Stochastic Energy Source Access Management: Infrastructure-integrative modular plant for sustainable hydrogen-electric co-generation

The proposed Stochastic Energy Source Access Management (SESAM) comprises renewable energy sources coupled via a direct current bus with storage modules of complementary characteristics to achieve co-generation of hydrogen and electric power on a continuous duty basis. As complementary solutions, hydrogen energy storage to provide a large capacity and access-oriented storage based on magnetic, electric or kinetic energy with less capacity but a faster response time are considered. These are arranged to form a multi-level storage that can compensate stochastic fluctuations of power over diverse time scales. The developed energy management coordinates the operation of the diverse storage modules. In this context, the access-oriented storage acts as a shock absorber in order to shield fuel cells and electrolysers from fast fluctuations of wind power and load. The functions of the plant are validated through simulation using meteorological information obtained from the National Wind Technology Center in the USA. The plant is shown to provide the scheduled output of hydrogen and electric power. Since seen from its terminals SESAM behaves in the same way as a power plant with controlled fuel input, it can be readily integrated with given infrastructures.     

Optimization of an industrial DC magnetron sputtering process for graded composition solar thermal absorbing layer

Optimization of an industrial DC magnetron sputtering process for thin graded index coatings for solar thermal absorbers is reported. The optimization concerned the main processing parameters: sputtering power, argon flow, oxygen flow, and system set-up for graded control. The purpose of the optimization was to achieve a surface with efficient solar-thermal energy conversion based on the concept graded index coating, using a metal-dielectric composite coating of nickel–nickel oxide with a continuous change in composition through the film depth profile. It was found that the optimization of the materials composition could be controlled by one parameter related to the sputtering process, the relative oxygen flow RO, defined as the ratio of applied oxygen flow to the critical oxygen flow. For optimized sputtering conditions a solar absorptance of 0.92 was obtained for a single graded index coating on aluminum for RO value of 0.8. From the materials characterization it was found that this gave a graded index coating of two thick sub-layers, a top layer of nano-sized nickel oxide grains and a base layer of nano-size metallic nickel grains with a very thin interface of a mixture of nickel and nickel oxide that was almost amorphous.     

Molecular‐Scale Hybridization of Clay Monolayers and Conducting Polymer for Thin‐Film Supercapacitors

Development of electrode materials with well‐defined architectures is a fruitful and profitable approach for achieving highly‐efficient energy storage systems. A molecular‐scale hybrid system is presented based on the self‐assembly of CoNi‐layered double hydroxide (CoNi‐LDH) monolayers and the conducting polymer (poly(3,4‐ethylene dioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate), denoted as PEDOT:PSS) into an alternating‐layer superlattice. Owing to the homogeneous interface and intimate interaction, the resulting CoNi‐LDH/PEDOT:PSS hybrid materials possess a simultaneous enhancement in ion and charge‐carrier transport and exhibit improved capacitive properties with a high specific capacitance (960 F g^–1 at 2 A g^–1) and excellent rate capability (83.7% retention at 30 A g^–1). In addition, an in‐plane supercapacitor device with an interdigital design is fabricated based on a CoNi‐LDH/PEDOT:PSS thin film, delivering a significantly enhanced energy and power output (an energy density of 46.1 Wh kg^–1 at 11.9 kW kg^–1). Its application in miniaturized devices is further demonstrated by successfully driving a photodetector. These characteristics demonstrate that the molecular‐scale assembly of LDH monolayers and the conducting polymer is promising for energy storage and conversion applications in miniaturized electronics.     

An efficient decision feedback equalizer for the ATSC DTV receiver

In this paper an efficient decision feedback equalizer is presented for the equalization of the received signal in the eight level vestigial sideband, Advanced Television Systems Committee, digital television system, adopting a novel detection rule for symbol detection at the output of the equalizer. The conventional hard limiter is replaced by an efficient symbol detection algorithm, based on the underlying trellis coded modulated coding of the transmitted symbols. The proposed decision device has a marginal computational cost and it can be implemented using simple combinatorial and sequential logic circuitry. When the equalizer operates in the decision directed mode, the normalized least mean squared algorithm is utilized for the adaptation of the equalizer coefficients, in a “stop-and-go” like mode, triggered by a reliability signal associated to the detected symbols. The performance of the proposed method is illustrated by typical computer simulation.     

Constraining Si Particles within Graphene Foam Monolith: Interfacial Modification for High‐Performance Li+ Storage and Flexible Integrated Configuration

Pulverization of electrode materials and loss of electrical contact have been identified as the major causes for the performance deterioration of alloy anodes in Li‐ion batteries. This study presents the hierarchical arrangement of spatially confining silicon nanoparticles (Si NPs) within graphene foam (GF) for alleviating these issues. Through a freeze‐drying method, the highly oriented GF monolith is engineered to fully encapsulate the Si NPs, serving not only as a robust framework with the well‐accessible thoroughfares for electrolyte percolation but also a physical blocking layer to restrain Si from direct exposure to the electrolyte. In return, the pillar effect of Si NPs prevents the graphene sheets from restacking while preserving the highly efficient electron/Li⁺ transport channels. When evaluated as a binder‐free anode, impressive cycle performance is realized in both half‐cell and full‐cell configurations. Operando X‐ray diffraction and in‐house X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy confirm the pivotal protection of GF to sheathe the most volume‐expanded lithiated phase (Li₁₅Si₄) at room temperature. Furthermore, a free‐standing composite film is developed through readjusting the pore size in GF/Si monolith and directly integrated with nanocellulose membrane (NCM) separator. Because of the good electrical conductivity and structural integrity of the GF monolith as well as the flexibility of the NCM separator, the as‐developed GF/Si‐NCM electrode showcases the potential use in the flexible electronic devices.     

Do personality problems improve during psychodynamic supportive–expressive psychotherapy? Secondary outcome results from a randomized controlled trial for psychiatric outpatients with personality disorders.

Studies involving patients with personality disorders (PDs) have not focused on improvement of core aspects of the PD. The authors examined changes in quality of object relations, interpersonal problems, psychological mindedness, and personality traits in a sample of 156 patients with Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.) PD diagnoses being randomized to either manualized or nonmanualized dynamic psychotherapy. Effect sizes adjusted for symptomatic change and reliable change indices were calculated. The authors found that both treatments were equally effective at reducing personality pathology. Only in neuroticism did the nonmanualized group do better during the follow-up period. The largest improvement was found in quality of object relations. For the remaining variables, only small and clinically insignificant magnitudes of change were found. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)