Volumetric Mass Research Articles

Harnessing artificial neural networks and linear regression models for modeling thermal modification processes: Characterization by FTIR and prediction of the mechanical properties of eucalyptus wood

In the present study, an artificial neural network model and multiple linear regression method were constructed to establish a relationship between the parameters of the thermal modification process and the mechanical properties of Eucalyptus camaldulensis wood samples. Three influencing parameters on the mechanical properties during heat treatment were considered input variables, namely water absorption, volumetric mass, and mass loss; the other parameters were kept constant (treatment temperature: 200, 220, 240, and 260 °C, and the duration: 5, 60, and 90 minutes). There were five neurons in the hidden layer that were used, as well as an output layer for the mechanical property. According to the results obtained, the mean square error (MSE) for the training, validation, and testing datasets were determined to be 0.21, 0.25, and 0.22 in the prediction modulus of rupture (MOR) and 0.019, 0.017, and 0.023 in the prediction modulus of elasticity (MOE). Higher coefficients of determination (R2) ranging from 0.93 to 0.98 were obtained for all datasets with the proposed ANN models, while the multiple linear regression models found the MSE to be 1.03 and 1.40 for MOR and MOE, respectively, as well as R2 to be 0.97 and 0.80, respectively. These results show that ANN models can be successfully used to predict the change in mechanical properties of wood during heat treatment.

Physical characterization of cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) schizocarps of different origins cultivated in Morocco

An initial investigation on the physical traits of the cumin (Cuminum cyminum L.) schizocarps was examined in order to select the best genotypes of cumin grown in three regions of Morocco (Drâa-Tafilalet, Marrackech-Safi, and Oriental). This operation was conducted on 34 cumin accessions from six origins (local, India, Syria, Egypt, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia). To evaluate differences between the physical properties among accessions, length, width, thickness, and both the volumetric mass and the thousand-schizocarp mass were measured. Geometric properties (geometric mean diameter, sphericity index, specific mass and surface area) and gravitational parameters (bulk density, true density, and porosity) were calculated for each accession. Heritability (broad sense), phenotypic and genetic variabilities are also assessed. The average values of the evaluated parameters were found to be significantly different (p < 0.01) between accessions. The physical characteristics of schizocarps were significantly influenced by their origin, cultivated provinces and irrigation methods. Length, width, thickness and length of style range on average from 5.7 to 6.8 mm, 1.5 to 2.5 mm, 1.2 to 1.8 mm and 0.6 to 0.9 mm, respectively. Local and Egyptian accessions were the best-sized accessions. Regarding the weight, the Indian accession C11 registered the best volumetric mass 52.9 g, while the thousand-mass was found to be higher in the local accession from Zagora C19 with 7.3 g. The results showed that the phenotypic coefficient of variation (PCV) was higher than the genotypic coefficient of variation (GCV). The highest PCV and GCV were length of style (30.0%) and true density (24.4%), respectively. Volumetric mass had the highest value of heritability (99%). PCA analysis of seed origin showed clearly the ordination of cumin schizocarps into three groups. The big-sized schizocarps group is composed of local and Egyptian accessions, while the Saudi Arabia accession was individualized in a single group. Regarding the cultivated zone in Morocco, the ordination of schizocarps according to the province revealed four distinct groups. Finally, this study showed that irrigation mode may also affect the physical properties of cumin schizocarps.

Determining thermal and physical characteristics of wood polymer material for pipeline thermal insulation

One of the methods for ensuring the efficiency of pipelines for transporting heat-carriers during operation is their thermal insulation, which inhibits heat transfer processes and does not affect environmental indicators. Therefore, the object of research was wood, a polymer material made by polymerization of wood sawdust and dry mixtures of synthetic resins for thermal insulation of pipelines. It has been proven that in the process of thermal action on the heat insulating layer of wood polymer material, the process of heat inhibition involves the formation of pores. This is due to the fact that the thermal conductivity of the material depends on the volumetric mass, the decrease of which for a wood polymer product leads to a decrease in thermal conductivity. In this regard, the simulation of the process of heat transfer through a cylindrical heat-insulating layer made of wood of polymer material was carried out and the dependences derived, which allow obtaining a change in the dynamics of heat transfer and determining thermophysical properties. According to the experimental data and the established dependences, it was found that the thermal conductivity of the wood of the polymer material was within 2.4÷2.9·10-8 m2/s, the thermal conductivity of the sample did not exceed 0.030 W/(m∙K). In addition, the heat capacity of the product corresponds to a value of more than 1034÷1145 kJ/(kg·K) depending on the thickness, which accordingly categorizes it as a heat-insulating material. At the same time, data on thermal insulation properties for polyurethane foam show that when it is used with a density of 100 kg/m3, the thermal conductivity is 0.029 W/(m∙K), which is approximately the same as the value of the proposed wood polymer material. The practical value is the fact that the results of determining the heat-insulating properties of a wood polymer material make it possible to establish the scope and conditions of its application

Вплив обробітку ґрунту та побічної продукції на врожайність пшениці озимої в умовах Західного Лісостепу

Goal. To determine the influence of methods of soil cultivation and by-products on its volumetric mass, weediness of crops, and yield of winter wheat. Methods. Field — to study the influence of tillage, by-products, segetal vegetation in winter wheat crops; laboratory — to determine the bulk soil mass (compaction density); counting — to determine the weediness, and crop productivity; chemical — to determine the content of nutrients in the soil; mathematical and statistical — to assess the reliability of research results. Results. Research during 3 rotations of a 4-field crop rotation established that the volume mass of the 0–10 cm soil layer varied within 1.14–1.27 g/cm3 during all treatments. Compared with the upper layer, it increased with depth, and in the soil layers of 10–20 cm and 20–30 cm it was 1.24–1.36 and 1.33–1.53 g/cm3, respectively. Replacing plowing with disking at 10–12 cm and 6–8 cm led to an increase in the number of weeds in the first rotation from 108 to 212 and 278 pcs./m2, respectively, due to the alienation of by-products, and from 163 to 246 and 305 pcs./m2, respectively for its entering in the soil. Compared with plowing at 20–22 cm, disking at 10–12 and 6–8 cm cause a decrease in the yield of winter wheat due to the alienation of by-products by 6.4 and 21.5%, respectively, and when using it for fertilizer, by 6.7 and 25%, respectively. Conclusions. The application of various methods of main tillage for winter wheat sowing: plowing at 20–22 cm, disking at 10–12 cm, and disking at 6–8 cm ensured a volume of soil (1.14–1.27 and 1.24–1.36 g/cm3, respectively) favorable for the culture in the layers of 0–10 and 10–20 cm, but a plow sole was formed in the 20–30 cm layer under all treatments, especially shallow. The use of by-products for fertilization contributed to a certain decrease in the density of the soil composition but led to an increase in weediness, which increased with a decrease in the depth of cultivation. The replacement of plowing with disking for 10–12 and 6–8 cm decreased the productivity from 6.57 to 6.15 and 5.16 t/ha, respectively, due to the alienation of by-products and from 6.72 to 6.27 and 5.33 t/ha ha, respectively, for their entering in the soil. Application of by-products as fertilizer reduced the yield of winter wheat in the 1st crop rotation, while in the 2nd, except for the option with disking by 6–8 cm, and in the 3rd it ensured its increase.

Soil-ecological assessment of soils of abandoned lands of diggerent age in the southeast of West Siberia

The aim of the study. Assessment of the current state of agrophysical properties of soils, their soil-ecological status by calculating the soil-ecological index (SEI), as well as the study of vegetation cover of different-age abandoned lands in the forest-steppe zone of West Siberia within the Novosibirsk region. Location and time of the study. Novosibirsk Region, 2017–2022. Methods. Soils of the Predsalair drained plain (right-bank part of the Novosibirsk region) were studied. Twelve soil sections were studied on leached and podzolized chernozems, as well as on dark gray forest soils. Some of the studied soils had different degrees of washout prior to abandonment. The abandoned lands were young (2–4 years), middle (5–15 years) and old (more than 15 years). The age of these lands, i.e. the duration of their spontaneous self-revegetation, was determined based on satellite imagery data, information from local authorities and the methodology developed by the Institute of Soil Science and Agrochemistry of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences. The study of vegetation cover was carried out according to standard methods. Soil samples were collected as a solid column; humus content, acidity, mobile forms of phosphorus and potassium, granulometric composition were determined. Samples were also taken to determine soil density (volumetric mass). For soil-ecological assessment the methodology of soil-ecological index (SEI) calculation was used. The methodology for SEI calculating combines soil fertility, climatic and geomorphologic soil factors. The SEI was calculated according to the methodology developed at the В.V. Dokuchaev Soil Institute by I.I. Karmanov. The following soil properties were also measured: granulometric composition by the sieve-pipette method, organic carbon (humus) by potassium dichromate digestion and pH by potentiometric method. Results. The article presents the agrophysical properties of soils, their soil-ecological assessment (SEI) and describes the vegetation cover of different-aged abandoned and revegetating lands in the forest-steppe zone of West Siberia within the Novosibirsk region. The vegetation revealed a smooth change in the species composition of plants, including a decrease in the proportion of annual and biennial species. The total aboveground production increased during the first 5–7 years of revegetation, afterwards reaching a plateau depending on the type of the formed community and conditions. Low values of SEI (38–41) were obtained for young and middle-aged abandoned lands in comparison with the virgin land (63), being caused by the lower content of nutrient elements and humus. In the long-term abandoned lands soils, that were not washed away, had an average SEI value of 55, while soils of old fallow lands previously washed away had an average 45. Conclusions. Based on the soil ecological condition in the studied abandoned lands, it can be concluded that the return of young and middle-aged lands to agricultural turnover makes sense as pastures and hayfields. Their use as arable land is inexpedient, mostly because of different degrees of washout due to their location on slopes of different length and steepness, as well as insufficient restoration of their properties. The old abandoned lands (in case of the absence of soil erosion) may well be returned to agricultural use, including as arable land.

Determination of the physical characteristics of the left-over water from cooked maize and their comparison with those from cooked beans and human urine

The present paper aims to highlight the physical characteristics of the left over water from cooked maize and to compare them with those from fluids from cooked beans, human urine, and water used for the cooking process. This is motivated by the desire to verify if the set of information’s collected during the studies made on fluids from cooked beans can be applied with all the foods undergoing a stage of boiling during their transformation at home. For that purpose, solutions from cooked maize were produced by cooking 2kg of sorted and quickly washed maize seed with 8kg of water with known physical characteristics. The cooking process was done just with water during 6 hours. The samples of solutions were collected, cooled, and store for the various tests. They include: color, mass, volumetric mass, density, settling, and infiltrometric tests. Apart from the infiltrometric tests which took place on the field, the different other measurements were made in the laboratory. The color of the water used for the cooking process is translucent. Concerning solutions from the cooking, those from cooked beans are brown while those from cooked maize are whitish to yellowish. Fluids from cooked beans contained greater quantities of flakes compared to those from cooked maize. From the water used for the cooking processes to the end of the different cooking fluids, the mass, the volumetric mass, and the density increase. The infiltration tests made show that the infiltration rate of the water from cooked beans is low compared to that of the water from cooked maize, and very low compared to that of human urine and water used for the cooking processes respectively. The total infiltration of solution of the end of cooking the bean and the maize reveals on the infiltration surface the presence of a film of a material bearing molds, generated by the progressive settling of this solution. Odor risen from fluids from cooked beans is stronger compared to that from fluids from cooked maize. The repulsive character of the odor from human urine is effective; however, the subjectivity of that character cannot really help to identify which among odor from liquid from cooked bean and human urine is more repulsive. At rest, one can find formed at the surface of the water from cooked maize the presence of a film. Settling occurs at rest within the fluids from cooked maize and cooked beans at rest. Flakes from cooked beans and cooked maize fluids both attract flies; but only those from cooked maize attract also mice. The correlations established between the different parameters followed up here are highly positive. But in detail, the influence of an under laid parameter, known here as temperature, has been identified as being the responsible of the questioned behavior of the parameters taken in peers in the case of correlation studies made.

MR -specific characteristics of left ventricular noncompaction and dilated cardiomyopathy

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Thematic Excellence Programme (Tématerületi Kiválósági Program, 2020-4.1.1.-TKP2020) of the Ministry for Innovation and Technology in Hungary within the framework of the Therapeutic Development and Bioimaging Programs of Semmelweis University Development of Scientific Workshops of Medical, Health Sciences and Pharmaceutical Edication (Project identification number: EFOP- 3.6.3-VEKOP-16- 2017-00009) Project no. NVKP_16-1–2016-0017 (’National Heart Program’) has been implemented with the support provided from the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund of Hungary, financed under the NVKP_16 funding scheme. The research was supported by the Ministry of Innovation and Technology NRDI Office within the framework of the Artificial Intelligence National Laboratory Program. The differentiation of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) and left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is a recurring issue during cardiac imaging processes; thus, we aimed to compare the left ventricular (LV) cardiac MRI (CMR) characteristics of DCM and LVNC patients. Thirty-one nonischemic DCM patients, 42 LVNC patients with reduced EF and 42 healthy controls were included in this retrospective study. The LV volumetric, functional and myocardial mass parameters were measured with a threshold-based technique, while global and segmental strain values and rotational patterns were analyzed with feature-tracking strain analysis. Of the LV volumetric and myocardial mass parameters, only the trabeculated and papillary muscle mass (TPMi) values differed significantly between the patient groups and were higher in the LVNC group compared to DCM (DCM vs LVNC: 43.2 ± 8.9 vs 51.6 ± 13.6 g/m2, p &amp;lt; 0.002). The global longitudinal and circumferential strains were similar between the patient groups and significantly worse than those of the controls. In comparing the segmental strain values between the patient groups, only the circumferential apical strain was significantly lower in the LVNC group (DCM vs LVNC: -30.5 ± 13.5 vs -24.5 ± 12.0%, p &amp;lt; 0.05). There was no difference in the rotational pattern between the patient groups, and both the healthy and patient populations showed heterogeneous rotational patterns. Despite the similarities of DCM and LVNC in volumetric, global strain parameters, and rotational patterns, we found some morphological and functional differences between the patient groups. These minor alterations might be due to the morphological characteristics of LVNC with a trabeculated apical region.

Effect of the Concentration of Extracellular Polymeric Substances (EPS) and Aeration Intensity on Waste Glycerol Valorization by Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) Produced in Heterotrophic Culture of Schizochytrium sp

The study aimed to determine the effectiveness of docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) production by Schizochytrium sp. biomass fed with waste glycerol depending on the concentration of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in the culture medium and medium aeration effectiveness. The microalgae from the genus Schizochytrium sp. were proved to be capable of producing EPS composed of glucose, galactose, mannose, fucose, and xylose. The highest EPS concentration, reaching 8.73 ± 0.09 g/dm3, was determined at the stationary growth phase. A high EPS concentration caused culture medium viscosity to increase, contributing to diminished oxygen availability for cells, lower culture effectiveness, and reduced waste glycerol conversion to DHA. The Schizochytrium sp. culture variant found optimal in terms of the obtained technological effects and operating costs was performed at the volumetric oxygen mass transfer coefficient of kLa = 600 1/h, which enabled obtaining dry cell weight (DCW) of 147.89 ± 4.77 g/dm3, lipid concentration of 69.44 ± 0.76 g/dm3, and DHA concentration in the biomass reaching 29.44 ± 0.36 g/dm3. The effectiveness of waste glycerol consumption in this variant reached 3.76 ± 0.31 g/dm3·h and 3.16 ± 0.22 g/gDCW.

Oxygen Transfer Effects in a Two-Phase System of an Aqueous Phase and Liquid Perfluorochemical Subjected to Continuous Wave-Assisted Agitation in Disposable Bioreactor

Systems of two immiscible liquid phases—aqueous phase (i.e., distilled water (dH2O) or phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)) and liquid perfluorochemical (i.e., perfluorodecalin (PFD))—were subjected to wave-assisted agitation, i.e., oscillatory rocked, in a disposable bag-like container in a ReadyToProcess WAVETM25 bioreactor, to recognize oxygen transfer effects and effectivity of the surface aeration. According to the DoE methodology, values of the volumetric liquid-side mass transfer (kLa) coefficient for dH2O, PBS, dH2O-PFD, and PBS-PFD systems were determined for the whole range of operating parameters of the WAVE 25 bioreactor. A significantly higher maximal value of kLa was found for waving dH2O than for dH2O-PFD (i.e., 0.00460 s−1 vs. 0.00331 s−1, respectively) compared to more equal maximal values of kLa reached for PBS and PBS-PFD (0.00355 s−1 vs. 0.00341 s−1, respectively). The interface development factor (f) depended on the interfacial area a, and the enhancement factor (EPFD), depending on kLa, was introduced to quantitatively identify the mass transfer effects in the systems of waving two immiscible liquids. The phase of PFD was identified as the reservoir of oxygen. Dimensional correlations were proposed for the prediction of the kLa coefficient, in addition to the f and EPFD factors. The presented correlations, and the set of kLa values, can be directly applied to predict oxygen transfer effects reached under continuous oscillatory rocked systems containing aqueous phase and liquid perfluorochemical.

Physical Evolution of Solutions in Response to the Contact of Water with Beans: Case Study of Soaking and Boiling

The present paper aims to highlight the physical evolution of solutions from soaking and beans cooking process. This is motivated by the desire to shed light on the particular behavior of the bean end-of-cooking solutions when they are incorporated into the soil. For that purpose, solutions from soaking were produced by putting in contact 2kg of sorted and quickly washed beans seed with 8kg of water with known physical characteristics. Concerning the solutions from cooked beans, they were produced by putting on fire the pot containing the mixture of the water from soaking and bean seeds. The beans were a variety of Phaseolus vulgaris L.,known as “Meringue”. The cooking process was done without salts. The samples of solutions were collected as follow: 30 and 60 minutes respectively after the beginning of the soaking, 30, 60, and 90 minutes after the beginning of the cooking process of the beans soaked during 60 minutes. After each sampling, the equal volume of the solution collected was replaced with the water used for the cooking process. The color of the water used for the cooking process is translucent. Concerning solutions from soaking, their coloration are gradually reddish. Solutions from soaking and cooking process became abruptly dark red. From 60 minutes of the cooking process after soaking, the dark red coloration turn to strong brown. The solution handled in the case of the present study, from soaking and cooking the beans are gradually enriched in flakes compared to the situation noticed in the water used for the cooking process. But, the enrichment becomes abruptly high with the beginning of the cooking process after the process of soaking. In terms of consequence, their physical parameters studied in the present case study all increase in the same manner, notably the mass, the volumetric mass, and the density of the different solutions. The infiltration tests made including the water used for the different processes, solutions form the end of cooking the beans, and human urine show that the infiltration rate of the water from cooked beans is very low compared to that of the water used for the processes and human urine. The total infiltration of solution of the end of cooking the bean reveals on the infiltration surface the presence of a film of a matter bearing molds, generated by the progressive settling of this solution. The correlations established between the different parameters followed up here are highly positive. But in detail, the influence of an under laid parameter, known here as temperature, has been identified as being the responsible of the questioned behavior of the parameters taken in pairs in the case of correlation studies made. Finally, from this work, it emerges that the specific behavior of the bean end-of-cooking solution when it is introduced into the soil is justified by its progressive enrichment in organic matter during the cooking process.

Does the BioBLU 0.3f single-use scale to the BioFlo\xae 320 reuseable bioreactor on a matched volumetric oxygen mass transfer coefficient?

The volumetric oxygen mass transfer coefficient (k_{l} a) is an essential parameter in aerobic high-cell density fermentation where the availability of oxygen to growing microorganisms is a limiting factor. Bioprocess teams looking to scale-up/down between the Eppendorf BioBLU 0.3f single-use vessel and the BioFlo® 320 reusable vessel bioreactors may find it challenging using a matched k_{l} a. The maximum k_{l} a of the BioFlo® 320 reusable bioreactor was 109 h−1, which was approximately twice that of the BioBLU 0.3f single-use vessel. The results here show no overlap in k_{l} a values when both bioreactors were compared and thus conclude that scalability based on k_{l} a is not viable. The maximum k_{l} a of the Eppendorf BioBLU 0.3f single-use reported here was 47 h−1 compared to that of the manufacturer’s value of 2500 h−1, indicating a 53-fold difference. This discrepancy was attributed to the incompatible sulfite addition method used by the manufacturer for estimation.

Toward a codified design of recycled aggregate concrete structures: Background for the new fib Model Code 2020 and Eurocode 2

AbstractThe use of recycled aggregate (RA) to produce recycled aggregate concrete (RAC) is a proven way of decreasing the consumption of natural aggregate (NA) and the landfilling of construction and demolition waste. However, adoption of codes for the design of RAC and RAC structures has been lacking. Within the framework of the new fib Model Code 2020 and Eurocode 2, provisions for RAC can be adopted. Therefore, in this study, a comprehensive and critical review of literature on RAC is performed as well as own meta‐analyses of results. Material properties of RAC and structural behavior of reinforced and prestressed RAC members are analyzed, and based on the findings, code adjustments for RAC are proposed. The results show that, in order to incorporate RAC into design codes, changes are necessary in expressions for physical–mechanical properties (volumetric mass, modulus of elasticity, tensile strength, fracture energy, peak and ultimate strains, shrinkage strain and creep coefficient), durability‐related properties (minimum concrete cover for durability) and structural behavior (shear strength of members not requiring shear reinforcement and deflections). The recommendations are formulated in terms of the total mass substitution ratio of RA that can be classified as Type A according to standard EN 206 for concrete. The results and findings presented herein can provide an important contribution toward the codification of RAC use and the wider utilization of RA in construction.

Дослідження технологічних параметрів сировини трави Ельшольції Стаунтона та трави Ельшольції війчастої для одержання екстрактів

Мета дослідження – визначення технологічних параметрів подрібненої рослинної сировини трави Ельшольції Стаунтона та трави Ельшольції війчастої (Патрена).Наведено результати дослідження технологічних параметрів подрібненої рослинної сировини: трави Ельшольціі Стаунтона (Elsholtzia Stauntonii Benth.) і трави Ельшольції війчастої (Патрена) (Elsholtzia ciliata, Elsholtzia Patrena Thunb.), що необхідні для розробки оптимальної технології отримання екстрактів у лабораторних і промислових умовах: вологiсть, питома, об’ємна та насипна густина сировини, пористiсть, порiзнiсть, вiльний об’єм шару, втрата в масі за висушування, зола загальна та зола нерозчинна в хлористоводневій кислоті, коефіцієнт поглинання. Також було визначено закономірність виходу екстрактивних речовин з обох видів сировини залежно від використаного екстрагента (вода, водно-спиртові суміші).Використовувались інструментальні та гравіметричні методи.У результаті проведених аналізів визначено наступні основні технологічні параметри трави Ельшольціі Стаунтона: питома густина – (1,26 ± 0,08) г/см3, об’ємна густина – (0,46 ± 0,03) г/см3, насипна густина – (0,078 ± 0,005) г/см3, пористість – (0,60 ± 0,04), порізність – (0,76 ± 0,04), вільний об’ємшару – (0,90 ± 0,05), зола загальна – (10,21 ± 0,61)%, зола нерозчинна в хлористоводневій кислоті – (0,58 ± 0,03) %, втрата в масі за висушування – (7,82 ± 0,23) %. Технологічні параметри трави Ельшольції війчастої: питома густина – (0,82 ± 0,05) г/см3, об’ємна густина – (0,30 ± 0,02) г/см3, насипна густина – (0,051 ± 0,003) г/см3, пористість – (0,39 ± 0,02), порізність – (0,52 ± 0,03), вільний об’єм шару – (0,75 ± 0,04), зола загальна – (8,75 ± 0,52) %, зола нерозчинна в хлористоводневій кислоті – (1,20 ± 0,07) %, втрата в масі за висушування – (6,59 ± 0,19) %.Домінуючий вихід екстрактивних речовин з трави Ельшольції Стаунтона спостерігався в разі використання 20 % етанолу як екстрагента, а з трави Ельшольції війчастої – води. Найкраща екстракція речовин з обох видів сировини досягається за співвідношення сировина:екстрагент 1:50.

Effect of nine months of vitamin D supplementation on areal and volumetric bone mass density and bone architecture in graves’ disease: a double-blinded, randomized clinical trial

Effect of nine months of vitamin D supplementation on areal and volumetric bone mass density and bone architecture in graves’ disease: a double-blinded, randomized clinical trial

Performance enhancement studies on evaporative cooling using volumetric heat and mass transfer coefficients

In the present work, a test facility has been set up to observe direct water–air interaction with and without a cellulose cooling pad. Volumetric heat and mass transfer coefficients have been introduced to understand air–water interaction so that contact volume between air and water with and without pad can be used as an effective parameter in the analysis. Experimental values of these parameters have been determined and correlations for Nusselt and Sherwood number have been obtained with a maximum of ±20% error band. Also, a two dimensional, numerical model for water and air interaction in cross flow has been developed based on mass and energy balance as well as convective heat and mass transfer relations. Exit temperature and relative humidity of air, exit temperature of water measured from experiments are compared with those obtained from numerical model and the agreement is generally good with a maximum deviation of 15%.

Evaluation ofEucalyptus trianthaTimber for Structural Applications

Eucalypt wood is an important raw material with multiple uses applied for furniture, pulp and paper, charcoal, biomass, and construction. Sixteen tests were performed to evaluate physical and mechanical properties ofEucalyptus triantha,which could estimate the possibility of utilization of this woody material in construction. In all, about 267 repeats were realized. Two moisture contents were regarded according to the Brazilian and American standard documents: fiber saturation point (30%) and standard dried point (12%). Results were statistically treated with t-test and demonstrated increases in six mechanical properties fromEucalyptus trianthawood species: rupture moduli in perpendicular and parallel compressions and static bending; elasticity moduli in parallel tensile, perpendicular compression, and static bending. Volumetric mass and bulk densities were practically stable. Physical and mechanical properties estimation evinced thatEucalyptus trianthawood can be used in structural elements.

Optimization of the compositions of filling materials containing waste from the development of salt deposits

By the method of mathematical planning of the experiment, the influence of the liquid-solid ratio and the content of waste of salt deposits in magnesia hardening backfill mixtures on their technological properties have been studied. The plan of the experiment has been chosen, the regression equations describing the influence of anhydrite wastes and halite wastes content on the density, spreadability and early setting time of backfillingsolutions, volumetric mass, and 28-day uniaxial compression strength of hardened materials have been obtained. As a result of the statistical analysis of mathematical models, the significance of their coefficients, adequacy, efficiency and the ability to calculate technological characteristics of backfilling mixtures by type and content of man-made raw materials have been estimated.

Oxygen transfer parameters and oxygen uptake rates revisited

This paper provides a review of the essential equations and parameters that are used to design bioreactor aeration systems. Major objectives were to determine if the log-deficit method (LDM) and non-linear regression method (NLRM) yielded different results for the volumetric oxygen mass transfer coefficient (KL a)T and dissolved oxygen (DO) saturation concentration (Cs)T . Another objective was to compare and evaluate oxygen uptake rates (OURs) from the traditional BOD bottle technique with OURs determined from mass balances around completely-mixed activated sludge (CMAS) reactors. Full- and bench-scale, non-steady state reaeration tests were performed using sodium sulfite and cobalt chloride in addition to operating bench-scale CMAS reactors. Full-and bench-scale reaeration testing indicated there was no significant difference in the estimate of (KL a)T in tap water using the LDM or NLRM. Similarly, (Cs)T values were the same for the LDM and NLRM for 70 out of 119 reaeration tests. Actual oxygen uptake rates (AOURs) measured using the BOD bottle technique versus calculated oxygen uptake rates (COURS) were the same for 26 out of 51 data sets evaluated. The alpha-factor (α) increased as the solids retention time (SRT) was increased.

The smallest of the largest: new volumetric body mass estimate and in-vivo restoration of the dwarf elephant Palaeoloxodon ex gr. P. falconeri from Spinagallo Cave (Sicily)

ABSTRACT In the present paper we provide a new estimate of the body mass (BM) of the dwarf elephant Palaeoloxodon ex gr. P. falconeri from Spinagallo cave (Sicily) at three different ontogenetic stages. The new estimates are based on 3D in-vivo restorations, digitally sculpted on anatomically updated photogrammetric models of the skeletons mounted at the Museo Universitario di Scienze della Terra (MUST), University of Rome (Italy). The new method provided an average BM of 249.98 kg for the adult male, 150.47 kg for the adult female, 38.81 kg for the juvenile male and 7.83 kg for the new-born male. Assuming as reliable these estimates, the values previously obtained by applying the regression formulae based on pad circumferences, shoulder height and long bone circumferences substantially would underestimate or overestimate the Spinagallo elephant BM up to 103%. The results obtained indicate that the volumetric methods can be regarded as the most solid and reliable to estimate the BM in those extinct vertebrates for which accurate mounted skeletons are available. This new method is therefore of critical importance for inferring the BM of taxa characterised by peculiar osteological proportions, such as those shown by the insular dwarf elephant analysed in the present work.

Evaluation of engineering properties for waste control of tomato during harvesting and postharvesting.

In Iran, more than 30% of agricultural products turn into waste at different stages from harvesting to consumption. Thus, main factors for performing of this present study are including of: (a) the importance of tomato as an agricultural product and (b) lack of information about reducing waste during tomato processing. In this study, some physical, nutritional, mechanical, and hydrodynamic properties of tomato were measured under standard conditions. Physical properties included the length, width, thickness, mean diameter (geometric and arithmetic), mass, volume, density, sphericity, surface area, and aspect ratio. Also, nutritional properties, moisture, dry matter, pH, total soluble solid (TSS), and titration acidity (TA) of tomato were evaluated. The mechanical properties of tomato (compression and shear) were measured using Instron instrument. The hydrodynamic properties were measured with water in transportation, separation, and sorting of tomatoes. The physical properties were including of length, width, thickness, mass, volume, and geometric and arithmetic mean diameters showed a direct relationship with the size of tomatoes. Also, volumetric mass (density) had an inverse relation with tomato size. Yield point and shear force were obtained 51.27 and 22.20 N, respectively. The nutritional properties such as pH value, TSS, and TA were equal to 4.22, 22.23οBrix, and 2%, respectively. The hydrodynamic properties of tomatoes such as the terminal velocity, the tomatoes' rise time in the water column, the buoyancy force, and the drag force were obtained to be equal to 0.05 m/s, 10.11 S, 0.52 N, and 0.17 N, respectively.