A Techno-Economic analysis to determine the levelized cost of hydrogen generation through electrolysis for Humboldt Transit Authority, Humboldt County, California

Abstract This thesis aims to investigate the techno-economic feasibility of on-site electrolysis-based hydrogen generation for the Humboldt Transit Authority (HTA), focusing on determining the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) for various system configurations and utility rate schedules. The study recommends using a 2.5 MW electrolyzer with the B-20 (T) utility rate schedule along with an E-GT rate supplement provided by PG&E as the most cost-effective solution to meet HTA\u27s projected hydrogen demand. This demand is currently based on the utilization of 11 H2 fuel cell buses, which is further expected to grow to 21 buses, and estimated public use at a hydrogen fueling station. The LCOH for this configuration is $6.08 per kg of hydrogen over the electrolyzer\u27s 15-year (discounted by 5$6 million over the next 15 years compared to purchasing hydrogen from a commercial source at $7 to$9 per kg. Installing and operating a 1MW solar PV and 500kW & 1MWh battery energy storage system, and B-20 & E-GT rate supplement will result in a LCOH of $6.61 per kg of hydrogen. However, if the capital cost of the solar and battery energy storage is incentivized through state and federal incentives, the LCOH can be brought down to$5.73 per kg of hydrogen (with 100% capex incentives). The cost of purchasing a new 2.5 MW electrolyzer is approximately $3.7 million. When using the B-20 rate structure to produce electrolytic hydrogen, it is recommended to oversize the electrolyzer to achieve a 75$18.89, and a utilization rate of 99% would have an LCOH of $7.09 (see Figure 33 in Section 4.3 for details). Oversizing the electrolyzer allows for the generation of hydrogen while avoiding the peak demand period of 4 pm to 9 pm, which typically incurs higher demand charges. By operating at a 75$6.42 per kg of hydrogen), resulting in a lower LCOH overall

The Value of Crowdsourcing for Complex Problems: Comparative Evidence from Software Developed By the Crowd And Professionals

Crowdsourcing is a problem solving model. In the context of complex problems, conventional theory suggests that solving complex problems is a province of professionals, that is, people with sufficient knowledge about the domain. Prior literature has indicated that the crowd, in addition to professionals, is also a great source for solving problems such as product innovation and idea generation. However, this assumption has yet to be tested. Adopting a quasi-experimental approach, this study uses a two-phase process to investigate this question. In the first phase we compare the development of a software by the crowd and professionals. In the second phase we evaluate the software developed by the crowdsourcing business model and professionals in terms of key perceived quality dimensions assessed by users of the systems. Quality is measured in terms of pragmatic quality, hedonic quality stimulation, and hedonic quality identification. Our study results suggest that there is a statistically significant difference between the software developed by a crowdsourcing business model and professionals in terms of hedonic quality stimulation and hedonic quality identification but there is no difference in terms of pragmatic quality. This research offers a first assessment of whether a crowdsourcing business model can be used to develop software with better user experience than professionallydeveloped software

Theoretical Trends in IS/T Leadership: A Review of Published Research

One way to examine the research contribution in structuring knowledge about an Information system (IS) phenomenon is to understand its theoretical state, trends and traits (structural nature of theory). We performed a theoretical assessment of one specific IS phenomenon: Information systems/technology (IS/T) leadership. IS/T leadership is a process followed by the top IS executives to affect various stakeholders to achieve the IS/T related goals aligned with the organizational mission and vision. We performed a systematic literature review, and categorized the surveyed articles based on the Gregor’s taxonomy of theory types in IS research to identify the type of theories developed and used in IS/T research. Our findings demonstrate the interest in theory used for explaining and predicting IS/T leadership research

Evaluation of left and right ventricular functions pre and post balloon mitral Valvuloplasty using speckled tracking echocardiography

Background: Rheumatic heart disease remains a considerable cause of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in developing countries such as India. The aim of the present study was to compare ventricular (LV and RV) function in patients with severe mitral stenosis (MS) undergoing balloon mitral Valvuloplasty (BMV) with those on medical management and also with healthy controls and to assess the burden of ventricular (LV and RV) systolic dysfunction, its determinants, and its reversibility with percutaneous balloon mitral Valvuloplasty using speckle tracking echocardiography in patients with severe MS.Methods: This prospective study was performed in a tertiary care center, Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow in patients with severe MS, from September 2014 to September 2015. A total of 60 were divided into three groups. Cases (n=30), patients with severe MS undergoing BMV; case controls (n=20), patients with severe MS who did not give consent for BMV and chose medical management and healthy controls (n=10). Cases who underwent BMV were analyzed pre and post BMV and detailed echocardiographic and speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) was done at baseline, 24-48 hours after BMV and at post one month after BMV. Appropriate statistical analysis was applied and different parameters were compared.Results: Most of the cases (56.7%) control (65%) and healthy controls (40%) were between 21-30 years of age. Female preponderance was observed in the study. A significant (p=0.01) decrease in the LA size, PASP (p=0.0001), MV PG area (p=0.0001) and significant (p=0.0001) increase in the LVEF, MVA area was observed from baseline to post 24-48 hours and at post one month after BMV among cases. Significant improvement was noticed in longitudinal strain and regional rotation in different LV segments as assessed by STE at post 24-48 hours and post one month after BMV (p value 0.001) among cases. No significant (p>0.05) difference in the 2D echo parameters was seen from baseline to follow-ups among the case controls. No significant improvement was observed in regional rotation, global rotation in different LV and RV segments after one month as assessed by STE among case controls whereas significant improvement was seen in cases.Conclusions: BMV results in marked improvement in LV and RV GLS immediately post BMV with improvement towards normalization at follow up after one month and the same can be easily assessed by Speckle tracking echocardiography

A polarization insensitive ultrathin compact triple band metamaterial absorber

In this paper, design, characterization and measurements of an ultrathin compact polarization insensitive triple band metamaterial absorber for wide incident angle have been presented. The unit cell design consists of a Jerusalem cross shaped resonator inside a square loop resonator. The proposed absorber exhibits triple band absorption at 4.4, 6.48 and 15.44 GHz with 96.6% and 97.64% and 85.81% absorptivity, respectively, for wide incident angles of electromagnetic wave. The absorption frequencies can be effectively adjusted for C, X and Ku frequency bands by optimizing the dimensions of the absorber design. The proposed absorber is ultrathin (0.014 λ0) in thickness and compact (0.12 λ0) in size at the lowest frequency of absorption. The proposed absorber exhibits TE and TM polarization stability and provides high absorption up to the incident angle of 60°. A prototype of the proposed absorber structure has been fabricated and experimentally tested for normal and oblique incidences for TE and TM polarization. The measured responses have been observed in agreement with the simulated ones

Evaluation of coronary microcirculation by myocardial contrast echocardiography in patients of ST elevation myocardial infarction

Background: No reflow phenomenon observed during catheter intervention has been associated with poor cardiovascular outcomes. Assessment of filling defect by myocardial contrast echocardiography (MCE) correlates with no reflow. Limited studies are available for the same. This study was designed to look for impact of type of therapy for revascularization (whether percutaneous coronary intervention or thrombolysis) and its evaluation by MCE and follow up echocardiography parameters.Methods: Total 50 consecutive patients of ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) were taken study including recent STEMI (within 7 days). After all routine investigations patient underwent coronary angiography and percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) procedure. Following completion of procedure, thrombolysis in myocardial infarction (TIMI) flow, TIMI frame count, and myocardial blush grade were calculated and noted. Post revascularization contrast echocardiography was done after patient stabilization. Findings were correlated with cath-lab parameters applying appropriate statistical tests. Follow up was planned after 30 days.Results: 50 consecutive patients admitted with acute myocardial infarction (MI) or recent MI (0-7 day) who underwent primary PCI - 82% (n=41) or thrombolysed with various thrombolytic agents - 18% (n=9). Mean age of the study group was 55.02±12.65 years. There was significant association in between TIMI 3 flow and absence of filling defect in MCE (p=0.03), but no significant association found in between revascularization therapy (Either PCI or Thrombolysis) and filling defect in MCE (p=0.08).Conclusions: Our study found good correlation between myocardial contrast score with angiographically measured TIMI flow and improved echocardiographic findings on follow up

Analytical Study of Two Serial Channels with Priority and Reneging

Most of the studies of queuing theory, which are useful in our daily life has been investigated by many researchers. The present research is the study of pre-emptive priority queuing system consisting two serial channels in stochastic environment. The impatient behavior of customer’s will be discussed with exponential service distribution and Poisson arrivals. Higher priority customers have pre-emptive priority over the low priority customers. The G.F. technique is used to derive the performance measures of high & low priority queues and assuming FCFS discipline in busy schedule of higher priority class. Also evaluate queue behavior graphically and discussed a special case at the end which shows utilization of channels

Coronary angiographic abnormalities in patients of diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome

Background: Diabetes mellitus and Metabolic syndrome, both are established risk factors for CAD. In our study, we tried to compare the effects of these two diseases individually as well as their combined effect.Methods: we performed an Observational, cross-sectional, hospital-based, single center study on 240 patients presenting at our hospital with chest pain. we assessed the severity of CAD with Syntax score and divided the study population into three groups with SS of =33.Results: statistically significant difference was found in each of the first three groups of combined MS plus DM, only MS without DM, only DM without MS when compared with the fourth group of nondiabetics nonmetabolic syndrome patients. Strongest difference was found between patients with combined diabetes and metabolic syndrome with those who had none of these (<0.001). Thus, complexity of CAD is much severe in patients who have diabetes and/or metabolic syndrome.Conclusions: Patients having diabetes mellitus and/or metabolic syndrome are found to have more severe form of coronary artery disease than those who don’t have either of these. However, presence of both diabetes and metabolic syndrome has not been found to impose any significant additional risk than their isolated presence