Blue frontiers: managing the environmental costs of aquaculture

The report begins with an overview of the current status of world aquaculture. It then goes on to describe an approach for estimating the current combined biophysical resource demands of aquaculture for producer countries and regions. Following a comparison of these results with those available for other animal food production sectors the report then examines the consequences of likely future trends in production on the environmental impacts of aquaculture. Finally, the policy implications of the report’s findings are discussed along with the research agenda that should be pursued to meet the challenge of sustainable food production.

Rare earth doped beta-diketone complexes as promising high-density optical recording materials for blue optoelectronics

Some kinds of rare earth beta-diketone complexes with blue-violet light absorption edge were synthesized using the ligands of thenoyltrifluoroacctone (HTTA), 2, 2'-dipyridyl (BIPY) and different metal ions (Gd3+, Sm3+ and La3+). Their contents, structures and optoelectronic parameters were monitored by elemental analysis, MS, IR and UV spectra. The solubility of rare earth beta-diketone complexes in 2, 2, 3, 3-tetrafluoro-1-propanol (TFP) and absorption properties of their films in the region 300-800 nm were measured. The influence on the difference of absorption maximum from rare earth beta-diketone complexes to beta-diketone ligand by different metal ions was studied. In addition, the thermal stability of rare earth beta-diketone complexes was also reported. (C) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Design and construction of a static tester for blue ray optical storage

Blue ray optical storage is one of the important trends in the area of information storage, and attracts a number of researchers. Static tester for blue ray optical storage plays an important role in storage media research. We designed and constructed a static tester, in which modularization makes it very convenient to expand function. Employment of modulation/demodulation technique weakens test error so as to increase test precision. Focus move mode and the nano-positioners facilitate the relocation of recording marks. Only one laser with wavelength 406.7 nm is used. In this paper, system design and characteristics are represented in detail, and some experimental results are also given to show that the static tester can perform successfully, acting as research platform for blue ray optical storage. (c) 2005 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Analysis on a new type magneto-optical disk for blue lasers

The conventional TbFeCo magneto-optical (MO) medium has a relatively smaller Kerr rotation angle in the blue region than in the red. With the recording wavelength gradually moving to the short wavelength, if TbFeCo is still used as recording medium, the conventional MO disk structure must be optimized to get a larger carrier to noise ratio (CNR). Sabi et al. have found that adding a metal layer attached to the TbFeCo film as thermal control layer is a useful way to get a high CNR. In this paper, we proved this through calculation, and carried out optimization of the new type of disk. Calculation results showed that the new structure is useful in preventing an excessive temperature increase, and has a better thermal response. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Synthesis, spectroscopic and thermal properties of nickel (II)-azo complexes with blue-violet light wavelength

A novel azo dye containing isoxazole ring and beta-diketone derivative (TIAD) and its two nickel (II) complexes (Ni (II)-ETIAD and Ni (II)-HTIAD) were synthesized in order to obtain a blue-violet light absorption and better thermal stability as a promising organic storage material for next generation of high density digital versatile disc-recordable (HD-DVD-R) systems that uses a high numerical aperture of 0.85 at 405 nm wavelength. Their structures were confirmed on the basis of elemental analysis, MS, FT-IR, UV-Vis and magnetic data. Their solubility in 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoro-1-propanol (TFP) and absorption properties of thin film were measured. The difference of absorption maximum from the complexes to their ligands was discussed. In addition, the TG analysis of the complexes was also determined, and their thermal stability was evaluated. (C) 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

SbOx thin films used for write-once blue laser recording

SbOx thin films are deposited by reactive dc-magnetron sputtering from all antimony metal target in Ar+O-2 with the relative O-2 content 7%. It is found that the as-deposited films call represent a two-component system comprising amorphous Sb and amorphous Sb2O3. The crystallization of Sb is responsible for the changes of optical properties of the films. The results of the static, test show that the SbOx thin films have good writing sensitivity for blue laser beams and the recording marks are very clear and circular. High reflectivity contrast of about 41% is obtained at a writing power 6 mW and writing pulse width 300 ns. In addition, the films show a good stability after reading 10000 times.

Write-once blue laser recording using silicon doped SbOx thin films prepared by reactive dc-magnetron sputtering

Si:SbOx films have been deposited by reactive dc-magnetron sputtering from a Sb target with Si chips attached in Ar + O-2 with the relative O-2 content 7%. The as-deposited films contained Sb metal, Sb2O3, SiO, Si2O3 and SiO2. The crystallization of Sb was responsible for the changes of optical properties of the films. The results of the blue laser recording test showed that the films had good writing sensitivity for blue laser beam (406.7 nm), and the recording marks were still clear even if the films were deposited in air 60 days, which demonstrated that doping silicon in SbOx films can improve the stability of SbOx films. High reflectivity contrast of about 36% was obtained at a writing power 6 mW and writing pulse width 300 ns. (c) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Write-once medium with Fe-Doped BiOx thin films for blue laser recording

Fe:BiOx films are fabricated on K9 glass substrates by rf-magnetron sputtering of a BiFeO target under argon atmosphere with increasing sputtering power from 80 to 200 W at room temperature. It is found that the thin films grown at the sputtering power of 160W can be formed at an appropriate deposition rate and have an improved surface morphology. The XPS result reveals that the films investigated are comprised of Bi, Fe and O elements. A typical XRD pattern shows that no phase transition occurs in the films up to 400 degrees C. The results of the blue laser recording test demonstrate that the Fe:BiOx films have good writing sensitivity for blue laser beam (406.7 nm) and good stability after reading 10000 times. The recording marks of 200nm or less are obtained. These results indicate that the introduction of Fe into BiOx films can reduce the mark size and improve the stability of the films.

Compact continuous-wave blue lasers by direct frequency doubling of laser diodes with periodically poled lithium niobate waveguide crystals

A compact continuous-wave blue laser has been demonstrated by direct frequency doubling of a laser diode with a periodically poled lithium niobate (PPLN) waveguide crystal. The optimum PPLN temperature is near 28 degreesC, and the dependence of waveguide crystals on crystal temperature is less sensitive than that of bulk crystals. A total of 14.8 mW of 488-nm laser power has been achieved. (C) 2005 Optical Society of America.

Physiological Determinants of Invasive Success Linking Distribution Patterns to Metabolic Physiology in Native and Invasive Blue Mussels (genus Mytilus)

In the early 20th century, a blue mussel species from the Mediterranean invaded the California coast and subsequently out-competed the native species south of Monterey Bay. Like other invasive species, Mytilus galloprovincialis has physiological traits that make it successful in habitats formerly occupied by the native M. trossulus, namely its adaptation to warm sea surface temperatures. This study looks at the current genotype distributions and enzymatic activities of field-acclimatized mussels within the hybrid zone where the species co-occur as well as mussels that have been acclimated for four weeks to different temperature and salinity conditions. In the field-acclimatized and laboratory-acclimated mussels, the native species exhibited significantly higher enzyme rates, which may reflect an evolutionary adaptation to compensate to low habitat temperatures. Indeed, the results of the laboratory acclimation indicate that these differences are genetically based. Whether an acclimation capacity exists may require even longer-term acclimation to different temperatures. Current findings suggest that the further spread of the invasive species is likely to be governed in large measure by the potentially counteracting effects of rising temperatures, which would favor the northerly spread of M. galloprovincialis, and increased winter precipitation, which would favor the persistence of M. trossulus. However, the success of M. galloprovincialis during acclimation to ‘dilute’ salinity (25 ppt) suggests that the invasive species can tolerate a greater salinity range than previously thought. Thus, further investigation is needed to build a comprehensive predictive model of the movement of M. galloprovincialis and the hybrid zone along the California coast.

Mechanisms of Yb3+ sensitization to Tm3+ for blue upconversion luminescence in fluorophosphate glass

The sensitization mechanisms of Yb3+ to Tm3+ for the blue upconversion luminescence in fluorophosphate glass were studied. Two different mechanisms exist in the sensitization. One is the sequential sensitization that Tm3+ is excited from H-3(6) to (1)G(4) through absorbing three photons transferred from Yb3+ one by one. Another is the cooperative sensitization that two Yb3+ ions form a couple cluster firstly, and then the couple cluster Yb3+ ions transfer their energy to Tm3+ and excite it to (1)G(4). With the increment of the concentration of Yb3+ ions, the sequential sensitization becomes weak and the cooperative sensitization becomes intense, and the transformation trend of sensitization mechanism with the increment of Yb3+ concentration can be clarified by the introduction of Th3+ ions in the glass. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Blue upconversion Luminescence in Tm3+/Yb3+-Codoped New Oxyfluoride Tellurite Glass

The thermal stability, Raman spectrum and upconversion properties of Tm^(3+)/Yb^(3+) co-doped new oxyfluoride tellurite glass are investigated. The results show that Tm^(3+)/Yb^(3+) co-doped oxyfluoride tellurite glass possesses good thermal stability, lower phonon energy, and intense upconversion blue luminescence. Under 980-nm laser diode (LD) excitation, the intense blue (475 nm) emission and weak red (649 nm) emission corresponding to the 1G4 -> 3H6 and 1G4 -> 3F4 transitions of Tm^(3+) ions respectively, were simultaneously observed at room temperature. The possible upconversion mechanisms are evaluated. The intense blue upconversion luminescence of Tm^(3+)/Yb^(3+) co-doped oxyfluoride tellurite glass can be used as potential host material for the development of blue upconversion optical devices.

Intense blue up-conversion luminescence in Tm3+/Yb3+ codoped oxyfluoride glass-ceramics containing beta-PbF2 nanocrystals

Up-conversion luminescence properties of a Tm3+/Yb3+ codoped oxyfluoride glass-ceramics under 980nm excitation are investigated. Intense blue emission centered at 476nm, corresponding to (1)G(4) -> H-3(6) transitions of Tm3+ was simultaneously observed in the transparent oxyfluoride glass ceramics at room temperature. The intensity of the blue up-conversion luminescence in a 1 mol% YbF3-containing glass-ceramic was found to be about 40 times stronger than that in the precursor oxyfluoride glass. The reason for the intense TM3+ up- conversion luminescence in the oxyfluoride glass-ceramics is discussed. The dependence of up-conversion intensities on excitation power and possible up-conversion mechanism are also evaluated. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

UV-blue upconverted emission from Nd3+-doped InF3-based heavy-metal fluoride glasses for blue upconversion fibre laser

We report spectral properties and thermal stability of Nd3+-doped InF3-based heavy-metal fluoride glasses. Fluoroindate glasses in the chemical compositions (in mol%) of (38-x)InF3-16BaF(2)-20ZnF(2)-20SrF(2)-3GdF(3)-1GaF(3-)2NaF-xNdF(3) (x = 0.1, 0.5, 1, 2, 3) have been prepared under a controlled atmosphere in a dry box. Strong UVblue upconversion emission from a green excitation wavelength has been observed and the involved mechanisms have been explained. Near-infrared emission occurs simultaneously upon excitation of the UV-blue upconversion emissions with a cw Ar(+)laser. The upconversion spectra have revealed four dominant emissions at 354, 380, 412 and 449 nm, which belong to the transitions of D-4(3/2) -> I-4(9/2), D-4(3/2) -> I-4(11/2) and P-2(3/2) -> I-4(9/2), D-4(3/2) -> I-4(13/2) and P-2(3/2) -> I-4(11/2), D-4(3/2) -> I-4(15/2) and P-2(3/2) -> I-4(13/2), respectively.

Blue emission from Eu2+ -doped high silica glass by near-infrared femtosecond laser irradiation

Eu2+-doped high silica glass (HSG) is fabricated by sintering porous glass which is impregnated with europium ions. Eu2+-doped HSG is revealed to yield intense blue emission excited by ultraviolet (UV) light and near-infrared femtosecond laser. The emission profile obtained by UV excitation can be well traced by near-infrared femtosecond laser. The upconversion emission excited by 800 nm femtosecond laser is considered to be related to a two-photon absorption process from the relationship between the integrated intensity and the pump power. A tentative scheme of upconverted blue emission from Eu2+-doped HSG was also proposed. The HSG materials presented herein are expected to find applications in high density optical storage and three-dimensional color displays. (c) 2008 American Institute of Physics.