A Review of Extremely Fast Charging Stations for Electric Vehicles

The expansion of electric vehicles made the expansion of charging infrastructure rudimentary to keep up with this developing technology that helps people in a myriad of ways. The main drawback in electric vehicle charging, however, is the time consumed to charge a vehicle. The fast charging of electric vehicles solves this problem thus making it a lucrative technology for consumers. However, the fast charging technology is not without its limitations. In this paper we have identified the technology gaps in EV fast charging stations mostly focused on the extremely fast charging topology. It will help pave a path for researchers to direct their effort in a consolidated manner to contribute to the fast charging infrastructure. A thorough review of all aspects and limitations of existing extremely fast charging (XFC) stations have been identified and supporting data are provided. The importance of DC power network based on free fuel energy sources and silicon carbide-based power electronics are proposed to provide ultra-low cost and ultra-high speed XFC stations.

Energy efficiency in China: optimization and comparison between hydropower and thermal power

Background The energy generation efficiencies of thermal power and hydropower, which are the two main forces of electric power in China, are important factors affecting the energy conservation, emission reduction, and green development of the country’s whole power industry. Methods Considering regional differences and multiple efficient decision-making units (DMUs), this research uses the meta-Frontier super-efficiency slack-based measure (meta-SE-SBM) undesirable model to comprehensively evaluate the efficiencies of hydropower and thermal power generation in China. The CO2 emissions of thermal power generation are taken as the undesirable output. Results The ranking of the average meta-efficiency of thermal power generation in China is Eastern China > Central China > Western China, and all regions show an upward trend. However, the ranking of the average meta-efficiency of hydropower generation is Western China > Central China > Eastern China, and all these regions present a downward trend. In 2017, the technology gap ratio (TGR) values for the thermal power generation efficiency of the eastern and western regions showed a rising trend, while that for the central region showed a declining trend. The TGR values of the hydropower generation efficiency of the western region continued to increase, while those of the central and eastern regions decreased. The development trends of the TGR values of the thermal power or hydropower generation efficiencies of the three regions were not consistent with each other, indicating that technological convergence has not been achieved. In the three regions, the technology gaps in hydropower have slightly expanded, but the technology gaps in thermal power have gradually narrowed. The undesirable output CO2 of the thermal power energy efficiency of the three regions is in a surplus, and the generation of hydropower in the eastern and central regions is insufficient. Conclusions The government and power industry managers should fully consider regional heterogeneity in the efficiency of hydropower and thermal power to reduce the technology gap in China. The thermal power industry is relatively mature, but its CO2 emissions should be controlled. The hydropower industry needs further policy support to promote an efficiency improvement in it under the condition of resource endowments.

Increasing Chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) Production through Frontline Demonstrations in Irrigated Regions of Central Punjab, India

Aims: Frontline demonstrations plots are vital tools used by the government agricultural extension agents of India in bridging the gaps between research and extension for increase crop productivity. The study aimed at minimizing the extension-technology gaps for increasing the productivity of chickpea crop in India. Study Design: Demonstrative design. Methodology: Total 121 demonstrations plots were constructed over an area of 30 ha for a period of three years - 2017-2019. Results: The result showed that average grain yield in the demonstration plot increased by 21.07% over the control fields. The mean technology gap and extension gap were 1.30 and 3.26 q ha-1, respectively with 6.51% technology index value. The average benefit cost ratio for the demonstration plots was 3.55, compared to the control plot, which was 2.95. Conclusion: It is concluded that the frontline demonstrations plots have a great potential to increase chickpea productivity in India. The demonstration techniques used can be adopted in diversifying crop production with improper irrigation facilities in order to increase food security in India.

Impact of Cluster Frontline Demonstrations (CFLD) on Oilseeds Productivity and Profitability

The Cluster Front Line Demonstration (CFLD) programmes on oilseeds were carried out with respect to yield, extension gap, technological gap and economic returns in oilseed crops in Darrang district of Assam, India during 2016-17 and 2017-18 under NMOOP, Ministry of Agriculture and Farmers welfare, GoI. The fields were selected from different villages/clusters of the district. The observations on selected parameters of demonstration plots as well as control plots were recorded through experimental designs (‘Control-Treatment’) of social research. The results reflected that the average grain yield in demonstration plots of the selected oilseed crops namely; Rapeseed & Mustard, Sesamum and Groundnut was more compared to farmers practice. The crop sesamum recorded with the lowest extension gap (1.9q/ha), technology gap (0.90 q/ha) and technology index (11.25%) followed by rapeseed & mustard with 2.95q/ha, 0.31 q/ha and 3.42% and groundnut with 5.7q/ha, 15.6q/ha and 42.3% respectively. The highest additional income (Rs. 31307/ha) in demonstration plot over control was recorded in cultivation of groundnut followed by sesamum (Rs. 13134/ha) and rapeseed & mustard (Rs. 11019/ha). The results revealed that the use of improved varieties, scientific cultivation practices in cluster mode facilitates to boost the productivity and profitability scenario of oilseed crops in the district by minimizing the yield and technology gaps.

Integrating Systems and Synthetic Biology to Understand and Engineer Microbiomes

Microbiomes are complex and ubiquitous networks of microorganisms whose seemingly limitless chemical transformations could be harnessed to benefit agriculture, medicine, and biotechnology. The spatial and temporal changes in microbiome composition and function are influenced by a multitude of molecular and ecological factors. This complexity yields both versatility and challenges in designing synthetic microbiomes and perturbing natural microbiomes in controlled, predictable ways. In this review, we describe factors that give rise to emergent spatial and temporal microbiome properties and the meta-omics and computational modeling tools that can be used to understand microbiomes at the cellular and system levels. We also describe strategies for designing and engineering microbiomes to enhance or build novel functions. Throughout the review,we discuss key knowledge and technology gaps for elucidating the networks and deciphering key control points for microbiome engineering, and highlight examples where multiple omics and modeling approaches can be integrated to address these gaps. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Biomedical Engineering, Volume 23 is June 2021. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.

A Step into the Future – Innovative Ideas to Shape the Technology of Tomorrow (Vol. 25, No. 2, Full Issue)

For the month of February 2021, APBN takes a look into the future. Our Features section highlights the key points from the STEM Conference 2020organised by the Science Centre Singapore where experts in the field discuss the future of STEM education. In the Spotlights section APBN interviewed Fabrice Leguet, Managing Director and President, Southeast Asia for Siemens Healthineers to gain insight to the company's efforts in bridging technology gaps in the healthcare industry as well as its COVID-19 response. For the Columns section, we take a look at the future of digital technology in the healthcare industry and how the internet of things (IoT) and blockchain technology could pave the way for new innovations.

Technical standards opportunity identification of Chinese manufacturing industry

Based on Standard Literature Library of CNKI, opportunities for technical standards development are identified. The initial keywords of technical standard are determined based on LDA model, whose similar keywords are further confirmed by Word2Vec, and then combining LDA model with Word2Vec the representative keywords of technical standard of manufacturing industry are determined. According to confirmed representative keywords, the core technical standards of manufacturing industry are identified by using the center degree and “M-core” method. The dimensions of the frequency square matrix are reduced by using the PCA module of Python, and the scatter plot is brawn, the technology gaps are identified by combing the consideration on the core technical standards, and then the future development opportunities are confirmed based on the map of patent technology effect matrix.