Simulation and analysis of renewable energy resource integration for electric vehicle charging stations in Thailand

This paper presents simulation results and analysis of renewable energy system integration to supplying EV charging stations using Provincial Electricity Authority (PEA) head office located in Bangkok, the capital territory of Thailand. This study has incorporated three types of renewable energy resources, i.e. solar, wind and energy storage. The MERIT™ program is being used in this study to simulate the system performance. However, relevant system data and other parameters, i.e. energy matching (%) between power demand and power supplied from renewable energy resources, capital cost (£) incurred in building renewable energy system, the amount of surplus and deficit (kWh), are also brought into consideration. This work also targeted to devise the annual proportion of three size cases of EVs available in market today - small, medium and large, respectively. On comparing the simulation results with real electricity generating situations, it is envisaged that the obtained solutions being employed to improve performance of a completely installed renewable energy system integrated into EV charging stations, located at PEA head office, are expected to alleviate the electricity use of the grid and meet the charging demand of EV's in the long term

Impact of anxiety and fear for COVID-19 toward infection control practices among Thai healthcare workers

The emergence of COVID-19 is the most challenging threat to international public health.1,2 The epidemic had a vast impact on healthcare personnel (HCP), who are at risk for contracting diseases and transmission to their patients and families. The uncertainty about the mode of transmission, including infectivity of asymptomatic and presymptomatic patients,may have created substantial stress in HCP who provide care for known or suspected COVID-19 patients.3 This anxiety may lead to substandard care for patients that may negatively impact patient safety. As of April 26, 2020,4 there were 2,951 patients with COVID-19 in Thailand, and 99 HCP had contracted COVID- 19 during patient care. Few data are available concerning the impact of HCP emotions (eg, anxiety and fear) toward infection prevention practices.5,6 To evaluate the HCP emotions for COVID-19 toward infection prevention practices at 4 hospitals, a we conducted a survey

Methodology and reporting of diagnostic accuracy studies of automated perimetry in glaucoma: evaluation using a standardised approach

Purpose: To evaluate methodological and reporting quality of diagnostic accuracy studies of perimetry in glaucoma and to determine whether there had been any improvement since the publication of the Standards for Reporting of Diagnostic Accuracy (STARD) guidelines. Methods: A systematic review of English language articles published between 1993 and 2013 reporting the diagnostic accuracy of perimetry in glaucoma. Articles were appraised for methodological quality using the 14-item Quality assessment tool for diagnostic accuracy studies (QUADAS) and evaluated for quality of reporting by applying the STARD checklist. Results: Fifty-eight articles were appraised. Overall methodological quality of these studies was moderate with a median number of QUADAS items rated as ‘yes’ equal to 9 (out of a maximum of 14) (IQR 7-10). The studies were often poorly reported; median score of STARD items fully reported was 11 out of 25 (IQR 10-14). A comparison of the studies published in 10-year periods before and after the publication of the STARD checklist in 2003 found quality of reporting had not substantially improved. Conclusions: Methodological and reporting quality of diagnostic accuracy studies of perimetry is sub-optimal and appears not to have improved substantially following the development of the STARD reporting guidance. This observation is consistent with previous studies in ophthalmology and in other medical specialities

Optimizing Generation Maintenance Scheduling Considering Emission Factors

Conventional generation maintenance scheduling (GMS) is a solution to increase the reliability of power systems and minimize the operation and maintenance costs paid by generation companies (GenCos). Nonetheless, environmental aspects, such as zero carbon emissions, have attracted global attention, leading to emission costs being paid by electricity generators. Therefore, to obtain GMS plans that consider these factors, this paper proposes multi-objective GMS models to minimize operation, maintenance, and emission costs by using lexicographic optimization as a mathematical tool. A demand response program (DRP) is also adapted to decrease emission generation and operational expenditures. The probability that no generation unit (GU) fails unexpectedly and the average net reserve value, comprising the system reliability with and without considering the GU failure rate, are demonstrated. Numerical examples are implemented for the IEEE 24-bus reliability test system. A GMS algorithm presented in a published work is run and compared to verify the robustness of the proposed GMS models. Our results indicate that this paper provides comprehensive approaches to the multi-objective GMS problem focusing on operation, maintenance, carbon, and DRP costs in consideration of technical and environmental aspects. The use of lexicographic optimization allows for the systematic and hierarchical consideration of these objectives, leading to significant benefits for GenCos

Standard automated perimetry and algorithms for monitoring glaucoma progression

Despite increasingly sophisticated techniques for the computerized analysis of the optic nerve and retinal nerve fiber layer, standard automated perimetry (SAP) is still the primary test for assessing functional damage in glaucoma. Most of the diseases affecting the visual field can be studied analyzing the central visual field with a fixed grid of points set at 6° or at a variable density within central 30°, using a III white target stimulus (program 30/2 or 24/2 Humphrey, G1/G2 or 30/2 Octopus). Although there is lack of a true gold standard for glaucoma, SAP results were the primary endpoint in most of the clinical trials in glaucoma. New thresholding strategies allowed a considerable reduction of examination time without substantial loss of accuracy. Moreover, recent findings on structure-function correlation in glaucoma validate the clinical role of this well-known and widespread method of examination. © 2008 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved