Solar Energy: Incentives to Promote PV in EU27

The growth in the use of renewable energies in the EU has been remarkable. Among these energies is PV. The average annual growth rate for the EU-27 countries in installed PV capacity in the period 2005-2012 was 41.2%. While the installed capacity of PV has reached almost 82 % of National Renewable Energy Action Plan (NREAP) targets for the EU-27 countries for 2020, it is still far from being used at its full potential. Over recent years, several measures have been adopted in the EU to enhance and promote PV. This paper undertakes a complete review of the state of PV power in Europe and the measures taken to date to promote it in EU-27. 25 countries have adopted measures to promote PV. The most widespread measure to promote PV use is Feed- in Tariffs. Tariffs are normally adjusted, in a decreasing manner, annually. Nevertheless, currently, seven countries have decided to accelerate this decrease rate in view of cost reduction of the installations and of higher efficiencies. The second instrument used to promote PV in the EU-27 countries is the concession of subsidies. Nevertheless, subsidies have the disadvantage of being closely linked to budgetary resources and therefore to budgetary constraints. In most EU countries, subsidies for renewable energy for PV are being lowered. Twelve EU-27 countries adopted tax measures. Low-interest loans and green certificate systems were only sparingly used

Mental health training for secondary school teachers in Haiti: a mixed methods, prospective, formative research study of feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness in knowledge acquisition

Background: Engagement and training of educators in student mental health holds promise for promoting access to care as a task sharing strategy but has not been well-studied in low-income regions. Methods: We used a prospective and convergent mixed methods design to evaluate a customized school mental health 2½ day training for teachers in rural Haiti (n = 22) as the initial component of formative research developing a school-based intervention to promote student mental health. Training prepared teachers to respond to student mental health needs by providing psychoeducational and practical support to facilitate access to care. We examined level of participation and evaluated feasibility, acceptability, and perceived effectiveness by calculating mean scores on self-report Likert-style items eliciting participant experience. We examined effectiveness of the training on improving mental health knowledge and attitudes by comparing mean scores on an assessment administered pre- and post-training. Finally, we examined self-report written open-ended responses and focus group discussion (FGD) interview data bearing on perceived feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness to contextualize participant ratings of training and to identify recommendations for enhancing the utility of mental health training locally for educators. Results: Mean scores of knowledge and attitudes significantly improved between the pre-test and post-tests; e.g., knowledge improved from 58% correct at baseline to 68% correct on the second post-test (p = 0.039). Mean ratings of the training were favorable across all categories and FGD data demonstrated widespread participant endorsement of training acceptability and effectiveness; participants recommended extending the duration and number of training sessions. Conclusions: Findings support feasibility, acceptability, and a limited scope of effectiveness of brief mental health training for secondary school teachers in Haiti. Further development of approaches to engage teachers in promoting school mental health through training is warranted

Modelling the transmission dynamics of Theileria annulata : model structure and validation for the Turkish context

A mathematical model that describes the transmission dynamics of Theileria annulata is proposed that consists of 2 host components: the Hyalomma tick population and a compartmental model of T. annulata infection in the cattle population. The model was parameterized using data describing tick infestation and the infection status of cattle in Turkey from 2006 to 2008. The tick attachment rates are highly seasonal and because of the temporal separation of infectious and susceptible ticks virtually all ticks are infected by carrier cattle, so that annual peaks of disease in cattle do not impact on infection in the Hyalomma tick population. The impact of intervention measures that target the tick population both on the host and in the environment and their impact on the transmission of T. annulata were investigated. Interventions that have a limited ‘one-off’ impact and interventions that have a more permanent impact were both considered. The results from the model show the importance of targeting ticks during the period when they have left their first host as nymphs but have yet to feed on their second host

Characterizing local rooftop solar adoption inequity in the US

Residential rooftop solar is slated to play a significant role in the changing US electric grid in the coming decades. However, concerns have emerged that the benefits of rooftop solar deployment are inequitably distributed across demographic groups. Previous work has highlighted inequity in national solar adopter deployment and income trends. We leverage a dataset of US solar adopter household income estimates - unique in its size and resolution - to analyze differences in adoption equity at the local level and identify those conditions that yield more equitable solar adoption, with implications for policy strategies to reduce inequities in solar adoption. The solar inequities observed at the national and state levels also exist at more granular levels, but not uniformly so; some US census tracts exhibit less solar inequity than others. Some demographic, solar system, and market characteristics robustly lead to more equitable solar adoption. Our findings suggest that while solar adoption inequity is frequently attributed to the relatively high costs of solar adoption, costs may become less relevant as solar prices decline. Results also indicate that racial diversity and education levels affect solar adoption patterns at a local level. Finally, we find that solar adoption is more equitable in census tracts served by specific types of installers. Future research and policy can explore ways to leverage these findings to accelerate the transition to equitable solar adoption

The impact of policies and business models on income equity in rooftop solar adoption

Low- and moderate-income (LMI) households are less likely to adopt rooftop solar photovoltaics (PVs) than higher-income households in the United States. As the existing literature has shown, this dynamic can decelerate rooftop PV deployment and has potential energy justice implications, in light of the cost-shifting between PV and non-PV households that can occur under typical rate structures and incentive programmes. Here we show that some state policy interventions and business models have expanded PV adoption among LMI households. We find evidence that LMI-specific financial incentives, PV leasing and property-assessed financing have increased the diffusion of PV adoption among LMI households in existing markets and have driven more installations into previously underserved low-income communities. By shifting deployment patterns, we posit that these interventions could catalyse peer effects to increase PV adoption in low-income communities even among households that do not directly benefit from the interventions

Prévalence de la pneumopathie à Pneumocystis Jiroveci au cours des déficits immunitaires héréditaires observés en Tunisie

International audiencePneumocystis Jiroveci pneumonia (PJP) is a rare opportunistic infection in immunodeficient patients in Tunisia, as well as in other Africain countries including those with a high prevalence of AIDS. In the literature, PJP has been reported in primary immunodeficiency diseases (PID) namely SCID T–B– or T–B+ or X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome.ObjectiveTo evaluate the prevalence of PJP in the different PID observed in Tunisia.Patients and methodsThis retrospective study concerned 290 cases of PID confirmed by immunological investigation including the study of specific and/or non-pecific humoral and cellular immunity. The identification of P. Jiroveci in patients suspected of pneumocystosis was achieved by parasitological investigation in bronchoalveolar lavages.ResultsA PID associated to a parasitologically confirmed pneumocystic infection was found in 9 out of 290 patients (3%) among whom the majority (7 patients) had an HLA class II combined immunodeficiency. The latter is an autosomic recessive disease which has been reported mainly in North African families. Indeed, this population is characterized by a high rate of consanguinity. Interestingly, no PJP has been observed neither in SCID T–B– or T–B+ nor in X-linked hyper-IgM syndrome.Discussion and conclusionPJP seems to be particularly frequent in HLA class II deficiency patients, since 7 out of 22 patients with this deficiency had a PJP (31%). Due to this defect, antigen presenting cells are unable to present the antigen to T lymphocytes demonstrating the critical role of CD4+ T lymphocytes responses in the immune response to this pathogen.La pneumopathie à Pneumocystis Jiroveci (PPJ) est une infection opportuniste peu fréquente dans notre pays, ainsi que dans d'autres pays africains incluant ceux avec une prévalence élevée du sida. Dans la littérature, la PPJ a également été rapportée au cours des déficits immunitaires héréditaires (DIH) notamment les SCID T–B– ou T–B+ et le syndrome d'hyper-IgM dans sa forme liée à l'X.ObjectifÉvaluer la prévalence de la PPJ au cours des différents types de DIH observés en Tunisie.Patients et méthodesUne étude rétrospective a concerné 290 cas de DIH confirmés par l'exploration de l'immunité cellulaire et humorale, spécifique et non spécifique. La recherche de P. Jiroveci sur liquide de lavage bronchoalvéolaire a été effectuée chez les malades suspects de pneumocystose.RésultatsUne association entre DIH et une infection à P. Jiroveci, confirmée parasitologiquement, a été retrouvée chez 9 sur 290 patients (3 %) parmi lesquels une majorité (7) était atteinte d'un déficit immunitaire combiné par défaut d'expression des molécules HLA de classe II (DIC HLA II-). Il s'agit d'une affection autosomique récessive particulièrement fréquente dans la population maghrébine qui est caractérisée par un taux élevé de consanguinité. Aucune PPJ associée à un SCID T–B– ou T–B+ ou à un syndrome d'hyper-IgM lié à l'X n'a été observée.Discussion et conclusionLa PPJ est donc particulièrement fréquente au cours du DIC HLA II- puisqu'elle est retrouvée dans 7 sur 22 cas diagnostiqués avec ce déficit (31 %). Par ailleurs, ces résultats observés chez des enfants dont les cellules présentatrices sont incapables de présenter l'antigène aux lymphocytes T par défaut d'expression des molécules HLA de classe II confirment le rôle critique des réponses T CD4+ dans la réponse immune contre ce pathogène

Toxoplasma gondii infection and toxoplasmosis in North Africa: A review

International audienceToxoplasmosis is an important zoonosis caused by an obligate intracellular parasitic protozoan, Toxoplasma gondii. The disease is distributed worldwide and can affect all warm-blooded vertebrates, including humans. The present review aimed to collect, compile and summarize the data on the prevalence of T. gondii infection in humans and animals in the five North African countries (Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Libya and Egypt). Published data from national and international databases were used. Distribution patterns and risk factors for T. gondii infection are discussed, focusing on biotic and abiotic factors. This review is a comprehensive epidemiological analysis of T. gondii infection in North Africa and will therefore be a useful tool for researchers. It can also be used to propose or enhance appropriate national toxoplasmosis control programs.La toxoplasmose est une zoonose importante causée par un protozoaire parasite intracellulaire obligatoire, Toxoplasma gondii. La maladie est répandue dans le monde entier, chez tous les vertébrés à sang chaud, y compris les humains. La présente étude visait à collecter, compiler et résumer les données sur la prévalence de l’infection par T. gondii chez l’homme et les animaux dans les cinq pays d’Afrique du Nord (Maroc, Algérie, Tunisie, Libye et Égypte). Les données publiées dans des bases de données nationales et internationales ont été utilisées. Les schémas de distribution et les facteurs de risque d’infection par T. gondii sont discutés, en se concentrant sur les facteurs biotiques et abiotiques. Cette synthèse est une analyse épidémiologique complète de l’infection par T. gondii en Afrique du Nord et sera donc un outil intéressant pour les chercheurs. Elle peut également être utilisée pour proposer ou renforcer des programmes nationaux appropriés de contrôle de la toxoplasmose