Toronto Metropolitan University Open Journals
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Decentralising the health sector in Zambia: An observational study
No full textBackground: Zambia has embarked on the devolution of various health functions to the subnational levels at provincial and district level. Objectives: (i) To examine the decentralisation process in Zambia using the lens of the Constitution, enabling pieces of legislation, the relevant policy frameworks and (ii) To examine the decentralisation implementation process using the change management process. Methodology: This was an observational study involving both qualitative and quantitative methods using purposive selection of participants from the District Health Offices, Health facilities and the Local authorities. Interviews and focus group discussions were used to collect the data over a period covering January and February 2024 in three sites namely Mazabuka, Lusaka and Chongwe Districts of Zambia. Key Findings: Inadequate legal and policy framework, operationalization of the decentralisation policy, the acceleration of the implementation before the legal framework, as well as other change management processes and procedures were identified as key challenges. Conclusion: While there are adequate constitutional provisions, inadequacies in policy and legal frameworks, implementation capacity in councils, community participation, change management process as well as the collaborative framework to facilitate smooth and effective implementation of decentralizing some health functions to the Local Authorities.
Addressing ‘Us’ and ‘Them’: Digital Documentary Practices for Change
No full textCommitted documentary practices created with and for people affected by social problems have a long tradition. Today, digital media cultures seem to offer new opportunities for participation, as well as new documentary forms of expression that can give marginalized positions cultural visibility on a global level, while simultaneously promoting exchange between those concerned.
This contribution argues that in engaged interactive documentary projects on the web (i-docs), community experiences and counterpublics that respond to social and cultural exclusion mechanisms are closely linked. To collectively demand one’s participation in the public sphere and dominant culture through ‘doing documentary’ can foster the feeling of being part of a (virtual) community. Emerging ‘we-groups’ with democratic goals articulate marginalized positions in the form of counterpublics and seek to address an outside audience with their counterpublic discourses. However, the shared aesthetic practices and communicative narrative processes that underlie the sense of community are not always conducive to socio-cultural participation.
This paper examines the relation between demanding one’s socio-cultural participation and community experiences in committed participatory i-docs. The hypothesis is that group-specific goals are difficult to reconcile with promoting the cultural participation of those affected by social problems.
The theoretical framework first discusses the prerequisites for socio-cultural participation, including media-philosophical approaches and theories of democracy. In addition, the contribution clarifies what distinguishes a (virtual) community from community experiences. Then, three committed i-docs that promote a sense of community and try to challenge dominant cultural and societal structures serve as examples in this investigation: Dadaab Stories (2013), Question Bridge: Black Males (2012), The G Word: Transforming Gender Norms, One Story at a Time (2015). The study uses media-aesthetic and content analyses of the i-docs as well as praxeological analyses of their processes conducted based on paratexts and interviews. This approach examines community experiences and identifies the potential for counter-narratives that deconstruct stereotypes and disseminate positions that are culturally almost invisible.
The three i-docs show that the self-representation of marginalized participants and sharing their experiences can be useful for a sense of community, but are not always sufficient for challenging dominant images and identity attributions. The contribution argues that the reproduction of stereotypical (self-)images, for example, prevents the promotion of cultural participation
Hybrid Battery-Supercapacitor Systems for Renewable Energy Applications: Comparative Analysis of Off-Grid and Hybrid PV Systems
No full textThis study explores hybrid battery-supercapacitor systems for renewable energy applications, comparing their performance in off-grid and hybrid photovoltaic (PV) systems. Hybrid PV systems achieved higher energy efficiency (94%) compared to off-grid systems (92%), leveraging grid connectivity and advanced energy management strategies. The integration of supercapacitors improved power delivery and response times, ensuring reliable operation under varying load conditions. Economic analysis revealed that hybrid PV systems, despite higher initial costs, offer lower lifecycle expenses, making them a cost-effective long-term solution. Off-grid systems are suitable for remote areas, while hybrid PV systems excel in adaptability and sustainability. The findings highlight the potential of hybrid storage systems to enhance renewable energy integration, supporting energy transition goals
Thermal Analysis of Hybrid Carbon Nanotubes Nanofluids Flow Over an Extendable/Shrinkable Cylinder Under the Heat Generation Effect
No full textThis model investigates the flow of hybrid carbon nanotubes (CNT) nanofluids and heat transfer behaviors over a stretching/shrinking cylinder under the heat generation effect. Two main types of CNTs, single- and multi-walled CNT, are suspended in water to form hybrid CNT-water nanofluids. This model is formulated using non-linear partial differential equations (PDE) and transformed to non-dimensional ordinary differential equations (ODE) using the similarity transformation method. Then, ODEs are solved numerically using the bvp4c function in MATLAB version R2022b. The model is analyzed due to changes in several parameters, including stretching/shrinking, volume fraction, and heat generation parameters. By varying the stretching/shrinking parameter, we find multiple solutions in the shrinking region. In addition, the rise in heat generation parameters increases the range of solutions for the heat transfer coefficient and delays the flow separation. In addition, the rise in volume fraction of both hybrid and mono CNT increases the heat transfer rate. Furthermore, hybrid CNT nanofluids are better than mono CNT nanofluids in heat transmission rate.
 
Augmentation of Pool Boiling Heat Transfer with Open Micro-Channel Surfaces
No full textNucleate pool boiling is an efficient heat transfer mechanism widely utilized in thermal management applications such as electronic cooling and nuclear power systems. Enhancing the heat transfer coefficient (HTC) and the critical heat flux (CHF) is crucial for improving system performance and preventing thermal failures. Micro-channel structures have proven effective in enhancing nucleate boiling by modifying fluid dynamics and increasing surface area for heat dissipation. This study examines the effect of micro-channel integration on nucleate pool boiling performance. Circular copper heated surfaces with micro-channels of varying depths (0.5–1.5 mm) having the pitch and width were kept constant at 0.5 mm. The surface area factor (SAF) varied between 1.64 and 3.87. Experiments were conducted in deionized water (DI) under saturation temperature at 1 atm. Results indicate a notable 421% and %848 enhancement in CHF and HTC compared to baseline plain surfaces respectively, demonstrating the effectiveness of micro-channel design in improving heat dissipation. Additionally, CHF performance was evaluated, highlighting the role of structured surfaces in thermal management. These findings contribute to the optimization of micro-channel configurations for advanced heat transfer application
Analysis of Scientific Publications on Solar Water Heating Collectors
No full textThis study presents a bibliometric analysis of research on flat-plate solar water heater collectors based on the Scopus database from 2000 to 2025. A total of 937 publications were identified, with the majority being journal articles (65.1%) and conference papers (28.1%). The research predominantly falls under Energy (35.5%) and Engineering (29.1%), highlighting the technological and scientific interest in this field. The international collaboration network indicates that India and the UK (5 studies), as well as Iran and Malaysia (3 studies), have the most active partnerships. India, China, the USA, Iraq, and Saudi Arabia also contribute significantly to global research cooperation. These findings emphasize the growing attention toward solar water heating technologies and the strong collaboration between researchers in leading countries. This study provides insights into publication trends and interdisciplinary contributions, offering a foundation for future research directions in sustainable energy applications
The Energy and exergy analysis for multi-stage compression
No full textThis study presents the thermodynamic investigation of the air compression process from ambient pressure to a pressure of 50 bar. The compression is carried out in five stages, and the heat released between compression stages is used to heat water to a temperature of 75°C. Since fuel and products represent different forms of energy with distinct usability values, an analysis based solely on energy balance is not sufficient. For this reason, an exergy analysis is employed, as it has the ability to bring all forms of energy interacting with the system boundary to a common unit ,,exergy’’. The exergy analysis highlighted areas with a high dissipative energy character. The investigation shows that the highest exergy destruction occurs in the compression process. The study also indicates that the temperature difference in heat exchangers plays an important role in the overall system performance, but the isentropic efficiency of compression is much more sensitive, with significantly higher effects on both the compression process performance and the heat exchange process
Wettability and Gravity Effect on the Drying Front Advancement in a PNM
No full textWettability plays a crucial role in the distribution of fluid phases in porous media. Gravity is also an important parameter in the study of the evolution of the dry zone in the pore network. The experiment reported in [1] showed that liquid films prevent the coincidence between the evaporation front and the drying front that delineate the transition zone formed between the saturated liquid region and the dry zone [2]. Furthermore, the advancement of the evaporation front is nearly linear. The objective of this work is to conduct a comparative study, based on pore network simulations, to investigate the movement of the gas phase within the network as a function of wettability. During evaporation, small liquid clusters form and remain trapped in the network. The integration of gravitational forces promotes the stabilization of the drying front and eliminates the deformations. Nevertheless, achieving such a result is also possible without resorting to it, relying only on hydrophobicity. The mechanisms of the drying front development will be described with the PNM. The simulation of the developed front will be presented with the experiment
On the Question of Calculation Methodology of Springs of Spring Suspension of Rolling Stock for Strength
No full textThe results are presented by substantiate the stressed state of cylindrical helical springs with a round coil crosssection, taking into account the uneven distribution of stress along the helical line. A refined method for calculating the spring suspension of rolling stock for strength is proposed, which is based on the preliminary determination of the geometric parameters of the spring and calculating them for strength according to the recommendations of RD 24.040.32-95. It is shown that with a change in the eccentricity of the external load, the torque value is distorted, however, starting from the second working coil to the middle of the spring height, it becomes so small that its influence on the stress state of subsequent coils of the spring can be eliminated. Analytical dependences of the distribution of three types of stresses along the length of a spring bar are obtained using equations that describe the distribution of stresses of various types along the length of a spring bar under conditions of static action of an external load. The results of the numerical calculation of the parameters of force loading of the spring of the second stage of the spring suspension of the TEP70 diesel locomotive, taking into account the eccentric application of an external load, were obtained in the form of graphical dependencies and of tabular dat