A Multi Agent System Design for Power Distribution Restoration Using Neural Networks

The state of the art of power distribution systems is to demand a more accurate response. It also provides more reliability for fault location and restoration respectively. A multi-agent system design for power distribution has been developed using the change of current methodology to detect and locate any type of faults. Employing the artificial intelligence for restoration process is the most important contribution to this study. Since feed-forward neural networks are weight training based back propagation concept, radial basis neural networks showed more efficiency by using the minimum error method to optimize the decision. A Probabilistic radial basis Neural Network (PNN) is designated at each feeder agent to implement the reconfiguration by analyzing the impedance and current values for each zone. The appropriate decision for the optimal reconfiguration case is a vector of activation signals associated with each switch to restore the power to the un-faulted zones of distribution feeder.;This study examines the role of Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter (UART) buffer circuits in the laboratory experiment demonstration of the multi-agent system design. The main approach of a self-healing concept is the protection system. A recloser has been developed and improved for more sensitivity and faster response to detecting a fault where ever it occurs and lead the process of isolating and re-configuration. An electronic buffer circuit using digital microcontroller has been associated with the recloser and agents switches in order to offer a satisfying feedback for the proposed approach. Simulation studies, using MATLAB SimPowerSystems and, Neural Network toolboxes, for the proposed power distribution system showed improved results for fault location and restoration using Radbas neural networks. Hardware implementation with high accurate software data scoping of results has been employed to show the difference in time response using Universal Asynchronous Receiver Transmitter buffers at each switching relay in the design

Room-temperature Polymerisation Of Ethylene On A Tio2 (anatase) Surface; Infrared Spectroscopic Evidence For An Alkylidene-ti4+ Polymer End-group And For A 'hydrogen-bonding' Type Of Interaction Of Ch Bonds Of The Polymer Chain With The Oxide Surface

An infrared spectroscopic study of the spontaneous polymerisation of ethylene on a sulphate-containing TiO2 (anatase) sample shows evidence for an alkylidene surface end-group of the polymer and for substantial perturbation of CH2 groups of the polymer chain by interaction with the oxide surface.2112581259DARPA; Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency; NSF; Defense Advanced Research Projects Agenc

The role of patient experience surveys in quality assurance and improvement: a focus group study in English general practice.

BACKGROUND: Despite widespread adoption of patient feedback surveys in international health-care systems, including the English NHS, evidence of a demonstrable impact of surveys on service improvement is sparse. OBJECTIVE: To explore the views of primary care practice staff regarding the utility of patient experience surveys. DESIGN: Qualitative focus groups. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: Staff from 14 English general practices. RESULTS: Whilst participants engaged with feedback from patient experience surveys, they routinely questioned its validity and reliability. Participants identified surveys as having a number of useful functions: for patients, as a potentially therapeutic way of getting their voice heard; for practice staff, as a way of identifying areas of improvement; and for GPs, as a source of evidence for professional development and appraisal. Areas of potential change stimulated by survey feedback included redesigning front-line services, managing patient expectations and managing the performance of GPs. Despite this, practice staff struggled to identify and action changes based on survey feedback alone. DISCUSSION: Whilst surveys may be used to endorse existing high-quality service delivery, their use in informing changes in service delivery is more challenging for practice staff. Drawing on the Utility Index framework, we identified concerns relating to reliability and validity, cost and feasibility acceptability and educational impact, which combine to limit the utility of patient survey feedback. CONCLUSIONS: Feedback from patient experience surveys has great potential. However, without a specific and renewed focus on how to translate feedback into action, this potential will remain incompletely realized.This work was funded by the National Institute for Health Research Programme Grants for Applied Research (NIHR PGfAR) Programme (RP-PG-0608-10050).This is the final version of the article. It was first available from Wiley via http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/hex.1229

Integrated cost budgeting and cost estimation model for building projects

Cost estimation is an essential skill in the construction industry. For each stage in the project life cycle, conceptual design till decommissioning, there are particular techniques to perform cost estimation. Starting from the preliminary design stage, cost estimates progressively become more detailed and more challenging as a task that requires more man-hours. Consequently, it is not feasible to be performed repetitively. Considering this, detailed cost estimates are only performed at specific points during the design and at the bidding; leaving gaps were project cost can grow out of control. This research proposes a methodology to develop an integrated cost budgeting and cost estimation model for building projects. The proposed model is implemented by integrating an automated quantity take-off system, with a relational database to generate cost estimate reports. The dynamic environment of the proposed model, streamlines the preparation of cost estimates in order to reflect, virtually instantly, the impact of changes in project scope on the cost. Accordingly, decision makers will be able to; venture various scenarios to meet the client budget without compromising the project quality, save tremendous amount of resource-hours allocated to prepare cost estimates and cut down design process cost. The benefits of such a model can extend well beyond the doors of engineering offices to tremendously reduce the time required by contractors for preparing bidding estimates

Outputs, cost and efficiency of public sector centres for prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV in Andhra Pradesh, India

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) is an important part of the effort to control HIV. PMTCT services are mostly provided at public sector government hospitals in India. Systematic data on the cost and efficiency of providing PMTCT services in India are not available readily for further planning.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Cost and output data were collected at 16 sampled PMTCT centres in the south Indian state of Andhra Pradesh using standardized methods. The services provided were analysed, and the relation of unit cost of services with scale was assessed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the 2005–2006 fiscal year, 125,073 pregnant women received PMTCT services at the 16 centres (range 2,939 to 20,896, median 5,679). The overall HIV positive rate among those tested was 1.67%. Of the total economic cost, the major components were personnel (47.3%) and recurrent goods (31.7%). For the 16 PMTCT centres, the average economic cost per post-HIV-test counselled pregnant woman was Indian Rupees (INR) 98.9 (US$2.23), ranging 2.7-fold from INR 71.4 (US$ 1.61) to INR 189.9 (US$4.29). The economic cost per mother-neonate pair who received nevirapine had a higher variation, ranging 41-fold for the 16 centres from INR 4,354 (US$ 98) to INR 179,175 (US$4,047), average INR 10,210 (US$ 231), with very high unit cost at some centres where HIV prevalence among pregnant women and the total volume of services were both low. Scale had a significant inverse relation with both of the unit costs, per post-HIV-test counselled pregnant woman and per mother-neonate pair who received nevirapine. In addition, HIV prevalence among pregnant women had a significant inverse relation with unit cost per mother-neonate pair who received nevirapine.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Although the variation between PMTCT centres for unit cost per post-HIV-test counselled pregnant woman was modest that per mother-neonate pair receiving nevirapine was over 40-fold. The extremely high unit cost for each mother-neonate pair receiving nevirapine at some centres suggests that the new approach of combining PMTCT services with voluntary counselling and testing services that has recently been started in India could potentially offer better efficiency.</p