Optimal day-ahead scheduling of integrated urban energy systems

An optimal day-ahead scheduling method (ODSM) for the integrated urban energy system (IUES) is introduced, which considers the reconfigurable capability of an electric distribution network. The hourly topology of a distribution network, a natural gas network, the energy centers including the combined heat and power (CHP) units, different energy conversion devices and demand responsive loads (DRLs), are optimized to minimize the day-ahead operation cost of the IUES. The hourly reconfigurable capability of the electric distribution network utilizing remotely controlled switches (RCSs) is explored and discussed. The operational constraints from the unbalanced three-phase electric distribution network, the natural gas network, and the energy centers are considered. The interactions between the electric distribution network and the natural gas network take place through conversion of energy among different energy vectors in the energy centers. An energy conversion analysis model for the energy center was developed based on the energy hub model. A hybrid optimization method based on genetic algorithm (GA) and a nonlinear interior point method (IPM) is utilized to solve the ODSM model. Numerical studies demonstrate that the proposed ODSM is able to provide the IUES with an effective and economical day-ahead scheduling scheme and reduce the operational cost of the IUES.

Integrated Optimal Power Flow for Distribution Networks in Local and Urban Scales

This paper develops an integrated optimal power flow (OPF) tool for distribution networks in two spatial scales. In the local scale, the distribution network, the natural gas network, and the heat system are coordinated as a microgrid. In the urban scale, the impact of natural gas network is considered as constraints for the distribution network operation. The proposed approach incorporates unbalance three-phase electrical systems, natural gas systems, and combined cooling, heating, and power systems. The interactions among the above three energy systems are described by energy hub model combined with components capacity constraints. In order to efficiently accommodate the nonlinear constraint optimization problem, particle swarm optimization algorithm is employed to set the control variables in the OPF problem. Numerical studies indicate that by using the OPF method, the distribution network can be economically operated. Also, the tie-line power can be effectively managed.

At the dawn of Italo-Chinese modern relations: Ludovico Nocentini's experience

In 1904 Ludovico Nocentini described China as a hub of colonial and commercial development for European powers. Europe in the Far East and the Italian Interests in China was Nocentini’s last and most critical book, in which he compared the performance of the Italian government with that of other countries and showed Rome’s inefficiency overseas. The book expatiated on the “carving up” of China into spheres of influence by the Western powers, while examining how the Italian government’s scant regard for the definition and pursuit of the country’s national interest jeopardized not only the development of its colonial policy, but also its foreign trade and industrial progress.

‘Article 16’ Provision, Commentary on the Law of the International Criminal Court

The Commentary on the Law of the International Criminal Court provides an online provision-by-provision analysis of the Rome Statute and the Rules of Procedure and Evidence of the International Criminal Court.

British economic growth 1270-1870

This is a definitive new account of Britain's economic evolution from a backwater of Europe in 1270 to the hub of the global economy in 1870. For the first time Britain's national accounts are reconstructed right back into the thirteenth century to show what really happened quantitatively during the centuries leading up to the Industrial Revolution. Contrary to traditional views of the earlier period as one of Malthusian stagnation, they reveal how the transition to modern economic growth built on the earlier foundations of a persistent upward trend in GDP per capita which doubled between 1270 and 1700. Featuring comprehensive estimates of population, land use, agricultural production, industrial and service-sector production and GDP per capita, as well as analysis of their implications, this is an essential reference work for those interest in British economic history and the origins of modern economic growth more generally.

Jaquard Laquer

In 2010 Avella worked with the Yves St Laurent (YSL) textiles research team to find elements for a coating that could be applied to weave surfaces in the form of a ‘laquer’ finish. Working with industrial chemists, Avella designed a Jaquard weave pattern to function as substrate for this laquer coating. Successfully used to make womenswear with a high gloss finish, this textile was patented before being displayed in 2010 and much imitated in other collections. Continuing this research for the following collection Avella pursued experiments in laboratory-based industrial chemistry to find a liquid coating that could, like ‘laquer’, be applied as a surface finish to textiles. The resulting metallic iridescent surface was first used in the 20?? Collection (Intellectual Property YSL). Whilst the culture of neophilia in Womenswear fashion at YSL demands permanent innovation for stylistic rather than functional reasons, the innovations in the surface coatings of textiles has potential instrumentality which Avella brings to the resources of the RCA Materials For Living Research Hub and its Inspiring Matter Biennial Conference (2012). Cross disciplinary knowledge transfer between design practices is fundamental to research as process in the School of Material, and textile, as medium, has particularly conformable properties which are especially valuable to this. Anthropologist Susanne Kuechler describes woven textiles as having ’profound meaning as agents of boundary creation’, and Avella’s textiles innovations explore the complexity of the garment as boundary between ‘inside’ and ‘outside’.

Restoring function after neuromuscular trauma: novel paradigms for enhancing volitional control of neural activity in untethered environments and vHAB, a gamified therapy platform

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Washington, 2016-08

The Legitimacy Process that Supports the Formation and Development of Cluster Initiatives : The Case of a Tourism Cluster Initiative in Dalarna

Today, large public investments are being made with the aim of creating and developing cooperation between businesses in inter-organizational networks. Such initiatives are commonly denoted cluster initiatives and their underlying purpose are to spur innovation and regional growth. Much research has been conducted in this field, but relatively few studies have examined the process of cluster initiatives. By following the case of a regional cluster project within the tourism industry in the region of Dalarna, Sweden, the objective of this thesis is to deepen the understanding of the formation and development process of cluster initiatives. The investigation has been conducted by examining two main themes; the internal relationships within the cluster initiative and the relationships between the cluster initiative and its external stakeholders, such as funding agencies, regional government and local businesses. The analysis is based on a legitimacy perspective and indicates that the coordinating body of the cluster initiative, the hub, principally deals with a legitimation process. What occurs within the cluster initiative, between the members themselves and between the members and the hub, is legitimation. This also applies to external relationships, between the hub and its external stakeholders. A prerequisite for the realization of its mission is that the hub obtain and sustain legitimacy; legitimacy for itself, for the other members, for the idea, for the different activities and for the industry as such.

Negotiating Community and Nation in Chợ Lớn: Nation-building, Community-building and Transnationalism in Everyday Life during the Republic of Việt Nam, 1955-1975

Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Washington, 2016-06

Beyond the bottom line: redefining the value of design in SME formation

For SMEs to operate in the complex and globalised economic landscape of today engaging with innovation can sustain competitive advantage. Within Design Management, design is being increasingly posited as a strategic resource to facilitate the absorption of new design resources and leverage design knowledge in ways that support SMEs through such economic pressures. Evidencing the relationship between design and economic performance is complex, leading to extensive current research and industry efforts to show how design adds economic value. Despite the value of such efforts, it is important to recognise that innovation means different things to different organizations, especially for start-ups and SMEs. Within the rising tide of design-led innovation, there is a gap being explored in how design can effectively capture and evaluate its contribution within the complex and diverse situations of business development it engages. In seeking to address this gap, this paper presents findings from research undertaken within Design in Action (DiA), an AHRC-funded knowledge exchange hub. Presenting DiA as a single case study, the paper offers methodical reflection on five case example start-up businesses funded by DiA in order to explore the value that design-led innovation approaches offered in their formation.

Sharing the vision: representing the matters of concern for design-led fledgling companies in Scotland

Design is being performed on an ever-increasing spectrum of complex practices arising in response to emerging markets and technologies, co-design, digital interaction, service design and cultures of innovation. This emerging notion of design has led to an expansive array of collaborative and facilitation skills to demonstrate and share how such methods can shape innovation. The meaning of these design things in practice can't be taken for granted as matters of fact, which raises a key challenge for design to represent its role through the contradictory nature of matters of concern. This paper explores an innovative, object-oriented approach within the field of design research, visually combining an actor-network theory framework with situational analysis, to report on the role of design for fledgling companies in Scotland, established and funded through the knowledge exchange hub Design in Action (DiA). Key findings and visual maps are presented from reflective discussions with actors from a selection of the businesses within DiA's portfolio. The suggestion is that any notions of strategic value, of engendering meaningful change, of sharing the vision of design, through design things, should be grounded in the reflexive interpretations of matters of concern that emerge.

Playing with sound and gesture in digital audio games

This article introduces the genre of a digital audio game and discusses selected play interaction solutions implemented in the Audio Game Hub, a prototype designed and evaluated in the years 2014 and 2015 at the Gamification Lab at Leuphana University Lüneburg.1 The Audio Game Hub constitutes a set of familiar playful activities (aiming at a target, reflex-based reacting to sound signals, labyrinth exploration) and casual games (e.g. Tetris, Memory) adapted to the digital medium and converted into the audio sphere, where the player is guided predominantly or solely by sound. The authors will discuss the design questions raised at early stages of the project, and confront them with the results of user experience testing performed on two groups of sighted and one group of visually impaired gamers.

Étude expérimentale de l'écoulement en entrée d'aspirateur d'une turbine bulbe

Ce mémoire présente l’étude expérimentale de l’écoulement d’entrée d’un aspirateur d’une turbine bulbe présentant une chute abrupte de performance. Des mesures par vélocimétrie laser à effet Doppler (LDV) ont été réalisées sur deux axes soit en aval des pales de la roue et en aval du moyeu de la roue. Une particularité de cette étude est la conception d’un montage permettant de mesurer la vitesse axiale proche de la paroi du cône. De plus, une méthode d’estimation de la vitesse radiale moyenne a été développée. Ces mesures ont permis de caractériser l’écoulement primaire et les écoulements secondaires et d’analyser leur évolution entre les deux axes. De plus, l’évolution de ces écoulements est analysée en fonction de la chute de performance de la turbine. Les principales particularités de l’écoulement sont la présence d’une recirculation sous le moyeu, d’une zone contrarotative, des sillages des directrices et des tourbillons de bout de pale.

CAREGIVING FOR A FAMILY MEMBER WITH HEAD AND NECK CANCER

Objective: To know the perception of informal caregivers regarding the care for a family member with head and neck cancer. Methods: Qualitative study conducted between March and May 2014 in the radiotherapy outpatient center of the Centro de Alta Complexidade em Oncologia – CACON (Oncology High Complexity Center) of the Hospital Universitário de Brasília – HUB (University Hospital of Brasília) using semi-structured interviews with nine caregivers about the experience of caring for family members. Data underwent Content Analysis and four units of meaning were identified: “Representation of cancer in the Family”, “The care as debt, individual reward or reconstruction of family ties”, “Repercussions of cancer on the caregiver’s personal life” and “Social support and network used by caregivers”. Results: Feelings of sadness and surprise at the moment of diagnosis were attributed to cancer, as well as the idea of punishment. The care was seen as personal satisfaction, accomplishment and opportunity for family rapprochement. Work overload and change in routine were altered functions. Religiosity, exchange of experience in the waiting room and institutional support appeared as coping strategies. Conclusion: The experience of caring for family members with head and neck cancer directly interferes in the lives of caregivers. Pointing out the institutional embracement as a strategy within the social network reinforces the importance of integrating the caregivers as a significant part of the health care plan developed by the health team.

CONSTRUCCIÓN DE ESPACIOS DE INFORMACIÓN PARA GARANTIZAR EL ACCESO AL CONOCIMIENTO EN LAS POBLACIONES INDÍGENAS: EL CASO DE COSTA RICA

Esta ponencia se basa en el proyecto CENTRO DE CONOCIMIENTO PARA GRUPOS INDÍGENAS CENTROAMERICANOS (GEIC), coordinado por la Escuela de Bibliotecología, Documentación e Información (EBDI) de la Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica, (UNA), su objetivo es “proponer la construcción de espacios de información para la población indígena, a partir del proyecto CENTRO DE CONOCIMIENTO PARA GRUPOS INDÍGENAS CENTROAMERICANOS y con esta ponencia se pretende presentar las lecciones aprendidas durante 2003-2007, años de recolección y análisis de datos, de establecimiento de relaciones, de coordinar actividades y ejecutar acciones tendientes a garantizar el cumplimiento al derecho de acceso a la información de las poblaciones indígenas costarricenses.El objetivo de GEIC fue crear un Centro de Conocimiento sobre/de Grupos Étnicos Indígenas Centroamericanos que sirviera de eje central para la consolidación del desarrollo de procesos tendientes a fortalecer la temática y el desarrollo de los grupos étnicos indígenas centroamericanos.El proyecto inició en el 2003, pero al no contar con personal permanente, se interrumpe su proceso hasta enero de 2004, con el desarrollo de la primera etapa, que comprende implementar cinco objetivos en Costa Rica. En posteriores etapas se espera integrar a los demás países centroamericanos.La población indígena costarricense corresponde a 63,876 personas, representando el 1.6% de la población nacional; existen ocho grupos socioculturales indígenas distintos, Cabécares, Bribris, Ngäbe, Térrabas, Borucas, Huetares, Malekus y Chorotegas, habitan en 24 territorios y hablan en 6 idiomas indígenas. A ellos se deben sumar poblaciones indígenas migratorias como los Miskitos de Nicaragua y Ngäbes de Panamá que trabajan en la producción agrícola en distintas zonas del país. El Proyecto GEIC, buscó la ejecución de la propuesta de creación de una unidad de información especializada en asuntos indígenas, en Shiroles Talamanca, para esto se realizó una investigación diagnóstica en la zona, determinando los recursos disponibles: tecnológicos, humanos, económicos y educacionales. En la actualidad se está gestionando y buscando financiamiento en instituciones locales, nacionales, e internacionales para cubrir los costos, aspecto que resulta un poco difícil por la falta de valoración de la importancia de la información en las comunidades indígenas.Otra actividad paralela a ésta es la construcción de un portal disponible en la dirección: http://www.una.ac.cr/bibliotecología/proyectogeic, y que fue avalado por las comunidades indígenas, con la participación de los y las protagonistas. En esa oportunidad se les explicó cada sección del mismo y se les solicitó sus observaciones y comentarios al respecto para involucrarlos(as) y se sintieran apropiados(as) de la misma.