bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fuzzy PID Control and SIMULINK Simulation of Electro Hydraulic Proportional Relief Valve Loading System
Authors: Kang Guang Qing , Qin Xuan , Gao Xiang , Wang Chao
Published: September 2016

This paper mainly studys the open valve control hydraulic motor loading system.For the electro hydraulic proportional relief valve loading system, the electro hydraulic proportional relief valve and the quadratic component DS1 are modeled, then the mathematical model of the electro hydraulic proportional relief valve loading system is obtained. The dynamic and steady state characteristics of the loading system are stabilized by fuzzy PID control technique. Finally modeling and Simulating the electro-hydraulic proportional relief valve loading fuzzy PID control system by SIMULINK.
Design and Construction of New Hybrid Solar Tracking System
Authors: Jianwattananukul Kittiphot , Locharoenrat Kitsakorn , Lekchaum Sarai
Published: September 2016

We have designed and constructed a brand new of a dish solar tracking system. This hybrid system is composed of a sensor module and a local clock time equation systems, and they all work together whatever the weather conditions are. Experimental results from this system show that the tolerances of the azimuth and altitude angles are not over ±2º showing a high accuracy of the system when we have performed this system in Bangkok, Thailand. Moreover, the measured temperature from the solar receiver is 508.25K. This system is then expected to work well with the solar collector for the electric power conversion in future.
Intelligent Control System Design for Electrical Equipment Management
Authors: Meng Yu Qiao
Published: September 2016

The article design a kind of intelligent control system with the function that can synthesize data, signal transmission and power control at the same time that it includes six components such as terminal equipment, network, controller, circuit, intelligent socket, electrical equipment. This article introduces the three detailed system implementation case with electrical equipment management mode of supply, working mode and working state of intelligent control is realized through the design of the system and improve the applicability of the system.
Preliminary Study of Airflow Energy Recovery System for Electric Vehicles: Performance of VAWT with Air Duct
Authors: Jiang Hao Bin , Li Ao Xue , Ma Shi Dian
Published: September 2016

In order to increase the driving range of electric vehicles, a lift-drag hybrid vertical axis wind turbine (VAWT) and an air duct were designed in this paper, which could realize the wind energy recovering. The energy conversion theory of the concentrated wind energy was introduced into the design of air duct. The wind speed would be increased by 30% after concentrated by the air duct which was verified through CFX simulation. The simulation of original vehicle model, wind turbine and air duct were carried out respectively in Ansys Workbench. And after adding the wind energy recovery device, the drag resistance coefficient of the electric vehicle is reduced by about 8.84%. Indoor laboratory tests conducted on a scale-up model show the flow fields inside the air duct and the turbine rotational speeds in different wind conditions. Results show that position 3 is the optimal matching position of wind turbine and air duct where the cut-in speed is about 4.78km/h and the maximum rotational speed of wind turbine is 458rpm.
Improved Grey Wolf Optimization Algorithm for Constrained Mechanical Design Problems
Authors: Yang Jian Chun , Long Wen
Published: September 2016

An improved grey wolf optimization (IGWO) algorithm is proposed for solving constrained mechanical design problems in this paper. In proposed IGWO algorithm, a novel nonlinearly update equation of convergence factor based on sines function is presented to balance the exploration ability and exploitation ability. The feasibility-based rules based on tournament selection was introduced to handle constrains. Simulation results and comparisons with other state-of-the-art algorithms using three constrained mechanical design problems are provided.
Effect of Ag2O Doping on Some Physical Properties Y145 Superconductor
Authors: Panklang Theerathawan , Supadanaison Rattanasuda , Wanichayanan Chalit , Kaewkao Adullawich , Nilkamjon Tunyanop , Udomsamuthirun Pongkaew , Tiyasri Somporn , Wongphakdee Wirat , Kruaehong Thitipong , Chainok Piyamas
Published: September 2016

In this paper, the Y145 superconductor doped Ag2O were synthesized by solid state reaction. The calcinations and sintering temperature were at 920 °C and annealing temperature was at 550 °C. The highest critical temperature was in Y145+0.1Ag sample with Tc onset at 96 K and the lowest was found in pure Y145 at 95 K. We found that the surface of Y145 superconductor was improved by Ag adding on the porous structure.
Efficiency of Solution Methods for Kepler’s Equation
Authors: Nunes de Oliveira João Francisco , Garcia Roberta Veloso , Kuga Hélio Koiti , Romão Estaner Claro
Published: September 2016

This article discusses, in the case of eccentric orbits, some solution methods for Kepler's equation, for instance: Newton's method, Halley method and the solution by Fourire-Bessel expansion. The efficiency of solution methods is evaluated according to the number of iterations that each method needs to lead to a solution within the specified tolerance. The solution using Fourier-Bessel series is not an iterative method, however, it was analyzed the number of terms required to achieve the accuracy of the prescribed solution.
Research on Electric Power Multiservice Access Support SDN Technology
Authors: Zhen Chong , Wang Yang , Yuan Jian An
Published: September 2016

Electric power communication network is the information channel to guarantee the normal operation of power grid. With the rapid development of smart grid, the electric power business types are continuously increased, which produce a large number of electric network access mode and make it difficult to centralized management. In this paper, the method of using SDN technology to centralized and unified management the electric power distribution communication network is analyzed firstly. The scheme of multiservice unified access intelligent electric device which supports SDN technology is proposed. The principle of multiservice access electric device is analyzed in detail. Secondly, the development and application of multiservice access electric device in Energy Internet is analyzed.
Research on Communication Architecture of Power Terminal Access Network
Authors: Zheng Bao , Wang Yang , Zhen Chong
Published: September 2016

With the accelerated pace of urbanization and the increasing number of power users in urban areas, increased the amount of business of urban power communication system. At the same time, the distribution of users in remote areas, such as rural areas has been reduced, which means that the business needs of power communications reduced. For the situation, We proposed a power system communication architecture based on the number of terminal equipment. The scheme will effectively improve the current situation of electric power communication terminal access network, and improve the efficiency of information transmission.
Research on the Sustainability of Urbanization in China
Authors: Qian Feng , Yang Li
Published: September 2016

Since the reform and opening up of China, the urbanization process has accelerated. While China has made great achievements, some problems affecting economic and sustainable development have occurred. Firstly, this article analyzes two typical phenomena in the Chinese urbanization process, namely "under-urbanization" and "passive urbanization". It then explores the institutional factors and recommends corresponding solutions, aiming to promote the development of Chinese urbanization in a healthy and stable way.
Evaluation of Industrial Tendency of Sustainable Development in the City of Weifang
Authors: Liu Le Feng , Liu Chang Jiang
Published: September 2016

Climate change and energy crisis has crucial impact on the economic activity and industry, and sustainable development is a solution to our future generation to meet their own need under the impact of climate change and energy crisis. Sustainable development has varies meanings, therefore leads to different responses to this definition. This paper aims to evaluate the industry tendency of sustainable development in Weifang. The evaluation first considers sustainable development situation of Weifang today, and assess the sustainable development industry in that city, and then predicts tendency of future sustainable development, and in the end predicts the customer demand of sustainable development industry. To analysis this, the researchers interview leading expert in the sustainable development industry and review the literature of related field. The paper helps to clarify the sustainable development in the industry of Weifang and help city policy maker to guide the sustainable development.
Investigation of Ways to Reduce Road Traffic Noise of Apartment Complexes Using Computer Simulation
Authors: Yeon Jun Oh , Kim Kyoung Woo , Yang Kwan Seop
Published: September 2016

In the present study, computer simulations were carried out using Sound Plan in order to investigate whether road traffic noise levels in two apartment complexes were less than the outdoor noise criteria [65 dB(A)] The sound isolation tunnel was found to be most effective way for noise reduction in the two apartment complexes, although they each have different building arrangements and road traffic. A noise barrier with a height of more than 12 m was required to meet the outdoor noise criteria in apartment complex A. The continuous noise barrier with a height of more than 10 m and enough distance from the road traffic were required in apartment complex B.
Evaluation of Reduction Performance of Floor Impact Sound on Floor Covering in the Reverberation Chamber
Authors: Yeon Jun Oh , Shin Hye Kyung , Yang Kwan Seop , Kim Kyoung Woo
Published: September 2016

In order to reduce floor impact sound in apartment houses, 30 types of floor coverings were chosen to evaluate a performance of reduction in impact sound in the reverberation chamber. In the test of performance of reduction in impact sound using bang machine, a performance of impact sound reduction can be ensured at a low frequency band of 63 Hz and 100 Hz. However, impact sound was amplified at a band of 80 Hz and 125 Hz except for some floor coverings. In the test of performance of reduction in impact sound using a rubber ball drop at a height of 100 cm, a performance of reduction in impact sound was improved from a band of 50 Hz up to 400 Hz. In the test of rubber ball drop at a height of 40 cm, which was similar to the impact of children's running, a performance of reduction in impact sound was improved from a band of 80 Hz and 160 Hz up to 400 Hz.
Light Expand Clay Aggregate Medium Cultivation of Plants Used in Green Roof Feasibility Studies
Authors: Chen Chiou Chuan , Peng Yi Hong , Chen Chun Lin
Published: September 2016

In this study, we experiment with light expand clay aggregate medium used in landscape industry in order to find the ideal lightweight media combination that is helpful for plant growth, without the price being high. We mixed the light-weight medium with sandy loam for use in landscape construction in southern Taiwan. We tested 8 plants and 3 medium and tested light expand clay aggregate base, thus achieving the results. The prescription for medium pH value is detected, with most of the medium showing a low-alkaline environment. The ratio of light expand clay aggregate to sandy loam is 2:8, thus increasing the coverage and growth for Duranta repens, Murraya paniculata, Portulaca grandiflora, and Zoysia matrella. The prescription, whereby the ratio of light expands clay aggregate to sandy loam is 5:5, is suitable for Liriope platyphylla, Spathoglottis plicata. The prescription, whereby the ratio of light expand clay aggregate to sandy loam is 8:2, is suitable for Alpinia speciosa, Podocarpus costalis. The prescription, whereby the ratio of light expands clay aggregate to sandy loam is 8:2, is suitable for Portulaca grandiflora during the rainy season. Light expand clay aggregate medium is more suitable for Liriope platyphylla, Spathoglottis plicata. The prescriptions, whereby the ratio of lightweight medium (light expand clay aggregate to sandy loam) is 2:8, which is suitable for more kinds of plants. Different media prescriptions are well-grown planting combinations, in which one can choose different plant species based on the environment and in order to create biodiversity. This can be achieved to reduce the building load and may provide a good environment for the growth of plants and create space in favor of green roofs.
Evaluation of the Tourism Traffic Carbon Footprint in Xingwen World Geopark
Authors: Xiong Xu Ping , Liu Si Si , Wei Ya Li
Published: September 2016

Under the background of increasingly severe climate warming, it is very important to advocate green travel and low carbon tourism behaviors. Taking Xingwen World Geopark as the research object, this paper study on the carbon footprint of tourism activities in terms of traffic, and how to coordinate the contradiction between the environment and traffic construction in tourism development. The results showed that different vehicles have different carbon emissions based on calculation of traffic carbon footprint in Geopark. Finally, through analyzing the influence factors of traffic carbon footprint distance, transport, energy structure and capacity, the paper put forward some suggestions on low carbon tourism development of Geopark.
Firefighting Capacity Assessment in Armed Forces Hospitals
Authors: Lin Cherng Shing , Chang Chao Hsing
Published: September 2016

As the general public begin to attach greater importance to the firefighting capacities of large public infrastructures, it is high time for an overhaul of the medical, leisure and teaching infrastructures and so on concerning their firefighting capacities. In response to the especially drastic increase in the demands for medical resources, armed forces hospitals are being opened to the public for medical and teaching purposes. In order to meet the daily needs and maintain their operations in a sustainable manner, these hospitals have gone through many spatial and furnishing alterations, hence the changes in their original constructional and fire protection design. These changes, however, might lead to an increase in the risk factors. With Taoyuan Armed Forced General Hospital, which is fairly large in size, as the fireground for the simulation, and the previous cases of fire in the hospital as the basis for the numerical simulation analysis, this study is set out mainly to investigate and validate the impacts of the firefighting facilities (which are consistent with the fire codes and regulations) on the efforts of the people inside the hospital to escape from a fire under such a variety of circumstances as when the space is closed, open, or as the fire sources change in nature and position. Compartmentalization and precautions are used in the process to minimize fire losses. The main objective of this study is to develop some fire safety education materials for such public places as government organizations and schools.
Finite Element Prediction on the Post-Punching Behavior of Slab-Column Connections
Authors: Tambusay Asdam , Suprobo Priyo , Faimun  , Amiruddin Arwin
Published: September 2016

The post-punching behavior of slab-column connections with the employment of engineered cementitious composite (ECC) material was investigated. Two specimen models were modeled and simulated in the finite element program to predict the limit of punching shear resistance and post-punching shear behavior due to lateral load. The first specimen was constructed using regular concrete as the control specimen. The second specimen was built with ECC material at the local thickening at drop panel area and regular concrete at the rest of the members. ECC material was selected due to its superior performance with high tensile strain of more than 2% through multiple micro-cracking with width of less than 80 μm. The results highlighted an improvement of shear capacity and post-punching behavior at the second specimen. Furthermore, compressive damage of post-crushing response on the second specimen also indicated less crushing phenomenon at the critical perimeter than that of the first specimen.
Theoretical Analysis and Experimental Verification of the Stress Concentration Factor at the Steel Tube-Welded Hollow Sphere Connection Node
Authors: Li Bo , Lei Hong Gang , Yang Xu
Published: September 2016

In this paper, the author uses ANSYS, the software of finite element analysis, to establish the finite element model, the hot spot stress value of different connection structures of steel tube-welded hollow sphere under uniaxial elongation has been analyzed, the theoretical stress concentration factor of this joint has been obtained. Through the static test on the four typical test-piece, 26 steel tube-welded hollow spherical nodes in total, the actually measured stress concentration factor of the joints has been obtained. The theoretical analysis basically coincides with the law of stress concentration factor obtained from the test results.
Evolutionary Optimization of Frame Structures Taking into Account the Project Reliability and Possibility of Emergency Actions
Authors: Alekseytsev Anatoliy Victorovich , Kurchenko Natalia Sergeevna
Published: September 2016

The article describes methods of optimal design of steel frame structures of buildings considering impacts not provided for standard operation conditions. In particular fast removal of support braces is analyzed. The frame optimization methodology based on evolutionary simulation is used for solving this task considering plastic deformation of the damaged structure in the genetic algorithm.
Field Model Simulation and Analysis for a Residential Building Fire
Authors: Lin Cherng Shing , Chen Meng Yin , Pan Lung Sheng
Published: September 2016

Under the effects of rapid social-economic development and urbanization, populations dwelling in large community housing buildings have become more concentrated than ever in Taiwan. This might lead to major casualties and property loss if a fire occurs. Therefore, research on fire protection engineering is particularly critical for large buildings. If fire protection engineering considerations are addressed extensively, fire damage can be minimized. This study simulated an actual building fire case of New Taipei City and analyzed the fire field by using the Fire Dynamics Simulator, developed by NIST/USA. In this case, the dwellers of the building had illegally used the patio space to store combustibles. Additionally, the interior of this dwelling contained numerous combustible decorative materials that resulted in a fast expanding fire inside the dwelling. The high temperature smoke generated by the fire moved upwards through the patio because of the stack effect. The dweller had installed a steel window on the opening of the patio illegally, which considerably narrowed the opening and caused the smoke to rapidly accumulate in the patio. This caused the materials inside the patio to burn quickly, and finally resulted in numerous casualties and substantial property loss. The fire characteristics were investigated to obtain transient results regarding influential parameters, such as the temperature of the fire field and concentration of CO, to analyze and discuss the state of the fire field and allowable time for escaping. These results may be applicable for preventing and reducing the future occurrence of such disasters.
Bending Fatigue Performance of Pre-Stressed Concrete Beams Containing Mineral Admixtures
Authors: Wu Li Peng , Dai Peng , Xu Hao
Published: September 2016

Existing scientific research and engineering practice have shown that the proper use of mineral admixtures can improve both the mechanical behavior and the durability property of concrete structures, but due to lack of necessary fatigue test basis, the use of mineral admixtures is strictly limited in railway bridges in China. Pre-stressed concrete T-beams with different dosage of mineral admixtures were prepared and then were subjected to fatigue test and failure test. It is found that these beams have good stiffness and ductility, which means excellent fatigue resistance within a certain dose range. By a suitable mix design, concrete with mineral admixtures can be applied to railway bridge construction.
Experimental Test of Chloride Penetration in Reinforced Concrete Subjected to Wetting and Drying Cycle
Authors: Sutrisno Wahyuniarsih , Suprobo Priyo , Wahyuni Endah , Iranata Data
Published: September 2016

Chloride ingress is one of the major causes of durability problems in reinforced concrete structures. This research focused to investigate the chloride penetration process through the concrete subjected to wetting and drying cycle. This research used 150 x 150 mm normal concrete prism sample with a 40 mm concrete cover. Three wetting and drying configurations used in this study to investigate the effect of wetting and drying period to the chloride penetration. The result indicated that the chloride concentration and penetration depth were highly influenced by the duration of wetting and drying. Based on the experimental result, concrete exposed to 5 hours drying and 3 hours wetting has the highest chloride concentration compared with the sample exposed to other wetting and drying configuration.
Variation of Work Productivity Performance at Different Levels of Production Standard Time
Authors: Mohd Nur Nurhayati , Md Dawal Siti Zawiah , Dahari Mahidzal , Zulkefli Nur Faraihan
Published: September 2016

This study investigated the variation of work productivity performance at different levels of production standard time. Twenty subjects performed repetitive tasks at three different levels of production standard time, corresponding to “normal, “hard” and “very hard”. The work productivity and perceived fatigue were recorded. Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) was performed on the data and the results indicated that work productivity and perceived fatigue were significantly affected by production standard time. The results indicated that there was a decrease in work productivity performance as the perceived fatigue increased. The reduction in work productivity performance is related to the functional incapacity of the workers whereby they are exposed to higher risk of WMSDs in harder production standard time.
Design of Multi-Function Fashion Chair Based on Human Factors Engineering
Authors: Li Xing Yu , Liu Li Li
Published: September 2016

Based on the current status of the development of the chair on the market, taking human engineering research as the starting point of design, existing defects and problems of existing chairs as a starting point, so as to design a multifunctional fashion chair. It not only has the function of chairs, but also increases the function of modern subsidiary, make it better and more convenient to be used by modern people. So which not only improves the comfort of the chair and more humane. Chinese Economic Reform, china's national economy has been developing fast, people's living standard has been gradually improved. Now people are longing for a better life, this is also evident in the choice of daily furniture and requirements. In this paper, the existing problems in the use of chairs are investigated and analyzed. We redesign chairs with the concept of practicability and functionality, research the structure of the chair to expand the function of chairs. When it is placed in the home or office, it will has lots of application and is easy to be used.
Multifunctional Sofa Design Based on the Human Factors Engineering
Authors: Sheng Lu Fei , Liu Li Li
Published: September 2016

Based on the current market current situation of the development of multi-function, with the Human Factors Engineering research as the breakthrough point of the design, the existing defects and problems of the multifunctional sofa as a starting point, and designed a multifunctional sofa, it can not only perform the conversion of multi-function, but also can increase the more whistles and make it better and more conveniently used by modern families, especially in view of the family that the housing area is lesser. It can increase the utilization of the space, and raise interesting interaction between family members, increasing the emotion. With the improvement of living conditions, people begin to pay more attention to their own physical and mental health. As is known to all, sofa is the furniture that can be used to sit and lie. With the development of the society, the sofa also formed the different style and function. This article mainly starts from the multi-function of sofa, through the design of the structure, which can not only make sofa play it own functions, but also can make sofa become a place for children's activities and entertainment. Thus, it can help the family whose children are worried because of the lack of the recreation rooms, which make it not only have function, but also have certain ornamental feature and fashion sense
Effect of Annealing on the Morphology and Photoluminescence of ZnO Thin Films Prepared by RF Magnetron Sputtering
Authors: Wu Chia Ti , Lee Yueh Chien , Lin Yigh Pyng
Published: September 2016

In this work, the influence of thermal annealing on the morphologies and optical properties of zinc oxide (ZnO) thin films grown on Si and glass substrate has been investigated by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and photoluminescence (PL) measurements. SEM images show the increase of the grain size after annealing treatment, which can be attributed to the coalescence of small grains as an effect of the increment of the energy on the surface. The observed NBE emission of PL spectra can evidence the reduction of defect-related level and improvement of crystal quality of the annealed ZnO thin films.
Research on the Fashion Design of Paper Stocks Tea Gift Packaging Combined with Color Design
Authors: Shen Chi Chih
Published: September 2016

In order to study the corresponding relationship between the design and fashion of tea gift package, this paper will analyze and discuss the color design and packaging style of tea gift package. Besides, this paper will also do research on the cultural origin of tea and the value of package, and analyze the influence of package on consumers. Finally, based on the research, the author had design a tea gift package that is in accordance with the current trend. This study uses bright yellow and orange as predominant colors to present nobleness of tea of Alishan. The colors used on the packaging will render people associate with harvest in autumn.
Application of BIM in the Full Cycle Metro Project
Authors: Liu Yi , Shen Fei Min , Zhang Zhen Yu
Published: September 2016

Accidents and damages might occur due to extension of constructing time, complicated procedure and operations, and harsh circumstances brought by the traditional risk management. BIM (Building Information Modeling) appears as an integrated digital management tool, which is featured by being able to visualize, cooperate, simulate and optimize. It is a digital storage of real world building, from which the staffs, including design, building, and operation, could get the information at any time, such as graph, materials statistics, and building progressing. In this research, a full cycle of metro management, including planning, design, collision test, statistics of volume of projects, simulation of building progression, simulation of construction structure, cooperation on spot, was applied to take into consideration cause and effects that might happen in a project. Considering the main potential risks in planning period, construction period and operation period, this paper achieves analysis of capability and efficient management during various periods, via applying 3D visualizing, structure collision test, 4D model constructing, and PW information-shared platform constructing.
Based on the People because of the Intelligent Family Combination of Integral Ambry Design
Authors: Zhang Jia Ning , Liu Li Li
Published: September 2016

Based on the present situation of the integral ambry market, with people because of the engineering research as the breakthrough point of the design, the existing defects and problems of integral ambry as a starting point, and designed a family combination design of integral ambry, it is not only able to ambry of hidden and receive, but also increase the more bells and whistles, make it better and more convenient by modern families use, improve the comfortableness after transformation and space utilization. Since the reform and opening up, the rapid development of the national economy, people's living standards gradually improve, and now people's yearning for a better life further, this is also evident in the choice of daily cabinets and requirements. The in view of the existing integral ambry use problems existing in the process of research and analysis, according to the practical and functional design of the to redesign and function of extended by modern combination cabinet design, let children family and Peter's feelings increase in labor, but also let the child's ability to better exercise. At the same time in the home can be used to achieve a variety of purposes, to facilitate the purpose of the user.
Experimental Research on Static Dent Resistance of Aluminum Alloy Double-Curved Panel
Authors: Li Yi , Lin Dong Yan
Published: September 2016

The static dent resistance performance of the aluminum alloy panel formed using viscous pressure forming (VPF) is studied by experimental methods. The successive load is used to cause the aluminum alloy panel dent in the static dent resistance test. The influence of the curvature radius and VPF process parameters on the static dent resistance performance is researched. Results show that the panel with the smaller radius has a larger stiffness and static dent resistance; the adequate drawing depth can optimum the static dent resistance performance of the double-curved panel and the drawbead also can increase the stiffness and static dent resistance.
Comparative Effects of Graded Levels of Moringa Leaf Meal on Haematological and Serum Biochemical Profile of Broiler Chickens
Authors: Tijani L. A. , Akanji A. M. , Agbalaya K. , Onigemo M.
Published: September 2016

This study was carried out to determine the effects of Moringa oleifera leaf meal on the haematological and serum biochemical profile of broiler chickens. Fresh Moringa leaves (FML) were shade – dried for four (04) days and milled into meal. A total of two hundred (200) unsexed broiler chickens (Anak strain) with a mean body weight of 49.16 g/bird ± 0.09 were allotted to five (05) treatments at forty (40) birds per each in a completely randomized design experiment.Each treatment group was further divided into five (05) replicates. Moringa oleifera leaf meal (MOLM) was incorporated into the broiler starter and finisher diets at 0%, 5%, 10% 15% and 20% levels respectively. The chemical composition of the MOLM showed higher values of crude protein, crude fibre, calcium, iron, tannin, phytic acid, saponin and oxalate contents than FML. The haematological profile in birds fed 5% and 15% MOLM showed higher (P<0.05) packed cellvolume than those fed 20% MOLM. The haemoglobin values were similar (P>0.05) between birds fed 5%, 10% and 15% MOLM - based diets, but reduced significantly (P<0.05) in birds fed 20% MOLM. The white blood cell count was significantly (P<0.05) higher in birds fed 15% MOLM, while the lowest was obtained in those fed with 20% MOLM. The serum biochemical indices in birds fed 20% MOLM showed significant reductions (P<0.05) in albumin, total protein, uric acid, aspartate amino transferase and alanine amino transferase contents. The creatinine content was significantly (P<0.05) higher in birds fed 20% MOLM -based diet. The present study concluded that MOLM can be incorporated into broiler diets at 15% level without adverse effects on the haematological and serum biochemical indices of the broiler chickens.
Phenetic Variation and Preliminary Phytochemical Screening of Piper Species in Sri Lanka
Authors: Jayarathna S.P.N.C. , Senanayake S.P. , Rajapakse S. , Jayasekera L.R.
Published: September 2016

The genus Piper has high commercial importance as it contains cultivated crops (black pepper and betel) and medicinal plants that are mostly used in traditional medicine. In Sri Lanka the genus Piper is represented by ten species including five wild species. It is necessary to examine their chemical composition and morphology as they have received little attention for utilizing their valuable traits for crop improvement. Piper nigrum L., P. betle L., P. longum L., P. chuvya (Miq.) C. DC., P. siriboa L., P. sylvestre Lam., P. zeylanicum Miq. P. walkeri Miq were subjected to morphological and phytochemical study using the specimens collected from natural habitats and from the cultivations. The air dried and powdered leaves were used for qualitative phytochemical screening. Qualitative phytochemical screening was carried out to identify the different chemical compounds in petroleum ether, chloroform, methanol and water. The study confirmed the presence of tannins, flavonoids, terpenoids, glycosides, alkaloids and phenolic compounds. Anatomical studies were carried out by obtaining leaf epidermal peels and cross sections. Thirteen morphological and anatomical characters were subjected to cluster analysis using PAST software to infer their relationships. According to the phenogram (Single linkage, Euclidean distance) the taxa were divided into two main clusters; P. longum, P. zeylanicum, P. sylvestre, P. nigrum and P. walkeri formed one cluster whereas P. chuvya, P. betle, P. siriboa formed the other cluster sharing similarities. P. betle varieties were clustered together with P. siriboa and P. chuvya within the second cluster. Therefore, potential strengths in disease resistance of P. siriboa and P. chuvya can be used to develop improved varieties of betel to minimize economic losses due to epidemics in cultivations.
Review of Management Strategies of Constraints in Garlic (Allium sativum L.) Production
Authors: Diriba-Shiferaw G.
Published: September 2016

The main aim of this review is to provide an overview of the garlic crop productivity and its production management requirements like soil, climate and fertilization in general and specifically in Ethiopia, comparing them with current research trends and to indicate future benefits of soil nutrient management investigations and their importance for agronomic and cultural practices. This paper reviewed that application of balanced nutrients under optimum moisture availability in different soil types is an important crop management strategy, which may help maximizing crop yield and quality. Also, lack of optimum nutrients and moisture in the soil has been the major bottlenecks of garlic production and productivity; since the crop has a very shallow root system that requires frequent irrigation and fertilization with different types of fertilizers under various soil types. Low soil fertility is one of the principal and pervasive constraints to garlic production in Ethiopia; thus, there are differences among soil types in yielding ability under different nutrients and soil characteristics. Most smallholder farmers in Ethiopia appreciate the value of fertilizers, but they are seldom able to apply them at the recommended rates and at the appropriate time according to the soil characteristics. These are because of high cost, lack of credit, delivery delays, and low and variable returns. In addition, the traditional organic inputs, crop residues and animal manures, identified that it cannot meet crop nutrient demand over large areas because of the limited quantities available, the low nutrient content of the materials, and the high labor demands for processing and application. However, there was felt that could exist an opportunity to increase garlic crop yields through identification/selection of soil type and balanced nutrients application or searching for other nutrients sources beyond Urea and Diammonium phosphate especially in Ethiopian condition. Therefore, the integrated use of both the organic and inorganic fertilizers continuum inputs was felt the best option to increase both yield potential and quality of garlic crop and environment-friendly sustainable farming systems and increase of profit margins for growers.
Colour modifications and hyperspectral imaging: non-invasive analysis of photo-degraded wood surfaces
Authors: Agresti Giorgia , Bonifazi Giuseppe , Calienno Luca , Capobianco Giuseppe , Lo Monaco Angela , Pelosi Claudia , Picchio Rodolfo , Serranti Silvia
Published: September 2016

The aim of this investigation is to study the changes occurring on the surface of poplar wood exposed to solar irradiation, in a controlled environment. Poplar is poor of coloured extractive, so that the surface changes are attributed to the main wood constituents’ modifications and the contribution of extraneous substances to holocellulose and lignin can be considered negligible. The poplar wood samples were irradiated in a Solar Box chamber, equipped with a 280 nm UV filter, until reaching 504 hours. The colour changes were monitored with the reflectance spectrophotometer of X-Rite CA22 according to the CIELAB system. The surface chemical modifications were evaluated by measuring the infrared spectra with a Fourier Transform Infrared spectrometer (FT-IR) operating in DRIFT modality. Hyperspectral imaging (HSI) was also applied to study the surface wood changes by using a SisuCHEMA XL Workstation operating in the SWIR range (1000-2500 nm). The data obtained from the different techniques applied were put in comparison in order to find possible correlations between them also with the aim to evaluate the applicability of the HSI technique to the investigation of wood modifications, in a totally non-invasive modality. The possibility to find a correlation between colour changes and chemical modifications, investigated both with traditional and innovative methodologies, in wood surfaces can have practical application in cultural heritage and contemporary objects.
Runoff and sediment yield modeling in a medium-size mediterranean watershed
Authors: Abdelwahab Ossama M.M. , Bisantino Tiziana , Milillo Fabio , Gentile Francesco
Published: September 2016

The AnnAGNPS model was used to estimate runoff, peak discharge and sediment yield at the event scale in the Carapelle watershed, a Mediterranean medium-size watershed (506 km2) located in Apulia, Southern Italy. The model was calibrated and validated using five years of runoff and sediment yield data measured at a monitoring station located at Ordona – Ponte dei Sauri Bridge. A total of 36 events was used to estimate the output of the model during the period 2007-2011, in comparison to the corresponding observations at the watershed outlet. The model performed well in predicting runoff, as was testified by the high values of the coefficients of efficiency and determination during the validation process. The peak flows predictions were satisfactory especially for the high flow events; the prediction capability of sediment yield was good, even if a slight over-estimation was observed. Finally, the model was used to evaluate the effectiveness of different Management practices (MPs) on the watershed (converting wheat to forest, using vegetated streams, crop rotation corn/soybean, no tillage). While the maximum reduction in sediment yield was achieved converting wheat to forest, the best compromises between soil conservation and agriculture resulted to be crop rotations.
Actual evaporation estimation from infrared measurement of soil surface temperature
Authors: Pognant Davide , Canone Davide , Ferraris Stefano
Published: September 2016

Within the hydrological cycle, actual evaporation represents the second most important process in terms of volumes of water transported, second only to the precipitation phenomena. Several methods for the estimation of the Ea were proposed by researchers in scientific literature, but the estimation of the Ea from potential evapotranspiration often requires the knowledge of hard-to-find parameters (e.g.: vegetation morphology, vegetation cover, interception of rainfall by the canopy, evaporation from the canopy surface and uptake of water by plant roots) and many existing database are characterized by missing or incomplete information that leads to a rough estimation of the actual evaporation amount. Starting from the above considerations, the aim of this study is to develop and validate a method for the estimation of the Ea based on two steps: i) the potential evaporation estimation by using the meteorological data (i.e. Penman-Monteith); ii) application of a correction factor based on the infrared soil surface temperature measurements. The dataset used in this study were collected during two measurement campaigns conducted both in a plain testing site (Grugliasco, Italy), and in a mountain South-East facing slope (Cogne, Italy). During those periods, hourly measurement of air temperature, wind speed, infrared surface temperature, soil heat flux, and soil water content were collected. Results from the dataset collected in the two testing sites show a good agreement between the proposed method and reference methods used for the Ea estimation.
Estimating the contribution of rainfall, irrigation and upward soil water flux to crop water requirements of a maize agroecosystem in the Lombardy plain
Authors: Rienzner Michele , Cesari de Maria Sandra , Facchi Arianna , Wassar Fatma , Gandolfi Claudio
Published: September 2016

-
Sustainable management of waste in green nursery: the Tuscan experience
Authors: Sarri Daniele , Lisci Riccardo , Rimediotti M. , Vieri M.
Published: September 2016

The green nursery sector in Europe involves 90,000 ha of cultivated land and 120,000 ha for the nurseries (MiPAAF, 2012), reaching 19.8 billions of Euros in 2011. Every year, nurseries produce waste about 4 kg of the residual biomass for each m2 of the potted plants cultivation. Nurseries waste make up a substantial quantity of organic materials e.g. wood biomass-substrate, which could be retrieved and valorized. With the expansion of potted plants cultivation and the resulting increase in discarded products a number of companies have begun to setting up solutions for the recovery of materials accumulated. Analysis led to the development of a separating system based on trunk vibration technology. To this end, two shaker yard were identified, developed and tested for the recovery of residual biomasses. With these solutions, green waste can be easily grasped by a clamp device able to convey strong vibrations to the trunk (or to the aerial part of the plant) to the point that the soil materials are detached from the vegetable portions.
Open problems in traceability: from raw materials to finished food products
Authors: Comba Lorenzo , Dabbene Fabrizio , Gay Paolo , Tortia Cristina
Published: September 2016

Even though the main EU regulations concerning food traceability have already entered to force since many years, we still remark very wide and impacting product recalls, which often involve simultaneously large territories and many countries. This is a clear sign that current traceability procedures and systems, when implemented with the only aim of respecting mandatory policies, are not effective, and that there are some aspects that are at present underestimated, and therefore should be attentively reconsidered. In particular, the sole adoption of the so-called “one step back-one step forward traceability” to comply the EC Regulation 178/2002, where every actor in the chain handles merely the data coming from his supplier and those sent to his client, is in fact not sufficient to control and to limit the impact of a recall action after a risk notification. Recent studies on lots dispersion and routing demonstrate that each stakeholder has to plan his activities (production, transformation or distribution) according to specific criteria that allow pre-emptively estimating and limiting the range action of a possible recall. Moreover, these new and very recently proposed techniques still present some limits; first of all the problem of traceability of bulk products (e.g. liquids, powders, grains, crystals) during production phases that involve mixing operations of several lots of different/same materials. In fact, current traceability practices are in most cases unable to deal efficiently with this kind of products, and, in order to compensate the lack of knowledge about lot composition, typically resort to the adoption of very large lots, based for instance on a considered production period. Aim of this paper is to present recent advances in the design of supply chain traceability systems, discussing problems that are still open and are nowadays subject of research.
Implementation of a genetic algorithm for energy design optimization of livestock housing using a dynamic thermal simulator
Authors: Menconi Maria Elena , Chiappini Massimo , Grohmann David
Published: September 2016

A Genetic Algorithm (GA) is an optimization process inspired by natural systems ability of surviving in many different environments through the mechanisms of natural selection and genetics. The pairing of GA-based optimization techniques with dynamic energy models is a common and effective practice to find energy efficient design solutions. In this paper is implemented an optimization tool that use a GA and a dynamic energy model. Efficiency of GAs depends largely on the coding strategy and on the parameters selection. In order to test the code and to find the best combination of parameters, a parametric analysis of GA's performances is carried out. The algorithm, coded in Matlab, works with populations of strings. Each string, that represents a complete design solution, is initially randomly generated by the GA and evaluated in terms of energy performances by the dynamic thermal simulator. A new population is then generated using three different GA stochastic operators: reproduction, crossover and mutation, by selecting, mixing and randomly modifying the fittest solutions of the previous generation. Each generation is energetically evaluated and thus the fitness of the strings, that represent the energy efficiency of the design solutions, improves every cycle till eventually converge to the best solution. This whole methodology is well documented and applied in residential buildings design but can be easily extended to livestock housing. In this paper the algorithm is coded to be applied on a simple sheepfold model in order to optimize only passive design solutions.
Influence of feed delivery frequency on behavioural activity of dairy cows in freestall barns
Authors: Riva Elisabetta , Mattachini Gabriele , Bava Luciana , Sandrucci Anna , Tamburini Alberto , Provolo Giorgio
Published: September 2016

Research on feeding management in more competitive free-stall settings indicates that frequency of delivery of fresh feed stimulates feed bunk attendance and can affect other aspects of cows’ time budgets apart from feeding such as time spent standing vs. lying down. The objective of this study was to examine how the frequency of feed delivery affects the behavior in two farms, one with a conventional and one with automatic milking system (AMS). The feeding frequency was varied from two to three times per day in the conventional dairy farm; one to two times per day in the AMS farm. The experiment was carried out in two different seasons. All behaviours of the cows were monitored in continuous by video recording. As expected, behavioral indices have been significantly affected by environmental conditions both in conventional farm and AMS farm. The variation in the frequency of feed delivery seems to affect the cow behavioural activity only in a limited way and modify only slightly the daily averages of the time spent in different activities mainly increasing the time cows spend standing (+4- 5%).