Real-time monitoring of electrochemically active biofilm developing behavior on bioanode by using EQCM and ATR/FTIR

In the current study, the relationship between current and biomass and bio-adhesion mechanism of electrogenic biofilm on electrode were investigated using EQCM and ATR-SEIRAS linking electrochemistry. The results indicated that cellular biomass of biofilm on QCM-crystal surface showed maximum value of 6.0 μg/cm2 in initial batch and 11.5 μg/cm2 in the second batch on mature biofilm, producing a similar maximum current density of 110 μA/μg. Especially, the optimum cell biomass linking high electricity production ratio (110 μA/μg) occurred before maximum biomass coming, implying that over-growth mature biofilm is not an optimum state for enhancing power output of MFCs. On the other hand, the spectra using ATR-SEIRAS technique linking electrochemistry obviously exhibited water structure adsorption change at early biofilm formation and meanwhile the water adsorption accompanied the adsorbed bacteria and the bound cells population on the electrode increased with time. Meanwhile, the direct contact of bacteria and electrode via outer-membrane protein can be confirmed via a series spectra shift at amide I and amide II modes and water movement from negative bands displacing by adsorbed bacteria. Our study provided supplementary information about the interaction between the microbes and electrode beyond traditional electrochemistry.

The discovery, monitoring and environment of SGR J1935+2154

We report on the discovery of a new member of the magnetar class, SGR J1935+2154, and on its timing and spectral properties measured by an extensive observational campaign carried out between 2014 July and 2015 March with Chandra and XMM–Newton (11 pointings). We discovered the spin period of SGR J1935+2154 through the detection of coherent pulsations at a period of about 3.24 s. The magnetar is slowing down at a rate of P˙=1.43(1)×10−11 s s−1 and with a decreasing trend due to a negative P¨ of −3.5(7) × 10−19 s s−2. This implies a surface dipolar magnetic field strength of ∼2.2 × 1014 G, a characteristic age of about 3.6 kyr and a spin-down luminosity Lsd ∼1.7 × 1034 erg s−1. The source spectrum is well modelled by a blackbody with temperature of about 500 eV plus a power-law component with photon index of about 2. The source showed a moderate long-term variability, with a flux decay of about 25 per cent during the first four months since its discovery, and a re-brightening of the same amount during the second four months. The X-ray data were also used to study the source environment. In particular, we discovered a diffuse emission extending on spatial scales from about 1 arcsec up to at least 1 arcmin around SGR J1935+2154 both in Chandra and XMM–Newton data. This component is constant in flux (at least within uncertainties) and its spectrum is well modelled by a power-law spectrum steeper than that of the pulsar. Though a scattering halo origin seems to be more probable we cannot exclude that part, or all, of the diffuse emission is due to a pulsar wind nebula.

Smart Monitoring Embedded Service for Energy-Efficient and Sustainable Management in Data Centers

Information technologies (IT) currently represent 2% of CO2 emissions. In recent years, a wide variety of IT solutions have been proposed, focused on increasing the energy efficiency of network data centers. Monitoring is one of the fundamental pillars of these systems, providing the information necessary for adequate decision making. However, today’s monitoring systems (MSs) are partial, specific and highly coupled solutions. This study proposes a model for monitoring data centers that serves as a basis for energy saving systems, offered as a value-added service embedded in a device with low cost and power consumption. The proposal is general in nature, comprehensive, scalable and focused on heterogeneous environments, and it allows quick adaptation to the needs of changing and dynamic environments. Further, a prototype of the system has been implemented in several devices, which has allowed validation of the proposal in addition to identification of the minimum hardware profile required to support the model.

THE DESIGN OF A POWER SYSTEM FOR A WIRELESS SENSOR NETWORK FOR LONG-TERM OPERATION

Wireless sensor networks (WSNs) have shown wide applicability to many fields including monitoring of environmental, civil, and industrial settings. WSNs however are resource constrained by many competing factors that span their hardware, software, and networking. One of the central resource constrains is the charge consumption of WSN nodes. With finite energy supplies, low charge consumption is needed to ensure long lifetimes and success of WSNs. This thesis details the design of a power system to support long-term operation of WSNs. The power system’s development occurs in parallel with a custom WSN from the Queen’s MEMS Lab (QML-WSN), with the goal of supporting a 1+ year lifetime without sacrificing functionality. The final power system design utilizes a TPS62740 DC-DC converter with AA alkaline batteries to efficiently supply the nodes while providing battery monitoring functionality and an expansion slot for future development. Testing tools for measuring current draw and charge consumption were created along with analysis and processing software. Through their use charge consumption of the power system was drastically lowered and issues in QML-WSN were identified and resolved including the proper shutdown of accelerometers, and incorrect microcontroller unit (MCU) power pin connection. Controlled current profiling revealed unexpected behaviour of nodes and detailed current-voltage relationships. These relationships were utilized with a lifetime projection model to estimate a lifetime between 521-551 days, depending on the mode of operation. The power system and QML-WSN were tested over a long term trial lasting 272+ days in an industrial testbed to monitor an air compressor pump. Environmental factors were found to influence the behaviour of nodes leading to increased charge consumption, while a node in an office setting was still operating at the conclusion of the trail. This agrees with the lifetime projection and gives a strong indication that a 1+ year lifetime is achievable. Additionally, a light-weight charge consumption model was developed which allows charge consumption information of nodes in a distributed WSN to be monitored. This model was tested in a laboratory setting demonstrating +95% accuracy for high packet reception rate WSNs across varying data rates, battery supply capacities, and runtimes up to full battery depletion.

Monitoring influenza vaccine effectiveness using the national influenza surveillance system

Background: Flu vaccine composition is reformulated on a yearly basis. As such, the vaccine effectiveness (VE) from previous seasons cannot be considered for subsequent years, and it is necessary to monitor the VE for each season. This study (MonitorEVA- monitoring vaccine effectiveness) intends to evaluate the feasibility of using the national influenza surveillance system (NISS) for monitoring the influenza VE. Material and methods: Data was collected within NISS during 2004 to 2014 seasons. We used a case-control design where laboratory confirmed incident influenza like illness (ILI) patients (cases) were compared to controls (ILI influenza negative). Eligible individuals consisted on all aged individuals that consult a general practitioner or emergency room with ILI symptoms with a swab collected within seven days of symptoms onset. VE was estimated as 1- odds ratio of being vaccinated in cases versus controls adjusted for age and month of onset by logistic regression. Sensitivity analyses were conducted to test possible effect of assumptions on vaccination status, ILI definition and timing of swabs (<3 days after onset). Results: During the 2004-2014 period, a total of 5302 ILI patients were collected but 798 ILI were excluded for not complying with inclusion criteria. After data restriction the sample size in both groups was higher than 148 individuals/ season; minimum sample size needed to detect a VE of at least 50% considering a level of significance of 5% and 80% power. Crude VE point estimates were under 45% in 2004/05, 2005/06, 2011/12 and 2013/14 season; between 50%-70% in 2006/07, 2008/09 and 2010/11 seasons, and above 70% in 2007/08 and 2012/13 season. From season 2006/07 to 2013/14, all crude VE estimates were statistically significant. After adjustment for age group and month of onset, the VE point estimates decreased and only 2008/09, 2012/13 and 2013/14 seasons were significant. Discussion and Conclusions: MonitorEVA was able to provide VE estimates for all seasons, including the pandemic, indicating if the VE was higher than 70% and less than 50%. When comparing with other observational studies, MonitorEVA estimates were comparable but less precise and VE estimates were in accordance with the antigenic match of the circulating virus/ vaccine strains. Given the sensitivity results, we propose a MonitorEVA based on: a) Vaccination status defined independently of number of days between vaccination and symptoms onset; b) use of all ILI data independent of the definition; c) stratification of VE according to time between onset and swab (< 3 and ≥3 days).

Airborne measurements of power plant plumes in West Virginia : Kammer and Mitchell power plants, 25 August-11 September 1975 /

"June 1979."

Factors affecting the use of CaF2 : Mn thermoluminescent dosimeters for low-level environmental radiation monitoring /

Mode of access: Internet.

Requirements for environmental monitoring assessment, and controls for nonnuclear energy demonstration projects.

Issued May 1978.

Phipps Bend Nuclear Plant socioeconomic monitoring report.

"PBNP-SMR-9, December 31, 1981."

Phipps Bend Nuclear Plant socioeconomic monitoring and mitigation report.

"PBNP-SMR-10, September 30, 1982. SP895."

Yellow Creek Nuclear Plants : socioeconomic monitoring and mitigation report.

"YNCP-SMR-1."

Phipps Bend Nuclear Plant : socioeconomic monitoring report.

"PBNP-SMR-1."

Near-shore wave power characterized with a remotely controlled surface vehicle in Admiralty Inlet, Puget Sound, WA

Senior thesis written for Oceanography 445

Non-ideal monitoring of a qubit state using a quantum tunnelling device

We propose a model for non-ideal monitoring of the state of a coupled quantum dot qubit by a quantum tunnelling device. The non-ideality is modelled using an equivalent measurement circuit. This allows realistically available measurement results to be related to the state of the quantum system (qubit). We present a quantum trajectory that describes the stochastic evolution of the qubit state conditioned by tunnelling events (i.e. current) through the device. We calculate and compare the noise power spectra of the current in an ideal and a non-ideal measurement. The results show that when the two qubit dots are strongly coupled the non-ideal measurement cannot detect the qubit state precisely. The limitation of the ideal model for describing a realistic system maybe estimated from the noise spectra.