Coda wave attenuation tomography in Northern Morocco

In this study we focused on seismic attenuation (1/ Q) tomography in Northern Morocco. For this purpose, two different models are employed: The Single Backscattering model hypothesis of Aki and Chouet (1975) to calculate values of Coda Q (Q) and the Back-projection technique of Xie and Mitchell (1990) to estimate lateral variation in Q via a tomographic inversion. For this investigation, the Coda Q method is applied to a number of 94 local earthquakes with a magnitude between Ml=0.7 and Ml=4. The digital seismograms of these earthquakes were recorded during the year 2008 by both local temporary and permanent broadband seismic station network deployed in Northern of Morocco. The Q quality factor values have been computed at central frequencies 0.75, 1.5, 3, 6 and 12 Hz. The lapse time windows are restricted to 30s in order to sample the earth's crust only. The Q results indicate that strong frequency dependence follow a power law for the entire area. The preliminary results of seismic Coda Q attenuation tomography shows a dependence at each frequency band, between seismic attenuation and the geology structure units in the study area, especially in the region of Al Hoceima and the eastern part of the Rif which are characterized by high attenuation values due to active faults area, while low attenuation values are seen in the west and the south of the Rif in high frequencies.Peer Reviewe

EFFET DU REVÊTEMENT ET DES PARAMÈTRES DE COUPE SUR LA RUGOSITÉ DE SURFACE EN TOURNAGE À SEC DE L'ACIER 42CrMo4.

Dans ce document, une étude expérimentale est réalisée afin d'évaluer l'effet des paramètres de coupeet le matériau de revêtement sur les performances des outils de coupe en tournage de l'acier 42Cr Mo4. Une étude comparative a été réalisée entre deux outils en carbure non revêtu et revêtu avec une couche de revêtement Al2O3/TiCN,Lesoutils de coupe ayant la même géométrie. Dans cette étude nous avons utilise la  méthodologie de surface de réponse  applique  à un plans  d'expérience de taguchi (09 essais ), dont les paramètres  d'entrée  sont : la vitesse de coupe, la profondeur de passe et l'avance par tour. Le procédé ANOVA a été utilisée pour quantifier les effets des paramètres de coupe sur l'usinage des surfaces.L'effet des couches de revêtement sur la qualité de surface est également étudié. les résultats  montrent  que  l'avance  a une grande influence sur la rugosité  de surface (Ra) et on observe qu'une plus faible rugosité de surface est obtenue lors de l'utilisation de  (Al2O3/TiCN) plaquette revêtue.Mots Clés:Outil De Coupe, Revêtements Durs, RSM, Rugosité de surface, Caractérisation de Revêtement

Health promoting potential of herbal teas and tinctures from Artemisia campestris subsp maritima: from traditional remedies to prospective products

This work explored the biotechnological potential of the medicinal halophyte Artemisia campestris subsp. maritima (dune wormwood) as a source of health promoting commodities. For that purpose, infusions, decoctions and tinctures were prepared from roots and aerial-organs and evaluated for in vitro antioxidant, anti-diabetic and tyrosinase-inhibitory potential, and also for polyphenolic and mineral contents and toxicity. The dune wormwood extracts had high polyphenolic content and several phenolics were identified by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography-photodiode array-mass-spectrometry (UHPLC-PDA-MS). The main compounds were quinic, chlorogenic and caffeic acids, coumarin sulfates and dicaffeoylquinic acids; several of the identified phytoconstituents are here firstly reported in this A. campestris subspecies. Results obtained with this plant's extracts point to nutritional applications as mineral supplementary source, safe for human consumption, as suggested by the moderate to low toxicity of the extracts towards mammalian cell lines. The dune wormwood extracts had in general high antioxidant activity and also the capacity to inhibit a-glucosidase and tyrosinase. In summary, dune wormwood extracts are a significant source of polyphenolic and mineral constituents, antioxidants and a-glucosidase and tyrosinase inhibitors, and thus, relevant for different commercial segments like the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and/or food industries.FCT - Foundation for Science and Technology [CCMAR/Multi/04326/2013]; Portuguese National Budget; FCT [IF/00049/2012, SFRH/BD/94407/2013]; Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO) [12M8315N]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Influence of crop residue ration supplementation on the attainment of puberty and postpartum reproductive activities of Red Sokoto goats

The general objective of this study was to come up with an appropriate, affordable and locally available crop residue supplementation package that would enhance reproductive performance in small ruminants. Specifically, 28 Red Sokoto weaner does between 3 and 4 months of age weighing between 2 and 3 kg were used in the first experiment to determine the influence of crop residue supplementation on age and weight at puberty as determined by blood progesterone levels. In the second experiment, another 28 adult does (equal to or greater than 2 years old) of the same breed in the same flock with lactation numbers between 1 and 3 were used to determine the length of postpartum acyclic period. In both experiments, a 3 x 2 factorial experimental design comprising three dietary supplements (A, B, C) at two feeding levels (1% and 2% of body weight) fed in addition to a basal diet of Digitaria smutsii hay and natural pasture ad libitum with an unsupplemented negative control group (D) and four goats per treatment was utilized. In ration A, a conventional concentrate supplement consisting of maize, wheat offal, cottonseed cake and bonemeal was utilized; in rations B and C, the supplement consisted of guinea-corn bran, cowpea husk and groundnut haulms; and maize offal, groundnut shells and groundnut haulms respectively. Unsupplemented (ration D) weaner does reached puberty at a later age and had lighter body weights than all the others. Weaner does on ration 2A (concentrate fed at 2% of body weight) attained puberty at the earliest age and heaviest body weight, although the age at puberty was not significantly different from those on rations 1A (concentrate fed at 1% body weight), 1C and 2C. Blood progesterone profiles before and after puberty ranged from 0.05 to 9.0 ng/ml, respectively, and was highest in does fed rations A and C and least in the unsupplemented does. The mean interval between kidding and initiation of ovarian activity was 54.28 plus or minus 17.61 days and the mean interval between kidding and conception was 63.04 plus or minus 25.34 days. Only 25% of the unsupplemented does conceived again during the period under study compared with 100% in rations 1A, 2A, 1C and 2C; 75% in ration 2B and 50% in ration 1B. It was concluded that implementation of supplementary feeding in the dry season improves reproductive performance in the Red Sokoto doe. Furthermore, ration C, a crop residue-based ration, was a suitable dry season supplementation alternative to the expensive conventional concentrate ration for the smallholder goat farmer in the subhumid tropics of Nigeria

Testing for the Dual-Route Cascade Reading Model in the Brain: An fMRI Effective Connectivity Account of an Efficient Reading Style

Neuropsychological data about the forms of acquired reading impairment provide a strong basis for the theoretical framework of the dual-route cascade (DRC) model which is predictive of reading performance. However, lesions are often extensive and heterogeneous, thus making it difficult to establish precise functional anatomical correlates. Here, we provide a connective neural account in the aim of accommodating the main principles of the DRC framework and to make predictions on reading skill. We located prominent reading areas using fMRI and applied structural equation modeling to pinpoint distinct neural pathways. Functionality of regions together with neural network dissociations between words and pseudowords corroborate the existing neuroanatomical view on the DRC and provide a novel outlook on the sub-regions involved. In a similar vein, congruent (or incongruent) reliance of pathways, that is reliance on the word (or pseudoword) pathway during word reading and on the pseudoword (or word) pathway during pseudoword reading predicted good (or poor) reading performance as assessed by out-of-magnet reading tests. Finally, inter-individual analysis unraveled an efficient reading style mirroring pathway reliance as a function of the fingerprint of the stimulus to be read, suggesting an optimal pattern of cerebral information trafficking which leads to high reading performance

Disposable sensors in diagnostics, food and environmental monitoring

Disposable sensors are low‐cost and easy‐to‐use sensing devices intended for short‐term or rapid single‐point measurements. The growing demand for fast, accessible, and reliable information in a vastly connected world makes disposable sensors increasingly important. The areas of application for such devices are numerous, ranging from pharmaceutical, agricultural, environmental, forensic, and food sciences to wearables and clinical diagnostics, especially in resource‐limited settings. The capabilities of disposable sensors can extend beyond measuring traditional physical quantities (for example, temperature or pressure); they can provide critical chemical and biological information (chemo‐ and biosensors) that can be digitized and made available to users and centralized/decentralized facilities for data storage, remotely. These features could pave the way for new classes of low‐cost systems for health, food, and environmental monitoring that can democratize sensing across the globe. Here, a brief insight into the materials and basics of sensors (methods of transduction, molecular recognition, and amplification) is provided followed by a comprehensive and critical overview of the disposable sensors currently used for medical diagnostics, food, and environmental analysis. Finally, views on how the field of disposable sensing devices will continue its evolution are discussed, including the future trends, challenges, and opportunities

Impact du revêtement sur le comportement à l’usure et sur la rugosité de la surface usinée en fraisage frontal de l’acier C18

Cette étude est basée sur une analyse expérimentale des performances de coupe de plaquettes de fraisage en carbure métallique ISO P35. La première série est non revêtue et l’autre revêtue avec une simple couche de (TiN). Les essais sont réalisés en fraisage à l’aide d’une fraise à surfacer de type tourteau à huit dents lors de l’usinage de l’acier ISO C18. L’objectif est le suivi, d’une part de l’évolution de l’usure en dépouille de ces plaquettes en fonction du temps, et d’autre part de la rugosité en fonction des conditions de coupe et de l’usure. Les résultats expérimentaux obtenus permettent d’établir des modèles mathématiques exprimant la relation qualitative et quantitative entre les éléments du régime de coupe et les paramètres technologiques exprimés par la durée de vie (T) et la rugosité arithmétique de la surface usinée (Ra). L’analyse des résultats a fait ressortir que les plaquettes revêtues sont de trois à quatre fois plus performantes. Ce qui permet également d'obtenir des surfaces usinées de meilleure qualité. En effet, la valeur de Ra est réduite de moitié pour les régimes à grandes vitesses de coupes et faibles avances.Mots clés: Fraisage; carbures métalliques; revêtements d’outils; usure; acier ISO C18; Rugosité. This study is based on an experimental analysis of cutting performances for two nuances of metallic carbides. The first carbide insert is uncoated and the second is coated with one layer of (TiN). The tests are realized under face milling of ISO C18 steel using a surfacing cutter with eight teeth. The objective of this study is to follow the evolution of tool wear according to time and to assess roughness according to both cutting conditions and wear rates. The results allowed establishing mathematical models relating the work conditions and the technological parameters such as tool life and machined surface roughness (Ra). Analysis of the results showed that the coating inserts have 3 to 4 times better performance in terms of tool life in comparison with the uncoated ones. In terms of surface quality, the value of the absolute roughness is reduced by half under high cutting speeds and small feed rates per tooth.Keywords: Face milling; metallic carbides; tool coatings, wear; steel C18; roughness