A Bayesian Network-Based Approach to the Critical Infrastructure Interdependencies Analysis

This paper presents a novel approach to the critical infrastructure (CI) interdependencies analysis, based on the Dynamic Bayesian Network (DBN) formalism. Our original modeling procedure divides the DBN in three levels: an atomic events level, which models the adverse events impacting on the analyzed CIs, a propagation level, which captures CI interdependencies, and a services level, which allows to monitor the state of provided services. Three types of analyses can be performed: a reliability study, an adverse events propagation study, and a failure identification analysis. A case study provided by Israel Electric Corporation is considered, and explicative simulations are presented and discussed in detail.

In December 2019 and January 2020, a salvage excavation was conducted at Avi t al Junction, near Kibbutz ‘Ein Zivan in Golan (Permit Nos. A-8633, A-8668; map ref. 273550/777125; Figs. 1, 2), prior to digging an infrastructure trench and erecting an electricity pylon at the site. The excavation, on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and funded by the Israel Electric Corporation, was directed by U. Berger, with the assistance of Y. Yaakobi (administration), A. Kleiner and A. Wiegmann (aerial photography and surveying), A. Shapiro (GPS), G. Sharon (scientific assistance), R. Be’eri (archaeological supervision), T. Moab (educational program) and H. Tahan-Rosen (pottery drawing). Youths from Regavim High School in Golan Heights, youths and staff from the ‘En el-Asad pre-military training program and laborers from Nazareth and Kafr Manda participated in the excavation as well.

Developing and implementing an industry code of conduct : Jermain, D. O. The Electricity Journal, 2002, 15, (10), 35–42

This paper presents two different methods of static voltage stability analysis, one using indices based on the singular value decomposition of the system Jacobian matrix (SVD Method), while the other is based on finding a path of the system load flow equations solutions in presence of a load parameter (continuation method). Both methods were successfully implemented and applied on the Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) network consisting of about 200 nodes. The voltage collapse critical points were determined by both methods for different conditions, and the regions most exposed to voltage collapse in the network were identified.

In April 2018, a rescue excavation was conducted near Eyal Interchange (Permit No. A-8255; map ref. 196223-324/679077-291; Fig. 1). The excavation, undertaken on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and financed by the Israel Electric Corporation, was conducted by O. Danziger, assisted by Y. Amrani (administration), N. Gubenko (area supervision and flint identification), M. Kahan (surveying and drafting), A. Peretz (field photography), R. Toueg, and L. Brailovsky (preliminary inspections), A. 'Azab and A. Glick.

This paper determines three alternative Hopkinson tariffs to replace the Israel Electric Corporation's time‐of‐use (TOU) energy rate. The first apportions any system residual revenue requirement between customer classes, based on their respective historic peak demands. The second collects the same revenue as the current TOU rates. The third allocates generation revenue requirements for base‐load and peaking generation plants in proportion to the base‐load and peak‐period energy consumption of each class, and allocates transmission and distribution revenue requirements in proportion to the connected load of each class. We show that a Hopkinson tariff with demand subscription is an attractive alternative to TOU rates, especially when quantity rationing is essential to maintaining a balance between the provision of energy and the demand for it. Copyright © 2002 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Assessing the options for a competitive electricity market in Israel

A new coal fired power plant constructed by the Israel Electric Corporation on the Mediterranean coast off Hadera, Israel, requires the import of 3.3 million tons of coal per year. As there is no port on the Israeli Mediterranean coast capable of handling the 60,000 to 140,000 DWT bulk carriers required for transferring of coal, several studies were conducted in order to decide on the most feasible facility for mooring and unloading these boats. Rather than expand existing ports or build a new protected port, a decision was finally taken to construct an unprotected offshore terminal at the power plant site. The terminal was designed to accommodate bulk carriers of up to 140,000 DWT in the first stage, and up to 170,000 DWT with future expansion. The design of the coal unloading terminal in an unprotected environment created the need to develop design criteria as well as operational and structural systems that will respond to problems arising from unloading bulk in the open sea. As there was no known precedent of an unprotected unloading terminal, the criteria was based on experience in existing offshore loading terminals, laboratory tests and engineering judgment. The construction of an unprotected offshore terminal, at a cost of $60 million (excluding mechanical equipment), represents a considerable saving of time and money in comparison to the expansion of existing ports or construction of a new protected facility.

Computational Fluid Dynamic (CFD) models give good predictions of coal combustion in utility boilers if the coal combustion kinetic parameters are known. We developed a three-step methodology to provide reliable prediction of the behavior of a coal in a utility boiler: (1) Obtaining the combustion kinetic model parameters from a series of experiments in a test facility, CFD codes and optimization algorithm. (2) Validation of the combustion kinetic parameters by comparison of different experimental data with simulation results obtained by the set of combustion kinetic parameters. (3) The extracted kinetic parameters are then used for simulations of full-scale boilers using the same CFD code. Three to four bituminous and sub-bituminous coals with known behavior in Israel Electric Corporation (IEC) 550MW opposite-wall (3 coals) and 575MW tangential-fired (4 coals) boilers were used to show the capability of the method. An unfamiliar bituminous coal was then examined prior of its firing in the utility boilers and prediction of its combustion behavior in the two boilers was carried out. This methodology was used to examine a Venezuelan coal that was found to yield high LOI.

In March 2020, a salvage excavation was conducted along the Negev Junction–Neot H ovav power line (Permit No. A-8707; map ref. 184110–339/555218–458; Fig. 1) prior to the construction of a high-voltage line. The excavation, undertaken on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and Ben-Gurion University of the Negev and funded by the Israel Electric Corporation, was directed by T. Abulafia and M. Birkenfeld with the assistance of Y. Alamor (administration), E. Aladjem (surveying and drone photography), E. Boaretto and J. Ibrahim of the Weizmann Institute (radiocarbon dating and sedimentology), and students and volunteers.

In July 2016, a salvage excavation was undertaken in Caesarea (Permit No. A-7757; map ref. 190406-845/711907-76) prior to replacement of three electric poles. The excavation, on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and funded by the Israel Electric Corporation, was directed by M. Masarwa, with the assistance of Y. Amrani and E. Bachar (administration), R. Mishayev, R. Liran and M. Kahan (surveying and drafting), A. Peretz (field photography) and M. Shuiskaya (pottery drawing), as well as K. Sa'id (Central District Archaeologist) and P. Gendelman (consulting and guidance).

In March 2020, a salvage excavation was conducted at the Na h al No‘am designated antiquity site (Permit No. A-8725; map ref. 18065/60782; Fig. 1), prior to the erection of a high-tension pylon. The excavation, on behalf of the Israel Antiquities Authority and funded by the Israel Electric Corporation Ltd., was directed by N. Lect Ben Ami, with the assistance of Y. Alamor (administration), M. Kahan (surveying and drafting), A. Fraiberg (digital documentation), A. Golani (scientific guidance), G. Seriy (safety) and V. Lifshits, N.S. Paran and S. Ganor of the IAA Southern Region.

Grid matching of large-scale wind energy conversion systems, alone and in tandem with large-scale photovoltaic systems: An Israeli case study

BackgroundAs one of the therapeutic modalities for treating tumors, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have gained widespread application in clinical practice, including non-small cell lung cancer, melanoma, head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, hepatocellular carcinoma, and other types of cancers. However, the safety profile of combining ICIs remains inadequately understood, which poses limitations on the clinical utilization of this novel class of medications. To investigate the toxicity spectrum associated with combination immunotherapy, we conducted an extensive data mining and analysis of the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System (FAERS) database.MethodsBy mining adverse event (AE) reports from the FAERS database covering the period from the first quarter of 2011 through the second quarter of 2024, baseline data were analyzed using Cramer’s V coefficient and p-value. Subsequently, two methods, the reporting odds ratio (ROR) and the Bayesian confidence propagation neural network, were employed to detect AE signals for single immune checkpoint inhibitors (sICIs) and dual immunotherapy group (tremelimumab plus durvalumab and ipilimumab plus nivolumab, DIG).ResultsA total of 55,052 patients and 118,001 AEs were selected. The DIG exhibited a higher incidence of AE signals across 14 distinct system organ class level. Moreover, DIG exhibited higher positive signal intensity compared to sICIs in the following preferred terms: myocarditis [ROR 2.221, 95% confidence interval lower limit of information component (IC025) 0.486], immune-mediated myocarditis (ROR 2.922, IC025 0.610), adrenal insufficiency (ROR 2.503, IC025 0.602), hyperthyroidism (ROR 1.872, IC025 0.305), thyroiditis (ROR 2.669, IC025 0.546), immune-mediated enterocolitis (ROR 3.948, IC025 0.937), pyrexia (ROR 1.570, IC025 0.290), hepatic function abnormality (ROR 2.582, IC025 0.591), hepatitis (ROR 2.705, IC025 0.637), liver disorder (ROR 2.718, IC025 0.646), immune-mediated hepatitis (ROR 5.504, IC025 0.994), immune-mediated liver disorder (ROR 5.322, IC025 0.966), cytokine release syndrome (ROR 7.650, IC025 1.103), autoimmune diseases (ROR 1.754, IC025 0.275), sepsis (ROR 1.414, IC025 0.062), diabetic ketoacidosis (ROR 2.294, IC025 0.472), type 1 diabetes mellitus (ROR 2.421, IC025 0.508), arthritis (ROR 1.562, IC025 0.113), myositis (ROR 2.204, IC025 0.412), and acute kidney injury (ROR 1.708, IC025 0.264).ConclusionsOur findings indicate that the AEs associated with dual ICI predominantly originate from immune-related AEs, including myotoxicity, endocrine toxicity, and hepatotoxicity. Notably, cytokine release syndrome, a rarely reported AE with a strongly positive signal, warrants particular attention in clinical decision-making.

The role of organizational factors in the generation of adverse events, and the manner in which such factors can also inhibit an organization's abilities to learn, have become important agenda items within health care. The government report 'An organization with a memory' highlighted many of the problems facing health care and suggested changes that need to be made if the sector is to learn effective lessons and prevent adverse events from occurring. This paper seeks to examine some of these organizational factors in more detail and suggests issues that managers need to consider as part of their wider strategies for the prevention and management of risk. The paper sets out five core elements that are held to be importance in shaping the manner in which the potential for risk is incubated within organizations. Although the paper focuses its attention on health care, the points made have validity across the public sector and into private sector organizations.