Macro environmental analysis of the electric vehicle battery second use market

The end-of-life (EOL) strategy of repurposing degraded electric vehicle (EV) batteries in second use applications holds the potential to reduce first-cost obstacles of EVs. With a prospective EV market uptake, increasing numbers of retired batteries will be available soon for battery second use (B2U). But this emerging secondary market remains unclear from a business model perspective. This paper evaluated the evolving B2U market from a macro environmental perspective to comprehend key opportunities and threats in the future

Stationary solutions of the one-dimensional nonlinear Schroedinger equation: I. Case of repulsive nonlinearity

All stationary solutions to the one-dimensional nonlinear Schroedinger equation under box and periodic boundary conditions are presented in analytic form. We consider the case of repulsive nonlinearity; in a companion paper we treat the attractive case. Our solutions take the form of stationary trains of dark or grey density-notch solitons. Real stationary states are in one-to-one correspondence with those of the linear Schr\"odinger equation. Complex stationary states are uniquely nonlinear, nodeless, and symmetry-breaking. Our solutions apply to many physical contexts, including the Bose-Einstein condensate and optical pulses in fibers.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures -- revised versio

Bose-Einstein condensates in a one-dimensional double square well: Analytical solutions of the Nonlinear Schr\"odinger equation and tunneling splittings

We present a representative set of analytic stationary state solutions of the Nonlinear Schr\"odinger equation for a symmetric double square well potential for both attractive and repulsive nonlinearity. In addition to the usual symmetry preserving even and odd states, nonlinearity introduces quite exotic symmetry breaking solutions - among them are trains of solitons with different number and sizes of density lumps in the two wells. We use the symmetry breaking localized solutions to form macroscopic quantum superpositions states and explore a simple model for the exponentially small tunneling splitting.Comment: 11 pages, 11 figures, revised version, typos and references correcte

Search for charginos in e+e- interactions at sqrt(s) = 189 GeV

An update of the searches for charginos and gravitinos is presented, based on a data sample corresponding to the 158 pb^{-1} recorded by the DELPHI detector in 1998, at a centre-of-mass energy of 189 GeV. No evidence for a signal was found. The lower mass limits are 4-5 GeV/c^2 higher than those obtained at a centre-of-mass energy of 183 GeV. The (\mu,M_2) MSSM domain excluded by combining the chargino searches with neutralino searches at the Z resonance implies a limit on the mass of the lightest neutralino which, for a heavy sneutrino, is constrained to be above 31.0 GeV/c^2 for tan(beta) \geq 1.Comment: 22 pages, 8 figure

Search for composite and exotic fermions at LEP 2

A search for unstable heavy fermions with the DELPHI detector at LEP is reported. Sequential and non-canonical leptons, as well as excited leptons and quarks, are considered. The data analysed correspond to an integrated luminosity of about 48 pb^{-1} at an e^+e^- centre-of-mass energy of 183 GeV and about 20 pb^{-1} equally shared between the centre-of-mass energies of 172 GeV and 161 GeV. The search for pair-produced new leptons establishes 95% confidence level mass limits in the region between 70 GeV/c^2 and 90 GeV/c^2, depending on the channel. The search for singly produced excited leptons and quarks establishes upper limits on the ratio of the coupling of the excited fermio

Search for lightest neutralino and stau pair production in light gravitino scenarios with stau NLSP

Promptly decaying lightest neutralinos and long-lived staus are searched for in the context of light gravitino scenarios. It is assumed that the stau is the next to lightest supersymmetric particle (NLSP) and that the lightest neutralino is the next to NLSP (NNLSP). Data collected with the Delphi detector at centre-of-mass energies from 161 to 183 \GeV are analysed. No evidence of the production of these particles is found. Hence, lower mass limits for both kinds of particles are set at 95% C.L.. The mass of gaugino-like neutralinos is found to be greater than 71.5 GeV/c^2. In the search for long-lived stau, masses less than 70.0 to 77.5 \GeVcc are excluded for gravitino masses from 10 to 150 \eVcc . Combining this search with the searches for stable heavy leptons and Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model staus a lower limit of 68.5 \GeVcc may be set for the stau mas

Hadronization properties of b quarks compared to light quarks in e+e- -> q qbar from 183 to 200 GeV

The DELPHI detector at LEP has collected 54 pb^{-1} of data at a centre-of-mass energy around 183 GeV during 1997, 158 pb^{-1} around 189 GeV during 1998, and 187 pb^{-1} between 192 and 200 GeV during 1999. These data were used to measure the average charged particle multiplicity in e+e- -> b bbar events, _{bb}, and the difference delta_{bl} between _{bb} and the multiplicity, _{ll}, in generic light quark (u,d,s) events: delta_{bl}(183 GeV) = 4.55 +/- 1.31 (stat) +/- 0.73 (syst) delta_{bl}(189 GeV) = 4.43 +/- 0.85 (stat) +/- 0.61 (syst) delta_{bl}(200 GeV) = 3.39 +/- 0.89 (stat) +/- 1.01 (syst). This result is consistent with QCD predictions, while it is inconsistent with calculations assuming that the multiplicity accompanying the decay of a heavy quark is independent of the mass of the quark itself.Comment: 13 pages, 2 figure

Tracing of microbiological contamination and protein residues in dairy industries

O leite, por sua riqueza em nutrientes, representa uma importante fonte alimentar para o homem e um excelente meio de cultura para o desenvolvimento de um grande número de micro-organismos. Portanto, detectar rapidamente e solucionar o problema das contaminações no leite é um desafio para a indústria de alimentos. Este trabalho teve como objetivo determinar os principais pontos de contaminação dentro da indústria de leite pasteurizado bem como os pontos que apresentam resíduos de alimento após a limpeza. Foram colhidas amostras de leite e swabs de superfície dos equipamentos envolvidos no processo de pasteurização de 8 laticínios em 9 rastreamentos no estado do Paraná para determinar a contagem de micro-organismos aeróbios mesófilos (AM), coliformes totais (CT) e Escherichia coli (EC). Para contagem de AM realizou-se a semeadura em Ágar Padrão de Contagem (PCA). Para enumeração de CT e E. coli foi utilizado o sistema 3M? Petrifilm? e para detectar resíduos de proteínas no equipamento utilizou-se o teste Clean-Trace? Surface Protein Plus 3M?. Os principais pontos de contaminação do leite pasteurizado por AM, CT e EC foram o tanque de equilíbrio antes da empacotadeira, o tanque pulmão da empacotadeira e as partes internas da empacotadeira. Os pontos que apresentaram resultado positivo para presença de resíduos de proteína foram a tubulação de entrada do tanque de equilíbrio antes da empacotadeira, o tanque de equilíbrio antes da empacotadeira e a tubulação de entrada de leite no tanque pulmão da empacotadeira. Os laticínios utilizam concentrações e temperaturas inadequadas para circulação das substâncias utilizadas na limpeza e sanitização dos equipamentos, o que resulta em higienização ineficiente ou ainda comprometimento do equipamento ao provocar corrosão das superfícies e desgaste precoce das borrachas de vedação. O teste para detecção de resíduos de proteínas pode representar uma importante ferramenta para avaliar a eficiência da limpeza de equipamentos, uma vez que oferece resultados imediatos, permitindo correções que podem evitar perdas e problemas aos laticínios. Em muitos casos não se conseguiu detectar contaminações em superfícies da empacotadeira, por terem origem em pontos internos, inacessíveis à coleta de amostras. No entanto, ficou evidente a relação desses pontos com a contaminação do leite pasteurizado embalado, já que este apresentou contagens de AM, CT e EC superiores às do leite antes de passar pela empacotadeira.Milk, for its nutritional richness, represents an important food source for humans and an excellent culture medium for the development of a great number of microorganisms. Therefore, quick detecting and solving contamination problems in milk is a challenge for the food industry. This study aimed at determining the main contamination spots in pasteurized milk industry as well as food residues in surfaces after cleaning. Milk samples and surface swabs were collected in 8 dairy industries of Paraná state in 9 tracings for mesophilic aerobes (MA), total coliforms (TC) and Escherichia coli (EC) enumeration. Samples were sowed in Plate Count Agar (PCA) for MA while 3M? Petrifilm? was used for TC and E. coli enumeration. Detection of protein residues was possible using the 3M? Clean-Trace? Surface Protein Plus test. The main contamination spots of pasteurized milk by MA, TC and E. coli were the balance tank before the milk packing machine, the balance tank on top of the packing machine and internal parts of the packing machine itself. Positive results for protein residues presence were found on the milk inlet pipe of the balance tank before the packing machine, the balance tank itself and the milk inlet pipe of the balance tank on top of the packing machine. The dairy industries use inadequate temperatures and concentrations of circulating substances for cleaning and sanitizing the equipment, which results in inefficient sanitation or it can compromise the equipment by causing corrosion of the surfaces and early wear of rubber gaskets. The test for detecting protein residues can represent an important tool for the evaluation of equipment cleaning efficiency, with immediate results, which allows interventions that can prevent losses and problems to the industries. In many cases, contamination detection in surfaces of the packing machine was not possible for they were in inner parts of this equipment, inaccessible to sample collecting. However, the relation of this spots with pasteurized milk contamination became clear since packed milk showed superior MA, TC and E. coli contamination compared to milk collected right before passing through the packing machine

A commercially available SRP vaccine reduces prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 in feces of beef cattle under commercial feedlot conditions

Of all food safety challenges facing the beef industry, Escherichia coli O157:H7 has consistently presented the greatest economic remonstrance to meat packers and retailers. Cattle naturally shed E. coli O157:H7 in their feces, and it is a source of carcass contamination at harvest. If contaminated trim enters the food supply and is subsequently prepared incorrectly, it can lead to the human condition known as hemorrhagic colitis. In children or elderly people, an E. coli O157:H7 infection may lead to a more serious form known as hemolytic uremic syndrome, which is potentially lethal. Although the majority of previous research has been dedicated to reduction in contamination post-harvest, recent focus has shifted to pre-harvest mitigation of E. coli O157:H7. Post-harvest procedures are effective, so there is less room for improvement than in pre-harvest mitigation. Also, reducing the E. coli O157 burden entering the plant may improve the efficacy of post-harvest tools and ultimately reduce human illness. Most previous research efforts have been focused on controlling E. coli within the abbatoir. Over the last 10 years, the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association has estimated E. coli O157 to cost the industry $2.67 billion. The E. coli O157 siderophore-receptor and porin-based (SRP) vaccine has been shown to reduce fecal shedding of E. coli in cattle in laboratory conditions as well as field conditions. In 2007, the vaccine received conditional licensure from the USDA. The objective of this study was to determine the efficacy of the SRP vaccine by (1) quantifying the prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 in vaccinated cattle under field conditions and (2) monitoring anti-SRP antibody titer levels immediately prior to harvest