bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Realitization and Testing of Mini Extruder for Biomaterial Filament in Biomedical Application
Authors: Whulanza Yudan
Published: July 2017

The use of biomaterials in tissue engineering technique requires an engineered scaffold that allow the cells to be growth. Therefore, a specific biomaterial is required to provide a supportive environment for the seeding cell. This study focused on the design and realization of mini-extruder to produce a biocompatible filament material. Later, the filament is applied in a fused deposition modelling to realize biocompatible scaffold. The extruder uses a single screw extruder of 25mm diameter with compression ratio of 2. Moreover, the extruder has an effective length of 305mm with a screw length ratio of the feed zone and metering zone by 20% and 40%. A forming die used has a diameter of 1.7mm. At the end of the realization step, the device was tested to produce the filament with various parameters which are screw rotational speed, winding speed, temperature and torque. Characterization of the produced filaments were done by measuring the diameter of filaments using the material of polycaprolactone (PCL). The filament results have a range of 0.05-1.48mm in diameter during the testing process.
Implementasi Metode Importance-Performance Matrix Untuk Evaluasi Dan Peningkatan Pelayanan Jasa Care Cleaners
Authors: Utami Ruli , Atmojo Suryo
Published: July 2017

Kualitas merupakan tonggak utama dari industri bidang jasa, karena kualitas akan sangat mempengaruhi tingkat kepuasan dan loyalitas pelanggan terhadap konsumsi jasa yang di sediakan. “ABC” care cleaners merupakan franchise yang menyediakan layanan dan penyediaan jasa personal care dalam pencucian serta penyetrikaan pakaian. Untuk penentuan strategi pelayanan, maka di lakukan analisa terhadap loyalitas pelanggan (kepuasan), serta penilaian terhadap performa pelayanan perusahaan (kinerja). Analisa dilakukan pada sampling kuisioner terhadap 100 responden dengan materi 45 atribut atau variabel yang saling berpengaruh. Dari hasil pengolahan data menggunakan Importance-Performance Matrix, diperoleh nilai NIKi (importance) adalah sebesar 3.34 dan nilai NIKp (performance) sebesar 3.16. Hal ini menunjukkan bahwa pelanggan memiliki ekspektasi yang tinggi terhadap performa pelayanan perusahaan, sehingga harus ada perbaikan dan peningkatan pada variabel yang saling berpengaruh pada performa pelayanan. Dari hasil pemetaan diagram kartesius Importance-Performance Matrix, diperoleh 6 variabel yang harus ditingkatkan kualitasnya pada “ABC” care cleaners. Sehingga peneliti mengusulkan beberapa langkah yang dapat diambil oleh manajemen sebagai upaya dalam peningkatan layanan terhadap pelanggan.
Analisis Pengaruh System Quality, Information Quality, Service Quality Terhadap Net Benefit Pada Sistem KRS-Online UMM
Authors: Fathoni Muhammad Asrar , Marthasari Gita Indah , Suharso Wildan
Published: July 2017

Implementasi sistem informasi KRS-online dalam perkuliahan digunakan untuk membantu proses penyusunan KRS oleh setiap mahasiswa Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang. Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengukur dan menguji variabel-variabel serta indikator yang mempengaruhi kesuksesan sistem informasi KRS-online UMM. Model penelitian ini mengadopsi model penelitian DeLone and Mclean IS Success. Kuesioner yang disusun dalam penelitian ini disebarkan kepada 100 responden yang memiliki kualifikasi sebagai mahasiswa pengguna sistem KRS-online. Uji validitas dan uji reliabilitas dilakukan untuk memperoleh data yang valid dan reliabel. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa kualitas sistem memiliki pengaruh yang signifikan terhadap kepuasan pengguna, kualitas informasi memiliki pengaruh yang signifikan terhadap kepuasan pengguna, kualitas layanan memiliki pengaruh yang signifikan terhadap kepuasan pengguna dan kepuasan pengguna memiliki pengaruh yang signifikan terhadap net benefit. Berdasarkan hasil Analisis ditunjukkan bahwa kesuksesan sistem informasi KRS-online UMM memiliki persentase sebesar 70,5% yang artinya kesuksesan sistem informasi KRS-online UMM berada pada tingkatan sukses.
Prototype Sistem Multi-Telemetri Wireless Untuk Mengukur Suhu Udara Berbasis Mikrokontroler ESP8266 Pada Greenhouse
Authors: Nida Hanum Shirotu , Faiqurahman Mahar , Sari Zamah
Published: July 2017

Telemetri wireless adalah proses pengukuran parameter suatu obyek yang hasil pengukurannya dikirimkan ke tempat lain melalui proses pengiriman data tanpa menggunakan kabel (wireless), sedangkan multi telemetri adalah gabungan dari beberapa telemeteri itu sendiri. Penelitian ini merancang prototype sistem multi-telemetri wireless untuk mengukur suhu udara dan kelembaban udara pada greenhouse dengan menggunakan sensor DHT11 dan data hasil dari pembacaan sensor dikirim dengan menggunakan modul WiFi ESP8266 ke server dengan menggunakan protokol HTTP. Dalam penelitian ini diuji nilai sensor DHT11, heap memory ESP8266, jarak atau jangkauan ESP8266, uji coba data missing handling dan kestabilan jaringan. Berdasarkan hasil pengujian diketahui bahwa sensor DHT11 memiliki rata-rata kesalahan ukur suhu 0.92 oC dan kelembaban 3.1%. Modul WiFi ESP8266 mampu menyimpan dan mengirim buffer hingga 100 data dan dapat melakukan pengiriman dalam jangkauan 50 meter. Data missing handling memanfaatkan buffer untuk menyimpan data selama server sedang tidak dapat diakses oleh sensor node agar data tidak hillang. Kestabilan pengiriman data atau koneksi sensor node dengan server dipengaruhi oleh jumlah access point yang sedang berkomunikasi disekitar access point server dengan menggunakan channel yang sama.
Analisis Perbandingan Performansi Protokol Ad Hoc On-Demand Distance Vector dan Zone Routing Protocol Pada Mobile Ad Hoc Network
Authors: Kusuma Bayu Satria , Risqiwati Diah , Akbi Denar Regata
Published: July 2017

Jaringan Ad Hoc adalah jaringan wireless dengan beberapa Mobile node yang tidak memiliki router tetap. Setiap node ini dapat berfungsi sebagai router yang dapat mencari dan menangani jalur ke node yang lain dalam suatu jaringan. Setiap node pada jaringan bersifat Mobile sehingga topologi dari jaringannya selalu berubah-ubah. AODV dan ZRP merupakan contoh routing protocol yang efisien untuk jaringan Ad Hoc pada tipe routing protocol masing-masing. AODV untuk tipe routing protocol reactive dan ZRP untuk tipe routing protocol hybrid. Setiap routing protocol tentu akan memiliki kemampuan yang berbeda dalam kecepatan mencari jalur routing dan kemampuan pengiriman jumlah packet dalam jaringan, sehingga Quality of Service (QoS) untuk setiap routing protocol juga berbeda. Oleh karena itu, menjadi penting untuk mengetahui kecepatan dan efisiensi routing protocol dalam menentukan routing yang akan digunakan dalam studi kasus. Dalam Penelitian melakukan analisis QoS jaringan ad hoc pada routing protocol AODV dan ZRP dengan parameter yang di uji adalah End to End Delay, Jitter, Packet Delivery Ratio dan Throughput. Setelah data terkumpul, dilakukan analisa dengan melihat QoS setiap protocol routing. Hasil pengujian memperlihatkan bahwa masing-masing routing protocol yang diteliti, routing protocol AODV memiliki waktu yang lebih cepat dalam proses pengiriman packet ke node selanjutnya dengan nilai rata-rata 0.3134 detik dari pada routing protocol ZRP yang memiliki nilai 0.3891 detik. Untuk jumlah packet yang terkirim routing protocol ZRP lebih baik dengan rata-rata throughput 963.34 Kb dibandingkan dengan routing protocol AODV.
Customer Service Expectations from South African Alcoholic Beverage Suppliers in Urban and Rural Areas
Authors: Beukes Jacques , Prinsloo Hein , Pelser Theuns G
Published: July 2017

South African alcoholic beverage suppliers (SAABS) have to focus their efforts on quality customer service as a means of differentiation. Quality of service is a competitive advantage and serves as a marketing tool for many companies; it also contributes to customer loyalty and retention. Offering quality service is considered an essential strategy for success and survival in today’s competitive business market. A commitment to quality must start from the top of any organisation, be it a service delivery company or a manufacturing or merchandising business, and spiral down to the bottom. SAABS need to understand their customers’ perceptions of the service offering, their existing relationship with the company and their levels of satisfaction. The study set out to measure the service delivery expectations and realisations of customers that receive delivery from SAABS based on their geographical location. It required the implementation of a descriptive research method. The target population comprised customers of SAABS situated in the Gauteng, Western Cape and North West Provinces of South Africa. A sample size of 926 was realised. The results from the study indicate that customers expect the SAABS to deliver on all five service quality dimensions but fail to do so to their satisfaction. If the SAABS used the proposed customer relationship management (CRM) framework, it can improve on their service delivery and customer service. This, in the long run, will improve customer satisfaction, loyalty and retention.
Effectiveness of Monetary Policy and the Growth of Industrial Sector in China
Authors: Kutu Adebayo Augustine , Nzimande Ntokozo Patrick , Msomi Simiso
Published: July 2017

China is viewed as the pillar of Emerging Market Economies (EMEs), deems to surpassed United State, and become the topmost industrialized country in the world with the prospects of major shift in the future world power. However, growth rate has slow down since the third quarter of 2014. Through this paper, we aim at investigating the impacts of monetary policy on industrial sector growth, and determine whether the long-run industrial sector growth in China can be foster by the effectiveness of monetary policy. It also examines the interrelationships among the variables employed and determines the steady-state relationships between industrial sector growth and monetary policy. Time-series econometric techniques such as unit roots, ARDL and ECM are employed to monthly data for the year 1994:1 to 2013:12.According to the empirical results derived, the effectiveness of monetary policy significantly affects industrial sector growth and the short-run impact of monetary policy on industrial output production is established.
The Dynamics of Foreign Direct Investment in BRICS Countries
Authors: Tsaurai Kunofiwa
Published: July 2017

Recent studies which investigated the determinants of foreign direct investment (FDI) in BRICS include Hsin-Hong and Shou-Ronne (2012), Nandi (2012), Jadhav (2012), Darzini and Amirmojahedi (2013), Nischith (2013), Ho et al. (2013), Kaur et al. (2013) and Priya and Archana (2014). The findings from these studies shows lack of consensus and confirm that a list of agreeable determinants of FDI in BRICS countries is still an unsettled matter. This paper was therefore initiated in order to contribute to the debate on the discourse on FDI determinants in BRICS countries.This paper deviates from earlier similar studies in five ways: (1) uses most recent data, (2) is the first to investigate whether a combination of financial development, trade openness, human capital, economic growth and inflation influence FDI in BRICS countries, (3) uses different proxies of the variables that affect FDI, (4) employed both fixed effects and pooled ordinary least squares (OLS) approaches and (5) used a stacked data approach.The results of the study showed that economic growth, trade openness and exchange rate stability positively impacted on FDI, financial development positively influenced FDI under fixed effects, FDI was positively influenced by human capital development using the pooled OLS and inflation negatively affected FDI in line with literature. Taking into account these findings, this study urges BRICS to implement policies that increase financial sector efficiency and economic growth, maintain stable exchange rates, keep inflation rates at lower levels, enhance trade openness and human capital development in order to increase FDI inflows.
A Look at the Liquidity Management Practices of Banks in South Africa
Authors: Mashamba Tafirei , Kwenda Farai
Published: July 2017

In an effort to strengthen bank liquidity-risk management practices, the Basel Committee proposed new liquidity requirements for banks in 2010 under the Basel III framework. However, despite the good intentions of the liquidity requirements the new regulations are likely to present some challenges for banks in the course of managing their liquidity. However, before any inference can be made about the possible implications of the liquidity standards on bank liquidity management practices, it is imperative to have insight into the current liquidity management strategies of banks. This paper seeks to determine the current liquidity management practices of banks in South Africa by examining whether South African banks have target liquidity levels which they pursue and also by determining the variables that drive bank liquidity ratios. The study sample comprised six commercial banks operating in South Africa over the period 1993 to 2009. For analysis, a partial adjustment model was developed and estimated using the generalized method of moments (GMM) estimator. The rate at which South African banks adjust their balance sheets was estimated at 8%. This adjustment speed implies that South African banks adjust their balance sheets slowly – probably due to high adjustment costs. Thus, South African listed banks have passively managed their liquidity and partially adjust their liquidity levels in an attempt to reach the optimal level. Furthermore, the following variables were considered to be the main drivers of liquidity ratios in South Africa: bank size, capital adequacy, loan loss reserves, and financial crisis.
Savings Mobilization and Financial Development during the Multicurrency Regime Period in Zimbabwe
Authors: Tsaurai Kunofiwa
Published: July 2017

This paper seeks to investigate the relationship between savings and financial development in Zimbabwe using both autoregressive distributive lag (ARDL) and vector error correction model (VECM) approaches for comparison purposes with monthly time series data from January 2009 to August 2015. Four distinct hypotheses emerged from the literature and these are the savings-led financial development, financial development-led savings, feedback effect and the insignificant/no relationship hypothesis. The existence of diverging and contradicting views in empirical literature on the subject matter is evidence that the linkage between savings and financial development is still far from being concluded. Both F-Bounds and Johansen co-integration tests observed that there is a long run relationship between savings and financial development in Zimbabwe. What is even more unique about this study is that both ARDL and VECM noted the presence of a bi-directional causality relationship between savings and financial development in the short and long run in Zimbabwe. The implication of this study is that in order to increase economic growth, Zimbabwe authorities should increase savings mobilization efforts in order to boost financial development, which in turn attracts more savings inflow into the formal financial system.
Threshold Cointegration and Nonlinear Causality test between Inflation Rate and Repo Rate
Authors: Makatjane Katleho , Moroke Ntebogang , Xaba Diteboho
Published: July 2017

The current study investigated a cointegration and nonlinear causality relationships between inflation and repo rates of South Africa using the data spanning the period of January 2002 to March 2016. We used a threshold vector error correction model (TVECM) and nonlinear Granger frameworks causality to carry out the analysis. Preliminary analysis of data revealed the expected properties of the data such as nonlinearity, non-stationarity and co-movement of the variables. The two variables confirmed to be moving together in the long-run according to the observed supWald test statistic. Finally, the Diks-Panchenko nonlinear Causality test revealed a strong bidirectional nonlinear causal relationship between repo rate and inflation rate. The results imply that the use of repo rate to target the inflation rate during the target period did not address the financial problem in South Africa. Consequently, the study concluded that repo rate may not be a good measure to use for controlling inflation rates of South Africa.
Evaluating Entrepreneurial Features of Firm’s Growth Using Confirmatory Factor Analysis
Authors: M Arthur-Aidoo B , C Aigbavboa , D Thwala W
Published: July 2017

The growth of Small and medium-size firms cannot ensue without the entrepreneurial features and the environment that the firm operates. The entrepreneurial characteristics, therefore, are vital due to the unique individualism of firm owners or sponsors. Construction SME growth-oriented firms are a significant contributor to Ghana's economic gain. Conversely, the concept of growth varies from one entrepreneur to the others depending on the exhibited skills by the entrepreneurs, hence entrepreneurial features. Numerous factors influence the entrepreneurial features as a factor of firm’s growth. Some are of the factors are established and categorised as having strong influence while others are classified weak. This study, therefore, adopted the confirmatory factor analytical technique to justify the factors after exploring. To achieve the goal of the study, respondents such as firm owners, SME managers and construction professionals engaged by SMEs as the population were administered with questionnaires. In all, 315 questionnaires were given out in the form of semi-structured structured, but only 228 were retrieved for analysis representing a responds rate of 72 percent. The study established Cronbach alpha and composite reliability values that predicted the entrepreneurial feature as a subsequent determinant of firm’s growth. Additionally, the hypothesis was supported statistically suggesting that there is a direct relationship between entrepreneurial features and firm growth.
The use of Postponement Decisions in Determining Supply Chain Strategies of Light Vehicle Manufacturers in South Africa
Authors: Ambe Intaher Marcus
Published: July 2017

This article investigates the use of postponement decisions in determining the supply chain strategies of light vehicle manufacturers in South Africa. The article is exploratory and descriptive in nature. A survey was conducted among light vehicle manufacturers and the findings analysed by means of descriptive statistics. The results revealed that postponement decisions could be used to determine the supply chain architecture used by light vehicle manufacturers in South Africa. With regard to postponement decisions, the study found that all the light vehicle manufacturers made use of a lean supply chain strategy, while a few made use of an agile supply chain strategy. The results also revealed that all the production lines engaged in full speculation based on projected forecasting, and therefore employed a lean supply chain strategy. In terms of the postponement decisions made in line with the parent company of origin, European manufacturers 1 and 2 kept a work-in-progress inventory of stock to be customised for a particular customer. These manufacturers thus employed a lean and agile supply chain strategy, while most of the manufacturers adopted a lean supply chain strategy. All the manufacturers, except Asian manufacturer 1 and the American manufacturer, employed both lean and agile supply chain strategies. Therefore, the majority of the light vehicle manufacturers employed lean supply chain strategies in their inbound and outbound supply chain, while a few employed an agile supply chain strategy in their outbound supply chain, there by indicating leaglity. The article provides evidence of some form of postponement practice being followed by light vehicle manufacturers.
Thematic Collection: Alvars in Canada
Authors: Brunton Daniel F. , Catling Paul M.
Published: July 2017

This is the first Thematic Collection of The Canadian Field–Naturalist, an initiative of the Ottawa Field-Naturalists’ Club (OFNC) Publications Committee. Thematic Collections are editor-selected compilations ofpreviously published contributions to both The Canadian Field-Naturalist (CFN) and to the OFNC’s regional publication, Trail & Landscape (T&L), on a central theme with links to each article. The articles concern alvar landscapes, species that occur on alvars, and the conservation of alvar habitats. We estimate that the titles assembled here from those two publications represent 50% of the important papers published on Canadianalvars.
Audit Firms as Networks of Offices
Authors: Seavey Scott E. , Imhof Michael J , Westfall Tiffany J.
Published: July 2017

Prior audit research suggests that most, if not all, audit quality can be explained at the office level. However, the question remains of whether office-level audit quality is contingent on how individual offices relate to the firm as a whole. Motivated by theories of knowledge management, organizational learning, and networks, we posit that individual offices are connected to their audit network through partner knowledge sharing and oversight, which impact office-level audit quality. We interview Big 4 audit partners and learn that knowledge sharing between partners in different offices is common and intended to aid in the provision of audit services. Using network connectedness to proxy for knowledge sharing and oversight between offices of the same firm, we document that more connected offices are associated with fewer client restatements and lower discretionary accruals. We additionally find that network effects are magnified when accounting treatments are more complex and require greater auditor judgement.
Is It Time to Change the Type 2 Diabetes Treatment Paradigm? No! Metformin Should Remain the Foundation Therapy for Type 2 Diabetes
Authors: Inzucchi Silvio E.
Published: July 2017

Most treatment guidelines, including those from the American Diabetes Association/European Association for the Study of Diabetes and the International Diabetes Federation, suggest metformin be used as the first-line therapy after diet and exercise. This recommendation is based on the considerable body of evidence that has accumulated over the last 30 years, but it is also supported on clinical grounds based on metformin’s affordability and tolerability. As such, metformin is the most commonly used oral antihyperglycemic agent in the U.S. However, based on the release of newer agents over the recent past, some have suggested that the modern approach to disease management should be based upon identification of its etiology and correcting the underlying biological disturbances. That is, we should use interventions that normalize or at least ameliorate the recognized derangements in physiology that drive the clinical manifestation of disease, in this circumstance, hyperglycemia. Thus, it is argued that therapeutic interventions that target glycemia but do not correct the underlying pathogenic disturbances are unlikely to result in a sustained benefit on the disease process. In our field, there is an evolving debate regarding the suggested first step in diabetes management and a call for a new paradigm. Given the current controversy, we provide a Point-Counterpoint debate on this issue. In the point narrative that precedes the counterpoint narrative below, Drs. Abdul-Ghani and DeFronzo provide their argument that a treatment approach for type 2 diabetes based upon correcting the underlying pathophysiological abnormalities responsible for the development of hyperglycemia provides the best therapeutic strategy. Such an approach requires a change in the recommendation for first-line therapy from metformin to a GLP-1 receptor agonist. In the counterpoint narrative below, Dr. Inzucchi argues that based on the medical community’s extensive experience and the drug’s demonstrated efficacy, safety, low cost, and cardiovascular benefits, metformin should remain the “foundation therapy” for all patients with type 2 diabetes, barring contraindications.

—William T. Cefalu

Chief Scientific, Medical & Mission Officer, American Diabetes Association
Prevalence of anemia in geriatric population of Kashmir: A hospital based study
Authors: Hilal Nazia , Mushtaq Azher
Published: July 2017

Anemia is a common concern in geriatric age group in developing countries. The purpose of this study was to identify the common causes and types of anemia in elderly patients in educationally backward region with limited access to quality health care. This was an observational study was done in Shri Maharaja Hari Singh (SMHS) Hospital of Government Medical College Srinagar, over a period of two years. 2000 patients above 60 years of age attending the outpatient clinic were screened for anemia based on WHO criteria. A random and non-consecutive selection of 100 anemic patients was done to study the morphological type and cause of anemia. 1160 (58%) patients were males and 840 (42%) were females.  Total 812 out of 840 (96.67%) females and 738 out of 1160 (63.62%) males were found to be anemic. Maximum numbers of anemic patients were found in the age group 60-69 years. Mean age was 74.5 years. All the types of anemia based on peripheral smear were evident, normocytic being the commonest constituting 77.5%, followed by microcytic hypochromic 11.1%, macrocytic 7.05% and dimorphic 4.35%. 21% were lost to follow up and almost one fourth of the patients (24%) needed further evaluation before labelling them as having anemia due to old age. The common causes of anemia noted were gastrointestinal malignancy (31%), renal insufficiency (15%) and tuberculosis (9%). The inability to evaluate anemia in elderly individuals can lead to delay in the diagnosis of treatable as well as threatening disease conditions.
Hematological parameters are acutely effected by cement dust exposure in construction workers
Authors: Farheen Ayesha , Hazari Mohammed Abdul Hannan , Khatoon Farisa , Sultana Fareen , Qudsiya Sanam Maria
Published: July 2017

Cement dust poses an occupational hazard causing respiratory (owing to its inhalation), dermatological, ocular and hematological problems. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the effect of occupational exposure of cement dust on hematological parameters in construction workers. Apparently healthy sixty five (65) adult male construction workers aged 25-50 years participated in this study. Three (3.0) ml venous blood samples were collected from each participant for hematological analysis at two different time points, one at 8 AM and second at 4 PM at the end of work shift. Differences in means and test of significance were calculated using paired Student’s t-test. The results revealed that post shift samples showed statistically significant increase (p<0.05) in mean total leukocyte count (TLC), lymphocyte %, monocyte % and eosinophil %  and statistically significant decrease (p<0.05) in mean hemoglobin, red blood cell (RBC) count, packed cell volume (PCV) and platelet count. The present study confirms that hematological parameters are significantly effected in construction workers which may be attributed to the work atmosphere predominated with cement dust.
Study of intraocular pressure among individuals working on computer screens for long hours
Authors: Qudsiya Sanam Maria , Khatoon Farisa , Khader Aftab Abdul , Ali Mohammed Asghar , Hazari Mohammed Abdul Hannan , Sultana Fareen , Farheen Ayesha
Published: July 2017

In today’s world computers are ubiquitous and found in different forms which can effect intraocular pressure (IOP). Present study was undertaken to find out effect of day-to-day exposure to computer screen on IOP in normal individuals. 70 individuals (who met the screening conditions and devoid of obvious ocular pathology and systemic diseases) had their IOP’s checked before and 4 hour after computer session on same day, all working in general day shift, involving reading English printed material. The results showed significant (p<0.005) increase with IOP values before exposure being 17.89±3.25 and 16.99±2.84 and after exposure being 19.67±3.4 and 18.70±2.4 in left and right eye respectively. Increase in IOP was noted in 70% and 67% individuals in left and right eye. Differences in IOP of right and left eye may be due to dominance of eye or direction of script from left to right.
Supply voltage effects on the operation of residential air conditioning appliances: Experimental analysis
Authors: J.M.Maza Ortega  , M. Burgos Payán  , J.M. Romero Gordón  , M. Pinilla Rodríguez
Published: July 2017

The deregulation of the electric energy market and the difficulties related to distribution network such as the congestion, the increasing growth of the installed power density in urban zones, the growth of the delivery-provided energy and the spectacular increase that the peak power experiences are new problems to be faced by the utility engineers. So, the knowledge of the load behaviour is becoming more and more important in the planning and operation of the electric energy distribution network. In this paper, the influence of domestic air conditioning equipment, one of the most energy consuming domestic loads in Spain, in the electrical energy distribution network is addressed. The research is focused on the analysis of the voltage supply effects on the operation of home air conditioning appliances from an experimental point of view
3-phase 4-wire shunt active power filter with renewable energy interface
Authors: J. G. Pinto  , R. Pregitzer  , Luís F. C. Monteiro  , João L. Afonso
Published: July 2017

This paper presents a three-phase four-wire Shunt Active Filter that compensates power quality problems and can also interface renewable energy sources with the electric grid. The inverter stage of the active filter is based in a two-level four-leg inverter and its control is based in the Theory of Instantaneous Reactive Power (p-q Theory). The filter is capable of compensating power factor, unbalance, and current harmonics. Additionally it can also make the interface between renewable energy sources and the electrical system, injecting balanced practically sinusoidal currents (with low THD).
Use of photovoltaic systems for rural electrification in Thailand
Authors: N. Rapapate  , Ö. Göl
Published: July 2017

This paper addresses the need for electricity of remote rural communities in Thailand and proposes a minimalist photovoltaic solar home system scheme to supply electricity to non-electrified villages in isolated rural regions in Thailand. Details of the proposed SHS scheme are given. The estimated cost of the proposed scheme is compared with that of a grid extension. The paper reaches the conclusion that the proposal is justifiable on humanitarian, technical and economic grounds.
Integration of multi layer perceptron and design of experiments for forecasting household electricity consumption
Authors: A. Azadeh  , Z.S. Faiz
Published: July 2017

Due to various seasonal and monthly changes in electricity consumption, it is difficult to model it with conventional methods. This paper illustrates an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) approach based on supervised multi layer perceptron (MLP) network for household electricity consumption forecasting. This is the first study which uses MLP for forecasting household electricity consumption. Previous studies base their verification by the difference in error estimation. However this study shows the advantage of MLP methodology through design of experiment (DOE). Moreover, DOE is based on analysis of variance (ANOVA) and Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMLT). Furthermore, actual data is compared with ANN-MLP and conventional regression model. The significance of this study is integration of MLP and DOE for improved processing, development and testing of household electricity consumption. Moreover, it would provide more reliable and precise forecasting for policy makers. To show the applicability and superiority of the integrated approach, annual household electricity consumption in Iran from 1974 to 2003 was collected for processing, training and testing purpose.
Working zones of an AC autonomous switched reluctance generator
Authors: A. Martínez  , J. E. Vicuña  , F.J. Pérez  , B. Martín  , E. Laloya  , T. Pollán  , B. Sánchez  , J. Lladó
Published: July 2017

In this paper it is described the behaviour in steady-state of a Switched Reluctance (SR) machine working in generating mode. Contrary to a standard SR motor working in generating mode to brake the machine in this work it is considered an AC autonomous self-excited generator where the phase inductance resonates with a capacitance yielding to almost sinusoidal currents and voltages. Along an oscillating cycle the machine experiments several kinds of energy transformation among electric, magnetic and mechanic. The paper describes step by step all these possible working zones that the machine experiments within a cycle. For this purpose, the flux linked by a phase as a function of phase current is studied. The linear case is first simulated and the nonlinear case later. To compare the results the peak of phase linked flux is maintained constant. In both cases the output voltage quality is considered through the Total Harmonic Distortion (THD). Additionally, the delivered power is considered under nonlinear conditions.
Risk analysis in renewable energy: Assessment of the vulnerability of the environment and community
Authors: I. Ferraris  , M. D. de la Canal  , C. Labriola
Published: July 2017

As a result of recent accidents, society is becoming more conscious and concerned about the risk that the environment and communities are under to. A proposal of assessment of the vulnerability of the environment and community is presented here under a holistic perspective using Fuzzy Logic as formal tool. An internal factor of the risk of a system under a given threat is assessed. Risk is considered as the union between the threat and the vulnerability of the environment and community. This approach shows that the reduction in either or both of them makes a reduction in the risk content as well. The main purpose of this proposal is not to obtain a single value as output; in fact the result is a map which can contribute to the different areas of the community in decision making.
Analysis of Harmonic distortion in building electrical installation with computer devices
Authors: João Pedro Trovão  , Paulo Pereirinha  , Humberto Jorge
Published: July 2017

This paper presents an analysis of the electrical installation in a educational facility building allowing the knowledge of its power supply quality. The work is based on data supply waveforms and PQ indexes, acquired by recent power analyser, allowing to study the voltage and current waveform distortion of this specific building, where the main load are computer devices. A set of methods and techniques to attenuate the harmonics amplitude in this type of installation is presented and discussed. It is proposed a solution for this case study, function of the total load, installation feeding and of the level of authorized distortion for the international standards. This study can provide some help in the future dimensioning and project of the electrical installation for this type of building, from the point of view of the distortion and the best localization of the problematic loads
Development of a single-phase DSP based power quality analyzer using new signal processing algorithms for detection and classification
Authors: Tomáš Radil  , Fernando M. Janeiro  , Pedro M. Ramos
Published: July 2017

In this paper, the development of a single-phase digital signal processor (DSP) based power quality analyzer is described. In this stage of development, special attention is devoted to the selection of the signal processing algorithms to be implemented in the prototype. The algorithms must be capable of efficiently detecting and classifying the large range of power quality disturbances that can vary immensely either in amplitude or duration. The broad range of disturbance types is also an important factor since different algorithms may be required for the detection of smaller classes of disturbances.
Experimental analysis of power quality issues in a mobile house supplied by renewable energy sources
Authors: Marco Beccali  , Massimiliano Luna  , Marcello Pucci  , Gianpaolo Vitale
Published: July 2017

This paper presents the results of an experimental analysis performed on a renewable hybrid system in order to evaluate the power quality of its electrical power network, which can be influenced by three factors: the variations in the power supplied by renewable energies due to the meteorological conditions, the adopted inverter and its control strategy, which is very meaningful for the performance of the whole system, the presence of non linear loads, which in recent years have dramatically increased. The results of the experimental analysis of the power quality parameters are presented in detail and investigated also with regard to European technical standards. The main parameters which have been investigated are: voltage and current total harmonic distortion, respectively THDV and THDI, voltage variations at fundamental frequency, the effect of insertion/disconnection (tripping) of inverters and flicker. They have been explained and compared with the requirements reported in the European power quality standards.
Experimental analysis of power quality issues in a mobile house supplied by renewable energy sources
Authors: A. Jan Iwaszkiewicz  , B. Jacek Perz
Published: July 2017

The paper presents an approach to the useful theory concerning the  problem  of  generating  high  quality  AC  voltage  and  current  waveforms in multilevel converters. The objective is to describe a novel proposal of AC waveforms synthesis based on applying analytical  methods  using  sets  of  orthogonal  wavelets.  The  discussion  includes  a  short  survey  of  Haar  wavelet  and  a  pro-posal  of  output  waveforms  synthesis  based  on  wavelet  trans-form.  The  comparison  of  the  proposed  method  with  standard  solution is discussed. It has been done by use of such criteria as: average square error and total harmonic distortion (THD).
On wind power integration into electrical power system: Spain vs. Denmark
Authors: Victor Anunciada  , Hugo Ribeiro
Published: July 2017

The concept of power quality monitoring is related with the detection of voltage events in the mains network. The characterization of these voltage events results from standards that define several limits for their amplitudes, duration and maximum number of occurrences within a time period. In the last three decades, the loads connected to the mains network suffered great changes. The number of electronic and sensitive equipment increased considerably, and the old concepts of monitoring are not representative for these loads. This paper presents a new concept of power quality monitoring, related with the susceptibility of sensitive loads. The authors identify the sensitive loads connected to the mains network and develop a study of their susceptibility to voltage perturbations in the mains network. Seven voltage events are defined and a Power Quality Monitor prototype is presented.
Limits for Production or Consumption of energy and substances predicted by thermodynamics
Authors: S. Sieniutycz
Published: July 2017

We describe quantitatively effects of nonlinear transfer phenomena that drive energy generators (thermal engines) and heat pumps. it is shown that these transports can be treated either in a standard way or as peculiar chemical reactions described by appropriate affinities. An approach to nonlinear transports links heat fluxes with differences of temperature in certain power t a . a more recent approach distinguishes in each elementary transfer step two competitive (unidirectional) fluxes and the resulting flux as their difference. we show how the kinetics of this sort can be implemented into the contemporary theory of thermal energy generators.
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Voltage and reactive power control in MV networks integrating MicroGrids
Authors: A. G. Madureira  , J. A. Peças Lopes
Published: July 2017

The main objective of this paper is to describe a strategy to deal with the voltage/reactive power problem for a MV distribution network integrating microgrids. The global problem, concerning all voltage levels, is detailed here and will imply the optimization of operating conditions by using the control capabilities of power electronic interfaces from DG sources, OLTCs and microgrids, through the application of an EPSO optimization algorithm.
Can Peace Journalism be transposed to Climate Crisis journalism?
Authors: Hackett Robert A
Published: July 2017

This commentary briefly outlines characteristics of Peace Journalism (PJ), and then summarises ways that PJ could inspire justice and crisis-oriented climate journalism, including ethical moorings, audience orientation, journalism practices, self-reflexivity and scepticism of the practices of ‘objectivity’.  While there are also important disjunctures between them, particularly around advocacy, partisanship and conflict escalation, both paradigms have liberal and radical variants.  The author concludes with a note on structural media change as a corequisite of either paradigm’s implementation.
Metaphor use in the political communication of major resource projects in Australia
Authors: Healy Guy Hamilton , Williams Paul
Published: July 2017

This article explores the patterns of political communication surrounding the environmental regulation of major Australian resource projects during the Business Advisory Forum of April 2012. The Forum discussed business and government responses to major project approvals to improve national productivity at a time when these projects also posed significant implications for anthropogenic global warming. The article’s method is to examine print news articles published during this period. While the international literature has long demonstrated how the American fossil fuel lobby has employed metaphor to characterise climate change as a ‘non-problem’—therefore allegedly making regulation of greenhouse gas emissions economically and politically unnecessary—no Australian study of metaphor use in climate science news has been conducted. This article, in finding news stories on so-called ‘green tape’ environmental regulation were saturated with metaphor clusters, argues that journalistic metaphor use has made the complex issue of environmental regulation accessible to mass audiences. But, in so doing, we also argue this metaphor use has supported business and government’s position on environmental deregulation of major projects. Finally, this article also argues that some journalists’ use of metaphors encouraged policy-makers to adopt, and re-use, journalists’ own language and, in so doing, allow those journalists to be seen as complicit in the shaping of softer public attitudes to the impact of major projects on anthropogenic climate change.
REVIEW: Noted: Refreshed digital journalism education mission needed
Authors: Robie David
Published: July 2017

Br(e)aking the News: Journalism, Politics and New Media, edited by Janey Gordon, Paul Rowinski and Gavin Stewart. Berne, Switzerland: Peter Lang AC. 2013. 308 pages. ISBN 978-3-034-3090-4-2TWO DECADES ago, United States media ecologist Neil Postman posed critical questions about the ‘mission of education’ in his book The End of Education. Detailing the failings of American education faced with encroaching corporate and managerial strategies that did not tackle the real problem—an ‘identity crisis’—he ironically heralded the coming challenges over journalism education. It has outgrown the rationales of the past.
REVIEW: Timely strategic research spotlights killings of journalists
Authors: Robie David
Published: July 2017

The Assault on Journalism: Building Knowledge to Protect Freedom of Expression, edited by Ulla Carlsson and Reeta Pöyhtäri. Gothenburg, Sweden: Nordic Information Centre for Media and Communication Research (Nordicom). 2017. 363 pages. ISBN 9789187957505THE GHANAIAN investigative journalist summed up the mood among some 1500 media people with the beaded face veil rather well—a facial security screen symbolising both the safety of the reporter and his sources. But this was no empty gesture. It is characteristic of Anas Aremeyaw Anas who has captured judges on tape allegedly taking bribes. As the result of his celebrated documentary, Ghana in the Eyes of God: Epic of Injustice, more than 30 judges and 170 judicial officers were implicated in Ghana’s biggest corruption scandal.
Editorial: An investigative legacy
Authors: Bacon Wendy , Nash Chris
Published: July 2017

In April 2017, a one-day seminar was held at the University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) to celebrate more than 25 years of the Australian Centre for Independent Journalism (ACIJ). The ACIJ produced, researched and promoted discussion of journalism from 1991 until it was closed by UTS in early 2017. Although no clear explanation was given for the university’s decision, observers generally agreed that the closure reflected the contemporary pressure on independent public interest activities in Australian universities, which are increasingly driven by financial and corporate needs as a consequence of decades of underfunding.
Defamatory meanings and the hazards of relying on the ‘ordinary, reasonable person’ fiction
Authors: Fernandez Joseph Martin
Published: July 2017

Defamation law offers a remedy when the plaintiff’s reputation is harmed by something the defendant publishes. At the heart of the action lies the question—what do the words complained about actually mean? The process of determining defamatory meaning depends heavily on what the court finds to be the imputations conveyed by the matter concerned to ‘ordinary, reasonable people’. The process relies on assumption and conjecture, rather than on evidence. This article examines how this process applied in the Hockey v Fairfax Media case brought by Australia’s former Federal Treasurer Joe Hockey against Fairfax Media, which presented a paradox—the court described the journalists’ articles concerned in glowing terms but still found for the plaintiff.
TESTING OF INDIVIDUAL SENSITIVITY TO RADON AND THORON EXPOSURE BY IN VITRO IRRADIATION OF LYMPHOCYTES CULTURE
Authors: CIORBA Daniela , FODOR Eva , COSMA †Constantin , ALBERT-ANI Doina , MOLDOVAN Mircea
Published: July 2017

Identify the factors that affect individual sensitivity is a very important step in cancer risk assessment at low doses or low doses rates, according with study of dose-response relationship. DNA damage response processes are likely to play an important role in radiation by cancer risk association. This paper tries to quantify the individual sensitivity to alpha particles exposure using an in vitro exposure model. Quantify of DNA lesions by comet assay, in lymphocytes cultures exposed to the same doses of radiation was made. The irradiation was performed using the pitchblende ore during a 72 hours period, intermittent exposure with dose rates of 89.15 kBq/m3. The lowest and highest Radon Thoron concentrations computed in this study were 89.15 kBq/m3 and 212.9 kBq/m3, respectively.
The study was done for healthy donors, comparatively with chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases donors. Ageing in vitro of lymphocytes cultures exposed to low doses of ionizing radiation is the biological model used, which are presented here. Based on these results, a standard test should be develop and applied for study of sensitivities in average population groups.