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Assessing the Impact of Mask Usage on COVID-19 Transmission Using a Computer Simulation
Roger Lacson,
Peter Veldkamp,
Conrad Zapanta
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 1, March 2022
Pages:
1-7
Received:
29 December 2021
Accepted:
15 January 2022
Published:
24 January 2022
Abstract: Background: COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, is highly contagious and causes substantial morbidity and mortality. Mask usage has been advocated by health professionals to minimize its spread. Thus, it is important to develop a simulation that models SARS-CoV-2 spread in indoor environments to evaluate mask usage effectiveness. Methods: A visual computer simulation was developed with Pygame in Python 3. A virtual indoor supermarket is simulated by a given flow of customers with an initial infection percentage and mask usage percentage who enter, move around, and exit a supermarket with shelves, tables, and cashiers to demonstrate a system’s dynamic complexity, i.e., nonlinear interactions of system elements over time. A supermarket was simulated with initial infection rates of 5%, 10%, and 20% and mask use percentages of 0%, 25%, 50% 75%, and 100%. The environmental settings (e.g., shelf number and location) and total customers (N=200) were kept constant. Results: The number of infected customers increased as the percentage of mask usage decreased (p<0.01). At 5% initial infection, almost no infections were observed at 50% mask usage and greater, with a logarithmic best-fit model (R2=0.947). At 10% initial infection, the association between mask usage and decrease in number of infections was best fit with a linear model (R2=0.924). For 20% initial infection, a quadratic model was the best fit (R2=0.934). While a linear model suggests proportional decreases in infection, the quadratic model suggests more significant reductions in infections at higher rates of mask use (i.e., increasing mask usage from 5% to 10% is less impactful than from 65% to 70%). Conclusion: The results suggest that mask usage has a significant impact on decreasing COVID-19 transmission. Ideally, mask usage should be as high as possible to achieve more significant reductions in COVID-19 infections. Various parameters can be adjusted during simulation as we learn more about SARS-CoV-2 to guide policies for minimizing COVID-19 transmission.
Abstract: Background: COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2, is highly contagious and causes substantial morbidity and mortality. Mask usage has been advocated by health professionals to minimize its spread. Thus, it is important to develop a simulation that models SARS-CoV-2 spread in indoor environments to evaluate mask usage effectiveness. Methods: A visual comp...
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Corona Shielding of Current Path Features of Air Insulated High Voltage Disconnectors and Earthing Switches
Mariusz Rohmann,
Dirk Schräder
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 1, March 2022
Pages:
8-14
Received:
12 January 2022
Accepted:
4 February 2022
Published:
16 February 2022
Abstract: The radio interference voltage occurring as so-called corona effects on current paths of air insulated high voltage disconnectors and earthing switches will be introduced and the need, the effect, and the realization of accordingly corona shielding of current path features of air insulated high voltage disconnectors and earthing switches will be discussed. Both is included, the requirements as per international standards and requirements by customers beyond international standards, as those are the principal motivation for investigating in the effects of radio interference voltage and its limitation. The reasons for corona effects and the shielding functionality for reduction of those effects will be elaborated. Challenges and limits of different types of shielding will be described, which covers the mounting and its items, and emphasizes not only mechanical stress risks, but also the possible complexity of potentially necessary shielding arrangements. Also, the type testing for the corona effects will be mentioned and includes aspects of the market or by customers beyond IEC standard needs, so that not only keeping limits is important, but also to understand inception and deception. Additionally, numerical methods to solve the necessary field calculations of corona effects and effects of shielding will be described. Finally practical examples will be given for different corona shielding applications on current paths of center break disconnectors, which includes details for additional functionality of corona shielding providing the possibility to cover additional product requirements and therefore increasing the product marketability without increasing material consumption of the product. In conclusion the benefit of sophisticated investigation is highlighted and intends to promote the same, overcoming cost and efforts hurdles and best practices based on application experiences only.
Abstract: The radio interference voltage occurring as so-called corona effects on current paths of air insulated high voltage disconnectors and earthing switches will be introduced and the need, the effect, and the realization of accordingly corona shielding of current path features of air insulated high voltage disconnectors and earthing switches will be di...
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Study on Disaster Resilient Transportation Network for Trade and Tourism Development in Gharapjhong Rural Municipality of Mustang District Nepal
Sudeep Thakali,
Khet Raj Dahal
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 1, March 2022
Pages:
15-26
Received:
23 September 2021
Accepted:
11 January 2022
Published:
28 February 2022
Abstract: The study was conducted during the period from December 2020 to May 2021 in the Gharapjhong Rural Municipality of Mustang district in Nepal. Both primary and secondary data have been used in this study. Secondary literatures were received from various sources such as published reports, papers, thesis, database, and manuals. And, primary data were collected from the field observation, in-depth interview, focus group discussion and questionnaire survey. The study found that sustainable transportation network is essential to enhance tourism development in Mustang District. Furthermore, insufficient agricultural product, and lack of exploration of tourist sites is affecting tourism growth. Similarly, inadequate awareness among the people of the society, improper sanitation system, inadequate investment from the private sectors, unfavourable weather condition, and weak and fragile soil are the problems for development of trade and tourism. Similarly, inadequate local tourist guides, inadequate schools and health facilities, as well as incompetent representatives are also the key factors for the development of tourism industry. This study would like to suggest that the construction of adequate road network, capacity building and skill development trainings in the tourism sector should be enhanced. Similarly, sufficient advertisement on tourism area should be managed, adequate exploration of tourist sites should be conducted, and local agricultural productivity should be increased along with provision of adequate educational and health institutions, proper water and sanitation facility should be available and adequate tourist guides should be trained.
Abstract: The study was conducted during the period from December 2020 to May 2021 in the Gharapjhong Rural Municipality of Mustang district in Nepal. Both primary and secondary data have been used in this study. Secondary literatures were received from various sources such as published reports, papers, thesis, database, and manuals. And, primary data were c...
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Feasibility Study of Offshore Solar Energy Near the Coastal Area of Bangladesh
Muhammad Nasir Uddin,
Md. Kamrul Islam Kawsar,
Golam Mostofa
Issue:
Volume 7, Issue 1, March 2022
Pages:
27-31
Received:
5 February 2022
Accepted:
22 February 2022
Published:
28 February 2022
Abstract: The sustainable development of a country is very much dependent on access to electricity. The shortage of power is one of the major barriers to the economic development of Bangladesh. Bangladesh is lacking in its fossil fuel reservation. The abundance of renewable energy sources in the form of solar energy (4-6.5 kWh/m2) provides opportunities for renewable energy systems in the offshore areas of Bangladesh. The offshore area of Bangladesh is mostly unused except for some natural gas exploration and fishing. The 200 nautical miles of Bangladesh from the coast is divided into several blocks and the number of shallow blocks is 11 which have areas from 4500-7700 square kilometers. The average depth of these blocks ranges from 20-200 meters deep. Bangladesh has a favorable geographical location to capture a good amount of solar energy. The proper utilization of this solar energy may reduce the country’s energy demand to a great extent as the land is scarce and reduced by 1% each year. Therefore, Bangladesh cannot afford to lose more lands to solar-based power plants. Bangladesh's government has already made a master plan to utilize abundant solar energy in different ways. There are about 4.13 million solar-home systems (SHS) have been installed under the government program by the year 2019. However, the surplus power from these small discrete power generations cannot be brought into the main grid due to their remote location and fluctuation in production. There are rooftop solar and solar mini-grid projects that facilitated the capacity of 3.07 MW and 5 MW, respectively. A capacity of 40 MW could also be touched by solar irrigation projects with more than 1515 pumps for serving the country’s rural people, and a solar-diesel hybrid solution program has been supporting the telecom operators. Bangladesh power development board (BPDB), and Infrastructure Development Company Limited (IDCOL) have been promoting numerous research-development solar projects to many governments and private universities to build a sustainable energy-equipped country. Here, SS-01 near the Hiron Point is considered where no grid power is available. The Hiron Point Public Base Station (HPPBS) is the gateway of Mongla Port. It’s necessary to provide electricity to the station for smooth port operation. This article is a window to look into the effectiveness of an offshore solar power plant.
Abstract: The sustainable development of a country is very much dependent on access to electricity. The shortage of power is one of the major barriers to the economic development of Bangladesh. Bangladesh is lacking in its fossil fuel reservation. The abundance of renewable energy sources in the form of solar energy (4-6.5 kWh/m2) provides opportunities for ...
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