Effects of tillage methods and sowing rates on the grain yields and yield components of rain fed wheat

A field study was conducted on the effect of four primary tillage implements and three seed densities on the grain yield of rain fed wheat (Tajan cultivar), using a drill planting machine with the end wheels. The experimental design was a split plot design in a 4×3 factorial with three replications. In this study, the main plots were the tillage treatments, namely Mouldboard plough, Disc Plough, Chisel Plough, Offset Disc, and sub-plots were seed rates of 350, 400 and 450 seeds.m-2-2 sowing rate, had the highest grain yield of wheat grown in the Golestan province (Iran), a region with an average annual rainfall of 450 mm

Design, fabrication and testing of shea nut shelling machine

Sheanut (Butyrospernum paradoxum) is an oil rich tropical tree crop, which is indigenous to the West African savannah zone. In Nigeria, most of the sheanuts shelling are done manually by rural women and children, which is labour demanding and tedious. This research work was carried out to determine some physical and mechanical properties of sheanut in order to minimize economic losses associated with its processing. The mean values recorded for the physical properties at 25% moisture content (wb) are; major diameter (29.20 mm), intermediate diameter (21.90 mm), minor diameter (15.00 mm), geometric mean diameter (21.90 mm), arithmetic mean diameter (21.20 mm), angle of repose (30.280). The mean values for the mechanical properties are; linear limit force (0.80 kN), linear limit deformation (4.60 mm), bioyield point force (1.40 kN), bioyield point deformation (6.50 mm), rupture point force (2.10 kN) and rupture point deformation (9.60 mm). Based on the physical and mechanical properties, a sheanut shelling machine was developed that is capable of addressing the aforementioned problems. Putting into consideration better shelling and efficient separation of shea nuts so as to encourage more utilization and processing of shea nuts and its products. The machine was designed to be powered by 5 hp electric motor. It was tested to shell, separate and clean sheanuts. The result of the performance evaluation showed that the machine had shelling efficiency of 96%; cleaning efficiency of the machine was 69.56% while the recovery efficiency was 82.7%. The successful development of this machine will reduce drudgery and time taken associated with the traditional method of sheanut shelling and therefore will increase productivity and utilization

Hybrid Palm Oil Mills Maintenance System

This paper proposes a technique that enhances snapshot model for cause of failure and decision analysis in order to easily assist maintenance engineers during identification and definition of the actual maintenance problem. The technique is a hybrid of failure mode, effect and criticality analysis, information technology and decision analysis into the snapshot model. A tool that automates the hybrid of snapshot modelling for cause of failure and decision analysis is also developed. This tool aims to ensure maintenance engineers can conduct snapshot modelling with little or without the help of operation research experts to facilitate in the cause of failure and decision analysis process

Knowledge Discovery Database (KDD)-Data Mining Application in Transportation

In this paper, an understanding and a review of data mining (DM) development and its applications in logistics and specifically transportation are highlighted. Even though data mining has been successful in becoming a major component of various business processes and applications, the benefits and real-world expectations are very important to consider. It is also surprising to note that very little is known to date about the usefulness of applying data mining in transport related research. From the literature, the frameworks for carrying out knowledge discovery and data mining have been revised over the years to meet the business expectations. In this paper, we apply CRISP-DM for formulating effective tire maintenance strategy within the context of a Malaysian's logistics company. The results of applying CRISP-DM for tire maintenance decisions are presented and discussed

Clonal Strain Persistence of Candida albicans Isolates from Chronic Mucocutaneous Candidiasis Patients

Funding: The study was supported by the MRC for a PhD studentship for AM and the Wellcome Trust for funding (086827, 075470, 097377 & 101873). Acknowledgments We thank Professor Frank Odds for MLST central database curation and useful discussions.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Empirical algorithm to estimate the average cosine of underwater light field at 490 nm

The average cosine of the underwater light field μ(λ), where λ is the wavelength, is an apparent optical property (AOP) that describes the angular distribution of radiance at a given point in water. Here, we present a simple algorithm to determine the average cosine at 490 nm, μ(490), which was developed using the measured optical parameters from the eastern Arabian Sea and coastal waters off Goa. The algorithm is validated using measured optical parameters. This algorithm, based on a single optical parameter, performed better compared with other empirical algorithms in determining the average cosine of underwater light field. The absorption coefficient at 490 nm, derived as an application of μ(490), compared well with the synthetic optical data and optical data measured from other regions