The effect of micro-pulsatile electrical and ultrasound stimulation on cellular biosynthetic activities such as cellular proliferation, endogenous nitrogen oxide and collagen synthesis

ABSTRACT: The skin barrier poses an ongoing challenge for the cosmetics industry. Its penetration, by non-invasive means, can readily be achieved with currents and ultrasound or radiofrequency devices through electroporation, sonophoresis, iontophoresis or cavitation. When several types of energy are applied simultaneously, we expect the effects to be magnified and all the more effective. Although the mechanism of action of each technology on the skin is not entirely controlled, and is even less so when multiple technologies are applied concurrently, some studies demonstrate that nitric oxide (NO) plays a pivotal role in skin wound-healing and regeneration. With regard to wound healing, one of the key functions of NO appears to be its permissive effect on keratinocyte and fibroblast proliferation, which helps promote wound re-epithelialization. The objective of the actual research is to gain an in-depth understanding of the mechanisms generated by NO through the application of a specific combination of technologies

Optimal Contribution of Energy Management of Electric Vehicles

An Electrical Vehicle (EV) has the advantage of being friendly with environment but it does not have the same performance as a current conventional vehicle. This work proposes a strategy to improve the EV autonomy. At first, an EV model that combines lead acid batteries and a DC motor is described. The individual mathematical model for each component is developed in MATLAB. Moreover, the control speed strategy using fuzzy logic is applied to the system to produce a maximum speed reference of an EV under different states of charge of the battery and acceleration. Then, a proportional integral control adjusts the speed strategy. When the vehicle is subjected to different scenarios, the simulation realized in MATLAB/Simulink will show good efficiency

Accumulation des éléments traces et tolérance au stress métallique chez les halophytes colonisant les bordures de la lagune de Bizerte (Tunisie)

Accumulation of trace elements and tolerance to metal stress of the halophytes that colonize the edges of the lagoon of Bizerte (Tunisia). The lagoon of Bizerte underwent a mixed anthropic pollution, essentially enhanced by the unlimited industrial waste derived from Iron Factory “ El Fouledh”, Industrial Refining Tunisian Company, Cement Company and from 400 industrial units established around it. This waste includes major pollutants conducive to a degradation of the ecological conditions of this lagoon. Previous research dealt with most of the different ecosystem components : soil, sediments, water, and aquatic organisms. In the present study, we have been interested in the halophytes inhabiting the edges of Bizerte lagoon. This study would allow us to identify the accumulating species to be used in the programs of phytoremediation. Shoots of Atriplex portulacoides, Arthrocnemum indicum, Salicornia arabica and Suaeda fruticosa were harvested, rinsed, dried and then crushed. Analyses were focused on few trace metals : Pb, Cu, Zn and Cd. Our results have allowed us to classify the halophytes “A. portulacoides, A. indicum, S. arabica and S. fruticosa” among the accumulating species of Pb (respectively 84.6, 92.2, 102.9 and 86.3 μg. g-1 DW), of Cu (respectively 14.5, 15.1, 24.2 and 14.9 μg. g-1 DW) and of Zn (respectively 1370.1, 625.1, 1601.4 and 772.5 μg. g-1 DW). Also, A. portulacoides and S. arabica are distinguished by their ability to store significant amounts of Zn which gives them a potential utility in the remediation programs. As regards Cd, we have shown that all studied species are hyper-accumulators of this metal (A. portulacoides : 274.0 μg. g-1 DW ; A. indicum : 280.4 μg. g-1 DW ; S. arabica : 211.6 μg. g-1 DW and S. fruticosa : 209.0 μg. g-1 DW). It should be noted that the harvested halophytes do not show any sign of toxicity, and they are able to accumulate more important amounts of heavy metals and to tolerate the metallic stress. These results show that the studied halophytes can be recommended for all programs of phytoremediation in polluted and salty areas.La lagune de Bizerte subit une pollution anthropique mixte engendrée essentiellement par les rejets industriels non limités provenant de l’usine sidérurgique «El Fouledh», de la société tunisienne des industries de raffinage, de la cimenterie et des 400 unités industrielles recensées autour d’elle. Ces rejets constituent des polluants majeurs conduisant à une dégradation des conditions écologiques de ce plan d’eau. Les travaux de recherche antérieurs ont touché à la plupart des composantes de cet écosystème : sol, sédiments, eau, organismes aquatiques. Dans le présent travail, nous nous sommes intéressés à l’étude des halophytes peuplant les bordures de la lagune de Bizerte. Cette étude permettrait d’identifier les espèces accumulatrices en vue de les utiliser dans les programmes de phytoremédiation. Les parties aériennes d’Atriplex portulacoides, Arthrocnemum indicum, Salicornia arabica et Suaeda fruticosa ont été récoltées, rincées, séchées puis broyées. Les analyses ont porté sur quelques éléments traces : Pb, Cu, Zn et Cd. Nos résultats ont permis de classer les halophytes “A. portulacoides, A. indicum, S. arabica et S. fruticosa” parmi les espèces accumulatrices de Pb (respectivement 84.6, 92.2, 102.9 et 86.3 μg. g-1 MS), de Cu (respectivement 14.5, 15.1, 24.2 et 14.9 μg. g-1 MS) et de Zn (respectivement 1370.1, 625.1, 1601.4 et 772.5 μg. g-1 MS ). A. portulacoides et S. arabica se distinguent par leurs capacités à piéger d’importantes quantités de Zn d’où la possibilité de les utiliser dans les programmes de dépollution. En ce qui concerne le Cd, nous avons montré que toutes les espèces étudiées sont des hyper-accumulatrices de ce métal (A. portulacoides : 274.0 μg. g-1 MS  ; A. indicum : 280.4 μg. g-1 MS  ; S. arabica : 211.6 μg. g-1 MS et S. fruticosa : 209.0 μg. g-1 MS ). Il faut noter que les halophytes récoltées ne présentent aucun symptôme de toxicité, elles sont capables d’accumuler des quantités plus importantes d’éléments traces et de tolérer le stress métallique. Ce résultat montre que les halophytes étudiées peuvent être recommandées pour tous programmes de phytoremédiation des sols pollués des zones non cultivées.Sleimi Noomene, Bankaji Insaf, Dallai Meriem, Daly Yahia Kéfi Ons. Accumulation des éléments traces et tolérance au stress métallique chez les halophytes colonisant les bordures de la lagune de Bizerte (Tunisie). In: Revue d'Écologie (La Terre et La Vie), tome 69, n°1, 2014. pp. 49-59

Factors Affecting Utilization of Family Planning Services in a Post-Conflict Setting, South Sudan: A Qualitative Study

This study aims to explore and examine the conjectures surrounding the utilization of family planning services among currently married couples of childbearing age in Renk County.This study has adopted a qualitative method to collect data on factors affecting the utilization of family planning services through focus group discussions and in-depth interviews, in rural and urban areas of Renk County. It targeted married women, men as well as unmarried men and women. The researchers conducted nine focus group discussions and nine interviews at both Jelhak (rural setting) and Renk (urban setting). The results suggested that the people of Renk County prefer to have large families and therefore choose not to use family planning methods. The data collected was analyzed by means of thematic analysis. This included the construction of a thematic framework, coding, editing and categorization of available data as well as the creation of sub-themes.The result also suggested that perception is a main factor that affects utilization of family planning services with a majority of the people in Renk and Jelhak preferring to have many children in order to increase the family size for some reasons. These are linked to religion, social stigma and taboo that are attached to childless people or users of family planning methods for birth control purposes.The responses revealed some variation in perception between rural (Jelhak) and urban (Renk) areas. Respondents from Renk area reported that some people use family planning services for economic reasons that involve alleviation of financial difficulties and provision of better education when the family size is small. On the other hand, rural people from Jelhak perceive family planning to be socially un-acceptable. Furthermore, men and women of Jelhak reported that after each birth of a child, married couples avoid sexual relationship for a period of two years as means of family planning. Women of both Urban and Rural settings reported intentions to use conventional methods of family planning without the knowledge of their spouses

sj-docx-1-pie-10.1177_09544089221124451 - Supplemental material for Contribution to energy management of fuel cell/battery hybrid electric vehicles

Supplemental material, sj-docx-1-pie-10.1177_09544089221124451 for Contribution to energy management of fuel cell/battery hybrid electric vehicles by Insaf Yahia, Chokri Ben Salah, Abdelaziz Salah Saidi, Mohamed Faouzi Mimouni and Ali Alshahrani in Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part E: Journal of Process Mechanical Engineering</p

Detection of CTX-M-15 harboring Escherichia coli isolated from wild birds in Tunisia

Abstract Background The spreading of antibiotic resistant bacteria is becoming nowadays an alarming threat to human and animal health. There is increasing evidence showing that wild birds could significantly contribute to the transmission and spreading of drug-resistant bacteria. However, data for antimicrobial resistance in wild birds remain scarce, especially throughout Africa. The aims of this investigation were to analyze the prevalence of ESBL-producing E. coli in faecal samples of wild birds in Tunisia and to characterize the recovered isolates. Results One hundred and eleven samples were inoculated on MacConkey agar plates supplemented with cefotaxime (2 μg/ml). ESBL-producing E. coli isolates were detected in 12 of 111 faecal samples (10.81%) and one isolate per sample was further characterized. β-lactamase detected genes were as follows: bla CTX-M-15 (8 isolates), bla CTX-M-15 + bla TEM-1b (4 isolates). The ISEcp1 and orf477 sequences were found respectively in the regions upstream and downstream of all bla CTX-M-15 genes. Seven different plasmid profiles were observed among the isolates. IncF (FII, FIA, FIB) and IncW replicons were identified in 11 CTX-M-15 producing isolates, and mostly, other replicons were also identified: IncHI2, IncA/C, IncP, IncI1 and IncX. All ESBL-producing E. coli isolates were integron positive and possessed “empty” integron structures with no inserted region of DNA. The following detected virulence genes were: (number of isolates in parentheses): fimA (ten); papC (seven); aer (five); eae (one); and papGIII, hly, cnf, and bfp (none). Molecular typing using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and multilocus sequence typing showed a low genetic heterogeneity among the 12 ESBL-producing strains with five unrelated PFGE types and five different sequence types (STs) respectively. CTX-M-15-producing isolates were ascribed to phylogroup A (eleven isolates) and B2 (one isolate). Conclusion To our knowledge, this study provides the first insight into the contribution of wild birds to the dynamics of ESBL-producing E. coli in Tunisia

Trade and Security Cooperation in the Arab Maghreb Union Region

This chapter examines the nature of trade and security links among the Arab Maghreb Union (AMU) countries, Algeria, Libya, Mauritania, Morocco, and Tunisia. Since the beginning of the Arab Spring in late 2010, this region has undergone significant political and economic changes, among them, facing new forms of terrorism and violent religious fundamentalism