Publications Internationales
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Item Application of NaOH-activated peanut shells as a low-cost adsorbent for the removal of cationic dyes(Global NEST, 2025) Hamdache, Farida; Halet, Farid; Bekhti, Saida; Chergui, Abdelmalek; Yeddou, Ahmed Réda; Nadjemi, BoubekeurThe main purpose of this study is to evaluate the possibility of using a lignocellulosic residue, peanut shells after alkaline activation, as a low-cost adsorbent for the removal of methylene blue dye from aqueous solutions. Adsorption experiments were conducted by varying parameters such as the initial pH aqueous solution, contact time, temperature, and initial concentration of adsorbate. Results show that pH has no apparent effect on methylene blue adsorption; more than 95% of methylene blue was removed. The adsorption capacity of methylene blue was slightly improved when the particle size of the adsorbent and the temperature decreased. A temperature uptake from 298 K to 328 K induced a decrease in the percentage of methylene blue removal from 91.36% to 84.31%. The kinetic data obtained at different concentrations were analyzed using pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models. Also, the modeling of isotherm was considered by applying Langmuir, Freundlich, and Temkin models. Kinetic and equilibrium data were best represented by pseudo-second-order and Langmuir models respectively according to determination coefficient R2 and error function values. The ultimate adsorption capacity reached approximately 100 mg/g. Thermodynamics findings revealed that the adsorption proposed is exothermic and spontaneous process. These results show that peanut shells can be a potential adsorbent for organic dyes removal from aqueous solutionsItem Cross-cultural comparison of antidiabetic medicinal plants used in Algeria and Morocco(Elsevier, 2025) Maamri, Sarra; Djeziri, Mourad; Mendil, Souhila; Terfi, LydiaDiabetes is a chronic endocrine disease of global concern. The aim of this study is to provide a comparative analysis of ethnomedical practice used for diabetes management in Algeria and Morocco, offering a scientific basis for the development of alternative therapies and innovative drug discovery. Methods: Ethnomedical information was normalised from quantitative ethnobotanical studies. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used to compare regional data, complemented by hierarchical ascending classification (HAC) to identify similarity in plant use, plant parts, and preparation methods. Results: A total of 225 species (68 families) in Algeria and 222 species (64 families) in Morocco were identified, with 95 species common to both countries (around 30%). PCA revealed interregional variabilities of 42.60% (Algeria) and 43.43% (Morocco). HAC subdivided the heterogeneous dataset into homogeneous groups based on plant usage, plant parts, and preparation modes. These groupings reflect both a shared ethnomedicinal heritage and region-specific adaptations, highlighting the balance between redundancy and divergence within the phytotherapeutic practice, which underpins its stability and therapeutic diversity. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that ethnobotanical knowledge is a dynamic and valuable resource, transcending cultural boundaries and providing a robust foundation for the discovery of novel antidiabetic formulations. The nuanced balance between common frameworks and unique phytotherapeutic specificities supports the development of complementary or synergistic therapiesItem Characterization and Optimization of L-Asparaginase Production by Endophytic Fusarium sp3 Isolated From Malcolmia aegyptiaca of Southeast Algeria: Potential for Acrylamide Mitigation in Food Processing(John Wiley and Sons Inc, 2025) Lakhdari, Wassima; Neghmouche Nacer, Salah; Benyahia, Ibtissem; Hammi, Hamida; Bachir, Hakim; Mouhoubi, Djawahir; Lakhdari, Yasmine; Guemmou, Ihsane; Dehliz, Abderrahmene; Sawicka, BarbaraThis study aims to isolate and optimize the production of L-asparaginase from fungal strains derived from Algerian Saharan plants, and evaluate the reduction of acrylamide formation in food products. L-asparaginase has frequently been used to treat childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia. It catalyzes the hydrolysis of asparagine and glutamine into aspartic acid and ammonia. It is also used in the food industry to minimize acrylamide formation during high-temperature frying of starchy food items. In this study, L-asparaginase was identified in various microbial, animal, and plant species. Using Czapek-Dox medium, different fungal species were first isolated from Saharan plants of southeast Algeria (including Zygophyllum cornutum Coss., Malcolmia aegyptiaca Spreng., Phoenix dactylifera L., and Cyperus rotundus L.) and tested for their ability to produce extracellular L-asparaginase. Among 13 isolates, nine were positive in the preliminary test. The strain Fusarium sp.₃, isolated from M. aegyptiaca leaves, had the highest enzyme index (1.92 ± 0.35) with maximum enzyme production (63.68 units per milliliter). Critical factors such as temperature (30°C–50°C), pH (5.0–8.0), and substrate concentration (1–10 g/L) were optimized under liquid-state fermentation to maximize enzyme production. Utilizing Minitab software, additional statistical methods were employed for the optimization process, including the Plackett–Burman design and response surface methodology. The Plackett–Burman design screened seven variables: temperature, pH, incubation time, substrate concentration, glucose concentration, nitrogen source, and agitation speed. The design identified asparagine concentration, incubation time, and pH as the most significant factors for asparaginase production. Response surface methodology was then used to optimize these factors, producing maximum asparaginase in a 50-mL medium. Under optimized conditions, the application of L-asparaginase to potato slices prior to frying resulted in a 68% reduction in acrylamide content (from 435.6 ± 12.4 μg/kg to 139.3 ± 8.7 μg/kg), demonstrating the enzyme's strong potential for improving food safetyItem Optimum sizing of hybrid sustainable and renewable energy systems using a modified harris hawks optimizer(Elsevier, 2025) Sifou, Djamel Eddine; Kheldoun, Aissa; Chaib, Ahmed; Belmadani, Hamza; Alharbi, Hisham; Alharbi, Saleh S.; Agajie, Takele Ferede; Ghoneim, Sherif S.M.To boost the use of renewable energy sources while maintaining reliability and affordability, Multi-source renewable and sustainable energy systems must be optimally sized. This research introduces a stand-alone metaheuristic algorithm for designing a hybrid sustainable and renewable energy system combining Wind turbine, PV and battery system. The main goal is to lower the overall present-day system's cost at the same time considering the indicator of reliability, which is the loss of power supply probability (LPSP), as a constraint. The developed algorithm resulted from enhancing the recent Harris Hawks Optimizer (HHO). The modified version incorporates a vector that saves the best three solutions and opposition learning to enhance the population diversity and assist the algorithm in jumping out of local optima regions. Three scenarios are presented, the first is modeled by PV/Bat the second one is modeled by WT/Bat while the third one consists of PV/WT/Bat. The studied project is located in Sidi Khattab, Relizane province, Algeria. The results demonstrate that the MHHO outperforms a range of well-known algorithms, among which one can cite the original HHO, Krill Optimization Algorithm (KOA), Red Squirrel Algorithm (RSA), Modified Coati Optimization Algorithm (MCOA), and Generalized Oppositional-based Social Spider Algorithm (GOOSE). Compared to the other algorithms, MHHO demonstrated superior performance in all proposed configuration settingsItem Optimised heat exchange in a magnetised nanofluid-filled cavity using hybrid deep neural network and metaheuristic algorithms(Taylor and Francis Ltd., 2025) Benderradji, Razik; Laouissi, Aissa; Karmi, Yacine; Abderazek, Hammoudi; Chetbani, Yazid; Belaadi, Ahmed; Mukalazi, Herbert; Ghernaout, Djamel; Chamkha, AliThis study presents a comprehensive numerical investigation into steady-state mixed convection heat transfer within a square ventilated cavity containing a centrally positioned isothermal cold cylinder. The objective is to assess the combined effects of nanofluids and magnetic fields on thermal performance. The working fluids considered include pure water and water-based nanofluids enhanced with copper (Cu) and aluminium oxide (Al2O3) nanoparticles. Simulations were conducted across a range of Richardson numbers (0.1 < Ri < 100), Hartmann numbers (0 < Ha < 100), and nanoparticle volume fractions (0% < φ < 8%), using the finite volume method and the SIMPLER algorithm. Distinct from prior studies, this work bridges two gaps: (i) quantifying how high magnetic fields (Ha > 50) diminish nanoparticle-enhanced heat transfer and (ii) integrating artificial intelligence not only for prediction but also optimisation. Specifically, three machine learning models Decision Tree (DT), K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), and a Deep Neural Network optimised via Genetic Algorithm (DNN-GA) were trained on 160 high-fidelity simulation datasets to estimate the average Nusselt number. Results demonstrated the DNN-GA’s superior accuracy (R² = 0.999, RMSE = 0.021) over DT (R² = 0.978) and KNN (R² = 0.921). Furthermore, five metaheuristic algorithms Queuing Search Algorithm (QSA), Barnacles Mating Optimiser (BMO), Search and Rescue (SAR), Gradient-Based Optimiser (GBO), and Manta Ray Foraging Optimisation (MRFO) were applied to maximise heat transfer. Optimisation identified Cu nanoparticles at Ri = 109.7, Ha = 9.0, and φ = 6% as optimal (Nu = 34.95), validated experimentally with 0.89% error. The findings confirm that increasing Ri and Ha enhances heat transfer efficiency (by 12–18%), while nanoparticle contribution declines (to 3–5%) at higher Ha. This work offers a dual contribution: advancing understanding of MHD nanofluid interactions in ventilated cavities and demonstrating a robust AI-driven framework for thermal system design. Highlights: Analysis of mixed convection in a ventilated cavity using Cu-water and Al2O3-water nanofluids under varying Richardson and Hartmann numbers. Examination of magnetic field impacts on heat transfer and nanofluid flow. Comparative study of Al2O3 and Cu nanoparticles on heat transfer enhancement. Provides valuable insights into the combined effects of nanoparticles, magnetic fields, and convection parameters. Machine learning models are very useful for predicting the Nusselt number. Metaheuristics algorithms are highly effective in optimising heat transfer processesItem CHRONIC EXPOSURE TO BISPHENOL A INDUCED TESTICULAR DYSFUNCTION IN GERBIL: REPRO-PROTECTIVE EFFECT OF JUJUBE HONEY(Acta Endocrinologica Foundation, 2025) Kacimi, Lilia; Benmouloud A.; Zatra Y.; Aknoun-Sail N.; Charallah S.; Khammar F.; Amirat Z.; Khaldoun M.Objective. Infertility affects an estimated 17.5% of couples worldwide, according to the last report published in 2023 by WHO. A significant cause of this global fertility decline is due to environmental endocrine-disrupting chemicals exposure, which have the ability to interfere with the endocrine system. Bisphenol A (BPA), a synthetic chemical product leads to health concerns for its endocrine-disrupting properties. Jujube honey contains antioxidants and active compounds, has various therapeutic properties. This study aims to determine testicular dysfunction and endocrine imbalance induced by BPA chronic exposure and the possible protective effect of jujube honey in gerbil. Materials and methods. Eighteen adult male gerbil was either considered as control (n=6, group 1) or exposed to 50 mg BPA/kg/day Group 2, n=6) and the BPA-treated group was given jujube honey at 200 mg/kg/day by oral gavage Group 3, n=6) for six weeks. At the end of the experiment, testicular weight, epididymal sperm count, endocrine status, histopathology of testis tissue and oxidative stress parameters were evaluated. Results. The results showed a decrease in testicular weight, sperm quality and plasma levels of testosterone and estradiol in the BPA-treated group. Furthermore, histopathological findings revealed germinal epithelium alteration characterized by germ cell degeneration, disordered arrangement of the germ cell layers and vacuolization and decreased number of Ki-67-positive germ cells. The results showed a decrease in testicular levels of superoxide dismutase, catalase and reduced glutathione with an increase of malondialdehyde in the BPA-treated group. However, in the jujube honey+BPA group, histopathological studies revealed a systematic array of germ cells with less vacuolization, improved sperm parameters, restored plasma testosterone and estradiol levels and increased antioxidative capacity of the testes. Conclusion. These findings suggest a potential protective effect of jujube honey against BPA-induced testicular damage and oxidative stress caused by endocrine-disrupting chemicals. © 2024, Acta Endocrinologica Foundation. All rights reserved.Item Engineering of Natural Clay-Based Materials to Eliminate Toxic Pb(II): Kinetic, Thermodynamic, and Adsorption Mechanism(PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROCESSES AT THE INTERFACES Published, 2025) Abbas, Moussa; Trari, MohamedClimate change poses a threat to the water security by altering the precipitation patterns and other weather variables, which affect stream flow and freshwater availability. In this study, a soil and water assessment tool was used for the scarcity of blue and green water for future periods for sustainable management of freshwater resources away from lead pollution. Indeed, the presence of Pb2+ is an environmental problem and we have explored the use of natural phosphates (NP) as adsorbents for its elimination. The adsorbent NP was characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and BET analysis. Batch adsorption experiments were performed to examine the effects of physical parameters namely the contact time, pH, stirring speed, temperature, adsorbent dose and initial Pb2+ concentration on the uptake capacity. Different models were used to fit the experimental data and to evaluate the kinetics, isotherms and thermodynamics of the Pb2+ adsorption. A high adsorption capacity of 66.66 mg/g was reached at 25°C and pH 6 and follows the Langmuir isotherm with a pseudo-second order kinetic. The adsorption is spontaneous and endothermic, indicating a structural exchange between NP and Pb2+ ions. Such results suggest that NP is a promising adsorbent for Pb2+ removal from wastewaterItem Ethnopharmacological survey of medicinal plant knowledge in boumerdes, algeria: traditional usage patterns and therapeutic applications(Taylor &francis, 2025) Oussaid, Sounia; Bouchenak, Ouahibaa; Yahiaoui, Karima; Hafid, Nourehoudaa; Khiari, Ouiza; Khelef, Yahiac; Laoufi, RazikadThis ethnopharmacological survey documents the persistence of traditional plant knowledge in Boumerdes, Algeria. Through systematic interviews with 900 participants, quantitative analysis revealed distinct user profiles: predominantly women (52.1%) aged 50-70 years (39.0%), with inverse correlation to education level. Integration with conventional medicine was reported by 47% of users, motivated by perceived efficacy (41.5%) and safety (35.7%). Botanical inventory identified 263 species across 91 families, dominated by Lamiaceae (22.3%). Primary therapeutic applications targeted digestive (32.3%), respiratory (19.9%), and dermatological (11.5%) disorders. These findings validate the cultural resilience of traditional healthcare practices and underscore the imperative for phytochemical validation of documented species.Item Engineering of Natural Clay-Based Materials to Eliminate Toxic Pb(II): Kinetic, Thermodynamic, and Adsorption Mechanism Study(PHYSICOCHEMICAL PROCESSES AT THE INTERFACES, 2025) Abbas, Moussa; Trari, MohamedClimate change poses a threat to the water security by altering the precipitation patterns and other weather variables, which affect stream flow and freshwater availability. In this study, a soil and water assessment tool was used for the scarcity of blue and green water for future periods for sustainable management of freshwater resources away from lead pollution. Indeed, the presence of Pb2+ is an environmental problem and we have explored the use of natural phosphates (NP) as adsorbents for its elimination. The adsorbent NP was characterized by FTIR spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and BET analysis. Batch adsorption experiments were performed to examine the effects of physical parameters namely the contact time, pH, stirring speed, temperature, adsorbent dose and initial Pb2+ concentration on the uptake capacity. Different models were used to fit the experimental data and to evaluate the kinetics, isotherms and thermodynamics of the Pb2+ adsorption. A high adsorption capacity of 66.66 mg/g was reached at 25°C and pH 6 and follows the Langmuir isotherm with a pseudo-second order kinetic. The adsorption is spontaneous and endothermic, indicating a structural exchange between NP and Pb2+ ions. Such results suggest that NP is a promising adsorbent for Pb2+ removal from wastewaterItem Developing AI-Driven Soft Skills in Algerian EFL Master’s Students: Challenges and Prospects for Research Competence(Institut national supérieur des arts et de l'action culturelle, 2025) Achili, Nora; Zerrouki, NadiaThis paper explores Algerian EFL master students` soft skills in using technology and AI-driven tools in completing research projects and dissertations. In this context, an exploratory/quantitative method was adopted through a twelve-question online structured questionnaire administered to eighty-seven (87) students (Master 1 and Master 2) from the English Department at M`Hamed Bougara University of Boumerdes. The primary objective was examining how the learners use AI-driven technology in research and identifying their challenges when completing their tasks. Despite the numerous benefits of AI in research, the results showed the students` limited soft skills, on the one hand, and their poor academic research skills, on the other. These were attributed to a lack of sufficient training, coupled with inadequate methodology teaching, which focuses on traditional pedagogy rather than a digital one. Addressing these issues would require strategic technology and AIdriven tools` implementation by prioritizing extensive teacher/student training on soft skills and ethical guidelines to maximize AI’s potential in researchoriented learning. Ultimately, equipping EFL students with AI-enhanced soft 339 skills will bridge the gap between traditional instruction and modern research requirements, preparing them for academic and professional success in an increasingly digital world.