Phosphorescent molecular metal complexes in heterojunction solar cells

Bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells have been developed intensively over the last two decades due to the cheap, flexible devices which may be obtained although their efficiency is below that of other emerging solar cell technologies such as dye-sensitized and perovskite solar cells. Molecular organometallic phosphors are noted for their triplet harvesting ability which has produced highly efficient organic light-emitting devices however triplet harvesting presents an equally appealing route to improve the efficiency of BHJ devices. The results of studies using molecular phosphors as dopants in very small loadings can yield large increases in short circuit currents and power conversion efficiency and demonstrate that improvements in solar cell performance may be obtained by this approach

Importance of Livestock Production from Grasslands for National and Local Food and Nutritional Security in Developing Countries

Grazing lands cover more than a quarter of the world’s land surface, often on land that is unsuitable for other forms of use. Despite the perception that productivity is inherently low, the contribution of grasslands in food security in developing countries is significant. However the challenges of spatial and temporal variability of primary productivity need to be managed and mobility of livestock is key to this. Appropriate land management and governance arrangements are essential for facilitating this mobility and for creating the circumstances in which technical options for reducing variability and risk in livestock keeping can be deployed and to allow more commercially-oriented systems to develop

Studies on the body composition of beef cows

Suckler cow management systems generally require cows to be dependent on their body reserves of energy and protein at some stage of the production cycle. In nutritional studies with suckler cows it is therefore important that the rate of use or replenishment of body reserves be considered with contemporary nutrition. This requires the quantification of body reserves and hence a means of measuring body composition in the live animal.The methods available for the estimation of in vivo body composition in animals are reviewed and a number of techniques (live weight, skeletal size, total body water as estimated by deuterium oxide dilution, blood and red cell volumes as estimated by Evans Blue dilution, ultrasonic measurement of subcutaneous fat depth and eye-muscle area, and body condition scoring) were examined using 73 non-pregnant, non-lactating cows of five genotypes (Hereford x Friesian, Blue-Grey, Galloway, Luing and British Friesian) ranging in body condition score from 0.75-4.5. Direct measurement of body composition in terms of water, fat, protein and ash were made following slaughter.Live weight, deuterium oxide dilution, ultrasonic measurement of subcutaneous fat depth and eye-muscle area, and body condition scoring were all considered to be potentially useful predictors of body composition, but a combination of techniques offered a better prediction than did any single index. Using a combination of techniques it was possible to predict body fat and protein with residual standard deviations of 13.1 kg and 3.15 kg respectively.Body composition changes were also examined, and it was calculated that the composition of empty body-weight change was dependent upon empty body weight, containing more fat and less water, protein and ash at higher empty body weights.Important breed differences were found in the partition of fat among the main adipose tissue depots, with the Friesian cows having a greater proportion of fat in the internal depots and a lower proportion in the subcutaneous depot. The implications of breed differences in fat partition are discussed in relation to in vivo body composition measurement.An ancillary study was carried out into the effects of body condition on maintenance requirements and on the use of blood metabolites to measure energy status in suckler cows. This indicated that body condition affected maintenance requirements to the extent that at 500 kg live weight, maintenance requirements were 8 MJ ME/day less for each unit increase in condition score. Plasma free fatty acids were shown to be particularly useful in assessing energy status in cows, but 3-hydroxybutyrate concentrations were of little value in non-pregnant, non-lactating animals.Finally, the conclusions of the two studies are discussed in relation to areas of study likely to prove useful in the development of efficient systems of suckled calf production

Memorandum: The Impact of UK Common Frameworks on the Devolution Settlement

No abstract available

Memorandum: The Impact of UK Common Frameworks on the Devolution Settlement

No abstract available

Potential for livelihood improvement through livestock development in Jharkhand

This report presents the results of an appraisal study of the livestock sector in the state of Jharkhand, India. In particular it summarizes the opportunities for livelihood improvement and employment generation through livestock development based on information collected in four districts, Ranchi, Godda, East Singhbhum and Palamu, and presents some recommendations for research and development interventions

Experimental Simulation of Volatile Organic Contributions to Planetary Atmospheres and Surfaces

We present the results of a new simulation of the atmospheric entry heating experienced by extraterrestrial dust particles, quantifying their volatile loss into the early Earth atmosphere and characterising their organic volatile components