Analysis of By-Products of N2-SF6 Gas Mixtures Sparked under Inhomogenous Field Conditions

A vast data on formation of by-products due to arc and spark decomposition of SF6 is available in literature [1–10]. But experimental work relating to N2 - SF6 gas mixtures is limited. In view of increasing application of gas mixtures, it is essential to understand the nature of by-products formed in gas mixtures. Many recent studies have highlighted the advantages of using N2-SF6 gas mixtures as a replacement to SF6 gas for High Voltage application, with a view to reduce emission of SF6 gas into the atmosphere. Majority of these studies are aimed at determining the basic characteristics of N2-SF6 gas mixtures. However, this study attempts to understand the nature and quantum of different species formed in N2-SF6 mixtures in the presence of insulating spacers when sparked under inhomogeneous field conditions

Structure and mechanism of acetolactate decarboxylase

Acetolactate decarboxylase catalyzes the conversion of both enantiomers of acetolactate to the (R)-enantiomer of acetoin, via a mechanism that has been shown to involve a prior rearrangement of the non-natural (R)-enantiomer substrate to the natural (S)-enantiomer. In this paper, a series of crystal structures of ALDC complex with designed transition state mimics are reported. These structures, coupled with inhibition studies and site-directed mutagenesis provide an improved understanding of the molecular processes involved in the stereoselective decarboxylation/protonation events. A mechanism for the transformation of each enantiomer of acetolactate is proposed

Norovirus Detection and Genotyping for Children with Gastroenteritis, Brazil

During 1998–2005, we analyzed stool samples from 289 children in Rio de Janeiro to detect and genotype norovirus strains. Previous tests showed all samples to be negative for rotavirus and adenovirus. Of 42 (14.5%) norovirus-positive specimens, 20 (47.6%) were identified as genogroup GI and 22 (52.3%) as GII

РАСЧЕТ ЭЛЕКТРОДИНАМИЧЕСКОЙ СТОЙКОСТИ ПРОВОДОВ ВОЗДУШНЫХ ЛИНИЙ

In aerial transmission lines aluminium multiwire conductors are in use. Owing to their flexible design the electrodynamic effect of short circuit currents may lead to intolerable mutual rendezvous and even cross-whipping of the phase conductors. The increasing motion of the conductors caused by effect of the short-circuit electrodynamic force impulse is accompanied by the dynamic load impact affecting the conductors, insulating and supporting constructions of the aerial lines. Intensity of the short-circuit currents electrodynamic impact on the flexible conductors depends on the short circuit current magnitude. For research into electrodynamic endurance of the conductors of the aerial lines located at the vertices of arbitrary triangle with spans of a large length, the authors assume the conductor analytical model in the form of a flexible tensile thread whose mass is distributed evenly lengthwise the conductor. With this analytical model, by the action of the imposed forces the conductor assumes the form conditioned by the diagram of applied external forces, and resists neither bending nor torsion. The initial conditions calculation task reduces to solving the flexible thread statics equations. The law of motion of the conductor marginal points comes out of the conjoint solution of dynamic equations of the conductor and structural components of the areal electric power lines. Based on the proposed algorithm, the researchers of the Chair of the Electric Power Stations of BNTU developed a software program LINEDYS+, which in its characteristics yields to no foreign analogs, e. g. SAMSEF. To calculate the initial conditions they modified a software program computing the flexible conductor mechanics named MR 21. The conductor short-circuit electrodynamic interaction estimation considers structural elements of the areal lines, ice and wind loads, objective parameters of the short circuit. The software programs are accommodated with the simple and intelligible user interface and can produce automatic reports. For the computation certainty valuation of the developed software program, comparison of the experimental and design values was performed on an engineering prototype span of the French state-owned company Electricite de France. На воздушных линиях применяются многопроволочные алюминиевые провода. Из-за их гибкой конструкции в результате электродинамического действия токов короткого замыкания могут происходить недопустимые взаимные сближения и даже схлестывания фазных проводников друг с другом. Ускоренное движение проводов, вызванное действием импульса электродинамических усилий при коротком замыкании, сопровождается ударными динамическими нагрузками, действующими на провода, изоляционные и опорные конструкции воздушных линий. Интенсивность электродинамического действия токов короткого замыкания на гибкие проводники воздушных линий зависит от величины токов короткого замыкания. Для исследования электродинамической стойкости проводов воздушных линий, расположенных по вершинам произвольного треугольника в пролетах большой длины, принимается расчетная модель в виде гибкой растяжимой нити, масса которой равномерно распределена по ее длине. При такой расчетной модели провод под действием внешних сил принимает форму, обусловленную эпюрой приложенных сил, и не сопротивляется изгибу и кручению. Задача расчета начальных условий сводится к решению уравнений статики гибкой нити. Закон движения краевых точек проводов установлен из совместного решения уравнений динамики проводов и конструктивных элементов воздушных ЛЭП. На основе предлагаемого алгоритма на кафедре «Электрические станции» БНТУ разработана компьютерная программа LINEDYS+, которая по своим характеристикам не уступает зарубежным аналогам, например SAMSEF. Для расчета начальных условий модифицировали компьютерную программу механического расчета гибких проводников MR 21. Электродинамическое взаимодействие проводов при коротком замыкании оценивается с учетом конструктивных элементов воздушных линий, гололедных и ветровых нагрузок, реальных характеристик короткого замыкания. Компьютерные программы снабжены простым и понятным пользовательским интерфейсом и могут создавать автоматические отчеты. Оценка достоверности расчетов по разработанной компьютерной программе выполнялась сопоставлением экспериментальных и расчетных данных для опытного пролета французской государственной компанией Electricite de France.

Adamantane-Resistant Influenza Infection During the 2004–05 Season

Adamantane-resistant influenza A is an emerging problem, but infections caused by resistant and susceptible viruses have not been compared. We identified adamantane resistance in 47% of 152 influenza A virus (H3N2) isolates collected during 2005. Resistant and susceptible viruses caused similar symptoms and illness duration. The prevalence of resistance was highest in children

Pain, psychological distress and health-related quality of life at baseline and 3 months after radical prostatectomy

BACKGROUND: Inadequate management of postoperative pain is common, and postoperative pain is a risk factor for prolonged pain. In addition to medical and technical factors, psychological factors may also influence the experience of postoperative pain. METHODS: Pain was measured postoperatively at 24, 48, and 72 hr in hospital and after 3 months at home in 140 patients undergoing radical prostatectomy (RP). Patients answered questionnaires about anxiety and depression (HAD scale) and health-related quality of life (SF-36) at baseline and 3 months after surgery. RESULTS: In the first 3 postoperative days, mild pain was reported by 45 patients (32%), moderate pain by 64 (45%), and severe pain by 31 (22%) on one or more days. High postoperative pain scores were correlated with length of hospital stay and with high pain scores at home. Forty patients (29%) reported moderate (n = 35) or severe (n = 5) pain after discharge from hospital. Patients who experienced anxiety and depression preoperatively had higher postoperative pain scores and remained anxious and depressed 3 months after surgery. The scores for the physical domains in the SF-36 were decreased, while the mental health scores were increased at 3 months. Anxiety and depression were negatively correlated with all domains of the SF-36. CONCLUSION: There is a need for nurses to be aware of the psychological status of RP patients and its impact upon patients' experience of postoperative pain and recovery. The ability to identify patients with psychological distress and to target interventions is an important goal for future research

A rationale for continuing mass antibiotic distributions for trachoma

BACKGROUND: The World Health Organization recommends periodic mass antibiotic distributions to reduce the ocular strains of chlamydia that cause trachoma, the world's leading cause of infectious blindness. Their stated goal is to control infection, not to completely eliminate it. A single mass distribution can dramatically reduce the prevalence of infection. However, if infection is not eliminated in every individual in the community, it may gradually return back into the community, so often repeated treatments are necessary. Since public health groups are reluctant to distribute antibiotics indefinitely, we are still in need of a proven long-term rationale. Here we use mathematical models to demonstrate that repeated antibiotic distributions can eliminate infection in a reasonable time period. METHODS: We fit parameters of a stochastic epidemiological transmission model to data collected before and 6 months after a mass antibiotic distribution in a region of Ethiopia that is one of the most severely affected areas in the world. We validate the model by comparing our predicted results to Ethiopian data which was collected biannually for two years past the initial mass antibiotic distribution. We use the model to simulate the effect of different treatment programs in terms of local elimination of infection. RESULTS: Simulations show that the average prevalence of infection across all villages progressively decreases after each treatment, as long as the frequency and coverage of antibiotics are high enough. Infection can be eliminated in more villages with each round of treatment. However, in the communities where infection is not eliminated, it returns to the same average level, forming the same stationary distribution. This phenomenon is also seen in subsequent epidemiological data from Ethiopia. Simulations suggest that a biannual treatment plan implemented for 5 years will lead to elimination in 95% of all villages. CONCLUSION: Local elimination from a community is theoretically possible, even in the most severely infected communities. However, elimination from larger areas may require repeated biannual treatments and prevention of re-introduction from outside to treated areas

Micronutrient malnutrition and wasting in adults with pulmonary tuberculosis with and without HIV co-infection in Malawi

BACKGROUND: Wasting and micronutrient malnutrition have not been well characterized in adults with pulmonary tuberculosis. We hypothesized that micronutrient malnutrition is associated with wasting and higher plasma human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) load in adults with pulmonary tuberculosis. METHODS: In a cross-sectional study involving 579 HIV-positive and 222 HIV-negative adults with pulmonary tuberculosis in Zomba, Malawi, anthropometry, plasma HIV load and plasma micronutrient concentrations (retinol, α-tocopherol, carotenoids, zinc, and selenium) were measured. The risk of micronutrient deficiencies was examined at different severity levels of wasting. RESULTS: Body mass index (BMI), plasma retinol, carotenoid and selenium concentrations significantly decreased by increasing tertile of plasma HIV load. There were no significant differences in plasma micronutrient concentrations between HIV-negative individuals and HIV-positive individuals who were in the lowest tertile of plasma HIV load. Plasma vitamin A concentrations <0.70 μmol/L occurred in 61%, and zinc and selenium deficiency occurred in 85% and 87% respectively. Wasting, defined as BMI<18.5 was present in 59% of study participants and was independently associated with a higher risk of low carotenoids, and vitamin A and selenium deficiency. Severe wasting, defined as BMI<16.0 showed the strongest associations with deficiencies in vitamin A, selenium and plasma carotenoids. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate that wasting and higher HIV load in pulmonary tuberculosis are associated with micronutrient malnutrition