Protective Effect of Ceratonia siliqua L. Against a Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Alterations in Liver and Kidney in Rat

Kais Rtibi,Slimen Selmi,Mohammed-Amine Jabri,Jamel El-Benna,Mohamed Amri,Lamjed Marzouki,Hichem Sebai 한국식품영양과학회 2016 Journal of medicinal food Vol.19 No.9

The aim of the present study is to investigate the potential protective role of Ceratonia siliqua L. against dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced oxidative damage and inflammation in liver and kidney of rats. The hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity were induced in rats by oral administration of synthetic DSS (5%) in the drinking water for over 7 days. However, carob pods aqueous extract (CPAE; 50 and 100 mg/kg body weight) was given by oral administration for 21 days. Myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, malondialdehyde, H2O2 content, as well as the levels of antioxidant enzymes in organs were measured to observe the possible mechanisms. As a result, the CPAE counteracted DSS-induced increase of MPO activity, lipoperoxidation, and the activity of antioxidant enzymes, such as superoxide dismutase and catalase (CAT). DSS administration increased also in the organs hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and free iron levels, whereas the CPAE pretreatment reversed all intracellular mediator perturbations. It was concluded that the CPAE exerted a potential protective effect against DSSinduced inflammation and oxidative stress in the rat organs. Consequently, it is essential that adequate care is taken when we use carob pods for patients with hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity.

A comparative study of LPWAN technologies for large-scale IoT deployment

Kais Mekki,Eddy Bajic,Frederic Chaxel,Fernand Meyer 한국통신학회 2019 ICT Express Vol.5 No.1

By 2020, more than 50 billion devices will be connected through radio communications. In conjunction with the rapid growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) market, low power wide area networks (LPWAN) have become a popular low-rate long-range radio communication technology. Sigfox, LoRa, and NB-IoT are the three leading LPWAN technologies that compete for large-scale IoT deployment. This paper provides a comprehensive and comparative study of these technologies, which serve as efficient solutions to connect smart, autonomous, and heterogeneous devices. We show that Sigfox and LoRa are advantageous in terms of battery lifetime, capacity, and cost. Meanwhile, NB-IoT offers benefits in terms of latency and quality of service. In addition, we analyze the IoT success factors of these LPWAN technologies, and we consider application scenarios and explain which technology is the best fit for each of these scenarios.

Opposite Effect of Opuntia ficus-indica L. Juice Depending on Fruit Maturity Stage on Gastrointestinal Physiological Parameters in Rat

Kais Rtibi,Slimen Selmi,Dhekra Grami,Mohamed Amri,Hichem Sebai,Lamjed Marzouki 한국식품영양과학회 2018 Journal of medicinal food Vol.21 No.6

The phytochemical composition and the effect of the green and ripe Opuntia ficus-indica juice on some gastrointestinal (GI) physiological parameters such as stomach emptying and small-intestinal motility and permeability were determined in rats administered multiple concentrations of the prickly pear juice (5, 10, and 20 mL kg−1, b.w., p.o.). Other separate groups of rats were received, respectively; sodium chloride (0.9%, b.w., p.o.), clonidine (α-2-adrenergic agonist, 1 mg kg−1, b.w., i.p.), yohimbine (α-2-adrenergic antagonist, 2 mg kg−1, b.w., i.p.), and loperamide (5 mg kg−1, b.w., p.o.). In vivo reverse effect of juice on GI physiological parameters was investigated using a charcoal meal test, phenol-red colorimetric method, loperamide-induced acute constipation, and castor oil-caused small-bowel hypersecretion. However, the opposite in vitro influence of juice on intestinal permeability homeostasis was assessed by the Ussing chamber system. Mature prickly pear juice administration stimulated significantly and dose dependently the GI transit (GIT; 8–26%) and gastric emptying (0.9–11%) in a rat model. Conversely, the immature prickly pear juice reduced gastric emptying (7–23%), GIT (10–28%), and diarrhea (59–88%). Moreover, the standard drugs have produced their antagonistic effects on GI physiological functions. The permeability of the isolated perfused rat small-intestine has a paradoxical response flowing prickly pear juices administration at diverse doses and maturity grade. Most importantly, the quantitative phytochemical analyses of both juices showed a different composition depending on the degree of maturity. In conclusion, the prickly pear juice at two distinct phases of maturity has different phytochemical characteristics and opposite effects on GI physiological actions in rat.

Sol–gel reverse micelle preparation and characterization of N-doped TiO2: Efficient photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue in water under visible light

Kais Elghniji,Elimame Elaloui,Mohamed Ksibi 한국공업화학회 2012 Journal of Industrial and Engineering Chemistry Vol.18 No.1

A series of N-substituted titanium (IV) 2-ethyl-1,3-hexanediolate Ti(C32H68O8) precursor were synthesized by the sol–gel reverse micelle (SGRM) method. The ethylene diaminetetraacetic acid (Na2EDTA) has been used as a source of nitrogen n species. The obtained solids were calcined at 500˚ C for 1 h to obtain photoactive phases. The effect of nitrogen content (N/Ti = 0.025; 0.03; 0.05 atomic ratios) is examined. The materials were characterized by XRD, BET, TG/DTA and UV–vis reflectance spectroscopy (DRS). Photocatalytic decolourisation of methylen blue (MB) in aqueous solution was carried out using nano, doped TiO2. Experimental results revealed that N/Ti = 0.05 atomic ratio N-doped TiO2 required shorter irradiation time for complete decolourisation of MB than pure nano TiO2 and commercial (Degussa P-25) TiO2.

Foreign Direct Investment, Financial Development and Their Impact on the GDP Growth in Low-income Countries

KAIS SAIDI 한국국제경제학회 2018 International Economic Journal Vol.32 No.3

This essay empirically studies the effects and causal links between foreign direct investment (FDI), financial development (FD) and economic growth. The sample consists of the main economies of lowincome countries and the study covers the period 1990–2015. The results of the estimate show that, under certain specific economic conditions, FDI affects positively the level of long-term economic growth; it thus makes it possible to improve the economic situation of these countries. Using Johansen’s cointegration technique, the results find that FD; FDI andGDPgrowth are cointegrated, that shows the pursuit of the long-term equilibrium relationship between them. The error correction model confirms the existence of a double causal relationship between FDI and GDP growth, and between FD and FDI and between GDP growth and FD.

Efficiency and Midgut Histopathological Effect of the Newly Isolated Bacillus thuringiensis KS δ-Endotoxins on the Emergent Pest Tuta absoluta

( Kais Jamoussi ),( Sameh Sellami ),( Zina Nasfi ),( Saloua Krichen Makni ),( Slim Tounsi ) 한국미생물 · 생명공학회 2013 Journal of microbiology and biotechnology Vol.23 No.8

Tuta absoluta (Povolny, 1994) is a devastating moth to the Solanaceae plants. It is a challenging pest to control, especially on tomatoes. In this work, we studied the entomopathogenic activity of the Cry-forming δ-endotoxins produced by Bacillus thuringiensis strain KS and B. thuringiensis kurstaki reference strain HD1 against T. absoluta. These strains carried the cry2, cry1Ab, cry1Aa / cry1Ac, and cry1I genes, and KS also carried a cry1C gene. The δ-endotoxins of KS were approximately twofold more toxic against the third instar larvae than those of HD1, as they showed lower 50% and 90% lethal concentrations (0.80 and 2.70 μg/cm² (δ-endotoxins/tomato leaf)) compared with those of HD1 (1.70 and 4.50 μg/cm²) (p < 0.05). Additionally, the larvae protease extract showed at least six caseinolytic activities, which activated the KS and HD1 δ- endotoxins, yielding the active toxins of about 65 kDa and the protease-resistant core of about 58 kDa. Moreover, the histopathological effects of KS and HD1 δ-endotoxins on the larvae midgut consisted of an apical columnar cell vacuolization, microvillus damage, and epithelial cell disruption. These results showed that the KS strain could be a candidate for T. absoluta control.

SOME NUMERICAL RADIUS INEQUALITIES FOR SEMI-HILBERT SPACE OPERATORS

Feki, Kais Korean Mathematical Society 2021 대한수학회지 Vol.58 No.6

Let A be a positive bounded linear operator acting on a complex Hilbert space (𝓗, ⟨·,·⟩). Let ω_A(T) and ║T║_A denote the A-numerical radius and the A-operator seminorm of an operator T acting on the semi-Hilbert space (𝓗, ⟨·,·⟩_A), respectively, where ⟨x, y⟩_A := ⟨Ax, y⟩ for all x, y ∈ 𝓗. In this paper, we show with different techniques from that used by Kittaneh in [24] that $$\frac{1}{4}{\parallel}T^{{\sharp}_A}T+TT^{{\sharp}_A}{\parallel}_A{\leq}{\omega}^2_A(T){\leq}\frac{1}{2}{\parallel}T^{{\sharp}_A}T+TT^{{\sharp}_A}{\parallel}_A.$$ Here T^#_A denotes a distinguished A-adjoint operator of T. Moreover, a considerable improvement of the above inequalities is proved. This allows us to compute the 𝔸-numerical radius of the operator matrix $\(\array{I&T\\0&-I}\)$ where 𝔸 = diag(A, A). In addition, several A-numerical radius inequalities for semi-Hilbert space operators are also established.

Personalization of Document Warehouses: Formalization, Design and Implementation

Khrouf, Kais,Turki, Hela International Journal of Computer ScienceNetwork S 2022 International journal of computer science and netw Vol.22 No.10

In the decision-making domain, a document warehouse is designed to meet the analysis needs of users who may have a wide variety of analysis purposes. In this paper, we propose to integrate the preferences and interactions of users based on profiles to the concept of document warehouses. These profiles guarantee the integration of personalized documents and the collaborative recommendation of documents between different users sharing common interests.

Generic Multidimensional Model of Complex Data: Design and Implementation

Khrouf, Kais,Turki, Hela International Journal of Computer ScienceNetwork S 2021 International journal of computer science and netw Vol.21 No.12

The use of data analysis on large volumes of data constitutes a challenge for deducting knowledge and new information. Data can be heterogeneous and complex: Semi-structured data (Example: XML), Data from social networks (Example: Tweets) and Factual data (Example: Spreading of Covid-19). In this paper, we propose a generic multidimensional model in order to analyze complex data, according to several dimensions.

Generic Multidimensional Model of Complex Data: Design and Implementation

Khrouf, Kais,Turki, Hela International Journal of Computer ScienceNetwork S 2021 International journal of computer science and netw Vol.21 No.spc12

The use of data analysis on large volumes of data constitutes a challenge for deducting knowledge and new information. Data can be heterogeneous and complex: Semi-structured data (Example: XML), Data from social networks (Example: Tweets) and Factual data (Example: Spreading of Covid-19). In this paper, we propose a generic multidimensional model in order to analyze complex data, according to several dimensions.