A rapid and easy method for the DNA extraction from Cryptococcus neoformans

DNA isolation from C. neoformans is difficult due to a thick and resistant capsule. We have optimized a new and rapid DNA isolation method for Cryptococcus using a short urea treatment followed by a rapid method using a chelex resin suspension. This procedure is simpler than previously reported methods

DECOY STATE QUANTUM KEY DISTRIBUTION

Experimental weak + vacuum protocol has been demonstrated using commercial QKD system based on a standard bi-directional ‘Plug & Play’ set-up. By making simple modifications to a commercial quantum key distribution system, decoy state QKD allows us to achieve much better performance than QKD system without decoy state in terms of key generation rate and distance. We demonstrate an unconditionally secure key rate of 6.2931 x 10-4 per pulse for a 25 km fiber length

Decoy state quantum key distribution

Experimental weak + vacuum protocol has been demonstrated using commercial QKD system based on a standard bi-directional ‘Plug & Play’ set-up. By making simple modifications to a commercial quantum key distribution system, decoy state QKD allows us to achieve much better performance than QKD system without decoy state in terms of key generation rate and distance. We demonstrate an unconditionally secure key rate of 6.2931 x 10-4 per pulse for a 25 km fiber length

Precise dynamic modelling of real-world hybrid solar-hydrogen energy systems for grid-connected buildings.

Hybrid renewable hydrogen energy systems could play a key role in delivering sustainable solutions for enabling the Net Zero ambition; however, the lack of exact computational modelling tools for sizing the integrated system components and simulating their real-world dynamic behaviour remains a key technical challenge against their widespread adoption. This paper addresses this challenge by developing a precise dynamic model that allows sizing the rated capacity of the hybrid system components and accurately simulating their real-world dynamic behaviour while considering effective energy management between the grid-integrated system components to ensure that the maximum possible proportion of energy demand is supplied from clean sources rather than the grid. The proposed hybrid system components involve a solar PV system, electrolyser, pressurised hydrogen storage tank and fuel cell. The developed hybrid system model incorporates a set of mathematical models for the individual system components. The developed precise dynamic model allows identifying the electrolyser's real-world hydrogen production levels in response to the input intermittent solar energy production while also simulating the electrochemical behaviour of the fuel cell and precisely quantifying its real-world output power and hydrogen consumption in response to load demand variations. Using a university campus case study building in Scotland, the effectiveness of the developed model has been assessed by benchmarking comparison between its results versus those obtained from a generic model in which the electrochemical characteristics of the electrolyser and fuel cell systems were not taken into consideration. Results from this comparison have demonstrated the potential of the developed model in simulating the real-world dynamic operation of hybrid solar hydrogen energy systems for grid-connected buildings while sizing the exact capacity of system components, avoiding oversizing associated with underutilisation costs and inaccurate simulation

The influence of EDFA’s configurations on the behavioral trends of gain and noise figure

Various configurations have been conceived and tested for improvement of the gain and noise figures in Erbium doped fiber amplifiers (EDFA’s). Single pass (SP), double pass (DP), triple pass (TP) and quadruple pass (QP), are employed in the investigation. The highest gain and highest noise figure (NF) of 54dB and 7dB respectively are obtained at -50 dBm input power with 90 mW pump power using the QP configuration, while and the lowest gain of 23dB and lowest NF of 3dB are obtained at -50 dBm input power with 90 mW pump power for SP configuration

A high gain EDFA using double-pass dual-stage amplification

A new configuration of an Erbium Doped Fiber Amplifier is proposed. Double-Pass amplification in a Dual-Stage using a fiber loop-back is incorporated with a Tunable Band Pass Filter. Spontaneous emission is filtered-out in the mid-section to ensure efficient amplification of the signal as it propagates along the fiber. High gain of 54dB is achieved for - 50dBm signal power at 1550nm. The two stages were pumped by laser diodes operating at 980nm with 10mW and 90mW respectively

A comprehensive review on the potential of green hydrogen in empowering the low-carbon economy: development status, ongoing trends and key challenges.

Green hydrogen is currently considered a key element for delivering free-carbon energy. This paper provides an extensive assessment of the potential of green hydrogen technology as a pathway to the low-carbon economy while highlighting the major technical challenges to its implementation. A detailed overview of green hydrogen production, storage technologies, transportation infrastructures and green hydrogen implementations is provided. Status of the ongoing trends for repurposing the existing gas grid infrastructures to transport the hydrogen safely across Europe is presented in this work, with 48 sample projects statistically reviewed and classified based on the key challenges being addressed. The potential of green hydrogen in decarbonizing the energy sector and the associated technical challenges are widely reviewed and critically assessed. Detailed discussions have been provided on the optimal sizing of renewable hydrogen energy systems, real-world modelling of hydrogen energy storage elements and the smart energy management strategies for the application of hydrogen electrolysers as smart controllable loads. Some prospects are given on how digital key trends of blockchain technologies could support the growth of green hydrogen markets together with emphasis on the raised research questions. Further assessment is presented on the potential of green hydrogen versus blue hydrogen while reflecting on future directions and policy recommendations for planning a successful energy transition. Finally, some future insights and near-term policy recommendations are provided for promoting the use of green hydrogen production while supporting the green hydrogen industry

Fiber based practical QKD system

A method to estimate parameters of the decoy state method based on one decoy state protocol for both BB84 and SARG04 has been presented. This method has given different lower bound of the fraction of single-photon counts (y1), the fraction of two-photon counts (y2), the upper bound QBER of single -photon pulses (e1), the upper bound QBER of two-photon pulses (e2), and the lower bound of key generation rate for both BB84 and SARG04. The fiber based QKD systems also have been simulated using the proposed method for BB84 and SARG04. The numerical simulation has shown that the fiber based QKD systems using the proposed method for BB84 are able to achieve both a higher secret key rate and greater secure distance than that of SARG04

New erbium-doped fiber laser with a double tunable bandpass filter

A new configuration for an erbium-doped fiber laser is reported. It incorporates a linear cavity with fiber loopback and a tunable bandpass filter (TBF). This configuration suppresses the amplified spontaneous emission and achieves a highly stable output power of more than 18 dBm at 1560 nm. A standard spectrum is obtained with TBF adjustment