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New nuclear glass-ceramics are extensively studied for the radioactive waste confinement, due to the double confinement conferred by the glass-ceramics. In this study, a glass-ceramic constituted by an aluminosilicate glass in the system: SiO2-Al2O3-CaO-MgOZrO2-TiO2, containing 2wt.% of Ca0.83Ce0.17ZrTi1.66Al0.34O7 zirconolite, has been synthesized by the discontinuous method. Cerium, an actinide surrogate is introduced both in the glass and ceramic phases. The synthesis is performed by a double melting at 1350°C, followed by a nucleation at 564°C, during 2 h, and a crystal growth at 1010°C during 3 h. Then effect of Ca/Mg ratio on the distribution of the crystalline network in the material was studied for Ca / Mg ratios ranging from 0.4 to 5.5. For the whole of the materials, Archimedes density is about 2.80 g/cm3. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis shows that the increase of Ca/Mg ratio leads to the increase of aluminosilicated crystalline phases with high Ca contents; the materials molar volumes remaining constant. The zirconolite phase is not affected by these additive aluminosilicated phases. The scanning electron microscopy analysis (SEM) coupled with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis confirmed these results; and shows the uniformity of distribution of the ceramics in the bulk of the materials.

Eighteen pregnant dromedary females (Camelus dromedarius) were used to determine the effect of concentrate supplement on growth and reproductive performances in peri-partum period. The females were divided into supplemented (n = 9; S) and unsupplemented (n = 9; C) experimental groups. All animals grazed, with one mature male, 7 to 8 hours per day on salty pasture rangelands. During night, they were kept in pen, where each female of group S received 4 kg per day of concentrate supplement during the last 3 months of gestation and 5 kg per day during the first 3 months post-partum. During the last 90 days of gestation daily body weight gain (DBG) was at least tenfold more important in group S than in group C (775 g vs. 72 g respectively). Supplementation affected birth weight of offspring (30.3 kg vs. 23.4 kg) and its DBG (806 g vs. 430 g) in group S and group C respectively. During the post-partum period, females in group S gained in weight (116 g per day) whereas females in group C lost more than 200 g per day. The mean post-partum interval to the first heat and the percentage of females in heat were 29.5 day and 44.4/ vs. 41.2 day and 71.4/ for the C and S groups, respectively. We conclude that under range conditions, dietary supplementation of dromedary during late pregnancy stage and post-partum period improves productive and reproductive parameters.

In sheep, the woolly or hairy fleece type shows variation within and between breeds and populations. Recently, the woolly allele was shown to result from the insertion of an antisens retrogene into the 3'UTR of the ovine IRF2BP2 gene. The purpose of this study was to examine this InDel polymorphism within the IRF2BP2 gene using a specific PCR genotyping in 17 North African (Algeria and Tunisia) and Iranian sheep breeds showing various fleece types. The genotyping of the overall animals (n=908) showed the segregation of the two alleles insertion (I) and deletion (D), and the three genotypes (II, ID and DD) with various frequencies. Ouled Djellal, Rembi and Tâadmit known as woolly breeds had 100%, 94% and 94% of II homozygous animals, respectively. In contrast, Ifilène and Sidaou known as hairy breeds had 100% and 99% of DD homozygous animals. Other breeds showed the segregation of the I allele with a frequency from 3% to 91%. An association analysis, carried out only for the Algerian sheep breeds, revealed that this polymorphism was significantly associated with the fleece type trait (P<0.05). Thus, the current work meets previous results to further confirm the genetic effect of the insertion occurring into the 3' UTR of the IRF2BP2 gene on the fleece type trait of sheep breeds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The camel milk sector is still little explored and especially the effect of the camel breeding system on certain properties and chemical compositions of camel milk. This study aims to assess the potential impact of the transition in the camel breeding system on milk productivity and the physicochemical composition of camel milk. To achieve this objective, a preliminary survey was conducted involving several breeders actively practicing the two targeted breeding systems (extensive and semi-intensive) in Algeria. This survey revealed milk production levels of 2 L/d and 3.5 L/d for the extensive and semi-intensive systems, respectively. Physicochemical analyses of these two types of camel milk (from extensive and semi-intensive breeding) were carried out. Various parameters were measured, including pH, acidity, density, total solids, solids-not-fat, ash levels, lactose, calcium, vitamin C, total proteins, whey proteins, and caseins. The results of these analyses indicate that the transition from extensive breeding system to the semi-intensive system significantly impacts the physicochemical quality of camel milk. Specifically, camel milk from the semi-intensive breeding system becomes less dense, more acidic and less rich in total dry matter particularly in solids-not-fat, which includes lactose, vitamin C, and minerals and notably calcium. Furthermore, this milk has become richer in proteins both total proteins and whey proteins, and more notably in caseins.

Camels from ancient times as early as 1200 BC were used as military vehicle and have been associated with the Near East and the Arabian Peninsula. In modern times they remain an important element of Bedouin life and culture (animal protein, dairy products and raw materials, an effective desert vehicle of transport and an indication of wealth). As such, camels are an integral component of heritage and society, essential to the development of Bedouin economies in many regions in the Middle East, North Africa, and Asian regions. Here it is investigated the viability of addressing the topic of the impact on camels by the blockade that has affected Qatar since 5th June 2017 as a theme of historical memory in the Qatari heritage in the National Museum of Qatar (NMoQ). The topic addresses the value and significance of camels in the Qatar peninsula up until the 21st century, and the tragic impact of the blockade on camels and their owners and herders, particularly these which were herding camels across Qatar-Saudi borders. It provides another dimension of history, and archaeology, linked to heritage and society and discusses the way camels have been typically represented in museums in the region due to their cultural significance. Society interviews and media reports are used to support the discussion, which argues for the importance of documenting the historical and culture memory of camels in the new NMoQ. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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