The knowledge of the epidemiology of parasitic infections in stray and domestic animals, especially of its incidence and prevalence, is fundamental to adopting effective prophylactic measures. Stray dogs play an impor...The knowledge of the epidemiology of parasitic infections in stray and domestic animals, especially of its incidence and prevalence, is fundamental to adopting effective prophylactic measures. Stray dogs play an important role in environmental contamination favoring the transmission cycle of zoonotic agents. Among the parasitic infections that affect humans, Giardia duodenalis is the most common intestinal protozoa and was designated as a re-emerging infectious disease. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of G. duodenalis in dogs siezed by the Center for Control of Zoonoses (CCZ) of the city of Lages, Santa Catarina, Brazil using two diagnostic techniques. In 357 stool samples analysed, the prevalence of G. duodenalis cysts was 5.3% (19/357) and 4.8% (17/357) detected by floatation and sedimentation techniques, respecttively. No correspondence between gender and age was found among the methods used for analyzing the infected dogs in this study. Our data suggested that two diagnostic techniques should be used in a complementary way to ensure that false negatives are not neglected.展开更多
From a harmonized structural map at the scale of a portion of SW Burkina Faso (90 × 80 km2), we targeted prospective zones on the basis of structural criteria and structure-geology relationships. The map was cons...From a harmonized structural map at the scale of a portion of SW Burkina Faso (90 × 80 km2), we targeted prospective zones on the basis of structural criteria and structure-geology relationships. The map was constructed from an aeromagnetic image, and the geology was deduced from old geological maps. The procedure involved extracting the magnetic fabric and deducing the deformation gradients, which led to the identification of shear zones. Analysis and interpretation of the structural geometry of the obtained structural pattern led us to target areas of interference between structures or geology-structures interplays, which are conducive to the deposition of metallic elements. The subsequent overlay of known gold prospects and deposits documented in the region revealed the validity of the predefined prospects. This result reinforces the applicability of the methodology as a first-order regional approach to mineral exploration.展开更多
Height-to-diameter ratios(HD)are an important measure of the stability,density and competition of forest stands.It refl ects the vertical growth of the trees,the vulnerability of the forest canopy structure and infl u...Height-to-diameter ratios(HD)are an important measure of the stability,density and competition of forest stands.It refl ects the vertical growth of the trees,the vulnerability of the forest canopy structure and infl uences volumetric production.HD ratios vary according to tree size,availability of resources for growth,stand density and species composition.Data were taken from 210 trees and a regression technique of generalized linear models for the HD ratio applicable for forest structure conservation was developed.The objective of this study was to model the HD ratios of dominant and co-dominant trees of Araucaria angustifolia according to morphometric,dendrometric,annual diameter increment,stand density,and age variables in three sites in southern Brazil.The results show that the HD ratio decreases with increasing age,crown area and basal area,and increases with stand density and annual diameter increment.Accuracy of the developed equations was demonstrated by the values of deviation,Bayesian and Akaike criteria.The results are of interest to forest managers since they make decisions about silvicultural operations.Growth continuity and forest production indicate that any intervention should be directed at younger trees of smaller sizes,and that one of the main management factors for stand stability and growth is the formation of the stand and its capture of light.展开更多
Renewable energy has garnered attention due to the need for sustainable energy sources.Wind power has emerged as an alternative that has contributed to the transition towards cleaner energy.As the importance of wind e...Renewable energy has garnered attention due to the need for sustainable energy sources.Wind power has emerged as an alternative that has contributed to the transition towards cleaner energy.As the importance of wind energy grows,it can be crucial to provide forecasts that optimize its performance potential.Artificial intelligence(AI)methods have risen in prominence due to how well they can handle complicated systems while enhancing the accuracy of prediction.This study explored the area of AI to predict wind-energy production at a wind farm in Yalova,Turkey,using four different AI approaches:support vector machines(SVMs),decision trees,adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference systems(ANFIS)and artificial neural networks(ANNs).Wind speed and direction were considered as essential input parameters,with wind energy as the target parameter,and models are thoroughly evaluated using metrics such as the mean absolute percentage error(MAPE),coefficient of determination(R~2),and mean absolute error(MAE).The findings accentuate the superior performance of the SVM,which delivered the lowest MAPE(2.42%),the highest R~2(0.95),and the lowest MAE(71.21%)compared with actual values,while ANFIS was less effective in this context.The main aim of this comparative analysis was to rank the models to move to the next step in improving the least efficient methods by combining them with optimization algorithms,such as metaheuristic algorithms.展开更多
Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS) is involved with hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases. However, the association of RAS components to cancer still causes suspicion. To try to clarify this, here we aimed to sho...Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS) is involved with hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases. However, the association of RAS components to cancer still causes suspicion. To try to clarify this, here we aimed to show this association for three important components: Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 1 (ACE1), Angiotensin Type 1 Receptor (AGTR1) and Angiotensin Type 2 Receptor (AGTR2). The first articles show that association of RAS components with cancer dates back to the 70’s. ECA1 and AGTR1 have close association with cancer and ACE1 inhibitors or AGTR1 blockers are candidates to treatment of some tumors. Moreover, the action of AGTR2 is still controversial, but most studies show that the increased expression of AGTR2 can attack the cancer cells. In breast cancer, these components have also been widely studied and many works have shown that the correlation exists. Therefore specific target using these RAS components could be a beneficial, novel therapy to various tumors.展开更多
The Banfora’s birimian greenstones belt is located in the western part of Burkina Faso (west Africa). Recent petrographic and lithogeochemical studies have highlighted plutons intruding the metasedimentary and metavo...The Banfora’s birimian greenstones belt is located in the western part of Burkina Faso (west Africa). Recent petrographic and lithogeochemical studies have highlighted plutons intruding the metasedimentary and metavolcanic series. These plutonic rocks are composed of leucogranites belonging to the so-called Ferkessedougou’s or Ferké’s batholith, granites, granodiorites, monzodiorites and quartz monzonites. From the lithogeochemical studies, these plutonic rocks have a calc-alkaline and peraluminous character. The rare earth elements spectra of the Ferké’s leucogranites let distinguished two sub-facies. One of the sub-facies is composed of quartz monzonite to granite, while the other is granitic sensu stricto. However, all these plutonic rocks were emplaced in a geodynamic context of subduction followed by collision.展开更多
This experimental study aims at the reuse of recycled aggregates (RA), resulting from the demolition of concrete, cement block and cement mortar, in the manufacture of common construction in Burkina Faso. The RA can r...This experimental study aims at the reuse of recycled aggregates (RA), resulting from the demolition of concrete, cement block and cement mortar, in the manufacture of common construction in Burkina Faso. The RA can readily replace natural aggregates in concrete. Then five formulations of natural and recycled aggregates based concrete for characteristic strength of 25 Mpa were prepared in addition to the natural aggregates base concrete named reference concrete (BN): two types of recycled aggregates concrete (BR), three types of recycles and natural combined aggregates base concrete (BC). The properties of natural and recycled aggregates were characterized and the physical, mechanical strength and durability properties were also evaluated for all concrete specimens. All the studied concrete formulation present a density between 2000 kg/m<sup>3</sup> ≤ ρ ≥ 2600 kg/m<sup>3</sup> and an average slump of 4.9 ± 0.1 cm. The obtained results indicate that the recycled aggregates are suitable for current concrete. Two out of the five combinations studied, such as the natural (BN) and combined aggregate (BC2) based concretes satisfy the mechanical characteristics (Rc<sub>28</sub> > 25 MPa) at 28 days of age and an average absorption coefficient of 2.93% and 3.98%. The recycled aggregate based concrete (BR1, BR2) and combined aggregate based concrete (BC1), gave respective average compressive strength of 21.55 MPa, 20.50 MPa and 20.30 MPa, i.e. a difference of 13.80% to 18.80% under the characteristic strength (25 MPa) aimed at 28 days of age. Thus, the recycled aggregates are in conformity with the normative prescriptions and their use for standard concrete gives adequate physical, mechanical and durability properties for the production of the C20/25 concrete series in the common civil engineering applications.展开更多
Harvestmen are a major arachnid order that has experienced a dramatic increase in biological knowledge in the 21st century.The publication of the book Harvestmen:The Biology of Opiliones in 2007 stimulated the develop...Harvestmen are a major arachnid order that has experienced a dramatic increase in biological knowledge in the 21st century.The publication of the book Harvestmen:The Biology of Opiliones in 2007 stimulated the development of many behavioral studies.Although the book is relatively recent,our understanding of the reproductive biology of harvestmen is already outdated due to the fast accumulation of new data.Our goal is to provide an updated review of the subject to serve as a benchmark for the following years.In the pre-copulatory phase,we explore the evolu-tion of facultative parthenogenesis,the factors that may affect the types of mating system,and the role of nuptial gifts in courtship.Regarding the copulatory phase,harvestmen are unique arachnids because they have aflagellate spermatozoa and a penis with complex morphology.We discuss the implications of these two features for sperm competition and cryptic female choice.In the post-copulatory phase,we connect ovi-position site selection and climate conditions to the widespread occurrence of resource defense polygyny,alternative reproductive tactics,and sexual dimorphism in several clades of tropical harvestmen.Finally,we present the different forms of parental care in the order,and discuss the benefits and costs of this behavior,which can be performed either by females or males.Throughout the review,we indicate gaps in our knowl-edge and subjects that deserve further studies.Hopefully,the information synthesized here will stimulate researchers worldwide to embrace harvestmen as a study system and to improve our effort to unravel the mysteries of their reproductive biology.展开更多
In the recent past years, the major challenge facing scientists and researchers in the field of knowledge engineering is classifying and sharing geographic data with both computer and human. Ontology is one of the mos...In the recent past years, the major challenge facing scientists and researchers in the field of knowledge engineering is classifying and sharing geographic data with both computer and human. Ontology is one of the most important classification schemes that aim to make data machine-interpretable. In the literature, all ontology based models developed in the field of urban planning have some limits. First, they describe the nature of each parcel of the soil while ignoring other important components of urban planning such as services, infrastructure … Secondly, these ontologies are developed according to legislation and regulations of the zone studied so they can’t be used by some urban territories that have specific urban law such as Moroccan country. This paper presents a new multi-dimensional ontology model called LUP specifically developed to overcome this flaw. The main goal is to provide semantic land use descriptions according to four dimensions: zoning, services, infrastructure and easement and to define all LUP concepts within the Moroccan urban law. We illustrate the use of our proposed model with a case study by mapping a land use planning document within the area of Ainchock municipality of Casablanca city according to our model concepts.展开更多
Despite its often illegal nature, artisanal gold mining in Burkina Faso contributes to the economic and social development of the country. However, the rudimentary techniques used in gold panning have a significant im...Despite its often illegal nature, artisanal gold mining in Burkina Faso contributes to the economic and social development of the country. However, the rudimentary techniques used in gold panning have a significant impact on the environment due to inappropriate practices and the use of various chemical substances. This study aims to assess the impact of artisanal gold mining on the quality of water resources in a rural community at Méguet, Burkina Faso. To this end, surface and groundwater samples were collected and analyzed at the BUMIGEB laboratory. Field results show that the waters are slightly alkaline (6.97 < pH < 8.1), weakly mineralized and conductive (124 < EC < 543 μS/cm), with temperatures ranging from 24.6˚C to 31.6˚C. In addition, trace metals (TMEs) analyzed from surface and subsurface waters show very high levels, generally deviating from the levels recommended by WHO guidelines for Burkina Faso. Trace metals contamination of water resources in the commune of Méguet is mainly due to Fe (3.78 - 11.12 mg/kg), Hg (0.03 - 0.29 mg/kg), As (0.01- 6.31 mg/kg) and Pb (0.01 - 3.8 mg/kg). This study can serve as a basis for guiding national environmental policies to protect the water resources of the Méguet mine.展开更多
Selection of effective agronomic and industrial parameters of oat cultivars is a decisive step in oat breeding programs fordevelopment of new oat and elite cultivars. In this study, a new approach was utilized to dist...Selection of effective agronomic and industrial parameters of oat cultivars is a decisive step in oat breeding programs fordevelopment of new oat and elite cultivars. In this study, a new approach was utilized to distinguish the most informative agronomicand industrial parameters that are most affected with fungicide application in oat cultivars. Four subsequent field experiments from2007 to 2010 were conducted in completely randomized block design （CRBD） with split plots. Total nine oat cultivars with orwithout fungicide application were evaluated for plant height, sieve yield, grain yield, lodging index, weight of hectoliter andde-hulling index. Soft independent modeling of class analogy （SIMCA） was conducted as one-class and multi-classes models toidentify important variables that can be used to discriminate samples. Results showed that SIMCA was effective, and lodging index,de-hulling index, sieve yield, plant height and grain yield were most affected oat parameters. Therefore, SIMCA algorithm can beused to easily discriminate some agronomic and quality parameters of oats.展开更多
With the growing need for renewable energy,wind farms are playing an important role in generating clean power from wind resources.The best wind turbine architecture in a wind farm has a major influence on the energy e...With the growing need for renewable energy,wind farms are playing an important role in generating clean power from wind resources.The best wind turbine architecture in a wind farm has a major influence on the energy extraction efficiency.This paper describes a unique strategy for optimizing wind turbine locations on a wind farm that combines the capabilities of particle swarm optimization(PSO)and artificial neural networks(ANNs).The PSO method was used to explore the solution space and develop preliminary turbine layouts,and the ANN model was used to fine-tune the placements based on the predicted energy generation.The proposed hybrid technique seeks to increase energy output while considering site-specific wind patterns and topographical limits.The efficacy and superiority of the hybrid PSO-ANN methodology are proved through comprehensive simulations and comparisons with existing approaches,giving exciting prospects for developing more efficient and sustainable wind farms.The integration of ANNs and PSO in our methodology is of paramount importance because it leverages the complementary strengths of both techniques.Furthermore,this novel methodology harnesses historical data through ANNs to identify optimal turbine positions that align with the wind speed and direction and enhance energy extraction efficiency.A notable increase in power generation is observed across various scenarios.The percentage increase in the power generation ranged from approximately 7.7%to 11.1%.Owing to its versatility and adaptability to site-specific conditions,the hybrid model offers promising prospects for advancing the field of wind farm layout optimization and contributing to a greener and more sustainable energy future.展开更多
Promoting better protein digestibility through exogenous enzymes in the diet is essential in the nutrition of companion animals, mainly for better performance and maintenance of the animals’ physiological and metabol...Promoting better protein digestibility through exogenous enzymes in the diet is essential in the nutrition of companion animals, mainly for better performance and maintenance of the animals’ physiological and metabolic systems, promoting health and adequate growth. In addition, it reduces the cost of the diet by possibly reducing protein in the diet, which is the main and most expensive ingredient for dogs and cats. The objective of this study was to verify whether the addition of protease to dog and cat food can improve the protein digestibility of the food, thus facilitating greater absorption of amino acids and influencing metabolic biomarkers and immune response. To this end, two experiments were carried out to evaluate the protease from the fermentation of Aspergillus niger and Bacillus subtilis. Experiment 1 was carried out with ten male, non-castrated beagles divided into two groups of five animals: the control group (without enzyme) and the test group (with 250 g of protease/ton). The animals underwent two 45-day experimental periods, and in the second period, after a 15-day interval, the dogs in the control group became part of the treatment group (crossover model). Adding this enzyme to the dogs’ diet had no adverse effects on the animals’ health besides improving the digestibility of dry matter and crude protein consumed by the dogs. Experiment 2 was carried out with sixteen female cats of no defined breed, non-castrated, divided into four groups with four animals per group, namely: Treatment A (without enzyme), Treatment B (with protease at a dose of 100 g/ton), Treatment C (with protease at a dose of 200 g/ton) and Treatment D (with protease at a dose of 400 g/ton). The cats underwent two 30-day experimental periods, and in the second period, after a 15-day interval, the animals switched between treatments (crossover model) to increase the power of the statistical test. The enzyme consumption did not affect the felines’ metabolism and health but improved the digestibility of crude protein at doses of 200 and 400 g/ton. The results allow us to conclude that the protease used in this study can improve the digestibility of crude protein for dogs and cats.展开更多
The Birimian Nassara volcanic formations are located south of Gaoua in the southern part of the Boromo belt. Within these formations is the Nassara gold deposit where mineralization is hosted at the contact between ba...The Birimian Nassara volcanic formations are located south of Gaoua in the southern part of the Boromo belt. Within these formations is the Nassara gold deposit where mineralization is hosted at the contact between basaltic volcanic rocks and sedimentary rocks. It is with the aim of understanding the geodynamic context of the basaltic rocks and the implication of their primary gold potential in the Nassara gold deposit that this work is carried out. To achieve our objectives, 28 samples of fresh basaltic rocks were geochemically analyzed for their major and trace element compositions. These analyses show that the Nassara basalts are Fe-rich tholeiitic basalts. Rare earth profiles (La/SmN = 0.75 - 1.50;La/YbN = 0.65 - 2.18) are fairly flat and without europium anomaly (Eu/Eu* = 0.90 - 1.09), nor niobium. In the Zr/Nb vs. Nb/Th and Nb/Y vs. Zr/Y binary diagrams, the Fe-rich tholeiitic basalts of Nassara, as well as those of the Houndé and Boromo belts, are placed in the field of oceanic plateau basalts related to a mantle plume system. A gold fertility test carried out on these basalts was positive. As other studies have already shown, the genetic link between gold deposits and mantle plumes appears to be a general rule. The scenario for the Nassara gold deposit is that it is the source magma that was already more or less enriched in gold and other related elements on its way up. The remobilization of this gold would have occurred during the Eburnean orogeny with the help of metamorphic, hydrothermal and deformation phenomena to be redeposited at the level of shear zones with economic grades. Through this analysis, we show that the fertility of the initial lithologies is very important for the formation of economic size deposits in the proximal shear zones. Exploration work should now integrate this dimension to define the best targets.展开更多
In the Mangodara area within the Banfora greenstone belts (Baoulé-Mossi domain of the West African Craton), our study focused on geochemical assessment of the mobility of major and trace elements. Gold and base m...In the Mangodara area within the Banfora greenstone belts (Baoulé-Mossi domain of the West African Craton), our study focused on geochemical assessment of the mobility of major and trace elements. Gold and base metal occurrences are hosted in highly metamorphic felsic (metarhyolite) and intermediate (metadacite and metaandesite) formations. Common mineral assemblages made up of staurolite - kyanite - pyrophyllite are interpreted to represent the metamorphosed equivalent of aluminous hydrothermal alteration. Associated felsic and intermediate volcanic rocks are enriched in Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, K<sub>2</sub>O (metaandesite, metarhyolite) and depleted in MgO, Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, CaO, P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub>, Na<sub>2</sub>O (metarhyolite) and Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, MgO, CaO (metaandesite). Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> depletion in mineralized kyanite-staurotide bearing metarhyolites suggests corroded minerals. Mineralized metarhyolites show enrichment in Au, Ag, Ba, Bi, Cr, Cu, Eu, La, Mo, Ni, Pb, S, Sc, V and depletion in As Sb Co, Sn, Zn while mineralized metaandesites show enrichment in Au, Ag, As, Mo, S, Sb and depletion in Co, Sn, Zn, Bi, Cr, Cu, Eu, Ni, Pb, Sc. Ba, La, V are immobile in metaandesites. Finally, Ag, As, Sn appear as geochemical vectors for gold exploration in the study area since gold mineralization is characterized by Au + Ba + Cu + Eu + La + Mo + Ni + S association in metarhyolites and Au + S + Sb + As + Ag + Bi in metaandesites.展开更多
The Birimian Baguiomo formations are located in the northern part of the Boromo greenstone belt. In this belt, the volcanic rocks (tholeiitic basalt, calcalkaline basalt, andesite) hosting the gold mineralization are ...The Birimian Baguiomo formations are located in the northern part of the Boromo greenstone belt. In this belt, the volcanic rocks (tholeiitic basalt, calcalkaline basalt, andesite) hosting the gold mineralization are located in the Kwademen-Baguiomo shear zone. This mineralization, located only a few kilometers from the Kwademen gold deposit, is uncharacterized and, together with the latter, could constitute a gold potential capable of being economically exploitable. It is in this sense that this work is carried out with a view to characterizing the gold mineralization of the Baguiomo gold panning site. To carry out this work, we have made direct field measurements, combined with microstructures, and combined all this with data from geochemical rock analysis of the basalts that are the main host formations. Geochemical data show that tholeitic basalts formed from a mantle plume that was emplaced in an oceanic plateau context. Calc-alkaline basalts and andesites are comparable to Paleoproterozoic tholeitic basalts (PTH3), which are slightly enriched in light rare earths. Fertility tests show that these basalts concentrate between 3 and 6 ppb of gold at the time of accretion, which is sufficient for remobilization of this primary gold during the Eburnian orogeny to yield a deposit of around 4 - 5 Moz. Gold mineralization is associated with pyrite crystals when the latter are disseminated in the rock mass, whereas it is associated with hematite in quartz veins concordant with S1 shear deformation. It is mainly the pyrite crystals in the pressure shadows that contain the gold grains, whose development would be synchronous with micro-shear zone reactivation during the first phase of D1<sub>B</sub> deformation. The second phase of D2<sub>B</sub> deformation, which is a crenulation or fracture schistosity, does not significantly affect the shear deformation that controls mineralization.展开更多
This research aimed to determine instruments for analysis of knowledge management in operators companies of metropolitan transport systems. How much the goal was an exploratory research, how much the procedure was a l...This research aimed to determine instruments for analysis of knowledge management in operators companies of metropolitan transport systems. How much the goal was an exploratory research, how much the procedure was a literature search, how much as nature was an applied research, and how much as approach was qualitative research？ The following instruments were identified and selected： （a） the methodology for the analysis of metropolitan transport systems; （b） the knowledge management maturity model （Siemens）; and （c） Documentation and Information Centre. The simulation, using the tools in the knowledge management to analyze the Company Metropolitan of S^io Paulo--METRO, identified the need for improvements in eight areas and the problems： （1） rethink the knowledge management area; （2） develop new knowledge management policies; （3） define responsibilities in knowledge management area; （4） implement new knowledge management processes; （5） explore new ways and structures of knowledge; （6） consider the internal and external actors in knowledge management actions; （7） expand the dissemination of the collaborative culture; and （8） integrate in the knowledge management area current and future initiatives. The analysis shows that the transposition of the current situation to the desired situation for the company can be obtained with the implementation of an Information and Documentation Centre. The conclusion is that this set of tools allows to characterize, evaluate, and model the knowledge management in this business.展开更多
文摘The knowledge of the epidemiology of parasitic infections in stray and domestic animals, especially of its incidence and prevalence, is fundamental to adopting effective prophylactic measures. Stray dogs play an important role in environmental contamination favoring the transmission cycle of zoonotic agents. Among the parasitic infections that affect humans, Giardia duodenalis is the most common intestinal protozoa and was designated as a re-emerging infectious disease. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of G. duodenalis in dogs siezed by the Center for Control of Zoonoses (CCZ) of the city of Lages, Santa Catarina, Brazil using two diagnostic techniques. In 357 stool samples analysed, the prevalence of G. duodenalis cysts was 5.3% (19/357) and 4.8% (17/357) detected by floatation and sedimentation techniques, respecttively. No correspondence between gender and age was found among the methods used for analyzing the infected dogs in this study. Our data suggested that two diagnostic techniques should be used in a complementary way to ensure that false negatives are not neglected.
文摘From a harmonized structural map at the scale of a portion of SW Burkina Faso (90 × 80 km2), we targeted prospective zones on the basis of structural criteria and structure-geology relationships. The map was constructed from an aeromagnetic image, and the geology was deduced from old geological maps. The procedure involved extracting the magnetic fabric and deducing the deformation gradients, which led to the identification of shear zones. Analysis and interpretation of the structural geometry of the obtained structural pattern led us to target areas of interference between structures or geology-structures interplays, which are conducive to the deposition of metallic elements. The subsequent overlay of known gold prospects and deposits documented in the region revealed the validity of the predefined prospects. This result reinforces the applicability of the methodology as a first-order regional approach to mineral exploration.
基金The FAPESC(Foundation for Research Support of the Santa Catarina State),Case Number 2017TR639.
文摘Height-to-diameter ratios(HD)are an important measure of the stability,density and competition of forest stands.It refl ects the vertical growth of the trees,the vulnerability of the forest canopy structure and infl uences volumetric production.HD ratios vary according to tree size,availability of resources for growth,stand density and species composition.Data were taken from 210 trees and a regression technique of generalized linear models for the HD ratio applicable for forest structure conservation was developed.The objective of this study was to model the HD ratios of dominant and co-dominant trees of Araucaria angustifolia according to morphometric,dendrometric,annual diameter increment,stand density,and age variables in three sites in southern Brazil.The results show that the HD ratio decreases with increasing age,crown area and basal area,and increases with stand density and annual diameter increment.Accuracy of the developed equations was demonstrated by the values of deviation,Bayesian and Akaike criteria.The results are of interest to forest managers since they make decisions about silvicultural operations.Growth continuity and forest production indicate that any intervention should be directed at younger trees of smaller sizes,and that one of the main management factors for stand stability and growth is the formation of the stand and its capture of light.
文摘Renewable energy has garnered attention due to the need for sustainable energy sources.Wind power has emerged as an alternative that has contributed to the transition towards cleaner energy.As the importance of wind energy grows,it can be crucial to provide forecasts that optimize its performance potential.Artificial intelligence(AI)methods have risen in prominence due to how well they can handle complicated systems while enhancing the accuracy of prediction.This study explored the area of AI to predict wind-energy production at a wind farm in Yalova,Turkey,using four different AI approaches:support vector machines(SVMs),decision trees,adaptive neuro-fuzzy inference systems(ANFIS)and artificial neural networks(ANNs).Wind speed and direction were considered as essential input parameters,with wind energy as the target parameter,and models are thoroughly evaluated using metrics such as the mean absolute percentage error(MAPE),coefficient of determination(R~2),and mean absolute error(MAE).The findings accentuate the superior performance of the SVM,which delivered the lowest MAPE(2.42%),the highest R~2(0.95),and the lowest MAE(71.21%)compared with actual values,while ANFIS was less effective in this context.The main aim of this comparative analysis was to rank the models to move to the next step in improving the least efficient methods by combining them with optimization algorithms,such as metaheuristic algorithms.
文摘Renin-Angiotensin System (RAS) is involved with hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases. However, the association of RAS components to cancer still causes suspicion. To try to clarify this, here we aimed to show this association for three important components: Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 1 (ACE1), Angiotensin Type 1 Receptor (AGTR1) and Angiotensin Type 2 Receptor (AGTR2). The first articles show that association of RAS components with cancer dates back to the 70’s. ECA1 and AGTR1 have close association with cancer and ACE1 inhibitors or AGTR1 blockers are candidates to treatment of some tumors. Moreover, the action of AGTR2 is still controversial, but most studies show that the increased expression of AGTR2 can attack the cancer cells. In breast cancer, these components have also been widely studied and many works have shown that the correlation exists. Therefore specific target using these RAS components could be a beneficial, novel therapy to various tumors.
文摘The Banfora’s birimian greenstones belt is located in the western part of Burkina Faso (west Africa). Recent petrographic and lithogeochemical studies have highlighted plutons intruding the metasedimentary and metavolcanic series. These plutonic rocks are composed of leucogranites belonging to the so-called Ferkessedougou’s or Ferké’s batholith, granites, granodiorites, monzodiorites and quartz monzonites. From the lithogeochemical studies, these plutonic rocks have a calc-alkaline and peraluminous character. The rare earth elements spectra of the Ferké’s leucogranites let distinguished two sub-facies. One of the sub-facies is composed of quartz monzonite to granite, while the other is granitic sensu stricto. However, all these plutonic rocks were emplaced in a geodynamic context of subduction followed by collision.
文摘This experimental study aims at the reuse of recycled aggregates (RA), resulting from the demolition of concrete, cement block and cement mortar, in the manufacture of common construction in Burkina Faso. The RA can readily replace natural aggregates in concrete. Then five formulations of natural and recycled aggregates based concrete for characteristic strength of 25 Mpa were prepared in addition to the natural aggregates base concrete named reference concrete (BN): two types of recycled aggregates concrete (BR), three types of recycles and natural combined aggregates base concrete (BC). The properties of natural and recycled aggregates were characterized and the physical, mechanical strength and durability properties were also evaluated for all concrete specimens. All the studied concrete formulation present a density between 2000 kg/m<sup>3</sup> ≤ ρ ≥ 2600 kg/m<sup>3</sup> and an average slump of 4.9 ± 0.1 cm. The obtained results indicate that the recycled aggregates are suitable for current concrete. Two out of the five combinations studied, such as the natural (BN) and combined aggregate (BC2) based concretes satisfy the mechanical characteristics (Rc<sub>28</sub> > 25 MPa) at 28 days of age and an average absorption coefficient of 2.93% and 3.98%. The recycled aggregate based concrete (BR1, BR2) and combined aggregate based concrete (BC1), gave respective average compressive strength of 21.55 MPa, 20.50 MPa and 20.30 MPa, i.e. a difference of 13.80% to 18.80% under the characteristic strength (25 MPa) aimed at 28 days of age. Thus, the recycled aggregates are in conformity with the normative prescriptions and their use for standard concrete gives adequate physical, mechanical and durability properties for the production of the C20/25 concrete series in the common civil engineering applications.
文摘Harvestmen are a major arachnid order that has experienced a dramatic increase in biological knowledge in the 21st century.The publication of the book Harvestmen:The Biology of Opiliones in 2007 stimulated the development of many behavioral studies.Although the book is relatively recent,our understanding of the reproductive biology of harvestmen is already outdated due to the fast accumulation of new data.Our goal is to provide an updated review of the subject to serve as a benchmark for the following years.In the pre-copulatory phase,we explore the evolu-tion of facultative parthenogenesis,the factors that may affect the types of mating system,and the role of nuptial gifts in courtship.Regarding the copulatory phase,harvestmen are unique arachnids because they have aflagellate spermatozoa and a penis with complex morphology.We discuss the implications of these two features for sperm competition and cryptic female choice.In the post-copulatory phase,we connect ovi-position site selection and climate conditions to the widespread occurrence of resource defense polygyny,alternative reproductive tactics,and sexual dimorphism in several clades of tropical harvestmen.Finally,we present the different forms of parental care in the order,and discuss the benefits and costs of this behavior,which can be performed either by females or males.Throughout the review,we indicate gaps in our knowl-edge and subjects that deserve further studies.Hopefully,the information synthesized here will stimulate researchers worldwide to embrace harvestmen as a study system and to improve our effort to unravel the mysteries of their reproductive biology.
文摘In the recent past years, the major challenge facing scientists and researchers in the field of knowledge engineering is classifying and sharing geographic data with both computer and human. Ontology is one of the most important classification schemes that aim to make data machine-interpretable. In the literature, all ontology based models developed in the field of urban planning have some limits. First, they describe the nature of each parcel of the soil while ignoring other important components of urban planning such as services, infrastructure … Secondly, these ontologies are developed according to legislation and regulations of the zone studied so they can’t be used by some urban territories that have specific urban law such as Moroccan country. This paper presents a new multi-dimensional ontology model called LUP specifically developed to overcome this flaw. The main goal is to provide semantic land use descriptions according to four dimensions: zoning, services, infrastructure and easement and to define all LUP concepts within the Moroccan urban law. We illustrate the use of our proposed model with a case study by mapping a land use planning document within the area of Ainchock municipality of Casablanca city according to our model concepts.
文摘Despite its often illegal nature, artisanal gold mining in Burkina Faso contributes to the economic and social development of the country. However, the rudimentary techniques used in gold panning have a significant impact on the environment due to inappropriate practices and the use of various chemical substances. This study aims to assess the impact of artisanal gold mining on the quality of water resources in a rural community at Méguet, Burkina Faso. To this end, surface and groundwater samples were collected and analyzed at the BUMIGEB laboratory. Field results show that the waters are slightly alkaline (6.97 < pH < 8.1), weakly mineralized and conductive (124 < EC < 543 μS/cm), with temperatures ranging from 24.6˚C to 31.6˚C. In addition, trace metals (TMEs) analyzed from surface and subsurface waters show very high levels, generally deviating from the levels recommended by WHO guidelines for Burkina Faso. Trace metals contamination of water resources in the commune of Méguet is mainly due to Fe (3.78 - 11.12 mg/kg), Hg (0.03 - 0.29 mg/kg), As (0.01- 6.31 mg/kg) and Pb (0.01 - 3.8 mg/kg). This study can serve as a basis for guiding national environmental policies to protect the water resources of the Méguet mine.
文摘Selection of effective agronomic and industrial parameters of oat cultivars is a decisive step in oat breeding programs fordevelopment of new oat and elite cultivars. In this study, a new approach was utilized to distinguish the most informative agronomicand industrial parameters that are most affected with fungicide application in oat cultivars. Four subsequent field experiments from2007 to 2010 were conducted in completely randomized block design （CRBD） with split plots. Total nine oat cultivars with orwithout fungicide application were evaluated for plant height, sieve yield, grain yield, lodging index, weight of hectoliter andde-hulling index. Soft independent modeling of class analogy （SIMCA） was conducted as one-class and multi-classes models toidentify important variables that can be used to discriminate samples. Results showed that SIMCA was effective, and lodging index,de-hulling index, sieve yield, plant height and grain yield were most affected oat parameters. Therefore, SIMCA algorithm can beused to easily discriminate some agronomic and quality parameters of oats.
文摘With the growing need for renewable energy,wind farms are playing an important role in generating clean power from wind resources.The best wind turbine architecture in a wind farm has a major influence on the energy extraction efficiency.This paper describes a unique strategy for optimizing wind turbine locations on a wind farm that combines the capabilities of particle swarm optimization(PSO)and artificial neural networks(ANNs).The PSO method was used to explore the solution space and develop preliminary turbine layouts,and the ANN model was used to fine-tune the placements based on the predicted energy generation.The proposed hybrid technique seeks to increase energy output while considering site-specific wind patterns and topographical limits.The efficacy and superiority of the hybrid PSO-ANN methodology are proved through comprehensive simulations and comparisons with existing approaches,giving exciting prospects for developing more efficient and sustainable wind farms.The integration of ANNs and PSO in our methodology is of paramount importance because it leverages the complementary strengths of both techniques.Furthermore,this novel methodology harnesses historical data through ANNs to identify optimal turbine positions that align with the wind speed and direction and enhance energy extraction efficiency.A notable increase in power generation is observed across various scenarios.The percentage increase in the power generation ranged from approximately 7.7%to 11.1%.Owing to its versatility and adaptability to site-specific conditions,the hybrid model offers promising prospects for advancing the field of wind farm layout optimization and contributing to a greener and more sustainable energy future.
文摘Promoting better protein digestibility through exogenous enzymes in the diet is essential in the nutrition of companion animals, mainly for better performance and maintenance of the animals’ physiological and metabolic systems, promoting health and adequate growth. In addition, it reduces the cost of the diet by possibly reducing protein in the diet, which is the main and most expensive ingredient for dogs and cats. The objective of this study was to verify whether the addition of protease to dog and cat food can improve the protein digestibility of the food, thus facilitating greater absorption of amino acids and influencing metabolic biomarkers and immune response. To this end, two experiments were carried out to evaluate the protease from the fermentation of Aspergillus niger and Bacillus subtilis. Experiment 1 was carried out with ten male, non-castrated beagles divided into two groups of five animals: the control group (without enzyme) and the test group (with 250 g of protease/ton). The animals underwent two 45-day experimental periods, and in the second period, after a 15-day interval, the dogs in the control group became part of the treatment group (crossover model). Adding this enzyme to the dogs’ diet had no adverse effects on the animals’ health besides improving the digestibility of dry matter and crude protein consumed by the dogs. Experiment 2 was carried out with sixteen female cats of no defined breed, non-castrated, divided into four groups with four animals per group, namely: Treatment A (without enzyme), Treatment B (with protease at a dose of 100 g/ton), Treatment C (with protease at a dose of 200 g/ton) and Treatment D (with protease at a dose of 400 g/ton). The cats underwent two 30-day experimental periods, and in the second period, after a 15-day interval, the animals switched between treatments (crossover model) to increase the power of the statistical test. The enzyme consumption did not affect the felines’ metabolism and health but improved the digestibility of crude protein at doses of 200 and 400 g/ton. The results allow us to conclude that the protease used in this study can improve the digestibility of crude protein for dogs and cats.
文摘The Birimian Nassara volcanic formations are located south of Gaoua in the southern part of the Boromo belt. Within these formations is the Nassara gold deposit where mineralization is hosted at the contact between basaltic volcanic rocks and sedimentary rocks. It is with the aim of understanding the geodynamic context of the basaltic rocks and the implication of their primary gold potential in the Nassara gold deposit that this work is carried out. To achieve our objectives, 28 samples of fresh basaltic rocks were geochemically analyzed for their major and trace element compositions. These analyses show that the Nassara basalts are Fe-rich tholeiitic basalts. Rare earth profiles (La/SmN = 0.75 - 1.50;La/YbN = 0.65 - 2.18) are fairly flat and without europium anomaly (Eu/Eu* = 0.90 - 1.09), nor niobium. In the Zr/Nb vs. Nb/Th and Nb/Y vs. Zr/Y binary diagrams, the Fe-rich tholeiitic basalts of Nassara, as well as those of the Houndé and Boromo belts, are placed in the field of oceanic plateau basalts related to a mantle plume system. A gold fertility test carried out on these basalts was positive. As other studies have already shown, the genetic link between gold deposits and mantle plumes appears to be a general rule. The scenario for the Nassara gold deposit is that it is the source magma that was already more or less enriched in gold and other related elements on its way up. The remobilization of this gold would have occurred during the Eburnean orogeny with the help of metamorphic, hydrothermal and deformation phenomena to be redeposited at the level of shear zones with economic grades. Through this analysis, we show that the fertility of the initial lithologies is very important for the formation of economic size deposits in the proximal shear zones. Exploration work should now integrate this dimension to define the best targets.
文摘In the Mangodara area within the Banfora greenstone belts (Baoulé-Mossi domain of the West African Craton), our study focused on geochemical assessment of the mobility of major and trace elements. Gold and base metal occurrences are hosted in highly metamorphic felsic (metarhyolite) and intermediate (metadacite and metaandesite) formations. Common mineral assemblages made up of staurolite - kyanite - pyrophyllite are interpreted to represent the metamorphosed equivalent of aluminous hydrothermal alteration. Associated felsic and intermediate volcanic rocks are enriched in Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, K<sub>2</sub>O (metaandesite, metarhyolite) and depleted in MgO, Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, CaO, P<sub>2</sub>O<sub>5</sub>, Na<sub>2</sub>O (metarhyolite) and Fe<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>, MgO, CaO (metaandesite). Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub> depletion in mineralized kyanite-staurotide bearing metarhyolites suggests corroded minerals. Mineralized metarhyolites show enrichment in Au, Ag, Ba, Bi, Cr, Cu, Eu, La, Mo, Ni, Pb, S, Sc, V and depletion in As Sb Co, Sn, Zn while mineralized metaandesites show enrichment in Au, Ag, As, Mo, S, Sb and depletion in Co, Sn, Zn, Bi, Cr, Cu, Eu, Ni, Pb, Sc. Ba, La, V are immobile in metaandesites. Finally, Ag, As, Sn appear as geochemical vectors for gold exploration in the study area since gold mineralization is characterized by Au + Ba + Cu + Eu + La + Mo + Ni + S association in metarhyolites and Au + S + Sb + As + Ag + Bi in metaandesites.
文摘The Birimian Baguiomo formations are located in the northern part of the Boromo greenstone belt. In this belt, the volcanic rocks (tholeiitic basalt, calcalkaline basalt, andesite) hosting the gold mineralization are located in the Kwademen-Baguiomo shear zone. This mineralization, located only a few kilometers from the Kwademen gold deposit, is uncharacterized and, together with the latter, could constitute a gold potential capable of being economically exploitable. It is in this sense that this work is carried out with a view to characterizing the gold mineralization of the Baguiomo gold panning site. To carry out this work, we have made direct field measurements, combined with microstructures, and combined all this with data from geochemical rock analysis of the basalts that are the main host formations. Geochemical data show that tholeitic basalts formed from a mantle plume that was emplaced in an oceanic plateau context. Calc-alkaline basalts and andesites are comparable to Paleoproterozoic tholeitic basalts (PTH3), which are slightly enriched in light rare earths. Fertility tests show that these basalts concentrate between 3 and 6 ppb of gold at the time of accretion, which is sufficient for remobilization of this primary gold during the Eburnian orogeny to yield a deposit of around 4 - 5 Moz. Gold mineralization is associated with pyrite crystals when the latter are disseminated in the rock mass, whereas it is associated with hematite in quartz veins concordant with S1 shear deformation. It is mainly the pyrite crystals in the pressure shadows that contain the gold grains, whose development would be synchronous with micro-shear zone reactivation during the first phase of D1<sub>B</sub> deformation. The second phase of D2<sub>B</sub> deformation, which is a crenulation or fracture schistosity, does not significantly affect the shear deformation that controls mineralization.
文摘This research aimed to determine instruments for analysis of knowledge management in operators companies of metropolitan transport systems. How much the goal was an exploratory research, how much the procedure was a literature search, how much as nature was an applied research, and how much as approach was qualitative research？ The following instruments were identified and selected： （a） the methodology for the analysis of metropolitan transport systems; （b） the knowledge management maturity model （Siemens）; and （c） Documentation and Information Centre. The simulation, using the tools in the knowledge management to analyze the Company Metropolitan of S^io Paulo--METRO, identified the need for improvements in eight areas and the problems： （1） rethink the knowledge management area; （2） develop new knowledge management policies; （3） define responsibilities in knowledge management area; （4） implement new knowledge management processes; （5） explore new ways and structures of knowledge; （6） consider the internal and external actors in knowledge management actions; （7） expand the dissemination of the collaborative culture; and （8） integrate in the knowledge management area current and future initiatives. The analysis shows that the transposition of the current situation to the desired situation for the company can be obtained with the implementation of an Information and Documentation Centre. The conclusion is that this set of tools allows to characterize, evaluate, and model the knowledge management in this business.
