The Simulation of Electret Effect in Zn0.7Cd0.3S Layers

The regularities of the dark discharge in ionic contact mode as well as of the thermoelectret effect have been investigated for Zn0.7Cd0.3S layers. The peculiarities of electret charge formation as well as the electret voltage dependences on poling electric field, polarisation time and temperature have been analysed in Zn0.7Cd0.3S layers during the present work. The model of space charge accumulation have been proposed

Relationship between Depressive Symptoms and Weather Conditions

Background: Weather is a well-known factor worldwide in psychiatric problems such as depression, with the elderly and females being particularly susceptible. The aim of this study was to detect associations between the risk of depressive symptoms (DS) and weather variables. Methods: 6937 participants were assessed in the baseline survey of the Health Alcohol Psychosocial Factors in Eastern Europe (HAPIEE) study during 2006–2008. To assess the risk of DS, a multivariate logistic model was created with predictors such as socio-demographic factors, health behaviors, and weather variables. Results: DS were found in 23.4% of the respondents, in 15.6% of males and in 29.9% in females. A higher risk of DS (by 25%) was associated with November–December, a rising wind speed, and relative humidity (RH) 14.2◦ C) predominant during May–September had a protective impact. A higher risk of DS in males was associated with lower atmospheric pressure (<1009 hPa) 2 days before. Females were more sensitive to the monthly variation, snowfall, and RH. Conclusions: The findings of our study suggest that some levels of weather variables have a statistically significant effect on DS

The simultaneous synthesis of hydrogen-rich gas and oxidation of fine metal particles in water vapour plasma

Atmospheric pressure water vapor plasma technology was developed, tested and implemented for the experimental research of fuel conversion processes. The present study offers a methodology for production of hydrogen-rich gas and additional deposition of small metal oxide dispersed particles by the employment of nonequilibrium water vapour arc plasma at atmospheric pressure. The results of the present study enables constructing a specific device which allows a highly efficient production of the synthetic gas containing an increased amount of hydrogen and its use in the production of second generation fuels. The injection of copper dispersed particles causes the oxidation and removal of dissociated oxygen and simultaneous synthesis of fine particles. The relation between the yield of hydrogen in an exhaust gaseous product, the arc current, particle material, and water vapor flow rate in the plasma torch was determined.Разработана, испытана и внедрена плазменная технология атмосферного давления водяного пара для экспериментального исследования процессов преобразования топлив. Данное исследование представляет метод для производства обогащенного водородом синтез-газа, а также одновременное осаждение дисперсных частиц окиси металла при использовании атмосферного давления неравновесной электродуговой плазмы водяного пара. Результаты исследования позволяют создать установку для высокоэффективного производства синтетического газа, содержащего повышенное количество водорода, для его использования в производстве второго поколения топлив. Исследования показали, что введение в плазменный поток дисперсных частиц меди вызывает их окисление и удаление диссоциированного кислорода. Установлено, что существует связь между выходом водорода в выхлопных газах, силой тока дуги, материалом частиц и паров, расходом потока через плазмотрон.Розроблена, випробувана і впроваджена плазмова технологія атмосферного тиску водяної пари для експериментального дослідження процесів перетворення палива. Дане дослідження представляє метод для виробництва збагаченого воднем синтез-газу, а також одночасне осадження дисперсних частинок окису металу при використанні атмосферного тиску нерівноважної електродугової плазми водяної пари. Результати дослідження дозволяють створити обладняння для високоефективного виробництва синтетичного газу, що містить підвищену кількість водню, для використання його у виробництві другого покоління палив. Дослідження показали, що введення в плазмовий потік дисперсних частинок міді викликає їх окислення та видалення дисоційованого кисню. Встановлено, що існує зв'язок між виходом водню у вихлопних газах, силою струму дуги, матеріалом частинок і парів, витратами потоку через плазмотрон

Electrically Switchable Photonic Molecule Laser

We have studied the coherent intercavity coupling of the evanescent fields of the whispering gallery modes of two terahertz quantum-cascade lasers implemented as microdisk cavities. The electrically pumped single-mode operating microcavities allow to electrically control the coherent mode coupling for proximity distances of the cavities up to 30-40 \mu\m. The optical emission of the strongest coupled photonic molecule can be perfectly switched by the electrical modulation of only one of the coupled microdisks. The threshold characteristics of the strongest coupled photonic molecule demonstrates the linear dependence of the gain of a quantum-cascade laser on the applied electric field.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

The interactions and trade-offs of sovereign Credit Default SWAP (CDS) and bond spreads in a dynamic context

This study provides a dynamic analysis of the lead-lag relationship between sovereign Credit Default Swap (CDS) and bond spreads of the highly indebted southern European countries, considering an extensive time sample from the period before the global financial crisis to the latest developments of the sovereign indebtedness in the euro area. We employ an integrated price discovery methodology on a rolling sample, with the intention to shed light on whether the CDS spreads can trigger rises in bond spreads, and the relative efficiency of credit risk pricing in the CDS and bond markets. In addition, we attempt to depict the evolution of the price discovery process regarding the direction of influence from one market to the other. The rolling window analysis verifies that the price discovery process evolves over time, presenting frequent alternations concerning the leading market. We find that during periods of economic turbulence the CDS market leads the bond market in price discovery, incorporating the new information about sovereign credit risk faster and more efficiently than the bond market does. This regularity should be seriously considered by private and public participants as they make investment and funding decisions. Therefore, the motivation of our paper is to identify the dominant market in terms of price discovery during a period of economic turmoil and, thus, to provide insights for decision making to investment bodies and central governments

Catalysts based on Co-Birnessite and Co-Todorokite for the efficient production of hydrogen by ethanol steam reforming

[EN] Two structured manganese oxides (Birnessite and Todorokite) containing Co have been studied in the steam reforming of ethanol. It has been found that both materials are active in the hydrogen production, exhibiting high values of conversion of ethanol and selectivities to hydrogen (100% and 70%, respectively). The best results have been obtained with the catalyst based on Todorokite material. Characterization by DRX, BET area, TPR and TEM has allowed to find that the excellent performance exhibited by this material could be attributed to the lower size of the Co metallic particles present in this sample (6 nm vs 12 nm in Birnessite). This lower size could be related to the especial microporous structure of Todorokite precursor, which could provide high-quality positions for the stabilization of the Co metal particles during calcination and reduction steps. Catalytic deactivation has also been considered. Deactivation was found higher for Todorokite-based catalyst, which presented the largest amount of deposited carbon (26.2 wt% for Co-TOD vs 10.6 wt% for Co-BIR). On the other hand, the degree of metal sintering was found similar in both catalysts. Therefore, the deactivation of the catalysts has been attributed primarily to the deposition of coke. The results presented here show that it is possible to prepare new catalysts based on manganese oxides with Birnessite and Todorokite structure and promoted with Co with high catalytic performance in the steam reforming of ethanol. (C) 2017 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.The doctor Javier Francisco Da Costa Serra acknowledges the CSIC for granted the scholarship predoctoral-JAE-CSIC. Moreover, Electronic Microscopy Service of UPV for TEM images.Da Costa Serra, JF.; Chica, A. (2018). Catalysts based on Co-Birnessite and Co-Todorokite for the efficient production of hydrogen by ethanol steam reforming. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy. 43(35):16859-16865. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijhydene.2017.12.114S1685916865433