Space allowances for confined livestock and their determination from allometric principles

The amount of space provided to animals governs important elements of their behaviour and, hence, is critical for their health and welfare. We review the use of allometric principles and equations to estimate the static space requirements of animals when standing and lying, and the space required for animals to feed, drink, stand-up and lie-down. We use the research literature relating to transportation and intensive housing of sheep and cattle to assess the validity of allometric equations for estimating space allowances. We investigated these areas because transportation and intensive housing provide points along a continuum in terms of the duration of confinement, (from hours to months) and spatial requirements are likely to increase with increasing duration of confinement, as animals will need to perform a greater behavioural repertoire for long-term survival, health and welfare. We find that, although there are theoretical reasons why allometric relationships to space allowances may vary slightly for different classes of stock, space allowances that have been demonstrated to have adverse effects on animal welfare during transportation correlated well with an inability to accommodate standing animals, as estimated from allometry. For intensive housing, we were able to detect a space allowance below which there were adverse effects on welfare. For short duration transportation during which animals remain standing, a space allowance per animal described by the allometric equation: area (m^2) = 0.020W^0.66, where W = liveweight (kg), would appear to be appropriate. Where it is desirable for all animals to lie simultaneously, then a minimum space allowance per animal described by the allometric equation: area (m^2) = 0.027W^0.66 appears to permit this, given that animals in a group time-share space. However, there are insufficient data to determine whether this allowance onboard a vehicle/vessel would enable animals to move and access food and water with ease. In intensive housing systems, a minimum space allowance per animal described by the allometric equation: area (m^2) = 0.033W^0.66 appears to be the threshold below which there are adverse effects on welfare. These suggested space allowances require verification with a range of species under different thermal conditions and, for transportation, under different conditions of vehicular/vessel stability. The minimum length of trough per animal (L in m) required for feeding and drinking can be determined from L = 0.064W^0.33, with the number of animals required to feed/drink simultaneously taken into account, together with any requirement to minimise competition. This also requires verification with a range of species. We conclude that allometric relationships are an appropriate basis for the formulation of space allowances for livestock.

Note On The Stability Of Parallel Magnetic-Fields - Comment

It is shown that the conclusions arrived at regarding the instability of an incompressible fluid cylinder in the presence of the magnetic field and the streaming velocity in a recent communication easily follow from the study of propagation characteristics of Alfvén surface waves along cylindrical plasma columns made earlier.

A Pulsewidth Modulated Control of Induction Motor Drive Using Multilevel 12-Sided Polygonal Voltage Space Vectors

In this paper, a novel 12-sided polygonal space vector structure is proposed for an induction motor drive. The space vector pattern presented in this paper consists of two 12-sided concentric polygons with the outer polygon having a radius double the inner one. As compared to previously reported 12-sided polygonal space vector structures, this paper subdivides the space vector plane into smaller sized triangles. This helps in reducing the switching frequency of the inverters without deteriorating the output voltage quality. It also reduces the device ratings and dv/dt stress on the devices to half. At the same time, other benefits obtained from the existing 12-sided space vector structure, such as increased linear modulation range and complete elimination of 5th and 7th order harmonics in the phase voltage, are also retained in this paper. The space vector structure is realized by feeding an open-end induction motor with two conventional three-level neutral point clamped (NPC) inverters with asymmetric isolated dc link voltage sources. The neutral point voltage fluctuations in the three-level NPC inverters are eliminated by utilizing the switching state multiplicities for a space vector point. The pulsewidth modulation timings are calculated using sampled reference waveform amplitudes and are explained in detail in this paper. Experimental verification on a laboratory prototype shows that this configuration may be considered suitable for high power drives.

Power system stability implications from electromechanical wave propagation

Electromechanical wave propagation characterizes the first-swing dynamic response in a spatially delayed manner. This paper investigates the characteristics of this phenomenon in two-dimensional and one-dimensional power systems. In 2-D systems, the wave front expands as a ripple in a pond. In 1-D systems, the wave front is more concentrated, retains most of its magnitude, and travels like a pulse on a string. This large wave front is more impactful upon any weak link and easily causes transient instability in 1-D systems. The initial disturbance injects both high and low frequency components, but the lumped nature of realistic systems only permits the lower frequency components to propagate through. The kinetic energy split at a junction is equal to the generator inertia ratio in each branch in an idealized continuum system. This prediction is approximately valid in a realistic power system. These insights can enhance understanding and control of the traveling waves.

High temperature stability of oxysulfides containing Ce3+ and Y3+ ions

Standard Gibbs energies of formation of oxysulfides of cerium and yttrium from their respective oxedes were determined using solid oxide galvanic cells incorporating calcia-stabilized zirconia as the electrolyte in the temperature range 870–1120 K. The sulfur potential over the electrode containing the oxide and oxysulfide was fixed by a buffer mixture of Ag + Ag2S. A small amount of CaH2 was added to the buffer to generate an equilibrium ratio of H2S and H2 species in a closed system containing the buffer and the electrode. The sulfur potential is transmitted to the electrode via the gas phase. The results can be summarized by the equations 2left angle bracketCeO2right-pointing angle bracket+1/2(S2)→left angle bracketCe2O2Sright-pointing angle bracket+(O2) ΔG°=430600−109·7T(±400)J mol−1 left angle bracketY2O3right-pointing angle bracket+1/2(S2)→left angle bracketY2O2Sright-pointing angle bracket+1/2(O2) ΔG°=114780−1·45T(±200)J mol−1 The values are compared with data reported in the literature. The stability field diagram for the Ce---O---S system has been developed using the results of this study for Ce2O2S and data for other phases from the literature.

Correlation Between The Stability Of Carbonates In Ternary Ln2o3-H2o-Co2 Hydrothermal Systems And Lanthanide Systematics

Phase diagrams for ternary Ln2O3-H2O-CO2 systems for the entire lanthanide series (except promethium) were studied at temperatures in the range 100–950 °C and pressures up to 3000 bar. The phase diagrams obtained for the heavier lanthanides are far more complex, with the appearance of a number of stable carbonate phases. New carbonates isolated from lanthanide systems (Ln ≡ Tm, Yb, Lu) include Ln6(OH)4(CO3)7, Ln4(OH)6-(CO3)3, Ln2O(OH)2CO3, Ln6O2(OH)8(CO3)3 and Ln12O7(OH)10(CO3)6. Stable carbonate phases common to all the lighter lanthanides are hexagonal LnOHCO3 and hexagonal Ln2O2CO3. Ln2(CO3)3• 3H2O is stable from samarium onwards and orthorhombic LnOHCO3 is stable from gadolinium onwards. On the basis of the appearance of stable carbonates, four different groups of lanthanides were established: lanthanum to neodymium, promethium to europium, terbium to erbium and thulium to lutetium. Gadolinium is the connecting element between groups II and III. This is in accordance with the tetrad classification for f transition elements.

Behavior Of High-Voltage Machine Insulation System In The Presence Of Thermal And Electrical Stresses

This paper presents the results on a resin-rich machine insulation system subjected to varying stresses such as electrical (2.6 to 13.3 MV/m) and thermal (40 to 155° C) acting together. Accelerated electro-thermal aging experiments subsequently have been performed to understand the insulation degradation The interpretations are based on several measured properties like capacitance, loss tangent, ac resistance, leakage current, and partial discharge quantities. The results indicate that the changes in properties are not significant below a certain temperature for any applied stress, Beyond this temperature large variations are observed even for low electrical stresses. Electrothermal aging studies reveal that the acceleration of the insulation degradation and the ultimate time to failure depends on the relative values of temperature and voltage stresses. At lower temperatures, below critical, material characteristics of the system predominate whereas beyond this temperature, other phenomena come into play causing insulation deterioration. During aging under combined stresses, it appears that the prevailing temperature of the system has a significant role in the insulation degradation and ultimate failure.

An algorithm for optimum control of static VAR compensators to meet phase-wise unbalanced reactive power demands

The operation of thyristor-controlled static VAR compensators (SVCs) at various conduction angles can be used advantageously to meet the unablanced reactive power demands in a system. However, such operation introduces harmonic currents into the AC system. This paper presents an algorithm to evaluate an optimum combination of the phase-wise reactive power generations from SVC and balanced reactive power supply from the AC system, based on the defined performance indices, namely, the telephone influence factor (TIF), the total harmonic current factor (IT) and the distortion factor (D). Results of the studies conducted on a typical distribution system are presented and discussed.

Efficient implementations of a pseudodynamical stochastic filtering strategy for static elastography

A computationally efficient pseudodynamical filtering setup is established for elasticity imaging (i.e., reconstruction of shear modulus distribution) in soft-tissue organs given statically recorded and partially measured displacement data. Unlike a regularized quasi-Newton method (QNM) that needs inversion of ill-conditioned matrices, the authors explore pseudodynamic extended and ensemble Kalman filters (PD-EKF and PD-EnKF) that use a parsimonious representation of states and bypass explicit regularization by recursion over pseudotime. Numerical experiments with QNM and the two filters suggest that the PD-EnKF is the most robust performer as it exhibits no sensitivity to process noise covariance and yields good reconstruction even with small ensemble sizes.

Stay-green wheat for increased yield and yield stability

This project will provide information, germplasm, selection techniques and strategies for breeders to develop high-yielding stay-green wheat cultivars for Australian growers via a "three pronged" research strategy.

Enhancing pasture stability and profitability for producers in Poplar Box and Silver-leaved Ironbark woodlands.

Over 7 years, this project collected data about the pasture, tree and soil surface dynamics of two major Aristida/Bothriochloa pasture types within the eucalypt woodlands of central Queensland. Six different grazing management scenarios were compared ecologically and economically, along with the effects of spring burns and tree killing. Heavy stocking (3-4 ha per adult equivalent) produced the greatest short-term financial return from healthy pastures but was not a sustainable practice and long-term cash returns were no better than those from moderate stocking. The environmental benefits of moderate grazing over heavy grazing were very clear. Light stocking produced better environmental outcomes compared to moderate stocking but was clearly inferior with respect to economic returns. Killing silver-leaved ironbark trees near Rubyvale produced no measurable improvement in pasture growth or quality for at least 6 years whereas at Injune the same treatment of poplar box trees resulted in an immediate and large enhancement in pasture production and carrying capacity. The gritty red duplex soil at Rubyvale was much more erodible than the grey solodic at Injune although the latter becomes very erodible if the stable surface soil is breached. Good seasonal rainfall produced faster changes in pasture composition than extremes of grazing management. The perennial grasses were easier to recruit than to eliminate by grazing management changes.

Analyzing hysteresis behavior of capacitance-voltage characteristics of IZO/C₆₀/pentacene/Au diodes with a hole-transport electron-blocking polyterpenol layer by electric-field-induced optical second-harmonic generation measurement

By using electric-field-induced optical second-harmonic generation (EFISHG) measurement, we analyzed hysteresis behavior of capacitance-voltage (C-V) characteristics of IZO/polyterpenol (PT)/C₆₀/pentacene/Au diodes, where PT layer is actively working as a hole-transport electron-blocking layer. The EFISHG measurement verified the presence of interface accumulated charges in the diodes, and showed that a space charge electric field from accumulated excess electrons (holes) that remain at the PT/C₆₀ (C₆₀/pentacene) interface is responsible for the hysteresis loop observed in the C-V characteristics.

Fabrication and characterization of plasma polymer thin films from monoterpene alcohols for applications in organic electronics and biotechnology

After more than twenty years of basic and applied research, the use of nanotechnology in the design and manufacture of nanoscale materials is rapidly increasing, particularly in commercial applications that span from electronics across renewable energy areas, and biomedical devices. Novel polymers are attracting significant attention for they promise to provide a low−cost high−performance alternative to existing materials. Furthermore, these polymers have the potential to overcome limitations imposed by currently available materials thus enabling the development of new technologies and applications that are currently beyond our reach. This work focuses on the development of a range of new low−cost environmentally−friendly polymer materials for applications in areas of organic (flexible) electronics, optics, and biomaterials. The choice of the monomer reflects the environmentally−conscious focus of this project. Terpinen−4−ol is a major constituent of Australian grown Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil, attributed with the oil's antimicrobial and anti−inflammatory properties. Plasma polymerisation was chosen as a deposition technique for it requires minimal use of harmful chemicals and produces no hazardous by−products. Polymer thin films were fabricated under varied process conditions to attain materials with distinct physico−chemical, optoelectrical, biological and degradation characteristics. The resultant materials, named polyterpenol, were extensively characterised using a number of well−accepted and novel techniques, and their fundamental properties were defined. Polyterpenol films were demonstrated to be hydrocarbon rich, with variable content of oxygen moieties, primarily in the form of hydroxyl and carboxyl functionalities. The level of preservation of original monomer functionality was shown to be strongly dependent on the deposition energy, with higher applied power increasing the molecular fragmentation and substrate temperature. Polyterpenol water contact angle contact angle increased from 62.7° for the 10 W samples to 76.3° for the films deposited at 100 W. Polymers were determined to resist solubilisation by water, due to the extensive intermolecular and intramolecular hydrogen bonds present, and other solvents commonly employed in electronics and biomedical processing. Independent of deposition power, the surface topography of the polymers was shown to be smooth (Rq <0.5 nm), uniform and defect free. Hardness of polyterpenol coatings increased from 0.33 GPa for 10 W to 0.51 GPa for 100 W (at 500 μN load). Coatings deposited at higher input RF powers showed less mechanical deformation during nanoscratch testing, with no considerable damage, cracking or delamination observed. Independent of the substrate, the quality of film adhesion improved with RF power, suggesting these coatings are likely to be more stable and less susceptible to wear. Independent of fabrication conditions, polyterpenol thin films were optically transparent, with refractive index approximating that of glass. Refractive index increased slightly with deposition power, from 1.54 (10 W) to 1.56 (100 W) at 500 nm. The optical band gap values declined with increasing power, from 2.95 eV to 2.64 eV, placing the material within the range for semiconductors. Introduction of iodine impurity reduced the band gap of polyterpenol, from 2.8 eV to 1.64 eV, by extending the density of states more into the visible region of the electromagnetic spectrum. Doping decreased the transparency and increased the refractive index from 1.54 to 1.70 (at 500 nm). At optical frequencies, the real part of permittivity (k) was determined to be between 2.34 and 2.65, indicating a potential low-k material. These permittivity values were confirmed at microwave frequencies, where permittivity increased with input RF energy – from 2.32 to 2.53 (at 10 GHz ) and from 2.65 to 2.83 (at 20 GHz). At low frequencies, the dielectric constant was determined from current−voltage characteristics of Al−polyterpenol−Al devices. At frequencies below 100 kHz, the dielectric constant varied with RF power, from 3.86 to 4.42 at 1 kHz. For all samples, the resistivity was in order of 10⁸−10⁹ _m (at 6 V), confirming the insulating nature of polyterpenol material. In situ iodine doping was demonstrated to increase the conductivity of polyterpenol, from 5.05 × 10⁻⁸ S/cm to 1.20 × 10⁻⁶ S/cm (at 20 V). Exposed to ambient conditions over extended period of time, polyterpenol thin films were demonstrated to be optically, physically and chemically stable. The bulk of ageing occurred within first 150 h after deposition and was attributed to oxidation and volumetric relaxation. Thermal ageing studies indicated thermal stability increased for the films manufactured at higher RF powers, with degradation onset temperature associated with weight loss shifting from 150 ºC to 205 ºC for 10 W and 100 W polyterpenol, respectively. Annealing the films to 405 °C resulted in full dissociation of the polymer, with minimal residue. Given the outcomes of the fundamental characterisation, a number of potential applications for polyterpenol have been identified. Flexibility, tunable permittivity and loss tangent properties of polyterpenol suggest the material can be used as an insulating layer in plastic electronics. Implementation of polyterpenol as a surface modification of the gate insulator in pentacene-based Field Effect Transistor resulted in significant improvements, shifting the threshold voltage from + 20 V to –3 V, enhancing the effective mobility from 0.012 to 0.021 cm²/Vs, and improving the switching property of the device from 10⁷ to 10⁴. Polyterpenol was demonstrated to have a hole transport electron blocking property, with potential applications in many organic devices, such as organic light emitting diodes. Encapsulation of biomedical devices is also proposed, given that under favourable conditions, the original chemical and biological functionality of terpinen−4−ol molecule can be preserved. Films deposited at low RF power were shown to successfully prevent adhesion and retention of several important human pathogens, including P. aeruginosa, S. aureus, and S. epidermidis, whereas films deposited at higher RF power promoted bacterial cell adhesion and biofilm formation. Preliminary investigations into in vitro biocompatibility of polyterpenol demonstrated the coating to be non−toxic for several types of eukaryotic cells, including Balb/c mice macrophage and human monocyte type (HTP−1 non-adherent) cells. Applied to magnesium substrates, polyterpenol encapsulating layer significantly slowed down in vitro biodegradation of the metal, thus increasing the viability and growth of HTP−1 cells. Recently, applied to varied nanostructured titanium surfaces, polyterpenol thin films successfully reduced attachment, growth, and viability of P. aeruginosa and S. aureus.

Stability criteria for single pulse solutions of cw passive mode-locked lasers

The stability of the steady-state solutions of mode-locking of cw lasers by a fast saturable absorber is imvestigated. It is shown that the solutions are stable if the condition (Ps/Pa) = (2/3) (P0Pa) is satisfied, where (Ps/Pa) is the steady-state la ser power, (P0/Pa) is the power at mode-locking threshold, and Pa is the saturated power of the absorber.

Stability of Slopes by Method of Characteristics

The method of characteristics with some simplifying assumptions is made applicable for analyzing a given straight slope. By assuming that the mobilized shear strength varies with depth, and treating the whole soil mass as a series of layers, factors of safety of a given slope at different heights and a series of lines with different mobilized shear strength are obtained. The results show that the factors of safety obtained by the present method are lower than those obtained by friction circle method.