Innovative BIPV rooftops: development, realization, and monitoring of 2 BIPV field tests in the Netherlands

Building Integrated PV (BIPV) is seen as strategy to realize the EU target of Nearly Zero Energy Buildings (NZEB’s), while at the same time creating an aesthetically acceptable built environment. This in contrast with Building Added PV (BAPV) of which the result is often seen as aesthetically unwelcome additions to new and existing building. BIPV might have some negative aspects considering lifespan and PV output besides the aesthetical positive effect. In this research project two field tests are realized to investigate the negative aspects of different BIPV solutions, focusing on the effect of back-string cooling of PV modules on PV electricity output, relative humidity and lifespan. These aspects are seen as possible bottlenecks for large-scale acceptance of BIPV in society and the design, realization and monitoring of these field tests can contribute to an increased implementation of BIPV through improved BIPV solutions

Improving Lifelong Learning by Fostering Students' Learning Strategies at University

The foundation of how students usually learn is laid early in their academic lives. However, many or even most students do not primarily rely on those learning strategies that are most favorable from a scientific point of view. To change students' learning behavior when they start their university education, we developed a computer-based adaptive learning environment to train favorable learning strategies and change students' habits using them. This learning environment pursues three main goals: acquiring declarative and conditional knowledge about learning strategies, consolidating that knowledge, and applying these learning strategies in practice. In this report, we describe four experimental studies conducted to optimize this learning environment (n = 336). With those studies, we improved the learning environment with respect to how motivating it is, investigated an efficient way to consolidate knowledge, and explored how to facilitate the formation of effective implementation intentions for applying learning strategies and changing learning habits. Our strategy-training module is implemented in the curriculum for freshman students at the Department of Psychology, University of Freiburg (Germany). Around 120 students take part in our program every year. An open version of this training intervention is freely available to everyone

Site-Dilution in quasi one-dimensional antiferromagnet Sr2(Cu1-xPdx)O3: reduction of Neel Temperature and spatial distribution of ordered moment sizes

We investigate the Neel temperature of Sr2CuO3 as a function of the site dilution at the Cu (S=1/2) sites with Pd (S=0), utilizing the muon spin relaxation (muSR) technique. The Neel temperature, which is Tn=5.4K for the undoped system, becomes significantly reduced for less than one percent of doping Pd, giving a support for the previous proposal for the good one-dimensionality. The Pd concentration dependence of the Neel temperature is compared with a recent theoretical study (S. Eggert, I. Affleck and M.D.P. Horton, Phys. Rev. Lett. 89, 47202 (2002)) of weakly coupled one-dimensional antiferromagnetic chains of S=1/2 spins, and a quantitative agreement is found. The inhomogeneity of the ordered moment sizes is characterized by the muSR time spectra. We propose a model that the ordered moment size recovers away from the dopant S=0 sites with a recovery length of \xi = 150-200 sites. The origin of the finite recovery length \xi for the gapless S=1/2 antiferromagnetic chain is compared to the estimate based on the effective staggered magnetic field from the neighboring chains.Comment: 10 pages, 9 figures, submitted to PR

Bedrijfssystemen-onderzoek vollegrondsgroenten te Westmaas : evaluatie 1991 - 1995

Vergelijking bedrijfssystemen op proefbedrijf in de Hoekse Waar

F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography combined with CT in critically ill patients with suspected infection

Contains fulltext : 88623.pdf (publisher's version ) (Closed access)PURPOSE: To assess the value of F-18-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) combined with CT in critically ill patients suspected of having an infection. METHODS: FDG-PET CT scans requested for evaluation of a suspected infection or inflammatory process in critically ill, mechanically ventilated patients were analyzed (blinded for the final clinical diagnosis) and compared with clinical follow-up. RESULTS: Thirty-five FDG-PET/CT scans performed in 33 ICU patients (28 adults and 5 children), median age 58 years (range 1 month-72 years), were analyzed. Twenty-one FDG-PET/CT scans were true positive. Three FDG-PET/CT scans were considered false positive, in one case leading to additional diagnostic procedures (specificity 79%). Additionally, 11 true negatives were found (sensitivity 100%), leading to an overall accuracy of 91%. CONCLUSIONS: FDG-PET/CT scanning is of additional value in the evaluation of suspected infection in critically ill patients in whom conventional diagnostics did not lead to a diagnosis. Apart from the high accuracy, in this study it appeared that, in addition to conventional diagnostic techniques that were routinely performed, a normal FDG-PET/CT ruled out important infections requiring prolonged antibiotic therapy or drainage. Since sensitivity is lower in highly metabolic active tissues (e.g., endocarditis, meningitis), the FDG-PET/CT scan is not suited to detect infections in these tissues.01 maart 201

Muon Spin Relaxation Studies of Magnetic-Field-Induced Effects in High-TcT_{c} Superconductors

Muon spin relaxation ($\mu$SR) measurements in high transverse magnetic fields ($\parallel \hat c$) revealed strong field-induced quasi-static magnetism in the underdoped and Eu doped (La,Sr)$_{2}$CuO$_{4}$ and La$_{1.875}$Ba$_{0.125}$CuO$_{4}$, existing well above $T_{c}$ and $T_{N}$. The susceptibility-counterpart of Cu spin polarization, derived from the muon spin relaxation rate, exhibits a divergent behavior towards $T \sim 25$ K. No field-induced magnetism was detected in overdoped La$_{1.81}$Sr$_{0.19}$CuO$_{4}$, optimally doped Bi2212, and Zn-doped YBa$_{2}$Cu$_{3}$O$_{7}$.Comment: 4 pages, 4 color figure

Progression and individual differences in children's series completion after dynamic testing

Background The need to focus more on children's abilities to change requires new assessment technologies in education. Process-oriented assessment can be useful in this regard. Dynamic testing has the potential to provide in-depth information about children's learning processes and cognitive abilities.Aim This study implemented a process-oriented dynamic testing procedure to obtain information regarding children's changes in series-completion skills in a computerised test setting. We studied whether children who received a graduated prompts training would show more progression in series-completion than children who received no training, and whether trained children would use more advanced explanations of their solutions than their untrained peers.Sample Participants were 164 second-grade children with a mean age of 7;11 years. Children were split into an unguided practice or a dynamic testing condition.Methods The study employed a pre-test-training-post-test design. Half of the children were trained in series-completion, and the other half did not receive any feedback on their problem solving. Using item response theory analysis, we inspected the progression paths of the children in the two conditions.Results and conclusions Children who received training showed more progression in their series-completion skills than the children who received no training. In addition, the trained children explained their solutions in a more advanced manner, when compared with the non-trained control group. This information is valuable for educational practice as it provides a better understanding of how learning occurs and which factors contribute to cognitive changes.Pathways through Adolescenc

Muon Spin Relaxation and Susceptibility Studies of Pure and Doped Spin 1/2 Kagom\'{e}-like system (Cux_xZn1−x_{1-x})3_{3}V2_{2}O7_7(OH)2_{2} 2H2_2O

Muon spin relaxation ($\mu$SR) and magnetic susceptibility measurements have been performed on the pure and diluted spin 1/2 kagom\'{e} system (Cu$_x$Zn$_{1-x}$)$_{3}$V$_{2}$O$_7$(OH)$_{2}$ 2H$_2$O. In the pure $x=1$ system we found a slowing down of Cu spin fluctuations with decreasing temperature towards $T \sim 1$ K, followed by slow and nearly temperature-independent spin fluctuations persisting down to $T$ = 50 mK, indicative of quantum fluctuations. No indication of static spin freezing was detected in either of the pure ($x$=1.0) or diluted samples. The observed magnitude of fluctuating fields indicates that the slow spin fluctuations represent an intrinsic property of kagom\'e network rather than impurity spins.Comment: 4 pges, 4 color figures, Phys. Rev. Lett. in pres

What kind of heat loss requirements NZEB and deep renovation sets for building envelope?

In most of countries the energy performance of buildings is defined as (primary) energy use of whole buildingâ s (heating, cooling, ventilation, DHW, lighting, HVAC auxiliary, appliances), not as specific requirements for building envelope. For construction companies of production of modular renovation panels it in necessary to know heat loss properties of building envelope (U, W/(m2â K); ï , W/(mâ K); ï £, W/K; q50, m3/(hâ m2)). In this study it is analyzed what kind of heat loss requirements exists for building envelope to meet on annual basis to following targets: nZEB i.e. national nearly zero energy definition; deep energy renovation with 80 % reduction of primary energy; ZEB i.e. net Zero Energy Building = the annual primary energy use = 0 kWh/(m² a). Indoor climate and energy calculations were made based on national energy calculation methodologies in six countries: Denmark, Estonia, Latvia, Czech Republic, Portugal, and Netherlands. Requirements for heat loss of building envelope vary depending on requirements on indoor climate and energy performance in specific country, outdoor climate, availability of renewable energy, and building typology. The thermal transmittance of the modular wall panels for nZEB was â 5% from pre renovation thermal transmittance in Latvia, â 10% in Estonia and up to 50% in Portugal. For roof the decrease of thermal transmittance was smaller mainly due to smaller thermal transmittance before renovation. Results show the difficulties to reach ZEB with multi-story apartment buildings in cold climate. There are not enough places to install renewables for energy production on site.The study has been conducted in the projects H2020 MoreConnect, TK146 the Estonian Centre of Excellence in Zero Energy and Resource Efficient Smart Buildings and Districts, ZEBE, IUT1−15 Nearly-zero energy solutions and their implementation on deep renovation of buildings