Turn-turn short circuit fault management in permanent magnet machines

This paper presents a systematic study on turn-turn short circuit fault and ways to manage them to provide a basis for comparison of the various options available. The possible methods to reduce the likelihood of the winding SC fault and the fault mitigation techniques related to such faults are discussed. A Finite Element (FE) analysis of a surface-mount Permanent Magnet (PM) machine under application of different mitigation techniques during a turn-turn fault is presented. Both machine and drive structural adaptations for different fault mitigation techniques are addressed. Amongst the investigated fault mitigation techniques, the most promising solution is identified and validated experimentally. It is shown that the shorting terminal method adopting vertical winding arrangement is an effective method in terms of the implementation, reliability and weight

The phylogeography and incidence of multi-drug resistant typhoid fever in sub-Saharan Africa.

There is paucity of data regarding the geographical distribution, incidence, and phylogenetics of multi-drug resistant (MDR) Salmonella Typhi in sub-Saharan Africa. Here we present a phylogenetic reconstruction of whole genome sequenced 249 contemporaneous S. Typhi isolated between 2008-2015 in 11 sub-Saharan African countries, in context of the 2,057 global S. Typhi genomic framework. Despite the broad genetic diversity, the majority of organisms (225/249; 90%) belong to only three genotypes, 4.3.1 (H58) (99/249; 40%), 3.1.1 (97/249; 39%), and 2.3.2 (29/249; 12%). Genotypes 4.3.1 and 3.1.1 are confined within East and West Africa, respectively. MDR phenotype is found in over 50% of organisms restricted within these dominant genotypes. High incidences of MDR S. Typhi are calculated in locations with a high burden of typhoid, specifically in children aged <15 years. Antimicrobial stewardship, MDR surveillance, and the introduction of typhoid conjugate vaccines will be critical for the control of MDR typhoid in Africa

Short Note: Preliminary fish survey of Lac Tseny in north- western Madagascar

We surveyed the fish fauna of Lac Tseny, in the Sofia Region of northwestern Madagascar, during October 2010 by observing commercial catches and targeted netting of areas used by endemic species. We recorded seven native fish species at the lake, including three endemic cichlids, a herring and a catfish. We confirmed the continued survival of the Critically Endangered Paretroplus menarambo, as well as the presence of a Paretroplus taxon that may be new to science. The commercial fishery in the lake is sustained by introduced tilapiines and the native Sauvagella robusta. The three endemic cichlids (Paretroplus spp.) were not targeted by commercial fishermen, but when caught in small numbers were retained for domestic consumption. Submerged trees in the west of the lake restrict fishing with nets and probably provide important habitat for P. menarambo. Priority next steps at the lake include (i) additional surveys and biological studies of the endemic fish species and the Critically Endangered Madagascar big - headed turtle, Erymnochelys madagascariensis, (ii) clarification of the taxonomic status of Paretroplus cf. kieneri and, should it prove a new taxon, its formal scientific description, and (iii) continued engagement with fishing communities and authorities to promote practices that benefit livelihoods and the survival of threatened fish species.R&Eacute;SUM&Eacute;La composition sp&eacute;cifique de l&rsquo;ichtyofaune du lac Tseny, dans l&rsquo;ouest de Madagascar (r&eacute;gion de Sofia) a &eacute;t&eacute; inventori&eacute;e au cours du mois d&rsquo;octobre 2010, en observant les prises des p&ecirc;cheurs et des p&ecirc;ches cibl&eacute;es sur les esp&egrave;ces end&eacute;miques. Sept esp&egrave;ces de poissons indig&egrave;nes ont &eacute;t&eacute; observ&eacute;es, dont trois cichlid&eacute;s end&eacute;miques (Paretroplus menarambo, Paretroplus lamenabe et Paretroplus cf. kieneri), un hareng indig&egrave;ne (Sauvagella robusta) et un poisson-chat (Arius madagascariensis). Deux de ces esp&egrave;ces sont class&eacute;es comme Menac&eacute;es dans la Liste Rouge de l&rsquo;UICN&nbsp;: P. menarambo est une esp&egrave;ce en Danger Critique d&rsquo;Extinction qui n&rsquo;est connue que du lac Tseny et A. madagascariensis est une esp&egrave;ce en Danger d&rsquo;Extinction et end&eacute;mique de la r&eacute;gion de Sofia. Un des poissons que nous avons inventori&eacute; dans le genre Paretroplus semble &ecirc;tre une forme non d&eacute;crite. Les p&ecirc;cheurs ont indiqu&eacute; que P. menarambo est associ&eacute; &agrave; des arbres immerg&eacute;s le long de la rive occidentale du lac qui offrent un habitat propice &agrave; la reproduction et &agrave; l&rsquo;alimentation. Ces arbres immerg&eacute;s emp&ecirc;chent l&rsquo;utilisation des filets pour la p&ecirc;che et limitent ainsi la pression de p&ecirc;che qui s&rsquo;exerce sur cette esp&egrave;ce. Les trois esp&egrave;ces end&eacute;miques de Paretroplus sont pris&eacute;es par les p&ecirc;cheurs qui les gardent pour leur consommation personnelle plut&ocirc;t que de les vendre. La p&ecirc;che commerciale pratiqu&eacute;e dans le lac semble p&eacute;renne gr&acirc;ce &agrave; la pr&eacute;sence de tilapias allog&egrave;nes et du hareng indig&egrave;ne (Sauvagella robusta) qui approvisionnent les march&eacute;s de poisson local (Tsaratanana), r&eacute;gionaux (Boriziny et Mandritsara) et national (Antananarivo). Les populations locales ont rapport&eacute; que la surp&ecirc;che, l&rsquo;immigration, l&rsquo;utilisation ill&eacute;gale de filets &agrave; petit maillage et le non respect de la saison de fermeture de la p&ecirc;che &eacute;taient les principales menaces pesant sur l&rsquo;ichtyofaune du lac Tseny. Une baisse de la p&ecirc;che commerciale pourrait entra&icirc;ner une ru&eacute;e vers les esp&egrave;ces end&eacute;miques et l&rsquo;ouverture des zones d&rsquo;arbres immerg&eacute;s pour la p&ecirc;che. Le lac Tseny abrite un assemblage unique de poissons qui doivent &ecirc;tre prot&eacute;g&eacute;s dans leur habitat qui est essentiel aux cichlid&eacute;s end&eacute;miques par le maintien d&rsquo;une p&ecirc;che commerciale p&eacute;renne. Les prochaines &eacute;tapes &agrave; mener en priorit&eacute; pour le lac incluent&nbsp;: (i) des &eacute;tudes suppl&eacute;mentaires sur la biologie des poissons end&eacute;miques et de la Podocn&eacute;mide de Madagascar (Erymnochelys madagascariensis), une tortue en Danger Critique d&rsquo;Extinction, (ii) la clarification du statut taxinomique de Paretroplus cf. kieneri qui pourrait &ecirc;tre une nouvelle esp&egrave;ce et sa description, le cas &eacute;ch&eacute;ant, et (iii) l&rsquo;engagement continu avec les communaut&eacute;s de p&ecirc;cheurs et les autorit&eacute;s locales pour promouvoir des pratiques &eacute;quitables en faveur des populations riveraines et pour la survie des esp&egrave;ces de poissons menac&eacute;es

Polyphenols isolated from the bark of Castanea Sativa. Mill. Chemical structures and auto-association

International audienc

The Project Luke Issue - Bilingual

A publication of the Dictionary of African Christian Biography with U.S. offices located at the Center for Global Christianity and Mission at Boston University. This issue focuses on: The Project Luke scholarship program ran from 1999 to 2011 at the Overseas Ministries Study Center where DACB Founder and Director Emeritus Jonathan Bonk served as Executive Director from 2000 to 2013. This issue of the Journal retraces the history of Project Luke by recounting the stories provided by seventeen men and two women in these pages

Multicountry distribution and characterization of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-associated gram-negative bacteria from bloodstream infections in sub-Saharan Africa

Background Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a major global health concern, yet, there are noticeable gaps in AMR surveillance data in regions such as sub-Saharan Africa. We aimed to measure the prevalence of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL) producing Gram-negative bacteria in bloodstream infections from 12 sentinel sites in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods Data were generated during the Typhoid Fever Surveillance in Africa Program (TSAP), in which standardized blood cultures were performed on febrile patients attending 12 health facilities in 9 sub-Saharan African countries between 2010 and 2014. Pathogenic bloodstream isolates were identified at the sites and then subsequently confirmed at a central reference laboratory. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing, detection of ESBL production, and conventional multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing for genes encoding for β-lactamase were performed on all pathogens. Results Five hundred and five pathogenic Gram-negative bloodstream isolates were isolated during the study period and available for further characterization. This included 423 Enterobacteriaceae. Phenotypically, 61 (12.1%) isolates exhibited ESBL activity, and genotypically, 47 (9.3%) yielded a PCR amplicon for at least one of the screened ESBL genes. Among specific Gram-negative isolates, 40 (45.5%) of 88 Klebsiella spp., 7 (5.7%) of 122 Escherichia coli, 6 (16.2%) of 37 Acinetobacter spp., and 2 (1.3%) of 159 of nontyphoidal Salmonella (NTS) showed phenotypic ESBL activity. Conclusions Our findings confirm the presence of ESBL production among pathogens causing bloodstream infections in sub-Saharan Africa. With few alternatives for managing ESBL-producing pathogens in the African setting, measures to control the development and proliferation of AMR organisms are urgently needed.</p