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The energy sector in Algeria has undergone enormous transformations over the last couple of decades. One of the major changes that have taken place is related to the introduction of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the control of energy consumption. In this regard, a pilot project of Smart Meters has been introduced in the residential sector in Diar El Bahri, which is located in the wilaya of Blida, at about 47 km southwest of the capital of Algeria, Algiers. This is the first experience in the country. Despite the will to set up a bidirectional communication framework for the control of energy consumption, the project, which was initially expected to last for a period of two (02) years, was carried, in fact, for only six (06) months. Besides, the number of households that were supposed to be connected to Smart Meters was not respected. The objective of this research is to understand precisely the process of setting up this system. The project is the first Algerian experience in terms of use of ICTs for the purpose of modernising energy management and control. The study aims to understand the reasons why the objectives that were initially set for the project were not reached. This paper is part of a larger original research project, which aspires to explore the different ways in which ICTs can be developed in the housing sector in Algeria in order to increase energy efficiency and create digital territories. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Soils contamination with heavy metals is a major concern and common problem in Algerian megacities. The case of Algiers and Annaba which have known in last years a rapid urbanization and increasing of industrialization. These activities were synonymous with economic and social progress. Moreover, they led to many ecological problems, due to different urban pollution: waste disposal, noise pollution, atmospheric, industrial, soils pollution etc. It is well known that heavy metal contamination is a serious threat to the environment. In fact, large concentrations of heavy metals introduced into the environment may represent a potential toxicity for all living organisms, including humans. The present study was conducted to determine the features of heavy metals adsorption by soils collected in Algiers and Annaba. Wherefore the soil adsorbency to heavy metals was assessed by plotting the isotherms and determining the maximum adsorbency. Whereas results study on sorption isotherms of Algiers soils show that the tested elements can be arranged in the following descending order: Pb> Cu> Zn> Cd. According to study results, the highest value of maximum adsorption capacity of soils taken in four zones of Annaba in relation to lead, zinc, cadmium and copper, were respectively 7; 6; 4.5 and 3 times higher than the minimum. These findings could play a key role to effective assessment of soil pollution with heavy metals in the study area. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Résumé: But de l’étude: La présente étude rapporte une série de 290 cas d’hydatidose confirmés par la chirurgie et/ou par l’imagerie avec un immuno-diagnostic positif colligés entre le 1er janvier 2006 et le 31 mars 2011 au laboratoire de parasitologie-mycologie du CHU Mustapha d’Alger. Notre but est de préciser, à travers les cas recensés, les aspects épidémiologiques de cette affection et de comparer nos résultats avec ceux obtenus lors de deux enquêtes épidémiologiques algériennes précédentes réalisées, entre 1963–1964 et entre 1966–1975. Patients et méthodes: Il s’agit d’une étude rétrospective (2006–2008) et prospective (2008–2011). Le diagnostic parasitologique a été effectué par l’identification directe macroscopique et/ou microscopique du parasite et indirecte, réalisé par quatre techniques sérologiques : hémagglutination indirecte, Elisa IgG ű Echinococcus granulosus Ƈ, Western Blot IgG ű Echinococcus Ƈ et immunoélectrophorèse. Résultats: Cette étude montre que cette affection est toujours l’apanage du jeune adulte. Il en ressort également que l’enfant d’âge scolaire (dix ans), en particulier le garçon, paie un lourd tribut. Chez l’enfant, le siège pulmonaire préférentiel de la maladie hydatique n’est pas dépourvu de risque. Chez l’adulte, cette parasitose affecte majoritairement la femme active. Conclusion: D’une façon générale, les caractéristiques épidémiologiques et cliniques rejoignent les données des pays endémiques et confirme le rang de notre pays parmi eux. La transmission semble aussi forte que par le passé, malgré un niveau actuel d’instruction sociale bien meilleur. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In Algeria, child psychiatry is an emerging area of medical specialization which is very late in becoming part of the training for professionals and the provision of services. Due to this, the quality of the treatment of serious mental disorders for children and adolescents is insufficient, diverse, and sometimes non-existant. Currently autism is the major reason for consultation and treatment; the diagnosis is often late and comes when the child already has a significant developmental lag and cannot be enrolled in school — often the reason for the referral. The existing resources in our area are as follows: three units with part-time hospitalization in the capital and its suburbs, 40 child psychiatrists trained during the last two years in collaboration with the WHO, about ten outpatients clinics covering an extended territory with significant socio-demographic and health differences. Only from 18 years of age does the authorities in Algeria recognize autism (in fact as a mental retardation) with a minimal monthly family allowance to parents often at a loss or isolated when faced with an offer of assistance that is limited or difficult to access. Objectives: After having reviewed our sources for this work with the parents concerning autism, we then describe its organization, sequence of events, the difficulties encountered, and discuss propositions for further improvements. Population and method: In this context, the choice and application of a therapeutic method for autistic children needs to take into account the many constraints in terms of infrastructure and human resources. Due to its simplicity and effectiveness, we have, for both theoretical and practical purposes, for the past decade, considered that it was a good strategy to associate the exchange and development therapy with the Schopler''s TEACCH program for those children receiving treatment in our daytime hospital service. It also met the professional qualification of our collaborators — most of them psychologists, speech therapists and care assistants. Another reason is that it is indispensable that the mothers of autistic children are involved in the treatment in order to obtain significant gains (Bartoov et al., 2002 [15] and Bartoov et al., 2001 [16]). Results: This therapeutic application was implemented during 2005-2010 for a hundred autistic children and their mothers: 80 of them in daytime medical institution and 20 as outpatients with the same technical support. The mothers as “co-therapists” received a two-hour per month training (from September to June) during three years according to the rules and principles of the teaching activities for autistic children and “the educational strategies of autism” for parental practice, both coming from the TEACCH program (Li et al., 2006 [19] and Velez de la Calle et al., 2008 [20]). Conclusion: This involvement, while less than desirable, is proportional to our resources and nevertheless sufficiently promising and structuring to engage care dynamics and show beneficial effects in cognitive, affective and behavioral fields of the autistic child. After having reviewed our sources for this work with the parents concerning autism, we then describe its organization, sequence of events, the difficulties encountered, and discuss propositions for further improvements. We then carefully examine the difficulties encountered, the means we have in order to make some progress, and we discuss how to evaluate the results, in the context of an experiment which is only beginning in this field in a developping nation. Last, but not least, we also took into consideration the “non-cooperative” mothers in order to adapt our therapy to their personal needs and to elaborate different objectives as far as they are concerned. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: The authors retrospectively studied the epidemiological, clinical, diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of 71 cases of visceral leishmaniasis from 1998 to 2009. Population and methods: The diagnosis was made by finding Leishmania amastigotes in bone marrows smears and/or by serology. Results: Most cases occur in winter (35.2%) and in spring (36.6%). The source areas are endemic ones located in the north of Algeria (74.6%) and more rarely arid or semi-arid climate areas (8.4%). 88.7% of patients are children. The sex ratio is 1.53. The clinical characteristics are: fever (77.4%), paleness (43.6%); splenomegaly (83%), hepatomegaly (57.7%). The biological anomalies are: anemia (56.3%), thrombocytopenia (33.8%), and leucopenia (28.1%). N-methylglucamine (Glucantime®) was most often prescribed (70.4%). Four deaths (5.6%) were recorded. Conclusion: Visceral leishmaniasis remains a pediatric affection but does not spare adults. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Copyright of Revue Francophone des Laboratoires is the property of Elsevier B.V. and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract: Aim of the study: To determine the prevalence and the diversity of extended-spectrum beta-lactamases (ESBLs) in 196 Klebsiella pneumoniae clinical isolates collected from three hospitals in Algiers. Materials and methods: Antibiograms were done on Mueller-Hinton agar plates with the disc-diffusion method and MICs were determined by agar-dilution method. Mating experiments were performed in agar medium. Plasmid DNA was extracted by the alcalin-lysis method. Total DNA was extracted with a Qiagen mini kit and screened for bla TEM and bla CTX-M genes by PCR. Linkage of bla CTX-M genes with insertion sequence ISEcp1B and class 1 integrons was investigated by PCR. PCR products were sequenced by the Sanger method. The epidemiological relationships between ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae isolates were analyzed by ERIC-PCR. Results: Thirty-nine (19.9%) isolates were found to produce ESBLs belonging to CTX-M-1 group and TEM penicillinases (CTX-M-3, CTX-M-15 and TEM-1). ERIC-PCR analysis showed that the isolates are genetically unrelated. The bla TEM and bla CTX-M genes as well as aminoglycosides and sulfonamides resistance determinants were found located in self-transferable plasmids of approximately 85kb.The class 1 integrons and the insertion sequence ISEcp1B were present in the isolates and in their transconjugants. ISEcp1B was found genetically linked to the bla CTX-M genes and located 127bp upstream, with the presence of the V and W sequences. Conclusion: The study revealed a high rate of ESBL-producing K. pneumoniae in Algerian hospitals, resulting from horizontal dissemination of mobile bla CTX-M genes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]