Bimetallic AuPd nanoparticles supported on TiO2 are known to catalyze the reduction of NO with CO. Here, we investigated the effects of the addition of lanthanum oxide to a AuPd/TiO2 catalyst with a AuPd particle size of 2.1–2.2 nm. The addition of La2O3 enhanced the catalytic activity; for example, at 250 °C, there was 40.9% NO conversion and 49.3% N2-selectivity for AuPd/TiO2, and 100% NO conversion and 100% N2-selectivity for AuPd-La (1:1)/TiO2. The temperature requiring 100% NO conversion dropped from 400 °C to 200 °C by the simple post-impregnation of La2O3 onto AuPd/TiO2. In situ diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy (DRIFTS) combined with modulation excitation spectroscopy (MES) demonstrated that CO adsorption occurs first on Au atoms and then, within 80 s, moves onto Pd atoms. This transformation between two adsorption sites was facilitated by the addition of La2O3.

We introduce a novel way of modeling the dependence of coupled lifetimes, for the pricing of joint and survivor annuities. Using a well-known Canadian data set, our results are analyzed and compared with the existing literature, mainly relying on copulas. Based on urn processes and a one-factor construction, the proposed model is able to improve its performances over time, in line with the machine learning paradigm, and it also allows for the use of experts' judgements, to complement the empirical data.

The endophytic bacterium Pantoea agglomerans DAPP-PG 734 was previously isolated from olive knots caused by infection with Pseudomonas savastanoi pv. savastanoi DAPP-PG 722. Whole-genome analysis of this P. agglomerans strain revealed the presence of a Hypersensitive response and pathogenicity (Hrp) type III secretion system (T3SS). To assess the role of the P. agglomerans T3SS in the interaction with P. savastanoi pv. savastanoi, we generated independent knockout mutants in three Hrp genes of the P. agglomerans DAPP-PG 734 T3SS (hrpJ, hrpN, and hrpY). In contrast to the wildtype control, all three mutants failed to cause a hypersensitive response when infiltrated in tobacco leaves, suggesting that P. agglomerans T3SS is functional and injects effector proteins in plant cells. In contrast to P. savastanoi pv. savastanoi DAPP-PG 722, the wildtype strain P. agglomerans DAPP-PG 734 and its Hrp T3SS mutants did not cause olive knot disease in 1-year-old olive plants. Coinoculation of P....

Machine learning tasks in the audio domain frequently require large datasets with training data. Over the last years, numerous datasets have been made available for various purposes, for example, (Snyder, Chen, & Povey, 2015) and (Ardila et al., 2019). Unfortunately, most of the datasets are stored in widely differing formats. As a consequence, machine learning practitioners have to convert datasets into other formats before they can be used or combined. Furthermore, common tasks like reading, partitioning, or shuffling of datasets have to be developed over and over again for each format and require intimate knowledge of the formats. We purpose Audiomate, a Python toolkit, to solve this problem. Audiomate provides a uniform programming interface to work with numerous datasets. Knowledge about the structure or on-disk format of the datasets is not necessary. Audiomate facilitates and simplifies a wide range of tasks: • Reading and writing of numerous dataset formats using a uniform...

The implementation of policies that directly promote carbonneutrality is considered a key factor for combating climate change. The testing of the concept of Responsible Research and Innovation at the scale of communities remains limited. Thus, we first investigate the degree to which RRI is embedded in local communities. Second, we explore the question of how RRI promotes responsible innovation using a multi-stakeholder perspective. This research deploys a mixed-methods research design focusing on the municipality of Thalwil in Switzerland. Our method corresponds to the quadruple helix of innovation, involving actors from business, politics/administration, academic institutions and civil society. Data is derived from 20 semi-structured stakeholder interviews, a focus group discussion with 15 stakeholders, a stakeholder workshop with 25 stakeholders and complemented by a document analysis and a social network analysis. Findings are assessed using transcription and coding methods as w...

The Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA) system installed on every wind turbine collects performance and condition data from various components of the turbine in time intervals of 10 minutes. The data is stored and has been used primarily for performance monitoring (identifying losses in the power production) until now. Realizing that this vast amount of historical data from all turbines has a much bigger potential, Nispera decided to launch an innovation project to harvest this potential and offer its clients a new platform for automated detection and localization of technical anomalies and faults in various turbine components. Early detection of faults allows for an intelligent planning of maintenance activities, leading to considerable reduction in the Operation and Maintenance (O&M) expenses of the wind farm operator. “Predictive maintenance” approaches start to replace reactive and preventive approaches to maintenance in a large variety of application fields, rang...

In this paper a Ground Speed Measuring System which can measure the ground speed over the ground in three dimensions is proposed. The system uses two Kalman filters to compute the final ground speed based on the readings from its various sensors. The proposed solution combines state of the art techniques from different fields of sensor technology and will be incorporated into the high-performance driverless vehicle after completion of this project. The findings and learnings of developing this system are discussed and an evaluation of the module is presented. In the end, the system can accurately estimate a test vehicle’s ground speed during system field tests.

Es wird ein energieautarkes, elektronisches Werkzeugbuch für Produktionswerkzeuge von Spritzgussmaschinen vorgestellt. Die Energie für die Überwachung wird aus der Temperaturdifferenz zwischen einem beheizten Werkzeug und der Umgebung durch einen thermoelektrischen Generator gewonnen. Mit der gewonnenen Energie werden Sensoren sowie ein System on Chip und ein E-Paper versorgt. Prozessparameter werden überwacht und Grenzüberschreitungen detektiert. Die gesammelten Daten werden gespeichert und können zu einem späteren Zeitpunkt über Bluetooth Low Energy mit einer Android Applikation ausgelesen werden. Durch die Überwachung der Prozessparameter kann der Zustand des Werkzeugs und die Einhaltung der Prozessparameter durch Subunternehmen sichergestellt werden.