Wheeling Charges Methodology for Deregulated Electricity Markets using Tracing-based Postage Stamp Methods

MW-mile and Postage-stamp methods is traditionally used by electric utilities to determine a fixed transmission cost among users of firm transmission service. MW-Mile method is charging the users by determining the actual paths the power follows through the network. However, this method is not sufficient to recover the total transmission system cost. To recover the total transmission system cost, the Postage Stamp Method is adopted. This method is simple but its main drawback is that the charges paid by each user do not reflect the actual use of the network but based on the average usage of the entire network. This paper proposes a new wheeling charges methodology using tracing-based postage stamp methods. The proposed method allocates transmission costs among the generators proportional to the total power delivered to the load through transmission lines. The proposed method incorporates with generalised generation distribution factors to trace the contribution of each generator to the line flow. One unique feature of the proposed method is the consideration of the local load on the power flow allocation. Two case studies of 3-bus and IEEE 14-bus systems are used to illustrate the proposed method. Results show that the proposed method provides fair and equitable wheeling charges to generators reflecting the actual usage of the transmission system

Collection protocols for the recovery of biological samples

The main focus in forensic genetics for two decades has been to improve the extraction of DNA from a wide variety of evidence and to make the profiling technology more sensitive and robust. In contrast, the recovery methods for biological material have seen little development. This study aims to improve the efficacy of the collection and storage processes, from crime scene to receipt at the laboratory. This study compared the use of ultrapure water as a wetting agent when collecting biological evidence using swabs with a detergent-based buffer. The results show that the stability post-collection greatly improved by using a newly developed buffer. When ultrapure water is used, DNA degradation was seen after 6 h at room temperature. However, the detergent-based buffer stabilized DNA for up to 48 h, even when the temperature was increased to 50 °C. The impact of these findings may be limited where crime scene evidence can be refrigerated until it reaches the laboratory. However, there are many situations/contexts where sample refrigeration is not possible and there is scope to improve the preservation of the genetic forensic evidence before it reaches the laboratory

A User-Centered Design Approaches for Developing Web Information System for Stroke Care (WISS)

Optimizing resources from internet is important because effective stroke care require caregiver have a fruitful of information at increasing efficiency in acute stroke care. With the result shown that stroke becomes the third leading cause of death in world, there is an urge need for the information provided online is reliable. There is still limited information available online to assist in stroke care as well as the right medium to deliver the information to stroke patient. This paper discusses on User-Centered Design (UCD) approaches for designing the prototype for web information system for Stroke Care. The methodology uses are interviews, focus-group discussion and observation, questionnaires and card-sorting activity. This research covers four groups of users: stroke caregivers, two stroke rehab centers, therapists and doctors who handle the     structure proposed using UCD approach

The Challenges And Contribution Of Internet Of Things (IoT) For Smart Living

The evolution of Internet and advanced in ICT had led to the increasingly usage of Internet of Things (IoT) in various sectors and facilitated borderless connection in various fields. Contextualised within the development of Smart City, much have been reported on the challenges and contribution of using of IoT for smart living. This paper presents a review of the challenges and contribution of using IoT for smart living. Using a systematic method to analyse the literature, 31 articles have been selected for the review. It was found that the contributions of IoT surpass the challenges of using IoT. Two significant contributions have been identified, which are facilitating communication and improving safety as well as improving quality of life. Meanwhile, the main challenges of IoT implementation are issues related to security and privacy. It was also found that there is a lack of information related to the ways to overcome the challenges, although the challenges were discussed in length. This review provides an overview of the adoption of IoT for Smart Living, focusing on its challenges and contribution

Creating an engaging and stimulating anatomy lecture environment using the Cognitive Load Theory-based Lecture Model: Students' experiences

Objective: There is a need to create a standard interactive anatomy lecture that can engage students in their learning process. This study investigated the impact of a new lecturing guideline, the Cognitive Load Theory-based Lecture Model (CLT-bLM), on students’ cognitive engagement and motivation. Methods: A randomised controlled trial involving 197 participants from three institutions was conducted. The control group attended a freestyle lecture on the gross anatomy of the heart, delivered by a qualified anatomist from each institution. The intervention group attended a CLT-bLM-based lecture on a similar topic, delivered by the same lecturer, three weeks thereafter. The lecturers had attended a CLT-bLM workshop that allowed them to prepare for the CLT-bLM-based lecture over the course of three weeks. The students’ ratings on their cognitive engagement and internal motivation were evaluated immediately after the lecture using a validatedLearners’ Engagement and Motivation Questionnaire. The differences between variables were analysed and the results were triangulated with the focus group discussion findings that explored students’ experience while attending the lecture. Results: The intervention group has a significantly higher level of cognitive engagement than the control group; however, no significant difference in internal motivation score was found. In addition, the intervention group reported having a good learning experience from the lectures. Conclusion: The guideline successfully stimulated students’ cognitive engagement and learning experience, which indicates a successful stimulation of students’ germane resources. Stimulation of these cognitive resources is essential for successful cognitive processing, especially when learning a difficult subject such as anatomy

Anemia prevalence in women of reproductive age in low- and middle-income countries between 2000 and 2018

Anemia is a globally widespread condition in women and is associated with reduced economic productivity and increased mortality worldwide. Here we map annual 2000–2018 geospatial estimates of anemia prevalence in women of reproductive age (15–49 years) across 82 low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), stratify anemia by severity and aggregate results to policy-relevant administrative and national levels. Additionally, we provide subnational disparity analyses to provide a comprehensive overview of anemia prevalence inequalities within these countries and predict progress toward the World Health Organization’s Global Nutrition Target (WHO GNT) to reduce anemia by half by 2030. Our results demonstrate widespread moderate improvements in overall anemia prevalence but identify only three LMICs with a high probability of achieving the WHO GNT by 2030 at a national scale, and no LMIC is expected to achieve the target in all their subnational administrative units. Our maps show where large within-country disparities occur, as well as areas likely to fall short of the WHO GNT, offering precision public health tools so that adequate resource allocation and subsequent interventions can be targeted to the most vulnerable populations.Peer reviewe

Resistance factors in the implementation of software process improvement project

Over decades, software model for improving the quality of software through management of the software process has became significant in the software industry. Many companies are now being assessed according to standards such as the CMM, SIX-SIGMA or ISO 9000, which have brought substantial profit to the companies that utilize them to improve the quality of software product. Several companies in Malaysia have been carried out software process improvement projects. However, a software process improvement initiative is still sometimes delayed, costs are over budgeted and some of them surrender before the project ends. Therefore, this paper attempt to analyze and identify the resistance factors which influence the implementation of the software process improvement project initiated by the company. This paper will serve as reference to the professionals in the area. In the other hand, it may also helping the other companies to manage future projects through the use of preventive actions that will eliminate or at least lessening the resistance factors' consequences during the implementation of the software process improvement projects. This paper present a survey with 8 Malaysia's companies around Kuala Lumpur and Selangor which have an experience in initiating and conducting software process improvement project. A total of 117 respondents from various background have participated this survey