Exploring the hypothetical limits to a nuclear and renewable electricity future

This article evaluates whether the world can transition to a future global electricity system powered entirely by nuclear power plants, wind turbines, solar panels, geothermal facilities, hydroelectric stations, and biomass generators by 2030. It begins by explaining the scenario method employed for predicting future electricity generation, drawn mostly from tools used by the International Energy Agency. The article projects that the world would need to build about 7744 Gigawatts (GW) of installed electricity capacity by 2030 to provide 37.2 thousand terawatt‐hours (TWh). Synthesizing data from the primary literature, the article argues that meeting such a projection with nuclear and renewable power stations will be difficult. If constructed using commercially available and state‐of‐the‐art nuclear and renewable power stations today, the capital cost would exceed $40 trillion, anticipated negative externalities would exceed $1 trillion per year, and immense strain would be placed on land, water, material, and human resources. Even if nuclear and renewable power technologies were much improved, trillions of dollars of investment would still be needed, millions of hectares of land set aside, quadrillions of gallons of water used, and material supplies of aluminum, concrete, silicon, and steel heavily utilized or exhausted. Because of these constraints, the only true path towards a more sustainable electricity system appears to be reducing demand for electricity and consuming less of it. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Integrative factory, technology, and product planning-systemizing the information transfer on the operational level

These days, competitive advantages for manufacturing companies cannot be achieved through a detached configuration of specific processes but only through an integrative configuration of the factory as a complete system. The technologies deployed and the products manufactured have a significant influence on the configuration of a factory. In order to allow better coordination between technology, product, and factory planning, a method for integrative factory coordination has been developed at the Hanover Center for Production Technology (PZH). This approach is based on the general roadmapping idea and permits the systematization of the information transfer concerning content and time between factory, technology, and product planning.     

Pre to post‐dialysis plasma sodium change better predicts clinical outcomes than dialysate to plasma sodium gradient in quotidian hemodialysis

Sodium balance across a hemodialysis treatment influences interdialytic weight gain (IDWG), pre‐dialysis blood pressure, and the occurrence of intradialytic hypotension, which associate with patient morbidity and mortality. In thrice weekly conventional hemodialysis patients, the dialysate sodium minus pre‐dialysis plasma sodium concentration (δDPNa+) and the post‐dialysis minus pre‐dialysis plasma sodium (δPNa+) are surrogates of sodium balance, and are associated with both cardiovascular and all‐cause mortality. However, whether δDPNa+ or δPNa+ better predicts clinical outcomes in quotidian dialysis is unknown. We performed a retrospective analysis of clinical and demographic data from the Southwestern Ontario Regional Home Hemodialysis program, of all patients since 1985. In frequent nocturnal hemodialysis, δPNa+ was superior to δDPNa+ in predicting IDWG (R² = 0.223 vs. 0.020, P = 0.002 vs. 0.76), intradialytic change in systolic (R² = 0.100 vs. 0.002, P = 0.02 vs. 0.16) and diastolic (R² = 0.066 vs. 0.019, P = 0.02 vs. 0.06) blood pressure, and ultrafiltration rate (R² = 0.296 vs. 0.036, P = 0.001 vs. 0.52). In short hours daily hemodialysis, δDPNa+ was better than δPNa+ in predicting intradialytic change in diastolic blood pressure (R² = 0.101 vs. 0.003, P = 0.02 vs. 0.13). However, δPNa+ was better than δDPNa+ in predicting IDWG (R² = 0.105 vs. 0.019, P = 0.04 vs. 0.68) and pre‐dialysis systolic blood pressure (R² = 0.103 vs. 0.007, P = 0.02 vs. 0.82). We also found that the intradialytic blood pressure fall was greater in frequent nocturnal hemodialysis patients than in short hours daily patients, when exposed to a dialysate to plasma sodium gradient. These results provide a basis for design of prospective trials in quotidian dialysis modalities, to determine the effect of sodium balance on cardiovascular outcome.     

Structure and Photochemistry of Cyclopentene Fused Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Abstract

This review focuses on physico-chemical aspects of cyclopentene-fused polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (CPAH) that we are currently studying. Steric effects, deformation of polycyclic skeletons from planarity, radical ions, and excited states are properties being investigated. Molecular modeling as a tool for predicting the geometries of CPAH is discussed.     

On the form and function of forgiving: Modeling the time-forgiveness relationship and testing the valuable relationships hypothesis.

In two studies, the authors sought to identify the mathematical function underlying the temporal course of forgiveness. A logarithmic model outperformed linear, exponential, power, hyperbolic, and exponential-power models. The logarithmic function implies a psychological process yielding diminishing returns, corresponds to the Weber-Fechner law, and is functionally similar to the power law underlying the psychophysical function (Stevens, 1971) and the forgetting function (Wixted & Ebbesen, 1997). By 3 months after their transgressions, the typical participant's forgiveness had increased by two log-odds units. Individual differences in rates of change were correlated with robust predictors of forgiveness. Consistent with evolutionary theorizing (McCullough, 2008), Study 2 revealed that forgiveness was uniquely associated with participants' perceptions that their relationships with their offenders retained value. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Surface treatment with ultraviolet laser for adhesive bonding of polymeric materials

We demonstrated an efficient surface pretreatment with excimer laser at 193 nm, which could be successfully used as a surface preparation tool to improve the adhesion and mechanical properties of bonded polymer joints. The effect of the ultraviolet (UV) light can be used both as a method for increasing the specific surface area improving the mechanical adhesion and as a method for activating the polymer surface improving the physical adhesion. Mechanical tests and studies on the failure of bonded polycarbonate (PC) and polyetheretherketone (PEEK) samples showed a significant increase in the quality of bonded connections by using pretreatment with UV laser. As a result of the studies, the bond strength of the PC samples was increased by about 32% using a PB437 UV curing adhesive. By using Loctite 9466 applied to PEEK samples, a strength increase of about 36% was achieved.     

The use of ion implantation in a comparison of the thermal oxidation of titanium and zirconium

A wide variety of binary systems has been produced in Ti and Zr with compositions controlled to depths up to 1000 Å by means of ion implantation. Thermal oxidation of these specimens has led to models for the oxidation process which are consistent with previous ideas but involve more explicitly the crystallographic properties of the two oxides. Novel atomic migration effects, away from the implanted layer, have been observed in Ti and explained in terms of linear short-circuit diffusion.     

The relationship between user participation and system success: a simultaneous contingency approach

The relationship between user participation and information system (IS) success has drawn attention from researchers for some time. It is assumed that strong participation of future users in the design of IS would lead to successful outcomes in terms of more IS usage, greater user acceptance, and increased user satisfaction. However, in spite of this, much of the empirical research so far has been unable to demonstrate its benefits. This paper examines the participation–success relationship in a broader context, where the effects of user participation and two other factors, user attitudes and user involvement, on system success occur simultaneously. Other contingency variables considered here are: system impact, system complexity, and development methodology. The theoretical framework and the associated hypotheses are empirically tested by a survey of 32 organizations. Empirical results corroborate the positive link between user participation and user satisfaction and provide evidence on the interplay between user attitudes and user involvement.