Elaboration and characterization of SnO2:In thin films deposited by spray pyrolysis technique

In this work, we have used the ultrasonic spray technique to deposit thin films of undoped and doped SnO2 on glass substrates. To optimize the quality of SnO2 thin films, we have studied the influence of molarity, deposition time and substrate temperature on film’s physical properties.The other aim of this work is to optimize the quality of these films by studying the influence of the dopants, the annealing temperature and the type of precursor of the starting solution on the structural, optical and electrical properties in order to obtain transparent and conductive films. For this reason, we used indium as a dopant and two types of the precursor of the starting solution (SnCl2.2H2O, SnCl4.5H2O).We used several characterization techniques, such as X-ray diffraction, UV-visible spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, Hall Effect and the four-point technique. We have shown that undoped and doped SnO2 films are transparent in the visible range and their structure is of tetragonal type. In our work, we found that the undoped SnO2 film deposited at 450° C for 5 minutes of deposition at a concentration of 0.1 mol / l has good properties. Also, indium-doped SnO2thin films with the best properties can be prepared using SnCl4 as a precursor and at the 2% and 20% doping rate. Also, Hall Effect measurement revealed that the undoped and doped films with 10% In had n-type electrical conductivity, and when it was at 20%, In-doped SnO2 thin films showed a p-type conductivity.The results showed that the process of annealing leads to the improvement of the crystallinity, the optical and electrical properties of SnO2.In films

Introducing social networking tools into members of the European Parliament’s communication patterns

This PhD research adopts an interdisciplinary approach to answer the following research question: to what extent could Members of the European Parliament incorporate social networking tools (SNT) as part of their communication resources in engaging with other actors when carrying out their work as legislators? The methodological framework chosen to conduct this study is exploratory and combines two qualitative methods: elite interviews and observation. Interviews with MEPs and their staff aimed to explore MEPs’ understanding of SNT use, their motivations and their perceived benefits of using SNT when carrying out their work as legislators. Interviews with officials of the EP and members of the European civil society were purposely designed as validating interviews. In total, 29 interviews were conducted in 2011-2012. Observation of MEPs’ communication patterns during parliamentary weeks has allowed me to assess, on the one hand their communication patterns from an organisational perspective and on the other hand the potential for introducing new communicative tools into MEPs’ communicative practices. Observation was conducted with two MEPs and their staff during two weeks each. The theoretical framework of this study relies strongly upon communication network theories and organisational studies that explore the adoption of SNT in the workplace. Based on a grounded theory approach, this exploratory study suggests an emergent model of use of SNT for MEPs in carrying out their legislative work, based on MEPs’ motivations and perceived benefits of using these tools. Findings suggest that there are four domains in which MEPs could use SNT in their legislative functions: to democratise lobbying practices in the EP, to raise their awareness of public opinion, to reshape their relationship with journalists and finally to coordinate their actions as representatives with the European civil society’s. Thus, this study explores the adoption of SNT by elected members of the European Parliament by focusing on their understanding of their use of SNT when carrying out their role as legislators

Book review: Decolonizing Ethnography: Undocumented Immigrants and New Directions in Social Science by Carolina Alonso Bejarano, Lucía López Juárez, Mirian A. Mijangos García and Daniel M. Goldstein

In Decolonizing Ethnography: Undocumented Immigrants and New Directions in Social Science, Carolina Alonso Bejarano, Lucía López Juárez, Mirian A. Mijangos García and Daniel M. Goldstein present collaborative research on the rights of undocumented migrants in New Jersey, USA, utilising an alternative approach to ethnography that seeks to position it as a powerful tool of self-empowerment, public advocacy and personal transformation. By reworking notions of participation [...

Etude comparative de la dureté (hardness) des détecteurs p+ n- n+ et n+ p- p+ au Silicium

Dans ce travail, l’effet des radiations sur une diode au silicium utilisée comme détecteur de particule est simulé numériquement. Ces radiations créent des défauts qui ont des effets indésirables et donc on peuvent dégrader les performances des détecteurs. L’étude est une comparaison de la dureté des détecteurs ayant différentes structures : p+ n- n+ et n+ p- p+. La dureté est caractérisée par les taux d’introduction des défauts (α) et (β). En partant des valeurs expérimentales de α et β, la tension de déplétion (Vdep) est évaluée à partir des caractéristiques capacité-tension en polarisation inverse pour différentes fluences d’irradiations (Φ) pour les deux structures. La densité des défauts crée par l’irradiation est proportionnelle à la fluence. La comparaison entre les deux structures (à régions actives de types n et p) est résumée dans les points suivants : -Dans la structure p+ n- n+, la région active de type n se convertie au type p mais la région active p du détecteur n+ p- p+ devient fortement de type p avec l’augmentation de la densité du piége accepteur. Au contraire avec l’augmentation de la densité du piége donneur où le type n devient fortement de type n mais le type p se convertie au type n. -la variation de la tension de déplétion du détecteur p+ n- n+ est plus important que celle du détecteur n+ p- p+. Donc, le détecteur n+ p- p+ est plus robuste vis-à-vis des radiations. Donc, il plus dure et peut avoir une durée de vie plus longue. -L’effet des centres de recombinaison devient important lorsque les piéges accepteurs sont plus éloigné de la bande de valence tandis que les piéges donneurs sont plus éloigné de la bande de conduction

Quality evaluation and biological properties of Algerian commercial honeys labeled as Rosemary, Tamarisk, Thistle and multiflora

Mestrado de dupla diplomação com a Université Moulay TaherHoney is considered a natural sweet substance produced by honeybees, from the nectars of plant flowers and honeydews. Honey has always been regarded as a food that is beneficial for human health with several therapeutic qualities described. The quality of honey is still a top concern for experts as no good method has been defined so far for the simultaneous detection of different types of honey. Consequently, the development of easy, quick, precise analytical tools that may give data for assessing honey authenticity, is important. Because of that, it is essential to inform consumers of the mislabeling of honey with lower quality. This study aimed to evaluate the physicochemical characteristics and to assess the quality of Algerian honey from different botanical and geographical origins. For that, ten samples of honey with different marked botanical origins were analyzed, including three samples from rosemary honey, three from tamarisk honey, three from milk thistle honey and one multiflora honey. The quality of the samples was determined through different parameters. Melissopalynological and physicochemical analyses (color, moisture, pH, acidity, electrical conductivity, diastase index, proline, 5-hydroxymethylfurfural, mineral content, proteins, carbohydrates, energy, and ash) were performed, as well as the profile evaluation of sugar and phenolic compounds. Antioxidant activity (reducing power and DPPH free radical scavenging activity) antitumor and anti-inflammation activity were also evaluated. Finally, the presence of antibiotics, recurrent residues in honey, such as tetracyclines and sulphonamides were screened using the multi-analyte receptor assay system Charm II. The melissopalinological analysis showed the presence of 10 major types of pollen grains, with Rosmarinus officinalis, Cytisus stratitus and Centaurea sp. pollens as the most abundant. Furthermore, since no honeydew elements were detected, all the samples were classified as nectar honeys. Samples R1, R2, and R3 were classified as rosemary monofloral honey; samples T1, T2 and MF were classified as Cytisus striatus honey; CH1-CH3 were classified as Centaurea sp. and T3 as multifloral, which not always agreed with the labeled botanical origin. Generally, honey samples presented values of moisture, free acidity, 5-HMF, proline content, and diastase index within the limits of the legal requirements, suggesting that the honey was extracted at a correct ripeness stage. The results showed that almost all honey samples have light amber color, except the rosemary honeys which presented an extra white amber color. Although exhibiting a normal diastase index, the R2 and R3 samples presented a 5-HMF value higher than the admitted in the legislation, suggesting that less adequate heat treatments and/or conservation methods might have been employed. The most common minerals were potassium, sodium, calcium, manganese, while copper and Manganese were present in some samples in minor quantities and the heavy metals (cadmium and lead) are absent from all samples. The sugar profile, analyzed by high pressure liquid chromatography with refractive index detection (HPLC-RI), showed that fructose and glucose were the most abundant compounds, representing more than 60% of total sugars. Other sugars, such as turanose, maltulose and maltose were also detected in a lower proportion. Regarding the phenolic profile, nineteen compounds (eight phenolic acids and seven flavonoids), two isoprenoid compounds (trans, trans- and cis, trans- abscisic acid), one spermidine and one phenolic diterpene were identified. T2 sample showed a higher amount of phenolic acids than flavonoids. However, the most abundant compounds were the benzoic acid derivative which was detected in all samples. Concerning the evaluation of the antitumor activity and anti-inflammatory activity the samples showed a significant potential. Finally, concerning the antibiotics screening, not all the samples showed negative results.O mel é considerado uma substância doce natural produzida pelas abelhas, a partir dos néctares das flores das plantas e de meladas. O mel sempre foi considerado um alimento benéfico para a saúde, com várias qualidades terapêuticas descritas. A sua qualidade ainda é uma das principais preocupações para os especialistas, pois não há um método ideal para a classificação simultânea de diferentes tipos de mel. Consequentemente, é importante o desenvolvimento de ferramentas analíticas simples, rápidas e precisas que possam fornecer dados que permitam avaliar a autenticidade do mel. Por esse motivo, é essencial informar os consumidores da incorreta rotulagem de méis com baixa qualidade. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar as características físico-químicas e desse modo aferir a qualidade de méis argelinos com diferentes origens botânicas e geográficas. Para isso, foram recolhidas dez amostras de méis rotulados com diferentes origens botânicas, nomeadamente: três de mel de alecrim, três de mel de tamarino, três de mel de cardo e um de mel multifloral. A qualidade dos méis foi aferida através de diferentes parâmetros. Foram realizadas análises melissopalinológicas e físico-químicas (cor, humidade, pH, acidez, condutividade elétrica, índice diastático, prolina, 5-hidroximetilfurfural, conteúdo em minerais, proteínas, hidratos de carbono, energia e cinzas), bem como a avaliação do perfil em açúcares e compostos fenólicos. Também foi avaliada a atividade antioxidante (poder redutor e poder bloqueador de radicais livres) e atividade antitumoral e antiinflamatório. Finalmente, a presença de antibióticos, resíduos recorrentes no mel, como tetraciclinas e sulfonamidas, foram investigados através do sistema de despistagem Charm II. A análise melissopalinológica mostrou a presença de 10 tipos de grãos de pólen maioritários, sendo os pólenes de Rosmarinus officinalis, Cytisus stratitus e Centaurea sp. os mais abundantes. Além disso, e como não foram detetados elementos de melada, as amostras analisadas foram classificadas como méis de néctar: as amostras R1, R2 e R3 foram classificadas como mel monofloral de alecrim; as amostras T1, T2 e MF foram classificadas como mel de Cytisus striatus; CH1-CH3 foram classificados como de Centaurea sp. e T3 como multifloral, nem sempre coincidindo com a classificação utilizada no rótulo. De uma forma geral, as amostras de mel apresentaram valores de humidade, acidez livre, 5-HMF, teor de prolina e índice de diástase dentro dos limites requeridos legalmente, sugerindo que os méis foram extraídos no nível de maturação correto. Os resultados mostram que quase todas as amostras de mel apresentaram uma color âmbar clara, exceto o mel de alecrim que apresentou uma color âmbar extra clara. Apesar de apresentarem um índice de diástase normal, as amostras R2 e R3 apresentaram um valor de 5-HMF superior ao admitido na legislação, sugerindo a utilização de tratamentos térmicos e/ou métodos de conservação menos adequados. Os minerais mais comuns identificados foram o potássio, sódio, cálcio, enquanto cobre e manganês estiveram presentes em algumas amostras em quantidades menores e os metais pesados (cádmio e chumbo) estão ausentes em todas as amostras. O perfil dos açúcares, analisado por cromatografia líquida de alta pressão com deteção de índice de refração (HPLC-RI), mostrou que a frutose e a glucose foram os compostos mais abundantes, representando mais de 60% dos açúcares totais. Outros açúcares, como a turanose, a maltulose e a maltose, também foram detetados em menor proporção. Em relação ao perfil fenólico, foram identificados dezanove compostos (oito ácidos fenólicos e sete flavonóides), dois compostos isoprenóides (ácido trans, trans- e cis, trans-abscísico), uma espermidina e um diterpeno fenólico. No que diz respeito à avaliação da atividade antitumoral e atividade anti-inflamatória, as amostras apresentam potencial significativo. Finalmente, após o estudo de deteção de antibióticos verificou-se que nem todas as amostras estão isentas de resíduos

International criminal responsibility of the State and transnational organizations for environmental crimes

Environmental crimes are considered the most of time as a serious crimes against the international community in all its components and most frequently in cases of war and peace. In view of this seriousness, the international community seeks to adopt principles and legal rules that oblige the people of the international community to respect and not to violate them under sanctions that differ according to the offense committed. Since states are primarily responsible for any act that violates international norms, their liability for civil environmental crimes is no longer an obstacle to the application of the law, which raises the question of the international criminal responsibility of States and transnational organizations with the provisions of contemporary international law, Through the activation of international mechanisms and organs of the United Nations in the exercise of its functions