Green Capacity

This paper will cover the lessons learned from performing multiple Liquified Natural Gas (LNG) power plant audits that were exhibiting nuisance tripping, personnel safety issues, and potential equipment failure. This paper will focus on a specific facility but include aspects of three (3) other sites as well. These investigations started out as forensic investigations but quickly moved into lightning and power system grounding audits based on evidence encountered. These audits covered improvement opportunities on lightning protection, transferred earth potentials, personnel step and touch potentials, safety, electronic grounding of generation controls and related LNG gas supply and complement the ground mat (or interconnected ground rod system) itself as the sole grounding installation. These audits of several installations provided specific recommendations regarding performance and dramatic reliability improvements as well as significant LNG plant safety improvements. Implementation and results of some of the ongoing suggested corrections will be presented.

Introduction: Adult congenital heart disease (ACHD) patients pose unique challenges in identifying time for transplantation and factors influencing outcomes. Hypothesis: Survival outcomes in ACHD patients depend on hemodynamic, functional, and laboratory parameters. Methods: We performed a retrospective chart review of adult patients (>18y) with CHD evaluated for heart or heart+ transplant between November 2004 and July 2014 and evaluated outcomes until December 2020 at University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Multiple clinical parameters were evaluated to identify factors influencing outcomes for up to 10 years after consideration for transplant. Kruskal-Wallis nonparametric analysis was conducted to compare differences between variables. Results: 58 adult patients with congenital heart disease (CHD), age range 20-55 years were evaluated. D-TGA with atrial switch operation (20.7%), tetralogy of Fallot/pulmonary atresia (15.5%) and tricuspid atresia (13.8%) were the most common diagnosis for transplant. Of the 58 patients, 5 (8.6%) were deferred, 42 (72.4%) were listed for transplant and 11 (18.9%) were declined for transplant. Statistically significant factors affecting listing decision are included in table 1. Declined patients showed the highest 1-year mortality (18.2%), whereas waitlisted patients showed the highest 10-year mortality (84.2%). In the post-transplantation period, 30 day survival was 87.0%, 1-yr was 82.6%, and 5-yr and 10 year was 69.6%. 1-year post-transplant survival was influenced by pre-transplant end diastolic pressures, use of advanced life support, and right atrial pressure. There was no significant difference in post-transplant survival between single ventricle versus bi-ventricular patients. Conclusions: We have identified clinical factors that influence survival outcomes in ACHD patients considered for transplantation, These can applied while making transplant decisions and improve outcomes

The paper deals with a new distributional record of Stylosanthes calcicola , a naturalised taxon for Asia. Taxonomic account of the species, description, and photographs are provided to facilitate its identity. The species is distinguished from other species of Stylosanthes, based on the almost straight beak of lomentum.

Analysis of dissolved light hydrocarbon gas concentrations (primarily methane and ethane) in water supply wells is commonly used to establish conditions before and after drilling in areas of shale gas and oil extraction. Several methods are currently used to collect samples for dissolved gas analysis from water supply wells; however, the reliability of results obtained from these methods has not been quantified. This study compares dissolved methane and ethane concentrations measured in groundwater samples collected using three sampling methods employed in pre- and post-drill sampling programs in the Appalachian Basin. These include an open-system collection method where 40 mL volatile organic analysis (VOA) vials are filled directly while in contact with the atmosphere (Direct-Fill VOA) and two alternative methods: (1) a semi-closed system method whereby 40 mL VOA vials are filled while inverted under a head of water (Inverted VOA) and (2) a relatively new (2013) closed system method in which the sample is collected without direct contact with purge water or the atmosphere (IsoFlask® ). This study reveals that, in the absence of effervescence, the difference in methane concentrations between the three sampling methods was relatively small. However, when methane concentrations equaled or exceeded 20 mg/L (the approximate concentration at which effervescence occurs in the study area), IsoFlask® (closed system) samples yielded significantly higher methane concentrations than Direct-Fill VOA (open system) samples, and Inverted VOA (semi-closed system) samples yielded lower concentrations. These results suggest that open and semi-closed system sample collection methods are adequate for non-effervescing samples. However, the use of a closed system collection method provides the most accurate means for the measurement of dissolved hydrocarbon gases under all conditions.

ABSTRACT The third edition of IEC 60601-1 (Medical Electrical Equipment – Part 1: General Requirements for Basic Safety and Essential Performance) was released early this year. The third edition is the newest revision of IEC 60601-1. IEC 60601-1 is the international safety standard for electrical medical devices. There are significant revisions and new requirements in the third edition. Most notably for the electronic industry, the third edition will accept IEC 60950 isolation requirements. IEC 60950 is the international safety standard for Information Technology Equipment (ITE). In the previous edition of IEC 60601-1, medical device manufacturers could not simply use ITE power supplies because the isolation requirements were less stringent than IEC 60601-1. This change could have the biggest impact in medical power supply design and construction. This paper will first discuss the revised regulatory requirements. Then, the paper will discuss the design impact and sourcing impact of using an ITE power supply versus a medical power supply.

Sampling of large-sized brains (eg, dog, primate) for microscopic examination is frequently inadequate to detect localized neurotoxic injury. Furthermore, the examination of H&E-stained sections alone will often be insufficient for the detection of subtle neuropathogic alteration. It is imperative for any pathologist evaluating brain sections to have knowledge of microscopic neuroanatomy and to also have some understanding of basic neurochemistry. When a focus of degeneration is detected within the brain, the pathologist needs to ascertain not only the specific anatomic location of this focus but also the neuroanatomic regions that project to and receive output from the injured focus. Because of the complexity of brain circuitry and the fact that the brain contains many distinctive neuron populations, many more brain sections are required for adequate microscopic evaluation than for any other body organ. Deciding which and how many areas should be examined, microscopically, from a large size brain is often problematic. Although any sampling protocol will be influenced by what is known about the test chemical, it has been well established that certain regions of the brain (eg, hippocampus and other components of the limbic system, basal ganglia, Purkinje neurons) are more susceptible than others to a variety of physical, metabolic, and chemical insults. Knowledge of these regional sensitivities will assist in guiding the pathologist in the development of an adequate sampling protocol.

Abstract Environmental contamination data frequently follow an extremely right skewed distribution, which is often approximated by a log‐normal distribution. For the purpose of risk assessment it is of interest to use the sample data to calculate an upper bound on the population arithmetic mean. This article reviews the usual upper bound estimator calculated assuming a log‐normal distribution and shows that, when the log‐normal assumption is not satisfied, this method can result in severe over‐estimation of the upper bound for the arithmetic mean. We then show, using Monte Carlo simulation, that a bootstrap upper bound is a much better approximation to the true upper bound on the population arithmetic mean. Finally, we present a bootstrap procedure for use when the data are left censored by detection/quantification limits and discuss Monte Carlo results that support the use of this procedure when as much as one‐half of the sample consists of censored observations. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

The P1015 Working Group of the IEEE Low Voltage Protection Subcommittee is preparing an application guide for low voltage circuit breakers used in industrial and commercial power systems, to be published as the IEEE Blue Book. The purpose of this guide is to provide information for selecting the proper circuit breaker for a particular application. This guide helps the application engineer specify the type of breaker, rating, trip functions, accessories, acceptance tests, and maintenance requirements. This guide also discusses circuit breakers for special-purpose applications; for example, thermal only, instantaneous only, and switches. >