Policies and Initiatives for Carbon Neutrality in Nordic Heating and Transport Systems

Policies and initiatives promoting carbon neutrality in the Nordic heating and transport systems are presented. The focus within heating systems is the promotion of HPs （heat pumps） while the focus within transport systems is initiatives regarding EVs （electric vehicles）. It is found that the conversion to HPs in the Nordic region relies on both private economic and national economic incentives. Initiatives toward carbon neutrality in the transport system are mostly concentrated on research, development and demonstration for deployment of a large number of EVs. All Nordic countries have plans for the future heating and transport systems with the ambition of realizing carbon neutrality.     

Controlling the deposition rate during target erosion in reactive pulsed DC magnetron sputter deposition of alumina

Alumina coatings were synthesized by reactive pulsed DC magnetron sputtering in an industrial-scale deposition system. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of target erosion (racetrack depth) on the deposition rate. Hysteresis curves, showing the cathode voltage as a function of oxygen flow, were mapped out for different target erosion depths and temperatures, revealing significant variations, e.g. in the metallic mode voltage level. Each deposition was made with a fixed cathode voltage and the cathode current was controlled by adjusting the oxygen flow in a feedback loop by means of which a constant power was maintained. Keeping the power constant, this procedure was repeated for various cathode voltages within the hysteresis transition region and at different racetrack depths and deposition temperatures. The corresponding deposition rates were observed to depend mainly on the relative cathode voltage set-point in-between the oxide and metallic voltage levels in the hysteresis region. This result enables control of the deposition rate by maintaining a constant relative cathode voltage as the target erodes.     

Ammonia Synthesis: Exploratory and Applied Research

Abstract

Exploratory and applied research in ammonia catalysis has two goals: to improve the activity and other desirable properties of the catalysts and to develop a variety of information required to obtain the best performance of the catalysts. In this latter category we have development of rate equations and parameters required to optimize reactor systems.     

Plasma Levels of 14:0, 16:0, 16:1n-7, and 20:3n-6 are Positively Associated,but 18:0 and 18:2n-6 are Inversely Associated with Markers of Inflammation in Young Healthy Adults

Inflammation is a recognized risk factor for the development of chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and atherosclerosis. Evidence suggests that individual fatty acids (FA) may have distinct influences on inflammatory processes. The goal of this study was to conduct a cross-sectional analysis to examine the associations between circulating FA and markers of inflammation in a population of young healthy Canadian adults. FA, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and cytokines were measured in fasted plasma samples from 965 young adults (22.6 ± 0.1 years). Gas chromatography was used to measure FA. The following cytokines were analyzed with a multiplex assay: regulated upon activation normal T cell expressed and secreted (RANTES/CCL5), interleukin 1-receptor antagonist (IL-1Ra), interferon-γ (IFN-γ), interferon-γ inducible protein 10 (IP-10), and platelet-derived growth factor β (PDGF-ββ). Numerous statistically significant associations (p < 0.05, corrected for multiple testing) were identified between individual FA and markers of inflammation using linear regression. Myristic (14:0), palmitic (16:0), palmitoleic (16:1n-7), and dihomo-γ-linolenic (20:3n-6) acids were positively associated with all markers of inflammation. In contrast, stearic acid (18:0) was inversely associated with hsCRP and RANTES, and linoleic acid (18:2n-6) was inversely associated with hsCRP, RANTES and PDGF-ββ. In conclusion, our results indicate that specific FA are distinctly correlated with various markers of inflammation. Moreover, the findings of this study suggest that FA profiles in young adults may serve as an early indicator for the development of future complications comprising an inflammatory component.     

Evaluation of Raney nickel electrodes prepared by atmospheric plasma spraying for alkaline water electrolysers

The work describes the evaluation of Raney nickel electrodes prepared by the technique of atmospheric plasma spraying (APS). The APS Raney nickel layers of 30 μm, 100 μm and 300 μm thicknesses were characterised prior to and post-chemical activation by SEM. Following further electrochemical activation, the performance of these layers towards hydrogen evolution reaction (HER) were evaluated using potentiodynamic Tafel analysis and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) in 30% KOH solutions over the temperature range 30 °C–80 °C. Large surface area increases, in relation to smooth nickel, were obtained for these layers following activation and these were also confirmed from cyclic voltammetry measurements. The analysis of the data indicated that of the 3 thicknesses examined, the best electrocatalytic activity towards HER was obtained for 100 μm sample, with an efficiency (based on the Higher Heating Value for H₂) equal to 96% at a current density of 300 mA cm⁻² and temperature of 70 °C.     

Preincubation of Penicillium commune conidia under modified atmosphere conditions: Influence on growth potential as determined by an impedimetric method

The combined effect of preincubation time, relative humidity (r.h.), headspace carbon dioxide (CO₂) and oxygen (O₂) on subsequent growth potential of conidia from Penicillium commune was studied using Response Surface Modelling (RSM). Native conidia were preincubated under modified atmosphere conditions in sealed vials for 14, 35 and 56 d. Lag time and growth rates were determined using impedance microbiology on a Bactometer.

Conidia survived and some swelling was observed during all experimental preincubation conditions. Regression analysis of the subsequent growth responses showed that relative humidity in the vials was the most significant factor affecting lag time of the conidia after preincubation for 14 and 35 d. Storage for 35 d extended lag times by 15 h when the level of r.h. was increased from 41% to 80%. After prolonged storage (56 d) r.h. and CO₂ levels elicited a significant effect on the growth potential of the conidia. Increasing CO₂ levels (7% to 20%) in the storage atmosphere, reduced lag times from 65 to 25 h. By the same increase in CO₂ levels, at 70% r.h., growth rates were doubled.

Oxygen in the range 2–18%, did not produce any significant effect on either lag time or growth rate during the time of preincubation.

This paper describes the first investigation of the combined effect of two significant environmental factors on the growth potential of conidia from P. commune. It is demonstrated that storage for more than 56 d in levels of CO₂ below 20% results in sublethal injury of the conidia from P. commune, retarding growth by increasing lag times and decelerating growth rates.