Energy saving potential diagnosis for Moroccan university campuses

Public buildings are energy-intensive users, especially when energy management is lacking. More than ever, the use of energy efficiency strategies and renewable energy sources (RES) in buildings are a national priority for Morocco in order to improve energy self-sufficiency, replace fossil fuel use and lower energy bills and greenhouse gas emissions. Relating to the exemplarity of the Moroccan government in terms of energy efficiency and sustainable development, the study support that aim and presents results of a deep energy performance analysis of more than 20 university campuses across Morocco, which has concluded that around 80% of the energy consumed in the university campuses is designated for lightning and hot water for sanitary use. Later, this study examined the potential for energy saving and the environmental benefits of implementing actions to reduce energy demand from the grid, considering the use of on-site solar energy. Thereafter, the study aimed to analyze the impact of RES integration in public university campuses, namely the photovoltaic (ESM1) for electricity output and solar thermal system for hot water use (ESM2), to assess the techno-economic-environmental performance on building energy consumption reduction. Hence, the paper reported a detailed energetic-economic and environmental (3E) analysis simulation for campuses by integration of the two Energy Saving Measurements (ESM). The results showed that the integration of ESM1 system can reduce the annual energy demand by 22% and the energy bill by 34%, whereas the integration of ESM2 achieved 67% in energy saving. According to the analysis of the results, the integration of ESM1 is expected to save 6044 MWh of electrical energy annually on the 30222 MWh for all campuses and 2559 MWh for ESM2 which is equivalent to 284 m3/yr of diesel. With the reduced energy consumption, it is possible to cut down fossil fuels for electricity production and offset greenhouse gas emissions by 672 tons of carbon dioxide annually. Besides, the evaluation of results showed that the energy performance indicator was reduced from 530 kWh/bed /yr to 248 kWh/bed/yr, which represents 56% of energy saving

Molecular diagnosis of distal renal tubular acidosis in Tunisian patients: proposed algorithm for Northern Africa populations for the ATP6V1B1, ATP6V0A4 and SCL4A1 genes

Background: Primary distal renal tubular acidosis (dRTA) caused by mutations in the genes that codify for the H+ -ATPase pump subunits is a heterogeneous disease with a poor phenotype-genotype correlation. Up to now, large cohorts of dRTA Tunisian patients have not been analyzed, and molecular defects may differ from those described in other ethnicities. We aim to identify molecular defects present in the ATP6V1B1, ATP6V0A4 and SLC4A1 genes in a Tunisian cohort, according to the following algorithm: first, ATP6V1B1 gene analysis in dRTA patients with sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL) or unknown hearing status. Afterwards, ATP6V0A4 gene study in dRTA patients with normal hearing, and in those without any structural mutation in the ATP6V1B1 gene despite presenting SNHL. Finally, analysis of the SLC4A1 gene in those patients with a negative result for the previous studies. Methods: 25 children (19 boys) with dRTA from 20 families of Tunisian origin were studied. DNAs were extracted by the standard phenol/chloroform method. Molecular analysis was performed by PCR amplification and direct sequencing. Results: In the index cases, ATP6V1B1 gene screening resulted in a mutation detection rate of 81.25%, which increased up to 95% after ATP6V0A4 gene analysis. Three ATP6V1B1 mutations were observed: one frameshift mutation (c.1155dupC; p.Ile386fs), in exon 12; a G to C single nucleotide substitution, on the acceptor splicing site (c.175-1G > C; p.?) in intron 2, and one novel missense mutation (c. 1102G > A; p. Glu368Lys), in exon 11. We also report four mutations in the ATP6V0A4 gene: one single nucleotide deletion in exon 13 (c.1221delG; p. Met408Cysfs* 10); the nonsense c.16C > T; p.Arg6*, in exon 3; and the missense changes c.1739 T > C; p.Met580Thr, in exon 17 and c.2035G > T; p.Asp679Tyr, in exon 19. Conclusion: Molecular diagnosis of ATP6V1B1 and ATP6V0A4 genes was performed in a large Tunisian cohort with dRTA. We identified three different ATP6V1B1 and four different ATP6V0A4 mutations in 25 Tunisian children. One of them, c.1102G > A; p.Glu368Lys in the ATP6V1B1 gene, had not previously been described. Among deaf since childhood patients, 75% had the ATP6V1B1 gene c. 1155dupC mutation in homozygosis. Based on the results, we propose a new diagnostic strategy to facilitate the genetic testing in North Africans with dRTA and SNHL.This research study was supported by PI09/90888 and PI11/01412 grants, from the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (Spain), by BIO08/ER/020 grant, from the EITB Maratoia-Bioef (Basque Foundation for Health Innovation and Research) and by the Tunisian Ministry of Scientific Research (Research Unit code 05/UR-09-04, University of Monastir) for DEH mobility

Agrobacterium strains isolated from root nodules of common bean specifically reduce nodulation by Rhizobium gallicum

Publication Inra prise en compte dans l'analyse bibliométrique des publications scientifiques mondiales sur les Fruits, les Légumes et la Pomme de terre. Période 2000-2012. http://prodinra.inra.fr/record/256699International audienceIn a previous work, we showed that non-nodulating agrobacteria strains were able to colonize root nodules of common bean. Both rhizobia and agrobacteria co-existed in the infected nodules. No impact on symbiosis was found in laboratory conditions when using sterile gravel as a support for growth. In this study, soil samples originating from different geographic and agronomic regions in Tunisia were inoculated with a mixture of agrobacteria strains isolated previously from root nodules of common bean. A significant effect on nodulation and vegetal growth of common bean was observed. Characterization of nodulating rhizobia and comparison with non-inoculated controls showed a biased genetic structure. It seemed that Rhizobium gallicum was highly inhibited, whereas nodulation by Sinorhizobium medicae was favored. Co-inoculation of non-sterile soils with R. gallicum and agrobacteria confirmed these findings. In vitro antibiosis assays indicated that agrobacteria exercised a significant antagonism against R. gallicum