Rayleigh and Love Waves in Cladded Anisotropic Medium

Early work on dispersion of Rayleigh and Love waves was by Love [1], who gave the first comprehensive treatment of the case of an elastic solid half-space covered by a single solid layer

Les Algues Indicatrices De L'eutrophisation Et De La Contamination De La Lagune De Korba (Cap Bon Tunisie)

The concentrations of heavy metals (Fe, Zn, Pb and Mn) were determined in two green algae (Enteromorpha intestinalis and Chaetomorpha Linium) collected from April 2012 to February 2013 in nine stations characterized by the abundance of these algae throughout the year. Determination of Pb, Mn and Zn was carried out by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometer while Fe by flame atomic absorption spectrometer (using the Thermo Scientific ICE 3300 AA Spectrometer). An evaluation of the degree of eutrophication is made through the physicochemical study of 31 samples in the surface water. The results underline that Korba is an eutrophic lagoon. The heavy metal concentrations in the water samples decreased in the sequence of Fe >Zn > Mn > Pb, while in Chaetomorpha Linium, Enteromorpha intestinalis and sediment exhibited the same pattern across the sites: Fe >Mn> Zn >Pb. The results show that metal accumulation capacity in both macro-algae varies according to the season and depends on the species. By comparison with other studies in the world, the levels found in the algae of Korba lagoon are relatively high except Mn. Chaetomorpha Linium could be used as an excellent indicator for heavy metals accumulation in Korba lagoon

Toward an integrative socio-cognitive approach in autism spectrum disorder: NEAR method adaptation—study protocol

BackgroundThe cognitive impairments exhibited by people with ASD, threaten the development of social skills that are essential for establishing and maintaining harmonious social relationships. Cognitive remediation and social skills training are now considered as crucial therapeutic approaches in the management of these disorders. Several programs have already been validated and have shown improvements in social skills or cognitive performance. However, the effects of these training methods seem to be difficult to generalize to other everyday life. The aim of our study is to alleviate cognitive and social deficiencies by using a socio-cognitive framework to adapt the Neuropsychological Educational Approach to Remediation (NEAR) method for adolescents with ASD.Methods/designAdolescents meeting the DSM-5 criteria for ASD, older than 13 years, and following a regular school curriculum will be recruited from clinical population at the Child and Adolescent Psychiatry in Razi University Hospital-Manouba- Tunisia. Our study is an open and non-randomized controlled trial including 30 patients: NEAR group / control group. The NEAR method combines computerized cognitive exercises and bridging groups inspired from cognitive behavioral therapy. NEAR group will be divided into three groups of five patients each. The duration of the sessions will vary according to the capacities of the participants and the exchanges between them (about 60–120 min). In our study, bridging groups will be amended by adding other tasks including planning role plays and scenarios of problematic social situations in autism, taking into account cultural particularities in order to promote social skills. Computerized exercises will be enriched by adding other tasks aiming to improve the recognition and expression of facial emotions by using digital videos and photographs expressing the six basic emotions. The duration of the program will be about 6 months. All selected patients will have an assessment of cognitive function: social cognition, neurocognition and pragmatic skills, social skills, self-esteem and global functioning at baseline, 1 week after the end of the NEAR program and 6 months later.ConclusionThis adaptive program is a promising socio-cognitive intervention that create new perspectives for adolescents with autism spectrum disorder

Rayleigh and Love Waves in Cladded Anisotropic Medium

Early work on dispersion of Rayleigh and Love waves was by Love [1], who gave the first comprehensive treatment of the case of an elastic solid half-space covered by a single solid layer.</p

Diagnostic challenge in a Tunisian patient with Familial Mediterranean Fever, sacroiliitis and coxitis

AbstractIntroductionFamilial Mediterranean Fever (FMF) is a hereditary auto inflammatory disease. The most common joint attack is an acute large joint monoarthritis most often affecting the knee or hip and lasting for several days. Rarely, a more protracted arthritis may occur.Case reportHerein, we describe a 47-year-old man with FMF in whom a few years elapsed before a definitive diagnosis could be made. The patient presented, since the age of 25, with a history of recurrent episodes of fever, abdominal pain, bloody diarrhea and intermittent attacks of acute bi-arthritis of hips. At the age of 40, he was referred under the suspicion of Spondylarthritis (SpA); in view of an inflammatory back pain, talalgia and bilateral coxitis. The result of blood tests suggested the presence of a high level of inflammation without leukocytosis. Human leukocyte antigen (HLA-B27) was negative. X-ray and computerized tomography of the pelvis showed an overall bilateral joint space narrowing of the hips and grade 3 bilateral sacroiliitis. During the hospitalization, he developed an acute episode of fever, abdominal pain and muscle contracture, spontaneously resolved in 12h. We suspected FMF based on the clinical course and family history, as one of his brothers had suffered similar abdominal crises since childhood. Molecular analysis for FMF was done, and demonstrated a homozygote mutation of M649V. A definitive diagnosis of FMF was then made. Oral administration of colchicine was followed by a remission.ConclusionClinicians should consider FMF with sacroiliitis and coxitis in the differential diagnosis of spondyloarthritis