Bottom Tray Research Articles

B-040 Direct Aspiration of Cryogenic Matrix Tubes on the Siemens Atellica System With Epic-Beaker Integration of External Barcode IDs for Analysis Small Volume Biobanked Specimens

Abstract Background Most core chemistry and immunochemistry clinical analyzers are designed for direct sampling of primary blood tubes with volumes ranging from 3.5-10 mL. This limits analysis of low volume pediatric specimens and biobanked aliquoted samples from clinical trials without manual technologist intervention. This work outlines a microsampling and data transmission scheme for analysis of 500 uL aliquots of biobanked serum collected for the Nutrition for Precision Health study powered by the NIH All of Us Research Program without relabeling secondary aliquot tubes after receipt. Methods Commercial plastic clip bearings sourced from IGUS (LCM-08-02) were used to stabilize the matrix tube in a standard 5 mL Sarstedt aliquot tube. 96-well format Matrix Tubes (ThermoFisher 3719-11) with pre-printed 10-digit side barcodes were programmed in the Atellica software as a custom false bottom tube with specifications height 75 mm, diameter 12 mm, bottom offset 41 mm and were loaded using a dedicated false bottom tray. Manifest files (.csv) containing the sample ID, clinical trials participant ID, collection date/time, age and sex were ingested into Epic via an Incoming Orders HL7 interface. Non-human patient records were generated using the participant ID as an external patient ID and patient name and calculating the Date of Birth based on the age in years given in the manifest file. Test orders were created based on assigned testing for the sample ID in the manifest. The sample ID corresponding the preprinted Matrix Tube barcode ID was inserted into the Epic container identifier field. Results Test orders were automatically transmitted to the Atellica Data Manger (ADM) allowing specimens to be run on the Atellica System (CH and IM modules) and results transmitted to Epic utilizing the established Data Innovations (DI) interface and processes used for patient samples without the need for Epic generated labels. Successful scanning and recognition of Matrix Tube barcodes was 100%. Complete aspiration of a Comprehensive Metabolic Panel, Lipid Panel, Iron, TIBC, hsCRP, insulin, and H, I, L indices occurred for 50% of samples tested without intervention. Approximately 250 uL of the 500 uL aliquot remained after aspiration of all tests (247.7 uL total volume) from the Matrix Tube. No probe crashes were observed despite the narrower 8 mm diameter of the Matrix Tubes versus the standard 12- or 13-mm diameter of primary blood collection tubes. Conclusions This Epic-DI-ADM data workflow and microsampling adaptation for Matrix Tube aspiration allows greater container type flexibility for the receipt and analysis of external samples delivered in non-primary blood tubes for clinical laboratories. Future work involving adjustment of the false bottom tube offset depth may reduce unusable sample volume allowing for a higher percentage of complete aspiration without intervention. This work is significant because it suggests existing clinical analyzers are easily adaptable to microsampling smaller volume tubes without significant effort.

Супресивен ефект на почвата към ризоктонийно кореново гниене, индуциран чрез имитирана монокултура на пшеница

Disease decline and induction of soil suppressiveness by continuous (5-6 years) monoculture with susceptible plant-host have been reported for various crop-pathogen systems. The present study achieves the goal of inducing suppressive effect in soil towards Rhizoctonia root rot (Rhizoctonia solani AG 4) through monoculture of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.). Twenty four high-quality wheat (c. Exotic) seeds were planted in plastic containers, each containing 1.1 L Alluvial-Meadow (sandy-clay) soil (Eutric Fluvisols, according to FAO classification). According to the treatment applied, the resulting plants were grown for 0-4 successive short cropping cycles, each lasting three months. Disease suppressiveness was measured in a bioassay in which the experimental units were rectangular, plastic containers (26 x 6 x 8 cm), with drainage holes in the bottom and detachable trays allowing for manual irrigation from the bottom of the container, 7 cm height of the column of tested soil in each container and a two-row crop of wheat (c. Exotic, 2 rows x 12 plants, 2 x 3 cm plant spacing). The spread of the disease was measured from a focus (point) source of inoculum of the pathogen – 20 inoculum grains from a pure culture developed on autoclaved (30 min at 121 °C) barley, introduced into the soil at the beginning of both rows after emergence of the plants. Immediately after termination of the soil suppressiveness test, the abundance of the major groups of soil microorganisms were determined in rhizosphere soil in each treatment by using the method of decimal dilutions and subsequent culturing on agar media. Separately, bacteria of the genus Pseudomonas were isolated from the rhizosphere soil on King’s medium. The antagonistic activity of 10 Pseudomonas spp. isolates from each treatment was tested against R. solani AG 4 in vitro by the double culture method. The monoculture of wheat imitated under controlled conditions resulted in a significant (P<0.05) reduction of the spread of Rhizoctonia root rot from the source of infection. Furthermore, statistically significant differences (P<0.05) were also found between the individual treatments with pre-cultivation of wheat: with the increase in the number of cultivation cycles from one to four, there was a significant reduction in disease spread – by 19.5%, 31.0%, 40.5% and 54.8%, respectively, as compared to the untreated control. Simultaneously, no substantial alterations were observed in the population densities of the monitored groups of microorganisms in the rhizosphere of the experimental plants, including ammonifying and spore-forming bacteria, microscopic fungi, Actinomycetes and bacteria, utilizing mineral N. With the increase in soil suppressiveness from the first to the fifth growing cycle of the crop, a significant increase in the average antagonistic activity of the isolated Pseudomonas spp. against R. solani AG 4 was observed. The thesis is argued that shattering rachis of the ripe ear in wild forms conditioned a continuous “natural” monoculture in which bread wheat and its predecessors grew and evolve during the prehistoric era. We speculate that this condition, along with the lack of genes for resistance to necrotrophic pathogens, have given rise to evolutionary stable defence mechanism and the latter based on mutualistic relationships between the host-plant and bacteria that naturally inhabit rhizosphere and exhibiting high antagonistic (antibiotic) activity against soil-borne plant pathogens. A manifestation of this mechanism is the increasing suppressive response of the soil and the disease decline during or after continuous wheat monoculture. The results obtained in this study are discussed in the light of the microbial eco-evolutionary dynamics in the plant rhizosphere. The progressively increasing pathogen-antagonistic activity of Pseudomonas spp. isolates is discussed as an example of “rapid microbial evolution”, accomplished by possible horizontal gene transfer within one or more successive cultivation cycles of the wheat crop.

Comparative experimental analysis of potato slice drying using a multiple phase change material cascaded modified indirect solar dryer and conventional indirect solar dryer

In the present research, multiple phase change materials (M-PCMs) have been utilized to enhance the performance of conventional indirect solar dryer (ISD). The bheem paraffin and paraffin wax having phase change temperatures of 50–55 °C and 60–62 °C were cascaded in rectangular chambers at beneath of absorber plate at the inlet and outlet side up to nearly half the length of the absorber plate of the solar air heater (SAH), known as a modified ISD. The experiments were carried out on conventional and modified ISD simultaneously under the climate of Valsad (20.61° N, 72.91° E), Gujarat, India. An atmospheric air with a velocity of 15 m/s was flown through conventional and modified ISD. In the first batch, 0.5 kg of pre-processed potato slices were placed in the bottom and top trays of conventional and modified ISD whereas in the second batch, 0.3 kg was placed on each tray. A 2 h and 1 h faster drying of potato slices was achieved in the bottom and top trays for the first batch in modified ISD than in conventional ISD. In the second batch, nearly 92.11% and 54.35% drying of potato slices in the bottom and top trays was achieved in modified ISD, which was 269.92% and 227.41% higher than conventional ISD. During 12 h of the drying operation, a total of 1.13 kg of water evaporated from the potato slices in modified ISD compared to 0.87 kg in conventional ISD. Compared to conventional ISD, an enhancement of 22.29% and 7.92% in SAH efficiency without and with considering blower power, an enhancement of 29.69% in overall drying efficiency, and a reduction of 22.87% in specific energy consumption were achieved for modified ISD. The use of M-PCMs in conventional ISD significantly enhances the drying of potato slices during the sunshine as well as off-shine hours and enhances the performance of conventional ISD.

A broken window escape device based on Internet of Things technology

The window breaker used for escape consists of a tray used to secure the lower layer of the fragile surface of the glass, a supporting part used to knock the broken object to make it deformed and support the lifting of the object, and a part used to knock the broken object is set on the bottom tray. The outer packaging shell includes the outer packaging shell that protects the bottom tray from the contact of objects. The outer packaging shell is assembled with the bottom tray. The outer packaging shell has the parts that support the lifting and the parts that are used to knock the broken objects to separate the pressing part. When the pressing part is deformed, the parts that support the lifting and the parts that are used to knock the broken objects are compressed and separated from the parts that are used to knock the broken objects, and the elastic restoring force formed by the broken objects to break the glass, It is used to separate the parts supporting the lifting of objects from the parts used to knock broken objects. This product can be fixed with the broken window and the point where the glass is knocked in an emergency. It will not harm the human body and achieve the purpose of escape. This tool is simple in structure, strong in safety and practical.

Life cycle assessment, energy and exergy analysis in an indirect cabinet solar dryer equipped with phase change materials

This study investigated the effect of using phase change materials (PCMs) in a cabinet dryer on thermal and drying efficiency. Three positions related to PCM inside the cabinet were considered, including the bottom, middle and upper trays. The specific energy consumption for drying tomato slices was 11.32–14.87 MJ/kg. PCMs on the lower tray of the cabinet dryer resulted in shorter drying times for the pieces compared to other methods. The overall thermal efficiency of the cabinet dryer varied from 35.23 to 38.92 %. Simulations were conducted using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). As a result, it was possible to predict the cabinet dryer's thermal performance with high accuracy (R2 > 0.95). Evolutionary Polynomial Regression (EPR) is used to predict the output temperature and efficiency of the cabinet dryer. The Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) method was used and compared with that of a thermal electric dryer to estimate the environmental effects of a solar dryer. The results showed a significant difference between the effects of the electric thermal dryer and the solar dryer on all of the above categories.

СОМАТОМЕТРИЧЕСКИЕ ПОКАЗАТЕЛИ ЭМБРИОНОВ И НЕОНАТАЛЬНЫХ ЦЫПЛЯТ, ОТВЕДЕННЫХ ОТ МЯСО-ЯИЧНЫХ КУР

In the studies, hatched eggs from 39-week-old meat and laying hens of the autosex cross “Dominant CZ” from the parental flock of LLC “Agrokormservis Plus” (Pyatigorsk) were used in three-tier cage batteries: “Sussex D-104” (“D-104”) – ♂ and ♀ Sussex, “Blue D-107” (“D-107”) – ♂ Andalusian Blue and ♀ Black-striped Plymouth Rock (PP), “Black D-849” (“D-849”) – ♂ Black-striped Plymouth Rock (PP) and ♀ Rhode Island. The shelf life of the eggs before incubation is three days. All the eggs were marked with a serial number and weight prior to incubation. Incubation of eggs from 144 to 150 pcs. in the group was carried out in the scientific and educational vivarium of the Stavropol State Agrarian University (SSAU) in farm, combined, modernized incubators “Stimul-1000” – six incubation trays and three output trays. Eggs in the control and experimental groups were turned after 45 minutes until the embryos pecked the shell. During the period of pipping, hatching and incubation, three hatchers in the experimental groups were placed one above the other with a gap (30% of the area). The top tray was covered with a standard mesh lid, while the middle and bottom trays were covered with specially made mesh lids to prevent chicks from falling out. In the experimental groups, on the 8th day, a power cut-off was simulated for six hours and, accordingly, the temperature on the surface of the eggs first increased and then decreased due to the fan being switched off. A short-term violation of the temperature regime for the incubation of eggs of meat and laying chicks “Dominant TsZ” reduces the hatching of chicks and the body index of embryos before pecking the shell, and in day-old chicks it increases the weight of the residual yolk with the yolk sac and the ratio of body weight to the length of the intestine.

Simulation of mixed-mode solar dryer with vertical air distribution channel

Final quality of product in drying process significantly depends on the flow behavior of drying air. The main drawback of conventional solar dryers is the non-uniformity of air flow inside the drying chamber. The flow behavior of drying air in transient state have been analyzed using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) method. The Do radiation, species transport and k-omega SST models were used. The comparison of the numerical results of temperature distribution with the experiment revealed a reasonable agreement. Between top and bottom trays 0.015 m/s velocity and 2 % relative humidity variations were observed. The dryer provided the required air temperature for solar drying. The results revealed that using vertical air distribution channel can improve the drying process by increasing homogeneity of drying air distribution. Modification of natural conviction mixed type dryer is possible by combining CFD with experimental investigation.

Experimental studies on natural convection open and closed solar drying using external reflector

For low temperature agricultural crop and meat drying, dryers utilizing the renewable energy source (solar energy) appear to be an efficient technique as it is ecofriendly, energy efficient, and available in free of cost. This work presents the experimental investigation on a solar food dryer equipped with external reflectors to enhance the rate of drying efficiency by removing the moisture content available in the anchovy fish. A comparison of conventional open solar drying is carried out to assess the parameters such as drying efficiency, moisture removal rate, and heat energy required for drying the anchovy fish using the modified solar dryer using the natural convection technique. From the experimental results it is observed that the relative humidity greatly influence the rate of drying. The average relative humidity during the experiments using open solar drying is found as 50-65% whereas, the using solar dryer the average relative humidity inside the chamber is found as 20-35%. The relative humidity of the fish using open solar drying is higher as compared to solar dryer drying as the drying products are kept in open atmosphere. The physical examination results on the dried products proved that using a modified solar dryers, the dried product is free from insects, and dust. Also, it is found that the loss of color from the product is a minimum while compared to conventional open solar drying. The results showed that the thermal efficiency of top tray (dryer 1) and bottom tray (dryer 2) is comparatively higher as compared to that of conventional open solar drying and found as 16.73 and 19.34 %, respectively. Results also showed that nearly 20.05% of the energy could be saved using the modified solar dryer as compared to the open solar drying technique.

Thermography for performance evaluation of a compact, air disperser equipped hot air dryer

AbstractA hot air dryer has been developed for achieving uniform temperature distribution throughout the drying trays with the use of an air disperser. Comparative experiments were conducted with and without the use of the disperser. Then, 1 mm thick potato slices were dried at 50, 55, and 60°C and 1.5 m/s air velocity at different locales of the tray. Validation of drying rate uniformity was done by studying the temperature distribution on the drying tray using thermal imaging and measuring the chromatic, textural, and morphological properties of dried potato slices. Without the air disperser, the average temperature and average initial drying rate measured after 30 min at five different points on the bottom tray varied from 42.5 to 52.2°C and 0.086 to 0.185 g water/min, respectively, whereas the variation was only in the range of 49.0–49.6°C and 0.182 and 0.206 g water/min when the air disperser was used at a set dryer temperature of 50°C. Similarly, drying rates at all the positions in different trays were observed to be in close proximity throughout the drying period with the presence of air disperser; however, without it, the drying rate was found to be higher at the center of the tray than other four points. Similar observations were also made for all the qualitative parameters of potato slices at all drying temperatures.Practical ApplicationsThe dryer has provision for placement of different types of imaging devices and sensors for online monitoring of process parameters and the product being dried. It has been designed for nondestructive study of the drying progression using machine vision system. Such a dryer will be especially useful for controlled drying experiments and laboratory simulation of different hot air drying processes.

Development of antifungal biopolymers based on dynamic imines as responsive release systems for the postharvest preservation of blackberry fruit

This study describes the synthesis and reversibility of Schiff bases from chitosan and bioactive compounds, and their application in the antifungal packaging of fruit. Imine bonds between primary amine groups of chitosan and carbonyl groups of antifungal aldehydes were synthesised and their reversibility was assayed in an aqueous medium under different acidic conditions. The mechanism of action of the dynamers is based on the hydrolysis of imine bond and the release of the active agent. The new films were effective at inhibiting the growth of Penicillium expansum and Botrytis cinerea, and their effectivity depended on the degree of hydrolysis achieved which was greater when the bonds were hydrolysed in a mild acidic medium. A double bottom cylindrical tray was used for the responsive antimicrobial packaging of blackberries. The package extended shelf-life of berries from 3 to 12 days without causing phytotoxic effects on the fruit being safe for human consumption.

DEVELOPEMENT OF A VEGETABLE DRYER

A Vegetable dryer of dimension 1.50 m (high) x 0.72 m (wide) x 0.59 m (breadth) was developed using mild steel iron and its performance evaluated. The device consists of a drying chamber with three drying trays; fans incorporated for heat circulation, a heating element of 2000 W, four swivel caster rollers for ease of mobility, a thermostat to regulate the heat generated in the drying chamber and a thermo-gauge inserted to monitor the temperature in the drying chamber. The vegetable dryer has a drying capacity of 34 kg and three compartments of 0.25 m equal spacing. The dryer is partitioned at 0.75 m, 0.1 m and 1.25 m from the heating element, with the first (bottom) tray, the second tray (middle) and the third (upper) respectively. The device performance was evaluated under no-load and load conditions at 50 °C, 60 °C, and 80 °C temperatures with three replications. Results obtained under no-load indicated that temperatures very close to the preset values (by the thermostat) were attained within 5 mins. Under load condition, the dryer was evaluated by drying 16.74 kg of tomatoe slices at 50 °C, 60 °C, and 80 °C. Weight reduction (degree of moisture loss) from the slices was recorded at intervals of 1hour until a nearly constant weight was obtained. The result revealed that the dryer has a mean drying efficiency of 80.6 % and drying rate of 0.02 kg/hr. At a drying time of 10 hours and temperatures of 50 °C and 60 °C, 16.74 kg of tomatoes were reduced to 1.23 kg and 1.13 kg representing 93 % (wb) of removed moisture, while a final weight of 1.08 kg dry matter was obtained from the same starting weight of wet tomatoes at 80 °C representing 94 % (wb) of moisture loss for the same drying time. ANOVA studies indicated that the effect of temperature and tray level on drying of vegetable (tomatoes) were highly significance at (P< 5 %). The dried vegetable (tomatoes) is free from dust and any form of contamination making it healthy for consumption.

Effect of incubator tray location on broiler chicken growth performance, carcass part yields, and the meat quality defects wooden breast and white striping

Large variations in hatching egg incubation temperatures have been previously shown to negatively impact posthatch growth in broiler chickens. The objective was to determine whether small incubation temperature variations owing to incubator tray location (LOC) could alter posthatch female and male broiler growth performance and carcass characteristics. Broiler hatching eggs were obtained from a 40-week-old commercial broiler breeder flock and incubated in trays placed in the bottom (BOT), middle (MID), and top (TOP) thirds of the racks (n = 4 racks per incubator tray LOC) in a single-stage incubator in a commercial hatchery. Chicks hatched from the 3 LOC (n = 720 per LOC) were vent sexed, vaccinated, and separate-sex reared with 12 birds per pen in a floor-pen facility and fed a common corn and soybean meal–based diet for 41 d. At day 41, all birds (n = 720) were processed to determine carcass and carcass part yields and incidence and severity of the meat quality defects wooden breast (WB) and white striping (WS). No LOC × Sex interactions were observed (P > 0.05). Growth performance and incidence and severity of WB and WS were similar among LOC (P > 0.05). However, broilers from BOT trays had heavier tender and breast weights than broilers from warmer MID trays (P < 0.05). Broilers from the BOT trays had higher breast meat yield as a proportion of carcass weight (25.00%) than warmer MID (24.54%) broilers (P < 0.05). However, broilers from warmer MID trays had greater carcass yield than those from cooler TOP trays (P < 0.05). As expected, male broilers had heavier carcass, breast, tender, wings, drumsticks and thighs weights and were more severely affected by WB than females (P < 0.05). Overall, these data indicate that the inherent differences in environmental factors among incubation LOC can impact broiler carcass and breast meat yields.

Modeling and Control of Tray Temperature Along with Column Pressure in a Pilot Plant Distillation Column

A simple control technique based on centralized and decentralized structure is discussed here for a tray temperature along with pressure developed inside the column for a pilot plant distillation column. The flow rate of vapor condenser cooling water is used to control the pressure (P) developed inside the column. The flow rate of the water to condense the vapor increases, when the column pressure increases and vice versa. Some of the other factor that has an impact on the column pressure is the boil-up rate, rate of reflux ow, feed rate, set point change in composition. The internal reflux and the speed of the vapor through the column gets affected by the pressure developed. There exists a strong interaction between the two interdependent variables pressure and temperature. The goal is to regulate the temperature and pressure near the bottom tray by nominally manipulating the reflux flow and boilup rate.

Effect of Temperature at Tray Position on Drying of D.ark Re.d Oni.on slice.s at Elevated Air Velocity

The convective drying process is used to dry onion-slices. The drying experiments are conducted at a drying temperature of 50oC, 60oC, 70oC, and at an air velocity of 1.99, 3.54, 5.66, and 7.52 m/s. The objective is to study the influence of tray position on drying of dark red onion. The work diverges in analyzing drying constants at air velocity beyond 2 m/s. The moisture ratio for the middle tray is greater compared to the top and bottom tray. A smaller moisture ratio is observed for 60°C compared to 50 and 70°C. Moisture removal per unit mass flow rate ratio is lowest observed for bottom tray with 60°C. The ratio of moisture content and mass flow rate for 60 and 70 °C, displays a downward trend with drying time. The randomness in the drying rate at 60 °C and 70 °C is comparatively lesser than 50 °C.

A quantitative approach to investigate downpour condition of distillation column using gamma beam radiation

The area underneath the downcomer, part of distillation column is called the downpour area. If a tray deck troubleshoot like corrodes, it often first holes through in the downpour area. This will cause flooding due to the downcomer back up. An investigation of the crude distillation column was performed using an integrated system of photomultiplier detector and collimated gamma beam radiation. Gamma beam penetrated the object material as a transmitter of the radiation signal and will be accepted by the detector as its receiver. The main construction of this distillation column consists of 33 trays where each tray has two downpours and an accumulator. Distillation can be used to separate multi-component mixtures of crude oil. Many variables such as column pressure, temperature, size, and diameter are determined by the properties of the feed and the desired products. The measurement utilizes 75 mCi gamma activity and panoramic collimation design of the photomultiplier detector. This two equipment are aligned oppositely, and set on different four orientations scans, in order to obtain the condition of downpour system at each tray. Resolution scan of 5 cm each step from the bottom level to 34 m height. The duration time to measure radiation intensity is 3 seconds for each step. The quantitative result indicates abnormal flooding on the bottom segment tray #1 to #4. Abnormal condition is also identified as collapse tray, at tray #6. The quantitative approach has successfully determined the downpour condition in the distillation column.

Automatic Toothbrush f or Specially Abled Patients

The project generally relates to teeth cleaning devices, and more specially to motorized teeth cleaning devices. A hand-free simultaneous Whole-mouth cleaner is disclosed for brushing a user’s teeth all at once, without requiring manual manipulation, thereby enabling the whole mouth cleaner include top and bottom brush trays which include tooth brushing material such as bristles for contacting the users teeth, motor housed within a motor case located in the space formed by the brush trays and a switch or actuating the motor. In some embodiments the hands free simultaneous whole mouth cleaner includes a handle for easy insertion and a removal. In some embodiments, the tooth brushing material is capable of contacting all the sides of a user’s teeth, as well as the gum line. Other embodiments include an external surface capable of providing non-irritating frictional contact to soft tissue of a user’s mouth.

Eastern Oyster Crassostrea virginica Growth and Mortality in New Hampshire (USA) Using Off‐Bottom Farm Gear

AbstractEastern oyster farm production has increased dramatically in the northeastern United States in recent decades. Farming methods vary, but different configurations of off‐bottom “rack‐and‐bag” gear are commonly used and there is little published research on how different methods affect oyster growth. Field experiments were conducted during 2016–2018 on two farm sites in New Hampshire to assess the effects on oyster growth and mortality of different gear deployment configurations: (1) bag height above the bottom; (2) different combinations of oyster seed size, bag mesh size, and stocking density; (3) rack‐and‐bag versus bottom tray; (4) oyster seed size and over‐winter mortality; and (5) envelope‐ versus box‐style bags. Bag stocking density consistently had the strongest effect, with oyster growth being up to 3 times faster in bags that were stocked at 0.5 L compared with 2.0 L of wet oysters. Additionally, stocking density had a stronger effect on the oysters that were in 6‐mm mesh bags than on those that were in 4‐mm mesh bags. Oysters that were in bags in the top level of the rack grew significantly faster in one experiment but not in another. There was no significant difference in oyster growth comparing rack‐and‐bag and bottom trays. The over‐winter mortality of oysters that were raised in rack‐and‐bag gear averaged 17% in one experiment and 46% in another. Early growth was similar for oysters that were deployed in box‐ and envelope‐style bags, but by the final measurement (at 2.4 months) oysters in the box‐style bags were 18% larger. The major findings were interpreted in the context of the notion that food supply and the factors affecting it have strong effects on the growth of farmed oysters, so this dynamic should drive strategies to improve gear deployment methods. Additionally, the typical situation of widely varying differences in uncontrollable factors (e.g., currents or phytoplankton concentrations) among sites and their effects on gear deployment methods may best be addressed by site‐specific empirical studies that are conducted by farmers.

Development of a biomass energy dryer assisted with solar energy for farmers in off-grid communities

The objectives of this research are to design and construct a biomass energy dryer assisted with solar energy for farmers in off-grid communities and to evaluate the performance of the dryer. The dryer consists of a boiler, drying chamber and solar panels. A compressed sponge was used as a drying product. The air temperature distribution and product moisture uniformity inside the drying chamber were measured. The apparatus was tested in three energy modes, solar energy mode, biomass energy mode and biomass/solar energy assisted mode. Drying using biomass/solar energy assisted mode gave a better drying performance compared to the other modes due to the uniform moisture content and air temperature. The average temperature difference between the top and bottom tray was less than 3°C. The average moisture content between the top and bottom tray was very close, less than 0.8% db. In addition, this drying mode can reduce product contamination from smoke ash and combustion.

Study of Drying of Banana Pseudo-stem and Influence of Particle Sizes on Biomass Saccharification and Cellulosic Ethanol Production

Various fiber lengths of banana pseudo-stem bagasse (L = 3 and 15 cm) were dehydrated at various temperatures (T = 50 °C, 60 °C, and 70 °C) with and without forced air convection (Sair > 0). The experiments were conducted in a screened bottom tray equipped with a dryer with rising air flow. The effect of dehydrated fiber size (30 mesh, 3 cm, and 15 cm) on the saccharification of the biomass with subsequent alcoholic fermentation of the must was investigated using two different concentrations of reducing sugars (RS = 40 and 90 g/L). In the pretreatment by drying, the temperature (T) was the variable that showed the greatest effect on the productivity of the process (Qd), followed by fiber length (L) and T by L interaction. The use of dehydrated fibers in the form of bran (30 mesh granulometry) in the saccharification process provided the best theoretical average yield based on the stoichiometric conversion of cellulose and hemicellulose in RS (YRS = 37.87%). Fermentation of concentrated must by Saccharomyces cerevisiae up to RS = 90 g/L provided a yield (YP/RS) and productivity (QP) in ethanol of 0.48 g/g and 1.62 g/L/h, respectively. These values were significantly higher (p < 0.05) than those observed in the same fermentation type at RS = 40 g/L (YP/RS = 0.34 g/g, QP = 0.96 g/L/h).

Burning behavior of cable tray located on a wall with different cable arrangements

SummaryCable fire risk analysis is important for fire protection design in nuclear power plants, where multiple horizontal cable trays are mostly located on the walls. Fire experiments using three cable trays with different cable arrangements were conducted in a confined room to investigate the burning behavior of a cable tray on a wall. A corner was formed by the side wall and the cable tray. Hot smoke emitted from the burning cable was trapped in the corner and then ignited the cable on the bottom surface of the upper cable tray. It is found that for cables densely packed together, spread of flame on the bottom surface of cable tray was clearly observed and increased the mass loss of cable burning during the growth stage of a cable tray fire. For cables arranged further apart, vertical propagation from the bottom tray to the top tray was fast and dominated the mass loss of cable burning.