Sound absorption properties of spiral vane electrospun PVA/nano particle nanofiber membrane and non-woven composite material

In this research, we fabricated a series of PVA membranes loaded with 0 wt.%, 1 wt.%, 3 wt.%, 5 wt.% ZrC and 0 wt.%, 1 wt.%, 3 wt.%, 5 wt.% TiO₂ using a spiral vane electrospun machine respectively. There were 2 sizes of TiO₂ nano particles: 10 nm and 200 nm. We tested sound absorption properties of needle-punched nonwovens as well as the composite of nano membranes and needle-punched nonwovens by an impedance tube at the frequency range from 500 Hz to 6500 Hz. Besides, we tested morphological characterization of nano membranes by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and crystalline properties by X-ray diffraction (XRD). We investigated the sound absorption properties of composites as well as the effect of ZrC, TiO₂, nano particle sizes and cavity depth on sound absorption properties. Results showed that sound absorption properties of composites increased at the whole range of frequency compared to those of needle-punched nonwovens. When loaded with ZrC nano particles, sound absorption properties of composite shifted to a higher frequency region, and with increasing content of ZrC, sound absorption properties were better above 2500 Hz. However, when loaded with TiO₂, sound absorption properties were better at lower frequency. With 3 wt.% TiO₂, sound absorption coefficient reached the best at the frequency range from 500 Hz to 1500 Hz. Besides, 200 nm TiO₂ was more conductive to the increase of sound absorption properties at lower frequency region compared to 10 nm TiO₂. Sound absorption properties of composites with air back cavity shifted to a lower frequency region, too. SEM showed that there was nano particle aggregation when loaded TiO₂ nano particles. XRD showed that ZrC nano particles loaded in PVA nano fiber retained their crystalline structure while TiO₂ didn’t. It appeared from the results that nano particles had an effect on sound absorption materials, with different kinds and different sizes, sound absorption properties will improve in different ranges of frequency     

A comparison of three methods for measuring the vertical distribution of herbage mass in grassland

Three stratified clip methods for the estimation of herbage mass and its vertical distribution in grass swards were compared. The first method used a herbage-gripping device, which held a sample from a 2 × 9 cm area while it was harvested and cut into layers in the field. For the other two methods, turfs of herbage were dug and brought into the laboratory where areas defined by 10 × 10 cm or 2 × 9 cm quadrats were cut into layers. For the comparisons, two operators collected independent samples from a sward shortly before it was cut for silage, a sward grazed by cattle and a sward grazed by sheep.
The total mass of herbage dry matter collected depended on the method used, with the herbage-gripping device producing greater estimates than the turf quadrats in two of the swards. The different methods produced similar estimates of the vertical distribution of mass. The larger quadrat usually produced the least variable results, while the herbage-gripping device collected samples most quickly. There were also small differences between the estimates produced by different operators. It was concluded that because the herbage-gripping device was the most cost-effective it would often be the most appropriate method to use. However, when a higher level of precision per quadrat is required the large quadrat, following turf collection, would be more appropriate.     

Comparison of methods for measuring dormancy of potatoes

Comparisons were made of different methods of measuring length of the dormant period of Russet Burbank potato tubers as affected by time of planting and harvest. The study resulted in the following conclusions: 1) when measured from planting or tuber initiation to sprouting, the dormant period of tubers harvested on the same date was longer from an early planted crop than from a late planted crop. 2) When measured from harvest to sprouting, the dormant period was shorter for tubers from an early compared to a late planting. 3) With the same planting date and different harvest dates, when measured from planting or tuber initiation to sprouting, the dormant period was shorter for tubers from an early compared to a late harvest. 4) On the other hand, with the same planting date, when measured from time of harvest to sprouting, the dormant period was longer for tubers from an early compared to a late harvest. Planting date to sprouting was considered the best practical field measure of dormancy since it closely correlated with tuber initiation to sprouting, a method which was more accurate but difficult to determine. Both methods were much better than harvest date to sprouting which is commonly used. In addition, larger tubers from earlier planting had shorter dormancy than smaller tubers regardless of method of measurement due to a probable earlier set. From later plantings, tuber size had no relationship to length of dormancy. Moisture stress significantly reduced dormancy of Lemhi, Russet Burbank, and Nooksack but the Butte cultivar was only slightly affected.     

Ultra-porous flexible PET/Aerogel blanket for sound absorption and thermal insulation

Ultra porous and flexible PET/Aerogel blankets were prepared at ambient pressure, and their acoustic and thermal insulation properties were characterized. Two methods were selected for the preparation of PET/Aerogel blanket. Method I was a direct gelation of silica on PET. PET non-woven fabric was dipped and swelled in TEOS/ethanol mixture, and pH of reaction media was controlled to 2.5 using HCl to promote hydrolysis. After acid hydrolysis, pH was controlled to 7,8,9, and 10 with NH₄OH for the condensation. Method II was by the dipping of PET non-woven fabric in the dispersion of Silica hydrogel. The gelation process was same with Method I. However, PET fabric was not dipped in reaction media. After the hydrogel was dispersed and aged in EtOH for 24 hrs, then, PET non-woven fabric was dipped in the dispersion of hydrogel/EtOH for 24 hrs. The surface modification was carried out in TMCS/n-hexane solution, then the blanket was washed with nhexane and dried at room temperature to prevent the shrinkage. The silica areogels synthesized in optimum conditions exhibit porous network structure. Silica aerogel of highly homogeneous and smallest spherical particle clusters with pores was prepared by gelation process at pH 7. When direct gelation of silica was performed in PET nonwoven matrix (Method I), silica aerogel clusters were formed efficiently surrounding PET fibers forming network structure. The existence of a great amount of silica aerogel of more homogeneous and smaller size in the cell wall material has positive effect on the sound absorption and thermal insulation.     

Prediction of the water absorption capacity of VIS/PES needle-punched webs using genetic algorithms

Needle-punched webs for wet cleaning wipes were produced using a dry-laid method of web- forming. Fibrous webs with a different content of hydrophilic viscose and hydrophobic polyester fibers, as well as webs made from 100 % polyester fibers, were utilized during this study. The webs were compared in terms of their water absorption capacity on the basis of their basic construction parameters, such as fiber fineness, raw material (e.g. fiber density), and web density. The higher water absorption capacity of the viscose/polyester-blended needle-punched webs was achieved at higher content of viscose fibers which coincide with the higher fiber density, finer fibers, and lower web density. A prediction model regarding water absorption capacity of viscose/polyester needle-punched webs was developed on the basis of the mentioned construction parameters and a non-deterministic modelling method, e.g. genetic algorithms, and could provide a guideline for the engineering of nonwoven webs in order to fit the desired water absorption capacity.     

Comparison of methods for measuring leaf and tuber water potentials in potatoes

Comparative methods for measuring water potential in leaves and tubers of potatoes (Solarium tuberosum L., var. Russet Burbank) are described. For leaves drier than -3 bars, the pressure chamber gave estimates of water potential which were zero to three bars drier than potentials measured using thermocouple psychrometers. Pressure chamber readings ranged ±2.5 bars from psychrometer value for leaves wetter than -3 bars; the psychrometer measurement usually was drier than the pressure chamber when leaves were sampled in the evening. With tubers, water potential measurements usingin situ psychrometers and the pressure chamber agreed to within one bar,except in tubers drier than -7 bars, where there were discrepancies of± 2.5 bars. However, if the interval between psychrometer insertion and water potential measurement were longer than 24 hours, serious errors arose in the psychrometer measurements, apparently from suberization of tissues surrounding the psychrometers which prevented vapor equilibrium. Pressure chamber measurements of tubers also were compared with tuber water potentials determined from the weight changes of tuber samples immersed in graded sucrose osmotica. For tubers wetter than -5 bars, the osmotica method gave drier estimates than the pressure chamber; for tubers drier than -5 bars the reverse occurred. Causes for these discrepancies are discussed.     

Cross-cultural comparison of sound sensation and its prediction models for Korean traditional silk fabrics

In this study, cross-cultural comparison of sound sensation for Korean traditional silk fabrics between Korea and America was performed and prediction models for sound sensation by objective measurements including sound parameters such as level pressure of total sound (LPT), Zwicker’s psychoacoustic characteristics, and mechanical properties by Kawabata Evaluation System were established for each nation to explore the objective parameters explaining sound sensation of the Korean traditional silk. As results, Koreans felt the silk fabric sounds soft and smooth while Americans were revealed as perceiving them hard and rough. Both Koreans and Americans were pleasant with sounds of Gongdan and Newttong and especially Newttong was preferred more by Americans in terms of sound sensation. In prediction models, some of subjective sensation were found as being related mainly with mechanical properties of traditional silk fabrics such as surface and compressional characteristics.     

Sound absorption and viscoelastic property of acoustical automotive nonwovens and their plasma treatment

Sound absorption property, viscoelastic property and the effect of plasma treatment of four automotive nonwoven fabrics on these properties are discussed in this research paper. Needle-punched fabrics used for vehicle headliner include 2 polyester fabrics made of hollow polyester fibers or solid polyester fibers, and 2 polypropylene-composite cellulose fabrics made of jute fibers or kenaf fibers, manufactured with the same web structure of apparent fabric density and fabric thickness. Hollow polyester fiber fabric has the highest sound absorption and the highest loss factor, the second highest is jute fiber fabric. The viscoelastic property is found to be related to the sound absorption property of fabric. The plasma treatment on nonwoven fabrics changes their sound absorption and viscoelastic property as well as their fabric weight and pore size. Hollow polyester fabric shows the increased sound absorption and viscoelastic property after the treatment with the increased pore sizes, while regular polyester fabric displays insignificant changes. The cellulose fabrics are more affected by plasma treatment compared to the polyester fabrics in terms of fabric weight loss and pore size, and jute fabric is more affected than kenaf fabric due to fiber weakness. The jute fabric demonstrates the decreased sound absorption and viscoelastic property, while kenaf fabric shows the increased sound absorption with the unchanged viscoelastic property after the treatment.     

In vivo evaluation of gelatin/hyaluronic acid nanofiber as Burn-wound healing and its comparison with ChitoHeal gel

The study aims at performing a comparative assessment of two types of burn wound treatment. The present study was designed to prepare crosslinked and blended two natural polymers nanofiber scaffolds using gelatin (GE) and hyaluronic acid (HA). The GE/HA composite nanofibrous membranes with varied GE/HA weight ratio have also been successfully fabricated by an electrospinning method. The average diameter of GE/HA fibers was in the range of 20 to 150 nm. In vivo efficacy was also investigated based on a deep second degree burns model for Wistar rats. At 14 days post-operation, the dermal defect basically recovered its normal condition. A percentage of wound closure of GE/HA composite nanofibrous membranes and ChitoHeal gel reached up to 81.9 % and 77.8 % respectively, compared with 65 % of the untreated control (p<0.05). Also, histological parameters were assessed on postoperative day 7 and 14. The results of in vivo experiments showed that more epidermis was formed in the gel and scaffold groups compared to the control group. The numbers of inflammatory cells in these two groups were also smaller as compared with the control group, which could well be the reason for the delayed healing in the control group.     

A comparison and modification of methods of total glycoalkaloid analysis

Total glycoalkaloid (TGA) content of potato tissues was determined using six methods of extraction. Blending 50 g tuber tissue for 8 minutes in a Waring Blendor with a 100 ml of 5% trichloroacetic acid (TCAA) in 75% methanol resulted in 99% extraction of TGA in relation to the soxhlet method of extraction. Extraction with 5% TCAA in 75% methanol reduced the analysis variation (standard error) by about one-half. TGA extraction with 5% TCAA and determination of TGA concentration with antimony trichloride can be completed in about 1/30 of the time required for the standard soxhlet method, thereby allowing for TGA analysis of a greater number of samples. The results indicate that extreme care should be taken in sample preparation and interpretation of the TGA level of potato tubers because of the wide variation of the TGA concentration present within a potato tuber.     

A comparison of methods of establishing perennial and Italian ryegrasses

An experiment extending over a 2½-year period from June 1976 to October 1978 assessed the effect on herbage yield of method of establishment, species and level of N application.
Perennial ryegrass cv. Gremie and Italian ryegrass cv. RvP were established by broadcasting or drilling into cultivated ground or by direct-drilling, using a Howard Rotaseeder, into paraquat-sprayed but uncultivated ground. These treatments were combined with annual rates of N application of 0, 120, 240 or 360 kg ha^-1.
Over the experiment drilling into cultivated ground gave the highest yield—3·6 and 4·8% higher than the broadcast and direct-drilled treatments, respectively. Italian ryegrass consistently outyielded perennial ryegrass, with an overall mean dry matter yield advantage of 23·7%. There was no significant interaction between sowing method and species; direct-drilled Italian ryegrass produced a mean yield 17·3% higher than that of drilled perennial ryegrass.     

A comparison of seed harvesting methods for perennial ryegrass treated with the growth retardant paclobutrazol

Methods of harvesting seed of perennial ryegrass cv. S24 treated with the growth retardant paclobutrazol applied at spikelet initiation at a rate of 2.0 kg active ingredient ha⁻¹ were examined in 1982. The greatest seed yield (2202 kg ha⁻¹) was obtained from swathing the crop at 35% seed moisture content and combining 2 days later, but this was not significantly different from that obtained from swathing at 48% seed moisture content or double direct combining at 35% seed moisture content. Seed yields from a single direct combining at either 35% or 25% seed moisture content were significantly lower than those of other treatments.     

Comparison of two methods for determining in vitro intestinal absorption of nutrients using rats fed different diets

Absorption of sucrose, glucose, leucine and aspartate was studied using intestinal everted sac of rats fed on french bean diets namely PDR-14, HUR-137 and HUR-15 using casein as a control. Absorption of nutrients was monitored spectrophotometrically and by¹⁴C radio assay of metabolites using scientillation counting. The absorption pattern of amino acids was found to be similar but of glucose and sucrose differed. Glucose was found to be more absorbed than sucrose in spectrophotometer assay and the pattern reversed in radio assay. Absorption of sucrose and leucine were higher by rats fed on HUR-137 diet and similarly, more aspartate was absorbed when fed on HUR-15 diet as demonstrated by both the methods. Rats fed on HUR-137 diet exhibited higher glucose absorption as shown by spectrophotometric assay, but rats on HUR-15 diet by radio assay. Absorption of nutrients differed significantly between casein and french beans.     

A comparison of two methods of recording stem densities in the potato crop

Summary Two series of experiments are reported which determined the origins of above-ground stems in potato crops in Cambridge and elsewhere in East Anglia. Very little secondary branching was found so that counts of above-ground stems and main stems were very similar. The implications of this lack of branching are discussed and the above-ground stem count suggested as a suitable method of recording densities in the potato.

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Zusammenfassung Es wird über eine Anzahl Feldversuche aus den Jahren 1969–1971 berichtet, bei denen der Ort des Beginns obrirdischer Stengel in Kartoffelbest?nden bestimmt wurde. Die Versuche wurden in Cambridge und andern Teilen von East Anglia durchgeführt und umfassten verschiedene Bodentypen, das Auspflanzen von Hand und mit der Maschine, die Anwendung von Bodenherbiziden und das Hacken von Hand zur Unkrautbek?mpfung, verschiedene Pflanzabst?nde (30,5–68,6 cm) in der Reihe und zwischen zwei Reihen (68,6 cm und 76,2 cm), viele Sorten und Pflanzknollen verschiedener Gr?sse mit einer breiten Skala der Keimentwicklung. Die Pflanzen wurden im Juli von Hand geerntet und die Haupttriebe sowie s?mtlichte Triebe über dem Boden gez?hlt. Sehr wenig sekund?re Verzweigungen (Nebentriebe) wurden gefunden (Tabellen 1–4), so dass die beiden Z?hlmethoden sehr ?hnliche Resultate brachten. Selbst bei Pflanzen mit 10 oder 12 Stengeln stammte die Mehrheit der Stengel aus einer Gewebemasse des Kronenendes der Knolle, und es war ohne eingehende Analyse nicht m?glich zu bestimmen, wieviele Augen dazu beitrugen; alle diese Stengel wurden deshalb als Haupttriebe gez?hlt. Viele der sekund?ren Triebe (Nebentriebe) trugen Knollen (Abb. 1), und es wird angenommen, dass das Z?hlen aller Stengel über dem Boden eine zuverl?ssige und nicht einseitige Methode zur Feststellung der Dichte in Kartoffelbest?nden ist.

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Résumé Les auteurs rapportent les résultats d'un certain nombre d'expériences visant à déterminer l'origine des tiges aériennes dans les cultures de pomme de terre. Les essais ont été exécutés à Cambridge et dans d'autres endroits de l'Est del'Angleterre, et ont impliqué divers types de sol, les plantations manuelle et mécanique, l'utilisation d'herbicides et le sarclage manuel, divers espacements de plants (30,5–68,6 cm) et de buttes (68,6-cm et 76,8 cm), diverses variétés et diverses grosseurs de plants montrant une large variation dans le développement des germes. On arrachait manuellement les plantes en juillet et on déterminait les nombres de tiges au-dessus et en-dessous du sol (tiges principales). On a trouvé une très faible ramification secondaire (tableaux 1–4) de sorte que les deux méthodes de comptage ont donné des résultats très semblables. Même lorsque les plantes montrent 10 ou 12 tiges, celles-ci proviennent en majorité d'une masse de tissu située à la couronne du tubercule et il n'est pas possible sans une dissection minutieuse de préciser combien de bourgeons ont contribué à ce résultat, par conséquent, toutes ces tiges sont considérées comme tiges principales provenant d'en-dessous du sol. Beaucoup de branches secondaires produisent des tubercules (fig. I) et les auteurs pensent que le dénombrement de toutes les tiges audessus du sol constitue une méthode valable et non-subjective de déterminations des densitées dans les cultures de pomme de terre.

     

A comparison of chemical and physical methods for treating French fries to produce an acceptable microwaved product

Frozen par-fries were processed in January and February using BelRus and Russet Burbank potatoes which were obtained from the same source and held under the same storage conditions. Prior to par-frying the raw potato slices were treated chemically or physically in order to increase the amount of bound water, or to remove water. At each processing date total solids of the raw and treated tissue were determined. Par-fries were analyzed for fat content. Treated samples were microwave heated and evaluated for sensory qualities as compared to frozen par-fries heated in a conventional oven. In no cases were the microwaved fries superior to the oven-heated fries in color, flavor, or texture. Drying the blanched fries in an oven for 10 min. prior to par-frying produced a microwaved product that was quite similar to the oven-heated fries, particularly in the case of the BelRus potatoes. In all cases BelRus potatoes absorbed less fat on par-frying than did Russet Burbank potatoes.     

A comparison of methods of predicting the in vivo digestibility of heather by sheep

Methods of predicting the in vivo dry matter digestibility (DMD) of heather were examined in studies on ten samples of heather which had been fed to sheep in standard digestibility trials. DMD was predicted with similar accuracy from estimates of in vitro dry matter digestibility (in vitro DMD) and from the concentration of cell-wall constituents. In vitro DMD was found to be between 10 and 18 percentage units lower than DMD. Freeze drying the samples was the only modification to the technique which both increased in vitro DMD and the accuracy of the prediction of DMD. Other modifications attempted were the use of different liquor sources, changes in first-stage incubation time and dilution rate, and nitrogen supplementation of the inocula. The concentration of nitrogen or undigested dietary nitrogen in the faeces could not be used to predict the digestibility of heather with precision. It was concluded that the DMD of a heather diet could be satisfactorily predicted from the in vitro DMD of samples collected from sheep fistulated at the oesophagus.     

A comparison of some methods for detecting potato leaf roll virus in potato tubers in Israel

Summary The results obtained by four methods for detecting PLRV in potato tubers grown in Israel were compared with the results obtained by aphid transmission to test plants. The correlation coefficients for potatoes lifted in July (seed for autumn) and September (seed for spring) were: Igel-Lange test, 0.18 and 0.25; datura grafting with tuber sprouts, 0.71 and 0.63; aphid transmission from sprouts to test plants, 0.89 and 0.81; and visual assessment in the Florida test (for spring seed), Up-to-Date 0.58, Blanka 0.67 and Désirée 0.33. The Igel-Lange test proved unreliable; datura grafting is time consuming and PLRV symptoms were similar to reactions ofDatura stramonium to wounding and to stress. The results of the Florida test were somewhat variable and were obtained too late. The sprout test was deemed the most suitable as it is accurate and the results can be obtained within two months. Contribution No 156-E, 1979 series, Volcani Center.     

Quantitative genetics of rice II. A comparison of the efficiency of four breeding methods

A comparison of the efficiency of four breeding methods, the pedigree, modified pedigree and bulk methods, and single seed descent, with a pair of crosses whose potential was assessed in a previous paper, showed that, on average, the F₆ products of the three methods in which selection had been practiced outscored those produced by single seed descent for most characters for which improvement was sought. However, though the best lines produced by these methods achieved the desired targets for every character considered singly, none were significantly better than the best single seed descent line for any character in either cross. These results indicate that while it has been possible to practice effective negative selection during the course of inbreeding, by culling plants of poor performance, attempts to carry out positive selection of plants of superior performance were less successful. An audit of the costs incurred in producing the most promising F₆ lines that were extracted by these methods from each cross revealed that the single seed descent lines were the cheapest and those of the pedigree and modified pedigree methods the most expensive. These results indicate, therefore, that single seed descent is at least as effective as the other methods, is less costly and, where three generations can be raised per annum, is more rapid. Comparison of the observed proportions of superior single seed descent F₆ lines, with those predicted from information obtained from the F₃ generation of these crosses showed that for the majority of characters, the former were close to the latter. Single seed descent, therefore, has the further advantage that it is possible to predict the potential of a cross on information obtained from the early generations of the pedigree.