Optimizing crop loading of apples and pears - results 2004-2006 (foliar fertilizers, thinning)

Main topics of the research-project FuE 03OE088 of “Bundesprogramm Ökologischer Landbau” (30.04.2004-31.12.2006) were the testing of foliar fertilizers in organic apples and pears, optimizing lime sulphur for blossom thinning, looking for alternatives to lime sulphur for blossom thinning and looking at different combinations of thinning measures. Only the results of testing foliar fertilizers (carried out by KoGa Ahrweiler and OVB/ÖON Jork) and combinations of thinning measures (carried out by LVWO Weinsberg) are described in this article. Over three years only a small increase in yield was evaluated for the fertilizers Aminosol PS and Wuxal Ascofol (site Ahrweiler, apple variety ‘Elstar’). In Jork (apple variety ‘Holsteiner Cox’) yield could only be judged in 2005 and 2006. Wuxal Ascofol showed some advantage in comparison to the control. At pear variety ‘Conference’ no clear tendencies could be seen, the control had the highest yield. In 2005 the fruitsetting of ‘Conference’ was very low because of bad conditions during blossom

Dipolar Bose-Einstein condensate of Stationary-Light Dark-state Polaritons

We put forward and discuss in detail a scheme to achieve Bose-Einstein condensation of stationary-light dark-state polaritons with dipolar interaction. To this end we have introduced a diamond-like coupling scheme in a vapor of Rydberg atoms under the frozen gas approximation. To determine the system's dynamics we employ normal modes and identify the dark-state polariton corresponding to one of the modes. We show that in contrast to atomic dipolar ultra-cold vapors dark-state polariton Bose-Einstein condensates proposed here can be stable for a negative dipolar interaction constant.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figur

Designing and Constructing a Fireplace

The purpose of this project was to develop my design and construction skills by using them to create a fireplace in my home. This project depicts the process of building a fireplace cabinet and mantle and contains a written description and photos of the process and outcomes. The steps of the process are explained from purchasing the tools to the final coat of paint

A van Hemmen-Kondo model for disordered strongly correlated electron systems

We present here a theoretical model in order to describe the competition between the Kondo effect and the spin glass behavior. The spin glass part of the starting Hamiltonian contains Ising spins with an intersite exchange interaction given by the local van Hemmen model, while the Kondo effect is described as usual by the intrasite exchange $J_K$. We obtain, for large $J_K$ values, a Kondo phase and, for smaller $J_K$ values, a succession, with decreasingComment: 14 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

An analytical approach to toxic substance replacement in support of pollution prevention

In support of pollution prevention and in accordance with Executive Order 12356 concerning pollution prevention, all federal agencies must comply with the Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) chemical release reduction and pollution prevention planning. The inventory lists hundreds of chemicals and choosing those to replace and finding actual replacement chemicals or procedures is not always clear. This study focuses on an analytical approach to this problem by understanding the application of two substances. The representative chemicals are two volatile organic compounds (VOC), ethyl ether and ethanol, used as solvents in ammunition manufacturing. Thirteen military specifications provide the cases involving ether. Ethanol\u27s use as the solvent for shellac in a primer lacquer is characterized in the laboratory. Due to interest in substituting acetone for ethanol, an acetone based primer lacquer is fabricated and tested in comparison to its ethanol counterpart. The results form the basis for broader application and chemical change

Assessing the economic impact of aircraft noise on communities

The impact of aircraft noise on communities is complex and multi-dimensional. This matter cannot be resolved without careful analysis of a complex array of related problems and issues including the environment, the economy, and quality-of-life concerns of people living in proximity to airports or aircraft routes. The effects of community noise are widespread and varied. Impacts can include sleep and speech interference, activity interference, general annoyance, and property value decrease. In order to improve public policy and provide a foundation for additional research, it is imperative to establish the extent of a problem. Dollars are often the least common denominator in distinguishing the magnitude of an impact. This research addresses this problem in terms of the cost of noise impact to an order-of-magnitude. It is extremely difficult to measure and price accurately most of these impacts. However, this dissertation evaluates, in dollars, the cost of aircraft noise to communities and provides possible strategies to mitigate negative consequences of that noise. The economic effect on the community is derived from the impact of aircraft noise on residential real estate values and the reduction of student proficiency rates on standard assessment tests. It is assumed that noise is an inconvenience to the community and a symptom of airport related issues that include not only the quality-of-life of citizens, but also the economic well-being of the community and region at-large. It must be recognized that airports provide and facilitate economic growth and prosperity for a region. Directly and indirectly, the aircraft industry provides jobs, wages, and airport-related regional sales. Presently, there are no universally accepted cost models and virtually all-existing models assess real estate impact as the primary cost concern. The primary thesis goal is not to find a precise value for the cost of aircraft noise, but rather to establish a rationale for utilizing and quantifying criteria in order to assess the cost of noise to communities. This, in turn, may assist in developing public policy to address the expanded concerns related to aircraft noise