Design and Testing of a Punching-on-Film Precision Hole Seeder for Peanuts

2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (6) ◽  
pp. 1685-1696
Author(s):  
Jianming Kang ◽  
Qiangji Peng ◽  
Chunyan Zhang ◽  
Ningning Zhang ◽  
Huimin Fang

HighlightsThe designed precision seeder meets the agronomic requirements for on-film hole seeding.Influencing factors were found by studying the operating principle and key parameters.A response model was successfully built and verified by experiments.This study provides technical support for punching-on-film hole seeding technology.Abstract. To satisfy the agronomic requirements for punching-on-film precision seeding of peanuts, a precision hole seeder was designed in this study. The seeder can perform simultaneous functions of film mulching, film punching, pipe laying, precision hole seeding, and seed covering. The overall structure and operating principle of the device were analyzed, and its major components, including a seed-metering device, soil-covering roller, and drip irrigation pipes, were theoretically studied. To optimize the operating parameters and achieve favorable performance, a three-factor quadratic orthogonal test was performed to test the effects of the vacuum chamber pressure, advancing speed of the seeder, and height of the type hole boss on the seeding performance; the variance and range of the test results were analyzed accordingly. Through the field experiments, when the vacuum chamber pressure, advancing speed of the seeder, and height of the type hole boss were optimized to 7.5 kPa, 4.2 km h-1, 5.3 mm, respectively, the qualification index, re-seeding index, and miss-seeding index of the seeder were 92.7%, 3.8%, and 3.5%, respectively. Thus, the developed seeder satisfies the agronomic requirements, and the study results provide a technical reference for the punching-on-film precision seeding of peanuts. Keywords: Model, Peanut, Precision seeding of peanut, Punching-on-film hole, Seeder.

2014 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 1-15
Author(s):  
Z. Láng

The possible effect of shaker harvest on root damage of 10-year-old cherry trees was studied on a simple tree structure model. The model was composed of elastic trunk and rigid main roots, the ends of which were connected to the surrounding soil via springs and dumping elements. Equations were set up to be able to calculate the relation between shaking height on the trunk and strain in the roots. To get the data for root break and their elongation at different shaking heights on the trunk, laboratory and field experiments were carried out on cherry trees and on their roots. Having evaluated the measured and calculated data it could be concluded that root damage is to be expected even at 3.6% strain and the risk of it increases with increased trunk amplitudes, i.e.with the decrease of shaking heightat smaller stem diameters (i.e. in younger plantation), andif the unbalanced mass of the shaker machine is too large for the given tree size.


2021 ◽  
Vol 37 (6) ◽  
pp. 1005-1014
Author(s):  
Guoliang Wei ◽  
Qingsong Zhang ◽  
Biao Wang ◽  
QingXi Liao

HighlightsThe seeder combined the plowing and rotating tillage to overcome the heavy soil and a large amount of straws.The plow could lift and turn the soil and straw before rotary tillage.The optimal working parameters of the seeder were obtained by orthogonal field experiments.Abstract. Rapeseed, one of the most important oil crops in China, is mainly planted in the mid-lower reaches of the Yangtze River. However, limited by the special long-term rice-rapeseed rotation, rotary tillage is applied in most of the planted areas apply instead of plow tillage, leading to a shallow arable layer. On the other hand, maintaining a high-quality seedbed for rapeseed becomes a challenge because a large amount of straw remains buried in the soil. As a solution, a rapeseed direct seeder that combines plow tillage and rotary tillage was designed. The structure of the plowing unit, whose key components were a lifting-turning plow and symmetrical plow, was analyzed based on the forming principle of the plow. Furthermore, a mechanical soil throwing model of the rotary tillage blade was built to determine the structural parameters. Then, the interaction between the rotary tillage unit and the lift-turning plow was analyzed. Finally, the performance and optimal parameters were evaluated by orthogonal field experiments. The seedbed after the operations indicated that the seeder could achieve the function of turning the soil and straw first and then rotating the soil with good passability, mixing the straw and the soil, flattening the surface of the seed bed, and stabilizing the tillage depth. Orthogonal experiments showed that the optimal working parameters of the seeder were as follows: the tillage depth was 180 mm, the equipment forward speed was 2.1 km/h, and the speed of the rotary tillage blade was 250 r/min. Under the optimal parameter combination, the power consumption of the seeder, the thickness of the tillage layer, the crop residue burial efficiency, the soil breakage efficiency, and the flatness of the seed bed surface were 30.48 kW, 231 mm, 90.88%, 93.26%, and 21.15 mm, respectively. The working performance of the seeder could meet the tillage requirements of rapeseed planting. Keywords: Direct seeder, Evaluation, Plow, Plowing-rotating combined tillage, Rapeseed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (Suppl 3) ◽  
pp. A441-A441
Author(s):  
Michael Overman ◽  
Marwan Fakih ◽  
Dung Le ◽  
Anthony Shields ◽  
Katrina Pedersen ◽  
...  

BackgroundDefective DNA mismatch repair (dMMR) leads to high levels of microsatellite-instability (MSI-H) and insertions or deletions in coding regions, resulting in the generation of tumor-specific frameshift peptides (FSPs). We selected 209 shared FSPs among subjects with first- or second-line metastatic dMMR/MSI-H colorectal (CRC), gastric, and gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancers, to develop an off-the-shelf vaccine for the treatment of dMMR/MSI-H tumors. Selected FSPs were cloned into four proprietary Great Apes Adenoviral (GAd) and four Modified Vaccinia Ankara (MVA) vectors to generate a polyvalent viral vectored vaccine called Nous-209 [Leoni G., et al., Cancer Res. 2020]MethodsThis phase 1 first in human (FIH) study (NCT04041310) was designed to evaluate safety and tolerability of two dose levels (one log difference for both GAd and MVA) of Nous-209 genetic polyvalent vaccine in combination with the programmed death receptor-1 (PD-1)-blocking antibody pembrolizumab, to assess immunogenicity of the combination and to detect preliminary evidence of anti-tumor activity. Nous-209 is administered intramuscularly, concomitantly with pembrolizumab (doses and schedule per approved label): one prime (GAd-209-FSP) at the 2nd pembrolizumab infusion and three booster (MVA-209-FSP) injections at subsequent infusions each 3 weeks apart. The study is composed of two sequential cohorts: dose escalation and dose expansionResultsTwelve evaluable subjects with first- or second-line metastatic dMMR/MSI-H cancers were evaluated as of May 28, 2021. Three subjects enrolled in dose level 1 (2 CRC and 1 GEJ cancer) demonstrated durable confirmed partial responses (PRs). In dose level 2 (6 CRC and 3 gastric cancers), 4 subjects had PRs, 2 had stable disease (SD) and 3 had progressive disease (PD). The median follow-up for subjects in dose level 1 is 17.9 months (range 15.3–20 months), and 8 months (range 3.8–12.5 months) for subjects in dose level 2 as of the above cut-off date. No dose limiting toxicities (DLTs) were observed, and the treatment combination was determined to be safe and tolerable. Vaccine immunogenicity was demonstrated by ex-vivo interferon-gamma ELISpot assay in 67% of subjects in dose level 1, and 100% of patients with evaluable samples in dose level 2ConclusionsThe combination of the Nous-209 genetic polyvalent cancer vaccine and pembrolizumab has been demonstrated to be safe, immunogenic, and continues to show early signs of clinical efficacy, which may be attributed to the vaccine contributionReferenceLeoni G, et al. A genetic vaccine encoding shared cancer neoantigens to treat tumors with microsatellite instability. Cancer Res 2020 July 20;80(18):3972–3982.Ethics ApprovalThe study was approved by The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, IRB number 2019–0651_MOD001. The study was approved by Feinstein Institute for Medical Research Northwell Health, IRB number 19–1086. The study was approved by WCG The Trusted Partner in Ethical Review, IRB number 20200155. The study was approved by Johns Hopkins Medicine, IRB number IRB00220323/CIR00053809. The study was approved by City of Hope, IRB number 19277/176947. The study was approved by Advarra Advancing Better Research. The study was approved by Dana-Faber Cancer Institute. The study was approved by Weill Cornell IRB. The study was approved by Roswell Park IRB.


2019 ◽  
Vol 294 ◽  
pp. 01001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Serhii Arpul ◽  
Viktor Artemchuk ◽  
Mykola Babyak ◽  
Viacheslav Vasilyev ◽  
Hennadii Hetman ◽  
...  

The paper considers the issues of reducing the energy intensity of transportation at opencast mining enterprises, the relevance of which has now increased due to the rise in the cost of fuel and energy resources. It presents the study results concerning the cost structure of the electricity consumed by electric mine transport, which form the basis for the development of technical and operational measures to reduce the energy intensity of the transportation process. It is shown that the work to reduce the electricity consumption for mined rock transportation should be aimed at: Reduction of losses in the power circuits of the traction rolling stock due to the use of more advanced electric rolling stock and regulation of the degree of utilization of the installed traction power; Introduction of new contact materials for electrical circuits with the lowest possible resistivity, including for current collector plates; Introduction of measures to reduce energy consumption for power supply of auxiliary circuits; Development and implementation of rational train control techniques. The introduction of energy-saving measures should include the development and application of effective methods for calculating individual norms of energy consumption and incentives for energy saving of the employees involved in the organization of the transportation process.


BMJ Open ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (2) ◽  
pp. e036224 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ben Arthur Marson ◽  
Joseph C Manning ◽  
Marilyn James ◽  
Simon Craxford ◽  
Sandeep R Deshmukh ◽  
...  

IntroductionLimb fractures in children are common yet there are few trials that compare treatments for these injuries. There is significant heterogeneity in the outcomes reported in the paediatric orthopaedic literature, which limits the ability to compare study results and draw firm conclusions. The aim of the CORE-Kids Study is to develop a core outcome set for use in research studies of childhood limb fractures. A core outcome set will provide a minimum set of outcomes to be measured in all trials to minimise the heterogeneity of outcomes reported and minimise reporting bias. A core outcome set ensures that outcomes are reported that are relevant to families as well as clinicians. The core outcome set will include additional upper and lower limb modules.MethodsThe development of the core outcome set will require four phases to evaluate:What are the outcomes that are relevant to professionals?What are the outcomes that are relevant to families?What are the most important of these outcomes?Which outcomes should be included in the core outcome set?This will be completed through a systematic review of trials to identify the outcomes domains that are relevant to trialists. A series of semi-structured interviews will be completed with families to identify the outcome domains that are relevant to families. These outcome domains will be used in a three-round Delphi Study to analyse the importance of these outcome domains to a range of stakeholders including parents, clinicians and researchers. Following this, the core outcome set will be decided at a consensus meeting.Ethics and disseminationEthical approval has been awarded HRA/REC IRAS number 262503. Date of approval 06/08/2019. Dissemination will be through scientific literature and international societies.Trial registrationCore Outcome Measures in Effectiveness Trials Initiative, registration number: 1274. Date of registration 13/12/2018.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42018106605.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carlos Martínez-Núñez ◽  
Pedro J. Rey ◽  
Antonio J. Manzaneda ◽  
Daniel García ◽  
Rubén Tarifa ◽  
...  

AbstractAvian-mediated pest control is a significant ecosystem service with important economic implications. However, there is an overall paucity of experimental information about how landscape simplification affect its current level. Information on pest control by birds is missing in some permanent agroecosystems of worldwide importance, like olive orchards, that dominate vast areas in the Mediterranean region.We assess the effectiveness of insectivorous birds for controlling the two main pest insects in olive orchards and explore the effects of landscape complexity and distance to semi-natural patches on avian insectivore abundance and pest control. For this, we combine bird surveys with field experiments (branch exclusions and pest plasticine models) at the regional scale.Landscape heterogeneity increased the abundance and richness of insectivorous birds, which were also more abundant and diverse in semi-natural patches, compared to the farm olive matrix. Experiments evidenced that pest control by birds (measured as attack rates to plasticine models and pest damage) in the studied olive orchards is negligible, while pests were overall abundant and pest damage was high on most farms. This raises alarms about the status of avian pest control in this agroecosystem.Although landscape heterogeneity increased the abundance/richness of insectivorous birds, and favored some forest species, insectivorous bird abundance seems diluted in relation to prey availability in all landscapes. Thus, pest control by birds seems currently unsuccessful in olive orchards. Our results might be evidencing the loss of an ecosystem service due to a generalized massive decline of common and forest insectivorous birds.Key messageOlive orchards dominate extensive areas causing important landscape simplification.Insectivorous birds are more abundant in semi-natural patches within olive farms.Field experiments show a low impact of birds on olive pests and damage.Avian-mediated pest biocontrol seems diluted by limited suitable habitat for birds.Agri-environmental measures should focus on increasing landscape complexity.


2019 ◽  
Author(s):  
Emine Topcu ◽  
Kyle K. Biggar

ABSTRACTThe discovery of molecular interactions is crucial towards a better understanding of complex biological functions. Particularly protein-protein interactions (i.e., PPIs), which are responsible for a variety of cellular functions from epigenetic modifications to enzyme-substrate specificity, have been studied extensively over the past decades. Position-specific scoring matrices (PSSM) in particular are used extensively to help determine interaction specificity or candidate interaction motifs. However, not all studies successfully report their results as a candidate interaction motif. In many cases, this is the result of a lack of analysis tools for simple analysis and motif generation. Peptide Specificity Analyst (PeSA) is developed with the goal of filling this gap and providing an analysis software to aid peptide array analysis and subsequent motif generation. PeSA utilizes two models of motif creation: (1) frequency-based using a peptide list, and (2) weight-based using a quantified matrix. The ability to generate motifs effortlessly will make analyzing, interpreting and sharing peptide specificity study results in a simple and straightforward process.GRAPHICAL ABSTRACTHIGHLIGHTSBiological motifs are widely used representations for peptide specificity analysis.PeSA populates a list of peptides matching a set threshold from a quantified matrix.Frequency-based motif using a peptide list to spot residue patterns.Use of quantified matrices to create weight-based motifs using residue positions.


2014 ◽  
Vol 24 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 203-210 ◽  
Author(s):  
MS Hossen ◽  
AA Musabbir ◽  
MM Hossain ◽  
MZ Hasan ◽  
MA Islam

This study was carried out in wheat research center, BARI under financial assistance of CIMMYT for the improvement of seed metering device of a power tiller operated zero till drill planter. Fluted roller type seed metering device was replaced by the inclined plate type seed metering device. Field experiments revealed that field efficiency was 80.19% and seed damage was completely absent in the improved metering device. Further cost analysis showed saving of 280 Taka ha-1 planting cost, which proves success of the improvement.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/pa.v24i1-2.19173 Progress. Agric. 24(1&2): 203 - 210, 2013


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jochen Meyburg ◽  
Markus Ries

AbstractObjectivesEmergence delirium (ED) is a frequent and potentially serious complication of general anesthesia in children. Although there are various treatment strategies, no general management recommendations can be made. Selective reporting of study results may impair clinical decision making. We therefore analyzed whether the results of completed registered clinical studies in patients with pediatric ED are publically available or remain unpublished.DesignCross sectional analysis.SettingClinicalTrials.gov and ClinicalTrialsRegister.euParticipants and outcome measuresWe determined the proportion of published and unpublished studies registered at ClinicalTrials.gov and ClinicalTrialsRegister.eu that were marked as completed by September 1st 2018. The major trial and literature databases were used to search for publications. In addition, the study investigators were contacted directly.ResultsOf the 44 registered studies on pediatric ED, only 24 (54%) have been published by September 2019. Published trials contained data from n=2556 patients, whereas n=1644 patients were enrolled in unpublished trials. Median time to publication was 19 months. Studies completed in recent years were published faster, but still only 9 of 25 trials were published within 12 months after completion.ConclusionThere is a distinct publication gap in clinical research in pediatric ED that may have an impact on meta-analyses and clinical practice.Strengths and limitations of this studyThis study quantitates the amount of research waste in pediatric emergence delirium assessed as a) the number and b) sample sizes of published and unpublished completed clinical studiesThe precise reasons for non-publication of the studies included in this analysis remain unknownStrengths of findings as well as directions of individual unpublished studies remain unknownStudy registers other than ClinicalTrials.gov and ClinicalTrialsRegister.eu were not analyzedFunding statementThis research received no specific grant from any funding agency in the public, commercial or not-for-profit sectors.


2020 ◽  
Vol 63 (4) ◽  
pp. 799-808
Author(s):  
He Xing ◽  
Ying Zang ◽  
Man Zai Wang ◽  
Wen Xi Luo ◽  
Hua Ming Zhang ◽  
...  

HighlightsThe problems of high resistance to seed sucking and the poor stability of seed sucking were solved.A mechanical model was established for seeds in a seed stirring device.The optimum parameters of the seed stirring device were obtained.Seeding precision was improved, providing a reference for the seed sucking process.Abstract. To achieve a goal of precision seeding with 1 to 3 seeds per hill and to solve problems in a pneumatic rice seed metering device, including high resistance to seed sucking, poor stability of seed suction, and low seeding precision, a cylindrical seed stirring device was designed. The design was based on the characteristics of the rice seed flow in the seed suction area. A mechanical model of the rice seed in the seed stirring device was established. The relationships between the seed fluidity and the parameters of the seed stirring device were simulated with EDEM software. The effects of seed fluidity on the seed suction area were analyzed under different seed stirring device parameters. To analyze the influences of different parameters of the seed stirring device on seed stirring and to observe the relationships between different parameters and rice seeds, high-speed photography was used to observe the seed sucking and stirring processes. The super hybrid rice Y-2 You 900 was selected as the test material. The seeding precision was tested at different rotating speeds, negative pressures, and parameters of the seed stirring device. The test results showed that an increase in the diameter and thickness of the seed stirring device was beneficial for increasing the seed absorption rate and reducing the missed seed rate but also increased the rate of multiple-seed sucking and reduced the seeding precision. The optimal parameters of the seed stirring device were a cylinder thickness of 2 mm and a diameter of 5 mm. This study provides a certain reference basis for the seed suction process of a pneumatic seed metering device. Keywords: Agricultural machinery, Precision seeding, Rice sowing, Seed stirring device, Seeder.


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