Bats under a hot tin roof: comparing the microclimate of eastern cave bat (Vespadelus troughtoni) roosts in a shed and cave overhangs

2007 ◽  
Vol 55 (1) ◽  
pp. 49 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. S. Law ◽  
M. Chidel
Keyword(s):  
Energy Savings ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Ambient Conditions ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Lactating Females ◽  
Summer Temperatures ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Maternity Roost ◽  
Diurnal Temperatures ◽  
Microclimate Conditions

We compared the microclimate experienced by maternity groups of eastern cave bats (Vespadelus troughtoni) in northern New South Wales between roosts in overhang caves versus a nearby maternity roost beneath the corrugated iron roof of a farm shed. The shed’s microclimate differed dramatically from that of the caves. Caves provided well-buffered microclimate conditions, which were cooler and more humid than ambient conditions during the day, but were warmer and less humid than ambient at night. Early summer temperatures remained between 20 and 25°C in the maternity caves. In contrast, the microclimate at the shed was not buffered, with conditions varying enormously over a 24-h period, being hotter than ambient during the day (mean = 30°C, maximum = 40°C in the middle of the day), and similar to ambient at night (mean = 18°C at dawn). Rather than selecting thermal stability, lactating females selected warm, but variable, diurnal temperatures in the shed, presumably to sustain lactation. Under this situation, we estimated considerable energetic savings by roosting in the shed (27–35%, assuming normothermia) compared with that for caves, and even higher savings if bats were torpid in the mornings and passively rewarmed later (60–69%). Lactating bats therefore presumably traded-off the cost of leaving juveniles behind in a cool roost at night with these energetic benefits. In late autumn bats continued to roost in the shed with day temperatures rising above 30°C, compared with unoccupied caves, which were considerably cooler at this time (~20°C). Clarification of the estimated energy savings and the possible costs in terms of milk production requires further research to measure concurrently body temperatures, roost temperature and energy expenditure, together with juvenile growth in different types of roosts.

An integrated approach for tracking climate-driven changes in treeline environments on different time scales in the Valle d’Aosta, Italian Alps

The Holocene ◽  
2021 ◽  
pp. 095968362110259
Author(s):  
Anna Masseroli ◽  
Giovanni Leonelli ◽  
Umberto Morra di Cella ◽  
Eric P Verrecchia ◽  
David Sebag ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Integrated Approach ◽  
Early Summer ◽  
Ice Age ◽  
Limiting Factor ◽  
Alpine Treeline ◽  
Growing Seasons ◽  
Direct Measurements ◽  
Soil Temperatures ◽  
Summer Temperatures ◽  
Local Station

Both biotic and abiotic components, characterizing the mountain treeline ecotone, respond differently to climate variations. This study aims at reconstructing climate-driven changes by analyzing soil evolution in the late Holocene and by assessing the climatic trends for the last centuries and years in a key high-altitude climatic treeline (2515 m a.s.l.) on the SW slope of the Becca di Viou mountain (Aosta Valley Region, Italy). This approach is based on soil science and dendrochronological techniques, together with daily air/soil temperature monitoring of four recent growing seasons. Direct measurements show that the ongoing soil temperatures during the growing season, at the treeline and above, are higher than the predicted reference values for the Alpine treeline. Thus, they do not represent a limiting factor for tree establishment and growth, including at the highest altitudes of the potential treeline (2625 m a.s.l.). Dendrochronological evidences show a marked sensitivity of tree-ring growth to early-summer temperatures. During the recent 10-year period 2006–2015, trees at around 2300 m a.s.l. have grown at a rate that is approximately 1.9 times higher than during the 10-year period 1810–1819, one of the coolest periods of the Little Ice Age. On the other hand, soils show only an incipient response to the ongoing climate warming, likely because of its resilience regarding the changeable environmental conditions and the different factors influencing the soil development. The rising air temperature, and the consequent treeline upward shift, could be the cause of a shift from Regosol to soil with more marked Umbric characteristics, but only for soil profiles located on the N facing slopes. Overall, the results of this integrated approach permitted a quantification of the different responses in abiotic and biotic components through time, emphasizing the influence of local station conditions in responding to the past and ongoing climate change.

scholarly journals The cost of vaginal birth at home, in a birth centre or in a hospital setting in New South Wales: A micro-costing study

2020 ◽  
Vol 33 (3) ◽  
pp. 286-293
Author(s):  
Vanessa L. Scarf ◽  
Serena Yu ◽  
Rosalie Viney ◽  
Laura Lavis ◽  
Hannah Dahlen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Hospital Setting ◽  
Vaginal Birth ◽  
Birth Centre ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Costing Study ◽  
The Cost ◽  
At Home

Predicting effects of selected impregnation processes on the observed bending strength of wood, with use of data mining models

BioResources ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 4891-4904
Author(s):  
Selahattin Bardak ◽  
Timucin Bardak ◽  
Hüseyin Peker ◽  
Eser Sözen ◽  
Yildiz Çabuk
Keyword(s):  
Data Mining ◽  
Goodness Of Fit ◽  
Bending Strength ◽  
Wood Preservation ◽  
Ambient Conditions ◽  
Data Mining Algorithms ◽  
Use Of Data ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Mining Algorithms ◽  
The Relationship

Wood materials have been used in many products such as furniture, stairs, windows, and doors for centuries. There are differences in methods used to adapt wood to ambient conditions. Impregnation is a widely used method of wood preservation. In terms of efficiency, it is critical to optimize the parameters for impregnation. Data mining techniques reduce most of the cost and operational challenges with accurate prediction in the wood industry. In this study, three data-mining algorithms were applied to predict bending strength in impregnated wood materials (Pinus sylvestris L. and Millettia laurentii). Models were created from real experimental data to examine the relationship between bending strength, diffusion time, vacuum duration, and wood type, based on decision trees (DT), random forest (RF), and Gaussian process (GP) algorithms. The highest bending strength was achieved with wenge (Millettia laurentii) wood in 10 bar vacuum and the diffusion condition during 25 min. The results showed that all algorithms are suitable for predicting bending strength. The goodness of fit for the testing phase was determined as 0.994, 0.986, and 0.989 in the DT, RF, and GP algorithms, respectively. Moreover, the importance of attributes was determined in the algorithms.

scholarly journals SOLAR RADIATION PROTECTION SYSTEM WITH SIMULTANEOUS HOT WATER SUPPLY

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
І. Puhoviy ◽  
М. Makhrov
Keyword(s):  
Solar Energy ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Electrical Power ◽  
Warm Season ◽  
Hot Water ◽  
Air Conditioner ◽  
Domestic Water ◽  
Environmental Friendliness ◽  
Additional Advantage ◽  
The Cost

Problems. Windows in the summer let through a large amount of solar energy into the room, which causes an additional cost of cooling the air by conditioning. It is known that the limit of comfort is the temperature of 26 oC. To reduce the temperature, use air conditioners, which are required 0,3...0,5 kW of electrical power for 10 m2 of housing. The study deals with the capture of solar energy by water and its use for domestic water purposes (DHW). The goal of the research. Experimental verification of patented developments and calculations of hot water quantity obtained per day, energy savings and economic indicators. Methods of implementation. Experiments were conducted on the south window of the room, with water pumping by a pump and periodic measurement of air and water temperatures at the outlet of the system by mercury thermometer. The calculations were performed using the methods developed by the authors. The studies were conducted within three days of November. The temperature inside ranged a room from 19 to 23 °C. The system was operated in circulating mode on a water battery tank located below the absorber. Isolation of the absorber from the side of the room was made of a transparent food film. Research results. Water temperature reached 45 °C per 1,5-2 hours. Water consumption is enhanced by the thermosiphon effect when water moves from the bottom up. On a clear day of spring and autumn, you can heat for 50-70 % more water than the average for the average day of months of the warm season. For preparing DHW with 1 m2 of absorber, it is possible to get 45-50 kW∙h of heat for each month from March to September, taking into account cloudiness. The savings from the use of hot water and from reducing the consumption of electricity in the air conditioner are calculated. Conclusions. The payback period of the system, taking into account the cost of the heat for DHW and electricity savings for an electric air conditioner, is approximately 4-5 years. The cost of the system is close to the cost of a home air conditioner, for a premise with a single window oriented south. To the energy-saving factor, an additional advantage is the environmental friendliness of the system compared to the air conditioner.

scholarly journals Novel Microwave-Assisted Method of Y2Ti2O7 Powder Synthesis

Materials ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (24) ◽  
pp. 5621
Author(s):  
Vladimir Chishkala ◽  
Serhiy Lytovchenko ◽  
Bohdan Mazilin ◽  
Edwin Gevorkyan ◽  
Vladimir Shkuropatenko ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Energy Savings ◽  
High Energy ◽  
Industrial Applications ◽  
Powder Synthesis ◽  
Microwave Assisted ◽  
Pyrochlore Type ◽  
Size And Morphology ◽  
Solvent Chemistry ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Microwave Assisted Method

In the paper, a novel technique for highly dispersed pyrochlore Y2Ti2O7 is proposed. The experimental results proved that the application of microwave irradiation at a certain stage of calcination allowed synthesizing of Y2Ti2O7 in much shorter time, which ensured substantial energy savings. An increase up to 98 wt.% in the content of the preferred phase with a pyrochlore-type structure Y2Ti2O7 was obtained after 25 h of yttrium and titanium oxides calcination at a relatively low temperature of 1150 °C, while the microwave-supported process took only 9 h and provided 99 wt.% of pyrochlore. The proposed technology is suitable for industrial applications, enabling the fabrication of large industrial amounts of pyrochlore without solvent chemistry and high-energy mills. It reduced the cost of both equipment and energy and made the process more environmentally friendly. The particle size and morphology did not change significantly; therefore, the microwave-assisted method can fully replace the traditional one.

scholarly journals Reducing the Energy Budget in WSN Using Time Series Models

2020 ◽  
Vol 2020 ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Felicia Engmann ◽  
Ferdinand Apietu Katsriku ◽  
Jamal-Deen Abdulai ◽  
Kofi Sarpong Adu-Manu
Keyword(s):  
Data Transmission ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Data Driven ◽  
Wireless Sensor ◽  
Time Series Models ◽  
Duty Cycling ◽  
Data Driven Approach ◽  
Save Energy ◽  
The Cost ◽  
Prediction Approach

Energy conservation is critical in the design of wireless sensor networks since it determines its lifetime. Reducing the frequency of transmission is one way of reducing the cost, but it must not tamper with the reliability of the data received at the sink. In this paper, duty cycling and data-driven approaches have been used together to influence the prediction approach used in reducing data transmission. While duty cycling ensures nodes that are inactive for longer periods to save energy, the data-driven approach ensures features of the data that are used in predicting the data that the network needs during such inactive periods. Using the grey series model, a modified rolling GM(1,1) is proposed to improve the prediction accuracy of the model. Simulations suggest a 150% energy savings while not compromising on the reliability of the data received.

scholarly journals Evaluation of the Cost-Effectiveness of the Installation of Heat-Cost Allocators in Multifamily Buildings in Croatia

Energies ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 507 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sunčana Slijepčević ◽  
Davor Mikulić ◽  
Kristijan Horvat
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Cost Effectiveness ◽  
Net Present Value ◽  
Energy Savings ◽  
Heat Energy ◽  
Energy Prices ◽  
Present Value ◽  
Improve Energy Efficiency ◽  
Before And After ◽  
The Cost

In order to improve energy efficiency, the Croatian government introduced an individual metering obligation for all district heat network users. The purpose of the research was to evaluate this policy measure regarding its effects on tenants’ behavior and energy savings, but also from the perspective of cost-effectiveness. The sample includes approximately 20% of all Croatian users of district heat energy. Energy savings related to the installation of heat cost allocators are calculated by comparing the specific heat energy consumption, corrected for the number of heating degree days, in periods before and after the installation of the heat cost allocators. The cost-effectiveness assessment is based on the concept of the net present value. The transition to individual metering in Croatia resulted in significant energy savings averaged from 20 to 35%. However, low heat energy prices in cities with a dominant share of heat energy consumption did not ensure a positive net present value of investment for all buildings.

Long-term benefits of limestone applications to soil properties and to cereal crop yields in southern and central New South Wales

2003 ◽  
Vol 43 (1) ◽  
pp. 71 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. K. Conyers ◽  
C. L. Mullen ◽  
B. J. Scott ◽  
G. J. Poile ◽  
B. D. Braysher
Keyword(s):  
Grain Yield ◽  
New South ◽  
New South Wales ◽  
Commercial Application ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Cereal Grain ◽  
Subsurface Soil ◽  
Acid Tolerant ◽  
The Cost

The cost of buying, carting and spreading limestone, relative to the value of broadacre crops, makes investment in liming a questionable proposition for many farmers. The longer the beneficial effects of limestone persist, however, the more the investment in liming becomes economically favourable. We re-established previous lime trials with the aim of measuring the long-term effects of limestone on surface acidity (pH run-down), subsurface acidity (lime movement) and grain yield. The study made use of experiments where there was adequate early data on soil chemical properties and cereal yields. We report data from 6 trials located at 4 sites between Dubbo and Albury in New South Wales. The rate of surface soil (0–10 cm) pH decline after liming was proportional to the pH attained 1 year after liming. That is, the higher the pH achieved, the more rapid the rate of subsequent pH decline. Since yields (product removal) and nitrification (also acid producing) may both vary with pH, the post-liming pH acts as a surrogate for the productivity and acid-generating rate of the soil–plant system. The apparent lime loss rate of the surface soils ranged from the equivalent of nearly 500 kg limestone/ha.year at pH approaching 7, to almost zero at pH approaching 4. At commercial application rates of 2–2.5 t/ha, the movement of alkali below the layer of application was restricted. However, significant calcium (Ca) movement sometimes occurred to below 20 cm depth. At rates of limestone application exceeding the typical commercial rate of 2.5 t/ha, or at surface pH greater than about 5.5, alkali and Ca movement into acidic subsurface soil was clearly observed. It is therefore technically feasible to ameliorate subsurface soil acidity by applying heavy rates of limestone to the soil surface. However, the cost and risks of this option should be weighed against the use of acid-tolerant cultivars in combination with more moderate limestone rates worked into the surface soil.There was a positive residual benefit of limestone on cereal grain yield (either barley, wheat, triticale, or oats) at all sites in both the 1992 and 1993 seasons. While acid-tolerant cultivars were less lime responsive than acid-sensitive ones, the best yields were generally obtained using a combination of liming and acid-tolerant cultivars.The long-term residual benefits of limestone were shown to extend for beyond 8–12 years and indicate that liming should be profitable in the long term.

Control of post-emergence damping off in vetch with Dexon

1968 ◽  
Vol 8 (35) ◽  
pp. 767
Author(s):  
RN Allen
Keyword(s):  
Root Rot ◽  
New South ◽  
Yield Response ◽  
Damping Off ◽  
Plant Vigour ◽  
Basal Stem Rot ◽  
Stages Of Growth ◽  
South Wales ◽  
Yield Responses ◽  
The Cost

Control of post-emergence damping-off, basal stem rot, and root rot of vetch (Vicia sativu) caused by Pythium debaryanum and other pythiaceous fungi, was obtained in a sod-sown field trial at Wollongbar, New South Wales, by applying the fungicide Dexon (R) (p-dimethylaminobenzenediazo sodium sulphonate) with the fertilizer in the furrow at sowing. Dexon improved plant establishment and survival, and increased plant vigour in the early stages of growth. Dry matter yield of vetch was increased from 206 lb an acre without Dexon, to 604 lb an acre with Dexon applied at 8 oz an acre (4.3 mg per row ft), with a corresponding reduction in the cost of fodder produced. Yield responses were also obtained at lower and higher rates, but at 64 oz an acre the Dexon was phytotoxic and no yield response was observed despite excellent disease control.

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