Metal tube used as solar engine

Ends of metal tube are fastened to axles which are supported on bearings so tube can rotate about its long axis while subjected to invariant bending moment that stresses it along longitudinal axis of rotation. Heat absorbed leads to expansion of metal, which unbalances internal forces and generates rotational moment in tube

Solid medium thermal engine

A device is described which uses a single phase metallic working substance to convert thermal energy directly into mechanical energy. The device consists of a cylindrical metal tube which is free to rotate about its axis while being subjected to continuous bending moment stresses along the longitudinal axis of rotation. The stressing causes portions of the tube to be under compression while other parts are under tension which in turn causes the tube to rotate and provide mechanical energy

Electropneumatic rheostat regulates high current

Electropneumatic rheostat maintains a constant direct current in each of several high-power parallel loads, of variable resistance, across a single source. It provides current regulation at any preset value by dissipating the proper amount of energy thermally, and uses a column of mercury to vary the effective length of a resistance element

Effects of Condensed Corn Distillers Solubles on Steer Performance and Carcass Composition

Condensed corn distillers solubles (CCDS) have become a prevalent feed source in Iowa. In this study, we looked at the impact of CCDS in finishing steer rations and the influence CCDS had on steer performance as well as carcass composition. In the first year of the study, 112 steers were randomly sorted into four equal groups where each group contained four pens and 7 steers per pen. The second year of the study was a repeat of the first year however a fifth treatment was added in which 28 steers were placed on pasture and provided a finishing grain diet. The first of the four treatments consisted of the feedlot group (F), which was placed directly in to the feedlot and fed shelled corn, alfalfa hay, a protein, vitamin, and mineral supplement, and molasses. The second treatment was feedlot + CCDS (F+CCDS). This treatment group was placed directly into the feedlot and received shelled corn, alfalfa hay, a protein, vitamin and mineral supplement, and CCDS. The third treatment group was backgrounded on pasture for the duration of the summer (P), and then put into the feedlot where they received the same ration as the F group. The fourth treatment group was backgrounded on pasture for the duration of the summer, and while on pasture had access to free choice CCDS via a lick tank (P+CCDS). In the fall this group was placed into the feedlot and received the same ration as the F+CCDS group. In the second year, a fifth treatment was added, called the pasture finishing group (PF). The steers in this treatment received the same shelled corn, and protein, vitamin and mineral supplement, and CCDS as the cattle in the F+CCDS treatment, minus the alfalfa hay. Grass consumption for the PF cattle was estimated using the 2007 BRANDS program. Although the study is not yet completed, it appears as though CCDS can be implemented in feedlot rations successfully. The existing trends of the study would indicate that a feedlot ration containing CCDS will slightly increase steer ADG and improve F:G, without effecting QG

Progress Report: Effects of Condensed Corn Distillers Solubles on Steer Performance and Carcass Composition

This study looked at the use of condensed corn distillers solubles (CCDS) as a feed source for steers backgrounded on pasture as well as steers being fed in the feedlot. In addition, a treatment group was finished on pasture with CCDS as a part of their ration. The two feedlot rations were isocaloric and isonitrogenous. The pasture finishing steers were fed a ration based on the feedlot ration containing CCDS but were not fed any hay. The goal of this study was to establish the benefits, as well as the limitations, of feeding CCDS to feedlot and backgrounded steers

Analysis and Experimental Evaluation of Power Line Transmission Parameters for Power Line Communication

The article describes a way of evaluating the power line channel frequency response and input impedance by means of the linear time-invariant (LTI) power line generator. Two possible methods are introduced for the calculation of primary parameters: the first method depends on the physical realization and physical dimension of the cable, and the second method is derived from the data provided by typical electrical cable manufacturers. Based on these methods, a comparison of transfer functions was made. This is followed by measurement evaluation and numerical verification on a simple topology

Research and demonstration updates: ISU Rhodes Research Farm and PFI on-farm cooperator data

A recently completed study compared the economic return of hooped buildings versus conventional facilities. Factors considered included pig growth rate, feed efficiency, developing growth function, distrib-qtion of growth, production costs and returns, and rate of return on investment

Identification of Candidate Genes Downstream of TLR4 Signaling after Ozone Exposure in Mice: A Role for Heat-Shock Protein 70

Background: Toll-like receptor 4 (TLR4) is involved in ozone (O3)-induced pulmonary hyperpermeability and inflammation, although the downstream signaling events are unknown

Agroecology: promoting the transition towards sustainability

En este artículo se define agroecología como la aplicación de los conceptos y prinicipios ecológicos al diseño y manejo de los sistemas alimentarios sostenibles. Se presentan los argumentos principales que sostienen la validez, importancia y pertinencia del enfoque agroecológico, no solo para entender los procesos involucrados en la producción de alimentos, sino para proponer alternativas que conduzcan a esos procesos para operar en sistemas sostenibles. El concepto clave, que guía el razonamiento metodológico y epistemológico en este análisis, es el de sostenibilidad. Para alcanzar sostenibilidad la metodología agroecológica no solo se ancla en la Ecología, lo cual se describe en el trabajo, sino que percibe la producción de alimentos como un proceso que involucra a los productores y consumidores interactuando en forma dinámica.In this article agroecology is defined as the application of ecological concepts and principles to the design and management of sustainable food systems. The principal arguments are presented that support the validity, importance, and application of the agroecologial focus, not only in order to understand the processes involved in food production, but also to propose alternatives that help these processes to operate in sustainable systems. The key concept that guides the methodological and epitistemalogical rationale of this analysis is sustainability. In order to achieve sustainability the agroecological methodology not only links to Ecology, as is described in the text, but perceives food production as a process involving producers and consumers operating in a dynamic interaction