Effects of long-term chlorpyrifos exposure on moulting and growth of Armadillo officinalis Dumèril, 1816 (Crustacea, Isopoda, Oniscidea)

Moumene Maya,Benmouhoub Karima Hachemaoui,Sayah Chafika Mouhoub,Kendi Salima,Kadji Hafsa Djoudad,Yesguer Saddek,Habold Caroline 한국응용곤충학회 2024 Journal of Asia-Pacific Entomology Vol.27 No.1

The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term effects of the insecticide chlorpyrifos on the moulting and growth of the terrestrial isopods Armadillo officinalis. Adult woodlice were exposed to chlorpyrifos at concen trations of 5, 10, 20, 40 mg/kg dry soil and compared to a control. During 100 days of exposure, effects on moulting and growth were investigated. The duration of premoult, ecdysis and intermoult stages were estimated. Also, the cuticle width (CW) and length (CL) were measured and their size increase and specific growth were calculated. The results showed that exposure to chlorpyrifos induced adverse effects on moulting in the terrestrial isopod Armadillo officinalis, mainly at the higher concentrations (20 mg and 40 mg/kg dry soil). Indeed, it decreased the percentage of moulting animals, delayed moulting, decreased the number of completed moult, extended the premoult stage, prolonged ecdysis, and reduced intermoult duration. Furthermore, these findings showed that chlorpyrifos exposure impaired also growth of Armadillo officinalis, mainly at the highest concen tration (40 mg/kg dry soi), by decreasing weight gain (0.94 ± 2.14 mg), cuticle length gain (0.26 ± 0.06 mm) and specific growth rate (SGR) (0.04 ± 0.01 mm/days) compared to the control (Weight gain = 16.5 ± 1.84 mg; CL gain = 0.65 ± 0.07 mm; SGR = 0.08 ± 0.01). The present study highlighted the adverse effects of chlorpyrifos on moulting and growth of Armadillo officinalis, which raises concern about consequences of chlorpyrifos exposure on population dynamic of this species.

Constrained model predictive control of proton exchange membrane fuel cell

Muhammad Abdullah,Moumen Idres 대한기계학회 2014 JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Vol.28 No.9

A constrained model predictive control (MPC) is designed to regulate the air flow rate of proton exchange membrane fuel cell(PEMFC). Oxygen excess ratio, compressor flow rate and supply manifold pressure are constrained to avoid oxygen starvation, surge andchoke phenomena. This is achieved by manipulating compressor voltage and stack current. The choice of the manipulated input to satisfya constraint is investigated. Surge and choke avoidance is successful, when compressor voltage is manipulated. When stack current isutilized to satisfy surge and choke constraints, a large unrealistic current is needed. Oxygen starvation is successfully avoided utilizingstack current, while compressor voltage manipulation fails to prevent oxygen starvation. Thus, a current governor is implemented to handleoxygen starvation, while the compressor voltage is constrained to avoid surge and choke. Quadratic programming optimization,Laguerre and exponential weight function are employed to reduce the computational burden of the controller. The simulation resultsprove that the proposed controller managed to satisfy all constraints without any conflict.

Fuel cell starvation control using model predictive technique with Laguerre and exponential weight functions

Muhammad Abdullah,Moumen Idres 대한기계학회 2014 JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Vol.28 No.5

Fuel cell system is a complicated system that requires an efficient controller. Model predictive control is a prime candidate for its optimizationand constraint handling features. In this work, an improved model predictive control (MPC) with Laguerre and exponentialweight functions is proposed to control fuel cell oxygen starvation problem. To get the best performance of MPC, the control and predictionhorizons are selected as large as possible within the computation limit. An exponential weight function is applied to place more emphasison the current time and less emphasis on the future time in the optimization process. This leads to stable numerical solution forlarge prediction horizons. Laguerre functions are used to capture most of the control trajectory, while reducing the controller computationtime and memory for large prediction horizons. Robustness and stability of the proposed controller are assessed using Monte-Carlo simulations. Results verify that the modified MPC is able to mimic the performance of the infinite horizon controller, discrete linear quadraticregulator (DLQR). The controller computation time is reduced approximately by one order of magnitude compared to traditional MPCscheme. Results from Monte-Carlo simulations prove that the proposed controller is robust and stable up to system parameters uncertaintyof 40%.

Synthesis, conductivity, and vibrational spectroscopy of tetraphenylphosphonium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide

Haddad, Boumediene,Paolone, Annalisa,Villemin, Didier,Taqiyeddine, Moumene,Belarbi, El-habib,Bresson, Serge,Rahmouni, Mustapha,Dhumal, Nilesh R.,Kim, Hyung J.,Kiefer, Johannes Elsevier 2017 Journal of molecular structure Vol.1146 No.-

<P><B>Abstract</B></P> <P>The reaction of lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide with tetraphenylphosphonium bromide in water leads to the formation of tetraphenylphosphonium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide ([PPh<SUB>4</SUB> <SUP>+</SUP>][(CF<SUB>3</SUB>SO<SUB>2</SUB>)<SUB>2</SUB>N<SUP>−</SUP>]). The obtained compound was identified by means of <SUP>1</SUP>H, <SUP>13</SUP>C, <SUP>19</SUP>F and <SUP>31</SUP>P NMR spectroscopy. Although it has a structure similar to ionic liquids, it exhibits a melting point above 100 °C. Besides describing the synthesis, a detailed characterization of its conductivity and vibrational spectroscopic properties is presented. For the latter, FT-Raman and FTIR/ATR spectroscopies are used in the wavenumber range from 150 to 3500 cm<SUP>−1</SUP> and from 600 to 3500 cm<SUP>−1</SUP>, respectively. Density functional theory calculations reveal a minor influence of the interionic interactions on the vibrational structure. Consequently, the computational vibrational spectra of the isolated ions show a good agreement with the experimental data. A detailed vibrational assignment is presented. Furthermore, the conductivity data indicate a solid-solid phase transition about 130 K below the melting point.</P> <P><B>Highlights</B></P> <P> <UL> <LI> Conductivity data indicate a solid-solid phase transition. </LI> <LI> Interionic interactions play a minor role in the vibrational structure of PPh<SUB>4</SUB> NTf<SUB>2</SUB>. </LI> <LI> Computational and experimental spectra agree well. </LI> </UL> </P>

The Accumulation of Al, As, Li, Mg, Mn, S, Si, Ti, and V in the Mussel Mytilus galloprovincialis from the Moroccan Mediterranean Coastal Areas: Trends Pertaining to Seasons and Levels

Ghizlane Azizi,Mostafa Layachi,Mustapha Akodad,Mourad Baghour,Mohammad Ghalit,Elkhadir Gharibi,Hamza Ngadi,Abdelmajid Moumen 한국해양과학기술원 2020 Ocean science journal Vol.55 No.3

The accumulation levels of elements (Al, As, Li, Mg, Mn, S, Si, Ti, and V) in the soft tissue of mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis), collected monthly in 2016, from Junuary to December, from sampling sites of the mussel farming facilities installed in the coastal areas of Al Hoceima, were investigated. The studied element levels were determined by using Inductively Coupled Plasma - Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES 720-ES). Descending order of the average element concentrations in soft tissue ofM. galloprovincialiswas S > Mg > Si> Al > Mn > Ti > As >V > Li. Element contents (Al, As, Mg, S and V) in tissue of mussels were significantly different (P < 0.05) between seasons, being highest in winter and lowest in summer. Strong correlations were observed between studied elements and chlorophylla, indicating the importance of food for metal bioaccumulation in mussels in this period of the season. The observed strong correlations for metal levels in tissues of mussels can be explained by their common sources, which are associated with anthropogenic effects. The detected seasonal variations of investigated element concentrations in soft tissues ofM. galloprovincialiscould be attributed to physicochemical parameters such as temperature, salinity, dissolved oxygen, nutrients and food availability, as well as the biological status of the mussel. This study may provide basic information for detecting the current pollution status of investigated elements in Al Hoceima coasts from the Moroccan Mediterranean Sea usingM. galloprovincialisas biological indicators.

Evaluation of Combined Quantification of PCA3 and AMACR Gene Expression for Molecular Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer in Moroccan Patients by RT-qPCR

Maane, Imane Abdellaoui,El Hadi, Hicham,Qmichou, Zineb,Al Bouzidi, Abderrahmane,Bakri, Youssef,Sefrioui, Hassan,Dakka, Nadia,Moumen, Abdeladim Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2016 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.17 No.12

Prostate cancer (PCa) remains one of the most widespread and perplexing of all human malignancies. Assessment of gene expression is thought to have an important impact on cancer diagnosis, prognosis and therapeutic decisions. In this context, we explored combined expression of PCa related target genes AMACR and PCA3 in 126 formalin fixed paraffin embedded prostate tissues (FFPE) from Moroccan patients, using quantitative real time reverse transcription-PCR (RT-qPCR). This quantification required data normalization accomplished using stably expressed reference genes (RGs). A panel of twelve RG was assessed, data being analyzed using GenEx V6 based on geNorm, NormFinder and statistical methods. Accordingly, the hnRNP A1 gene was identified and selected as the most stably expressed RG for reliable and accurate gene expression quantification in prostate tissues. The ratios of both PCA3 and AMACR gene expression relative to that of the hnRNP A1 gene were calculated and the performance of each target gene for PCa diagnosis was evaluated using receiver-operating characteristics. PCA3 and AMACR mRNA quantification based on RT-qPCR may prove useful in PCa diagnosis. Of particular interesting, combining PCA3 and AMACR quantification improved PCa prediction by increasing sensitivity with retention of good specificity.