Lightning Induced Over-voltages in Power Transformer and Voltage Spikes in Connected Load

Power Transformers are subjected to lightning strokes, which causes the voltage at the secondary side to rise abruptly. The main aim of the report is to investigate the voltage at the medium and low voltage side in electrical system of a power plant when the high voltage power transformers are subjected to lightning strokes. Based on modelling and simulations implemented in EMTP/ATPDraw, the voltage at the 15.75 kV, 6 kV and 0.4 kV is determined to ensure if the transferred over-voltage is within the basic insulation level (BIL) of the connected equipment. Transformer frequency model, surge arrestor, cables and transmission tower are arranged in a single environment of EMTP/ATPDraw. A study is carried out to analyze the transferred transient over-voltage in the low voltage side taking the scenario of direct stroke and back flashover. Combination of different surge arrestor are implemented and analyzed to mitigate the transient voltage transferred to the medium and low voltage side

Real Option As The Tool For Valuation And Strategic Guidance For The Post-Industrial Organizations

Post industrial organization puts premium on flexibility, and also on assets that confer flexibility. In the post-industrial business environment, uncertainty need to be understood and managed to reap the potential benefit. Flexibility in organization enables it to take benefit of such uncertainty. Flexibility can be increased by tangible assets; and also by intangible assets like knowledge, group work, routine and experience.  “Real options” confer value to flexibility. Besides valuation It also provides decision making guidance for managers involved in identification, acquisition and development of (both tangible and intangible) resources that post industrial organization require to make itself flexible

A Resource Based View Of Quality: Managers Role In Developing Quality As A Weapon Of Competitive Advantage

Managers with requisite knowledge and skills can play crucial role in developing quality as resource for competitive advantage. Their skills, experience, and knowledge determine how quality is conceptualized. And once conceptualization is complete, their skills also determine how quality targets are achieved. Again at any point in time the level of excellence in products and processes can only be built upon what has already been achieved. This article ties together these important issues to develop a conceptual model using theories on quality, knowledge and learning

Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices Associated with COVID-19 Among School Students in Bharatpur, Chitwan District of Nepal

Background: The virus causing severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) has reached pandemic proportions. Understanding people’s perceptions of the disease will provide tools to improve strategies to limit its transmission. This study aims to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) associated with the disease among high school students. Methods: Cross-sectional study conducted among secondary level students (grade 8th and 9th) in an urban high-school at Bharatpur, Chitwan, Nepal to assess KAP using a pre-tested questionnaire. Data were analyzed using Epi Info 7.2.3.1. Results: We collected 101 surveys (response rate 100%). Most of the students were found to be knowledgeable about the timeline of the first outbreak (92.08%), and nearly three-fourths of participants knew about hand-washing for 20 seconds (73.27%). Information about the presence of the disease in Nepal (50.50%), its causative agent (65.53%), and symptoms (57.43%) showed that there is a knowledge gap among participants. Most of the participants were found to have a positive attitude towards the prevention and control of the disease. The majority of the respondents reported using face mask (77.23%) and adopting hand-washing measures (79.21%) as preventive strategies. The majority of the students were highly concerned about the disease. Conclusion: Secondary level students of Chitwan, Nepal were found to have fair knowledge and understanding of the disease, showed a moderately positive attitude towards preventive measures, and reported appropriate preventive practices against the disease. It is recommended that a similar study with a wider population be conducted to assess KAP of Nepalese people towards SARS-CoV-2

TQM In Small And Medium Scale Manufacturers: Development Of Measurement Instruments

The objective of our paper is to identify factors and develop constructs that could be used to develop a conceptual Total Quality Management (TQM) model that is applicable to small and medium scale manufacturers in the United States. The data for this study was collected from a mail survey targeted to managers in the manufacturing plants. Responses were analyzed and factor analysis was used to develop measurement instruments

Enhancing Forecasting Capability of Excel with User Defined Functions

We have developed seven user defined functions (UDF) related to forecasting. The first four functions are for exponential smoothing. These are simple exponential smoothing, Holt’s fit, Winter’s method and Holt-Winter method. The next three functions can be used to calculate forecasting errors. These errors are mean square error (MSE), mean absolute difference (MAD) and mean absolute percentage error (MAPE). These UDFs eliminate the need for intermediate steps in exponential smoothing and error calculations. These functions are as easy to use as other forecast related (statistical) functions, such as “Trend” and “Correl”. Moreover, our functions present users with choices. They can choose to provide (or not to provide) initial values and seasonal indices (where applicable). These characteristics make our functions user-friendly and flexible, and therefore enhance the power and usefulness of excel for forecasting

Seroprevalence and Risk Factors of Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis in Dairy Cattle of Chitwan, Nawalpur and Rupandehi Districts of Nepal

The cross-sectional study from July 2018 to September 2018 was conducted to determine the seroprevalence and risk factors of Infectious Bovine Rhinotracheitis (IBR) in cattle of the Chitwan, Nawalpur, and Rupandehi districts of Nepal. The existence of antibodies against IBR was investigated in 92 serum samples obtained systematically from 55 cattle herds using Indirect-ELISA. A questionnaire interview was done to collect individual and herd-level data. The association between categorical variables and the outcome variable (seropositive) was assessed by bivariate analysis and multivariate logistic regression analysis in SPSS version 19.0. The seroprevalence of IBR was 18.48% (95% CI: 11.1-27.9), and district, breed, and herd size were identified as potential risk factors for IBR seropositivity. Significantly higher risk for IBR was found in Chitwan (Percentage-Positive “PP” = 36.37%; Odd ratio “OR” = 5.211; p = 0.008) than in Nawalpur (PP = 9.38%; OR = 0.931) and Rupandehi (PP = 10.00%). PP of IBR was significantly higher in Jersey crosses (PP = 30.00%; OR = 2.893; p = 0.048) than Holstein Friesian crosses (PP = 12.90%). Similarly, herds with more than 10 cattle (PP = 33.33%; OR = 4.167; p = 0.042) were found significantly at higher odds for seropositivity than herds having less than 10 cattle (PP = 10.71%). Due to the moderate prevalence of IBR among cattle in Nepal, this study recommends conducting additional planned research on IBR at the national level to safeguard the country's dairy businesses from potential financial losses

Generation and diagnostics of atmospheric pressure dielectric barrier discharge in argon/air

In this paper, a technique for the determination of electron temperatures and electron densities in atmospheric pressure argon/air discharge by the analysis of optical emission spectra (OES) is reported. The discharge is produced using a high voltage (0-20 kV) power supply operating at a frequency of 27 kHz in parallel electrode system, with glass as dielectric. The dielectric layers covering the electrodes act as current limiters and prevent the transition to an arc discharge. Optical emission spectra in the range of 300 nm to 850 nm have been recorded for the discharge with different inter electrode gap keeping electric field constant. Electron temperature Te and electron density ne have been estimated from electrical and optical methods. Electron density has been calculated using power balance method. The optical methods are related with line intensity ratio from the relative intensities of Ar-I and Ar-II lines in Argon plasma. The electron density calculated by using line intensity ratio method has been compared with the electron density calculated by stark broadening method. The effect of dielectric thickness on plasma parameters has also been studied and it has been found that Te and ne increase as thickness of dielectric decrease for same inter electrode distance and applied voltage

Prophylactic zoledronic acid therapy to prevent or modify Paget’s disease of bone progression in adults with SQSTM1 mutations: the ZiPP RCT

Background:Paget’s disease of bone is characterised by focal abnormalities of bone turnover resulting in various complications. It often presents at an advanced stage with irreversible bone damage. At this point, the symptomatic benefits of treatment are blunted. Paget’s disease of bone has a strong genetic component and the most important susceptibility gene is SQSTM1. Carriers of SQSTM1 mutations have more severe disease with an earlier age of onset than non-carriers and about 80% develop Paget’s disease of bone by the seventh decade.Objectives:The primary objective was to determine if zoledronic acid could prevent new Paget’s disease of bone-like bone lesions in SQSTM1 mutation carriers. Secondary objectives were to assess if zoledronic acid could: modify existing Paget’s disease of bone lesions, markers of bone turnover, quality of life, bone pain, anxiety, depression or the risk of complications.Design:This was a multicentre, double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Genetic screening of the SQSTM1 gene was offered to people with a family history of Paget’s disease of bone, identifying 222 mutation carriers who consented to participate. At baseline, a radionuclide bone scan was performed; biochemical markers of bone turnover were measured and questionnaires on pain, quality of life and mental health were completed. Participants completed annual biochemical markers measurements and questionnaires. Adverse events were recorded on a continuous basis. At the end of study, the bone scan was repeated, along with biochemical markers and questionnaires.Setting:This was a multicentre trial that was conducted at 27 secondary care referral centres for bone disease in 7 countries. All the visits were conducted within a secondary healthcare setting.Participants Interventions:Participants were randomly allocated to receive a single infusion of the bisphosphonate zoledronic acid 5 mg or an identical placebo.Main outcome measures:The study’s primary outcome measure was defined as the total number of participants who developed new bone lesions on radionuclide bone scans with the characteristics of PDB between the baseline visit and the final end-of-study visit. The secondary outcomes included the number of new PDB bone lesions on radionuclide bone scans, change in the activity of existing PDB bone lesions at the end of study assessed by radionuclide scans; changes in plasma type I collagen C-telopeptides (CTX); plasma procollagen type I amino-terminal propeptide (PINP); serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (BAP); quality of life assessed by SF-36, BPI, HADS questionnaires; the presence and severity of localized bone pain assessed by the BPI pain manikin; and the development of PDB-related skeletal events (PDRSE) in SQSTM1 mutation carriers including new lesions, complications (fractures, deformity), or the need for treatment of PDB.Methods:This was a multicentre, double-blind placebo-controlled trial. Genetic screening of the SQSTM1 gene was offered to people with a family history of Paget’s disease of bone, identifying 222 mutation carriers who consented to participate. At baseline, a radionuclide bone scan was performed; biochemical markers of bone turnover were measured and questionnaires on pain, quality of life and mental health were completed. Participants were randomly allocated to receive a single infusion of the bisphosphonate zoledronic acid 5 mg or an identical placebo. Participants completed annual biochemical markers measurements and questionnaires. Adverse events were recorded on a continuous basis. At the end of study, the bone scan was repeated, along with biochemical markers and questionnaires.Results:At baseline, 21/222 individuals (9.5%) had evidence of Paget’s disease of bone on bone scans. In the placebo group, 2/90 individuals (2.2%) developed new bone lesions compared with 0/90 (0%) in the zoledronic acid group (odds ratio 0.41, 95% confidence interval 0.00 to 3.43; p = 0.25). Eight participants in the placebo group had a poor outcome (new/unchanged/progressing lesions) compared with none in the zoledronic acid group (odds ratio 0.08, 95% confidence interval 0.00 to 0.42; p = 0.003). With placebo, 1/29 (3.4%) lesions disappeared compared with 13/15 (86.6%) with zoledronic acid (p &lt; 0.0001). One participant allocated to placebo required treatment with zoledronic acid due to a complication of Paget’s disease of bone. Significant reductions were observed for serum C-terminal telopeptide (p &lt; 0.0001), bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (p = 0.0003) and N-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen (p &lt; 0.0001) in the zoledronic acid group compared with placebo. There was no significant difference between groups in quality of life, pain, anxiety or depression.Conclusion:Genetic testing for SQSTM1 mutations coupled with bone scan examination can detect early Paget’s disease of bone in those with a family history of the disorder and zoledronic acid treatment can favourably modify its evolution.The study had some limitations. First, 9.5% of participants already had Paget’s disease of bone, reducing power. Second, only two participants developed new lesions compared to the 15% expected. The small number of events meant the study was underpowered for the primary outcome and we were unable to adjust analyses for co-variates or family clustering.An extended follow-up in the zoledronic acid in the prevention of Paget’s disease – long-term extension study is in progress and will provide valuable information on the duration of effects of a single zoledronic acid infusion. It will be important to consider a health economic analysis to model the effects of genetic testing, scanning and zoledronic acid treatment, to evaluate long-term clinical and symptomatic benefits.<br/