In-stream energy converters in a river – Effects on upstream hydropower station

The use of in-stream energy converters in rivers is an area of research that is still in its preliminary stages. The driving force of river flows is the potential energy the water gains when it precipitates on mountainsides, and this energy is traditionally converted by hydropower stations, where dams are used to create a larger head. Using an in-stream energy converter would be advantageous in areas restricted by regulation. In this paper the effects of using these converters on the upstream water level in a river are studied. This has been done both with an analytical model and with a numerical model. The analytical model described the water level increase due to energy capture to depend on how large fraction of the channel that is blocked by the turbine. It was also shown that as the converter induces drag on the flow, and as energy is lost in wake mixing, the total head loss will be a sum of energy capture and energy losses. The losses correspond to a considerable fraction of the total head drop. The numerical model was used to evaluate these results. The model used was the 3D numerical model MIKE from the DHI Group in Sweden. Turbines were modelled with an inbuilt function in the program. The results from the model did not correspond to the analytical results, as the energy capture was equal to the head drop in the program.     

Visual Interestingness Prediction: A Benchmark Framework and Literature Review

International Journal of Computer Vision - In this paper, we report on the creation of a publicly available, common evaluation framework for image and video visual interestingness prediction. We...     

Impact of forest ditching on nutrient loadings of a small stream--a paired catchment study in Kronoby,W. Finland

The effect of ditching of boreal forest land (W. Finland) on P and N dynamics and export was assessed using a paired catchment approach (response stream + control stream) for a 4-year study period. After the ditching operations, there was a small but significant increase in the NH4+ export, but no significant changes in the concentrations and loads of total reactive P, total non-reactive P, total organic N and NO3-. In both streams, the reactive P fraction largely followed the Fe concentrations. High input to output ratios, and thus, high retention was a typical feature of the inorganic N compounds. Total organic N and the TOC/TON ratio were positively correlated with the total organic carbon.     

Distribution of rare earth elements in anionic,cationic and particulate fractions in boreal humus-rich streams affected by acid sulphate soils

The abundance, fractionation and physicochemical forms of rare earth elements (REEs) were determined in five boreal humus-rich streams (dissolved organic carbon, DOC = 14-40 mg/l) affected by acid sulphate soils. The sampling was carried out during high-water flow in autumn when the acid sulphate soils are extensively flushed. The analytical procedures included ion-exchange experiments in field and ICP-MS determination. There was a general decrease in pH (range 4.5-6.2) and increase in the REE concentrations (La range 0.82-23 microg/l) as the proportion of the catchment cover of acid sulphate soils increased, explained by high amounts of REEs in the acidic runoff from such soils. In each stream, four different REE fractions were identified: (1) A cationic fraction, which is dominant in the REE-rich runoff from the acid sulphate soils and which is depleted in HREEs due to hydrochemical and/or geochemical processes, (2) an anionic fraction identified as humus-REE complexes, which in general is more abundant the higher the DOC concentrations and which also becomes increasingly abundant across the lanthanide series, (3) a fraction having a well-developed MREE enrichment, presumably consisting of colloidal REEs, and (4) a minor uncharacterised particle-associated fraction. The REE pool in the streams thus consists of several coexisting and contrasting REE species. The identification and quantification of such species is a prerequisite for the precise and accurate characterisation of the REE hydrochemistry of the streams.     

Removal of estrogenicity in Swedish municipal sewage treatment plants

The human estrogen receptor alpha-test, hosted in a yeast strain, was used to quantify estrogenicity in three-week composite samples of untreated and treated effluents from 20 Swedish municipal sewage treatment plants. The treatment plants were selected to represent different treatment processes regarding chemical precipitation and microbial procedures. The discharge from Swedish domestic sewage treatment plants contained estrogenic compounds corresponding to <0.1-15 ng estradiol equivalents/L. Low levels of estrogenic activity were also found in a river receiving municipal effluents, 3.5-35 km downstream the outlet from a sewage treatment works. The range of estrogenicity in untreated, raw sewage effluents was found to be 1-30 ng estradiol equivalents/L. Generally, wastewater treatment reduced the estrogenicity and extended biological treatment was most effective in its removal. Activated sludge treatment tended to be more effective than trickling filters, whereas chemical precipitation using iron or aluminium salts without biological treatment showed little effectivity. The study showed that treatment methods in current use are able to eliminate or largely reduce estrogenicity in domestic wastewater.     

Recent Advances in n‐Type Polymers for All‐Polymer Solar Cells

All‐polymer solar cells (all‐PSCs) based on n‐ and p‐type polymers have emerged as promising alternatives to fullerene‐based solar cells due to their unique advantages such as good chemical and electronic adjustability, and better thermal and photochemical stabilities. Rapid advances have been made in the development of n‐type polymers consisting of various electron acceptor units for all‐PSCs. So far, more than 200 n‐type polymer acceptors have been reported. In the last seven years, the power conversion efficiency (PCE) of all‐PSCs rapidly increased and has now surpassed 10%, meaning they are approaching the performance of state‐of‐the‐art solar cells using fullerene derivatives as acceptors. This review discusses the design criteria, synthesis, and structure–property relationships of n‐type polymers that have been used in all‐PSCs. Additionally, it highlights the recent progress toward photovoltaic performance enhancement of binary, ternary, and tandem all‐PSCs. Finally, the challenges and prospects for further development of all‐PSCs are briefly considered.     

An optimisation strategy in a digital environment applied to neonatal chest imaging

The aim of this study was to find the optimum tube voltage for neonatal chest imaging in computed radiography. The study was designed to take full advantage of the benefits of digital imaging, for example, by comparing the tube voltages at constant effective dose. A phantom study using a living rabbit was first conducted. Images were collected at tube voltages ranging from 40 to 90 kV(p). The reproduction of four structures (central vessels, peripheral vessels, carina and thoracic vertebrae) was rated by 10 radiologists. The reproduction of both central and peripheral vessels was relatively independent of tube voltage. The carina was better reproduced at higher tube voltages whereas the opposite was true for the thoracic vertebrae. Based on the higher importance of the reproduction of the carina it was decided that 90 kV(p) was the optimal tube voltage. To validate the result from the phantom study, a follow-up study was conducted in which images of neonates collected at the tube voltage regularly used at Sahlgrenska University Hospital (70 kV(p)) were compared with images collected at the tube voltage proposed by the phantom study. The follow-up study confirmed the results from the phantom study that the reproduction of the carina was better at 90 than at 70 kV(p). In conclusion, for neonatal chest imaging-given the same effective dose-90 kVp gives better reproduction of important structures than the regularly used 70 kV(p).     

Chemical images

Chemical sensors can be used to generate a vast amount of information about the emissions from bio- and chemical processes, from food and bacteria and from a number of products. These emissions are either wanted or should be avoided. Wolfgang Göpel was one of those who recognized early the large potential of chemical sensor arrays and different modes of operation of a given sensor. We describe how large area field effect devices, with catalytic metal gates, can be used for the construction of a response image of a gaseous emission. More specifically, we discuss the new possibilities obtained through the use of catalytic metals with a gradient in thickness. Some basic features of such sensing surfaces are demonstrated and, finally, time-dependent response images from aging meat are used to demonstrate the potential of the method used. It is based on a scanning light pulse technique (SLPT) which measures local polarization or work function changes in two dimensions and, e.g. a sensing surface consisting of bands of different catalytic metals with a gradient in thickness.