Influence of Lamination Conditions of EVA Encapsulation on Photovoltaic Module Durability.

Encapsulation is a well-known impact factor on the durability of Photovoltaics (PV) modules. Currently there is a lack of understanding on the relationship between lamination process and module durability. In this paper, the effects of different lamination parameters on the encapsulant stability due to stress testing have been investigated from both on-site production quality and long-term stability viewpoints. Rather than focusing on single stability factors, this paper evaluates lamination stability using a number of indicators including EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer) curing level, voids generation, chemical stability, optical stability, and adhesion strength. The influences of EVA curing level on the stability of other properties are also discussed. It is shown that laminates stability increases with increasing curing level to an upper limit, beyond which leading to the formation of voids, reduced transmittance stability, discoloration, and unstable interfaces. A minimum gel content is identified but an upper limit should not be surpassed. The best range of gel content for the materials tested here is 84-90%. Samples with gel content below 70% show low chemical and optical stability, weak adhesion strength, and EVA flowing. Laminates with gel content over 92% are more likely to become yellow and are less stable in adhesion.

Outcome of peripheral iridotomy in subjects with uveitis.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Peripheral iridotomy (PI) may be required in subjects with uveitis to manage iris bombe, seclusio pupillae and primary angle closure glaucoma. The aim of this study was to identify risk factors for failure of both laser and surgical PIs in patients with uveitis and determine survival durations. METHODS: Retrospective study of subjects with a history of uveitis undergoing yttrium-aluminium-garnet (YAG) laser or surgical PI at Auckland District Health Board over an 11-year period. Failure of PI was defined as loss of patency or recurrence of iris bombe. A mixed effects shared frailty model was constructed with PI nested within eyes nested within patients, to examine time to failure. RESULTS: 131 PIs were performed in 52 eyes of 39 subjects during the study period (111 YAG PIs and 20 surgical PIs). Median age at time of PI was 46.6 years and 60.5% of subjects were female. HLAB27 positive uveitis was the most common diagnosis (25.6% of subjects). Median survival time was 70 days for YAG PI and 11.0 years for surgical PI. On multivariate analysis, younger age at time of PI (HR 0.933, p<0.001) and iris bombe (HR 2.180, p=0.046) were associated with risk of failure. Surgical PI was associated with a lower risk of failure (HR 0.151, p<0.001) compared with YAG PI. Glaucoma developed in 19 eyes (36.5%), of which 13 required glaucoma surgery. CONCLUSION: Surgical PI had longer survival than YAG PI, and should be considered in subjects presenting with iris bombe and in young subjects with uveitis.

Are Non-Target Honey Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) Exposed to Dinotefuran From Spotted Lanternfly (Hemiptera: Fulgoridae) Trap Trees?

The spotted lanternfly, Lycorma delicatula, is an introduced plant hopper that causes significant damage to host plants in the United States. Because of its affinity for tree of heaven, Ailanthus altissima, control efforts have focused on the use of the systemic insecticide, dinotefuran, in designated trap trees. There is concern about exposure to this pesticide by non-target species, especially honey bees, Apis mellifera, via lanternfly honeydew. Therefore, honey bee colonies were established in areas of high densities of trap trees and samples of honey, bees, and beeswax were collected in May, July, and October of 2017 for analysis. Samples were extracted by the QuEChERS method and analyzed using high-performance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry to determine the presence and quantity of dinotefuran. Additionally, honeydew from lanternflies was analyzed for dinotefuran and informal observations of trap tree visitors were made. None of the worker bee, wax, or honey samples indicated detectable levels of dinotefuran; however, honeydew samples collected did contain dinotefuran above the detection limit with amounts ranging from 3 to 100 ng per sample. The lack of dinotefuran in honey bee products matches the general absence of honey bees at trap trees in informal observations.

SLE dacryoadenitis.

In systemic lupus erythematosus, ophthalmic manifestations are noted in up to one-third of patients. We describe a patient with an unusual initial presentation of this disorder.

Evaluation of newly synthesized and commercially available charged cyclomaltooligosaccharides (cyclodextrins) for capillary electrokinetic chromatography.

A highly new charged cyclodextrin (CD) derivatives, (6-O-carboxymethyl-2,3-di-O-methyl)cyclomaltoheptaoses (CDM-beta-CDs), was synthesized and characterized as anionic reagents for capillary electrophoresis (CE) in an electrokinetic chromatography mode of separation. Substitution with dimethyl groups at the secondary hydroxyl sites of the CD is aimed at influencing the magnitude and selectivity of analyte-CD interactions, while substitution by carboxymethyl groups at the primary hydroxyl sites provides for high charge and electrophoretic mobility. Full regioselective methylation at the secondary hydroxyl sites was achieved in this work, while substitution at the primary hydroxyl sites generated a mixture of multiply charged products. The separation performance of CDM-beta-CD was evaluated using a variety of analyte mixtures. The results obtained from commercially available negatively charged cyclodextrins, heptakis(2,3-di-O-methyl-6-O-sulfo)cyclomaltoheptaose (HDMS-beta-CD) and O-(carboxymethyl)cyclomaltoheptaose (CM-beta-CD) with an average degree of substitution one (DS 1), were compared to CDM-beta-CD using a sample composed of eight positional isomers of dihydroxynaphthalene. Four hydroxylated polychlorobiphenyl derivatives, a group of chiral and isomeric catchecins, and chiral binaphthyl compounds were also separated with CDM-beta-CD. The effect of adding neutral beta-cyclodextrin (beta-CD) into the running buffer containing charged cyclodextrins was investigated and provided evidence of significant inter-CD interactions. Under certain running buffer conditions, the charged cyclodextrins also appear to adsorb to the capillary walls to various degrees.