Samir Begaa - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Samir Begaa

Molecules

Our study evaluated the in vitro antioxidant properties, antibacterial and antifungal activities,... more Our study evaluated the in vitro antioxidant properties, antibacterial and antifungal activities, anti-inflammatory properties, and chemical composition of the essential oils (EOs), total phenol, and total flavonoid of wild Mentha pulegium L. This study also determined the mineral (nutritional and toxic) elements in the plant. The EOs were extracted using three techniques—hydro distillation (HD), steam distillation (SD), and microwave-assisted distillation (MAD)—and were analyzed using chromatography coupled with flame ionization (GC-FID) and gas chromatography attached with mass spectrometry detector (GC-MS). The antioxidant effects of the EOs were tested with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ABTS (2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), while the antibacterial and antifungal activities of the EO and methanolic extract were tested using Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans. Twenty-six compou...

Biological Trace Element Research

Spices in general owned a very important reputation in the herbal plantae Kingdom; they have been... more Spices in general owned a very important reputation in the herbal plantae Kingdom; they have been used for food flavoring, preservation, aroma, and coloring for more than 2000 years. Moreover, spices are classified as all natural, and for this reason, they attracted a large scale of consumers worldwide; however, since most of spices are consumed in their natural form (without grounded them), it is necessary to monitor their consumed quantities. Hence, the aim of this work was to quantify major and trace elements contained in some Algerian kitchen frequently used spices (Piper nigrum L., Nigella sativa L., and Pimpinella anisum L.). Spice materials were washed well then pass through an instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). Results revealed the existence of twenty-six elements among them: K, Ca, Fe, and Na which showed significant concentrations, consecutively, while Ce, Eu, Lu, Sm, and Tb were presented at low concentrations. Furthermore, these spices consumption assessment results were found to be well below the tolerance limits compared with the recommended values (RDA) suggested by the FAO association.

The work aims to determine the radioactivity levels of Algeria thermal waters which have been use... more The work aims to determine the radioactivity levels of Algeria thermal waters which have been used permanently in spas for therapeutic intentions. Eight Spas waters in north Algeria analysis was performed to determine their radioactivity concentration for ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, ²³⁵U and ⁴⁰K, using a high-resolution HPGe γ-spectrometry system. Water is imbedded in a Marinelli beakers tightly sealed for 28 days to achieve secular equilibrium between ²²⁶Ra and its short-lived daughter products before analyzing by gamma ray spectrometry. The average activity concentrations for spa waters from study areas were 0.045 to 2.077 Bql^-1 for ²²⁶Ra; 0.17to 3.416 Bql^-1 for ²³²Th; 0.085to 7,235 Bql^-1 for ²³⁵U and 1.402 to 15.156 Bql^-1 ...

Biological Trace Element Research, 2020

In this study, two kinds of Artemisia plant, Artemisia campestris L. and Artemisia herba-alba Ass... more In this study, two kinds of Artemisia plant, Artemisia campestris L. and Artemisia herba-alba Asso., collected from different locations in Djelfa province, Algeria, were subjected to an instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) in order to determine their essential and toxic elements for the first time. The obtained results for both types revealed the existence of twenty-one elements, namely, As,

El-Oued province (southeast Algeria), is located in a medicinal plant-rich area; <em>Launae... more El-Oued province (southeast Algeria), is located in a medicinal plant-rich area; <em>Launaea glomerata</em> (Cass.) Hook. f. is one among them which is a perennial herb spread widely in the arid regions of the Mediterranean Sea. The selection of the studied plant corresponds perfectly to the scientific needs due two reasons, firstly because these samples are used by the Algerian population as herbal remedies for primary health care, secondly, for the lack of published data on it. The aim of this investigation is to provide new data on quantities of phenols, which were estimated at 25.81 mg GAE/g extract and flavonoids (49.13 mg RE/g extract), and the determination of antioxidant activities by three ways (DPPH, CAT, ABTS), the results of IC₅₀equals to 98.07 mg TE/g extract for DPPH• and 286.5 mg eq. AG/g for ABTS assays, noted that the best inhibition was by the ABTS root. We also conducted a test for the inhibitory ability of extract against cance...

In this study, two techniques Hydrodistillation (HD) and Microwave-accelerated distillation (MAD)... more In this study, two techniques Hydrodistillation (HD) and Microwave-accelerated distillation (MAD), was used to extract essential oils (EOs), from the peels of citrus fruits Washington Navel (<em>Citrus</em> <em>sinensis</em> L. Osbeck) collected from Tipaza province, north Algeria during April 2018. The extraction yield and time of EOs were (0.28% and 180 min) using HD extraction and (0.27% versus 30 min) using MAD extraction. After using gas chromatography analyses (GC-FID) and (GC-MS), 21 aromatic compounds obtained and identified for both extraction approaches. On the other hand, and in order to better comprehension the extraction phenomena, two models of extraction processes were applied, The first one considers the existence of a single site with a constant speed ruled by the equation of the quasi-stationary state, whereas, the second assumes that there are two distinct sites: The first is part of the fraction easily accessible with a very high desorptio...

This study aimed to investigation the mycotoxin of <em>Ochratoxin A</em> (OTA) which ... more This study aimed to investigation the mycotoxin of <em>Ochratoxin A</em> (OTA) which can contaminate grape in mediterranean basin. Its toxicity was subject of many animal studies and carcinogenic characters are well established today. So the European Committee has fixed the maximum in grape 2µg/L. Most methods used for mycologic identification is based mainly on the morphological characters. It was identified after its purification by the technique of culture monospore on the culture medias Potatoes Agar and Czapek Yeast extract Agar. The detection and quantification of this mycotoxin by uses combined techniques: immunoafinity for the purification and the HPLC coupled with the fluorometric detector. This chromatographic system allowed us to estimate the contamination of Ochratoxin in the grape which is lower than 30 ng/L. The concentration of conidia at Aspergillus section Nigri was estimated at 3×10⁶conidia/mL. The value obtained is less than 30 n...

Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 2021

A versatile gamma ionization chamber (VGIC) has been designed, developed and characterized, in or... more A versatile gamma ionization chamber (VGIC) has been designed, developed and characterized, in order to study experimentally its characteristics according to the geometry of the electrodes, the volume and pressure of the filler gas for the design of a gamma sealed chamber. The tests were conducted under the IEC (International Electro-technical Commission). The results obtained in various nuclear tests of the characterization and calibration of the ionization chamber gamma VGIC developed at our laboratory were presented in this paper. Three irradiators were operated, irradiator intensive gamma (60Co: 1.25 MeV), medium intensive gamma (137Cs: 0.662 MeV) and low-intensity gamma (60Co). Saturation curves and linearity were identified and the operating range and the sensitivity of the chamber have been deducted. The current, voltage (I,V) characteristics of the chamber filled, with argon gas at 0.4 M pa pressure, for gamma ray irradiator sources were studied, the chamber was irradiated with gamma rays using different gamma sources. The plateau region is reached above 200 V and the detector operating voltage is found to be 600V. It is observed that in the plateau region the slope is constant with an increase in the exposure rate. The (1/I, 1/V) and (I, l/V2) characteristic curves reveal the presence of the initial and volume recombination losses. The volume recombination losses are found to be smaller than the initial recombination losses.

Radiochimica Acta, 2021

Trace elements (TEs) constitute a major part of pollution, which can induce a detrimental impact ... more Trace elements (TEs) constitute a major part of pollution, which can induce a detrimental impact on public health. A precise analysis of these elements in the environment is an important parameter in the evaluation of the population's quality of life. This work aims to quantify the concentration of some trace elments in enviromental samples using Istrumental Neutron Activation Analysis technique (INAA); also a comparative study between three sampling points (Draria, Baraki and Reghaia) were done. The Samples and standards were irradiated for 6 h at “NUR” research reactor with a thermal neutron flux of 1013 n cm−2 s−1, and analyzed by gamma ray spectrometry using HPGe detector. Seventeen elements were assessed: Ba, Br, Ce, Co, Cr, Hf, Fe, La, Nd, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, Sm, Sr, Yb and Zn in this study. The accuracy of the method was evaluated by analyzing Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) and Standard Reference Materials (SRMs). The data obtained in this work may contribute to obtaini...

Radiation Detection Technology and Methods, 2021

Neutron detection is used in a wide range of applications in nuclear physics, radiation protectio... more Neutron detection is used in a wide range of applications in nuclear physics, radiation protection, nuclear fuel cycle, reactor instrumentation, security and industrial measurement. Among the detectors used in this field, we notice the gas-filled 3He proportional counters which have been one of the main detecting tools for thermal and cold neutron detection for many years. This last characteristic has ensured that this detector is one of the best tools for thermal neutron flux measurements in a nuclear reactor control. In the instrumentation and detection laboratory of the Nuclear Research Center, of Birine, we are working toward the design and the development of this type of detectors, indeed, several prototypes of neutron detectors have been realized including the 3He proportional counters. Through this paper, we will present the experimental steps and the obtained results to carry out a 3He proportional counter prototype that was fully developed and tested in our laboratory. A comparison study was made between our detector and a commercial cylindrical 3He neutron detector which was considered in this work as a reference detector: LND252 (3He)-PC. The results showed that the characteristics of the gas amplification and the counting plateau for the two counters reference LND 252 (3He)-PC and our prototype was of the same order of scale. The experimental tests show that our developed prototype perfect fit with the standard International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC, www.iec.ch ) in the operating principle, the technology adopted and obtained technical specifications.

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 2020

This work present the experimental characteristics study of the versatile gamma ionization chambe... more This work present the experimental characteristics study of the versatile gamma ionization chamber that is designed, developed and distinguished in our laboratory. All tests were accomplished under the International Electro-technical Commission. The saturation current curves and the linearity were plotted by determining the operating range and the sensitivity of the chamber. The response is linear up to more than 10 Sv/h. The sensitivity of the experimentally measured chamber is 2.1 × 10−8 A per Sv/h at an argon gas pressure of 0.4 MPa. In the same conditions, a comparative characterization with a reference chamber LND504 (USA) was done.

Plants, 2021

This study describes the chemical composition, antitumor, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activiti... more This study describes the chemical composition, antitumor, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities of the plant Thymus algeriensis Boiss. Essential oils (EOs) were collected in different periods (before, during, and after flowering stage) from the El-Guetfa region, M’sila, Algeria. The EOs extraction was achieved using three distinguishing techniques: hydro (Clevenger trap), steam, and microwave distillations, targeting different aerial parts of the plant (stems, flowers, and leaves). The EOs chemical components were estimated using GC-FID and GC-MS apparatuses. The resulting yield of the extracted oil was moderate and ranged between 0.84 and 1.53% (wt/vol). In total, eighty-five components were identified, in which the oxygenated monoterpenes family formed the main portion, starting from 40.56 up to 70.66%. The obtained essential oil was dominated by five major components that varied from low to quite moderate percentages: camphor (17.45–32.56%), borneol (11.16–22.2%), camphene (7...

Radiochimica Acta, 2020

Most of the rural Algerian communities believed that Pistacia lentiscus L. leaves have therapeuti... more Most of the rural Algerian communities believed that Pistacia lentiscus L. leaves have therapeutic capacities to treat many gastric diseases and abdomen aches, whereas, the rural habitants of Mitidja, Algeria powdered P. lentiscus L. leaves and consume it fresh in order to heal mild dyspeptic disorders and peptic ulcer. Therefore, the current study was conducted to investigate and monitor the amount of essential and toxic elements of these leaves. The leaf samples were collected from a place called Mitidja, Algeria in autumn 2014. Thereafter, those samples were subjected to an instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). Fourteen elements were assessed (As, Br, Ca, Co, Fe, K, La, Na, Rb, Sb, Sc, Sm, Th and Zn). Where, the elements Ca, Fe, K, Na and Zn presented significant concentrations. On the other hand, it was found that the tolerable daily intake (TDI) of these leaves for an adult person per day, is with the tolerance limits and satisfy the nutritional references. Moreover,...

Plants, 2021

This study describes the minerals elements, chemical composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial a... more This study describes the minerals elements, chemical composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Algerian Melissa officinalis plant. The essential oil (EO) was extracted by hydrodistillation (HD) using a Clevenger-type apparatus of dry leaves of M. officinalis and was analyzed by two techniques, gas chromatography coupled with flame ionization (GC-FID) and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Eighteen minerals comprising both macro- and microelements (As, Br, K, La, Na, Sb, Sm, Ba, Ca, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Fe, Rb, Sc, Th, and Zn) were determined using neutron activation analysis technique for the first time from Algerian Melissa officinalis plant. Seventy-eight compounds were identified in the essential oil, representing 94.090% of the total oil and the yields were 0.470%. The major component was geranial (45.060%). Other predominant components were neral (31.720%) and citronellal (6.420%). The essential oil presented high antimicrobial activity against...

Radiation Detection Technology and Methods, 2021

Purpose Neutrons detection is of paramount importance in nuclear physics experiments, reactor phy... more Purpose Neutrons detection is of paramount importance in nuclear physics experiments, reactor physics, monitoring and control of nuclear reactors and in radiation protection. Among the neutron detectors used are Proportional Counters (PC to BF 3 , boron deposition, 3 He), Our Detection and Measurements laboratory has embarked on a project to develop, design and build proportional counters with boron deposition mainly for gas filling, several prototypes of which have been produced. Method This work presents the Boron-10 Lined Proportional Counters (PC), developed and produced in the Detection and Measurements Department (DDM19). The PC was designed by adopting, for the electrodes, a stainless steel cathode 0.5 mm thick and a gold-plated tungsten anode with diameter of 25 µm. The detectors are filled with an Ar-CH 4 mixture (10%) at a pressure of 20 cmHg. The boron deposition is performed by the technique of electrophoresis. Result The results obtained using the DDM19 prototype PC (Detector produced in our Detection and Measurement laboratory, 2019), show the advantage of electrophoresis as a better boron deposition technique, and the limitation of the surface mass of 10 B to optimal values is around 0.5 at 0.6 mg/cm 2 . Conclusions The characteristics of the gas amplification in the mixture (Ar-CH 4 (CH 4 10%)), were measured by different methods and compared with the values of the proportional reference counter LND232. The counting plates for the two reference meters LND232 and our DDM19 prototype from 200 to 300 V have slopes ranging from 6.5 to 10%/100 V, and gas amplification factors from 1436 to 1380, respectively.

Journal of Food Processing and Preservation, 2020

Phytochemical composition and biological activities of differently pigmented cabbage (Brassica ol... more Phytochemical composition and biological activities of differently pigmented cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) and cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) varieties

Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 2020

In Algeria, Data and studies on the non-metal trace element selenium (Se) are presently lacking, ... more In Algeria, Data and studies on the non-metal trace element selenium (Se) are presently lacking, therefore, the aim of this investigation is to provide new data on (Se) element via its determination for the first time from Mentha pulegium L. plant. The plant samples were collected in summer of 2012 from Ain-Oussera region, Djelfa province, Algeria; they were dried and powdered. After the neutron irradiation, the samples were digested using high oxidative reagents including H 2 SO 4 , HNO 3 , H 2 O 2 and HCl. The end of this process gave two phases, organic and aqueous discard phase. By using a separating funnel, the organic phase was transferred into a vial in order to measure their induce radionuclide 75 Se using gamma-ray spectrometer. A non-chromatographic and sensitive analytical technique RNAA (Radiochemical Neutron Activation Analysis), was applied in this investigation due to its great significant minor systematic error. Results were determined using two distinguish calculation methods, relative-RNAA and k 0-RNAA, the findings were quite significant, whereas, the average separation yield was about 85% for both calculation methodologies. Moreover, (Se) concentration obtained from M. pulegium L., is close to the minimal FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) recommended consumption.

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 2019

Pistacia terebinthus L. and Pistacia lentiscus L. leaves are widely used in Algerian folk medicin... more Pistacia terebinthus L. and Pistacia lentiscus L. leaves are widely used in Algerian folk medicine. For the first time, P. terebinthus and P. lentiscus leaves, were subjected to determine their essential and toxic elements using instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). P. terebinthus and P. lentiscus leaves were collected from two different locations in Algeria and exposed to INAA analysis. The results show that the mass fractions of the sixteen trace elements studied are within the tolerance limits imposed by the World Health Organization. Hence these results could therefore be used to provide scientific basis for an optimum usage and enriches the database of medicinal herbs.

Biological Trace Element Research, 2018

This study presents the elemental concentration obtained in two Algerian spices (Coriandrum sativ... more This study presents the elemental concentration obtained in two Algerian spices (Coriandrum sativum L. and Cuminum cyminum L.) evaluated by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), in order to highlight the importance of these spices as a potential source of micronutrients. The daily intake of micronutrients and potentially toxic elements were determined and compared with the recommended values (RDA) and were found to be well below the tolerance limits. Twenty-two elements were assessed, eight essential chemicals were quantified with tendency K > Ca > Na > Fe > Zn > Cr > Co > Se, and three potential toxic elements were present in the descending content pattern Br > As > Sb.

Molecules

Our study evaluated the in vitro antioxidant properties, antibacterial and antifungal activities,... more Our study evaluated the in vitro antioxidant properties, antibacterial and antifungal activities, anti-inflammatory properties, and chemical composition of the essential oils (EOs), total phenol, and total flavonoid of wild Mentha pulegium L. This study also determined the mineral (nutritional and toxic) elements in the plant. The EOs were extracted using three techniques—hydro distillation (HD), steam distillation (SD), and microwave-assisted distillation (MAD)—and were analyzed using chromatography coupled with flame ionization (GC-FID) and gas chromatography attached with mass spectrometry detector (GC-MS). The antioxidant effects of the EOs were tested with 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and ABTS (2,2’-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid), while the antibacterial and antifungal activities of the EO and methanolic extract were tested using Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus subtilis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Escherichia coli, and Candida albicans. Twenty-six compou...

Biological Trace Element Research

Spices in general owned a very important reputation in the herbal plantae Kingdom; they have been... more Spices in general owned a very important reputation in the herbal plantae Kingdom; they have been used for food flavoring, preservation, aroma, and coloring for more than 2000 years. Moreover, spices are classified as all natural, and for this reason, they attracted a large scale of consumers worldwide; however, since most of spices are consumed in their natural form (without grounded them), it is necessary to monitor their consumed quantities. Hence, the aim of this work was to quantify major and trace elements contained in some Algerian kitchen frequently used spices (Piper nigrum L., Nigella sativa L., and Pimpinella anisum L.). Spice materials were washed well then pass through an instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). Results revealed the existence of twenty-six elements among them: K, Ca, Fe, and Na which showed significant concentrations, consecutively, while Ce, Eu, Lu, Sm, and Tb were presented at low concentrations. Furthermore, these spices consumption assessment results were found to be well below the tolerance limits compared with the recommended values (RDA) suggested by the FAO association.

The work aims to determine the radioactivity levels of Algeria thermal waters which have been use... more The work aims to determine the radioactivity levels of Algeria thermal waters which have been used permanently in spas for therapeutic intentions. Eight Spas waters in north Algeria analysis was performed to determine their radioactivity concentration for ²²⁶Ra, ²³²Th, ²³⁵U and ⁴⁰K, using a high-resolution HPGe γ-spectrometry system. Water is imbedded in a Marinelli beakers tightly sealed for 28 days to achieve secular equilibrium between ²²⁶Ra and its short-lived daughter products before analyzing by gamma ray spectrometry. The average activity concentrations for spa waters from study areas were 0.045 to 2.077 Bql^-1 for ²²⁶Ra; 0.17to 3.416 Bql^-1 for ²³²Th; 0.085to 7,235 Bql^-1 for ²³⁵U and 1.402 to 15.156 Bql^-1 ...

Biological Trace Element Research, 2020

In this study, two kinds of Artemisia plant, Artemisia campestris L. and Artemisia herba-alba Ass... more In this study, two kinds of Artemisia plant, Artemisia campestris L. and Artemisia herba-alba Asso., collected from different locations in Djelfa province, Algeria, were subjected to an instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) in order to determine their essential and toxic elements for the first time. The obtained results for both types revealed the existence of twenty-one elements, namely, As,

El-Oued province (southeast Algeria), is located in a medicinal plant-rich area; <em>Launae... more El-Oued province (southeast Algeria), is located in a medicinal plant-rich area; <em>Launaea glomerata</em> (Cass.) Hook. f. is one among them which is a perennial herb spread widely in the arid regions of the Mediterranean Sea. The selection of the studied plant corresponds perfectly to the scientific needs due two reasons, firstly because these samples are used by the Algerian population as herbal remedies for primary health care, secondly, for the lack of published data on it. The aim of this investigation is to provide new data on quantities of phenols, which were estimated at 25.81 mg GAE/g extract and flavonoids (49.13 mg RE/g extract), and the determination of antioxidant activities by three ways (DPPH, CAT, ABTS), the results of IC₅₀equals to 98.07 mg TE/g extract for DPPH• and 286.5 mg eq. AG/g for ABTS assays, noted that the best inhibition was by the ABTS root. We also conducted a test for the inhibitory ability of extract against cance...

In this study, two techniques Hydrodistillation (HD) and Microwave-accelerated distillation (MAD)... more In this study, two techniques Hydrodistillation (HD) and Microwave-accelerated distillation (MAD), was used to extract essential oils (EOs), from the peels of citrus fruits Washington Navel (<em>Citrus</em> <em>sinensis</em> L. Osbeck) collected from Tipaza province, north Algeria during April 2018. The extraction yield and time of EOs were (0.28% and 180 min) using HD extraction and (0.27% versus 30 min) using MAD extraction. After using gas chromatography analyses (GC-FID) and (GC-MS), 21 aromatic compounds obtained and identified for both extraction approaches. On the other hand, and in order to better comprehension the extraction phenomena, two models of extraction processes were applied, The first one considers the existence of a single site with a constant speed ruled by the equation of the quasi-stationary state, whereas, the second assumes that there are two distinct sites: The first is part of the fraction easily accessible with a very high desorptio...

This study aimed to investigation the mycotoxin of <em>Ochratoxin A</em> (OTA) which ... more This study aimed to investigation the mycotoxin of <em>Ochratoxin A</em> (OTA) which can contaminate grape in mediterranean basin. Its toxicity was subject of many animal studies and carcinogenic characters are well established today. So the European Committee has fixed the maximum in grape 2µg/L. Most methods used for mycologic identification is based mainly on the morphological characters. It was identified after its purification by the technique of culture monospore on the culture medias Potatoes Agar and Czapek Yeast extract Agar. The detection and quantification of this mycotoxin by uses combined techniques: immunoafinity for the purification and the HPLC coupled with the fluorometric detector. This chromatographic system allowed us to estimate the contamination of Ochratoxin in the grape which is lower than 30 ng/L. The concentration of conidia at Aspergillus section Nigri was estimated at 3×10⁶conidia/mL. The value obtained is less than 30 n...

Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 2021

A versatile gamma ionization chamber (VGIC) has been designed, developed and characterized, in or... more A versatile gamma ionization chamber (VGIC) has been designed, developed and characterized, in order to study experimentally its characteristics according to the geometry of the electrodes, the volume and pressure of the filler gas for the design of a gamma sealed chamber. The tests were conducted under the IEC (International Electro-technical Commission). The results obtained in various nuclear tests of the characterization and calibration of the ionization chamber gamma VGIC developed at our laboratory were presented in this paper. Three irradiators were operated, irradiator intensive gamma (60Co: 1.25 MeV), medium intensive gamma (137Cs: 0.662 MeV) and low-intensity gamma (60Co). Saturation curves and linearity were identified and the operating range and the sensitivity of the chamber have been deducted. The current, voltage (I,V) characteristics of the chamber filled, with argon gas at 0.4 M pa pressure, for gamma ray irradiator sources were studied, the chamber was irradiated with gamma rays using different gamma sources. The plateau region is reached above 200 V and the detector operating voltage is found to be 600V. It is observed that in the plateau region the slope is constant with an increase in the exposure rate. The (1/I, 1/V) and (I, l/V2) characteristic curves reveal the presence of the initial and volume recombination losses. The volume recombination losses are found to be smaller than the initial recombination losses.

Radiochimica Acta, 2021

Trace elements (TEs) constitute a major part of pollution, which can induce a detrimental impact ... more Trace elements (TEs) constitute a major part of pollution, which can induce a detrimental impact on public health. A precise analysis of these elements in the environment is an important parameter in the evaluation of the population's quality of life. This work aims to quantify the concentration of some trace elments in enviromental samples using Istrumental Neutron Activation Analysis technique (INAA); also a comparative study between three sampling points (Draria, Baraki and Reghaia) were done. The Samples and standards were irradiated for 6 h at “NUR” research reactor with a thermal neutron flux of 1013 n cm−2 s−1, and analyzed by gamma ray spectrometry using HPGe detector. Seventeen elements were assessed: Ba, Br, Ce, Co, Cr, Hf, Fe, La, Nd, Rb, Sb, Sc, Se, Sm, Sr, Yb and Zn in this study. The accuracy of the method was evaluated by analyzing Certified Reference Materials (CRMs) and Standard Reference Materials (SRMs). The data obtained in this work may contribute to obtaini...

Radiation Detection Technology and Methods, 2021

Neutron detection is used in a wide range of applications in nuclear physics, radiation protectio... more Neutron detection is used in a wide range of applications in nuclear physics, radiation protection, nuclear fuel cycle, reactor instrumentation, security and industrial measurement. Among the detectors used in this field, we notice the gas-filled 3He proportional counters which have been one of the main detecting tools for thermal and cold neutron detection for many years. This last characteristic has ensured that this detector is one of the best tools for thermal neutron flux measurements in a nuclear reactor control. In the instrumentation and detection laboratory of the Nuclear Research Center, of Birine, we are working toward the design and the development of this type of detectors, indeed, several prototypes of neutron detectors have been realized including the 3He proportional counters. Through this paper, we will present the experimental steps and the obtained results to carry out a 3He proportional counter prototype that was fully developed and tested in our laboratory. A comparison study was made between our detector and a commercial cylindrical 3He neutron detector which was considered in this work as a reference detector: LND252 (3He)-PC. The results showed that the characteristics of the gas amplification and the counting plateau for the two counters reference LND 252 (3He)-PC and our prototype was of the same order of scale. The experimental tests show that our developed prototype perfect fit with the standard International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC, www.iec.ch ) in the operating principle, the technology adopted and obtained technical specifications.

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 2020

This work present the experimental characteristics study of the versatile gamma ionization chambe... more This work present the experimental characteristics study of the versatile gamma ionization chamber that is designed, developed and distinguished in our laboratory. All tests were accomplished under the International Electro-technical Commission. The saturation current curves and the linearity were plotted by determining the operating range and the sensitivity of the chamber. The response is linear up to more than 10 Sv/h. The sensitivity of the experimentally measured chamber is 2.1 × 10−8 A per Sv/h at an argon gas pressure of 0.4 MPa. In the same conditions, a comparative characterization with a reference chamber LND504 (USA) was done.

Plants, 2021

This study describes the chemical composition, antitumor, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activiti... more This study describes the chemical composition, antitumor, antioxidant, and antimicrobial activities of the plant Thymus algeriensis Boiss. Essential oils (EOs) were collected in different periods (before, during, and after flowering stage) from the El-Guetfa region, M’sila, Algeria. The EOs extraction was achieved using three distinguishing techniques: hydro (Clevenger trap), steam, and microwave distillations, targeting different aerial parts of the plant (stems, flowers, and leaves). The EOs chemical components were estimated using GC-FID and GC-MS apparatuses. The resulting yield of the extracted oil was moderate and ranged between 0.84 and 1.53% (wt/vol). In total, eighty-five components were identified, in which the oxygenated monoterpenes family formed the main portion, starting from 40.56 up to 70.66%. The obtained essential oil was dominated by five major components that varied from low to quite moderate percentages: camphor (17.45–32.56%), borneol (11.16–22.2%), camphene (7...

Radiochimica Acta, 2020

Most of the rural Algerian communities believed that Pistacia lentiscus L. leaves have therapeuti... more Most of the rural Algerian communities believed that Pistacia lentiscus L. leaves have therapeutic capacities to treat many gastric diseases and abdomen aches, whereas, the rural habitants of Mitidja, Algeria powdered P. lentiscus L. leaves and consume it fresh in order to heal mild dyspeptic disorders and peptic ulcer. Therefore, the current study was conducted to investigate and monitor the amount of essential and toxic elements of these leaves. The leaf samples were collected from a place called Mitidja, Algeria in autumn 2014. Thereafter, those samples were subjected to an instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). Fourteen elements were assessed (As, Br, Ca, Co, Fe, K, La, Na, Rb, Sb, Sc, Sm, Th and Zn). Where, the elements Ca, Fe, K, Na and Zn presented significant concentrations. On the other hand, it was found that the tolerable daily intake (TDI) of these leaves for an adult person per day, is with the tolerance limits and satisfy the nutritional references. Moreover,...

Plants, 2021

This study describes the minerals elements, chemical composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial a... more This study describes the minerals elements, chemical composition, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of Algerian Melissa officinalis plant. The essential oil (EO) was extracted by hydrodistillation (HD) using a Clevenger-type apparatus of dry leaves of M. officinalis and was analyzed by two techniques, gas chromatography coupled with flame ionization (GC-FID) and gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Eighteen minerals comprising both macro- and microelements (As, Br, K, La, Na, Sb, Sm, Ba, Ca, Ce, Co, Cr, Cs, Fe, Rb, Sc, Th, and Zn) were determined using neutron activation analysis technique for the first time from Algerian Melissa officinalis plant. Seventy-eight compounds were identified in the essential oil, representing 94.090% of the total oil and the yields were 0.470%. The major component was geranial (45.060%). Other predominant components were neral (31.720%) and citronellal (6.420%). The essential oil presented high antimicrobial activity against...

Radiation Detection Technology and Methods, 2021

Purpose Neutrons detection is of paramount importance in nuclear physics experiments, reactor phy... more Purpose Neutrons detection is of paramount importance in nuclear physics experiments, reactor physics, monitoring and control of nuclear reactors and in radiation protection. Among the neutron detectors used are Proportional Counters (PC to BF 3 , boron deposition, 3 He), Our Detection and Measurements laboratory has embarked on a project to develop, design and build proportional counters with boron deposition mainly for gas filling, several prototypes of which have been produced. Method This work presents the Boron-10 Lined Proportional Counters (PC), developed and produced in the Detection and Measurements Department (DDM19). The PC was designed by adopting, for the electrodes, a stainless steel cathode 0.5 mm thick and a gold-plated tungsten anode with diameter of 25 µm. The detectors are filled with an Ar-CH 4 mixture (10%) at a pressure of 20 cmHg. The boron deposition is performed by the technique of electrophoresis. Result The results obtained using the DDM19 prototype PC (Detector produced in our Detection and Measurement laboratory, 2019), show the advantage of electrophoresis as a better boron deposition technique, and the limitation of the surface mass of 10 B to optimal values is around 0.5 at 0.6 mg/cm 2 . Conclusions The characteristics of the gas amplification in the mixture (Ar-CH 4 (CH 4 10%)), were measured by different methods and compared with the values of the proportional reference counter LND232. The counting plates for the two reference meters LND232 and our DDM19 prototype from 200 to 300 V have slopes ranging from 6.5 to 10%/100 V, and gas amplification factors from 1436 to 1380, respectively.

Journal of Food Processing and Preservation, 2020

Phytochemical composition and biological activities of differently pigmented cabbage (Brassica ol... more Phytochemical composition and biological activities of differently pigmented cabbage (Brassica oleracea var. capitata) and cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) varieties

Applied Radiation and Isotopes, 2020

In Algeria, Data and studies on the non-metal trace element selenium (Se) are presently lacking, ... more In Algeria, Data and studies on the non-metal trace element selenium (Se) are presently lacking, therefore, the aim of this investigation is to provide new data on (Se) element via its determination for the first time from Mentha pulegium L. plant. The plant samples were collected in summer of 2012 from Ain-Oussera region, Djelfa province, Algeria; they were dried and powdered. After the neutron irradiation, the samples were digested using high oxidative reagents including H 2 SO 4 , HNO 3 , H 2 O 2 and HCl. The end of this process gave two phases, organic and aqueous discard phase. By using a separating funnel, the organic phase was transferred into a vial in order to measure their induce radionuclide 75 Se using gamma-ray spectrometer. A non-chromatographic and sensitive analytical technique RNAA (Radiochemical Neutron Activation Analysis), was applied in this investigation due to its great significant minor systematic error. Results were determined using two distinguish calculation methods, relative-RNAA and k 0-RNAA, the findings were quite significant, whereas, the average separation yield was about 85% for both calculation methodologies. Moreover, (Se) concentration obtained from M. pulegium L., is close to the minimal FAO (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) recommended consumption.

Journal of Radioanalytical and Nuclear Chemistry, 2019

Pistacia terebinthus L. and Pistacia lentiscus L. leaves are widely used in Algerian folk medicin... more Pistacia terebinthus L. and Pistacia lentiscus L. leaves are widely used in Algerian folk medicine. For the first time, P. terebinthus and P. lentiscus leaves, were subjected to determine their essential and toxic elements using instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA). P. terebinthus and P. lentiscus leaves were collected from two different locations in Algeria and exposed to INAA analysis. The results show that the mass fractions of the sixteen trace elements studied are within the tolerance limits imposed by the World Health Organization. Hence these results could therefore be used to provide scientific basis for an optimum usage and enriches the database of medicinal herbs.

Biological Trace Element Research, 2018

This study presents the elemental concentration obtained in two Algerian spices (Coriandrum sativ... more This study presents the elemental concentration obtained in two Algerian spices (Coriandrum sativum L. and Cuminum cyminum L.) evaluated by instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), in order to highlight the importance of these spices as a potential source of micronutrients. The daily intake of micronutrients and potentially toxic elements were determined and compared with the recommended values (RDA) and were found to be well below the tolerance limits. Twenty-two elements were assessed, eight essential chemicals were quantified with tendency K > Ca > Na > Fe > Zn > Cr > Co > Se, and three potential toxic elements were present in the descending content pattern Br > As > Sb.