Mode Of Harvesting Research Articles

Technical Efficiency Difference between Model and Non-Model Smallholder Wheat Producer Farmers in Lode Hetosa Woreda of East Arsi Zone of Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

The smallholder farming system in Ethiopia is largely dominated by staple food crops which are exposed to managerial inefficiency and factors beyond the control of the farmer. Accordingly, the study aimed to analyze technical efficiency differences between model and non-model smallholder wheat producer farmers and inefficiency determinants in Hetosa Woreda of East Arsi Zone. The Stochastic Production Frontier Cobb-Douglas functional form was used. To analyze cross-sectional data collected from 700(350 model and 350 non-model) farmers for the production year of 2018/19, descriptive and econometrics data analysis techniques were used. The findings of the descriptive analysis showed that model farmers produced an average of 32.82 and non-model farmers produced on average 29.36 quintals of wheat per hectare. The value of the discrepancy ratio (γ) which indicates technical inefficiency variability was 89%, 82%, and 84% for the model, non-model, and overall farmers respectively. The mean technical efficiency score was 81%, 79%, and 80% for the model, non-model, and overall farmers respectively. Land, fertilizer, and labor statistically significantly affected the wheat output of model farmers, whereas all input variables statistically significantly affected the wheat output of non-model farmers. In addition, model farmers' technical inefficiency was statistically significantly determined by the mode of plowing, mode of harvesting, shock, training, and marketing, and that of non-model farmers’ technical inefficiency was statistically significantly affected by mode of harvesting, level of education, land fragmentation, and marketing. Thus, training, market, education, and strategic plan to mitigate factors beyond the control of farmers need to be considered for improvement to make farmers more productive and technically efficient in wheat production in the study area.

Comparative Socio-Economics of Rice Grain and Seed Production in Kanchanpur, Nepal

Rice is the number-one staple crop in Nepal. However, its production economics may differ when it is grown as grain for immediate consumption or as seed for further planting. Therefore, a study was conducted to compare the input use, productivity, and profitability of rice seed and grain production in the Kanchanpur district of Nepal. Altogether 94 samples were taken: 30 from rice seed growers and 64 from rice grain growers. Selected households were interviewed with a pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaire. Data entry and analysis were done using SPSS and MS Excel. The study showed that the productivity of rice as a seed crop (4.73 ± 0 t/ha) was found to be significantly higher than grain production (3.72 ± 0 t/ha), as well as that the benefit/cost ratio (BCR) of seed production (1.71) was much higher than that of rice grain production (1.23). When it comes to the use of the inputs, the majority of respondents who were rice seed producers employed herbicide to control weeds, insecticide to control insects, a mechanical mode of harvesting, and burning the stubble in the field. The major production constraint was found to be the unavailability of quality inputs (I = 0.76), and the major marketing bottleneck was found to be the unavailability of processing units (I = 0.71). This research suggests that input requirements and some agronomic management practices differ between rice seed and grain growers. Further, the productivity and profitability of seed production are higher than grain production in rice.

Energy Harvesting: An Overview of Techniques for Use Within the Transport Industry

This article introduces the various energy harvesting mechanisms that can be used to energize sensing systems and associated wireless communication channels. It outlines energy scavenging techniques, along with an assessment of useful materials for each mode of harvesting.

Experiment and parametric analysis of sliding mode triboelectric energy harvester

Triboelectric energy harvester may be used to power small electronic devices for many applications such as temperature and humidity sensors, accelerometers, and GPS tracking devices. This paper has developed the theoretical model of sliding mode triboelectric energy harvester to predict the harvested energy due to mechanical vibration/motion. The model has been solved using the 4th order Runge–Kutta Method. An experimental setup has been fabricated to validate the numerical results. Numerical results reveal that harvested energy depends upon various input factors like the type of motion, external resistance, contact area, width, and dielectric thickness. A parametric study has been presented to maximize the harvested energy with an average acceleration of 35 m/s2 between the triboelectric films (PTFE and Nylon with contact area 10 cm × 10 cm), maximum current, and a voltage obtained is 0.6 µA & 3 V, respectively, and 10 LEDs are lightened. Further, a comparison study has been carried out between contact mode TEH and sliding mode TEH to predict the better mode of energy harvesting.

Output density quantification of electricity generation by flowing deionized water on graphene

Energy conversion by water flowing over graphene is a promising mode of energy harvesting. However, the mechanism, energy-conversion efficiency, and quantification of power density for this mode of interfacial electricity generation remain unknown. Quantification of the output performance for the flow-induced electricity generation using graphene is presented in this work. The output performance per unit contact area between water and graphene is found to be proportional to the flow speed, with an electromotive force density of 0.0025 [μV/mm2/mm/s] for the conditions used in this work. The ability to quantify output density will help to construct guidelines for future applications of this form of electricity generation.

Nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria as a potential resource for efficient biodiesel production

The incessant utilization of non-renewable energy sources persistently pollutes the earth's atmosphere and thus requires the immediate substitution by renewable energy sources such as biofuel. In this study, several nitrogen-fixing cyanobacteria are screened for biodiesel production on the basis of biomass productivity, lipid productivity, lipid profiling, and harvesting potential. The assessment performed led to the identification of Nostoc sp. MCC41, a nitrogen ficxing cyanobacteria as promising species (0.39 day−1 specific growth rate, biomass productivity of 540 mg L−1 day−1, lipid productivity of 84 mg L−1 day−1 and 15.7% lipid content). A simple filtration experiment shows that almost 81% of the biomass of Nostoc sp. MCC41 is harvested without flocculation aid, while only 23–45% of the green algae (control) could be filtered. Based on the results, further optimization of Nostoc sp. MCC41 is carried out. The optimum light intensity to attain the highest lipid productivity is found to be 54 μmol photon m−2 s−1. Continuous illumination rather than other photoperiods is superior in terms of lipid productivity. Moreover, Nostoc sp. MCC41 could grow under mixotrophic conditions revealing the potential towards an organic carbon-rich wastewater treatment. At 0.5% glucose, the Nostoc sp. MCC41 exhibited nearly five-fold increase in biomass productivity when compared to the phototrophic conditions. Lipid profiling uncovered that Nostoc sp. MCC41 has a high concentration of palmitic acid, indicating its suitability for biodiesel. Given its easy mode of harvesting, ability to grow under mixotrophic condition, and ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen, Nostoc sp. MCC41 can be considered as a potential and eco-friendly resource for efficient biodiesel production.

Design and experimental study of rotary-type energy harvester

A rotary-type energy harvester for the applications having space restrictions has been designed and developed to harvest the energy from rotary motion system. The rotation kinetic energy is converted into electrical energy through a lead zirconate titanate patch, which is strained by magnetic force. Most of the researchers used d31 mode of the piezoelectric material of such conversion. Some researchers have explored d33 mode harvester with piezo patch along the circumferential direction. In this article, d33 mode of harvesting with radial direction piezo patch has been proposed. Mathematical and finite element models are developed to calculate the harvested energy. The results are experimentally verified. The average output power of 14.48 nW is generated corresponding to the magnetic force of 0.3126 N and rotational speed of 2100 r/min. The results from the mathematical and finite element models are observed to be consistent with the experimental results. Such harvester will be useful for the applications having space limitations such as self-power generation in an artillery shell and rotary projectile.

Energy harvesting from shadow-effect

We demonstrate an unprecedented mode of energy harvesting from shadows that fall on the shadow-effect energy generator (SEG). Furthermore, a self-powered proximity sensor is also demonstrated using the SEG.

Fog harvesting from cooling towers using metal mesh: Effects of aerodynamic, deposition, and drainage efficiencies

Fog harvesting is recognized as an important alternate source of fresh water. Industrial fog can supplement water for industrial requirement. Collection of fog (drift droplets) from cooling tower plumes is a viable mode of industrial fog harvesting. The present study delves deeper into the findings of our earlier pilot investigation, on cooling tower fog harvesting and unravels how the collection efficiency depends on interaction of the mesh with the oncoming flow and the deposited fog droplets. Herein, we quantify the fog collection and explain the rationale of the individual contributions of aerodynamic, deposition, and drainage efficiencies on the overall collection efficiency. The effect of the mesh orientations and the tangential velocity component of the cooling tower plume (arising out of the cooling tower-fan rotation) are considered. Aerodynamic efficiency of the mesh and pressure drop across is estimated through computational fluid dynamic analysis. Also, an analysis of the force interaction between the mesh wires, deposited droplet, and the fog stream is carried out to identify the salient deterring factors like re-entrainment, clogging, and premature dripping of collected water droplets, based on which the regime of collection is mapped. The best collection configuration is found at an inclination of 15° with the vertical, with an overall collection efficiency of about 16%. The best configuration would allow recovery of re-usable fresh water at a nominal energy penalty of ∼3.9 kWh/m3. Our results offer the design bases for developing full-scale fog harvesting setups for industrial cooling towers.

Prioritizing Conservation of Medicinal Flora in the Himalayan Biodiversity Hotspot: An Integrated Ecological and Socioeconomic Approach

SummaryTo achieve the challenging goals of minimizing loss of species and achieving sustainable use of biodiversity, conservation prioritization merits urgent research attention. The present study identifies the priority of conservation for the medicinal flora of the Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) region, a Himalayan biodiversity hotspot. A total of 881 medicinal plant species were scored based on key ecological (endemism, threat status) and socioeconomic (use value, mode of harvesting) criteria, and 50 of these are prioritized for conservation; most of these are narrow endemics. Worryingly, all of the 50 prioritized species are currently recognized under different International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources threat categories, are highly prized for their use in traditional medicine in the region and are precious sustainable bioresources for the herbal industry. Most of these prioritized species are being harvested illegally. This integrated ecological and socioeconomic study has immediate implications for evidence-based and target-orientated conservation policy and practice in this Himalayan region.

Postmortem Retrieval of Arterial Allografts: Preliminary Results

Cryopreserved arterial allografts are vascular substitutes used for arterial reconstructions in a septic field. Their use remains however limited by the shortage of donors. One of the possibilities to address this lack of grafts is to multiply the sources of retrieval. The objective of this preliminary study was the evaluation of the early clinical results and the microbiological safety of arterial grafts retrieved after death. In addition to the standard conditions of arterial sampling, the criteria of inclusion for postmortem retrieval comprised the refrigeration of the body of the donor within 4 hr following the death, a 24-hr time limit from the death, and the availability of an adapted place for retrieval (surgical unit or death chamber respecting the required aseptic conditions). We only retrieved the femoral axes (FAs) and the aortoiliac bifurcation. The conditions of retrieval, transportation, preparation, and conservation were identical to those of cryopreserved arterial allografts harvested during standard multiple organs retrieval. We evaluated the bacteriological risk of contamination and the patency of the grafts in the short and medium term. In 2015 and 2016, 6 donors were included. Eleven FAs and 2 aortic bifurcations were harvested. The bacteriological samples done on arrival in bank and after thawing were negative in the 6 donors, but one of the 6 donors presented a bacterial contamination of other removed tissues, and the arterial grafts obtained from this donor were destroyed as a precaution (3grafts). The quality of the grafts evaluated by the surgeon during harvesting was good in all the cases. The indications of allografts were arterial reconstruction in a septic field (n=8) and aorto-hepatic bypass during hepatic transplantation (n=1). One graft was unhopefully thawed without being used. At the end of the follow-up, 8 out of 9 grafts were patent. Two ruptures occurred in a context of locally persistent sepsis (crural abscess due to Salmonella typhi and persistent groin wound disunion with a polymicrobial flora). One allograft thrombosis was observed (aorto-hepatic bypass for transplantation). These complications were unrelated to the mode of graft harvesting. No aneurysmal evolution was observed. The preliminary results of this protocol are encouraging because the immediate quality of the grafts was good with a risk of microbiological contamination identical with that of the usual harvesting mode. This mode of harvesting looks promising to reduce the shortage in arterial allografts and could be extended to harvest thoracic aortic allografts. However, results at a larger scale are necessary to confirm these data.

Sensitivity of Technical Choices on the GHG Emissions and Expended Energy of Hydrotreated Renewable Jet Fuel from Microalgae

Taking into account the environmental impacts of biofuel production is essential to develop new and innovative low-emission processes. The assessment of life cycle GreenHouse Gas (GHG) emissions of biofuel is mandatory for the countries of the European Union. New biomass resources that hardly compete with food crops are been developed increasingly. Microalgae are an interesting alternative to terrestrial biomass thanks to their high photosynthetic efficiency and their ability to accumulate lipids. This article provides an analysis of potential environmental impacts of the production of algal biofuel for aviation using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Evaluated impacts are GHG emissions and the primary energy consumption, from extraction of raw materials to final waste treatment. This study compared two management choices for oilcakes generated after oil extraction from microalgae. In the first system, these cakes are treated by energetic allocation and in the second by anaerobic digestion. In both cases, the steps of cultivation and harvesting have the highest impact on the results. Sensitivity analyzes are performed on technical choices of operating systems (choice of the type of nutrients, mode of harvesting, drying and oil extraction) as well as a Monte-Carlo analysis on key parameter values for GHG emissions (concentration of microalgae in ponds, productivity and oil content). The results highlight the impact of the use of chemical fertilizers and the importance of the concentration of algae on GHG emissions and energy consumption.

Studies on the implementation of System Application Product (SAP) Materials Management (MM Module) for financial support in Sugar cane cultivation

In traditional mode of cane cultivation, harvesting and transportation of cane from the plot to the factory involves various steps and lot of paper work and requires more man power. In addition to this, farmers also facing lot of problems to provide all the information's throughout the course of cultivation.In order to provide financial assistance, the sugar industries are providing loan facility tie-up with Bankers.All these process is adopting System Application Product (SAP) Materials Management (MM-MODULE) to monitor in a single window. This will helps the farmers and factories are able to get benefitted and in the mean time Bank will also mutually benefitted by getting interest and increase their business volume. Hence by implementing System Application Product(SAP), once entering the data in the system it is continued further deletion of data from the system administrator. Due to this farmers need not required to submit all the stipulated forms in all the times. More over thelead time required is very less. Keywords -System Application Product , Materials Management, Tie up letter, Trip Sheet, Cane weighment ticket

Peasant rice agriculture: Its character and mechanisms of genetic erosion of its germplasm

Between 1986 and date, land races of rice (Oryza satwa Linn .) have been collected from rice-growing areas of Nigeria (Okposi in Abia state, Awgu in Enugu state, Ofada in Ogun state, Ijesa-Isu and Igbemo in Ekiti state, and Erinmo in Osun state) and they were characterized for their agronomic attributes. Peasant rice holdings were studied for 4 years in Erinmo to elicit population dynamics of peasant rice germplasm. A model for the mechanism of erosion of genetic variability in the local germplasm of rice was constructed from this and earlier studies. The factors implicated in the genetic erosion of peasant rice germplasm are; mode of harvesting, inherent population dynamics like choking up of late emergents, loss of lodging and shattering genotypes, loss of late-maturing genotypes, seed dormancy. Wholesale loss due to adoption of improved varieties and complete abandonment of rice farming are also important factor in genetic erosion of peasant rice agriculture. These results suggest that conservation of rice local germplasm could be achieved through extensive survey, collection and characterization. Lack of encouragement of rice agriculture among peasants has contributed to the loss of genetic diversity in the landraces. This situation makes in situ conservation very difficult. It appears that peasant rice agriculture rather than large-scale agriculture will have a major role to play in our national food security programme for a long time. Ife Journal of Science Vol. 8 (2) 2006: pp. 179-184

Sex Distribution, Reproductive Biology And Regeneration In The Dioecious Species Osyris Lanceolata (African Sandalwood) In Tanzania

Sex distribution, reproductive biology and regeneration of African Sandalwood (Osyris lanceolata) were assessed in six natural populations of Tanzania between January 1999 and February 2001. The aim was to acquire basic information required for efficient management, conservation and sustainable utilization of the species. The study had four objectives: to assess the spatial distribution of male and female trees in O. lanceolata supporting stands and whether this has any significance in influencing the reproductive success; to document the phenological events occurring between flower initiation and fruit ripening; to examine the reproductive success of various stages through pollination experiment; and to assess the regeneration mode and potential of the species. The study revealed that, the distribution of male and female trees in most populations was random with no evidence of sex clustering. It takes 104 days from flowering until when 25% of fruit initiated become ripe. About 75% of the initiated fruits become ripe in 163 days. This study has also demonstrated absence of agamospermy behaviour in O. lanceolata. A limited reproductive success was noted however, due to either low level of pollen production or limited pollinators\' movement. Assisted pollination significantly increased the reproductive success of the species. The tree regenerates through seeds, rootstocks and coppice. Of the total regenerating plants assessed at sapling stage, 61% had originated from rootstock or coppice while 39% came from seed source. It is concluded that, recruitment of the species relies mainly on rootstock or coppice source although the importance of seeds cannot be ignored. Thus uprooting of the species as a mode of harvesting has to be discouraged since the practice is likely to severely limit the recruitment rate. TJFNC Vol. 76 2007: pp. 118-133

Prioritization of medicinal plants on the basis of available knowledge, existing practices and use value status in Uttaranchal, India

In order to understand the pattern of indigenous uses of medicinal plants available in the Uttaranchal state of the Indian Himalaya, this study was undertaken through literature survey and fieldwork in various parts of the state. A list of all the major and most of the lesser categories of ailments was prepared and categorized with the help of medical practitioners. A total of 300 plant species used in curing 114 ailments prevailing in various ethnic and non-ethnic communities of Uttaranchal were documented. These 114 ailments were further grouped into 12 broad classes of diseases in order to project the indigenous uses of medicinal plants for various ailments. It was found that herbs contributed the highest number of medicinal plants (65%), followed by shrubs (19%) and trees (16%). The maximum number of plant species were used to cure generalized body aches and colic, followed by gastrointestinal and dermatological problems. Vitex negundo was the most important species, used for the treatment of more than 48 ailments. Azadirachta indica, Woodfordia fruticosa, Centella asiatica, Aegle marmelos, Cuscuta reflexa, Butea monosperma, Phyllanthus emblica, and Euphorbia hirta were among other important medicinal plants based on their high use values. The underground parts of the plant were used in the majority of cases. Of 300 medicinal plants, 35 were rare and endangered species, of which about 80% was restricted to the high altitude alpine region of Uttaranchal Himalaya. A priority list of 17 medicinal plant species was prepared on the basis of endemism, use value, mode of harvesting and rarity status. Strategies for long-term conservation of these valuable medicinal plants are discussed.

Intracordal injection of autologous fat in patients with unilateral laryngeal nerve paralysis: long-term results from the patient's perspective.

Based on 80 patients with a previously nonsurgically treated unilateral laryngeal nerve paralysis (ULNP) and according to the patient's self-assessment, the authors document the long-term results achieved with the intracordal injection of autologous fat. Retrospective series, inception cohort. Kaplan-Meier actuarial life table method and univariate analysis. None of the 80 patients died in the immediate postoperative period. Morbidity included hematoma at the donor site (in three patients), development of an intracordal cyst at the injection site (in three patients), fat extrusion at the injection site (in one patient), and temporary tracheotomy (in one patient). The initial and ultimate overall success rates were 96.2% and 77.2%, respectively. In univariate analysis, none of the variables under analysis (gender, age, associated neurological lesions, associated pneumonectomy, associated neoplasia, cause of the ULNP, side of the ULNP, nerve involved, delay between the onset of the ULNP and the intracordal injection, severity of the symptoms, mode of harvesting the autologous fat, and surgeon who performed the injection) was statistically related to the ultimate outcome after the intracordal injection of autologous fat. Among the group of 45 patients in whom the intracordal injection was initially considered to be successful with no further recovery of motion of the true vocal cord and a minimum survival of 12 months, the ultimate overall success rate was 62.2%, and the 3-month, 6-month, and 12-month Kaplan-Meier actuarial estimates for success were 91.1%, 72.8%, and 63.1%, respectively. In the present study, data confirm that the intracordal injection of autologous fat is a useful and safe procedure in patients with ULNP. However, the impossibility of exactly predicting the amount of resorption of the injected fat and the lack of predictability of the duration of the results, together with the good and stable results achieved at the authors' department with the medialization thyroplasty led the authors to reduce its current use.

Seeding depth, rate and row spacing for winter wheat grown on stubble and chemical fallow in the semiarid prairies

Recommendations regarding seeding depth, rate and row spacing for winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) production in the semiarid Canadian prairies have been extrapolated from those for the production of spring wheat in the region, or from information on winter wheat studies conducted in more humid areas of Saskatchewan. A factorial combination of two seeding depths (25- vs. 50-mm), two row spacing (18- vs. 36-cm) and two seeding rates (30 vs. 60 kg ha−1) was used to study plant establishment, grain yield and grain quality of winter wheat in the semiarid Brown soil zone. Three years of experiments were conducted on a Swinton silt loam near Swift Current, and on a Hatton fine sandy loam near Cantuar. Winter wheat was seeded directly into stubble at both sites and into chemically prepared fallow on the silt loam. On average, there was no significant difference (P < 0.05) due to planting depth. Deep planting reduced plant establishment and grain yield in only two of 11 site-years when humid conditions prevailed. Plant establishment and grain yield were superior for the 60 kg ha−1 seeding rate compared to the 30 kg ha−1 rate in the wet year (1986). In drier years (1987 and 1988) there was rarely any difference due to seeding rate. Narrow row spacing resulted in greater plant density than wide row spacing; however, row spacing had little effect on grain yield. In the semiarid prairie, where trash clearance for seeding implements is not usually a problem, and where many producers still swath the crop, it may be advantageous to use a narrow row spacing. However, if power requirements and trash clearance are important considerations, wide row spacing will be advantageous. Grain quality parameters (test weight, kernel weight and protein concentration) were not greatly affected by the factors studied. For winter wheat production in the semiarid prairie, we recommend that planting depth be shallow (about 25 mm), seeding rate be 60 kg ha−1, and row spacing be either narrow or wide depending on mode of harvesting. Key words: Semiarid prairie, winter wheat, grain yield, grain protein

Arginase activity in human fibroblast cultures

Controversial results have been published as to the presence of arginase activity in human skin fibroblasts in normal cells and in argininemia. Experiments were undertaken to see if arginase is intrinsic to the fibroblasts or may be there as the result of exogenous contamination inherent to the mode of cell culturing. The mode of harvesting by scraping or trypsin treatment demonstrated similar arginase activity. No significant differences of arginase activity were found between the fibroblasts grown on fetal calf or human serum. In the conditioned serum-free medium arginase separated on DEAE-cellulose into an a 1 and A 4 form. These fractions are identical with those found in the cells. Arginase activity varies, however, with age of the fibroblasts. These observations are also valid for fibroblasts from a case of argininemia. Arginase activity is therefore intrinsic to diploid human fibroblasts.