Philipp Pottmeier
PhD student at Department of Organismal Biology, Evolution och utvecklingsbiologi
Visiting address:
Evolutionsbiologiskt Centrum EBC Norbyv. 18A
Postal address:
Norbyv. 18A
752 36 UPPSALA
Short presentation
The prevalence, age of onset, and clinical symptoms of many neuropsychiatric disorders differ substantially between males and females. Despite clear evidence neuroscientists tend to ignore the important role the biological sex plays in their research. In my PhD project I am investigating sex differences in the early human brain development and the involvement of long non-coding RNAs in the latter. As a research model, I am using human embryonic and neuronal stem cells.
- Sex differences in early human brain development
- Long non-coding RNAs
- Y chromosome genetics
- Stem cell culture
- CRISPR genome editing
Philipp Pottmeier


text:
Baby Powder Benefits for Skin, Is Baby Powder Harmful? Why is Baby Powder Made? What Does Baby Powder Do?
The brands on the baby powder bestseller list were the subject of a study conducted in October 2019 and the results were examined. In the tests carried out, the powders were collected due to the presence of at least one harmful substance called asbestos (carcinogen in fibrous structure) in baby powders.
There have been thousands of legal issues with these harmful substances found in both baby and adult products. In fact, the company that the brand is in has been fighting thousands of lawsuits in recent years. Users have applied to the courts because the chemicals in personal care products cause serious health problems such as cancer . It has been found that the most used baby powders adversely affect the health of babies.
Asbestos rates in adult deodorants and infant powders were measured. High levels of this hazardous substance have been observed.
Is It Dangerous To Use Baby Powder?
In the statements made by the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration), it is stated that products are tested frequently and that a very small amount of asbestos is found in a bottle of baby powder during routine testing. It was also stated that no such substance was found in previous tests. After the detection of the harmful substance in the FDA tests, all baby powders produced and distributed were recalled. The health institution, which collected more than 33 thousand bottles, decided to retest all of them. Thus, measures have been taken to protect parents, infants and other adults.
What are the Harms of Using Baby Powder?
Baby powders are made of a soft mineral, also called talc. It is defined as a fine white powder made of clay that can easily combine with asbestos. Talc and asbestos are often found together in soil, and talc collected during mining operations can carry this carcinogen, which is known to be dangerous to humans. The mineral called asbestos is known as a natural mineral consisting of thin and fibers. However, when exposed to this substance, it causes various cancers and life-threatening diseases.
Talc powder has properties that absorb moisture and prevent diaper rash. For this reason, it is used in baby powder and other commercial products (for example, deodorant). Approximately 12 thousand users have filed a lawsuit stating that they have suffered from many diseases, including cancer, due to the food they consume or the cosmetic products they use. It is stated that many ailments occur in babies due to the use of baby powders containing talc.
Is Dandelion Good for Cancer?
What Are Asbestos Containing Products?
Talc is a controversial mineral, but many studies prove it to be harmful and deadly. Too much exposure to talcum dust can cause lung diseases, symptoms of COPD, organ failure, symptoms of ovarian cancer and an aggressive type of cancer (lung cancer) that is very difficult to treat.
In fact, reviews state that it is the primary cause of pleural cancer. Once inhaled asbestos fibers enter the body, they cannot be easily removed from the body. Fibers cause damage to cells, mutations and spread of cancerous cells. Cancer cells that multiply and spread rapidly can cause organ dysfunction and even death. Studies prove that talcum powder in baby powder causes cancer. There are complaints about the company that it causes other epidemics besides cancer cases.
In 2018, the New York Times investigated the amount of asbestos found in baby powder. As a result of investigations, it has been found that asbestos substances have been present in baby products for more than 50 years. However, it was stated that although this situation was known, consumers were not warned. Reuters also found a review that included similar evidence. It is also stated that this talcum powder is used in many products of the company and harmful components are found. It has also been observed that no warning has been given in public channels regarding the use of the brand.
It is known that baby powder causes serious diseases with its carcinogenic content. However, since these asbestos fibers are microscopic, they cannot be seen or smelled. Asbestos, a harmful fiber, has been used in many materials, including cement, plasters, papers, threads, plastics, paints, sealants, powdered clay products and adhesives. Asbestos-related diseases are most common in men over the age of 60, according to studies conducted so far. Also, a published report explains that miners and production workers are the people most exposed to asbestos.
High-risk jobs exposed to asbestos include:
- construction works
- military services
- Shipbuilding (including those working in maintenance and repair)
Workers mining talc for long hours and people exposed to airborne asbestos minerals are equally at risk. Asbestos particles can be absorbed by clothing and skin and enter people's homes. Especially the families of the workers working in the mine are affected by this situation. Similarly, when baby powder is applied to babies, not only babies, but also their caregivers, parents, siblings and daycare workers are at risk. The talc in the powder can mix into the air when the powder is shaken or applied. This puts everyone who is in the environment and who breathes the air in danger.
Beauty and care products applied to the body for various reasons, such as antiperspirant deodorants, are just as dangerous as baby powders. It is possible to see infertility, ovarian cancer formation and various ailments in adults using it. There are also these hazards in the products used in the shower.
The Most Effective Plant-Based Protein Foods to Fight Disease and Facilitate Weight Loss
What Should Those Who Use Baby Powder Do?
If you are a parent who regularly uses baby powder, or if you are in an environment where baby powder is used, caution is advised. It is very important to buy natural products that are considered the safest, approved and certified by health institutions, in terms of protecting health. In addition, if there are people working in hazardous occupations or using products, necessary precautions should be taken to avoid exposure to asbestos. It is recommended that these people take frequent baths with natural products and ventilate their clothes and house.
Asbestos-related diseases often take many years to diagnose. Therefore, if you experience any of the symptoms of exposure to asbestos, such as breathing difficulties or cancer, you should talk to your doctor immediately.

source: m-a-p/FineFineWeb


text:
ABBOT POINT AND PORT OF GLADSTONE 150% WATER QUALITY BENEFIT
The Abbot Point and Gladstone Port projects were carefully assessed for their potential impacts on the Outstanding Universal Value of the Great Barrier Reef including on water quality. Strict conditions have been placed on all these projects to ensure that any impacts are avoided, mitigated or offset. A net benefit test has been applied in setting conditions on each project in order to reverse the water quality decline identified in the Great Barrier Reef region strategic assessment, by requiring substantial offset packages. For example, with the Abbot Point dredging and spoil disposal project, in order to address the cumulative impacts of dredging on water quality, the company must offset the amount of fine sediments released into the marine environment and available for re-suspension by 150 per cent. This will be done by funding onshore activities to reduce the amount of fine sediment entering the Great Barrier Reef lagoon from catchment areas. The result will be a long term net reduction of fine sediments entering the Great Barrier Reef from land based sources, well beyond the life of this project. A similar 150 per cent offset condition has been imposed on the dredging component of the Curtis Island LNG development. The comprehensive set of conditions put in place to protect water quality is outlined below.
North Queensland Bulk Ports Corporation Limited - Abbot Point Terminal 0, 2 & 3 Capital Dredging
Under Labor, at least 38 million cubic metres of dredging was proposed for Abbot Point. Under these approvals, dredging is limited to a total volume of up to 3 million cubic metres. No more than 1.3 million cubic metres of sediment can be dredged or disposed of in a year, unless the proponent can demonstrate that increased dredging will not compromise water quality. Dredging and disposal activities can only be undertaken between 1 March and 30 June each year to protect water quality during critical times for seagrass growth and coral spawning. The proponent must prepare and submit to the Minister a number of plans prior to the commencement of dredging and disposal activities:
Dredging And Spoil Disposal Management Plan
this plan requires early warning trigger levels for water quality and ecosystem health to address possible impacts from turbidity, sediment deposition and impacts on seagrass.
Abbot Point Ecosystem Research And Monitoring Program
this program requires monitoring of water quality and ecosystem health within a Great Barrier Reef water quality monitoring framework. It requires the validation of hydrodynamic modelling, and the development of measures to monitor water quality (including where sediment travels from the dredging and disposal site) and seagrass health and recovery.
Disposal Site Analysis Plan
this plan requires the identification of alternative disposal sites for analysis and must outline a process for public consultation. Disposal will only be allowed at an alternative site if it would have the equivalent or lesser impacts than the site


New World Trade Center deemed tallest US skyscraper
New York's new One World Trade Center will be the tallest US skyscraper when it is completed, topping the former Sears Tower in Chicago, a panel of architects decided Tuesday.
Architects at the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat agreed that the trade center's 124.4 meter (408 foot) antenna was a permanent architectural feature of the building and should be counted in determining its height.
"The design of One World Trade Center, as explained to us, reinforces its role as a symbol of resurgence on this important site," said CTBUH Executive Director Antony Wood.
"In particular, the spire which holds the beacon light, shining out at the symbolic height of 1,776 feet, is especially poignant -- echoing the similarly symbolic beacon atop the Statue of Liberty across the water."
The new One World Trade Center is built on the site of the original World Trade Center, whose iconic twin towers were toppled in the September 11, 2001 attack.
Without the antenna, the new building's 417 meter (1,368 foot) height would be topped by the former Sears Tower in Chicago, now officially named the Willis Tower, which rises 442 meters (1,450 feet) from the ground.
Neither skyscraper comes close to the world record, which is held by the 830-meter-high (2,723-feet-high) Burj Khalifa in Dubai.


Category:
What Are the Common Causes of an Eyebrow Cyst?
An eyebrow cyst will appear as a raised bump in the brow line.
Medical help may be necessary if the eyebrow cyst is painful and continues to grow.
An eyebrow cyst may be caused by folliculitis.
Eyebrow plucking can lead to the formation of an eyebrow cyst.
Article Details
 - Written By: A.M. Boyle
 - Edited By: PJP Schroeder
 - Last Modified Date: 25 December 2014
 - Copyright Protected:
 2003-2015
 Conjecture Corporation
 - Print this Article
Free Widgets for your Site/Blog
Rock candy was formerly used as medicine for sore throats and colds. more...
January 28 , 1986 : The "Challenger" exploded o more...
An eyebrow cyst appears as a raised bump of skin in the area of the eyebrow. It might or might not warrant removal or treatment depending upon the cause and type. Various factors may cause the cyst, such as acne vulgaris or folliculitis. Melanomas can sometimes cause cysts on the surface of the skin. A cyst on the eyebrow might also have the characteristics of a dermoid or sebaceous cyst.
When a cyst appears on the eyebrow, it might be asymptomatic, or it could cause pain or sensitivity. It can also vary in size. Often, an eyebrow cyst is nothing to worry about. There are times, though, especially if the cyst is larger in size or causing uncomfortable symptoms, when removal or other treatment might be necessary.
Acne vulgaris is a common cause of eyebrow cysts. This condition typically occurs when dead skin blocks the pores on the surface of the skin. An infection can result, and the affected area develops a raised skin pouch recognized as a cyst. It can be especially prevalent for people with thick eyebrows because dead skin can more easily accumulate at the base of the eyebrow hairs.
Ad
Another common cause of an eyebrow cyst is folliculitis. Basically, this condition occurs when one or more of the hair follicles on the eyebrows becomes inflamed. This inflammation can result from a blocked follicle or some sort of damage there, such as might be caused by a person plucking his or her eyebrows. The swollen area appears as a small lump in the skin.
Melanoma, one of the most common forms of skin cancer, can also cause a cyst in the area of the eyebrow. With a melanoma, damaged skin cells do not die off but rather continue to reproduce, resulting in a random lump on the surface of the skin that often continues to grow over time. This lump of tissue can occur anywhere on the surface of the skin, including the eyebrow area.
Depending on the nature of an eyebrow cyst, it could also be considered a dermoid or sebaceous cyst. Dermoid cysts are primarily a congenital defect that is present at birth. It is caused when a small hollow in the skin becomes filled with skin tissue. The size can vary, and while a dermoid cyst might not cause any discomfort or other health concerns, an individual might want it removed for aesthetic reasons.
Many times, the oil glands in the skin become blocked, causing a soft pouch of skin to develop. When this happens, it is called a sebaceous, or epidermal, cyst. This condition sometimes occurs in the eyebrow area, where the sebaceous glands are located near the eyebrow hair follicles. Normally, an eyebrow cyst caused by blocked oil glands is filled with a thick, whitish or yellowish fluid.
Frequently, an eyebrow cyst is a nonthreatening condition. Still, a cyst should always be evaluated by a medical professional to determine its cause and whether treatment is necessary. This is especially true if the eyebrow cyst appears red, causes pain, or if it appears to grow over a period of time.
Ad
Recommended
You might also Like
Discuss this Article
anon357764
Post 6
I have a bump under my eyebrow hiding in the hairs and yesterday I just thought it was a pimple but it had no head and it was painful to touch and very sensitive. I went to sleep and woke up today only to notice its gotten a little bigger now my eye is noticeably smaller than the other.
anon339954
Post 5
I have a cyst under my eyebrow that I've had since birth. It is getting bigger and I notice I get more pressure in that area when I have head aches. I tried to get it removed, but insurance doesn't cover the procedure.
DylanB
Post 4
I had no idea that eyebrow cysts could be cancerous! I am definitely going to get my lump checked out now.
lighth0se33
Post 3
@healthy4life – I always pluck those wayward hairs. I know that the thought of that is a little scary, since it is so tender right now, but getting rid of that hair will make you feel better sooner.
After I pluck the hair at the root, I apply alcohol to prevent infection. I avoid touching the area for a day or so to let the tenderness subside, and usually by the next day, all is well.
healthy4life
Post 2
What do you do if you have an inflamed eyebrow hair? I have this one that is pointed in the opposite direction from the others, and when I touch it, I feel that the skin below it is very sore.
Perdido
Post 1
I've had little bumps under the hair of my eyebrows before. I just thought they were acne. I had never heard of the term "sebaceous cyst."
If they had a head, I squeezed them. Mayonnaise colored fluid came out.
I did notice that eyebrow cysts were always more painful than regular pimples elsewhere on my face. Just touching the area afterward would send waves of pain through my forehead.
Post your comments
Post Anonymously
Login
username
password
forgot password?
Register
username
password
confirm
email


Lining Extrusion and Cracking
Lining extrusion and cracking may be caused by overheating, which can reduce the strength of linings so that the material yields and cracks from the effect of normal and shear forces transmitted through very thin oil films. Wiping does not necessarily occur under such conditions.
Addressing the Damage
Fit new or reconditioned bearing pads. To prevent future damage, investigate and, if possible, reduce the maximum operating temperatures.
Figure 1: Cracking of whitemetal lining due to operation at excessively high temperatures; note displacement of whitemetal over the edge of the pad due to extrusion
Figure 2: Cracking and displacement of whitemetal lining of pad due to overheating under steady load conditions


text:
When European settlers began to arrive in New Zealand in the early 1800s, they needed safe ports and harbours to anchor their ships. They chose to build their settlements where it was safe for the ships bringing people and supplies.
The first landing places were small and roughly built. Many were just areas of mud, or jetties were made with planks held up by barrels that led to the water.
As more ships came, harbours needed to be managed properly, so a system of harbour boards was set up in 1870. Their engineers organised building works.
From small to large ports
Small ports appeared, scattered along the coast and serving their own little communities. These ports grew into larger towns, which became richer as railway lines were built to bring goods from other places. Some ports did better than others – Dunedin, Wellington, Auckland and Lyttelton harbours were busy, while many smaller ports were closed down.
Types of port
New Zealand has three main types of port:
- Major ports: The natural features of Wellington, Auckland and Lyttelton (serving Christchurch) made good harbours because they were sheltered and had deep water.
- River ports: many ports, such as those at Greymouth, Westport and Wanganui, were built in sheltered river mouths. However, rivers could be shallow or have sandbars and ships were often wrecked.
- Breakwater ports: some ports were dangerous because of rough seas. The ports at Timaru, Ōamaru, Napier and New Plymouth were made safe by building huge artificial harbours protected by breakwaters.
The 20th and 21st centuries
Working on wharves was back-breaking, and in the 20th century wharfies (watersiders or longshoremen) held many large protests on the waterfront. Working conditions became better. Cranes and other machinery have made it possible to quickly unload container-loads of cargo.
Recently, the areas around New Zealand's harbours have been cleaned up, and waterfronts have become places to walk, shop, or have a drink.

source: openbmb/Ultra-FineWeb


text:
Date of this Version
A survey in the Little Blue Basin documented the presence of 22 extant or extirpated unionid mollusk species. Bivalve habitat is severely impaired by surface and subsurface water withdrawals, erosion, siltation, and grazing. Chemical contaminants and other pollutants washed into area streams from agricultural fields probably exert a further deleterious impact upon the fauna of the region. Half of the species recovered were represented only by chalky or badly weathered shells, suggesting their possible elimination from the basin. The generally poor condition of shells of many of the remaining species suggests they are also in severe decline in the region.

source: HuggingFaceFW/fineweb-edu


text:
Search COVID-19 Rapid Resource Center or explore resources sorted by Category or Content Type.
Risk Factors for Invasive Pulmonary Aspergillosis in Critically Ill Patients With Coronavirus Disease 2019-Induced Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
Crisis Management, Pulmonary,
From Critical Care Explorations
The authors retrospectively evaluated cases of coronavirus disease 2019 acute respiratory distress syndrome patients and identified six patients that met the diagnosis of invasive pulmonary aspergillosis according to previously established definitions. This population exhibited higher severity scores at admission and less hospital discharge compared with noninvasive pulmonary aspergillosis patients. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, malnutrition, and systemic corticosteroid use were identified as risk factors for invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in coronavirus disease 2019-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome patients. Coronavirus disease 2019-associated pulmonary aspergillosis may be a serious concern regarding corticosteroids use to control the inflammatory response of coronavirus disease 2019-induced acute respiratory distress syndrome.
Chauvet P, Mallat J, Arumadura C, et al.
Estimated Time: 09:27 min


text:
How can we build resilient pharmaceutical systems? In a webinar organised by the Pharmacoeconomics Department at the Austrian National Public Health Institute (GÖG), three speakers reported on best practice examples from European countries and cross-country collaborations. The webinar took place on 20 May 2022 and formed part of the European Public Health Week which aims to raise awareness about public health and promote collaboration among the public health community in Europe.
Resilience in health systems was introduced as the ability to prepare for, manage, and learn from shocks, by Sabine Vogler, Head of the Pharmacoeconomics Department at GÖG and Director of the WHO Collaborating Centre for Pharmaceutical Pricing and Reimbursement Policies. Adding to strategies for building up resilience in the wider health system, which have been the focus of much debate in recent years, several levers for strengthening resilience in the pharmaceutical system exist, including how medicines are procured, and how countries prepare for and deal with emerging, high-cost technologies.
Optimising public procurement of medicines, with a view to safeguarding the environment – examples from Denmark and the Nordic Pharmaceutical Forum
In the first presentation, Trine Ann Behnk, senior strategic advisor at Amgros, described how her institution is thinking strategically about the role of procurement of pharmaceuticals to build up resilience. Amgros, a procurement body for hospitals owned by and acting on behalf of the Danish regions, is currently developing a sustainability strategy that aims to lessen the impact of pharmaceuticals on the environment as part of the Danish government's efforts to reduce CO2 emissions by 72% by 2030. Amgros has recently introduced environmental criteria into its national tenders for hospital medicines and has also applied such criteria for its joint Nordic tenders with Norway and Iceland (through the Nordic Pharmaceutical Forum). Key learnings from these tenders are that careful preparation of the inclusion of environmental criteria in procurement of pharmaceuticals is necessary (including dialogue with suppliers), and that, if done properly, having these criteria does not impact negatively on the number of suppliers competing in the market.
Beneluxa Initiative – working together for real improvement in patient access
Roisin Adams, Head of HTA Strategy and External Engagement at the National Centre Pharmacoeconomics (NCPE) in Ireland, introduced the Beneluxa Initiative, a cross-country collaboration between Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Austria, and Ireland, which aims to ensure sustainable access to innovative medicine at affordable cost for all patients through activities in four core domains. Horizon scanning (now increasingly shifted to the spin-off International Horizon Scanning Initiative (IHSI), see below) is used to stay ahead of emerging technologies and to inform health technology assessment (HTA). The Beneluxa Initiative has published a horizon scanning report on pharmaceutical developments on Alzheimer's Disease. HTA activities include joint HTA as well as considerations for re-using existing HTA reports across countries. A joint template for HTA submissions is being developed, as more joint HTAs are expected in the future. Pricing and reimbursement activities can include joint negotiations, which are informed by HTA. An example where this was conducted successfully for three countries (Belgium, Ireland and the Netherlands) was Zolgensma for the treatment of Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). Finally, the initiative engages in information sharing activities. Statements on key issues around HTA (e.g. methodological considerations about costs to include in health economic evaluation of CAR-Ts), access to and pricing of high-cost medicines, and the need for rigorous evidence evaluation of Covid-19 pharmaceuticals have been issued on the initiative's website and member states engage in regular exchange on hot topics through webinars.
Being prepared: Looking into the pipelines of new therapies – International Horizon Scanning Initiative
Marcus Guardian, General Manager of the International Horizon Scanning Initiative (IHSI) introduced horizon scanning as a process that aims at identifying, filtering, and prioritising new and emerging health technologies as the basis for informed decision-making. IHSI is based on the experiences of Beneluxa and other regional initiatives and aims to provide its member countries with robust data on emerging technologies. Data are collected through a combination of automated (including machine learning approaches) and human scanning and curating processes. Data are then made available in two forms: firstly, IHSI will shortly launch the first global database of upcoming pharmaceutical products, containing all products in phase I or later trials. Secondly, the organisation provides high-impact reports focusing on compounds where significant impact on health systems are expected. These reports will be published bi-annually in eight categories. IHSI expects to grow in the future and provide more member countries with information to help prepare their pharmaceutical systems.
Q&A and conclusions
In the Q&A session, speakers further discussed the potential impact of the upcoming EU HTA regulation on joint HTA activities by Beneluxa, links between Beneluxa and IHSI, and how information generated through collaborative work, such as horizon scanning and joint HTA, feeds through into subsequent activities, including pricing and reimbursement. Participants were also keen on learning more about the experience of the Nordic countries with environmental criteria in tenders (additional information on the subject is available online).
The webinar concluded with the speakers' key messages on strengthening resilience in the pharmaceutical system. These highlighted the current period of transition in Europe which will be best navigated with a clear vision for the future and increased cross-country collaboration, transparency, and open dialogue between stakeholders.
*** The event took place in the framework of the European Public Health Week – Health throughout the life course ***


text:
Aqueous solvation models for ions of the 2nd group.
Abstr Pap - Am Chem Soc 2004 Mar; 227(Part 1):INOR-580
Heats of hydration for the Group II metal ions are fairly large. Experimental values for Be2+, Mg2+ and Ca2+ are -584, -456 and -381 kcal/mol, respectively. The ability of CHARMM and AMBER force fields to effectively reproduce these large values was tested. Free energies of hydration were computed using the free-energy perturbation method. A thorough variation of the Lennard-Jones van der Waals parameters showed that both radial distribution functions and the energetics of Mg2+ and Ca2+ solvation can be reasonably reproduced within the framework of nonpolarizable force fields. However, this approach fails for the smallest representative of Group II Be2+. We demonstrate using the TlP3P water model that it is not possible to simultaneously model both solvation effects accurately. The physical/chemical reasons for this are discussed, and compromise strategies of Be2+, modeling are suggested.
Metals; Metal-compounds; Analytical-methods; Analytical-processes; Analytical-chemistry
Abstract; Conference/Symposia Proceedings
Abstracts of papers - American Chemical Society


How Much Is $100 After Taxes?
How much is taxes on $100?
For example, if the sales tax amount is $6.88, and the before tax price is $100, then the decimal tax rate would be 0.0688 ($6.88 ÷ $100 =.
0688 rounded).
Multiply the decimal tax rate by 100.
So if the decimal rate is 0.0688, then the percentage rate would be 6.88% (0.0688 x 100 = 6.88%).
How much is $100 worth in states?
There, $100 will buy you goods that would cost $113.38 in a state at the national average price level.
Stay Informed on Tax Policy Research and Analysis.
StateRelative Value of $100Rank
West Virginia$114.944
48 more rows
How much is $100000 after taxes?
$51.25 an hour is how much per year? If you make $100,000 a year living in the region of New York, USA, you will be taxed $28,435. That means that your net pay will be $71,565 per year, or $5,964 per month. Your average tax rate is 28.43% and your marginal tax rate is 38.22%.
How much will my take home pay be after taxes?
6.2% of each of your paychecks is withheld for Social Security taxes and your employer contributes a further 6.2%. However, the 6.2% that you pay only applies to income up to the Social Security tax cap, which for 2020 is $137,700 (up from $132,900 in 2019).
What is the tax on $20?
For example, if something is $20 and the sales tax is 7% you would multiply $20 times 1.07 and you would pay $21.40.
How much is $800 after taxes?
Thus 12.60% of your total gross wages will be paid for federal income tax. Your $800 after taxes is $699.22 (take home pay), assuming you don't pay state income tax where you are.
Is 100 dollars a lot of money in USA?
$100 is not a lot of money for two days' wages, but some have to live on that. $100 is not a lot of money for a house, unless you live in a few areas where houses are abandoned. In many places outside the U.S., due to conversion rates, US$100 is really a lot of money.
What can $100 buy US?
Other items that are about $100 are: A day trip to a museum or zoo.
Each point on this list costs about $100:
 - Two console games.
 - Eight or ten movie tickets.
 - 10 months of Netflix.
 - Four or five new movies on DVD.
 - Fifteen used DVDs at a yard sale.
 - Lunch for four at a fairly nice restaurant.
 - 40 cheap burgers.
 - 90 candy bars.
What state is worth the most?
The results are surprising, with states like New York falling shy of the top 10 while Alaska makes the top 10.
 1. Hawaii.
 2. Massachusetts.
 3. Connecticut.
 4. New Hampshire.
 5. Alaska.
 6. 8. California. Median household income: $71,805 (2017)
 7. Virginia. Median household income: $71,535.
 8. Washington. Median household income: $70,979.
How do I figure out my take home pay?
There are a few things you should have on hand to calculate your take-home pay: The amount of your gross pay. If you earn a fixed salary, this is easy to figure out. Just divide the annual amount by the number of periods each year.
How is federal income tax calculated?
How Income Taxes Are Calculated
How do you calculate take home pay?
In order to Calculate take-home salary, subtract the Income Tax, Provident Fund (PF) and Professional Tax from the Gross Salary.
 1. Step 1: Calculate gross salary. Gross Salary = CTC – (EPF + Gratuity)
 2. Step 2: Calculate taxable income.
 3. Step 3: Calculate income tax**
 4. Step 4: Calculating in-hand/take home salary.


Factors You Should Consider Before Setting Up Voltage Stabilizer
Work of a voltage stabilizer
Voltage stabilizers are one of the most important sets of gears that act as a shield to your electrical appliances making them stay safe and harmless from any fluctuations in voltage. It spares you the cost of installing new applications again and again due to damage by voltage fluctuations. Everything from refrigerators, televisions, air-conditioners should have voltage stabilizers as a vital element attached to them. They are connected to them bringing down any rise in the fluctuation of switching off the appliance in case of extremely low voltage.
The nature of a Voltage Stabilizer or Voltage Regulator is subordinate upon some variables. There are certain guidelines that are benefiting to follow to set up a perfect stabilizer suited best for your need and the appliance's safety. To keep your appliances safe from harm, you do spend on Voltage Stabilizers, therefore it becomes rudimentary to do some research, learn about vital factors that are necessary to set up a stabilizer in your house.
Factors to be considered
 - The primary focus before setting up a stabilizer would be prior information about the force supply circumstances and exactly how much power will an apparatus require. One can easily check the power rating of the apparatus; it is given in Amps or KVA other than recognizing whether it is single stage or three stages lines. The two basics, power factor, and frequency should be determined thoroughly before setting on a stabilizer for an appliance.
 - You have costly appliances at your home. You need to have stabilizers that are efficient and work with extreme efficacy while performing their function. They need to be rapid in their response to any change in fluctuation. It should have a capacity to keep up the consistent yield of voltage, regardless of the fact the heap current differs.
 - You should pick a stabilizer with the right information variety capacity to guarantee preceded with the power supply to a particular machine. The cost of the stabilizer may rely on the data voltage wing that it needs to correct in its working. You should choose the one that may cost you in a moderate manner in respect to the degree of function to be performed by it.
 - You should have reliable information about a number of fluctuations going on in your house. You should keep a track of different fluctuation, their reason and damage they cause to appliances settled already. This will help you have a basic view about the needs of your stabilizer.
 - You should prefer Regulators that are circuit breakers it may keep any sort of harm to your electrical appliances away. They function well in any kind of burden and contain a detector, an exchanging unit, a mechanized auto transformer and a cut off circuit.
 - We as Indians have a habit to go for the price despite natural faults in the appliance we know are about to happen. We know the difference between a good company, established and well-imaged stabilizer and a cheap local one. Yet sometimes, to save our money we tend to go for the cheaper ones. It is a bad step. stabilizers have the most important task to keep your even more expensive electrical appliances from harm. If the stabilizer itself isn't efficient, then it can cost you loads of money. This is the reason why you should lose a bit more money while choosing a good quality stabilizer so that you do not have to lose loads while getting a new appliance again.
This is it; these are some factors you must keep in mind before opting for a stabilizer for any appliance. If these tips are followed carefully, then the chances of you getting a perfect stabilizer for your home or work increases considerably. Also, it may add up to the life of your appliance making it safe from any kind of harm. stabilizers are even often considered as unnecessary. But we are glad you have understood the importance of it. stabilizer often contrasts in the way they can be mounted or introduced. Thus these tips can help you choose perfect stabilizer and let also to help you set it up properly at your home.
>> Looking for High-Performance Servo Voltage Stabilizer Manufacturer and Supplier
Advertisements
Top 10 Benefits of Servo Voltage Stabilizer
Voltage fluctuation is not safe for both machine and man. It can provide a great harm to both. Therefore, it becomes critical to acquire required prevention for the same. If you haven't applied any security measure to prevent voltage fluctuation till now, then stop getting happy that you are safe till now, because it may occur anytime.
Don't wait for a damage to occur and buy a servo voltage stabilizer to protect your devices and home from such situation. This is an ultimate gadget that controls voltage level and transfers only required amount of voltage to the device it is connected with.
Servo voltage stabilizer
Here we discuss top 10 benefits of servo voltage stabilizer will help you understand its significance.
 1. Prevents Equipment Breakdown:
Equipment breakdown is common with a voltage flux. This breakdown of the equipment may cost you double. However, this case can be avoided well by applying Servo voltage stabilizer. It is a onetime investment, but provide great benefits for a long time.
 1. Protects Industries From Damages:
Servo voltage stabilizer is a must gadget should be there in every industry out there making use of a number of electrical devices. This is because even a small voltage fluctuation may greatly affect all the devices and probably the human life too. Servo voltage stabilizer controls the voltage supply to each device and prevents any such situation.
 1. Home Savior:
Not only industries, electrical devices used at home also. For the safety of family members, it becomes necessary to apply such a security measures at home. It not only protects your family from any sort of damage can cause of voltage, but also help you to save a lot on repair cost and energy bill.
 1. Less Usage of Power:
Since servo voltage stabilizer controls the supply of voltage, it ensures less use of power. Less in the sense, it conveys the power in a quantity that is sufficient for a normal working of any devices rather than let the device bear over burden of power that is a direct cause of damage.
 1. Reduction in Power Bill:
As mentioned above, servo voltage stabilizer gadget ensures controlled supply of power to the devices which results in reduced cost of the power bill. Indeed, it is a savvy method to apply at home.
 1. Low Maintenance Cost:
A Servo voltage stabilizer has a powerful motor that requires a low maintenance that helps you cut the expenses. It is not only savvy from the side of extra expenses, also ensures an obstacle free production that increase the profit.
 1. Easy Machine Movement:
With a servo voltage stabilizer it is very easy to move the mechanism stabilizer anytime you want. This saves a lot of valuable time of industries.
 1. Highly Durable:
A Servo voltage stabilizer is capable enough in managing even the worst situation and work in a same manner. Such durability greatly helps in eliminating the chances of voltage fluctuation and dangers associated with it.
 1. Easy Customization:
Here easy customization refers to the strength and different voltage rates servo voltage stabilizer is available in. Moreover, its motor can be easily changed in case gets damaged or stops working.
 1. Highly Savvy:
Applying a servo voltage stabilizer, whether at home or industry is highly savvy as it cuts many costs such as, buying new devices cause of the breakdown, spending on repair work, paying a handsome amount as power bills, etc.
So, would you still like to let your electrical devices, like, AC, Refrigerator, Cooler or heavy machinery in the industry without the support of a servo voltage stabilizer? I am sure not after knowing amazing benefits of this gadget. Don't concern over its cost as it is not at all expensive. A servo voltage stabilizer with any voltage rate is totally within the budget of the buyer. Hurry and protect your devices with one.


text:
Civil Engineering had its beginnings when the Trustees of Rutgers College established the Rutgers Scientific school in 1863, and the State of New Jersey on April 4, 1864 designated Rutgers as the land grant institution of New Jersey. The first class was quickly enrolled and graduated in 1868. The early engineering enrollment of the scientific school was predominantly civil engineers.
Early civil engineering education was conducted by individuals who had received their education at the Military Academy at West Point or with the Corps of engineers. The first major civil engineering professor was Alfred Alexander Titsworth, who later became the first dean of engineering in 1914.
In the early 1900's, Rutgers College offered technical courses in civil engineering, mechanical engineering, and electrical engineering. The technical course in civil engineering, at first glance, is quite similar to that of today. Four units of mathematics and two of science were required for admission. The four-year program had a common freshman year and there was no choice of elective. The catalog states, "A thorough drill in mathematics is given both for its general educational value and for its importance as an essential tool for the educated engineer."
Surveying, strength and mechanics of materials, analysis and design of structures, hydraulics and environmental (now sanitary) engineering were important aspects of the program at that time, as they are today. The civil engineering program at Rutgers has always been geared to the needs of the profession.
In 1908, the civil engineering seniors established the Civil Engineering Club as an undergraduate technical society. In 1921, this became the Rutgers Student Chapter of the American Society of Civil Engineers, one of the oldest of such chapters.
The first annual short course for sewage plant operators was offered by the civil engineering department in 1927, and for waterworks operators in 1931. These courses were conducted by the department until late in the 1960s.
The degree of Civil Engineer (C.E.) was a professional degree granted to graduates of the technical course after three or more years in practice and study of civil engineering who presented a satisfactory thesis or discussion of some engineering work they had done. The degree was established in the early 1900s and was granted until the early 1950s. The Master of Science degree in civil engineering was established in the 1920s and the Ph.D. degree in 1961, with the first graduates in 1965.
The total number of graduates of the department's programs numbered no more than twenty up to the late 1940s when it grew to between thirty and forty until 1970.
The original home of the civil engineering department was the Engineering Building on Queen's Campus (Murray Hall) built in 1908 for $70,000, of which an amount of $25,000 was given by Andrew Carnegie. The department's first addition was the establishment of the hydraulic and mechanics of materials laboratories in 1932 in the Old Ballantine Gym, which had been partially destroyed by fire in 1930. In 1938, the Engineering Building expanded to include several labs, classrooms, and auditorium.
In 1947, all other laboratories of the department were moved into the temporary engineering buildings on Busch Campus in a further expansion. Surveying, concrete, soil mechanics, and transportation labs were housed there.
The College of Engineering moved into new quarters on Busch Campus in 1963. Office space and environmental engineering labs for the department were included in this building but not the labs in Ballantine or the temporary buildings. Complete consolidation of all the department's laboratory facilities was left for future construction, and the dedication of the new Civil Engineering Laboratory on May 19, 1982 partially fulfilled those plans.


text:
Each year, the month of March is dedicated by the National Athletic Trainers' Association to bringing information and awareness to the role of certified athletic trainers. This year's theme is "Every Body Needs an Athletic Trainer."
Often times, the difference in the professions of athletic training and personal training can be blurred. There is, however, a difference:
1. Athletic trainers are considered allied health care professionals, and must meet qualifications set by the Board of Certification, Inc., and the state licensing board.
2. They coordinate care under the direction of a physician and other health care professionals.
3. Athletic trainers are members of a health care profession recognized by the American Medical Association.
4. All certified athletic trainers must have a bachelor's or master's degree from an accredited college or university in order to practice athletic training, and must pass a comprehensive exam to earn their credentials.
5. Athletic trainers are experts at recognizing, treating and preventing musculoskeletal injures.
If you have a question for a certified athletic trainer, visit Ask the Athletic Trainer
For more information about the athletic training profession, visit the National Athletic Trainers' Association website at _URL_.


Flip-flop types and their Conversion
Flip-flop is a circuit that maintains a state until directed by input to change the state. A basic flip-flop can be constructed using four-NAND or four-NOR gates.
Types of flip-flops:
 1. RS Flip Flop
 2. JK Flip Flop
 3. D Flip Flop
 4. T Flip Flop
Logic diagrams and truth tables of the different types of flip-flops are as follows:
S-R Flip Flop :
SR_flip
J-K Flip Flop:
JK_flip
D Flip Flop :
D- logic diag
D flip flop
T Flip Flop :
T- logic diag
T flip flop
Conversion for FlipFlops :-
EXCITATION TABLE:
flip_1
Steps To Convert from One FlipFlop to Other :
Let there be required flipflop to be constructed using sub-flipflop:
 1. Draw the truth table of required flipflop.
 2. Write the corresponding outputs of sub-flipflop to be used from the excitation table.
 3. Draw K-Maps using required flipflop inputs and obtain excitation functions for sub-flipflop inputs.
 4. Construct logic diagram according to the functions obtained.
i) Convert SR To JK FlipFlop
flip_2
Excitation Functions:
flip_3
ii) Convert SR To D FlipFlop:
flip_4
Excitation Functions:
S = D
R = D
flip_5
flip_6
This article is contributed by Kriti Kushwaha .
Please write comments if you find anything incorrect, or you want to share more information about the topic discussed above
My Personal Notes arrow_drop_up
Improved By : VishalPal
Article Tags :
5
Please write to us at _EMAIL_ to report any issue with the above content.


High-Performance Calculations with Teradata Ordered Analytic Functions
High-Performance Calculations with Teradata Ordered Analytic Functions
Teradata Ordered Analytic Functions use two different methods to redistribute the data, depending on the data demographics.
Teradata Ordered Analytic Functions
Teradata Ordered Analytic Functions are useful if the result of a row is dependent on the values of previous or subsequent rows.
Here is an example:
The running sum over the last 3 days should be calculated. The following calculation steps are necessary:
 1. The rows have to be sorted ascending by date
 2. The summation is carried out by:
 - The value of the current row is added to the sum of the previous row
 - The value of the row that lies 3 days back is subtracted
All the above steps can be performed with a single SQL:
SELECT SUM(Amount) OVER (PARTITION BY Department_Id ORDER BY Sales_Date ROWS BETWEEN 2 PRECEDING AND CURRENT ROW ) AS RunningSum
FROM Sales;
Teradata Ordered Analytic Functions & Performance Considerations
 - When using Teradata Analytic Functions, it should be noted that any available compressed Join Index or Hash Index is not used.
 - All rows which fall into the same partition are moved to the same AMP. This can lead to the situation that the AMP is running out of spool space.
 - Since the rows of a partition are copied to the same AMP, skewing can also occur.
More specifically, Teradata uses one of 2 different methods to distribute the rows (and to reduce skew):
 - If the number of different values of the PARTITION BY columns is high in comparison to the number of AMPS, the distribution is carried out according to the PARTITION BY key using the usual hashing algorithm on the partition by columns.
 - If the number of different values of the PARTITION BY columns is small compared to the number of AMPS, the distribution is carried out according to ranges of key values defined by the PARTITION by columns plus the ORDER BY columns.
A Simple Trick to reduce Skewing
We can extend the PARTITION BY key or the ORDER BY with additional columns that have as many different values as possible. Of course, the additional column must not change the semantics of the query.
Here is an example, where we added a column to the ORDER BY (which of course reduces skewing only if ORDER BY columns are considered by Teradata when distributing the rows):
Original Query (Heavily Skewed)
SELECT SUM(Amount) OVER (PARTITION BY Customer_Id ORDER BY Due_Date ASC ) AS TotalSum
FROM Ranges;
MinAMPIO = 102
MaxAMPIO = 237

Optimized Query (Less Skewed)
SELECT SUM(Amount) OVER (PARTITION BY Customer_Id ORDER BY Due_Date ASC, QuiteUniqueColumn ) AS TotalSum
FROM Ranges;
MinAMPIO = 191
MaxAMPIO = 231
How to determine how the Rows are distributed?
If distribution by ranges is used, can easily be found out: Check the execution plan for the statement "redistributed by value to all AMPs
Explain SELECT SUM(Amount) OVER (PARTITION BY Customer_Id ORDER BY Due_Date ASC, QuiteUniqueColumn ) AS TotalSum
 FROM Ranges;
 1) First, we lock DWHPRO.Ranges in TD_MAP1 for read on a reserved
 RowHash to prevent global deadlock.
 2) Next, we lock DWHPRO.Ranges in TD_MAP1 for read.
 3) We do an all-AMPs STAT FUNCTION step in TD_MAP1 from DWHPRO.Ranges
 by way of an all-rows scan with no residual conditions into Spool
 5 (Last Use), which is assumed to be redistributed by value to all
 AMPs in TD_Map1. The result rows are put into Spool 1
 (group_amps), which is built locally on the AMPs. The size is
 estimated with low confidence to be 293,656 rows (12,039,896
 bytes). The estimated time for this step is 0.57 seconds.
 4) Finally, we send out an END TRANSACTION step to all AMPs involved
 in processing the request.
 -> The contents of Spool 1 are sent back to the user as the result of
 statement 1. The total estimated time is 0.57 seconds.
Roland Wenzlofsky

Roland Wenzlofsky is a graduated computer scientist and Data Warehouse professional working with the Teradata database system for more than 20 years. He is experienced in the fields of banking and telecommunication with a strong focus on performance optimization.
>


Is My Pet Rat Blind? All You Need To Know (+ Rat Blindness Tests)
Is My Pet Rat Blind? A question often asked by pet rat owners. But if so, how can you determine that? The good news is that there are two reliable ways of finding out if your rat is blind or not, and we will discuss them in a moment, including caring for your rat if they are going blind.
Is my pet rat blind? To determine if your rat is blind, you can conduct a finger test. You can carry out the test when they're focused on something else or in front of their cage. Keep reading to learn about how both tests can be conducted safely. However, the most reliable way to know if your rat is blind is by consulting a vet.
Before we dive into the tests, we must understand how the eyesight of a rat works and what may lead to blindness in rats, then we'll take a look at measures you can adopt if your pet rat is going blind.
Rats do not have good eyesight
Unlike most animals, rats do not have the brightest vision. They lack what is known as 20/20 vision. Therefore, their vision of the world is blurred and hazy.
Since their vision is not optimized to see beyond a few feet, they may not recognize your presence by sight if you're at extreme ends of a big room. However, this is not an indication that their blind but a limitation of their vision.
With that said, you may wonder why they're able to detect your presence when you open the door or make a loud sound. The reason is that they have a heightened sense of hearing, not that they suddenly recovered their vision.
A commonly underlooked fact is that rats are nocturnal animals. Even at close range, they still do not have the best vision. Therefore, before you fret about your pet rat going blind, you must remember that rats do not depend entirely on their vision.
Rats are color blind
Rats do not experience the full range of light frequency, but they can detect ultraviolet light invisible to the human eye.
A rat's vision is black and white mostly, typically with a touch of other colors and most prominently grey. Therefore, a color-based test will fall short of determining a rat's blindness, regardless of how perfect their vision seems to be
Can Rats Go Blind?
Yes, rats can go blind. Compared to other animals, rats may have a higher propensity to go blind since they are not born with excellent vision. There are myths linked to blindness in rats, with an impeccable degree of truth to them. However, the primary cause of rat blindness is poor vision.
Does The Color of a Rat's Eye Matter?
Yes, the color of a rat's eyes matters when it comes to blindness. Rats that do not have red or pink eyes are known to have better vision than those that do. Also, those with red eyes tend to respond quickly to any form of light than their peers do.
Rats with pink and red eyes are said to have a shallow depth of field. Depth of field is a term used in photography to describe the area in view which is in focus.
If you have ever paid close attention to red-eyed rats, you may notice how frequently they shift their heads. The reason for this behavior is so that they can gain focus on objects not present in their limited depth of field. Many believe that the limited vision is the secret behind the red-eyed rat's enhanced nocturnal capabilities.
Sadly, that's far from the truth. It is impossible to see without light, and the red-eyed rats are no exception, especially in low-light areas.
Albino Rats And Blindness
Albino rats have poor vision in low light conditions due to their pink eyes. So we can say their vision is a lot worse than their peers.
According to science, rats with red or pink eyes cannot develop the same number of rod-shaped receptors compared to their peers due to the absence of melanin in their eyes. The cells that develop into the rod-shaped receptors require melanin for development
Since melanin is absent, about 1/3 of their rod cells are malformed, leaving the albino rat with poor vision.
It is sad that albino rats become disabled a few weeks after birth and may not even make it to maturity without going blind or almost blind.
Pink + Red-Eyed Rats Can Suffer From Light Exposure
Determining a pet rat's sensitivity to light may be a cruel experiment. However, we can safely infer that rodents with light-colored eyes will have a hard time exposed to bright light or sunlight because it could damage their fragile eyes.
You can help them by :
 - Placing their cage as far away from bright light as you possibly can.
 - Close the curtains to limit light rays from the sun unless it is a rainy day.
 - A window panel with a darkening effect would be perfect since you can move them around if your rats are constantly changing spaces.
What Else Can Make A Rat Go Blind?
Rats are like humans, so they can go blind for so many reasons. Some of the reasons include:
 - Poor Diet
 - Sickness
 - Congenital Blindness
 - Genetics
Eye infections can also lead to blindness in pet rats. If you notice any changes in their eyes, such as bulging, swelling, or inflammation of surrounding tissue, seek help immediately. Failure to do so may lead to blindness.
Rats can also lose their sight due to play fights. Because of their sharp claws, they may injure one another in the eye, leading to blindness.
 Though you may not be able to protect your pet rat from all the dangers that can lead to blindness, you certainly can ensure that their diet is in check. You may also adopt the use of vitamins made for rats.
Will My Pet Rat See Better At Night?
Rats are nocturnal creatures, but these little rodents are more optimized for smell and hearing than they are seeing. Not that these creatures do not see at night, they just are not visually inclined.
In the wild, they're more likely to flee predators by the sounds they make as they draw closer. Because fewer predators move around at night, it makes sense for them to hunt in the dark.
How To Tell If Your Rat Is Going Blind?
To know if your pet rat is blind, you can try one of these tests. However, nothing beats the services provided by a trained vet because there is no home kit designed to serve this purpose.
Let's get to the tests:
 1. The finger test. To perform the finger test, make sure you wash your hands thoroughly. If you do not wash your hands thoroughly, they may likely respond to the smell of food instead of the sight of your finger. After washing, hold your fingers 3 inches away from the edge of their cage while moving back and forth, staying within their field of vision. The goal here is to see if they can keep track of your moving fingers. If they fail to do so, repeat the test a few more times to rule out blindness. In some cases, rats are just not willing to participate in the tests.
 2. The sneaky finger test. If your rat continues to shake its head in a manner depicting focus, raise your fingers to their side but without making noise. If your pet rat doesn't detect it immediately – chances are, your rat may be going blind.
What To Do If Your Rat Is Blind?
Unlike humans, rats capable of living happily with blindness, but you have a role to play. Ensure not to change their space too often or move things around their cage, as doing this can lead to confusion and distress, which may take them longer to do things their sighted peers would easier.
Final Thoughts
Is my pet rat blind? You got the answer: In summary, there are two ways to know if your pet rat is going blind, you can try the finger test or the sneaky finger test. All of which can or may not be effective in some cases. However, it is refreshing to know that a blind rat can live a long and happy life so long as you are there to support them. If you are still worried your pet rat may be going blind, talk to a vet right away.


text:
ENDANGERED water voles have been spotted at Delamere Forest after decades of decline, thanks to the Forestry Commission.
Water vole numbers have dramatically reduced over the past 30 years, by up to 90% across the country, largely due to changes in land use and the introduction of the American mink which prey on the tiny mammals.
Now they are making a comeback at Delamere where Forestry Commission rangers have spotted droppings – a good sign that populations are moving back into the area.
Adrienne Bennett, Forestry Commission ecologist covering Cheshire, is planning to survey the area and other appropriate habitats at Forestry Commission sites across the North West to confirm that water voles are living there.
She said: "They are quite resilient creatures but there have been so many factors stacked against them that have had a dramatic impact.
"Surveys will begin this spring and can be as simple as walking the waterways to spot them, or hiding small 'rafts' in the reeds that attract water voles to deposit their droppings."
Adrienne said it is difficult to determine exact numbers, but once water voles are confirmed there are steps they can take to help them thrive, such as improving the banks of ponds or streams for burrowing and monitoring for mink in the area.
They may also work with environmental and wildlife organisations that manage adjacent sites to link habitats and help populations spread.
Water voles have been returning to Forestry Commission sites across the North West over the past few years.
Forestry Commission ranger Adam Evans said: "It is positive news that water voles are returning. If we can identify suitable habitats and open up corridors for water voles to populate them, they could flourish again."


- 01276 855 847 Nationwide (UK)
 - _EMAIL_ Email Us
 - Unit C1D, Fairoaks Airport Surrey, GU24 8HX
BMS Controls Articles
How Air Flow Measurment In Ducts Is Essential For Facilities Management
Facilities management is a critical component of any organization or business. One of the most important aspects of facilities management is the proper measurement of air flow in ducts. Air flow measurement in ducts is essential for maintaining optimal air quality, ensuring the safety of employees and the general public, and ensuring energy efficiency in the facility.
What Is Air Flow Measurement In Ducts?
Air flow measurement in ducts is a process of measuring the amount of air that is passing through a duct system. This can be done in two ways, either by measuring the pressure of the air as it passes through the ducts or by measuring the velocity of the air. Pressure measurements can be taken using a manometer, while velocity measurements can be taken using an anemometer. Depending on the type of duct system, different methods may be used to measure air air flow.
Benefits Of Air Flow Measurement In Ducts
The primary benefit of measuring air flow in ducts is that it enables facilities management to maintain optimal air quality. By monitoring the air flow rate, facilities managers can ensure that the air in the building is not too dry or too humid, and that it is clean and free from pollutants. Furthermore, measuring air flow can help identify any problems in the air handling system, such as leaks or blockages, and can help identify potential sources of contamination. Monitoring air flow in ducts can also help facilities managers identify areas of the facility where energy efficiency can be improved.
How To Measure Air Flow In Ducts
Measuring air flow in ducts is a relatively simple process, but it requires the right equipment and expertise. The first step is to install a manometer or anemometer in the duct system, depending on the type of measurement that is needed. Once the equipment is in place, a technician can take readings and calculate the air flow rate in the ducts. This data can then be used to adjust the system as needed to maintain optimal air quality and energy efficiency.
Conclusion
Air flow measurement in ducts is an essential part of facilities management. By monitoring air flow, facilities managers can maintain optimal air quality, ensure the safety of employees and the general public, and identify areas for improving energy efficiency. While measuring air flow in ducts is a relatively simple process, it does require the right equipment and expertise, so it is important to enlist the help of a qualified technician to ensure accurate results.


text:
ANKARA - Radikal
The Agriculture Ministry is analyzing roducts grown in fields, gardens, and green houses for residual pesticides. The ministry plans to revise its list of pesticides. Hürriyet photo
The Agriculture Ministry has rolled up its sleeves and has begun studying agricultural pesticides in order to institute new regulations for their use. According to the findings of the study, a number of chemical pesticides are expected to be completely banned, while others will be replaced with alternative products.
Every year many of Turkey's agricultural products destined for export are sent back to Turkey because they contain the residue of pesticides. In order to address this problem, the ministry has embarked on an analysis of agricultural products grown in fields, gardens, and greenhouses and will revise its list of acceptable agricultural pesticides allowed for use in Turkey.
Since the beginning of June, Turkish pharmacies have been allowed to sell agricultural pesticides, which is causing quite a stir at the Chamber of Agriculture Engineers, who argue that this could be harmful to human health. The president of the Chamber of Agriculture Engineers, Dr. Turhan Tuncer, told daily Radikal that these pesticides should only be sold by experts in the field, and that pharmacies were not appropriate venues for the distribution of such products.


text:
Komplekis on karp, plaat ja manuaal.
Tegemist on kasutatud tootega!
Tutvuge piltide abil olevate vigadega (kui on) enne kui ostu sooritate.
Lisainfo (inglise keeles):
God of War: Chains of Olympus is a third-person single-player video game viewed from a fixed camera perspective. The player controls the character Kratos in combo-based combat, platforming, and puzzle game elements, and battles foes who primarily stem from Greek mythology, including cyclopes, Gorgons, satyrs, harpies, minotaurs, hoplites, and sphinxes. Morpheus beasts, shades, banshees, fireguards, fire sentries, Hyperion guards, and death knights were created specifically for the game. Platforming elements require the player to climb walls, jump across chasms, swing on ropes, and balance across beams to proceed through sections of the game. Some puzzles are simple, such as moving a box so that the player can use it as a jumping-off point to access a pathway unreachable with normal jumping, but others are more complex, such as finding several items across different areas of the game to unlock one door.


text:
Low impact development and green infrastructure are good options for sustainable climate adaptation and mitigation strategies for climate change.
Tag: Low-impact development
The ecosystem-based adaptation of Augustenborg enabled them to control flooding, improve the city's image, and enhance their stormwater and sewer systems.
In this YouTube video, the lecturer Marian Hubbard Rice explains how Salt Lake City has integrated climate change adaptation in its watershed management.
The researchers conducted the Somerville, Mass. drainage system case study to reflect the many attributes of an effective climate adaptation and planning.


text:
Two Alternatives for Future Development
The purpose of this document was to provide a master plan for a water distribution system to serve the potential developments outlined in the Land Use Study of South Jasper County. This Master Plan evaluates two alternatives for source water to South Jasper County; additional groundwater wells or master metered connections to the Beaufort-Jasper Water & Sewer Authority's (BJWSA) surface water supply.
At the time, potable water was supplied to South Jasper County by individual wells and the Levy-Limehouse Bellinger Hill (LLBH) Water Company. The LLBH water system consisted of two groundwater wells of 250 gpm each, one 150,000-gallon elevated storage tank and a distribution system consisting mostly of 8″ diameter pipe. The current system could supply approximately 720,000 gpd of water in most areas and does not
provide fire protection to all areas.
In this Master Plan, build-out water demands were derived, an upgraded water distribution system was developed and modeling was performed to determine the required improvements to the LLBH water system to meet the build-out water demands of South Jasper County. Models were run separately for each potential water supply source; new groundwater wells or BJWSA surface water supply. Recommendations and budget cost estimates were also included.
A land use study was also completed by Hussey Gay Bell in October 2004 for BJWSA to determine the possible future development in South Jasper County. The land use study used existing statistical information, tax maps, parcel data, interviews with current property owners, existing development guidelines and ordinances to identify potential development properties in South Jasper County that lie within the LLBH service area.


Reading HTTP request parameters
Even if you're new to web programming, you've probably seen HTTP request parameters. These are the bits sometimes "tacked on" to the end of a URL when you submit a form on a web page. For example, if an HTML form was defined as follows with a username field:
then submitting the form will make the browser request, but with the username parameter tacked on to the end:
When parameters are used
As well as being used for HTML forms as in the above example, HTTP parameters are also used in cases such as:
Essentially, any time a simple, short piece of data needs to be passed from the client to the server, they're a reasonable choice.
Reading parameters from the Servlet
Instead of adding request parameters to the end of the URL, it is also possible to POST them as actual data. To the Servlet, it makes no difference which request method (GET or POST) was used to send the parameters. In either case, we read the parameter using the getParameter() method of HttpServletRequest:
public void doGet(HttpServletRequest req, HttpServletResponse res)
 throws ServletException, IOException {
 String userName = req.getParameter("username");
If the given parameter was not set, then null was returned. A couple of methods are available to help us enumerate the parameters passed in:
It may sound odd that getParameterMap() returns mappings to arrays of strings. The reason is that strictly speaking, more than one value can be assigned to the same parameter name. (In practice, it is rare to do so.)
Parsing POSTed parameters "manually"
Usually, the most convenient way of reading request parameters is via the getParameter() method. It should be noted that if you use this method to read parameters that are POSTed, you shouldn't generally use the getReader() method to obtain and read the POSTed data "manually".
Parameters vs request headers
HTTP parameters are generally used to pass user-supplied data. They should not be confused with HTTP request headers, which are generally used to carry "meta" information, such as the character encoding, referring page, type of browser etc.


text:
The Education Trust–New York and Educators for Excellence-New York call for 'full and immediate transparency' on New York City's placement of teachers from the Absent Teacher Reserve (ATR)
Educators for Excellence-New York and The Education Trust–New York today filed a Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request to the New York City Department of Education seeking the public release of data on placement of teachers from the Absent Teacher Reserve (ATR). The full text of the FOIL request is below.
The following statement can be attributed to Ian Rosenblum, Executive Director, The Education Trust–New York:
"Achieving educational equity demands that we address disparities in teaching quality because every child deserves a strong educator. We share the deep concerns of parents, educators and advocates that New York City's decision to fill staffing vacancies using the Absent Teacher Reserve (ATR) will do the opposite: assign struggling and less effective teachers to disproportionately serve students of color and low-income students. More than a month has passed since the city's announced policy took effect, and parents and the public deserve full and immediate transparency on how the administration's decisions are impacting students."
The following statement can be attributed to Evan Stone, Co-CEO and Founder, Educators for Excellence:
"A key factor in achieving equity and excellence is ensuring that every student has access to high-quality schools, principals, and teachers. New York City's decision to fill staffing vacancies using the city's Absent Teacher Reserve (ATR) moves our nation's largest school system further from this goal. Currently, the highest performing, most qualified teachers in New York City are disproportionately teaching in the city's wealthiest neighborhoods and schools, while schools serving low-income and students of color are disproportionately assigned the least qualified, lowest performing teachers. This problem will only be exacerbated by filling vacancies in high-need schools using the ATR. Our school communities deserve to know when and where these teachers are being assigned in order to ensure that our students have the high-quality teachers they need to be successful."
The text of the FOIL request follows:
NYC Department of Education
52 Chambers Street, Room 308
New York, NY 10007
By email: [email protected]
Dear Records Access Officer:
As part of our organizations' commitment to educational equity, we seek to ensure that every child has equal access to high-quality schools, principals, and teachers. To that end, we submit the following FOIL request regarding your announced policy of placing teachers from the Absent Teacher Reserve (ATR) in schools with vacancies as of October 15, 2017.
For each school where teachers from the ATR have been placed on or after October 15, 2017, please provide the name of the school and for each school:
- The total number of teachers placed from the ATR;
- Of the total in #1, the number of teachers by reason placed in the ATR (e.g., school closure, budget cuts, legal/disciplinary);
- Of the total in #1, the number of teachers by most recent effectiveness rating;
- Of the total in #1, the number of teachers by range of length of time in the ATR (e.g., were in the ATR 5 years ago, were in the ATR 2-5 years ago, were in the ATR less than 2 years);
- Of the total in #1, the number of teachers by classroom assignment/subject; and
- Of the total in #1, the number of teachers by certification area.
If you conclude that any individual data element cannot be provided at the school level due to the need to protect personally identifiable information as the result of a legal requirement, we request an explanation of the legal requirement and that such data element be provided at the NYC district level.
Please do not hesitate to contact us with any questions. We look forward to your response within 5 business days and ask that the requested information be provided electronically to [email protected].
Ian Rosenblum, Executive Director, The Education Trust–New York
Evan Stone, Co-CEO and Founder, Educators for Excellence


text:
- 1 to give a name to someone or something synonym call name somebody/something (after/for somebody) He was named after his father (= given his father's first name). the diesel engine, named for its inventor Rudolf Diesel name somebody/something + noun They named their son John.
- 2 to say the name of someone or something synonym identify name somebody/something The victim has not yet been named. Can you name all the American states? name somebody/something as somebody/something The missing man has been named as James Kelly. Thesaurusidentifyknow recognize name make somebody/something outThese words all mean to be able to see or hear someone or something and especially to be able to say who or what they are.identify to be able to say who or what someone or something is:He was able to identify his attacker.know to be able to say who or what something is when you see or hear it because you have seen or heard it before Know is used especially to talk about sounds that seem familiar and when someone recognizes the quality or opportunity that someone or something represents:I couldn't see who was speaking, but I knew the voice. She knows a bargain when she sees one.recognize to know who someone is or what something is when you see or hear them/it, because you have seen or heard them/it before:I recognized him as soon as he came into the room.name to say the name of someone or something in order to show that you know who/what they are:The victim has not yet been named in the newspapers.make somebody/something out to manage to see or hear someone or something that is not very clear:I could just make out a figure in the darkness.Patterns to identify/know/recognize somebody/something by something to identify/recognize/name somebody/something as somebody/something to identify/know/recognize/make out who/what/how… to easily/barely/just identify/recognize/make out somebody/something
- 3 name something to state something exactly synonym specify Name your price. They're engaged, but they haven't yet named the day (= chosen the date for their wedding). Activities available include squash, archery, and swimming,to name (but) a few. Chairs, tables, cabinets—you name it, she makes it (= she makes anything you can imagine).
- 4 to choose someone for a job or position synonym nominate name somebody (as) something I had no hesitation in naming him (as) captain. name somebody (to something) When she resigned, he was named to the committee in her place. Idioms
NAmE//neɪm//Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they name
he / she / it names
past simple named
-ing form naming
to give the names of the people involved in something, especially something wrong or illegal He has accused the government of corruption and claims he is prepared to name names.
name namesjump to other results


Trade-Volatility Relationship in the light of Nigeria and the Euro Area.
Source: JAES
In this study, the impact of exchange rate volatility on Nigerian exports to Eurozone countries is investigated. Monthly export data from January 1999 to December 2016 was used. This study utilizes the bounds test approach to cointegration to analyze how exchange rate volatility exerts influence on Nigeria's export to the Euro Area. GARCH (1, 1) is employed to measure the volatility of the Naira/dollar exchange rate. In the considered model, Nigeria's export to the Euro Area is taken as the dependent variable, whilst the independent variables include income of the Euro Area, price and the volatility measure Given that the variables are a combination of I (1) upper bound and I (0),(lower bound the bounds test is used to test for cointegration. After confirming the existence of cointegration, the short-run and long-run coefficients are estimated. The shortrun result shows that price and volatility have negative and positive lagged effects on Nigeria's export, respectively. In the long run, coefficients of price and volatility are significantly positive. The income of the Euro Area has no significant impact on Nigeria's exports in both the short and long run. The study recommends that Government subsidies and a floating exchange rate system are implemented
Journal of Applied Economic Sciences
comments powered by Disqus


Robotics/Physical Construction/Resourcefulness
From Wikibooks, open books for an open world
< Robotics
Jump to: navigation, search
Though many components for a serious robotics project will almost certainly have to be purchased, the total cost of the project can be reduced by harvesting parts from various electronic and electro-mechanical devices. The general rule for selection is "the older, the better," as newer devices are now dominated by specialized ICs and surface mount components that builders might find difficult to use in their robots. SMD (Surface-mounted devices) can be used to create very small robots, if one has the tools and patience to work with them.
An example of a good source of parts would be a printer from the 1980s. Without even disassembling such a printer, one can see all sorts of potentially useful components. Additionally, several metal rods and plates contained in the printer may be used as structural parts for the robot, and even the plastic case itself could be used.
Old floppy disk drives and copy machines are also good sources for parts such as stepper motors, optocouplers or microswitches, regular components, machined metal rods and hardware. Hard disk drives have fewer usable parts but can still be a source.
However stepper motors from printers and copy machines tend to consume a lot of power and may not be as good for battery operated robots.
Note to potential contributors: perhaps there could be a "case studies" section here, with examples of what can be obtained from a variety of devices.


EU energy rules could cost NHS more than £70m a year
Plans for a European Union directive designed to encourage countries to reduce energy consumption are 'too rigid and top-heavy' and could cost the NHS millions of pounds.
That is the view of the NHS Confederation's European Office, ahead of a vote in the European Parliament's Industry, Research and Energy Committee on the proposed Energy Efficiency Directive tomorrow (December 20).
The NHS Confederation fears the directive, which aims to reduce Europe's primary energy consumption by 20% cent by 2020, because it contains a requirement on public bodies to renovate 3% of its floor space of their total building stock to high energy efficiency levels each year.
Total NHS floor space is about 28m square metres, and according to the Confederation, applying the annual 3% refurbishment target of 840,000 square metres, at an average cost of £100 per square metre would result in the cost of implementing the measures at more than £70mi a year for buildings alone.
While the confederation says the NHS 'leads the way' in many areas of the green agenda, its European Office claims the directive, as proposed, will have a major impact on the health service at a time when it is striving to achieve £20billion in savings over the next four years.
The NHS Confederation's European Office estimates that this measure could leave the NHS liable for annual costs of more than £70 million in meeting this part of the directive alone. It says that given the NHS' vast, and often Victorian-era estate, the proposal would be especially damaging for acute services, with significant costs incurred to meet high-energy efficient specifications.
NHS Confederation's European Office director, Elisabetta Zanon, said: "The NHS is fully committed to improving its energy efficiency and has made great progress in recent years to become more sustainable and eco-friendly.
"As the NHS owns a vast and complex estate, we appreciate the need to modernise our buildings, and consume energy more efficiently.
"But these EU proposals are too rigid and top-heavy, they will create a real headache for organisations that are already trying to find sizeable savings.
"We really don't want to find ourselves in a scenario where we have to divert money away from patient care to pay for costly building renovations."
The full European Parliament is expected to vote on the directive in April 2012.
Luke Walsh


text:
Hawkins's Rail or Giant Chatham Island Rail, Diaphorapteryx hawkinsi, was a flightless extinct bird endemic to the Chatham Islands east of New Zealand. It is known to have existed only on the main islands of Chatham Island and Pitt Island. It is largely known from skeletal remains found in the kitchen middens of the original Polynesian inhabitants, the Moriori.
The bird was approximately 16 inches tall and weighed about 4.5 pounds (2.0 kg) and is thought to have been primarily an insectivore.
It was long thought that the Hawkins's Rail was extinct prior to European discovery, however recent evidence suggests that the bird may have become extinct much later. An 1895 letter belonging to financier/zoologist Lord Lionel Walter Rothschild describes the appearance, behaviour, and Moriori hunting method concerning the species.
- _URL_ Te Papa collection online - Cabalus modestus; paratype
|This Gruiformes-related article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.|


text:
What is ROS orientation?
The way that ROS defines orientation is with a mathematical concept called a quaternion. They're a good way to represent orientation as they're less ambiguous than roll, pitch, and yaw. But, they have the drawback of being a little difficult to understand.
What is quaternion XYZW?
A quaternion is a set of 4 numbers, [x y z w], which represents rotations the following way: // RotationAngle is in radians x = RotationAxis. x * sin(RotationAngle / 2) y = RotationAxis. y * sin(RotationAngle / 2) z = RotationAxis.
How do you rotate quaternion?
For rotation quaternions, the inverse equals the conjugate. So for rotation quaternions, q−1 = q* = ( q0, −q1, −q2, −q3 ). Inverting or conjugating a rotation quaternion has the effect of reversing the axis of rotation, which modifies it to rotate in the opposite direction from the original.
What quaternion means?
A quaternion represents two things. It has an x, y, and z component, which represents the axis about which a rotation will occur. It also has a w component, which represents the amount of rotation which will occur about this axis. In short, a vector, and a float.
How do you get yaw from quaternion?
Having given a Quaternion q, you can calculate roll, pitch and yaw like this: var yaw = atan2(2.0*(q.y*q.z + q.w*q.x), q.w*q.w – q.x*q.x – q.y*q.y + q.z*q.z); var pitch = asin(-2.0*(q.x*q.z – q.w*q.y)); var roll = atan2(2.0*(q.x*q.y + q.w*q.z), q.w*q.w + q.x*q.x – q.y*q.y – q.z*q.z);
How much is a quaternion of soldiers?
a group or set of four persons or things.
Why are quaternions used?
Quaternions are vital for the control systems that guide aircraft and rockets. Instead of representing a change of orientation by three separate rotations, quaternions use just one rotation. This saves time and storage and also solves the problem of gimbal lock.
How do you rotate a point with quaternions?
Rotate Point Using Quaternion Vector For convenient visualization, define the point on the x-y plane. Create a quaternion vector specifying two separate rotations, one to rotate the point 45 and another to rotate the point -90 degrees about the z-axis. Use rotatepoint to perform the rotation. Plot the rotated points.
Are quaternions real?
In modern mathematical language, quaternions form a four-dimensional associative normed division algebra over the real numbers, and therefore also a domain. In fact, it was the first noncommutative division algebra to be discovered.
Why do we rotate quaternions?
Quaternions are very efficient for analyzing situations where rotations in R3 are involved. A quaternion is a 4-tuple, which is a more concise representation than a rotation matrix. Its geometric meaning is also more obvious as the rotation axis and angle can be trivially recovered.


text:
Madeline Luke, Published January 09 2011
Apply science to Devils LakeI am glad to see that The Forum sees a connection between Devils Lake and the Red River Valley (Dec. 11 editorial). A few numbers, however, are useful to get a fuller picture.
At 1,451.3 feet above mean sea level, the lake is about 75 percent full. An additional 1.4 million acre-feet is needed before it reaches an elevation of 1,458 feet, then water flows through the Tolna Coulee into the Sheyenne River, on the way to the Red River.
The Army Corps of Engineers in 2003 stated that armoring the coulee with a concrete drop structure ($1.1 million) to prevent erosion of the coulee would protect downstream communities. Its 1999 model stated that a flow of 12,000 cubic feet per second would result in the worst possible flood
(1.1 million acre-feet, about twice the 2009 upper basin inflow) – an occurrence with an already full lake (1-in-70,000 probability) and erosion. This worst-case scenario flow would be decreased to 1,740 cubic feet per second with armoring. The overflow would be only 530 cubic feet per second for a full lake, a 100-year flood like 2009 and armoring. What is the emergency for downstream communities if the coulee is armored at 1,458 feet?
On a July 4 flyover of the Devils Lake upper basin,township after township of farmed, drained wetlands were seen. An estimated 200,000 acres of restored wetlands could hold up to 600,000 acre-feet of water every year; this water would not get into Devils Lake.
The Red River in Fargo was at flood stage last fall with the Devils Lake west bay outlet contributing 250 cubic feet per second. Now, outlets pumping 650 to 1,000 cubic feet per second total are proposed to lower the lake level. Water from Devils Lake takes about one week to reach the lower Sheyenne Valley, so turning off the pumps when a sudden heavy summer or fall rain occurs is quite useless in preventing a flood. A 20 percent reduction in upper basin inflow for the entire Red River Basin is part of the plan to address spring flooding. How does an extra 650 cubic feet per second or more from Devils Lake affect this target or the requirements of the Fargo-Moorhead diversion?
A few more numbers to consider:
- $90 million requested by Fargo and West Fargo for a water plant upgrade to handle the sulfate-rich water. Perhaps higher water bills to run this energy-intensive plant.
- $1.6 million designate for repairs to West Fargo Sheyenne River diversion last month. This earthen dike will need continuous repairs because of erosion from the constant high flow.
- About $1 billion to move homes, protect infrastructure at Devils Lake; not much to help the farmers who lost the use of their land.
- No estimates on the value of ruined Sheyenne River ecosystem, damages from flooding and erosion in the Sheyenne Valley, loss of National Fish Hatchery and recreational opportunities on the Sheyenne.
It is time to use science and economics to address the Devils Lake issue effectively, efficiently and equitably.


, the mean temperature difference in the
condenser decreases, and condenser heat transfer rate for the same condensing pressure will
also decrease, as it is shown in figure 2. On this figure, an interesting detail can be seen: at
cooling water temperature nearly designed, condenser heat capacity has its maximum, and
lower temperature will not lead to significant increase of the heat transfer rate.
It means that this particular condenser is designed at its maximum heat transfer rate
and with increased cooling water temperature it cannot achieve required value. In this way,
the question of the valid designed parameters is opened. Increasing of cooling water flow rate
will increase the condenser heat transfer rate for the given cooling water temperature.
Condensing pressure dependence on cooling water temperature is obtained for the
given water flow rate and steam load of the condenser. Steam load is considered constant, in
order to obtain a clear illustration of this dependence, as it is shown in figure 3. It is obvious
that with cooling water increasing, pressure in the condenser will also increase.
Laković, M. S., et.al.: Impact of the Cold End Operating Conditions on Energy Efficiency …
THERMAL SCIENCE: Year 2010, Vol. 14, Suppl., pp. S53-S66
S61
Figure 4 shows the correlation between condenser heat transfer rate and condensing
pressure. In this figure, each curve shows the change of condensing pressure at a constant
cooling water temperature, for different values of cooling water flow rate. This correlation
was used also for model performance verification since the same dependence is given by
manufacturer of this condenser, obtained from plant management [13].
700
Cooling
Coolingwayer
wayer
flowrate
rate
flow
–1
[kgs ]
[kg/s]
Figure 2.
Condenser
heat transfer
rate due to
cooling water
temperature
and flow rate
change
Condenser heat transfer rate [MW]
600
500
10000
11000
400
12000
13000
300
14000
15000
200
16000
17000
100
pk=0.044 ba r
18000
19000
0
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
30
Cooling water temperature [oC]
Figure 3. Condensing
pressure change due to
cooling water temperature
change
Condensing pressure [bar] .
0,12
0,1
0,08
0,06
0,04
0,02
0
2
6
10
14
18
o
Coolimg water temperature [ C]
22
26
S62
Laković, M. S., et.al.: Impact of the Cold End Operating Conditions on Energy Efficiency …
THERMAL SCIENCE: Year 2010, Vol. 14, Suppl., pp. S53-S66
Figure 4.
Condenser
characteristic
curves
Steam load of the condenser
With cooling water temperature increasing, in order to maintain designed heat
transfer rate of the condenser, condensing pressure will increase. As this plant is working
under turbine-follow mode, the turbine governor will increase the throttle and exhaust flows
in order to set the generated power at the designed level, but with increasing of heat rate,
which will be discussed in section 4 of this paper. Figure 5 shows the steam load of the
condenser dependence on condensing pressure, at a constant cooling water temperature as for
different values of cooling water flow rate.
Figure 5. Steam
load of the
condenser for
cooling water
temperature
12 ˚C
Laković, M. S., et.al.: Impact of the Cold End Operating Conditions on Energy Efficiency …
THERMAL SCIENCE: Year 2010, Vol. 14, Suppl., pp. S53-S66
S63
Condenser operating conditions influence on the plant performances
As it can be seen in figure 5, with increasing of condensing pressure and flow rate of
the cooling water, steam flow through the condenser, and thus through the low-pressure
turbine is increasing. This will increase net power output. This increasing of the net power
output, however, is correlated to the increasing of the heat rate.
Specific heat rate
Specific heat rate change due to condensing pressure change is shown in figure 6.
Those results are identical to experimental results for similar plant given in literature [14].
With decreasing of the pressure in the condenser, specific heat rate decreases. With pressure
decreasing to bellow the point where the exhaust annulus becomes choked, excessive
condensate sub-cooling will result, tending to reduce the improvement in heat rate resulting
from the lower condensing pressure. Condensate sub-cooling is defined as the saturation
temperature corresponding to the pressure in the condenser minus the condensate temperature
in the hot well [2]. This is evident in figure 6 especially for 337 MW curve. Condensate subcooling is undesirable since more heat has been removed from the cycle without generating
any additional power, but still has to be replaced by adding fuel.
Change of specific heat rate [%]
.
14
12
10
8
Generated power
[MW]
6
4
2
150
200
0
250
300
-2
337
-4
0,01
0,02
0,03
0,04
0,05
0,06
0,07
0,08
0,09
0,1
Condensing pressure [bar]
Figure 6. Specific heat rate change due to condensing pressure and generated power change
Having the condensing pressure change due to the cooling water temperature change
(figure 3) and dependence given in figure 6, the change of the specific heat rate dependence
on the cooling water temperature is obtained, and it is shown in figure 7. In order to present
this dependence more clearly, it was chosen to keep the plant power production constant.
Power consumption of the cooling water pumps was not considered.
Laković, M. S., et.al.: Impact of the Cold End Operating Conditions on Energy Efficiency …
THERMAL SCIENCE: Year 2010, Vol. 14, Suppl., pp. S53-S66
Change of specific heat rate [%] .
S64
25
20
15
10
5
0
-5
2
4
6
8
10
12
14
16
18
20
22
24
26
28
-10
-15
-20
-25
o
Cooling water temperature [ C]
Figure 7. Specific heat rate due to cooling water temperature change
Energy efficiency
Using the known assumption, from the literature [14], that with increasing pressure
in the condenser of 1 kPa, efficiency decreases to 1.0-1.5% and considering that in this
particular case the reduction is 1.2%, dependence of the energy efficiency (generated power
divided by an amount of energy consumed) in the function of the cooling water temperature
rise is obtained and is shown in figure 8.
37
Energy efficiency [%].
36
35
34
33
32
31
30
8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29
o
Cooling water temperature [ C]
Figure 8. Energy efficiency of the plant due to cooling water temperature change
Laković, M. S., et.al.: Impact of the Cold End Operating Conditions on Energy Efficiency …
THERMAL SCIENCE: Year 2010, Vol. 14, Suppl., pp. S53-S66
S65
Cooling water temperature rise causes the reduction of energy efficiency and power
of steam power plants (in Germany the production of electricity in summer months due to the
increase of cooling water temperature is decreased by 18%). The problem is more severely set
for plants with closed-cycle cooling system in comparison to the plant with an open cycle
cooling system. Dry bulb temperature, the wet bulb temperature, the atmospheric pressure,
flow rate of the circulating water , the characteristic of cooling tower fill, the resistance
coefficient of the parts in a tower, and the working condition of a water distribution system
and so on, can affect the outlet water temperature of the cooling tower [15]. It means that
cooling water temperature is changing in a much wider range in one day in comparison to
once-through cooling system.
Conclusions
Steam power plant strongly depends on its cold end operating conditions, where the
condenser is the key of the heat exchange system. On the other hand, operating conditions of
the cooling water system determine condenser operating conditions. The pressure in the
surface steam condenser will depend on condenser design, the amount of latent heat to be
removed, cooling water temperature and flow rate, maintenance of the condenser and air
removal system. At any given time the combined status of these operating conditions will
determine the relationship between heat rate and power output.
In this paper, influence of cooling water temperature and flow rate is considered for
power plant "Kostolac B" with once-through cooling system. The thermodynamic model of
the plant is described, together with the mathematical model. Numerical integration was done
by using the Microsoft Excel programming platform and Visual Basics for Applications,
including the water/steam thermodynamic properties simulator based on IAPWS–IF97. As the
result of calculation, set of different dependencies is obtained and described herein: the
condenser heat transfer rate and pressure in the condenser are given for variable cooling water
temperature and flow rate, the specific heat rate change due to the change of condensing
pressure, and the specific heat rate change due to the cooling water temperature change.
Finally, the energy efficiency for the reference plant is given as the function of the change in
condensing pressure.
Having those dependences, it is clearly that the increasing in cooling water
temperature, inevitable in the summer, will lead to the decrease of energy efficiency of the
power plant for the given power production. The increasing of cooling water flow rate to
maintain the same heat transfer rate at higher vacuum in the condenser, and thus, to increase
energy efficiency of the plant, is a good