Monolithic surface acoustic wave resonator oscillator

A monolithic surface acoustic wave (SAW) resonator operating at 156 MHz, in which the frequency controlling element is a Fabry–Perot type of SAW resonator and the gain element is a monolithic SAW amplifier (SiOx/InSb/SiOx structure located inside the SAW resonator cavity) is described and experimental details presented. Based on the existing experimental data, an uhf monolithic ring resonator oscillator is proposed. Journal of Applied Physics is copyrighted by The American Institute of Physics.

Mass transfer effects on the generalised vortex flow over a stationary surface with or without magnetic field

The effect of injection and suction on the generalised vortex flow of a steady laminar incompressible fluid over a stationary infinite disc with or without magnetic field under boundary-layer approximations has been studied. The coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations governing the self-similar flow have been numerically solved using the finite-difference scheme. The results indicate that the injection produces a deeper inflow layer and de-stabilises the motion while suction or magnetic field suppresses the inflow layer and produces stability. The effect of decreasingn, the parameter characterising the nature of vortex flow, is similar to that of increasing the injection rate.

Surface electronic structure of the high-Tc oxides

Electron energy loss spectroscopy (EELS) has been employed to monitor surface conductivity changes in YBa2Cu3O7 as a function of temperature. Concomitant use of x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) establishes that the formation of oxygen dimers with lowering of temperature is accompanied by a simultaneous increase of surface conductivity.

Temperature dependence of the surface conductivity of YBa2Cu3O7−δ accompanying the change in the concentration of dimerized oxygen holes

The intensity of inelastically scattered electrons measured by electron energy loss spectroscopy has been employed to monitor the surface conductivity of YBa2Cu3O6.9 as a function of temperature. The study shows a drastic change in surface conductivity precedes the superconducting transition at 90K. The increase in surface conductivity is accompanied by the formation of dimerized holes in the oxygen derived p-band. This phenomenon is not observed in the non-superconducting YBa2Cu3O6.2.

Acoustic-surface-wave generation along a cylindrical plasma column surrounded by a compressible gas

Acoustic surface waves can be generated along the plasma column in pressure equilibrium with a gas blanket in the presence of the uniform axial magnetic field. Unlike the case of volume-acoustic-wave generation in the magnetoplasma reported recently, the threshold magnetic field required for the generation of acoustic surface waves increases with increasing gas pressure.

Impact of tillage and residues from rotation crops on the nematode community in soil and surface mulch during the following sugarcane crop.

The impact of three cropping histories (sugarcane, maize and soybean) and two tillage practices (conventional tillage and direct drill) on plant-parasitic and free-living nematodes in the following sugarcane crop was examined in a field trial at Bundaberg. Soybean reduced populations of lesion nematode (Pratylenchus zeae) and root-knot nematode (Meloidogyne javanica) in comparison to previous crops of sugarcane or maize but increased populations of spiral nematode (Helicotylenchus dihystera) and maintained populations of dagger nematode (Xiphinema elongatum). However the effect of soybean on P zeae and M. javanica was no longer apparent 15 weeks after planting sugarcane, while later in the season, populations of these nematodes following soybean were as high as or higher than maize or sugarcane. Populations of P zeae were initially reduced by cultivation but due to strong resurgence tended to be higher in conventionally tilled than direct drill plots at the end of the plant crop. Even greater tillage effects were observed with M. javanica and X. elongatum, as nematode populations were significantly higher in conventionally tilled than direct drill plots late in the season. Populations of free-living nematodes in the upper 10 cm of soil were initially highest following soybean, but after 15, 35 and 59 weeks were lower than after sugarcane and contained fewer omnivorous and predatory nematodes. Conventional tillage increased populations of free-living nematodes in soil in comparison to direct drill and was also detrimental to omnivorous and predatory nematodes. These results suggest that crop rotation and tillage not only affect plant-parasitic nematodes directly, but also have indirect effects by impacting on natural enemies that regulate nematode populations. More than 2 million nematodes/m(2) were often present in crop residues on the surface of direct drill plots. Bacterial-feeding nematodes were predominant in residues early in the decomposition process but fungal-feeding nematodes predominated after 15 weeks. This indicates that fungi become an increasingly important component of the detritus food web as decomposition proceeds, and that that the rate of nutrient cycling decreases with time. Correlations between total numbers of free-living nematodes and mineral N concentrations in crop residues and surface soil suggested that the free-living nematode community may provide an indication of the rate of mineralisation of N from organic matter.

Commercial application of polychaete sand filters for wastewater remediation and broodstock feeds

Summary Prototype sand-worm filtration beds were constructed at two prawn farms and one fish farm to assess and demonstrate their polychaete (marine worm) production and wastewater remediation capacities at semi-commercial scale. Wastewater treatment properties were monitored and worms produced were assessed and either sold for bait or used by the farms’ hatcheries as broodstock (prawn or fish breeder) feed. More than 34 megalitres of prawn- and fish-pond water was beneficially treated in the 116-319-d trial. The design of the polychaete-assisted sand filters (PASFs) constructed at each farm affected their water handling rates, which on average ranged from 315 to 1000 L m-2 d-1 at the three farms. A low profile design incorporating shallow bunded ponds made from polyethylene liner and timber stakes provided the easiest method of construction. This simple design applied at broad scale facilitated the highest quantities of treated water and the greatest worm production. Designs with higher sides increased the head pressure above the sand bed surface, thus increasing the amount of water that could be treated each day. Most water qualities were affected in a similar way to that demonstrated in the previous tank trials: dissolved oxygen, pH, total suspended solids and chlorophyll a levels were all consistently significantly lowered as pond water percolated through the sand bed, and dissolved forms of nitrogen and phosphorus were marginally increased on several occasions. However, unlike the previous smaller-scale tank trials, total nitrogen (TN) and total phosphorus (TP) levels were both significantly lowered by these larger-scale PASFs. The reasons for this are still unclear and require further research. Maximum TN and TP removals detected in the trial were 48.8% and 67.5%, respectively, and average removals (in unfed beds) at the three farms ranged from 20.0 to 27.7% for TN and from 22.8 to 40.8% for TP. Collectively, these results demonstrate the best suspended solids, chlorophyll and macronutrient removal capacities so far reported for any mariculture wastewater treatment methodology to date. Supplemental feeding of PASFs with fish meal was also investigated at one farm as a potential means of increasing their polychaete biomass production. Whilst fed beds produced higher biomass (152 ± 35 g m-2) compared with unfed beds (89 ± 17 g m-2) after 3.7 months of operation, the low number of replicates (2) prevented statistically significant differences from being demonstrated for either growth or survival. At harvest several months later, worm biomass production was estimated to be similar to, or in slight excess of, previously reported production levels (300-400 g m-2). Several qualities of filtered water appear to have been affected by supplemental feeding: it appeared to marginally lower dissolved oxygen and pH levels, and increased the TN and TP levels though not so much to eliminate significant beneficial water treatment effects. Periodic sampling during an artificial-tide demonstrated the tendency for treated-water quality changes during the first hour of filtration. Total nitrogen and ammonia peaked early in the tidal flow and then fell to more stable levels for the remainder of the filtration period. Other dissolved nutrients also showed signs of this sand-bed-flushing pattern, and dissolved oxygen tended to climb during the first hour and become more stable thereafter. These patterns suggest that the routine sampling of treated water undertaken at mid-inflow during the majority of the wider study would likely have overestimated the levels of TN and dissolved nutrients discharged from the beds, and hence underestimated the PASFs treatment efficacies in this regard. Analyses of polychaete biomass collected from each bed in the study revealed that the worms were free from contamination with the main prawn viruses that would create concerns for their feeding to commercial prawn broodstock in Australia. Their documented proximal and nutritional contents also provide a guide for hatchery operators when using live or frozen stock. Their dry matter content ranged from 18.3 to 22.3%, ash ranged from 10.2 to 14.0%, gross energy from 20.2 to 21.5 MJ kg-1, and fat from 5.0 to 9.2%. Their cholesterol levels ranged from 0.86 to 1.03% of dry matter, whilst total phospholipids range from 0.41 to 0.72%. Thirty-one different fatty acids were present at detectable (≥0.005% of dry matter) levels in the sampled worm biomass. Palmitic acid was by far the most prevalent fatty acid detected (1.21 ± 0.18%), followed by eicosapentaenoic (EPA) (0.48 ± 0.03%), stearic (0.46 ± 0.04%), vaccenic (0.38 ± 0.05%), adrenic (0.35 ± 0.02%), docosadienoic (0.28 ± 0.02%), arachidonic (AA) (0.22 ± 0.01%), palmitoleic (0.20 ± 0.04%) and 23 other fatty acids with average contents of less than 0.2% of dry matter. Supplemental feeding with fish meal at one farm appeared to increase the docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) content of the worms considerably, and modify the average AA : EPA : DHA from 1.0 : 2.7 : 0.3 to 1.0 : 2.0 : 1.1. Consistent with previous results, the three most heavily represented amino acids in the dry matter of sampled worms were glutamic acid (8.5 ± 0.2%), aspartic acid (5.5 ± 0.1%) and glycine (4.9 ± 0.5%). These biomass content results suggest that worms produced in PASF systems are well suited to feeding to prawn and fish broodstock, and provide further strong evidence of the potential to modify their contents for specific nutritional uses. The falling wild-fishery production of marine bloodworms in Queensland is typical of diminishing polychaete resources world-wide and demonstrates the need to develop sustainable production methods here and overseas. PASF systems offer the dual benefits of wastewater treatment for environmental management and increased productivity through a valuable secondary crop grown exclusively on waste nutrients.

Best management practices for sustainable and safe playing surface of Australian Football League sports fields

In 2002, AFL Queensland and the Brisbane Lions Football Club approached the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries (Queensland) for advice on improving their Premier League sports fields. They were concerned about player safety and dissatisfaction with playing surfaces, particularly uneven turf cover and variable under-foot conditions. They wanted to get the best from new investments in ground maintenance equipment and irrigation infrastructure. Their sports fields were representative of community-standard, multi-use venues throughout Australia; generally ‘natural’ soil fields, with low maintenance budgets, managed by volunteers. Improvements such as reconstruction, drainage, or regular re-turfing are generally not affordable. Our project aimed to: (a) Review current world practice and performance benchmarks; (b) Demonstrate best-practice management for community-standard fields; (c) Adapt relevant methods for surface performance testing; (d) Assess current soils, and investigate useful amendments; (e) Improve irrigation system performance; and (e) Build industry capacity and encourage patterns for ongoing learning. Most global sports field research focuses on elite, sand-based fields. We adjusted elite standards for surface performance (hardness, traction, soil moisture, evenness, sward cover/height) and maintenance programs, to suit community-standard fields with lesser input resources. In regularly auditing ground conditions across 12 AFLQ fields in SE QLD, we discovered surface hardness (measured by Clegg Hammer) was the No. 1 factor affecting player safety and surface performance. Other important indices were turf coverage and surface compaction (measured by penetrometer). AFLQ now runs regularly audits affiliated fields, and closes grounds with hardness readings greater than 190 Gmax. Aerating every two months was the primary mechanical practice improving surface condition and reducing hardness levels to < 110 Gmax on the renovated project fields. With irrigation installation, these fields now record surface conditions comparable to elite fields. These improvements encouraged many other sporting organisations to seek advice / assistance from the project team. AFLQ have since substantially invested in an expanded ground improvement program, to cater for this substantially increased demand. In auditing irrigation systems across project fields, we identified low maintenance (with < 65% of sprinklers operating optimally) as a major problem. Retrofitting better nozzles and adjusting sprinklers improved irrigation distribution uniformity to 75-80%. Research showed that reducing irrigation frequency to weekly, and preparedness to withhold irrigation longer after rain, reduced irrigation requirement by 30-50%, compared to industry benchmarks of 5-6 ML/ha/annum. Project team consultation with regulatory authorities enhanced irrigation efficiency under imposed regional water restrictions. Laboratory studies showed incorporated biosolids / composts, or topdressed crumb rubber, improved compaction resistance of soils. Field evaluations confirmed compost incorporation significantly reduced surface hardness of high wear areas in dry conditions, whilst crumb rubber assisted turf persistence into early winter. Neither amendment was a panacea for poor agronomic practices. Under the auspices of the project Trade Mark Sureplay®, we published > 80 articles, and held > 100 extension activities involving > 2,000 participants. Sureplay® has developed a multi-level curator training structure and resource materials, subject to commercial implementation. The partnerships with industry bodies (particularly AFLQ), frequent extension activities, and engagement with government/regulatory sectors have been very successful, and are encouraged for any future work. Specific aspects of sports field management for further research include: (a) Understanding of factors affecting turf wear resistance and recovery, to improve turf persistence under wear; (b) Simple tests for pinpointing areas of fields with high hardness risk; and (c) Evaluation of new irrigation infrastructure, ‘water-saving’ devices, and irrigation protocols, in improving water use and turf cover outcomes.

Surface oxidation of cadmium, indium, tin and antimony by photoelectron and Auger spectroscopy

Surface oxidation of Cd, In, Sn and Sb has been investigated by employing valence bands, metal 4d levels and plasmon bands in X-ray photoelectron spectra. O(KLL), metal M4N45N45, and plasmon transitions in electron-induced Auger spectra as well as Auger transitions due to the metal (metal oxide) and plasmons in X-ray-induced Auger spectra. The surface oxides are In2O4, CdO and a mixture of SnO and SnO2 in the case of In. Cd and Sn respectively. The facility of surface oxidation is found to vary as In>Cd>Sn>Sb. Inter-atomic Auger transitions involving oxygen valence bands have been identified on oxidized surfaces of Cd and In.

XPS and XAES studies of surface segregation and oxidation of Cu-Ge alloy

Surface segregation of Ge is seen in the Cu-5at%Ge alloy with an activation enthalpy equal to 17 kJ/mol. Oxidation of the alloy in the temperature range 400 to 600 K shows the formation of Cu2O and GeO which on further heating in vacuum at 650 K converts to GeO2 with the reduction of Cu2O to Cu.

Baker's yeast expressing the Japanese encephalitis virus envelope protein on its cell surface: induction of an antigen-specific but non-neutralizing antibody response

Live recombinant Saccharomyces cerevisiae yeast expressing the envelope antigen of Japanese encephalitis virus (JEV) on the outer mannoprotein layer of the cell wall were examined for their ability to induce antigen-specific antibody responses in mice. When used as a modelantigen, parenteral immunization of mice with surface-expressing GFP yeast induced a strong anti-GFP antibody response in the absence of adjuvants. This antigen delivery approach was then used for a more stringent system, such as the envelope protein of JEV, which is a neurotropic virus requiring neutralizing antibodies for protection.Although 70% of cells were detected to express the total envelope protein on the surface by antibodies raised to the bacterially expressed protein, polyclonal anti-JEV antibodies failed to react with them. In marked contrast, yeast expressing the envelope fragments 238-398, 373-399 and 373-500 in front of a Gly-Ser linker were detected by anti-JEV antibodies as well as a monoclonal antibody but not by antibodies raised to the bacterially expressed protein. Immunization of mice with these surface-expressing recombinants resulted in a strong antibody response. However, the antibodies failed to neutralize the virus, although the fragments were selected based on neutralizing determinants.

Surface segregation and oxidation studies of Cu-Sn and Cu-Pd alloys by x-ray photoelectron and auger spectroscopy

X-ray photoelectron and Auger spectroscopic techniques have been employed to study surface segregation and oxidation of Cu-1 at%Sn, Cu-9at%Pd and Cu-25at%Pd alloys. Both Cu-Pd(9%) and Cu-Pd(25%) alloys show segregation of Cu when heated above 500 K. The Pd concentration was reduced by 50% at 750 K compared to the bulk composition; the enthalpy of segregation of Cu is around - 6kJ/mol. Sn segregation is seen from 470 to 650 K in the Cu-Sn(1%) alloy, and a saturation plateau of Sn concentration above 650 K is observed. Surface oxidation of Cu-Sn(1%) and Cu-Pd(9%) alloys at 500 K showed the formation of Cu2O on the surface with total suppression of Sn or Pd on the respective alloy surfaces. On vacuum annealing the oxidised Cu-Sn alloy surface at 550 K, a displacement reaction 2Cu2O+Sn→4Cu+SnO2 was observed. However, under similar annealing of the oxidised Cu-Pd(9%) alloy surface at 500 K, oxide oxygen was totally desorbed leaving the Cu-Pd alloy surface clean. In the case of the Cu-Pd(25%) alloy, only dissociatively chemisorbed oxygen was seen at 500 K which desorbed at the same temperature. Oxygen spill-over from copper to palladium is suggested as the mechanism of oxygen desorption from the oxidised Cu-Pd alloy surfaces.

X-ray photoelectron spectra and Auger studies of the surface oxidation of cobalt

Surface oxidation of Co has been investigated at different temperatures in the 300–600 K range at oxygen exposures upto 106 L by XPES and AES techniques. In the XPES, both the valence band and core level bands have been employed to monitor the oxidation while in the AES, metal Auger intensity ratios as well as O(KLL)/Co(L23M45M45) ratios have been examined. Only CoO is formed on the surface at high oxygen exposures at and above 500 K.

Surface waves in the presence of external high frequency fields

The system equations of a collisionless, unmagnetized plasma, contained in a box where a high frequency (h.f.1 electric field is incident, are solved in the electrostatic approximation. The surface modes of the plasma in the semi-infinite and box geometry are investigated. In the high frequency limit, the mode frequencies are not significantly changed by the h.f. field but their group velocities can be quite different. Two long wavelength low frequency modes, which are not excited in the absence of h.f. field, are found. These modes are true surface modes (decaying on one wavelength from the surface) unlike the only low frequency ion acoustic mode in the zero field case. In the short wavelength limit the low frequency mode occurs at &/2, oi being the ion plasma frequency, a result similar to the case of no h.f. field.

Rise Time of a Surface-Acoustic-Wave Resonator

This paper presents the results of the rise time calculation of a SAW resonator. The total rise time is given by rise time = [(rise time of cavity)2 + (rise time of reflectors)2 + (rise time of IDT) 2 ]. 1/2 These rise times are calculated in terms of the effective length of the cavity , the characteristics of the reflector, and the number of finger pairs in the IDT. The rise time of a 38 MHz one-port resonator on Y-Z LiNb03 calculated using this approach is found to be in good agreement with experimental results .