Feedback Element Research Articles

Distributed Hierarchical Consensus-Based Economic Dispatch for Isolated AC/DC Hybrid Microgrid

In this paper, a distributed hierarchical consensus algorithm is proposed to solve the economic dispatch (ED) problem for the isolated AC/DC hybrid microgrid. At first, the whole nodes of the AC/DC hybrid microgrid are divided into two parts, that is, the leadership layer nodes and the tracking layer nodes. The leadership layer nodes update the data through their own feedback elements, while the tracking layer nodes receive the information from the leadership layer nodes and update the data. After several iterations, the two different layer nodes obtain the same state, which realizes the dynamic active power balance of the whole AC/DC microgrid. Besides, the AC sub-grid and DC sub-grid can also realize the power balance by the proposed algorithm, and the energy storage units will absorb or release active power to meet the power demand in the respective section. In addition, the constraints of the nodes are also taken into account to guarantee that the power nodes in the AC/DC hybrid microgrid should operate within their own limitations, which is necessary to realize the ED for the considered hybrid microgrid. Finally, case study and simulation results are provided to illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed hierarchal method.

Model Capacity Building Pada Pesantren Perbatasan Binaan Dinas Pendidikan Dayah Provinsi Aceh

The era of globalization demands education institution to be adaptive, creative, and innovative, including Islamic boarding schools as the institutions of Islamic education which become the national cultural heritage. One of the innovative programs is capacity building as a series of strategies aimed at increasing efficiency, effectiveness, and responsiveness of performance. This study was directed to explore capacity building implementation at Darul Amin Islamic modern boarding school Southeast Aceh. A qualitative research approach with a case study as the research strategy was implemented. The results of the study showed that capacity building focused on three dimensions, namely (1) human resource development; (2) organizational strengthening, and (3) institutional reform. The principle of Darul Amin capacity building contained the elements of participation, repetition, relevance, transfer, and feedback. In the process of capacity building, there were four stages, namely (1) pre-formal stage (pilot education organization); (2) formal stage (potential education organization); (3) transitional stage (national standard education organization); and (4) autonomous stage (international standard education organization). Towards the existence of the institution, Darul Amin also made various efforts at various levels, namely the system level, organizational level, and individual level.

Improving the angle measurement accuracy of circular grating.

Circular grating usually served as the angle displacement feedback element in a precision turntable, and its measurement accuracy is very important. Installation errors always exist in the measurement system, which can cause angle measurement errors. Angle measurement errors are an impediment to improve the angle positioning precision of a turntable. It is necessary to reduce the effect of installation errors. In this paper, a novel method was proposed to improve the angle measurement accuracy of circular grating, which is based on compressed sensing and sparsity decomposition. An experimental system was built to verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach. The experimental results validate that the proposed method can effectively improve the angle measurement accuracy of circular grating.

Feedback on video skill: A concept analysis

Increasing rates of mental health concerns are seen among youth in post-secondary institutions, particularly those enrolled in clinical-based health programs such as nursing. Nursing students are required to demonstrate skill competence for successful completion of nursing programs. Recent studies show that when students and faculty are engaged in video and audio recording of their own skills or co-creating video skills, many positive outcomes emerge, including a positive influence on their mental health. However, these videos skills are often overlooked by faculty. We explore the concept of "feedback on video skills" and its pedagogical and ethical implications for health and allied health practitioners within the context of flexible learning environments. Walker and Avant's (2011) concept analysis methodology was used. We identified the quantitative attributes and characteristics of "feedback on video skills" and presented sample cases to illustrate the concept further and guide the design and application of an online feedback video toolbox resource. Feedback is an important dimension of video skill teaching and learning. While faculty (expert) feedback on clinical skills is paramount in nursing education, other forms of feedback can be as valuable. This concept analysis method highlighted quantitative elements of feedback but left gaps in our understanding of the social relations and ethical considerations involved in using videorecorded feedback as a pedagogical tool. We suggest to further consider the use of video-recorded feedback through the lens of socio-technical affordances.

Functional responses between PMP3 small membrane proteins and membrane potential.

The Plasma Membrane Proteolipid 3 (PMP3, UPF0057 family in Uniprot) family consists of abundant small hydrophobic polypeptides with two predicted transmembrane helices. Plant homologues were upregulated in response to drought/salt-stresses and yeast deletion mutants exhibited conditional growth defects. We report here abundant expression of Group I PMP3 homologues (PMP3(i)hs) during normal vegetative growth in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells, at a level comparable to housekeeping genes, implicating the regular cellular functions. Expression of eukaryotic PMP3(i)hs was dramatically upregulated in response to membrane potential (Vm) variability (Vmvar ), whereas PMP3(i)hs deletion-knockdown led to Vm changes with conditional growth defects. Bacterial PMP3(i)h yqaE deletion led to a shift of salt sensitivity; Vmvar alternations with exogenous K+ addition downregulated prokaryotic PMP3(i)hs, suggesting [K+ ]-Vmvar axis being a significant feedback element in prokaryotic ionic homeostasis. Remarkably, the eukaryotic homologues functionally suppressed the conditional growth defects in bacterial deletion mutant, demonstrating the conserved cross-kingdom membrane functions by PMP3(i)hs. These data demonstrated a direct reciprocal relationship between PMP3(i)hs expression and Vm differentials in both prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Cumulative with PMP3(i)hs ubiquitous abundance, their lipid-binding selectivity and membrane protein colocalization, we propose [PMP3(i)hs]-Vmvar axis as a key element in membrane homeostasis.

Understanding Macau novice secondary teachers’ beliefs and practices of EFL writing instruction: A complexity theory perspective

Despite a growing recognition of the importance of teacher beliefs and practices, those of novice EFL secondary teachers regarding writing instruction remains underexplored. Drawing on complexity theory, this article reports on two secondary teachers’ beliefs and practices about writing instruction in Macau. Data were gathered through classroom observations, in-depth interviews and documents. The findings reveal two distinctive systems of beliefs and practices within the two cases, one being element-based and the other being process-oriented. Specifically, while the teacher of element-based beliefs experienced difficulties in enacting key elements of genre, audience, and feedback in practice, the teacher of process-oriented beliefs adopted a step-wise approach in instructional practice, which was nonetheless constrained by the school curriculum. These findings suggest that while the two cases were able to maintain internal coherence between their individual beliefs and practices, they experienced external constraints stemming from their curriculum and schools that led to dissonances in their beliefs and practices. The study calls for attention to the complex interactions among beliefs, practices and contexts and to how novice teachers develop their beliefs and practices systems regarding writing instruction within their situated contexts.

Visible Laser on Silicon Optofluidic Microcavity

AbstractOptical readout within microfluidic chips is a bottleneck limiting their industrial development. The integration of lasers operating in the visible range within a microfluidic platform is crucial for enabling in situ optical measurements in lab‐on‐a‐chip applications. In principle, microstructured single‐crystal silicon is an excellent optofluidic platform, which allows integration of microfluidic channels together with optical circuits including micro‐optics, waveguides, and resonant cavities. However, the silicon absorption below 1.1 µm is a fundamental limit that prohibits the use of silicon‐based microcavities as the feedback element for visible lasers and restricts their use to the infrared only. In this work, an ultra‐wide band silicon cavity enabled by two deeply etched hollow‐core planar waveguides is demonstrated. The proposed microcavity shows a broad bandwidth extending from 500 to 1600 nm with quality factors up to 2067. A tubular microfluidic channel is inserted between the mirrors of the optofluidic cavity. The microfluidic channel is filled with Rhodamine 6G (R6G) at 20 µL min−1 flow rate allowing successful demonstration of lasing on silicon at 562.4 nm. The laser beam propagates in‐plane (along the chip surface) and is handled with monolithically integrated input/output optical fiber grooves. This provides a unique silicon platform integrating hollow core optofluidic channels together with optical cavities, which is suitable for implementing optical readout in lab‐on‐a‐chip devices.

A New Blood Glucose Control Scheme for Unannounced Exercise in Type 1 Diabetic Subjects

The artificial pancreas (AP) system or closed-loop blood glucose (BG) regulation is a technological advancement that aims to relieve diabetic subjects from their current decision-making burden while tightening their BG levels. However, large disturbances such as meals and exercise still pose great challenges to a fully closed-loop system. In this paper, the problem of BG regulation with unannounced physical activity for type 1 diabetic subjects is addressed. We use a coordinated control strategy with insulin infusion and extra carbohydrates (CHO) for hypoglycemia avoidance. The insulin algorithm is based on a proportional–derivative controller with insulin feedback and the so-called safety auxiliary feedback element (SAFE) layer, and the algorithm for CHO is based on a predictive, quantified proportional-derivative controller. The UVa/Padua simulator glucose-insulin model is modified to include the effects of physical activity and is used to test the new AP. We consider scenarios where the subject does not announce physical activity and with challenging meals. Then, we analyze the performance and robustness of the combined insulin and CHO recommender system and compare them to the insulin-only controller. The simulation results show that the new AP system is able to mitigate daily hypoglycemia episodes (0.9 versus 0.2, $p ) and increase the time in range during day (91.5% versus 92.4%, $p ) without increasing the time above 180 mg/dl (6.3% versus 6.4%, $p > 0.05$ ).

Methods of ensuring flexibility of the budget process at holding enterprises of energy industry

Achieving business success for a company is directly related to financial planning, budgeting and analysis of results. Any system is viable if it includes feedback elements that provide an analysis of what the system has done and current adjustments to the system’s behavior as signals about its state. The article deals with the features of the budget process at energy enterprises as part of vertically oriented holding structures. The system formed by such enterprises is very complex, so it is necessary to take additional measures to maintain the efficiency of the budget process in such conditions. Therefore, an important issue is the organization of effective control in the budget execution system to make operational management decisions, which turns it into an effective tool for managing the enterprise. The essence and importance of budget control of energy companies are revealed. The paper deals with the organization of budget planning at an enterprise of the energy industry. Models for budget development and budget execution processes were built and budget limits were adjusted for enterprises using the IDEF0 methodology. The methods of control over the budget execution of energy industry enterprises are considered. The essence and types of the process of adjusting the budget of enterprises are revealed.

Facial feedback for reinforcement learning: a case study and offline analysis using the TAMER framework

Interactive reinforcement learning provides a way for agents to learn to solve tasks from evaluative feedback provided by a human user. Previous research showed that humans give copious feedback early in training but very sparsely thereafter. In this article, we investigate the potential of agent learning from trainers’ facial expressions via interpreting them as evaluative feedback. To do so, we implemented TAMER which is a popular interactive reinforcement learning method in a reinforcement-learning benchmark problem—Infinite Mario, and conducted the first large-scale study of TAMER involving 561 participants. With designed CNN–RNN model, our analysis shows that telling trainers to use facial expressions and competition can improve the accuracies for estimating positive and negative feedback using facial expressions. In addition, our results with a simulation experiment show that learning solely from predicted feedback based on facial expressions is possible and using strong/effective prediction models or a regression method, facial responses would significantly improve the performance of agents. Furthermore, our experiment supports previous studies demonstrating the importance of bi-directional feedback and competitive elements in the training interface.

Medical students as feedback assessors in a faculty development program: Implications for the future

Background: Little is known about simulated students’ ability in assessing feedback received in Objective Structured Teaching Encounters (OSTEs). We aimed to assess to which extent students’ perceptions matched objective analysis regarding quality of received feedback, to explore what elements of feedback they emphasized and what they learned about feedback.Methods: In this mixed-method study, 43 medical students participated as simulated residents in five OSTEs at Geneva University Hospitals. They assessed quality of feedback from faculty using a 15-item questionnaire and gave written/oral comments. Videotaped feedbacks were assessed using an 18-item feedback scale. During four focus groups, 25 students were asked about what they learned as feedback assessors.Results: 453 students’ questionnaires and feedback scale were compared. Correlations were moderate for stimulating self-assessment (0.48), giving a balanced feedback (0.44), checking understanding (0.47) or planning (0.43). Students’ feedback emphasized elements such as faculty’s empathy or ability to give concrete advice. They reported that being a feedback assessor helped them to realize importance of making the learner active and that giving effective feedback required structure and skills.Conclusion: Medical students may identify quality of feedback. Involving them in OSTEs could be interesting to train them to become valid raters of supervisors’ teaching skills.

Dynamic Rule-Based Algorithm to Tune Insulin-on-Board Constraints for a Hybrid Artificial Pancreas System.

The artificial pancreas (AP) is a system intended to control blood glucose levels through automated insulin infusion, reducing the burden of subjects with type 1 diabetes to manage their condition. To increase patients' safety, some systems limit the allowed amount of insulin active in the body, known as insulin-on-board (IOB). The safety auxiliary feedback element (SAFE) layer has been designed previously to avoid overreaction of the controller and thus avoiding hypoglycemia. In this work, a new method, so-called “dynamic rule-based algorithm,” is presented in order to adjust the limits of IOB in real time. The algorithm is an extension of a previously designed method which aimed to adjust the limits of IOB for a meal with 60 grams of carbohydrates (CHO). The proposed method is intended to be applied on hybrid AP systems during 24 h operation. It has been designed by combining two different strategies to set IOB limits for different situations: (1) fasting periods and (2) postprandial periods, regardless of the size of the meal. The UVa/Padova simulator is considered to assess the performance of the method, considering challenging scenarios. In silico results showed that the method is able to reduce the time spent in hypoglycemic range, improving patients' safety, which reveals the feasibility of the approach to be included in different control algorithms.

Investigation on Nanoscale Imaging of Gold Sputtered Sample by Scanning Tunneling Microscope

Abstract Nanoparticles fascinate because of the unique properties they possess which are different from the properties they have when in macro state, as a result they find application in various fields. Scanning tunneling microscopy is one of the techniques that are used to study the surface topography of a conductive sample on an atomic scale with a depth and lateral resolution in the sub-A0 range. The image quality obtained from the STM depends on many scanning parameters, like PID gains, bias voltage as well as the set current and these parameters are not constant and vary for each sample that is being imaged. For the same sample the scan parameters mentioned above also varies and it depends on the piezo tube behavior as well as the feedback elements that are used in the equipment. This paper mainly focusses on establishing the scanning parameters for imaging the gold sputtered sample by using the STM that is developed in our institute, to achieve high resolution images. The parameters for imaging of gold sputtered samples are established including effect of the scan area on the parameters is also studied.

Feedback Design in Targeted Exercise Digital Biofeedback Systems for Home Rehabilitation: A Scoping Review.

Digital biofeedback systems (DBSs) are used in physical rehabilitation to improve outcomes by engaging and educating patients and have the potential to support patients while doing targeted exercises during home rehabilitation. The components of feedback (mode, content, frequency and timing) can influence motor learning and engagement in various ways. The feedback design used in DBSs for targeted exercise home rehabilitation, as well as the evidence underpinning the feedback and how it is evaluated, is not clearly known. To explore these concepts, we conducted a scoping review where an electronic search of PUBMED, PEDro and ACM digital libraries was conducted from January 2000 to July 2019. The main inclusion criteria included DBSs for targeted exercises, in a home rehabilitation setting, which have been tested on a clinical population. Nineteen papers were reviewed, detailing thirteen different DBSs. Feedback was mainly visual, concurrent and descriptive, frequently providing knowledge of results. Three systems provided clear rationale for the use of feedback. Four studies conducted specific evaluations of the feedback, and seven studies evaluated feedback in a less detailed or indirect manner. Future studies should describe in detail the feedback design in DBSs and consider a robust evaluation of the feedback element of the intervention to determine its efficacy.

Revealing the mechanism of protein-lipid interactions for a putative membrane curvature sensor in plant endoplasmic reticulum

Membrane curvature sensing via helical protein domains, such as those identified in Amphiphysin and ArfGAP1, have been linked to a diverse range of cellular processes. However, these regions can vary significantly between different protein families and thus remain challenging to identify from sequence alone. Greater insight into the protein-lipid interactions that drive this behavior could lead to production of therapeutics that specifically target highly curved membranes. Here we demonstrate the curvature-dependence of membrane binding for an amphipathic helix (APH) in a plant reticulon, namely RTNLB13 from A. thaliana. We utilize solution-state nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy to establish the exact location of the APH and map the residues involved in protein-membrane interactions at atomic resolution. We find that the hydrophobic residues making up the membrane binding site are conserved throughout all A. thaliana reticulons. Our results also provide mechanistic insight that leads us to propose that membrane binding by this APH may act as a feedback element, only forming when ER tubules reach a critical size and adding stabilization to these structures without disrupting the bilayer. A shallow hydrophobic binding interface appears to be a feature shared more broadly across helical curvature sensors and would automatically restrict the penetration depth of these structures into the membrane. We also suggest this APH is highly tuned to the composition of the membrane in which it resides, and that this property may be universal in curvature sensors thus rationalizing the variety of mechanisms reported for these functional elements.

Soft medical microrobots: Design components and system integration

Medical microrobots are distinguished from other robotic systems in that they must function in the human body. As such, they exhibit special characteristics of size, function, and material choice. Recent advances have focused on fabrication techniques, locomotion at microscale environment, and targeted drug delivery. In this article, we will review these advances and examine related developments in material science and strategies for wireless control systems for communication, as well as data acquisition and processing. We focus on medical microrobots made of soft materials (with an emphasis on polymers and hydrogels), which are mechanically robust and deformable, offer tunable biophysical properties, and are highly biocompatible. Integration of the four design elements of locomotion, feedback and control, functionality, and biocompatibility will be needed to develop a fully functioning medical microrobot with clinical utility in the human body, such as diagnostics and treatment of disease, maintenance of wellness, and improvement of overall performance.

Evaluation of awarding badges on Student\u2019s engagement in Gamified e-learning systems

Gamification has been gaining increasing acceptability in recent times in educational and commercially related activities, as a tool that encourages and improves the motivation of digital native learners. Since learners can easily engage, educationists have explored gamification as a tool for remediation of engagement, motivation, and collaboration. However, the literature showed that the structural and contextual deployment of game elements is defined only partially in practice. Subsequently, gamification success and failure factors should be explored to identify the required enhancement to achieve improved efficiency in current systems. This research extracts the relevant aspects of gamification that need due consideration to make a guided choice through existing theories. This study is based on an online gamified study that uses well-founded concepts in teaching and evaluation of students in a university. Although badges earned and time spent indicated an increase in engagement, the results show that further work needs to be done by incorporating feedback elements, social interaction, and interactive guidance. The underlying impression is that timely, frequent feedback and personalized guidance, avenues for collaboration and interactivity need to be explored towards the better utility of gamification. Therefore, learning culture in the current learner-centered environment should be further studied to infuse better productivity.

Distributed hierarchical consensus algorithm for economic dispatch in smart grid

In this study, a distributed hierarchical consensus algorithm is proposed to solve the economic dispatch problem in smart grid. In the proposed hierarchical control strategy, the upper level is the leader level, which contains the feedback elements of power difference mismatch and plays a dominant role in the whole algorithm. The lower level is the follower level, which receives information from the leader level and realises self-adjustment based on the received information. Besides, the constraint conditions of generator nodes are considered to ensure that all of the generator nodes could operate within their limitations. With the increase of the number of leader nodes, the high convergence rate could be illustrated by the comparison between single-leader node and multi-leader nodes. Finally, simulation results based on 5-node network topology and IEEE-57 bus systems are presented to verify the validity of the proposed algorithm, respectively.

Communication Analysis of Swadaya Rubber Farmers in Subdistrict XIII Koto Kampar, Kampar District

This research aims to determine the internal characteristics and external characteristics of rubber farmers in self-help patterns and the communication process in Subdistrict XIII Koto Kampar, Kampar District.. Based on data on the area of ​​rubber plantations and the amount of rubber production in Riau Province has decreased in the last four years. This is caused by various factors, one of which is due to farmers' communication processes that are running poorly or not as expected. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze the internal and external characteristics of independent smallholder rubber farmers and the communication process through the elements of communication using survey methods, sample selection with purposive sampling method and Likert scale analysis tools and descriptive analysis. Based on Likert scale analysis, internal characteristics and external characteristics of rubber farmers in District XIII Koto Kampar, Kampar Regency are in the moderate category (quite good). The communication process in this study is seen from the elements of communication, namely communicators, messages, media, communicants, effects, feedback, place and time dimensions

Relationship between feedback environment established by mentor and nurses' career adaptability: A cross-sectional study.

The aim of this study was to explore nurses' feedback seeking, the contextual issues established by mentors and career adaptability in a Chinese context. In addition, this research explored the moderating role of nurses' political skill. Mentors play a direct, important and distinct role in supporting mentees. However, little is known about the relationship between the contextual elements of mentor feedback and nurses' career adaptability. This study was based on cross-sectional data collected from 303 frontline nurses. SPSS 22.0 was used for correlation and regression analysis, and the SPSS PROCESS macro was used for mediating, moderating and conditional process analysis. Feedback environment established by the mentor is associated with nurses' feedback-seeking behaviour and career adaptability. The indirect association of feedback environment with career adaptability via feedback seeking is stronger for employees with high political skill than those with low political skill. When mentors create a suitable context for feedback, nurses' career adaptability can be enhanced through feedback seeking, especially for nurses with high political skill. Nurse managers should strive to build a supportive feedback environment established by mentor. It is necessary to improve nurses' political skills.