Methane Emissions from Grazing Holstein-Friesian Heifers at Different Ages Estimated Using the Sulfur Hexafluoride Tracer Technique

Although the effect of animal and diet factors on enteric methane （CH4） emissions from confined cattle has been extensively examined, less data is available regarding CH4 emissions from grazing young cattle. A study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of the physiological state of Holstein-Friesian heifers on their enteric CH4 emissions while grazing a perennial ryegrass sward. Two experiments were conducted： Experiment 1 ran from May 2011 for 11 weeks and Experiment 2 ran from August 2011 for 10 weeks. In each experiment, Holstein-Friesian heifers were divided into three treatment groups （12 animals/group） consisting of calves, yearling heifers, and in-calf heifers （average ages： 8.5, 14.5, and 20.5 months, respectively）. Methane emissions were estimated for each animal in the final week of each experiment using the sulfur hexafluoride tracer technique. Dry matter （DM） intake was estimated using the calculated metabolizable energy （ME） requirement divided by the ME concentration in the grazed grass. As expected, live weight increased with increasing animal age （P 〈 0.001）; however, there was no difference in live weight gain among the three groups in Experiment 1, although in Experiment 2, this variable decreased with increasing animal age （P 〈 0.001 ）. In Experiment 1, yearling heifers had the highest CH4 emissions （g·d^-1） and in-calf heifers produced more than calves （P 〈 0.001 ）. When expressed as CH4 emissions per unit of live weight, DM intake, and gross energy （GE） intake, yearling heifers had higher emission rates than calves and in-calf heifers （P 〈 0.001）. However, the effects on CH4 emissions were different in Experiment 2, in which CH, emissions （g·d^-1） increased linearly with increasing animal age （P 〈 0.001）, although the difference between yearling and in-calf heifers was not significant. The CH4/live weight ratio was lower in in-calf heifers than in the other two groups （P 〈 0.001 ）, while CH4 energy output as a proportion of GE intake was lower in calves than in yearling and in-calf heifers （P 〈 0.05）. All data were then pooled and used to develop prediction equations for CH4 emissions. All relationships are significant （P 〈 0.001）, with R2 values ranging from 0.630 to 0.682. These models indicate that CH4 emissions could be increased by 0.252 g.d-1 with an increase of I kg live weight or by 14.9 g·d^-1 with an increase of 1 kg·d^-1 of DM intake; or, the CH4 energy output could be increased by 0.046 MJ·d^-1 with an increase of 1 MJ·d^-1 of GE intake. These results provide an alternative approach for estimating CH4 emissions from grazine dairy heifers when actual CH, emission data are not available.

Detecting Photoacoustic Signals of Sulfur Hexafluoride at Varying Microphone Positions

Photoacoustic spectroscopy was used to test the photoacoustic properties of sulfur hexafluoride, an optically thick and potent greenhouse gas. While exploring the photoacoustic effect of sulfur hexafluoride, the effects of the position of the microphone within a gas cell were determined. Using a 35 cm gas cell, microphones were positioned at 17.5 cm, the middle of the gas cell, 12.5 cm, 7.5 cm, and 2.5 cm from the window of the cell. From the photoacoustic signal produced for each resonance frequency at each microphone position, the effects of acoustic pressure produced at each position on the signal recorded were observed. This is the first study done by experimentation with the photoacoustic effect to show that standing waves have different amplitudes at different microphone positions.

Off-label-use of sulfur-hexafluoride in voiding urosonography for diagnosis of vesicoureteral reflux in children:A survey on adverse events

AIM To evaluate the risk profile of sulfur hexafluoride in voiding urosonography(VUS) based on a large cohort of children.METHODS Since 2011 sulfur hexafluoride(SH,SonoV ue?,Bracco,Italy) is the only ultrasound contrast available in the European Union and its use in children has not been approved.Within a 4-year-period,531 children with suspected or proven vesicoureteral reflux(f/m = 478/53; mean age 4.9 years; 1 mo-25.2 years) following parental informed consent underwent VUS with administration of 2.6 ± 1.2 mL SH in a two-center study.A standardizedtelephone survey on adverse events was conducted three days later.RESULTS No acute adverse reactions were observed.The survey revealed subacute,mostly self-limited adverse events in 4.1%(22/531).The majority of observed adverse events(17/22) was not suspected to be caused by an allergic reaction: Five were related to catheter placement,three to reactivated urinary tract infections,five were associated with perineal disinfection before voiding urosonography or perineal dermatitis and four with a common cold.In five patients(0.9%) hints to a potential allergic cause were noted: Perineal urticaria was reported in three interviews and isolated,mild fever in two.These were minor self-limited adverse events with a subacute onset and no hospital admittance was necessary.Ninety-six point two percent of the parents would prefer future VUS examinations with use of SH.CONCLUSION No severe adverse events were observed and indications of self-limited minor allergic reactions related to intravesical administration of SH were reported in less than 1%.

Atmospheric sulfur hexafluoride in-situ measurements at the Shangdianzi regional background station in China

We present in-situ measurements of atmospheric sulfur hexafluoride（SF6） conducted by an automated gas chromatograph–electron capture detector system and a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry system at a regional background site, Shangdianzi,in China, from June 2009 to May 2011, using the System for Observation of Greenhouse gases in Europe and Asia and Advanced Global Atmospheric Gases Experiment（AGAGE）techniques. The mean background and polluted mixing ratios for SF6 during the study period were 7.22 × 10-12（mol/mol, hereinafter） and 8.66 × 10-12, respectively. The averaged SF6 background mixing ratios at Shangdianzi were consistent with those obtained at other AGAGE stations located at similar latitudes（Trinidad Head and Mace Head）, but larger than AGAGE stations in the Southern Hemisphere（Cape Grim and Cape Matatula）. SF6 background mixing ratios increased rapidly during our study period, with a positive growth rate at 0.30 × 10-12year-1. The peak to peak amplitude of the seasonal cycle for SF6 background conditions was 0.07 × 10-12, while the seasonal fluctuation of polluted conditions was 2.16 × 10-12. During the study period, peak values of SF6 mixing ratios occurred in autumn when local surface horizontal winds originated from W/WSW/SW/SWS/S sectors, while lower levels of SF6 mixing ratios appeared as winds originated from N/NNE/NE/ENE/E sectors.

Solid phase microextraction(SPME) sampling under turbulent conditions and for the simultaneous collecting of tracer gases

Solid phase microextraction （SPME） is a solvent-flee method of sample collection. SPME is an appealing method for sample collection because it is designed for the sampling of trace level analytes with short sampling times in a variety of environments. Additionally, SPME can be used to directly deliver a sample to a gas chromatograph （GC） for analysis by means of thermal desorption. In this paper, the performance of SPME under dynamic conditions was investigated. Additionally, the competence of SPME sampling for the simultaneous analysis of multiple trace analytes was also evaluated. This work is discussed in the context of underground mine ventilation surveys but is applicable to any industry in which ventilation circuits must be evaluated. The results of this paper showed that the performance of the 100 ~m PDMS SPME fiber was both precise and rapid under dynamic conditions. This SPME fiber was also able to simultaneously collect sulfur hexafluoride （SF6） and perfluoromethylcyclohexane （PMCH） with adequate sensitivity.

Selective adsorption of SF_(6) in covalent-and metal-organic frameworks

Sulfur hexafluoride(SF_(6))is an extremely severe greenhouse gas.It is an urgently important mission to find excellent candidates for selective adsorption of SF_(6),in order to reduce the emission of SF_(6) facilities.Here,we adopt the molecular simulation method to systematically explore the selective adsorption of SF_(6) in 22 kinds of representative covalent-and metal-organic frameworks.Results indicate that COF-6 is a promising candidate for the SF_(6) adsorption at low pressure P<20 kPa because of its small pore size,while MOF-180 and PAF-302 are excellent candidates at high pressure P=2×10^(3) kPa due to their large Brunauer-Emmett-Teller specific surface area(BET SSA)and pore volumes.For the two cases of the power industry(X_(SF_(6))=0.1)and the semiconductor industry(X_(SF_(6))=0.002)environments,COF-6 and ZIF-8 are fairly promising candidates for selective adsorption of SF_(6) from the SF_(6)/N_(2) mixtures,because they not only present the high selectivity,but also the large adsorption capacity at ambient environment,which can be considered as potential adsorbents for selective adsorption of SF_(6) at ambient conditions.

Environment-friendly Insulating Gases for HVDC Gas-insulated Transmission Lines

Environment-friendly gas insulating mediums adapted to a DC gas-insulated transmission line(GIL)electric field condition is the key to the next generation of Environment-friendly HVDC GILs.In this paper,we review the literature on sulfur hexafluoride(SF6)alternatives including the scientific understanding,control,and implementation of gas-solid systems in this type of power transmission.First,the structure-activity relationship between the molecular structure and physico-chemical properties of Environment-friendly insulating gases is presented.Then,the search and prediction of important physicochemical properties of gases are summarized.Subsequently,in view of the potential of environmental friendly insulating gases,the swarm parameters of gas discharge and breakdown properties in a quasi-uniform field,inhomogeneous field,and at the gas-solid interface,that need to be taken into account with industrialized DC GILs are discussed.The latest research progress on insulation characteristics,especially the polarity effect in DC gas-solid insulation systems,the sensitivity to the electrode surface state,and the non-uniformity of the electric field,and the influence of metal particles and their variation with air pressure,is highlighted.In addition,the heat transfer characteristics of insulating gases,related to DC GIL transmission with a large current-carrying capacity and the influence of alternative gases on the heat transfer characteristics are described.Finally,aiming at solving the contradiction of low environmental impact,high dielectric strength and low liquefaction temperatures in the selection of alternative gases,an coordinated regulation model for Environment-friendly gases in DC GILs is established.Considerations for future work on this topic are also presented.

Diode-pumped passively mode-locked femtosecond Yb:(Y_(0.9)La_(0.1) )_2O_3 ceramic laser

We experimentally demonstrate a diode-pumped passively mode-locked femtosecond laser with yb3＋-doped yttrium lanthanum oxide ceramic. Mode-locking is achieved by using a semiconductor saturable absorber mirror, and intraeavity dispersion is compensated by a pair of SF6 prisms. Laser pulses as short as 357 fs at a central wavelength of 1 075 nm are obtained. The maximum average output power is 670 mW under 4.5 W of pumping power with a slope efficiency of 20%. To the best of our knowledge, this is the shortest pulse generated from Yb-doped yttrium lanthanum oxide ceramic lasers with a sub-500 fs pulse duration.

Theoretical Studies on Dielectric Breakdown Strength Increasing Mechanism of SF6 and Its Potential Alternative Gases

A theoretical investigation on the dielectric insulation mechanism of sulfur hexafluoride（SF6） and its potential alternative gases at the atomic and molecular levels was made. The electronic structures of the molecules of them were calculated at the B3LYP/6-31 11＋G（d,p） level. The HOMO-LUMO energy gaps, ionization potentials, electron affinities, and dipole moments of the studied molecules at the ground state were obtained. The 11 isomerization reactions, with the harmonic vibration frequencies of the equilibrium geometries and the minimum energy path by the intrinsic reaction coordinate theory, were also obtained at the same level. The results show that the insulation gas, with the larger HOMO-LUMO energy gap, the higher ionization potential and the stronger electron affinity, can increase the dielectric breakdown strength efficiently, which is in good agreement with the available experimental finding. We suggested that the molecule with isomerization reaction occurring can dissipate the energy of hot electrons availably, which is favorable to the dielectric breakdown strength increasing for the SF6 potential alternative gas.