Technical Integration Research Articles

Modelling and Control of a VIENNA Smart Rectifier-I for Wind Power Systems Integrated Under Transient Conditions

An improved topology with a fault ride through (FRT) capability when subjected to a DC-link fault-based wind power plant (WPP) employing a Vienna active rectifier-I is proposed in this paper. The proposed system is capable of mitigating fault occurring on the DC-link side using the PWM-controller technique implemented on the Vienna active rectifier. FRT capability analysis is conducted in this paper, simulation results demonstrate the suitability of the control strategy. Actually, use of proposed wind energy conversion unit (WECU) topology has led to the improvement of system stability by maintaining constant output voltage. Furthermore, the WECU integrating Vienna active rectifier-I is also proven as a feasible technology that can be employed in a large-scale WPP or renewable power generations to realize technical and economical efficient grids integration with high voltage direct current (HVDC) transmission systems.

Construction of hypermedia to support the systematization of the nursing care education.

To describe the process of hypermedia construction to support the teaching of the Systematization of the Nursing Care (SNC). Methodological research of educational technology development. The hypermedia construction stages were conducted from February 2015 to March 2016 and integrated theoretical studies, focus group with professors and educational technology development process in the light of the referential Theory of Significant Learning. Hypermedia consists of interactive content and shows a splash screen with a concept map that guides a free way of learning about four structuring aspects in the SNC learning: concept, history and benefits; ethical-legal aspects; operationalization; and nursing process: steps and technical integration in nursing. It was concluded that it is essential that the educational technologies are built from a pedagogical rationale to support your incorporation into educational environments.

Assuring design using Bayesian Networks to support quantifying knowledge and evidence

ABSTRACTAssuring the design and maintenance of complex systems is itself a complex undertaking. Claims regarding the suitability of a design for a particular purpose need to be supported by evidence of design accomplishment and process compliance. The Goal Structuring Notation can be used to support argumentation of particular claims, including system safety and system assurance claims. While argument claims need to be supported by evidence, the strength of the evidence supporting a claim is often not systematically considered. Restructuring argument claims as a Bayesian Network supports systematically quantifying the likelihood of the veracity of evidence supporting the claim. Using an Object-based Bayesian Network allows this model to be rapidly expanded to consider multiple systems of systems. The application of this method to a simple Technical Integrity assurance argument is shown. Similarly, the technique can be used to support a safety argument.

Mapping improvement options of government services: illustration of ‘concept-mapping’

This paper introduces concept mapping – one form of ‘structured conceptualization’ – through describing and structuring improvement options of Hungarian government service centres (in Hungarian, these service centres are also known as ‘government windows’ or ‘kormanyablakok’). Hungarian service centres are implementations of the ‘one-stop shop’ concept where almost all government service needs (close to 2,500 cases or procedures; the most common ones are about ID cards, passports and vehicle registrations) of citizens can be met independently of their residence. Conse-quently, successful implementation of this concept requires new, service-oriented attitude from the staff and much higher level of technical integration than before. Concept mapping uses inputs from stakeholders (managers and staff members of these centres) to describe the problem domain (service improvement options in this example), using natural language input (Hungarian in this case). These inputs are then grouped (by multi-dimensional scaling and Ward hierarchical clustering) and rated by importance. Inputs from the stakeholders were solicited continually throughout the project to determine the final number of clusters and to develop an action plan for improvement, considering the relative importance of the options. Pattern matching was also used to highlight differences between stake-holder groups.

Dynamic energy-saving approaches in mobile cloud computing: issues, challenges and approaches

The use of mobile devices is ubiquitous in the current information era. However, there is a critical need for the technical integration of mobile computing with cloud computing to enhance the performance of mobile devices. Mobile cloud computing mechanism promises efficient ways of handling various constraints such as energy consumption, data transmission, bandwidth utilisation, weak network connectivity, and user mobility. This paper addresses these issues and discusses the benefits of integrating mobile communications with cloud computing. and the main focus is on computation offloading into the cloud as an effective technique for overcoming the energy constraints of mobile devices. The characteristics and implications of various computation offloading techniques are explored.

Solar cooling evaluation - Façade integration: State-of-the-art solar cooling technologies and assessment for façade integration potential

Increasing cooling demands in buildings call for innovative environmentally friendly systems to cope with remaining loads after the application of passive design strategies. Solar cooling technologies present interesting assets, but their application in the built environment remains greatly limited. Hence, this chapter seeks to assess their potential for widespread application, identifying possibilities and current bottlenecks for the architectural integration of solar cooling technologies in facades. The assessment is based on a state-of-the-art review and discussion of key attributes for facade integration of selected technologies; and a qualitative evaluation of their suitability to respond to main product related barriers for the integration of building services identified in Chapter 4. An overview of the cooling principles behind the operation of the assessed technologies was presented in Chapter 3, so this chapter focuses exclusively on key aspects to overcome barriers related to the technical feasibility, physical integration, durability, performance, and aesthetics of future integrated concepts. Results show that the suitability of the assessed technologies varies according to each particular barrier. Hence, no technology currently fits all required aspects. Nonetheless, the use of thermoelectric modules and compact units based on absorption technologies are regarded as the most promising for the development of either integral building components, or modular plug & play systems for facade integration. In any case, this is heavily conditioned to further efforts and explorations in the field to overcome identified challenges and knowledge gaps.

“Artificial intelligence”: Which services, which applications, which results and which development today in clinical research? Which impact on the quality of care? Which recommendations?

Artificial intelligence (AI), beyond the concrete applications that have already become part of our daily lives, makes it possible to process numerous and heterogeneous data and knowledge, and to understand potentially complex and abstract rules in a manner human intelligence can but without human intervention. AI combines two properties, self-learning by the successive and repetitive processing of data as well as the capacity to adapt, that is to say the possibility for a scripted program to deal with multiple situations likely to vary over time. Roundtable experts confirmed the potential contribution and theoretical benefit of AI in clinical research and in improving the efficiency of patient care. Experts also measured, as is the case for any new process that people need to get accustomed to, its impact on practices and mindset. To maximize the benefits of AI, four critical points have been identified. The careful consideration of these four points conditions the technical integration and the appropriation by all actors of the life science spectrum: researchers, regulators, drug developers, care establishments, medical practitioners and, above all, patients and the civil society. 1st critical point: produce tangible demonstrations of the contributions of AI in clinical research by quantifying its benefits. 2nd critical point: build trust to foster dissemination and acceptability of AI in healthcare thanks to an adapted regulatory framework. 3rd critical point: ensure the availability of technical skills, which implies an investment in training, the attractiveness of the health sector relative to tech-heavy sectors and the development of ergonomic data collection tools for all health operators. 4th critical point: organize a system of governance for a distributed and secure model at the national level to aggregate the information and services existing at the local level. Thirty-seven concrete recommendations have been formulated which should pave the way for a widespread adoption of AI in clinical research. In this context, the French "Health data hub" initiative constitutes an ideal opportunity.

Implementing electronic management of assessment: four key barriers faced by higher education providers moving to online submission and feedback

Adoption of online submission and feedback for formative and summative assessment is increasing significantly across the higher education sector. The majority of institutions in the UK have now identified themselves as moving away from pocketed, disparate use towards embedding institution-wide online assessment practices. Providers are driven by a range of benefits for staff, students and the broader institution. Research has started to explore the impact of change but there has been very little sector-wide analysis exploring the challenges faced by institutions moving to adopt online submission and feedback. This paper adopts a qualitative approach to explore barriers faced by providers that have the potential to prevent, delay or limit the benefits to be derived for institutions currently approaching or undertaking change. It outlines the results of an extensive literature review, which highlights four key challenges surrounding change design, stakeholder management, policy and process as well as technical integration. This article argues that providers intending to implement institution-wide change in the future should be cognisant of these barriers, and those currently undertaking change should be cognisant of the experience of others to inform their own good practice, policy and pedagogy. Published: 12 December 2018 Citation: Research in Learning Technology 2018, 26 : 2083 - http://dx.doi.org/10.25304/rlt.v26.2083

Concept, design, and energy analysis of an integrated power-to-methanol process utilizing a tubular proton-conducting solid oxide electrolysis cell

An alternative power-to-methanol process based on an integration of a tubular proton-conducting solid oxide electrolysis cell into a methanol synthesis unit is explained, energetically evaluated and technically presented. Being currently developed in the joint research project DELTA, the novel process has the potential for a significant increase in system efficiency, if the heat from the exothermic synthesis reaction can be utilized and/or kinetic advantages can be achieved. For the experimental proof of the concept and a comprehensive characterization of the process, a test platform is currently under construction. The design of the flexible test facility with the complex technical integration of both processes (electrolysis and synthesis) is described briefly. The chemical reactor, where electrolysis and synthesis are taking place, allows for an operation at temperatures (for electrolysis) up to 700 °C, pressures of 10 MPa and a current (across the electrolysis cell) of up to 100 A. Moreover, a precise pressure balancing system between both gas volumes, an axial temperature measurement and the possibility of regulating both processes inside the pressure vessel are pivotal properties of the test facility.

Estudio piloto: eficacia de una intervención en inteligencia emocional en universitarios con sintomatología depresiva

La relación entre Inteligencia Emocional (IE) y depresión es muy estrecha, las personas depresivas prestan excesiva atención a sus pensamientos, tienen poco claras sus emociones y no saben regularlas de forma adecuada (Mestre, & Fernández-Berrocal, 2009). La depresión puede considerarse como un trastorno de la regulación del estado de ánimo, por ello, el objetivo principal de este trabajo es evaluar la eficacia de una intervención psicológica dirigida a fomentar las capacidades en la regulación emocional y conocer su efecto en la sintomatología depresiva. Para ello, se implementó un taller de integración técnica de orientación, que incluía técnicas de la Terapia Racional Emotiva Conductual, que además fueran congruentes con los objetivos y estrategias del modelo de las cuatro ramas de Salovey y Mayer (Sosa-Correa et al, 2015). La muestra estuvo conformada por doce universitarios, con edades entre 19 y 34 años (M= 22.5 y DE= 4.54), con síntomas de depresión. Se administraron dos instrumentos, la Escala Autoinformada de Inteligencia Emocional de Correa, el Inventario de Depresión de Beck-II, así como una evaluación de la sesión. Los resultados muestran que el taller tuvo efecto positivo significativo en el aumento de ocho de las once subescalas de la prueba de IE, y en seis participantes disminuyeron los síntomas depresivos.

Focus on software, data acquisition, and instrumentation

Focus on software, data acquisition, and instrumentation

Data visualisation to support obesity policy: case studies of data tools for planning and transport policy in the UK

Data visualisation is becoming an established way to drive discovery and develop theory and hypotheses among researchers. Data visualisations can also serve as tools for knowledge translation with policy makers, who are increasingly using data and evidence to inform and implement policy. For obesity policy, data visualisation tools can help policy makers and other professionals understand the socio-spatial distribution of risk factors and quantify social and environmental conditions that are recognised upstream determinants of diet, activity and obesity. The demand for and use of data visualisation tools can be driven by an identified policy need, which can be met by researchers and data scientists. Alternatively, researchers are developing and testing data visualisations, which may be subsequently adapted for, and adopted by policy users.Two recently-released interactive data visualisation tools in the UK illustrate these points. The Propensity to Cycle Tool (PCT) was developed with funding from the UK government to inform the investment of cycling infrastructure in England. The Food environment assessment tool (Feat) evolved as a translational output from a programme of epidemiological research. This article uses PCT and Feat as case studies, drawing parallels and contrasts between them. We discuss these two tools from policy context and scientific underpinnings, to product launch and evaluation. We review challenges inherent in the development and dissemination of data tools for policy, including the need for technical expertise, feedback integration, long-term sustainability, and provision of training and user support. Finally, we attempt to derive learning points that may help overcome challenges associated with the creation, dissemination and sustaining of data tools for policy. We contend that, despite a number of challenges, data tools provide a novel gateway between researchers and a range of stakeholders, who are seeking ways of accessing and using evidence to inform obesity programs and policies.

What drives adoption of a computerised, multifaceted quality improvement intervention for cardiovascular disease management in primary healthcare settings? A mixed methods analysis using normalisation process theory

BackgroundA computerised, multifaceted quality improvement (QI) intervention for cardiovascular disease (CVD) management in Australian primary healthcare was evaluated in a cluster randomised controlled trial. The intervention was associated with improved CVD risk factor screening but there was no improvement in prescribing rates of guideline-recommended medicines. The aim of this study was to conduct a process evaluation to identify and explain the underlying mechanisms by which the intervention did and did not have an impact.Methods/designNormalisation process theory (NPT) was used to understand factors that supported or constrained normalisation of the intervention into routine practice. A case study design was used in which six of the 30 participating intervention sites were purposively sampled to obtain a mix of size, governance, structure and performance. Multiple data sources were drawn on including trial outcome data, surveys of job satisfaction and team climate (68 staff) and in-depth interviews (19 staff). Data were primarily analysed within cases and compared with quantitative findings in other trial intervention and usual care sites.ResultsWe found a complex interaction between implementation processes and several contextual factors affecting uptake of the intervention. There was no clear association between team climate, job satisfaction and intervention outcomes. There were four spheres of influence that appeared to enhance or detract from normalisation of the intervention: organisational mission and history (e.g. strategic investment to promote a QI culture enhanced cognitive participation), leadership (e.g. ability to energise or demotivate others influenced coherence), team environment (e.g. synergistic activities of team members with different skill sets influenced collective action) and technical integrity of the intervention (e.g. tools that slowed computer systems limited reflective action).DiscussionUse of NPT helped explain how certain contextual factors influence the work that is done by individuals and teams when implementing a novel intervention. Although these factors do not necessarily distil into a recipe for successful uptake, they may assist system planners, intervention developers, and health professionals to better understand the trajectory that primary health care services may take when developing and engaging with QI interventions.Trial registrationACTRN 12611000478910. Registered 08 May 2011.

Review of Power-to-Gas Projects in Europe

Core of the Power-to-Gas (PtG) concept is the utilization of renewable electricity to produce hydrogen via water electrolysis. This hydrogen can be used directly as final energy carrier or can be converted to e.g. methane, synthesis gas, liquid fuels, electricity or chemicals. To integrate PtG into energy systems technical demonstration and systems integration is of mayor importance. In total 128 PtG research and demonstration projects are realized or already finished in Europe to analyze these issues by May 2018. Key of the review is the identification and assessment of relevant projects regarding their field of application, applied processes and technologies for electrolysis, type of methanation, capacity, location and year of commissioning. So far, main application for PtX is the injection of hydrogen or methane into the natural gas grid for storing electricity from variable renewable energy sources. Producing fuels for transport is another important application of PtX. In future PtX gets more important for refineries to lower the carbon food print of the products.

Basics of Ultrasound for Musculoskeletal Evaluation in the Rehabilitation Settings: Review of the Literature

: The use of ultrasound (US) as an imaging modality for the evaluation of the musculoskeletal system in the rehabilitation settings has expanded dramatically in the last decade. The resolution of US has improved thanks to the technological advancements, and access is easier due to the lower cost of equipment. The US in the rehabilitation settings adds accuracy on diagnosis and security in dynamic guidance for interventional procedures. These benefits have increased the US use in musculoskeletal clinics and rehabilitation settings, providing clinical, anatomical, and technical integration all in a one-day evaluation. The aim of this review is to instruct beginners in the recognition of different musculoskeletal tissues, commonly seen artifacts, and understanding the basics of musculoskeletal ultrasound.

Need of Technical Educational Integration in Disability Sector for Differently-abled Empowerment

As per 2011 census there are 2.68 crore differently abled persons in the country. Assistive devices and equipments can significantly help persons with disabilities to become independent in daily activities. There are many eminent technical educational institutions in India and many are conducting research works for the development of assistive technology for the differently abled. So an extensive search was conducted to explore the assistive technology related projects undertaken in India. Out of 137 studies retrieved 34 met the inclusion criteria. The result shows that many researches are being carried out for the development of assistive technology in India. Many of the products are in the prototype stage or in the feasibility stage. It emphasises the need for extensive field testing and commercial production of the assistive technologies. Such initiatives will lead to differently abled empowerment. The authors put forward some suggestions in this regard.

Need of Technical Educational Integration in Disability Sector for Differently-abled Empowerment

As per 2011 census there are 2.68 crore differently abled persons in the country. Assistive devices and equipments can significantly help persons with disabilities to become independent in daily activities. There are many eminent technical educational institutions in India and many are conducting research works for the development of assistive technology for the differently abled. So an extensive search was conducted to explore the assistive technology related projects undertaken in India. Out of 137 studies retrieved 34 met the inclusion criteria. The result shows that many researches are being carried out for the development of assistive technology in India. Many of the products are in the prototype stage or in the feasibility stage. It emphasises the need for extensive field testing and commercial production of the assistive technologies. Such initiatives will lead to differently abled empowerment. The authors put forward some suggestions in this regard.

Economic assessment of flexibility offered by an optimally controlled hybrid heat pump generator: a case study for residential building

The ongoing decarbonisation process of the current energy system, driven by the EU directives, requires that more renewable energy sources are integrated in the global energy mix, as well as policies promoting investments in new low-carbon technologies, energy efficiency and grid infrastructure. The technical integration of renewable energy sources into the existing power system is not straightforward, due to the intrinsic aleatory characteristics of renewable production, which make the power grid balance harder. To handle this issue, beside the traditional supply-side management, grid flexibility can also be provided by enabling the active participation of the demand-side in power system operational procedures, by means of the so-called demand-side management (DSM). The present paper is aimed at assessing the ability of a cost-optimal control strategy, based on model predictive control, to activate demand-response (DR) actions in a residential building equipped with a hybrid heat pump generator coupled with a water thermal storage. Hourly electricity prices are considered as external signals from the grid driving the demand response actions. It is shown that the thermal energy storage turns out to be an effective way to improve the controller performances and make the system more flexible and able to provide services to the power grid. A daily cost-saving up to 35% and 15% have been highlighted with a 1 m3 0.5.m3 tanks, respectively. Finally, the achievable flexibility is shown to be strictly dependent on the storage capacity and operations, which in turn are affected by the generators sizing.

Trends in integrated land use/transport modeling: An evaluation of the state of the art

Integrated land-use/transport models have five decades of history of both widely recognized successful implementations and implementations that remained far behind their originally stated goals. This paper summarizes the state of the art of integrated land-use/transport modeling and reports on findings from the Symposium for the Integration of Land-Use and Transport Models in Raitenhaslach, which is near Munich, in 2016. From these sources, the paper identifies major challenges in integrated land-use/transport modeling and proposes paths that support successful implementations. Particular attention is given to the coordination of short- and long-term decisions, the technical integration of models, microscopic versus macroscopic frameworks and appropriate levels of model complexity. The paper concludes with five themes that require further research to ensure that integrated land-use/transport models will keep up with modeling needs in the future.

A socio-technical view of performance impact of integrated quality and sustainability strategies

This research seeks to examine the direct effects of social and technical integration on deployment of quality and sustainability management programmes and the indirect effect of those on quality and sustainability performance. We also seek to test the spillover effects of quality and sustainability management programmes on sustainability and quality performance, respectively. Socio-technical systems (STSs) theory is used to test the role of social and technical integration on quality and sustainability management programmes. The framework of integrated management system, as supported by both STSs and complementarity theory, is used to test the direct and spillover effects of quality and sustainability management programmes. A large multi-country sample is used to empirically test our theory-induced hypotheses. The findings support that social and technical integration are indeed significant enablers for the positive relationships that quality and sustainability programmes have on quality performance and sustainability performance. Specifically, the results show that while social integration has both direct and indirect effects on quality and sustainability performance, technical integration impacts quality and sustainability performance only through the mediation effect of the respective programmes. The results do not support the spillover effects of quality and sustainability management programmes on sustainability and quality performance. Implications of the findings on academic knowledge and managerial practice are offered.