Description of radiation damage in diamond sensors using an effective defect model

The BCML system is a beam monitoring device in the CMS experiment at the LHC. As detectors poly-crystalline diamond sensors are used. Here high particle rates occur from the colliding beams scattering particles outside the beam pipe. These particles cause defects, which act as traps for the ionization, thus reducing the CCE. However, the loss in CCE was much more severe than expected. The reason why in real experiments the CCE is so much worse than in laboratory experiments is related to the rate of incident particles. At high particle rates the trapping rate of the ionization is so high compared with the detrapping rate, that space charge builds up. This space charge reduces locally the internal electric field, which in turn increases the trapping rate and hence reduces the CCE even further. In order to connect these macroscopic measurements with the microscopic defects acting as traps for the ionization charge the TCAD simulation program SILVACO was used. Two effective acceptor and donor levels were needed to fit the data. Using this effective defect model the highly non- linear rate dependent diamond polarization as function of the particle rate environment and the resulting signal loss could be simulated

A logic for model-checking of mean-field models

Recently, many systems consisting of a large number of interacting objects were analysed using the mean-field method, which has only been used for performance evaluation. In this short paper, we apply it to model checking. We define logic, which allows to describe the overall properties of the large system

Harvesting our fertilisers from the sea - an approach to close the nutrient gaps in organic farming

Organic production in Europe is currently dependent on the input of fertilisers derived from conventional agriculture, such as farmyard manure, slurry and fertilisers derived from slaugther residues. A significant part of the nutrient flows in our food systems goes in one direction, from land to sea, via sewage and leaching. Harvesting marine organisms for fertilisation, or utilising residual materials e.g. from fish industry as fertilisers, may close such nutrient gaps and promote active cycling of nutrients. At NORSØK, we are studying the use of algae fibre (rich in potassium (K), magnesium and sulphur) and fishbones (rich in nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P)) as fertilisers. High yields were produced with fishbones, and the short-term N availablity was much higher than for mineral N fertiliser or dried poultry manure. Plants with a long period of nutrient uptake benefited from algae fertiliser. However, seaweeds contain significant amounts of arsenic (As), and easily available K may impact a balanced mineral content in the food or feed product. Excess P in the fishbones may cause eutrophication if this fertiliser is applied to cover the N demands of the crop. Research is needed to make a well balanced fertiliser

The role of disposable inhalers in pulmonary drug delivery

Introduction: There is increasing interest in the pulmonary route for both local and systemically acting drugs, vaccines and diagnostics and new applications may require new inhaler technology to obtain the most therapeutically and/or cost-effective administration. Some of these new applications can benefit from the use of disposable inhalers. Areas covered: Current trends in pulmonary drug delivery are presented in this review as well as the possible contribution of disposable inhalers to the improvement of pulmonary administration therein. Arguments in favour of disposable inhalers and the starting points for development of devices and their formulations are discussed. Also, a brief review of the state of the art regarding current disposable inhaler development is given. Expert opinion: Prerequisites for the use of disposable inhalers, particularly dry powder inhalers, in applications such as childhood vaccination and for preventing or stopping pandemic outbreaks of highly infectious diseases (like influenza, bird flu, SARS) are that they are simple, cheap and effective. Not only do the devices have to be simple in design, but the drug formulations should also be cheap. This may require a different approach as the formulation may not need to be adapted to improve the inhaler must be designed to enhance formulation dispersion

Pulmonary

For adequate pulmonary drug therapy, choosing the appropriate type of inhaler is just as important as selecting the right type of drug. This chapter on pulmonary drug delivery devices provides the background knowledge that is required for making a suitable inhaler choice and giving a proper instruction for its adequate use. Different types of inhalers may be available for the same type of drug and the prescriber has to ascertain that the requirements for correct operation match the cognitive, inspiratory and mechanical skills of the patient. To make a good choice and give the correct instructions for use, the instructor therefore has to know the working principle of various pulmonary drug delivery devices, understand the mechanisms that govern aerosol deposition in the respiratory tract, be able to interpret different aerosol characterisation definitions correctly and know how to operate selected devices best for an optimal therapy. This chapter aims to familiarize instructors with this complex matter.</p

Pulmonary

For adequate pulmonary drug therapy, choosing the appropriate type of inhaler is just as important as selecting the right type of drug. This chapter on pulmonary drug delivery devices provides the background knowledge that is required for making a suitable inhaler choice and giving a proper instruction for its adequate use. Different types of inhalers may be available for the same type of drug and the prescriber has to ascertain that the requirements for correct operation match the cognitive, inspiratory and mechanical skills of the patient. To make a good choice and give the correct instructions for use, the instructor therefore has to know the working principle of various pulmonary drug delivery devices, understand the mechanisms that govern aerosol deposition in the respiratory tract, be able to interpret different aerosol characterisation definitions correctly and know how to operate selected devices best for an optimal therapy. This chapter aims to familiarize instructors with this complex matter.</p

Pulmonary

For adequate pulmonary drug therapy, choosing the appropriate type of inhaler is just as important as selecting the right type of drug. This chapter on pulmonary drug delivery devices provides the background knowledge that is required for making a suitable inhaler choice and giving a proper instruction for its adequate use. Different types of inhalers may be available for the same type of drug and the prescriber has to ascertain that the requirements for correct operation match the cognitive, inspiratory and mechanical skills of the patient. To make a good choice and give the correct instructions for use, the instructor therefore has to know the working principle of various pulmonary drug delivery devices, understand the mechanisms that govern aerosol deposition in the respiratory tract, be able to interpret different aerosol characterisation definitions correctly and know how to operate selected devices best for an optimal therapy. This chapter aims to familiarize instructors with this complex matter.</p

Pulmonary

For adequate pulmonary drug therapy, choosing the appropriate type of inhaler is just as important as selecting the right type of drug. This chapter on pulmonary drug delivery devices provides the background knowledge that is required for making a suitable inhaler choice and giving a proper instruction for its adequate use. Different types of inhalers may be available for the same type of drug and the prescriber has to ascertain that the requirements for correct operation match the cognitive, inspiratory and mechanical skills of the patient. To make a good choice and give the correct instructions for use, the instructor therefore has to know the working principle of various pulmonary drug delivery devices, understand the mechanisms that govern aerosol deposition in the respiratory tract, be able to interpret different aerosol characterisation definitions correctly and know how to operate selected devices best for an optimal therapy. This chapter aims to familiarize instructors with this complex matter.</p