Electricity

Successful network utility privatisation requires incentive-based regulation that allows investment to be adequately rewarded form unsubsidised revenues while maintaining quality, and restructuring that permits effective competition for the network services. The potential for success and the size of the potential gains from privatising and restructuring vary by utility, with a ranking telecoms, gas, electricity, water and last, rail. There are doubts whether privatising rail deliver sustainable improvements. The paper gives evidence primarily from the UK, and surveys some of the international evidence. Real consumer prices for telecoms, gas and electricity fell in the UK, overcoming most opposition to privatisation.

Nigeria is a country faced with great challenges in the power sector. This is as a result of inadequate administrative and technical efforts in handling issues in this sector. Aforetime, the country has solely depended on grid electricity generation which has proven to be unstable for several decades. These and others, has made it imperative to introduce the use of renewable energy in addressing some of the electricity challenges facing the country. The sources of renewable energy which could serve as an alternative source of power include wind, solar, and biogas. These can also be combined together as an entity to form a hybrid renewable energy source. In this paper, a solar tree was designed and constructed to provide an alternative supply of electricity to farm settlements in Nigeria. This is achieved by generating electricity from a single or multiple number of solar panels connected with a charge controller, a battery bank for storage and an inverter circuit to supply electrical power. Depending on the electrical load demand and the applications coverage area, the solar tree rating and specification can be a single-phase or three-phase AC output.

The increasing wind power generation requires the updating of the computational tools that support decision making in the operation and planning of electric power systems. This work describes a methodology to model the spatial correlations among wind speeds probability distributions in probabilistic power flow. The proposed methodology is based on Nataf transformation and Monte Carlo Simulation. The proposed methodology is illustrated in case studies with the IEEE 24 bus test system, highlighting the importance of adequately considering such correlations.

This study projects electricity savings, cost-benefit analysis and emission reduction of lighting retrofits in Malaysia residential sector. The cost-benefit is determined as a function of energy savings due to retrofit of more efficient lighting system. The energy savings were calculated based on 25, 50 and 75% of potential retrofits of inefficient lighting in residential sector. The study found that, this strategy save a significant amount of energy and consumers money. However, an effort to create energy efficiency awareness among consumers and subsidies efficient lighting should be identified, because this efficient lighting is quite expensive in Malaysia. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

http://ac.els-cdn.com/S0378778804003329/1-s2.0-S0378778804003329-main.pdf?_tid=350c247c-a9c6-11e3-99d9-00000aab0f01&acdnat=1394615631_782b65a7b4a65cc35b795363f0df0acb 
www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378778804003329

Introduction: Although powered toothbrushes have been recommended for gingivitis prevention in orthodontic patients, a relevant meta-analysis has been lacking. The aim of this meta-analysis was to compare the effectiveness of powered and manual toothbrushes in reducing gingival inflammation in patients having fixed orthodontic appliance therapy. Methods: Citations of potentially relevant trials published in journals, dissertations, and conference proceedings were located by searching the appropriate databases. In addition, efforts to identify potentially relevant unpublished or ongoing trials were made by searching the databases of research registers. Trials appropriate for inclusion had to be randomized controlled trials fulfilling certain criteria concerning study design, participants' characteristics, intervention characteristics, and principal outcome measures. The weighted mean difference with the 95% confidence interval was used to express the comparative treatment effect. The random effects method for meta-analysis was used to combine treatment effects across studies in each category. Trial quality was evaluated by assessing randomization, allocation concealment, blinding, and handling losses. Results: Five trials were considered appropriate for the meta-analysis. Based on quality assessment and the short experimental period of these trials, current evidence is insufficient to support the comparative efficacy of powered toothbrushes in reducing gingivitis in patients undergoing fixed orthodontic appliance therapy. Conclusions: Any inferences about clinical practice are precluded. Greater standardization of the methodology used is desirable in future trials. (Am J

The liberalization of electricity markets has forced energy producing companies and traders to calculate costs closer to the profit frontier. Thus, an efficient risk management and risk controlling are needed to ensure the financial survival even during bad times. Using the RAROC methodology we provide a new framework to quantify risks related to wholesale electricity contracts, also called full load contracts. We do not only consider risk of market price fluctuations but also correlation effects between the spot market price and the load curve of a customer. We further conduct an empirical study on whole sale contracts for industry customers and public utility companies of a German energy provider. Our findings support the adequateness of the approach and point out the importance of considering also price-volume correlation effects for electricity whole sale contracts.

Hydrogen gas can be produced by electrohydrogenesis in microbial electrolysis cells (MECs) at greater yields than fermentation and at greater energy efficiencies than water electrolysis. It has been assumed that a membrane is needed in an MEC to avoid hydrogen losses due to bacterial consumption of the product gas. However, high cathodic hydrogen recoveries (78 ( 1% to 96 ( 1%) were achieved in an MEC despite the absence of a membrane between the electrodes (applied voltages of 0.3 < E ap < 0.8 V; 7.5 mS/cm solution conductivity). Through the use of a membrane-less system, a graphite fiber brush anode, and close electrode spacing, hydrogen production rates reached a maximum of 3.12 ( 0.02 m 3 H 2 /m 3 reactor per day (292 ( 1 A/m 3 ) at an applied voltage of E ap ) 0.8 V. This production rate is more than double that obtained in previous MEC studies. The energy efficiency relative to the electrical input decreased with applied voltage from 406 ( 6% (E ap ) 0.3 V) to 194 ( 2% (E ap ) 0.8 V). Overall energy efficiency relative to both E ap and energy of the substrate averaged 78 ( 4%, with a maximum of 86 ( 2% (1.02 ( 0.05 m 3 H 2 /m 3 day, E ap ) 0.4 V). At E ap ) 0.2 V, the hydrogen recovery substantially decreased, and methane concentrations increased from an average of 1.9 ( 1.3% (E ap ) 0.3-0.8 V) to 28 ( 0% of the gas, due to the long cycle time of the reactor. Increasing the solution conductivity to 20 mS/ cm increased hydrogen production rates for E ap ) 0.3-0.6 V, but consistent reactor performance could not be obtained in the high conductivity solution at E ap > 0.6 V. These results demonstrate that high hydrogen recovery and production rates are possible in a single chamber MEC without a membrane, potentially reducing the costs of these systems and allowing for new and simpler designs.

This study answers two questions about power sector reform in Moldova. First, did reform affect the poor and the non-poor differently? Second, are household consumption patterns different for private and public distribution networks? The study concludes that reforms have not disproportionately affected the poor. The gap in electricity consumption between poor and non-poor is closing, as a result of improvements in the supply of electricity, particularly in rural areas, and the significant growth in income over the past four years. Moldova&#39;s residential electricity consumption remains exceptionally low and is probably highly inelastic, especially for the very poor. This implies that unless they are accompanied by increases in income, future tariff increases could create large potential consumer welfare losses-as well as large revenue gains for the utility. It also implies that there may be room for substantial welfare gains by helping households better manage their electricity ex...

Gasification of biomass produces a mixture of gas (mainly carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO 2), and hydrogen (H 2)) called synthesis gas, or syngas, by thermal degradation without combustion. Syngas can be used for heat or electricity production by thermochemical processes. This project aims at developing an alternative way to bioupgrade syngas into biogas (mainly methane), via anaerobic fermentation. Nonacclimated industrial granular sludge to be used as reactor inoculum was initially evaluated for mesophilic carboxydotrophic methanogenesis potential in batch tests at 4 and 8 mmol CO/g VSS.d, in the absence and presence of H 2 and CO 2 , respectively. Granular sludge was then introduced into a 30 L gas-lift reactor and supplied with CO, to study the production of methane and other metabolites, at different gas dilutions as well as feeding and recirculation rates. A maximal CO conversion efficiency of 75%, which was gas-liquid mass transfer limited, occurred at a CO partial pressure of 0.6 atm combined with a gas recirculation ratio of 20:1. The anaerobic granule potential for methanogenesis from CO was likely hydrogenotrophic, combined with CO-dependent H 2 formation, either under mesophilic or thermophilic conditions. Thermophilic conditions provide the anaerobic granules with a CO-bioconversion potential significantly larger (5-fold) than under mesophilic conditions, so long as the gas-liquid transfer is alleviated.

The Policy Research Working Paper Series disseminates the findings of work in progress to encourage the exchange of ideas about development issues. An objective of the series is to get the findings out quickly, even if the presentations are less than fully polished. The papers carry the names of the authors and should be cited accordingly. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this paper are entirely those of the authors. They do not necessarily represent the views of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/World Bank and its affiliated organizations, or those of the Executive Directors of the World Bank or the governments they represent.

We give the reader a tour of good energy optimization models that explicitly deal with uncertainty. The uncertainty usually stems from unpredictability of demand and/or prices of energy, or from resource availability and prices. Since most energy investments or operations involve irreversible decisions, a stochastic programming approach is meaningful. Many of the models deal with electricity investments and operations, but some oil and gas applications are also presented. We consider both traditional cost minimization models and newer models that reflect industry deregulation processes. The oldest research precedes the development of linear programming, and most models within the market paradigm have not yet found their final form.

The present study aims to analyze the discourse of management and policy-making in the field of electricity in the country to study and analyze the text of 100 interviews, lectures, statements and quotations conducted in this regard in the years after the revolution; Based on the theory of Laclau and Moff discourse,it focuses on specific themes and their elaboration Thus, first the main themes and axes of policymakers' discourse were extracted and then it was determined which themes have a special position and how they are placed in that discourse according to other themes. The main themes and axes of the dominant discourse entitled "Development based on the abundance of fossil resources in the country" are: "Sustainable electricity supply", "Self-sufficiency and self-reliance in the electricity industry", "Economic supply of electricity" and "Poverty alleviation and justice", have been elaborated around the central slab of "fossil fuel-based development". Analyzing the discourse of policymakers showed that they see the issues of electricity supply in the context of the "fossil electricity discourse" which is at the heart of "fossil fuel development". In this way, all their actions become meaningful in the context of the fossil regime discourse, and this discourse has been able to marginalize other sub-discourses, whether modifying or opposing the use of this energy, restructuring the electricity, nuclear and renewable industries, and this discource masters its concepts and achieves hegemony.

Sixteen multiparous nonpregnant lactating Holstein cows (each weighing 662 { 65 kg in 150.4 { 40 day of lactation) were confined to wooden metabolic cages with 12:12 h light:dark cycle during the experiment. The cows were divided into two sequences of eight cows each and exposed to electric and magnetic fields (EMF) in an exposure chamber. This chamber produced a vertical electric field of 10 kV/m and a uniform horizontal magnetic field of 30 mT at 60 Hz. One sequence was exposed for three estrous cycles of 24 to 27 days. During the first estrous cycle, the electric and magnetic fields were off; during the second estrous cycle, they were on; and during the third estrous cycle, they were off. The second sequence was also exposed for three 24 to 26 days estrous cycles, but the exposure to the fields was reversed (first estrous cycle, on; second estrous cycle, off; third estrous cycle, on). The length of each exposure period (21 to 27 days) varied according to the estrous cycle length. No differences were detected in plasma progesterone concentrations and area under the progesterone curve during estrous cycles between EMF nonexposed and exposed periods (2.28 { 0.17 and 2.25 { 0.17; and 24.5 { 1.9 vs. 26.4 { 1.9 ng/ml, respectively). However, estrous cycle length, determined by the presence of a functional corpus luteum detected by concentrations of progesterone equal to or more than 1 ng/ml plasma, was shorter in nonexposed cows than when they were exposed to EMF (22.0 { 0.9 vs. 25.3 { 1.4 days).

Sixteen multiparous nonpregnant lactating Holstein cows (each weighing 662 { 65 kg in 150.4 { 40 day of lactation) were confined to wooden metabolic cages with 12:12 h light:dark cycle during the experiment. The cows were divided into two sequences of eight cows each and exposed to electric and magnetic fields (EMF) in an exposure chamber. This chamber produced a vertical electric field of 10 kV/m and a uniform horizontal magnetic field of 30 mT at 60 Hz. One sequence was exposed for three estrous cycles of 24 to 27 days. During the first estrous cycle, the electric and magnetic fields were off; during the second estrous cycle, they were on; and during the third estrous cycle, they were off. The second sequence was also exposed for three 24 to 26 days estrous cycles, but the exposure to the fields was reversed (first estrous cycle, on; second estrous cycle, off; third estrous cycle, on). The length of each exposure period (21 to 27 days) varied according to the estrous cycle length. No differences were detected in plasma progesterone concentrations and area under the progesterone curve during estrous cycles between EMF nonexposed and exposed periods (2.28 { 0.17 and 2.25 { 0.17; and 24.5 { 1.9 vs. 26.4 { 1.9 ng/ml, respectively). However, estrous cycle length, determined by the presence of a functional corpus luteum detected by concentrations of progesterone equal to or more than 1 ng/ml plasma, was shorter in nonexposed cows than when they were exposed to EMF (22.0 { 0.9 vs. 25.3 { 1.4 days).

The differentiation and proliferation of neural stem/progenitor cells (NPCs) depend on various in vivo environmental factors or cues, which may include an endogenous electrical field (EF), as observed during nervous system development and repair. In this study, we investigate the morphologic, phenotypic, and mitotic alterations of adult hippocampal NPCs that occur when exposed to two EFs of estimated endogenous strengths. NPCs treated with a 437 mV/mm direct current (DC) EF aligned perpendicularly to the EF vector and had a greater tendency to differentiate into neurons, but not into oligodendrocytes or astrocytes, compared to controls. Furthermore, NPC process growth was promoted perpendicularly and inhibited anodally in the 437 mV/mm DC EF. Yet fewer cells were observed in the DC EF, which in part was due to a decrease in cell viability. The other EF applied was a 46 mV/mm alternating current (AC) EF. However, the 46 mV/mm AC EF showed no major differences in alignment or differentiation, compared to control conditions. For both EF treatments, the percent of mitotic cells during the last 14 h of the experiment were statistically similar to controls. Reported here, to our knowledge, is the first evidence of adult NPC differentiation affected in an EF in vitro. Further investigation and application of EFs on stem cells is warranted to elucidate the utility of EFs to control phenotypic behavior. With progress, the use of EFs may be engineered to control differentiation and target the growth of transplanted cells in a stem cell-based therapy to treat nervous system disorders.

We built in an experimental way a device which through a sequential and remote manipulation (not wireless) could prepare breakfast using a combination of two energies: electric and hydraulic. This artefact can be improved if we change the current manual programmer for an automatic programmer of commands using an electric circuit. The experimental Breakfast Maker can be useful when it is not possible or suitable a direct manipulation of the ingredients, or if we lack of enough time to make our breakfast in the traditional way, or to be used by persons with any physical handicap.

The solar energy potential of underutilized urban rooftops in Peru was analyzed. • A model was elaborated for mediumsized Peruvian cities with GIS. • Life Cycle Assessment was used to compute environmental impacts. • Results demonstrate that self-sufficiency in electricity production is attainable. • Substantial climate change mitigation could be accomplished with this layout.

Was the Texas blackout a market failure or regulatory failure? The economist Hayek has been adduced in support of both views. Hayek would have approved the competitive Texas system, including ERCOT. His likely view on the scarcity pricing framework is less clear, and the recent regulatory implementation of the “circuit breaker” was problematic. There is now a need to revise the scarcity pricing framework in the light of recent events, and to reflect ever-changing market conditions.

Why Prepaid Electricity?
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Autumn Conference on European Sate Aid Law 2017, 24 November 2017, Madrid.
(Session III).

The speech provide an overview of the key issues on the relationship between environmental and energy taxation and State aids and to show how ECJ case-law on the electricity networks theme can give some light on this complex field.

This conference is based on a published article in "The Green Market Transition
Carbon Taxes, Energy Subsidies and Smart Instrument Mixes" (Critical Issues in Environmental Taxation series), Edited by Stefan E. Weishaar, Associate Professor of Law and Economics, Faculty of Law, University of Groningen, the Netherlands, Larry Kreiser, Professor Emeritus of Accounting, Cleveland State University, Janet E. Milne, Professor of Law and Director of the Environmental Tax Policy Institute, Vermont Law School, US, Hope Ashiabor, Associate Professor of Law, Faculty of Business and Economics, Macquarie University, Australia and Michael Mehling, Deputy Director of the Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, US (2017)

This paper introduces and tests Bid Function Equilibria (BFE) in the British spot market for electricity. BFE extend von der Fehr and Harbord's (1993) multi-unit auction model of wholesale electricity markets by allowing firms to have heterogeneous costs for different generating units. Pure-strategy equilibria in BFE predict asymmetric bidding by producers: a single firm (the "price-setter") bids strategically while other firms ("non-price-setters") bid their costs. We test for asymmetries in firms' bid functions in the British spot market between 1993 and 1995 and find strong empirical support for the theory. We conclude that BFE have important implications for the design and governance of electricity markets.

To compare the efficacy of manual and oscillating-rotating electric toothbrushes in removing plaque and reducing gingivitis in patients with fixed orthodontic appliances. Randomised clinical trial. 20 subjects aged 10 to 14 years (8 males; 12 females) scheduled for fixed orthodontic treatment were enrolled, randomly divided into two groups, A and B, and later assigned electric or manual toothbrushes, respectively. Three months after orthodontic appliance bonding (T1), and again after a further 4 (T2) and 8 (T3) weeks, plaque levels (PI), gingival bleeding (GBI) and hypertrophy were assessed. Between the two toothbrush types, statistically significant differences in PI were detected from T2 to T3 (P value 0.010), but not from T1 to T2. In contrast, the GBI was significantly different from T1 to T2 (P value 0.025), but not from T2 to T3. With respect to the manual orthodontic toothbrush, the electric oscillating-rotating toothbrush was found to better improve both PI and GBI.

Tripodal peptide analogues were designed on the basis of the phosphotyrosine binding pocket of the Src SH2 domain and assayed for their ability to bind to fluorescein-labeled phosphopeptides. Fluorescence polarization assays showed that a number of amphipathic linear peptide analogues (LPAs), such as LPA4, bind to fluorescein-labeled GpYEEI (F-GpYEEI). LPA4 was evaluated for potential application in cellular delivery of phosphopeptides. Fluorescence microimaging cellular uptake studies with fluorescein-attached LPA4 (F-LPA4) alone or with the mixture of LPA4 and F-GpYEEI in BT-20 cells showed dramatic increase of the fluorescence intensity in cytosol of cells, indicating that LPA4 can function as a delivery tool of F-GpYEEI across the cell membrane. Fluorescent flow cytometry studies showed the cellular uptake of F-LPA4 in an energy-independent pathway and confirmed the cellular uptake of F-GpYEEI in the presence of LPA4. These studies suggest that amphipathic tripodal peptide analo...

It has been reported that sandblasting titanium with alumina (Al 2 O 3) powder could generate a negative electric charge on titanium surface. This has been proven to promote osteoblast activities and possibly osseointegration. The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate the effects of different blasting materials, in terms of the grit sizes and electronegativity, on the generation of a negative charge on the titanium surface. The aim was also to make use of these results to deduct the underlying mechanism of charge generation by sandblasting. Together 60 c.p. 2 titanium plates were machine-cut and polished for sandblasting, and divided into 6 groups with 10 plates in each. Every plate in the study groups was sandblasted with one of the following 6 powder materials: 110 mm Al 2 O 3 grits, 50 mm Al 2 O 3 grits, 150-300 mm glass beads, 45-75 mm glass beads, 250 mm Al powder and 44 mm Al powder. The static voltage on the surface of every titanium plate was measured immediately after sandblasting. The static voltages of the titanium plates were recorded and processed using statistical analysis. The results suggested that only sandblasting with 45-75 mm glass beads generated a positive charge on titanium, while using all other blasting materials lead to a negative charge. Furthermore, blasting grits of the same powder material but of different sizes might lead to different amount and polarity of the charges. This triboelectric effect is likely to be the main mechanism for charge generation through sandblasting.

It has been reported that sandblasting titanium with alumina (Al 2 O 3) powder could generate a negative electric charge on titanium surface. This has been proven to promote osteoblast activities and possibly osseointegration. The purpose of this pilot study was to investigate the effects of different blasting materials, in terms of the grit sizes and electronegativity, on the generation of a negative charge on the titanium surface. The aim was also to make use of these results to deduct the underlying mechanism of charge generation by sandblasting. Together 60 c.p. 2 titanium plates were machine-cut and polished for sandblasting, and divided into 6 groups with 10 plates in each. Every plate in the study groups was sandblasted with one of the following 6 powder materials: 110 mm Al 2 O 3 grits, 50 mm Al 2 O 3 grits, 150-300 mm glass beads, 45-75 mm glass beads, 250 mm Al powder and 44 mm Al powder. The static voltage on the surface of every titanium plate was measured immediately after sandblasting. The static voltages of the titanium plates were recorded and processed using statistical analysis. The results suggested that only sandblasting with 45-75 mm glass beads generated a positive charge on titanium, while using all other blasting materials lead to a negative charge. Furthermore, blasting grits of the same powder material but of different sizes might lead to different amount and polarity of the charges. This triboelectric effect is likely to be the main mechanism for charge generation through sandblasting.

Derzeit werden Lithium-Ionen-Batterien für den Einsatz in Hybrid-und Elektrofahrzeugen favorisiert. Arsenal Research, ein Unternehmen der Austrian Reseach Centers, analysiert den derzeitigen Stand der Technik sowie die Potenziale des Energiespeichers-und dies sowohl auf Zell-wie auf Systemebene. Der Entwicklungsdienstleister erklärt einige Aspekte des Designprozesses und geht auf wichtige Aufgabenstellungen ein, die auf dem Weg zur breiten Anwendung im Automobilsektor noch gelöst werden müssen. TITELTHEMA ATZelektronik 01I2009 Jahrgang 4 12 Energiemanagement 1 Einleitung Die Entwicklung von Energiespeichersystemen (ESS), Bild 1-insbesondere beim Ein-n satz von Lithium-Ionen-Batterien-ist eine komplexe Aufgabe, bei der chemische, thermische, mechanische und elektrische Phänomene auftreten. Spezielle, auf die ESS abgestimmte Methoden sollten ver-r r wendet werden, um deren Sicherheit zu garantieren, die Komplexität zu bewältigen, Probleme rechtzeitig zu erkennen, die Kritikalität eines Ereignisses im Vergleich zu anderen zu bewerten und Lösungen zu finden. Hier gilt es, Entwicklungsprozesse strukturierter und effizienter zu gestalten. Arsenal Research entwickelt beispielsweise Modelica-Dymola-Modelle (Simulationsmodelle) für Hybrid-und Elektrofahrzeuge und verwendet gängige FMEA-Analysen. Wichtig ist, dass es ein ESS-Sicherheitskon-n n zept gibt, das sowohl auf Zellebene als auch auf Systemebene greift.

Electricity generation from renewable energy resources (RES) has become increasingly significant to reach EU and emissions reduction targets. At the same time, one of the main EU policy goals has been the creation of a common internal energy market for Europe. In this paper, we focus on these two issues previously studied separately, considering their possible interactions. We first analyze the long-run relationship between day-ahead electricity prices and fuel prices (natural gas and coal) looking at two samples of years characterized by low and high RES penetration, then we explore the integration of EU markets. We show that the electricity-fuel nexus found over 2006-2008 changed dramatically over 2010-2014 for the majority of countries considered. In particular, the long-run dependence of electricity from gas and coal prices is much lower in recent years. Furthermore, our results confirm that the considered EU countries are becoming less integrated as RES-E increases. Our findings suggest that nationally implemented policies to support renewables are successful in increasing RES penetration, but they have lessened the linkage among EU markets, then making integration more difficult to obtain.

The Mekong River is the largest freshwater fishery and the third most bio-diverse river system in the world. Two of 11 planned mainstream hydropower projects, Xayaburi and Don Sahong, are nearly completed and a third project proposal, Pak Beng, has been submitted by the Lao PDR government for consideration. This paper builds on previous studies and examines the tradeoffs (between water use, food security supply and energy production) for the proposed mainstream hydropower projects in the Lower Mekong Basin (LMB). The paper concludes that the forecast loss of capture fisheries, sediment/nutrients and social mitigation costs measured as Net Present Value (NPV at 10% discount rate) are greater than the benefits from electricity generation, improved irrigation and flood control. The paper also forecasts huge negative economic impacts for Cambodia and Vietnam in contrast to previous Mekong River Commission's (MRC) conclusions that all countries will benefit from hydropower development. The paper recommends reassessing the economic impacts of hydropower development using full environmental cost accounting. It also recommends that a new LMB energy strategy be developed taking into account less hydropower income than previously anticipated, updated forecasts for LMB power demand and anticipated technology developments for improved energy efficiency & renewable energy (especially solar which is now competitive with hydropower).

The Policy Research Working Paper Series disseminates the findings of work in progress to encourage the exchange of ideas about development issues. An objective of the series is to get the findings out quickly, even if the presentations are less than fully polished. The papers carry the names of the authors and should be cited accordingly. The findings, interpretations, and conclusions expressed in this paper are entirely those of the authors. They do not necessarily represent the views of the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development/World Bank and its affiliated organizations, or those of the Executive Directors of the World Bank or the governments they represent.

Data-logging noise dosimetry was used to assess the exposure levels of electricians working for a major electrical subcontractor in Washington State at five sites using four types of construction methods. Subjects documented activities and work environment information throughout their work shift, resulting in an activity/exposure record for each of the 174 full-shift samples collected over the 4-month duration of the study. Over 24% of the TWA samples exceeded 85 dBA; 5.2% exceeded the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration permissible exposure limit of 90 dBA. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health exposure metric, which specifies a 3-dB ER, was also utilized; using this metric, 67.8% of the samples exceeded 85 dBA and 27% exceeded 90 dBA. Subjects were directly observed for a subset of 4469 min during which more detailed activity and environmental information was recorded. Linear and logistic regression models using this subset were used to identify the determinants of average exposure, and exposure exceedences, respectively. These models demonstrated the importance of multiple variable modeling in interpreting exposure assessments, and the feasibility and utility of modeling exposure exceedences using logistic regression. The results further showed that presumably quiet trades such as electrician are at risk of exposure to potentially harmful noise exposures, and that other workers' activities and the general environment contribute substantially to that risk. These results indicate that noise control strategies will have to address the construction work environment as an integrated system.

Hybrid photovoltaic-thermal (PVT) collector has been developed by combining photovoltaic (PV) technology and solar thermal collector in one module. The combination of two technologies in the same module has the potential to reduce cost of materials and the required space also improves performance of collectors. The hybrid PVT collectors were designed to generate electrical and thermal energy simultaneously. PV technology converts solar radiation into electrical energy while solar thermal collector will be converting solar energy to thermal energy. The main components of PVT collectors are PV panel, absorber plate, working fluid and insulator. According to the previous research, PVT collectors were developed by using air and water as a heat transfer medium. The benefits of heat removal are increasing PV panel efficiency by removing excessive heat from module. Parameters affecting the overall performances of PVT collectors included mass flow rate, area of collector, irradiance and PV cell materials. This paper presents a review of energy and exergy analysis of air-based and water-based PVT collector with different designs. The performances of PVT collectors were studied using First Law and Second Law of Thermodynamics. This study has found that generally the energy and exergy efficiency are range from 40%-70% and 5%-25%, respectively.

The primary objective of the study is to carry out an assessment of the current status of modern energy supply among the urban and peri-urban poor in Kenya and to identify viable policy options that can assist in providing cleaner and more sustainable energy services to the rapidly growing urban population in Kenya. The study also assesses prevailing energy policies that address the challenges associated with supply of modern energy services to the urban poor. The study focuses on the example of energy consumption patterns of urban poor households in Kibera-often said to be Africa's largest slum-and the trends in energy use among small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in the area, providing an empirical basis for key findings of the study. The findings of the household survey clearly demonstrate the role that kerosene, electricity, biomass and LPG can play in cooking and lighting in low-income areas such as Kibera, Nairobi. According to the survey findings, kerosene is the most important modern energy option for the poor for both lighting and cooking. Electricity also appears to be a relatively important energy option. Biomass in the form of charcoal and LPG appear to be consumed by a relatively small segment of the urban poor in the selected sample area. The results of this survey largely reflect the situation at the national level. The study concludes by presenting central issues related to identified key energy options for the poor in Kibera (kerosene, electricity, biomass and LPG) and presents policy measures that could enhance modern energy services among the urban poor.

Tissue engineering often rely on scaffolds for supporting cell differentiation and growth. Novel paradigms for tissue engineering include the need of active or smart scaffolds in order to properly regenerate specific tissues. In particular, as electrical and electromechanical clues are among the most relevant ones in determining tissue functionality in tissues such as muscle and bone, among others, electroactive materials and, in particular, piezoelectric ones, show strong potential for novel tissue engineering strategies, in particular taking also into account the existence of these phenomena within some specific tissues, indicating their requirement also during tissue regeneration. This referee reports on piezoelectric materials used for tissue engineering applications. The most used materials for tissue engineering strategies are reported together with the main achievements, challenges and future needs for research and actual therapies. This review provides thus a compilation of the most relevant results and strategies and a start point for novel research pathways in the most relevant and challenging open questions.

online ordering: http://www.ntis.gov/ordering.htm Printed on paper containing at least 50% wastepaper, including 20% postconsumer waste 0.0 0.5 1.0 1.5 2.0 2.5 3.0 CH4 NM HC s NO x SOx CO Particulates Benzene Air emissions (excluding CO2) (g/kWh)

Cells can be permeabilized transiently when pulsed by a brief intense external electric field. The molecular and cellular bases of cell electropermeabilization are still unclear. This process can be described by a local transient membrane organisation in which high permeability exists. In this study, using the chemiluminescent probe lucigenin, we showed that electropulsation of Chinese hamster ovary cells induced generation of reactive oxygen species at the electropermeabilized cell level. This generation was directly associated with the part of the membrane surface which is electrically restructured, as shown by its dependence on electric parameters. The electroinduced cell process was activated by Ca2+ and Mg2+ ions, and by exogenous adenosine 5'-triphosphate. A metal-ion-catalyzed Haber-Weiss reaction was thought to occur in the process, as shown by the action of effector molecules of Haber-Weiss reaction such as the chelating agent EDTA, and the hydroxyl radical scavenger dimethylsulfoxide. The modulation of the oxygen species electroinduction and the use of antioxidant products (dimethylsulfoxide, sodium L-ascorbate) showed that cell survival after electric treatment was directly correlated to the oxidative jump intensity. This observation had to be associated with the cell-damaging action of oxygen-reactive species.

The presence of more than one dental alloy in the oral cavity often causes pathological galvanic currents and voltage resulting in superficial erosions of the oral mucosa and eventually in the emergence of oral cancer. In the present study the mechanisms of apoptosis of oral mucosa cancer cells in response to electromagnetic fields was investigated. Direct current (DC) electrical fields with field strengths between 2 and 16 V/m, applied for 24 h to UM-SCC-14-C oral mucosa cancer cells, dosedependently resulted in decreased cell proliferation as evaluated by Ki-67 immunohistochemistry and upregulation of the cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK) inhibitors p21 cip1/waf1 and p27 kip1 , which are associated with cell cycle arrest. Electrical field treatment (4 V/m, 24 h) increased apoptosis as evaluated by immunohistochemical analysis of cleaved caspase-3 and poly-(ADP-ribose)-polymerase-1 (PARP-1). Furthermore, robust reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, increased expression of NADPH oxidase subunits as well as Hsp70 was observed. Electrical field treatment (4 V/m, 24 h) resulted in increased expression of Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase and decreased intracellular concentration of reduced glutathione (GSH), whereas the expression of catalase remained unchanged. Pre-treatment with the free radical scavenger N-acetyl cysteine (NAC) and the superoxide dismutase mimetic EUK-8 abolished caspase-3 and PARP-1 induction, suggesting that apoptosis in oral mucosa cancer cells is initated by ROS generation in response to DC electrical field treatment.

This paper discusses the effects of the implementation of the EU electricity acquis in the Energy
Community (EnC) Contracting Parties, where the social, economic and political conditions
are different from those in the old EU Member States. The liberalization of the electrícity
industry has hød an important impact on social issues such as tariff reþrms as well
as affordability in these countries. To balonce this impact, the EnC countries must be able
to use mechanisms from the EU electricity acquis such us Public Service Oblioation (PSO).
Thís paper ossesses whether the PSO provisions from Directive zooj/54/EC have been properly
used as a regulatory tool aimed at addressing the impact of the liberalization of the
electricíty sectors in the Contracting Parties, or whether its only served as a justffication to
excessively regulate the end-users' electricity pnces.

We study alternative market power mitigation measures in a homogenous goods industry where productive assets have asymmetric costs. We characterise the asset divestment by a dominant …rm which achieves the greatest reduction in prices (taking the size of the divestment as given). The optimal divestment entails the sale of assets whose costs are close to the post-divestment price (i.e. they are price-setting). A divestment of this type can be several times more e¤ective in reducing prices than divestments of low-cost assets. We also establish that virtual divestments (often employed in the power industry) are at best equivalent to low-cost divestments in terms of their impact on consumer welfare, and cannot replicate the optimal divestment. JEL classi…cation codes: D42,

The Slovenian Energy Law, adopted in 1999, has opened the internal market to competition up to 64% of the final consumption. The opening of the internal market to foreign competition is envisaged for 2003. With regard to the methodology of price regulation, the Energy Law introduces the "price-cap" regulation, which aims to give firms incentive for cost reduction. To provide information for effective price regulation, we estimated a cost frontier function on a sample of Slovenian electricity distribution utilities over the 1991-2000 period. The estimated efficient frontier could be used by Slovenian regulatory agency as a benchmark to regulate network access prices. Our results show that Slovenian distribution companies are cost inefficient. We have also proved the presence of increasing returns to scale with most utilities not achieving the minimum efficient scale. Thus, the Slovenian regulatory authority should consider how to induce mergers of small electricity distribution utilities into larger units.