I'm convinced the Rossi patent works. The problem is that there are additional variables that we do not understand that make successful replication very spotty. A small number of replicators seem to have produced excess heat using Ni-LiAlH4 pretty much with the first attempt -- Parkhomov, Songsheng, Songsheng's assistant, Stepanov, and others. Of course I'm personally aware of MANY other replicators who have produced very, very little or ZERO excess heat after many attempts. I think throwing nickel and LiAlH4 in a reactor without considering how to control many different variables (cleanliness of the nickel, how to pre-process the nickel, controlling the pressure in the reactor, etc) is a recipe for failure most of the time. However, the successful tests prove the patent CAN indeed work. I just think the patent is vague and doesn't make it overly simple for someone "skilled in the art" to replicate -- unless they get lucky right away.
If you are convinced based on the studies you site, then maybe you could reconsider. There are serious problems with all of those studies. There are many problems with Parkhomov's work, but not the least of which is that others repeatedly found null results even using his same nickel source. None of the others conducted a proper calibration, except for Songsheng's assistant I believe. It is still not convincing given the low COP.
I will look at the Stepanov stuff when I can.
They failed to report any data on calibration. I asked them personally (through email) whether they had performed one and got no response to that question.