29,485 research outputs found
Optimizing Service Restoration in Distribution Systems with Uncertain Repair Time and Demand
This paper proposes a novel method to co-optimize distribution system
operation and repair crew routing for outage restoration after extreme weather
events. A two-stage stochastic mixed integer linear program is developed. The
first stage is to dispatch the repair crews to the damaged components. The
second stage is distribution system restoration using distributed generators,
and reconfiguration. We consider demand uncertainty in terms of a truncated
normal forecast error distribution, and model the uncertainty of the repair
time using a lognormal distribution. A new decomposition approach, combined
with the Progressive Hedging algorithm, is developed for solving large-scale
outage management problems in an effective and timely manner. The proposed
method is validated on modified IEEE 34- and 8500-bus distribution test
systems.Comment: Under review in IEEE Transactions on Power System
Tourism curriculum in the University Sector: Does it meet future requirements? Evidence from Australia
In the contemporary competitive and globally connected marketplace, factors that guaranteed business success in the past may be of limited relevance in the future. Within the paradigms of todayās business, many successful operators continually introduce new products and services to maintain their market leadership position. Whilst firms in the tourism industry seek to maintain competitive position through policy planning, strategic marketing, budgeting and R&D, tourism education providers occupy a key position by seeking to enhance the skill levels of management and employees, both present and future. This paper reviews some Australian tourism and hospitality education programmes and course curriculum and briefly compares them with some trends in other English-speaking countries. The research explores tourism industry demand, traineesā expectations and additionally identifies gaps and opportunities for the future curriculum content. The findings may, therefore, assist tourism programme providers with a broader perspective with which to shape future tourism courses
Fermionic Symmetry Protected Topological Phases and Cobordisms
It has been proposed recently that interacting Symmetry Protected Topological
(SPT) phases can be classified using cobordism theory. We test this proposal in
the case of fermionic SPT phases with Z/2 symmetry, where Z/2 is either
time-reversal or an internal symmetry. We find that cobordism classification
correctly describes all known fermionic SPT phases in space dimension less than
or equal to 3 and also predicts that all such phases can be realized by free
fermions. In higher dimensions we predict the existence of inherently
interacting fermionic SPT phases.Comment: 26 pages, new references added and a new section on decorated domain
walls in v
Satisfiers and dissatisfiers for international vocational education students: A case study using narrative frames
While the satisfaction of international students is frequently surveyed, much of this research is based on a very limited range of closed-item data collection methods, producing findings that partially reflect the researchersā assumptions in designing the survey items. Recognizing the potential value in using methods that are more open-ended and qualitative analyses, the present study employed narrative frames and follow-up interviews to explore the satisfiers and dissatisfiers for international vocational education students at one institution in New Zealand. Reporting on perceptions of the class, institution, and community, the findings identify the participantsā top-of-mind (dis)satisfiers and complement the existing literature by identifying seldom-reported themes. Discussion of issues in analyzing narrative frames is also provided
The Falling Factorial Basis and Its Statistical Applications
We study a novel spline-like basis, which we name the "falling factorial
basis", bearing many similarities to the classic truncated power basis. The
advantage of the falling factorial basis is that it enables rapid, linear-time
computations in basis matrix multiplication and basis matrix inversion. The
falling factorial functions are not actually splines, but are close enough to
splines that they provably retain some of the favorable properties of the
latter functions. We examine their application in two problems: trend filtering
over arbitrary input points, and a higher-order variant of the two-sample
Kolmogorov-Smirnov test.Comment: Full version for the ICML paper with the same titl
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