The impact of live sheep export trade on the South Africa economy

The study assesses the impact of the live sheep export trade on the South African economy. The study used a recent South African Social Accounting Matrix and a partial equilibrium model. The results are mixed. On a positive note, the higher the demand for live sheep exports, the higher the prices and the more significant the economic impact. On the other hand, South Africa loses value-adding opportunities such as output from abattoirs, including hides and skin, offal, head, and consumable internal organs, and employment when live lambs are exported and slaughtered in destination markets. These findings help policymakers to develop appropriate mitigation strategies to balance the advantages and disadvantages of live sheep export. A nationwide analysis may miss some of the local costs and benefits of live sheep exports. Future research can also be done in selected major areas that produce sheep in South Africa

Nanofluid-cooled microchannel heat sink with carbon nanotube

Concerns over the exponential increase in the heat produced per unit area in electronic chips have driven advanced research into the nanofluid capability as a coolant. Generally reported for its improved thermal conductivity in particular at higher concentrations, different types of surfactant normally added used to stabilize the nanofluid have reported different thermal resistance to heat flow. This paper reports an analysis of the thermal performance of a nanofuid-cooled microchannel heat sink (MCHS) with 0.1% volume fraction of CNT nanofluid utilizing two different surfactants; Lignin (N2) and sodium polycarboxylate (N3) as stabilizers. Multi-objective particle swarm optimization (MOPSO) algorithm was utilized to simultaneously minimize the thermal resistance and pumping power by optimizing the design parameters; the wall width and channel aspect ratios. Optimization outcomes showed that the thermal resistance of CNT nanofluids is lower than water by 1% at 20°C. Nanofluid with N3 has a significantly higher pressure drop than water, up to 47%. CNT nanofluid with N3 performed poorly due to the high viscosity which consequently results both in higher thermal resistance and pressure drop. Since a surfactant alters the properties of nanofluid, it could improve or deteriorate the performance of a MCHS overall and must not be taken lightly as a MCHS is expected to operate for a long time

Optimal geometrical integration of electromechanical actuators

International audienceno abstrac

Optimal preliminary design of electromechanical actuation systems

International audienceno abstrac

Optimal preliminary design of electromechanical actuation systems

International audienceno abstrac

Structured clinical interview for diagnosing obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders.

Background: There are several established structured diagnostic interviews that cover common mental disorders seen in general psychiatry clinics. The administration of more focused diagnostic interviews may be useful in specialty clinics, such as OCD clinics. A semi-structured clinician-administered interview for obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders (SCID-OCSD) was developed and adapted for DSM-5/ICD-11 obsessive-compulsive and related disorders as well as other putative obsessive-compulsive spectrum conditions. Objective: To introduce a semi-structured diagnostic interview for in-depth assessment of obsessive-compulsive spectrum disorders (OCSDs), and to report on its implementation in adults with primary OCD attending an OCD-specialized unit. Methods: Patients with primary OCD were interviewed using the SCID-OCSD. The SCID-OCSD assesses disorders drawn from several diagnostic categories that share some core features of obsessive-compulsive phenomenology and that are often comorbid in OCD (e.g., obsessive-compulsive related disorders, impulse-control disorders, and a spectrum of compulsive-impulsive conditions such as tics, eating disorders, non-suicidal self-injury, and behavioral addictions. Participants had to be at least moderately symptomatic on the Yale-Brown Obsessive-Compulsive Severity scale (YBOCS, i.e., a total score ≥ 14) to be included in the current study. Results: One hundred and one adult patients with current OCD (n = 101, 37 men and 64 women), took part in the study. Forty-two participants (n = 42) had OCD and one or more current or past comorbid OCSDs, with excoriation (skin-picking) disorder (n = 16) and body dysmorphic disorder (n = 14) being the most common. Nine (n = 9) participants reported a history of non-suicidal self-injury, and 6 participants reported a history of comorbid tics. Conclusions: In OCD clinics, the SCID-OCSD may help diagnose the full range of putative OCSDs, and so facilitate treatment planning and research on these conditions

Optimal geometrical integration of electromechanical actuators

International audienceno abstrac