Life cycle CO2 emissions of a photovoltaic/wind/diesel generating system

A photovoltaic/wind/diesel generating system with a battery (PWD system) is discussed from the viewpoint of total CO₂ gas emissions during system lifetime. The total emissions are the sum of the emissions occurring at manufacturing and operating. First, the manufacturing CO₂ emissions of the photovoltaic generator and the wind turbine generator are calculated by “the process analysis method.” This method considers the material used in each generator, its weight and its CO₂ emission rate. On the other hand, the manufacturing CO₂ emissions of the diesel generator and the battery are calculated using “the interindustry (input‐output) table.” Second, the PWD system is operated on a computer so that the fuel consumption of the diesel generator is a minimum assuming that hourly series data of electric load, insolation intensity, wind speed, and air temperature are known during the year. And CO₂ emissions occurring at system operation are obtained from the annual fuel consumption of the diesel generator. The results show that CO₂ total emissions of the PWD system are lower than those of the conventional diesel generator system. The CO₂ total emissions reach a minimum when the photovoltaic/wind generating ratio is 50/50. The CO₂ emissions of manufacturing decrease with increasing of the wind generating ratio from 100/0 to 0/100. The CO₂ total emissions decrease as the natural energy ratio increases. It is, however, saturated to about 60% when the ratio is more than 60%. And the CO₂ total emissions increase with increasing of the battery capacity. It is concluded that the PWD system plays an important role in decreasing considerably the CO₂ total emissions while the total system cost is high under the present price circumstances. © 2001 Scripta Technica, Electr Eng Jpn, 138(2): 14–23, 2002     

Keeping an open mind: A rejoinder.

Replies to the comments of S. M. Essock and H. H. Goldman (see record 1990-02584-001) on C. A. Kiesler and T. L. Morton's (see record 1988-21263-001) article on the prospective payment system (PPS) according to diagnosis-related groups in inpatient psychiatry. The present authors argue that Essock and Goldman's comments on the role of length of stay in PPS, Kiesler and Morton's perceived attitudes toward hospitalization, and a number of pro-PPS arguments, represent a one-sided anti-PPS attitude prominent in the psychiatric literature. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Design of 3D-printed Cable Driven Humanoid Hand Based on Bidirectional Elastomeric Passive Transmission

Motion control of the human hand is the most complex part of the human body. It has always been a challenge for a good balance between the cost, weight, responding speed, grasping force, finger extension, and dexterity of prosthetic hand. To solve these issues, a 3D-printed cable driven humanoid hand based on bidirectional elastomeric passive transmission(BEPT) is designed in this paper. A semi-static model of BEPT is investigated based on energy conservation law to analyze the mechanical properties of BEPT and a dynamical simulation of finger grasping is conducted. For a good imitation of human hand and an excellent grasping performance, specific BEPT is selected according to human finger grasping experiments. The advantage of BEPT based humanoid hand is that a good balance between the price and performance of the humanoid hand is achieved. Experiments proved that the designed prosthetic hand's single fingertip force can reach 33 N and the fastest fingertip grasping speed realized 0.6 s/180°. It also has a good force compliance effect with only 430g's weight. It can not only grab fragile objects like raw eggs and paper cup, but also achieve strong grasping force to damage metal cans. This humanoid hand has considerable application prospects in artificial prosthesis, human-computer interaction, and robot operation.     

High Serum Palmitic Acid is Associated with Low Antiviral Effects of Interferon-Based Therapy for Hepatitis C Virus

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection alters fatty acid synthesis and metabolism in association with HCV replication. The present study examined the effect of serum fatty acid composition on interferon (IFN)-based therapy. Fifty-five patients with HCV were enrolled and received IFN-based therapy. Patient characteristics, laboratory data (including fatty acids), and viral factors that could be associated with the anti-HCV effects of IFN-based therapy were evaluated. The effects of individual fatty acids on viral replication and IFN-based therapy were also examined in an in-vitro system. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that the level of serum palmitic acid before treatment and HCV genotype were significant predictors for rapid virological response (RVR), early virological response (EVR), and sustained virological response (SVR). High levels of palmitic acid inhibited the anti-HCV effects of IFN-based therapy. HCV replication assays confirmed the inhibitory effects of palmitic acid on anti-HCV therapy. The concentration of serum palmitic acid is an independent predictive factor for RVR, EVR, and SVR in IFN-based antiviral therapy. These results suggest that the effect of IFN-based antiviral therapy in patients with HCV infection might be enhanced by treatment that modulates palmitic acid levels.     

A study of the buying price of photovoltaic electricity under a carbon tax regime

Assuming that photovoltaic (PV) systems are adopted in residential houses under a carbon tax regime, the economic performance of PV systems is investigated from the standpoint of an electric utility. The economic performance is estimated by using the buying price of PV electricity and the PV economic index, which is defined as the ratio of the buying price to the generation cost of the electric utility. Because these values depend on electric power development and operation, the best mix and the operation of power plants are obtained by linear programming subject to restrictions on power generation. Then, the buying price of PV electricity is calculated from the total cost of the electric utility. The buying price means the upper limit at which the electric utility never suffers a loss. The buying price is also compared with the power generation cost. The parameters are the prevalence attainment ratio of PV systems (0 to 100%), the upper limit of newly developed nuclear power plants (0 to 4 GW/10 y), and the generated energy ratio of coal‐fired thermal plants (0 to 15%). Chubu Electric Power Company, Inc. is used as the electric utility. The calculation results show that the buying price of PV electricity increases linearly with increasing carbon tax rate, and its values are 9 and 11.5 yen/kWh when the carbon tax rate is 0 and 25 thousand yen/t‐C, respectively, which does not depend on the prevalence attainment ratio of PV systems and the upper limit of newly developed nuclear power plants. It is not the carbon tax rate but the newly developed nuclear power plant that influences the PV economic index. The values of the PV economic index are 1.35 to 1.45 and 1.50 to 1.60 when the newly developed nuclear power plant capacity is 0 and 4 GW/10 y, respectively. These results show that the economic performance of PV systems is increased by developing nuclear power plants at a certain rate and introducing a carbon tax. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 143(2): 38–49, 2003; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.10067     

Treatment outcome and follow-up evaluation based on client case records in a mental health center.

Assessed the outcome of treatment of 121 mental health center clients (11–70 yrs of age), using therapist and independent global improvement ratings and independent ratings of notes in case records based on a client-specific goal-oriented outcome technique (Goal Attainment Scaling; GAS). Telephone follow-up of 50 clients provided a 2nd GAS assessment, client global improvement ratings, and 3 consumer satisfaction ratings. Findings indicate that (a) independently determined GAS scores and therapist and independent global ratings converged significantly, (b) the GAS procedure provided some increase in accuracy as well as an increase in specificity of outcome, and (c) client global ratings may reflect satisfaction with treatment rather than outcome. In view of the intercorrelations among measures and the relationship between GAS scores determined from case records and telephone interviews, case records may provide for accurate assessment of client problems and treatment success. (17 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Who is treated in psychiatric scatter beds in general hospitals? An imputational algorithm.

We imputed where mental, alcohol, and drug disorders are treated in general hospitals (GHs). The 1980 Hospital Discharge Survey, enhanced with other information, provided data. An algorithm based on multiple discriminant analysis and clinical assumptions imputed which GH patients were treated in a psychiatric unit (PU), a chemical dependency unit (CDU), or a general medical/surgical scatter bed (SB). SBs were used much less than expected. Over 60% of GH episodes occurred in specialized sites: PUs (63%), CDUs (15%), or specialty hospitals (22%). Most SB episodes occurred in GHs with no specialized unit (75%). Patients treated in scatter beds differed systematically from those in units of the same hospital and those in hospitals with no specialized units (e.g., less psychosis and psychiatric complexity, more physical comorbidity). The de facto system of assignment of disorders to hospital sites appears rational. Implications for public policy regarding inpatient treatment are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Statistical analysis of lightning surges on distribution lines based on the observation

Probability distribution of surge discharging current of arresters provided a basis for conventional theory of grounding systems. In order to rationalize the grounding systems, it is necessary to grasp the statistical data of lightning surges on distribution lines caused by direct lightning strokes and indirect lightning strokes. Lightning phenomena on TEPCO's distribution lines had been continuously observed for the rationalization of lightning protection design of distribution lines. The observation had been carried out with still cameras and monitoring sensors of lightning surges. This makes it possible to discover new interesting facts that can be useful for rationalization of lightning protection design of distribution lines. Cumulative frequency distribution of conventional data is close to that of ZnO discharging current in the case of direct strokes and indirect strokes through TEPCO's observation. Moreover, to verify the cumulative current distribution in concrete poles, the authors have compared the cumulative distribution of current through ground lines with that of current through ground lines and concrete poles. The results show that the distribution of current through ground lines and concrete poles is larger than that of current through only ground lines for high currents exceeding 1 kA. This fact suggests that lightning surge current flows not only in ground lines but also in concrete poles. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 165(2): 36–44, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20468     

Solder joint reliability of indium-alloy interconnection

Recent high-density very large scale integrated (VLSI) interconnections in multichip modules require high-reliability solder interconnection to enable us to achieve small interconnect size andlarge number of input/output terminals, and to minimize soft errors in VLSIs induced by α-particle emission from solder. Lead-free solders such as indium (In)-alloy solders are a possible alternative to conventional lead-tin (Pb-Sn) solders. To realize reliable interconnections using In-alloy solders, fatigue behavior, finite element method (FEM) simulations, and dissolution and reaction between solder and metallization were studied with flip-chip interconnection models. We measured the fatigue life of solder joints and the mechanical properties of solders, and compared the results with a computer simulation based on the FEM. Indium-alloy solders have better mechanical properties for solder joints, and their flip-chip interconnection models showed a longer fatigue life than that of Pb-Sn solder in thermal shock tests between liquid nitrogen and room temperatures. The fatigue characteristics obtained by experiment agree with that given by FEM analysis. Dissolution tests show that Pt film is resistant to dissolution into In solder, indicating that Pt is an adequate barrier layer material for In solder. This test also shows that Au dissolution into the In-Sn solder raises its melting point; however, Ag addition to In-Sn solder prevents melting point rise. Experimental results show that In-alloy solders are suitable for fabricating reliable interconnections.     

Prospective payment system for inpatient psychiatry: The advantages of controversy.

Psychiatric inpatient treatment in specialty hospitals and in psychiatric units of general hospitals is allowed exemption from the new prospective payment system (PPS) under Medicare. We review and critically evaluate the arguments and evidence against prospective payment; then we present and interpret the evidence in favor of PPS. We argue that a conclusion opposing PPS is premature and that a one-sided endorsement of this position inhibits or deflects both critical discussion and scientific investigation of central policy questions in mental health service delivery. On this basis, we encourage continued debate and scientific investigation of these issues. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)