This study explores the thin-layer convective solar drying of Marrubium vulgare L.leaves under conditions typical of sun-rich semi-arid climates.Drying experiments were conducted at three inlet-air temperatures(40℃,5...This study explores the thin-layer convective solar drying of Marrubium vulgare L.leaves under conditions typical of sun-rich semi-arid climates.Drying experiments were conducted at three inlet-air temperatures(40℃,50℃,60℃)and two air velocities(1.5 and 2.5 m·s^(-1))using an indirect solar dryer with auxiliary temperature control.Moisture-ratio data were fitted with eight widely used thin-layer models and evaluated using correlation coefficient(r),root-mean-square error(RMSE),and Akaike information criterion(AIC).A complementary heattransfer analysis based on Reynolds and Prandtl numbers with appropriate Nusselt correlations was used to relate flow regime to drying performance,and an energy balance quantified the relative contributions of solar and auxiliary heat.The logarithmic model consistently achieved the lowest RMSE/AIC with r>0.99 across all conditions.Higher temperature and air velocity significantly reduced drying time during the decreasing-rate period,with no constantrate stage observed.On average,solar input supplied the large majority of the thermal demand,while the auxiliary heater compensated short irradiance drops to maintain setpoints.These findings provide a reproducible dataset and a modelling benchmark for M.vulgare leaves,and they support energy-aware design of hybrid solar dryers formedicinal plants in sun-rich regions.展开更多
Essential oils(EOs)derived from medicinal plants are gaining recognition as sustainable alternatives to synthetic fungicides in the management of plant pathogens.This study investigates the chemical composition,chroma...Essential oils(EOs)derived from medicinal plants are gaining recognition as sustainable alternatives to synthetic fungicides in the management of plant pathogens.This study investigates the chemical composition,chromatographic profile,and antifungal of Mentha rotundifolia essential oil against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.albedinis(Foa),the pathogen responsible for Bayoud disease in date palm.The oil was extracted through hydrodistillation and characterized using thin-layer chromatography(TLC)and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry(GC-MS),revealing multiple fractions corresponding to terpenoid constituents and 23 chemical constituents,predominantly oxygenated monoterpenes(68.51%),with piperitenone oxide as the major component(62.53%).The antifungal efficacy was evaluated against ten(10)isolates of F.o.a across seven(07)concentrations different concentrations.(0;0.25;0.5;0.75;1;1.25;1.5μL/mL).The results obtained show a progressive decrease in the diameters of the colonies of F.o.a isolates by increasing the doses of EOMR.The percentage of inhibition varies from 7.82 to 83.41%;However,the dose of 1.75μL/mL showed 100%inhibition for all F.o.a isolates tested.These outcomes demonstrate the potential of M.rotundifolia essential oil as a natural,environmentally friendly antifungal agent,supporting its application in sustainable management strategies for Bayoud disease in date palm.展开更多
Laser-induced graphene(LIG)has emerged as a versatile,sustainable material for advanced energy technologies,offering a scalable,catalyst-free,and programmable method to directly convert carbon-rich substrates into por...Laser-induced graphene(LIG)has emerged as a versatile,sustainable material for advanced energy technologies,offering a scalable,catalyst-free,and programmable method to directly convert carbon-rich substrates into porous,conductive graphene.This single-step laser writing approach enables flexible,patternable electrodes without complex post-processing.With its high conductivity,large surface area,and tunable chemistry,LIG is well-suited for diverse applications including batteries,supercapacitors,dyesensitized solar cells(DSSCs),dual cells,water-splitting electrocatalysis,and triboelectric nanogenerators(TENGs).In energy storage,LIG improves charge transport,buffer volume changes,and provides a robust framework,enhancing capacitance,cycling stability,and rate capability.Its catalytic activity is further boosted through heteroatom doping or transition-metal incorporation,achieving HER/OER performance comparable to noble metals.In DSSCs,LIG functions as a flexible,low-cost alternative to platinum counter electrodes,while in TENGs,its strong triboelectric response and mechanical durability enable integration into self-powered,wearable systems.Despite the immense recent progress in this field,challenges remain regarding the scalability,long-term operational stability,and interfacial engineering of LIGbased composites.Further exploration into multi-laser systems,substrate diversity,and synergistic composite architectures will be crucial to optimizing device performance and reliability.Nevertheless,the green,cost-efficient,rapid,and programmable synthesis of LIG poses it as a cornerstone potential building block material in the development of future sustainable and multifunctional energy systems.Throughout the review we compare fabrication strategies,summarize performance metrics against relevant benchmarks,and identifying common mechanistic advantages conferred by the laser writing process.Remaining challenges-such as scale-up,precursor diversity,long-term environmental stability,and integration into complex device architectures-are outlined alongside prospective research directions.Collectively,this review article provides an in-depth perspective on the multifunctional nature of LIG,underscoring its promise in next-generation energy storage,conversion,harvesting applications,and laying the groundwork for future research directions.展开更多
Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI)has a pivotal role in medical image analysis,for its ability in supporting disease detection and diagnosis.Fuzzy C-Means(FCM)clustering is widely used for MRI segmentation due to its abi...Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI)has a pivotal role in medical image analysis,for its ability in supporting disease detection and diagnosis.Fuzzy C-Means(FCM)clustering is widely used for MRI segmentation due to its ability to handle image uncertainty.However,the latter still has countless limitations,including sensitivity to initialization,susceptibility to local optima,and high computational cost.To address these limitations,this study integrates Grey Wolf Optimization(GWO)with FCM to enhance cluster center selection,improving segmentation accuracy and robustness.Moreover,to further refine optimization,Fuzzy Entropy Clustering was utilized for its distinctive features from other traditional objective functions.Fuzzy entropy effectively quantifies uncertainty,leading to more well-defined clusters,improved noise robustness,and better preservation of anatomical structures in MRI images.Despite these advantages,the iterative nature of GWO and FCM introduces significant computational overhead,which restricts their applicability to high-resolution medical images.To overcome this bottleneck,we propose a Parallelized-GWO-based FCM(P-GWO-FCM)approach using GPU acceleration,where both GWO optimization and FCM updates(centroid computation and membership matrix updates)are parallelized.By concurrently executing these processes,our approach efficiently distributes the computational workload,significantly reducing execution time while maintaining high segmentation accuracy.The proposed parallel method,P-GWO-FCM,was evaluated on both simulated and clinical brain MR images,focusing on segmenting white matter,gray matter,and cerebrospinal fluid regions.The results indicate significant improvements in segmentation accuracy,achieving a Jaccard Similarity(JS)of 0.92,a Partition Coefficient Index(PCI)of 0.91,a Partition Entropy Index(PEI)of 0.25,and a Davies-Bouldin Index(DBI)of 0.30.Experimental comparisons demonstrate that P-GWO-FCM outperforms existing methods in both segmentation accuracy and computational efficiency,making it a promising solution for real-time medical image segmentation.展开更多
A study was performed to estimate the prevalence of the external bacterial flora of two domestic cockroaches （Blattella germanica and Blatta orientalis） collected from households in Tebessa （northeast AIgeria）.Thr...A study was performed to estimate the prevalence of the external bacterial flora of two domestic cockroaches （Blattella germanica and Blatta orientalis） collected from households in Tebessa （northeast AIgeria）.Three major bacterial groups were cultured （total aerobic, enterobacteria, and staphylococci） from 14 specimens of cockroaches, and antibiotic susceptibility was tested for both Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas isolates. Culturing showed that the total bacterial load of cockroaches from different households were comparable （P〈0.001） and enterobacteria were the predominant colonizers of the insect surface, with a bacterial load of （2.1×10^5 CFU/insect）, whereas the staphylococci group was the minority. Twenty-eight bacterial species were isolated, and susceptibility patterns showed that most of the staphylococci isolates were highly susceptible to chloramphenicol, gentamycin, pristinamycin, ofloxacin, clindamycin, and vancomycin; however, Pseudomonas strains exhibited resistance to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, imipenem, and the second-generation antibiotic cephalosporin cefuroxime.展开更多
At least 20-40% of annual losses of avocado crops are caused by pathogenic fungi.The chemical treatments of these diseases are inefficient,cause environmental pollution and are increasingly restricted by international...At least 20-40% of annual losses of avocado crops are caused by pathogenic fungi.The chemical treatments of these diseases are inefficient,cause environmental pollution and are increasingly restricted by international laws.This work aimed to assess the biocontrol capacity of a bacterial extract to protect avocado fruits and plants from pathogen infections.Extracts from the bacterial isolate Serratia sp.ARP5.1 were obtained from liquid fermentations in a biorreactor.A body rot postharvest infection model with Colletotrichum gloeosporioides on fruits was developed.Moreover,packaging conditions were simulated using the bacterial extract and the commercial fungicide prochloraz as a positive control.Additionally,seedlings infections with Phytophthora cinnamomi were performed on two types of avocado(West Indian race and cv.Hass).The Area Under Disease Progress Curve(AUDPC) was recorded using the bacterial extract and a commercial product with fosetyl-aluminium as treatments.The bacterial extract significantly reduced infections by C.gloeosporioides on injured avocado fruits at 31.1 μg mL^-1.Intact fruits were also protected against body rot infections at the same concentration and showed no significant differences with the commercial fungicide.On the other hand,AUDPC in the seedlings was significantly reduced with the extract treatment at 3 μg mL^-1 compared to the control.However,a possible phytotoxicity effect of the extract was evidenced in the seedlings and confirmed by pathogen recovery and tests on Raphanus sativus seedlings.Finally,formulations of the extracts(emulsion and emulsifiable concentrate) were prepared,and bioactive stability was assessed for 8 wk.The emulsion formulates demonstrated very stable bioactivity against P.cinnamomi.The extract and the emulsion formulate showed promising results for the control of avocado pathogens.New bioproducts based on this type of active principles could be developed for the benefit of avocado industry.展开更多
This paper addresses a time-delayed SIQRS model with a linear incidence rate. Immunity gained by experiencing the disease is temporary;whenever infected, the disease individuals will return to the susceptible class af...This paper addresses a time-delayed SIQRS model with a linear incidence rate. Immunity gained by experiencing the disease is temporary;whenever infected, the disease individuals will return to the susceptible class after a fixed period of time. First, the local and global stabilities of the infection-free equilibrium are analyzed, respectively. Second, the endemic equilibrium is formulated in terms of the incidence rate, and locally asymptotic stability. Finally we use the adomian decomposition method is applied to the system epidemiologic. This method yields an analytical solution in terms of convergent infinite power series.展开更多
The effects of sand encroachment on composition,diversity,and functional patterns of vegetation in drylands are rarely studied,and yet addressing these aspects is important to deepen our understanding of the biodivers...The effects of sand encroachment on composition,diversity,and functional patterns of vegetation in drylands are rarely studied,and yet addressing these aspects is important to deepen our understanding of the biodiversity conservation.This study aimed to investigate the effect of sand encroachment on plant functional biodiversity of desert pavements(gravel deserts)in the Sahara Desert of Algeria.Plants were sampled and analyzed in three desert pavements with different levels of sand encroachment(LSE)and quantity of aeolian deposits(low,LLSE;medium,MLSE;and high,HLSE).Within the sample-plot area(100 m^(2)),density of every plant species was identified and total vegetation cover was determined.Plant taxonomic and functional diversity were analyzed and compared between LSE.Result showed that 19 plant species in desert pavements were classified into 18 genera and 13 families.Asteraceae and Poaceae were the most important families.The species Anabasis articulata(Forssk)Moq.characterized LLSE desert pavements with 11 species,whereas Thymelaea microphylla Coss.&Durieu ex Meisn.and Calobota saharae(C&D)Boatwr.&van Wyk were dominant species of desert pavements with MLSE(14 species)and HLSE(10 species),respectively.The highest values of species richness and biodiversity were recorded in desert pavements with MLSE,while low values of these ecological parameters were obtained in desert pavements with HLSE.Desert pavements with LLSE were characterized with the highest values of species abundances.Plant communities were dominated by chamaephytes,anemochorous,arido-active,and competitive stress-tolerant plants.The increase in LSE along the gradient from LLSE to HLSE induced significant changes in plant community variables including decreases in plant density,plant rarity,lifeform composition,morphological type,and aridity adaptation.Desert pavements with HLSE favor the degradation of vegetation and trigger biodiversity erosion.展开更多
This research was aimed to optimize the extraction conditions of three phenolic compounds: total phenolics, flavonoids and condensed tannins, from White Horehound’s leaves (Marrubium vulgare L.). Distilled water and ...This research was aimed to optimize the extraction conditions of three phenolic compounds: total phenolics, flavonoids and condensed tannins, from White Horehound’s leaves (Marrubium vulgare L.). Distilled water and different organic solvents such as: methanol, ethanol and acetone, were used, with various concentrations (20% - 80%, v/v), temperatures (20°C - 60°C) and extraction times (30 - 450 min). Results showed that the maximum total phenolics amounts (293.34 ± 14.60 mg gallic acid equivalent/g dry weigh), were obtained with 60% aqueous methanol at 25°C for 180 min;total flavonoids (79.52 ± 0.55 mg catechin equivalent/g dry weigh) with 80% aqueous methanol at 20°C for 450 min, and condensed tannins (28.15 ± 0.80 mg catechin equivalent/g dry weigh) with 60% aqueous acetone at 50°C and for 180 min. ANOVA test showed the significant effect (***P < 0.001) of the extraction conditions tested on phenolic compounds. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) exhibited the positive effect of low temperatures on total phenolics and flavonoids extraction, and the effect of high temperatures on the condensed tannins extraction. The Response Surface Methodology (RSM) provided predicted values of extraction conditions and maximum polyphenols amounts similar to those obtained experimentally.展开更多
Numerous unique geological processes [1] took place during the early Earth evolution;several of them, especially those occurring in the Hadean—Early Archean and later, are reflected in the modern geological (geophysi...Numerous unique geological processes [1] took place during the early Earth evolution;several of them, especially those occurring in the Hadean—Early Archean and later, are reflected in the modern geological (geophysical, geochemical, etc.) pattern. One such significant enigmatic feature is the preservation of extremely dense and heavy platinum group elements (PGEs): Pt, Pd, Rh, Ru, Ir, Os. Concentration of PGEs during this period could have taken place in two ways: 1) presence of particular matter capable of preserving PGEs near the earth's surface, 2) transportation of PGEs by magma flows from deep lithospheric (asthenospheric) layers (slabs) to the subsurface. Clearly, much of the dense and heavy PGEs did not sink through to the Earth’s mantle (core) at the time of the magma-ocean, and occur near Earth’s surface in abundances for formation of ore deposits with PGE concentrations found to be 2 - 3 orders of magnitude greater than those in their host media. Their enrichments are associated in numerous cases with such enigmatic phenomena as formation of anorthosites and anorthosite-bearing layered magmatic intrusions. PGE deposits and mineralization zones are also found in associations with chromitites, dunites and serpentinites. In this review, problems related to the initial concentration and preservation of PGEs, their association with anorthosites, and formation of layered intrusions are discussed in detail. The main aim of this article is analysis of the requirements—initial concentration and preservation of PGE and PGM (Platinum Group Minerals) during the early Earth evolution, as well as examination of the distribution behavior of some PGEs in different ore deposits and meteorites. It is supposed that meteoritic bombardment of Earth has played a significant role in formation of PGEs deposits. Some conclusions made in this article may be useful for developing and enhancing strategies of prospecting for PGEs deposits.展开更多
Argentina annually utilizes 240,000 tones of glyphosate in industrial agriculture and a change in the profile of morbidity is perceived for physicians of agricultural areas;now reproductive disorders seem to prevail. ...Argentina annually utilizes 240,000 tones of glyphosate in industrial agriculture and a change in the profile of morbidity is perceived for physicians of agricultural areas;now reproductive disorders seem to prevail. The objective of this study is to determine concurrence of glyphosate exposure and reproductive disorders in a typical argentine agricultural town (Monte Maíz). An ecological study was developed with an environmental analysis of pollution sources including measurements of glyphosate and other pesticides and a cross-sectional study of spontaneous abortions and congenital abnormalities prevalence. Glyphosate was detected in soil and grain dust and was found to be at an even higher concentration in the village soil than in the rural area;650 tonnes of glyphosate are used annually in the region and manipulated inner town contaminating the soil and dust in suspension of the town creating an burden of environmental exposure to glyphosate of 79 kg per person per year. We do not find other relevant sources of pollution. The spontaneous abortion and congenital abnormalities rates are three and two times higher than the national average reported by the national health (10% vs. 3% and 3% - 4.3% vs 1.4% respectively). Our study verified high environmental exposure to glyphosate in association with increased frequencies of reproductive disorders (spontaneous abortion and congenital abnormalities) in argentine agricultural village, but is unable to make assertions cause-effect. Further studies are required with designs for such purposes.展开更多
Background: Investigating population ecology of urban bird species,particularly the invasive and expending spe?cies,is the key for the success of urban management and planning strategies.Methods: Populations of two Co...Background: Investigating population ecology of urban bird species,particularly the invasive and expending spe?cies,is the key for the success of urban management and planning strategies.Methods: Populations of two Columbidae species,the Woodpigeon(Columba palumbus) and the Eurasian Collared Dove(Streptopelia decaocto),were monitored from 1992 to 2010 in the Algiers Sahel,the Mitidja Plain and surround?ing areas(Northern Algeria).Monitoring of species densities was performed by the mapping?plot method.The foraging flight routes of Woodpigeon and the distribution of Eurasian Collared Dove were assessed by systematic observations.Results: The number of counted birds was statistically constant at first years of the survey,and then increased sig?nificantly,beginning from low numbers,their densities accelerated sharply between 2001 and 2006,then reached to an equilibrium state.The significant increase in Woodpigeon's population could be explained by the reduced hunt?ing pressure and by species adaptation to new food resources provided by nearby agriculture.Indeed,monitoring of flight directions of the species revealed the use of agricultural landscapes and habitats,which is a good indicator explaining adaptation and trophic niche of the species.The occurrence of the Eurasian Collared Dove in Algiers began in 2000.Its density experienced a rapid increase with similar trend pattern as that of Woodpigeon.Its distributional range is confined mainly in suburban environments of the Mitidja Plain.Conclusion: The modifications of habitats,urbanization increase and the lessening of hunting in the Mitidja Plain facilitated the rapid expansion of the Eurasian Collared Dove and Woodpigeon as well contributed to the increase in their numbers over time.展开更多
The ramifications of global climate change and resource scarcities have made it imperative to re-examine the definition of sustainable energy-storage systems.It is crucial to recognize that not all renewable resources...The ramifications of global climate change and resource scarcities have made it imperative to re-examine the definition of sustainable energy-storage systems.It is crucial to recognize that not all renewable resources are inherently sustainable,and their full impact on the environment must be assessed.With the proliferation of invasive jellyfish species wreaking havoc on marine ecosystems and economies worldwide,utilizing overabundant jellyfish as a carbon source presents an opportunity to create energy-storage systems that are both financially beneficial and environmentally remediating.Accordingly,a comprehensive approach to sustainability also requires eco-friendly solutions throughout the entire lifecycle,from material sourcing to battery production,without compromising highperformance requirements.Currently,most electrode syntheses for lithium-ion batteries(LIBs) employed are energy-intensive,multiple-steps,complex,and additive-heavy.In response,this work pioneers the straightforward use of low-energy laser irradiation of a jellyfish biomass/silicon nanoparticle blend to encapsulate the silicon nanoparticles in-situ within the as-forming conductive carbonized matrix,creating sustainable and additive-free composite anodes.The self-standing anode is directly synthesized under ambient conditions and requires no post-processing.Here,a laser-synthesized conductive threedimensional porous carbon/silicon composite anode from raw jellyfish biomass for LIBs is presented,displaying outstanding cyclic stability(>1000 cycles),excellent capacity retention(>50% retention after1000 cycles),exceptional coulombic efficiency(>99%),superb reversible gravimetric capacity(>2000 mAh/g),and high rate performance capability(>1.6 A/g),paving a new path to future sustainable energy production.展开更多
Recent technological advancements,such as portable electronics and electric vehicles,have created a pressing need for more efficient energy storage solutions.Lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)have been the preferred choice f...Recent technological advancements,such as portable electronics and electric vehicles,have created a pressing need for more efficient energy storage solutions.Lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)have been the preferred choice for these applications,with graphite being the standard anode material due to its stability.However,graphite falls short of meeting the growing demand for higher energy density,possessing a theoretical capacity that lags behind.To address this,researchers are actively seeking alternative materials to replace graphite in commercial batteries.One promising avenue involves lithiumalloying materials like silicon and phosphorus,which offer high theoretical capacities.Carbon-silicon composites have emerged as a viable option,showing improved capacity and performance over traditional graphite or pure silicon anodes.Yet,the existing methods for synthesizing these composites remain complex,energy-intensive,and costly,preventing widespread adoption.A groundbreaking approach is presented here:the use of a laser writing strategy to rapidly transform common organic carbon precursors and silicon blends into efficient“graphenic silicon”composite thin films.These films exhibit exceptional structural and energy storage properties.The resulting three-dimensional porous composite anodes showcase impressive attributes,including ultrahigh silicon content,remarkable cyclic stability(over 4500 cycles with∼40%retention),rapid charging rates(up to 10 A g^(-1)),substantial areal capacity(>5.1 mAh cm^(-2)),and excellent gravimetric capacity(>2400 mAh g^(-1) at 0.2 A g^(-1)).This strategy marks a significant step toward the scalable production of high-performance LIB materials.Leveraging widely available,cost-effective precursors,the laser-printed“graphenic silicon”composites demonstrate unparalleled performance,potentially streamlining anode production while maintaining exceptional capabilities.This innovation not only paves the way for advanced LIBs but also sets a precedent for transforming various materials into high-performing electrodes,promising reduced complexity and cost in battery production.展开更多
The purpose of this work is to study the global existence and asymptotic behavior of solutions to a coupled reaction-diffusion system describing epidemiological or chemical situations. Our analytical proofs are based ...The purpose of this work is to study the global existence and asymptotic behavior of solutions to a coupled reaction-diffusion system describing epidemiological or chemical situations. Our analytical proofs are based on the Lyapunov functional methods.展开更多
The yellow granules in the gastral cuticle of the Oriental hornet Vespa oriental＆ （Hymenoptera, Vespinae） are located in yellow stripes. In the present study, we focus on the micromorphology and formation of the ye...The yellow granules in the gastral cuticle of the Oriental hornet Vespa oriental＆ （Hymenoptera, Vespinae） are located in yellow stripes. In the present study, we focus on the micromorphology and formation of the yellow granules from their inception to their spread in the regions which are destined to acquire a yellow color, The cuticle was observed with several methods of electron microscopy. The results showed that the yellow granules comprise a layer which is 20-25 μm thick, within the total cuticular thickness of 40-45 μm. In the mentioned regions one can see, from above, many apertures of about 0.5μm in diameter which extends into a peripheral photoreceptor cell. In each yellow granule, one discerns a myoid envelope inside which there are 9 fibrils arranged in a circle. Yellow granules maturation process involves infiltration of canals that give rise to the incipient ball-shaped primary granules which increase in number （as a result of continues budding off the walls of a canal） as the cuticle matures and transform into secondary barrel shaped granules, becoming elongated and then splitting into shorter barrels that fill up the entire area. Preliminary examinations have suggested liver-like function activity within the layer of yellow granules.展开更多
This article sets forth results on the existence and boundedness of solutions for quasilinear elliptic systems involving p-Laplacian and q-Laplacian operators.The approach combines Schaefer's fixed point as well a...This article sets forth results on the existence and boundedness of solutions for quasilinear elliptic systems involving p-Laplacian and q-Laplacian operators.The approach combines Schaefer's fixed point as well as Moser's iteration procedure.展开更多
Transparent conducting aluminum doped tin oxide thin films were prepared by sol-gel dip coating method with differ-ent Al concentrations and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), UV-...Transparent conducting aluminum doped tin oxide thin films were prepared by sol-gel dip coating method with differ-ent Al concentrations and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), UV-Vis spectrophotometry and photoconductivity study. The variation observed in the properties of the measured films agrees with a difference in the film's thickness, which decreases when Al concentration augments. X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that all films are polycrystal-line with tetragonal structure, (110) plane being the strongest diffraction peak. The crystallite size calculated by the Debye Scher-rer’s formula decreases from 11.92 to 8.54 nm when Al concentration increases from 0 to 5 wt.%. AFM images showed grains uni-formly distributed in the deposited films. An average transmittance greater than 80% was measured for the films and an en-ergy gap value of about 3.9 eV was deduced from the optical analysis. Finally, the photosensitivity properties like current-voltage characteristics, ION/IOFF ratio, growth and decay time are studied and reported. Also, we have calculated the trap depth energy using the decay portion of the rise and decay curve photocurrent.展开更多
Groundwater quality assessment is important to assure safe and durable water use.In semi-arid areas of Algeria,groundwater represents the main water resource for drinking water supply of the rural population as well a...Groundwater quality assessment is important to assure safe and durable water use.In semi-arid areas of Algeria,groundwater represents the main water resource for drinking water supply of the rural population as well as for irrigation of agricultural lands.Groundwater samples from wells and springs were collected from the Gargaat Tarf and Annk Djemel sub-watersheds of the Oum El Bouaghi,Algeria,and were analyzed and compared with the World Health Organization(WHO)standards.Results showed that most of the measured physical and chemical parameters exceeded the quality limits according to the WHO standards.Groundwater had a slightly alkaline water pH(7.00-7.79),electrical conductivity>1500μS/cm,chloride>500 mg/L,calcium>250 mg/L,and magnesium>155 mg/L.Water quality index(WQI)results showed that 68%of the area had excellent water quality,24%of the samples fell into good category,and only 8%were of poor quality and unsuitable for human consumption.Six wells in the area showed bacterial contamination.Total coliforms(453.9(±180.3)CFU(colony-forming units)/100 mL),fecal coliforms(243.2(±99.2)CFU/100 mL),and fecal streptococci(77.9(±32.0)CFU/100 mL)loads were above the standard limits set by the WHO.These results confirmed that water resources in the study area were strongly influenced by anthropogenic activities and were not recommended for consumption as drinking water.展开更多
The structural, magnetic and electronic properties of the double perovskite Ba2SmNbO6 （for the simple cubic structure where no octahedral tilting exists anymore） are studied using the density functional theory withi...The structural, magnetic and electronic properties of the double perovskite Ba2SmNbO6 （for the simple cubic structure where no octahedral tilting exists anymore） are studied using the density functional theory within the generalized gradient approximation as well as taking into account the on-site Coulomb repulsive interaction. The total energy, the spin magnetic moment, the band structure and the density of states are calculated. The optimization of the lattice constants is 8.5173 A, which is in good agreement with the experimental value 8.5180 A. The calculations reveal that Ba2SmNbO6 has a stable ferromagnetic ground state and the spin magnetic moment per molecule is 5.00μB/f.u. which comes mostly from the Sin3＋ ion only. By analysis of the band structure, the compound exhibits the direct band gap material and half-metallic ferromagnetic nature with 100% spin-up polarization, which implies potential applications of this new lanthanide compound in magneto-electronic and spintronic devices.展开更多
文摘This study explores the thin-layer convective solar drying of Marrubium vulgare L.leaves under conditions typical of sun-rich semi-arid climates.Drying experiments were conducted at three inlet-air temperatures(40℃,50℃,60℃)and two air velocities(1.5 and 2.5 m·s^(-1))using an indirect solar dryer with auxiliary temperature control.Moisture-ratio data were fitted with eight widely used thin-layer models and evaluated using correlation coefficient(r),root-mean-square error(RMSE),and Akaike information criterion(AIC).A complementary heattransfer analysis based on Reynolds and Prandtl numbers with appropriate Nusselt correlations was used to relate flow regime to drying performance,and an energy balance quantified the relative contributions of solar and auxiliary heat.The logarithmic model consistently achieved the lowest RMSE/AIC with r>0.99 across all conditions.Higher temperature and air velocity significantly reduced drying time during the decreasing-rate period,with no constantrate stage observed.On average,solar input supplied the large majority of the thermal demand,while the auxiliary heater compensated short irradiance drops to maintain setpoints.These findings provide a reproducible dataset and a modelling benchmark for M.vulgare leaves,and they support energy-aware design of hybrid solar dryers formedicinal plants in sun-rich regions.
文摘Essential oils(EOs)derived from medicinal plants are gaining recognition as sustainable alternatives to synthetic fungicides in the management of plant pathogens.This study investigates the chemical composition,chromatographic profile,and antifungal of Mentha rotundifolia essential oil against Fusarium oxysporum f.sp.albedinis(Foa),the pathogen responsible for Bayoud disease in date palm.The oil was extracted through hydrodistillation and characterized using thin-layer chromatography(TLC)and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry(GC-MS),revealing multiple fractions corresponding to terpenoid constituents and 23 chemical constituents,predominantly oxygenated monoterpenes(68.51%),with piperitenone oxide as the major component(62.53%).The antifungal efficacy was evaluated against ten(10)isolates of F.o.a across seven(07)concentrations different concentrations.(0;0.25;0.5;0.75;1;1.25;1.5μL/mL).The results obtained show a progressive decrease in the diameters of the colonies of F.o.a isolates by increasing the doses of EOMR.The percentage of inhibition varies from 7.82 to 83.41%;However,the dose of 1.75μL/mL showed 100%inhibition for all F.o.a isolates tested.These outcomes demonstrate the potential of M.rotundifolia essential oil as a natural,environmentally friendly antifungal agent,supporting its application in sustainable management strategies for Bayoud disease in date palm.
文摘Laser-induced graphene(LIG)has emerged as a versatile,sustainable material for advanced energy technologies,offering a scalable,catalyst-free,and programmable method to directly convert carbon-rich substrates into porous,conductive graphene.This single-step laser writing approach enables flexible,patternable electrodes without complex post-processing.With its high conductivity,large surface area,and tunable chemistry,LIG is well-suited for diverse applications including batteries,supercapacitors,dyesensitized solar cells(DSSCs),dual cells,water-splitting electrocatalysis,and triboelectric nanogenerators(TENGs).In energy storage,LIG improves charge transport,buffer volume changes,and provides a robust framework,enhancing capacitance,cycling stability,and rate capability.Its catalytic activity is further boosted through heteroatom doping or transition-metal incorporation,achieving HER/OER performance comparable to noble metals.In DSSCs,LIG functions as a flexible,low-cost alternative to platinum counter electrodes,while in TENGs,its strong triboelectric response and mechanical durability enable integration into self-powered,wearable systems.Despite the immense recent progress in this field,challenges remain regarding the scalability,long-term operational stability,and interfacial engineering of LIGbased composites.Further exploration into multi-laser systems,substrate diversity,and synergistic composite architectures will be crucial to optimizing device performance and reliability.Nevertheless,the green,cost-efficient,rapid,and programmable synthesis of LIG poses it as a cornerstone potential building block material in the development of future sustainable and multifunctional energy systems.Throughout the review we compare fabrication strategies,summarize performance metrics against relevant benchmarks,and identifying common mechanistic advantages conferred by the laser writing process.Remaining challenges-such as scale-up,precursor diversity,long-term environmental stability,and integration into complex device architectures-are outlined alongside prospective research directions.Collectively,this review article provides an in-depth perspective on the multifunctional nature of LIG,underscoring its promise in next-generation energy storage,conversion,harvesting applications,and laying the groundwork for future research directions.
文摘Magnetic Resonance Imaging(MRI)has a pivotal role in medical image analysis,for its ability in supporting disease detection and diagnosis.Fuzzy C-Means(FCM)clustering is widely used for MRI segmentation due to its ability to handle image uncertainty.However,the latter still has countless limitations,including sensitivity to initialization,susceptibility to local optima,and high computational cost.To address these limitations,this study integrates Grey Wolf Optimization(GWO)with FCM to enhance cluster center selection,improving segmentation accuracy and robustness.Moreover,to further refine optimization,Fuzzy Entropy Clustering was utilized for its distinctive features from other traditional objective functions.Fuzzy entropy effectively quantifies uncertainty,leading to more well-defined clusters,improved noise robustness,and better preservation of anatomical structures in MRI images.Despite these advantages,the iterative nature of GWO and FCM introduces significant computational overhead,which restricts their applicability to high-resolution medical images.To overcome this bottleneck,we propose a Parallelized-GWO-based FCM(P-GWO-FCM)approach using GPU acceleration,where both GWO optimization and FCM updates(centroid computation and membership matrix updates)are parallelized.By concurrently executing these processes,our approach efficiently distributes the computational workload,significantly reducing execution time while maintaining high segmentation accuracy.The proposed parallel method,P-GWO-FCM,was evaluated on both simulated and clinical brain MR images,focusing on segmenting white matter,gray matter,and cerebrospinal fluid regions.The results indicate significant improvements in segmentation accuracy,achieving a Jaccard Similarity(JS)of 0.92,a Partition Coefficient Index(PCI)of 0.91,a Partition Entropy Index(PEI)of 0.25,and a Davies-Bouldin Index(DBI)of 0.30.Experimental comparisons demonstrate that P-GWO-FCM outperforms existing methods in both segmentation accuracy and computational efficiency,making it a promising solution for real-time medical image segmentation.
文摘A study was performed to estimate the prevalence of the external bacterial flora of two domestic cockroaches （Blattella germanica and Blatta orientalis） collected from households in Tebessa （northeast AIgeria）.Three major bacterial groups were cultured （total aerobic, enterobacteria, and staphylococci） from 14 specimens of cockroaches, and antibiotic susceptibility was tested for both Staphylococcus and Pseudomonas isolates. Culturing showed that the total bacterial load of cockroaches from different households were comparable （P〈0.001） and enterobacteria were the predominant colonizers of the insect surface, with a bacterial load of （2.1×10^5 CFU/insect）, whereas the staphylococci group was the minority. Twenty-eight bacterial species were isolated, and susceptibility patterns showed that most of the staphylococci isolates were highly susceptible to chloramphenicol, gentamycin, pristinamycin, ofloxacin, clindamycin, and vancomycin; however, Pseudomonas strains exhibited resistance to amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, imipenem, and the second-generation antibiotic cephalosporin cefuroxime.
基金the Faculty of Health Sciences from the Institution University Colegio Mayor de Antioquia and the General System of Royalties from Antioquia,Colombia,for funding this projectthe National University of Colombia and the Doctoral Fellowship Program(567)from Colciencias
文摘At least 20-40% of annual losses of avocado crops are caused by pathogenic fungi.The chemical treatments of these diseases are inefficient,cause environmental pollution and are increasingly restricted by international laws.This work aimed to assess the biocontrol capacity of a bacterial extract to protect avocado fruits and plants from pathogen infections.Extracts from the bacterial isolate Serratia sp.ARP5.1 were obtained from liquid fermentations in a biorreactor.A body rot postharvest infection model with Colletotrichum gloeosporioides on fruits was developed.Moreover,packaging conditions were simulated using the bacterial extract and the commercial fungicide prochloraz as a positive control.Additionally,seedlings infections with Phytophthora cinnamomi were performed on two types of avocado(West Indian race and cv.Hass).The Area Under Disease Progress Curve(AUDPC) was recorded using the bacterial extract and a commercial product with fosetyl-aluminium as treatments.The bacterial extract significantly reduced infections by C.gloeosporioides on injured avocado fruits at 31.1 μg mL^-1.Intact fruits were also protected against body rot infections at the same concentration and showed no significant differences with the commercial fungicide.On the other hand,AUDPC in the seedlings was significantly reduced with the extract treatment at 3 μg mL^-1 compared to the control.However,a possible phytotoxicity effect of the extract was evidenced in the seedlings and confirmed by pathogen recovery and tests on Raphanus sativus seedlings.Finally,formulations of the extracts(emulsion and emulsifiable concentrate) were prepared,and bioactive stability was assessed for 8 wk.The emulsion formulates demonstrated very stable bioactivity against P.cinnamomi.The extract and the emulsion formulate showed promising results for the control of avocado pathogens.New bioproducts based on this type of active principles could be developed for the benefit of avocado industry.
文摘This paper addresses a time-delayed SIQRS model with a linear incidence rate. Immunity gained by experiencing the disease is temporary;whenever infected, the disease individuals will return to the susceptible class after a fixed period of time. First, the local and global stabilities of the infection-free equilibrium are analyzed, respectively. Second, the endemic equilibrium is formulated in terms of the incidence rate, and locally asymptotic stability. Finally we use the adomian decomposition method is applied to the system epidemiologic. This method yields an analytical solution in terms of convergent infinite power series.
文摘The effects of sand encroachment on composition,diversity,and functional patterns of vegetation in drylands are rarely studied,and yet addressing these aspects is important to deepen our understanding of the biodiversity conservation.This study aimed to investigate the effect of sand encroachment on plant functional biodiversity of desert pavements(gravel deserts)in the Sahara Desert of Algeria.Plants were sampled and analyzed in three desert pavements with different levels of sand encroachment(LSE)and quantity of aeolian deposits(low,LLSE;medium,MLSE;and high,HLSE).Within the sample-plot area(100 m^(2)),density of every plant species was identified and total vegetation cover was determined.Plant taxonomic and functional diversity were analyzed and compared between LSE.Result showed that 19 plant species in desert pavements were classified into 18 genera and 13 families.Asteraceae and Poaceae were the most important families.The species Anabasis articulata(Forssk)Moq.characterized LLSE desert pavements with 11 species,whereas Thymelaea microphylla Coss.&Durieu ex Meisn.and Calobota saharae(C&D)Boatwr.&van Wyk were dominant species of desert pavements with MLSE(14 species)and HLSE(10 species),respectively.The highest values of species richness and biodiversity were recorded in desert pavements with MLSE,while low values of these ecological parameters were obtained in desert pavements with HLSE.Desert pavements with LLSE were characterized with the highest values of species abundances.Plant communities were dominated by chamaephytes,anemochorous,arido-active,and competitive stress-tolerant plants.The increase in LSE along the gradient from LLSE to HLSE induced significant changes in plant community variables including decreases in plant density,plant rarity,lifeform composition,morphological type,and aridity adaptation.Desert pavements with HLSE favor the degradation of vegetation and trigger biodiversity erosion.
文摘This research was aimed to optimize the extraction conditions of three phenolic compounds: total phenolics, flavonoids and condensed tannins, from White Horehound’s leaves (Marrubium vulgare L.). Distilled water and different organic solvents such as: methanol, ethanol and acetone, were used, with various concentrations (20% - 80%, v/v), temperatures (20°C - 60°C) and extraction times (30 - 450 min). Results showed that the maximum total phenolics amounts (293.34 ± 14.60 mg gallic acid equivalent/g dry weigh), were obtained with 60% aqueous methanol at 25°C for 180 min;total flavonoids (79.52 ± 0.55 mg catechin equivalent/g dry weigh) with 80% aqueous methanol at 20°C for 450 min, and condensed tannins (28.15 ± 0.80 mg catechin equivalent/g dry weigh) with 60% aqueous acetone at 50°C and for 180 min. ANOVA test showed the significant effect (***P < 0.001) of the extraction conditions tested on phenolic compounds. The Principal Component Analysis (PCA) exhibited the positive effect of low temperatures on total phenolics and flavonoids extraction, and the effect of high temperatures on the condensed tannins extraction. The Response Surface Methodology (RSM) provided predicted values of extraction conditions and maximum polyphenols amounts similar to those obtained experimentally.
文摘Numerous unique geological processes [1] took place during the early Earth evolution;several of them, especially those occurring in the Hadean—Early Archean and later, are reflected in the modern geological (geophysical, geochemical, etc.) pattern. One such significant enigmatic feature is the preservation of extremely dense and heavy platinum group elements (PGEs): Pt, Pd, Rh, Ru, Ir, Os. Concentration of PGEs during this period could have taken place in two ways: 1) presence of particular matter capable of preserving PGEs near the earth's surface, 2) transportation of PGEs by magma flows from deep lithospheric (asthenospheric) layers (slabs) to the subsurface. Clearly, much of the dense and heavy PGEs did not sink through to the Earth’s mantle (core) at the time of the magma-ocean, and occur near Earth’s surface in abundances for formation of ore deposits with PGE concentrations found to be 2 - 3 orders of magnitude greater than those in their host media. Their enrichments are associated in numerous cases with such enigmatic phenomena as formation of anorthosites and anorthosite-bearing layered magmatic intrusions. PGE deposits and mineralization zones are also found in associations with chromitites, dunites and serpentinites. In this review, problems related to the initial concentration and preservation of PGEs, their association with anorthosites, and formation of layered intrusions are discussed in detail. The main aim of this article is analysis of the requirements—initial concentration and preservation of PGE and PGM (Platinum Group Minerals) during the early Earth evolution, as well as examination of the distribution behavior of some PGEs in different ore deposits and meteorites. It is supposed that meteoritic bombardment of Earth has played a significant role in formation of PGEs deposits. Some conclusions made in this article may be useful for developing and enhancing strategies of prospecting for PGEs deposits.
文摘Argentina annually utilizes 240,000 tones of glyphosate in industrial agriculture and a change in the profile of morbidity is perceived for physicians of agricultural areas;now reproductive disorders seem to prevail. The objective of this study is to determine concurrence of glyphosate exposure and reproductive disorders in a typical argentine agricultural town (Monte Maíz). An ecological study was developed with an environmental analysis of pollution sources including measurements of glyphosate and other pesticides and a cross-sectional study of spontaneous abortions and congenital abnormalities prevalence. Glyphosate was detected in soil and grain dust and was found to be at an even higher concentration in the village soil than in the rural area;650 tonnes of glyphosate are used annually in the region and manipulated inner town contaminating the soil and dust in suspension of the town creating an burden of environmental exposure to glyphosate of 79 kg per person per year. We do not find other relevant sources of pollution. The spontaneous abortion and congenital abnormalities rates are three and two times higher than the national average reported by the national health (10% vs. 3% and 3% - 4.3% vs 1.4% respectively). Our study verified high environmental exposure to glyphosate in association with increased frequencies of reproductive disorders (spontaneous abortion and congenital abnormalities) in argentine agricultural village, but is unable to make assertions cause-effect. Further studies are required with designs for such purposes.
基金the framework of Franco-Algerian cooperation program"Tassili"No.08MDU726
文摘Background: Investigating population ecology of urban bird species,particularly the invasive and expending spe?cies,is the key for the success of urban management and planning strategies.Methods: Populations of two Columbidae species,the Woodpigeon(Columba palumbus) and the Eurasian Collared Dove(Streptopelia decaocto),were monitored from 1992 to 2010 in the Algiers Sahel,the Mitidja Plain and surround?ing areas(Northern Algeria).Monitoring of species densities was performed by the mapping?plot method.The foraging flight routes of Woodpigeon and the distribution of Eurasian Collared Dove were assessed by systematic observations.Results: The number of counted birds was statistically constant at first years of the survey,and then increased sig?nificantly,beginning from low numbers,their densities accelerated sharply between 2001 and 2006,then reached to an equilibrium state.The significant increase in Woodpigeon's population could be explained by the reduced hunt?ing pressure and by species adaptation to new food resources provided by nearby agriculture.Indeed,monitoring of flight directions of the species revealed the use of agricultural landscapes and habitats,which is a good indicator explaining adaptation and trophic niche of the species.The occurrence of the Eurasian Collared Dove in Algiers began in 2000.Its density experienced a rapid increase with similar trend pattern as that of Woodpigeon.Its distributional range is confined mainly in suburban environments of the Mitidja Plain.Conclusion: The modifications of habitats,urbanization increase and the lessening of hunting in the Mitidja Plain facilitated the rapid expansion of the Eurasian Collared Dove and Woodpigeon as well contributed to the increase in their numbers over time.
文摘The ramifications of global climate change and resource scarcities have made it imperative to re-examine the definition of sustainable energy-storage systems.It is crucial to recognize that not all renewable resources are inherently sustainable,and their full impact on the environment must be assessed.With the proliferation of invasive jellyfish species wreaking havoc on marine ecosystems and economies worldwide,utilizing overabundant jellyfish as a carbon source presents an opportunity to create energy-storage systems that are both financially beneficial and environmentally remediating.Accordingly,a comprehensive approach to sustainability also requires eco-friendly solutions throughout the entire lifecycle,from material sourcing to battery production,without compromising highperformance requirements.Currently,most electrode syntheses for lithium-ion batteries(LIBs) employed are energy-intensive,multiple-steps,complex,and additive-heavy.In response,this work pioneers the straightforward use of low-energy laser irradiation of a jellyfish biomass/silicon nanoparticle blend to encapsulate the silicon nanoparticles in-situ within the as-forming conductive carbonized matrix,creating sustainable and additive-free composite anodes.The self-standing anode is directly synthesized under ambient conditions and requires no post-processing.Here,a laser-synthesized conductive threedimensional porous carbon/silicon composite anode from raw jellyfish biomass for LIBs is presented,displaying outstanding cyclic stability(>1000 cycles),excellent capacity retention(>50% retention after1000 cycles),exceptional coulombic efficiency(>99%),superb reversible gravimetric capacity(>2000 mAh/g),and high rate performance capability(>1.6 A/g),paving a new path to future sustainable energy production.
文摘Recent technological advancements,such as portable electronics and electric vehicles,have created a pressing need for more efficient energy storage solutions.Lithium-ion batteries(LIBs)have been the preferred choice for these applications,with graphite being the standard anode material due to its stability.However,graphite falls short of meeting the growing demand for higher energy density,possessing a theoretical capacity that lags behind.To address this,researchers are actively seeking alternative materials to replace graphite in commercial batteries.One promising avenue involves lithiumalloying materials like silicon and phosphorus,which offer high theoretical capacities.Carbon-silicon composites have emerged as a viable option,showing improved capacity and performance over traditional graphite or pure silicon anodes.Yet,the existing methods for synthesizing these composites remain complex,energy-intensive,and costly,preventing widespread adoption.A groundbreaking approach is presented here:the use of a laser writing strategy to rapidly transform common organic carbon precursors and silicon blends into efficient“graphenic silicon”composite thin films.These films exhibit exceptional structural and energy storage properties.The resulting three-dimensional porous composite anodes showcase impressive attributes,including ultrahigh silicon content,remarkable cyclic stability(over 4500 cycles with∼40%retention),rapid charging rates(up to 10 A g^(-1)),substantial areal capacity(>5.1 mAh cm^(-2)),and excellent gravimetric capacity(>2400 mAh g^(-1) at 0.2 A g^(-1)).This strategy marks a significant step toward the scalable production of high-performance LIB materials.Leveraging widely available,cost-effective precursors,the laser-printed“graphenic silicon”composites demonstrate unparalleled performance,potentially streamlining anode production while maintaining exceptional capabilities.This innovation not only paves the way for advanced LIBs but also sets a precedent for transforming various materials into high-performing electrodes,promising reduced complexity and cost in battery production.
文摘The purpose of this work is to study the global existence and asymptotic behavior of solutions to a coupled reaction-diffusion system describing epidemiological or chemical situations. Our analytical proofs are based on the Lyapunov functional methods.
文摘The yellow granules in the gastral cuticle of the Oriental hornet Vespa oriental＆ （Hymenoptera, Vespinae） are located in yellow stripes. In the present study, we focus on the micromorphology and formation of the yellow granules from their inception to their spread in the regions which are destined to acquire a yellow color, The cuticle was observed with several methods of electron microscopy. The results showed that the yellow granules comprise a layer which is 20-25 μm thick, within the total cuticular thickness of 40-45 μm. In the mentioned regions one can see, from above, many apertures of about 0.5μm in diameter which extends into a peripheral photoreceptor cell. In each yellow granule, one discerns a myoid envelope inside which there are 9 fibrils arranged in a circle. Yellow granules maturation process involves infiltration of canals that give rise to the incipient ball-shaped primary granules which increase in number （as a result of continues budding off the walls of a canal） as the cuticle matures and transform into secondary barrel shaped granules, becoming elongated and then splitting into shorter barrels that fill up the entire area. Preliminary examinations have suggested liver-like function activity within the layer of yellow granules.
基金supported by the Directorate-General of Scientific Researeh and Technological Development(DGRSDT)。
文摘This article sets forth results on the existence and boundedness of solutions for quasilinear elliptic systems involving p-Laplacian and q-Laplacian operators.The approach combines Schaefer's fixed point as well as Moser's iteration procedure.
基金support of the laboratory of active components and materials,Oum El Bouaghi University.
文摘Transparent conducting aluminum doped tin oxide thin films were prepared by sol-gel dip coating method with differ-ent Al concentrations and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), atomic force microscopy (AFM), UV-Vis spectrophotometry and photoconductivity study. The variation observed in the properties of the measured films agrees with a difference in the film's thickness, which decreases when Al concentration augments. X-ray diffraction analysis reveals that all films are polycrystal-line with tetragonal structure, (110) plane being the strongest diffraction peak. The crystallite size calculated by the Debye Scher-rer’s formula decreases from 11.92 to 8.54 nm when Al concentration increases from 0 to 5 wt.%. AFM images showed grains uni-formly distributed in the deposited films. An average transmittance greater than 80% was measured for the films and an en-ergy gap value of about 3.9 eV was deduced from the optical analysis. Finally, the photosensitivity properties like current-voltage characteristics, ION/IOFF ratio, growth and decay time are studied and reported. Also, we have calculated the trap depth energy using the decay portion of the rise and decay curve photocurrent.
基金funding from the European Union’s Horizon 2020 Research&Innovation Programme(2211)under the Partnership for Research and Innovation in the Mediterranean Area(PRIMA)Project"SHARInG-MeD"from the Directorate-General for Scientific Research and Technological Development(DGRSDT)under the Projets de Recherche Formation-Universitaire(PRFU)Projects(D00L02UN120120230002,D01N01UN120120230005)。
文摘Groundwater quality assessment is important to assure safe and durable water use.In semi-arid areas of Algeria,groundwater represents the main water resource for drinking water supply of the rural population as well as for irrigation of agricultural lands.Groundwater samples from wells and springs were collected from the Gargaat Tarf and Annk Djemel sub-watersheds of the Oum El Bouaghi,Algeria,and were analyzed and compared with the World Health Organization(WHO)standards.Results showed that most of the measured physical and chemical parameters exceeded the quality limits according to the WHO standards.Groundwater had a slightly alkaline water pH(7.00-7.79),electrical conductivity>1500μS/cm,chloride>500 mg/L,calcium>250 mg/L,and magnesium>155 mg/L.Water quality index(WQI)results showed that 68%of the area had excellent water quality,24%of the samples fell into good category,and only 8%were of poor quality and unsuitable for human consumption.Six wells in the area showed bacterial contamination.Total coliforms(453.9(±180.3)CFU(colony-forming units)/100 mL),fecal coliforms(243.2(±99.2)CFU/100 mL),and fecal streptococci(77.9(±32.0)CFU/100 mL)loads were above the standard limits set by the WHO.These results confirmed that water resources in the study area were strongly influenced by anthropogenic activities and were not recommended for consumption as drinking water.
文摘The structural, magnetic and electronic properties of the double perovskite Ba2SmNbO6 （for the simple cubic structure where no octahedral tilting exists anymore） are studied using the density functional theory within the generalized gradient approximation as well as taking into account the on-site Coulomb repulsive interaction. The total energy, the spin magnetic moment, the band structure and the density of states are calculated. The optimization of the lattice constants is 8.5173 A, which is in good agreement with the experimental value 8.5180 A. The calculations reveal that Ba2SmNbO6 has a stable ferromagnetic ground state and the spin magnetic moment per molecule is 5.00μB/f.u. which comes mostly from the Sin3＋ ion only. By analysis of the band structure, the compound exhibits the direct band gap material and half-metallic ferromagnetic nature with 100% spin-up polarization, which implies potential applications of this new lanthanide compound in magneto-electronic and spintronic devices.
