LiDAR‐based characterization of mid‐altitude wind conditions for airborne wind energy systems

Engineers and researchers working on the development of airborne wind energy systems (AWES) still rely on oversimplified wind speed approximations and coarsely sampled reanalysis data because of a lack of high‐resolution wind data at altitudes above 200 m. Ten‐minute average wind speed LiDAR measurements up to an altitude of 1100 m and data from nearby weather stations were investigated with regard to wind energy generation and impact on LiDAR measurements. Data were gathered by a long‐range pulsed Doppler LiDAR device installed on flat terrain. Because of the low overall carrier‐to‐noise ratio, a custom‐filtering technique was applied. Our analyses show that diurnal variation and atmospheric stability significantly affect wind conditions aloft which cause a wide range of wind speeds and a multimodal probability distribution that cannot be represented by a simple Weibull distribution fit. A better representation of the actual wind conditions can be achieved by fitting Weibull distributions separately to stable and unstable conditions. Splitting and clustering the data by simulated surface heat flux reveals substate stratification responsible for the multimodality. We classify different wind conditions based on these substates, which result in different wind energy potential. We assess optimal traction power and optimal operating altitudes statistically as well as for specific days based on a simplified AWES model. Using measured wind speed standard deviation, we estimate average turbulence intensity and show its variation with altitude and time. Selected short‐term data sets illustrate temporal changes in wind conditions and atmospheric stratification with a high temporal and vertical resolution.     

Alternating Cationic-Hydrophobic Peptide/Peptoid Hybrids: Influence of Hydrophobicity on Antibacterial Activity and Cell Selectivity

The influence of hydrophobicity on antibacterial activity versus the effect on the viability of mammalian cells for peptide/peptoid hybrids was examined for oligomers based on the cationic Lys-like peptoid residue combined with each of 28 hydrophobic amino acids in an alternating sequence. Their relative hydrophobicity was correlated to activity against both Gram-negative and Gram-positive species, human red blood cells, and HepG2 cells. This identified hydrophobic side chains that confer potent antibacterial activity (e. g., MICs of 2–8 μg/mL against E. coli) and low toxicity toward mammalian cells (<10 % hemolysis at 400 μg/mL and IC₅₀>800 μg/mL for HepG2 viability). Most peptidomimetics retained activity against drug-resistant strains. These findings corroborate the hypothesis that for related peptidomimetics two hydrophobicity thresholds may be identified: i) it should exceed a certain level in order to confer antibacterial activity, and ii) there is an upper limit, beyond which cell selectivity is lost. It is envisioned that once identified for a given subclass of peptide-like antibacterials such thresholds can guide further optimisation.     

Structural transformation in Mn-substituted Sr2Bi2Ta2TiO12 Aurivillius phase synthesized by hydrothermal method: A comparative study and dielectric properties

In this study, a hydrothermal method was applied to synthesize the three-layer Aurivillius phase Sr₂Bi₂Ta₂TiO₁₂ (SBTTO) and Mn-substituted Sr_1·5Bi_2·5Ta₂Ti_0·5Mn_0·5O₁₂ (SBTTMO), with the use of NaOH as a mineralizer. The crystal structure, morphology, dielectric properties, and the correlation between the structural transformation and dielectric properties were investigated. The XRD data reveal that the SBTTO sample adopts a tetragonal crystal structure with the I4/mmm space group and is then transformed into an orthorhombic structure with the B2cb space group for SBTTMO. The morphology of both samples was observed by SEM, which showed anisotropic plate-like grains. With the Mn substitution, the ferroelectric transition temperature (T_c) significantly increases as the influence of the 6s² lone pair of Bi³⁺ increases, and this in turn further induces the relaxor-ferroelectric behavior. Consequently, the increase in T_c confirms the structural transformation from the paraelectric-tetragonal to the ferroelectric-orthorhombic phase.     

Identifying emerging research fields: a longitudinal latent semantic keyword analysis

Scientometrics - This study aims to gain insights into emerging research fields in the area of marketing and tourism. It provides support for the use of quantitative techniques to facilitate...     

Structure,mechanical and corrosion properties of extruded Mg-Nd-Zn,Mg-Y-Zn and Mg-Y-Nd alloys

Rare earth elements are known to improve both mechanical and corrosion properties. However, it highly depends on the final microstructure conditions of prepared material. During extrusion, intermetallic phases may be redistributed, partially dissolved or on the contrary, precipitated. The knowledge of the impact of extrusion on the individual alloys is therefore essential for their application. In this work, three magnesium alloys (Mg-4Y-3RE, Mg-2Y-1Zn, Mg-3Nd-0.5Zn) were prepared by an extrusion process. Microstructure, mechanical and corrosion properties were compared with extruded pure Mg. The advantages and disadvantages of individual alloys are discussed. Based on the obtained results, the Mg-4Y-3RE alloy seems to exert the best mechanical and corrosion properties. Other materials were characterised with anisotropy of mechanical properties and much higher corrosion rate.     

Computing Coding Solutions for Opportunistic Network Coding Used in Wireless Mesh Networks

Wireless Personal Communications - Wireless mesh networks represent a key architecture on which several communication systems are relaying. Implementations of these networks which apply...     

Crystallization of an amorphous silicon nitride powder produced in a radiofrequency thermal plasma

Crystallization behavior of an amorphous silicon nitride powder produced in an RF thermal plasma by the vapor-phase reaction of silicon tetrachloride and ammonia has been investigated. Effects of annealing conditions such as temperature and duration of heat treatment on the properties of powders were studied. Changes in the chemical and phase compositions, as well as in the morphology of powders were measured and interpreted. Annealing of the amorphous silicon nitride powder at 1450°C for 120 min resulted in a powder of about 80% crystalline phase content with an /β ratio of about 6.5. ©     

Inhibition of influenza virus infection by multivalent sialic-acid-functionalized gold nanoparticles

An efficient synthesis of sialic-acid-terminated glycerol dendron to chemically functionalize 2 nm and 14 nm gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) is described. These nanoparticles are highly stable and show high activity towards the inhibition of influenza virus infection. As the binding of the viral fusion protein hemagglutinin to the host cell surface is mediated by sialic acid receptors, a multivalent interaction with sialic-acid-functionalized AuNPs is expected to competitively inhibit viral infection. Electron microscopy techniques and biochemical analysis show a high binding affinity of the 14 nm AuNPs to hemagglutinin on the virus surface and, less efficiently, to isolated hemagglutinin. The functionalized AuNPs are nontoxic to the cells under the conditions studied. This approach allows a new type of molecular-imaging activity-correlation and is of particular relevance for further application in alternative antiviral therapy.     

What is moral about guilt? Acting “prosocially” at the disadvantage of others.

For centuries economists and psychologists have argued that the morality of moral emotions lies in the fact that they stimulate prosocial behavior and benefit others in a person's social environment. Many studies have shown that guilt, arguably the most exemplary moral emotion, indeed motivates prosocial behavior in dyadic social dilemma situations. When multiple persons are involved, however, the moral and prosocial nature of this emotion can be questioned. The present article shows how guilt can have beneficial effects for the victim of one's actions but also disadvantageous effects for other people in the social environment. A series of experiments, with various emotion inductions and dependent measures, all reveal that guilt motivates prosocial behavior toward the victim at the expense of others around—but not at the expense of oneself. These findings illustrate that a thorough understanding of the functioning of emotions is necessary to understand their moral nature. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)