Nitrogen Oxides Reduction Possibilities at Pulp Mill and Power Plant

Tutkimuksen tarkoituksena oli selvittää typenoksidien vähennysmahdollisuudet Stora Enson Varkauden tehtaiden sellutehtaalla ja voimalaitoksella. Tutkimuksessa käsiteltiin tehdasalueen suurimpia typenoksidien päästölähteitä: soodakattilaa, meesauunia, kuorikattilaa, öljykattilaa ja muovi-alumiinijakeen kaasutuslaitosta. Tutkimuksessa selvitettiin typenoksidipäästöjen syntymekanismit ja erilaisiin polttotekniikoihin soveltuvat typenoksidien vähennystekniikat. Varkauden tehtaiden typenoksidien vuosipäästö vuonna 2001 oli 836 tonnia. Kansallinen lainsäädäntö, kansainväliset sopimukset sekä paras käytettävissä oleva tekniikka (BAT) huomioiden selvitettiin kuhunkin kohteeseen parhaiten soveltuvat ratkaisut. Tutkimuksen perusteella laadittiin toimenpideohjelma, joka määrittelee suositeltavan toteutusjärjestyksen typenoksidien vähennystoimenpiteille. Toimenpideohjelman tärkeimpinä kriteereinä pidettiin vuonna 2004 tulevan uuden ympäristöluvan arvioituja luparajoja sekä toimenpiteiden kustannustehokkuutta. Toteutusjärjestyksessä ensimmäiseksi valittiin koeajojakson järjestäminen ajon optimoimiseksi kiertopetikattilalla ja toiseksi meesauunin ajon optimointi jatkuvatoimisen NOx-analysaattorin avulla. Seuraaviksi toimenpiteiksi ehdotettiin vertikaali-ilmajärjestelmän käyttöönottoa soodakattilalla sekä SNCR-järjestelmän asennusta kuorikattilalle. Saavutettava NOx-vähennys tulisi olemaan 10 – 45 % ja hinta 30 – 3573 EUR vähennettyä NOx-tonnia kohti. Tutkimuksen osana Ilmatieteen laitoksella teetetyn typenoksidien leviämisselvityksen mukaan Stora Enson tehtaiden NOx-päästöjen vaikutus Varkauden ilmanlaatuun on hyvin pieni. Suurin osa NOx-päästöistä aiheutuu liikenteestä.

The Design and Implementation of Loudspeaker Control Network Protocols

The networking and digitalization of audio equipment has created a need for control protocols. These protocols offer new services to customers and ensure that the equipment operates correctly. The control protocols used in the computer networks are not directly applicable since embedded systems have resource and cost limitations. In this master's thesis the design and implementation of new loudspeaker control network protocols are presented. The protocol stack was required to be reliable, have short response times, configure the network automatically and support the dynamic addition and removal of loudspeakers. The implemented protocol stack was also required to be as efficient and lightweight as possible because the network nodes are fairly simple and lack processing power. The protocol stack was thoroughly tested, validated and verified. The protocols were formally described using LOTOS (Language of Temporal Ordering Specifications) and verified using reachability analysis. A prototype of the loudspeaker network was built and used for testing the operation and the performance of the control protocols. The implemented control protocol stack met the design specifications and proved to be highly reliable and efficient.

Tandem-GMA Welding of Low Alloy Structural Steel

The Tandem-GMAW method is the latest development as the consequences of improvements in the welding methods. The twin-wire and then the Tandem-method with the separate power sources has got a remarkable place in the welding of many types of materials with different joint types. The biggest advantage of Tandem welding method is the flexibility of choosing both the electrodes of different types from each other according to the type of the parent material. This is possible because of the feasibility of setting the separate welding parameters for both the wires. In this thesis work the effect of the variation in three parameters on the weld bead in Tandem-GMA welding method is studied. Theses three parameters are the wire feed rate in the slave wire, the wire feed rate in the master wire and the voltage difference in both the wires. The results are then compared to study the behaviour of the weld bead with the change in these parameters.

Advanced control methods for reducing nitrogen oxides in a fluidized bed boiler

Tämän työn tarkoituksena oli löytää keinoja erään leijukerroskattilan typenoksidipäästöjen vähentämiseksi. Koska päästöt olivat jo alunperin alhaiset leijukerrostekniikan ja hybridin SNCR/SCR –typenpoistolaitteiston ansiosta, päätettiin päästöjä lähteä vähentämään parantamalla ammoniakkiruiskutuksen säätöä. Alkuperäinen ammoniakkiruiskutuksen säätö oli liian hidas, jotta satunnaisten häiriöiden aiheuttamat typenoksidipiikit olisi pystytty poistamaan. Ammoniakkiruiskutusta parannettiin lisäämällä jokaiseen ammoniakkilinjaan mäntäpumput, joiden avulla ammoniakkia voidaan syöttää sinne, missä sitä eniten tarvitaan. Ammoniakkiruiskutuksen säätöön kehitettiin uusi sumeaan logiikkaan perustuva säätäjä. Myös muita kehittyneitä säätömenetelmiä kuten neuroverkkoa hyödynnettiin säätäjän kehityksessä. Ammoniakkiruiskutuksen säätäjää testattiin menestyksekkäästi Ruotsissa Brista Kraftin Märstassa sijaitsevalla voimalaitoksella

Influence of Equipment Operation and Performance Deterioration on Power Plant Economy.

Pysyäkseen kilpailukykyisenä vapautuneilla sähkömarkkinoilla on voimalaitoksen energiantuotantokustannusten oltava mahdollisimman matalia, tinkimättä kuitenkaan korkeasta käytettävyydestä. Polttoaineen energiasisällön mahdollisimman hyvä hyödyntäminen on ratkaisevan tärkeää voimalaitoksen kannattavuudelle. Polttoainekustannusten osuus on konvektiivisilla laitoksilla yleensä yli puolet koko elinjakson kustannuksista. Kun vielä päästörajat tiukkenevat koko ajan, korostuu polttoaineen korkea hyötykäyttö entisestään. Korkea energiantuotannon luotettavuus ja käytettävyys ovat myös elintärkeitä pyrittäessä kustannusten minimointiin. Tässä työssä on käyty läpi voimalaitoksen kustannuksiin vaikuttavia käsitteitä, kuten hyötysuhdetta, käytettävyyttä, polttoaineen hintoja, ylös- ja alasajoja ja tärkeimpiä häviöitä. Ajostrategiassa ja poikkeamien hallinnassa pyritään hyvään hyötysuhteeseen ja alhaisiin päästöihin joka käyttötilanteessa. Lisäksi on tarkasteltu tiettyjen suureiden, eli höyryn lämpötilan ja paineen, savukaasun hapen pitoisuuden, savukaasun loppulämpötilan, sekä lauhduttimen paineen poikkeamien vaikutusta ohjearvostaan energiantuotantokustannuksiin. Happi / hiilimonoksidi optimoinnissa on otettu huomioon myös pohjatuhkan palamattomat.

Source separation techniques applied to linear prediction

The prediction filters are well known models for signal estimation, in communications, control and many others areas. The classical method for deriving linear prediction coding (LPC) filters is often based on the minimization of a mean square error (MSE). Consequently, second order statistics are only required, but the estimation is only optimal if the residue is independent and identically distributed (iid) Gaussian. In this paper, we derive the ML estimate of the prediction filter. Relationships with robust estimation of auto-regressive (AR) processes, with blind deconvolution and with source separation based on mutual information minimization are then detailed. The algorithm, based on the minimization of a high-order statistics criterion, uses on-line estimation of the residue statistics. Experimental results emphasize on the interest of this approach.

Digitalización del sistema de control de nivel en calentadores y tanques de drenaje de una Central Nuclear

Contexto Una central nuclear, al igual que cualquier otro tipo de central generadora de energía eléctrica, mediante turbinas de vapor, está basada en un proceso termodinámico. El rendimiento de las mismas es función del salto entálpico del vapor, para mejorarlo las centrales están constituidas por un ciclo compound formado por turbina de alta presión y turbinas de baja presión, y un ciclo regenerativo consistente en calentar el agua de alimentación antes de su introducción a los generadores de vapor. Un ciclo regenerativo está basado en etapas de calentadores o cambiadores de calor para aprovechar al máximo la energía térmica del vapor, este proyecto está basado en la mejora y optimización del proceso de control de estos para contribuir a mejorar el rendimiento de la central. Objetivo Implementar un sistema de control que nos permita modernizar los clásicos sistemas basados en controles locales y comunicaciones analógicas. Mejorar el rendimiento del ciclo regenerativo de la central, aprovechando las mejoras tecnológicas que ofrece el mercado, tanto en el hardware como en el software de los sistemas de instrumentación y control. Optimizar el rendimiento de los lazos de control de cada uno de los elementos del ciclo regenerativo mediante estrategias de control. Procedimiento Desarrollo de un sistema de control actualizado considerando, como premisa principal, la fiabilidad del sistema, el análisis de fallos y la jerarquización del riesgo. Análisis y cálculo de los lazos de control considerando las premisas establecidas. Configuración de los lazos mediante estrategias de control que nos permitan optimizar y minimizar los efectos del fallo. Para ello se han utilizado parámetros y datos extraídos de la Central Nuclear de Ascó. Conclusiones Se ha modernizado y optimizado el sistema de control mejorando el rendimiento del ciclo regenerativo. Se ha conseguido un sistema más fiable, reduciendo el riesgo del fallo y disminuyendo los efectos de los mismos. El coste de un proyecto de estas características es inferior al de un sistema convencional y ofrece más posibilidades. Es un sistema abierto que permite utilizar e interconectar equipos de diferentes fabricantes, lo que favorece tanto el mantenimiento como las posibles ampliaciones futuras del sistema.

The hpx genetic system for hypoxanthine assimilation as a nitrogen source in Klebsiella pneumoniae: gene organization and transcriptional regulation.

Growth experiments showed that adenine and hypoxanthine can be used as nitrogen sources by several strains of K. pneumoniae under aerobic conditions. The assimilation of all nitrogens from these purines indicates that the catabolic pathway is complete and proceeds past allantoin. Here we identify the genetic system responsible for the oxidation of hypoxanthine to allantoin in K. pneumoniae. The hpx cluster consists of seven genes, for which an organization in four transcriptional units, hpxDE, hpxR, hpxO and hpxPQT, is proposed. The proteins involved in the oxidation of hypoxanthine (HpxDE) or uric acid (HpxO) did not display any similarity to other reported enzymes known to catalyze these reactions, but instead are similar to oxygenases acting on aromatic compounds. Expression of the hpx system is activated by nitrogen limitation and by the presence of specific substrates, with hpxDE and hpxPQT controlled by both signals. Nitrogen control of hpxPQT transcription, which depends on 54, is mediated by the Ntr system. In contrast, neither NtrC nor NAC is involved in the nitrogen control of hpxDE, which is dependent on 70 for transcription. Activation of these operons by the specific substrates is also mediated by different effectors and regulatory proteins. Induction of hpxPQT requires uric acid formation, whereas expression of hpxDE is induced by the presence of hypoxanthine through the regulatory protein HpxR. This LysR-type regulator binds to a TCTGC-N4-GCAAA site in the intergenic hpxD-hpxR region. When bound to this site for hpxDE activation, HpxR negatively controls its own transcription.

The effects of some variables on CO2 laser-MAG hybrid welding

The CO2-laser-MAG hybrid welding process has been shown to be a productive choice for the welding industry, being used in e.g. the shipbuilding, pipe and beam manufacturing, and automotive industries. It provides an opportunity to increase the productivity of welding of joints containing air gaps compared with autogenous laser beam welding, with associated reductions in distortion and marked increases in welding speeds and penetration in comparison with both arc and autogenous laser welding. The literature study indicated that the phenomena of laser hybrid welding are mostly being studied using bead-on-plate welding or zero air gap configurations. This study shows it very clearly that the CO2 laser-MAG hybrid welding process is completely different, when there is a groove with an air gap. As in case of industrial use it is excepted that welding is performed for non-zero grooves, this study is of great importance for industrial applications. The results of this study indicate that by using a 6 kW CO2 laser-MAG hybrid welding process, the welding speed may also be increased if an air gap is present in the joint. Experimental trials indicated that the welding speed may be increased by 30-82% when compared with bead-on-plate welding, or welding of a joint with no air gap i.e. a joint prepared as optimum for autogenous laser welding. This study demonstrates very clearly, that the separation of the different processes, as well as the relative configurations of the processes (arc leading or trailing) affect welding performance significantly. These matters influence the droplet size and therefore the metal transfer mode, which in turn determined the resulting weld quality and the ability to bridge air gaps. Welding in bead-onplate mode, or of an I butt joint containing no air gap joint is facilitated by using a leading torch. This is due to the preheating effect of the arc, which increases the absorptivity of the work piece to the laser beam, enabling greater penetration and the use of higher welding speeds. With an air gap present, air gap bridging is more effectively achieved by using a trailing torch because of the lower arc power needed, the wider arc, and the movement of droplets predominantly towards the joint edges. The experiments showed, that the mode of metal transfer has a marked effect on gap bridgeability. Transfer of a single droplet per arc pulse may not be desirable if an air gap is present, because most of the droplets are directed towards the middle of the joint where no base material is present. In such cases, undercut is observed. Pulsed globular and rotational metal transfer modes enable molten metal to also be transferred to the joint edges, and are therefore superior metal transfer modes when bridging air gaps. It was also found very obvious, that process separation is an important factor in gap bridgeability. If process separation is too large, the resulting weld often exhibits sagging, or no weld may be formed at all as a result of the reduced interaction between the component processes. In contrast, if the processes are too close to one another, the processing region contains excess molten metal that may create difficulties for the keyhole to remain open. When the distance is optimised - i.e. a separation of 0-4 mm in this study, depending on the welding speed and beam-arc configuration - the processes act together, creating beneficial synergistic effects. The optimum process separation when using a trailing torch was found to be shorter (0-2 mm) than when a leading torch is used (2-4 mm); a result of the facilitation of weld pool motion when the latter configuration is adopted. This study demonstrates, that the MAG process used has a strong effect on the CO2-laser-MAG hybrid welding process. The laser beam welding component is relatively stable and easy to manage, with only two principal processing parameters (power and welding speed) needing to be adjusted. In contrast, the MAG process has a large number of processing parameters to optimise, all of which play an important role in the interaction between the laser beam and the arc. The parameters used for traditional MAG welding are often not optimal in achieving the most appropriate mode of metal transfer, and weld quality in laser hybrid welding, and must be optimised if the full range of benefits provided by hybrid welding are to be realised.

Tunkeuman hallinta MIG/MAG-hitsauksessa

MIG/MAG-hitsaukselle tyypillinen ominaispiirre, valokaaren itsesäätyvyys, saavutetaan vakiojännitelähdettä käyttämällä. Valokaaren sisäisen säätömekanismin ansiosta kaarenpituus pysyy vakiona, vaikka hitsauspolttimen ja työkappaleen välinen etäisyys vaihtelisi hitsauksen aikana. Vakiojännitelähteen käyttäminen aiheuttaa kuitenkin kaaritehon vaihtelua vapaalankapituuden muuttuessa. Vapaalangan kasvaessa liian pitkäksi kaariteho laskee niin alas, ettei se enää riitä sulattamaan tarpeeksi perusainetta railon kyljissä. Tämän seurauksena hitsausliitokseen syntyy erilaisia liittymävirheitä. Käsinhitsauksessa vapaalangan pituus saattaa polttimen epävakaasta kuljetuksesta johtuen vaihdella erityisesti kokemattomilla hitsaajilla. Mekanisoidussa ja automatisoidussa hitsauksessa railojen mitta- ja muotopoikkeamat aiheuttavat vapaalankapituuden vaihtelua. Poikkeamia syntyy kaikissa hitsausrailojen esivalmistusvaiheissa. Lisäksi lämmöntuonnin aiheuttamat muodonmuutokset kappaleissa lisäävät poikkeamia railonsovituksessa hitsauksen aikana. Ongelma on useimmiten ratkaistavissa railonseurantaa käyttämällä. Railonseurantajärjestelmät ovat kuitenkin kalliita, eivätkä ne toimi luotettavasti kaikissa olosuhteissa. Diplomityössä tutkittiin uutta MIG/MAG-hitsauksen reaaliaikaiseen tunkeuman hallintaan kehitettyä säätöjärjestelmää. Työn tavoitteina olivat säätöjärjestelmän luotettavan toiminnan takaavien reunaehtojen ja kosketussuutinetäisyyden suositusrajojen määrittäminen. Tavoitteiden täyttämiseksi työn kokeellisessa osiossa suoritettiin laaja hitsauskokeiden sarja, jossa hitsattavina materiaaleina käytettiin seostamatonta ja runsasseosteista terästä.

Environmental control of the Pom1-dependent cell-size regulation pathway in fission yeast

Cells couple their growth and division rate in response to nutrient availability to maintain a constant size. This co-ordination happens either at the G1-S or the G2-M transition of the cell cycle. In the rod-shaped fission yeast, size regulation happens at the G2-M transition prior to mitotic commitment. Recent studies have focused on the role of the DYRK-family protein kinase Pom1, which forms gradients emanating from cell poles and inhibits the mitotic activator kinase Cdr2, present at the cell middle. Pom1 was proposed to inhibit Cdr2 until cells reached a critical size before division. However when and where Pom1 inhibits Cdr2 is not clear as medial Pom1 levels do not change during cell elongation. Here I show that Pom1 gradients are susceptible to environmental changes in glucose. Specifically, upon glucose limitation, Pom1 re-localizes from the poles to the cell sides where it delays mitosis through regulating Cdr2. This re-localization occurs due to microtubule de- stabilization and lateral catastrophes leading to transient deposition of the Pom1 gradient nucleator Tea4 along the cell cortex. As Tea4 localization to cell sides is sufficient to recruit Pom1, this explains the mechanism of Pom1 re-localization. Microtubule destabilization and consequently Tea4 and Pom1 spread depends on the activity of the cAMP-dependent Protein Kinase A (PKA/Pka1), as pka1 mutant cells have stable microtubules and retain polar Tea4 and Pom1 under limited glucose. PKA signaling negatively regulates the microtubule rescue factor CLASP/Cls1, thus reducing its ability to stabilize microtubules. Thus PKA signaling tunes CLASP activity to promote microtubule de-stabilization and Pom1 re-localization upon glucose limitation. I show that the side-localized Pom1 delays mitosis and balances the role of the mitosis promoting, mitogen-associated protein kinase (MAPK) protein Sty1. Thus Pom1 re-localization may serve to buffer cell size upon glucose limitation. -- Afin de maintenir une taille constante, les cellules régulent leur croissance ainsi que leur taux de division selon les nutriments disponibles dans le milieu. Dans la levure fissipare, cette régulation de la taille précède l'engagement mitotique et se fait à la transition entre les phases G2 à M du cycle cellulaire. Des études récentes se sont focalisées sur le rôle de la protéine Pom1, membre de la famille des DYRK kinase. Celle-ci forme un gradient provenant des pôles de la cellule et inhibe l'activateur mitotique Cdr2 présent au centre de la cellule. Le model propose que Pom1 inhibe Cdr2 jusqu'à atteindre une taille critique avant la division. Cependant quand et à quel endroit dans la cellulle Pom1 inhibe Cdr2 n'était pas clair car les niveaux médians de Pom1 ne changent pas au cours de la l'élongation des cellules. Dans cette étude, je montre que les gradients de Pom1 sont sensibles aux changements environnementaux du taux de glucose. Plus spécifiquement, en conditions limitantes de glucose, Pom1 se relocalise des pôles de la cellule pour se distribuer sur les côtés de celle-ci. Par conséquent, un délai d'entrée en mitose est observé dû à l'inhibition Cdr2 par Pom1. Cette délocalisation est due à la déstabilisation des microtubules qui va conduire à une déposition transitoire de Tea4, le nucléateur du gradient de Pom1, tout au long du cortex de la cellule. Comme la localisation de Tea4 sur les côtés de la cellule est suffisante pour recruter la protéine Pom1, ceci explique le mécanisme de relocalisation de celle-ci. La déstabilisation des microtubules et par conséquent la diffusion de Tea4 et Pom1 dépendent de l'activité de la protéine kinase A dépendante de l'AMP cyclique (PKA/Pka1). En absence de pka1, la stabilité des microtubules n'est pas affectée ce qui permet la rétention de Tea4 et Pom1 aux pôles de la cellule même en conditions limitantes de glucose. La signalisation via PKA régule négativement le facteur de sauvetage des microtubules CLASP/Cls1 et permet donc de réduire sa fonction de déstabilisation des microtubules. Ainsi la signalisation via PKA affine l'activité des CLASP pour promouvoir la déstabilisation des microtubules et la relocalisation de Pom1 en conditions limitantes de glucose. Je montre que la localisation sur les côtés retarde l'entrée en mitose et compense l'action de la protéine Sty1, connue pour être une MAPK qui induit l'entrée en mitose. Ainsi, la relocalisation de Pom1 pourrait servir à tamponner la taille de la cellule en condition limitantes de glucose. -- Various cell types in the environment such as bacterial, plant or animal cells have a distinct cellular size. Maintaining a constant cell size is important for fitness in unicellular organisms and for diverse functions in multicellular organisms. Cells regulate their size by coordinating their growth rate to their division rate. This coupling is important otherwise cells would get progressively smaller or larger after each successive cell cycle. In their natural environment cells may face fluctuations in the available nutrient supply. Thus cells have to coordinate their division rate to the variable growth rates shown under different nutrient conditions. During my PhD, I worked with a single-celled rod shaped yeast called the fission yeast. These cells are longer when the nutrient supply is abundant and shorter when the nutrient supply is scarce. A protein that senses changes in the external carbon source (glucose) is called Protein Kinase A (PKA). The rod shape of fission yeast cells is maintained thanks to a structural backbone called the cytoskeleton. One of the components of this backbone is called microtubules, which are small tube like structures spanning the length of the cell. They transport a protein called Tea4, which in turn is important for the proper localization of another protein Pom1 to the cell ends. Pom1 helps to maintain proper shape and size of these rod shaped yeast cells. My thesis work showed that upon reduction in the external nutrient (glucose) levels, microtubules become less stable and show an alteration in their organization. A significant percentage of the microtubules contact the side of the cell instead of touching only the cell tip. This leads to the spreading of the protein Pom1 away from the tips all around the cell periphery. This helps fission yeast cells to maintain the proper size required under these conditions of limited glucose supply. I further showed that the protein PKA regulates microtubule stability and organization and thus Pom1 spreading and maintenance of proper cell size. Thus my work led to the discovery of a novel pathway by which fission yeast cells maintain their size under limited supply of glucose. -- Divers types cellulaires dans l'environnement tels que les bactéries, les plantes ou les cellules animales ont une taille précise. Le maintien d'une taille cellulaire constante est importante pour le fitness des organismes unicellulaire ainsi que pour multiples fonctions dans les organismes multicellulaires. Les cellules régulent leur taille en coordonnant le taux de croissance avec le taux de division. Ce couplage est essentiel sinon les cellules deviendraient progressivement plus petites ou plus grandes après chaque cycle cellulaire. Dans leur habitat naturels les cellules peuvent faire face a des fluctuations dans le taux de nutriment disponible. Les cellules doivent donc coordonner leur taux de division aux taux variables de croissances perçus dans les différentes conditions nutritionnels. Pendant ma thèse, j'ai travaillée sur une levure unicellulaire, en forme de bâtonnet, nommé levure fissipare ou levure de fission. La taille de ces cellules est plus grande quand le taux de nutriments est grand et plus courte quand celui-ci est plus faible. Une protéine qui perçoit les changements dans le taux externe de la source de carbone (glucose) est nommée PKA pour protéine kinase A. La forme en bâtonnet de la cellule est due aux caractères structuraux du cytosquelette. Une composante importante de ce cytosquelette sont les microtubules, dont la structures ressemble à des petit tubes qui vont d'un bout à l'autre de la cellule. Ces microtubules transportent une protéine importante nommée Tea4 qui à leur tour importante pour la bonne localisation d'une autre protéine Pom1 aux extrémités de la cellule. La protéine Pom1 aide à maintenir la taille appropriée des levures fissipares. Mon travail de thèse a montré qu'en présence de taux faible de nutriments (glucose) les microtubules deviennent de moins en moins stables et montrent une désorganisation globale. Un pourcentage significatif des microtubules touche les côtés de la cellule aux lieu d'atteindre uniquement les extrémités. Ceci a pour conséquence une diffusion de Pom1 tout au long du cortex de la cellule. Ceci aide les levures fissipares à maintenir la taille appropriée pendant ce stress nutritionnel. De plus, je montre que PKA régule la stabilité et l'organisation des microtubules et par conséquent la diffusion de Pom1 et le maintien d'une taille constante. En conclusion, mon travail a conduit à la découverte d'un nouveau mécanisme par lequel la levure fissipare maintient sa taille dans des conditions limitantes en glucose.

Modernization of protection and control system of HV/MV substation in Russia

This work describes different possibilities of protection and control system improvement of primary distribution substation. The status of condition and main problems of power networks from reliability point of view in Russia are described. This work studies technologies used today in Russia for protection of distribution networks with their disadvantages. Majority of medium voltage networks (6-35 kV) has isolated network point. There is still no any protection available on the market which allows to estimate distance to fault in case of earth fault. The thesis analyses methods of earth fault distance calculation. On the basis of computer simulation the influence of various factors on calculation accuracy is studied. The practical implementation of the method presupposes usage of digital relay. Application of digital relay is accompanied by numerous opportunities which are described in this work. Also advantages of system implemented on the basis of IEC 61850 standard are examined. Finally, suitability of modern digital relays from GOST standard point of view is analyzed.

Immunodeficiency and the risk of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia 2/3 and cervical cancer: A nested case-control study in the Swiss HIV cohort study.

HIV-infected women are at increased risk of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and invasive cervical cancer (ICC), but it has been difficult to disentangle the influences of heavy exposure to HPV infection, inadequate screening and immunodeficiency. A case-control study including 364 CIN2/3 and 20 ICC cases matched to 1,147 controls was nested in the Swiss HIV Cohort Study (1985-2013). CIN2/3 risk was significantly associated with low CD4+ cell counts, whether measured as nadir [odds ratio (OR) per 100-cell/μL decrease = 1.15, 95% CI: 1.08, 1.22], or at CIN2/3 diagnosis (1.10, 95% CI: 1.04, 1.16). An association was evident even for nadir CD4+ 200-349 versus ≥350 cells/μL (OR = 1.57, 95% CI: 1.09, 2.25). After adjustment for nadir CD4+, a protective effect of >2-year cART use was seen against CIN2/3 (OR versus never cART use = 0.64, 95% CI: 0.42, 0.98). Despite low study power, similar associations were seen for ICC, notably with nadir CD4+ (OR for 50 vs. >350 cells/μL= 11.10, 95% CI: 1.24, 100). HPV16-L1 antibodies were significantly associated with CIN2/3, but HPV16-E6 antibodies were nearly exclusively detected in ICC. In conclusion, worsening immunodeficiency, even at only moderately decreased CD4+ cell counts, is a significant risk factor for CIN2/3 and cervical cancer.

The Changing Face of Psychiatric Nursing –Care or Control?

This report has been written as part of the project “Toward improved quality – developing nurse’s continuing vocational training in hospitals and inpatient units”. Its overall goal is to ensure high quality, ethically appropriate and therapeutically effective interventions to enable nurses to manage distressed and disturbed patients in European psychiatric hospitals and inpatient units. In this large-scale, multinational projects there are all together six European countries involved: Finland, Ireland, England, Portugal, Italy and Lithuania. The project work plan were during autumn 2006 and spring 2007. The content of this publication was produced in the first stage of the project aiming to collect the preliminary source material for the project. The literature review was carried out in the project stage, providing the groundwork for the next steps for the project. This project aims to develop an interactive multinational portal with training material. Therefore, it is important to share an understanding of basic information, psychiatric nurse’s continuing vocational education, laws and ethical codes and patient restriction used in mental health care. In this publication, the purpose of the material produced here is to understand nurses’ educational need related to vocational continuing education and to be used in further project stages as an empirical data collection. The data were collected as a preliminary source material for latter phases where nurse’s perceptions of the current practice, nurse’s attitudes to mental illness, prevalence of use of seclusion room and existing and desired vocational training provision will be collected in six different European countries. The following organisations are involved in this project: University of Turku, Dublin City University, St. Vincent Hospital, National Council for the Professional Development of Nursing and Midwifery, University of Padova, Klaipeda College - Health Faculty, Klaipeda Psychiatric Hospital, Escola Superior de Enfermagem de Lisboa, Centro Hospitalar Psiquiátrico de Lisboa, Omnia Vocational Institution the Espoo Region, Kellokoski psychiatric hospital, Hyvinkää hospital area, Pirkanmaa Hospital District, Kingston University & St. George’s Medical School and South West London & St. George’s Mental Health NHS Trust. A wide variety of different countries, organisations and individuals in this project give us a strong confidence that theoretical, practical, ethical and political issues around the topic of interest will be taken account during this project lifetime. We are aware the content of this book will be partially outdated almost as soon as it has been published. We still hope that this publication will encourage nurses and different professions working in mental health care field to have a basic understanding of similarities and differences between different European countries related in mental health care. We also hope that this publication will inspirate and motivate nurses in maintaining and developing the quality of psychiatric care in Europe.

Ultrasound scan as a potential source of nosocomial and cross-infection: a literature review

AbstractThe authors review the main concepts regarding the importance of cleaning/disinfection of ultrasonography probes, aiming a better comprehension by practitioners and thus enabling strategies to establish a safe practice without compromising the quality of the examination and the operator productivity. In the context of biosafety, it is imperative to assume that contact with blood or body fluids represents a potential source of infection. Thus, in order to implement cleaning/disinfection practice, it is necessary to understand the principles of infection control, to consider the cost/benefit ratio of the measures to be implemented, and most importantly, to comprehend that such measures will not only benefit the health professional and the patient, but the society as a whole.