Plant biofertilization involves introducing compounds containing living mi-croorganisms into the coating medium to sustainably enhance plant production and soil health. This is a complex process that undergoes multipl...Plant biofertilization involves introducing compounds containing living mi-croorganisms into the coating medium to sustainably enhance plant production and soil health. This is a complex process that undergoes multiple stages of development before yielding a final product. The final biofertilizer is used by legumes-protein-rich crops in symbiosis with rhizobia to enable biological nitrogen fixation increasing natural soil fertility. This study aims to determine the optimal formulation of a rhizobial biofertilizer to improve the performance of soybean (Glycine max L. cv. Docko). To this end, soybean seeds obtained from IRAD were coated with different formulations derived from locally sourced materials. Palm kernel oil was used as an adhesive in one group, while corn powder served as an adhesive in another. The coated seeds were then sown in the field. The results indicate that the combination of pigeon pea powder + sugarcane molasses, with palm kernel oil as an adhesive, produced the best nodulation (nitrogen fixation). This formulation also led to significant improvements in growth (+350%) and total nitrogen content (+1100%) compared to the bacterial broth inoculum control (B0) (P ≤ 0.01). These findings represent a significant advancement in improving nitrogen-fixing bacterial inoculants and enhancing soil fertility for the sustainable cultivation of soybeans in this tropical soil.展开更多
We present (on the 13<sup>th</sup> International Conference on Geology and Geophysics) the convincing evidence that the strongest earthquakes (according to the U.S. Geological Survey) of the Earth (during ...We present (on the 13<sup>th</sup> International Conference on Geology and Geophysics) the convincing evidence that the strongest earthquakes (according to the U.S. Geological Survey) of the Earth (during the range 2020 - 2023 AD) occurred near the predicted (calculated in advance based on the global prediction thermohydrogravidynamic principles determining the maximal temporal intensifications of the global seismotectonic, volcanic, climatic and magnetic processes of the Earth) dates 2020.016666667 AD (Simonenko, 2020), 2021.1 AD (Simonenko, 2019, 2020), 2022.18333333 AD (Simonenko, 2021), 2023.26666666 AD (Simonenko, 2022) and 2020.55 AD, 2021.65 AD (Simonenko, 2019, 2021), 2022.716666666 AD (Simonenko, 2022), respectively, corresponding to the local maximal and to the local minimal, respectively, combined planetary and solar integral energy gravitational influences on the internal rigid core of the Earth. We present the short-term thermohydrogravidynamic technology (based on the generalized differential formulation of the first law of thermodynamics and the first global prediction thermohydrogravidynamic principle) for evaluation of the maximal magnitude of the strongest (during the March, 2023 AD) earthquake of the Earth occurred on March 16, 2023 AD (according to the U.S. Geological Survey). .展开更多
Background: In children, acute bacterial rhinosinusitis (ABRS) is often complicated by ophthalmological and/or neurological involvement. These complications should be known and recognized, as they require urgent treat...Background: In children, acute bacterial rhinosinusitis (ABRS) is often complicated by ophthalmological and/or neurological involvement. These complications should be known and recognized, as they require urgent treatment with intravenous antibiotics and close in-hospital monitoring. In this study, we aimed to identify the main risk factors associated with the development of complications in children aged 2 - 17 years with ABRS. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with ABRS complications in a primary hospital. Participants were divided into two groups: the control group comprising patients without complications (Group 1, n = 82) and the study group comprising patients with complications requiring hospitalization (Group 2, n = 41). We assessed the sociodemographic, clinical, and imaging data of both groups. Using multivariate logistic regression, we assessed risk factors of ABRS complications. Results: No socio-demographic characteristics were associated with ABRS complications (p ≥ 0.05). Factors associated with complications were delay in consultation (t = 5.282;p Conclusions: Intracranial and extracranial complications of ABRS in children have become rare in our setting. These complications can be serious and potentially fatal. Risk factors of these complications are delays in consultation, the presence of ophthalmological signs, and more than one affected sinus. Controlling modifiable factors would improve the treatment success of ABRS complications in children.展开更多
The prediction of the fracture plane orientation in fatigue is a scientific topic and remains relevant for every type of material. However, in this work, we compared the orientation of the fracture plane obtained expe...The prediction of the fracture plane orientation in fatigue is a scientific topic and remains relevant for every type of material. However, in this work, we compared the orientation of the fracture plane obtained experimentally through tests on specimens under multiaxial loading with that calculated by the variance method. In the statistical approach criteria, several methods have been developed but we have presented only one method, namely the variance method using the equivalent stress. She assumes that the fracture plane orientation is the one on which the variance of the equivalent stress is maximum. Three types of equivalent stress are defined for this method [1]: normal stress, shear stress and combined normal and shear stress. The results obtained were compared with experimental results for multiaxial cyclic stress states, and it emerges that the variance method for the case of combined loading is conservative as it gives a better prediction of the fracture plane.展开更多
Introduction: Myasthenia gravis is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease, presents with weakness and fatigability of striated skeletal muscles. It is a rare disease in Cameroon. We report an uncommon case of myas...Introduction: Myasthenia gravis is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease, presents with weakness and fatigability of striated skeletal muscles. It is a rare disease in Cameroon. We report an uncommon case of myasthenia gravis in a patient with feeding difficulties, notion of oronasal reflux and swallowing disorders as first complaints. Observation: We report the case of a 29-year-old woman consulted at our department of Otolaryngology and Cervico-Facial Surgery for dysphagia and swallowing disorders. She also presented with facial diplegia, oculomotor paralysis, nasal voice, and dysarthria which has been evolving for several years now. The clinical examination revealed multiple cranial nerve palsies. The complementary workup showed a decrement of more than 50% in the electroneuromyography and the presence of anti-acetylcholine receptor autoantibodies in the blood workup. A diagnosis of myasthenia confirms clinical presumption. We initially observed a worsening of neuromuscular disorders despite the pyridostigmine treatment and subsequently a clear improvement of the clinical features concerning swallowing and speech disorders, oculomotricity and facial diplegia under a treatment combining prednisone and azathioprine. Conclusion: Myasthenia gravis is a rare and potentially fatal autoimmune neuromuscular disease. We thus highlight the atypical clinical presentation and therapeutic itinerary of our patient and the importance to think about this clinical diagnosis in front of any multiple cranial nerve paralysis in otolaryngology consultation.展开更多
AIM： To review the defnition and performance of the commonly used end points in trials of systemic thera-pies in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patients. METHODS： A literature search was undertaken...AIM： To review the defnition and performance of the commonly used end points in trials of systemic thera-pies in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patients. METHODS： A literature search was undertaken on PubMed database to identify studies meeting estab-lished criteria, with the aim of selecting randomized clinical trials and study definition and performance of their end points. The end points were grouped into three categories： overall survival （OS）, time-to-event end points, and response end points. A special analysis was performed for secondary end points of the studies which documented a beneft in OS in the experimental arm. Finally, publishes analyses for surrogacy of the in-cluded end points were also reported. RESULTS： OS, time-to-event and response end points in 31 selected trials were analyzed. OS was the pri-mary end point in 14 trials, and the secondary end point in 17. A time-to-event end point was the primaryend point in 8 studies, and the secondary end point in 22; the most reported time-to-event end points were composite end points, and the events changed among trials. A response end point was the primary end point in 9 studies, in 3 it was prostate-specifc antigen （PSA）-related, in 3 pain-related and in 3 mixed. A response end point was the secondary end point in 19 studies： PSA response and radiologic response were the most frequently used secondary end points in 19 and 11 tri-als, respectively, while pain response was used in 5 studies.CONCLUSION： A homogeneous defnition of progres-sion in future trials is mandatory. Among response end points, pain-response and PSA-response appear to be the most reliable.展开更多
We present a Machian model of Quantum Cosmology with full dark matter and light speed expansion and rotation. During galaxy formation and evolution, fraction of dark matter transforms to visible matter with a relation...We present a Machian model of Quantum Cosmology with full dark matter and light speed expansion and rotation. During galaxy formation and evolution, fraction of dark matter transforms to visible matter with a relation of the form, m_vis = constant * (m_dark)<sup>2/3</sup>. Using this relation and replacing MOND’s “critical acceleration” with “current cosmic maximum angular acceleration”, galactic flat rotation speed range of (50 to 500) km/sec can be fitted well. Estimated flat rotation speeds of DD168, Milky Way and UGC12591 are 49.96 km/sec, 199.66 km/sec and 521.75 km/sec respectively. Based on these striking coincidences, it is possible to say that, MOND’s approach is implicitly connected with cosmological estimation of 95% invisible matter. With reference to SPARC data for flat rotation speeds and current cosmic maximum angular acceleration, galactic total mass can be estimated. Considering galactic total mass, galactic visible mass and dark mass can be estimated. Proceeding further, galactic working radii, angular velocity and visible matter density can be estimated. Estimated Milky Way’s effective radius is 293 kpc. Even though, this model is free from “big bang”, “inflation”, “dark energy”, “flatness” and “red shift” issues, at 2.722 K, estimated present Hubble parameter is 66.24 km/sec/Mpc, cosmic radius is 146.3 times of the Hubble radius, angular velocity is 146.3 times lower than the Hubble parameter and cosmic age is 146.3 times of the Hubble age. With future observations and advanced telescopes, it may be possible to see far distant galaxies and very old stars far beyond the current observable cosmic radius.展开更多
The waveguide which is at the center of our concerns in this work is a strongly flattened waveguide, that is to say characterized by a strong dispersion and in addition is strongly nonlinear. As this type of waveguide...The waveguide which is at the center of our concerns in this work is a strongly flattened waveguide, that is to say characterized by a strong dispersion and in addition is strongly nonlinear. As this type of waveguide contains multiple dispersion coefficients according to the degrees of spatial variation within it, our work in this article is to see how these dispersions and nonlinearities each influence the wave or the signal that can propagate in the waveguide. Since the partial differential equation which governs the dynamics of propagation in such transmission medium presents several dispersion and nonlinear coefficients, we check how they contribute to the choices of the solutions that we want them to verify this nonlinear partial differential equation. This effectively requires an adequate choice of the form of solution to be constructed. Thus, this article is based on three main pillars, namely: first of all, making a good choice of the solution function to be constructed, secondly, determining the exact solutions and, if necessary, remodeling the main equation such that it is possible;then check the impact of the dispersion and nonlinear coefficients on the solutions. Finally, the reliability of the solutions obtained is tested by a study of the propagation. Another very important aspect is the use of notions of probability to select the predominant solutions.展开更多
This paper reports a field survey undertaken to determine the availability of raw material for palm kernel oil commercial production for industrial applications. Both industrial and artisanal wastes from palm kernel o...This paper reports a field survey undertaken to determine the availability of raw material for palm kernel oil commercial production for industrial applications. Both industrial and artisanal wastes from palm kernel oil production were also surveyed as raw material (palm kernel seeds) for green energy production. Results of the field study show that 22% of palm kernel seeds (which represents tons of waste) resulting from palm oil processing plants are dumped while at the artisanal level, 80% of palm kernel seed waste is dumped. Analysis of field study data show<span>s</span><span> that large amounts of waste palm kernel seeds are available to enable large scale production of palm kernel oil (PKO) for desirable industrial applications in green energy production. The paper also reports on the physical and chemical properties of Cameroon palm kernel oil (PKO). Palm kernel oil was extracted using mechanical press and solvent extraction. The palm kernel oil (PKO) from Cameroon was analyzed by standard physico-chemical methods. Results of the physical measurements show a specific gravity of PKO of 0.92 kg/L, viscosity of 26.03 cSt and at 5.93 cSt at 40<span style="color:#4F4F4F;font-family:" font-size:14px;white-space:normal;background-color:#ffffff;"=""><span style="color:#4F4F4F;font-family:"font-size:14px;white-space:normal;background-color:#FFFFFF;">°</span></span>C and 100<span style="color:#4F4F4F;font-family:" font-size:14px;white-space:normal;background-color:#ffffff;"=""><span style="color:#4F4F4F;font-family:"font-size:14px;white-space:normal;background-color:#FFFFFF;">°</span></span>C respectively, viscosity index of 185, pour point of 20<span style="color:#4F4F4F;font-family:" font-size:14px;white-space:normal;background-color:#ffffff;"=""><span style="color:#4F4F4F;font-family:"font-size:14px;white-space:normal;background-color:#FFFFFF;">°</span></span>C, cloud point of 29<span style="color:#4F4F4F;font-family:" font-size:14px;white-space:normal;background-color:#ffffff;"=""><span style="color:#4F4F4F;font-family:"font-size:14px;white-space:normal;background-color:#FFFFFF;">°</span></span>C, flash point of 200<span style="color:#4F4F4F;font-family:" font-size:14px;white-space:normal;background-color:#ffffff;"=""><span style="color:#4F4F4F;font-family:"font-size:14px;white-space:normal;background-color:#FFFFFF;">°</span></span>C, aniline point of 105<span style="color:#4F4F4F;font-family:" font-size:14px;white-space:normal;background-color:#ffffff;"=""><span style="color:#4F4F4F;font-family:"font-size:14px;white-space:normal;background-color:#FFFFFF;">°</span></span>F, diesel index of 23, cetane number of 27 and ASTM (American Standards for Testing and Materials) color of less than 2.5. Results of chemical analyses showed an acid val<span>ue of 17.95 mg KOH/g, free fatty <span>acid (FFA) content of 8.98 mg KOH/g, iodine value o</span></span></span><span><span><span>f 2.10</span><span> mg</span></span></span><span> </span><span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">I</span><sub><span style="font-family:Verdana;">2</span></sub><span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">/g</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">, peroxide value of 2.10 meq/kg, ester value of 123.0 mg KOH/g, hydroxyl value of 93.4 mg OH/g, saponification value of 140.95 mg KOH/g and a sulfur content of 0.016% w/v, signifying low sulfur content. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) showed the palm kernel oil to be predominantly made up of glycerides of various fatty acids with higher proportions of C12 to C16 fatty acid residues. Cameroon PKO therefore has a broad spectrum of industrial applications by virtue of its rich physical and chemical properties.</span></span></span>展开更多
Goal based and limit state design is nowadays a well-established approach in many engineering fields.Ship construction rules started introducing such concepts since early 2000.However,classification societies’rules d...Goal based and limit state design is nowadays a well-established approach in many engineering fields.Ship construction rules started introducing such concepts since early 2000.However,classification societies’rules do not provide hints on how to verify limit states and to determine the structural layout of submerged thin-walled stiffened cylinders,whose most prominent examples are submarines.Rather,they generally offer guidance and prescriptive formulations to assess shell plating and stiffening members.Such marine structures are studied,designed and built up to carry payloads below the sea surface.In the concept-design stage,the maximum operating depth is the governing hull scantling parameter.Main dimensions are determined based on the analysis of operational requirements.This study proposes a practical conceptdesign approach for conceptual submarine design,aimed at obtaining hull structures that maximize the payload capacity in terms of available internal volume by suitably adjusting structural layout and stiffening members’scantling,duly accounting for robustness and construction constraints as well as practical fabrication issues.The proposed scantling process highlights that there is no need of complex algorithms if sound engineering judgment is applied in setting down rationally the hull scantling problem.A systematic approach based on a computer-coded procedure developed on purpose was effectively implemented and satisfactorily applied in design practice.展开更多
Bio-glycerol was synthesized from Cameroon palm kernel oil (PKO) through the transesterification procedure. Palm kernel oil extracted from palm kernel seeds using mechanical expression and solvent extraction was purif...Bio-glycerol was synthesized from Cameroon palm kernel oil (PKO) through the transesterification procedure. Palm kernel oil extracted from palm kernel seeds using mechanical expression and solvent extraction was purified and characterized by physico-chemical methods and used in the transesterification process to give biodiesel and bio-glycerol. The biodiesel was purified and characterized as reported in previous articles. Our focus in this article is on glycerol, an important by-product of the transesterification process which has potential pharmaceutical, cosmetic and engineering applications. The bio-glycerol was purified by acidification and the purified glycerol was subjected to physical and chemical characterization. The specific gravity of glycerol was obtained as 1.2 kg/L, viscosity at 40°C gave 1500 cSt and 500 cSt at 100°C;pH was 7.4;the flash point was 160°C, and the ASTM color was 2.0 before purification and zero after purification. The sulfur content was 0.016%w/v. This sulfur content is low thus posing no environment threat. The chemical composition of the synthesized bio-glycerol determined using IR spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) confirmed the known chemical structure of glycerol. The purification and analysis of bio-glycerol is important as it can find applications in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries inter alia.展开更多
Bafia Group is part of the southernmost portion of the Central African Fold Belt (CAFB) in Cameroon. The geological feature of the group is characterized by the presence of metamorphic rocks in which tourmaline had be...Bafia Group is part of the southernmost portion of the Central African Fold Belt (CAFB) in Cameroon. The geological feature of the group is characterized by the presence of metamorphic rocks in which tourmaline had been recognized among accessory minerals. In the present study, attention is focus on the tourmaline bearing quartzite to the southeast of Kombé II. Structure refinement shows that tourmaline is a Fe-dravite with the formula X(Na<sub>0.95</sub>[]<sub>0.05</sub>)Y(Mg<sub>2.39</sub>Fe<sub>0.61</sub>)Z(Al<sub>5.10</sub>Mg<sub>0.90</sub>)(BO<sub>3</sub>)<sub>3</sub>T[Si<sub>6</sub>O<sub>18</sub>](OH)<sub>3</sub>[(O,OH)<sub>0.88</sub>F<sub>0.12</sub>]. The Fe-dravite is hosted in a Ca-poor quartzite, which is made up, in addition to quartz and tourmaline, of biotite and muscovite. The structure of the dravites shows a low vacancy at the X site, which militates for a crystallization of the tourmaline at a high temperature > 750℃. This is in agreement with previous work which shows that the metamorphic peak in the associated biotite gneiss reaches 825℃. The R1 value of 1.24% means that the crystal structure of the tourmalines is of high quality. The genetical link between gold mineralization and tourmaline should stimulate exploration interest in the study area.展开更多
In this article, we study the impacts of nonlinearity and dispersion on signals likely to propagate in the context of the dynamics of four-wave mixing. Thus, we use an indirect resolution technique based on the use of...In this article, we study the impacts of nonlinearity and dispersion on signals likely to propagate in the context of the dynamics of four-wave mixing. Thus, we use an indirect resolution technique based on the use of the iB-function to first decouple the nonlinear partial differential equations that govern the propagation dynamics in this case, and subsequently solve them to propose some prototype solutions. These analytical solutions have been obtained;we check the impact of nonlinearity and dispersion. The interest of this work lies not only in the resolution of the partial differential equations that govern the dynamics of wave propagation in this case since these equations not at all easy to integrate analytically and their analytical solutions are very rare, in other words, we propose analytically the solutions of the nonlinear coupled partial differential equations which govern the dynamics of four-wave mixing in optical fibers. Beyond the physical interest of this work, there is also an appreciable mathematical interest.展开更多
文摘Plant biofertilization involves introducing compounds containing living mi-croorganisms into the coating medium to sustainably enhance plant production and soil health. This is a complex process that undergoes multiple stages of development before yielding a final product. The final biofertilizer is used by legumes-protein-rich crops in symbiosis with rhizobia to enable biological nitrogen fixation increasing natural soil fertility. This study aims to determine the optimal formulation of a rhizobial biofertilizer to improve the performance of soybean (Glycine max L. cv. Docko). To this end, soybean seeds obtained from IRAD were coated with different formulations derived from locally sourced materials. Palm kernel oil was used as an adhesive in one group, while corn powder served as an adhesive in another. The coated seeds were then sown in the field. The results indicate that the combination of pigeon pea powder + sugarcane molasses, with palm kernel oil as an adhesive, produced the best nodulation (nitrogen fixation). This formulation also led to significant improvements in growth (+350%) and total nitrogen content (+1100%) compared to the bacterial broth inoculum control (B0) (P ≤ 0.01). These findings represent a significant advancement in improving nitrogen-fixing bacterial inoculants and enhancing soil fertility for the sustainable cultivation of soybeans in this tropical soil.
文摘We present (on the 13<sup>th</sup> International Conference on Geology and Geophysics) the convincing evidence that the strongest earthquakes (according to the U.S. Geological Survey) of the Earth (during the range 2020 - 2023 AD) occurred near the predicted (calculated in advance based on the global prediction thermohydrogravidynamic principles determining the maximal temporal intensifications of the global seismotectonic, volcanic, climatic and magnetic processes of the Earth) dates 2020.016666667 AD (Simonenko, 2020), 2021.1 AD (Simonenko, 2019, 2020), 2022.18333333 AD (Simonenko, 2021), 2023.26666666 AD (Simonenko, 2022) and 2020.55 AD, 2021.65 AD (Simonenko, 2019, 2021), 2022.716666666 AD (Simonenko, 2022), respectively, corresponding to the local maximal and to the local minimal, respectively, combined planetary and solar integral energy gravitational influences on the internal rigid core of the Earth. We present the short-term thermohydrogravidynamic technology (based on the generalized differential formulation of the first law of thermodynamics and the first global prediction thermohydrogravidynamic principle) for evaluation of the maximal magnitude of the strongest (during the March, 2023 AD) earthquake of the Earth occurred on March 16, 2023 AD (according to the U.S. Geological Survey). .
文摘Background: In children, acute bacterial rhinosinusitis (ABRS) is often complicated by ophthalmological and/or neurological involvement. These complications should be known and recognized, as they require urgent treatment with intravenous antibiotics and close in-hospital monitoring. In this study, we aimed to identify the main risk factors associated with the development of complications in children aged 2 - 17 years with ABRS. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients with ABRS complications in a primary hospital. Participants were divided into two groups: the control group comprising patients without complications (Group 1, n = 82) and the study group comprising patients with complications requiring hospitalization (Group 2, n = 41). We assessed the sociodemographic, clinical, and imaging data of both groups. Using multivariate logistic regression, we assessed risk factors of ABRS complications. Results: No socio-demographic characteristics were associated with ABRS complications (p ≥ 0.05). Factors associated with complications were delay in consultation (t = 5.282;p Conclusions: Intracranial and extracranial complications of ABRS in children have become rare in our setting. These complications can be serious and potentially fatal. Risk factors of these complications are delays in consultation, the presence of ophthalmological signs, and more than one affected sinus. Controlling modifiable factors would improve the treatment success of ABRS complications in children.
文摘The prediction of the fracture plane orientation in fatigue is a scientific topic and remains relevant for every type of material. However, in this work, we compared the orientation of the fracture plane obtained experimentally through tests on specimens under multiaxial loading with that calculated by the variance method. In the statistical approach criteria, several methods have been developed but we have presented only one method, namely the variance method using the equivalent stress. She assumes that the fracture plane orientation is the one on which the variance of the equivalent stress is maximum. Three types of equivalent stress are defined for this method [1]: normal stress, shear stress and combined normal and shear stress. The results obtained were compared with experimental results for multiaxial cyclic stress states, and it emerges that the variance method for the case of combined loading is conservative as it gives a better prediction of the fracture plane.
文摘Introduction: Myasthenia gravis is a chronic autoimmune neuromuscular disease, presents with weakness and fatigability of striated skeletal muscles. It is a rare disease in Cameroon. We report an uncommon case of myasthenia gravis in a patient with feeding difficulties, notion of oronasal reflux and swallowing disorders as first complaints. Observation: We report the case of a 29-year-old woman consulted at our department of Otolaryngology and Cervico-Facial Surgery for dysphagia and swallowing disorders. She also presented with facial diplegia, oculomotor paralysis, nasal voice, and dysarthria which has been evolving for several years now. The clinical examination revealed multiple cranial nerve palsies. The complementary workup showed a decrement of more than 50% in the electroneuromyography and the presence of anti-acetylcholine receptor autoantibodies in the blood workup. A diagnosis of myasthenia confirms clinical presumption. We initially observed a worsening of neuromuscular disorders despite the pyridostigmine treatment and subsequently a clear improvement of the clinical features concerning swallowing and speech disorders, oculomotricity and facial diplegia under a treatment combining prednisone and azathioprine. Conclusion: Myasthenia gravis is a rare and potentially fatal autoimmune neuromuscular disease. We thus highlight the atypical clinical presentation and therapeutic itinerary of our patient and the importance to think about this clinical diagnosis in front of any multiple cranial nerve paralysis in otolaryngology consultation.
文摘AIM： To review the defnition and performance of the commonly used end points in trials of systemic thera-pies in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patients. METHODS： A literature search was undertaken on PubMed database to identify studies meeting estab-lished criteria, with the aim of selecting randomized clinical trials and study definition and performance of their end points. The end points were grouped into three categories： overall survival （OS）, time-to-event end points, and response end points. A special analysis was performed for secondary end points of the studies which documented a beneft in OS in the experimental arm. Finally, publishes analyses for surrogacy of the in-cluded end points were also reported. RESULTS： OS, time-to-event and response end points in 31 selected trials were analyzed. OS was the pri-mary end point in 14 trials, and the secondary end point in 17. A time-to-event end point was the primaryend point in 8 studies, and the secondary end point in 22; the most reported time-to-event end points were composite end points, and the events changed among trials. A response end point was the primary end point in 9 studies, in 3 it was prostate-specifc antigen （PSA）-related, in 3 pain-related and in 3 mixed. A response end point was the secondary end point in 19 studies： PSA response and radiologic response were the most frequently used secondary end points in 19 and 11 tri-als, respectively, while pain response was used in 5 studies.CONCLUSION： A homogeneous defnition of progres-sion in future trials is mandatory. Among response end points, pain-response and PSA-response appear to be the most reliable.
文摘We present a Machian model of Quantum Cosmology with full dark matter and light speed expansion and rotation. During galaxy formation and evolution, fraction of dark matter transforms to visible matter with a relation of the form, m_vis = constant * (m_dark)<sup>2/3</sup>. Using this relation and replacing MOND’s “critical acceleration” with “current cosmic maximum angular acceleration”, galactic flat rotation speed range of (50 to 500) km/sec can be fitted well. Estimated flat rotation speeds of DD168, Milky Way and UGC12591 are 49.96 km/sec, 199.66 km/sec and 521.75 km/sec respectively. Based on these striking coincidences, it is possible to say that, MOND’s approach is implicitly connected with cosmological estimation of 95% invisible matter. With reference to SPARC data for flat rotation speeds and current cosmic maximum angular acceleration, galactic total mass can be estimated. Considering galactic total mass, galactic visible mass and dark mass can be estimated. Proceeding further, galactic working radii, angular velocity and visible matter density can be estimated. Estimated Milky Way’s effective radius is 293 kpc. Even though, this model is free from “big bang”, “inflation”, “dark energy”, “flatness” and “red shift” issues, at 2.722 K, estimated present Hubble parameter is 66.24 km/sec/Mpc, cosmic radius is 146.3 times of the Hubble radius, angular velocity is 146.3 times lower than the Hubble parameter and cosmic age is 146.3 times of the Hubble age. With future observations and advanced telescopes, it may be possible to see far distant galaxies and very old stars far beyond the current observable cosmic radius.
文摘The waveguide which is at the center of our concerns in this work is a strongly flattened waveguide, that is to say characterized by a strong dispersion and in addition is strongly nonlinear. As this type of waveguide contains multiple dispersion coefficients according to the degrees of spatial variation within it, our work in this article is to see how these dispersions and nonlinearities each influence the wave or the signal that can propagate in the waveguide. Since the partial differential equation which governs the dynamics of propagation in such transmission medium presents several dispersion and nonlinear coefficients, we check how they contribute to the choices of the solutions that we want them to verify this nonlinear partial differential equation. This effectively requires an adequate choice of the form of solution to be constructed. Thus, this article is based on three main pillars, namely: first of all, making a good choice of the solution function to be constructed, secondly, determining the exact solutions and, if necessary, remodeling the main equation such that it is possible;then check the impact of the dispersion and nonlinear coefficients on the solutions. Finally, the reliability of the solutions obtained is tested by a study of the propagation. Another very important aspect is the use of notions of probability to select the predominant solutions.
文摘This paper reports a field survey undertaken to determine the availability of raw material for palm kernel oil commercial production for industrial applications. Both industrial and artisanal wastes from palm kernel oil production were also surveyed as raw material (palm kernel seeds) for green energy production. Results of the field study show that 22% of palm kernel seeds (which represents tons of waste) resulting from palm oil processing plants are dumped while at the artisanal level, 80% of palm kernel seed waste is dumped. Analysis of field study data show<span>s</span><span> that large amounts of waste palm kernel seeds are available to enable large scale production of palm kernel oil (PKO) for desirable industrial applications in green energy production. The paper also reports on the physical and chemical properties of Cameroon palm kernel oil (PKO). Palm kernel oil was extracted using mechanical press and solvent extraction. The palm kernel oil (PKO) from Cameroon was analyzed by standard physico-chemical methods. Results of the physical measurements show a specific gravity of PKO of 0.92 kg/L, viscosity of 26.03 cSt and at 5.93 cSt at 40<span style="color:#4F4F4F;font-family:" font-size:14px;white-space:normal;background-color:#ffffff;"=""><span style="color:#4F4F4F;font-family:"font-size:14px;white-space:normal;background-color:#FFFFFF;">°</span></span>C and 100<span style="color:#4F4F4F;font-family:" font-size:14px;white-space:normal;background-color:#ffffff;"=""><span style="color:#4F4F4F;font-family:"font-size:14px;white-space:normal;background-color:#FFFFFF;">°</span></span>C respectively, viscosity index of 185, pour point of 20<span style="color:#4F4F4F;font-family:" font-size:14px;white-space:normal;background-color:#ffffff;"=""><span style="color:#4F4F4F;font-family:"font-size:14px;white-space:normal;background-color:#FFFFFF;">°</span></span>C, cloud point of 29<span style="color:#4F4F4F;font-family:" font-size:14px;white-space:normal;background-color:#ffffff;"=""><span style="color:#4F4F4F;font-family:"font-size:14px;white-space:normal;background-color:#FFFFFF;">°</span></span>C, flash point of 200<span style="color:#4F4F4F;font-family:" font-size:14px;white-space:normal;background-color:#ffffff;"=""><span style="color:#4F4F4F;font-family:"font-size:14px;white-space:normal;background-color:#FFFFFF;">°</span></span>C, aniline point of 105<span style="color:#4F4F4F;font-family:" font-size:14px;white-space:normal;background-color:#ffffff;"=""><span style="color:#4F4F4F;font-family:"font-size:14px;white-space:normal;background-color:#FFFFFF;">°</span></span>F, diesel index of 23, cetane number of 27 and ASTM (American Standards for Testing and Materials) color of less than 2.5. Results of chemical analyses showed an acid val<span>ue of 17.95 mg KOH/g, free fatty <span>acid (FFA) content of 8.98 mg KOH/g, iodine value o</span></span></span><span><span><span>f 2.10</span><span> mg</span></span></span><span> </span><span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">I</span><sub><span style="font-family:Verdana;">2</span></sub><span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">/g</span><span style="font-family:Verdana;">, peroxide value of 2.10 meq/kg, ester value of 123.0 mg KOH/g, hydroxyl value of 93.4 mg OH/g, saponification value of 140.95 mg KOH/g and a sulfur content of 0.016% w/v, signifying low sulfur content. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) showed the palm kernel oil to be predominantly made up of glycerides of various fatty acids with higher proportions of C12 to C16 fatty acid residues. Cameroon PKO therefore has a broad spectrum of industrial applications by virtue of its rich physical and chemical properties.</span></span></span>
基金Supported by the Italian Ministry of Defense-Segredifesa,in collaboration with Fincantieri under Grant of the ASAMS(Aspetti specialistici e approccio metodologico per progettazione di sottomarini di ultima generazione)project(2019-2022).
文摘Goal based and limit state design is nowadays a well-established approach in many engineering fields.Ship construction rules started introducing such concepts since early 2000.However,classification societies’rules do not provide hints on how to verify limit states and to determine the structural layout of submerged thin-walled stiffened cylinders,whose most prominent examples are submarines.Rather,they generally offer guidance and prescriptive formulations to assess shell plating and stiffening members.Such marine structures are studied,designed and built up to carry payloads below the sea surface.In the concept-design stage,the maximum operating depth is the governing hull scantling parameter.Main dimensions are determined based on the analysis of operational requirements.This study proposes a practical conceptdesign approach for conceptual submarine design,aimed at obtaining hull structures that maximize the payload capacity in terms of available internal volume by suitably adjusting structural layout and stiffening members’scantling,duly accounting for robustness and construction constraints as well as practical fabrication issues.The proposed scantling process highlights that there is no need of complex algorithms if sound engineering judgment is applied in setting down rationally the hull scantling problem.A systematic approach based on a computer-coded procedure developed on purpose was effectively implemented and satisfactorily applied in design practice.
文摘Bio-glycerol was synthesized from Cameroon palm kernel oil (PKO) through the transesterification procedure. Palm kernel oil extracted from palm kernel seeds using mechanical expression and solvent extraction was purified and characterized by physico-chemical methods and used in the transesterification process to give biodiesel and bio-glycerol. The biodiesel was purified and characterized as reported in previous articles. Our focus in this article is on glycerol, an important by-product of the transesterification process which has potential pharmaceutical, cosmetic and engineering applications. The bio-glycerol was purified by acidification and the purified glycerol was subjected to physical and chemical characterization. The specific gravity of glycerol was obtained as 1.2 kg/L, viscosity at 40°C gave 1500 cSt and 500 cSt at 100°C;pH was 7.4;the flash point was 160°C, and the ASTM color was 2.0 before purification and zero after purification. The sulfur content was 0.016%w/v. This sulfur content is low thus posing no environment threat. The chemical composition of the synthesized bio-glycerol determined using IR spectroscopy and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) confirmed the known chemical structure of glycerol. The purification and analysis of bio-glycerol is important as it can find applications in the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food industries inter alia.
文摘Bafia Group is part of the southernmost portion of the Central African Fold Belt (CAFB) in Cameroon. The geological feature of the group is characterized by the presence of metamorphic rocks in which tourmaline had been recognized among accessory minerals. In the present study, attention is focus on the tourmaline bearing quartzite to the southeast of Kombé II. Structure refinement shows that tourmaline is a Fe-dravite with the formula X(Na<sub>0.95</sub>[]<sub>0.05</sub>)Y(Mg<sub>2.39</sub>Fe<sub>0.61</sub>)Z(Al<sub>5.10</sub>Mg<sub>0.90</sub>)(BO<sub>3</sub>)<sub>3</sub>T[Si<sub>6</sub>O<sub>18</sub>](OH)<sub>3</sub>[(O,OH)<sub>0.88</sub>F<sub>0.12</sub>]. The Fe-dravite is hosted in a Ca-poor quartzite, which is made up, in addition to quartz and tourmaline, of biotite and muscovite. The structure of the dravites shows a low vacancy at the X site, which militates for a crystallization of the tourmaline at a high temperature > 750℃. This is in agreement with previous work which shows that the metamorphic peak in the associated biotite gneiss reaches 825℃. The R1 value of 1.24% means that the crystal structure of the tourmalines is of high quality. The genetical link between gold mineralization and tourmaline should stimulate exploration interest in the study area.
文摘In this article, we study the impacts of nonlinearity and dispersion on signals likely to propagate in the context of the dynamics of four-wave mixing. Thus, we use an indirect resolution technique based on the use of the iB-function to first decouple the nonlinear partial differential equations that govern the propagation dynamics in this case, and subsequently solve them to propose some prototype solutions. These analytical solutions have been obtained;we check the impact of nonlinearity and dispersion. The interest of this work lies not only in the resolution of the partial differential equations that govern the dynamics of wave propagation in this case since these equations not at all easy to integrate analytically and their analytical solutions are very rare, in other words, we propose analytically the solutions of the nonlinear coupled partial differential equations which govern the dynamics of four-wave mixing in optical fibers. Beyond the physical interest of this work, there is also an appreciable mathematical interest.
