Electrode and interconnect for miniature fuel cells using direct methanol feed

An improved system for interconnects in a fuel cell. In one embodiment, the membranes are located in parallel with one another, and current flow between them is facilitated by interconnects. In another embodiment, all of the current flow is through the interconnects which are located on the membranes. The interconnects are located between two electrodes

Reduced size fuel cell for portable applications

A flat pack type fuel cell includes a plurality of membrane electrode assemblies. Each membrane electrode assembly is formed of an anode, an electrolyte, and an cathode with appropriate catalysts thereon. The anode is directly into contact with fuel via a wicking element. The fuel reservoir may extend along the same axis as the membrane electrode assemblies, so that fuel can be applied to each of the anodes. Each of the fuel cell elements is interconnected together to provide the voltage outputs in series

Terrestrial Laser Scanning and settled techniques: a support to detect pathologies and safety conditions of timber structures

Nowadays, there is an increasing demand for detailed geometrical representation of the existing cultural heritage, in particular to improve the comprehension of interactions between different phenomena and to allow a better decisional and planning process. The LiDAR technology (Light Detection and Ranging) can be adopted in different fields, ranging from aerial applications to mobile and terrestrial mapping systems. One of the main target of this study is to propose an integration of innovative and settled inquiring techniques, ranging from the reading of the technological system, to non-destructive tools for diagnosis and 3D metric modeling of buildings heritage. Many inquiring techniques, including Terrestrial Laser Scanner (TLS) method, have been exploited to study the main room of the Valentino Castle in Torino. The so-called “Salone delle Feste” (Hall of Honor), conceived in the XVIIth century under the guidance of Carlo di Castellamonte, has been selected as a test area. The beautiful frescos and stuccoes of the domical vault are sustained by a typical Delorme carpentry, whose span is among the largest of their kind. The dome suffered from degradation during the years, and a series of interventions were put into place. A survey has revealed that the suspender cables above the vault in the region close to the abutments have lost their tension. This may indicate an increase of the vault deformation; therefore a structural assessment of the dome is mandatory. The high detailed metric survey, carried out with integrated laser scanning and digital close range photogrammetry, reinforced the structural hypothesis of damages and revealed the deformation effects. In addition, the correlation between the survey-model of the intrados and of the extrados allowed a non-destructive and extensive determination of the dome thickness. The photogram-metrical survey of frescos, with the re-projection of images on vault surface model (texture mapping), is purposed to exactly localize former restorations and their signs on fresco continuity. The present paper illustrates the generation of the 3D high-resolution model and its relations with the results of the structural survey; both of them support the Finite Element numerical simulation of the dome

Initial Results from the LIGO Newtonian Calibrator

The precise calibration of the strain readout of the LIGO gravitational wave observatories is paramount to the accurate interpretation of gravitational wave events. This calibration is traditionally done by imparting a known force on the test masses of the observatory via radiation pressure. Here we describe the implementation of an alternative calibration scheme: the Newtonian Calibrator. This system uses a rotor consisting of both quadrupole and hexapole mass distributions to apply a time-varying gravitational force on one of the observatory's test masses. The force produced by this rotor can be predicted to $<1\%$ relative uncertainty and is well-resolved in the readout of the observatory. This system currently acts as a cross-check of the existing absolute calibration system

The Timing System of LIGO Discoveries

LIGO's mission critical timing system has enabled gravitational wave and multi-messenger astrophysical discoveries as well as the rich science extracted. Achieving optimal detector sensitivity, detecting transient gravitational waves, and especially localizing gravitational wave sources, the underpinning of multi-messenger astrophysics, all require proper gravitational wave data time-stamping. Measurements of the relative arrival times of gravitational waves between different detectors allow for coherent gravitational wave detections, localization of gravitational wave sources, and the creation of skymaps. The carefully designed timing system achieves these goals by mitigating phase noise to avoid signal up-conversion and maximize gravitational wave detector sensitivity. The timing system also redundantly performs self-calibration and self-diagnostics in order to ensure reliable, extendable, and traceable time stamping. In this paper, we describe and quantify the performance of these core systems during the latest O3 scientific run of LIGO, Virgo, and KAGRA. We present results of the diagnostic checks done to verify the time-stamping for individual gravitational wave events observed during O3 as well as the timing system performance for all of O3 in LIGO Livingston and LIGO Hanford. We find that, after 3 observing runs, the LIGO timing system continues to reliably meet mission requirements of timing precision below 1 $\mu$s with a significant safety margin.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figure

The US Program in Ground-Based Gravitational Wave Science: Contribution from the LIGO Laboratory

Recent gravitational-wave observations from the LIGO and Virgo observatories have brought a sense of great excitement to scientists and citizens the world over. Since September 2015,10 binary black hole coalescences and one binary neutron star coalescence have been observed. They have provided remarkable, revolutionary insight into the "gravitational Universe" and have greatly extended the field of multi-messenger astronomy. At present, Advanced LIGO can see binary black hole coalescences out to redshift 0.6 and binary neutron star coalescences to redshift 0.05. This probes only a very small fraction of the volume of the observable Universe. However, current technologies can be extended to construct "3rd Generation" (3G) gravitational-wave observatories that would extend our reach to the very edge of the observable Universe. The event rates over such a large volume would be in the hundreds of thousands per year (i.e. tens per hour). Such 3G detectors would have a 10-fold improvement in strain sensitivity over the current generation of instruments, yielding signal-to-noise ratios of 1000 for events like those already seen. Several concepts are being studied for which engineering studies and reliable cost estimates will be developed in the next 5 years

La Geomatica per il progetto di recupero e valorizzazione del Paraboloide di Casale

La Geomatica identifica oggi l'insieme delle discipline che riguardano i metodi e le tecniche del rilevamento e della rappresentazione del territorio, compresi quelli che, declinando le scale di rilievo, mirano ad analizzare e rappresentare gli elementi antropici e naturali che sul territorio insistono. Tra le discipline che supportano l'indagine dell'ambiente costruito, delle infrastrutture e dei beni culturali rimane come base per l'applicazione di altre tecniche la Topografia, ormai in buona parte trasformata nello scenario satellitare e che risulta sempre indispensabile per risolvere efficacemente le relazioni di posizione reciproca tra gli oggetti rilevati, la Fotogrammetria, ormai convertita alla natura digitale e quindi direzionata alla ricerca di maggiori automatismi, il LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging; o Laser Imaging Detection and Ranging), nelle sue diverse configurazioni, da sistemi in movimento (aereo, UAV, cioè da velivoli senza pilota) o stabili, in questi ultimi casi identificato con l'acronimo TLS (Terrestral laser scanner) che sono proprie di tutto lo scenario delle applicazioni sul patrimonio architettonico. La Cartografia, soprattutto quella a grandissima scala, è ormai prodotta e organizzata in forma numerica, derivata quindi dai database geografico/spaziali e comprendente anche le numerose forme raster, a partire dalle ortofoto sin ai prodotti contenenti l'informazione della terza dimensione (DEM - Digital Elevation Model). Vi sono alcuni aspetti di base dell'innovazione che caratterizza l'informazione spaziale che travalicano i confini tra la descrizione territoriale e quella dei manufatti. Si tratta ad esempio della terza dimensione: gran parte delle metodologie oggi impiegate, sia sul versante dell'acquisizione, che dell'elaborazione e della rappresentazione, presuppongono il trattamento di dati tridimensionali e la rappresentazione finale di modelli 3D. Si impiegano efficacemente nuove forme di rappresentazione nelle quali la componente tipicamente vettoriale viene fusa e armonizzata con la proiezione di ortofoto di derivazione fotogrammetrica, oppure più semplicemente di textures fotografiche metricamente controllate, con possibilità di offrire contenuti fotorealistici e interazione a differenti livelli. Il rilievo del Paraboloide di Casale è stato eseguito tramite tecnologia laser scanning, topografica e fotogrammetrica integrati. L'efficacia ormai riconosciuta al rilievo laser nei progetti di conservazione o restauro degli edifici è nel caso del Paraboloide di Casale intensificata da altre ragioni: il rilievo per scansioni laser è in grado di evidenziare ed enfatizzarre la forma, la volta sottile resistente per forma, in modo sicuramente più efficace rispetto ad altre tecniche di riliev

The thin concrete vault of the Paraboloide of Casale, Italy. Innovative methodologies for the survey, structural assessment and conservation interventions.

The former clinker warehouse, also known as the “Paraboloide” of Casale is an architectural symbol of the concrete Italian industrial heritage. The constructive technology and the structural shape of the thin concrete vault are comparable to the outstanding realizations achievements of the beginning of the XXth century, as for examples the works of E. Torroja and of P.L. Nervi. The metric survey has been achieved using high resolution terrestrial laser scanning technology (TLS), in order to obtain an accurate 3D model with uniform level of detail and precision, in addition to a continuous metric information for each portions and elements of the structure. This procedure allowed a proper reading of the structural typology of the building and the recognition of possible design and construction principles, essential for the conservation project. The laser survey was carried on both intrados and extrados of the huge parabolic vault, performing a high number of scan positions, located inside and along the outer limit of the building. The model processing has been mainly directed to the evaluation and control of geometrical features of the reinforced concrete membrane. The image texturing of the complex surfaces has been performed by the Focus 3D Faro integrated camera, with principal axis coaxial with laser ray. Some other photogrammetric stripes, focused on interesting portions of the structure, enabled to accomplish the detailed inquiries of the shape model with a materials decay analysis. The structural assessment combined a detailed finite element analysis. The analysis was performed with the software Diana (TNO, The Netherlands), accounting for smeared cracking and the presence of reinforcements. Finally, the paper summarizes the main criteria for interventions, according both to structural safety requirements and conservation prescriptions, enhancing the extraordinary innovative value of this particular cultural heritage

A novel, sequencing-free strategy for the functional characterization of Taenia solium proteomic fingerprint.

The flatworm Taenia solium causes human and pig cysticercosis. When cysticerci are established in the human central nervous system, they cause neurocysticercosis, a potentially fatal disease. Neurocysticercosis is a persisting public health problem in rural regions of Mexico and other developing countries of Latin America, Asia, and Africa, where the infection is endemic. The great variability observed in the phenotypic and genotypic traits of cysticerci result in a great heterogeneity in the patterns of molecules secreted by them within their host. This work is aimed to identify and characterize cysticercal secretion proteins of T. solium cysticerci obtained from 5 naturally infected pigs from Guerrero, Mexico, using 2D-PAGE proteomic analysis. The isoelectric point (IP) and molecular weight (MW) of the spots were identified using the software ImageMaster 2D Platinum v.7.0. Since most secreted proteins are impossible to identify by mass spectrometry (MS) due to their low concentration in the sample, a novel strategy to predict their sequence was applied. In total, 108 conserved and 186 differential proteins were identified in five cysticercus cultures. Interestingly, we predicted the sequence of 14 proteins that were common in four out of five cysticercus cultures, which could be used to design vaccines or diagnostic methods for neurocysticercosis. A functional characterization of all sequences was performed using the algorithms SecretomeP, SignalP, and BlastKOALA. We found a possible link between signal transduction pathways in parasite cells and human cancer due to deregulation in signal transduction pathways. Bioinformatics analysis also demonstrated that the parasite release proteins by an exosome-like mechanism, which could be of biological interest