9 research outputs found
Inside the Hirak: The Dynamics of a Mass Movement for Social Justice and Human Rights
No full textIn 2019, Algeria witnessed the emergence of the Hirak mass movement: a pro-democracy uprising marked by epic nationwide demonstrations and trans-formative public dialogue. Hundreds of thousands of Algerians mobilized to protest social injustices and political corruption, educate each other about their common rights, and articulate their collective goals. Through the Hirak’s shared platform, people from all walks of life took to the podium to galvanize the masses through ideas and action. The Algerian Hirak was a form of public pedagogy; a grassroots expression of human rights education. Why is the Hirak so important in the history of global social movements? In this Notes from the Field article, Mr. Berrahmoun offers his analysis as a native Algerian, historian, and activist researcher. He positions the compelling story of the Hirak in the broader Algerian historical context. Finally, the author reflects on the future of Algeria’s path to social justice and suggests potential steps toward transformative change
Novel phosphorus containing poly(arylene ethers) as flame retardant additives and as reactant in organic synthesis
No full textDue to their outstanding properties, poly(arylene ethers) are useful as toughness modifiers in epoxy resins (EP). Furthermore, these polymers show rather low intrinsic fire risks. According to recent research it has been incorporated that poly(arylene ether phosphine oxides) [PAEPO’s] can further improve the fire behavior. Increasing phosphorous content of the PAEPO can influence the fire behavior too. Fire retardants containing phosphorus – regardless of whether an additive or reactive approach is used – show different mechanisms in the condensed and gas phase. In the present study PSU Control (BPA based polysulfone) with four different PAEPO’s and their corresponding blends with an EP were investigated.
All poly(arylene ether phosphine oxides) were synthesized by nucleophilic aromatic polycondensation. The polymers obtained covered a wide range of weight average molar masses (6,000 – 150,000 g/mol) as determined by size exclusion chromatography with multi-angle light scattering detection (MALLS). FTIR, NMR spectroscopy and MALDI-TOF revealed formation of the desired polymer structure of the linear poly(arylene ethers). All polymers were easily soluble in common organic solvents, thus enabling processing from solution.The pyrolysis and the fire retardancy mechanisms of the polymers and blends with epoxy resin (EP) were tackled by means of a comprehensive thermal analysis (thermogravimetry (TG), TG-evolved gas analysis) and fire tests [PCFC, limiting oxygen index (LOI), UL-94, cone calorimeter].
The Mitsunobu reaction of Dimethyl-5-hydroxyisophthalate and a long chain semifluorinated alcohol requires triphenyl phosphine as a reactant. Identical, in some case higher yield was obtained in the usual conditions, with triphenyl phosphine and with trivalent phosphorus containing polymers, which was prepared in solvent free bulk (melt) polymerization technique from trivalent phosphorus monomer and a silylated diphenol in presence of CsF. Purification and the recovery of the final product which is always a big challenge in case of Mitsunobu reaction, was far more easier using polymer compared to triphenyl phosphine. During polymerization there was a possibility to have polymer having repeating unit containing both trivalent phosphorus and phosphine oxide. The trivalent phosphorus content of the polymer can be varied using different molar concentration of CsF
Ghosts of the black decade: How legacies of violence shaped Algeria’s Hirak protests
No full text© The Author(s) 2023.Episodes of mass political violence, such as genocide and civil war, have been thought to both encourage and discourage future political mobilization. We square these competing hypotheses by disaggregating between protest onset and resilience. We argue that exposure to mass violence decades ago should on average decrease protest onset, by heightening fears of repression and retribution. However, conditional on protesting, prior exposure to violence should increase protest longevity, by generating greater political grievances that fuel commitment to the cause. We find evidence of both effects in Algeria during the 2019–20 Hirak protests that toppled President Abdelaziz Bouteflika. Pairing an original dataset on massacres during the 1990s civil war with a rolling online survey of 18,000 Algerians in 2019–20, we find that areas exposed to greater violence in the 1990s had on average fewer, but more committed, protesters in 2019–20
Synthesis and characterization of new semifluorinated linear and hyperbranched poly(arylene ether phosphine oxide)s through B2+A2 and AB2 approaches
No full textStudies on Dispersion of Insoluble Sulfur in Passenger Car Radial Belt Skim Compound
No full textGood dispersion of compounding ingredients in a rubber formulation is crucial for mechanical performance. After mixing, certain materials like sulfur, recycled materials, and zinc oxide can remain undispersed within the rubber matrix, which can lead to critical flaws and influence performance. Improper dispersion is one of the reasons for poor physico mechanical properties. The influence of temperature, mixing time and storage time of different grades of insoluble sulfur collected from one source are studied along with the standard sample of different sources. To better understand the reason for poor sulfur dispersion and high blooming, all the chemical and physical properties are analysed. The topological structures are evaluated using the thermomechanical techniques. The reason for poor dispersion and premature failure of the rubber specimen has been studied by SEM-EDS. The degradation of insoluble sulfur to soluble sulfur can be negligible during the melt mixing if the mixing is done in a controlled way. The final mixing temperature shall be maintained at 90 °C to 95 °C to restrict the insoluble to soluble sulfur conversion. This paper highlights the methodology of the development of oil-coated sulfur in rubber composites and provides insight into the dispersion of polymeric sulfur in natural rubber-based tyre carcass compounds
Sentiment dataset of Algerian dialect
No full text<p>* This sentiment dataset of Algerian dialect consists of 11760 comments (6111 positive/ 5649 negative comments)) collected from (Facebook, YouTube and Twitter) during Hirak 2019.<br>* Comments concern the Algerian spoken language, written in Arabic and/or Latin characters and/or Arabizi, which could be either Modern Standard Arabic, French or local dialect.<br>* Value ‘1’ is attributed for Positive review / value ‘0’ attributed for Negative review.<br>* Due to the nature of this Dataset, some comments contain offensive language. This does not reflect author values, however the aim is to providing a resource to help in analysing positive and negative sentiments (that probably containing harmful content).<br>* For more information please contact (@Ahmed Cherif Mazari) : <a href="mailto:[email protected]" target="_blank" rel="noopener">[email protected]</a></p>
A Review of: “Algeria: Politics and Society from the Dark Decade to the Hirak”by Michael J. Willis
No full textAccording to the author of the review, this work is considered to be one of the most important books on Algeria, North Africa and the MENA region in recent years. It is relevant, as it has been published in 2022 and it uses data from primary and secondary sources that are fresh and interesting in nature. The writer is an Oxford University professor, who has written already several books on the theme.
The author goes on to describe the book by first grading its quality concerning sources, materials and methods. Then the book is explored according to its eight chapters, by which the author consistently explores every aspect of the modern Algerian life from history to politics to economy and so on. The first chapter is about the early independence history of Algeria, the second comprises the terms of Bouteflika, the third chapter describes the islamist movements of the 1990s, the fourth chapter considers the politics and economy of the country, the fifth chapter turns to concentrate on the existing political opposition and its forms in Algeria, the sixth chapter examines Algerian politics and society, which is also an improtant factor, the seventh chapter focuses on restive regions (Kabylia, Mzab, Saharan South), while the eighth chapter's aim is to describe the country's position in the international community.
The book uses primary sources collected on the scene (2015-2017) and an impressive list of secondary sources listed in the bibliography at the end. Its style is fluent and regardless of some minor debatable issues, his findings are to be considered new in the research area of Algeria, the North African region, and the MENA region. The author finishes his review by confirming that he could only recommend this book to every reader or researcher who is interested in the topic or want to conduct research based on it
Development of a Test Method for the Estimation of SBR-BR Blend Ratio in Tyre Tread Formulation and Validating It through Robust Statistical Tools
No full textBlends of synthetic rubbers are widely used by rubber product manufacturing industries depending on the end use and product application. The estimation of individual rubber in blends is an important aspect to characterise the correctness of the mixing process. In tyre industry, Styrene butadiene rubber/Polybutadiene rubber (SBR/BR) blend is commonly used to achieve different performance properties, particularly for passenger car tyre. Out of the different quantitative analysis techniques to characterise the blend, one of the widely used techniques Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) has been used to develop and later validate a method to quantify the SBR/BR blend ratio. Through this GC-MS technique detection capability is measured, with a minimum limit of detection (LOD) of 5.17% and a limit of quantification (LOQ) of 15.67% Styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) in an SBR-BR vulcanizate. It is observed that the bias percentage is highest in case of a lower SBR content sample, i.e. 11.1% while in the case of other sets, it is varying from (–)1.4% to (+)1.5%. During the recovery study, it is observed that with increasing SBR content, recovery is also improving. All requirements for a successful method validation: Accuracy, precision, selectivity, detection capability, calibration range and robustness have been carried out in this entire work
Phase I Study Evaluating Glesatinib (MGCD265), An Inhibitor of MET and AXL, in Patients with Non-small Cell Lung Cancer and Other Advanced Solid Tumors
No full textBackground: Heightened signaling by mesenchymal epithelial transition factor (MET) is implicated in tumorigenesis. Glesatinib is an investigational, oral inhibitor of MET and AXL.
Objective: This phase I study determined the maximum tolerated dose (MTD), recommended phase II dose (RP2D), and safety profile of glesatinib in patients with advanced or unresectable solid tumors. Antitumor activity and pharmacokinetics (PK) were secondary objectives.
Patients and methods: Four formulations of glesatinib glycolate salt (capsule, unmicronized, micronized, and micronized version 2 [V2] tablets) and two free-base formulations (free-base suspension [FBS] capsule and spray-dried dispersion [SDD] tablet), developed to enhance drug exposure and optimize manufacturing processes, were evaluated in patients with genetically unselected advanced/unresectable solid tumors. MTD, based on dose-limiting toxicities (DLTs) observed during the first 21-day treatment cycle, was further evaluated in dose-expansion cohorts comprising patients with overexpression of MET and/or AXL, MET/AXL amplification, MET-activating mutations, or MET/AXL rearrangements for confirmation as the RP2D.
Results: Glesatinib was evaluated across 27 dose-escalation cohorts (n = 108). Due to suboptimal exposure with glesatinib glycolate salt formulations in the initial cohorts, investigations subsequently focused on the FBS capsule and SDD tablet; for these formulations, MTD was identified as 1050 mg twice daily and 750 mg twice daily, respectively. An additional 71 patients received glesatinib in the FBS and SDD dose-expansion cohorts. At MTDs, the most frequent treatment-related adverse events were diarrhea (FBS, 83.3%; SDD, 75.0%), nausea (57.1%, 30.6%), vomiting (45.2%, 25.0%), increased alanine aminotransferase (45.2%, 30.6%), and increased aspartate aminotransferase (47.6%, 27.8%). Exploratory pharmacodynamic analyses indicated target engagement and inhibition of MET by glesatinib. Antitumor activity was observed with glesatinib FBS 1050 mg twice daily and SDD 750 mg twice daily in tumors harboring MET/AXL alteration or aberrant protein expression, particularly in patients with non--small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). In patients with NSCLC, the objective response rate was 25.9% in those with MET/AXL mutation or amplification and 30.0% in a subset with MET-activating mutations. All six partial responses occurred in patients with tumors carrying MET exon 14 deletion mutations.
Conclusions: The safety profile of single-agent glesatinib was acceptable. SDD 750 mg twice daily was selected as the preferred glesatinib formulation and dose based on clinical activity, safety, and PK data. Observations from this study led to initiation of a phase II study of glesatinib in patients with NSCLC stratified by type of MET alteration (NCT02544633).
Clinical trials registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00697632; June 2008.
© 2022. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.restrictio
