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Climate change is a global problem, which affects the various geographical regions at different levels. It is also associated with a wide range of human health problems, which pose a burden to health systems, especially in regions such as Africa. Indeed, across the African continent public health systems are under severe pressure, partly due to their fragile socioeconomic conditions. This paper reports on a cross-sectional study in six African countries (Ghana, Nigeria, South Africa, Namibia, Ethiopia, and Kenya) aimed at assessing their vulnerabilities to climate change, focusing on its impacts on human health. The study evaluated the levels of information, knowledge, and perceptions of public health professionals. It also examined the health systems’ preparedness to cope with these health hazards, the available resources, and those needed to build resilience to the country’s vulnerable population, as perceived by health professionals. The results revealed that 63.1% of the total respondents reported that climate change had been extensively experienced in the past years, while 32% claimed that the sampled countries had experienced them to some extent. Nigerian respondents recorded the highest levels (67.7%), followed by Kenya with 66.6%. South Africa had the lowest level of impact as perceived by the respondents (50.0%) when compared with the other sampled countries. All respondents from Ghana and Namibia reported that health problems caused by climate change are common in the two countries. As perceived by the health professionals, the inadequate resources reiterate the need for infrastructural resources, medical equipment, emergency response resources, and technical support. The study’s recommendations include the need to improve current policies at all levels (i.e., national, regional, and local) on climate change and public health and to strengthen health professionals’ skills. Improving the basic knowledge of health institutions to better respond to a changing climate is also recommended. The study provides valuable insights which may be helpful to other nations in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Abstract. The impact of multiphase reactions involving nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and aromatic compounds was simulated in this study. A mechanism (CAPRAM 2.4, MODAC Mechanism) was applied for the aqueous phase reactions, whereas RACM was applied for the gas phase chemistry. Liquid droplets were considered as monodispersed with a mean radius of 0.1 µm and a liquid content (LC) of 50 µg m-3. The multiphase mechanism has been further extended to the chemistry of aromatics, i.e. reactions involving benzene, toluene, xylene, phenol and cresol have been added. In addition, reaction of NO2 with dissociated hydroxyl substituted aromatic compounds has also been implemented. These reactions proceed through charge exchange leading to nitrite ions and therefore to nitrous acid formation. The strength of this source was explored under urban polluted conditions. It was shown that it may increase gas phase HONO levels under some conditions and that the extent of this effect is strongly pH dependent. Especially under moderate acidic conditions (i.e. pH above 4) this source may represent more than 75% of the total HONO/NO2 - production rate, but this contribution drops down close to zero in acidic droplets (as those often encountered in urban environments).

Straw and other biomasses can cause severe problems when used as fuel in combustion systems. Some of the major problems include high emission of alkalis, HCl, and especially SO2 to the gas phase. T...

Since their inauguration in 2005, supertall residential skyscrapers have established themselves as a truly new, 21st century phenomenon. Their uniqueness spans the spectrum of critically important issues, ranging from discrete ways of conceptualization, production, and delivery, introduction of latest technologies, strict organizational and spatial rules and practices, all the way to various socio-cultural impacts, which include the peculiar, often invisible ways of cultural accommodation. This paper presents parts of a larger research project into this urbo-architectural type, focusing on the capacity of these skyscrapers to address numerous issues related to residential density, especially in fast-growing megacities. While a substantial number of research projects explore economic, architectural, engineering, and environmental attributes of these buildings by focusing on measurable aspects of their production and use, the holistic comparisons and qualitative elaboration of the significance of the residential supertall phenomenon are still lacking. This paper attempts to fill that gap and open a new approach into investigations of supertall residential skyscrapers. The starting position is that these are not simply bigger and taller, but fundamentally different urban artefacts, which have an untapped capacity to reach another kind of quality. Definition and recognition of that difference will enable us to better capitalize upon the qualities which it brings and help avoid the problems which it generates.

In the search for a nontoxic replacement of the commonly employed CdS buffer layer for Cu(In,Ga)(S,Se) $_\mathrm{2}$ based solar cells, chemically deposited Zn(O,S) thin films are a most promising choice. In this paper, we address the usually slow deposition speed of Zn(O,S) in a newly developed ammonia-free chemical bath process, resulting in a deposition of 30 nm in 3 min with good homogeneity on 30 cm × 30 cm sized substrates. Solar cells with buffer layers prepared from this process match the efficiency of CdS reference cells. In a second step, we address the light-soaking post-treatment, still needed for maximum efficiencies. By addition of aluminum to the deposition process, the initial efficiencies can be increased slightly. With the addition of boron, the light-soaking post-treatment is rendered unnecessary, while maintaining high efficiencies above 15%, surpassing reference cells with CdS buffer.

AbstractIron-acceptor (FeAc) pair association has been studied in compensated n-type silicon. A dynamic approach, based on the charge carrier recombination rates over the Fei trap level, leads to an explanation of the observed FeAc pairing reaction in compensated n-type silicon and extends the understanding of FeAc pairing kinetics. Association kinetics was used to measure a height dependent acceptor concentration profile. Even in compensated n-type silicon good agreement with expected concentrations is found.