Maintenance Of Stock Research Articles

Unravelling the different causes of nitrate and ammonium effects on coral bleaching

Mass coral bleaching represents one of the greatest threats to coral reefs and has mainly been attributed to seawater warming. However, reduced water quality can also interact with warming to increase coral bleaching, but this interaction depends on nutrient ratios and forms. In particular, nitrate (NO3−) enrichment reduces thermal tolerance while ammonium (NH4+) enrichment tends to benefit coral health. The biochemical mechanisms underpinning the different bleaching responses of corals exposed to DIN enrichment still need to be investigated. Here, we demonstrated that the coral Stylophora pistillata underwent a severe oxidative stress condition and reduced aerobic scope when exposed to NO3− enrichment combined with thermal stress. Such condition resulted in increased bleaching intensity compared to a low-nitrogen condition. On the contrary, NH4+ enrichment was able to amend the deleterious effects of thermal stress by favoring the oxidative status and energy metabolism of the coral holobiont. Overall, our results demonstrate that the opposite effects of nitrate and ammonium enrichment on coral bleaching are related to the effects on corals’ energy/redox status. As nitrate loading in coastal waters is predicted to significantly increase in the future due to agriculture and land-based pollution, there is the need for urgent management actions to prevent increases in nitrate levels in seawater. In addition, the maintenance of important fish stocks, which provide corals with recycled nitrogen such as ammonium, should be favoured.

Effect of diet during larval development of Menippe nodifrons Stimpson, 1859 and Callinectes danae Smith, 1869

The worldwide decrease in fishery stocks in recent years is related to the degradation of coastal environments and to the increases in capture effort and extreme natural events. Restocking dilapidated populations with artificial hatchery-reared larvae has arisen in recent years as a viable technique for the reparation and maintenance of stocks of commercially exploited species. One of the first steps in larvae cultivation is the evaluation of an appropriate diet for rearing. We aimed to test viable diets for feeding zoea larvae of the crab Menippe nodifrons and the swimming crab Callinectes danae. We tested five live food treatments, three microalgae (Tetraselmis gracilis, Chaetoceros calcitrans, and Thalassiosira weissflogii), the rotifer Brachionus plicatilis, and Artemia sp. nauplii. The most suitable feeding protocol for rearing M. nodifrons larvae was a combined diet of enriched B. plicatilis up to the zoea III instar with the introduction of hatched Artemia sp. nauplii onwards to the megalopa stage. Larvae of C. danae showed high mortality rates and none achieved the zoea III phase on any of the diets tested. Although our results for C. danae rearing were not conclusive, the data provide additional information on improper rearing diets for this species for future research. Future studies testing other food sources are necessary to improve larvae production.

Sistemas de gestión en mantenimiento: propuesta de un TPM en una empresa productora de marcos y molduras de la región

This research is carried out in a company that produces frames and moldings and addresses the need to develop a Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) program, as a result of the unavailability of machinery and equipment; and training that affects maintenance operations, which are not performed correctly causing costs. Currently there is a 76% availability of machinery; 78% in equipment; 42% in training and monthly average costs in machinery of $ 15,260 pesos; and in equipment of $ 1,860 pesos, in terms of maintenance costs there are no globales records. The objective was to carry out a proposal for maintenance activities, through the TPM methodology; to have an updated maintenance program. The procedure was: Describe the area under study; describe the situation of the area under study; establish TPM policies and goals; identify failures in machinery and equipment; and develop the maintenance program. It was contributed with the contribution of a maintenance program composed of: calendar, records of equipment in stock, corrective and preventive maintenance, maintenance scheduling, records of maintenance costs and catalog. Thus fulfilling the objective of this investigation.

Effectiveness assessment of diesel locomotives operation with the use of mobile maintenance points

Based on the example of 6Dg type diesel locomotives, the paper presents a new maintenance strategy concerning periodical checks at the P1 maintenance level. Currently, such locomotives are sent off to service points every 102 hours of operation or every 14 days for a P1 level check. Studies demonstrate that the average distance to be covered by a locomotive to arrive at a service point is in excess of 60.0 km, and the quantity of fuel consumed is more than 88 litres. It is costly and time consuming to have locomotives out of service and considerable resources of the railway carrier are engaged which could be made use of in the transport process. The aim of the newly developed strategy of P1 checks is to eliminate the need for locomotives to exit their routes to reach rolling stock maintenance points. The control/diagnostic and maintenance activities specified in the Maintenance System Documentation will be performed by so-called mobile maintenance points. The development of the new strategy required: identification of the current condition of the maintenance system, development of the concept of a new strategy of P1 maintenance checks, conduct of studies and operational analyses for SM42 series locomotives, performance of a durability, reliability analysis, assessment of safety together with an analysis of the risks involved in the proposed changes. In order to review and assess the efficiency of the new strategy, an observed operation of selected locomotives was conducted together with a railway carrier. During the study, the maintenance activities and processes were monitored and the costs of P1 checks were recorded. The analysis of efficiency of the new strategy of performing P1 checks without the need for a locomotive to exit its route to reach a rolling stock maintenance point demonstrated that depending on the distance covered by the locomotive to reach a maintenance point, the unit costs of a P1 level check are lower by up to 67.1% compared with the currently applied method.

Challenges for the Governance of Small-Scale Fisheries on the Brazil-Bolivia Transboundary Region

Developing institutional arrangements for supporting sustainable fisheries has been a critical challenge for the governance of common-pool resources, especially in transboundary regions. In this paper, we analyze the impact of governance arrangements on a small-scale fishery system on the Brazil-Bolivia border in the Amazon region. Data collection involved documental analysis, literature review and conduction of semi-structured interviews with fishers and environmental protection/regulatory agencies’ staff. We present an exploratory qualitative analysis of the interactions between the fishery system’s attributes (biological, environmental, technical and governance), examining institutional arrangements among diverse stakeholders. Results reveal that the small-scale fishery characteristics and the relationships between resources and stakeholders has contributed to stock maintenance and overall sustainability of the fishery system. Nevertheless, we also found that the governance structure is fragile due to weak institutional arrangements within and between countries, resulting in increased vulnerability of the fishery system to imminent threats.

THE METHODOLOGY OF THE CURRENT PLANNING OF A MOTOR TRANSPORT ENTERPRISE OPERATION FOR THE TRANSPORTATION OF GOODS IN THE CITY

Introduction. The emphasis is placed on the development of road transport in the Russian Federation, which is characterized by an increase in traffic carried out by specialized rolling stock of various sizes, a change in the location of cargo-forming and cargo-absorbing points, and the requirements of customers for quantitative and qualitative indicators established in agreements. These conditions ensure to the development of the Russian economy in social significant branches. The purpose of the study is to develop a methodology for the current planning of the operation of specialized rolling stock of standard sizes of a motor transport enterprise to implement the conditions of contracts for the transportation of goods in the city.Materials and methods. The current planning methodology has been developed as part of a new concept, which is a synthesis of the methods of the theory of road freight transport, the theory of maintenance and current repair of rolling stock. A system analysis, the methods of probability theory and mathematical statistics are used in the studies.Results: - the methodological foundations that made it possible to develop a methodology for the current planning of the work of a specialized rolling stock of standard sizes for a motor transport enterprise to implement the contracts conditions for the transportation of goods in the city;- a computer program, the use of which in the operating of a motor transport enterprise will make possible to carry out planning aimed to implement the contracts terms and make a profit.Discussion and conclusions. The implementation and testing of the current planning methodology for the transportation of goods in the city is carried out in the conditions of a motor transport enterprise in the city of Omsk using a computer program “Planning the work of a motor transport enterprise for the transportation of goods in the city”. A methodology application allowed the motor transport enterprise to make a profit of 14.5% more than the profit that could be obtained by using previously existing methods in planning.Financial transparency: the authors have no financial interest in the presented materials or methods. There is no conflict of interest

Living under a Fluctuating Climate and a Drying Congo Basin

Humid conditions and equatorial forest in the Congo Basin have allowed for the maintenance of significant biodiversity and carbon stock. The ecological services and products of this forest are of high importance, particularly for smallholders living in forest landscapes and watersheds. Unfortunately, in addition to deforestation and forest degradation, climate change/variability are impacting this region, including both forests and populations. We developed three case studies based on field observations in Cameroon, the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, as well as information from the literature. Our key findings are: (1) the forest-related water cycle of the Congo Basin is not stable, and is gradually changing; (2) climate change is impacting the water cycle of the basin; and, (3) the slow modification of the water cycle is affecting livelihoods in the Congo Basin. Developmental and environmental actions in the Congo Basin need to properly consider the slight modification of this water cycle in watersheds that affect products and services from the forest.

Reliability-based advanced maintenance modelling to enhance rolling stock manufacturers’ objectives

The light rail is gaining relevance within cities’ transportation networks due to its adequate balance among sustainability, economic and safety factors. Nevertheless, there is still a gap for improvement in those factors through the optimisation of rolling stock maintenance strategies. The development of new and more flexible maintenance strategies at proper indenture levels will aid to improve the reliability and availability of the light rail during the operation phase, as well as to reduce its life cycle cost. Accordingly, the present research develops a multi-objective maintenance model that adopts a novel reliability-based advanced maintenance policy; whose aim is to consistently evaluate short-term information to enhance both traditional maintenance and organisational key performance indicators. The proposed multi-objective mathematical model is solved through a simulation-based optimisation (SBO), which by means of iteration evaluates different maintenance strategies according to the non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm (NSGA II). Empirical results, based on real data obtained from a light rail fleet operating in Spain, demonstrate that the proposed maintenance model for the rolling stock can significantly improve the light rail performance regarding both maintenance and organisational objectives.

Customized Software Development for Stock Maintenance and Billing System

Customized Software Development for Stock Maintenance and Billing System

Brachiaria and Panicum maximum in an integrated crop–livestock system and a second-crop maize system in succession with soybean

AbstractOwing to its contribution to the maintenance of carbon stocks, soil nitrogen and nutrient cycling for subsequent crops, the integrated systems become increasingly important for agricultural conservation. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the biomass production of and total nutrient in Brachiaria spp. and Panicum maximum forage grasses used as mulch and soybean yields in an integrated crop–livestock system and second-crop maize succession system. The treatments consisted of the following cropping systems: Xaraes palisadegrass intercropped with soybean, Congo grass intercropped with soybean, Mombaça guinea grass intercropped with soybean, Tamani guinea grass intercropped with soybean and a soybean/maize succession system. The forage grasses were established during the soybean R6–R7 stage. Compared with Congo grass, Xaraes palisadegrass, Mombaça guinea grass and Tamani guinea grass produced more biomass and equivalent amounts of fertilizer returned to the soil and resulted in greater nutrient cycling, indicating the benefits of these grasses for use as mulch in integrated production systems. Maize had a greater C/N ratio, but the forage grasses also exhibited high potential by protecting the soil until the end of the soybean development cycle. The use of an integrated crop–livestock system combined with a forage cropping system provided greater soil nutrient cycling than the maize cropping system did, which resulted in increased soybean yields, thus contributing to the sustainability of agricultural systems.

Tracking national sustainability of critical natural capital and the socioeconomic drivers in the context of the Belt and Road Initiative

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) provides China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with a strategic policy framework for pursuing societal prosperity without undermining environmental sustainability. However, very few studies have focused on the assessment of the environmental sustainability of nations partnering the BRI. Following a precautionary principle that the strong sustainability lies in the maintenance of critical natural capital stocks, this paper attempts to determine the state of land as critical natural capital for biomass production and carbon dioxide sequestration in BRI countries using an improved three-dimensional ecological footprint model, and explores the socioeconomic drivers behind using spatial econometric models. Our time-series analysis for the period 1996–2016 shows that the use of land as natural capital in most BRI countries has been operating in a state of environmental unsustainability over a long period of time. Forest and cropland are found to be major sources of natural capital flows, while suffering from severe depletion of natural capital stocks simultaneously. Overall, the appropriation of natural capital flows remains relatively stable but uneven, with rich appropriation of flows in Europe, Central Asia and Southeast Asia. The depletion of natural capital stocks primarily shows an increasing trend, with intensive stock depletion mainly in West Asia, East Asia and South Asia. Overall, population density and per capita GDP are identified as major contributors to BRI’s environmental unsustainability, whereas the proportion of exports in GDP and the proportion of built-up area considerably drive the decline in unsustainability. These findings suggest that tackling environmental unsustainability due to inappropriate land use constitutes a major challenge for BRI nations, thus underpinning the necessity of environmentally friendly policies in the pursuit of SDGs.

Total Brood Removal and Other Biotechniques for the Sustainable Control of Varroa Mites in Honey Bee Colonies: Economic Impact in Beekeeping Farm Case Studies in Northwestern Italy

Honey bee colonies are affected by many threats, and the Varroa mite represents one of the most important causes of honey bee disease. The control of the Varroa population is managed by different methods, and in recent years, biotechnical practices are considered preferable to chemical approaches in order to safeguard honey bee health and avoid residues in bee products as well as the appearance of acaricide resistance. However, little is known about the economic performance of beekeeping exploitations in relation to the methods used for tackling Varroa. This study aims to investigate the economic impact of total brood removal (TBR) as a biotechnique to keep Varroa mites under control, and compare this to other common biotechniques and chemical Varroa control in numerous Italian beekeeping case studies. A pool of economic and technical indexes was proposed. The proposed index pool can be included in the development of an expert system (such as a decision support system) able to address the optimal management of this very complex activity, which requires natural resources, land protection, capital and high technical skills. The result showed that the adoption of the TBR biotechnique vs. other biotechniques led to an increase in terms of total revenue (increase values ranging from 11% to 28%) even though more labor is needed (increase values ranging from 43 to 83 min/hive) and a loss of honey production could be recorded in some cases. Additionally, the total expenses, represented mainly by supplemental nutrition and treatments with oxalic acid, affected the economic results of the biotechnical practices. The use of biotechniques vs. chemical control resulted in decreased treatment costs and increased feeding costs. The advantages resulting from not using synthetic acaricides (which are dangerous for honey bee and human health as well as the environment) as well as the advantages linked to the production of new nuclei (which are involved in the maintenance of bee stock and counteract the decline in honey bee population) and pollination ecosystem services could make beekeeping farms more resilient over time.

Survey Research on Status of Pulses Buffer Stock in India

Pulses are the chief source of protein in routine diet of Indian vegetarian population. During 2016-17 an unprecedented production of 22.95mt and import of 3.11mt had created a surplus buffer stock of pulses. Government of India had decided to liquidate the pulses buffer stock after examining the quality of stocks to accommodate the fresh arrival. The Department of Consumer Affairs (DoCA), has identified ICAR-IIPR to conduct survey research at 10 locations across the country on existing pulses buffer stock. A team of three members from ICAR-IIPR surveyed, observed and collected 47 samples of pulses (pigeonpea, chickpea, green gram, black gram and lentil) from 26 warehouses. The collected samples were analyzed for grain refractions and milling recovery. The physical observations on ventilation at godowns, bags, dunnage, stack size, sampling and maintenance of stocks were discussed in this article.

Reliability analysis of power equipment of traction rolling stock within the Eastern region

AnnotationOne of the most loaded structures, and at the same time, the weakest elements of the power equipment of traction rolling stock, is isolation. The analysis of the operation of power equipment of electric locomotives from the negative impact of climatic factors on it has been made. It was revealed that to ensure reliable and safe operation, a system of maintenance and repair of rolling stock is necessary, taking into account the zonal conditions of operational features. The necessity of creating adaptive systems to maintain optimal values for temperature and humidity conditions for the insulation structures of electric locomotives is shown.

A Proposed Supply Chain Model of Blockchain Technology-Based in Automotive Component Industry

The automotive industry has rapidly developed and overrun the market for the last decade. In this context, automotive components or parts are essential factors to manufacture automotive products. Undoubtedly, the supplier that provides the automotive components or inbound logistics becomes a critical party of Supply Chain Management activity. In this frame, the failure of inbound logistics potentially creates a severe implication to the automotive industry in terms of the financial effects, company image to damage the customer. Arguably, the supplier activities encompass the continuity of automotive components delivery, on-time delivery schedule, supplier and customer relationship maintenance, and financial operation. In this point, the problem identifies the distribution of automotive components and stock maintenance. Therefore, this qualitative research is essential to explore a proposed Blockchain Technology model in Supply Chain Management (BlcSCM), especially in the automotive component industry. On that basis, design science research methodology facilitates to create a proposed model, Leavitt Diamond. In this model, the essential factors (people, process, technology, and organization) merges with supply chain management. Finally, it refers to the Blockchain Technology model in Supply Chain Management.

Decision Making Based on the Results of Automatic Diagnostics of Parts and Assemblies of Rolling Stock

The article reviews a preventive maintenance system for repairs, the main disadvantage of which is that it is essentially an open system of technical control that does not take into account objective assessment of rolling stock «as it is». The objective of the study was to review and summarize the existing researches and to word the proposals to develop the system of rolling stock maintenance. Based on the analysis of the researches in that field it is proposed to reduce material and labor costs for maintenance of cars by making the system of technical diagnostics closed. As a feedback, it is advisable to use an automatic test diagnostic control system that detects car defects while the train is running. It will significantly reduce the number of manual operations for inspecting rolling stock in the arrival parks of sorting stations and automate decision-making on possibility of subsequent operation of controlled rolling stock based on its actual condition. A technique is proposed for evaluating the results of technical diagnostics of rolling stock in which probabilistic estimates are used, dividing the most significant defects of the controlled object into three classes according to the degree of their significance for operation safety. It has been established that Weibull distribution corresponds to fatigue defective phenomena, while Rayleigh distribution corresponds to wear phenomena with constant or periodic workload. To identify defective car wheels and axle boxes, a dynamic system is proposed, which includes: the controlled object which is a wheel or axle box, automatic test diagnostic equipment and a resolver for deciding on further operation of the identified defective car. The optimal equation of the separating function of «false alarm» and «acceptance» is obtained on the basis of the Bayes criterion, which minimizes the average risk of making a wrong decision.

Анализ технологической подготовки предприятий по техническому обслуживанию и ремонту вагонов

The paper analyzes the technological preparation of production at the railcar enterprises in terms of developing technological processes and processing sets of technological documents. Factors affecting the quality of technological preparation of production for maintenance and repair of rolling stock are considered. In contrast to the previously performed works, where the assessment of the level of technological training was carried out by experts of a scientific organization, the initial data in the article were the results of a survey of specialists of technical departments of structural divisions of the car industry of the Sverdlovsk and South Ural Railways. Based on the method of expert qualimetry, the weight of factors that have the greatest impact on the quality of technological processes is estimated. As a result of the survey, a low level of automation of design processes was established, which consists mainly in the design of technological documentation. It is shown that the degree of depth of development and detail of technological processes is at the level of the route description

ИНВЕСТИЦИИ В ИНФРАСТРУКТУРУ ЛОКОМОТИВНОГО КОМПЛЕКСА. ПЛАНЫ И ПРОГНОЗЫ ИНФРАСТРУКТУРНЫХ ПОТРЕБНОСТЕЙ

In connection with the prospects for the development of the railway industry until 2030, a significant role in improving the technological readiness of maintenance and repair of traction rolling stock belongs to diesel, electric locomotive repair and service depots. The article considers the main directions of development and modernization of the locomotive complex infrastructure. Possible methods of financing mechanisms for investment in infrastructure development have been identified.

Цифровизация ремонтного производства тягового подвижного состава

The article considers the approach to the mastering of modern digital technologies in the locomotive complex with regard to the tasks of increasing the controllability and, as a result, the efficiency of technological processes of maintenance and repair of traction rolling stock. The organizational, technical and technological solutions implemented in the first digital depot, created on the basis of the locomotive depot Vikhorevka of the East Siberian Traction Directorate of JSC «Russian Railways» (service locomotive depot Bratskoe of OOO «LokoTeh-Servis») are presented. Joint application of the complex of implemented solutions ensures implementation of the new technology of organization of locomotives maintenance and repair, feasibility of reaching the targets for readiness of the traction rolling stock for operation. Achieving efficiency of the technology built within the framework of the Digital Depot project is ensured by the universality of the repair position - all technological operations on locomotives maintenance and repair are performed at the digital universal repair position, including supercycle unscheduled works, are carried out in a single place without additional maneuvering. The universality of repair positions together with application of radio-controlled self-propelled traction unit with hybrid power plant increases the depot energy efficiency, reduces the expenses for maintenance of shunting locomotives stock and their total number, as well as allows to increase rhythmicity of locomotive repair. Implementation of transparent comprehensive information exchange between the process equipment of repair position, the systems for collecting, processing, analyzing data and information obtained in real time from on-board locomotive systems, monitoring and diagnostics systems applied during locomotive acceptance for repair, input and operation control, as well as at the stage of output control, provides the efficiency of control actions, objectivity of personnel performance discipline control and compliance with technical processes, increases the practical value of diagnostic data, which form the basis of qualitative repair and reliability of locomotives in operation.

The assessing the services conformity for maintenance, repair and operation processes of railway rolling stock results activities of the inspection body

The assessing the services conformity for maintenance, repair and operation processes of railway rolling stock results activities of the inspection body