ВИЗНАЧЕННЯ ПАРАМЕТРІВ ФОТОЕЛЕКТРИЧНОЇ СИСТЕМИ З АКУМУЛЯТОРОМ ДЛЯ ПОТРЕБ ЛОКАЛЬНОГО ОБ’ЄКТУ

Purpose. Improving the methodology for determining the parameters of a photoelectric system with a battery for the needs of a local object using archival data of the generation of a photoelectric battery with planning the cost of energy consumption from the network for all seasons of the year.Methodology. Using an archive of data on the power generation of a photoelectric battery and analysis of energy processes in a photoelectric system with a battery using computer simulation.Findings. Calculated according to the archive data for five years, the average monthly values of photoelectric battery generation power for time intervals during the day determined according to tariff zones. Dependencies to determine the recommended average value load power of a local object at time intervals.Originality. It is proposed to determine the base schedule of the local facility and the parameters of the photoelectric system based on the average monthly values of photoelectric battery generation in the transition seasons – October, March and the expected cost of energy consumed from the grid during the year. The recalculation of the base value of power during the year is substantiated taking into account the duration of daylight. A method for determining the recommended load schedule of a local object with the formation of the battery charge according to the average monthly value of the photoelectric battery generation power at time intervals during the day, which are determined by archival data for the object location.Practical value. The obtained solutions are the basis for designing photoelectric systems with a battery to meet the needs of local objects.

Long-term variation of 90Sr and 137Cs in environmental and food samples around Qinshan nuclear power plant, China

Environmental radioactivity monitoring in the surroundings of nuclear facilities is important to provide baseline data for effective detection in case of any radioactive release in the region. In this work, we report for the first time the long-term monitoring data of 137Cs and 90Sr in environmental and food samples around Qinshan nuclear power plant in 2012–2019. The distribution levels, temporal variations and source terms of 137Cs and 90Sr in the investigated samples were discussed. The annual effective dose (AED) for the local population from the ingestion of foods was also evaluated. Peak values of 90Sr and 137Cs concentrations and 137Cs/90Sr activity ratio were observed in total atmospheric deposition in 2016 and some water and food samples in the following years. This seems to be associated to an additional radioactive input, mostly likely from the operational release of a local facility. This demonstrates that 90Sr and 137Cs, especially the 137Cs/90Sr activity ratio, are sensitive indicators for detecting potential radioactive releases. Nevertheless, overall 90Sr and 137Cs activity concentrations measured during 2012–2019 in this work were at the background levels with average AED far below the internationally permissible limit and recommendation.

Levels, Variations and Sources of 90sr and 137cs in Environmental and Food Samples Around Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant, China in 2012-2019

Environmental radioactivity monitoring in the surroundings of nuclear facilities is important to provide baseline data for effective detection in case of any radioactive release in the region. In this work, we report for the first time the long-term monitoring data of 137Cs and 90Sr in environmental and food samples around Qinshan Nuclear Power Plant (QNPP) in 2012-2019. The distribution levels, temporal variations and source terms of 137Cs and 90Sr in the investigated samples were discussed. The annual effective dose (AED) for the local population from the ingestion of foods was also evaluated. Peak values of 90Sr and 137Cs concentrations and 137Cs/90Sr radioactivity ratio were observed in total atmospheric deposition in 2016 and some water and food samples in the following years. This seems to be associated to an additional radioactive input, mostly likely from the operational release of a local facility. This demonstrates that 90Sr and 137Cs, especially the 137Cs/90Sr activity ratio, are sensitive indicators for detecting potential radioactive releases. Nevertheless, overall 90Sr and 137Cs activity concentrations measured during 2012-2019 in this work were at the background levels with average AED far below the internationally permissible limit and recommendation.

A Rare Occurrence of Scalp Metastasis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma: Case Report

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most prevalent primary liver malignancy and the fifth most common cancer worldwide. Extrahepatic spread in this type of cancer is most commonly seen in the lungs and lymph nodes and less commonly in the skeletal system. Skull metastases are exceedingly rare, with an incidence of 0.5 to 1.6% reported to date. We report a similar case of a middle-aged Asian male patient with parietal scalp swelling that was initially diagnosed as meningioma. Surgical resection was performed at a local facility. The abdominal computed tomography scan did not reveal any primary or metastatic lesion. After much deliberation, multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging was requested that showed multiple lesions in the liver. Metastatic scalp lesion should be considered a differential diagnosis in HCC regardless of liver symptoms.

Management of power consumption in a photovoltaic system with a storage battery connected to the network with multi-zone electricity pricing to supply the local facility own needs

Purpose. Improving the principles of management of photovoltaic system with storage battery and with autonomous functioning during daylight hours for a local object, connected to the grid with multi-zone payment when excluding the generation of energy into the grid. Methodology. Modeling and analysis of energy processes in the photovoltaic system was performed using the Matlab software package. The simulation model of energy processes is based on calculated expressions taking into account the characteristics of the battery. Operability of the proposed solutions are confirmed on an experimental setup based on a standard hybrid inverter. Results. It’s shown, that due to the battery energy during the most loaded peak hours and part of the daytime the system operates autonomously and does not depend on possible violations of the quality of electricity in the grid. Scenarios of the recommended load schedule are proposed in accordance with the ratio of the predicted value of the daily energy generation of the photovoltaic battery to its possible maximum value. A simulation model of energy processes in the system with the correction of the recommended load value was developed. Originality. A method of the recommended load calculation with current correction for the actual generation and degree of battery charge is proposed, which allows taking into account differences the actual generation of the photovoltaic battery from its predicted value and the actual load from the recommended one. Practical value. The obtained solutions are the basis for the design of new and modernization of existing photovoltaic systems of local objects using software and hardware complexes for power consumption management.

Intercontinental Multidisciplinary Oncology Videoconferencing for Rare and Complex Cancer: An Alternative to Systematic Transfer

PURPOSE: To report our experience of intercontinental multidisciplinary oncology videoconferencing between the French mainland and South Pacific to discuss rare and/or complex cancer cases. METHODS: On the first and third Friday of each month, all participants connected between 6:30 am and 8:00 am GMT to discuss using a web conference service. RESULTS: Between November 2019 and April 2020, 99 cases concerning 78 patients were discussed. Oncology subspecialties required were sarcoma (n = 36), digestive (n = 29), dermatology (n = 5), gynecology (n = 5), breast (n = 5), urology (n = 5), hematology (n = 5), ENT (n = 3), thoracic (n = 3), thyroid (n = 2), and pediatric (n = 1). Median patient age was 58 years, 41 were female (53%), 37 were male (47%), and 43 had a metastatic disease (55%). Following discussion, 16 patients (21%) were transferred to the French mainland. Reasons for transfer were requirement for complex surgery (n = 11) and need for specialized diagnostic biopsy (n = 5). Fifty-six patients were treated locally, with systemic chemotherapy (n = 36), surveillance (n = 8), surgery (n = 8), radiotherapy (n = 3), or endoscopy (n = 1). Direct benefits for patients treated in their local facility included strategy changes (surveillance or surgery contraindication, n = 9), targeted therapy decision (n = 14), immunotherapy decision (n = 9), and diagnostic or metastatic status corrections (n = 4). Six patients are still awaiting decision. CONCLUSION: Using real-time intercontinental multidisciplinary oncology videoconferencing to discuss complex or rare cancer cases is reliable and effective for decision making. This concept helped to limit to 21% the need for transfers to the mainland.

Serological Profile Of Specific Antibodies Against Dominant Antigens Of SARS-CoV-2 In Chilean COVID-19 Patients.

ABSTRACTCoronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is caused by SARS-CoV-2 and has been a pandemic since March 2020. Currently, the virus has infected more than 50 million people worldwide and more than half a million in Chile. For many coronaviruses, Spike (S) and Nucleocapsid (N) proteins are described as major antigenic molecules, inducing seroconversion and production of neutralizing antibodies. In this work, we evaluated the presence in serum of IgM, IgA and IgG antibodies against N and S proteins of SARS-CoV-2 using western blot, and developed an ELISA test for the qualitative characterization of COVID-19 patients. Patients with an active infection or who have recovered from COVID-19 showed specific immunoblotting patterns for the recombinants S protein and its domains S1 and S2, as well as for the N protein of SARS-CoV-2. Anti-N antibodies were more frequently detected than anti-S or anti-S1-RBD antibodies. People who were never exposed to SARS-CoV-2 did not show reactivity. Finally, indirect ELISA assays using N and S1-RBD proteins, alone or in combination, were established with variable sensitivity and specificity depending on the antigen bound to the solid phase. Overall, Spike showed higher specificity than the nucleocapsid, and comparable sensitivity for both antigens. Both approaches confirmed the seroconversion after infection and allowed us to implement the analysis of antibodies in blood for research purposes in a local facility.

Information System for the Management of Off-Grid Renewable Energy Systems for Decentralized Consumers

The paper studies technical features of managing off-grid renewable energy systems; analyses principles of building a resource-process model of energy supply for a local facility with several energy sources; shows a conceptual scheme of the proposed direct current microgrid; develops a database structure of automated control system of off-grid energy systems in SQL.

Household coverage, quality and costs of care provided by community health worker teams and the determining factors: findings from a mixed methods study in South Africa

ObjectiveCommunity health workers (CHWs) are undertaking more complex tasks as part of the move towards universal health coverage in South Africa. CHW programmes can improve access to care for vulnerable communities, but many such programmes struggle with insufficient supervision. In this paper, we assess coverage (proportion of households visited by a CHW in the past year and month), quality of care and costs of the service provided by CHW teams with differing configurations of supervisors, some based in formal clinics and some in community health posts.ParticipantsCHW, their supervisors, clinic staff, CHW clients.MethodsWe used mixed methods (a random household survey, focus group discussions, interviews and observations of the CHW at work) to examine the performance of six CHW teams in vulnerable communities in Sedibeng, South Africa.ResultsA CHW had visited 17% of households in the last year, and we estimated they were conducting one to two visits per day. At household registration visits, the CHW asked half of the questions required. Respondents remembered 20%–25% of the health messages that CHW delivered from a visit in the last month, and half of the respondents took the action recommended by the CHW. Training, supervision and motivation of the CHW, and collaboration with other clinic staff, were better with a senior nurse supervisor. We estimated that if CHW carried out four visits a day, coverage would increase to 30%–90% of households, suggesting that some teams need more CHW, as well as better supervision.ConclusionHousehold coverage was low, and the service was limited. Support from the local facility was key to providing a quality service, and a senior supervisor facilitated this collaboration. Greater investment in numbers of CHW, supervisors, training and equipment is required for the potential benefits of the programme to be delivered.