West Of Algeria Research Articles

The Prevalence of Fetal Macrosomia at the Specialized Hospital of Gynecology and Obstetrics of Sidi Bel Abbes (West Of Algeria)

Introduction: Fetal macrosomia is generally defined as a birth weight greater than 4000 grams and it is related to some adverse neonatal outcomes and maternal complications. The aim of our work is to identify the clinical profile of mothers who give birth to a macrosomic infant, and to study the maternal complications associated with delivering infants with a birthweight of 4000 grams or greater. Methods: We did both a retrospective and prospective study, we collected 970 births over a period of one year that ranged from 1st January 2012 to 31 December 2012 for the retrospective study using the archived files, and we recorded 130 birth in the first semester of 2013 for the prospective study by means of interviewing the mother, all births were collected in the specialized hospital center of Gynecology and Obstetrics in Sidi Bel Abbes. Results: The frequency of macrosomia in our study was estimated at 10.19%. Fetal macrosomia was more frequent in mothers aged between 29 and 38 years, who were taller, multiparous, and obese, had diabetes and a history of macrosomia, and had a Fundal height greater than or equal to 34 cm. About the obstetric outcomes, caesarean was indicated in 45.72% of cases and vaginal delivery occurred in 53.90% of cases. The percentage of neonatal morbidity was 4.55%, it was dominated by neonatal infections (4%), and obstetric trauma dominated by shoulder dystocia (0.55%). No maternal deaths were reported in our study Conclusion: The evaluation of the obstetrical management in our series is acceptable given the good neonatal outcomes but is still limited because of insufficient technical capacity, and more efforts should be made for a better monitoring of pregnant women to detect patients at risk such as patient having obesity and diabetes in order to improve maternal and fetal prognosis.

Epidemiology of Low Birth Weight in the Town of Sidi Bel Abbes (West of Algeria): A Case-Control Study

Introduction: The Low birth weight is defined as a live birth weighting less than 2500 g and it is considered to be a major determinant of the child survival, his health and development. Objective: This study examined the frequency and risk factors that influence birth weight <2.5 kg (LBW) in the region of Sidi bel Abbes (west of Algeria). Materials and methods: A descriptive prospective case-control study was done during the period of June 2012 to January 2013. Total samples were 1828 pregnant women and their newborns in neonatology department of Hospital Obstetrics and Gynecology in Sidi bel Abbes west Algeria. Results: At the end of this work, it appears a prevalence of 1828 new born, including maximum newborn babies 92.97% had birth weight 2.5 Kg or more and 128 newborns with low birth weight <2.5 Kg, or a rate of 7.02%. It was found that mean weight of newborn babies was 3386.95 ± 560.70 (g). This study confirms the close association between low birth weight newborn and prematurity, primiparity, short interpregnancy interval, multiple pregnancy, previous history of low birth weight, delayed of first antenatal visit, low pre-pregnancy BMI, gestational weight gain less than the recommendations, primary educated mothers, other complications and diseases which contributed to high prevalence of LBW included hypertension and gestational diabetes. Conclusion: It is essential to do a searching for pregnancies with higher risk of LWB like those who are primiparous or have short birth intervals, and it is also important to have better and more attentive prenatal care in order to reduce the incidence of LBW.

Characterization and Valorization of Two Algerian Bentonites in the Waterproofing Systems

The interest in environment has recently considerably grown, and its protection is now included in the continuous action of the governments and the industries. In Algeria, the different types of waste are currently produced in almost 3.000 illegal dumps, occupying approximately 150.000 hectares. To overcome this problem, waterproofing sites prove the most appropriate solution. It is a geotechnical method to guard against the action of water by narrowing the flow of water through a surface in a given time. The site’s waterproofing technique, in the landfills sites, is nowadays a very necessary condition to protect the environment, which requires the use of appropriate materials. This work deals within the valorization of local materials (sand and bentonite), in the waterproofing technique of the technical landfills site “TLS”. To this end, two types of bentonites from the west of Algeria are used. In order to achieve an optimal mixture, ensuring good performance in terms of hydraulic conductivity, durability and shear strength, mixtures based of sand at different concentrations of bentonite, at compact state are prepared and studied. This study showed that a low permeability of mixture (sand/bentonite) can be achieved with introducing 8% of a calcium bentonite, against 6% of a sodium bentonite. The latter presents a great adsorption capacity and a self healing ability, compared to calcium bentonite. This gives a good sustainability against climate variations of mixture based on sodium bentonite. This mixture has also confered a good mechanical behavior, expressed by the recorded, reduction of the friction angle (Φ) and the increase of the cohesion (C). Therefore it represents an optimal mixture for waterproofing systems, due to its economical and ecological advantages.

Factor 8 Gene Mutations and Risk of Inhibitor Development in Hemophilia A Algerian Patients

Background: Neutralizing inhibitors development toward factor VIII is one of the most challenging complications in the treatment of hemophilia A. Several studies have suggested that genetic factors influence the development of factor VIII inhibitors such as ethnicity, family history, mutations in the factor 8 gene and in genes of the immune system. The aim of the present study was to analyze the relationship between inhibitor development and F8 gene mutation types in a sample of hemophiliac patients from West Algeria. Methods: To study the molecular predisposition for inhibitor development, we genotyped 24 hemophiliac patients with and without inhibitors. A conventional Fisher’s exact test was used for statistical analysis. A p-value<0.05 was considered to indicate statistical significance. Results: A total of seven patients had developed inhibitors, while seventeen had not. Six patients with inhibitors (86%) were classified as low responder; whereas, one patient (14%) was categorized as high responder with the Bethesda inhibitor level above five unit. Among the inhibitor-positive patients, we identified 4 with intron 22 inversion, 1 with a nonsense mutation (c.322A > T, p.Lys108*) and 2 without an identified F8 mutation. We showed that there was any association of the F8 gene mutations and the inhibitor development in our studygroup. However, these findings should be confirmed in a larger group of patients. In conclusion, genetic factors are not the only determinant of inhibitor development in HA; environmental factors play an important role.

Influence of Grain Size Coarse Soil on Shear Strength

The geo- mechanical behavior of coarse soils is difficult to grasp by geotechnical methods , mainly due to the presence of large elements that disrupt or prevent the tests . Our work presents a study of the mechanical behavior of two coarse soils of different types namely Tuff MEKKEDRA and crushed gravel SIDI ALI- Benyoub west of Algeria by observing the effect of the size of diameters of the grains on the shear strength. Two aspects are considered. The first relates to a state of the art parameters which have a direct influence on the shear strength of coarse material . The second part concerns a presentation and analysis of the results of direct shear tests of materials prepared for Optimum Proctor. It is noted that the grain size affects in a significant way the properties of the shear strength. The bigger the diameter, the greater the angle of friction is important. However, the cohesion decreases with increasing grain size.

Low Birth Weight in Sidi Bel Abbes Region (West of Algeria): Retrospective Study of 10008 Deliveries

Introduction: Low birth weight is a widely used indicator of newborn health. It is generally recognized that the etiology of LBW is multifactorial. It is a major problem of public health in both developing countries and developed countries. Aim: This study investigates the association of birthweight <2.5 kg (LBW) with a wide range of factors related with LBW and their contribution to the problem. Methods: A descriptive retrospective study using existing data from January 2011 to January 2012 of 10200 pregnant women and their newborns was done at maternity in Sidi Bel Abbes City of west Algeria. Results: At the end of this work, it appears a prevalence of 10008 live infants, including 554 newborns with low birth weight, or a rate of 5.53%. LBW was strongly associated with primiparous. This study confirms the close association between low birth weight newborn and maternal age between 20 and 34 years, gestational age less than 37 weeks, and the APGAR score <7. Other complications and diseases which contributed to high prevalence of LBW included hypertension and gestational diabetes. Conclusion: There is need of increasing promotion of reproductive health services in relation to safe motherhood at community level in order to reduce risk factors of LBW

The Opportunity of Power Electronics on Improving the Quality of Voltage and Power Flow in the West Algeria Network

The Flexible Alternate Current Transmission Systems (FACTS) controllers improve quality of the supply power, enhance power system performance and also provide an optimal utilization of the existing resources. Especially the Thyristor Controlled Series Compensator (TCSC) and the Static Var Compensator (SVC) has been proposed to enhance the power transfer capability and improve the quality of the voltage by adjusting the line reactance. This paper, present a study of the west Algerian 2012 network. Furthermore, we will try to ask some problems encountered in practice, to find solutions and moving towards the FACTS devices in particular the TCSC and SVC controller, its application and technical advantage. The software NEPLAN is used to analyse the behaviour of the West Algerian electrical network without and with FACTS devices.

SEDIMENT TRANSPORT AND RAINFALL EROSIVITY EVOLUTION IN TWELVE BASINS IN CENTRAL AND WESTERN ALGERIA

Soil erosion by rain and surface runoff is an important problem in the Mediterranean countries. The study of the relationship between erosion and sediment transport with hydrological and climatic factors have been conducted in many countries around the world. The aim of this work is to show rainfall impact on the variability of spatial and temporal concentration in twelve drainage basins in the west of Algeria. We will also seek to find a representative parameter of rainfall erosive potential on a Time and spatial scale. When studying sediment transport in twelve drainage basins of the Centre and the west of Algeria, we have found that the modified Fournier index Which explains much of the specific degradation compared to the Fournier index. The study of the temporal variability of the annual rainfall series, modified Fournier index and concentration of the precipitation in the year for a series from 1930 to 2007 showed a negative trend of the two variables. The annual rainfall and modified Fournier index have declined by more than 20%. This decline is more significant in inland areas.

SEDIMENT TRANSPORT AND RAINFALL EROSIVITY EVOLUTION IN TWELVE BASINS IN CENTRAL AND WESTERN ALGERIA

Soil erosion by rain and surface runoff is an important problem in the Mediterranean countries. The study of the relationship between erosion and sediment transport with hydrological and climatic factors have been conducted in many countries around the world. The aim of this work is to show rainfall impact on the variability of spatial and temporal concentration in twelve drainage basins in the west of Algeria. We will also seek to find a representative parameter of rainfall erosive potential on a Time and spatial scale. When studying sediment transport in twelve drainage basins of the Centre and the west of Algeria, we have found that the modified Fournier index Which explains much of the specific degradation compared to the Fournier index. The study of the temporal variability of the annual rainfall series, modified Fournier index and concentration of the precipitation in the year for a series from 1930 to 2007 showed a negative trend of the two variables. The annual rainfall and modified Fournier index have declined by more than 20%. This decline is more significant in inland areas.

Phytochemical screening and antioxidant capacity of the aerial parts of Thymelaea hirsuta L.

ObjectiveTo assess antioxidant activities of different aerial parts of Thymelaea hirsuta (T. hirsuta) from west Algeria, and to search for new sources of safe and inexpensive antioxidants. MethodsSamples of leaves, stems and flowers from T. hirsuta were tested for total phenolic content, flavonoids content, and evaluation its total antioxidant activity, were done using the spectrophotometric analyses. ResultsResults of preliminary phytochemical screening of leaf, flower and stem of T. hirsuta revealed the presence of tannins, alkaloids, steroids, saponins, coumarins, reducteurs compound and anthraquinones. The total phenolics and flavonoids were estimated. The aqueous extracts of the aerial parts of T. hirsuta showed potent in vitro antioxydant activities using various models viz, DPPH scavenging assay, ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) and ABTS radical scavenging activity. ConclusionsOn the basis of the results obtained, T. hirsuta extracts are rich sources of natural antioxidants appears to be an alternative to synthetic antioxidants and this justifies its therapeutic usage.

Screening of biological activities of Polygonum maritimum L. from Algerian coast

ObjectiveTo investigate the antioxidant and the antibacterial activities of crude extract from aerial part of Polygonum maritimum L. (Polygonaceae) (P. maritimum) and to find new actives biomolecules. MethodsThe whole plant was collected from the Rechgoune coast (West of Algeria), and methanolic crude extract of aerial parts of P. maritimum (PMCE) was prepared. The extract was tested against different bacterial strain and tested for his ability to neutralize free radical (DPPH) and to scavenge the H2O2. ResultsPMCE had a very high content of total phenol, which was (352.49±18.03) mg/g dry weight, expressed as gallic acid equivalent. PMCE exhibited excellent antioxidant activity, as measured using DPPH and H2O2scavenging assays. It also showed a high antibacterial activity against gram–positive bacterial strains: Bacillus cereus, Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus with an highest MIC of 120 μg/mL. ConclusionsThe antioxidant and antibacterial activity of the PMCE is probably due to phenolic compounds present in the extract. The contemporary presence of antioxidant and antibacterial activities in the PMCE suggests that this plant may be a source of bioactive substances with multifaceted activity.

Carbon sources and pH effect on pectinolytic activity production by Ascochyta rabiei isolated from chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) in West Algeria

In Algeria, Ascochyta blight is a major limiting factor in chickpea production. We did not record any difference between the isolates while basing ourselves on the morphological and cultural characters, but the pectinolytic activity could differentiate the ten isolates of Ascochyta rabiei. Activity of pectin methyl esterase was baseless in the presence of glucose, but variable in the presence of the citrus pectin and polygalacturonic acid. We recorded the weak production ranging between 0.19 and 0.55 µeg/ml/min; however the strong activity was between 2.97 and 5.88 µeg/ml/min in the presence of citrus pectin and polygalacturonic acid, respectively. On the other hand, the polygalacturonase activity was present in culture filtrates using three sources of carbon. Weak production was recorded in the presence of glucose (0.28 to 2.63 µmole/min), however the strong activity was recorded in the presence of 16.29 µmole/min of polygalacturonic acid. The maximal production of polygalacturonase was 11.7 µmole/min in the presence of the polygalacturonic acid and 0.9 µmole/min in the presence of glucose after six days of incubation at pH 5. The polygalacturonase activity was between 0.3 and 0.62 µmole/min after 4 days of incubation at pH 8. However, optimum production was obtained at pH 5.5. It should be noted that there is an important difference in the production of polygalacturonase with simple sugars glucose and pectin, indicating that the production of the enzyme is also stimulated by the presence of inducers. The exo-polygalacturonase is present in all carbon sources, suggesting that this enzyme could probably be of a constitutive nature in Ascochyta rabiei.

Assessment of water pollution in the semi-arid region: case watershed Wadi Saida (Northwest of Algeria)

In this study, an up-to-date analysis was performed on pollution conditions in the Wadi Saïda drainage basin (North West Algeria). We focused on the water in the streams that drain the basin. The results include a number of quality parameters and give the spatio-temporal variations in surface water pollution indicators over a period of several years. The principal parameters related to the monitoring and evaluation of the pollution of surface water are measured and analyzed. These parameters include the suspended solids, organic matter, nitrate, nitrite in addition to biochemical oxygen demand, and chemical oxygen demand. Analysis and comparison with other basins in Algeria are also performed. In the light of the results, a plan is proposed for the land use and protection of groundwater in Saida.

Assia Djebar’s la Femme Sans Sépulture ( 20002 ) / the Woman without Sepulcher : The Quest for Female Heroism

Assia Djebar has earned international attention for her poignant, sophisticated portrayals of female characters. Her semi-autobiographical fiction, La Femme sans sepulture (2002) / The Woman without Sepulture , tells the story of Zoulikha, a forgotten heroine of the Algerian war of independence; she went up to the “maquis” in spring 1957 and was arrested two years later by the French army. She disappeared and her corpse was never found. Through Djebar’s narrative this exceptional woman is resuscitated and her radiant presence is everywhere in ‘Cesaree’ (Cherchell in West Algeria), the birthplace of Assia Djebar. Zoulikha’s story becomes a love song against oblivion and hatred. Her tragic fate, her mutilated and tortured body stands as a symbol of resistance linking the struggle for national liberation with that of women’s liberation and highlights the extraordinary role of the Algerian women during the Algerian War. This paper explores the concept of the hero, more appropriately put, the concept of the heroine in La Femme sans sepulture / The Woman without Sepulcher and investigates how Djebar adapts the motif Journey (Northrop Frye’s element of the quest) to the female character Zoulikha Oudai, a freedom fighter during the Algerian Revolution War. Djebar re-writes history to reevaluate the heroic role of the Algerian women. Thus, Zoulikha’s fight stands as a symbol for other women, the whole generation of mothers and daughters before and after independence. We consider that in previous studies concerning the hero–like in Joseph Campbell’s The Hero with a Thousand Faces – women are relegated to a secondary role. Carol Pearson and Katherine Pope in The Female Hero claim that women are and have been heroic, but that the culture has often been unable to recognize female heroism(1981: vi). Nowadays, however, it is evident that the study of the woman as a ‘hero/ine’ is necessary to a better understanding of not only of women’s writings, but of literature as a whole.

English

Bovine mastitis is an inflammation of the mammary gland with local and or symptoms that occasionally result in a systemic infection. This disease has a profound impact on animal welfare and milk quality, and the most costly disease affecting dairy cows. The bacteria Staphylococcus aureus is one of the most frequently isolated pathogens from both subclinical and clinical infections. This study was conducted to investigate the phenotypic and genotypic characterization of S. aureus involved in dairy cow mastitis in West Algeria. A total of 141 isolates of S. aureus isolated from quarter milk samples were collected from dairy cows. All retained S. aureus species contained gyr gene and were identified by molecular typing. The presence of resistance was evaluated in S. aureus. Staphylococci antimicrobial resistance was performed by detection of mecA gene. Several virulence factors including toxin of the Pantin Valentine leukocidin coding gene (pvl) were also investigated by polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Only one strain of S. aureus was mecA - and pvl+ gene.

Screening and identification of lactic acid bacteria isolated from sorghum silage processes in west Algeria

The lactic acid bacteria (LAB) isolated from sorghum (Sorghum bicolor. L.) silage were identified during different periods of evolution of sorghum silage in west Algeria. Morphological, physiological, biochemical and technological techniques were used to characterize lactic acid bacteria isolates. A total number of 27 representatives of lactic acid bacterial strains were retained and among them four dominant genus were identified as Lactobacillus (44%), Lactococcus (14.81%), Weissella (29.62%) and Leuconostoc (11.11%). The representative species identified were Lactobacillus brevis (25%), Lactobacillus pentosus (3.7%), Lactobacillus manihotivorans (11.11%), and Lactobacillus fermentum (3.7%). Lactococcus lactis subsp. lactis biovar. diacetylactis (14.81%), Weissella cibaria (7.2%), Weissella minor (11.11%), Weissella soli (3.7%), Weissella viridescense (7.2%) and Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp. mesenteroides (11.11%). Only two strains of lactic acid bacteria were amylolytic. These results will enable future research on the relationship between LAB species and silage fermentation quality.

Evidence for Late Devonian vertical movements and extensional deformation in northern Africa and Arabia: Integration in the geodynamics of the Devonian world

AbstractThe Upper Paleozoic geodynamic evolution is discussed at the scale of a wide part of Gondwana from North Africa to Arabia. With the aim of giving an integrated tectonic scenario for the study domain, we revisit six key areas, namely, the Anti‐Atlas Belt (Morocco), the Bechar Basin (west Algeria), the Hassi R'Mel High (central Algeria), the Talemezane Arch (south Tunisia), the Western Desert (Egypt), and, finally, the High Zagros Belt (Iran). Below the so‐called “Hercynian unconformity,” which is in reality a highly composite discontinuity, surface and subsurface data display a well‐known arch‐and‐basin geometry, with basement highs and intervening Paleozoic basins. We show that this major feature results mainly from a Late Devonian event and can no longer be interpreted as a far effect of the Variscan Orogeny. This event is characterized by a more or less diffuse extensional deformation and accompanied either by subsidence, in the western part of the system, or by an important uplift of probable thermal origin followed by erosion and peneplanation. By the end of the Devonian, the whole region suffered a general subsidence governed by the progressive cooling of the lithosphere. Such a primary configuration is preserved in Arabia with typical sag geometry of the Carboniferous and Permian deposits but strongly disturbed elsewhere by the conjugated effects of the Variscan Orogeny during the Carboniferous and/or by subsequent uplifts linked to the central Atlantic and Neo‐Tethys rifting episodes. In conclusion, we try to integrate this new understanding in the geodynamics of the Late Devonian, which at world scale is characterized by the onset of the Variscan Orogeny on the one hand and by magmatism, rifting, and basement uplift on the other hand.

Molecular and Epidemiological Characterization of Enterobacterial Multidrug-Resistant Strains in Tlemcen Hospital (Algeria) (2008–2010)

Seventy-one isolates of Enterobacteriaceae (17 Escherichia coli, 50 Klebsiella pneumoniae, and 4 Enterobacter cloacae) producing extended-spectrum-β-lactamases (ESBLs) were collected between April 2008 and March 2010 in an intensive care unit and surgical ward of Tlemcen Hospital (West of Algeria). Sequencing identified the bla(CTX-M-15) determinant in 69 isolates and bla(CTX-M-3) in 2 isolates. None of the studied strains produced the class D carbapenemase OXA-48. Repetitive Extragenic palindromic polymerase chain reaction showed a high degree of genotypic diversity among E. coli strains and two major clonal populations of K. pneumoniae (CKp1 n=11 and CKp5 n=25) which were further identified as members of the multilocus sequence typing types (ST931) and (ST15), respectively. The ST15 isolates harbored more resistance genes and virulence factors than the ST931 isolates. The characterization of the spacer region between ISEcp1 and bla(CTX-M) for CTX-M-15 producers individualized two populations. One that derived from the CTX-M-3 under Algerian clinical context and one that is universally found. The dissemination of ESBLs in the studied Enterobacteriaceae isolates was mainly due to the epidemic clones of K. pneumoniae and to genetic transit of plasmids among unrelated strains.

The Importance of the Soil’s Occupation, of the Recovery and the Living Space of the Main Forest Species in the Sustainability of the Forest Areas of the Mountains of Dhaya and Mountains of Saïda (West Algeria)

The study of the forests structure in the arid Mediterranean zone informs on their resilience and durability. The assessment of three parameters identified as critical in the understanding of this resilience, and these the overall occupancy rate of the soil by perennial vegetation, the recovery rate by stratum and living space of the defining species, is useful for understanding the dynamics of these plant formations.This evaluation was conducted in two bioclimatics most dominant in Algeria and throughout the Mediterranean basin and allowed to have results to classify the strata according to their importance with respect to these three criteria.It follows from the appreciation of the parameter recovery by stratum that the tree layer and shrub play a determining role in the semi-arid and sub-humid floors. In the estimation of the occupied soil it is shrub strata for the semiarid and tree layer for the sub-humid.The vital space per species depends on its density and its regenerative capacity, for the eight dominant species and main characteristics of the forests formations it ranges between 28 and 222 square meters depending on the species inducing misconduct densities and silviculturals.It is necessary to undertake work planting or silvicultural intervention to preserve these strata with the component species to be sure to provide stability to the formations under study.

The Finite Element Approximation in Hyperbolic Equation and Its Application—The Pollution of the Water in the West of Algeria as an Example

Hyperbolic variational equations are discussed and their existence and uniqueness of weak solution is established over in the last six decades. In this paper the hyperbolic equations (strong formula) can be transformed into a Hyperbolic variational equations. In this research, we propose a time-space discretization to show the existence and uniqueness of the discrete solution and how we apply it in the transport problem. The proposed approach stands on a discrete L∞-stability property with respect to the right-hand side and the boundary conditions of our problem which has been proposed. Furthermore the numerical example is given for the pollution in the smooth fluid as water and we have taken the pollution of the water in the west of Algeria as an example.