Electronic - Cigarettes and Anesthesia Implications

Electronic cigarettes (ECs) became available in the United States in 2007. They were originally marketed as a safer alternative to smoking (Arndt et al., 2020). The number of users has exceeded 14M people in the U.S. (Bulat et al., 2022). ECs are not as regulated as tobacco cigarettes. The levels of nicotine in the e-liquid vary significantly and the Federal Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate the non-nicotine ingredients in e-liquid (Krishna et al., 2020). The vapor from ECs contains heavy metals, volatile hydrocarbons, and over 70 carcinogenic substances. Lung damage from EC use has created a new respiratory ailment, e-cigarette, or vaping use-associated lung injury (EVALI) (Traboulsi et al., 2020). Histological lung samples from patients with EVALI have been described as burnt, black lungs. These patients present new challenges for Anesthesia providers. EC usage affects the central nervous system, lung function, and some of the drugs used in the operating room like anesthesia. It is vital for anesthesia providers to be aware of the vaping status of their patients and the implications of vaping on anesthesia. References Arndt, K., Barenklau, S., & Hobson, A. (2020). Vaping: anesthesia considerations for patients using electronic cigarettes. AANA Journal, 88(1), 27–34. https://www.aana.com/docs/default-source/aana-journal-web-documents-1/vaping-anesthesia-considerations-for-patients-using-electronic-cigarettes-february-2020.pdf?sfvrsn=e7aa6b3_6 Bulat, E., Komlan, A. G., Bonaparte, C., White, R., & Jotwani, R. (2022). Perioperative considerations of patient E-cigarette use for the anesthesiologist. Journal of Clinical Anesthesia, 78, 110619. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclinane.2021.110619 Franzen, K. F., Willig, J., Cayo Talavera, S., Meusel, M., Sayk, F., Reppel, M., Dalhoff, K., Mortensen, K., & Droemann, D. (2018). E-cigarettes and cigarettes worsen peripheral and central hemodynamics as well as arterial stiffness: A randomized, double-blinded pilot study. Vascular Medicine, 23(5), 419–425. https://doi.org/10.1177/1358863x18779694 Krishna, A., Mathieu, W., Mull, E., & Tobias, J. D. (2020). Perioperative implications of vaping. Journal of Medical Cases, 11(5), 129–134. https://doi.org/10.14740/jmc3451 Lin, V. Y., Fain, M. D., Jackson, P. L., Berryhill, T. F., Wilson, L. S., Mazur, M., Barnes, S. J., Blalock, J. E., Raju, S. V., & Rowe, S. M. (2019). Vaporized e-cigarette liquids induce ion transport dysfunction in airway epithelia. American Journal of Respiratory Cell and Molecular Biology, 61(2), 162–173. https://doi.org/10.1165/rcmb.2017-0432o

Identification of Load Power Quality Characteristics using Data Mining

The rapid increase in computer technology and the availability of large scale power quality monitoring data should now motivate distribution network service providers to attempt to extract information that may otherwise remain hidden within the recorded data. Such information may be critical for identification and diagnoses of power quality disturbance problems, prediction of system abnormalities or failure, and alarming of critical system situations. Data mining tools are an obvious candidate for assisting in such analysis of large scale power quality monitoring data. This paper describes a method of applying unsupervised and supervised learning strategies of data mining in power quality data analysis. Firstly underlying classes in harmonic data from medium and low voltage (MV/LV) distribution systems were identified using clustering. Secondly the link analysis is used to merge the obtained clusters into supergroups. The characteristics of these super-groups are discovered using various algorithms for classification techniques. Finally the a priori algorithm of association rules is used to find the correlation between the harmonic currents and voltages at different sites (substation, residential, commercial and industrial) for the interconnected supergroups

The technical and economic benefits of utility sponsored renewable energy integration

In recent years, Australian energy consumers have begun to install large amounts of distributed generation (DG), particularly residential solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. This rapid increase in DG, has led to the flow of power throughout low voltage (LV) networks to become bidirectional. This reverse power flow, along with the intermittent nature of solar PV and the inability for distribution network service providers (DNSPs) to control where this DG is installed, has led to voltage regulation issues throughout LV networks. Along with solar PV, energy storage (ES) is also becoming more prevalent among energy consumers. The combination of solar PV and ES allows customers to become more energy independent, relying less on utilising energy from the grid. This poses a major risk to DNSPs who rely on the income generated from customers based on kWh sales to build and maintain network infrastructure. This paper presents a coordinated reactive power control scheme to reduce voltage rise along LV distribution feeders with high penetrations of solar PV. The value of privately investing in solar PV and ES for the years 2015 and 2020 from the perspective of an average residential customer is determined. Finally, a business model is proposed outlining how utility sponsored residential solar PV and ES could be implemented by a DNSP. The business model is then evaluated from a technical and economic standpoint

The confessional novel in South Africa : a study of J.M. Coetzee's Age of iron (1990) and Menan du Plessis' A state of fear (1983).

Masters Degree. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban.Abstract available in PDF.Quality of scanned PDF has been compromised owing to poor condition of original document

Background Radio Frequency Interference Measurements for Wireless Devices in the Electricity Supply Industry

Incorporation of radio controller units into heavy equipment used in the electricity industry provides numerous advantages including: improved electrical isolation between plant and operator, ability to incorporate an additional remote operator, and reductions in vehicle wiring and hydraulic hoses for equipment control. However, secure operation of vehicles and plant incorporating radio control rely on establishing suitable levels of immunity to possible radio frequency interference. Interference levels in close proximity to high voltage power lines are of special concern to the electricity industry. This paper reports on a preliminary investigation into quantifying the levels of background radio interference at such locations in order to develop required immunity specifications for radio controlled equipment

Hybrid model predictive control of a residential HVAC system with PVT energy generation and PCM thermal storage

This paper describes an experimental investigation into the performance of a Hybrid Model Predictive Control (HMPC) system implemented to control a novel solar-assisted HVAC system servicing the Team UOW Solar Decathlon house, the overall winner of the Solar Decathlon China 2013 competition. This HVAC system consists of an air-based photovoltaic thermal (PVT) collector and a phase change material (PCM) thermal store integrated with a conventional ducted reverse-cycle heat pump system. The system was designed for operation during both winter and summer, using daytime solar radiation and night sky radiative cooling to increase the energy efficiency of the air-conditioning system. The PVT collector can exchange heat with the PCM thermal storage unit, and the stored heat can be used to condition the space or precondition the air entering the air handling unit (AHU). The HMPC controller includes two levels of control, where the high-level controller has a 24-hour prediction horizon and a 1-hour control step is used to select the operating mode of the HVAC system. Low-level controllers for each HVAC operational mode have a 1-hour prediction horizon and a 5-minute control step, and are used to track the trajectory defined by the high-level controller and to optimize the operating mode selected. The results from this preliminary experimental work have demonstrated the value of the HMPC approach in optimally controlling the solar-assisted HVAC system in the Solar Decathlon house. Results show that the HMPC controller successfully selected the appropriate operating mode to achieve multiple objectives, including: maintenance of indoor comfort conditions within a defined, and potentially variable, thermal comfort band; and optimization of the overall energy efficiency of the system using all available on-site energy resources

Hybrid model predictive control of a residential HVAC system with PVT energy generation and PCM thermal storage

This paper describes an experimental investigation into the performance of a Hybrid Model Predictive Control (HMPC) system implemented to control a novel solar-assisted HVAC system servicing the Team UOW Solar Decathlon house, the overall winner of the Solar Decathlon China 2013 competition. This HVAC system consists of an air-based photovoltaic thermal (PVT) collector and a phase change material (PCM) thermal store integrated with a conventional ducted reverse-cycle heat pump system. The system was designed for operation during both winter and summer, using daytime solar radiation and night sky radiative cooling to increase the energy efficiency of the air-conditioning system. The PVT collector can exchange heat with the PCM thermal storage unit, and the stored heat can be used to condition the space or precondition the air entering the air handling unit (AHU). The HMPC controller includes two levels of control, where the high-level controller has a 24-hour prediction horizon and a 1-hour control step is used to select the operating mode of the HVAC system. Low-level controllers for each HVAC operational mode have a 1-hour prediction horizon and a 5-minute control step, and are used to track the trajectory defined by the high-level controller and to optimize the operating mode selected. The results from this preliminary experimental work have demonstrated the value of the HMPC approach in optimally controlling the solar-assisted HVAC system in the Solar Decathlon house. Results show that the HMPC controller successfully selected the appropriate operating mode to achieve multiple objectives, including: maintenance of indoor comfort conditions within a defined, and potentially variable, thermal comfort band; and optimization of the overall energy efficiency of the system using all available on-site energy resources

Microgrids of commercial buildings: strategies to manage mode transfer from grid connected to islanded mode

Microgrid systems located within commercial premises are becoming increasingly popular and their dynamic behavior is still uncharted territory in modern power networks. Improved understanding in design and operation is required for the electricity utility and building services design sectors. This paper evaluates the design requirements for a commercial building microgrid system to facilitate seamless mode transition considering an actual commercial building microgrid system. A dynamic simulation model of the proposed microgrid system is established (utilizing DIgSILENT Power Factory) to aid the development of planning and operational philosophy for the practical system. An economic operational criterion is developed for the microgrid to incorporate selective mode transition in different time intervals and demand scenarios. In addition, a multi-droop control strategy has been developed to mitigate voltage and frequency variations during mode transition. Different system conditions considering variability in load and generation are analyzed to examine the responses of associated microgrid network parameters (i.e., voltage and frequency) with the proposed mode transition strategy during planned and unplanned islanding conditions. It has been demonstrated that despite having a rigorous mode transition strategy, control of certain loads such as direct online (DOL) and variable-speed-drive (VSD) driven motor loads is vital for ensuring seamless mode-transition, in particular for unplanned islanding conditions