University of Sciences and Technology Houari Boumediene

Several studies have invested in machine learning classifiers to protect plants from diseases by processing leaf images. Most of the proposed classifiers are trained and evaluated with small datasets, focusing on the extraction of hand-crafted features from image to classify the leaves. In this study, we have used a large dataset compared to the state-of-the art. Here, the dataset contains 14,828 images of tomato leaves infected with nine diseases. To train our classifier, we have introduced the Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) as a learning algorithm. One of the biggest advantages of CNN is the automatic extraction of features by processing directly the raw images. To analyze the proposed deep model, we have used visualization methods to understand symptoms and to localize disease regions in leaf. The obtained results are encouraging, reaching 99.18% of accuracy, which ourperforms dramatically shallow models, and they can be used as a practical tool for farmers to protect tomato against disease.

Security in mobile ad hoc networks is difficult to achieve, notably because of the vulnerability of wireless links, the limited physical protection of nodes, the dynamically changing topology, the absence of a certification authority, and the lack of a centralized monitoring or management point. Earlier studies on mobile ad hoc networks (MANETs) aimed at proposing protocols for some fundamental problems, such as routing, and tried to cope with the challenges imposed by the new environment. These protocols, however, fully trust all nodes and do not consider the security aspect. They are consequently vulnerable to attacks and misbehavior. More recent studies focused on security problems in MANETs, and proposed mechanisms to secure protocols and applications. This article surveys these studies. It presents and discusses several security problems along with the currently proposed solutions (as of July 2005) at different network layers of MANETs. Security issues involved in this article include routing and data forwarding, medium access, key management and intrusion detection systems (IDSs). This survey also includes an overview of security in a particular type of MANET, namely, wireless sensor networks (WSNs).

Infrared spectroscopy is used to investigate the transformation of carboxyl-terminated alkyl chains immobilized on a surface into succinimidyl ester-terminated chains by reaction with an aqueous solution of N-ethyl-N'-(3-(dimethylamino)propyl)carbodiimide (EDC) and N-hydroxysuccinimide (NHS). The acid chains are covalently grafted at the surface of hydrogenated porous silicon whose large specific surface area allows for assessing the activation yield in a semiquantitative way by infrared (IR) spectroscopy and detecting trace amounts of surface products and/or reaction products of small IR cross section. In this way, we rationalize the different reaction paths and optimize the reaction conditions to obtain as pure as possible succinimidyl ester-terminated surfaces. A diagram mapping the surface composition after activation was constructed by systematically varying the solution composition. Results are accounted for by NHS surface adsorption and a kinetic competition between the various EDC-induced surface reactions.

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBDs), including Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis are complex disorders with undetermined etiology. Several hypotheses suggest that IBDs result from an abnormal immune response against endogenous flora and luminal antigens in genetically susceptible individuals. The dysfunction of the mucosal immune response is implicated in the pathogenesis of IBD. The balance between pro-inflammatory cytokines [tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α, interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-8, and IL-17A], anti-inflammatory cytokines (IL-4 and IL-13), and immunoregulatory cytokines (IL-10 and transforming growth factors β) is disturbed. Moreover, evidence from animal and clinical studies demonstrate a positive correlation between an increased concentration of nitric oxide (NO) and the severity of the disease. Interestingly, proinflammatory cytokines are involved in the up-regulation of inducible oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in IBD. However, anti-inflammatory and immunoregulatory cytokines are responsible for the negative regulation of iNOS. A positive correlation between NO production and increased pro-inflammatory cytokine levels (TNF-α, IL-6, IL-17, IL-12, and interferon-γ) were reported in patients with IBD. This review focuses on the role of cytokines in intestinal inflammation and their relationship with NO in IBD.

The adsorption of methylene blue (MB) on activated carbons prepared from date stones with different degree of activation has been investigated. Equilibrium adsorption data of MB was carried out at 298 K. Four isotherm models (Freundlich, Langmuir, Redlich–Peterson and Sips) were tested for modeling the adsorption isotherms by nonlinear method. The three-parameter equations (Redlich–Peterson and Sips) showed more applicability than the two-parameter equations (Freundlich and Langmuir), which can be explained by the fact that these have three adjustable parameters. The best fit was achieved with the Redlich–Peterson equation according to the high value of correlation coefficient. All the samples were capable of retaining the MB, with the best result being reached by the sample with higher burn-off. Date stones activated carbon showed high adsorption capacity of 460 mg/g, calculated from the Sips isotherm model.

Patient biopotentials are usually measured with conventional disposable Ag/AgCl electrodes. These electrodes provide excellent signal quality but are irritating for long-term use. Skin preparation is usually required prior to the application of electrodes such as shaving and cleansing with alcohol. To overcome these difficulties, researchers and caregivers seek alternative electrodes that would be acceptable in clinical and research environments. Dry electrodes that operate without gel, adhesive or even skin preparation have been studied for many decades. They are used in research applications, but they have yet to achieve acceptance for medical use. So far, a complete comparison and evaluation of dry electrodes is not well described in the literature. This work compares dry electrodes for biomedical use and physiological research, and reviews some novel systems developed for cardiac monitoring. Lastly, the paper provides suggestions to develop a dry-electrode-based system for mobile and long-term cardiac monitoring applications.

The location and timing of domestication of the olive tree, a key crop in Early Mediterranean societies, remain hotly debated. Here, we unravel the history of wild olives (oleasters), and then infer the primary origins of the domesticated olive. Phylogeography and Bayesian molecular dating analyses based on plastid genome profiling of 1263 oleasters and 534 cultivated genotypes reveal three main lineages of pre-Quaternary origin. Regional hotspots of plastid diversity, species distribution modelling and macrofossils support the existence of three long-term refugia; namely the Near East (including Cyprus), the Aegean area and the Strait of Gibraltar. These ancestral wild gene pools have provided the essential foundations for cultivated olive breeding. Comparison of the geographical pattern of plastid diversity between wild and cultivated olives indicates the cradle of first domestication in the northern Levant followed by dispersals across the Mediterranean basin in parallel with the expansion of civilizations and human exchanges in this part of the world.

Following an avalanche, one of the factors that affect victims’ chance of survival is the speed with which they are located and dug out. Rescue teams use techniques like trained rescue dogs and electronic transceivers to locate victims. However, the resources and time required to deploy rescue teams are major bottlenecks that decrease a victim’s chance of survival. Advances in the field of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) have enabled the use of flying robots equipped with sensors like optical cameras to assess the damage caused by natural or manmade disasters and locate victims in the debris. In this paper, we propose assisting avalanche search and rescue (SAR) operations with UAVs fitted with vision cameras. The sequence of images of the avalanche debris captured by the UAV is processed with a pre-trained Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) to extract discriminative features. A trained linear Support Vector Machine (SVM) is integrated at the top of the CNN to detect objects of interest. Moreover, we introduce a pre-processing method to increase the detection rate and a post-processing method based on a Hidden Markov Model to improve the prediction performance of the classifier. Experimental results conducted on two different datasets at different levels of resolution show that the detection performance increases with an increase in resolution, while the computation time increases. Additionally, they also suggest that a significant decrease in processing time can be achieved thanks to the pre-processing step.

Abstract In recent years, policy‐makers have sought the development of appropriate tools to prevent and manage introductions of invasive species. However, these tools are not well suited for introductions of non‐target species that are unknowingly released alongside intentionally‐introduced species. The most compelling example of such invasion is arguably the topmouth gudgeon Pseudorasbora parva, a small cyprinid species originating from East Asia. A combination of sociological, economical and biological factors has fuelled their rapid invasion since the 1960s; 32 countries (from Central Asia to North Africa) have been invaded in less than 50 years. Based on a combination of monitoring surveys (2535 populations sampled) and literature reviews, this paper aims to quantify and characterise important invasion parameters, such as pathways of introduction, time between introduction and detection, lag phase and plasticity of life history traits. Every decade, five new countries have reported P. parva introduction, mainly resulting from the movement of Chinese carps for fish farming. The mean detection period after first introduction was 4 years, a duration insufficient to prevent their pan‐continental invasion. High phenotypic plasticity in fitness related traits such as growth, early maturity, fecundity, reproductive behaviour and the ability to cope with novel pathogens has predisposed P. parva to being a strong invader. The Pseudorasbora parva invasion has provided quantitative data for the development of 1) early warning systems across different spatial scales; 2) rapid eradication programmes prior to natural spread in open systems and 3) sound risk assessments with emphasis on plasticity of life history traits.

Abstract Extraction experiments with hexane were carried out at atmospheric pressure in Soxhlet, conventional and ultrasound extractions of flaked caraway seeds, and detailed results are given for two major plant extract components, carvone and limonene. The results indicate that carvone yield and plant extract quality are better in ultrasound extraction compared to those given by conventional methodology. Extraction rates of carvone and limonene reported that ultrasound‐assisted extraction was 1.3–2 times more rapid, depending on temperature, than a conventional system, according to the rate constant obtained during the initial 10 minutes of extraction. Moreover, the SEM micrographs provided more evidence for the mechanical effects of ultrasound, mainly appearing on cell walls and shown by the destruction of cells, faulitating the release of their contents, in contrast to conventional maceration or extraction, which involve diffusion of plant extracts across glandular walls and causing cell rupture over longer time periods. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Arbitrary amplitude ion-acoustic solitary waves are addressed in a two-component plasma with a q-nonextensive electron velocity distribution. Our results show that in such a plasma solitary waves, the amplitude and nature of which depend sensitively on the q-nonextensive parameter can exist. Due to the electron nonextensivity, our plasma model can admit compressive as well as rarefactive ion-acoustic solitons. For q>1 (−1<q<1), the lower limit of the allowable Mach numbers is smaller (greater) than its Boltzmannian counterpart, allowing therefore the possibility of the existence of subsonic ion-acoustic solitons. As the nonextensive character of the plasma becomes important, the potential pulse amplitude increases while its width is narrowed. For −1<q<0, our plasma model can admit only rarefactive ion-acoustic solitary waves involving relatively high Mach numbers. Due to the flexibility provided by the nonextensive q-parameter, our results should help in providing a good fit between theoretical and experimental results.

Abstract. We have combined the first satellite maps of the global distribution of phytoplankton functional type and new measurements of phytoplankton-specific isoprene productivities, with available remote marine isoprene observations and a global model, to evaluate our understanding of the marine isoprene source and its impacts on organic aerosol abundances. Using satellite products to scale up data on phytoplankton-specific isoprene productivity to the global oceans, we infer a mean "bottom-up" oceanic isoprene emission of 0.31±0.08 (1σ) Tg/yr. By minimising the mean bias between the model and isoprene observations in the marine atmosphere remote from the continents, we produce a "top-down" oceanic isoprene source estimate of 1.9 Tg/yr. We suggest our reliance on limited atmospheric isoprene data, difficulties in simulating in-situ isoprene production rates in laboratory phytoplankton cultures, and limited knowledge of isoprene production mechanisms across the broad range of phytoplankton communities in the oceans under different environmental conditions as contributors to this difference between the two estimates. Inclusion of secondary organic aerosol (SOA) production from oceanic isoprene in the model with a 2% yield produces small contributions (0.01–1.4%) to observed organic carbon (OC) aerosol mass at three remote marine sites in the Northern and Southern Hemispheres. Based on these findings we suggest an insignificant role for isoprene in modulating remote marine aerosol abundances, giving further support to a recently postulated primary OC source in the remote marine atmosphere.

Novel photochromic dithienylethene-based platinum(II) complexes (C^N^N)Pt(C≡C-DTE-C6H4-D) ((C^N^N) = 4,4'-di(n-hexyl)-6-phenyl-2,2'-bipyridine; D = H, NMe2) were prepared and characterized. Their excellent photochromic properties allow the photoinduced switching of their second-order nonlinear optical properties in solution, as measured by the EFISH technique, due to formation of an extended π-conjugated ligand upon suitable electromagnetic radiation. Insights into the electronic structures of the complexes and the nature of their excited states have been obtained by DFT and TD-DFT calculations. These novel Pt(II) complexes were nanoorganized in polymer films which were poled, affording new materials characterized by a good second-order NLO response that can be easily switched, with an excellent NLO contrast. To the best of our knowledge, our compounds allowed designing the very first examples of switchable NLO polymer films based on metal complexes.

A nonlinear dynamic model for a quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicle is presented with a new vision of state parameter control which is based on Euler angles and open loop positions state observer. This method emphasizes on the control of roll, pitch and yaw angle rather than the translational motions of the UAV. For this reason the system has been presented into two cascade partial parts, the first one relates the rotational motion whose the control law is applied in a closed loop form and the other one reflects the translational motion. A dynamic feedback controller is developed to transform the closed loop part of the system into linear, controllable and decoupled subsystem. The wind parameters estimation of the quadrotor is used to avoid more sensors. Hence an estimator of resulting aerodynamic moments via Lyapunov function is developed. Performance and robustness of the proposed controller are tested in simulation.

Abstract Rosemary oil was extracted by both steam and hydrodistillations then analysed by gas chromatography and gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. The effect of time of extraction enabled us to follow the evolution of the yield and oil composition obtained by both processes. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Abstract Summary: Different lignins were converted into polyols by a chain extension reaction with propylene oxide ( PO ). Thus, soda lignin from Alfa ( Stipa tenacissima ) ( SL ), organosolv lignin from hardwoods ( OL ), kraft lignin ( KL ) from softwood and oxidized organosolv lignin ( OOL ) were oxypropylated in a batch reactor at 180 °C in the presence of KOH as catalyst. The ensuing polyols were characterized by FTIR and 1 H NMR spectroscopy, which showed that they had incorporated poly(propylene oxide) grafts into their structure. Their viscosity varied from 5 mPa · s to infinity, depending on the Lignin / PO ratio and their hydroxy index was in the range of 100–200, which made them suitable for rigid polyurethane foam (RPU) formulations. The RPUs thus obtained had a T g of ca. 60 °C and a thermal conductivity of ≈20 mW/m · K before ageing and ≈25 mW/m · K after accelerated ageing for 10 d at 70 °C. The analyses of the gases inside the cells showed that these were mostly closed, since the partial pressure did not decrease significantly with ageing. Photograph of polyurethane foam made from OLOP . magnified image Photograph of polyurethane foam made from OLOP .

Abstract Both the Borborema Province of NE Brazil and the geological provinces of NW Africa (the Trans-Saharan Orogen consisted of the Tuareg and Benino-Nigerian shields and the Central African Orogen of Cameroon, Chad, and Central African Republic) are complex geological regions with superposition of distinct deformational, metamorphic and magmatic events and final structural configuration during the Brasiliano/Pan-African Orogeny (ca. 625-510 Ma). These provinces represent the site of major mountain building processes in the Ediacaran/Cambrian transition that culminated in the amalgamation of West Gondwana after the collision of the West African-São Luís, São Francisco-Congo, and Saharan paleocontinents. In the last years, discovery and characterization of key tectonic units such as ophiolites, eclogites, HP/UHP rocks, and both oceanic and continental magmatic arcs are helping to clarify these processes and propose tectonic models for the geological evolution of NE Brazil-NW Africa. Connections of the marginal belts that frame these provinces, bordering the eastern margin of the West African-São Luís Craton (Médio Coreaú-Dahomeyides-Gourma-West Tuareg Shield) and the northern margin of the São Francisco-Congo Craton (Rio Preto-Riacho do Pontal-Sergipano-Yaoundé-Central African) are progressively better constrained, while correlations within the interior, highly reworked and sectioned portions of both the Borborema Province, the Benino-Nigerian Shield, the Central and East Tuareg Shield, Western Cameroon, and Adamawa-Yadé domains are more complicated and demand further investigation. Some of the questions of prime importance in this context are the continuation or not of the 1000-920 Ma Cariris Velhos Belt of NE Brazil into NW Africa, and if the basement-dominated North Borborema/Benino-Nigerian (NOBO-BENI) and Alto Pajeú-Alto Moxotó-Rio Capibaribe-Pernambuco-Alagoas/Adamawa-Yade (APAMCAPAY) domains could represent major decratonized blocks (such as LATEA in the Central Tuareg Shield), perhaps developed due to hyperextension and detachment of a Greater São Francisco-Congo paleocontinent northern margin. In this case, the Goiás-Pharusian and Transnordestino-Central African oceanic realms along with restricted internal oceans such as the hypothetical Piancó-Alto Brígida/Western Cameroon (PAB-WECA) Seaway probably separated these ancient paleocontinental blocks during the Neoproterozoic. The development of subduction zones and the docking of Neoproterozoic juvenile terranes welded the hyperextended Archean/Paleoproterozoic lithospheric fragments together and they became squeezed and reworked in between the major cratonic landmasses during the Brasiliano/Pan-African Orogeny. The quest for the sites of ancient oceans and continents that once composed NE Brazil and NW Africa goes on and tentative scenarios will surely benefit from novel geological, isotopic, and geochronological data put forward in the near future.

The model of Cairns et al. [Geophys. Res. Lett. 22, 2709 (1995)] is generalized. A physically meaningful nonextensive nonthermal velocity distribution is outlined. As the nonextensive character of the nonthermal electrons increases, the distribution shoulders may become less or more prominent and high-energy states are less or more probable than in the extensive nonthermal case. It is found that our plasma model supports the coexistence of smooth rarefactive and spiky compressive ion-acoustic solitary waves. The rarefactive solitons are more affected by nonextensivity than their compressive counterpart and a slight increase in the nonextensive parameter may destroy this dual nature.

Environmental context. Laboratory incubation experiments and shipboard measurements in the Southern Atlantic Ocean have provided the first evidence for marine production of monoterpenes. Nine marine phytoplankton monocultures were investigated using a GC-MS equipped with an enantiomerically-selective column and found to emit monoterpenes including (–)-/(+)-pinene, limonene and p-ocimene, all of which were previously thought to be exclusively of terrestrial origin. Maximum levels of 100–200 pptv total monoterpenes were encountered when the ship crossed an active phytoplankton bloom. Abstract. Laboratory incubation experiments and shipboard measurements on the Southern Atlantic Ocean have provided the first evidence for marine production of monoterpenes. Nine marine phytoplankton monocultures were investigated using a GC-MS equipped with an enantiomerically-selective column and found to emit at rates, expressed as nmol C10H16 (monoterpene) g [chlorophyll a]–1 day–1, from 0.3 nmol g [chlorophyll a]–1 day–1 for Skeletonema costatum and Emiliania huxleyi to 225.9 nmol g [chlorophyll a]–1 day–1 for Dunaliella tertiolecta. Nine monoterpenes were identified in the sample and not in the control, namely: (–)-/(+)-pinene, myrcene, (+)-camphene, (–)-sabinene, (+)-3-carene, (–)-pinene, (–)-limonene and p-ocimene. In addition, shipboard measurements of monoterpenes in air were made in January–March 2007, over the South Atlantic Ocean. Monoterpenes were detected in marine air sufficiently far from land as to exclude influence from terrestrial sources. Maximum levels of 100–200 pptv total monoterpenes were encountered when the ship crossed an active phytoplankton bloom, whereas in low chlorophyll regions monoterpenes were mostly below detection limit.

The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) is a well-established eco-hydrological model that has been extensively applied to watersheds across the globe. This work reviews over two decades (2002-2022) of SWAT studies conducted on Mediterranean watersheds. A total of 260 articles have been identified since the earliest documented use of the model in a Mediterranean catchment back in 2002; of which 62% were carried out in Greece, Italy, or Spain. SWAT applications increased significantly in recent years since 86% of the reviewed papers were published in the past decade. A major objective for most of the reviewed works was to check the applicability of SWAT to specific watersheds. A great number of publications included procedures of calibration and validation and reported performance results. SWAT applications in the Mediterranean region mainly cover water resources quantity and quality assessment and hydrologic and environmental impacts evaluation of land use and climate changes. Nevertheless, a tendency towards a multi-purpose use of SWAT is revealed. The numerous examples of SWAT combined with other tools and techniques outline the model's flexibility. Several studies performed constructive comparisons between Mediterranean watersheds' responses or compared SWAT to other models or methods. The effects of inputs on SWAT outputs and innovative model modifications and improvements were also the focus of some of the surveyed articles. However, a significant number of studies reported difficulties regarding data availability, as these are either scarce, have poor resolution or are not freely available. Therefore, it is highly recommended to identify and develop accurate model inputs and testing data to optimize the SWAT performance.