Estimation of Dietary Exposure to Sodium Benzoate (E211) and Potassium Sorbate (E202) of Children and Adolescents in the Oran Region, Algeria.

Sodium benzoate (E211) and potassium sorbate (E202) are two preservatives widely used alone or in combination in the food industry in Algeria. This study aims to estimate the dietary exposure of children and adolescents to these substances in Oran Province (Algeria) and to assess the risks incurred in consuming these two preservatives. For this, a total of 116 commercial food samples were analyzed for potassium sorbate and sodium benzoate content by HPLC, and a survey was carried out on 250 children and 765 adolescents using a consumption frequency questionnaire as the method.

Fairness and Contractual Performance in Vertical Linkages Within an Uncertain Environment: A Case of a Tomato Value Chain.

In developing countries with uncertain institutional environments, ensuring fairness in contractual arrangements within food value chains is crucial to overcome modern challenges. This paper empirically investigates the vertical relationship between tomato growers and canneries in Algerian agriculture to assess the determinants of contractual performances and price fairness implications. The study is based on an analysis of a comprehensive dataset of 9127 tomato growers engaged in contract farming over four years (2018-2021).

Evaluation of Probiotic Potential and Functional Properties of Strains Isolated from Dhan, Traditional Algerian Goat Milk Butter.

Goat milk butter, locally known as "Dhan", from the Sfisfa region of Algeria, holds significant cultural and economic value. This study investigates the probiotic properties of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) present in Dhan, focusing particularly on strains. Molecular identification using 16S rRNA revealed a dominance of and , forming a substantial part of the bacterial profile.

From Binary to Multi-Class Classification: A Two-Step Hybrid CNN-ViT Model for Chest Disease Classification Based on X-Ray Images.

Background/objectives: Chest disease identification for Tuberculosis and Pneumonia diseases presents diagnostic challenges due to overlapping radiographic features and the limited availability of expert radiologists, especially in developing countries. The present study aims to address these challenges by developing a Computer-Aided Diagnosis (CAD) system to provide consistent and objective analyses of chest X-ray images, thereby reducing potential human error. By leveraging the complementary strengths of convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and vision transformers (ViTs), we propose a hybrid model for the accurate detection of Tuberculosis and for distinguishing between Tuberculosis and Pneumonia.

Mitigating Algorithmic Bias in AI-Driven Cardiovascular Imaging for Fairer Diagnostics.

: The research addresses algorithmic bias in deep learning models for cardiovascular risk prediction, focusing on fairness across demographic and socioeconomic groups to mitigate health disparities. It integrates fairness-aware algorithms, susceptible carrier-infected-recovered (SCIR) models, and interpretability frameworks to combine fairness with actionable AI insights supported by robust segmentation and classification metrics. : The research utilised quantitative 3D/4D heart magnetic resonance imaging and tabular datasets from the Cardiac Atlas Project's (CAP) open challenges to explore AI-driven methodologies for mitigating algorithmic bias in cardiac imaging.

Channel and Spatial Attention in Chest X-Ray Radiographs: Advancing Person Identification and Verification with Self-Residual Attention Network.

Background/objectives: In contrast to traditional biometric modalities, such as facial recognition, fingerprints, and iris scans or even DNA, the research orientation towards chest X-ray recognition has been spurred by its remarkable recognition rates. Capturing the intricate anatomical nuances of an individual's skeletal structure, the ribcage of the chest, lungs, and heart, chest X-rays have emerged as a focal point for identification and verification, especially in the forensic field, even in scenarios where the human body damaged or disfigured. Discriminative feature embedding is essential for large-scale image verification, especially in applying chest X-ray radiographs for identity identification and verification.

Infectious Bursal Disease Virus in Algeria: Persistent Circulation of Very Virulent Strains in Spite of Control Efforts.

Infectious bursal disease (IBD) is among the most impactful immunosuppressive diseases of poultry. Its agent, infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV), is prone to both mutation and reassortment, resulting in a remarkable variability. Traditionally, IBDV characterization relies on antigenicity and pathogenicity assessment, but multiple phylogenetic classifications have been recently proposed, whose implementation in molecular surveys helps generating informative and standardized epidemiological data.

Environmental mediation of colistin resistance in the African context. A systematic scoping review.

Objectives: The prevalence of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) among Gram-negative bacteria is a major global health concern. Resistance to last-resort antibiotics like colistin is particularly alarming. This study reviews how environmental factors have contributed to colistin resistance in the African context, where reports of colistin-resistant Gram-negative organisms are emerging.

Novel two-parameter quadratic exponential distribution: Properties, simulation, and applications.

This research paper introduces a novel two-parameter quadratic exponential distribution (NTPQED), thoroughly examining its statistical properties and practical applications. The study delves into essential characteristics of the distribution, including its asymptotic behavior, moments, order statistics, and entropies. Additionally, we present fuzzy reliability, value at risk, mean excess function, limited expected value function, tail value at risk, and tail variance.

Improved exponential smoothing grey-holt models for electricity price forecasting using whale optimization.

This study introduces a ground-breaking approach, the Whale Optimization Algorithm (WOA)-based multivariate exponential smoothing Grey-Holt (GMHES) model, designed for electricity price forecasting. Key features of the proposed WOA-GMHES(1,N) model include leveraging historical data to comprehend the underlying trends in electricity prices and utilizing the WOA algorithm for adaptive optimization of model parameters to capture evolving market dynamics. Evaluating the model on authentic high- and low-voltage electricity price data from Cameroon demonstrates its superiority over competing models.

The power new XLindley distribution: Statistical inference, fuzzy reliability, and applications.

This paper introduces the power new XLindley (PNXL) distribution, a novel two-parameter distribution derived using the power transformation method applied to the XLindley distribution. We thoroughly explore the structural properties of the PNXL distribution, including the th moment about the origin, moment generating function, survival rate function, distribution function, hazard rate function, skewness, kurtosis, and coefficient of variation. Additionally, we derive the quantile function, fuzzy reliability, reliability measures, stochastic ordering, and actuarial measures for this new distribution.

Biomechanical performance of ATOZ expander: Finite-element analysis.

Introduction: Microimplant-assisted rapid palatal expansion appliances have been used for the treatment of orthodontic patients with maxillary deficiency. A new design named ATOZ (applicable from A to Z) was recently introduced to expand the scope of treatment in early permanent dentition. The objective of this study was to analyze the biomechanical performance of the ATOZ expander with various microimplants configurations using finite-element method.

Multiscale partitioning effects of livestock grazing management on plant community composition and diversity in arid rangelands.

Arid steppe rangelands in North Africa are highly significant ecosystems that are exceedingly sensitive to global warming and are also influenced by severe grazing and heavy utilization practices. Consequently, it is imperative to conduct extensive investigations regarding the impact of overgrazing due to increased sheep populations on plant diversity in these regions. The objective of this study is to examine the effect of two grazing managements (grazing-excluded vs.

The evaluation of . extract by GC-MS coupled with in silico study as potent inhibitors of human pancreatic lipase.

L. leaves have a long history of traditional use in treating hemorrhoids, diarrhea, rheumatic discomfort, and stomachaches. The aerial part of this plant is extracted using hexane after hydroalcoholic maceration.

Calcium-atom-modified boron phosphide (BP) biphenylene as an efficient hydrogen storage material.

Porous nanosheets have attracted significant attention as viable options for energy storage materials because of their exceptionally large specific surface areas. A recent study (, 2024, , 33-39) has demonstrated that Li/Na-metalized inorganic BP-biphenylene (b-BP) and graphenylene (g-BP) analogues possess suitable functionalities for hydrogen (H) storage. Herein, we evaluate the H storage performance of alkaline earth metal (AEM = Be, Mg, Ca)-decorated b-BP and g-BP structures based on first-principles density functional theory (DFT) calculations.

Optimizing the microwave-assisted hydrothermal extraction of pectin from tangerine by-product and its physicochemical, structural, and functional properties.

Microwave-assisted hydrothermal extraction (MAHE) was optimized using a Box-Behnken design (BBD) of the response surface methodology (RSM) for optimal recovery of pectin from tangerine peel (TPP). The effects of three factors (pH, irradiation time and temperature) on extraction yield (EY), galacturonic acid content (GAC) and degree of esterification (DE) of pectin were investigated. The optimal extraction conditions were as follows: pH 1.

Anxiety and Depression Among Adults and Children With Celiac Disease: A Meta-Analysis of Different Psychiatry Scales.

Background: Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune disorder in which genetically susceptible individuals cannot digest gluten (wheat) and its homologs such as Scalin (rye) and Hordein (barley).

Aim: This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to investigate the measures of associations between CD and psychiatric disorders, specifically anxiety and depression, and explore the relationship between adherence to a Gluten-Free Diet (GFD) and the psychiatric aspects of the disease.

Methods: We searched PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science for articles investigating anxiety and depression in CD patients.

Phytochemical profiling and evaluation of compounds targeting Leishmania N-myristoyltransferase: molecular docking, drug-likeness, and toxicity analyses.

Background: has long been recognized for its therapeutic properties against various diseases. Among these is leishmaniasis, a parasitic infection that remains a global health challenge. Targeting Leishmania N-myristoyltransferase (NMT), a crucial enzyme for parasite survival, represents a promising therapeutic approach.

Highlighting chromosomal rearrangements of five species of Galliformes (Domestic fowl, Common and Japanese quail, Barbary and Chukar partridge) and the Houbara bustard, an endangered Otidiformes: banding cytogenetic is a powerful tool.

Birds are one of the most diverse groups among terrestrial vertebrates. They evolved from theropod dinosaurs, are closely related to the sauropsid group and separated from crocodiles about 240 million years ago. According to the IUCN, 12% of bird populations are threatened with potential extinction.

Charge State Influence on Stability and Isomerism in Dehydrogenated PAHs: Insights from Anthracene, Acridine, and Phenazine.

In this study, we systematically explored the stability and isomerism of neutral and dehydrogenated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in various charge states, focusing on anthracene, acridine, and phenazine. Our findings highlight key aspects that deepen the understanding of these molecules' reactivity and stability, relevant in both laboratory and astrophysical contexts. Structural symmetry and the presence of nitrogen atoms significantly impact PAH stability and reactivity.

Comprehensive annotated checklist of monogenean diversity and distribution in Algerian marine fish.

A comprehensive checklist of monogenean parasites from marine fish in Algeria was compiled by reviewing the entire available literature, resulting in a detailed parasite-host and host-parasite list. This checklist includes 156 species across 71 genera and 23 families of monogeneans, with 136 species identified to the species level, while the remaining 20 species are identified only to the genus (19 species) or subfamily level (1 species). These parasites have been reported from 82 marine fish hosts, spanning 34 families: 15 species of Elasmobranchii, 1 of Holocephali, and 66 of Teleostei.

Performance of in nutrient removal and tolerance in Halloufa Wetland, Algeria.

Phytoremediation is an effective and sustainable method for removing pollutants from wastewater. This study investigates the phytoremediation capabilities of , a halophytic Saharan plant species, for excess phosphorus and nitrogen in domestic wastewater. The plants were sourced from the "" wetland, a wastewater discharge area in the north of El-Oued, south-eastern Algeria.

Exploring the efficacy of alga for cadmium and copper biosorption: an integrated experimental and computational study.

Pollution by heavy metals is a major global issue. The biosorptive removal of Cd and Cu by () was evaluated in this work. FTIR and XRD analysis were performed to determine the characteristics of the biosorbent.

Robotic and laparoscopic minimally invasive surgery for colorectal cancer in Africa: an outcome comparison endorsed by the Nigerian society for colorectal disorders.

Background: Minimally invasive surgery for colorectal cancer (CRC) offer superior outcomes compared to open surgery. This study aimed to review the robotic and laparoscopic procedures for CRC performed in Africa, and compare the mean surgery duration, blood loss, hospital stay, rate of conversion, and prevalence of morbidity and mortality. This is the first study to compare the outcomes of robotic and laparoscopic surgeries for CRC in Africa.

An Overview of Continuing Medical Education/Continuing Professional Development Systems in the Middle East and North Africa: A Mixed Methods Assessment.

The aims of this assessment were to describe the requirements for physicians to engage in CME/CPD; explore perceptions of in-country SMEs of their CME/CPD systems; describe perceptions of in-country physicians about interprofessional continuing education (IPCE) and independent CME/CPD; and provide recommendations that may be adopted to improve quality and effectiveness. An assessment of CME/CPD systems in the Middle East and North Africa was conducted using a mixed-methods approach that included 1:1 interviews with in-country SMEs and an electronic survey capturing qualitative and quantitative data from practicing in-country physicians. The results of this assessment were strongly influenced by Egypt and Israel in the Middle East, and Algeria and Morocco in North Africa.