Sub-agent elements for control methods in multi-agent energy management system

Increased penetration of generation and decentralised control are considered to be feasible and effective solution for reducing cost and emissions and hence efficiency associated with power generation and distribution. Distributed generation in combination with the multi-agent technology are perfect candidates for this solution. Pro-active and autonomous nature of multi-agent systems can provide an effective platform for decentralised control whilst improving reliability and flexibility of the grid

Partnership and Cooperation Agreements of the European Union with Central Asian Countries

Le but de cet article est de donner un aperçu général des aspects juridiques des relations entre l'UE et les républiques d'Asie centrale, en examinant les Accords de partenariat et de coopération (APC) et leurs lacunes. Une attention particulière a été accordée à la République d'Ouzbékistan. Les Accords de Partenariat et de Coopération signés entre l'Union européenne (à l'époque des Communautés européennes) et les républiques d'Asie centrale, ainsi que d'autres républiques de la Communauté des États indépendants (CEI) qui ont une histoire particulière. Les Accords de partenariat et de coopération ont la nature d’« accords mixtes », car les champs d'application ne relèvent pas de la compétence exclusive de l'UE ou des États membres où les deux partagent les compétences. L’auteur se concentre sur la nature juridique et sur le caractère « mixte » de l'Accord de partenariat et de coopération et propose de moderniser ces accords en tenant compte de l'expérience de 15 ans au cours des dernières années de sa réalisation

The Development of Legal Systems of Central Asian States

Cet article est consacré à l'évolution et l'état actuel du système juridique des pays d'Asie centrale. Historiquement, le système juridique de l'Asie Centrale reflétait les traditions juridiques nationales et islamiques. Après l'établissement du régime soviétique, il est devenu laïque ayant des éléments constitués de la famille romano-germanique. Mais ce système juridique se fondait sur le régime totalitaire à cette époque où les droits de l'homme, de la liberté, de propriété, de la libre circulation et d'autres droits fondamentaux ont été absolument limités et interdits. Après l'effondrement de l'Union Soviétique et la déclaration de l'indépendance des États d'Asie Centrale, le système juridique de l'Asie Centrale a été transformé en système juridique moderne basé sur l'économie de marché. Les auteurs des articles donnent un aperçu des particularités du développement juridique du système de l'Asie Central

Hybrid Properties of Cucumber Elegant F1

The article describes the features of technologies for growing cucumber on temporary protected grounds. The elements of the cultivation technology of different methods of sowing 5 varieties specimens of cucumber have been studied. The cucumber hybrid Elegant F1 is intended for cultivation on open and protected soils. Plant height reaches up to 2.5 - 3.5 meters, belongs to the indeterminate type. The distance between the nodes is 9-10 cm. 1-2 fruits are formed in the axil of the leaf. It has 100% parthenocarpic properties and retains this property until the end of the growing season.The shape of the fruit is cylindrical, the surface is glossy, there is practically no bitter taste. The average fruit weight is 120 - 130 grams. The first crop ripens 30-35 days after germination. With the correct and timely application of the necessary agrotechnical measures in protected areas, 23-25 kg/m2 of the crop can be harvested in natural soil and 30-35 kg/m2 in hydroponics. One of the distinguishing features of this hybrid is the density of the fruit pulp, and thus the juiciness of the fruit. This feature allows the fruits to gain more weight, be stored for a long time and transported over long distances without losing the quality of the fruit. The average weight of one fruit reaches up to 130 grams. This hybrid shows tolerance to diseases such as downy mildew, powdery mildew and cucumber mosaic

Practical cryptographic strategies in the post-quantum era

We review new frontiers in information security technologies in communications and distributed storage technologies with the use of classical, quantum, hybrid classical-quantum, and post-quantum cryptography. We analyze the current state-of-the-art, critical characteristics, development trends, and limitations of these techniques for application in enterprise information protection systems. An approach concerning the selection of practical encryption technologies for enterprises with branched communication networks is introduced.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures; review pape

Role of household activities in peak electricity demand and distributional effects of Time-of-Use tariffs

Introduction of Time-of-Use (ToU) tariffs have the potential to motivate consumers to flex their energy use and, by utilising their flexibility, support the reduction in peak electricity demand. In return, lower peak demand could also reduce the system costs due to the reduced need for peaking generation and network reinforcement. By their nature, ToU tariffs would penalise consumers with high consumption during peak periods and who are not able to exercise flexibility. Therefore to ensure the affordability of energy bills it is important to understand the relationship between the timing of activities in the household and socio-demographic properties of the consumers. This paper uses UK Time Use survey data to cluster households by their energy-related activities during the peak electricity demand periods, model the corresponding electricity demand and analyse the impact of ToU tariffs across several socio-demographic parameters. Results show that similar patterns of energy related activities exist for the clusters with different socio-demographic parameters (e.g. family structure or income). Findings also show that there is no single dominant socio-demographic parameter that defines the winners or losers from the introduction of ToU tariff

Exploratory analysis of family-related activities during peak electricity periods

Price-based interventions (such as Time of Use tariffs) are designed to shift the timing of certain everyday activities to mitigate peak electricity demand. On the one hand, it is argued that timing activities outside the peak hours would decrease the demand, easing the stress on the grid. On the other hand, recent literature suggests that householders are more likely to ignore timing of activities - due to convenience or due to activities considered 'non-negotiable' during peak hours. One way to address this conundrum is to investigate how family-related activities during the peak times hang together and the extent to which they are performed together at a specific time of the day. The starting point of this research is that working hours and school times shape the dynamics of peak demand, leaving less time for families to do more during these time periods and also making it difficult to shift activities to other times of the day. We aim to explore the timing and sequences of activities, comparing how they vary at different temporal scales (e.g. workdays vis-à-vis school holidays). In conclusion, we argue that any effective shifting of family-related activities will need to look beyond the meter (such as de-synchronized effects of school holidays), potentially collecting information regarding both energy and non-energy data in order to understand the connection, coordination and organization between activities which constitute electricity demand