7 research outputs found
Design and Simulation of 2×2Micro Strip Circular Patch Antenna Array at 28 GHz for 5G Mobile Station Application
This paper propose the design and simulation of 2  circular patch antenna array working at 28 GHz by using four inset feed micro strip circular patch antennas to achieve beam forming with directivity around 13dB which is required to overcome part of high path loss challenge for high data rate mm-5G mobile station application. Four element 2x2 array consists of two 1x2 circular patch antenna arrays based on power divider and quarter wavelength transition lines as a matching circuits. The designed antenna array is simulated on Rogers RT 5880 dielectric substrate with properties of 0.5mm thickness, and dielectric constant =2.2 by using Computer System Technology (CST) software. The performances in terms of return loss, 3D–radiation pattern are evaluated at 28 GHz frequency band. The design also include the possibility of inserting four identical 2x2 antenna arrays at four edges of mobile station substrate to achieve broad space coverage by steering the beams of the mobile station arrays
Influence of body weight at hatching and inclusion of oat hulls in the diet on growth performance and digestive tract traits of brown-egg laying pullets from 0 to 16 wk of age
The influence of pre-incubated weight of eggs (EW) laid by 24 wk-old brown layer breeders and the inclusion (wt:wt) of 3% oat hulls (OH) in the diet on growth performance and gastrointestinal tract (GIT) traits were studied in pullets reared under stressful conditions from hatching to 16 wk of age. The initial BW of the pullets resulting from these eggs was of 29.9 and 38.2 g for the 2 extreme groups. The stress applied consisted in using a prolonged (8 h) transport time from the hatchery to the experimental facility, reducing barn temperature at night from placement to 7 d of age, and late beak trimming of the pullets (18 d). Growth performance, pullet uniformity, and GIT traits were measured by period (0 to 5 wk, 5 to 10 wk, and 10 to 16 wk of age) and cumulatively. Data were analyzed as a completely randomized design with treatments organized as a 7 × 2 factorial, with 7 groups of pullets that differed on pre-hatched EW (47 to 54 g with 1 g difference between groups) and 2 levels of OH inclusion (0 vs. 3%). Effects of EW on the variables studied were partitioned into linear and quadratic components. The stress conditions applied affected pullet growth, with BW at 5 wk of age that were as an average 27% lower than recommended by the genetic company (269 g vs. 367 g). Neither initial EW nor OH inclusion affected any of the variables studied. In summary, EW of young breeders did not affect growth performance, BW uniformity, or GIT traits of the resulting pullets from 0 to 16 wk of age. Eggs bigger than 47 g laid by young breeders can produce high quality pullets. Pullets fed diets with 3% OH performed equally to pullets fed the control diet, suggesting that the amount of fiber can be increased during the rearing period of brown egg pullet
Influence of the inclusion of co-products of the soy oil industry in poultry diets on nutrient digestibility, growth performance, and production
The general objective of this thesis was to study the effect of inclusion of different co-products from the bioenergy industry in poultry diets on nutrient digestibility, growth performance, and production. To this end, the influence of glycerin, lecithins, and re-esterified oil from soy oil industry, were developed in three studies. In first study (chapter 2), the influence of source and level of inclusion of raw glycerin (GLYC) in the diet on growth performance, digestive traits, total tract apparent retention (TTAR), and apparent ileal digestibility of nutrients was studied in broilers from 1 to 21 d of age. There was a control diet based on corn and soybean meal and 8 additional diets that formed a 2 × 4 factorial with 2 sources of GLYC and 4 levels of inclusion (2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10%). The GLYC used were obtained from the same original batch of soy oil that was dried under different processing conditions and contained 87.5 or 81.6% glycerol, respectively. Type of processing of the GLYC did not affect any of the variables studied except DM and organic matter retention (P < 0.05) that was higher for the 87.5% glycerol diet. From d 1 to 21, feed conversion ratio (FCR) improved linearly (L, P ≤ 0.01) as the GLYC content of the diet increased, but ADG was not affected. On d 21, the relative weight (% BW) of the liver and the digestive tract increased (L, P < 0.01) as the level of GLYC in the diet increased, but lipid concentration in the liver was not affected. The TTAR of DM and organic matter increased quadratically (Q, P < 0.05) and the AMEn content of the diet increased linearly (L, P < 0.01) with increases in dietary GLYC. Also, the apparent ileal digestibility of DM (L, P < 0.05; Q, P = 0.07) and gross energy (L, P < 0.01) increased as the GLYC content of the diet increased. It is concluded that raw GLYC from the biodiesel industry can be used efficiently, up to 10% of the diet, as a source of energy for broilers from 1 to 21 d of age and that the energy content of well-processed raw GLYC depends primarily on its glycerol content. In second study (chapter 3), the effects of the inclusion of raw glycerin (GLYC) and lecithin in the diet on egg production, egg quality and total tract apparent retention (TTAR) of dietary components was studied in brown egg-laying hens from 23 to 51 wk of age. The experimental design was completely randomized with six diets combined as a 2 × 3 factorial with two levels of GLYC (0 vs.70 g/kg) and three animal fat to lecithin ratios (40:0, 20:20 and 0:40 g/kg). Each treatment was replicated eight times and the experimental unit was a cage with ten hens. Production was recorded by replicate every 28-d period and cumulatively. For the entire experiment, the inclusion of GLYC in the diet hindered feed conversion ratio per kilogram of eggs (2.071vs. 2.039; P < 0.05) but did not affect any of the other production or egg quality traits studied. The replacement of animal fat by lecithin (40:0, 20:20 and 0:40 g/kg) increased egg weight(60.1, 60.7 and 61.8 g, respectively; P < 0.001) and egg mass production (56.8, 57.5 and58.8 g/d, respectively; P < 0.01) and improved yolk color as measured by the DSM color fan (9.2, 9.2 and 9.5, respectively; P < 0.001) and feed conversion ratio per kilogram of eggs(2.072, 2.068 and 2.027, respectively; P < 0.05). Feed intake, egg production and body weight gain, however, were not affected. The inclusion of GLYC in the diet did not affect nutrient retention but lecithin inclusion improved TTAR of dry matter (P < 0.05), organic matter (P < 0.05), ether extract (P < 0.001) and gross energy (P < 0.001). In summary, the inclusion of 70 g glycerol/kg diet hindered feed conversion ratio per kilogram of eggs but did not affect any other production or digestibility trait. The replacement of animal fat by lecithin improved egg weight, egg yolk color and nutrient digestibility. Consequently, lecithin can be used as a lipid source in laying hen diets with beneficial effects on egg production. In third study (chapter 4), the apparent metabolizable energy (AME) of traditional and re-esterified lipid sources and the effects of its inclusion in the diet on nutrient retention and broilers performance were studied in two experiments (Exp) from 7 to 21 d of age. In Exp 1 there was a control diet without any supplemental fat and three extra diets that included 25 g/kg of soy oil (SO), re-esterified monoacylglycerol (RMAG) or re-esterified triacylglycerol (RTAG) at the expense (wt:wt) of the control diet. The gross energy (GE, MJ/kg) of the oils was 39.66, 38.06 and 38.56, respectively. The AME of the lipid sources was determined by two methods: a) multiplying its GE by the digestibility of the ether extract (EE) of their respective diets and b) by difference between the AME of the control and the corresponding experimental diet. Nutrient retention was not affected by fat supplementation, except for EE that was higher for the oil supplemented diets than for the control diet (P < 0.001). The AME of the SO, RMAG and RTAG was 35.44, 33.89 and 34.05 MJ/kg when measured directly from digestibility data and 37.70, 35.68 and 35.83 MJ/kg when calculated by difference between the control and the oil containing diet. Fat supplementation improved feed to gain ratio (P Ë‚ 0.01) from 7 to 21 d of age, with effects being more pronounced for SO than for RMAG or RTAG. In Exp 2, the design was the same than in Exp 1 but the experimental diets included 50 g/kg of SO, acidulated soapstocks (ASO), lard, RMAG, RTAG or a 20:80 mixture of SO and RMAG (SO-RMAG). The AME of the supplemental fats was greater for the SO, SO-RMAG and lard than for the RMAG, with RTAG and ASO being intermediate (P < 0.01). Fat inclusion improved the retention of all nutrients. The AME content of the supplemental fats was higher when calculated by difference between the AME of the control and the fat containing diet than when measured directly from the GE and EE digestibility data and higher when included at 50 g/kg than when included at 25 g/kg. Supplemental fat improved ADG and F:G of the broilers, irrespective of the lipid source used (P Ë‚ 0.001). In conclusion, the re-esterified monoacylglycerol and triacylglycerol oils were well digested by broilers, with AME values within the range of those of traditional fat sources. RESUMEN El objetivo general de esta Tesis doctoral fue estudiar la influencia de la inclusión de co-productos de la industria bioenergética en piensos para aves sobre la digestibilidad de los nutrientes, los rendimientos productivos y la producción. A este respecto, la influencia de glicerina, lecitina, y los aceites re-esterificados producidos a partir de aceite de soja, se llevaron a cabo tres estudios. En el primer estudio (capÃtulo 2) se estudió la influencia de la fuente y el nivel de inclusión de la glicerina bruta (GLYC) en el pienso sobre los parámetros productivos, las caracterÃsticas del tracto digestivo, la retención de nutrientes, y la digestibilidad ileal aparente de los nutrientes en pollos de 1 a 21 d de edad. Se formularon un pienso control a base de maÃz y harina de soja y 8 piensos adicionales que siguiendo un diseño factorial 2 × 4 con 2 fuentes de GLYC y 4 niveles de inclusión (2.5, 5.0, 7.5, y 10%). El GLYC utilizado se obtuvo a partir del mismo lote original de aceite de soja que se secó bajo diferentes condiciones de procesado y contenÃa 87,5 u 81,6% de glicerol, respectivamente. El tipo de procesado de la GLYC no afectó a ninguna de las variables estudiadas, excepto a la retención de materia seca y materia orgánica (P < 0,05) que fue mayor para la pienso de glicerol 87,5%. De 1 a 21 d de edad, el Ãndice de conversión (IC) mejoró de forma lineal (L, P ≤ 0,01) con el aumento de GLYC del pienso, pero la ganancia media diaria no se vio afectada. A los 21 d, el peso relativo del hÃgado y del tracto digestivo aumentó de manera lineal con el aumento de GLYC en el pienso (L, P <0,01), pero la concentración de lÃpidos en el hÃgado no se vio afectada. La retención de la materia seca (MS) y materia orgánica (MO) aumentó de forma cuadrática (Q, P <0,05) con la inclusión de GLYC, mientras que el contenido de la energÃa metabolizable aparente, corregida en nitrógeno (EMAn) lo hizo de manera lineal (L, P <0.01). Además, la digestibilidad ileal aparente de la MS (L, P <0,05; Q, P = 0,07) y la energÃa bruta (EB) (L, P <0,01) aumentaron con el incremento de GLYC del pienso. Se concluye que GLYC obtenido a partir de la industria del biodiesel se puede utilizar de manera eficiente, hasta un nivel de incorporación en la dieta del 10%, como fuente de energÃa para los pollos de 1-21 dÃas de edad y que el contenido de energÃa de GLYC depende principalmente de su contenido de glicerol. En el segundo estudio (capÃtulo 3) se estudió el efecto de la inclusión de la glicerina bruta (GLYC) y la lecitina de soja en el pienso sobre la producción y calidad del huevo y la retención de nutrientes en gallinas ponedoras rubias de 23 a 51 semanas de edad. El experimento siguió un diseño completamente al azar con 6 piensos organizados en un factorial 2x3 con dos niveles de glicerina (0 vs 70 g/kg) y 3 ratios grasa animal: lecitina (40:0, 20:20 y 0:40 g/kg). Cada tratamiento se repitió 8 veces y la unidad experimental fue la jaula con diez gallinas. La producción fue estudiada por replica cada periodo de 28 dÃas y de forma acumulativa. Durante todo el experimento, la inclusión de GLYC en el pienso empeoró el IC por kilogramo de huevos (2.071vs 2.039; P <0,05), pero no afectó a ninguno de los otros parámetros de producción o calidad de huevo del estudiado. El reemplazo de la grasa animal por lecitina (40:0, 20:20 y 0:40 g/kg) aumentó el peso del huevo (60,1, 60,7 y 61,8 g, respectivamente; P <0,001), la masa del huevo (56.8, 57.5 y 58.8 g / d, respectivamente; P <0,01) y mejoró el color de la yema medido mediante el abanico de color DSM (9.2, 9.2 y 9.5, respectivamente, P <0,001) y el IC por kilogramo de huevos (2.072, 2.068 y 2.027, respectivamente ; P <0,05). Sin embargo, el consumo de pienso, la producción de huevos y la ganancia de peso, no se vieron afectados. La inclusión de GLYC en el pienso no afectó a la retención de nutrientes, mientras que la inclusión de lecitina mejoró la retención de MS (P <0,05), MO (P <0,05), extracto etéreo (EE) (P <0,001) y EB (P <0,001). En resumen, la inclusión de 70 g de glicerol/kg de pienso empeoró el IC por kilogramo de huevos, pero no afectó a ningún otro parámetro productivo o a la digestibilidad. El reemplazo de la grasa animal por lecitina mejoró el peso del huevo, el color de la yema de huevo y la digestibilidad de los nutrientes. En consecuencia, la lecitina se puede usar como una fuente de lÃpidos en piensos de gallinas ponedoras con efectos beneficiosos sobre la producción de huevo. En el tercer estudio (capÃtulo 4) la energÃa metabolizable aparente (EMA) de fuentes de lÃpidos tradicionales y re-esterificados y los efectos de su inclusión en el pienso sobre la retención de nutrientes y el rendimiento de los pollos fueron estudiados en dos experimentos (Exp) de 7 a 21 dÃas de edad. En el Exp 1 se formularon un pienso control sin ningún tipo de grasa suplementaria y tres piensos adicionales que incluyeron 25 g/kg de aceite de soja (AS), monoacilglicerol reesterificado (RMAG) o triacilglicerol reesterificado (RTAG) a expensas (wt:wt) del pienso control. La EB (MJ/kg) de los aceites fue 39.66, 38.06 y 38.56, para AS, RMAG y RTAG respectivamente. La EMA de las fuentes de lÃpidos se determinó mediante dos métodos: a) multiplicando la EB por la digestibilidad del EE de sus respectivos piensos y b) por diferencia entre el EMA del pienso control y el pienso experimental correspondiente. La retención de nutrientes no se vio afectada por la administración de suplementos de grasa, a excepción de la digestibilidad del EE que fue mayor para las piensos de aceite suplementados que para el pienso control (P <0,001). La EMA de la AS, RMAG y RTAG fue 35.44, 33.89 y 34.05 MJ/kg, respectivamente, cuando se determinó directamente de los datos de digestibilidad y 37.70, 35.68 y 35.83 MJ/kg cuando se calculó por diferencia entre el pienso control y el pienso que contenÃa aceite. La suplementación con grasas mejoró el IC (P Ë‚ 0,01) de 7 a 21 dÃas de edad, con efectos más marcados para los pollos que consumieron los pienso que contenÃan AS que para aquellos que consumieron RMAG o RTAG. En el experimento 2, el diseño fue el mismo que en el Exp 1, pero los piensos experimentales incluyeron 50 g/kg de AS, oleÃnas aciduladas, manteca, RMAG, RTAG o mezcla 20:80 de AS y RMAG (AS-RMAG). La EMA de las grasas suplementadas fue mayor para el AS, AS-RMAG y manteca que para la RMAG, con RTAG y oleÃnas aciduladas mostrando valores intermedios (P < 0,01). La inclusión de grasa mejoró la retención de todos los nutrientes. El contenido de EMA de las grasas suplementadas fue mayor cuando se calculó por diferencia entre el EMA del pienso control y del pienso que contenÃa la grasa que cuando se determinó directamente de los datos de digestibilidad de la EB y del EE y más alta cuando se incluyó 50 g/kg que cuando se incluyó 25 g/kg. La grasa suplementaria mejoró la ganancia media diaria y el IC de los pollos, con independencia de la fuente de lÃpidos utilizada (P Ë‚ 0.001). En conclusión, los aceite re-esterificados de monoacilglicerol y triacilglicerol fueron bien digeridos por los pollos, aportando valores de EMA similares a los de fuentes de grasa tradicionales
Mechanical and Physical Properties of Short Carbon Fiber and Nanofiller-Reinforced Polypropylene Hybrid Nanocomposites
The effect of various combinations of filler materials on the performance of polypropylene (PP)-based composites was investigated. PP in particulate form was used as the matrix. Milled short carbon fiber (SCF) micro-size, graphite nano-platelet (GNP), and titanium dioxide nanoparticles (nTiO2) were used as fillers. These fillers were incorporated in the polymer matrix to produce mono-filler (PP/SCF and PP/nanofiller) and hybrid composites. Hybrid composites consist of PP/10SCF/GNP, PP/10SCF/nTiO2, and PP/10SCF/GNP/nTiO2. The effect of the addition of SCF, GNP, and nTiO2 on PP-based composites was investigated by analyzing their morphological, mechanical, and physical properties. The addition of mono-filler to the PP matrix improved the mechanical properties of the composites when compared to the neat PP. The ultimate tensile strength (UTS), flexural modulus, flexural strength, and impact toughness of the hybrid composites with 15 wt % total loading of fillers, were higher than that of mono-filler composites with 15 wt % SCF (PP/15SCF). A maximum increase of 20% in the flexural modulus was observed in the hybrid composite with 10 wt % of SCF with the additional of 2.5 wt % GNP and 2.5 wt % nTiO2 when compared to PP/15SCF composite. The addition of 2.5 wt % nTiO2 to the 10 wt % SCF reinforced PP, resulted in increasing the strain at break by 15% when compared to the PP/10SCF composite. A scanning electron microscope image of the PP/10SCF composite with the addition of GNP improved the interfacial bonding between PP and SCF compared with PP/SCF alone. A decrease in the melt flow index (MFI) was observed for all compositions. However, hybrid composites showed a higher decrease in MFI
Effect of the Matrix Melt Flow Index and Fillers on Mechanical Properties of Polypropylene-Based Composites
In this work, mechanical properties of reinforced polypropylene composites were studied. PP in particulates shape with two different melt flow indexes (MFI) was used, i.e., 3 and 23 g/10 min, namely PP3 and PP23, respectively. Three different materials, namely TiO2 nanoparticle (nTiO2, spherical, 0D), micro-size short carbon fiber (SCF, fiber, 1D), and graphite nanoplatelet (GNP, sheet, 2D), were used as reinforcements/fillers. PP and fillers (in the desired composition) were first pre-mixed by a mechanical mixer. The mixture was then fed to a co-rotating twin-screw extruder for melt-compounding, followed by injection molding to fabricate testing samples. The microstructure and fracture surface of the composites were observed by a scanning electron microscope (SEM). Additionally, tensile, flexural, impact, and hardness tests were conducted to evaluate their mechanical properties. The SEM images stipulate that PP23 had better adhesion and dispersion with the fillers. The results from the SEM images support the mechanical testing results. PP23 composites exhibited more significant improvement in mechanical properties in comparison to PP3. At 5 wt. % filler loading, PP/GNP composite exhibited a greater improvement in mechanical properties compared with two other composites, which are PP/SCF and PP/nTiO2 composites for both PPs
Ductile to Brittle Transition of Short Carbon Fiber-Reinforced Polypropylene Composites
In this work, the ductile to brittle transition behavior of short carbon fiber (SCF)-reinforced polypropylene (PP) composite is studied. Initially, the SCF-reinforced PP composites with a varying composition of SCF in the range of 0–40 wt% loading were first melt-mixed in a twin-screw extruder and later injection-molded to produce the testing samples. The experimental results indicate that with an increase in SCF loading, an increase in the tensile modulus and strength was observed along with a rapid decrease in the values of strain at break. A sudden decrease in strain at break was observed in composites in the range of 10–15 wt% SCF. To further study the sudden decrease in strain at break, an investigation was performed on composites that contained 10–15 wt% of SCF loading, starting from 10 wt% with a 1% increment to 15 wt% of SCF. The results of this study show that a decrease in strain at break was not linear; on the contrary, it was accompanied by a ductile to brittle transition, which specifically occurred in the range of 12–13 wt% of SCF loading and then continued to decrease with an increase in SCF loading
The Use of Vacuum Residue as a Potential Rejuvenator in Reclaimed Asphalt Pavement: Physical, Rheological, and Mechanical Traits Analysis
Asphalt recycling technology with a high content of reclaimed asphalt pavement (RAP) is becoming more important as the price of paving materials rises and sustainable development and environmental conservation rules become more rigorous. Nevertheless, road authorities in numerous countries still prohibit the utilisation of RAP in asphalt mixes due to the negative impacts of RAP on the performance of asphalt mixtures. Consequently, different rejuvenators have been introduced to reinstate the original attributes of aged asphalt to resolve this issue. This study incorporated vacuum residue (VR) into mixtures with 40% RAP. The physical, rheological, and mechanical traits of the resultant samples were assessed. The results show that the 7.5% VR rejuvenator minimised the RAP asphalt ageing impact. Furthermore, the rejuvenating agent demonstrated physical and rheological rehabilitative benefits for the aged asphalt. The mechanical attributes of the rejuvenated samples were also enhanced compared to the virgin asphalt (VA) specimens