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A UPFC topology for LV feeder voltage regulation and current balance in high PV penetration applications
No full textHaque, M ORCiD: 0000-0002-7615-7982; Wolfs, PJ ORCiD: 0000-0001-7048-1231The integration of large scale photovoltaic (PV) generation causes several power quality issues in low voltage (LV) distribution networks. Among them, network voltage profile variation and voltage unbalance are the two severe issues that affect the normal operation of distribution feeders and restrict the further expansion of PV units. The unified power flow controller (UPFC) is generally used in transmission and sub-transmission to provide power balance for series and shunt compensation, however, their use in distribution networks for voltage management is rare. The paper proposes a four leg (4L) UPFC-like topology with a small dc-link capacitor as a regulatory device to mitigate voltage issues in LV distribution networks. Instantaneous power theory (IPT) is applied to analyze the proposed 4L-UPFC for LV distribution networks. Real and instantaneous power balance of the UPFC is achieved by controlling the input positive and negative sequence current of the shunt converter. Detailed analysis and simulation studies are conducted to show the operation of the 4L-UPFC with a small dc-link capacitor within Australian LV distribution networks. The simulation results show that the UPFC can regulate the sequence voltages to maintain the far end load voltages within the allowable voltage boundaries under high PV penetrations. The results also show that the shunt converter can zero sequence compensation at the input side of the LV feeder
A spatial multi-criteria analysis approach for planning and management of community-scale desalination plants
No full textAbunada, Z ORCiD: 0000-0002-4143-1603The rapid deterioration of the groundwater quality in the Gaza Strip-Palestine has increased reliance on community-scale brackish-water desalination plants (CBDPs). However, the escalating numbers of CBDPs is associated with poor operation practices and exhibit various adverse impacts, while the existing regulatory framework of this sector is still lacking the necessary tools for identifying and mitigating these impacts. The current study employed a GIS-based Multi-criteria Analysis (MCA) approach to plan and manage the existing and proposed CBDPs in Gaza Strip, Palestine. The criteria account for the various possible effects including: level of chloride and nitrate in the groundwater, variation in the water-table depth, population density, potential production capacity of CBDPs and operation hours, distance to the pumping wells, sea shoreline, and point-source contamination sites. The results showed that the locations of around 53% of the existing CBDPs are unsuitable; and the CBDPs exhibit potential risks to the environment. The study revealed that 65% of the total area of Gaza Strip would be unsuitable for CBDPs operating in a capacity above the current average. This highlights the significance of regulating the operational conditions of the existing CBDPs according to their geographical location and considering different alternatives of supply-demand schemes. © 2020 Elsevier B.V
How to survive a crisis: What Virgin Australia staff can learn from ex-Ansett workers
No full textBertone, SD ORCiD: 0000-0002-3028-306XAs the COVID-19 economic crisis crimps travel and hurts airlines worldwide, Virgin Australia has been placed under external administrators. The Queensland government has put a $200m bid on it (a move derided by several federal ministers) but what’s clear is this is a period of enormous uncertainty for Virgin’s 10,000-strong Australian workforce.
It must feel like déjà vu for former Ansett Airline employees – especially those who went on to work at Virgin Australia (some of whom may still be there now). But the experience of ex-Ansett staff may offer clues on how Virgin employees can cope
An exploration of goal scoring strategies in an elite beach soccer tournament
No full textEllison, ER ORCiD: 0000-0002-0865-950X; Guy, JH ORCiD: 0000-0003-3000-2747; Lastella, AM ORCiD: 0000-0003-1793-3811; Scanlan, AT ORCiD: 0000-0002-0750-8697Despite the increasing popularity of beach soccer, few studies have examined goal scoring strategies during match-play. The aims of this study were to examine the different types of goals scored during an international tournament and determine what type of goals were associated with team performance. Twelve national teams were analysed across 52 matches in all phases of the European Beach Soccer League (2018) tournament. Observational data collection was conducted through video analysis of all 422 goals scored throughout the tournament. Chi square analyses revealed a significance difference in the type of goals scored x2 (72) = 102, p = 0.01. Further, the amount of goals scored from a set-play were significantly higher than all other goal scoring strategies (p = 0.001). The amount of goals scored from goalkeeper-line defence were significantly lower than all other goal scoring strategies (p = 0.001). The percentage of goalkeeper-line goals was significantly related to total tournament points [F(2, 10) = 7.242, p = 0.023, R2 = 0.42]. These data indicate that teams employing the goalkeeper-line strategy, where the goalkeeper plays outfield to serve as a numerical advantage, was associated with increases in scoring opportunities and team performance
Development of an airline cabin crew pre-task hazard assessment tool: The identi-fly hazard booklet
No full textHutton, AK ORCiD: 0000-0003-2690-1811; Klockner, KD ORCiD: 0000-0003-1981-7515Airline cabin crew are exposed to a broad range of hazards and associated risks which can be difficult to manage with any failings leading to grave consequences for both employees, passengers and airline businesses as a whole. Airlines must therefore strive to develop new strategies for the innovative management of hazards and work towards reducing their risks to as low as reasonably practicable (ALARP). This paper discusses a pilot program to improve a large Australian commercial airline’s management of the hazards faced by cabin crew. It details the introduction of a program for the development, implementation and evaluation of a pre-task identification hazard assessment tool called the ‘Identi-Fly’ booklet. Results indicated that there was an improvement in the hazard identification capabilities of the cabin crew and the program promoted a stronger interdependent safety culture amongst the work group that enabled cabin crew to protect both themselves and others against the major hazards they encounter. The success of the program would appear to assist in improving an airline’s overall safety management objectives whilst also supporting the more holistic objective of the cabin crew department to become incident and injury free
By persisting with COVIDSafe, Australia risks missing out on globally trusted contact tracing
No full textChugh, R ORCiD: 0000-0003-0061-7206Australia has ruled out abandoning the government’s COVIDSafe contact tracing app in favour of the rival “Gapple” model developed by Google and Apple, which is gaining widespread support around the world
Impacts of weather types on soil erosion rates in vineyards at “Celler del Roure” experimental research in eastern Spain
No full textGyasi-Agyei, Y ORCiD: 0000-0002-2671-1180To understand soil erosion processes, it is vital to know how the weather types and atmospheric situations, and their distribution throughout the year, affect the soil erosion rates. This will allow for the development of efficient land management practices to mitigate water-induced soil losses. Vineyards are one of the cultivated areas susceptible to high soil erosion rates. However, there is a lack of studies that link weather types and atmospheric conditions to soil erosion responses in viticultural areas. Thus, the main aim of this research is to assess the impacts of weather types and atmospheric conditions on soil erosion processes in a conventional vineyard with tillage in eastern Spain. To achieve this goal, rainfall events from 2006 to 2017 were monitored and the associated runoff and soil loss were collected from experimental plots. Our results showed that the highest volume of runoff and soil erosion is linked to rainfall associated with the eastern winds that accounted for 59.7% of runoff and 63.9% of soil loss, while cold drops in the atmospheric situation classifications emerged as the highest contributor of 40.9% in runoff and 44.1% in soil loss. This paper provides new insights into the development of soil erosion control measures that help to mitigate the negative impact of extreme rainfall and runoff considering atmospheric conditions
Midwifery students’ experiences of bullying and workplace violence: A systematic review
No full textCapper, TS ORCiD: 0000-0003-3464-1423; Muurlink, OT ORCiD: 0000-0002-8251-9521; Williamson, MJ ORCiD: 0000-0002-8504-5851Background: Workplace violence directed at registered midwives in the maternity setting has been a recognised issue since the early 1990s. More recently it has become evident that midwifery students are also victims of bullying and harassment whilst on clinical placement. Due to the short and long-term impacts this has on students, it is likely to have a detrimental effect on the future and sustainability of the midwifery profession. As a basis for designing a response, it is important to understand what is currently known about this phenomenon. Aim: To systematically review the literature to identify what is known about workplace violence and bullying experienced by midwifery students whilst on clinical placement. Method: Reporting of this review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A search was undertaken of all primary research that focussed upon workplace violence and bullying involving midwifery students whilst on clinical placement, published between January 1990 and December 2019. Pre-defined terms were used to search the following five databases: CINAHL, Web of Science, MEDLINE, Embase, supplemented with Google Scholar. Additional manual searches of reference lists were conducted. An assessment of the quality of each eligible study was then undertaken using an appropriate mixed methods appraisal tool (MMAT). Extracted data were then synthesised using thematic synthesis. Findings: Nine articles met the criteria for inclusion in the review. Studies were primarily qualitative, with some reporting descriptive statistics that do not enable key issues such as prevalence to be reliably addressed. The synthesis identified four main themes that related to workplace violence and bullying of midwifery students whilst on clinical placement. Results were clustered around the role of power in bullying, prevalence and impacts, the culture of compliance, and the victim's response. Conclusions and Implications for Practice: A broader understanding of the nature of workplace violence and bullying and how it manifests itself is beginning to emerge, but more and higher quality research is required to establish an empirical base on which to design interventions. Studies suggest that bullying is common and has significant impacts at both a personal and professional level. This strongly reinforces a need for greater policy and organisational responses to bullying in the clinical education context, in order to break the bullying cycle and ensure the midwives of the future remain in the profession and sustain the workforce. © 2020 Elsevier Lt
Understanding the implications of Belt and Road Initiative for sustainable supply chains: An environmental perspective
No full textAli, I ORCiD: 0000-0002-8912-5760Purpose – This research aims to explore the potential impacts of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) on sustainable supply chains.
Design/methodology/approach – This study employs twenty qualitative interviews with supply chain managers located on the BRI lane from Asian countries.
Findings – Findings revealed that if not managed properly, BRI can pose a serious threats to sustainable supply chains from environmental perspective. The findings also revealed additional properties which lead to the emergence of these perspective.
Research limitations/implications – The findings of this study may not be generalizable to a broader population. Second, this study explores supply chain managers’ interpretations from Asian countries only.
Practical implications – Supply chain firms can use the findings from this study to understand the implications of BRI for sustainable supply chains. Particularly, firms can understand how the BRI may harm the organization’s sustainable supply chains from the environmental perspective.
Originality/value – This is, perhaps, the first study which provides empirical evidence concerning the potential impacts of BRI on the management of sustainable supply chains
A recipe for success? Testing a model of agri-tourism development using the Atherton Tablelands, Australia
No full textThompson, MM ORCiD: 0000-0002-7909-3523A renewed focus on regional tourism in Australia has highlighted the importance of understanding how these destinations can develop their tourism offering by leveraging existing resources. Recent research has proposed a model that identifies the drivers and barriers that influence agri-tourism development. This paper tests the applicability of this model using a case of the Atherton Tablelands, Australia. Preliminary findings indicate that although the Atherton Tablelands has developed some agri-tourism experiences, several barriers continue to outweigh those drivers necessary for continued development. This research demonstrates the model’s practical applications and indicates its suitability as a tool that can be used by regional areas to successfully develop agritourism