Study on the effects of single fiber tensile properties on bundle tensile properties through estimation of HVI bundle modulus and toughness

The HVI properties and Mantis® single fiber tensile properties were analyzed to evaluate the relationship between fiber and bundle tensile properties. For this study, a new method has been developed for estimating the modulus and toughness of cotton fiber bundles directly from the HVI tenacity-elongation curves. The single fiber tensile properties were shown to be translated well into the bundle tensile properties. The single fiber breaking elongation was found to be the most significant contributing factor to bundle tensile properties. The bundle breaking elongation and toughness were shown to increase as the single fiber breaking elongation increased. The bundle modulus increased as the single fiber breaking elongation and/or standard deviation of single fiber breaking elongation decreased.     

Characteristics of double-layer coated fabrics with and without phase change materials and nano-particles

Stability in a low temperature environment is needed for a textile to be used as winter wear. This research was presented the characteristics of fabrics by double-thin-layered coating with and without phase change materials (PCM) and several nano-sized inorganic particles (N-particles). Silica, Ag, Zr, and carbon types of N-particles were used for investigating the N-particles effect. For the experimental method, the PCM and N-particles were coated consecutively in the wet and dry coating process, respectively. The N-particles on the surface of the coated fabrics were confirmed by energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS), and after double-layer composite coating, the adhesion durability, water vapor permeability, water penetration resistance, DSC, thermographic photography, far infrared (FIR) emission effect, and the thermal insulation of the coated fabrics were tested for investigating the performances. Their compatibility and adhesion were superior when the add-on of N-particles was 10 %. From the DSC reproducibility results, we verified that the N-particles coated fabric preserved its thermal stability by absorbing latent heat. On the other hand, the FIR emission rate and energy of the Ag N-particle based sample were not better than the control sample.     

Dietary L-carnitine suppresses mitochondrial branched-chain keto acid dehydrogenase activity and enhances protein accretion and carcass characteristics of swine.

A trial was conducted to biochemically explain the decreased lipid deposition and increased protein accretion observed in pigs fed carnitine. Our hypothesis was that an increase in the ratio of acetyl CoA:CoA-SH produced by stimulation of fatty acid oxidation by supplemental L-carnitine may decrease branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase activity and increase pyruvate carboxylase activity. Such changes could reduce oxidative loss of branched-chain amino acids and provide more carbons for amino acid biosynthesis. Yorkshire gilts (n = 36; 12 per treatment) were fed a control diet or diets containing either 50 or 125 ppm of added L-carnitine during growth from 56 to 120 kg. After slaughter, the semitendinosus muscle and liver were collected for isolation of mitochondria and hepatocytes. Increasing dietary L-carnitine did not influence growth performance (P > 0.10) but linearly decreased (P < 0.05) 10th rib backfat thickness and increased (linear, P < 0.05) percentages of lean and muscle. The rates of [1-(14)G]palmitate oxidation in isolated hepatocytes and isolated mitochondria, and incorporation of [35S]methionine into the acid insoluble fraction of isolated hepatocytes were increased (linear, P < 0.01) in pigs fed L-carnitine. Flux through branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase linearly decreased (P < 0.01) in isolated liver and muscle mitochondria with increasing dietary carnitine. Flux through pyruvate carboxylase was increased (linear, P < 0.01) in isolated mitochondria from liver of pigs fed carnitine, and assays with particle-free extracts indicated that the amount of mitochondrial pyruvate carboxylase was tripled by feeding carnitine (linear, P < 0.01). The association of increased protein accretion and reduced backfat thickness with greater rates of palmitate oxidation, more rapid flux through pyruvate carboxylase, and reduced flux through branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase suggests pigs fed carnitine are more able to use fat for energy, divert carbon toward synthesis of amino acids, and spare branched-chain amino acids for protein synthesis.     

Benign cranial mediastinal lesions in three cats

Cranial mediastinal lesions were detected in three cats, associated with respiratory impairment (case one), spontaneous pneumothorax (case two) and myasthenia gravis (case three), respectively. On gross and histological examination, the first case was considered either a lymphangioma or a branchial cystic mass of the thymic region of the mediastinum; a cystic lesion was suggested by sonographic detection of multiple anechoic cavitations within a circumscribed mass, while fine needle aspiration cytology excluded lymphosarcoma. The second case was diagnosed histologically as a cystic thymoma, but the third case was not examined microscopically. The masses were amenable to surgical excision in the first two cats, while this proved unnecessary in the third case because of resolution following treatment with dexamethasone. Corticosteroid responsiveness was unhelpful in distinguishing between these benign lesions and lymphosarcoma, as in two cases there was a partial or complete response to dosing with prednisolone or dexamethasone. These cases are presented to emphasise that conditions other than lymphosarcoma can produce cranial mediastinal lesions in cats, and that the prognosis for surgical treatment of lymphangiomas, multilocular thymic cysts and cystic thymomas can be excellent.     

Information networking for new partnerships in forestry

Easy access to information is now an essential component of modern living in a changing society. These days, much of the information is disseminated through networking. Networking is required in collaborative partnerships between information providers and receivers to facilitate the exchange of knowledge and information. Partnership acts as a catalyst towards successful communication of information among users. There are many challenges and/or issues in the forestry sector, particularly in the developing countries. However, these issues can be resolved through new partnerships in networking such as the Collaborative Partnership on Forests (CPF), Asia Forest Partnership (AFP), and Global Forest Information Service (GFIS). Activities in education, training, and research are especially vital for the future in order to develop better partnerships and networking of information in the forestry sector. The Japanese Forest Society, Chinese Society of Forestry, and Korean Forest Society may act as collaborative partners to initiate networking activities to bridge existing information gaps in the Northeast Asian regions. An erratum to this article can be found at     

A simplified optimization in cotton bale selection and laydown

We present a new approach to bale laydown grouping, which improves the laydown to laydown uniformities, compared to conventional approaches. In this approach, we use a frequency-relative picking method based on an HVI quality index for cotton bale selection and laydown formation. We demonstrate the effectiveness of this approach by computer simulation on real HVI data of 1500 cotton bales. Simulation results show that the proposed method significantly outperforms random picking.     

Dietary L-carnitine increases plasma leptin concentrations of gestating sows fed one meal per day

Thirty-four sows (parity=1.8; BW=206 kg) were used to determine the influence of L-carnitine and/or chromium tripicolinate on plasma leptin concentrations of gestating sows fed one meal daily. Treatments were arranged in a 2 x 2 factorial with main effects of carnitine (0 or 50 ppm) and chromium (0 or 200 ppb). Diets were fed for approximately 167 days (through one gestation, the following lactation, the interval from weaning to estrus, and 28 days into the following gestation) prior to blood collection. Leptin concentration was determined in plasma that was collected at feeding, every 15 min for the first 3h after feeding, and at 6, 9, 15, 20, and 24h after feeding. Sows fed diets containing carnitine had greater (P<0.02) overall mean plasma leptin concentrations and greater (P<0.05) leptin concentrations at 2.25, 3, 6, 15, 20, and 24h after feeding compared to sows fed either the control diet or the diet containing chromium. Leptin concentrations of sows fed diets containing carnitine also were greater (P<0.05) than control sows at 2.5 and 2.75 h postprandial and greater than (P<0.05) sows fed diets with both carnitine and chromium at 6h after feeding. Chromium had no effect (P>0.10) on plasma leptin concentration. These results suggest that dietary carnitine, but not chromium, increases circulating leptin in gestating sows fed one meal per day. These results may help to explain the improvements in reproductive function previously observed from feeding sows diets containing carnitine.     

Treated municipal wastewater for citrus irrigation 1

Treated, reclaimed municipal wastewater was evaluated on citrus trees in central Florida for over six years. The effects of irrigation with reclaimed wastewater on soil water content, soil chemical analysis, leaf mineral status, and fruit quality were compared with those of irrigation with well water. Irrigation with reclaimed water increased mineral residues in the soil profile, altered leaf mineral concentration and fruit quality, and promoted better tree performance and more weed growth relative to irrigation with well water. Higher accumulation of nitrogen (N), potassium (K), calcium (Ca), and magnesium (Mg) in soils irrigated with reclaimed water were not significantly reflected in leaf mineral status. Although leaf sodium (Na), chloride (Cl), and boron (B) concentrations were noticeably higher in reclaimed water treatments than in those of well water, they are still far below the toxicity levels. This highly treated wastewater in central Florida has been found to be a very safe and good option for increasing water supplies, but not a significant source of plant nutrients to citrus trees.