Towards improved cover glasses for photovoltaic devices

For the solar energy industry to increase its competitiveness there is a global drive to lower the cost of solar generated electricity. Photovoltaic (PV) module assembly is material-demanding and the cover glass constitutes a significant proportion of the cost. Currently, 3 mm thick glass is the predominant cover material for PV modules, accounting for 10-25% of the total cost. Here we review the state-of-the-art of cover glasses for PV modules and present our recent results for improvement of the glass. These improvements were demonstrated in terms of mechanical, chemical and optical properties by optimizing the glass composition, including addition of novel dopants, to produce cover glasses that can provide: (i) enhanced UV protection of polymeric PV module components, potentially increasing module service lifetimes; (ii) re-emission of a proportion of the absorbed UV photon energy as visible photons capable of being absorbed by the solar cells, thereby increasing PV module efficiencies; (iii) Successful laboratory-scale demonstration of proof-of-concept, with increases of 1-6% in Isc and 1-8% Ipm. Improvements in both chemical and crack resistance of the cover glass were also achieved through modest chemical reformulation, highlighting what may be achievable within existing manufacturing technology constraints

Data from: Dissecting the contributions of plasticity and local adaptation to the phenology of a butterfly and its host plants

Phenology affects the abiotic and biotic conditions that an organism encounters and consequently its fitness. For populations of high latitude species, spring phenology often occurs earlier in warmer years and regions. Here we apply a novel approach to decompose spatiotemporal covariation between spring temperature and the phenology of two flowering plants, Cardamine pratensis and Alliara petiolata, and a Lepidopteran herbivore, Anthocharis cardamines, across the UK, into the contributions of plasticity and local adaptation. All three species overlap in the time-window over which mean temperatures best predict variation in phenology and we find little evidence that the position of time-windows varies latitudinally, as expected if they were initiated by day-length. The focal species show pronounced temperature-mediated phenological plasticity of similar magnitude. While we find no evidence for local adaptation in the flowering times of the plants, geographic variation in the phenology of the butterfly reveals countergradient local adaptation. Geographic variation in the butterfly's phenology appears to be more sensitive to variation in temperature than the flowering times of the host plants and we find no evidence that coevolution has generated geographic variation in adaptive phenological plasticity

Synthetic, spectroscopic, and X-ray crystallographic studies of [1,2,7,8]tetrathiacyclododecino[4,3-b : 5,6-b': 10,9-b": 11,12-b''']tetraindoles

Two conformationally different [1,2,7,8]tetrathiacyclododecino[4,3-b:5,6-b':10,9-b":11,12-b''']tetraind oles 9a and 9b have been isolated in good yields, and the existence of a third conformer 9c in solution was demonstrated by mass spectrometry and H-1 NMR spectroscopy. The interconversions of the tetraindoles 9a-c have also been studied. The conformation of 9b was confirmed by X-ray crystallography, while the conformations of 9a and 9b were assigned on the basis of spectroscopic data, and were also supported by molecular modelling studies. In addition, the elusive dithiin 3 was isolated and the structure was proven by X-ray crystallography. ((C) Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2002)

Women’s existential experiences within Swedish abortion care

Objective: To explore Swedish women’s experiences of clinical abortion care in relation to their need for existential support. Methods: Individual in-depth interviews with 24 women with previous experience of unwanted pregnancy and abortion. Participants were recruited between 2006 and 2009. Interviews were analysed by latent content analysis. Findings: Although the women had similar experiences of the abortion care offered, the needs they expressed differed. Swedish abortion care was described as rational and neutral, with physical issues dominating over existential ones. For some women, the medical procedures triggered existential experiences of life, meaning, and morality. While some women abstained from any form of existential support, others expressed a need to reflect upon the existential aspects and/or to reconcile their decision emotionally. Conclusion: As women’s needs for existential support in relation to abortion vary, women can be disappointed with the personnel’s ability to respond to their thoughts and feelings related to the abortion. To ensure abortion care personnel meet the physical, psychological, and existential needs of each patient, better resources and new lines of education are needed to ensure abortion personnel are equipped to deal with the existential aspects of abortion care.Impact of Religio