Fonctionnement hydrogéochimique d'un réservoir polymictique chaud : cas du réservoir Daourat (Maroc)

Le réservoir du barrage Daourat a fait l'objet, au cour du cycle hydrologique 1996-1997, d'une étude pour comprendre le fonctionnement hydrogéochimique du réservoir. Le régime hydrologique du réservoir Daourat (9,5 Mm3) résulte des apports externes et de la gestion propre du réservoir. La colonne d'eau ne présente aucune période de stratification (lac polymictique chaud) ni d'anoxie. L'influence des réservoirs situés en amont (Al Massira 2 800 Mm3 et Imfout 18 Mm3) ne permet pas d'expliquer le fonctionnement biogéochimique du réservoir Daourat. Cette retenue semble être beaucoup plus contrôlée par les apports du bassin versant local et par la charge interne du réservoir.The study of the Daourat reservoir during the hydrological cycle 1996-1997, focus on the water column and the sediment in order to understand the hydrogeochemical functioning. The hydrological mode of the Daourat reservoir (9,5 Mm3) is a result of the external contributions of the area catchment and the management of the reservoir. The water column of this reservoir does not present any period of stratification and any period of anoxia. It is a warm polymictic lake. The influence of the upstream reservoir (Al Massira 2 800 Mm3 and Imfout 18 Mm3) does not explain the physicochemical and geochemical functioning of the Daourat reservoir. Indeed, this reservoir seems to be much more controlled by the contributions of the local area catchment and by the internal load of the reservoir

Comportement du phosphore dans le sédiment d'un estuaire semi-fermé. Cas de l'embouchure d'Oum Er-Biâa (Maroc - Atlantique)

L'estuaire d'Oum Er-Biâa est situé sur le versant atlantique marocain, à 60 km au sud de Casablanca. Cette étude concerne le comportement hydrogéochimique du phosphore, élément essentiel dans le fonctionnement des écosystèmes côtiers et océaniques.Le phosphore sédimentaire au niveau de l'estuaire d'Oum Er-Biâa est majoritairement sous forme minérale (76 % à 95 %), avec prédominance de la fraction calcique P-Ca (45 % à 90 %) qui est de nature apatitique non mobilisable. La biodisponibilité du phosphore dans l'estuaire d'Oum Er-Biâa est assurée principalement par la fraction ferrique P-Fe (2 % à 38 %). La répartition spatiotemporelle de cette fraction est contrôlée d'une part, par la nature du sédiment (teneurs en fraction fine et matière organique) en amont de l'estuaire (zone vaseuse) et, d'autre part, par les variations de la salinité et le taux de concentration de minéraux d'oxyde de fer, et notamment, la magnétite, en aval de l'estuaire (zone sableuse).The study of the estuary of Oum er-Biâa, located on the moroccan atlantic near the Azemmour city, far 60 km in the south of Casablanca, focus on the hydrogeochemical behavior of phosphorus. In the sediment of the estuary of Oum er-Biâa, total phosphorus was mainly in mineral form (76%-95%), with a predominance of the fraction related to calcium (45%-90%), that was in apatitic form and not mobilizable. The ferric fraction P-Fe (2%-38%) contributed mainly to the biodisponibility of phosphorus in this estuary. The temporal and spatial variations of this fraction were controlled on the one hand, by the characteristics of the sediment (particule fraction < 63 µm and organic matter) and, on the other hand, by the salinity. Indeed, the upstream muddy zone rich in organic matter had a high capacity to uptake the phosphorus (P-Fe and ROP) in march and july. In the downstream sandy zone, the magnetite presented a great importance for the adsorption of phosphorus, specially at high salinity during may and october

Alternative Use of Space as A Self-Organizing Solution by Local Society to Meet Shortage of Living Spaces in The Informal Settlements of Egypt

This research seeks to identify the land use dynamic phenomenon in the unplanned settlements in Greater Cairo Metropolitan region (GMCR) which embodied in the alternative use of space (AUS). This phenomenon represents the way for the poor communities to meet their needs of space for living, working, and entertainment purposes for free or for low costs. It is considered the first research which included clarification for this phenomenon although the main role of AUS to meet the poor communities needs of lands in GCMR. By field survey and direct interviews with users and surrounding residents we have identified AUS types, times of use and Frequency for each type in addition to impacts of it on the prices of essential needs. Based on the goals of urban sustainability we have identified positive and negative aspects of AUS on our case study district. AUS provide lands for various needs of essential activities in free or low-cost rent which reduced the price of essential needs to 13 times for some item’s comparison with the nearest planned district. AUS reduce living expenses and help low-income families and offer cheap choices of housing, goods, transportations, essential services, entertainments, in addition to work opportunities. We can consider the AUS as a tool for achieving sustainable development in the poor communities by efficient use of resources and providing job opportunities within the community

Diet, Genetics, and Disease: A Focus on the Middle East and North Africa Region

The Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region suffers a drastic change from a traditional diet to an industrialized diet. This has led to an unparalleled increase in the prevalence of chronic diseases. This review discusses the role of nutritional genomics, or the dietary signature, in these dietary and disease changes in the MENA. The diet-genetics-disease relation is discussed in detail. Selected disease categories in the MENA are discussed starting with a review of their epidemiology in the different MENA countries, followed by an examination of the known genetic factors that have been reported in the disease discussed, whether inside or outside the MENA. Several diet-genetics-disease relationships in the MENA may be contributing to the increased prevalence of civilization disorders of metabolism and micronutrient deficiencies. Future research in the field of nutritional genomics in the MENA is needed to better define these relationships

DGGE-RAPD analysis as a useful tool for cultivar identification

Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis-random amplified polymorphic DNA (DGGE-RAPD) was used to overcome the main drawbacks of RAPD (i.e., the low levels of reproducibility and polymorphism). As a model, six barley cultivars of known origin were tested for RAPD markers using DGGE methodology with 29 arbitrary primers. Among a total of 418 bands observed, as high as 99 were polymorphic. Comparison between agarose-RAPD and DGGE-RAPD revealed that the latter was highly reproducible and gave higher level of polymorphism and consequently more markers. The relationships among barley cultivars derived from this study based on DGGE-RAPD are consistent with the known lineage of these cultivars. In conclusion, we recommend the use of DGGE-RAPD as an alternative tool to the more costly DNA-based analysis in cultivar identification in laboratories with limited funds.Key words: Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis-random amplified polymorphic DNA, artificial heteroduplex, dendogram, lineage

A connectivity mapping approach predicted acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin) to induce osteo/odontogenic differentiation of dental pulp cells

International audienc

Healthcare costs of asthma comorbidities: a systematic review protocol

Chief Scientist’s Office of the Scottish Government and Asthma UK as part of the Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research [AUK-AC-2012-01]. BN and AS are supported by the Farr Institute and Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research.This work is supported by the Chief Scientist’s Office of the Scottish Government and Asthma UK as part of the Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research (AUK-AC-2012-01). BIN and AS are supported by the Farr Institute and Asthma UK Centre for Applied Research

Identification and validation of novel biomarkers and therapeutics for pulpitis using connectivity mapping

Aim: To create an irreversible pulpitis gene signature from microarray data of healthy and inflamed dental pulps, followed by a bioinformatics approach using connectivity mapping to identify therapeutic compounds that could potentially treat pulpitis. // Methodology: The Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, an international public repository of genomics data sets, was searched for human microarray datasets assessing pulpitis. An irreversible pulpitis gene expression signature was generated by differential expression analysis. The statistically significant connectivity map (ssCMap) method was used to identify compounds with a highly correlating gene expression pattern. qPCR was used to validate novel pulpitis genes. An ex vivo pulpitis model was used to test the effects of the compounds identified, and the level of inflammatory cytokines was measured with qPCR, ELISA and multiplex array. Means were compared using the t-test or ANOVA with the level of significance set at p ≤ .05. // Results: Pulpitis gene signatures were created using differential gene expression analysis at cutoff points p = .0001 and .000018. Top upregulated genes were selected as potential pulpitis biomarkers. Among these, IL8, IL6 and MMP9 were previously identified as pulpitis biomarkers. Novel upregulated genes, chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 21 (CCL21), metallothionein 1H (MT1H) and aquaporin 9 (AQP9) were validated in the pulp tissue of teeth clinically diagnosed with irreversible pulpitis using qPCR. ssCMap analysis identified fluvastatin (Statin) and dequalinium chloride (Quaternary ammonium) as compounds with the strongest correlation to the gene signatures (p = .0001). Fluvastatin reduced IL8, IL6, CCL21, AQP9 (p < .001) and MMP9 (p < .05) in the ex vivo pulpitis model, while dequalinium chloride reduced AQP9 (p < .001) but had no significant effect on the other biomarkers. // Conclusions: AQP9, MT1H and CCL21 were identified and validated as novel biomarkers for pulpitis. Fluvastatin and dequalinium chloride identified by the ssCMap as potential therapeutics for pulpitis reduced selected pulpitis biomarkers in an ex vivo pulpitis model. In vivo testing of these licenced drugs is warranted

Anti-Inflammatory and Antioxidant Activities of Salvia fruticosa

Objectives. Salvia fruticosa Mill. (S. fruticosa) is widely used in folk medicine. Accordingly, the present study was designed to evaluate the antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activities of S. fruticosa, and to determine the phenolic constituents of its extracts. Methods. The antioxidant activity was determined using 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl assay. Total phenolic contents were estimated using Folin-Ciocalteu reagent, and high-performance liquid chromatography was performed to identify phenolic constituents. To evaluate the anti-inflammatory activity, carrageenan-induced mouse paw edema was determined plethysmographically. Key Findings. Different plant extracts demonstrated strong radical scavenging activity, where the ethyl acetate extract had the highest value in the roots and the lowest in the aerial parts. This antioxidant activity was correlated to the total phenolic content of different extracts, where rutin and luteolin were the most abundant constituents. Interestingly, both the roots and aerial parts revealed a significant anti-inflammatory activity comparable to diclofenac. Conclusions. This study is the first to demonstrate pharmacologic evidence of the potential anti-inflammatory activity of S. fruticosa. This activity may partly be due to the radical scavenging effects of its polyphenolic contents. These findings warrant the popular use of the East Mediterranean sage and highlight the potential of its active constituents in the development of new anti-inflammatory drugs