DEVELOPMENT OF A PERFORMANCE MONITORING SYSTEM TO OPTIMIZE PV BASED SOLAR ELECTRICITY GENERATION

Demand for electricity in Malaysia has seen a substantial hike in light of the nation’s rapid economic development in pursuit of achieving Vision 2020. The current method of generating electricity is through the use of conventional energy sources such as fossil fuels. However, consistent usage of fossil fuels has resulted in detrimental effects towards the environment besides the dampening amount of natural resources available globally. An alternative energy source that is capable of sustaining the demand is needed to ensure a sustainable future. Since its implementation through the Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA), the Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) mechanism has established a total installed Photovoltaic (PV) capacity of 192 MW from 655 projects that are currently operational from the overall of 2628 approved projects in Malaysia

DEVELOPMENT OF A PERFORMANCE MONITORING SYSTEM TO OPTIMIZE PV BASED SOLAR ELECTRICITY GENERATION

Demand for electricity in Malaysia has seen a substantial hike in light of the nation’s rapid economic development in pursuit of achieving Vision 2020. The current method of generating electricity is through the use of conventional energy sources such as fossil fuels. However, consistent usage of fossil fuels has resulted in detrimental effects towards the environment besides the dampening amount of natural resources available globally. An alternative energy source that is capable of sustaining the demand is needed to ensure a sustainable future. Since its implementation through the Sustainable Energy Development Authority (SEDA), the Feed-in-Tariff (FiT) mechanism has established a total installed Photovoltaic (PV) capacity of 192 MW from 655 projects that are currently operational from the overall of 2628 approved projects in Malaysia

Impact of HIV Infection on Radiographic Features in Patients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Background. There is insufficient data on the radiographic presentation of tuberculosis in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infected patients from India. Methods. We examined the chest radiographs of 181 patients including 82 HIV positives with newly diagnosed sputum culture positive pulmonary tuberculosis before and after the completion of anti-tuberculosis treatment (ATT). Patients with smear/culture positive pulmonary tuberculosis were treated with Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) Cat-I regimen (2EHRZ3/4HR3). An independent assessor blinded to HIV and clinical status of patients read the radiographs. Results. At presentation, HIV seropositive patients were significantly more likely to have normal chest radiographs (14.2% vs 0), miliary tuberculosis (10.7% vs 1%) and pleural effusion (16.6% vs 3%), and less likely to have cavitation (17.8% vs 39.4%) as compared to HIV negative patients. At the end of treatment, HIV positive patients were more likely to have normal radiographs (42.8% vs 1.2%), and less likely to have fibrosis (17.8% vs 42.5%). Conclusions. The radiographic presentation of pulmonary tuberculosis in HIV-infected patients is atypical with less cavitation, and more dissemination. On completion of ATT, patients with HIV have less radiographic sequelae in the form of fibrosis. These features may be due to the reduced inflammatory response that patients with HIV infection may be able to mount

Elevated levels of matrix metalloproteinases reflect severity and extent of disease in tuberculosis-diabetes co-morbidity and are predominantly reversed following standard anti-tuberculosis or metformin treatment

BACKGROUND: Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are considered to be key mediators of tuberculosis (TB) pathology but their role in tuberculosis - diabetes comorbidity (TB-DM) is not well understood. METHODS: To study the association of MMP levels with severity and extent of disease as well as bacterial burden in TB-DM, we examined the systemic levels of MMP-1, - 2, - 3, - 7, - 8, - 9, - 10, - 12 and - 13 in individuals with TB-DM and compared them to those with TB alone (TB) or healthy controls (HC). RESULTS: Circulating levels of MMP-1, - 2, - 3, - 7, - 10 and - 12 were significantly higher in TB-DM compared to both TB and HC and MMP -13 levels were higher in comparison to HC alone. To understand the effect of standard anti-tuberculosis therapy (ATT) on these MMP levels in TB-DM, we measured the levels of MMPs at the end of treatment (post-treatment). Our findings indicate that ATT is associated with a significant reduction in the levels of MMP-1, - 2, - 3, - 8 and - 13 post-treatment. Moreover, the levels of MMP-1, - 2, - 3, - 9 and - 12 were significantly higher in TB-DM individuals with cavitary disease and/or bilateral disease at baseline but not post-treatment. Similarly, the levels of MMP -1, - 2, - 3 and - 8 exhibited a significant positive relationship with bacterial burden and HbA1c levels at baseline but not post-treatment. Within the TB-DM group, those known to be diabetic before incident TB (KDM) exhibited significantly higher levels of MMP-1, - 2, - 10 and - 12 at baseline and of MMP-1 and -3 post-treatment compared to those newly diagnosed with DM (NDM). Finally, KDM individuals on metformin treatment exhibited significantly lower levels of MMP-1, - 2, - 3, - 7, - 9 and - 12 at baseline and of MMP-7 post-treatment. CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrate that systemic MMP levels reflect baseline disease severity and extent in TB-DM, differentiate KDM from NDM and are modulated by ATT and metformin therapy

Tuberculosis-diabetes co-morbidity is characterized by heightened systemic levels of circulating angiogenic factors

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis-diabetes co-morbidity (TB-DM) is characterized by increased inflammation with elevated circulating levels of inflammatory cytokines and other factors. Circulating angiogenic factors are intricately involved in the angiogenesis-inflammation nexus. METHODS: To study the association of angiogenic factors with TB-DM, we examined the systemic levels of VEGF-A, VEGF-C, VEGF-D, VEGF-R1, VEGF-R2, VEGF-R3 in individuals with either TB-DM (n=44) or TB alone (n=44). RESULTS: Circulating levels of VEGF-A, C, D, R1, R2 and R3 were significantly higher in TB-DM compared to TB individuals. Moreover, the levels of VEGF-A, C, R2 and/or R3 were significantly higher in TB-DM with bilateral or cavitary disease or with hemoptysis, suggesing an association with both disease severity and adverse clinical presentation. The levels of these factors also exhibited a significant positive relationship with bacterial burdens and HbA1c levels. In addition, VEGF-A, C and R2 levels were signifantly higher (at 2 months of treatment) in culture positive compared to culture negative TB-DM individuals. Finally, the circulating levels of VEGF-A, C, D, R1, R2 and R3 were significantly reduced following successful chemotherapy at 6 months. CONCLUSION: Our data demonstrate that TB-DM is associated with heightened levels of circulating angiogenic factors, possibly reflecting both dysregulated angiogenesis and exaggerated inflammation