"Resisting Social Identity Threat and Maintaining Resilience" : A Qualitative Study of Chinese Parents Following the Loss of an Only Child
- Authors: Wang, Anni , Guo, Yufang , Cross, Wendy , Lam, Louisa , Plummer, Virginia , Zhang, Wen , Zhang, Jingping
- Date: 2024
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Psychol Trauma Vol. 16, no. 2 (2024), p. 167-175
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Objective: Parents who lose an only child in China are stressed and traumatized due to social identity threat (SIT). This qualitative study aimed to interpret their experience to inform culturally and socially sensitive intervention strategies. Methods: Using a phenomenological approach, 17 bereaved parents who lost an only child were interviewed. The transcripts were analyzed using Colaizzi's method. Results: Three themes were identified, namely, "assuming a new social identity," "triggering social identity threat," and "resisting social identity threat and maintaining resilience." The study showed that SIT initially began with identity reconstruction, where self-identity and social identity occurred 1 after another. Once labeled with such social identity, the bereaved parents suffered social identity threat triggered by inner inferiority and external stigmatization. The bereaved parents undertook a variety of coping strategies to resist the threat and to maintain resilience of these strategies, 4 patterns depicting resilience and threat were interpreted. Conclusion: The findings offer an understanding of the multifaceted bereavement dilemma and lay a foundation for developing intervention strategies. Promoting or maintaining resilience and alleviating SIT are 2 important ways that help parents move on. To help them with identity reconstruction, the development of culturally sensitive resilience-based programs and the linking of social resources to solve practical problems are recommended. Community health professionals should encourage parents to maintain good health management to prevent their predicament from worsening. Raising economic assistance, building an elderly care support system, and promoting social acceptance are strategies that could be considered by policymakers. Clinical Impact StatementThe bereaved parents who have lost an only child in China is facing a multifaceted dilemma, which involves psychological, economic and cultural issues. This study applies the construct of social identity threat to interpretive lived experience of parents in China who have lost their only child. The study contributes to better understanding of their multifaceted bereavement dilemma, and lay the foundation for developing psycho-behavioural intervention strategies, which potentially also benefit other marginalized or traumatized bereaved groups. Results in this study offered several recommendations for psychological counselors, community workers, community health professionals, and government policymakers.
An analysis of the nature of young students’ STEM learning in 3D technology-enhanced makerspaces
- Authors: Forbes, Anne , Falloon, Garry , Stevenson, Michael , Hatzigianni, Maria , Bower, Matt
- Date: 2024
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Developing culturally and developmentally appropriate early STEM learning experiences Chapter 11 p. 172-187
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Research Findings: This study was undertaken to investigate learning processes and outcomes from using 3D design and printing technologies with children aged 5–8 years, in three schools in a metropolitan city in Australia. Data were collected from five sources (teacher interviews, surveys, journals; student interviews; and iPad screen recordings) and analyzed to identify themes responding to the question: What is the nature of students’ learning and learning processes in technology-enhanced Makerspaces? Findings report the perspectives of teachers and students, supplemented by screen recordings from the iPads. Students were found to have significant engagement in learning through involvement in these technology-enhanced Makerspaces, and to have developed skills and understanding in a number of areas including: digital technical proficiency, design thinking, problem solving, critical thinking, collaboration, and communication. Findings are conceptualized using a research-informed Maker Literacies Framework, to better understand the nature of students’ learning and work processes while engaged in these environments. Practice or Policy: Findings imply that Makerspaces with 3D design and printing could be used to promote young children’s STEM literacies although teachers need to be mindful of the need to explicitly plan for and teach important STEM concepts, if learning in these disciplines is a goal. © 2020, © 2020 Taylor & Francis Group, LLC.
Intelligent feature selection algorithm using SA-SVM classification for skin cancer diagnosis
- Authors: Hoshyar, Azadeh , Al-Jumaily, Adel
- Date: 2024
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Non-Invasive Health Systems based on Advanced Biomedical Signal and Image Processing Chapter 15 p. 372-395
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- Description: In recent decades, the incidence of malignant melanoma as a deadly skin cancer has increased worldwide. With its high medical costs and death rates, this cancer has prioritized the need for early diagnosis. Computer-based detection systems can improve the diagnosis rate of melanoma by 5%-30% compared to the naked eye and reduce human error. Although much effort has been made to advance the detection of skin cancers, there are still serious concerns about it. This chapter introduces automatic skin cancer diagnosis and an overview of methods in each step toward detection. A novel algorithm in feature selection and classification stages of automatic skin cancer diagnosis is designed and implemented to identify malignant and benign lesions. A smart algorithm is proposed based on inertia-based particle swarm optimization (IPSO) and the self-advising SVM (SA-SVM). This algorithm optimizes the feature selection stage. Additionally, SA-SVM, known as a new classifier in skin cancer detection systems, is employed along with the proposed algorithm. The statistical and performance measurement analyses of algorithms are presented to prove the superiority of the proposed algorithms. © 2024 selection and editorial matter, Adel Al-Jumaily, Paolo Crippa, Ali Mansour, and Claudio Turchetti; individual chapters, the contributors.
A case for causal loop diagrams to model electronic health records ecosystems
- Authors: Hashmi, Mustafa , McInnes, Angelique , Sahama, Tony , Stranieri, Andrew
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: 2023 Australasian Computer Science Week, ACSW 2023, Melbourne, Australia, 31 January-3 February 2023, ACSW '23: Proceedings of the 2023 Australasian Computer Science Week p. 238-239
- Full Text: false
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- Description: Causal loop diagrams (CLD) that emerged from systems thinking disciplines have been used to simulate complex inter-dependencies between causal factors in diverse phenomena. This paper highlights a process for generating a casual loop diagrams to represent the quality of electronic health record (EHR) ecosystem in a medical context. The quality inherent in the use of electronic health records for specific clinical purposes is taken to depend on factors including data integrity, reliability, relevance, timeliness and completeness. By improving the electronic health record ecosystem quality, health care providers can enhance their data sharing practices, and personalised patient care, while reducing the probabilities of medical errors. Ultimately the CLD can be used to run multiple simulations for several clinical case scenarios to understand the impact of various case phenomena on the quality of the electronic health record ecosystem. © 2023 ACM.
A comparative study of two embodiments of the limaçon rotary compressor based on theoretical modelling of apex seal dynamics and leakage
- Authors: Lu, Kui , Sultan, Ibrahim , Phung, Truong
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Refrigeration Vol. 145, no. (2023), p. 467-480
- Full Text: false
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- Description: As an emerging technology, the limaçon rotary compressor possesses great potential for fluid-processing applications. However, the technology and associated cost required to fabricate the limaçon machine could sometimes be beyond the capability of some manufacturers. To reduce the production cost, circolimaçon embodiment whose rotor and housing are constructed of circular arcs has been proposed. This paper is intended to investigate the viability of the circolimaçon embodiment of limaçon technology based on sealing performance. A nonlinear three-degree of freedom model is presented to describe the dynamic behaviour of the apex seal during the machine operation. Additionally, the leakage through the seal-housing gap is formulated by considering the inertia and viscous effects on the flow. A numerical illustration is offered to compare the performance of the circolimaçon embodiment with that of the limaçon-to-limaçon (L2L) type machine at different pressure ratios and operating speeds. The effect of limaçon aspect ratio on the apex seal dynamics is also investigated. Based on the results, it is found that the circolimaçon embodiment exhibits comparable performance to the L2L-type machine, despite having more significant seal vibrations. The differences in the volumetric and isentropic efficiencies between the two machines are found within 8% and 3%, respectively. Additionally, it is also discovered that the circolimaçon compressor with a small capacity undergoes lower level of seal dynamics, suggesting a better machine reliability. © 2022
A comparison of health-related quality of life in rural and metropolitan areas of Australia: the contribution of sports and physical activity
- Authors: Eime, Rochelle , Charity, Melanie , Westerbeek, Hans , Harvey, Jack
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Rural Quality of Life Chapter 17 p. 315-332
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: "People can be physically active in many different ways, including general physical activity and organised sports. In addition to the physical health benefits of participation, there is increasing evidence of broader health benefits –health-related quality of life of participation in organised community-level sports, specifically social and mental health benefits. The study utilised data from over 6,000 participants and investigated their sports and physical activity profiles and quality of life –social, physical and mental. In doing so, the propositions of the Health through Sport conceptual model regarding the different health benefits of different types of activity are investigated. Research questions: (1) What is the health-related quality of life of individuals in rural and regional areas (countryside) compared to metropolitan areas? (2) How does the health-related quality of life of individuals differ according to type of activity? (3) How do the activity profiles and health outcomes of individuals align to the Health through Sport conceptual model?The aim was to investigate the contribution of participation in sports and physical activity to the health-related quality of life of individuals before and during COVID-19. This study demonstrates that indicators of health-related quality of life differ among those living in rural and regional areas compared to metropolitan areas, in conjunction with differences attributable to gender, age and activity setting and mode." © Manchester University Press 2022.
A computational framework for the multiphysics simulation of microbubble-mediated sonothrombolysis using a forward-viewing intravascular transducer
- Authors: Tan, Zhi , Ooi, Ean Hin , Chiew, Yeong , Foo, Ji , Ng, Eddie , Ooi, Ean Tat
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Ultrasonics Vol. 131, no. (2023), p.
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Sonothrombolysis is a technique that utilises ultrasound waves to excite microbubbles surrounding a clot. Clot lysis is achieved through mechanical damage induced by acoustic cavitation and through local clot displacement induced by acoustic radiation force (ARF). Despite the potential of microbubble-mediated sonothrombolysis, the selection of the optimal ultrasound and microbubble parameters remains a challenge. Existing experimental studies are not able to provide a complete picture of how ultrasound and microbubble characteristics influence the outcome of sonothrombolysis. Likewise, computational studies have not been applied in detail in the context of sonothrombolysis. Hence, the effect of interaction between the bubble dynamics and acoustic propagation on the acoustic streaming and clot deformation remains unclear. In the present study, we report for the first time the computational framework that couples the bubble dynamic phenomena with the acoustic propagation in a bubbly medium to simulate microbubble-mediated sonothrombolysis using a forward-viewing transducer. The computational framework was used to investigate the effects of ultrasound properties (pressure and frequency) and microbubble characteristics (radius and concentration) on the outcome of sonothrombolysis. Four major findings were obtained from the simulation results: (i) ultrasound pressure plays the most dominant role over all the other parameters in affecting the bubble dynamics, acoustic attenuation, ARF, acoustic streaming, and clot displacement, (ii) smaller microbubbles could contribute to a more violent oscillation and improve the ARF simultaneously when they are stimulated at higher ultrasound pressure, (iii) higher microbubbles concentration increases the ARF, and (iv) the effect of ultrasound frequency on acoustic attenuation is dependent on the ultrasound pressure. These results may provide fundamental insight that is crucial in bringing sonothrombolysis closer to clinical implementation. © 2023 Elsevier B.V.
A data reporting protocol with revocable anonymous authentication for edge-assisted intelligent transport systems
- Authors: Wang, Yanping , Wang, Xiaofen , Dai, Hong-Ning , Zhang, Xiaosong , Imran, Muhammad
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: IEEE Transactions on Industrial Informatics Vol. 19, no. 6 (2023), p. 7835-7847
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) have received growing attention recently driven by technical advances in Industrial Internet of Vehicles (IIoV). In IIoV, vehicles report traffic data to management infrastructures to achieve better ITS services. To ensure security and privacy, many anonymous authentication-enabled data reporting protocols are proposed. However, these protocols usually require a large number of preloaded pseudonyms or involve a costly and irrevocable group signature. Thus, they are not ready for realistic deployment due to large storage overhead, expensive computation costs, or absence of malicious users' revocation. To address these issues, we present a novel data reporting protocol for edge-assisted ITS in this paper, where the traffic data is sent to distributed edge nodes for local processing. Specifically, we propose a new anonymous authentication scheme fine-tuned to fulfill the needs of vehicular data reporting, which allows authenticated vehicles to report unlimited unlinkable messages to edge nodes without huge pseudonyms download and storage costs. Moreover, we designed an efficient certificate update scheme based on a bivariate polynomial function. In this way, malicious vehicles can be revoked with time complexity O(1). The security analysis demonstrates that our protocol satisfies source authentication, anonymity, unlinkability, traceability, revocability, nonframeability, and nonrepudiation. Further, extensive simulation results show that the performance of our protocol is greatly improved since the signature size is reduced by at least 8%, the computation costs in message signing and verification are reduced by at least 56% and 67%, respectively, and the packet loss rate is reduced by at least 14%. © 2005-2012 IEEE.
A health justice partnership for young people : strategies for program promotion to young people and youth workers
- Authors: Ollerenshaw, Alison , Camilleri, Margaret
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Australian Journal of Primary Health Vol. 29, no. 5 (2023), p. 422-427
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Health justice partnerships (HJP) are innovative models for delivering integrated health and legal services to people experiencing complex issues. An HJP was established in regional Victoria, Australia, for young people. Promoting the program to young people and workers was essential for program uptake. There is a dearth of published information about strategies that support program promotion for young people and workers. In this practice and innovation paper, three promotional strategies were employed: a dedicated program website, secondary consultations, and legal education and information sessions. Each strategy is examined, with information presented about why and how these strategies were implemented alongside this HJP. The strengths and limitations of each strategy are explored, with some strategies appearing to engage audiences with the program more than others. The insights about each of the strategies established for this program may inform other HJPs with their planning and implementation for increased program awareness. © 2023 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)).
A leadership quest in teaching and learning : a case study of building capability and competency
- Authors: Panther, Barbara
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Perspectives on Teaching and Learning Leadership in Higher Education: Case Studies from UK and Australia Chapter 8 p. 66-74
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: After 20 years as a university leader, I have come to the realisation that leadership in higher education is like a quest. At each stage of this leadership quest, the goal changes, the world expands and companions on the journey vary. At each new junction, leaders are required to learn new skills, new languages and new ways to work with and influence others. In this case study, Scott et al.’s (2008) academic leadership model has been used as a basis for reflection on the changing capabilities and competencies required as I adventured through every expanding leadership role. I reflect on critical incidents which caused me to pause, lessons learned, and provide wisdom for others on similar quests. © 2024 selection and editorial matter, Josephine Lang, Namrata Rao and Anesa Hosein; individual chapters, the contributors.
A mesoscale modelling approach coupling SBFEM, continuous damage phase-field model and discrete cohesive crack model for concrete fracture
- Authors: Yu, Kelai , Yang, Zhenjun , Li, Hui , Ooi, Ean Tat , Li, Shangming , Liu, GuoHua
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Engineering Fracture Mechanics Vol. 278, no. (2023), p.
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: This study develops an innovative numerical approach for simulating complex mesoscale fracture in concrete. In this approach, the concrete meso-structures are generated using a random aggregate generation and packing algorithm. Each aggregate is modelled by a single scaled boundary finite element method (SBFEM) based polygon with the boundary discretized only. The damage and fracture in the mortar is simulated by the continuous damage phase-field regularized cohesive zone model (PF-CZM), and the aggregate-mortar interfaces are modelled by zero-thickness cohesive interface elements (CIEs) with nonlinear softening separation-traction laws. This new approach thus takes full advantages of different methods, including the semi-analytical accuracy and high flexibility in mesh generation and transition of SBFEM, the mesh and length-scale independence of PF-CZM, and the ease-of-use of CIEs in modelling discrete interfacial fracture. These advantages are demonstrated by successful simulations of a few 2D and 3D benchmark examples in mode-I and mixed-mode fracture. © 2022 Elsevier Ltd
A moment of fuzziness : connections between shifting notions of ‘home’ and welfare arrangements ‘back home’ for Black Zimbabwean migrants living under COVID-19 travel restrictions in Australia
- Authors: Chihota, Clement
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Book chapter
- Relation: Post-Pandemic Welfare and Social Work: Re-imagining the New Normal Chapter 17 p. 197-209
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: This chapter makes connections between shifting notions of ‘home’ and welfare arrangements to support relatives ‘back home’, among first-generation Black Zimbabwean migrants living in Australia under COVID-19 travel restrictions. Using anecdotal evidence and harnessing elements of constructivist and structuralist theory, the chapter reflects on how a binary opposition between ‘kumusha/ekhaya’ (meaning the place of origin and belonging) and ‘kumasango/ingangeni’ (literally, ‘the jungle’ - and in this context - any other location that is not kumusha/ekhaya) was largely operative for this community, prior to the pandemic. As a sense-making structure, this opposition promoted resiliency as challenges associated with resettling in Australia were assigned to the kumasango/ingangeni category, meaning they could be expected, while kumusha/ekhaya served as the idyllic ‘counterweight’ (i.e. the place of restoration and regeneration, always within reach, when required. The imposition of COVID-19 travel restrictions between early 2020 and late 2021 disrupted and fuzzified this ʼneat’ conceptual structure and instigated recalibrations of the meaning and location of ‘home’ for this community. As further argued, this shift in the relationship with kumusha/ekhaya, which could be occurring in other places hosting the Zimbabwean diaspora, may have long-term impacts on the informal welfare system, which has helped to sustain livelihoods in Zimbabwe for the past two decades. © 2024 selection and editorial matter, Goetz Ottmann and Carolyn Noble; individual chapters, the contributors.
A multi-layered approach to developing academic written communication skills for nursing students
- Authors: Garvey, Loretta , Willetts, Georgina , Herrmann, Antje , Verezub, Elena , Sinchenko, Elena
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: International Journal of Nursing Education Scholarship Vol. 20, no. 1 (2023), p.
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- Description: Objectives: Academic literacy in nursing students has historically been poor this research therefore aimed to investigate the effectiveness of an embedded multidisciplinary approach to academic written communication skills for first year Bachelor of Nursing students in Australia. Methods: This initiative consisted of (1) collaboratively embedding academic skills with nursing staff and Learning and Academic Skills Advisors using scaffolded tasks, curriculum/material development, workshops/tutorials on writing skills; and (2) individual support sessions. Data was obtained via questionnaire. Results: Responses were received from 92 (74% local and 26% international) students. Key findings showed the collaborative approach to embedding skills with added follow up, was beneficial for students' skills development, including improved academic writing, increased confidence, and recognition of the importance of academic writing. Conclusions: It is important to equip student to develop academic literacy and an embedded academic literacy program has been determined to assist and may contribute to future professionalisation in nursing. © 2023 Walter de Gruyter GmbH, Berlin/Boston.
A new multi-resolution closed-loop wind power forecasting method
- Authors: Nejati, Maryam , Amjady, Nima , Zareipour, Hamidreza
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: IEEE Transactions on Sustainable Energy Vol. 14, no. 4 (2023), p. 2079-2091
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: By the increasing number and size of wind farms, wind generation forecasting has become a basic requirement for their connection to the power grid; otherwise, power system operators and electricity market participants cannot make the right decisions and may incur significant costs and penalties. In this paper, a new multi-resolution closed-loop wind power forecasting method with a difference signal feedback loop is proposed. Within the proposed method, wind power is initially predicted in two different resolutions (such as with hourly and sub-hourly time steps) by two low/high-resolution pre-predictors and then the inconsistency between their predictions is measured through the difference signal. The generated difference signal is used as a guide for the two low/high-resolution wind power post-predictors. If their wind power forecasts are inconsistent, the difference signal is updated and used as the feedback for the low/high-resolution post-predictors. This closed-loop forecasting-updating process is iterated until the post-predictors reach consistent results. To evaluate the performance of the proposed multi-resolution closed-loop method, it is tested on two different real-world wind farms and the results are compared with the results of several other widely used/recently published wind power forecast methods using various error metrics and different forecast horizons. © 2010-2012 IEEE.
A new species of Troglopedetes Joseph, 1872 with eyes (Collembola, Paronellidae) from a Christmas Island Cave, Australia
- Authors: Cipola, Nikolas , Greenslade, Penelope
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Zootaxa Vol. 5239, no. 4 (2023), p. 563-577
- Full Text: false
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- Description: A new species of Troglopedetes Joseph from a Christmas Island Cave, Australia is described and illustrated here. Troglopedetes eberhardi sp. nov. resembles other species by presence of eyes and dorsal chaetotaxy of the second thoracic segment to third abdominal segment, but differs in head chaetotaxy, fourth abdominal segment and elongated unguis median tooth, which character is documented here in the genus for the first time. A comparison and identification key for all eyed species is provided. This is the first record of Troglopedetes for Australia and the genus now has 37 nominal species, of which nine have eyes. Copyright © 2023 Magnolia Press.
A new tour on the subdifferential of the Supremum function
- Authors: Hantoute, Abderrahim , López-Cerdá, Marco
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: International Meeting on Functional Analysis and Continuous Optimization, IMFACO 2022, Elche, Spain, 16-17 June 2022, Functional Analysis and Continuous Optimization In Honour of Juan Carlos Ferrando's 65th Birthday, Elche, Spain, June 16–17, 2022 Vol. 424, p. 167-194
- Full Text: false
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- Description: This chapter is a survey presenting various characterizations of the subdifferential of the pointwise supremum of convex functions, as well as some featured applications. We gathered here the main outcomes we obtained in a series of recent papers, dealing with different models, assumptions and scenarios. Starting by the maximum generality framework, we move after to particular contexts in which some continuity and compactness assumptions are either imposed or inforced via processes of compactification of the index set and regularization of the data functions. Some relevant applications of the general results are presented, in particular to derive rules for the subdifferential of the sum, and for convexifying a general (unconstrained) optimization problem. The last section gives some specific constraint qualifications for the convex optimization problem with an arbitrary set of constraints, and also contains different sets of KKT-type optimality conditions appealing to the subdifferential of the supremum function. © 2023, The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG.
A Novel Common Grounded Type 1-\varphi Five-Level Boost PV Inverter with Reduced Device Count
- Authors: Ardashir, Jaber , Ghadim, Hadi , Heydari, Dorsa , Hu, Jiefeng
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Conference paper
- Relation: 8th International Conference on Technology and Energy Management, ICTEM 2023, Babol, Iran, 8-9 February 2023, 8th International Conference on Technology and Energy Management, ICTEM 2023
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: Common-grounded multi-level inverters with the input voltage boost ability are more common for grid-tied PV system applications. In this paper, a new five-level inverter topology is introduced that can generate a five-level voltage at the output stage, statically increase the input voltage, fully transfer the reactive power, eliminate the leakage current due to common-grounded capability, reduce the number of the power electronic components, self-balancing capability of switched capacitors voltage based on operation modes, and equality of switched capacitors voltage. The operation of the proposed inverter along with its comparison with other similar inverter topologies and the simulation results of the proposed inverter under different loads are demonstrates in this paper. The results indicate that the performance of the proposed inverter in the grid-connected PV system is best than other compared topologies. Also, experimental results with a prototype have been presented, which validates the simulation results and proves the applicability of the proposed inverter in grid-tied PV systems. © 2023 IEEE.
A novel continuous control set model predictive control for lc-filtered three-phase four-wire three-level voltage-source inverter
- Authors: Yang, Yong , Xiao, Yang , Fan, Mingdi , Wang, Kaixin , Zhang, Xinan , Hu, Jiefeng , Fang, Gang , Zeng, Weibo , Vazquez, Sergio , Rodriguez, Jose
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: IEEE Transactions on Power Electronics Vol. 38, no. 4 (2023), p. 4572-4584
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: In this article, a novel continuous control set model predictive control (CCS-MPC) is proposed for an LC-filtered three-phase three-level four-wire voltage-source inverter (3P-4W-3L-VSI). The proposed MPC algorithm provides independent control of each phase of the 3P-4W-3L-VSI under various unbalanced load conditions, which shows superior performance under unbalanced loads. Furthermore, different from conventional MPC methods, the CCS-MPC achieves fixed switching frequency, hence simplifying the design of LC filters. In addition, dc offsets are introduced to the proposed modulation to effectively balance the neutral-point voltage of the 3P-4W-3L-VSI. Experimental results are presented to verify the effectiveness of the proposed MPC algorithm. © 1986-2012 IEEE.
A novel optimization approach towards improving separability of clusters
- Authors: Bagirov, Adil , Hoseini-Monjezi, Najmeh , Taheri, Sona
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Computers and Operations Research Vol. 152, no. (2023), p.
- Relation: http://purl.org/au-research/grants/arc/DP190100580
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: The objective functions in optimization models of the sum-of-squares clustering problem reflect intra-cluster similarity and inter-cluster dissimilarities and in general, optimal values of these functions can be considered as appropriate measures for compactness of clusters. However, the use of the objective function alone may not lead to the finding of separable clusters. To address this shortcoming in existing models for clustering, we develop a new optimization model where the objective function is represented as a sum of two terms reflecting the compactness and separability of clusters. Based on this model we develop a two-phase incremental clustering algorithm. In the first phase, the clustering function is minimized to find compact clusters and in the second phase, a new model is applied to improve the separability of clusters. The Davies–Bouldin cluster validity index is applied as an additional measure to compare the compactness of clusters and silhouette coefficients are used to estimate the separability of clusters. The performance of the proposed algorithm is demonstrated and compared with that of four other algorithms using synthetic and real-world data sets. Numerical results clearly show that in comparison with other algorithms the new algorithm is able to find clusters with better separability and similar compactness. © 2022
A realist evaluation of post-implementation modifications : a context-initiative-mechanism-outcome perspective
- Authors: Oseni, Taiwo , Rahim, Mahbubur , Foster, Susan
- Date: 2023
- Type: Text , Journal article
- Relation: Journal of Critical Realism Vol. 22, no. 4 (2023), p. 645-669
- Full Text: false
- Reviewed:
- Description: This paper exemplifies a theoretical and methodological evaluation of IT Initiatives. It discusses post-implementation modifications (ERP-PIM) to enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems for the purpose of business process optimization (BPO) from a Context-Initiative-Mechanism-Outcome (CIMO) perspective. CIMO suggests that context and mechanisms are factors triggering causal effects responsible for outcomes derived from technology initiatives. Through conceptualization, data collection/analysis, and retroduction, the paper proposes a middle-range theory to facilitate the explanation of outcomes from diverse post-implementation initiatives. Data from multiple case study identifies situational and action-formation mechanisms, and actions as essential to realizing the desired outcomes. The proposed ERP-PIM-CIMO theory encapsulates: (i) Business Process Optimization (BPO) as context, (ii) ERP-PIM as structure, (iii) Business Process Efficiency, Effectiveness, and Flexibility as observable events, (iv) ERP capability as causal mechanism, (v) actions as necessary for the actualization of mechanism, and finally (vi) effort and cost, knowledge, and training as factors influencing actualization. © 2023 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group.