Body Shell Research Articles

Effects of dietary red pepper on egg yolk colour and histological intestinal morphology in laying hens

To evaluate the effect of three kinds of red pepper supplementation 'Kagawa Hontaka' produced at Shiwaku Islands (KHS), Miki (KHM) and Takanotsume (TKT) on production performance, egg quality and intestinal histology in laying hens. A total of 32 laying hens (39 weeks of age) were randomly allotted to four groups, each comprising eight hens. Birds were fed a basal diet supplemented with red pepper at 0% (control), 0.5% KHS, 0.5% KHM and 0.5% TKT, respectively. Compared with the control group, no significant difference (p > 0.05) in feed consumption, final body weight, hen-day production, egg mass, feed efficiency, shell-breaking strength, shell thickness, shell ratio, albumen ratio, yolk ratio and Haugh units was observed among the experimental groups. Roche yolk colour fan (RYCF) value increased significantly in all experimental groups (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the KHS and KHM groups showed higher RYCF values than the TKT group (p < 0.05). Spectrophotometric measurements of yolk colour, redness (a*) and yellow index (YI) values were higher in the KHS and KHM groups (p < 0.0001). The yellowness (b*) value was lower in the TKT group (p < 0.05). The lightness (L*) value was lower in the KHS and KHM groups (p < 0.05). Villus height, villus area, cell area and cell mitosis in all intestinal segments tended to be higher in all experimental groups. Jejunal cell area and cell mitosis were higher in experimental groups than in the control group (p < 0.05). The cells on the villus tip surface were protuberated in all experimental groups. In conclusion, the KHS, KHM and TKT groups showed hypertrophied intestinal villi and epithelial cell functions. These results indicate that dietary red pepper has stimulating effect on intestinal villi and the structure of epithelial cells, and the 0.5% KHS and KHM groups improved in egg yolk colour.

Design and Experiment of Ultrasonic Cleaning for Crops

This paper aims to design an ultrasonic cleaning machine for crops to provide the engineers with very useful information. First, the new practical model is designed, including the body shell, cleaning tank, ultrasonic generator and control system. Second, three vegetables (lettuce, cabbage and potato) are used in the experiment. The result shows the damage percentage after washed was 0%. The root vegetables are cleaned faster in this machine.

Longevity and Growth Rates of the Gumboot Chiton,Cryptochiton stelleri, and the Black Leather Chiton,Katharina tunicata

Few studies have documented chiton growth rates, and lifespans for most chiton species remain unknown. This study presents the first size-at-age and longevity estimates for Cryptochiton stelleri and Katharina tunicata, two of the largest known species of chitons. Age estimates were based on growth ring counts obtained by cross-sectioning and polishing valves. This process alone showed clear growth rings in shell plates of K. tunicata. Valves of C. stelleri did not show conspicuous growth rings in cross section, so the acetate peel technique was used to highlight growth bands. Linear growth in terms of body length and shell width approached an asymptote in both species and was described with the von Bertalanffy growth function. Both C. stelleri and K. tunicata displayed indeterminate growth with regard to tissue weight and shell weight, continuing to maintain a steady growth rate throughout their lifespans. The oldest K. tunicata specimen was estimated to be 17 years old. The oldest C. stelleri was estimated to be 40 years old, making it the longest-lived chiton species known.

Sequencing and de novo Analysis of Crassostrea angulata (Fujian Oyster) from 8 Different Developing Phases Using 454 GSFlx

Research on the mechanism for early development of shellfish, such as body plan, shell formation, settlement and metamorphosis is currently an active research field. However, studies were still limited and not deep enough because of the lack of genomic resources such as genome or transcriptome sequences. In the present research, de novo transcriptome sequencing was performed for Crassostrea angulata, the most economically important cultured oyster species in China, at eight early developmental stages using the 454 sequencing technology. A total of 555,215 reads were produced with an average length of 309 nucleotides that were then assembled into 10,462 contigs. As determined by GO annotation and KEGG pathway mapping, functional annotation of the unigenes recovered diverse biological functions and processes. Six unique sequences related to settlement, metamorphosis and growth were subsequently analyzed by real-time PCR. Given the lack of whole genome information for oysters, transcriptome and de novo analysis of C. angulata from the eight different developing phases will provide important and useful information on early development mechanism and help genetic breeding of shellfish.

Tribological performance of resin impregnated gunny (RIG) and resin reinforced honeycomb (RRH) material composites

Temptation to recycle gunny fiber and honeycomb chassis as part of tribo-composite has been realized for body shell application. In this exploration, tribological performance of resin impregnated gunny (RIG) and resin reinforced honeycomb (RRH) material composites have been studied in response to wear and frictional coefficient on dry sliding against steel counter-face using pin-on-disk (POD) influenced by applied loads (5–25N) and sliding velocities (1.12–22.56m/s). The specific wear rate (from weight loss) for RIG is lower approximately around 0.35mg/N and comparable at increasing velocity at approximately 0.16mg/N. Friction was minimized at 0.01. Compression result shows RIG has more than 8N. The average maximum displacement is highest for RRH at 1.8cm. Finally, the worn surface morphology was studied using scanning electron microscope (SEM) for its wear mechanisms.

Influence of Rotating Band Construction on Gun Tube Loading—Part I: Numerical Approach

The effects of changes in geometries and material properties of rotating band and long range artillery projectile shell body on gun tube stress are presented. The results are based on numerical calculations (finite element analysis, FEA). Numerical explicit dynamic analyses were performed assuming elastic–plastic material behavior and nonlinear kinematics. Mechanical loading of shell body was controlled by pressure–time relationship based on the simulation of internal ballistic cycle. One degree slice of projectile and forcing cone section of gun tube was modeled as simplified smooth bore 3D analysis model. The results were in agreement with the measured results in firing trials and also with the results presented in open literature. Although simplified computations were used, the influences of the structural modifications of the rotating band and the shell body were shown.

Influence of Rotating Band Construction on Gun Tube Loading—Part II: Measurement and Analysis

The soft deformable metallic rotating band of large caliber projectiles prevents the gas leakage between the gun tube wall and the shell body by the band pressure on contact surfaces during the launch cycle of the gun. High rotating band pressures can lead to problems concerning gun tube wear, fatigue, and strength. The effects of changes in construction of rotating band and long range artillery projectile shell body on gun tube loading are studied experimentally. A practical analysis method for tube inner wall pressure computation from outer wall strain measurements is presented. The method is based on assuming stepped pressure load affecting on tube inner wall surface, when the projectile passes the measurement point. Although the analysis method was simplified, it was found to give useful and reliable results for comparative verification of different shell and band structures and their influences on gun tube loading. The structural design of the shell body and the rotating band were shown to be the most important aspects to cause the extreme loadings on the gun tube.

On the use of sampling surfaces method for solution of 3D elasticity problems for thick shells

AbstractThis paper presents a simple and effective method of solving the 3D elasticity problems for thick shells. It is based on the new concept of sampling surfaces (S‐surfaces) inside the shell body. According to this concept, we introduce N not equally located S‐surfaces parallel to the midsurface and choose displacements of these surfaces as basic shell unknowns. Such choice allows one to represent the governing equations of the proposed higher order shell model in a very compact form and to solve the 3D static problems for thick plates and shells efficiently.

Reliability analysis of process-induced cracks in rotary swaged shell nose part

The rotary swaging process is a cold working process used to reduce the diameter, produce a taper or add point to a round workpiece. For the preform design of a swaged shell nose part by a rotary swaging process, finite element simulation and experimental verification have been carried out to obtain a shell body nose of desired quality. Reliability analysis for the occurrence of process-induced cracks is performed by fault tree analysis. The various process parameters such as initial nose thickness, feed distance and reduction diameter are applied for the fault tree in order to obtain the desired target dimensions. Through simulation, the effects of initial nose thickness on the swaged shapes are analyzed. With fault tree analysis, the risk of process-induced cracks was predicted by finite element simulation and the crack occurrence was verified by swaging experiment. The results show that a swaged shell nose part having higher reliability can be successfully produced by rotary swaging process.

Changes of total carotenoid and lipid content in scallop tissues of Chlamys nobilis (Bivalve: Pectinidae) during gonad maturation

The noble scallop Chlamys nobilis is an important edible marine bivalve, which has been cultured in the Southern Sea of China since 1980s. Our previous study showed that the total carotenoid content (TCC) in this species was related to body tissue, shell color, and gender, which was the highest in the ovary of the scallops with orange shell and adductor muscle. In the present study, TCC and total lipid content (TLC) in three tissues of adductor muscle, mantle and gonad at different days were determined and compared using four groups of scallops including gonad mature male (MM), gonad mature female (MF), gonad gametocytogenesis male (GcM), and gonad gametocytogenesis female (GcF) and correlations between TCC and TLC for different tissues were analyzed in order to find out how they change during gonad maturation and whether they have correlation with each other in this species. All employed scallops were from the same family produced in autumn 2008 and had the same orange shell, mantle and adductor muscle with higher TCC. The present results showed that both TCC and TLC changed during maturation, but changing trend was different among tissues. In adductor muscle, TCC increased for MM and MF, but decreased for GcM and GcF; TLC had no significant change for all groups. In mantle, TCC significantly changed only in the GcF, which decreased from 327.18μgg−1 to 257.96μgg−1; TLC strikingly changed only in the MF, which increased from 5.33% to 6.77%. In gonad, TCC decreased in MM and increased in other groups; TLC increased in all groups. Particularly interesting and important, a significantly positive correlation (P<0.05) between TCC and TLC was detected in the gonad tissues during maturation, which was also for the first time reported in marine mollusks. The present results also firstly demonstrated that both carotenoid and lipid not only were significantly accumulated in gonad, but also might be transferred from other tissues during maturation in mollusks, particularly in the female.

Alternative Protein Sources in Artificial Diets for New Zealand's Black‐Footed Abalone, Haliotis iris, Martyn 1784, Juveniles

Growth and health parameters were tested in juvenile New Zealand black‐footed abalone, Haliotis iris, fed nine diets containing different protein sources (white and red fishmeal, blood meal, meat and bone meal, casein, soybean concentrate, wheat gluten, maize gluten, and Spirulina powder) over a 5‐mo period. The growth parameters measured included shell length, total animal weight, and soft body and gonad weights. The health indicators included survival, goblet cell counts, and epithelium thickness of the tentacle region. Proximate analyses and amino acid and fatty acid profiles were also determined on the diets, soft body tissues and shell materials to evaluate the nutrient contents (diet and animal) and requirements (animal). Measurements of soft body, gonad, and shell growth parameters indicated that white and red fishmeals generally result in better growth. Animals fed blood meal had the lowest survival rates and crude protein contents. Spirulina produced animals with the heaviest shells and soybean treatments produced animals with the highest gonad to soft body ratios. Significantly lower acid/basic amino acid ratios were found in fishmeal diets, indicating that animals fed fishmeal may incorporate more aragonite than calcite in their shells.

Effect Comparative and Experimental Analysis of Diffraction Sound Field Caused by Impedance Sphere and Elastic Spherical Shell on Directivity of Vector Sensor

The directivity of acoustic vector sensor (AVS) will be distorted by the sound diffraction of the AVS carrier. A common AVS carrier in accordance with its acoustic characteristics can be approximately classified into three types: absolute soft air cavity, absolute rigid solid metal body and elastic shell filled with air. The focus of this paper is placed on the pressure and vibration velocity component of diffraction acoustic field caused by impedance boundary and elastic spherical boundary. Their mathematical expressions are deduced, and their directivity is also analyzed at different frequencies for different impedances. The results show that: for impedance boundary, its influences on directivity of pressure and vibration velocity is decided by the diffraction background term, and for the elastic shell boundary filled with air, the diffraction acoustic field can be seen as the sum of the diffraction acoustic field of rigid boundary and the radiated sound field of elastic vibration spherical shell boundary. When the frequency of the incident plane wave deviates from the resonance frequency of the elastic vibration shell, the diffraction acoustic field of the rigid boundary plays a major role, but when the frequency of the incident plane wave is close to the resonance frequency, the radiated sound field of the elastic vibration shell will hold the dominance. The experimental data are treated and the errors between the experimental results and the theoretical results are analyzed.

Phenotypic Correlations and Body Weights Prediction Using Morphometric Traits of Snails in Calabar, Nigeria

Data on hatchling body weights and morphometric traits (hatchling body shell length and hatchling body shell width) pertaining to two breeds of snails ( A. marginata and A. achatina ) from hatch to fourth (4th) week of age were analyzed. This was used to obtain correlation coefficient of morphometric traits and to generate prediction equations for live body weight of the animals. Strong, positive and significant correlations between hatchling body weight and body shell width (r=0.82) and between hatchling body weight and body shell length (r=0.80) for A. marginata as well as between hatchling body weight and body shell length (r=0.81) and between hatchling body weight and body shell width (r=0.86) for A. achatina were obtained. Low coefficients of determination (R 2 ) were obtained with the range from 4.73% to 41.30% and from 2.12% to 50.20% for A. marginata and A. achatina respectively. Morphometric traits (Hatchling body shell length and body shell width) best predicted hatchling body weights of A. achatina and not of A. marginata snails. Strong, positive and significant correlations imply that selection for these morphometric traits will lead to improvement of hatchling body weights. Keywords: Correlation, Quantitative traits, Equations, Heliculture

Theoretical, experimental and numerical investigation on the behaviour of tubular shells under internal blast loading

Explosive loading of closed cylindrical structures is one of the most complicated types of high rate loadings that can be applied on fully closed structure. Considering the complexities and unknown factors that affect the dynamic-plastic behaviour of a fully closed tubular shell under internal blast loading, the main objective of this article is to achieve a better understanding of the deformation of such a structure through different theoretical, empirical and also numerical approaches. Based on some simplifying assumptions, a new pressure–time profile for the internal explosive loading of cylindrical shells whose length is shorter than its diameter would be introduced in this manuscript. Afterwards, the fundamental equations of motion would be solved by the use of the aforementioned profile so that a practical formula for the calculation of maximum radial deformation of shell would be obtained. Comparison between the theoretical values and the results of the experimental tests conducted on several pieces of aluminium shells shows that the accuracy of the new theory is approximately 82%. Furthermore, this problem will be also modelled by the use of LS-DYNA module. Considering three separate meshing zones on the explosive charge, conveying medium and also the shell body which were connected to each other on overlapping surfaces, the numerical results for the maximum transverse displacement of the shell would be obtained from the software. Comparison between the finite element method and experimental results shows an average error of around 24%.

Methods to Obtain Weld Discontinuities in Spot-Welded Joints Made of Advanced High-Strength Steels

Resistance spot welding is the major joining technique in mass car production. This applies in particular to high-strength steel and advanced high-strength steel (AHSS) joining of thin sheet steel components for lightweight body shell structures. Joining of AHSS in mass production might lead to weld discontinuities under certain circumstances. Those discontinuities in form of cracks might be an initial start of cracking in the spot-welded joints regarding fatigue loads. It is of great interest to figure out, if, in comparison to specimens without weld discontinuities, the crack initiating point changes and if the fatigue resistance might be reduced by the discontinuities. In this contribution, an overview of potential discontinuities is given. Their possible causes are discussed and means for their detection are highlighted. Among the possible causes of weld discontinuities, two major groups are distinguished: the welding parameters as primary influences in the welding process, and the production-specific influences as secondary ones. With emphasis on major cracks penetrating the weld nugget, these influences are analysed. Finally, a combination of extreme welding parameters with production-specific influences is chosen in order to establish a method which enables the preparation of fatigue test specimens with reproducible major cracks in different locations of the spot-welded joints. This method is then applied in order to prepare spot weld specimens for fatigue tests.

Use of Clumped-Isotope Thermometry To Constrain the Crystallization Temperature of Diagenetic Calcite

We describe an approach to estimating the crystallization temperatures of diagenetic calcites using clumped-isotope thermometry, a paleothermometer based on the ^(13)C–^(18)O-bond enrichment in carbonates. Application of this thermometer to calcified gastropod shells and calcite cements in an early Eocene limestone from the Colorado Plateau reveals a record of calcite precipitation and replacement at temperatures varying from 14 to 123°C. The early Eocene host sediments were never deeply buried, but they experienced a significant thermal pulse associated with the emplacement of a late Miocene basalt flow. The combination of independent constraints on thermal history with clumped-isotope thermometry, petrographic (including cathodoluminescence) observations, and oxygen isotopic data provides an improved basis for estimation of the temperature and timing of diagenetic events and fluid sources. The petrography and calcite δ^(18)O values, taken alone, suggest that the aragonite-to-calcite transformation of gastropod shell material occurred simultaneously with early formation of cements and lithification of the matrix in the same sample. However, addition of clumped-isotope thermometry demonstrates that this phase transformation of shell material occurred at temperatures of 94–123°C in a highly rock-buffered microenvironment (i.e., with the isotopic composition of fluid buffered by coexisting carbonate), millions of years after lithification of the matrix and formation of initial low-temperature (14–19°C) calcite cements within shell body cavities. Clumped-isotope temperatures in excess of reasonable Earth-surface conditions recorded by later-formed cements demand that cement growth occurred in association with the lava emplacement. Our results illustrate the potential for clumped-isotope thermometry to constrain conditions of diagenesis and guide interpretations that would not be possible on the basis of conventional stable-isotopic and petrographic data alone, and demonstrate how petrographic characterization of clumped-isotope thermometry samples can benefit paleoclimate studies.

The Growth Performance of Young Archachatina marginata Swaison (African Giant Snail) Fed with Mulberry (Morus alba) and Siam-weed (Chromoleana odorata) Leaf Meal Supplementary Diet

Two of the most costly sources of protein ingredients in livestock feed are soya and fishmeals. These ingredients are now becoming scarce due to their multiple uses, hence the needs for sourcing for substitutes. A six weeks Completely Randomised Design experiment was conducted at the FRIN Snailery unit, Ibadan to evaluate the growth perfomance of Archachatina marginata Swaison on mulberry and chromoleana leafmeals. Thirty (30) young snails of 3-5 weeks old were fed with mulberry and siam-weed leafmeals in addition to the unripe pawpaw fruit. Concentrate feed containing soya and fish meals serves as the control. Average feed intakes, body weight gain, shell length and circumference of snails were the parameters assessed. The results showed that highest feed intake and feed conversion ratio were obtained in chromoleana leafmeal treatment but snails fed with mulberry leafmeal performed best in terms of average body weight gain, shell length and circumference of snails. This indicated that leaves of some tropical plants especially especially mulberry and siam-weed could be used as a good substitutes in snail supplementary ration and help to reduce the cost of production in snail farming.

Effect of long-term heat stress on some performance traits and plasma enzyme activities in Naked-neck chickens and their F1 crosses with commercial layer breeds

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of long-term heat stress on performance traits and plasma enzyme activities in Naked-neck (Na) chickens and commercial breeds (New Hampshire, NH and Lohmann white, LW) with their F1 crosses (NaxNH and NaxLW). A total of 240 female chickens were randomly assigned to a completely randomized design in a 5×2 factorial arrangement (five genetic groups and two ambient temperatures: high=30–32°C; normal=18–20°C). Body weights were measured at 20 and 68weeks of age. Eggs were collected once daily while egg weight and feed intake were determined at 28-d intervals. Blood samples were taken from 12 randomly selected birds per genotype and ambient temperature (12 out of 24 hens) at 22, 38, 51 and 65weeks age. Levels of glutamic–pyruvic transaminase (GPT), glutamic–oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT) and creatine kinase (CK) were determined in blood plasma. Compared with controls, the commercial hens showed significant (p<0.05) performance reductions under thermal stress with respect to egg production (33%), egg mass (24.2%), feed intake (15%) and shell thickness (24.3%). At high ambient temperature, the NaxLW cross outperformed all other genotypes with respect to heat tolerance in body weight, egg number, egg weight, feed intake and shell thickness; and thus, appeared to be suitable genetic combinations. Compared with controls, heat stress significantly (p<0.05) increased CK, GPT and GOT activities in all genotypes. However, the response of heat stressed genotypes at different ages was inconsistent and variable. In conclusion, the present study showed that the Naked-neck chickens and their F1 crosses were more thermo-tolerant compared with commercial layer hens. Although plasma enzyme activities uniformly increased due to heat stress, the response of genotypes with age was inconsistent.

Non-linear exact geometry 12-node solid-shell element with three translational degrees of freedom per node

This paper presents the finite rotation exact geometry (EG) 12-node solid-shell element with 36 displacement degrees of freedom. The term ‘EG’ reflects the fact that coefficients of the first and second fundamental forms of the reference surface and Christoffel symbols are taken exactly at each element node. The finite element formulation developed is based on the 9-parameter shell model by employing a new concept of sampling surfaces (S-surfaces) inside the shell body. We introduce three S-surfaces, namely, bottom, middle and top, and choose nine displacements of these surfaces as fundamental shell unknowns. Such choice allows one to represent the finite rotation higher order EG solid-shell element formulation in a very compact form and to derive the strain–displacement relationships, which are objective, that is, invariant under arbitrarily large rigid-body shell motions in convected curvilinear coordinates. The tangent stiffness matrix is evaluated by using 3D analytical integration and the explicit presentation of this matrix is given. The latter is unusual for the non-linear EG shell element formulation. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Enhanced Requirements for Surface Quality of Outer Car Body Shells According to Thermal Manufacturing Processes

Challenging automotive design in the interaction of modern lightweight strategies to reduce car body weight as well as legislative regulations, impose higher requirements for future car body development. This trend leads to thinner sheet metal blanks and indicates higher requirements for narrow process windows in the entire manufacturing process to ensure the surface quality of outer shell panels. Especially, thermal loads within the coating process might cause local shape deviation in the startup phase of a new product. Further developments in multi-material-design for car body components induce material configurations with a complex deformation behavior due to different thermal expansion characteristics of the materials involved. For these reasons, there is a need to improve the prediction of the surface quality in the early car development process using numerical simulation methods. The influence of process parameters affecting the surface quality is shown and integrated into the process simulation.