A New Design Method for Vanadium Redox Batteries in Renewable Energy Systems

This study investigated the behavior of vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs), which are batteries capable of easily switching between charging and discharging modes, making them a suitable option for storing intermittent sources of alternative energies (solar, wind, etc). Since different sizes of the battery provide varying voltages, optimal parameters for a particular home are key for implementation. These parameters, specifically the cell and tank volumes of the battery that are capable of providing consistent on-load voltage, were determined using data from a 13 kW solar array and a medium-sized house. Charge/discharge current values were used to run a mathematical model that provided on-load voltage over time graphs based on parameter input values. Using this model, the optimal parameter values were found to be 11.5 L for the cell volume and 103.7 L for the tank volume, which maintenained the on-load voltage well above 0.80 V (10% of cell standard emf)

Fast Calculation Methods in Collective Dynamical Models of Beam/Plasma Physics

We consider an application of modification of our variational-wavelet approach to some nonlinear collective model of beam/plasma physics: Vlasov/Boltzmann-like reduction from general BBGKY hierachy related to modeling of propagation of intense charged particle beams in high-intensity accelerators and transport systems. We use fast convergent multiscale variational-wavelet representations for solutions which allow to consider polynomial and rational type of nonlinearities. The solutions are represented via the multiscale decomposition in nonlinear high-localized eigenmodes (waveletons). In contrast with different approaches we do not use perturbation technique or linearization procedures.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, JAC2001.cls, presented at European Particle Accelerator Conference (EPAC02), Paris, June 3-7, 2002; changed from A4 to US format for correct printin

Is acting prosocially beneficial for the credit market?

This article argues that behaving prosocially implies more transparent information during the negotiation process of a financial contract and more cooperation among the parties to respect the terms of the contract. For this reason this work considers interest rate on loans and insolvency rate functions of prosocial behaviour along with the traditional socio-economic and financial collaterals. The context of study is Italy and the analysis is developed at a cross-regional level. We collect data from the two reports on “Relatives and Safety Net” produced by the Italian Centre Bureau of Statistics (ISTAT) in 1998 and 2003 and from the reports on “Regional Economics” produced by the Bank of Italy in the same years. A two-period panel model shows two interesting outcomes. Firstly, regions with a higher proportion of prosocial individuals report lower interest rates on loans and insolvency rates. Secondly, when we include the efficiency of legal enforcement, evidence supports the idea that a more efficient legal framework can act as a more reliable transmission mechanism of institutional norms and facilitate the internalisation of social norms

Reforms: A Quest for Efficiency or an Opportunity for Vested Interests'? A Case Study of Pharmaceutical Policy Reforms in Tanzania.

Regulation of the pharmaceutical sector is a challenging task for most governments in the developing countries. In Tanzania, this task falls under the Food and Drugs Authority and the Pharmacy Council. In 2010, the Pharmacy Council spearheaded policy reforms in the pharmaceutical sector aimed at taking over the control of the regulation of the business of pharmacy from the Tanzania Food and Drugs Authority. This study provides a critical analysis of these reforms. The study employed a qualitative case-study design. Data was collected through in-depth interviews, focus group discussions and document reviews. Data was analyzed thematically using a policy triangle framework. The analysis was done manually. The reforms adopted an incremental model of public policy-making and the process was characterized by lobbying for political support, negotiations and bargaining between the interest groups. These negotiations were largely centred on vested interests and not on the impact of the reforms on the efficiency of pharmaceutical regulations in the country. Stakeholders from the micro and meso levels were minimally involved in the policy reforms. Recent pharmaceutical regulation reforms in Tanzania were overshadowed by vested interests, displacing a critical analysis of optimal policy options that have the potential to increase efficiency in the regulation of the business of pharmacy. Politics influenced decision-making at different levels of the reform process

Irreducible Modules over Finite Simple Lie Pseudoalgebras I. Primitive Pseudoalgebras of Type W and S

One of the algebraic structures that has emerged recently in the study of the operator product expansions of chiral fields in conformal field theory is that of a Lie conformal algebra [K]. A Lie pseudoalgebra is a generalization of the notion of a Lie conformal algebra for which C[\partial] is replaced by the universal enveloping algebra H of a finite-dimensional Lie algebra [BDK]. The finite (i.e., finitely generated over H) simple Lie pseudoalgebras were classified in [BDK]. In a series of papers, starting with the present one, we classify all irreducible finite modules over finite simple Lie pseudoalgebras.Comment: 51 pages; minor change

Electronic health information and long term conditions

This article discusses the increasing availability of health-related information, and the impact that this can have for people with long-term conditions’ expectations of healthcare providers. The article suggests a framework for decision making about the role that healthcare staff should play in the information searching, retrieval, and synthesis activities which people with long-term conditions engage in. The framework is based on a series of decisions related to: perceptions of ownership of long-term conditions; whether intermediatory or apomediatory approaches to information management are deemed to be most appropriate; and, as a result of these considerations, what, if any, place healthcare staff should take in the process of patients searching or and interpreting information about long-term health needs. These decisions will enable healthcare providers to plan services based on clear decision pathways, and to clarify to all concerned what are deemed to be reasonable expectations of health service provision

The Paradox of Compacts: final report to the Home Office on monitoring the impact of Compacts

The Compact is an important building block in achieving a better relationship between Government and the voluntary and community sector. We are fully committed to partnership working with the sector and increasing their role in civil society and in the delivery of public s e rvices. The Compact helps us to work better together, so that we can better meet the needs of communities