Investigation of multi-phase tubular permanent magnet linear generator for wave energy converters

In this article, an investigation into different magnetization topologies for a long stator tubular permanent magnet linear generator is performed through a comparison based on the cogging force disturbance, the power output, and the cost of the raw materials of the machines. The results obtained from finite element analysis simulation are compared with an existing linear generator described in [1]. To ensure accurate results, the generator developed in [1] is built with 3D CAD and simulated using the finite-element method, and the obtained results are verified with the source.The PRIMaRE project

Repair of \u3cem\u3eO\u3c/em\u3e\u3csup\u3e6\u3c/sup\u3e-Methylguanine Adducts in Human Telomeric G-Quadruplex DNA by \u3cem\u3eO\u3c/em\u3e\u3csup\u3e6\u3c/sup\u3e-Alkylguanine-DNA Alkyltransferase

O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT) is a single-cycle DNA repair enzyme that removes pro-mutagenic O6-alkylguanine adducts from DNA. Its functions with short single-stranded and duplex substrates have been characterized, but its ability to act on other DNA structures remains poorly understood. Here, we examine the functions of this enzyme on O6-methylguanine (6mG) adducts in the four-stranded structure of the human telomeric G-quadruplex. On a folded 22-nt G-quadruplex substrate, binding saturated at 2 AGT:DNA, significantly less than the ~ 5 AGT:DNA found with linear single-stranded DNAs of similar length, and less than the value found with the telomere sequence under conditions that inhibit quadruplex formation (4 AGT:DNA). Despite these differences, AGT repaired 6mG adducts located within folded G-quadruplexes, at rates that were comparable to those found for a duplex DNA substrate under analogous conditions. Repair was kinetically biphasic with the amplitudes of rapid and slow phases dependent on the position of the adduct within the G-quadruplex: in general, adducts located in the top or bottom tetrads of a quadruplex stack exhibited more rapid-phase repair than did adducts located in the inner tetrad. This distinction may reflect differences in the conformational dynamics of 6mG residues in G-quadruplex DNAs

Does regulation have an impact on project success? : an empirical study in the construction industry in South Africa

South Africa’s administration of construction procurement has changed drastically since 2000 when the Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB) was established. Contractor selection in the past was mainly based on the lowest priced tender only, which often led to project failure due to tender under pricing as the contractors did not have the required experience. However, the CIDB regulations ensure that a contractor is only awarded a tender for which they qualify for according to their grading. The CIDB regulations evaluate a contractor according to their work and financial capability. It has, however, not been investigated if there is a relationship between CIDB regulations and project performance. Research results indicate that contractors who are not registered with the CIDB tend to complete projects over budget. This investigation also revealed that the years of experience of the respondent has more impact on project success than CIDB registration. This investigation indicates that the current requirement for CIDB registration is ineffective in ensuring a successful project therefore, public sector clients need to re-assess the necessity of having such a requirement and perhaps explore other requirements for the procurement of contractors.http://www.academicjournals.org/AJBMam2013ai201

Prevalence of pre-cancerous lesions and cervical cancer in South Africa - A multicentre study

Objectives. To describe the age-specific prevalence rates of cancer of the cervix in South African women presenting for screening.Design. A multicentre prevalence survey in 10 geographically defined areas following a common core protocol. Services were located in existing service sites, with the exception of KwaZulu-Natal which used a mobile service. Women aged 20 years and above were eligible for inclusion.Outcome measures. Age-specific cervical cytologically diagnosed abnormality rates according to the Bethesda classification.Results. During the study 20 603 women participated. Eighty per cent of the sample had never had a Pap smear before and just over 91 % had not had a Pap smear in the last 5 years. Inthis study population 468 women screened (2.42%) were found to have low-grade squamous intra-epithelial lesions (LSIL) and the average age of these women was 33.1 years; 366 (1.8%) had high-grade SIL (HSIL) and these women were statistically significantly older at 37.97 years of age; and 92 women (0.47%) were found to have cytologically diagnosed invasive cancer. These women were significantly older, with an average age of 51.3 years. A clear relationship was found between age and LSIL, with younger women having a high rate of LSIL which decreases with increasing age. A similar but inverse relationship between age and invasive cancer is described, with the rate being low in young women and increasing with increasing age. A clear relationship between HSIL and age is not described in these data. The adequacy rate (satisfactory and satisfactory but limited) of the slides was 95%, and just under 92% of the study sample received their results. Not all women were appropriately referred and it was not possible to assess if women referred for treatment received it.Conclusions. These data indicate that cancer of the cervix is a common disease and that, similar to other countries, it is a disease of older women. These data give some positive indicators for future screening - older women will present for screening and the majority of women received their results. However, improvements in health system functioning are needed. A uniform national cytology reporting system is required as well as clear guidelines for providers on what action to take based on cytology reports. Linkage between the site of screening and treatment centre is inadequate and requires urgent attention in order to decrease cervical cancer mortality

Study of different mathematical approaches in determining the dynamic rating of overhead power lines and a comparison with real time monitoring data

Electricity generation is changing as new, renewable and smaller generation facilities are created, and classic topologies have to accommodate this distributed generation. These changes lead to the creation of smart grids in which advanced generation, information and communication technologies are needed. Information metering is important, and one of the most important grid parameters to be measured and controlled is the temperature of overhead conductors due to their relation to the maximum allowable sag of the line. The temperature and current of an overhead conductor and the weather conditions surrounding the cable are measured every 8 min for more than a year. With these data, the accuracies of the different algorithms presented in the standards (CIGRE TB601 and IEEE 738) are studied by implementing them in MATLAB®. The use of precise measurements of solar radiation and low wind speeds with ultrasonic anemometers, improves the accuracy of the estimated temperature compared with the real measured conductor temperature. Additionally, using dynamic algorithms instead of assuming a steady state analysis increases the accuracy. However, an equilibrium between the accuracy and mathematical complexity should be obtained depending on the specific needs.This work was supported by the Spanish Government under the R+D initiative INNPACTO with reference IPT-2011-1447-920000 and Spanish R+D initiative with reference ENE2013-42720-

Commercial weight loss diets meet nutrient requirements in free living adults over 8 weeks: A randomised controlled weight loss trial

Objective: To investigate the effect of commercial weight loss programmes on macronutrient composition and micronutrient adequacy over a 2 month period

The importation and establishment of community transmission of SARSCoV- 2 during the first eight weeks of the South African COVID-19 epidemic

BACKGROUND : We describe the epidemiology of COVID-19 in South Africa following importation and during implementation of stringent lockdown measures. METHODS : Using national surveillance data including demographics, laboratory test data, clinical presentation, risk exposures (travel history, contacts and occupation) and outcomes of persons undergoing COVID-19 testing or hospitalised with COVID-19 at sentinel surveillance sites, we generated and interpreted descriptive statistics, epidemic curves, and initial reproductive numbers (Rt). FINDINGS : From 4 March to 30 April 2020, 271,670 SARS-CoV-2 PCR tests were performed (462 tests/100,000 persons). Of these, 7,892 (2.9%) persons tested positive (median age 37 years (interquartile range 28 49 years), 4,568 (58%) male, cumulative incidence of 13.4 cases/100,000 persons). Hospitalization records were found for 1,271 patients (692 females (54%)) of whom 186 (14.6%) died. Amongst 2,819 cases with data, 489/ 2819 (17.3%) travelled internationally within 14 days prior to diagnosis, mostly during March 2020 (466 (95%)). Cases diagnosed in April compared with March were younger (median age, 37 vs. 40 years), less likely female (38% vs. 53%) and resident in a more populous province (98% vs. 91%). The national initial Rt was 2.08 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.71 2.51). INTERPRETATION : The first eight weeks following COVID-19 importation were characterised by early predominance of imported cases and relatively low mortality and transmission rates. Despite stringent lockdown measures, the second month following importation was characterised by community transmission and increasing disease burden in more populous provinces.The South African governmenthttps://www.journals.elsevier.com/eclinicalmedicineam2022School of Health Systems and Public Health (SHSPH

Adapting Agriculture to Climate Change: A Synopsis of Coordinated National Crop Wild Relative Seed Collecting Programs across Five Continents

The Adapting Agriculture to Climate Change Project set out to improve the diversity, quantity, and accessibility of germplasm collections of crop wild relatives (CWR). Between 2013 and 2018, partners in 25 countries, heirs to the globetrotting legacy of Nikolai Vavilov, undertook seed collecting expeditions targeting CWR of 28 crops of global significance for agriculture. Here, we describe the implementation of the 25 national collecting programs and present the key results. A total of 4587 unique seed samples from at least 355 CWR taxa were collected, conserved ex situ, safety duplicated in national and international genebanks, and made available through the Multilateral System (MLS) of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (Plant Treaty). Collections of CWR were made for all 28 targeted crops. Potato and eggplant were the most collected genepools, although the greatest number of primary genepool collections were made for rice. Overall, alfalfa, Bambara groundnut, grass pea and wheat were the genepools for which targets were best achieved. Several of the newly collected samples have already been used in pre-breeding programs to adapt crops to future challenges.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Epidemiology of SARS-CoV-2 infection and SARS-CoV-2 positive hospital admissions among children in South Africa

INTRODUCTION : We describe epidemiology and outcomes of confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and positive admissions among children <18 years in South Africa, an upper-middle income setting with high inequality. METHODS : Laboratory and hospital COVID-19 surveillance data, 28 January - 19 September 2020 was used. Testing rates were calculated as number of tested for SARS-CoV-2 divided by population at risk; test positivity rates were calculated as positive tests divided by total number of tests. In-hospital case fatality ratio (CFR) was calculated based on hospitalized positive admissions with outcome data who died in-hospital and whose death was judged SARS-CoV-2 related by attending physician. FINDINGS : 315 570 children aged <18 years were tested for SARS-CoV-2; representing 8.9% of all 3 548 738 tests and 1.6% of all children in the country. Of children tested, 46 137 (14.6%) were positive. Children made up 2.9% (n = 2007) of all SARS-CoV-2 positive admissions to sentinel hospitals. Among children, 47 died (2.6% case-fatality). In-hospital deaths were associated with male sex [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 2.18 (95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.08–4.40)] vs female; age <1 year [aOR 4.11 (95% CI 1.08–15.54)], age 10–14 years [aOR 4.20 (95% CI1.07–16.44)], age 15–17 years [aOR 4.86 (95% 1.28–18.51)] vs age 1–4 years; admission to a public hospital [aOR 5.07(95% 2.01–12.76)] vs private hospital and ≥1 underlying conditions [aOR 12.09 (95% CI 4.19–34.89)] vs none. CONCLUSIONS : Children with underlying conditions were at greater risk of severe SARS-CoV-2 outcomes. Children > 10 years, those in certain provinces and those with underlying conditions should be considered for increased testing and vaccination.SUPPORTING INFORMATION : TABLE S1: Description of SARS-CoV-2 rRT-PCR positive children <18 years in South Africa, 1 March 2020–19 September 2020 (N = 45 609). TABLE S2: Description of SARS-CoV-2 rRT-PCR positive hospital admissions among children <18 years in South Africa by province, 1 March 2020–19 September 2020 (N = 2007). TABLE S3: Distribution of non-missing variables among children with complete follow up and included in multivariable model (N = 1817). TABLE S4: Factors associated with in-hospital death among SARS-CoV-2 rRT-PCR positive admissions in children <18 years, South Africa, 1 March 2020–19 September 2020. FIGURE S1: Number of SARS-CoV-2 rRT-PCR tests*, percent positive tests and associated- hospital admissions among children <18 years by province and epidemiology week, South Africa, 1 March 2020–19 September 2020.National Department of Health, Republic of South Africahttp://wileyonlinelibrary.com/journal/irvhj2022School of Health Systems and Public Health (SHSPH

Solar energy & photovoltaics

Publisher url: http://www.mhprofessional.com/product.php?isbn=0071762310#For more than a century, the Standard Handbook for Electrical Engineers has served as the definitive source for all the pertinent electrical engineering data essential to both engineering students and practicing engineers. It offers comprehensive information on the generation, transmission, distribution, control, operation, and application of electric power. Completely revised throughout to address the latest codes and standards, the 16th Edition of this renowned reference offers new coverage of green technologies such as smart grids, smart meters, renewable energy, and cogeneration plants. Modern computer applications and methods for securing computer network infrastructures that control power grids are also discussed. Featuring hundreds of detailed illustrations and contributions from more than 75 global experts, this state-of-the-art volume is an essential tool for every electrical engineer