Digital Twin Concept, Method and Technical Framework for Smart Meters

Smart meters connect smart grid electricity suppliers and users. Smart meters have become a research hotspot as smart grid applications like demand response, power theft prevention, power quality monitoring, peak valley time of use prices, and peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading have grown. But, as the carriers of these functions, smart meters have technical problems such as limited computing resources, difficulty in upgrading, and high costs, which to some extent restrict the further development of smart grid applications. To address these issues, this study offers a container-based digital twin (CDT) approach for smart meters, which not only increases the user-facing computing resources of smart meters but also simplifies and lowers the overall cost and technical complexity of meter changes. In order to further validate the effectiveness of this method in real-time applications on the smart grid user side, this article tested and analyzed the communication performance of the digital twin system in three areas: remote application services, peer-to-peer transactions, and real-time user request services. The experimental results show that the CDT method proposed in this paper meets the basic requirements of smart grid user-side applications for real-time communication. The container is deployed in the cloud, and the average time required to complete 100 P2P communications using our smart meter structure is less than 2.4 seconds, while the average time required for existing smart meter structures to complete the same number of P2P communications is 208 seconds. Finally, applications, the future development direction of the digital twin method, and technology architecture are projected

The global burden of cancer attributable to risk factors, 2010-19 : a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2019

Background Understanding the magnitude of cancer burden attributable to potentially modifiable risk factors is crucial for development of effective prevention and mitigation strategies. We analysed results from the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study (GBD) 2019 to inform cancer control planning efforts globally. Methods The GBD 2019 comparative risk assessment framework was used to estimate cancer burden attributable to behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risk factors. A total of 82 risk-outcome pairs were included on the basis of the World Cancer Research Fund criteria. Estimated cancer deaths and disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs) in 2019 and change in these measures between 2010 and 2019 are presented. Findings Globally, in 2019, the risk factors included in this analysis accounted for 4.45 million (95% uncertainty interval 4.01-4.94) deaths and 105 million (95.0-116) DALYs for both sexes combined, representing 44.4% (41.3-48.4) of all cancer deaths and 42.0% (39.1-45.6) of all DALYs. There were 2.88 million (2.60-3.18) risk-attributable cancer deaths in males (50.6% [47.8-54.1] of all male cancer deaths) and 1.58 million (1.36-1.84) risk-attributable cancer deaths in females (36.3% [32.5-41.3] of all female cancer deaths). The leading risk factors at the most detailed level globally for risk-attributable cancer deaths and DALYs in 2019 for both sexes combined were smoking, followed by alcohol use and high BMI. Risk-attributable cancer burden varied by world region and Socio-demographic Index (SDI), with smoking, unsafe sex, and alcohol use being the three leading risk factors for risk-attributable cancer DALYs in low SDI locations in 2019, whereas DALYs in high SDI locations mirrored the top three global risk factor rankings. From 2010 to 2019, global risk-attributable cancer deaths increased by 20.4% (12.6-28.4) and DALYs by 16.8% (8.8-25.0), with the greatest percentage increase in metabolic risks (34.7% [27.9-42.8] and 33.3% [25.8-42.0]). Interpretation The leading risk factors contributing to global cancer burden in 2019 were behavioural, whereas metabolic risk factors saw the largest increases between 2010 and 2019. Reducing exposure to these modifiable risk factors would decrease cancer mortality and DALY rates worldwide, and policies should be tailored appropriately to local cancer risk factor burden. Copyright (C) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an Open Access article under the CC BY 4.0 license.Peer reviewe

Role of air quality and pollution in the exacerbation of pulmonary diseases in type 2 diabetes

Background: This study aimed to investigate the role of air quality and pollution in pulmonary diseases exacerbation among 100 patients with type 2 diabetes. The study included data on air quality parameters such as PM10 and SO2 concentrations, disease comorbidities such as COPD, respiratory tract infection, and asthma collected over a period of 12 months from January 2020 to January 2021. The results of the study indicated that the prevalence of exacerbations of pulmonary diseases was significantly higher in patients with poor air quality (P<0.001). Moreover, patients with comorbid respiratory tract infection and COPD had higher rates of exacerbations in comparison with those without such diseases (P<0.001). In conclusion, this study demonstrated that air pollution is associated with increased exacerbations of pulmonary disease in type 2 diabetes. Thus, air quality should be taken into consideration when treating type 2 diabetes patients, especially those with comorbid respiratory disease. Objectives: To study the role of air quality and pollution in pulmonary diseases exacerbation in type 2 diabetes. And identify the air quality parameters associated with pulmonary diseases exacerbation in type 2 diabetes. And explain the relationship between comorbid respiratory diseases and air quality in patients with type 2 diabetes.&nbsp

The long-term effects of type 2 diabetes on quality of life

Background: This study aimed to investigate the long-term effect of Type 2 diabetes on the quality of life of 100 patients in the Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology at the Hayatabad Medical Complex in Peshawar, Pakistan. The patients’ demographic information, medical history and associated comorbidities, and quality of life were collected and recorded. The quality of life was assessed using the World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL-BREF) tool. The results showed that Type 2 diabetes had a significant negative impact on the physical, psychological, and social domains of the patients’ quality of life. There were significant differences between males and females in terms of physical health, psychological health, and social relationships. In addition, elderly patients reported lower scores on general health and physical activities than younger participants. These results demonstrate that Type 2 diabetes has a long-term negative effect on the quality of life of those affected and should be taken into consideration when developing treatment and prevention strategies. Objectives: The main objective of this study was to investigate the long-term effect of Type 2 diabetes on the quality of life of 100 patients in the Department of Diabetes and Endocrinology at the Hayatabad Medical Complex in Peshawar, Pakistan.&nbsp

Impact of Ridge-Furrow Planting in Pakistan: Empirical Evidence from the Farmers Field

Wheat is planted through the broadcast method on 7.8 million ha and irrigated through low-efficiency flood basin irrigation methods. With decreased water availability, there is a need to adopt water use efficient planting techniques. The current paper uses two-year trials data set as well as farmer survey data to demonstrate benefits of ridge-furrow planting wheat and farmer perception regarding the technology in Pakistan. During 2014–15 and 2015–16, ridge-furrow planting of wheat was compared with farmer practice of planting on flat surface through broadcasting at 162 sites located in 15 districts of Pakistan. In a survey, 134 farmers shared their experiences about ridge-furrow planting. Data collected from field trials and demonstrations showed that better tillering and crop growth contributed towards 12% higher wheat grain yield with ridge-furrow planting in comparison with the farmer practice of flat planting in all 15 districts during both years. Furrow-irrigated ridge planting of wheat helped farmers in saving of 30–35% water in comparison with farmer practice. Farmers adopting ridge-furrow wheat planting earned USD 100.63 per hectare more profit than nonadopter farmers. Adoption of this technology on one million hectare can help in saving 1 million acre foot of water and produce additional 0.36 million tons of wheat per year