The role of Microgrid controller to increase the profitability for both owner and distribution network operator

This paper discusses active and reactive power controlling techniques in microgrids and categorizes them based on complexity levels and purposes. The three main investigated techniques in this paper are; reactive power injection, reactive power at night and power curtailment. Additionally, it explains the profitability of these aspects to the investors and recommends modifications and improvements to enhance microgrid and power grid integration. © 2020 IEEE

Local sales restrictions significantly reduce the availability of menthol tobacco: findings from four Minnesota cities

BACKGROUND In 2017 and 2018, Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth and Falcon Heights, Minnesota were among the first US cities to restrict the sale of menthol tobacco to adult-only stores. The study examined changes in the availability and marketing of these products following policy implementation. METHODS Retail store audits were conducted approximately 2 months pre-policy and post-policy implementation. Tobacco retail stores (n=299) were sampled from tobacco licensing lists in Minneapolis, St. Paul, Duluth and Falcon Heights, as well as six comparison cities without menthol policies. The presence of menthol tobacco was assessed, along with the number of interior and exterior tobacco ads and promotions at each store. RESULTS The majority of policy intervention stores (grocery, convenience stores and pharmacies) were compliant (Minneapolis, 84.4%; Duluth, 97.5%; and St. Paul and Falcon Heights, 100.0%) and did not sell menthol tobacco. In contrast, menthol tobacco was available in all comparison city stores, and most (96.0%) exempted tobacco shops and liquor stores post-policy implementation. Two Minneapolis convenience stores added interior tobacco shops, allowing them to continue selling menthol tobacco. Significant decreases in menthol tobacco marketing post-policy were observed in the stores' interior in Minneapolis, St. Paul and Duluth (p<0.001) and on the stores' exterior in Duluth (p=0.023). CONCLUSIONS Findings demonstrate high rates of compliance, indicating that sales restrictions can significantly reduce the availability of menthol tobacco. However, challenges to policy adherence underscore the need for continued monitoring and enforcement action

Disrupting education using smart mobile pedagogies

© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2019. As mobile technologies become more multifaceted and ubiquitous in society, educational researchers are investigating the use of these technologies in education. A growing body of evidence shows that traditional pedagogies still dominate the educational field and are misaligned with the diverse learning opportunities offered by the use of mobile technologies. There is an imperative to question those traditional notions of education, including how, where and when teaching and learning are enacted, and to explore the possible mediating roles of new mobile technologies. New smart pedagogies, which embrace the affordances offered by mobile technologies, have the potential to disrupt notions of schooling. In this chapter, we examine the nature of smart pedagogies and their intersection with mobile pedagogies. We unpack notions of innovation and disruption. We then discuss smart mobile learning activities for school students identified from a Systematic Literature Review, together with the pedagogical principles underpinning them. We argue to encourage smart pedagogies, teacher educators should support teachers to implement ‘feasible disruptions’. Consequently, implications for teacher education are explored

Breeding farmer and consumer preferred sweetpotatoes using accelerated breeding scheme and mother–baby trials

Increased sweetpotato utilization has become an important breeding objective recently, with much emphasis on the development of non-sweet sweetpotatoes for income and food security in Ghana. The objective of this study was to evaluate 26 elite non-sweet and less sweet sweetpotato genotypes with regard to their release as commercial varieties using mother–baby trial. The 26 sweetpotato genotypes were tested multilocational on-farm across five ecozones from 2016 to 2017. These genotypes were selected from accelerated breeding scheme carried out from 2010 to 2013. There were no year-by-ecozone-by-genotype and year-by-ecozone interactions. However, ecozone-by-genotype interaction was significant for storage root dry matter, beta-carotene, iron and zinc content. This implies that the relative performance of the genotypes for storage root yield was stable across locations and years. Genotypic differences were found for all the traits and indicated that selection of superior genotypes across ecozone was possible. Storage root yield ranged from 7 t/ha to 39 t/ha, while dry matter content ranged from 34% to 46%. The storage root cooking quality preference was comparable with farmers’ check. Ten superior genotypes were identified for release as commercial varieties based on their staple-preferred taste, higher storage root yield, higher dry matter content, earliness, resistance to the sweetpotato virus, sweetpotato weevil and Alcidodes

Improved Agronomic Practices for Sustainable Yam Production: The on Farm Experience

Pratiques agronomiques améliorées pour une production durable de l'igname: l'expérience à la ferme Résumé La production d'igname au Ghana et dans d'autres pays de l'Afrique de l'Ouest se caractérise par un déplacement annuel de la terre à la terre à la recherche de sols fertiles contribuant à la déforestation et à la dégradation des terres. Il est donc nécessaire de relever ce défi grâce à une technologie innovante d'utilisation des terres qui permettrait de soutenir la production en dépit des défis. L'objectif spécifique de l'étude était de vérifier et de démontrer un ensemble agronomique amélioré pour la production d'igname durable dans les communautés d'igname d'Ejura et d'Atebubu dans l'écologie transitionnelle forêt-savane du Ghana. Deux lots de traitement de pratiques agronomiques améliorées et de pratiques des paysans/paysannes ont été organisés dans le cadre de la conception de blocs complets randomisés sur un total de 8 champs d'agriculteurs comprenant chacun 4 dans la communauté d'Ejura et d'Atebubu. Le paquet agronomique amélioré consistait en l'utilisation de billons comme couche desemis, traitement des semences avec insecticide et fongicide, application d'engrais à un taux de 45:45:60 N: P2 05: K20 kg/ha et utilisation d'un tuteurage minimum (treillis; % nombre de piquets utilisés dans le jalonnement des agriculteurs). Cela a été comparé à la pratique des agriculteurs, qui consistait en une mise en tas, pas d'application d'engrais et pas de traitement des semences. Les résultats ont révélé des rendements en tubercules d'igname très élevés (P ≤ 0,05) de 196% et 205% dans les champs agronomiques améliorés par rapport aux champs de pratique des agriculteurs dans les communautés agricoles d'Ejura et d'Atebubu respectivement. L'étude avait démontré que l'extension des emballages agronomiques améliorés permettrait de maintenir la production d'igname dans les champs cultivés en continu et de résoudre le problème de la déforestation associé à la production d'igname.Mots clés: Déforestation; Dégradation du sol; Application d'engrais; champ de culture continue; La pratique des agriculteur