Thermochemical conversion of Brewers Spent Grain combined with catalytic reforming of pyrolysis vapours

The brewing process is an energy intensive process that uses large quantities of heat and electricity. To produce this energy requires a high, mainly fossil fuel consumption and the cost of this is increasing each year due to rising fuel costs. One of the main by-products from the brewing process is Brewers Spent Grain (BSG), an organic residue with very high moisture content. It is widely available each year and is often given away as cattle feed or disposed of to landfill as waste. Currently these methods of disposal are also costly to the brewing process. The focus of this work was to investigate the energy potential of BSG via pyrolysis, gasification and catalytic steam reforming, in order to produce a tar-free useable fuel gas that can be combusted in a CHP plant to develop heat and electricity. The heat and electricity can either be used on site or exported. The first stage of this work was the drying and pre-treatment of BSG followed by characterisation to determine its basic composition and structure so it can be evaluated for its usefulness as a fuel. A thorough analysis of the characterisation results helps to better understand the thermal behaviour of BSG feedstock so it can be evaluated as a fuel when subjected to thermal conversion processes either by pyrolysis or gasification. The second stage was thermochemical conversion of the feedstock. Gasification of BSG was explored in a fixed bed downdraft gasifier unit. The study investigated whether BSG can be successfully converted by fixed bed downdraft gasification operation and whether it can produce a product gas that can potentially run an engine for heat and power. In addition the pyrolysis of BSG was explored using a novel “Pyroformer” intermediate pyrolysis reactor to investigate the behaviour of BSG under these processing conditions. The physicochemical properties and compositions of the pyrolysis fractions obtained (bio-oil, char and permanent gases) were investigated for their applicability in a combined heat power (CHP) application

Bayesian compressive sensing framework for spectrum reconstruction in Rayleigh fading channels

Compressive sensing (CS) is a novel digital signal processing technique that has found great interest in many applications including communication theory and wireless communications. In wireless communications, CS is particularly suitable for its application in the area of spectrum sensing for cognitive radios, where the complete spectrum under observation, with many spectral holes, can be modeled as a sparse wide-band signal in the frequency domain. Considering the initial works performed to exploit the benefits of Bayesian CS in spectrum sensing, the fading characteristic of wireless communications has not been considered yet to a great extent, although it is an inherent feature for all sorts of wireless communications and it must be considered for the design of any practically viable wireless system. In this paper, we extend the Bayesian CS framework for the recovery of a sparse signal, whose nonzero coefficients follow a Rayleigh distribution. It is then demonstrated via simulations that mean square error significantly improves when appropriate prior distribution is used for the faded signal coefficients and thus, in turns, the spectrum reconstruction improves. Different parameters of the system model, e.g., sparsity level and number of measurements, are then varied to show the consistency of the results for different cases

High-k Polymer Nanocomposites for Energy Storage Applications

High dielectric (high-k) polymer nanocomposites that can electrostatically store energy are widely used in electronics and electric power systems due to their high breakdown strengths (Eb), durability, and ability to configure in various shapes. However, these nanocomposites suffer from a limited working temperature regime, thus limiting their extreme applications, such as hybrid and electric vehicles, aerospace power electronics, and deep ground fuel exploration. Furthermore, the Eb and the electric displacement (D) of polymer nanocomposites must be simultaneously enhanced for high-density capacitor applications, which prove to be difficult to modify concurrently. This chapter thoroughly reviews (investigates) the recent developments in the high-k polymer nanocomposites synthesis, characterization, and energy storage applications. Consequently, the aim of this chapter is to provide an overview of the novel developmental strategies in order to develop high-dielectric nanocomposites perovskite ceramics that can be incorporated in high-energy-density (HED) applications

Monetary and Non-monetary Gift Exchange

A standard labour contract has two important components, agreed upon wage from principal and efforts that in return is provided by agent. On one hand both principal and agent have full knowledge of wage, while information on provided effort level is always incomplete due to its abstract nature. Principal can only observe output of agent, which is joint function of effort, skill level and work environment [Green (1992)]. Assuming economic agents strictly follow their material gain, the game theoretic model predicts that agent will utilise minimum possible effort level. Similarly, the principal will pay minimum wages, since additional wages cannot extract additional effort. In contrast, the gift exchange model (GEM) is based on the critical assumption that reciprocal behaviour creates a positive relationship between wages and workers‘ effort levels [Akerlof (1982, 1984)]. Workers are assumed to reciprocate higher wage levels from firms by increasing their effort (positive reciprocity) and /or by decreasing their effort in retaliation for low wage (negative reciprocity). In labour market as partial gift exchange, the loyalty of workers is exchanged for higher wage, and this loyalty then can be translated to higher productivity through effective management. Experimental evidence has supported the reciprocity hypothesis both in laboratory [Fehr and Falk (2008); Fehr, et al. (1993); Fehr and Tougareva (1995); Fehr and Falk (1999); Fehr, et al. (1998); Fehr, Gächter, and Kirchsteiger (1997)] and in the field [Falk (2007); Henning- Schmidt, et al. (2005); Bellemare and Shearer (2007)]

Sol-Gel-Derived Doped ZnO Thin Films: Processing, Properties, and Applications

Sol‐gel‐derived zinc oxide (ZnO)‐based materials with an improved microstructure are consumed in electronics and electrical frameworks owing to their crystal structure dependent properties, which can be exploited for optical, electrical, and photocatalytic applications. Despite research articles published each year on the strategies to improve the optoelectronic properties of ZnO, the topic is still actively pursued in literature. This chapter provides an insight into the recent developments for the sol‐gel‐derived processing of the pure and doped ZnO thin films. It also highlights the challenges and opportunities surrounding the processing of these devices. The recent developments in the synthesis of pure, doped ZnO, and corresponding applications of these films will be discussed in detail. Consequently, the aim of this chapter is to provide an overview of the novel developmental strategies to improve ZnO‐based thin films by a sol‐gel route with enhanced optical properties for practical applications ranging from optical and electrical circuits to sensing

A Novel Radio Mode Identification Approach for Spectrum Sensing in Cognitive Radios

The paper suggests a radio mode identification algorithm for spectrum sensing that utilizes time frequency analysis and digital image processing techniques to identify various transmission parameters of the primary user. The classical spectrum sensing techniques only provide information about existence of spectrum holes in the spectrum band of interest. However the proposed approach enables the cognitive radio to identify spectral behavior of the primary users in addition to identifying the spectrum holes with greater accuracy. These parameters can be utilized to decide the suitability of the identified spectrum holes and predict pattern of spectrum usage in near future

Optimal Spectrum Sensing Threshold for Unequal Priors Case

Classical spectrum sensing techniques utilize maximum likelihood (ML) detection for identification of spectrum holes. The approach is sub-optimal for the case of un-equal priors where the probabilities of channel occupation and vacancy are not the same. Such situations are bound to occur in most commercial bands such as GSM etc and hence are of more interest. The loss in performance has been disregarded as negligible in most of the work done on spectrum sensing techniques. This paper quantifies the effects of changing priors on classical energy detection and infers that the loss in spectrum sensing performance is not negligible. The deterioration is especially considerable at low SNR values and at low probabilities of channel occupation. An optimum threshold for achieving minimum probability of error has been derived in this work for unequal prior case. Detection based on the proposed threshold out-performs classical detectors under the assumption that priors are known at the receiver

Value Related Practices Used by Teacher Educators at a Public University, Islamabad

Values play a vital role in any teacher-training program. The value practices, used by teacher educators affect students’ understanding and practicing of values. This study aimed to explore the value related practices of teacher educators and to rank the value practices of education programs at a public sector university. Survey method was used for the study and the population comprised prospective teachers of education program at the university.100 prospective teachers were selected through simple random sampling technique. Data were collected through questionnaire and analyzed by using mean. It was found that there were several value related practices used by teacher educators such as realness, prizing, empathic understanding, fully functioning person, humility, lovingness, courage – overcoming one’s own fears, tolerance, decisiveness, living the tension between patience and impatience and the joy of living. With reference to ranking, realness stood above all other values. It is recommended that there may be more focus on different value related practices and that these are introduced in contents of teacher education program

BCR-ABL1 Gene Mutation in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Objective:  Determination of frequency of BCR-ABL1 gene mutation in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia. Methodology: This cross sectional study was carried out at the Department of Molecular Haematology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology between January 2018 to March 2021. All newly diagnosed patients of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia were included in the study while patients already on treatment and with secondary leukemia were excluded from the study. Blood counts were done and various parameters such as total leukocyte count, hemoglobin, and platelet count were calculated. Results: 623 patients were included in the study. BCR-ABL gene was positive in 105 (16.8%) patients. A total of 96 (92%) were positive for BCR ABL p190 rearrangement and 9 (8%) were positive for BCR ABL p210 rearrangement.  Mean age of patients was 21 years. The frequency of BCR ABL gene was positive in 72% males and 28% females. BCR-ABL positive ALL was associated with higher TLC count. CNS involvement was more common in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia with BCR-ABL. The likelihood of post-induction remission decreased with age. Conclusion: In our study population, a frequency of 16.8% patients were BCR ABL1 positive in acute lymphoblastic leukemia. BCR- ABL gene mutation in ALL is more prevalent in young adults. The frequency of p190 rearrangement is more common than p210 BCR-ABL rearrangement. BCR-ABL positive ALL is more prevalent in males than in females

Severe Eosinophilia in a Case of Giardiasis

A case of severe eosinophilia is reported in a child with giardiasi