Using Optical Tweezers to Study the Friction of the Red Blood Cells

In the last two decades the study of red blood cell elasticity using optical tweezers has known a rise appearing in the scientific research with regard to the various works carried out. Despite the various work done, no study has been done so far to study the influence of friction on the red blood cell indentation response using optical tweezers. In this study, we have developed a new approach to determine the coefficient of friction as well as the frictional forces of the red blood cell. This approach therefore allowed us to simultaneously carry out the indentation and traction test, which allowed us to extract the interfacial properties of the microbead red blood cell couple, among other things, the friction coefficient. This property would be extremely important to investigate the survival and mechanical features of cells, which will be of great physiological and pathological significance. But taking into account the hypothesis of friction as defined by the isotropic Coulomb law. The experiment performed for this purpose is the Brinell Hardness Test (DB).

Composition, Structure and Functional Feeding of Aquatic Entomofauna in KodjobouéLake: Water Quality Assessment

The composition, structure and Functional Feeding Groups (FFGs) of aquatic insects were investigated in Kodjoboué lake (South-East of Côte d’Ivoire) to assess water quality. Four sites (K1 - K4) were sampled during eight campaigns. At each site aquatic insects were collected using a kick-net (25 × 20 cm, 500 μm mesh size). Environmental variables were also recorded during this period. Water was collected from each sampling site for nutrient (phosphorus, nitrate) analysis in laboratory. A total of 68 aquatic insect taxa belonging to six orders and 32 families were recorded during the study. Site K4, subject to intense agricultural activity, had the lower diversity and least balanced stand with the lowest values of Shannon-Weaver index, Pielou’s Evenness index and rarefied richness. The functional approach revealed five major FFGs: predators, scrapers, shredders, gatherers-collectors and filter-collectors. Among the different functional feeding groups, the percentage of predators was higher than that of other groups at all the sites. The P/R report indicated that our four sites are characterized as heterotrophic with K1 as the least heterotrophic. Focused Principal Component Analysis (FPCA) showed that parameters of water, like pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrate were statistically correlated with species abundance. The diversity and Functional Feeding Groups metrics of aquatic insects used to describe the state of Kodjoboué lake reveal its disturbed state.

Comparison of Chronic Wound Inpatients and Outpatients’ Diets and Meals Nutrient Content in Taabo Wound Management Unit, Côte d’Ivoire

Chronic and potential non-healing wounds are a great challenge for patients, physicians, and wound care professionals and the health system. A balanced nutrition intake is essential for health as well as a speedy recovery of such wounds. The study objective was to compare chronic wound inpatients supplemented with food nutrient content with outpatients with their usual intake in a cross-sectional study. Patients’ food samples were taken for chemical analyses. The protein, beta-carotene, sodium, magnesium, manganese, and potassium content prove statistically significant differences. Outpatients’ diets are more diversified than inpatients’ diets, and supplementation diet richest in beta-carotene and in protein. Outpatients have better dietary diversity than those who were hospitalized. The result provides insights of supplementary food as critical issues pertaining to chronic wounds management. However, analyzing bioavailability of nutrient on patients’ blood may provide more knowledge in the appropriate integrated wound management.

Comparative Performance Analysis of MAPbI3 and FAPbI3 Perovskites: Study of Optoelectronic Properties and Stability

The exploitation of fossil resources to meet humanity’s energy needs is the root cause of the climate warming phenomenon facing the planet. In this context, non-carbon-based energies, such as photovoltaic energy, are identified as crucial solutions. Organic perovskites MAPbI3 and FAPbI3, characterized by their abundance, low cost, and ease of synthesis, are emerging as candidates for study to enhance their competitiveness. It is within this framework that this article presents a comparative analysis of the performances of MAPbI3 and FAPbI3 perovskites in the context of photovoltaic devices. The analysis focuses on the optoelectronic characteristics and stability of these high-potential materials. The optical properties of perovskites are rigorously evaluated, including band gaps, photoluminescence, and light absorption, using UV-Vis spectroscopy and photoluminescence techniques. The crystal structure is characterized by X-ray diffraction, while film morphology is examined through scanning electron microscopy. The results reveal significant variations between the two types of perovskites, directly impacting the performance of resulting solar devices. Simultaneously, the stability of perovskites is subjected to a thorough study, exposing the materials to various environmental conditions, highlighting key determinants of their durability. Films of MAPbI3 and FAPbI3 demonstrate distinct differences in terms of topography, optical performance, and stability. Research has unveiled that planar perovskite solar cells based on FAPbI3 offer higher photoelectric conversion efficiency, surpassing their MAPbI3-based counterparts in terms of performance. These advancements aim to overcome stability constraints and enhance the long-term durability of perovskites, ultimately aiming for practical application of these materials. This comprehensive comparative analysis provides an enlightened understanding of the optoelectronic performance and stability of MAPbI3 and FAPbI3 perovskites, which is critically important to guide future research and development of solar devices that are both more efficient and sustainable.

Energy Valorization by Continuous Pyrolysis of Straight Vegetable Oils (SVOs)

Researches have been undertaken to find a form of valorization of the surplus production of vegetable oils in C&#244te d’Ivoire for their use as a substitute diesel. The first tests of the use of crude oils-diesel blends by the company Palmindustrie faced enormous difficulties. We have therefore undertaken a campaign of pyrolysis of Tropical Straight Vegetable Oils: palm, copra, peanut, cotton, cabbage palm and shea, between 400°C and 600°C under atmospheric pressure. A silica support was used in co-catalysis either with water or with methylcyclohexane, which is a model compound of cetanes contained in gas oil. This compound has the advantage, unlike the gas oil itself, of not masking the peaks of the pyrolysis recombinates of oils in the chromatograms. The condensed organic phase consists mainly of hydrocarbons including paraffins, olefins, alkylbenzenes and styrenes. The yields of liquid hydrocarbons vary between 72% and 86%. A comparative study of coke precursors and gas production was carried out. A discussion on the parameters to be considered for a large-scale implementation was undertaken.

Archean Tonalite-Trondhjemite-Granodiorite Suites Bearing Orthopyroxene Mineral of the Bounta Region and Their Sulfide and Oxide Iron Mineralization (Western Ivory Coast)

The mining company Sama Nickel-CI during its exploration activities in the Bounta area (Biankouma department, western Côte d’Ivoire) identified rocks with magmatic and metamorphic characteristics of felsic to mafic compositions mineralized in sulfide but unknown in the region. Thus, the petrographic characterization of these rocks of Bounta as well as the sulfides they contain, was carried out from macroscopic to microscopic observations. Petrographic analysis of these rocks has shown that these rocks are trondhjemite, tonalite and granodiorite (TTG) suites, composed of the main minerals (quartz, plagioclase, orthopyroxene, amphibole, feldspar) and accessory minerals (biotite, garnet) with magmatic textures supplanted by metamorphic textures. They were set up by fractional crystallization and would be products of Archean crustal anatexis formed from the partial melting of basaltic protocrust during the Liberian orogeny. The Bounta’s series of trondhjemite, tonalite and granodiorite (TTG) contain speckles of sulfide (pyrite and pyrrhotite) which are disseminated in places and are relatively abundant, as well as iron oxides (magnetite) which are of low proportion.

Assessment of Meteorological Drought in Climate Variability Context within the Comoe River Transboundary Watershed

In the context of climate variability resulting in a decrease in rainfall with a severe drought, a spatio-temporal study of this phenomenon remains imperative for the efficient management of water resources. This paper aims to assess the long-term rainfall drought trend and breakpoints within the Comoe River watershed. From monthly rainfall data series (1960-2000), Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) values were calculated for a time scale of 3 months (SPI.3). Statistical tests for breaks (CUSUM, and t-Student) and trends (Man-Kendall and Linear Regression) as well as the Sen’ slope method for estimating the magnitude of trends was applied. The breaks dates observed are mostly located after the 1970s. Based on SPI.3 values below the threshold of 0.84 chosen as an indicator of drought, rarely has more than half of the catchment area been affected by drought. The average watershed affected is about 20% over the study period (1960-2000). The most representative years, in terms of spatial expansion of the drought, in decreasing order of importance are: 1983, 1992, 1972 and 1982. The years 1982 and 1983 stand out for their exceptional condition, as the drought-affected 50% to 90% of the total catchment area. SPI.3 series from 1960 to the various break dates recorded slopes between -0.01 and 0.00 with a slight drought trend for most of the catchment. After the break periods, almost the entire northern part of the basin is characterized by slight moisture with Sen’s slopes between 0.000 and 0.005. The southern part will remain slightly subject to normal rainfall conditions.

A Genetic Algorithm for Overall Designing and Planning of a Long Term Evolution Advanced Network

In the mobile radio industry, planning is a fundamental step for the deployment and commissioning of a Telecom network. The proposed models are based on the technology and the focussed architecture. In this context, we introduce a comprehensive single-lens model for a fourth generation mobile network, Long Term Evolution Advanced Network (4G/LTE-A) technology which includes three sub assignments: cells in the core network. In the resolution, we propose an adaptation of the Genetic Evolutionary Algorithm for a global resolution. This is a combinatorial optimization problem that is considered as difficult. The use of this adaptive method does not necessarily lead to optimal solutions with the aim of reducing the convergence time towards a feasible solution.