Search Results (9)

Many piglet-producing farms are facing poor reproductive performance, yet their characteristics remain poorly understood. This study aimed to identify factors contributing to reproductive disorders based on information easily identifiable through an oral survey. Therefore, forty Austrian piglet producing farms (35–2000 sows) were surveyed using a questionnaire mainly addressing management, treatment and prophylaxis. Five key performance indicators (KPIs) were defined to assess farm productivity: farrowing rate, return-to-estrus rate, abortion rate, total piglets born per litter, and piglets weaned per litter. Farrowing rates were significantly higher in larger farms (r = 0.368; p = 0.019), PRRS-negative farms (r = 0.415; p = 0.008), and farms that did not clean the vulva before artificial insemination (r = 0.357; p = 0.024). Return-to-estrus rates were significantly higher in smaller farms (r = −0.431; p = 0.006), farms with more vaginal discharge after farrowing (r = 0.397; p = 0.011), those not using hormonal farrowing induction (r = 0.339; p = 0.033), and farms with older teaser boars (r = 0.385; p = 0.039). Larger farms had more piglets born per litter (r = 0.342; p = 0.031) and weaned more piglets (r = 0.391; p = 0.013). Weaned piglet numbers were also higher in farms with all-in/all-out implementation in farrowing pens (r = 0.353; p = 0.026), with restricted access of other animal species to the barn (r = 0.366; p = 0.028) and hormonal farrowing induction (r = 0.348; p = 0.028). Common well-established strategies for improving fertility performance like evaluation of body temperature after farrowing, antimicrobial, and hormonal treatments showed limited relevance. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and to identify additional factors influencing reproductive performance of sows. Full article

Polymer-based nanocomposites have demonstrated significant strategic value in dielectric energy storage systems due to their tunable high energy density and rapid charge–discharge efficiency. Poly(arylene ether nitrile) (PEN), owing to its superior thermal stability, high mechanical strength, chemical corrosion resistance, and outstanding dielectric properties, exhibits distinct advantages in the field of high-performance dielectric energy storage devices. This review focuses on key strategies for enhancing the dielectric energy storage performance of PEN-based composites, emphasizing molecular engineering approaches, microstructural design, the multiscale interface regulation mechanisms within composite systems, and the optimization of the dielectric constant (ε_r) and breakdown strength (E_b) through thermal stretching. Furthermore, the potential of PEN-based polymer composites in energy storage devices is highlighted, and future research directions are proposed, including the establishment of a dynamic balance mechanism between dielectric/insulating properties and the development of novel composite systems that offer both high energy storage density and stability. These advancements will provide the material foundation for the miniaturization and intellectualization of advanced pulse power equipment. Full article

High-density nitrogen plasma was produced using a high-power pulsed power modulator to sputter titanium targets for the preparation of titanium nitride film. The high-power pulsed sputtering discharge unit consisted of two targets facing each other with the same electrical potential. The titanium target plates were used as target materials with dimensions of 60 mm length, 20 mm height, and 5 mm thickness. The gap length was set to be 10 mm. The magnetic field was created with a permanent magnet array behind the targets. The magnetic field strength at the gap between the target plates was 70 mT. The electrons were trapped by the magnetic and electric fields to enhance the ionization in the gap. The nitrogen and argon gases were injected into the chamber with 4 Pa gas pressure. The applied voltage to the target plates had an amplitude from −600 V to −1000 V with 600 μs in pulse width. The target current was approximately 10 A with the consumed power of 13 kW. The discharge sustaining voltage was almost constant and independent of the applied voltage, in the same manner as the conventional normal glow discharge. The ion density and electron temperature at the surface of the ionization region were obtained as 1.7 × 10¹⁹ m⁻³ and 3.4 eV, respectively, by the double probe measurements. The vertical distribution of ion density and electron temperature ranged from 1.1 × 10¹⁷ m⁻³ (at 6 cm from the target edge) to 1.7 × 10¹⁹ m⁻³ and from 2.4 eV (at 6 cm from the target edge) to 3.4 eV, respectively. From the emission spectra, the intensities of titanium atoms (Ti I), titanium ions (Ti II), and nitrogen ions (N₂⁺) increased with increasing input power. However, the intensities ratio of Ti II to Ti I was not affected by the intensities from N₂⁺. Full article

Glow discharge (GD) source gained an increased level of attention in relation to the analysis of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) since past work showed that this soft ionization method allowed direct analysis of VOCs with minimal fragmentation, however, the issue of fragmentation was not previously studied in detail. The aim of the present work was to investigate the effect of discharge conditions on VOC fragmentation in the system consisting of the cell with pulsed glow discharge and a time-of-flight mass spectrometer. Ionization of VOCs of different classes (hydrocarbons, alcohols, esters, and carboxylic acids) was investigated. A copper cathode with flat geometry was used. VOCs were ionized in the afterglow of short pulse glow discharge in the air. The use of discharge afterglow significantly reduces or eliminates the effects of ionization mechanisms other than Penning process, in particular, electron ionization. This significantly reduced VOC fragmentation and provided rather low limits of detection. Specific cluster formation was observed for alcohols and esters, which may facilitate their identification. Full article

Transportation of horses to slaughterhouses can pose a welfare concern, in particular when horses are unbroken/unhandled. This study aimed to describe their journeys and journey conditions, document their welfare status on arrival in a slaughterhouse in Italy, and investigate possible associations between journey conditions and welfare issues. A total of 395 unbroken draft horses in 20 different consignments were assessed with a standardized protocol. The most common departure point (16/20 consignments, 80%) was a French assembly center, but many of these horses had Spanish passports, suggesting they had previously been transported from Spain to France. The average journey duration was 34 ± 14 h, including journey breaks (i.e., short stops inside the vehicle and long resting stops at control posts), while transit time was 24 ± 4 h. The drivers were well experienced, the trucks were well equipped (i.e., forced ventilation, drinkers), and the horses traveled loose in small groups (n ≤ 4 horses) within pens inside the vehicle. On arrival at the slaughterhouse, the horses self-unloaded and showed minimal behavioral and health problems. The prevalence of injuries, diarrhea/abnormal feces, and nasal discharge were 1.52%, 6.58%, and 4.30%, respectively. Cold temperatures, space allowance, and lack of feeding during transport were found to be the main hazards of those problems (all p < 0.05). Our findings confirm that the correct assessment of the fitness for transport, adequate journey conditions, and experienced staff are crucial factors to safeguard the welfare of unbroken horses during long journeys. Full article

Carbon nitride materials have received much attention due to their excellent tribological, mechanical and optical properties. It was found that these qualities depend on the N/C ratio; therefore, the possibility to control it in situ in the sputtered film is of high importance. The plasma-electron spectroscopy method based on the Penning ionization process analysis is developed here to control this ratio in CN_x films produced by plasma-sputtering in a pulsed-periodic regime of glow discharge. The electron energy distribution function is determined by the means of a single Langmuir probe placed in the center of the discharge tube. The mixture N₂:CH₄:He was used in the process of sputtering. The applied concentrations of CH₄ varied in the range of 2–8%, and He concentration was 80–90%. The gas pressure in the discharge tube used for sputtering varied between 1 and 10 Torr, and the current was between 10 and 50 mA. It was shown that the proposed method enables the extraction of information on the composition of the surface layer of the investigated film and the development of an on-line inspection, without extracting the film from the sputtering chamber. Full article

There are long-standing and ongoing concerns about the welfare of animals in the Australian live export trade by sea. However, scrutiny of animal welfare on board vessels is generally hindered by a lack of independent reporting. Cattle voyages from Australia to China have concerned animal welfare advocates due to their long duration and lack of consistent veterinary oversight. In April 2018, following a media exposé of animal cruelty and declining public trust, the Australian government installed Independent Observers on some live export voyages. Summaries of Independent Observer (IO) reports by the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources (DAWR) provided a new and independent source of information about management of animals in the live export trade. The IO summaries on live cattle export voyages to China for the period July 2018 to December 2019 (n = 37) were reviewed. The IO summaries detailed voyages that carried 147,262 slaughter, feeder or breeder cattle which included both dairy and beef breeds. The long-haul voyages averaged 20 days in duration, generally departing the ports of Fremantle and Portland and discharging at ports in northern China. Key animal welfare risk factors identified in the IO summaries included: hunger, thirst, exposure to extreme temperatures, poor pen conditions, health issues, absence of veterinarians, rough seas, poor ship infrastructure, mechanical breakdown and mismanagement at discharge. Full article

Plasma medicine is a new field focusing on biomedical and clinical applications of cold gas plasmas, including their anticancer effects. Cold plasmas can be applied directly or indirectly as plasma-activated liquids (PAL). The effects of plasma-activated cell growth medium (PAM) and plasma-activated phosphate buffered saline (PAPBS) were tested, using a plasma pen generating streamer corona discharge in ambient air, on different cancer cell lines (melanoma A375, glioblastoma LN229 and pancreatic cancer MiaPaCa-2) and normal cells (human dermal fibroblasts HDFa). The viability reduction and apoptosis induction were detected in all cancer cells after incubation in PAL. In melanoma cells we focused on detailed insights to the apoptotic pathways. The anticancer effects depend on the plasma treatment time or PAL concentration. The first 30 min of incubation in PAL were enough to start processes leading to cell death. In fibroblasts, no apoptosis induction was observed, and only PAPBS, activated for a longer time, slightly decreased their viability. Effects of PAM and PAPBS on cancer cells showed selectivity compared to normal fibroblasts, depending on correctly chosen activation time and PAL concentration, which is very promising for potential clinical applications. This selectivity effect of PAL is conceivably induced by plasma-generated hydrogen peroxide. Full article

We describe some modifications to a Bernas-type ion source that improve the ion beam production efficiency and source operating lifetime. The ionization efficiency of a Bernas type ion source has been improved by using a small anode that is a thin rod, oriented along the magnetic field. The transverse electric field of the small anode causes the plasma to drift in the crossed ExB field to the emission slit. The cathode material recycling was optimized to increase the operating lifetime, and the wall potential optimized to suppress deposition of material and subsequent flake formation. A three-electrode extraction system was optimized for low energy ion beam production and efficient space charge neutralization. An ion beam with emission current density up to 60 mA/cm² has been extracted from the modified source running on BF₃ gas. Space charge neutralization of positive ion beams was improved by injecting electronegative gases. Full article