Analysis of output performance and low-grade heat recovery efficiency in thermal regeneration ammonia-based flow battery under various flow fields

The structure of the flow channel has a crucial impact on output capability and thermoelectric conversion efficiency of the Thermal Regeneration Ammonia-based Flow Battery (TRAFB) used for waste heat recovery. In this work, the three-dimensional numerical models of the battery with various flow channel configurations, which couple mass transfer and electrochemical reactions, have been established. Firstly, a comparative analysis of five classical flow channels (rectangular, parallel, interdigitated, serpentine, and spiral) is conducted to examine their influence on the battery's voltage, power, electrical capacity, energy density, active species concentration distribution, and uniformity. Subsequently, the effects of flow channel depth, width, and initial reactant molarity on the battery's output capability and energy storage performance are explored to optimize the flow channel structural parameters and battery operating parameters. In addition, the thermoelectric conversion capability of the battery is a key focus of the study. The research results indicate that the battery with a serpentine flow channel demonstrates the best performance. In terms of enhancing the battery performance, the order is serpentine > spiral > interdigitated > parallel > rectangular. Moreover, by reducing the depth and width of the flow channel, the peak power, energy density, and electrical capacity of the battery can be further enhanced. In addition, as initial Cu2+ molarity grows, the peak power, energy density, and electrical capacity of the battery all show a trend of first increasing and then decreasing, with the maximum values achieved at 0.4 M initial Cu2+ molarity. After enhancement by the serpentine flow channel with both depth and width of 0.5 mm, up to ∼50.00 % Carnot relative efficiency can be attained by the battery during low-power operation. Even when operating at limited power, it is still capable of achieving a Carnot relative efficiency of ∼11.22 %, which is significantly higher than the 5 % commercial benchmark

Enhancing output performance and thermoelectric conversion efficiency in thermal regeneration ammonia-based flow battery through a novel W-like flow channel

In addressing the global challenges of energy efficiency and environmental sustainability, the Thermal Regeneration Ammonia-based Flow Battery (TRAFB) is increasingly gaining attention due to its potential for application in low-grade waste heat recovery. Therefore, this study innovatively introduces a novel W-like flow channel (WFC) with the expectation of enhancing the mass transfer, output performance, and thermoelectric conversion efficiency of the TRAFB. Through visualization and quantitative analysis, the performance of the TRAFB with the WFC is compared with that of the battery with the traditional straight flow channel (SFC) across various aspects, including mass transfer characteristics, reactant concentration characteristics, output performance, discharge behavior, and thermoelectric conversion efficiency. The findings indicate that compared to the SFC, the WFC significantly improves TRAFB performance, particularly under high current density conditions. By adjusting two characteristic parameters of the novel flow channel—the depth and width of the semi-elliptical obstacles—the battery performance can be further enhanced. When both the depth and width are set to 0.8 mm, the peak power density of the battery increases by 57.58% compared to the SFC. Moreover, operating the TRAFB with the WFC configured in this setting at a current density of 300 A/m2 exhibits a 21.11-fold increase in Cu2+ flux, a 7.83-fold increase in effective mass transfer coefficient, a 309.49-fold improvement in reactant uniformity, a 97.78-fold increase in electric capacity, and a 15.95-fold enhancement in thermoelectric conversion efficiency. These findings provide an important theoretical basis and practical guidance for the optimized design and efficient application of TRAFB.</p

Commentary on NICE guidance 249 - falls: assessment and prevention in older people and in people 50 and over at higher risk

The new National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Falls Guideline (NG249) updates CG161 (2013). NG249 aims to reduce the risk and incidence of falls, associated clinical consequences and loss of confidence or independence. The scope has expanded to include people aged 50–64 at higher risk of falls, identified by their medical condition and people in hospital or residential care. The intended audience includes health, social care and local authority commissioners and practitioners, care home providers and people at risk of falls. The Quality Standards (QS86) have been updated and simplified. The 39 recommendations on identifying people at risk, comprehensive falls risks assessment, interventions, maximising participation, information and education, are intended to be feasible and cost-effective in the UK national health and care system. Risk assessment tools are not recommended in any setting; however, a welcome change is tiered intervention responses dependent on initial risk assessment, which roughly aligns to the World Falls Guidelines. Will NG249 generate new actions to reduce population falls rates? Two aspects suggest perhaps not. The general description of recommended exercise is not strengthened with details on dose and lacks a clear statement discouraging low intensity/untargeted exercise; such programmes are likely more prevalent than those based on level one evidence. Linked to this, the guidance statement that most recommendations, including exercise, have no cost implications as they reflect current practice is highly contestable. With no reliable audit data and much anecdotal evidence to refute it, the danger is that commissioners and funders will see no case for review or reinvestment.</p

Time for consensus: establishing core outcomes meaningful to survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

More people are surviving out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) than ever before, yet meaningful functional recovery and reintegration into daily life remain uncertain for many survivors.1,2 Current clinical guidelines, consensus statements, and quality standards all emphasize the importance of systematically measuring quality of life, functional impairments, cognitive deficits and psychopathology. Survivors’ outcome measures are primarily used in three key areas: firstly, in clinical practice, where outcome measures enable identification and monitoring of survivors’ individual problems; secondly, in clinical registries and observational research studies, to better understand the epidemiology of cardiac arrest survivorship; and thirdly, in interventional research studies to determine and compare the effect of survivor aftercare intervention

Fintech as syllabus and support tool in entrepreneurship education programmes: evidence from Mauritius and Nigeria

For both practitioners and academia alike, Fintech is now considered the most evident display of the latest phase of globalization and a significant innovation in conducting business. Nevertheless, entrepreneurial education in emerging markets and specifically Africa has been less proactive in including Fintech as support tool and raising an awareness of access options for its students. Surveying students from Nigerian and Mauritius higher education institutions, the issues presented by the cohorts generally stem from, or can be supported by, lack of funds and access to them. Aside from a clearer understanding of the role of Fintech in entrepreneurship education programs specifically, there is an evident need for an updated Fintech education plan in the Bachelor’s program, Postgraduate, and specifically entrepreneurship education curriculum beyond the “light” touch awareness of funding options to digital skills. The rapid changes and lack of access in the modern economy can be supported by creating education programs that are context-sensitive for Africa. This include Fintech as support for liability of foreignness, lack of mentorship or support, and lack of access to physical banking or markets. As Fintech adapts around the requirements of every country, this should be evidenced in courses providing evidence for strategy support from government

Estimating incidence rates of primary infection and reinfection with hepatitis C virus among people who inject drugs in Scotland: a model-based analysis of repeated cross sectional survey data

BackgroundReducing the incidence of hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is a World HealthOrganization (WHO) elimination goal, but approaches to estimate this from population level survey data are lacking. We modelled HCV incidence among people who inject drugs (PWID) surveyed over time, to provide evidence on whether Scotland has reached the WHO elimination target of ≤2 per 100 person-years in this population.MethodsA statistical model was fitted using HCV infection data from five sweeps (2013-14,2015-16, 2017-18, 2019-20, and 2022-23) of a national bio-behavioural survey,involving 11,651 PWID recruited at sites providing injecting equipment. Per-sweepincidence rates of primary chronic HCV infection, reinfection, and combined primary and reinfection (‘total infection’) were inferred within a Bayesian framework. Incidence rates relate to the number of new infections per 100 person-years for the population at risk of (primary, reinfection and total) infection.FindingsIn 2022-23, the model-estimated total, re-infection and primary infection incidence rates were 3·4 per 100 person-years (95% credible interval (CrI):2·6-4·3), 1·9 (1·3-2·6), and 4·1 (3·0-5·4), respectively. For total new infections, the model-estimated incidence rate decreased by 51% from 7·0 per 100 person-years in 2015-16 to 3.4 in 2022-23 (relating to an absolute decrease of 3·6 per 100 person-years; 95% CrI:2·0–5·3). Between 2015-16 and 2022-23, model-estimated re-infection and primary infection incidence rates decreased by 78% and 40%, respectively.InterpretationOver a period when direct-acting antiviral therapy was scaled-up in Scotland, major reductions in the incidence of primary infection, reinfection, and total HCV infection were evident, indicating that the WHO target is within reach, for a relatively high-risk population of PWID