A straightforward method of measuring MPRT using LC test cells

Abstract— A simple method based on integration over time to measure motion‐picture response time (MPRT) has been developed. Liquid‐crystal response time (LCRT) alone cannot express the motion blur perceived by the observer; one must also take into account the transition between intermediate gray levels and the sample‐and‐hold effect. The method shows similar results to other previously reported methods based on temporal integration, while being simpler and more straightforward. Indeed, just monopixel test cells are required for measuring MPRT. This method can be used for comparison between different materials, alignments surfaces, or other manufacturing details with no need of fabricating the whole LCD structure. Nevertheless, the method could also be used for characterization of commercial displays with major changes. A comparison of MPRT values for three different liquid‐crystal materials is presented in this work. The behavior of the MPRT parameter in the case of an ideal liquid‐crystal material with an LCRT equal to zero has also been studied. The results obtained for this material have been used as a reference to establish comparisons with real materials.     

Differential Performance and Lung Deposition of Levofloxacin with Different Nebulisers Used in Cystic Fibrosis

We compared the performance and levofloxacin (Quinsair) lung deposition of three nebulisers commonly used in CF (I-Neb Advance, eFlow rapid, and LC Plus) with the approved nebuliser Zirela. The delivered dose, delivery rate, and aerosol particle size distribution (APSD) for each device were determined using the methods described in the Pharmacopeia. High-resolution computed tomography scans obtained from seven adult patients with mild CF were used to generate computer-aided, three-dimensional models of their airway tree to assess lung deposition using functional respiratory imaging (FRI). The eFlow rapid and the LC Plus showed poor delivery efficiencies due to their high residual volumes. The I-Neb, which only delivers aerosols during the inspiratory phase, achieved the highest aerosol delivery efficiency. However, the I-Neb showed the largest particle size and lowest delivery rate (2.9 mg/min), which were respectively associated with a high extrathoracic deposition and extremely long nebulisation times (>20 min). Zirela showed the best performance considering delivery efficiency (159.6 mg out of a nominal dose of 240 mg), delivery rate (43.5 mg/min), and lung deposition (20% of the nominal dose), requiring less than 5 min to deliver a full dose of levofloxacin. The present study supports the use of drug-specific nebulisers and discourages the off-label use of general-purpose devices with the present levofloxacin formulation since subtherapeutic lung doses and long nebulisation times may compromise treatment efficacy and adherence.     

Model-driven development of asynchronous message-driven architectures with AsyncAPI

In the Internet-of-Things (IoT) vision, everyday objects evolve into cyber-physical systems. The massive use and deployment of these systems has given place to the Industry 4.0 or Industrial IoT (IIoT). Due to its scalability requirements, IIoT architectures are typically distributed and asynchronous. In this scenario, one of the most widely used paradigms is publish/subscribe, where messages are sent and received based on a set of categories or topics. However, these architectures face interoperability challenges. Consistency in message categories and structure is the key to avoid potential losses of information. Ensuring this consistency requires complex data processing logic both on the publisher and the subscriber sides. In this paper, we present our proposal relying on AsyncAPI to automate the design and implementation of these asynchronous architectures using model-driven techniques for the generation of (part of) message-driven infrastructures. Our proposal offers two different ways of designing the architectures: either graphically, by modeling and annotating the messages that are sent among the different IoT devices, or textually, by implementing an editor compliant with the AsyncAPI specification. We have evaluated our proposal by conducting a set of experiments with 25 subjects with different expertise and background. The experiments show that one-third of the subjects were able to design and implement a working architecture in less than an hour without previous knowledge of our proposal, and an additional one-third estimated that they would only need less than two hours in total.

     

Performance of a fluidized‐bed bioreactor with hydrogel biomass carrier under extremely low‐nitrogen availability and effect of nitrogen amendments

BACKGROUND: Because of the lower fluidization energy required and the protection against shock loading and starvation due to their sorption capacity, light adsorbents such as hydrogels could be used as biofilm carrier media in fluidized bed bioreactors for wastewater processing. This work explores the feasibility of a cyclodextrin hydrogel as biomass support to degrade phenol under extremely low‐nitrogen availability and under nitrogen amendments. RESULTS: Phenol removal capacity was low (mean 0.589 kg m^?3 day^?1) under extreme nitrogen‐limited conditions (mean C:N ratio 3830). A pulsed nitrogen amendment increased the elimination capacity (up to 1.97 kg m^?3 day^?1) controlling the biofilm thickness. An 8‐h nitrogen pulse had a highly efficient long‐term effect removing 93.5 mg‐C mg^?1‐N in 300 h. The continuous nitrogen amendment enhanced the elimination capacity (up to 5.84 kg m^?3 day^?1) although rapidly increasing the biomass growth. The inhibiting phenol concentration was smaller during the nitrogen‐limited period (below 100 mg L^?1) than in the nitrogen‐amendment periods (140 mg L^?1). Low liquid velocities were needed to fluidize the bioparticles (less than 3.1 mm s^?1) during the entire experimentation. CONCLUSION: This work shows that a fluidized‐bed bioreactor with mixed culture on cyclodextrin‐based particles can be operated for long periods at extreme nitrogen limitation, and that a limited nitrogen supply with periodic pulsed amendments would be adequate for controlling the biofilm thickness. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry     

Laminated Organic Photovoltaic Modules for Agrivoltaics and Beyond: An Outdoor Stability Study of All-Polymer and Polymer:Small Molecule Blends

The integration of organic photovoltaic (OPV) modules on greenhouses is an encouraging practice to offset the energy demands of crop growth and provide extra functionality to dedicated farmland. Nevertheless, such OPV devices must meet certain optical and stability requirements to turn net zero energy greenhouse systems a reality. Here a donor:acceptor polymer blend is optimized for its use in laminated devices while matching the optical needs of crops. Optical modeling is performed and a greenhouse figure-of-merit is introduced to benchmark the trade-off between photovoltaic performance and transparency for both chloroplasts and humans. Balanced donor:acceptor ratios result in better-performing and more thermally stable devices than acceptor-enriched counterparts. The optimized polymer blend and state-of-the-art polymer:small-molecule blends are next transferred to 25 cm² laminated modules processed entirely from solution and in ambient conditions. The modules are mounted on a greenhouse as standalone or 4-terminal tandem configurations and their outdoor stability is tracked for months. The study reveals degradation modes undetectable under laboratory conditions such as module delamination, which accounts for 10–20% loss in active area. Among the active layers tested, polymer:fullerene blends are the most stable and position as robust light harvesters in future building-integrated OPV systems.