Flexible fiber batteries for applications in smart textiles

Here we discuss two alternative approaches for building flexible batteries for applications in smart textiles. The first approach uses well-studied inorganic electrochemistry (Al-NaOCl galvanic cell) and innovative packaging in order to produce batteries in a slender and flexible fiber form that can be further weaved directly into the textiles. During fabrication process the battery electrodes are co-drawn within a microstructured polymer fiber, which is later filled with liquid electrolyte. The second approach describes Li-ion chemistry within solid polymer electrolytes that are used to build a fully solid and soft rechargeable battery that can be furthermore stitched onto a textile, or integrated as stripes during weaving process

“CORE” auto-evaluación y satisfacción por la vida y el deporte

We investigated the association between Core Self-Evaluations (CSE) and life and sport satisfaction to assess whether the Core Self-Evaluations scale was a better predictor of life satisfaction or sport satisfaction. The study included three hundred and thirteen athletes (231 men and 82 women; age range to 47 years (Mage=22.9 years, SDage=5.9 years)). Participants completed the French language version of the CSE scale, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the Satisfaction with Sport Scale. As demonstrated in previous studies, life satisfaction and sport satisfaction were highly correlated. Path analyses showed that CSE was a strong predictor of life and sport satisfaction when integrated in a structural equation model. In a combined structural model, CSE predicted 39% and 13% of the variance in life satisfaction and sport satisfaction, respectively. The results suggest that CSE is a good predictor of life satisfaction. The results are discussed in the theoretical context of CSE, life satisfaction, and sport satisfaction.Se examinan las relaciones entre el Core self-evaluation (CSE) y satisfacción de vida y al deporte para comprobar si el Core self-evaluation era un buen predictor para la satisfación de la vida y el deporte. Participaron en el estudio trescientos trece atletas (231 hombres y 82 mujeres) con una edad que va de 17 a 47 años (M=22.9, SD =5.9). Los participantes completaron la versión francesa del CSE, las escalas de satisfacción con la vida y la escala de satisfacción con el deporte. De acuerdo con los estudios anteriores, la satisfacción de vida y satisfacción del deporte estuvieron altamente correlacionadas. Los análisis de modelos de ecuaciones estructurales demostraron que el CSE era un buen predictor de satisfacción con la vida y el deporte. Una combinación de diferentes modelos estructurales informó que el CSE predecía el 39% de satisfacción de vida y el 13% de la de satisfacción de deporte respectivamente. Los resultados del estudio presente sugieren que CSE es un buen predictor de la satisfacción a la vida. Se discuten los resultados en el ámbito teórico del CSE y la satisfacción de la vida, incluyendo la satisfacción por el deporte

An Alternative Nonlinear Lyapunov Redesign Velocity Controller for an Electrohydraulic Drive

This research aims at developing control law strategies that improve the performances and the robustness of electrohydraulic servosystems (EHSS) operation while considering easy implementation. To address the strongly nonlinear nature of the EHSS, a number of control algorithms based on backstepping approach is intensively used in the literature. The main contribution of this paper is to consider an alternative approach to synthetize a Lyapunov redesign nonlinear EHSS velocity controller. The proposed control law design is based on an appropriate choice of the control lyapunov function (clf), the extension of the Sontag formula and the construction of a nonlinear observer. The clf includes all the three system variable states in a positive define function. The Sontag formula is used in the time derivative of our clf in order to ensure an asymptotic stabilizing controller for regulating and tracking objectives. A nonlinear observer is developed in order to bring to the proposed controller the estimated values of the first and the second time output derivatives. The design, the tuning implementation and the performances of the proposed controller are compared to those of its equivalent backstepping controller. It is shown that the proposed controller is easier to design with simple implementation tuning while the backstepping controller has several complex design steps and implementation tuning issue. Moreover, the best performances especially under disturbance in the viscous damping are achieved with the proposed controller

Multijunction photovoltaics: integrating III–V semiconductor heterostructures on silicon

International audienceGallium arsenide phosphide nitride shows promise for developing highefficiency tandem solar cells on low-cost silicon substrate

Sarcopenia: European consensus on definition and diagnosis: Report of the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People

The European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP) developed a practical clinical definition and consensus diagnostic criteria for age-related sarcopenia. EWGSOP included representatives from four participant organisations, i.e. the European Geriatric Medicine Society, the European Society for Clinical Nutrition and Metabolism, the International Association of Gerontology and Geriatrics—European Region and the International Association of Nutrition and Aging. These organisations endorsed the findings in the final document. The group met and addressed the following questions, using the medical literature to build evidence-based answers: (i) What is sarcopenia? (ii) What parameters define sarcopenia? (iii) What variables reflect these parameters, and what measurement tools and cut-off points can be used? (iv) How does sarcopenia relate to cachexia, frailty and sarcopenic obesity? For the diagnosis of sarcopenia, EWGSOP recommends using the presence of both low muscle mass + low muscle function (strength or performance). EWGSOP variously applies these characteristics to further define conceptual stages as ‘presarcopenia', ‘sarcopenia' and ‘severe sarcopenia'. EWGSOP reviewed a wide range of tools that can be used to measure the specific variables of muscle mass, muscle strength and physical performance. Our paper summarises currently available data defining sarcopenia cut-off points by age and gender; suggests an algorithm for sarcopenia case finding in older individuals based on measurements of gait speed, grip strength and muscle mass; and presents a list of suggested primary and secondary outcome domains for research. Once an operational definition of sarcopenia is adopted and included in the mainstream of comprehensive geriatric assessment, the next steps are to define the natural course of sarcopenia and to develop and define effective treatmen

“CORE” auto-evaluación y satisfacción por la vida y el deporte

We investigated the association between Core Self-Evaluations (CSE) and life and sport satisfaction to assess whether the Core Self-Evaluations scale was a better predictor of life satisfaction or sport satisfaction. The study included three hundred and thirteen athletes (231 men and 82 women; age range to 47 years (Mage=22.9 years, SDage=5.9 years)). Participants completed the French language version of the CSE scale, the Satisfaction with Life Scale, and the Satisfaction with Sport Scale. As demonstrated in previous studies, life satisfaction and sport satisfaction were highly correlated. Path analyses showed that CSE was a strong predictor of life and sport satisfaction when integrated in a structural equation model. In a combined structural model, CSE predicted 39% and 13% of the variance in life satisfaction and sport satisfaction, respectively. The results suggest that CSE is a good predictor of life satisfaction. The results are discussed in the theoretical context of CSE, life satisfaction, and sport satisfaction.Se examinan las relaciones entre el Core self-evaluation (CSE) y satisfacción de vida y al deporte para comprobar si el Core self-evaluation era un buen predictor para la satisfación de la vida y el deporte. Participaron en el estudio tres-cientos trece atletas (231 hombres y 82 mujeres) con una edad que va de 17 a 47 años (M=22.9, SD =5.9). Los participantes completaron la versión francesa del CSE, las escalas de satisfacción con la vida y la escala de satisfacción con el deporte. De acuerdo con los estudios anteriores, la satisfacción de vida y satisfacción del deporte estuvieron altamente correlacionadas. Los análisis de modelos de ecuaciones estructurales demostraron que el CSE era un buen predictor de satisfacción con la vida y el deporte. Una combinación de diferentes modelos estructurales informó que el CSE predecía el 39% de satisfacción de vida y el 13% de la de satisfacción de deporte respectivamente. Los resultados del estudio presente sugieren que CSE es un buen predictor de la satisfacción a la vida. Se discuten los resultados en el ámbito teórico del CSE y la satisfacción de la vida, incluyendo la satisfacción por el deporte

Design of a lattice-matched III-V-N/Si photovoltaic tandem cell monolithically integrated on silicon substrate

International audienceIn this paper, we present a comprehensive study of high efficiencies tandem solar cells monolithically grown on a silicon substrate using GaAsPN absorber layer. InGaAs(N) quantum dots and GaAsPN quantum wells have been grown recently on GaP/Si susbstrate for applications related to light emission. For photovoltaic applications, we consider the GaAsPN diluted nitride alloy as the top junction material due to both its perfect lattice matching with Si and ideal bandgap energy for current generation in association with the Si bottom cell. Numerical simulation of the top cell is performed. The effect of layer thicknesses and doping on the cell efficiency are evidenced. In these structures a tunnel junction (TJ) is needed to interconnect both the top and bottom sub-cells. We compare the simulated performances of different TJ structures and show that the GaP(n+)/Si(p+) TJ is promising to improve performances of the current-voltage characteristic

Effects of Process Parameters on an Inverse Concentrated Miniemulsion Flowing in a Microchannel

Emulsions are of great industrial interest due to their wide variety and end‐use properties. Microfluidics systems provide excellent control of transport phenomena. Hence, the influence of operating parameters on a concentrated inverse miniemulsion flowing in a microfluidic system was investigated. The feasibility of maintaining the emulsion in a microfluidic device was clearly demonstrated and the associated operating domain identified. Due to its influence on rheology, the effect of temperature on the droplet size distribution was quantified. Under specific conditions, a mass transfer phenomenon between the train of water drops and the smallest droplets of the emulsion was found, potentially explained by a difference in osmotic pressure between the two aqueous phases

First Detection of Mycobacterium ulcerans DNA in Environmental Samples from South America

The occurrences of many environmentally-persistent and zoonotic infections are driven by ecosystem changes, which in turn are underpinned by land-use modifications that alter the governance of pathogen, biodiversity and human interactions. Our current understanding of these ecological changes on disease emergence however remains limited. Buruli ulcer is an emerging human skin disease caused by the mycobacterium, Mycobacterium ulcerans, for which the exact route of infection remains unclear. It can have a devastating impact on its human host, causing extensive necrosis of the skin and underlying tissue, often leading to permanent disability. The mycobacterium is associated with tropical aquatic environments and incidences of the disease are significantly higher on floodplains and where there is an increase of human aquatic activities. Although the disease has been previously diagnosed in South America, until now the presence of M. ulcerans DNA in the wild has only been identified in Australia where there have been significant outbreaks and in western and central regions of Africa where the disease is persistent. Here for the first time, we have identified the presence of the aetiological agent's DNA in environmental samples from South America. The DNA was positively identified using Real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) on 163 environmental samples, taken from 23 freshwater bodies in French Guiana (Southern America), using primers for both IS2404 and for the ketoreductase-B domain of the M. ulcerans mycolactone polyketide synthase genes (KR). Five samples out of 163 were positive for both primers from three different water bodies. A further nine sites had low levels of IS2404 close to a standard CT of 35 and could potentially harbour M. ulcerans. The majority of our positive samples (8/14) came from filtered water. These results also reveal the Sinnamary River as a potential source of infection to humans. © 2014 Morris et al