Optimization Model of Transit Route Fleet Size Considering Multi Vehicle Type

This paper proposes a bus line capacity optimization design model considering the scale of multiple vehicles, which is achieved by minimizing system operating costs and user costs. The proposed model takes into account the difference of passenger demand in different periods, and can get the optimal headway and delivery and reserve plan. In order to prove that the method can effectively minimize the cost, we solved a numerical example and compared the cost of the method in multi-transit model planning. Furthermore, the optimization results show that the total costs (TC) were reduced by 14.48%. Among them, the user costs (UC) decreased by 30.38% and the operator costs (OC) increased by 4.18%. Sensitivity analyses are presented to verify the validity of the model. The analysis results show that multi size bus optimization can reduce the total cost, especially the user cost in a certain cost weight interval. Besides this, the cost weight which reflects the passenger volume and waiting time value, optional bus size and cross-section passenger volume all affect vehicle scheme and system cost.

Benefit Evaluation Model of Prefabricated Buildings in Seasonally Frozen Regions

In order to effectively develop the benefit evaluation model of prefabricated houses in seasonal frozen soil areas, and improve the comprehensive benefits of prefabricated buildings, this paper proposes a life cycle benefit evaluation model for prefabricated buildings in seasonally frozen regions. According to the climatic characteristics of the area, the impact of the seasonally frozen regions is listed as an evaluation index in the construction stage for comprehensive analysis. The 16 indicators that affect the comprehensive benefits of prefabricated buildings are grouped by the nearest neighbor element analysis method. Fuzzy cluster analysis and analytic hierarchy process are used to filter out the most influential index group to calculate the index weight. Then the model proposed in this paper is compared with the existing model to test the validity of the model. The research results show that research and development costs weight is 0.23, design cost weight is 0.10, construction cost weight is 0.22, resource consumption weight is 0.25, building demolition cost weight is 0.04, and seasonal freezing effect weight is 0.16. The calculation result passed the consistency test and the expert scoring result conformed to the normal distribution, which proved the accuracy of the conclusion. It is proposed that the calculation result of the comprehensive benefit score of the model is 1.8% lower than the previous results, which proves the validity of the model. The model can speed up the efficiency of comprehensive benefit evaluation of prefabricated buildings thereby improving the development level of prefabricated buildings.

Interleaved Half-Bridge Submodules with Sensorless Leg Current Balancing in Modular Multilevel Converters

A new state observer-based current balancing method for Modular Multilevel Converters with Interleaved half-bridge Sub-Modules (ISM-MMC) is presented in this paper. The developed observer allows estimating currents through interleaved half-bridge legs in each submodule of ISM-MMC basing only on arm current and submodule’s capacitor voltage measurements. Then, the interleaved current balancing control uses the estimated currents to reduce the interleaved currents imbalance caused by upstream control actions. This technique minimizes the number of required current sensors in ISM-MMC, thereby reducing the converter's cost, weight, and volume. Capabilities of the proposed interleaved currents sensorless balancing control has been tested against standard parameter tolerances of the composing passive elements. The feasibility of the proposed method is verified by extensive simulation and experimental tests.

Interleaved Half-Bridge Submodules with Sensorless Leg Current Balancing in Modular Multilevel Converters

A new state observer-based current balancing method for Modular Multilevel Converters with Interleaved half-bridge Sub-Modules (ISM-MMC) is presented in this paper. The developed observer allows estimating currents through interleaved half-bridge legs in each submodule of ISM-MMC basing only on arm current and submodule’s capacitor voltage measurements. Then, the interleaved current balancing control uses the estimated currents to reduce the interleaved currents imbalance caused by upstream control actions. This technique minimizes the number of required current sensors in ISM-MMC, thereby reducing the converter's cost, weight, and volume. Capabilities of the proposed interleaved currents sensorless balancing control has been tested against standard parameter tolerances of the composing passive elements. The feasibility of the proposed method is verified by extensive simulation and experimental tests.

Methodology for the Concept Design of Locally Reinforced Composites

Locally load-optimized fiber-based composites, the so-called tailored textiles (TT), offer the potential to reduce weight and cost compared to conventional fiber-reinforced plastics (FRP). However, the design of TT has a higher complexity compared to FRP. Current approaches, focusing on solving this complexity for multiple objectives (cost, weight, stiffness), require great effort and calculation time, which makes them unsuitable for serial applications. Therefore, in this paper, an approach for the efficient creation of simplified TT concept designs is presented. By combining simplified models for structural design and cost estimation, the most promising concepts, regarding the cost, weight, and stiffness of TT parts, can be identified. By performing a parameter study, the cost, weight, and stiffness optima of a sample part compared to a conventional FRP component can be determined. The cost and weight were reduced by 30% for the same stiffness. Applying this approach at an early stage of product development reduces the initial complexity of the subsequent detailed engineering design, e.g., by applying methods from the state of the art.

Case Study on PV Integrated Grid Independent Electric Bus

In this paper, it has been theoretically and conceptually examined the technical, design, and economic viability of using Photovoltaic (PV) technology in combination with battery operated Electric vehicle (EV) in Public Bus sector in India, where solar energy is readily available. The study is further analyzed to propose the utilization and economics of “PV integrated EV” technology along with solar and battery integrated solution. The available battery chemistries are studied, and the best suited solution based on parameters such as cost, weight NMC battery is chosen. Finally, the number of solar panel and battery requirement is calculated based on the power consumption of the vehicle and concluded.

EFFECT OF DIETARY INCLUSIONS OF PALM OIL AND SHEABUTTER FAT ON GROWTH AND SEXUAL MATURITY OF PULLETS

A lesser known vegetable fat, sheabutter fat (SBF) was compared with palm oil (PO) as a dietary ingredient during the rearing phase of pullets. Black Harco grower- pullets (12 weeks old) were assigned to diets in which PO and SBF each quantitatively replaces maize at 2.5 and 5.0% and a fifth diet containing 2.5% each of both PO and SBF. At the 20th week, they were fed a common layer diet until sexual maturity was attained on all treatments. Results at the growing phase did not reveal any significant effects (P>0.05) on feed intake, weight gain, feed/gain and feed cost/weight gain. Sexual maturity was attained by 148, 149, 151, 155 and 158 days for pullets fed 5% Palm Oil, 2.5% SBF, 2.5% PO, 5% SBF and 2.5% SBF/PO diets respectively. PO and SBF at the levels studied were equally tolerated and could replace maize with no adverse effects or growth response. However, a delay in time of lay occurred when both oils were mixed in the diet.

Reimbursement After Congenital Heart Surgery in Germany: Impact of Early Postoperative Extubation

Background: Duration of mechanical ventilation is an important variable used by German Diagnosis-Related Groups (G-DRG) system to establish cost weight values for reimbursement after congenital heart surgery. Infants are commonly ventilated after open heart surgery. As of year 2015, we strived to achieve early postoperative extubation. This work studies how this approach impacted reimbursement after infant open heart surgery. Methods: Data of infants who underwent surgery on cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) from 2014 to 2018 were reviewed. Successful early extubation was defined as end of mechanical ventilation within 24 hours postoperatively, without reintubation at a later point. Mean cost weight values (case mix index [CMI]) of achieved DRGs were used for estimation of reimbursement. Evolutions over years of early extubation and of reimbursement were compared. Results: A total of 521 infants underwent operations on CPB. Of these, 161 (31%) procedures were of higher risk Society of Thoracic Surgery and the European Association for Cardio-Thoracic Surgery (STAT) categories 3 and 4. Early extubation was achieved in 205 (39%) patients. The rate increased from 14% (year 2014) to 57% (year 2018). Case mix index amounted to 8.87 ± 7.00 after early extubation, and 12.37 ± 7.85 after late extubation: P value <.0001. It was 8.77 ± 6.09 after early extubation in patients undergoing lower risk STAT categories 1 and 2 operations, and 8.09 ± 2.95 when categories 3 and 4 procedures were performed ( P = .18). An overall 14.4% decrease in hospital reimbursement per patient was observed. Conclusion: Early extubation could be progressively obtained in the majority of infants. This resulted in lower reimbursement. Surgical complexity was disregarded. The current G-DRG system appears to favor longer mechanical ventilation durations after infant open heart surgery.

Kinerja Rumah Sakit Swasta dengan Pembayaran INA-CBGs di Era Jaminan Kesehatan Nasional: Casemix, Casemix Index, Hospital Base Rate

Abstrak Pembayaran ke rumah sakit yang sebelumnya fee for service, pada era JKN diselenggarakan melalui pola DRG atau INA-CBGs. Rumah sakit swasta harus memonitor kinerjanya menggunakan indikator yang lazim digunakan dalam sistem pembayaran DRG yaitu casemix, casemix index dan Hospital base rate. Kajian ini bertujuan untuk menganalisis kinerja rumah sakit swasta meliputi casemix, casemix index dan hospital base rate. Studi cross sectional ini dilakukan dengan sampel 7 RS yang dipilih secara purposif mewakili RS swasta kelas B, C, dan D yang tersebar di 6 provinsi. Casemix dan CMI RS sangat dipengaruhi oleh kapasitas RS sehingga RS kelas B memiliki casemix dan CMI lebih tinggi dari RS kelas C dan D. Terdapat fenomena CMI di RS kelas C lebih kecil dari kelas D yang kemungkinan disebabkan oleh akurasi koding. Kelengkapan dan ketepatan pengkodean diagnosis dan prosedur sangat berdampak pada besaran casemix dan CMI RS. Hampir semua RS memiliki HBR di atas HBR Nasional kecuali RSC3. Dapat dipastikan RSC3 mendapatkan profit dari implementasi INA-CBGs. Rumah sakit sebaiknya memonitor casemix, CMI dan HBR secara berkala. Kementerian Kesehatan diharapkan mempublikasikan cost weight dan HBR Nasional INA-CBGs serta besaran rata-rata casemix dan CMI menurut kelas RS agar dapat digunakan sebagai benchmark oleh RS. Abstract Private hospitals must monitor their performance using indicators commonly used in DRG payment systems: casemix, casemix index and hospital base rate. This study aims to analyze the performance of private hospitals including casemix, casemix index and hospital base rate. This cross sectional study was conducted with a sample of 7 hospitals selected purposively representing private hospital type B, C, and D in 6 provinces. Casemix and CMI RS are strongly influenced by the hospital capacity, which the hospitals class B have higher casemix and CMI than class C and D hospitals. There is a phenomenon, CMI in class C hospitals smaller than class D which is probably caused by coding accuracy. The completeness and accuracy of diagnosis and procedures coding predominating affect the casemix and CMI. Almost all hospitals have HBR which are higher than National HBR except RSC3. It definitely will trigger profit from the implementation of INA-CBGs. Hospitals should monitor casemix, CMI and HBR regularly. The Ministry of Health is expected to publish the Cost Weight and National HBR as well as the average of casemix and CMI according to class of hospital, for a benchmark by hospitals.