Monolithically-integrated BiVO4/p+-n GaAs1-xPx tandem photoanodes capable of unassisted solar water splitting

Monolithically-integrated tandem photoanodes were fabricated on substrates consisting of epitaxial n-GaAs_1-xP_x (x ? 0.32) grown on n⁺-GaAs wafers. A p⁺-n junction photovoltaic (PV) cell was first formed by zinc diffusion into the n-GaAs_0.68P_0.32 from a deposited ZnO coating. After diffusion the ZnO serves as a transparent electrical contact to the resulting p⁺-GaAs_0.68P_0.32 surface layer. Transparent, conducting SnO₂:F provides chemical and mechanical protection for the ZnO and the underlying PV cell, and it electrically connects this cell to a top BiVO₄ photocatalyst layer. In some photoanodes, a WO₃ thin film was interposed between the SnO₂:F and BiVO₄. All oxide coatings were produced by ultrasonic spray pyrolysis except WO₃, which was spin coated. Unassisted (unbiased) solar water splitting was achieved, with a solar-to-hydrogen efficiency approaching 2%, without addition of any co-catalyst to the BiVO₄ surface. This work can provide insights to other researchers regarding scalable, low cost approaches for the planar monolithic integration of oxide photoanode materials with PV cells to create new tandem devices.     

Dissociating uncertainty responses and reinforcement signals in the comparative study of uncertainty monitoring.

Although researchers are exploring animals' capacity for monitoring their states of uncertainty, the use of some paradigms allows the criticism that animals map avoidance responses to error-causing stimuli not because of uncertainty monitored but because of feedback signals and stimulus aversion. The authors addressed this criticism with an uncertainty-monitoring task in which participants completed blocks of trials with feedback deferred so that they could not associate reinforcement signals to particular stimuli or stimulus-response pairs. Humans and 1 of 2 monkeys were able to make cognitive, decisional uncertainty responses that were independent of feedback or reinforcement history within a task. This finding unifies the comparative literature on uncertainty monitoring. The dissociation of performance from reinforcement has theoretical implications, and the deferred-feedback technique has many applications. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Thaumasite––direct, woodfordite and other possible formation routes

Two main formation routes for thaumasite exist below 15 °C. One is the direct route from C–S–H reacting with appropriate carbonate, sulfate, Ca²⁺ ions and excess water. The other route is the woodfordite route from ettringite reacting with C–S–H, carbonate, Ca²⁺ ions and excess water, in which thaumasite arises through the intermediate formation of the solid solution woodfordite. The woodfordite route for thaumasite formation appears to be relatively quicker (although still slow) than the direct route, presumably because with the former the ettringite already has the octahedral [M(OH)₆] units that can facilitate the critical change from [Al(OH)₆]³⁻ to [Si(OH)₆]²⁻ groupings. Both routes are mutually dependent on each other. The presence of magnesium salts can modify the path to thaumasite formation. High pressure might be able to stabilise [Si(OH)₆]²⁻ groupings and allow thaumasite to become formed above 15 °C. This possibility is discussed.     

Unresolved controversies concerning psychopathy: Implications for clinical and forensic decision making.

At some point in their careers, clinicians who work or consult in forensic and correctional settings will almost certainly encounter individuals who exhibit psychopathic personality features. Because of the widespread use of this disorder to inform legal and clinical decision making, psychologists should be exceedingly familiar with the relevant research literature on this topic before venturing into these settings. This article reviews the empirical bases of several clinically relevant claims and assertions regarding psychopathy and concludes that many areas of research are decidedly more equivocal in their findings than is commonly perceived. Although there is much to be gained by assessing psychopathy in various contexts, clinicians need to be cautious about drawing overzealous and empirically questionable conclusions about an important disorder that also has great potential for abuse. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Measurements of small-scale fading and path loss for long range RF tags

RF modulated backscatter (RFMB), also known as modulated radar cross section or sigma modulation, is a RF transmission technique useful for short-range, low-data-rate applications, such as nonstop toll collection, electronic shelf tags, freight container identification and chassis identification in automobile manufacturing, that are constrained to have extremely low power requirements. The small-scale fading observed on the backscattered signal has deeper fades than the signal from a traditional one-way link of the same range in the same environment because the fading on the backscattered signal is the product of the fading on the off-board-generated carrier times the fading on the reflected signal. This paper considers the continuous wave (CW) type of RFMB, in which the interrogator transmitter and receiver antennas are different. This two-way link also doubles the path loss exponent of the one-way link. This paper presents the cumulative distribution functions for the measured small-scale fading and the measured path loss for short ranges in an indoor environment at 2.4 GHz over this type of link.     

Using an integrated process of data and modeling in HRA

The paper describes an approach taken to estimate the probabilities of failure associated with various railroad tasks to prevent accidents (principally collisions and derailments). These probabilities were estimated using an expert elicitation process that used partially relevant data available from a variety of databases and that were filtered and scaled to make them more directly relevant to the analyses being performed. Extensive qualitative studies were performed prior to the elicitation process to identify relevant contexts under which the tasks can be performed.     

1/f noise in large-area Hg<Subscript>1−x</Subscript>Cd<Subscript>x</Subscript>Te photodiodes

The 1/f noise in photovoltaic (PV) molecular-beam epitaxy (MBE)-grown Hg_1−xCd_xTe double-layer planar heterostructure (DLPH) large-area detectors is a critical noise component with the potential to limit sensitivity of the cross-track infrared sounder (CrIS) instrument. Therefore, an understanding of the origins and mechanisms of noise currents in these PV detectors is of great importance. Excess low-frequency noise has been measured on a number of 1000-μm-diameter active-area detectors of varying “quality” (i.e., having a wide range of I-V characteristics at 78 K). The 1/f noise was measured as a function of cut-off wavelength under illuminated conditions. For short-wave infrared (SWIR) detectors at 98 K, minimal 1/f noise was measured when the total current was dominated by diffusion with white noise spectral density in the mid-10⁻¹⁵A/Hz^1/2 range. For SWIR detectors dominated by other than diffusion current, the ratio, α, of the noise current in unit bandwidth i_n(f = 1 Hz, V_d = −60 mV, and Δf = 1 Hz) to dark current I_d(V_d = −60 mV) was α_SW-d = i_n/I_d ∼ 1 × 10⁻³. The SWIR detectors measured at 0 mV under illuminated conditions had median α_SW-P = i_n/I_ph ∼ 7 × 10⁻⁶. For mid-wave infrared (MWIR) detectors, α_MW-d = i_n/I_d ∼ 2 × 10⁻⁴, due to tunneling current contributions to the 1/f noise. Measurements on forty-nine 1000-μm-diameter MWIR detectors under illuminated conditions at 98 K and −60 mV bias resulted in α_MW-P = i_n/I_ph = 4.16 ± 1.69 × 10⁻⁶. A significant point to note is that the photo-induced noise spectra are nearly identical at 0 mV and 100 mV reverse bias, with a noise-current-to-photocurrent ratio, α_MW-P, in the mid 10⁻⁶ range. For long-wave infrared (LWIR) detectors measured at 78 K, the ratio, α_LW-d = i_n/I_d ∼ 6 × 10⁻⁶, for the best performers. The majority of the LWIR detectors exhibited α_LW-d on the order of 2 × 10⁻⁵. The photo-induced 1/f noise had α_LW-P = i_n/I_ph ∼ 5 × 10⁻⁶. The value of the noise-current-to-dark-current ratio, α appears to increase with increasing bandgap. It is not clear if this is due to different current mechanisms impacting 1/f noise performance. Measurements on detectors of different bandgaps are needed at temperatures where diffusion current is the dominant current. Excess low-frequency noise measurements made as a function of detector reverse bias indicate 1/f noise may result primarily from the dominant current mechanism at each particular bias. The 1/f noise was not a direct function of the applied bias.     

Securing Mobile Ad hoc Networks — A Motivational Approach

Mobile ad hoc networks rely on the co-operation of devices that route for each other. This immediately presents security problems. Each device's data passes through the not so friendly hands of other devices. Forwarding devices must use their processing power and battery power to route packets for others. When bandwidth is limited they must also use bandwidth that they might want to use for themselves. These are not great issues with the first incarnations of ad hoc networks — military systems or others where all the devices are owned by a single organisation. However, if ad hoc networks are to be generally deployed and become an alternative or adjunct to future cellular systems, then ways to encourage co-operation are required. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.