Erhaltung von Streuwiesen durch Ökobetriebe im bayerischen Alpenvorland

Die drei untersuchten Praxisbetriebe zeigen beispielhaft vorbildliche Streugewinnung und Verwertung. Die Streu passt hervorragend in den Betriebskreislauf, senkt die Kosten für Einstreu und stellt einen bescheidenen Beitrag zum Betriebsgewinn dar. Es zeigt sich, dass bei der Planung von Ställen und beim Kauf von Maschinen die Verwendung und Gewin-nung von Streu berücksichtigt werden muss. Eine Umfrage zur Streuwiesenmahd und -nutzung auf Öko-Betrieben im bayerischen Alpenvorland verdeutlicht, dass bei Betrieben, die selbst Streu gewinnen, die ökologische und ökonomische Bedeutung der Streu hoch ist. Allerdings wünschen sich die meisten Betriebe mehr Flexibilität und klare Kompetenz seitens der für die Steuwiesen – Erhaltung zuständigen Behörden. Bei Betrieben, die keine Streu gewinnen, ist die Bereitschaft zur Verwendung von Streu zwar meist vorhanden, allerdings gibt es schlechte Erfahrungen bzw. Vorbehalte hinsichtlich der Qualität (Schimmelbildung). Das Bewusstsein über die ökologische Bedeutung der Streuwiesen ist wenig ausgeprägt. Die Arbeit zeigt, dass durch Qualitätssicherungsmaßnahmen, Bündelung von Angebot und Nachfrage, Schaffung von Bewusstsein über die ökologische Bedeutung der Streuwiesen und durch gezielte Stallbauberatung und Bereitstellung von entsprechendem Informationsmaterial ein Beitrag zur Erhaltung der Streuwiesen im Alpenvorland und damit zum Schutz der einzigartigen Streuwiesenfalter geleistet werden kann

Theoretical Investigation of Carrier-selective Contacts Featuring Tunnel Oxides by Means of Numerical Device Simulation

AbstractRecently, a variety of different n-type Si solar cells with carrier-selective contacts featuring tunnel oxides achieving remarkable cell results has been presented. Theoretical investigations on this topic are rare, especially simulations actually accounting for tunneling through the oxide interlayer. In this work we investigate the influence of different parameters affecting the passivation quality and thus the device performance by means of numerical device simulation. Thereby, a fundamental understanding of solar cells with carrier-selective contacts featuring tunnel oxides is generated which is essential to further develop this promising technology

Verfahrenskosten der Grundfuttererzeugung auf ökologisch wirtschaftenden Betrieben am Beispiel der Anwelksilage

In this paper costs of different production approaches are compared with one another. The figures used are based on findings from the KTBL work programme Calculation Data. Variable costs of 15€ per GJ Net Lactation Energy are achievable on a 20 ha field with very favourable yield levels and using relatively small-scale mechanisation. Further savings are possible by adjusting mechanisation scale to better match the areas being treated. From analysis of the results it became clear that the yield assessments for pasture growth were only seldom applied in practical farming. Additionally, on the farms where the figures were gathered reseeding or over-seeding were seldom carried out

Optical and electrical characterization of poly-Si/SiOx contacts and their implications on solar cell design

Abstract The scope of this paper lies on the phenomenon of free-carrier absorption (FCA) in heavily phosphorus-doped poly-Si layers, applied at solar cells featuring poly-Si/SiO x passivating contacts at the rear. Firstly, FCA is investigated on test structures featuring poly-Si contacts of different thickness and doping level. Secondly, these passivating contacts are integrated into the rear of solar cells featuring a boron-diffused emitter at the front. The infrared (IR) response of the solar cells is analyzed and FCA losses are quantified. In agreement with theory, it is shown that J sc losses due to FCA increase with poly-Si doping level and thickness. For instance, a total J sc loss of ~0.5 mA/cm² is obtained for a 145 nm thick poly-Si layer with a doping concentration of 1.9x10 20 cm -3

N-type Black Silicon Solar Cells

Black silicon is an interesting surface texture for solar cells because of its extremely low reflectance on a wide wavelength range and acceptance angle. In this paper we present how black silicon (b-Si) texturization can be applied on the boron doped front surface of an n-type solar cell resulting in an efficiency of 18.7%. We show that the highly boron doped emitter can be formed on black silicon without losing its good optical properties and that atomic layer deposited aluminum oxide provides good surface passivation on these boron doped b-Si emitters.Peer reviewe

Full-Wafer Roller-NIL Processes for Silicon Solar Cell Texturisation

The highest solar cell efficiencies both for c-Si and mc-Si were reached using template based texturing processes. Especially for mc-Si the benefit of a defined texture, the so called honeycomb texture, was demonstrated impressively. However, up until now, no industrially feasible process has been available to pattern the necessary etching masks with the sufficient resolution. Roller-Nanoimprint Lithography (Roller-NIL) has the potential to overcome these limitations and to allow high quality pattern transfers, even in the sub-micron regime, in continuous in-line processes. Therefore, this etch-mask patterning technique is a suitable solution to bring such elaborate features like the honeycomb texture to an industrial realization. Beyond that, this fast printing-like technology opens up new possibilities to introduce promising concepts like photonic structures into solar cells

Selective endocytosis controls slit diaphragm maintenance and dynamics in Drosophila nephrocytes

The kidneys generate about 180 liters of primary urine per day by filtration of plasma. An essential part of the filtration barrier is the slit diaphragm, a multiprotein complex containing nephrin as major component. Filter dysfunction typically manifests with proteinuria and mutations in endocytosis regulating genes were discovered as causes of proteinuria. However, it is unclear how endocytosis regulates the slit diaphragm and how the filtration barrier is maintained without either protein leakage or filter clogging. Here we study nephrin dynamics in podocyte-like nephrocytes of Drosophila and show that selective endocytosis either by dynamin- or flotillin-mediated pathways regulates a stable yet highly dynamic architecture. Short-term manipulation of endocytic functions indicates that dynamin-mediated endocytosis of ectopic nephrin restricts slit diaphragm formation spatially while flotillin-mediated turnover of nephrin within the slit diaphragm is needed to maintain filter permeability by shedding of molecules bound to nephrin in endosomes. Since slit diaphragms cannot be studied in vitro and are poorly accessible in mouse models, this is the first analysis of their dynamics within the slit diaphragm multiprotein complex. Identification of the mechanisms of slit diaphragm maintenance will help to develop novel therapies for proteinuric renal diseases that are frequently limited to symptomatic treatment

Theory and simulation of quantum photovoltaic devices based on the non-equilibrium Green's function formalism

This article reviews the application of the non-equilibrium Green's function formalism to the simulation of novel photovoltaic devices utilizing quantum confinement effects in low dimensional absorber structures. It covers well-known aspects of the fundamental NEGF theory for a system of interacting electrons, photons and phonons with relevance for the simulation of optoelectronic devices and introduces at the same time new approaches to the theoretical description of the elementary processes of photovoltaic device operation, such as photogeneration via coherent excitonic absorption, phonon-mediated indirect optical transitions or non-radiative recombination via defect states. While the description of the theoretical framework is kept as general as possible, two specific prototypical quantum photovoltaic devices, a single quantum well photodiode and a silicon-oxide based superlattice absorber, are used to illustrated the kind of unique insight that numerical simulations based on the theory are able to provide.Comment: 20 pages, 10 figures; invited review pape

Mutations in KEOPS-Complex Genes Cause Nephrotic Syndrome with Primary Microcephaly

Galloway-Mowat syndrome (GAMOS) is an autosomal-recessive disease characterized by the combination of early-onset nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) and microcephaly with brain anomalies. Here we identified recessive mutations in OSGEP, TP53RK, TPRKB, and LAGE3, genes encoding the four subunits of the KEOPS complex, in 37 individuals from 32 families with GAMOS. CRISPR-Cas9 knockout in zebrafish and mice recapitulated the human phenotype of primary microcephaly and resulted in early lethality. Knockdown of OSGEP, TP53RK, or TPRKB inhibited cell proliferation, which human mutations did not rescue. Furthermore, knockdown of these genes impaired protein translation, caused endoplasmic reticulum stress, activated DNA-damage-response signaling, and ultimately induced apoptosis. Knockdown of OSGEP or TP53RK induced defects in the actin cytoskeleton and decreased the migration rate of human podocytes, an established intermediate phenotype of SRNS. We thus identified four new monogenic causes of GAMOS, describe a link between KEOPS function and human disease, and delineate potential pathogenic mechanisms

Genome-wide association meta-analyses and fine-mapping elucidate pathways influencing albuminuria

Abstract: Increased levels of the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR) are associated with higher risk of kidney disease progression and cardiovascular events, but underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. Here, we conduct trans-ethnic (n = 564,257) and European-ancestry specific meta-analyses of genome-wide association studies of UACR, including ancestry- and diabetes-specific analyses, and identify 68 UACR-associated loci. Genetic correlation analyses and risk score associations in an independent electronic medical records database (n = 192,868) reveal connections with proteinuria, hyperlipidemia, gout, and hypertension. Fine-mapping and trans-Omics analyses with gene expression in 47 tissues and plasma protein levels implicate genes potentially operating through differential expression in kidney (including TGFB1, MUC1, PRKCI, and OAF), and allow coupling of UACR associations to altered plasma OAF concentrations. Knockdown of OAF and PRKCI orthologs in Drosophila nephrocytes reduces albumin endocytosis. Silencing fly PRKCI further impairs slit diaphragm formation. These results generate a priority list of genes and pathways for translational research to reduce albuminuria