Dye-sensitized solar cells: A brief overview

The aim of this brief review is to give a short and simple overview of the dye-sensitized solar cell technology from the working principles to the first commercial applications. It emphasizes the role of the sensitizer and the strategies to improve the performances of the dye as well as some recent development aiming to answer specific issues.     

Special Economic Zones in South Africa: Reflections from International Debates

South Africa’s experience with spatial economic interventions has had a chequered history with the Industrial Development Zone programme most recently failing to generate anticipated development. Current policy has shifted to the imminent launch of Special Economic Zones (SEZs) as tools for national (re)industrial development and supporting underdeveloped regions. This paper reflects on recent South African experience with spatial economic interventions and international experience with SEZs paying particular attention to their strengths, weakness and key establishment considerations. It is argued that unfolding South African SEZ planning can be strengthened by learning from the ‘good’ and ‘bad practice’ of international SEZs.     

PMMA-based composite materials with reactive ceramic fillers Part III: Radiopacifying particle-reinforced bone cements

New acrylic bone cements were prepared from alumina particles previously treated by 3-(trimethoxysilyl)propylmethacrylate (-MPS), able to act both as radiopacifying and reinforcing agents. The present study deals with the handling characteristics and the compressive behavior of such cements. The influence of the particles morphology, their surface-modification by -MPS bonding agent, their concentration in the cement, the powder-to-liquid ratio and the benzoyl peroxide concentration are reported. The role of grafted -MPS molecules as coupling agent was confirmed. For several formulations, compressive strength and modulus reached 150 MPa and 3400 MPa respectively. Limitations in the use of such formulations are also comprehensively discussed. ©2000 Kluwer Academic Publishers     

Registration and real-time visualization of transcranial magnetic stimulation with 3-D MR images

This paper describes a method for registering and visualizing in real-time the results of transcranial magnetic stimulations (TMS) in physical space on the corresponding anatomical locations in MR images of the brain. The method proceeds in three main steps. First, the patient scalp is digitized in physical space with a magnetic-field digitizer, following a specific digitization pattern. Second, a registration process minimizes the mean square distance between those points and a segmented scalp surface extracted from the magnetic resonance image. Following this registration, the physician can follow the change in coil position in real-time through the visualization interface and adjust the coil position to the desired anatomical location. Third, amplitude of motor evoked potentials can be projected onto the segmented brain in order to create functional brain maps. The registration has subpixel accuracy in a study with simulated data, while we obtain a point to surface root-mean-square error of 1.17+/-0.38 mm in a 24 subject study.     

Constant-distance mode scanning potentiometry. 1. Visualization of calcium carbonate dissolution in aqueous solution

Constant-distance mode scanning potentiometry was established by integrating potentiometric microsensors as ion-selective scanning probes into a SECM setup that was equipped with a piezoelectric shear force-based tip-to-sample distance control. The combination of specially designed micrometer-sized potentiometric tips with an advanced system for tip positioning allowed simultaneous acquisition of both topographic and potentiometric information at solid/liquid interfaces with high spatial resolution. The performance of the approach was evaluated by applying Ca(2+)-selective constant-distance mode potentiometry to monitor the dissolution of calcium carbonate occurring either at the (104) surface of calcite crystals or in proximity to the more complex surface of cross sections of a calcium carbonate shell of Mya arenaria exposed to slightly acidic aqueous solutions. Micrometer-scale heterogeneities in the apparent calcium activity profiles have successfully been resolved for both samples.     

Using bottom surface reflectance to map coastal marine areas: a new application method for Lyzenga's model

Remote sensing is widely used in coastal management. Lyzenga's model has been traditionally used to explain the relationship between bottom surface reflectance and the radiance level measured by satellite. Due to its central assumption, this model lacks accuracy compared with the other radiative transfer models. Nonetheless, it enables, with a single and simple equation, representation of the multiple optical processes taking place in coastal areas. Mapping processes associated with this model may include radiometric correction, a technique previously pointed out as a major driver of mapping accuracy. Radiometric correction is generally based on a depth-invariant index, efficient for clear waters (Jerlov water type I to II) but largely unsuitable when transparency decreases (Jerlov water type II to III). In order to overcome this problem, we developed a new index for radiometric correction, which combines bathymetry data with attenuation coefficients. The improved efficiency of our model with regard to the traditional depth invariant index was demonstrated through two case studies: Funakoshi Bay (Japan; Jerlov water type II) and the Gabes Gulf part located off Mahares (Tunisia; Jerlov water type II to III).     

SPOT5-HRS digital elevation models and the monitoring of glacier elevation changes in North-West Canada and South-East Alaska

Monitoring the response of land ice to climate change requires accurate and repeatable topographic surveys. The SPOT5-HRS (High Resolution Stereoscopic) instrument covers up to 120 km by 600 km in a single pass and has the potential to accurately map the poorly known topography of most glaciers and ice caps. The acquisition of a large HRS archive over ice-covered regions is planned by the French Space Agency (CNES) and Spotimage, France during the 2007–2008 International Polar Year (IPY). Here, we report on the accuracy and value of HRS digital elevation model (DEM) over ice and snow surfaces.

A DEM is generated by combining tools available from CNES with the PCI Orthoengine^SE software, using HRS images acquired in May 2004 over South-East Alaska (USA) and northern British Columbia (Canada). The DEM is evaluated through comparison with shuttle radar topographic mission (SRTM) DEM and ICESAT data, on and around the glaciers. A horizontal shift of 50 m is found between the HRS and SRTM DEMs and is attributed to errors in the SRTM DEM. Over ice-free areas, HRS elevations are 7 m higher than those of SRTM, with a standard deviation of ± 25 m for the difference between the two DEMs. The 7-m difference is partly attributed to the differential penetration of the electromagnetic waves (visible for HRS; microwave for SRTM) in snow and vegetation.

We also report on the application of sequential DEMs (SRTM DEM in February 2000 and HRS DEM in May 2004) for the monitoring of glacier elevation changes. We map the topographic changes induced by a surge of one tributary of Ferris Glacier. Maximum surface lowering of 42 (± 10) m and rising of 77 (± 10) m are observed in the 4 years time interval. Thinning rates up to 10 (± 2.5) m/yr are observed at low altitudes and confirm the ongoing wastage of glaciers in South-East Alaska.     

Heat source identification and on-line temperature control by a Branch Eigenmodes Reduced Model

This paper presents the advantages of a Branch Eigenmodes Reduced Model used in a control process of a heating system.The experimental setup is a 3D heat conductive system in which a heat source is set. First, the reduced model is used to solve the non-linear Inverse Heat Conduction Problem: identification of the heat source strength variations from time-varying temperatures. Then, the reduced model is used to control hot points in the system. The objective of the method is to allow sequential temperature control by decreasing the computation time necessary for the simulation.     

Application of Combined Ozone–Hydrogen Peroxide for the Removal of Aromatic Compounds from a Groundwater

Nitro and chlorobenzene compounds, which are widely used in dye industries, have been associated recently with groundwater contamination. Because of their potential toxicity and for taste and odor considerations, three main actions were undertaken to solve the problem. First, to follow the advance of pollution toward the wells, samples were collected automatically and analyzed using GC-MS. Results indicate that o-chloronitrobenzene was the main pollutant in concentrations ranging from 10 to 2000μg/L. Second, to monitor the drinking water quality, an on-line spectrophotometer was used to measure the optical density at 254 nm at the inlet and outlet of the plant. Third, the feasibility of using the O₃/H₂O₉ combination was determined at a 450 L/h pilot plant. Reduction of concentrations of chloronitrobenzenes from 1900 μ/L to less than 20 μg/L could be reached by the application of 8 mg O3/L and 3 mg H2O9/L with a 20-minute contact time. To avoid an eventual bacterial egrowfn in the network due to biodegradability of the oxidation by-products, sand and GAC filtration were tested after oxidation. An evaluation of the costs of these different treatments is also presented.