Diversity and Ecology of Diatoms in Northwest of Algeria: case of El-Hammam stream and Estuary of Cheliff River

P. 37-52Ecological research on algae from Algeria and in particular on freshwater and estuarine diatoms remains insufficient. The aim of our work is to contribute to the taxonomy and ecology of benthic diatoms from freshwaters and estuaries in Algeria. For this purpose, we studied two sites of water courses in north-western Algeria: El-Hammam stream at Mascara and the estuary of Cheliff river at Mostaganem. Our inventory of benthic diatoms during dry season at the middle of El-Hammam stream during April, June and August 2010 led to the identification of 44 cosmopolitan species, while 30 species occurred at the mouth of Cheliff river. 10 taxa were recorded for the first time in Algeria. Diversity values (Species richness, Shannon's index and Equitability index) for the two study sites are generally medium to low. The results of the 17 diatom-based metrics tested show that ROTT trophic index (TID) and the Trophic Diatom Index (TDI) best mirrored water quality, but a revision of taxa autecological values is requiredS

Metformin overdose: A serious iatrogenic complication-Western France Poison Control Centre Data Analysis

INTRODUCTION: The prevalence of type 2 diabetes (T2D) continues to rise across the world. Metformin is still considered the "gold standard" and is, therefore, increasingly prescribed. Monitoring of metformin continues to be debated because of its association with lactic acidosis (MALA), a rare but life-threatening complication. The aim of this study was to identify the main individual characteristics associated with severe poisoning in self-poisonings and therapeutic accidents reported at the Western France Poison Control Centre (PCC). METHODS: Retrospective study of metformin poisoning from September 1999 to September 2016 at the Western France PCC recorded in the French PCC\u27s database (SICAP). The end-point was clinically high severity (mortality and/or cardiovascular shock and/or GCS ≤ 7/15). RESULTS: Of the 382 cases included, 197 concerned acute accidental exposures, 127 self-poisonings and 58 therapeutic accidents. MALA concerned 63 patients: 44 therapeutic accidents and 19 self-poisonings. High severity concerned 59 patients: 47 therapeutic accidents and 12 self-poisonings. T2D and age > 60 significantly increase the risk of high severity (OR 7.7, CI [1.54-38.41]; P = 0.013; OR 3.5, CI [1.60-7.84]; P = 0.002, respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Metformin may lead to MALA and severe poisoning in therapeutic accidents but also in self-poisoning circumstances. Among reported cases, T2D history and age >60 increase the risk of serious poisoning. Monitoring of their treatment should be taken seriously especially in the event of digestive symptoms such as diarrhoea

Real-time quantitative PCR assay with Taqman® probe for rapid detection of MCR-1 plasmid-mediated colistin resistance

AbstractHere we report the development of two rapid real-time quantitative PCR assays with TaqMan® probes to detect the MCR-1 plasmid-mediated colistin resistance gene from bacterial isolates and faecal samples from chickens. Specificity and sensitivity of the assay were 100% on bacterial isolates including 18 colistin-resistant isolates carrying the mcr-1 gene (six Klebsiella pneumoniae and 12 Escherichia coli) with a calibration curve that was linear from 101 to 108 DNA copies. Five out of 833 faecal samples from chickens from Algeria were positive, from which three E. coli strains were isolated and confirmed to harbour the mcr-1 gene by standard PCR and sequencing

Enhancing the drilling efficiency through the application of machine learning and optimization algorithm

Acknowledgment We would like to acknowledge the collaborative efforts of SONATRACH Group, and the universities involved in this research (Université de Boumerdes, Université de laghouat and University of Aberdeen).Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Enhancing the drilling efficiency through the application of machine learning and optimization algorithm.

This article presents a novel Artificial Intelligence (AI) workflow to enhance drilling performance by mitigating the adverse impact of drill-string vibrations on drilling efficiency. The study employs three supervised machine learning (ML) algorithms, namely the Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP), Support Vector Regression (SVR), and Regression Decision Tree (DTR), to train models for bit rotation (Bit RPM), rate of penetration (ROP), and torque. These models combine to form a digital twin for a drilling system and are validated through extensive cross-validation procedures against actual drilling parameters using field data. The combined SVR - Bit RPM model is then used to categorize torsional vibrations and constrain optimized parameter selection using the Particle Swarm Optimisation block (PSO). The SVR-ROP model is integrated with a PSO under two constraints: Stick Slip Index (SSI<0.05) and Depth of Cut (DOC<5 mm) to further improve torsional stability. Simulations predict a 43% increase in ROP and torsional stability on average when the optimized parameters WOB and RPM are applied. This would avoid the need to trip in/out to change the bit, and the drilling time can be reduced from 66 to 31 hours. The findings of this study illustrate the system's competency in determining optimal drilling parameters and boosting drilling efficiency. Integrating AI techniques offers valuable insights and practical solutions for drilling optimization, particularly in terms of saving drilling time and improving the ROP, which increases potential savings

Prognostic Value of the Insertion/Deletion Polymorphism of the ACE Gene in Type 2 Diabetic Subjects: Results from the Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes, Hypertension, Microalbuminuria or Proteinuria, Cardiovascular Events, and Ramipril (DIABHYCAR), Diabete de type 2, Nephropathie et Genetique (DIAB2NEPHROGENE), and Survie, Diabete de type 2 et Genetique (SURDIAGENE) studies

OBJECTIVE—We tested whether determination of the ACE insertion/deletion polymorphism is useful for renal and cardiovascular prognoses of type 2 diabetic subjects

Polymorphous Si thin films from radio frequency plasmas of SiH4 diluted in Ar: A study by transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy

In this study, we present a detailed structural characterization by means of transmission electron microscopy and Raman spectroscopy of polymorphous silicon (pm-Si:H) thin films deposited using radio-frequency dust-forming plasmas of SiH4 diluted in Ar. Square-wave modulation of the plasma and gas temperature was varied to obtain films with different nanostructures. Transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction have shown the presence of Si crystallites of around 2 nm in the pm-Si:H films, which are related to the nanoparticles formed in the plasma gas phase coming from their different growth stages, named particle nucleation and coagulation. Raman scattering has proved the role of the film nanostructure in the crystallization process induced ¿in situ¿ by laser heating

No association between fear of hypoglycemia and blood glucose variability in type 1 diabetes: The cross-sectional VARDIA study

AIMS: In type 1 diabetes (T1D), treatment efficacy is limited by the unpredictability of blood glucose results and glycemic variability (GV). Fear of Hypoglycemia (FOH) remains a major brake for insulin treatment optimization. We aimed to assess the association of GV with FOH in participants with T1D in an observational cross-sectional study performed in 9 French Diabetes Centres (NCT02790060). METHODS: Participants were T1D for ≥5 years, aged 18-75 years, on stable insulin therapy for ≥3 months. The coefficient of variation (CV) of blood glucose and mean amplitude of glycemic excursions (MAGE) were used to assess GV from 7-point self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG). FOH was assessed using the validated French version of the Hypoglycemia Fear Survey-II (HFS-II) questionnaire. RESULTS: Among a total of 570 recruited participants, 298 were suitable for analysis: 46% women, 58% on continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion [CSII], mean age 49 ± 16 years, HbA1c 7.5 ± 0.9%, HFS-II score 67 ± 18 and 12% with recent history of severe hypoglycemia during the previous 6 months, mean CV 39.8 ± 9.7% and MAGE 119 ± 42 mg/dL. CV and MAGE did not significantly correlate with HFS-II score (R = -0.05;P = 0.457 and R = 0.08;P = 0.170). Participants with severe hypoglycemia in the previous 6 months had higher HFS scores. Participants with higher HFS scores presented more hypoglycemias during follow-up. CONCLUSIONS: FOH as determined using the HFS-II questionnaire was not associated with 7-point SMBG variability in participants with T1D, but was associated with a positive history of severe hypoglycemia. Higher FOH was associated with higher frequency of hypoglycemia during follow-up

Admission Hyperglycemia Predicts a Worse Outcome in Stroke Patients Treated With Intravenous Thrombolysis

OBJECTIVE: Admission hyperglycemia has been associated with worse outcomes in ischemic stroke. We hypothesized that hyperglycemia (glucose &gt;8.0 mmol/l) in the hyperacute phase would be independently associated with increased mortality, symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (SICH), and poor functional status at 90 days in stroke patients treated with intravenous tissue plasminogen activator (IV-tPA). RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Using data from the prospective, multicenter Canadian Alteplase for Stroke Effectiveness Study (CASES), the association between admission glucose &gt;8.0 mmol/l and mortality, SICH, and poor functional status at 90 days (modified Rankin Scale &gt;1) was examined. Similar analyses examining glucose as a continuous measure were conducted. RESULTS: Of 1,098 patients, 296 (27%) had admission hyperglycemia, including 18% of those without diabetes and 70% of those with diabetes. After multivariable logistic regression, admission hyperglycemia was found to be independently associated with increased risk of death (adjusted risk ratio 1.5 [95% CI 1.2-1.9]), SICH (1.69 [0.95-3.00]), and a decreased probability of a favorable outcome at 90 days (0.7 [0.5-0.9]). An incremental risk of death and SICH and unfavorable 90-day outcomes was observed with increasing admission glucose. This observation held true for patients with and without diabetes. CONCLUSIONS: In this cohort of IV-tPA-treated stroke patients, admission hyperglycemia was independently associated with increased risk of death, SICH, and poor functional status at 90 days. Treatment trials continue to be urgently needed to determine whether this is a modifiable risk factor for poor outcome