Distributed monitoring and control of future power systems via grid computing

It is now widely accepted within the electrical power supply industry that future power systems operates with significantly larger numbers of small-scale highly dispersed generation units that use renewable energy sources and also reduce carbon dioxide emissions. In order to operate such future power systems securely and efficiently it will be necessary to monitor and control output levels and scheduling when connecting such generation to a power system especially when it is typically embedded at the distribution level. Traditional monitoring and control technology that is currently employed at the transmission level is highly centralized and not scalable to include such significant increases in distributed and embedded generation. However, this paper proposes and demonstrates the adoption of a relatively new technology 'grid computing' that can provide both a scalable and universally adoptable solution to the problems associated with the distributed monitoring and control of future power systems

Distribution and habitat of Helicarion rubicundus (Pulmonata: Helicarionidae), a rare land snail.

Distribution records and details of habitat are provided for Helicarion rubicundus, a land snail. This was known from one location. It was found to occur through much of the wet forest on Forestier Peninsula but to be rare within suitable habitat on Tasman Peninsula

Identification of the hair of Tasmanian mammals

Photographs of the hair structure of the five species of Tasmanian mammals (Sarcophilus harrisii, Thylacinus cynocephalus, Bettongia gaimardi, Cercartetus lepidus and Pseudomys higginsi) which have not been described by Brunner & Coman (1974) are presented. A key to the hair of forty Tasmanian mammals is provided to allow the identification of unknown samples. The key can be used in mammal surveys and in carnivore dietary studies

Effect of a rigid ankle-foot orthosis on hamstring length in children with hemiplagia

Eighteen children with hemiplegia, mean age 8 years 5 months, underwent gait analysis and musculoskeletal modelling using specially designed software. The maximum lengths of the hamstrings were determined for each child walking in and out of an ankle–foot orthosis (AFO). The muscles were deemed to be short if shorter than the normal average – 1SD. In bare feet 8 participants had short medial hamstrings with a higher proportion of these in the less involved individuals. All participants showed an increase in maximum hamstring length when wearing an AFO. In all but one child this was sufficient to restore hamstring length to within normal limits. These finding suggest that hamstring pathology in hemiplegic gait is usually secondary to more distal lower limb pathology

Is problem solving, or simulation model solving, mission critical?

How do we consider problems and models in the practice of simulation? It is our possibly contentious observation that simulation model solving seems to be more critical to the mission of simulation modeling than problem solving. Inspired by the theme of this year's Winter Simulation Conference, we ask the question, "Is problem solving, or simulation model solving, mission critical?" To investigate this we look at three perspectives, those of the textbook, the article and the editorial. The textbook perspective is the balance of the "traditional" view of simulation presented by the academic textbook against practical experience. The article perspective is a classification of papers published in four leading simulation journals in the year 2004 (ACM TOMACS, SIMULATION, Simulation Modelling Practice and Theory, and Simulation & Gaming). The editorial perspective is a discussion of editorial policy presented by the same journals. Our findings show that our observation is not contradicted

Distribution and conservation status of the Mt Mangana stag beetle, Lissotes menalcas (Coleoptera: Lucanidae)

Lissotes menalcas (the Mt Mangana Stag Beetle) is an obligate log dwelling beetle and is presently classified as vulnerable under the Tasmanian Threatened Species Protection Act 1995. The distribution, habitat and conservation status of this species were investigated through a combination of collation of known locations and searches for the in decaying logs across likely areas of occurrence. L. menalcas was found to have a wide distribution in south eastern Tasmania and is now recorded from 34 localities. The species was found in a variety of wet forest habitats from old-growth mixed forest through to 23-year-old wet eucalypt silvicultural regrowth. About 12% of wet eucalypt forest within the predicted range of L. menalcas is formally reserved, and another 14% on Crown land is unlikely to be subject to logging. L. menalcas appears to tolerate both wildfire and clear felling with regeneration burning. Because the species depends on an ongoing supply of rotting logs for its long-term survival, plantation development will probably lead to the elimination of the species from such areas. Analysis of the likely impact of plantation establishment within its range over the next ten years indicates that it will not reach levels that would lead it to be considered as vulnerable. Thus, it is recommended that the status of the species be changed from vulnerable to rare. However, there is a need to determine the ecological sustainability of present forest management practices in relation to the decaying-log habitat and to continue to monitor the extent of clearing and modification of the species' habitat

Small terrestrial mammals and bats of Melaleuca and Claytons, southwestern Tasmania

A survey of small terrestrial mammals and bats was undertaken in two areas of southwestern Tasmania: around Melaleuca, in sedgeland, scrub and woodland communities, and at Claytons in mixed forest. The density of bats was extremely low in comparison with populations in eastern Tasmania. The densities of Rattus lutreolusand Antechinus minimuswere greatest in sedgeland/scrub with a dense undergrowth. Pseudomys higginsi was only captured in mixed forest but is also present around Deny King's garden. Dasyurus viverrinus was most abundant in young sedgeland. Cercartetus nanus was present at both Clay tons and Melaleuca. No introduced rodents were trapped, but an outbreak of Rattus rattus had occurred previous to our study. No Mastacomys fuscus were trapped but they have been recorded in a previous study. Fire has an important influence on the composition and structure of the vegetation which, in turn, influences the composition and density of the mammal community