48 research outputs found
Determination of complex dielectric functions of ion implanted and implantedâannealed amorphous silicon by spectroscopic ellipsometry
Measuring with a spectroscopic ellipsometer (SE) in the 1.8â4.5 eV photon energy region we determined the complex dielectric function (Ï” = Ï”1 + iÏ”2) of different kinds of amorphous silicon prepared by selfâimplantation and thermal relaxation (500â°C, 3 h). These measurements show that the complex dielectric function (and thus the complex refractive index) of implanted aâSi (iâaâSi) differs from that of relaxed (annealed) aâSi (râaâSi). Moreover, its Ï” differs from the Ï” of evaporated aâSi (eâaâSi) found in the handbooks as Ï” for aâSi. If we use this Ï” to evaluate SE measurements of ion implanted silicon then the fit is very poor. We deduced the optical band gap of these materials using the DavisâMott plot based on the relation: (Ï”2E2)1/3 ⌠(Eâ Eg). The results are: 0.85 eV (iâaâSi), 1.12 eV (eâaâSi), 1.30 eV (râaâSi). We attribute the optical change to annihilation of point defects
Carbon Dioxide Production in Animal Houses: A Literature Review
This article deals with carbon dioxide production from farm animals; more specifically, it addresses the possibilities of using the measured carbon dioxide concentration in animal houses as basis for estimation of ventilation flow (as the ventilation flow is a key parameter of aerial emissions from animal houses). The investigations include measurements in respiration chambers and in animal houses, mainly for growing pigs and broilers.Over the last decade a fixed carbon dioxide production of 185 litres per hour per heat production unit, hpu (i.e. 1000 W of the total animal heat production at 20 oC) has often been used. The article shows that the carbon dioxide production per hpu increases with increasing respiration quotient. As the respiration quotient increases with body mass for growing animals, the carbon dioxide production per heat production unit also increases with increased body mass. The carbon dioxide production is e.g. less than 185 litres per hour per hpu for weaners and broilers and higher for growing finishing pigs and cows.The analyses show that the measured carbon dioxide production is higher in full scale animal houses than measured in respiration chambers, due to differences in manure handling. In respiration chambers there is none or very limited carbon dioxide contribution from manure; unlike in animal houses, where a certain carbon dioxide contribution from manure handling may be foreseen. Therefore, it is necessary to make a correction of data from respiration chambers, when used in full scale animal buildings as basis for estimation of ventilation flow. Based on the data reviewed in this study, we recommend adding 10% carbon dioxide production to the laboratory based carbon dioxide production for animal houses with slatted or solid floors, provided that indoor manure cellars are emptied regularly in a four weeks interval. Due to a high and variable carbon dioxide production in deep straw litter houses and houses with indoor storage of manure longer than four weeks, we do not recommend to calculate the ventilation flow based on the carbon dioxide concentration for these houses
Fully three-dimensional sound speed-corrected multi-wavelength photoacoustic breast tomography
Photoacoustic tomography is a contrast agent-free imaging technique capable
of visualizing blood vessels and tumor-associated vascularization in breast
tissue. While sophisticated breast imaging systems have been recently
developed, there is yet much to be gained in imaging depth, image quality and
tissue characterization capability before clinical translation is possible. In
response, we have developed a hybrid photoacoustic and ultrasound-transmission
tomographic system PAM3. The photoacoustic component has for the first time
three-dimensional multi-wavelength imaging capability, and implements
substantial technical advancements in critical hardware and software
sub-systems. The ultrasound component enables for the first time, a
three-dimensional sound speed map of the breast to be incorporated in
photoacoustic reconstruction to correct for inhomogeneities, enabling accurate
target recovery. The results demonstrate the deepest photoacoustic breast
imaging to date namely 48 mm, with a more uniform field of view than hitherto,
and an isotropic spatial resolution that rivals that of Magnetic Resonance
Imaging. The in vivo performance achieved, and the diagnostic value of
interrogating angiogenesis-driven optical contrast as well as tumor mass sound
speed contrast, gives confidence in the system's clinical potential.Comment: 33 pages Main Body, 9 pages Supplementary Materia
Composition, potential emissions and agricultural value of pig slurry from Spanish commercial farms
[EN] Pig slurry is a valuable fertilizer for crop
production but at the same time its management may
pose environmental risks. Slurry samples were collected
from 77 commercial farms of four animal categories
(gestating and lactating sows, nursery piglets and
growing pigs) and analyzed for macronutrients,
micronutrients, heavy metals and volatile fatty acids.
Emissions of ammonia (NH3) and biochemical methane
potential (BMP) were quantified. Slurry electrical
conductivity, pH, dry matter content and ash content
were also determined. Data analysis included an
analysis of correlations among variables, the development
of predictionmodels for gaseousemissions and the
analysis of nutritional content of slurries for crop
production. Descriptive information is provided in this
work and shows a wide range of variability in all studied
variables. Animal category affected some physicochemical
parameters, probably as a consequence of
different slurry management and use of cleaning water.
Slurries from gestating sows and growing pigs tended to
be more concentrated in nutrients, whereas the slurry
from lactating sows and nursery piglets tended to be
more diluted. Relevant relationships were found among
slurry characteristics expressed in fresh basis and gas
emissions. Predictivemodels using on-farmmeasurable
parameterswere obtained forNH3 (R2 = 0.51) andCH4
(R2 = 0.76), which suggests that BMP may be estimated
in commercial farms from easily determined
slurry characteristics. Finally, slurry nutrient composition
was highly variable. Therefore, complete analyses
of slurries should be performed for an effective and
environmental friendly land application.This project was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (AGL2011-30023) and the Valencian Government (ACOMP/2013/118). We thank the BABEL Project, Building Academic Bonds between Europe and Latin America. Erasmus Mundus Programme Action 2 for PhD fellowships. The translation of this paper was funded by the Universitat Politecnica de Valencia, Spain.Antezana-Julian, WO.; Blas, CD.; GarcĂa-Rebollar, P.; RodrĂguez, C.; Beccaccia, A.; Ferrer Riera, P.; Cerisuelo, A.... (2016). Composition, potential emissions and agricultural value of pig slurry from Spanish commercial farms. Nutrient Cycling in Agroecosystems. 104(2):159-173. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10705-016-9764-3S1591731042Aarnink AJA, Verstegen MWA (2007) Nutrition, key factor to reduce environmental load from pig production. 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