1,471 research outputs found
Dynamique de transmission de la peste porcine africaine dans les populations de sangliers sauvage en Corée du Sud
No full textAfrican swine fever (ASF), caused by the ASF virus, is a highly contagious haemorrhagic fever disease in swine with a case-fatality close to 100%. Since spreading from Georgia in 2007, the virus reached Eastern and Western Europe and further into Asia. South Korea reported its first ASF case in 2019 near North Korean border, followed by wild boar cases reported in October 2019. Despite extensive control efforts, including the active carcass searching, fencing, and depopulation, over 4,100 infected wild boar cases have been reported across the country, threatening the whole pig industry.Most ASF studies have focused on Europe, limiting their applicability to Korea and hindering the implementation of cost-effective control strategies. The ASF data in wild boar populations accumulated in Korea provides a unique setting to deepen our understanding of ASF epidemiology in Asia and an opportunity to develop more effective control strategies in this country.This thesis aimed to enhance our understanding of ASF dynamics in Korean wild boar populations and provide evidence for optimal control measures. Through a scoping review, we synthesized the epidemiological understanding of ASF in the country and identified several knowledge gaps, including understanding of the partially observed disease dynamics, and the implemented control measures related to wild boar ecology and Korean topography. To address some of these gaps, we applied quantitative epidemiological tools, based on statistical and mechanistic modelling, to the observed ASF epidemic in Korea (2019-2022).The estimated velocity of ASF wavefront varied by identified spatiotemporal clusters, ranging from 0.15 to 0.99 km/week, showing a potential positive association with wild boar densities. Fencing effectiveness was spatially heterogenous. A spatially-explicit mechanistic model showed that wild boar-favourable infectious cell would infect a wild boar-favourable susceptible cell every 2.38 week. This model demonstrated the positive association between wild boar density and velocity by estimating that wild boar-favourable cells were five times more susceptible and infectious than wild boar-unfavourable cells. Only about a quarter of infectious cells were eventually detected, resulting that the estimated true wavefront was 23 km ahead of the apparent one. This spatial discrepancy explained the identified spatially-heterogeneous effectiveness of the fences.These results shed new light on the ASF epidemiological situation in South Korea, highlighting that a complex combination of factors characterise the epidemic and make it unique. These factors include the continuous hidden viral introductions from neighbouring country, the occurrence of several long-distance viral translocations, partially-effective fencing strategies, and the presence of mountain ranges acting as catalyst for ASF spread. Fencing was effective in areas where the wavefront progressed slowly due to low wild boar density and where fences were widely spaced.Given these findings, ASF should be considered endemic in South Korea. Control strategies for wild boar need to be updated to endemic stage by containing the virus within mountain ranges through leveraging the environment and control measures. Coordinated efforts for wild boar should be organized and led by authorities, who should take responsibility for protecting domestic pigs, reducing the burden of farmers. Research should focus on better understanding this endemic situation, including wild boar population dynamics and changing risk factors. Research on disease management should shift towards designing surveillance optimized for the endemic stage. As Korean authorities plan to remove fences, it needs to explore alternative control strategies. Farm-level risk assessment of spillover from wild boar should be implemented. Ultimately, research should aim to identify feasible long-term management strategies for successful eradication protocols for ASF.La peste porcine africaine (PPA), causée par le virus PPA, est une maladie hémorragique très contagieuse chez les porcs, avec un taux de mortalité proche de 100 %. Depuis sa propagation depuis la Géorgie en 2007, le virus a atteint l'Europe de l'Est, de l'Ouest et l'Asie. La Corée du Sud a signalé son premier cas en 2019 près de la frontière nord-coréenne, suivi de cas chez les sangliers en octobre 2019. Malgré des efforts de contrôle incluant la recherche de carcasses, l'installation de clôtures et la réduction des populations, plus de 4 100 cas de sangliers infectés ont été signalés à travers le pays, menaçant l'industrie porcine.La plupart des études sur la PPA se sont concentrées sur l'Europe, limitant leur applicabilité au contexte coréen et compliquant la mise en œuvre de stratégies de contrôle efficaces. Les données de surveillance des sangliers en Corée offrent une occasion unique d'approfondir notre compréhension de l'épidémiologie de la PPA en Asie et de développer des stratégies de contrôle adaptées.Cette thèse visait à améliorer notre compréhension des dynamiques de la PPA chez les sangliers en Corée du Sud et à fournir des preuves pour des mesures de contrôle optimales. À travers une revue littérature, nous avons synthétisé les connaissances épidémiologiques sur la PPA dans le pays et identifié plusieurs lacunes, notamment dans la compréhension des dynamiques partiellement observées et des mesures de contrôle en lien avec l'écologie des sangliers et la topographie coréenne. Pour combler ces lacunes, nous avons appliqué des outils épidémiologiques quantitatifs basés sur des modèles statistiques et mécanistes à l'épidémie observée en D (2019-2022).La vitesse estimée du front de progression de la PPA variait selon les clusters spatio-temporels identifiés, allant de 0,15 à 0,99 km/semaine, montrant une association positive avec la densité des sangliers. L'efficacité des clôtures était inégale selon les zones. Un modèle mécaniste a montré qu'une cellule infectieuse favorable aux sangliers infecterait une cellule susceptible toutes les 2,38 semaines. Ce modèle a démontré l'association entre la densité des sangliers et la vitesse de propagation, estimant que les cellules favorables aux sangliers étaient cinq fois plus susceptibles et infectieuses que les autres. Environ un quart des cellules infectieuses ont été détectées, le front réel étant estimé 23 km en avance sur le front apparent. Cette disparité spatiale explique l'efficacité inégale des clôtures.Ces résultats éclairent la situation épidémiologique de la PPA en Corée du Sud, soulignant qu'une combinaison complexe de facteurs rend l'épidémie unique. Ces facteurs incluent les introductions virales cachées depuis un pays voisin, les translocations virales longues distances, les clôtures partiellement efficaces, et les montagnes catalysant la propagation de la PPA. Les clôtures étaient efficaces dans les zones où le front progressait lentement en raison de la faible densité des sangliers et où elles étaient largement espacées.À la lumière de ces conclusions, la PPA doit être considérée comme endémique en Corée. Les stratégies de contrôle doivent s'adapter à ce stade en confinant le virus dans les montagnes grâce à l'optimisation de l'environnement et des mesures de contrôle. Les efforts coordonnés doivent être dirigés par les autorités, qui doivent aussi protéger les porcs domestiques, réduisant le fardeau des agriculteurs. La recherche doit se concentrer sur le stade endémique, la dynamique des populations de sangliers et les facteurs de risque changeants. La gestion des maladies doit viser une surveillance optimisée. Alors que les autorités coréennes prévoient de retirer les clôtures, il est crucial d'explorer des stratégies de contrôle alternatives. Une évaluation des risques pour les exploitations agricoles doit être mise en œuvre. Enfin, la recherche doit développer des stratégies de gestion à long terme et des protocoles d'éradication pour la PPA
Ruth Wong: Educationist & Teacher Extraordinaire (11 Sep 2013)
No full textGroup photo of the author Dr. Wong Hee Ong with student leaders who attended the book launch. Front row (from left): Lee Xu En Sean, Lynn Tay Ern Hwee, Clarissa Cheong, Tan Wenxin (Katherine), Dr Wong Hee Ong, Low Si Hui, Kong Yanli Karen, Ee Yuan Qi Eugenia, Amanda Huang Xuanqi, Foo Shi Ping Melissa, Elyana Insyirah Binte Esman.
Back row (from left): Jeremy Lim Ching Sen, Amos Kow Yuan Hong, Liang Chay Jiang (Marcus), Ng Jia Jun Justin, Perdana Putra, Fahmi Bin Sahar, Sreetharan s/o Rajaselvan, Lee Sixian, Goh Eng Jue
On the dangers of decentralization
No full textThe author highlights some of the dangers of decentralizations. The benefits of decentralization in allocative efficiency are not as obvious as suggested by the standard theory of fiscal federalism. The assumptions of this theory are fragile. These doubtful benefits might carry a cost in production efficiency, but more empirical research is needed on this point. What is not doubtful is that decentralization runs counter to redistribution and stabilization. Decentralization makes redistributive policies, whether interpersonal or interjurisdictional, more difficult, if not impossible. Decentralization also makes macroeconomic stabilization programs more difficult to implement because subnational government fiscal policies can run counter to national policies. Serious drawbacks or potential drawbacks should be considered in designing any decentralization program. The arguments that the author develops make it easier to understand some of the real choices. These choices are not so much whether to decentralize in general but rather what functions to decentralize - in which sectors, and in which regions. Guidelines can be provided on this. Often, the problem is not so much whether a certain service should be provided by a central, regional, or local government, since the service often has to be provided with the intervention of all three levels of government. The real challenge is how to organize the joint production of the service. Decentralization refers simultaneously to a state and to a process. The virtues and dangers of decentralization are often discussed simultaneously for both concepts. This is a dangerous confusion because decentralization is path-dependent. What is desirable in a given country at a certain point in time depends on the present state of decentralization and the speed at which it has been reached. Much more work, particularly empirical work, is needed -- in review of decentralization (or centralization) experiences in general, as well as those encouraged or supported by the World Bank.National Governance,Banks&Banking Reform,Municipal Financial Management,Economic Theory&Research,Pharmaceuticals&Pharmacoeconomics
Motion Control Strategies for Smart Floating Cranes
No full textFloating structures have raised interest in the recent years for different applications, from living and farming at sea to renewable energy production. To support the logistics on the floating structures, floating cranes are necessary and their designs are constantly improved. Increasing developments in the automation industry paved the way for automated crane operations. In this work, motion control of a smart crane is presented with particular attention to the performance under wave motion. In this research, a scaled down, two-dimensional mathematical model of a gantry crane is derived using Lagrangian mechanics and DC motors dynamics. This results in a nonlinear system that is capable of simultaneous traversing and hoisting a container. The system is simulated in MATLAB Simulink environment and a proportional-derivative control and a state feedback control are designed and implemented. Their robustness is explored by modelling sensor behavior, external disturbances and floating platform dynamics. Both control strategies were able to keep stability in a disturbed system. During simulation, the sway angles never exceed 10°. Smaller oscillations occurred using the state feedback control. Therefore, it creates a smoother response compared to the proportional derivative control, which ultimately translates to increased safety, turnover rate and durability of the crane.Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository 'You share, we take care!' - Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.Transport Engineering and Logistic
Robot Citizenship: A Design Perspective
No full textThis paper suggests robot citizenship as a design perspective for attending to the sociality of human robot interactions (HRI) in the near future. First, we review current positions regarding robot citizenship, which we summarise as: human analogy, nonhuman analogy and socio-relationality. Based on this review, we then suggest an understanding of citizenship that stresses the socio-relational implications of the concept, and in particular its potential for rethinking the way we approach the design of robots in practice. We suggest that designing for robot citizenship (in the terms suggested by this paper) has the potential of fostering a shift from a logic of functionality to one of relationality. To illuminate the direction of this shift in design practice, we include and discuss three robot concepts designed to address and rethink present HRI challenges in the urban environment from a relational perspective.Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository ‘You share, we take care!’ – Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.Human Information Communication DesignDesign Conceptualization and Communicatio
Mechanische eigenschappen van poly(meth)acrylaat/ urethaan netwerken: De invloed van de samenstelling van het lineaire polymeer op de mechanische eigenschappen van het netwerk
No full textDit onderzoek bestaat uit drie delen: - Het synthetiseren en karakteriseren van de poly(meth)acrylaten. - Het crosslinken van de polymeren en het volgen van die reaktie. - Dynamisch mechanische metingen aan de gecrosslinkte polymeren
“Dad, Mum, eat.”: Examining the influence of film school on the student filmmaker in Singapore
No full textThrough a blend of autoethnographic research and critical theory, this thesis examines the influence of film school on the student filmmaker, specifically within the context of Singapore. The thesis draws from the personal experience of the author as a student filmmaker herself within three different film school contexts, utilising observational methods to reflect on her educational journey. These observations are expanded through critical theory and pedagogical analysis that draw relationships between film school curriculums, assessments, faculty and their impact on student filmmakers. It explores the influence of film school on student filmmaker’s understanding of conventions, their exposure to film theory and history and their engagement with the collaborative creative process of filmmaking. Understanding these institutional, cultural and educational forces that shape a student filmmaker helps us to reflect upon and reimagine our systems for the better.Bachelor of Fine Arts in Digital Filmmakin
Differential Dynamics of Transposable Elements during Long-Term Diploidization of Nicotiana Section Repandae (Solanaceae) Allopolyploid Genomes
No full textPubMed ID: 23185607This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited
Motion control strategies for smart floating cranes
No full textFloating structures have raised interest in the recent years for different applications, from living and farming at sea to renewable energy production. To support the logistics on the float- ing structures, floating cranes are necessary and their designs are constantly improved. In- creasing developments in the automation industry paved the way for automated crane opera- tions. In this work, motion control of a smart crane is presented with particular attention to the performance under wave motion. In this research, a scaled down, two-dimensional math- ematical model of a gantry crane is derived using Lagrangian mechanics and DC motors dy- namics. This results in a nonlinear system that is capable of simultaneous traversing and hoist- ing a container. The system is simulated in MATLAB Simulink environment and a proportional-derivative control and a state feedback control are designed and implemented. Their robustness is explored by modelling sensor behavior, external disturbances and floating platform dynamics. Both control strategies were able to keep stability in a disturbed system. During simulation, the sway angles never exceed 10 degrees. Smaller oscillations occurred us- ing the state feedback control. Therefore, it creates a smoother response compared to the pro- portional derivative control, which ultimately translates to increased safety, turnover rate and durability of the crane.Green Open Access added to TU Delft Institutional Repository 'You share, we take care!' - Taverne project https://www.openaccess.nl/en/you-share-we-take-care Otherwise as indicated in the copyright section: the publisher is the copyright holder of this work and the author uses the Dutch legislation to make this work public.Transport Engineering and Logistic
Fakulti Sains Gunaan (UiTM Tapah) dan Aurecon Lestari Sdn Bhd: sesi diskusi Pelan Pengurusan Biodiversiti Lhoist Malaysia / Dzulsuhaimi Daud ... [et al.]
No full textUiTM KAMPUS TAPAH, 26 JANUARI 2024 – Fakulti Sains Gunaan, UiTM Cawangan Perak Kampus Tapah telah menerima undangan dari entiti perundingan, Aurecon Lestari Sdn Bhd untuk menyertai sesi penerangan dan sumbang saran berkaitan Pelan Pengurusan Biodiversiti Lhoist Malaysia. Sesi yang dijalankan secara atas talian itu dihadiri oleh Dr Hasnun Nita Ismail, Dr Ahmad Nazib Alias, Dr Fathiah Abdullah dan En Dzulsuhaimi Daud, selaku wakil Fakulti Sains Gunaan (UiTM kampus Tapah). Manakala, Aurecon Lestari Sdn Bhd selaku tuan rumah, diwakili oleh En Oh Ka Jun, Cik Charmaine Lim, Cik Aqilah Zayanah Zohdi, En YV Gopalakrishna dan En Mohamed Rashed Mohamed Ali Reza
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