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Regional-scale flood modeling using GIS and HEC-HMS / RAS: A case study for the upper -valley of the Medjerda (Tunisia)

Mohamed Lassaad Kotti 1

Taoufik Hermassi 1

 

1Carthage University National Research Institute of Rural Engineering, Water and Forests (INRGREF), Rue Hédi El Karray El Menzah IV-BP N°10 2080 Ariana, Tunisia

 

 DOI: https://doi.org/10.55416/sunb.jns01.2207.08907

 

Abstract : A combined hydrological and hydraulic model is presented for flood prediction in Tunisia. This model is applied to the upper-valley of the Medjerda as a test case study. Observed flows of the 2003 flood event is used for hydrological and hydraulic models, and those of the 2009 and 2012 floods events are used for validation of models. The physically based hydrologic model HEC-HMS is used to estimate the flowrate at the outlet and predicts flows accurately of the ungauged Tessa watershed which is a right bank tributary of the Medjerda river, using and calibrating the SCS-Curve Number method of runoff estimation. The HEC-RAS hydraulic model is applied to simulate flood flows and inundation levels in the downstream floodplain. The predicted flowrates of Tessa watershed are used for mapping inundations in the Jendouba-Boussalem section of the Medjerda upper-valley. All the 2D HEC-RAS numerical simulation of the 2003, 2009, 2012 flood events were performed using topographic data by inserting the DEM of the study area with 30 m resolution, soil, land use, river geometry and cross-section were obtained by combining measured survey data with cross-section delineated from the DEM. The results of hydraulic simulation for 2003 event show a good matching with observed flowrates values. The quote part of the Tessa watershed on floods is also investigated, and shows that Tessa watershed contributes with approximatively 10% on the Medjerda River flowrates. The model may be useful in developing flood forecasting and early warning systems to mitigate losses due to flooding.

Key wordsGIS, Flood modeling, Rainfall-runoff, Medjerda, HEC-RAS

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Allelopathic activity from two Tunisian Cupressaceae

S. RGUEZ1, 2

I. BETTAIEB REBEY1

S. BOURGOU1

M. HAMMAMI1

I. HAMROUNI SELLAMI1

 

Laboratory of Aromatic and Medicinal Plants, Center of Biotechnology of Borj Cedria, BP 901, Hammam-Lif 2050, Tunisia.

2 Faculty of Sciences, University of Tunis El Manar, Campus Universitaire Farhat Hached B.P. n° 94 - Rommana 1068 Tunis, Tunisie.

 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.55416/sunb.jns01.2207.08906

 

Abstract : Medicinal plants possessed important biological activities that constitutes an important source for the development of bioactive compounds used as alternative to chemical pesticidesThe present study investigated the allelopathic activities of Tetraclinis articulata and Cupressus sempervirens essential oils (EOs) extracted at vegetative, flowering and fructification stages. The EO chemical composition determined with by GC-MS revealed the predominance of oxygenated monoterpene classes of (50%) in T. articulata EO from fructification stage. However, C. sempervirens EOs were characterized by the abundance of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons class (64%) in EO from fructification stage. The EO from fructification stage inhibited at all concentrations germinated seeds and at highest concentrations radical elongation of Raphanus sativus. This EO inhibited also at highest concentrations germinated seeds and radical elongation of Lattuca sativa. C. sempervirens from flowering stage inhibited at highest concentrations seeds germination of Lepidium sativum and radical elongation of Raphanus sativus. Statistical analysis demonstrated that allelopathic activity these two Tunisian Cupressaceae EOs was attributed to the both monoterpene and sesquiterpene classes. Essential oils extracted from T. articulata and Cupressus sempervirens EOs could be used as a new alternative to chemical pesticides in agronomic fields.

Key wordsTetraclinis articulataCupressus sempervirens; allelopathic activity; essential oil

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Assessment of physicochemical, microbiological and sensory quality of new product of cactus fruit (Opuntia ficus-indica L.) vinegar flavoured with ginger and cinnamon

Wafa Hassen1

Sana Alibi1

Abdennaceur Hassen2

Hedi Ben Mansour1

Research Unit: Analysis and Process Applied to the Environment (APAE), Higher Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology Mahdia - University of Monastir, Tunisia.

2 Water Research and Technology Center (C.E.R.T. E), Borj-Cédria Technology Park, Soliman, Tunisia.

 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.55416/sunb.jns01.2207.08905

 

 Abstract : Cactus fruit (Opuntia ficus-indica L.) are known for their virtues, mainly their chemo-preventive properties used in traditional medicines and their various therapeutic benefits including hypoglycaemic, hypocholesterolemic and antioxidant effects. This study aimed at first to add spices and natural aromatic plants to the common manufacturing process of cactus fruit (Opuntia ficus-indica L.) vinegar, and secondly to compare afterward the finished product from a nutritional point of view with other kinds of vinegar. The resulting vinegar has undergone a series of physicochemical, nutritional, and microbiological analyses to show its good quality and safety for human consumption. The microbiological analysis showed that the rates of yeast, moulds, and the total cultivable bacteria were below the maximum threshold of acceptability recommended by the Tunisian standards. Besides, cactus fruit vinegar has revealed various interesting activities such as antioxidant, antibacterial, and antidiabetic effects. Furthermore, the cactus fruit vinegar flavouring showed good stabilizing effects of its main physicochemical parameters and thus improved its nutritional quality and biological activity. The present study indicates that vinegar of cactus fruit (Opuntia ficus-indica L.) with or without flavouring are a significant source of compounds with interesting biological activities and best sensorial quality, and thus may be useful for chemoprevention via nutraceutical foods.

Key words: Cactus fruit (Opuntia ficus-indica L.) vinegar; Vinegar; Flavouring process; Nutritional quality; Biological activity

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Sustainability impact assessment of seawater desalination plant of Djerba in the southeast of Tunisia

Ajala Wafa1

Ben Ali Samir1

Fetoui Mondher2 

Abdeladhim Mohamed Arbi1

 

1Higher School of Agriculture of Mograne, Institution of Agricultural Research and Higher Education (IRESA), University of Carthage, Tunisia

2Laboratory of Economy and Rural Societies, Arid Regions Institute (IRA) of Medenine, Institution of Agricultural Research and Higher Education (IRESA), Tunisia

  

 DOI: https://doi.org/10.55416/sunb.jns01.2207.08904

 

Abstract - Desalination of seawater has been chosen in Tunisia as a strategic response to the problem of insufficient water resources. However, this solution may be accompanied by negative effects on the environment. The aim of this paper is to assess Sustainability impacts of seawater desalination plant of Djerba two years after its start-up. The qualitative and quantitative data were collected in face-to-face interviews conducted with stakeholders involved in water resources management at local and regional level. Collected data covers the period from 2015 to 2020. Sustainability impact assessment of seawater desalination plant is based on a set of social, economic and environmental indicators in the region. Main results showed positive impacts of the desalination plant with a net increase of drinking water supply and an improvement of the drinking water quality in the island of Djerba. However, the high energy requirements of the desalination plant (13.6% of the total electrical energy consumption in the region) and the important quantity of discharged brine (58 tons/day) rise concerns about negative impacts on the environment.

Key wordsWater availability, Environmental impacts, Indicators, Energy consumption

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Screening of physicochemical and bacteriological parameters of the soap industry wastewater: Development of an efficient treatment model

Sarra Bchir1

Wafa Hassen1

Sana Alibi1

Ahlem Jaziri1

Asma Beltifa1

Haithem Mansour2

Djellal, Hayet3

Hedi Ben Mansour1

 

1 Research Unit of Analysis and Process Applied to the Environment–APAE (UR17ES32) Higher Institute of Applied Sciences and Technology Mahdia, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia.

Agro-food Industry ZOUILA, Mahdia, Tunisia.

3 UniLaSalle-Ecole des Métiers de l'Environnement, Avenue Robert Schuman, Campus de Ker Lann, 35 170, Rennes, France.

 

 DOI: https://doi.org/10.55416/sunb.jns01.2207.08903

 

Abstract : Wastewater deriving from soap and oil industries contains many toxic pollutants that affect the receiving environment. Therefore, an efficient treatment prior to its discharge is required. Various technologies have been used in the treatment of this wastewater such as coagulation-flocculation and membrane filtration but these methods are expensive and unsafe to the environment. In the present study, the efficiency of a new soap wastewater treatment model based on the evaporation and condensation process was evaluated using physicochemical and microbiological standard methods. We also assessed the phytotoxicity of soap wastewater before and after treatment. Our results revealed that total suspended solid levels (20 467 ±371.2 mg/l), chemical oxygen demand (41 667± 928 mg/l), biochemical oxygen demand (22 000 ±503.3 mg/l), total organic carbon (17 333±432.2 mg/l), nitrate (49.35±0.04 mg/l), phosphorus (445.8± 0.75 mg/l), chloride (227.2±0.43 mg/l), sulfate (56±0.21mg/l) and phenols (757.97±8.2 mg/l) exceed the Tunisian standards. This indicates that this effluent is highly charged with organic and chemical pollutants. The concentrations of Cu, Zn and Fe in soap wastewater were also above the standard limits. Microbiological analysis revealed however the absence of pathogenic bacteria in raw and treated effluents. Moreover, our treatment system was able to reduce significantly the values of all pollutants. Triticum turgidum durum L and Solanum lycopersicum L wetted with treated effluent showed also high germination percentages (74.41% and 79.42%) compared with raw effluent (0%). Therefore, our new system was demonstrated as an efficient and feasible approach for the soap wastewater treatment.

Key wordsSoap industry wastewater, Toxic pollutants, Wastewater treatment, Bacterial parameters, Physicochemical parameters, Phytotoxicity

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Exploitation of milk by pastoral households in Niger: case of the department of Bermo.

1Amadou Abdoulaye M. Bahari

Issa Hamadou

Seyni Sido

Chaibou Mahamadou. 

 

Department of Rural Economics Sociology and Technology Transfer. National Institute of Agronomic Research of Niger.

2 Department of Animal Productions. National Institute of Agronomic Research of Niger.

3 Faculty of Agronomy, Abdou Moumouni University of Niamey-Niger.

 

 DOI: https://doi.org/10.55416/sunb.jns01.2207.08902

 

Abstract : The study conducted in the department of Bermo concerned milk trait and its distribution at the level of thirty-seven pastoral households. The data were collected using a questionnaire during the period from April to December 2017. This study, which is designed to provide comprehensive and up-to-date data on the sale of cow's milk in pastoral settings, is based primarily on the exploitation of milk by the household, including self-consumption, sales and donations. The produced milk is fully consumed at the level of 85% of the households surveyed. Households that market milk, range from raw sales (55%), self-consumption (38%) donation (7%). Through sales, cow's milk contributes to the economy of pastoral households.  Milk cannot meet household needs. This explains its marketing only during the rainy season, when production is important in the farms. As a staple food for pastoral households, milk represents one of the levers for achieving food security.

Key words: Dairy production, self-consumption, donation, sale, recipe, Niger

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Main Haemato-biochemical disorders in camel trypanosomiasis in Tunisia

Sihem ISMAIL-HAMDI1,2

Nabil HAMDI

Houcine Ben YAHIA3

Boubaker BEN SMIDA4

Walid CHANDOUL5

Samir BEN ROMDHANE1

 

1Laboratory of biochemistry, Uni. Manouba, Institution of Agricultural Research and Higher Education, National School of Veterinary Medicine of Sidi Thabet, 2020 Sidi Thabet, Tunisia.

2Laboratory of Diversity, Management and Conservation of Biological Systems, LR18ES06, Uni. Tunis El Manar, Faculty of Sciences of Tunis, 2092 EL Manar, Tunis, Tunisia

3Ministry of National Defence, General Directorate of Military Health. Veterinary Services, 1008, Tunis, Tunisia

4Regional Commission for Agricultural Development (CRDA), 3200 Tataouine, Tunisia

5Circonscription de Production Animale Ben Guerdane, 4160, Médenine, Tunisia

 

DOI: https://doi.org/10.55416/sunb.jns01.2207.08901

 

 

Abstract: The aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of Trypanosoma evansi infection on the blood profile of Tunisian dromedary camels. Serological, haematological and biochemical analysis were performed on blood samples collected from 220 dromedary camels (Camelus dromedarius). Giemsa-stained blood smears were used to establish a differential leucocyte count. Others haematological parameters were measured on whole blood collected in EDTA tubes. Sera were used both to perform CATT and to measure some biochemical parameters. More than half of samples (62.7%) were seropositive for trypanosomiasis infection. The comparison of haematological profiles between infected and non-infected camels revealed the presence of a microcytic hypochromic anaemia, neutrophilia, monocytosis and eosinophilia. The biochemical profile of the infected animals showed liver dysfunction (decreased urea and total proteins) and hypoferremia, the last abnormality may lead to microcytic anaemia. Results of the present study revealed that T. evansi was highly prevalent in Tunisian dromedary camels and may induce severe biological disorders. Haemato-biochemical parameters, markedly affected by T. evansi, may be used as biomarkers for the control of this infection in camels.

Key words: Biochemical parameters, Haematological parameters, Trypanosoma evansi, dromedary camel, blood profile, Tunisia

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Copyright

This article is published under license to Journal of New Sciences. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.

CC BY 4.0