Datos adicionales sobre Haplozetes fusifer (Berlese, 1908) (Acari, Oribatida, Haplozetidae) de Irán

An oribatid mite of the family Haplozetidae, Haplozetes fusifer (Berlese, 1908) is redescribed on the basis of Iranian materials, including the first detailed descriptions of the gnathosoma and legs.Se redescribe un ácaro oribátido de la familia Haplozetidae, Haplozetes fusifer (Berlese, 1908), sobre la base de material iraní, incluyendo las primeras descripciones detalladas del gnatosoma y las patas

Decarbonising universities: Case study of the University of Exeter’s green strategy plans based on analysing its energy demand in 2012–2020

This is the final version. Available on open access from MDPI via the DOI in this record. This study investigates the carbon footprint of the University of Exeter by analysing its energy consumption between 2012 and 2020 to assess its current standing in the process of achieving carbon neutrality. The study then explores the possible methods of reaching this target in line with the University of Exeter’s Environment & Climate Emergency Policy Statement. The leading part of the statement is as follows: “All Campus activities/operations shall have a carbon net zero impact and or result in environmental gain by 2030 and aims to be carbon net zero by 2050 (accounting for all associated activities and Scope 3 footprint)”. Using methods of energy consumption reduction, a new carbon footprint for Scope 1 and 2 emissions was calculated for the year 2030, which included phasing out oil and gas and swapping out inefficient systems, such as old heating or lighting. This reduced the emissions from 17.24 ktCO2e to 3.34 ktCO2e also greatly helped by the reduction in electricity grid conversion factors. The remaining emissions would be reduced further to net zero by on site solar and offsite wind investment

Analysing the performance of liquid cooling designs in cylindrical lithiumion batteries

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via the DOI in this recordThe thermal management of batteries for use in electric and hybrid vehicles is vital for safe operation and performance in all climates. Lithium-ion batteries are the focus of the electric vehicle market due to their high power density and life cycle longevity. To investigate the performance of two liquid cooling designs for lithium-ion battery packs, a series of numerical models were created. The effects of channel number, hole diameter, mass flow rate and inlet locations are investigated on a mini channel-cooled cylinder (MCC) and a channel-cooled heat sink (CCHS); those being the two most efficient concepts. The results show that the maximum temperature can be controlled to under 313 K for both designs with mass flow rates over 5E-05 kg/s, and maximum temperature variation can be controlled to less than 3.15 K for both designs. Considering both maximum temperature and temperature uniformity, the MCC design provides superior performance to the CCHS. The maximum temperature of the MCC is less than that of the CCHS but the temperature is less uniform. The MCC is a more complex design and so would incur greater manufacturing costs. But, it increases the efficiency of such systems for the rechargeable battery packs of the electric vehicle industry

Seminatural propagation and rearing of roach (Rutilus rutilus caspicus)

A research experiment was conducted to provide a protocol for seminatural propagation and rearing of Roach up to release size. The attempt was made to combat the declining trend in the population size and catch of the fish in the Caspian Sea. The optimum temperature for spawning brood-stocks lasts from middle March to late April when the ambient temperature range is 12-17°C. During the four months research period, brood stocks were caught in the estuary of the Gorganrood in Golestan Province, north east Iran. The stocks were released into 2 hectare earthen ponds enriched with manure and fertilizers. Artificial spawning grounds made of pine branches were placed in the ponds. Ponds were stocked with 700 female breeders with an average weight of 150 grams and around 350 male breeders weighing 100 grams on average. Spawning and fertilization of eggs occurred in the ponds of which an estimated 80-90% eyed that were observed from the fifth day onwards. The starting of hatching was observed in the 6th day and yolk sac absorption was observed in day 4 to 6. The lame were fed on natural zooplankton and artificial food. Assessment of 146 fries for ingested food indicated that the fries fed on Rotifer (Rotatoria sp. and Daphnia sp.) in the ponds. The length-weight relationship was not significantly different among the ponds and also specific growth rates (SGR) did not show any difference in the fries. The relative gut length in the fries were smaller than I (RLG<l) and fries with an average weight of 0.5 to 1 gram were released into their natural habitat

An EF2X Allocation Protocol for Restricted Additive Valuations

We study the problem of fairly allocating a set of $m$ indivisible goods to aset of $n$ agents. Envy-freeness up to any good (EFX) criteria -- whichrequires that no agent prefers the bundle of another agent after removal of anysingle good -- is known to be a remarkable analogous of envy-freeness when theresource is a set of indivisible goods. In this paper, we investigate EFXnotion for the restricted additive valuations, that is, every good has somenon-negative value, and every agent is interested in only some of the goods. We introduce a natural relaxation of EFX called EFkX which requires that noagent envies another agent after removal of any $k$ goods. Our maincontribution is an algorithm that finds a complete (i.e., no good is discarded)EF2X allocation for the restricted additive valuations. In our algorithm wedevise new concepts, namely "configuration" and "envy-elimination" that mightbe of independent interest. We also use our new tools to find an EFX allocation for restricted additivevaluations that discards at most $\lfloor n/2 \rfloor -1$ goods. This improvesthe state of the art for the restricted additive valuations by a factor of $2$.<br

An investigation into the thermal comfort of a conceptual helmet model using finite element analysis and 3D computational fluid dynamics

This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from Elsevier via the DOI in this record.A common reason for the reluctance to wear protective headgear during different sports activities like skating or biking is the thermal discomfort to the user caused by heat accumulation within the helmet. A review of existing literature revealed the potential to improve thermal comfort of helmets through convective heat transfer, most often achieved through passive ventilation. This paper aims to investigate areas of high heat concentration in the helmet and examine the effect of various hole configurations on the ventilation performance within the helmet. The thermal comfort properties of skate-style helmets are investigated using computational analysis in the form of finite element analysis and 3D computational fluid dynamics. In order to identify areas of naturally high heat concentrations inside the helmet, a baseline conceptual helmet was generated in SolidWorks and a finite element analysis was undertaken in the form of a steady-state thermal study in ANSYS Workbench. Next, a 3D computational fluid dynamics investigation was performed on a range of concept designs developed from the baseline model, representing different hole configurations for three general hole locations – front, back and side. The best performing concept designs were then combined into a single model and tested. Flow speeds were measured at set probe points for four individual cross-sections for all the test concept designs. Using the collected data, the ventilation performance of the various concept designs was discussed relative to the baseline model and justified. The computational studies revealed trends between the general hole locations and the local ventilation efficiency, as well as differences between the individual concepts tested for each location. Key findings include holes at the rear being the most beneficial to overall helmet ventilation when compared to front and side holes. Furthermore, all hole locations were found to predominantly affect the flow speeds in the central and upper frontal regions of the helmet, with little impact on the parietal and occipital lobe regions. The best hole configurations were found to be three holes, one hole and two holes for the front, back and side locations respectively. It was shown that combining the strongest individual concept designs does not necessarily lead to a superior helmet design in terms of ventilation performance

The biomechanics of pregnancy: a systematic review

This is the final version. Available from the publisher via the DOI/link in this record.During pregnancy, a number of biomechanical and hormonal changes occur that can alter spinal curvature, balance, and gait patterns by affecting key areas of the human body. This can greatly impact quality of life (QOL) by increasing back pain and the risk of falls. These effects are likely to be the ultimate result of a number of hormonal and biomechanical changes that occur during pregnancy. Research Question and Methodology: Using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, this systematic review sets out to analyse all available literature relating to the biomechanics factors caused by pregnancy and assess how this might reduce QOL. Fifty papers were deemed eligible for inclusion in this review based on the PUBMED and SCOPUS databases. Results: Angles of lordosis and kyphosis of the spine are significantly increased by pregnancy, but not consistently across all studies. Back pain is significantly increased in pregnant women, although this is not significantly correlated with spinal changes. Increased movements of centre of pressure (COP) and increased stability indexes indicate postural control is reduced in pregnancy. Trunk range of motion, hip flexion, and extension are reduced, as well as decreased stride length, decreased gait velocity, and increased step width; again, not consistently. It is likely that each woman adopts unique techniques to minimise the effects, for example increasing step width to improve balance. Further research should focus on how altered limb kinematics during gait might affect QOL by influencing the human body, as well as assessing parameters in all planes to develop a wider understanding of pregnant biomechanical alteration

Nuevas especies del género Lauroppia Subías y Mínguez, 1986 (Acari, Oribatida, Oppiidae) de Irán

Two new species of oribatid mites of the family Oppiidae Sellnick, 1937, Lauroppia iranica sp. nov. and Lauroppia persiangulfia sp. nov., are described from Mazandaran province, Northern Iran. These two new species are characterized by their long sensillus, with a bipectinate fusiform head and seven medium long barbs in L. iranica and a pectinate head and six long barbs in L. persiangulfia. Also an identification key to the Iranian species of Lauroppia is given.Dos nuevas especies de ácaros oribátidos de la familia Oppiidae Sellnick, 1937, Lauroppia iranica sp. nov. and Lauroppia persiangulfia sp. nov., se describen de la provincia de Mazandaran, norte de Irán. Estas dos nuevas especies se caracterizan por su sensilo largo, con una cabeza fusiforme bipectinada y con siete bárbulas de longitud media en L. iranica y con una cabeza pectinada y seis bárbulas largas en L. persiangulfia

The effect of dietary dextrin levels on growth performance, body composition and hepatosomatic index in juvenile Siberian sturgeon, Acipenser baerii

The present study was carried out to determine the ability of Acipenser baerii in utilizing carbohydrate (dextrin) as a non protein energy source substituted with animal oil. A total of 65 juveniles A. baerii with an initial mean weight of 689 ± 62 g were distributed in 15 fiber glass tanks. Five diets were formulated including 0, 5, 10, 15 and 20% of dextrin and fed for 8 weeks. Fish were weighed monthly and growth was evaluated in each treatment. At the end of experiment, body composition and hepatosomatic index were analyzed. There was no significant differences in body weight increase (BWI) and final weight (FW) among different groups (p>0.05). Increase of dextrin levels in diets led to an increase in feed conversation ratio (FCR) in fish fed diets containing 15 and 20% dextrin as compared to that in the control group and in fish fed the diet containing 10% dextrin although the differences were not significant (p>0.05). The specific growth rate (SGR) in all treatments were the same (p>0.05). The highest body protein and lipid were observed in fish fed diets containing 10 and 20% dextrin, respectively (p0.05). In conclusion, juvenile A. baerii can be fed diets with high levels of dietary dextrin as a non protein energy source with no deleterious effects and a partial replacement of cheap carbohydrate with lipid is suggested to obtain the necessary energy in commercial diets