Composition physicochimique des miels algériens. Détermination des éléments traces et des éléments potentiellement toxiques

La caractérisation de cinq échantillons de miel collectés de différentes régions mellifères algériennes a été effectuée sur deux aspects : 1) propriétés physicochimiques, et 2) le niveau des éléments traces et des éléments toxiques. pH, acidité libre, humidité, conductivité électrique, hydroxymethylfurfural, sucres totaux et réducteurs, la saccharose, sont les paramètres physicochimiques analysés pour chaque échantillon de miel. Le niveau des éléments traces (Zn, Mn, Fe, Cu, Cr, Ni) et des éléments toxiques (Pb, Cd, As) ont été déterminés par spectrométrie d’émission optique couplée à un plasma inductif (ICP-OES). Les résultats obtenus ont montré une variabilité de la composition chimique des miels. Les concentrations en éléments traces ont varié de 8,02-14,51 mg/Kg, 2,50-3,49 mg/Kg, 1,95- 6,37 mg/Kg et 2,72-3,22 mg/Kg pour le Zn, Mn, Fe et Cr, respectivement. Alors que les concentrations moyennes du chrome (0,024 mg/kg) et nickel (0,32 mg/kg) sont faibles et très similaires pour les différentes variétés de miel. Les éléments toxiques (Pb, Cd, As) sont présent à l’état de trace. Le zinc est l’élément le plus abondant dans les miels algérien analysés.Mots-clés : miel, propriété physicochimique, éléments toxiques, éléments traces

An object oriented Bayesian network approach for unsafe driving maneuvers prevention system

© 2017 IEEE. As the main contributor to the traffic accidents, unsafe driving maneuvers have taken attentions from automobile industries. Although driving feedback systems have been developed in effort of dangerous driving reduction, it lacks of drivers awareness development. Therefore, those systems are not preventive in nature. To cover this weakness, this paper presents an approach to develop drivers awareness to prevent dangerous driving maneuvers. The approach uses Object-Oriented Bayesian Network to model hazardous situations. The result of the model can truthfully reflect a driving environment based upon situation analysis, data generated from sensors, and maneuvers detectors. In addition, it also alerts drivers when a driving situation that has high probability to cause unsafe maneuver to be detected. This model then is used to design a system, which can raise drivers awareness and prevent unsafe driving maneuvers

How can BIM support construction safety management? Development of SIM

BIM is continuously changing the way construction can be approached, from design, scheduling, costing to facilities management. However, even though construction safety is a worldwide issue, and though previous, yet limited, studies have proven its great potential, BIM has not been extended to include automated construction safety management functions, i.e., hazard identification, assessment and control for construction works. In fact, as many as 71% of safety incidents can be prevented by safety considerations at design stage. Automation via BIM is the key to enhance effectiveness and efficiency of safety management, but development of Safety Information Modelling (SIM) is the key pre-requisite. This paper aims to outline a research project for developing both information and technical requirements for SIM via questionnaire survey, focus group, and real case studies. The project results, to be validated by real projects, will act as solid platform for developing:- i) Practical guidance to construction and safety professionals on the types of safety management a SIM can conduct, and the ways of utilizing the safety information in a SIM model [based on the systematic SIM information requirements (e.g., object identification, geometry attributes, safety rules)]; and ii) Overall guidance to software developers to develop appropriate SIM tools for different scenarios [based on the systematic SIM technical requirements (e.g., model information exchange, visualization, conflict analysis process for risk assessment, reliability)].published_or_final_versio

A Novel Convex Relaxation for Non-Binary Discrete Tomography

We present a novel convex relaxation and a corresponding inference algorithm for the non-binary discrete tomography problem, that is, reconstructing discrete-valued images from few linear measurements. In contrast to state of the art approaches that split the problem into a continuous reconstruction problem for the linear measurement constraints and a discrete labeling problem to enforce discrete-valued reconstructions, we propose a joint formulation that addresses both problems simultaneously, resulting in a tighter convex relaxation. For this purpose a constrained graphical model is set up and evaluated using a novel relaxation optimized by dual decomposition. We evaluate our approach experimentally and show superior solutions both mathematically (tighter relaxation) and experimentally in comparison to previously proposed relaxations

An invisibility cloak using silver nanowires

In this paper, we use the parameter retrieval method together with an analytical effective medium approach to design a well-performed invisible cloak, which is based on an empirical revised version of the reduced cloak. The designed cloak can be implemented by silver nanowires with elliptical cross-sections embedded in a polymethyl methacrylate host. This cloak is numerically proved to be robust for both the inner hidden object as well as incoming detecting waves, and is much simpler thus easier to manufacture when compared with the earlier proposed one [Nat. Photon. 1, 224 (2007)].Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, 2 table

Clinical expression of plakophilin-2 mutations in familial arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy

Background - Arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy (ARVC) is an inherited cardiac disorder characterized by loss of cardiomyocytes and their replacement by adipose and fibrous tissue. It is considered a disease of cell adhesion because mutations in desmosomal genes, desmoplakin and plakoglobin, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of ARVC. In a recent report, mutations in plakophilin-2, a gene highly expressed in cardiac desmosomes, have been shown to cause ARVC.Methods and Results - We investigated 100 white patients with ARVC for mutations in plakophilin-2. Nine different mutations were identified by direct sequencing in 11 cases. Five of these mutations are novel (A733fsX740, L586fsX658, V570fsX576, R413X, and P533fsX561) and predicted to cause a premature truncation of the plakophilin-2 protein. Family studies showed incomplete disease expression in mutation carriers and identified a number of individuals who would be misdiagnosed with the existing International Task Force and modified diagnostic criteria for ARVC.Conclusions - In this study, we provide new evidence that mutations in the desmosomal plakophilin-2 gene can cause ARVC. A systematic clinical evaluation of mutation carriers within families demonstrated variable phenotypic expression, even among individuals with the same mutation, and highlighted the need for a more accurate set of diagnostic criteria for ARVC

Development and application of a loop-mediated isothermal amplification method for rapid detection of Haemophilus parasuis

Haemophilus parasuis is the causative agent of Glässer’s disease that has received much attention recently, due to the increasing economic losses this disease inflicts upon the pig industry worldwide. In this study, loop-mediated isothermal amplification method (LAMP) methodology was designed for diagnosing H. parasuis infections and tested against 56 clinical samples. Two sets of primers for LAMP were designed based on the H. parasuis inf B gene sequence. Target DNA was amplified and visualized on agarose gels after 50 min incubation at 63°C. The LAMP amplicon was also directly visualized in the reaction tubes by the naked eye following the addition of SYBR green I. The detection limit of the inf BLAMP method was 10 cfu mL-1, that was 10 times more sensitive than conventional PCR. Furthermore, positive rates of H. parasuis detection using inf B-LAMP were higher (46.4%, 26/56) than the rates obtained with conventional PCR (33.9%, 19/56). inf B-LAMP specificity analysis demonstrated no crossreactivity with any other swine pathogens. In conclusion, inf B-LAMP was more sensitive and faster and could be carried out in the absence of expensive equipment. Furthermore, the visual readout demonstrated great potential for the use of inf B-LAMP in the clinical detection of H. parasuis.Key words: Glässer’s disease, Haemophilus parasuis, inf B, PCR, LAM

MicroRNAs and Chinese Medicinal Herbs: New Possibilities in Cancer Therapy

In recent decades Chinese medicine has been used worldwide as a complementary and alternative medicine to treat cancer. Plenty of studies have shown that microRNAs (miRNAs) play fundamental roles in many pathological processes, including cancer, while the anti-cancer mechanisms of Chinese medicinal herbs targeting miRNAs also have been extensively explored. Our previous studies and those of others on Chinese medicinal herbs and miRNAs in various cancer models have provided a possibility of new cancer therapies, for example, up-regulating the expression of miR-23a may activate the positive regulatory network of p53 and miR-23a involved in the mechanism underlying the anti-tumor effect of berberine in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this review, we survey the role of Chinese medicinal herbal products in regulating miRNAs in cancer and the use of mediating miRNAs for cancer treatment. In addition, the controversial roles of herb-derived exogenous miRNAs in cancer treatment are also discussed. It is expected that targeting miRNAs would provide a novel therapeutic approach in cancer therapy by improving overall response and survival outcomes in cancer treatment, especially when combined with conventional therapeutics and Chinese medicinal herbal products. © 2015 by the authors; licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.published_or_final_versio

Cardiovascular disease in chinese women: An emerging high-risk population and implications for nursing practice

Globally, cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of death among women. In China, the burden of CVD is increasing at an alarming rate; yet, it is underestimated and has important primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention issues. AIM:: This article seeks to document the issues surrounding the increased rate of CVD among Chinese women and describe the etiological factors and potential strategies to decrease the burden of disease. METHODS:: The Medline, Current Information in Nursing and Allied Health Literature, Ovid, Science Direct, and Government Reports were searched using the key words heart disease, cardiovascular, ischemic heart disease, coronary, women, and Chin (China, Chinese). Articles were selected if they described epidemiological factors and/or interventions to address heart disease in Chinese women. FINDINGS:: Rapid industrialization and urbanization in China have extended the life expectancy of the population, particularly among women. Social, political, and economic factors have caused lifestyle changes that have a direct bearing on health. Heart disease has become the most common cause of death among Chinese women and the second most common cause among men. Paradoxically, prevention and management strategies are sparse in relation to the high prevalence. A number of modifiable risk factors have been identified as major contributors of CVD and should be a focus of primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention. CONCLUSION:: Cardiovascular disease is already a leading cause of death and disability among Chinese women. The high prevalence of risk factors and low rate of awareness, treatment, and control signal an urgent need for focusing on this issue in Chinese women. Strategies on individual, community, and government levels are recommended. Involving Chinese nurses in these strategies is essential. © 2008 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins

Breakdown and recovery in traffic flow models

Most car-following models show a transition from laminar to ``congested'' flow and vice versa. Deterministic models often have a density range where a disturbance needs a sufficiently large critical amplitude to move the flow from the laminar into the congested phase. In stochastic models, it may be assumed that the size of this amplitude gets translated into a waiting time, i.e.\ until fluctuations sufficiently add up to trigger the transition. A recently introduced model of traffic flow however does not show this behavior: in the density regime where the jam solution co-exists with the high-flow state, the intrinsic stochasticity of the model is not sufficient to cause a transition into the jammed regime, at least not within relevant time scales. In addition, models can be differentiated by the stability of the outflow interface. We demonstrate that this additional criterion is not related to the stability of the flow. The combination of these criteria makes it possible to characterize commonalities and differences between many existing models for traffic in a new way