A liquid-state pyroelectric energy harvester is described and a remarkable capacity to convert a thermal gradient into electrical energy is demonstrated.

Increasing the sustainability of energy generation can be pursued by harvesting extremely low enthalpy sources: low temperature differences between cold and hot reservoirs are easily achieved in every industrial process, both at large and small scales, in plants as well as in small appliances, vehicles, natural environments, and human bodies. This paper presents the assessment and efficiency estimate of a liquid-state pyroelectric energy harvester, based on a colloid containing barium titanate nanoparticles and ferrofluid as a stabilizer. The liquid is set in motion by an external pump to control velocity, in a range similar to the one achieved by Rayleigh–Bénard convection, and the colloid reservoir is heated. The colloid is injected into a Fluorinated Ethylene Propylene pipe where titanium electrodes are placed to collect electrical charges generated by pyroelectricity on the surface of the nanoparticles, reaching 22.4% of the ideal Carnot efficiency of a thermal machine working on the same temperature drop. The maximum extracted electrical power per unit of volume is above 7 mW/m3 with a ΔT between electrodes of 3.9 K.

Zinc (Zn) is an essential component in animal and poultry metabolism of various biochemical pathways. It serves as a nutrient and also as a feed additive for improving reproductive functions, productive indices, cellular immunity, normal growth and the maintenance of feathers, bone tissues as well as appetite. Furthermore, Zn has many roles as an antioxidant agent. This mineral is essential for hormone function, including pancreatic (insulin and glucagon), sex and growth hormones. It is a part of more than 300 enzymes that are involved in the metabolism of protein, energy, carbohydrates and nucleic acids. Previous studies demonstrated many beneficial impacts of supplemental Zn on different physiological and immunological functions above the established concentration in diets, including alleviating heat stress. Zinc supplementation in layer diets increases albumen weight, and may alter egg shell thickness and total egg weight. Zinc deficiency can cause a fraying of the feathers and retardation in growth of broilers. Different Zn sources (organic or inorganic) positively impact health and performance in poultry including meat or egg production, feed intake and conversion efficiency, carcass traits, blood parameters and apparent nutrient digestibility. This review compares and provides a review of the nutritional and physiological aspects of different Zn sources.

Recent advancement of inorganic dissolvable electronics nucleates around a realization that single-crystal silicon nanomembrane undergoes hydrolysis in biologically relevant conditions. The silicon-based high-performance dissolvable electronic devices are initially conceived for biomedical implants that function for a programmed timeframe followed by a complete dissolution to eliminate the need for recollection. The technology developed for biomedicine also presents unique opportunities in security devices that physically destruct and in environmentally benign electronics that dissolve without a trace to reduce electronic wastes. The new class of devices with this emerging technology complements the existing efforts in organic biodegradable devices. Compatible with state-of-the-art fabrication facilities for commercial microelectronics, the technology has a huge potential for future commercialization. This mini review will first discuss the relevant materials for the inorganic dissolvable electronics and then present the demonstrated applications in functional devices, followed by a perspective for the future developments.

The importance of selenium as a key component of antioxidant systems in animals is well recognised due to much research about this mineral in many species. Selenium is required as part of the antioxidant enzyme structure and plays a major role in various protective systems in animal physiology, including immunity, cellular stability and DNA protection. The following review is the first in a series of three which details the importance of selenium in animal nutrition, and how the chemically organic form, which is akin to the form of the mineral in natural feed materials, can provide increased benefits in utilisation, storage and metabolism compared to inorganic sources.

The geochemistry and petrology of the type section of the Caradoc Series in the Onny valley indicate that it was deposited on a marginal basin continental shelf similar to the western side of the present Sea of Japan. The lower beds form a transgressive–regressive sequence in which the rocks become less mature upwards. All the coarser sediments above the basal quartzites and conglomerates are greywackes in which the apparent muddy and ferrous matrix is due to the breakdown of unstable minerals and particles. Higher values of Na2O and Na/K ratios are found in the coarser shallow-water sandstones of the Horderley Sandstone Formation and decrease markedly in the succeeding beds, accompanied by an increase in K2O. Higher values of carbonate-corrected (and hence related) other major and minor elements like SiO2, CaO, P2O5, MnO and most trace elements correlate with the transgressive systems and maximum flooding surfaces of the three sequences recognized where they are related to condensation at those horizons. Chemical Indices of Alteration (CIA) suggest that the Horderley Sandstone Formation underwent greater predepositional physical weathering than lower and higher beds, which is compatible with the petrography, and were deposited during a cool phase within overall warm Sandbian–Katian times. Trace element ratios suggest an oxic to suboxic depositional environment.

The aim of this study was to compare the performance and carcass quality of broilers fed diets containing either a commercial inorganic mineral premix (control) or organic trace minerals (OTM) (Sel-Plex® (Se) and Bioplex® copper (Cu), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn) and iron (Fe)) in a commercial environment. Four identical houses with a total of 119,500 mixed-sex broiler chickens were used (two treatments × two replicates). Birds were fed identical corn/soybean based rations differing only in mineral form and levels. The inorganic treatment (control) provided Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn and Se at levels of 8, 44, 55, 66 and 0.2 ppm, respectively. The OTM contained 5.5, 22, 5.5, 22 and 0.3 ppm of Cu, Zn, Fe, Mn and Se respectively. Growth and feed conversion during the 35-day trial were not influenced (P > 0.05) by treatments. Over the entire trial period and during the first week of production, birds showed significantly lower (P < 0.05) mortality with the OTM treatment. Between 14 and 31 days, sudden death syndrome was lower (P < 0.05) with the OTM diet. OTM improved feathering at 21 days of age (P < 0.001) and lowered carcass skin tearing (P < 0.05). There was no effect of OTM on carcass yield, breast meat pH, drip loss or on meat colour (L* and b* values). However, birds fed organic minerals had redder breast meat (a*) (P < 0.05) on days three and five after slaughter. The results showed that, under commercial conditions, using lower levels of OTM (except Se) in feed relative to inorganic controls can maintain broiler performance.

One hundred and sixty pigs were used to evaluate dietary copper (Cu) and zinc (Zn) supplementation on performance, fecal mineral levels, body mineral status and carcass and meat quality. Diets differed in mineral form (MF) (Cu and Zn in the form of proteinate amino acid chelate (organic) or sulfate (inorganic)) and inclusion level (IL) (27 mg/kg of total Cu and 65 mg/kg of total Zn (‘low’) or 156 mg/kg of total Cu and 170 mg/kg of total Zn (‘high’)) according to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Pigs were used from 25 to 107 kg body weight (BW) and fed their respective diets ad libitum. Blood and fecal samples were collected on days 14 and 77 of the experiment. Blood was analyzed for concentration of Cu and Zn, hemoglobin (Hb), Cu content of red blood cells (RBC Cu) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) and feces for Cu and Zn concentration. Hot carcass weight (HCW) and backfat depth were measured at slaughter and indices of meat quality were assessed on a section of longissimus thoracis. Liver, kidney and bone samples were collected immediately after slaughter and liver and kidney were tested for Cu and Zn content, while bone was only tested for Zn. Over the entire experimental period (25 to 107 kg BW) no significant treatment differences in average daily gain (ADG) or average daily feed intake (ADFI) occurred; however, feed conversion ratio (FCR) was improved by the inclusion of proteinate amino acid chelate (P = 0.012). Copper and Zn concentrations in feces were in direct proportion to the IL in the diet. Blood mineral levels were within normal physiological ranges in all treatments and tissue Cu and Zn concentrations increased with dietary IL (P < 0.05). Results indicate that Cu and Zn fecal concentrations were reduced by approximately 6-fold for Cu and by 2.5-fold for Zn by feeding 27 mg/kg Cu and 65 mg/kg Zn, in either the proteinate amino acid chelate or the sulfate form, compared with a diet containing 156 mg/kg Cu and 170 mg/kg Zn. This decrease in total dietary Cu and Zn did not reduce performance or mineral status of pigs.

The following article is based on the plenary presentation given by Darryl L.Smith of Los Alamos National Laboratory on December 1, 2003, at the Materials Research Society Fall Meeting in Boston.The presentation contrasted the electronic structure of inorganic semiconductors with that of organic semiconductors, examined how the differences in electronic structure lead to complementary physical properties, and discussed applications of these materials—including infrared detectors and sources, gamma-ray detectors, and chemical/biological sensors—that are of interest to issues of national security.