Testing the application of an automatic milking system on buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

The automatic milking systems (AMS) have been deeply studied in dairy cows applications, but not in the case of buffaloes; although, a few applications to the species can be found in literature. The objective of this study is to compare some important functional aspects of AMS with the conventional milking systems. Aspects such as adaptation of buffalo to AMS and the possible relationship between milking frequency and daily milk yield were evaluated. Two groups of Bubalus bubalis were reared in the same barn, in a farm located in Piana del Sele (SA) southern Italy. Fourty primiparous buffaloes were milked using an AMS, and at the same time another herd of 40 were milked twice a day using traditional milking system (tandem). The adaptation period of buffaloes to AMS was 2 months. Milking frequency with the AMS was significantly higher compared to the one of traditional methods (2.3±0.17 times/d vs 2 times/d). Daily milk yield with the AMS was observed to be significantly higher than with traditional milking system (7.9±1.3 kg/d vs 6.9±1.06 kg/d). In this study, there was no significant relationship between the increase of daily milking frequency and daily milk yield. We can conclude that a positive AMS effect on daily milk yield and milking frequency is possible and so we can expect successful applications of the AMS to dairy buffalo farms

Mechanical oil extraction of Nicotiana tabacum L. seeds: analysis of main extraction parameters on oil yield

The aim of this study is to find the best conditions of tobacco seed oil (TSO) press extraction, combining multiple extraction factors such as screw rotational speed, seeds preheating and extraction temperature, in order to have a higher oil yield. The extracted oil, having peculiar chemical properties, can be used for several purposes, also as edible oil. TSO was obtained using a mechanical screw press that has been assembled with a head press and with speed and temperature sensors mounted on the machine. Results show that the combination of high extraction temperature, slow rotational screw speed and seeds preheating has a significant effect on the oil yield. Extracting under such conditions, oil yield is 79.47±0.12 as % (w/w), which is 25% (w/w) more than the lowest yield among investigated condition

High fiber cakes from mediterranean multipurpose oilseeds as protein sources for ruminants

Fifteen oilseed cakes from sunflower, pomegranate, cardoon, tobacco and hemp were characterized with regard to chemical composition, Cornell Net Carbohydrate and Protein System (CNCPS) fractionation, in vitro digestibility of dry matter, neutral detergent fiber, and crude protein. All the cakes presented low moisture, rather variable ether extract contents and medium to high levels of crude protein and neutral detergent fiber. The cakes significantly differed in terms of CNCPS partitioning and in vitro digestibility. Tobacco and hemp cakes presented high contents of slow degradable fractions of crude protein and carbohydrate joined to good post-ruminal protein digestibility. Cardoon cakes presented the highest rumen protein degradability. Based on crude protein content and intestinal digestibility of rumen undegraded protein, cakes of tobacco and hemp showed the better potential as alternative protein supplements for ruminants, while pomegranate appears to be the least suitable for ruminant feeding

L’utilizzo della Classificazione Internazionale per la Pratica Infermieristica (ICNP®) in ambito pediatrico e neonatale: revisione della letteratura

Introduction: Literature reports that the use of Standardized Nursing Terminology contributes to a better implementation of nursing care and patients’ safety and to do research. ICNP® is an international and combinatorial standard terminology proposal by ICN, adaptable to different settings, among which paediatric and neonatal. Methods: A literature review on different databases (Medline/Pubmed, CINAHL, Embase, Web of Science and Scopus) was conducted to investigate the use of ICNP® in professional practice in paediatric and neonatal settings. Results: 44 papers were included in the review; 33 of which focused on the paediatric setting while 11 on the neonatal setting. It is evident ICNP® is usable in both settings, permitting to describe nursing care to different age groups, in-hospital, out-of-hospital and in specific clinical situations. Discussion: ICNP® is up to the task of describing nursing care, implementing nursing care plans, analysing types of nursing care for management aims, studying concepts or specific pediatric or neonatal situations. ICNP® is adaptable to different nursing frameworks and models. Few studies analyses ICNP® implementation or effectiveness in clinical settings. Additional research is needed to verify ICNP® effectiveness in paediatric and neonatal settings and to implement contextual catalogues. Key words: Standardized Nursing Terminology, ICNP, Paediatric Nursing, Neonatal Nursing.Introduzione: La letteratura indica che un utilizzo di terminologie infermieristiche standardizzate porti a un miglioramento della qualità dell’assistenza e della sicurezza dei pazienti, oltre che a un implemento della possibilità di svolgere ricerca. ICNP® è una terminologia infermieristica standardizzata proposta da ICN di tipo combinatorio, adattabile a diversi contesti professionali, tra cui quello pediatrico e neonatale. Metodo: E’ stata svolta una revisione della letteratura allo scopo di indagare l’utilizzo del linguaggio ICNP® nella pratica professionale in area pediatrica e neonatale attraverso le banche dati Medline/Pubmed, CINAHL, Embase, Web of Science e Scopus. Risultati: Sono state incluse nella revisione 44 pubblicazioni, 33 riguardanti l’ambito pediatrico e 11 riguardanti quello neonatale. E’ emerso che ICNP® è utilizzabile in entrambi gli ambiti, permette di descrivere l’assistenza erogata in diverse fasce d’età, in contesti ospedalieri o extraospedalieri e in casi di situazioni cliniche specifiche. Discussione: ICNP® risulta in grado di descrivere l’assistenza, implementare piani di assistenza infermieristica, approfondire il tipo di assistenza erogata a fini manageriali, studiare alcuni concetti o situazioni specifiche di area pediatrica e neonatale. ICNP® è adattabile a diversi modelli concettuali dell’assistenza infermieristica. Pochi studi interessano l’effettiva implementazione del linguaggio in un contesto clinico o l’analisi di efficacia del suo utilizzo in questo ambito. Servono ulteriori ricerche per verificare l’efficacia di utilizzo di ICNP® in contesti clinici neonatali e pediatrici e per sviluppare Cataloghi di contesto. Parole chiave: Terminologia Infermieristica Standardizzata, ICNP, Infermieristica Pediatrica, Infermieristica Neonatale

Yield, quality, antioxidants and elemental composition of peanut as affected by plant density and harvest time

With the perspective of reintroducing peanut cultivation in southern Italy about six decades after its dismissal, research was carried out with the aim to identify the best performing farming management in terms of yield and quality. In this respect, the effect of the factorial combination between four plant densities (6.1, 7.8, 10.3, and 12.1 plants m-2) and two harvest times (100 and 110 days after planting) was assessed on pod and seed yield, as well as on seed quality, antioxidant activity, and elemental composition. The later harvest time determined a 26.9% dry weight increase, but a 14.3% decrease in the number of seeds per pod. Plant density significantly influenced all the yield and growth indices except for mean seed weight. Yield and growth of each plant were best affected by the lowest plant density, whereas the opposite trend was recorded for the same parameters referred to the surface area unit. The density of 12.1 plants m-2 resulted in a 32% reduction in pods per plant compared to 6.1 plants m-2, but had the greatest effect on seed production per m2 . The leaf area index was the highest with the density of 12.1 plants m-2. The total dry weight increased by 1.7-fold from 6.1 to 12.1 plants m-2. Compared to the first harvest time, in the second one the protein content decreased by 6.8%, and total polyphenols and antioxidant activity decreased by 11.2% and 7.6%, respectively. The second harvest time led to a depletion of N, P, and Mg, by 6.8%, 6.2%, and 6.8%, respectively, and a 7.1% Ca increase. The reintroduction of peanut cultivation in southern Italy is a realistic goal, though further studies regarding the crop system management are needed

Canapa Sativa L. mechanical oil extraction optimizations

The interest in hemp (Canapa Sativa L.) in the last decade is greatly increased for its multiplicity of uses: food; textile industry; cosmetics and biochemical. In addition, hemp seed oil is a great source of high quality nutrients and has multi-purpose natural remedies and It could be used as edible oil containing about 80% of essential fatty acids (excellent ratio of omega-6 to omega-3). The aim of this study was the optimization of hemp seeds oil mechanical extraction parameters in order to have a higher oil yield. The hemp variety was Futura 75, cultivated in Castelvolturno (CE), Southern Italy. Harvest has been carried out in September 2016 with a mechanical harvester. The test has been carried out using a mechanical screw press, powered by 2.2 kW electric motor, using an 8 mm nozzle. The variable parameters were: temperature of extraction (50°C and 70°C), measured with a temperature sensor placed on press head; two rotational screw speeds (22 rpm and 32 rpm) and seeds pre-treatment (heated at 50°C for 1h in a laboratory oven and not heated). The processed samples weighted 1000g each. After the extraction, oil was centrifuged at 3500 rpm for 20 minutes with an laboratory centrifuge to determine the yield of pure oil as percentage of extracted oil (g) on the total oil extractable basis. During the tests, the performances of the press has been monitored: initial and final extraction temperatures have been recorded with a RTD (Pt100) temperature sensor; extraction time has been recorded with a laboratory stopwatch. Results show that the combination of high extraction temperature and slow rotational screw speed has a positive effect on oil yield as well as seeds pre-treatment. Further studies are scheduled in order to evaluate the effect of extraction parameters on oil quality in terms of acidity, sensory profile, volatile compounds and fatty acids composition

Optimization of hemp seeds (Canapa Sativa L.) oil mechanical extraction

Abstract View references (7) Mechanical harvesting of hemp seeds is performed using machines developed for other grain crops in order to allow an easier insertion of hemp cultivation into consolidated production area trying to avoid further purchase of complex and expensive machinery on the territory. On the other hand, it involves the use of machines with low harvesting efficiency because the hemp plants are considerably different from the cereal grain plant having a biomass production 2-3 times bigger than grain in weight. However, hemp seed is harvested when the seed begin to scatter. All these factors combined, lead to a complex setting of the combine harvester. In this paper, harvesting tests were performed in order to evaluate the efficiency of mechanical harvesting of hemp seeds with conventional combine harvester with cereal head, some harvest tests were carried out by varying only the machine setting without significant modifications of the machine. The experimental design included the division of the field into 4 plots, cultivated with a seeding density D1 (60 pt / m2) and D2 (30 pt / m2). Only two plots received foliar fertilization. Each plot has been divided sub-parcels collected with two working speeds of the machine: V1 (3 kmh-1) and V2 (5 kmh-1). The combination of plots configuration provided 8 experimental. The total seed yield per m2 has been obtained handpicking the seeds in experimental plots divided by agronomic pre-treatments and then cleaned. The harvest efficiency has been calculated comparing the total seed yield with the mechanical seed harvesting using different settings of combine harvester. This work showed an average harvesting efficiency of 68%. Higher efficiency percentage has been obtained on plots with 60 plants/m2 density and harvested at V1 speed. This experience has highlighted some limitations due to the general use of non-specific hemp solutions for harvest, but this result can be explained with different cultivation techniques of hemp. © 2018 ETA-Florence Renewable Energies

Testing the application of an automatic milking system on buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

The automatic milking systems (AMS) have been deeply studied in dairy cows applications, but not in the case of buffaloes; although, a few applications to the species can be found in literature. The objective of this study is to compare some important functional aspects of AMS with the conventional milking systems. Aspects such as adaptation of buffalo to AMS and the possible relationship between milking frequency and daily milk yield were evaluated. Two groups of Bubalus bubalis were reared in the same barn, in a farm located in Piana del Sele (SA) southern Italy. Fourty primiparous buffaloes were milked using an AMS, and at the same time another herd of 40 were milked twice a day using traditional milking system (tandem). The adaptation period of buffaloes to AMS was 2 months. Milking frequency with the AMS was significantly higher compared to the one of traditional methods (2.3±0.17 times/d vs 2 times/d). Daily milk yield with the AMS was observed to be significantly higher than with traditional milking system (7.9±1.3 kg/d vs 6.9±1.06 kg/d). In this study, there was no significant relationship between the increase of daily milking frequency and daily milk yield. We can conclude that a positive AMS effect on daily milk yield and milking frequency is possible and so we can expect successful applications of the AMS to dairy buffalo farms

Hemp seed mechanical harvesting efficiency analysis

Abstract View references (7) Mechanical harvesting of hemp seeds is performed using machines developed for other grain crops in order to allow an easier insertion of hemp cultivation into consolidated production area trying to avoid further purchase of complex and expensive machinery on the territory. On the other hand, it involves the use of machines with low harvesting efficiency because the hemp plants are considerably different from the cereal grain plant having a biomass production 2-3 times bigger than grain in weight. However, hemp seed is harvested when the seed begin to scatter. All these factors combined, lead to a complex setting of the combine harvester. In this paper, harvesting tests were performed in order to evaluate the efficiency of mechanical harvesting of hemp seeds with conventional combine harvester with cereal head, some harvest tests were carried out by varying only the machine setting without significant modifications of the machine. The experimental design included the division of the field into 4 plots, cultivated with a seeding density D1 (60 pt / m2) and D2 (30 pt / m2). Only two plots received foliar fertilization. Each plot has been divided sub-parcels collected with two working speeds of the machine: V1 (3 kmh-1) and V2 (5 kmh-1). The combination of plots configuration provided 8 experimental. The total seed yield per m2 has been obtained handpicking the seeds in experimental plots divided by agronomic pre-treatments and then cleaned. The harvest efficiency has been calculated comparing the total seed yield with the mechanical seed harvesting using different settings of combine harvester. This work showed an average harvesting efficiency of 68%. Higher efficiency percentage has been obtained on plots with 60 plants/m2 density and harvested at V1 speed. This experience has highlighted some limitations due to the general use of non-specific hemp solutions for harvest, but this result can be explained with different cultivation techniques of hemp. © 2018 ETA-Floren

Double-pass harvesting system on giant reed in south Italy

Abstract View references (15) The aim of the study is to evaluate the possibility of two step harvesting system for giant reed. The biomass was shredded and dried in the field, in second time was baled and storage. First step was cutting and shredding with a specific shredder for biomass crops rear mounted in agricultural tractor and in the second time the Arundo biomass was harvested after more day of drying in the field with continuous monitoring of the biomass moisture content. This harvesting system presents some advantages such as: the possibility of long storage of biomass (moisture content lover 14-15%), baled with a farm mechanization for hay making, possibilities of diversified use of the dried biomass (combustion and II generation ethanol). The test showed technical and energy aspect of the harvest technology but there is necessary one specific machine for shredder while the other are normally presents in the farm. The machine adopted for shredder, designed and developed by Italian constructor for more biomass herbaceous crops (Arundo, Sorghum, Panicum, Mischantus, etc.) is indicated for high vegetative developed crop and can spread the product in all soil surface or windrowing. The tests were conducted in the South of Italy (Campania region) in an experimental farm of Torrelama. The tests have showed a good performance slightly lower than 1.5 ha h-1(1.47) with operative speed of 4.88 km h-1. The hourly production is 58.35 t ha-1with a biomass moisture content of 42.51%. After field drying the biomass are baled and storage. © 2018 ETA-Florence Renewable Energies