Performance analysis of a basin-type solar still during harmattan

This study investigates the variational effect of climate factors on the productivity of a basin-type solar still during the harmattan season under the tropical savanna climate. The study was extended to examine the influences of selected climatic, operational, and design (COD) parameters on productivity. Additionally, the efficiency of solar still in removing water impurities during harmattan was also investigated. Explorative data and statistical analysis, and laboratory testing methods were used for these investigations. Results show that seasonal effects of harmattan can either increase or lower productivity. The effect of wind speed on productivity was not clearly defined during the harmattan season. Although high irradiation is essential for increased productivity, its effect is modified by other factors. Water temperature is the most significant to productivity amongst selected factors studied via the design of experiment (DOE). Moreover, the effect of harmattan on the water quality produced was not established. The main contribution of this work is the insights generated for both qualitative and quantitative reliability performance of a basin-type solar still under prevailing climate conditions.

BIM for Landscape Design Improving Climate Adaptation Planning: The Evaluation of Software Tools Based on the ISO 25010 Standard

This paper investigates the capabilities and limitations of different software tools simulating landscape design adaptability. The evaluation of tools is based on the ISO 25010 framework, which investigates software functionality, reliability, performance efficiency, usability, compatibility, and information quality. These quality characteristics of software are analysed during objective experiments where five software tools are used for a case study project at the conceptual design phase. These experiments reveal that the existing software tools for climate adaptation planning are focused on different aspects of climate adaptability, generating different types of information. Moreover, all tools deal with some limitations in terms of compatibility, performance efficiency, and functional operations. The ISO 25010 quality model provides a comprehensive framework to compare the capabilities of different software tools for climate adaptation planning. This paper is part of a wider study including an analysis of the needs of project stakeholders regarding climate adaptation software tools. However, this article focuses on technical capabilities of current climate adaptation software tools.

Reliability Analysis of Bifacial PV Panel-Based Inverters Considering the Effect of Geographical Location

Recent trends in the photovoltaic (PV) technology industry are moving towards utilizing bifacial PV panels. Unlike traditional PV panels, bifacial PV panels can yield energy from both sides of the panel. Manufacturers specify that bifacial PV panels can harness up to 30% more energy than traditional PV panels. Hence, bifacial PV panels are becoming a common approach at low solar irradiance conditions to yield more energy. However, a bifacial PV panel increases PV inverter loading. The PV inverter is the most unreliable component in the entire PV system. This results in a negative impact on PV system reliability and cost. Hence, it is necessary to anticipate the inverter’s reliability when used in bifacial PV panels. This paper analyzes the reliability, i.e., lifetime, of PV inverters, considering both monofacial and bifacial PV panels for the analysis. Results showed that the increase in bifacial energy yield could significantly affect PV inverter reliability performance, especially in locations where the average mission profile is relatively high.

DFT-Based Studies on Carbon Adsorption on the wz-GaN Surfaces and the Influence of Point Defects on the Stability of the Diamond–GaN Interfaces

Integration of diamond with GaN-based high-electron-mobility transistors improves thermal management, influencing the reliability, performance, and lifetime of GaN-based devices. The current GaN-on-diamond integration technology requires precise interface engineering and appropriate interfacial layers. In this respect, we performed first principles calculation on the stability of diamond–GaN interfaces in the framework of density functional theory. Initially, some stable adsorption sites of C atoms were found on the Ga- and N-terminated surfaces that enabled the creation of a flat carbon monolayer. Following this, a model of diamond–GaN heterojunction with the growth direction [111] was constructed based on carbon adsorption results on GaN{0001} surfaces. Finally, we demonstrate the ways of improving the energetic stability of diamond–GaN interfaces by means of certain reconstructions induced by substitutional dopants present in the topmost GaN substrate’s layer.

Enhanced Processability and Thermal Fatigue Reliability With Low Melting Point SnBi Solder Alloy LMPA-Q

SnBi based solder alloys become an interesting alternative for standard SnAgCu as they can be used to solder components at much lower temperature. The typically 50°C lower solder reflow temperature is less damaging for PCB and components, and also prevents hot tear and head-in-pillow failures for large fine pitch BGA components. A reasonable concern for these low-melting temperature solders is the thermal cycling reliability performance, in particular for harsh conditions such as automotive products. In this work, thermal cycling testing and failure analysis have been performed on 9 × 9 mm size QFN components and large chip components (2010 and 2512) which are typically sensitive to thermal fatigue. The results are benchmarked to standard SAC alloy. Also the process advantages from the low temperature solder alloys are depicted in this paper. Finally, the effect of Pb contamination on this SnBi based solder is investigated.

Sensitivity to changes in rate of heartbeats as a measure of interoceptive ability

Individuals vary in their ability to perceive, as conscious sensations, signals like the beating of the heart. Tests of such interoceptive ability are, however, constrained in nature and reliability. Performance of the heartbeat tracking task, a widely used test of cardiac interoception, often corresponds well with individual differences in emotion and cognition, yet is susceptible to reporting bias and influenced by higher order knowledge, e.g. of expected heart rate. The present study introduces a new way of assessing cardiac interoceptive ability, focusing on sensitivity to short-term, naturalistic changes in frequency of heartbeats. At rest, such heart rate variability typically reflects the dominant influence of respiration on vagus parasympathetic control of the sinoatrial pacemaker. We observed an overall tendency of healthy participants to report feeling fewer heartbeats during increases in heart rate, which we speculate reflects a reduction in heartbeat strength and salience during inspiratory periods when heart rate typically increases to maintain a stable cardiac output. Within-participant performance was more variable on this measure of cardiac interoceptive sensitivity relative to the 'classic' heartbeat tracking task. Our findings indicate that cardiac interoceptive ability, rather than reflecting the veridical monitoring of subtle variations in physiology, appears to involve more interpolation wherein interoceptive decisions are informed by dynamic working estimates derived from the integration of afferent signalling and higher order predictions.

Improving blood safety and availability: a collective mindfulness perspective in the supply chain

PurposeMaintaining a safe and available supply of blood requires a mindfully coordinated supply chain (SC) and is fundamental to the effective operation of health systems across the world. This study investigates how blood supply chain (BSC) actors demonstrate collective mindfulness (CM) principles in their operations and how these demonstrations lead to improvements in blood safety and availability (BSA) in different operational contexts.Design/methodology/approachSix case studies drawn from two contrasting BSCs, the UK and Indonesia, which differ in structure and regulation are investigated in this research. Qualitative data are collected and analysed using template analysis.FindingsThe cases reveal how the CM principles are demonstrated in the supply chain context in a range of operational conditions and their impact on BSA. The BSC actors in the more centralised and tightly regulated cases display more behaviours consistent with more of the CM principles over a greater range of operational conditions compared to those in the more decentralised and loosely regulated cases. As such, more improvements in BSA are found in the former compared to the latter cases.Originality/valueThis paper is considered the first to investigate the demonstration of CM principles at the SC as opposed to the single organisational level. It proposes an alternative approach to understanding and evaluating reliability performance using behavioural rather than statistical principles.