42,510 research outputs found
Towards a generic platform for developing CSCL applications using Grid infrastructure
The goal of this paper is to explore the possibility of using CSCL component-based software under a Grid infrastructure. The merge of these technologies represents an attractive, but probably quite laborious enterprise if we consider not only the benefits but also the barriers that we have to overcome. This work presents an attempt toward this direction by developing a generic platform of CSCL components and discussing the advantages that we could obtain if we adapted it to the Grid. We then propose a means that could make this adjustment possible due to the high degree of genericity that our library component is endowed with by being based on the generic programming paradigm. Finally, an application of our library is proposed both for validating the adequacy of the platform which it is based on and for indicating the possibilities gained by using it under the Grid.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version
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Determining Utility System Value of Demand Flexibility From Grid-interactive Efficient Buildings
This report focuses on ways current methods and practices that establish the value to electric utility systems of distributed energy resource (DER) investments can be enhanced to determine the value of demand flexibility in grid-interactive efficient buildings that can provide grid services. The report introduces key valuation concepts that are applicable to demand flexibility that these buildings can provide and links to other documents that describe these concepts and their implementation in more detail.The scope of this report is limited to the valuation of economic benefits to the utility system. These are the foundational values on which other benefits (and costs) can be built. Establishing the economic value to the grid of demand flexibility provides the information needed to design programs, market rules, and rates that align the economic interest of utility customers with building owners and occupants. By nature, DERs directly impact customers and provide societal benefits external to the utility system. Jurisdictions can use utility system benefits and costs as the foundation of their economic analysis but align their primary cost-effectiveness metric with all applicable policy objectives, which may include customer and societal (non-utility system) impacts.This report suggests enhancements to current methods and practices that state and local policymakers, public utility commissions, state energy offices, utilities, state utility consumer representatives, and other stakeholders might support. These enhancements can improve the consistency and robustness of economic valuation of demand flexibility for grid services. The report concludes with a discussion of considerations for prioritizing implementation of these improvements
Distributed Learning System Design: A New Approach and an Agenda for Future Research
This article presents a theoretical framework designed to guide distributed learning design, with the goal of enhancing the effectiveness of distributed learning systems. The authors begin with a review of the extant research on distributed learning design, and themes embedded in this literature are extracted and discussed to identify critical gaps that should be addressed by future work in this area. A conceptual framework that integrates instructional objectives, targeted competencies, instructional design considerations, and technological features is then developed to address the most pressing gaps in current research and practice. The rationale and logic underlying this framework is explicated. The framework is designed to help guide trainers and instructional designers through critical stages of the distributed learning system design process. In addition, it is intended to help researchers identify critical issues that should serve as the focus of future research efforts. Recommendations and future research directions are presented and discussed
COEL: A Web-based Chemistry Simulation Framework
The chemical reaction network (CRN) is a widely used formalism to describe
macroscopic behavior of chemical systems. Available tools for CRN modelling and
simulation require local access, installation, and often involve local file
storage, which is susceptible to loss, lacks searchable structure, and does not
support concurrency. Furthermore, simulations are often single-threaded, and
user interfaces are non-trivial to use. Therefore there are significant hurdles
to conducting efficient and collaborative chemical research. In this paper, we
introduce a new enterprise chemistry simulation framework, COEL, which
addresses these issues. COEL is the first web-based framework of its kind. A
visually pleasing and intuitive user interface, simulations that run on a large
computational grid, reliable database storage, and transactional services make
COEL ideal for collaborative research and education. COEL's most prominent
features include ODE-based simulations of chemical reaction networks and
multicompartment reaction networks, with rich options for user interactions
with those networks. COEL provides DNA-strand displacement transformations and
visualization (and is to our knowledge the first CRN framework to do so), GA
optimization of rate constants, expression validation, an application-wide
plotting engine, and SBML/Octave/Matlab export. We also present an overview of
the underlying software and technologies employed and describe the main
architectural decisions driving our development. COEL is available at
http://coel-sim.org for selected research teams only. We plan to provide a part
of COEL's functionality to the general public in the near future.Comment: 23 pages, 12 figures, 1 tabl
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