A test system of the permeability of broken coal samples mainly consists of a CMT5305 electronic universal test machine, crushed rock compaction containing cylinder and a self-designed seepage circuit, which is compos...A test system of the permeability of broken coal samples mainly consists of a CMT5305 electronic universal test machine, crushed rock compaction containing cylinder and a self-designed seepage circuit, which is composed of a gear pump, a reversing valve, a relief valve and other components. By using the steady penetration method, the permeability and non-Darcy flow β factor of broken coal samples under five different porosity levels were measured, the grain diameters of the coal samples were selected as 2.5-5 mm, 5-10 mm, 10-15 mm, 15-20 mm, 20-25 mm and 2.5-25 ram, respectively. After measuring the permeability under each porosity, the overfall pressure of the relief valve continuously increased until the coal sample was broken down. In this way, the flow type of liquid inside the broken coal samples changed from seepage to pipe flow. The correlation between breakdown pressure gradient （BPG） and porosity was analyzed, and the BPG was compared with the pressure gradient when seepage instability occurred. The results show that, ①the non-Darcy flow β factor was negative before broken coal samples with six kinds of diameters were broken down; ②the BPG of coal samples with a grain size of 2.5-25 mm was lower than that of the others; ③ the BPG of coal samples with a single diameter under the same porosity increased as the grain size increased; ④ the BPG could be fitted by an exponential function with porosity, and the exponent decreased as the grain size increased for coal samples with a single diameter; ⑤ the BPG was slightly less than the seepage instability pressure gradient. The change in liquid flow type from seepage to pipe flow could be regarded as the performance of the seepage instability.展开更多
Recently, a renewed interest in techniques for heavy metal removal of wastewater has been growing because of embarking opportunities for industrial applications. We investigated the adsorption capacity of the copper o...Recently, a renewed interest in techniques for heavy metal removal of wastewater has been growing because of embarking opportunities for industrial applications. We investigated the adsorption capacity of the copper on the poly（vinyl alcohol） hydrogel from the aqueous solution. Chemical structure and water absorption of the hydrogel were studied using FTIR and water uptake measurement, respectively. The results showed that the poly（vinyl alcohol） was crosslinked with glutaraldehyde, and the hydrogel highly exhibited the equilibrium swelling ratio because of its hydrophilicity property. Additionally, it was found that the adsorption process followed the pseudo-second-order kinetics and the mechanism diffusion was controlled by particle and film diffusions.展开更多
A series of linear and X-shaped oligo（para-phenylene） derivatives functionalized with fluorene ethynylenes 1,3 and 4 were synthesized through sequent Sonogashira coupling and Suzuki-Miyaura reaction in high yield.Th...A series of linear and X-shaped oligo（para-phenylene） derivatives functionalized with fluorene ethynylenes 1,3 and 4 were synthesized through sequent Sonogashira coupling and Suzuki-Miyaura reaction in high yield.The electron-donating group-OCH3 and electron-withdrawing counterparts-CF3 were introduced to tune the spectra properties of compounds 3 and 4.The detail investigation of their photophysical properties in solution and film indicated that the introduction of both -OCH3 and -CF3 makes maximum emission distinct red-shift in comparison with parent compound 1,but the latter more prominently.展开更多
This work assessed the impact of land use and land cover (LULC) change on the socio-economic conditions of the inhabitants in the Mount Bambouto Caldera from 1980-2016. To achieve this, three time series satellite ima...This work assessed the impact of land use and land cover (LULC) change on the socio-economic conditions of the inhabitants in the Mount Bambouto Caldera from 1980-2016. To achieve this, three time series satellite images;Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) (1980), Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM) (2001), and Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) (2016) scenes were employed to investigate the changes in LULC. The use of satellite images was supplemented with individual interviews, discussions with focus groups and key informants, and direct field observations. Five categories of LULC classes were identified namely: thick woody vegetation (natural forest and oil palms), light vegetation (croplands), savannah (grasslands), buildings (settlements), and bare grounds. The results showed that between 1980 and 2016, croplands, buildings and bare lands increased by 4%, 0.43% and 5.7% respectively while savannah/grassland and natural forest decreased by 4.4% and 5.8% respectively. Household survey revealed soil fertility decline and lack of credit schemes to be major constraints to crop production. Many religious holidays contribute to seasonal food shortages and the community faces a host of socio-economic and institutional challenges. Consequently, majority of house-holds are destitute, live in abject poverty;which is an indication of the need for interventions by government and other development stakeholders to tackle the problems of soil fertility, land use change and food insecurity.展开更多
The seed productivity of the artichoke varieties Green Gold, Imperial Star, Violetto was revealed in the conditions of medium saline soils of the Bukhara region. The data obtained showed that seed productivity is dire...The seed productivity of the artichoke varieties Green Gold, Imperial Star, Violetto was revealed in the conditions of medium saline soils of the Bukhara region. The data obtained showed that seed productivity is directly proportional to fruit crowns. The soil and climatic conditions of the studied area significantly affect the ontogeny of varieties.展开更多
A novel ligand N-4-hydroxyacetophenone isonicotinoyl hydrazone and its manganese(II) and nickel(II) metal complexes have been synthesized. The synthesized Schiff base and its metal complexes have been characterized by...A novel ligand N-4-hydroxyacetophenone isonicotinoyl hydrazone and its manganese(II) and nickel(II) metal complexes have been synthesized. The synthesized Schiff base and its metal complexes have been characterized by physical state determination, melting point and solubility measurements in different solvents, infrared, proton nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometric and powder X-ray spectroscopic techniques. The thermal properties of the prepared compounds were obtained from TG/DTG measurements. On the basis of the analytical techniques, the ligand was found to be bidentate in nature coordinating to the metal ions through the azomethine nitrogen and carbonyl oxygen atoms leading to distorted octahedral geometries of the metal complexes which were modeled using MM2 force field. The ligand and its metal(II) complexes were evaluated for antifungal activity against <i>Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans and Rhizopus stolonifera.</i> The antifungal evaluation results revealed an enhanced activity upon coordination of the ligand with the metal(II) ions. The activity of the metal complex to the tested fungal strains was in the order Ni(II) > Mn(II).展开更多
Introduction: In the North-Benin, there are three agents causing pediatric purulent meningitis outside the neonatal period. These are: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis and Haemophilus influenzae type b...Introduction: In the North-Benin, there are three agents causing pediatric purulent meningitis outside the neonatal period. These are: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis and Haemophilus influenzae type b. The aim of this research work was to investigate bacteria serotypes that caused childhood purulent meningitis in the pediatric unit of the Borgou à Regional University Teaching Hospital (CHUD-Borgou) located in Parakou (North-Benin). Patients and Methods: Through a prospective and descriptive study centered on children aged 0 to 5 years old suspected of meningitis and hospitalized, the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of those children were analyzed at the WHO reference laboratory in Banjul for serotyping by real time polymerase chain reaction (RT/PCR). Results: Among the 1396 children hospitalized during that period, 366 were suspected of meningitis and had benefitted from lumbar puncture. Among those 366 suspected cases, 51 cases of purulent meningitis were confirmed after CSF cytobacteriological and biochemical test at the CHUD-Borgou laboratory. Among 51 CSF samples in which purulent meningitis was confirmed, 44 were sent to Banjul. In addition, 310 CSF samples from non-confirmed cases of meningitis were also sent to Banjul. In the whole set of samples sent for real time PCR, 151 cases of Streptococcus pneumoniae (42.7%) were found, 5 cases of Neisseria meningitidis (1.4%) and 1 case of Haemophilus influenzae (0.3%) were also encountered. As regards Streptococcus pneumonia, the serotypes encountered were: 1, 3, 4, 5, 7F, 8, 9V, 9V/9A, 9N/9L, 14, 18C, 19A, 23F, 33F as well as non typed and non typable serotypes. As for Neisseria meningitidis, only serogroup A was found in it. For Haemophilus influenzae, only serotype b was identified. Conclusion: Four non vaccine serotypes (8, 9V/9A, 9N/9L and 33F), non typed and non typable serotypes which are not covered by 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV 13) were identified. This highlights the need to enhance surveillance of pediatric purulent meningitis and serotyping by RT/PCR of all CSF samples in order to adapt if necessary future new pneumococcal vaccines to circulating non vaccine serotypes.展开更多
The present paper develops the scaling theory of polyelectrolyte nanogels in dilute and semidilute solutions. The dependencies of the nanogel dimension on branching topology, charge fraction, subchain length, segment ...The present paper develops the scaling theory of polyelectrolyte nanogels in dilute and semidilute solutions. The dependencies of the nanogel dimension on branching topology, charge fraction, subchain length, segment number, solution concentration are obtained. For a single polyeleetrolyte nanogel in salt free solution, the nanogel may be swelled by the Coulombie repulsion （the so-called polyelectrolyte regime） or the osmotic eounterion pressure （the so-called osmotic regime）. Characteristics and boundaries between different regimes of a single polyelectrolyte nanogel are summarized. In dilute solution, the nanogels in polyeleetrolyte regime will distribute orderly with the increase of concentration. While the nanogels in osmotic regime will always distribute randomly. Different concentration dependencies of the size of a nanogel in polyeleetrolyte regime and in osmotic regime are also explored.展开更多
Electrochrometic measurements were carried on the Z-type Langmuir-Blodgett films of two liquid crystalline polymers: mono-{6-[4-(phenylazo) naphthyloxy] hexyl} (1a) and mono-{6-[4-(anthraquinone-1-azo) naphthyloxy] he...Electrochrometic measurements were carried on the Z-type Langmuir-Blodgett films of two liquid crystalline polymers: mono-{6-[4-(phenylazo) naphthyloxy] hexyl} (1a) and mono-{6-[4-(anthraquinone-1-azo) naphthyloxy] hexyl} (2a) ester of polymaleic acid. It was found that for both polymers, poling fields parallel and antiparallel to dipole moments of the polymer side chains induce red and blue shift in absorption bands, respectively. For polymer 1a blue shift is accompanied by absorbance increase, while red shift by absorbance decrease;but for polymer 2a only decrease in absorbance is observed. A simple model was proposed to analyze the results.展开更多
The effect of substitution of Fe^(3+) by Al^(3+) on the structure and magnetic properties of NdAl_(x)Fe_(1-x)O_(3) perovskite nano-powders(x=0.0,0.1,0.2,0.3,0.4,and 0.5) prepared by the glycine-nitrate auto-combustion...The effect of substitution of Fe^(3+) by Al^(3+) on the structure and magnetic properties of NdAl_(x)Fe_(1-x)O_(3) perovskite nano-powders(x=0.0,0.1,0.2,0.3,0.4,and 0.5) prepared by the glycine-nitrate auto-combustion method was studied.All samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD),scanning electron microscopy(SEM),Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR),and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy(EDX).The magnetic properties of the samples were investigated using a vibrating sample magnetometer(VSM).The X-ray results for all samples reveal the formation of an orthorhombic perovskite phase(space group Pbnm) with no secondary phase.The crystallite sizes of the nanoparticles are found to decrease with increasing Al content,and are in the range of 53-38 nm.SEM images show spherical nanoparticles with agglomeration.The FT-IR spectra confirm the presence of metal oxygen bonds.The M-H loop of the pristine NdFeO_(3) sample is antiferromagnetic in the a b plane with weak ferromagnetism in the c-axis.Introducing AI inclusions in the pristine polycrystal thereby creating magnetic vacancies is seen to influence the magnetic properties.The magnetic dilution results in enhanced magnetisation at low Al content;x=0.1,0.2(saturation magnetisation being 2.08 and 2.05 emu/g,respectively) compared to the pristine sample with a saturation magnetisation of 1.43 emu/g due to increased exchange interaction.Also dilution with nonmagnetic dopant induces the phase transition from weak ferromagnetic to paramagnetic depending on the impurity concentration.The coercive field for NdFeO_(3) is found to be equal to 1950 Oe and decreases with Al-substitution.These findings lay a ground work for research in tuning magnetic properties and in spintronics with potential applications in data storage,switches and electronic devices.展开更多
The procedure similar to an ordinary quantum held theory in curved spacetime is applied to study the Bianchi type-I universes with a radiation field source.The Wheeler-De Witt equation satisfied by the cosmological wa...The procedure similar to an ordinary quantum held theory in curved spacetime is applied to study the Bianchi type-I universes with a radiation field source.The Wheeler-De Witt equation satisfied by the cosmological wave function is found.After the wave function was regarded as a universe held in the minisuperspace,not only the difficulty in a probabilistic interpretation in the quantum cosmology can be circumvented,but also the conclusion of the multiple production of universes is obtained,and the average number of various universes created from‘nothing’is estimated.展开更多
Motivated by the recent experimental developments in ultracold molecules and atoms,we propose a simple theoretical model to address the disassociation,reflection,and transmission probability of a one-dimensional cold ...Motivated by the recent experimental developments in ultracold molecules and atoms,we propose a simple theoretical model to address the disassociation,reflection,and transmission probability of a one-dimensional cold molecule via quantum scattering.First,we show the Born approximation results in the weak interaction regime.Then,by employing the Lippmann-Schwinger equation,we give the numerical solution and investigate the disassociation’s dependence on the injection momentum and the interaction strengths.We find that the maximum disassociation rate has a limit when increasing the interaction strengths and injection momentum.We expect that our model can be realized in experiments in the near future.展开更多
To professionally plan and manage the development and evolution of the Internet of Things(IoT),researchers have proposed several IoT performance measurement solutions.IoT performance measurement solutions can be very ...To professionally plan and manage the development and evolution of the Internet of Things(IoT),researchers have proposed several IoT performance measurement solutions.IoT performance measurement solutions can be very valuable for managing the development and evolution of IoT systems,as they provide insights into performance issues,resource optimization,predictive maintenance,security,reliability,and user experience.However,there are several issues that can impact the accuracy and reliability of IoT performance measurements,including lack of standardization,complexity of IoT systems,scalability,data privacy,and security.While previous studies proposed several IoT measurement solutions in the literature,they did not evaluate any individual one to figure out their respective measurement strengths and weaknesses.This study provides a novel scheme for the evaluation of proposed IoT measurement solutions using a metrology-coverage evaluation based on evaluation theory,metrology principles,and software measurement best practices.This evaluation approach was employed for 12 IoT measure categories and 158 IoT measurement solutions identified in a Systematic Literature Review(SLR)from 2010 to 2021.The metrology coverage of these IoT measurement solutions was analyzed from four perspectives:across IoT categories,within each study,improvement over time,and implications for IoT practitioners and researchers.The criteria in this metrology-coverage evaluation allowed for the identification of strengths and weaknesses in the theoretical and empirical definitions of the proposed IoT measurement solutions.We found that the metrological coverage varies significantly across IoT measurement solution categories and did not show improvement over the 2010–2021 timeframe.Detailed findings can help practitioners understand the limitations of the proposed measurement solutions and choose those with stronger designs.These evaluation results can also be used by researchers to improve current IoT measurement solution designs and suggest new solutions with a stronger metrology base.展开更多
The quantitative interpretation of gravity anomalies due to shallow structures needs separation between long wavelength anomalies(regional anomalies)and short wavelength anomalies(residual anomalies).The regional-resi...The quantitative interpretation of gravity anomalies due to shallow structures needs separation between long wavelength anomalies(regional anomalies)and short wavelength anomalies(residual anomalies).The regional-residual field separation can be carried out using the polynomial method.In this case,the so-called regional field of order n is treated as a polynomial of degree n.The present study shows that the degree n must vary between a smallest value n_(min)and a maximum value n_(max).This article presents a method to process gravity data that allows determination of n_(min)and n_(max)for a given study area.We apply the method to gravity data of the South-West Cameroon zone.In this chosen study area,we find that regional anomaly maps of orders ranging from 1 to 9 and residual anomaly maps of orders ranging from 1 to 8 can be used for suitable interpretation.The analyses show that one may need residual anomaly maps of several orders to perform satisfactory quantitative interpretation of the different intrusive bodies found in a given area.展开更多
Total resection of glioblastoma(GB)tumors is nearly impossible,and systemic administration of temozolomide(TMZ)is often inadequate.This study presents a hybrid layered composite nanofiber network(LHN)designed for loca...Total resection of glioblastoma(GB)tumors is nearly impossible,and systemic administration of temozolomide(TMZ)is often inadequate.This study presents a hybrid layered composite nanofiber network(LHN)designed for localized treatment in GB tumor bed.The LHN,consisting of polyvinyl alcohol and core-shell polylactic acid layers,was loaded with TMZ and rutin.In vitro analysis revealed that LHN^(TMZ) and LHNrutin decelerated epithelial-mesenchymal transition and growth of stem-like cells,while the combination,LHN^(TMZ)+rutin,significantly reduced sphere size compared to untreated and LHNTMZ-treated cells(P<0.0001).In an orthotopic C6-induced GB rat model,LHNTMZ+rutin therapy demonstrated a more pronounced tumor-reducing effect than LHNTMZ alone.Tumor volume,assessed by magnetic resonance imaging,was significantly reduced in LHN^(TMZ)+rutin-treated rats compared to untreated controls.Structural changes in tumor mitochondria,reduced membrane potential,and decreased PARP expression indicated the activation of apoptotic pathways in tumor cells,which was further confirmed by a reduction in PHH3,indicating decreased mitotic activity of tumor cells.Additionally,the local application of LHNs in the GB model mitigated aggressive tumor features without causing local tissue inflammation or adverse systemic effects.This was evidenced by a decrease in the angiogenesismarker CD31,the absence of inflammation or necrosis in H&E staining of the cerebellum,increased production of IFN-γ,decreased levels of interleukin-4 in splenic T cells,and lower serum AST levels.Our findings collectively indicate that LHN^(TMZ)+rutin is a promising biocompatible model for the local treatment of GB.展开更多
Gravity studies have been carried out in the Douala sub-basin which is a sedimentary basin located both onshore and offshore on the South coast of Cameroon between latitudes 3°03'N and 4°06'N and lon...Gravity studies have been carried out in the Douala sub-basin which is a sedimentary basin located both onshore and offshore on the South coast of Cameroon between latitudes 3°03'N and 4°06'N and longitudes 9°00' and 10°00'E, covering a total surface area of 12,805 km2. On its onshore portion, the Douala sub-basin has a trapezoic shape and covers a total surface area of about 6955 km2 while the offshore part covers an area of about 5850 km2. Gravity data used in this study are constituted of 912 gravity data points located between longitudes 8°10.2' to 10°59.4'E and latitudes 2°30.6' to 4°59.4'N and the study area is located to the NW section of the onshore portion of the Douala sub-basin. This study area is characterised by considerably high positive anomalies attaining peak values of about 104.1 mGals at longitude 9°9.9' and latitude 4°1.1' with contour lines which are mostly oriented in the NNE direction. Residual anomalies were extracted by upward continuation of the Bouguer anomaly field at an optimum height of 30 km. This residual field and those obtained by the separation of polynomial of order 4 had a very high correlation coefficient factor of 0.979. The multi-scale horizontal derivative of the vertical derivative (MSHDVD) method was applied on the extracted residual anomalies for the delimitation of possible contacts in the source while the amplitude spectrum was used to estimate the depth to the top of the potential field source. The MSHDVD method did not delimite any clear cut contacts in the source but the amplitude spectrum estimated the potential field source at a depth of about 4.8 km. The ideal body theory was used to determine the density contrast along a 65 km NW-SE profile yielding a value of 0.266 g/cm3. 2.5D modelling aimed at bringing out the underlying structural layout of this study area presents a source body which is very probably an intrusive igneous block surrounded by sedimentary formations and having a density of 2.77 g/cm3 at a depth of about 5.88 km below the surface and an average thickness of about 26.95 km.展开更多
Gravity data have been processed in the Douala sedimentary sub-basin in a section consisting of a set of 116 gravity data points located between latitudes 3°03'N and 4°06'N and longitudes 9°00&#...Gravity data have been processed in the Douala sedimentary sub-basin in a section consisting of a set of 116 gravity data points located between latitudes 3°03'N and 4°06'N and longitudes 9°00'E and 10°00'E. The established Bouguer anomaly fields and the Residual anomaly fields, extracted by upward continuation at an optimum height of 30 km, were both characterized by considerably high positive anomalies. These anomalies showed many ring-like positive gravity anomaly contour lines in the study region. Gravity gradients were analysed using the multi-scale horizontal derivative of the vertical derivative (MSHDVD) method, and this excluded the existence of fault lines across this region. Amplitude spectrum was used to estimate the potential field source at a depth of about 4.8 km. The ideal body theory capable of handling sparse data contaminated with noise was applied along a 50.2 km WWS-EEN profile to determine a density contrast of 0.266 g/cm3. Using these results as constraints, 2.5 D modelling carried out along this profile presented two major blocks with density contrast of 0.266 g/cm3. The first block is probably an intrusive igneous body with a density of about 2.77 g/cm3 , having an average thickness of about 26 km with its top and base lying at depths of about 4.25 km and 30.25 km respectively. The second block is likely a pillar of igneous material, located at a depth of about 10.77 km with a density of about 2.77 g/cm3 whose base goes deep down beyond the crust-mantle boundary. These results support previous findings that there are similarities between the Douala sedimentary sub-basin and the coastal sedimentary basin of Mauritania-Senegal and thus foster the suggestions of a more extensive movement that would have affected the whole of the West African coast.展开更多
<p align="justify"> <span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span>Soil organic carbon (SOC) mineralization was carried ...<p align="justify"> <span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span>Soil organic carbon (SOC) mineralization was carried out on soil samples collected from two depths: 0 - 20 cm and 20 - 40 cm for all land use (LU) types (grasslands, croplands, natural forest/fallow lands, cocoa/palm plantations, and settlement/agro-forests). Microbiological analyses were carried out by measuring microbial activity in 40 g of dried soil samples wetted to 60% water holding capacity and incubated at 27 °C. Carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) emission was measured for 10 weeks using a CO<sub>2</sub> trap. Descriptive and graphical analyses of CO<sub>2</sub> respiration were done using CO<sub>2 </sub>emission data. Models were developed to describe CO<sub>2</sub> respiration and the first order kinetic model provided best fit to C-mineralization. Potentially mineralizable carbon (C<sub>o</sub>) and C-mineralization rate were higher in grasslands than other LU types, indicating a higher rate of microbial activity and carbon cycling. Metabolic quotient was higher in forest/fallow lands and reflects greater stress of the microbial community and a high requirement of maintenance energy. Grasslands enhanced more SOC accumulation and decomposition, suggesting a better carbon sink than other land use and management systems (LUMS). Microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) varied across LU patterns with maximum values in grasslands and minimum values in natural forest/fallow lands insinuating better soil quality for grasslands. MBC and SOC positively correlated with C<sub>o</sub> and C-mineralization, which intimates that C-mineralization is influenced by availability of MBC and SOC. Metabolic quotient (qCO<sub>2</sub>) negatively correlated with microbial quotient (MBC:SOC), depicting that higher values of qCO<sub>2</sub> signify difficulties in using organic substrates during microbial activity as a result of low MBC:SOC. Changes in LUMS affected the mineralization kinetics of SOC in the study area. </p>展开更多
Evaluating the reliability of a system requires knowledge of the failure modes to which it is subjected. Complex topology systems generally require a high level of availability, which is a function of the arrangement ...Evaluating the reliability of a system requires knowledge of the failure modes to which it is subjected. Complex topology systems generally require a high level of availability, which is a function of the arrangement of elements (components) in the system. To avoid serious failures for such complex systems, recourse can be had to the redundancy techniques available in the literature. These techniques help to improve system reliability, without affecting the reliability of system components. This paper is interested in the proposal of a model for evaluating the failure rate of a standby multi-components system and in improving the reliability of mechanical systems, arranged in a topology (series, parallel, or mixed).展开更多
A new Modified Discrete Wavelets Packets Transform (MDWPT) based method for the compression of Surface EMG signal (s-EMG) data is presented. A Modified Discrete Wavelets Packets Transform (MDWPT) is applied to the <...A new Modified Discrete Wavelets Packets Transform (MDWPT) based method for the compression of Surface EMG signal (s-EMG) data is presented. A Modified Discrete Wavelets Packets Transform (MDWPT) is applied to the <span style="font-family:Verdana;">digitized s-EMG signal. A Discrete Cosine Transforms (DCT) is applied to the MDWPT coefficients (only on detail coefficients). The MDWPT+ DCT coeffici</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">ents are quantized with a Uniform Scalar Dead-Zone Quantizer (USD</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">ZQ)</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">. An arithmetic coder is employed for the entropy coding of symbol streams. The</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> proposed approach was tested on more than 35 act</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">uals S-EMG signals divided into three categories. The proposed approach was evaluated by the foll</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">owing parameters: Compression Factor (CF), Signal to Noise Ratio (SN</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">R), </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Percent Root mean square Difference (PRD), Mean Frequency Distortion (MFD) </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">and the Mean Square Error (MSE). Simulation results show that the proposed coding algorithm outperforms some recently developed s-EMG compression algorithms.</span>展开更多
基金Supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China （50974107） the University Graduate Research and Innovation Project in Jiangsu Province （CXZZI2_0924）+1 种基金 the Applied Basic Research Project of Yancheng Institute of Technology （XKR2010010） the State Key Laboratory Open Foundation of Deep Geomechanics and Underground Engineering of China University of Mining and Technology （SKLGDUEK1014）
文摘A test system of the permeability of broken coal samples mainly consists of a CMT5305 electronic universal test machine, crushed rock compaction containing cylinder and a self-designed seepage circuit, which is composed of a gear pump, a reversing valve, a relief valve and other components. By using the steady penetration method, the permeability and non-Darcy flow β factor of broken coal samples under five different porosity levels were measured, the grain diameters of the coal samples were selected as 2.5-5 mm, 5-10 mm, 10-15 mm, 15-20 mm, 20-25 mm and 2.5-25 ram, respectively. After measuring the permeability under each porosity, the overfall pressure of the relief valve continuously increased until the coal sample was broken down. In this way, the flow type of liquid inside the broken coal samples changed from seepage to pipe flow. The correlation between breakdown pressure gradient （BPG） and porosity was analyzed, and the BPG was compared with the pressure gradient when seepage instability occurred. The results show that, ①the non-Darcy flow β factor was negative before broken coal samples with six kinds of diameters were broken down; ②the BPG of coal samples with a grain size of 2.5-25 mm was lower than that of the others; ③ the BPG of coal samples with a single diameter under the same porosity increased as the grain size increased; ④ the BPG could be fitted by an exponential function with porosity, and the exponent decreased as the grain size increased for coal samples with a single diameter; ⑤ the BPG was slightly less than the seepage instability pressure gradient. The change in liquid flow type from seepage to pipe flow could be regarded as the performance of the seepage instability.
基金supported by Special Computer Science Project,Faculty of Science at Siracha, Kasetsart University (Grant number 012554)
文摘Recently, a renewed interest in techniques for heavy metal removal of wastewater has been growing because of embarking opportunities for industrial applications. We investigated the adsorption capacity of the copper on the poly（vinyl alcohol） hydrogel from the aqueous solution. Chemical structure and water absorption of the hydrogel were studied using FTIR and water uptake measurement, respectively. The results showed that the poly（vinyl alcohol） was crosslinked with glutaraldehyde, and the hydrogel highly exhibited the equilibrium swelling ratio because of its hydrophilicity property. Additionally, it was found that the adsorption process followed the pseudo-second-order kinetics and the mechanism diffusion was controlled by particle and film diffusions.
基金Beijing Natural Science Foundation(No.2093033)Scientific Research Project of Beijing Educational Committee(Nos.KM 200910020012 and KM 201010020002) for financial support
文摘A series of linear and X-shaped oligo（para-phenylene） derivatives functionalized with fluorene ethynylenes 1,3 and 4 were synthesized through sequent Sonogashira coupling and Suzuki-Miyaura reaction in high yield.The electron-donating group-OCH3 and electron-withdrawing counterparts-CF3 were introduced to tune the spectra properties of compounds 3 and 4.The detail investigation of their photophysical properties in solution and film indicated that the introduction of both -OCH3 and -CF3 makes maximum emission distinct red-shift in comparison with parent compound 1,but the latter more prominently.
文摘This work assessed the impact of land use and land cover (LULC) change on the socio-economic conditions of the inhabitants in the Mount Bambouto Caldera from 1980-2016. To achieve this, three time series satellite images;Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) (1980), Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM) (2001), and Landsat 8 Operational Land Imager (OLI) (2016) scenes were employed to investigate the changes in LULC. The use of satellite images was supplemented with individual interviews, discussions with focus groups and key informants, and direct field observations. Five categories of LULC classes were identified namely: thick woody vegetation (natural forest and oil palms), light vegetation (croplands), savannah (grasslands), buildings (settlements), and bare grounds. The results showed that between 1980 and 2016, croplands, buildings and bare lands increased by 4%, 0.43% and 5.7% respectively while savannah/grassland and natural forest decreased by 4.4% and 5.8% respectively. Household survey revealed soil fertility decline and lack of credit schemes to be major constraints to crop production. Many religious holidays contribute to seasonal food shortages and the community faces a host of socio-economic and institutional challenges. Consequently, majority of house-holds are destitute, live in abject poverty;which is an indication of the need for interventions by government and other development stakeholders to tackle the problems of soil fertility, land use change and food insecurity.
文摘The seed productivity of the artichoke varieties Green Gold, Imperial Star, Violetto was revealed in the conditions of medium saline soils of the Bukhara region. The data obtained showed that seed productivity is directly proportional to fruit crowns. The soil and climatic conditions of the studied area significantly affect the ontogeny of varieties.
文摘A novel ligand N-4-hydroxyacetophenone isonicotinoyl hydrazone and its manganese(II) and nickel(II) metal complexes have been synthesized. The synthesized Schiff base and its metal complexes have been characterized by physical state determination, melting point and solubility measurements in different solvents, infrared, proton nuclear magnetic resonance, mass spectrometric and powder X-ray spectroscopic techniques. The thermal properties of the prepared compounds were obtained from TG/DTG measurements. On the basis of the analytical techniques, the ligand was found to be bidentate in nature coordinating to the metal ions through the azomethine nitrogen and carbonyl oxygen atoms leading to distorted octahedral geometries of the metal complexes which were modeled using MM2 force field. The ligand and its metal(II) complexes were evaluated for antifungal activity against <i>Aspergillus fumigatus, Aspergillus niger, Candida albicans and Rhizopus stolonifera.</i> The antifungal evaluation results revealed an enhanced activity upon coordination of the ligand with the metal(II) ions. The activity of the metal complex to the tested fungal strains was in the order Ni(II) > Mn(II).
文摘Introduction: In the North-Benin, there are three agents causing pediatric purulent meningitis outside the neonatal period. These are: Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria meningitidis and Haemophilus influenzae type b. The aim of this research work was to investigate bacteria serotypes that caused childhood purulent meningitis in the pediatric unit of the Borgou à Regional University Teaching Hospital (CHUD-Borgou) located in Parakou (North-Benin). Patients and Methods: Through a prospective and descriptive study centered on children aged 0 to 5 years old suspected of meningitis and hospitalized, the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) samples of those children were analyzed at the WHO reference laboratory in Banjul for serotyping by real time polymerase chain reaction (RT/PCR). Results: Among the 1396 children hospitalized during that period, 366 were suspected of meningitis and had benefitted from lumbar puncture. Among those 366 suspected cases, 51 cases of purulent meningitis were confirmed after CSF cytobacteriological and biochemical test at the CHUD-Borgou laboratory. Among 51 CSF samples in which purulent meningitis was confirmed, 44 were sent to Banjul. In addition, 310 CSF samples from non-confirmed cases of meningitis were also sent to Banjul. In the whole set of samples sent for real time PCR, 151 cases of Streptococcus pneumoniae (42.7%) were found, 5 cases of Neisseria meningitidis (1.4%) and 1 case of Haemophilus influenzae (0.3%) were also encountered. As regards Streptococcus pneumonia, the serotypes encountered were: 1, 3, 4, 5, 7F, 8, 9V, 9V/9A, 9N/9L, 14, 18C, 19A, 23F, 33F as well as non typed and non typable serotypes. As for Neisseria meningitidis, only serogroup A was found in it. For Haemophilus influenzae, only serotype b was identified. Conclusion: Four non vaccine serotypes (8, 9V/9A, 9N/9L and 33F), non typed and non typable serotypes which are not covered by 13-valent pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV 13) were identified. This highlights the need to enhance surveillance of pediatric purulent meningitis and serotyping by RT/PCR of all CSF samples in order to adapt if necessary future new pneumococcal vaccines to circulating non vaccine serotypes.
基金Supported by China Earthquake Administration under Grant No.20150112National Natural Science Foundation of China under Grant No.21504014
文摘The present paper develops the scaling theory of polyelectrolyte nanogels in dilute and semidilute solutions. The dependencies of the nanogel dimension on branching topology, charge fraction, subchain length, segment number, solution concentration are obtained. For a single polyeleetrolyte nanogel in salt free solution, the nanogel may be swelled by the Coulombie repulsion （the so-called polyelectrolyte regime） or the osmotic eounterion pressure （the so-called osmotic regime）. Characteristics and boundaries between different regimes of a single polyelectrolyte nanogel are summarized. In dilute solution, the nanogels in polyeleetrolyte regime will distribute orderly with the increase of concentration. While the nanogels in osmotic regime will always distribute randomly. Different concentration dependencies of the size of a nanogel in polyeleetrolyte regime and in osmotic regime are also explored.
文摘Electrochrometic measurements were carried on the Z-type Langmuir-Blodgett films of two liquid crystalline polymers: mono-{6-[4-(phenylazo) naphthyloxy] hexyl} (1a) and mono-{6-[4-(anthraquinone-1-azo) naphthyloxy] hexyl} (2a) ester of polymaleic acid. It was found that for both polymers, poling fields parallel and antiparallel to dipole moments of the polymer side chains induce red and blue shift in absorption bands, respectively. For polymer 1a blue shift is accompanied by absorbance increase, while red shift by absorbance decrease;but for polymer 2a only decrease in absorbance is observed. A simple model was proposed to analyze the results.
文摘The effect of substitution of Fe^(3+) by Al^(3+) on the structure and magnetic properties of NdAl_(x)Fe_(1-x)O_(3) perovskite nano-powders(x=0.0,0.1,0.2,0.3,0.4,and 0.5) prepared by the glycine-nitrate auto-combustion method was studied.All samples were characterized by X-ray diffraction(XRD),scanning electron microscopy(SEM),Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FT-IR),and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy(EDX).The magnetic properties of the samples were investigated using a vibrating sample magnetometer(VSM).The X-ray results for all samples reveal the formation of an orthorhombic perovskite phase(space group Pbnm) with no secondary phase.The crystallite sizes of the nanoparticles are found to decrease with increasing Al content,and are in the range of 53-38 nm.SEM images show spherical nanoparticles with agglomeration.The FT-IR spectra confirm the presence of metal oxygen bonds.The M-H loop of the pristine NdFeO_(3) sample is antiferromagnetic in the a b plane with weak ferromagnetism in the c-axis.Introducing AI inclusions in the pristine polycrystal thereby creating magnetic vacancies is seen to influence the magnetic properties.The magnetic dilution results in enhanced magnetisation at low Al content;x=0.1,0.2(saturation magnetisation being 2.08 and 2.05 emu/g,respectively) compared to the pristine sample with a saturation magnetisation of 1.43 emu/g due to increased exchange interaction.Also dilution with nonmagnetic dopant induces the phase transition from weak ferromagnetic to paramagnetic depending on the impurity concentration.The coercive field for NdFeO_(3) is found to be equal to 1950 Oe and decreases with Al-substitution.These findings lay a ground work for research in tuning magnetic properties and in spintronics with potential applications in data storage,switches and electronic devices.
文摘The procedure similar to an ordinary quantum held theory in curved spacetime is applied to study the Bianchi type-I universes with a radiation field source.The Wheeler-De Witt equation satisfied by the cosmological wave function is found.After the wave function was regarded as a universe held in the minisuperspace,not only the difficulty in a probabilistic interpretation in the quantum cosmology can be circumvented,but also the conclusion of the multiple production of universes is obtained,and the average number of various universes created from‘nothing’is estimated.
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2021YFA0718302 and No.2021YFA1402104)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.12075310)the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.XDB28000000)
文摘Motivated by the recent experimental developments in ultracold molecules and atoms,we propose a simple theoretical model to address the disassociation,reflection,and transmission probability of a one-dimensional cold molecule via quantum scattering.First,we show the Born approximation results in the weak interaction regime.Then,by employing the Lippmann-Schwinger equation,we give the numerical solution and investigate the disassociation’s dependence on the injection momentum and the interaction strengths.We find that the maximum disassociation rate has a limit when increasing the interaction strengths and injection momentum.We expect that our model can be realized in experiments in the near future.
基金supported by the University of South Africa under Grant No.409000.
文摘To professionally plan and manage the development and evolution of the Internet of Things(IoT),researchers have proposed several IoT performance measurement solutions.IoT performance measurement solutions can be very valuable for managing the development and evolution of IoT systems,as they provide insights into performance issues,resource optimization,predictive maintenance,security,reliability,and user experience.However,there are several issues that can impact the accuracy and reliability of IoT performance measurements,including lack of standardization,complexity of IoT systems,scalability,data privacy,and security.While previous studies proposed several IoT measurement solutions in the literature,they did not evaluate any individual one to figure out their respective measurement strengths and weaknesses.This study provides a novel scheme for the evaluation of proposed IoT measurement solutions using a metrology-coverage evaluation based on evaluation theory,metrology principles,and software measurement best practices.This evaluation approach was employed for 12 IoT measure categories and 158 IoT measurement solutions identified in a Systematic Literature Review(SLR)from 2010 to 2021.The metrology coverage of these IoT measurement solutions was analyzed from four perspectives:across IoT categories,within each study,improvement over time,and implications for IoT practitioners and researchers.The criteria in this metrology-coverage evaluation allowed for the identification of strengths and weaknesses in the theoretical and empirical definitions of the proposed IoT measurement solutions.We found that the metrological coverage varies significantly across IoT measurement solution categories and did not show improvement over the 2010–2021 timeframe.Detailed findings can help practitioners understand the limitations of the proposed measurement solutions and choose those with stronger designs.These evaluation results can also be used by researchers to improve current IoT measurement solution designs and suggest new solutions with a stronger metrology base.
文摘The quantitative interpretation of gravity anomalies due to shallow structures needs separation between long wavelength anomalies(regional anomalies)and short wavelength anomalies(residual anomalies).The regional-residual field separation can be carried out using the polynomial method.In this case,the so-called regional field of order n is treated as a polynomial of degree n.The present study shows that the degree n must vary between a smallest value n_(min)and a maximum value n_(max).This article presents a method to process gravity data that allows determination of n_(min)and n_(max)for a given study area.We apply the method to gravity data of the South-West Cameroon zone.In this chosen study area,we find that regional anomaly maps of orders ranging from 1 to 9 and residual anomaly maps of orders ranging from 1 to 8 can be used for suitable interpretation.The analyses show that one may need residual anomaly maps of several orders to perform satisfactory quantitative interpretation of the different intrusive bodies found in a given area.
基金This study was supported by Scientific and Technological Research Council of Turkey(TUBITAK)under the Grant Number 121S624.
文摘Total resection of glioblastoma(GB)tumors is nearly impossible,and systemic administration of temozolomide(TMZ)is often inadequate.This study presents a hybrid layered composite nanofiber network(LHN)designed for localized treatment in GB tumor bed.The LHN,consisting of polyvinyl alcohol and core-shell polylactic acid layers,was loaded with TMZ and rutin.In vitro analysis revealed that LHN^(TMZ) and LHNrutin decelerated epithelial-mesenchymal transition and growth of stem-like cells,while the combination,LHN^(TMZ)+rutin,significantly reduced sphere size compared to untreated and LHNTMZ-treated cells(P<0.0001).In an orthotopic C6-induced GB rat model,LHNTMZ+rutin therapy demonstrated a more pronounced tumor-reducing effect than LHNTMZ alone.Tumor volume,assessed by magnetic resonance imaging,was significantly reduced in LHN^(TMZ)+rutin-treated rats compared to untreated controls.Structural changes in tumor mitochondria,reduced membrane potential,and decreased PARP expression indicated the activation of apoptotic pathways in tumor cells,which was further confirmed by a reduction in PHH3,indicating decreased mitotic activity of tumor cells.Additionally,the local application of LHNs in the GB model mitigated aggressive tumor features without causing local tissue inflammation or adverse systemic effects.This was evidenced by a decrease in the angiogenesismarker CD31,the absence of inflammation or necrosis in H&E staining of the cerebellum,increased production of IFN-γ,decreased levels of interleukin-4 in splenic T cells,and lower serum AST levels.Our findings collectively indicate that LHN^(TMZ)+rutin is a promising biocompatible model for the local treatment of GB.
文摘Gravity studies have been carried out in the Douala sub-basin which is a sedimentary basin located both onshore and offshore on the South coast of Cameroon between latitudes 3°03'N and 4°06'N and longitudes 9°00' and 10°00'E, covering a total surface area of 12,805 km2. On its onshore portion, the Douala sub-basin has a trapezoic shape and covers a total surface area of about 6955 km2 while the offshore part covers an area of about 5850 km2. Gravity data used in this study are constituted of 912 gravity data points located between longitudes 8°10.2' to 10°59.4'E and latitudes 2°30.6' to 4°59.4'N and the study area is located to the NW section of the onshore portion of the Douala sub-basin. This study area is characterised by considerably high positive anomalies attaining peak values of about 104.1 mGals at longitude 9°9.9' and latitude 4°1.1' with contour lines which are mostly oriented in the NNE direction. Residual anomalies were extracted by upward continuation of the Bouguer anomaly field at an optimum height of 30 km. This residual field and those obtained by the separation of polynomial of order 4 had a very high correlation coefficient factor of 0.979. The multi-scale horizontal derivative of the vertical derivative (MSHDVD) method was applied on the extracted residual anomalies for the delimitation of possible contacts in the source while the amplitude spectrum was used to estimate the depth to the top of the potential field source. The MSHDVD method did not delimite any clear cut contacts in the source but the amplitude spectrum estimated the potential field source at a depth of about 4.8 km. The ideal body theory was used to determine the density contrast along a 65 km NW-SE profile yielding a value of 0.266 g/cm3. 2.5D modelling aimed at bringing out the underlying structural layout of this study area presents a source body which is very probably an intrusive igneous block surrounded by sedimentary formations and having a density of 2.77 g/cm3 at a depth of about 5.88 km below the surface and an average thickness of about 26.95 km.
文摘Gravity data have been processed in the Douala sedimentary sub-basin in a section consisting of a set of 116 gravity data points located between latitudes 3°03'N and 4°06'N and longitudes 9°00'E and 10°00'E. The established Bouguer anomaly fields and the Residual anomaly fields, extracted by upward continuation at an optimum height of 30 km, were both characterized by considerably high positive anomalies. These anomalies showed many ring-like positive gravity anomaly contour lines in the study region. Gravity gradients were analysed using the multi-scale horizontal derivative of the vertical derivative (MSHDVD) method, and this excluded the existence of fault lines across this region. Amplitude spectrum was used to estimate the potential field source at a depth of about 4.8 km. The ideal body theory capable of handling sparse data contaminated with noise was applied along a 50.2 km WWS-EEN profile to determine a density contrast of 0.266 g/cm3. Using these results as constraints, 2.5 D modelling carried out along this profile presented two major blocks with density contrast of 0.266 g/cm3. The first block is probably an intrusive igneous body with a density of about 2.77 g/cm3 , having an average thickness of about 26 km with its top and base lying at depths of about 4.25 km and 30.25 km respectively. The second block is likely a pillar of igneous material, located at a depth of about 10.77 km with a density of about 2.77 g/cm3 whose base goes deep down beyond the crust-mantle boundary. These results support previous findings that there are similarities between the Douala sedimentary sub-basin and the coastal sedimentary basin of Mauritania-Senegal and thus foster the suggestions of a more extensive movement that would have affected the whole of the West African coast.
文摘<p align="justify"> <span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"></span>Soil organic carbon (SOC) mineralization was carried out on soil samples collected from two depths: 0 - 20 cm and 20 - 40 cm for all land use (LU) types (grasslands, croplands, natural forest/fallow lands, cocoa/palm plantations, and settlement/agro-forests). Microbiological analyses were carried out by measuring microbial activity in 40 g of dried soil samples wetted to 60% water holding capacity and incubated at 27 °C. Carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) emission was measured for 10 weeks using a CO<sub>2</sub> trap. Descriptive and graphical analyses of CO<sub>2</sub> respiration were done using CO<sub>2 </sub>emission data. Models were developed to describe CO<sub>2</sub> respiration and the first order kinetic model provided best fit to C-mineralization. Potentially mineralizable carbon (C<sub>o</sub>) and C-mineralization rate were higher in grasslands than other LU types, indicating a higher rate of microbial activity and carbon cycling. Metabolic quotient was higher in forest/fallow lands and reflects greater stress of the microbial community and a high requirement of maintenance energy. Grasslands enhanced more SOC accumulation and decomposition, suggesting a better carbon sink than other land use and management systems (LUMS). Microbial biomass carbon (MBC) and microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN) varied across LU patterns with maximum values in grasslands and minimum values in natural forest/fallow lands insinuating better soil quality for grasslands. MBC and SOC positively correlated with C<sub>o</sub> and C-mineralization, which intimates that C-mineralization is influenced by availability of MBC and SOC. Metabolic quotient (qCO<sub>2</sub>) negatively correlated with microbial quotient (MBC:SOC), depicting that higher values of qCO<sub>2</sub> signify difficulties in using organic substrates during microbial activity as a result of low MBC:SOC. Changes in LUMS affected the mineralization kinetics of SOC in the study area. </p>
文摘Evaluating the reliability of a system requires knowledge of the failure modes to which it is subjected. Complex topology systems generally require a high level of availability, which is a function of the arrangement of elements (components) in the system. To avoid serious failures for such complex systems, recourse can be had to the redundancy techniques available in the literature. These techniques help to improve system reliability, without affecting the reliability of system components. This paper is interested in the proposal of a model for evaluating the failure rate of a standby multi-components system and in improving the reliability of mechanical systems, arranged in a topology (series, parallel, or mixed).
文摘A new Modified Discrete Wavelets Packets Transform (MDWPT) based method for the compression of Surface EMG signal (s-EMG) data is presented. A Modified Discrete Wavelets Packets Transform (MDWPT) is applied to the <span style="font-family:Verdana;">digitized s-EMG signal. A Discrete Cosine Transforms (DCT) is applied to the MDWPT coefficients (only on detail coefficients). The MDWPT+ DCT coeffici</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">ents are quantized with a Uniform Scalar Dead-Zone Quantizer (USD</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">ZQ)</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">. An arithmetic coder is employed for the entropy coding of symbol streams. The</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;"> proposed approach was tested on more than 35 act</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">uals S-EMG signals divided into three categories. The proposed approach was evaluated by the foll</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">owing parameters: Compression Factor (CF), Signal to Noise Ratio (SN</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">R), </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">Percent Root mean square Difference (PRD), Mean Frequency Distortion (MFD) </span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">and the Mean Square Error (MSE). Simulation results show that the proposed coding algorithm outperforms some recently developed s-EMG compression algorithms.</span>
