Petrographic and Structural Studies of the Guintéguéla Formations (Northwest of Côte d’Ivoire)

Côte d’Ivoire is currently experiencing strong growth in the mining sector. Identifying the formations present in our subsoil is therefore essential for mining recovery. It is in this context that we conducted studies on the formations present in the locality of Guintéguéla. It is located in the northwest of Côte d’Ivoire in the bafing region. The aim of this work was to determine the petrographic and structural characteristics of the formations of the area. The methodology began with documentation and then followed petrography and structural analysis work on the macroscopic and microscopic levels. We observed six groups of rocks: granitoids, amphibolites, orthogneiss, quartzites (poor and rich in magnetites), volcano-sediments and filonian rocks. Metamorphism is of amphibolite to granulite facies. However, volcano-sediments must be associated with the green schist facies. With regard to the structural, structures and microstructures such as foliation;fractures;sigmoidal figures reveal that the studied area was affected by ductile and also brittle tectonics whose main directions are oriented along the shear corridor, so N-S to NNW-SSE.

Experimental Study of the Influence of Intrinsic Parameters on the Thermal Reactivity of Sawdust, Polyethylene Terephthalate and Composite

Several works have been based on the study of thermal variations in biomass to derive more valuable products such as fuels capable of replacing oil in the event of a crisis or activated carbon used as an adsorbent material, widely used in industry for the elimination of unwanted materials, both in liquid and gaseous environments. A study of thermal parameters such as: heating speed, retention time, drying temperature, carbonization temperature, particle size, was carried out with the aim of determining the characteristic factors of the carbonization of Polyethylene terephthalate (PET), sawdust (SC) and sawdust/polyethylene terephthalate (CPS) mixture. The results of the immediate analysis revealed a very low level of ash in PET (0.013%) compared to the level of ash in sawdust (2.9%), as well as a high level of fixed carbon (82.960%), which suggests the presence of mineral oxides and a significant carbon matrix unlike PET, which indicates a very significant organic matrix (essentially made up of organic matter) with the absence of mineral oxides. The study of thermal parameters showed the water loss from Sawdust (SC) and the Sawdust/Polyethylene terephthalate (CPS) mixture, an increase with temperature, unlike that of PET whose variation is essentially zero. Without heat treatment, sawdust alone contains approximately 7% water. The optimal drying temperature for this study is 110˚C for a stay of 24 hours. It appears that the largest mass losses for the PET samples are between 87.19% and 96.05%, followed by that of the mixture, between 47.33% and 64.37%. And the lowest are observed, those of sawdust (from 24.02% to 62.6%). However, here we can say that the influence of the mass is not great, given the slight difference between the losses by temperature. The results of the study of the influence of grain size showed that the differences are insignificant, even if we vary the diameter of the grains from simple to triple. To better minimize physical constraints such as the intragranular diffusibility of the volatile matter and the homogeneity of the temperature in the grains, 75 μm particles are found to be optimal for our study. It can be noted when studying the heating rate that the mass loss at the end of the reaction is approximately the same depending on each precursor material. However, it has been demonstrated that the heating rate strongly influences the nature of the reaction products both for volatile materials and for the solid residue as well as on the kinetic parameters of the chemical reaction. Furthermore, the variation in apparent density shows a decrease as a function of the increase in the residence time of the materials in the reactor. As the carbonization time increases, the apparent density decreases. We note, for the lignocellulosic material, that the apparent density stabilizes after 60 minutes.

Tong xie yao fang relieves irritable bowel syndrome in rats via mechanisms involving regulation of 5-hydroxytryptamine and substance P

AIM: To investigate whether the Chinese medicine Tong Xie Yao Fang(TXYF) improves dysfunction in an irritable bowel syndrome(IBS) rat model. METHODS: Thirty baby rats for IBS modeling were separated from mother rats(1 h per day) from days 8 to 21, and the rectum was expanded by angioplasty from days 8 to 12. Ten normal rats were used as normal controls. We examined the effects of TXYF on defection frequency, colonic transit function and smooth muscle contraction, and the expression of 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT) and substance P(SP) in colonic and hypothalamus tissues by Western blot and RT-PCT techniques in both normal rats and IBS model rats with characterized visceral hypersensitivity.in normal rats and 4.5 ± 1.58 in IBS model rats(P < 0.001). However, the defecation frequency was significantly decreased(3.0 ± 1.25 vs 4.5 ± 1.58, P < 0.05), while the time(in seconds) of colon transit function was significantly increased(256.88 ± 20.32 vs 93.36 ± 17.28, P < 0.001) in IBS + TXYF group rats than in IBS group rats. Increased colonic smooth muscle tension and contract frequency in IBS model rats were significantly decreased by administration of TXYF. Exogenous agonist stimulants increased spontaneous activity and elicited contractions of colon smooth muscle in IBS model rats, and all of these actions were significantly reduced by TXYF involving 5-HT and SP down-regulation. CONCLUSION: TXYF can modulate the activity of the enteric nervous system and alter 5-HT and SP activities, which may contribute to the symptoms of IBS.

Epidemiology of cercarial stage of trematodes in freshwater snails from Chiang Mai province,Thailand

Objective:To investigate the epidemiological situation of cercarial trematodes infection in freshwater snails from different water resources in Chiang Mai province,Thailand.Methods:The snail specimens were collected from 13 districts of Chiang Mai province during April 2008 to February 2012.The prevalence of cercarial infection in snails was investigated using the crushing method.The drawing was done with the help of a camera lucida for the morphological study.Results:A total of 2479 snail individuals were collected and classified into 7 families,11 genera,and 14 species,Among them,8 snails species were found to be infected with an overall prevalence of 17.27%(428/2479),which infected with nine groups of cercariae;gymnocephalous cercaria,strigea cercaria,megalurous cercaria,monostome cercaria,parapleurolophocercous cercaria(Haplorchis cercaria),pleurolophocercous cercaria,furcocercous cercaria(Transversotrema cercaria),xiphidiocercaria,and virgulate cercaria.The parapleurolophocercous cercaria was found to be the dominant type among the cercarial infection in the snails(64.25%).Conclusions:The various species of snails found in the research location act as the intermediate hosts for the high prevalence of parasitic infection of many species of mammals.This work will provide new information on both the distribution and first intermediate host of trematodes.

Restoration of an Inner-City Stream and Its Impact on Air Temperature and Humidity Based on Long-Term Monitoring Data

Spatiotemporal changes in air temperature and humidity associated with the restoration of an innercity stream in Seoul, Korea, are investigated based on long-term monitoring data. The Cheonggye stream, covered under a concrete structure for 46 years, was restored in 2005 and runs 5.8 km eastward through a central region of Seoul. Long-term monitoring of the air temperature and relative humidity was made along the stream throughout the restoration and across the stream after the restoration. The area along the stream had a higher air temperature than the entire metropolitan area. The temperature anomaly between the monitoring area and the surrounding metropolitan area was 0.13℃ lower on average at the center of the stream after the restoration. The stream＇s effect on the air temperature was also evident in the temperature distribution along a street traversing the stream. The relative and specific humidities were increased due to the restoration. The restored stream modified the nearby urban climate in the opposite direction compared to urbanization. The results could be used as a model case in mitigating urban climate by a stream in future urban planning practices.

TRIBOLOGICAL AND HIGH SPEED TURNING PERFORMANCE IN Ti_(1-x)Al_xN COATINGS PREPARED BY CLOSE-FIELD UNBALANCED MAGNETRON SPUTTERING

Titanium-aluminium-nitride (Ti1-xAlxN) coatings were deposited by close-field un balanced magnetron sputtering on M42 steel substrates and WC-6wt%Co inserts at 4 50℃. The tribological behavior was analyzed by sliding against steel and WC- 6wt%Co balls, while the turning performance was evaluated by a conventional tu rning machine at high cutting speeds without using coolants. In the tribological tests, the formation of transfer layer and the variations of hardness of the co atings played an important role for sliding against steel balls. For the coating s sliding against WC-6wt%Co balls, the Ti-Al-N coatings showed a similar frictio n coefficient, but the TiN coating exhibited a lower value. The difference could be explained by the tri-oxidation wear mechanism. In the turning tests, a super ior cutting performance of the coating was found at x=0.45, which endured 38 min utes before the tool flank wear reached the maximum value of 0.3mm, whereas only 20 minutes were endured for the TiN coating. The excellent performance of the c oatings in the turning tests could be explained by the enhanced mechanical prope rties and oxidation/diffusion resistance of the coatings.

Epidemiological situation and molecular identification of cercarial stage in freshwater snails in Chao-Phraya Basin, Central Thailand

Objective: To investigate the prevalence of cercarial trematode infection in snails and to examine the reconstruction of the phylogenetic relationship to explain the molecular system of cercarial stage trematodes to estimate the infection rate of in the definite host from the Chao-Phraya Basin.Methods: The snails were collected from 10 provinces of the Chao-Phraya Basin,Thailand by stratified sampling method. The snails were examined for cercarial infection by the crushing method. All DNA specimens were amplified with internal transcribed spacer 3(ITS3) and ITS4 primer based on PCR technique. The sequence data were aligned and used to reconstruct the phylogenetic tree by unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic means with 10 000 bootstraps.Results: The overall rate of cercarial infection was found to be 5.90%(122/2 067). Snails in the family Thiaridae were found to be in the highest prevalence followed by Lymnaeidae, Bithyniidae, Planorbidae, Viviparidae, and Ampullariidae, respectively, while the Buccinidae family(Clea helena) did not reveal any infections. The frequently found species of cercariae were parapleurolophocercous cercariae, cercariae and megarulous cercariae. The monophyletic tree separated the snails into five groups comprised of Heterophyidae, Strigeidae, Lecithodendriidae, Philophthalmidae and Echinostomatidae using the sequence of Angiostrongylus cantonensis as an out-group.Conclusions: This study was the first to report on cercarial infection in the Chao-Phraya Basin, Thailand. This revealed that a high variety of freshwater snails were infected by cercariae stage trematodes with a high prevalence. The sequence data of ITS2 can be used to investigate the phylogenetic relationships of trematodes at the family level and in each clade of different families separated by the definitive hosts.

Epidemiology and molecular genotyping of echinostome metacercariae in Filopaludina snails in Lamphun Province,Thailand

Objective:To analyze the prevalence of echinostome metacercariae in Filopaludina dorliaris(F.dorliaris)and Filopaludina martensi martensi(F.martensi martensi)and genotype variation of echinostome metacercariae by using random amplified polymorphic DNA(RAPD)analysis.Methods:Filopaludina sp.snails were collected from eight localities of Lamphun Province,Northern Thailand and examined for echinostome metacercariae.RAPD-PCR was used lo analyze genotype variation of echinostome metacercariae.Results:A total of 3 226 F.dorliaris and F.martensi martensi snails were collected from eight localities.The overall prevalences of echinostome metacercariae in F.dorliaris and F.martensi martensi were 40.89%and 36.27%,while the intensity of infection was 20.37 and 12.04,respectively.The dendrogram constructed base on RAPD profiles,4 well supported domains were generated;(i)group of metacercariae from Ban Hong,Mae Ta,Meaung,Pa Sang,Toong Hua Chang,and Weang Nong that were clustered in the group of E.revolutum,(ii)Ban Thi,(iii)Lee,and(iv)3 adults of an out group.Condusioiis:This research demonstrated RAPD profiling has been a useful tool to detect DNA polymorphisms to determine genetic relationship between echinostome metacercariae in Lamphun Province,Northern Thailand.

Molecular phylogeny of trematodes in Family Heterophyidae based on mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit Ⅰ(mCO Ⅰ)

Objective:To analyze a phylogenetic tree for understanding the molecular systematic of trematode in Pamily Heterophyidae.which are highly distributed in Thailand.Methods:Based on thirteen sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit 1(mCO I) gene from six genera of heterophyid trernatodes,riz.Haplorchis,Stellantchasmus,Centrocestus,Metagonimus,Pygidopsis,and Haplnrchoides were aligned automatically using the Clustal × 2.0 program.A phylogenetic tree was constructed by maximum likeiughood(ML) and neighbor-joining(NJ)methods,with 1000 bootstrap using the 5.0 program.Results:The phylogenetic relationship from both methods was similar and separated into three groups consisting of Haplorchoides pumilio group,Haplorchoides taichui group and another heterophyid genera.Comclusions:The sequence data of mtCOl can he used to investigate the phylogenetic relationships of trernatodes at the genus level.Each clade of different genera of heterophyid trernatodes can be separated into sister groups that correlated with the morphological characteristic,kind of secondary intermediate host and geographic distribution.

An Overset Grid Method for Fluid-Structure Interaction

An overset grid methodology is developed for the fully coupled analysis of fluid-structure interaction (FSI) problems. The overset grid approach alleviates some of the computational geometry difficulties traditionally associated with Arbitrary-Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) based, moving mesh methods for FSI. Our partitioned solution algorithm uses separate solvers for the fluid (finite volume method) and the structure (finite element method), with mesh motion computed only on a subset of component grids of our overset grid assembly. Our results indicate a significant reduction in computational cost for the mesh motion, and element quality is improved. Numerical studies of the benchmark test demonstrate the benefits of our overset mesh method over traditional approaches.

Accurate laser skin perforation technique aimed at promoting bleeding and reducing pain

Laser skin perforation is an effective and promising technique for use in blood collection.In this study,the relation between the perforation profile of skin and laser irradiation at various energies is discussed.Increasing laser energy does not uniformly expand the size and depth of a hole because the shallow depth of field(DOF)of the focused light primarily concentrates energy on the skin surface.In practice,the hole gradually transforms from a semielliptical shape to an upsidedown avocado shape as the laser energy increases.This phenomenon can increase the amount of bleeding and reduce pain.The findings support the feasibility of developing an accurate laser skin perforation method.

Estimation Performance for the Cubature Particle Filter under Nonlinear/Non-Gaussian Environments

This paper evaluates the state estimation performance for processing nonlinear/non-Gaussian systems using the cubature particle lter(CPF),which is an estimation algorithm that combines the cubature Kalman lter(CKF)and the particle lter(PF).The CPF is essentially a realization of PF where the third-degree cubature rule based on numerical integration method is adopted to approximate the proposal distribution.It is benecial where the CKF is used to generate the importance density function in the PF framework for effectively resolving the nonlinear/non-Gaussian problems.Based on the spherical-radial transformation to generate an even number of equally weighted cubature points,the CKF uses cubature points with the same weights through the spherical-radial integration rule and employs an analytical probability density function(pdf)to capture the mean and covariance of the posterior distribution using the total probability theorem and subsequently uses the measurement to update with Bayes’rule.It is capable of acquiring a maximum a posteriori probability estimate of the nonlinear system,and thus the importance density function can be used to approximate the true posterior density distribution.In Bayesian ltering,the nonlinear lter performs well when all conditional densities are assumed Gaussian.When applied to the nonlinear/non-Gaussian distribution systems,the CPF algorithm can remarkably improve the estimation accuracy as compared to the other particle lterbased approaches,such as the extended particle lter(EPF),and unscented particle lter(UPF),and also the Kalman lter(KF)-type approaches,such as the extended Kalman lter(EKF),unscented Kalman lter(UKF)and CKF.Two illustrative examples are presented showing that the CPF achieves better performance as compared to the other approaches.

Valuation and Determination of Seven and Five Parameters of Photovoltaic Generator by Iterative Method

The mathematical modeling of solar cells is essential for any optimization operation of the efficiency or the diagnosis of photovoltaic generator. The photovoltaic module is generally represented by an equivalent circuit whose parameters are experimentally calculated by using the characteristic current-tension, I-V. The precise determination of these parameters stays a challenge for the researchers, making to a big difference in the models and the digital methods dedicated to their characterizations. In the present paper, We are interested to characterize the parameters of single diode and two diodes models, in order to plan the behavior of the photovoltaic generator under real functioning conditions. We developed an identification method of the parameters using Newton Raphson method by using the software Matlab/Simulink. This method is the faster technique which allows the identification of several parameters and can be used in real time applications. The results of the proposed method show an accordance with the experimental and simulated characteristics of photovoltaic generator.

A Note on the Derivation of Wave Action Balance Equation in Frequency Space

In this paper the wave action balance equation in terms of frequency-direction spectrum is derived. A theoretical formulation is presented to generate an invariant frequency space to replace the varying wavenumber space through a Jacobian transformation in the wave action balance equation. The physical properties of the Jacobian incorporating the effects of water depths are discussed. The results provide a theoretical basis of wave action balance equations and ensure that the wave balance equations used in the SWAN or other numerical models are correct. It should be noted that the Jacobian is omitted in the wave action balance equations which are identical to a conventional action balance equation.

Taxpayers Fraudulent Behavior Modeling The Use of Datamining in Fiscal Fraud Detecting Moroccan Case

The fraudulent behavior of taxpayers impacts negatively the resources available to finance public services. It creates distortions of competition and inequality, harming honest taxpayers. Such behavior requires the government intervention to bring order and establish a fiscal justice. This study emphasizes the determination of the interactions linking taxpayers with tax authorities. We try to see how fiscal audit can influence taxpayers’ fraudulent behavior. First of all, we present a theoretical study of a model pre established by other authors. We have released some conditions of this model and we have introduced a new parameter reflecting the efficiency of tax control;we found that the efficiency of a fiscal control have an important effect on these interactions. Basing on the fact that the detection of fraudulent taxpayers is the most difficult step in fiscal control, We established a new approach using DATA MINING process in order to improve fiscal control efficiency. We found results that reflect fairly the conduct of taxpayers that we have tested based on actual statistics. The results are reliable.

Prevalence of cercarial infections in freshwater snails and morphological and molecular identification and phylogenetic trends of trematodes

Objective:To investigate the prevalence of cercarial infections in freshwater snails from several water sources in Nakhon Nayok,Nonthaburi,and Pathum Thani provinces of Central Thailand,and to reconstruct a phylogenetic tree for improved understanding of the relationships in the cercarial stage.Methods:The snail specimens were collected from 34 total sampling sites and investigated for cercarial infections using the crushing method.The cercarial specimens were classified and used for the phylogenetic tree analysis using the Internal Transcribed Spacer 2(ITS2).Results:A total of 1921 snail specimens were classified into five families and seven species.The results showed that four snail species were identified as intermediate hosts of the larval stages of trematodes,with an overall prevalence of infection of 2.45%(47/1921).The infected snail specimens included five groups of the cercarial type:cercariaeum cercariae,echinostome cercaria,megalurous cercaria,parapleurolophocercous cercaria,and xiphidiocercariae.This is particularly true of xiphidiocercariae,which was found to be the dominant type among cercarial infections in bithyniid snails by approximately 38.00%.With regard to molecular identification,the phylogenetic tree was reconstructed using the neighbor-joining method with 10000 bootstraps and separated the trematodes into three clades:Echinostomatoidea,Microphalloidea and Opisthorchioidea.Conclusions:The study reveals a high prevalence of cercarial infection for each cercarial type and maturation into a definite trematode genus and delineates morphological characteristics and evolutionary trends among each larval trematode in Nakhon Nayok,Nonthaburi and Pathum Thani provinces.In addition,the ITS2 sequence data of cercariae could be used to examine classification of these species at the family level.

Oscillating Water Surface Measurement of Free Overfall with a Plunge Pool

This study presents a laser-sheet imaging technique to measure the water surface of free overfalls with plunge pool. Varying the plunge pool length of a constant approach discharge created skimming, periodic oscillatory, and nappe flows. This study analyzes the resulting oscillating water surfaces and temporal variations of water stages at particular positions in the periodic oscillatory flow condition. The oscillation period and amplitude of temporal water stage variation were determined by directly measuring the time interval and water stage differences in water stage variations, respectively. The plunge pool length and air pocket characteristics seriously affected the periodic oscillatory flow. The oscillation period increased as the plunge pool length increased. On the other hand, the water stage amplitude decreased sharply when the plunge pool exceeded a specific length. The absence of an air pocket beneath the falling nappe significantly increased the oscillation period and decreased the water stage amplitude. This study investigates water surface oscillation in the plunge pool and the upstream side of the drop. However, the mean end depth of a periodic oscillatory flow with an air pocket is also applicable to discharge estimation using the end depth method.

Rating Curve Modification at Low Discharges Using Physical Model Tests

Hydraulic structure is designed based on hydraulic theories or guidelines. To ensure performance, physical model tests are often used at high discharges. However, high discharge in river is rare. Physical model tests at high discharges will probably lead biased hydrological relationship. To improve hydrological relationship at low discharges, in this study, we considered the diversion rating curve of the Yuanshanzi Diversion Work. The 1/100-scaled physical model tests at low and high discharges (90 - 1620 m3/s) were performed and coupled the diversion discharges of 5 flood events (2009-2010) in field. The official diversion rating curve was built only based on physical model tests at high discharges (837 - 1620 m3/s). The results of physical model tests in this study suggested the official diversion rating curve should be modified considering all tests. The modifications showed the official diversion rating curve was over-estimated. A complete series of physical model tests and considering field situations, in this study, indicated expanded physical model tests and constantly field measurements were therefore necessary for hydraulic structure, which provided information to modify used hydrological relationship to fit real situations.

Low-energy electronic states of carbon nanocones in an electric field

The low-energy electronic states and energy gaps of carbon nanocones in an electric field are studied using a single-?-band tight-binding model. The analysis considers five perfect carbon nanocones with disclination angles of 60°, 120°, 180°, 240° and 300°, respectively. The numerical results reveal that the low-energy electronic states and energy gaps of a carbon nanocones are highly sensitive to its geometric shape(i.e. the disclination angle and height), and to the direction and magnitude of an electric field. The electric field causes a strong modulation of the state energies and energy gaps of the nanocones, changes their Fermi levels, and induces zero-gap transitions. The energy-gap modulation effect becomes particularly pronounced at higher strength of the applied electric field, and is strongly related to the geometric structure of the nanocone.

Identification of Grown-In Defects in CZ Silicon after Cu Decoration

Bulk Czochralski silicon crystals were decorated with Cu and characterized by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with energy-dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), atomic force microscopy (AFM), optical microscopy (OM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL). The vacancy-type core, oxidation-induced stacking faults (OISF) ring, nearly defect-free ring, and self-interstitial-type rich outer ring were delineated in the Si crystal wafer. At the surface of the Si crystal, vertical-horizontal line (V-H line) defects and windmill defects (W-defects) were formed instead of OISF. The families of growth planes and directions were expressed as {011} and for the V-H line and {010} and for W-defects, respectively. In addition to V-H line defects and W-defects, pits or voids and Si oxide with dissolved Cu were found in the Si crystal wafer.