Alternative materials for solid oxide fuel cells: Factors affecting air-sintering of chromite interconnections

The purpose of this research is to develop alternative materials for solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) interconnections and electrodes with improved electrical, thermal and electrochemical properties. Another objective is to develop synthesis and fabrication processes for these materials whereby they can be consolidated in air into SOFCs. The approach is to (1) develop modifications of the current, state-of-the-art materials used in SOFCs, (2) minimize the number of cations used in the SOFC materials to reduce potential deleterious interactions, (3) improve thermal, electrical, and electrochemical properties, (4) develop methods to synthesize both state-of-the-art and alternative materials for the simultaneous fabrication and consolidation in air of the interconnections and electrodes with the solid electrolyte, and (5) understand electrochemical reactions at materials interfaces and the effects of component compositions and processing on those reactions

Soroban: Attributing latency in virtualized environments

Applications running in the cloud have highly-variable response times due to the lack of perfect performance isolation from other services served by common infrastructure. In particular, response latency when executing on a loaded hypervisor or in a container is substantially higher than uncontested bare-metal performance. Whilst efforts to increase performance isolation continue, we present Soroban, a framework for attributing latency to either the cloud provider or their customer. Soroban allows cloud providers to instrument commonly used programs, such as a web server to determine, for each request, how much of the latency is due to the cloud provider, or the consumer. We apply Soroban to a HTTP server and show that it identifies when the cause of latency is due to a provider-induced activity, such as underprovisioning a host, or due to the software run by the customer.This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from USENIX. via https://www.usenix.org/conference/hotcloud15/workshop-program/presentation/sne

SOFC chromite sintering and electrolyte/air-electrode interface reactions

Air sintering of chromites was investigated in La(Sr)CrO[sub 3], La(Ca)CrO[sub 3], and Y(Ca)CrO[sub 3]. Effects of alkaline earth dopant level and chromium enrichment/depletion on chromite sintered densities and microstructures are discussed. Ac impedance spectroscopy and dc polarization coupled with an unbonded interface cell were used to examine SOFC (solid oxide fuel cells) electrochemical reactions at solid-solid-gas interfaces, particularly for La[sub 1-x]Sr[sub x]MnO[sub 3]. 5 refs

Harmonising higher education and professional quality assurance processes for the assessment of learning outcomes in health

Maree O’Keefe, Amanda Henderson, Brian Jolly, Lindy McAllister, Louisa Remedios, Rebecca Chic

Threshold learning outcomes: a framework for incorporating professional accreditation and AQF standards into assessment blueprinting/mapping in healthcare disciplines

Maree O’Keefe, Amanda Henderson, Brian Jolly, Lindy McAllister, Louisa Remedios, Rebecca Chic

Advanced materials and electrochemical processes in high-temperature solid electrolytes

Fuel cells for the direct conversion of fossil fuels to electric energy necessitates the use of high-temperature solid electrodes. This study has included: (1) determination of electrical transport, thermal and electrical properties to illucidate the effects of microstructure, phase equilibria, oxygen partial pressure, additives, synthesis and fabrication on these properties; (2) investigation of synthesis and fabrication of advanced oxide materials, such as La{sub 0.9}Sn{sub 0.1}MnO{sub 3}; and (3) application of new analytical techniques using complex impedance coupled with conventional electrochemical methods to study the electrochemical processes and behavior of materials for solid oxide fuel cells and other high-temperature electrolyte electrochemical process. 15 refs., 10 figs., 2 tabs. (BM

Developing public transport messaging to provide crowding information during COVID-19 : application of the COM-B model and behaviour change wheel

The COVID-19 outbreak meant that using public transport was potentially unsafe for risk of catching and transmitting the virus. UK anxiety is high with lockdowns preventing a normal way of life for over a year. A lack of ability to travel freely causes numerous declines in quality of life including social isolation and poor physical and mental health. People need crowding information to choose safer travel options and subdue coronavirus. To provide effective guidance, it is essential to empirically formulate messaging to create clarity and trust which can be acted upon in confidence. Behaviour Change Techniques incorporating the Behaviour Change Wheel and COM-B model have been utilised in vast areas of public health intervention development and messaging. There is consensus that public transport information needs to be clearer and more accessible but BCTs have not been utilised in the development of public transport advice. This paper outlines the development of crowding messaging for public transport on a platform available to UK travellers. Barriers and facilitators were explored; related behaviours, intervention functions and behaviour change techniques were mapped. Specific message phrasing was developed utilising the mapped functions and advice from the literature. With the COVID-19 outbreak, having accessible and effective messaging for safely using public transport is a continuation of the work recently conducted examining the best ways to present public health information. It is important to be transparent when developing messaging and interventions accessible to the public and this work forms a basis for continued exploration and development in this area. [Abstract copyright: © 2022 The Authors.

Long-term Survey and Assessment of Large-River Fishes in Illinois, 2018

This report presents a summary of those data collected during segment 30 (2018-2019) of the Long-term Survey and Assessment of Large-River Fishes in Illinois (LTEF), an annual survey by members of the Illinois Natural History Survey, with funds administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Illinois Department of Natural Resources. Sampling for the LTEF program was conducted on: six reaches of the Illinois River Waterway and four segments or pools of the Mississippi River. In all segments of the LTEF program, all fish species collected were accurately identified, tallied, measured, and weighed. The catch rates of sportfish species were calculated as the number of individuals collected per hour (CPUEN ± standard error). Structural indices [Proportional Size Distribution (PSD) and Relative Weight (Wr)] were also calculated for several species of interest to regional managers. Catch rates and species varied among all sampling locations and sampling periods. Gizzard Shad and Emerald Shiners comprised the majority of the individuals caught, and Silver Carp and Common Carp accounted for the greatest proportion of the biomass collected in most sampling areas of the survey. Future analysis of CPUEN and PSD trends in sportfish populations sampled by the program may indicate inter-annual recruitment patterns or/and long-term trends in Illinois sportfish populations.U.S. Fish and Wildlife ServiceIllinois Department of Natural Resources, Division of Fisheriesunpublishednot peer reviewedOpe

Daily adaptive radiotherapy for patients with prostate cancer using a high field MR-linac: Initial clinical experiences and assessment of delivered doses compared to a C-arm linac.

Introduction:MR-guided adapted radiotherapy (MRgART) using a high field MR-linac has recently become available. We report the estimated delivered fractional dose of the first five prostate cancer patients treated at our centre using MRgART and compare this to C-Arm linac daily Image Guided Radiotherapy (IGRT). Methods:Patients were treated using adapted treatment plans shaped to their daily anatomy. The treatments were recalculated on an MR image acquired immediately prior to treatment delivery in order to estimate the delivered fractional dose. C-arm linac non-adapted VMAT treatment plans were recalculated on the same MR images to estimate the fractional dose that would have been delivered using conventional radiotherapy techniques using a daily IGRT protocol. Results:95% and 93% of mandatory target coverage objectives and organ at risk dose constraints were achieved by MRgART and C-arm linac delivered dose estimates, respectively. Both delivery techniques were estimated to have achieved 98% of mandatory Organ At Risk (OAR) dose constraints whereas for the target clinical goals, 86% and 80% were achieved by MRgART and C-arm linac delivered dose estimates. Conclusions:Prostate MRgART can be delivered using the a high field MR-linac. Radiotherapy performed on a C-arm linac offers a good solution for prostate cancer patients who present with favourable anatomy at the time of reference imaging and demonstrate stable anatomy throughout the course of their treatment. For patients with critical OARs abutting target volumes on their reference image we have demonstrated the potential for a target dose coverage improvement for MRgART compared to C-arm linac treatment

Report for the EcoNomics of Adaptive Clinical Trials (ENACT) project : Application of a Bayesian Value-Based Sequential Model of a Clinical Trial to the CACTUS and HERO Case Studies (with Guidance Material for Clinical Trials Units)

none8siNo abstract.openM. Forster, L. Flight, B. Corbacho, A. Keding, S. Ronaldson, P. Tharmanathan, A. Brennan, S. ChickM. Forster, L. Flight, B. Corbacho, A. Keding, S. Ronaldson, P. Tharmanathan, A. Brennan, S. Chic