Thermal Energy Optimization of Building Integrated Semi-Transparent Photovoltaic Thermal Systems

Building integrated photovoltaic (BIPV) : The concept where the photovoltaic element assumes the function of power generation and the role of the covering component element has the potential to become one of the principal sources of renewable energy for domestic purpose. In this paper, a Building integrated semitransparent photovoltaic thermal system (BISPVT) system having fins at the back sheet of the photovoltaic module has been simulated. It has been observed that this system produces higher thermal and electrical efficiencies. The increase of wind velocity by fan system and heat exchange surface accelerates the convective heat transfer between the finned surface and the fluid flowing in the duct. The system area of 36.45 m2 is capable of annually producing an amount of thermal energy of 76.66 kWh at an overall thermal efficiency of 56.07 %

The Influence of Social Support on the Utilization of Health Care Services by Patients with Chronic Lymphatic Filariasis in Goshi location, Malindi Sub-County, Kenya

Background: Lymphatic filariasis (LF) caused by filarial worms and transmitted by mosquitoes is ranked as the second largest cause of disability in the world. Infection leads clinical manifestations; lymphoedema of limbs and genitalia and elephantiasis. The disease causes considerable morbidity to affected individuals with consequent loss of income and social and psychological stress. To determine the influence of social support on the utilization of healthcare services by patients with chronic clinical signs of LF, a cross-sectional study was conducted in Goshi location, Malindi Sub-County, Kenya. Methods: A total of 220 patients with chronic (LF) were purposively selected and interviewer-based questionnaires administered to them for quantitative data. Four focus group discussions (FGDs) with single sex adult and youth groups and 16 key informant interviews with purposively selected opinion leaders were conducted for qualitative data. The quantitative data was analyzed by SPSS version 16 and the qualitative data manually by study themes. Results: Encouragement received by patients from family and friends was significantly associated with health care services utilization (P<0.001). Most (68.2%) of patients who received such encouragement compared to 31.8% who did not, utilized health care services. Similarly, receiving encouragement from other patients with chronic LF was significantly associated with frequency of visiting health care facilities (P<0.001). Majority (81.8%) of respondents who received encouragement from fellow patients compared to 18.2% who did not, visited the health facility more frequently. Feeling of being a burden to the family was significantly associated with utilization of health care services (P<0.05). More than one half (57.1%) of those who felt that they were a burden to their family compared to 42.9% who did not, utilized health care services. Being affiliated to a support group was also significantly associated with utilization of health care services (P<0.001). Most (85.7%) of respondents who indicated that they were affiliated to a support group compared to 14.3% who were not, utilized health care services. Conclusion: Patients with chronic LF require encouragement from community members and fellow patients to remove the feeling of rejection and to seek health care services. Being a member of a support groups is an important contributor of increased health care services utilization and authorities should support patients to form such groups. Keywords: social support, health care services, chronic lymphatic filariasi

Modélisation du séchage convectif et symétrique des bois d’ayous, d’eucalyptus grandis et d’ébène : simulation numérique et validation expérimentale

Dans cet article, nous développons un modèle de séchage du bois en nous inspirant de la littérature. Des hypothèses sont ensuite retenues afin de simuler le comportement des bois d’ayous (Triplochiton scleroxylon), d’Eucalyptus grandis et d’ébène (Diospyros crassiflora hiern). Les coefficients thermophysiques des bois sont tirés de la littérature. Les résultats de la simulation numérique montrent que le modèle peut être utilisé pour améliorer le fonctionnement des séchoirs convectifs. On constate néanmoins un léger écart entre les points expérimentaux et les résultats de la simulation numérique. Cet écart serait la conséquence des hypothèses simplificatrices adoptées, de la prise en compte dans le programme de certains coefficients thermophysiques obtenus sur des bois autres que ceux d’étude et des erreurs enregistrées durant l’expérience ayant permis d’obtenir les cinétiques expérimentales. L’utilisation des points expérimentaux obtenus par D. Guoxing et al. (2003a, 2003b) nous permet de constater que le modèle peut aussi être utilisé pour simuler le séchage des bois tempérés de forte épaisseur (25 mm). Le bois d’ayous sèche plus vite que le bois d’ébène. En suivant la table de séchage du bois d’ayous, la durée de l’opération de séchage est réduite d’environ 20h de celle nécessaire pour mener le séchage avec une température de l’air de 40°C. On n’observe pas de modification de la durée de séchage du bois d’ébène, l’épaisseur des planches étant de 12mm et la teneur en eau initiale évaluée à 35 %. La simulation du séchage sur le bois d’eucalyptus montre que la surface sèche plus vite que l’intérieur et si le séchage n’est pas suivi, la surface est exposée au jeu retrait-gonflement qui aboutit aux fentes superficielles.Mots-clés : séchage convectif, modélisation, simulation numérique, bois, ayous, ébène, eucalyptus grandis

A fouryear followup of school children after masstreatment for Schistosomiasis and Soil Transmitted Helminths in Mwea, Central Kenya

Poly-parasitism infections are common in school children in tropical regions, especially in Africa. In a school based schistosomiasis and soil-transmitted helminths de-worming model project in Mwea, Kenya, approximately 40,000 school age children from 86 schools were treated annually with a standard dose of praziquantel (40mg/kg body weight) and albendazole (400mg). A cohort of approximately 2,300 children from 5 sentinel schools were followed up at multiple time points each year for four years and examined for intestinal helminths (Schistosoma mansoni, Trichuris trichiura, Hookworm (Necator americanus) and Ascaris lumbricoides). The overall prevalence of infection in the five schools before treatment was 47.4% for S. mansoni, 16.7% for N. americanus, 0.8% for T. trichiura and 1.7% for A. lumbricoides. The mean intensity of infection, as measured by eggs per gram of faeces (epg) was 146.2 for S. mansoni, 36.3 for N. americanus 1.0 for T. trichiura and 35.8 for A. lumbricoides. After 4 rounds of treatment, prevalence of S. mansoni reduced significantly by 88.7% to 5.4% (95%CI=3.6% -7.1%), a 97.1% reduction. The prevalence and intensity of S. mansoni infection varied by school according to its proximity to irrigated area, with those schools closest to the irrigated areas presenting higher infection prevalence and intensity. Re-infection with schistosomiasis following treatment was observed and is likely to reflect continued environmental transmission due to non-treatment of the adult population. Soil-transmitted helminths are less prevalent in the cohort, with corresponding lower intensity. This may allow albendazole treatment to be reduced to every 2 or 3 years. This study has shown that periodic administration of anthelminthic drugs reduces the prevalence and intensity (which is likely to be a close proxy of morbidity) of intestinal parasitic infections in school-age children. Adults in the community could also be targeted where resources allow in order to further increasing the effectiveness of de-worming programmes. Keywords: Soil transmitted helminths, Schistosomiasis, school age, prevalence, Intensity, mass de-worming, school childre

Evaluation of copromicroscopy, multiplex-qPCR and antibody serology for monitoring of human ascariasis in endemic settings

Background: The standard diagnosis of Ascaris lumbricoides and other soil-transmitted helminth (STH) infections relies on the detection of worm eggs by copromicroscopy. However, this method is dependent on worm patency and shows only limited accuracy in low-intensity infection settings. We aimed to decipher the diagnostic accuracy of different antibodies using various Ascaris antigens in reference to copromicroscopy and quantitative PCR (qPCR), four months after national STH preventative chemotherapy among school children in western Kenya. Methodology: STH infection status of 390 school children was evaluated via copromicroscopy (Kato-Katz and mini-FLOTAC) and qPCR. In parallel, Ascaris-specific antibody profiles against larval and adult worm lysates, and adult worm excretory-secretory (ES) products were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Antibody cross-reactivity was evaluated using the closely related zoonotic roundworm species Toxocara cati and Toxocara canis. The diagnostic accuracy of each antibody was evaluated using receiver operating curve analysis and the correspondent area under the curve (AUC). Principal findings: Ascaris was the predominant helminth infection with an overall prevalence of 14.9% (58/390). The sensitivity of mini-FLOTAC and Kato-Katz for Ascaris diagnosis reached only 53.5% and 63.8%, respectively compared to qPCR. Although being more sensitive, qPCR values correlated with microscopic egg counts (R = -0.71, P<0.001), in contrast to antibody levels. Strikingly, IgG antibodies recognizing the ES products of adult Ascaris worms reliably diagnosed active Ascaris infection as determined by qPCR and microscopy, with IgG1 displaying the highest accuracy (AUC = 0.83, 95% CI: 0.75–0.91). Conclusion: IgG1 antibody responses against adult Ascaris-ES products hold a promising potential for complementing the standard fecal and molecular techniques employed for monitoring Ascaris infections. This is of particular importance in the context of deworming programs as the antibody diagnostic accuracy was independent of egg counts