DC-DC Boost Converter with Constant Output Voltage for Grid Connected Photovoltaic Application System

The main purpose of this paper is to introduce an approach to design a DC-DC boost converter with constant output voltage for grid connected photovoltaic application system. The boost converter is designed to step up a fluctuating solar panel voltage to a higher constant DC voltage. It uses voltage feedback to keep the output voltage constant. To do so, a microcontroller is used as the heart of the control system which it tracks and provides pulse-width-modulation signal to control power electronic device in boost converter. The boost converter will be able to direct couple with grid-tied inverter for grid connected photovoltaic system. Simulations were performed to describe the proposed design. Experimental works were carried out with the designed boost converter which has a power rating of 100 W and 24 V output voltage operated in continuous conduction mode at 20 kHz switching frequency. The test results show that the proposed design exhibits a good performance

翻譯與殖民管治 : 早期香港史上的雙面譯者高和爾 (1816-1875) = Translation and colonial rule : Daniel Richard Caldwell (1816-1875), the duplicitous translator in early Hong Kong history

由於殖民者與被殖民者存在著語言上的隔閡，翻譯往往在殖民管治中扮演十分重要的角色。1842年割讓為英國殖民地的香港，在開埠之初便面對著嚴重的管治問題，其中一個主要原因是港英殖民政府缺乏可堪信賴的雙語人才，能夠處理好殖民者與被殖民者的溝通。本文為一龐大研究計劃「翻譯與香港殖民管治」的部分，透過整理大量原始資料及檔案，重點討論香港開埠初期港英政府裏的一名譯員高和爾（Daniel Richard Caldwell, 1816－1875）。他背景複雜，身份特殊，精通多種語言，儘管最初只是一名寂寂無名的法庭傳譯員，但卻做到法庭沒有他便沒法開庭審案的局面，最終更擢升總登記官以及首任撫華道之職，且遊走於正邪之間，既與上流社會保持密切關係，又跟汪洋海盜相往來。本文分析港英殖民管治初期的特殊政治、文化及語言時空，並闡述作為獨特個案的高和爾，怎樣發揮特殊功能，作出重大的貢獻，也產生深遠影響

The experience of animal therapy in residential aged care in New Zealand : a narrative analysis : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Psychology at Massey University, Wellington, New Zealand

Volunteer-led animal visitation programmes are common within Aged Residential Care facilities in New Zealand. Visits by animals and handlers, often referred to as Animal Therapy, are primarily social and intended to improve the quality of life of people in residential care. Animal Therapy has been shown to have both physiological and psychological benefits for older people, including improvements in outlook and social interaction. Very little research has been conducted in New Zealand, particularly on the informal animal visitation programmes typical in care facilities in New Zealand. This project examined the experience of animal therapy in aged residential care. In-depth interviews were conducted with seven older people about their experiences of animal therapy, and analysed using narrative analysis. Older people in residential care do value animal therapy, but it is narrated as a fleeting pleasure, rather than having a long-lasting or far-reaching impact on the daily experience of residential care. In some ways, the structure of the AAA programme may underscore the challenges to everyday autonomy and identity in the everyday lived experience of residential aged care. This can be used to develop services that acknowledge the context of living in aged care for residents