Optimal Planning of Type-1DGs in EV Incorporated Radial Distribution Network

A vital task for effective operation of distribution system is reducing power losses and to save energy. One of the most effective methods to reduce losses is distributed generation (DG). The proper planning of EVCSs is a significant problem for distribution system operators as the installation of Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (EVCSs) for Electrical Vehicles (EVs) increases on a larger scale. Power losses and generation-demand mismatch rise with EV load adoption in the electrical grid. As a result, there will be impact on voltage levels and the voltage stability margin deteriorates. It is critical to integrate EVCSs at appropriate locations to reduce the negative effects of increasing EV load penetration on Radial Distribution Systems (RDS). The integration of EVs into distribution systems undergoes charging and discharging modes of operation for power exchange with the grid, resulting in energy management. Inadequate EVCS planning has a negative influence on the distribution system, causing voltage variation and an increase in power losses. DG units are integrated with EVCSs to reduce this. The DGs help to keep the voltage profile within limits which reduces power flows and losses and thus results in improved power quality and reliability. Therefore, the DGs and EVCS should be properly allocated and sized to avoid issues such as protection, voltage rise, and reverse power flow. This research demonstrates an approach for minimizing losses in an EV-integrated radial distribution system by optimizing the location and sizing of DGs. This study proposes the sizing and location of renewable (wind, solar) DG units (type-1 DG) incorporated in radial distribution network. This methodology decreases power losses while simultaneously improving network voltages. The accuracy of the proposed method is elaborated in four scenarios. The proposed methodology is implemented in IEEE 33 bus and 69 bus systems using the Particle Swarm Optimization technique (PSO). The results show that the suggested optimization technique increases system efficiency and performance by optimizing the planning and operation of both DGs and EVs

Data Center Server Virtualization Solution Using Microsoft Hyper-V

Cloud Computing has helped businesses scale within minutes and take their services to their customers much faster. Virtualization is considered the core-computing layer of a cloud setup. All the problems a traditional data center environment like space, power, resilience, centralized data management, and rapid deployment of servers as per business need have been solved with the introduction of Hyper-V (a server virtualization solution from Microsoft). Now companies can deploy multiple servers and applications with just a click and they can also centrally manage the data storage. This paper focuses on the difference between VMware and Hyper virtualization platforms and building a virtualized infrastructure solution using Hyper

Energy saving expert system for West Virginia K-12 schools

Investments on energy efficiency measures adopted by K--12 School boards across West Virginia (WV) have not always been economically successful. Since finances play an important role, and school boards have limited resources to invest on energy efficiency measures, the school boards are left with difficult choices on how best to use their funds. An expert system developed in this thesis work aims to assist the WV School Boards to examine the feasibility of implementing different types of energy measures. The expert system acquires data from the user and uses the information to provide the user with savings, installation and payback advice. Many energy efficiency measures were examined for this thesis but only the measures which could have faster paybacks (mostly less than 10 years as required by WV state law) were considered and implemented in the system. Many parameters such as fuel types, climate zones and cost of the fuel were considered in the energy saving options. Some WV school systems have already been studied by the WVU, Center for Building Energy Efficiency. Some energy saving measures have been employed as test cases during the expert system development, with less than 10% difference in results. The expert system developed in this thesis is user friendly and can be upgraded in the future as new measures are included

International financial reporting standards compliance and information asymmetries: The role of enforcement authority and audit quality

This paper aims to investigate whether firms operating in Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC) countries with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) compliance enforcement authority vis-à-vis countries without IFRS compliance enforcement authorities exhibit cross-sectional differences in proxy for information asymmetries and market liquidity. In addition, the study examines whether firms operating in the GCC countries that require firms to be audited by two or more auditors vis-à-vis countries that do not require firms to be audited by two or more auditors exhibit cross-sectional differences in proxy for information asymmetries and market liquidity. Using trading volume as a measure of information asymmetries and market liquidity, I find that information asymmetriesare lower for firms operatingin countrieswith IFRS compliance enforcement authority than firms operating in countries without IFRS compliance enforcement authority. I also find that information asymmetries are lower for firms operating in countries that require firms to be audited by two or more auditors than for firms operating in countries that do not require firms to be audited by two or more auditors. The findings of this study suggest that the merit of IFRS is optimal if institutions such as enforcement authorities and auditors enforce adherence to IFRS and provide assurance that financial statements comply with IFRS.This study shed light on the fundamental accounting questions using samples drawn from firms located in countries in the GCC that are often ignored by accounting researchers. Thus, this study helps to widen our knowledge of accounting practices around the globe and understand the accounting and economic issues compared to samples drawn from developed and mature markets

Strong Single- and Two-Photon Luminescence Enhancement by Nonradiative Energy Transfer across Layered Heterostructure

The strong light-matter interaction in monolayer transition metal dichalcogenides (TMDs) is promising for nanoscale optoelectronics with their direct band gap nature and the ultra-fast radiative decay of the strongly bound excitons these materials host. However, the impeded amount of light absorption imposed by the ultra-thin nature of the monolayers impairs their viability in photonic applications. Using a layered heterostructure of a monolayer TMD stacked on top of strongly absorbing, non-luminescent, multi-layer SnSe2, we show that both single-photon and two-photon luminescence from the TMD monolayer can be enhanced by a factor of 14 and 7.5, respectively. This is enabled through inter-layer dipole-dipole coupling induced non-radiative Forster resonance energy transfer (FRET) from SnSe2 underneath which acts as a scavenger of the light unabsorbed by the monolayer TMD. The design strategy exploits the near-resonance between the direct energy gap of SnSe2 and the excitonic gap of monolayer TMD, the smallest possible separation between donor and acceptor facilitated by van der Waals heterojunction, and the in-plane orientation of dipoles in these layered materials. The FRET driven uniform single- and twophoton luminescence enhancement over the entire junction area is advantageous over the local enhancement in quantum dot or plasmonic structure integrated 2D layers, and is promising for improving quantum efficiency in imaging, optoelectronic, and photonic applications

Improved Algorithm for Frequent Itemsets Mining Based on Apriori and FP-Tree

Frequent itemset mining plays an important role in association rule mining. The Aprior

The effect of SOX on audit quality

© 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited. Purpose: This paper aims to investigate two issues. First, the authors test the effect of the Sarbanes–Oxley Act (SOX) on audit quality after 10 years. Second, the authors test whether it was necessary to close all of the Arthur Andersen offices due to the misbehavior of a few (e.g. the Houston and Atlanta offices). Design/methodology/approach: The authors have used conservatism (Basu) as a proxy for audit quality. Findings: The authors find that, over the long run (10 years) after SOX adoption, there is a significant positive change in conservatism as compared to during the previous similar period. In addition, the authors find that only 6 of the 20 city-level offices of Arthur Andersen were less conservative than were their other Big 6 competitors in the same city. Furthermore, the results also suggest that some city-level offices of Arthur Andersen were engaged in more conservative accounting practices than were their competitors and the Houston Andersen offices. Originality/value: This study documents, using empirical evidence, that the implementation of SOX is successful, and that one factor that helped lead to this success might be the harsh punishment on Arthur Andersen

Barriers to Health among IDPs in Kabul, Afghanistan: a qualitative study

Background: Forced displacement is a significant problem for regions experiencing prolonged humanitarian crises due to armed conflict. Afghanistan, having experienced over four decades of conflict, has an estimated 1.2 million internally displaced persons (IDPs), a majority of which are concentrated in urban centers. IDPs have limited resources and face challenges accessing health services through traditional channels, leading to a disproportionate burden of morbidity and mortality. Health care facilities created for and existing within IDP camps also face numerous challenges. We aim to understand the structural factors that negatively impact health and the specific barriers to healthcare access for IDPs using qualitative methods. Methods: A brief qualitative study was done to assess the barriers to health faced by IDPs and to understand the experience of providers caring for IDPs. We conducted open-ended interviews using a semi-structured interview guide across three IDP camps in Kabul, Afghanistan between May and June 2017. Participants were interviewed in focus groups, interviewing a total of 37 IDP ag 18 and older. In addition, two former health care providers were interviewed. We used grounded theory to code interviews using a priori and emergent coding, from which several themes and sub-themes emerged. Two independent readers coded the data and discrepancies were resolved by consensus. Results: Human security, water access, limited livelihood and employment, poor housing infrastructure and environmental factors significantly impacted IDP health. Closure of clinics within the camps caused substantial limitations to healthcare service access. Accessing existing health care infrastructure was limited by cost, distance, discrimination, and limited access to medication and vaccinations, particularly for children. Key informant interviews identified healthcare funding and vaccination delivery to be priority problems. Across all focus groups and key informant interviews, there appeared to be a solid and trusted patient-provider relationship. Conclusion Structural factors that negatively impact health coupled with new barriers to healthcare access for IDPs in Kabul are a source of serious concern. Our study identified structural factors that exacerbate poor health and new challenges to healthcare access resulting from the discontinuation of in-camp health services. Further research should be done on the barriers and facilitators of transition from emergency humanitarian response to long-term care for IDPs, as well as on the ability of local health systems to absorb vulnerable populations after humanitarian crises