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A new Modified Packed U-Cell (MPUC) converter architecture with cascading is proposed in this paper. To provide an output voltage of 25 levels, the proposed cascaded MPUC needs only twelve power switches and four power sources. The converter comprises two cascaded MPUCs with DC supply in a ratio of 5:1. One converter is operating at low frequency (LF) and the other at high frequency (HF) that leads to lower power losses and higher levels. Besides, a variable frequency method is anticipated to produce a 25-level output voltage which has low harmonic content (THD) with the help of Selective Harmonic Mitigation (SHM). The optimum switching angles for SHM are obtained through solving the SHM equations using the Genetic Algorithm (GA). The designed controller is efficient and suitable for applications that require low-frequency operation either in stand-alone or grid-tied. The proposed inverter and its operation procedure have been investigated using MATLAB®/Simulink software, and the findings demonstrate that the proposed inverter output voltage has reduced THD significantly. The simulation results are verified using the typhoon HIL-402 emulator. Also, the power loss analysis is done using PLECS. The maximum efficiency of the converter is found to be around 98.34%. The simulation results justified the efficiency and viability of low 25-level THD voltages.

In this paper, an outline of microgrid arrangements and control methods at various hierarchical levels of Packed U-Cell (PUC) converters are provided. The paper discusses the control of these topologies using various techniques. The goal of these control strategies is to maintain a small THD, superior steady-state, fast-dynamic response, and high-power factor while balancing capacitor voltages under different operating conditions. The PI current controller is modelled on five and seven-level PUC inverters. The PI voltage and current controllers have also been modelled on a seven-level PUC inverter. Thereafter, model predictive control of five, seven and fifteen level inverters are also formulated and then simulated using MATLAB/Simulink. Finally, HIL validation of different PUC inverters is performed.

To compete in the international market, the country with a competitive advantage in the heavy manufacturing industry should increase their logistics efficiency. This paper aims to contribute to the optimisation model for project logistics and proposes the improvement strategy for multimodal transport, especially for project logistics cargo. Mixed-method research consisted of a qualitative study to observe the main criteria for transport analysis and perform a case analysis. In the study case about multimodal transport analysis for exporting 250 units of railway carriages from Indonesia's manufacturer to Chittagong Port, the optimum cost obtained based on a combination of the single -12 multi axle-line trailer and General Cargo Vessel 28000 DWT with the unit cost US$16,700 per carriages and total shipping duration of 142 days. The multimodal strategies are more complex than unimodal transport that involve suppliers, management, logistics function improvement, and lean transport management adoption.

Arm fatigue is an important factor affecting user experience in Virtual Reality (VR). In this work, we have proposed ProxyHand and StickHand, virtual hand techniques to address this issue. Using ProxyHand or StickHand, users can flexibly adjust the 3D-spatial offset between the physical hand and its virtual representation. This will allow users to keep their arms in a comfortable posture (vertically down) even when they have to manipulate objects in locations that require lifting of arms using the default interaction method. Proposed ProxyHand and StickHand have a similar Underlying concept that is to introduce a 3D-spatial offset between the physical hand and its virtual representation in VR. However, they respond differently to the user’s hand movements because of different working mechanisms. Question arises whether the 3D-spatial offset will negatively impact the hand control ability as the directness of interaction is being violated. To investigate this, we conducted user studies where users were asked to perform object translation, rotation and hybrid tasks. ProxyHand and StickHand are used in combination in some scenarios to maximize positive impact on the user experience in VR. This raises the question to find the best possible combination of these virtual hands to reduce arm fatigue. Firstly, for this purpose, we combined both virtual hands by manually allowing users to switch between ProxyHand and StickHand. Secondly, we used machine learning to automatically switch between both the virtual hands. Results showed that introduction of a 3D-spatial offset largely reduced the arm fatigue while offering equal performance to the default interaction method for all these tasks; translation, rotation and hybrid task. Users preferred using ProxyHand and StickHand to interact in the VR environment for longer periods of time.

A semiquantum key distribution (SQKD) protocol allows two users, one of whom is restricted in their quantum capabilities to being nearly classical, to establish a shared secret key, secure against an all-powerful adversary. The study of such protocols helps to answer the fundamental question of “how quantum” must a protocol be to gain an advantage over classical communication. In this article, we design a new SQKD protocol using high-dimensional quantum states and conduct an information theoretic security analysis. We show that, similar to the fully quantum key distribution case, high-dimensional systems can increase the noise tolerance in the semiquantum case. Furthermore, we prove several general security results which are applicable to other (S)QKD protocols (both high-dimensional ones and standard qubit-based protocols) utilizing a two-way quantum channel.

Demand of products oil continues to increase by increasing the mobilization in various areas in Indonesia. The government should rethink considering the uneven spread of demand and supply of products oil that can not be mixed in the cargo hold. Currently product oil deliveries to Nusa Tenggara Barat carried by tanker vessels. The issue is whether the vessel’s size not yet optimum. The purpose of this study is to optimize the distribution of product oil from Transit Terminal Product Oil to Unloading Ports. The most influenced variable are the size of the main vessel and the effect on the primary measure is the amount of goods transported. The main dimensions of tanker are LPP= 105 m; B= 18,01 m; H= 8.23 m T= 6.78 m ;DWT= 7,992 DWT ;Payload = 8,933 KL and Tankers’s unit cost is Rp. 203,587.70 per Kiloliter

The delivery of Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) by the Palm Oil Mill (POM) of Tanah Putih (60,000 tons / year) and POM Sei Buatan (30,000 tons / year) through the river ship represents 78% of POME's total supply requirement for Biogas Power Plant (BPP) Tandun, Riau. How to get recommendations on routes, ship types and most optimum ship sizes is important. The optimization is done by analyzing the transportation including the investment and then comparison between the modes with some alternative routes on the existing segment, the actual condition limitation and the minimum criterion of total cost. The result of analysis shows that for POME delivery the optimum route is port to port using 1 unit of SPOB vessel with 1,500 ton capacity for each segment. The optimum ship type is Self Propelled Oil Barge (SPOB) when compared to Self Propelled Container Barge (SPCB) and Landing Craft Tank (LCT) and Tank Truck with 8 ton capacity. The total cost for ship procurement is Rp 8,035 billion. The amount of POME delivered can generate 9 million kWh of electrical power. Total revenues from electricity sales and electricity cost savings of the factory amounted to Rp 8.774 billion, resulting in a gross profit of Rp 739 million Keywords: Transportation Analysis, Palm Oil Mill Effluent, Biogas Power Plant

Pelabuhan Petrokimia Gresik merupakan salah satu contoh pelabuhan khusus yang dioperasikan untuk menunjang kegiatan operasional perusahaan (PT Petrokimia Gresik). Untuk menunjang peningkatan produksi perusahaan, diperlukan penambahan fasiltas pelabuhan dengan memperhatikan tata letaknya, mengingat ketersediaan area pengembangan pelabuhan yag terbatas. Tujuan penelitian dalam tugas akhir ini adalah untuk mengetahui hubungan antara peningkatan produksi perusahaan dengan kegiatan operasional di pelabuhannya serta membuat model optimisasi tata letak pelabuhan curah kering yang paling optimal. Dalam menentukan model tata letak pelabuhan curah kering yang paling optimal ini dilakukan dengan pendekatan simulasi diskrit menggunakan software Arena (student version) dan kriteria optimum yang telah ditentukan. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa peningkatan produksi perusahaan dengan rata-rata 7.7% per tahun, mengakibatkan peningkatan utilitas fasilitas pelabuhan: dermaga (Berth Occupancy Ratio) 2%, gudang (Shed Occupancy Ratio) 1.2% dan lapangan penumpukan (Yard Occupancy Ratio) 0.6%. Berdasarkan hasil simulasi dan perhitungan didapatkan tata letak untuk penambahan fasilitas pelabuhan petrokimia Gresik yang optimum, yaitu: dermaga dengan penambahan panjang 170 m di sisi utara, gudang berukuran 60 x 48 x 8 m dan lapangan penumpukan berukuran 65 x 50 m dengan jarak 1,600 m dari dermaga.

There is currently no effective preoperative assessment for patients undergoing kidney transplantation that is able to identify those at high perioperative risk requiring admission to critical care unit (CCU). We sought to determine if functional measures of cardiovascular reserve, in particular the anaerobic threshold (VO₂AT) could identify these patients.Adult patients were assessed within 4 weeks prior to kidney transplantation in a University hospital with a 37-bed CCU, between April 2010 and June 2012. Cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET), echocardiography and arterial applanation tonometry were performed.There were 70 participants (age 41.7±14.5 years, 60% male, 91.4% living donor kidney recipients, 23.4% were desensitized). 14 patients (20%) required escalation of care from the ward to CCU following transplantation. Reduced anaerobic threshold (VO₂AT) was the most significant predictor, independently (OR = 0.43; 95% CI 0.27-0.68; p

Abstract Background Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a leading cause of disability, hospitalization, and premature mortality. General practice is well placed to diagnose and manage COPD, but there is a significant gap between evidence and current practice, with a low level of awareness and implementation of clinical practice guidelines. Under-diagnosis of COPD is a world-wide problem, limiting the benefit that could potentially be achieved through early intervention strategies such as smoking cessation, dietary advice, and exercise. General practice is moving towards more structured chronic disease management, and the increasing involvement of practice nurses in delivering chronic care. Design A pragmatic cluster randomised trial will test the hypothesis that intervention by a practice nurse-general practitioner (GP) team leads to improved health-related quality of life and greater adherence with clinical practice guidelines for patients with newly-diagnosed COPD, compared with usual care. Forty general practices in greater metropolitan Sydney Australia will be recruited to identify patients at risk of COPD and invite them to attend a case finding appointment. Practices will be randomised to deliver either practice nurse-GP partnership care, or usual care, to patients newly-diagnosed with COPD. The active intervention will involve the practice nurse and GP working in partnership with the patient in developing and implementing a care plan involving (as appropriate), smoking cessation, immunisation, pulmonary rehabilitation, medication review, assessment and correction of inhaler technique, nutritional advice, management of psycho-social issues, patient education, and management of co-morbidities. The primary outcome measure is health-related quality of life, assessed with the St George’s Respiratory Questionnaire 12 months after diagnosis. Secondary outcome measures include validated disease-specific and general health related quality of life measures, smoking and immunisation status, medications, inhaler technique, and lung function. Outcomes will be assessed by project officers blinded to patients’ randomization groups. Discussion This study will use proven case-finding methods to identify patients with undiagnosed COPD in general practice, where improved care has the potential for substantial benefit in health and healthcare utilization. The study provides the capacity to trial a new model of team-based assessment and management of newly diagnosed COPD in Australian primary care. Trial registration ACTRN12610000592044

Abstract Background Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a significant health problem worldwide. This randomised controlled trial aims at testing a new approach that involves a registered nurse working in partnership with patients, general practitioners (GPs) and other health professionals to provide care to patients according to the evidence-based clinical practice guidelines. The aim is to determine the impact of this partnership on the quality of care and patient outcomes. Methods A cluster randomised control trial design was chosen for this study. Randomisation occurred at practice level. GPs practising in South Western Sydney, Australia and their COPD patients were recruited for the study. The intervention was implemented by nurses specifically recruited and trained for this study. Nurses, working in partnership with GPs, developed care plans for patients based on the Australian COPDX guidelines. The aim was to optimise patient management, improve function, prevent deterioration and enhance patient knowledge and skills. Control group patients received 'usual' care from their GPs. Data collection includes patient demographic profiles and their co-morbidities. Spirometry is being performed to assess patients' COPD status and CO analyser to validate their smoking status. Patients' quality of life and overall health status are being measured by St George's Respiratory Questionnaire and SF-12 respectively. Other patient measures being recorded include health service use, immunisation status, and knowledge of COPD. Qualitative methods will be used to explore participants' satisfaction with the intervention and their opinion about the value of the partnership. Analysis Analysis will be by intention to treat. Intra-cluster (practice) correlation coefficients will be determined and published for all primary outcome variables to assist future research. The effect of the intervention on outcomes measured on a continuous scale will be estimated and tested using mixed model analysis of variance in which time and treatment group will be fixed effects and GP practice and subject nested within practice will be random effects. The effect of the intervention on the dichotomous variables (such as smoking status, patient knowledge) will be analysed using generalised estimating equations with a logistic link and a model structure that is analogous to that described above. Trial registration ACTRN012606000304538