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Stable Performance (stable + performance)
Selected AbstractsInternal WWAN antenna for the clamshell mobile phone with various chassis shapesMICROWAVE AND OPTICAL TECHNOLOGY LETTERS, Issue 9 2010Kin-Lu Wong Abstract Stable performances of an internal WWAN antenna applied in the clamshell mobile phone with various chassis shapes are obtained. Six different states including five possible operating states and one closed state (idle condition) of the clamshell mobile phone, wherein the chassis shapes (main ground and upper ground) vary greatly, are studied. The WWAN antenna is mounted at the bottom of the main ground, and there are three connecting positions between the main ground and the upper ground. For each operating states, the upper ground is connected to the main ground at one of the three connecting positions. At each position, a band-stop circuit formed by two parallel LC chip elements is embedded, which is designed to excite a parallel resonance at around 900 MHz and hence leads to very high impedance seen into the upper ground in the 900 MHz band. This greatly decreases the excited surface currents on the upper ground, making the presence of the upper ground to have very small effects on the performances of the WWAN antenna mounted at the bottom of the main ground. At around 1900 MHz, owing to its shorter wavelength, the surface currents on the upper ground excited by the WWAN antenna on the main ground are small. Thus, over both the 900- and 1900-MHz bands, the various orientations of the upper ground to the main ground cause small effects on the WWAN antenna embedded therein. Details of the obtained results are presented. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 52: 2148,2154, 2010; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.25413 [source] A Versatile System for Arbitrary Function Large-Amplitude Fourier Transformed VoltammetryELECTROANALYSIS, Issue 13 2007Lishi Wang Abstract A novel low-cost instrument for arbitrary function large-amplitude Fourier transformed voltammetry was developed. Description of both hardware and software was given in detail in this paper. A micro-control-unit (MCU) in combination with a field programmable gate array (FPGA) was designed to act as the controller of the instrument. Profiting from the built-in USB2.0 standard interface of the MCU, vast amount of data to/from the high resolution digital-to-analog converter (DAC)/analog-to-digital converter (ADC) then could be exchanged with computer in real-time, instead of being temporarily stored at the capacity limited memory of the instrument which always restricted the length of sampling time and the size of the collected data set. In the [Fe(CN)6]4+/3+ system, by superimposing a sinusoidal waveform with an amplitude of 120,mV onto a triangular potential and then applying to a macro electrode through the instrument, voltammograms up to the eighth harmonic could be well resolved by FT-IFT method. Excellent agreement was attained with Bond's similar experiment [Anal. Chem. 76 (2004) 3619] in respect of the shape and relative peak height of each harmonic. With the simply structured instrument, stable performance, flexible and versatile function was achieved. Arbitrary forms of AC perturbation which may not necessarily be sinusoidal or square-wave or other regular formed periodic signal could be synthesized and superimposed onto a DC potential as the excitation signal with this instrument. Some more useful electrode process information was expected to unveil by utilizing the FT-IFT algorithm to dissect the response signal. [source] Performance of a full-scale biotrickling filter treating H2S at a gas contact time of 1.6 to 2.2 secondsENVIRONMENTAL PROGRESS & SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, Issue 2 2003David Gabriel Emission of objectionable odors is a major problem for wastewater treatment and other processing facilities. Biological treatment is a promising alternative to conventional control methods, such as chemical scrubbing, but historically, biotreatment has always required significantly larger reactor volumes than chemical scrubbers. In this paper, we present several aspects of the operation and performance of a chemical scrubber, retrofitted to operate as a biotrickling filter treating 16,000 m3 h,1 of foul air with the original gas contact time of 1.6 to 2.2 seconds. In continuous operation for more than a year, the biotrickling filter has shown stable performance and robust behavior for H2S treatment, with pollutant removal performance comparable to using a chemical scrubber. Reclaimed water was used as a nutrient source for the process, and to maintain the pH in the biotrickling filter between 1.5 and 2.2. At a gas contact time of 1.6 seconds, H2S removal was in excess of 95% for sustained inlet H2S concentrations as high as 30 ppmv. This corresponds to volumetric elimination rates of 95 to 105 g H2S m,3 h,1. Efficiencies of about 90% were observed under transient conditions at 2.2 seconds gas contact time for inlet concentration peaks up to 60 ppmv. The biotrickling filter also removed significant amounts of reduced sulfur compounds, ammonia, and volatile organic compounds present in traces in the air, which is important in practical applications. Selected experiments, such as intermittent trickling operation and a one-month operation period at neutral pH, are also presented. Results indicate that the intermittent trickling operation does not have a significant effect on H2S removal. However, when operated at neutral pH, biotrickling filter performance clearly decreased, probably due to an excessive chlorine supply to the reactor through the make-up water. The study demonstrates that biotrickling filters can replace chemical scrubbers as a safer, more economical technique for odor control. [source] Optimisation and Evaluation of La0.6Sr0.4CoO3,,,, Cathode for Intermediate Temperature Solid Oxide Fuel CellsFUEL CELLS, Issue 5 2009Youkun Tao Abstract In this work, La0.6Sr0.4CoO3,,,,/Ce1,,xGdxO2,,,, (LSC/GDC) composite cathodes are investigated for SOFC application at intermediate temperatures, especially below 700,°C. The symmetrical cells are prepared by spraying LSC/GDC composite cathodes on a GDC tape, and the lowest polarisation resistance (Rp) of 0.11,,,cm2 at 700,°C is obtained for the cathode containing 30,wt.-% GDC. For the application on YSZ electrolyte, symmetrical LSC cathodes are fabricated on a YSZ tape coated on a GDC interlayer. The impact of the sintering temperature on the microstructure and electrochemical properties is investigated. The optimum temperature is determined to be 950,°C; the corresponding Rp of 0.24,,,cm2 at 600,°C and 0.06,,,cm2 at 700,°C are achieved, respectively. An YSZ-based anode-supported solid oxide fuel cell is fabricated by employing LSC/GDC composite cathode sintered at 950,°C. The cell with an active electrode area of 4,×,4,cm2 exhibits the maximum power density of 0.42,W,cm,2 at 650,°C and 0.54,W,cm,2 at 700,°C. More than 300,h operating at 650,°C is carried out for an estimate of performance and degradation of a single cell. Despite a decline at the beginning, the stable performance during the later term suggests a potential application. [source] Transistor Paint: Environmentally Stable N -alkyldithienopyrrole and Bithiazole-Based Copolymer Thin-Film Transistors Show Reproducible High Mobilities without AnnealingADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS, Issue 21 2009Junying Liu Abstract New solution processable 4-(2-hexyldecan)- 4H -bisthieno[2,3- d:3,,2,- b]pyrrole and 4,4,-dialkyl-2,2,-bithiazole-based copolymers (PBTzDTPs) are synthesized with excellent FET performance. These novel copolymers have considerable potential in printable electronics as they have high charge carrier mobilities, excellent air stability, good solution processibility, and no requirement for post-deposition thermal annealing, all requirements for this field of application. The thin film transistors fabricated from PBTzDTPs achieve field effect mobilities as high as 0.14,cm2 V,1 s,1 with current on/off ratios up to 106 without thermal annealing. In addition, the devices exhibit stable performance in air, showing no significant degradation over 60 days. Moreover, the polymers described here provide an excellent example of the systems in which higher mobility performance does not require higher crystalline, long-range ordered structures. Such a system appears to be particularly promising for rapid fabrication techniques, where kinetic conditions usually prevent the development of long-range order. [source] Organic Thin-Film Transistors Fabricated on Resorbable Biomaterial SubstratesADVANCED MATERIALS, Issue 5 2010Christopher J. Bettinger Organic electronics and biodegradable materials have the potential to be integrated to create a new class of electronic devices for the use in biomedical and environmental applications. Organic thin-film field-effect transistors fabricated using a biodegradable material platform exhibit water stable performance and degrade in vitro. [source] Efficient non-linear solid,fluid interaction analysis by an iterative BEM/FEM couplingINTERNATIONAL JOURNAL FOR NUMERICAL METHODS IN ENGINEERING, Issue 11 2005D. Soares Jr Abstract An iterative coupling of finite element and boundary element methods for the time domain modelling of coupled fluid,solid systems is presented. While finite elements are used to model the solid, the adjacent fluid is represented by boundary elements. In order to perform the coupling of the two numerical methods, a successive renewal of the variables on the interface between the two subdomains is performed through an iterative procedure until the final convergence is achieved. In the case of local non-linearities within the finite element subdomain, it is straightforward to perform the iterative coupling together with the iterations needed to solve the non-linear system. In particular a more efficient and a more stable performance of the new coupling procedure is achieved by a special formulation that allows to use different time steps in each subdomain. Copyright © 2005 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Epoxidation of allyl chloride and hydrogen peroxide over titanium silicalite-1 film on SiO2 pellet supportJOURNAL OF CHEMICAL TECHNOLOGY & BIOTECHNOLOGY, Issue 4 2007Li Wang Abstract Titanium silicalite-1 (TS-1) films were prepared on SiO2 pellet supports via an in situ hydrothermal synthesis method and were characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and 29Si magic angle spinning nuclear magnetic resonance (Si MAS NMR). The growth time of TS-1 film had a strong effect on its morphology and the thickness and size of the crystals. The uniformity and thickness of TS-1 films increased with increase of growth times. The epoxidation of allyl chloride (ACH) with dilute hydrogen peroxide to form epichlorohydrin (ECH) over the TS-1 films was carried out in a fixed bed reactor. The conversion of ACH and the selectivity to ECH over the TS-1 films of the second growth were higher than that of the first growth, the third and the fourth growth. And the conversion and selectivity as a function of time-on-stream gave a good stable performance in an extended test up to at least 19 h. The final steady-state conversion and selectivity were approximately 86% and 55%, respectively. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry [source] Performance study of heptane reforming in the dense ceramic membrane reactorsAICHE JOURNAL, Issue 1 2008Wenliang Zhu Abstract Heptane reforming was investigated in three dense ceramic membrane reactors, where the membranes were modified differently with reforming catalyst. Each reactor displayed distinctive catalytic behavior. The reactor with a bare membrane showed low catalytic activity and low oxygen permeation flux (JO2), but gave stable performance. The left two membranes reactors modified with catalyst both displayed shift processes at the preliminary stage of membrane reaction, not only in JO2 but also in the selectivity of all products. Moreover, the membrane reactor with more catalyst gave higher performance in the case of JO2 and CO selectivity. The observed shift phenomena are due to the activation of catalyst on the membrane surface, and the different amounts of catalyst produce different impaction on the membrane reactions. On the basis of the results in three membrane reactors, a reaction pathway of hydrocarbon reforming in dense ceramic membrane reactor is proposed. Being some different from combustion and reforming mechanism (CRR), hydrocarbon reforming in dense ceramic membrane reactor has its own characteristics. © 2007 American Institute of Chemical Engineers AIChE J, 2007 [source] Communication skills knowledge, understanding and OSCE performance in medical trainees: a multivariate prospective study using structural equation modellingMEDICAL EDUCATION, Issue 9 2002G M Humphris Aim, To test the stability of medical student communication skills over a period of 17 months as exhibited by performance in objective structured clinical examinations (OSCEs) and to determine the strength of prediction of these skills by initial levels of knowledge and understanding. Design, This is a prospective study using a 2-wave cohort. Participants, Medical undergraduates (n = 383) from 2 years intake (1996 and 1997) were followed through the first 3 years of a medical curriculum. Procedure, The study procedure involved the objective structured video examination (OSVE) conducted at formative and summative examinations during the first year. Two OSCE measures were employed: expert examiners and simulated patients completed the Liverpool Communication Skills Assessment Scale (LCSAS) and the Global Simulated Patient Rating Scale (GSPRS), respectively. The OSCE data were collected at Level 1 and 17 months later at Level 2 examinations. Results, The measurement model followed prediction. A causal model using latent variables was fitted with Level 2 OSCE performance regressed on Level 1 OSCE and OSVE marks. Expert and simulated patient OSCE data were fitted separately and combined to determine strength of model fit according to professional and patient opinion of student skills. The overall fit of the models was acceptable. Communication skills performance showed a high level of stability. Some negative effect of cognitive factors on future skills performance was found. Conclusion, Early development of communication skills shows stable performance following an introductory course. Knowledge of communication skills has a small but significant influence on performance, depending on the time of testing. New assessments of cognitive factors are required to include both tacit and explicit knowledge. [source] CdTe solar cell in a novel configurationPROGRESS IN PHOTOVOLTAICS: RESEARCH & APPLICATIONS, Issue 1 2004A. N. Tiwari Abstract Polycrystalline thin-film CdTe/CdS solar cells have been developed in a configuration in which a transparent conducting layer of indium tin oxide (ITO) has been used for the first time as a back electrical contact on p-CdTe. Solar cells of 7·9% efficiency were developed on SnOx:F-coated glass substrates with a low-temperature (<450°C) high-vacuum evaporation method. After the CdCl2 annealing treatment of the CdTe/CdS stack, a bromine methanol solution was used for etching the CdTe surface prior to the ITO deposition. The unique features of this solar cell with both front and back contacts being transparent and conducting are that the cell can be illuminated from either or both sides simultaneously like a ,bi-facial' cell, and it can be used in tandem solar cells. The solar cells with transparent conducting oxide back contact show long-term stable performance under accelerated test conditions. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [source] Precipitation and recovery of metal sulfides from metal containing acidic wastewater in a sulfidogenic down-flow fluidized bed reactorBIOTECHNOLOGY & BIOENGINEERING, Issue 1 2009Marisol Gallegos-Garcia Abstract This study reports the feasibility of recovering metal precipitates from a synthetic acidic wastewater containing ethanol, Fe, Zn, and Cd at an organic loading rate of 2.5 g COD/L-day and a COD to sulfate ratio of 0.8 in a sulfate reducing down-flow fluidized bed reactor. The metals were added at increasing loading rates: Fe from 104 to 320 mg/L-day, Zn from 20 to 220 mg/L-day, and Cd from 5 to 20 mg/L-day. The maximum COD and sulfate removals attained were 54% and 41%, respectively. The biofilm reactor was operated at pH as low as 5.0 with stable performance, and no adverse effect over COD consumption or sulfide production was observed. The metals precipitation efficiencies obtained for Fe, Zn, and Cd exceeded 99.7%, 99.3%, and 99.4%, respectively. The total recovered precipitate was estimated to be 90% of the theoretical mass expected as metal sulfides. The precipitate was mainly recovered from the bottom of the reactor and the equalizer. The analysis of the precipitates showed the presence of pyrite (FeS2), sphalerite (ZnS) and greenockite (CdS); no metal hydroxides or carbonates in crystalline phases were identified. This study is the first in reporting the feasibility to recover metal sulfides separated from the biomass in a sulfate reducing process in one stage. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 2009;102: 91,99. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] | ||||||||||||||||