Determining physical and aerodynamic properties of garlic to design and develop of a pneumatic garlic clove metering system

This study was conducted to investigate some moisture-dependent physical and aerodynamic properties of garlic cloves (Allium Sativum L.). A completely randomized design (CRD) with five replications was chosen for the experimental layout. The data were analyzed by SAS program version 9.1 and means comparison were done by Duncan’s multiple range test (DMRT). Regression analysis was used to determine the relationship between physical and aerodynamic properties, and their moisture contents. The average length, width, thickness, geometric and arithmetic mean diameter of garlic cloves were 32.0, 21.8, 20.9, 24.4 and 24.9, respectively. The average of the surface area, projected area, one thousand kernel mass, volume and bulk density of garlic cloves increased from 1718.3 to 2029.1 mm2, 546.6 to 644.3 mm2, 6783.0 to 8159.3 g, 5916.5 to 7356.0 mm3 and 476.3 to 567.4 kg/m3, respectively, with increasing moisture content from 35.8% to 60.5% w.b. Studies showed that as moisture content increased, the true density decreased from 1146.4 to 1109.3 kg/m3. Within the same moisture range, the terminal velocity of garlic cloves increased linearly from 15.6 to 16.7 m/s. Finally, a vacuum seed metering system (a unit of pneumatic planter) for planting garlic cloves were designed and developed based on physical and aerodynamic properties of garlic cloves

Selection of fertilization method and fertilizer application rate on corn yield

Abstract: A field experiment was carried out on the silty clay soil of Lack-Lack agricultural research field during two years to select the most suitable fertilization method (fertilizer broadcasting, fertilizer pouring in the furrow, fertilizer banding placement in one side and both sides of seedling) and application rate (30, 60 and 90 kg of net nitrogen from source of urea fertilizer/ha) on corn yield and yield components in Hamedan province in Iran.  Corn yield components evaluated were plant height, corn height, percentage of corncob, thousand-kernel mass and net yield.  A factorial experiment with 12 treatments (four methods × three levels) was replicated three times in 36 test plots.  By analysis of variance and comparison of treatment means using DMRT (Duncan’s new Multiple Range Test), application methods had no significant effect on plant height, corn height and percentage of corncob, but net yield and thousand-kernel mass were highly influenced.  In addition, effect of fertilizer application rate on plant height, corn height, and percentage of corncob was not significant but was highly significant on net yield and thousand-kernel mass.  Interactional effects of method × level on plant height, corn height, percentage of corncob and thousand-kernel mass were not significant but their effects on net yield were very significant.  In this study, fertilizer banding on one side of seedling with 60 kg of nitrogen/ha applied 10 cm from the seedling at 5 cm soil depth was selected as the most suitable treatment.   Keywords: fertilization methods, nitrogen, fertilizer application rates, corn, placement fertilizer, Ira

Design of a vacuum seed metering system for kenaf planting

In this study, a vacuum seed metering system was designed and developed based on physical and aerodynamic properties of kenaf seeds (Hibiscus cannabinus L.). The kenaf vacuum seed metering system was evaluated in the laboratory by using kenaf seeds. For laboratory tests, a completely randomized design (CRD) with three replications was chosen. The data were analyzed by Statistical Analysis Software (SAS) program version 9.1 and means separation test were done by using Duncan’s multiple range test (DMRT). The study results showed that the most suitable opening diameter and opening angle for planting kenaf seeds were 2.5 mm and 120°, respectively, which having the minimum missing and multiple indices with optimum quality of feed index

Conflict resolution in the multi-stakeholder stepped spillway design under uncertainty by machine learning techniques

publishedVersio

Single-Layer versus Double-Layer Laparoscopic Intracorporeally Sutured Gastrointestinal Anastomoses in the Canine Model

This study shows that the 1-layer gastrointestinal suture technique is feasible, safe and has fewer complications compared with a 2-layer suture technique

Distribution and pollution level of nickel and vanadium in sediments from south part of the Caspian Sea, Iran

765-771Distribution and pollution level of nickel and vanadium in sediment from south part of the Caspian Sea, north of Iran, were studied. Sediment samples obtained by Van Veen Grab from four stations, including, Turkaman, Amirabad, Fereydunkenar and Noushahr along the south part of the Caspian Sea, during fall of 2015 and april, summer and winter of 2016. The concentrations of metal were ranged from 21.63 µg/g to 55.45 µg/g for nickel and from 58.23 µg/g to 146.27 µg/g for vanadium in sediments samples collected from all stations. There was significant difference in metals concentration between different stations along the Caspian Sea (P < 0.05), and the highest mean concentration of metals was absorbed in Fereydunkenar estuary, followed by Amirabad, Turkaman and Noushahr, respectively. The results showed that there were significant differences between metals pollution during four seasons (P < 0.05), and the highest concentration of metals were absorbed in dry season (summer) and the lowest concentration in wet season (winter). There was a positive correlation between nickel and vanadium concentration in sediment samples, and the Pearson correlation was (r = 0.67) between nickel and vanadium in sediment samples. The positive correlation between heavy metals can be related to same source of both metals in the environment. Based on our results, anthropogenic activities such as oil industry and agriculture activities are the main sources of pollution in the coasts along south part of Caspian Sea

Vertical distribution of heavy metals and enrichment in the South China Sea sediment cores.

Forty seven sediment cores recovered from the South China Sea coasts along the east coast of Peninsular Malaysia were analysed for As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Hg, Ni, Pb and Zn using instrumental neutron activation analysis. The results indicate a homogeneous distribution except for As and Pb in all stations. Assessment of heavy metal pollution in marine sediments requires knowledge of pre-anthropogenic metal concentrations to act as a reference against which measured values can be compared. Primitive values for the cored sediments were determined from shale average metal. Various methods for calculating metal enrichment and contamination factors are reviewed in detail and a modified and more robust version of the procedure for calculating the degree of contamination is proposed. The revised procedure allows the incorporation of a flexible range of pollutants, including various organic species, and the degree of contamination is expressed as an average ratio rather than an absolute summation number. Comparative data for normalized enrichment factors and the modified degree of contamination show that the South China Sea sediments are in uncontaminated to moderately contaminated level of heavy metal contamination. Compared to obtained values the Kelantan and Pahang big rivers mouth show higher enrichment averaged across other sites

Effect of oral tizanidine on prolongation of intrathecal lidocaine

Objective: In order to prolong the duration of intrathecal lidocaine, various drugs are used along with it. Due to the promising effects of tizanidine on central nervous system, it can be assumed that tizanidine can have a positive effect on increasing the anesthesia duration too. Thus, we aimed to investigate the effect of oral tizanidine on the duration of lidocaine spinal anesthesia. Methods: This double blind clinical trial was conducted on 40 male patients waiting for elective leg surgery with the age range of 20-60 years in one of the educational hospitals of Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Iran. We used simple random sampling and our participants were assigned into 2 groups (placebo and oral tizanidine receivers). Spinal anesthesia with 1 mg/kg of hyperbaric lidocaine 5% was performed in both groups. In tizanidine group, patients received 4 mg of oral tizanidine one hour before spinal anesthesia. Sensory block was examined by pin prick test and all anesthetic duration including start block until reduction of sensory level was calculated at 2 lower dermatomes. Results: Findings showed that oral tizanidine compared to placebo can cause a 10-15 minute increase in patients’ lidocaine spinal anesthesia. Therefore, the average anesthesia time for tizanidine group increased meaningfully (P = 0.03). In addition, tizanidine can sedate patients during surgery (P = 0.00) or in recovery (P = 0.003). Conclusion: Based on the results, tizanidine increased the duration of lidocaine so oral tizanidine can be used to prolong the duration of lidocaine spinal anesthesia

Distribution of PAHs and n-alkanes in Klang River surface sediments, Malaysia

Surface sediment samples were collected from five locations at the downstream of Klang River in January 2007 to examine the spatial distribution, composition, and sources of 19 parent polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and aliphatic hydrocarbon (n-alkanes) using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The total concentrations of the 19 PAHs in the sediments were found to range from 1304 to 2187 ng g-1 sediment. Meanwhile, total concentrations of n-alkanes ranged from 17008 to 27116 μg g-1 sediment. The concentration of n-alkanes in the sediment was significantly correlated (r = 0.991, p = 0.001) with the content of sediment organic carbon. In this study, all the sediments exhibited phenanthrene/anthracene (PHE/ANT >15) fluoranthene/(fluorantene+pyrene) (FLT/FLT+PYR 1), combustion PAHs/total PAHs (CombPAH/∑19PAH <0.3), terrigenous/aquatic ratio for hydrocarbons greater than 23. The also data showed that petrogenic and natural inputs were predominant at all the locations investigated. Multiple sources of n-alkanes and PAHs in the river sediments were also explained by low carbon preference index (CPI) values, different ratios of diploptene/∑C23-C25 n-alkanes, poor correlation between diploptene and ∑C23-C25, average chain length (ACL) of 29.54 ± 0.09, correlation between CPI and ACL (r = 0.847, p= 0.035), and high ratio of naphthalene/total PAHs