Tracer gas technique, air velocity measurement and natural ventilation method for estimating ventilation rates through naturally ventilated barns

Naturally ventilated barns have the advantage of providing an energy-efficient and low-noise micro-environment for animals.  Such barns are very common, especially for cattle, which are a major source of ammonia and methane emissions as well as other airborne pollutants. Emission fluxes are calculated as the product of the ventilation rate (VR) and the gas concentration.  The VR of naturally ventilated barns are directly influenced by atmospheric conditions.  Therefore, the estimation of VR involves high uncertainties; furthermore, there is no reference method for VR estimation.  For these reasons, three different methods were investigated to estimate VR through naturally ventilated dairy barns: (1) the tracer gas technique, using radioactive isotope Krypton-85 (85Kr), (2) the measurement of the air velocity through the barn openings, and (3) the natural ventilation method.  The investigations were performed in two naturally ventilated dairy barns (each with a volume of 5,670 m3) during mild (T≥17℃) and cold weather (T<17℃) conditions.  The VR ranged between 48,000 and 475,000 m3/h.  There was a significant (p<0.01) correlation between all three methods for barn A (Pearson’s correlation coefficient 0.59-0.86).  For barn B only, the tracer gas and the natural ventilation method showed a significant (p=0.03) correlation (Pearson’s correlation coefficient 0.62).  The season (mild or cold) and the VR estimation method both had a significant (p<0.03) effect on the estimated VR for both barns.  The outside wind speed had a significant (p<0.005) effect on the estimated VR for barn A.  For barn B, this effect was not significant (p=0.052).  The tracer gas technique used has the advantage of measuring the tracer with high resolution in time (1 Hz) and space (18 or more measured points).Keywords: Natural ventilation, tracer gas technique, radioactive isotope 85Kr, air velocity, air exchange rate, dairy barn  &nbsp

The relationship between Thiol/disulfide homeostasis and endometrial hyperplasia in patients with abnormal uterine bleeding/

Introduction: The role of oxidative stress and antioxidant capacity in the development of endometrial hyperplasia (EH) is controversial. Aim: The study aimed to evaluate Thiol/disulfide Homeostasis and ischemia modified albumin (IMA) levels in patients with EH without atypia. Materials and Methods: In this prospective case-control study, patients with EH without atypia (HP group) (n=28), patients with nonhyperplasia (proliferative/secretory/irregular proliferative/irregular secretory endometrium) (non-HP group) (n=28), and 28 healthy women (control group) were included. The patient's clinical characteristics, serum Thiol/disulfide parameters, and IMA levels were compared between groups. Results: A total of 84 patients were included in the study. Patients’ mean age, BMI, and mean native thiol (-SH-), total thiol (-SH-+-SS-), disulfide (-SS-), and IMA levels were similar among the three groups. The -SS- /-SH- ratio was higher in the HP group than the non-HP group. -SS- /-SH-+-SS- ratio was higher in the HP group vs. the other two groups. The -SS- /-SH-+-SS ratio was higher in the HP group vs. the non-HP group. -SH-/ -SH-+-SS- ratio was lower in the HP group than in the non-HP group. ET was greater in the HP group than in the non-HP and control groups. ET was also significantly greater in the non-HP group vs. in the control group. -SS-/-SH- ratio was found to be predictive with 64% sensitivity and 68% specificity for EH (area under curve = 0.672, p = 0.01). Conclusion and Suggestions: The dynamic thiol/disulfide balance shifted to the disulfide side in women with endometrial hyperplasia

Effects of Cloud Computing on Accounting Profession

anemonInformation technologies which have become a significant part of our daily life have been more important in many areas such as education, business world and health. The importance of information technologies is greater by maintaining competitiveness, reducing costs and reaching global markets. As in all departments of companies, new business models have emerged within the scope of data mining in using and processing of the data in the accounting department. This situation means that cloud computing will become more widespread. In our study, the importance and effects of cloud computing in accounting were indicated. It is aimed that business managers in a global competitive environment know and choose cloud accounting by comparing the differences between traditional accounting and cloud computing.Güncel yaşantımızın önemli bir parçası haline gelen bilişim teknolojileri; eğitim, iş dünyası, sağlık gibi pek çok alanda gün geçtikçe önemini artırmaktadır. Bilişim Teknolojileri işletmeler açısından özellikle rekabet gücünü koruyabilmesi, maliyetlerin düşürülmesi ve global pazarlara erişilmesi bakımından taşıdığı önem hiç şüphesiz daha da büyüktür. İşletmelerin tüm bölümlerinde olduğu gibi muhasebe bölümünde de verilerin kullanımı ve işlenmesinde veri madenciliği kapsamında yeni iş modelleri ortaya çıkmıştır. Bu durum, bulut bilişimin gün geçtikçe daha fazla yaygınlaşacağı anlamını taşımaktadır. Çalışmamızda muhasebe alanında bulut bilişimin önemi ve etkileri gösterilmeye çalışılmış, geleneksel muhasebe ile bulut bilişim arasındaki farklılıklar ortaya koyularak, global rekabet ortamında yer alan işletme yöneticilerinin bulut muhasebe yazılımları ile ilgili bilgi sahibi olmaları ve doğru yazılımı seçmeleri hedeflenmiştir.63206

Characterisation of ventilation rate in naturally-ventilated buildings using heat dissipation from a line source

To determine air exchange in naturally-ventilated buildings, Eren Özcan, Vranken, and Berckmans (2009) used heat dissipation from a heat source close to an inlet to measure ventilation rate through the opening. Because their method used a bulky heat source, which caused an obstruction to airflow, they were unable to cover the whole of the inlet opening, and therefore, an improved technique was required. This study extended the earlier method to investigate heat dissipation by using a line heat source that covered the whole vertical extent of the inlet. Steady state experiments were performed with a constant heat source, and dynamic experiments, where the heat source was turned off during the ventilation process. A two-dimensional temperature distribution around the ventilation opening was obtained by infrared thermal imaging. Using data-based mechanistic approach, well-mixed temperature zones were used to predict the volumetric concentration of fresh air supply, and to investigate the effect of buoyancy on the heat plume. Results obtained revealed that ventilation rate can be predicted using data-based mechanistic approach with an error of 8%. © 2014 IAgrE.status: publishe

INTERMITTENT MEASUREMENTS TO ESTIMATE AMMONIA EMISSIONS FROM MANURE STORAGE SYSTEMS

The production of animals must comply with several environmental requirements. Monitoring ammonia emissions from agr icultural buildings and storage systems is one of them. To reduce cost, techniques were developed that use inexpensive measuring equipment and do not require long periods of measurements, a technique based on intermittent measurements of amm onia was developed for mechanically ventilated barns. More specifically, e asily-measured variables, such as ventilation rate, temperature, and animal weight are measured continuously, while the ammonia emission rate is measured intermittently at six well-selected days per year. Mathematical modelling techniques are subsequently used to estimate the ammonia emission rate online. The intermittent ammonia meas urements are used to regularly calibrate the model. However, for manure stores, thi s technique has never been applied due to lack of a reliable ventilation rate measurem ent system. The objective of this paper is to introduce a procedure to determine the ammonia emissions from manure storage systems in the field, based on intermittent measurements of the ammonia emission rate. In this study, an experimental tank was filled with fattening pig slurry. One was covered with a mechanically ventilated cover. Based on the knowledge that ammonia emissions are strongly related to air and m anure temperature, a technique was developed to estimate ammonia emissions online. A steady-state regression model was used to calculate the cumulative ammonia emissio ns over the complete measurement period with 9% accuracy. This paper demo nstrates the possibilities of model-based procedures for the development of an in expensive system for determination of ammonia emissions

REFERENCE PROCEDURES FOR THE MEASUREMENT OF GASEOUS EMISSIONS FROM LIVESTOCK HOUSES AND STORES OF ANIMAL MANURE

In the ten years before the EMILI 2012 symposium, g aseous losses from animal farms became increasingly important in the m edia. The paradox of this tendency was the great number of publications, scientific or not, even though the emissions of most animal farms had never been measured. Therefor e, the development of reference tools to measure greenhouse gas and ammonia emissio ns was important. Such tools allow recognition and remuneration of the best pract ices and equipment. Accordingly, ADEME funded an international project associating sev eral research and development organizations involved with the animal production c hain. The project proposed an initial set of 18 procedures to measure ammonia and greenho use gas emissions from animal houses and manure stores. These were adapted to the diversity of animal farms found throughout the world. Some methods were compared duri ng a “building” and a “liquid manure” experiment. Results showed a high difference among methods (ca. 80%), much higher than the estimated uncertainty. Associat ing independent emission measurements, together with a mass balance of the sy stem, is necessary for the reliability of further results. However, previously p ublished references lack uncertainty estimates of measurements that conform to GUM 2008. I n the coming years, this is one of the major concerns for measuring emission factor s. Uncertainty estimates should depend on the measurand (temporal: hourly, per batc h, yearly; spatial: animal, house, national) and include the uncertainties associated with system representativity and temporal interpolation