i w posterunkach przybrzeżnych w okresie zimy

Caractérisation de la variabilité climatique : cas du bassin versant de La Medjerda (Nord-Est algérien)

Cette étude présente l’intérêt de certaines méthodes statistiques, pour interpréter la variabilité spatiotemporelle des précipitations des seize stations pluviométriques situées dans le bassin versant de Medjerda (Nord- Est Algérien) sur des périodes allant de 19 à 38 ans. Les séries analysées présentent toutes des ruptures dont la majorité se trouve dans les décennies 80 et 90. La cartographie des indices pluviométriques interannuels calculés par décennie sur la période 1971-2007 montre que les décennies 80 et 90 apparaissent comme déficitaires sur tout le territoire du bassin. Ainsi, une tendance à un retour des précipitations est remarquée pour la période (2001-2007). À l'échelle mensuelle, les précipitations ont augmenté significativement après les années de rupture pour les mois d'hivers et du printemps, à l'exception du mois de mars. On observe aussi, une concentration exceptionnelle de pluie dans le mois d'Août. À l'échelle journalière, l'analyse des fractions pluviométriques journalières met en évidence une tendance à l'augmentation des pluies fortes supérieures à 20 mm après les années de ruptures. Le bassin de la Medjerda connait aussi une réduction de la pluviométrie et une augmentation de la température sur une période allant de (1913-1938) à (1969-2007).Mots-clés : Sécheresse - Variabilité climatique - Fraction pluviométrique - Bassin versant Medjerda - Est de l'AlgérieCharacterization of climate variability: case of watershed Medjerda (North East of Algeria)This study has the advantage of some statistical methods to interpret the spatiotemporal variability of precipitation sixteen rainfall stations located in the watershed of Medjerda (North East of Algeria) on a period ranging from 19 to 38 years. Whilst analyzing such series, there was an observed break in the period 1980 and 1990. Thus, the results of the mapping of interannual rainfall indices calculated per decade over the period 1971- 2007 shows the decades 80 and 90 appear as deficit throughout the territory of the basin. Thus, a trend to a return of precipitation is noted for the period (2001-2007). At the monthly scale, precipitation increased significantly after years of failure for the winter months and spring, with the exception of March. An exceptional concentration of rainfall in the month of August is observed. At the daily scale, the analysis of daily rainfall fractions shows a trend of increase in the average annual rains total of more than 20 mm after years of failure. The Medjerda basin has also known a reduced rainfall and an increase in temperature over a period ranging from (1913-1938) to (1969-2007).Keywords: Drought - Climate variability - Rainfall fraction - Watershed Medjerda – East of Algeria