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BackgroundDespite the availability of effective treatment, the control of hypertension remains insufficient. Telemonitoring in the management of hypertension would be an effective way to improve blood pressure control. ObjectiveThe aim of our study will be to evaluate the effects of telemonitoring with antihypertensive treatment titration on blood pressure control in Tunisian patients with hypertension. MethodsOur trial will be a prospective, rater-blinded randomized controlled trial carried out with primary care physicians in the Sahel region of Tunisia. Patients will be eligible for enrollment if they are aged over 35 years, are newly diagnosed with hypertension, or are known to be poorly controlled on antihypertensive therapy. Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to the telemonitoring arm or usual care arm. The telemonitoring arm will involve a weekly telephone call for the collection of the home blood pressure measurements, therapeutic education, and treatment compliance assessment as well as a monthly call for treatment titration and a side effect check. Randomization will be done via the use of an interactive web responsive system, and patients will be stratified by investigation center. Neither participants nor investigators will be masked to the group assignments. The primary outcome will be the change in mean 24-hour systolic blood pressure from baseline to the 6-month follow-up in the 2 groups. All randomized patients who attend the follow-up visit at 6 months and have no missing data for the primary outcome will be included in the analysis. ResultsRecruitment to the trial started in July 2020. The study was initiated with 17 primary care physicians. We expect the inclusion period to last for approximately 6 months. We expect to complete data collection by the end of 2021 and plan to disseminate the results subsequently. ConclusionsThe HOROSCOPE (Home Telemonitoring of Arterial Hypertension With Antihypertensive Treatment Titration: Randomized Controlled Prospective Trial) study will provide important new evidence that could shed some light on the feasibility and impact of telemonitoring and self-monitoring in a Tunisian population of patients with hypertension who consult primary care physicians. Trial RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov NCT04607239; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT04607239 International Registered Report Identifier (IRRID)DERR1-10.2196/26184

Time-Critical systems are both complex and critical. Therefore, thorough verification processes of such systems must be performed, including behavior and timing correctness. These systems are usually designed as a set of several interacting tasks and sharing one or more processors. Several scheduling policies have been proposed to manage the dispatch of these tasks for these shared resources so as to respect their predefined deadlines. In this context, preemption threshold scheduling algorithms have been proposed to improve real-time schedulability by managing preemptiveness of tasks. The advantage of these algorithms highly depends on a proper assignment of a set of scheduling attributes, which are priority and preemption threshold. In this paper, we propose a high-level parameterized formal model for the description, analysis and comparison of preemptive, non-preemptive and threshold-based scheduling policies. This model allows to formally verify a set of timing-constraints, in particular schedulability analysis as well as to provide a set of experimental results based on real-time executions. A stochastic version of our model is also proposed allowing to define probabilistic features and to model stochastic real-time tasks, scheduling mechanisms or energy consumption.

Implementing a component-based system in a distributed way so that it ensures some global constraints is a challenging problem. We consider here abstract specifications consisting of a composition of components and a controller given in the form of a set of interactions and a priority order amongst them. In the context of distributed systems, such a controller must be executed in a distributed fashion while still respecting the global constraints imposed by interactions and priorities. We present in this paper an implementation of an algorithm that allows a distributed execution of systems with (binary) interactions and priorities. We also present a comprehensive simulation analysis that shows how sensitive to changes our algorithm is, in particular changes related to the degree of conflict in the system.

To authenticate to the full-text of this article, please visit this link: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1468-2451.2010.01736.x Byline: Abdelwahab Ben Hafaiedh (1) Author Affiliation: (1)Department of Sociology, University of Tunis

We present a new biosensor for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) detection. The biosensor was based on the immobilization of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) enzyme on layered double hydroxides- (LDH-) modified gold surface. The hydrotalcite LDH (Mg2Al) was prepared by coprecipitation in constant pH and in ambient temperature. The immobilization of the peroxidase on layered hybrid materials was realized via electrostatic adsorption autoassembly process. The detection of hydrogen peroxide was successfully observed in PBS buffer with cyclic voltammetry and the chronoamperometry techniques. A limit detection of 9 μM of H2O2 was obtained with a good reproducibility. We investigate the sensitivity of our developed biosensor for H2O2 detection in raw milk.

Background: Despite the availability of effective treatment, the control of hypertension remains insufficient. Telemonitoring in the management of hypertension would be an effective way to improve blood pressure control. Objective: The aim of our study will be to evaluate the effects of telemonitoring with antihypertensive treatment titration on blood pressure control in Tunisian patients with hypertension. Methods: Our trial will be a prospective, rater-blinded randomized controlled trial carried out with primary care physicians in the Sahel region of Tunisia. Patients will be eligible for enrollment if they are aged over 35 years, are newly diagnosed with hypertension, or are known to be poorly controlled on antihypertensive therapy. Participants will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to the telemonitoring arm or usual care arm. The telemonitoring arm will involve a weekly telephone call for the collection of the home blood pressure measurements, therapeutic education, and treatment compliance assessment as well as a monthly call for treatment titration and a side effect check. Randomization will be done via the use of an interactive web responsive system, and patients will be stratified by investigation center. Neither participants nor investigators will be masked to the group assignments. The primary outcome will be the change in mean 24-hour systolic blood pressure from baseline to the 6-month follow-up in the 2 groups. All randomized patients who attend the follow-up visit at 6 months and have no missing data for the primary outcome will be included in the analysis. Results: Recruitment to the trial started in July 2020. The study was initiated with 17 primary care physicians. We expect the inclusion period to last for approximately 6 months. We expect to complete data collection by the end of 2021 and plan to disseminate the results subsequently. Conclusions: The HOROSCOPE (Home Telemonitoring of Arterial Hypertension With Antihypertensive Treatment Titration: Randomized Controlled Prospective Trial) study will provide important new evidence that could shed some light on the feasibility and impact of telemonitoring and self-monitoring in a Tunisian population of patients with hypertension who consult primary care physicians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heterogeneous electro-Fenton mineralization of Acid Red 18 (AR18) in aqueous solution was studied with magnetite Fe3O4 (MNPs) and haematite Fe2O3 (HNPs) nanoparticles as catalysts. High mineralization yields of AR18 were obtained with magnetite, 81% TOC removal after 180 min of electrolysis in 40 mg L−1 Fe3O4, pH 3.0, at 50 mA of current intensity and in 50 mM Na2SO4. In order to explain the obtained mineralization yield achieved with MNPs, the quantification of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), hydroxyl radical (•OH) and iron leaching were performed at 50 and 100 mA. From the high iron concentration found in the bulk solution and the slight impact of the catalyst mass concentration on TOC removal, the formation of hydroxyl radicals occurs mainly through homogeneous process. In the presence of hydroxyl radical scavenger, degradation remained total after 15 min showing the involvement of a direct electrochemical oxidation of the dye at the electrode surface. The hydroxyl radical oxidation is responsible for at least 50% of mineralization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nowadays, high-end Systems consist of thousands of individual devices which are in general heterogeneous. Grid computing environments are an example of high-end systems which are composed of many diverse and heterogeneous resources distributed within multiple geographical areas. The performance of such systems depends considerably on job scheduling and resource allocation algorithms. Indeed, to improve the global throughput of these environments, effective and efficient load balancing algorithms are fundamentally important. In this paper, we propose a completely distributed formal model for the description of grid architecture. Our model, is then parameterized to describe different job-scheduling algorithms in a completely parallel architecture. In particular, we focus on the modeling and description of distributed load-balancing algorithms. To reach this purpose, we define a set of parallel schedulers communicating together to achieve a given load-balancing policy. To show the applicability of our approach, we propose to specify and compare different well-known job-scheduling policies in grid environments. The formal verification of different properties of the studied protocols has been performed automatically using Model-checking and a set of performance analysis results are also provided. • A generic formal model for the description of a Grid architecture as a component-based system. A completely parallel model built as a set of communicating local-schedulers. • A completely distributed model built as a composition of a set of local schedulers communicating via a set of connectors (interactions). We believe that any distributed job-scheduling strategy could be easily implemented using interactions and priorities between these interactions. • The model is adapted to describe a set of well-known load-balancing protocols • We have conducted several formal verification experiments to prove a set of properties over the modeled protocols • We have performed a series of experiments to evaluate, analyze and compare the performance of the modeled protocols under a set of real-time executions for different configurations and metrics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The binary liquid mixture of triethylamine+water (TEA–W) has a lower consolute point at a critical composition of 32.27 mass % triethylamine. Starting at a temperature within the one-phase region, the electrical conductivity of a sample of this mixture with addition of (K+, Cl−) ions was measured and found to be accurately described by the Vogel–Fulcher–Tammann (VFT) law. Before that, for the pure system, in a temperature range ΔT = T c − T <2°C where T c is the critical temperature, the electrical conductivity (σ) exhibits a monotonous deviation from the VFT behaviour. This anomaly is finite at T c. The asymptotic behaviour of the electrical conductivity anomaly is described by a power law t 1−α, where t is the reduced temperature and α is the critical exponent of the specific heat anomaly at constant pressure. For the electrolyte mixtures, by combining the viscosity and the electrical conductivity data, the value of the computed Walden product has been determined and the salt dissociation degrees as well as the Debye screening length have been estimated. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We present a new biosensor for hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) detection. The biosensor was based on the immobilization of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) enzyme on layered double hydroxides- (LDH-) modified gold surface. The hydrotalcite LDH (Mg2Al) was prepared by coprecipitation in constant pH and in ambient temperature. The immobilization of the peroxidase on layered hybrid materials was realized via electrostatic adsorption autoassembly process. The detection of hydrogen peroxide was successfully observed in PBS buffer with cyclic voltammetry and the chronoamperometry techniques. A limit detection of 9 µMof H2O2 was obtained with a good reproducibility. We investigate the sensitivity of our developed biosensor for H2O2 detection in raw milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Densities, ρ, and dynamic viscosities, η, of triethylamine + water (TEA−W) binary mixtures have been determined experimentally in the single phase region and over the whole composition range at T= (283.15 to 291.35) K. The experimental measurements of these properties were carried out at atmospheric pressure. Results have been fitted to obtain the adjustable parameters and standard deviations between the measured and fitted values, respectively. The viscosity data have been also correlated with the equations of Grunberg−Nissan, Hind et al., Katti−Chaudhri, Heric−Brewer, McAllister, and Auslander. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Densities ρ, refractive indices n, excess molar volumes VE, refractive index deviations Δn, molar refractions Rm and excess molar refractions ΔRm were determined over the full range of compositions for the triethylamine-water binary mixture. The experimental measurements of these properties were carried out at atmospheric pressure and temperatures ranging from 283.15 to 291.35 K. The excess molar volumes VE, excess molar refractions ΔRm and refractive index deviations Δn have been fitted to the fourth-order Redlich-Kister polynomial equation. These quantities have been discussed in terms of intermolecular interactions between the compounds of the mixtures. Refractive indices were compared with those predicted using several mixing rules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article focuses on the role of metamodels in industrial and research projects across Europe. Metamodeling techniques serve as the basis for most research efforts on the enrichment of system functionalities, reduction of time to market and production costs. These techniques can be used in the design of domain-specific languages by a heavyweight and a lightweight approach. The lightweight approach solves problems that arise from the integration in one system of various functionalities.

Abstract: Densities ρ and viscosities η, for the binary mixture triethylamine–water have been measured over the entire range of mole fractions at different temperatures, both near and far away from the critical temperature T c (0.076K≤(T − T c)≤8.276K). By calculating the corresponding activation parameters ΔH* and ΔS*, it has been shown that a possible connection may be presented between the evolution of these parameters and the critical region. Furthermore, in the one-phase region just below T c of the critical (TEA–W) binary fluid, the viscosity measurements yield an enhancement as expected for Ising criticality with a crossover to regular behaviour. The regular background is obtained by interpolation from the measurements at non-critical concentrations. Shear viscosity data are consistent with a power law divergence η = η 0(Qξ 0) z t −y F predicted by the mode-coupling and the dynamic renormalization group theories. Different equations are used in order to determine the critical exponent y, the obtained values are in good agreement with the renormalization group-predicted value. The best fit gives y = νz =0.0391±0.0002 (i.e., z =0.0679). Moreover, the resulting value for the wave number Q =1.0152±0.0016nm−1 is in the region found for many other systems. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Recently, oxide semiconductor material used as transducer has been the central topic of many studies for gas sensor. In this paper we investigated the characteristic of a thick film of tin dioxide (SnO2) film for chemical vapor sensor. It has been prepared by screen-printing technology and deposited on alumina substrate provided with two gold electrodes. The morphology, the molecular composition and the electrical properties of this material have been characterized respectively by Atomic Force Spectroscopy (AFM), Fourier Transformed Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and Impedance Spectroscopy (IS). The electrical properties showed a resistive behaviour of this material less than 300 °C which is the operating temperature of the sensor. The developed sensor can identify the nature of the detected gas, oxidizing or reducing. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

This paper underlines, in a comparative perspective, the presence of social sciences in the Middle East and North Africa. Several gaps appear on different levels: in the management of research, harmony between quantitative and qualitative growth, geographical imbalance in terms of support and funding opportunities, discrepancies between the act of education and accumulation of knowledge (forming research skills), the generational gap (senior and junior researchers) and the digital gap (employing digital means in research). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]