bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fabrication of a Micro Lens Array with a High Filling Factor Using a Direct Molding Method
Authors: Huang Chien Yao , Chen Chun Chieh , Chou Hsiao Yu , Peng Wei Long , Lin Yu Wei
Published: November 2013

In recent years, micro lens arrays have played a crucial role in optical illumination systems. The function of micro lens arrays (MLAs) is to create a uniform light intensity or shape the light profile. Polymers that are commonly used as MLAs have several advantages, such as cost effectiveness, light weight, and easy formation. In general, the ultra-precision diamond-turning technique and plastic injection molding technique have been combined to fabricate MLAs with polymer materials. However, residual stress and non-balance injection pressure are produced on MLAs during injecting processing. Therefore, this paper presents the fabrication of MLAs using a direct molding method (DMM). The STAVAX with electroless nickel coating and PMMA were used as the mold and polymer preform, respectively. First, a mold of MLA with 100% filling factor was fabricated using the ultra-precision diamond-turning technique. A high filling factor can decrease the non-effective area of the MLA in an optical system. Subsequently, an MLA was formed on the PMMA surface using DMM processing. This paper shows the DMM process parameters, including molding temperature, molding force, and cooling rate. Moreover, the profile of the MLA was measured using a laser confocal microscope. Finally, a high filling factor MLA with a diameter of 11.5 mm, and lenses with a height of 8.5 μm and a radius of 470 μm were formed on PMMA.
Effect of the Bonding Temperature on the Bonding Interface in the Press Bonding of Ti-17 Alloy
Authors: Li Hong , Li Miao Quan , Liu Hong Bin , Yu Wei Xin
Published: November 2013

The press bonding experiments of Ti-17 alloy were conducted at the bonding temperatures ranging from 730°C to 880°C, a bonding pressure of 20 MPa and a bonding time of 15 min. The results show that the plastic deformation is a main bonding mechanism in the press bonding of Ti-17 alloy. With an increase in bonding temperature, the plastic deformation enhances and voids in the bonding interface disappear gradually. The grain boundary migration and grain growth spanning the bonding interface start to activate, which is of benefit to obtaining a sound bond. The failure mode of bonding interface changes from a brittle fracture to a ductile fracture. However, a higher bonding temperature will induce grain coarsening which result in strength decreasing. The SEM of lap shear fracture surfaces indicates that a bond with superior strength can be obtained at a bonding temperature of 860°C.
Investigation on Spot Welding Effect on Truss Core Panel for Crashworthiness
Authors: Hilman Nordin , Bin Abd Shukor Mohd Hamdi , Yang Yang , Hagiwara Ichiro
Published: November 2013

One of the main concerns of the automotive industry is reduction in structural weight of automobiles. Reduction of weight on vehicles has been proven to lower the usage of fuel, and therefore save a lot of energy in order to move from one place to another. At the same time, reduction of weight often means reduction in material usage, often regarded to be threatening structural strength of parts, components or vehicles body in white (BIW). Truss Core Panel, which has been developed from the study of origami engineering, specifically plane-tilings and space fillings, is a suitable candidate because it can be produced from thin sheet metals and can be joined using spot welding. In this paper, method for evaluating truss core panels for crashworthiness has been established based previous research on crashworthiness evaluation on thin shells. The effect of different configuration of spot welding has been investigated. The number of spot weld (n) along central member and side members of truss core panel has been varied and modeled from n = 2, 4, 6 ... to n = 30, and compared to a truss core panel model that is fully welded along central member and side members. The results also show that it is possible to attain similar mean crush force to fully welded structure with smaller number of spot welds.
Investigation on Effect of Solution-Stabilizing Post Heat Treatment on Microstructure of AISI321 Stainless Steel
Authors: Mahmoudi Amir , Esmailian Mohammad , Aghamiri Seyed Eshagh
Published: November 2013

In this investigation, AISI321 steel was solution - stabilizing post heat treated in various temperatures and times after SMAW welding. Results show, increasing of temperature in solution and stabilizing heat treatment, raise sensitization; in addition, by increasing of the solution heat treatment time, sensitization enhances. However, increasing the time of stabilizing heat treatment creates less chrome carbides, so the sensitization decreases. These heat treatments reduce the amount of delta ferrite and change its morphology from narrow and acicular shape to discontinues and separate globular particles. Moreover, more carbide and carbonitrid of Ti and Nb are also created.
Estimation of the Mechanical Properties and Temperature Distribution in Friction Stir Welding Technique of Aluminum Alloys
Authors: Adel K.M.
Published: November 2013

Friction stir welding of AA 7020-T6 aluminum alloys, 5 mm thick plate is an Al-Zn-Mg grade alloy of 7XXX series heat treatable of medium strength alloys and employed for welded engineering structural components. The effect of FSW parameters (rotational speeds and travel speeds) on joint strength and welding zone dimensions have been investigated experimentally. Four different rotational speeds are used: 450, 560, 710 and 900 r.p.m. with three travel speeds 16, 25 and 40 mm.min-1. The experimental investigation included tensile test and weld pool geometry determination. It was found the that best welding conditions for FSW was the weldments which have 247 Mpa yield strength, 340 MPa ultimate tensile strength, 7.3% elongation, 11020N bending forces for both face and root and hardness value ranging from (133-138) Hv 0.05 for the different welding regions under the optimal welding conditions at a rotational speed of 900 r.p.m. and travel speed of 25mm.min-1.
Rheological Properties of Cemented Tungsten Carbide Feedstock for Micro Powder Injection
Authors: Fayyaz Abdolali , Muhamad Norhamidi , Sulong Abu Bakar , Yunn Heng Shye , Amin Sri Yulis M. , Rajabi Javad
Published: November 2013

The rheological behavior of feedstock needs to be examined for manufacturing parts without defects by micro powder injection molding (μPIM). In this study, submicron tungsten carbide (WC) and cobalt (Co) were milled for several hours. The distribution and morphology of the powder mixture were analyzed by laser diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. After measurement of critical powder loading, cemented tungsten carbide (WCCo) powder was mixed with a thermoplastic/paraffin wax binder with a powder loading volume from 50% to 52% to obtain feedstock. The flow properties of the WCCo feedstock were evaluated using a capillary rheometer at different temperatures. It was found that feedstock exhibit a pseudoplastic flow behavior, which is one of the main requirements for μPIM. Feedstock is also shown to be highly sensitive to temperature at high powder loading. Low powder loading led to low viscosity at a high shear rate that cannot be used in μPIM because it results in powder and binder separation.
Fatigue Analysis of a Motorcycle Frame System Based on a Road Test and the Finite Element Method
Authors: Zhang Liang , Lu Cheng , Tieu A. Kiet
Published: November 2013

A motorcycle frame system is a load bearing structure that always appears to suffer fatigue damage after running for a long time, indeed the fatigue life of the frame ultimately decides the service life of a motorcycle. In our work, we predicted the fatigue life of a motorcycle frame manufactured from two different materials by carrying out a road test in combination with computational simulation work based on the finite element analysis method. Firstly, signals from the strain and acceleration stemming from the key parts of the frame were collected by the road test, from which we have a preliminary understanding of the amount and distribution of stress. After this a finite element model and a multi-body dynamic model of the frame were built to obtain the results of the stress and information on the load based on the road test. According to the different material properties of Q235 and AZ91, we finally obtained the fatigue life and also discovered the weak parts of the frame. From the road test and results of the simulation we concluded that at 50km/h, most of the stresses inherent in the Q235 frame were well under the yield strength of the material. Indeed the high stress that results in a short fatigue life in some places was caused by concentrated stress and some unreasonable structural design. The stress of the AZ91 fame was the same as the Q235 in the experimental working conditions, while the weight of the frame can be reduced significantly. However the damage caused by fatigue that appeared earlier in the AZ91 frame than the Q235 frame can be attributed to its lower strength material.
Crystal Structure Optimization, Hyperpolarizabilities and Non-Linear Optical Property of N-[2,4,5-Trichlorophenyl] Acetamide
Authors: Jotani Mukesh M. , Baldaniya Bharat B.
Published: November 2013

The crystal structure of N-[2,4,5-Trichlorophenyl] acetamide is optimized through semi-empirical method by Austin Model 1 (AM1) together with restricted Hartree-Fock closed shell wave function to describe the influence of interactions on crystal packing using MOPAC2009 program. The electric dipole moment (μ)and molecular hyperpolarizabilities (β and γ)are computedbytime dependent Hartree Fock (TDHF) method to inspect the non-linear optical behaviour of the material. The UV-VIS spectral study of material in 300-1100 nm wavelength range shows a wide transparency window which is the key requirement for the non-linear optical (NLO) property of the material. The experimentally measured value of second harmonic generation efficiency is 0.8 times to that of reference material potassium dihydrogen phosphate (KDP). The intramolecular charge transfer interaction results during the HOMO-LUMO transition observed from molecular orbital calculations.
Effect of Ca and Ba Doping on the Magnetotransport Properties of NdMnO3
Authors: Bhalodia Jayant A. , Chhelavda Pooja A. , Chocha Jessica R.
Published: November 2013

Mixed valence manganites of the type Nd0.7-xRxMnO3 where, R = divalent cation (Ca and Ba) have been synthesized using citrate pyrolysis process. It is interesting to see that the Ca and Ba doped NdMnO3 compounds have metal - insulating behavior but different TMI values at different magnetic field. Although the Ca and Ba ions have almost same ionic radii but different density. For Ca-doped NdMnO3 compound, a magnetoresistance as high as 79 % was observed at the insulator transition temperature Tp =102 K, while in Ba-doped NdMnO3 compound, lower magnetoresistance ~ 67% was observed at the metal insulator transition temperature Tp = 90 K. For both Ca & Ba doped NdMnO3 structural characterization shows same orthorhombic phase without impurities in the sample sintered at 900 °C, with the crystalline sizes in the nanometer scale. Grain size and morphology results show that the compounds have clear grain morphology and also nanoscale grain sizes.
Enhancement of Magnetic Properties in Co-Sr Ferrite Nano Composites Prepared by an SHS Route
Authors: Panchal Nital R. , Jotania Rajshree B.
Published: November 2013

The preparation and characterization of composite materials containing nanometer-sized constituents is currently a very active and exciting area of research at laboratories around the world. In order to improve the magnetic and electromagnetic absorption properties of magnetic materials, composite of soft/hard ferrite is required in proper composition. For high-density magnetic recording, decrease in the coercive field and simultaneously increase in saturation magnetization has attracted much attention. To achieve these properties, new modified CoFe2O4-SrFe12O19 composite ferrite nanoparticles were prepared by using an SHS route. Composites of spinel: hexaferrite were prepared in the ratio 1:0, 1:2 and 0:1. The enhancement of maximum energy product BHmax is achieved by the addition of Spinel ferrite into M-type hexaferrite particles. The exchange interactions between hard and soft magnetic phases improve the microwave absorption properties. The parameters, Hc, σs, and particle size d, can easily be controlled by changing the content of spinel ferrite in the composite with Sr-M hexaferrite.
Ultrasonic Velocity and Rheological Measurement of Coolants
Authors: Patel Jay , Parekh Kinnari , Upadhyay R.V.
Published: November 2013

Rheology and ultrasonic velocity (at 2 MHz frequency) properties of Ethylene glycol (EG)-water mixed nano-coolants are studied at different temperatures. Variation in density and viscosity is found to be non-linear with increasing EG concentration. The viscosity of the mix system varies from 3.5 to 16.9 mPa.s. The results show that with increasing EG concentration in the system the ultrasonic velocity increases, reaches maximum and then decreases. The similar trend is observed for all the temperature under investigation. From these data, the adiabatic compressibility, mean free path and attenuation co-efficient have been calculated. The observed variation is explained considering the relative strength of hydrogen bond between EG and water.
Dielectric Properties of Clay Loam Soil at Lower Microwave Frequencies
Authors: Buliya Asha , Pancholi K.C. , Paliwal R.K. , Bhatnagar S.P.
Published: November 2013

Real and Imaginary parts ( ) of the Complex Dielectric Permittivity (ε*) of Clay Loam soil collected from Nanta Farm, CAD, Kota, Rajasthan have been measured using a Vector Network Analyzer with varied Moisture contents and Salinity levels in the frequency range 150 MHz to 2.2 GHz. Both and are observed to be strongly dependent on moisture content. The Reflection coefficient(R) , Emissivity(e) and Brightness temperature(T_B) of Microwaves for the soil sample were also calculated from the measured permittivity data. These parameters have their own importance in remote sensing of soil moisture using Microwave signals and show expected variations with soil salinity and Microwave frequencies used.
Synthesis, Characterization and Magnetic Properties of Cobalt Ferrite Nanoparticles Prepared by Glycine Assisted Sol-Gel Auto-Combustion Technique
Authors: Shinde A.B. , Kale G.H. , Dhage V.N. , Gaikwad P.K. , Jadhav K.M.
Published: November 2013

Nano-particles of (38 nm size) cobalt ferrite (CoFe2O4) were synthesized by sol-gel auto-combustion technique using high purity metal nitrates and glycine as a fuel. The characterization studies were conducted by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. The analysis of X-ray diffraction pattern suggests that, the prepared CoFe2O4 spinel ferrite possess single phase cubic spinel structure. The most intense peak (311) of the XRD pattern was used to determine the crystallite size. lattice constant and X-ray density were calculated by using XRD data. The values of lattice constant and X-ray density are found to in the reported range but slightly higher as compared to bulk CoFe2O4 sample. The surface morphology of the CoFe2O4samples was examined through scanning electron microscopy (SEM) technique. The result of SEM analysis shows that grain size is of the order of 62 nm. The CoFe2O4 nano-particle exhibit ferromagnetic behavior having saturation magnetization (Ms) and coercivity (Hc) values in the range of 83 emu/gm and 1381 Oe respectively. The high values of saturation magnetization and coercivity gives the evidence of nanocrystalline nature of the prepared CoFe2O4 spinel ferrite.
Molecular Dynamics of Methane and Ethane
Authors: Patel P.P. , Gajjar P.N.
Published: November 2013

Molecular dynamics simulation of methane and ethane is carried out to study the kinetic energy, potential energy and total energy in liquid and gas phases. The Lennard- Jones potential is employed to compute force and intermolecular potential with N = 125, 216, 343, 512 particles for 105 time steps. The mean square displacement and self diffusivity for liquid and gas phase for methane and ethane are also investigated and report trends in diffusivities in x, y, and z components. It is found that the diffusion coefficient of liquid methane is higher than that of liquid ethane. The Liquid state of methane and ethane shows higher diffusivity than the gaseous states.
Study of Collective Modes and Elastic Constants of Zr57Ti5Cu20Ni8Al10 Bulk Metallic Glass
Authors: Thakore Brijmohan Y. , Suthar P.H. , Prakruti Chaudhari , Gajjar P.N. , Jani A.R.
Published: November 2013

The methodical expressions for the phonon frequencies of Zr57Ti5Cu20Ni8Al10 bulk metallic glass (BMG) both for longitudinal and transverse phonon modes are computed for the first time using Hubbard-Beeby (HB) approach and our well recognized model potential. The self-consistent phonon scheme given by Takeno-Goda, involving multiple scattering and phonon Eigen frequencies expressed in terms of many-body correlation functions of atoms as well as of interatomic potential in the solids, has been used to generate the collective modes in the Zr57Ti5Cu20Ni8Al10 BMG. In the present paper, the local field correction functions due to Hartree (H), Farid et al (F), Sarkar et al (S) and Hubbard Sham (HS) are used to examine the influence of screening effects on the vibrational properties. Further, from the long wavelength limit of phonon frequencies, various elastic constants have been calculated and are found to be in good agreement with experimental and other available data.
Structure and Electrical Conductivity of Liquid Pb-Bi Alloys
Authors: Kumar Manjul , Joshi Mitesh , Gajjar P.N. , Jani A.R.
Published: November 2013

The knowledge of the physical properties of liquid Pb-Bi alloys and those of eutectic composition especially, is of high scientiﬁc and practical importance. In present paper temperature dependent electrical conductivity as well as thermoelectric power of liquid Pb-Bi eutectic (Pb-55.9%Bi) is studied in the framework of Ziman formalism through an electron-ion potential. Partial structure factor is calculated from the Faber-Ziman approach. The dependency of conductivity is interpreted alongwith various screening functions. The results are compared with experimental findings and the effect of screening function on conductivity is discussed. This elucidates that the conductivity data of liquid Pb-Bi system are in qualitative agreement with the nearly-free electron picture.
Structural Properties of Ba-Zn Hexaferrite Prepared by a Solvent Free Method
Authors: Chauhan Chetna C. , Jotania Rajshree B.
Published: November 2013

The W type barium zinc hexaferrite sample was prepared by a solvent free method with and without presence of cationic surfactant CTAB. The precursors were calcinated at 950°C for 4 hrs in a furnace to obtained BaZn2Fe16O27 crystalline ferrite powder. The effect of proportion of surfactant on structural properties of hexaferrite was studied. The hexaferrite powder was characterized by using various instrumental techniques like XRD and SEM. The structural properties of the samples were investigated by using XRD and SEM. The SEM images of the sample in presence of surfactant shows that surfactant controls the morphology of the particles.
Low Temperature Chemical Synthesis of p-Type SnS Thin Films Suitable for Photovoltaic Structures
Authors: Patel T.H.
Published: November 2013

SnS thin film has been deposited on glass substrate at room temperature using low cost, environmental friendly chemical bath deposition (CBD) technique. The structural parameters of the deposited film have been investigated through X- ray diffraction measurements. The deposited SnS film found almost crystalline with preferred orientations along (111) planes revealing an orthorhombic phase of herzenbergite SnS structure. The lattice parameters and dislocation density were determined. The average grain size estimated to be ~ 25 nm. The surface morphology of the film examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) show uniform granular and any crack or pinhole free deposition of the film. The chemical compositions of the film examined using energy dispersive analysis of x-rays (EDAX) confirmed stoichiometric deposition. The analysis of the optical absorption spectra of the deposited film in the wavelength range of 200-1200 nm indicate that direct allowed transitions are dominant in the film. The direct band gap of the film determined to be ~ 1.92 eV which is higher than those reported earlier for bulk or single crystal SnS, exhibiting quantum size effect at the observed grain size in the film. This value of band gap is promising for possible use of the deposited film as absorption layer in photovoltaic structures like solar cells. The thermoelectric power measurements indicate p-type electrical conductivity of the deposited films. A systematic study on room temperature chemical deposition and characterization of SnS thin films suitable for absorber layer in photovoltaic structures has been reported.
Microwave Dielectric Relaxation in Binary Mixtures of Pyridine and 1-Propanol at Different Temperatures
Authors: Trivedi Chintan M. , Rana Vipinchandra A. , Chaube Hemantkumar A.
Published: November 2013

Dielectric constant (ε′) and Dielectric loss (ε″) of the binary mixtures of the pyridine and 1-propanol have been measured at microwave frequencies of X-band and J-band at 303,313 and 323K temperatures. Static dielectric permittivity (ε0) of the liquid samples has been determined using precision LCR meter. Dielectric permittivity at optical frequency (ε∞) has also been measured. Determined values of Static dielectric permittivity (ε0) and complex permittivity (ε*) at 9.1 GHz frequency were used to evaluate relaxation time (τ). Determined parameters have been interpreted in terms of molecular interaction among the molecular species of the binary mixtures.
Southern Hemisphere imprint for Indo-Asian summer monsoons during the last glacial period as revealed by Arabian Sea productivity records
Authors: Caley T. , Zaragosi S. , Bourget J. , Martinez P. , Malaizé B. , Eynaud F. , Rossignol L. , Garlan T. , Ellouz-Zimmermann N.
Published: November 2013

Abstract. The monsoon is one of the most important climatic phenomena: it promotes inter-hemispheric exchange of energy and affects the economical prosperity of several countries exposed to its seasonal seesaw. Previous studies in both the Indian and Asian monsoon systems have generally suggested a dominant northern hemispheric (NH) control on summer monsoon dynamics at the scale of suborbital–millennial climatic changes, while the forcing/response of Indian and Asian monsoons at the orbital scale remains a matter of debate. Here, six marine sediment cores distributed across the whole Arabian Sea are used to build a regional surface marine productivity signal. The productivity signal is driven by the intensity of Indian summer monsoon winds. Our results demonstrate the existence of an imprint of suborbital southern hemispheric (SH) temperature changes (i.e. Antarctica) on the Indian summer monsoon during the last glacial period that is generally not recognized. During the last deglaciation, the NH played a more significant role. This suggests that fluctuations in the Indian monsoon are better explained in a bipolar context. The δ18O signal recorded in the Asian monsoon speleothem records could be exported by winds from the Indian summer monsoon region, as recently proposed in modelling exercise, explaining the SH signature observed in Asian cave speleothems. Contrary to the view of a passive response of Indian and Asian monsoons to NH anomalies, the present results appear to suggest that the Indo-Asian summer monsoon plays an active role in amplifying millennial inter-hemispheric asymmetric patterns. Additionally, this study confirms previously observed differences between Indian and Asian speleothem monsoonal records at the orbital-precession scale.
Gap-filling strategies for annual VOC flux data sets
Authors: Bamberger I. , Hörtnagl L. , Walser M. , Hansel A. , Wohlfahrt G.
Published: November 2013

Abstract. Up to now the limited knowledge about the exchange of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) between the biosphere and the atmosphere is one of the factors which hinders more accurate climate predictions. Complete long-term flux data sets of several VOCs to quantify the annual exchange and validate recent VOC models are basically not available. In combination with long-term VOC flux measurements the application of gap-filling routines is inevitable in order to replace missing data and make an important step towards a better understanding of the VOC ecosystem-atmosphere exchange on longer time scales. We performed VOC flux measurements above a mountain meadow in Austria during two complete growing seasons (from snowmelt in spring to snow reestablishment in late autumn) and used this data set to test the performance of four different gap-filling routines, mean diurnal variation (MDV), mean gliding window (MGW), look up tables (LUT) and linear interpolation (LIP), in terms of their ability to replace missing flux data in order to obtain reliable VOC sums. According to our findings the MDV routine was outstanding with regard to the minimization of the gap-filling error for both years and all quantified VOCs. The other gap-filling routines, which performed gap-filling on 24 h average values, introduced considerably larger uncertainties. The error which was introduced by the application of the different filling routines increased linearly with the number of data gaps. Although average VOC fluxes measured during the winter period (complete snow coverage) were close to zero, these were highly variable and the filling of the winter period resulted in considerably higher uncertainties compared to the application of gap-filling during the measurement period. The annual patterns of the overall cumulative fluxes for the quantified VOCs showed a completely different behavior in 2009, which was an exceptional year due to the occurrence of a severe hailstorm, compared to 2011. Methanol was the compound which contributed with 381.5 mg C m–2 and 449.9 mg C m–2 most to the cumulative VOC carbon emissions in 2009 and 2011, respectively. In contrast to methanol emissions, however, considerable amounts of monoterpenes (−327.3 mg C m–2) were deposited to the mountain meadow in consequence to the hailstorm in 2009. Other quantified VOCs had considerably lower influences on the annual patterns.
Morphological and sedimentological response of a mixed-energy barrier island tidal inlet to storm and fair-weather conditions
Authors: Herrling G. , Winter C.
Published: November 2013

Abstract. The environment of ebb-tidal deltas between barrier island systems is characterized by a complex morphology with ebb- and flood-dominated channels, shoals and swash bars connecting the ebb-tidal delta platform to the adjacent island. These morphological features reveal characteristic surface sediment grain-size distributions and are subject to a continuous adaptation to the prevailing hydrodynamic forces. The mixed-energy tidal inlet Otzumer Balje between the East Frisian barrier islands Langeoog and Spiekeroog in the southern North Sea has been chosen here as an exemplary study area for the identification of relevant hydrodynamic drivers of morphology and sedimentology. We compare the effect of high-energy wave-dominated storm conditions to mid-term tide-dominated fair-weather conditions on tidal inlet morphology and sedimentology with a process-based numerical model. A multi-fractional approach with five graduated grain-size fractions between 150 and 450 microns allows the simulation of corresponding surface sediment grain-size distributions. Net sediment fluxes for distinct conditions are identified: during storm conditions, bed load sediment transport is generally onshore directed on the shallower ebb-tidal delta shoals whereas fine-grained suspended sediment bypasses the tidal inlet by wave-driven currents. During fair-weather the sediment transport mainly focuses on the inlet throat and the marginal flood channels. We show how the observed sediment grain-size distribution and the morphological response at mixed-energy tidal inlets are the result of both, wave-dominant less frequent storm conditions and mid-term tide-dominant fair-weather conditions.
Probability distributions for explaining hydrological losses in South Australian catchments
Authors: Gamage S. H. P. W. , Hewa G. A. , Beecham S.
Published: November 2013

Abstract. Accurate estimation of hydrological losses is required for making vital decisions in design applications that are based on design rainfall models and rainfall–runoff models. The use of representative single values of hydrological losses, despite their wide variability, is common practice, especially in Australian studies. This practice leads to issues such as over or under estimation of design floods. The probability distribution method is potentially a better technique to describe losses. However, a lack of understanding of how losses are distributed can limit the use of this technique. This paper aims to identify a probability distribution function that can successfully describe hydrological losses of a catchment of interest. The paper explains the systematic process of identifying probability distribution functions, the problems faced during the distribution fitting process and a new generalised method to test the adequacy of fitted distributions. The goodness-of-fit of the fitted distributions are examined using the Anderson–Darling test and the Q–Q plot method and the errors associated with quantile estimation are quantified by estimating the bias and mean square error (MSE). A two-parameter gamma distribution was identified as one that successfully describes initial loss (IL) data for the selected catchments. Further, non-parametric standardised distributions that describe both IL and continuing loss data are also identified. This paper will provide a significant contribution to the Australian Rainfall and Runoff (ARR) guidelines that are currently being updated, by improving understanding of hydrological losses in South Australian catchments. More importantly, this study provides new knowledge on how IL in a catchment is characterised.
Irrigated plantations and their effect on energy fluxes in a semi-arid region of Israel – a validated 3-D model simulation
Authors: Branch O. , Warrach-Sagi K. , Wulfmeyer V. , Cohen S.
Published: November 2013

Abstract. A large irrigated biomass plantation was simulated in an arid region of Israel within the WRF-NOAH coupled atmospheric/land surface model in order to assess land surface atmosphere feedbacks. Simulations were carried out for the 2012 summer season (JJA). The irrigated plantations were simulated by prescribing tailored land surface and soil/plant parameters, and by implementing a newly devised, controllable sub-surface irrigation scheme within NOAH. Two model cases studies were considered and compared – Impact and Control. Impact simulates a hypothetical 10 km × 10 km irrigated plantation. Control represents a baseline and uses the existing land surface data, where the predominant land surface type in the area is bare desert soil. Central to the study is model validation against observations collected for the study over the same period. Surface meteorological and soil observations were made at a desert site and from a 400 ha Simmondsia chinensis (Jojoba) plantation. Control was validated with data from the desert, and Impact from the Jojoba. Finally, estimations were made of the energy balance, applying two Penman–Monteith based methods along with observed meteorological data. These estimations were compared with simulated energy fluxes. Control simulates the daytime desert surface 2 m air temperatures (T2) with less than 0.2 °C deviation and the vapour pressure deficit (VPD) to within 0.25 hPa. Desert wind speed (U) is simulated to within 0.5 m s−1 and the net surface radiation (Rn) to 25 W m−2. Soil heat flux (G) is not so accurately simulated by Control (up to 30 W m−2 deviation) and 5 cm soil temperatures (ST5) are simulated to within 1.5 °C. Impact simulates daytime T2 over irrigated vegetation to within 1–1.5 °C, the VPD to 0.5 hPa, Rn to 50 W m−2 and ST5 to within 2 °C. Simulated Impact G deviates up to 40 W m−2, highlighting a need for re-parameterisation or better soil classification, but the overall contribution to the energy balance is small (5–6%). During the night, significant T2 and ST5 cold biases of 2–4 °C are present. Diurnal latent heat values from WRF Impact correspond closely with Penman–Monteith estimation curves, and latent heat magnitudes of 160 W m−2 over the plantation are usual. Simulated plantation sensible heat fluxes are high (450 W m−2) – around 100–110 W m−2 higher than over the surrounding desert. The high relative HFX over the vegetation, driven by high Rn and high surface resistances, indicate that low Bowen ratios should not necessarily be assumed when irrigated plantations are implemented in, and optimized for arid regions. Furthermore, the high plantation T2 magnitudes highlight the importance of considering diurnal dynamics, which drive the evolution of boundary layers, rather than only on daily mean statistics which often indicate an irrigation cooling effect.
Benchmarking hydrological models for low-flow simulation and forecasting on French catchments
Authors: Nicolle P. , Pushpalatha R. , Perrin C. , François D. , Thiéry D. , Mathevet T. , Le Lay M. , Besson F. , Soubeyroux J.-M. , Viel C. , Regimbeau F. , Andréassian V. , Maugis P. , Augeard B. , Morice E.
Published: November 2013

Abstract. Low-flow simulation and forecasting remains a difficult issue for hydrological modellers, and intercomparisons are needed to assess existing low-flow prediction models and to develop more efficient operational tools. This study presents the results of a collaborative experiment conducted to compare low-flow simulation and forecasting models on 21 unregulated catchments in France. Five hydrological models with different characteristics and conceptualizations were applied following a common evaluation framework and assessed using a common set of criteria. Two simple benchmarks were used to set minimum levels of acceptability for model performance in simulation and forecasting modes. Results showed that, in simulation as well as in forecasting modes, all hydrological models performed almost systematically better than the benchmarks. Although no single model outperformed all the others in all circumstances, a few models appeared more satisfactory than the others on average. In simulation mode, all attempts to relate model efficiency to catchment characteristics remained inconclusive. In forecasting mode, we defined maximum useful forecasting lead times beyond which the model does not contribute useful information compared to the benchmark. This maximum useful lead time logically varies between catchments, but also depends on the model used. Preliminary attempts to implement simple multi-model approaches showed that additional efficiency gains can be expected from such approaches.
Multilinear approach to the precipitation–lightning relationship: a case study of summer local electrical storms in the northern part of Spain during 2002–2009 period
Authors: Herrero I. , Ezcurra A. , Areitio J. , Diaz-Argandoña J. , Ibarra-Berastegi G. , Saenz J.
Published: November 2013

Abstract. Storms developed under local instability conditions are studied in the Spanish Basque region with the aim of establishing precipitation–lightning relationships. Those situations may produce, in some cases, flash flood. Data used correspond to daily rain depth (mm) and the number of CG flashes in the area. Rain and lightning are found to be weakly correlated on a daily basis, a fact that seems related to the existence of opposite gradients in their geographical distribution. Rain anomalies, defined as the difference between observed and estimated rain depth based on CG flashes, are analysed by PCA method. Results show a first EOF explaining 50% of the variability that linearly relates the rain anomalies observed each day and that confirms their spatial structure. Based on those results, a multilinear expression has been developed to estimate the rain accumulated daily in the network based on the CG flashes registered in the area. Moreover, accumulates and maximum values of rain are found to be strongly correlated, therefore making the multilinear expression a useful tool to estimate maximum precipitation during those kind of storms.
The Pursuit of Happiness, Stress and Temporomandibular Disorders
Authors: Marcus D. , Baehrisch E.
Published: November 2013

Mismanaging the pursuit of happiness causes negative psychological effects such as stress and disappointment. The resultant stress often manifests itself as psychological and physical health problems. We explore the problems of measuring happiness according to materialistic wealth and demonstrate that misinterpreting happiness can lead to a stress inducing pursuit. The happiness that human beings pursue is often material-based hedonism whereas eudaimonic happiness has been shown to be a by-product of the pursuit of meaningful activities. Pursuing a predefined happiness, the failure to achieve it and the resistance to it can create stress induced psychosomatic health problems; temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are one such example. Masticatory myofascial pain syndrome is a form of TMD that has a strong association to psychological stress. In this paper the research on TMD associated facial pain across different socioeconomic status (SES) groups is utilized to compare an objective, stress related physiological disorder with happiness data. We also discuss how the pressures of pursuing socially determined aesthetic happiness such as conforming to society’s expectations of smile and facial aesthetics can drive people to make surgical or orthodontic changes. This review proposes that pursuing happiness has the propensity to cause not only psychological stress but also negative behaviors. We aim to encourage further scientific research that will help to clarify this philosophical pursuit.
The Neoliberal Circulation of Affects: Happiness, accessibility and the capacitation of disability as wheelchair
Authors: Fritsch K.
Published: November 2013

The International Symbol of Access (ISA) produces, capacitates, and debilitates disability in particular ways and is grounded by a happy affective economy that is embedded within neoliberal capitalism. This production of disability runs counter to the dismantling of ableism and compulsory able-bodiedness. In charting the development of the modern wheelchair, the rise of disability rights in North America, and the emergence of the ISA as a universally acceptable representation of access for disabled people, I argue that this production of disability serves a capacitating function for particular forms of impairment. These capacitated forms are celebrated through a neoliberal economy of inclusion. I conclude by critically approaching the happy affects of the ISA, including the way in which the symbol creates a sense of cruel optimism for disabled people.
Development and evaluation of a polymerase chain reaction assay to detect Bovine herpesvirus 1
Authors: Rodríguez Medina M. , Avila Sánchez M. , Díaz de Arce Landa H. , Barrera Valle M.
Published: November 2013

A polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay to detect Bovine herpesvirus 1 (BoHV-1) has been developed and evaluated. This assay was based on the amplification of a viral thymidine kinase (tk) gene fragment, for which a novel pair of primers and different PCR conditions were tested. Under optimal conditions, no amplification was observed from heterologous herpesviruses or other bovine viruses. However, a 202 bp band from BoHV-1 was obtained confirming the specificity of the assay. An analytical sensitivity of 0.15 TCID50 per reaction led to the detection of BoHV-1 in nasal swab supernatants up to 11 days after experimental infection of cattle. There was a 100% match on the results until six days post-infection when PCR was compared with virus isolation and fluorescent antibody test (FAT). Starting the seven day post-infection and until the end of the experiment most of the positive samples were obtained by PCR. This simple PCR strategy do not use co-solvents in order to eliminate non-specific products or increase the efficiency of the amplification, provides a rapid method for diagnosis of BoHV-1 diseases in contrast with semi-nested or nested protocols with more time-consuming and a higher contamination rate, moreover, can be easily used in all diagnosis laboratories.
Larval culture technique and quality control in juveniles of flounder Paralichthys orbignyanus (Valenciennes, 1839) in Argentina
Authors: López A.V. , Müller M.I. , Radonic M. , Bambill G.A. , Boccansfuso J.J. , Bianca F.A.
Published: November 2013

Paralichthyds are the most economically important fish in the Southern Atlantic due to their abundance, flesh quality, high market price and increasing fishery demand. In Argentina, the first juvenile mass production of flounder Paralichthys orbignyanus i orbignyanus follow those described for olivaceus. At 40 days post-hatching (dph) and 798 degrees-days, juveniles measured in average 11.6 +/- 0.5 mm. Mean survival rate after 142 dph was 49.7%. More than half of the total juveniles obtained (59.1%) were albino, whereas 15.5% were normally pig orbignyanus juvenile mass production.
Effect of Cladosporium rot on the composition and aromatic compounds of red wine
Authors: Briceño E.X. , Latorre B.A. , Bordeu E.
Published: November 2013

High incidences of Cladosporium rot frequently occur (over 50% infected berries per clusters) in delayed harvests in Cabernet Sauvignon and other red cultivars of Vitis vinifera in Chile. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of Cladosporium rot (Cladosporium cladosporioides and C. herbarum) on composition and aroma of red wine. Cabernet Sauvignon and Carménère wines made with 50% of Cladosporium rot infected grapes (CRG) were characterized and compared with wines made identically with apparently healthy grapes (AHG). Wine composition, color, and aroma were determined and the wines were subjected to sensory evaluation. Differences in volatile acidity, residual sugar, anthocyanins, color hue, and tannins between CRG wines and AHG wines of both Cabernet Sauvignon and Carménère were significant (p
Rooting of "Ayvalik" olive cuttings in different media
Authors: Isfendiyaroglu M. , Özeker E. , Baser S.
Published: November 2013

The "Ayvalik" olive cultivar, the most grown for high quality olive oil in Turkey, is generally regarded as showing very good rooting ability. However, cuttings sometimes show moderate or even poor rooting performances, a problem likely related to the use of inappropriate rooting media. The aim of this work was to determine the most successful media among those traditionally used and to identify promising alternatives. October cuttings were planted in 25 different media in two consecutive years under mist propagation conditions. Substrates such as peat, perlite, bark, pumice, sand, polystyrene beads, phenolic foam, rockwool and vermiculite were used pure or in mixtures. In the first year the highest rooting percentage (100%) and visual rating scores (5) were obtained with phenolformaldehyde foam. Perlite-vermiculite (1:1 v/v) was associated with a 95% rooting percentage in both years. The highest mean number of roots (10.8), root length (47 mm), root dry (382 mg) and fresh weights (48.3 mg), and number of secondary roots (13) were recorded in the same medium in the second year. Rockwool, peat-polystyrene (2:1 v/v) and sand-perlite (1:2 v/v) also led to more than 90% of cuttings taking root, while pure sand, peat and peat-sand mixtures gave very low (5-28%) rooting percentages. Perlite-vermiculite 1:1 (v/v) and pre-sized rockwool cubes may be appropriate alternatives to traditional sand-perlite mixtures for rooting "Ayvalik" olive cuttings.
Foliar diagnosis as a guide to olive fertilization
Authors: Fernández-Escobar R. , Parra M.A. , Navarro C. , Arquero O.
Published: November 2013

A long term experiment was established in olive orchards of Andalusia, southern Spain, to compare the fertilization practice based on foliar diagnosis versus the current fertilization practice in the area. Only nutrients whose concentration in leaves taken in July were below the critical levels were applied in the former treatment, whereas in the latter 500 kg/ha of a 15-15-15 complex fertilizer, and three foliar sprays of micronutrients and aminoacids were applied annually. Four olive orchards were selected. One orchard has a small effective depth (33 cm) limited by a petrocalcic horizon. The second has an effective soil depth of 60 cm, and is representative of broad level uplands on hard calcareous rocks. The third orchard has a deep soil (90 cm), typical of rolling areas with soft marls; and the fourth is a soil whose effective depth is also large (90 cm), representative of flat areas on soft clayey sediments, partially decalcified. One homogeneous zone of 2-ha was split into two plots within each orchard, and the treatments were randomly assigned to each plot. After five years, no significant differences were found in yield, fruit weight, oil content or vegetative growth, but polyphenols in the oil decreased in trees subjected to the traditional fertilization. Fertilization cost increased in more than 10 times in the traditional fertilization plots. Results indicate that the current fertilization practice apply more nutrients that needed for a good crop, negatively affect olive oil quality, and increase cost compared with foliar diagnosis.
Soil capacitance sensors and stem dendrometers. Useful tools for irrigation scheduling of commercial orchards?
Authors: Ferrer P. , Castel J. R. , Intrigliolo D. S.
Published: November 2013

Irrigation scheduling is often performed based on a soil water balance, where orchard evapotranspiration is estimated using the reference evapotranspiration (ETo) times the crop coefficient (Kc). This procedure, despite being widely spread, has some uncertainties. Because of this, plant and soil water status monitoring could be alternatively or complementarily used to schedule irrigation. The usefulness of capacitance probes was evaluated during several seasons in large irrigation districts where irrigation practices were changed over years from the ETo * Kc model to the analysis of soil water status trend. This area corresponds to drip irrigated orchards planted with citrus, peach, nectarine and persimmon. Around 25% less irrigation was applied with no substantial yield penalty when the information provided by capacitance probes was correctly applied for irrigation management. On the other hand, the usefulness of stem dendrometers for continuously monitoring plant water status was evaluated in a young plum experimental orchard. Over two years, irrigation was scheduled using exclusively trunk shrinkage via the signal intensity approach by means of a baseline equation previously obtained in the orchard. Results showed that it was not always possible to schedule irrigation based on the trunk shrinkage signal intensity due to the temporal changes in the reference values that occurred as trees aged. Overall, results obtained are discussed in terms of the possible extrapolation at field level of both capacitance probes and stem dendrometers. Advantages and drawbacks of each technique are analyzed and discussed.