Theoretical research into the motion of combined fertilising and sowing tractor-implement unit

ArticleA mathematical model has been developed representing the motion of a seed drill combination simultaneously performing the preceding banded placement of mineral fertilisers. Such a combined unit comprises the gang-up wheeled tractor, the fertiliser distribution module behind the tractor attached to it with the use of a hitch and intended for the banded placement of mineral fertilisers and the grain drill behind the fertiliser distribution module attached to it also with the use of a hitch. For the components of this dynamic system the coordinates of their centres, their masses as well as the external forces and the reactions of the soil surface applied to them have been determined. In order to use the original dynamic equations in the form of the Lagrange equations of the second kind, the generalised coordinates and kinetic energy relations have been determined. Following the necessary transformations, a system of six differential equations of motion has been generated, which characterises the behaviour of the combined machine unit during its plane-parallel motion. In this system, two line coordinates and one angular coordinate characterise the behaviour of the propulsion and power unit (wheeled tractor), while three angular coordinates characterise the rotations of the draft gear and the centres of the machines integrated with its use

Research into geometric parameters of digging shares used for lifting sugar beet roots from soil with assistance of vibration

Received: February 2nd, 2021 ; Accepted: March 27th, 2021 ; Published: April 7th 2021 ; Correspondence: [email protected] of the important conditions in securing the high quality, when performing the work process of vibrational root lifting, is to avoid damaging the roots. It is obvious that the greatest probability of damaging and even breaking the lifted root arises, when the tool interacts with the root body during their first contact and in the time of the root passing in the throat between the operating shares. The aim of the study is to substantiate the rational design length for the working throat of the vibrational root lifter in its interaction with the sugar beet root while lifting the latter from the soil. As a result of the completed research, the minimum permissible tool oscillation frequencies have been determined for the specific values of the lifter’s translational velocity and the working throat rear part length, at which the event of the vibrational lifting tool gripping the root will occur at least one time. For example, when the length of the lifter’s working throat rear part is equal to 0.1 m and the oscillation frequency is equal to ν = 20.3 Hz, the satisfactory quality of the vibrational root lifting process is ensured, when the velocity of the translational motion performed by the vibrational lifter stays within the range of 1.3–2.55 m s –1 . In order to ensure the good quality of the vibrational root lifting process at the lifter’s translational velocity equal to V = 2.0 m s –1 and the frequency of its tool’s oscillations equal to ν = 10 Hz, it is necessary that the length of the lifter’s working throat rear part is equal to 0.2 m, at a tool oscillation frequency of 6.7 Hz - 0.3 m. As a result of the completed numerical calculations, the permissible values have been determined for the tool oscillation frequency, which can be recommended for the translational velocities within the range of 1.3–2.2 m s –1 , taking into account the limitation set for the tool oscillation frequency by the pre-condition of the guaranteed gripping of each root by the digging shares

Theory of grain mixture particle motion during aspiration separation

The practice of separating grain mixtures with the use of the difference in the aerodynamic properties of their components has proved that the process of separating mixtures in the aspiration separator is the most promising one with regard to the improvement of quality and intensification of production. The authors have developed a new improved design of aspiration seed separators, in which the work process of separating seed material is performed with the use of vibration processes. In this seed material separator, the constant force air flow that acts on the sail members on the central pipe of the separator, when seeds are fed for processing, generates self-excited oscillations in the pipe, which produces centrifugal forces of inertia in the seed feeding system. As a result of the mentioned effect, the propelling force in the process under study substantially increases, accelerating the seeds of different fractions, which differ in their masses, to different velocities. The motion paths of the seed particles change accordingly, heavier particles moving closer to the vertical axis of the aspiration channel, which provides for increasing the efficiency of separation of the seeds of different fractions from each other. In this paper, a new mathematical model is developed for the motion of a seed mixture material particle in the operating space of the separator’s aspiration channel. The mathematical modelling of the process of vibration and aspiration separation has indicated that the separation of the motion paths of the medium and heavy fractions takes place within the range of 20–40 mm; the flying speed of the particles is equal to 3.2–8.0 m s–1, respectively; and their acceleration is equal to 1.8– 3.3 m s–2, which provides the necessary conditions for the accurate and high quality separation into the required fractions. In view of the found differences between the kinematic characteristics of the separated fractions of the grain mixture, the diameter of the pipeline for the medium fraction is to be within the range of 90–100 mm, for the heavy fraction – 50–70 mm

Mathematical model of the movement of a towed machine for cleaning beet tops residues from root crop heads

The work of a tractor-towed machine for cleaning beet top residues from root crop heads, when used with supporting pneumatic wheels, is accompanied with its oscillations in the vertical plane, which has considerable impact on the quality of implementing the technological process. Therefore, the determination of optimal parameters for the cleaning machine, ensuring more stable movement of its cleaning working tool, in the longitudinal-vertical plane first and foremost, is an important task of the mechanization of sugar beet growing industry

Desenvolvimento de um algoritmo baseado em sensores ativos de dossel para recomendação da adubação nitrogenada em taxas variáveis.

O uso de sensores ativos de dossel (ACS) para o ajuste da aplicação localizada em tempo real de fertilizantes nitrogenados é promissor na região do Cerrado, onde grande quantidade de fertilizantes à base de nitrogênio (N) são aplicados em doses uniformes. A vantagem desta técnica comparada com a aplicação tradicional em dose uniforme é principalmente na sincronia da aplicação do N com a época ideal de absorção do nutriente pela planta no decurso da cultura considerando a variabilidade espacial. O objetivo deste estudo foi a geração de um primeiro algoritmo para cálculo da dose de N em milho baseado em leituras destes ACS na região do Cerrado. O experimento foi conduzido em fazenda em 7 locais (durante as safras 2010 e 2011), utilizando faixas longas experimentais com diferentes doses de N (0, 72, 144, 216, 288 and 360 kg N ha-1) com três repetições. Cada uma consistiu de uma faixa de 500m de comprimento em sistema de plantio direto em sequeiro. As medições com os sensores foram realizadas entre os estádios fenológicos de V11 e V13 utilizando um sensor ativo de três bandas (infravermelho próximo, vermelho e vermelho próximo) e um clorofilômetro portátil. A produtividade de grãos foi medida com colhedoras equipadas com monitores de produtividade e DGPS. Foi possível a geração de um primeiro algoritmo para utilização no segundo estágio do projeto, onde serão realizadas as validações comparando com outros procedimentos e abordagens para manejo localizado de N

Mathematical model of interaction of the flexible cleaning blade with root crop head

Modern technologies of harvesting sugar beet tops provide solid preliminary cutting and collecting its harvest at the increased altitude and subsequent additional root crops heads cleaning from tops residues on a root. This last operation also defines quality of root crops of beet before their digging up. Objective of this research is improvement quality of root crops heads cleaning from tops remains, by development of interaction theory of flexible cleaning blade with a spherical surface of root crop head. In the theoretical study were used methods of modeling, higher mathematics and theoretical mechanics, as well as programming and carrying out numerical calculations on the PC. As a result of the conducted theoretical research the interaction theory of flexible cleaning blade with a root crop head surface in the course of its cleaning from tops remains is developed. On the basis of the received differential equations of blade movement which is pivotally mounted on the drive shaft with a horizontal axis of rotation, new mathematical dependences which justify basic parameters of this technology process are given

Long‑Term Safety and Efectiveness of PF‑05280014 (a Trastuzumab Biosimilar) Treatment in Patients with HER2‑Positive Metastatic Breast cancer: Updated Results of a Randomized, Double‑Blind Study

Background PF-05280014 was compared with trastuzumab sourced from the European Union (trastuzumab-EU), each plus paclitaxel, as frst-line treatment for human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-positive metastatic breast cancer in a phase III study. Equivalence between treatment groups was demonstrated. Objective The aim of this study was to report long-term safety and overall survival (OS) over 6 years after the frst patient was screened. Patients and methods Randomized patients received intravenous PF-05280014 or trastuzumab-EU, each plus paclitaxel, until objective disease progression. OS, long-term safety, subgroup safety (patients ongoing after day 378), and time-totreatment discontinuation (TTD) were assessed based on the fnal statistical analysis plan amended for the ad-hoc analyses. Results Of 707 randomized patients (n = 352, PF-05280014; n = 355, trastuzumab-EU), 252 (71.6%) in the PF-05280014 and 251 (70.7%) in the trastuzumab-EU group discontinued treatment due to objective progression. Overall, 451 (63.8%) patients completed the study. Between groups (PF-05280014; trastuzumab-EU), estimated median TTDs were 12.25 and 12.06 months (p = 0.692); 61 (17.3%) and 67 (18.9%) patients died; stratifed hazard ratio for OS was 0.929 (95% confdence interval 0.656–1.316; p = 0.339); estimated survival rates were 82.3 and 77.4% at 2 years and 77.2 and 75.3% at 3 years. The incidences of treatment-emergent adverse events (TEAEs) overall (98.6%; 96.6%) and for grades ≥3 (41.0%; 43.1%) were comparable between groups. In patients (n = 265; n = 264) ongoing after day 378, the incidences of any TEAEs, grade ≥3 TEAEs, and serious TEAEs were comparable between the treatment groups. Conclusion Long-term safety and OS were consistent with previous results and demonstrated no clinically meaningful differences between treatment groups. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01989676 (21 November 2013); and EudraCT: 2013-001352-34 (18 December 2013)

Predicting the occurrence of severe intraventricular hemorrhages and ways to prevent their development in preterm infants

РЕЗЮМЕ Введение: Тяжелые внутрижелудочковые кровоизлияния у недоношенных детей являются одной из основных проблем общественного здравоохранения, поскольку они могут быть причиной развития неврологических и когнитивных нарушений, а также смертельных исходов. Цель: Предупредить развитие внутрижелудочковых кровоизлияний у преждевременно рожденных детей путем разработки алгоритма идентификации младенцев повышенного риска и пакета решений с прогнозирования и предупреждения развития указанной патологии. Материалы и методы: Проведено мультицентровое исследование (2013 – 2016 гг.), включавшее 117 недоношенных детей, которые находились на лечении в 4 лечебных учреждениях Полтавской области (Украина). В группу детей с тяжелыми ВЖК включено 76 детей (вес 1037,8±43,7 г, ГВ 27,1±0,27 недели; девочек 36/47, 37 %), с ВЖК III-IV ст. по Papile L.A., а в группу сравнения – 41 ребенок (вес 1758±59,8; ГВ 32,1±0,30 недели; девочек 15/38, 46 %) без ВЖК. Эффективность применения пакета решений изучалась в Полтавском областном перинатальном центре (высокий уровень, 2000 родов в год) в течение 2014 - 2017 гг. Результаты: При множественном регрессионном анализе достоверными факторами риска развития тяжелых внутрижелудочковых кровоизлияний выявились ГВ (ОШ =0,28; р=0,000), безводный период меньше 24 ч. (ОШ =83,2; р=0,020), введение 0,9% раствора натрия хлорида во время первичных реанимационных мероприятий (ОШ =16,73; р=0,042), эпизоды артериальной гипертензии (ОШ =32,3; р=0,026) и количество лейкоцитов ≥15х109/л в первые сутки (ОШ 17,6; р=0,028). После внедрения пакета решений, который включал: междисциплинарный чек-лист (между акушер-гинекологом и неонатологом), алгоритм идентификации детей с высоким риском развития внутрижелудочковых кровоизлияний, чек-лист мониторинга за состоянием ребенка сразу после рождения, межпрофессиональный чек-лист (между врачом и медсестрой), частота внутрижелудочковых кровоизлияний снизилась с 18,9 % до 11,4 %, р=0,038, а инвалидность с 9,6 % до 2,4 %, р=0,046. Вывод: Пакет решений является эффективным инструментом предупреждения развития тяжелых внутрижелудочковых кровоизлияний у преждевременно рожденных детей; ABSTRACT Introduction: Severe intraventricular hemorrhages (IVH) in preterm infants are one of the major public health problems, as they can cause neurological and cognitive impairment, as well as lethal outcomes. The aim: To prevent the development of IVH in preterm infants by developing an algorithm for identification of high risk infants and a bundle for the prediction and prevention of this pathology. Materials and methods: A multicenter study (2013-2016) was conducted, which included 117 premature babies who were on treatment in 4 medical institutions in the Poltava region (Ukraine). The group of children with severe IVH included 76 children (weight 1037.8 ± 43.7 g, gestational age (GA) 27.1 ± 0.27 weeks; girls 36/47, 37 %), with IVH III-IV st. by Papile L.A. The comparison group consisted of 41 children (weight 1758 ± 59.8, GA 32.1 ± 0.30 weeks, girls 15/38, 46 %) without IVH. The effectiveness of a bundle for the prediction and prevention severe IVH was studied in the Poltava Regional Perinatal Center (high level, 2000 births per year) during 2014 - 2017. Results: The significant risk factors due to multiple regression logistic analysis are: gestational age (OR =0.28, р=0.000), anhydrous period less than 24 hours (OR =83,29; р=0.020), infusion of 0.9% sodium chloride solution during primary resuscitation (OR =16.73; р=0.042), episodes of arterial hypertension (OR =32.3; р=0.026), the number of leukocytes is ≥15x109/l at birth (OR=17.6; р=0.028). After the implementation of the Bundle, which included: an interdisciplinary check-list (between the obstetrician and the neonatologist), the algorithm for identifying children with high risk of IVH, a check-list for monitoring of the state of the child immediately after birth and an interprofessional check-list (between the doctor and the nurse), the IVH incidence decreased from 18.9 % to 11.4 %, p = 0.038, and the disability from 9.6 % to 2.4 %, p = 0.046. Conclusions: The Bundle is an effective tool for preventing of severe IVH in preterm infants