Porosity and capillarity of weft knitted spacer structures

A geometrical model of weft knitted spacer structures made with mono-filament yarn has been analysed to understand the spacer yarn path. Theoretical models have been created to predict the porosity and the radius of the capillaries of a knitted spacer structure depending on their geometrical parameters, such as course spacing, wale spacing, stitch length, fabric thickness, count of yarn and fibre density. Polyester knitted spacer fabrics were produced with different parameters; their porosity was determined by measuring the weight and compared with the theoretical porosity. The validity of the model was confirmed by experimental results. The porosity of knitted spacer structures made out of mono-filament yarn can be maintained above a certain level by adjusting the fabric parameters such as fabric thickness, course spacing and wale spacing.     

Analysis on the pilling factors of cashmere knitted fabric

The effect of cashmere yarn twist, knitted fabric density, and cashmere properties on pilling rates of cashmere knitted fabric is investigated in this paper. The experimental results show that yarn twist and fabric density have little influence on pilling rates of cashmere knitted fabric for yarn 38.4 tex/2 when yarn twist varies from 234 T/m to 272 T/m, and the fabric density is 9.7, 10.7, and 11.2 yarns/inch, respectively. The length of cashmere fiber, in particular less than 7.5 mm, is responsible for the pilling rates of cashmere knitted fabric based on optimal scaling regression analysis.     

Dimensional stability of cotton-spandex interlock structures under relaxation

In this study, dimensional characteristics of core spun cotton/spandex interlock structures with high, medium and low tightness factors were studied under dry-, wet-, and full relaxation conditions. Results are compared with those for similar fabrics knitted from 100 % cotton. Dimensional characteristics of samples of core-spun cotton/spandex and cotton are measured by considering the changing of course-, wale- densities and stitch densities under dry, wet and full relaxation conditions. Based on these data, dimensional constants (U-values) were predicted under 95 % significance level. Higher U-values are reported with cotton/spandex interlocks than 100 % cotton and under full relaxation, cotton/spandex shows the U-values with lesser CV%. Stitch density growth is linearly correlated with tightness factor for both interlock material structures. Excellent resiliency property of cotton/spandex yarns increases tightness factors at machine off state and during relaxation states. Cotton/spandex interlock structures show more prominent co-relationship with their tightness factors on their dimensional parameters.     

Sensory evaluation of fabric touch by free modulus magnitude estimation

Fabric touch was evaluated psychophysically in order to determine the relationship between mechanical properties and subjective sensation. For subjective touch sensation, eight aspects such as hardness, smoothness, coarseness, coolness, pliability, crispness, heaviness and thickness were evaluated using free modulus magnitude estimation (FMME) technique. KES-FB was used to measure the mechanical properties of fabrics. Woolen fabric with the highest values of WC and weight was evaluated as the coarsest, heaviest and thickest. While silk crepe de chine with the lowest LT, G, 2HG, thickness and weight was rated as smoother and more pliable than any other fabrics. And flax with the highest values of LT and SMD was evaluated as hard, cool and crisp. Fabric touch and satisfaction were predicted well from the mechanical properties, especially from SMD, by regression analysis. Satisfaction for touch increased as smoothness increased.     

A model describing the utilization of herbage by cattle in a rotational grazing system

A model that describes the utilization of herbage by cattle in a rotational grazing system is presented. The model considers swards as being structured into two phases: a long phase associated with old dung patches, and a short phase. Both phases are treated as consisting of a series of horizontal strata corresponding in depth to a bite depth. The sward is divided into feeding stations consisting of either the long or the short phase. In each, only the surface stratum is available for grazing at each time step. At any time step, the individuals of a herd of cattle, distributed at random, encounter the entire range of strata. The rate of intake of each member of the herd depends on the intake properties of the stratum that it has encountered. The number of cattle that encounter each stratum type is variable so that the mean intake per member of the herd is the weighted mean. The core feature of the model is the simulation of the change over time in the frequency distribution of exposed stratum types and the distribution of grazing across this range of strata. The members of the herd are assumed to select a feeding station based on preference for leafiness of the encountered stata and the phase. The decision to graze or not is based on the comparison between the current vs. the previous feeding station. Model parameter values were based on published data. The proportion of leaf and bulk density of a phase or the strata were determined from an analysis of a sample of sward profiles. Using bite dimension, bite weight, biting rate, search time, feeding station area and selective behaviour, it was possible to simulate sward depletion that is very similar to the observed data from grazed paddocks in experiments in south‐east Ireland. The model of herbage utilization adequately described the changes in intake and sward structure during grazing and it was concluded that it was suitable for use as part of a simulation of a grazing system.     

The feasibility of predicting the number of stems per tuber produced by potato seed stocks from measurements made before planting

Summary The number of stems per seed tuber produced by 17 seed stocks of cv. Record was determined in glasshouse and field experiments to assess the feasibility of predicting the number of stems produced in the field. Multiple regression analysis showed that seed tuber weight alone gave the most satisfactory fit to stems produced in the field, which was not improved by adding terms involving the number of stems produced in the glasshouse. Quadratic relationships between the number of above-ground stems per tuber and tuber weight were most appropriate for each stock, with the fitted curves for individual stocks differing only in the constant term. However, there were significant rank correlation coefficients between the constant terms for relationships between field stems and tuber weight and glasshouse stems and tuber weight, suggesting that in other cultivars and seed stocks a predictive glasshouse test might still be useful.     

Foam stability of leaves from anthocyanidin‐accumulating Lc‐alfalfa and relation to molecular structures detected by fourier‐transformed infrared‐vibration spectroscopy

Foam stability related to pasture bloat from alfalfa pastures might be reduced by introducing a gene that stimulates the accumulation of mono‐/polymeric‐anthocyanidin. The objective of this study was to determine the foam formation (at 0 min) and stability (at 150 min) from aqueous leaf extracts of three transgenic Lc‐alfalfa progeny (BeavLc1, RambLc3 and RangLc4), parental non‐transgenic (NT) alfalfa and AC Grazeland (bloat‐reduced cultivar) harvested at 07:00 or 18:00 h. Initial and final foam volumes at 07:00 h were lower for AC Grazeland compared with all other treatments and lower for RangLc4 compared with the other two Lc‐progeny at 0 min and NT‐alfalfa at 150 min. At 18:00 h, initial foam volume was larger for NT‐alfalfa and final foam volume was larger for RambLc3 compared with AC Grazeland, BeavLc1 and RangLc4. Spectroscopic vibration associated with carbohydrates increased initial foam volume and stability. More amide I relative to amide II, fewer α‐helices relative to β‐sheets and leaf extract ethanol‐film and protein content increased initial foam volume but did not stabilize it. Spectroscopic vibration associated with all carbohydrates other than structural carbohydrates was more important than vibration from protein structures for foam formation and stabilization. In conclusion, Lc‐alfalfa accumulated anthocyanidin and had reduced foaming properties compared with parental NT alfalfa but AC Grazeland and RangLc4 had the lowest foaming properties.