Multifunctionality of the oasis ecosystem. Case study: Biskra Oasis, Algeria

The oasis, this green and ecological entity of the desert, a promise of life and hope in a rather unfriendly environment, has been for a long time a beneficial basis for the ecosystem services provided to human beings, for its socio-economic and urban values, and also for its ecological value. Today many ideas and concepts are developed in the scientific literature to demonstrate the benefits derived from ecosystems, such as ecosystem services, multifunctionality, and ecosystem values. However, the analyses of multifunctionality or ecosystem services of the oasis lack from the scientific literature. This study uses a literature review and a prior assessment of the oasis ecosystem services in order to create a particular conceptual framework for the oasis in an attempt to create a toolbox of variables or indicators for the evaluation of ecosystem services in the particular case of a desert ecosystem, i.e., the oasis

Development and validation of three spectrophotometric methods for determination of pyridostigmine bromide in the presence of its alkaline-induced degradation product

Three simple, accurate and validated spectrophotometric methods were developed for the determination of pyridostigmine bromide (PB) in presence of its alkaline-induced degradation product, 3-hydoxy-N-methylpyridinium bromide (3-OH NMP) in powder form and in pharmaceutical formulations. Method A, is first derivative method (1D), which is based on measuring the peak amplitude of the first derivative spectra (1D) of PB at 260 nm. Method B, is first derivative of ratio spectra (1DD) which allows the determination of PB at 267.4 nm using (50 µg/mL) of 3-OH NMP as a suitable devisor. Finally, method C depends on mean centering of ratio spectra (MCR) of PB with different concentrations, which were recorded over 200-400 nm and divided by the spectrum of 20 µg/mL of 3-OH NMP as a devisor. The obtained ratio spectra were mean centered and the concentrations of PB were then determined from the calibration graphs obtained by measuring the amplitudes at 338 nm. The proposed methods were successfully applied for assay of PB both in pure form and in pharmaceutical formulations. The proposed methods were validated in compliance with International Conference on Harmonization (ICH) guidelines. The results obtained by the developed methods were statistically compared to those obtained by the reported HPLC method using F- and student's t-tests showing no significant difference regarding both accuracy and precision

English Translations Of Quranic Verses Regarding Women An In-depth Analysis Of Loss And Gain In Meaning Based On Baker’s Taxonomy

Studies have demonstrated that no translation of the Holy Quran is devoid of shortcomings; the point of interest is not whether there are shortcomings, but lies instead in the extent of the shortcomings, since translating the Holy Quran into a foreign language with perfect accuracy is an impossible task. Referring to several Quranic verses, claims have been made that Islam oppresses women and deprives them of their rights. This general perception that women are looked down upon, discriminated and insulted based on verses of the Holy Quran is common in the West, where translations of the Holy Quran are relied on. This thesis comprises an in-depth analysis of four English renditions of Quranic verses regarding women from the renditions by Pickthall, Arberry, Sarwar and Abdel Haleem. The selected verses are analysed with the aim of identifying the strategies used and determining the extent of loss or gain in meaning. Also, identification of the most dominant and least used strategies, and determining the themes demonstrating the most loss or gain in meaning. To this end, the verses regarding women were identified and categorised into five major themes based on their subject matter, then analysed using Baker’s taxonomy. Ibn Kathir’s and As-Sa’di’s exegeses were utilised for the purpose of determining the meaning of the verses, while back translations served to justify any loss or gain in meaning. Based on the nature of the research problem and the research questions, the qualitative approach was used. Out of the 17 strategies proposed by Baker, 14 were employed in varying degrees. The findings indicate that all themes suffered loss in meaning, whereas gain was observed in three themes only. Overall, the findings reveal that using superordinate words is the most dominant strategy used, while using idiom of similar meaning but different form is the least used. With specific regard to each theme, voice change was most dominant in the matrimony theme, addition dominated the theme of rights and duties, paraphrasing was most dominant in the chastity theme, while in the equity theme, application of superordinate words was dominant. Regarding the least used strategies, paraphrasing using unrelated words was applied minimally in the matrimony theme, compensation in the rights theme, nominalisation in the theme of duties. Using idiom of similar meaning but different form is least used in chastity theme while in the theme of equity, extraposition and nominalisation were used twice each. Furthermore, it was found that the theme of rights demonstrated the most loss in meaning compared to the other themes, whereas the theme of matrimony demonstrated the most gain in meaning. The findings of this study contribute to the body of knowledge in the field of translation studies, and are relevant to scholars working with religious texts, gender discrimination and Islamic studies. Besides, claims and misconceptions about Islam could be justified and the reasons behind them clarified with further research

English Translations Of Quranic Verses Regarding Women: An In-Depth Analysis Of Loss And Gain In Meaning Based On Baker’S Taxonomy

Studies have demonstrated that no translation of the Holy Quran is devoid of shortcomings; the point of interest is not whether there are shortcomings, but lies instead in the extent of the shortcomings, since translating the Holy Quran into a foreign language with perfect accuracy is an impossible task. Referring to several Quranic verses, claims have been made that Islam oppresses women and deprives them of their rights. This general perception that women are looked down upon, discriminated and insulted based on verses of the Holy Quran is common in the West, where translations of the Holy Quran are relied on. This thesis comprises an in-depth analysis of four English renditions of Quranic verses regarding women from the renditions by Pickthall, Arberry, Sarwar and Abdel Haleem. The selected verses are analysed with the aim of identifying the strategies used and determining the extent of loss or gain in meaning. Also, identification of the most dominant and least used strategies, and determining the themes demonstrating the most loss or gain in meaning. To this end, the verses regarding women were identified and categorised into five major themes based on their subject matter, then analysed using Baker’s taxonomy

Production of Polyhydroxyalkanoates by Two Halophilic Archaeal Isolates from Chott El Jerid Using Inexpensive Carbon Sources

The large use of conventional plastics has resulted in serious environmental problems. Polyhydroxyalkanoates represent a potent replacement to synthetic plastics because of their biodegradable nature. This study aimed to screen bacteria and archaea isolated from an extreme environment, the salt lake Chott El Jerid for the accumulation of these inclusions. Among them, two archaeal strains showed positive results with phenotypic and genotypic methods. Phylogenetic analysis, based on the 16S rRNA gene, indicated that polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA)-producing archaeal isolates CEJGTEA101 and CEJEA36 were related to Natrinema altunense and Haloterrigena jeotgali, respectively. Gas chromatography and UV-visible spectrophotometric analyses revealed that the PHA were identified as polyhydroxybutyrate and polyhydroxyvalerate, respectively. According to gas chromatography analysis, the strain CEJGTEA101 produced maximum yield of 7 wt % at 37 °C; pH 6.5; 20% NaCl and the strain CEJEA36 produced 3.6 wt % at 37 °C; pH 7; 25% NaCl in a medium supplemented with 2% glucose. Under nutritionally optimal cultivation conditions, polymers were extracted from these strains and were determined by gravimetric analysis yielding PHA production of 35% and 25% of cell dry weight. In conclusion, optimization of PHA production from inexpensive industrial wastes and carbon sources has considerable interest for reducing costs and obtaining high yiel

Ovarian Juvenile Granulosa Cell Tumor in A 2.5 Years-Old Girl: The Importance of Early Diagnosis

Juvenile granulosa tumor is a rare tumor in infant. The diagnosis should be discussed in any ovarian tumor of children, especially in front of the early signs of puberty. The prognosis of granulosa cell tumors remains good. The main prognostic factor is the stage of local extension. Early diagnosis at early signs of puberty is an important prognostic factor. We describe the case of a girl aged 2 years and 5 months who presented signs of early puberty. The diagnosis was a secreting ovarian tumor but was very large at that time. We focus by this observation on the value of early diagnosis of this tumor type which remains a key prognostic factor

INFLUENCE OF SPROUTING USING BIOTIC AND ABIOTIC ELICITORS ON CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF RADISH SEEDS (RAPHANUS SATIVUS)

Germination is a way to improve agricultural productivity and easily to use by low income families, in particular with using some elicitors in germination for enhancing the nutrition value of the seeds by sprouting. For their highly metabolic activities after harvesting, radish seeds were selected for performance of this study. The effect of using abiotic elicitor (saline water, by NaCl at different concentrations) and biotic elicitor (Saccharomyces cerevisiae) on sprouting of radish seed has been investigated. After germinating radish seeds for six days using elicitors, chemical analysis and determination for phytochemicals contents have been carried out. Results showed a promising efficiency by sprouting, where an appreciable increasing in some analysis as protein, carbohydrates, some minerals and amino acids comparing to seed. Besides, germination had a positive effect to present some phyto-compounds as some flavonoids, terpenoids and phenolic compounds. Then, this study and similar ones are an important step towards the future development of value-added foods with elicited phytochemicals and can be used in the development of innovative food products with beneficial effects on human’s health

A Seropositive Nodular Rheumatoid Polyarthritis without Arthritis: Does It Exist?

The rheumatoid polyarthritis is the most frequent chronic polyarthritis. It affects essentially the woman between 40 and 60 years. Rheumatic subcutaneous nodules and tenosynovitis are usually associated with seropositive symptomatic rheumatoid polyarthritis. It is, however, rare that they constitute the essential clinical expression of the disease. In this case, it makes dispute another exceptional form of rheumatoid arthritis such as rheumatoid nodulosis. A 60-year-old woman was hospitalized for tumefaction of the dorsal face of the right hand evolving two months before. The clinical examination found subcutaneous nodules from which the exploration ended in rheumatoid nodules with tenosynovitis. The evolution after four years was favourable under corticosteroid therapy, methotrexate, and colchicine

“So good women are the obedient…” : an in-depth analysis of selected translated Quranic verses regarding women

Examining the translations of Quranic verses related to women might clarify claims that Islam oppresses women, and in which women are abused and deprived of their rights. Furthermore, the outcomes of a translation process can be influenced by different choices, which may lead to loss or gain in meaning. In this study, five of the more known and comprehensive verses pertaining to women were selected via purposive sampling and their English renditions by two translators were analyzed using a model of translation criticism proposed by Farahzad (2012). The translations by M.M. Pickthall (1930) and S.M. Sarwar (2011) formed part of the corpus. Ibn Kathir’s (2003) exegesis was utilized to determine each verse’s meaning/interpretation. The renditions were compared against the original (Arabic) versions, and analyzed at the textual level subsumed under the dimension of translational choices. The analysis also took into account the translators’ different backgrounds; instances of disparity are apparent in terms of translational choices and a portion may be inferred to have occurred because of the translators’ backgrounds. However, these instances are minimal. Overall, the findings indicate disparities in choice of lexis, grammar, and translation strategies. Literal translation was also found to be a dominant strategy, in addition to inaccuracies in meaning conveyance. To date, there is no available translational research similar to the present study in terms of corpus and design. This study and its findings are of relevance not only to religious units, but also to translators, educators and scholars engaged in language and translational research