Realizing the World’s First Upgradeable, 40-year Lifetime High Concentration Photovoltaic (HCPV) System – An Accelerated Pathway to Grid Parity

2013 ◽  
Vol 1493 ◽  
pp. 37-48 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hojun Yoon ◽  
Sameet Nabar ◽  
Yoav Banin

ABSTRACTAs incentive programs for solar energy are gradually being phased out around the world, solar must quickly become a viable and competitive option to the mainstream, fossil-based power generation technologies. As such, it must begin to assume more of the characteristics of the traditional technologies in order to be compatible with utility generation business models. With this goal in mind, Solergy has realized a series of innovations that include optics, concentrator module design, and tracking to create a high performing, long-lasting High Concentration Photovoltaic (HCPV) system. Because it is upgradeable, Solergy is the only HCPV system that can actually increase its power output over its lifetime and then subsequently extend its life out to 40 years. This talk will discuss the types of technological advances required to achieve this and share results from the lab and the field. In particular, the talk will cover the world’s only all-glass concentrating lens, high performance tracking, and the unique upgrade mechanism.


Author(s):  
Jarrod M. Rifkind ◽  
Seymour E. Goodman

Information technology has drastically changed the ways in which individuals are accounted for and monitored in societies. Over the past two decades, the United States and other countries worldwide have seen a tremendous increase in the number of individuals with access to the Internet. Data collected by the World Bank shows that 17.5 of every 100 people in the world had access to the Internet in 2006, and this number increased to 23.2 in 2008, 29.5 in 2010, and 32.8 in 2011 (World Bank 2012). According to the latest Cisco traffic report, Internet traffic exceeded 30 exabytes (1018 bytes) per month in 2011 and is expected to reach a zettabyte (1021 bytes) per month by 2015 (Cisco Systems 2011). Activities on the Web are no longer limited to seemingly noncontroversial practices like e-mail. The sheer growth of the Internet as a medium for communication and information sharing as well as the development of large, high-performance data centers have made it easier and less expensive for companies and governments to aggregate large amounts of data generated by individuals. Today, many people’s personal lives can be pieced together relatively easily according to their search histories and the information that they provide on social networking websites such as Facebook and Twitter. Therefore, technological breakthroughs associated with computing raise important questions regarding information security and the role of privacy in society. As individuals begin using the Internet for e-commerce, e-government, and a variety of other services, data about their activities has been collected and stored by entities in both the public and private sectors. For the private sector, consumer activities on the Internet provide lucrative information about user spending habits that can then be used to generate targeted advertisements. Companies have developed business models that rely on the sale of such information to third-party entities, whether they are other companies or the federal government. As for the public sector, data collection occurs through any exchange a government may have with its citizens.



1995 ◽  
Vol 88 (8) ◽  
pp. 716-719
Author(s):  
Helen M. Doerr ◽  
Caroline G. Hecht

Technological advances in high-performance computing and communications over the past decade have brought unprecedented power to the desktops of teachers and students. Within the past three years, the use of the World Wide Web-known as WWW, W3, or simply “the Web”—has increased dramatically with the advent of such software as NCSA Mosaic, Netscape, and Lynx. This software has led to an explosion of resources on the international information superhighway. These Web resources bold many possibilities for both students and teachers in secondary mathematics education by allowing new opportunities for collaboration, communication, and exploration.



2020 ◽  
Vol 16 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirubanandam Grace Pavithra ◽  
Vasudevan Jaikumar ◽  
Ponnusamy Senthil Kumar ◽  
PanneerSelvam SundarRajan

Background: Many antibiotics were widely used as medication based on their distinctive features. Among them, sulphonamides were commonly used, however their recalcitrant nature makes them difficult to dispose. Hence, their interaction with environment and analytic technique requires considerable attention globally. Objective: Therefore, this review aimed to provide detailed discussion about environmental as well as human health behaviour and analytic techniques corresponding to sulphonamides. Methods: Various results and discussion were extracted from technical journals and books published by different researchers from all over the world. The cited bibliographic references were intentionally investigated in order to extract relevant information related to proposed work. Results: In this review, the determination techniques such as UV-spectroscopy, Enthalpimetry, Immunosensor, Chromatography, Chemiluminescence, Photoinduced fluorometric determination, Capillary electrophoresis for sulphonamide determination were discussed in detail. Among them, High performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and UV-spectroscopy was effective and extensively used for screening sulphonamide. Conclusion: Knowing the quantification and behaviour of sulphonamide in aqueous solution is mandatory to opt the suitable wastewater treatment required. Hence, choosing appropriate high precision and feasible screening techniques is necessary, which can be attained with this review.



The world faces significant and interrelated challenges in the twenty-first century which threaten human rights in a number of ways. This book examines the relationship between human rights and three of the largest challenges of the twenty-first century: conflict and security, environment, and poverty. Technological advances in fighting wars have led to the introduction of new weapons which threaten to transform the very nature of conflict. In addition, states confront threats to security which arise from a new set of international actors not clearly defined and which operate globally. Climate change, with its potentially catastrophic impacts, features a combination of characteristics which are novel for humanity. The problem is caused by the sum of innumerable individual actions across the globe and over time, and similarly involves risks that are geographically and temporally diffuse. In recent decades, the challenges involved in addressing global and national poverty have also changed. For example, the relative share of the poor in the world population has decreased significantly while the relative share of the poor who live in countries with significant domestic capacity has increased strongly. Overcoming these global and interlocking threats constitutes this century’s core political and moral task. This book examines how these challenges may be addressed using a human rights framework. It considers how these challenges threaten human rights and seeks to reassess our understanding of human rights in the light of these challenges. The analysis considers both foundational and applied questions. The approach is multidisciplinary and contributors include some of the most prominent lawyers, philosophers, and political theorists in the debate. The authors not only include leading academics but also those who have played important roles in shaping the policy debates on these questions. Each Part includes contributions by those who have served as Special Rapporteurs within the United Nations human rights system on the challenges under consideration.



Author(s):  
Lin Lin ◽  
Piyadarsha Amaratunga ◽  
Jerome Reed ◽  
Pornkamol Huang ◽  
Bridget Lorenz Lemberg ◽  
...  

Abstract Quantitative analysis of Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) in oral fluid has gained increasing interest in clinical and forensic toxicology laboratories. New medicinal and/or recreational cannabinoid products require laboratories to distinguish different patterns of cannabinoid use. This study validated a high-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry method for 13 different cannabinoids, including (-)-trans-Δ8-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ8-THC), (-)-trans-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC), cannabidiol (CBD), Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinolic acid-A (Δ9-THCA-A), cannabidiolic acid (CBDA), 11-hydroxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (11-OH-Δ9-THC), 11-nor-9-carboxy-Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THCCOOH), tetrahydrocannabivarin (THCV), cannabidivarin (CBDV), cannabidiorcol (CBD-C1), cannabichromene (CBC), cannabinol (CBN) and cannabigerol (CBG), in oral fluid. Baseline separation was achieved in the entire quantitation range between Δ9-THC and its isomer Δ8-THC. The quantitation range of Δ9-THC, Δ8-THC and CBD was from 0.1 to 800 ng/mL. Two hundred human subject oral fluid samples were analyzed with this method after solid phase extraction. Among the 200 human subject oral fluid samples, all 13 cannabinoid analytes were confirmed in at least one sample. Δ8-THC was confirmed in 11 samples, with or without the presence of Δ9-THC. A high concentration of 11-OH-Δ9-THC or Δ9-THCCOOH (>400 ng/mL) was confirmed in three samples. CBD, Δ9-THCA-A, THCV, CBN and CBG were confirmed in 74, 39, 44, 107 and 112 of the 179 confirmed Δ9-THC-positive samples, respectively. The quantitation of multiple cannabinoids and metabolites in oral fluid simultaneously provides valuable information for revealing cannabinoid consumption and interpreting cannabinoid-induced driving impairment.



Nanomaterials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 886
Author(s):  
Massimo Rippa ◽  
Riccardo Castagna ◽  
Domenico Sagnelli ◽  
Ambra Vestri ◽  
Giorgia Borriello ◽  
...  

Brucella is a foodborne pathogen globally affecting both the economy and healthcare. Surface Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (SERS) nano-biosensing can be a promising strategy for its detection. We combined high-performance quasi-crystal patterned nanocavities for Raman enhancement with the use of covalently immobilized Tbilisi bacteriophages as high-performing bio-receptors. We coupled our efficient SERS nano-biosensor to a Raman system to develop an on-field phage-based bio-sensing platform capable of monitoring the target bacteria. The developed biosensor allowed us to identify Brucella abortus in milk by our portable SERS device. Upon bacterial capture from samples (104 cells), a signal related to the pathogen recognition was observed, proving the concrete applicability of our system for on-site and in-food detection.



2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (20) ◽  
pp. eabe6000
Author(s):  
Lin Yang ◽  
Madeleine P. Gordon ◽  
Akanksha K. Menon ◽  
Alexandra Bruefach ◽  
Kyle Haas ◽  
...  

Organic-inorganic hybrids have recently emerged as a class of high-performing thermoelectric materials that are lightweight and mechanically flexible. However, the fundamental electrical and thermal transport in these materials has remained elusive due to the heterogeneity of bulk, polycrystalline, thin films reported thus far. Here, we systematically investigate a model hybrid comprising a single core/shell nanowire of Te-PEDOT:PSS. We show that as the nanowire diameter is reduced, the electrical conductivity increases and the thermal conductivity decreases, while the Seebeck coefficient remains nearly constant—this collectively results in a figure of merit, ZT, of 0.54 at 400 K. The origin of the decoupling of charge and heat transport lies in the fact that electrical transport occurs through the organic shell, while thermal transport is driven by the inorganic core. This study establishes design principles for high-performing thermoelectrics that leverage the unique interactions occurring at the interfaces of hybrid nanowires.



Molecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 26 (6) ◽  
pp. 1808
Author(s):  
Rosa Tundis ◽  
Carmela Conidi ◽  
Monica R. Loizzo ◽  
Vincenzo Sicari ◽  
Rosa Romeo ◽  
...  

Olive mill wastewater (OMW), generated as a by-product of olive oil production, is considered one of the most polluting effluents produced by the agro-food industry, due to its high concentration of organic matter and nutrients. However, OMW is rich in several polyphenols, representing compounds with remarkable biological properties. This study aimed to analyze the chemical profile as well as the antioxidant and anti-obesity properties of concentrated fractions obtained from microfiltered OMW treated by direct contact membrane distillation (DCMD). Ultra-high performance liquid chromatography (UHPLC) analyses were applied to quantify some phenols selected as phytochemical markers. Moreover, α-Amylase, α-glucosidase, and lipase inhibitory activity were investigated together with the antioxidant activity by means of assays, namely β-carotene bleaching, 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulphonic) acid (ABTS) diammonium salts, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, and Ferric Reducing Activity Power (FRAP) tests. MD retentate—which has content of about five times greater of hydroxytyrosol and verbascoside and about 7 times greater of oleuropein than the feed—was more active as an antioxidant in all applied assays. Of interest is the result obtained in the DPPH test (an inhibitory concentration 50% (IC50) of 9.8 μg/mL in comparison to the feed (IC50 of 97.2 μg/mL)) and in the ABTS assay (an IC50 of 0.4 μg/mL in comparison to the feed (IC50 of 1.2 μg/mL)).



Author(s):  
Antonia Perju ◽  
Nongnoot Wongkaew

AbstractLateral flow assays (LFAs) are the best-performing and best-known point-of-care tests worldwide. Over the last decade, they have experienced an increasing interest by researchers towards improving their analytical performance while maintaining their robust assay platform. Commercially, visual and optical detection strategies dominate, but it is especially the research on integrating electrochemical (EC) approaches that may have a chance to significantly improve an LFA’s performance that is needed in order to detect analytes reliably at lower concentrations than currently possible. In fact, EC-LFAs offer advantages in terms of quantitative determination, low-cost, high sensitivity, and even simple, label-free strategies. Here, the various configurations of EC-LFAs published are summarized and critically evaluated. In short, most of them rely on applying conventional transducers, e.g., screen-printed electrode, to ensure reliability of the assay, and additional advances are afforded by the beneficial features of nanomaterials. It is predicted that these will be further implemented in EC-LFAs as high-performance transducers. Considering the low cost of point-of-care devices, it becomes even more important to also identify strategies that efficiently integrate nanomaterials into EC-LFAs in a high-throughput manner while maintaining their favorable analytical performance.



Nanomaterials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (7) ◽  
pp. 1738
Author(s):  
Saeid Vafaei ◽  
Alexander Wolosz ◽  
Catlin Ethridge ◽  
Udo Schnupf ◽  
Nagisa Hattori ◽  
...  

SnO2 nanoparticles are regarded as attractive, functional materials because of their versatile applications. SnO2 nanoaggregates with single-nanometer-scale lumpy surfaces provide opportunities to enhance hetero-material interfacial areas, leading to the performance improvement of materials and devices. For the first time, we demonstrate that SnO2 nanoaggregates with oxygen vacancies can be produced by a simple, low-temperature sol-gel approach combined with freeze-drying. We characterize the initiation of the low-temperature crystal growth of the obtained SnO2 nanoaggregates using high-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM). The results indicate that Sn (II) hydroxide precursors are converted into submicrometer-scale nanoaggregates consisting of uniform SnO2 spherical nanocrystals (2~5 nm in size). As the sol-gel reaction time increases, further crystallization is observed through the neighboring particles in a confined part of the aggregates, while the specific surface areas of the SnO2 samples increase concomitantly. In addition, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) measurements suggest that Sn (II) ions exist in the SnO2 samples when the reactions are stopped after a short time or when a relatively high concentration of Sn (II) is involved in the corresponding sol-gel reactions. Understanding this low-temperature growth of 3D SnO2 will provide new avenues for developing and producing high-performance, photofunctional nanomaterials via a cost-effective and scalable method.



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