The Centre for Advanced Laser Applications in Garching, Germany, is home to the ATLAS-3000 multi-petawatt laser, dedicated to research on laser particle acceleration and its applications. A control system based on Tango Controls is implemented for both the laser and four experimental areas. The device server approach features high modularity, which, in addition to the hardware control, enables a quick extension of the system and allows for automated data acquisition of the laser parameters and experimental data for each laser shot. In this paper we present an overview of our implementation of the control system, as well as our advances in terms of experimental operation, online supervision and data processing. We also give an outlook on advanced experimental supervision and online data evaluation – where the data can be processed in a pipeline – which is being developed on the basis of this infrastructure.

Boundaries between products and services vanish and companies increasingly offer hybrid solutions known as Product Service Systems (PSS). Thereby, a holistic view that includes both the product and service parts must be taken. This paper presents a discrete-event simulation of a PSS as a method for the specification of the product part. Besides product and service, the application scenario and the decision-making are also modeled. Based on the results for a case study, the customer requirements could be guaranteed as the essential product specifications were optimized to minimize total costs.

When using product-service systems as a business model, new product development challenges and opportunities arise. Due to the possibility of customizing the product fleet depending on the user-scenarios, more product variants are possible and often necessary. Therefore, this paper presents an approach for the automated functionality and design optimization for user scenario specific use cases. The approach combines an optimization framework with a functional simulation model and a generative design approach CAD model. This results in a robust and simultaneously flexible design environment.

Scanning electron micrographs that depict the surface and internal structure of several starch-encapsulated granular formulations of EPTC (S-ethyl dipropylthiocarbamate) and butylate (S-ethyl diisobutylthiocarbamate) relate well with herbicidal release rates previously reported. Fast-release formulations appear to have a porous surface with little distinctive internal structure. Diffusion would be expected to be more rapid as fewer diffusion barriers are present. Slow-release formulations have a smooth, hard surface with irregular surface pores and a honeycombed internal structure. The slower release characteristics are associated with stronger oxidants used for crosslinking xanthate in the entrapment of herbicides. The scanning electron microscope would be an excellent quality control technique in the preparation of starch-encapsulated herbicides.

We developed a model and subsequently simulated robust white foxtail (Setaria viridis var. robusta-alba Schreiber) or robust purple foxtail (Setaria viridis var. robusta-purpurea Schreiber) growth. SETSIM (SETaria SIMulation) uses the GASP IV simulation language which allows for both continuously changing variables and discrete events. GASP IV provides the necessary integrations and automatic time-stepping essential in simulation. SETSIM uses the materials-flow concept to simulate foxtail growth and development on a population basis. Carbohydrate flow among six compartments (leaf, stem, and root total nonstructural carbohydrate pools; leaf, stem, and root tissue) is governed by nine physiological rates. Each rate is dependent on the physiological state of the foxtail population and the environmental conditions prevailing. Simulation of carbohydrate flow in and out of each compartment results in the net growth of that compartment. By considering all six compartments simultaneously, the vegetative growth and development of a foxtail population can be simulated. Validation of SETSIM with field data recorded over a 2-yr period has shown that this simulator can accurately predict foxtail growth parameters such as dry matter accumulation, plant height, leaf area index, and leaf to stem ratio. SETSIM could serve as a framework for other weed models because of its modular structure. Such models can benefit weed science by predicting the active stage of weed growth, predicting whether a weed could become a problem under different climatic conditions, interfacing with existing crop models to predict yield and harvest restriction, pointing out gaps in our present knowledge in weed biology, and serving as teaching aids.

The phenetic relationships of green foxtail [Setaria viridis var. viridis (L.) Beauv.] and its allies were examined by numerical and chemotaxonomic methods. Correlation coefficients and taxonomic distances based on quantitative data from 31 characters displayed close phenetic similarities among green foxtail, its varieties and foxtail millet [S. italica (L.) Beauv.]. Isolation and separation of 35 alcohol-soluble compounds by two dimensional paper chromatography supported the numerical comparisons. By combining all characters examined, the resulting cluster analysis displayed the closest similarity between robust white (S. viridis var. robusta-alba Schreiber), robust purple (S. viridis var. robusta-purpurea Schreiber) and giant green foxtail [S. viridis var. major (Gaudin.) Posp.] indicating that the robust foxtails may be subvarieties of giant green foxtail rather than of green foxtail. The numerical, morphological and chemical comparisons support the proposed phylogeny of the Old World foxtails and indicate green foxtail as the probable center of ancestorial origin.

Research was conducted to determine the effect of starch encapsulation on soil dissipation and weed control with alachlor, metolachlor, and atrazine on an Estherville sandy loam in the field. Starch encapsulation increased persistence of alachlor in the surface 15 cm of soil compared to the emulsifiable concentrate formulation during the first 60 d after treatment More alachlor was detected 30 to 75 cm deep with emulsifiable concentrate than the starch-encapsulated formulation 30 d after treatment. Little alachlor was detected below 15 cm thereafter. Starch encapsulation also increased persistence of metolachlor in the surface 15 cm, but reduced concentrations at 15 to 30 cm compared to the emulsifiable concentrate 30 d after treatment. By 120 and 340 d after treatment, metolachlor concentrations at 15 to 30 cm were greater with starch-encapsulated than emulsifiable concentrate formulation. Starch encapsulation greatly increased atrazine persistence in the surface 15 cm compared to the dry flowable formulation. Although encapsulation increased atrazine concentration in the surface 15 cm, it reduced the concentration below 15 cm compared to the dry flowable formulation 30 and 60 d after treatment However, by 120 and 340 d after treatment, starch encapsulation often resulted in greater atrazine concentrations below 15 cm than the dry flowable formulation. Control of green foxtail and redroot pigweed with starch-encapsulated herbicides was similar or superior to the commercial formulations.

A series of experiments were conducted from 1983 through 1986 to determine the efficacy of encapsulated starch formulations of trifluralin [2,6-dinitro-N,N-dipropyl-4-(trifluoromethyl)benzenamine] in conventional and no-till soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr.] production. The encapsulated starch formulations remaining on the soil surface were significantly more effective than the emulsifiable concentrate when applied in February, March, or April. Encapsulated trifluralin products prepared by both the starch xanthate and starch borate processes were as effective as the emulsifiable concentrate even when used in conventional-tillage systems for weed control and for maintaining soybean yields. Our data indicate that an effective and economical herbicide such as trifluralin need not be lost in no-till soybean production if new controlled-release formulation technology is used by the agricultural industry.

Field experiments were conducted in 1991, 1992, and 1993 to evaluate the dissipation and carryover potential of atrazine from starch-encapsulated (SE) and commercial formulations (CF). Formulation was not a significant factor in atrazine dissipation at any application rate. The dissipation time required to reach one-half of the original concentration (DT50) was measured for each formulation. The atrazine DT50 combined over all years (1991 to 1993) and rates (1.1 to 3.4 kg ai ha−1) was 7 wk for the CF, 10.3 wk for the SE large particles (0.85 to 1.4 mm), and 8.2 wk for the SE small (0.425 to 0.85 mm). Oat injury in the spring of 1992 from all rates of both SE formulations applied in 1991 was greater than that from the CF formulation. Increased oat injury from SE formulations was attributed to more atrazine present in the top 0 to 8 cm of soil compared to that for the CF. Despite significant oat injury from the 1991 application, no injury was observed on soybeans planted in 1992. Soybeans planted in 1993 and 1994 also showed no injury from the respective applications. These findings suggest that the potential for atrazine carryover from starch-encapsulated formulations was not greater than that from the commercial formulation.

Field research was conducted at Rosemount, MN in 1990 and 1991 to determine the effect of starch encapsulation on weed control in corn with alachlor, metolachlor, and atrazine under two weed densities. At low weed densities (122 total plants/m2), giant foxtail and Pennsylvania smartweed control were not different with full rates of herbicide applied in starch encapsulated or commercial formulations. Velvetleaf control was less with starch-encapsulated than commercial formulations regardless of velvetleaf density. At high giant foxtail densities (740 plants/m2), control was not affected by formulation with full rates of alachlor plus atrazine. However, giant foxtail control was less with starch-encapsulated formulations than commercial formulations with 75% rates of alachlor plus atrazine and both 75 and 100% rates of metolachlor plus atrazine. At low weed densities, corn yield was not different with any treatment, except starch-encapsulated metolachlor plus atrazine at 75% rates, compared to the weed-free control. Alachlor plus atrazine at full rates was the only starch-encapsulated treatment to result in corn yield not different from the weed-free control at high weed densities. Conversely, all commercial formulation treatments resulted in corn yields not different from the weed-free control at high weed densities.

Four starch-encapsulated formulations of EPTC (S-ethyl dipropylthiocarbamate) and of butylate (S-ethyl diisobutylthiocarbamate) were prepared and evaluated by comparison with their respective emulsifiable concentrate formulations for their slow-release capabilities and efficacies. Chemical and biological evaluation indicated that difference in controlled-release could be achieved by the selection of the starch xanthate and oxidant used in the formualtion process. EPTC and butylate released slower when formulated as starch-encapsulated granules than when formulated as emulsifiable concentrates under soil conditions that favored rapid release. The initial release was adequate for weed control and slow enough for desired residual activity. Repeated seeding and harvesting the treated soils and bioassays of treated soils generally produced release rate anticipated from short term dry and wet chemical tests.