Estimation of the state-of-charge of gel lead-acid batteries and application to the control of a stand-alone wind-solar test-bed with hydrogen support

In hybrid renewable energy systems, batteries act as a DC bus to provide constant voltage and to smooth out commutations between the generating devices. These batteries are usually of a lead-acid type and operate under harsh variable conditions due to fluctuations of both solar radiation and wind speed. Precise knowledge of the state-of-charge of the batteries, and hence of their available energy, play a key role in effecting efficient control and energy management of the installation. The present study had a twofold aim. One objective was to adjust and validate a method based on coulomb counting to estimate the state-of-charge (SOC) of a gelled lead-acid battery which is the DC bus of a hybrid wind-solar system with hydrogen storage. Other works evaluate SOC models based on several parameters, however, the present proposal based on experimental measurements involves only a few parameters. The second objective was to modify the installation's control algorithm to use the battery's calculated SOC as control parameter instead of its voltage. The results of a test-bed system, showing how the system evolved under real operating conditions, constitute a proof-of-concept of the validity of the method.     

DETONATION CLASSIFICATION FROM ACOUSTIC SIGNATURE WITH THE RESTRICTED BOLTZMANN MACHINE

We compare the recently proposed Discriminative Restricted Boltzmann Machine (DRBM) to the classical Support Vector Machine (SVM) on a challenging classification task consisting in identifying weapon classes from audio signals. The three weapon classes considered in this work (mortar, rocket, and rocket‐propelled grenade), are difficult to reliably classify with standard techniques because they tend to have similar acoustic signatures. In addition, specificities of the data available in this study make it challenging to rigorously compare classifiers, and we address methodological issues arising from this situation. Experiments show good classification accuracy that could make these techniques suitable for fielding on autonomous devices. DRBMs appear to yield better accuracy than SVMs, and are less sensitive to the choice of signal preprocessing and model hyperparameters. This last property is especially appealing in such a task where the lack of data makes model validation difficult.     

Perceptions of the health and convenience characteristics of fresh and dried fruits

Dried fruits consumption has not received much research attention, although these foods are associated with potential health benefits. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare fresh fruits and dried fruits on measures of health, convenience and consumer feelings.An on-line questionnaire that measured consumers' perceptions of the health benefits and convenience characteristics and their feelings about the consumption of both fresh fruits (apples and plums) and dried fruits (e.g., raisins, dates, and apricots) was completed by 693 respondents (Polish, French, and Dutch).Generally, fresh fruits were perceived to be healthier and less convenient than dried fruits. Consumers also reported more positive feelings about the consumption of fresh fruits compared to dried fruits. The more that the respondents were willing to sacrifice for their health, the more positively they rated the health aspects of both fresh and dried fruits, as well as several perceptions of convenience of both fresh and dried fruits. Health preoccupation was unrelated to most of the convenience perceptions and was associated with lower scores on several perceptions of healthiness. Recommendations for the consumer-oriented development of dried fruits are also provided.     

Assessment of the bioavailability of toxic and non-toxic arsenic species in seafood samples

Bioavailability of total arsenic, toxic (arsenite, As(III); and arsenate, As(V)), and non-toxic (monomethylarsonic acid, MA; dimethylarsonic acid, DMA; arsenobetaine, AB; and arsenocholine, AC) arsenic species has been assessed in different raw seafood samples (white fish, cold water fish and molluscs) by using an in vitro model that combines simulated gastric and intestinal digestion/dialysis methods. Correlations between arsenic species bioavailability and seafood nutrient contents (fat and protein) have also been established. Total arsenic content in seafood samples, and dialyzable and non-dialyzable fractions, were analyzed by inductively coupled plasma – mass spectrometry (ICP–MS) after a microwave-assisted acid digestion treatment. The determination of the different arsenic species concentrations in the samples (after an optimised matrix solid phase dispersion (MSPD) approach) and in the dialyzable fraction was done by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) coupled to ICP-MS as a selective detector. Accuracy of the procedure (total arsenic determination) was assessed by analyzing DORM-2 and BCR-627 certified reference materials. The accuracy of the in vitro procedure was established through a mass-balance study. After statistical evaluation (95% confidence interval), good accuracy of the whole in vitro process, for total arsenic and for arsenic speciation, was observed. High dialyzability percentages for total arsenic and for arsenic species were found (i.e. from 84.6 ± 1.7% to 106 ± 2.6%). Bioavailability of arsenic exhibits a negative correlation with the fat content of the seafood. However, no correlation was observed between the bioavailable fraction of total arsenic and arsenic species and the protein content of the seafood studied.     

Framework of emergence: from chain of value to value constellation

ABSTRACT

For academic design programmes and research councils, finding mechanisms to measure impact and valuate co-design research projects is very difficult. The metric parameters – number of attendees, volume, shape, length – have shown to be insufficient. The subject matter, the subjects and matters, do not easily fit within these parameters, which fail to translate the value of a ‘constellation of affections’ that emerge throughout co-design processes. Emphasis on quantifiable impact derives from particular ways of understanding production, reproduction, and dissemination of knowledge. This paper understands academic design programmes as a technology to discuss axiology in co-design practices. This paper re-configures a techno-logic of value; from chain of value to value constellation, intersecting a co-design case study with readings of Simondon’s philosophy of technology and Barad’s agential realism. Ageing Playfully was a knowledge exchange project from The Creative Exchange programme, that involved people living with dementia and their caregivers co-designing interventions to boost mobility and well-being. At the core, this paper, explores an axiological move that informs a framework of emergence, a way of thinking in methods to account for the value of co-design as site of emergence.     

High-performance nanocomposites based on polyetherketones

Polyetherketones, PEKs, are an important family of high-performance thermoplastic materials that display a unique combination of toughness, stiffness, thermooxidative stability, chemical and solvent resistance, flame retardancy, and retention of physical properties at high temperatures. A relevant step forward in the development of these materials has been the recent incorporation of nanofillers to extend their utility in advanced technological applications. This review provides an extensive overview of the research on PEK-based nanocomposites with a special emphasis on both carbon-based nanofillers, such as nanotubes or nanofibers, and inorganic nanoparticles. Nanocomposites can be fabricated by simple, low-cost conventional techniques such as extrusion and compression molding, generally combined with pre-processing stages involving mechanochemical treatments in organic solvents. Different strategies employed to efficiently incorporate carbon nanofillers into these matrices, including polymer functionalization, covalent grafting and nanofiller wrapping in compatibilizing systems are described. The analysis of the influence of the preparation and processing conditions as well as the nanofiller type, attributes and loading on the structure and properties of the resulting materials is also considered. Composites incorporating carbon nanofillers display remarkably improved thermal stability, electrical and thermal conductivity as well as mechanical property enhancements compared to the neat polymers. On the other hand, the incorporation of inorganic nanoparticles such as WS₂, SiO₂ or Al₂O₃ significantly enhances the tribological properties of the matrix, mainly the coefficient of friction and wear resistance. Finally, current and potential applications of these multifunctional nanocomposite materials in fields such as medicine, telecommunications, electronics, aerospace, automobile and chemical industries are described.