Visualizing a control strategy for estimating electricity consumption

This paper investigates the potential of applying different control measures on low power and high power appliances with the goal of evolving efficiency in electricity consumption. The research involves carrying out simulations on their power consumption readings to set up a control system. The study discovers savings on all appliances under study to be 12.8% Kw, not minding occupancy rate of the building. Air-conditioners have the greatest impact of a 6% Kw contribution on savings. This would lead to a substantial contribution when converted to pricing rates. The results from the study indicate that control measures should be extended to peak periods and power saving measures extended to more appliances

Characterization of Recombination Events Leading to the Production of an Ecotropic Replication-Competent Retrovirus in a GP+envAM12-Derived Producer Cell Line

AbstractReplication-competent retrovirus (RCR) was identified in a GP+envAM12-derived producer cell, containing the MFG-S-Neo retroviral vector, using a marker rescue assay. Studies were undertaken to determine the origin and structure of this RCR. Receptor interference assays demonstrated that the virus was pseudotyped with an ecotropic envelope. Molecular analysis demonstrated the presence of a MoMLV ecotropic env recombinant where the neomycin resistance gene of the MFG-S-Neo vector was replaced by MoMLV ecotropic env. Additional recombinants linking the retroviral pol gene to neo and the neo gene to MoMLV env were also identified. A full-length MoMLV retroviral genome was detected by nested PCR in the contaminated amphotropic producer cells and in cells infected with its supernatant. Unexpectedly, this was also present in the GP+E86 packaging cells together with a previously undescribed envelope construct possessing a full 5′ and 3′ LTR, although these cells were consistently negative for the presence of RCR. These anomalies in the GP+E86 packaging cell line result in increased homology with the MFG-S-Neo vector, leading to an increased risk for the production of RCR. Our findings point to a need for increased vigilance when using these packaging lines to generate replication-defective retrovirus

Modeling Electricity Consumption using Modified Newton's Method

In this paper we present modified Newton’s model (MNM) to model electricity consumption data. A previous method to model electricity consumption data was done using forecasting technique (FT) and artificial neural networks (ANN). A drawback to previous techniques is that computations give less reliable results when compared to MNM. A comparative analysis is carried out for FT, ANN and MNM to investigate which of these methods is the most reliable technique. The results indicate that MNM model reduced mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) to 0.93%, while those of FT and ANN were 3.01% and 3.11%, respectively. Based on these error measures, the study shows that the three methods are highly accurate modeling techniques, but MNM was found to be the best technique when mining information. Experimental results indicate that MNM is the most accurate when compared to FT and ANN and thus has the best competitive performance level

Visualizing a control strategy for estimating electricity consumption

This paper investigates the potential of applying different control measures on low power and high power appliances with the goal of evolving efficiency in electricity consumption. The research involves carrying out simulations on their power consumption readings to set up a control system. The study discovers savings on all appliances under study to be 12.8% Kw, not minding occupancy rate of the building. Air-conditioners have the greatest impact of a 6% Kw contribution on savings. This would lead to a substantial contribution when converted to pricing rates. The results from the study indicate that control measures should be extended to peak periods and power saving measures extended to more appliances

Combined inhibition of p97 and the proteasome causes lethal disruption of the secretory apparatus in multiple myeloma cells.

Inhibition of the proteasome is a widely used strategy for treating multiple myeloma that takes advantage of the heavy secretory load that multiple myeloma cells (MMCs) have to deal with. Resistance of MMCs to proteasome inhibition has been linked to incomplete disruption of proteasomal endoplasmic-reticulum (ER)-associated degradation (ERAD) and activation of non-proteasomal protein degradation pathways. The ATPase p97 (VCP/Cdc48) has key roles in mediating both ERAD and non-proteasomal protein degradation and can be targeted pharmacologically by small molecule inhibition. In this study, we compared the effects of p97 inhibition with Eeyarestatin 1 and DBeQ on the secretory apparatus of MMCs with the effects induced by the proteasome inhibitor bortezomib, and the effects caused by combined inhibition of p97 and the proteasome. We found that p97 inhibition elicits cellular responses that are different from those induced by proteasome inhibition, and that the responses differ considerably between MMC lines. Moreover, we found that dual inhibition of both p97 and the proteasome terminally disrupts ER configuration and intracellular protein metabolism in MMCs. Dual inhibition of p97 and the proteasome induced high levels of apoptosis in all of the MMC lines that we analysed, including bortezomib-adapted AMO-1 cells, and was also effective in killing primary MMCs. Only minor toxicity was observed in untransformed and non-secretory cells. Our observations highlight non-redundant roles of p97 and the proteasome in maintaining secretory homeostasis in MMCs and provide a preclinical conceptual framework for dual targeting of p97 and the proteasome as a potential new therapeutic strategy in multiple myeloma

Cost and quality issues in establishing hematopoietic cell transplant program in developing countries

The hematopoietic cell transplant (HCT) activity has grown significantly over the past two decades in both developing and developed countries. Many challenges arise in establishing new HCT programs in developing countries, due to scarcity of resources and manpower in expertise in HCT. While cost issues can potentially hinder establishment of new HCT programs in certain regions, the focus on quality and value should be included in the general vision of leadership before establishing an HCT program. The main challenge in most developing countries is the lack of trained/qualified personnel, enormous start-up costs for a tertiary care center, and quality maintenance. Herein, we discuss the main challenges from a cost and quality perspective which occur at initiation of a new HCT program. We give real world examples of two developing countries that have recently started new HCT programs despite significant financial constraints. We also portray recommendations from the Worldwide Network of Blood and Marrow Transplantation for levels of requirements for a new HCT program. We hope that this review will serve as a general guide for new transplant program leadership with respect to the concerns of balancing high quality with concurrently lowering costs