Implementation Of A Novel Cooperative Protocol for Distributed Voltage Control in Active Distribution Networks

Microgrids are small localized grids that help to integrate many renewable-energy sources into the main electric grid. Microgrids can also operate separately from the main electric grid during faults to enhance the customers reliability. For a successful integration of microgrids we need to control the voltage at the distributed generation units in order to achieve the required sharing of reactive power. For this purpose a multiagent based distributed control scheme is implemented in this thesis. The objective of this thesis is to design and implement a multiagent system for the microgrid that has distributed battery energy storage systems (BESS) and renewable distributed generation (DG) units. The proposed multiagent system has been designed to coordinate among distributed generation (DG) units to control voltage. Multiagent system is composed of multiple agents that communicate to solve problems. The proposed multiagent system for the control of microgrid has been implemented on Texas Instruments Tiva-C controller boards. The real time simulator Opal-RT has been used to create a microgrid model. Hardware testing is done in real time

Determinants and barriers to bilateral trade A study on developing economies

World trade has grown rapidly. Several factors are highlighted by literature as a driving force behind the growth of world trade. Reduction in barriers to trade is one of them. A comprehensive empirical investigation is carried to ascertain the trade reducing and increasing effect of barriers to trade which are also known determinants of trade. The modified gravity model developed in this study analyses the effect of GDP, distance,remittances, FDI, transportation cost, exchange rate, inflation, population, import and export on trade flows. The study revealed that the population, import and transportation cost, distance, Tariff imposed by trading partner, FDI and Population of trading country are the determinants and significantly affect exports of developing economies. The study also ascertain that transportation cost, distance, population of trading partner, FDI of both trading countries and remittances of trading partner are the determinants that have major impact on import of developing nations.International Trade, Exports, Imports, Gravity Model, Trade barriers

“I Have Apostatized”: Self-Narratives of Catholic Apostasy as Resources for Collective Mobilization in Argentina

Since 2009, the Collective Apostasy Campaign in Argentina has mobilized some people who are opposed to the political interference of the Catholic Church through the formal act of apostatizing. The politicization of sexual and reproductive rights, and, especially, the fight for the legalization of abortion, led to the campaign that acquired great public repercussions between 2018 and 2020. This paper analyzes 13 self-narratives of apostasy publicly available since 2009, digging into its plot, motives to apostatize, and motivation for its publicizing. Through a thematic analysis, the diverse self-narratives show similar motivations (to promote social debate on political secularization in the country), although they differ in the centrality of their personal, sociopolitical, and procedural motives to apostatize. The stories that apostates tell are resources for social mobilization as they seek an increasingly broad audience and serve the pedagogical function of sharing arguments against the political role of the Catholic Church and in favor of personal ideological coherence.Fil: Rabbia, Hugo Hernán. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Psicológicas. - Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Investigaciones Psicológicas; Argentina. Universidad Católica de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Politicas y Relaciones Internacionales; Argentin

Student Perceptions of Gender Studies as an Academic Discipline in Pakistan

The article aimed to highlight the varied perceptions of students studying Gender Studies as an academic discipline at Quaid-i-Azam University (QAU), Pakistan. The research objective of this article was to document the students’ experiences, perceptions, misconceptions, and anxieties regarding Gender Studies. This research is the result of a continuous journey in this field where we have actively engaged and interacted with students studying in various semesters. The research was qualitative in nature and in-depth interview guidelines were employed to conduct interviews with the students of the Center of Excellence in Gender Studies (CEGS) at QAU, Islamabad. The sample size consisted of 20 students who hailed from different geographical areas of Pakistan and belonged to diverse socio-cultural and economic backgrounds. Additionally, the sample was purposely selected to include only students in their final semester. The study revealed that the instructors teaching Gender Studies were accused of propagating Western theories, and this had become a cause of concern and provocation for many students. A large number of students have indicated that they were unaware or ignorant of this academic discipline and were familiarized only after securing admission based on merit. The research demonstrates that these students were unsure of the scope of the subject and the employment opportunities it offered upon completion of their degree in Gender Studies. The respondents were under the impression that this academic discipline is not only antagonistic to their Pakistani culture but also promotes a Western agenda. A few respondents shared their experiences and pointed out that feminism faces a strong backlash in Pakistani society; hence, they found it difficult to see the relevance of feminism in Pakistan. The research also revealed that studying the discipline of Gender Studies has helped the respondents to introspect, deconstruct, and criticize their preconceived notions about gender and women. While Gender Studies as an academic discipline has equipped the students to deal with gender-based issues, it has also stirred arguments with their families. Lastly, Gender Studies created awareness related to gender issues and helped the students to overcome their misconceptions

Incidencias de la primavera árabe en el fin de la “Era verde” en Libia: cuestiones sobre derecho de intervención y deber de injerencia

La primavera árabe comenzó tímidamente a fines del 2010 con la ola de protestas en contra del régimen tunecino de Zine el-Abidine Ben Alí, con más de 20 años en el poder. Sin embargo, tuvo un efecto dominó que impactó de lleno sobre las autocracias de mayor data en el norte africano y Medio Oriente. De este modo, el caso de Túnez se constituyó en el comienzo de una larga serie de sucesos que reconfiguraron la escena política regional árabe y magrebí con desenlaces similares, pese a la especificidad de cada uno de los escenarios. Es interesante remarcar que Túnez paradójicamente había sido sostenido en numerosos ocasiones por los mismos países occidentales que respaldaron el fin de la autocracia libia.Fil: Lechini, Gladys Teresita. Universidad Nacional de Rosario; Argentina. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; ArgentinaFil: Rabbia, Noemí S.. Universidad Nacional de Rosario. Facultad de Ciencia Política y Relaciones Internacionales; Argentin

Political Instability and Lessons for Pakistan: Case Study of 2014 PTI Sit in/Protests

Abstract. It’s a short allegory to present the case for the importance of Political stability in the economic progress of a country. The Arab spring protests were seen as strengthening democracy in the Arab world. Notwithstanding the surprise Arab spring brought in shape of further destabilizing Middle East, a similar environment of unrest and protests in a practicing democracy like Pakistan capture same dynamics of uncertainty that dampen economic destabilization. The paper briefly covers PTI’s sit in protests in year 2014 to make a case for how political instability stifled economic progress in Pakistan though momentarily.Keywords. Political economy, Pakistan economy.JEL. D72, F59, P16