Electric road vehicles - overview, concepts and research at Reutlingen university

The paper details the architecture of fully electrified vehicles as well as their new electronic systems. Examples of up-to-date electrical passenger cars are given. A very important question, that is the environmental foot-print of electrical vehicles compared to conventional ones, is examined. A research project is introduced where a fleet of two-wheeled vehicles is available for day-to-day use. Research on vehicles, software for fleet management and battery range prediction is described.В данной статье привeдены подробные сведения о принципе работы электрифицированных транспортных средств, а также описаны их новые электрические системы. Показан примеры уже существующих электрических пассажирских транспортных средств. Рассмотрено влияние электрифицированного транспорта на окружающую среду в сравнении с обычными видами транспорта. Приведен проект исследований, в рамках которого для ежедневного использования существует парк двух колесных электрифицированных транспортных средств. Описаны исследования, непосредственно связанные с электрифицированным транспортом, определением точного времени разряда батареи, а также программным обеспечением, позволяющим управлять парком таких транспортных средств.У статті наведено докладні відомості щодо принципів роботи електрифікованих транспортних засобів, а також описано їх нові електричні системи. Показано приклади вже існуючих електричних пасажирських транспортних засобів. Розглянуто вплив електрифікованого транспорту на навколишнє середовище у порівнянні із звичайними видами транспорту. На- ведено проект досліджень, у рамках якого існує парк двоколісних електрифікованих транспортних засобів для щоденного використання. Описано дослідження, безпосередньо пов'язані із електрифікованим транспортом, визначенням точного часу розряду батареї, а також програмним забезпеченням, що дозволяє керувати парком таких транспортних засобів

Micro-mechanical sensor for the spectral decomposition of acoustic signals

An array of electret-biased frequency-selective resonant microelectromechanical system (MEMS) acoustic sensors was proposed to perform analysis of stress pulses created during an impact between two materials. This analysis allowed classification of the stiffness of the materials involved in the impact without applying post-impact signal processing. Arrays of resonant MEMS sensors provided filtering of the incident stress pulse and subsequent binning of time-domain waveforms into frequency-based spectra. Results indicated that different impact conditions and materials yielded different spectral characteristics. These characteristics, as well as the resulting sensor array responses, are discussed and applied to impact classification. Each individual sensor element in the array was biased by an in situ charged electret film. A microplasma discharge apparatus embedded within the microsensor allowed charging of the electret film after all device fabrication was complete. This enabled electret film integration using high-temperature surface micromachining processes that would typically lead to discharge of traditionally formed electret materials. This also eliminated the traditional wafer-bonding and post-fabrication assembly processes required in conventional electret integration approaches. The microplasma discharge process and resulting electret performance are discussed within the context of the MEMS acoustic sensor array.Ph.D.Committee Chair: Allen, Mark; Committee Member: Brand, Oliver; Committee Member: Michaels, Jennifer; Committee Member: Michaels, Thomas; Committee Member: Ready, Jud W

Benchmarking high fidelity single-shot readout of semiconductor qubits

Determination of qubit initialisation and measurement fidelity is important for the overall performance of a quantum computer. However, the method by which it is calculated in semiconductor qubits varies between experiments. In this paper we present a full theoretical analysis of electronic single-shot readout and describe critical parameters to achieve high fidelity readout. In particular, we derive a model for energy selective state readout based on a charge detector response and examine how to optimise the fidelity by choosing correct experimental parameters. Although we focus on single electron spin readout, the theory presented can be applied to other electronic readout techniques in semiconductors that use a reservoir.Comment: 19 pages, 8 figure

Dark matter within high surface brightness spiral galaxies

We present results from a detailed dynamical analysis of five high surface brightness, late type spirals, studied with the aim to quantify the luminous-to-dark matter ratio inside their optical radii. The galaxies' stellar light distribution and gas kinematics have been observed and compared to hydrodynamic gas simulations, which predict the 2D gas dynamics arising in response to empirical gravitational potentials, which are combinations of differing stellar disk and dark halo contributions. The gravitational potential of the stellar disk was derived from near-infrared photometry, color-corrected to constant (M/L); the dark halo was modelled by an isothermal sphere with a core. Hydrodynamic gas simulations were performed for each galaxy for a sequence of five different mass fractions of the stellar disk and for a wide range of spiral pattern speeds. These two parameters mainly determine the modelled gas distribution and kinematics. The agreement between the non-axisymmetric part of the simulated and observed gas kinematics permitted us to conclude that the galaxies with the highest rotation velocities tend to possess near-maximal stellar disks. In less massive galaxies, with v_max<200 km/s, the mass of the dark halo at least equals the stellar mass within 2-3 R_disk. The simulated gas morphology provides a powerful tool to determine the dominant spiral pattern speed. The corotation radius for all galaxies was found to be constant at R_corotation ~ 3 R_disk and encloses the strong part of the stellar spiral in all cases.Comment: 28 pages, 7 figures; to appear in the Astrophysical Journal, Vol. 586, March 200

Intake Levels of Fish in the UK Paediatric Population

The United Kingdom (UK) is an island and its culture, including diet, is heavily influenced by the maritime resources. Dietary guidance in the UK recommends intake of fish, which provides important nutrients, such as long-chain omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (n-3 PUFA). This study was designed to describe the fish intake habits of UK children using a nationally representative sample. Dietary and socio-demographic data of children 2–18 (N = 2096) in the National Diet and Nutrition Survey Rolling Program (NDNS) Years 1–4 (2008–2012) were extracted. Average nutrient and food intakes were estimated. Logistic regression models were used to predict the meeting of fish intake recommendations, controlling for age, sex, income, total energy intake, and survey year. All analyses were conducted using survey routines and dietary survey weights. In this nationally representative study, 4.7% of children met the fish and 4.5% the oily fish intake recommendations; only 1.3% of the population met both recommendations. Fish intake levels did not significantly change with children’s increasing age. Higher vegetable but lower meat consumption predicted meeting the fish intake recommendations, indicating that children eating fish have better diet quality than non-consumers. Further research is needed to explore how intake behaviours can be changed to improve children’s diet quality.N.R.V.J. and P.M. were supported by the Centre for Diet and Activity Research (CEDAR), a UKCRC Public Health Research Centre of Excellence. Funding from the British Heart Foundation, Cancer Research UK, Economic and Social Research Council, Medical Research Council, the National Institute for Health Research, and the Wellcome Trust, under the auspices of the UK Clinical Research Collaboration, is gratefully acknowledged. The funders had no role in the design or conduct of the study or the writing of the manuscript. This research received no specific grant from any funding agency, commercial or not-for-profit sectors

Effects of non-invasive brain stimulation in multiple sclerosis: systematic review and meta-analysis

Objective: The objective of this meta-analysis was to summarize evidence on the therapeutic effects of non-invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) on core symptoms of multiple sclerosis (MS). Specifically, findings from studies deploying transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) and repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) protocols were summarized in this review. Methods: We systematically searched articles published in four databases, until 31 May 2021, which compared the effects of active tDCS or rTMS with sham intervention in MS patients. We used a random-effects model for this meta-analysis. Meta-regression and subgroup meta-analysis were used to examine the effects of stimulation dose and different stimulation protocols, respectively. Results: Twenty-five randomized controlled trials (RCTs) were included in this review, consisting of 19 tDCS and 6 rTMS studies. tDCS led to a significant and immediate reduction of fatigue with a large effect size (Hedges’s g = −0.870, 95% confidence intervals (CI) = [−1.225 to −0.458], number needed to treat (NNT) = 2). Particularly, a subgroup analysis showed that applying tDCS over the left DLPFC and bilateral S1 led to fatigue reductions compared to sham stimulation. Furthermore, tDCS had favorable effects on fatigue in MS patients with low physical disability but not those with high physical disability, and additionally improved cognitive function. Finally, whereas rTMS was observed to reduce muscle spasticity, these NIBS protocols showed no further effect on MS-associated pain and mood symptoms. Conclusion: tDCS in MS alleviates fatigue and improves cognitive function whereas rTMS reduces muscle spasticity. More high-quality studies are needed to substantiate the therapeutic effects of different NIBS protocols in MS