Study of land use/cover change impacts on thermal microclimate using QGIS in urban agglomeration

Thermal comfort and air quality are major concerns for people living in urban areas. In the last decades, cities are growing quickly and the increased urbanization is leading to the expansion of cities, which changes the properties and composition of the landscape. However, the surface temperatures are increasing, globally, because of anthropogenic climate change. Land use and land cover change have been shown to have a significant effect on climate through various pathways that modulate land surface temperature and rainfall. The objective of this study is to understand how the land use and land cover change affects the thermal microclimate in the city of Biskra (Algeria) using QGIS for the period between 2010 and 2020. The analysis results reveal that the mean temperature of the city has increased by ~4 °C during the past decade with the most accelerated warming (~7 °C) occurring during the recent decade (2010 to 2020). Our study shows also that 32% to 56% of this observed overall warming is associated with land use/cover and the largest changes are related to changing vegetation cover as evidenced by changes to both land use and land covers classes and normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI)

PARSEME corpus release 1.3

We present version 1.3 of the PARSEME multilingual corpus annotated with verbal multiword expressions. Since the previous version, new languages have joined the undertaking of creating such a resource, some of the already existing corpora have been enriched with new annotated texts, while others have been enhanced in various ways. The PARSEME multilingual corpus represents 26 languages now. All monolingual corpora therein use Universal Dependencies v.2 tagset. They are (re-)split observing the PARSEME v.1.2 standard, which puts impact on unseen VMWEs. With the current iteration, the corpus release process has been detached from shared tasks; instead, a process for continuous improvement and systematic releases has been introduced

The evolving SARS-CoV-2 epidemic in Africa: Insights from rapidly expanding genomic surveillance

INTRODUCTION Investment in Africa over the past year with regard to severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) sequencing has led to a massive increase in the number of sequences, which, to date, exceeds 100,000 sequences generated to track the pandemic on the continent. These sequences have profoundly affected how public health officials in Africa have navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. RATIONALE We demonstrate how the first 100,000 SARS-CoV-2 sequences from Africa have helped monitor the epidemic on the continent, how genomic surveillance expanded over the course of the pandemic, and how we adapted our sequencing methods to deal with an evolving virus. Finally, we also examine how viral lineages have spread across the continent in a phylogeographic framework to gain insights into the underlying temporal and spatial transmission dynamics for several variants of concern (VOCs). RESULTS Our results indicate that the number of countries in Africa that can sequence the virus within their own borders is growing and that this is coupled with a shorter turnaround time from the time of sampling to sequence submission. Ongoing evolution necessitated the continual updating of primer sets, and, as a result, eight primer sets were designed in tandem with viral evolution and used to ensure effective sequencing of the virus. The pandemic unfolded through multiple waves of infection that were each driven by distinct genetic lineages, with B.1-like ancestral strains associated with the first pandemic wave of infections in 2020. Successive waves on the continent were fueled by different VOCs, with Alpha and Beta cocirculating in distinct spatial patterns during the second wave and Delta and Omicron affecting the whole continent during the third and fourth waves, respectively. Phylogeographic reconstruction points toward distinct differences in viral importation and exportation patterns associated with the Alpha, Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants and subvariants, when considering both Africa versus the rest of the world and viral dissemination within the continent. Our epidemiological and phylogenetic inferences therefore underscore the heterogeneous nature of the pandemic on the continent and highlight key insights and challenges, for instance, recognizing the limitations of low testing proportions. We also highlight the early warning capacity that genomic surveillance in Africa has had for the rest of the world with the detection of new lineages and variants, the most recent being the characterization of various Omicron subvariants. CONCLUSION Sustained investment for diagnostics and genomic surveillance in Africa is needed as the virus continues to evolve. This is important not only to help combat SARS-CoV-2 on the continent but also because it can be used as a platform to help address the many emerging and reemerging infectious disease threats in Africa. In particular, capacity building for local sequencing within countries or within the continent should be prioritized because this is generally associated with shorter turnaround times, providing the most benefit to local public health authorities tasked with pandemic response and mitigation and allowing for the fastest reaction to localized outbreaks. These investments are crucial for pandemic preparedness and response and will serve the health of the continent well into the 21st century

Advanced building’s skin design towards the optimization of the energy consumption in hot and arid regions

L’enveloppe du bâtiment joue un rôle important dans l'efficacité énergétique du bâtiment, en particulier dans les économies et la consommation d'énergie. Les concepteurs doivent prendre en compte de nombreux problèmes lors de la conception de l’enveloppe du bâtiment, pour éviter de gaspiller de grandes quantités d'énergie et pour maintenir le confort à l’intérieur, en particulier dans les régions chaudes et arides où l'intégration de systèmes de protection solaire est fortement recommandée. Cette thèse aborde le problème de la conception de l’enveloppe de bâtiments économes en énergie dans le contexte de climats chauds comme celui de la ville de Biskra. La recherche tente de définir et d'appliquer une méthodologie de conception biomimétique-computationnelle pour étudier et analyser les organismes naturels en termes de leur comportement en matière de thermorégulation. En outre, la recherche présente une taxonomie biomimétique explorée et analysée afin de servir de mini-banque de données pour les architectes ou les concepteurs intéressés par cette approche de conception afin résoudre les problèmes de thermorégulation. Les éléments d'ombrage bio-cinétique sont développés pour une application ultérieure dans une enveloppe de bâtiment en explorant et en extrayant les mécanismes de thermorégulation trouvés dans la nature. Cette recherche est insérée dans la typologie de la technique générative des structures déployables, où nous avons combiné le biomimétisme avec l’origami basé sur une méthodologie paramétrique pour concevoir un dispositif d'ombrage adaptatif interagissant avec la lumière du soleil. L'enveloppe du bâtiment est conçue de manière paramétrique à l'aide du langage de programmation visuelle Grasshopper pour Rhino 3D Modeller. Afin d'évaluer la performance de la proposition en termes d'efficacité énergétique et de confort thermique tout au long des design days sélectionnés, on l’applique à la façade d’un bureau à Biskra qui sert à un cas de référence. Les résultats d'expérimentation sont prometteurs et montrent l'avantage de la proposition. L'objectif principal visé dans cette thèse est atteint avec succès. Les résultats montrent que les inspirations biomimétiques représentées dans la morphologie cinétique de l'origami rigide sont importantes pour réduire la température et la consommation d'énergie. La méthodologie utilisée peut générer des concepts de design avec un défi initial défini par le concepteur. De plus, cette étude ouvre de nouvelles perspectives pour de nouvelles solutions possibles pour l’enveloppe du bâtiment afin de développer une base fonctionnelle en architecture : biomimétique, cinétique, orientée par le climat et soucieuse de l'environnement

Home-made cheese preservation using sodium alginate based on edible film incorporating essential oils

WOS:000565126600010Abstact The objective of the present study is developing a new technique for the preservation of natural cheese by the use of an edible biofilm based on sodium alginate in order to evaluate the effect of the essential oils (O. basilicum L, R. officinalis L. A. herba alba Asso. M. pulegiumL.) incorporated in the film on the oxidation stability, microbial spoilage, physicochemical characteristics and sensory criteria. The cheese samples coated with sodium alginate incorporated by the oils showed moderate stability in terms of oxidative stabilities of proteins and lipids during storage. In addition, poor microbial growth (total aerobic mesophilic flora, yeasts and fecal coliforms) was observed in cheese samples coated with biofilm, also, the growth ofStaphylococci Salmonellaand Molds for all types of cheese were completely inhibited. Additionally, it was observed that the biofilm coating reduced the weight loss and hardness of the cheese comparing with the uncoated sample. The results of sensory analysis revealed that uncoated cheese, coated with sodium alginate and sodium alginate composed of oil ofO. basilicumwere the most preferred by panelists, in comparison with others. Therefore, it was concluded that this technique of coating cheese with edible film activated with essential oils is preferred and favorable by virtue of the effect of oils preserving the cheese without seriously affecting their organoleptic properties

Evaluation of the soundscapes through the cafe terraces before and after the COVID-19 lockdown in coastal cities in Algeria

peer reviewedThis paper aimed to examine the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown in Algeria on the soundscapes’ components throughout the cafe terraces in coastal cities. The methodology is based on a laboratory qualitative approach established and divided into two stages. And the monitoring of sound recordings through twenty-one cafe terraces inside the coastal city of Azzaba in Algeria was conducted before and after the lockdown of whole the country due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Using the McNemar’s test on the first stage, results suggest that the lockdown measures in Algeria affect the soundscape components of the cafe terraces, specifically the predominance of the anthrophonical sounds over the natural sound components. The predominance of traffic sounds on the soundscapes after the lockdown period does not reflect an increase in noise level, whereas the soundscapes through the cafe terraces during the two periods were similar, and showed as less noisy by the semantic difference analysis evaluation, of the second stage. The factors of the principal component analysis suggest that the soundscapes of the cafe terraces reflect the main patterns of the acoustics design in the public spaces, such as functions (relaxation and communication), space-time for the two factors of the soundscapes of the period before the lockdown, and by relaxation, space and time for the three factors of those of the period after lockdown. Otherwise, the Marginal Homogeneity Test shows that there are significant differences in the assessment of the soundscapes of the cafe terraces during the two periods, which were only associated to the functions. Findings suggest that additional long-term research is needed to preserve and improve the cultural soundscapes among the urban spaces to ensure the acoustic comfort of the occupants and preserve their health

Exploring the Multisensory Interaction between Luminous, Thermal and Auditory Environments through the Spatial Promenade Experience: A Case Study of a University Campus in an Oasis Settlement

peer reviewedThis paper aimed to develop a multisensory approach in a university campus, based on quantitative and qualitative approaches, investigating sense walk experiences (thermo-visual sound walk) under interactions of luminous, thermal, and auditory environments. The study was conducted in October 2021, in Chetma university campus in Biskra city, southern Algeria, which remains a famous oasis settlement of arid regions over the country. A comparative and correlation analysis was performed between the physical dimensions collected through a walking experience in three campus routes (outdoor, semi-outdoor and indoor). In addition, a multisensory survey of the walking experience on perceptual dimensions was evaluated in parallel to the empirical contribution. The paper shows that walkers’ thermal levels were balanced between neural and slightly hot in different spatial aspects. The glare was almost unperceived regarding the luminous conditions in the study site. The auditory experience reveals that the conducted points were generally quiet and well placed for educational requirements. Findings also show a strong relationship between the physical dimensions of the luminous and auditory environment. Furthermore, the findings suggest that the thermal and luminous environments are more perceptible than the auditory environment for the walkers of the outdoor and indoor routes. In contrast, the semi-outdoor route is often perceptible by the perceptual dimensions of the luminous and auditory environments. The findings on sensorial thresholds and spatial adaption are essential for the educational practices’ architectural and urban strategies for the Saharan cities and oasis settlements

Caries-related factors and bacterial composition of supragingival plaques in caries free and caries active Algerian adults

Objective: To compare oral hygiene practices, education and social background, food intake and oral malodor of Algerian adults suffering from dental caries with normal controls, and to determine and compare the bacterial composition of the supragingival plaques from the above-mentioned groups. Methods: Participants completed a questionnaire and were clinically examined for dental caries using decayed, missing and filled teeth index according to the criteria laid down by the World Health Organization. Supragingival plaque samples were collected from 50 caries-free adults (CF) and 50 caries-active adults (CA). Standard procedures of culture and identification of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria were used. Data were analyzed using Chi-square test. Results: A total of 117 bacterial strains were isolated from supragingival plaques in CF group subjects, 76 (64.96%) of them belonged to 9 aerobic genera, and 41 (35.04%) to 9 anaerobic genera (P<0.05). While in the second group, 199 strains were isolated, 119 (59.80%) of the strains belonged to 10 aerobic genera and 80 (40.20%) to 10 anaerobic bacteria (P<0.05). Streptococcus mutans, Enterococcus faecium, Aerococcus viridans, Actinomyces meyeri, Lactobacillus acidophilus and Eubacterium limosum showed a significantly higher prevalence in the CA group (P<0.05). The findings revealed that CA group had a high sugar intake (80%). A significantly higher frequency of tooth brushing (P<0.000) and a significantly less self-reported oral malodor (P<0.000) and tooth pain (P<0.000) were found in CF group, while there was no association of socioeconomic levels and intake of meal snacks with dental caries. Conclusions: This study confirms the association of some aciduric bacteria with caries formation, and a direct association of sugar intake and cultural level with dental caries. Furthermore, oral hygiene practices minimize the prevalence of tooth decay