Power Balance Research Articles

Rethinking creative commons licensing: A policy proposal to safeguard against copyright trolling and enhance knowledge sharing

This paper addresses the pressing need to reform Creative Commons (CC) licensing in response to the challenges posed by copyright trolling. The paper highlights how these factors undermine the integrity of knowledge-sharing ecosystems by examining the economic motivations behind copyright trolling and the ambiguities in existing CC licenses. It proposes a dual approach that combines policy advocacy with theoretical development, recommending clear licensing language, anti-trolling provisions, and the establishment of an oversight body to protect users while maintaining creator incentives. Through case studies and analysis, the paper illustrates the potential benefits of these reforms, advocating for a more equitable and inclusive framework that fosters creativity, collaboration, and access to knowledge. Ultimately, the aim is to recalibrate the balance of power within the licensing landscape, ensuring that both creators and users can engage freely and securely in sharing creative works.

The Patterns of Digital Deception

Current consumer-protection debates focus on the powerful new data-analysis techniques that have disrupted the balance of power between companies and their customers. Online tracking enables sellers to amass troves of historical data, apply machine-learning tools to construct detailed customer profiles, and target those customers with tailored offers that best suit their interests. It is often a win-win. Sellers avoid pumping dud products and consumers see ads for things they actually want to buy. But the same tools are also used for ill—to target vulnerable members of the population with scams specially tailored to prey on their weaknesses. The result has been a dramatic rise in online fraud that disproportionately impacts those least able to bear the loss. The law’s response has been technology centric. Lawmakers race to identify those technologies that drive consumer deception and target them for regulatory restrictions. But that approach comes at a major cost. General-purpose data analysis and communications tools have both desirable and undesirable uses, and uniform restrictions on their use impede the good along with the bad. A superior approach would focus not on the technological tools of deception but on what this Article identifies as the legal patterns of digital deception: those aspects of digital technology that have outflanked the law’s existing mechanisms for redressing consumer harm. This Article reorients the discussion from the power of new technologies to the shortcomings in existing regulatory structures that have allowed for their abuse. Focus on these patterns of deception will allow regulators to reallocate resources to offset those shortcomings and thereby enhance efforts to combat online fraud without impeding technological innovation.

Capturing Calabria? ‘ndrangheta, corruption, and maladministration in local public institutions in Southern Italy

ABSTRACT The ‘ndrangheta is the collective name of mafia-type groups from Calabria, Italy. Some ‘ndrangheta clans’ ability to influence local public institutions has been based on personal connections, systemic corruption, electoral influence, hidden exchanges, blackmailing power, and ‘elitarian handshakes’. Mafias have long-term interests in ‘capturing’ state’s institutions to gain profits, impunity, and generally a dominant position in the resulting balance of power with the ‘legitimate’ state. In this paper, we will highlight the process of state capture at municipal level enabled by ‘ndrangheta clans in Calabria, showing how the clans’ influence-oriented policy formulation, implementation, and enforcement of rules over time.

Adaptive Variable Universe Fuzzy Droop Control Based on a Novel Multi-Strategy Harris Hawk Optimization Algorithm for a Direct Current Microgrid with Hybrid Energy Storage

In the off-grid photovoltaic DC microgrid, traditional droop control encounters challenges in effectively adjusting the droop coefficient in response to varying power fluctuation frequencies, which can be influenced by factors such as line impedance. This paper introduces a novel Multi-strategy Harris Hawk Optimization Algorithm (MHHO) that integrates variable universe fuzzy control theory with droop control to develop an adaptive variable universe fuzzy droop control strategy. The algorithm employs Fuch mapping to evenly distribute the initial population across the solution space and incorporates logarithmic spiral and improved adaptive weight strategies during both the exploration and exploitation phases, enhancing its ability to escape local optima. A comparative analysis against five classical meta-heuristic algorithms on the CEC2017 benchmarks demonstrates the superior performance of the proposed algorithm. Ultimately, the adaptive variable universe fuzzy droop control based on MHHO dynamically optimizes the droop coefficient to mitigate the negative impact of internal system factors and achieve a balanced power distribution between the battery and super-capacitor in the DC microgrid. Through MATLAB/Simulink simulations, it is demonstrated that the proposed adaptive variable universe fuzzy droop control strategy based on MHHO can limit the fluctuation range of bus voltage within ±0.75%, enhance the robustness and stability of the system, and optimize the charge and discharge performance of the energy storage unit.

Mixed Thermal and Renewable Energy Generation Optimization in Non-Interconnected Regions via Boolean Mapping

Global efforts aiming to shift towards renewable energy and smart grid configurations require accurate unit commitment schedules to guarantee power balance and ensure feasible operation under different complex constraints. Intelligent systems utilizing hybrid and high-level techniques have arisen as promising solutions to provide optimum exploration–exploitation trade-offs at the expense of computational complexity. To ameliorate this requirement, which is extremely expensive in non-interconnected renewable systems, radically different approaches based on enhanced priority schemes and Boolean encoding/decoding have to take place. This compilation encompasses various mappings that convert multi-valued clausal forms into Boolean expressions with equivalent satisfiability. Avoiding any need to introduce prior parameter settings, the solution utilizes state-of-the-art advancements in the field of artificial intelligence models, namely Boolean mapping. It allows for the efficient identification of the optimal configuration of a non-convex system with binary and discontinuous dynamics in the fewest possible trials, providing impressive performance. In this way, Boolean mapping becomes capable of providing global optimum solutions to unit commitment utilizing fully tractable procedures without deteriorating the computational time. The results, considering a non-interconnected power system, show that the proposed model based on artificial intelligence presents advantageous performance in terms of generating cost and complexity. This is particularly important in isolated networks, where even a-not-so great deviation between production and consumption may reflect as a major disturbance in terms of frequency and voltage.

Enhanced composite controller for PV/PMSG/PEMFC and BESS‐based DC microgrids voltage regulation: Integrating integral terminal sliding mode controller and recursive backstepping controller

AbstractThe variability of renewable energy sources due to weather patterns often leads to a mismatch between power generation and consumption within microgrids (MGs). This challenge is exacerbated when integrating bio‐renewable units, complicating stability maintenance in MGs. This research work introduces a novel solution to address this issue: a composite controller merging an integral terminal sliding mode controller with a recursive backstepping controller for direct current MGs (DCMGs). The proposed DCMG incorporates solar photovoltaic units, wind farms based on permanent magnet synchronous generators, proton exchange membrane fuel cells fuelled by hydrogen gas, an electrolyser, battery energy storage systems, and DC loads. First, a comprehensive mathematical model for the components within the DCMG is developed to design the proposed composite controller. This controller not only overcomes the inherent limitations and convergence issues of conventional SMCs but also ensures stable DC‐bus voltage and maintains power balance across various operational conditions. Moreover, a fuzzy logic‐based energy management system is introduced to regulate power flow, considering factors like battery state of charge and renewable energy sources' total power output. The control Lyapunov function confirms the DCMG system's asymptotic stability. Finally, the proposed controller's effectiveness is validated through simulations on both MATLAB/Simulink and Arduino Mega 2650 processor‐in‐the‐loop platforms under various operational conditions. In both platforms, the proposed controller surpasses an existing controller in terms of settling time, overshoot, and tracking error of the DC‐bus voltage.

Replacing hospital nurse consultations with home-based nurse consultations for severe spasticity patients on intrathecal baclofen: a qualitative study

Aim This qualitative study explored the experiences of patients, caregivers and healthcare professionals after replacing hospital consultations with a home service solution for patients treated for severe spasticity with intrathecal baclofen. Method Semi-structured interviews were conducted with six patients, six caregivers and six healthcare professionals. The data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. Results Four themes were identified: 1) Caregivers’ new role and contribution to treatment, 2) Hospital consultations in home settings changed the balance of power, 3) A compassionate relationship, and 4) Contextual care for patients. Conclusion The home-based consultations improved caregivers’ understanding of the treatment and helped them to become active spokespersons for the patient by contributing important information about the patient’s perspectives and the effects of the treatment. The balance of power shifted towards a more equitable dynamic between patients and nurses during home consultations, facilitated by greater involvement of the patient perspective. The nurses’ working conditions changed, but patients and caregivers appreciated the shift in treatment setting.

PV Based Single Stage Cascaded Seven Level Modular Multilevel Converter with ZSV Control for Grid Interfaced System

Objectives: Climatic perturbation and environmental factors affect solar power generation. When these solar panels are connected to the grid it causes power quality issues such as voltage harmonics, voltage distortion, etc. These problems are addressed in this paper using a distributed MPPT algorithm. Methods: Multilevel inverters have made remarkable contributions to renewable energy, high voltage, and other high-power applications. Hence, a single-stage Cascaded Seven-Level Modular Multilevel Converter (CSLMMC) is used to address the issues. Zero Sequence Voltage (ZSV) control is proposed for producing balanced power during varying irradiance conditions. The proposed method is simulated using MATLAB SIMULINK software. Partial shading is conquered by using distributed MPPT. Findings: The simulation of the proposed system is performed for a three-phase system. The three-phase Cascaded Modular Multilevel Converter is connected to the grid through two loads which are controlled by a Zero Sequence Voltage Controller. Power quality parameters such as current, harmonics, and power are analyzed for the proposed system. Novelty: THD analysis for a five-level cascaded H bridge converter and the proposed systems are compared and presented. Keywords: Photo voltaic, Cascaded seven-level modular multilevel converter, Zero sequence control, Maximum power point tracking, Voltage Source Converter

Nepal’s Geostrategic Location: Realist Imperatives on Foreign Policy

Realist imperatives in foreign policy emphasize the pursuit of national interests, power balance, and pragmatic decision-making in an anarchic international system. This study aims to analyze Nepal's foreign policy through a realist perspective, focusing on its historical evolution, challenges, and opportunities. An exploratory research design is employed, using secondary data from peer-reviewed journals, historical records, academic books, policy reports, and governmental publications. The publication period of the sources ranges between 1963 and 2023. The study finds that Nepal’s foreign policy decisions are significantly influenced by its geopolitical position and the need to balance relationships with neighboring powers India and China. The implication of this study is that realist theory provides a valuable framework for understanding how small states like Nepal navigate complex international dynamics to safeguard their national interests.

Assessing the Diffusion of Military Power Capacity of Middle Powers: The Case of Turkey

ABSTRACT Great powers’ military power diffusion (MPD) is superior to Middle Powers (M.P.) in technology acquisition, military innovation, and state & financial capacity. However, M.P.s have started to enhance their MPD thanks to their growing impact on international politics. In this vein, this paper aims to offer an alternative explanation of MPD by introducing a novel theoretical framework, Military Power Diffusion Capacity (hereafter MPDC), to assess how M.P.s’ MPD influences the balance of power and warfare at both regional and international levels. In doing so, this article is structured into three sections. First, we investigate the existing theoretical frameworks on military power diffusion and the spread of military power by middle-ranking states. Second, we examine the historical evolution of Turkey’s defence industry. Third, we introduce our MPDC framework and test it to the Turkey’s case. Here, we propose a five-layered MPDC framework based on the following determining factors: 1) Sustainable Financial & State Capacity, 2) Geopolitical and strategic rivalries, 3) Domestic conditions, 4) Civil-Military bargaining levels, and 5) regional and global power status-driven aspirations. Then, we scrutinize Turkey’s MPDC since the 1990s within our five-layered framework to assess the implications of its MPD on the changing international security environment.

The adoption and implementation of local government planning policy to manage hot food takeaways near schools in England: A qualitative process evaluation

IntroductionAccess to hot food takeaways, particularly near schools, is of growing concern for policymakers seeking to reduce childhood obesity globally. In England, United Kingdom (UK), local government jurisdictions are implementing planning policies to reduce access by restricting or denying planning permission for new takeaway outlets near schools. We used a qualitative approach to explore local government officers’ perspectives on the barriers to and facilitators of the adoption, implementation, and perceived effectiveness of these policies. MethodsIn 2021–2022, we conducted semi-structured interviews with 29 local planning (‘planners’) and public health government officers from 15 different local authorities across England who adopted a policy to restrict new takeaways. Data were analysed thematically. ResultsParticipants explained that they mostly thought the policies facilitated the refusal of applications for new takeaways near schools. However, participants speculated that businesses identified alternative opportunities to operate including functioning as ‘restaurants’ or within other locations. Effective working relationships between planners and public health officers were important for adoption and implementation, although planning and public health agendas did not always align and there were tensions between economic development and health improvement goals. The policy was adapted to suit local needs and priorities; in some cases, the policy was not used in areas where economic growth was prioritised. Clarity in policy wording and establishing a formal process for implementing policies including a designated individual responsible for checking and reviewing takeaway applications helped ensure consistency and confidence in policy implementation. ConclusionAlthough sometimes challenging, the policies were commonly described as feasible to implement. However, they may not completely prevent new takeaways opening, particularly where takeaways are relied upon to enhance local economies or where takeaway businesses find alternative ways to operate. Nevertheless, the policies can serve to shift the balance of power that currently favours commercial interests over public health priorities.

Regions and the European Union in times of crisis: A decline of the regional interest?

Abstract The article examines the evolving role of regions in the EU integration process, particularly in light of recent crises, such as the euro and COVID-19 crises. Historically, EU regional studies have emphasized the importance of regions in EU identity and integration, highlighting their role in regional and cohesion policies as key to a multilevel governance system. However, the euro crisis marked a significant shift, as the European Union’s response—focusing on fiscal discipline—curtailed regions’ budgetary autonomy, especially in Southern Europe. In contrast, the COVID-19 crisis prompted a different approach, with the EU relaxing fiscal controls and increasing public expenditure through initiatives like the Recovery Plan for Europe. Despite these measures, the article argues that state interests continue to dominate, sidelining regional voices in the new institutional structures. The article focuses on two critical aspects: the formal participation of regions in EU governance, particularly in the Economic and Monetary Union and the new pandemic-related frameworks, and the impact of these crises on EU regional policy. The findings suggest a decline in regional influence both in institutional participation and in regional policy resources, marking a regression from pre-crisis trends. While the article does not cover a broader multipolicy analysis or the national-level role of regions, it indicates that the post-crisis era has been challenging for regions in maintaining their relevance and influence within the EU framework. The article thus contributes to the discourse on whether the European Union’s interest in regions has diminished, signaling a potential shift in the balance of power within the EU integration process.

Syrian Immigrants and Turkish–European Union Migration Deals: Business as Usual

ABSTRACT Turkish–European Union Migration Agreement (TEMD) was signed in 2016, at the height of the Syrian migration flows. Together with this deal, the EU aimed at blocking the migration flows from the Middle East to Europe, and for not so obvious reasons, Turkey accepted to be a buffer between these two. Immigration, in its numerous legal, semi-legal and illegal varieties, has been the lifeblood of capitalism. Despite all the harsh rhetoric against immigration, the flows are not abated, but rather the newcomers are stratified in a manner that locks the newcomers into vulnerable positions. In this article, I will examine the case of immigration control regulations between the EU and Turkey. The EU and Turkey has a complex relationship of immigration flows that include third-country nationals as well as the native populations. The ‘EU-Turkey Statement and Action Plan’ was signed to constitute the pinnacle of a series of dealings between these two entities, though the balance of power is clearly skewed towards the former. This article intends to start examining the stratification effects of the Syrian immigration and the subsequent transformation of the immigration politics played among the three actors: the EU/Germany, Turkey and Syria.

How to leverage implementation research for equity in global health

Implementation research (IR) is important for addressing equity in global health. However, there is limited knowledge on how to operationalize IR for health equity, and pathways for improving health equity through IR in global health settings. This paper provides an overview of guidance and frameworks for thinking about health equity as part of IR while noting the gaps in how this guidance and frameworks apply to global health. It proposes an approach to guide implementation teams in the application of IR for achieving equity in global health considering these gaps. It describes key equity considerations for different aspects of IR (i.e., implementation contexts, strategies, outcomes, and research designs). These considerations can be applied prospectively and retrospectively, and at different stages of IR. The paper further describes causal pathways, intervention levers, and strategies for achieving health equity in global health settings through IR. Central to these pathways is the power asymmetries among different actors involved in IR in global health and how these contribute to health inequities. The paper suggests recommendations and strategies for shifting the balance of power among these actors while addressing the structural and systemic determinants of health inequities as part of IR. Explicit considerations for health equity as part of implementation research and practice are needed for the achievement of global health goals. Such explicit considerations should look back as much as possible, and entail defining and analyzing health inequities and intervening on the underlying causes and mechanisms of health inequities as part of IR on a routine basis.

A Fresh Manner Cuckoo Search Algorithm to Hydrothermal Scheduling in Short Term

The main goal of the short-term hydrothermal scheduling (HS) challenge is to drastically reduce the large fuel cost of producing power by scheduling the hydrothermal energy producers while taking power balance restrictions, the reservoir's storage restrictions, the water's gross discharge, and the thermal power generators' and hydropower plants' operating restrictions into account. Many algorithms have been employed to solve this similar problem, and relevant research have been published in the literature; nevertheless, their scope is limited in terms of the number of 16 iterations required to achieve the solution state and the solution state itself. In order to solve the HS problem, this article suggests applying an improved cuckoo search (CS) algorithm known as the fresh manner cuckoo search (FMCS) algorithm, a modified variant of the conventional CS. The suggested FMCS

Balance of power: The choice between trial and participant numbers to optimize the detection of phase-dependent effects

Abstract The fields of neuroscience and psychology are currently in the midst of a so-called “reproducibility crisis”, with growing concerns regarding a history of weak effect sizes and low statistical power in much of the research published in these fields over the last few decades. Whilst the traditional approach for addressing this criticism has been to increase participant sample sizes, there are many research contexts in which the number of trials per participant may be of equal importance. The present study aimed to compare the relative importance of participants and trials in the detection of phase-dependent phenomena, which are measured across a range of neuroscientific contexts (e.g., neural oscillations, non-invasive brain stimulation). This was achievable within a simulated environment where one can manipulate the strength of this phase-dependency in two types of outcome variables: one with normally distributed residuals (idealistic) and one comparable to motor-evoked potentials (an MEP-like variable). We compared the statistical power across thousands of experiments with the same number of sessions per experiment but with different proportions of participants and number of sessions per participant (30 participants ⨉ 1 session, 15 participants ⨉ 2 sessions, and 10 participants ⨉ 3 sessions), with the trials being pooled across sessions for each participant. These simulations were performed for both outcome variables (idealistic and MEP-like) and four different effect sizes (0.075— ‘weak’, 0.1— ‘moderate’, 0.125— ‘strong’, 0.15— ‘very strong’), as well as separate control scenarios with no true effect. Across all scenarios with (true) discoverable effects, and for both outcome types, there was a statistical benefit for experiments maximising the number of trials rather than the number of participants (i.e., it was always beneficial to recruit fewer participants but have them complete more trials). These findings emphasise the importance of obtaining sufficient individual-level data rather than simply increasing participant numbers.

Diffusion Augmented Complex Inverse Square Root for Adaptive Frequency Estimation over Distributed Networks

Using adaptive filtering to estimate the frequency of power systems has become a popular trend. In recent years, however, few studies have been performed on adaptive frequency estimations in non-stationary noise environments. In this paper, we propose the distributed complex inverse square root algorithm and distributed augmented complex inverse square root algorithm for the frequency estimation of power systems based on the widely linear model and the inverse square root cost function, where the function can restrain both positive and negative large errors, based on its symmetry. Moreover, the wireless sensor networks support monitoring and adaptation for the frequency estimation in the distributed networks, and the proposed approach can ensure good robustness of the balanced or unbalanced three-phase power system with the help of a local complex-value voltage signal generated by Clark’s transformation. In addition, the bound of step size is driven by the global vectors, and that low computation complexity do not hinder those performances. The results of several experiments demonstrate that our algorithms can effectively estimate the frequency in impulsive noise environments.

Spatial-temporal modulation method of nanosecond laser for the double-cone ignition scheme

In order to improve the stability of the pulse, realize the high requirements of the direct drive ignition design for the uniformity of the target irradiation, reduce the interference of laser plasma instability, and improve the laser-target coupling efficiency, a nanosecond laser spatial-temporal modulation of high-power laser driver for double-cone ignition (DCI) research was proposed. Under the premise of satisfying the near-isentropic compression waveform of driving implosion, the time-power curves of all sub-beams in the facility are redistributed to reduce the waveform contrast ratio of each sub-beam. A fewer number of sub-beams are utilized to generate low-power foot pulses, which are focused on the target surface of the initial radius. And the remaining sub-beams are utilized to generate high-power driving main pulses, which are focused on a relatively small target surface. It is shown that the stability of the time-power curve of each sub-beam and the power balance control ability can be effectively improved by redistributing. At the same time, the variable focal spot control can be realized to reduce the influence of cross-beam energy transfer (CBET).

Partnering Implementation in SMEs: The Role of Trust

Resource Dependence Theory suggests that (a) power balance with resource interdependency, (b) formal/informal procedures for resource exchange, and (c) matching in goals and operational philosophies positively affect partnering implementation (information exchange and joint decision-making). Additionally, improved partnering implementation positive affects commitment fulfillment and dispute resolution. In a setting where SMEs supply to small local retailers, the SMEs do not suffer from low bargaining power and rely on informal contracts, and both firms are compatible. The small trading partners in this study predominantly have face-to-face and telephonic interactions with each other (possible due to the small number). Knowledge of one another and a simple transaction process reduces risk and uncertainty, and leads to trust. In this study, trust is a contextual factor, and we aim to determine if there is a positive effect of (a), (b), and (c) on partnering implementation, and if the effect strengthens with an increase in the level of trust. Survey data are used to calibrate and validate a structural equation model independently. Through empirical research, we aim to identify deviations in results, determine the cause of deviation in the study characteristics, and add explanatory power to research findings. Except for the influence of trust on the positive relationship between informal procedures and partnering implementation, the finding fits with the theoretical bases. With a high level of trust, clarity in time, accuracy, and relevance of information exchanged may be lacking, compromising decision-making and adding to the ambiguity of partnering implementation with an informal agreement.

Perceptions of The Health Risks of Local Poultry Farming and The Behaviour Of Urban and Peri-Urban Populations in The Town of Korhogo (Côte d'Ivoire).

Poultry farming plays an important nutritional, economic and socio-cultural role in developing countries. The aim of this study is to analyse the perceptions of health risks associated with poultry farming activities in the vicinity of dwellings and the behaviour of the population of the town of Korhogo. To achieve this, a qualitative socio-anthropological approach was used. The data collected came from 97 semi-structured interviews and direct observation from 15 April to 27 May 2024 in the town of Korhogo. The main results show that local residents living near poultry farms are aware of the health risks to which they are exposed, but the balance of power between gains and risks explains their practices. Poultry farming close to homes has had an impact on local residents and their environment. Residents often suffer from respiratory ailments, allergies, soiling of their surroundings, odour nuisance and other noises. As for the environment, it has suffered pollution of its air and water quality, as well as soil degradation. The reasons why these poultry farmers decide to carry out their activities close to homes are environmental, economic, social and ethical. Hence the need to train young farmers to manage the nuisances generated by these poultry farming activities.