Invasive Non-typhoidal Salmonella Infections in Asia: Clinical Observations, Disease Outcome and Dominant Serovars from an Infectious Disease Hospital in Vietnam.

Invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella (iNTS) infections are now a well-described cause of morbidity and mortality in children and HIV-infected adults in sub-Saharan Africa. In contrast, the epidemiology and clinical manifestations of iNTS disease in Asia are not well documented. We retrospectively identified >100 cases of iNTS infections in an infectious disease hospital in Southern Vietnam between 2008 and 2013. Clinical records were accessed to evaluate demographic and clinical factors associated with iNTS infection and to identify risk factors associated with death. Multi-locus sequence typing and antimicrobial susceptibility testing was performed on all organisms. Of 102 iNTS patients, 71% were HIV-infected, >90% were adults, 71% were male and 33% reported intravenous drug use. Twenty-six/92 (28%) patients with a known outcome died; HIV infection was significantly associated with death (p = 0.039). S. Enteritidis (Sequence Types (ST)11) (48%, 43/89) and S. Typhimurium (ST19, 34 and 1544) (26%, 23/89) were the most commonly identified serovars; S. Typhimurium was significantly more common in HIV-infected individuals (p = 0.003). Isolates from HIV-infected patients were more likely to exhibit reduced susceptibility against trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole than HIV-negative patients (p = 0.037). We conclude that iNTS disease is a severe infection in Vietnam with a high mortality rate. As in sub-Saharan Africa, HIV infection was a risk factor for death, with the majority of the burden in this population found in HIV-infected adult men

Barriers of solar energy uptake and the potential for mitigation solutions in Barbados

Understanding the barriers that inhibit the deployment of renewable energy technologies to achieve long-term reductions in carbon emissions from the use of fossil fuels is paramount to Barbados. Although there are targets towards renewable energy (solar, wind, biomass, geothermal) uptake, the share of these technologies in the energy mix does not exist in Barbados due to the total dependence on fossil fuels. In this paper, a review of potential challenges and the main problems for deployment of alternative energy sources is presented. Through interviews, questionnaires with a focus group of key personnel’s, the paper documents the lack of renewable energy sources (with emphasis on solar energy) as one of the main alternatives to meet the carbon emission targets set by the country. The barriers and challenges facing the implementation of solar energy deployment have been clarified. From the results, it is evident that significant policy barriers still exist at the country level, which has reduced the effectiveness of a concerted national effort to deploy renewables. The current policy landscape which benefits from fossil fuel imports, the lack of technical know-how and the lack of research and development in the renewable energy space are amongst the key barriers identified. The paper also outlines the key policy’s frameworks, regulatory environment and the lack of incentives, which encompasses the renewable energy sector, and presents a critical analysis of the barriers faced by the industry. A mitigation framework is proposed to bridge the gap of solar energy (renewable energy) deployment

Sigma phase in nickel based superalloys

Paper from BCA Spring Conference 1991SIGLEAvailable from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:8019.3153(RR-PNR--90871) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreGBUnited Kingdo

Heat treatment of a melt spun Fe_7_0Cr_1_8Mo_2B_1_0 alloy

Appears as an article in Journal of non-crystalline solids 1991 v. 127 p. 273-286Available from British Library Document Supply Centre- DSC:8019.3153(RR-PNR--90877) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreSIGLEGBUnited Kingdo

Problems in residual stress determination for thick components

Paper presented at the 'International Conference on Residual Stress', Oxford, UK, July 2000Available from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:8019.322(92748) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreSIGLEGBUnited Kingdo

The application of CALPHAD calculations to NI-based superalloys

Presented at the 9th Conference on superalloys, Seven Springs, September 2000Available from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:8019.322(92761) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreSIGLEGBUnited Kingdo

Problems in residual stress determination for thick components

Paper presented at the 'International Conference on Residual Stress', Oxford, UK, July 2000Available from British Library Document Supply Centre-DSC:8019.322(92748) / BLDSC - British Library Document Supply CentreSIGLEGBUnited Kingdo