Sedimentological Study of Alluvial Deposits on the Congolese Coast: Highlighting the Erosive Character of the Holocene Wet Climatic Phases

A granulometric, mineralogical, morphoscopic and exoscopic study and Rock-Eval analysis carried out on samples taken in the Loango Bay and at Kivesso on the Congolese coast have made it possible to highlight the highly erosive character of the well-documented wet phases ca 9000 - 3000 years B.P. and ca 320 B.P. in the sub-region. Supported by carbon-14 dating, total organic carbon analyses highlight two major phases of peat deposit emplacement. The first, ca. 7000 years B.P., corresponds to the beginning of the deposition of the yellow formation in the entire Loango Bay;the second, ca. 320 years B.P., is contemporary with the deposition of peat in the Kivesso sector. The granulometric analysis of the sediments shows that they are essentially sandy-clay and very poor in silt, alternating with beds of silty clay sometimes rich in organic matter. These sands have a predominant mode of 0.200 mm and an average varying between 0.150 and 0.300 mm. They constitute the flood phase of the carrier current. They are associated with a population of mode 0.125 mm sometimes 0.050 mm with an average varying between 0.100 mm and 0.126 mm which corresponds to the settling phase. Morphoscopic examination showed several varieties of quartz that argue for a source of supply close to the depositional sites.

Stochastic Maximum Principle for Optimal Advertising Models with Delay and Non-Convex Control Spaces

In this paper we study optimal advertising problems that model the introduction of a new product into the market in the presence of carryover effects of the advertisement and with memory effects in the level of goodwill. In particular, we let the dynamics of the product goodwill to depend on the past, and also on past advertising efforts. We treat the problem by means of the stochastic Pontryagin maximum principle, that here is considered for a class of problems where in the state equation either the state or the control depend on the past. Moreover the control acts on the martingale term and the space of controls U can be chosen to be non-convex but now the space of controls U can be chosen to be non-convex. The maximum principle is thus formulated using a first-order adjoint Backward Stochastic Differential Equations (BSDEs), which can be explicitly computed due to the specific characteristics of the model, and a second-order adjoint relation.

What Is the Convenience of Treating a Wetland as an Agricultural Area?

The Gelsari and Lentini marshes, in east-central Sicily, are wetland under heavy anthropogenic pressure. This area is regularly subjected to water withdrawals and agriculture is practiced. Periodic bird census activities had been conducted in this area between 2016 and 2022 with collected data being supplemented with the data from a previous survey conducted between 2010 and 2016. During the censuses, numerous photographs were collected, which were later used for counts. In total, 121 surveys were carried out, with visits occurring approximately 20 times per year, covering all seasons. The data collected, both from bibliography and unpublished observations, were organised in table. 120 species and subspecies have been reported, 41 of which are in Annex I of the Birds Directive. Between 2021 and 2022, a water column measurement was taken in a central area of the Lentini marsh and compared with rainfall data in the area. It was found that water removal, occurring in both marshes in different modes, produced different effects on habitat conservation. Of the two marshes, Lentini is the one in which the existing favorable conditions in its most depressed areas, located below sea level, have allowed for the adequate conservation of the wetland. This environmental improvement having occurred with respect to the previous period has restored to the marsh its historically recognized possibility of not drying up completely during the summer period, allowing permanence of numerous birds. The obtained results suggest total elimination of agriculture and discontinuation of water withdrawals in the Lentini marsh as well as regulation of withdrawals in the Gelsari marsh.

Analysis of the Energy and Environmental Sustainability of a Built Space System: The Case of Patte d’Oie University Campus in Ouagadougou

The aim of this study was to carry out a dynamic simulation of the energy and environmental performance of a built space system, with a view to assessing its energy and environmental class. The use of a simulation and modeling tool, supported by various methodological references, formed the basis of our approach. Adopting a systemic perspective, we described the structural and functional aspects of the systems making up built spaces, as well as the associated energy flows. Our approach was also based on a typology, taking into account typical days, structural and functional configurations at different scales and angles of observation. The analysis tool we developed in Java was applied to the built space system of the Patte d’Oie university campus in Ouagadougou. Annual electricity consumption was measured at 124387.34 kWh, closely aligned with the average annual electricity bill (125224.31 kWh), with a maximum relative deviation of 1%, followed by a carbon emission balance of 58337.66 kg eq CO2 per year. This validation confirmed the effectiveness of our tool. In addition, following the analysis of electricity consumption using our tool, the university campus was classified in energy class B and environmental class C. These results will be based on the emission factors of the energy mix of the West African Economic and Monetary Union (WAEMU) territory, with particular emphasis on Burkina Faso.

碱改性铜锰尖晶石室温催化氧化空气中甲醛

甲醛(FA)作为一种有致癌风险的有害污染物,在室内环境中普遍存在.为了高效去除甲醛,催化氧化技术成为了一种既经济又节能的选择,它不仅能降低材料成本(例如避免使用贵金属),也能在无光和室温的条件下进行.本文制备了一种成本效益高的碱改性锰酸铜尖晶石(CuMn^(2)O_(4))催化剂,并用于甲醛催化氧化反应中.实验结果表明,采用碱(1 mol L^(-1)氢氧化钾)改性的CuMn^(2)O_(4)(1-CuMn^(2)O_(4))作为催化剂,在室温条件下,当甲醛浓度为50 ppm,气体空速为4777 h^(-1)时,甲醛转化率(XFA)达到100%;此外,在甲醛转化率为10%时,其稳态反应速率达到了8.18×10^(-2) mmol g^(-1) h^(-1).原位漫反射红外傅立叶变换光谱结果表明,在催化剂的作用下,甲醛分子经过二氧亚甲基和甲酸酯中间体的转化,最终被氧化为水和二氧化碳.进一步结合密度泛函理论模拟发现,1-CuMn^(2)O_(4)具有较高的催化氧化甲醛性能,可归因于甲醛分子更牢固地吸附在1-CuMn^(2)O_(4)表面,甲醛吸附所需的能量较低,以及最终产物从催化剂表面脱附所需的能量也较低的综合效应.本研究为在无光和室温条件下,高效去除空气中甲醛提供了新型高效、成本效益高且无需贵金属的催化剂,从而为室内空气净化提供了新的科学见解.

Prader-Willi Syndrome and the Use of Medical Nutrition Therapy

Title: Integrating Consistent Individualized Carbohydrate-Controlled Anti- Inflammatory Nutritional Plan (C-ICAN) in the Management of Prader-Willi Syndrome: A Case Report. Prader–Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare genetic disorder caused by a loss of function of specific genes on chromosome 15. Patients with this disease present unique challenges in management, particularly regarding obesity and nutritional regulation as the disease symptoms change depending on the age of the patient and the phase of the disease. These challenges pose critical stressors to caregivers and their families. We present a case report of a 5-year-old Caucasian male diagnosed with PWS, exhibiting failure to thrive and uncontrolled weight gain. His caregiver was his elderly grandmother who, by her own admission, was ill-equipped to deal with the patient’s physical symptoms and his behavior in response to dietary restrictions. Through a multidisciplinary approach involving medical nutrition therapy (MNT) involving the implementation of a Consistent Individualized Carbohydrate-Controlled Anti-Inflammatory Nutritional plan (C-ICAN), growth hormone supplementation, and behavioral interventions patient markedly improved physically and emotionally.

The Impact of Psychosocial Influences on Chronic Wound Healing

This comprehensive review explores the intricate dynamics between psychosocial factors and chronic wound healing processes, specifically focusing on prevalent conditions such as pressure ulcers, diabetic foot ulcers, and venous leg ulcers. By examining the roles of psychiatric conditions, including depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), this paper illuminates how these factors intricately influence wound healing dynamics, including mechanisms of pain perception and inflammatory responses. Furthermore, we evaluate the effectiveness of integrated biopsychosocial interventions, which encompass a holistic approach to wound care, thereby enhancing healing outcomes for dermatology patients. Future studies should focus on investigating the specific psychosocial determinants that significantly influence wound healing, exploring novel therapeutic strategies, and implementing personalized interventions to meet the unique needs of each patient. Such endeavors hold promise in advancing the fields of psychodermatology and wound management, fostering a deeper understanding and application of psychosocial considerations in dermatological care.

Numerical Modelling of Coupled Heat and Mass Transfer in Porous Materials: Application to Cinder Block Bricks

In this work, we present numerical modelling of coupled heat and mass transfer within porous materials. Our study focuses on cinder block bricks generally used in building construction. The material is assumed to be placed in air. Moisture content and temperature have been chosen as the main transfer drivers and the equations governing these transfer drivers are based on the Luikov model. These equations are solved by an implicit finite difference scheme. A Fortran code associated with the Thomas algorithm was used to solve the equations. The results show that heat and mass transfer depend on the temperature of the air in contact with the material. As this air temperature rises, the temperature within the material increases, and more rapidly at the material surface. Also, thermal conductivity plays a very important role in the thermal conduction of building materials and influences heat and mass transfer in these materials. Materials with higher thermal conductivity diffuse more heat.

Theoretical and Experimental Quantification of Solar Radiation through a Tracking System

This work deals with the estimation of solar radiation through a solar tracker aimed at evaluating the effect of solar tracking on the solar deposit in Burkina Faso. Using a two-axis solar tracking system, we experimentally measured solar radiation at our Joseph KI-ZERBO University site and compared it with that obtained by a numerical simulation run using Fortran programming software based on a mathematical model by Brichambaut. The results obtained from the mathematical and experimental studies show that, with a solar tracker, on a clear-sky day, solar irradiation is between 800 W·m−2 and 1000 W·m−2 between about 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., i.e. a duration of 8 hours of insolation. Analysis of the numerical and experimental results shows very good quantitative and qualitative agreement, with an average relative error of 18%.

Modeling the Spatio-Temporal Dynamics of Local Context for a Contextualized Diffusion of Agroecological Intensification Options in Niger

Spatio-temporal variability and dynamics in Sahelian agro-pastoral zones make each local situation a special case. These specificities must be considered to guide the dissemination of agricultural options with a view to sustainable development. The territorial scale of municipalities is not sufficient for this necessary contextualization;the scale of the “village terroir” seems to be a better option. This is the hypothesis we put forward in the framework of the Global Collaboration for Resilient Food Systems program (CRFS), i.e. local context is spatially defined by village terroir. The study is based on data collected through participatory mapping and surveys in “village terroirs” in three regions of Niger (Maradi, Dosso and Tillabéri). Then the links between farm managers and their cultivated land, as well as the spatio-temporal dynamics of local context are analyzed. This study provides evidence of the existence and functional usefulness of the village terroir for farmers, their land management and their activities. It demonstrates the usefulness of contextualizing agricultural options at this scale. Their analysis elucidates the links between “terroirs village” and the specific functioning of the agrosocio-ecosystems acting on each of them, thus laying the systemic and geographical foundations for a model of the spatio- temporal dynamics of “village terroirs”. This initial work has opened up new perspectives in modeling and sustainable development.

Evaluation of Water Losses by Evaporation in the Nakanbe Basin

A numerical approach to heat and mass transfer in a large water reservoir is presented. This water reservoir is likened to a parallelepiped reservoir whose vertical and lower walls are adiabatic and impermeable. The equations that govern natural convection in water are solved by the finite volume method and Thomas’salgorithm. The adequacy between the velocity and pressure fields is ensured by the SIMPLE algorithm. We are going to evaluate the water losses by evaporation from three dams in the Nakanbé basin in Burkina Faso for a period of thirty years, that is to say from January 1, 1991, to March 15, 2020. The three dams have a rate of evaporation greater than 40% of the volume of water stored. Indeed the rate of evaporation in each dam increases with the water filling rate in the reservoir: we have observed the following results for each dam in the Nakanbé basin;for the date of 02/27/1988 to 03/13/2020., the Loumbila dam received a total volume of stored water of 22.02 Mm3 and 10.57 Mm3 as the total volume of water evaporated at the same date. At the Ouaga dam (2 + 3), it stored a water volume of 4.06 Mm3 and evaporated 2.03 Mm3 of its storage volume from 01/01/1988 to 05/07/2016. Finally, with regard to the Bagré dam, it stored 745.16 Mm3 of water and 365.13 Mm3 as the volume of water evaporated from 01/01/1993 to 03/31/2020.

费米子的相对论自旋输运理论

在重离子碰撞中,自旋轨道耦合可以导致整体极化现象.自从2017年,STAR工作中发现超子Λ在Au+Au碰撞中的整体极化,整体极化效应引起了学术界的广泛关注.整体极化效应的微观产生机制可以利用粒子之间非定域的散射过程来描述:在重离子碰撞中产生了热密物质,热密物质中的粒子之间通过非定域的碰撞过程实现了轨道角动量向自旋角动量的转换,从而导致散射后的粒子自旋极化.为了描述这一微观过程,在相空间描述自旋轨道耦合更加方便,而自旋轨道耦合又是一种量子效应,所以基于协变维格纳函数的量子动理学理论将是描述整体极化现象的有力工具.本文介绍了基于维格纳函数的量子动理学理论以及自旋输运理论.近期自旋输运理论的发展为以后数值模拟自旋极化现象的时空演化提供了理论基础.

重离子碰撞中的矢量介子自旋排列

在非对心相对论重离子碰撞中,参与反应的系统具有巨大的轨道角动量,从而使产生的夸克胶子等离子体具有极强涡旋场,并通过自旋-轨道相互作用导致部分子的自旋极化,经过强子化导致重子的自旋极化以及矢量介子的自旋排列等可观测效应.矢量介子的自旋排列是指其自旋密度矩阵的00元素ρ00偏离1/3.在矢量介子衰变到两个赝标介子的过程中,衰变产物的极角分布只与ρ00有关,以此可以对自旋排列进行测量.理论研究表明,重离子碰撞过程中,重子的自旋极化反映了夸克自旋极化的时空平均效应,而矢量介子自旋排列则反映了夸克反夸克自旋极化的局域相空间关联.本文回顾了相对论重离子碰撞中矢量介子自旋排列的相关理论工作.重点以非相对论夸克融合模型为例,明确地计入夸克极化的相空间依赖性,展示了矢量介子自旋排列与夸克反夸克自旋极化特别是它们之间相空间关联的关系.本文还讨论了涡旋、电磁场、有效ø介子场以及它们的局域涨落对ø介子自旋排列的贡献,结果显示强作用场的时空关联效应是导致ø介子自旋排列的主要因素.矢量介子自旋排列为探索强相互作用物质和强相互作用场的性质提供了新途径.

Rational solutions of Painlevé-Ⅱequation as Gram determinant

Under the Flaschka-Newell Lax pair,the Darboux transformation for the Painlevé-Ⅱequation is constructed by the limiting technique.With the aid of the Darboux transformation,the rational solutions are represented by the Gram determinant,and then we give the large y asymptotics of the determinant and the rational solutions.Finally,the solution of the corresponding Riemann-Hilbert problem is obtained from the Darboux matrices.

FeCl_(3)沉淀法在水溶液中去除药物抗生素的表现

药物抗生素(PA)残留物普遍存在于土壤和水环境中;因受去除效率及可产生致癌副产物的制约,目前的生物或光化学降解方法难以有效去除PA,且金属离子与PA的吸附/络合机制尚不清楚。本文用FeCl_(3)从水溶液中去除两种PA—盐酸左氧氟沙星(LH)和盐酸坦索罗辛(TH);发现pH=7.5~8.5时,铁以Fe-PA沉淀物(Fe-PAp)形式将PA从水溶液中分离;连续沉淀5次后,90.3%的LH和87.5%TH被去除;分析LH、TH和Fe-PAp的波峰特征,发现:1)LH和TH主要红外峰:3 433和3 329 cm^(-1)(羧酸OH和NH2)、1 676 cm^(-1)(-COO-)、1 467 cm^(-1)(脂肪族C-H)和1 022 cm^(-1)(-S=O),2)Fe-PAp中前述红外峰强度下降或完全消失。通过化学键分析表明:在Fe-PAp形成过程中,电子从PA内各种官能团转移到Fe3+的空d轨道,形成π-d电子键系统。FeCl_(3)应用广泛:1)作为一种高效且有应用前景的无机吸附剂,能够从水中去除PA,可实现大规模分离生活和工业废水中的有机污染物;2)Fe-PAp的形成表明金属-有机复合物可以在碱性土壤和水中长期稳定,解释了Fe-DOM复合物在环境中的长期稳定/固存机制。

Experiences of Social Isolation in Older Hospitalized Patients with COVID-19 and Their Close Relatives: A Qualitative Study

Background: Proximity between older patients and their close relatives is essential during hospitalisation. During the first wave of the pandemic, the Danish Patient Safety Authority restricted no hospital visitors. Aim: To explore how older patients with COVID-19 and their close relatives experienced physical separation during hospitalization. Method: A qualitative study using semi-structured interviews and thematic analysis was employed. Findings: Six interviews were conducted: three patients with a mean age of 81 years and three close relatives—two daughters and one spouse. The patients felt boredom, loneliness, and a sense of imprisonment, yet they felt safe and satisfied. Isolation was known beforehand from the media. Close relatives emphasised that information, involvement, and collaboration with hospital staff were crucial. Conclusion: Although older patients with COVID-19 and their close relatives widely accept their situation during hospitalization, they experience negative consequences from social isolation.

Quantum-Relativistic Properties of the Space-Time Bubbles and Their Evolution in a Multi-Bubble Universe

The quantum-relativistic properties of space-time bubbles introduced in the recently proposed multi-Bubbles Universe model have been studied and deepened in the framework of the electromagnetic Bridge theory. In this context, it is shown how the space-time fabric of the emerging universe and the primordial matter contained in it, can be considered the final result of the decay of a pre-universe formed by a BEC of neutral Planck bosons hidden under the space-time horizon, having the characteristics of balancing gravitons associated with the potential energy of the vacuum defined as the field of nothingness. The estimated mass of the Planck boson is compatible with the smallest of the Kaluza-Klein graviton with an energy mass of 2.68 TeV, this value allows to estimate the limit of the Planck energy scale characterized by a lepton particle with a rest mass of 1.27 TeV. It is also shown as an ancient multi-bubble universe obtained by the decay of a pre-universe redshifted nowadays at 2.725 K, provides a Planck blackbody spectrum perfectly in agreement with the cosmic microwave background radiation of our universe measured by the COBE satellite.

A Review of Thermo- and Diffusio-Phoresis in the Atmospheric Aerosol Scavenging Process. Part 2: Ice Crystal and Snow Scavenging

The role of phoretic forces in the identification of particles acting as ice nuclei in mixed phase cloud is discussed. A method used to identify the effective ice nucleating particles is to sample ice crystals, which are afterwards sublimated, and to examine the particles remaining after evaporation. The procedure takes into account only crystal with a maximum diameter of 20 μm, by assuming that small crystals do not scavenge aerosol during growth, and therefore that crystals contain only the effective nucleating particles. This assumption is questionable, however, as experiments have shown that even small ice crystals can scavenge aerosol. Another approach has been to compare the number and elemental composition of residual particles in small ice crystals and of aerosol near the cloud. By considering as example soot and black carbon aerosol, contradictory conclusions on their importance in the processes of ice nucleation have been reported in the literature. We suggest that, in addition to physico-chemical properties of soot/carbon aerosol particles, even the microphysical and environmental parameters involved in the transition of aerosol from gas phase to ice crystals in cloud should be considered. The contribution of phoretic forces should also be considered. After initial growth ice crystals can continue to grow by water vapour diffusion. Laboratory experiments confirm the contribution of diffusiophoresis with Stefan flow in the scavenging by snow crystals up to 3 mm in diameter. The particle scavenging efficiency of snow crystals is related to crystalline shape and depends on air relative humidity and temperature.

Hepatic Adenoma Secondary to Long-Term Oral Contraception Use in a Young Female

Hepatic adenomas are a rare byproduct of oral contraceptive pill (OCP) use. Laboratory workup is often inconclusive. Diagnosis can be made via MRI;however, select cases may require further testing such as fine needle aspiration or core needle biopsy. We report a case of a 36-year-old female who was referred to gastroenterology for further evaluation of several liver lesions found incidentally on imaging. Due to risk factors, such as age, long-term oral contraceptive use and obesity, adenoma was high on the differential. Although infrequent, this case emphasizes the importance of a detailed history, including medication review, and physical examination.

Experimental Study and Modeling of a Convective Dryer for Fruits and Vegetables

The present work deals with the study of the thermal performances of a convective dryer for fruits and vegetables. This dryer, operating with energy generated from the combustion of biomass in a boiler connected to a water/air heat exchanger could be a solution to the problematic of energy related to drying. An experimental and theoretical study is carried out on the temperature profile inside the dryer. For this purpose, 10.3 kg of tomatoes were dried on the experimental setup. The operation lasted about 16 hours and reduced the moisture content from 93.8% to 12% in wet basis. The overall thermal efficiency of the convective dryer during the trial is 10.76%. For the theoretical study, the dryer components (boiler, water/air exchanger and drying chamber) are first modeled individually;the different sub-programs are then coupled to form the convective dryer program. The method of global heat balances combined with the one called “ε-NUT” is used. The set of equations is discretized using the implicit method of finite differences, then solved with the Gauss algorithm in Fortran 90. The theoretical results obtained are in good agreement with those measured.