Vaginal microbicides for the prevention of HIV transmission

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) kills more people worldwide than any other infectious disease. Approximately 42 million people, mostly in Africa and Asia, are currently infected with HIV (Figure 3.1), and 5 million new infections occur every year (AIDS Epidemic Update, 2002). It is estimated that 22 milIion people have died since the first clinical evidence of AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) emerged in 1981 ('Mobilization for Microbicides' ~ The Rockfeller Foundation). HIV is generally transmitted in one of three ways: through unprotected sexual intercourse, blood-to-blood contact, and mother-to-child transmission. Once the virus has entered the body, it invades the cells of the immune system and initiates the production of new virus particles with concomitant destruction of the immune cells. As the number of immune cells in the body slowly declines, weight loss, debilitation, and eventually death occur due to opportunistic infections or cancers. Although AIDS is presently incurable, highly active antiretroviral therapy (HAART), where a cocktail of potent antiretroviral drugs are administered daily to HIV-positive patients to control the viral load, has resulted in dramatic reductions in HIV-related morbidity and mortality in the developed world

Connection design without accurate LV feeder load data:an argument for LV monitoring

Since privatisation, maintenance of DNO LV feeder maximum demand information has gradually demised in some Utility Areas, and it is postulated that lack of knowledge about 11kV and LV electrical networks is resulting in a less economical and energy efficient Network as a whole. In an attempt to quantify the negative impact, this paper examines ten postulated new connection scenarios for a set of real LV load readings, in order to find the difference in design solutions when LV load readings were and were not known. The load profiles of the substations were examined in order to explore the utilisation profile. It was found that in 70% of the scenarios explored, significant cost differences were found. These cost differences varied by an average of 1000%, between schemes designed with and without load readings. Obviously, over designing a system and therefore operating more, underutilised transformers becomes less financially beneficial and less energy efficient. The paper concludes that new connection design is improved in terms of cost when carried out based on known LV load information and enhances the case for regular maximum feeder demand information and/or metering of LV feeders. © 2013 IEEE.