Spectrum of acute hepatitis and its clinical outcome in a central region in Tunisia

Introduction: given the lack of studies on acute hepatitis (AH) in Tunisia, we carried out this study to find the etiological spectrum and clinical profile of AH and to investigate the impact of viral etiology on the outcomes of AH. Methods: retrospective descriptive study collecting all patients with AH from 2010 to 2017. The data were compared between two groups (viral AH and non-viral AH). Results: one hundred and three patient´s files were included. The average age of our patients was 30.15 years. An etiology was found in 92 patients (89.3%). The viral etiology was found in 70 patients (76.1%). Hepatitis A virus (HAV), Hepatitis A virus (HBV), Hepatitis A virus (HCV) and cytomegalovirus (CMV) were in the cause in 52, 16, 1 and 1 patient respectively. Elsewhere, it was toxic hepatitis in 10 patients (10.9%) including 7 of drug-related AH. Budd-Chiari syndrome and autoimmune hepatitis with acute onset were reported in 3 (3.3%) and 7 (7.6%) patients, respectively. Patients with viral AH were younger than those with non-viral AH (p = 10-³). There was more recourse to hospitalization for non-viral AH. Patients with viral AH had a higher mean ALT level than those with non-viral AH. The liver damage was more severe in the non-viral AH group with lower PT. There was more severe form, more transition to chronicity and more deaths in the non-viral AH group. Conclusion: the results found in our study concerning the distribution of the etiologies of AH as well as their evolutionary aspects are consistent with the data in the literature

4E analysis (energetic, exergetic, environnememental and economic) of systems of energetic valorization of biomasses

L’épuisement des ressources fossiles et la nécessité de réduire les émissions de gaz à effet de serre incitent à rechercher de nouvelles sources d’énergie à la fois renouvelables et moins polluantes. La biomasse, par son abondance, apparaît comme une filière intéressante de remplacement des énergies fossiles et notamment du pétrole. L’objectif de ce travail est d’effectuer une analyse 4E (Energétique, Exergétique, Environnementale et Economique) d’un système de production de l’électricité via la gazéification des déchets de palmiers. Ces derniers constituent l’une des richesses végétales les plus abondantes en Tunisie et qui de nos jours, restent très peu exploitées. Un gazéifieur à lit fixe couplé à un moteur à combustion interne est considéré pour produire 330kW d’électricité. Le rendement de gazéification « Cold Gaz Efficiency » du procédé est de 58,58%. Les résultats montrent que les rendements énergétique et exergétique du système étudié sont de 22,6% et 19,22%, respectivement. Les performances environnementales du système sont évaluées à l’aide d’une Analyse de Cycle de Vie (ACV). L’évaluation économique est réalisée dans le but d’évaluer le coût de production de l’électricité par l’installation de gazéification. Les résultats donnent un coût de 3,88ct€ pour 1kWh.The fossil fuels depletion and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions encourage the search for new energy sources that are renewable and less polluting. Thanks to its abundance, biomass appears as an interesting sector of replacement of fossil fuels. The objective of this work is to perform a 4E analysis (Energy, Exergy, Environmental and Economic) of an electricity production system via the gasification of palm waste. Palm watse constitutes one of the most abundant vegetable wealth in Tunisia and which today, remain very little exploited. A fixed bed gasifier coupled to an internal combustion engine is considered to produce330 kW of electricity. The Cold Gas Efficiency of the process is 58.58%. The results show that the energy and exergy yields of the system are 22.6% and 19.22%, respectively. The environmental performance of the system is evaluated using a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The economic evaluation is carried out in order to evaluate the cost of electricity production by the gasification plant. The results give a cost of 3.88 ct€ for 1kWh

Analyse 4E (Energétique, Exergétique, Environnementale et Economique) de systèmes de valorisation énergétique de biomasses

The fossil fuels depletion and the need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions encourage the search for new energy sources that are renewable and less polluting. Thanks to its abundance, biomass appears as an interesting sector of replacement of fossil fuels. The objective of this work is to perform a 4E analysis (Energy, Exergy, Environmental and Economic) of an electricity production system via the gasification of palm waste. Palm watse constitutes one of the most abundant vegetable wealth in Tunisia and which today, remain very little exploited. A fixed bed gasifier coupled to an internal combustion engine is considered to produce330 kW of electricity. The Cold Gas Efficiency of the process is 58.58%. The results show that the energy and exergy yields of the system are 22.6% and 19.22%, respectively. The environmental performance of the system is evaluated using a Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). The economic evaluation is carried out in order to evaluate the cost of electricity production by the gasification plant. The results give a cost of 3.88 ct€ for 1kWh.L’épuisement des ressources fossiles et la nécessité de réduire les émissions de gaz à effet de serre incitent à rechercher de nouvelles sources d’énergie à la fois renouvelables et moins polluantes. La biomasse, par son abondance, apparaît comme une filière intéressante de remplacement des énergies fossiles et notamment du pétrole. L’objectif de ce travail est d’effectuer une analyse 4E (Energétique, Exergétique, Environnementale et Economique) d’un système de production de l’électricité via la gazéification des déchets de palmiers. Ces derniers constituent l’une des richesses végétales les plus abondantes en Tunisie et qui de nos jours, restent très peu exploitées. Un gazéifieur à lit fixe couplé à un moteur à combustion interne est considéré pour produire 330kW d’électricité. Le rendement de gazéification « Cold Gaz Efficiency » du procédé est de 58,58%. Les résultats montrent que les rendements énergétique et exergétique du système étudié sont de 22,6% et 19,22%, respectivement. Les performances environnementales du système sont évaluées à l’aide d’une Analyse de Cycle de Vie (ACV). L’évaluation économique est réalisée dans le but d’évaluer le coût de production de l’électricité par l’installation de gazéification. Les résultats donnent un coût de 3,88ct€ pour 1kWh

Testing the Validity of Okun’s Law in Algeria: Is there a difference between Maki’s Cointegration and Quantile’s Regression Results?

This paper examines the existence of Okun’s law in Algeria over the period of 1970–2020 using both the gap and differences model

Optimization of operating parameters of a fixed bed gasifier for power generation

International audienceThe demand for energy in our daily life is increasing day by day due to the growth of the population and of theeconomy. The renewable energy sources offer attractive prospects because they are unlimited and cheap(Akinbami et al, 2001). Biomass is the most abundant and most versatile of the primary sources of renewableenergy mainly when it is compared to other renewable sources (solar, wind, hydro wave, geothermal). It can beconverted to a variety of usable forms of energy such as syngas, biogas and liquid transportation biofuels (Convertiet al., 2009) ..

Development of a fixed bed gasifier model and optimal operating conditions determination

International audienceThe main objective of this study was to develop a fixed bed gasifier model of palm waste and to identify the optimal operating conditions to produce electricity from synthesis gas. First, the gasifier was simulated using Aspen PlusTM software. Gasification is a thermo-chemical process that has long been used, but it remains a perfectible technology. It means incomplete combustion of biomass solid fuel into synthesis gas through partial oxidation. The operating parameters (temperature and equivalence ratio (ER)) were thereafter varied to investigate their effect on the synthesis gas composition and to provide guidance for future research and development efforts in process design. The equivalence ratio is defined as the ratio of the amount of air actually supplied to the gasifier and the stoichiometric amount of air. Increasing ER decreases the production of CO and H2 and increases the production of CO2 and H2O while an increase in temperature increases the fraction of CO and H2. The results show that the optimum temperature to have a syngas able to be effectively used for power generation is 900°C and the optimum equivalence ratio is 0.1

Predictive factors of recurrence in spontaneous bacterial peritonitis in Tunisian patients with cirrhosis

Introduction: Recurrent spontaneous bacterial peritonitis (SBP) in patients with cirrhosis is associated with poor prognosis. Aim: To assess the prevalence and the risk factors for recurrence and to evaluate its impact on the prognosis. Materials & methods: We conducted a retrospective study including patients with cirrhosis having a first episode of SBP. Results: A recurrence of SBP was identified in 43.4% of the patients who survived after a first episode of SBP. The mean time to onset of the first SBP recurrence from the first episode was 32 days. Recurrence factors were endoscopic hypertensive signs, a positive ascites culture, diarrhea and the MELD score. Conclusion: There was no impact on survival of recurrent SBP compared with the first SBP episode