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To this date, it is difficult to find high-level statistics on YouTube that paint a fair picture of the platform in its entirety. This study attempts to provide an overall characterization of YouTube, based on a random sample of channel and video data, by showing how video provision and consumption evolved over the course of the past 10 years. It demonstrates stark contrasts between video genres in terms of channels, uploads and views, and that a vast majority of on average 85% of all views goes to a small minority of 3% of all channels. The analytical results give evidence that older channels have a significantly higher probability to garner a large viewership, but also show that there has always been a small chance for young channels to become successful quickly, depending on whether they choose their genre wisely.
Nonlinearity can give rise to intermodulation distortions in surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices operating at high input power levels. To understand such undesired effects, a finite element method (FEM) simulation model in combination with a perturbation theory is applied to find out the role of different materials and higher order nonlinear tensor data for the nonlinearities in such acoustic devices. At high power, the SAW devices containing metal, piezoelectric substrate, and temperature compensating (TC) layers are subject to complicated geometrical, material, and other nonlinearities. In this paper, third-order nonlinearities in TC-SAW devices are investigated. The materials used are LiNbO 3 -rot128YX as the substrate and copper electrodes covered with a SiO 2 film as the TC layer. An effective nonlinearity constant for a given system is determined by comparison of nonlinear P-matrix simulations to third-order intermodulation measurements of test filters in a first step. By employing these constants from different systems, i.e., different metallization ratios, in nonlinear periodic P-matrix simulations, a direct comparison to nonlinear periodic FEM-simulations yields scaling factors for the materials used. Thus, the contribution of the different materials to the nonlinear behavior of TC-SAW devices is obtained and the role of metal electrodes, substrate, and TC film are discussed in detail.
On the Fundamental and Practical Aspects of Modeling Complex Electrochemical Kinetics and Transport
(2018)
Numerous technologies, such as batteries and fuel cells, depend on electrochemical kinetics. In some cases, the responsible electrochemistry and charged-species transport is complex. However, to date, there are essentially no general-purpose modeling capabilities that facilitate the incorporation of thermodynamic, kinetic, and transport complexities into the simulation of electrochemical processes. A vast majority of the modeling literature uses only a few (often only one) global charge-transfer reactions, with the rates expressed using Butler–Volmer approximations. The objective of the present paper is to identify common aspects of electrochemistry, seeking a foundational basis for designing and implementing software with general applicability across a wide range of materials sets and applications. The development of new technologies should be accelerated and improved by enabling the incorporation of electrochemical complexity (e.g., multi-step, elementary charge-transfer reactions and as well as supporting ionic and electronic transport) into the analysis and interpretation of scientific results. The spirit of the approach is analogous to the role that Chemkin has played in homogeneous chemistry modeling, especially combustion. The Cantera software, which already has some electrochemistry capabilities, forms the foundation for future capabilities expansion.
In the 19th century Alexander von Humboldt explored the nature and was conceived a new vision of nature that still influences the way we understand the new world. Humboldt believed in the importance of accurate measurements and precise description of observations. His vision of nature included not only facts but also emotions.
Nowadays smart solutions will be developed by using computer technology, which will influence our relationship to nature, our handling of the complexity and diversity of nature itself and the technological influences on the society. Could we avoid a new form of “Colonialism”, when a network of super computers will create a smarter world?
In rural low voltage grid networks, the use of battery in the households with a grid connected Photovoltaic (PV) system is a popular solution to shave the peak PV feed-in to the grid. For a single electricity price scenario, the existing forecast based control approaches together with a decision based control layer uses weather and load forecast data for the on–off schedule of the battery operation. These approaches do bring cost benefit from the battery usage. In this paper, the focus is to develop a Model Predictive Control (MPC) to maximize the use of the battery and shave the peaks in the PV feed-in and the load demand. The solution of the MPC allows to keep the PV feed-in and the grid consumption profile as low and as smooth as possible. The paper presents the mathematical formulation of the optimal control problem along with the cost benefit analysis . The MPC implementation scheme in the laboratory and experiment results have also been presented. The results show that the MPC is able to track the deviation in the weather forecast and operate the battery by solving the optimal control problem to handle this deviation.
The high frequency (HF) catheter ablation is the gold standard for the therapy of many cardiac tachyarrhythmias, such as atrioventricular node re-entry tachycardia (AVNRT), atrioventricular re-entry tachycardia (AVRT) or atrial flutter (AFL). The aim of the study was to simulate the HF ablation of AVNRT, AVRT, AFL and its heat propagation in reference to the supplied power with different electrode material and electrode size. The modeling and simulation were performed with the thermal and electromagnetic simulation software CST® (Computer Simulation Technology, Darmstadt). The modeling and simulation were carried out using ablation catheters with 4 mm tip electrode and 8 mm tip electrode with different electrode materials. Both electrode types were made of platinum and gold respectively. For the measurement of the heat propagation in the heart tissue, the catheters were integrated in the Offenburg heart rhythm model. The HF ablation procedures were performed with the 4 mm platinum tip electrode, with an application duration of 45 seconds and a power output of 40 watts. The HF ablation of the atrioventricular node slow pathway produced a maximum temperature of 66.33 °C. The Kent bundle HF ablation in the left atrium achieved a maximum temperature of 67.14 °C. The HF ablation of the right atrial isthmus resulted 65.96 °C. The 8 mm distal platinum tip electrode and a power output of 60 watts reached 72.85 °C. The 8 mm distal gold tip electrode and a power output of 60 watt reached 64.66 °C, due to the improved thermal conductivity of gold. Virtual heart and ablation electrode models allow the static and dynamic simulation of HF ablation with different electrode material and electrode size. The 3D simulation of the temperature profile may be used to optimize the AVNRT, AVRT and AFL HF ablation.
Oxide semiconductors are highly promising candidates for the most awaited, next-generation electronics, namely, printed electronics. As a fabrication route for the solution-processed/printed oxide semiconductors, photonic curing is becoming increasingly popular, as compared to the conventional thermal curing method; the former offers numerous advantages over the latter, such as low process temperatures and short exposure time and thereby, high throughput compatibility. Here, using dissimilar photonic curing concepts (UV–visible light and UV-laser), we demonstrate facile fabrication of high performance In2O3 field-effect transistors (FETs). Beside the processing related issues (temperature, time etc.), the other known limitation of oxide electronics is the lack of high performance p-type semiconductors, which can be bypassed using unipolar logics from high mobility n-type semiconductors alone. Interestingly, here we have found that our chosen distinct photonic curing methods can offer a large variation in threshold voltage, when they are fabricated from the same precursor ink. Consequently, both depletion and enhancement-mode devices have been achieved which can be used as the pull-up and pull-down transistors in unipolar inverters. The present device fabrication recipe demonstrates fast processing of low operation voltage, high performance FETs with large threshold voltage tunability.
Numerous 2,5-dimethoxy-N-benzylphenethylamines (NBOMe), carrying a variety of lipophilic substituents at the 4-position, are potent agonists at 5-hydroxytryptamine (5HT2A ) receptors and show hallucinogenic effects. The present study investigated the metabolism of 25D-NBOMe, 25E-NBOMe, and 25N-NBOMe using the microsomal model of pooled human liver microsomes (pHLM) and the microbial model of the fungi Cunninghamella elegans (C. elegans). Identification of metabolites was performed using liquid chromatography-high resolution-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-HR-MS/MS) with a quadrupole time-of-flight (QqToF) instrument. In total, 36 25D-NBOMe phase I metabolites, 26 25E-NBOMe phase I metabolites and 24 25N-NBOMe phase I metabolites were detected and identified in pHLM. Furthermore, 14 metabolites of 25D-NBOMe, 11 25E-NBOMe metabolites, and nine 25N-NBOMe metabolites could be found in C. elegans. The main biotransformation steps observed were oxidative deamination, oxidative N-dealkylation also in combination with hydroxylation, oxidative O-demethylation possibly combined with hydroxylation, oxidation of secondary alcohols, mono- and dihydroxylation, oxidation of primary alcohols, and carboxylation of primary alcohols. Additionally, oxidative di-O-demethylation for 25E-NBOMe and reduction of the aromatic nitro group and N-acetylation of the primary aromatic amine for 25N-NBOMe took place. The resulting 25N-NBOMe metabolites were unique for NBOMe compounds. For all NBOMes investigated, the corresponding 2,5-dimethoxyphenethylamine (2C-X) metabolite was detected. This study reports for the first time 25X-NBOMe N-oxide metabolites and hydroxylamine metabolites, which were identified for 25D-NBOMe and 25N-NBOMe and all three investigated NBOMes, respectively. C. elegans was capable of generating all main biotransformation steps observed in pHLM and might therefore be an interesting model for further studies of new psychoactive substances (NPS) metabolism.
Abstract: Electric field of biventricular (BV) pacing, left ventricular (LV) electrode position and electrical interventricular desynchronization are important parameters for successful cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) in patients with heart failure, sinus rhythm and reduced LV ejection fraction. The aim of the study was to evaluate electric pacing field of transesophageal left atrial (LA) pacing and BV pacing with 3D heart rhythm simulation. Bipolar right atrial (RA), right ventricular (RV), LV electrodes and multipolar hemispherical esophageal LA electrodes were modeled with CST (Computer Simulation Technology, Darmstadt). Electric pacing field were simulated with bipolar RA and RV pacing with Solid S (Biotronik) electrode, bipolar LV pacing with Attain 4194 (Medtronic) electrode and bipolar LA pacing with TO8 (Osypka) esophageal electrode. 3D heart rhythm model with esophagus allowed electric pacing field simulation of 4-chamber pacing with bipolar intracardiac RA, RV, LV pacing and bipolar transesophageal LA pacing. The pacing amplitudes were 3V RA pacing amplitude, 50V LA pacing amplitude, 1.5V RV pacing amplitude and 3V LV pacing amplitude with 0.5ms pacing pulse duration. The atrioventricular delay between RA pacing and BV pacing was 140ms atrioventricular pacing delay and simultaneous RV and LV pacing. Electric pacing fields were simulated during the different pacing modes AAI, VVI, DDD and DDD0V. The intracardiac far-field pacing potentials were evaluated with intracardiac electrodes and a distance of 1mm from the electrodes with RA electrode 1.104V, RV electrode 0.703V and LV electrode 1.32V. The transesophageal far-field pacing potential was evaluated with transesophageal electrode and a distance of 10mm from the elelctrode with LA electrode 6.076V. Heart rhythm model simulation with esophagus allows evaluation of electric pacing fields in AAI, VVI, DDD, DDD0V and DDD0D pacing modes. Electric pacing field of RA, RV and LV pacing in combination with LA pacing may additional useful pacing mode in CRT non-responders.
Lithium-ion pouch cells with lithium titanate (Li4Ti5O12, LTO) anode and lithium nickel cobalt aluminum oxide (LiNi0.8Co0.15Al0.05O2, NCA) cathode were investigated experimentally with respect to their electrical (0.1C…4C), thermal (5 °C…50 °C) and long-time cycling behavior. The 16 Ah cell exhibits an asymmetric charge/discharge behavior which leads to a strong capacity-rate effect, as well as a significantly temperature-dependent capacity (0.37 Ah ∙ K−1) which expresses as additional high-temperature feature in the differential voltage plot. The cell was cycled for 10,000 cycles inbetween the nominal voltage limits (1.7–2.7 V) with a symmetric 4C constant-current charge/discharge protocol, corresponding to approx. 3400 equivalent full cycles. A small (0.192 mΩ/1000 cycles) but continuous increase of internal resistance was observed. Using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), this could be identified to be caused by the NCA cathode, while the LTO anode showed only minor changes during cycling. The temperature-corrected capacity during 4C cycling exhibited a decrease of 1.28%/1000 cycles. The 1C discharge capacity faded by only 4.0% for CC discharge and 2.3% for CCCV discharge after 10,000 cycles. The cell thus exhibits very good internal-resistance stability and excellent capacity retention even under harsh (4C continuous) cycling, demonstrating the excellent stability of LTO as anode material.
In this paper, the temperature dependent cyclic mechanical properties of the martensitic hot work tool steel 1.2367 after tempering are investigated. To this end, hardness measurements as well as monotonic and cyclic tests at temperatures in the range from room temperature to 650 °C are performed on material tempered for different tempering times and temperatures. To describe the observed time and temperature dependent softening during tempering a kinetic model for the evolution of the mean size of secondary carbides based on Ostwald ripening is developed. Furthermore, mechanism-based as well as phenomenological relations for the cyclic mechanical properties of the Ramberg-Osgood model depending on carbide size and temperature are introduced. A good overall agreement of the measured and the calculated stress-strain hysteresis loops for different temperatures and heat treatments is obtained using the determined material properties of the kinetic and mechanical model.
Various methods of Digital Manufacturing (DM) have been available for the manufacturing of physical architectural models for several years. This paper highlights the advantages of 3D printing for digital manufacturing of detailed architectural models. In particular, the representation of architectural details and textures is treated. Furthermore, two new methods are being developed in order to improve the conditions for the application of digital manufacturing of architectural models.
Nowadays, robotic systems are an integral part of many orthopedic interventions. Stationary robots improve the accuracy but also require adapted surgical workflows. Handheld robotic devices (HHRDs), however, are easily integrated into existing workflows and represent a more economical solution. Their limited range of motion is compensated by the dexterity of the surgeon. This work presents control algorithms for HHRDs with multiple degrees of freedom (DOF). These algorithms protect pre- or intraoperatively defined regions from being penetrated by the end effector (e.g., a burr) by controlling the joints as well as the device’s power. Accuracy tests on a stationary prototype with three DOF show that the presented control algorithms produce results similar to those of stationary robots and much better results than conventional techniques. This work presents novel and innovative algorithms, which work robustly, accurately, and open up new opportunities for orthopedic interventions.
One of the bottlenecks hindering the usage of polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell technology in automotive applications is the highly load-sensitive degradation of the cell components. The cell failure cases reported in the literature show localized cell component degradation, mainly caused by flow-field dependent non-uniform distribution of reactants. The existing methodologies for diagnostics of localized cell failure are either invasive or require sophisticated and expensive apparatus. In this study, with the help of a multiscale simulation framework, a single polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) model is exposed to a standardized drive cycle provided by a system model of a fuel cell car. A 2D multiphysics model of the PEMFC is used to investigate catalyst degradation due to spatio-temporal variations in the fuel cell state variables under the highly transient load cycles. A three-step (extraction, oxidation, and dissolution) model of platinum loss in the cathode catalyst layer is used to investigate the cell performance degradation due to the consequent reduction in the electro-chemical active surface area (ECSA). By using a time-upscaling methodology, we present a comparative prediction of cell end-of-life (EOL) under different driving behavior of New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) and Worldwide Harmonized Light Vehicles Test Cycle (WLTC).
In this paper the yield surface of a recently presented microstructure-based volume element of the gray cast iron material GJL-250 is assessed after different plastic loading histories. The evolution of the yield surface is investigated for different volumetric, deviatoric and uniaxial loadings. The micromechanical material properties of the metallic matrix and the graphite inclusions are validated by means experimental stress-strain hysteresis loops. The metallic matrix is modeled as elastic-plastic with a non-linear kinematic hardening law. The graphite inclusions are described by means of a volumetric strain state dependent Young’s modulus. The results show that the shape of the yield surface does not change significantly in comparison to the initial yield surface after pure deviatoric loadings. After volumetric loadings, the dependence of the material on the Lode angle is significantly reduced. Uniaxial tensile preloadings result in a deformed yield surface, whereby the magnitude of the deformation depends on the applied load. Uniaxial preloadings to compression do not change the shape of the initial yield surface.
Quantification of astaxanthin in salmons by chemiluminescence and absorption after TLC separation
(2018)
Astaxanthin is a keto-carotenoid, belongs to the chemical class of terpenes and is a yellow lipid soluble compound. The compound is present in marine animals like salmons and crustacean. Its colour is due to conjugated double bonds and these double bonds are responsible for its antioxidant effect. Its antioxidant activity is ten times stronger than other carotenoids and nearly 500 fold stronger than vitamin-E. We present a new thin layer chromatography (TLC) method to measure astaxanthin on TLC-plates (Merck, 1.05554) in the visible absorption range as well as by using chemiluminescence. For separation a solvent mixture of cyclohexane and acetone (10 + 2.4, v/v) was used. The RF-value of astaxanthin is 0.14.The limit of detection in vis-absorption is 64 ng / band and the limit of quantification is 92 ng/band. In chemiluminescence the values are 90 ng / band and 115 ng/band. The method offers two independently working measurement modes on a single plate which increase the accuracy of the quantification.
A Validated Quantification of Sudan Red Dyes in Spicery using TLC and a 16-bit Flatbed Scanner
(2018)
We present a video-densitometric quantification method for Sudan red dyes in spices and spice mixtures, separated by TLC. Application was done band-wise in small dots using a 5 μL glass pipette. For separation, the RP-18 plates (20 × 20 cm with fluorescent dye; Merck, Germany, 1.05559) were developed in a vertical developing chamber without vapor saturation from the starting point to a distance of 70 mm by using acetonitrile, methanol, and aqueous ammonia solution (25%; 8 + 1.8 + 0.2, v/v) as mobile phase. The quantification is based on direct measurements using an inexpensive 16-bit flatbed scanner for color measurements (in red, green, and blue). Evaluation of only the green channel makes the measurements very specific. For linearization, an extended Kubelka-Munk expression for data transformation was used. The range of linearity covers more than two magnitudes and lies between 20 and 500 ng. The extraction from a 2 g sample with acetonitrile, evaporation, and reconstitution to 200 μL with methanol and the band-wise application (7 mm) of a 10 μL sample allows a statistically defined LOD of less than 500 ppb of Sudan red dyes. To perform the analysis, a separation chamber, RP-18 plates, 5 μL glass pipettes, and a 16-bit flatbed scanner for 105 € are needed; therefore, the separation method is inexpensive, fast, and reliable.
We present a planar chromatographic separation method for the phytoestrogenic active compound equol, separated on RP-18 W (Merck, 1.14296) phase. It could be shown that an ethanolic cattle manure extract contains this phytoestrogenic active compound to a larger amount. As solvents for the mobile phase, hexane, ethyl acetate, and acetone (45:15:10, v/v); acetone and water (15:10, v/v); and n-hexane, CH2Cl2, ethyl acetate, methanol, and formic acid (40:40:20:5:1, v/v) have been used. After separation, a modified yeast estrogen screen (YES) test was applied, using the yeast strain Saccharomyces cerevisiae BJ3505 containing an estrogen receptor. Its activation by equol induces the reporter gene lacZ which encodes the enzyme β-galactosidase. The enzyme activity is measured directly on the TLC plate by using the substrate MUG (4-methylumbelliferyl-β-d-galactopyranoside) or the substrate X-β-Gal (5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indoxyl-β-d-galactopyranoside). β-Galactosidase cleaves MUG into a fluorescing compound. X-β- Gal is also hydrolyzed and then oxidized by oxygen forming the deep-blue dye 5,5′-dibromo-4,4′-dichloro-indigo. Both reactions in combination with a thin-layer chromatography (TLC) separation allow very specific detecting of equol in cattle manure, although that is a very challenging matrix. Preliminary results show that the average content of equol in liquid manure is roughly 60 μg g−1. The value for urine is 50 μg mL−1.
Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is a common therapy in atrial fibrillation (AF). The cryoballoon was invented to isolate the pulmonary vein in one step and in a shorter time than a point-by-point radiofrequency (RF) ablation. The aim of the study was to model two cryoballoon catheters, one RF catheter and to integrate them into a heart rhythm model for the static and dynamic simulation of PVI by cryoablation and RF ablation in AF. The modeling and simulation were carried out using the electromagnetic and thermal simulation software CST (CST, Darmstadt). Two cryoballons and one RF ablation catheter were modeled based on the technical manuals of the manufacturers Medtronic and Osypka. The PVI especially the isolation of the left inferior pulmonary vein using a cryoballoon catheter was performed with a -50 °C heatsource and an exponential signal. The temperature at the balloon surface was -50 °C after 20 s ablation time, -24 °C from the balloon 0,5 mm in the myocardium, at a distance of 1 mm -3 °C, at 2 mm 18 °C and at a distance of 3mm 29 °C. PVI with RF energy was simulated with an applied power of 5 W at 420 kHz at the distal 8 mm ablation electrode. The temperature at the tip electrode was 110 °C after 15 s ablation time, 75 °C from the balloon at 0,5 mm in the myocardium, at a distance of 1 mm 58 °C, at 2 mm 45 °C and at a distance of 3 mm 38 °C. Virtual heart rhythm and catheter models as well as the simulation of the temperature allow the simulation of PVI in AF by cryo ablation and RF ablation. The 3D simulation of the temperature profile may be used to optimize RF and cryo ablation.
A printed electronics technology has the advantage of additive and extremely low-cost fabrication compared with the conventional silicon technology. Specifically, printed electrolyte-gated field-effect transistors (EGFETs) are attractive for low-cost applications in the Internet-of-Things domain as they can operate at low supply voltages. In this paper, we propose an empirical dc model for EGFETs, which can describe the behavior of the EGFETs smoothly and accurately over all regimes. The proposed model, built by extending the Enz-Krummenacher-Vittoz model, can also be used to model process variations, which was not possible previously due to fixed parameters for near threshold regime. It offers a single model for all the operating regions of the transistors with only one equation for the drain current. Additionally, it models the transistors with a less number of parameters but higher accuracy compared with existing techniques. Measurement results from several fabricated EGFETs confirm that the proposed model can predict the I-V more accurately compared with the state-of-the-art models in all operating regions. Additionally, the measurements on the frequency of a fabricated ring oscillator are only 4.7% different from the simulation results based on the proposed model using values for the switching capacitances extracted from measurement data, which shows more than 2× improvement compared with the state-of-the-art model.
For an elastic medium containing a homogeneous distribution of micro-cracks, an effective one-dimensional stress-strain relation has been determined with finite element simulations. In addition to flat micro-cracks, voids were considered that contain a Hertzian contact, which represents an example for micro-cracks with internal structure. The orientation of both types of micro-cracks was fully aligned or, for flat micro-cracks, totally random. For micro-cracks with Hertzian contacts, the case of random orientation was treated in an approximate way. The two types of defects were found to give rise to different degrees of non-analytic behavior of the effective stress-strain relation, which governs the nonlinear propagation of symmetric (S0) Lamb waves in the long-wavelength limit. The presence of flat micro-cracks causes even harmonics to grow linearly with propagation distance with amplitudes proportional to the amplitude of the fundamental wave, and gives rise to a static strain. The presence of the second type of defects leads to a linear growth of all harmonics with amplitudes proportional to the power 3/2 of the fundamental amplitude, and to a strain-dependent velocity shift. Simple expressions are given for the growth rates of higher harmonics of S0 Lamb waves in terms of the parameters occurring in the effective stress-strain relation. They have partly been determined quantitatively with the help of the FEM results for different micro-crack concentrations.
Cardiac contractility modulation (CCM) is a device-based therapy for the treatment of systolic left ventricular chronic heart failure. Unlike other device-based therapies for heart failure, CCM delivers non-excitatory pacing signals to the myocardium. This leads to an extension of the action potential and to an improved contractility of the heart. The modeling and simulation was done with the electromagnetic simulation software CST. Three CCM electrodes were inserted into the Offenburg heart rhythm model and subsequently simulated the electric field propagation in CCM therapy.
In addition, simulations of CCM have been performed with electrodes from other device-based therapies, such as cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) and implantable cardioverter / defibrillator (ICD) therapy. At the same distance to the simulation electrode, the electric field is slightly stronger in CCM therapy than in CCM therapy with additionally implanted CRT or ICD electrodes. In addition, there is a change in the electric field propagation at the electrodes of the CRT and the shock electrode of the ICD.
By simulating several different therapy procedures on the heart, it is possible to check how they affect their behavior during normal operation. CCM heart rhythm model simulation allows the evaluation the individual electrical pacing and sensing field during CCM.
Membrane distillation (MD) is a thermal separation process which possesses a hydrophobic, microporous
membrane as vapor space. A high potential application for MD is the concentration of hypersaline brines, such as
e.g. reverse osmosis retentate or other saline effluents to be concentrated to a near saturation level with a Zero
Liquid Discharge process chain. In order to further commercialize MD for these target applications, adapted MD
module designs are required along with strategies for the mitigation of membrane wetting phenomena. This
work presents the experimental results of pilot operation with an adapted Air Gap Membrane Distillation
(AGMD) module for hypersaline brine concentration within a range of 0–240 g NaCl /kg solution. Key performance
indicators such as flux, GOR and thermal efficiency are analyzed. A new strategy for wetting mitigation
by active draining of the air gap channel by low pressure air blowing is tested and analyzed. Only small reductions
in flux and GOR of 1.2% and 4.1% respectively, are caused by air sparging into the air gap channel.
Wetting phenomena are significantly reduced by avoiding stagnant distillate in the air gap making the air blower
a seemingly worth- while additional system component.
The production of potable water in dry areas nowadays is mainly done by the desalination of seawater. State of the art desalination plants usually are built with high production capacities and consume a lot of electrical energy or energy from primary resources such as oil. This causes difficulties in rural areas, where no infrastructure is available neither for the plants’ energy supply nor the distribution of the produced potable water. To address this need, small, self-sustaining and locally operated desalination plants came into the focus of research. In this work, a novel flash evaporator design is proposed which can be driven either by solar power or by low temperature waste heat. It offers low operation costs as well as easy maintenance. The results of an experimental setup operated with water at a feed flow rate of up to 1,600 l/h are presented. It is shown that the proof of concept regarding efficient evaporation as well as efficient gas-liquid separation is provided successfully. The experimental evaporation yield counts for 98 % of the vapor content that is expected from the vapor pressure curve of water. Neither measurements of the electrical conductivity of the gained condensate, nor the analysis of the vapor flow by optical methods show significant droplet entrainment, so there are no concerns regarding the purity of the produced condensate for the use as drinking water.
In this article, we present a taxonomy in Robot-Assisted Training; a growing body of research in Human–Robot Interaction which focuses on how robotic agents and devices can be used to enhance user’s performance during a cognitive or physical training task. Robot-Assisted Training systems have been successfully deployed to enhance the effects of a training session in various contexts, i.e., rehabilitation systems, educational environments, vocational settings, etc. The proposed taxonomy suggests a set of categories and parameters that can be used to characterize such systems, considering the current research trends and needs for the design, development and evaluation of Robot-Assisted Training systems. To this end, we review recent works and applications in Robot-Assisted Training systems, as well as related taxonomies in Human–Robot Interaction. The goal is to identify and discuss open challenges, highlighting the different aspects of a Robot-Assisted Training system, considering both robot perception and behavior control.
The authors claim that location information of stationary ICT components can never be unclassified. They describe how swarm-mapping crowd sourcing is used by Apple and Google to worldwide harvest geo-location information on wireless access points and mobile telecommunication systems' base stations to build up gigantic databases with very exclusive access rights. After having highlighted the known technical facts, in the speculative part of this article, the authors argue how this may impact cyber deterrence strategies of states and alliances understanding the cyberspace as another domain of geostrategic relevance. The states and alliances spectrum of activities due to the potential existence of such databases may range from geopolitical negotiations by institutions understanding international affairs as their core business, mitigation approaches at a technical level, over means of cyber deterrence-by-retaliation.
Die Hersteller von Cochlea-Implantat (CI)-Systemen sehen für klinische Audiologen die Möglichkeit vor, die Mikrofonleistung der meisten aktuellen CI-Sprachprozessoren mittels anschließbarer Monitorkopfhörer zu prüfen. Nähere Angaben dazu, nach welchem Prozedere diese Prüfung stattfinden soll, z. B. welche Stimuli mit welchen Pegeln verwendet werden sollen, sind nach Wissen der Autoren seitens der CI-Hersteller nicht verfügbar. Auf der Basis dieser subjektiven Prüfung entscheidet dann der Audiologe, ob der betreffende Sprachprozessor an den Hersteller eingeschickt wird oder nicht. Wir haben eine Messbox entwickelt, mit der die Mikrofonleistung aller abhörbaren CI-Sprachprozessoren der Hersteller Advanced Bionics, Cochlear und MED-EL objektiv geprüft werden kann. Die Box wurde im 3-D-Druckverfahren hergestellt. Der zu prüfende Sprachprozessor wird in die Messbox eingehängt und über einen verbauten Lautsprecher mit definierten Prüfsignalen (Sinustönen unterschiedlicher Frequenz) beschallt. Das Signal des Mikronfons bzw. der Mikrofone wird über das in der Audio-/Abhörbuchse des Prozessors eingesteckte Kabel der Monitorkopfhörer herausgeführt und mit einer Shifting and Scaling-Schaltung in einen Spannungsbereich transformiert, der für die A/D-Wandlung mit einem Mikrokontroller (ATmega1280 verbaut auf einem Arduino Mega) geeignet ist. Derselbe Mikrokontroller übernimmt über einen eigens gebauten D/AWandler die Ausgabe der Prüfsignale über den Lautsprecher. Signalaufnahme und –wiedergabe erfolgt jeweils mit einer Samplingrate von 38,5 kHz. Der frequenzspezifische Effektivwert des abgegriffenen Mikrofonsignals wird mit einem Referenzwert verglichen. Die (frequenzspezifischen) Referenzwerte wurden mit einem neuwertigen Sprachprozessor gleichen Typs ermittelt und im Speicher des Mikrokontrollers abgelegt. Das Ergebnis wird nach Abschluss der Messung grafisch auf einem Touchscreen ausgegeben. Derzeit läuft eine erste Datenerhebung mit in der Klinik subjektiv auffällig gewordenen CI-Sprachprozessoren, die anschließend in der Messbox untersucht werden. Längerfristiges Ziel ist es, die hit und false alarm Raten der subjektiven Prüfung zu ermitteln.