List

The near-field scanning optical microscope can supply information on the shape and electrical properties of surfaces with nanometer resolution. The quantitative interpretation of images is difficult because of the difficulty of electromagnetic field solutions in the near-field limit. We propose to supply software to aid in this analysis. The finite-element programs generate two and three-dimension ...

A growing number of fire fighters are suffering third degree burns; this has led to questions about the adequacy of thermal protective performance (TPP) measurements for protective clothing. A new heat flux sensor, whose response approximates that of skin, will be developed to provide better measurements of heat transfer in TPP tests. This sensor will be used with nonlinear parameter estimation an ...

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This is a Phase II proposal to continue the work begun by AgriTech Electronics, LC (AgriTech) on a GPS-based livestock control system. This system will exclude animals from areas, or contain them within defined boundaries, where it is impractical or inefficient to build fence to achieve this objective. These needs arise in a variety of contexts, including the exclusion of livestock from riparian a ...

Anhydrous ammonia (NH3), a heavily used nitrogen fertilizer, is a volatile gas which flashes at -40 F. It is handles as pressurized liquid and difficult to meter accurately and dispense. Its low cost, due to inexpensive energy, has encouraged wasteful over-application rather than investment in currently costly and ineffective application control systems. Ammonia costs will increase with energy cos ...

In the United States, annual demand for adhesives and resins exceeds 20 billion pounds. Currently, most adhesives used in the wood industry are petroleum-based, such as phenol-formaldehyde and urea-formaldehyde adhesives. Formaldehyde emissions cause many environmental and health issues. Development of biobased adhesives not only significantly impact a >$100 billion industry sector, but also solve ...

Raising pigs has become a specialized agribusiness. Pork producers have a desire to improve their efficiency of production in a cost effective manner. One tool to accomplish this is knowing the weight of the pig as it grows. This knowledge provides greater assistance in managing the feeding program as well as avoiding financial penalties when marketing. Feed costs account for 60% of the cost p ...

Locally grown foods account for less than one percent of the total $900 billion in retail food sales in the U.S. (18) Therefore, consumers purchase more than ninety percent of their food from supermarkets. In order for local small family farms to grab a greater portion of food sales, they must get their locally grown foods on the mainstream supermarket shelves, as well as partner with stores to ge ...

Woody encroachment of grasslands has led to wildfires that have recently destroyed homes and adversely affected rural communities. Eastern red cedar (ERC) is a major culprit in woody expansion and causes habitat fragmentation for upland bird and other wildlife species, with adverse effects on infiltration of precipitation, induced changes to plant species composition that degrade habitat and reduc ...

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