Addressing the Performance of Distance Relays in Presence of Inverter Based Resources

The transition towards clean energy initiatives to reduce global greenhouse emissions and the dependence on fossil fuels requires the interconnection of large-scale renewable energy power plants to high voltage transmission networks via inverters. These inverter interfaced power sources, popularly known as inverter-based resources (IBRs), pose several technical challenges to the existing distance protection infrastructures widely deployed in transmission systems. Fault characteristics of IBRs are significantly different from those shown by synchronous generators (SGs). With IBRs taking a large share of generation, their increasing penetration at the transmission level causes incorrect operation of existing distance protection schemes designed for systems dominated by SGs. This work focuses on the impact of inverters on negative sequence component-based directional elements that assist distance relays in identifying the direction of fault current, causing incorrect tripping of relays and missing out on in-zone faults. The main reasons for these misoperations are the negative sequence current blocking function in inverters and the changed angular relationships between the sequence voltages and currents dictated by the IBR control schemes. This work proposes a solution that uses the method of fault direction identification used in classical non-numerical relays to address this problem. Unlike modern numerical relays, directional elements in non-numerical relays use the measurements of phase voltages and currents instead of negative sequence components. This work shows that the method of direction identification used by non-numerical relays still works accurately in all test scenarios, including cases with IBR feeding the relay, where the negative sequence component-based method in modern numerical relays fails

Estimation of Vehicular Velocity based on Non-Intrusive stereo camera

The paper presents a modular approach for the estimation of a leading vehicle's velocity based on a non-intrusive stereo camera where SiamMask is used for leading vehicle tracking, Kernel Density estimate (KDE) is used to smooth the distance prediction from a disparity map, and LightGBM is used for leading vehicle velocity estimation. Our approach yields an RMSE of 0.416 which outperforms the baseline RMSE of 0.582 for the SUBARU Image Recognition ChallengeComment: 5 pages, 4 images, 1 tabl

Nonlinear Optics Quantum Computation and Quantum Simulation with Circuit-QED

Superconducting quantum circuits are a promising approach for realizations of large scale quantum information processing and quantum simulations. The Josephson junction, which forms the basis of superconducting circuits, is the only known nonlinear non-dissipative circuit element, and its inherent nonlinearities have found many different applications. In this thesis I discuss specific implementations of these circuits. I show that strong two-photon nonlinearities can be induced by coupling photons in the microwave domain to Josephson nonlinearities. I then propose a method to simulate a parent Hamiltonian that can potentially be used to observe fractional quantum Hall states of light. I will also explore how superconducting circuits can be used to modify system-bath couplings to emulate a chemical potential for photons. Finally, I consider the limitations of devising a scheme to couple superconducting circuits to trapped ions, and consider the challenges for such hybrid approaches

Nonlinear Optics Quantum Computing with Circuit-QED

One approach to quantum information processing is to use photons as quantum bits and rely on linear optical elements for most operations. However, some optical nonlinearity is necessary to enable universal quantum computing. Here, we suggest a circuit-QED approach to nonlinear optics quantum computing in the microwave regime, including a deterministic two-photon phase gate. Our specific example uses a hybrid quantum system comprising a LC resonator coupled to a superconducting flux qubit to implement a nonlinear coupling. Compared to the self-Kerr nonlinearity, we find that our approach has improved tolerance to noise in the qubit while maintaining fast operation.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Economics of chhari and marketable-size carps in Bara, Nepal

A study was conducted to analyze the economics of production of chhari and marketable-size carps in Bara, Nepal. All total 90 farmers; 45 chhari producing and 45 marketable-size carps producing farmers were selected randomly and surveyed through pre-tested semi-structured interview based schedule on the month of March, 2019. Data was entered and analyzed using STATA 12.1 and SPSS 25. Findings of the study revealed that the total cost of fish production per hectare of pond area was 971927 NRs/year. Chhari production was profitable in the study area as compared to marketable-size carps with a Benefit Cost Ratio of 1.97 and 1.67 respectively. Production function analysis including six explanatory variables, showed significant effect of feed, labour (p<0.01), maintenance, fuel and electricity (p<0.05) and lime, fertilizer and medicine costs (p<0.1) but seed cost was insignificant. The return to scale was found to be 0.906 and at II stage of Production. According to estimated allocative efficiency indices, it is suggested to reduce seed; and lime, fertilizer cum medicine cost by 159% and 72% respectively, and increase the maintenance; feed; fuel cum electricity; and labour cost by about 95%, 33%, 95%, and 50% respectively for chhari producers. Similarly for marketable-size carp producers, it is suggested to decrease fuel and electricity cost by 176% and increase maintenance; seed; feed; lime, fertilizer and medicine; and labour cost by 95%, 86%, 13%, 29%, and 30% respectively. Thus, fishery enterprise is in the stage of higher potentiality to increase the production in the study area

Growth and yield performance of hybrid tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L.) lines at Parwanipur, Bara, Nepal

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the performance of hybrid tomato lines on growth and yield performance at Regional Agriculture research Station (RARS), Parwanipur, Nepal during end of September, 2018 to April, 2019. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with seven hybrid tomato lines as treatments and three replications. The tested lines included Srijana and Dalila as check varieties and other lines, developed by crossing HRA and HRD lines which showed better performance under late blight conditions. HRA 20× HRD 1 showed significantly higher plant height (110.67 cm) which was statistically at par with genotype HRA 14× HRD 7. The highest number of fruits per plant (69) was recorded from Srijana whereas the lowest number of fruits per plant (37) was recorded from cv. HRA20 × HRD1. The fruit yield of the lines ranged from 50.54 t/ha to 32.2 t/ha with Srijana having the highest yield and HRA 20× HRD 1 as the lowest. Similar results were shown regarding the marketable fruit yield. However, the highest individual fruit weight (34.67g) was recorded in HRA 14× HRD 7 and the least fruit weight was recorded in Srijana (24.22 g). Results showed that the maximum TSS (5.53 0Brix) was recorded from Dalila which was similar as Srijana. Hence, the overall performance of Srijana was recorded superior regarding both quantitative and qualitative suggesting Srijana as the recommended variety in the given domain. Here authors concluded that Srijana is still a comparatively better hybrid variety in Nepal.&nbsp

Economics of Rubber Production in Jhapa, Nepal

A study was conducted to examine cost structure and economic feasibility of rubber production in Jhapa district. It also aimed to assess determinants of increment in acreage of rubber cultivation in the study area. A total of sixty two rubber growers were selected by simple random sampling and interviewed with pre-tested semi structured schedule on the month of March, 2019. Study revealed that the total cost of natural rubber production per hectare of rubber orchard was 499774.8 NRs. /year. It was found to be economically viable and cost effective as indicated by satisfactory values of Benefit Cost Ratio (1.5), Net Present Value of NRs. 686547 at a discount rate of 12 percent and Internal Rate of Return 18 percent. Probit model revealed that trainings received, experience of rubber farming, ethnicity and membership in community organizations were significant factors that positively affected farmers’ decision in expanding rubber cultivation area. Received trainings solely could increase probability of acreage increment by 36.9 percent. Thus, it is recommended that extension services like training, farmers’ field school, and farm visits should be intensified for increment of profitability from rubber farming in Jhapa, Nepal

Multi-drug Resistant Bacterial Isolates Associated with Blood Stream Infection

Multidrug resistant (MDR) bacteria complicate therapeutic management and limit treatment options. With the increase of antibiotic resistance among bacterial isolates, monitoring of the of drug resistance pattern became critical for appropriate empiric selection of antibiotic therapy. Between June 2014 to January 2015, a prospective study was carried out in Manmohan Memorial Medical College and Teaching Hospital, Kathmandu with an objective to determine the status of Extended Spectrum Beta- Lactamase (ESBL) and Biofilm producing MDR bacterial isolates from blood samples. Identification of the isolates was done by standard microbiological techniques and antibiotic susceptibility testing was done by Kirby Bauer disc diffusion method following Clinical and Laboratory Standard Institute (CLSI) guidelines. ESBL screening of gram negative isolates was done using Ceftriaxone, Aztreonam, Cefotaxime, Ceftazidime and Cefpodoxime followed by confirmation using MASTDISCSTM Extended Spectrum Beta- Lactamase (ES?L) Detection Discs and Biofilm detection was done by Congo-Red and Tube- adherence Method. The culture positivity of 16% and 10 different species of bacteria were isolated. The most frequently occurring isolate was Escherichia coli followed by Staphylococcus aureus. In vitro antibiotic susceptibility test showed that Amikacin remains the principle antibiotic of choice based on its effectiveness on both gram positive and gram negative bacteria.Ninety five percent of isolates were MDR with 77.19% ESBL producers and 72.5% were biofilm producers. A statistically significant relationship was found between increasing spectrum of drug resistance and ESBL production and drug resistant in biofilm production (p<0.05)