Renewable Energy Microgrids to Improve Electrification Rate in Democratic Republic of Congo: Case of Hydro, Municipal Waste and Solar

Worldwide, it is imperative for citizens to have access to electrici-ty. This applies to Congolese--rural and urban dwellers, and if possible, it should be guaranteed by government’s laws and poli-cies. However, the rural and urban areas of Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) suffer majorly from lack of access to electricity. The major reasons are the high costs associated with connection to the national central grid and production insufficiency. There-fore, one feasible approach to electrify these areas is to use mi-crogrids. This technology is decent and viable option for energy revolution since it incorporates energy storage systems, distribut-ed generators, and localized loads. This paper has taken to im-plement this solution by firstly analysing some cities located at the borders of large rivers or watercourses (with known depth and width), such as the Congo River considered for hydrokinetic pow-er (HKP). However, where the Congo River does not pass through, the paper will consider largest rivers passing in the area. For the case of photovoltaic electricity production, large cities are considered those with good sunshine and large population who have purchasing power for the photovoltaic electricity. The waste to energy power plans will consider the top ten densely populated cities in DRC. The proposed microgrids will operate in isolation (islanded) mode. This paper proposed 44 projects to generate 795 690 kW total energy from the microgrids. These energies are divided as 661 000 kW from solar photovoltaic, 83 790 kW from waste to energy, and 50 900 kW from hydrokinetic generation. The urban share will be 94.9% and rural area share will be 5.1% of this generation. Further work needs to include biomass as a possible renewable energy to add in the mix

Evaluating the implementation of performance management systems at Lilongwe Technical College in Malawi

The study was set out to examine the implementation of Performance Management System at Lilongwe Technical College in Malawi. The reason for pursuing the study is to contribute to the improvement and strengthening of the implementation of the Performance Management System which is already in place at the college. The objectives of the study were to assess the attitudes and perceptions of employers regarding the implementation of the PMS at Lilongwe Technical College; to establish the challenges inhibiting successful implementation; and to provide possible mechanisms to improve the situation. The research methodology used was a qualitative research approach, based on in-depth interviews, observation and secondary resources that is reviewing the necessary information available in connection with the topic. After analyzing the relevant information, it became apparent that the performance management system is lacking understanding of the policy, procedures and processes, senior management does not seem to be committed to the successful implementation of the PMS and also lack of motivation and advocacy from top management. The researcher has given recommendations in chapter 5 so that it would contribute to more efficient and effective implementation of the Performance Management System at Lilongwe Technical College.Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 201

Evaluating the implementation of performance management systems at Lilongwe Technical College in Malawi

The study was set out to examine the implementation of Performance Management System at Lilongwe Technical College in Malawi. The reason for pursuing the study is to contribute to the improvement and strengthening of the implementation of the Performance Management System which is already in place at the college. The objectives of the study were to assess the attitudes and perceptions of employers regarding the implementation of the PMS at Lilongwe Technical College; to establish the challenges inhibiting successful implementation; and to provide possible mechanisms to improve the situation. The research methodology used was a qualitative research approach, based on in-depth interviews, observation and secondary resources that is reviewing the necessary information available in connection with the topic. After analyzing the relevant information, it became apparent that the performance management system is lacking understanding of the policy, procedures and processes, senior management does not seem to be committed to the successful implementation of the PMS and also lack of motivation and advocacy from top management. The researcher has given recommendations in chapter 5 so that it would contribute to more efficient and effective implementation of the Performance Management System at Lilongwe Technical College.Thesis (MA) -- Faculty of Management and Commerce, 201

Development of an electric drive train for cycles as a sustainable means of transportation for a green environment

Abstract: A reliable and sustainable means of human transportation is vital for the world’s increasing pollution emissions and congestions on the motorways. The research aimed at and focused on developing an affordable electric drive train for cycles using the principle of Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT) to provide an interminable number of speed ratios by varying the pulley diameters. The planetary gears designed and installed within the CVT chamber provided a locking mechanism for the ring gear to provide forward transmission to the rear wheel where motion was stepped up through an open differential gear to propel the cycle forward. For stability and ease of manufacture and assembly, a tricycle concept was chosen and developed as a sustainable and alternative means of transportation. The developed electric drive train provides a ‘green’ and affordable means of human transportation in a world geared towards the elimination of pollution

Mystique africaine et mystique de saint Jean de la Croix : relecture du Colloque international de Kinshasa, 13-16 janvier 1992

Le Colloque de Kinshasa ne pouvait pas épuiser la problématique de la rencontre entre le Docteur mystique et le négro-africain. Par contre, ü a remué des questions, qui, même demeurant sans réponses précises, ouvrent résolument la porte à des recherches ultérieures. Et cette thèse se situe sur cette lancée. La question de l’existence de la mystique africaine, de son horizon ultime voire celle des témoignages concrets, n’a pu que plonger dans la confusion. 11 a fallu, par une critique textuelle, tenter de comprendre le Colloque pour découvrir ses limites et ses pertinences. Comprendre la mystique africaine est autre chose que le désir de la christianiser. Le Colloque ne s’est pas départi des présupposés chrétiens dans son approche de la mystique africaine. N’aurait-il pas été préférable d’étudier la mystique africaine pour elle-même et celle de Jean de la Croix pour elle-même avant de les aider à se rencontrer dans une ouverture et accueil mutuel pour qu’ensemble, l’une éclairant l’autre à rencontrer le Christ, elles cheminent vers le Médiateur par excellence? N’est-ce pas sur ce chemin de la découverte du Christ que le rôle de Jean de la Croix peut se préciser davantage? Toutes ces questions ont amené à circonscrire le sois même de la mystique, à recourir aux textes relevant des domaines jugés par le Colloque comme des piliers indicateurs de la mystique africaine et aux poèmes majeurs de Jean de la Croix, en vue de saisir du dedans, grâce à l’herméneutique des textes des spirituels. les deux mystiques. Cette saisie a permis alors de rapprocher l’une de l'autre mystique pour découvrir les lieux d’universalité qui ne soient ni pierres d’attente ni moules égalisateurs mais bien des champs où se dévoile la véritable parenté qui ferait de la compréhension de l’une, une pré-compréhension de l’autre. Mais le rôle d’indicateur du Christ qui revient à Jean de la Croix ne pourra porter du fruit que dans la mesure où il se laisse accueillir en envoyé par les communautés chrétiennes africaines, lieux sûrs d’émergence de la spiritualité chrétienne africaine tout autant que de la mystique chrétienne africaine

The impact of exchange rate on exports in South Africa.

The primary objective of this study is to assess the impact of exchange rate on exports in South Africa between the periods 1994 to 2016 and to establish whether a statistically significant relationship exists between exports and exchange rate. The study incorporated real interest rate, investments and inflation as control variables. By applying the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach, this study empirically investigates the impact of real exchange rate on exports in South Africa. In testing for the unit root properties of the time series data, the variables were subjected to the Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) and Philips Perron (PP) unit root tests. The results obtained reveal that exchange rate has a significant negative relationship with exports in South Africa

Modulation of gene expression via overlapping binding sites exerted by ZNF143, Notch1 and THAP11

ZNF143 is a zinc-finger protein involved in the transcriptional regulation of both coding and non-coding genes from polymerase II and III promoters. Our study deciphers the genome-wide regulatory role of ZNF143 in relation with the two previously unrelated transcription factors Notch1/ICN1 and thanatos-associated protein 11 (THAP11) in several human and murine cells. We show that two distinct motifs, SBS1 and SBS2, are associated to ZNF143-binding events in promoters of >3000 genes. Without co-occupation, these sites are also bound by Notch1/ICN1 in T-lymphoblastic leukaemia cells as well as by THAP11, a factor involved in self-renewal of embryonic stem cells. We present evidence that ICN1 binding overlaps with ZNF143 binding events at the SBS1 and SBS2 motifs, whereas the overlap occurs only at SBS2 for THAP11. We demonstrate that the three factors modulate expression of common target genes through the mutually exclusive occupation of overlapping binding sites. The model we propose predicts that the binding competition between the three factors controls biological processes such as rapid cell growth of both neoplastic and stem cells. Overall, our study establishes a novel relationship between ZNF143, THAP11 and ICN1 and reveals important insights into ZNF143-mediated gene regulation

The impact of exchange rate on exports in South Africa.

The primary objective of this study is to assess the impact of exchange rate on exports in South Africa between the periods 1994 to 2016 and to establish whether a statistically significant relationship exists between exports and exchange rate. The study incorporated real interest rate, investments and inflation as control variables. By applying the Autoregressive Distributed Lag (ARDL) approach, this study empirically investigates the impact of real exchange rate on exports in South Africa. In testing for the unit root properties of the time series data, the variables were subjected to the Augmented Dickey-Fuller (ADF) and Philips Perron (PP) unit root tests. The results obtained reveal that exchange rate has a significant negative relationship with exports in South Africa

An Analysis of the Website Strategies of Top Fee-Generating U.S.-Based Public Relations Agencies

The current paper presents a content analysis of a group of 102 websites of major U.S.-based public relations agencies and a critique of how principles of dialogic communication have been applied to these websites. Our analysis revealed that the agency websites were very strong in the areas of usefulness of information and ease of interface, as might be expected. There was much wider variation in the areas of conservation of visitors and generation of return visitors. For example, only one website featured an explicit invitation to return, and none of the websites had a FAQ or Q&A page. Similarly, closing the dialogic loop was mixed, with many agencies allowing for comments to be left by visitors but with few comments or dialog. We discuss our findings in light of dialogic communication and where we suggest researchers might focus their efforts in the future. In particular, we suggest that an agency-client relationship may represent an example where dialogic communication is appropriate but where that communication style is not enacted via the agency’s website. We also highlight examples in which certain agencies use their websites to create dialog with clients and potential clients

Genome-wide evidence for an essential role of the human Staf/ZNF143 transcription factor in bidirectional transcription

In the human genome, ∼10% of the genes are arranged head to head so that their transcription start sites reside within <1 kbp on opposite strands. In this configuration, a bidirectional promoter generally drives expression of the two genes. How bidirectional expression is performed from these particular promoters constitutes a puzzling question. Here, by a combination of in silico and biochemical approaches, we demonstrate that hStaf/ZNF143 is involved in controlling expression from a subset of divergent gene pairs. The binding sites for hStaf/ZNF143 (SBS) are overrepresented in bidirectional versus unidirectional promoters. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays with a significant set of bidirectional promoters containing putative SBS revealed that 93% of them are associated with hStaf/ZNF143. Expression of dual reporter genes directed by bidirectional promoters are dependent on the SBS integrity and requires hStaf/ZNF143. Furthermore, in some cases, functional SBS are located in bidirectional promoters of gene pairs encoding a noncoding RNA and a protein gene. Remarkably, hStaf/ZNF143 per se exhibits an inherently bidirectional transcription activity, and together our data provide the demonstration that hStaf/ZNF143 is indeed a transcription factor controlling the expression of divergent protein–protein and protein–non-coding RNA gene pairs