Research needs and future directions

In this paper, we first briefly describe both the single-channel 1-D model and the more comprehensive 3-D model, with particular emphasis on the comparison of the features included and their capabilities/limitations. We then discuss some examples of model applications to illustrate how the monolith models can be used to provide guidance in emission control system design and implementation. This will be followed by brief discussion of future research needs and directions in catalytic converter modeling, including the development of elementary reaction step-based kinetic models. 

The review is organized as follows. Section 2 defines a systematic framework for fuel cell modeling research, called computational fuel cell dynamics (CFCD), and outlines its four essential elements. Sections 3—5 review work performed in the past decade on PEFCs, DMFCs, and SOFCs, respectively. Future research needs and directions of the three types of fuel cells are pointed out wherever applicable and summarized separately at the end of each section. 

Various directions of future research needs and opportunities are discussed. These directions include the development of theoretical descriptions of the superconducting behavior and formation of high T materials, the synthesis and characterization of such materials, and the fabrication of corresponding wires, fibers, thin films and device structures, with applications such as in microcircuitry. New types of chemistry associated with superconducting solids and surfaces are also suggested. 

This chapter details the technical procedures used to prepare and analyze lake sediment samples for cellulose carbon and oxygen isotope composition, considers important factors in the interpretation of cellulose isotope data, briefly highlights key results from recent applications, and outlines future research needs and directions. 

The purpose of this chapter is to provide a detailed review of separators used in Li-Ion battery applications and their chemical, mechanical, and electrochemical properties. The separator requirements, properties, and characterization techniques are also described with respect to Li-Ion batteries. Despite the widespread use of separators, a great need still exists for improving the performance, increasing its life, and reducing cost. In the following Sections an attempt is made to discuss key issues in various separators with the hope of bringing into focus present and future directions of research and development in separator technologies. 

Decisions affecting the future direction of the organization and its products and services are made from information gleaned through market research. Should this information be grossly inaccurate, over optimistic or pessimistic the result may well be the loss of many customers to the competition. It is therefore vital that objective data is used to make these decisions. The data can be primary data (data collected for the first time during a market research study) or secondary data (previously collected data). However, you need to be cautious with secondary data, as it could be obsolete or have been collected on a different basis than needed for the present study. 

Future needs in support of model validation and performance testing must continue to be in the area of coordinated, well-designed field data collection programs supplemented with directed research on specific topics. The FAT workshop produced a listing of the field data collection and research needs for the air, streams/lakes/estuaries, and runoff/unsaturated/saturated soil media categories, as follows ... 

There are several future directions that NIR brain sensing and imaging research can take. In instrumentation, advances in time-resolve spectroscopic equipment may yield less expensive equipment and thus a more prolific use. This will allow for approximation of time of flight parameter providing a possible avenue for inferring path length. Theoretically, there is a need for better theoretical modeling to eliminate crosstalk noise. Possible improvements have already been introduced by Boas, et. al [8]. However, more human subject studies need to be conducted to... 

Future directions for research on hypericum may continue the work done in clinical efficacy. More specifically, studies may be of interest that examine its effects in treatment of more severe depression and different subtypes of depression. The comparative efficacy of different hypericum preparations could be further investigated, and optimum dosages need to be established (Linde et al. 1996). Further work is needed to compare hypericum s efficacy and side effects with those of the SSRIs or atypical antidepressants, because published studies to date have only compared it with tricyclics. 

The theoretical basis of light-induced antimicrobial treatment is described, followed by examples of its application for the cleaning and disinfection of surfaces. All available information supports the idea that PDT could offer a very efficient and cost-effective way to combat microbial contamination of foods. The advantages and pit-falls of the technique are discussed. Directions of future research needed for bringing the technology to commercial reality are identified. 

The difficult task of examining the role of catalysis in coal liquefaction has been taken on by Mochida and Sakanishi. They show the catalytic requirements in various stages of coal conversion and the many complex interactions of the catalyst with coal constituents. They also point out directions for future catalysis research needed for more economical coal liquefaction, a commendable feature for processes requiring a long lead time. 

In principle, quantum-chemical theory should be able to provide precise quantitative descriptions of molecular structures and their chemical properties however, due to mathematical and computational complexities this seems unlikely to be realized in the foreseeable future. Thus, researchers need to rely on approximate methods that have now become routine and have found wide applications. In many cases, errors due to the approximate nature of quantum-chemical calculations and the neglect of the solvation effects are largely transferable within structurally related series (Karelson and Lobanov, 1996). Thus, relative values of calculated descriptors can be meaningful even though their absolute values are not directly applicable. 

Assessors should base their selection of methods on clearly defined decision criteria, and they need to communicate the results using clear and transparent language. This includes statements on the extrapolation issues that were considered but not addressed, and the magnitude and direction of the bias that may have been introduced by the extrapolation or lack thereof. In lower tiers and prospective risk assessment, this should lead to setting more appropriate UFs and ensure that lower tier approaches are more conservative than higher tier approaches. All this helps assessors to make informed decisions, on one hand, but it also allows the identification of future research needs, on the other hand, especially when methods are not available. 

Areas of uncertainty, future directions, and the resulting research needs are summarized in Chapter 8, and a Glossary of terms is provided in Chapter 9. This is followed by the last chapter, 10, a stand-alone document that offers practical guidance suitable to several levels of users, from those in the laboratory to those making the risk management decisions. This chapter is less detailed in discussing extrapolation... 

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