Effects of thermal energy on extrusion characteristics,digestibility and palatability of a dry pet food for cats

The influence of specific thermal energy (STE) applications on extruder preconditioner was evaluated in a dry food for cats. In the first study, six STE applications were tested with mass temperatures of 45°C, 55°C, 65°C, 75°C, 85°C and 95°C. The extrusion parameters, starch gelatinization and kibble formation were evaluated. Diets were given to cats to evaluate digestibility, faecal characteristics and palatability. In the second experiment, three treatments were compared: low STE—a preconditioner temperature of 45°C (_LSTE); high STE—a preconditioner temperature of 95°C (_HSTE); high STE (preconditioner temperature of 95°C) combined with an increase in the mass flow rate to obtain a motor amperage similar to that of the _LSTE (_HSTE_flow). Data were analysed by polynomial contrasts (Experiment 1) or Tukey's test (Experiment 2; p < 0.05). An increase in STE reduced motor amperage, mass pressure and specific mechanical energy (SME) implementation (p < 0.001) and increased total specific energy (TSE) and mass temperature (p < 0.01). The increase in STE induced greater kibble expansion and starch gelatinization (p < 0.001). No changes in apparent nutrient digestibility or faeces characteristics were observed (p > 0.05). Lower STE and starch gelatinization induced higher butyrate and total volatile fatty acid (VFA) contents in faeces (p < 0.01). Cats showed greatest preference for the formulation with the highest STE (p < 0.01). In the second experiment, when the motor amperage was increased in the _HSTE_flow treatment to a value similar to that of the _LSTE, the mass flow rate increased 40%, and the electric energy consumption remained unchanged (p < 0.001), with gains observed for efficiency and cost. In conclusion, STE application is important for sufficient TSE implementation, enhancing kibble expansion, starch gelatinization, cat preferences for food, extruder productivity and reducing SME application. Foods with lower starch gelatinization lead to increased VFA in faeces, with possible implications for gut health.     

The effects of maxillary nerve block,ethmoidal nerve block and their combination on cardiopulmonary responses to nasal stimulation in anesthetized Beagle dogs

ObjectiveTo describe an approach for ethmoidal nerve block (E_BLOCK) and to compare the effects of a maxillary nerve block (M_BLOCK), E_BLOCK and their combination (M-E_BLOCK) on heart rate (HR), systolic (SAP), mean (MAP), diastolic (DAP) arterial pressures and respiratory rate (f_R) during nasal stimulation in dogs.Study designProspective, blinded, randomized, crossover placebo-controlled study.AnimalsBeagle dogs (five cadavers, nine live dogs), with a median (interquartile range) weight of 10.5 (10.3–11.0) kg.MethodsThe accuracy of iohexol injections (each 1 mL) at the maxillary and ethmoidal foramina in cadavers was evaluated using computed tomography. Then, anesthetized dogs were administered four bilateral treatments separated by 1 week, saline or 2% lidocaine 1 mL per injection: injections of saline at the maxillary and ethmoidal foramina (Control), injections of lidocaine at the maxillary foramina and saline at the ethmoidal foramina (M_BLOCK), injections of saline at the maxillary foramina and lidocaine at the ethmoidal foramina (E_BLOCK) and injections of lidocaine at all foramina (M-E_BLOCK). The ventral nasal meatus was bilaterally stimulated using cotton swabs, and HR, SAP, MAP, DAP and f_R were continuously recorded. Values for each variable were compared before and after stimulation using Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Changes in variables among treatments were analyzed using Mann–Whitney U and Kruskal–Wallis tests (p ≤ 0.05).ResultsComputed tomography revealed iohexol distribution around the openings of the target foramina in all cadavers. In living dogs, HR, SAP, MAP, DAP and f_R significantly increased after stimulation within each treatment (p < 0.03). Physiologic responses were significantly attenuated, but not absent, in the M-E_BLOCK [HR (p = 0.019), SAP, MAP, DAP and f_R (all p ≤ 0.001)] compared with those in the Control.Conclusions and clinical relevanceConcurrent injections of lidocaine at the maxillary and ethmoidal foramina attenuated HR, arterial pressure and f_R responses to nasal stimulation in Beagle dogs.     

免耕播种机试验与应用研究

主要论述了保护性耕作关键装备—2BM-9型免耕播种机的技术参数与工作原理,论述了其性能试验、可靠性试验及应用效果。通过性能试验与生产考核表明:该机各项指标均达到了设计要求,使用可靠性大于98%,调整使用方便性大于97%。经测试与调查统计知:该机对作物留茬地提高土壤含水率6%～9%,减少农田风蚀50%～80%,提高土壤有机质含量0.04%～0.08%,增加农民收入10%～15%。经过4年的推广应用,取得了良好的经济社会生态效益,对促进保护性耕作技术的实施有着重要的作用。     

边界滑移对螺旋槽上游泵送机械密封性能的影响

为了研究边界滑移对上游泵送机械密封性能的影响,建立液膜三维几何模型和计算模型,基于 Navier 线性滑移模型对液膜壁面边界条件进行修正,采用商用软件 Fluent 的 SIMPLEC 算法及层流模型求解三维 Navier －Stokes 方程,并分析相对滑移量对液膜静压分布、开启力、摩擦扭矩、泄漏量的影响规律。结果表明：相对于边界滑移发生的位置,滑移速度的大小对密封性能的影响更大;当相对滑移量较小时,存在边界滑移与无滑移的模拟结果无明显区别,能很好地解释宏观无滑移边界假设的应用,当相对滑移量较大时液膜动压效应随滑移的增加而减弱,开启力、摩擦扭矩、泄漏量都随边界滑移的增加而减小;相对于开启力的降低,边界滑移的减阻和降低泄漏的效果更为明显;当开启力较小,应避免边界滑移发生;当开启力足够大时,加工成超疏水表面形成边界滑移,可极大地减少摩擦扭矩,降低能耗。     

基于ANSYS的2BYFGJ-4型播种机机架优化设计

以2BYFGJ-4型玉米苗带秸秆还田旋耕施肥播种机机架为主要优化分析对象,通过有限元分析软件ANSYS对其进行静力学分析和模态分析,得出该机机架设计的薄弱环节。根据前几阶模态频率和振型,提出机架的优化方案,并以模态频率为衡量指标对各方案进行比较分析。结果表明:优化后的机架具有更好的动态性能,可为下一轮样机制作提供重要依据。     

机电设备安装工程中常见问题及对策分析

机电设备安装工程施工是一项技术领域的工作,涉及到了多个工种和多道工序,因此存在特殊的要求。文章对机电设备安装施工中存在的一些常见问题进行了分析,并为提高机电设备的安装质量提出了一些建议。     

大类招生下机械电子工程专业学生实践和创新能力的研究与应用

文章从学生实践能力和创新能力两个核心能力培养方面进行了理论研究与实践探索。首先简要介绍了专业概况与研究背景,然后对几个核心概念进行了定义与解释,最后结合齐齐哈尔大学的一些做法与经验提出了大类招生下机械电子工程专业学生实践和创新能力培养的建议。     

河西绿洲灌区留茬覆盖免耕保护性耕作的增产节水效应

试验设20 cm留茬压倒(NPS20),40 cm留茬压倒(NPS40),40 cm立秆(NS40),20 cm立秆(NS20),6 750kg/hm2覆盖(NSB40),3 750 kg/hm2覆盖(NSB20)和传统耕作(CT)7个处理,在节水1 950 m3/hm2的条件下,研究了不同的秸秆覆盖量、留茬高度和秸秆处理对小麦产量、水分利用效率(WUE)和不同时期土壤水分的影响。结果表明,留茬覆盖免耕保护性耕作提高了春小麦的产量,NPS20,NPS40,NS40,NS20,NSB40和NSB20较CT分别增产53.08%,46.59%,40.81%,19.93%,17.33%和4.34%;留茬覆盖免耕保护性耕作提高了春小麦的水分利用效率(WUE)(NPS20,NS40,NPS40,NS20,NSB40,NSB20分别较CT提高58.02%,43.40%,47.27%,23.78%,20.69%,8.56%),但增加了小麦生育期土壤水分支出;不同处理在不同时期对土壤水分的影响不同。     

Optimising cutting method and timing for the control of Abutilon theophrasti seed production

Abutilon theophrasti (velvetleaf) is a widespread and problematic annual weed. Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of different cutting methods on the viability of A. theophrasti seeds. Three cutting methods were assessed: (1) Entire plant cut and dried (EPD)—plants were cut at soil level and dried with capsules attached on the greenhouse bench or soil surface for 4 weeks; (2) capsules detached and dried (CD)—capsules were removed from plants and dried for 4 weeks; and (3) capsules detached and tested while fresh (CF)—a control treatment. Before drying, the developmental stage (stage one, dark green; stage two, light green; stage three, yellowish-green; or stage four, black with the slightly open capsule) and age (days after flowering, DAF) of each capsule was recorded. Seed viability was measured immediately in the CF treatment and after the 4-week drying period in the EPD and CD treatments. No seeds in the EPD and CD treatments were viable when harvested at the first developmental stage (1–8 DAF) in either experiment, but 100% of seeds in the CF treatment in the field were viable when harvested at 8 DAF. In both greenhouse and field experiments, seeds attained full viability at earlier harvest ages in CF than in EPD or CD treatments, suggesting that seeds might become viable relatively early in development but lose viability if allowed to dry. These findings could be applied to optimise late-season mechanical control of A. theophrasti.     

Evaluation of finger weeder safety and efficacy for intra-row weed removal in irrigated field crops

Increased demand for pesticide-free food and the development of herbicide-resistant weed populations have created a need for non-chemical weed-control tools. A candidate mechanical tool for controlling weeds in the seeding line (intra-row zone) is the finger weeder. This study thus aimed to evaluate the safety and weed-control efficacy of the finger weeder in various irrigated field crops. Eight field trials were conducted in processing tomato, sweet corn, sunflower, cotton, and beetroot over 2 years. The finger weeder treatments were applied as the sole weed-control method (single or double treatments) and in combination with herbicides. A mini meta-analysis was used to evaluate the overall effect of the finger weeder treatments on crop stand and yield and on weed control efficacy. Weed density in the control not treated with herbicides nor a finger weeder ranged between 2 and 62 weeds m⁻². The finger weeder treatments resulted in a significant reduction in weed density, which ranged between 40% and 90%. The weed density following the double finger weeder treatment was not significantly different from that for the conventional herbicide-based treatment (p = 0.32) and could therefore be considered as an effective environmentally friendly alternative. Furthermore, a single FW treatment integrated with herbicide application gave better weed control than the conventional herbicide treatment (p = 0.04). This treatment was safe for the crops with no significant stand (p = 0.19) or yield (p = 0.29) reductions compared to commercial treatment. The results of this study demonstrate the promise of the finger weeder as an effective tool within integrated weed management systems for conventional agro-systems. The tool offers a rational weed-control solution for sustainable systems under irrigation.