Gas Stations Research Articles

Abstract 4119073: Zaza: A New Etiology of an Acquired Brugada-Pattern ECG

Introduction: Tianeptine, an unregulated supplement, adds a new problem to the ever-growing drug epidemic. We describe a case of Tianeptine overdose presenting with acute agitation and an acquired Brugada-pattern ECG. Case Description: A 26-year-old male presented with acute agitation after bystanders witnessed the patient ingest 15 capsules of “Zaza Silver”. Initial ECG showed a type I Brugada pattern with coved ST-elevations in V1 and prolonged QRS and QTc. Previous ECGs on record were negative for evidence of a hereditary Brugada pattern. His urine toxicology was positive for THC. Troponins, echocardiogram and CT head were unremarkable. The patient was treated with Diazepam and a sodium bicarbonate drip with close monitoring of arterial blood pH, maintaining a goal between 7.50-7.55. After resolution of his symptoms and ECG findings, he was discharged home. Discussion: Patients with a Brugada pattern ECG are at increased risk of fatal arrhythmias. Classified as both inherited and acquired, this unregulated supplement presents a new etiology of an acquired Brugada-pattern ECG. Tianeptine is a non-FDA approved tricyclic antidepressant that is marketed as a supplement under the brand name “Zaza” at gas stations and convenience stores. Currently approved for the treatment of depression in Europe, it is solely distributed in the US as an unregulated health supplement. We hypothesize that Tianeptiene’s Tricyclic Antidepressant properties can affect the myocardial voltage-gated sodium channels leading to the Brugada pattern on EKG with a similar mechanism as has been previously described in cases of Tricyclic Antidepressant overdoses. Early identification of EKG findings, coupled with a detailed history can be instrumental in early diagnosis and critical treatment with bicarbonate therapy. This case also demonstrates the dangers of the non-FDA marketing of tianeptine and underscores the urgent need to regulate such supplements.

Person in Uniforms Re-Identification

Person in Uniforms Re-identification (PU-ReID) is an emerging computer vision task for various intelligent video surveillance applications. PU-ReID is much understudied due to the absence of large-scale annotated datasets, also this task is extremely challenging because many individuals captured in surveillance videos wear same clothing, introducing significant interference for retrieval tasks owing to the high visual similarity of outfits and subtle differences among individuals. This research initiates the exploration of person in uniform re-identification, a novel and challenging task tailored for real industrial scenarios. To address these issues, a novel framework is proposed for PU-ReID, which aims to reduce the visual impact of similar uniforms and learn the unique cues derived from human parts and detailed visual features. Specifically, several novel techniques are built in this study: first, a uniform feature separation method with orthogonal constraints is proposed to extract non-uniform features. Second, multi-view subspace feature alignment is introduced to integrate soft-biometrics including optics-related visual features, contextual information of human parts, and cloth-invariant biometric features. In addition, to close the gap between academic research and real world settings, a new person in uniforms ReID dataset named PU-151 is constructed, which consists of 151 gas station employees in uniforms from 1,488 videos. At last, extensive experiments conducted on five datasets demonstrate that the proposed approach significantly outperforms the state-of-the-art methods. This advancement can drive further developments in re-identification and person search technologies.

A Variant of the Growing Neural Gas Algorithm for the Design of an Electric Vehicle Charger Network

The Growing Neural Gas (GNG) algorithm constitutes an incremental neural network model based on the idea of a Self-Organizing Map (SOM), that is, unsupervised learning algorithms that reduce the dimensionality of datasets by locating similar samples close to each other. The design of an electric vehicle charging network is an essential aspect in the transition towards more sustainable and environmentally friendly mobility. The need to design and implement an efficient network that meets the needs of all users motivates us to propose the use of a model based on GNG-type neural networks for the design of the network in a specific geographical area. In this paper, a variant of this iterative neural network algorithm is used with the objective that, from an initial dataset of points in the plane, it calculates a new simplified dataset with the main characteristic that the final set of points maintains the geometric shape and topology of the original set. To demonstrate the capabilities of the algorithm, it is exemplified in a real case, in which the design of an electric vehicle charging network is proposed. This network is built by applying the algorithm, taking as the original set of points the ones formed by the nodes of the gas station network in the geographical area studied. Several tests of running the algorithm for different sizes of the final dataset are performed, showing the differences between the original network and the computationally generated one.

Compare the Properties of Composite Material by Date Leaves with Different Additives

Almost no product is made today without the use of composite materials, which have demonstrated their value over time in a variety of applications. Examples include household products, automobiles, oil and gas stations and spacecraft. Instead of using timber, leaves will be used to create a solid material. The goal of this study is to identify the distinguishing features of composite materials made from dates palm waste, as well as the overall effects on the properties when changing the mixture's proportions and the amount to which those materials are vulnerable to outside influences. It also aims to identify the best material that can be produced and used in home furnishings, manufacturing, architectural design, practical applications, and other science-related fields. This project will address the use of natural fibers from dates palm waste and some other materials to convert them into a strong, lightweight, low-cost composite material to replace wood, aluminum, synthetic fibers, and other materials in industries and uses. It will also explore the manufacturing processes, testing methods, and the outcomes of comparing it with other materials. The UHU (adhesive) matrix has the lowest hardness value compared to others. Structure tests show composites' internal composition; it plays an important role in understanding the properties of composites. The water absorption test demonstrates the duration required for composites to become saturated with water, with optimal results falling within the range of 13 to 24 hours for saturation.

Generation of hydrogen fuel on board vehicles with internal combustion engines

This article discusses advances in the design of hydrogen fuel engines; the main characteristics of the hybrid engine are studied; prospects for further research are outlined; development and improvement of engine designs, research of processes in engines running on natural gas and hydrogen. Transport is one of the key elements of modern civilization. Its condition and development prospects largely depend on the ability to supply transport power plants with fuel. The depletion of liquid hydrocarbon fuel reserves and problems of environmental pollution may present humanity with a choice - either to reduce transport transportation or to find new ways to supply energy to transport. OBJECTIVE: To review the electrochemical technologies used for the production of hydrogen at gas stations and the operation of hybrid electric vehicle engines using fuel cell batteries. Conduct a comparative analysis of the production and use of energy by electrochemical and traditional methods in vehicles. METHODS are based on analysis of literature data and mathematical calculations. For a passenger electric vehicle, the amount of electricity that can be obtained in a fuel cell by processing 1 kg of hydrogen was calculated. It has been shown that the specific fuel consumption for a hydrogen electric vehicle averages 1 kg of hydrogen per 100 km. Hydrogen has the potential to be the sustainable fuel of the future, reducing global dependence on fossil fuel resources and reducing carbon emissions from the transportation industry.

Exploring the impact of occupational exposure: A study on cardiovascular autonomic functions of male gas station attendants in Sri Lanka.

Fuel dispensing at fuel stations is performed manually by unprotected male gas station attendants in Sri Lanka, who have long working hours. These workers are exposed to hydrocarbon fuels associated with multiple health effects by modulation of the autonomic nervous system. This study was performed to determine cardiovascular autonomic functions among fuel pump attendants in Sri Lanka. Fuel pump attendants (n = 50) aged between 19 and 65 years were identified for the study from seven fuel stations. They were compared with age- and gender-matched controls (n = 46) without occupational exposure to fuel. A physical examination was performed before the autonomic function and heart rate variability (HRV) assessment. There were no significant differences in weight, height, or BMI between the study and the control populations (p > 0.05). Both the systolic blood pressure (SBP) (Mann Whitney U (MWU) = 743.5, p = 0.003) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (MWU = 686.5, p = 0.001) were significantly higher among the gas station attendants compared to controls. Valsalva ratio was significantly higher among the study group (MW U = 874.00, p = 0.043) compared to controls. The HRV analysis showed significantly higher SDNN and SD2 (MWU = 842.00, p = 0.034, and MWU = 843.50, p = 0.035 respectively) among the gas station attendants compared to controls. The changes to the cardiovascular autonomic parameters among those exposed to fuel vapor as a gas station attendant indicate an increase in sympathetic outflow to the vessels. In the occupational setting as fuel pump attendants need periodic monitoring.

Design and Implementation of a Smart Wireless Access Point for A Gas Station (SWAP-GS)

The gas distribution sector is a good fit for wireless communications, especially considering how often distribution facilities are located in distant areas. The underlying communications infrastructure needs to be extremely dependable, with a resilient system that links sensors and controls throughout a vast field area network, when working with accumulated and real-time data. The resulting detail assists managers in creating and modifying business processes, managing the station site fully, and increasing operational efficiency. A wireless gas station offers an architecture based on Wi-Fi standards for applications that track and collect data all the way down sto the sensor level. The goal of the research was to install a wireless infrastructure network at a service station. When used in a gas station, plant, enable users to access real-time information, exchange and share sensor readings from the access point, and develop a smart wireless access point system with higher secure encryption than the generic wireless network. The NodeMCU microcontroller, which broadcasts the real-time data to the clients, receives inputs from a temperature, pressure, and humidity sensor. This allows the system to do such activities. It was believed that the built wireless infrastructure will enhance the existing LAN infrastructures. A few basic prerequisites are taken into account. First and foremost, a microcontroller, a sensor unit, software design, and compliance with IEEE 802.11 standards were required.

On-the-Go Dining in America: Comparing Convenience, Service Quality, and Satisfaction in QSR Versus Gas Station Food

On-the-Go Dining in America: Comparing Convenience, Service Quality, and Satisfaction in QSR Versus Gas Station Food

Constructing red-black spanners for mixed-charging vehicular networks

Motivated by the recent trend of increasing number of e-cars and hybrid cars, we investigate the problem of building a red-black spanner for a mixed-charging vehicular network. In such a network, we have two kinds of gas/charging stations: electric (black) and the traditional gas (red) stations. Our requirement is that one cannot connect two gas stations directly in the spanner (i.e., no red-red edge), and the goal is to build a linear-size spanner with a bounded stretch factor under this requirement. (In 2-d, it can be shown that a spanner with an optimal stretch factor could have a quadratic size and if one is constrained to build the spanner purely from a given road network then it is impossible to obtain a bounded stretch factor.) Our main results are summarized as follows.1.In 1-d, a linear-size red-black spanner is built to satisfy the ‘no red-red edge’ requirement which achieves the optimal stretch factor.2.In 2-d and under the L2 metric, we build a linear-size red-black spanner satisfying the ‘no red-red edge’ requirement which achieves a stretch factor of 1.998.3.In 2-d and under the L1 metric, a linear-size red-black spanner is built to satisfy the ‘no red-red edge’ requirement which achieves a stretch factor of 3.613.

Applicability evaluation technology for steel small diameter pipes containing external surface corrosion defects

With the continuous operation of oil and gas stations and petrochemical equipment, it has been found that steel small bore pipelines have different degrees of corrosion defects, which have led to pipeline cracking and medium leakage, and have increasingly attracted great attention of their oil and gas and chemical enterprises. In order to ensure the safe operation of the small diameter pipes with external surface corrosion defects, the influence law of the size of corrosion defects on the bearing capacity of the small diameter pipes were studied by finite element analysis and test simulation method, and the damage mechanism and failure form were analyzed, and the failure pressure prediction formula of the small diameter pipes with defects was fitted. It provides technical guidance for the applicability evaluation of corrosion-containing steel small diameter pipes in oil and gas chemical stations or installations.

Model Perkuatan Anyaman Bambu pada Subgrade Bungker Tangki Pendam

A submersion tank bunker is a storage place for fuel oil tanks at public fueling stations (gas stations). Its function is to localize oil splatters so as not to pollute the soil below if there is a leak in the oil tank. The construction of the submersion tank bunker at the Kelapa Gading gas station in North Jakarta, the basic soil condition is muddy due to low groundwater. This condition is improved by applying a covering layer of bamboo mattress. Bamboo mats are made from wormwood bamboo (Gigantochloa Apus) which is split 5 cm wide each sheet, and then woven to form a woven grid. The presence of groundwater at the bottom of the excavation, drained by pumping out (dewatering). After laying sand, the next step can be casting the bunker concrete floor slab. It is proven that woven bamboo in the form of bamboo mattresses is an alternative to basic soil improvement that can increase the carrying capacity of basic soil effectively.

A Gas Cylinder Delivery Service in Oman

Gas is one of the basic requirements that must be available in every home, purchased from gas stations and street vendors. However, issues may arise in reaching gas stations or finding sellers in certain areas when gas is needed urgently. Our project aims to create a desktop application for a gas cylinder delivery service, enhancing the community's experience by facilitating the timely delivery of suitable gas cylinders. The application lists gas cylinder owners in Omani society, providing customer data like name, phone number, city, and governorate. Customers can pay using cash and choose cylinder size and price. The app also determines delivery time based on location. It facilitates communication between buyers and sellers in Arabic and English. The gas cylinder delivery service application requires login information like username, phone number, and city, then opens a location service home page. The home page features an "Order Now" button, allowing users to choose from a list of gas cylinder sellers, specifying size and price. After confirmation, customers can choose payment method, delivery location, and expected delivery time. Then the seller receives an order containing the buyer's data and a gas cylinder, and the application confirms the delivery to the customer after completion. Oman's technological advancements have made society accustomed to mobile phones, software, and applications, making the location of the gas cylinder delivery service to people easier than the traditional method of finding sellers.

Multi-Objective Optimization of Urban Gas Station Site Selection Under Territorial Spatial Planning Constraints

The traditional process for selecting urban gas station sites often emphasizes economic benefits and return on investment, frequently overlooking mandatory and guiding constraints established by territorial spatial planning regulations. This neglect can compromise the effective layout and future growth of cities, potentially affecting their long-term development. To address this issue, this study develops a systematic framework for urban gas station site selection that integrates both mandatory and guiding constraints. By conducting detailed analyses of feasible construction areas and fuel demand, the framework quantifies relevant indicators and establishes a comprehensive index system for site selection. A multi-objective optimization model employing genetic algorithms was utilized to maximize fuel demand coverage, minimize inter-station redundancy, and achieve optimal site coverage. This framework was applied to the central urban area of Lishui City, China, as a case study. The site selection schemes achieved a coverage rate exceeding 90%, an inter-station redundancy rate around 30%, and a demand coverage rate surpassing 90%, optimizing the key objectives. Compared to traditional methods that often ignore territorial spatial planning constraints, this framework effectively avoids conflicts with urban planning and regulatory requirements. It enhances infrastructure coordination, supports environmental sustainability, and exhibits strong adaptability to diverse urban contexts, thus offering valuable support for practical decision-making.

The Effect Of Air Lead (Pb) And Individual Characteristics On Subjective Complaints Of Gas Station Operators

Lead (Pb) is an air pollutant present in particulate form, often known as metallic powder. Gas station operators are one of the groups at risk of exposure to lead from motor vehicle emissions, which is harmful to health because it can accumulate in the body. This study aims to analyse the effect of airborne lead (Pb) and individual characteristics on the subjective complaints of petrol station operators in Surabaya. This study is an analytical observational study with a cross-sectional approach with a sample size of 28 respondents. Data were collected through measurements, observations and interviews, which were then processed and analysed using chi-square test. The results showed that airborne Pb measurements at two points met the NAB based on Permenaker No. 5 of 2018, which is less than 0.05 mg/m3. Based on the chi-square test, it was found that the variables of working time and the habit of using PPE had an effect on subjective complaints with a p-value <0.05. The variables airborne Pb, age and smoking habits had no effect on subjective complaints.

RANCANG BANGUN MODEL MONITORING UNDERGROUND TANK SPBU DENGAN MENGGUNAKAN SENSOR ULTRASONIK BERBASIS INTERNET OF THINGS (IOT)

The management of underground tanks at gas stations is a crucial aspect to ensure the availability and safety of fuel. However, conventional methods for monitoring fuel levels in tanks are often ineffective and prone to human error. To address this issue, this research designs and develops a model for an underground tank monitoring system using ultrasonic sensors Internet of Things (IoT) integrated technology. The ultrasonic sensors are used to measure the fuel level in the tank in real-time, and this data is then transmitted to an IoT platform for analysis and monitoring through a user interface that can be accessed remotely. This system is expected to enhance operational efficiency and safety in the management of underground tanks at gas stations and provide early warnings in the event of abnormal conditions, such as leaks or excessively low fuel levels. The implementation results demonstrate that this system can provide accurate and reliable information, enabling better decision-making in fuel stock management

Petroleum hydrocarbons in arctic urban lake sediments (Murmansk, Russia)

The level of pollution of lake sediments located in the city of Murmansk (Russia) with petroleum hydrocarbons was studied. The most urban lakes can be classified as slightly polluted, representing the maximum acceptable risk for human health and ecosystems; Lake Yuzhnoe – as moderately polluted with a negative impact on the aquatic environment, and Lake Ledovoe located near the highway, gas station, and car service, – as dangerously polluted, posing a threat to human health and requiring remediation. The background content of organic compounds identified as petroleum hydrocarbons in the sediments of Murmansk lakes ranges from 76 to 307 mg TPH/kg. High background concentrations of hydrocarbons can be associated with a large amount of organic matter in the sediments of lakes. The standards for the content of hydrocarbons in sediments, developed for other regions, give an ambiguous assessment of their content in the sediments of lakes in Murmansk. It is not entirely correct to use the background content of hydrocarbons in the sediments of lakes in other regions, which differ in particle size distribution, content of organic matter, and chemical composition, to assess the degree of pollution. Additional research is needed to determine the content of hydrocarbons in the sediments of background lakes in the Murmansk region and to develop standards for the content of hydrocarbons in the bottom sediments of Arctic cities.

Evaluation of exposure to volatile organic compounds (BTEX) and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in gas station workers and oxidative stress assessment in Karaj city

Gas stations are one of the sources of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX) and polyromantic hydrocarbons (PAHs). The present study was conducted with the aim of evaluating the level of breathing exposure of gas station workers to BTEX, PAHs and oxidative stress caused by exposure to these compounds in Karaj city. Oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species (ROS) is one of the mechanisms involved in the toxicity caused by exposure to gas vapors. In this study, all 25 gas stations in the city of Karaj were investigated. Personal sampling and analysis of BTEX and PAHs was done according to National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) 1501 and 5515 methods, respectively. Finally, oxidative stress markers were investigated in 25 gas station workers and 25 control group. The results showed that the mean age and employment history of gas station workers are 39.96 ± 9.55 and 12.84 ± 6.92, respectively. Also, no significant difference was reported between gas station workers and control subjects in terms of oxidative stress parameters including the level of ROS, oxidized glutathione (GSSG) content, malondialdehyde (MDA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) content. The concentration values of personal exposure of gas station workers to BTEX and PAHs are lower than the occupational exposure limits (OEL). Although the level of oxidative stress parameters in gas station workers is higher than the control group, this difference is not statistically significant (p>0.05). It is recommended to take personal protection measures in case of chronic exposure.

Application of Single Neuron Adaptive PID Algorithm in Natural Gas Automatic Distribution Control System

Abstract Aiming at the most important control link of electric regulating valve in automatic distribution control system of natural gas station, this paper proposed to use single neuron adaptive Proportional-Integral-Derivative (SNA-PID) algorithm to make up for the problems of the traditional Proportional-Integral-Derivative (PID) algorithm, such as the difficulty of parameter setting and the inability to adapt to system interference. In order to compare the performance of the algorithm, the transfer function between the valve opening of the electric regulating valve on the branch of the gas transmission system of a natural gas station was taken as an example to simulate various practical application scenarios, and the control performance of the two algorithms was studied in detail. Finally, the practical engineering application and the performance verification of the algorithm were carried out in a natural gas distribution station in Jiangxi Province. The results showed that, compared with the PID algorithm, the SNA-PID algorithm can automatically adjust its own algorithm parameters, greatly reduce the number of valve operations during the adjustment process, and control the valve opening more smoothly, adjust the branch pressure more quickly and effectively, and also has a strong anti-interference ability. Therefore, SNA-PID algorithm is more suitable for the automatic distribution control system of natural gas station than the PID algorithm.

Quantification of methane emissions from typical natural gas stations using on-site measurement technology

Quantification of methane emissions from typical natural gas stations using on-site measurement technology

Climatic Impact on the Air Pollutant Concentrations Emitted from Gas Stations in Fallujah, Al-Anbar, Western Iraq

The research investigates the influence of climatic elements like temperature, relative humidity, rainfall, evaporation, dust storms, wind direction, and speed on the air pollutant concentrations at gas stations in Fallujah city while examining their impact on humans and the environment. This was achieved by measuring concentrations of CO, NO2, and CH4, suspended particles (TSP, PM10), and Cu, and Pb. It was found that the impact increased in July compared to January, because of the influence of the measured climatic elements. Rising temperatures increase air pollutants' concentrations in the atmosphere, while winds spread them from emission sites to distant locations. Moreover, summer temperatures significantly impacted air pollutant concentrations at the study stations, particularly at Al-Rehab gas station, with the highest recorded temperatures of 48.4°C. Some gas stations also exceeded local environmental limits for TSP, PM10, CO, NO2, and Pb. The study revealed that summer temperatures with wind speeds of 2.1 m/s resulted in the highest air pollutants values, while winter temperatures with wind speeds of 1.9 m/s decreased these values. Higher temperatures increase chemical reactions and temperature inversions, leading to increased pollution concentrations and exacerbating air quality problems in the study area. Strong winds disperse pollutants, reducing concentration in the study area, while low wind speed increases concentrations and stagnation, resulting in poor air quality in the studied sites. The importance of the current study lies in evaluating pollutants in the Fallujah city, determining their causes, the extent of the impact, and contribution of natural and human sources in causing changes in air pollutant concentrations; caused by emission from the source. Moreover, the current study showed its impact on human’s health, and trying to find solutions to limit these effects or reduce their levels to ensure the safety of the environment and health.