Gain Measurements Research Articles

Comparison of Techniques for Measuring the Gain of Weak Signals of Solid-State Diode-Pumped Laser Gain Modules in a Nd:YAG Active Medium

It is shown that direct measurements of the gain of weak signals of an active element irradiated by a probe laser can give a result much lower than that measured by the lasing threshold. A possible cause of such disagreement is discussed.

Path Loss and Directional Gain Measurements at 28 GHz for Non-Line-of-Sight Coverage of Indoors With Corridors

Adequate coverage with high-gain antennas is a key to realizing the full promise of the bandwidth available at mm/cm wave bands. We report extensive indoor measurements at 28 GHz (1000 links, 9.9 million individual power measurements, 10 offices, 2 buildings), with/without line of sight (LOS) using a continuous wave channel sounder, with a 10° spinning horn, capable of capturing a full azimuth scan every 200 ms, in up to 171 dB path loss to characterize coverage with 90% confidence level. The environment had prominent corridors and rooms, as opposed to open/mixed offices in latest 3GPP standards. Guiding in corridors leads to much lower RMS azimuth spread (7° median in corridor non-LOS (NLOS) versus 42° in 3GPP) and higher penetration loss into rooms and around corners (30–32 dB, some 12 dB more loss than 3GPP at 20 m NLOS). Measured path gain in NLOS is predicted by a mode-diffusion model with 3.9 dB RMS error. Scattering degraded azimuth gain by up to 4 dB in the corridor and 7 dB in rooms with 90% probability. Link simulations in a canonical building indicate every corridor needs an access point to provide 1 Gb/s rate to adjoining rooms within 50 m using 400 MHz of bandwidth.

Characterization of on‐orbit GPS transmit antenna patterns for space users

The GPS Antenna Characterization Experiment (GPS ACE) has made extensive observations of GPS L1 signals received at geosynchronous (GEO) altitude, with the objective of developing comprehensive models of the signal levels and signal performance in the GPS transmit antenna side lobes. The experiment was originally motivated by the fact that data on the characteristics and performance of the GPS signals available in GEO and other high Earth orbits was limited. The lack of knowledge of the power and accuracy of the side lobe signals on-orbit added risk to missions seeking to employ the side lobes to meet navigation requirements or improve performance. The GPS ACE Project lled that knowledge gap through a collaboration between The Aerospace Corporation and NASA Goddard Space Fight Center to collect and analyze observations from GPS side lobe transmissions to a satellite at GEO using a highly-sensitive GPS receiver installed at the ground station. The GPS ACE architecture has been in place collecting observations of the GPS constellation with extreme sensitivity for several years. This sensitivity combined with around-the-clock, all-in-view processing enabled full azimuthal coverage of the GPS transmit gain patterns over time to angles beyond 90 degrees o -boresight. Results discussed in this paper include the reconstructed transmit gain patterns, with comparisons to available pre-fight gain measurements from the GPS vehicle contractors. For GPS blocks with extensive ground measurements, the GPS ACE results show remarkable agreement with ground based measurements. For blocks without extensive ground measurements, the GPS ACE results provide the only existing assessments of the full transmit gain patterns. The paper also includes results of pseudorange deviation analysis to assess systematic errors associated with GPS side lobe signals.

Improving Antenatal Care (ANC) Focusing on Maternal Nutrition (MN) Services and Counseling Through Quality Improvement (QI) Approach in a Medical College Hospital in India

Abstract Objectives To demonstrate feasibility of applying Quality Improvement (QI) approach to improve maternal nutrition (MN) services and counseling during ANC provision at a state-run medical college hospital. Methods Doctors and staff from the departments of Obstetrics & Gynaecology (OBGY), Pediatrics and Community Medicine in GSVM Medical College, Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh (a high case load facility) were trained on Point of Care Quality Improvement (POCQI) methodology developed by WHO, URC and All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) by a team of QI experts engaged by Alive & Thrive (A&T). Thereafter, the OBGY department formed a QI team with the aim of improving MN component within the ANC services for pregnant women (PW). Specifically, QI aims to be achieved between May– Aug 2019 were set as: At least 80% of PW complete height, weight gain, blood pressure (BP) and hemoglobin (Hb) measurement and receive nutrition counselling, of which 70% can recall the MN nutrition messages imparted during the counselling session. Since no system for recording ANC data existed except Hb (50%), the baseline was set as zero for all other parameters. Post a system process review and problem analysis, 4 areas for improvement were identified: i) Streamlining patient flow; ii) ensuring timely availability of diagnostic reports to facilitate early detection of anemia; iii) recording and tracking of anthropometric data and, iv) provision of nutrition counselling to all PW. Simple and doable changes such as deployment of Red Cross volunteers for crowd management and patient flow, use of government-issued mother and child protection (MCP) cards for recording anthropometric data, engagement of HIV counselor for nutrition counselling etc. were applied with assistance and mentoring from QI experts. Results 84% of the PW completed weight gain, Hb and BP measurement. MN counselling was delivered to 76% of the women. Exit interviews of PW to assess the comprehensiveness of the counselling provided show a steady improvement (∼12–15%) in retention of messages related to weight gain, importance of Ca and IFA, frequency of meals and diet diversity. Conclusions It is feasible to improve MN services including counseling at ANC OPD in medical college hospital using QI approach, without additional resource investment. Funding Sources The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

Effect of MSTN Mutation on Growth and Carcass Performance in Duroc x Meishan Hybrid Population.

Simple SummaryMyostatin (MSTN) is a transcriptional growth factor that inhibits the development and growth of skeletal muscle. The MSTN-deficient animals display an increase in skeletal muscle mass known as double-muscling. Therefore, MSTN becomes an important target for improving lean meat production in livestock husbandry. There are many local pig breeds in China, but because of the slow growth, poor feed conversion, and low lean meat percentage and other unsatisfactory qualities, pure local breeds are rarely used on commercial farms. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of MSTN single allele mutation on carcass composition in Meishan crossbred pigs and demonstrate a way to increase lean meat yield while maintaining prolificacy and good meat quality of local pig crossbreeds. This has significant implications for the widespread use and conservation of local pig breeds in China.The Meishan pig is a traditional Chinese native breed, known for its excellent reproduction performance that is widely used in commercial pig production through two-way or three-way crossbreeding systems. However, the lean meat yield of Meishan crossbred pigs is still very low and cannot meet the market demand. To evaluate the lean meat yield of Meishan crossbred pigs, six wild-type Meishan sows were artificially inseminated by using the MSTN+/− Duroc boar semen in this experiment. Some reproductive performance-related traits of Meishan sows were recorded to ensure that semen from MSTN knockout Duroc boar did not affect offspring production, including total births, live births, sex, and litter weight. In total, 73 piglets were obtained and 63 were alive. Male to female ratio was close to 1: 1. because of factors such as disease, only 43 pigs were utilized, including 28 MSTN mutant pigs (MSTN+/−) and 15 MSTN homozygous pigs (MSTN+/+). We compared the growth performance and carcass performance of these full or half-sib populations and found that there were no differences between MSTN+/− and MSTN+/+ genotypes for live animal measures including average daily gain (ADG), body dimensions, or ultrasonic measurement of fat thickness when pigs were harvested after 120 days of feeding. Conversely, the MSTN+/− pigs had higher dressing percentage and lean meat percentage, lower level of carcass fat, larger longissimus muscle area, less percentage of skin and skeleton, thinner average backfat thickness, and lower intramuscular fat (IMF) content than MSTN+/+ pigs. In conclusion, the production of MSTN+/− mutant progeny from Meishan females resulted in improved carcass composition, providing a feasible solution to improve the lean meat yield of Chinese local fat-type pig breeds.

Quantifying Learning: Measuring Student Outcomes in Higher Education in England

Since 2014, the government in England has undertaken a programme of work to explore the measurement of learning gain in undergraduate education. This is part of a wider neoliberal agenda to create a market in higher education, with student outcomes featuring as a key construct of value for money. The Higher Education Funding Council for England (subsequently dismantled) invested £4 million in funding 13 pilot projects to develop and test instruments and methods for measuring learning gain, with approaches largely borrowed from the US. Whilst measures with validity in specific disciplinary or institutional contexts were developed, a robust single instrument or measure has failed to emerge. The attempt to quantify learning represented by this initiative should spark debate about the rationale for quantification—whether it is for accountability, measuring performance, assuring quality or for the enhancement of teaching, learning and the student experience. It also raises profound questions about who defines the purpose of higher education; and whether it is those inside or outside of the academy who have the authority to decide the key learning outcomes of higher education. This article argues that in focusing on the largely technical aspects of the quantification of learning, government-funded attempts in England to measure learning gain have overlooked fundamental questions about the aims and values of higher education. Moreover, this search for a measure of learning gain represents the attempt to use quantification to legitimize the authority to define quality and appropriate outcomes in higher education.

Histological Study of Pregnant albino Rat Treated with Nickel Oxide Nanoparticles

The present study was aimed to elucidate the effect of Nickel oxide nanoparticles (100 mg / kg b.wt ) on some parameters in pregnant Albino rats,in both period of pregnancy (12 and14 days ). 30 albino rats were used; 20 female and the rest 10 were fertilized male rats which were used insemination only, the study including, maternal relative body weight, weight gain measurements and relative organ weights and histological study. Relative body weight of mothers showed decreases in both period of pregnancy. Body weight gain of the pregnant rat show decreases in 14 days of pregnancy in treated group as compared with control group while in 12 days of pregnancy showed increases in treated group as compared with control. Relative organ weight showed increases in (Lung, Uterus, kidney) in treated group and decreases in (Heart, Liver, Eye, Spleen, Brian) in (12) day of pregnancy. In ( 14 ) day of pregnancy showed decreases in (Heart, Liver, Eye, Brian , Kidney) and increases in (Lung, Spleen, Uterus) in treated group as compared with control group Histological study included some organ (liver, spleen, kidney, lung brain, eye and heart) for different period (12, 14) days of pregnancy.

Differential Gain Comparison of Optical Planar Amplifier on Silica Glasses Doped with Bi-Ge and Er, Yb Ions

The paper presents the measurement and calculation of the optical amplifier gain and the optimal length of the active optical amplifier waveguide doped with Bi-Ge radiation complexes compared to an optical amplifier with active doping with ions Er3+, Yb3+. At present are using optical amplifiers for the high-capacity optical communication systems in the narrow spectral region of 1530–1560 nm, determined by the gain bandwidth of erbium-doped fiber amplifiers (EDFA) or erbium-doped optical planar amplifiers (EDPA) realized as active planar waveguides in the optical integrated circuits technique. However, it is possible increase wavelength region up to 1610 nm, where optical losses of telecommunication fibers are less than 0.3 dB per km, if appropriate amplifiers are available. In this regard, the development of novel optical amplifiers operating in this spectral region have of great importance. The paper summarizes the results measurement of the attenuation and emission spectra for net gain spectra calculation of the new ion exchange Ag+ – Na+ optical Er3+ and Yb3+ doped active planar waveguides realized on silica glass substrates and parameters of novel optical amplifiers for extension of the bandwidth from 1530 to 1610 nm doped by bismuth – erbium ions.

Prescribed–time estimation and output regulation of the linearized Schrödinger equation by backstepping

We study state estimation of the linearized Schrödinger equation within a prescribed terminal time. We make use of a time–varying, complex–valued observer gain and boundary measurements to construct the observer, where the gain is designed such that the estimate error converges to zero within the terminal time. The observer gain proposed herein is developed via the backstepping method by selecting a target error equation that stabilizes to zero within the terminal time. Our time–varying observer gain diverges as time approaches the terminal time. Nevertheless, we can guarantee prescribed–time stabilization of the estimator error equation by characterizing the growth–in–time of the observer gain and comparing it to the stability of the target error equation. We develop the full–state feedback dual result, and we combine the boundary estimation and control results to develop prescribed–time output regulation.

Development and qualification of triple-GEM detector built with large size single mask foils produced in India

The Gas Electron Multiplier (GEM) is the new age detector for nuclear and particle physics experiments, which was first developed by the European Center for Nuclear Research (CERN). It is comprised of an excellent insulator (Kapton/Apical) having a thickness of 50 μm which is covered with 5 μm copper layer on both sides and pierced by a regular array of holes. From its invention, CERN has been the sole supplier of the GEM foils until recently when few private companies started manufacturing GEM foils under the transfer of technology (TOT) from CERN. However, it's a long process to validate the foils delivered by these companies to claim that the GEM detectors made from them are compatible with high scientific standards. Along these lines, an India based company Micropack Pvt. Ltd. began fabricating both double and single mask GEM foils; at first Micropack produced 10 × 10 cm2 double mask foils which were tested both at foil and detector level by University of Delhi (DU) and it was confirmed to satisfy the required standards. Because of the double mask technique, the size of the GEM foil was constantly constrained so to overcome the confinement in size of GEM foils the single mask technique was developed in 2010. Micropack produced the first batch of 30 × 30 cm2 single mask foils in a joint effort with DU. A triple-GEM detector was constructed using these foils to test the fundamental quality controls, which include effective gain measurement, energy spectrum, and gain uniformity. Along with this, we will also report on the few advance studies which include discharge probability, rate capability, and charging up for this detector and foils.

Thermal analysis of a portable DSSC mini greenhouse for botanical drugs cultivation

Photovoltaic farms in Malaysia are being developed tremendously as a form of supporting fossil fuel setbacks in Malaysia power generation. An important parameter of the PV installation is the power (Watts) accumulated over sunlight retrieval. Considerable losses may arise from the conversion, where the efficiency is typically 15% to 23%, with the remainder becoming losses in the form of accumulated heat under the PV array or panel installations. PV heat dissipation is dependent on solar radiation, air convection and PV cell conduction. Dye Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC) has been applied as a greenhouse shading element, having the ability of enabling specified spectrum of light color penetration during electric accumulation. Furthermore, only light of wavelength between 400 and 700 nm (PAR) is absorbed by the greenhouse plants which is essential for their growth and photosynthesis. A Portable DSSC Mini Greenhouse (PDMG) can provide simple, effective and suitable light source for botanical drugs. Light which is associated with increasing temperature and heat is critical to be measured. A measurement of average heat gain flowing into a building through building envelope (OTTV- Overall Thermal Transfer Value) is a well-known method adopted in green building design. In this paper, the OTTV approach is applied to calculate heat transfer properties, from outdoor surroundings to the PDMG structure, giving justification of the PDMG thermal conditions.

Oxidation and microstructure of SiCf/SiC composites in moist air up to 1600°C by X‐ray tomographic characterization

AbstractSiCf/SiC composites that possess PyC or BN interface layers were fabricated and then oxidized in moist air at 1000, 1200, 1400, and 1600°C. High‐resolution CT was used for capturing 3D images and quantifying the SiC phase, mesophase, and voids. The oxidation behavior and microstructural evolution of SiCf/SiC with PyC or BN interface are discussed in this study. The microstructure of the SiCf/SiC with a PyC layer was seriously damaged in moist air at high temperature, whereas the BN interface layer enhanced the oxidation resistance of the SiCf/SiC. These results are also confirmed by using XRD, oxidation mass gain, tensile testing, and SEM measurements. The results of the oxidation behavior and microstructural evolution for SiCf/SiC oxidized in dry air are also compared with the results of this study. Comparing the SiCf/SiC with a PyC interface layer, the composite with a BN interface layer oxidized in moist air exhibits a high void growth rate and a low SiO2 grain growth rate from 1000 to 1600°C. This work will provide guidance for predicting the service life of SiCf/SiC for multiscale damage rate models of materials at a local scale and will also provide guidance on the life service design of SiCf/SiC materials.

Millimeter-Wave Avalanche Noise Sources Based on p-i-n Diodes in 130 nm SiGe BiCMOS Technology: Device Characterization and CAD Modeling

Integrated noise sources (or hot loads) are essential to enable precise gain and noise figure Built-In Test Equipment (BITE) measurements. The present paper describes a millimeter-wave, solid-state noise source implemented in a standard, 130-nm Silicon-Germanium (SiGe) Bipolar-Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (BiCMOS) process. This device is based on a p-i-n (varactor) diode that has two states: a cold state, when it is off, and an hot state when the diode is driven into avalanche breakdown. Two noise diodes with 10 and 20 square microns area have been fabricated and experimentally characterized. The measurements highlight a breakdown voltage is close to 10.7 V, whereas Excess Noise Ratio (ENR) equal to 16 dB (10 square microns diode) and 19 dB (20 square microns diode) are observed at 40 GHz, for a current density of 0.1 mA per square micron. For the first time the ENR is studied as a function of the physical device temperature, showing a slight decrease of -0.008 dB/K as the temperature increases from 298 to 358 K. An accurate modeling of the noise source is finally provided through a small-signal equivalent circuit that can be easily implemented into Computer Aided Design (CAD) tools. This contains some modifications with respect to the original Gliden and Hines model. The obtained results enable the employment of p-i-n avalanche noise diodes for the automatic characterization of integrated circuits in the production environment, as well as for the calibration of millimeter-wave receivers and radiometers during their operational life.

Relationship between heterosis, weight gain, and body measurements of Nellore and Charolais calves

Abstract: The objective of this work was to assess the effect of genetic group and heterosis on the relationship between body weight and morphometric measurements, in purebred and crossbred animals from the second (G2) and third (G3) generations of Nellore and Charolais calves. Body weight (BW), average daily weight gain (ADG), foreleg circumference (FC), thoracic girth (TG), body length (BL), and croup height (CH) were measured at birth and at 63, 210, and 365 days of age in animals from G2 and G3. Charolais animals were superior to Nellore ones for gains BW, ADG, BL, and TG, as well as for the ratio between BW gain and CH gain; Nellore animals were superior for CH gains. Crossbred animals of both generations were superior to the purebred animals for gains of BW, BL, and CH. In G2, the predominance of Charolais genes resulted in greater gains of BW, ADG, FC, and TG. The G3 animals were superior to the purebred animals for ADG, FC, and TG. No differences were found for the ratio between gains of weight and morphometric measurements. Heterosis and complementarity are apparent for weight and body measurements of crossbred calves from rotational crossings.

Effects of mineral supplementation on cattle performance when grazed mature wheat

ABSTRACT This research paper addresses the hypothesis that mineral supplementation (sodium chloride and magnesium oxide at 1:1 weight ratio) for dairy heifers grazing mature wheat in the spring-summer period will improve live weight gain compared with the non-supplemented group. In addition, the potential of mineral supplementation to reduce environmental pollution through diluting urinary nitrogen content was evaluated in this study. The grazing study was conducted at the Dookie Campus, The University of Melbourne, Australia between September and November 2017. The study comprised two temporal trial replications with two dietary treatments; graze wheat with (supplemented, SUP) or without mineral supplementation (control, CTR). The first and second trial replications used 22 and 24 heifers, respectively to conduct a 22-day and 21-day weight gain measurement. Heifers in the CTR group had 11% lower daily water intake than those in the SUP group. No differences were observed in heifers’ weight gain and urinary nitrogen content and excretion. The study indicates that protein deficiency may override the mineral deficiency when heifer grazed mature wheat, and this may have led to no mineral supplementation effect on heifer performance. The level of protein in grazing wheat needs to be considered in feeding minerals to heifers.

Self-Tuned Class-D Audio Amplifier With Post-Filter Digital Feedback Implemented on Digital Signal Controller

This article describes the designing process of a low-cost class-D audio amplifier with digitized global feedback after the output filter, using a signal microcontroller. Various approaches to the feedback-based distortions elimination of class-D amplifiers are discussed. Hardware architecture of the author’s designed class-D amplifier with digital audio input interface, output voltage feedback path relays on SAR-ADC, and output power stage in multiphase bridge tide load configuration is shown. The selection method of the output low-pass filter parameters and power stage phase count was explained. A model of class-D amplifier with PID digital compensator and control loop interfaces is presented. Efficient high-speed digital PID compensator implementation on fixed-point 16-bit DSP core is exhibited. Procedure for control loop gain and phase plots measurements and self-tuning of PID feeding under damped second-order plants is presented along with simulations of loop properties influences on tuning effects. The results of the prototype device measurements such as Bode plots or output voltage frequency spectrum are presented. A big effort has been put on a useful, complete and transparent description for the development process of the presented class-D amplifier arrangement. The described class-D amplifier is the first solution with single feedback control from the output of LC filter based on a microcontroller with embedded ADC and PWM hardware with ensuring full audio bandwidth reproduction width THD distortion level below 0.25% at 1 kHz. The amplifier has been designed with the solicitude of device cost by using low-volume inductors in the output filter and by utilization of the built-in microcontroller ADC and PWM interfaces.

PSIII-3 The effects of feeding milk from a nipple or a bucket on performance, blood metabolism, rumen fermentation and behavior of dairy calves during preweaning period

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of two milk feeding methods on performance, blood metabolism, rumen fermentation and behavior of preweaning dairy calves. Forty newborn Holstein female calves were assigned to one of two treatments equally: nipple feeding (NF) and bucket feeding (BF). Gradual weaning commenced on d 35 and weaning occurred on d 56. Starter intake, fecal scoring, body weight and structural measurements (withers height, heart girth, abdominal girth, body length) were collected. Blood samples and Rumen fluid samples were collected on day 28 and 56, respectively. Ten calves from each treatment were selected randomly and instantaneous scan-sampling with 3 min intervals was used to collect the behavior data (licking nipple or bucket, manipulating objects, self-grooming, lying, standing). Observation were conducted twice per week (1 h session duration) and were centered around morning (0900 h), afternoon (1500 h), and evening (1700 h) milk feeding period. Data were analyzed by mixed effect model with treatment, time, and the interaction between them as fixed effects, and animal within treatment as a random effect. Results showed that body weight, average daily gain, starter intake and structural measurements were similar between two treatments. NF group had higher diarrhea frequency than BF group during week 6 (P = 0.03). NF group had higher concentration of insulin (P = 0.01), IGF-1 (P = 0.03) and β-hydroxybutyric acid (P = 0.04) than BF group on d 56. Rumen pH and volatile fatty acids were similar between two treatments. No differences between two treatments for behavior observation were found, except that NF group spent more time licking nipple than BF group (P = 0.001). In conclusion, nipple or bucket feeding had no effects on performance, starter intake and rumen fermentation, yet nipple feeding increased licking time and different feeding methods influenced blood metabolism.

Influence of Cattle Backgrounding Systems on Animal and Carcass Characteristics

ObjectivesCattle can be managed differently during the backgrounding segment, which may alter long-term animal and carcass characteristics. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to 1) measure carcass composition over time, and 2) determine the effect of different backgrounding diets on animal growth and carcass characteristics.Materials and MethodsAngus and Angus × Simmental crossed calves (n = 65) were stratified by dam age, birth date, weaning weight, breed, and sex post weaning in a completely randomized design to one of three treatments: (1) perennial pasture (PP; grazing quack grass, orchard grass; smooth brome grass, red clover, and alfalfa); (2) summer annual cover crop (CC; grazing cereal oats, purple top turnips, hunter forage brassica, and graza forage radish); and (3) dry lot (DL; bunk fed a haylage ration consisting of 28 NEm Mcal/50.8 kg DM) during backgrounding for 55 d. Concluding backgrounding, the CC and PP treatments were transported to pens where all treatments were sorted by gender and acclimated to a finishing ration over a period of 14 d and continued receiving 3 step-up diets over the next 25 d. Two pens during the finishing segment were utilized to house heifers and steers, respectively. The heifers were top dressed with melengestral acetate till harvest, which was determined by targeting a common backfat thickness per treatment. From backgrounding to harvest, cattle were weighed to determine body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG) and hip height (HH) measurements were recorded every 28 d. Five periodic carcass ultrasound measures were recorded to evaluate ultrasound rib eye area (uREA), rib fat thickness (uRFT), and percent intramuscular fat (uIMF). At harvest, carcass measurements included hot carcass weight (HCW), LMA, 12th rib backfat (FT), kidney, pelvic and heart fat (KPH), marbling and maturity score and objective color (L*, a*, b*). Statistical analyses were conducted using mixed model procedures and animal weaning weight was used as a covariate. Least square means were computed and separated using least significant differences when treatment effects were significant at α ≤ 0.05.ResultsCattle ADG, uREA, uRFT, and HH did not differ (P ≥ 0.05) among treatments from backgrounding to harvest (Table 2). Cattle in DL were heavier (P ≤ 0.05) in BW than CC and PP, which were similar (P ≥ 0.05). Percent uIMF was greater (P ≤ 0.05) for DL and similar (P ≥ 0.05) to PP though CC was lower (P ≤ 0.05) and similar (P ≤ 0.05) to PP.ConclusionTreatments utilizing different backgrounding diets influence average body weights and ultrasound intramuscular adipose. Cattle grazing forages have lighter body weights and lower ultrasound intramuscular adipose though, cattle grazing perennial pastures were most variable in carcass ultrasound intramuscular adipose.Table 2Least squares mean performance responses and ultrasound-measured composition (averaged across all periodic measurements) according to the backgrounding treatment1

Thulium-doped tellurium oxide waveguide amplifier with 7.6 dB net gain on a silicon nitride chip.

We report on thulium-doped waveguide amplifiers integrated on a low-loss silicon nitride platform. The amplifier structure consists of a thulium-doped tellurium oxide thin film coated on a silicon nitride strip waveguide on silicon. We determine a waveguide background loss of 0.7dB/cm at 1479nm based on the quality factor measured in microring resonators. Gain measurements were carried out in straight and 6.7-cm-long s-bend waveguides realized on a 2.2-cm-long chip. We measure internal net gain over the wavelength range 1860-2000nm under 1620nm pumping and up to 7.6dB total gain at 1870nm, corresponding to 1.1dB/cm. These results are promising for the realization of highly compact thulium-doped amplifiers in the emerging 2μm band for silicon-based photonic microsystems.

On the One-Antenna Gain Measurement Method in Probe Station Environment at mm-Wave Frequencies

In this paper, an antenna gain measurement method for millimeter-wave antennas in an on-wafer probe station environment is studied. The one-antenna gain measurement has been known since the 1940s. However, the authors believe that this extension of their previous work is the first time when the method is systematically studied in the on-wafer probe station environment. The main difference between the original one-antenna gain measurement and our method is that in the probe station environment, the space is limited and, therefore, the reflecting plate dimensions are limited. We have studied the effect of the reflector size limitation through computations using physical optics and through measurements with a standard gain horn (SGH) and with a printed microstrip patch antenna. The necessary size of the reflecting plate naturally depends on the beamwidth of the antenna under test and on the distance. Time gating has been applied in the retrieving calculation to filter out multiple reflections. According to this paper, the one-antenna gain measurement in the $W$ -band results in the correct antenna gain with very high accuracy for the highly directional SGH. For the patch antenna, the gain measured in the on-wafer probe station environment agrees well with the simulated one.