Feasibility of an oxygen-getter with nickel electrodes in alkaline electrolysers

Alkaline electrolysis is the long-established technology for water splitting to produce hydrogen and has been industrially used since the nineteenth century. The most common materials used for the electrodes are nickel and derivatives of nickel (e.g. Raney nickel). Nickel represents a cost-effective electrode material due to its low cost (compared to platinum group metals), good electrical conductivity and exhibits good resistance to corrosive solutions. The steady degradation of the nickel electrodes over time is known as a result of oxide layer formation on the electrode surface. Reducing oxide layer growth on the electrode surface will increase the efficiency and lifetime of the electrolyser. Titanium has a higher affinity to oxygen than nickel so has been introduced to the electrolyser as a sacrificial metal to reduce oxide layer formation on the nickel. Two identical electrolysers were tested with one difference: Cell B had titanium chips present in the electrolyte solution, whilst Cell A did not have titanium present. SEM results show a reduction of 16 % in the thickness of the Cell B oxide layer on nickel compared to the Cell A nickel, which is supported by the large increase in oxide layer build-up on the titanium in Cell B. EDX on the same samples showed on average a 59 % decrease in oxygen on the Cell B nickel compared to Cell A. XPS surface analysis of the same samples showed a 17 % decrease in the oxygen on Cell B nickel. These results support the hypothesis that adding titanium to an alkaline electrolyser system with nickel electrodes can reduce the oxide layer formation on the nickel

The effects of a facilitated online blog on the quality of communication life of adolescents and young adults with autism specrum disorders

The quality of life, specifically the quality of communication life, of individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) is lower than those with no disability or with physical disabilities. This disparity stems from barriers including social isolation and reduced social communication skills for individuals with ASD. Speech-language pathologists should work to eliminate this discrepancy because of the interest individuals with ASD have in communicating as well as the scope of practice and code of ethics outlined for the profession. In the current study, the effect of an online blog facilitated by graduate student speech-language pathologists on the quality of communication life of 6 adolescents (ages14 -22 years) was examined. No increase in quality of communication life was found when comparing scores on the Quality of Communication Life scale pre- and post-intervention. Some more descriptive data suggests that participants enjoyed the blog and the blog allowed for an increase in participants' social interaction

Structure-property relationships in metal-organic frameworks for hydrogen storage

Experimental hydrogen isotherms on several metal-organic frameworks (IRMOF-1, IRMOF-3, IRMOF-9, ZIF-7, ZIF-8, ZIF-9, ZIF-11, ZIF-12, ZIF-CoNIm, MIL-101 (Cr), NH2-MIL-101 (Cr), NH2-MIL-101 (Al), UiO-66, UiO-67 and HKUST-1) synthesized in-house and measured at 77 K and pressures up to 18 MPa are presented, along with N2 adsorption characterization. The experimental isotherms together with literature high pressure hydrogen data were analysed in order to search for relationships between structural properties of the materials and their hydrogen uptakes. The total hydrogen capacity of the materials was calculated from the excess adsorption assuming a constant density for the adsorbed hydrogen. The surface area, pore volumes and pore sizes of the materials were related to their maximum hydrogen excess and total hydrogen capacities. Results also show that ZIF-7 and ZIF-9 (SOD topology) have unusual hydrogen isotherm shapes at relatively low pressures, which is indicative of “breathing”, a phase transition in which the pore space increases due to adsorption. This work presents novel and more useful correlations using the modelled total hydrogen capacities of several MOFs. These total hydrogen capacities are more practically relevant for energy storage applications than the measured excess hydrogen capacities. Thus, these structural correlations will be advantageous for the prediction of the properties a MOF will need in order to meet the US Department of Energy targets for the mass and volume of on-board storage systems. Such design tools will allow hydrogen to be used as an energy vector for sustainable mobile applications such as transport, or for providing supplementary power to the grid in times of high demand

Bakteri Saluran Pencernaan pada Ikan Nilem (Osteochilus vittatus) yang dibudidayakan di Kabupaten Banyumas

Informasi mengenai bakteri pada pencernaan ikan nilem adalah sebagai strategi pencegahan penyakit maupun pencarian kandidat bakteri menguntungkan untuk dikembangkan sebagai probiotik. Tujuan dari penelitian ini untuk mengetahui jumlah koloni bakteri pada saluran pencernaan, proporsi Gram positif dan negatif serta komposisi Bacillus sp. pada ikan nilem yang dibudidayakan di Kabupaten Banyumas. Ikan yang digunakan berukuran 10-20 cm berasal dari Desa Singasari dan Desa Beji dengan rincian 3 ekor pada setiap tempat. Metode yang digunakan pada penelitian ini adalah metode observasi dengan pengambilan sampel secara purposive random sampling. Pengamatan jumlah koloni bakteri menggunakan metode Total Plate Count (TPC), kemudian dilakukan uji Gram KOH 3% dan identifikasi Bacillus. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan jumlah koloni bakteri saluran pencernaan ikan nilem dari Desa Beji pada bagian anterior 8,48x106, middle 13,20x106, posterior 23,54x106 CFU/g dan jumlah koloni bakteri saluran pencernaan ikan nilem dari Desa Singasari pada bagian anterior 7,50x106, middle 0,50x106, posterior 1,87x106 CFU/g. Proporsi Gram Desa Beji pada Gram negatif sebesar 87,5%, 93,75%, 81,25%, dan Gram positif sebesar 12,5%, 6,25%, 18,75% dan proporsi Gram Desa Singasari pada Gram negatif sebesar 100%, dan Gram positifnya 0%. Komposisi Bacillus sp. yang diperoleh Bacillus cereus 50%, Bacillus coagulans 25% dan Bacillus subtilis 25%

Associations between COVID-19 risk perceptions, behavior intentions and worry

Background Risk perceptions are central to health behavior, but some types of risk perceptions may be more strongly connected to behavior than others. This research examined different risk perceptions of COVID-19 and their respective associations with behavior intentions and worry. Participants and procedure U.S. college students (N = 248) and general adults (N = 300) reported their risk perceptions of COVID-19 – including absolute numerical, verbal, comparative, and feelings of risk – as well as their worry and intentions to do things such as get vaccinated. Results Although most risk perceptions related to intentions and worry, feelings of risk were the most strongly and consistently related. The associations showed that the higher people’s feelings of risk were, the greater were their intentions and worry. Conclusions Assessing feelings of risk of COVID-19 may provide the best insight into people’s perceived threat of this virus.Background Risk perceptions are central to health behavior, but some types of risk perceptions may be more strongly connected to behavior than others. This research examined different risk perceptions of COVID-19 and their respective associations with behavior intentions and worry. Participants and procedure U.S. college students (N = 248) and general adults (N = 300) reported their risk perceptions of COVID-19 – including absolute numerical, verbal, comparative, and feelings of risk – as well as their worry and intentions to do things such as get vaccinated. Results Although most risk perceptions related to intentions and worry, feelings of risk were the most strongly and consistently related. The associations showed that the higher people’s feelings of risk were, the greater were their intentions and worry. Conclusions Assessing feelings of risk of COVID-19 may provide the best insight into people’s perceived threat of this virus

The BA in the Internet, Learning and Organizations: A peer to peer approach to distance learning

This paper provides an account of the use of Colloquia, a peer-to-peer learning environment, to deliver a new distance learning, parttime degree at Bangor, the BA Internet, Learning and Organizations. Colloquia is a personal application, running on each student’sor teacher’s machine, it is not a server-based environment. The paper describes the educational and organizational theories andrationale behind the development of both the environment and the degree itself, the way it is taught, and progress over the firstsemester. Participation levels have been high along with the formation of a very positive group identity and reasons for this areexplored

AMSR2 Soil Moisture Product Validation

The Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2 (AMSR2) is part of the Global Change Observation Mission-Water (GCOM-W) mission. AMSR2 fills the void left by the loss of the Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer Earth Observing System (AMSR-E) after almost 10 years. Both missions provide brightness temperature observations that are used to retrieve soil moisture. Merging AMSR-E and AMSR2 will help build a consistent long-term dataset. Before tackling the integration of AMSR-E and AMSR2 it is necessary to conduct a thorough validation and assessment of the AMSR2 soil moisture products. This study focuses on validation of the AMSR2 soil moisture products by comparison with in situ reference data from a set of core validation sites. Three products that rely on different algorithms were evaluated; the JAXA Soil Moisture Algorithm (JAXA), the Land Parameter Retrieval Model (LPRM), and the Single Channel Algorithm (SCA). Results indicate that overall the SCA has the best performance based upon the metrics considered

Telling Tales:Unlocking the Potential of AAC Technologies

Augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) has been transformed by the social media revolution made possible by the emergence of mobile technology. The cumbersome dedicated devices of the 1970s have evolved into a burgeoning AAC app industry. However, the limited use and abandonment of AAC technologies remains high. Unlocking the untapped potential of technology requires a paradigm shift in the design of AAC technologies by building systems that minimize the cognitive load placed on users, adapting to their individual physical and language needs. Telling Tales shares insights and stories of how the combination of user-centred design, interdisciplinary research and the application of intelligent computing is providing a vision of future generations of AAC technologies.</p