Physical layer secrecy by power splitting and jamming in cooperative multiple relay based on energy harvesting in full-duplex network

In this article, we investigated the secrecy performance of a three-hop relay network system with Power Splitting (PS) and Energy Harvesting (EH). In the presence of one eavesdropper, a signal is transferred from source to destination with the help of a relay. The source signal transmits in full-duplex (FD) mood, jamming the relay transfer signals to the destination. The relay and source employ Time Switching (TS) and Energy Harvesting (EH) techniques to obtain the power from the power beacon. In this study, we compared the Secrecy Rate of two Cooperative Schemes, Amplify and Forward (AF) and Decode and Forward (DF), for both designed systems with the established EH and PS system. The Secrecy Rate was improved by 50.5% in the AF scheme and by 44.2% in the DF scheme between the relay and eavesdropper at 40 m apart for the proposed system in EH and PS. This simulation was performed using the Monto Carlo method in MATLAB

Rethinking global cooperation: three new frameworks for collective action in an age of uncertainty

In 2022, the growing impacts of climate change have been felt across the globe, from prolonged drought in the Middle East and North Africa, to erratic monsoons in South Asia and record-breaking heat waves in Europe and China. At the same time, the COVID-19 pandemic—which reached the tragic milestone of one million deaths within the first eight months of this year—and the ongoing war in Ukraine and other violent conflicts have impeded global progress toward the Sustainable Development Goals. To address these and other pressing global challenges, in his 2021 Out Common Agenda report, UN Secretary-General António Guterres called for a Summit of the Future to improve collective action worldwide. Among the summit’s anticipated outcomes are a Declaration on Future Generations, a Global Digital Compact, and a New Agenda for Peace. This report elaborates on the challenges, proposed major elements, and potential spoilers to be overcome by each of these global policy frameworks. It further argues that meaningful civil society engagement in the summit’s preparations can reassure all stakeholders that decisions taken in September 2023 are well-informed, enjoy broad social ownership, and generate a sense of co-responsibility in supporting their implementation.FdR – Publicaties niet-programma gebonde

An improved algorithm for optimal load shedding in power systems

A blackout is usually the result of load increasing beyond the transmission capacity of the power system. A collapsing system enters a contingency state before the blackout. This contingency state is characterized by a decline in the bus voltage magnitudes. To avoid blackouts, power systems may start shedding load when a contingency state occurs called under voltage load shedding (UVLS). The success of a UVLS scheme in arresting the contingency state depends on shedding the optimum amount of load at the optimum time and location. This paper proposes a hybrid algorithm based on genetic algorithms (GA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO). The proposed algorithm can be used to find the optimal amount of load shed for systems under stress (overloaded) in smart grids. The proposed algorithm uses the fast voltage stability index (FVSI) to determine the weak buses in the system and then calculates the optimal amount of load shed to recover a collapsing system. The performance analysis shows that the proposed algorithm can improve the voltage profile by 0.022 per units with up to 75% less load shedding and a convergence time that is 53% faster than GA

Road to 2023: our common agenda and the pact for the future

Fears of rising conflict, new COVID-19 variants, irreversible climate change, and eroding collaboration in the global economy threaten to undermine the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and other efforts to advance human progress. Yet, a once-in-a-generation opportunity to review and dramatically improve global tools for managing such enormous challenges, a Summit of the Future, is under serious consideration for September 2023 by the United Nations’ 193 Member States. Informed by research and policy dialogues—initially undertaken for the Albright-Gambari Commission and its follow-through, and most recently to help flesh out key proposals in the Secretary-General’s seminal report, Our Common Agenda—this report’s twenty main recommendations are intended to encourage more ambitious, forward-looking thinking and deliberation on global governance renewal and innovation in the run-up to next year’s Summit.FdR – Publicaties niet-programma gebonde

An Assessment of the UK’s Trade with Developing Countries under the Generalised System of Preferences

The European Union (EU) Generalised System of Preferences (GSP Scheme) grants preferential treatment to 88 eligible countries. There are, however, concerns that the restrictive features (such as Rules of Origin, Low Preference Margin and Low Coverage) of the existing scheme indicate gravitation towards commercial trade agenda to which efficiency imperatives appear subordinated. Whether these concerns are genuine is an empirical question whose answer largely determines whether, after Brexit, the UK continues with the existing specifics of the EU scheme or develops a more inclusive UK-specific GSP framework. This study quantitatively examines the efficiency of the EU GSP as it relates to UK beneficiaries from 2014 to 2017. We draw on the descriptive efficiency estimation (The utilisation Rate, Potential Coverage Rate, and the Utility Rate) using import data across 88 beneficiary countries and agricultural products of the Harmonised System Code Chapter 1 to 24. Asides the Rules of Origin that, generally, harm the uptake of GSP, low preference margin is found to cause low utilisation rates in a non-linear manner. Essentially, a more robust option (such that allows “global Cumulation” or broader product coverage) could, substantially, lower the existing barriers to trade and upsurge the efficiency of the GSP scheme

A comparison of the effects of physical and chemical mutagens in sesame (Sesamum indicum L.)

Three sesame genotypes (Rama, SI 1666 and IC 21706) were treated with physical (γ-rays: 200 Gy, 400 Gy or 600 Gy) or chemical (ethyl methane sulphonate, EMS: 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5% or 2.0%) mutagens and their mutagenic effectiveness and efficiency were estimated in the M 2 generation. The M 3 generation was used to identify the most effective mutagen and dose for induction of mutations. The average effectiveness of EMS was much higher than γ-rays. The lowest dose of γ-rays (200 Gy) and the lowest concentration of EMS (0.5%) showed the highest mutagenic efficiency in all genotypes. Analysis of the M 3 generation data based on parameters such as the variance ratio and the difference in residual variances derived from the model of Montalván and Ando indicated that 0.5% concentration of EMS was the most effective treatment for inducing mutations

Comparison of reference signal extraction methods for active power filter to mitigate load harmonics from wind turbine generator

This paper highlighting on two reference extraction methods; Synchronous Reference Frame (SRF) and Instantaneous Reactive Power Theory. The operation of these two techniques will be analyzed with variable speed grid connected permanent magnet synchronous generator based wind turbine system. The simulated results will confirm which method has better performance and which can maintain total harmonic distortion THD level of the system at the value specified by IEEE standard 519 when applied with wind energy conversion system

Coping with New and Old Crises: Global and Regional Cooperation in an Age of Epidemic Uncertainty – Doha Forum Report 2020

The Doha Forum Report 2020 examines the leadership deficit in multilateral cooperation toward both the coronavirus pandemic and other existing and emerging global challenges, includ­ing runaway climate change, rising political violence, menacing cyber-attacks, and growing inequality within and between countries. It finds that present international efforts are too often fragmented, delayed, ad hoc, and under-resourced, while pointing to promising new public-private partnerships to spur innovation through new technologies and to promote decent job and wealth creation opportunities. The report also recommends a roadmap for a durable, green, and broad-based global recovery and institutional revitalization, culminating in a 2023 World Summit on Inclusive Global Governance. With the recent news on the expected arrival of one or more effective vaccines, the road to recovery must chart a bold new course and avoid a return to the “old normal” of unsustainable practices.Global Challenges (FGGA

Wafer level hermetic package and device testing of a SOI-MEMS switch for biomedical applications

We have designed a wafer level chip scale package for a bi-stable SOI-MEMS dc switch using a silicon-glass hermetic seal with through the lid feedthroughs. Bonded at 365 °C, 230 V and 250 kg, they pass the fine/gross leak test after thermal cycling and mechanical shock/vibration according to MIL-STD-833, fulfilling the requirements for biomedical applications. The measured shear strength is 114 26 N in correspondence with the theoretically expected 100 N. Ruthenium microcontacts are a factor of 100 more robust than gold microcontacts, being stable over 106 cycles measured in a N2 atmosphere inside the package presented here. Future work will include a more extensive bond quality assessment and continued microcontact reliability measurements. © 2006 IOP Publishing Ltd