Dynamique de la nappe et qualités physico-chimiques des eaux souterraines du lac Fetzara (Nord-Est algérien)

Le lac Fetzara est l'un des plus importants lacs de l'extrême Nord-Est Algérien, avec une superficie de 18600 ha. Il a été officiellement classe sur la liste des zones humides d'importance internationale, ce qui impose une protection de ce site. Cette étude a été menée afin d'étudier l'état actuel de la chimie des eaux souterraines et de déterminer l'origine de la salinité. Les résultats analytiques montrent la présence de trois facies chimiques : chlorure sodique, chlorure calcique et bicarbonate sodique. La conductivité électrique des eaux oscille entre 350 et 3500 μS/cm avec de fortes valeurs enregistrées dans les régions Nord-Est (Oued Zied) et au Sud-Est du lac (Cheurfa). L'étude statistique par l'analyse en composantes principales (ACP) montre que les chlorures et le sodium sont les principaux éléments responsables de la forte minéralisation des eaux. Cet excès de minéralisation serait lie éventuellement au lessivage des terrains traverses ou par l'infiltration des eaux de surface qui sont fortement influencées par la forte évaporation en période estivale et les échanges ioniques avec la matrice argileuse.Mots clés: Salinité - Minéralisation - Contamination - Piézométrie - Facies chimique -ACP. Fetzara lake is one of the most important lakes in the North-Eastern of Algeria; with an area of about 18600 ha, it was officially classified on the list of Wetlands of International Importance. This dictates the protection of this location. This study was conducted to examine the current state of groundwater chemistry and the origin of their salinity. The results obtained show a presence of three chemicals facies: sodium chloride, calcium chloride and sodium bicarbonate. The electrical conductivity of groundwater oscillates from 350 to 3500 μS I cm where high values are recorded in the North-East (Oued Zied) and the South-East of the lake (Cheurfa). Statistical study by principal component analysis (PCA) showed that chloride and sodium are the main elements responsible for the high mineralization of the water. This excess of mineralization is due to the leaching of subsurface formations and surface waters infiltration; these are strongly influenced by evaporation and ionic exchanges with clay matrix.Keywords: Salinity - Mineralization - Contamination - Piezometry - Chemical facies - PCA

Responsive Flexibility and Its Role in Improving Service Quality in Non-Governmental Hospitals

The study aimed at identifying responsive flexibility and its role in improving service quality, from the point of view of the internal beneficiary in non-governmental hospitals in Gaza Strip. The study relied on the descriptive and analytical approach, and the questionnaire was designed as a tool to collect data, and the researchers used the comprehensive survey method, and the number of the study population was (536) single, where (434) questionnaires were retrieved, and the recovery rate was (80.97%). The study showed many results, the most important of which were: The presence of moderate degree of approval by the study sample on the responsive flexibility, as it was evident through the response flexibility field obtaining a relative weight (60.50%), and the results of the study indicated that there is a high degree of approval by the members of the study sample. On the quality of service, as it was evident through the field of service quality obtaining a relative weight (79.90%). The results of the study revealed a statistically significant relationship between responsive flexibility and service quality in non-governmental hospitals in Gaza Strip, with a correlation coefficient of 0.418, and the results of the study revealed a statistically significant effect between responsive flexibility and service quality in non-governmental hospitals in Gaza Strip. The study reached many recommendations, the most important of which were: Finding mechanisms by which stored information can be used to enhance the decision-making process, and setting up an effective system to receive patients' complaints in a manner that ensures rapid response and treatment, to achieve continuous communication between patients and the hospital management, and to notify patients of abuse With the complaints that they submit, and working to provide all medical and health specialties in the hospitals under study, by making use of the medical delegations that visit Gaza Strip, involving them in the treatment processes, bringing in doctors and specialists from abroad, and updating the standards related to measuring the services provided to patients continuously, based on On patients' suggestions and complaints, developing facilities in hospitals, as well as updating medical devices and equipment used in hospitals periodically

ACUTE AND SUB-ACUTE DERMAL TOXICITY STUDIES OF MORINDA CITRIFOLIA L. FRUIT EXTRACT IN SPRAGUE DAWLEY RATS

 Objective: Morinda citrifolia is one of the most significant plants that are used in traditional medicine. However, details of the dermal toxicity of M.citrifolia are still undiscovered. The objective of this study is to investigate the in vivo acute and subacute dermal toxicity of ethanolic extract of M.citrifolia fruit extract at doses 2000 and 5000 mg/kg in acute and 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg body weight in rats.Methods: In acute experiment, a total of 40 female rats were divided into eight groups, each group had five rats, and a total of 66 male rats weredivided into 11 groups of six rats in sub-acute experiment.Results: The extract at a single dose of 2000 and 5000 mg/kg of body weight did not produce treatment-related signs of toxicity or mortality inany of the animals tested during the 14-day observation period. In the repeated dose 28-day study, the application of 500, 1000 and 2000 mg/kg ofbody weight/day of fruit extract revealed no significant change (p>0.05) in bodyweight, hematological and biochemical parameters compared withthe control group. Similarly, grosspathology and histopathology examinations of liver, spleen, kidneys, and skin did not reveal any morphologicalalteration.Conclusion: Overall, the results recommend that the close application of M. citrifolia fruit extract did not deliver any critically dangerous impact inrats. Subsequently, the concentrate can be employed for pharmaceutical plans.Keywords: Morinda citrifolia, Acute dermal toxicity, Fruit extract, Sub-acute dermal toxicit

Mass Production and Size Control of Lipid–Polymer Hybrid Nanoparticles through Controlled Microvortices

Lipid–polymer hybrid (LPH) nanoparticles can deliver a wide range of therapeutic compounds in a controlled manner. LPH nanoparticle syntheses using microfluidics improve the mixing process but are restricted by a low throughput. In this study, we present a pattern-tunable microvortex platform that allows mass production and size control of LPH nanoparticles with superior reproducibility and homogeneity. We demonstrate that by varying flow rates (i.e., Reynolds number (30–150)) we can control the nanoparticle size (30–170 nm) with high productivity (~3 g/hour) and low polydispersity (~0.1). Our approach may contribute to efficient development and optimization of a wide range of multicomponent nanoparticles for medical imaging and drug delivery.National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (Program of Excellence in Nanotechnology (PEN) Award Contract HHSN268201000045C)National Cancer Institute (U.S.) (Grant P01 CA151884)Prostate Cancer Foundation (Award in Nanotherapeutics

Strategic Flexibility and Its Relationship to the Level of Quality of Services Provided in Non-Governmental Hospitals

Abstract: The study aimed to determine the strategic flexibility and its relationship to the level of quality of services provided, from the viewpoint of the internal beneficiary in non-governmental hospitals in Gaza Strip. The study relied on the descriptive and analytical approach, and the questionnaire was designed as a tool to collect data and consisted of (39) items, and the researchers used the comprehensive survey method, and the number of the study population was (536) individuals, where (434) questionnaires were retrieved, and the recovery rate was (80.97%). The study revealed many results, the most important of which were: the existence of a moderate degree of approval by the study sample individuals on strategic flexibility, as it was evident through the area of strategic flexibility as a whole having a relative weight (60.44%). The study is on the quality of services, as it became clear through the field of service quality obtaining a relative weight (79.90%). The results of the study revealed a statistically significant relationship between strategic flexibility and the quality of services in non-governmental hospitals in Gaza Strip, with a correlation coefficient of 0.490. The study reached many recommendations, the most important of which were: the need to work on appointing young people and those with potentials, because jobs are vacant in the hospitals under study, and the need to seek the help of an administrative staff with scientific and practical qualifications, and to work on updating information systems, archiving and networks through which data and information are transferred between departments And the creation of mechanisms by which stored information can be used to enhance the decision-making process, and an effective system to receive patients' complaints in a manner that ensures rapid response and treatment, to achieve continuous communication between patients and the hospital management, and to notify patients of dealing with the complaints they submit, and work to provide all Medical and health specialties in the hospitals under study, by making use of the medical delegations that visit Gaza Strip, involving them in the treatment processes, bringing in doctors and specialists from abroad, updating the standards related to measuring the services provided to patients on an ongoing basis, based on the suggestions and complaints of patients, and developing facilities in hospitals As well as updating the medical devices and equipment used in hospitals periodically

Quality of Services and Its Role in Enhancing Strategic Flexibility in Non-Governmental Hospitals

Abstract: The study aimed to determine the quality of services and its role in enhancing strategic flexibility, from the point of view of the internal beneficiary in non-governmental hospitals in Gaza Strip. The study relied on the descriptive and analytical approach, and the questionnaire was designed as a tool to collect data and consisted of (39) items, and the researchers used the comprehensive survey method, and the number of the study population was (536) individuals, where (434) questionnaires were retrieved, and the recovery rate was (80.97%). The study revealed many results, the most important of which were: the existence of a high degree of approval by the study sample regarding the quality of services, as it was evident through the field of service quality obtaining a relative weight (79.90%), and the results of the study indicated that there is a moderate degree of approval by the members of the study sample. On the strategic flexibility, as it was evident by obtaining the area of strategic flexibility as a whole on a relative weight (60.44%). The results of the study revealed a statistically significant relationship between the quality of services and the strategic flexibility in non-governmental hospitals in Gaza Strip, with a correlation coefficient of 0.490). The results of the study also revealed a statistically significant effect of the quality of services on the strategic flexibility in non-governmental hospitals in Gaza Strip. The study reached many recommendations, the most important of which were: Establishing an effective system to receive patients' complaints in a manner that ensures rapid response and treatment, to achieve continuous communication between patients and the hospital administration, to notify patients of dealing with the complaints they submit, and to work to provide all medical and health specialties in hospitals in place. The study, by making use of medical delegations visiting Gaza Strip, involving them in therapeutic operations, bringing in doctors and specialists from abroad, updating the criteria for measuring services provided to patients on an ongoing basis, based on patients' suggestions and complaints, developing facilities in hospitals, as well as updating medical devices and equipment Used in hospitals periodically and the need to work on appointing young people and people of energy, for vacancies in the hospitals under study, and the need to seek the help of an administrative staff that is distinguished by scientific and practical qualifications, and to work on updating information systems, archiving and networks through which data and information are transferred between departments, and finding mechanisms to be done from During which the information stored can be used to enhance the decision-making process

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance parameters of atherosclerotic plaque burden improve discrimination of prior major adverse cardiovascular events

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Aims</p> <p>Patients with prior major cardiovascular or cerebrovascular events (MACE) are more likely to have future recurrent events independent of traditional cardiovascular disease risk factors. The purpose of this study was to determine if patients with traditional risk factors and prior MACE had increased cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) plaque burden measures compared to patients with risk factors but no prior events.</p> <p>Methods and Results</p> <p>Black blood carotid and thoracic aorta images were obtained from 195 patients using a rapid extended coverage turbo spin echo sequence. CMR measures of plaque burden were obtained by tracing lumen and outer vessel wall contours. Patients with prior MACE had significantly higher MR plaque burden (wall thickness, wall area and normalized wall index) in carotids and thoracic aorta compared to those without prior MACE (Wall thickness carotids: 1.03 ± 0.03 vs. 0.93± 0.03, p = 0.001; SD wall thickness carotids: 0.137 ± 0.0008 vs. 0.102 ± 0.0004, p < 0.001; wall thickness aorta: 1.63 ± 0.10 vs. 1.50 ± 0.04, p = 0.009; SD wall thickness aorta: 0.186 ± 0.035 vs. 0.139 ± 0.012, p = 0.009 respectively). Plaque burden (wall thickness) and plaque eccentricity (standard deviation of wall thickness) of carotid arteries were associated with prior MACE after adjustment for age, sex, and traditional risk factors. Area under ROC curve (AUC) for discriminating prior MACE improved by adding plaque eccentricity to models incorporating age, sex, and traditional CVD risk factors as model inputs (AUC = 0.79, p = 0.05).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>A greater plaque burden and plaque eccentricity is prevalent among patients with prior MACE.</p