Introduction: COVID-19 is a global public health emergency that can cause acute respiratory distress syndrome. In countries where tuberculosis (TB) is endemic, coinfection of COVID-19 and TB is often encountered, whic...Introduction: COVID-19 is a global public health emergency that can cause acute respiratory distress syndrome. In countries where tuberculosis (TB) is endemic, coinfection of COVID-19 and TB is often encountered, which increases the risk of developing severe forms of COVID-19. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of COVID-19/TB coinfection at the Epidemic treatment center (ETC) in Saint-Louis (Senegal) and to describe the epidemiological, clinical, paraclinical, and outcome profile of co-infected patients. Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive cohort study based on the records of COVID-19/ TB co-infected patients who were hospitalized at the ETC in Saint-Louis (Senegal) over an 18-month period from March 2020 to September 2021. Results: Out of a total of 454 hospitalizations, we collected records of 9 patients co-infected with COVID-19/TB, resulting in a prevalence of 2%. The study included patients with a median age of 34 years (range: 10-86 years), with a male predominance (7 cases) and a sex ratio of 3.5. The majority of patients (88.9%) had severe forms of COVID-19. Dyspnea and cough were reported in all patients (100%). Pulmonary TB was the most frequent localization, with 9 cases. The diagnosis of COVID-19 was confirmed by nasopharyngeal PCR in all patients (100%). Bacilloscopy was positive in 3 out of 5 cases. One patient tested positive for GeneXpert<sup>?</sup> MTB/RIF without rifampicin resistance. All patients were prescribed the hydroxychloroquine-azithromycin combination and anti-tuberculosis treatment. Out of the nine patients, four recovered (44.4%) and five died (55.5%). Conclusion: COVID-19/TB coinfection had a low prevalence in our cohort, but was associated with a high mortality due to the frequent occurrence of severe forms of the disease.展开更多
Introduction: The SARS-CoV-2 infection is a major public health emergency. Several risk factors are involved in the occurrence of respiratory distress that can lead to death despite resuscitation measures. Objectives:...Introduction: The SARS-CoV-2 infection is a major public health emergency. Several risk factors are involved in the occurrence of respiratory distress that can lead to death despite resuscitation measures. Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological, clinical, paraclinical, therapeutic, and evolution profile of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 hospitalized at the CTE of Saint-Louis (Senegal) during the first two waves. Patients and Methods: We conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study that included all patients hospitalized at the ETC of Saint-Louis (Senegal) with SARS-CoV-2 infection from March 2020 to April 2021. Results: A total of 358 cases were collected, 256 (71.5%) during the first wave and 102 (28.5%) during the second wave. The mean age was 49.5 years (19.5). There was a male predominance (58.4%), with a sex ratio of 1.4. Hypertension was the main comorbidity, with 87 cases (24.3%). The most common functional signs were cough in 194 cases (54.2%), dyspnea in 143 cases (40%) and ageusia in 134 cases (37.4%). Thoracic CT scans were performed on 20 patients (5.6%), with severe involvement (50% - 75%) observed in 50% of cases. Hydroxychloroquine-azithromycin was prescribed to 351 patients (98%). Overall, 338 (94.4%) recovered and 17 (4.7%) died. In multivariate analysis, factors associated with death were male sex [OR = 2.645;95% CI: 1.530 - 4.785;p = 0.011], age 60 years [OR = 1.039;95% CI: 0.564 - 1.914;p = 0.002], the presence of comorbidities [OR = 2.171;95% CI: 0.564 - 3.429;p = 0.033], SpO2 (ambient air) 95% [OR = 2.061;95% CI: 0.616 - 3.827;p = 0.03], acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) [OR = 0.635;95% CI: 0.316 - 1.275;p = 0.001], severe form [OR = 1.664;95% CI: 0.298 - 2.478;p = 0.016], occurrence of complications [OR = 0.521;95% CI: 0.287 - 0.944;p = 0.032], high creatinine levels [OR = 2.061;95% CI: 1.616 - 3.827;p = 0.026], and lymphopenia [OR = 0.485;95% CI: 0.370 - 0.636;p = 0.001]. Conclusion: In our series, infection with SARS-CoV-2 was associated with low lethality. Several risk factors were identified that need to be considered for successful management of patients.展开更多
Regarding the Chan Buddhism lamp records from the Song Dynasty and starting from Jing De Zhuan Deng Lu,the category of“enlightened masters in Chan Buddhism”禪門達者was listed separately,meaning a separate category w...Regarding the Chan Buddhism lamp records from the Song Dynasty and starting from Jing De Zhuan Deng Lu,the category of“enlightened masters in Chan Buddhism”禪門達者was listed separately,meaning a separate category was established for eccentric monks who pretended to be crazy,had unknown inheritance and miraculous deeds,and were difficult to classify.The following lamp records named this category of eccentric monks as“sages”散聖,or“saints”應化聖賢,which constructed another historical genealogy for the special Chan Buddhism eccentric monks.Moreover,the early lamp records included mostly idiosyncratic mad monks from previous dynasties.Since the Southern Song Dynasty,Chan Buddhism historical materials included many sages from the current dynasty.Therefore,this study mainly examines how the genealogy of Chan Buddhism eccentric monks was constructed in Song Dynasty Chan Buddhism lamp records,including quotations,and organizes the images of eccentric monks in the Song Dynasty,as written in Chan Buddhism historical materials,in order that the meaning of existence of these enlightened masters,sages,saints,etc.,included in the genealogy of Song Dynasty eccentric monks in the history of Chan Buddhism can be reflected.展开更多
In recent years, metallurgical slags have been increasingly used as materials for the manufacture of cement, pavement and filling material. The transport of the molten slag to the receiving pots is carried out through...In recent years, metallurgical slags have been increasingly used as materials for the manufacture of cement, pavement and filling material. The transport of the molten slag to the receiving pots is carried out through open channels. The transient and steady-state flow of a molten slag in a rectangular open channel is numerically analyzed here. For the transient flow, the Saint-Venant equations were numerically solved. For the steady-state flow, the derivatives in time and space in the Saint-Venant equations were set equal to zero and a polynomial of degree 3 is obtained whose roots are the slag height values. It was assumed that the viscosity of the slag has an Arrhenius-type behavior with temperature. Four values of temperature values, namely 1723.15, 1773.15, 1823.15, 18873.15 ˚K, and five values of the angle of inclination of the channel, namely 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 degrees, are considered. Numerical results show that the steady-state values of the height and velocity of the molten slag depend strongly on the temperature of the slag and the angle of inclination of the channel. As the slag temperature and channel angle increase, the value of the steady-state slag height decreases. The value of the steady-state slag velocity increases as the slag temperature and channel inclination angle increase.展开更多
This study aims to assess the natural and cultivated plant species in 26 Bedouin farms in Saint Katherine Protectorate(SKP),identify their soil and water characteristics,and assess the suitability of these farms for t...This study aims to assess the natural and cultivated plant species in 26 Bedouin farms in Saint Katherine Protectorate(SKP),identify their soil and water characteristics,and assess the suitability of these farms for the cultivation of some wild medicinal plants.The farms were selected to represent wide wadis with deep sand and clay deposits,gorge-like wadis covered with rock fragments of different sizes,spot-like oases,and the Al Q’aa Plain.Using TWINSPAN(two-way indicator species analysis)and DCA(detrended correspondence analysis)techniques,the 26 farms were classified into 5 groups(Ⅰ-Ⅴ)based on their floristic composition of wild plants.These groups reflect an elevation gradient among the farms above sea level from a mean of 119 m to a mean of1,865m.A total of 73 wild species were recorded,with47 in groupⅡ(500-1,000 m)and 25 in group V(>1,700 m).The common target species were Artemisia judaica,Acacia tortilis subsp.raddiana,Origanum syriacum subsp.sinaicum and Varthemia montana(34.6%-26.9%).The cultivated speciesnumbered 25,with 17 in groupⅡ(500-1,000 m) andⅡin groupⅣ(1,500-1,700 m).The common fruit trees were olive,grape,fig,apple,palm,almond,apricot and pomegranate(73.0%-42.3%).Based on the soil characteristics,13 farms belong to soil class 2that describes good soils with moderate limitations,and 12 belong to soil class 3 that describes moderately good soils,which can be used regularly for crops after proper treatment.展开更多
This article demonstrates the urban anthropogenic threats and their impacts on Sainte Marie (Eastern Madagascar) mangrove ecosystem. In addition to conducting interview with 158 residents, floristic inventories were c...This article demonstrates the urban anthropogenic threats and their impacts on Sainte Marie (Eastern Madagascar) mangrove ecosystem. In addition to conducting interview with 158 residents, floristic inventories were carried out in order to compare the mangrove structure between a control site and another one that was impacted by Belle Vue dyke (south of the District downtown) rehabilitation. From 2003 to 2014, the island of Sainte Marie lost 0.47% per year of its mangrove area. 87% of the harvested resources from this ecosystem are fish products and are related to human nutrition. The mangrove is used as a dumping ground for liquid and solid waste in the lots of Saint Joseph and La Pointe. Defecation in the open air is topical under the island’s mangrove forest. A very weak resilience of the mangrove impacted by the rehabilitation of Belle Vue dyke was noted. Indeed, regenerations of Bruguiera gymnorrhiza and Ceriops tagal have struggled to rebuild. The total height and diameter of impacted trees decreased by 37.2% and 44.3%, respectively. The development of an updated urban master plan, including mangroves in the related zoning process is an imperative measurement for the conservation and/or valuation of existing lots.展开更多
This paper is concerned with the decay of Saint-Venant end effects for plane deformations of piezoelectric （PE）-piezomagnetic （PM） sandwich structures, where a PM layer is located between two PE layers with the sa...This paper is concerned with the decay of Saint-Venant end effects for plane deformations of piezoelectric （PE）-piezomagnetic （PM） sandwich structures, where a PM layer is located between two PE layers with the same material properties or reversely. The end of the sandwich structure is subjected to a set of self-equilibrated magneto-electro-elastic loads. The upper and lower surfaces of the sandwich structure axe mechanically free, electrically open or shorted as well as magnetically open or shorted. Firstly the constitutive equations of PE mate- rials and PM materials for plane strain are given and normalized. Secondly, the simplified state space approach is employed to arrange the constitutive equations into differential equations in a matrix form. Finally, by using the transfer matrix method, the characteristic equations for eigen- values or decay rates axe derived. Based on the obtained characteristic equations, the decay rates for the PE-PM-PE and PM-PE-PM sandwich structures are calculated. The influences of the electromagnetic boundary conditions, material properties of PE layers and volume fraction on the decay rates are discussed in detail.展开更多
Flow in tidal rivers periodically propagates upstream or downstream under tidal influence. Hydrodynamic models based on the Saint-Venant equations （the SVN model） are extensively used to model tidal rivers. A force-...Flow in tidal rivers periodically propagates upstream or downstream under tidal influence. Hydrodynamic models based on the Saint-Venant equations （the SVN model） are extensively used to model tidal rivers. A force-corrected term expressed as the combination of flow velocity and the change rate of the tidal fevel was developed to represent tidal effects in the SVN model. A momentum equation incorporating with the corrected term was derived based on Newton＇s second law. By combing the modified momentum equation with the continuity equation, an improved SVN model for tidal rivers （the ISVN model） was constructed. The simulation of a tidal reach of the Qiantang River shows that the ISVN model performs better than the SVN model. It indicates that the corrected force derived for tidal effects is reasonable; the ISVN model provides an appropriate enhancement of the SVN model for flow simulation of tidal rivers.展开更多
This essay includes a brief explanation of who is Michael The Archangel; discusses the manifold depictions of Saint Michael in Italian Renaissance art, in particular in Giorgio Vasari＇s imagery; and examines the impa...This essay includes a brief explanation of who is Michael The Archangel; discusses the manifold depictions of Saint Michael in Italian Renaissance art, in particular in Giorgio Vasari＇s imagery; and examines the impact of Neoplatonism in the interpretation of The Archangel and Michael＇s symbolic role. The Renaissance Neoplatonic philosopher Marsilio Ficino explained the signification of the Platonic celestial ladder as a spiritual vehicle for the human soul to achieve the divine＇s love. One step of this ladder is the Angelic Mind. The sparkling light of the Angelic Mind＇s realm reveals the splendor and beauty of God＇s grace. This is the realm where Michael, a Seraphim and a messenger of God, resides, delivering God＇s messages of grace and love to humanity throughout the world. In the vault of the Pope Pius V Chapel at the Vatican, once called Saint Michael＇s Chapel, for example, Giorgio Vasari （1511-1574） metaphorically visualized these divine messages. He painted al fresco Michael The Archangel in combat against personifications of vices as demons who want to prevent human beings from the obtaining divine grace that will allow their souls to ascend toward divine love.展开更多
Introduction: Patients with chronic diseases, especially kidney diseases, frequently use the health care system and free dialysis policies are being implemented in many countries in Africa. This study aimed to evaluat...Introduction: Patients with chronic diseases, especially kidney diseases, frequently use the health care system and free dialysis policies are being implemented in many countries in Africa. This study aimed to evaluate access to care for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in northern region of Saint-Louis. Methodology: In a cross-sectional survey, we included non-dialyzed CKD patients aged ≥20 years who attended outpatient nephrology clinic at University Hospital of Saint-Louis between January 1st and January 31st 2018. Access to care was measured using a questionnaire that integrated dimensions such as availability, geographic and financial accessibility, convenience, acceptability, effectiveness of care and quality of information. Socio-demographic and clinical data were also collected and analyzed with Epi Info 7. Results: Among 97 surveyed patients, 90 were included (response rate of 92.8%). Patients’ mean age was 35.2 years (20 - 89 years) and 55% were male. Only 30% of patients had health coverage either by the government, or private insurance or community health insurance. Access to care was rated as globally low by 73% of participants. However, we noticed some variations according to dimensions of access. Geographical accessibility and convenience of delivered care were good for the majority of patients, while financial access and acceptability of care were considered as very limited. Bivariate analysis showed that acceptability and effectiveness of care were linked to CKD stage while the quality of patients’ information was correlated with their educational level. Furthermore, health coverage was also associated with financial accessibility of care but not with its availability. Conclusion: This study showed that access to care is poor for majority of patients with CKD in Saint-Louis. Identification of the main barriers will help define appropriate strategies to achieve universal access to quality renal care.展开更多
Barbara Longhi of Ravenna(1552-1638)enjoyed creating small devotional paintings depicting holy saints,in particular Saint Agnes(c.291-304).This saint’s life and martyrdom was recorded by the Bishop of Milan,Saint Amb...Barbara Longhi of Ravenna(1552-1638)enjoyed creating small devotional paintings depicting holy saints,in particular Saint Agnes(c.291-304).This saint’s life and martyrdom was recorded by the Bishop of Milan,Saint Ambrose(339-397),a Doctor of the Church and theologian,in his book Concerning Virgins(374)and by Jacobus de Voragine,the Archbishop of Genoa,in his Golden Legend(Legenda Aurea,1275).The saint’s story continues to be imaged and recounted to the present day because she is an icon of a pure and virtuous adolescent female.Barbara Longhi,along with her father,Luca Longhi(1507-1580),painted several versions of Saint Agnes.In their many depictions they composed two types of images:a single-solo-image of the saint;and her presence in a group of saints-a theme known as holy conversation.In her paintings of Saint Agnes,however,Barbara Longhi preferred to depict the solo image of the saint as virgo,a young maiden of virtue.This essay is composed of two parts:(1)an account of the life and martyrdom of Saint Agnes;and(2)an iconographical interpretation of Barbara Longhi’s Saint Agnes of Rome.展开更多
The present study was an attempt to explore the Iranian medical staff’s perception of the All Saints TV series. 199 participants including doctors, nurses, interns, and paramedics took part in this survey study which...The present study was an attempt to explore the Iranian medical staff’s perception of the All Saints TV series. 199 participants including doctors, nurses, interns, and paramedics took part in this survey study which was done in 2011. A 17-item Likert scale questionnaire was developed by the team of researchers to gather further evidence on the issues raised by the participants in the focus group which was formed in order to delve into their thoughts, attitudes, and feelings about the mentioned program. The supportive and non-blaming nature of the working relationship among the treatment team, their respect for the patients, their strong team work, the accuracy and precision of the presented medical information, and the discipline and sense of responsibility on the part of the medical staff were among the most frequent issues being mentioned and noticed by the participants. In addition, the majority of the participants considered the demonstrated model for providing healthcare services to be an efficient one;however, they believed that it was not possible to apply that model in the Iranian hospitals mainly due to the cultural differences between the two contexts and the current regulations in Iran. The participants were also observed to be only moderately satisfied with the system they were working in. It seems that healthcare systems in the developed countries can be used as models to identify the problems with the existing healthcare system in Iran. Authorities need to take appropriate measures to resolve such problems. The possible solutions and actions have been suggested in the present article.展开更多
Introduction: Degenerative aortic stenosis is the most common valvulopathy in developed countries. The implantation of a percutaneous aortic valve (TAVI) has taken an important place in the management of this valvulop...Introduction: Degenerative aortic stenosis is the most common valvulopathy in developed countries. The implantation of a percutaneous aortic valve (TAVI) has taken an important place in the management of this valvulopathy. The objective of this work is to report the results of patients treated by TAVI by the team of Sainte Clotilde Hospital (Reunion Island). Patients and?Methods: This was a descriptive retrospective study conducted from 01/10/2014?to 01/10/ 2017 in the Sainte Clotilde Hospital, Reunion Island. All patients who received TAVI for degenerative aortic stenosis were included in the study. Follow-up was completed until 31/08/19. Results: Forty-six (46) patients were included (sex ratio 0.53). The age was 82 (±7.5). Respectively,?56.5%, 21.7% and 6.5% of patients were diabetic [n = 26 (56.5%)], severe renal impairment [n = 10 (21.7%)] and hemodialysis [n = 3 (6.5%)]. All procedures were performed by femoral route under consious sedation. Edwards’ prostheses were used more often (93%), 100% Sapien 3, 6% of which were size 23. The primary success rate was 97.8% and the failure rate was 2% (deaths per procedure). The TAVI range of 0.66 ± 0.14 and 46.8 ± 15.5 against 1.48 ± 4.3 and 13.8 ± 5 in post TAVI. Severe pulmonary arterial?hypertension (>60 mmHg) was observed in 21.7% of pre-TAVI patients?compared to 4% in post TAVI patients. The overall rate of complications was 17% (n = 8). They were related to conductive disorders [6.5% (n = 3)], paraprosthetic leakage [2% (n = 1)], tamponade [2% (n = 1)], and hemorrhagic complications [6.5% (n = 3)]. Mean follow-up was 946 days (median = 1007.5 days), mean follow-up death rate was 30.4% (n = 14). The causes of death were non-cardiac in 57% (n = 8) of the cases. Conclusion: The TAVI results of the Sainte Clotilde Hospital Clinic are comparable to those observed in the literature.展开更多
文摘Introduction: COVID-19 is a global public health emergency that can cause acute respiratory distress syndrome. In countries where tuberculosis (TB) is endemic, coinfection of COVID-19 and TB is often encountered, which increases the risk of developing severe forms of COVID-19. Objectives: The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of COVID-19/TB coinfection at the Epidemic treatment center (ETC) in Saint-Louis (Senegal) and to describe the epidemiological, clinical, paraclinical, and outcome profile of co-infected patients. Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive cohort study based on the records of COVID-19/ TB co-infected patients who were hospitalized at the ETC in Saint-Louis (Senegal) over an 18-month period from March 2020 to September 2021. Results: Out of a total of 454 hospitalizations, we collected records of 9 patients co-infected with COVID-19/TB, resulting in a prevalence of 2%. The study included patients with a median age of 34 years (range: 10-86 years), with a male predominance (7 cases) and a sex ratio of 3.5. The majority of patients (88.9%) had severe forms of COVID-19. Dyspnea and cough were reported in all patients (100%). Pulmonary TB was the most frequent localization, with 9 cases. The diagnosis of COVID-19 was confirmed by nasopharyngeal PCR in all patients (100%). Bacilloscopy was positive in 3 out of 5 cases. One patient tested positive for GeneXpert<sup>?</sup> MTB/RIF without rifampicin resistance. All patients were prescribed the hydroxychloroquine-azithromycin combination and anti-tuberculosis treatment. Out of the nine patients, four recovered (44.4%) and five died (55.5%). Conclusion: COVID-19/TB coinfection had a low prevalence in our cohort, but was associated with a high mortality due to the frequent occurrence of severe forms of the disease.
文摘Introduction: The SARS-CoV-2 infection is a major public health emergency. Several risk factors are involved in the occurrence of respiratory distress that can lead to death despite resuscitation measures. Objectives: The aim of this study was to describe the epidemiological, clinical, paraclinical, therapeutic, and evolution profile of patients infected with SARS-CoV-2 hospitalized at the CTE of Saint-Louis (Senegal) during the first two waves. Patients and Methods: We conducted a retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive, and analytical study that included all patients hospitalized at the ETC of Saint-Louis (Senegal) with SARS-CoV-2 infection from March 2020 to April 2021. Results: A total of 358 cases were collected, 256 (71.5%) during the first wave and 102 (28.5%) during the second wave. The mean age was 49.5 years (19.5). There was a male predominance (58.4%), with a sex ratio of 1.4. Hypertension was the main comorbidity, with 87 cases (24.3%). The most common functional signs were cough in 194 cases (54.2%), dyspnea in 143 cases (40%) and ageusia in 134 cases (37.4%). Thoracic CT scans were performed on 20 patients (5.6%), with severe involvement (50% - 75%) observed in 50% of cases. Hydroxychloroquine-azithromycin was prescribed to 351 patients (98%). Overall, 338 (94.4%) recovered and 17 (4.7%) died. In multivariate analysis, factors associated with death were male sex [OR = 2.645;95% CI: 1.530 - 4.785;p = 0.011], age 60 years [OR = 1.039;95% CI: 0.564 - 1.914;p = 0.002], the presence of comorbidities [OR = 2.171;95% CI: 0.564 - 3.429;p = 0.033], SpO2 (ambient air) 95% [OR = 2.061;95% CI: 0.616 - 3.827;p = 0.03], acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) [OR = 0.635;95% CI: 0.316 - 1.275;p = 0.001], severe form [OR = 1.664;95% CI: 0.298 - 2.478;p = 0.016], occurrence of complications [OR = 0.521;95% CI: 0.287 - 0.944;p = 0.032], high creatinine levels [OR = 2.061;95% CI: 1.616 - 3.827;p = 0.026], and lymphopenia [OR = 0.485;95% CI: 0.370 - 0.636;p = 0.001]. Conclusion: In our series, infection with SARS-CoV-2 was associated with low lethality. Several risk factors were identified that need to be considered for successful management of patients.
文摘Regarding the Chan Buddhism lamp records from the Song Dynasty and starting from Jing De Zhuan Deng Lu,the category of“enlightened masters in Chan Buddhism”禪門達者was listed separately,meaning a separate category was established for eccentric monks who pretended to be crazy,had unknown inheritance and miraculous deeds,and were difficult to classify.The following lamp records named this category of eccentric monks as“sages”散聖,or“saints”應化聖賢,which constructed another historical genealogy for the special Chan Buddhism eccentric monks.Moreover,the early lamp records included mostly idiosyncratic mad monks from previous dynasties.Since the Southern Song Dynasty,Chan Buddhism historical materials included many sages from the current dynasty.Therefore,this study mainly examines how the genealogy of Chan Buddhism eccentric monks was constructed in Song Dynasty Chan Buddhism lamp records,including quotations,and organizes the images of eccentric monks in the Song Dynasty,as written in Chan Buddhism historical materials,in order that the meaning of existence of these enlightened masters,sages,saints,etc.,included in the genealogy of Song Dynasty eccentric monks in the history of Chan Buddhism can be reflected.
文摘In recent years, metallurgical slags have been increasingly used as materials for the manufacture of cement, pavement and filling material. The transport of the molten slag to the receiving pots is carried out through open channels. The transient and steady-state flow of a molten slag in a rectangular open channel is numerically analyzed here. For the transient flow, the Saint-Venant equations were numerically solved. For the steady-state flow, the derivatives in time and space in the Saint-Venant equations were set equal to zero and a polynomial of degree 3 is obtained whose roots are the slag height values. It was assumed that the viscosity of the slag has an Arrhenius-type behavior with temperature. Four values of temperature values, namely 1723.15, 1773.15, 1823.15, 18873.15 ˚K, and five values of the angle of inclination of the channel, namely 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 degrees, are considered. Numerical results show that the steady-state values of the height and velocity of the molten slag depend strongly on the temperature of the slag and the angle of inclination of the channel. As the slag temperature and channel angle increase, the value of the steady-state slag height decreases. The value of the steady-state slag velocity increases as the slag temperature and channel inclination angle increase.
基金the Deanship of Scientific Research at King Khalid University for funding this work under Grant number R.G.P. 2/56/40
文摘This study aims to assess the natural and cultivated plant species in 26 Bedouin farms in Saint Katherine Protectorate(SKP),identify their soil and water characteristics,and assess the suitability of these farms for the cultivation of some wild medicinal plants.The farms were selected to represent wide wadis with deep sand and clay deposits,gorge-like wadis covered with rock fragments of different sizes,spot-like oases,and the Al Q’aa Plain.Using TWINSPAN(two-way indicator species analysis)and DCA(detrended correspondence analysis)techniques,the 26 farms were classified into 5 groups(Ⅰ-Ⅴ)based on their floristic composition of wild plants.These groups reflect an elevation gradient among the farms above sea level from a mean of 119 m to a mean of1,865m.A total of 73 wild species were recorded,with47 in groupⅡ(500-1,000 m)and 25 in group V(>1,700 m).The common target species were Artemisia judaica,Acacia tortilis subsp.raddiana,Origanum syriacum subsp.sinaicum and Varthemia montana(34.6%-26.9%).The cultivated speciesnumbered 25,with 17 in groupⅡ(500-1,000 m) andⅡin groupⅣ(1,500-1,700 m).The common fruit trees were olive,grape,fig,apple,palm,almond,apricot and pomegranate(73.0%-42.3%).Based on the soil characteristics,13 farms belong to soil class 2that describes good soils with moderate limitations,and 12 belong to soil class 3 that describes moderately good soils,which can be used regularly for crops after proper treatment.
文摘This article demonstrates the urban anthropogenic threats and their impacts on Sainte Marie (Eastern Madagascar) mangrove ecosystem. In addition to conducting interview with 158 residents, floristic inventories were carried out in order to compare the mangrove structure between a control site and another one that was impacted by Belle Vue dyke (south of the District downtown) rehabilitation. From 2003 to 2014, the island of Sainte Marie lost 0.47% per year of its mangrove area. 87% of the harvested resources from this ecosystem are fish products and are related to human nutrition. The mangrove is used as a dumping ground for liquid and solid waste in the lots of Saint Joseph and La Pointe. Defecation in the open air is topical under the island’s mangrove forest. A very weak resilience of the mangrove impacted by the rehabilitation of Belle Vue dyke was noted. Indeed, regenerations of Bruguiera gymnorrhiza and Ceriops tagal have struggled to rebuild. The total height and diameter of impacted trees decreased by 37.2% and 44.3%, respectively. The development of an updated urban master plan, including mangroves in the related zoning process is an imperative measurement for the conservation and/or valuation of existing lots.
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (No. 10972147)
文摘This paper is concerned with the decay of Saint-Venant end effects for plane deformations of piezoelectric （PE）-piezomagnetic （PM） sandwich structures, where a PM layer is located between two PE layers with the same material properties or reversely. The end of the sandwich structure is subjected to a set of self-equilibrated magneto-electro-elastic loads. The upper and lower surfaces of the sandwich structure axe mechanically free, electrically open or shorted as well as magnetically open or shorted. Firstly the constitutive equations of PE mate- rials and PM materials for plane strain are given and normalized. Secondly, the simplified state space approach is employed to arrange the constitutive equations into differential equations in a matrix form. Finally, by using the transfer matrix method, the characteristic equations for eigen- values or decay rates axe derived. Based on the obtained characteristic equations, the decay rates for the PE-PM-PE and PM-PE-PM sandwich structures are calculated. The influences of the electromagnetic boundary conditions, material properties of PE layers and volume fraction on the decay rates are discussed in detail.
基金supported by the National Key Technologies R&D Program of China for the Eleventh Five-Year Plan Period (Grant No. 2008BAB29B08-02)the Program for the Ministry of Education and State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs of China (Grant No. B08408)
文摘Flow in tidal rivers periodically propagates upstream or downstream under tidal influence. Hydrodynamic models based on the Saint-Venant equations （the SVN model） are extensively used to model tidal rivers. A force-corrected term expressed as the combination of flow velocity and the change rate of the tidal fevel was developed to represent tidal effects in the SVN model. A momentum equation incorporating with the corrected term was derived based on Newton＇s second law. By combing the modified momentum equation with the continuity equation, an improved SVN model for tidal rivers （the ISVN model） was constructed. The simulation of a tidal reach of the Qiantang River shows that the ISVN model performs better than the SVN model. It indicates that the corrected force derived for tidal effects is reasonable; the ISVN model provides an appropriate enhancement of the SVN model for flow simulation of tidal rivers.
文摘This essay includes a brief explanation of who is Michael The Archangel; discusses the manifold depictions of Saint Michael in Italian Renaissance art, in particular in Giorgio Vasari＇s imagery; and examines the impact of Neoplatonism in the interpretation of The Archangel and Michael＇s symbolic role. The Renaissance Neoplatonic philosopher Marsilio Ficino explained the signification of the Platonic celestial ladder as a spiritual vehicle for the human soul to achieve the divine＇s love. One step of this ladder is the Angelic Mind. The sparkling light of the Angelic Mind＇s realm reveals the splendor and beauty of God＇s grace. This is the realm where Michael, a Seraphim and a messenger of God, resides, delivering God＇s messages of grace and love to humanity throughout the world. In the vault of the Pope Pius V Chapel at the Vatican, once called Saint Michael＇s Chapel, for example, Giorgio Vasari （1511-1574） metaphorically visualized these divine messages. He painted al fresco Michael The Archangel in combat against personifications of vices as demons who want to prevent human beings from the obtaining divine grace that will allow their souls to ascend toward divine love.
文摘Introduction: Patients with chronic diseases, especially kidney diseases, frequently use the health care system and free dialysis policies are being implemented in many countries in Africa. This study aimed to evaluate access to care for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in northern region of Saint-Louis. Methodology: In a cross-sectional survey, we included non-dialyzed CKD patients aged ≥20 years who attended outpatient nephrology clinic at University Hospital of Saint-Louis between January 1st and January 31st 2018. Access to care was measured using a questionnaire that integrated dimensions such as availability, geographic and financial accessibility, convenience, acceptability, effectiveness of care and quality of information. Socio-demographic and clinical data were also collected and analyzed with Epi Info 7. Results: Among 97 surveyed patients, 90 were included (response rate of 92.8%). Patients’ mean age was 35.2 years (20 - 89 years) and 55% were male. Only 30% of patients had health coverage either by the government, or private insurance or community health insurance. Access to care was rated as globally low by 73% of participants. However, we noticed some variations according to dimensions of access. Geographical accessibility and convenience of delivered care were good for the majority of patients, while financial access and acceptability of care were considered as very limited. Bivariate analysis showed that acceptability and effectiveness of care were linked to CKD stage while the quality of patients’ information was correlated with their educational level. Furthermore, health coverage was also associated with financial accessibility of care but not with its availability. Conclusion: This study showed that access to care is poor for majority of patients with CKD in Saint-Louis. Identification of the main barriers will help define appropriate strategies to achieve universal access to quality renal care.
文摘Barbara Longhi of Ravenna(1552-1638)enjoyed creating small devotional paintings depicting holy saints,in particular Saint Agnes(c.291-304).This saint’s life and martyrdom was recorded by the Bishop of Milan,Saint Ambrose(339-397),a Doctor of the Church and theologian,in his book Concerning Virgins(374)and by Jacobus de Voragine,the Archbishop of Genoa,in his Golden Legend(Legenda Aurea,1275).The saint’s story continues to be imaged and recounted to the present day because she is an icon of a pure and virtuous adolescent female.Barbara Longhi,along with her father,Luca Longhi(1507-1580),painted several versions of Saint Agnes.In their many depictions they composed two types of images:a single-solo-image of the saint;and her presence in a group of saints-a theme known as holy conversation.In her paintings of Saint Agnes,however,Barbara Longhi preferred to depict the solo image of the saint as virgo,a young maiden of virtue.This essay is composed of two parts:(1)an account of the life and martyrdom of Saint Agnes;and(2)an iconographical interpretation of Barbara Longhi’s Saint Agnes of Rome.
文摘The present study was an attempt to explore the Iranian medical staff’s perception of the All Saints TV series. 199 participants including doctors, nurses, interns, and paramedics took part in this survey study which was done in 2011. A 17-item Likert scale questionnaire was developed by the team of researchers to gather further evidence on the issues raised by the participants in the focus group which was formed in order to delve into their thoughts, attitudes, and feelings about the mentioned program. The supportive and non-blaming nature of the working relationship among the treatment team, their respect for the patients, their strong team work, the accuracy and precision of the presented medical information, and the discipline and sense of responsibility on the part of the medical staff were among the most frequent issues being mentioned and noticed by the participants. In addition, the majority of the participants considered the demonstrated model for providing healthcare services to be an efficient one;however, they believed that it was not possible to apply that model in the Iranian hospitals mainly due to the cultural differences between the two contexts and the current regulations in Iran. The participants were also observed to be only moderately satisfied with the system they were working in. It seems that healthcare systems in the developed countries can be used as models to identify the problems with the existing healthcare system in Iran. Authorities need to take appropriate measures to resolve such problems. The possible solutions and actions have been suggested in the present article.
文摘Introduction: Degenerative aortic stenosis is the most common valvulopathy in developed countries. The implantation of a percutaneous aortic valve (TAVI) has taken an important place in the management of this valvulopathy. The objective of this work is to report the results of patients treated by TAVI by the team of Sainte Clotilde Hospital (Reunion Island). Patients and?Methods: This was a descriptive retrospective study conducted from 01/10/2014?to 01/10/ 2017 in the Sainte Clotilde Hospital, Reunion Island. All patients who received TAVI for degenerative aortic stenosis were included in the study. Follow-up was completed until 31/08/19. Results: Forty-six (46) patients were included (sex ratio 0.53). The age was 82 (±7.5). Respectively,?56.5%, 21.7% and 6.5% of patients were diabetic [n = 26 (56.5%)], severe renal impairment [n = 10 (21.7%)] and hemodialysis [n = 3 (6.5%)]. All procedures were performed by femoral route under consious sedation. Edwards’ prostheses were used more often (93%), 100% Sapien 3, 6% of which were size 23. The primary success rate was 97.8% and the failure rate was 2% (deaths per procedure). The TAVI range of 0.66 ± 0.14 and 46.8 ± 15.5 against 1.48 ± 4.3 and 13.8 ± 5 in post TAVI. Severe pulmonary arterial?hypertension (>60 mmHg) was observed in 21.7% of pre-TAVI patients?compared to 4% in post TAVI patients. The overall rate of complications was 17% (n = 8). They were related to conductive disorders [6.5% (n = 3)], paraprosthetic leakage [2% (n = 1)], tamponade [2% (n = 1)], and hemorrhagic complications [6.5% (n = 3)]. Mean follow-up was 946 days (median = 1007.5 days), mean follow-up death rate was 30.4% (n = 14). The causes of death were non-cardiac in 57% (n = 8) of the cases. Conclusion: The TAVI results of the Sainte Clotilde Hospital Clinic are comparable to those observed in the literature.
