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

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

Diet overlap of Propithecus verreauxi and Eulemur rufifrons during the late dry season in Kirindy Forest

The aim of this short research project was to investigate whether two lemur species, Verreaux’s sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi) and the red-fronted brown lemur (Eulemur rufifrons), showed significant dietary overlap during the late dry season in Kirindy Forest in Madagascar. We hypothesised that the species would show a significant overlap in diet composition due to limited food availability during this period of the year. To limit direct competition, we expected niche separation to occur in terms of spatial and temporal preferences. During focal observations of two weeks at the end of the dry season, a total of 21 plant species were observed to be consumed by the two species of lemur, of which five were used by both species. Furthermore, we found that brown lemurs tended to rest more in the morning and feed more in the (late) afternoon. They tended to feed mostly on the lower half of the trees as well as on the ground, while sifakas preferred the upper part of the tree. Brown lemurs appeared to have a more diverse diet compared to sifakas as they included fruit in their diet as well. Nevertheless, both species seemed to rely on leaves during this period of the year. The species thus showed some overlap in diet composition, both in their preferred tree species and in food items consumed, but they showed niche separation to a certain extent in terms of spatial and temporal preferences

Diet overlap of Propithecus verreauxi and Eulemur rufifrons during the late dry season in Kirindy Forest

The aim of this short research project was to investigate whether two lemur species, Verreaux’s sifaka (Propithecus verreauxi) and the red-fronted brown lemur (Eulemur rufifrons), showed significant dietary overlap during the late dry season in Kirindy Forest in Madagascar. We hypothesised that the species would show a significant overlap in diet composition due to limited food availability during this period of the year. To limit direct competition, we expected niche separation to occur in terms of spatial and temporal preferences. During focal observations of two weeks at the end of the dry season, a total of 21 plant species were observed to be consumed by the two species of lemur, of which five were used by both species. Furthermore, we found that brown lemurs tended to rest more in the morning and feed more in the (late) afternoon. They tended to feed mostly on the lower half of the trees as well as on the ground, while sifakas preferred the upper part of the tree. Brown lemurs appeared to have a more diverse diet compared to sifakas as they included fruit in their diet as well. Nevertheless, both species seemed to rely on leaves during this period of the year. The species thus showed some overlap in diet composition, both in their preferred tree species and in food items consumed, but they showed niche separation to a certain extent in terms of spatial and temporal preferences

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

Current Developments in Assessment for Learning in Universities and High Schools in Michigan: Problems and Perspectives in Mathematics and Science Education

Assessment for Learning (AfL) or formative assessment has the potential for raising standards and student achievement. This article describes research conducted by graduate students in an NSF-funded capacity-building project with goals to increase research in the disciplines of science and mathematics education. As background, a literature review shows parallels between assessment for learning research developed over the past two decades in England with assessment reform efforts in school mathematics and science in the U.S. A series of five research projects, conducted by Western Michigan University (WMU) AfL project scholars in fall 2008, examines (1) the prominence of assessment for learning in university course syllabi at WMU and (2) at public universities across the state of Michigan, (3) its prominence in policy statements in a sample of Michigan high schools, (4) the development of benchmarking practices with preservice teachers, and (5) a comparison of existing AfL observation protocols used in classroom research. These reports represent the range of potentially important areas that may prove fruitful for moving research on assessment in mathematics and science education forward

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

The Role of Commitment in the Relationship between Components of Organizational Culture and Intention to Stay

For an institution to be classified as one of the best or worst, it largely depends on the people behind it. An institution’s human resource is, therefore, seen as its most important asset. This paper investigates the role of employee commitment in linking some components of organizational culture to employee intention to stay. Components of organizational culture investigated in this paper include work environment, reward system, work environment, and leadership. Data for this study was obtained through a survey of staff of Kumasi Technical University in Ghana with the help of a questionnaire modified and simplified from pre-validated instruments proposed by early researchers. A total of 216 responses were sought from the permanent staff of the university (teaching, non-teaching). Analysis of the study was completed using LISREL software. Parameter estimates of the best-fitting model reveal that commitment mediates the relationship between three components of organizational culture (i.e., reward system, work environment, and leadership) and employee intention to stay. An important conclusion of this study is that a committed employee still requires a well-structured reward system, conducive work environment, and quality leadership from management of institutions to inform their decision to remain in the service of that organization or otherwise