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Practitioner viewpoint: income recognition rules, tax justice, and tax revenue mobilization : a practitioner's perspective on taxing bank deposits
Gbadago, Frank Yao; Ali-Nakyea, Abdallah; Yamborigya, Martin Kolbil (Emerald, 2026-03-04)
No abstract available.
Power flow and reliability analysis of a non-isolated PV/grid connected quasi resonant converter for off-board EV charging station
Harini, S.; Chellammal, N.; Bansal, Ramesh C. (Taylor and Francis, 2026)
Growing awareness of greenhouse gas emissions and exhaustion of fossil fuels leads to the adoption of electric vehicles (EVs). However, the major limitations with respect to EV technology are the driving range and charging time. Also, the proliferation of EVs overloads the power grid and paves the way of incorporating renewable energy sources and energy storage devices. The use of multiple sources necessitates the deployment of compact, low-cost, and high-power electronic converters. This paper proposes a novel configuration of a Multi-Source Non-Isolated Quasi-Resonant Converter (MSNQRC) to overcome the limitations in the charging infrastructure. Due to the presence of a quasi-resonant network, the proposed MSNQRC with a single switch can achieve high voltage gain even at low-duty cycles, provide continuous current and low voltage stress. In addition, this paper elaborates on the parametric design of the converter along with PV modeling based on load ratings and the reliability research of MSNQRC by analysing component failures. A prototype model of 300W is built to verify the efficacy of the designed converter model. The results thus obtained validate the designed model and prove that the proposed system can be used for off-board battery charging systems.
Potential for production and use of liquid biofuels as a strategy for developing green and circular economies in Southern Africa
Dlamini, C.S.; Tshidzumba, Ratsodo Phillip; Gotore, T.; Kabia, G.; Munjoyo, R.S.M.; Kachamba, D. (NISC (Pty) Ltd and Informa UK Limited (trading as Taylor and Francis Group), 2026)
The Southern African Development Community (SADC) responded to global calls to address environmental challenges such as high greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions through the use of liquid biofuels. This study assessed the potential of liquid biofuel production in the SADC region with data collected in Malawi, Mozambique, South Africa and Zimbabwe. The results showed that the liquid biofuel industry is struggling. Countries do not have enough resources to support the industry effectively and there is overreliance on international sponsors. In terms of policy and regulatory frameworks most countries are doing well. However, these policies are not implemented effectively. Most countries use sugar-cane to produce bioethanol. Over the years countries, such as Malawi, have attempted to incorporate crops such as cassava (Manihot esculenta) and castor bean (Ricinus communis). Although the industry is not performing well it has contributed massively to livelihood development in all the region.
Population structure and phylogenetic analysis of Vibrio cholerae non-O1/O139 by whole genome sequencing
Wells, Taylor; González-Durán, Elizabeth; Smith, Anthony Marius; Banerjee, Swapan K.; Tamber, Sandeep; Knox, Natalie; Nadon, Celine (Public Library of Science, 2026-03-05)
Toxigenic Vibrio cholerae serogroups O1 and O139 are well known for causing excessive diarrhea leading to devastating cholera epidemics and pandemics. Over 200 other serogroups, usually lacking the cholera toxin, are denoted non-O1/O139 V. cholerae (NOVC), and cause vibriosis leading to sporadic gastroenteritis and other extraintestinal infections. NOVC infections are not a notifiable disease in Canada and thus underreported. From 2010 to 2023, 160 cases and a small 2018 outbreak were reported in Canada caused by NOVC, provoking considerable public health concern. In this study, 242 Canadian V. cholerae isolates were sequenced, characterized and compared with over 1500 other V. cholerae isolates from around the world to determine their genetic relationships. All Canadian NOVC and two O139 isolates lacked the cholera toxin-producing genes typically harbored by pathogenic O1 and O139. All 14 Canadian O1 isolates were identified from travel-related cases as members of the toxigenic 7th pandemic lineage, whereas one O139 isolate was acquired domestically. Phylogenetic analysis based on core genome single nucleotide polymorphisms classified the Canadian isolates into five clades. Eight new lineages of NOVC, denoted CAD1–8, were identified from the Canadian isolates. A new lineage was defined as clusters formed by three or more isolates in the phylogeny. These lineages were comprised of isolates from clinical origin alone, environmental origin, or a mixture of both. Some lineages spanned multiple years and regions. CAD-2 was comprised of clinical and environmental isolates associated with the 2018 outbreak. Several virulence genes were detected among NOVC, including hemolysins, toxins and secretion system encoding genes. A proportion of virulence genes differed between isolation source (clinical or environmental) and clinical manifestations (gastrointestinal or extraintestinal). Our study identified environmental sources of NOVC with the potential to cause human infection. Tracking the emergence of NOVC with pathogenic potential is essential for understanding the risk to Canadians.
Population impact of South Africa's human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme on HPV prevalence in adolescent girls with and without HIV : a repeat cross-sectional study
Machalek, Dorothy A.; Nyemba, Dorothy C.; Travill, Danielle; Petoumenos, Kathy; Mbulawa, Zizipho Z.A.; Naidoo, Ishana; Motshwane, Feni M.M.; Bamford, Lesley; Rees, Helen; Kaldor, John M.; Delany-Moretlwe, Sinead (Elsevier, 2026-04)
BACKGROUND : A school-based human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination programme providing protection against types 16 and 18 of HPV was introduced in South Africa in 2014 for Grade 4 girls (aged ≥9 years), achieving 87% coverage among learners with at least one of the two recommended doses. We evaluated the programme's impact on HPV prevalence among adolescent girls in a setting of high HIV prevalence. METHODS : In this repeat cross-sectional study, girls aged 17–18 years were invited from 15 primary health-care clinics in four provinces (Free State, Gauteng, Mpumalanga, and North West) of South Africa to provide a self-collected vaginal sample for HPV testing (AnyPlex II HPV28, Seegene, Seoul, South Korea). A survey done from June 19 to Dec 11, 2019, estimated baseline (pre-vaccine) HPV prevalence. A repeat survey done from Feb 16 to Dec 6, 2023, estimated HPV prevalence in a group eligible for the vaccination programme (post-vaccine). Vaccination status was assessed through district registers and self-reported data. The primary outcome was the impact of the HPV vaccination programme, measured as the relative reduction in HPV prevalence between the two birth cohorts using generalised linear regression (estimating adjusted prevalence ratios), overall and by HIV status. FINDINGS : Of 2470 participants enrolled, 819 girls were recruited for the pre-vaccine survey (248 living with HIV) and 1538 for the post-vaccine survey (295 living with HIV). Prevalence of HPV vaccine types HPV-16 and HPV-18 declined by 83%, from 21·6% (177 of 819 participants) in the pre-vaccine group to 3·2% (49 of 1538 participants) in the post-vaccine group (adjusted prevalence ratio 0·17, 95% CI 0·12–0·24; p<0·0001). A similar reduction was observed among those living with HIV, with prevalence decreasing from 29·4% (73 of 248 participants) in the pre-vaccine group to 4·4% (13 of 295 participants) in the post-vaccine group (adjusted prevalence ratio 0·18, 95% CI 0·10–0·32; p<0·0001). No significant reductions were noted for other HPV types, except HPV-31 and HPV-45, which is consistent with cross-protection. INTERPRETATION : In this large-scale evaluation of South Africa's two-dose HPV vaccination programme, we observed impacts similar to those seen with three-dose programmes in high-income settings, including equivalent impacts among adolescent girls living with HIV. These findings underscore the substantial population-level benefits of high-coverage routine HPV vaccination in a high-HIV-burden setting.