High Ambient Temperature Conditions Research Articles

Influence of dietary cation–anion difference in finishing diets fed to Holstein steers during periods of high ambient temperature on feedlot performance and digestive function

ABSTRACTOne hundred twenty-six Holstein steers (457.1 ± 27.5 kg BW) were used in a 127-d experiment to evaluate the influence of dietary cation–anion difference (DCAD) on growth performance and carcass characteristics. Treatments consisted of steam-flaked corn-based diets supplemented to provide DCAD of 34, 84 or 134 mEq/kg diet DM. There was no treatment effect (P > .20) on ADG, DMI, gain efficiency or dietary NE. Six Holstein steers (196 ± 3 kg) with cannulas in rumen and proximal duodenum were used in a replicated 3 × 3 Latin Square design to evaluated treatment effects on digestion characteristics. The DCAD did not affect (P > .20) ruminal or total digestion of OM, NDF, starch and N, or ruminal pH and VFA molar proportions. It is concluded that increasing DCAD of Holstein steers fed a conventional steam-flaked corn-based diet under conditions of high ambient temperature will not enhance growth performance.

Schlieren, Shadowgraph, Mie-scattering visualization of diesel and gasoline sprays in high pressure/high temperature chamber under GDCI engine low load condition

Three visualization methods, Schlieren, Shadowgraph, and Mie-scattering, were applied to compare diesel and gasoline spray structures in a constant volume chamber. Fuels were injected into a high pressure/high temperature chamber under the same in-cylinder pressure and temperature conditions of low load in a GDCI (gasoline direct injection compression ignition) engine. Two injection pressures (40 MPa and 80 MPa), two ambient pressures (4.2 MPa and 1.7 MPa), and two ambient temperatures (908 K and 677 K) were use. The images from the different methods were overlapped to show liquid and vapor phases more clearly. Vapor developments of the two fuels were similar; however, different liquid developments were seen. At the same injection pressure and ambient temperature, gasoline liquid propagated more quickly and disappeared more rapidly than diesel liquid phase. At the low ambient temperature and pressure condition, gasoline and diesel sprays with higher injection pressures showed longer liquid lengths due to higher spray momentum. At the higher ambient temperature condition, the gasoline liquid length was shorter for the higher injection pressure. Higher volatility of gasoline is the main reason for this shorter liquid length under higher injection pressure and higher ambient temperature conditions. For a design of GDCI engine, it is necessary to understand the higher volatility of gasoline.

A low degree of high ambient temperature decreased food intake and activated median preoptic and arcuate nuclei

High ambient temperature (HTa) activates both behavioral and autonomic responses. Decreased food intake (FI) is a well-known behavioral response under HTa. In general, this behavioral response seems to be mediated under the activation of the stress axis. The present study, however, revealed that decreased FI after a low degree of HTa appeared to be activated earlier than stress axis activation. By comparing low and high levels of HTa exposure in rats, the present experiment demonstrated that the HTa-induced decrease in FI was clear in both conditions. However, only the high degree HTa rats showed prominent physiological responses to HTa. The results indicated that low degree HTa exposure decreased FI earlier than activated physiological responses. Using the low degree HTa condition, the next experiment revealed that only the median preoptic nucleus (MnPO) and arcuate nucleus (Arc) were activated. These results suggested that the MnPO and Arc (MnPO-Arc) are apparently involved in the low degree HTa effect on FI and that the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus, which is the upper part of the stress axis, was not associated with this effect. A separate experiment also showed no differences in the corticotropin-releasing factor (CRF) concentrations from many selected nuclei. This result suggested that the effect of HTa to decrease FI via the MnPO-Arc was not associated with CRF. The current findings introduce a new behavioral aspect of the HTa effect on FI, representing important information to explain the mechanism of obesity relative to environmental conditions.

Biofuel Pure Component Spray Characteristics at Engine-Relevant Conditions

This paper compares the evaporating spray characteristics of biodiesel and biofuel pure component spray at engine-relevant conditions such as late-cycle postinjection and near top-dead-center injection conditions. The spray characteristics, liquid length, vapor length, and spray vapor area are predicted using an OpenFOAM CFD code. The liquid length of methyl oleate is observed to be longer under late-cycle postinjection conditions, which may lead to the impingement of liquid fuel on the combustion-chamber walls. The liquid length for methyl laurate is shorter than that of methyl oleate at high ambient temperature and density conditions. The vapor length at top-dead-center conditions for all of the biodiesel pure components is similar. The liquid length and vapor length of the straight vegetable oil pure components, triolein and trilaurin, is longer than those of their corresponding biodiesels. The liquid length, vapor length, and spray vapor area for methyl laurate are similar to those of dodecane. The liquid length of all of the pure components is found to be related to the specific energy ratio and boiling temperature of the fuel.

Diffuse back-illumination setup for high temporally resolved extinction imaging.

This work presents the development of an optical setup for quantitative, high-temporal resolution line-of-sight extinction imaging in harsh optical environments. The application specifically targets measurements of automotive fuel sprays at high ambient temperature and pressure conditions where time scales are short and perceived attenuation by refractive index gradients along the optical path (i.e., beam steering) can be significant. The illumination and collection optics are optimized to abate beam steering, and the design criteria are supported by well-established theoretical relationships. The general effects of refractive steering are explained conceptually using simple ray tracing. Three isolated scenarios are analyzed to establish the lighting characteristics required to render the observed radiant flux unaffected by the steering effect. These criteria are used to optimize light throughput in the optical system, enabling minimal exposure times and high-temporal resolution capabilities. The setup uses a customized engineered diffuser to transmit a constant radiance within a limited angular range such that radiant intensity is maximized while fulfilling the lighting criteria for optimal beam-steering suppression. Methods for complete characterization of the optical system are detailed. Measurements of the liquid-vapor boundary and the soot volume fraction in an automotive spray are presented to demonstrate the resulting improved contrast and reduced uncertainty. The current optical setup reduces attenuation caused by refractive index gradients by an order of magnitude compared to previous high-temporal resolution setups.

High Temperature during Grain Filling Impacts on Leaf Senescence in Waxy Maize

Core IdeasHeat stress decreased the translocation of dry matter from vegetative organs after pollination.Heat stress during grain filling accelerated leaf senescence of waxy maize.This study provides leaf senescence and dry matter translocation data for waxy maize production.Waxy maize (Zea maysL. sinensis Kulesh) is frequently exposed to high temperatures (higher than 35.0°C) during grain filling in southern China. This pot trial was conducted to study the effect of heat stress during grain filling on grain yield, dry matter (DM) accumulation and translocation, and leaf senescence of plants. Post‐pollination plants of Suyunuo 5 and Yunuo 7 (waxy maize varieties) were planted under high temperature (35.0°C) and ambient temperature conditions (daytime temperatures during grain filling were 29.0 and 28.2°C in 2014 and 2015, respectively).The decrease rate of grain yields for Suyunuo 5 and Yunuo 7 were 31.3 and 21.9% due to the reduced grain number and weight, respectively, indicating that Suyunuo 5 was more sensitive to heat stress. Heat stress decreased dry matter accumulation after pollination (DMA) . The photosynthate of vegetative organ post‐pollination translocated to grain decreased by 36.1 and 55.9% for Yunuo 7 and Suyunuo 5, respectively. However, the translocation amount and rate of assimilates pre‐pollination increased, with greater increase observed in Suyunuo 5. The malondialdehyde (MDA) content was increased by heat stress 25 and 20 d after pollination in Yunuo 7 and Suyunuo 5, respectively. Leaf chlorophyll (Chl), carotenoid (Car), and soluble protein contents were decreased, and the activities of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase [SOD], catalase [CAT], and peroxidase [POD]) were suppressed by heat stress in both varieties. The findings suggested that reduced DMA and accelerated leaf senescence under heat stress post‐pollination result in the grain yield loss.

\u03b1-Lipoic acid prevents the intestinal epithelial monolayer damage under heat stress conditions: model experiments in Caco-2 cells

PurposeUnder conditions of high ambient temperatures and/or strenuous exercise, humans and animals experience considerable heat stress (HS) leading among others to intestinal epithelial damage through induction of cellular oxidative stress. The aim of this study was to characterize the effects of α-Lipoic Acid (ALA) on HS-induced intestinal epithelial injury using an in vitro Caco-2 cell model.MethodsA confluent monolayer of Caco-2 cells was pre-incubated with ALA (24 h) prior to control (37 °C) or HS conditions (42 °C) for 6 or 24 h and the expression of heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), heat shock factor-1 (HSF1), and the antioxidant Nrf2 were investigated. Intestinal integrity was determined by measuring transepithelial resistance, paracellular permeability, junctional complex reassembly, and E-cadherin expression and localization. Furthermore, cell proliferation was measured in an epithelial wound healing assay and the expression of the inflammatory markers cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) and transforming growth Factor-β (TGF-β) was evaluated.ResultsALA pretreatment increased the HSP70 mRNA and protein expression under HS conditions, but did not significantly modulate the HS-induced activation of HSF1. The HS-induced increase in Nrf2 gene expression as well as the Nrf2 nuclear translocation was impeded by ALA. Moreover, ALA prevented the HS-induced impairment of intestinal integrity. Cell proliferation under HS conditions was improved by ALA supplementation as demonstrated in an epithelial wound healing assay and ALA was able to affect the HS-induced inflammatory response by decreasing the COX-2 and TGF-β mRNA expression.ConclusionsALA supplementation could prevent the disruption of intestinal epithelial integrity by enhancing epithelial cell proliferation, and reducing the inflammatory response under HS conditions in an in vitro Caco-2 cell model.

Performance comparison between the combined R134a/CO2 heat pump and cascade R134a/CO2 heat pump for space heating

In this paper, the performance of combined R134a/CO2 and cascade R134a/CO2 systems for space heating was studied and compared under specific operating conditions. A mathematical model was developed for this purpose and was verified by experimental data. The effects of key parameters such as water feed temperature, water supply temperature and ambient temperature on the performance of the two systems were further investigated. Results showed that cascade and combined systems had different preferable application conditions. The cascade system performed better at low ambient temperatures while the combined system performed better under conditions of high ambient temperature and high hot water temperature differences between the system inlet and outlet. A correlation was established and an operating condition coefficient was proposed to determine which system should be used for any given set of working conditions.

Evaluation of different litter materials for broiler production in a hot and humid environment: 2. Productive performance and carcass characteristics.

The availability of wood by-products for bedding material is falling in many regions due to rising demand for other uses. The objective of this study was to evaluate six alternative litter sources-river bed sand, coconut husk, rice hulls, Guinea grass, newspaper, and corncob-as a substitute for wood shavings (WS). The trial was carried out over 35days in an open-sided and naturally ventilated broiler house under conditions of high ambient temperatures and relative humidity. During the brooding period (0 to 14days), chicks raised on grass had lower (P < 0.05) footpad temperature than those grown on WS. After the brooding period (15 to 35days), the temperatures of both litter and birds were higher (P < 0.05) for coconut husk than for WS. Grass litter resulted in lower (P < 0.05) final BW, FCR, and production efficiency. Sand and rice hulls were associated with lower (P < 0.05) survival rate and higher (P < 0.05) gizzard weight. Litter type did not affect carcass and meat yields. The footpad dermatitis score, associating incidence and severity, was not statistically different among the litter substrates tested, although numerically higher in coconut husk, grass, and corncob. The results obtained in this experiment indicate that, in a hot and humid environment, all materials except grass can be used as a substitute for wood shavings with comparable production efficiency.

ECN Spray G external spray visualization and spray collapse description through penetration and morphology analysis

Inside a DISI engine, a wide range of pressure and temperature conditions are possible, and with the current evolution of the systems, many of the conditions are subject to be encountered at the moment of injection. Given the great differences between Diesel injectors and GDi fuel injectors, the effects of such conditions on the development of the fuel injected can cause phenomena like flash boiling and spray collapse that fundamentally change the behavior of sprays. In this work, the Spray G injector developed by Delphi for the Engine Combustion Network (ECN) group has been tested in a High Pressure High Temperature Constant Pressure Flow Rig (HPHT - CPFR) in a wide range of experimental conditions capturing the liquid and vapor phases of the spray by means of DBI and Schlieren imaging. The work presents the results obtained by spray visualization through comparisons of parametric variations with special focus on the collapse of the spray that occurs under high ambient temperature and density conditions. Spray collapse has been described by showing the direct increase that can cause in spray penetration and the great closing effect that can produce to the aperture of the spray (spray angle). Several contour comparisons using the raw images and the detected contours have been discussed in order to support and further explain the observed trends.

The effects of different protein levels in laying hens under hot summer conditions

The objectives of the present study were (1) to determine the extent to which the crude protein (CP) content of laying hen diets can be reduced, based on performance criteria, and (2) to determine how egg quality traits and blood biochemical parameters are affected by changes in dietary CP under hot summer conditions. The requirements for egg mass (EM) and feed utilisation (FU) were estimated using quadratic equations and broken-line regression models. Laying hens were raised for a 12-week period (42–54 weeks) in wire cages under a high ambient temperature in an open-sided housing system. A total of 144 Lohmann LSL laying hens were assigned to four treatments with six replicates of six birds each. The four experimental diets (11.51 MJ ME/kg) varied according to four CP levels: normal-CP diet (Control, 16% CP) and low-CP diets containing 13%, 14%, or 15% CP. All diets were fortified with DL-methionine, L-lysine, L-threonine and L-tryptophan at levels sufficient to meet dietary requirements. The results showed that under high ambient temperature conditions, all productive performance traits of birds fed 15% and 14% CP diets were similar to those of birds fed a Control diet (16% CP), whereas feeding a 13% CP diet negatively affected (P &lt; 0.05) EM and FU. Estimations of requirements were of 15.13% and 14.56% CP for EM, and 14.86% and 14.38% CP for FU using quadratic and broken-line models, respectively. Haugh units, blood uric acid levels and albumin levels were significantly lower in birds fed a 13% CP diet compared with the Control group. In contrast, yolk colour index and blood triglyceride level were higher (P &lt; 0.05) for the hens fed the 14% and 13% CP diets than for birds fed the Control diet. Overall, hens consuming 14% and 15% CP diets performed equally as well as the high protein diet group under hot summer conditions.

Effect of heat stress on performance and expression of selected amino acid and glucose transporters, HSP90, leptin and ghrelin in growing pigs

Exposing animals to high ambient temperature provokes heat stress (HS) that may affect cellular function and reduced productive performance. The effect of chronic exposure (21d) of pigs to high ambient temperature on expression of amino acid (b0,+AT, CAT1) and glucose (SGLT1, GLUT4) transporters, ghrelin, leptin and HSP90 was evaluated. Eighteen pigs (32.6kg body weight) were distributed into 3 groups: (1) pigs housed under natural high ambient temperature conditions, and fed ad libitum (HS); (2) pigs housed in an air-conditioned room at 24°C (thermo-neutral) fed ad libitum (TNad); (3) pigs housed as in (2), but pair-fed with the HS pigs (TNpf). Body temperature, respiratory frequency, weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio were measured. At d-21 pigs were euthanized and samples from stomach, duodenum, jejunum, liver, longissimus and semitendinosus muscles, and white adipose tissue were collected for mRNA analysis. In the HS room ambient temperature fluctuated every day (23.6–37.6°C). Respiratory frequency and body temperature were higher in HS pigs (P<0.001). Weight gain and feed intake of TNad were higher (P<0.001) than TNpf and HS; gain: feed ratio was not affected by ambient temperature. Expression of HSP90 was higher in duodenum and longissimus (P≤0.038) of HS compared to TNpf. Expression of ghrelin, leptin and b0,+AT were not affected by ambient temperature (P>0.050). CAT1 expression in liver was higher (P=0.050) but in longissimus was lower (P=0.017) in HS than in TNpf pigs. Expression of SGLT1 was higher (P=0.045) in duodenum of HS than in TNpf but it was not different in jejunum (P=0.545); GLUT4 tended to be higher in liver and semitendinosus of HS pigs (P=0.063). In conclusion, feed intake remains low whereas respiratory frequency and body temperature remain higher; and expression of HSP90, CAT1, SGLT1 and GLUT4 increases in some tissues in pigs under chronic HS conditions.

고온, 고압의 분위기 변화가 n-butanol 및 n-heptane 연료의 연소 특성에 미치는 영향

The effect of high ambient temperature and pressure conditions on the combustion performance of n-butanol, n-heptane and its mixing fuel (BH 20) were studied in this work. To reveal this, the closed homogeneous reactor model applied and 1000-1200 K of the initial temperature, 20-30 atm of initial pressure and 1.0 of equivalence ratio were set to numerical analysis. It was found that the results of combustion temperature was increased and the ignition delay was decreased when the ambient conditions were elevated since the combustion reactivity increased at the high ambient conditions. On the contrary, under the low combustion temperature condition, the combustion pressure was more influenced by the ambient temperature in the same ambient conditions. In addition, the total mass and the mass density of tested fuels were influenced by the ambient pressure and temperature. Also, soot generation of mixing fuel was decreased than n-heptane fuel due to the oxygen content of n-butanol fuel.

Effects of Dietary Nano-Selenium Supplementation on Growth Performance, Antioxidative Status, and Immunity in Broiler Chickens under Thermoneutral and High Ambient Temperature Conditions.

The objective of the present study was to examine the effects of nano-selenium on growth performance, antioxidative status, and immune function in broiler chickens reared under thermoneutral (22±1°C) or high ambient temperature (35±1°C) conditions. Thirty-six broiler chicks at 15d old were randomly divided into 6 treatments in a 3×2 factorial design. The main factors included the dietary supplementation (basal diet without Se supplementation [control], basal diet with 0.3 mg of nano-elemental Se per kilogram of diet [nano-Se], and basal diet with 0.3 mg of sodium selenite per kilogram of diet [SSe]) and the ambient temperature challenge (22±1°C or 35±1°C). The birds were given the experimental diets from 15 to 30 d of age. High ambient temperature significantly depressed body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, breast muscle weight, and abdominal fat weight, while feeding nano-Se clearly alleviated these negative effects of high ambient temperature. In addition, feeding nano-Se increased glutathione peroxidase mRNA expression in liver and alleviated the negative effects of high ambient temperature via reducing the malondialdehyde content in liver and breast muscle. Furthermore, feeding nano-Se increased mRNA expression of cytokine genes (interleukins 2 and 6) under both thermoneutral and high ambient temperature conditions. Under both thermoneutral and high-temperature conditions, broiler chickens fed nano-Se had higher Se and vitamin E concentrations in breast muscle than broiler chickens fed the control diet. In contrast, feeding SSe at the same dose as nano-Se did not alleviate the negative effects of high ambient temperature on broiler chickens. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with nano-Se at 0.3 mg/kg diet might enhance growth performance by improving antioxidative or immune properties in broilers reared under high ambient temperature.

Geographic variation in thermal tolerance and strategies of heat shock protein expression in the land snail Theba pisana in relation to genetic structure.

Land snails are exposed to conditions of high ambient temperature and low humidity, and their survival depends on a suite of morphological, behavioral, physiological, and molecular adaptations to the specific microhabitat. We tested in six populations of the land snail Theba pisana whether adaptations to different habitats affect their ability to cope with thermal stress and their strategies of heat shock protein (HSP) expression. Levels of Hsp70 and Hsp90 in the foot tissue were measured in field-collected snails and after acclimation to laboratory conditions. Snails were also exposed to various temperatures (32 up to 54 °C) for 2 h and HSP messenger RNA (mRNA) levels were measured in the foot tissue and survival was determined. To test whether the physiological and molecular data are related to genetic parameters, we analyzed T. pisana populations using partial sequences of nuclear and mitochondrial DNA ribosomal RNA genes. We show that populations collected from warmer habitats were more thermotolerant and had higher constitutive levels of Hsp70 isoforms in the foot tissue. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis indicated that hsp70 and hsp90 mRNA levels increased significantly in response to thermal stress, although the increase in hsp70 mRNA was larger compared to hsp90 and its induction continued up to higher temperatures. Generally, warm-adapted populations had higher temperatures of maximal induction of hsp70 mRNA synthesis and higher upper thermal limits to HSP mRNA synthesis. Our study suggests that Hsp70 in the foot tissue of T. pisana snails may have important roles in determining stress resistance, while Hsp90 is more likely implicated in signal transduction processes that are activated by stress. In the phylogenetic analysis, T. pisana haplotypes were principally divided into two major clades largely corresponding to the physiological ability to withstand stress, thus pointing to genetically fixed tolerance.

The Role of Dielectric Heating and Effects of Ambient Humidity in the Electrical Breakdown of Polymer Dielectrics

Polymer-based dielectric materials have potential applications in microelectronics, power electronics, photovoltaics, flexible electronics, MEMS, and sensing industries. The possibility of premature electrical breakdown due to high electric fields, particularly at high frequencies and in high ambient temperature and humidity conditions, has restricted its widespread adoption. In this paper, we generalize the thermochemical model of dielectric breakdown and establish dielectric heating as the primary ac degradation mechanism in polymers and develop an analytical dielectric breakdown model that satisfactorily explains measured trends in constant and ramp stress tests under both ac and dc electric fields applied to 5- $\mu\mbox{m}$ -thick PBO capacitors. We also study and quantify the effects of exposure to ambient relative humidity on the electrical breakdown lifetime of polymer dielectrics. Our study provides a fundamental physical understanding of the frequency, ambient humidity, and thickness dependencies of lifetime and breakdown strength for polymer dielectrics; the proposed breakdown model suggests far more optimistic dielectric lifetimes when accelerated test results are scaled to normal operating conditions.

First law analysis of a novel double effect air-cooled non-adiabatic ammonia/salt absorption refrigeration cycle

This paper thermodynamically analyzes an air-cooled type double effect absorption refrigeration system using ammonia/lithium nitrate and ammonia/sodium thiocyanate solutions as working pairs and driven by high temperature heat source such as waste heat energy, innovatively, an air-cooled type non-adiabatic absorber is implemented in the system to improve the cycle performance. Comparing to the single effect absorption refrigeration system, the double effect system is designed not only to directly and efficiently utilize high temperature waste heat energy for cycle performance improvement, but also to greatly extend the application occasion to high ambient temperature condition. Parametric analysis of the present system show that COP of the double effect system is 30–60% higher than the single effect system under air cooling working condition and the high pressure generating temperature of the double effect system can be extended to as high as 220°C. Influences of high pressure generator temperature, low pressure generator temperature, absorber outlet solution temperature as well as other system working parameters on cycle performance are numerically simulated and parametric optimization is provided in the present model. Cycle performance comparison of NH3/LiNO3 system with NH3/NaSCN system has been carried out. According to the simulation results, COP of NH3/NaSCN system is found to be 10–15% higher than that of NH3/LiNO3 system in evaporating temperature range of -10°C<Te<5°C. However in low evaporating temperature conditions, Te⩽-10°C, NH3/LiNO3 systems are found to be more competitive than that of NH3/NaSCN system. The main concern of the present study is that implementation of non-adiabatic absorbers in air-cooled type double effect ammonia/salt absorption refrigeration systems is essential, and only under non-adiabatic absorption conditions can the double effect ammonia/salt system realize miniaturization.

Summer overheating of a passive sports hall building

Reported measurements were intended as a preliminary check of a free run of a sports hall passive building in summer conditions. Indoor microclimate measurements lasted for three hot summer days and were carried out at the time when there was no building occupancy. In adverse conditions of high ambient air temperature and switched off ventilation acute overheating was observed. Night cooling, easily available measure of overheating protection was not applied, so there was no chance for discharge of high internal capacity of this building. A specific mode of building management had a critical impact on its internal microclimate and would raise user dissatisfaction. In close perspective of widespread implementation of near zero energy building standard, often reported overheating problem becomes an important issue. It was also shown that thermal comfort measurements may be unexpectedly and substantially affected by window location and solar radiation geometry.

Study of ignition characteristics of microemulsion of coconut oil under off diesel engine conditions

The increasing awareness of the depletion of fossil fuel resources and the environmental benefits motivates the use of vegetable oils, however there is little known information about ignition and combustion characteristics of vegetable oil based fuels under off diesel engine conditions. These conditions are normally reached either during starting or when the engine is sufficiently worn out. A fuel was prepared by co-solvent blending of coconut oil with 20% butyl alcohol and was analysed. An experimental study of the measurement of ignition delay (ID) characteristics of conical fuel sprays impinging on hot surface in cylindrical combustion chamber was carried out. The objective of the study was to investigate the effect of hot surface temperatures on ignition delays of microemulsion of coconut oil at various ambient air pressures and temperatures which would have reached under off diesel engine conditions. An experimental set-up was designed and developed for a maximum air pressure of 200 bar and a maximum temperature of 800 °C with the emphasis on optical method for the measurement of ignition delay. Hot surface temperature range chosen was 300–450 °C and ambient air pressure (inside the combustion chamber) range chosen was 10–25 bar. Present study shows that at fixed injection pressure and fixed ambient (hot surface) temperature, at higher ambient air pressure (25 bar) inside the combustion chamber, ignition delay of diesel and microemulsion of coconut oil are comparable and therefore are having matching combustion characteristics. Although a pressure of 25 bar is much less than the precombustion pressure of most diesel engines but again conclusively establish that combustion characteristics are same despite lower air pressure, temperature and lower injection pressure. At higher injection pressure ignition delay of microemulsion of coconut oil and pure diesel attains the lower value at the same ambient air pressure inside the combustion chamber. It can also be seen that at fixed injection pressure and higher ambient temperature conditions, ignition delay variations of microemulsion of coconut oil with chamber pressure show approximate same trend as that of conventional diesel fuel.

The BEM-FDM model of thermal processes proceeding in the domain of the human finger.

The problem of the numerical modeling of thermal processes proceeding in the non-homogeneous domain of the human finger is discussed. The domain considered constitutes the assembling of soft and bone tissues and the system of supplying blood vessels (arteries and veins). The mathematical description of the process analyzed corresponds to the so-called vascular models. At the stage of numerical modeling the algorithm being the composition of the boundary element method (BEM) and the finite difference method (FDM) is applied. The algorithm presented allows one to determine the steady state temperature field in the finger domain in natural convection conditions. To verify the effectiveness and exactness of the method of the problem solution, the thermal imaging measurements of the finger surface temperature have been done. The compatibility of numerical and experimental results (the natural convection conditions) has proved to be quite satisfactory. It is possible to use the algorithm proposed for the modeling of thermal processes proceeding in the conditions of low or high ambient temperatures and the big values of heat transfer coefficients. The impact of protective clothing on the temperature field in the domain of the finger can also be analyzed.