Spectroelectrochemical behavior of polyaniline in nonaqueous electrolytes has been studied by Raman spectroscopy using two excitation lines: blue (457 nm) and infrared (1064 nm). It has been demonstrated that in the electrolytic solution consisting of tetrabutylammonium tetrafluoroborate/diphenyl phosphate/acetonitrile both oxidation processes (oxidation of leucoemeraldine to emeraldine and emeraldine to pemigraniline) can be investigated by Raman spectroscopy. The blue excitation line is very insensitive to the oxidation and protónation changes occurring during the first oxidation process and reveals only the reduced segments of polyaniline chains. However in the second oxidation process significant changes in the Raman spectra occur, consistent with the formation of pemigraniline units accompanied by deprotonation of the polymer. No Raman spectrum can be recorded for the most reduced form of polyaniline using the infrared excitation line. However gradual oxidation of the polymer results in the appearance of the Raman bands characteristic of the oxidized units which are strongly resonantly enhanced. The infrared line is extremely sensitive toward the existence of protonated segments and allows for direct monitoring of the deprotonation processes occurring during the second oxidation process (i.e. the oxidation of emeraldine to pemigraniline).

These findings may explain the occurrence of pulmonary aspiration before tracheal intubation despite application of cricoid cartilage pressure.

Laboratory experimentation has a vital role in science education. With the potential offered by information and communication technologies for the educational domain, virtual laboratories have emerged as a valuable alternative to face-to-face, hands-on laboratories. Moreover, the possibility of virtual laboratories opens new perspectives for higher education sustainability. They are a perfect approach for training learners to understand scientific principles in many fields of science by offering them the possibility to illustrate the scientific phenomena through automated and virtual practical activities that employ computer simulation. In this work, we present the use of computer simulation combined with the JavaScript programming language for the development of a low-cost virtual laboratory integrated into an interactive learning environment based on the Moodle platform. The methodology was based on the instructional design model ADDIE (Analysis, Design, Development, Implementation, and Evaluation), which structures the development planning of online teaching resources in different stages (analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation). The virtual laboratory was developed by Moroccan universities, with the help of European partners, and it was implemented in the 12 science faculties in Morocco. It presents a great choice for supporting laboratory activities for learners in the first year of their bachelor’s degree program. This virtual laboratory includes 12 virtual practical activities mapped to the physics curriculum, and they can be operated via the Internet on computers. The proposed virtual learning environment was evaluated by teachers and learners from the science faculties. The obtained results, together with similar findings from other studies, indicate the positive impact of the use of a virtual laboratory on learning outcomes, and support the adoption of the proposed learning environment in laboratory educational procedures as an alternative to physical laboratories.

The results suggest that road traffic intensity itself, may affect the respiratory health of elderly residents of a large Canadian city, an association that is not solely a reflection of socioeconomic status.

The objective of this study is to evaluate the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and its association with disease activity, severity and physical disability. We included patients with rheumatoid arthritis followed in Rheumatology Department of Hassan II University Hospital, Fez, Morocco. Patients suffering from liver and kidney insufficiency and those who had received vitamin D in the previous 12 months have been excluded. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS v 18. A bivariate analysis and logistic regression were used to identify factors associated with vitamin D deficiency. One hundred seventy patients were included with a mean age of 50 ± 12.1 [17-83] years, and a female predominance (88.1%). All of our patients had hypovitaminosis D. The prevalence of 25(OH)-D insufficiency and deficiency was 64.5 and 35.5% successively. In unadjusted analysis, vitamin D concentration was inversely associated with pain visual analog scale VAS score (p < 0.001), asthenia VAS (p < 0.001), morning stiffness (p = 0.03), number of tender joints (p = 0.004), number of swollen joints (p < 0.001), inflammatory markers (p = 0,012), Disease Activity Score (p = 0.009), physical disability using Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) (p = 0.001), and severity of the disease (p < 0.001). After logistic regression persisted association with female sex (OR = 4.3, CI = [0.94 to 20.976], p = 0.05), asthenia VAS (OR = 1.029, CI = [1.011 to 1.046], p = 0.001), and with the severity of the disease (OR = 2.910, CI = [1.314-6.441], p = 0.008). The vitamin D deficiency is common in our patients with RA. This deficiency is associated with female sex, severe asthenia, and the severity of the disease.