Cost analysis of reactive power support

The transfer of real power cannot be realized without reactive power/voltage support. However, compared with real power, the idea of reactive power costing and pricing is still not well defined. In this paper, the economic cost of reactive power is first analyzed. This cost includes the explicit and opportunity cost from various generation sources, such as generators, and the explicit cost from various transmission sources, such as reactive compensators, tap-changing transformers and the cost of transmission losses. Different from previous objectives functions, in this paper a cost-based reactive power dispatch is presented, which minimizes the total cost of reactive power support and determines the resultant reactive profile. This cost-based reactive power dispatch methodology provides information on the costing of reactive power and the information may be further expanded to include the pricing of reactive power     

Activated protein C resistance, factor V Leiden and peripheral vascular disease

AIM: To study cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) concentrations of plasminogen activator inhibitor type-1 (PAI-1) in patients with neurological disease. METHODS: CSF PAI-1 concentrations were measured in 51 patients with neurological disease and 20 reference subjects using an ELISA. The patient group comprised three patients with viral meningitis, 20 with encephalitis, nine with acute lymphoblastic (n = 7) and myeloid (n = 2) leukaemia (with central nervous system involvement), and 19 with multiple sclerosis. RESULTS: Raised PAI-1 concentrations were observed in patients with leukaemia, encephalitis and multiple sclerosis. There was no difference in the mean concentrations of PAI-1 in patients with meningitis when compared with the reference subjects. The highest mean (SEM) PAI-1 concentration was found in patients with leukaemia (1.28 (0.36) ng/ml), and the next highest in those with encephalitis (1.19 (0.20) ng/ml). these values were much higher than those in patients with viral meningitis. In a previous report, raised CSF tissue-type plasminogen activator (tPA) activities were detected in patients with multiple sclerosis, leukaemia and encephalitis, with mean activities in decreasing order. PAI-1 concentrations in the same patients were the reverse of their corresponding tPA activities, being higher in those with leukaemia and encephalitis, than in patients with multiple sclerosis. There was no association between CSF PAI-1 concentrations and age in either patients or controls. Similarly, there was no association between CSF PAI-1 concentrations and urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA). CONCLUSIONS: Raised CSF PAI-1 concentrations may be used as a non-specific marker of neurological disease. Moreover, PAI-1 may play an important role in regulating the functions tPA, and probably uPA, in CSF.     

Application study of 500 W photovoltaic (PV) system in the UAE

The UAE is showing growing interest in alternative energy technology. However, before adaptation of a new technology, it is necessary to carry out a field study concerning the technology’s suitability to local circumstances. This paper presents the practical results regarding the effect of temperature, humidity and most importantly dust on the performance of thin film photovoltaic technologies (Copper Indium Selenide (CIS)).     

Socioeconomic deprivation and health in Glasgow and the west of Scotland--a study of cancer incidence among male residents of hostels for the single homeless

Multiple congenital granular cell lesions occurring on the maxillary alveolar ridge and ventral aspect of the tongue were identified in a 22-day-old girl. The prevalence, histogenesis, and treatment of this lesion are discussed and the literature is reviewed.     

Composite steel-framed structures in fire with protected and unprotected edge beams

The structural behaviour of a steel-concrete composite frame subject to a natural fire is analysed using a numerical model. The behaviour is compared when fire protection is applied to only the external beams and when no beams are fire protected. The behaviour of the structure in the two cases is significantly different. When the edge beams are protected the floor slab tends to span in 2 directions because the edge beams provide sufficient support around the perimeter of the floor for tensile membrane action to develop. When the edge beams are unprotected the slab tends to span in only one direction in a manner similar to a beam in catenary action. Catenary action is a weaker load carrying mechanism than tensile membrane action. As a consequence of the weaker mechanism, when the edge beams are unprotected, the columns displace inwards towards the end of the fire indicating the possibility of imminent runaway collapse.The pattern of mechanical strains in the floor slab reinforcement depends on the load carrying mechanism and therefore on whether edge beam protection is included. Although the average mechanical tensile strains are higher when the edge beams are protected the highest strains occur when the beams are unprotected. Conversely, an instability in the primary beam occurs at much lower temperatures when the edge beams are protected.It is concluded that fire protecting the edge beams of the structural layout studied has a number of effects on the fire resistance of the structure, some beneficial, some detrimental, however, in general, fire protecting the edge beams provides an increased level of fire resistance.     

Patient-physician sexual involvement: a Canadian survey of obstetrician-gynecologists

OBJECTIVE: To determine obstetrician-gynecologists' (ob-gyns') awareness of and experience with sexual abuse of patients and former patients and their opinions about appropriate consequences. DESIGN: Mailed survey. SETTING: Canada. PARTICIPANTS: All 792 members of the Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC); 618 (78%) responded. Approximately half of all ob-gyns in Canada belong to the SOGC. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Knowledge of sexual involvement by an ob-gyn colleague with a patient or former patient (as defined by the respondents and by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario [CPSO]), self-report of such involvement, attitudes toward physician sexual abuse, desirable length of time a physician should wait before seeing a former patient in a situation that could lead to a sexual encounter, suggested consequences of sexual abuse. RESULTS: Overall, 10% of the respondents indicated that they knew about another ob-gyn who at some time had been sexually involved with a patient. In all, 3% of the male respondents and 1% of the female respondents reported sexual involvement with a patient; the corresponding proportions of those who reported having been accused of sexual abuse by a patient were 4% and 2%. Significantly more of the female ob-gyns than of their male counterparts (37% v. 19%) reported awareness of a colleague's sexual involvement with a patient that would meet the CPSO's definition of sexual impropriety, transgression or violation. Most of the respondents felt that the consequence of proven sexual impropriety should be reprimand and fine (chosen by 33%) or rehabilitation without loss of licence (28%). Most of the physicians supported loss of licence for proven sexual transgression (57%) or proven sexual violation (74%), but fewer felt that loss of licence should be permanent for these types of abuse (4% and 24% respectively). The female ob-gyns supported stronger sanctions against sexual transgression and sexual violation than the male ob-gyns. A wide range of opinion was seen regarding the propriety of sexual relationships with former patients. CONCLUSIONS: Ob-gyns have varied opinions about how sexual abuse of patients should be defined and how it should be sanctioned. There is a discrepancy between proposed public policy and the beliefs of physicians to whom the policy is to be applied.     

A longitudinal study of bacterial vaginosis during pregnancy

OBJECTIVE: To determine the longitudinal changes in the incidence of vaginosis in pregnancy. DESIGN: A prospective study of women during pregnancy. SETTING: A District General Hospital in North-West London. SUBJECTS: Seven hundred and eighteen pregnant women attending antenatal clinics. At their first attendance and subsequently, Gram-stained vaginal smears were examined and Mycoplasma hominis and Gardnerella vaginalis were sought by culture. RESULTS: Initially, 87 (12%) women had bacterial vaginosis diagnosed on Gram-stained reading of the vaginal smears. Examination of further smears, obtained from 176 women at 36 weeks of gestation, showed that those whose vaginal flora was normal initially, and who went to term, rarely developed vaginosis (three of 127, 2.4%). Samples were obtained at 36 weeks gestation from 32 women who had bacterial vaginosis initially, and went to term. In almost 50% (15 of 32) of these a normal lactobacillus-dominated flora had regenerated. Thirty-five women (5%) had initial vaginal smears graded as intermediate. From this group, six of the 17 (35%) women from whom samples were obtained at 36 weeks gestation still had flora of an intermediate pattern; 10(59%) now had normal flora and only one (6%) had developed bacterial vaginosis. Women with bacterial vaginosis were more likely to be culture-positive for M. hominis than those with normal flora (34/78 versus 10/563, odds ratio 42.73 (18.9 to 102.3) P < 0.001), or to be culture-positive for G. vaginalis than those with normal flora (35/78 versus 21/563, odds ratio 21.0 (10.75 to 41.2) P < 0.001). CONCLUSION: Pregnant women do not commonly develop bacterial vaginosis after 16 weeks gestation, and if present, it remits spontaneously in approximately half of those who reach term. As bacterial vaginosis is associated with increased rates of second trimester miscarriage and preterm delivery, any treatment aimed at its eradication in pregnancy should be given no later than the beginning of the second trimester of pregnancy.     

Bacterial vaginosis

This article discusses the potential problem of latex allergy in the school, particularly among students with spina bifida. The origin of the problem, its symptoms, and prevention and management of latex allergy in the school environment are described. The individual roles of school administrator, school nurse, parent, student and other service providers are listed within an Individual Healthcare Plan (IHP). The IHP is proposed as a guide to schools to assist with identification of latex allergy reactions as well as response procedures if an allergic reaction is identified.