Monitoring sealed automotive lead-acid batteries by sparse-impedance spectroscopy

A reliable diagnostics of lead-acid batteries would become mandatory with the induction of an improved power net and the increase of electrically assisted features in future automobiles. Sparse-impedance spectroscopic technique described in this paper estimates the internal resistance of sealed automotive lead-acid batteries in the frequency range 10 Hz-10 kHz, usually produced by the alternators fitted in the automobiles. The state-of-health of the battery could be monitored from its internal resistance

A Review on Microalgae Biofuel Production and use in CI Engine Applications

Alternative fuel technology of third-generation biofuels in place of conventional fossil fuels is currently being witnessed at a global level. Due to its sustainability and environmental friendliness, in recent years more importance is being given to biodiesel in CI engine applications. Recent trends show that microalgae are promoted as a bio-fuel due to their inherent advantages of abundant availability of oil sources and faster growth rate with ease of cultivation. Particular species of algae such as Chlorella, Botryococcus braunii, and Scenedesmus obliquus are conventionally favored for biodiesel production as they have a prominent amount of lipids content. This review outlines the current state of experimental investigations on the use of different algae biodiesel blends with diesel for CI engines. Amongst the different algae-based biodiesel, the dual Calophyllum Inophyllum methyl ester blend (CIME20) with DEE demonstrated the maximum brake thermal efficiency (BTE) and better brake-specific fuel consumption (BSFC) of CI engines. In terms of emissions, the CO, UBHC, and smoke levels are significantly lower for algae blends in contrast to neat diesel

Remote Monitoring of the Heart Condition of Athletes by Measuring the Cardiac Action Potential Propagation Time Using a Wireless Sensor Network

Highly performing athletes are susceptible to cardiac damage of several kinds which may be irreversible. The monitoring of heart rate and ECG waveforms from such subjects by wireless sensor networks has been reported in health and sports care documents. However, a more decisive parameter for instant to instant changes would be the time of Cardiac Action Potential Propagation. This time, which can be between 15-20 ms would shoot suddenly in acute stress in highly performing athletes for short durations. Repeated incidents of such rising values will tend to cause irreversible damage to the heart. We developed the technique of measuring this time and reporting it through a wireless sensor network to monitoring station

Racemic epinephrine compared to salbutamol in hospitalized young children with bronchiolitis; a randomized controlled clinical trial [ISRCTN46561076]

BACKGROUND: Bronchiolitis is the most common cause of lower respiratory tract illness in infancy, and hospital admission rates appear to be increasing in Canada and the United States. Inhaled beta agonists offer only modest short-term improvement. Trials of racemic epinephrine have shown conflicting results. We sought to determine if administration of racemic epinephrine during hospital stay for bronchiolitis improved respiratory distress, was safe, and shortened length of stay. METHODS: The study was a randomized, double-blind controlled trial of aerosolized racemic epinephrine compared to salbutamol every one to 4 hours in previously well children aged 6 weeks to ≤ 2 years of age hospitalized with bronchiolitis. The primary outcome was symptom improvement as measured by the Respiratory Distress Assessment Instrument (RDAI); secondary outcomes were length of stay in hospital, adverse events, and report of symptoms by structured parental telephone interview one week after discharge. RESULTS: 62 children with a mean age of 6.4 months were enrolled; 80% of children had Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV). Racemic epinephrine resulted in significant improvement in wheezing and the total RDAI score on day 2 and over the entire stay (p < 0.05). The mean LOS in the epinephrine arm was 2.6 days (95% CI 2, 3.2) v. 3.4 days in those in the salbutamol group (95% CI 2.6, 4.2) (p > 0.05). Adverse events were not significantly different in the two arms. At one week post-discharge, over half of parents reported that their child still had a respiratory symptom and 40% had less than normal feeding. CONCLUSION: Racemic epinephrine relieves respiratory distress in hospitalized infants with bronchiolitis and is safe but does not abbreviate hospital stay. Morbidity associated with bronchiolitis as identified by parents persists for at least one week after hospital discharge in most infants

Galvanostatic non-destructive characterization of alkaline silver-zinc cells

Alkaline silver-zinc cells of different capacity have been characterised by a galvanostatic non-destructive technique (GNDT). Cells with capacities between 10.6 and 58.5 Ah exhibit lower internal resistance than those with capacities between 1.7 and 5.8 Ah. From analysis of voltage-time transient data, it is concluded that only the cells with capacities between 10.6 and 58.5 Ah can sustain high-drain applications

Remote Monitoring of the Heart Condition of Athletes by Measuring the Cardiac Action Potential Propagation Time Using a Wireless Sensor Network

Highly performing athletes are susceptible to cardiac damage of several kinds which may be irreversible. The monitoring of heart rate and ECG waveforms from such subjects by wireless sensor networks has been reported in health and sports care documents. However, a more decisive parameter for instant to instant changes would be the time of Cardiac Action Potential Propagation. This time, which can be between 15-20 ms would shoot suddenly in acute stress in highly performing athletes for short durations. Repeated incidents of such rising values will tend to cause irreversible damage to the heart. We developed the technique of measuring this time and reporting it through a wireless sensor network to monitoring station

Nickel-based rechargeable batteries

Nickel–iron (Ni–Fe), nickel–cadmium (Ni–Cd), nickel–hydrogen $(Ni-H_2)$, nickel–metal hydride (Ni–MH) and nickel–zinc (Ni–Zn) batteries employ nickel oxide electrodes as the positive plates, and are hence, categorised as nickel-based batteries. This article highlights the operating principles and advances made in these battery systems during the recent years. In particular, significant improvements have been made in the Ni–MH batteries which are slowly capturing the market occupied by the ubiquitous Ni–Cd batteries

Effect of copper additive on Zr<SUB>0.9</SUB>Ti<SUB>0.1</SUB>V<SUB>0.2</SUB>Mn<SUB>0.6</SUB>Cr<SUB>0.05</SUB>Co<SUB>0.05</SUB>Ni<SUB>1.2</SUB> alloy anode for nickel-metal hydride batteries

Zr<SUB>1-x</SUB> Ti<SUB>x</SUB> V<SUB>0.2</SUB>Mn<SUB>0.6</SUB>Cr<SUB>0.05</SUB>Co<SUB>0.05</SUB>Ni<SUB>1.2</SUB> (0≤ x≤ 0.3) alloys have been characterized as metal-hydride electrodes for nickel-metal hydride batteries. Although the alloy electrodes with no Ti substitution in place of Zr exhibit a specific capacity value of 375 mA h g<SUP>-1</SUP>, it has been possible to enhance the specific capacity of the electrodes to 395 mA h g<SUP>-1</SUP> by substituting 10% Ti in place of Zr, that is, with Zr<SUB>0.9</SUB>Ti<SUB>0.1</SUB>V<SUB>0.2</SUB>Mn<SUB>0.6</SUB>Cr<SUB>0.05</SUB>Co<SUB>0.05</SUB>Ni<SUB>1.2</SUB> alloy. The specific capacity value of Zr<SUB>0.9</SUB>Ti<SUB>0.1</SUB>V<SUB>0.2</SUB>Mn<SUB>0.6</SUB>Cr<SUB>0.05</SUB>Co<SUB>0.05</SUB>Ni<SUB>1.2</SUB> alloy was further enhanced to 415 mA h g<SUP>-1</SUP> on copper powder addition. Interestingly, the discharge curves for the latter electrode are quite flat thus providing an advantage of constant specific energy output over the entire regime of electrode discharge. Both a.c. impedance and d.c. linear polarization studies conducted on these electrodes lead to a lower charge-transfer resistance value for the metal-hydride electrode with copper additive suggesting the electrode with copper powder additive to have a higher catalytic activity than those without copper. The electrode with the copper additive also exhibits little change in its capacity over about 100 charge-discharge cycles